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This Month.. 4. Soaring New Hieghts 7. Sort it 8. What is Legionella 10. Mosquitoes Will Love You 16. Bristol Harbour Festival 20. Finding and Funding an HMO 22. Hoteliers Urge Us to Take Staycations 24. World Chocolate Day 28. Red Wine and Blueberries Trifle 34. Competition time 36. Your garden 38. Horoscopes Disclaimer The opinions expressed in Direct Local do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publisher or their agents. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included within this publication, the publisher takes no responsibility for errors or omissions in Direct Local. The content of Direct Local is not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. Please pass to a friend, recycle or compost. All adverts designed by Direct Local are the property of Direct Local please contact us if you wish to reprint them in other publications as a small release fee Is applied. Use of adverts designed by us will need written permission first.
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Soaring to new heights: Community launches are back at this year’s Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
After the huge success of last year’s Fiesta community launches with Costa Coffee, which saw hundreds of hot air balloons take off from secret locations across Bristol, the much-loved launches will once again be returning to this year's Balloon Fiesta to officially kick off 2022’s festivities.
The landmark partnership between the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and the Nation’s Favourite Coffee Shop*, Costa Coffee, will once more bring this special ballooning event back to the city ahead of the Fiesta, which will return to its original home at Ashton Court Estate for the first time since before the pandemic.
For the second year running, Costa Coffee will be fuelling pilots for the early morning ascents by providing coffee. They will also be bringing their Costa Experience Pods back to the city this summer where Fiesta fans will be able to try from its biggest and chilliest new summer drinks menu. Attendees will be able to try the new Frappé, Iced Velvet Latte and FuzeTea Iced Tea ranges. Last year, over 700 nominations were submitted by locals to help choose the balloon launch locations, which included a mass ascent from Elm Park in Filton, Canford Park and Merchants’ Academy in Withywood.
Christoph Allcock, Chair of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta said: “After seeing how much-loved the special edition of the Fiesta was last year, we are really looking forward to bringing the community launches back for 2022. We are so thankful to Costa Coffee for partnering with us to help this happen and we can’t wait to see where Fiesta fans want to see the balloons fly from next. It’s important to us that everyone gets to experience the Balloon Fiesta, especially To find out the final list of locations, residents communities that rarely get balloons should stay tuned in to the Fiesta Fortnight’s overhead.” social media channels, which will include regular updates on all locations and timings to help plan when to head outside to view the balloons flying over the city. 4 Following the hugely popular Fiesta Fortnight in 2021, Bristol locals will once again be able to nominate the locations where they would like to see balloons lift off, which could be anywhere from local parks to public spaces, car parks or streets. Nominations are now live on the Fiesta website and locations will be revealed closer to the morning of the ascents.
Rebecca Brock, Commercial and Customer Director at Costa Coffee UK & Ireland said: “We are proud to continue our partnership with Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on such a fantastic event and offer attendees and coffee lovers the chance to enjoy some amazing drinks from our new summer menu. Whether your go to is trying our new Frappé and FuzeTea Iced Tea ranges or a fruiter option with our Fruit Coolers, or just a classic Latte or Flat White, we have something for all the family to enjoy while taking in the spectacular views of this event.” For more information on the Fiesta Fortnight head to www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk/
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This year, The Reading Agency have teamed To take part in Gadgeteers, all children need up with the Science Museum Group to offer a to do is sign up at their nearest library, where science-themed challenge; Gadgeteers. they will be given a collector folder to keep a record of their Summer Reading Challenge Gadgeteers encourages children to have journey. As children read library books, fun reading and discover many aspects of they will receive special stickers, and will be science engagement, including food, fashion, rewarded with a medal and certificate at the music, and sport. end of the challenge. Young readers can also take part online with the digital challenge, There is something for all young readers to with fun online games and rewards. enjoy in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, which will feature inspiring books There are lots of events and activities and rewards to keep children entertained. planned at Bristol libraries for families over the summer to celebrate the Summer Councillor Ellie King, Cabinet Member with Reading Challenge, including interesting responsibility for Public Health and children’s author events, and arts and crafts. Communities, said: “The Summer Reading Library staff have also been attending school Challenge is a wonderful way to encourage assemblies across the city to promote the young readers to get excited about books challenge. and reading that’s engaging and fun. We are delighted to be working alongside the Children can find competitions, challenges, Science Museum Group to offer a author interviews, news, and the book sorter science-themed challenge this summer. - which recommends what children might like The Gadgeteers-theme aims to show our to read next, on the Summer Reading children that science is all around us, as well Challenge website throughout the year. as to inspire children to think creatively about science. “It will be great to see children and families making the most of this fun and free initiative which is both stimulating and educational over the summer holiday.”
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Sort It centre slip road gets green light South Gloucestershire Council has secured planning permission to drive forward with its plans to build a dedicated slip road to the Sort It recycling centre at Carsons Road, Mangotsfield. The slip road is designed to prevent queuing during busy periods, minimising the impact on the local highway network and making access to the site easier and safer for residents. Funding for the construction of the slip road comes via the council’s 2022/23 budget, with work due to start this autumn. Public access to the recycling centre will be maintained wherever possible to minimise disruption. The plans for the site include measures for supporting and protecting wildlife, including the installation of bird boxes, insect hotels, reptile and amphibian shelters and the planting of a new hedgerow. Improvements to drainage on Carsons Road will also be delivered, with further details about the construction and a timeline of work set to be published later this summer. Proposals for the slip road are included in the council’s ‘Resource and Waste Strategy: 2020 and Beyond’, which sets out its environmental aspirations for a sustainable future by valuing all resource and preventing waste whenever possible
Cabinet Member for communities, Councillor Rachael Hunt said: “I am delighted that our plans to improve access and reduce queuing times for residents using Mangotsfield Sort It centre have been approved. This means we can now progress with the construction phase to deliver this much-needed slip road as soon as possible. Enhancing the site for nature is an important part of our plans to help residents recycle more and dispose of waste responsibly, as well as ensuring homes for wildlife and maintaining connectivity to surrounding green spaces. “The Sort It recycling centre on Carsons Road is our busiest site and this has sometimes resulted in queuing traffic, particularly on bank holiday weekends. These plans will improve safety and access to the recycling centre and will save time for our residents. “We have the fifth highest recycling rate out of all unitary councils in England which is well in excess of the national average. However, our aims are to encourage more people to do the right thing for the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling their waste even further.”
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What is legionella?
Legionella This guide explains, in general terms, what legionella is and outlines some of the simple precautions you can take to control those risks. What is legionella? Legionella is bacteria commonly found in natural water courses such as rivers and ponds. Since legionella bacteria are widespread in the environment, they may contaminate and grow in other water systems such as cooling towers and hot and cold water services. They survive low temperatures and can live and multiply in water temperatures between 20oC and 45oC, particularly if there is stagnant water and a supply of nutrients present such as rust, sludge, scale, algae and other bacteria. High temperatures of 60oC and over will kill them. Legionella bacteria can cause a form of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease, as well as other less serious illnesses. How do people get Legionnaires’ disease? People catch Legionnaires' disease by breathing in air containing the bacteria. The bacteria is present in an aerosol that might not even be visible. These aerosols can be formed from fine droplets produced by running a tap or shower, or flushing a toilet. You can’t get Legionnaires’ disease from drinking water and it can’t be passed from one person to another. 8
What are the symptoms? Everyone is potentially vulnerable to infection but some people are at higher risk. Those at higher risk include smokers and heavy drinkers, and people over 45 years of age, suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease or a weakened immune system. The symptoms are similar to those of flu, i.e. high temperature, fever and chills, cough, muscle pains and headache. In severe cases, there may also be pneumonia and, occasionally, diarrhoea, as well as signs of mental confusion. Not everyone who comes into contact with legionella bacteria becomes ill. If you suspect that you or someone in your home has contracted Legionnaires’ disease, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. If your GP diagnoses Legionnaires’ disease, contact us immediately so that water analysis and any necessary treatment of your water system can take place. How to reduce the risk of legionella in your home The likelihood of legionella in your home is very low. Most households don’t store too much water and they use water regularly so it’s not standing still in pipes and tanks. There are some simple steps you can take to help prevent the bacteria growing rapidly:
Keep your hot water cylinder thermostat set at 60oC as water at this temperature will kill any legionella bacteria. Warning: Be aware that water at this temperature may cause scalding.
You can then run it faster. When you’re running the shower, you should hold the shower head directly over the plug hole. Run garden hoses for one minute before you use them.
Keep all shower heads and hoses free from a build-up of lime scale, mould or algae growth by de-scaling every three months - or more frequently if the shower hose shows signs of blocking. Use any domestic de-scaling solution that you can buy from hardware shops (the same as you would for your iron or kettle). After de- scaling, flush the shower thoroughly and soak the shower head and/or hose in bleach, which helps sterilise and kill any bacteria.
Keep water butts clean and don’t use them to supply a pumped device. Make sure that lids on water tanks are tight-fitting to prevent contamination, and check that the tank insulation is properly in place.
Clean the taps in your bath, basin and sink regularly, including any spray inserts, by brushing the scale off with a nylon brush and/or wiping them with a domestic descaling solution (the same as the one used for shower heads). If you go on holiday or leave your property for a week or more, when you come back, flush toilets (with the lid down) and run all taps and showers continuously for approximately two minutes to flush out any bacteria. You should run the water slowly to start with to avoid spray.
Report any deposits such as rust or any unusual matter flowing from your taps. If you have an assured, secure or fixed term tenancy with us, let us know if the hot water is not heating properly or if there are any other problems with the system. For more information on llegionella diseaseand how to prevent it visit https:// www.jackrey.co.uk/services/legionella-risk-assessments/
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MOSQUITOES WILL LOVE YOU IF YOU DRINK BEER
Beer is an alcoholic beverage that is popular all over the world. You can get beer everywhere from Japan to Africa, Italy, and Mexico. But, even if you love beer, you might want to rethink this habit. In this article, we’ll discuss why mosquitoes love people who drink beer.
The main way that these particular mosquitoes find their targets is through scent. Since the aroma coming from beer drinkers is often particularly strong, these mosquitoes will prefer those who have consumed or are consuming beer over those who are drinking water, tea, juice, or another beverage.
Yes, you read that right. Your delicious beer might be the reason why you suffer from more mosquito bites than non-beer drinkers. But why is that? Why do mosquitoes love beer so much? Does this mean that you should stop drinking beer? Or should you just stop drinking it when you’re outdoors?
Additional Mosquito Attractants On top of that, your genetics, blood type, build, and sweat rate will also contribute to how much you attract mosquitoes. For example, people with Type O blood are more likely to get bitten by mosquitoes. The reason for this is simple. Mosquitoes like the chemical content in Type O blood more than other blood types. Mosquitoes also bite people with higher body masses more because they emit more heat, making them easier for the mosquitoes to find.
Beer Drinkers Attract Mosquitoes In June 2002, a study was published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. In this study, researchers found that by drinking just 12 ounces (355 ml) of beer, you’ll be more attractive to mosquitoes. That’s most likely because drinking beer increases the ethanol content in your sweat. Since ethanol is a pretty big mosquito lure, this means that mosquitoes will flock your way. Another reason why beer increases mosquito activity is because drinking alcohol increases your body temperature. One of the many ways a mosquito finds its target is by sensing heat. So, the higher your body temperature is, the more likely it is that the mosquitoes will find you. Beer drinkers are especially attractive to several species of mosquito. These include the main malaria- and dengue-carrying mosquitoes like Anopheles gambiae and Aedes genus. 10
So, if you’re already more prone to mosquito bites and like to drink beer, you have the winning combination! You’ll be the one who attracts all the mosquitoes, leaving the other people around you happily free from mosquito bites. Even though it sounds like fun and games, the dark truth is, since mosquitoes often carry different diseases, by being more attra zctive to mosquitoes, you’ll also be more likely to get one of these diseases. So, the next time you’re drinking beer somewhere with a lot of mosquitoes, you might want to either change your beverage of choice or put on some mosquito repellent. This will help you limit the number of mosquito bites you get and the chances of you contracting any mosquito-borne diseases.
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Your Holiday Hub is back with an improved website The popular YHH programme is returning this summer offering children and young people hundreds of free, fun activities across Bristol over the six-week summer holiday. A new website now makes it easier for families to search for school holiday activities - including free YHH places for children on free school meals (FSM) as well as paid for activities and clubs. All of the holiday activities available across Bristol can be found on the website and conveniently searched by location, age or activity. Organisations offering activities can also access resources on the website as well as input and update the activities and clubs they are providing over the school holidays. The website will be updated for each holiday to reflect which activities are available over the summer, winter, and Easter school holidays. Funded by the UK Government Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, thousands of Bristol children and young people have already accessed the programme over the Easter holiday. We aim to reach many more children and young people over the summer with thousands of YHH places available. Councillor Asher Craig, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Equalities said: “The Your Holiday Hub programme is a wonderful initiative which allows for children and young people from all over Bristol and from all walks of life to learn something new and make new friends over the school summer holidays. I would encourage families to get involved in this brilliant scheme, which has benefitted so many already.
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“I would like to thank the numerous organisations involved in the Your Holiday Hub programme this summer, for arranging such inspiring and inclusive activities which are available for children and young people of all ages and abilities.” YHH activities include cookery classes, sports, drama and learning about wildlife and the environment, and each four-hour holiday activity also includes a nutritious meal and food education. Over 65 organisations across Bristol will be involved in providing YHH activities over the summer holiday. A full list of organisations and activities is available on the YHH website. The programme is not yet fully complete, as more and more activities are being added between now and the summer holidays. Eligible children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or an education, health and care plan are welcome at YHH. Families can contact the organisation or session they would like to attend to discuss their child’s individual needs. Stephanie Barter is the owner and manager of Bizzy Kidz Club, a Bristol-based children’s club offering funfilled activities and themed weeks ranging from arts and crafts to science experiments and woodland activities. Stephanie said: “We understand how hard it can be for parents and carers during the long summer holiday to find things to do and keep the children entertained. We are so proud of the activities we run which are stimulating and allow children to explore, learn and practise a variety of skills and develop their knowledge outside of school.” Families of children or young people who do not get benefits-related FSM can also find holiday activities on the YHH website.
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SOUTH WEST NURSERY GROUP ANNOUNCES PAY INCREASE TO COMBAT COST OF LIVING RISE South West-based family business Mama Bear’s Day Nursery & Pre-School group has announced a 3% pay increase for its staff in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis. The nursery group, which operates settings across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Somerset and Devon, announced the pay award on top of a 6.8% increase given in April to the majority of staff. This means most employees have received a nearly 10% increase since the beginning of the year. Mama Bear’s owner and managing director Tony Driffield, said: “We are pleased to be offering our staff this small but much-deserved award. Times are really tough for many at the moment so we’re hoping that this gesture will help to ease some of the fears our staff have over the rising cost of living. “We know that things are tight and so we wanted to do what we could to help our workforce. We pride ourselves on being a caring employer which not only works hard to support local families with their childcare needs but which also works to support our own Mama Bear’s family with a good, stable income, wellbeing support and career progression. 14
“The move is also in recognition of the fantastic work done by our teams everyday amidst a worrying industry-wide shortage of nursery staff which is putting extra strain on practitioners.” Mama Bear’s is a family-run business headed by Tony and wife Bev, an expert in early years education. With 24 settings across the South West, the group has become known for its affordable and flexible childcare provision. If you’re looking for a job in childcare Mama Bear’s has a number of full- and part-time vacancies available across its settings, including nursery managers, nursery assistants, early years practitioners and early years educators.
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Bristol Harbour Festival announces 50th anniversary programme
Bristol’s flagship event, the Bristol Harbour Festival returns to the city on the 15th to 17th July to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Bristol Community Big Band will start the proceedings on Saturday with their swing and funk classics, followed by jazz and soul-inspired singer-songwriter Sam Lindo and The amphitheatre’s Bristol Music Stage will Bristol Harbour Festival favourite feature Dazee, Black Roots and Doreen Opa Rosa, who will bring the dazzling Doreen amongst a stellar celebration of the instrumental dance music of Eastern city’s music scene. The Circus Playground Europe to Bristol. Saxophonist James returns to Queen Square with Cirque Bijou Morton's Groove Den, bhangra band RSVP lining up circus and street theatre per– festival favourite and still at the forefront of formances for all the family, while Trinity the British Bhangra scene 30 years on will Community Arts presents Bristol Dances in continue the party. Early 80’s post-punk rock Millennium Square. legends Blue Aeroplanes will follow, before St Pauls’ very own Black Roots – a crucial part Nine performance areas will feature familiar of the emerging British reggae scene in the favourites and new attractions, filling one and 1970s – take to the stage. a half miles of the city with music, vessels, food markets, circus acts, live music and Closing out Saturday will be one of the UK’s performers this July. Ebb & Flow, an most acclaimed jungle and drum & bass inclusive programme showcasing community DJs, Dazee. As a producer, broadcaster and collaborations and emerging and established performer, she has remained at the top of UK creative voices will also feature throughout drum & bass culture for thirty years, with her the festival. Ruffneck Ting record label continuing to keep the jungle flame burning as brightly as ever. Bristol Music Stage, Lloyds Amphitheatre On Sunday, the Amphitheatre will come to life This year will see the Bristol Music Stage with Makala Cheung – Bristol showcase long-loved Bristol acts – many of Happiness Champion and self-proclaimed whom are celebrating key anniversaries this Knowle Wester who will open the show with year, including 40 years for the ultimate party her song Boombox, inspired by stories of band Doreen Doreen. It will champion the Filwood and Knowle West residents. For city’s incredible female DJs with Queen Bee blues done right, don’t miss Kirris Riviere’s taking to the decks throughout the Delta de Bruit, and for a heady blend of weekend and Dazee headlining Saturday neo-soul, hip-hop and nu-jazz, Madly is a night’s programme. must. Vibrant young jazz outfit Snazzback is next on the billing before the 1982 flamboyantly theatrical music legends Doreen Doreen, will delight with their reimagining of rock and pop classics in celebration of their 40th anniversary. 16
Brunel’s SS Great Britain: Albion Dockyard and Brunel Square For the first time ever, there will be free entry to the Albion Dockyard at Hanover Place throughout the weekend, where staff and volunteers from the SS Great Britain Trust will welcome guests to the 540ft-long Grade-II listed dock for unique views of the working shipyard and harbour. Tall Ship Fridtjof Nansen will be in the dry dock with the crew inviting people aboard to hear about the work of youth development charity, Seas Your Future. On Brunel Square, a new year-long outdoor photography exhibition is set to open for the Festival, showcasing the theme of discovery and Bristol’s global connections through the Albion Dock and the SS Great Britain. Food and drink, including a summer barbecue, will make the most of the harbour views. As part of the Festival’s Ebb & Flow programme, on Saturday, Caring in Bristol will present an activity and installation on Brunel Square; and on Sunday, Bristol Refugee Festival will provide music and performances.
The Matthew, Underfall Yard The world premiere of The Hamlet Voyage, a one-of-a-kind theatrical critique of the very beginnings of British colonial ambitions, is coming to the Festival - performed on Bristol's famous ship, The Matthew, which will be docked at Underfall Yard Cafe for this special event. Limited first-come, first-served seats will be available aboard The Matthew with plenty more on the shore of Underfall Yard Cafe. The production will be suitable for all ages. The Matthew will also feature African drumming workshops and an evening music programme throughout the weekend. On The Water, Bristol Harbourside Showcasing the city’s incredible maritime heritage, the historic floating harbour takes pride of place during the weekend, celebrating its rich history with free, family-friendly activities programmed on the water’s edge. Eight visiting Tall Ships will join a host of vessels for the weekend, all decorated for the occasion. The Young Shipwright’s will open the event on Saturday, releasing their boats into the harbour, followed by the legendary Cardboard Boat Race where teams battle it out to bring their handmade vessels home! You can read the full line up on our website at: https://directlocalbristol.co.uk/ bristol-news/bristol-harbour-festival/
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That’s why mums go to Iceland The supermarket chain has announced that customers aged over 60 will receive a 10% discount on their groceries every Tuesday with no minimum spend. In order to redeem the discount, senior shoppers will need to show proof of age, such as a driving licence or senior bus or rail card. The discount will be available in-store at Iceland and The Food Warehouse branches. Iceland said it was the first UK supermarket to introduce such a discount after being motivated by research from Age UK, which found that three-quarters of older people were worried about the rising cost of living. The company said it is also exploring a national rollout of £30 vouchers to those receiving state pension, following a regional 18
Richard Walker, managing director at Iceland, said: in a online statement “We have a long history of supporting our over 60s customers, such as when we launched ‘Elderly Hour’ at the height of the pandemic. “The cost of living crisis has made support for these customers even more important, which is why I’m proud that we’re finding new ways to support them, including the launch of this discount. “We hope it will help all those in this age category to cut costs where they can.” The move comes after data from Kantar showed that grocery price inflation hit 5.9% back in April – an 11-year high.
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FINDING AND FUNDING AN HMO One of the biggest challenges most investors face is a lack of quality deals, so it is important to know what you are looking for when it comes to investing in HMOs and where you should be looking for it. Once you know this, you can then decide if it is going to be a good investment… or not! Let’s start with where to look: It’s important to note that there are always exceptions to the rule – we have some very profitable HMOs in areas that we were advised wouldn’t work. Remember that each area is different, and we highly suggest spending time meeting & learning from HMO investors in your area as to what works and what doesn’t. When looking for HMOs, it is important to focus on what type of HMO you are looking to create, as different areas suit different Tenant Types. Some obvious examples include putting a student HMO a long way away from a university or a working professional HMO in a tiny village with little employment. With this in mind, we then go back to property fundamentals and appropriately balance the seesaw of:
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• Tenant Demand • Local amenities • Local employers • Transport Links • HMO Feasibility • Property Prices • Property Layouts/Characteristics • HMO Saturation in the area In our experience, while none of the above should be neglected, tenant demand is the most important factor. If you are going to have large voids with your HMO, it is not going to be a good investment. There are different ways to test this: speak with local agents and talk through similar properties that they manage; look on Spareroom at rooms wanted vs rooms available in the desired area; speak with othr investors and ask how they are finding the market; join & track the local Rooms/Houses for rent Facebook Groups in your area and track properties on Rightmove/Zoopla to see when they are posted and when they become let agreed over several months. There are lots of creative ways to test demand and the list above is not exhaustive!.
w w w. k p a . c o . u k
What are you looking for?
Finance & Funding:
Once you know where you are going to look, the next step is what type of properties in that area will make good HMOs.
After you’ve bought and refurbed your HMO, you are going to want to re-finance it.
The key factors here are going to be: • • • • •
The number of rooms you can create The layout of the building as it is Can you extend into the loft Can you extend out the back or on the side Waste pipes & soil stacks that are already in place
A new HMO investor may wish to stay below the Sui Generis Planning threshold and go for a 4-6 person HMO, as planning permission provides another layer of risk. Generally, 6 person HMOs are more profitable than 4 person ones.
Traditional financing of an HMO is very similar to a standard buy to let, you are valuing the property based upon its bricks & mortar value and are able to re-mortgage after you have added value through renovation, to release some/all of your invested capital. This is the classic BRR model. What makes HMOs different to standard BTLs is that with the larger properties (7+ person HMOs) you can value them commercially via a yield multiplier on the income they create. A select group of lenders will also allow you to do this with smaller HMOs but you have to jump through many hoops to achieve this.
When looking at number of rooms remember that although the minimum size of a room is 6.51sqm, this is very small. So, we would suggest making sure all rooms are doubles and ideally over 8sqm as a minimum. Whether to go for all en-suite rooms is another topic all together – often with divided opinion. Our thoughts are that this is market and area dependent. Communal spaces are also very important, do not neglect them, as tenants who feel part of a community will be happier and increasing your tenant retention. When you know where you are looking and what you are looking for, you can create your “cookie-cutter” – aiming to find a property type, in a certain area, that you know works, so you can rinse and repeat.
This is what makes HMO investments very appealing because you can value them beyond their bricks valuation, leveraging them higher and releasing more capital after re-finance. It’s important to add here, that anytime you increase leverage, you increase risk, especially when going above the bricks’ value, so this is not something to jump into without careful consideration and detailed analysis. To learn your area’s yield multiplier, you need to speak with a commercial surveyor and to understand what lending is available to you, you need a good mortgage broker – both are vital parts of the jigsaw if this is the route you would like to take. Now you know where you are looking, what type of property to look for and your options upon re-finance you should be able to start looking for HMOs. When it comes to sourcing methods, more is always better than less: agents, networking, HMO database, auctions, flyers, direct to vendor campaigns etc. etc. the more shots you take at goal the higher your chance of scoring! 21
Hoteliers urge you to take staycations this summer
Hotels urge people to avoid airport misery and staycation instead
“Having the extra Bank Holiday for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, creating a four-day weekend, was very good for most hotels, with high occupancy levels.
Bristol hoteliers are urging holidaymakers to avoid airport misery by sticking to staycations this summer and giving their businesses a “It would be good if we were to get an extra post-pandemic boost. Bank Holiday at the same time of year permanently, providing an early-season b Staff shortages are being blamed for many oost to trade before the main summer season flights being cancelled, often at short notice, starts. leaving would-be travellers frustrated and disappointed. “Staycations and weekend breaks offer the perfect post-pandemic getaways and we are But the Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA) now starting to see a good pick-up for the says the simple way to avoid disappointment summer months, but would be delighted to this summer is to stick to staycations. welcome more. After enjoying a bumper Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, BHA members say they would back calls for a four-day Bank Holiday weekend in June to become a permanent fixture in the calendar.
“We are pleased to see that occupancy levels are now starting to return to their 2019 pre-pandemic levels, which is very good news, and projections suggest we are set for a strong 2022 and 2023.
Raphael Herzog, Chair of the BHA, said: “People have waited a long time to take some much-needed holidays after all the frustration and disruption of the lockdown restrictions.
“But we can always accommodate more guests and would urge people to think about their travel plans and avoid the risk of delays, disruption and disappointment by booking a staycation.”
“But many families are having their plans ruined because of flight cancellations, which could be avoided if they chose staycations instead. 22
Direct Local, 10 High St Shirehamprton Bristol BS11 0DP
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Fun Chocolate Facts for World Chocolate Day 7th July World Chocolate Day falls on the 7th July. Although, if we had it our way, every day would be World Chocolate Day! As history has it, in the year 1550, July 7th was the day that chocolate was first introduced to Europe.
If you ask us, it sounds like the perfect reason to treat yourself to a night of relaxation and recovery by enjoying some chocolate whilst you soak in a Chocolate Fudge Cake infused bubble bath… after all, it’s good for your health!
To celebrate World Chocolate Day, here are seven fun chocolate facts:
3. Chocolate is Mouth-Meltingly Tasty
1. Chocolate Money in Mayan Times
The Mayans are believed to be the first to discover chocolate and, in Mayan times, your favourite chocolate bar may have been worth it’s weight in gold! Like many early civilisations, ancient Maya would barter and trade goods instead of using coins as money. However, it’s recently been discovered that the Mayan civilisation started to use Cacao Beans as a form of currency.
2. Chocolate is Good for Your Health
Have you ever wondered why chocolate is so mouth-meltingly tasty? Chocolate melts at just below human blood temperature, which is why it is so mouth-meltingly satisfying. Milk chocolate has higher levels of cocoa butter so is more likely to melt in your hand whilst dark chocolate will melt in your mouth! Not a fan of messy, melting chocolate in the Summer? Get your chocolate fix with our Chocolate Fudge Cake bath & body care treats instead.
4. Say it with Chocolate
Hooray – chocolate can be good for your Belgium are famous for their delicious health! It is generally believed that the darker chocolates. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise to the chocolate, the greater the health benefits. find out that, in 2013, Belgium issued over 500,000 postage stamps which smelled of Recent studies have shown that dark cocoa and were coated in a varnish to look chocolate could prove to be good for helping like chocolate. boost our immune system, reducing inflammation and increasing brain activity! This is The stamps even had a special glue that all thanks to being full of antioxidants, such tasted like chocolate when licked! as flavonoids, catechins, and polyphenol antioxidants. 24
If only chocolate scented and flavoured stamps where a common thing, you’d definitely catch us writing a lot more love letters and sending snail mail to all our pen pals instead of texting!
5. Power Up with Chocolate
Just like reports that chocolate is good for your health, it could also help you focus, sharpen memory and protect your brain from ageing. A study conducted by University of Nottingham researchers in 2012 found eating dark chocolate can boost blood flow to certain areas of the brain. This chocolate-fueled boost directly leads to increase performance in tasks and general alertness.
6. Chocolate Grows on Trees
Money might not grow on trees, but chocolate does! Each cacoa tree can produce 2,500 beans with approximately 3.8 millions of cacao beans growing a year. With such a high demand existing for chocolate, it’s important to help protect the environment by doing your bit to support cocoa suppliers who follow sustainable practices!
7. The First Ever Chocolate Bar was UKMade
We’re proud of our British roots and we were equally proud to discover that the first ever chocolate bar (as we know it!) was made in Bristol. The first solid chocolate bar was produced by Fry’s in 1847 and the chocolate bar market has grown tremendously since then. Almost 200 years later and chocolate is still one of the most-loved sweet treats in the UK!
Dedicated to providing value 18 High Street Westbury-on-Trym BS9 3DU
0117 950 4100 www.mwfuneraldirectors.com 25
Easy DIY projects to upgrade your garden Make the most of your garden with these easy weekend DIY projects. Now is the perfect time to get back in the garden and give some TLC. We have put together this list of easy DIY projects that can be completed over a weekend.
Fairy lights Whether you decide to use them to line your fence, wrap them around a tree or drape them from your pergola, fairy lights always create a magical atmosphere. We recommend solar powered ones so that you don’t have to worry about having an outside power outlet, plus it saves on electricity – it’s a win-win.
Pallet sofa If your old patio furniture is looking a bit outdated but you can’t afford to buy a shiny new set, then an upcycled sofa made from wooden pallets could be a nice alternative. Guaranteed to make you want to sit out in the garden at the slightest hint of sunshine. You can make it fit any space and customise it to your heart’s content – a perfect weekend project.
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Add a fire pit For those warm summer days and cool evenings, a fire pit is just the ticket for toasting marshmallows and sharing memories with those closest to you. This is such an easy project which can be completed in an afternoon and the end result looks amazing.
Painted fence Inject some colour into your garden by giving your garden fence a makeover. You’ll be amazed by what a good clean and a lick of paint can achieve. Remember... As most boundary fences are shared, make sure you check your deeds and speak to your neighbour first before painting. Alternatively, if you are renting your property, consult your letting agency as not to affect your tenancy agreement. It’s best to get this in writing to prevent any disputes that could arise.
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Red, white & Blueberries trifles Ingredients
Method
135g Pack raspberry jelly, torn into cubes
Make up the jelly according to the pack instructions, replacing 50ml of the cold water with 50ml of the summer cup
100ml Summer cup 100g Blueberries 125g Raspberries
Divide between four clean jars or serving glasses and chill in the fridge for 4 hours, or until set
garnish
Put the berries, mint and remaining summer cup in a bowl and leave to marinate, stirring occasionally
100ml Double cream
Whip the cream to stiff peaks, then stir in the
100ml 0% fat Greek style natural yogurt
yogurt until smooth To assemble the trifles, put a few cubes of cake on top of each jelly, then spoon over the marinated berries and juices
5g mint, shredded, plus extra leaves to
150g madeira cake, cut into cubes 1 Meringue nest, crumbled
Top with a couple of spoonfuls of the cream If serving immediately, crumble over the meringue and garnish with the extra mint If packing for a picnic, put the meringue and mint in a separate container and top the trifles just before serving
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WINDOWS | DOORS | ROOFLIGHTS
www.pinterest.co.uk/crystalclearbristol www.facebook.com/crystalclearbristol
Aluminium, Timber, PVCu, Windows, Doors & Rooflights Plan your dream home
Visit Bristol’s Biggest Showroom 24 Emery Road Brislington, Bristol BS4 5PF To find out more, call 01179 717 880 or visit www.crystalclearbristol.co.uk
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Rarebit-stuffed mushrooms Ingredients
Remove and finely chop the mushroom stalks, then set aside
6 Large chestnut mushrooms 100g Cocktail tomatoes on the vine
Put the de-stalked mushrooms and cherry
60g Grated mature Cheddar
tomatoes on a baking tray
2 Free range egg yolks 1 tbsp stout 1 tsp English mustard 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce ½ red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 50g Wild rocket Handful flat leaf parsley, chopped 1 tbsp Glaze with balsamic vinegar of
Mix together the cheese, mushroom stalks, egg yolks, stout, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and half the chilli, if using Season with black pepper, then spoon into the mushrooms
Modena
Scatter over the remaining chilli and bake
Method
mins, or until the topping is golden
Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6
in the oven, along with the tomatoes, for 20
Serve the mushrooms and tomatoes on a bed of rocket, with the parsley scattered over
Wipe any dirt off the mushrooms with damp kitchen paper 30
and a drizzle of balsamic glaze
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CINEMAPREVIEW REVIEW THE MOVIE THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER The film finds Thor on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher, who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.
MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU In the heart of the 1970s, amid a flurry of feathered hair and flared jeans, Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) is growing up in the suburbs. A fanboy of a supervillain supergroup known as the Vicious 6, Gru hatches a plan to become evil enough to join them. Luckily, he gets some mayhem-making backup from his loyal followers, the Minions. Together, Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto—a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please—deploy their skills as they and Gru build their first lair, experiment with their first weapons and pull off their first missions. When the Vicious 6 oust their leader, legendary fighter Wild Knuckles (Oscar® winner Alan Arkin), Gru interviews to become their newest member. It doesn’t go well (to say the least), and only gets worse after Gru outsmarts them and suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. On the run, Gru will turn to an unlikely source for guidance, Wild Knuckles himself, and discover that even bad guys need a little help from their friends. 33
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SUDOKU
Take a break and try to solve theses puzzles Here are this months puzzles designed to test your mental skills during your lunch break or after tea.
EASY
Good luck!
HARD
Subscribe to Bristol Weekly Magazine via this QR code To enter our cash prize draw each week
MEDIUM
CHAOS GUESS THE WORD COMPETITION A
ESCAPE THE MAZE Can you find your way through this difficult maze?
Start
m
Finish
S
EXTREME
The totally electrifying Pro Wrestling Chaos are giving One luck winner two tickets and meet and greets to the next event in July. All you need to do to enter is guess the famous wrestlers name above and email your answer plus your name to: competition@directlocalbristol.co.uk Terms and conditions apply. Must 16 years or over to enter. Entries must be in before 15th July. Good luck! 35
Your Garden In July
Fling the doors open to the garden and head outside! Summer is here and what better way to spend your free time than being outside and enjoying your beautiful flower filled garden. Keep plants looking good by regularly deadheading and you’ll enjoy a longer display of bloom. Make sure you keep new plants well hydrated to get them through those long, hot days and hoe off those pesky weeds, which can thrive in the sunshine. Although this still can be a busy time in the garden, don’t forget to find the time to sit back and relax so that you can enjoy all the hard work you’ve put in to achieve your beautiful display. FEED, WEED, AND DEADHEAD
Adding a liquid feed to your weekly watering regime will give a much needed boost to hanging baskets, container and borders helping them to produce more flowers and, in some cases encouraging a second flourish of flowers late in the season. Bedding plants, roses and many other perennials will also benefit from regular dead heading. This will prolong the flowering period making the garden more attractive and will also prevent the plants from putting their energy in to seed heads. Simply pinch off the fading flowers, or for tougher branches use secateurs. 36
Don’t forget to keep weeds down they steal vital moisture and nutrients. Kill them by regularly hoeing borders and vegetable patches. Larger weeds should be dug out or pulled up by hand. With Hanging baskets a bit of common sense goes a long way. Try lifting a container or basket. Does if feel light or under watered? How does the compost look? Is it pale and shrunken away from the sides? Dig into the compost with your fingers. Does it feel dry? It should be moist but not dripping wet. During prolonged dry spells, water at least once a day. SPEND SOME LAZY HOURS IN THE GARDEN
After all your hard work, enjoy the sunshine and laze in your garden.
PLANT OF THE MONTH: Salvia A member of the sage family. Salvias are diverse group of plants ranging from annuals to herbaceous perennials and herbs Why should you plant them? With flowers that are popular with wildlife, they not only deliver colour and fragrance but are also great at attracting bees and butterflies. Salvias are long flowering with the potential to put on a great show from June through much of the summer and in to autumn.
How should you plant them? Plant in full sun, with very well drained soil, and water well when it’s dry. Trim in the spring to maintain shape and deadhead once the flowers start to fade.
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HOROSCOPES 38
Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18
Taurus Apr 20 - May 20
You may come across a situation or conversation that seems someone is being dealt a rough deal.Try not to get involved in any conflicts, you may find this difficult as your natural way is to try and bring balance and harmony. Work with your intuition in any tricky, or delicate situation. Keywords intuition, balance and harmony.
Relationships and your home environment seem highlighted at this time. There may be some situation that will make you feel you need to address the balance, as somebody or something seems to be being treated unfairly. Clear communication, on both sides seem very important now. Try to bring Clarity and calmness into any tricky situation. Keywords relationships and clear communication
Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20
Gemini May 21 - June 20
You may need to follow your intuition and keep your sensible side very much at the fore.You may be trying to juggle work with some social life, although at present we all know that can be tricky. Try not to allow things to make you feel stressed, try to keep calmness and peace within you as much as possible. Remember balance is a very good thing if you can bring that into your everyday situations. Keywords calm, wisdom and balance
If you have a problem or something bothering you, don’t keep it locked up within yourself, maybe discuss it with someone close, maybe spend some time in quiet meditation, or contemplation. You may be feeling a bit stuck and things seem quite hard going at present. Nothing stays the same and you may find over the next few weeks things begin to slowly become a bit easier and you begin to feel more positive. Keywords meditation or contemplation
Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19
Cancer June 21 - July 22
You could be feeling a bit fed up, and stuck. Things do seem as though they will begin to move soon, and your social life looks as though it will be picking up. Family and friends are very important to you now, and along with this your home surroundings, which may mean a few small changes or a lick of of paint to your home. Keywords Home, family and friends
If you have a problem or something bothering you, don’t keep it locked up within yourself, maybe discuss it with someone close, maybe spend some time in quiet meditation,or contemplation. You may be feeling a bit stuck and things seem quite hard going at present. Nothing stays the same and you may find over the next few weeks things begin to slowly become a bit easier and you begin to feel more positive. Keywords meditation or contemplation
Leo July 23 - Aug 22 There may seem to be a few tricky situations or hold-ups, but they seem to be temporary, and may show you something That could enlighten you. This may open doors for you and bring you new opportunities, which could lead to some positive changes. Keywords opportunities and changes
Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 You could be feeling that things are being held up, and there seems to be a few obstacles in small areas of your life, that becoming are a little irritating. As much as you can try to find some you time, and use it to bring calm and balance back. Keywords obstacles, find balance
Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22
Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21
If you are feeling a little unclear in your thinking, cut yourself some slack. We are all having to deal with a strange situation Be sensitive to your own needs as well as those of others, and you may find you still have inner strength that will help you through. This in turn may help you to help others. Keywords Sensitivity and inner strength
This could be a good time to do an overview of some areas of your life. It may be changing things at home, changing routine, or something else. Clearing things both emotionally and practically may be useful too. These kind of changes can bring new things and ideas into your life. Keywords overview and new things
Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22 Communication seems to be a little challenging at the moment, in some areas. Stay calm and focused, and don’t let things get on top of you. Once these issues have been sorted, you may find Some positive and new opportunities. Keywords communication and opportunities
Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 This could be a good time to do an overview of some areas of your life. It may be changing things at home, changing routine, or something else. Clearing things both emotionally and practically may be useful too. These kind of changes can bring new things and ideas into your life. Keywords overview and new things
Forecasted by Marie Hayward Disclaimer This zodiac is for entertainment purposes only please do not take the predictions seriously Marie take no responsibility for your actions
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