Bristol Life - Issue 327

’m really happy with how this issue has turned out. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the yuletide glitz and glamour, all the food and shopping and decorating, that it’s easy to forget that somewhere, buried under all the tinsel and fake snow, there are real Christmas stories quietly asking to be told.

We live in a compassionate city; maybe a uniquely caring one. It’s a city that sprang into action to help vulnerable people during the pandemic, and still hasn’t taken its foot off the pedal in the post-lockdown world.

Launched in 2021 in response to the free school meals scandal, The Mazi Project sets out to feed, educate and empower young disadvantaged people in the city. The food insecurity crisis is increasing every day, and Mazi is doing its utmost to help – and to that end they’ve recruited Bristol-born actor Maisie Williams as their new ambassador.

compassionate T Mazi

From being a complete unknown, Maisie was rocketed to global stardom at the age of 13 after being cast as Arya Stark in Game of Thrones. At 25, she’s a remarkable woman whose film and T is matched by her work as an activist and entrepreneur. It’s a massive bonus for Mazi to have her on board, and another reason for Bristol to feel proud of Maisie’s close connection with the city.

And that, we feel, is a real Christmas story. You can read more about it on page 20, among all our other festive features – because naturally we’ve brought the sparkle and shine as well. Have a wonderful Bristmas, beauties!

DERI ROBINS

COVER

CHRISTMAS

7 THAT’S WHAT WE CALL BRISTMAS ’22 Markets, wonderlands and a pair of bears

THE BIG INTERVIEW

20 MAISIE WILLIAMS Exclusive: an interview with the Bristol actor, activist and new ambassador of The Mazi Project. She’s an absolute dude.

ARTS

15 ARTS INTRO A full-page festive photo – think of it as a gift from us and Pete ri ths to you. ow buy the print

WHAT’S ON A truncated version of the usual guide, because we’ve stuck all the Bristmassy market stuff on page

PHOTOGRAPHY The unmissable Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition has rolled back into town

BRISTOL HEROES We’re making Bristmas great again, one twig at a time.

BOOKS The Storysmith gift guide part II; and this time we’re doing it for the kids

FOOD & DRINK

name doesn’t mean ‘Cor’ as in ‘phwoar’, but it might as well

COCKTAILS Mix, muddle, shake it like a Polaroid picture

CAFÉ SOCIETY From boot to boutiquery

and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

Reuben Selby

We’ve got markets. We’ve got wonderlands. We’ve got animatronic polar bears and sailing Santas; turn the page for the full lowdown, then head to page 16 for all the best Bristmas shows, music and New Year’s Eve shindigs

It’s hard to suppress a small ironic twitch of the lips whenever you hear the words ‘winter wonderland’. The phrase has been forever tarnished by those infamously tacky and overpriced ‘attractions’ of Christmas past: who can forget the shonky grottoes in muddy fields, plastic ice rinks, chain-smoking elves and bad Santas in Poundland costumes? Crushingly disappointing for those visiting with kids, obviously, but a guilty pleasure to read about. But forget all of that, because Bristol is bringing all the magic this year – and here’s where to track it down.

THOSE CITY LIGHTS

f course, the easiest way to soak up the festive vibe is simply to wander the streets, where Bristol ity entre BID, edcliffe Temple BID and Broadmead BID have joined forces to bring the festive sparkle.

Many other neighbourhoods are pulling out the hyper-local stops too; there’s loads going on in Bedminster, from events and workshops to visual installations and the 12 Drinks of Bedminster trail (bedminster.org.uk) while the traders of Wapping Wharf have the lights on and the shop hours extended – please support these lovely folk while they cope with the closure of Gaol Ferry Bridge (wappingwharf.co.uk).

FESTIVE SHIZZLE

WINTERLAND AT PROPYARD

When? Until 4 January Where? Propyard, St Philip’s Sugar, spice and everything ice with an indoor ice rink, ice-bumper cars, apres-ski bar, covered crafts market and street food. Is there a Santa? o, but there are visits from the very cute animatronic polar bear, Bjorn. propyard.co.uk

CRIBBS WINTER WONDERLAND WITH PADDINGTON™

When? Until 2 January

Where? Cribbs Causeway

The marmalade-loving ursine returns to Cribbs along with the outdoor ice rink and a ‘magical journey with charming characters to meet in interactive scenes’. Ideal for bribing the rugrats to behave while Xmas shopping. Is there a Santa? es, accompanied by marmalade-making elves we discern a theme here) and Alba the Owl. mallcribbs.com

VINTAGE WINTER WONDERLAND

When? Until 2 January

Where? Millennium Square

The old-school fairground rides and stalls return, as does the apr s bar, with film screenings, live music, D -led events and food stalls selling bratwurst, pizza, orkshire pudding wraps and crêpes.

Is there a Santa?

ep, he’s waiting for you in his grotto on weekdays; no booking necessary. Find Vintage Winter Wonderland on Facebook

THE SPIEGELTENT

When? Until 20 December

Where? Waterfront Square

The lovely mirrored tent returns with the usual eclectic mi of circus, music, drag brunch, cabaret, etc. enuinely magical.

Is there a Santa? o, but there’s a Baby Disko on 17 December and Kid Carpet’s Noisy Nativity on - December. christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

PISTE

When? Until 31 January Where? ing’s oad, lifton

A pop-up apr s-ski; all the amenities of a winter ski lodge without having to hit the slopes. Looks very pretty indeed. Is there a Santa? o, there’s more of a grown-up vibe going on here. pistebristol.co.uk

BELOW: Mistletoe and Glühwein at Broadmead INSET: Sail with Santa: surely the most Bristol FC of them all

© BRISTOL FERRY

SAIL WITH SANTA

When? 17-18, 20-24 December

Where? From Cascade Steps

Fabulous festive family fun on the ferries! There’s a personalised gift for each child, festive snacks and sherry for the grown-ups, and a 45-minute trip around the harbour Is there a Santa? The clue is in the name of the event. bristolferry.com

SANTA SPECIALS AT THE AVON VALLEY RAILWAY

When? 17 -18 December Where? Bitton Station

An ideal treat for dads of all ages accompanied by responsible children. Is there a Santa? When you return to Bitton Station, kids will meet the man in red and receive a gift. avonvalleyrailway.org

MARKETS

BRISTOL CHRISTMAS MARKET

When? Until 23 December Where? Broadmead ’Tis the damn season, as Bristol Shopping Quarter’s streets play host to 40 wooden chalets selling treats and gifts. There’s the Jäger Barn Bar, cosy igloo pods and even cable-car gondolas. bristolchristmasmarket.com

BRISTOL POP-UP SHOP AT THE GALLERIES

When? 17 November- 24 December Where? The Galleries Gifts from over 80 local makers. bristolpopupshop.co.uk

ST NICK’S

CHRISTMAS MARKET

When? Until 24 December Where? Old City

The Christmas outdoor markets are back, selling crafts and street food in Bristol’s most atmospheric quarter; bristol.gov.uk

FUTURE LEAP

When? 16-18, 19-23 December Where? Gloucester Road. Alternative and sustainable shopping. futureleap.co.uk

BEARPIT FESTIVE SPECIAL

When? 18 December Where? Bearpit, obv. Support local businesses while buying stuff you’ll never find on the high street. bearpitmarket.co.uk

BETTER SUNDAYS

When? 18 December Where? Broadmead Ethical, local market with over 20 local,

sustainable traders, a workshop and entertainment. betterevents.org.uk

OUT OF TOWN

Still craving more? No problem at all. Hop in the car and head for this lot.

Wookey Hole (until 1 January). Over 100,000 lights create an enchanting underground Christmasland, there’s a grotto, a circus show inspired by Elf on the Shelf and a D hristmas film. wookey.co.uk

The Festival of Light at Longleat (until 8 January) brings Roald Dahl’s stories to life with over 800 lanterns. There’s Britain’s biggest singing Christmas tree, the Santa Train, and a Winter Safari drive-through; one of the pricier treats around, but guaranteed to be brilliant. longleat.co.uk

Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park Avon Valley leaves no festive stone unturned, with shows, ice-skating and The Polar Express miniature steam train. After dark, the Christmas light trail (16-23, 27-31 Dec) leads you round the illuminated park; there’s also a festive disco. avonvalley.co.uk

Santa also pitches up at Old Down Estate from 17-24 Dec (olddownestate.co.uk); Cheddar Gorge until 24 Dec (cheddargorge. co.uk); Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier between 19 -24 Dec (grandpier.co.uk); and at Slimbridge (17-23 Dec) for a wetland wonderland (wwt.org.uk)

© JULIAN PREECE

ABOVE: Frankie goes to Old City INSET: Cable-car-cosy at the Bristol Market

POSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST

By the time this magazine comes out it may well have snowed. But just in case, let’s delve into the archives and celebrate some of the best Bristmassy pics of recent years

THE ARTS

SNAPSHOTS OF BRISTOL’S CULTURAL LIFE

Even without snow, this Park Street shot by Pete Griffiths is a wintry banger. Follow Pete at @petegriffiths80 on instagram and buy prints at www.petegriffiths.picfair.com

EXHIBITIONS

Until 18 December

KAVI PUJARA: THIS GOLDEN MILE Kavi began to photograph the neighbourhoods close to Leicester’s Golden Mile to reconnect with the city, its residents and his own past; MPF; martinparrfoundation.org

Until 20 December

MORE THAN A NUMBER

Thought-provoking work by 12 photographers from Africa, caught between modernity and tradition; at Trinity Centre, afrikaeye.org.uk

PINK LADY® FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

The world’s leading awards for food photography, at Royal Photographic Society; rps.org

Until 31 December

LEBOHANG KGANYE: LEAVE THE LIGHT WHEN YOU LEAVE FOR GOOD The Georgian House was once

home to a sugar trader and his enslaved staff; now, at the same site, ebohang re ects on the legacy of colonialism as a shared history; bristolmuseums.org.uk

Until 8 January

JOHN AKOMFRAH: MIMESIS: AFRICAN SOLDIER John uncovers the undiscussed story of Commonwealth soldiers who volunteered to fight in World War I – the war of their colonial masters. Bristol Museum; bristolmuseums.org.uk

RWA ANNUAL OPEN

The Annual Open Exhibition returns to the WA for its th outing; rwa.org.uk

Until 15 January

LAWRENCE ABU HAMDAN: THE 49TH PARALLEL

A major new film commission focusing on the Haskell Free Library and Opera House; spikeisland.org.uk

ROSEMARY MAYER: WAYS OF ATTACHING

Rosemary is known for her gauzy and colourful fabric sculptures named after historical women; Spike Island, spikeisland.org.uk

Until 29 January BHARTI KHER

A collection of sketches, drawings, paintings, sculptures and installations, at Arnolfini; arnolfini.org.

Until 29 May WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

At M Shed p ; bristolmuseums.org.uk

SHOWS

Until 2 January

ROBIN HOOD AND MARIAN

It’s off to Sherwood Forest at The edgrave, for a show filled with sword-wielding, highly inauthentic dragons, venison pasties and lots of archery; redgravetheatre.com

WINTER TALES WITH GRANDDAD

Exquisite puppets and captivating storytelling in The Wardrobe’s festive family show; thewardrobetheatre.com

Tales with Granddad

LEFTTORIGHT: Muppets run amok at Wardrobe; the very best kind of festive schmaltz at Bristol Film Fest; interactive Santa at the TFT

Until 7 January

THE NUTCRACKER

Written by Tom Morris, directed by ee yford, with B faves Tristan Sturrock, Patrycja ujawska and wyneth erbert joined by B TS grad Denzel Baidoo. Bonkers, and fabulously festive. bristololdvic.org.uk

Until 8 January

BELLE AND SEBASTIEN

Bristol ld ic and Travelling ight’s festive show for children ; guaranteed to bring the magic bristololdvic.org.uk

Until 15 January

THE SNOW QUEEN

In the TFT’s festive biggie this Bristmas, erda once again heads to the frozen north to save best friend aj from the icy clutches of the Snow ueen; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Until 22 January

MDH: PUPPETS DO A MOVIE

Wardrobe fans will know what to e pect, viz. a fast, smart, lo-fi action thriller parody full of lols, plastic machine-guns and a talking pig; thewardrobetheatre.com

Until 23 December

(selected dates)

AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS

At Bristol Improv Theatre, your suggestions will give the team uirky characters to riff on; improvtheatre.co.uk

Until 23 December

BS3 SANTA

An enchanting show with comic actor Stewart Wright as Santa, bringing improvisation and audience interaction, at TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Not

a creature was stirring, apart from this rat: The Nutcracker

Until 31 December

CINDERELLA

Bristol ippodrome puts on the ultimate panto, with raig evel orwood having a lot of fun camping it up as the wicked stepmother; atgtickets.com

ALADDIN

It’s a magic carpet ride at edgrave this hristmas, in its biggest panto to date; redgravetheatre.com

22 December

THE FLAMING FEATHERS

CHRISTMAS CABARET

Step back in time in the subterranean tunnels of oco lub; a candlelit stage show dripping in decadence, showgirls, juggling, comedy, burles ue and festive cheer. theflamingfeathers.com

3 January

SIR RANULPH FIENNES: LIVING DANGEROUSLY

The world’s greatest living e plorer comes to thaw out brie y at The ippodrome; atgtickets.com

MUSIC

16 December

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

Starting in near darkness, the Bristol athedral hoir proceeds down the aisle bearing candles; bristol-cathedral.co.uk

17, 19 December

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

The Bristol Ensemble and ity of Bristol hoir join bring the festive cheer through music and readings at St eorge’s Bristol stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

20 December

FESTIVE FIESTA

Another festive evening at St ’s, with favourite carols, hristmas choral works and orchestral pieces and a chance for a lovely singalong. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

21 December

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

There’s traditional, and then there’s St eorge’s does The Messiah traditional’. If choral stuff’s your thing this is festively unmissable; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

COMEDY Ongoing CLOSER EACH DAY

The world’s longest-running improvised comedy soap continues to bubble frothily away at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

17 December

STUART GOLDSMITH

The award-winning comedian, writer, podcaster and host brings his smart, accessible stand-up to en hicken; henandchicken.com

OTHER Ongoing

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL

The almost-year-round fest with the something-for-everyone remit rumbles on. Plenty of festive favourites coming up. bristolfilmfestival.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE

A handy guide to some of the glitziest shindigs in town.

31 December (obviously)

ALL THAT GLITTERS

Join the Milk Thistle for a night filled with elegant golden glamour, outstanding cocktails and entertainment; eventbrite.co.uk

IT’S DISCO, B*!&H

Bambalan goes disco, with all-night D s, cocktails and naturally, plenty of dancing; eventbrite.co.uk

POP CON PRESENTS: VIVA LAS THEKLA

Immerse yourself in the ity of Sin as Bristol’s favourite oating nightclub serves up just-for-fun casino style games, wedding chapel photobooth, egas cocktails, all the classic Pop on bangers from D Elvis and more; theklabristol.co.uk

UP THE ANTICS

This year’s Improv Theatre line-up ft. divas, five-star improv groups and sketch legends; improvtheatre.co.uk

NYE AT THE SQUARE CLUB

An all-inclusive classic ollywoodstyle party; thesquareclub.com

NYE AT BRISTOL STABLE

ate-night party ft. the pop, soul, funk hip-hop of ew rleans band orning lory; stablepizza.com

band, casino and feast, for the

dedicated party animal; racks-bristol.co.uk

Belle and Sebastien; the mighty Felix Hayes plays Belle

“Fame is such a bizarre part of what I do, but it can be so helpful if used in the right way”

THE AMAZING MS MAISIE

Bristol’s Mazi Project has big plans for the future

–

and new ambassador Maisie Williams will be playing a key role in making them happen

Words by Deri Robins; photos by Jack Abbott

e must have been good this year, because Santa has brought us an early Christmas present in the form of Maisie Williams. She’s Zooming me from Paris, where she’s filming a new TV show, but we’re not here to talk about the job today. We’re here to talk about an issue that’s close to her heart – and to many Bristolians’ hearts. The Mazi Project.

Mazi (the word is Greek for ‘together’) is a fairly new but mighty Bristol food poverty CIC founded by Melanie Vaxevanakis. It’s a visionary endeavour that seeks to educate, inspire, unite and empower, rather than just to feed, some of the most marginalised young people in the city. Disadvantaged youth in Bristol are suffering like never before, and The Mazi Project is at the frontline; they’ve seen referrals go up by 40% and now have a waiting list of people they’d love to help, but can’t – yet.

Mel set up Mazi in response to the 2021 free school meals scandal; today, it supports an ever-increasing number of care leavers aged 16-25, along with youths recovering from homelessness and asylum seekers in

Wsupported accommodation. Every Tuesday, a group of volunteers delivers a box containing high-quality ingredients and recipes to their young people, the menus having been chosen in advance over text.

From the get-go, the project struck a very Bristol chord. Many of the biggest names in local hospitality came on board, unstintingly offering their time, skill, space and ingredients. It’s growing nicely, having delivered over 9,000 meals to date, but Mel has ambitions to extend it even further – and to this end she’s invited Bristol-born actor, entrepreneur and activist Maisie, who herself experienced food insecurity as a child, to join her as the CIC’s new ambassador.

Maisie’s own teenage years were unusual to say the least. At the age of 13 she was rocketed to global, awardwinning stardom after being cast as Arya Stark in Game of Thrones, where she quickly became the heart of the show.

ill off the other characters, if you must’, we silently implored the showrunners; ‘but please don’t kill Arya’.

Sudden fame must be ba ing for child stars, who find themselves fawned over, feted and pigeonholed before they’ve had a chance to work out who they really are, or who they want to be. It’s not surprising so many end up spiralling into substance abuse, followed by rehab if they’re lucky, a tragic early death if they’re not.

In contrast, even as a young teenager, Maisie used her

fame to campaign for vulnerable people and eco causes. A good deed in a naughty world, she spends a huge amount of her time campaigning for a fairer one.

She’s spoken out about cyber-bullying, thrown her name behind Black Lives Matter and supported numerous environmental and political causes. Mindful of her own life-changing career break, she’s created apps to help young creatives break into the industry. She was the World Wildlife Fund’s first global ambassador; she’s given a TED talk; the list goes on. Arya may have killed the Night King, but Maisie is still trying to save the world, sticking injustice with the pointy end one issue at a time. It’s only when she gives her infectious giggle that you remember that she’s still only 25.

Maisie first came across The Mazi Project by chance when a friend invited her to a fundraising meal.

“So I went along, and had the most amazing evening, and ate the most delicious food. I hadn’t realised how many of the young people were going to be cooking in the kitchen and involved in the whole event. And I watched Mel get up and make a speech.

“In that moment, over dinner, it really struck a chord deep within me, and deep within my story, that I hadn’t spoken about publicly before. It was just one of those moments; like a calling, almost. I found this organisation to be so impactful to young people, and I could really

Maisie at Mazi; the CIC is always looking for volunteers to help pack boxes RIGHT: Prior experience of direwolves handy but not essential

see a lot of my younger self in their lives. I knew immediately that I wanted not just to donate, but to help support the organisation in the most simple way I knew how. Mel suggested that I might come on board as an ambassador, and I loved the idea.”

To be an effective role model you need to be relatable, which is partly why Maisie has chosen now to speak up about her own experience of food insecurity.

“I had a lot of support from Barnardo’s when I was growing up,” she says. “It had an incredible, transformational impact on me. My fear dissipated; my sense of self started to rise. I took a dance class shortly after, which led to auditions, my role in Game of Thrones and everything else that’s come since.

“I spent five days with Barnardo’s with a bunch of other kids like myself, with these incredible helpers and carers. I remember feeling all of a sudden that I wasn’t alone with these feelings, these emotions that I just didn’t really know how to process or to work through.

“Later on I discovered cooking as a meditative way to find peace; because at the end of the hardest day, nourishing your body and giving yourself a meal is really the greatest gift, and something that absolutely every single person deserves to be able to do.

“What I loved about Mazi was the hands-on-slashhands-off approach, where they have incredible tools and recipes and ingredients that they give to young people so

ABOVE:

“I Mazifound to be so impactful to people,youngand I could really see a lot of my younger self in their lives”

they can make these dinners on their own. Being able to rely on yourself is such a powerful thing. The impact that a little nurture, time and care can have on young people is genuinely life-changing. That’s what The Mazi Project is providing for the young people in Bristol, and that’s why I wanted to get involved.

As the Mazi ambassador, Maisie won’t merely be lending her name to the brand or popping over to open the odd fete. Side by side with Mel, she actively wants to help grow the project.

“It’s not just about raising awareness about what Mazi does, but putting into action the things it needs to be sustainable. We’ve wanted to be really, really targeted in terms of the people Mazi helps, localised to Bristol; but as a format it can, in theory, be replicated in any city.

“We’ve spoken about doing a documentary and unveiling some of the work Mazi does. But my favourite part so far has been getting to meet these incredible young people and hear more about their lives, and how the work that Mazi does has helped them.

Thinking over the many causes that Maisie has thrown herself behind, I ask whether giving back to society is crucial to her own wellbeing.

“Definitely. I’d found myself with this incredible opportunity, the opportunity of my wildest dreams, and it fell right in front of me. And I was so grateful, but also definitely struggled to feel like that opportunity was for

MAZI AND MEL

Melanie Vaxevanakis started the Mazi Project in response to the free school meals scandal.

“We delivered our first box at the end of March last year. It was just very much me channelling my anger of the boxes that I saw, and the big realisation that food poverty is so much more than not having access to enough food; it’s actually not having access to that dinner table of fresh food, or a brownie from Harts Bakery as opposed to Tesco, to show you that beautiful difference.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get to the level that we’re at now without people like Josh Eggleton, who helped us by giving us the space to work; support from Bianchis, Pizzarova, Tess from Box-E and Pegs from Sonny Stores, who’s now one of our board members. All of these people are massively helping me to build the bridge between marginalised groups and the amazing food scene in Bristol. It’s not just like a food bank; we are doing something unique and

something that is connecting with the young people specifically that we’re working with. It’s actually helping them increase their self-worth.

“We need to be working as a community organisation and decentralising ourselves from what I believe to be a government which might not necessarily be very responsible for some people in a way it should be. Eventually I’d like to replicate the model across the UK, helping to get sustainable and nutritious food and food education to all marginalised groups, not just young people, in a way that gives them choice and control.

“Fundamentally, though, it’s about being leaders in conversations and research in conversation around the importance of food in helping deprived areas to come out of an endless circle. And that’s why I’m insanely grateful that Maisie has come in at this level. It’s so cool and exciting to have her joining me. The universe has brought us together and it feels just right.”

me, and to feel like I fit into that world. And I think my reaction to that has always been to try and open these opportunities up to more and more people, because it completely changed my life. And I do still sometimes uestion how all of this happened. But I know that it’s important for other people to be given the same opportunity as me. Fame is such a bizarre part of what I do, but it can be so helpful if used in the right way. And that’s what I intend to do with Mazi.

“I was raised with an understanding of society and the world that I didn’t necessarily share with a lot of people I was working with. And so I felt like I had this perspective; not that I would ever want to, but you just can’t ignore the fact that you know too much about the pain in the world to be able to just let it all go, and just forget it all.

“And so, yeah, it stays with me forever. And now I feel so fortunate to be at a point where I can look back at my life and not feel scared or ashamed or embarrassed of what I had to go through in order to get here. I can use it to help other people who are in that situation, and I didn’t know if I would ever get that full-circle moment. I think that it’s been healing on so many levels.

ike many charities, Mazi is stepping up its efforts in the run-up to hristmas with the MaziMas campaign; by the time this magazine comes out they’ll have held a fundraising Winter Feast at Trinity with Maisie, and launched a T-shirt that she’s designed.

h, she designs, too es, she does and she’s come up with a concept that’s simultaneously fun and touching.

“The way I e plored lu ury food when I was a small kid was through films; I used to love scenes of kids eating the most delicious foods, and I used to replay them. And so with my connection to the film industry, and Mazi’s connection with food, I thought it would be fun to draw an impression of some of my favourite scenes and compile them all together on a T-shirt.

Mazi has also launched a festive food and drink trail, with a map of local indie businesses which are supporting

them in different ways. Then there’s the winter celebration “the most e citing event, according to Mel for Mazi’s young people on December, with osh Eggleton cooking a big roast. It’s the first time they’ve run this event, but they hope to replicate it every year and grow it.

Maisie will be there too; she’s been dotting back and forth from Paris all year, where she’s filming the new Apple TV series The New Look, playing atherine Dior. “She was an incredible woman, who had an insane story; she was part of the French esistance, fought against azi-occupied France, was captured and punished for it yet survived and went on to live a long life.

When I ask what she tends to look for in an acting role, she says it’s “really hard to define. This is also what my agents have asked me, and I wish that I could put it into words, because they would love to know as well. I don’t know; I think someone with humanity and someone who I can see a little piece of myself in, I guess.

Anyway, back to Mazi.

“This year has been spent filming and working with Mel. At the beginning of I set myself a word that the year would be about. I chose alignment. And through working with Mazi, and speaking up about more of my story, I really feel like the public version of myself and the real version of myself are becoming far more aligned.

iven her youth and astonishing overnight success, it’s unsurprising that in her very earliest interviews Maisie came across as bouncy and e citable; a far cry from the poised, calm woman she seems to have become although I really hope she never loses that giggle . So at the grand old age of , has she found balance in her life “Absolutely. I think that this year has been healing for

Packing Tuesday at Mazi HQ; Mel is second from the left

HOW CAN WE HELP?

“Donate!” says Mel. “Money is a really big thing. Approach your company and ask them to become corporate sponsors. Volunteer every Tuesday on North Street; many people can’t really conceptualise what we do until they see it all happening. Help raise awareness of the issue, and follow us as we get ready for for the campaign we’re going to launch next spring.”

And of course, buy the T-shirt and merchandise, and check out the MaziMas food and drink trail. For more www.themaziproject.com

a lot of reasons. And I do feel like now is the perfect time to be able to both work at the job and help other people, because I finally feel like I’m in a good place in my own life to be able to do that.

“The infrastructure Mel has been able to build and the impact she’s had is astounding, given that Mazi’s only been running a short time. I’ve seen the inner workings of charities, but they’re usually very large, and have been going for many years, but to see this one woman and everything she’s built, and to met the young people and see how much they love and respect her is really special. It’s a grassroots organisation, and it’s been so eye-opening.

“I think you can feel powerless while you wait around for the government to implement change. Working together to build these communities is so important, and it’s also important in policy change. It feels really wonderful to be working on the Mazi Project because I can see the future in which it’s doing everything that it’s set out to do, and I think it looks really e citing. n

“I didn’t know if I would ever get that moment;full-circle it’s been healing on so many levels”

CALL OF THE WILD

world’s best nature photography

The annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is unmissable on so many levels. Mostly for the quality of the images themselves – some of them upsetting, others Pixar-level cute but also because they offer a sobering reminder of the precious beauty of our planet, shining a light on stories from all over the world and conveying the impact of human activity in ways that words – yes, even those uttered by the sage Sir David – can never hope to match.

As ever, we’ve chosen some of the least disturbing photos for our feature (the seal and mongoose both escaped, incidentally) because it’s Christmas, after all. n

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022, developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, is at M Shed until 29 May 2023 www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

ARCTIC AMBUSH By Theo Allofs

Theo had sailed for days through loose-pack ice before spotting the lone polar bear. Approaching the sleeping bearded seal, the bear dived down before rocketing out of the water, propelling its body onto the ice floe. It missed its target and the seal escaped into the water.

The

exhibition will be open at M Shed until May. But why wait that long? In our book, it makes the perfect antidote to all the tinsel and overindulgence of Christmas

A SWAN’S PERSPECTIVE By Mateusz Piesiak

Three curious mute swans peered down, nipping at Mateusz, who was lying on his back holding his camera above him. Usually this would have been a popular spot to feed the mute swans, but on this freezing afternoon, with the temperature hovering at -10°C, he was the only person on the riverbank.

The river runs through Mateusz’s home city of Wrocław, Poland, and the mute swans often gather along the banks in expectation of being fed.

“The photos remind us of the precious beauty of our planet in ways that words can never do”

POLAR FRAME

By Dmitry Kokh

As Dmitry’s boat approached the small, uninhabited island of Kolyuchin in the remote Russian Far East, the last thing he expected to see was a figure at the window of a house. Gazing through his binoculars, Dmitry

was astonished to see more than 20 polar bears exploring the ghost town. It was too dangerous to land, so he used his low-noise drone to document the surreal experience. Following the breakup of the USSR in the early 1990s, the small settlement on the island was abandoned and the weather

station closed. Polar bears are extremely inquisitive, and will often investigate abandoned places in search of food. With climate change reducing sea ice, it is becoming increasingly difficult for polar bears to hunt, pushing them to move closer to human settlements in order to scavenge.

TREEFROG POOL PARTY

By Brandon Güell

Plagued by mosquitoes, Brandon waded chest-deep into the murky water. At dawn, after torrential rain, thousands of female gliding treefrogs arrived at the pool to lay their eggs on overhanging palm fronds. They had been attracted by the calls of the waiting males, which were ready to fertilise their eggs once laid.

These spectacular mass breeding events occur in only a few remote locations, just a handful of times a year, and are hard to predict. Brandon had been up at four in the morning for days in anticipation of catching one.

THE BONOBO AND THE MONGOOSE

By Christian Ziegler

Christian tracked a group of bonobos which are being studied by the Max Planck Society. He set out each day before daylight, waded chest-deep through flooded forest and often walked 20 kilometres each day.

Catching up with the group, Christian recalls how “the bonobo held and stroked the little mongoose for more than an hour, carrying it carefully, as it climbed a tree to eat fruit”.

At first look you might think that this scene is sweet, but it likely has a darker origin. Bonobos are mainly herbivores but do occasionally hunt and eat small mammals. This mongoose pup was eventually released unharmed.

THE OCTOPUS CASE

By Samuel Sloss

Samuel was muck-diving along the volcanic sands of Lembeh Strait, Indonesia, when he noticed this coconut octopus. He lowered the power of his strobe lamp so as not to distress it.

As he approached, the octopus quickly shut the lid of the shell, but then, to Samuel’s delight, it slowly opened it again, revealing a stunning array of colours and coils.

“The bonobo held and stroked the little mongoose for more than an hour, carrying it carefully as it climbed a tree to eat fruit”

ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Let’s make Christmas great again, one pine branch at a time . . . Words and pics by Colin Moody

1

Saw this in a shop window last year.

I Hate Christmas.

And I took a snap.

There was something quite sad about this tiny little tree. The message. And then I recalled all those hristmas films that I love. Elf, the one in which Santa works at Macy’s. The original, of course. And those films when things start to go wrong. and lessons need to be learnt. And at some point near the end, just when it’s all looking so bleak, like it’s all gonna go wrong, that’s the moment when things are pulled back from the edge of despair. The sledge ies, the disappointed become hopeful. immy Stewart steps off the bridge. ells bells; with the cost of living and war in Europe it seems the sad bit has been going on and on and on.

So I leave this here as ero . ate it, but hopefully some kind gesture, some little piece of joy comes your way, my little shopdisplay maker. And anyway, you made me smile, and think a little about the over-consumer -driven holiday, and pledge to just be a little bit nicer to everyone I meet until the whole trick’s over.

2

So staying festive, all these hristmas heroes are gonna grow on you. Because every one is a tree.

This one has been kind of smothered by a purple tinsel roll that probably was intended for a bigger tree. Here we are at BBC Radio Bristol on hristmas Eve.

And just for fun I’m imagining this as an album cover for the festive season.

Whatever your thoughts about the o ce hristmas party, good luck. Remember you gotta work with these people after the holidays.

3

Ho ho ho.

It’s off to work we go.

At 20 miles per hour.

Remembering when the local authority launched its 20 mph campaign just before tinsel time?

I declare again the person who decorates trees for uses outside the family home has not done a bad job here.

You can always tell how much people care about the season by how they do the tree. And the big 20 at the top reminding us, by slowing down on the roads, that’s fewer angels sent up.

“Whatever your thoughts about the o ce hristmas arty goo l c . emember yo gotta or ith these eo le after the holi ays

Trees there in the background somewhere.

Some pub by Bristol Old Vic, this one.

And here’s hoping we don’t get a new shiny old president back in the White House next year.

Let’s make Christmas great again.

The wonderful Trylla shop Bedminster – she’s got a troll for every occasion. Summer picnic troll, space troll, but to put a warm fuzzy feeling in your Christmas Bristol Life just take a moment to look and connect with Santa troll.

It’s the moment you needed. Enjoy it.

6

Maybe I forgot the tree with that last one.

Ah forgive me; it’s Christmas.

Here is the gift that keeps on giving. The Christmas sprout. This was the first ovid hristmas, hence she’s got the shield on in the background.

Dare say a lot of us have deleted the cancelled Christmas from our collective memory; however, I do remember that it still happened. Might have been one of the most important get-throughthis-Christmases there have ever been. And if sprouts can do it for you, then good on you!

7

Oh Christmas tree

Oh Christmas tree

What a wonderful gift

You give to me.

ou fill the house

With scents so fine

Your light look good

After some mulled wine

Oh Christmas tree

Oh Christmas tree

Your part of my pledge

To go plastic free.

To the heroes who grow the living-in-a-pot trees that you hire, give back and maybe rehire again next year.

8

Ah, ran out of tree pics.

Tell you what, here’s the plot twist.

Local legend sends a deep message.

Peace.

That’s what I want for Christmas.

Big shoutout to all the new krainians about to spend their first Christmas here.

Welcome. Let’s sit down and eat together, and toast to peace.

PS: taken on Turbo Island.

The last Christmas message from the island in its current state…

Colin Moody; content creation, online images Twitter @moodycolin; Instagram @colinmoodyphotography colinmoodyphotography.wordpress.com

EMILY & DAN ROSS STORYSMITH BOOKS

e are firm believers that Christmas really is all about the kids. One glance at the children’s section of our shop after a December Saturday will tell you that this is the case, and that the enthusiasm for stories really does increase at this time of year. It will also tell you that we desperately need to tidy up, but that’s a different matter which we’ll perhaps delegate to one of our booksellers).

Cynical, hardened purveyors of quality literature for 11 months of

Wthe year, and then December rolls around and suddenly we’re a bit emotionally wobbly at the thought of all those magical stories finding new homes under their respective hristmas trees. And the offering this year is very strong indeed –here, in no particular order, are our favourites.

A Family Christmas by Alana Washington & Emily Nash

If you’ve walked past the shop recently you will no doubt have stopped in your tracks and remarked on the glorious new artwork gracing our front window. We were fortunate enough to have illustrator Emily

Nash bring the magic of her new picture book, A Family Christmas, in which her artwork weaves around Alana Washington’s text. A classic aesthetic with a proudly contemporary image of family, it’s the perfect bedtime read for anyone who’s excited for the big day. Decorating the tree, the stockings lined up ‘like sausage dogs’, the deluge of visitors, the obligatory postprandial walk: it’s all in there, and it’s all beautiful.

The Grumpus by Alex T. Smith

For slightly older readers who haven’t lost that sense of wonder, Alex T. Smith has created this delightfully anarchic new Christmas classic. The Grumpus is a charmingly weird creation, a taciturn, jumperwearing beastie who is vehemently opposed to all things festive. But where does his distaste for Christmas come from, and what inspired him to hatch his ‘dastardly, dreadful Christmas plan’? It all goes back to one fateful Christmas Eve…

Well Done, Mummy Penguin by Chris Haughton

We’re very happy to provide a recommendation through direct experience, thanks to our little boy and his new obsession with the bravery and derring-do spirit of Mummy Penguin in this stylish and heartwarming new picture book from Chris Haughton.

Mummy Penguin’s journey across the ice to get some fish for dinner is a gently perilous one, where she must negotiate the freezing waters, a precarious climb up the ice and some dozing seals

who could wake up at any moment. But, as you will discover, it takes more than that to stop Mummy Penguin.

Joyful,

Joyful by various authors, ed. by Dapo Adeola

The title of this collection of stories from black voices should give you an idea of what to expect. A celebration of writers marginalised by the publishing industry, including the likes of Malorie Blackman, Sharna Jackson and Patrice Lawrence, these stories exude love and empowerment for all audiences.

Compiled and edited by awardwinning author and illustrator

Dapo Adeola, this is a stunning gift book, a satisfyingly hefty hardback which will enchant anyone who is already in thrall to the power of a good story so, everyone .

We hope that, whether you’re reading them or not, your Christmas is full of wonderful stories. We also hope that you’ll spend a few minutes with your local bookseller between now and the big day – we like to focus on kids’ books at this time of year, but we and our fellow booksellers across the city have the kind of specialist knowledge that really comes into its own in December. Task them with a recommendation, take them a mince pie, but most of all make sure to drink in that unique atmosphere: there’s nowhere better than a bookshop at Christmas.

Visit Storysmith at 36 North Street, Bedminster BS3 1JD 0117 953 7961

www.storysmithbooks.com

It’s Christmas – and it turns out that underneath that hardheaded, intellectual exterior our favourite booksellers are big softies after all

“There’s nowhere better to be than a bookshop at Christmas”

Oops, BS3 did it again: this late arrival on the 2022 food scene is our restaurant opening of the year

CORWords by Deri Robins

Photos by Louis Smith www.studiowhisk.co.uk

“Cor is so much where the local food scene is right now that there should be a gurt big arrow outside Temple Meads pointing visitors straight to Bedminster”

We sauntered across North Street in an elegiac state of mind. Upfest had just announced it wouldn’t be running in 2023 due to rising costs, and as we looked up at Sophie Rae’s mural outside Cor we were reminded just how important our streetart festival is to this city, and how much vibrancy it brings to the walls of BS3.

On the plus side, I guess, it means that Sophie’s mural is likely to stay up for longer; and although it was originally created while the site was occupied by vegan café Flip, and Cor was still just a twinkle in owner Mark Chapman’s eye, the style suits it very well. It’s energetic, colourful and fresh – adjectives that can equally be applied to Cor.

There’s something about a corner restaurant that looks immensely inviting on a cold December evening, its steamed-up windows offering a tantalising glimpse of the cosy bustle within. While the outside is Christmassy red, Cor’s interior is crisp and cool, with white walls and oors, painted bentwood chairs and simple little tables. There are lots of perchable points too, from the people-watching stools at the window to the comfy cane-backed chairs at the bar; bag the latter, if you get the chance.

DINING DETAILS

unfeasibly sweet, almost lobstery punch into its crispy parmesan- ecked breadcrumb shell; it may not have been the most visually arresting dish of the night, but it was one of my favourites.

Burrata can be a bland little beast if left to its own devices, but its creamy softness proved the ideal foil for a lively dressing of fennel, chilli and garlic oil scattered with crispy capers and pine nuts. Another top dish was a large plate of shallots doused in brown buttery sauce with crispy sage leaves and soft blobs of luxurious St Jude’s cheese. A wintry sofrito of tomato, celery and fennel – Mark seems quite the fan of subtle aniseedy hits – was sharply spicy from the addition of pickled red onion.

COR, 81 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1ES 0117 911 2986; www.correstaurant.com

Opening hours Tuesday-Saturday midday-10pm

The corners of my mouth had turned down slightly when my dining companion, the excellent Ms A, suggested the cannellini beans; most pulses leave me cold. However, this lifelong prejudice was challenged after tasting Cor’s version in lemon buerre blanc with oily globules of smoked caviar and crunchy panko: a riot of textures and umaminess which when combined with the mild nuttiness of the beans added up to comfort food of the highest order.

Prices Small plates £3.5-£16.5; puds £4-£7.9 Atmosphere Convivial, laidback, local vibe Service Informed and friendly Veggies Lots of choice Drinks Carefully curated list of wines, beer, cider and cocktails

Cor – that’s as in the Latin for ‘heart’, not as in ‘phwoar’, though we wouldn’t quibble if it was is the first venture for Mark, who has amply proved his cheffy prowess in recent years at Bravas, ambas and antina. He’s Australian, but don’t expect the usual Mod-Oz melting pot of global in uences; Mark is mostly drawn to the avours of the Med.

His smiley team hit the hospitality sweet-spot the minute you walk in. Everyone at or knows their stuff; had we been in the mood for wine they’d have been very happy to talk us through the mostly European list. As it turned out, we were in the mood for mezcal. An ‘aperitif’ of smoky agave, sharp lime, sweet cointreau and chilli salt went down so well that we just kept them coming – so shoot me, it’s Christmas. Besides, wine makes me sleepy, while mezcal perks me up no end. A tequila tasting menu is my idea of an ideal dining experience.

Cor’s menu is made up of small plates, in graded sizes and prices that range from bite-sized snacks to larger mains. In true tapas style they all come out of the kitchen when they’re good and ready.

First out of the traps was a mushroom canalé. This classic French pastry with its dark, thick caramelised crust is said to have originated at the Renaissance Convent of the Annonciades: certainly the best argument for taking holy orders I’ve ever heard. It’s traditionally served as a sweet; Mark replaces the custard filling with chopped mushrooms and licoricey tarragon, garnishing with raw mushrooms and a tangle of herbs.

Excellent though it was, the canalé had its work cut out competing with an absolute avour bomb of a prawn cro uette. It packed an

Finally, from the larger plates menu, came a wonderful wild black bream, cooked to silky sous-vide perfection and served with fat mussels in a vermouth sauce. Ms A doesn’t ‘do’ mussels, so I wolfed the lot.

Do leave room for pudding, and do make it the tiramisu. If you’re going to serve this dessert you may as well go the whole Italian hog, as these guys do, and use layers of panettone to add an exciting element of chew. The kitchen doesn’t set out to win any beauty contests with this one, merely dolloping a generous portion of creamy indulgence into a dish and contenting itself with a final grate-over of orange and nutmeg.

If just one or two of the dishes at Cor had been good we’d have chalked up the evening as a success, but in fact each one was a standout. They were so visually gorgeous and beautifully balanced that if they hadn’t needed the table back we’d probably have ordered all the ones we’d skipped, and reordered all the ones we hadn’t so that we could eat them again.

Cor is the kind of place Bristol does so very well: a little place created with passion and air, mindful of sustainability but not ramming its philosophy down your throat. It cares, but it cares quietly; it knows that dining out is meant to be fun. There are no earnest buzzwords on the menu, no nerdy speeches from the staff. ust lovely, lovely food, at wholly reasonable prices: you could easily pop in for three plates and a glass of wine and leave with change from twenty-five uid.

Along with the likes of Sonny Stores and the Pony Bistro (soon to close, but planning to reopen), Cor is so much where the local food scene is right now that there should be a gurt big arrow outside Temple Meads pointing visitors straight to BS3. Restaurant opening of the year? That’ll be a hard yes from us. et along now before the nationals cop on, after which you’ll have to book three years in advance. n

Looking for exciting flavours? Bristol’s global food scene is here to help

THE MINT ROOM

12-16 CLIFTON ROAD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL, BS8 1AF

TEL: 01173291300

THEMINTROOM.CO.UK

Our award-winning The Mint Room restaurant is situated a short walk away from the heart of Clifton Village.

Using only the finest of British produce, all locally sourced, we create innovative and unique dishes to present an exquisite Indian menu. Our fine-dining restaurant also invites guests to celebrate memorable occasions with their loved ones by indulging in an adventurous ‘Tour of India’ a six-course tasting menu – no visa required! The menu changes during seasons with paired wines expertly matched by an experienced sommelier to ideally complement each course.

Keep an eye out for our next exclusive supper club event to celebrate veganuary with guest chef Saurav Nath.

NEW MOON TAPAS

9 THE MALL, CLIFTON, BRISTOL BS8 4DP

TEL: 0117 239 3858

NEWMOONTAPAS.CO.UK

You’ll find two very unique restaurants in Clifton Village and Harbourside. The New Moon Tapas and New Moon on the Quay are owned and run by Takvor, a chef who always had ambitions to be a restaurateur. The menus are based on the Spanish tapas concept, but the flavour of dishes are not limited by borders. Chairman Mao’s favourite pork belly, Filipino coconut shrimp, and Italian-inspired artichoke Parmigiana are all on the menu – and if that’s not tantalising enough, Takvor presents a different cuisine from around the world every month, changing with each new moon.

KOUZINA

UNIT 3, CLIFTON DOWN STATION, WHITELADIES ROAD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL BS8 2PH

TEL: 0800 888 6208

BRISTOLKOUZINA.COM

The Kouzina was founded by two third-generation restaurateurs with more than 30 years in the food and hospitality business. Like anyone who loves truly good food, their favorite childhood memories were those spent with family and friends, crowded around a table for a meal made with care and love. That tradition still remains today, with the same recipes passed from generation to generation, and prepared with the spirit of authentic Mediterranean hospitality where everyone’s welcome. We’ve made the dining room a little bigger to fit more guests, but you’ll always feel right at home among smiling faces in a bright cheerful atmosphere. Our mission is to share the true taste of the Mediterranean in a fresh and contemporary way.

Kouzina is all about making your life tastier.

Authentic people, authentic cuisine, made with care and love.

ALL WE WANT FOR BRISTMAS IS BOOZE

Look, there’s no ‘wrong’ time to drink cocktails, but at Bristmas it's practically mandatory...

Afew decades ago, you were considered pretty damn sophisticated if you popped open a bottle of Cinzano Bianco at Christmas. Cocktails were mostly limited to G&Ts, snowballs and eggnog. Today expectation is a little higher, but no worries: Bristol's best mixologists and bar managers are full of ideas, and, in the spirit of the season, they're willing to share . . .

PHOTO BY LOUIS SMITH/STUDIOWHISK.CO.UK

KIBOU

Both this and the recipe opposite feature premium Japanese spirits as base ingredients, to give your tipple a distinctive taste of Tokyo.

Hazelnut Haku

“An indulgent cocktail that combines the evocative scent of cinnamon with hazelnut, chocolate and coffee notes,” says bar manager Richard Hall.

What you’ll need:

20ml Haku vodka (Japanese vodka)

20ml Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur) 10ml Kahlua (coffee liqueur)

30ml Half ‘n’ Half (equal ratio parts milk & cream) Garnish Chocolate powder cinnamon stick

What you’ll do: Pour the first four ingredients over cubed ice in an OldFashioned glass and stir. Garnish with cinnamon and sprinkle with chocolate powder. www.kibou.co.uk

NO.1 HARBOURSIDE

Gingerbread Espresso Martini “Wintry, Christmassy and perfect for a party,” says assistant manager Simon Jackson. “The addition of gingerbread syrup makes this very moreish.”

What you’ll need: 50ml coffee 50ml coffee liqueur (we use local Gin 77) 25ml gingerbread syrup

What you’ll do: Brew up your favourite coffee and leave it to cool. Pour the coffee, coffee liqueur & gingerbread syrup into a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice and give it a really good shake. Then pour your amazing cocktail into an glass. www.no1harbourside.co.uk

KIBOU

Gingernut Highball

“A truly festive, gingernut hit of a cocktail, with the sweet and zesty aromas of grilled oranges”; created by deputy manager Benjamin Salguero.

What you’ll need:

20ml 135 East gin (Japanese gin) 20ml Montenegro amaro (Italian aperitif) 20ml Belsazar rose vermouth 20ml ginger syrup 5ml lemon juice Soda Garnish Segment of orange

What you’ll do: Add first five ingredients over cubed ice in a highball glass and top with soda. Garnish with grilled orange. www.kibou.co.uk

OLD MARKET ASSEMBLY

Turbo Ciderland

“A winter night special, served hot and boozy and designed to fuel an evening of indoor or outdoor fun,” says assistant manager PJ. “Warm up some cider (we use Iford Chai) with lots of lovely mulled goodies – think apples, orange, nutmeg, star anise, all the Christmas flavours.”

What you’ll need:

A glass of mulled cider 25ml spiced rum 10 ml cinnamon syrup Cinnamon sugar Garnish A slick of apple garnish

What you’ll do: Mix your spiced rum, and cinnamon syrup. Rim your favourite cocktail glass with cinnamon sugar, add the rum and fill with the mulled cider. Top with apple garnish. www.oldmarketassembly.co.uk

GAMBAS

Miel de Cereza

“This cocktail is sweet and sour, very moreish, and can be drunk as dessert or just to start with,” says mixologist Ander Mendive. “You won't have just one. Addictive…”

What you’ll need:

40ml Tequila Reposado

15ml manzanilla sherry

10ml honey syrup (just mix some honey into hot water to make it extra runny)

4 maraschino cherries

Half-lemon, freshly squeezed

What you’ll do: Smash two cherries in a cocktail shaker along with a bit of the syrup they're coated with. Add the tequila, manzanilla honey syrup and lemon juice. Add some ice and shake it vigorously.

Double-strain and garnish with two cherries, served in a martini glass. www.gambasbristol.co.uk

THE CANTEEN Turbo Mimosa

“It’s Turbo Mimosa for two reasons: an ode to the beautiful space on Stokes Croft, and it will really put some fire in your engine!” says general manager Liam Stock.

What you’ll need:

A shot of Buckfast Tonic Wine topped up with fizzy wine Dash of orange bitters Slice of orange

What you’ll do:

Grab a champagne flute. Add the shot of Buckfast, top it up with something fizzy and add a dash of orange bitters. Couldn’t be more simple! www.canteenbristol.co.uk

CARGO CANTINA

Clementine Margarita

"Mezcal and orange are the perfect pairing, creating a delicious warming cocktail. Who doesn't love a clementine at Christmas?" says mixologist 'Mezcal' Marcus

What you’ll need:

Salt

35ml Mezcal (we use Momento Verde)

25ml Cointreau or Triple Sec Dash of Agave syrup

25ml lime juice

25ml clementine juice To garnish Star anise

What you’ll do: Sprinkle a few teaspoons of salt onto a plate. Run a lime around the rim of a small tumbler, and then dip into the salt.

Juice the limes and clementine (we like to use a Mexican Elbow squeezer, especially if you're making a few!) Put the Mezcal, Cointreau, Agave syrup, lime juice and clementine juice into a Boston shaker, and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Pour through a strainer into the tumbler and garnish with star anise. www.cargocantina.co.uk

COPPA CLUB

Raspberry Mule

“This is our fruit twist on the famous Moscow Mule,” says bar manager Adam Friend. “The original drink was the product of a chance meeting in Hollywood between the owner of a (now very famous) vodka brand, a ginger beer producer, and a woman with 2000 solid copper mugs to sell! The rest is history…”

You will need:

50ml vodka

15ml sugar syrup

15ml lime juice

3 raspberries

50ml ginger beer

Cubed ice

Garnish

A little crushed ice (optional) 2 raspberries

What you’ll do:

Add raspberries, lime, sugar and spirit to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice cubes and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds. Open the shaker, add the ginger beer and give it a quick stir.

Pour everything into a highball glass (or a copper mug!) and top with a little crushed ice. Place two raspberries on top for garnish and serve with a straw. www.coppaclub.co.uk

Ander at Gambas shakes, shakes, shakes it like a Polaroid picture

PHOTO BY LOUIS SMITH/STUDIOWHISK.CO.UK

Welcome to Koocha, a friendly, cosy escape that brings a taste of Persia to Bristol.

Experience plant powered food as you never have before. Vegan or not, you’ll love our fresh, colourful and creative dishes. Step inside for a taste of mouth-watering Persian mezze and a signature gin cocktail.

THE MILK THISTLE

Grumpy Uncle no.2

“A hefty Christmas cracker sure to keep even the grumpiest of uncles content in the corner, away from the Christmas cheer they’d no doubt ruin,” says mixologist Sebastiano Fileccia.

"Using entirely Bristol ingredients we aim to collaborate with our local peers to deliver a simple, festive and delicious serve you can make at home, with no complex ingredients. Garnish with anything from a piece of candied ginger to your favourite Christmas selection box choccie, or maybe a burnt orange zest for those winter aromatics on the nose."

What you’ll need:

35ml Circumstantial Bristol Barley Whisky

15ml Bristol Cream Sherry

10ml Bristol Syrup co. Mulled Spice

3 dash coffee bitters Candied gingers

What you’ll do:

Combine all ingredients into a mixing vessel, stir to chill & combine (about 30 stirs) then strain and serve onto a large ice cube. Garnish with your festive item of choice.

www.milkthistlebristol.com

HARBOUR HOUSE

Brunel’s Favourite

A variation on a classic Manhattan by GM Ben Porter. “As our building has a lot of connections with Brunel, we wanted to make a cocktail which symbolises him. The maiden voyage of the ss Great Britain was to New York, and there is no cocktail you associate more with NYC than the Manhattan. We swapped the vermouth for Bristol Cream sherry as a homage to Bristol's heritage, and the bourbon for smoked rum, to honour Brunel's industrial revolution heritage and his love of a good cigar!"

What you’ll need:

50ml Cut Smoked Rum

25ml Harvey’s Bristol Cream

5ml Maraschino cherry syrup

Couple of dashes of Fee brothers chocolate bitters

Garnish Maraschino cherry

Optional (though they’re surprisingly easy to source!) miniature top hat

What you’ll do:

Add the rum, sherry and maraschino syrup into a mixing vessel. Add ice, stir clockwise for 10 seconds and then anti-clockwise for 10 seconds.

Pour into a chilled tumbler or martini glass and top with the bitters. Drop a cherry in the middle and rest the top hat on a mini-peg on the side. www.hhbristol.com

BLAME GLORIA

Honey Bee

Mixologist Robi Golet reports that this little number is perfect for Christmas – “a firm favourite with guests and bartenders alike”.

What you’ll need:

35ml Four Roses (Kentucky bourbon)

35ml honey syrup

20ml lemon juice

20ml apple juice

25ml (about half an egg’s worth) egg white Garnish Nutmeg

What you’ll do:

Shake and double-strain into a chilled coupe glass; garnish with grated nutmeg. www.blamegloria.co.uk

COAL KITCHEN Snow Globe

“A delight to see and drink, topped with the snowy candy floss, candy cane and an edible snowflake,” says GM Zack Sheppard.

What you’ll need:

25ml white rum

25ml passionfruit liqueur

25ml orange juice

25ml cranberry juice

75ml lemonade

Garnish Candy cane Candy floss

Edible snowflake

Sweet tree (made by adding a green belt sweet to a cocktail stick in a zig-zag to make a Christmas tree. Enjoy!

What you’ll do:

In a large bowl glass over lots of cubed ice, add the rum, passionfruit liqueur, juices and lemonade and mix. Top with candy cane, and if using, candy floss, an edible snowflake and sweet tree.

www.coalkitchen.co.uk

CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

Des res

This issue’s coffee shop of choice is a real beauty, a thing of delight. ike fine wine, an Old Master or songs about dancing around a Christmas tree, it rocks. And then some. Definitely one of the cooler coffee spots in this dirty old town of ours. I’m talking about The Artists Residence on Portland Square, though the modest entrance is actually just round the corner on Cave Street.

Going through an unassuming doorway labelled Boot Factory (its original purpose , a Pandora’s bo of tasteful-kitsch curiosities opens in front of you. And that’s before you even look at a menu.

If a café lives or dies by its interior and ambience, this place soars above mere mortal coffee houses. It’s a jewel bo of rooms, one leading to another, each filled with interesting and attractive things; whether furniture or funked-up street art, the place is stacked with stuff to look at and enjoy. If a theatre set had se ual relations with a Hackney hipster haunt and the progeny turned out prettier than either parent, it would probably look like this.

In fairness, it’s actually a bouti ue hotel, one of five dotted around the country, with a café/bar open to all comers, so comparing it to normal cafés is a bit disingenuous. Hardly a fair fight. ot many normal caf s have a quiet room that doubles as a library, after all.

My coffee companion and I dropped in for a hit of caffeine and toast on our way back from Cabot Circus, though if we’d known how lovely their menu was, we would have gone for a brunchtime treat. They do various full breakfast variants, including pancake stacks and sourdough toast, with the usual avocado-associated suspects in full ow. Which is pretty much the perfect e cuse to return for dinner some day. The Korean chicken burger looks outstanding.

In the meantime, I’m going to go off-piste here. eave coffee

behind, talk about other things. You see, many years ago, a mate of mine had a studio in Hackney. Before it was cool. As the studio got better known, bands rented out rehearsal space.

To cut a long story short, soon several knackered old buildings nearby were being bought up by the likes of Coldplay and Blur. They would throw lots of hard cash and good taste at the places until they became glorious and gorgeous hangouts, similar to the Artists Residence.

I wondered if something similar to that was going on here, but I then found out the hotel is run by a couple who fell into the business by accident, when one of their mums’ b&b needed doing up and there was no money. They got artists in to do up rooms in return for free lodging. Which is an even better story than the one I was hoping for. So thumbs up all round.

Either way, it’s one cute café in which to sip coffee and enjoy life. Can thoroughly recommend a trip. It’s a real piece of work. Artwork, that is. n

For more www.artistresidence.co.uk

Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer www.stancullimore.com

© PAUL MASSEY

“If a theatre set had sexual relations with a Hackney hipster haunt and the progeny was prettier than either parent it would probably look like this place”

From boot factory to boutiquery: a little slice of heaven on Portland Square

PRESENTS AND CORRECT

Bought all the stuff in our previous shopping guide? Excellent! Here’s more stuff, which we’ve festively arranged in all the best colours of the season: ice-white, sparkling silver and gold, holly-green and rich, berry-red…

POSTIE MCGRAW FIGURINE, £35

q. Didn’t we also open last issue’s gift guide with a romit nleashed figurine a. Yes.

. Do we do this most years a. Again, yes.

. Are we apologetic about this fact a. ope, not remotely; because every penny of profit goes straight to the Grand Appeal, raising funds for Bristol Children’s Hospital, and if that isn’t what Christmas is all about, we don’t know what is.

This year, we’re asking Santa for this new Postie McGraw figurine to add to our set.

From www.gromitunleashedshop.co.uk

HUDSON ARAN JUMPER,

£125

Made from 100% British wool and knitted in batches of just 200 at a time From Peregrine Clothing; www.peregrineclothing.co.uk

FANELY WHITE BAG, £169 rom o eather .fo an feather.co.

HANDMADE CERAMIC MIXING BOWL, £27 rom ristol rtisan .thebristolartisan.com

CUDDLY SNOWFLAKE, £16-£25 rom o om any .the o com any.co.

BLOOMINGVILLE

TEDDY, £33 From Fig 1 .fig .co.

CREAM CABLEKNIT SLIPPER SOCKS, £35 rom int elvet .mintvelvet.co.

MERAKI SANDALWOOD AND JASMINE LARGE SOY CANDLE, £17.50 rom on ote .mon ote.co.

WHITEWASHED INDRA PANEL £70 (REDUCED FROM £175) rom o o .co an co .co.

BIALETTI ESPRESSO CUP, SET OF SIX, £30 rom ig .fig .co.

ILSE JACOBSEN RAINCOAT, £164.50 (FROM £235.00) rom race abel . gracean mabel.co.

DONNA WILSON HOT WATER BOTTLE + COVER, £56 rom race abel .gracean mabel.co.

ELWYN POLAR BEAR, £50 rom o om any .the o com any.co.

GOLD SILVER

STERLING SILVER FEATHERS MCGRAW CHARM NECKLACE, £50

From the Gromit Unleashed shop www.gromitunleashedshop.org.uk

HANNAH TURNER WILD BOAR PIGLET SALT AND PEPPER SET, £26

From Fig1 .fig .co.

BEESWAX CANDLES, £12-£15

From Midgley Green midgleygreen.com

BLOOMINGVILLE

CLEAR GLASS COCKTAIL SHAKER, £23.50

From Mon Pote www.monpote.co.uk

18K GOLD-PLATED NECKLACE, £85

From Fox + Feather www.foxandfeather.co.uk

DIAMOND SOLITAIRE RING, FROM £1,365

From Clifton Rocks www.cliftonrocks.co.uk

MADAM STOLTZ SMALL BRASS SPOONS (TWO), £18.95

From Fox + Feather www.foxandfeather.co.uk

GOLD DINNER CANDLE HOLDER, £16.25 (REDUCED FROM £25), LARGE £19.50 (FROM £30)

From Cox & Cox www.coxandcox.co.uk

SILVER ‘EMERGE’ BANGLE, £234

From Diana Porter www.dianaporter.co.uk

GUCCI G-TIMELESS SILVER 38MM UNISEX WATCH, £1,420

From Watches of Switzerland, www.watches-ofswitzerland.co.uk

CLUB LAMP, £125

From Graham & Green www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

UPFEST BOOK IV, £19.95

From Upfest www.upfest.co.uk

BECKSONDERGAARD RALLO MINNIE SHOULDER BAG, £57

From Fig1 .fig .co.

FOREST GREEN BUNNY, £20.95

From Pod, www.thepodcompany.co.uk

SKANDINAVISK NORTHERN LIGHTS SCENTED CANDLE, £45

From Truce www.truceonline.co.uk

HK LIVING

SET OF FOUR TWISTED GLASS SPOONS, £18.95

From Fox + Feather www.foxandfeather.co.uk

MOROCCAN BABOUCHE SLIPPERS, £28

From Frankly Store www.frankly.store

VAN VERRE BORDALLO BOWL, £25

From Maze; www. mazeclothing.co.uk

GEO 100 LAMP, £104

From Prior www.priormade.store

JAKKE KATIE FAUX FUR COAT, £240

From Harvey Nichols www.harveynichols.com

JUST TRADE ‘RIVER’ RECYCLED GLASS EARRINGS, 16

From Frankly Store www.frankly.store

BLOOMINGVILLE FLORIE DECANTER IN GREEN, £22.05

From Mon Pote, www.monpote.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL

WOODEN ROBIN, £14

From Bristol Artisan www.thebristolartisan.com

ALESSI PLISSE KETTLE, FROM £95

From Bristol Guild www.bristolguild.com

KREAFUNK TOCHARGE II MINI-PORTABLE CHARGER, £30

From Ustudio www.ustudio.shop

MARNI CALF HAIR MULES, £650

From Harvey Nichols, www.harveynichols.com

GINGERBREAD CHAI, £6.35

From Bird and Blend wwwbirdandblendtea.com

ROBIN ROBIN NEEDLE FELT KIT, £28

From the Gromit Unleashed shop www.gromitunleashedshop.org.uk

SOPHIE HOME REINDEER SOFT TOY, £28

From Truce www.truceonline.co.uk

MUSTARD LOWDOWN LOCKER, £289

From Truce www.truceonline.co.uk

RED PRAWN MAKE-UP CASE, £29.95

From Pod Company www.thepodcompany.co.uk

PAUL SMITH LAMBSWOOL HAT, £65, GLOVES, £55

From Grace & Mabel www.graceandmabel.co.uk

S-HERTOGENBOSCH BY ROSALIND ROBINSON RWA SWA, OIL ON GESSO PANEL,

£1,800

From the current RWA Open.

“The painting was made a few years after visiting an incredible exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of Hieronymous Bosch ’s birth in his home town of ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands,” says Rosalind. “I’ve carried images from his work in my mind ever since seeing the exhibition, and in my painting, figures from Bosch are carried on the head, while drawings decorate the neck.”

From RWA, www.rwa.org.uk

PARTY PEOPLE

Phillip Laurence Parayno at Harvey Nichols casts a practiced eye over the best new festive trends

Sparkling dresses and towering stilettos at the ready: party season has arrived, whether it’s a work gathering, evening with friends or family get-together. Slip on a pair of Mach and Mach bow sandals before shrugging on a statement silhouette from the likes of In the Mood For Love or Bec and Bridge; accessorise with Christian Louboutin and Valentino for extra sparkle. Think pink – it’s huge this season thanks to Pier Paolo’s collection for Valentino. From dresses to coats, shoes and bags; from baby pink to bright fuchsia, this is the party palette to be seen in.

Sequins always make an appearance during the festive months, but for 2022 it’s all about upgrading the mini dresses and embracing shimmering maxi silhouettes. From Rixo to ROTATE Birger Christensen, there’s plenty to choose from.

With designers including Versace, Dior and Gucci leading the way, the ’90s are back for 2022, but with a contemporary twist. Think slip dresses and babydoll silhouettes, shoulder bags embossed with logos or signature bows and show-stopping platform shoes. Go all out ’90s, or mix and match for a modern take on this much-loved trend.

Balmain embellished sequin mini-dress, £5,595

Bec & Bridge Lorelai open-back satin maxi-dress, £250

Valentino Garavani Rockstud

leather platform sandals, £890

Jakke Bailey faux-fur-trimmed vegan leather coat, £250

In the Mood for Love Marissa sequin halterneck dress, £490

Devon tie-front blouse, £115

Dylan midi-skirt, £115

Jane Abalone pink polkadot jacquard wrap mini-dress, £155

& Mach pink crystalembellished satin pumps, £950

leather minishoulder bag, £350 All from Harvey Nichols Bristol www.harveynichols.com

Grey’s

A warm welcome awaits you this season. Scan to view our festive menus.

Midas got it right! Dani Taylor of Cox & Cox suggests going for gold this Christmas

ecorating every part of the home to create a gorgeous winter scene is easy if you think of it as a festive trend ‘recipe’,” says Dani. “We take one main tree, an alternative tree, decorations, accessories, lighting, wrap and ribbon, and collate them within the same scheme –that way, the decoration moves effortlessly through the house.

For more: www.coxandcox.co.uk

3. If you decide on one overarching colour theme it makes creating a pulled-together look even easier, because all the decorations blend in seamlessly.

4

4. There’s always room for fairy lights – wind a string around a tree outdoors, or curl into glass jars indoors.

1. The story begins outside with kerb appeal – it’s important to set the scene for guests arriving. Traditionally this would be a wreath, but you can also hang a light-up winter motif such as a star at the window or the door.

2. Continue the journey through the house to make a winter scene. There’s no need to add much; it might only take a Christmas doormat inside the front door, and house lanterns in the hallway.

1. Indoor/outdoor light-up star silhouette, £35 2. Burnished brass house tea light lantern, small £50, large £55

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

5 8. Don’t forget the whimsy! We shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously at Christmas, and adding a touch of fun to the decor, something nostalgic or charming, helps a winter scene come to life

7. As well as being a versatile choice for those with limited space, adding a second tree helps to create a winter wonderland. Usually pre-lit, an alternative tree provides winter twinkle without additional decoration .

SNAPPED

ACROSS BRISTOL, ONE SHINDIG AT A TIME

A GRAND DAY OUT

The

GOOD PRESS NIGHT, SWEET PRINCE

Niamh Cusack (Gertrude) and Finbar Lynch (Claudius)

Firdous Bamji (Ghost/Player King/ Gravedigger)

Billy Howle (Hamlet) and John Haidar (Director)

Big names big play: the cast and crew of Hamlet at Bristol Old Vic assembled for a party following the press night performance

Photos by @JonCraig_Photos

New AD Nancy Medina and Jason Barnett (Polonius/Osric)

Nicola Masters

Maroius Kielczewski

Sarah Wilmott

Grand Appeal held a celebration for fundraisers and families to discover how their work has been supporting the hospital. The event was hosted by Mike Norton, trustee, with Sean Clarke, MD of Aardman, paediatric neurosurgeon Mike Carter and Caroline Ferguson.

Photos by @JonCraig_Photos

John Wilkins

Mike Norton and guest

ART OF THE CITY

A LOTTA (MORE) BOTTLE

The Bottle Yard Studios marked the o cial opening of its new TBY2 facility with an event that brought together leading UK film and T producers, local crew and companies, regional and national partners and supporters of the

studio’s expansion.

The Bottle Yard team with Gamba Cole and Jayde Adams

Marvin Rees, Laura Aviles, Craig Cheney, Dan Norris, Karin Smyth MP and Helen Holland

Deborah Hardy, Nigel Hardy, George Ferguson, Bernice Gollop and Geoff Gollop

Leading wealth management and professional services group Evelyn Partners hosted a client reception at the RWA as the gallery’s 169th Annual Open exhibition got underway.

Gamba Cole, Stacey Olika and Asiya Sutton

Helen Holland, Craig Cheney, Dan Norris and Karin Smyth MP

Bristol

Simran Gill, Emily Lunt and Ryan Murray-Nobbs

Nick James of Evelyn with clients

Leigh Cecil, Jamie Kirkpatrick and Sarah Bacon

FAIL TO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL

By Helen Sanders, founder of YOUR PEOPLE PARTNERS

Your new employee needs an onboarding framework.

Have you ever gone through the pain of recruiting a new member of your team, only to find that they lose enthusiasm pretty quickly or jump ship, leaving you to go through the whole process again? It could be that your onboarding process is to blame. This is an often neglected part of bringing new people into your business. Do it right and it has been proven to keep employees happy, productive and easier to retain.

These nine statistics* related to new-hire onboarding will make you want to understand and prioritise it in 2023.

1. 88% of organisations do not onboard well

2. Great employee onboarding improves employee retention by 82%

3. 58% of organisations say their onboarding is focused on new employees learning processes and filling out paperwork

4. The average new hire onboarding experience consists of 54 activities

5. The productivity of your new team member is around 25% for the first 30 days

6. Addressing career development during onboarding increases satisfaction by 3.5x

7. Soliciting new hire feedback improves your relationship by 91%

8. One in five new hires say they are unlikely to recommend an employer

9. 70% of team members who had positive onboarding experiences say they have ‘the best possible job’

(*Statistics from various sources: Gallup, Kallidus, Bamboo HR, B2B Assets)

The fact that onboarding is done poorly by most companies is an opportunity. Get it right and you will find it much easier to retain your key members of staff, and you will be well on the way to having a business that thrives.

Here are some ideas that you can incorporate into your onboarding process. They will help your new member of staff feel valued and settle

in as quickly as possible.

PRE-BOARDING

(and this has nothing to do with lining up for your next Easyjet flight!) Reach out to your new employee between them accepting the role and their start date. Mention how excited you are for them to be joining the team, and share some upcoming priorities. If you have a Christmas do and they are due to join in January, absolutely invite them to your Christmas party.

Do all your can to set them (and you) up for success. One way to do this is to create 30/60/90-day plans to keep everyone focused: a. 30 days - focused on learning b. 60 days - focused on contributing to the team c. 90 days - focused on owning some tasks. Put together a document to track this. And if they’re part-time then pro-rate these plans so if they’re 50% of full-time, double these days to 60/120/180 days (ensuring you have a six-month probationary period to run alongside).

INTRO

Ask the new team member for a quick bio and photo that you can share with the team. This can then be included in a welcome email, which you’ll send out the week before they start and again on the morning of their first day. Nothing halts momentum like a new hire not feeling welcomed.

WHAT MAKES THEM TICK?

Identify interests outside of work. Dig a little. What makes them tick? This can help build relationships that go beyond the workplace.

BUDDIES

Connect them with team members. Friendships take time however, a buddy system works a treat. Much like in scuba diving, you would not expect your

new employee to thrive easily and know their way around without a buddy. If you choose this route, then ensure the buddy is not in their team and definitely not a level above them. The best buddies are peers. Some companies we work with ensure their last person into the team is the buddy for the next new hire.

HOW ARE THEY DOING?

Have a weekly check-in. This doesn’t need to be a formal meeting. A coffee with them away from the desk or via Zoom is great. Two questions only.

a. Tell me about your week

b. Is there anything I or the team can support you with?

KEEP TALKING

Talk about the ‘big questions’ early in their employment and be consistent:

a. What brought you here?

b. What will keep you here?

c. What motivates you?

Get your onboarding right and you could give your business a big competitive advantage. n

At Your People Partners we have integrated onboarding into our wraparound recruitment framework. We find you the right people, and help you onboard them well. We’d be happy to have a call with you if you’d like to know more. 0117 290 0211 and ask for Helen, Callum or Benjamin.

BRISTOLWORKS It’s the city’s business

Winner, winner

Bristol simply teems with clever property companies shaping our city’s destiny, and we celebrated this dynamic sector once again at a big awards ceremony on 25 November at Ashton Gate Stadium.

The annual Awards embrace everything from residential to commercial, from lettings to new builds, from civic buildings to bold reimaginings. Look out for a big review in our next issue; in the meantime here’s a taster of how it all went down.

Congratulations to all our winners, including our special Winner of Winners, Castle Park Energy Centre by Goram Homes, and many thanks to all our sponsors, partners, judges, speakers, contributors and everyone who made this such a memorable event.

Back again next year; watch this space. Check out who won what at www.bristolpropertyawards.co.uk

AND THEY’RE OPEN…

The Awards night will take place on 16 March at Ashton Gate, and promises to be another glamorous, vibrant, joy-filled ceremony the most highly anticipated business bash in the city.

There are a number of ways to get involved:

• Enter the Awards

You can nominate your business NOW at the website it’s free, and really not time-consuming or di cult (we have a special page on the website to make it even easier). It’s the ideal opportunity to tell us about the amazing things you’ve been doing, your successes, the challenges you’ve smashed, the unexpected wins, the hard-earned milestones.

•

Sponsor the Awards

With more and more interest in being closely associated with the most prestigious event in the Bristol business calendar, sponsorship opportunities are going fast. To find out more, please contact neil.snow@ mediaclash.co.uk

• Buy tickets

Anyone can attend the event, whether or not they’ve been shortlisted for an award. With nearly 700 people attending, the networking and collaboration opportunities are on another level with, of course, a chance to party hard after the ceremony itself.

For more: www.bristollifeawards.co.uk

Green machine

Bristol Beacon has launched both its first branded e-van and the creation of its team of green champions

The bright green electric music machine is soon to become a familiar sight on Bristol’s streets, as part of the music charity’s sustainability plans that encompass more than just the measures being introduced as part of the concert venue’s transformation.

In addition to the e-van, Bristol Beacon has appointed ten green champions from across its organisation to look at every aspect of what the charity does. The champions will be involved in developing a range of activities to support delivery of the Beacon’s oadmap to et ero, which

has been developed in partnership with locally based sustainability experts Hope Solutions.

“Changing our diesel van to one that runs on electricity is one of the important steps we’re taking as an organisation to make our work more sustainable, said ouise Mitchell, chief e ecutive of Bristol Beacon.

“Bristol Beacon is a symbol of hope and community in Bristol, and we believe passionately that we have a responsibility to deliver our programme of music and the arts in a way that gives thought to the environment. We want to be an environmentally inspiring venue for decades to come.” www.bristolbeacon.org

All about the ACE

Bristol mechanical and electrical engineering firm Avon ombined Electrical Services has been ac uired by D P Infrastructure. A ES has been trading for more than years, with a client list that includes alliford Try, the Ministry of Defence and the S. The ac uisition sees D P take a per cent stake in the £15m-turnover business, which generates . m in EBITDA. Funding to assist the transaction was provided by SME apital, which was introduced to D P by TM Finance and Advisory. For more www.aces-online.co.uk

SPONSORS

It is time! Entries for the Bristol Life Awards 2023 are now GO!

© AARON GEIS PHOTOGRAPHY

MEET THE RECRUITER

The brightest Bristol agencies skilled in “putting people together and making stuff happen” . . .

PATRICK MURTAGH

RYTONS ASSOCIATES LTD

0117 379 0990 rytonsassociates.com

Can you tell us a little bit about the company philosophy?

I founded Rytons Associates 13 years ago as I felt that there was a better, a more human way, to do recruitment. In everything we do, we want to make a positive impact and act with inherent integrity. Although they’ve always been there, we recently went through a process to formally set that philosophy out and created our four core values – innovation, collaboration, transparency and purpose. Throughout our teams, all decisions are made with these values in mind.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in senior appointments in the real estate agency, predominantly on a retained basis. We have been fortunate enough to build some strong relationships across the UK since our inception. Recently, we have expanded our operation internationally and have started working with real estate and investment firms in the Americas.

What do you love about Bristol?

Rytons Associates are passionate about diversity and that’s what I love about Bristol too. It is a real melting pot of different cultures, points of view and lifestyles that all seem to co-exist. It’s a wonderful city to raise children in and give them experiences that are unique to such a culturally diverse area.

OWEN O’NEILL

WEDODATA 0117 302 7500 wedodata.co.uk

What makes you stand out from other recruiters?

We specialise in the Data sector, and have been working the UK Data market since 2016. We therefore have a lot of experience in this field, particularly in senior roles.

Can you tell us a little bit about the company philosophy?

To try to learn as much about our clients as possible so we work in partnership with them. With the majority of our clients we have been able to go on to place 10+ people over time as we’ve become accustomed to their business and the types of people they like to employ.

What areas do you specialise in? Data, Insight, Analytics, Development.

How long have you been in recruitment? I’ve been in the recruitment business for 23 years and Jay, my business partner, has been in recruitment for 15 years. Together, our company WeDoData has been running since 2016.

Why should a business use your services? Because we don’t generalise in IT, we spend all of our time speaking to Data candidates, those looking and more importantly those not looking, so that we can assess who might be a great fit for your business and go after them on your behalf. Over 70% of our business is recruiting passive candidates into new roles (headhunting).

Why should candidates use your services? Because we have access to many of the largest names in the South-West and London. We also only focus on Data and Development roles, which means that we won’t waste your time on irrelevant opportunities.

What do you love about Bristol? The creativity, the people, the fact that everyone thanks bus drivers!

HELEN SANDERS

YOUR PEOPLE PARTNERS

0117 290 0211; YourPeoplePartners.com

Can you tell us a little bit about the company philosophy?

At Your People Partners, our philosophy is that recruitment can be enjoyable and very successful if we focus on the human aspect of hiring. It doesn’t have to be hard, stressful or a bit of a gamble on a CV and interview. We dig deeper, exploring the human being behind the CV so that we can best help people and the growing companies for whom we hire.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in helping business-owner-led companies where the founder/business owner/s is still very much involved in the day to day. They usually need our help to scale the team to enable business owner/s to step away from the day to day operations. Most of our vacancies are in sales, marketing, admin and tech although we have been known to successfully find brilliant ‘unicorns’ for our companies.

Why should a business use your services?

Our current partner companies would probably say that our industry leading 12 month guarantee helps remove the risk when they hire new employees. We also remove the transactional approach of most recruiters, and we stick around for the first 12 months to ensure the new employee thrives as the team grows.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

We’ve got a lovely office on Whiteladies Road and we recently opened an office in Mallorca, enabling any of our staff to work from there if they wish to, when the weather in Bristol is a little dreary. And, we are recruiting!

Patrick Murtagh

Helen Sanders

Above: Some of the team at our Spanish office

GEORGE JAMISON

CLAREHILL ASSOCIATES

0117 907 4736; clarehillassociates.com

What areas do you specialise in?

Clarehill Associates have been successfully placing leading engineers globally for 17

CRAIG

STEWART

COGITO TALENT

0117 456 3390 cogitotalent.com

How long have you been in recruitment?

I have worked in recruitment for 18 months and at Cogito for 11 months. I joined Cogito because they are unlike most recruitment companies. We help businesses with longterm recruitment using data insights, research and strategy, providing bespoke training and development solutions to complement talent strategies.

Can you tell us a little bit about the company’s philosophy?

Our vision is to empower organisations to create evidenced-based and data-driven people strategies by blending industryleading talent solutions expertise with unrivalled research and analytics.

What makes you stand out from other recruiters?

Cogito approaches recruitment differently, offering a unique solution. Essentially, we analyse data about people to enable our customers to solve business problems. Our unique approach means that we will take

years. Specialists for environmental friendly engineering and technology: renewables, electrification and industry 4.0. We are an independent and growing Bristol-based search-and-selection company; we enjoy what we do and the people we work with. We chose engineering because of the benefits it offers humankind. We were there at the start of offshore wind and are proud to have played a part in its growth.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you work ?

We collaborate with a select number of sector-specific clients to better understand their requirements and to be credible when explaining what they offer. We go after the very best candidates. So, if you’ve been approached about a potential role, take it as a compliment, and an opportunity to build a valuable relationship. We do what we say we will do. Authentic, honest and interested.

What do you most enjoy about the job?

I enjoy the challenge of putting people together and making stuff happen that would not have happened otherwise. I like talking to people about what they do and helping them out. I love to see how fast we can help a startup move from 1 employee to 100.

And it’s great to see that many industries genuinely want to reduce their carbon emissions. Recruitment often gets a bad rep. However the good ones are working much harder and faster than you might think: Gaining the trust of a client, creating a readable job description, searching for candidates, interviewing them, selecting a shortlist and presenting that to the client.

Then closing the deal (faster than the competition)….can be challenging.

Moving jobs is a big deal. If you’ve had a great Recruitment experience, you’ll probably find it was the individual that made all the difference.

What do you love about Bristol?

Bristol has a huge pool of talent in the engineering and technology space who are doing some genuinely amazing work. It is a privilege to be a part of. As a small city, it’s easy to meet for a coffee. Think globally, act locally. I like to help clean out rivers with SusWoT (Sustainable Westbury-on-Trym), coach mini-rugby at St Brendan’s and sponsor Shire Colts FC. (Yeah – not all heroes wear capes!)

If you are looking for good people, are one of those good people looking to move, or think you can do our job better, do get in touch.

full ownership of the recruitment function’s design, build and delivery, allowing us to transfer it back to our client at the end of the programme. I work on many transformation programmes in challenging markets and enjoy the variety of the roles we recruit for. I also enjoy the responsibility I have been given to work independently and as part of a team. At Cogito, we don’t just try and fill a job; we spend time with the candidates to find out what will motivate them to make their next career move. From our robust process and meaningful conversations, we can capture the data and responses and present back the reality of the markets they operate within – we then take that data and support our clients to elevate their offering.

Why should a business use your services?

We take full responsibility for our customers recruitment and most importantly, save them money. On average, we save our customers over 30% on agency spending alone. We can help businesses improve the awareness of their brand, increase direct applicants, reduce reliance on agencies and improve candidate experience. We aim to create a world-class recruitment model for our customers that consistently delivers a return on investment.

Why do you enjoy working and living in Bristol?

Working in Bristol is great. The office is within walking distance from Bristol Temple Meads station and has excellent places to eat and drink.

ALEXANDER WADDINGTON

TA & SEN RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT

CLASS PEOPLE

01179 735695; alexander@classpeople.co.uk classpeople.co.uk

Can you tell us a bit about company philosophy?

Relationships really are at the heart of our recruitment process. Without strong relationships with schools and candidates alike, you can’t truly understand the needs of either. Class People, formerly known as Cover Teachers, has been building relationships with schools in Bristol and BANES for more than 20 Years. Recently, my challenge has been to grow relationships with schools and raise awareness of our ever-growing SEND candidate pool.

Why should schools and candidates use your services?

Class People truly aim to be ‘Your Partners in Education’ by recognising that students need all the support they can get in school, especially after the disruption of COVID-19. We build relationships with schools to offer education support staff across the board; I specifically work with Teaching Assistants and 1:1 SEN support. We always aim to foster community in an industry where supply education professionals can often feel isolated. From social events with our candidates, to raffles and competitions with our schools, we aim to bring together a traditionally separate community.

CHARLIE SARGENT

PRIMARY RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT

CLASS PEOPLE 01179 735695; charlie@classpeople.co.uk classpeople.co.uk

What makes you stand out from other recruiters?

At Class People we pride ourselves on delivering a personal approach, in contrast to our more corporate competitors, using our experience and knowledge within education to ensure we work in partnership with each setting, rather than treating our clients & candidates as business deals or transactions. Personally, having over five years of experience within the Education Sector, I have previously worked in a variety of roles from behavioural management and mentoring to education liaison in both primary and secondary settings - which really helps me understand the challenges schools are facing.

Why should schools and candidates use your services?

As the Bristol Primary consultant, I enjoy making connections with new people as well as l maintaining strong professional relationships, ensuring I meet the needs of individuals and schools I work with. I am looking forward to expanding upon my experience and supporting teachers and schools throughout Bristol, working hand in hand to find the best solution to solve their unique requirements.

Alexander Waddington

Charlie Sargent

WHERE THERE’S A WILL

Kate Walsgrove of AMD SOLICITORS considers the

dangers of homemade wills

Making a will is the only way of ensuring that your estate and assets are distributed according to your wishes.

If you die without a will, your estate will pass in accordance with the rules of intestacy. This could mean that your estate will pass to someone who you may not want to benefit.

Reasons clients have mentioned for not making a will include not having enough time, not wanting to talk about death and the cost involved. Concerns over fees may lead someone to prepare a home made will. Although a will does not need to be prepared by a solicitor, there are inherent dangers in preparing one yourself.

INVALIDITY

A recent example of this involves a husband and wife who had each prepared identical homemade wills. As far as they were concerned, from the time they had signed their wills to the date they instructed us to make new ones, they had valid wills. It was quickly spotted, however, that the wills had only been witnessed by one person at the time of signing.

Due to this small but vital mistake, these wills were invalid from the day they were signed.

CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCE

If you decide to get married and already have an existing will, that will will automatically be revoked on your marriage, unless it was drafted in expectation of the marriage. A professional would advise you of this but a lay person might not be aware of the affect of marriage if they are making a homemade will. Equally, divorce effects inheritance under a will.

DATES

Another situation we have come across is an undated will. Although a date is not required for a will to be valid, it is your last will that

must be proved on your death. If the will does not have a date then it is difficult to prove that it is the last will and often sworn statements are required from witnesses to provide evidence as to when they were signed.

INAPPROPRIATE CLAUSES

If you try and take clauses from a previous will or use clauses from someone else’s will without fully understanding what those clauses mean and what their effect will be, you can end up with a will that does not achieve what you wanted, with the result that some or all of your estate may go to someone you had not intended to benefit. n

For advice on wills, inheritance tax, lasting powers of attorney administration of estates and all other private client issues please a member of our team on 0117 962 1205, email info@amdsolicitors. com or call into one of our four Bri tol office .

100 Henleaze Road, Henleaze BS9 4JZ

15 The Mall, Clifton BS8 4DS

139 Whiteladies Road, Clifton BS8 2PL

2 Station Road, Shirehampton BS11 9TT

“A SMALL BUT VITAL MISTAKE CAN MAKE YOUR WILL INVALID ”

BROOK TTA E

Words by Ursula Cole

One of the undisputed charms of Bristol is its easy proximity to the countryside. This advantage can work both ways. You can live in town, enjoying a thrillingly urban existence, yet having green fields on your doorstep whenever you need a quick refresh; or you can go the whole rural hog and relocate to an idyllic cottage, knowing that the commute, if indeed you have to grapple with such an antediluvian concept in the post-lockdown world, is a wholly manageable affair.

The village of West Kington lies in a secluded, steeply wooded valley a mere 17 miles from Bristol. Here you’ll find Brook ottage, basking in a peaceful position in a bucolic setting surrounded by nature.

The exceptionally charming Grade-II home is surrounded by almost three acres of gardens, with the eponymous brook running along the northern edge. And don’t be misled by the word ‘cottage’; this is a very sizeable, four-bedroomed home that comes with substantial outbuildings. Despite this, all the cottage charms you could wish for are present and correct, from open inglenook fireplaces and e posed beams to stone mullioned windows with leaded lights and shutters.

Leaving Wood Lane, a long driveway winds through a wild meadow and leads to gates that open to a gravel courtyard with space for several cars. A cluster of buildings form a hamlet of sorts. White wisteria winds around the door of the cottage, and climbing roses cover the studio.

Although the main entrance occupies a pleasingly symmetrical position in the front of the house, the current owners prefer to use the kitchen entrance close to the courtyard. Inside, the kitchen and dining room form a wonderfully light and convivial space, almost 40 feet in length, with open hearths at either end. There are exposed whitewashed rafters, and window seats built into the deep stone walls under the leaded casement windows. The units, built by local company

They had us at “it has its own babbling brook...”

Neptune, include a large central island with a double butler sink; appliances are neatly concealed behind cupboard doors. Both the dining area and the kitchen have open stone hearths; a wood burner is set into the former, a warming four-door Aga into the latter.

There are further whitewashed beams in the sitting room, along with a handsome open inglenook with stone surround and a working fire. Doors open to the terrace at the back, and internally to a drawing room with a large woodburner and a separate study.

There are two staircases, the oldest being a slim box stair that winds around the kitchen’s hearth in a traditional manner, while the main stairs are in the centre. The former opens to an oak- oored landing which leads to two bedrooms sharing a bathroom; a white-washed timber wall and plank door separate these rooms and provide a striking architectural feature.

The main central staircase leads to two further bedrooms, one en-suite, and a bathroom.

HOUSE NUMBERS

Where? West Kington, 17m from Bristol

Guide price £2.5m

Reception rooms

Sitting room, drawing room, study, 40ft kitchen/diner

Bedrooms 4

Bath and shower rooms 3

Outside 3-acre gardens with brook; main studio, river studio, numerous outbuildings

For more: Inigo Homes; www.inigo.com

Outside are two studios. The main studio houses a large double-height living room, kitchenette, shower room and spacious mezzanine sleeping area, while the river studio is a charming single-storey stone building with French windows opening to the brook. With its woodburner, electricity, Wi-Fi and water supply it’s a self-contained, working-from-home, riverside o ce of dreams; if you end up working on your laptop from a hammock slung between the trees, only the birds will know, and they promise not to tell.

The gardens are beautifully landscaped, with semi-formal stone terraces, lawns, a walled garden and kitchen garden. A steep grassy bank rises at the back up to Wood Lane; at the front of the house, beyond the brook, are further trees and open fields.

Wildlife surrounds the gardens, with birdsong carrying wonderfully through the vale in the morning and owls gently hooting in the evening.

There’s an orangery, too, positioned at the entrance to the grounds, with a steeply pitched glass-paned roof, stone oors, a grapevine and a woodburner, offering a fabulous retreat from the main house. Finally there’s a workshop, a pretty stone shed with a pitched roof , an exterior utility room, and a wood store big enough to use as a garage.

All of the above hopefully captures the feel of this irresistible home. We only have one last question for the owners: where’s the best place for the Christmas tree?

BRISTMAS QUIZ!

ow much do you know about Bristol’s rich history? Volume 2 of Manson’s Bristol Miscellany, full of interesting facts about the city, is out in time for Christmas. See how you fare with the following questions...

The Fire-Ball was the fi rst train to leave Temple Meads station, in August 1840. What destination did it reach 32 minutes later?

What was St Augustine’s Parade called after transport links were developed across Bristol?

What is the name of the sole survivor of the ampbell eet of ships that once operated around the Bristol Channel?

Which Bristolian gave his name to the mark drawn on all cargo ships indicating the maximum depth to which they can be safely loaded?

The Bristol Boxkite was the fi rst plane to be made in Bristol. Where was its inaugural ight

What does BAC stand for?

In what area was Bristol’s fi rst airport

A temporary’ yover was erected at Temple Gate in 1968. What year was it in use until?

Which Bristol bridge is named after an enslaved servant?

In 1816 the general surveyor of Bristol Turnpike Trust published a booklet on how to surface roads. What was his name?

What was the name of Bristol’s ‘milkmaid poet’?

Bristolian Alexander Archibald Leach became famous under what name?

What was the name of the building described as “like a galleon in a modern port” that once stood on the corner of High Street and Wine Street?

What was Clifton Observatory originally built as?

Who was the author of the book Existencilism?

What did Felix Farley and other members of the Farley family produce in Bristol?

Approximately how many people made up the population of Bristol in 1600?

Architect Charles Holden designed Southgate Underground Station in London – and which Bristol building?

What Anglo Saxon Saint, celebrated to have brought a dead goose back to life, gave his name to a Bristol Church and district?

What did George Muller found in 1834 in Wilson Street, St Paul’s?

Which poet’s home is preserved close to St Mary edcliffe hurch

Bristol’s two independent publishing houses,Tangent Books and Bristol Books, have teamed up for the second year running to provide an intriguing mix of information about the city, written by local author Michael Manson. All the facts in this quiz and many more, can be found in Volume 2 of Manson’s Bristol Miscellany (£20 from www.bristolbooks.org)