Bristol Life - Issue 295

ISSUE 295 / FEBRUARY 2021 / £3

RUCK ’N’ ROLL OVER THE GAIN LINE WITH BRISTOL BEARS

PE

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA TYING THE KNOT, 2021 STYLE

D VE I E L

ISSUE 295 / FEBRUARY 2021 / BOXING CLEVER

S

L CIA

R

BANDS DON’T PLAY NO MORE

WHEN YOU’RE LIVE MUSIC’S BIGGEST FAN, BUT THE MUSIC’S STOPPED…

LAUGH OUT LOUD SLAPSTICK GOES DIGITAL

WILDE AT HEART

IT’S DORIAN GRAY, BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW HIM…

HOW BRISTOL RESTAURANTS ARE THINKING INSIDE THE BOX

9

OF THE BEST MEAL KITS TO TRY RIGHT NOW

Y

EDITOR’S LETTER

I

29

Get your kit on

The nine best meal boxes to try right now

really hope that when ‘all this’ is over, and we finally return to what people fondly refer to as ‘normal times’, we don’t end up throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Because it seems to me that the past year has given rise to some exceptionally clever, box-fresh ideas which deserve to become permanent fixtures. Bristol hasn’t just been twiddling its thumbs as it waits for the Covid cloud to pass; it’s been busily discovering silver linings all over the shop. Maybe even the odd rainbow.

Can’t put on a live a comedy festival? The good news is that a digital one means you can involve big names who might otherwise be unable to attend. Can’t stage live plays?

How about collaborating with a few other great independent theatres, and combining the cream of acting and directing talent for all to share online?

How about the restaurants? We’re loving everything about those finish-at-home meal kits, guys! Please don’t stop selling them when you open again.

Enforced time out has also translated into a more thoughtful state of mind. Is the biggest irony of lockdown that we’re better connected than ever as a city; more compassionate and mindful than we used to be? Have our values and attitudes shifted for good? Will we actually come back better?

Oh, don’t ask us; we’re a local magazine, not Alain de Botton. All we can do is hold a mirror up to the great stuff happening in this city, and say – Wow. Just wow.

And yes, we’ll be throwing the mother of all parties when ‘all this’ is over; but hopefully we won’t be in too big a hurry to jettison the great new stuff, either.

DERI ROBINS Follow us on Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram @BristolLifeMag

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 3

Issue 295 / February 2021 COVER Poco Tapas vegan feast; see feature page 29

THE ARTS

11 ART PAGE Oh, Beacon!

12 THEATRE Meet Dorian. Let’s just say that he’s not

putting his trust in retinol

14 COMEDY Lols (and a few nostalgic tears) as Slapstick

14

goes digital

16 MUSIC Let Big Jeff welcome you to his world 20 BRISTOL HEROES Finding wonder in the weirdness 25 BOOKS Escape routes for kids

FOOD & DRINK

26 SPECIAL DELIVERY Get your kit off – sorry! – on 35 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS Tasty bites 37 CAFE SOCIETY It’s only sausage roll, but Stan likes it

SHOPPING

38 EDITOR’S CHOICE Aaah; we fade to grey (there

again, it’s all yellow)

WEDDINGS

40 LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA Are micro-

weddings here to stay?

46 MODERN LOVE It’s fresh; exciting...

40 12

WALKIES

49 BARK LIFE NEW! Stan and canine chums rate

Bristol parks, issue by issue

SPORT

50 RUGBY Try hard: it’s Pat Lam of Bristol Bears

EDUCATION

58 CLASS OF ’21 Lockdown’s been a learning curve for

staff and pupils alike

BUSINESS

64 OFFICE REFIT Inspiring spaces 67 BRISTOLWORKS Pink pages, white collars

PROPERTY

75 SHOWCASE Need a little Downs time?

REGULARS

6 SPOTLIGHT Paapa’s got a brand new bag 9 BRIZZOGRAM Ice, nice baby 82 BRISTOL LIVES Zeena Moolla and her dad

Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Mal Rogersm Colin Moody, Stan Cullimore 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

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

SPOTLIGHT

Photography

DANCING IN THE DARK

PAAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG

Remember this front cover? We were rather proud of it back in the day, when for reasons lost in the mists of time we were called Clifton Life.

The cover showed two young actors playing Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory. One of them (no prizes for guessing which) was Paapa Essiedu. This was 2015; just one year later, Paapa won the 2016 Ian Charleson Award for his title role in Hamlet and Edmund in King Lear, for the RSC. The judges noted that he “made all the lines his own” – no mean feat, given that most Shakespeare fans can recite those iambic pentameters in their sleep.

Bet you’re kicking yourself for not seeing that Romeo & Juliet now, hey?

Outside the world of classical theatre, Paapa’s best known for co-starring in Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, and now he’s playing the main role of George in Sky Original’s new action thriller Extinction, which began filming in Bristol this week.

The eight-part series is described as a ‘gripping exploration of memory, fate, and the limits of love, shot through with the trademark wit of writer Joe Barton (Giri/Haji)’. It’s produced by Urban Myth Films, who also shot both series of War of the Worlds in Bristol; the second season, due to launch later this year, was the first high-end television project in the UK to recommence filming after Lockdown 1.0 lifted.

Urban Myth also filmed upcoming Netflix sci-fi drama The One in the city during early 2020; it’s scheduled to première this spring.

For more filmbristol.co.uk

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

Civic

BEACON STREET

The way it’s going, there’ll be far more Beacons than Colstons in the city by the end of the year; and who can argue with that? Doubtless inspired by its neighbour, the newly renamed Bristol Beacon, the office block formerly known as Colston is now ‘Beacon Tower’. The road it stands on is still called Colston Street; for now, at least.

© DELMAR.T YNA

Film

Early one foggy morning in January, photographer Joe Williams took a candid snap of two people dancing through the icy cold mist on Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Through the magic of social media, Joe managed to track down the couple, who turned out to be the duo of Tango Alchemy. He asked their permission to sell the image as a print to raise money for Bristol Mind – a non profit organisation that provides free counselling to anyone who needs it.

They said yes. The perfect Valentine’s gift, no? You can buy a print for £15.99 at the link below: linktr.ee/DanceThroughTheMist

SPOTLIGHT

PITCH PERFECT

Unlike its half-hearted sequel Snow Day II, on Sunday 24 January the white stuff pitched for a whole day. As expected, you lot made the most of it . Nice, ice baby!

@l_bzn

@msheathergee

@l_bzn

@alvinictstudent

@scrumpyphotos

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

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

OH, BEACON

Boats, bridges, balloons, Brunel, Banksy, the Bears: all the best Bristol things begin with the letter B. Could this have had a subliminal effect on those who chose the name Bristol Beacon for the Hall formerly known as Colston?

Maybe, maybe not; either way, this Beacon thing seems to be catching on.

We’ve recently had the rechristened Beacon Tower, and now we bring news of Beacons of Love, a project that invites ordinary people to experience and share their amour across the airways this Valentine’s Day, via a digital audio artwork that takes the form of a 24-hour stream of love songs that can be transmitted to GPS co-ordinates anywhere in the UK. It’s all part of a larger audio project called Oh Europa, by James Stenhouse and Gemma Paintin of Action Hero. James and Gemma spent two years travelling across Europe in a motorhome converted into a recording studio, gathering songs from people they met along the way. The result was a rich, eclectic archive of over 1000 love songs sung in 46 different languages, by people aged between one and 100, expressing sentiments of passion, poignancy, union and heartbreak.

Oh Europa was developed out of Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio, and originally presented as part of Bristol Old Vic’s Ferment programme in 2018.

For more: oheuropa.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 11

FOREVER YOUNG

In a bold new update, director Tamara Harvey digs Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray out of the attic and drags it into the profile-pic obsessed 21st century

THEATRE

U

nless you happen to be a Wildean scholar, you’ll probably know just a few headline facts about Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde (and we bet that knowing his full name isn’t among them).

You’ll know, of course, that he was the creator of such brilliant, epigrammatic drawing-room comedies as The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Windermere’s Fan and An Ideal Husband; plays which are still the mainstay of rep theatres across the English-speaking world.

You’ll almost definitely recall that he was imprisoned in Reading Gaol for gross indecency; if you are a Wildean scholar, you may like to jump in at this point to add that this criminal conviction for homosexual acts took place just a few months after the triumphant première of Earnest.

One way or another,1895 was quite the year for Oscar.

And then there’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, his only novel: a dark, gothic melodrama about a portrait that grows older and more grotesque as its subject continues to enjoy a perpetual, hedonistic youth. Even today, people use it as a shortcut when shrugging off a compliment: “Oh, you should see what the picture in the attic looks like…”

Though written in 1890, the story is ripe for a contemporary interpretation, the preoccupation with surface beauty being even more insidious in our profile-pic obsessed world than it was in Victorian times.

Which brings us to Bristol Old Vic’s latest digital offering: The Picture of Dorian Gray, directed by Theatr Clwyd’s Tamara Harvey, whose digital play What a Carve Up! ran through November lockdown. It became, a New York Times critics pick, and was named one of the best productions of the year by both The Guardian and Telegraph.

Starring in the title role of Dorian is Fionn Whitehead, best known for playing the lead role of Tommy in Dunkirk. The film’s director, Christopher Nolan, has compared Fionn to a young Tom Courtenay; we can see the resemblance, but reckon that if Fionn had played the eponymous lead in Billy Liar, there’d have been no way that Julie Christie would have caught that train to London without him. Just saying.

But back to the show. In Tamara Harvey’s Dorian Gray, the action is updated to the filter-fixated 21st-century world of Instagram, Facebook and dating apps, where online and reality blur.

Influencer Dorian Gray makes a Faustian pact to ensure that his social star never fades, and for the perfect self he broadcasts to the world to always remain. But as his mental health starts to decline, as corruption and murderous depravity start to creep into his world, the true and horrific cost of his deal will soon need to be met. . .

from top: Fionn Whitehead; Tamara Harvey

Can you tell us what the story is about, for anyone who doesn’t know, and why it has such a ageless appeal?

It’s about a beautiful young man named Dorian, whose portrait ages as he remains eternally young. Though in our version, we’re dragging the portrait into the 21st century and reimagining the story through the lens of social media and the murky world of online celebrity. The wit and wisdom of Oscar Wilde endures, and the story’s obsession with superficial beauty and youth – with what we might sacrifice in order never to age – has perhaps never felt more relevant.

What else can audiences expect from this version?

Our writer Henry Filloux-Bennett has done a brilliant job of honouring Wilde’s characters, and his genius with language, while bringing us sharply into 2021. We’re using film, online media, audio recordings and found footage to create a world that will hopefully be compelling, funny and at least a little bit disturbing.

Tamara, this is a digital-only production – what have you had to learn about making theatre in this way?

Fionn is a real rising star – what do you think he’s going to bring to the role?

“Learning to make digital theatre feels like starting out on the fringe; everyone is trying to create magic with very few resources but a lot of goodwill”

What do you think is next for theatre after such a tough year?

Are you hopeful for the future?

In a lot of ways, it feels like when I was starting out on the fringe – everyone mucking in, making do, trying to create magic with very few resources, but a lot of goodwill. I think What a Carve-Up! taught us that if we dare to ask, people might well say yes, whether it’s actors or creatives or even the person who owns a perfect location. It turns out there are a lot of people in the world who want to help theatres survive, and this is one way of doing so.

Fionn has that rare and dazzling combination of lightness and depth – he can make you laugh and then the next moment bring a lump to your throat or make your heart skip a beat. He and I had never worked together before, but from our prep thus far, he also seems to be a genuinely lovely person, which makes me even more excited about being on set with him.

We’re eternal optimists in theatre – we believe a bad dress rehearsal means a good first night and that somehow the show will always go on.

That optimism is being sorely tested right now, but this project – and many others being created around the country – prove that whatever happens, we’ll find a way to keep telling stories that help all of us understand more about the things that make us human.

You can watch The Picture of Dorian Gray digitally between 16-31 March 2021 £12 buys a day pass. Fore more: bristololdvic.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 13

COMEDY

It was Harold’s worst social distancing nightmare . . .

LAUGH OUT LOUD Laughter is said to be the best medicine – well, apart from a double dose of the Covid vaccine [topical gag] – and the small matter of a global epidemic isn’t going to prevent Slapstick from bringing all the LOLs…

By Deri Robins 14 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

B

ack in the dimly remembered, Uncontagious Times of yore, the Slapstick Festival offered a perfect antidote to the January blues. A failsafe midwinter pickme-up; a week filled with muchneeded distraction from all the post-Christmas credit card bills.

We may not be able to enjoy it live this year, but there are still plenty of lols lined up for the 2021 outing of Bristol’s world-renowned celebration of silent, classic and screen comedy. It’s just that the organisers have taken the unsurprising decision to put the whole thing online, and pushed the date back to 1-7 March.

The good news is that digital events are considerably cheaper to put on than live ones.

Cost is always an issue for Slapstick; the festival relies heavily on its supporters’ generosity, with many starry names from the world of comedy giving their time each year to fundraising events, just to keep it afloat. It’s thanks to them, along with crowdfunding initiatives and grants from the BFI, Bristol City Council and the European Regional Development Fund, that the festival will go ahead for 2021, with over than 20 livestreamed events.

above: Josephine Baker in a rare screening of Siren of the Tropics

And there’s another bonus to going digital; it’s far easier to attract international guests. This year, the granddaughters of WC Fields and Harold Lloyd will be sharing personal memories, while Germany’s self-styled ‘UK Ambassador of Comedy’ Henning Wehn will introduce his favourite silent comedy moments.

The 2021 hosts are Great British Bake-Off duo Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding, who will share their mutual love of Laurel and Hardy in a live-streamed event. Other highlights include the rare 1927 French silent film Siren of the Tropics starring the phenomenal Josephine Bake; a homage

by Whoopi Goldberg of Moms Mabley, who broke racial and sexual boundaries and continues to inspire comedians to this day; a celebration of ‘It Girl’ Clara Bow; a tribute to Hattie Jacques from her son Robin le Mesurier; live accompaniment to newly-found or restored silents, comedy chats with Slapstick stalwarts such as Graeme Garden and Robin Ince, and Stewart Lee’s top comedy moments.

Prepare for a few tears among the laughter.

The festival winds up with a recording of 2020’s live event 47 Years Without a Clue, hosted by Rob Brydon, in which favourite names from Radio 4’s long-running comedy panel show I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue: among the guests was the muchloved Tim Brooke Taylor, who died from Covid last year. Poigantly, it was the last time Tim would be on stage with his long-time fellow panellist and Goodies member, Graeme Garden. Bristol Life cherishes a very funny story he shared for the feature we ran in the run-up to the event, According to festival director Chris Daniels, the main challenges of moving the festival online was the learning curve involved regarding all the technology involved with live streaming, picking the best delivery platform and devising

ways to make sure everyone who signed up felt ‘connected’ with everyone else.

“A major plus, however, is the chance to work with musicians and guests we couldn’t work with before because they were overseas and our budgets wouldn’t stretch to bring them over to the UK. So, for instance, we’ll be getting insights about two of the 20th century’s best known screen comedy stars from the US-based granddaughters of Harold Lloyd and WC Fields, and we’re thrilled that the internationally acclaimed Ben Model and Steve Massa, whose Silent Comedy Watch Party streams have been a huge success throughout the pandemic, will be hosting an event for us live from New York.”

Going digital, says Chris, hasn’t dimmed the support of the festival’s regular celebrity supporters.

“It’s about the same, I think. Lucy Porter, Robin Ince and Graeme Garden are wonderfully supportive and much loved by our regulars, and Stewart Lee is so interested in (and on) the anatomy of comedy that I suspect he would have said yes even if it had meant travelling to Bristol to appear live.

“In different times, I suppose Rob Brydon and Matt Lucas might have been too busy or too far away to take part, but they agreed very quickly; and we were delighted when Matt asked if we’d like him to team up with his Great British Bake Off co-host Noel Fielding to share their mutual passion for Laurel and Hardy. All of them, like the rest of us, relishes and misses the atmosphere of live events, of course, but we are where we are and I’m confident Slapstick 2021 will be as brilliant and enjoyable as ever.”

“A major plus has been to involve guests from overseas”

from top: Matt Lucas, Clara Bow, Tim Brooke-

Taylor, Buster Keaton and Rob Brydon

To see the full programme and buy tickets, see slapstick.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 15

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MUSIC

MUSIC MAN

Jeff Johns is a bona-fide Bristol legend. No matter that he’s never sprayed a wall at Upfest, played The Downs or scored a try for the Bears; he’s achieved celebrity status simply by being himself.

Now, however, Big Jeff is also becoming known for his art, which you can see at his new exhibition Welcome To My World Words by Deri Robins www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 17

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P U S D A HE

MUSIC

N

obody in the known universe is more passionate about live music than Big Jeff. Before lockdown hit, you’d find him at Bristol music venues virtually every night of the week; he’d be at every gig worth seeing, and possibly a few that weren’t. The most distinctive figure in any crowd, he’d invariably be right down at the front, throwing shapes, wild curly locks flying. To be at the same gig as Jeff was a kind of affirmation; you could rest assured that your musical taste was on-point.

Visiting bands know him by name, and single him out from the crowd. An entirely serious campaign sprung up to have the Colston Hall renamed after him. He’s been quoted on the future of live music in NME, and a piece of street art near Paintworks suggests ‘Big Jeff for mayor!’

To Jeff, gig-going is much more than a hobby, Always open about his own mental health, learning disabilities and anxiety, he claims that being at a live concert helps him to break down the barriers that he experiences in other social situations.

So with no live music to fall back on, what’s he been up to? Well, art and painting, mostly; but maybe we should begin at the beginning…

My first memories of music were early MTV

shows, but also mix tapes from car journeys. I remember having a fondness for an ’80s hip-hop funk mix-taped with Afrika Bambaa-taa, Grandmaster Flash. My parents would also play me a lot of Sweet Honey In The Rock, amazing South African gospel music.

massive oversized Babygro that he managed to stretch over his body. At one point he even disassembled the stage, then had to get the audience to help him put it back together.

A few other standouts are Fleet Foxes and Beach House at The

Louisiana. I was blown away by Lingua Ignota at Rough Trade. Also Public Enemy in 2003 at the O2, Foals at The Louisiana; that was one of the sweatiest gigs I’ve been to. The sweatiest ever goes to Scissor Sisters, also at The Louisiana. Ho99o9 at The Louisiana, too; there was carnage everywhere at that gig too, but I did end up having tiramisu with the drummer after the show; not many people can say that!

I use drawing and painting as a form of self-reflection. A lot of my work echoes my struggles, about feeling like I don’t fit into this world. I use art as a way of expressing things that aren’t always easy to discuss. Now felt like a good time to start talking about it, when everyone is feeling anxious after months of lockdown.

Art for me has been about expressing things I can’t explain any other way. I began painting as a way of dealing with lots of difficult emotions and struggling with the world. It came as a natural and cathartic release. Art for me is about creating space for myself and using my creativity to find my voice. At times this can be intimidating.

“I ended up having tiramisu with the drummer after the show; not many people can say that”

In 1994 I saw East 17 headlining an all-dayer in Newport. For a pop band,

they were very good at what they did. Michelle Gayle, Craig Mclachlan, Pato Banton, Peter Andre and Backstreet Boys were all on the bill, too.

It really depends on what mood I’m in, but I have my go-tos, which tend

to be alt-punk and hip-hop. But for me there are only two forms of music – music which makes you feel good, and bad music, which doesn’t.

The Louisiana is a favourite venue. The Exchange, too; the way it’s embraced the local community is magnificent. The Old England is also passionate about what it does, and attracts a similarly passionate crowd.

My all-time favourite Bristol gig was Les Savy Fav in the bar of the

Anson Rooms. I’d never seen them before, and it was carnage. Frontman Tim Harrington – it’s like he plays games with the entire audience. From the get-go he was pouring red wine down people’s throats, pulling people onto the stage and making them act as mic stands. He’d body-sculpt them into position and wouldn’t miss a lyric. The costume changes were brilliant too; a

My first painting was of a music artist called

Raggs. The painting came together around a blurry photo I’d taken at a gig. From there I began to paint an imaginary world around her image.

I painted it on a massive canvas bought from a charity shop, on my kitchen floor; until recently I didn’t have an easel.

The work in my first exhibition took 18 months. The full collection features 34 paintings challenging perceptions of mental health and anxiety, which have been curated by Lee Dodds. She saw the painting of Raggs on my Facebook page, and asked if she could buy it. That snowballed into her approaching me to help me get it out into the world. Now I have my very own website!

My collection of paintings will be released in three phases, each with an accompanying film to explore the exhibition virtually. It was filmed by the team at Bristol Beacon, who have been fantastic throughout.

These paintings highlight my issues with hidden anxiety and mental health and the barriers these create. How people see me is one thing, but internally I sometimes feel completely different. I hope that people will soon be able to come and see my paintings in real life; but for now you can experience them on the website, and hopefully buy some prints . . . n For more visit: bigjeffjohnsart.com

from left: Build; Are You OK?; Gaelynn Lea

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 19

1

OUT OF THE MADNESS

The world went a bit weird last year. Still is weird, for that matter; probably be weird for a little while longer. But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been shining beacons of positivity…

Words and pics by Colin Moody 20 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

BRISTOL HEROES

“I think we’ve been changed by all this in ways they’ll spend years analysing on Radio 4”

H

ere’s the brief I received from the editor. “Positive things to come out of Bristol during lockdown, please; shining examples of resilience, creativity, compassion; of thinking outside the box; pivoting (hideous word, sorry); newly discovered walks; outdoor art, etc. . ?”

Just up my street, I thought.

Especially that first word: resilience. Covid is our generation’s Blitz, in a small way. We need to be able to pace ourselves, during this third lockdown. During 1.0 and 2.0, so many of us went all creative and spun our model of work around to face the changes, but this third lockdown feels harder on the spirit.

So for this issue, I’m gonna try and fulfil that brief by sharing things that I hope will help. Bits of our world I’ve seen on my daily walks. Outside art of all kinds. Little pieces of compassion. I think we have been changed by all this in ways they’ll spend years analysing on Radio 4, but in the meantime, come on one of my walks. Let’s see what’s out there. Because those walks are so vital. Change of scene, and notice this changing world.

2

1

3 4

This was taken during the first lockdown. Food made with care by some of the best chefs in town from Jamaica Street, taking food to those who need it.

Don’t know exactly what’s coming next, but maybe we all feel a little bit more like helping others now. Or maybe you’ve gone the other way. Locked in with wine deliveries.

Your call, of course, but I’ve been amazed how Bristol has stepped up.

There’s some graft to come. Plenty of it. Are we ready?

Darn sure we can’t do it with the remote in one hand, and memes scrolling by on three-inch screens in the other.

If you are doing, or are aware of, important community work taking place, let me know. Deets at the end.

2

No, yes, no, yes... but for my money there’s a ‘maybe’ near the end.

This community effort at a slow conversation might not seem to be saying very much, but it’s all about the delay.

Probably taken a few walk pasts to create this piece. It was that tiny ‘maybe’ that I kept thinking about.

The time has come to leave absolutes behind. We don’t know what exactly is going to happen, what is going to be lost or discovered during this new pause. So don’t pause.

When you go for a walk, be more ‘maybe’ about it.

Take that walk, and notice the little things. Because if we pivot to be less decisive, then we might stop thinking about ourselves and start to see things that were formerly off our radar.

I want to set you a challenge. Take photos, and just let the mood slide you down side roads, and away from all that usual stuff. Because before all this, we trained ourselves to love our little bubbles. So let go. Drop the absolutes, and enjoy.

Share whatever you find with the hashtag #loseitbristol, and let’s see what you find as we lose that which we had, and find some new stuff. Even if, like this, it’s a thought about wall art by the bins near Sainsbury’s.

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

BRISTOL HEROES 5

6

3

High streets are different at the moment. Feels a lot like the tide has gone out and refuses to come back in.

And then, every now and then, something seems to add a little hope. Like when they got Tozer Signs to paint this art mural on the wall.

The shutters may be down, but the paint is up.

Lots of hope there, I think. With none of this, none of that, and definitely no other, what does it mean, when out of nowhere, on the top deck of the bus, just over the rim of your mask you see this…

Messages of hope; we need them.

4

Have you seen the billboards? They have shed their skin, layer by later. You can almost see back to the painted Bovril wall ads in some places. Here is a small part of one huge billboard opposite the massive vaccination centre formerly known as Ashton Gate Stadium. The model looks with the one eye back towards the place where so many of us over the coming months will be vaccinated. There is something about this fallen consumerist paper from these vast frames that seems tied in a big way with the fall of our entire economic structure (tested to breaking) and also just trivial.

5

Pam. Pow! Sending out positivity in pink like a beacon.

Be more Pam. Why not dig down into that cupboard and put on that poncho.

Try something different.

Grey day can’t touch you when you put the fashion wide beams on.

7

6

We all have our coping mechanisms.

What’s yours?

You might not have taken the effects of lockdown up to eleven yet. Pace yourself.

7

Don’t feed the birds.

Don’t feed the birds.

Lock down after lockdown.

Can’t see people.

Can’t see anyone.

For ages and ages and ages.

Maybe feed the birds.

Life forms need the company of other life forms regularly.

This message is not endorsed by the council.

8

“What is it with all these humans? Why the long faces?

I’ve been able to have long walks like you would not believe. Hours! All sorts of places. Sniffed all my mates and made some new friends. This is all so amazing. They let me eat leftovers at home; it’s not just that stuff out of the tin. Keep giving me rubs and attention. It’s like the best time x 1000. I have really felt a connection with this human tribe. Hope this lasts. It’s amazing.”

8 22 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

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

EMILY & DAN ROSS STORYSMITH BOOKS

To the big wide world and beyond With everyone confined to barracks, quality books to broaden kids’ horizons have never been more important

W

e keep reading unnerving reports of the damage being done to a generation of children impacted by countless lockdowns, time out of school, time spent away from friends and family.

We often find ourself speaking to parents who are desperately looking for ways to remind the young people in their lives that there is still a world out there, full of interesting people and experiences. It’s the kind of challenge we love, and we take the same approach to curating our kids’ section as we do with our adult books – we only stock the good stuff.

So without further delay, here’s a selection of the latest children’s books for a range of ages, all of which we think will help to curb cabin fever, and gently reacquaint readers with the wider world and, in some cases, beyond . . .

“Parents are desperately looking for ways to remind the young people in their lives that there is still a world out there, full of interesting people and experiences”

Me, My Dad And The End Of The Rainbow

by Benjamin Dean All Archie wants is for time to roll back a few months, back to when his parents weren’t arguing with each other so much. But when he happens to see a crumpled flyer fall out of his dad’s pocket, a solution suddenly presents itself . . .

Perfect for kids of around nine or 10 who prefer their real-life adventures with explosions of colour and character, this is Benjamin Dean’s debut book for children and features suitably joyful illustrations from Sandhya Prabhat.

The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell For a similar age-range, this adventurous latest book for children is a rip-roaring tale of taming sharks on the shores of Papua New Guinea.

Irresistible characters and vivid descriptions of the locale (where the author grew up) make this fantastical tale all the more real and believable, with the human drama as compelling as the heightened events that happen around it.

Leo And The Octopus

by Isabelle Marinov and Chris Nixon Alongside Chris Nixon’s striking and aesthetically satisfying illustrations, this ingenious and heartwarming picture-book exploration of Asperger’s Syndrome is truly for everyone, not just those who live with it. Leo describes and unpacks his experiences, his worldview and his challenges in a world that is sometimes too bright and too loud, and then makes a new friend, Maya the Giant Pacific Octopus, who manages to make him feel a little less alone.

Baby Young Gifted And Black

by Jamia Wilson and Andrea Pippins Right at the very youngest end of the scale, we love the subtle message of empowerment in this new baby-centric edition of the perennially popular Young, Gifted And Black, which has charmed and informed so many young minds in recent years. It’s the perfect way to start a tiny person’s journey into black history, with sweet and simple messages about the likes of Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and the Obamas.

When Life Gives You Mangoes

by Kereen Getten We were completely charmed and thrilled by this mystery adventure set in Jamaica, specifically in the sleepy town of Sycamore Hill, where Clara begins to piece together the reasons she can’t remember what happened to her last summer.

And when a confident new acquaintance arrives from Britain in the shape of strident Rudy, the pair set out to find out exactly what went down.

Aimed at younger teenagers, this feels like a substantial and suitably complex exploration of some deeper themes around family and identity.

It’s stories such as these which help so much during lockdown. We received a brilliant email last month from a 10-year-old customer who said he’d read exactly 100 books in 2020, which frankly put us to shame and goes to show that when you can’t go out into the world, it can still come to you.

Storysmith, 49 North Street For orders during lockdown see website: storysmithbooks.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 25

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projects, meaning that loading large files, managing project file structures, and creating backups is now seamless.

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SPECIAL DELIVERY

BOXING CLEVER We’re calling it! The shiniest, glitteriest silver lining in the stormy cloud of lockdown – our biggest consolation prize, the freshest example of ‘pivoting’ – has been the advent of the finish-at-home meal box. Lovingly prepped by top chefs, they’re a total win-win; they make a few quid for the restaurants, and bring deep joy into the lives of those who miss going to them. So, if you’ve run the gamut of your lockdown culinary repertoire, get your kit on . . .

xxxxxx

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

F

irst ideas aren’t necessarily the best. When the city first locked down, many restaurants came up with a takeaway offering; some still run them, but for many the model just isn’t feasible. Delivery companies typically take 30% commission, which can wipe out the entire profit margin for small independents. Click-and-collect was better, but brought its own problems – keeping customers socially distanced being one, the relatively high price another, given that many customers were out of work or on furloughed pay.

“Ultimately, the meal kit model looks hugely better for everyone, including the customers who are getting a much higher-end product for less than the price of an average takeaway,” says Ben Pryor of Poco Tapas.

“To break even each week with Deliveroo, we would need to send out 280 bags of food at around £30 each. Selling 40-50 meal kits achieves the same thing; it feels much much more achievable and allows us send out the kind of food we’re truly known for. And hopefully it’s a fun process for people to be given all the component parts and instructions to have a go at ‘restaurant’ assembly and garnishing.”

Similarly, The Hyde and Co group set up Hyde at Home during the first lockdown as a way to reconnect with customers and offer them a little taste of what they were missing.

“We started with bottled pre-batched cocktails, and then developed our cook-at-home meal kits, which we’ve dubbed ‘Ox Boxes’ as they are all prepared at the original Ox on Corn Street,” says Nathan Lee. “They’ve been super-popular, and are a really nice treat. Most of the work has been done for you; you simply follow the cooking instructions supplied to knock up a feast fit for a king.

“Hopefully it won’t be too long before we can welcome our customers back to our venues, but in the meantime I hope we’re delivering the next best thing.”

POCO TAPAS FEAST

Oh, how we’d love to be able to visit Poco right now. Flickering candlelight; the happy buzz of a roomful of diners; lovely staff, and that laidback, boho Poco vibe. Well, we can’t. But what we can do is serve up their seasonal, organic, sustainable dishes in our home.

As lip-service to Veganuary, we chose the £40 vegan feast for two over the £48 fish and game box. All vegan alternatives should be as good as the meat and fish options, and Poco’s sounded so alluring that even as an unreconstructed pair of eat-everythings, we couldn’t resist.

If you’ve dined at Poco, you’ll know that what distinguishes the cooking, other than the ethical sourcing, are all the creative, surprising touches and niche ingredients that elevate each dish. In the same spirit, each Poco box offers six or so substantial tapas with all those little bits you need to plate up like a boss, without any of the tedious KP or the need to dash to the nearest deli, because, unaccountably, you find yourself fresh out of smoked hazelnut dukkah.

Two dishes came ready to serve – a nutty split-pea hummus, and wafer-thin slices of celeriac to fan on a plate, dot with raisin and caper purée, celeriac remoulade and smoked quinoa crackers. Just imagine how long this dish alone would have taken to prepare from scratch.

Other tapas needed to be warmed through, such as roasted squash served on shallot purée, topped with sauce vierge, vibrant shreds of pickled chilli and the above-mentioned dukkah; simple yet full of complex flavours and textures. Ditto the cauliflower steak on its bed of dhal, with cauli cous cous and pakoras.

We also had a creamy, indulgent pomme Anna, and a wintry mix of roast 3 Mile veggies, with a pippin apple crumble for pudding.

The box looked slightly daunting when we first opened it – 26 ingredients! – but was a doddle to assemble, thanks to colour-coded dots for each dish. Like all the best meal boxes, it not only tasted immense but gave us a culinary education; we’ll definitely be trying some of those combos again. We’re just off to prep a batch of dukkah...

Vegan tapas box for two,£40. Changes weekly; for more: pocotapasbar.com

“The kit contains everything you need to plate-up like a boss”

SPECIAL DELIVERY

THE OX IN A BOX

It’s hard to think of any Bristol restaurant that does better steak than The Ox; impossible to think of any bar that does better cocktails than Hyde & Co. Handily, as sister venues, they’re perfectly poised to deliver a fabulously indulgent dine-at-home experience. Really, all you need is to paint a pre-Raphaelite mural on your wall, hang up a Murano glass grape chandelier or two and light a few candles, and you could be back in the basement dining room at 43 Corn Street.

Few things are easier to cook than steak, but the key to cooking really great steak lies in the sourcing; we seem to remember from past menu-perusing that The Ox orders theirs from local butcher’s Buxton of Winterbourne. In the box you’ll find a beauty of a ribeye, which you season liberally on both sides with salt and pepper before hurling into a scorchingly hot heavy-bottomed pan. Cooking times vary depending on how you like it; there’s enough succulent fat on the steak to keep it juicy and tender, so if medium-rare or even (whisper it quietly) medium is your preference, then this beast can take it.

It carved like an absolute dream, though it was all we could do to stop ourselves from ripping chunks off with our bare hands as soon as it came out of the pan, as if we were feasting with the Starks at Winterfell.

Even though we know in our hearts that as long as you cook a steak

from room temperature it’s likely to be tender, we still felt like Fergus Henderson for pulling this off.

In the meantime, we’d popped the ready-prepped chips in the fat fryer (every home should have one), swirled the wilted greens in melted butter, warmed up the peppercorn sauce and heated up the mac cheese in the oven until it was golden and bubbling. The cumulative result was a meal that had us gently swearing out loud (in a good way, obviously) at each mouthful.

The box also contains all you need to bookend your main course with a charcuterie starter – coppa, Cotswold salami, Nduja, house pickles, cornichons and chilli mustard – which you could nibble at while you’re cooking the main event if you get peckish; and a delicate salted caramel delice pudding with crème Chantilly and walnut praline.

Oh, and did we mention the cocktails? They’re worth ordering for the stylish bottle alone. You can choose from all the classics – Negroni, Manhattan, Cosmopolitan – along with a cocktail of the week, expertly mixed and enjoyably lethal. Don’t schedule any important Zoom meetings for the next day, is all we’re saying. n The Ox three-course set menu for two, £65; additional mac cheese £4 Ready-mixed bottle of margarita (makes 10 drinks), £30 For more: hydeandco-delivery.co.uk

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

Plant-based excellence from Rob Howell at Root

Paco Tapas. Don’t confuse them with Poco Tapas, though to be fair, you can’t go far wrong with either

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Still hungry? May we also recommend...

BOX E: Modern British

This month’s menu is sold out; check website after 13 Feb for details of the March three-course meal box. boxebristol.com

PACO TAPAS: Michelin-starred Spanish tapas Chef’s menu box for two, £100; pacotapas.co.uk

ROOT: Mostly plant-based small plates

Root at Home dinner for two, £40; rootbristol.co.uk

THE PONY NORTH STREET: Modern bistro

Valentine’s box sold out, keep your eye on the website for future specials theponynorthstreet.co.uk

BAR 44: Spanish tapas

Asado 44 Experience tapas and beer, £110 for two; bar44.co.uk/bristol

PASTA LOCO: Modern Italian

Carbonara meal kits for two, from £20; lasorella.co.uk

LITTLE FRENCH: French-inspired bistro

Three courses of Freddy Bird goodness for two, £70; littlefrench.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33

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FOOD & DRINK

TASTY BITES FROM ACROSS THE CITY

TAKE OUT TO HELP OUT

The team behind Breaking Bread have created a new readymeal service with a focus on helping the city’s vulnerable people. Each meal-fortwo buys funds a meal for a Bristolian who needs it.

Chefs Josh Eggleton of The Pony & Trap and Ben Harvey of Pasta Loco have devised a winter-warming menu of Salt & Malt fish pie (above), Bianchis smoked mozzarella and mushroom lasagne, and The Pony & Trap cottage pie, with Friday collections from Pasta Loco, Salt & Malt (Wapping Wharf), Bianchis, and Bristol Beer Factory (North Street).

“Many of the city’s food businesses have come together during this crisis to support the city’s homeless and those unable to feed themselves,” says Josh, “but we need to make it more sustainable for the future, fostering the creation of a circular economy around our food industry.

“This collaboration brings restaurant-quality ready meals to the city, and every one will help us to make meals for those in need.”

Breaking Bread plans to return to The Downs in spring. breakingbreadbristol.co.uk

CLOCKWISE: Bulrush; Wilsons; Tare; Little French

THE STAR TREATMENT A big Bristol Life high-five to all the chefs and restaurants listed in the 2021 Michelin Guide. As expected, Bristol has gone down five to three Michelin stars, following the closure of Wilks and the decision by the Eggleton family to move their main restaurant offering from the Pony & Trap in Chew Magna to a new bistro, The Pony North Street. In blamelessly alphabetical order, then, with asterisks for those newly listed this year: Adelina Yard (Michelin Plate) Bokman* (Michelin Plate) Box-E (Bib Gourmand) Bulrush (Michelin star) Casamia (Michelin star) The Ethicurean (Michelin Plate) Gambas (Michelin Plate) Klosterhaus* (Michelin Plate)

Lido* (Michelin Plate) Little French* (Michelin Plate) Marmo* (Michelin Plate) Paco Tapas (Michelin star) Root (Bib Gourmand) Tare (Michelin Plate) Wilsons (Michelin Plate) Congratulations, all!

AMUSES BOUCHES Hyde & Co have teamed up with pizza legends Flour & Ash to launch a new pizza delivery service: Flour & Ash at Bam, operating out of Bambalan.

The new menu features F&A’s signature wood-fired sourdough bases with classic toppings and some all-new Bambalan twists; delivery or click-and-collect. bambalan.co.uk It’s all about the pizza collabs this month. Bertha’s has been teaming up with top Bristol chefs to create limited-edition pizzas, with £5 for every clickand-collect order over £25 going to food charity FareShare

South West. Pizzas to date have included Elliott Lidstone of Box-E’s truffled white base pizza, buttered leeks, confit duck egg (pic below) and Cornish Gouda, and Jan Ostle of Wilson’s

passata, burrata, crab XO and pork fat; monitor the changing menu at berthas.co.uk Bristol Beer Factory has produced its first alcohol-free beer, Clear Head, to raise awareness of men’s mental health. 5% of the sales will go to supporting the charity Talk Club, which encourages men to talk about how their feelings.

“We created Clear Head with quality ingredients to produce a bold flavoursome taste,” said sales director Sam Burrows.

“However, it isn’t just an awesome IPA; this liquid will save lives.” bristolbeerfactory.co.uk

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

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CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

We built this city on sausage roll* No – it’s not Boer wars; this isn‘t the history section**. It’s Boerewors…

T

**

* OK, it was actually a sarnie We don’t actually have a history section

hank goodness. Phew.

Dreams DO come true. It’s official.

In other news, boy do they taste good.

Mmm. Smoke me a bratwurst and hang me out to dry on a toasted brioche if I tell a word of a lie. Sigh.

Now, if you’re wondering what has got my tastebuds in such a tailspin, allow me to explain.

It’s all down to those lovely folk at the Marmalade Café. A little gem of a place, at the top end of Whiteladies Road, halfway up Blackboy Hill and a few shops down on Apsley Road.

“Smoke me a bratwurst and hang me out to dry on a toasted brioche if I tell a word of a lie”

Regular readers (you lovely people, you) might remember that I have written about this cute coffee shop before, mainly because it has been a haunt for my companions and myself for ages. In fact, forever, pretty much.

After all, what’s not to love about the place? It’s well positioned near to the Downs, does a fine line in grub and in normal times, welcomes dogs with open arms.

All of which makes it the perfect spot for a breakfast meet-up with mates. Especially after a mellow morning’s pooch-walking.

Sometime in the dim and distant past, when Corona was just a beer and the living was easy, the place got new management.

A brother-and-sister team from South Africa. I visited a couple of times and was very impressed with what they were up to. Then, life went weird and visits came harder to arrange.

But one day, around the darkest hour of last year, I met up with one of the aforementioned friends as we were out exercising our hounds. In hushed tones he told me tales of a new sausage sarnie on the block. A legend in its own lunchtime, filled with south African Boerewors sausage, made to make your mind water.

With little else to think about, this mythical beast began to fill

my dreams. Which is when fear began to fill my boots. What if it wasn’t that good? After all, no sausage sarnie could be that amazing. Could it? For a while, I tried to forget all about this taste sensation, to move on with my life.

But I couldn’t.

All of which is why, when my son and I recently visited the Marmalade Cafe, we left with the last sausage bap of the day.

Toasted and ready to roll. There were a couple of cakes and coffees to go with it, but in truth, they were just sideshows. The main event was always going to be the sarnie.

Dear reader, what can I say?

Except. We ate it, and it did not disappoint. It unleashed a symphony of savoury, sweet sensations. My heart skipped a beat, my tastebuds tripped the light fandango and for a few fleeting moments, every single thing was right with the world.

And no, I am not exaggerating.

So, if Covid conditions allow and you are in need of a bite sized boost, I can thoroughly recommend a touch of the Boerewors. n Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer For more stancullimore.com

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

GOLD AND DIAMOND RING, £926 No, we get that you're unlikely to shell out nearly a grand just to fulfil Pantone's 2021 predictions; we just want an excuse to buy this yellow rose-cut diamond ring in its raised bezel setting From Diana Porter; dianaporter.co.uk

BRISTOL BRICK VASE, £34 Use it as a vase, a utensil holder or just what we believe is known in the trade as an ʻobjet’ From U Studio; ustudio.design

GEOMETRY PENDANT, £279 EACH Because the industrial look shows no sign of going any place soon From Bo Concept; boconcept.coms

GAME OF TONES The colour gurus at Pantone have spoken: this year’s inspirational hues are a sunshiney yellow paired with a calm, ʻresilient’ grey

DONNA WILSON ZIGGY CAT, £41 Cheer up, Ziggy! Your mustardy hue is bang on trend! Made from 100% lambswool and suitable for kids aged 3+ From Grace & Mabel; graceandmabel.co.uk

COLE & SONS WALLPAPER, RRP £85 PER ROLL Call it Cow Parsley, Queen Anne's Lace or Grandpa’s Pepper, this hedgerow beauty will imbue any home with a pastoral charm From Bracey Interiors; braceyinteriors.co.uk

WANDERING YELLOW HOOD BY GRAHAM CARTER, LIMITED EDITION SCREEN PRINT, £130 Little Yellow Riding Hood takes a walk through the woods.

All seems reassuringly quiet on the wolf front From Soma Gallery, somagallery.co.uk 38 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SLOOP CHAIR, £POA In a fabulously retro style, but with a relaxed, deep-seated comfort better suited to today’s lifestyle. Suddenly, being confined to barracks doesn't seem quite so bad From A + Co; archerandcompany.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE

'FERN' LUXURY MATCHES, £6 When these are used up, we guess you could always restock the box with less luxurious matches. Or keep a beetle in it. You won’t want to throw it out, that's for sure From The Bristol Artisan thebristolartisan.com

MOJAVE GLAZED BOWL, £11 Just the thought of spooning our homemilled organic breakfast muesli into this sunny ombre number brightens our day From Fox + Feather; foxandfeather.co.uk

VITA NOTEBOOK, £7 Pocket-sized notebook to jot down happy moments, grocery lists or those clever bon mots that you will absolutely not remember. Look, you know you won't . . .

From Papersmiths papersmiths.co.uk

BLOOMINGVILLE RANI PLATE, £16.90 For maximum Pantoneability*, mix it up with some of the ochre mugs and bowls from the same range * Definitely not a word From Mon Pote; monpote.co.uk

MANGAS SPACE RUG, £POA These rugs come in modules that you can fit together to suit your space; they also just happen to tick the yellow/grey box with pleasingly prophetic perfection From Oskar Furniture; oskarfurniture.co.uk

'YELLOW TAXI' SOLID BEECH MODEL CAR, £10 Ignore the fact that it's also a kid's toy; just remind yourself that Candylab's wooden toys are ʻhighly collectible’ From U Studio; ustudio.design

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

WEDDINGS

LOVE in the TIME of CORONA

As if planning a wedding isn’t stressful enough, along comes a global epidemic. But it’s not all doom and gloom, as our local experts are quick to point out...

W

eddings, 2021 style. Do we still have to wear face masks while exchanging our vows? How many guests can we fit into our bubble? Is group singing allowed again? Do we need to present vaccination certificates before we’re allowed across the threshold? How do I throw a hen party over Zoom?

Now imagine reading that paragraph a year ago today. It’s a whole new Covid world out there, with new rules and regulations and once-unfamiliar phrases moving into common parlance. Really; had anyone outside the military ever used the world ‘furlough’ before? Or ‘lockdown’, outside a heist?

Speaking of heists, did you ever imagine having a favourite face mask?

As if planning a wedding wasn’t stressful enough, along came the pandemic. Many couples simply cancelled, while others postponed (in some cases, several times; nobody expected the thing to go on for so long). Some couples, though, for whom the actual ‘getting hitched’ bit was more important than the ‘throwing a party’ bit, did go ahead, with tiny, gorgeous, bijou weddings. Some admitted that the day ended up being ‘far more them’ than some big extravagant bash.

Better placed to comment than most is venue stylist Kirsten Butler, also known as The Little Wedding Helper. Kirsten usually styles around 50 weddings a year; last year this was down to five.

“Four of those were couples who went ahead with 30 guests, and then one with only 14. As a stylist, there were changes to be made for the wedding breakfast, the layout of rooms, tweaking original ideas, adhering to Covid guidelines. But these smaller weddings were still meaningful, felt just as special, and were more intimate than they might have been with the original guest numbers.

“It’s been a tough 10 months for the wedding industry, both financially and emotionally. Weddings have been on hold, with

no clear roadmap, so supporting each other has been key. The #whataboutweddings and #wemakeevents campaigns have been so important in keeping our industries visible, and the call to support local businesses and shop small has been amazing to see, too.

“If you are planning a wedding now, start researching your suppliers as well as booking your venue or marquee. Get your dream team booked in, and check with them what their position is on postponements, so you’re prepared if you do have to move your date.

Despite the uncertainty, it’s still OK to get planning and be creative.

Explore different ideas, start a Pinterest board; really think about how you can reflect both your personalities throughout the day.

“Even though weddings are still on hold, this is the ideal time for suppliers to be sharing more of themselves on social media.

Consultations have moved online; although I really do miss meeting up at the Tinto Lounge, it’s so lovely that we can still say hello and chat through ideas face to face.

Many suppliers can also still send product samples through the post “Personally, I feel that weddings will go ahead in the spring, but returning to smaller guest numbers as before. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I suspect we need to have much lower infection rates before we go back to 100-plus guests socialising together.

“It might be that guests will have to prove they have had a negative Covid test before attending, masks may have to be worn, and certainly hand sanitising will still feature. I’m currently working with couples on creating a wedding for 30 guests, just in case. Having a plan in place does help with stress, and we have been looking at moving certain parts of the day to a smaller room in their venue, rearranging the layout of tables so it doesn’t feel too empty, adding lighting to create an intimate atmosphere and even adding more detail to areas such as the welcome display, drinks reception, dinner tables and cake table. With reduced guest numbers, there may be more budget available for these.”

Over the page, we meet a few other local wedding specialists and see what they have to say.

“Despite the uncertainty, it’s still OK to get planning and be creative”

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

CREDITS for photo shoot on this page Photographer Chris Daw Photography Model @kaysh_fit Styling + MUA House of Bendy Florals Oh Gosh Floral Frocks Heartfelt Vintage Venue Court House Farm

WEDDINGS THE FLORISTS

“The couples I have worked with this year all scaled back their plans and opted for minimalist ceremonies instead,” says Ellie of Bouquets for Days.” All chose bouquets and buttonholes, but nothing more, and we went about things a bit differently in terms of the styling. We picked flowers that had a different meaning, whether just a nod to what would have been in the original wedding bouquet, or taking the opportunity to go for bright and bold colours; for one bride, it simply came down to wanting to support local. Everything was done at fairly short notice, and none of the planning was done face to face, so it’s been a crashcourse in effectively describing my designs on paper.

“I think everyone’s agreed that a year of slowing down and scaling back has made us re-evaluate what we need to make us happy. A year of small weddings has helped to normalise them as a legitimate and still wonderful celebration, so I think opting for a smaller wedding won’t be seen as so much of an alternative or left-field move. But I know that for so many of us, a year of not being able to see family and friends has only helped cement just how important big get-togethers are, and I fully understand why those who want a big party have paused everything until that’s possible. These celebrations are only going to get bigger!”

Any positives? “A smaller guest list can allow couples to have a larger budget to spend on the nice bits that one looks forward to at weddings, such as floral, decor and food that fit within the local, ethical and sustainably sourced criteria that they seek, and our current times demand,” says Camilla of Forest and the Flowers.

“I’m seeing a lot of dried long-lasting floral arrangements, more flowers and less greenery, definitely much larger floral designs as well as hanging floral installations. Wedding decor is becoming less traditional and classic; we are creating more colourful, modern looks influenced by interiors, furniture and fashion.”

above: see credits page 4

below left: Seun and Miriam’s wedding (see box page 43)

THE CATERER

“One positive that 2020 presented me with was a great opportunity to take the wedding business at Pieminister on as my own” says Katie of Mesa Catering. “Mesa is now the partner caterer for all Pieminister events, with the Thali Restaurant on board, too – two great Bristol catering options in one place. Luckily, our kitchens in Bristol are set up to produce and distribute pies to the highest standard anyway, so sending samples to our clients nationwide is as easy as, well, pie…

“Unsurprisingly, we are seeing a lot of smaller weddings for 2021.

We’ve also noticed an increase in requests for table service rather than buffets. Trends-wise, we’re seeing more and more people looking for exceptional vegan dishes, and increasingly they’re asking about the ingredient-sourcing. It’s really encouraging to find that our clients genuinely care about the sustainable credentials of their food.

“We have always catered for a lot of marquee and tipi weddings, and we’re definitely expecting this type of venue, and outdoor events in general, to become more popular than ever.”

THE MAKE-UP ARTIST

“Trends definitely took a turning point last year, with micro-weddings becoming increasingly popular,” says Annabella (see also page 46).

“Smaller weddings are invoking more modern, clean and fashion-based bridal styles. Make-up is becoming more stripped back, to enhance a bride’s natural beauty. There is nothing I love more than fresh and glowing skin, with hints of definition to really enhance a woman’s features; less is always more.”

THE VINTAGE FROCK SHOP

“Starting virtual bridal appointments via Zoom was one of the loveliest things we did during lockdown,” says Kate of Heartfelt Vintage.

“It was so nice to meet brides, chat about weddings and show them some dresses. The virtual appointments have been so successful that they have become a permanent part of our bridal offering, allowing brides from further afield to look at what we have before deciding if they’d like to make the journey to see us.

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

Huge thanks to Charlie at bristolcontemporaryphotography.com who allowed us to use her brilliant shots of these Bristol lockdown weddings!

Katt and Andrew

“I think everyone’s agreed that a year of slowing down and scaling back has made us re-evaluate what we need to make us happy”

WEDDINGS “The biggest trend has been the micro-wedding, and couples splitting their ceremonies and their celebrations. From a wedding dress perspective, we have seen people looking for more than one dress, or slightly more casual dresses. I’m not sure we’ll see micro-weddings stick around once things open up again, though. I think most people are going to be desperate for a proper old knees-up.”

THE MILLINER

“I am seeing a trend towards traditional romanticism, with pretty florals and pastel palettes in silks and lace fabrics, but I think there is still a market for the statement piece,” says Annabel Allen. “One of the few silver linings of the last year has been the focus placed on buying local, and consideration for sustainability, which I have seen influence my clients’ choices, whatever their style. I am hoping that this is a trend which will continue to grow.”

THE VENUE

“We were able to run some small, socially-distanced events over the summer, and made the most of our outside spaces,” says Hazel Hatton of Winterbourne Barn. “Luckily, the size of our main barn, with its beautiful original roof structure and large amount of outside space, means people can easily spread out. We’ve got together a microweddings package for 202, which we hope will make things a bit easier for couples, and of course venue visits are all virtual now.

“I’ve loved seeing how people have adapted and innovated over the last year. I’ve seen some gorgeous bridal face masks, and I think some of the ways that people have been involving guests from afar might be here to stay. I’ve seen a shift towards less formal events, that focus on celebrating with close family and friends. I love this kind of low-stress wedding, and they work so well at the barn.”

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

“It was lovely to begin photographing weddings again; even though they were smaller, and with fewer people, they had a very emotional

Liza and Rafa; below: Lesly and Steve; by bristolcontemporaryphotography.com

and incredibly intimate feel to them,” says Sam Gibson. “It taught me how important my job is, too; getting amazing images was even more poignant when there were so many people who couldn’t attend, and who could live the day solely through my photographs.

“We’ve done a lot more things outdoors than normal. I’ve shot first dances outside in the rain, and it’s been brilliant. Couples have been great at re-imagining traditions, coming up with new and clever ways to approach them that keeps everyone a bit safer. To see the creative thinking behind changing things up has been inspiring.

“I do think couples have come away afterwards thinking really positively about how enjoyable the day was, and how precious it felt this year for them to be able to have 15 or 30 of their nearest and dearest together to celebrate. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people embraced the smaller, more intimate approach for another year or two.”

Charlie Tyjas says that while she’s looking forward to big weddings again, she loved the mini-weddings she photographed last year.

“Without all the busy distractions of a more traditional day, you are just totally focused on the ceremony and the couple. Only having the couple’s most special people present made them incredibly emotional, as well. It was amazing seeing how resilient people were in adapting their plans, as they were just so determined to be married to each other.

“At first, it was quite surreal shooting the ceremony, seeing the separated masked faces behind the couples, but I think everyone quickly got used to it. In fact, I tried to get as many photos as possible of all the guests in their masks, because it was the most poignant reminder of the best and worst bits of the year. Obviously the pandemic has been awful, but seeing the weddings still going ahead reminds you that there still are happy moments to be had.” n

YOU HAVE BEEN READING • littleweddinghelper.co.uk • forestandtheflowers.co.uk • bouquetsfordays.co.uk • mesacatering.co.uk • byannabella.co.uk

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

• heartfeltvintage.co.uk • annabelallenmillinery.co.uk • samgibsonweddings.co.uk • bristolcontemporary photography.com

Seasonal flowers delivered to your door Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, everyday bouquetsfordays.co.uk | x bouquets.for.days

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MODERN LOVE

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

T

hese photos come from two separate shoots from makeup artist Annabella and hair stylist Abigail Constanza, but both are united in aim and style: they’re clean, modern and beautiful, and particularly appropriate for a micro-sized urban Bristol wedding.

“We wanted to showcase our work in a really clean, contemporary context,” says Annabella.

“In the first shoot, for example, our model Olivia has a modern English Rose look, which brought everything together wonderfully.

“This shoot was done by an all-female team, and we had some exciting new brands we were keen to showcase, all local suppliers. These are bridal shoots, but they also have a strong fashion link, which is similar to our other work.”

PHOTOGRAPHER Megangisborne.com

CLOTHING lovestorybride.com

LOCATION nowstudiobristol.com

HAIR abigailconstanza.com

MODEL Olivia Williams gingersnap.co.uk

MUA byannabella.co.uk HEADPIECE Instagram @loubelle__

WEDDINGS

“These are bridal shoots, but they also have a strong fashion link” PHOTOGRAPHER westlakephotography.co.uk

HAT instagram @chapeaulondon

MODEL Catherine Hudson NEVS & Gingersnaps nevsmodels.co.uk gingersnap.co.uk

HAIR abigailconstanza.com MUA byannabella.co.uk

DRESS themewsbridal.com

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

Charles Hart Jewellers since 1820

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For a huge range of Antique Jewellery, Rings, and pre-owned prestige watches including Rolex, Omega & Cartier visit our fabulous website:

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WALKIES

PARK LIFE

In a new feature, our regular Café Society columnist Stan Cullimore explores Bristol’s parks in the company of two canine pals. How else is he going to work off all that coffee and cake, after all?

First out of the traps is Canford Park...

CANFORD PARK, right next to the gently beating heart of Westbury-on-Trym, is many things to many people. To me and mine, it is mainly a very good place to be. Especially these days, when lockdown is lying heavy across the land and happiness is hard to find.

Over at Canford, winter weather is paying no attention to our Covid cares; instead, it’s having fun and games with chilly silliness. Different days bring forth different delights. Recently we have enjoyed frost-covered grass, mists rolling in, and even an ice bath, courtesy of the pond in the rose garden. If you are looking for a suitable spot to take your new puppy for a stroll, I can thoroughly recommend this pleasing pocket patch.

Talking of puppies, what is going on?

There are many weird and wonderful things happening in the world right now; some bad, some mad and some just downright bizarre.

The puppy explosion, for instance. Who would have thought it? Not me.

After a long, boring year of lockdowns, you might have expected a baby boom. Boredom usually leads to an increase in the birth rate, so, no surprises when it came along., but I was expecting human babies, not fur ones. It’s Covid craziness gone mad! Not that I’m entirely innocent on this front. Just before the first wave hit, we welcomed a new addition to our family.

Along with Mabel, the old dog, we now also have Rufus, a small fluffy bundle of joy with more paws than brain cells.

Anyway, wherever you wander round Bristol, you can’t help but notice we are swimming in a sea of small doggies. Wading through a world of wagging tails. In short, there are happy, furry faces everywhere you look.

When we are out walking our two, we often

Small but perfectly formed: Canford Park. bottom pic: the equally small and perfecty formed Rufus and Mabel.

Fancy having your favourite park featured?

Drop us a line, then...

end up chatting to new owners about the joy of dogs. One of the questions they tend to ask involves suitable parks and open spaces for young pooches that can’t be trusted to return when called. Or to understand that roads are dangerous, and cars not big dogs to be chased.

At which point, I usually sing the praises of Canford Park. It has much going for it. For a start, it has gates all round the edges, which tend to be kept closed by the people who go through them, making this park a perfect place to try letting your young pooch off the lead, to see what they make of unrestrained freedom.

There are two main options for leg-stretching.

If you or your fluffy friend feel like being sociable, you can stick to the circular path which leads you round the park’s outer edges. It usually has a steady stream of other like-minded souls, so your dog can sniff and play to its heart’s content. However, if you feel more like being magnificently alone in the centre of suburbia, you can leave the path, cross the white lines of the football pitches and head to the grassy heart of frostiness within. Most lovely it is, too.

When you are done with strolling, you can head on over to the slightly sunken rose garden, complete with picturesque pond. This last also doubles as an intelligence test for dogs.

Especially when it is iced over. Sadly, out of our two beasts, only one passed. The other one ended up going for an icy swim before lunch.

Another of the many good things about this charming little park is the fact that within a fiveminutes stroll, there are a couple of fine cafés; Coffee #1 by the roundabout, and that sweet little café round the side of the Co-op.

Canford. It’s all good.

For more: stancullimore.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 49

“You have to be a very tough, former All Black forward to announce to a roomful of hardened rugby pros that you want to promote an ethos of love”

THE BIG INTERVIEW

BEARS NECESSITIES

Bristol Bears rugby director Pat Lam talks ruck ‘n’ roll, the culture at the Gate, and how all you need is love Words by Mal Rogers Photos jmpuk.com

A BLUFFER’S GUIDE TO PAT LAM Born: Patrick Lam in New Zealand to Samoan parents in 1968 International career: represented and then captained Samoa at three World Cups, reaching the 1991 and 1995 quarter-finals against expectations. Pat represented New Zealand in 1992 – he is All Black no. 928.In 2002 he played for the Barbarians. In his final international game before retiring Pat captained the side to victory against Wales, scoring a try.

Club career: in New Zealand he represented Auckland, North Harbour and Crusaders before moving to England.

During his time with Newcastle Falcons they won the Premiership. Subsequently Pat joined Northampton Saints, helping them to win the Heineken Cup. He then moved back to Newcastle Falcons for the final year of his playing career.

Coaching career: Assistant coach to Scotland’s international side. Head coach at Auckland Blues. Head coach at Connacht Rugby.

Modus operandi: Pat usually adopts a “not fully delighted” mien no matter how good the results. After The Bears’ trouncing of Bath, some commentators felt that Bristol somewhat took their foot off the loud pedal in the second half. If Pat concurred with that view, you may be sure a memo will have been issued to the squad. In very eloquent terms.

B

ristol Bears have been rucking and rolling since 1888.

They weren’t called The Bears back then, though; confusingly, they turned out as Bristol Football Club and played at the County Cricket Ground. There are good reasons for all this, which although gripping for some, might fall a little short of fascinating for the majority of readers, so let’s pass along to the records.

The club’s history is lengthy, but its haul of prizes has been sparse. In days gone by, jokes were extemporised, mostly by Bath, about how “thieves broke into Bristol Rugby’s trophy room and made off with the carpet.”

(Bath weren’t laughing quite so loudly on 29 January.)

Then, in 2017, Pat Lam arrived. A New Zealand-born Samoan and All Black international, he came to the city via Connacht, where he’d steered the unfashionable Irish provincial side to their first ever major trophy, the Pro12 title in 2016. Now he was director of rugby at Ashton Gate, and a major trophy was at last in sight for the Bears. Those jokes were gone.

Pat Lam’s unexpected, some would say miraculous, success at Connacht came after one of the few low points of his illustrious career. He’d taken over as head coach of the Auckland Blues in 2004.

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

THE BIG INTERVIEW

“There’s a clarity of vision at Bristol; there’s a plan”

The Blues?

Only one of the foremost sports clubs on the planet (think Jonah Lomu, Sean Fitzpatrick). Pat was dismissed at the end of the 2012 Super Rugby campaign because of poor results.

“I was upset by being sacked,” Pat says. “But I immediately thought, how can I make the best of this?

“The thing that was missing at the Blues was a vision.

You need to know where you’re going, what the ultimate aim is, and that everybody is behind you. At Bristol, I have that. Steve Lansdown [owner of The Bears] has total commitment to the club; he knows where we’re going. There’s clarity of vision, there’s a plan. That’s what we need. I’m loving the job here at Bristol. There’s real trust.”

Bristol’s recent success is helped by the state-of-the-art facilities at Ashton Gate. Pat, with good reason, calls it a high-performance centre, not a training ground.

But of course, the best squat bars, resistance bands etc would be nothing without team spirit. “The three vital things we need, that anybody needs for success at any club, are the culture, the leadership and the game.”

So what is the culture at Ashton Gate?

“Love,” says Pat Lam, perhaps surprisingly. Even more impressively, this is what he told his squad on arrival.

It probably helps to be a very tough, former All Black forward to announce to a roomful of hardened rugby pros that you want to promote an ethos of love.

But that’s what Pat did.

Now, to play for the All Blacks you not only need to be skilful, you have to be brave; so brave you’re probably certifiable. So putting his own opinion forward is never going to be a problem; particularly when the plan works.

At the recent derby between Bath and The Bears on 29 January, Bath looked very good: nice moves, lots of energy, a few really telling passes. Then the match started. Bath were crushed 48-3.

Leadership means having clearly defined goals. Bristol

opposite page: Victory over Exeter Chiefs above: Lifting the European Cup trophy at Toulon

CLUB FACTS Owner: Stephen Lansdown CEO: Mark Tainton Director of rugby: Pat Lam Captain: Steven Luatua Founded: 1888 Original name: Bristol Football Club (rugby clubs predate soccer clubs and described the game they played as ‘rugby football’) Name change: Bristol Football Club became Bristol Rugby Club, and in 2001-2005 they were known as Bristol Shoguns. They became the Bristol Bears in 2018

Bears won the European Rugby Challenge Cup 20192020, and are currently on top of the Premiership; but Pat Lam isn’t resting on his laurels. He probably lines up drop-kicks in his sleep. “We have three objectives at Bristol: The Champions Cup – we want to be the best team in Europe. And we want home-grown players on our team; players who have come through our system.

And we want them to become internationals.”

Although The Bears currently feature players from New Zealand to Fiji, and from Samoa to Ireland, homegrowners such as 19-year-old winger Jack Bates are occupying increasingly important roles. Since 2001, the Bristol Bears Academy has brought players through, with many appearing at Championship level, and a number turning out for England.

So if your training is right, your culture is right, and your players are committed, then The Game evolves and silverware heaves into sight. But every match needs a strategy, and rugby being a complex game requires more coaching than most. To that end, Pat Lam’s assistant coach is Conor McPhillips and John Muldoon his forwards coach. The Bristol Bears forwards are now a formidable pack, with a scrum so steady they could pause to send out for an Ocado order and have it delivered.

Pat Lam says he is a glass-half-full sort of guy, and that optimism seems well founded. “We have a culture now where everybody helps everybody else, at all levels of the club. And we have a collective vision. We have the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, everybody is sitting in the right place and the bus is going in the right direction.”

Pretty soon, you feel sure, that bus will be driving through the streets of Bristol with klaxons blasting and yet more silverware held aloft. If Pat’s drive, enthusiasm and skill are anything to go by, Stephen Lansdown may even have to fork out for a trailer. n For more bristolbearsrugby.com

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

MEET THE INTERIOR DESIGNER We’re spending more time in our homes than ever before. Fancy making a few changes but lacking inspiration?

Give Bristol’s changing rooms gurus a call...

ADVERTISING FEATURE ALEX CARRON-BROWN

ROBYN KNIBB

AWW 0117 923 2535; www.aww-uk.com

FAWN INTERIORS 0117 205 0203; www.fawn-interiors.co.uk

Why are interiors so important to AWW? AWW recognises the importance of designing from the inside out. Interior design is not seen as a bolt on to finish a space, it’s a fundamental part of the design process and forms the tangible connection between end user and the built environment.

What do you specialise in?

I have a passion for workplace design and an intrinsic understanding of the significant impact a working environment can have on our daily life, never more so than now. The spatial analysis, accessibility, colour theory, furniture and finishes selection all contribute to how we feel within our working environment and consequently how, happy, healthy and productive we feel.

Why hire an interior designer?

We often suggest options that haven’t been considered and we have a little black book full of unique suppliers that can put your home a whole league ahead.

Alex Carron-Brown

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

Consider exactly how you want to use the space and how you want it to make you feel, then create a moodboard as this will help refine your vision – there is a lot of inspiration out there so you need to remain focused and your moodboard will help, otherwise it can become a mish-mash.

How has the coronavirus impacted the way you work?

As we imagine a post Covid-19 workplace, rather than returning to old habits I believe the forced hiatus from the ‘office’ will be the catalyst we all needed to change the way we work. The office will become the hub for all the non-desk-based activities we have been encouraging our clients and our own employees to champion. Agile work settings designed for flexible working needs to be the norm and it’s our job to create spaces that enable and continue to support the evolution of this change.

Robyn Knibb

TRACEY WYLDE

WYLDE INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE (0)117 942 0281 www.wyldeia.co.uk

ALISON BRACEY

BRACEY INTERIORS LTD 01179 734664 mail@braceyinteriors.co.uk

What do you specialise in?

We are a vastly experienced interior design practice working for commercial and high-end residential clients, designing beautiful, practical and sustainable spaces.

Tell us a bit about one incredibly original or creative project you’ve been involved with Thatchers Cider has been an unforgettable project – a huge new admin hub in the tree tops.

Wonderful airy space with abundant places to sit, work, eat and meet, surrounded by the rich zingy colours of apples. Currently shortlisted for a couple of awards.

How would you describe your signature style?

Our signature style is classic contemporary. As a trained interior architect, I always consider the existing fabric of the building and the clients taste. I believe that your home should reflect your personality and complement the property.

What trends do you envisage for 2021?

Honestly, I don’t adhere to trends. I prefer designing classic, timeless spaces that the client will love for years. Choose what you love, who cares if it’s trendy or not!

Why hire an interior designer?

An experienced and creative designer will make the most out of your space and budget. We’re masters of using colours, graphics, furniture and joinery to create outstanding interiors.

What is Wylde’s design process?

The brief is key; we have to fully understand our client from the start. Then the design begins with function and flow. That leads us naturally into form, style and colour, but practical space planning has to come first. We love sketching our ideas with fat felt tip pens to develop a sense of the spaces we’re trying to create.

How does your design process work?

Every project starts with a consultation, where I listen to your brief and give feedback and/or suggestions.

This is also a chance for you to get to know me, finding a designer that you have a good rapport with is crucial!

What makes you different to your competitors?

Longevity and knowledge. Bracey Interiors has been trading for over 50 years, so we have a wealth of expertise to offer our clients.

Tracey Wylde

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

When looking at changing your interiors, take your time and reference magazines, pintrest etc – it’s a great way of working out what you like and what will work for you. Take your time and buy quality, it will last and will be worth it.

Alison Bracey

What trends do you envisage for 2021?

Looking at all the new collections that are being launched this spring, colour and pattern are definitely the new trend. If you’re not feeling too adventurous then I would suggest these are used for cushions, Roman blinds, an occasional chair and maybe a feature wall – it’s a great way of creating a positive statement.

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

DESIGNED WITH CONSIDERATION, INSTALLED WITH CARE

Our Showroom 36: Woodborough Road, Winscombe, Somerset, BS25 1AG Contact us: www.idesigninteriors.co.uk | 01934 844144

ADVERTISING FEATURE PAUL GOODCHILD

LOUISE MITCHELL

GOODCHILD INTERIORS 07971 449752; www.goodchildinteriors.net

IDESIGN INTERIORS (SW) LTD (01934) 844144; www.idesigninteriors.co.uk

Why hire an interior designer?

Inspiration, insight, contacts and suppliers, and a wealth of experience to help avoid costly mistakes.

What is it that you love about working in interiors?

I have always had a passion for interiors and architecture, and I am as creative as I am practical.

I was drawn to kitchen design by the challenges of creating spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. I enjoy solving problems and finding solutions in close collaboration with the people who will actually use them.

How does your design process work?

This depends on the scale of the project; from a basic twohour design consultancy, through to a full architectural and interior design package, just like an architect. The key to our success is to always listen to what our client wants, set realistic expectations and then deliver accordingly.

Tell us a bit about one incredibly original or creative project you’ve been involved with Proposing the interior design for an underground cave in Bristol to be developed into a function space.

How has the coronavirus impacted the way that you work? idesign offers its clients a tailor-made package, from initial design to project-managed installation. Keeping this personalised service when face-to-face meetings aren’t possible is challenging, but with the opportunities that modern communication allows, we have been highly successful in developing collaborative remote working. Many customers have really enjoyed the opportunity to become more closely and practically involved in the creation of their dream kitchen.

Paul Goodchild

What is it you do that makes you different to your competitors?

Client-centred practical and creative ideas born from experience of commercial and residential projects ranging from £50k to £2.5m in the UK, Europe and USA. What’s the biggest mistake property owners can make with interior design?

Rushing into a project before having a budget and developed vision of what they want to achieve.

Louise Mitchell

DAVID HUTTON

DAVID HUTTON INTERIORS 0117 968 4813; www.davidhuttoninteriors.co.uk What is it that you love about working in interiors?

It has to be getting the clients reaction to the finished design but also, further down the line, hearing how much the space has impacted how they live and use the space. If you didn’t get this euphoria at the end of the project you couldn’t do the job as the process is not easy. You have to deal with and juggle so many different scenarios, I often say I am a problem solver not an interior designer!

How do you balance style with functionality?

I would say functionality is key to a successful design but this doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish! I have always said ‘simply is usually best’ but we won’t design a space that is ordinary, that’s not the reason the client has come to us.

JOHN LAW

WOODHOUSE AND LAW 01225 428072; woodhouseandlaw.co.uk What is it that you love about working in interiors?

We have a very talented team and I love to work with them and our clients to produce unique, personal schemes. Whether that involves sourcing new and exciting products or designing a scheme around an unusual collection of art, it’s lovely to see people so excited and pleased to spend time in a space that you’ve designed.

David Hutton

How would you describe your signature style?

We don’t necessarily have a signature style. We try to approach every brief differently and with fresh eyes; this ensures that our designs reflect the style and individuality of our clients, as well as measuring up to their lifestyle.

Tell us a bit about one incredibly original or creative project you’ve been involved with One of my favourite and most successful projects has got to be Finzels Reach Development. We created many show apartments to cater to the different markets, and the overall look not only got the development featured in the Telegraph, but more importantly all the apartments sold within the deadline!

Why hire an interior designer?

A designer will be able to create a more interesting space, taking the hassle out of having to make all the decisions which can become overwhelming.

What’s the best bit of advice that you could give to homeowners?

It is possible to feel pressurised and rushed into making the decisions that you feel are expected of you.

Interior design is a fashion-led industry, but fashions come and go and come back again with surprising speed! Listen to your instincts: trust what you like.

As the legendary American interior designer Billy Baldwin said: “Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing that you really like is ever out of style.”

How did you get involved in homes and interiors?

My partner, Nick, is a garden designer and we wanted to create a design company that would work alongside clients to create schemes with a strong cohesion between indoor and outdoor spaces.

John Law

What makes you different to your competitors?

Our clients often say they like working with us because we really listen and respond with creativity and practicality. So much so that in some cases, we have worked on as many as six projects for the same family.

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

CLASS OF ‘21

Five Bristol schools explain how they’re helping pupils (and staff) cope with the challenges of lockdown

By Lisa Warren

EDUCATION

S

chools have now been grappling with the Covid pandemic for the best part of a year. A seemingly unending house arrest has been wrought on us by the virus, and the fallout is likely to have longterm consequences for our children and their education.

School closures, lockdowns, the suspension followed by the cancellation of GCSE and A-level exams – all have added to a chaotic year for educational institutes. Schools have had to balance the priority of continuing their students’ education by other means, while being aware of the overwhelming need to help control the spread of the virus.

Schools may start to reopen in March, according to government guidelines, depending on various factors – the main one being the rate of vaccination amongst priority groups. But for the majority of pupils, remote learning will continue in the meantime.

UNMASKING THE PROBLEM

For schools, social distancing is probably the most difficult challenge. Children and teenagers are naturally gregarious, with mixing and mingling an important part of a well-rounded education, but a measure of social distancing has been achieved by splitting classes into bubbles, and preventing mixing between these bubbles. If infection does strike, at least the virus is contained.

Stephen Symonds, headmaster at Tockington Manor, explains how the school has taken additional measures to keep members of staff and pupils protected and safe. “They routinely have their temperature checked and are automatically reminded

to wear a face mask as they enter the main building. We have regularly communicated any new regulations to our parents, including new procedures for drop-offs and pick-ups, changes in school uniform, access to the school and the expectations of our pupils.

“We were prepared to begin the testing of staff and pupils at the start of January. This is now in place for all members of staff and applicable pupils who are on site for keyworker care.”

ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

At Badminton School, a little bit of imaginative construction work has been undertaken. “Our ‘Nightingale Dining Room’, a heated marquee which adjoins our main dining room to allow for social distancing, is a standout feature for us,” said headmistress Rebecca Tear.

And as Jeremy McCullough, headmaster at Colston’s School attests, definite positives have emerged. “There’s been an incredible resilience shown by our staff and students.

Our community has strengthened through our resolve to continue providing an education to our pupils and offering unwavering support to help everyone maintain a sense of purpose.”

Resilience is a quality that everyone talks about. At Clifton College, deputy head Alexandra Tebay said that although it has been a demanding time, “it’s been fantastic to see the amazing hard work, adaptability and creativity of the teaching staff and the support staff. They’ve done everything they can to keep the pupils safe and supported when in school, and mentally and physically well and actively engaged when not.”

At Tockington, Stephen Symonds similarly had praise for the spirit of his students.

Children have proved to be endlessly adaptable photos on this page and opposite: Tockington Manor School

“We always knew we had an excellent staff and resilient pupils. This pandemic has evidenced this. Our teachers are producing innovative, engaging lessons to deliver via our distance learning programme, while retaining the ethos of our school community and providing both educational and pastoral support for our pupils and parents.”

At Badminton School, Rebecca Tear believes they were well prepared with their ‘badmintonconnectED’. “We have found not just our pupils, but also our teachers, pastoral staff and leaders to be a real community of learners. Their willingness to share good practice has been epic, and the testing and stretching of how we use digital tools emerged as a phenomenal strength. This has created a real thirst for development and collaboration, propelled by the increase in confidence from both pupils and staff.”

The Bristol Steiner School’s ethos of teaching and learning also helped pupils, according to head teacher Nicola Forder.

“The latest lockdown has brought to the fore the importance of the child-centred Steiner Waldorf educational philosophy,” she said. “Relationships are a cornerstone of our ethos, and this has enabled us to adapt and engage swiftly to meet the needs of all our pupils, families and staff.”

MAKING THE GRADE

One of the biggest changes brought about by the suspension of conventional teaching is the introduction of teachers’ assessments in lieu of formal examinations.

Headmaster Jeremy McCullough spelled out Colston’s strategy: “We are trying to maintain a ‘business as usual’ approach, with students due to sit GCSEs and A Levels this year. We have continued with trial papers at the beginning of this term, albeit being sat from home, to ensure students get as much experience as possible on sitting papers in exam-style conditions. Because our exam candidates haven’t really missed out on much

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

EDUCATION

“The staff room has become like a society of innovators”

from top: Clifton College: “A robust approach to remote learning has enabled us to

maximise student/teacher interaction”; Colston’s hold a prefects meeting, Zoom style

of their academic education, having been really well-supported through daily remote lessons, we think that the model of using exam board-produced mini tests is a good one for our candidates. However, we realise that not everyone will be in the same position.”

“All of this has been on the horizon for us since we entered into the issues with the Covid pandemic, and so quality teaching and learning continues as a priority day to day, albeit online,’ said Rebecca Tear. “Assessments models throughout the year have been strategically disseminated across departments; this will ensure they are sufficiently robust to give experience to pupils to check their understanding in different ways, gather significant data and of course to propel their longer-term engagement with learning.”

At Clifton College, measures are ongoing to embrace the new educational landscape.

“We have found that our robust approach

to remote learning has enabled us to maximise student/teacher interaction, and has meant that we have been able to continue to have a strong understanding of our pupils’ progress and to ensure that they are continuing to perform well across their subjects, said Alexandra Tebay.

“In terms of assessment, we plan to schedule multiple rigorous internal assessments to make sure we have a bank of reliable data to help us engage with the assessment process, once the details are confirmed by the government.”

THE FOURTH R

It seems that the Three Rs are now the four Rs, with the addition of remote learning. A rapid roll-out in technology has been one of the results of the ongoing crisis.

To counterbalance the lack of social interaction, many novel methods of

communication have been introduced.

Rebecca Tear told us how Badminton has coped. “The staff room has become like a society of innovators! We have so many amazing events; enrichment lectures which span ages and stages of the school and unite the curious, inter-year sporting practice, virtual choirs, socially distanced orchestral rehearsals, outdoor performance, live broadcasts of any number of events, and online sharing and celebration of great work and ideas; it has opened our eyes to a world of possibilities.”

At Colston’s, too, remote connection isn’t limited to lessons. “We continue to offer a large number of remote after-school clubs and societies. Our coaches have been developing an extensive sports and exercise programme to keep our pupils active and fit during lockdown, with live fitness sessions and sports and fitness challenges for pupils to complete individually. Our students in Year 9 and above also have the opportunity to continue to be involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme during lockdown.”

Tockington Manor has similarly adapted to the new dispensation.

“In the summer we held a virtual music performance, allowing our musicians to showcase their talents to the school, and our nursery Christmas performance was filmed for families to watch together at home. Every Friday includes an extra special fun form time, an opportunity for pets to join, funny photos to be shared, quizzes to be won and even virtual trips to Japan!”

Children and young adults are endlessly adaptable, and the pandemic has underlined this. “The whole community has embraced the situation with an approach grounded in our child-centred values, which place the child, school and community at its heart,” says Nicola Forder at the Bristol Steiner School.

“I am not surprised by our pupils adaptability, as we prepare them in a holistic way that means that they are ready to face challenges such as this, no matter how unique the situation may seem. I am very impressed with how our staff and parent body have responded to the changes that require a blended learning approach. This required a shift in mindset.” n YOU HAVE BEEN READING badmintonschool.co.uk bristolsteinerschool.org cliftoncollege.com colstons.org tockingtonmanorschool.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 61

ADVERTISING FEATURE

IT’S EASIER BEING GREEN 100 funded places are being made available to businesses wishing to take advantage of the Government’s Green Homes Grant scheme

T

he Futureproof Skills & Certification Package was launched in January 2021 and aims to increase the number of builders able to take advantage of the Government’s Green Homes Grant voucher scheme that has been now extended until March 2022.

The Green Homes Grant represents an impressive £2bn worth of funding for energyefficient retrofitting of homes in England.

Homeowners can apply for vouchers between £5,000 and £10,000 per household to cover up to two thirds of the total cost of the works, and these can pay for measures like insulation or a new low-carbon heating system in addition to energy-efficient windows and doors or new heating controls. So far, demand for the Green Homes Grant vouchers by homeowners has far outstripped the number of certified contractors able to undertake the works.

In order to access Green Homes Grant voucher work, builders and contractors must be certified in PAS2030 and Trustmark registered.

The Futureproof Skills and Certification Programme is a route to achieving these requirements at significantly reduced cost while benefiting from specially developed retrofit training for contractors. This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to enter the expanding low-carbon retrofit market and take advantage of opportunities brought by the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme.

100 funded places for businesses are available along with an additional 200 training places for contractors from the same company. And there are a further 50 discounted training places for contractors who are currently unemployed.

The package comprises three elements: 1) Training in whole house retrofit practices This is being delivered by The Green Register and consists of ten one-hour video training sessions. These can be accessed at any time to suit a learner’s schedule, and cover the following subjects: 1. Introduction to sustainable building 2. Introduction to building physics 3. Introduction to PAS2035 4. Assessing retrofit 5. Lifecycle analysis of building materials

6. External wall insulation 7. Internal wall insulation 8. Good practice ventilation 9. Integrating building services 10. Sustainable water use in retrofit

Photo: Ecological Building Systems

2) Full support in achieving PAS2030:19 certification In order to make the paperwork as simple as possible, FCA Compliance Services will offer mentoring and assistance throughout the entire verification process, including establishment of a quality management system (QMS) and preparation of all other paperwork. This invaluable support saves applicants time and effort in preparing for PAS certification.

3) PAS2030:19 certification Certification in a single measure with Trustmark registration will be provided by the British Assessment Bureau (BAB). These are mandatory requirements for contractors to access Green Homes Grant voucher scheme and ECO funded works. The Futureproof Skills & Certification programme costs £1,750 per business (with training provided for up to three people from the same company). This is a saving of around £2,300 on the standard value of these services.

Training-only access is available for contractors who are currently unemployed at a reduced rate of £100 per individual (saving £199).

The Futureproof Skills & Certification Package will run between 4 January and 31 May 2021.

Applications for the programme will be accepted until 15 April 2021.

The programme is co-managed by The Green Register and the Centre for Sustainable Energy and supported by funding from the government through Midlands Energy Hub. “This offer will be extremely attractive to many builders and contractors as it represents a heavily subsidised route to accessing Green Homes Grant work” said The Green Register’s Charlotte Surrey. “And there’s a healthy demand out there for skilled workers who can work on this kind of low-carbon domestic retrofit.”

One of the first contractors to register with the Futureproof Skills & Certification programme was ESW Ltd. Director, Carlo Bonomini, who said: “The retrofit construction industry is growing and becoming more professionalised.

We want to be ahead of the game by having the certification in place to respond to Green Homes Grant customer enquiries from a position of trust, and this programme has enabled us to do that quickly and affordably.” n

For more information contact Charlotte Surrey at charlotte@greenregister.org.uk. For further information including eligibility criteria and how to register, visit the green register website: www.greenregister.org.uk/futureproof. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 63

OFFICES

FIT FOR OFFICE

Alison thinks pink (and cobalt blue, jade green, and maybe the odd squiggle of black on white . . .)

Local comms agency Wonderland is all about bringing the fun and wonder, and the team needed a creative new office space to match…

N

ever before has the office been such a hot topic of conversation. With everyone settling into working from home mode, has the very concept become redundant?

Will we all be flooding back enthusiastically once the Contagious Times have passed, or will we have to be dragged kicking and screaming from the cosy work nests we’ve built in our homes?

One business that thrives on interaction is PR company Wonderland, founded by Alison Weir. Their Harbourside base at Hannover Quay has recently had one of the most covetable makeovers we’ve seen, so we decided to find out a bit about the ideas behind it.

Welcome to Wonderland . . .

Alison, what was the vision for the refit?

It was important to us that the office was a home from home, and that it brought to life everything that’s great about Wonderland.

Like Wonderland, it wasn’t the biggest, and was a bit of a wonky shape. So it was super important that we worked with the right people to do it justice, and make sure it was a healthy and happy space for the team.

Who designed and project-managed the refit?

We worked with an amazing design studio, Interesting Projects, who also designed the Keith Haring exhibition at the Tate Liverpool.

They’re really creative but also incredibly practical. We love colour, and were keen to include as much as possible – maybe too much.

Interesting Projects carefully fine-tuned our

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

initial colour-vomit vision into something bold and beautiful. Then we used as many local suppliers as possible to turn the design into reality.

What elements of the new fit were most important to you?

We wanted to use colour to mark out different areas. The main office space is quite neutral, whereas the kitchen, back of house and breakout spaces use bright block colour, pattern and texture to give them their own feel. Along with a limited collection of materials, this brings everything together into a beautiful, creative, usable space that allows us to collaborate together easily, or focus quietly when we need to.

“I’m a big fan of weird, inspiring nooks and crannies for solo creative work” We also wanted to have as much open space as possible. Our Wonderfam are really good friends, who talk and sing nonstop and really look out for each other. So we created a small number of large tables that everyone can sit around day to day, as if we’re having dinner together round a mate’s house. Wonderland started around our dinner table at home, so it felt like a natural step on from that, too.

If someone needs to concentrate on something, they might stay home and work

on it, but we’ve found that working like this in the office really suits us, and creates an open, happier way of working.

I’m also a big fan of weird, inspiring nooks and crannies for solo creative work, so a space like the banquette seating area was an absolute must-have for me. This is the place where I sit with a pile of books and magazines and old random objects I’ve found at car boot sales, and let my imagination run wild.

Anything you wished you’d done differently?

We’re supposed to have a mural in the entrance, but haven’t got around to it yet.

The first thing we need to do is put together a shortlist of artists for it, so if anyone reading this would like to put themselves forward for the job, please get in touch.

What do you love most about the office?

It makes us proud. Setting up the agency five years ago, I never thought that we could own and work in somewhere so beautiful. It’s a reminder of all the hard work we’ve all put in over the years, and it means a lot to us.

Our gang come in whenever they want; we have a ‘work from wherever, whenever’ policy, and are based all over: London, Cardiff, Somerset, Bristol, County Mayo, Stockholm and Amsterdam. Having somewhere that’s easy to get to was important to us. And the incredible view over Bristol harbourside reminds us that – whatever we are working on – there really is no place like home.

For more wonderlandcomms.com interestingprojects.co.uk

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

It’s the city’s business

BRISTOLWORKS left: filming The Pale Horse

below: the Bristollywood offering

is set to get bigger and better

Sets and the city

B

ristol’s Bottle Yard Studios is on track for major expansion, following a confirmed investment by the West of England Combined Authority.

The expansion plan involves major investment by the West of England Combined Authority, with a commitment of £135,000 to develop a full business case and the allocation of a further £11.73m for site purchase costs and to enable the works. Plans include the conversion of a nearby industrial property at Hawkfield Business Park into three new sound stages, complemented by production offices, prop stores, costume/makeup areas and breakout spaces, totalling approximately 82,000 sq ft of converted floor space. The proposed works will take the number of sound stages available

at The Bottle Yard Studios from eight to 11.

The project is intended to maintain and grow film and TV production in Bristol and the West of England, and is expected to create around 1,000 jobs over a 10-year period.

“This decision is another significant investment in South Bristol, and a major boost to our wider regeneration plans, bringing growth and jobs into the area,” said Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol. “The demand for screen content is growing worldwide. The expansion of the Bottle Yard Studios means we can harness this growth in the sector and continue Bristol’s success as a creative destination, ensuring that local people and the city economy benefit long-term as we plan our recovery from the Covid pandemic.”

Bristol and the West of England have built a

strong reputation for the creative sector, which has seen the recent arrivals of both Channel 4 and Netflix, and Bristol being named a UNESCO City of Film. In the past 15 years, Bristol Film Office has assisted TV and film production worth more than £235 million of inward investment across the region – an average total of £15.8 million per year.

The Bottle Yard Studios is the largest dedicated film and TV studio facility in the West of England, and has been used extensively for top-ratings shows such as Sherlock and Poldark. They currently have several more shows under production, such as Stephen Merchant’s new series The Offenders; upcoming titles include the Nancy Mitford adaptation The Pursuit of Love, starring Lily James.

For more: thebottleyard.com

Virtual one hour sessions, all free to attend Search Bristol Life on LinkedIn for upcoming dates and registration If you would like to get involved, please email events@mediaclash.co.uk

BRISTOLWORKS

Tim Forster

NEW AT THE TOP

SIMPLY REDCLIFFE

Businesses in Redcliffe and Temple are being invited to vote for the area to become a Business Improvement District (BID) in a ballot which will take place from 18 March-15 April. A successful outcome would result in over £5m of investment for the area over the BID term.

The initiative is being proposed by Destination Bristol, which already operates the Broadmead and Bristol City Centre BIDs. The aim is to make Redcliffe and Temple an inspirational, sustainable and welcoming place for businesses, employees, visitors and residents; for it to be known as a thriving commercial district and an outstanding community which all involved are proud to be a part of.

For more see redcliffeandtemplebid.co.uk

Photo Soul Media

GIVE ME THE NIGHT Bristol is looking to appoint its first ‘night czar’ to help support music venues and the city’s wider nighttime economy, such as bars, restaurants, clubs and cultural institutions,. The role is expected to be part-time and funded by grants.

The night czar is expected to work within Bristol’s One City office, founded by the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees.“The importance of the role is to make sure we have a champion and some real coherence to our efforts to drive our night-time economy,” said the mayor. “There are tens of thousands of jobs tied up, and lots of small businesses within the sector, and, particularly as we come out of Covid, we need a real clear strategy both for survival and recovery.”

“The purpose of the board is to take collective responsibility for the challenges facing the nighttime economy,” said Marti Burgess, owner of Lakota. “Bristol is a great city to live in, and one of its best assets is its nightlife.”

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

Architect firm AWW has appointed Tim Forster to its board of 10 directors. With specialist design expertise in sustainability, Tim will play a key role in AWW’s commitment to explore alternative ways of thinking and deliver innovative low-carbon design solutions.

“It is a privilege to be joining the board at such a challenging and exciting time in the industry,” says Tim. “I am passionate about the role that architecture can play in bringing positivity to people’s lives, and the importance of design in meeting the demands of the climate emergency.

“AWW is an advocate for positive change, and I am looking forward to the new opportunities and responsibilities that the appointment brings to respond to these challenges.” For more aww-uk.com Former CE at St George’s Bristol Suzanne Rolt has been appointed CEO at Quartet Community Foundation. “I’ve been privileged to have my dream job at St George’s, running one of the country’s finest halls, meeting the world’s greatest musicians, and having the best seat in the house for thousands of brilliant and unforgettable concerts,” said Suzanne. “Now I have an opportunity to direct my passion and experience towards leading Quartet, an organisation dedicated to improving people’s lives and bringing about positive change.”

For more quartetcf.org.uk Real estate developer Cubex Land has appointed Peter Walford to the position of managing director. Peter, who steps up from his current role as executive director, co-founded Cubex 16 years ago and has been instrumental in its success to date, and will continue to lead the company with his wealth of experience and impressive track record in commercial property development.

Peter has led over £500m of development, including two of the largest-ever Bristol deals: Finzels Reach phase 2,and the forward funding of Halo office development. Not only were these two deals large transactions for the Bristol market, but two of 2020’s largest UK regional deals.

For more cubex-land.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Nick Smith, Elliot Mace, Mark Kelly, MediaClash’s Greg Ingham

AND THE WINNERS WERE…

© EVENT PHOTOGR APHY

The Bristol Property Awards winners were due to be revealed just after this Bristol Life went to press. We’ll have major coverage of the event in an upcoming issue with our official Awards review, including the full list of winners and pages to remember the unique virtual celebration.

Over 100 companies were involved in the Awards – an incredible show of support from the Bristol property sector.

“The support we’ve received for the Bristol Property Awards in this very different year has been outstanding,” said Claudia Butler, events and brand manager at MediaClash.“Many thanks to all who supported the Awards and Symposium, and huge congratulations to all our winners.”

The hotly-anticipated Awards were held virtually on Hopin during an afternoon ceremony which hosted networking to the huge pool of talent Bristol has to offer in the property and development sector.

The Awards were sponsored by an impressive roster of businesses, with headline sponsor Smith & Williamson, winner of winners sponsor Close Brothers Property Finance, and category sponsors including AWW, Blaise Commercial Finance, Bristol Life, Cotswold Homes, Halsall Construction, Marsh Commercial, MDA Consulting, Optima Systems, Origin Workspace, Planning Portal, Redland Court re-imagined by Juniper Homes, Royds Withy King, Shawbrook Bank, Spaces, Vickery Holman, Willmott Dixon and YTL Developments. It also included feature sponsors: Clarkebond, Thorn Baker Construction and Triangle Networks as well as partners, OakNorth Bank and Soapworks.

What next..? It’ll be happening all over again, in November 2021.

For more bristolpropertyawards.co.uk @BrisPropertyAwd

Congratulations to all our Winners – see you next time!

BRISTOL LIFE PRESENTS… … A BRISTOL LIFE BUSINESS SURGERY WITH BLACKSTAR On 3 February, Bristol Life Business Surgery welcomed head of sales Elliot Mace and CEO Nick Smith of telecoms provider at Blackstar Solutions to a panel discussion on the future of remote working.

Blackstar works strategically with a wide range of technology partners so that the communication requirements of clients can always be met. They were well-prepared for the pandemic and the technology challenges it brought, and during the crisis they’ve been guiding businesses to rationalise, optimise and streamline their communications systems.

“What we do is to find out what general systems our clients favour, then augment or reorganise them so that it dovetails with the client’s business. We try to be as innovative as we can, and to get the client totally involved.

We also provide ongoing support once all the installations have been made,” said Elliot Mace.

Nick Smith pointed to the changes the pandemic has brought about in relationships between client and customer, and also internally within companies. Gone are the quick catch-up

chats over coffee, the lunchtime brainstorming sessions over a pint, the socialising in the pub after work.

Guest speaker Mark Kelly from Bristol Sports made the telling point that to same extent we were already on the way to remote homeworking before the pandemic struck. Most business people striving for inbox-zero worked at home on their laptops, smartphones and tablets. It was called ‘catching up’, but in reality it was turning your home into an extension of the office.

Elliot Mace concluded that work in the future would embrace both the traditional office working place as well as the remote technology that the pandemic has heralded in.

Blackstar have been active in the community during the Covid crisis. One of their favoured projects, out of many, was keeping the St John’s Ambulance comms-efficient. This, needless to say, was crucial work, done without fanfare, and always mindful of the very stretched budget of the first-aid charity.

Watch the full webinar on YouTube

BRISTOLWORKS “16 SEPTEMBER… REMEMBER THE DATE!”

Bristol’s biggest business event is back in September!

Awards returning in September The Bristol Life Awards will return in September, with value on much greater certainty to return to normality. Dig out your 2021 diary and book off 16 September, when Bristol’s best will gather to celebrate all things great about the city – and hand out a few awards, too

That winning feeling: Tom Morris, second from left, Bristol Old Vic

From the coolest of the indies to the largest of the corporates: everyone playing their part in this city, everyone coming together once more. It’s never been more important

TESTIMONIAL

“As a Bristolian it has been energising to see the commercial vibrancy in our city. There are so many entrepreneurs and dynamic businesses that have shone through this turbulent time and all entrants are winners in their own right.”

Mike Harris The Strawberry Thief

A

ll was revealed at a special Bristol Life Awards Launch. The 20-minute uplifting session featured exclusive updates on the new date, nominations and sponsorship opportunities. Some of the Awards’ familiar faces also spoke including Dale Williams of headline sponsor, Marsh Commercial; past winners, and many more.

“After this past year, we can all do with buoying up – business owners perhaps more than almost anyone,” said MediaClash events and brand manager Claudia Butler. “Imagine how good it will feel to be on the shortlist of the Bristol Life Awards, to have all the marketing benefits of being a finalist.”

Sponsorships are available for Bristol’s most prestigious Awards ceremony. The night has many sponsors on board so far, led by headline sponsor

SPONSORSHIPS For remaining options, please contact harriette.dixon @mediaclash.co.uk or neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk NOMINATIONS Open via website www.bristollifeawards.co.uk

Marsh Commercial, with other category sponsors including Anderson Financial Management, British Corner Shop, Brunel Insurance Brokers, Burston Cook, CMC Marquees, Curo, SLX, Spaces, Thatchers, Triangle Networks, VWV; and of course, Bristol Life itself.

Nominations are now open for all businesses in the Bristol area. They’re free to enter, and offer great opportunity to share your successes.

Nominate your teams, find good things to praise, and acknowledge their contribution.

For remaining category sponsorships, please contact harriette.dixon@mediaclash.co.uk for more details.

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

LAUNCH & TICKETS See the official launch in full on the Bristol Life YouTube channel AWARDS The uberglam Bristol Life Awards are on 16 September 2021.

Nothing beats being there…

SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for all updates.

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS Launch event video: bit.ly/3tpNywB

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

ARE YOU COVERED?

The team at AMD SOLICITORS examines property fraud and advise how you should be protecting yourself

M

illions of pounds are lost each year to property fraud in the UK, which unfortunately is a serious ongoing issue, with fraudsters continuing to target property owners, regardless of whether they are individuals or companies, and leaving them to deal with the consequences.

The most common types of frauds are typically where criminals steal a property owner’s identity and then attempt to sell or mortgage their property by pretending to be them.

In particular, fraudsters are more likely to target properties where: • the property is rented out • the property is empty • the property is not mortgaged • the property is not registered with HM Land Registry; or • you live overseas

If you have a property which you rent out, a second home, or live somewhere else for all or part of the year, you should consider registering a restriction against the property. The benefit of taking this additional step means it will prevent the Land Registry from registering any sale or mortgage on your property, unless a conveyancer or solicitor certifies that the application was made by you.

The Land Registry’s free property alert service The Land Registry offers a free property alert service for properties registered in England and Wales. This is an essential tool that should be considered by anyone wishing to take steps to protect a registered property from risk of fraud.

To sign up, all you need to provide is a valid email address and the postcode or title number of the property(ies) you want HM Land Registry

to monitor (it can be up to ten properties).

Once you have signed up to the service, you will receive email alerts from the Land Registry when certain activity occurs on your monitored properties, allowing you to take swift action if these activities are suspicious. The alert email you receive will signpost you to who you need to contact if you are suspicious.

Keep your contact details up to date Please remember to update the Land Registry in writing if your contact details change while you own the property, to ensure you receive any such correspondence. For added peace of mind, the Land Registry can hold up to three contact addresses for you, including an email address and an address abroad.

What if my property is unregistered?

If your property is not registered at the Land Registry, you should consider making an application for voluntary first registration because it helps protect against fraud, gives you proof of ownership and makes it easier to buy and sell. If you are unsure whether your property is unregistered or would like to discuss making a voluntary application, our experienced property team will be able to assist you. ■

If you would like any advice or assistance in connection with the above, please get in touch by emailing info@amdsolicitors.com, calling our property team on 0117 962 1205 or fill out our contact form at amdsolicitors.com/contact

COMING SOON

HELLO BRISTOL, SPACES IS MOVING IN. Offices, Coworking, Meeting Rooms spaceworks.com | 0800 756 2509

PROPERTY A PL ACE TO C ALL HOME

LEAZE OF LIFE Ever dreamed of living in a home that overlooked the Downs?

By Ursula Cole

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A PROPERTY PLACE TO CALL HOME

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PROPERTY

T

he grassy plot at the back of this elegant garden flat on Downleaze is quite substantial enough in its own right, but just wait until you see ‘the front garden’.

OK, so the 162 hectares of Durdham Downs framed so enticingly by the drawing room window above won’t belong exclusively to you; but really, access to this fabulous green expanse could hardly be more convenient.

Just think – and we do hope that you’ll agree this is a bonus, rather than a deficit – when The Downs concerts return, the music from A-lister musicians will fill your home for one magical evening each year (and if that’s not your bag, you could always go out for the night and rent out the parking space for an astronomical sum instead).

Like all the gracious Victorian homes that face onto the Downs, the building that houses the two-storey flat is exceptionally handsome. It’s fair to say that this apartment has bagged the best of it. Not only does it enjoy sole triumphant possession of the garden, and a large integrated garage, but it’s distinguished by numerous elegant details and period charm.

Full of character and bright with natural light, the flat has been exquisitely updated and decorated throughout.

It’s highly flexible, too; the current layout could easily be tweaked on the lower ground floor, for example. The existing dressing room, though a delightful luxury that few

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PROPERTY

would willingly relinquish, could be repurposed as that 2021 must-have, the home office.

It’s hard to imagine how the ground floor could possibly be improved. You could gaze dreamily for hours across the Downs from the bay in the 18ft drawing room, but the room itself is just as easy on the eye, with solid wooden strip flooring, panelling, a ceiling rose and cornicing, contrasted attractively with a modern fireplace and sunken media unit.

The kitchen/dining area at the back is boldly contemporary, with sleek, clutter-banishing storage units and an island – and is that a wine-cooling unit we spy among the integrated appliances? Filling the back wall, picture windows overlook, and open to, the garden.

The two bedrooms are en-suite, the master especially splendid with its free-standing egg-shaped bath and walk-in shower; steps lead down to the dressing room.

The luxurious addition of a large laundry area, and a beautifully decorated hallway – wide enough to use as a study, if you just can’t bear to sacrifice the dressing room – seals the deal on this deeply covetable home.

HOUSE NUMBERS Bedrooms 2

Where

Bathrooms/ WCs 2

What else? Garage; directly facing Durdham Downs

Reception rooms

1

Garden Large, level and sunny Guide price

£850k

Sion Hill

Knight Frank, 27a Regent Street, Clifton; 0117 317 1996 knightfrank.co.uk

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BRISTOL LIVES

“I wanted to take the edge off those days when the idea of a trip to Tesco sounds as blissful as a fortnight in Benidorm” that I’ve really learnt the worth of both these virtues.

ZEENA MOOLLA Hell is other people’s insta-feeds – especially when you’re a new parent staring at images of apparently perfect nuclear families . . .

B

ristol blogger, broadcaster and author Zeena reckons that she learned everything she knows about motherhood from her single-parent Indian-Muslim dad. As most of us don’t have such a unique perspective to help us get us through the mostly exhausting, occasionally exhilarating, frequently hilarious and sometimes hellish early years, she’s written a book on the subject. It’s called, appropriately, Everything I’ve Learned About Motherhood (from my Single-Parent Dad), and it’s out this month.

The book’s based loosely

around my blog, Word to the Mothers. I wrote the book primarily for the new mum ‘not cherishing every moment’, whose dark sense of humour is perhaps not often reflected in the publishing world.

I wanted to help take the edge off the exhaustion,

engorged boobs and days when the idea of a solo trip to Tesco sounds as blissful as a fortnight in Benidorm. I also wrote this book

to illustrate that loving, healthy families come in a multitude of types, which I believe my own exemplifies perfectly. And frankly, I was a bit fed up with seeing representations of any sort of diversity in the parenting sector sitting largely amid the serious, specialised titles, largely ghettoised away from the mainstream.

I was approached in 2016

by Made Television (now Local TV) to do a parent-specific chat show across the network. Mumblogs were particularly popular then, and they wanted a show that reflected that. I won’t lie; I threatened the careers of Claudia Winkleman and Anita Rani in no way whatsoever.

While I was doing the second series, with my senses confirmed

that I was a much better writer than I was a TV presenter, I started emailing literary agents with a proposal for a funny nonfiction parenting book. After a lot of rejection, the book was picked up by Thread. The whole process of writing a book takes so much patience and humility

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Once the book was commissioned, I wrote the

chaos, particularly during the early years, life will be infinitely much happier.

whole thing over the course of the summer of 2020 while my husband home-schooled and entertained our two kids pretty much solo. I think we know who got the short straw. I must take the opportunity to big him up here, because there’s nothing like a pandemic and subsequent home-schooling to test the mettle of most relationships. But when your partner then buggers off to the spare room every day to write a book, leaving you to explain fraction multiplication and compound adjectives alone, you deserve some sort of cash reward.

I know it’s hard, but try to refrain from comparing yourself to other mums. You’ll only feel like you’re not good enough, or your best isn’t sufficient, when you start measuring yourself against other people’s apparent perfection. Social media is the worst for this, so if you’re following those accounts preying on your new-mum insecurities, see each of them for the toxic mate they are, consistently putting you down for their own gain, and UNFOLLOW! And remember, by virtue of caring about your parenting means you’re already an excellent mum.

When you watch your singleparent dad raising three kids

Immediately after answering these questions I am recording

alone, you observe a lot of juggling, and that there’s no such thing as ‘gender-specific’ duties.

My pop was cooking, cleaning, washing, doing all kid-related activities, totally solo, while working full time. I’ll always be in awe of this, especially since becoming a parent myself. He set the most brilliant example that nurturing, kind, selfless parenting is not dependent on gender; it’s quite simply driven by love. And this has always been in overflowing abundance from my pop.

He’s also the absolute king of comedy, and has shown me

on many occasions that he can turn any situation around with humour; honestly, I believe this to be a vital skill in parenting.

If you can find the funny in the

the audio for the book this week, so I need to practice not slurring and stumbling over every other word. It’s actually very hard. I also need to learn to curb my language with every blunder; I was like Danny Dyer while I was attempting the test for the audio. And then after that, I have to home-school my six-year-old daughter (which will also be a good dry run in curbing my language…)

Everything I’ve Learned About Motherhood (from my Single-Parent Dad) is out 24 February; £8.99 paperback. @word_to_the_ mothers on instagram

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