FOLIO BRISTOL & BATH
FREE TAKE ONE! THE WEST’S BEST LIFEST YLE M AG
JUNE 2012 l No. 209
EATING OUT WEST
BEST EARLY
BRISTOL’S
BIG GREEN WEEK NEW
BIRD MENUS
HOW TO SURVIVE LEARN VALUABLE BUSHCRAFT SKILLS
7-PAGE WHAT’S ON SECTION!
WIN
AN OVERNIGHT STAY FOR TWO!
Watershed celebrates its 30TH BIRTHDAY
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JUNE 2012
GREEN THINKING
Well, we all knew that June 2012 would be the big one on the calendar, almost knocking December off the top spot. But did you know that, aside from the two major events that we all know about, Bristol and Bath are humming with fun-fests throughout this fair month and beyond? Bath’s Fringe and International Music Festivals will both be hitting mid-season form when this issue of Folio lands in a cafe near you. Bristol, meanwhile, is gearing up for its first ever Big Green Week (see feature on page 10) - incorporating more than 100 events and inspirational talks from the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Caroline Lucas and Jonathon Porritt, it’s part of Bristol’s bid to be European Green Capital 2013. We’re down to the final three, so watch this space… On top of all this, it’s half term. For those with tetchy teens or couch-potato kids, you’ll find our ideas for keeping the darlings entertained all week long an absolute sanity saver (see page 26). Our advice? Pull it out and stick it to your fridge for inspiration/moral support whenever you’re having a weak moment and thinking of letting them watch CBBC for five hours straight.
Have an inspirational month,
Rachel Nott Folio editor
Cover image: FILM STILL FROM 'THE ARTIST', WATERSHED'S BIGGEST HIT OF ALL TIME. SEE FEATURE PAGE 4. 'THE ARTIST' IS NOW AVAILABLE TO BUY ON DVD AND BLU-RAY @folioeditor
@eatingoutwest
FEATURES 4 We say happy birthday to cutting-edge media hub Watershed 10 Gearing up for Bristol’s first ever Big Green Week 18 Our Avon Wildlife Trust walk this month is around Willsbridge Valley
WHAT'S ON 20 Robin Askew’s preview of the latest film releases 22 Mike White’s top things to see and do this month 25 Coming to a theatre near you, as chosen by Steve Wright 26 How to keep the kids entertained this half term 29 Highlights from the art world
COMPETITIONS
4 WATERSHED TURNS 30
31 WIN an overnight stay at Bath’s Francis Hotel, plus a leather messenger bag!
EATING OUT WEST 34 The best early bird menus 40 Melissa Blease pays homage to the nation’s original celebrity chef, Marguerite Patten 42 Review: The Marlborough Tavern 45 Review: Thali Cafe 46 What’s cooking? 49 Review: The Boathouse 50 Review: Fishers 52 Recipe from the Allium Brasserie at Bath’s Abbey Hotel
LIFESTYLE 56 The latest summer fashions from Milsom Place 59 Niki Whittle on how to wear an asymmetric hem 60 Our Green Room in Bradford on Avon is our top shop 62 We get an organic makeover at Hush Hairdressing 64 Essential beauty buys chosen by John Lewis 67 Spotlight on Thai massage 71 Steve Wright test drives a Land Rover Freelander 73 Primary schools get set for the Olympics with the UK’s first Communication Triathlon 74 Anna Britten gets herself some bushcraft skills 78 The best short breaks for everyone from golf enthusiasts to history buffs
56 Up the fashion ante with a trip to Milsom Place, Bath
26 Keep the kids amused all half term with our cracking ideas
71 TEST DRIVEN: LAND ROVER FREELANDER
HOMEFRONT 86 Homeworx reveal their latest grand design 90 How to glam up your outside space 95 Trish Gibson’s tips for growing shrub roses 96 Property news
FINALE 98 What makes Daybreak newsreader Ellie Barker tick
Subscribe to Folio! Just send a cheque for £24 (payable to Folio) to our Bristol address or phone with credit/debit card details and you’ll get the next 12 issues sent to your home, or 6 issues for £13 – the only way to guarantee you’ll get every copy of the West’s fastest-growing lifestyle magazine. Ffi: 0117 934 3741 Folio Bristol 4th Floor, Bristol News & Media, Temple Way, Bristol, BS99 7HD tel 0117 942 8491 fax 0117 934 3566 email r.nott@venue.co.uk or editor@foliomagazine.co.uk Folio Bath Bath News & Media, Floor 2, Westpoint, James West St, Bath BA1 1UN tel 01225 429801 fax 01225 447602 Editor Rachel Nott Commercial Director Becky Davis Production Manager Cath Evans Design Team Sarah Clark, Sarah Malone Sub-editor Jo Renshaw Publications Co-ordinator Sam Ulewicz Advertising Bex Baddiley, Adam Burrows, Ellie Pipe, Ben Wright Distribution Simon Butler Ring us now for details of how to reach our 75,000 readers – and if you’re a reader, contact our advertisers now! Do please let them know where you read about their services. Thank you. Folio articles preceded by the words ‘Folio Profile’ have been supplied by a third party, and the information contained within them does not necessarily constitute a direct recommendation by the publishers. However, we only accept submissions from bona fide companies whom we know from long experience to provide quality goods or services.
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Gorgeous summer salad recipe courtesy of Chris Staines at Allium Brasserie
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FEATURE
It’s 30 years since the Watershed proudly declared itself Britain’s ‘First Media Centre’. Robin Askew says happy birthday to a Bristol institution that still has cutting-edge at the heart of its DNA
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he grainy TV news footage looks as ancient today as a 1950s newsreel. It’s 1981 and a serious, bespectacled young man is standing in the middle of a derelict Bristol dockside warehouse while bulldozers trundle about. This is Steve Pinhay, the Watershed’s first director, and he’s talking up his grand plans for the country’s British Film Institutebacked “first media and communications centre”. This new-fangled concept, he reveals, will incorporate film, TV, photography and even live performance. He doesn’t mention the internet, probably because nobody’s heard of it yet. The reporter challenges him about whether this is an appropriate use of public money in the middle of a recession. (Yes, we were in recession back then, too.) His justification is worth quoting in full: “We’ve got to look to the future. The vital ingredient that Watershed has is that it’s certainly looking at all of our futures, both our own and our children’s - the way in which we’re all going to be receiving our information and entertainment in the coming years.” More than 30 years on, the Watershed’s current Head of Programme, Mark Cosgrove,
is, frankly, cursing. It’s a Monday morning in early May and he’s poring over the weekend cinema admission figures, trying to work out which films to keep and which to jettison. Trouble is, they’re all doing really well. So now it’s crunch time. Excellent Norwegian thriller Headhunters has played to packed houses all weekend. On the other hand, acclaimed Bob Marley documentary Marley has taken more than £5,500 at the Watershed alone, and there’s no sign of demand abating. “I need more screens!” he wails. “There are so many films being released, and you have to make choices that are really difficult.” For the record, Marley wins by a whisker. As the Watershed approaches its 30th anniversary on Thursday 7 June, it has evolved far beyond anything that its founders could have imagined - notably in the digital realm. Cosgrove is full of admiration for Pinhay’s original concept, which was very much ahead of its time. He points out that back in the dark ages of the early 80s, Britain was just gearing up for the launch of its fourth national TV channel, while satellite broadcasting was in its infancy. “Steve was quite visionary in seeing that the whole media landscape was changing and wanted Watershed to capture that. It was all about ➻
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FEATURE
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FEATURE
TOP FIVE
WATERSHED FILMS OF THE PAST 30 YEARS 1. The Artist 2. The King’s Speech 3. Slumdog Millionaire 4. Pulp Fiction 5. All About My Mother
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Above: The Artist, Watershed's biggest-ever hit; Slumdog Millionnaire; Tree of Life
Previous page, clockwise from top left: The King's Speech; the cinema corridor in 2001; the Watershed in 1981, the year it became Britain's First Media Centre; the cinema corridor in 2001; the cafe/ bar's balcony is a sun trap on summer days; Carey Mulligan in Shame; the Watershed's grand exterior
seeing cinema in relation to other forms of media and communication. But it’s only with digital that we’re beginning to realise the full potential. We’ve now got a media studio that’s exploring all sorts of things in terms of the relationship between the media, creativity and technology. Thirty years on, we’re starting to realise what a media and communications centre might be.” It’s certainly changed along the way. One bold decision was to do away with the photographic exhibition space. That was partly because the Arnolfini and Spike Island are better suited to visual arts. But there was another reason. “Why do we have these static images up on the wall, when you’ve got the web as a major exhibition resource?” asks Cosgrove, rhetorically. “In a way, we were renewing or re-thinking the organisation. We weren’t saying that this is an art form that’s of no value. We were saying that, in the way that Watershed is engaged with the web, the medium is changing our relationship with images.” A sceptic might observe that, taken
to its logical conclusion, this line of thought could lead to the Watershed arguing itself into redundancy as a physical entity, since everything the centre does could theoretically exist in the digital realm. “That is exactly the issue of the day. I’ve just come back from the Oberhausen Short Film Festival, where I was chatting to some German exhibitors. They were saying how everything is going to be on the ‘cloud’ and available to download. And there are issues about this old form called ‘film and cinema’. Why should you have to go to a darkened room at a specific time to watch something, whereas in fact everything is available now - when you want it and how you want it? This is the kind of real live issue that we’re dealing with at the moment. In that world, what does running a venue like Watershed mean?” No need to worry just yet. Cinema remains at the Watershed’s core, with the much-needed third screen going some way to satisfy demand. Annual admissions now top 130,000 and continue to rise each year. If you have ➻
As if to underline the fact that film is anything but a dying medium, the Watershed enjoyed its biggest-ever hit earlier this year with The Artist, which went on to clean up at the Oscars. Although this box-office slow-burner eventually played at all the local multiplexes, more than 13,000 people chose to watch it at the Watershed. But there are challenges ahead, and these are mostly to do with the removal of ‘windows’ - ie the period during which films are shown exclusively in cinemas before being available in other media. Nobody doubts that it won’t be long before everything is released in all formats simultaneously. It’s already started to happen. Art movie Le Havre was recently put out on video-ondemand at the same time as it played the Watershed. Current hit Marley was also released through US Facebook on the day it opened in Bristol. “I think this will be a huge game-changer for cinema,” concedes Mark Cosgrove. “But I think it will affect the commercial world much more. Art cinema is more ‘boutique’, and it will become more about community and about community of interest.”
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Voted in the Top 50 antique shops in Great Britain 2010 by The Independent on Sunday
OLD BANK ANTIQUES CENTRE 14-17 Walcot Buildings, Bath
Retro g Clothinble Availa
Situated on the London Road (A4), just a short walk from the top of Walcot Street. Old Bank Antiques Centre is the largest retailer of antiques in Bath, without being stuffy and too grand. This is how antiques shops used to look: a hoarder’s paradise. fifteen dealers spread through lots of showrooms in four shops with everything from 17th century to 1970s retro. Experienced and professional advice is always available. Customer parking is at the rear, accessed via Bedford Street. Deliveries can be arranged anywhere in the UK or the rest of world, at cost price. Furniture restorer on premises. Open seven days a week and most bank holidays Visit our website: www.oldbankantiquescentre.com Tel: 01225 469282 & 338813 Email: alexatmontague@aol.com
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FEATURE
JOIN IN THE FREE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS! ➻ The Watershed marks its 30th
Clockwise from above: Watershed viewed from the water (photographer: Toby Farrow); the light and buzzy cafe/bar serves breakfast, lunch and early evening meals and prides itself on its locally sourced ingredients (photographer: Paul Hobbslight)
no interest in ‘consuming media’ (ie watching a film) on your mobile phone or downloading it from the ‘cloud’, you’ll be delighted to learn that plenty of other people share your enjoyment of the medium as a communal experience. “We did some research recently, and one of the best pieces of feedback was from somebody who said, ‘I know Watershed as a cafe/bar and a cinema and that’s all I want Watershed to be.’ So we may do all this stuff - and other people might engage with it and think it’s great - but there are still people who say, ‘No, the cinema and the cafe/bar give me culturally what I want from Watershed.’ And why shouldn’t that be good enough?” There’s also a contrarian view currently gaining ground that the internet has run out of ideas and is heading for stagnation. What does he make of that? “Yeah, I think that’s, erm… a provocation. I honestly don’t know. All I know is that there’s a whole new environment out there. I think that as everything becomes available online, people want routes through that content and somewhere to meet and talk. To me, one of the strongest things about Watershed is its place. It’s a venue, a building, in a place called Bristol, on the harbourside. That has a very real impact and connection for audiences.” WATERSHED CANONS RD, HARBOURSIDE, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 927 6444, WWW.WATERSHED.CO.UK
birthday on Thursday 7 June with a free 30-hour themed ‘Made in Bristol’ marathon of local creativity, spread across all three screens. Prepare to be astonished at just how much great film and TV has roots in Bristol. In addition to obvious selections from the worldrenowned likes of Aardman and the BBC’s Natural History Unit, there are plenty of surprises. Did you know that Michael Moore’s TV Nation was commissioned in Bristol, for example, as was the first short by Belleville Rendez-Vous animator Sylvain Chomet? Expect to see extracts from such classic dramas as The Monocled Mutineer (starring Clifton’s very own Paul McGann) and Edge of Darkness alongside more recent hits like Casualty and Skins. Documentaries are well represented, too, with episodes from local film-maker Steve Humphries’ acclaimed Secret World of Sex alongside awardwinning small-scale community productions. And do you remember Maureen Rees and Driving School? For good or ill, the Bristol woman who consistently failed to pass her driving test was arguably the nation’s first reality TV star. In addition, the Watershed’s expanded June Sunday brunch programme, for which normal admission fees apply, comprises a selection of films with local connections. These range from Banksy’s Exit through the Gift Shop to His Girl Friday, starring local lad Cary Grant. Also included are The King’s Speech and Shame, both produced by Bedminster’s only Oscar-winner, Iain Canning. Plus there’s another chance to see the only road movie ever to be set on the M4 - Chris Petit’s 1980 drama Radio On, starring a young Sting. Again, the programme springs a couple of surprises. Terrence Malik’s Oscar-nominated The Tree of Life is included because its much-acclaimed Birth of Life sequence was shot by Bristol’s Nigel Ashcroft. But Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane? Surely that’s stretching it a bit? Actually, Welles’ Mercury Theatre sidekick and script contributor John Houseman was educated at Clifton College. FFI FOR THE FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS, VISIT WWW. WATERSHED.CO.UK/30
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PROFILE
ARTEMIS
HOME OF CATHERINE AMESBURY DESIGNER JEWELLERY & GIFTS
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he brains behind familyowned jewellery and gift shop Artemis are motherand-daughter team Catherine and Carrie. Best known as the home of Catherine Amesbury Contemporary Jewellery Design, Artemis has the complete collection available to browse and buy. There’s also an in-house workshop where you
can sit and take your time to customise or commission bespoke pieces in a relaxed atmosphere. Artemis also stock a whole host of gorgeous gifts, all linked by their beautifully feminine nature. It’s an Aladdin’s cave of treasures, where you’re guaranteed to find something for every occasion, from unique Sri Lankan handcrafted pottery and Eco-Fashion handbags to decorative lights, stylised soaps, velvet and silk accessories, as well as small token gifts and decorations. ‘Downstairs’ at Artemis, local artists are featured each month in a gallery space, giving them the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work alongside Julia Rowe and her resident Fused Glass Workshop. You’ll also find a
selection of cards by local artists. Everything in the shop comes beautifully gift-wrapped in a unique boutique style that Catherine and Carrie have only ever seen in La Clusaz, a picturesque skiing village in the
ARTEMIS 214 GLOUCESTER ROAD BISHOPSTON, BRISTOL BS7 8NU TEL: 0117 924 1003 WEB: WWW.ARTEMISBRISTOL.CO.UK
French Alps. “Because we believe that the difference between ‘ordinary’ and ‘extraordinary’ is that little extra,” say the duo, “we hope that we can go one step further to help you find that perfect gift.”
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FEATURE
The rinkidink sound system will be helping power the Park Street Playground on Sunday 10 June
Mike White gets set for Bristol’s Big Green Week, Britain’s first ever festival of environmental ideas, art and culture
Left: Pete Judge of Three Cane Whale who will be playing at Big Green Week on Monday 11 June Right: Peddlepowered Scalectrix at last year’s green week festival
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FEATURE Some of Bristol’s best local food will showcase at the Big Market on Saturday 9 June
Above left: Bristol musicians Myke Vince, Pete Judge and Charlotte Ostafew celebrating the launch of the festival discount Green Pass at Colston Hall on 1 March Right: The Festival of Nature on 16 & 17 June is Europe’s largest free natural history festival
I
t’s big and it’s green - you probably guessed as much from the title. The ‘Week’ bit is underselling it by a couple of days, but ‘Big Green Nine Days’ doesn’t have the same ring, really. It’s a flagship event for Bristol’s bid to be European Green Capital in 2014 that’s important. But what else is Big Green Week? Well, it depends who you ask. For some it’s a celebration of Bristol as a city that inspires better living and thus a better future. For some it’s a chance to connect with like-minded organisations and influence policy for positive change. For others it’s one big party. What’s definitely true is that Big Green Week is the UK’s first ever festival of ‘environment ideas, art and culture’, ➻ FOLIO/JUNE 2012 11
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FEATURE This pic and below: Bristol harbourside is the venue for the Festival of Nature on 16 & 17 June, bringing nature into the heart of the city
and under that banner it brings together over 100 events – from the fabulous Festival of Nature (Sat 16 and Sun 17) to fashion doyenne (and green activist) Vivienne Westwood discussing climate change. There’s the Big Green Market (Sat 9), winding from St Nick’s in the old city to the historic harbourside. There’s the Park Street Playground (Sun 10), filling the eponymous hilly thoroughfare (and College Green) with fun including the world’s first Electric Bike Championships, and a death-defying display from the Raleigh Stunt Team. There’s Bristol Biggest Bike Ride (Sun 17), meandering out of the city and into the countryside beyond. In between come boat safaris, secret parties, stand-up comedians and dozens of thoughtprovoking talks: Prue Leith on healthy food, Kevin McCloud on regeneration, ‘Dragon’ Deborah Meaden on green business, renewables guru Mohammed Saddiq on how your very own poo can help save the world (more from him later). As a taster of some of the fascinating topics to be covered, Folio caught up with four people involved with Big Green Week, to find out what they do, and why it matters. BIG GREEN WEEK 9-17 JUNE, VENUES ACROSS BRISTOL INCLUDING COLSTON HALL, WATERSHED, ARNOLFINI, M SHED & BRISTOL CATHEDRAL. FFI: WWW.BIGGREENWEEK.COM
ALASTAIR SAWDAY Alastair has been promoting environmental awareness for four decades or more, formerly with Friends of the Earth and the Soil Association, and now as founder of Sawday’s, the first carbon-neutral publishing company, which - alongside finding some of the world’s loveliest places to stay - promotes sustainable travel. He’s been involved in Big Green Week from the very beginning. How does it feel to have made Big Green Week what it is today? It feels as though finally the world is beginning to listen. Back in the 70s, everyone thought we were barmy. But as time’s gone by, people have come to learn that we were talking sense about pretty well everything. Not enough action has been taken, but it feels good finally to be pushing rocks up a much less steep hill. People actually listen now at a senior, policymaking level. They understand that there has to be change. How have Sawday’s contributed to raising green awareness? At Sawday’s we’ve always tried to lead by example. We built ourselves awardwinning green offices six years ago, and from the word go we’ve been promoting eco-travel, trying to discourage people from flying, where possible. We’ve been pioneering the use of local, organic food in places to stay, which is something very close to
my heart. We’ve worked with Sustrans in encouraging cycling. We believe in pumping money back into the rural economy, and keeping it away from the big boys. In 101 different ways, we’ve been trying. Never successfully enough, never energetically enough, but we’re always trying. What do you hope Big Green Week can achieve? It’s all about getting people to rethink. It’s going to make people aware that one of the reasons Bristol is such a great place to live is that there are so many people doing interesting green things here. If it gets better for cyclists, or if the food gets better, that’s because there are pioneers pushing at the boundaries behind the scenes. It’s also going to be about education – there’s a dramatic, desperate need to rethink the ways we do pretty well everything, from the financial model though to the industrial system, through transport and energy and so on. And if people can come on board and enjoy it at the same time as being challenged, then with a bit of luck there’ll be more pressure on policy makers to change. I hope also that Bristol will become the centre for green festivals in Britain. Wouldn’t it be great if this became the Edinburgh Festival of the green world; if Bristol were the place it happened every year? FFI WWW.SAWDAYS.CO.UK ➻
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FEATURE
CIARAN MUNDY Ciaran is involved in a number of projects ‘focused on building a more resilient and sustainable economy in Bristol’ – most notably the Bristol Pound, a special currency for Bristol. It’s real money that can be used to pay for things at member businesses - either with notes, by mobile phone or online. It’s very clever. Ciaran will be talking about it at a free discussion of the ‘Values of Money’ at 3.30pm on Sat 16 June, at the Council House. Register for your place by emailing rkenyon@wwf.org.uk Is money the enemy of the green movement? Money can be many things - it’s really the rules around which the money system operates that matter. We have a debt-based money system, which leads to a need for ever greater profits, doesn’t necessarily promote the diversity needed to keep a healthy local economy alive, and tends to siphon money off into larger institutions and away from ordinary people. How can the Bristol pound help? The Bristol Pound is a way of re-localising money, keeping it in Bristol. A pound just sitting in a bank somewhere is really not doing anything. Being passed from hand to hand, that’s what matters – the transactions. About half of global trade goes to the offshore system, and is lost to local economies and ordinary people. The Bristol Pound is about strengthening Bristol’s local diversity. It’s a direct opportunity for local independent businesses to get more customers, because it’s a high-profile scheme that brings people in. People want to do something for Bristol; they love it here and want to put something back. If they put just a little bit of their monthly spend into a system like the Bristol Pound, it gives a big boost to independent traders, who are the most important part of the economy, ultimately. If you end up with just a few big multinational chain stores in a town, it can be pretty devastating, both economically and culturally. Keeping money circulating within the city is good for the local economy and it’s good for the local community as well - so the Bristol Pound is really good for Bristol as a whole. FFI WWW.BRISTOLPOUND.ORG
MOHAMMED SADDIQ Mohammed is general manager of GENeco, a Wessex Water-owned company that turns the contents of your toilet into renewable energy and organic fertiliser. He also helped to develop the world’s first poo-powered car. He’ll be talking about all this and more at a free event called The Morning Muse in Colston Hall Foyer on Thur 14 June, 8-9am. Tell us how you’ve turned poo into power It all began when Wessex Water stated that it wanted to become a carbon-neutral, zero-waste company by 2020. As a result, GENeco was created to manage the renewable energy activities. We take the byproduct from the sewage treatment process and put it through anaerobic digesters to create biogas, which we then feed into combined heat and power engines, which in turn produce heat and electricity. The heat is put back into the digesters to keep them at the optimum temperature, and the material coming out of the digestion process is recycled as fertiliser. This allows the farming industry to operate more sustainably, by displacing the need for inorganic fertilisers. We also provide a service to food waste companies, and we’ve identified a waste stream that currently goes to landfill – food waste from supermarkets, councils and restaurants. So we’re now building a 40,000tonne facility that will allow local companies to divert that waste into renewable energy and organic fertiliser. We’re now generating enough energy to power around 10,000 homes for a year – and the entire operation is carbon neutral. Do you hope to inspire change more widely, too? Inspiring the next generation of policy makers is very important to us. We’re inundated by requests from local schools to see the Bio-Bug, for example. It’s a VW Beetle that performs just like a normal car, but runs on human waste. Arriving in a car powered by poo makes for a very different conversation with the kids than just coming in and going on about sewage and carbon footprints. It’s generated interest from all over the world, which is fantastic because it means that people are being inspired to think differently about what’s possible, and about what they themselves might be able to do. FFI WWW.GENECO.UK.COM
GILL BRIDGE Gill works for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund programme, offering sustainable options for people to consider when they’re planning their journeys. How do LSTF fit into Big Green Week? June is our ‘cycling month’, and the LSTF roadshow will be in Millennium Square as part of the Festival of Nature, with some fun activities to try, and free maps of some of the fantastic cycling routes we’ve invested in as part of the Cycling City campaign. We’ve got Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride coming up as well, which is one of the finale events of Big Green Week. It’s a great way of showing how cycling can be fun. Over the summer months we’re trying to encourage people to leave the car at home. We’re not saying ‘cars are bad’, just offering some alternatives for people to consider when they’re planning their journeys. We do appreciate that cycling isn’t an option for everybody, but for those people who live a reasonable distance from their work, why not make travelling to work part of your fitness regime? It’s about getting fitter, feeling better – and not getting stuck in traffic jams! FFI WWW.TRAVELPLUS.ORG.UK
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A Class Brides Your wedding day is all about you!
Cissie Designs Come to us for your special flowergirl dresses. All made in England at our shop in Bristol. Designed and made by A.M.K in a variety of colours and fabrics. Sizes range from newborn to a childs size 8. Prices range from ÂŁ35 to ÂŁ85. Call in to view our collection and you will be welcomed by friendly and helpful staff.
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FEATURE
Kids and adults alike will enjoy exploring the watery worlds of Willsbridge
WILLSBRIDGE
VALLEY
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Avon Wildlife Trust’s reserve is easy to get to, glorious in spring and a big hit with the kids
DID YOU KNOW…? IMAGE: MIKE DIMERY
illsbridge Valley is a great place for a springtime walk. This is when its woodlands are at their best, full of wildflowers and birdsong, and you might see dippers and kingfishers on the fast-running Siston Brook that runs through it. The ponds are home to frogs and newts and wonderful dragonflies. Foxes and badgers also live in the valley, and noctule and greater horseshoe bats thrive here. The valley was once the site of milling and quarrying, and the mill was the Trust’s Education Centre for many years. It’s easy to get to from Bath and Bristol, and easy to walk around – a particular favourite with kids, who love all the watery worlds of Willsbridge.
SCULPTURE TRAIL
Willsbridge Mill has a fascinating industrial history - it was built in 1814 as a corn mill on the site of two much older iron mills. The dramway connected the Coalpit Heath collieries with the River Avon just south of Willsbridge. It was a working mill until the floods of July 1968, which demolished the dam behind the mill.
HOW TO GET THERE
Start at the entrance of the mill and climb the flight of steps up towards the large pond. Continue along the path, with the pond to your left, and after 10 metres turn sharp left onto the Heritage Sculpture Trail and through a field gate. Follow the surfaced path up the gradient that leads between the woodland edge and the pasture. Pass the giant anthill sculpture on your right and go through an opening onto the old dramway (which was the old Avon and Gloucestershire Railway).
WILD WASTE GARDEN
Turn left and continue along the track – look out for the sculptures celebrating the valley’s industrial history. After about 100 metres, turn left over the viaduct. Turn left again once you’ve crossed the bridge, and the path leads you back to the mill alongside the Siston Brook, where you may see dippers or even a kingfisher. Look out for the old quarry, with fossil remains of club mosses. Back at the mill, explore the Wild Waste Garden, which demonstrates how household waste can be put to creative use. AVON WILDLIFE TRUST OUR GUIDE COMES COURTESY OF THIS LEADING LOCAL CHARITY WORKING FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. FFI: 0117 917 7270, WWW.AVONWILDLIFETRUST.ORG.UK
Grid ref: ST 663 706 Nearest postcode: BS30 6EX By bike: View a location map of the reserve on the National Cycle Network website (www. sustrans.org.uk). It’s signposted from the Bristol to Bath cycle track, just past the Avon Valley Railway at Bitton. By public transport: Go to www.traveline.org.uk By car: Travel to Longwell Green and continue on the A431 towards Bath. There’s limited parking by the mill buildings, so please use the visitor car park, which is signposted from the A431 and is located on Long Beach Road. Access: Access to the reserve and buildings is along a signposted footpath. For disabled parking, follow signs from Willsbridge Hill, and park in the designated spaces. There is wheelchair access via Willsbridge Hill to most of valley.
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WHAT’S ON
FILM DAYS OUT PERFORMANCE ART FILM DAYS OUT PERFORMANCE ART
➻ WHAT'SON
FILM
COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU Robin Askew picks some highlights from this month’s cinematic crop
A ROYAL AFFAIR
OPENS FRI 15 JUNE There’s no shortage of films exploring the misdeeds of British royals. But if you yearn to hear a new tale of shenanigans at court, beat a path to this new Danish costume drama. Based on an extraordinary true story, it explores the momentous 18th century affair between English-born Queen Caroline Mathilde and King Christian VII’s personal physician, Johan Struensee. Unfortunate Caroline had been married off to the mentally unstable king against her will. But when Struensee learned how to manipulate this erratic monarch, the politically motivated adulterous couple tricked him into signing a string of liberal social reforms into law.
SING YOUR SONG
THE ANGELS’ COSMOPOLIS JOYFUL NOISE SHARE
OPENS FRI 8 JUNE A fascinating and award-winning documentary about Harry Belafonte, which digs beneath the surface of the veteran star’s reputation as an entertainer to reveal his lifelong struggle at the heart of the civil rights movement. Belafonte never forgot that he grew up in poverty, and combined being a silky-voiced superstar with serving on the front lines of just about every progressive political struggle. Whittled down from 700 hours of material, Sing Your Song tells the remarkable story of the first artist in history to sell more than a million records and how he was blacklisted, harassed and spied upon.
OPENS FRI 1 JUNE Bath’s very own Ken Loach returns with a bittersweet comedy in the style of his 2009 crowd-pleaser Looking for Eric. It’s the story of a troubled, unemployed Glaswegian lad named Robbie (Paul Brannigan), who’s about to become a father and is eager to go straight. When his community service supervisor ( John Henshaw) takes him and some fellow miscreants on a daytrip to a distillery, Robbie finds he has an unexpectedly sensitive palate for the finest malt whiskies. Watch out for the great Roger (The Thick of It, Tamara Drewe) Allam in a supporting role.
OPENS FRI 15 JUNE Following that unlikely move into costume drama with his adaptation of Christopher Hampton’s play about Freud and Jung, A Dangerous Method, David Cronenberg tackles New York author Don DeLillo’s timely 13th novel. This follows a twentysomething multibillionaire asset manager on an eventful journey across Manhattan in a stretch limousine to get a haircut. Robert Pattinson (you know - him with the big hair from the Twilight movies) is improbably cast in the lead role, presumably hoping to make more of an impression than he did in Bel Ami. The starry supporting cast includes Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti and Samantha Morton.
OPENS FRI 29 JUNE Arriving a little late for the Glee party, this Sister Act-style choircontest flick marks Dolly Parton’s first appearance on the big screen in 20 years. The rather formulaic plot has the Divinity Church Choir in the depressed small town of Pacashau, Georgia, gearing up for the annual Joyful Noise contest. Our Dolly plays a fiery pop’n’country enthusiast who clashes with incoming choir director and stern gospel traditionalist Queen Latifah. Do you reckon it’s at all possible that everyone will put their differences aside and pull together for the big competition? Expect renditions of music by the likes of Michael Jackson, Usher and Paul McCartney.
KEEP READING FOR SIX FURTHER PAGES OF WHAT’S ON HIGHLIGHTS ➻ 20 FOLIO/JUNE 2012
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CineFeatures UK promotes & screens independent feature films, bringing cinema to a venue near you SHOWING SOON: Retreat The Awakening Paradise Grove Submarine The Harsh Light of Day It could be right up your street: literally Check our website for venues & dates: www.cinefeaturesuk.co.uk FOLIO/JUNE 2012 21
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WHAT’SON
Pack a picnic for a familyfriendly afternoon of activities and games on the Downs on Mon 4 June
WHAT TO DO IN...
June
BBQS, JUBILEE SHINDIGS, CHINESE WHISPERS
AND WOMAD… MIKE WHITE IS SPOILED FOR CHOICE THIS MONTH
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UP ON THE DOWNS
Fingers crossed that the usual British bank holiday weather doesn’t spoil this – a summer celebration in honour of Her Royal Majness’s six decades atop the throne. Pack a picnic and some warm layers for later on, and head over to Bristol’s Downs for a familyfriendly afternoon of activities and games, from arts and craft sessions to live music and crazy golf. If you’ve got a bit of spare cash, you can even pre-book a Jubilee hot air balloon ride – but be sure to return to earth for the fancy-dress lantern procession at 9.30pm and the lighting of the Jubilee Beacon at 10pm, one of the 4,000 being lit across the globe as part of the jubilee celebrations – they’ve even applied to the Guinness World Records book as the longest chain of beacons ever!
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DIAMOND JUBILEE DOWNS DAY MON 4 JUNE, 3-10PM, THE DOWNS, CLIFTON, BRISTOL, FREE. FFI: WWW.JUBILEEBRISTOL.ORG
GREEN DREAM
With the summer holidays fast approaching, many of us will be thinking about heading south for a bit of beach time. After a very happy weekend there last month, Folio can highly recommend Green Acres cottages. Set on a hill near St Austell, with views over a wooded valley, Green Acres is a select enclave of quiet, comfortable cottages, all equipped for luxury self-catering, with log-burning stoves for if (when?) the weather takes a turn for the worse. There’s also an indoor swimming pool and kids’ play area, all set in a couple of acres of gardens. It’s an ideal base for exploring the Eden Project, South West coast path and Cornish jewels like nearby Charlestown, with its creaking tall ships and picture-postcard harbour. A ‘gourmet break’ at Green Acres includes a five-course dinner at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall, and a three-course table d’hote dinner at Beaucliffes at Porth Veor Manor Hotel, who specialise in local Cornish produce. They list the farmers and dairies that supply them, and grow all their own herbs on site. Highlights on our visit were the king prawn and chorizo kebabs and a superlative stiltoncrusted fillet of beef – after which we were more than ready to retire to Green Acres’ spotlit hot tub to watch the stars come out. GREEN ACRES COTTAGES PENPILLICK, PAR, CORNWALL. FFI: 01637 839544, WWW.GREENACRESCOTTAGES.CO.UK
BREAKS IN CORNWALL (WWW.BREAKSINCORNWALL.COM) IS OFFERING FOLIO READERS UP TO 50% OFF SHORT BREAKS IN GREEN ACRES TWO BEDROOM COTTAGES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN JUNE A 3 NIGHT BREAK WILL COST FROM £109 PER NIGHT (DOWN FROM £165) AND IN SEPT AND OCT, 3 NIGHTS WILL COST FROM JUST £59 PER NIGHT, DOWN FROM £120. HOT TUB SUPPLEMENT £60 FOR THREE NIGHTS. THE OFFER IS ON BREAKS OF THREE NIGHTS OR MORE. DOGS WELCOME IN SELECTED VILLAS AT A COST OF £6 PER DOG PER NIGHT. TO BOOK AT THIS SPECIAL RATE CALL 01621 784666 AND QUOTE PRL/560.
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WILD WEEKEND Get up close and personal with giant bugs, meet an owl, meet
some of Bristol Zoo’s more exotic residents and feed your mind with dozens of interactive exhibits and talks on everything from charming hedgehogs to the making of Frozen Planet. Huge, fabulous and free of charge, the Festival of Nature once again brings all this – plus a grand festival market and a lively performance line-up - to Bristol’s harbourside. Your urban safari starts here… FESTIVAL OF NATURE SAT 16 & SUN 17 JUNE, MILLENNIUM SQUARE, HARBOURSIDE, BRISTOL, FREE. FFI: WWW.BNHC.ORG.UK
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WHAT’SON
The Diamond Jubilee - a great excuse for a party!
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PARTY WITH THE PENGUINS
Bristol Zoo Gardens have been gathering interesting creatures from around the world for over 175 years. This month, they’re adding some exotic musicians to their collection, as the Womad festival returns for a second year, with sounds from Bulgaria, India and Guinea, headlined by the heady Havana-style horns of Ska Cubano. Alongside the wild music come children’s workshops, stalls and entertainment – and plenty of wildlife, too, as a selection of the zoo’s animal houses will be kept open late. As always at Bristol Zoo, protecting wildlife is on the agenda – this event will help raise funds to save endangered species in south-east Asia.
WOMAD FESTIVAL AT BRISTOL ZOO GARDENS SAT 30 JUNE, BRISTOL ZOO GARDENS, CLIFTON. ADV TICKETS £20 ADULT, £5 CHILD (3-14), £45 FAMILY. FFI: 0117 974 7300, WWW.BRISTOLZOO.ORG.UK
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GROW FOR IT
Bristol’s secret gardeners throw open their garden gates this month for the second Get Growing Garden Trail, as over 30 community groups across the city unite to share knowledge and inspire others to get digging too. Across community allotments and supported agriculture schemes, smallholdings and orchards, you can dip in and out of workshops, walks, garden tours, tastings and seedsowing and planting sessions. A friendly, free opportunity to pick up tips on garden design and growing your own food, or to simply enjoy the greenfingered whirl of wild-cooking shows, chilli tasting, barbecues and alfresco cream teas. GET GROWING GARDEN TRAIL SAT 9 & SUN 10 JUNE, VARIOUS VENUES, BRISTOL, FREE. FFI: 0117 966 1639, WWW.BRISTOLFOODNETWORK.ORG
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HAMPERS AND CHAMPERS
Whatever your views on the monarchy, the Diamond Jubilee is a great excuse for a party. One of many such gettogethers happening in Bristol this month (see left, too) is the M Shed’s dockside street party. Grab a bottle of fizz, load up your picnic hamper with good things to share and bring it all along for an afternoon of family activities, a fancy dress competition, singing workshops, a show from the Bristol Chamber Choir and (inevitably) oodles and oodles of bunting. BIG JUBILEE PARTY SAT 2 JUNE, 11AM-4PM, M SHED, PRINCES WHARF, WAPPING RD, BRISTOL, FREE. FFI: 0117 352 6600, WWW.MSHED.ORG
ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?
A storytelling bicycle, eerie tales from police cells, a pop-up radio station, a giant game of Chinese whispers… the first ever Bristol Biennial stretches its theme of ‘Storytelling’ in some very unusual directions. The event is a huge collaboration among Bristol’s arts community, and is the first large-scale event of its kind in the South West. Local and international artists will converge on the city, commandeering Edwardian toilets and church crypts, abandoned pubs and deserted police stations (as well as a host of galleries and studios) to interpret the storytelling theme in their own unexpected ways through visual arts, film and theatre. Expect discussion, folklore, blacksmith workshops and even an ‘End of Tea Rationing’ tea party. Exciting stuff.
BRISTOL BIENNIAL 2012: STORYTELLING 1-16 JUNE, VARIOUS LOCATIONS, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.BRISTOLBIENNIAL.COM
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SMOKIN’!
The heady scent of barbecue smoke will be drawing fans of the flame-grilled to Bristol’s harbourside as the Grillstock festival returns for another sizzling weekend. Expect expert barbecue cookery demonstrations, chilli-eating champions, children’s activities and live music with a definite Deep South leaning: rockabilly, cajun, bluegrass and country are the staples, with a headline set from Alabama 3. Come hungry, because tasting opportunities abound at Grillstock, and it’s not just about meat – there’ll be gourmet seafood, surprising veggie ideas and even chargrilled desserts.
GRILLSTOCK LLOYDS AMPHITHEATRE & WATERFRONT SQUARE, BRISTOL, SAT 30 JUNE & SUN 1 JULY, £11.50 PER DAY, WEEKEND TICKETS £22.50. FFI: 0117 230 6328, WWW.GRILLSTOCK.CO.UK
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CHILL OUT This Weekend
Whatever you want to do this weekend we’ve got it covered FREE in Friday’s Post
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WHAT’S ON PERFORMANCE
STEALING THE SHOW Steve Wright’s hot tickets from the world of THEATRE, COMEDY and MUSIC
I’m An Aristocrat, Get Me Out of Here Expect swordfighting, revolutionary speechifying, prison cells, daring escapes and a fair bit of silliness
TOBACCO FACTORY ➻ Bristol’s Tobacco Factory and
ONLY US
THEATRE Few shows this year will have more from-the-streets Bristol flavour than Only Us (6-9 June). This latest in a series of work by Bristol playwright Adam Peck draws on the thoughts, feelings and stories of Bristolians. Peck (the man behind the Tobacco Factory’s stunning Bonnie and Clyde) began the sequence with autobiographical one-man show Only, weaving together anecdotes from his only-child upbringing in 1980s Leeds – a grandpa who drops dead unexpectedly, his parents’ temporary separation, his disappointment with a pet hamster – and wondering about the connection between these events and his subsequent failed relationships and feelings of loneliness. ‘Comic, tragic, mordant, absurd… an impeccably deadpan, conversational performance,’ said our reviewer. Only Us builds on this by asking Bristolians for their own stories and incorporating them into the mix. Told in two halves, the show combines Adam’s life story with stories of people he met on his travels: a melting pot of Bristol folk, united by the same issues – friendship, family, the search for fulfilment.
FFI WWW.BRISTOLOLDVIC.ORG.UK
DOUBLE BILL
FASHION BRASS MUSIC An exhilarating evening of music from two of Bristol’s most exciting ensembles. On Sat 23 June, Bristol’s award-winning ladies’ barbershop chorus Bristol Fashion team up with premier South West brass ensemble Brassmatazz. BF’s repertoire mixes show tunes, stirring pop anthems, traditional ballads and gospel medleys. They welcome new members and visitors to their Thur-eve rehearsals (Four Acres School, Withywood, Bristol).
FFI WWW.BRISTOL-FASHION.ORG.UK
THEATRE Every June, BOV Theatre School’s graduating actors gear up for a swashbuckling end-of-year production, channelling everything they’ve learned during three intense, gruelling years. This year’s double-bill pairs Brian Friel’s poignant rural Irish life drama Dancing at Lughnasa (11-23 June, Tobacco Factory) with The Good Soul of Szechuan (14-23 June, BOV Studio), Brecht’s parable about a young Chinese prostitute striving, against all odds, to lead a good life.
FFI WWW. OLDVIC. AC.UK
WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE Kicking off the month is a new version of Educating Rita (4-9 June), Willy Russell’s much-loved tale of the unlikely alliance between a feisty Scouse hairdresser and a jaded university professor (Matthew Kelly). Later, Nichola McAuliffe stars in The Lady in the Van (25-30 June), Alan Bennett’s witty, poignant portrait of the eccentric trained concert pianist who took up residence on his drive for 15 eventful years.
THEATRE
FFI WWW.THEATREROYAL.ORG.UK
its little sister The Brewery have had a busy May co-hosting Mayfest, that splendid annual smorgasbord of adventurous theatre. And June at the two theatres looks every bit as packed and appetising. Highlights include Epsom Downs (1-2 June, Brewery), in which first-year students on the City of Bristol College’s Theatre Media Performance degree tackle Howard Brenton’s fast-paced comedy, set on Derby Day 1977. In this cross-classes portrait of late 1970s Britain, gypsies, buskers, jockeys and stallholders rub shoulders with evangelists, drunks and the ghost of a suffragette. Great fun. Coelacanth (21-23 June, Brewery) is a tale of love, loneliness and tree climbing, from lauded comedy writer Ben Moor. His one-man show tells the story of a couple’s quest to stay together in a world filled with imaginary flatmates, satanic jazz bands and other perils. Actress Miriam Margolyes (25-27 June, TFT) reprises her Olivier Award-nominated solo play Dickens’ Women, portraying 23 of the great man’s best-loved female characters, while local comic theatre troupe Gonzo Moose reprise their hilarious madcap comedy I’m An Aristocrat, Get Me Out of Here (28-29 June). GM’s idiosyncratic take on the French Revolution centres on an underground freedom-fighting group, Les Petits Pois (led by the mysterious Grand Pois), and their efforts to rescue the royal couple from cold-hearted De Rien.
FFI WWW. TOBACCOFACTORYTHEATRE.COM
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WHAT’S ON After a busy half-term week, ease into the weekend with a trip to the Egg in Bath to see puppet show Potato Needs a Bath
DAYS OUT
HALF TERM Another school holiday, already? Anna Britten is our woman in the know when it comes to half-term family fun
S
imply follow the instructions below and you’ll have earned yourself the right to plonk the kids in front of the telly with nothing but a bag of Haribo for distraction while you ‘rest your eyes’ under a blanket on the sofa. MONDAY 4 JUNE A lazy morning of Mr Bloom’s Nursery and/or Fifa 12, a plate of yesterday’s leftovers for lunch, and then it’s off to the Downs for a late night. Whether you’re a Windsor fan or not, this is where Bristol’s official Jubilee celebrations reach their zenith - and as such it’s a no-brainer when it comes to family entertainment. Children are encouraged to dress up in Jubileethemed (ie kings and queens) fancy dress. Following an afternoon of live music, storytelling (with the marvellous Martin Maudsley), games, crazy golf, crown- and lantern-making workshops, eating and drinking, coconut shy, treasure hunt, guided walks and more, at 9pm you can join in a procession accompanied by the Ambling Band (there will be prizes for best lantern and best fancy dress) and you can watch the lighting of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacon at 10pm.
FFI 0117 903 0609, WWW.AVONGORGE.ORG.UK
Cheerios and lemon barley should set you up for another busy day. This time it’s at Brunel’s ss Great Britain, where not only is there (a) the big ship itself, (b) new trails around it for children, inspired by a boy’s trunk and unofficial ship’s guide, and (c) Victorian photographic studio and dressing-up experience Flash, Bang, TUESDAY 5 JUNE
Take to the high seas with storytelling and new trails for kids on the ss Great Britain
Head to MEAA for a session of dancing dragon puppets and dragon boat making in readiness for the dragon boat festival later this month
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WHAT’S ON Wallop!, but also professional storyteller Sarah Mooney. She’ll be rocking up at 11am to recount adventures of the high seas. You can also quiz Mr Brunel himself, who’ll be wandering about in his big hat. Home in time for Rastamouse, then early to bed.
napping baby carrots… FFI 01225 448844, WWW. THEATREROYAL.ORG.UK/THE-EGG
If there’s still energy in those little legs, pop along to Sunset Special at Bristol Zoo Gardens, where you can see its inhabitants as the sun sets. You can even meet some of the smaller ones – such as the zoo’s new mascot, Larry the Lemur – up close. Animal talks and face painting will be available at a small charge and there will also be live big band entertainment and refreshments.
FFI 0117 926 0680, WWW.SSGREATBRITAIN.ORG WEDNESDAY 6 JUNE Congratulations! You’ve survived a bank holiday double-whammy! Chances are things will all feel a bit quiet today, so it’s the perfect opportunity to make some noise. After some bouncing on beds/off walls, and running around in pants, take your little beasts off to Bristol Zoo Gardens, where animatronic exhibition DinoZoo has just opened. Running throughout the summer, DinoZoo is free with zoo entry and sees the invasion of 12 huge and incredibly lifelike dinosaurs – including yer T-rex, yer triceratops and yer long-necked brachiosaurus - all of which will be brought to life using state of the art technology. That means that they move, roar, hiss, growl and even spray water.
FFI 0117 974 7300, WWW.BRISTOLZOO.ORG.UK/DINOZOO
A close cousin of the dinosaur, the dragon is the theme of Bath’s Museum of East Asian Art’s half-term schedule. Afternoons this week, from Wed-Fri, you can make dancing dragon puppets, dragon boats and paper dragon boat festival ‘dumplings’ in readiness for the traditional dragon boat festival later in the month. THURSDAY 7 JUNE
FFI 0117 974 7300, WWW.BRISTOLZOO. ORG.UK/BRISTOL-ZOOS-SUNSET-SPECIAL SATURDAY 8 & SUNDAY 9 JUNE
Scare yourselves silly by getting up close and personal with T-rex et al at Bristol Zoo
Admission is free with museum admission but you need to book in advance. FFI 01225 464640, WWW.MEAA.ORG.UK
Alternatively, Bristol Zoo Garden’s Brilliant Butterflies on the Downs (for ages eight to 12) offers a day of lepidopteran delight. Did you know, for example, that butterflies can taste with their feet? Spend the morning butterfly spotting, then, in the afternoon, create your own caterpillar or butterfly sock puppet to take home. Children will need to take a packed lunch. FFI 0117 903 0609
Start to wind the week down with a trip to the theatre. The Egg theatre, to be precise, where from today until Sunday, ages three and over will love the silliness of puppet show Potato Needs a Bath. Potato is, er, a potato. His friends Onion and Aubergine are… well, you get the picture. They’re going to a party, and everyone is ready except Potato – cue captivating vintagedressed creator/performer Shona Reppe to chivvy them along. ‘Fresh and sweet,’ quoth Time Out New York when they saw it last year. Be sure not to wake the
FRIDAY 8 JUNE
Put that vintage tea-dress to good use, Mother, it’s Tyntesfield’s annual WW2 Weekend! Get yourselves over to Wraxall, and step through a wormhole to the 1940s with the help of costumed re-enactors, music, swing dancing and military vehicles, plus a special display on the women who kept the home fires burning, from driving ambulances to working the land. If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to wear your hair in a victory roll, book a babysitter for the Saturday evening and head for a 1940s evening in Home Farm, a new ‘after hours’ addition for this year. You’ll get a two-course dinner, have your picture taken next to one of their military vehicles and swing to live music. Hoped for, though by no means promised, are also hunky American GIs, and their endless supplies of nylons and chewing gum. FFI 01275 461900, WWW. NATIONALTRUST.ORG.UK/TYNTESFIELD
DAD-DAH! IT’S FATHER’S DAY… ➻ Yup, it’s Father’s Day on
Sunday 17 June. Handily for twowheeled dads, it’s Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride, too, the culmination of Bristol’s Big Green Week (www.biggreenweek.com). At Tyntesfield (www.nationaltrust. org.uk/tyntesfield), meanwhile, there’s a classic car rally where the old man can have his photo taken, gurning happily next to his favourite. A simply brilliant Father’s Day idea as barbecue season gets underway is Arnos Vale Cemetery’s (www.arnosvale. org.uk) afternoon-long charcoalmaking workshop in which you’ll learn how to prepare wood to make charcoal, plus take a BBQ
bag home. Meanwhile, the M Shed (www.mshed.org) invite you to celebrate both Father’s Day and their own first birthday with two free The Big Make sessions (10am-1pm & 2-4pm). Let your imagination run riot and create fantastic sculpture from reclaimed materials, with the help of Refab Arts. From here you can also stowaway for a half-hour trip on the John King, a diesel tug that helped bring the ss Great Britain home in 1970. Across the water you’ll also find Bristol Festival of Nature (www.bnhc. org.uk), bringing together over 150 organisations for the UK’s largest celebration of the natural
world. That means activities for all ages, including interactive exhibits from the BBC’s Natural History Unit, Bristol Zoo Gardens et al, talks from famous faces, a market packed with local produce, live entertainment and much more. Alternatively, there’s quality nosebag over in Whitchurch at HorseWorld (www.horseworld.org.uk), who invite you to a two- or threecourse Father’s Day lunch overlooking the award-winning walled garden. And download the relevant voucher from Bristol Zoo Gardens (www.bristolzoo. org.uk) and he can go to the zoo for free all day!
Celebrate Father's Day with a Big Make session at M Shed
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NEW SHOW
NEW VENUE 6 PHILADELPHIA ST. QUAKERS FRIARS OPENING 1st week of August For an invitation to our Open Evening - 3 Aug email: tina@courtyardgallery.org or call: 0797 7219037 Mon - Sat 10am - 7pm Sun 11am - 5pm
In the meantime, call Tina Brown on 0797 721 9037 for an exclusive opportunity to view the private show currently at 4.22 Paintworks. Come and enjoy the contemporary works which include original oils, limited edition prints and ceramics. If you have any queries on buying or displaying art in your home, do chat to Tina, she’s very happy to to give advice. Please visit our website for news and to view the work of other artists we represent, also follow us on Twitter or view us on Facebook.
COURTYARDgallery
www.courtyardgallery.org
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WHAT’S ON
ART SCENE
PICTURE THIS
Our round-up of the very best on the local ART SCENE from Steve Wright
‘Blade Runner’ by John Buckley on display at the Victoria Art Gallery (26 May-1 July)
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MEET THE GIANTS
LLOYD GILL GALLERY
A MONTH IN BATH
WESTON-SUPER-MARE Weston may not be renowned as an artists’ mecca, but the Lloyd Gill Gallery, in a Victorian villa behind the seafront, is definitely making waves, hosting high-quality, often conceptual, thoughtprovoking exhibitions by local, national and international artists. Until 22 June, A Sharp Eye to an Open Eye features artists from across Europe painting in both realist and abstract styles, including Bristol’s Rebecca Cains, who has an enduring fascination with scrapyards, and Eve Harvey, master of colourful, almost Fauvist abstracts. From 25 June to 1 July, gallery owner Gill, a talented and striking abstract painter, joins forces with expressionist painter Lou Reade in Exposure. Reade’s new pieces are inspired by San Francisco’s unique cityscapes, while Gill’s paintings draw directly from the subconscious. “I like viewers to concentrate hard to see objects that others will not,” says Gill, whose influences include Jackson Pollock, Salvador Dali and Paul Klee.
➻ A busy June, this, for Bath’s art
FFI WWW.THELLOYDGILLGALLERY.COM
CLIFTON FINE ART AMERICAN MUSEUM This brand CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL
new gallery launches in Philadelphia Street this month. Debut exhibition The Circus Show (8-30 June) includes paintings by Tom White, one of our favourite local artists, whose urban scenes (Happy Shopper, pictured) lend Bristol’s central and eastern suburbs a light-soaked, Mediterranean beauty. Also catch Harriet Whyatt (with paintings inspired by the romanticism, tradition and pride of Romany gypsies) and Essex Tyler, a Cornish landscape artist collected by Prince Charles and others. FFI WWW.CLIFTONFINEART.COM
Quite apart from its rolling parkland, fascinating folk arts and general Americana, the museum hosts a quartet of fine exhibitions this summer. The line-up includes The Compassionate Eye, a stunning collection of fauna studies from their Print Collection, and (pictured) engravings by incomparable American ornithological artist John James Audubon. CLAVERTON, BATH
FFI WWW.AMERICANMUSEUM. ORG
BRISTOL BIENNIAL 1-16 JUNE This brand new citywide arts festival with a ‘storytelling’ theme features over 50 exhibitions and events. Highlights include Face Your Stories, a video installation in which artists, writers and performers tell their innermost stories in exchange for a professional massage! Two key summer events under the BB umbrella are urban paint weekend UPFEST (2-4 June) and the excellent annual Open Studios event at Jamaica Street Studios (18-20 June).
FFI WWW.BRISTOLBIENNIAL.COM
lovers. First up, a duo of finelooking shows at Bath’s Hilton Fine Art this month includes Print (26 May-16 June), with prints by some giants of 20th century abstract painting, including Howard Hodgkin, Gillian Ayers, Celia Cook and John Eaves; and Bath Scenes (23 June-21 July), with local artists including Rose Hilton and the incomparable David Cobley giving us their interpretations of their fair city … Across town, Edgar Modern’s summer show Established and Emerging (1-30 June) features signed lithographs, etchings and screenprints by big guns including Paula Rego, Henry Moore and Victor Pasmore. Fresher talent is on view in the shape of Brighton illustrator/animator Betsy Dadd, creator of haunting monoprints of plants, animals and empty landscapes … Among the larger Bath galleries, Portrait Sculpture at the resurgent Holburne Museum of Art (26 May-2 Sept) brings together some of history’s most striking sculpted portraits, from Ancient Greek and Roman heads to Modernist studies by Degas, Giacometti and Brancusi … Victoria Art Gallery get the Olympic bug with Sculpture and Sport (26 May-1 July), sculptural studies of Olympic and Paralympic sports by 30 established British sculptors … Make time, too, for Bath School of Art and Design’s Degree Show 2012 (9-17 June at the School, Sion Hill, Lansdown & Old Pumping Station, Midland Rd), featuring ceramics, fine art, graphic communication, textile design and more by graduating students.
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COMPETITIONS
WIN A LEATHER MESSENGER BAG! Bath company Blokesbags was founded to give men the best options in bags - whether they’re business types who want a safe and solid briefcase, or a student with a messenger bag full of notes and a netbook. Determined that bags for men don’t have to be boring, they offer a large collection of briefcases, holdalls, messenger bags and laptop cases, made from a range of materials including leather, canvas, hemp and even vegan faux leather. We have one satchel-style, double-buckle, soft leather messenger bag worth £113.99 to give away to one lucky reader. All you have to do is put something cool in it! BLOKESBAGS FFI: 01225 952852, WWW.BLOKESBAGS.CO.UK
WIN A MEN’S SATCHEL!
TO ENTER ➻
FRANCIS HOTEL BATH Just answer the following question: Which famous architect constructed the seven houses that make up the Francis Hotel Bath? Email your answer, with ‘Francis Hotel Bath’ in the subject line, to: editor@foliomagazine.co.uk by Fri 22 June. Entries after this date will not be counted. Winner will be picked at random and notified by Mon 2 July. Please include your full contact details (name, address, postcode, email, mobile, landline). Accommodation is subject to availability and at the manager’s discretion.
➻
BLOKESBAGS Just answer the following question: Which of the following materials are not used in a Blokesbags bag – leather, canvas, lace? Email your answer, with ‘Blokesbags’ in the subject line, to: editor@ foliomagazine.co.uk by Fri 22 June. Entries after this date will not be counted. Winner will be picked at random and notified by Mon 2 July. Please include your full contact details (name, address, postcode, email, mobile, landline).
THE WINNERS Stellar cookware comp: Congratulations to David Exell who won a knife block set. Correct answer: James Martin. Fizzy Flower jewellery comp: Congratulations to Barbara Van Der Eerden who won a necklace and earrings. Correct answer: Freshwater pearls, leather, semiprecious stones or cut-glass crystal.
fabulous COMPS
Enter today to be in with a chance of winning these great prizes!
WIN A STAY AT THE FRANCIS HOTEL IN BATH! Following a spectacular £6m refurbishment, Francis Hotel Bath has truly reclaimed its place as one of Bath’s most desirable addresses. The elegant Regency townhouse hotel in the heart of Bath is now a proud member of the MGallery collection by Accor, a select group of memorable high-end hotels around the world. The interiors have been carefully designed to reflect the hotel’s origins as seven of Bath’s most prestigious houses, constructed by celebrated architect John Wood the Elder, and combine a stunning mix of traditional and contemporary furnishing, including bespoke hand-drawn wallpaper and geometric floor tiles. We have an overnight stay for two in a superior room - plus breakfast and afternoon tea - to give away to one lucky Folio reader.
WIN A HOTEL STAY!
FRANCIS HOTEL BATH QUEEN SQUARE, BATH. FFI: 01225 424105, WWW.FRANCISHOTEL.COM
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NEWS REVIEWS RECIPES TOP TENS FEATURES NEWS REVIEWS RECIPES TOP TENS FEATURES
➻ EATINGOUTWEST FOODIE FESTIVALS, COOKERY COURSES, SPA PACKAGES, NEW OPENINGS AND MORE...
h’s a flat glass
FESTIVAL
GO WEST
➻ Here at Eating Out West we’re always fond of innovation (if it
works). But then again, we’re equally keen to remember that if it ain’t broke, you shouldn’t go fixing it. Looking at the programme for this year’s Flavours of the West festival at Bath’s groovy uberprecinct Milsom Place, it seems we’re not alone. As in previous highly successful years, there’ll be top local celebrity chefs staging cookery demonstrations in the Georgian splendour of the Octagon Chapel, with this year’s crop including Lucknam Park’s Michelin man Hywel Jones, veggie guru Rachel Demuth with colleague Richard Buckley, Nick Brodie from the Queensberry Hotel’s AA-rosetted Olive Tree restaurant, and Yo! Sushi head chef Henry Mugridge. It’s not just the established names who’ll be appearing, though. The festival will also celebrate exuberant newcomer Gordon Jones from Menu Gordon Jones, as well as chef-turned-fishmonger Gary Rosser from the Scallop Shell at Whiterow Farm shop. Perhaps the most interesting will be John Wheatley, award-winning garden designer and pioneer of the ‘edible garden’ approach, which bridges the gap between herbaceous borders and a veg patch. There will be a producers market, of course, featuring great local artisan cheese, cider, ales, wine and other deliciousnesses, and a Bake and Cake Zone where the indefatigable members of Bath WI will be knocking up a constant stream of cakes and biscuits. With a ‘foodie fun’ area where children can sample their own delights, not to mention cupcake-decorating advice from no less a luminary than design supremo Cath Kidston herself, it’s clearly going to be a bumper year for Flavours of the West. Surely no self-respecting Bath foodie can afford to miss out on the action.
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FLAVOURS OF THE WEST SAT 30 JUNE & SUN 1 JULY, MILSOM PLACE, BATH. FFI: WWW.MILSOMPLACE.CO.UK
SPA & RESTAURANT PACKAGE
THE TWILIGHT ZONE ➻ Ever have those days where you crawl home from work all wound up, tired and hungry and you just want someone to sort it all out for you? Well Bath’s Thermae Spa people may not have the answer to workplace issues, but their Twilight package could well be the way to deal with the symptoms. For a flat fee of £42 (£80 for two), the world-weary can pick up towel, robe and slippers and settle into a three-hour spa session, with a main-course meal and glass of wine, lager, juice or water in the Springs restaurant thrown in. So, on a nice day, you could be outside getting a neck massage from the jets in the
open-air pool or drifting down a ‘lazy river’ in the big indoor Minerva thermal bath before sweating it out in a eucalyptusfragranced steam room. A couple of hours of that and you should be ready for a plate of roasted guinea fowl with celeriac cream and pearl barley or grilled lemon sole with mango couscous. The only drawback is that you can’t book in advance, so get there early or risk adding disappointment to your already overloaded shoulders. THERMAE BATH SPA HETLING PUMP ROOM, HOT BATH ST, BATH. FFI: 0844 888 0844, WWW.THERMAEBATHSPA. COM
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NEW PREMISES
...
COOKERY SCHOOL
SQUARE MEALS ➻ Barny Haughton is a big name in the green food world. For more than 15 years, running successful Bristol restaurants, he’s been a tireless campaigner for sustainable eating - it’s thanks to him, in part, that even pub menus now claim to be ‘organic, local and seasonal’. When flagship ecorestaurant Bordeaux Quay was launched in 2006, Barny took the opportunity to develop his cookery school, an eclectic academy teaching everything from peeling an onion to professional-standard chef skills, to all ages from primary school children upwards. It’s always been part of Barny’s mission to make food skills and knowledge available to everyone, with a community-focused programme at the heart of the school’s agenda, and bringing in groups and school classes from the inner city and outlying estates. So, when relocation was planned last autumn, he pitched his tent (so to speak) at The Park, the bustling community hub in Knowle
West that formerly housed the Teachers TV programme. Now relaunched as the Square Food Foundation, the school will continue to put on courses for adults, children and families from all over Bristol and beyond, with novel ideas like the Sunday Lunch Club offering couples the chance to learn new seasonal recipes and about things to do with leftovers while cooking their lunch together. Members who join the Square Food Club get discounts on certain courses, loads of recipes and a ‘cookery hotline’ for answers to kitchen conundrums. It’s all in the spirit of Barny’s conviction that cooking and eating food makes people happy - and what could be better in these clouded times? SQUARE FOOD FOUNDATION THE PARK, DAVENTRY RD, BRISTOL, BS4. FFI: 0117 904 6679, WWW.SQUAREFOODFOUNDATION.CO.UK
HOME AT LAST ➻ It was good to see Zazu’s
Kitchen re-open last month at the former La Barrique premises on Bristol’s Gloucester Road. Owner Toby Bywater moved the Stokes Croft bistro to Clifton last year after trade was badly affected by the riots but, despite a warm reception from customers, the lack of appropriate planning permission forced him to close after only six months. Hopefully this new location will be a case of third time lucky, though if the food is as tasty, stylish and affordable as previous incarnations, then luck won’t have much to do with it.
ZAZU’S KITCHEN 225 GLOUCESTER RD, BRISTOL, BS7. FFI: 0117 944 5500, WWW.ZAZUSKITCHEN.CO.UK
PAN-ASIAN
VA-VA VOONG! ➻ When brother and sister Kwan and Lindsey Voong launched their new restaurant Toro on Park Street, Bristol, they didn’t lack for words of wisdom thanks to a family background that’s been involved in catering for years. “We had fantastic advice from family and friends,” Lindsey recalls. “It meant things pretty well went to plan from the start.” Since Toro opened in April it’s already begun to build up a following in one of the city’s more competitive boulevards, with a pan-Asian menu that pulls
together dishes from Thai, Malaysian and regional Chinese traditions. But while things may have gone smoothly, that doesn’t mean that the Voongs are resting on their laurels - Lindsey is only too aware of the pressure. “We just want to keep improving all the time. We want it to be even better!” TORO PAN ASIAN RESTAURANT 72 PARK ST, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 316 9261, WWW. TORO-PANASIAN.CO.UK (OR SEE FACEBOOK: TORO PAN ASIAN CUISINE)
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EATINGOUTWEST
CATCH THE
WORM H Tony Benjamin dips his toe into the wallet-friendly world of early bird dining
ere are two depressing thoughts dispelled in an instant… (a) ‘Posh nosh is out of my price range!’ and (b) ‘I’ve got to get to the theatre/ cinema after work and I don’t have time to eat!’ Really? Well try this one on for size: you, my friend, could be an early bird, and thus some of the nicest independent eateries in Bristol and Bath could well fit the hard-pressed demands on your time and money more neatly than you realise. The fact is, any smart restaurateur knows that fitting in a quick early sitting before the more languorous evening diners arrive is a businesslike move that builds goodwill and gets you extra custom. And the smart customer knows that they’ll get some
top cooking and swift service for a fraction of the normal a la carte price. In French bistros they always did it to cater for the theatre crowd, so it’s hardly surprising to find Monsieur Raymond Blanc offering an early quickie at his brand new Bath Brasserie as well as the more established Quakers Friars venue in Bristol. When you look straight out at Bath’s Theatre Royal, as Gascoyne Place does, it’s only good sense to think about the possibilities, while Goldbrick House’s Park Street proximity to St George’s concert hall makes it a natch for a pre-gig deal. But you don’t need a cultural cover story for a tasty bargain, either: Clifton Village’s Prosecco and Fishers both have great early deals, plus the handy offer of a walk on the Downs afterwards at no extra charge. Think sunsets and Suspension Bridge…
BRASSERIE BLANC Francis Hotel, Queen Square, Bath (01225 303860) & Bakers & Cutlers Halls, Friary Building, Cabot Circus, Bristol (0117 910 2410). Ffi: www.brasserieblanc.com dine with wine - 2 £11.50, 3 £13.95 + gls wine (£1.95) AVAILABLE till 7pm SAMPLE DISHES smoked ham hock terrine, grilled Loch Duart salmon with prawn potatoes, lemon posset DEAL
Monsieur Le Blanc offers his touch of French je ne sais quoi in classic English historical surroundings, with the Theatre Royal and Komedia close by in Bath, and Cinema de Lux and Odeon handy for his Bristol place.
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FISHERS RESTAURANT
Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, Bristol, BS8. Ffi: 0117 974 7044, www.fishers-restaurant.com DEAL early dining - choice of five main
courses at £5 AVAILABLE order 6-6.45pm, finish by 7.30pm SAMPLE DISHES fragrant red curry with haddock fillet and coconut rice, seafood tagliatelle, traditional fish pie. You can be sure of a real taste of the seaside at this very popular specialist diner in the heart of Clifton Village.
GASCOYNE PLACE 1 Sawclose, Bath. Ffi: 01225 445854, www.gascoyneplace.co.uk
GLASSBOAT
DEAL pre-theatre menu - 2 £13.50, 3 £17 AVAILABLE Mon-Fri 5.30-7pm SAMPLE DISHES cream of wild mushroom soup
Welsh Back, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 929 0704, www.glassboat.co.uk
with truffle oil, braised venison and ale with horseradish mash, rhubarb pannacotta with rhubarb jelly and stem ginger shortbread
DEAL early bird supper - 2 £15, 3 £20 AVAILABLE Mon-Sat 5.30-7pm SAMPLE DISHES smoked salmon with pickled
GP’s reputation for attention-seeking dishes is well represented in their early-menu choices and, happily, it’s only a step from the Theatre Royal and Komedia.
fennel, skate & mussel stew with potatoes, lemon cake with chantilly cream Very handy for the Old Vic, but the combination of ‘New British’ cuisine and one of the best dockside views in Bristol might make you forget about the play.
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Over the summer months enjoy scenic waterfront views while dining alfresco with Jacks Bar & Brasserie. Escape the hustle and bustle of city life in secluded settings on Bristol’s Harbourside and Portishead Marina, both with vast outdoor space for making the most of the finer weather. The menus feature locally-sourced seasonal produce to create dishes that take a contemporary twist on Great British classics, for the casual diner. Throughout the summer, in addition to the Brasserie menu Jacks will run themed nights; every Thursday is BBQ night on the terrace (Bristol only) and every Friday is Fintastic Fish Night where diners can enjoy a whole fish and bottle of wine for two people for just £35.00. Sample Brasserie Dishes Starters Ham hock and lentil terrine, piccalilli, crisp rye bread Main Course Whole baked Brixham plaice, buttered samphire, Cornish new potatoes, confit tomatoes Desserts Wye Valley strawberry pannacotta, champagne and elderflower sorbert
In conjunction with Folio, Jacks Bar & Brasserie are offering guests two main courses and a bottle of wine for two people for just £25. To redeem this offer please call the restaurant of your choice in advance and quote ‘Folio’ when booking your table. Offer Terms & Conditions - This offer includes any two main courses from the menu and a bottle of house wine for two people. - This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. - This offer is not valid on Friday & Saturday evenings or Bank Holidays. - To redeem this offer a table must be booked in advance and ‘Folio’ must be mentioned at the time of booking.
Portishead Marina Spinnaker, Harbour Road, Portishead, BS20 7AW T: 01275 397304 E: Portishead@jacksbrasserie.co.uk Bristol Harbourside 1 Hannover Quay, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5JE T: 0117 9453990 E: Bristol@jacksbrasserie.co.uk 36 FOLIO/JUNE 2012
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GOLDBRICK HOUSE
Park St, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 945 1950, www.goldbrickhouse.co.uk DEAL early evening menu – 2 £10, 3 £13 AVAILABLE served till 6-6.45pm SAMPLE DISHES braised shin of beef with
celeriac purée, roast mixed vegetable risotto with rocket and parmesan, mango syllabub with pistachio & strawberry crumble Plenty of rich flavours in the Goldbrick style, served up in friendly smartness, with St George’s just down the hill.
TASTING ROOM PROSECCO
The Mall, Clifton Village, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 973 4499, www.proseccoclifton.com DEAL early evening menu – 2 £15, 3 £19 AVAILABLE order before 7pm, finish by 8.30pm SAMPLE DISHES smoked salmon crostini, pork
belly with red cabbage, banana & white chocolate semi-freddo
Green St, Bath. Ffi: 01225 483070, www.tastingroom.co.uk DEAL early evening menu - 2 £11.94, 3
£14.95 AVAILABLE 5-7pm SAMPLE DISHES chicken liver parfait with
shallot jam and toast, linguine with broad beans, peas, mint and parmesan, pear tart This offer means you can think about exploring their impressive wine list – and don’t forget they do tapas, too.
The contemporary Italian restaurant that so impressed Gordon Ramsay offers a smartly intimate eating experience and a typically straightforward selection of fresh flavours.
THAI EDGE Broad Quay, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 927 6088, www.thaiedge.co.uk DEAL pre-theatre special – 2 £9.95 AVAILABLE 5.30-7pm SAMPLE DISHES tom yam soup, pad thai
noodles, pad prew waan (sweet & sour) Pick from the full range of popular Thai dishes before popping over the road to the Hippodrome or round the corner to the Old Vic.
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eat5star Eat5Star have built a reputation as one of the leading caterers in Bath and the South West, covering Somerset, Wiltshire & Gloucestershire. Offering over a decade of experience we are one of the most exciting and creative catering companies specialising in outside catering for Weddings, Private Parties and Corporate events. Eat5Star Caterers only use the finest and freshest ingredients and are dedicated to providing our clients with a unique and memorable bespoke catering experience. Whether you are planning a hen party at a private venue or looking for someone to cater at your wedding in the Guildhall we can guarantee our level of service and expertise will ensure your event runs smoothly. Looking for event caterers? Call Eat5star now to discuss your personal requirements and see how we can help organise, plan, cater and manage your event. Whether it is for christenings, business lunches or canapĂŠs, our bespoke catering service ensures that we can cater for your every need.
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KEEP CALM! For the ultimate Jubilee nosh, Melissa Blease turns to British cookery doyenne, Bath’s Marguerite Patten
W
hatever Great British Weather flaming June is set to throw at us this month, it’s unlikely that you’re going to be able to ignore the fact that the nation is subject to a long weekend of celebrations between 2-5 June to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II taking to the throne. Yup, Madge has stayed the course, and whatever your views on the monarchy may be, everybody likes a party. In food terms at least, Britain has ostensibly come a long way since food rationing ended two years after Liz took to the throne. How ironic, then, that we’re once again subject to economic
Bath-born Marguerite Patten, Britain’s original celebrity chef
influences similar to the kind that stressed out the original Coronation revellers. But we can handle it! In June 2012, keep calm and carry on your Jubilee celebrations with a helping hand from a Great British Dame (and original local lass) whose legacy also deserves to be celebrated as we gather together to share a taste of our island culture. Marguerite Patten (née Hilda Elsie Marguerite Brown) was born in Bath on 4 November 1915, a year after the first world war began. By the time the second world war started, this intrepid home economist was a respected food writer and broadcaster - in itself a particularly remarkable feat for a young woman at the time. But Marguerite’s indomitable common-
sense style first gripped the public’s attention during food-rationing days, when she joined the government’s Ministry of Food (a concept later adopted by Jamie Oliver’s army) to advise families on how to manage their limited resources and still reap maximum nutritional benefit. What Marguerite couldn’t do with a sliver of liver, half an ounce of butter and a sprinkling of powdered egg wasn’t worth knowing, while her wonderful ways with raw grated turnip became the stuff of national legend. Her daily, five-minute long BBC Radio broadcast The Kitchen Front kept many a hungry pecker up as food was scarce and morale low, and by the time the second world war ended, the nation’s earliest celebrity chef had arrived, a status attributed to by the success of her own TV cookery show in 1947. Since then, Marguerite (OBE, CBE and recipient of a Woman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award) has sold over 17 million copies of her 170 books and continues to contribute to TV and radio
food programmes today. Not bad for a girl from Bath.
JUBILEE FOOD: WHAT WOULD MARGUERITE DO? CORONATION CHICKEN Invented by florist Constance Spry and chef Rosemary Hume for Liz’s inaugural Coronation Banquet, this moreish mélange of cold chicken, sultanas, curry powder and creamy sauce still tops the takeaway sandwich charts today, but for full-on authenticity it should be served as a ‘salad’ on authentically damp, floppy lettuce leaves. SPAM ‘Gifted’ to the UK by Hormel Foods USA in 1937, this infamous canned chopped pork/ham amalgamation with an iconic, folkloric reputation endures as a retro
street party food classic, thanks in equal parts to persistent advertising campaigns and a 1970 Monty Python sketch. SANDWICHES ALL ROUND Or rather, neatly quartered, with the crusts cut off. Fillings include smears of Shippam’s fish/meat paste, thinly sliced and salted cucumber or strawberry jam, and the lubricant must be Stork margarine. As for the bread - if it ain’t thin white sliced, it ain’t a proper Jubilee sarnie. THINGS ON STICKS Cheese and pineapple chunks. Cocktail sausages. Prunes wrapped in bacon. Canned cherries and slices of banana. Radishes to be dipped into salad cream! Yesterday’s canapés are the chic sticks of today. SHERRY TRIFLE Soak ‘trifle sponge fingers’ (from a packet) in a generous glug of sweet sherry. Submerge in strawberry jelly and leave to set before topping with a thick layer of Bird’s custard, swirls of squirty cream and a final flourish of garish hundreds and thousands… Ah, the Great British Trifle - don’t mess with it!
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(Review)
MARLBOROUGH TAVERN The lovely vibe, decent prices and imaginative Great British Food at Bath’s welcoming gastropub are just what Melissa Blease’s doctor ordered
I
t was raining. I’d left my umbrella at home. Beloved was late for our date. My phone battery had died. The heel was coming off my shoe. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast - ah, the atmospheric outlook on Planet Blease was not good. High five to high-end Heritage City hostelry the Marlborough Tavern, then, for lifting my spirits from the moment I walked (or rather, hobbled damply) though the door. But then again, how could anybody not be cheered up once seated on a comfy banquette at a table for two, surrounded by elegant merrymakers seeking similar dreary-day solace? How could you fail to relax when you apologise to a welcoming member of staff for lateness of guest and pitifully sodden hair dripping all over the place, only to have your cares wafted away by
“My starter of Cornish crab tortellini was as fresh and refreshing as the genre gets, served with a tomato and shallot salad that I could happily live on all summer.” a cheery wave of the hand as she heads off in search of your muchneeded vodka and tonic? And whose countenance wouldn’t be lifted by a menu that declares it to be Fish and Chip Night at your favourite gastropub? And so it came to pass that by the time He’d finished tossing his balls around the petanque piste, He was greeted not by a nagging harridan but with a calm, comfortable missus who’d already ordered for him (I may have cheered up, but more hanging around simply wasn’t an option). There have been a few changes to the brigade since EOW last visited the MT. Fortunately, however, head chef Richard Knighting is still at the helm, and he seems to have upped the imagination ante yet again in recent months: a starter of pressed ham hock accompanied by a shot glass of pea and ham soup and crisp, fritterstyle black pudding marbles was as colourful as a Kandinsky and tasted
amazing, thanks in no small part to Pedro Ximenez, infused somewhere into the whole creation. My starter of Cornish crab tortellini, meanwhile, was as fresh and refreshing as the genre gets, served with a tomato and shallot salad that I could happily live on all summer, and a bisque that added luxurious texture to the whole ensemble - one day soon, I plan to return to the Tav for a main course portion of this dish alone. Talking of mains... It being Fish and Chip Night, it would have been rude not to
join in the celebrations, so I opted for a neat, contemporary twist on this Great British Classic: fresh, moist fingers and balls of fritto misto (including baby squid and scallops) in a featherlight tempura batter teamed with a cone of the Tav’s highly acclaimed chips, a pile of mushy peas and a pot of anchovy mayonnaise, resulting in a combination of seaside nostalgia and contemporary flourish - perfection on a plate. For the ball boy, a manly ribeye steak, which boasted an illustrious pedigree (impeccable sourcing is a Tav strong point) and fully lived up to its heritage, was gently swathed in garlic butter and accompanied by yet more of those choice chips. Why did we
have pudding after all that? Because there was peanut butter cheesecake served with drizzles of salted caramel and proper lemon posset on the menu... Had I missed out on either, the storm clouds would undoubtedly have gathered again. Throughout our visit, service was effortlessly lovely, and the cosy but chic surroundings offered a seductively linger-long ambience. The total bill for our heartwarming cheer-up feast came in at circa £78 (including a bottle of the MT’s superb house cabernet merlot and a dessertwine snifter to ease post-petanque stress). But it’s easily possible to chill out and stroll through a satisfying supper here and still rattle change from £30 for two, making Taverntime the ultimate Bath gastropub sanctuary whatever the weather... or the prevailing mood.
CONTACT
MARLBOROUGH TAVERN 35 MARLBOROUGH BUILDINGS, BATH. FFI: 01225 423731, WWW. MARLBOROUGH-TAVERN.COM THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH
Reliably, unfailingly good food, vibe and welcome
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TORO PAN ASIAN Exciting new restaurant located on park street authentic Chinese, Malaysian & Thai menu £5.95 Lunch everyday 12-5pm Birthdays, large functions,banquets & private parties Opening everyday 12noon - 11pm 72 Park Street Bristol BS1 5JX
0117 3169261
www.toro-panasian.co.uk
FISHERS RESTAURANT The ever popular Fishers Restaurant in Clifton Village has been serving responsibly sourced sustainable fresh fish direct from the south coast day boats or markets for the last 11 years. The expertise of the fish and wine merchants, the skills and creativity of the chefs and the care and attention in the service are all at the heart of specialist independent dining – that’s Fishers; hook, line and sinker. 35 Princess Victoria Street Clifton Village Bristol BS8 4BX Tel: 0117 974 7044 www.fishers-restaurant.com/bristol
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(Review)
THALI CAFE
Tony Benjamin heads to this Montpelier eatery, serving real Indian food at jawdroppingly low prices, where the awards just keep on coming
I
t’s been a while since I visited the original Montpelier incarnation of Thali Cafe - so long, in fact, that I have to ring up to find out if it’s BYO (it isn’t, never has been). That’s not an attitude thing, however, just a reflection that the original Montpelier place has spawned others nearer to where I live. I have fond memories of those early visits, recalling a lively crowded little room done out in shabby post-colonialchic style, with fresh spices on its breath. The vibe reflected the cheery chaos of a festival stall (which was how they started), while the food’s flavoursome freshness outshone most other Indian eateries by a long mile. Good sourcing policies and the brilliant adoption of the reusable Indian tiffin cans for takeaways put them ahead of the game in wearing their green heart on their sleeve, yet they never charged extra for that warm eco-glow. Ten years later, there have been changes, sure, but none at the expense of what made the Thali such a success that national awards from the likes of The Observer and BBC Radio 4 have become almost an annual commonplace. Little Brother’s rare visit to town makes an excellent excuse to revisit the original Thali Cafe, perched above Herberts Bakery in Montpelier, and check out the new back room. It feels airily spacious thanks to well-spaced tables and nice big windows, but the scattering of mannequins, standard lamps and ancient colonial photographs in battered frames keeps the friendly TC atmosphere, as does the easy warmth of the welcome. The menu is a little more complicated than back in the day, but five choices of thali instead of the one, with meat, fish and dairy-free options, hardly taxes the mind for long. I pick the original northern paneer plate, while Little Brother goes for the mogul with its free-range chicken curry - and we start, of course, with poppadoms and chutneys.
“When the thali plates arrive I warn my brother about the chilli burn (ie, there won’t be one) - fans of searing anglicised versions had best give Thali a wide berth.” The Thali Cafe chutneys have always been a source of contention because of the price: when a full thali plate of three curries with rice, salad and raita costs a mere £8, how come chutneys (which usually come free) cost £3.50? The answer, as far as I’m concerned anyway, is: ‘Because they’re worth it.’ You don’t get four tablespoons straight out of a jar; you get four homemade delicacies full of unusual flavour, with darkly sour tomato and tamarind vying
with surprisingly warm mango and chilli for my favourite. Happily, there’s fraternal agreement on this point, and we’re well pleased to snap’n’dip while sipping pints of Kingfisher that typically Indian lager actually brewed in Kent by Shepherd Neame, our shared boyhood’s local brewers. When the thali plates arrive I warn my brother about the chilli burn issue (ie, there won’t be one) - fans of searing anglicised versions of Indian food had best give the Thali
Cafe a wide berth. What they offer is food that’s spiced with a full range of flavours matched to the ingredients and true to their Indian origins. Thus the tarka dahl has a fulsome garlic breath and the vegetable subji a richer cumin-hued flavour. His chicken comes in a pungent sauce, slightly sour but with a sweet coconut aftertaste, and my cubes of cheesy paneer are marshmallow crisped to perfection. Mopping up with a handy chapatti, we’re each wellpleased with our choices and nicely not-too-full, thus allowing room for a homemade kulfi ice-cream (he pistachio, me stem ginger, both superbly creamy). We call for the bill and it seems that all of the above (extravagant chutneys and Kentish ale included) comes to £40, which is a price that should win awards in its own right.
CONTACT
THALI CAFE 12 YORK RD, BRISTOL, MONTPELIER, BS6. FFI: 0117 942 6687, WWW.THETHALICAFE.CO.UK THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH
Fresh and friendly Indian food that’s about as good as it gets
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EATINGOUTWEST
(News)
WHAT'S COOKING Our monthly round-up of news from the foodie world
SUPER MARKETS
➻ Forget those trolleys and
barcodes and check out one of the West’s vibrant markets to catch the local harvest at its freshest…
ASHTON COURT FARMERS’ MARKET
T
he pie’s the limit, it seems, down at Bristol’s celebrated crustmongers Pieminister, judging by their success at this year’s British Pie Awards. Their PM (steak & kidney) and Chicken of Aragon pies each scooped top places in their categories at the national bake-off in legendary pie town Melton Mowbray. National recognition also went to Richard Tring, shaker and stirrer in Bristol’s cool new cocktail hangout the Milk Thistle. After written tests, blind tastings and knocking up a ‘pop-up’ bar, his rum & cider-based Bristol Connection cocktail beat off all comers to see him crowned the UK’s Best Bartender in the Appleton Estate Bartender Challenge finals. The victorious mixologist gets to represent the UK at the global final in Jamaica later this year. Closer to home, it’s a case of ‘on your bike’ for anyone wanting to enjoy Bath Ales’ hospitality. This year’s family-friendly Biking Bonanza takes place on Sat June 9 when a charitable ride along the Bristol-Bath cycle path converges on the brewery’s Warmley headquarters for an afternoon of food, drink and various entertainments. Interested parties can sign up at www.bathales.com, and while they’re in a signing mood, they might do well
to check Bath-based brewers Abbey Ales’ website (www.abbeyales.co.uk) where MD Alan Morgan is urging beer-loving folk to sign an e-petition against the government’s annual ‘beer escalator’, which increases the tax on beer at above-inflation rates and puts extra pressure on small brewers and independent pubs at a time when more and more are going out of business - 100,000 signatures would mean that the Backbench Business Committee will have to look at the issue and that a debate in the Commons will be considered, so ale-lovers should click on.
Courtyard of Ashton Court mansion house, Bristol, 10.30am–2.30pm. Every Sat BATH FARMERS’ MARKET Green Park Station, Bath, from 8.30am. Ffi: www.bathfarmersmarket.co.uk. Every Sat HARBOURSIDE MARKET No.1 Harbourside, Canons Rd, Bristol, 11am4pm. Ffi: www.no1harbourside.co.uk. 1st Sat of month LONG ASHTON VILLAGE MARKET Long Ashton Community Centre, Keedwell Hill, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41, 9.30am-1pm. Ffi: www. longashtonvillagemarket.co.uk. 1st & 3rd Sat of month WHITELADIES ROAD FARMERS’ & FAIR TRADING MARKET Outside auction rooms on corner of Whiteladies Rd & Apsley Rd, Clifton, Bristol, 8.30am2pm. Ffi: www.sustainableredland.org.uk. 2nd Sat of month WESTON-SUPER-MARE FARMERS’ MARKET High St, Weston-superMare, 9am-12.30pm. 2nd Sat of month KEYNSHAM FARMERS’ MARKET High St (next to Clock Tower), Keynsham, Bristol, BS31, 9am-1pm. Ffi: www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk. 4th Sat of month WESTBURY-ON-TRYM MARKET Medical Centre car park, Westbury Hill, Bristol, BS9, 9am–1pm Every Sun TOBACCO FACTORY MARKET Raleigh Rd, Southville, Bristol, BS3, 10.30am-2.30pm. Ffi: www. tobaccofactory.com. 1st Sun of month SLOW FOOD MARKET Corn St, Bristol, 10am-3pm. Ffi: www. slowfoodbristol.org. Every Wed & Fri BRISTOL FARMERS’ MARKET Corn St, Bristol, 9.30am–2.30pm 3rd Sun of month.
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EATINGOUTWEST
(Review)
THE BOATHOUSE
Fabulous riverside location meets good, honest, reasonably priced pub grub at this Bath hostelry
Let’s raise a toast to the Great British Banger! At a butchers’ near you...
TABLE TALK
BEST OF BRITISH? ➻ So June is upon us already - did
F
rom the outside, the Boathouse - what with its multiple verandas, white wooden awnings and sprawling manicured lawn that rolls as close to the river as it’s possible to get without actually taking a punt on it almost looks like a West Country version of Tara, the gert big Southern Belle house at the heart of the Gone With the Wind action. Once inside, however, split-level comfort zones, a relaxed attitude to use of such space (ie, eat, drink and make merry wherever you fancy) and thoroughly modern, flexible menus offer a bang-up-to-date contempo-pub experience (although, sadly, no green velvet curtains to make a frock from). As rain rather inevitably stopped alfresco play on the evening we headed to Newbridge, Lady AB and I took to a table in the conservatory area that overlooks the river but still fails to feel too close to the dreary weather for comfort, only taking a pause in the breathless gossip exchange to order
“For two people, three Small Plates would easily constitute a substantial supper, so ‘elegant’ grazers take note: the Large Plates go really large here.” starters from the Small Plate selection: Mediterranean roasted vegetables liberally scattered with feta cheese and bathed in a honey dressing (£4.95), and smoked mackerel pate nicely partnered with horseradish cream and thick shards of warm bread (£5.25). For two people, three dishes from this part of the menu would easily constitute a substantial supper, so ‘elegant’ grazers take note: the Large Plates options go really large here. Having eschewed the faggots/ pie specials in favour of classic haddock and chips with huge chunky chips, mushy peas and proper tartare sauce (£8.95), and a steak burger topped with smoked cheese (nice touch) and more of those fabulous chunky chips (£7.95), our mains summarised, for me, the Boathouse food ethos: honest, down-to-earth, straightforward pub grub of a high standard that won’t drop when sunny days put
big demands on the kitchen. Thoroughly satiated, we should have started to navigate our route home there and then instead of recklessly steering a course through puds: a heavenly (if slightly heavy) chocolate fondant with white chocolate ice-cream, and a trio of fruity sorbets, both of which turned out to be as substantial a haul as our starters. Yup, we pushed the boat out indeed, but why not? Our evening flowed along as easily as the winefuelled chat, and service was absolutely lovely throughout. Frankly, my dear, the Boathouse is damn good. (Melissa Blease)
CONTACT
THE BOATHOUSE NEWBRIDGE RD, BATH. FFI: 01225 482584, WWW.BOATHOUSEBATH.COM THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH
Well-priced, people-pleasing pub grub served in uniquely pretty surroundings
you get your training in? What with the national Jubilation and the onset of Team Great Britain’s heroic endeavours, we can all be expected to put in our fair share of flag waving this month, so a bit of biceps working-out might have been in order. In her feature on p40 Melissa Blease reflects on the changes in our national cuisine since the 1952 coronation, and it would be tempting to think that we’ve made lots of progress since that austere era. It’s chastening, then, to see that the 42-page London 2012 Olympic ‘Food Vision’ was drawn up by a small group whose 14-strong membership included McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Cadbury as the sole food-producer representatives. We can only hope that Our Boys and Girls have something a bit more nutritious in their shopping trolley… or the national medal hopes look pretty shaky. But leaving our national dietary disaster aside (and that’s a big, fat ask!), perhaps we can still wave those flags with pride for some aspects of British cuisine – like the banger. Take a look in the window of most butchers’ shops and you’ll find a fair selection of sausages, often handmade to their own recipe, while farmers’ markets and specialist suppliers abound with truly delicious specimens. After decades of shameful domination by mass-produced horrors it would seem that we’re rediscovering a truly British foodstuff that we can celebrate. So, ladies and gentlemen, please raise your Union Jacks for… The Great British Banger! Definitely worth a wave.
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EATINGOUTWEST
(Review)
FISHERS RESTAURANT These Clifton seafood experts really know their stuff
I
n the course of her interestingly chequered past, The Lovely She dallied briefly with the Isle of Wight yachting fraternity, so when she says, “This place reminds me of Cowes,” she knows whereof she speaks. Smack in the heart of Clifton Village and boasting portholes in the kitchen doors, Fishers’ dining room feels like a smart seaside restaurant. You need to like fish to enjoy the place because (token meat and veggie dishes notwithstanding) the menu is entirely seafood based, with a cavalcade of freshly caught temptations presented in an interesting variety of dishes. Good news for us, being very fond of marine produce, but potentially less good for Fishers as we’re pretty fussy about how it gets treated - while the Great Fish Resurgence has made a welcome change to menus, it can reveal a lack of skill in otherwise reputable kitchens. Fishers, happily, is not one of those – though we let them off the hook by starting with the cold shellfish platter. At £21 it’s excellent value: a couple of fat Irish oysters each, a heap of lusciously moist
10 OF THE BEST CIDER SPOTS ➻ From murky farmhouse barrels to single-
“At £21 the shellfish platter is excellent value: a couple of fat Irish oysters each, lusciously moist Newlyn crabmeat, gravadlax and aioli for the prawns.” Newlyn crabmeat, a sliver of gravadlax and a smooth aioli in which to dip the large and small prawns. Everything tastes perfectly fresh and clearly doesn’t want hurrying – the staff leave us to meander through it. The small but perfectly formed wine list knows its stuff, too, with a wide choice of fish-friendly whites and a few light-grape reds. My floral South African Bergsig Gewurztraminer is nicely rounded, while her fizzy English Ridgeview Bloomsbury adds to the holiday atmosphere. It’s the main course that shows the mettle of my wine,
though – a superbly meaty lemon sole draped in golden nut butter and liberally anointed with brown shrimps and capers. The fish peels softly but still has texture, the butter is smooth and uncloying, and the flavours absolutely in balance. Combined with glorious golden-brown chips, sumptuous caponata and pungent spring greens, it’s my idea of heaven. Her crisped fillet of bream sits on a mound of crab and prawn risotto that’s mostly fish and a meal in itself, with both dishes showing a kitchen that wants to truly celebrate fishiness to the max.
Puddings - discreetly suggested once we’ve had time to recover - score well: creamy bread-and-butter pudding with sweet chunks of apricot, raspberry-rich Eton mess that’s as OTT as it should be. Rolling in around £75 (with that pricy starter and wine included), it’s a fine fishy feast, only spoiled by the absence of waves gently lapping at the pavement outside. You can’t have everything, I suppose. (Tony Benjamin)
CONTACT
FISHERS RESTAURANT 35 PRINCESS VICTORIA ST, CLIFTON VILLAGE, BRISTOL, BS8. FFI: 0117 974 7044, WWW.FISHERS-RESTAURANT.COM THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH
A place that truly knows seafood and wants to share the love
variety vintages, fermenting apples is our local speciality - and there’s never been more top-quality cider available. Here’s where to find the best. THE APPLE Welsh Back, Bristol (www.applecider. co.uk) • This floating dockside shrine to cidrousness introduces real cider to the young and cool, with over 40 choices on an average day. BELL INN Walcot St, Bath (www.thebellinnbath. co.uk) • Renowned for its ales and live music, the Bell is nonetheless one of Bath’s top cider dispensers. BRISTOL CIDER HOUSE Surrey St, Bristol, BS2 (www.bristolciderhouse.co.uk) • For sale, following the sad passing of landlord Charlie Jarvis, but here’s hoping that new, cider-friendly owners will keep up his high standards. BRISTOL CIDER SHOP Christmas Steps, Bristol (www.bristolcidershop.co.uk) • Absolutely everything to do with cider on sale. Eighty kinds of drink, hampers, mugs, etc available online, too. CORONATION TAP Sion Place, Clifton Village, Bristol, BS8 (www. thecoronationtap.com) • This friendly little Clifton boozer offers a legendary rite-of-passage cider experience for student newbies willing to make an Exhibition of themselves. COTHAM PORTER STORES Cotham Rd South, Bristol, BS6 • Venerable no-nonsense cider haunt that’s been dispensing brewed apple beverages for longer than most of its regulars can remember. HANDMADE CIDER Slaughterford Mill, Chippenham, Wilts, SN14 (www.handmadecider. co.uk) • Worth the trip to sample their tasty handmade stuff on monthly open days, or you can order online. THE ORCHARD Hanover Place, Bristol • This unassuming-looking side-street pub was named Camra’s 2009 national cider pub for its wellstocked cellar and ever-changing roster of great ciders. THE RAVEN Queen St, Bath (www.theravenofbath. co.uk) • Friendly independent pub offering a good choice of draught ciders in the heart of Bath. SUGAR LOAF St Marks Rd, Easton, Bristol, BS5 (www.sugarloafpub.co.uk) • This very popular community pub always has seven draught ciders and lots of happy punters.
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George Cottage Record Street Ruthin, North Wales
The General
Stores
Mill End, Mitcheldean
an introductory Folio reader offer of £240.00 for a three night weekend, from 5.00pm on Friday to 5.00pm Monday – sleeping two small families or two couples – www.georgecottagemitcheldean.co.uk
* What large house in The Forest of Dean, 45 minutes from Bristol, is George Cottage situated?
an introductory Folio reader offer of £300.00 for a three night weekend, from 5.00pm on Friday to 5.00pm Monday – sleeping two families or three couples – www.recordstruthin.co.uk
* From which period in history are most of the beautiful half timbered and timber framed properties in Ruthin, North Wales?
a bargain Folio reader offer of £1,600.00 for a 2 night weekend (£400.00 off ), from 5.00pm on Friday to 5.00pm Sunday – sleeping up to 25 ● a mid-week break for a family or families with pre-school children, during term time, from £250 ● a mid-week break for a family or families in school holidays or half terms, from £300 www.millendmitcheldean.co.uk
* What is the name of the markings found carved on the wooden structure of the medieval part of the property, which carpenters used 600 years ago?
* answer question to claim reader offer
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EATINGOUTWEST (Recipe)
“I did all that ‘trying to be different’ when I was younger. Now I just want everything to taste delicious”
CHEF PROFILE RESTAURANT PROFILE
ALLIUM BRASSERIE ADDRESS: NORTH PARADE, BATH BA1 1LF TEL: 01225 461603 WEB: WWW.ABBEYHOTELBATH.CO.UK
I
n a city that already has its fair share of good restaurants, the opening of the Allium on North Parade is the most exciting arrival for some time. Headed by the highly acclaimed Chris Staines, it’s the transformation of nondescript tearooms into a buzzing, contemporary brasserie, set to become a favourite of Bathonians and the legion of visitors who come to the city. The project is the brainchild of the new owners of Bath’s Abbey Hotel, beneath which the new brasserie sits. Ian and Christa Taylor have already put their Midas touch on Cotswold House Hotel in Chipping Campden, which, under their ownership, earned an international reputation for excellence. Ian combines creativity with quirkiness, and this collaboration with Chris Staines looks like a meeting of minds. By mid-summer, the Allium will have
been refurbished, featuring some fascinating artwork on its walls, but the revolution has already started in the kitchen. Open all day, the menu excites the palate with wonderful combinations of flavours: cured salmon and Cornish crab with grapefruit and avocado, or pork belly with watermelon, sesame and coriander. The starters (around £6.50) make for perfect light lunches, but sandwiches and main courses such as rib-eye steak (a steal at £17.50) or gilthead bream feature too, as does a sublime Afternoon Tea which is as pretty to look at as it is to eat. On warm days, the pavement terrace has a continental air about it, and in the evening, the atmosphere is relaxing for a superb, informal dining experience. With Olly Pierrepoint (ex-Coworth Park) at his side, Chris Staines is set to make a huge impact on Bath. Be the first to know.
CHRIS STAINES Age: 37
Nationality: British Restaurant: The Allium Brasserie
➻ “Since I first saw the Roux brothers
bickering together on TV, I wanted to be a chef. My mum is a great cook and we grew our own veg where I lived in Norfolk, so good food was always important. I did holiday jobs as a kitchen porter, and while I was at catering college, a six-week placement at Llangoed Hall in Wales became a permanent job when I realised I was learning far more there. After two years at Lucknam Park, I couldn’t resist the lure of the Big City, and moved to Chez Nico on Park Lane - crazy, high-octane place, but a fantastic experience of a busy kitchen. “At Marco Pierre White’s Oak Room, I worked with executive head chef Robert Reid. He’s instinctive, really understanding flavours, and has been an important influence on me. At Foliage at the Mandarin Oriental, I earned my own Michelin star, which I held for seven or eight years before moving to the Feversham Arms, and then here to The Allium. I’m passionate about what I do, which I hope will come through in the new brasserie. I did all that ‘trying to be different’ when I was younger. Now I just want everything to taste delicious.”
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EATINGOUTWEST
HERITAGE TOMATO SALAD
O
ne of my favourite ingredients for a stunning summer starter is heritage tomatoes - these aren’t your average tomatoes, modified or graded to any standardised size. They’re proper tomatoes with a proper taste, and deserve only the simplest of treatments to allow the full flavours and textures to be fully appreciated. (Chris Staines)
INGREDIENTS FOR THE SALAD ◆ handful of mixed heritage tomatoes (blanched, skinned) ◆ 100g good-quality black olives (I use kalamata) ◆ 1 loaf sourdough bread ◆ a few basil leaves ◆ bocconcini (baby mozzarella balls, buffalo for preference, torn in half) ◆ balsamic vinegar ◆ double cream ◆ Maldon salt flakes FOR THE SHALLOT DRESSING ◆ 2 large shallots (finely diced) ◆ 1 glug of good-quality olive oil ◆ 1 glug of good-quality white wine vinegar (I use a chardonnay vinegar)
◆ 1 tsp sherry vinegar ◆ salt & pepper to taste ◆ 1 tsp castor sugar
TO MAKE The day before, place the de-stoned olives in a cool oven (lowest temperature setting) and, once they’re thoroughly dry, pulse them in the food processor until they become like a fine powder. To make the dressing, mix all the ingredients together and season to your taste. The dressing should be equally sweet, sharp and slightly salty, with a nice smooth flavour. For the balsamic cream, pour a couple of teaspoons of balsamic vinegar into a bowl and add double cream until the colour is that of cardboard, then whip the cream to soft peaks. Break up your sourdough into manageable bitesize pieces, add a swirl of olive oil and bake in the oven on a low temperature until golden and crispy. To assemble your salad, cut the tomatoes into quarters or slices (whichever you prefer). Dress lightly with the shallot dressing, sprinkle over some Maldon salt flakes, and add the bocconcini and some perfumed basil leaves. Leave to marinate for five minutes. Arrange the salad onto a serving dish, sprinkle with the sourdough croutons, drizzle over some of the balsamic cream and sprinkle lightly with the dried olive powder. Delightful!
RECOMMENDED
NV BRUT SOUVERAIN, HENRIOT ➻ From one of the oldest family-owned houses in Champagne, France (it’s been in the same family since the late 1700s), this champagne has a beautiful golden colour and an elegant nose as a result of the large amount of chardonnay it contains. Harmonious on the palate and well balanced, with persistent fine bubbles, it’s wonderfully fresh to drink in summer. Well chilled, it will match beautifully with the flavours bursting out of this tomato dish.
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FASHION JEWELLERY BEAUTY SHOPPING FASHION JEWELLERY BEAUTY SHOPPING
➻ LIFESTYLE
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renowned for perfecting the art of Brazilian waxing for both women and men. Offering what many people consider to be the best waxing treatments in London since 2005, Strip have now come to Harvey Nichols Bristol. The quality of waxing and the extensive menu, together with the opulent surroundings and attention to detail, have kept customers coming back time and time again. An impressive celebrity following includes the likes of Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Victoria Beckham, Emily Blunt and Emilia Fox. Strip at Harvey Nichols offer the famous Chocolate or Olive hot and warm waxing - which is virtually pain-free - within decadently themed treatment rooms. Customers can also treat themselves to the superb paraben-free South Seas spray tan for that all-year-round summer glow. Alongside the luxurious treatment rooms, you’ll also find aftercare products from the South Seas skincare range, exclusively from the USA, available to purchase, along with the Lycon Spa body range to ensure maximum results and radiant skin between treatments. STRIP WAX BAR & BOUTIQUE HARVEY NICHOLS, QUAKERS FRIARS, CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 916 8864, WWW. STRIPWAXBAR.COM
Q&A
RACHAEL LAVIS Top tips from the owner and lead stylist at RSR Mens Hair
This talented men’s hairdresser has built up an enviable reputation among Bristol’s styleconscious men by combining the finest traditions in male grooming with the latest in contemporary style. Rachael is renowned for her dedication to perfection and attention to detail – she has loyal customers who wouldn’t trust their hair to anyone else. What are the current trends in men’s hair? This season we’re seeing trends from 2011 evolving into more masculine and natural styles. A ‘Brit-pop indie’ hairstyle is popular, where the hair is swept forward and the length of the sides can be varied. The quiff is also enjoying a comeback, thanks to David Beckham’s latest hairstyle.
Which male celebrities have the best haircut, and who are the ones to watch for the latest trends? David Beckham always has a good haircut and will always start a hair trend! Max Irons is also sporting a great look this season, as is Ashton Kutcher. What are the three products you’d recommend, and why? Most men just need to be shown how to apply product properly throughout the hair, from scalp to ends. They tend to smear a little product in where they look upfront, and you don’t get a full finish that way. Choose the right product, apply it properly, and then let it be. American Crew forming cream is great for longer length on top. Matte finish products are huge at the moment - American Crew Fiber and Fudge Matte Hed.
Your top three tips for keeping hair looking healthy in between cuts? Pat dry hair, rather than towel-drying, as this avoids damage to the hair. Keep hair regularly trimmed, to keep it in shape. Comb wet hair, when the hair is at its most vulnerable, rather than brushing it. RSR MENS HAIR 37 BALDWIN ST, BRISTOL. FFI: 07599 401402, WWW.RSRMENSHAIR.CO.UK
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LIFESTYLE
FOOTWEAR SALON NEWS
BLOWN AWAY
➻ Bristol salon SeanHanna recently tended to the locks of not just one but two local
celebrities. Bristol City footballer Neil Kilkenny (pictured, right) had a short style (scissor-overcomb technique), with Noel Halligan (pictured, left) using a point-cutting technique to release some texture. “Noel was a top bloke,” says Neil. “I’ll tell the lads down the club he’s the man to go to!” Next day, ‘Oxo Mum’ Lynda Bellingham (pictured, left) enjoyed a blowdry courtesy of Hayley Scott (pictured, right) before performing at Bristol Hippodrome. “A fantastic salon!” says Lynda. “I’m sure the other Calendar Girls will be down once I tell them how lovely it is. I’ll definitely be back for another blowdry before the show’s tour finishes here.”
SEANHANNA CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 934 9393, WWW.SEANHANNA.COM
WE L❤VE...
These William Cheshire silver ‘Petrol Heads’ cufflinks, £120 from Diana Porter. The perfect gift for petrol head dads this Father's Day! (Diana Porter, 33 Park St, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 909 0225, www.dianaporter.co.uk)
SUMMER STEALS ➻In this special summer that combines the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, SoleLution are inviting us to join their £20.12 celebration: selected styles of children’s shoes - including a wide choice for school, casual styles and sandals from brands like Start-rite, Geox, Hush Puppies and Ricosta - all at just £20.12! “With this promotion, we’re not just celebrating the summer ahead, but also encouraging people to shop locally and experience the choice, quality and expertise we have to offer,” says SoleLution owner Tanya Marriott. “Our staff are fully trained in fitting children’s feet: we each only get one pair, so it’s important to look after them, particularly while they’re developing.” Fantastic ranges are also available for ladies and gents. Pop in, and SoleLution’s knowledgeable staff are on hand to help you find the right shoe for your sole. SOLELUTION 1-2 BOYCES AVE, CLIFTON VILLAGE, BRISTOL (0117 973 8350) & 114 HIGH ST, PORTISHEAD (01275 843399)
FASHION & BEAUTY
LOCAL HEROES ➻ Boutique 33, set in the heart of Clifton Village, Bristol, opened its very lovely doors last February. Says owner Naomi: “Seeing a gap in the market in Clifton Village and the surrounding area for a shop exclusively selling Bristol-designed, locally made clothes and accessories and Fairtrade and ethical clothing, I set about flying the flag for Bristol and British designers. “We stock jewellery made by fellow Bristolians Nellies Designs and Amber Marie, and our handbags are made by Harbourside Handbags - all local companies. We stock clothing by Nomads and Saskia, both Fairtrade and ethical companies, along with a clothing range from Toohoi, which is designed and made in Bristol. Our shoes are designed by Lara France and are exclusive to us.” In addition to some gorgeous new stock, Boutique 33’s shop front and interior have both been redesigned, with a purple-and-gold colour scheme that’s added a luxurious feel. They have their very own in-house beautician, Amy, who runs ‘A Brush with Beauty’ in their pamper rooms downstairs. They’ve also just launched their online shop, which is going down a storm with customers.. Here’s to a bright future at Boutique 33. BOUTIQUE 33 3 REGENT ST, CLIFTON VILLAGE, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 973 9570, WWW. BOUTIQUE33.CO.UK
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LIFESTYLE
FASHION
SCRUMPTIOUS ICE-CREAMCOLOURED UNDIES
with classy William Morris-esque trim. (Princesse Tam Tam Anemone shorts £32, and cami £36, Hannah Dulcie)
THIS PINK SHERBET, Chanelesque, very January Jones-y showstopper is one of Traffic People’s bestsellers. (Millie dress in pink £65, Traffic People)
MAXI DRESSES ARE GOING NOWHERE THIS SEASON. We love the slimming/lengthening shape of this version. (Butterfly dress £69, Traffic People)
A place in
THE SUN Summer has arrived in style at Milsom Place in Bath
BUCKLE UP IN THESE SNAKEPRINT SANDALS - also available in black/ brown, and light grey. (Toulouse shoe £185, Chanii B)
HEAD FOR THE POP-UP BOUTIQUE of Canadian footwear designer Chantal Pilon for these raspberry, bronze and leopard-print lovelies, perfect with a pair of old denim cutoffs. (Tresor shoe £169, Chanii B)
DELICIOUSLY FRUITY Taisir Gibreel silk
square. (Scarf £125, Quadri)
S
tep behind the facade of a Georgian house halfway down Milsom Street and you’ll find yourself in the upscale treasure-trove that is Milsom Place. All glass walkways, curving walls and secret corners, Milsom Place – which has a second entrance on Broad Street – is the home of designer fashion, homeware, cafes, restaurants and a regular programme of pop-up shops, exhibitions and live events. Summer fashion here is a far cry from the shrill look-at-me! of the high street – here, it’s grown-up, self-assured and knows just how pretty it is.
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LIFESTYLE
FASHION DIAMOND-CUT, POLISHED ALUMINIUM, glass and polaris Coeur De Lion jewellery set in berry shades, from longestablished family business Quadri. (Necklace £85, earrings £29 and bracelet £42, Quadri)
PROMS, WEDDINGS, OR JUST A PAVEMENT PIMM’S –
this sweet thing will treat you right wherever you go. (Prom dress £95, Traffic People)
PHASE EIGHT RISE TO ANY OCCASION with this gorgeously tailored, geometric explosion. (Bryony Stripe maxi dress £99, Phase Eight)
WRAP SOME BRITISH CRAFTSMANSHIP AROUND YOUR NECK COURTESY OF KATHERINE FRASER, who weaves her own soft and colourful contemporary fabrics in store. Commissions taken. (Scarves from £90, Katherine Fraser Textiles)
A RED, WHITE AND BLUE
effort that even royalist and republicans will agree is adorbs. (Posy Print dress £79, Phase Eight)
CONTACTS
FLUORO PINK AND DAFFODIL YELLOW SCREAM ‘SUMMER!’ in this irresistible lingerie set from girly fave Mimi Holliday. (Mimi Holliday Kamikaze bra £58, and brief £39, Hannah Dulcie)
ALL AT MILSOM PLACE, BATH (WWW.MILSOMPLACE.CO.UK) CHANII B FFI: 01458 860689, WWW.CHANIIB.COM HANNAH DULCIE FFI: 01225 489000, WWW.HANNAHDULCIE.CO.UK KATHERINE FRASER TEXTILES WWW.KFRASERTEXTILES.COM PHASE EIGHT FFI: 01225 444228, WWW.PHASE-EIGHT.CO.UK QUADRI FFI: 01225 329212, WWW. QUADRI.CO.UK TRAFFIC PEOPLE FFI: 01225 316381, WWW.TRAFFICPEOPLE.CO.UK
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Email ~ info@boutique33.co.uk Tel ~ 01179 739570 33 Regent St, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4HR.
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LIFESTYLE
HOW TO WEAR...
Dressing up… Niki wears… dress from Zara £69.99, ribbon from Hobbycraft 99p a metre, Little Nell (www.littlenell. bigcartel.com) earrings £7, shoes from Dune (last year)
FASHION
ASYMMETRIC HEMS Personal stylist and image consultant Niki Whittle makes it work for you
T
he trend for asymmetric hems has been building in popularity over the past couple of seasons and now they adorn everything from dresses and skirts to tops. Some styles graze the floor at the back and some are ‘mini’, while others look quite Grecian. With so much choice, it’s hard to know which is right for you, but if you opt for a shape that flatters your figure and a style that’s versatile, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re pear-shaped, choose a dress that cinches and highlights your small waist. Column-shaped women should opt for
styles with added shape, to enhance their curves. Apple shapes should opt for shorter styles that show off their great legs, and if you’re an hourglass shape, go for a style that hugs and showcases your fabulous curves. But all this effort will go to waste unless you know how to style your new look… Asymmetric hems look stunning at special occasions and just as good worn casually, so why not try both? I recently bought this dress from Zara for a wedding but I practise what I preach, so won’t just be wearing it once! I love the print and the shape of the dress, so for something dressier, I’ve teamed it with nude shoes and
Dressing down… Niki wears… dress from Zara £69.99, Topshop T-shirt £8, scarf from TK Maxx £12, French Connection belt £35, shoes from Gap (last year)
a simple ribbon, ensuring that nothing detracts from the shape of the dress. And for day? Well, I love wearing sheer fabrics casually, especially when contrasted with cotton, denim or leather. So for a more casual look, I’ve layered a cropped T-shirt over the top and have accessorised with flat sandals and a scarf to give the dress a totally different look. Now that’s what I call versatile! FFI WWW.NIKIWHITTLE.COM / WWW. HIPSHAPESANDBRISTOLFASHION.BLOGSPOT.COM
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LIFESTYLE
SHOPPING SHOPPING
Fokus Fabrik cushions, £49.95 each
LIFESTYLE
Laura Oakes cushion, Bird Nestles (small), £75
SHOP OF THE
“We create our own style by surrounding ourselves with happy, beautiful things”
MONTH
Melissa Blease finds interiors heaven at gorgeous Bradford on Avon store OurGreenRoom
W
hen it comes to sourcing prints, fabrics and seductive soft furnishings for the home, the thoughts that often dominate a less-than-inspiring selection tend towards ‘boring’, ‘humdrum’ or ‘oh no, not that one again…’ - unless, that is, you enter OurGreenRoom, where creative director Lois
Solid Oak Flamingo side table by Lucy Turner, £245
Griffin is as passionate about her ethos as her customers are about the experience she offers. “The idea for OurGreenRoom started when I was decorating my own bedroom,” Lois tells Folio. “I found some wonderful fabrics that I wanted to use as cushions, but I was frustrated at the lack of available wall art, lampshades and other accessories available in designs that would live up to the atmosphere that I wanted to create - everything was so dull and boring, and I’d seen it all before: peony prints, tired images of skylines, drab damasks. As an artist, I had some canvas frames lying around and decided to make use of the cushion fabrics to create pieces of art - and that’s where it all began!” Today, OurGreenRoom offer a selection of fabrics from distinctive, critically acclaimed designers such as Lucy Turner, Marimekko, SjGuest, Fokus Fabrik and Vallila, some of which are exclusive to OurGreenRoom or are often difficult to source outside London. You’ll also find an exclusive range from their own in-house designers, a soft-furnishing service (if, for example, a colourful cushion catches your eye and you think, ‘I’d really like that fabric on a lampshade instead,’ – it’s yours!) and bespoke up-cycled furniture courtesy of craftspeople such as Lucy Turner and Scout & Boo. If you’re easily overwhelmed, Lois and
her team enjoy spending time with their customers in order to turn their imaginative inspirations into reality, while specialist sourcing advice and referrals and a furniture design and commission service further ensure that all your home interiors dreams can come true. And here’s something that’s brand new for the summer season: Lois is particularly delighted to be one of only a handful retailers to be working with British designer Laura Oakes, who designs and creates cushions, furniture and shades influenced by vintage cuttings, her own photography and freehand drawing, as described by Lois as “fresh, utterly different and, quite frankly, beautiful!” OurGreenRoom in a nutshell. “We like to buck the trend,” Lois continues. “Not everyone will want us in their home, but many people adore our style because we’re truly different. We create our own style by surrounding ourselves and our customers with happy and beautiful things. If you want something bright, colourful and completely up to date, there’s definitely something in OurGreenRoom for you!” OUR GREEN ROOM 15 MARKET ST, BRADFORD ON AVON, WILTS. FFI: 01225 309383, WWW.OURGREENROOM.CO.UK
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LIFESTYLE
BEAUTY
“This has got to be the most relaxing sink-time in Bristol, if not the South West”
HUSH
HAIRDRESSING
Highlight junkie Rachel Nott checks out the green beauty revolution with a double date at this swish Bristol salon
D
Dark wood, leather seating, white walls and stacks of natural light complete the salon's stylish look
uring our Salon Spy missions we’ve had the pleasure of visiting salons with vibrating chairs, chairs with soothing coloured lights that lull you into semi-sleep as you have your hair washed and massaged, and even chairs with TV screens high up on the wall above, looping the latest looks on the coiffure catwalk. But never before have we been invited to lie fully flat on an expensively padded leather bed complete with leather footrest - to have tresses shampooed, rinsed and combed. This has got to be the most relaxing sink-time experience in Bristol, if not the South West – no aching, painful necks from craning back into the basin, just totally blissed
out, as if preparing for a little afternoon zizz. I’d chosen the cocooning confines of Hush (top marks for a name that reflects so perfectly the soothing interior, by the way) on Folio colleague Becky’s stellar recommendation. Watching her float back into Folio Towers one afternoon with super-shiny freshly coloured locks and super-shiny freshly polished nails, that was all the incentive that Folio’s art editor Sarah and I needed to book a joint appointment at this sleekly polished salon on Bristol’s Baldwin Street. Opened last September by Mark Andres (former owner of nearby salon Guy Fawkes) and business partner Glenn Holmes, Hush is at the forefront of the green beauty revolution, using only natural, plant-based products, free from ammonia, sulphates and any other chemical nasties. Being the
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LIFESTYLE
BEAUTY
BEFORE & AFTER Leave the real world behind as you sip a glass of fresh juice in this heavenly setting
RACHEL “Bye bye bleach, hello organic colour! My hair feels super-soft and silky.”
highlight junkie that I am, I’m very keen on the idea of being blonde without being cruel to my hair. But can a product that’s 97 per cent organic really produce the same effects as bleach? I was willing to give it a try and settled into the leather chair with a nice stack of mags and cup of filter coffee (complete with biccy) as Glenn got to work on my foils. Glenn was just fresh from a stint in Belfast, where not only had he owned the only approved organic and mineral colour specialist salon in Ireland, but was also the Colour Specialist for the Organic and Mineral Research Institute, so I knew my hair was in some pretty expert colouring hands. As the colour was being applied, I had a chance to take in the swish surroundings – dark-wood stations with huge mirrors, loads of natural light flooding in from floorto-ceiling windows, lots of crisp white lightreflecting paint, and some feature walls cleverly painted to imitate suede (yes, I did have to touch it to check). And to complete the look, two nail stations at the front, one of which was happily occupied by Sarah who was enjoying a relaxing file and French manicure from nail technician Anne-Marie. The nail bar, headed up by Emma, offers gel and CND Shellac nails, which, as well as
producing a hardwearing, mirror-shine chip-free finish lasting for two weeks, also help to improve the condition of your nails as they grow underneath. For you and your nails, it’s a win-win. With my foils removed and my hair rinsed, shampooed, conditioned and massaged at those fabulous sinks, it was time for Mark to add some shape into my freshly coloured mop, while Glenn applied an organic watercolour in a ravishing shade of red to Sarah’s auburn locks. As I chatted through my various ideas with Mark (decisiveness isn’t exactly my strong point when it comes to my hair… Fringe/no fringe? Graded bob/keep growing it?), he advised me to stick with growing my fringe out, keep a centre parting and take a couple of inches off the ends while adding a few long layers to add some much-needed volume, bounce and swing to my fine hair. He clearly had a good understanding of my hair and what would suit me, so I gladly acquiesced and allowed him to get to work with the scissors. Hair snipped and blowdried, I could now check out my new multi-tonal colour in natural light thanks to those floor-to-ceiling windows. It looked just as good as my usual bleached highlights, yet rather than feeling a bit dry and scratchy, this ultra-gentle organic colour left my hair feeling touchably soft and beautifully cared for. It’s a 10 out of 10 from me. As Sarah and I traded some office and celeby gossip while being primped and preened, I couldn’t help wondering why more people don’t book in for joint hair appointments – it’s the ideal opportunity to catch up, plus you look better at the end of it too, while leaving behind the tiniest carbon footprint – how great is that? And I can’t imagine a salon where I’d rather do the double-date thing than Hush. But keep that to yourself, won’t you. After all, if word gets out about Hush, that’s the end of my double-date dreams. So hush, OK?
SARAH “I’m delighted by the vibrancy and shine of my organic watercolour. I love it!”
CONTACT HUSH HAIRDRESSING 27-29 BALDWIN ST, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 930 0350, WWW.HUSHHAIRBRISTOL.CO.UK
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LIFESTYLE
BEAUTY
LIFESTYLE
GET THE
LOOK
What’s caught our eye this month…
1
SMOOTH OPERATOR
2
ART MEETS LIFE
Bringing couture to your fingertips, Yves Saint Laurent’s La Laque Couture is a benchmark collection of nail colour, with 30 colours to stir your creative juices. The kaleidoscope of iconic shades, inspired by YSL creations and artistic legacies, includes Blue Majorelle, Timeless Fuchsia, Tuxedo Black, Saharan Beige and a palette of original colours.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is a sheer, lightweight formula that moisturises the skin while adding a smooth, healthy glow, leaving a natural, dewy finish. Providing SPF20 protection from the sun’s damaging rays, its antioxidant vitamin complex acts as a free-radical scavenger to protect skin from the environment’s most aggressive effects. Perfect for all skin types, it’s extremely long-wearing and remains colour true.
YVES SAINT LAURENT LA LAQUE COUTURE LA VERNITHÈQUE £18, JOHN LEWIS
5
LUSCIOUS LASHES
LAURA MERCIER TINTED MOISTURIZER SPF20 £33, JOHN LEWIS
3
TWO-MINUTE MIRACLE
This glossy, body-building soufflé pumps up fine, weak hair in just two minutes. Ojon’s Volume Advance hair mask is fortified with nine natural boosters selected for their high content of essential lipids. Pure Ojon oil (nature’s hair-repairing golden elixir), protein-rich Peruvian amaranth, Brazilian Melscreen Coffee, Meadowflower and sesame seed oil boost thin, lifeless hair without harsh silicones, leaving your locks feeling clean, buoyant and infinitely touchable. Feels like a lightweight but works like a heavyweight!
OJON VOLUME ADVANCE INTENSIVE VOLUMIZING 2-MINUTE HAIR MASK £28 FOR 200ML, JOHN LEWIS
4
HOLDING BACK THE YEARS
Filled with trace elements, vitamins and anti-ageing active ingredients to restore skin’s vitality and freshness, Sisley’s Black Rose Cream Mask works in just 15 minutes by combining three key actions. Smoothing and plumping, it acts instantly on signs of ageing and tones the skin. Trace elements, vitamins and amino acids then revitalise the epidermis for a more luminous complexion. Last up, it moisturises and softens: shea butter, pro-vitamin B5 and vegetal glycerine soothe and nourish for more comfortable, supple skin.
Picture a fringe of perfect lashes - long, thick and deliciously curved, with each lash looking naturally supple and individually defined. No clumping, no unevenness, no sparse patches! Le 2 de Guerlain’s first brush gives a multidimensional result; the second, a miniature brush for the corners of the eye, catches finer lashes and gives them the same finish as the larger lashes. The formula is radically different, with most of the clumping, sticky waxes you usually find in mascara replaced by two polymers to create clump-free volume and length, set the curve and guarantee exceptional hold. GUERLAIN’S LE 2 DE GUERLAIN £25, JOHN LEWIS
SISLEY BLACK ROSE CREAM MASK £88 FOR 60ML, JOHN LEWIS
➻ JOHN LEWIS THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 959 1100, WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM 64 FOLIO/JUNE 2012
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NEW CHROMATICS The hair colour you've been waiting for • No Ammonia • No Odour • 100% white coverage Hair feels up to 2x stronger! products are used in the Salon 6 Rockleaze Rd, Sneyd Park, Bristol BS9 1NF Tel: 0117 9682663 www.carlohairandbeauty.co.uk
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Summer Overnight Spa Break
Express Manicure Express Pedicure ESPA Salt & Oil Body Scrub
1 night, 2 days was £195, now £139pp Valid until 31st August 2012 subject to availability
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LIFESTYLE
HEALTH
SPOTLIGHT ON . . .
THAI MASSAGE ➻ Believed to have been conceived by the Buddha’s physician, Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, in India more than 2,500 years ago, Thai massage made its way to Thailand where Chinese medicine knowledge was married together with fundamental Ayurvedic techniques to produce a truly unique therapy. Over the centuries the tradition had been kept alive by Buddhist monks, but if it was good enough for Buddha, surely it’s good enough for all of us! The Thai massage process is a thoroughly relaxing experience from the start. You simply lie on a mat on the floor, fully clothed except for shoes and socks, while your practitioner uses thumbs, palms, forearms, elbows, feet, knees and even shins to gently press and stretch your body. The theory is that good health and freedom from pain result from the unhindered flow of vital energies through the body’s tissues. The main ‘channels’ for distributing these energies are called ‘Sen’. There’s no general agreement as to the exact number of Sen, but those who know something about Chinese medicine quickly recognise that the Thai practitioner is effectively working along
the Chinese ‘Qi’ meridians. Pressing is the mechanical process used to stimulate energy flow in the Sen, and to release blockages or stagnation that result in pain. This part of the massage is very thorough: each Sen channel is pressed repeatedly from every direction, with the relative positions of the limbs and trunk being constantly changed. When the practitioner is satisfied that all soft tissues have been adequately pressed, stretching begins: this will be subtle at first but gradually progresses to the elegant, large-scale stretches for which Thai massage is renowned. Every muscle and joint is treated. Benefits associated with Thai massage include improved circulation, movement and flexibility, a reduction in stress and a sense that it centres the mind. There’s been a deep belief for centuries that the purpose of the massage is to heal a person physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Relax body and soul with the ancient practice of Thai massage
CEDAR FALLS HEALTH FARM TAUNTON, SOMERSET. FFI: 01823 433904, WWW. CEDARFALLS.CO.UK (CEDAR FALLS OFFER THAI MASSAGE AS PART OF THEIR NATURAL THERAPIES RANGE, NORMALLY PRICED AT £60 FOR A 1HR SESSION. THROUGHOUT JUNE, HOWEVER, FOLIO READERS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN EXCLUSIVE TREATMENT OF THE MONTH OFFER AND BOOK A 1HR THAI MASSAGE SESSION FOR JUST £48)
FACIALS
PURE HEAVEN ➻ Clarins Tri-Active facials - combining cleansing, exfoliation and massage, all using delectable products from the iconic Clarins range - guarantee instant radiance and remarkable, longlasting results. Treat yourself to this luxurious me-time treatment at Frontlinestyle in Bath, who are offering 60 minutes of ‘pure heaven’ one minute for every year the Queen has reigned! - for just £59. The treatment also includes a gift of three Clarins discovery-sized products to take home, and if you book three or more facials at the same time, you’ll only pay for three and leave with a stunning vanity case in which to carry your treats away. FRONTLINESTYLE MONMOUTH ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 478478, WWW.FRONTLINESTYLE.CO.UK
JUBILEE OFFER
RIGHT ROYAL RELAXATION
➻ Keep calm and relax when the Diamond Jubilee
Celebrations dominate the agenda on Mon 4 and Tue 5 June, courtesy of a very special celebratory treat offered by the Clifton Relaxation Centre, who are offering a 25% discount off the cost of all their spa facilities, treatments and even cafe treats for a whole 48 hours. The Jubilee Sale is available to all who visit the centre on either or both days. To add to the jubilant spirit, the cafe will be serving up victoria sponges and cucumber sandwiches.
RELAXATION CENTRE ALL SAINTS RD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL, BS8. FFI: 0117 970 6616, WWW.RELAXATIONCENTRE.CO.UK
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The
BEACH comes to
Bristol
For other locations visit:
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0117 916 8864
bristol@stripwaxbar.com 5/30/2012 12:21:00 PM
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LIFESTYLE
MOTORING
KING OF THE
ROAD I
Steve Wright heads off to the middle of nowhere with a cat, a toddler and a Land Rover Freelander t was somewhere along the breathtaking and oft-vertiginous route from Llanthony, Monmouthshire to Hay-on-Wye that my car left the road. Don’t worry, this was no accident: I’d bitten the bullet and decided that the time was right for a spot of off-roading. It seemed rude not to, given the legendary mud-plugging prowess of the Land Rover Freelander. Still, this was a big leap for me, if not for the car: the few times I’ve headed off the tarmac and onto even slightly rougher surfaces in my standard-issue supermini, the pulse has quickened and sweat has pricked my brow. This, though, was a different world. The route across the Black Mountains to Hay is a wild, rugged paradise with incredible views west towards the Brecon Beacons and the heart of Wales. To get up close to it, though, the thing to do is to leave the narrow mountain road and muscle your way over the rough grass, mud and stones beyond. So this is what we did, me and my four companions (including a toddler), all seated in supreme comfort inside the Freelander’s plush and palatial interior. And as you’d probably expect, the ‘baby’ Land Rover coped with the change of surroundings with imperious ease, rumbling serenely over hillocky grass, mud and rocks, leaving the other cars looking on enviously and allowing us a grandstand view of one of Britain’s most beautiful vistas. It wasn’t the only challenge to which the car responded magnificently that weekend. The five
of us (and a cat) were staying in a remote cottage half a mile up a rutted rock-and-gravel track in the midst of the Mountains, and the Freelander did the daily journey up and down the drive without batting an eyelid. The next day, meanwhile, a stride across some of the Black Mountains’ wilder fells involved a drive home across a foot-deep ford: thanks to its increased road clearance, the Freelander made short work of that, too. So much for its famous go-anywhere abilities, then: but what’s the Freelander like to drive and to sit inside? Our top-of-the-range SD4 version featured a dual manual and automatic gearbox – perfect for me, as I love the judgement calls of constant gear changing, but also for my more nervous girlfriend, who found that the auto option considerably reduced the number of potential headaches.
DETAILS PRICE £22,250-£36,260 MAX SPEED 112-118MPH CO2 158-185G/KM POWER 150-190BHP LENGTH 4.5M WIDTH 2M HEIGHT 1.74M
The Freelander’s 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine pulls strongly at low revs, but also promises decent economy for a 4x4 - 40.4mpg on the combined urban and extra-urban cycle. The raised driving position also gives you a commanding view of the road ahead, making for a serene, relaxed driving experience, and the driver’s seat is fully adjustable for all shapes and sizes. The car is also impressively refined, gliding along quietly in all gears – especially the slower country-lane speeds for which it’s been built. There’s bags of room inside. On Sunday afternoon we all quit the cottage together, meaning that five humans, a cat, a cotbed and assorted baggage had to be shoehorned inside – but it all fitted effortlessly. There’s plenty of legroom for all, and the big windows allow plenty of daylight inside – our two-yearold normally gets a bit restive after half an hour in a car, but was relaxed and happy throughout the 90-minute journey. There are some great toys inside, too. The optional dual-zone climate control means that all passengers can regulate temperature to their liking, while a superb Alpine Dolby ProLogic surround sound system, complete with no less than 14 speakers around the cabin, makes for an incredibly immersive listening experience. The soft, tactile Windsor leather inside, meanwhile, rivals anything you’ll find inside an exec saloon from BMW, Merc or Audi. Together with that serene motorway ride and all-round vision, it gives the Freelander the feel of a luxury car. The Land Rover Freelander, then: luxurycar build, go-anywhere ability and a superb king-of-the-road driving position, all for the same price as your 3 Series, A4 and C-Class brigade. Whether or not you’re planning to hit the mud, rocks and sandbanks, this car should definitely be on your shortlist.
CONTACT
GUY SALMON (BRISTOL) LAND ROVER PIONEER PARK, WHITBY ROAD, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 239 8502, WWW.HUNTERS.BRISTOL.LANDROVER.CO.UK FFI: WWW.LANDROVER.COM
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Preparatory School
CORONAT
Inspiring children to succeed
Small classes Caring environment 4 -11 year old boys and girls Before & after school care 266 Overndale Road Fishponds, Bristol BS16 2RG www.gracefieldschool.co.uk
Tel: 0117 956 7977
.CO.UK
BRAND PRINT WEB PUBLISHING PHOTO-Y GRAPH contact us venue publishing, 4th floor, w news & media, bristol bs99 7hd tel 0117 942 8491 email d.higgitt@venue.co.uk / bang@venue.co.uk web www.bangstudio.co.uk
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LIFESTYLE
EDUCATION
PRIMARY NEWS
LET'S TALK ➻ With only a few weeks to go until the
London 2012 Olympics kick off, primary schools in the South West are being invited to join the UK’s first national Communication Triathlon for schools. The project, launched last year by Openreach, BT’s local network business, and children’s communication charity I CAN, is a series of free fun events intended to boost speaking and listening skills. More than 100 schools across the region are already registered to take part – and more are wanted. The initiative, part of Get Set, the official London 2012 education programme, encourages children to take part in three London 2012 Games-themed speaking and
listening activities based around ‘Thinking, Talking and Teamwork’. Split across ages four to seven and seven to 11, activities can be undertaken by a class, year group or whole school over the course of a week or even a day. The inspiring curriculum-linked communication activities, which support children’s schoolwork, include Sports Bingo, Secret Striker, Memory Relay and a Listening Assault Course. Designed by communication and education experts, including speech and language therapists and teachers, they help children to become good communicators. Children are awarded a certificate and can participate in a closing ceremony to celebrate achievement and recognise hard work. “Upwards of 50 per cent of children, in some parts of the country, are arriving at primary school without the speech and language skills they need to learn, achieve and make friends,” says I CAN chief executive Virginia Beardshaw. “The Communication Triathlon is a fantastic way to get children practising their communication skills in a fun and exciting way so that they don’t get left behind.”
PRIMARY SCHOOLS COMMUNICATION TRIATHLON FFI: WWW.COMMUNICATIONTRIATHLON.ORG.UK LONDON 2012 GET SET FFI: WWW.LONDON2012. COM/GETSET
CHARITY FUNDRAISING
PERFORMINGARTS ARTS PERFORMING
GET SOME TALENT! ➻ Stagecoach Theatre Schools create a buzz every week when the students, aged from four to 18, meet up to hone their singing, dancing and acting skills. Each session gives the children a stretch in three directions at once, with specialist singing, dancing and acting teachers from the profession. Stagecoach originated the part-time dramaschool format for children nearly 25 years ago, and now have over 600 schools across the country, and several others abroad, including schools in Germany, Australia and Europe. But do students need to have talent in order to be able to join? Stagecoach principal Heidi Hollis answers: “We believe that all children are talented – after all, they have big imaginations and thrive on challenges. Talent can be grown and fostered over time, and our classes give kids the right balance of challenge and support to help them hone their skills. And those skills are useful in many arenas - they burst into life and make an impression!” Stagecoach place an emphasis on
team effort, with each individual stretched to develop greater confidence, creativity and poise. “Here at Stagecoach,” says Heidi, “children work hard and have fun!” STAGECOACH BRISTOL FFI 0117 953 2500
BUILDING BRIDGES
➻ A Mufti Day held recently at Bath’s Prior Park College, with students dressing up as their favourite book character, was the latest initiative organised by science teacher Marian Mudie and a group of 12 students who will travel to a deprived part of Romania this August and attempt to build a sanctuary house for people who currently live in very poor accommodation. “These people have no running water, no electricity, no sewerage or form of heating,” says Marian. “These houses literally provide a lifeline to young families, restoring self-respect and a sense of pride and determination to better themselves.” The Prior group have to raise £4,200 for the building materials and have already undertaken a 54-mile sponsored bike ride, sold sweets, doughnuts and cakes in school and at performances, and bag-packed at Sainsbury’s. Prior Park College’s Charities Committee have also contributed generously to the cause. PRIOR PARK COLLEGE, BATH FFI: WWW.PRIORPARKCOLLEGE.COM
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LIFESTYLE
SKILLS
The professionals make it look so easy, don’t they? In an apocalypse we’re so bagsying a Luke...
COMPLETELY
BUSHED Anna Britten gets herself some survival skills
C
ome the apocalypse, your real enemies are not the people who have no survival skills. They’re the people who have no survival skills but think they do because they’ve read/ watched The Hunger Games… I signed up for a morning of bushcraft at Mendip Outdoor Pursuits because I was the latter, a fact brought home to me recently by how freaked out I was about an undercooked lamb chop. And while I wouldn’t go so far as to say I could now survive with nothing but my own stealth and a hand-whittled spear, I will certainly be slightly less pathetic on my next camping trip. Our group gathers on a damp Saturday morning in the limestone gorge of Burrington Combe near Blagdon. We are five – two girls blowing a Groupon voucher, a father-and-son pair, and Folio. Our guide,
Luke, is the sort of ruddy-cheeked, dairyfed young man you’d definitely bet money on surviving planetary meltdown. We pile into his massive 4x4 minivan and he drives us up a steep lane through thick woodland, and a five-bar gate, onto a rutted dirt track that bounces us around like beans in a maraca. We alight into unspoiled woodland: twigs and leaves crunching underfoot, flying bugs you just never see in the city, and a dozen different types of birdsong. Luke tells us we’re going to build fires, and sends us off in search of the three types of wood required: matchstick-thin kindling, slightly bigger twigs, and then the finger-width stuff that goes on last. I wander off into the ‘bush’, eyeing the forest floor and the trunks of trees with what I hope is commando-style savvy. Gathering the kindling is particularly satisfying, though I’m not sure why. Some primal impulse, perhaps? Before too long, I’ve scored two handfuls of firewood and I’m
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LIFESTYLE
The team engage their huntergatherer instincts and manage to haul in a reasonable amount of fuel
beginning to feel extremely handy indeed. Then I return to base where Luke, effortlessly building his own little inferno, informs me that what I’ve got… “will last, maybe, two minutes”. Once we’ve all gathered a reasonable pile of fuel, Luke shows us how to clear a space on the ground for our fire, then use a flint (the metal sort you can buy in a camping shop) to ignite cottonwool balls nestling in a ball of hay. Onto this is then piled the kindling, and then the other wood in ascending order of size. He makes it look easy. After much huffing and puffing, coughing, fanning and cursing, my little fire takes hold. But I had no idea how needy it would be. In films they take seconds to make and last for ages. In reality, the reverse is true. Luke’s fire, however, is so good that he actually boils a kettle on it and we all drink tea out of authentically mudsmeared mugs. I don’t have time to obsess over it, though, as we’re now onto the shelter-building task. Luke shows us how to wedge a big stick in the fork of a tree and build up the sides with more
SKILLS branches and sticks, finally plugging the gaps with dead leaves. The father in the group tells me he used to do this all the time, growing up in Somerset – to his “city boy” son, however, it’s all brand new. I’m invited to join their group, which is a huge relief since, alone, I might have managed something approaching a dog kennel. After half an hour, our shelter is ‘finished’ enough to keep a maximum of three very scrunched-up people semi-dry in a downpour, though it wouldn’t hold out very long against hungry wolves or teenagers. And yet, being slightly better than the Groupon girls’ effort, it wins. If this were The Apprentice, Alan Sugar would be shaking his head in weary disdain. While we’ve been busy, Luke has been turning hazel branches into spears. Of course he has! And the final skill of the morning is to learn how to chuck these a long way, accurately, in the manner of a loin-clothed hunter experiencing a protein craving. It’s a bit like doing the javelin at school, but hampered by waterproofs and a desire not to be outdone by someone three decades your junior. My spears land-travel just-aboutrespectably far away and one even lands tipdown in the ground. I wouldn’t catch much venison, but if worms were on the menu, I reckon I’d be all over it. After pouring cold water on the embers of our fires, and dismantling our shelters, the woodland looks much as it did when we arrived, and it’s time to return to civilisation. My hands are covered in dirt and I reek of woodsmoke. For a week afterwards I find myself looking at twigs and thinking ‘good kindling’, and at forks in trees and thinking ‘too high’. Would I win The Hunger Games? Would I even last a night out in the open with nothing but my new survival skills? I don’t know. But when the apocalypse arrives, I’ll certainly be bagsying a Luke. MENDIP OUTDOOR PURSUITS RUN BUSHCRAFT COURSES RANGING FROM HALF A DAY TO A WEEKEND. FFI: 01934 834877, WWW.MENDIPOUTDOORPURSUITS.CO.UK
PSYCHOTHERAPY
MUSIC EDUCATION
MILLION POUND DROP ➻ Bristol City Council have secured £1.07m
government funding to help ensure that every young person in the city gets some specialist music tuition. A new music education hub due to open this August will bring together the council’s Arts and Music Service with the Colston Hall’s new music trust. The aim is to ensure that every child aged five to 18 has the opportunity to sing and learn a musical instrument, progress to the next level, and play with other children as part of an ensemble or choir. Said Cabinet member for children and young people Councillor Clare Campion-Smith: “This is truly excellent news and will definitely benefit the youth of Bristol and help them to engage in creative activities. Well done to everyone involved. I think people are realising there are enormous benefits to children learning how to play music. We went through a time when it was all about reading and writing, but I think people realise now that education has to take a much more holistic approach. Some young people find it very hard to communicate but do very well in music and find that this is a different way to communicate. For others it’s a way to relax and it can be useful for those struggling with more academic subjects.”
ANALYSE THIS
OUT & ABOUT
➻
MORE BUSHCRAFT COURSES…
SEVERNSIDE INSTITUTE FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY FFI: 0117 927 3898, WWW.SIPSYCHOTHERAPY.ORG
BRISTOL ZOO GARDENS (0117 974 7368, www. bristolzoo.org.uk) • Track animals, cook outdoors and share stories around the fire on the zoo’s adults-only overnight bushcraft course, Sat 7-Sun 8 July. COUNTRYLORE (01722 413532, www. countrylore.co.uk) • Bushcraft on the Somerset/ Wiltshire border. Owner Mark’s passion for wild living sprang from a life-changing trip to the Arctic with Ray Mears, which he won in a competition. WOODLANDERS (01275 542304, www. woodlandersbushcraft.co.uk) • Courses include one-day basic bushcraft, two-day weekend, castaway course, bow-making, shelter-building, fire-lighting, parties and forest schools.
The Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy (SIP) is now accepting applications for the academic year, commencing this September. Sign up now for the Introductory Course in Psychoanalytic Theories and Concepts (closing date for applications: Sat 14 July), and pre-clinical courses Infant Observation (closing date: Mon 18 June), Work Discussion and Classical Psychoanalytic Theory (closing date Mon 2 July). This Bristol-based professional association of psychoanalytic psychotherapists and training institute also offers clinical trainings in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, leading to registration with the British Psychoanalytic Council (closing date for 2013 applications: Thur 1 Nov). SIP also offer psychotherapy services to the public and public events.
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BRISTOL DIAL-A-RIDE Providing Quality Transport Services to Disabled People
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES VOLUNTEER for our charity and make a difference! Would you like to help in the transportation of groups of older and disabled people to local events and destinations? If so, we have the following volunteer opportunities available:-
•
Volunteer Drivers*
•
Volunteer Passenger Assistants
•
Volunteer Valeters
•
Volunteer Travel Buddies
*Drivers must be over 25 and have held a full UK driving licence with Category D1 or D1+E for at least two years. We are looking for people of a caring nature who enjoy helping others. You will receive full training and a chance to develop new skills. Travel and subsistence expenses are paid. On completion of training, you may choose the days and times you are available to volunteer. Successful volunteers will be required to undertake and pass a CRB disclosure check. If you are interested in volunteering and would like further information on the volunteer opportunities we have available, please telephone 0845 130 1875 (Option 3) and ask for Jeanne Creed to request an application pack.
A-levels GCSEs Maths English & more
Book now for... A real alternative to mainstream eductaion - enrol now for Sept/Jan Also PRIVATE TUITION -
REALISTICALLY PRICED
Don’t delay. Contact us! 0117 929 7747 Albion House, 12A Broad Street, Bristol BS1 2HL
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LIFESTYLE
TRAVEL
The swoonsome Combe House in Devon ticks all the fairytale boxes
SHORT BUT
SWEET Whether you’re a spa addict, foodie fan or family of four, there’s a fabulous short break with your name written all over it WORDS: MELISSA BLEASE
BEST ROMANTIC GETAWAY: COMBE HOUSE, DEVON ➻ Country walks, gorgeous gardens, a seductive
restaurant and all the sumptuous facilities (including uber-luxurious bedrooms) that a contemporary country house hotel set in quintessentially English village surroundings has to offer: are you swooning already? Read on... Combe House Hotel (recently awarded the auspicious Conde Nast Johansens Award for Most Romantic Hotel in UK and Ireland) also offers the getaway option of exclusive-use accommodation in a secluded thatched cottage featuring its own private, walled garden - how special is that? Book the cottage for a midweek break in June (excluding 2-9 June) and enjoy four nights in the cottage for the price of three, saving £450. Or enjoy the full facilities in a room or suite within the hotel itself on a similar 4-for-3 offer on any days of the week, from Sun 10 to Thur 21 June for just £745 per couple, saving £215.
Above and right: Tired out after all that shopping? Relax in style at the elegant Queensberry Hotel
COMBE HOUSE HOTEL GITTISHAM, HONITON, DEVON, EX14. FFI: 01404 540400, WWW.COMBEHOUSEDEVON.COM
BEST FOR SHOPPING: QUEENSBERRY HOTEL, BATH ➻ Bath - home to some of the most
satisfying retail therapy fixes for miles around... and, of course, the Thermae Bath Spa, where you can pamper your cares away while the credit card recovers from all the financial flexing. When that long day finally draws to a close, put your feet up at the Queensberry Hotel, a boutique-style experience at the heart of the Heritage City, where funky styling flourishes, a chic cocktail bar (The Old Q), an elegant, tripleAA-endorsed restaurant (the Olive Tree) and staff for whom nothing is too much trouble conspire to guarantee short-break perfection. Right now, an overnight stay in a deluxe room (including a gift on arrival and breakfast) costs from just £165 (representing a £120 saving). Up the ante and book dinner, too, for just £215 a night, all-inclusive.
THE QUEENSBERRY HOTEL RUSSEL ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 447928, WWW.THEQUEENSBERRY.CO.UK
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LIFESTYLE
TRAVEL BEST FOR TOTAL REJUVENATION: CEDAR FALLS, TAUNTON ➻ Nestled at the epicentre of over 40 acres
BEST FOR FAMILIES: WOOLLEY GRANGE ➻ Many hotels are best suited to adult
tastes and offer an environment to match. Not Woolley Grange! This characterful Jacobean manor house set within 14 acres of private grounds on the outskirts of Bradford on Avon (a family-friendly daytrip destination in its own right) welcomes kids of all ages - and your fourlegged friends! You’ll find all you need to make a break with the whole brood a breeze, from all the necessary highchairs, travel cots, changing facilities, potties and cutlery to night-lights, babysitting services and fabulous small-people-oriented food. Entertainment options include a fully staffed den, playroom equipped with games (including use of PS2 and Nintendo Wii), safe outdoor play area, Good Life and Nature Gardens and a menagerie, while the spa offers pampering and relaxation opportunities to relieve stressed-out grown ups while the little ones live it up.
WOOLLEY GRANGE HOTEL BRADFORD ON AVON, WILTS, BA15. FFI: 01225 864705, WWW.WOOLLEYGRANGEHOTEL.CO.UK
Treat yourself and the kids to a luxury family-friendly stay at Woolley Grange
BEST FOR A TASTE OF HISTORY: THORNBURY CASTLE, NEAR BRISTOL ➻ Fancy a taste of royal life, Tudor style?
Thornbury Castle is the only hotel in England to offer such an experience. This thoroughly enchanting affair features 14 acres of gardens and 27 bedchambers, including the Duke’s Bedchamber (where King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn slept some 500 years ago) and the Tower Suite, home to what’s said to be the widest fourposter bed in England. Stone walls, ancient tapestries, suits of armour and ornate antique artworks provide a characterful, authentic backdrop to your historical experience, all tastefully supplemented by a warm welcome and contemporary luxury flourishes including opulent, well-appointed bedrooms. Children aged six and over are welcome to join in the magical fun (early suppers, child-friendly menus and babysitters can be arranged), while food is aptly fit for a queen, and holistic massage therapies can be booked to ensure your break is thoroughly blissful. THORNBURY CASTLE HOTEL THORNBURY, SOUTH GLOS, BS35. FFI: 01454 281182, WWW.THORNBURYCASTLE.CO.UK
of perfectly picturesque Somerset countryside, this serene country house hotel boasts a history that dates back to the 17th century and offers the ultimate oasis for those who crave escape from the stresses and strains of contemporary life. Tennis and golf courses, alfresco swimming facilities and walking trails bring a breath of fresh air, while spa treatments offer everything from cosmetic beauty boosts to natural and complementary therapies including massage, reiki, aromatherapy, meditation and kinesiology. The restaurant, meanwhile, is a thoroughly nourishing experience in its own right. Spa day packages start at just £69pp (including lunch), while current offers include an overnight stay from £195pp and longer breaks (2-plus nights) from £295pp.
CEDAR FALLS HEALTH FARM BISHOPS LYDEARD, TAUNTON, SOMERSET, TA4. FFI: 01823 433233, WWW.CEDARFALLS.CO.UK
BEST FOR FOODIES: IDLE ROCKS, ST MAWES, CORNWALL ➻ The quaint harbourside village of St
Mawes is famous for the freshest British fish, breathtakingly beautiful landscapes... and the boutique-style bliss-out zone that is the Idle Rocks Hotel, which proudly boasts: ‘It isn’t possible to get any closer to the water unless you are on it or in it!’ Simply chillax and explore what’s undoubtedly one of Cornwall’s most picturesque locations or fine-tune your cookery skills courtesy of cookery breaks led by the hotel’s acclaimed head chef Stephen Marsh, who’ll take you on a tasteful interactive journey using locally caught seafood and seasonal ingredients to teach you how to create an array of inspirational menus to delight, inspire and inform your at-home activities. Too much like hard work? The hotel’s aptly named Water’s Edge restaurant is the proud owner of two longstanding AA rosettes.
IDLE ROCKS HOTEL HARBOURSIDE, ST MAWES, CORNWALL, TR2. FFI: 01326 270771, WWW.IDLEROCKS.CO.UK
Left: Live like a king or queen at Thornbury Castle Right: Fine-tune your cookery skills at Idle Rocks
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LIFESTYLE
TRAVEL
BEST FOR RED-CARPET GLAMOUR: ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL, BATH ➻ If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to experience A-list life at an iconic address in the world-famous Heritage City, wonder no more… The magnificent Royal Crescent Hotel - set within two grade I-listed buildings and boasting its own landscaped garden, luxuriously characterful Bath House Spa and award-winning Dower House restaurant - is ready and waiting to offer you a taste of sheer luxury. Book a room here and the very best of Bath will be quite literally on your doorstep. But we bet that, once ensconced in this elegant, supremely civilised environment, you simply won’t want to leave. Visit the website for details of Spa Breaks, the Diners Delight package, three-nightsfor-the-price-of-two deals and the unique Royal Lemon Detox Retreat, and prepare for a superstar-style excursion.
Experience life A-list style at the magnificent Royal Crescent Hotel
BEST FOR GOLF: VALE RESORT, NEAR CARDIFF, SOUTH WALES ➻ This one may be a golfer’s dream
come true, but Vale Resort is about far more than putting those little white balls around… Think tennis and squash courts, a health club and spa, luxurious rooms and fabulous restaurants and bars (including a dedicated Champagne Bar) - all set in over 650 acres of stunning Welsh countryside - and you’ve reached the ultimate getaway in Wales’ highestrated four-star resort. Dedicated Golf Breaks (including 36 holes of championship golf, full use of all leisure facilities, an overnight stay and full Welsh breakfast) start at just £79pp, while pampering Spa Breaks, Family Packages and Dining Deals abound. Speciality packages include a cookery school, chocolate masterclasses and adrenaline-fuelled outings for thrillseekers. Whole in one? We think so!
VALE RESORT HENSOL PARK, HENSOL, NR CARDIFF, VALE OF GLAMORGAN, SOUTH WALES, CF72. FFI: 01443 667800, WWW.VALE-HOTEL.COM
A golfer's dream – Vale Resort
Pack the buckets and spades and enjoy a proper seaside break at the Falmouth Hotel
BEST FOR A CLASSIC FAMILY SEASIDE HOLIDAY: FALMOUTH HOTEL, FALMOUTH, CORNWALL ➻ Forget theme parks, shopping malls and
computer games - proper summer holidays are about one thing only: the seaside. Falmouth (part holiday resort, part fully working seaport) boasts beautiful beaches and all manner of surf-related activities, from fishing-boat trips to sailing, diving and surfing. The Falmouth Hotel, meanwhile, is the jewel in the resort’s crown: a classic grand hotel featuring its own leisure centre. Kids (under 15 years) stay free at the Falmouth Hotel this summer, as long as they’re accompanied by well-behaved parents who book a Premier Room (sea views come as standard) from £129 per room (including breakfast) per night. The hotel also offer self-catering options in their own fully serviced cottages, while deals such as the ‘Cream of Cornwall’ mini break (£99 per room, per night, including a fabulous dinner and full Cornish breakfast), a brand new Yoga Break and Romantic Packages abound on the website. Just don’t forget to pack your bucket and spade.
FALMOUTH HOTEL CASTLE BEACH, FALMOUTH, CORNWALL, TR11. FFI: 01326 312671, WWW.FALMOUTHHOTEL.COM
ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL 16 ROYAL CRESCENT, BATH. FFI: 01225 823333, WWW.ROYALCRESCENT.CO.UK
BEST FOR A TASTE OF COUNTRY LIFE: LUCKNAM PARK, COLERNE, WILTSHIRE ➻ This historic, imposing country house
mansion - six miles from Bath and set in 500 acres of listed parkland, boasting multiple awards and featuring a finedining Michelin-starred restaurant, AA rosette-endorsed brasserie, equestrian centre and elegant, totally seductive spa - may, at first glance, appear to be a dauntingly imposing affair. But rest assured that the Lucknam Park ethos is all about meeting the needs and expectations of the contemporary individual in a uniquely gracious, utterly user-friendly manner. Gourmet getaways, spa retreats, equestrian-themed breaks and midweek, weekend and last-minute deals (visit website for details) make Lucknam Park an affordable treat, guaranteed to recharge the batteries of wearied urbanites in fine, country style.
LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL & SPA COLERNE, WILTS, SN14. FFI: 01225 742777, WWW.LUCKNAMPARK.CO.UK
Have every need and whim met in country house splendour at Lucknam Park
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KITCHENS BATHROOMS HOME IMPROVEMENTS SHOPPING GARDENING
➻ HOME FRONT ROOM FRAGRANCE, KITCHEN FACELIFTS, SOLAR POWER AND MORE... Q&A
DEBBIE WILD
Jo Malone London’s lifestyle director keeps our homes smelling sweet
Create a sense of luxury in your home and garden with Jo Malone London
Why has there been such an increase in the home scent market? Entertaining at home is on the up. People are increasingly proud of their property, investing time and money into home styling and the small details. A smart scented home candle or scent diffuser is a simple way to create an atmosphere. What do scents bring to a home? Personality. Decorate your house with scent to match a mood or occasion or complement the season. Our Lime Basil and Mandarin is refreshing in summer, and Pomegranate Noir will warm up winter evenings. Soft floral Red Roses is ideal for intimate, more feminine spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms. Tell us more about your new Scent Surround Collection… Pomegranate Noir Scent Diffusers will perk up your entertaining space. Pomegranate, raspberry and plum, spiked with pink pepper, will heighten the mood and play on the senses. A simple outdoor table dressed with starched linens and napkins, tealights and handpicked flowers is a must for alfresco dining. The aroma of peppery basil, white thyme and zesty citrus in Lime Basil and Mandarin Scent Diffusers will bring a lively twist to your garden setting. How can we recreate the luxury of home when travelling abroad? Scatter Travel Candles in comforting scents around the hotel bed and bath. New Scented Sachets, with their innovative, compact packaging, are a clever travelling companion: fold them into your clothes and linens to keep fabrics fresh. Most people associate home scents with candles. What else will we find at Jo Malone London? There are infinite ways to use scent. Suffuse the air with our Room Sprays and Scent Diffusers. Adorn your wardrobe with limited-edition Drawer Liners and Scent Sachets. Spritz napkins, pillows and towels with Linen Sprays. Use scent to welcome guests or create an area of calm and relaxation for yourself. The possibilities are endless – and down to you! JO MALONE LONDON AT HARVEY NICHOLS CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.JOMALONE.CO.UK
DOORS & WINDOWS
OPEN SESAME
➻ Just a year after opening their showroom in Brislington, Crystal Clear have tripled the size of the display area. It’s now the perfect environment in which to showcase a wide selection of the latest doors and windows, giving you the opportunity to experience how products look, feel and work before you make a decision about any new purchases. The showroom features a range of contemporary composite doors, featuring traditional looks, highsecurity locking systems and stainless-steel designer hardware. Come here to browse over modern slimline bi-folding doors, available in any colour to suit your requirements. The display also features new slimline aluminium windows that replicate original Crittall-style designs, as well as composite timber and aluminium window systems and a full range of secondary glazing for sound and draught insulation.
“We’re so pleased to have had the space to extend our showroom,” says Tony Fox, sales director at Crystal Clear, who are Fensa-registered and a founding member of the UK’s Double Glazing and Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS). “It’s meant that we can now feature more of the products that our customers are interested in. It’s great to be able to show a wide range of doors and windows, and for customers to be able to see how they look and work. That’s really important when you’re trying to make decisions about what will suit your home and lifestyle, and helps to ensure that the end result is perfect.”
CRYSTAL CLEAR 22A EMERY RD, BRISLINGTON, BRISTOL, BS4. FFI: 0117 971 7880, WWW.CRYSTALCLEARBRISTOL.CO. UK (SHOWROOM OPEN MON-FRI 7.30AM-4.30PM, SAT 8.30AM-12.30PM)
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HOMEFRONT
RENEWABLE ENERGY OPEN DAY
HERE COMES THE SUN ➻ Saturday 7 July… put it in your diary!
Solarsense, the South West’s leading renewable energy installers, are having a Bumper Summer Open Day at their zerocarbon office premises in an idyllic rural setting in Backwell. There will be various solar demonstrations and the opportunity to tour the zero-carbon offices. You can find out about the range of fully operational renewable systems that they have installed there, including solar PV, solar thermal and ground source heat pump. Or, if you’d rather relax, why not chill out in their solar-roofed outdoor office,
Cedar House, look out over the pond and watch the sunlight (fingers crossed!) playing in the shimmering spray from the solar-powered fountain. To keep energy levels high there will also be a BBQ, tea and cakes, and makeyour-own pedal powered smoothies! Entry is free, and everybody is welcome – just pop along and say hello anytime between 10.30am and 3.30pm. SOLARSENSE BUMPER SUMMER OPEN DAY SAT 7 JULY, 10.30AM-3.30PM, FREE, HELIOS HOUSE, BROCKLEY LANE, BACKWELL, BS48. FFI: WWW.SOLARSENSE-UK.COM/EVENTS.ASP
WE L❤VE...
The beautiful Dutch homewares from Cotswolds-based mail order company Nordic Rose. Milk jug, £24.95 and cups, £22.95 for two. All dishwasher proof! (www.nordicrose.co.uk)
HOMEWARE
C’EST LA VIE! ➻ Like their clothes? Then you’ll love their new lifestyle collection. Inject a soupcon of sophistication into your four walls with the French Connection Home range - a clean fusion of styles, where minimal nestles up happily alongside rustic antique. Choose from bedding, soft furnishings, textiles and ceramics, or bag yourself some handblown recycled glass, distressed driftwood and kiln-fired ceramics. Bed linen comes in warm, muted colours, and chunky-knit throws and cushions add a snug feel to the chic, pared-down look, alongside some beautiful vases and candlesticks. We’re after the handwoven wool and leather rug, safari chair, anglepoise floor lamp and Born 1972 French Connection clock. FFI AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE AT WWW.FRENCHCONNECTION.COM
KITCHEN FACELIFTS
DREAM ON ➻ Dream Doors, the Bristol Company that provides new life for old kitchens, is encouraging us all to take advantage of a modern approach to a new kitchen, whether we want to sell, rent or stay where we are. The kitchen ‘facelift’ is a technique that uses the existing frames of your kitchen as a base and brings them up to date with new doors and work surfaces, available in a wide range of materials, from ultra modern to classic finishes. Dream Doors can also add new appliances, tiles, flooring and accessories, giving you the kitchen you’ve always wanted, for a fraction of the cost of a complete new one. Their qualified fitters can have the job completed in a matter of days, as there’s no old kitchen to pull out and no major works to disrupt you. . DREAM DOORS THE PROMENADE, GLOUCESTER RD, BRISTOL, BS7. FFI: 0117 944 3223, WWW.DREAMDOORS.CO.UK/LOCATIONS/BRISTOL
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THE WEST’S BEST
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MAGAZINE FOLIO FOLIO BRISTOL & BATH
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APRIL 2012 l No. 207
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LEARN YOUR PLONK FROM YOUR PINOT
WIN
A JAMES MARTIN KNIFE BLOCK SET!
FASHION
OUR STYLE EDIT FROM Cabot Circus
WIN
A CORNISH HOTEL BREAK BY THE SEA!
EATING OUT WEST
15 Market St, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
BES T OF BRITIS H
With a busy spring ahead for Bristol and Bath's art galleries, Folio surveys the very best that the local art scene has to offer
BEST PLACES TO EAT ALFRESCO
Fly the flag with PIXIE LOTT and friends at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway's Jubilee concert!
➻ BEAUTY Folio_Cover208.indd 7
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HOTTREND! HOW TO WEAR FLORALS
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MYGRANDDESIGN
FEMININE
TOUCH THE PROJECT THE BRIEF
THE SOLUTION
Judi wanted to replace her old kitchen which was collapsing and looked very tired. The colours and materials were low-quality and outdated, and the room felt cold and impersonal. She wanted a warm, welcoming kitchen with storage that made the most of the narrow space, as well as new concealed appliances and something in which to house the boiler. Judi also wanted durable surfaces around the sink area and a place to perch, where she could have breakfast and where she or her partner could sit and talk while the other prepared food.
Homeworx designed a new kitchen with lots of clever storage including pullout baskets. They integrated a new fridge along with the boiler, with a dividing panel to make the most of that area. Judi’s washing machine was hidden away behind two doors, with a small shelf area next to it for laundry products. Her dishwasher was concealed on the other side of the sink, keeping all the plumbing together. This whole area was then topped off with Kashmir White Granite, meaning it wouldn’t be damaged by water. The oak furniture was broken up with an English Blue paint finish at the top to make the room feel wider from the worktop up. Homeworx painted the walls in Farrow and Ball’s Slipper Satin to warm up the room and keep it looking fresh and bright. A chandelier and handmade tiles for the splashback added femininity. The team shaped the oak surfaces on the left-hand side into a small curve under which stools could be neatly tucked to sit at.
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HOMEFRONT
MYGRANDDESIGN
1
PULLOUT STORAGE
Clever storage ideas included pullout baskets either side of the oven and pullout baskets below the breakfast bar.
HOMEWORX
2
BUTTERFLY TILES
Homeworx used handmade tiles depicting butterflies and dragonflies for a unique feminine splashback.
3
➻ Homeworx specialise in a complete service, from architects’ drawings, planning permission and kitchen, bathroom and interior design to extensions, conversions, renovations and new build, incorporating building regulations and structural engineering. Their complete service covers all aspects of a project and all trades, including heating, plumbing, electrics, plastering, joinery, decorating and tiling. HOMEWORX DESIGN & BUILD TEL: 01275 845011 / 07809 152636 EMAIL: INFO@HOMEWORXBRISTOL.CO.UK WEB: WWW.HOMEWORXBRISTOL.CO.UK
BELFAST SINK
The Kashmir White Granite was made extra deep to give plenty of space behind the taps to clean around and a decent area of worktop for loading laundry onto.
4
BESPOKE JOINERY
Homeworx’s joiner Martin made the pretty plate rack along with a pair of stools from a picture that the client had seen.
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HOMEFRONT HOMEFRONT
INTERIORS INTERIORS
Add charm with a vintage-style bench like this ‘Hampton’ design, from £135, Next (www.next.co.uk)
Up the garden
PATH
Interior designer Lesley Taylor glams up your green spaces
Create a romantic ambience with these beautifully crafted coloured glass lanterns, from £6 each, Heals (www.heals. co.uk)
N
ow’s the ideal time to start preparing your garden for the warmer weather. The arrival of spring and summer often encourage homeowners to revamp their interior spaces, but exterior environments should be considered, too. For me, the garden becomes an additional living space as soon as the lighter evenings and sunny days arrive. And while I’m no expert gardener, I certainly like to make my outdoor areas look as inviting as I possibly can – there’s nothing more relaxing than chilling out with a good book in the sunshine and catching a few rays at the same time. Even if you don’t know your begonias from your busy lizzies, there are still plenty of ways in which you can spruce up your garden in time for summer. True, British summertimes can often be a bit disappointing, but when we’re lucky enough to have a sunny day, you want to be able to make the most of it. When clear skies are upon us, your garden is the ideal place for cooking, entertaining, relaxing and dining and, when styled correctly, it can become an extension of your home. So now is the time to start treating your outdoor areas to a makeover. ➻
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TIM LAWRENCE CREATIVE GARDENING & DESIGN Planting schemes with structure & imagination Long term aftercare offered Tree-pruning & tree-care Please contact Tim:
07771 623 039 timgreenting@yahoo.co.uk
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HOMEFRONT
INTERIORS
Above: Relax with your favourite book on a summer’s day in this allweather, built-tolast rattan ‘Capri’ chair, from £325, Next (www.next. co.uk) Right: Accessorise with cushions, throws and beanbags suitable for outdoor use, from £20, John Lewis (www. johnlewis.com)
An essential part of many gardens is the patio. What nicer way to spend a warm summer’s evening than dining with friends? The ideal dinner party requires a level ground for furniture and outdoor cooking appliances, so why not create a Mediterranean feel by opting for porcelain tiles that have a natural stone appearance? Using frostresistant porcelain designs will ensure that your patio withstands harsh winter temperatures, and being a
non-porous material it will survive the heavy British downpours, too. Bring your patio to life with planters that create a focal point within your garden. The market now offers a vast selection of stainless-steel designs that are ideal for a funky, contemporary layout and won’t crack or rust in bad weather. When planning your garden revamp, it’s important to ensure that the products you choose will last all year round. Of course, an outside dinner party wouldn’t be possible without an exterior cooking appliance. Many homes in the UK are now adopting a more rustic style of living similar to that found abroad, which enables homeowners to enjoy a holiday experience throughout the entire summer months. I’d recommend
taking the time to look into alternative options including masonry barbecues and pizza ovens that, as well as being functional, also add a sense of traditional charm. Taking this theme even further, if you want to enjoy your garden long into the evening, you’ll need to consider lighting and heating options. Continuing with the rustic theme, a firepit or chiminea would sit perfectly in your patio area and would again create a point of interest within your garden while also keeping you warm until the early hours. If you only have a relatively compact space to work with, however, you may be better investing in electric heaters that can be installed onto exterior walls, or which clip onto your parasol. When it comes to lighting, a garden should always benefit from plenty of candles and decorative glass-lantern designs. Adopting the foreign lifestyle once again, Moroccan styling continues to be an on-trend theme for both interior and exterior design. This is a small investment that makes a massive difference to the ambience of your garden, and creates a peaceful and relaxing environment. Or if you need something that provides a little more illumination, solar-panelled lights can be installed in your flowerbeds, dotted around your patio area or fitted to surrounding fences and panels. During the summer months, you should consider your garden as an alternative living area where you can relax and socialise with friends – and it’s important to accessorise outside spaces just as you would inside. Designers Guild have a fantastic new outdoors collection called ‘Tiana’, which ranges from poolside furniture to comfy cushions. All the fabrics used are specifically tailored to suit outdoor use – they’re waterrepellent, mould-proof and resistant to soil and stains, meaning that your garden can have a glamorous edge come rain or shine. Last but not least, you’re going to need some lovely furniture in which to place your new cushions and throws, so keep an eye out for a beautiful vintage bench that would look perfect under a shaded tree.
CONTACTS DESIGNERS GUILD FFI: WWW.DESIGNERSGUILD.COM GARDINER HASKINS STRAIGHT ST, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 929 2288, WWW. GARDINERHASKINS.CO.UK IKEA EASTGATE SHOPPING CENTRE, EASTVILLE, BRISTOL. FFI: 0845 355 2264, WWW.IKEA.COM/GB JOHN LEWIS THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 959 1100, WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM
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Ideal for weddings, private parties, corporate events, club nights and festivals!
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HOMEFRONT
GARDENING
IN THE
GARDEN
Ideas and inspiration from Trish Gibson to help you make the most of your garden this month
GROW SOMETHING SPECIAL SHRUB ROSES
J
une really wouldn’t be June without roses, would it? They may not offer a lot in the middle of winter, but for colour and fragrance, you can’t beat them in summer. And there are even some that will flower on and on until Christmas. ‘Charles de Mills’ is an old rose, with full, closely packed flowers of a rich crimson. It’s a healthy rose and very reliable, and has the most stunning scent. It makes quite a large shrub – about 1.2mx1.2m. Growing tips Container-grown roses can be planted any time, but for a wider choice look for bareroot roses for planting in winter. They’ll appreciate a well prepared soil with plenty of organic matter. Prune in spring when leaf buds turn reddish and begin to swell.
JOBS FOR JUNE
The opulent flowers of Rosa ‘Charles de Mills’ are stars in the June garden
➻ OTHERS TO TRY ROSA MUNDI This striking rose is one of the oldest and best known of the striped roses, supposedly named after ‘Fair Rosamund’, mistress of Henry II. As a shrub, it’s just under a metre tall and wide, and it could also be grown as a good low hedge. Delicious scent.
Encourage runner beans to cling to their supports – they climb anti-clockwise. Sow fast-growing annuals such as Californian poppy, pot marigold and love-in-a-mist direct in the ground for latesummer colour. Plant out your winter greens (sprouts, sprouting broccoli, cabbages) and leeks.
WE’LL BE SPLASHING OUT ON… Some new lightweight gardening gloves. As the weather warms up (at last!), those winter gloves are too heavy. Joe’s Gloves are great in wet and dry conditions and fit like a dream. FFI WWW.JOES-GARDEN.COM
ALBA MAXIMA This rose is a great survivor – the one most often found in old gardens. Tall and willowy with a lovely, slightly grey-green foliage, its double flowers are tinted slightly pink to start with, turning creamy-white. Very fragrant and quite tall at almost two metres. CÉCILE BRUNNER With its miniature blush-pink flowers, this pretty little rose flowers almost continuously and is sweetly scented. It’s tough, needs very little pruning, and makes a short, compact bush (less than a metre tall) so is ideal if your space is limited.
THIS MONTH WE’LL BE VISITING... Hanham Court Gardens, deeply romantic and enchanting – and an ideal opportunity to see the luscious borders of old roses, tree peonies and lilies. FFI HANHAM COURT, FERRY RD, HANHAM, SOUTH GLOS, BS15. OPEN THUR & FRI UNTIL 31 AUG, ADULT £5, CHILD £3. TEAROOM OPEN 1.30-5.30PM. WEB: WWW. HANHAMCOURTGARDENS. CO.UK
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PROPERTY NEWS
This three-bedroom detached home has plenty of attractive features such as wood-burning stove, open tiled fireplace and polished wood staircase, and comes with half an acre of secluded garden
PROPERTY OF THE ISSUE
RIVER VIEW STAPLETON, BRISTOL, £500,000
T
he location of this threebedroom detached private house – actually inside Snuff Mills public park - is most definitely one of its assets. During spring and summer there’s a great swathe of flowers planted just outside the front boundary, with a footpath beyond and benches for quiet contemplation. But by far the best feature is the
rushing presence of the River Frome, just metres from the house, carving its way through a steep wooded valley. Fortunately, however, for those who are thinking of living here and who value their privacy, there’s also a secluded garden at the back that’s shielded from view by a tall panelled fence and a sheer rock face, softened by a riot of tumbling foliage. This private half-acre retreat is mainly lawn, with a large paved patio, plenty of mature shrubs, a koi pond, fruit trees and shaped flower beds with low stone borders. Hide out and relax here in the sunshine, soothed by the gushing water. On warm days, cool off in the heated swimming pool; during chilly months, stay warm in the wood-burning sauna. With such a rich natural environment to enjoy, with plenty of wildlife around, it’s hard to believe that this former park keeper’s lodge, built circa 1907, is just 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre. A little nearer, in Stapleton, are plenty of local shops, plus access via a bridge over the M32 to another large open space and lakes around Purdown BT Tower. With state and independent schools on the doorstep, too, and campuses of the University of the West of England and Frenchay Hospital just a couple of miles north, it’s a popular place to live. No doubt the current owners of River View would argue they have the best plot in Stapleton, and have made a very comfortable home here. They’ve installed solar panels on the roof, which heat most of the hot water, while a woodburning stove in the lounge (set in a stone
surround) and an open tiled fireplace in the dining room top up the central heating. Double wooden gates mark the curtilage of the property at the front, and there’s plenty of space to park, in addition to a double garage. The interior decoration theme has been kept neutral, with beige carpets and wood or laminate floors complemented by cream painted walls. Bay windows, a polished wood staircase and picture rails add interest and character. On a more modern note, the downstairs cloakroom and upstairs bathroom both have white suites, the latter including a sunken bath and power shower with beige tiling, while the plentiful kitchen units are sleek and white, with black vinyl work surfaces and integrated appliances. Of the three double bedrooms, one has fitted wardrobes with mirrored sliding doors. Snuff Mills Park is owned by the city council and includes an old quarry, stone mill and pleasant walks along the steep wooded banks of the river, which extends to neighbouring Oldbury Court Estate. Despite the mill’s name, tobacco snuff was never ground in the mill - the area’s name originated from one of the millers, who earned the moniker ‘Snuffy Jack’ because his smock was always covered in snuff. FFI HOUSE-HUT ESTATE AGENTS. TEL: 0117 975 8636, WEB: WWW.HOUSE-HUT.COM
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HOMEFRONT
PROPERTY
COAST TO COAST Kate Edser takes the long view on Clevedon Pier
M
ore children will be able to enjoy a better view from the end of Clevedon Pier this summer thanks to Cotswold Homes. The house builders, who are creating 14 new homes, called ‘Coastline’, in nearby Strode Road, have made a £500 contribution towards the cost of upgrading the high-powered binoculars at the end of the pier, which visitors use to scan the Bristol Channel for shipping or study the Welsh coastline. To enhance the experience for young visitors to Britain’s only grade I-listed pier, Clevedon Pier and Heritage Trust plan to install a welded metal step to help children use the 10-year-old binoculars. Cotswold Homes have also donated £500 towards smartening up the 125-year-old bandstand, which is owned by North Somerset Council, on Clevedon’s seafront, to give it a fresh new look in time for Diamond Jubilee
celebrations. “Since the Victorian bandstand was repainted to mark the new millennium in 2000, it’s become very weathered and is in urgent need of a facelift,” says Cotswold Homes sales manager Terri Hayes-Pugh. “We like to put something back into the communities that provide much of our business and that’s why we offered to fund the work involved. The bandstand is the venue for concerts on Sunday afternoons from May to September, and I’m sure that many of the people who buy our new homes in Clevedon will bring their families and friends to enjoy the music.” Over at Coastline in Strode Road, Cotswold Homes recently opened a fully furnished showhome and are reporting “huge interest” in the development, where all but three of the 14 properties have now been sold. Prices for those still available start at £221,999.
FFI COASTLINE SHOWHOME, STRODE RD, CLEVEDON, OPEN FRI-MON 10AM-5PM OR BY APPOINTMENT WITH ESTATE AGENT STEVEN SMITH TOWN & COUNTRY, THE TRIANGLE, CLEVEDON. TEL: 01275 877771, WEB: WWW.STEVENSMITHHOMES.CO.UK
FIRST-TIME BUYERS FLYING THE NEST
P
NEWBUY SCHEME
HELP!
➻ A new survey by InvestorBee has predicted that it takes first-time buyers
in the South West 16.4 years to save for a 20% deposit to buy a house - only those in London can expect to save for longer (18.6 years). The government is taking steps to remedy the problem, however, particularly with the advent of the NewBuy scheme, which makes 95% mortgages available to credit-worthy first-time buyers who purchase a new home. Home-movers with limited equity in their existing house will also benefit from the increase in availability of 95% loan-to-value mortgages. NewBuy is being offered at many developments across the region, including Taylor Wimpey’s Blenheim Meadow site near Filton in Bristol (pictured) and, around Bath, Bovis Homes, whose Priors Lea site on the outskirts of Paulton has a choice of two- and three-bedroom homes. To explain the recently launched scheme, developer Taylor Wimpey have produced a video guide explaining how NewBuy works.
roperty guru and TV favourite Phil Spencer has joined forces with Taylor Wimpey Bristol to produce a video guide for those buying their first home, covering everything from knowing the right time to buy to financing your move and negotiating your way through the housebuying process. The guides are being launched as new research from Taylor Wimpey reveals that one in five people in Bristol are living with their parents more than a decade longer than they intended to as they struggle to get onto the property ladder. Seven out of 10 young people in our region said they had less freedom living at home, and 67% admitted it had an adverse affect on their love life. More than 74% felt that their relationship with their parents would be better if they moved out. The survey also found that although the Hotel of Mum and Dad may still be open for business, the Bank of Mum and Dad seems firmly shut. Nearly 60% of parents in Bristol said they simply didn’t have the spare funds to help their children with a deposit for a house, with 25% admitting that they were struggling just to keep themselves afloat. FFI TO VIEW PHIL SPENCER’S BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME GUIDES: WWW.TAYLORWIMPEY.CO.UK/PHILSPENCER
FFI WWW.NEWBUY.ORG.UK TO VIEW THE VIDEO GUIDE: WWW.TAYLORWIMPEY.CO.UK/NEWBUY
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BRISTOLLIVING
PIECES OF ME
ELLIE BARKER Bristol-based TV presenter and broadcast journalist Ellie Barker
H
aving worked her way up the broadcasting ladder from GMTV teamaker to correspondent for The West Country Tonight, Ellie Barker now presents the early-morning regional Daybreak bulletins on ITV1. She studied sociology at Bath University, where the university magazine scooped two Guardian Media Awards during her editorship. Her first job was in London as a PA for Robert Kilroy-Silk, followed by stints as a runner, trainee producer, journalist, GMTV Scottish correspondent and BBC presenter, with a postgrad diploma in broadcast journalism along the way. Ellie lives in Bristol with fellow news reporter Robert Murphy and their two-year-old son, Arthur. For easy-to-wear fashion head to Make
Ellie’s signature scent
The book that set Ellie on the path to achieving her dreams
that Jennie and Ellen, who own it, will make you feel so welcome. I love all their tarts. We also really like La Campagnuola on Zetland Road, who make you feel equally at home. My favourite early morning pick-meup… Every morning before I leave for work I have a freezing cold shower. It’s brutal but I’m not a natural morning person and it’s been my saviour since I was GMTV’s Scotland Correspondent. My favourite local shop… This is really tricky, living off the Gloucester Road, as there are so many lovely shops, but I’d have to say Make, the clothes shop. You can always find something a bit different in there. I have to limit my visits, though, as I always end up buying something.
My favourite book… A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I read it when I was 16 and it helped me believe that I could achieve my dreams if I worked hard enough. I drove my friends crazy, though, with insisting that they sit through the film on TV… My favourite holiday destination… Almost anywhere in America. Although, after three longhaul trips with our two-yearold son Arthur, we’re thinking that it may be easier to stay closer to home for a bit. My favourite scent… Pleasures by Estée Lauder. My mum bought it for me when I was a teenager and it’s still the only perfume I ever wear. Very boring, I know!
Indulge your sweet tooth at haven of heavenly treats, Tart
My favourite local cafe/restaurant… Tart on the Gloucester Road in Bristol. You know you can always go there and La Campagnuola on Zetland Road is a favourite local haunt
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