Bristol Life - Issue 341

GOSPEL TRUTH

CHOIR BOY: THE HOTTEST TICKET OF THE SEASON

BRISTOL BID

THE SECRET POSTCARD AUCTION’S BACK

BRISTOL BUILDS WHICH NEVER HAPPENED

ESCAPE ROOMS AUTUMN INTERIORS. WE DARE YOU

WHAT DOES NORMAL LOOK LIKE?

BACK IN THE ZONE

ISSUE 341 / OCTOBER 2023 / £3

ISSUE 341 / OCTOBER 2023 / TAKE IT TO THE MAX

NOTHING TO SEE HERE

EDITOR’S LETTER

O 10

The max factor There’s more drama in this autumn’s interiors than a season at Bristol Old Vic

ne year we’ll shock you by running our big biannual interiors features in summer and winter rather than spring and autumn. This, however, is not the year. Once again, as October settles in and starts to do its mellow misty thing, we find ourselves checking in on the latest AW home trends and trying to make sense of them all.

Interestingly (or not, depending how much you’re into interiors) we’ve detected a recent sea change.

Whereas over the past few years each new season was heralded by a chorus of prescriptive, yet often contradictory, advice from design gurus concerning which styles and colours were in and which were out, there’s more of a ‘do your own thing’ spirit around at the moment, with a focus on making strong, longlasting choices, being generally less wasteful, and investing in unique, preloved pieces.

But if that makes this autumn’s interiors trends sound a bit dull and worthy, be assured that they’re anything but. Possibly compensating for the fact that people are less ready to shell out for expensive new furniture, wallpaper designs have become more outré, fantastical and escapist than ever before, while even plain neutrals have acquired a new depth, glamour and drama. Yes, believe it or not: brown is the hottest hue du jour.

Speaking of drama – slightly contrived link – there’s also a thrilling new season in the arts to pick and choose from. We’ve gazed into our crystal Googleball and concluded that the must-see show of the autumn is Bristol Old Vic’s Choir Boy; we explain why on page 40.

So, there you have it. Whether you prefer to take your drama at home or in the theatre, there’s no excuse for a deficiency of colour and excitement in your life this month. And autumn’s only just getting started.

DERI ROBINS Bristol Life editor Follow us on

@BristolLifeMag;

@BristolLifeMag

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

Issue 341 / October 2023 ON THE COVER Majestic Faunacation (indeed!) from Divine Savages; feature page10

40

INTERIORS

10 DESIGNS FOR LIFE Patterned or plain, but make it

dramatic

ARTS 31 32 40 44 48 52

ART PAGE Can you spot a class act when you see it?

WHAT’S ON The autumn season gets into its stride THEATRE Why Choir Boy is the one to see this season FILM Where do we go from here?

BRISTOL HEROES he city struts its funky stu UNBUILT BRISTOL Eugene Byrne waxes wryly over

Bristol’s near misses

FOOD & DRINK

54 RESTAURANT Spanish stroll 58 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS News, views, pop-ups etc 62 RECIPES Brrr, autumn. Let’s cook something spicy

54

SHOPPING

66 ED’S CHOICE Cosy cuddly things 68 FASHION Make sweet love to your autumn wardrobe

BUSINESS

73 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES The ultimate guide to

white-collar Bristol

PROPERTY

116 RESIDENCE An ode to Copenhagen

REGULARS

6 SPOTLIGHT 9 BRIZZOGRAM 122 BRISTOL LIVES Bristol author Amanda Prowse

116 Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody Commercial manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Jake Horwood jake.horwood@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Craig Wallberg craig. wallberg@mediaclash.co.uk Production/distribution manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bristol Life MediaClash, Carriage Court, 22 Circus Mews, Bath, BA1 2PW 01225 475800; www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a West Country-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath and Bristol. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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

SPOTLIGHT Books

TALK ABOUT...

POP MUSIC

Arts

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU ollowing last year’s Luxmuralis: Space Voyager, the spectacular light show returns to ristol athedral this month with a new theme based around the elements.

Luxmuralis: Force of Nature shows us the power of volcanoes fire’ , immerses us in the sky and environment air’ along with the immensity of the oceans and storms that’ll be water’ , with scenes of the arth evolving through dramatic historic and artistic imagery, all with a bespoke soundtrack.

On your radio

MR BRISTOL f you’re wondering what to buy ristol

actor oe Sims for hristmas, you could do worse than an alarm clock. he actor famous for his roles in Broadchurch, Doctor Who and Ruby

Behold the face of “the proudest Bristolian in the world”

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

he cathedral will be divided into four sections, each representing a di erent element and its relationship with religion, mythology and art history, combining ancient architecture with modern creative interpretation.

And as everything is better with booze, your ticket also admits you to a bar where you’ll find a selection of nature inspired drinks including the athedral’s bespoke gin, hapterhouse, by spensen Spirit.

30 October- 4 November; www.yuup.co Speaking has just become the host of a new breakfast show, waking up the city from am on adio ristol every weekday morning. oe’s a huge ristol ity fan, recently appeared at ristol ld ic and supports local charities in the region.

As the proudest ristolian in the world, cannot wait to roll up my sleeves and get cracking, he says. t’s an honour and a privilege, as so many brilliant presenters have gone before me. promise you will knock my pipe out to provide a boatload of fun, love and laughter to everyone in my favourite city on the planet. oe Sims is r ristol everyone knows him, and it seems he knows everyone it’s hard to find anyone with more passion and pride for this city, says Gareth oberts of adio ristol. oe’s infectious humour and warmth will make his new breakfast show the must listen to radio programme in ristol. www.bbc.co.uk

PHOTO BY COLIN MOODY

Prizes for all who can tell which pic shows Voyager in Bristol Cathedral, and which one Nature in Winchester...

In her new book These Things Happen, ane u us tells the story of ristol’s legendary Sarah ecords label arguably the last analogue record label before the digital world took over.

Sarah signed those acts no major label would touch, but which you wanted to hear. etween and , it also put out a board game and produced cut’n’paste fanzines while sticking two fingers up to the mainstream music industry. Sarah was your secret world, and it was located in the heart of ristol.

In These Things Happen, those who were there at the beating heart of the indie pop world reveal the deepest, darkest secrets of what really went into making Sarah’s pop masterpieces. eaturing almost interviews, including at least one member of every band, this book is an oral history of a defining moment in pop history.

Published by Tangent Books at £40 www.tangentbooks.co.uk

Street art

PLANET BRISTOL he wall at the back of the obacco actory o ers one of the largest and most prestigious street art canvases in the city. ver recent years it’s hosted work by the biggest names in the spray can biz, including ody, nsane , heo, omad lan and obra. he latest legends to transform the wall are nkie and Silent obo, who’ve created a piece to promote lanet ocal an international initiative designed to bring climate thinkers together, and encourage people to use local businesses to help the wider planet. he irony of the fact that the wall stares directly across at orth Street’s Aldi will not have been remotely lost on anyone. www.planet-local-summit.localfutures.org

SPOTLIGHT

CROSS CURRENTS

Follow us and tag us with your pics! instagram @bristollifemag

Bristol is a city of bridges; 45 of them, to be exact.

We can’t get by without them, and to celebrate the recent reopening of Gaol Ferry Bridge here’s a small selection as captured beautifully by you

@dale_hodgetts

@jmp_pic

@josh.perrett

@keepovisuals

@darren_ridgway

@craigderrick40

@tammytrashbags

@dylcain94

@tammytrashbags

@rogerturner6

@craigderrick40

@chrshill

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INTERIORS

DESIGNS FOR LIFE As we head into AW23, trends in interiors are bolder and more thrilling than ever before.

Here’s the headline news:

A) IT’S A MAXIMALIST PARADISE OUT THERE B) … BUT THERE’S PLENTY TO KEEP MINIMALISTS HAPPY, TOO C) NEUTRALS ARE BACK, BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW THEM D) WE’RE FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE ’70S ALL OVER AGAIN For more hot takes and cool tips, turn the page…

Words by Deri Robins

Here be dragons: House of Hackney’s Phantasia range is not for the pattern-averse

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

F INTERIORS

ashions in interiors change far more slowly than those in clothing, for fairly obvious reasons. If a fresh new look on the catwalks catches your eye – this season’s chainmail corsetry, perhaps, or the mile-wide padded shoulders we’ve all been seeing this year – you can easily get on board by acquiring a few new pieces, or upcycling outfits you already have.

Changing your living space, however, is a far more labour-intensive and timeconsuming business. That Farrow & Ball’s Arsenic you used to transform the dining room has barely dried on the wall; you’re highly unlikely to paint it all over again with Dulux’s Wild Wonder, simply because it’s been decreed the hue du jour. Naturally, this has not prevented designers and interior style mavens from publishing extensive, often contradictory predictions about how our homes should look; those interiors magazines have to fill their pages after all.

Vintage Mushrooms: Rebel Walls have never been shy of the larger-than-life motif; OPPOSITE: Mind the Gap’s Orient Express range is rich in narrative and riotous in colour

‘Micro-trends’ appear, then vanish just as quickly. Chrome is declared out, and pewter in. Blob mirrors become all the rage, along with those zellige tiles that must be a nightmare to clean.

Terrazzo makes a surprising comeback, then quietly fades back into the shadows. All that woodchip wallpaper we steamed off in the 1980s? We’ve been fully expecting to witness its revival.

Interestingly though, in 2023 there have been far fewer trends appearing. Instead, it seems more about making strong, long-term design choices, and acquiring investment pieces which will stand the test of time and reflect your personality – more sustainable, less wasteful and, in times of economic uncertainty, more economical..

Interiors experts have gazed into their crystal balls, and come to the not-especially-rocket-science conclusion, that what people mainly want are homes that offer warm, welcoming, cosy havens.

That said, it’s still a highly eclectic scene out there, and whatever your style – whether you’re still in thrall to Scandi, haven’t quite got over flamingo feature walls or find Barbie’s Dream House a little understated – there’s a trend out there for you. Just think of a style, add ‘-core’, and someone, somewhere, will be doing it.

INTERIORS THE MAX FACTOR

The UK is officially no longer afraid of wallpaper. And not just those subtle, ditsy, Laura Ashley-esque designs, either, but in-your-face, vivid and exuberant patterns.

The trend has been growing for years, from Designers Guild’s blowsy blooms to Rebel Walls’ trompe l’oeil palazzos, Cole & Sons’ oversized Fornasetti citruses, the surreal provocation of Timorous Beasties and Lust’s witty, nostalgic kitsch.

All the main design companies are at it. In House of Hackney’s Phantasia range, winged beasts romp among flowers and toadstools. Nuns lead baby tigers on leads through London streets in Divine Savages’ Portobello Parade. Vintage ice-skaters glide serenely across frozen lakes in Kaprun from Mind the Gap. There are loads of collaborations; Sanderson has teamed up with Disney to create fabrics and papers across which Mickey, Donald, Alice and Bambi cavort – not just for the nursery, either, but kitchens and home offices too; a guaranteed ice-breaker during Zoom calls.

Check out Mind the Gap’s latest range with Minnie Kemp, described by founder and creative director Stefan Ormenisan as “an explosion of glorious colour and mischievous fun. It’s about heritage and roots, storytelling and adventure, inspired by the rich tapestry of Transylvania and its folk law, combined with an English eccentricity and playfulness you just can’t bottle.”

While wallpapers can be wild and witty, they can also simply be pretty. “Little Greene’s all-over leafy wallpapers are a fantastic choice for bedrooms,” says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene, “creating an enchanting and cosy feel that brings the tranquil atmosphere of the forest canopy into the home.”

Large designs don’t have to be domineering; we love the subtle colourways of Water Lilies, designed and printed in Bristol by Addicted to Patterns

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

INTERIORS Oh, and please don’t just stop with the walls.

“Creating cosy, enveloping interiors is all about layering up pattern and colour to create a space rich in tactile textures and enchanting patterns,” says Stefan Ormenisan. “Pair wallpapers with layers of textiles, rugs, furnishings and coordinated paintwork, opting for rich dark shades that will feel indulgent rather than stark white for a truly cosy feel.”

“Layering is what’s needed to bring your scheme to life,” agrees interior designer Gemma Wright. “It means bringing in different textures, tones, colours, and finishes. Vintage furniture [see page 20] and accessories are a fantastic way to bring this to your designs.

Auction sites or vintage fairs will help you find the eras that suit your style; are you more minimalist? Perhaps a Suffolk chair might work for you. Love warm cosy tones? Look for mid-century teak tables. Maximalists can embrace it all!”

THE FEELING IS NEUTRAL

…but make it dark and cocooning. Despite the wide and alluring choice of wallpapers available, many people still prefer plain colour on their walls, whether applied in an even shade or as softer, more textural colour-washing. One very hot-right-now trend is for colour drenching, in which the same paint is taken right over walls, doors, cornices, ceilings and skirting boards.

And while reds, pinks and purples look set to light up interiors in 2024, there’s an equally strong pull to neutral, natural shades.

It’s true that when you think of neutrals you imagine the sea of beige which once dominated interiors in the 1970s, against which practically every interior trend since has been a reaction. But just like its 1970s fellow travellers – macramé, rattan and houseplants

“Browns are taking their rightful place in contemporary interiors”

Sweet Treats hues

by Little Greene

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

– neutrals are very much back. Greys, contrary to common belief, are not entirely passé – they’ve just become warmer, appearing as taupes and more earthy tones. Chocolatey browns are used for rich accents, being regarded as less dated than greens or blues.

The latest shades sound so delicious that we’re not sure whether to paint them on our walls or pour them over ice-cream. “Little Greene’s new curated collection Sweet Treats consists of a palette of nine warm shades, including soft golds such as Madeleine and Bombolone, creamy caramels such as Galette and Affogato and indulgent rich tones such as Chocolate Colour and Granache, which bring warmth and comfort to your home,” says Finola Kelly of Nola Interiors. “Perfect in both contemporary and traditional settings, and working well in a colour-drenched room, complemented by deeper shades of brown for a sophisticated look, or add warm white accents for a more traditional one.”

“Creating cosy, enveloping interiors is all about layering of pattern and colour to create a space rich in tactile textures and enchanting patterns”

Flamboyant British brand Romo has collaborated with Alice Temperley to create unapologetic clashes of florals with Art Deco, leaping leopards and glimmering metallics.

In Temperley world, leopard counts as a neutral

INTERIORS GROOVY, BABY

The 1970s are back; and it’s not just the natural materials, freespiritedness and optimism of the era that are currently giving interior designers life; it’s also the colourways.

“We love to spice up interiors with earthy 1970s tones – warmer autumn neutrals from soft terracotta to punchier paprika,” says Jamie Watkins of Divine Savages. “You can also add a dash of subtle shimmer for a seriously sophisticated take on this trend.

“We’re soon to launch our new autumn collection, Rewilding, inspired by mother nature herself. It’s packed full of beautiful earthy tones, from antique rose on our new design The Brambles and mustard yellow on Where the Wild Flowers Grow, to orange hues of cantaloupe, coral cream and burnt papaya in our Drunken Monkey and Lovebirds designs.”

“As the nights begin to draw in and we start to spend more time at home, autumn is the perfect opportunity for an interiors update,” says James Sirett, head of product at Fired Earth.

“Warm, mood-enhancing paint colours such as Taos House, a rich terracotta, and caramel-toned Polo Coat create welcoming hallways, brightness in living rooms and warmth in bedrooms.”

“There are also new fabrics coming out based on those ’70s ochre yellows and rusty browns, but paired with more vibrant jewel tones, or terracotta and knocked-back blues, and the geometry of the patterns somehow makes them look simultaneously retro and right now,” says Zoe Hewett of Stylemongers of Bristol.

“Neutrals are often criticised a bit unfairly for being bland and boring, but they definitely have their place as a sort of a refuge from the overstimulating technicolour world we live in, especially when they’re textured.

TOP: Rebel Walls’ Chamomile Summer, which despite its name

is giving us autumn feels; BELOW: Forest by Little Greene

“Browns are taking their rightful place in contemporary interiors” “We see the trend for rich, cosy, cocooning interiors continue with a move toward the soothing power of darker and mid-tone caramels and rich and indulgent browns, which deliver comforting schemes,” says Ruth Mottershead.

“Gone are the associations of dated 1970s interiors, drab or dull spaces; browns are retaking their rightful place in contemporary interiors. From the deep chocolate brown and sumptuous Muscovado, to the softer ochre-toned brown Galette and the elegant warm stone colour Split Pink, these cosy, versatile neutrals are perfect for creating captivating, indulgent and inviting spaces.

“These rich and indulgent browns are perfect for creating smart spaces that bring indulgence, comfort and warmth to the home.

When used across all elements, it can really envelop a small dark room, adding impact and drama as well as partnering beautifully with neutral hues and natural finishes.”

Where (you might ask) does this leave the pale, cool neutral hues, simple design and uncluttered minimalism which, to save a lot of time, we’ll just call ‘Nordic’? Simply layer on plenty of warm, earthy browns, soft greens and muted terracotta accents, to evoke a calming and timeless feel and a cosy atmosphere.

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INTERIORS “We focus a lot on colour in interior design, and I think texture can often get overlooked, but it adds a real richness and a sense of luxury. One of my favourite suppliers, Casamance, is using three different types of raffia in their wall-coverings at the moment, which is great from an environmental standpoint, as obviously it’s all plant fibres as opposed to vinyl, and it looks and feels absolutely fantastic too. By weaving the raffia into different shapes and in a variety of warm, earthy colours they’re creating all these gorgeous geometric patterned wallpapers, almost like oversized close-up of weaving, or parquet. Although there’s a slightly 1970s quality to the effect, it lends itself to being styled in other more contemporary ways, too. Those natural, sandy tones look great with rumpled linens, bouclé upholstery fabrics and cable knits throws in soft warm greys, and even elements in darker, charcoal greys for a bit of definition and drama. It’s a soothing colour palette, which is perfect for hibernation and retreating from the world for a while.”

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME

If by now you’re heartily sick of Millennium pink, that slightly-hardto-pinpoint, muted shade that probably (but not definitely) derived its popularity from the arch retro-kitsch hues of Wes Anderson movies, you’re not alone; many designers claim to be very over it.

However, the use of pink as a neutral – a kind of beige with a blush – seems to be only increasing in popularity. When combined with stronger colours, it can tone everything down a notch; using it instead of beige introduces a bit of edge and intrigue; a prettiness that isn’t over-feminine or girly.

“Little Greene’s new Mochi and Split Pink are soft muted pinks which are reminiscent of a natural plaster shade,” says Finola Kelly.

“Pink is a wonderfully versatile neutral which comfortably sits well on its own as a main colour or equally as a complementary colour.”

TOP: Casamance’s raffia wallcoverings: “perfect for hibernation and retreating from the world”; BELOW: Fired Earth: “Pink is a neutral, but so much more interesting”

“We often get asked how to decorate with pink,” says Jamie Watkins, co-founder of Divine Savages. “This is one of our favourite shades; look at our wallpaper collections and you’ll find over 20 designs in a pink palette. Pink interior design has grown in popularity over the years – it’s no longer just rolled out for a girl’s bedroom – and you can create a seriously sophisticated look with this hero shade. It’s a neutral palette, but so much more interesting.”

“Sitting on the cusp of pink, soft grey and the gentlest of browns, putty-toned pinks such as Fired Earth’s Silver Needle are incredibly versatile, making the perfect neutral,” says James Siret. “Use them from wall to wall for a restful, warm and sophisticated scheme, or try them as a harmonising element in a range of palettes. With their earthy undertones, these pinks have a timeless simplicity which works beautifully with natural materials such as wood and stone.

They’re a joy to live with, taking on different characteristics as the light changes from season to season.”

SOMETHING OLD

The advantages of buying vintage furniture and accessories over brand-new are pretty self-evident, but we’ll list a few anyway.

Firstly, for their uniqueness; nobody is likely to have a piece exactly like yours, and there’s a charm in older items that make them stand out from the high-street crowd. Quality: older items are frequently far better made than new factory ones. Sustainability: buying second-hand saves a perfectly good item from being chucked away; and finally, affordability; while we suspect the prices on some online sites of having a laugh, you can find some true bargains on Facebook Marketplace, and one-off pieces at local rec yards; try Gloucester Road Reclamation.

And carefully done, mismatched is more than fine – a variety of wooden dining chairs can be far more pleasing than a set of identical ones, and the same goes for vintage china and cutlery.

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

GROUND CONTROL

Surrounding yourself with calming natural materials and warming elemental colours is a key part of creating a cosy home. And what better way to set the tone than with your flooring choice? We spoke to local experts Chaunceys • Using warm-toned wood flooring is an excellent way to create a cosy, inviting home, transforming any space into a sanctuary from the outside world.

“We focus a lot on colour in interior design, and I think texture can often get overlooked, but it adds a real richness and a sense of luxury”

• A versatile palette of flooring tones can help create truly inviting interior spaces, from classic honey-toned oak through to rich syrupy mid-tones and earthy red browns.

• Turn up the heat with luxurious engineered oak flooring; designed to withstand changes in temperature and humidity, which means they can be used with underfloor heating systems.

• Parquet options such as herringbone in timelessly stylish patterned oak looks exceptional in warmer midtoned finishes; you can even add a distressed texture for a more characterful aged aesthetic .

While deeply in thrall to the 1970s, Casamance’s sandy tones make the ideal foil for contemporary styling (Stylemongers of Bristol)

INTERIORS “Our mantra at Divine Savages is to decorate with what brings you joy, and to weave a tapestry of happiness throughout your home,” says Jamie Watkins, “and one of the easiest ways to achieve this is through curating a cherished mix of old and new within your décor and styling.

“There’s nothing we love more than rummaging around flea markets and charity shops on the hunt for some vintage treasure.

Vintage pieces not only add a sense of story to your home, they also add the all-important personality factor. Pieces you choose to collect, big or small, help to put your individual stamp on your home, which helps you tell your interior story.”

“When furniture shopping, we carefully spend our money on bigticket items, but after they’re in, sometimes things can still feel a little sterile”, says designer Gemma Wright.

“Vintage finds can also be very practical – chairs are smaller than modern counterparts, so fit better if you’ve not got an enormous space. Don’t be put off if you don’t like the fabric; dining chairs are easy to reupholster, and even a larger chair can be tackled on a course or by taking it to an upholsterer.

“Retro decorative lamps are also beautiful and a great way to achieve a low light that’s perfect for cosying up during winter.

Layering up a blend of vintage and new finds will help your home feel soulful and personal to you.”

BLOOM IN LOVE

We couldn’t run an interiors feature without at least one ‘-core’, and Bloomcore is a hugely appealing one; a modern and youthful take on florals, which combines the quaintness, romance and nostalgia of chintz without its traditional heavy-handedness. It’s all about reconnecting with the natural world, and can be as subtle or TOP: For unique interiors, shop vintage; BELOW: Serpents in paradise:

Forbidden Blooms. Both wallpapers by Divine Savages

“Layering up vintage and new findswillhelpyourhomefeel soulful and personal to you” in-your-face as you desire. Hardcore Bloomcoreists take florals all over walls and curtains, while those dabbling more cautiously may wish to begin with a scatter cushion.

“Celebrating the nostalgic Bloomcore movement, our lush botanical motifs and flouncy florals draw inspiration from a timeless countryside style with both modern and traditional influences,” says Jamie of Divine Savages.

“Not for the faint-hearted, our designs are the epitome of maximalism. While the floral wallpaper trend has been thriving for a number of years, our own designs take on a more abstract divine and savage twist. Take, for instance, our Forbidden Bloom wallpaper; on first glance it appears simply to be beautifully illustrated botanicals, but on closer inspection you’ll find the flowers are intertwined with sweeping serpents and reptiles for a wild and untamed interior. Expect the unexpected!

“If you’re not quite brave enough to cover all your walls in bold blooms, papering within panels or alcoves is a great way of using florals as a less-is-more decorative feature; the panel becomes a work of art itself.”

Rebel Walls, too, has just launched its new Cottage Core and Cottage Cool collections, filled with grandiose greenery and nostalgic influences, while its Natural Aesthetics is a minimalist range in which the raw, stripped down and organic expression takes the scene, capturing ‘the beauty of the imperfect’ in which the colour scheme is earthy and soft in muted colours.” n

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

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INTERIORS DIRECTORY

TRADE SECRETS

Our little black book of the best interiors services and products BATHROOMS & KITCHENS

JAS Building

www.ripplesbathrooms.com

Missiato Design and Build

The Carpet Barn

Mon Pote

www.sbsdesignandbuild.com

SBS Design and Build

HOME FURNISHINGS

Neptune

Scott Brothers

www.antichidecori.co.uk

Nola Interiors

Ripples

Saltford Kitchens

www.saltfordkitchens.com Schmidt

www.home-design.schmidt The Kitchen Den

www.thekitchenden.co.uk

BUILDING CONTRACTORS Airsat Construction

www.airsat.co.uk

Astra Design and Build

www.astradesignandbuild.com Bristol City Roofing

www.jasbuildingservices.co.uk www.missiatodesignandbuild.com

www.scottbrothersuk.co.uk Urbane Eco

www.urbane-eco.co.uk

FLOORING

Bristol Carpet & Flooring

www ristol arpet oorin o u Carpet Barn

www.thecarpetbarn.co.uk Chauncey’s Timber Flooring

www ristol ityroofin o u

www.chauncey.co.uk

Build Bristol Group

Silk Road Rugs

www.thebuildbristolgroup.com

www.silkroad-rugs.co.uk

Mind the Gap (www.mindtheg.com)

www.thecarpetbarn.co.uk

Antichi Decori Bo Concept

www.boconcept.com Cinema Works

www.nolainteriors-bristol.co.uk Sofas and Stuff

www sofasandstu

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INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Cox and Cox

www.braceyinteriors.co.uk

www.coxandcox.co.uk Divine Savages

www.divinesavages.com Farrow and Ball

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

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

WS

W

Art lovers know the drill: if it’s autumn, it must be time for the RWA’s annual Secret Postcard Auction. As the name suggests, all the artworks are postcard-size, albeit a large one measuring approximately 14 x 19cm cm. This year’s batch will be available for viewing online from 28 October, and you’ll also have a chance to peer at them in person in the gallery’s Youngwood Room, between 4- 9 November.

As ever, none of the artists are named before the auction – that’s the secret bit. In the past, postcards have come from Turner Prize-winners Grayson Perry, Antony Gormley, Richard Long and Alison Wilding; Royal

Academicians Rebecca Salter, Sir Frank Bowling, Eileen Cooper and many others.

The event is a major fundraiser for RWA, and great fun to take part in; bidding can be fierce, but as a payo you may end up nabbing a piece of original work by a star name, or an up-and-coming one, for as little as £40.

Check out some of the artists taking part on the website. We have a question: are the initials on the G & G postcard above a massive clue, or a double blu nly one way to find out.

The Secret Postcard Auction returns online from 28 October-9 November; www.rwa.org.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 31

WHAT’S to er ON

EXHIBITIONS Until 29 October

STITCHING TOGETHER Beautiful textile creations and stories of women across the city, celebrating the joy of making through the shared language of sewing at Arnolfini arnolfini or u

Until 5 November

DESIGN ICONS: MADE IN BRISTOL Eclectic exhibition at Ken Stradling celebrating ristol through five iconic stories, from animation to timber-framing; stradlin olle tion or

Until 1 December

BRISTOL 650 TRAIL Gotta catch them all: a trail to celebrate 650 years of Bristol history through objects on display at M Shed; ristolmuseums or u BRISTOL PHOTOGRAPHS Jem Southam’s classic mid-century photos continue to show at Society Café; rr photo oo s om

Until 22 December

ABANDONED Photographers Jill Quigley and Adrian Tyler explore abandoned homes in Scotland and Ireland, as

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

well as the household objects that lie scattered within them; at MPF; martinparrfoundation or

Until 14 January

ANNUAL OPEN The South West’s biggest annual open exhibition returns for its 170th outing; at RWA, rwa or u OFELIA RODGRIGUEZ A major exhibition by Colombian artist Ofelia; at Spike Island, spi eisland or u

21 October-18 February

Not a peasant flounce in sight: it’s Akram Khan’s Gisele for ENB

about heartbreak and queerness, with original songs: a coming-ofage story examining a friendship between two Black women on diverging paths of self-love and acceptance; at BOV, ristolold i or u

8 October

WONDERHAUS A newfangled anarchic DIY scratch night from the creators of Bristol’s renegade cabaret, Coal Bunker Comedy. At The Wardrobe; thewardro etheatre om m

9-12 October

ELIAS SIME EREGATA he first major solo uropean museum exhibition for Elias, one of Ethiopia’s leading contemporary artists, at Arnolfini arnolfini or u

THE INVISIBLE MAN It’s the HG Wells classic performed comedically by a cast of three, at Alma av, almata ernandtheatre o u

SHOWS

CHOIR BOY ancy edina directs arell Alvin McCraney’s Tony-award nominated musical play at BOV; see page 40. ristolold i or u

Until 8 October

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Musical based on the 1970s film, so probably closer to Gene Wilder than messrs Depp or Chalamet, we guess; at Bristol Hippodrome; at ti ets om

Until 14 October

CHEEKY LITTLE BROWN A failed night out, a musical, a show

12 October

12-13 October

SHAKESPEARE’S FOOL Will empe was one of the finest players of the Elizabethan age, until he fell out with Will Shakespeare... a bittersweet tale, told by an idiot.

At TFT; to a ofa torytheatres om

17 October

WNO: AINADAMAR (FOUNTAIN OF TEARS) Welsh National Opera returns to ippodrome with Golijov’s twice-Grammy-winning opera that reimagines Federico García Lorca’s life through memories of his muse, Margarita Xirgu; at ti ets om

17-18 October

TRANSPARENCY While ack navigates the hurdles of transition, the old family dynamics are shaken up. Will he find the courage to face his worst fears? Will he risk it all for love ive into the everyday life of a transgender male through the brutally honest lens of a northern working-class family.

By Jaden Adams, at Wardrobe; thewardro etheatre om

17-19 October

ENGLAND & SON ark homas stars in the first show he hasn’t written himself (but which has been written expressly for him,

by Ed Edwards); a kaleidoscopic odyssey in which disaster capitalism, empire, stolen youth and stolen wealth merge into the simple tale of a working-class boy who just wants his dad to smile at him; At TFT; to a ofa torytheatres om

WHAT’S ON

19-21 October

WNO: LA TRAVIATA The second Bristol leg on the Welsh wizards’ autumn ristol stopo brings Verdi’s classic opera to Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

23 October

CAT: THE PLAY A comedy play, with a dark twist and lots of lycra, about ‘Dave The Cat’s backstage journey from Jesus’s Donkey to his shock dismissal minutes before the opening night of the original production of Cats’. We’re none the wiser but oddly tempted. At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

HEALING KING HEROD King Herod, famed for his Massacre of the Innocents, now leads a selfdevelopment pyramid scheme... the award-winning drag-king comedy extravaganza comes to The Wardrobe. Probably best not to sit near the front. thewardrobetheatre.comk

12 October

THE GODS ARE ALL HERE Phil Okwedy’s storytelling show weaves myth, song, folktales and legends of the African diaspora with his experiences of growing up as a child of dual heritage in mid-century Wales. TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

26-28 October

14 October

COMEDY Ongoing

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

6 October

RIA LINA: RIAWAKENING Ria tackles the issues of coming out of a global pandemic, the new normal, divorce, dating in a new digital world, motherhood and what it really means to be a woman today. That should cover it. Hen & Chicken; henandchicken.com

7 October

JARRED CHRISTMAS New Zealander Jarred deftly mixes gags with storytelling; he’s at the Hen; henandchicken.com

8 October MIDDLE: If the comedy thing doesn’t pan out for Ria Lina she’ll be fine; she also has a PhD in virology BOTTOM: Gary ditches the synths but stays fiercely loyal to the kohl

10-14 October

ALFIE BROWN: RED FLAGS GALORE Alfie’s showing signs that he probably can’t have a healthy relationship, and proceeding down the road with him would be emotionally dangerous. But what are these signs? Find out, perhaps, at the Hen & Chicken; henandchicken.com

GISELE One of the best things we’ve ever seen on a Bristol stage – hell, any stage – Akram Khan’s contemporary reimagining of the classic ballet for ENB returns to Hippodrome. If you thought ballet wasn’t for you, this could change your mind; atgtickets.com

TOP: Celebrating the mighty James Baldwin

INSTANT WIT They’ve been at it so long they could improvise in their sleep; witness the quick-wittedness at Alma Tavern, almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

BABATUNDE ALESHE: BABAHOOD Another dad ri s amusingly on family and fatherhood, in his debut tour. TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

STEPHEN BAILEY The camp gossipy northerner headlines Stand-up for the Weekend at the Hen; henandchicken.com

19 October

ASHLEY BLAKER: NORMAL SCHMORMAL Ashley has six kids, three of whom have a SEN diagnosis; in his new show he distils the love, madness and chaos of family life into a brilliant evening of standup. He’s just glad to be out of the house, to be honest.

The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com SAM AVERY: HOW NOT TO BE A TERRIBLE PARENT Another stand-up dad contemplates the joys of parenthood, at the Hen & Chicken. henandchicken.com

20 October

CARL HUTCHINSON: WATCH TILL THE END This Geordie stand-up, we hear is ‘comedy’s best-kept secret’, but not so secret that you can’t check him out on YouTube. Hen & Chicken. henandchicken.com SHANE TODD: MUMMY The stand-up billed as ‘Northern Ireland’s most exciting and beloved comedian’, which sounds a pretty bold claim, until you think about it, and realise that all the really famous Irish stand-ups come from the Republic, arrives at Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

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

WHAT’S ON 21 October

SCOTT BENNETT Yet another of ‘live comedy’s bestkept secret’. Seriously lads, why so much hiding lights under bushels? henandchicken.com JOHN KEARNS: THE VARNISHING DAYS Poetic stream-of-consciousness ramblings from the ‘cult purveyor of mock-heroic suburban standup’; TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

22 October

JACK SKIPPER If your algorithms are like ours you’ll have seen endless reels from Jack on social; he seems an amusing youth. atch him on his first tour, at Redgrave, redgravetheatre.com

26 October

ADAM ROWE: WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME? Want to find out ead to Redgrave. Adam is described as ‘one of the fastest rising comedians on the planet’, and to be fair, we’re fans of his quick Scouse wit. redgravetheatre.com IGNACIO LOPEZ: NINE IG FAILS eanwhile, at the en, Spain’s best export’ scrutinises his immigrant upbringing and family tree in a show about clashing cultures and never fitting in henandchicken.com TOM LUCY: MELT You’re spoiled for comedy choice tonight, as the co-host of hit podcast Private Parts comes to The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

27 October

THE SHADE PULLERS & LASH STACKERS SOCIAL CLUB If you see just one drag show within a drag show set at a northern working-man’s club this month, let it be this one. At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com TOM STADE: NATURAL BORN KILLER The ‘legendary Canadian superstar’ comes to Redgrave to chat about the complexities of our ever-changing world, and navigate his way around progressiveness and pronouns; redgravetheatre.com

MUSIC 8 October

SKIPPINISH The Scottish seven-piece has

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

rocketed right to the top of the eltic music scene find out why at The Fleece; the ee e o u

11 October

GARY NUMAN: THE ACOUSTIC TOUR You heard. The 1980s poster boy for electronic pop is here to show what he can do without the aid of synths and twiddly knobs; at St George’s, st eor es ristol o u

13 October

FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Bristol songwriting duo play the ouie for their first hometown show in two years; thelouisiana net

17 October

LARKIN POE Grammy-nominated, American roots-rock sisters bring their Blood Harmony tour to O2; a ademymusi roup om

18 October

THE JAPANESE HOUSE Amber Mary Bain’s not from Japan at all, she’s from Buckinghamshire, but she is bringing her beguiling fusion of lush dream pop, brooding electronic and androgynous vocals, to Trinity; trinity ristol or u BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 5 BY CANDLELIGHT Brought to you by Bristol Ensemble, in a twinkly candlelit St George’s; st eor es ristol o u

20 October

POLICE DOG HOGAN The amiable, joyful, hugely accomplished hot-diggerty dawgs – you know, the band with Tim Dowling in it – bring their husky ballads, foot-stompers about the West Country and full-throated, multi-harmony anthems back to St George’s. Irresistible good fun. st eor es ristol o u

23-24 October

MCFLY You can’t keep a good boyband down om, anny, arry and Dougie return to their guitar-driven pop for their biggest and boldest sound yet, with new album Power to Play. At O2, a ademymusi roup om

24 October

PROTOMARTYR The Detroit four-piece deliver ‘burly but intelligent’ music that plays heavily on dynamics and physical impact; at Trinity Centre; trinity ristol or u

TOP: Alfie Brown: red flags all over the shop

MIDDLE: Circus City: Sawdust Symphony hammers home the joke BOTTOM: McFly: all grown up and headed to O2

WHAT’S ON TOP: The good news is, your dates are here. The bad news is, they’re dead; Night of the Creeps at Forbidden World MIDDLE: The hot-diggerty Police Dogs bring the good times to St G’s BOTTOM: Sisters doing it for themselves: Larkin Poe

27 October

celebrating the life and work of celebrated author ames aldwin ristolideas o u

IZCO & REEK0 DJ and producer IZCO’s output re ects his ackney upbringing immersed in grime, garage, and jungle eek combines jazzy instrumentals and garage ows.

At rinity trinitybristol.org.uk

OTHER Ongoing

BRISTOL TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE WALK Sunday walking tours o ering a history of ristol as a port, how it came to participate in the slave trade, and olston’s divisive legacy ristoltours o u

FESTIVALS Ongoing

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL he year round fest with the something for everyone remit ristolfilmfesti al om

11-13 October

BRISTOL OPEN DOORS he biennial chance to look behind the city’s closed doors and marvel at its treasures ristolopendoors or u

BLUE EARTH SUMMIT alling all changemakers the summit focusing on business as a force for good, protecting our planet and its people at ropyard and he Wave. lueearthsummit om

7-8 October

Until 8 October

12 October

SUSTAINABLE FASHION WEEK he return of the pioneering grassroots sew and sews with the sustainable remit sustaina lefashionwee u

Until 31 October

BOP23 o curated by artin arr oundation and the S, the ooks on hotography festival returns to aintworks martinparrfoundation or

CIRCUS EXTREME erging modern and contemporary styles with extreme stunts and classic clown escapades, in a big top up on the owns ir use treme o u

BANFF he ountain ilm estival brings a new collection of short films filled with extreme journeys, untamed characters and captivating cinematography to edgrave red ra etheatre om

13-14 October

FORBIDDEN WORLDS: THE BIG SCREAM he film fest dedicated to fantasy, action, science fiction and horror films brings demon car, a killer tree, lots of spiders and alien invaders to the former A at ristol A uarium’, and surely by now somebody could have come up with a snappier name for the thing than that for iddenworldsfilmfesti al o u

17-19 October

FESTIVAL OF THE FUTURE CITY Aiming to be the largest public debate about the future of cities, with talking heads tackling the likes of just transition, democracy, cities recovering from crisis and con ict, culture in cities and more, at various venues. ristolideas o u

19-22 October

BALDWIN IN BRISTOL ristol deas hosts a weekend

Until 22 October

CIRCUS CITY he ’s biggest contemporary circus festival returns with a citywide programme, blending circus with music, film, theatre and more far too much to cover in a modest paragraph here, check the programme for all the acts ristol ir us ity om

21 October

NIGHT AND DAY ary omes ome festival is taking its fallow year, but couldn’t resist marking the centenary of Warner rothers studios with an expanded screening of its ole orter biopic the first colour film to star Archie each from orfield in his first singing role. At St ary edcli e, ary omeshome o u .

22 October

WHAT DOES NORMAL LOOK LIKE? A new film looking at the knock on e ects of lockdown in ristol see page . headfirst ristol o u n

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

THE POWER OF BELONGING Nancy Medina’s debut production for Bristol Old Vic epitomises the spirit of her first season, with its focus on joy, resilience, and the power of belonging

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

THEATRE

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

T THEATRE

here are several good reasons to book tickets for Choir Boy at Bristol Old Vic this month. Firstly, there’s the play itself: author Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Tony-nominated musical, a tender coming-of-age tale threaded with soul-stirring a cappella gospel hymns and spirituals.

Secondly – and absolutely no pressure here it’s the very first production to be directed by Nancy Medina since she stepped into Tom Morris’s shoes as the theatre’s artistic director.

Not that she sounds especially nervous.

“At every step of putting our production of Choir Boy together, there’s been a palpable feeling of joy and giddiness, she says. t o ers such rich, three-dimensional characters for young Black men to perform.

It provides what is still a rare opportunity to delve deep into gorgeous characters and explore their honest relationships through really wellcrafted storytelling.

“Tarell’s script never skips a beat, getting to the essence of what human connection means. I’ve known this play for a few years, and during that time society has shifted the conversation about identity, e uity and social justice on uite significantly. Woven through this joyous play, current conversations take on new meaning, as our tremendously talented cast and creative team bring it to life.”

The choir boy of the story is Pharus – a queer, Black student who leads the legendary gospel choir at his elite all-boys prep school in America. He’s a gifted singer who has earned his position as soloist, but when Pharus’s pride is sullied by one of his peers, he begins to falter.

He’s played here by Tarique Jarrett, opposite Jyuddah James as AJ – Pharus’s straight best mate and high-school jock. eri ue grew up in ondon. y first formal interaction with acting was in primary school,” he says. “Our Year 1 teacher allowed us to have role-play time in our school schedule. This is where I really felt myself come alive playing di erent characters and a ecting people. then attended a performing arts school on weekends where my acting, singing and dancing skills were developed. I feel very fortunate to have been surrounded by creative opportunities in London.” eanwhile, up in erby... Where went to school, acting was encouraged in some ways, but not in a way that would enable me to go on to continue the career,” says Jyuddah. “Not a lots of actors come out of erby, so it was definitely a niche career option.

He studied at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and has since made the city his home. “It was a really great stomping ground to make mistakes. rama school is a lot about finding yourself, and while doing so, fitting that person into all of the skills and ualities you may need for our industry ualities taught really well by the school. he sta really knew what they were talking about, and could facilitate an answer to whatever questions we as actors had, or at least look to steer us in the right direction. Also the grounds are really nice, too.”

What drew you to this production?

Tarique: I’d be lying if I said writer Tarell Alvin McCraney’s name

didn’t draw me to this production. I enjoyed his storytelling in The Brothers Size and [Academy Award-winning] Moonlight, and was intrigued to see what Choir Boy was about. What draws me specifically to this production is how it portrays the complexity of existence as a Black boy. The play is set in a stressful time in the boys’ lives, and they are under pressure to be young men, but I enjoy the moments where we see them enjoying being boys.

Jyuddah: Two words: Nancy Medina. The director that the UK has been waiting for, someone who I love working with and admire, and challenges me to grow as an actor. She’s introduced us all to this amazing story, written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, a phenomenal writer.

Terique Jarrett (Pharus) and Jyuddah Jaymes (AJ) in rehearsal

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

THEATRE

“The question posed is, ‘Do Black people actually win in this striving for Black excellence?’” unconsciously code-switch depending on their relationship to who is in the room this is re ective of how lack people have to navigate their own lackness in society.

Jyuddah: Society seen through such a specific lens as this gives the opportunity to see facets of the young African American experience which we don’t bother to look at. arell is marvellously specific and nuanced, he shows how the adapting of societal practices might a ect the bones of a once African body, now Afro American, adjusting and code switching. t’s a cacophony of the lingo of lack people with the societal expectations of the Western world, and how these two might clash or actually be the signs of things to come in our society. Great African American leaders such as artin uther ing and arack bama have come from such schools, begging the uestion of what is leading the next stage in existence and change for lack people Something like that, and so much more.

Apart from the sheer joy of the music, what does the gospel element add to the story?

Tarique: he characters sing a lot of spirituals in this play, and harus

interrogates the meaning and history of them they are closely linked to the transatlantic slave trade as well as religion. o harus, spirituals are a connection between him and God.

Do AJ and Pharus learn anything from each other during the course of the play? And have you, both in and out of the rehearsal room, learnt anything from each other?

Jyuddah: Good uestion here is a playfulness and earnestness

How would you sum up your characters?

Tarique: see harus as uick witted, charismatic, loud and with a

tough exterior. A is one of his few allies in the school, and his best friend they’re like brothers. A challenges harus and encourages him to think about how his actions impact others and how they will carry him through the world. think their bond is so strong because they have a healthy sense of love for one another, and they both contribute to each other’s personal development.

Why do you think Tarell Alvin McCraney chose to set the story in an elite preppy institution?

Tarique: he more we explore the play, the more we play with the

strictness and structure of institutions like this. don’t think lack boys have the luxury of being boys for as long as other children at some point, and seemingly overnight, society decides they’re young men, placing adult burdens on them and stripping away the benefits of youth too early. here is, therefore, a continuous layering of issues for lack boys, where society puts these burdens on them, so they have to strive to be better strive for lack excellence. he uestion that is posed is, o lack people actually win in this striving for lack excellence ’ Jyuddah: he institution asks the boys to adjust to an environment they are not otherwise used to, especially those from poorer parts of America. he stakes are high every action they make at school may determine their future, and such pressure adds to the drama.

Does the microcosm of an exclusive boarding school serve as a useful prism to examine general traits in society?

Tarique: y setting the play in an all lack boys’ school, we get a

microscopic insight to di erent African American cultures. find it interesting, for example, when we see the boys consciously and

in their relationship that is admirable, and special. ou see these two characters truly care about each other, A always reminding harus that he pioneers who he is, and harus letting his guard down and being seen. t’s an honour working with eri ue, and seeing the wonderful person and actor he is. We too have a lot of fun and play in this play.

Tarique: think what A and harus learn most from each other is how to love platonically, in a new way. hey also discover the complexity of masculinity from in another. yuddah is very cleverly funny and fun to be around, so on a professional level ’m learning news ways to play and structure comedy. n a personal level, just get to laugh loads.

How have you found working with Nancy Medina?

Jyuddah: can’t sing her praises high enough, she guides the rehearsal

room with such grace and honour, and care, and is super-smart and an amazing leader of collaboration. adore her and all she’s about.

Tarique: ’ve enjoyed it ancy has a warmth to her that makes me feel comfortable enough to share and create unapologetically in a room without judgement. also think she’s found a great team of actors, and they all contribute to that warm atmosphere.

Why should everyone come to see this play?

Tarique: Great writing, a cast with natural chemistry, a skilled creative

team and tight five part harmonies. Choir Boy is a play that needs two viewings because the play has layers things don’t appear as they seem on the surface. arell has also sprinkled cultural references throughout the play. ’m still discovering more hidden references every day.

Jyuddah: t’s a chance for people to step foot into a world not talked about often enough. he music is beautiful, the story has impact, and the relevance it holds to the exploration of human understanding is vital and important. n Choir Boy plays Bristol Old Vic 12 October-11 November www.bristololdvic.org.uk

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

ARTS A new collaborative documentary by Colin Moody and Thom Whitson takes a look at lockdown’s legacy on Bristol’s culture and asks, what do we need as a collective society? What do we really need, to live?

L A M R O N S E O D T A WH

I

n What Does Normal Look Like?, pieces of the Bristol lockdown experience, captured and explored by a variety of artists, are woven into the fabric of a new minute film. he result is a collage documentary about the biggest psychological and irrevocable change to have taken place in our lifetime – a powerful moment during which some of us realised what was important to us as a collective society, who we really were, and what we need to live. he project began when olin oody and hom Whitson met while photographing an empty city, both driven by a need to document this time. ini documentaries were created with Annie cGann from Save ristol Nightlife, looking at individual venues, and soon the filmmakers were on a journey to expand the narrative to a citywide perspective. his was never going to be made like

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

?

E K I L K O LO

a normal documentary, because what the world was going through wasn’t remotely normal, say the filmmakers. hey were creatively isolated, but sought to collaborate with other creatives to explore all the intricacies of the lockdown experience. hey developed a reactive filmmaking process which responded to the changing nature of lockdown and the events that rose out of it, such as the lack ives atter and ill the ill marches.

We’re thrilled to be finally sharing the film with ristol after three years in the making, says olin. om and met in lockdown, with a shared love of ristol’s many cultures, driven by a need to document these communities in a uni ue time. What is needed for a city to not just survive but to thrive? Even during a pandemic We had to know. his documentary leads you around some very di erent corners, to the hidden stories in independent spaces which make this film, and this city, tick, showing how a city of many

cultures responded to lockdown, creating new ideas and bold opportunities.”

THE VENUES . . . he film looks at the broader definition of clubs, pubs and arts venues as community spaces, exploring places which were birthed in lockdown alongside those which struggled and were forced into new ways of thinking.

Featured venues include Strange Brew, Lost orizon, are Shack, lmer’s Arms, rinity entre, are o lub, St. Anne’s oardmill Social lub and dozens of others.

THE SCREENINGS . . . or the filmmakers, a key component of the project was to take the film back into the spaces and places which built the project up in the first place. he film’s release will begin with two screenings in ctober and ovember, staged as film events with live music and an encouragement for discussion of the film’s topics the intention is to treat the film as an

want to e a in those spa es where everyone is feeling the same thing” Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley, from ‘The Zone’

THE FILMMAKERS . . .

Photographer and filmmaker Tom Whitson works with labels, musicians and nights to promote and showcase musical talent. He is interested in human interiority reflecting the environments around them.

The social environment and cultural spaces are Colin Moody’s main fascinations. He works locally in Bristol and nationally as an awardwinning documentary photographer and creative.

THE MUSICIANS Experimental percussionist Dan Johnson felt compelled to explore the acoustics of lockdown, recordings from his solo performances in an empty tunnel form the backbone of the film, mirroring the rhythm of the continual locking and unlocking of the city. The film is sculpted around these pieces and the thought-provoking electronic music of Kayla Painter – fragmented beats which thread together and bring to life the world of this film.

What Does Normal look Like? will open in Bristol with two bespoke events: at Strange Brew on 22 October, with a tailored live set from Kayla Painter, and a screening at The Cube on 9 November followed by a live performance from Dan Johnson

asset for the people to use, placemaking and improving their wellbeing, sense of place and purpose. olin and hom feel that What Does Normal Look Like? provides a template for lockdown introspection which may resonate with audiences beyond ristol, too. ollowing the local film release, they hope to show the film elsewhere, including a more national screening on the anniversary of lockdown on arch, as well as a run in the cinema tents at festivals such as Glastonbury, orwards, alley est and nd of the oad. n Watch the trailer at www.vimeo.com/842932933 i ets at www headfirst ristol o u

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

THE BRISTOL CATWALK It’s the city’s style. Own it Words and pics by Colin Moody

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2

C

BRISTOL HEROES

ome with me on a fashion parade like no other.

I was talking to a mate the other day about Bristol, and what makes it Bristol.

The music? The food culture? The havea-go, be-lucky, welcoming cheeky spirit? aybe a curious blend of fine ualities, that you can detect even in a gesture as the lads outside the Barley Mow wave you by in the afternoon? Or how the no-nonsense attitude layered over some proper nonsense keeps it real?

But there is another way: how we dress. Those individual threads, and how we carry ourselves, o ers a book’s worth of information about our spirit.

Here are eight random encounters on the catwalk of Bristol.

1

Goldie loves his set at Forwards, you could see that. Sometimes you just have to strap on the gold teeth – did them himself, I hear – classic white tee and jeans combo, hip-hop well-starched hat turned sideways in a garage style, and take a knee and give thanks.

2

ost of living crisis eah, it’s a shocker, and it a ects us all. Some more than others. But when it comes to fashion, at times like this, I look for the kids. rainers, casuals, can of spray paint, and they’re ready for anything.

Because while some generations might stay in watching Newsnight, lamenting this loss or that, the kids will be all right. Soon as they get on the garb – second-hand will do, adjusted, then thrust into the consciousness of the street – well, bam! heir catwalk’s a strutting, confident alternative to the high street one. And they never cease to amaze me. Newsnight’s over now, and some of us are switching to that really interesting documentary on BBC4, while those kids are borrowing kit and making a noise down at Strange Brew till two in the morning, wearing it well.

3 3 4

The Ambling Band came down to play Funky Town in its best format, brassy and brash, and processed over that footbridge that finally reopened. know, right t’s been impossible to get easily from Bedminster to those Wapping Wharf cafés and bars for an age, but at last there’s music, hope, fashion. or my money, each player’s take on the essential pink dress code shows how you can join the band but still retain your power and individual air. ou cut your cloth your way while being in, you are still special, uni ue. ashion here acting as a social project example.

Bursting out that jazzy New Orleans-on-Avon vibe.

4

Ah, man ou go to all that trouble for that uni ue look, and someone rocks up to the event in the same? Guess the only thing to do is front it out.

“Fashion here acting as social project example, bursting out that jazzy New Orleans-on-Avon vibe”

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

BRISTOL HEROES

5

6

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My grandad rocked a similar look to this for all the time I knew him. You know the style. Nice loafers, roomy slacks and the type of jacket that not even the hipster vintage markets stock. op it o with the cap and it’s a generational look that we may not have around for much longer. Bloke waiting for his ride to the snooker hall, all dressed up and ready to go.

6

It’s 2:05pm, East Street, and the enthusiastic stiltwalker bird of paradise woman needs a drink, pops into the corner shop. No one bats an eyelid. ’Cos in this city you can dress up like a piñata on poles and go about your business, and that’s all fine.

7

Jacob Lusk from Gabriels here, at Forwards festival, letting you know everything is cool right now.

Festivals on the Downs are special, it’s a space we can all share, and it felt like so many communities were involved in this event, which they work hard at pulling o each year. So when we get it right, it’s nice that performers like Jacob can look us right in the lens and say… “Yeah, you got that spot on, mate…”

8

Here’s a look you only see here in Bristol. Quality wader boots from the country store, hard wearing work jeans, thermal vest top with outer gilet, work gloves and that all-essential accessory: the hot-air balloon basket with assorted Bristol media on board.

It’s important to remember, when taking your landed hot-air-balloon accessory across the south Bristol park, to boss it. ow all you have to do is find your style. ou might be starting with a pair of shrinkwrapped trainers, or that fave garb, but as you rummage each day for your look, know that here, in this city, we wear ourselves on our sleeves.

Now walk, and own it. You do you better than anyone else. Period.

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

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

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“Know that in this city, we wear ourselves on our sleeves; now walk, and own it. You do you better than anyone else; period”

HISTORY

UNBUILT BRISTOL

Bristol has a long tradition of proposing grand structures which were never built, and an equally long tradition of dithering over those which were, says Eugene Byrne, who takes us on a tour of just a few things that never happened

P

lanned buildings which never saw the light of day; buildings erected in inconvenient places; random examples of repurposing. Historian and journalist Eugene Byrne takes us on a tour of some of Bristol’s architectural pratfalls; for more, book onto his guided walking tour on 18 October

BRISTOL QUEEN SQUARE STATION

As we know, Mr Brunel built a station at Temple Meads, and at the time and ever since everyone has moaned that Bristol’s principal station is in the wrong place. There was a serious proposal in the 1860s to build a new station in Queen Square. This never happened.

THE WAR MEMORIAL

The immense casualties of World War I led to memorials being erected all over the country, from monuments in town squares to village halls and even hospitals. Every community in Bristol which was around in 1918 has one.

But Bristol also needed a civic memorial of its own, to remember the 6,000 or so citizens who had given their lives. But should it be a monument, or something of use to the living?

There were no end of proposals; a remodelled Bristol Bridge, a civic hall in the centre; a grand memorial bus shelter, even.

And then there were arguments over where to put it. We didn’t get a hospital, hall or bridge, but a mere cenotaph in the city centre, where people gathered for Armistice Day services anyway.

It was unveiled in 1932, 14 years after the war’s end.

Another 1919 suggestion – for a ‘People’s Hall’ in the city centre

Then World War II got in the way, and it was forgotten, though the council still had the money. The postwar years saw intermittent calls to do something, until finally, in the s, a small memorial was built – though probably fewer than one Bristolian in a hundred can point it out. It’s the arched fountain near Broad Quay House. On one side is the face of a lion, and on the other are two statues – a farm worker and coal miner, which were salvaged from the old Co-Operative Wholesale Society building which had stood on the site, and included for no reason other than it was thought a shame to throw them away.

THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING

For years, the ‘Council House’ was on Corn Street – it’s the Registry ce nowadays and from the 1870s onwards people said it was too small. For years nothing happened, but there were loads of proposals for a new town hall.

Finally the design was chosen, and work started on the site on College Green, but World War intervened. t was finished during the years of postwar austerity, and so the massive statues of naked women to go atop the fountains at either end never happened, which is why the plumbing is exposed to this day. We got our unicorns, mind.

TRAMS

We’ve been talking about trams and/or light rail systems since the 1970s. We have now graduated on to not building an underground railway either.

“We’ve been talking about trams and UNDERGROUND light rail systems since the 1970s. We THE MALL have now graduated to not building an underground railway either”

THE KING GEORGE V MEMORIAL

When King George V died in 1936 there were immediate plans to commemorate him. Money was quickly raised, local architects drew up plans free of charge, and a monument and garden on the Centre were incorporated into plans for the area in 1937.

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

In the summer of 1983, two di erent consortiums of developers proposed a shopping mall beneath Castle Park.

Broadmead was looking shabby, and something was needed to improve its fortunes. Planning restrictions prevented Castle Park being built over. Ah, but there’s nothing saying it can’t be built under – aside from the cost, the potential dangers of ooding, and murky accusations of council favouritism towards one of the developers. It was forgotten by the end of summer.

XXXXX

… Illustration from a 1983 Bristol City Council publication looking at proposals for re-modelling the centre and docks areas. What’s that greenhouse for?

One of the many ideas for a Bristol war memorial – a 1919 proposal to turn Bristol Bridge into ‘Victory Bridge’

RIGHT: A massive civic embarrassment averted. The memorial to King George V, originally conceived as something much grander, and now featuring salvaged statues of working men on the other side

‘Severnside Sportsworld’ – Rovers’ ill-fated 1990s plan for a stadium, sports centre and indoor arena between Avonmouth and Severn Beach

THIS SEASON’S NEW STADIUM

Any City or Rovers fan will tell you that their club comes up with plans for a new stadium, or improvements to the existing one, with every new season. One of the most ambitious was Rovers’ proposed Severnside stadium from 1991-93, when they were still enduring their Babylonian exile at Twerton Park. Anyone wishing to research City and Rovers’ other plans down the years will require a high pain threshold.

THE HARBOURSIDE CENTRE

Aka the Centre for the Performing Arts, which was to have been built for the illennium just across the water from the Arnolfini. t was an astonishing design from German architects Behnisch & Behnisch, and famously likened to an exploding greenhouse. The Arts Council was going to put up much of the cost, but then a change of government and change of funding priorities made it pull out. A tragedy. t would have been our Sydney Opera House. n

Like an exploding greenhouse: architects’ model of the Harbourisde Centre, next to the Lloyd’s building and amphitheatre

Historian and journalist Eugene Byrne is leading a guided walk titled Unbuilt Bristol on 18 October as part of Bristol Ideas’ Festival of the Future City; see www.tinyurl.com/2w8wzys2. The next day he’ll be leading a walk looking at some of Bristol’s urban myths: www.tinyurl.com/mun3fma2.

Eugene is available for speaking gigs on a variety of local subjects provided he is suitably remunerated with money and/or cake. Email Eugene.Byrne@gmail.com His book Unbuilt Bristol ed li e ress an still e found in some pla es

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

GAMBAS

Join us as we take a Spanish stroll down to CARGO

By Deri Robins Main photo Louis Smith @studiowhisk

RESTAURANT

W

e try to spread the love when it comes to these pages. prawns, Galician octopus, Cornish mussels cavort with crunchy red One moment you’ll find us feasting on futomaki in peppers in the freshest of salads.

BS8; the next, filling our faces with pan-fried girolles Now that documentaries have driven home the uncomfortable truth in Café du Paris sauce in BS3. You’ll often run across that octopii are basically adorable, playful Disney characters, many people us in the snuggery of rural gastropubs, or la-diare reluctant to eat them; it’s just the most terrible luck on them that they dahing it up at bougie city-centre hotels. Just think happen to be so meaty and delicious, especially when cooked, as Gambas of us as Bristol’s own Very Hungry Caterpillar, steadily munching our way does, Galician style in an onion and paprika sauce, and served on creamy through a copy of the local A-Z. mash. I have a little nibble on a tentacle, but to my annoyance I discover That said, here we are again at CARGO, a mere bread roll’s throw from that I, too, can no longer enjoy guilt-free polpo.

Root, which we reviewed in our last issue.

Thankfully, prawns are among the epsilons of the ocean world and thus Sometimes that’s just how the tortillita crumbles. I hadn’t even set less easy to anthropomorphise. We kick off with tortillita de camerones, out to review Gambas; I just happened to be there as the guest of some those wafer-thin shrimp fritters so beloved by gaditanos, which make such a lovely people who had taken me out to discuss their latest project. The perfect snack with a cold Manzanilla. We move on to the gambas pil pil; fat conversation was delightful, but I kept getting distracted. Damn, those Isle prawns cooked in oil infused with garlic and chilli, served piping hot, and of Wight tomatoes were good! What were the ingredients in the croqueta thoughtfully loosened from their shells so that we don’t incur third-degree del dia? Would anyone notice if I stole the last of burns when we try to prise them out. those frankly incredible prawns? How well do While seafood rules the Gambas kitchen, there DINING DETAILS you have to know someone before dipping your are a few meat dishes; pork pincho moruno is Gambas, Unit 12, Cargo 2, Museum Street; bread into a communal dish? Would the spikes on 0117 934 9256; www.gambasbristol.co.uk spicily marinated for optimum tenderness and my Zoe app resemble a relief map of the Andes taste, before dialling up the flavour even further Opening hours Mon-Sat midday-10pm; Sunday if I had the pudding? And if I turned this meal with a piquillo pepper sauce. There are plenty midday-4.30 into a review, could I justify a couple of sherries at Price tapas from £2-£14.20; puds £3.60-£7.20 of veggie treats, too; those distractingly sweet lunchtime? Well, I had the sherries, so here we are.

IOW tomatoes with Manchega are possibly Veggie At least 6-7 good options If you’ve never been – or even if you have, it the standout tapa of the meal. Casting around Drinks Spanish wines, cocktails, sherries, local and makes no difference – Gambas occupies a prime for a negative, all I can come up with is that the Spanish beers, cider position in CARGO 2, tucked nicely into the patatas bravas lack the outer crunch that I crave Service Charming and very clued-up first-floor unit on the far right. It moved in after in roasties of any cuisine; but as cavils go, it’s a Atmosphere Relaxed; it’s CARGO Spuntino moved out; for some reason Russell pretty minor one.

Norman’s slick London gaff closed just a year I’d like to report that I join the rest of my after opening, despite being really rather good. table in sharing a single plate of chocolate truffles. I’d like to, but I don’t, The Season + Taste group, already doing very nicely with its Mexican because Gambas’ Goxua is the finest dessert being served in the city today. restaurant Cantina a few units down, decided it fancied another slice of The description ‘Basque-inspired almond and caramel sponge cake’ does the CARGO pie. Bringing the same passion for Spanish food that made not even begin to do it justice. It is creamy. It is beyond indulgent. It takes Bristol fall forever in love with its first tapas bar, Bravas on Cotham Hill, it a simple tarta de Santiago and drowns in PX sabayon, lemon cream and opened Gambas in 2018. In doing so it gave the city something it had never butterscotch sauce, before topping with torched Valencia almonds. You will really had before: an authentic seafood restaurant right on the waterfront. dream about this dish for months to come. You’d post its picture on social The harbour may not be as blue as the Med, but as long as we gazed on media if you could restrain yourself long enough to pick up your phone.

Wapping Wharf sunset, we were in paradise.

Rather like my post-Goxua waistline, Gambas is currently expanding, Although there are no huge jamons swinging from hooks in the bar, and you can now hire its new private dining room for a full-on feast. Menus Gambas very much looks the part, its high stools arranged along a curved start at £30 a head, which seems astonishingly good value; there again, marble counter evoking Valencia’s Mercado Central. The head chef is while Gambas is among the best tapas restaurants in Bristol, its prices are Gustavo Benet – also, as it happens, from Valencia – who more than keeps among the most reasonable. It’s flexible, too; tapas are ideal for a blow-out up the high standards set by predecessor Mark Chapman, now busily off meal, but there’s nothing to stop you dropping in casually and making like running Cor. At the first nibble of the pan con alioli you know you’re in a cool Spanish person by ordering just a few plates with a beer or sherry. safe hands; no namby-pambying from Gustavo with the garlic here, this is This is very much the kind of person I would like to be when I grow up. the real, pungent deal, and goes down a treat with fat, herby olives.

A final note, which probably says more than the previous 1,000 words Many of the dishes have been on the menu since Gambas opened, and put together. I’m often asked by out-of-towners, or even in-towners who we order up several old favourites. We balance a dish of fried aubergine, don’t get out very much, where to go for a fun, reliably great-tasting meal crunchy and soft in all the right places beneath its sticky drizzle of molasses, which doesn’t cost the earth. I always include Gambas among five or so with the cool freshness of seafood salpicon, in which chopped wild Atlantic suggestions; I’ve had no complaints yet, and I’d be amazed if I ever did.

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

Tel: 07854239926 info@cliftonwineschool.com

A very warm welcome to Clifton Wine School!

We are a local wine school hosting events in Bristol at the Hotel du Vin. Choose from our Cheese and Wine Matching night, a Fine Wine tasting, Wines of the World evening courses, Steak and Red Wine night, and so much more. We also do unforgettable hen parties and corporate events.

We don’t sell wine, we give you confidence to choose the best wines for yourself.

You can purchase any course or tasting as a Wine School Gift Voucher starting from £30 the perfect present for any wine lovers!

Tastings, courses and events now also available online. www.localwineschool.com/bristol

FOOD & DRINK TA S T Y B I T E S F R O M B R I S T O L’ S F O O D S C E N E

TAKE FIVE

. . . with Alex Troncoso and Annie Clements of Lost and Grounded – an independent, awardwinning brewery based in Bristol specialising in lagers and Belgian-style ales

R

eal life partners Alex and Annie co founded the brewery in . look after things like brewing and boring stu like money, says Alex, and Annie looks after the creative and people side of the brewery.

Alex started homebrewing back in . always wanted to be a brewer, he says. ended up ualifying as a chemical engineer, and went on to work in glamorous industries such as iron ore and fertiliser, always dreaming of making beer for a living.

Annie and met in asmania in , and ended up homebrewing together while tried to get my foot in the door of the brewing industry. ventually it happened, and we moved from elbourne to erth, where joined ittle reatures. ast forward to , when was headhunted as brewing director of amden own rewery. After a few years in ondon

“We operate the most advanced small brewery in the UK and we love showing people behind the scenes” 58 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

xxxxx

we found ourselves visiting ristol and fell in love with the city, and we thought to ourselves, What if we got new work visas, what if we found a place to live, what if we built a brewery, and what if we found investors and so we did. areful what you wish for...

We started with a bit of a crazy plan we secured a relatively big site in rislington on Whitby oad, installed a state of the art German brewhouse, hired a small team to kick things o and found out uite uickly it was really di cult to sell enough beer to keep us going. ut we persevered, stuck to our original plan, and now seven years later we have a team of over fantastic people, and this year will sell over two million litres of beer.

What is the main aim of the brewery?

he brewery was set up specifically to make traditional German style lager, but we also have a love of the idiosyncratic nature of elgian style ales.

What have been your most popular beers?

ur superstar is eller ils, an unfiltered German-style Pilsner. This is our biggest seller and the reason we built the brewery. t recently won a Gold Award at the World eer up® in ashville, SA, in the ellerbier category. hat was an amazing achievement for the team, as we beat nearly lagers from around the world to win the top prize.

Tell us about a few recent favourite brews

We normally use elgian or German malt for our lagers due to their character and avour, but for our estbier we used malt from local company Warminster altings, which is the oldest maltings in the . he beer is wonderfully golden with light biscuit notes it went down a treat at our ktoberfest.

Tell us about the taproom

t’s open weekly on ridays and Saturdays, and our aim is to have an inclusive and safe space

HOT PLATES for everyone to come together and enjoy our beers, right next to the brewhouse. We love to welcome a diverse range of guests including couples, friends, families, children and dogs from all over Bristol and the UK. …and about some special events

This year we’ve held events such as our Dog Day Afternoon, holding dog contests, a Musical Sits game and a chance for our fourlegged pals to star on our can design, to help raise funds for Street Vet. We’ve also held our Lager-A-Rama event, celebrating our love of lagers as well as our annual Oktoberfest, where we love to raise a pint (or stein) of our traditional Festbier lager special in celebration of Bavarian Heritage.

Yeah about that. Why did you hold Oktoberfest 2023 in September?

Despite the name, Oktoberfest starts in

Germany in mid-September, so we just kept with tradition. Around the same time we were tapping our little barrel of Festbier on 16 September on Whitby Road there were thousands of people drinking beer at the main festivities in Munich.

Who are your favourite local street food collaborations?

We’ve had so many di erent street food traders join us over the years. Most recently Fat Dad’s Kitchen has been making some amazing burgers, and they will be with us through October and November.

Do you do brewery tours?

Tours are weekly on a Saturday and can be booked via our online store. We operate the most advanced small brewery in the UK, and we love showing people behind the scenes.

For more www.lostandgrounded.co.uk

MORE TASTY BITES TRUE BREW

If there’s one thing Bristol’s ace at it’s collaborating, and one latest tasty hook-up sees brewery Wiper and True working with The Assemblies to launch an exclusive, locally-focused craft beer in a celebration of sustainability, independence and locality.

Wiper and True worked closely with The Assemblies team to design a recipe which perfectly matches the ethos and character of the group’s three venues: No I Harbourside, The Canteen and Old Market Assembly. Homegrown pours a clear golden colour, and has a light, bright, lager avour profile that o ers the ultimate easy drinking, accessible pint. The 4.0% lager is brewed with sustainability in mind, including the use of solar energy panels on Wiper and True’s brewery roof. www.wiperandtrue.com

THE PIG IS BACK

Remember Pata Negra, Hyde & Co’s fabulous tapas bar on Corn Street, on the site that’s now Four Wise Monkeys?

You know, the one beneath the sign of the golden pig? Be still our greedy little beating hearts, them, because it’s returning as a pop up this autumn, at sister venue Bambalan between 13 October-24 November. Expect tapas, set menus and bocadillos along with Spanish wines, sherry and cocktails. Exec chef Todd Francis will be filling his menu with cult ata favourites including sobrasada with a crispy soft boiled egg, manchego and honey, jamón ibérico croquetas and patatas bravas with aioli picante, as well as plenty of delicious new dishes, including a tapas sharing feast for £30pp.

Look out, too, for some special ticketed events on 2 November and 16 November, to be released soon.

Book at www.bambalan.co.uk

COME DINE WITH THEM CARGO’s tapas restaurant Gambas has taken over the former Harbour & Browns space next door, and is about to launch its new private dining room. The intimate space is perfect for gathering with friends, special occasions or corporate hospitality, with room for up to 20 guests to enjoy a Spanish feast from head chef Gustavo Benet.

You can choose between the £40pp or £60pp menu, with veggie/ vegan options; you can also add on a wine pairing curated by general manager Ander Mendive Barcos.

Find further information and an enquiry form on the Gambas website, or contact events@gambas.co.uk directly with any questions. www.gambasbristol.co.uk

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

FRESH THINKING OVER A FINE LUNCH Louise Mitchell, chief executive of Bristol Beacon - the music charity, renowned venue and award-winning music education hub

JOIN US

Tuesday 7 November From 12pm Scan here for tickets

Sponsored by:

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www.pazzobristol.co.uk 89 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2NT

BANDOOK KITCHEN

It’s the perfect time of year for spicy Indian street food

M

urali-Raj Narashimaraj is the head chef at Bandook Kitchen at CARGO. Drawing on his training at a renowned catering college in India, and experience at several high-end London restuarants, Muraliraj has created a theatrical, ambitious and playful menu of casual Indian street food for Bandook, of which Bristol Life is a serious fan. Here he kindly shares a few recipes from the kitchen.

KEEMA PAV Serves 4 “Also known as Keema Pao, this simple but ever-so sumptuous dish originates from Mumbai, and will make happy family reunions even more enjoyable,” says Muraliraj. “To stay true to this popular street food choice, this recipe uses mutton mince; however, any mince can be used, including soya mince to make it suitable for vegetarians. Wash this down with a deliciously cold Indian beer or iced cola.”

Ingredients ½ cup of potatoes, boiled and grated 500g mutton mince Brioche buns, or any pavs of your choice.

3-4 green cardamom 1 black cardamom 3 tbsp cooking oil 3 medium diced onions 2 tsp garlic and ginger paste 1½ tsp red chilli powder ½ tsp turmeric powder 1 tbsp coriander powder 2 bay leaves

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

3-4 cloves 2 inches of cinnamon stick 2 medium tomatoes, chopped 1 tsp garam masala powder 1 tsp roasted cumin powder 2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped ½ tbsp lime leaves, chopped 2 tbsp butter or ghee Salt to taste Lime wedge, red onions Lettuce leaves (optional) Method 1 Roast the grated potato and leave aside.

2 Heat oil in a deep bottomed pan, add green and black cardamom, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks. Stir gently for a minute.

3 Add chopped onions, garlic and ginger paste and put on medium heat. Gently stir until golden brown and caramelised.

4 Reduce the heat, add salt, chilli, turmeric and coriander powder. Stir for a minute and add half a cup of water.

5 Add chopped tomatoes, and simmer until oil comes to the top of the masala. Add the mince, roasted potatoes and lime leaves, put it on high heat and allow to cook for four minutes. Stir continuously.

6 While on high heat, allow the curried mince to lose excess water (until semi-dry) and add garam masala and roasted cumin powder; give it a good stir for an extra two to three minutes.

7 Reduce heat right down and add coriander leaves for garnish. Your curried mince is now cooked and ready.

8 In a non-stick pan heat butter or ghee, slice the pavs/buns into two pieces and place on the pan, pressing down until crispy and golden brown.

9 Serve your tawa-grilled pavs stuffed with the curried mince. You can squeeze a dash of lime on the mince before stuffing, and add sliced red onions and lettuce leaves for additional texture and taste.

RECIPE KING PRAWN BALCHAO Serves 4 Muraliraj says, “This prawn curry is a Goan favourite and is best served with basmati rice, a crisp salad, and hand-torn torn strips of garlic naan to mop up the last of the fiery, flavoursome sauce.”

Ingredients 1kg fresh water king prawns, de-veined 2 onions, finely chopped 2 ripe tomatoes 2 sprigs of curry leaves 2 tbsp ginger and garlic paste 15 dry red chillies 2 tsp whole black peppercorns 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp mustard seeds

1 inch cinnamon stick 5-6 cloves 2 tbsp sugar ½ cup coconut vinegar (or any vinegar of your choice) Salt to taste 3-4 tbsp oil Method 1 In a large bowl, clean the prawns under running water; strain. Add a pinch of salt and turmeric powder, mix well and set aside. This step will remove the typical seafood odour from the prawns.

2 In a wok, dry roast the chillies, pepper, cumin, mustard, cloves and cinnamon.

3 Grind the roasted mix of spices along

with ginger, garlic and the vinegar into a smooth paste.

4 In another wok heat oil, add the chopped onions and cook until golden brown.

5 Add the chopped tomatoes and curry leaves, cook until all the water evaporates and the mixture turns all mushy, leaving oil at the sides.

6 Add the spice mixture and cook until the raw smell disappears.

7 Add the prawns along with the sugar; check for spice levels and salt, and adjust accordingly.

8 Cook until the water left by the prawns evaporates and the mixture turns into a thick gravy like consistency.

Or save yourself the hassle and feast on similar delights at Bandook in CARGO: www.bandookkitchen.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 63

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'BIG STUFFED' SMALL OCTOPUS, £105 Absolutely not what we thought we were looking for when we began to compile this page, but once we saw it, we wanted it.

Made from handpicked cotton and faux fur From Maze, 26-28 The Mall www.mazeclothing.co.uk

OCTOBER FEELS

WOOL OVERSHIRT, £195 From our favourite Bristol heritage clothing company, a classic tweed woven in the traditional way. Part of the men’s collection, they say; but, you know…

From Peregrine Clothing; www.peregrineclothing.co.uk

For crisp autumn days you need soft, tactile clothing and furnishings. And maybe a u y octopus.

AFFARI OF SWEDEN BLANKET, £42 Simple blanket with black and terracotta stitching; in 100% cotton, so ideal for in-betweeny autumn days when you only need a lightweight layer From Mon Pote, 217 North Street www.monpote.co.uk

INDIVI SOFA WITH ROUND RESTING UNIT, £6,057 Who says contemporary style can’t be cosy? Napoli is a corduroy velvet fabric developed for BoConcept; here in golden beige, the colour of fallen autumn leaves From Bo Concept, 76-78 Whiteladies Road; www.boconcept.com

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FRIDY AVIATOR HOOD, £12 (FROM £20) f anyone can carry o this borg trapper hat with its toasty ear aps, it’s you From Fox + Feather, 41 Gloucester Road www.foxandfeather.co.uk

ED’S ED S CHOICE JAKKE BERTHA FAUX FUR TOTE, £120; TRACI JACKET £210 This minty hue is so irresistible that we’re tempted to go the full mitchy-matchy hog and get both From Harvey Nichols, 27 Philadelphia Street; www.harveynichols.com

CASHMERE SCARF, £650 A hugely luxurious scarf from the all-female team at Bristol Weaving Mill in Old Market. Made from holistically farmed 100% Mongolian-grade cashmere, and naturally dyed with organic indigo and organic madder root From Bristol Cloth; www.bristolcloth.co.uk BOUCLÉ CUSHION, £109-£139 A cosy alternative for those who don’t like faux fur; in a range of colours, shapes and sizes From Bo Concept, 76-78 Whiteladies Road www.boconcept.com

SHEARLING JACKET, £399 100% sheepskin jacket – boho, shaggy and in a neutral silver colour that will go with anything and everything From Mint Velvet, 44 Regent Street www.mintvelvet.com RATTAN TUB CHAIR, £695 Small and perfectly formed; woven from strong natural rattan in an elegant egg shape. We’ll take a couple of those tactile cushions too, please From Cox & Cox; www.coxandcox.co.uk

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FASHION

MATERIAL GIRL

F

all a little in love with your autumn wardrobe Words by Marianne Cantelo orm fitting satin dresses, whisper light silk blouses, the caress of cashmere scarves, the gentle weight of soft suede jackets in the cooler months, who doesn’t want their clothes to feel like a warm embrace t’s the time of year for making a collage of colour, texture and fabric but leave the crunchiness to the autumn leaves. f you love clothes, wearing those that love you back might just be the best type of commitment out there. arrying together

tactile textures and fabrics to create looks that are comforting, but never boring, and match making items which understand each other perfectly, is endlessly rewarding. ake velvet for example, its monarchical material worthy of kings and ueens. t’s gorgeous, tender, opulent and warm, but can be too much on its own put it together with a more homey, chunky polo neck jumper, and it’s immediately brought down to earth. hat dress you reserved for special occasions ayer it over or under knitwear, and it’s regal but practical. elvet jumpsuits, which can be veering a little close to loungewear and pyjamas, or look a tad too stagey, can be elevated with soft woollen coats and platform shoes in metallics into sophisticated romance. reamy dresses, ethereal and fragile, may be too ighty for autumn on their own, even in bold prints paired with butter soft leather boots, and suddenly you are perfectly grounded. Silky pastel slip dresses with s uashy, marshmallow padded jackets and chunky bright trainers make a complete and cosy look. resses with balloon sleeves and many tiers might take o without help anchor them with a woollen waistcoat or faux fur gilet and you are back in control, even on windy days. hen there’s tough and loveable denim the more you wear it over time, the softer it becomes. ut why wait to grow old with your denim, when you can wear in your dungarees, ares or, dare we say it hipsters’, with softly draped airy blouses and tops now ake your mum wear and turn it into a sexy, confident, don’t care’ date night special. huck on an oversized faux fur coat and you’re a walking, huggable hottie. t’s not just putting texture with other texture that cements your wardrobe together unexpected

fabrics with bright colour are mood boosting and can bring out the best in items that you already own. ake a fringed suede jacket that’s borderline hippyish, but choose neon instead of tan, and you have something that will never feel past its sell by date. ven better, contrast it with a fitted skirt and socks and heels, and keep the interest owing through the look. ress in head to toe black, but wear a patent trouser, heavily embroidered blouse and

“Take your mumwear and turn it into a se y onfident ‘don’t care’ datenight special” loopy knitted long cardigan, and you have the ingredients of a look that is future proof, not funereal, each piece capable of adding interest to another look, another day.

And how do you feel about tweed ou’ll find so many heritage pieces in second hand stores and charity shops. t’s the hardest working, most committed fabric you’ll find warm, weatherproof and ready to be yours for life. f you find it a bit grumpy and scratchy, it’s perfectly partnered with softening silk and creamy cashmere, or billowing blouson lace. f you choose bright pops of tur uoise, coral and mustard yellow to go with your tweed, accessorising with patterned tights and blocky ary anes, you’re making amore in ilan, instead of millstone marriage in atlock.

Marianne Cantelo is the business development project manager for Dorothy House Hospice Care The charity has 25 high street shops across the region selling fantastic pre-loved items which provides a large part of their income, plus it also has an online shop.

For more: www.dorothyhouse.org.uk

Suede River Island jacket, Dorothy House (sold) Photography Egle Vasi; www.eglevasi.com MUA Chantelle Moody; Instagram @chantellemoody.makeup Model Tash Kings; www.bigmustard.co.uk Styling Marianne Cantelo and Eleanor Tasker

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SHOPPING LIST

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1. Jakke Katie faux-fur coat, £280, from Harvey Nichols, Philadelphia Street; www.harveynichols.com 2. Silver leather cowboy boots, £159, from Mint Velvet, Regent Street; www.mintvelvet.com 3. Velvet Joan dress, £350, from Pearl Lowe; www.pearllowe.co.uk 4. Howlin’ Forevernevermore sweater, £175 from Maze Clothing, The Mall, www.mazeclothing.co.uk 5. Stine Goya Jasmine Dress, £310, from Grace & Mabel, The Mall; www.graceandmabel.co.uk 6. Sessun Giova Scarf, £70, from Maze Clothing, The Mall; www.mazeclothing.co.uk www.

7. Pleoma satin dress, Y.A.S £20 (from £70), from Fox + Feather, Gloucester Road; www.foxandfeather.co.uk 8. Balmain metallic tweed jacket £2,395, from Harvey Nichols, Philadelphia Street; www.harveynichols.com www.

9. Munthe Jaketta blazer £244.50 (from £489), from Grace & Mabel, The Mall; www.graceandmabel.co.uk 10. Weekend Maxmara Agre tweed Pasticcino bag, from Grace & Mabel, The Mall; www.graceandmabel.co.uk

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NETWORK

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GUIDE 2023

EXCLUSIVE INSIGHTS INTO LOCAL BUSINESSES

THE CITY AT WORK BUSINESS SERVICES / FINANCE / L AW / PROPER T Y

MEET THE PROFESSIONALS MAKING THE CITY BUZZ

NETWORK

M

WELCOME

eet the shining stars of Bristol’s professional services community, from creative directors to financial experts who can help your wealth grow, and myriad other professions in between.

Work hard, play hard, so the mantra goes. ut how do you make sure all your hard work pays o , allowing you to reap the rewards of your labours alk to an expert, of course and to make the choice easier, over the following pages you’ll find a cross section of the cr me de la cr me of the city’s professionals, who can help you get your life in order . . .

EXCLUSIVE INSIGHTS INTO LOCAL BUSINESSES

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many of our clients and it has been brilliant to hear how we’ve been able to provide them with the support and reassurance they need to navigate through these turbulent times.

FINANCIAL CLOSE BROTHERS ASSET MANAGEMENT Ben Staniforth, Managing Director

Tell us a little about your business...

At Close Brothers Asset Management, we believe in the importance of relationships.

We like to put a face to a name for our clients and are pleased to introduce Managing Director, Ben Staniforth. Ben looks after a team of financial planners working across the Midlands and South West o ering advice on mortgages, retirement and estate planning, to name but a few.

How have the last 12 months been for you?

I joined the Close Brothers Asset Management team just over a year ago and it’s been an enjoyable - albeit busy - year!

The culture and ethos of the business is very much aligned with my own values; we want to sustainably grow as a company, keep challenging ourselves to be better and most importantly, ensure both our clients and colleagues are at the heart of everything we do.

What challenges are your clients facing?

This past year has seen a lot of uncertainty in the investments markets and with the cost of living crisis and our clients have faced various challenges during these times. I have spoken with

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

What are you most proud of?

We pride ourselves on ensuring we are proactive and innovative in tailoring the right solutions to the changing needs of all of our clients.

Over the past year, I have been lucky to meet many of our long standing clients to ensure we are delivering on our promises and understanding where we can improve. Our clients come from all di erent walks of life, from business owners, to those wishing to maximise savings for retirements, or those wishing to carefully pass money through their families.

Everyone has their own individual needs and I am proud that our financial advice continues to contribute to making a positive di erence to people’s lives.

DIGBY ASSOCIATES WEALTH MANAGEMENT Digby Player, Chairman

Tell us a little about your business...

Digby Associates is a Wealth Management Firm based in the heart of Bristol city centre with an additional o ce in Cheltenham, founded in 2007, we have built our business on a reputation of being the caring advisers.

What makes Digby Associates different?

The average age of a advisers in the UK is mid to late 50s, our average is 38 meaning that we can look after you and the future generations for as long as you need us without the worry of having to change firms.

What makes you proud ?

When I set the business up, I did not imagine how quickly it would grow. What makes me incredibly proud is a great deal of the team have been with the firm for many years developing through the ranks to become

caring and professional advisers.

Their loyalty to Digby Associates is very humbling and it is in their DNA to do the best job possible for the client whilst maintaining the integrity of the firm.

What has fuelled your rapid growth?

Our growth has been created by acquisitions of business looking to exit the industry however the greatest compliment we can receive are referrals from existing clients, this is a wonderful way to grow the business and is an indication that we are doing things right.

We recognise that we are not perfect and will always look to be better.

What does it cost to have a meeting?

The initial meetings are at our expense and often we will have clients that may want a second opinion or a full financial MOT. We are just a phone call or email away.

For more: info@digby-associates.co.uk; 0117 933 5544; digby-associates.co.uk

For more: ben.staniforth@closebrothers.com; closebrothersam.com

“I AM PROUD THAT OUR FINANCIAL ADVICE CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE’S LIVES” BEN STANIFORTH, Managing Director, Midlands and South West region

*Approver Quilter Financial Planning Solutions Limited. 19 September 2023

BUILDING BRIDGES Across South Wales and the South West, our team will assist you to start, grow, build, expand or sell your business, offering all of the accountancy, specialist taxation, corporate finance and management consultancy expertise that you need…at every step of the way.

evansentwistle.co.uk Accountancy | Corporate Finance | Specialist Taxation | Payroll | Business Advisory | Private Clients

Cardiff Villa House, 7 Herbert Terrace, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan CF64 2AH 029 2071 3800

Newport Venta House, 9A Port Road, Maesglas Retail Park, Newport NP20 2NS 01633 250530

Bristol Elm House, 10 Fountain Court, New Leaze, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 4LA 01454 850025

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fantastic team of accountants, tax & payroll advisors and client managers to help us achieve our goals and deliver outstanding client service.

EVANS ENTWISTLE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS & TAX ADVISORS

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Lisa is an ex Big 4 management consultant & CIM Chartered Marketer meaning that we are able to broaden our advisory services beyond what one Damian Evans, would typically expect from Partner a regional accountancy firm, including market analysis, Tell us a little about your feasibility studies, commercial business... due diligence, strategy Evans Entwistle is a practice of development, business process Chartered Accountants & Tax improvement, M&A advisory Advisors delivering accounting, and the development of business tax, payroll, corporate finance plans to access business advisory finance and services from DID YOU KNOW… growth advice four o ces in We have just acquired a e ectively we ardi , ewport 4th practice! In September have the skillset and Bristol.

2023, we acquired to assist any client Established Blenheim Accounting, start, strengthen in 2013, the a long established or grow their team has broad accountancy practice in business. experience across Bradley Stoke. diverse industry sectors, including What public, private and not-forchallenges are your clients profit charitable organisations, facing? and across all business sizes, from There is an old adage “turnover FTSE 100 companies to SMEs. is vanity, profit is sanity, cash is king” – a sound statement that we absolutely stand by…so if a client When was your firm founded and who by? is facing adversity in their business, we always advocate focusing on he firm was founded by collecting cash first and foremost Damian and Lisa, the “Evans” to keep the business going, and and the “Entwistle” respectively! then working towards reducing Prior to setting up the practice costs to maximise the bottom a decade ago, Damian worked line – only then should they think in investment banking and Lisa about strategies to increasing was a management consultant revenues. hat’s the di erence who worked internationally for with management accountants - it blue chip organisations but also is our remit to look at our clients’ acted as a business consultant for businesses holistically and advise the (then) Welsh Development on all areas of operations, and not Agency on behalf of Welsh just the finances.

Government – so between us both, we felt we had the right mix For more: of skills to advise clients on both mail@evansentwistle.co.uk; sides of the Severn Bridge.

0845 680 0947; As we’ve grown, we have evansentwistle.co.uk been fortunate to assemble a

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

LUCRA MORTGAGES

Ben Tadd, Director

Tell us a little about your business...

Lucra are a local, independent whole of market mortgage broker, with access to over 90 di erent lenders and more than 12,000 products to choose from. Based on the outskirts of Bristol we can advise you of the best mortgage for your circumstances and we are available to talk over the phone, on a zoom teams call or even face to face at any point to discuss your options.

Lucra have hundreds of loyal clients across the Bristol area, and we are already partnered with multiple local businesses too, including: estate agents, house builders, accountants, solicitors, IFA’s and even schools and universities.

Lucra are a strong advocate of key workers and we have partnered with over 100 separate S trusts nationwide to provide mortgage advice to all S sta .

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

Lucra were Finalists at The Mortgage Strategy Awards 2023 – the biggest awards in the UK mortgage industry.

What areas do you specialise in?

As a team, we have over 175 years industry experience. We don’t specialise in one specific area, as our brokers are experts across all fields Did you know…

ucra are an employee benefits specialist mortgage broker and we work with a number of large and small firms nationally, to provide free mortgage advice for employees, sitting on a number of employer’s employee benefit platforms.

Get in touch if you would like your sta to benefit from our free service.

For more: 01225 970830; hello@lucramortgages.co.uk; lucramortgages.co.uk

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MILSTED LANGDON

Guy Armitage-Norton, Audit and Accounts Partner Tell us a little about your business...

MORTGAGE STYLE Marcus Robinson, Managing Director

Tell us a little about your business...

Mortgage Style are a friendly team of experienced mortgage advisors in Bristol. We help clients from all walks of life, whether they’re buying for the first time, looking to remortgage or invest in a buy-to-let. We’re known for our ability to place complex cases like self-employed mortgages, contractors, elderly clients or unusual properties.

We may also be able to help with development finance or commercial mortgages by referring to our sister company, Brunel Bridging.

What areas do you specialise in?

Many of our clients are property developers in the Southwest. In answer to the UK’s housing shortage, over recent years there’s been an increase in the number of investors bringing Houses for Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to the market.

Financing these projects can be di cult so we’ve used our industry connections and mortgage knowledge to source the right deals, helping clients get spades in the ground quickly.

What is coming up in the next 12 months?

Mortgage Style is delighted to welcome our new sister

company, Brunel Bridging.

Our specialist bridging and commercial arm, Brunel Bridging allows us to be more innovative in our support of property investors looking for speedy and e ective solutions to their funding issues.

We’re excited to see how those more challenging borrowing scenarios evolve and the ways we’ll help clients achieve the next phase of growth.

Did you know…

Most of our advisors are landlords themselves so when they give advice, it comes with real-world experience.

For more: contact@mortgage-style.co.uk; 01275 370360 or; 0117 907 0818; mortgage-style.co.uk

“WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE HOW THOSE MORE CHALLENGING BORROWING SCENARIOS EVOLVE AND THE WAYS WE’LL HELP CLIENTS ACHIEVE THE NEXT PHASE OF GROWTH” MARCUS ROBINSON Managing Director

Milsted Langdon is an independent firm of hartered Accountants and business advisers with o ces in ath, Bristol, London, Taunton and eovil. y thinking di erently and challenging the ordinary, our main focus is to help our clients to thrive. We have built an excellent reputation in delivering trusted advice for businesses and individuals since 1988.

What areas do you specialise in?

As a firm we’re fortunate to have an incredible breadth of services for our clients – from the usual services that you’d expect like Audit, Accountancy and ax ompliance, to a range of advisory and specialist services such as VAT and Tax Planning, Forensic Accounting, Restructuring and Insolvency, and Business Innovation. Personally, I specialise in high growth and global businesses across a wide range of sectors from manufacturing to AI formed tech companies (and everything in between).

understandable advice which adds value to the relationship.

Did you know…

Milsted Langdon is part of MGI Worldwide, a major international accounting network and association of independent audit, accounting, tax, legal and consulting firms, with a position in the top 20 global rankings of networks and associations.

This means we have access to teams of accountancy professionals around the globe, so that we can o er creative and pragmatic solutions in jurisdictions around the world.

This services our clients well as they expand and grow.

For more: advice@milstedlangdon.co.uk; 0117 945 2500; milstedlangdon.co.uk

What do you love most about working in Accountancy?

Getting out and meeting my clients to get a true understanding of their business. This enables me to become a long-term trusted adviser to my clients and getting to know and understand not just the business, but also the business owners and what their drivers are. I enjoy giving practical and

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

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UNIVIDUAL

Cherie-Anne Baxter, Director Tell us a little about your business...

Established in 2000, Unividual is a Chartered Financial Planning like no other. Familyrun, women and LGBTQIA led, we o er financial advice for everyone - not just the rich and famous. Our foundations have always been about treating people as unique individuals. In a non-inclusive industry, Unividual have become trailblazers for bespoke financial advice instead of a one size fits all service.

Unividual has progressed from being a small family-run company to one of the largest, privately owned Chartered inancial lanning firms in the , with eight financial advisers spread across the country, from Bath to London and up to Edinburgh, and around members of sta .

How does the firm ensure equality, diversity and inclusion?

In 2021 the Financial Conduct Authority reported only 7% of adults received financial advice. Why? Because people can’t find a finance expert they can relate to. So, Unividual are on a mission to build a business re ective of today’s world that can educate people on their finances. We want every person and business in our local communities, to have the opportunity to improve their financial situation, safeguard themselves against their fears

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

and overcome challenges.

This year we are applying to become an Includability Employer which recognises firms that prioritise the wellbeing of sta and inclusive workplaces.

Unividual have worked hard to change our marketing and our recruitment processes and as a result the business now has a diverse workforce with 47% of employees from an ethnic minority group, 57% are women and 43% of our leadership team are women. ur e orts in building a diverse business was recognised in 2021 when we were awarded a space on the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter, something we have held for 3 years.

How does the firm look after employee’s mental health?

In 2022 Unividual spent £2,000 per employee on wellbeing for the second year in a row. We believe that employers have a duty to support colleagues with wellbeing because of the commitment they show within their roles that creates stress in their lives. In 2021 Unividual employee’s average wellbeing score was 5 and this moved to . after our most recent sta survey in January 2023.

For more: 01225 427474; unividual.co.uk

“UNIVIDUAL IS A CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNING LIKE NO OTHER” CHERIE-ANNE BAXTER, Director

SALUS WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Ben Vicary, Senior Financial Advisor Dip PFS Tell us a little about your business...

protection; and our aim is to build a clear understanding of your individual circumstances, needs and wider financial goals to deliver a tailored financial plan, for both now and throughout the most important stages of life.

Salus Wealth Management were formed to What challenges are your clients provide our clients facing? with the highest DID YOU KNOW… uality financial With rules regularly As a business we are and wealth changing, the world a key contributor management of pensions and to the Openwork Foundation, a advice. Based in investments can nationwide charity both Bristol and be very di cult to that has raised over Reading, we have understand, which £21 million in its a team of ualified is something we charitable works. advisors, that look to guide clients deliver face to face through as part of personalised financial planning. our ongoing relationship. With I have been in the team for global events over the past 5 5 years, and am currently a years, our clients have felt it is Senior Financial Advisor, and more important than ever to have recently moved to Bristol have a professional on hand to where we are now looking to navigate these periods of time. help new clients.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in investments, pensions and financial

For more: ben@salus-wm.uk; 07508 983085; saluswealthmanagement.uk

WINNER

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LEGAL AMD SOLICITORS Grant McCall, Director and Company Commercial Solicitor

Tell us a little about your business...

We are an independent Bristol law firm providing a broad range of legal services for private clients and business owners. Our core services are split between private client (wills, powers of attorney and probate , family law, property law (residential and commercial and company and commercial law. his balance allows us to provide our services to meet a client’s first need for a solicitor right through to advising corporate clients on larger transactional work.

When was your firm founded and who by?

We are proud to celebrate our history as one of the first firms of Bristol Solicitors operating outside of the City Centre.

Originally A T Elliot & Co since 1953, we are the longest standing independent firm of solicitors in Henleaze. We have since grown to o ces in Bristol and now provide a full range of legal services to businesses and individuals in Bristol, London and nationwide.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement

very year we ask sta to nominate their charity of the year, after nominations have been received we ask sta to vote on which charity they wish to support. This year our charity of the year is, BAKPA (Bristol Area Kidney Patients Association). They are a small ristol based charity who provide essential care for renal patients and their families going through di cult times. All proceeds raised goes directly to the Richard Bright enal nit at Southmead Hospital.

Did you know…

We have team of highly competitive bakers in our ranks. The AMD Halloween bake o is coming soon where all proceeds raised go to our charity of the year.

Stay tuned to our website for photos of the spooky treats!

For more: info@ amdsolicitors. com; 0117 962 1205; amdsolicitors. com

appeals) is a specialist strength.

Our highlyregarded claimant occupational disease compensation section has a formidable track-record representing clients with UK asbestos exposure (asbestosis and mesothelioma , respiratory HUMPHREYS & CO. diseases and other conditions.

Robert Humphreys Contesting wills, probate & inheritance disputes litigation Tell us a little about your is a core practice area. rom business... ristol o ces our solicitors umphreys o. o er pursue & defend property, high uality, cost e ective building disputes, professional commercial law representation negligence litigation (London & advice in litigation (London & UK regional courts), unfair & UK regional courts), dismissal, employment arbitration, commercial contract claims for personal transactions, company clients. purchase & sale, partnerships, he firm is not a legal factory corporate compliance, turning out a mass produced intellectual property trademark legal product. t o ers, and we registration, infringement, find that many clients prefer, copyrights, patents, designs), an independent employment approach. law, commercial DID YOU KNOW… Personal caseproperty, Humphreys & Co.’s handling by leases, planning sister firm with offices lawyers working permission in London and Bristol in a financially applications works in the private disciplined way & appeals, equity, investment, is the aim. We company law growth capital and debt try always to be and commercial finance space. transparent about contract work. the legal process, We represent giving advice and explaining commercial clients worldwide options to clients in a concise in UK legal business and straightforward way, transactions and proceedings identifying clear courses of with costs-discipline, issueaction, whatever the technical focus, transparency & or legal complexities of the determination to get the job subject. done right at sustainable Our costs approach is expense. competitive, particularly by n personal legal a airs, reference to the charging umphreys o.’s residential rates of larger firms. osts are property lawyers o er generally by reference to time private clients high-calibre, materials used, but we often streamlined, cost competitive agree fixed fees for specific conveyancing (including stages of work or in some particularly shared ownership) cases, risk adjusted funding work. With The Planning structures.

Inspectorate for England & Wales based here in Bristol, For more: advising & representing lawyers@humphreys.co.uk; 0117 nationally in planning 929 2662; humphreys.co.uk permission applications www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 83

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ROSKILLY & MILLS Emily Roskilly & Lucia Mills, Partners

Tell us a little about your business...

Roskilly & Mills is a newly launched, niche, forwardthinking law firm. We aim to transform the approach we take in providing specialist legal advice and support given to unmarried couples, for those who are not in a relationship but co-own property, and for anyone with a will or inheritance dispute.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

Our collaborative approach.

We have recently launched a podcast series “A journey through separation” to provide our clients with specialist advice from a range of professionals including a financial advisor, a separation coach and a child play therapist.

What sets us apart from others in our sector?

We only specialise in advising unmarried couples and on

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

will and inheritance disputes.

We are able to solely focus on our clients as we do not have the pressure of internal fee targets and we also work collaboratively with other professionals. We are uniquely placed to empower our clients.

Did you know..

The common law spouse is a myth. Currently in this country there are no automatic rights for cohabitees /unmarried couples. There is no access to a family pot, no right to spousal maintenance, assets held in sole names or to a pension. Instead, those who are unmarried have to rely on civil law to try and prove some sort of interest under the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (“ToLATA”).There is also no automatic inheritance should your partner die without having made a will.

For more: Lucia: 07485 635827 lucia@roskillyandmills.co.uk Emily: 07940 984777 emily@roskillyandmills.co.uk www.roskillyandmills.co.uk

CONSULTANCY RAPPOR CONSULTANTS LTD Neil Thorne, Director

Tell us a little about your business...

We’ve also learnt that planning is never black and white.

So we balance that expertise with nous and creativity. It is very much crucial to the rapport we always seek to build.

And, yes, we realise many consultants in our field and others talk this talk. However, we have so many long-term client relationships, so many ‘lifers’ in our team, and even some of our competitors’ trust in our services suggests we also walk the walk.

Rappor are infrastructure and What sets you apart from others in your sector? environmental consultants who provide consultancy services The key indicators of our throughout the development team’s success are our sta ’s process. We will take problems wellbeing and work/life and challenges and deliver balance. From this, we know timely solutions that if our sta and successful are happy, they outcomes. Rock will keep our DID YOU KNOW… solid technical clients happy.

Rappor was only established proficiency We work in in 2014; founded by underpins all an industry Managing Director Adam we do, twinned that has some Padmore. Since then, the company has grown to with regulatory complex approximately 70 people, and legislative challenges at providing multi-disciplinary awareness times, and we consultancy services in the gained over the work to support UK Nationwide. years and from our sta as they being ‘plugged navigate both in’ to councils, themselves authorities and industry bodies. and our clients through these Our life would be easier if any challenges so that both come two projects were the same, out the other side better as a but we tailor our response result. We then take the time accordingly as they never are. to recognise these successes We take things personally and and have an internal company our responsibility seriously award system that encourages – focusing on the details and our sta to nominate others bending over backwards to find where they feel our core values a way. Responsiveness is also a have been demonstrated. As valuable weapon in our arsenal, the company grows, the key answering queries quickly but thing for us is maintaining the never in haste. excellent culture which has Whether our clients use one got us to this point so that we of our services or a suite of continue replicating what we them, our commitment won’t have done so successfully in the change. We’ll help the project last nine years into the future. ow, keep our clients in the loop and bring our expertise to bear.

For more: neil.thorne@rappor.co.uk; It’s about rigour plus vigour.

07493 390269; rappor.co.uk

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Sam Notley, Director

fallen in love with Bristol. The architecture, the creativity and the restaurants are fantastic. here is an array of di erent companies in Bristol, always looking for great people.

Tell us a little about your business...

What challenges are your clients facing?

RECRUITMENT ALEXANDER MAE RECRUITMENT

Alexander Mae Recruitment is a Bristol based independent recruitment agency, work alongside Kim Richens and Sarah Malley and we have always worked in recruitment, in Bristol. We are passionate about getting it right for both our clients who are recruiting and our candidates who are seeking job. t’s ensuring we know exactly what both parties are looking for to create that perfect match.

What makes working in Bristol special?

Bristol is a fantastic city, there is a lot to love about working here. We interview candidates regularly who are moving here as they have visited and

Whilst the candidate market isn’t as busy has it has been post ovid ockdown it’s very much still a competitive candidate market. ob seekers are moving uickly and salaries are still being increased to keep talent. That’s were we can help constantly seeking the best talent for our clients and the best jobs for our candidates.

Did you know?

Sam’s a regular on Radio Bristol when they need an expert on recruitment new items.

For more: sam@alexandermae.co.uk; 0117 905 5035; alexandermae.co.uk

SOMERSET EDUCATION ALLIANCE LTD

Emma Woodhall, Director Marie Cleave, Director Ellie Connor, Bristol Consultant Tell us a little about your business...

Somerset Education alliance are an independent supply teaching agency that provide supply teachers and teaching assistants with a personalised service o ering work opportunities in schools and education settings that align with anyones preferences.

Directors, Emma and Marie and Consultant Ellie, come from a teaching background and over 15 years experience in the recruitment industry, 10 of which being within the education sector.

Somerset education alliance are actively recruiting throughout Bristol and Bath to serve the busy requirements from schools for an array of roles including, long term supply cover and more exible ad-hoc supply cover. They are recruiting for teachers, teaching assistants, learning support assistants (LSAs), HLTAs and cover supervisors.

People are our priority – we strive to provide exceptional, personalised and knowledgeable services to both clients and candidates, founded on over 15 years of expertise in the education sector.

Somerset Education alliance take on experienced, new and returning teachers and TA’s and would love to hear from you.

Name a rising star in your company?

In June 2023 Marie and Emma took a leap of faith and took on their first employee, Ellie ready for their second academic year in business.

Although she is new to the world of recruitment, she is a ualified primary school teacher and has been teaching for over 7 years. Ellie has already demonstrated passion, drive and an eagerness to succeed in her brand new career path and is doing exceptionally. She has already beaten by almost double the previous years bookings and is so excited about taking Somerset Education Alliance up many more levels and recruiting across the entirety of Bristol expanding on the everexpanding existing client base.

When was your firm founded and who by?

Somerset Education Alliance was founded in 2022 and was born from the successful education recruitment agency, Educated Recruitment Limited, Devon. Inspired by the values of Educated Recruitment, Directors and founders, Emma and Marie wanted to start an agency that was transparent, honest, straightforward and trustworthy comprising of a sta ng team with expertise in teaching and recruitment spanning over 15 years.

For more: ellie@somerseteducationalliance. co.uk; 01225 970370; somerset-education-alliance.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 87

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is unturned in our mission to find a solid shortlist for our clients from mainstream recruitment through to executive search.

Did you know...

RESOLVE RECRUITMENT SERVICES LIMITED Samantha Shearing & Jon Shearing, Directors

Tell us a little about your business...

Resolve Recruitment Services in Bristol, Dudley and St Helens are a reputable and well-established recruitment agency bringing together a collection of over 30 years’ experience within the recruitment industry. We have cultivated a database of over 140 thousand quality candidates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK. What areas do you specialise in?

We focus on providing businesses nationwide with both permanent and temporary recruitment solutions across varied sectors including Sales, ce Support, riving and Industrial.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

At Resolve we pride ourselves on providing a quality service to our client base and we believe that trust is fundamental from any supplier. We are diverse in our coverage and always dynamic to our client’s needs.

Our extensive reach across the UK gives us a major advantage over our competition meaning we will provide accurate and suitable shortlists for our clients’ career opportunities.

Our recruitment processes are thorough to ensure no stone

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In addition to recruitment, we also o er a range of training services, including eLearning and classroom-based training; both in house and at customer premises, covering varied subjects such as recognised transport ualifications, first aid, health and safety, mental health awareness, employment law and marketing principles.

A little-known fact is that we also cater to tailor made courses and bespoke online induction courses giving a unique opportunity for clients to obtain a one stop shop for all recruitment and training solutions.

For more: jon@resolveithere.co.uk; sam@resolveithere.co.uk; 0117 973 3155; resolveithere.co.uk

“WE HAVE CULTIVATED A DATABASE OF OVER 140 THOUSAND QUALITY CANDIDATES ACROSS A VARIETY OF SECTORS THROUGHOUT THE UK” SAMANTHA SHEARING, Director

YOUR PEOPLE PARTNERS

Helen Sanders, Managing Director

Tell us a little about your business...

Your People Partners is here to give smaller businesses a competitive hiring advantage.

We integrate ourselves within founder-led companies as trusted partners to ensure they, and their growing team, receive vital support during the recruitment and successful onboarding of new employees.

and the word is getting out that we provide a better way of recruitment for Bristol’s small businesses. Traditional recruiters have their place, and we o er an alternative service which we’re really proud of.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

What’s unique about us is that we have two core market-leading guarantees. he first is our 12-month Peace of Mind Free Replacement Guarantee. After all, every business owner wants to reduce the risk when hiring.

The second DID YOU KNOW… guarantee is our How have the Our MD, Helen, was Lifetime Likethe BBC’s first female last 12 months football commentator in for-Like Vacancy been for you? the 1990s.

Guarantee. If We’ve been the employee in exceptionally this role leaves busy helping any time after 12 months or many more new and existing is promoted and you need to business owners. We have replace them, you can engage found small businesses, whilst us again at 70% of our normal impacted by the economy, recruitment fee. need to keep momentum up.

So when they need to hire for business growth or to replace For more: an employee, they need to helen@yourpeoplepartners.com; hire. We’re grateful that 0117 290 0208; more business owners know yourpeoplepartners.com about Your People Partners

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PR & CREATIVE ADMIRE PR Andrea Bristol, Founder

Tell us a little about your business...

Admire PR are sports, tech and charity PR specialists - we are the backing singers behind our clients star act. We work tirelessly to promote and project our clients reputations.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement…

We love working with charities on their PR campaigns and have won awards for our work in the third sector. Each quarter we o er a number of hours to charities pro bono as well as o ering a charity rate for our work.

What challenges are your clients facing?

Most of our clients come to us when they need to increase their

brand awareness and give their sales a boost. There is a lot of ‘noise’ in the media world and we help them cut through this and get their message to the right audience.

Did you know...

Our team is fully remote and we o er complete exibility to our sta so that they can work around parenting and caring commitments.

For more: andrea@admire-pr.com; 078879 97922; admire-pr.com

“WE WORK TIRELESSLY TO PROMOTE AND PROJECT OUR CLIENTS REPUTATIONS” ANDREA BRISTOL, Founder

EPISODE TWO CREATIVE

Rikki Payne, Owner/Creative Strategist Tell us a little about your business...

Episode Two are a strategic design agency who create and evolve brands. We believe a strong brand identity and engaging packaging design has the power to elevate your brand and build stronger connections with consumers, ensuring YOU are the brand they engage with.

We love collaborating directly with founders whose passion for their products is contagious and where our expertise can make a huge di erence.

What makes working in Bristol special?

Championing Creativity is one of our values and the Bristol street art scene absolutely embodies this. We’ve captured that spirit in our studio with a gra ti wall painted by one of the Upfest artists.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

It’s all about the people and the passion. We have a small but perfectly formed team of strategic thinkers, brilliant

creatives, and exceptional client managers, all passionate about bringing the WOW factor to your brand.

Did you know...

In 2022, after 20yrs in the industry, we took our own advice and rebranded ourselves from the ground up. xperiencing all the challenges and all the excitement and showcasing the powerful impact of a full rebrand.

There is no better way to truly understand what our clients go through than to do it for ourselves!

For more: rikki@episodetwo.co.uk; 0117 933 9400; episodetwo.co.uk

“WE LOVE COLLABORATING DIRECTLY WITH FOUNDERS WHOSE PASSION FOR THEIR PRODUCTS IS CONTAGIOUS” RIKKI PAYNE, Owner / Creative Strategist

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MARLIN COMMUNICATIONS LTD Brad Snow, Head of Engineering

Tell us a little about your business...

Marlin Communications is a leading provider of state of the art business communications technology. ur goal is to help organisations connect, collaborate, and grow. With a wide range of solutions across voice, video, connectivity, security and mobile, we draw upon our extensive network of trusted partners and decades of in house knowledge expertise to tailor the perfect combination of technologies that meet our clients’ uni ue needs.

What areas do you specialise in?

Marlin Communications is the go to partner for all nified ommunications ollaboration technology. We o er full service expertise in video conferencing, enterprise grade phone and contact centre systems, infrastructure networking connectivity, cyber-security and business mobiles. very client’s needs are unique so all our solutions

- from initial consults to proofof concept trials through to deployment are bespoke.

What challenges are your clients facing?

n today’s hybrid exible working environment, our clients often face the challenge of having too many platforms and too many di erent suppliers. his can cause significant overheads and, left unchecked, can a ect productivity. ur comprehensive portfolio of products services enables our customers to source all their requirements from us and in so doing, benefit from our innovative financial packaging, consolidate platforms and reduce the number of suppliers they have to deal with.

Did you know..

his Autumn, we celebrate our th year in business n that time we’ve witnessed countless tech milestones everything from i hones to A hrough it all, we’ve stayed focused on the needs of our clients and helped them achieve their goals.

For more: info@marlincomms.co.uk; 0800 032 8274; marlincomms.co.uk

CORPORATE PARTIES ADVENTURE BRISTOL Chris Ireson, Founder

Tell us a little about your business...

Adventure Bristol is an experienced outdoor activity provider that o ers a range of corporate team building adventures that help bring teams together. With half day and full-day options available and wide range of activities to choose from, we have something for everyone . After running one of our sessions, it’s always great to get feedback and to hear about improved teamworking and camaraderie amongst the attendees it’s what makes the job so rewarding.

What makes working in Bristol special?

We are very lucky to have our main site on the Ashton Court estate, which is close enough to the city but also o ers a stunning outdoor space for our corporate activities.

How have the last 12 months been for you?

t’s been a really exciting time for Adventure Bristol, as we

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

opened our fantastic new high ropes course in the beautiful Ashton Court woodland in early summer. aving worked closely with Bristol City Council to develop an ecofriendly course that blended seamlessly into its environment, it was great to see the course in action and to receive fantastic feedback on not only the course but our wonderful instructors.

Did you know...

As well as corporate teambuilding adventures, we also cater for other groups including stags and hens, schools and kids and big kids parties.

For more: info@adventurebristol.co.uk; 07891 637993; adventurebristol.co.uk

“WITH HALFDAY AND FULLDAY OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO CHOOSE FROM, WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE” CHRIS IRESON, Founder

UK wide recruitment specialists for businesses and individuals

Sales | Office | Driving | Industrial Bristol Office (Head Office) T: 0117 9733 155 E: bristol@resolveithere.co.uk

www.resolveithere.co.uk

We specialise in providing bespoke financial advice and services to clients on investments, mortgages & retirement options as well as other financial matters.

SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS

MORTGAGES

PROTECTION

PENSIONS & RETIREMENT PLANS

INHERITANCE TAX

With exclusive whole of market access for mortgages, our experienced brokers can remove the stress from your house purchase whether you are a first time buyers or looking to remortgage.

Get in touch for a free initial consultation: 01179 33 55 44 | info@digby-associates.co.uk | www.digby-associates.co.uk *Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. ** The value of your investments can fall as well as rise, you may get back less than you invested.

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PROPERTY BLACK & WHITE BRIDGING Martyn Smith, Managing Director

Tell us a little about your business...

Black & White Bridging operates in the bridging and development finance space. We provide short-term loans to enable property professionals to seize investment opportunities which traditional forms of finance may not support. The loan is secured against property or land and is typically provided for twelve to eighteen months, enabling projects to start.

I started the business in 2013 after building and selling a successful bridging company, our aim is to combine competitive and exible products underpinned by the highest levels of service, innovative technology, and our time-served industry experience, allowing our broker partners to fulfil their client’s needs. Black & White Bridging is a business with traditional values that respect and value the marketplace, our introducers, and their borrowers. Built on robust foundations and regarded as a lender of integrity, we will deliver on our promises. We are a leading bridging company with a reputation for delivering excellence to brokers, borrowers, and investors, built on the foundations of our collective expertise.

Work/life balance – how do you get it right for you and your staff?

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We now have team members based in various parts of the country, we even have a colleague in Lithuania, so while headquartered between Bath and Bristol, we are a national company. Earlier this year, we introduced hybrid working, so we now have the balance of collegial o ce time and home working for our sta .

With the o ce set in the beautiful countryside of Wick, it provides a peaceful and picturesque environment to work in. That said, we are a tenacious business with a strong work ethic, and we are unapologetic about having fun at work. We encourage our team to get involved in local events such as Bath Boules, we have team socials regularly, normally monthly, and ten-pin bowling in Longwell Green. We have a laid-back attitude to dress code and encourage banter in the o ce which is often plentiful.

There is often a dog or two around the place, we play music, and we have a Wednesday Lunch Club where the team take turns cooking a meal of their choice for everyone else. B&W is a fun and engaging place to be where we want people to be themselves and to make the most of their time with us, balanced with feeling like and being an important and valued member of the team every person brings something to the table.

What areas do you specialise in?

Black & White Bridging are a nationwide lender dedicated to intermediaries and their borrowers. We specialise in short term property finance, and we cover all the main aspects of that: auction, commercial, refurbishment, residential and sales period bridging.

For more: enquiries@ blackandwhitebridging.co.uk; blackandwhitebridging.co.uk

JAS BUILDING SERVICES Andrew Sperring, CEO

Tell us a little about your business...

JAS Building Services is a family run multi-award-wining company who specialise in Home Renovation in Bristol and Bath.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

As part of our mission to build trust in the construction industry, we set a goal to win the Bristol Life Awards. It took us years of hard work, development, and growth to get to a position to compete with the fantastic businesses of all sizes within the property sector. As a small family business, becoming a finalist was a huge step but unexpectedly we won! Not once, but twice! Winning the award means so much to us because it validates that we are doing what’s right.

What challenges are your clients facing?

Homeowners who are looking to create their dream home need to renovate or buy a new property that needs work too. The challenge in today’s market is knowing who to trust. Forming a relationship with your builder cements the success of the project. All projects have risks whether that be cost or unforeseen challenges but by having the right, collaborative approach, the project can deliver the results set out.

At JAS we have an app whereby our clients can see their project progress in real time, including financial forecasts with tracked changes so your costs don’t spiral out of control, project schedule with actions points, all documentation and communication in one place.

Our clients have fed back that this is incredibly helpful for having visibility, a sense of control and feeling safe.

For more: sales@jasbuildingservices.co.uk; 01454506108; jasbuildingservices.co.uk

An award-winning mortgage broker based on the outskirts of Bristol, serving the whole of Bristol and beyond.

Acting exclusively for purchasers looking to buy in Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire & North Somerset.

Speak to one of our mortgage experts for free today to understand your borrowing position and the best rates available on the market.

We have access to over 90 lenders and over 12,000 products to tailor the best mortgage to suit your circumstances.

If you are struggling to find your dream home, investment or rental opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact us by emailing: hello@strangandco.com, or see our website for further information.

Contact us today on: 01225 970830 www.lucramortgages.co.uk | hello@lucramortgages.co.uk

www.strangandco.com

Lucra Mortgages Limited (our firm, we, our, us) is an Appointed Representative of Mortgage Advice Bureau Limited and Mortgage Advice Bureau (Derby) Limited which are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Lucra Mortgages Ltd. Registered Office Address: 35 New Broad Street House, New broad Street, London, EC2M 1NH. Registered in England number: 13306132. There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The actual amount you pay will depend on your circumstances. The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is £549. Please note, this fee is waived for anyone that quotes ‘Bristol Life’ to us. The guidance and/or advice contained within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate all Buy to Let mortgages. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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MISSIATO DESIGN AND BUILD Adamo Missiato, Managing Director

Tell us a little about your business...

Missiato Design and Build aims to o er a complete, bespoke service for all types of renovation projects. ur dedicated team consists of expertly skilled tradesmen with the experience and knowledge to make our clients’ dream home a reality.

Describe your offices?

We’ve moved into a bigger o ce and currently renovating this to become a hub for our sta and clients.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We are very proud of our brand, and proudly display it on sta uniforms and on our eet of vehicles, along with a prominent high street o ce. ur sta consciously conduct

themselves in a manner that re ects the company’s high standards at all times.

Did you know...

We opened a etting Agent, issiato states, in late to complement our esign and uild business.

For more: adamo@missiatodesignandbuild. com; 0117 956 9257; missiatodesignandbuild.com

“OUR STAFF CONSCIOUSLY CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A MANNER THAT REFLECTS THE COMPANY’S HIGH STANDARDS AT ALL TIMES” ADAMO MISSIATO, Managing Director

STRANG & CO PROPERTY SEARCH Charlotte Strang, Founder & Director

Tell us a little about your business...

We act exclusively on behalf of purchasers looking to buy or rent in ristol, ath, orth Somerset and South Gloucestershire. As a buying and investor agent, this means we search the entire market including o market opportunities, advise with regards to o er levels, negotiate on a client’s behalf and oversee the transaction through to completion, thus saving our buyers’ time, often money, costly mistakes and stress, in what is often a complex and lengthy process.

What makes working in Bristol special?

love that it’s such a diverse city a jigsaw of individual neighbourhoods each with their own character, charm and architectural styles. ristol is a city which continually changes and has so much to o er. he strong sense of community stands out for me, with people and businesses all trying to help each other succeed, with the common goal of providing an excellent service for clients.

What challenges are your clients facing?

he main challenges are a

lack of good uality houses on the open market, clients not having the time to invest in their property search and being cautious of either overpaying for a property, or losing out if their o er is too low. his is where am able to assist by unlocking o market’ opportunities, previewing all potential properties in advance and using my fifteen years’ experience in valuation and negotiation to search, advise and secure a property on the best possible terms.

Did you know...

grew up in ristol and as a hartered Surveyor by background, specialised in valuations and residential development before setting up Strang o.

For more: charlotte@strangandco.com; 07816 891660; strangandco.com

“BRISTOL IS A CITY WHICH CONTINUALLY CHANGES AND HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER” CHARLOTTE STRANG, Founder & Director

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BUSINESS SERVICES ROYALE CHAUFFEUR GROUP Rob Dickenson, Director

Tell us a little about your business...

oyale hau eurs have been providing executive transport solutions to businesses and individuals in ristol and the South West for over years.

CO-WORKING DESKLODGE Tom Ball, Founder

Tell us a little about your business...

esk odge o ers serviced o ces, hot desks and meeting rooms for teams and freelancers across locations in ristol. ur agship workspace is in edcli e and our newly launched space is in eacon ower on the harbourside hase opens in ctober .

Describe your offices?

We’re one of a kind with playful decor designed to boost productivity and creativity. he variety of workspace means that whatever your working style, you’ll thrive. rom silent rooms for solo working to breakout booths for collaborative teamwork. rivate o ces, co working space, meeting rooms and call pods. eople underestimate the impact of where you work it can be the di erence between a positive, productive day and an energy sapping, soul destroying time sap.

What challenges are your clients facing?

ne of the most significant challenges for businesses right now is employee engagement.

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rganisations that can keep a dispersed team motivated and productive are the ones that are going to thrive and grow.

We’re committed to providing exceptional customer experience and service ensuring that the teams in our spaces are as well looked after as our own.

We were recently awarded he Sunday imes est laces to Work .

Did you know...

esk odge is the exiest workspace in ristol. roviding o ces on demand for teams passionate about productivity. ou can grab a one o ay o ce’ or sign up for an o ce for , or days every week. ou can even grab a full time o ce and create your own private hot desking space for your team.

For more: sales@desklodge.com; 0117 325 8259; desklodge.com

“WE’RE ONEOF-A-KIND WITH PLAYFUL DECOR DESIGNED TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY AND CREATIVITY” TOM BALL, Founder

What areas do you specialise in?

We provide a corporate and private chau eur service, not a taxi service . We have a range of executive and prestige to suit all re uirements and we cover the whole of the . rom business travel or

airport transfers to sporting and music events, you can rely on oyale to get you to your destination safely and on time.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

oyale have the capacity to cope with multiple daily bookings whilst maintaining a high level of service. ur reputation stands and falls on the uality of the service we provide so we ensure that we always go the extra mile’ so to speak.

Did you know...

We have driven many stars over the years including d Sheeran, ichael ubl and even onny epp For more: oo in s royale hau eur roup co.uk; 01179 696 688; royale hau eur roup o u

UNIQUELY PLACED TO EMPOWER YOU At Roskilly & Mills we aim to transform the approach we take in providing specialist legal advice and support given to unmarried couples, for those who are not in a relationship but co-own property, and for anyone with a will or inheritance dispute.

For more info about this modern, forward-thinking firm contact:

We cut through the legal complexities, empowering you to focus on making informed decisions.

Emily: 07940 984777 Lucia: 07485 635827

www.roskillyandmills.co.uk

Maximise productivity and let us take the stress out of your journey....

Whether you are attending business meetings, going to the airport or planning a special occasion, we will ensure you arrive on time and relaxed. There is no need to fight for a seat on a busy train or stress about driving long distances with our professional and experienced chauffeurs at your service.

WHEN YOU NEED TO MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION WHEN YOU NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE ON TIME WHEN YOU NEED THAT EXTRA ATTENTION TO DETAIL

WE DRIVE YOU

RICS Certified Valuations of art, antiques, jewellery and personal property for: Probate | Insurance | Auction Family & Matrimonial | CGT | General Inventory

tobypinn.co.uk tel: 0117 251 7251 Toby Pinn Ltd REG No: 13117748 VAT No. 368362861

Contact us today to find out more: Telephone: 01179 69 6688 Email: rob@royalechauffeurgroup.co.uk

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THE HAPPY BUSINESS SCHOOL Carly Cannings, Founder

Tell us a little about your business...

wellbeing sector, but my focus is more on happiness as a driver of success and how creating the right culture helps people thrive.

I must be doing something right as I’ve recently been listed as one of the top 100 UK small businesses by Small Business Britain.

The Happy Business School helps organisations create people-centric What challenges are cultures, where your clients happy people DID YOU KNOW… Previously, I was an in-house facing? can thrive. solicitor and senior leader.

Happy people It’s an employee’s Whilst what I’m doing now perform better, market so might seem quite removed so it makes organisations from that, I draw a lot on my sense for leaders need to work experience of the corporate to invest in hard to attract world and use this to help their people. and retain the my clients find practical However, this best people. ways to increase their is often easier Throw in happiness at work. said than done. navigating the Through challenges of workshops and talks, I equip remote working and other fallout people with the knowledge from the pandemic and there’s and skills to invest in their a lot for businesses to contend own happiness, and work with with when it comes to keeping leaders to create cultures which their people happy and engaged, encourage thriving, not just but thankfully that’s where The surviving.

Happy Business School can help.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

There aren’t many people doing what I’m doing. There are people in the mental health and

For more: carly@thehappybusinessschool.co.uk; 07837 148873; thehappybusinessschool.co.uk

TOBY PINN CHARTERED ARTS & ANTIQUES SURVEYORS Toby Pinn, MRICS Director

Tell us a little about your business...

We provide RICS valuations of art & antiques and personal property for a variety of purposes in our ‘Home Contents Valuation Report’.

These include inheritance tax, insurance, family division, capital gains tax and increasingly for deputyship and attorneyship purposes.

Describe your offices?

We recently moved to Channel Court Business Centre on Clevedon’s Hill Road which provides an ideal location to meet clients and discuss their requirements in a relaxed and stylish environment.

How have the last 12 months been for you

Now in our third year as an RICS regulated valuation firm, the last twelve months have seen a rise in the volume of work and instructions increasingly from further afield. ost of our work comes from probate solicitors and lay-executors requiring a contents valuation as part of

the application for a grant of probate. Earlier this year we completed a four-day valuation of contents at a Shropshire property and arranged the subsequent consignment to specialist auctions. At the other end of the spectrum, we routinely value a single item left to a beneficiary in a will.

Did you know...

any people mistakenly assume that we only value art & antiques. Through a network of specialist consultants, we can value most items or collections that are not fixed to the ground.

Recent examples include classic cars and motorcycles, a university research/study collection, and artifacts due to be lent to from one to another institution.

For more: toby@tobypinn.co.uk; 0117 251 7251; tobypinn.co.uk

“MANY PEOPLE MISTAKENLY ASSUME THAT WE ONLY VALUE ART & ANTIQUES” TOBY PINN, Director

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“WE ARE THE ARCHITECTS OF TRULY TRANSPARENT LENDING WITH NO GREY AREAS”

TRULY TRANSPARENT LENDING

BLACK & WHITE BRIDGING is here to support sustainable projects in the South West

T

here is currently some disruption going on in the Bristol property market, which takes its shape in the form of Black & White Bridging. Formerly known as Bath & West Finance, set up by local property entrepreneur Martyn Smith roughly 10 years ago, the fintech company is now enjoying regional and national growth through its short-term lending model focusing mostly on bridging finance.

The short-term property lending sector is generally performing quite well at the moment, having experienced a downturn due to the Covid pandemic and the subsequent economic fallout. That said, Martyn is extremely positive about the future for Black & White Bridging. “We have got to a place, after a turbulent couple of years, where the company is poised for substantial growth.

We have recruited heavily in all areas – sales, marketing and lending – so that we are perfectly placed

to serve brokers and their borrowers with our speedy short-term solutions. We already have a healthy pipeline, and we look forward to growing that even more in the coming months.”

Just one recent example of what Black & White Bridging can offer is the acquisition of land and build cost for an eco home in the fashionable Clifton neighbourhood in Bristol.

Borrowing £800k, the clients – a husband and wife team – were able to purchase the land for the site which originally had been a small car park, and used some of the remaining funds to build a large four-bedroom eco home.

The vision was to build a home that included the latest green technologies such as solar panels, rain collection, lower water-flow taps and a flat ‘living roof’ designed to provide a habitat for insects and wildlife. The property aims to make a 20% reduction in its total CO2 emissions as detailed within Bristol’s Climate Change and Sustainability Practice Note and was fully completed in September.

One of Black & White’s USPs is speed, the ability to fund projects quickly, while also working to strict credit and lending parameters, makes them stand out in a crowded market.

The lender currently averages just 28 days to complete a loan from when an enquiry is received, which is over half the industry average of 58 days.

The technology aspect is also important, as the company operates nimbly by using advances such as an AVM (automated valuation model), saving clients considerable amounts of time and money to get the security property valued speeding up the process significantly.

At a time when there is still some uncertainty with property and lending, Martyn is bullish at what his company can do. “We have always remained consistent in our market; we are the architects of truly transparent lending with no grey areas and we don’t ever deviate from that.

You only have to look at what we have achieved so far, but this is just the start. If you need short- term funding which you can completely rely on, you need to speak to us." n

For more information: 0117 937 4333 enquiries@blackandwhitebridging.co.uk www.blackandwhitebridging.co.uk

NETWORK

“AS BRISTOL’S LARGEST COWORKING OPERATOR, WE COVER PRETTY MUCH ALL THE BASES” OLIVER RING, Runway East

What kind of costs are involved, and how flexible are the packages?

Whether you’re a freelancer or a team of , we’ve got you covered. ur contracts are super simple and your monthly rent covers pretty much anything you can think of – we pay your business rates, utilities, cleaning etc, so you don’t have to worry about it, and you just receive one bill which makes it very straightforward operationally.

SPACE TO WORK

Oliver Ring of Runway East knows what people really want from coworking spaces right now

O

li is the marketing lead at Runway East. “I look after our marketing strategy, and work closely with all areas of the business, to spread the word about Runway East and also to engage with all of the exciting teams already in our spaces,” he says.

You have two spaces in Bristol, six in London and one in Brighton– how did it all begin?

We were founded nine years ago by our (still) CEO Natasha who was busy launching another of her start ups from a very dull o ce, which is where the idea for Runway East started.

Originally aimed at start-ups who wanted somewhere a bit more exciting to take o ’ from, we’ve grown from one pop up o ce space to nine permanent sites across three cities in the UK, with plenty more to come. There are now over 50 of us working together at Runway East, all aligned on the fact that traditional o ce space is really uite dull What trends have you seen in coworking spaces since Covid?

Post-pandemic working patterns have been really interesting o the bat there was a surge of people going back to the o ce, then the opposite happened and lots of people went home again, but over the last to months it’s really settled down. ore recently, we’ve seen working patterns shift into a hybrid set-up, with more and more people opting to come into the o ce two to three days a week, working from home the rest of the time.

For employees it helps to maintain a nice work-life balance, and for employers, it’s a benefit they can

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use to attract top talent – especially when the pull of a nice o ce at unway ast is also on the cards.

What do your Bristol workspaces offer in terms of space?

As ristol’s largest coworking operator, we cover pretty much all the bases. Freelancers and remote workers love our dedicated desk product, where they can set themselves up around other creatives, while our serviced private o ces cater for teams from six people right up to 350. All our members get access to free meeting rooms, tonnes of breakout space, and can use our other locations, too.

And what kind of spaces do you offer?

Our members can customise their space however they want some opt for open plan o ces for their team, while some chop their space up into smaller spaces and executive o ces most keep them open plan, as it’s what we’ve found to be best for collaborative work.

Do you offer any special facilities, services, USPs or other perks?

Our core USPs are designed to make moving into an o ce and using your new space as easy and as fun as possible. Endless customisation options mean you can really put your mark on your o ce we’ve seen beer taps, plant walls, neon signs, retro arcade setups – there really are endless options. n a more practical sense, we also o er our members free meeting rooms (which other operators typically charge for , access, exible contracts and a whole host of social events organised by our amazing community teams who are on site between Monday and Friday.

Is there any particular sector that works out of your offices?

While we have a huge range of sectors working from our spaces, in Bristol we have way more creative businesses with us; digital marketing agencies, designers and innovative tech startups to name just a few. Our spaces are laidback, colourful and social, so for some industries we might not be the best fit but we do our best to accommodate as many kinds of people as we can.

How important is after-hours socialising, and how do you encourage this?

The social calendar at Runway East is always thriving, and a great perk that members can o er their employees. t’s a great way to bond as a team and to meet new people.

Everyone has their own preferences as to the types of events they attend, and how involved they get, so the breadth of options we organise is huge; ranging from business seminars and workshops through to charity cooking demonstrations and popup music festivals, there’s something for everyone and they’re all free for members to come along to.

Have you seen any other workspaces that have inspired you? he ex space market across the is getting really exciting, and there are so many brands creating beautiful spaces. One of my favourites is he isheries in ast ondon they’ve created a stunning place with a lot of emphasis on creating spaces that benefit your mental health and wellness.

I also love the spaces that Great Portland Estates are creating they’re killing it at the moment with their larger spaces, catering for big teams with big budgets – my favourite of theirs is The Woolyard in ondon’s ermondsey.

Anything else you’d like to tell us? f you’ve never tried a coworking or serviced o ce space like unway ast, then ’d encourage you to check it out drop us a line if you’d like to spend the day working from one of our spaces, be it in ristol, righton or ondon we’d love to show you what we’re all about.

For more www.runwayea.st

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

Bristol Life team 01225 475800

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

www. bristolcityroofing.co.uk

The first real-life, in-person incarnation of the fastgrowing entrepreneurs’ conference EntreConf 2023 took place at Watershed this year

By Matt Bielby

A

t Bristol’s waterside arts venue Watershed, MediaClash hosted its first in person EntreConf event – a day of keynote speeches, interviews, panels and interactive sessions aimed directly at entrepreneurs, following two virtual versions launched during the lockdowns of recent years. To say it was a triumph would actually be to undersell it, as unlike so many business conferences this was all thriller, no filler honestly, even the dullest of the sessions was not dull at all – and thankfully free both of marketing

jargon and out of control egos. nstead, a range of confident, capable people from local businesses of all sizes, and those outfits that seek to support them, talked about successes earned, lessons learned, business philosophies and real world disasters to a rapt, engaged audience of peers, hosted almost entirely by MediaClash chief exec Greg Ingham.

The event began with a new take on that hardy perennial: the experiences, challenges and successes of women in business. Sahar Hashemi OBE, founder of Buy Women Built – an initiative designed to get us all proactively supporting female created companies – certainly

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

got many present thinking, not least through some telling stats: we have 30 per cent fewer female entrepreneurs than comparable economies like the United States and the Netherlands, which is costing our economy around £200BN a year.

Next up, a piece on Funding the Dream with Graham MacVoy of Wake the iger, the award winning ristol based amazement park’, was full of intriguing visuals and some equally striking opinions: “I dress up for no one any more, he told us. His Saturday afternoon sartorial stylings haven’t stopped him attracting admirable levels of backing, however.

On a similar theme, Graham was

followed by Alex Lloyd, a Partner at law firm urges Salmon, who gave us The Entrepreneur’s Playbook, subtitled Lessons Learned on the Path from Inception to Exit.

THESE TALKS ALL took place in a large, airy, slightly greenhouse like room called Waterside 3, but we now retired to the happily air conditioned cinema for a talk from David aulkner ryant of he isa ce on helping start-ups get crucial staff into the country, before the first of the main events a keynote conversation between Greg and Nigel Toon, founder of Graphcore, the ristol based international builder

© @JONCR AIG_ PHOTOS

ENTER THE ENTRECONF

NETWORK

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: speakers Dimo Dimov; Dylan Samuel; Sahar Hashemi; Zilla Byng-Thorne; Latoya Adlam, Poku Osei and Elly Rowley; Graham MacVoy

of the hardware needed to run AI programs, and now a genuine ‘unicorn’ business (a term describing private startups valued at over $1bn).

Graphcore sees itself as a feisty disruptor, albeit a giant one, and Nigel’s thoughts on AI and the future it will usher in were, perhaps inevitably, exciting, frightening and confusing all at once.

Not bad for a business idea hatched over dinner at a gastropub a few years ago. At least one fear was put to bed, though: there will be no Singularity any time soon. “That’s bollocks,” said Nigel, emphatically.

Next, a panel of four from Link Stone Advisory, British Business Bank, Growth Lending and Unividual talking about funding entrepreneurs in Seed to Scale.

PHEW. TIME FOR LUNCH – perhaps inevitably, somewhat rushed – and a little bit of networking before the afternoon sessions began.

They did so with Ebba Lepage and Dylan Samuel from Lombard Odier

talking B Corps: what they are, and whether it might be a good idea to become one. The consensus was ‘probably yes’, and though it’s highly rewarding, and not necessarily easy, “it’s not as arduous as it may seem”.

Giving Greg a short rest, Elly Rowley of NatWest hosted a sister piece to the session that had kicked o the day, but this time looking at the barriers of entry to entrepreneurship for ethnic minorities rather than women.

Intriguing examples were given

by Latoya Adlam of Kitchen Cosmetics, a beauty brand, and Poku

“WHAT I THINK OF AS STRAIGHTTALKING CAN BE SEEN AS BLUNT” ZILLAH BYNGTHORNE

Osei of Babbasa (a Bristol social enterprise designed to support underrepresented young people) in Meet the Trailblazers, where we learned of the need for broad shoulders, and the dangers of assuming too much: black-fronted, with a black workforce, and using ancient African remedies for inspiration, Latoya nevertheless found herself with a 72 per cent white audience, and so in a quandary.

Should she subtly reposition the brand accordingly?

NOW CAME THE CENTREPIECE of the afternoon, Greg’s talk with Zillah Byng-Thorne, ex-CEO of international media giant Future – magazine specialists that had been su ering badly on her arrival, but which she grew from a market cap of around m, with no profit being made, into a £2bn company.

Honest about her failings – “what I think of as straight-talking can be seen as blunt,” she said, while one tale of a management bonding session gone dramatically wrong

was eye-opening – and clear about her strategies, in which the power of a clear message repeated regularly loomed large, Zillah cut both a more impressive and more vulnerable figure than many expected, with her insights and experiences truly a highlight of the day.

Following Zillah, David Kelly of Storm Consultancy hosted a panel with the likes of Meshii WiFi and Farleigh Performance, to talk about the power of collaboration, a free-wheeling chat that took in the di erent types of personality you get in businesses, and how they can complement each other: one risk-averse, the other a risk-taker, for example, is a good combo.

Finally, Stay Hungry by Dimo Dimov of the University of Bath – the professor being a star of previous virtual EntreConfs – rounded things o on a refreshingly di erent note – less in-the-trenches and more freethinking and intellectual.

The experiences of Ernest Shackleton, long a favourite of motivational speakers, made an appearance but then so did e Bezos and Marcel Proust.

A pleasantly unexpected end to a jam-packed day, one heaving with roadmaps and ideas, and sure to establish this event as a valued staple of the local business scene.

For more: www.entreconf.com

THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN… EntreConf: all talks are available for free at www.entreconf.com EntreConf dinners: autumn and spring, details on website

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

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THRINGS MEETS…

BRISTOL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

THRINGS partner Kerrie Hunt meets Hannah Windross, director of people and public engagement at the BRISTOL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY Kerrie Hunt: Most people will know of the zoo, but can you give us some insight into its history?

Hannah Windross: Bristol Zoological Society has run a zoo in Bristol since it was formed in 1835. It’s the fifth oldest zoo in the world and the oldest not in a capital city.

At the time there was a newfound interest in science and nature, with the zoo and its botanical gardens being created for academic purposes.

Several hundred wealthy philanthropists from the city, including the likes of Brunel, were invited to contribute £20 to help purchase some land and get the zoo up and running – Victorian crowdfunding!

A year later, the zoo opened to visitors for the first time and has since become one of our region’s key attractions, always with a view to continue that educational principle on which it was founded.

KH: There’s a lot of change afoot with the zoo relocating to the site we are at today. What can you tell us about that?

HW: The Society acquired the Hollywood Estate in the Sixties, near to what today is Cribbs Causeway. Here we homed animals off-show from the public and grew animal food.

In 2013, we opened Wild Place Project here, a zoo with a very different look, feel and mindset.

In the past few years, especially with the focus on climate change and the biodiversity crisis, we’ve really taken a wider view of what kind of zoo we want to be, focusing more on conservation and education. While the 12-acre

site in Clifton will always be special, and we are proud of everything we have achieved there, this 136-acre space had so much more potential, especially around animal welfare.

We recently renamed Wild Place Project to Bristol Zoo Project. This name was chosen to preserve the fantastic heritage of the zoo whilst also embracing our future.

KH: How have the approaches to education and conservation evolved to what we have today?

HW: These remain very much at the heart of why Bristol Zoological Society exists. We want our conservation work to focus on species which need our help the most, and so we have created a species plan, to focus on the most endangered, where we can have an impact. As part of this we have safely rehomed many of our animals within other zoos.

In terms of education, we are working to reach a broader audience, particularly families and children who may not, in their day-to-day life, regularly access nature.

Then you have the actual zoological side of education. Our education programme works with schools to bring classes to visit and we have had 15,000 children through the doors already this year. By our 200th anniversary in 2035, we want the annual figure to be 90,000!

We also work with 400 PhD and masters students, the conservationists of tomorrow, and run six masters courses in partnership with UWE, the University of Bristol and SGS College. As part of our expansion over the coming

years, we want to double these figures through the creation of a new conservation campus at the heart of the zoo, which will have a breeding centre, medicine centre and learning centre.

KH: What is on the horizon for the Society and the Bristol Zoo Project?

HW: The next few years will see a great deal of change as we achieve the vision for Bristol Zoo Project and create new, amazing habitats for our animals, utilising the space we have here.

This will start with our Central African Forest habitat, with construction getting underway next year. This will be the new home for our western lowland gorillas who are currently still at the Clifton site. It will also include endangered cherry-crowned mangabey monkeys, African grey parrots and critically endangered slender-snouted crocodiles.

Once this new habitat opens in 2025, we will be picking up the pace with further new features, including our Central African Savannah, where we will be supporting a range of threatened species including the beautiful black rhino, which will then be followed by our new conservation campus.

It is all very exciting, and we cannot wait to get started!

For more information about the Bristol Zoological Society and Bristol Zoo Project, visit bristolzoo.org.uk n

2 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HQ; tel: 01225 340000; solicitors@thrings.com www.thrings.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 109

FORWARD THINKING Exploring the future of our cities at the Bristol Property Symposium

By Sarah Moolla Photos by Jon Craig

NETWORK

S

ignage, students, and scooters were just a few of the wide-ranging, visionary and thought-provoking subjects discussed at the 2023 Property Symposium.

Held at Bristol’s M Shed, and attended by 160 people, the event, hosted by MediaClash’s CEO Greg Ingham, was centred around the topic ‘City of the Future’. Along with keynote speakers, expert panels, and city planning representatives from ath, ristol, ardi and Exeter, the Symposium was also designed to facilitate networking opportunities and included lunch supplied by the M Shed catering team.

THE HIERARCHY OF WAY-FINDING

he first keynote speaker was im endley, founder, CEO and creative director of worldrenowned Applied Information Group, and his insights as a leading authority on cities and wayfinding made for a fascinating opener.

The clutter of, and often contradictory signage, from di erent organisations on lampposts, on the pavement, on street corners, can result in confusion. Left, right, backwards, forwards – which way do we go? It can leave many of us wanting to go home – but there is another way, as Tim explained. It is a system created by considering the hierarchy of way finding needs these are emotional connection, awareness, and predictability.

Tim’s work with major projects such as Legible London (and similar projects in Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid) have been based on this hierarchy, seeing as many as 36 separate systems in one city brought together for a more cohesive direction scheme.

He also noted how big events attracting large numbers of visitors, such the Olympics and Eurovision, can help focus the collective mind, highlighting how creating clear signage can actually be achieved relatively swiftly.

Juliet Gamlin

A DEMOCRATIC ENVIRONMENT

REGENERATION

What makes a city worth visiting, investing in, living in, in the first place r ooman Foroughmand Araabi, senior lecturer in urban planning at the UWE, believes this to be “an amazing culture, diversity, and a celebration of that diversity, along with being culturally sensitive.” So how do we work to help ensure that in our cities r Araabi referred to the famous Winston Churchill quote: “First we shape the cities, then they shape us.” He went on to state that it is a democratic environment that helps create this, key areas of focus being “housing, retail, public spaces, and aesthetics.”

URBAN TRENDS

Next up was a Visionary Panel made up of George Cardale, UK board director with Savills; Nicholas Stubbs, founding director of Arc Global; Nick James, Futureground’s sustainable place strategist; Pepper Barney, director of BiBO; and Rachel Holmes, business development manager with Colliers, who discussed urban trends, the long-term impact of high numbers of student population, and how the working-from-home revolution has a ected city centres.

INVESTMENT

This was followed by four presentations outlining brief histories, current stats, future hopes, and long term visions for Bristol, ath, ardi , and xeter. irst was ristol ity ouncil chief executive o cer Stephen Peacock. He spoke of Bristol’s positioning as one of the largest cities in the UK, and how it is currently thriving. Stephen also addressed the negative impression given by the empty units and dereliction in the Temple Quarter area that surrounds Temple Meads station, which is an important gateway to the city. He revealed the situation is hoped to be addressed with a £95 million investment to help create jobs, new homes, and a campus for University of Bristol in the area.

Stephen Peacock

Tim Fendley

Simon Martin, director of regeneration and housing for Bath & North East Somerset Council, talked of Bath’s strong identity as a globally recognised city but also how the city is more than just gorgeous Georgian buildings.

Recognised problems for Bath’s long-term future included the less economically active population, which is due to an older demographic, and Bath being the third most expensive city in the UK in which to buy a home. Simon noted, “There is competition for space in a constrained city.” Going some way to help solve this is the regenerating of old sites and brownfield land”, along with the repurposing of large spaces over city centre shop units for housing.

CELEBRATION

rincipal o cer for nvest in ardi , uliet Gamlin, delivered an inspiring long-term vision for the Welsh capital for 2030 and beyond. ardi is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK, and transport links between the suburbs, their surrounding spaces, the Bay and the centre are an integral part of its future.

Juliet also spoke of the priority given to a ordable housing ringing residential homes back in the cities is key to surviving. We need to attract and keep young people.”

Along with looking after residents’ needs, there is the continued and amplified celebration of ardi ’s eltic heritage to attract both visitors and investment. Projects include a new business park, regeneration of Atlantic Wharf, an international sports village, and a cycle superhighway.

SUSTAINABILITY

Exeter City Council’s director of city development Ian Collinson believes the key to a successful future for the city is “adding to what is unique to your area – that’s what will help a city a prosper and grow.”

He also highlighted the role sustainability plays in city planning now, and how it’s about “working with what you’ve got, using imagination and creativity.” This is what the council-led project Liveable Exeter hopes to deliver – to strengthen neighbourhoods, create new communities, invest in sustainable transport, and deliver the infrastructure needed to attract investment and improve quality of life in Exeter and the surrounding region. Specific end goals of Exeter council’s strategy includes becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030 and 12,000 new homes by 2040.

For more: www.bristolpropertyawards.co.uk You can see a full recording of the Property Symposium made by Life Media by visiting the Bristol Property Awards website.

The event was organised by MediaClash, partnered by Interaction, Futureground, Mode Consult, and was in association with the Bath Office Company, JAS Building Services, and Vickery Holman.

Dr Hooman Foroughmand Araabi

Ian Collinson

Simon Martin

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 113

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An attractive office suite providing two interconnecting room providing light and airy space and due to be refurbished throughout.

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Two new-build commercial units forming part of the Harbour Crescent development to be fitted to a high standard. Use Class E – would suit a range of uses.

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A most attractive period office building refurbished to a good standard with attractive rear courtyard garden.

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2 brand new commercial units fully refurbished of c 1,162 and 1,572 sq ft with 2 car parking spaces per unit. Never been occupied!

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Transparent property management offering genuine cost savings with no compromise on service level standards

British architect Harry Clover and his Danish wife Nina recently moved to Bristol, where their love for Scandi minimalism shines through the refurbishment of their Victorian Clifton home

H

arry and his wife ina bought their first ristol at just after the pandemic.

“Nina is Danish, and having taken her from the happiest country in the world to a small at behind a petrol station in ondon, for two years during lockdown, a change was much needed, says arry.

We came to ristol one weekend in the spring of to visit a friend, and were immediately taken with the city and the nearby countryside. ristol is glorious in the spring, with the magnolia blossom and streets lined with mature trees, and we loved that eigh Woods was only a cycle ride away. he following weekend we came up to stay again to look at nine ats, and we decided to put an o er in on this one a modest m two bedroom at between Whiteladies oad and lifton illage, with a front garden, rear garden and parking. t had everything we needed, and felt like a dual aspect, small house across a single storey. he general proportions of the at were good, but it had been compromised by the previous owners by trying to s ueeze in too many rooms, thinking this would add value. he opposite was the case, it seems. here was a damp enclosed study in the living room, which had no windows, and a very narrow corridor with four types of wallpaper, and a cupboard with a dishwasher and a washing machine on top of each other. he main bedroom had an ensuite where you could only sit sideways on the loo due to the vanity cabinet being in the way, and which ultimately reduced the size of the kitchen. he result was a at with too many, too small rooms, but we could see the potential to change the space as most of the walls were non loadbearing.

RESIDENCE

ABOVE: The minimalist woodwork in the kitchen has no mouldings at all; BELOW: Harry and Nina removed an unecessary ensuite but left the bathroom where it was

nce purchased, we started the project by marking the non loadbearing walls on a plan with the assistance of an engineer. he ambition of the layout was to open up and regularise the se uence of rooms, with minimal structural alterations, and making each room s uare and as spacious as possible. We decided to use the space of the ensuite and the corridor to create a more generous kitchen, but we kept the main bathroom where it was, to try and save money on moving waste pipes.

We ended up removing all non loadbearing walls to allow us to start from scratch. would normally never recommend this with other properties, but in this case we needed to start afresh with a simple plan in order to make each room feel more grand. he at would still need some structural work, but we minimised it where possible.

PROPOSED PLAN As an ode to enmark , says arry, the interior design approach was to combine anish minimalism with the at’s ictorian details a zen feel with a colourful twist. et’s call it Scandinavian eccentric We wanted to declutter the whole interior so that only key items of furniture populated the rooms. verything else needed to be hidden in built in storage to make the rooms feel bigger.

We wanted to add a journey in colour and architectural styles throughout the at, from the front to the rear garden. We painted the east facing living room in ice blue, which is amazingly crisp in the morning light, and we paired this fresh, more contemporary colour with classical panelling and ictorian cornicing. As a contrast we placed a table in the bay window, oiled in bright red anish linseed oil to make the room pop. All walls and woodwork up to the ceiling was painted in the same icy blue, to make the room feel bigger. he oor is made from ash engineered planks treated with white smo oil, to help re ect light and make the space lighter. he planks run through the at, aligning with the doors in the kitchen and bedrooms to unify the rooms.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 117

RESIDENCE “The architrave, skirting and cornicing in the living room have classical mouldings; however the woodwork in the kitchen and bedrooms are Scandi-minimalist with no mouldings at all. We painted the kitchen in Dutch orange to make the space feel vibrant and warm, to distract from the fact that it doesn’t have windows. We installed doors with reeded double-glazed glass to all rooms, except the bathroom, to pull light into the kitchen from the living room and bedrooms. Doubleglazing is normally used on exterior windows, but it gives amazing sound insulation here. erfect for a small at he bedrooms have built in cabinetry as their defining feature and are the most zen and classically anish hygge’. find that very Scandi’ design can be too subtle and pared-back, but in this case the calm natural tones help to balance the bolder colours of the kitchen and the Victorian features of the living room.

“Looking back at the process, there are some things we wouldn’t do again, and others we are really pleased with. We used IKEA kitchen carcasses and made custom fronts oiled in blue Danish linseed oil.

This process was a lot of work, as each side needed two to three coats on all cupboard doors. Linseed oil can self-combust if left in rags, and we nearly set fire to the at while doing so. ne full week of oiling and three fire engines later, we have decided not to do this again... nstead would recommend getting a good o the shelf kitchen don’t go artisan-DIY. The same goes for our bedframe, which we built ourselves to fit the bedroom cabinetry. t looks lovely, but it wasn’t cheaper than buying one, and it took a long time.

“The colour scheme we feel is a real success. When friends are visiting, they say ‘ooooh’ and ‘aaahh’ when walking through the spaces. he colours add drama to an otherwise fairly normal at. We are very happy here, and the at has managed to absorb all our belongings neatly hidden away in the built-in cabinetry. Every centimetre of space we have tried to utilise, and are now enjoying the benefits. n Clover Studio; www.cloverstudio.co.uk; 0117 251 0402

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ABOVE: Dutch orange brings vibrancy and warmth to the kitchen; BELOW: The

ice-blue of the living room looks “amazingly crisp in the morning light”

“We wanted to add a journey in colour and architectural styles throughout the flat”

Contrasting with the cool blue walls, a table oiled in bright red Danish linseed oil “makes the room pop”

© PAUL WARD SMITH

BRISTOL LIVES

“The idea of having a day off s e with dread” Binchy, Catherine Cookson, Penny Vincenzi, to name a few.

How did you become an author?

By accident. I never thought it was something I could do as a career and was just happy to finish my first book, Poppy Day, which was published in 2012.

People loved it and it sold like crazy. Once I’d started writing I couldn’t stop. Luckily my readers love what I do, and I’ve sold millions of books all over the world. My life is like a fairytale.

How would you describe your writing style?

AMANDA PROWSE Bristol’s most prolific novelist has just had her 45th book published – how does she do it?

A

manda wrote her first novel just over a decade ago, since when she’s published 36 books and nine novellas. She’s also an army wife, with two grown-up sons. “No wonder I’m exhausted...” she says. With her new book All Good Things just out, it seemed as good a time as any for a quick chat…

What can we can expect from All Good Things?

It’s the story of neighbours, and how the grass always seems a little greener. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a di erent family member, and their stories helps reveal the true nature of

life inside a ‘perfect’ family that is, of course, anything but. We watch the façade crumble, and the cracks appear, as we spend 24 hours with the Kelleways and the Harrops.

Which books did you most love as a child?

I loved The Follyfoot Farm books, Carrie’s War, and anything by Judy Blume – a fairly standard reading list for kids like me born in the late Sixties.

And who are currently your favourite authors?

Some of my favourites are Freya North, Cecilia Ahern, Jodi Picoult, JoJo Moyes, Maeve

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I write contemporary stories about families and all that we go through, in a relatable way, with plenty of emotion and always with messages of hope.

Do you have any set working hours and habits, and where do you do your writing?

I write anywhere and everywhere. On a bus, in the kitchen, on trains, in bed, you name it. I always have my laptop to hand so I can tip-tap whenever I feel like it, and I feel like it most of the time. I write every day. Every single day. And the idea of having a day o ’ fills me with dread. o ee is my reward throughout the day and I always go outside to breathe deeply after a chapter – just to remind myself that the real world still exists.

Tell us about a few favourite Bristol places

I love to visit the Harbourside, particularly Arnolfini. St ick’s Market, the cinema at Henleaze, walking on The Downs, Cribbs for a mooch and a cheeky Itsu.

My favourite chippy is the Atlantic in Patchway. I love Bristol Old Vic, I like Thornbury library best, The Crusty Loaf Bakery in Olveston. The view from the top of Trenchard Street car park, Chew Valley Lake and a visit to Salt and Malt. And anywhere in this great city where Big Nath’s BBQ sets up shop – I’m obsessed with its food.

Does the city inspire your writing?

Yes, every single day. I’ve set books in Bristol; one of my favourites is Another Love, in which Stoke Bishop, Stokes Croft and Clifton pay a huge part in the telling of the story.

What would be your advice to a novice novelist?

Write. Write often. Write fearlessly. Only by writing can you find your voice, your rhythm and discover what kind of a novelist you are going to be.

What has been your proudest moment?

he first time saw a stranger engrossed in one of my books.

It was on the tube and she was utterly lost to the pages. I will never forget that feeling of connection and pride.

Do you have any yet-to-befulfilled ambitions?

So many. I have a long, long list and at 55 am just getting started…

All Good Things by Amanda Prowse is published by Lake Union Publishing at £8.99 in paperback www.amandaprowse.com