Bristol Life - Issue 312

SUBVERSIVE STORIES PAULA REGO AT ARNOLFINI

ISSUE 312 / FEBRUARY 2022 / £3

ISSUE 312 / FEBRUARY 2022 / LOVE AND THE CITY

EASILY LED: THE LIGHT FEST’S BACK / LOVE, LOVE, LOVE: YES, WE’RE DOING V DAY / BREAK EVEN: BEST SOUTH WEST STAYCATIONS

EDITOR’S LETTER

T

24

Subversive stories

Venture into the extraordinary imagination of Dame Paula Rego RA at Arnolfini

Getting Ready for the Ball (from the Jane Eyre series)

here’s a V in the month. Predictably, opinion is divided.

The haters jeer that St Valentine’s Day is nothing more than a cynical consumerist holiday fuelled by the retail and hospitality sectors in order to flog cards, gifts, flowers and meals. Warming to their theme, they’ll probably go on to point out that there’s nothing at all that links 14 February to romance.

They’re not entirely correct. It does seem that the 3rd-century Roman priest St Valentine, whose saint’s day falls on the 14th, performed secret weddings against the wishes of the authorities.

That’s pretty romantic. There again, if you really delve into the annals – ie Google up a few easily digested historical nuggets – you’ll discover that there were multiple St Valentines (including decapitated ones), and it was actually Chaucer who first linked ‘seynt valentynes day’ to love in his 13th-century poem Parliament of Fowls.

You’re welcome.

At the other extreme, flying the flag for lovers everywhere, are those who cheerfully accept it’s all a bit of frothy nonsense, but welcome it as an excuse to inject a bit of colour and romance into the grey days between Christmas and early spring.

We’re in the latter camp, so for our shopping pages this issue we’ve come up with a selection of inexpensive/lavish love tokens – all supporting local businesses, which is a kind of love in itself. For those about to take their romance to the next level, we reveal some of the latest trends in wedding receptions, while Colin’s Bristol Heroes proves that love takes many shapes and forms.

Unconvinced? Boy, you’re a tough crowd this month. Maybe ignore all the slushy stuff then, and head to Arnolfini, where a new exhibition of Paula Rego’s unsettling, dystopian art should be just the ticket for your dark, realist little heart.

DERI ROBINS Follow us on Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram @BristolLifeMag

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

Issue 312 / February 2022 COVER The Tea Party by Paula Rego

20

WEDDINGS

10 A PLACE FOR US Cater, alligator

ARTS

19 ARTS INTRO Magic mushrooms! (Not that kind) 20 WHAT’S ON Shows, gigs, art, etc 24 ART The extraordinary mind of Paula Rego 30 BRISTOL HEROES Bristol love-in; all invited 34 FESTIVAL Light up, light up, as if you had a choice

FOOD & DRINK

40 RESTAURANT We eat high on the hog (and ox) 42 FOOD & DRINK Catching up on all the edibles 47 CAFÉ SOCIETY When is a chain not a chain?

SHOPPING

48 EDITOR’S CHOICE It’s February; no prizes for

guessing this issue’s theme

51 MILLY VAUGHAN It’s Valentine’s Day (spoiler for

page 48) – but who are you dressing for?

SPORT

42

52 RUGBY Bristol Bears sistas are doing it for themselves

LIFESTYLE

54 SOUTH WEST BREAKS Staycations you’ll want

to swerve the airport for

34

BUSINESS

65 BRISTOLWORKS It’s the city’s business

PROPERTY

77 LETTING A rare opportunity in rarefied Clifton 79 SHOWCASE And speaking of Clifton...

REGULARS

7 SPOTLIGHT Wallace & Gromit, the Colston Four and

Ricky’s bench

9 BRIZZOGRAM Play Bristy for me 39 CHRIS COX 90 BRISTOL LIVES Larkin Cen

Currently lighting up our lives: Mark Rylance as Semmelweis at Bristol Old Vic; death by disco at The Raven; The Light Fest returns at the beginning of March Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody, Stan Cullimore, Milly Vaughan, Chris Cox, Will Carpenter Commercial manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Craig Wallberg craig. wallberg@mediaclash.co.uk Business development 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, Carriage Court, 22 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 West Country-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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SPOTLIGHT

Nick (left) with Merlin, who may just have one of the best jobs in Bristol

Animation

CRACKING NEWS, GROMIT

Wallace & Gromit fans, rejoice, for Aardman’s dynamic duo are returning for a new feature film in 2024. Nick Park will be joined

by Merlin Crossingham, creative director of Wallace & Gromit (enviable job description) to direct the film, which sees Gromit becoming concerned that his master has become overly dependent on his inventions. When a ‘Smart Gnome’ develops a mind of its own, it falls to Gromit to battle sinister forces and save Wallace.

(You’d have think he’d have learned his lesson with that penguin . . .)

The film will première on Netflix globally, but in the UK it will debut on the BBC. It seems fitting that Auntie should have the first bite of the oh-so-British Wallace & Gromit cake... aardman.com

Documentary

THE COLSTON FALL

TV (and a new bench)

HOPE IS EVERYTHING

Just arrived in the grounds of Ashton Court is a new bench inscribed with the words ‘Hope is Everything’.

The bench has been donated by Netflix to celebrate the third and final series of Ricky Gervais’s After Life. Ricky plays the bereaved and suicidal Tony, who finds a glimmer of hope through his conversations with a widow, played by Penelope Wilton, as they sit on a bench in front of the graves of their relative spouses. Not classic sitcom material on the face of it, but superb nonetheless.

Ricky has worked with suicide prevention charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) to place 25 benches at different locations around the UK, with QR codes leading to online resources and a message of support.

“We hope the benches will create a lasting legacy for After Life,” says Ricky, who has Tweeted a map of where the benches can be found, “so you can visit and take a selfie”. Adorable German Shepherd pal not mandatory, but obviously ideal.

For more thecalmzone.net

Last month, four people were put on trial for the toppling of the Colston statue during a Black Lives Matter march.

Admired by many Bristolians, who had campaigned for the statue’s removal for decades, condemned by government officials, the actions of the Colston Four sparked a polarising debate around race, equality and the celebration of problematic historical figures.

Now a new documentary by Arthur Cauty features exclusive interviews with the defendants and legal team, offering a glimpse at the people behind the headlines. It’s a fascinating moment in both Bristol’s and legal history; watch at vimeo. com/662902809

Check out @Banksy on instagram to see what he reckons should be done with the statue...

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SPOTLIGHT

EARLY ONE MORNING When the wintry early morning mist swirls through the city, dedicated Bristol photographers rise and sally forth, armed with cameras and drones .. . .

@sambinding

@eddcope

@photographsofthechewvalley

@katieloo1985

@madam_shark

@aaronpjsims

@thehistoryb0yphotography

@l_bzn

@aishling_jana

@craigderrick40

@andy.hartup

@theperkspective

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WEDDINGS

THERE’S A PLACE FOR US

So, you’ve decided to get married. Lovely! Hopefully, all your friends and family are more on board than Tony and Maria’s in West Side Story. So far, so good. The question is, where are you going to hold the party?

I

f you’re reading this – unless, we suppose, you’re stuck in a waiting room and have literally nothing better to do – you’ve decided to get married.

Lovely.

While the ‘will you marry me?’ thing was crucial in kicking it all off, it’s by no means the last question you’ll have to deal with. In fact, it’s just the tip of the wedding cake icing-berg.

There’s masses to thing about: whether you can get away with just inviting people you like, what Instagram handle to use, whether your mum will kill you if you rock up in a wedding dress teamed with pink DMs – but perhaps the most important decision of all is where you’re going to hold the reception. The choice in Bristol is wide, with many venues, from hotels to arts centres and heritage centres licensed to handle not just the wedding breakfast and after-party, but civil ceremonies of all kinds.

To take the pulse of the current trends, we spoke to four local experts – two working at large hotel venues, and two running catering firms.

1: THE BIG PICTURE

“Our staff’s genuine enthusiasm shines through. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true!”

Berwick Lodge is a quirky, independently owned boutique wedding venue and hotel, set in acres of romantic, secluded gardens with views across to Wales. “Our civil marriage licence grants us the opportunity to host small and intimate weddings,” says Jo Maggs, “from elopements for two, to ceremonies and receptions for up to 100 guests. Berwick offers warming open fires in winter, glistening fountains in the summer and beautiful private rooms in the original 1890s house. Through the

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whole process we offer support, join in our couples’ excitement and attend to every detail along the way. Personal touches are added by the staff, and their genuine enthusiasm shines through. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true!”

Aztec Hotel and Spa offers three exclusive packages that can be tailored to suit any couple’s vision, explains Kirstie Hathway. These include the Classic, Elegant and Fairytale packages, each with different offerings to cater for every type of wedding and budget. “Each package includes the small details and big ones; the Fairytale wedding package even includes the hen party.

We also work with local suppliers to add bespoke additions.”

And then there’s those who bring the party to you. Bristol-based event catering service Mesa can handle everything from a simple street food style event to a four-course banquet.

“Not only are we the chosen catering partner of Pieminister, we have also partnered with another successful Bristolborn restaurant, Thali Café,” says Katie Packham. “We also have dedicated plant-based menus on offer.

“Our business model is to team up with some of Bristol’s best food brands, known and loved by many, and bring their cuisine to the tables of weddings and events across the UK. We have also launched our Pieminister and Thali plant-based menus, that allow clients to book an alternative but fully vegan menu. Our service is bespoke, and we aim to work with the client and guide them through the planning process of their wedding day.”

Ed Warr of Bristol Event Catering describes its offering as “simple and relaxed. We combine seasonal produce, beautiful presentation and the finest natural ingredients, all freshly prepared”

© SAM GIBSON

The options for wedding venues in Bristol are exhaustive; Polly and Tom’s took place at the Lido

2: CATER, ALLIGATOR

© SAM GIBSON

Food trends come, and food trends go. It used to be all about cupcakes, then rainbow-coloured macarons, then street food, then vintage sweets – so, what’s hot in wedding food and drink for 2022?

“More interesting non-alcoholic drinks options are set to be a big thing this year at weddings,” says Jo Maggs. “Too often in the past, guests who don’t drink alcohol were left with boring choices, but many mocktails are popular now, from a fruity spritz mix with cherries to a non-alcoholic gin with hibiscus and ginger.

“Couples are also more and more conscious of where their food is coming from, so there’s a bigger focus than ever on food miles and carbon footprints. At Berwick, we’re fortunate that we grow some of our own ingredients in the kitchen garden, so don’t need to source everything from our suppliers. We try to encourage couples to choose seasonal menus, to help bring down the carbon footprint and make the most of the wonderful flavours of an in-season ingredient from British suppliers.”

Katie Packham agrees that it’s all about going local and seasonal.

Also, “Grazing tables have taken over from a traditional cold buffet.

They offer an array of local produce, and are often priced per metre, so you can fill as many tables with these delights as you like. Healthier and more plant-based food offerings are becoming more and more popular too, as clients become more aware of the benefits to the environment as well as health.”

“We are finding a lot of our couples are looking to have feasting, tapas-style food, with a real emphasis on table-sharing and getting stuck in,” says Ed Warr. “Couples love the sociable interaction it creates.

Maybe it helps with the table planning, too? Also, following the trend we have seen in restaurants, a laidback, less formal approach to service is high on the list.”

At Aztec Hotel, says Kirstie Hathway, “We still receive requests for some of the same traditions; however, we are seeing a lot more couples being creative with their cakes, whether it’s in the form of a doughnut wall or a three-tier cake made out of the finest cheddar.”

above: Mesa is Pieminister’s chosen catering partner; below: Cakes have become increasingly creative;

opposite: Many hotels offer all-in weddings, including the ceremony

WEDDINGS 4: SAVING THE PLANET, ONE WEDDING AT A TIME

What kind of decor is everyone asking for at their weddings – anything new or interesting you’d care to share?

Ed of Bristol Event Catering finds that couples are drawn to the more natural earthy colours and tones – “nothing too stuffy, keeping the look fresh – so a lot of green plants, with flowers that match the seasons giving that important splash of colour.”

“Dried flowers and grasses are still hugely popular for romantic-style weddings,” agrees Jo Maggs, “but bold, bright colours, inspired by current ’90s fashion, seem to be making a reappearance after years of muted and neutral colour schemes.”

“We have seen lots of lovely arrangements of dried flowers, from simple table decorations to decadent archways,” says Katie of Mesa. “Not only are they beautiful, but it means they last for many years to come.

“Hoop chandeliers are also a must-have this season, decorated in anything from greenery to flowers and hanging lightbulbs. They’re a great addition to both large and small wedding venues.

“Just as food is staying local and seasonal, so are the centrepieces. Many couples are talking about foraging from parents’ and neighbours’ gardens, and exploring what’s on offer in the countryside to make their wedding special and unique.”

Kirstie at Aztec confirms that décor is leaning to more of a natural theme, “with less of the balloons and artificial look. Gone are sugar almond favours; we love seeing what new ideas our couples have in mind. Many couples are now using favours as place cards, which is great not just for the way it looks, but for sustainability, too.”

© BR AD WAKEFIELD

3: THE NATURAL LOOK

Speaking of which, how important are eco considerations to couples?

This is Bristol, yeah, so no surprise to hear from Jo Maggs that “more and more couples are asking about our supply chain, what we do with waste, and the carbon footprint impact a wedding can have on the environment. We are constantly finding ways to improve our sustainability efforts. Couples find it reassuring that we partner with Too Good to Go to help fight food waste, meaning that any quality amount of surplus food from the wedding can be ‘saved’ by local people through the purchase of a Magic Bag via the app. By others purchasing Magic Bags, many kilograms of CO2e are saved.

“Plant-based menus are on the up, too; last year we hosted a few entirely vegan weddings. Couples are also invited to plant a tree after their wedding, to mark the occasion with a permanent memory of their day while giving back to the environment.”

“It’s really encouraging that our clients genuinely care about the sustainable credentials of their celebration food,” says Katie Packham.

“We aim to be as considerate to the environment as we can, and discuss this with clients when they’re booking. Our partners, such as Pieminister, are also very ambitious with their sustainability goals. Mesa Catering’s considerations include eco disposables, ensuring that our produce is all locally sourced; zero landfill waste disposal, and we plant and care for two trees for every event we do through Forest of Avon Trust. Along with our clients, we also aim to donate one meal per every guest we feed to FareShare South West.”

“Eco considerations have certainly become more popular for our couples,” says Kirstie at Aztec. “Being an independent hotel, we like to support local. We source from the Bristol Cider Company, Cotswold Cider Company and Shut the Fudge Door a family-run fudge making business, to name a few.”

“Couples like to know that we are on top of all things eco and green,” says Ed Warr. “So, the onus really is on us to show them that we are sourcing produce locally and seasonally with as few food miles as possible. We think it is important to offer our couples interesting and delicious vegan and vegetarian options that would be a great addition to any wedding meal, whether you’re vegan or vegetarian or not.”

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WEDDINGS 5: WE GOT LOCKED DOWN. WE GOT UP AGAIN

“After nearly two years of constantly adapting weddings to meet changes in Covid-related regulations, it just feels like part of life now,” says Jo Maggs. “Obviously, it drastically affected how couples have been able to plan, but we’ve kept up with the rules, found solutions for them and made changes along the way. As you’d imagine, the workload increased hugely, with some couples postponing up to five times. We are still here though, and we have many contented couples who made it through the tough times, so that makes us very happy indeed.”

“We are still feeling the effects of Covid, as many others are,” says Katie at Mesa. “We continue to come across engaged couples who should be full of excitement and optimism, but instead are feeling anxious and unsure how to move forward with their wedding plans.

“We are also finding that many dates are being booked up by the backlog from Covid, so many clients are having to negotiate on wedding dates; the process can be quite stressful for them. Financially, the hospitality industry is still struggling, due to the year just gone, a quiet Christmas, and still with clients being hesitant to commit to bookings without 100% clarity.”

“The Covid effect has been massive,” says Ed Warr. “It’s changed the way we work every day. We will always follow the government guidelines, but if our couples want us to do more, we are always willing to. It seems like the norm now, and part of the daily routine to have the kitchen and office team testing all the time.”

At Aztec, “We are very fortunate to have a big event space, which has allowed us to offer weddings and events with social distancing,” says Kirstie. “We also have a beautiful terrace overlooking a small lake, where we have hosted some wonderful events within the guidelines.”

YOU HAVE BEEN READING Aztec Hotel spa-and-fitness.co.uk/aztec Berwick Lodge berwicklodge.co.uk Bristol Event Catering bristoleventcatering.com

above: Couples love the warm, bespoke service at Berwick Lodge

“Couples are more and more conscious of where their food is coming from, so there’s a bigger focus than ever on food miles and carbon footprints”

© ALBERT PALMER PHOTOGR APHY

Mesa Catering mesacatering.co.uk

Reach the best in the west Affluent, active and influential and just a call away

A FRESH AND SIMPLE APPROACH From wedding catering to private dining, we are here to help you create your perfect event

Bristol Life team 01225 475800

0117 462 1778 | hello@bristoleventcatering.com

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THE ARTS

PHOTO BY RICHARD HAUGHTON @SONY MUSIC

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

TRAIL OF THE UNEXPECTED Tyntesfield – that stately Gothic Revival pile in Wraxall, managed by the National Trust – is always fun to visit. This month there’s an extra reason for heading over, when the mansion and its grounds form the setting for IGNITE, a magical-sounding trail of light, lanterns, fantasy and fire. Think flickering flames among majestic trees, a fiery interpretation of stars and spheres, and illuminated flora and fantasy. There’ll be dancing fairies (oh (oh yes), fiery glowing fish, and magic mushrooms (no chemical stimulants required). “Expect the unexpected” they say; also expect to pay from £16.50 upwards (£12 for kids over two) plus £8 parking, unless you’re an NT member.

IGNITE is at Tyntesfield from 11-27 February Book at ignitetrails.co.uk/trail/tyntesfield

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WHAT’S ON

Mark Rylance in Dr Semmelweis – grab a ticket if you can...

4 February-4 March 2022

EXHIBITIONS Until 13 February

SUTAPA BISWAS The British-Indian artist engages with questions of identity, race and gender in relation to time, space and history; Arnolfini, arnolfini.org.uk

Until 5 June

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Back at M Shed, with a new set of extraordinary nature images. bristolmuseums.org.uk

Until 4 September

GRAYSON’S ART CLUB Artworks chosen by Grayson and guest celebs during his TV series of the same name; at Bristol Museum, bristolmuseums.org.uk

5 February-8 May

CANDICE LIN: PIGS AND POISON Major new commission and solo exhibition by the LA artist, comprising virtual reality animation, flesh-like sculptures and a large-scale mediaeval trebuchet.

Also check out Nosferasta by Brooklyn-based filmmakers Adam

Khalil and Bayley Sweitzer – a Rastafarian vampire film, no less; spikeisland.org.uk

5 Feb-29 May

PAULA REGO: SUBVERSIVE STORIES The world-famous figurative artist returns to Arnolfini; see cover feature, page 24. arnolfini.org.uk

19 Feb-12 June

HOLDING THE BABY An exhibition of new photographic work by Polly Braden, creating a portrait of the strength and resilience of single parent families facing austerity. At Arnolfini; arnolfini.org.uk

SHOWS

Until 5 February

MATTHEW BOURNE’S NUTCRACKER The sweetest of all Matthew Bourne’s treats, filled with his trademark wit, pathos and magical fantasy, returns to Hippodrome. atgtickets.com

Until 12 February

DR SEMMELWEIS Unmissable new drama devised by and starring Mark Rylance, exploring the legacy of an unjustly forgotten pioneer; BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

Until 19 February

TITANIC MUSEUM Discover Bristol’s connection to the doomed liner, along with items never seen before in public; at The Island, eventbrite.com

THE RED LION In a world removed from the wealth and television cameras, a non-league team are struggling to make ends meet. So, when a gifted young player arrives out of nowhere, it’s the opportunity everyone’s been waiting for... BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk

3-10 March

8-12 February

22-27 February

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY Featuring local, budding and amateur photographers with a focus on UK biodiversity; at Future Leap, thefutureeconomynetwork.co.uk

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WAITRESS With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship

can provide the perfect recipe for happiness. Matt Willis plays the hot doctor. Hippodrome, atgtickets.com

12-13 February

WOMEN WHO GAVE NO F*UCKS Brace yourselves for no-holdsbarred tales to make you want to rip up the rule book and riot. Who will you crown Supreme Giver of Absolutely None? Stand-up taletellers slam down the stories, with an MC to keep things clean; at TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

12-19 February

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE The Austen classic, adapted by Simon Reade for those talented Bristol Old Vic Theatre School kids, at The Mount Without; oldvic.ac.uk

17-19 February

POLICE COPS: BADASS BE THY NAME A new ’90s- inspired blockbuster from the comedy trio. In a gritty northern town in 1999, to the tune of a ’90s rave soundtrack, a kitchen-sink drama turns into a vampire-slaying horror epic. We’ve all been there. At TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com

WHAT’S ON

new music’. At Bristol Hippodrome, atgtickets.com

17 February-19 March

DISNEY’S THE LION KING Set against the majesty of the Serengeti to the evocative rhythms of Africa, Simba seeks to fulfil his destiny as King of the Pridelands.

Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

23-26 February

OUT OF CURIOSITY Bristol dance troupe Impermanence invest their incredible physicality, avant garde costumes and amazing music in three new works; BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

BLACK IS THE COLOR OF MY VOICE Solo show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, written and directed by Fringe First-winner Apphia Campbell.

Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com

L’ELISIR D’AMORE Creative, colourful and uplifting production of Gaetano Donizetti’s pastoral romance of an opera, by Bristol Opera at 1532 Performing Arts Centre; bristolopera.co.uk

18 February

3-12 March

LUKE WRIGHT Patti Smith praised Luke’s ‘cool poems’; Carl Barât of The Libertines said ‘Luke is one of the greats. A poetic pugilist. Beguiling and hypnotic”. Go and make your own mind up at Bristol Folk House; bristolfolkhouse.co.uk

19-20, 22, 24, 26 February

CARMEN Desire, love and toreadors, as Opera in a Box stages Bizet’s banger in the intimate surroundings of The Old Fire Station; perainabox.com

WHAT REMAINS OF US Acclaimed actor Kwong Loke features in a raw, moving and funny new play featuring arresting visuals and sound.

BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk

MUSIC 6 February

RONAN KEATING: TWENTY TWENTY 20 years after the release of his debut solo album, the likeable Ronan returns with a ‘greatest hits of brand

10 February

POLICE DOG HOGAN Tim Dowling and co are back at St George’s with their mash-up of country, bluegrass and very British songwriting. Good times absolutely guaranteed; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

INSTANT WIT The improv ninjas, back at Alma Tavern; tickettailor.com

LLOYD COLE Lloyd’s new album Guesswork mirrors the uncertainty of the world as you enter your third act. “I’m starting to think that old age could be a lot more fun than middle age. Because really, what have we got to lose?” he says.

Indeed. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

15 February

19 February

TOM ODELL Brit and Ivor Novello award winning songwriter returns to O2 with new music from his fourth album, monsters. academymusicgroup.com

20 February

ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN One of the most influential British bands of all time bring all the hits to O2. Does Ian still wield a heavy hand with the eyeliner? Hard to say, he’s wearing shades in the photo above. academymusicgroup.com WOLF ALICE Ellie, Joff, Theo and Joel perform songs from third album, Blue Weekend at O2, academymusicgroup.com

24 February

THE LIBERTINES Pete and the lads bring their enchantingly named Giddy Up A Ding-Dong tour to O2; academymusicgroup.com

COMEDY 5 February Nothing Lasts Forever, but the Bunnymen appear to be bucking the trend; Has Luke Wright borrowed the After Life dog?; He’s going to be a mighty king, so enemies beware: The Lion King roars back into town

12 February

16 February

23 February

clockwise from top left:

to do about the fragility of life recently, but don’t worry; Mark has it covered. Spiritual enquiry meets high-octane observational comedy as he tries to cram a couple of years of pathological overthinking into an evening at TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

MARK WATSON: THIS CAN’T BE IT We’ve all had some pondering

GEORGE EGG: MOVABLE FEAST New comedy-and-cooking show from George, who makes gourmet food live on stage; this time he’s showing us how to procure decent items from the train buffet trolley, beat rip-off airport restaurant prices and turn roadworks into a picnic. At Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com

17 February

ALFIE BROWN: SENSITIVE MAN Alfie’s jokes weave together to create something greater than the sum of their parts, answering a question about emotion and its complicated relationship to morality. You can disagree, but you must laugh. Hen & Chicken, henandchicken.com

OTHER 12 February

CIRQUE ÉLECTRONIQUE A multi-sensory immersive night at Loco Club, fusing the underground music scene; high-end circus collaborating with Bristol based company The Invisible Circus. With Boxia. headfirstbristol.co.uk

26 February

THE ENCHANTED MASQUERADE BALL Loft Live Sessions bring live music, DJs and cabaret to a party at Bristol’s magical new venue The Mount Without; expect upbeat pop/ funk and, they say, an unrivalled atmosphere; loftlivesessions.com n

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SUBVERSIVE

STORIES One of the world’s greatest figurative artists, Paula Rego is a painter of stories: a myth-maker and magical realist, celebrated for her dark, dystopian paintings, prints and drawings. This month, Arnolfini invites you to follow her down the rabbit hole of her disturbing imagination . . .

P

Words by Ursula Cole

ortuguese by birth, British by adoption, Paula Rego draws upon folk tales, fiction and her own life to create her unsettling tableaux.

Her images are full of cruelty, violence and eroticism; they radiate unease and ambiguity, as Rego focuses on dysfunctional family relationships, political systems and social issues.

She’s noted for work with a strong female emphasis; her women are always a primary focus, whether they’re in pain, power or subjugation. Her prints and paintings often convey a sinister aspect to a scene which might be mundane, but in which danger always seems to lurk.

Rego’s work has much in common with Disney cartoons (she’s a fan), with their situation comedy and themes taken from nursery stories and novels; it dramatises the emotional relationship between people in a way that’s very personal, but at the same time, through caricature and overstatement, immediately understandable by others. Her paintings offer vignettes of anger, jealousy, lust or other dramatisations of domestic lives; she often portrays her characters as animal or vegetables – monkeys, bears, cats, dogs, frogs, even cabbages – but women are mostly allowed to remain as women: Rego women, strong, muscular, often giving as good as they get. “I’m interested in seeing things from the underdog’s perspective. Usually that’s a female perspective,” she says.

In a long career that began when she was in her early teens – she’s now 87 – Paula Rego has been credited with bringing great

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

psychological insight and imagination to topics that society often tries to suppress, or perhaps addresses only in private. She tackles subjects that are often concealed or disguised, perhaps out of unease, politeness or embarrassment.

Her paintings offer a glimpse into a world of awkward truths. In general, subjects such as mental illness or old age are routinely swept under the carpet or talked about in whispers, but Rego explores these themes fearlessly in her art. Images are set alongside what some have called perverse fantasies, as well as touching on her own struggles and personal tragedies: during her life she has battled fascism, a misogynistic art world and her own manic depression.

Paula Rego was brought up in an autocratic, right-wing, deeply religious Portugal. At the time, women there were unconsidered citizens in a totally male-dominated society.

“It was outrageous, really. Women had no rights whatsoever. They didn’t even have the right to have a passport. And you needed permission from your father or your husband to leave the country. You didn’t even have the right to a bank account,” she’s said. “Women had a terrible time; a lot of women could not even read or write. [In the 1940s] you went to school from the age of 6 till 10; that was all.”

She herself enjoyed a protected childhood: she was an only child who loved drawing, encouraged by her enlightened, anti-fascist father who supported her when she won a place at London’s Slade School of Art in the 1950s. It was there she fell in love with a fellow student, Victor Willing. It was a relationship filled with ups and downs, but Rego loved him passionately and still regards him as a mentor; she says that he knew more about art than anyone she has ever met. “I painted to please him,” she says. “I was very lucky to have someone there to learn from.”

“Rego’s women are strong, muscular; often giving as good as they get”

ARTS Mist I (from Pendle Witches series), 1996

This dark expressionist etching is from a series that accompanied poems by Blake Morrison, based on the true story of the Pendle witch trials in England in 1612

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

ARTS Feeding Time (from the O Vinho series), 2007

Like all the images in this series, the litho of two women and a baby is indicative of the profound transforming effects of wine

At the age of 35, Willing was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He had been a heavy drinker, and during their marriage had several extramarital affairs. Some of these mistresses feature in Rego’s paintings.

Rego’s career began to flourish in the early 1960s when she began exhibiting with The London Group, whose members have included David Hockney, Henry Moore, LS Lowry and Barbara Hepworth.

Her international reputation can be pinpointed to her first major solo exhibition at the Air Gallery, London, in 1981.

Overlooked for many decades, today her works – paintings, pastel drawings, prints – are valued in the millions, and a museum dedicated to her work, called House Of Stories, has opened outside Lisbon – one of the very few galleries in the world that are dedicated to a living artist.

Rego isn’t necessarily considered a political artist – her reputation is based rather on subverted narrative than protest. Some of these narratives are drawn from life, others from fiction. But she has ploughed a furrow for women’s causes, and for female artists, talking passionately about feminist issues such as abortion, and paving the way for them to be taken seriously in mainstream discussion.

Rego’s art certainly has a polemic edge, but whatever the subject matter or subtext, each piece is united by one thing: to kickstart any new work, she says, she always needs ‘a story’. n Paula Rego: Subversive Stories, Arnolfini 5 February-29 May. Free entry – book online; arnolfini.org.uk

THE EXHIBITION

Dame Paula Rego RA’s exhibition at Arnolfini features over 80 prints from across her extensive career. The selection explores the interweaving wit and dark humour within her multi-layered interpretations, bringing shadowy readings to childish mischief, while casting a light on present-day politics, most notably those affecting women. Here's a taste of what you’ll see in the show:

Little Miss Muffet II (from the Nursery Rhymes series), 1989 The terrifying spider with a human face is sat on the tuffet, while Miss Muffet appears to be taking the situation in her stride.

Now who’s in charge?

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Mermaid Drowning Wendy, 1992

Rego women are often strong, muscular, even masculine.

This mermaid from Peter Pan is very different from the pretty fairylike creatures dreamed up for Barrie by Arthur Rackham...

Loving Bewick (from the Jane Eyre series), 2001

It’s not hard to see why Paula Rego was drawn to the darkness of the Brontës . In this litho, Jane literally embraces the book, Bewick’s History of British Birds, that sustained her imagination as a sad and lonely child

THE REGO METHOD

Paula has favoured pastels over oils for much of her career. She regards herself as a draughtswoman, a print-maker, a drawing artist. She told the Tate: “Invention comes from drawing. As you’re drawing something, it often turns into something else, and you can go with that.” Once the drawing is done, layers of colour are added – more often than not by using pastels. Painting, she believes, is ‘just filling in’ whereas pastels allow you to add to your subjects. It is this combination of techniques which give Rego’s work such a distinctive feel.

Scarecrow and the Pig, 2006

This piece is based on a tale of a pig that rescues a scarecrow from a fire.

When the farmer wants to slaughter the pig, the scarecrow does nothing to help rescue it. Violent yet whimsical, the work is an example of Rego’s preferred themes of power games and hierarchies

Seduction of Prince Pig, 2006

Based on the 16th-century Italian tale From Swine to Man, whose narrative verges on obscenity, it’s erotic in a fantastic way.

Although (spoiler alert) the tale has a happy ending, in the froginto-prince tradition, it’s still a grim account of a beautiful woman sacrificed to a monster www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 27

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Love. What do you love?

And does it love you back?

Words and pictures by Colin Moody 1

PHOTOGRAPHY

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hat makes a great night out for you? Maybe a club? Or a festival? To quote Tyres from the old TV series Spaced, you know it’s a night to love and cherish if the music was on point.

“Last night was an A-1, tip-top clubbing jam fair. It was a sandwich of fun wrapped up in a big bag like disco fudge. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

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Belinda said heaven was a place on Earth.

Annie thought she had been talking to an angel.

But every now and then, when the sun is just setting right, and the music is loud and strong enough just there, you can find it.

She seems to have found it. Almost just an arm’s reach away. And then, before you know it you are back like Robbie, sitting and waiting for an angel.

Such is love. Such is everything that matters.

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Love. Love fashion.

Put the right clobber on, and you own the day.

Why not just pick one colour, and to quote Pam, just before she got a new battery for that watch, “pink makes the boys wink”.

Always got an eye for a good bit of street fashion; I salute all those who take that extra hour or two to get the look right. So go take a longer look in that cupboard and reach out for your inner self, expressed on the outside.

There will be a time for comfy slacks and elasticated waistbands, but this is not it.

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Stick a pony in your pocket Fetch the suitcase from the van.

Love the street traders.

No premises required, direct to the public.

I spent 16 years in East London, and got to love a good street market. When Bristol got blitzed in the 1940s, the next day, people were out with the brooms clearing the rubble and setting up what they could.

We need street trading so we can try something out, like this guy on the right, who may or may not be in love with the range of warming hats he’s being sweet-talked into trying, one by one.

Heroes, coming and going like the changing seasons or the tides of the sea.

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After the recent times are entered onto the spreadsheet of life, we have a lot of big numbers in the love for the NHS column. Big numbers. Have to give one of this issue’s love-to-love-you heroes awards to the NHS. Photos taken on the way to Southmead Hospital in a local garage.

“When Bristol got blitzed, traders were out with the brooms the next day, clearing the rubble and setting up what they could” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 31

PHOTOGRAPHY

“Love to all those who show love to the wonky sideways animals” 5

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We all love our pets, but it takes a special lot of love to take on a one-eyed rescue dog. So, love to all those who show love to the wonky sideways animals. But as all those of us who have furry companions know, after the months of stress-eating of the arm of your sofa and the bad attitude to the other dogs on the block comes some sweeeeet connection and deep affection. And don’t we all need a bit more of that right now.

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You know who you are.

Senior gent walking around in that seaman’s cap, maybe out for a stroll to the Nova.

Were you in the navy? Did you step off the deck back onto land, in days past, and yet something keeps drawing you to the water’s edge?

To the wind and the ting-ting of the sail wires against the masts all down by the Arnolfini.

I’ve seen you looking out across the water. I just want to acknowledge your love of the sea. To the gulls’ way you are drawn. Love these fine gents, and wonder if over the coming years we will see less of them as they sail on to distant shores to the undiscovered country.

I doff my cap to them.

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How can I compare you to a summer’s day?

Yeah; a summer’s day as grey as a battleship But a summer’s day nonetheless.

To those whose love spans time that would make the Tik Tok generation’s heads spin.

Fine-wine love, that has matured in the bottle.

Love to you, and as we all walk towards eternal lines let’s spend some more time by the track lines, hand in hand.

Love that says, I will carry this bag for you, my darling, for now they call this a man bag… yes, a man bag. That we should live to see such times.

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Our last hero is Bristol at night. The hero we didn’t know we needed, until we pulled on our DMs, assembled the collective and heard that song from your fave playlist lift the crowd higher in a way that staying home and watching Bake Off could never ever do. Maybe you went to Propyard on New Year’s Eve, and are in this shot. Maybe you came storming into 2022 away from the all-days-are-Mondays 2021 faster than those laser beams crossing through the haze.

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Colin is available as a ‘mini-mobile PR/marketing/social media unit’, to shoot striking street-style photographs at live events: parties, launches, promos and performances, for impactful immediate social media. Fees start at £100 for a two-hour package. email: mrcolinmoody@gmail.com Twitter: @moodycolin; Instagram @moodycolin319

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

ARTS

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and for once it’s not the headlights of an oncoming train...”

LIGHT UP, LIGHT UP After launching in 2020, and taking a Covid-dictated sabbatical in 2021, the Bristol Light Festival returns next month to make the city shine

A favourite from the 2020 festival, Pink Enchantment saw Castle Bridge immersed in swirling mist

© ANDRE PAT TENDEN

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here’s a light at the end of the tunnel – and for once it’s not the headlights of an oncoming train. We’re talking about the return of the Bristol Light Festival, which is poised again to fill the city with striking installations from nationally renowned light artists, bringing colour, vibrancy and childlike wonder to Bristol during the first week in March.

If you saw anything of the 2020 trail, you’ll know the score. Everything’s free; just wander the city’s streets between 5-10pm, following the location map on the website if you like to be structured, and you’ll see the lightworks come to life. Hopefully, you’ll stop to support a few retail and hospitality businesses on the way.

This year’s installations will shine their light on a few unexpected places as well as illuminating Bristol’s best-known landmarks in and around Park Street, Queen Square, St George’s Bristol, Cabot Circus, Castle Bridge, Temple Gardens, College Green and the Harbourside.

New for this year, thanks to a grant from Arts Council England, there are a few daylight and green-energy installations, too, making it possible to enjoy some of the artworks throughout the day.

The festival is another of those bright ideas – literally, in this case – from Bristol City Centre BID, in partnership with Redcliffe and Temple BID, Arts Council England, and Cabot Circus, and is curated by the festival’s creative director Katherine Jewkes.

“This year, we’ve curated a programme that reflects Bristol’s creative spirit – we want to make space for people to dance, play and explore all that Bristol has to offer,” says Katherine.

“Many pieces in the programme this year are completely new works, which will have their worldwide debut in Bristol. We are thrilled to be showcasing a mix of homegrown talent, artists from the South West who have never been shown on this scale in the city before, alongside some of the most exciting artists in the UK today.”

So, who and what will be brightening our lives this March? Here’s a few we know about so far:

BIRDWATCHING

Bristol audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde will present two nature-inspired creations at this year’s event. Kathy is a member of the film and sound collective Bristol Experimental Expanded Film, and a resident at

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© K ATHY HINDE

ARTS

Pervasive Media Studio, creating much of her work here in the city.

One of her installations will feature in the garden at St George’s Bristol; the light-and-sound sculpture Chirp & Drift, a flock of illuminated instruments which look like birds, which chatter away in morse code.

As visitors walk beneath, the gentle tones and harmonies made by accordion reeds hidden inside each bird can be heard in a delicate and gentle way.

Kathy’s Luminous Birds will appear in Temple Gardens, with an animated flock of traditional origami-style birds suspended overhead.

Each bird has a slightly different wing position, creating a sequence similar to a stop-motion animation, with accompanying sounds adding to the artwork.

from top: Chirp & Drift will appear at St George’s, and Luminous Birds at Temple Gardens; Circle of Light will be built in Queen Square, with Exponential at Cabot’s

Lighting designers Toy Studio will bring their colourful and immersive daylight installation to Bristol for the first time. Circle of Light will surround the equestrian statue in Queen Square, creating coloured shadows that extend and contract depending on the time of day, angle, and intensity of the sun.

You can experience Circle of Light from a distance, taking in the rainbow of colours spanning the square, or you can walk through each colour shadow and see the square in a different light. The installation will also be part of the evening programme, when it will light up and bathe the square in a spectrum of colour.

© K ATHY HINDE

TOY STORY

One of this year’s new commissions for Bristol Light Festival is created

by Squidsoup, a group of internationally renowned artists, designers and technologists. Cascade is an exuberant fountain of energy, light and sound that will emanate from the top of Left Handed Giant brewpub, creating waves of sound and light as it cascades into the river below.

Named after one of the original variety of hops, Cascade is the latest incarnation in Squidsoup’s ongoing explorations into the immersive possibilities of spatialised light and sound. Each light orb is designed and hand-built by the group, creating a highly immersive, surprising experience.

MIRROR MIRROR

Multi-disciplinary design studio Lucid Creates will bring two interactive and spectacular light installations to Bristol for the first time, both at Cabot Circus. Exponential is a seemingly-floating, kaleidoscopic mirrored cube, encased in endlessly moving patterns of light, triggered by an hour-long ambient soundtrack; if Frame Perspective was your favourite installation from the 2020 fest, this one’s probably for you.

Crossroads is an immersive space in which audiences experience illusions that can reveal everything from how they process space and time to their perception of consciousness. Lights move in sync with a transportive ambient soundscape by Canadian artists Exist Strategy to create an hour-long immersive AV experience. n Bristol Light Festival runs 1-6 March For more bristollightfestival.org; Instagram @Bristol_Light_Fest; Twitter @Bristol_Light; Facebook #Bristollightfestival

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

© SEAN POLLOCK PHOTOGR APHY

SQUID GAMES

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STAND-UP GUY CHRIS COX

Hungary heart Travel is meant to broaden the mind – so why are all the local markets exactly the bloody same?

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weekend away; it’s just what we needed after two years of a pandemic and four years of having tiny humans running around.

Anyway, my wife – and well done to all Adam Buxton fans who read that in a very specific way – and I ruthlessly took the opportunity of free grandparentrelated childcare and buggered off to Budapest for a few days. A city we’ve had on our to-visit list for quite some time.

It’s funny; in the pre-pandem days, travelling was second

nature to me. Not a week went by when I wasn’t flying, and not a season when my family didn’t come to join me somewhere in the world.

There’s nothing like travel for reminding us how big the world is, how small we are, and for filling our minds with inspiration and our suitcases with tat from a local market.

The excitement of arriving in a snowy Budapest was quickly diminished at around 4am when I became very close friends with the porcelain throne due to food poisoning. Yep, just what I needed: to pay a small fortune to get away and spend it lying

“There’s nothing like travel for reminding us how big the world is, and for filling our minds with inspiration and our suitcases with tat from a local market”

on the floor of a hotel bathroom.

The only upside was that the marble floor of the Ritz Carlton Budapest was nice and cold on my face.

Fortunately, 24 hours later, I was well enough to finally get to see the city, but with my energy zapped there was only one way to do it.

Segway.

If you’re not familiar with this nifty device, Wikipedia defines it as ‘a two-wheeled, self-balancing personal transporter’ – oh, just look it up. And here’s my pro tip on visiting a new city: book a Segway tour for your first morning, and in a few hours you can see most of the city without using any leg power, picking places to come back to and getting a real sense of where everything is.

We went with Segway King (budasegwaypest.com) and not only do you look super cool zooming around all those other people using their legs like idiots, but you also get a guide who gives you some insight into what you’re seeing.

The high point, quite literally, is Buda Castle at nearly 50 metres above the city. Normally you’d need to take on just under 200 steps by foot, but not with a Segway. You glide up the hill, arriving at the top to enjoy panoramic views and to get

selfies without a red puffy face from all that walking.

Then it was on to the markets for a mulled wine. Originally I’d wanted a hot chocolate, but the sight of it spurting out of the tap bought back far too many memories of previous days spent in the bathroom. And now I’ve ruined hot chocolate for you forever.

While the weather is cold and the sights are new, the markets – well they’re much the same.

I think every market I’ve ever been to sells the same stuff: some wooden carved things, some tea towels, some magnets, some local honey, some home made soap and some kind of local artisanal delicacy that you’ll take home and will live, unopened, in the cupboard forever.

Too soon, it was time to return home, to battle through the airports, down the M4 back to Bristol, all approved by a Day 2 PCR. To get back to the house, pop the hand-ground paprika into the cupboard, grab a cuppa and have a few moments of peace before the tiny humans got back from nursery.

Ten minutes later, I realised that a weekend away is just what we now need. Hopefully it won’t be a four-year wait this time. magiccox.com; facebook @ilovecox twitter @bigcox; insta @magiccox

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THE COW & SOW

You’ll be dining high on the hog, and indeed, the ox, if you head to Bristol’s lovely new ‘contemporary chophouse’ Words by Deri Robins

RESTAURANT

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he word ‘chophouse’ has a pleasingly evocative ring to it. and a nasturtium leaf garnish – both of them incredibly pretty dishes that Like ‘coaching inn’, ‘chocolate house’ and ‘ale house’, it brought to mind that well-known cheffy adage, “first, you taste with your conjures up the kind of historic, wood-panelled hostelries eyes”. Not for long; we demolished them far too quickly, sluiced down to which18th-century gentlemen would repair to discuss with a delightfully crisp Côtes de Provence rosé. the matters of the day – the iniquitous price of wigs, For the mains, Ms A had the sow and I the cow. Packed with Asian perhaps, or rumours of a new illegal playhouse hidden in flavours that would have astonished those 18th-century chophouse plain sight on King Street – while their grooms parked the habitués, the pork belly offered a delightful mix of salty, sweet and sour, horses and snuck off to the scullery to chat up the serving wenches. with the umami hit of a miso rub, a dollop of sharp-tasting kimchi and a What it doesn’t suggest is an elevated menu, food served with finesse sticky soy-and-honey-glazed pork cheek. The ample mound of fondant and imagination, or classy cocktails. But this is precisely what you get at potato on her plate, I noted, did not prevent her making inroads into a new ‘contemporary chophouse’ The Cow & Sow, which has just opened shared side of hand-cut chunky chips, though I could hardly blame her; on the old Graze site in the heart of Bristol’s theatreland. they were so crisp yet fluffy, with that irregular wonky shape you only get The Cow is brought to you by Mark Warburton, who has impressive with chips done properly. Opt for extra beef dripping, if you want to do previous in the hospitality sector – his portfolio includes The Rising Sun serious damage. in Backwell and the Bear & Swan in Chew Magna. This was enough to I’d gone for the fillet steak. It’s famously the tenderest of the cuts, if tempt us out of the house, although it did feel a bit indulgent to be dining not the most flavoursome, but that was OK because I was adding a stout high on the hog so soon after Christmas. Our wallets and waistlines reduction sauce; if my iron count was down that week, it really wasn’t shuddered their disapproval. “Look, if you going to be from lack of effort. I added surf really must go out, make it a small salad, at least, to my turf; if forced at gunpoint to find fault not a boozy three-course blow-out.” with anything at the Cow, it would be to DINING DETAILS We ignored their warnings, and apparently murmur that £3.25 might be a little steep for The Cow & Sow, 63 Queen Square; 0117 472 5555; half of Bristol was feeling equally gung-ho, a single langoustine; but it was an incredibly thecowandsow.co.uk because three days after opening the Cow was good one, sweet and slightly charcoally from Opening hours 9am-11pm Sunday-Thursday; full – a happy, bustling, relieved kind of full. The its brush with the grill.

9am to midnight Friday-Saturday pandemic may still be with us, but things were The steak, as befits the Cow’s USP, was as Prices Starters £7.50-10.95; mains £14.25-£24.95; looking closer to normal than they have for ages. good as I’ve had anywhere in the city. Adding puds £7.50-£8 The Cow turns out to be rather lovely. extra interest, while not detracting from the Drinks Imaginative cocktails; short, succinct and wellThere’s an attractive dining room, with a long star attraction, was an exciting supporting chosen wine list; signature cocktails; local cider and ale bar, open kitchen, comfy chairs and velvety act of onion confit cooked in beef fat, and a Veggie A few tempting dishes that feel more than just buttoned banquettes in a vibrant cerulean blue, little dish of foam that had once, apparently, an afterthought manned by smiley staff who genuinely seem to been a tomato. It’s as if chef knows we’re Service Charming and invested want you to have a great time. mostly here for his beautifully sourced and And we did. I was dining with Ms A, who cooked meats, but needs you to realise that not only does a great line in gallows humour but is always good for a few he can do fancy when required. lines about the meal the next day. As this was our first outing of the year/ Waiters can sometimes come over a bit coquettish when it comes to the it was a Wednesday/there was an R in the month/whatever, we decided pudding course – oh, we know it’s naughty, go on – but lovely Martyna we were in need of a cocktail. Ms A kept it classic with a Bellini, but the managed to talk us into a rhubarb and custard (“chef ’s first choice”) and a margarita fiend in me seized on something called Smoke on the Water: chocolate delice without a trace of coyness. mezcal, cointreau, watermelon, hibiscus syrup, lime and a smoking sprig Chef ’s choice was spot-on. Dotted over the creamy custard were of rosemary; as complex and exciting as that sounds. jelly-like cubes, reductions, blobs and strips, like a sweetie shop rendered Guessing, correctly, that we’d have our work cut out demolishing a as abstract art; there was no hint of rhubarby sharpness, but neither was starter, mains and pudding from the Cow’s substantial-looking menu, it oversweet. Ms A’s chocolate delice was “dark, dense and intense, with we passed on the fun-sounding snacks, earmarking the black pudding some brilliant punches of flavour from little jellied blobs with a citrussy/ bonbons with Bloody Mary sauce for a future visit. Instead, we dug into a gingery taste that I’m still thinking about today”. pair of relatively light fishy dishes, both served with the theatrical flourish Baby, it’s cold outside. The Cow & Sow has all the essentials for of sauces poured at the table. warming the cockles – admittedly not currently on the menu, but you Ms A’s gin-cured mackerel offered a delicate, fresh balance of flavours, never know; they’d be a great fit. If you fancy some hearty, expertly the fish tangled with beetroot and salsify in a green puddle of puréed cooked, crowd-pleasing fare, with just enough of a twist, served by watercress. My ocean-fresh sea shanty of a starter saw a trio of fat scallops delightful people, give this new chophouse a whirl. Don’t listen to your doused in a silky celeriac velouté, with a border of black pudding crumb wallet and waistline; they merely wish to stamp out joy.

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

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

It’s been a while! Because our Christmas issues differ slightly from the norm, we haven’t run a food and drink page for a month or so. We have a lot of catching-up to do, so tuck in your napkin – we’re going in . . .

QUOTH THE RAVEN…

Meanwhile, not a million miles away on Corn Street, The Cocktail Club group opened its second Bristol bar – and its biggest to date. The club holds 300 guests over two floors, with a licence to thrill and spill until 2am.

For more: londoncocktail club.co.uk

HI, SOCIETY

When visiting Bath, we’ve always been struck by how pretty and inviting the Society Café on the High Street looks. There’s already a Bristol branch of this family-run group on New Quay, and now a new one is due to open within the old Santander bank on Baldwin Street.

The cafés serve specialty coffee from small roasters such as Round Hill and Origin, as well as loose leaf teas and locally baked cakes and pastries.

For more: society-café.com

PHOTO @DARREN _ RIDGWAY

Two classy new drinking destinations opened in Old City just before Christmas. Finally answering all those ‘So, what ARE they going to do with the old Noche Negra site above Four Wise Monkeys?’ questions, Nathan, Jay and Kev of Hyde & Co announced that this would become a new cocktail bar called The Raven.

The boys have clearly gone over to the dark side; following their new, decidedly wicca-esque Secrets at Nightfall cocktail menu at Hyde & Co, the drinks and decor at The Raven are inspired by the world of Tarot and the occult. Make ours a Crooked Man, Night Herald or a Beasthood...

The Raven also hosts musicians, dancers, magicians, Tarot readers and immersive walkabout performers between Wed-Saturday.

Booking essential: For more: theravenbristol.com

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FOOD & DRINK UPPER CRUST

BOXHALL Boxhall, the new food hall from the Boxpark group, due to open on Welshback this June, has announced the appointment of ubiquitous Bristol restaurateur Josh Eggleton as its food and drink ambassador.

Boxhall vows to be committed to local people and produce, featuring the best local and independent restaurants and street-food traders.

Josh has been brought in to advise the group during the trader selection process, to ensure the concept showcases the true breadth of local, independent food and drink businesses in Bristol.

Boxhall will also be the new home for Josh’s Team Canteen initiative; launched last year at Breaking Bread, this was set up as a production kitchen and space for food pop-ups, cooking demonstrations and workshops to feed disadvantaged people and communities during the pandemic. With a dedicated space at BoxHall Bristol, the Team Canteen community kitchen will highlight a range of diverse dishes and people from around Bristol.

Boxhall also plans to serve craft beer from Josh Eggleton’s local brewery, the Bristol Beer Factory.

For more: boxhall.co.uk

The above news confirms our already deep-seated suspicions that The Eggleton never sleeps. His Pony North Street bistro has just sailed into the Michelin Guide just five months after opening; meanwhile, in Chew Magna, the family’s original Michelinstarred The Pony and Trap is undergoing major refurbishment as part of a brand concept to be known as The Pony Chew Valley. It’s all go. For more: theponychewvalley.co.uk

Love this! Pieminister and Tapestry Brewery have collaborated with GENeco to create a limitededition, carbon-neutral Pale Ale called Pie-oneer – using pie pastry off-cuts.

The idea came from GENeco, who have been turning Bristol’s waste products into everyday resources for over a decade. By pushing the boundaries in terms of the end product, in this case beer, GENeco hopes to redefine what people class as waste. For Pieminister and Tapestry, getting involved with this experiment was a natural step, as both Bristol businesses continually explore new ways to raise the bar in terms of sustainability.

Pie-oneer is available now at Pieminister’s Stokes Croft and Broad Quay restaurants.10p from every can sold will go to Bristol-based charity Props, which helps adults with learning difficulties to achieve their full potential. For more: pieminister.co.uk

OK KO

Also launched just before Christmas was a new concept from the ever-expanding Woky Ko. Open from 8am to 3pm on Queen’s Road between Monday to Friday, the Lunch Bar offers a one-stop dining destination offering Asian-inspired graband-go delicacies, a special Woky x Wogan coffee blend, freshly baked goods and soft-serve ice-cream.

The Lunch Bar serves a selection of Bing – that’s a Chinese bread, similar to a flatbread – filled with the likes of pork chashu, Korean fried chicken and spicy miso aubergine, along with poke bowls and other Woky faves such as katsu, red curry and mapo tofu.

A bakery counter features daily offerings from Bosh Kitchen, with treats such as Sichuan and orange brownie, sticky date and ginger cake, peanut butter and dark chocolate flapjack,and tahini and black sesame cookie.

“Queens Road is a great lunch spot, and we’ve been looking forward to creating

EAT, SHARE, LOVE

As well as being the CEO of BeOnBoard, driving diversity on business boards, Kalpna Woolf is the founder of 91 Ways to Build A Global City – the award-winning charity that works to connect disadvantaged communities through the uniting power of food, running projects and events where people share meals, recipes and stories.

an Asian-inspired lunch option from our flagship space, which has the most spectacular view of the Wills Memorial building,” says founder Larkin Cen. “Just like everything we serve, the dishes use fresh ingredients and clean recipes. My personal favourite is our new soft-serve ice cream and our own take on affogato.”

More about Larkin on page 90.

For more: wokyko.com

Kalpna is just about to publish a new book entitled Eat, Share, Love – a unique collection of 91 beautiful homecooked recipes, many from frequently under-represented cuisines, and the compelling personal stories behind them. All proceeds from the book will go to 91 Ways.

Many of the contributors are from Bristol, says Kalpna, so it is a Bristol food labour of love. For more: 91ways.org

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

A TASTE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE A stone’s throw from the city centre, WINDMILL HILL CITY FARM offers a family-friendly rural experience for Bristol urbanites

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reated in the 70s by locals wanting to help city children to understand farming, Windmill Hill City Farm is a 4.5-acre green space in South Bristol, just 20-minutes’ walk from Bristol city centre.

It’s free to enter, and open seven days a week, with lots to see and do, being home to a range of animals, including cows, goats, sheep and pigs as well as chickens and ducks, whose eggs are collected to use in the farm café. Surrounding the animal paddocks are the community gardens, made up of a mosaic of

WHAT’S ON You’ll find a programme of events on site, from weekly yoga classes to mother and baby sessions. You can keep an eye on the ‘what’s on’ page of their website or subscribe to the monthly newsletter to see what’s coming up. windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk

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

allotment plots, polytunnels, wildflower and herb beds. Cared for by staff and volunteers, and full of little surprises, the gardens are a delight to explore for all ages.

Set next to the farmyard, the City Farm Café provides delicious food and a welcoming, childfriendly atmosphere, with indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is built on the produce from the farm, so there’s always something colourful on the salad counter, while the cakes are made with fruit grown and harvested by volunteer groups. Tuck into breakfasts, toasties and soups or treat yourself to the daily special. There are plenty of options to keep everyone happy, including vegans and those who are gluten-free.

The shop inside the café stocks farm produce including fruit and veg, eggs and farm-reared meat when it’s available. During the summer months, the farm runs a community veg box scheme, with options to buy or contribute towards boxes for local families in need.

Windmill Hill City Farm childcare nursery provides a unique experience for pre-school children to learn and flourish through interacting with nature, welly walks, mud kitchens and egg collecting.

Whether you are looking for a party space

or somewhere to host your event, meeting, conference or training course, Windmill Hill City Farm has many flexible indoor and outdoor event spaces to hire. You can include catering from their café, a fully stocked bar, BBQ, staffing, fairy lights, bunting and lots more.

Windmill Hill City Farm is located on Phillip Street in Bedminster, BS3 4EA. Find out more online – windmillhillcityfarm.org. uk – or find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

Back on the chain gang

When is a chain not a chain? When it’s a damn good local one . . .

I

n case you hadn’t guessed by now, I rather like drinking good coffee in nice places. Which is why this week’s coffee shop of choice, Boston Tea Party on Whiteladies Road, was so satisfying. It’s the perfect place to soak up atmosphere, do some peoplewatching and remind myself that nice coffee shops only exist to make the world a better place.

All of which, by the by, is why

“I don’t visit chains – those big brands that advertise on the telly, marketing milky pap to the masses”

I don’t visit chains. Those big brands that advertise on telly, marketing milky pap to the masses. Each enormous cup containing enough calories and whipped cream to add an inch to your waistline with every sip.

Can’t say I understand the appeal; I like coffee to taste of, well, coffee. But if chains sell what people want, good luck to them.

Some of my very best friends love these places. Visit them every day.

Makes no sense to me, none at all.

But that’s the beauty of living in a free society, I suppose. We get to choose what we put into our own bodies.

Reason I mention all this, is because a thought occurred to me while sipping happily in this week’s cafe. It’s one of several BTP outlets in Bristol. Which begs the question: when is a chain not a chain? When is it a gang instead?

Think the answer is obvious in this case. It can’t possibly be part of a yukky mukky chain because it’s just too bloomin’ lovely. With friendly staff, smiling faces and great coffee at every turn.

Also, if you have a long memory, you may remember that the rather attractive building it sits inside has had many lives, the most recent being a River Cottage restaurant. Went there a few times with friends, never really enjoyed

it that much. Back to the chain or gang thing again, I suppose.

Felt like it was just a soulless copy of something that didn’t belong.

To be honest, I thought the space was badly used. Presumed it was something to do with the shape of the building or similar. Turns out, it was just bad design.

Whoever BTP sent in to sort out the interior of this place did a grand job of transformation.

You walk in the door, and immediately feel snug and cosy.

Doesn’t matter where you sit, it’s all good. Feels like a comfy home from home, but with extra seating and waiter service.

My coffee companion and I popped in for elevenses with our pair of fluffy pooches – and that’s another plus point for me. Dogs are most welcome. Another bonus is that you can order from the table, with a QR code, or the oldfashioned way, face to face. Which suits my simple soul. Though you can’t use cash, which still feels a bit odd in my book.

Either way, if you are in the market for a spot of unchained melodic loveliness, I can thoroughly recommend this place.

It’s completely ace. n Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer stancullimore.com

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

WANDERLUST LIFE NECKLACE, £32 Pretty, delicate healing stones on fine silk cord, in a range including pinks and ruby reds; we’re loving this one in champagne quartz From Pod Company, 24 The Mall thepodcompany.co.uk

ROBERTS REVIVAL iSTREAM STREAM RADIO, RRP £229.99 Because love songs sound better in pink. Retro good looks, but bang up to date: a DAB+/FM internet smart radio with bluetooth, no less From Paul Roberts Hi-Fi, 33 Gloucester Road paulrobertshi-fi.co.uk

AERY CANDLE, £27 Glamorous in scent, understated in style; its fragrant bouquet will last a lot longer than a bunch of roses From Pod Company, 24 The Mall; thepodcompany.co.uk

LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH* You didn’t think we’d let Valentine’s Day pass without a pretty selection of pink and red stuff, did you?

WOOL-MIX BERET, £8 Ideal, but not exclusively for, ardent fans of the late, irreplaceable Prince From That Thing 45-47 Stokes Croft; thatthing.co

GLASS CANDLESTICK, £14 Candles are nonnegotiable on V Day, and they’ll look extra enchanting in a couple of these candy pink glass holders From Mon Pote 217 North Street monpote.co.uk

PENDANT LAMP AND BULB, £33 The perfect gift for the interiorsconscious Valentine; elegant, industrial, and easy to install From Prior Shop Unit M10, Quakers Friars priorshop.uk * But not in the sense of the 1970 Stephen Stills song, obviously. That’s about infidelity.

DAMSON GIN, 70 CL, £35 For the foodie/drinkie in your life; handmade in the traditional way, in small batches, using hand-picked British damsons From Six O’Clock Gin 6oclockgin.com

ED’S CHOICE ROSA JUMPER, £65 Love means making sure they’re warm and comfy.

This high-necked alpaca-blend number ticks all the cosy boxes, and then some From Fox + Feather 41 Gloucester Road foxandfeather.co.uk

ENAMEL PIN BADGE, £8 Cute little badge from the in-house design team at Ustudio: fresh, arty and wearable, just like your other half From Ustudio, 115 Gloucester Road ustudio.design

MOROCCAN BABOUCHE SLIPPERS, £28 If they love ethically sourced gifts, they’ll love these soft leather slippers, created by Bohemia Design in collaboration with Moroccan artisans From Frankly Unit 5, Cargo frankly.store

PINK TOURMALINE AND GOLD RING, £946 The white gold’s Fairtrade, while the pink tourmaline is one of the prettiest gems we’ve ever seen From Diana Porter, 33 Park Street dianaporter.co.uk

I LOVE STOKES CROFT PLATE, £20 Love comes in many different forms; it can even be for a postcode. Be out and proud with your love for the Croft From Stokes Croft China 35 Jamaica Street prscshop.co.uk

STEP-THROUGH LIGHTWEIGHT BIKE, FROM £945 It’s spritely and smooth, instantly comfortable and familiar – sound like anyone you know?

From Temple Cycles Unit 22 Brookgate Trading Estate; templecycles.co.uk

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

WINDOW SHOPPING MILLY VAUGHAN

Sophie Harley chubby winged heart necklace, Grace & Mabel, £153

Baum Und Pferdgarten Alona dress, Grace & Mabel, £259

Finola long check overshirt, Fox & Feather, £75

Loewe wool-blend jumper, Harvey Nichols, £725

Bellerose Madina leopard mittens, Maze, £35 (from £70)

Who are you dressing for?

Valentine’s Day loometh – but hold the vampy frock…

I

t has been said that women dress for other women, and not for men. Glossing over the co-dependent flaw that it would be healthier if we were dressing for ourselves, I love the collective girl power behind this statement – that we are looking for affirmation from our female relationships as well as, or instead of, men; that intimacy doesn’t just come from our bedfellow but from our other intimate same-sex friendships.

Most of us have discovered the hard way that there is no one single partner who can fulfil all our needs, so why not dress up for these other important roles in our lives? And if we’re brutally honest, although it’s nice to be thought of as hot by men, isn’t being admired by other women even more flattering?

Love them or hate them, Carrie Bradshaw of Sex And The City/And Just Like That and Emily Cooper in Emily In Paris encapsulate

“I love the collective girl power behind the idea that we are looking for affirmation from our female relationships as well as, or instead of, men”

Mads Norgaard Pollux Docca dress, Movement Boutique, £179 Baum Und Pferdgarten Cove cardigan, Grace & Mabel, £159

this idea on screen. Their highfashion look often verges on the ridiculous to men who probably find the twinset-wearing Charlotte more approachable. I don’t know a heterosexual male who tunes in to ogle over their risqué fashion ensembles, whereas women have been putting Carrie on a pedestal for decades.

With this in mind, dare I wonder for whom we are dressing up this Valentine’s night – presuming you are going out at all? Is this becoming more fluid, or is the ultimate goal when deciding on an outfit still ‘he’ll love this’, ‘they will love this’, rather than ‘I love this’?

I haven’t been out on Valentine’s night for more years than I care to remember. Probably not since I went out on a double blind date, and my wing woman got so drunk she fell asleep in the restaurant loo, and the manager had to do the coin trick to open the door. She still owes me for having to talk crapolata with both of them for hours before we cottoned on to her whereabouts.

One of them was legitimately wearing yellow Levis, and was a banker.

Conversely, it doesn’t feel long ago that I overheard my granny advising my mother to ‘pop upstairs and put on her lipstick

and freshen up’ before my father got home for work. This really landed with me, at six years old, that my mother’s appearance might be conditional to a smooth marriage.

Ironically, these days women dress up for work and come home and get into their ‘comfies’ for their partners, so what does this say about how we regard our other halves these days? That they get the ‘undone’ version, and do they even mind?

The other night, a friend’s husband was mansplaining his opinion on this to me: “what men really like is the natural look, not faces caked in make-up”.

I tried to suggest that this natural look he was so keen on probably involved a bit of subtle make-up, because unless you’re a 20-year-old model with flawless skin and Eastern European cheekbones, you probably do look better with a hint of tinted moisturiser.

He wasn’t having any of it.

I had to glance down to see if he was wearing yellow Levis.

He wasn’t, but I’ll bet a pair of Manolo that he was a banker who interdependently dresses for himself. Good for him. ■ @millyvaughan on instagram camillapettman@mac.com

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

SPORT WILL CARPENTER

PHOTO BY JMPUK

Bear country What does the move to the club’s new High-Performance Centre mean for Bristol Bears Women?

W

hen Bristol Bears Women made their permanent switch to the club’s new High-Performance Centre, incoming head coach Dave Ward hoped the state-ofthe-art facilities would help his side take their game to the next level.

Fast forward six months and seven rounds of the new Allianz Premier 15s campaign, and Dave’s hopes have fast become a reality. The Bears sit second in the table, and have already more than doubled last season’s victory tally, with eight wins on the board and the only blemishes being round seven’s narrow defeat at 2020/21 finalists Saracens and losses to Gloucester-Hartpury and

Loughborough Lightning. Add to this that three of his side – Sarah Bern, Abbie Ward and Jasmine Joyce – have recently been named in World Rugby’s Team of the Year, and life in Bear Country is pretty good.

“Moving to the HighPerformance Centre this season, where we get to train at some of the best facilities in the country, has been a big factor,” said Dave, reflecting on his side’s relocation and their start to the season.

“We had a lot of injuries last season and we’ve planned our schedule to increase that robustness with the girls to ride out the contacts a little bit more which has really helped.

“When I first came here, I wanted to install a set of values for the girls. We have five values that we stick to, one of them is

“The Bears Women programme can be the best in the country, and that’s our ambition” 52 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

to elevate each other and one of them is to be brave, and certainly I’d like to think the girls have that bravery on the pitch to go and play and express themselves, although within a controlled structure.

“You see the Premier 15s highlights and the Sarah Bern step and her offloads, that’s within the structure, and it’s about playing in a system that allows her to do that.”

The women’s team’s move to the High-Performance Centre has always been part of the plan – and chief executive Mark Tainton, and director of rugby Pat Lam, believe the switch has enabled better alignment across the club.

“It’s always been part of the strategic plan to align the Bears Women’s programme to the men’s, and bring the senior Academy all under one roof,” said Pat. “It’ll have a massively positive impact for our game and Bears Team Culture.

“We believe that the integration and sharing of ideas and best practice will lift performances for all of our Bears teams. The

High-Performance Centre is a place that Bears Women can call home, and everything is in place for the team to achieve their performance objectives.”

“The Bears Women programme can be the best in the country and that’s our ambition,” said Mark Tainton. “We are striving to inspire our community and this move will attract some of the brightest young talent to the Bears.

“The Lansdown family has provided us with one of the best rugby training facilities in the world, so it’s given us a platform to grow and develop our vision and programmes across men, women and Academy. There’s an expectation and impetus for Bears Women to be successful and to win silverware – this is a significant step towards that goal.”

So far, so good, for Dave Ward and his ambitious side, but this is only the first step on the journey towards sustained success for Bristol Bears Women. ■ Will Carpenter is the Bristol Bears club journalist; bristolbearsrugby.com

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GREAT ESCAPES

Retallack: lakeside luxury

BREAK EVEN The good, the bed and the breakfast: we head South by South West to check out some of the best staycations

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hether it’s a yurt fully equipped for a spot of glorious glamping, or an indulgent escape to a boutique hotel, you’ll find endless possibilities in the mild, mild South West. Adventures, pampering, relaxation and recreation are to be found everywhere, from windswept clifftop hotels to luxury tree houses set deep in the forest.

RETALLACK RESORT & SPA

This self-catering resort in Cornwall stands on a hillside near St Columb Major, some five miles inland, with the towns of Padstow and Newquay nearby.

Range of accommodation: Five-star Swissstyle lodges, one-bedroom self-catering

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

By Ursula Cole suites, luxury boutique barns – they’ve got the lot here. Everyone from couples through to groups of a dozen can be comfortably accommodated.

Highlights: Some accommodation is situated on the banks of lakes, and all lodges and suites have balconies or decking. The boutique barns have large roof terraces, and some are blessed with hot tubs. Plus, and this might well seal the deal for certain people, a table football zone awaits upstairs.

Amenities: Aside from the tabletop soccer, watersports are the big thing here – there’s a Flowrider where you and the kids can learn to bodyboard and surf. If you reach the required standard you can officially wear your baseball cap back to front, dude.

There is also a gym. We’re fast approaching the mid-point of February, officially known at Bristol Life as Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Time. That’s under the Gregorian Calendar, of course. Under the Julian calendar you’ve an extra ten days to get fit at the Retallack gym.

Dining: It’s family-friendly food – pizzas from the stone oven, fresh seafood, pulled beef, lasagne, burgers. There’s also a beach café – are there two more magical words in the language? – for light bites and drinks.

Pet situation: Dog-friendly accommodation is available.

Offers: Retallack currently has 20 per cent sale off holidays, ending on February 13.

For more ariaresorts.co.uk/our-resorts/ cornwall/retallack-resort-spa

“We’re fast approaching the midpoint of February, officially known at Bristol Life as Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Time”

GARA ROCK

Perched on a bluff near Salcombe in South Devon, and bordering the South West Coastal Path, this hotel approaches MBQ – maximum boutiquery quotient. Rustic-chic interiors with a touch of industrial stuff, a bit Nordic, a bit nautical, but everything done with panache.

We could quote Arnold Bennett here, and say his description of the Grand Babylon Hotel as having ‘that mysterious quality known as style’ fits Gara Rock perfectly.

(Apologies if that’s a bit bookish and pretentious, but the coastal air gets a girl to reflect – as someone else once wrote.)

Range of accommodation: Rooms/suites come variously with balconies, terraces or gardens. The sea views will make you pray for wild, windy days.

Loft Suit 5 has a wood-burning stove, freestanding bath, and a terrace that faces the setting sun. The three-bedroom Penthouse is for larger groups, while Signal House is geared for four guests.

Meanwhile, at the Secret Suite on the clifftop, glorious sea views are available The beautiful Gara Rock; obviously gorgeous in spring and summer, though we’d love to see it on a wild and wintry day

from the private sun terrace. Best view is from the bubbling hot tub. This is something of a hideaway for romantic couples, or perhaps a single person who’s sulking.

Amenities: Spa with all the trimmings, restaurant, cinema room. Also sun terraces, heated indoor and outdoor pools.

Dining: The menu is based on local produce as far as possible, so expect Cornish and Devon lamb and beef, whose close relations you may well have passed in the fields on your journey here. Make sure to book a table with a view.

There are two bars, which feature West Country gins along with local beers and ciders.

Pet-friendliness: Some accommodation is set aside for four-legged friends. There’s an outside doggie shower, with dog shampoo, to wash muddy paws (hint, hint). Dogs are also welcome in the restaurant and on the terrace area – presumably if they’ve showered.

Dates to look out for: There’s a special feast night on 14 May. Details tba.

For more gararock.com

GREAT ESCAPES LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL AND SPA

Set in 500 acres of Wiltshire parkland, landscaped gardens and woodland, Lucknam Park wears an air of nonchalant sophistication.

You can sense this from the very start as you drive up the magnificent mile-long lime and beech avenue leading to the Palladian mansion.

Amenities: There’s pretty much something to suit every taste and inclination – horse riding, spa treatments, clay pigeon shooting, even hotair ballooning from the estate.

There are two all-weather floodlit tennis courts, bicycles and trailers, walking and running trails and a five-a-side all-weather football pitch. For the really deviously-minded, there’s a croquet lawn, just by the arboretum and walled garden.

For the kids there’s a children’s adventure play area, and for the literary-minded, an impressive library stocked with books both ancient and modern.

Dining: Lots of opportunities for fine dining at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Hywel Jones or the two-AA Rosette Brasserie.

Pet policy: Yes, it’s looking fine for Fido. The Lucknam people have just added a fifth cottage to the site; all cottages are dog-friendly.

For more lucknampark.co.uk

ORIGINAL COTTAGES

Original Cottages, a nationwide holiday lettings company, provides the local touch – with local people on the ground in every region.

Range of accommodation: 1,700 cottages throughout Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.

Special highlights: Local representation means that you can circumvent the search engines and go directly to someone in the know. Searching for a secret cove? Or the road less travelled? Maybe you want to know about the best beaches to spot a black-tailed godwit? Original Cottages will have somebody who can tell you.

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above: Lucknam Park; right: Crannog House

Wining and dining: The South West, from Bristol to Brixham, is famed for being foodie central. From the region’s gift to gastronomy, the Cornish pasty, to Porthilly oysters served at the Michelinstarred Paul Ainsworth at No 6 in Padstow, you’ll get the very best cuisine.

Special offers: The only thing better than a holiday is a holiday that saves you money, according to Original Cottages.

There are always offers on the go, and there’s an exceptionally good one here only available to readers of Bristol Life.

Simply use BRISTOLLIFE40 in the promo code box online to get £40 off any stay.

For more originalcottages.co.uk

CRANNOG HOUSE

This 4/5 bedroom cottage in Burraton Coombe, Cornwall is a quiet retreat on an acre of land; in days gone by this was an orchard, and the property retains that tranquillity that orchards seem to do so very well.

Amenities: A stream flows gently through the mature trees and extensive garden, adding to the general relaxed nature of the scene. You can soak it all in from the hot tub out on the terrace. Once you’ve lingered long enough, and if you’ve brought the kids, a large flat area is perfect for ball games with the family. A children’s play area is equipped with swings, a slide and a trampoline.

Special highlights: Inside there’s a cinema room with a 60-inch smart screen and large comfortable corner sofa. The living room has a piano – of interest if you and the family like a singalong. We’d recommend you take along the Beatles song book. You can’t go wrong.

Dining: Crannog House doesn’t provide any dining, but you will be provided with a welcome hamper – scones, clotted cream, bottle of wine.

Special offers: Crannog has some great deals coming up over the next few months; keep an eye on the website.

For more airbnb.com/h/crannoghouse

THE YURT RETREAT

There’s glamping, and then there’s the Yurt Retreat, an adults-only boutique site in south Somerset on Fordscroft Farm, an organic operation with tons of wildlife round about – buzzards circling overhead, deer wandering about, pheasants and badgers keeping a careful watch from the woodland.

Range of accommodation: Top-drawer digs ranging from luxury yurts to roundhouses, as well as a treehouse and a lodge. All properties are completely self-contained, with stylish kitchens and bathrooms.

Special amenities: Outdoor bathing, firebowls in your private gardens to toast marshmallows under the stars.

Dining opportunities: Two gastropubs and two farm shops are within easy reach. A 15minute drive will take you to The Ollerod, a foodie bolthole in Beaminster. Or you can walk to the village of Hinton St George (an easy trek down country lanes) and tuck into a meal at the Lord Poulett Arms, which won a national dining pub of the year award in 2009.

Pet policy: As well as being adults-only, it’s humans-only as well – no pets allowed.

For more theyurtretreat.co.uk Expertly grafted onto the cliff face – Scarlet Hotel

above and inset: The Yurt Retreat

SCARLET HOTEL

A top Cornish eco sanctuary, for over-18s only, the Scarlet is expertly grafted onto the cliff face high above the Atlantic. The hotel is exceedingly carbon-efficient and environmentally aware, and guests who travel via foot, bike, rail or coach qualify for a green discount. So if you walk from Bristol, you’ll be quids in.

Accommodation range: The bedrooms come in five categories – Just Right, Generous, Unique, Spacious and Indulgent – but whichever option your wallet runs to, it will be stylish and cool. All come with shimmering views across the cliffs to the Atlantic, and intriguing spaces – balconies, intimate gardens, shell-like viewing pods, terraces. A honeycomb of nooks and snugs throughout the hotel are also ideal as mini-retreats.

Amenities: Two outdoor hot tubs are tirelessly fuelled by logs by the can-do staff, who will also bring you prosecco. There’s a spa, swimming pool, sauna, and spectacular cliff paths if you can be bothered; surfing is also good in this neck of the woods, we hear.

Dining: The restaurant and bar serve breakfast, lunch and dinner using the freshest, locally sourced ingredients.

Special highlights: A full range of spa treatments, holistic, ayurvedic and meditative treatments, pilates and yoga is also on hand.

No karaoke, though.

Pet policy: Surprisingly, you can bring up to two dogs (who don’t have to be over 18). n For more scarlethotel.co.uk

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

0117 370 2745

t: 0117 279 0980 | m: 07956 846307 e: simon@bristolcityroofing.co.uk

www. bristolcityroofing.co.uk

Crannog house Burraton Coombe, Cornwall

A beautiful Cornish holiday home set in an acre of its own private and secluded gardens just a 2 hour drive from Bristol with its own hot tub and children’s play area.

Now releasing some fantastic deals for long weekend breaks and weeks February through to April 2022

With its own stream which leads to the inlet of Forder just 150 metres away, you can enjoy paddle boarding and even launch your own small boat. It has 4 double bedrooms and a cinema room which can be set up as a fifth bedroom if required.

Please see www.airbnb.com/h/crannoghouse for booking, prices and more details.

Or simply search Crannog House online.

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Services: • PC/Mac support • Upgrades • System tune-ups • Screen replacements • Specialist Macbook Pro/Air logic board repairs • Data transfer • Windows & Mac OS reinstalls • Tuition Call us for a quote today!

TEL: 0800 032 8274 DATASHARP-IC.CO.UK

MOORE SW IT TEL: 0117 923 9352 MSBIT.CO.UK

Moore SW IT have offices based in the centres of Bristol and Bath and have been providing managed IT solutions to hundreds of businesses, charities, and schools since 2014. Throughout the pandemic lots of organisations have asked us to help setup working from home solutions – VoIP phones, remote desktops and VPN’s, cloud solutions, or increase their overall IT cyber security.

We can offer most organisations a free IT audit or review which will highlight any IT security weaknesses. We work with businesses of all sizes from new start-ups to schools with 500+ users. Visit msbit. co.uk/free-it-audit to receive a free audit for your organisation.

Datasharp Integrated Communications delivers best-in-class unified communications and collaboration solutions that help your business increase efficiency, productivity and value, reduce costs and improve the bottom line. We have strategic relationships with over 30 market-leading business communications vendors and more than 25 years of experience delivering solutions that meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.

With our in-house team of engineers and support professionals, Datasharp Integrated Communications is perfectly positioned to deliver a comprehensive service and partner with your business for the long term.

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

SUSTAINABILITY 24 MARCH 2022

RESEARCH-BASED KEYNOTES, PANEL SESSIONS AND NETWORKING SCAN HERE FOR MORE

Brought to you by the makers of your city Property Awards BATH PROPERTY AWARDS

CARDIFF PROPERTY AWARDS

Please email annie.kelly@mediaclash.co.uk to find out more on how you can get involved

SPONSORED CONTENT

TAXING MATTERS Sophie Haskins of AMD SOLICITORS discusses the latest news about delays and probate applications

O

ften when a loved one passes away, a grant of probate is needed to deal with their assets. A grant of probate is a legal document which provides executors appointed under a will the authority to deal with a person’s estate, collect in assets and distribute them as guided by the will.

Once an executor has collected in details of assets and labilities, the next step is to apply for the grant of probate. This includes the preparation of inheritance tax forms, which may need to be sent to HMRC, and a probate application form which is sent to the Probate Registry who will then issue a grant of probate.

Before the Covid pandemic, the average application issue time for a grant of probate was around two to three weeks. However, over the past 18 months, probate registries have been affected by the pandemic by way of staff shortages and increased numbers of applications, which has resulted in a backlog of probate applications. Add to this a change in the probate application process to an online system which has experienced a number of issue, and the timescales for the issuing of a grant of probate have increased substantially.

A November 2021 probate application update put forward by the Law Society refers to an average application issue time, once the Probate Registry have received the application, of nine weeks but this could be longer if an application is stopped, perhaps because of an error or a lack of evidence supplied with an application.

Where inheritance tax needs to be paid, the

Probate Registry ask that the probate application is submitted to them 20 working days after the submission of inheritance tax forms to HMRC, which means the overall timescale is further extended. If an application is submitted sooner, this could cause further delay, as the Probate Registry may not be able to match up the application with anything received from HMRC. We understand that HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) have been taking, and continue to take, steps to reduce delays and get back to their pre-Covid workload by taking on more staff and making improvements to the online system.

However, they are of course mindful of the winter period and what this may bring.

Our probate team understand that dealing with the affairs of a loved one after death can be incredibly overwhelming and stressful, particularly where delays occur. We will do our very best to help and guide you through the process as efficiently as possible. ■

Our team are based in our Henleaze and Shirehampton branches. If you would like to get in touch, please telephone our Henleaze Road office on 0117 9621205 or email info@amdsolicitors.com. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 63

THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN

2022

LOADING The conference for entrepreneurs from MediaClash is returning…

June 30 2022

CONTENT: claudia.butler@mediaclash.co.uk

EntreConf.com

COMMERCIAL: annie.kelly@mediaclash.co.uk

@Entre_Conf

It’s the city’s business

BRISTOLWORKS 3

The Big Number

Industry standard

A boost for the home of Concorde, as Aerospace Bristol achieves Arts Council accreditation

A NOTE ON ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. They have set out their strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 they want England to be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. They invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.

For more artscouncil.org.uk

T

he “benchmark for a well-run museum accreditation” demonstrates that Bristol’s aerospace heritage, including the last Concorde ever to fly, is in safe hands.

Following an extremely challenging period that has seen the Bristol museum and charity seek urgent support to continue operating through the Covid pandemic, including successful applications to all three rounds of the Culture Recovery Fund, receiving a total of £1.1 million, Aerospace Bristol has received another major boost in the form of Arts Council accreditation – the UK industry standard for museums and galleries.

Accredited status means that Aerospace Bristol is operated to professional industry standards and shows that the museum takes proper care of its collection – including the last Concorde and the many other important objects and archive records – in order to make them accessible and to safeguard our aerospace heritage for the future.

Bristol is the 3rd best city for independent businesses in the UK, according to a new report

by Bionic. Business experts have created an index using nine different metrics to reveal which UK city has the strongest independent economy, where small businesses can thrive.

Southampton’s first, apparently, with York second. London’s only 23rd on the list.

Full report at bionic.co.uk

“Achieving Arts Council accredited status is an important step forward for Aerospace Bristol,” said Lloyd Burnell, Aerospace’s executive director.

“As the national benchmark of a wellrun museum, this award is testament to the professionalism and high standards that our staff and volunteers work hard to maintain. Accreditation demonstrates that our collection is in safe hands, opens up exciting funding and partnership opportunities, and will give confidence to donors and supporters who wish to join us in preserving our aerospace heritage and inspiring future generations.”

“Aerospace Bristol has always been committed to managing and caring for our collection to the highest professional standards, and ensuring that as many people as possible can access it,” says collections manager Stefanie Vincent, “It’s fantastic to see this hard work being recognised with Arts Council accredited status and we’re excited about what the future holds for Aerospace Bristol.”

For more aerospacebristol.org

© MARC MUELLER

BRISTOLWORKS

LET’S GET DIGITAL

he fourth industrial revolution – categorised by a range of new technologies that are fusing together the physical and digital worlds – is happening, and changing the way we do business forever. Covid increased the speed at which these worlds collided, and this year will only see this trend continue. Now is the time to get ahead of the curve.

Before 2020, many business leaders didn’t regard excellent internet connectivity as a priority. Enter the pandemic, working from home and a new reliance on a hybrid workforce that is here to stay, and it is suddenly high on the senior management team’s agenda.

So, what trends are our most innovative businesses seeing, and how can Bristol be ready?

As we re-enter the office, expect your digital load to be four times higher on average per employee.

For many, that will include a move to cloud servers, implemented in the last 12 months, but also videocalling increasingly becoming the norm between teams and with external customers and suppliers.

Gigabit internet connectivity is going to be essential, and with an average nine-week wait time, make sure

you get it sorted before you really need it.

Next up are expectations. As every member of the workforce is now a digital native, they are going to expect technology to be at the forefront

“AS EVERY MEMBER OF THE WORKFORCE IS NOW A DIGITAL NATIVE, THEY ARE GOING TO EXPECT TECHNOLOGY TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR INVESTMENT PLANS” of your investment plans. If they have the right tools to do their jobs on the hop, then they will be more productive. From webcams as standard when joining a company to making sure everyone can share quickly through Teams or an established instant messaging platform, if you want to inspire

© POLINA ZIMMERMAN

T

BOB IRWIN of Triangle Networks explains that Covid has accelerated the need for companies to embrace digital ways of working, and suggests a way to get ahead of the curve the new generation of workers, you’re going to need the best tech for your discipline to do it.

Smart buildings. This concept has been around for a long time, but developers now need to be pushed by their business tenants to step up and implement gigabit infrastructure which will enable the spaces you’re going to be demanding in future.

Monitoring CO2 levels in rooms will enable us to tell when ventilation is required, and roomoccupancy sensors linked to calendars help you to see which meeting rooms are free. These are all technologies which we’re going to come to rely on in coming years, so you need to make sure your building is futureproofed.

We believe in the transformational power of full-fibre to help businesses reach their maximum potential; well we would, that’s what we do. With a full-fibre connection, your business will have access to symmetrical, gigabit-capable upload and download speeds, increasing efficiency and productivity for ultra-fast speeds and no hold-ups.

Bristol already has 72 kilometres of full-fibre network, so register your interest with us to see if you can get it right now, or join with businesses in your area, and we’ll build out to you.

For more: trianglenetworks.co.uk/for-business

Offices in: Henleaze, Whiteladies Road Clifton Village, Shirehampton 0117 962 1205 www.amdsolicitors.com

PRIVATE CLIENT - FAMILY - PROPERTY - COMMERCIAL

BRISTOLWORKS

: Philip Kydd; ABOVE: three generations working together in the polishing room

LEFT

Q&A

A family affair Philip Kydd has been in the silversmiths and jewellers trade for over 40 years – and now a second generation, in the form of son James, is coming to the fore

P

hilip Kidd founded his jewellery company in 1981. “Since then,” he says, “we have worked with some of the most prestigious high street jewellers across the country and overseas. We have recently created a new range, Kydd & Kydd, a joint venture with my son James Kydd, who was my apprentice under the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths Scheme, and is now a qualified silversmith. We handcraft and sell fine and bespoke jewellery from our workshops and online.”

What makes you special?

Each piece is carefully designed and handcrafted in our workshops in

“WE HAVE RECEIVED COMMISSIONS FROM ROYALTY AND HEADS OF STATE”

North Somerset. We use traditional methods of silversmithing, and create exceptional designs using techniques such as forging and planishing.

What is the main philosophy of the company?

To keep traditional methods of silversmithing alive, and create beautiful pieces that will last the test of time. We offer a bespoke service to allow our customers to create their own unique pieces of jewellery.

How has the company changed since 1981?

Philip Kydd Ltd has been providing the trade with stunning collections of jewellery for 40 years. Over time styles change, however our classic pieces have always remained popular. The Kydd & Kydd range includes cufflinks, bangles, necklaces and silver buckles.

Tell us about a bit about how you market the products We have an enviable reputation within the jewellery business for producing high-quality pieces. We have exhibited internationally, and now, with our new Kydd & Kydd range, we have created

Diamond-set enamel cufflinks, £521

9ct gold bangle, £1400

an online presence. We have also received commissions for royalty and heads of state.

How important is the wedding market to you?

We receive regular commissions for wedding pieces. We encourage couples to visit the workshop and to be involved in the design narrative, so they feel part of the journey. Our wedding pieces range from engagement and wedding rings to cufflinks and pendants. Any wedding piece created this year can have the unique Jubilee hallmark.

Are there any other ranges you specialise in?

Our Kydd & Kydd range includes silver hand-forged bangles, bracelets, pendants, torqs, bracelets, cufflinks and hand-made silver buckles on British bridle leather belts.

Has the business/members of the team won any awards?

My son James has won many prestigious awards at the Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council for his craftsmanship during his apprenticeship. These include nine Gold awards, four Silver awards and three Bronze awards. Some of pieces are still on show for visitors to view.

Tel – 01275 464030 Email – info@kyddandkydd.co.uk Web – www.kyddandkydd.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 69

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS

THE CATEGORIES Head to our website and click on each category for more information

© BEN ROBINS

• PLATINUM AWARD • ARTS • BAR • BUSINESS SERVICES • CAFÉ • CHARITY • CIVIC • CREATIVE • EDUCATION • ENVIRONMENTAL • EVENT • FINANCIAL • FOOD/DRINK PRODUCER

• HAIR & BEAUTY • HEALTH & WELLBEING • HOMES & INTERIORS • LEGAL • LEISURE & TOURISM • NEW BUSINESS • PEOPLE SERVICES • PROPERTY • RESTAURANT • RETAILER • SUSTAINABILITY • TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Tickets are on sale now on our website.

We advise grabbing them early, as the Awards sell out every year

WHAT? The Bristol Life Awards 2022 WHERE? Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol WHEN? 12 May 2022 WHY? To celebrate the very best local businesses and organisations in Bristol and the surrounding areas WHO? Any local business, charity or establishment can enter.

Check the box for the categories– you can enter into multiple categories, if you like.

HOW MUCH? Hey, it’s free to enter!

HOW DO I NOMINATE? It’s easy, via the form on our website: bristolifeawards.co.uk

Don’t miss out…

The Bristol Life Awards takes place this year on 18 May, but you’ll have to be quick if you want to enter – nominations close on 10 March

T

here’s just over a month left to nominate your business for this year’s Bristol Life Awards. The ceremony takes place on 18 May, and and we can’t wait to see hundreds of you in your finery at Ashton Gate.

Every year, we’re overwhelmed at the sheer brilliance of the nominations we receive. This city never ceases to amaze us. The event has sold out every year since we launched it in 2017, and it’s always, always a night to remember.

In keeping with tradition, expect glitz, glamour and music as hundreds of the city’s finest come together

for a huge celebration of the very best of Bristol.

Now is the time to make sure you’re a part of it.

NOMINATE NOW! CLOSING DATE 10 MARCH Don’t delay – nominate your business for an award.

Don’t wait for someone else to nominate you – that’s not a thing. It’s free to enter, and there are lots of helpful tips on our website to make your nomination stand out to our judges.

The 10 March deadline is mere weeks away –better hop to it . . .

Enter on our website: bristollifeawards.co.uk

BENEFIT FROM THE AWARDS HEADLINE SPONSOR

Scan this to see the Awards!

INITIAL SPONSORS

Commercial Property Consultants

For main Sponsor opportunities, please contact harriette.dixon@mediaclash.co.uk or neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk

SPONSORED CONTENT

THE DREADED ‘C WORDS’

By Gillian Clark, partner and head of medical negligence at INCE (Bristol)

C

ancer and coronavirus; the ‘C words’ that no one wants to hear.

Both causing millions of deaths across the globe, and both with their own issues on how to screen, treat or prevent effectively.

For some time now, there has been growing concern about the impact of coronavirus in relation to cancer diagnosis and treatment in the UK. In particular, the devastating impact of coronavirus on the NHS overall, the pressures on resources, and what this has meant for those suffering from cancer is all of huge concern.

1 Macmillan has been calling for action from the UK government. They estimate there are currently 50,000 people with cancer without a sufficient diagnosis, because either they’ve not come forward due to concerns over the pandemic, or they have been lost in an underresourced and over-stretched healthcare system.

Macmillan reports that the pandemic has impacted on screening, vital appointments and surgeries with many treatments being postponed or cancelled. Unfortunately resulting in tens of thousands of cancer patients having their first cancer treatment delayed compared to prepandemic waiting times.

At Ince, we specialise in representing cancer

patients with delays to their diagnosis or treatment (or both) due to medical negligence.

We’ve witnessed some of this first-hand, with clients telling us their treatment is halted or delayed and they’re worried about how that will impact on their future. We also have new clients approaching us with their concerns over delays in their diagnosis and treatment.

2 Last year, we saw the #catchupwithcancer campaign that aimed to encourage the UK Government to better fund and organise cancer treatment in the NHS, enabling them to catch up on the backlog caused by both the pandemic and general resource issues.

3 However, this month it was reported that at the end of 2021, the waiting times for breast cancer patients has quadrupled, with over half of those referred with suspected breast cancer not being seen by a specialist within the recommended two-week period.

We know that with breast cancer time is critical. Delays in diagnosis, surgical treatment, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatment such as hormonal therapy, can all have a negative impact on someone’s chances of 4 survival from this terrible disease .

5 There are recommended guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of various types of

cancer. These guidelines come from studies clearly demonstrating the impact that delays can have and the importance of early intervention to improve survival chances.

It may be years before the true impact of coronavirus on cancer patients is realised. But even without the virus, the UK has one of the worst cancer treatment records in Europe. A study by DATA-CAN, the Health Care Research Hub (HDR UK) for cancer, estimates there could be as many as 35,000 avoidable deaths of cancer patients due to the impact of the 6 pandemic . This figure will surely keep climbing until such time that cancer services in the UK are appropriately funded and managed, ensuring that every patient is promptly seen by a specialist, diagnosed and then treated. ■

If you are concerned about a delay in diagnosis and treatment of cancer for you or a loved one, call us today on 0117 911 2876. Our team of medical negligence specialists will sensitively talk through your concerns and assess the options available to you, at no cost. You can also email us on infobristol@incegd.com.

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

PROPERTY BUILDING THE CIT Y

WE’VE FOUND THE ULTIMATE CLIFTON LET...

An exquisite duplex maisonette is now available to let at one of the city’s most sought-after addresses.

Situated on the edge of Clifton Downs, Harley Villa is a spacious three-bedroom property that has been renovated to a standard rare within the rental market.

“Only very occasionally does a home of this calibre come to the lettings market in Clifton,” says Sam Pagett, who heads up the Savills specialist lettings team. “Beautifully restored under the expert eye of an interior designer, it’s a rare gem.”

The large, light-filled kitchen provides an impressive space for entertaining; it’s not only practical but radiates beauty, with its hand-built units, central island and floor-to-ceiling sash windows. The media room provides a warm

and comfortable space to cosy up with a film; alternatively it could make an ideal home office or study. An elegant sitting room offers another wonderful room for entertaining.

The beautifully designed master bedroom, comes with a stylish en-suite shower room and a private balcony offering views across the city. A further double and single bedroom are linked by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom.

The property is ideally suited to a professional couple, says Sam. “We see a lot of tenants who are moving to Bristol from London or overseas, and looking for a home that they can move straight into that is within easy reach of everything the city has to offer.”

Harley Villa is on the market with Savills Bristol for a guide price of £3,750 per month. For further information, contact the team on 01179 335 813.

PROPERTY

GLOUCESTER ROW It’s not every day you find a complete home in this lovely row facing Clifton Downs . . .

By Ursula Cole

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

A PROPERTY PLACE TO CALL HOME PROPERTY

B

ack in the bad old days of house-hunting, you really only had a couple of chances to look around a prospective home. An initial viewing, generally with a follow-up visit as a final decider. Any more smacked of fussing.

After that, the offer went in: boom. Then, once you got home and tried to work out where to put all the furniture, all you had as an aide memoire were the floorplans and a few photos in the brochure. Crazy, really, when you consider that it almost certainly represented the biggest investment you’d ever make.

It’s all a bit different these days, with the advent of those nifty digital ‘walk-through’ tools that really came into their own during lockdown. Can’t remember what the fireplace in the library looked like? Just take a virtual tour online, as often you like, at any anti-social hour of the day.

Head to the Gloucester Row property on the Elephant website, and click on the video button. You’ll see a little circle that looks a bit like Simon Templar’s halo, which you move around with your mouse. And hey presto, you’re back in your dream home: in this case, a vast, six-storey, six-bedroomed, classically beautiful Grade-II Georgian town house that gazes straight across to Clifton Downs.

Like many homes of this size, it’s one of only a few remaining intact buildings in the row. There’s a lot to discover here, and we may as well start with the front door, set within an incredibly impressive pillared porch. It’s an altogether beautiful facade, all golden Bath stone, with quoins, an elegant first-floor iron balcony and decorative balustrading.

Inside, the hallway leads to a kitchen with a south-facing

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

PROPERTY

sun terrace, which opens in turn to a 77ft garden. As you’ll see from the photos, the room hits the ideal sweetspot between the contemporary and the historic, with period detail including a marble fireplace. The front room is ideally placed as a family room, formal dining room or even an office; your choice, of course.

In classic Georgian style, the main living rooms are on the first floor, connected by original concertina doors. They’re awash with pretty original features, with large sash windows, cornices and two marble fireplaces; the large front window opens up to a balcony where you can lounge about and take in the view.

The top two floors have five double bedrooms, the starring role played by a grand master suite, with a dressing room, ‘secret wardrobe’ and a large bathroom.

The ground floor has its own independent access, making it ideal for guests/live-in staff/kids who have grown up but, annoyingly, not left home. There are three principal rooms here, the middle being the most intriguing with its flagstone floor, original bread oven and lower part of the original dumb waiter. A large cinema room has been created in the cellar, which still has its original vaulted wine store.

We could describe each of the rooms in forensic detail, but then we’d have less space for the photos – and you know what they say about a picture being worth a thousand words. And don’t forget – there’s still that digital walk-through... n

HOUSE NUMBERS Square footage Bedrooms Bath/shower rooms

5,231 6/7 5

Reception rooms 3, plus office, gym, cinema room and art room

Garden Price

77ft £POA

What else?

Overlooks Clifton Downs Contact Elephant, 37 Princess Victoria Street, Clifton 0117 370 0557; elephantlovesbristol.co.uk

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

DESIGNED WITH CONSIDERATION, INSTALLED WITH CARE

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

HOW WE FELL IN LOVE WITH UK BREAKS Savvy investors are reaping the benefits of UK staycation market boom according to AURELIUS PROPERTY

W

ith foreign holidays heavily restricted for millions during the last couple of years, Brits have rediscovered the beauty of our own green and pleasant shores. Self-catering holidays, which typically provide space, safety and privacy – some of the must-haves of the moment – have largely weathered the storm caused by the pandemic and emerged in prime position to capitalise on the muchanticipated staycation boom. And the homesoil love affair is on course to continue for years to come, with the UK tourism industry predicted to reach £257 billion by 2025.

Peter Butterworth, co-founder of Aurelius Property, an exciting new investment platform based in Bristol, is witnessing this growth firsthand.

“We are experiencing an unseasonably buoyant start to 2022. January is typically classed as low season in the holiday lodge industry, however, we are seeing bookings in quantities akin to late spring, which prior to 2020 was unheard of. I was meeting an investor on site for a viewing in Rutland

The ichthyosaur skeleton is the largest and most complete fossil of its kind ever found in the UK. Photograph: Anglian Water/PA

recently and was amazed to see how busy it was; a summer `buzz’ with holiday makers enjoying their hot tubs on a chilly (but bright) day in mid-January.

“It is a struggle to find an unoccupied lodge to show potential investors around at the moment, which is obviously great news for our clients. Inevitably, the ongoing demand for high-quality UK breaks has led to an insatiable demand from savvy investors who are already benefitting from this ongoing growth.

“BRITS HAVE REDISCOVERED THE BEAUTY OF OUR OWN GREEN AND PLEASANT SHORES” The first phase of lodges at Sun Valley in Cornwall, sold out so quickly that when we launched our latest offering, Ranksborough Hall, in Rutland, in late 2021, the resort brochures weren’t even ready yet. We still have some availability, but units will not hang around.”

Rutland is England’s smallest county, and certainly lives up to its motto, Multum in Parvo (much in little); This rural escape is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors.

Rutland Water offers a multitude of leisure pursuits including water sports, cycling, fishing and bird watching, while Rutland’s many attractive villages, set in the wonderful English countryside, are home to picture-postcard cottages and traditional country pubs. And now, also home to one of the most significant fossils ever found in the UK. “As soon as I saw the lodge deal it felt like the right thing to go for,” said Mira, an owner at Ranksborough Hall.

“Over the last two years I have realised that holidays are not a luxury but an absolute

necessity, especially if it means being close to nature. No stamp duty was a plus.”

With brand-new fully managed lodges, future investors are sure to find Ranksborough Hall a robust, hassle-free and rewarding investment, that delivers straight away and assures healthy returns for years to come. ■

Tel: 0117 4225 449 email: invest@aureliusproperty.com aureliusproperty.com

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

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

(0117) 934 9977

WATERFRONT OFFICE SUITE WITH VIEWS • Fantastic first floor office accommodation with stunning views • Recently refurbished • Approx. 2,375 sq ft • 6 car spaces total

BRIMSHAM PARK SHOPPING CENTRE • Established neighbourhood shopping centre • Unit 3 – 1,200 sq ft shop • Rare opportunity on a busy pitch • New lease available rent on application

FIRST FLOOR OFFICE TO LET • Attractive, landscaped business park location • Approx. 2,003 sq ft • 11 car parking spaces • High quality, refurbished space

CONTEMPORARY OFFICE SPACE TO LET • Stunning bright & contemporary offices • Only one suite remaining – approx. 404 sq ft • Prime location • New lease available

GROUND FLOOR RETAIL UNIT • Popular location fronting Henleaze Road • Excellent shop frontage • Approx. 681 sq ft • Low rateable value

ROADSIDE SITE TO LET • Located on the busy A38 ‘Bristol Road’ • Large forecourt with office space • Suitable for a range of uses STP • New flexible lease terms available

CLASS E UNIT TO LET • Good size unit • Use Class E – suitable for a wide range of uses • New lease available • Rent only £20k per annum

RECENTLY REFURBISHED OFFICE TO LET • Currently undergoing refurbishment • Modern, self-contained office • Good parking provision • Approx. 1,950 sq ft

FULLY REFURBISHED INDUSTRIAL UNITS TO LET • Located just off the B4048 Lodge Causeway • Fully refurbished units with modern offices • From approx. 27,361 sq ft up to 54,938 sq ft • Eaves heights from 7.8 metres up to 10 meters

CLEVEDON OFFICES TO LET • Established business park location within 2 miles of J20 of the M5.

• Office suites from approx.

1,722 sq ft up to 3,630 sq ft • On site car parking • Recently refurbished

• Sales/Lettings

• Development advice

• Acquisitions advice • Investment

Julian Cook FRICS

Jayne Rixon MRICS

Charlie Kershaw MRICS

Finola Ingham MRICS

Tom Coyte MRICS

Holly Boulton BSc(Hons)

Vicki Grimshaw BSc (Hons)

• Valuations

• Dilapidations

• Landlord & tenant

• Property Marketing

• Rent reviews

• Auction Services

SPONSORED CONTENT

SPARK CONVERSATION ALIVE ON DEMAND is a video streaming platform that sparks conversation with older people

A

live On Demand is a video platform for older people, their loved ones or their carers.

The brainchild of Bristol-based charity Alive Activities, Alive On Demand was built to spark conversation through videos and activities. Alive Activities is a charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people through activity.

Equipped with 10 years of face-to-face experience engaging older people in meaningful activity and following extensive conversations with older people, including specific information on what places and activities they would like to engage with, Alive On Demand was built with its audience at the centre.

Featuring over 200 videos of all-original content, the platform is designed by and for older people. A labour of love, the platform

was designed and built by the Alive Activities team during lockdown, when the team could no longer visit and deliver activities to older people in person.

Alive On Demand was born out of the need for specially curated video content that would be of interest to older people. The platform features content ranging from guided reminiscence, calming sensory experiences, music and art appreciation to local tours of important landmarks in and around Bristol.

The video library is constantly expanding to include fresh, relevant content. The collection of videos is available on a subscription basis from as little as £5.99 a month. The platform is available through a browser on the internet and can be enjoyed as both Android and iOS apps. The videos can also be viewed offline in the apps, for areas with no WiFi.

“What makes Alive On Demand stand out is the fact that we have designed the content to bring people together to create conversation and spark memories,” says project manager Emma Dyer. “The content is also designed to support people in engaging with people living with dementia and our content topics reflect that.” ■

Visit www.aliveondemand.co.uk or email aod@aliveactivities.org for more information

BRISTOL LIVES

“The diversity in Bristol restaurants is incredible, and the level of quality is unmatched ” coming destination, so when the opportunity came about I jumped at it.

There are now four Woky sites

LARKIN CEN

The founder of Woky Ko now has four Bristol sites serving authentic Asian food. Here’s his story...

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arkin grew up in Cardiff, where his parents ran a Chinese takeaway.

“It was allencompassing,” he says. “There was no line between home and work; there was a fish-and-chip shop attached to the Chinese restaurant, and when I got back from school my job was peeling potatoes. We were an immigrant family, we didn’t have much, with our whole family unit sharing two rooms – which quickly changed thanks to my parents’ hard work.”

The Chinese master stocks

that make up so much of the flavour of my style of Asian cooking is definitely taken from my roots, and is one of the things that sets the Woky Ko dishes apart. My grandfather’s Cantonese-style roast pork belly was my favourite; to this day, it’s my ultimate comfort food, and a dish I love to make for my family.

I was never taught to cook;

I definitely absorbed the industry by being in a culinary environment from a young age.

After my cheffing career started in Wales, I came to Bristol to Woky Ko and found my style.

My first location at Cargo was an immediate hit, and it’s been the foundation on which we’ve built ever since.

Being a finalist in the 2013 MasterChef was a once-in-a-

lifetime experience. Taking two months off to film and living out a suitcase was very different from my normal life. I learned a massive amount, and getting to the final was the proof I needed to pursue a career as a restaurateur.

I opened my first Woky Ko restaurant in Cargo in 2016,

the beginning of what has been an amazing yet challenging journey. Wapping Wharf was a really exciting, up-and-

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in Bristol, each offering something unique. Rooftop is all about having a good time with our innovative take on classic Asian dishes and our signature baos. Cargo is our noodle bar, as popular for takeaway as eat-in.

St Nick’s Market has our stall selling our signature katsu curry.

We’ve recently realised that our Queen’s Road operation has one of the best views in the city, with our upstairs windows overlooking The Wills Memorial Building, so as well as being the kitchen for our evening takeaway service it’s our new lunch bar.

My top dishes to try are:

Rooftop: our signature bao buns.

Cargo: It’s got to be our ground pork tantanmen ramen.

St Nick’s: Korean fried chicken katsu curry. Lunch Bar: pork chashu bing flatbread.

We’re Asian food done really well. We’re taking the

traditional flavours and giving them a modern, fun twist. And not to mention our bright pink takeaway bags – whenever you see one, you know it’s a Woky Ko meal on the move.

The UK’s perception of ‘Chinese food’ has changed over the past few decades.

It’s carved out a space as a real dining-out experience, but still with the heritage of big family meals at its heart. In the past,

I have felt that Chinese food was under-represented, with a real lack of understanding around the skill involved in creating even the most basic of dishes. Fast-forward to today, and the huge array of techniques, flavours and specialist skills involved in this cuisine are starting to have a light shone on them across the world.

There’s also been a real crosscultural fusion with ramen, as

it combines Chinese and Japanese ingredients, techniques and flavours into something truly elevated, refined and special.

Our annual Woky Fest is always a fantastic community event at Wapping Wharf. There’s music, street performances and everyone creates a special Woky Fest dish to celebrate with us. The whole thing is inspired by my childhood memories, particularly visits to Hong Kong. Everything was lit up, there was music, food, dancers – that’s where I got the inspiration to bring in the Lion dancers. I wanted to bring Chinese New Year to Bristol.

The diversity in Bristol restaurants is just incredible,

and the level of quality is simply unmatched – everyone involved in the food industry is continually reinventing and upping their game to offer the very best. One of my favourite places to go for dinner is the Pony Bistro in Bedminster.

Sensational food and a brilliant cocktail menu!

For more: wokyko.com