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VOUCHERS WORTH £100 (PAGE 42) NOVEMBER 2012 l No. 214
Open house
BRISTOL'S BIGGEST ART TRAILS
BEHIND THE SCENES…
At the museum, theatre and gallery
EATING OUT WEST
COSIEST FOODIE HAUNTS
PLUS
FIVE OF THE BEST LOCAL WALKS
BATH NEWCOMER The Kilted
Chef reviewed
THE BIG
ON
th a free concert wi te ra leb ce d an s ht lig as tm ris Ch ’s all JLS turn on The M
➻ BEAUTY Folio_Cover214.indd 9
FASHION WHAT'S ON INTERIORS PROPERTY FOOD 10/26/2012 5:50:56 PM
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NOV 2012
ROOMS WITH A VIEW We’re very fortunate in Bristol and Bath that we live in such creatively rich pastures. With the plethora of galleries, indie shops, pop-ups, craft hubs and fairs, tourists to the twin cities would surely be forgiven for believing that new residents have to be able to bring a particular artistic skill to the cultural mix. And November only seeks to confirm this belief, with a bumper art fest for north Bristol. On page 12, Steve Wright picks out some of his particular highlights from the North Bristol Art Trail, in which more than 100 artists will be showcasing their creative talents in 50-plus venues across the northern reaches of the city. On page 14, meanwhile, Steve gives us a rundown of who to make a beeline for at Bristol’s original art trail, Totterdown’s Front Room, also this month. Visiting these trails alone should have you ticking great swathes off your Christmas list, but in case you need a bit of extra inspiration (and let’s face it, you can never have too much), our glorious gift guide, Batteries Not Included, has plenty of ideas to steer you in the right direction, whether you’re struggling over what to buy an impossible brother or confounded by a frustratingly particular friend. So pop some festive tunes on the stereo, fix yourself a nutmeg latte and get that Christmas shopping off to a spectacular start. Have a wonderful month,
Rachel Nott Folio editor
PS This issue marks my last for a while as I go on maternity leave. Taking my place in the hot seat will be Dave Higgitt - a familiar name for many. See you in 2013!
Cover image: JLS WILL BE SWITCHING ON THE MALL’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN A FREE TICKETED CONCERT ON THUR 8 NOV. SEE PAGE 16 FOR MORE INFORMATION
@folioeditor
FEATURES 4 12 20
In the run-up to Christmas, we find out how local businesses cope with the extra pressure Steve Wright takes a walk round Bristol’s neighbourhood art trails We take a peek behind the scenes at a few local institutions
20 BEHIND THE SCENES
WHAT'S ON 28 30 33 35 36 39
The latest film releases, chosen by Robin Askew What to do in November A look at the local art scene At a theatre near you… Top gigs and concerts Cracking winter walks
COMPETITIONS
42 WIN a £100 voucher to spend in Cabot Circus, or a skid control course!
EATING OUT WEST 46 50 54 57 58 61 62 64 66 69
Banish the winter blues at one of these cosy hotspots Tony Benjamin talks to some of the winners from the Bath Good Food Awards 2012 Restaurant review: The Kilted Chef Restaurant review: Glassboat Restaurant review: Bybrook restaurant at the Manor House Hotel Restaurant review: Lido Lamb shank recipe from Maaza Namaskar Pub of the month: Marlborough Tavern Shop of the month: Mark’s Bread What’s Cooking?
LIFESTYLE 75 78 80 82 84 87 89 92
36 Our pick of the best gigs
Inject some colour into your winter wardrobe Why we love Bath shop My Small World Hannah Chapman gets a stylish new do at Shine Hair Salon Ellie Pipe tries an amazing skin rejuvenation treatment at Frontlinestyle Hypnotherapy, a new health and fitness retreat and a special offer from the Relaxation Centre Spotlight on Backwell School plus news from Red Maids’ and Heywood Prep Anna Britten gets herself some sustainable skills Advice on winter motoring
75 Winter woollies in eye-popping colours
HOMEFRONT 98 How to achieve minimalist chic on a budget 102 We take a look around a dreamy 17th century cottage in Dyrham
FINALE 106 Pieces of Me: a peek at the world of wedding stylist Kirsten Butler
78 Shop of the Month: My Small World
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64 Pub of the Issue: Marlborough Tavern
FOLIO/NOV 2012 3
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FEATURE
Festive
FRENZY Christmas is a busy time for everyone, but what about those whose workloads can triple? Gail Shortland meets the West’s slaves to the silly season
VICTORIA SPRIGGS EVENTS EXECUTIVE FOR BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET ➻ “I’m responsible for the organisation and delivery of the Bath Christmas Market. My job means that I’m preparing for Christmas all year round! The role covers everything from applying for planning permission and street trading consent, to recruiting stallholders and being there throughout the event. I’ve done it for six years, and it’s a delight to be part of such a special time for Bath. “The organisation starts in January when we apply for the licensing, then from February we get the stallholders on board. It really gets busy from September, as we prepare for the grand opening. During the event, I’m able to get out from behind my desk and experience it hands on. I’m kept busy trouble-shooting and liaising
with stallholders, contractors, residents and customers. “The team and I work 14-hour days, seven days a week, to make sure the market runs smoothly for the five weeks that it’s on. Even though it’s hard work, the camaraderie among the excellent team keeps the mood festive. A good range of Christmas munchies from the stalls helps us to stay motivated, too! “This year we have 139 wooden chalets, nine caterers and 15 stalls at Milsom Place - which is a new thing for 2012. We’re also expanding into Bath Street for the first time. The market will be bigger than ever, with an exciting new range of traders and products. “Planning Christmas for 12 months can be a challenge and does take some of the excitement out of the big day. But it’s a lovely subject to be focusing on, and you never get bored of reindeer, giant elves or roller-skating Christmas puddings! And an added bonus to working at the market is the chance to browse the stalls for gift ideas. “Friends and family often come to Bath to enjoy the festive buzz of the market, so it’s a treat to show them around. The weather can definitely help to make or break an event, and we’ve been really lucky in recent years, with blue skies and cold crisp days. The only downside is starting and finishing your working day in the dark. Never a good feeling! “I have two young daughters - Isobel, three, and Polly, one - who are both winter babies, so Christmas is a very special time of year for us as a family. This year, after all the hard work, I’ll be looking forward to sitting back and putting my feet up. With baby number three on the way, I’m sure that my swollen ankles will welcome it!” BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET 22 NOV-9 DEC, MON-WED 10AM-7PM, THUR-SAT 10AM-9PM, SUN 11AM-6PM. FFI: WWW.BATHCHRISTMASMARKET.CO.UK
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PHOTO: DAMON PACKER
FEATURE
DANI PERKINS VISUAL MERCHANDISER AT JOHN LEWIS, BRISTOL
PHOTO: BATH TOURISM
➻ “I feel really lucky when Christmas gets nearer, because I’m part of the team that’s responsible for turning John Lewis in Cribbs Causeway into a stunning winter wonderland. Overnight we transform the store so that when our customers arrive in the morning, it feels as though it’s all appeared by magic - truth is, it’s a lot of hard work! My Christmas starts when my colleague Jessika Watkinson and I go to the central office in London to find out what the John Lewis Christmas ‘look’ will be. It’s always very exciting, and this year they’ve cleverly chosen to work with five themes so that at least one of the 29 trees will be a look that appeals to you. “Each store gets the chance to tweak the designs to suit the building and style of store - that’s where my creative side kicks in. I studied graphic design, and that really helps to give me an eye for detail. It’s important not to overfill the store, but at the same time, it needs to look breathtaking. “In September, we do the first of our two-night shifts. When the store closes, 12 of us put together our Christmas Shop, which is all the festive essentials for our customers. It’s the start of our seasonal makeover. Then, in October, we do the final shift, where we put up all the trees and decorations. We use 1,000 metres of lights and 2,000 baubles, so it takes a while! “We normally start at 8.30pm and finish at around 4am, but it’s so much fun and really gets you into the Christmas mood. We play festive music and have delicious food. Everyone gets on really well, so it’s really not a chore. The cascading fairylights and stars hanging in our atrium are a real highlight, and we get experts in to abseil down to put them all into place. Incredibly, the atrium decorations joined up would span the length of 15 double-decker buses. I make sure that the store is tastefully done. The key is preparation, and not just chucking everything on. At home I’m the total opposite - my place looks like a grotto! “Throughout the festive season, we make sure that all the decorations stay looking flawless and remain sparkling for each and every customer. And as I patrol the store, it’s also the perfect time for me to browse for presents. I love Christmas, so it’s a joy to be involved with making the store look beautiful. And even though it’s a busy time, it brings everyone together, and it’s a privilege to be able to create a ‘wow’ factor for our customers.” JOHN LEWIS THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM
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FEATURE
GLENN HOLMES
JOINT DIRECTOR AT HUSH HAIRDRESSING ➻ “We opened Hush last August after leaving Guy Fawkes, and had a blast fitting out the shop. It took us eight days from start to finish, which was hard work but immensely satisfying. Mark and I made all the units and painted and decorated Hush with a little help from our friends, and are really happy with the end result. “Prior to Hush (and Guy Fawkes), I’d been working with organic and mineral hair colour and the Organic and Mineral Research Institute, so when we decided to open Hush, we wanted to create a space where our clients could come and relax in a chemical-free environment. On a busy working day at Hush, it’s not so much about coping when you enjoy what you do. One of the things we focus on is quality not quantity, so the salon always has a relaxed, friendly feel, even when we’re all pushed to the post. “In September, we start to tell our clients that they’re only two haircuts away from Christmas - and from that moment on, clients book their next two appointments. Better to plan ahead than be disappointed! Clients tend to make sure that their cuts and colours are looking superfresh. We see quite an increase in hair up, and finishes as well. Everyone likes a little extra sparkle, to outshine the others at the office Christmas party! “Here at the salon, we love a good Christmas party. We went to a Narnia-themed event last year and had a brilliant time. We like the festive feeling, though I’m not big on Christmas songs and loads of tat hanging from ceiling and mirrors, though. I think it’s the staff and clients that give the salon its atmosphere, not the tinsel. I love Christmas, and although it’s hard being away from family, I’ve been in the UK for 20 years now and have a great group of friends who always make it feel very special for me. “Holidays for me start in January and involve snow, mountains and me strapped to my snowboard. I take all my holidays in the winter as I love snowboarding - I was lucky enough to board Austria, Switzerland and France last season.” HUSH HAIRDRESSING 27-29 BALDWIN ST, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 930 0350, WWW.HUSHHAIRBRISTOL.CO.UK ➻
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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, London Road, 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 Visit our website: www.oldbankantiquescentre.com Tel: 01225 469282 & 338813 Email: alexatmontague@aol.com
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FEATURE
ED MAY MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BATH CATERING COMPANY EAT5STAR ➻ “Eat5Star was created in June 2008 to supply
LUCY TAYLOR PERSONAL SHOPPER AT HOUSE OF FRASER, BRISTOL
➻ “I’ve been a personal shopper at House of Fraser since our Cabot Circus store first opened in 2008. We offer a complimentary service for both men and women in our two luxury shopping suites. My role is to sit down with my clients to get an understanding of their needs, and while they enjoy a coffee I dash round selecting suitable outfits for them to try on in a private changing room. “The experience is tailored to an individual’s needs - I can be doing anything from advising on what clothes, colours or styles suit their shape or lifestyle, to helping someone buy a capsule wardrobe or a key piece for the season like a winter coat. Some customers come to me to buy occasion wear, such as mothers-of-the-bride who don’t know where to start. We also have small groups who want to have a really VIP shopping day or girls going to a Christmas party. It’s a lot of fun and a perfect way to guarantee that your closest friends won’t be wearing the same outfit as you! “Christmas is definitely one of my busiest times of year. From late October I see a lot of new and existing clients who are thinking about their party outfits or presents. Some customers also come in to book a personal shop for their partner as a Christmas gift. While the personal shopping service is free, it makes a really thoughtful present when it’s arranged along with a gift card. “When I’m helping to buy presents for
people, the most important thing is ensuring that I ask the right questions to help build a picture of the person I’m shopping for. Men often buy the women lingerie, bags and shoes or something from beauty. Women tend to buy the men jumpers such as the Linea merino jumpers, which are absolutely beautiful and available in many colours. “The benefit of being a personal shopper is that my Christmas shopping is quick and easy, too. I often spot items and think, ‘That will be the perfect present for so and so,’ and it helps that House of Fraser has so many brands under one roof. And working in retail at Christmas is a wonderful feeling. Hearing the music and seeing the decorations every day really gets me into the festive spirit. It’s also lovely when parents bring their children into the store and you see their excitement. “This Christmas, I’ll be relaxing for a couple of days with my family and partner, before I’m back to work for the Boxing Day sale. We always have a really traditional Christmas with all the trimmings. Now that we’re talking about it, I can’t wait!”
healthy, nutritious, freshly made food to offices and businesses in Bath. Our aim was to provide a better level of service and cuisine to everyday workers. My role from the start was very hands on and often involved taking orders, making the food and delivering. Then we found a shop in central Bath and hired staff and drivers. It became very popular and quickly branched out to doing events, both private and corporate, including a James Bond film premiere. “Christmas starts early for us as we’re often writing menus in summer for festive parties and also baking ahead mince pies, sausage rolls and chutneys. Most festive functions are definitely boozier - wine sales increase and customers seem more relaxed. The food we provide remains seasonal, but it does give the kitchen a chance to have a bit more Christmas fun with their creativity. Generally the office parties start in November, and while the Bath Christmas Market is on, the small coffee and food bar is always full. Our sales triple in a week. Catering hours are always long and are just as busy during Christmas. We can work a 16-hour day - and that feels a lot longer when it’s dark. “When it’s busy, it’s really busy, but because Eat5Star is my own business, I’m constantly motivated and find it very hard to switch off. I’m always looking at ways of improving the last event. With 5Star in the name, it also puts everyone under pressure as customers expect a high-quality product and faultless service, which is what we strive for. “I love Christmas. I come from a small family and we make sure that we spend it together. For us, it’s all about the eating, drinking and laughter rather than the gifts. And with January being a slower period at work, that’s usually the time I go away. I turn 30 in January 2013, so I’ll be spending my birthday in Costa Rica for a well-earned rest on a beach!” EAT5STAR FFI: 01225 330555, WWW.CATERERSBATH.CO.UK
HOUSE OF FRASER CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL. THE STORE OFFERS A FREE PERSONAL SHOPPING SERVICE FOR MEN, WOMEN AND SMALL GROUPS, WITH NO MINIMUM SPEND. FFI: 0844 800 3710, WWW.HOUSEOFFRASER.CO.UK
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The Great Gatsby
1920s Prohibition - Christmas 2012
Shared nights available from 28th November to 22nd December Tickets are also available for a dedicated ‘Retail Night’ on Sunday 16th December This year the Passenger Shed will be transformed. Make your way down the dimly lit passage to join the Mobsters and Molls in an underground speakeasy with lavish, decadent style where you can party the night away and say goodbye to your inhibitions as you can now drink and gamble, safe from the detection of the law.. for now! Evening Includes Extensive “The Great Gatsby/1920s Prohibition” theme including a Grand Casino • 45ft Licensed themed bar and chill out • 25ft cocktail, shot bar and chill out • Sparkling wine reception • Themed photobooth • Fantastic live band, DJ and disco • Full sound and lighting • Professional, friendly security and cloakroom staff
Prices from £31 + VAT To book your ticket call the Hype team on 0117 971 0320 or e-mail infoahypeagency.co.uk o Web: www.hypeagency.co.uk The Passenger Shed at Brunel’s Old Station, Bristol, BS1 6QH
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FOLIO ADVERTORIAL
The ultimate Christmas
SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
T
With the festive season approaching fast, it’s the perfect excuse to immerse yourself in the South West’s leading shopping destination, Bristol’s Cabot Circus
hrough the winter months, Cabot Circus is bursting with gorgeous decorations and a truly festive atmosphere, bringing Bristol to life. You can find something for everyone, from quirky stocking-fillers to classic Christmas gifts - this is Christmas shopping at its very best.
HERE COME THE GIRLS
Ladies love finding a designer present under the tree, and Cabot Circus and Quakers Friars are home to some of the most coveted brands in town. Anchor stores House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols have extensive womenswear and accessory collections, featuring labels such as Biba, Missoni, Victoria Beckham and Mulberry. Alternatively, if you’re looking for something for that special someone, the new Boux Avenue store offers luxury lingerie, nightwear and accessories for every woman. Cabot Circus boasts over 120 stores including anchors Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser, LK Bennett, Mango, Ted Baker, Zara, Reiss, Urban Outfitters and Topshop. You can also pick up some great gifts at stores such as Oliver Bonas, Hotel Chocolat and Pandora - which are bursting with ideas
whether you’re buying for mum, sister or friend, or picking up a little something for yourself.
STEP AWAY FROM THE SOCKS!
Christmas gifts for the men in your life needn’t stop at ties and underwear! Whether dad is looking to join the tech-savvy generation, or your brother would like the latest gadget to add to his collection, you’ll be spoilt for choice at Cabot Circus. The large Apple store offers the latest technology trends, and Currys Digital caters to all of your electronic needs. Cabot Circus also includes a great selection of menswear stores, including All Saints, Hugo Boss, H&M and John Anthony.
DELICIOUS DINING
If you’re looking for that special Christmas meal or dinner with your friends after a hard day’s shopping, there are over 20 dining options, which will cater for all tastes. Yo! Sushi and Gourmet Burger give you the option to grab a quick bite in-between shopping, and there are family-friendly restaurants such as Giraffe and Frankie & Benny’s. Foodies will love Raymond Blanc’s Brasserie Blanc, which offers modern French
cuisine, and the Mediterranean flavours at Carluccio’s.
CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS
The glamorous Harvey Nichols Second Floor Bar features seasonal cocktails and a large selection of wines and champagnes by the glass. Alternatively, Italian restaurant and bar Piccolino’s provides the perfect place to take a break and enjoy a cocktail or two!
ENTERTAINMENT & RELAXATION
Cabot Circus boasts the only Sanctuary Spa in the South West, and a range of other lifestyle stores, including Molton Brown and The White Company. Why not add a little pampering into your day - Christmas is the season for treats, after all! Finally, you can round off your trip by treating yourself to at-seat service or a cocktail while enjoying this year’s Christmas blockbuster in one of two exclusive Director’s Halls at the 13-screen Cinema de Lux.
CONTACT
CHRISTMAS AT CABOT CIRCUS FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CABOTCIRCUS.COM OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
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FOLIO ADVERTORIAL
BRISTOL CITY CENTRE TO LIGHT UP WITH PETER PAN MAGIC THIS CHRISTMAS ➻Bristol’s Shopping Quarter
will switch on its Christmas lights in theatrical style this year, with a magical event on Friday 9 November marking the start of the festive season. The event will begin with a 150-strong procession of youth theatre school children, led by Lost Boy drummers and Peter Pan from the Bristol Old Vic as they sing and dance their way from the Podium, through Quakers Friars and into Cabot Circus for the grand finale by Cirque Bijou.
THE BRISTOL CITY CENTRE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON TAKES PLACE ON FRI 9 NOV AND THE EVENT WILL BEGIN AT 6PM
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NICK GEROLEMOU ‘DERBY ROAD’
FEATURE
BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS
November is a bumper month for Bristol’s neighbourhood art trails. Steve Wright goes round the houses
N
ow in its 11th year, the North Bristol Art Trail returns at the end of this month, with work by more than 100 artists in more than 50 venues across the city’s north-central suburbs. The doors of homes, studios, cafes, bars and community venues will be open on the weekend of 24-25 Nov, and you’ll find a huge variety of
artwork on view and for sale, all produced by local artists, many of them professional - see panel for a few highlights. The trail covers a large patch of north Bristol, stretching from St Andrews across Bishopston to Henleaze, Westbury Park, Redland and along the Gloucester Road. You’re best off taking in the trail on foot or by bike: a trail map will be flopping through your letterbox if you live in the area, and can also be found in
libraries, local shops and on the North Bristol Artists website (see below). Don’t worry about bringing the little darlings along, either: there’ll be lots of children’s activities at different venues around the event. All of the community venues and many of the artists’ studios and homes will also be serving tea, coffee, soft drinks and homemade cakes to keep you fuelled as you stroll the leafy suburbs. “The trail has become a popular and regular event in the north Bristol calendar,” says textile artist and trail spokesperson Sarah Thorp. “Many people take on the challenge of visiting every single venue over the two days - quite an undertaking!” Many are there simply to browse the art, but NBAT also attracts its fair share of serious art buyers, lured by the prospect of affordable art from talented artists. “As this is the last art trail of the year in Bristol,” says Sarah, “it’s a welcome event for those looking for unique and special Christmas presents for loved ones.” NORTH BRISTOL ART TRAIL SAT 24-SUN 25 NOV, 10AM-6PM. SOME VENUES WILL ALSO OPEN FOR PREVIEWS ON FRI 23, 6-9PM: ALL WELCOME. FFI: WWW. NORTHBRISTOLARTISTS.ORG.UK
PUBLIC ART ➻ Although the majority of artists exhibit in their own homes, many public venues get in on the trail act, too, including Gloucester Road cafes Halo and Lashings, jewellers Artemis and the Planet Pizza restaurant. Redland’s Heart Space textile studios also open their doors for the weekend, while one of the trail’s more distinctive venues is the Visitors Centre at Horfield Prison, which will once again be displaying work by residents. Elsewhere, the Sakya Buddhist Centre on Gloucester Road will be displaying its extensive Tibetan art collection, while Horfield Baptist Church will host work by North Bristol Artists and local children - as well as pieces produced by Lighting Up, a charity that works with people with dementia and their families. While the trail may not be upon us until late November, several group exhibitions featuring NBA member artists will kick off from Tue 6 Nov. Venues include Planet Pizza, Niche Frames on Stokes Croft and the Bird Table, a fledgling cafe/bistro on Coldharbour Road. Keep an eye on the NBA website for details.
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FEATURE
NAMES IN THE FRAME ➻ Over 100 artists are exhibiting
across the trail - so where on earth to start? As in previous trails, the quality of the art is likely to be high across the board, but a few names you could start out with include Nick Gerolemou (29 Upper Belmont Rd), a painter who creates atmospheric scenes of Bristol and beyond. Bold blocks of colour, sensitive light effects that pinpoint a season or time of day, and a treatment of colour and perspective that echoes German Expressionism or Fauvism… Gerolemou’s paintings are instantly atmospheric. Or why not look in on printmaker Jo Whiteland (Heart Space Studios, Harcourt Rd, Redland), whose colourful batik and glass works are inspired by the natural world, its colours and energies? Elsewhere, Kerry Day (8
Codrington Rd) produces beautiful, expressive portraits and nudes, while Chuck Elliott’s digital paintings (St Bartholomew’s Church) feature freeform shapes cropped, recoloured and enhanced: pure colour fields full of light and kinetic energy. Make time, too, to visit Artemis, the shop and workshop of jeweller Catherine Amesbury, who works with silver, semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals and cultured freshwater pearls to create beautiful pieces.
SOUND CHOICES
LEFT TO RIGHT: ‘Sarah’ by Kerry Day; work by Maita Robinson; and Jo Whiteland
➻ If you like a musical
accompaniment to your art, head to St Bartholomew’s Church in St Andrews, where work by a number of artists will be accompanied by live performances. The programme starts around midday on both days. Other venues will also be presenting singing, reading and acoustic performances: check the NBA website or Facebook page for details on all musical events. Also of interest is screenprinter Maita Robinson (9 Burghley Rd), who has a second life as a successful classical and opera singer!
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FEATURE
ROOMS WITH
A VIEW
Bristol’s original art trail, Totterdown’s Front Room, also plays a starring role
F
ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: ‘Bombshell’ by Harriet White; ‘Glass House’ by Enya LachmanCurl showing at Courtyard Gallery, Paintworks; Jazz Gnatz Electronique RIGHT: Crystalline leaf cuff by Sue Gregor
ront Room is the original Bristol art trail, launched back in 2001, one year before its north Bristol partner. Like the latter, Front Room, which takes place from 16-18 Nov, is one of Bristol’s biggest (around 180 artists in 60 venues) and best art trails, with masses of art, theatre, poetry, music and film in houses, pubs and venues in and around Totterdown across three days. This year’s trail theme is ‘Wild!’ Chair Jo Fisher explains the thinking: “It’s evocative of Totterdown’s leafy natural neighbours, Arnos Vale and Victoria Park, as well as its commitment to genre-busting ideals and new, different ways to do things, such as Totterdown Community Orchard. Front Room Wild! aims to be fun, frisky and a little bit different, with some of Bristol’s most bumptious burlesque, riotous rock and roll and (possibly!) even near-the-knuckle nudity - while remaining, of course, family-friendly.” The art will, though, be the main draw for many of the trail’s thousands of visitors, with dozens of brilliant artists - including some rightly celebrated names - showing their work. The latter include Nigel Shipley (exhibiting at the Shakespeare pub), who creates beautiful, complex Bristol cityscapes in all weathers, and Harriet White (7 Fitzroy St), a painter of stunningly vibrant and lifelike oil portraits. Other highlights include Dan Farberoff (43 Hill St), a creator of provocative fine art pieces and film works who has designed work for the English National Ballet, Shanghai Expo and Richard Alston
Dance Company, and Roger Holt, whose aluminium sculptures of robots and other sci-fi staples will be on show at the Spielman Centre at Arnos Vale Cemetery. Elsewhere, look out for Emily Ketteringham’s colourful screenprints inspired by Bristol architecture (13 Hawthorn St) and one of our favourite local designers, jeweller/textile artist/printmaker Sue Gregor (37 St Luke’s Crescent), who will be offering discounts on her beautiful cuffs, earrings, necklaces and silk scarves, inspired by plants found in nearby Victoria Park. Seek out, too, a particular favourite of ours, Susan Black (36 Stevens Crescent), whose small, haunting pictures evoke bittersweet childhood memories. But, as with the North Bristol Art Trail perhaps even more so - Front Room is about much more than just the art on the walls. Totterdown is a fertile stamping-ground for local musicians, and across the weekend there’ll be live performances from a host of acts, from electronic jazz duo Jazz Gnatz via samba reggae street-drumming collective Batala Bristol to award-winning singer-songwriter Eliot Hall. “This is a wonderful, exciting weekend which is greatly loved by a huge number of people,” Jo concludes. “The talent and skills in this part of Bristol are truly extraordinary, as anyone who visits the trail will see. Totterdown is a haven for a fresh way of thinking about politics, a r t and community engagement that the Front Room Art Trail is proud to promote.” FRONT ROOM ART TRAIL 16-18 NOV, TOTTERDOWN, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.FRONTROOM.ORG.UK
FOLLOW THE TRAILS More neighbourhood art trails coming your way soon
BRISTOL May Southbank Bristol Arts Trail (Southville, Bedminster, Ashton). Ffi: www.sbaweb.co.uk June/July Easton Arts Trail Ffi: www.eastonartstrail.co.uk Sept St Werburghs Arts Trail Ffi: www.stwerburghsarts.org.uk Oct West Bristol Arts Trail (Clifton, Hotwells). Ffi: www.westbristolarts.com Oct Art on the Hill (Windmill Hill, Victoria Park). Ffi: www.artonthehill.org.uk
BATH May Bear Flat Artists Open Studios Ffi: www.bearflatartists. co.uk May Newbridge Arts Trail Ffi: www.newbridgeartstrail.com May Larkhall Open Studios Ffi: www.larkhallopenstudios.weebly.com May/June Fringe Arts Bath (city centre). Ffi: www.fringeartsbath.co.uk July Widcombe Art Trail Ffi: www.widcombeassociation.org.uk
OUT OF TOWN April Severn Vale Art Trail (Thornbury & surrounding villages). Ffi: www. thornburyartsfestival.com May North Somerset Arts Week Ffi: www.northsomersetarts.org Sept Roundabout Art Trail (Keynsham & surrounding villages). Ffi: www. roundaboutarttrail.co.uk Oct Chew Valley Arts Trail Ffi: www.chewvalleyartstrail.co.uk
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Winter
FOLIO ADVERTORIAL
WONDERLAND The Mall kicks off Christmas in style with ice rinks, ice castles and JLS. Sam Andrews can’t wait
I
t’s not long now until JLS will be switching on the Christmas lights and opening the brand new Winter Wonderland at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol. As part of the big event, on Thur 8 Nov, the million-plus-record-selling boy band will also be headlining a charity fundraising concert. On the night, JLS will perform an exclusive live set with songs from their latest album for 10,000 lucky fans at the concert, which aims to raise over £20,000 for the Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal. Sarah Vipond from the Wallace & Gromit appeal says: “We’re delighted to be working with The Mall on such an exciting festive event, and we’re so thrilled to benefit from what will be a fantastic performance by JLS to support Bristol Children’s Hospital.” Lined up to support JLS is 24-year-old jazz singer Alexander Stewart, who’ll entertain Jazz singer Alexander Stewart the crowd with Christmas songs and jazz classics. will be supporting JLS Over the past few weeks, the area in front of The Mall has during the Christmas lights been transformed into a Winter Wonderland complete with switch-on a snowy winter garden, Christmas train ride, the largest outdoor ice rink in the South West, a nursery ice rink and a fantasy Enchanted Ice Castle. Skaters will be spoilt for choice this winter with the two real Mall. Santa will arrive in his sleigh at 9.45am outdoor ice rinks - the brand-new nursery ice before going to his Enchanted Ice Castle, ready rink will sit alongside the larger rink, allowing to see visitors from 10am. children of all ages to learn to skate, with From Sat 10 Nov, children and families will experienced ice marshals on hand and seal also be able to take a ride around the snowy skating aids for hire from the Winter winter garden on the Christmas train. Every Wonderland ticket office. hour throughout the day, the Enchanted Ice To celebrate the opening of the South West’s Castle will spring to life with a musical light largest outdoor ice rink and new nursery ice display. The Ice Queen and her Ice Fairies will rink, The Mall are offering buy-one-get-one-free welcome children into the Enchanted Ice on all skating tickets bought from the Winter Castle before walking them through to greet Wonderland ticket office on Sat 10 and Sun 11 Father Christmas and share their Christmas Nov. Also on Sun 11 Nov, Santa’s reindeer will wishes. by flying in for a special visit to The
Visit Santa in the new Enchanted Ice Castle from 8 November
THE MALL CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON & CONCERT WITH JLS THUR 8 NOV, 6PM, GATES OPEN FROM 4PM. TICKET-ONLY EVENT: FREE TICKETS AVAILABLE DAILY FROM THE MALL’S INFORMATION DESK DURING MALL OPENING HOURS UNTIL THUR 8 NOV (MAX LIMIT 500 TICKETS PER DAY). SUGGESTED MINIMUM DONATION £2 PER TICKET, WITH 100% OF PROCEEDS USED TO SUPPORT WALLACE & GROMIT’S GRAND APPEAL WINTER WONDERLAND AT THE MALL OPENS THUR 8 NOV AT 7.30PM, AND RUNS UNTIL SUN 6 JAN
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PROFILE
HOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS NOTICED
WITH PRIORITY MOMENTS ON O2
I
n an undeniably tricky economic climate, small businesses need to be creative to thrive. Luckily there are some great tools out there for growing an independent business. Priority Moments on O2 is a case in point, and since 15 October it’s been opened up for small and medium businesses to use, free. The effective location-based service allows businesses large and small to market themselves and attract customers. Famous brands have been seeing the benefits of the service since it launched in 2011. Now any business, whether or not they’re on O2, can take advantage of it. Priority Moments is a loyalty service that gives O2 customers exclusive offers and experiences. Most customers use Priority Moments through the mobile app. It allows customers to see the deals, offers and experiences nearest to them, making it a strong tool for promoting a local business.
The app works by showing local O2 customers your offer through the location-based home page. It’s a reliable way to increase footfall. But that’s not the only benefit - many business owners think of it as free advertising space that allows you to spread awareness of what your business offers to relevant customers. Small and medium businesses can now use the online portal completely free. You can create, manage and promote offers. In a neat sidestep of the issues that often occur when businesses offer deals, Priority Moments lets you review the success of your offer in real time, adjusting it if necessary so that it works better for you. If you decide you’d like to pause your offer or repeat it, you can do so whenever you fancy. ● Find out what Priority Moments will do for your business. Join today: www.o2priority.co.uk/local
USE THE ONLINE PORTAL FOR FREE TODAY ● To mark the launch of Priority Moments to SMBs, which arrived on 15 October, we spoke to a couple of the businesses that have already used Priority Moments, to find out what their experiences have been.
“Being able to target people in our local area, and remind them that there’s more to what we offer than just bread was really important to us.” MANAGER AT EUPHORIUM BAKERY, MARCELA BORTOLI
“Working with Priority Moments is a great opportunity to attract a larger audience than small businesses can ordinarily hope to attract.” FASHION DESIGNER AND OWNER OF BOUTIQUE NUMBER 35, ANDREA COHEN
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FEATURE FEATURE
BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE
MUSEUM PHOTO: PHILIP VILE
Think you know what’s going on behind those grand, imposing doors? Well think again, says Melissa Blease
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PHOTO: PHILIP VILE
TOP TO BOTTOM: Backstage at Bristol Old Vic; the famous butterfly that has hung in the fly tower of the Theatre Royal Bath since 1949; up in the roof above the Old Vic’s auditorium; the Old Vic’s newly refurbished level foyer
H
istory buffs in Bristol and Bath are spoilt for choice when it comes to easy access to historical hysterics - our everyday urban landscapes are dominated by the kind of museums, art galleries and listed buildings that tourists in their thousands flock to every year. And yet, for us lucky locals, these illustrious, globally renowned landmarks often provide little more than a mere backdrop to our busy contemporary lives. It’s easy for us to take such a heritage for granted - after all, most of us have visited, say, the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery or the Bath Theatre Royal during our schooldays, leading us to blithely think that we know all about what’s happening behind those grand facades that we pass every day on our way to work. But history has its own way of moving with the times... and modern-day curators are involved in all manner of activities, many of which don’t involve general public view. “We have natural history material in our storage areas dating back about 200 years, much of it collected by Victorians and Edwardians such as Sir Greville Smyth of the Ashton Court Estate,” says Ray Barnett, Collections manager for the Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives Service. “We also supply research institutions who request DNA samples from our ➻
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FEATURE FEATURE
BACKSTAGE TOURS ➻ BRISTOL OLD VIC Go backstage at the recently refurbished Bristol Old Vic and take in the new rehearsal rooms and backstage areas, the thunder-run in the roof space and the refurbished auditorium, alongside all manner of curiosities, ‘secret’ spaces, hidden corners and recently rediscovered elements such as graffiti dating back to 1853 - but no, you’re most definitely not encouraged to make your own mark! At the time of going to press, tours are still in the pipeline, but are due to ‘go live’ any moment now. FFI CALL 0117 987 7877, VISIT WWW. BRISTOLOLDVIC.ORG.UK, OR EMAIL TICKETS@BRISTOLOLDVIC.ORG.UK (PUTTING ‘TOUR’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE) TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
➻ M SHED Like a vast but utterly non-sinister equivalent of an iceberg, M Shed Bristol’s most recent addition to the city’s thriving museum scene, offering a contemporary cultural paean to Bristolian history both ancient and very, very modern - has a behind-thescenes store cupboard that’s as fascinating as the exhibits on general public display. Join a tour of the fascinating collection stores at M Shed every Tue and Thur at 11.30am and every Wed and Sat at 2.30pm, offering you the opportunity to encounter ‘hidden’ treasures from the city’s industrial and maritime past. Tours are free, last 45 minutes and are suitable for ages 12 and over. FFI WWW.MSHED.ORG
ABOVE: A crocodile in storage at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
➻ BRISTOL MUSEUMS
Above: Small mammal skeleton and slender loris, both part of the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery’s Natural History Collections
collection of rare and endangered species. Such specimens are regularly used by the BBC Natural History Unit and similar production companies, providing important information as to how animal and plant populations have adapted over the centuries, often due to loss of habitat or possible links to climate change. The expertise of our staff is very important as our collections can be used to train naturalists, ecologists and conservationists, and we work very closely with the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre based within the museum service, too.” Ray is also the man in the know when it comes to stores of oil paintings and other fine and decorative art. “Our collection of prints and drawings of Bristol - much of it from the early 19th century - is one of the finest documents of any city outside of London, while our Chinese ceramics and glassware and our fossils, rocks and minerals are of
international importance. British archaeology is our largest collection, and our World Cultures collection includes not only historic artefacts from across the globe but also modern-day items - how many other museums have a vuvuzela from the South African World Cup in their collection?” Bristol Museum’s team of curators and conservators work around the clock to ensure that the collections aren’t eaten by marauding carpet beetles or moths, nor faded by high light levels or fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and they regularly X-ray paintings to show previous works of art that have been painted over or damaged during their lifetime prior to arriving at the museum. “Like most museums, what you see in the public galleries is just the tip of the iceberg!” says Ray. Over in Bath, the recently renovated Holburne Museum has created its own version of modern history in the
Meanwhile, Bristol Museums (incorporating the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Blaise Castle House Museum, the Red Lodge Museum, Georgian House Museum and Kings Weston Roman Villa as well as M Shed) regularly conduct store tours for the public, with opportunities to see behind the scenes and browse wider collections that aren’t on public display.
➻ THEATRE ROYAL BATH Tread the boards in the wake of a stellar roll-call of leading thespians dating all the way back to the very first curtain-up at the historic Theatre Royal Bath every other Sat until 8 Dec 2012. Tours - led by an official Blue Badge Guide - start in the Main House Foyer at 11am and cost £4pp. The theatre recommend that you confirm your attendance three days prior to the tour that you wish to join, as the schedule depends on the needs of the visiting company in residence at the time. Whether or not you encounter a visitation from the butterfly as you follow the tantalising trail, this one guarantees high drama for all. FFI WWW.THEATREROYAL.ORG.UK
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PHOTO: CHRIS BAHN
FEATURE FEATURE
PHOTO: CHRIS BAHN
PHOTO: CHRIS BAHN
PHOTO: QUINTIN LAKE PHOTOGRAPHY
ABOVE: M Shed volunteer Simon Bell
ABOVE TOP: M Shed, the latest addition to Bristol’s thriving museum scene ABOVE & RIGHT: M Shed volunteer Sue Thurlow
making by extending the site to include a brand-new extension created by innovative architect Eric Parry, unveiled to great acclaim last year. Today, the Holburne experience offers a characterful juxtaposition twixt tradition and brave new world, revealing all kinds of hidden treasures in the process that haven’t been available for public inspection for decades. “More than 60 per cent of the objects now on permanent display in the redeveloped museum had been in storage for many years,” says Matthew Winterbottom, curator of Decorative Art at the Holburne. “In some cases, certain pieces hadn’t been seen by the public since the war, often because of their poor condition. Now, thanks to generous grants and an ambitious conservation programme, these objects are on display again in the galleries. A 16th century majolica plate, for example - broken into many pieces - had never been on public view. Following conservation, it’s been totally transformed and can now be seen in the Ballroom Gallery.” Volunteer archivist Undine Concannon has more to add on the subject - a perspective that may encourage you to get involved in the ‘backstage’ activities at the Holburne in the ultimate, up-close-and-personal manner (visit the Holburne’s website for information on how to get involved). “In preparation for the twoyear closure for refurbishment and the building of a modern extension, all the paintings and objects on display and in
storage had to be packed up and sent offsite for storage,” Undine recalls. “This offered a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to handle some of the precious objects brought back by Sir William Holburne from his grand tours, and then to reverse the process when the museum reopened. It took more than a year to complete the shelving and listing of all the objects and books in the new stores, and of course it’s an ongoing task to keep the database up to date so that everything can be found quickly.” So what kind of treasures were unearthed during the Holburne’s reinvention? “La Bocca della Verità by Roman artist Michele Rocca dates from about 1720, and was given to the Holburne in 1924,” says Amina Wright, the museum’s senior curator. “It was in such an appalling condition that it was hidden away in the Holburne’s picture store. There were holes in the canvas and the original frame had large pieces missing, while the painted surface was so obscured by thick layers of dirt and old varnish that we had difficulty distinguishing the story hidden in the gloom. Before treatment, the painting looked like a dirty snakeskin with shadowy orange figures lurking beneath its surface. But in 2009, the painting was cleaned, repaired and stabilised, revealing a charming work of art that can now be enjoyed for the first time in many generations. Today we have a much smoother and more stable surface, beautiful bright colours, and elegant figures playing out a comedy that we can now identify as a scene from a medieval legend set in ancient Rome.” But restoration work currently on view for the first time in centuries at the Holburne most certainly won’t stop now that building renovations are completed. “We’re planning an open access storage area in the basement, where members of the public can see ceramic and metalwork objects from the reserve collections stored in glassfronted cabinets,” says Matthew. See what we mean about history being an ever-evolving process? Things have
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FEATURE FEATURE
PHOTO: DAVID BREWIN
ABOVE & BELOW: A plate in the Holburne’s collection before and after conservation
ABOVE: The Holburne museum
➻
RIGHT: The Mask of Truth, oil on canvas c1720 by Michele Rocca (c1670-1751), in the Holburne’s collection
most certainly moved on since our schooldays! But history isn’t all about museums. As the historic Theatre Royal Bath is what’s known as a ‘receiving house’ theatre, welcoming touring companies or one-off productions, it has no need to store costumes, props or sets. One piece of scenery, however, permanently hangs hidden high in the theatre’s flies as a symbol of good luck. The story goes that the Maddox family, who took over the running of the theatre in 1937, created spectacular pantomimes that really put Bath on the Christmas-season map - over to TRB marketing manager and acclaimed local historian Anna O’Callaghan for the full lowdown. “One of these shows was responsible for initiating one of our most unusual and persistent ghost stories: that of the tortoiseshell butterfly,” Anna tells Folio. “The butterfly made its debut in 1948 as part of that year’s show, Little Red
Riding Hood - a butterfly ballet with dancing girls dressed as butterflies and a glittering butterfly backdrop. During the rehearsal a dead butterfly was found on stage; shortly afterwards, while Reg Maddox was lighting the scene, he dropped dead of a heart attack. As a result, the scene was promptly withdrawn as an omen of bad luck. But just before the pantomime was due to open, a live butterfly was seen fluttering around backstage. The butterfly ballet was restored to the show, which went on to be a huge success. Ever since then, the butterfly has been the sign of a successful pantomime and sightings have been extraordinary.” One of the butterfly’s most memorable visits occurred on the opening night of Aladdin in 1979, when Leslie Crowther was playing Wishee-Washee. In Leslie and Jean Crowther’s 1996 autobiography The Bonus of Laughter, he recalls how a tortoiseshell butterfly fluttered down
from the spotlight and landed on his shoulder; Leslie fully credits that year’s pantomime success to his ‘visitation’ from Reg Maddox. A butterfly also fluttered in to greet Honor Blackman during a press call in 1985, and appeared again on stage for the opening night of Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell, to be personally greeted and acknowledged by legendary actor Peter O’Toole. Since 1949, the butterfly scenery has hung constantly in the theatre’s fly tower and - depending on the production visiting the theatre during the time you choose to take a backstage tour (see panel) - may be visible to tourists. During the 1981-82 renovation, however, it was temporarily removed from the site by members of Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society - not, you understand, superstitious TRB staff, who didn’t want to tempt back luck! While it was absent from the building, members of the stage crew began to sort through a collection of theatrical debris in an old store cupboard, and they came across a heavy wooden box. When the box was opened, six tortoiseshell butterflies flew out and away; inside the box was a photograph of Reg Maddox. “Few years pass without the butterfly being sighted at some apposite moment,” says Anna. Reg Maddox, it seems, never left the theatre.
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WHAT’S ON FILM DAYS OUT THEATRE ART MUSIC FILM DAYS OUT THEATRE ART MUSIC
➻ WHAT'SON
FILM
COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU Robin Askew picks some highlights from this month’s cinematic crop
BATH FILM FESTIVAL RUNS 14 -25 NOV Hot from the London Film Festival, Mike Newell’s new adaptation of Great Expectations (pictured), with Helena Bonham Carter as a suitably gothic Miss Haversham, is one of the highlights of this year’s Bath Film Festival. Other great previews include Martin McDonagh’s follow-up to In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths; Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, Quartet; and lauded indie time-travel drama Safety Not Guaranteed. There are also strands devoted to art and design, classic reissues, documentaries, and highlights from Sci-Fi London, plus a Bafta masterclass with legendary producer Stephen Woolley. See www.bathfilmfestival.org.uk for the full programme.
RUST AND BONE OPENS FRI 2 NOV Marion Cotillard won the Best Actress Oscar back in 2007 for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose. It’s already being predicted that she’ll bag the gong a second time for her performance in Rust and Bone. Mercifully, that’s not just because she’s playing an awards-magnet disabled character. Jacques Audiard’s follow-up to his brilliant, Oscar-nominated A Prophet casts her as an orca trainer who loses her legs in an accident. But just when you fear that the film is about to chart a rather predictable ‘inspirational’ disability flick course, it goes somewhere else entirely.
ARGO With Gone Baby Gone and The Town, Ben Affleck has proved himself to be a real talent as a director. His latest effort behind the camera is a lightly comic political thriller based on a rather astonishing, recently declassified true story from the Iran hostage crisis of 1979. When six US embassy workers seek refuge in the Canadian embassy as tensions mount, CIA ‘exfiltration expert’ Tony Mendez (Affleck himself) hatches an audacious plan to get them out. Their cover story will be that they’re a Canadian film crew making a Star Wars-style sciencefiction movie in the Middle East. OPENS WED 7 NOV
THE MASTER
AMOUR
OPENS FRI 16 NOV Paul Thomas Anderson’s lauded, Scientologistbaiting follow-up to There Will Be Blood boasts a brilliant performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lancaster Dodd - the charismatic leader of a religious cult called ‘The Cause’. Having apparently decided to return to acting after the daft I’m Still Here, Joaquin Phoenix plays troubled, itinerant world war two Navy veteran Freddie Quell, who falls under Dodd’s spell. But as the cult grows, Quell begins to question the teachings of his mentor and suspects that Dodd might be making it all up as he goes along.
OPENS FRI 16 NOV After Hidden and The White Ribbon, German-born director Michael Haneke opts for a more intimate, small-scale drama with Amour, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year. Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva play a classical music-loving middle-class octogenarian couple whose lives are thrown into turmoil when she has a stroke. What follows is a powerful portrait of her mental and physical deterioration and his struggles to cope. It’s not an easy watch, but this is one of the most honest and sensitive films ever made about old age, illness and death.
KEEP READING FOR 7 EXTRA PAGES OF WHAT’S ON HIGHLIGHTS ➻ 28 FOLIO/NOV 2012
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WHAT’SON
WHAT TO DO IN...
Nov
FIREWORKS, ICE SKATING, CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND A FASHION SHOW… MAKE A DATE FOR THIS MONTH’S HOT TICKETS
2
STALL WONDERS
It’s the battle of the Christmas markets! Bath’s Christmas Market offering this year is big but relatively brief: 140 chalets, 18 days. The gift-laden streets between the Abbey and the Roman Baths will be thick with the scent of crepes and chou chou, gourmet burgers and wintry pies - fuel enough for an army of present hunters. Bristol’s German-style market may only boast 40 chalets, but it’s in for the long haul, filling the middle bit of Broadmead all the way past Christmas and almost into the new year. From Sun 2 Dec until Christmas Eve an advent calendar window will be opened daily at 4pm and self-styled Santa will be giving away presents to some of the lucky ankle-biters in range. This year’s centrepiece is a twinkling 13m-high Christmas pyramid and nativity scene, around which the rosy-cheeked stallholders will ply handmade glass, wooden games and other crafty gifts, plus some typically Teutonic tummy-fillers - mighty wursts, mulled wines and sugared nuts. BRISTOL GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET 9 NOV-29 DEC, THE PODIUM, BROADMEAD EAST & MERCHANT ST SOUTH. FFI: WWW. BRISTOLGERMANCHRISTMASMARKET.CO.UK BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET 22 NOV-9 DEC, BATH ABBEY & SURROUNDING STREETS. FFI: WWW.BATHCHRISTMASMARKET.CO.UK
1
PARLOUR GAMES
The American Museum in Britain houses the finest collection of Americana outside the US, displayed chronologically in period rooms, with complementing galleries featuring textiles, Native American crafts, civil war paraphernalia, silver and folk art, all set within a grand Georgian manor house. In the run-up to Christmas, the museum is transforming itself with a ‘Party in the Parlour’ theme, showing the ways in which Americans through the ages have celebrated the festive season. See a 17th century ice-skating party, admire the towering Nordman Fir Christmas tree aglow in the Central Hall, watch as the Shakers prepare their Christmas charity baskets for distribution to the poor - an act of generosity that celebrates the true message of Christmas.
PARTY IN THE PARLOUR 23 NOV-16 DEC, AMERICAN MUSEUM IN BRITAIN, CLAVERTON MANOR, BATH, OPEN TUE-SUN, 12NOON4.30PM. FFI: 01225 460503, WWW.AMERICANMUSEUM.ORG
3
CHILLED
There’s probably little guarantee of real ice this winter - except in Bath’s Royal Victoria Park, where a huge real ice rink opens this month. With views to the Royal Crescent, atmospheric lighting and ringside refreshments (including roasted chestnuts and meted marshmallows), it’s a thoroughly festive place to burn off some pre-Christmas calories. BATH ON ICE 23 NOV-6 JAN, ROYAL VICTORIA PARK, 10AM-9PM, ONE-HOUR SESSIONS FROM £7PP INC SKATE HIRE. FFI: WWW.BATHONICE.COM
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Bristol’s fizzbang fans are spoilt for choice this year, with local displays left, right and centre, including the massive charity fundraising Downend Bristol Firework Display (Fri 2) organised by the Round Table (with children’s display at 6.30pm and the main event at 7.30pm), and the simply named Bristol Fireworks Display at Canford Park (Sat 3), with a similarly simple line-up: fireworks. No bonfire, no gaudy funfair, no irritating local radio DJs shouting at everyone. Also no car park, so be good citizens and walk or cycle. Redland Green School are letting off their stockpile of explosives on Sat 3, including music and entertainment before the fireworks, a hog roast, licensed bar and tuck shop. On both Fri 2 and Sat 3 come Bristol Zoo’s child/animal-friendly low-noise firework nights - less bang for your buck, in a good way.
DOWNEND BRISTOL FIREWORK DISPLAY FRI 2 NOV, KING GEORGE V PLAYING FIELDS, SUTHERLAND AVE, DOWNEND, 7.30PM, £3.50 ADV, £4/£5 ON THE GATE. FAMILY FRIENDLY FIREWORKS FRI 2 & SAT 3 NOV, BRISTOL ZOO, CLIFTON, 4.30-6PM (DISPLAY 5.30PM), ADULT £6, CHILD £4.50, FAMILY £18. BRISTOL FIREWORKS DISPLAY SAT 3 NOV, CANFORD PARK, WESTBURY ON TRYM , GATES 6PM, FIREWORKS 7PM, £4 ADV, £5 ON THE GATE. FFI: 0845 527 4680, REDLAND GREEN FIREWORK EVENT SAT 3 NOV, REDLAND GREEN SCHOOL SPORTS GROUND (CORNER OF KINGS DRIVE/KELLAWAY AVE), GATES OPEN 6.15PM, DISPLAY 7.30PM. £3.50 ADV, £5 ON THE GATE.
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WALK ON BY
Autumn’s a fine season for walks, and the M Shed are laying on two of them, with a bit of extra fascination thrown in - a guide to share some historic background as you stroll. There’s a harbourside walk on Tue 6 Nov, exploring local history, photographs and maps around the Floating Harbour, and a walk out to Victoria Park on Wed 21 Nov, explaining how the Bristol area evolved with industrialisation, and the effect this had on everyday people. HARBOURSIDE HISTORIC WALK TUE 6 NOV, 1.30PM & WALK TO VICTORIA PARK WED 21 NOV, 10.30AM. BOTH DEPART FROM M SHED, BRISTOL. £2 SUGGESTED DONATION. FFI: 0117 352 6600, WWW.MSHED.ORG
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BUILT IN BRISTOL
Who makes places? What do architects do? A free exhibition at Bristol’s Architecture Centre brings 45 leading architects and engineers face to face with nonarchitect pioneers to present frank, insightful opinions on The Changing Face of British Architecture. Specially commissioned photographs taken by local photographer Frances Gard show Bristol’s non-architect pioneers including Ben Barker (Greater Bedminster Community Partnership), Bryony Morgan (Pop-Up Bristol) and Chris Chalkley (Peoples Republic of Stokes Croft). The portraits are combined with a written commentary by Isabel Allen to create a dynamic mixed-media experience.
THE CHANGING FACE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTURE RUNS UNTIL SUN 16 DEC, ARCHITECTURE CENTRE, NARROW QUAY, BRISTOL (CLOSED MON-TUE). FFI: 0117 922 1540, WWW.ARCHITECTURECENTRE.CO.UK
PHOTO: JOHN SWANNELL
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SKY’S THE LIMIT
PHOTO: FRANCES GARD
WHAT’SON
LOOKING GOOD
‘Urban’ and ‘fit’ aren’t two words normally associated with HRH Queen Elizabeth II. But in honour of Her Maj’s 60 glorious years on the throne, Bristol’s Urban Fit are putting on a fashion extravaganza at M Shed this month. Urban Fit are a sports group who work with young women from urban areas in Bristol to help develop their skills and reach their true potential - and they’ve been working hard with industry professionals to create this event. A heady mix of fashion, fitness and urban culture, the night promises the latest styles from Bristol’s hippest clothes outlets, sounds from Radio 1Xtra DJ Young Lion and X Factor star Nicole Jackson, live graffiti demos, dance acts and urban street sport displays, plus a fully licensed bar, big prize raffle and gift-packed goody-bags.
URBAN FIT JUBILEE FASHION SHOW FRI 16 NOV, M SHED, BRISTOL, 8.30PM, £15. FOR TICKETS CALL 07818 587839, 07917 870198 OR EMAIL URBANFIT@HOTMAIL.CO.UK.
8
ITALIAN JOB
For many people, the best thing about Christmas is the food. And in honour of this, Antonio Carluccio’s famous Italian-inspired eatery chain are holding special Christmas shopping evenings at their two restaurants in Bristol and their new place in Bath. They’re launching a new range of treats this Christmas, too, taking design inspiration from Milan - a place synonymous with Italian style. Come along to enjoy a 10% discount on the entire Carluccio’s Christmas product range, a winterwarming complimentary glass of vino cotto (that’s Italian for mulled wine) and some piccoli assaggi (Christmassy canapes). ‘Buon appetito,’ as Antonio himself might say. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENINGS THURS 29 NOV & 6 DEC, CARLUCCIO’S, 3-7 MILSOM PLACE, BATH, QUAKERS FRIARS & CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL, 6PM. NO NEED TO BOOK. FFI: WWW.CARLUCCIOS.COM
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WHAT’S ON ART SCENE
PICTURE THIS
From artwork inspired by ‘the house’ to a citywide sculpture trail, Steve Wright rounds up the best events
BATH ART AFFAIR 9 -12 NOV For the third year running, Bath’s galleries have clubbed together to lighten up the dull, dark days of autumn with a four-day, citywide programme of exhibitions and events. The latter include, for the first time, a Sculpture Trail that will lead visitors around some of the city’s key sites via works from such 3D luminaries as Doug Clark, Deborah van der Beek and the great Elisabeth Frink. Highlights among the exhibitions include, at the Holburne Museum, a unique take on ‘subversive ceramics’ by Dutch
BARRY LEWIS 10 NOV-1 DEC The Grant Bradley Gallery (Bedminster, Bristol) welcome back this wonderful Welsh ‘eco-sculptor’, who brings another bizarre and brilliant menagerie of creatures created from waste materials scavenged from the South Wales landscapes and finished in his Bristol studio.
FFI WWW.GRANTBRADLEYGALLERY. CO.UK
SOMA
This bijou gallery (Clifton Village, Bristol) gets the festive bug early with an enchanting group show featuring intricate papercut works by Peter Slight and Bristol’s Sarah Dennis, plus screenprints from Sarah, Peter’s handmade creature sculptures (pictured) and illustrations by Gemma Correll. Prepare to be transported to some far-off places… 3 NOV-31 DEC
FFI WWW.SOMAGALLERY.CO.UK
experimental sculptor Bouke de Vries, who also crops up as part of bo.lee gallery’s wistful show depicting the transience of life and the passage of time (Tessa Farmer, Bumblebee, pictured). Elsewhere, Adam Gallery host work from American conceptual art pioneer Sol Lewitt, while Rostra Gallery help Pop Art’s own godfather, Sir Peter Blake, to celebrate his 80th birthday with a selection of his newest creations alongside rare archive pieces. FFI WWW.BATHGALLERIESGROUP. COM
AUTUMN EXHIBITION
100 HOUSES
1-30 NOV On walls this month at the Coldharbour Framery and Gallery (Westbury Park, Bristol) you’ll find elegant woodcuts by Devon artist Merlyn Chesterman – plus ceramics by Mary Dearden, drawing on the styles and forms of early Greek pottery.
16-30 NOV For this lovely-looking exhibition at the Tobacco Factory (Southville, Bristol), 100 painters, illustrators and street artists have each produced a unique artwork inspired by the theme of ‘house’. Proceeds from sales of the artworks will go to the charity Shelter, who work to help people find and keep a decent home.
FFI WWW.COLDHARBOURGALLERY. CO.UK
FFI HTTP://100HOUSES.TUMBLR. COM/
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WHAT’S ON PERFORMANCE
STEALING THE SHOW
PHOTO: IDIL SUKAN
Grab a seat in the front row for Steve Wright’s hot tickets from the world of THEATRE, CIRCUS, COMEDY & OPERA
BEST OF THE REST
BRISTOL JAM
Jane Asher and Matthew Horne (in drag) star in Brandon Thomas’s witty, knockabout 1892 farce of mistaken identities at TRB. When lovestruck students Jack and Charley invite their girlfriends to lunch, the imminent arrival of Charley’s Brazilian aunt provides the boys with the perfect chaperone. But when auntie is delayed, Jack blackmails fellow student Lord Fancourt Babberley into impersonating her. But who’s this at the door? You guessed it… 12-17 NOV
FFI WWW.THEATREROYAL.ORG.UK
FFI WWW.BRISTOLOLDVIC.ORG.UK
PHOTO: CHRIS NASH
CHARLEY’S AUNT
on-the-spot version of Homer’s Odyssey. All this inventiveness finds its logical extension in the Improvathon, for which a group of talented actors will devise and perform their own soap opera-style story across 15 consecutive twohour episodes, inspired this year by TV fave The Great British Bake Off. Elsewhere, Charles Hazelwood’s extraordinary All Stars are joined by actor Tom Hollander for an evening that mixes classical/jazz improvisation with Homer’s Iliad. And we can’t leave without recommending Showstopper!, superb performers who create a brand-new musical each night from audience suggestions.
PHOTO: CHARLIE PARKER
PHOTO: CATHERINE ASHMORE
5-11 NOV Autumn is spontaneity time at the Bristol Old Vic, as the beautiful, recently refurbed playhouse welcomes back its brilliant Bristol Jam festival - seven days of freewheeling, off-thecuff, whatever-next theatre, comedy, music, beatboxing and more. This year’s Jam includes return visits from Reggie Watts (above), the astonishing comedian/ musician who creates his on-the-hoof routines using only his voice and a looping machine, and bestbeatboxer-bar-none Beardyman (right). Serious and semi-serious improvisers range from the brilliant Austentatious (who will create a new Jane Austen novel in front of your eyes) to The Factory’s made-up-
Wide-eyed Josie Long will be taking the mic at the Comedy Box on Wed 14 Nov
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED…
RAMBERT DANCE COMPANY
8-17 NOV …On the Way to the Forum, to give it its full title, comes to Bristol’s Tobacco Factory. Sondheim, Shevelove and Gelbart’s 1962 musical farce throws together the colourful residents of three neighbouring villas in Ancient Rome, and the mix of passion, intrigue and cunning quickly reaches fever pitch. Big cast, comic songs, physical acting: the perfect vehicle for the gifted final-year students at BOV Theatre School.
8-10 NOV This much-admired contemporary dance troupe make their annual return to Theatre Royal Bath with a mix of brand-new works and backcatalogue pieces. The latter include the brutal and seductive Elysian Fields by groundbreaking choreographer Javier De Frutos, inspired by Tennessee Williams and his great Deep South novel A Streetcar Named Desire.
FFI WWW. TOBACCOFACTORYTHEATRE.COM
FFI WWW.THEATREROYAL.ORG.UK
➻ Another bumper month for
comedy includes a visit from the wonderful Robin Ince (Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken, Bristol, Thur 15 Nov). Ince is a Renaissance man whom we label ‘comedian’ partly out of convenience - yes, he stands up on stage and makes you laugh for two hours, but there’s much more in there, too, from explorations of science and its role in our understanding of the universe to disquisitions on the meanings of life and knowledge. Cerebral comedy at its very best: have a laugh while your brain expands. He’s one of a handful of brilliant comics looking in at the Comedy Box and neighbour Tobacco Factory this month: book now, too, for the wide-eyed Josie Long (Wed 14 Nov), madcap, physical Seann Walsh (Sun 18 Nov) and Shappi Khorsandi, a brilliant chronicler of mixed-up, multicultural modern Britain (26-27 Nov). Ffi: www.thecomedybox.co.uk ... Another Tobacco Factory highlight is bold, adventurous theatre-makers Volcano, whose L.O.V.E. (22-25 Nov) is a redblooded race through Shakespeare’s lustier sonnets. Ffi: www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com … More next issue, but just time to tell you about Christmas at the Spiegeltent (30 Nov-20 Dec), a lavish, fin-de-siècle-style big top that pitches up at Harbourside’s Waterfront Square with an impressive mix of theatre, music, comedy and more.
FFI: WWW. CHRISTMASSPIEGELTENT.CO.UK
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WHAT’S ON MUSIC
THE BAND PLAYED ON
From soukous and swing to pub rock and string quartets, Julian Owen picks this month’s top concerts and gigs
THE MONTH AHEAD
THE HEAVY FRI 2 NOV As local band anecdotes go, this one from Dan Taylor - guitarist with The Heavy takes some beating. “As soon as we’d finished, the ‘Letterman’ staff were like, ‘That has never happened before.’ He’s usually pretty jaded, doesn’t get excited about music on the show - for him to demand an encore was just extraordinary.” The legendary Stateside talkshow host wasn’t alone in being infatuated with the big-beat funk of How You Like Me Now? and the Bath troupe have more recently been making
waves in both the US and on radio playlists closer to home with the crashing gospel soul of What Makes A Good Man?, lead single from new album The Glorious Dead. Record sales might be piling up, but - as their date in Fiddlers will assuredly demonstrate - there’s nothing quite like seeing this magnificent band live, who are seamlessly able to switch from deep funk to Prince-recalling turn-on-a-dime slink-pop. Visit www.theheavy.co.uk for proof, with link to footage of their recent sell-out show at LA’s El Rey theatre. FFI WWW.FIDDLERS.CO.UK
BAT FOR LASHES
HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN
FRI 2 NOV Bat for Lashes’ musical palette is a colourful thing, and arrives at the Anson Rooms early this month. She can do ‘commercial’ with the best of them, as singles as smooth and lush as anything from Tusk-era Fleetwood Mac demonstrate. But you don’t get to interest Bjork without offering a little more than that.
KANDA BONGO MAN
SUN 4 NOV Hurray…! for Hot Club of Cowtown, rocking up at Komedia this FFI WWW.UBU.ORG.UK/ENTS month. On one side, they’re pure jazz a la Quintette du Hot Club de France, the flamboyantly rapid-fire troupe formed in 1934 around violinist Grappelli and guitarist Reinhardt. On the other, US fiddle tunes of the same era. Hence Cowtown. The group tour What Makes Bob Holler, a collection of 14 Western swing tunes made famous by the legendary Bob Wills.
SUN 18 NOV Back in the 80s Kanda Bongo Man was in the vanguard of acts generating recognition that shock! - people made music beyond the western world. A regular at the nascent Womad festival, the Congo man swiftly gained a devoted following thanks to the supple, vibrant rhythms of soukous, and a voice like lightly grained honey. His appearance at the Tunnels should be a blast.
FFI WWW.KOMEDIA.CO.UK/BATH
FFI THETUNNELSBRISTOL.CO.UK
➻ If you saw Julien Temple’s ace Oil City Confidential, you’ll know that pub rockers Dr Feelgood remain one of the tightest, most committed live draws around. For proof positive, check them at Bristol’s Fleece on Sat 10 Nov … Gaining far better notices than your average comeback tour, Adam Ant - accompanied not by the Ants, but by The Good, The Mad and The Lovely Posse - arrives at O2 Academy Bristol on Fri 16 Nov … Someone who never went away, meanwhile, is Van Morrison, bringing smiles of radiant warmth or a peerless back catalogue, at least - to Bath’s Forum on Mon 19 Nov … If checking out the altogether more contemporary is your preference, Grimes brings her magnificent dance tuneage to Bristol’s Motion on Tue 13 Nov, while Jessie Ware plays Thekla the following night … Colston Hall host two contrasting but marvellous singer-songwriters this month, namely Joan Armatrading (Tue 13 Nov) and Rufus Wainwright (Fri 23 Nov), while countryana lovers should note Oh Susanna’s appearance at St Bonaventure’s in Bristol on Mon 26 Nov … Gravenhurst’s (pictured) brilliant The Ghost In Daylight album made The Quietus’s top 12 releases of the year to date in September, and the band return from European touring for a welcome hometown gig at Bristol’s Louisiana on Tue 20 Nov. Classically speaking, the big news is that Bath Mozartfest receives its annual outing from 9-17 Nov across a variety of sumptuous venues, while we’ll also flag up ace youthful ensemble Callino String Quartet’s debut at St George’s Bristol on Sat 13 Nov.
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WHAT’S ON Copper beech trees line the avenue to Leigh Woods
DAYS OUT
TAKE A
HIKE
Anna Britten laces up her walking boots to explore the local countryside
N
othing makes a weekend feel complete like a country walk - the longer, the muddier, the better. Walking is a great cardiovascular exercise, releases feelgood chemicals in your brain and is the most costeffective leisure activity we can think of. Rural or semi-rural adventures are ten a penny in and around Bristol and Bath. So when you know Ashton Court and the Downs like the back of your hand and need something new, here are a few of our recommendations. LEIGH WOODS It’s the countryside, but not as we (probably) know it. Sprawled
across two square kilometres above the Avon Gorge and reachable by car or bus, Leigh Woods is where Bristol has, since the concept of leisure was invented, spent Sunday afternoons - high-kicking through fallen leaves, gathering conkers and, if it was a really long walk, needing to coopie down behind a tree. Now partowned by the National Trust, and accessed via an avenue of copper beech trees planted to commemorate the Queen’s Coronation in 1953, this wild playground offers three designated walkways through beautiful mixed, broadleaf woodland - lots of old oaks, small-leaf lime and ash. You’ll also wander through thickets of crazy fungi, native flora such as rockrose, Bristol rock-cress, Bristol onion and black knapweed (and, in spring,
bluebells and wood anemones), and you can spot deer and birds of prey, and sometimes a small herd of Red Devon cattle. The Thermos can be opened, and logs sought for sitting on, in one of many open grassy glades, areas of limestone grassland, old stone quarries, and even the remains of a neolithic Iron Age hill-fort, Stokeleigh Camp, which was built around 300BC. Pause to take in superb views across the city incorporating the Suspension Bridge. FFI WWW.NATIONALTRUST.ORG.UK/ LEIGH-WOODS
BATH SKYLINE WALK Tracing the route on a map, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this walk is quite an undertaking. But remember how small Bath is - this circumnavigation of it is actually only six miles. Very
doable in 2-3 hours, then more if you build in each of the many photo-taking opportunities. You can start anywhere and finish anywhere, and marked footpaths mean that it’s very hard to stray off course. You’ll traverse emerald fields, hidden valleys, farms, tranquil woodland, a disused tramway and stiles and kissing gates galore. You’ll skirt an Iron Age hill fort (now golf course), Bath Cats & Dogs Home, Prior Park and, our favourite bit, Sham Castle. This 18th ➻ FOLIO/NOV 2012 39
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AGES
WHAT’S ON
PHOTO: NATIO
NAL TRUST IM
century folly was built purely to accentuate the view from some bigshot landowner’s house in the city, and once featured in a prog rock video made back in the day by the founder of local brewery Abbey Ales. Given the number of times we’ve seen students from the nearby uni strumming acoustic guitars in its shade, it’s still got a magnetic allure for the longhaired brigade. Skylarks and butterflies offer Disneyesque companionship in spring/ summer.
as ‘Rock of Ages’, said to be the inspiration for the hymn of that name. From here you can walk along the flank of Black Down moor and traverse the village of Rowberrow, returning over the Iron Age hill fort on Dolebury Warren to admire the view across to the Bristol Channel and south Wales.
FFI WWW.NATIONALTRUST.ORG.UK/ BATH-SKYLINE
FROME VALLEY WALKWAY People of Bristol! Did you know that you can walk all the way from the Harbourside to the Cotswolds along a tributary of the Avon river? Flowing hidden under roads and pavements in the inner city, the Frome river becomes a green corridor through the dense housing of north-east Bristol and on into the villages and farmland of South Glos; the Frome Valley Walkway is a path running all the way along, connecting communities and open spaces. However, given that it’s 20 miles long, and takes in such insalubrious sights as the M32 and Yate, you may well choose to pick a stretch known for its natural beauty and accessibility, and focus purely on that. Frenchay to Frampton Cotterell is a good one, with plenty of old mill buildings, bridges and weirs to admire, not to mention valuable riverside vegetation and wildlife, and views of undulating countryside. Get the camera out for the meander through Winterbourne and its impressive viaduct. Chipping Sodbury to Old Sodbury is also
FFI WWW.N-SOMERSET.GOV.UK (search for ‘Blagdon, Butcombe’), WWW.MENDIPHILLSAONB.ORG.UK/ VISITING-THE-MENDIP-HILLS
A nuthatch searches for food along the Bath Skyline Walk (pictured right)
rather lovely, taking in Jubilee Gardens, Dodington Park and the aqueduct over the BristolLondon railway line, before you reach the source of the river, a series of small springs. FFI WWW.FROMEWALKWAY.ORG.UK
BLAGDON, BUTCOMBE & BORDER COUNTRY Fancy something wild enough to get your wellies muddy, yet not so exhausting that you can’t stop off for a pint of the famed local brew afterwards? Just 10 miles south of Bristol, the Blagdon Lake/Chew Valley area deserves
its position as one of the bestloved walks of oxygen-hungry city-dwellers. Cross dams, bridges and stiles to take in both the lake, a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1971, and its attendant grebes, cormorants, swans, geese, ducks, buzzards deer, orchids and more, as well as the two pretty villages of Blagdon and Butcombe (of brewery fame). Stride over the other side of the A368 and you’ll find the astonishing limestone gorge of Burrington Combe, more specifically the steep crag known
COALEY PEAK, COTSWOLDS New age travellers rarely get it wrong when it comes to breathtaking English countryside, and their colonisation of Coaley Peak in the early noughties is no exception. From Bristol, 45 minutes up the M5 gets you to one of the best walks in the country, as voted for by members of the Ramblers. The most north-westerly flank of the Cotswolds shelves nearly 1,000 metres in a very short distance, giving rise to outstanding views and all manner of cosmic, hippyish thinking. Start at the wild flower-strewn meadow with its Neolithic burial site, and make your way to nearby Selsley Common, via the Cotswold Edge, then swing south into the landscaped valley of Woodchester Park, which is more conventionally thatchedcottage-and-cream-teas-y. FFI WWW.RAMBLERS.CO.UK
READ ALL ABOUT IT ➻ Pocket Pub Walks
near Bristol and Bath by Nigel Vile (Countryside Books) • In which the local walkmeister describes 15 circular walks, each based on a local pub serving good food. It includes routes at Luckington, Stanton Drew, Norton St Philip, Blagdon, Clevedon and Box Hill, with maps and photos.
➻ Somerset, Wiltshire
and the Mendips: Walks (Pathfinder Guide) • Detailed descriptions of walks from the breezy heights of the Mendips to the flat meadows of the Somerset Levels, from the rolling chalk uplands of the Marlborough Downs to the mudflats and sandy expanses that fringe the Bristol Channel coast.
➻ 100 Walks in Somerset and Avon by Geoffrey Allen (Crowood Press) • Compendium of family walks across the whole of Somerset and Avon, with maps, points of interest and places to eat and drink en route, plus suggestions for easy car parking. Places covered include the Mendips, the Quantocks, and the Severn towpath.
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COMPETITIONS
WIN A FANTASTIC DAY OUT AT CABOT CIRCUS! Christmas is fast approaching, and here at Folio, we’ve got a fantastic treat all wrapped up for one lucky reader. To begin the festive season in style, we’re offering you the chance to win a £100 voucher with which to enjoy a day of pampering, eating and shopping at the South West’s most stylish fashion and dining destination, Cabot Circus. With over 120 fashion stores, a mouthwatering selection of restaurants, the indulgent Sanctuary Spa and 13-screen Showcase Cinema de Lux, you’ll be spoilt for choice - and you can spend the gift card anywhere you like! CABOT CIRCUS BRISTOL FFI: WWW.CABOTCIRCUS.COM OR FIND THEM ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
WIN A £100 VOUCHER
TO ENTER ➻ SKID CONTROL COURSE
Just answer the following question: What is used to prepare the skid pan at Castle Combe? Email your answer with ‘Skid Control Course’ in the subject line to: editor@ foliomagazine.co.uk by Fri 23 Nov. Entries after this date will not be counted. Winner will be picked at random and notified by Mon 3 Dec. Terms & conditions The voucher is valid for 18 months and is for one person to take part in the three-hour skid control course. The recipient must hold a full driving licence and have been driving for at least three months on the road, on their own. The voucher is transferable within the validity date, same conditions apply.
fabulous COMPS
Enter today to be in with a chance of winning these great prizes!
➻ CABOT CIRCUS DAY OUT
Just answer the following question: In which city will you find Cabot Circus? Email your answer with ‘Cabot Circus Day Out’ in the subject line to: editor@foliomagazine.co.uk by Fri 23 Nov. Entries after this date will not be counted. Winner will be picked at random and notified by Mon 3 Dec. Terms & conditions The prize includes a £100 Cabot Circus gift card, and is non-transferable. THE WINNERS The Square: Volume 1 comp Congratulations to Wilma Parkinson, who won a copy of the book. Correct answer: Bath. Bath on Ice comp Congratulations to Ruth Bruton, who won six VIP tickets to the launch night. Correct answer: Dancing on Ice.
WIN A SKID CONTROL COURSE!
WIN A DRIVING COURSE
At this time of year, ice, autumn leaves or surface water can all cause treacherous driving conditions. Would you know how to cope if your car went into a skid? The lucky Folio reader who is selected as the winner of a Skid Control Course run by Drive-Tech @ Castle Combe Circuit in Chippenham will discover exactly what to do. During the three-hour course, worth £95, they’ll be taught how to control front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles and gain confidence to drive in adverse weather and on slippery roads. Drive-Tech’s unique wet pan is prepared with water and a non-toxic agent to simulate wet and icy road conditions. It’s suitable for all drivers who hold a full driving licence, but it’s recommended that drivers have been driving for at least three months on their own to fully benefit from the course. DRIVE-TECH CASTLE COMBE CIRCUIT, CHIPPENHAM, WILTS. FFI: 01249 783010, WWW.DRIVETECHLTD.CO.UK
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NEWS REVIEWS RECIPES TOP TENS FEATURES NEWS REVIEWS RECIPES TOP TENS FEATURES
➻ EATINGOUTWEST
FREE RANGE TURKEYS, FESTIVE MENUS, GOURMET TAKEAWAYS AND MORE...
CHRISTMAS MARKET
GOING, GOING, GONE
➻ Are you one of those ‘leave it all to the last minute’ Christmas shoppers? If so, you probably won’t want to know about the Bath Christmas Market, because by the time you’ve got your head around the idea of some 120 little huts full of all kinds of everything giftish, it’ll be gone. And won’t you feel foolish? This year’s stalls include more than 40 foodie traders, both local and from further afield, with plenty of chocolate (like we need an excuse?) including wonderfully healthy ‘anti-oxidant-rich’ treats from Chocacao, handmade Belgian delights from Choc on Choc, luxury selections from Demarquette Fine Chocolates and award-winning chocky gifts from Lick the Spoon. There’s even chilli chocolate from Upton Cheyney Chilli Company, and the renownedly sumptuous Chatley Chocolate Brownies. Booze figures, too, from the Tasting Room’s high-spirited selection to exclusively imported French wines from Gascoyne Place and the eyecatching range of artisan specialities gathered by the Bristol Cider Shop or Orchard Pig. And you can match it with a hamper of cheese from Nibbles, a smoked truckle from Snowdonia or near-legendary organic produce from Bath Soft Cheese. Throw in sausages, herbs, teas, chutneys, cakes, liquorice and the crucial traditional round Christmas puddings, and you can see how this year’s Bath Christmas Market is offering loads of edible scrumptiousness to stock the cupboard or stick into stockings. But why are we telling you this? The market finishes on Sun 9 Dec, so you’ll probably miss it. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you when you’re running out of ideas on Christmas Eve. BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET 22 NOV-9 DEC, OPEN DAILY IN BATH ST, ABBEYGATE ST, YORK ST, ABBEY GREEN AND AROUND THE ABBEY. FFI: WWW.BATHCHRISTMASMARKET.CO.UK
YEAR OF CIDER
APPLES & PEARS ➻ According to the Chinese horoscope system, on 10 Feb 2013 we’ll be moving from the Year of the Dragon to the Year of the Snake, but according to the Bristol Cider Shop we could just as easily stay in the Year of Cider, thanks to a splendid new service available from their website. Sign up to their Year of Cider scheme and you’ll receive a special mixed case of cider every three months, with each box introducing you to some of the 100-plus varieties of alcoholic apple/pear-based beverages from the Christmas Steps shop’s bulging shelves. The idea was suggested by a customer who belonged to a wine club and enjoyed the element of surprise from each new delivery. “We really want to introduce people to some of the amazing stuff people are making right now,” explains proprietor Peter Snowman. “But we steer clear of anything that’s too sweet, too sharp or too weird.
Though we do have one customer who rings up and demands our sharpest, weirdest cider every now and then!” No doubt he’s taken delivery of a few bottles of Gwatkins Old Rats Tale, Lyne Down Roaring Meg or Tricky Medium Dry Cider, but the real connoisseurs are going for new bottlefermented varieties from the likes of Burrow Hill and Tom Oliver, or the ‘champagne-style’ Chapel Pleck perry from Once Upon a Tree. “Delicious stuff with a lot going on in the flavour,” Peter Snowman enthuses, and you know that 2013’s going to be another good year. BRISTOL CIDER SHOP 7 CHRISTMAS STEPS, BRISTOL, BS1. FFI: 0117 382 1679, WWW.BRISTOLCIDERSHOP. CO.UK
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EATINGOUTWEST
LOCAL PRODUCE
GO WEST
“We think this system represents the highest animal welfare possible for any Christmas turkey,” says Phil. “Our birds are happy and free. They live a full life to the last.” There’s a pay-off, naturally - the meat should be more succulent and flavoursome as well as free of nasty chemicals, and thus a great accompaniment to all those lovely vegetables.
➻ With two waterfront premises, it isn’t surprising head chef Simon Davis has gone for a touch of local seafood in his menus. River Fowey mussels, St Mawes smoked mackerel and beer-battered Brixham ‘catch of the day’ all have the kind of freshness that makes you look for a fishing boat outside. And Simon’s penchant for all things local means treacle-cured Exmoor venison and Devon rapeseed oil sit alongside Chagford quail’s eggs. They’ll also be using the best local produce for a special December menu, with two/three-course lunches and a three-course dinner available until 22 Dec (Bristol) or 24 Dec (Portishead), and a two-for-one deal for diners booking in advance for Saturdays (mentioning offer).
BETTER FOOD CO TURKEYS AVAILABLE BY PHONE, EMAIL OR FROM THE BFC FOOD HALL & DELI, WHITELADIES RD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL (0117 946 6957) OR BFC SHOP & CAFE, SEVIER ST, ST WERBURGHS, BS2 (0117 935 1725), EMAIL: WWW.BETTERFOOD.CO.UK
JACKS BRASSERIE 1 HANOVER QUAY, BRISTOL, BS1 (0117 945 3990) & SPINNAKER, HARBOUR RD, PORTISHEAD (01275 397304). FFI: WWW.JACKSBRASSERIE.CO.UK
TURKEYS
NO FOWL PLAY
➻ For some years, turkey-hugger (and Better Food Company MD) Phil Haughton has been on a quest to improve the quality of life for their annual festive poultry crop, and this year he’s confident they’ve cracked it. Unable to find a local organic farmer who could raise birds the way they wanted, the BFC decided to do it themselves, installing a flock of Norfolk Black turkeys in an old cider orchard in Somerset and pretty much giving them free rein. Roaming free and flying into the trees with unclipped wings, the birds could even pick apples off the branches if they wanted. More to the point, they could mate naturally in the springtime.
TAKEAWAY
GOURMET TO GO ➻ After a hard day’s work, who
wouldn’t relish the thought of making a quick phone call and enjoying a leisurely bath/nice cold drink/Facebook session before a piping hot gourmet meal arrives at your door? Housebites is a homedelivery scheme that gives you access to highly trained chefs in your neighbourhood, each offering a daily changing menu of fine eating, fresh-cooked to your order.
Devised by speed-dating supremo Simon Prockter, it’s already a big hit in London, with Lily Allen and Stephen Fry among the satisfied customers. The Bristol version was launched last month, with French, Indian, vegetarian, Romanian and Brazilian specialists already signed up - just enter your postcode on their website HOUSEBITES FFI: WWW.HOUSEBITES.COM
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COMFORT
PHOTO CREDIT: MARK SIMMONS
FOOD The Alma Tavern offers the ultimate pre-/post-theatre supper experience
Never mind the weather, says Melissa Blease. Banish the autumn blues at one of these seasonal gastro hotspots This pic, above and below: cosy winter hideout the Victoria Park
Unfussy gastropub feasting against a swoonsome backdrop are yours at the Hare & Hounds
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EATINGOUTWEST Kick back with a hearty burger or three-course meal at the AA rosette Chequers
W
e don’t care what the weatherman says when the weatherman says it’s raining! Or snowing, for that matter. Or cursing us with hailstones, thunder and lightning, or any of the other autumnal or, god forbid, wintry nasties sent down to us from beyond the clouds… We know where and how to cosy up in style this autumn.
BRISTOL ALMA TAVERN
18-20 Alma Vale Rd, Clifton. Ffi: 0117 973 5171, www.almataverntheatre.co.uk
The ultimate pre-/post-theatre supper experience: a cosy, welcoming pub downstairs and a theatre upstairs, negating the need for a two-stop journey on your way to a cosy curtain-up experience. Menus adhere to the upper-crust, sturdy modern pub-grub theme, with a small plate selection offering a very civilised selection for small appetites, while substantial, chunky mains include the legendary Alma Burger, complete with chorizo, smoked cheese and real chips. Encore! Or at least save room for a perfect pudding... VICTORIA PARK
66 Raymend Rd, BS3. Ffi: 0117 330 6043, www.thevictoriapark.co.uk
The Victoria Park offers the perfect bolthole in which to snuggle up
when the weather turns nasty. With a warm, cosy, friendly atmosphere, seasonally changing menus and well-kept real ales, it’s a wonderful winter hideout. Over the next couple of months, the VP will host a Christmas market, and promise that the wood-fired ovens will be fired up all day long. Weekly changing menus (including a Christmas option - preorders only) run throughout Nov and Dec, and you can grab proper woodfired pizzas at two-for-one prices every Mon eve from now until springtime. If that’s not enough to warm the cockles of your heart, we don’t know what is!
Lovett’s), while the Trinity Inn - the newest kid on the AA block - has swiftly gained a reputation for being the friendliest hostelry in town. All three pubs serve fabulous comfort food in a supremely welcoming, properly chilled-out environment, while regulars in-the-know know all about the free bar snacks (often including quail’s eggs and a boisterous cheese board) that bolster the bar at the Star Inn, a fascinating historic hostelry dating back to the 16th century.
BATH
The menus may boast an AA rosette supported by a hearty recommendation from the Michelin Guide 2012, but the Chequers most certainly isn’t a snooty destination diner. Far from it - kick back at the bar here and prepare to indulge in the kind of warm, friendly experience that makes the autumn/ winter season bearable, whether you’re after a three-course blowout or a pint to accompany what’s surely the heartiest burger in Bath. Sunday lunches, meanwhile, are served all the way through to a very civilised 9pm, and the set lunch menus (two courses £12, three £15, Mon-Fri lunchtime) are guaranteed to lift dreary spirits without freezing the bank balance.
ABBEY ALES
Assembly Inn: 16 Alfred St. Tel: 01225 333639. Coeur de Lion: 17 Northumberland Place. Tel: 01225 463568. Star Inn: 23 The Vineyards. Tel: 01225 425072. Trinity Inn: James St West. Tel: 01225 469456. Ffi: www.abbeyales.co.uk
This Bath-based brewery and lovable mini-empire are as highly regarded for the delights of their quintessential West Country pint Bellringer as for their cosy four-pub family. To direct readers towards just one of Abbey Ales’ glorious inns would be criminal; the fact is, they all come into their own as autumn gets a grip, and each one has distinctly individual, characterful charms to recommend it. The Coeur de Lion may be Bath’s smallest pub but it goes larger than life on atmosphere, and the Assembly Inn is proud to be home to the Bath Pie (courtesy of lovely local pie company
THE CHEQUERS
50 Rivers St. Ffi: 01225 360017, www.thechequersbath.com
DEMUTHS
2 North Parade Passage. Ffi: 01225 446059, www.demuths.co.uk
demuths holds the gongs for both ➻
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Clockwise from above: Expect hearty and fabulous fare from stylish Bath bistro demuths; the Sunday lunches are legendary at the historic Catherine Wheel; supper at the classy, contemporary bistro Roman Baths Kitchen is the modern-day equivalent of dining with Mr Darcy!
the 2011 and 2012 Bath Good Food Award for Best Vegetarian Restaurant, last year’s BGFA People’s Choice Award and all manner of equally impressive accolades collected down the years for being so darn good at what they do best: creating all kinds of everything wonderful from totally meatfree ingredients. But such grand acclaim hasn’t prevented this dinky, stylish little bistro on one of Bath’s most picturesque lanes from being an extremely user-friendly haven of good taste. Expect fabulous, hearty food served with a smile in characterfully chic surroundings, and remarkably wallet-friendly set-menu lunch and dinnertime deals to further ensure that any notion of chilliness is far, far removed from the autumn feasting menu. HARE & HOUNDS
Lansdown Rd. Ffi: 01225 482682, www.hareandhoundsbath.com
Venture up the Lansdown slopes and you can’t miss the handsome, spacious 18th century inn offering swoonsome views across the hills, vales and hamlets to the north and east of Bath, complete with rolling lawns and split-level patios from which to digest such scenery. But we’re not expecting you to go alfresco at this time of the year! Fortunately, the Hare and Hounds offer the kind of artfully reinforced, utterly snug
environment in which lounging around is equally artfully encouraged. Tuck into chef-led but totally unfussy gastropub feast as you take in the blustery goingson outside those huge picture windows, and say three cheers to wintry weather.
without the tourist-zone frills and frippery one might expect at a classy contemporary bistro offering views across Abbey Courtyard and the Roman Baths complex itself. We might be in a rather grand Georgian townhouse, but this stylish, warm and welcoming haven is supremely down to earth: a collection of beautifully proportioned, softly lit, atmospheric rooms offer elegance in easily digestible proportion, while seasonal menus with a strong emphasis on locally sourced ingredients guarantee a very stylish taste of an English autumn at wallet-friendly prices.
OUT OF TOWN
MARLBOROUGH TAVERN
CATHERINE WHEEL
35 Marlborough Buildings. Ffi: 01225 423731, www.marlborough-tavern.com
High St, Marshfield, Wilts. Ffi: 01225 892220, www.thecatherinewheel.co.uk
You can read all about the history both ancient and modern of the Marlborough Tavern in this very issue, as it’s earned itself Pub of the Month status. For the purposes of our tour of cosy hotspots, however, it’s worth noting that the MT is home to one of the most cheerful dining areas in Bath, while the kitchen turns out the kind of upmarket comfort food that makes autumn and winter worthwhile.
At the heart of a historic village that looks as though it was specifically created for Christmas-card purposes, the Catherine Wheel offers all the proper historic pub bells and whistles (cosy bar, flagstone floors, proper fires) that one could possibly hope for, having made the trip about eight miles north of Bath and 15 east of Bristol. The grub, meanwhile, makes that journey well worth it, offering sturdy solace in spades in the form of homecooked delights such as proper steak & kidney pie and real fish & chips in among smatterings of imaginatively foodie inspirations. The Sunday lunches are legendary (two courses £14.50, child £5.25) and the first Thur of every month is Curry Night: homecooked hot stuff for just £9.95.
ROMAN BATHS KITCHEN
11-12 Abbey Churchyard. Ffi: 01225 477877, www.searcys.co.uk/roman-baths-kitchen
Offering a far less formal experience than dining at the Searcy group’s big sister the Pump Rooms, supper at the Roman Baths Kitchen is the modernday equivalent of dining with Mr Darcy,
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EATINGOUTWEST Cosy Club accepting their award for Best Family Restaurant at the Bath Good Food Awards
AND THE
WINNER
IS...
T
here’s always a big hubbub at an awards ceremony, and this year’s Bath Good Food Awards was no exception. The banqueting room at the Guildhall was packed with the great and (especially) good from the city’s food community, many nominated for recognition in their respective fields. People drifted between tables and, on the surface at least, it looked like a jolly occasion and that matters: “The event has to be enjoyable,” says Jill Couvreur from Casanis restaurant. “For us restaurateurs, it’s hard to get out in the evenings and it can be the only time we see each other.” But, of course, there’s more to the soiree than an annual networking opportunity - and if one thing can cut through the roar of conversation, it’s the rustle of an envelope. Cue pindrop silence and a moment of throat clearing before The Announcement… “And the winner is…” And suddenly there were winners and losers and somebody was up on the stage looking justifiably pleased with themselves. Jill and husband Laurent found themselves up there twice this year as Best French Restaurant and, for the second year running, the highly prized Best Restaurant. How did that feel? “Recognition is a wonderful thing!” Jill admits. “We were a bit surprised to win two awards. The great thing was that we knew that our customers had put themselves out to get us on the shortlist, and that’s the real proof of
ALL AWARDS PHOTOS: WWW.CHARLOTTESTONEPHOTO.COM
Tony Benjamin dons his black tie to get the gossip behind the gongs
Left: Casanis accepting their awards for Best French Restaurant and Best Restaurant at the Bath Awards Below: Toby Gritten, chef proprietor of the Pump House which won Best Restaurant in the Bristol Good Food Awards
the pudding, isn’t it?” Pump House chef/proprietor Toby Gritten was less composed when he heard that they’d scooped Best Restaurant in the Bristol Good Food Awards in July: “I was really shocked. To be honest, I’d been sceptical about the whole thing, and I was actually in the bar when they announced it! It’s so great to be recognised in front of other professionals. It makes you feel proud, like all the hard work has paid off. And it’s great for morale in the team.” Joe Cussens echoes the sentiment - his Marlborough Tavern gastropub won the Publican Best British Food Pub in 2010: “The best thing is seeing the lift it gives everyone who works in the pub. My staff work long hours and are extremely dedicated, so winning is a real recognition that they’re ➻
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delivering a great product - and always a good excuse for a celebration!” Having only been open for just over a year, it was all a bit sudden for deputy manager James Whitehouse when the Cosy Club won Best Family Restaurant at the Bath awards. “We’re always full of highchairs and we’ve worked hard on making the place child friendly,” he says, “but we were delighted to get the recognition. When you’re in the hospitality industry, you’re always checking out the competition, so it was great picking up the award in front of them!” Glitzy black-tie events and a team ‘jolly’ are all very well, and a mantelpiece groaning with gongs is impressive, but, of course, it’s what’s happening for customers every night that really matters. “What I want is a busy restaurant full of happy people who come back again and again - that’s my instant gratification,” says Toby Gritten. “Awards do get you business, and so do ‘guides’ (the Pump House has two AA rosettes and is in the Good Food Guide), but you have to please the customers when they come.” With Bath’s all-important tourist trade to consider, Jill Couvreur agrees: “We’re grateful to be in the Michelin guide and Harden’s because we know visitors check
Above: The team from Bath’s Marlborough Tavern who won Publican Best British Food Pub in 2010 and the Best Alfresco category in the Bath Good Food Awards 2011
those. We have our Bath Good Food Awards on the bar at Casanis, and I’m sure they notice them, but what matters is that we keep our standards high and even improve them if we can. We can’t rest on our laurels because new places are opening in Bath all the time, so it’s always getting more competitive.” That goes for James Whitehouse and the Cosy Club team, too: “Actually, it’s a bit of a responsibility when you win something like that because you’ve got to live up to it. We’re already getting even busier as a result and we’re working on ways to up our family-friendliness even more.” The customer is still king, it seems, and whatever the other polls may show, it’s happy punters voting with
their feet that will always make for real winners in the restaurant business.
CONTACTS CASANIS SAVILE ROW, BATH. FFI: 01225 780055, WWW.CASANIS.CO.UK COSY CLUB SOUTHGATE PLACE, BATH. FFI: 01225 464161, WWW.COSYCLUB.CO.UK/ BATH MARLBOROUGH TAVERN MARLBOROUGH BUILDINGS, BATH. FFI: 01225 423731, WWW.MARLBOROUGH-TAVERN.COM PUMP HOUSE MERCHANTS RD, HOTWELLS, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 927 2229, WWW.THE-PUMPHOUSE.COM
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(Review)
THE KILTED CHEF
Melissa Blease goes underground and discovers a brand new Bath chef to swoon over, whether or not he wears a skirt for work
L
ike most buildings in Bath, 7a Kingsmead Square has quite a bit of history attached to it. Years ago, it was home to the Michelin-starred Moody Goose. But when the Goose flew off to Midsomer Norton, things went a bit pear-shaped below those honeycoloured flagstones. Back then, the square itself wasn’t quite the cheerful epicentre of Bath cafe society that it is today, used rather as a hangout for alcopop-swigging teenagers. And so it came to pass that a lacklustre Italian restaurant took over the vacated subterranean nest, offering little to get excited about on any level. But, eventually, Kingsmead Square got glossy again... and the Kilted Chef has put the icing on this stylishly reinvented cake. This sparkling Bath newbie is an underground restaurant in the old-fashioned sense of the word: at street level there’s not much to see, but below stairs the vibe revolves around smartly dressed, effortlessly chic glamour. Slate floors, cafe-au-lait paintwork, beautifully dressed tables and an evocative, barrel-vaulted anteroom combine to create a stylishly seductive atmosphere. And from the off, menus confidently whisper of a supremely foodie experience to come. Head chef Dougie Bonar (who I’m sorry to report wasn’t actually wearing a kilt on the evening we visited) has honed his skills in some pretty impressive kitchens including the Savoy and Bristol’s Clifton Club before establishing an independent prandial playground of his own, and a swathe of majorly foodie inspirations are writ large throughout a roll-call of dishes based around impeccable sourcing, seasonality and confident, imaginative homage to Dougie’s Scottish roots. Following the tantalising amuse-bouche and freshly baked bread that come as standard before the main à la carte
“Homesmoked Scottish lobster and a soufflé of Somerset cheddar and Arbroath Smokies were as stunning a curtain-up to dinner as one could wish for” event, starters of homesmoked Scottish lobster (£14.95) and a soufflé of Somerset cheddar and Arbroath Smokies (£9.95) were as stunning a curtain-up to dinner in such elegant surroundings as one could wish for, the lobster bringing drama to the table, and the soufflé an utterly perfect example of the genre. My main course of soft, pink loin of lamb (£19.30) almost - but only almost - paled into insignificance beside the paté-like calves’ liver that accompanied it, while pumpkin purée, caramelised onions and a complex romanesco sauce offered a refreshing alternative to the dauphinoise potatoes rolled out as standard in most restaurants these days whenever a chef takes a gambol on lamb. Similarly, His moist, tender slow-roasted haunch of venison (£16.50) came teamed with characterful haggis and black pudding fritters, a rich but light (yes, it can happen) pink peppercorn
and wholegrain mustard velouté, beautifully seasoned pommes parmentier and caramelised root vegetables infused with lashings of fresh rosemary - blimey, this was one Highland fling I’d happily waltz with again and again. Did we push the pudding trawler out onto the loch? Och aye. For me, a ‘Chocolate Four Ways’ plate (£7.20) that - due to over-excitement on my behalf - got a bit lost in note-taking translation but I know for sure included divine chocolate ice-cream and a mousse that I could happily live on for ever. For Him, citrus sable (£6.10) with vanilla cream and all manner of artfully sweet twists and turns that looked like a Fauvist classic and tasted of heaven. Homemade chocolates arrived unbidden with coffee, and the wine list is a voyage of discovery, too - the really scrumptious, lesser-spotted Romanian pinot noir (£18.50)
deserves standalone acclaim. While à la carte prices probably don’t slide easily into the everyday budget, plenty of unbidden treats make generous appearances and all plates come complete - there are no side-orders of upsell lurking within these walls. Wallet-friendly lunch and pre-theatre menus abound, and at the other end of the spectrum, full-blown taster menus for those who want to get right under the kilt couldn’t fail to deliver an unforgettable experience.
CONTACT
THE KILTED CHEF 7A KINGSMEAD SQUARE, BATH. FFI: 01225 466688
THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH
Seriously, delightfully good - highly recommended
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(Review)
GLASSBOAT
Tony Benjamin gets a distinctly warm glow as he settles into the seasonal fine-dining treat that is Bristol’s legendary floating restaurant
I
f you’re walking down Welsh Back on a blustery autumn night, clutching your coat around you and speculating about Seasonal Affected Disorder, the Glassboat is the last thing you’ll want to see. Somehow it looks just too perfect behind those big, big windows, doesn’t it? That warmly glowing wood-lined cabin full of comfy-looking people framed against the dark water and the tastefully lit Bristol Bridge… it’s just a bit too enviable, isn’t it? Unless, of course, you’re heading up the gangplank and through the door. Born of the claret-swilling yuppie 80s, the Glassboat’s been through a few changes before settling into what’s become its niche: class dining based on respectful handling of English ingredients with an attention to detail. The menu’s not too narrow-minded about it - there’s Lebanese aubergine treat imam bayildi, Swedish gravadlax and Italian tortellini on offer - but the meat choices of partridge, venison, rabbit and hare could all have been scampering about the Mendips yesterday, and cobnuts, artichokes and pumpkin seeds all have an autumnal reek of mists and mellow fruitfulness. The one French thing about the Glassboat experience, however, is the time factor: like any good Gallic restaurant, their assumption is that you’ve come for a night out and they pace the meal accordingly. That’s not an elliptic way of saying ‘they’re slow’, but a recognition that things will unfold at an unhurried pace. You’re snugly seated with one of Bristol’s most atmospheric views, so why rush? Thus we have appetisers - a brisk tongue-teasing glass of manzanilla for me, a fullerflavoured Spanish viura for the Lovely She, and the perfect seaside waft of a rock oyster each. Watching mysterious rowers on the dark river, the one thing we’re missing is the customary bevy of swans - do they
“The intense pungency of crisply sealed wild bass fillet and slow-cooked oxtail is a thing apart, set off with juicily crunchy turnip and wilted chard” migrate, we wonder? But the next course arrives before we come to a conclusion, and it’s quite a distraction. She has celeriac soup, ethereally white and rich as velvet in texture, with all the flavour of the vegetable emphasised but unimpaired. I have baby globe artichokes, lightly cured and chopped with moist chunks of rabbit and fragile slivers of Bayonne ham - a fine balance of flavours, helped down by a dark glass of lightly dusted Ramon Bilbao rioja. For mains, the intense pungency of the combination of crisply sealed wild bass fillet and slowcooked oxtail with baby onions is a thing apart, especially when set off with juicily crunchy turnip and deep purple… Hold on! Did I say ‘juicy turnips’? Absolutely. Baby specimens that burst like courgettes on the tongue in a how-do-theydo-that? wonderment. And the
deep purple isn’t smoke on the water but wilted chard that wraps round the glutinous nuggets of oxtail like a destiny fulfilled. With the loose flakes of river-fresh fish, it’s a complete statement of English autumn that both banishes and celebrates the bluster outside. It’s all good across the table, too: loin of hare relishes a rich carrot purée and roast vegetables spangled with succulent cepes in another deft combination. Exactly what seasonal cooking should offer, with everything flattered and flaunted by care and precision in the kitchen. If the desserts, when they come, are upstaged, they don’t like to show it - homemade ice-cream is egg-rich and creamy, with pure vanilla and pistachio on its breath. Coffee parfait is simmeringly undersweetened to match the nutty nougat pairing. A shared glass of perfumed tokaji and a fine
cup of brooding espresso finish in the style to which we’ve become accustomed, just as two swans finally appear, living embodiments of the restaurant logo. This has been fine eating, presented in friendly comfort, and well worth the £100 price tag. Unfortunately it will only add to that bitter envy the next time I’m battling past the Glassboat of an evening.
CONTACT
GLASSBOAT WELSH BACK, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 929 0704, WWW.GLASSBOAT.CO.UK THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH
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(Review)
BYBROOK AT THE MANOR HOUSE
Push the boat out at Castle Combe’s Michelin-starred eatery where superb food and wines come as standard
T
he Manor House is, to my mind, the prettiest contemporary country house hotel in the South West, featuring a Michelin-starred restaurant, the Bybrook, which adds huge, tantalising dollops of allure in its own right. And yet, when you reach the end of this review, you’ll see just eight stars. It’s not that Bybrook head chef Richard Davis didn’t turn my world upside down - he most definitely did. But the thing is, the total tally for what we are about to receive teetered above the £200 mark - a price tag that, for most of us, eats up pretty much all the available spending-spree budget in one bite. I’m not saying that one
“For mains, roast Cornish salt cod with deep, rich oxtail tortellini, and a quintuplet of pork that included a neat cube of smoked porcine delight” doesn’t get what one pays for here; this uber-glam pile of grand, stately home proportions - staffed by friendly folk who make you feel like a film star (regardless, in our case, of rocking up in a car that puts one in mind of the Beverly Hillbillies) - is a superb experience, and our impeccable feast took us on a voyage that ran the whole glamorous, gourmet gamut, including tipples to match. Our starring system, however, incorporates accessibility for all into the overall grading; as a result, this is an eight-star review of a 10-star experience. Are you following me? I urge that one
day you do. From tantalising amusebouches to petits fours pretty enough to bring tears your eyes, our unforgettably good feast opened with silky truffle risotto, and with slow-cooked duck egg snuggled up with sweet, melting duck liver. For mains, a slab of roast Cornish salt cod with deep, rich oxtail tortellini, and a quintuplet of pork that included a neat cube of smoked porcine delight set to dominate my prandial imagination for months to come. For dessert, raspberry parfait with peanut ice-cream and sweet and sour popcorn, and blackcurrant custard with dinky lemon doughnuts and
caramelised white chocolate ice-cream (caramelised ice-cream? Indeed!), both almost - but only almost - too beautiful to eat. I haven’t supped wines as good as the selection that accompanied every dish in many a long year, and service throughout was about as friendly and efficient as service gets. The Bybrook serves the sort of food in the kind of surroundings of which dreams are made. When your bank balance dreams come true, I highly recommend that you move in. (Melissa Blease)
CONTACT
BYBROOK RESTAURANT AT THE MANOR HOUSE HOTEL CASTLE COMBE, NR BATH, WILTS, SN14. FFI: 01249 782206, WWW.MANORHOUSE.CO.UK
THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH
A stunning, exquisite experience
TABLE TALK COOKING THE BOOKS ➻ According to research from Flora (the marge people) a ‘staggering’ 63% of mums (sic) in the UK own recipe books they never use. Flora don’t say whether they’re staggered that it was only 63% or whether they think that the percentage is too high, but, assuming the latter, it seems a little disingenuous (like becoming chancellor and declaring yourself shocked to find that rich people can make income tax disappear. Oh really, George?) and a complete misunderstanding about how and why people get cookery books. Rarely a carefully thought-out plan of self-education, it usually boils down to four possibilities. First, you love the telly programme/chef, you love the idea of the food, but you don’t actually like cooking. So buying the book is a gesture, like getting gym membership. Second, someone near to you is fed up with the uninspired slop you routinely put in front of them. They’re hoping, forlornly, that slipping a suitably alluring cookbook under the Christmas tree will inspire you to change. Bless! Third, you ate something deliciously exotic in a Vietnamese/Nigerian/ vegan restaurant and really want the know-how. Unfortunately it requires 27 different spices and four unpronounceable ingredients just to make the stock. Fourth, your kitchen has a bookshelf, and a quick trip to the Amnesty bookshop means that you can finish off the decor. None of those possibilities mean that you’ll actually use the recipe book, of course. So what can Flora do about this national disgrace? Well, what else…? They’ve pulled together another cookbook (‘by mums, for mums’ - whatever happened to political correctness?) that you can download from their website. If you can be bothered, of course. (Tony Benjamin, Food & Drink editor)
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Christmas Celebrations
with festive Reindeer and Cranberry Sausages!
Jacks Bar & Brasseries offer the perfect setting for Christmas party celebrations and are getting festive with a stunning new Christmas menu. Situated on Bristol’s iconic waterfront and in Portishead Marina, the restaurants are helping diners get in the spirit with a number of Christmas classics and traditional winter warmers sure to get those taste buds tingling. As well as catering for groups of all sizes, both restaurants can be hired exclusively for larger parties. Sample Christmas Dishes Starter Cornish Camembert, thyme crust, damson jelly (v) Main Course Creedy Carver confit duck leg, curly kale and orange butter, served with roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables Dessert Mulled wine poached plums and vanilla mascarpone
• Book a table of 10 people or more and get a free bottle of Prosecco for your guests • 10% off the final bill if you book a table for dinner or Christmas party on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Please call Jacks in advance and quote ‘Folio’ when booking your table, stating which offer you would like to redeem.
Offer Terms & Conditions - These offers are valid until 22nd December (Bristol) and 24th December (Portishead) - Tables of five or more will be required to put down a deposit of £15 per head - To redeem these offers tables must be booked before 20 November 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
Book now for your Christmas Parties For bookings, please call
0117 973 1192 or email info@cliftonsausage.co.uk The Clifton Sausage, 7-9 Portland Street, Clifton Village, Bristol BS8 4JA
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EATINGOUTWEST
(Review)
LIDO
Pace yourself for the fabulous taster menu at Clifton’s ultra-hip, ultra-relaxed pool-view eatery
H
ow posh?” asked The Princess when I called her. It was hard to know what to say. A threecourse meal at the Lido will cost you around £30 a head, before you look at the wine list, which isn’t astronomic these days. The stylishly contemporary restaurant with its Hockneyesque view of the under-lit swimming pool is undoubtedly one of Clifton’s hippest dining rooms, too, but wears its status with a relaxed, easy air. I avoided the question with “You’ll like it” - and it turns out she does. The welcome is warm and the menu’s straightforward choice of English ingredients with a Spanish accent is made even simpler by our choice of ‘Bird Food’ - Lidospeak for the six-course taster menu devised
10 OF THE BEST
CAKE PLACES ➻ Everybody loves a sugar rush, and for
“Crisp-crusted anchovies are sizzled in the wood-oven for a moment to release the freshest, fullest flavours, miraculously balancing the punchy harissa” each night by chef Freddy Bird. Plump scallops roasted in the wood-oven and anointed with herby butter are accompanied by a clump of percebes ‘goose neck’ barnacles, with succulent stalks wrested from leathery tubes to deliver a shot of storm-tossed Biscay air. But they’re immediately upstaged, implausibly, by three anchovies on a plate with a tiny blob of sauce. The crisp-crusted fish, larger than the tinned kind, have been simply sizzled in that oven for a moment to release the freshest and fullest of flavours that miraculously balance the punchy harissa. Our slightly boat-pushing
choice of a bottle of albarino, as recommended by our knowledgeable waitress, proves perfectly adaptable as a temptingly deconstructed cuttlefish arrives on a salad bed of chickpeas and charmoula. We pick at this deliciousness for a while, but realise the importance of pacing ourselves - and sure enough, there arrives a generous wedge of aromatically fulsome Berkeley pig loin followed by juniper-scented pigeon breast pillowed with butternut squash purée and dark chocolate sauce. It’s so full of sweetness that it could have been a dessert and the Princess immediately declares it her highpoint, though
the half-dozen different icecreams that properly round off the meal slip down a treat, too. Posh? Well, the taster runs out at £45 a head and it’s nothing if not ‘posh nosh’ but it’s also unpretentiously excellent, ingredient-centred and intelligently constructed, and the place has a fine, relaxing vibe. Whether it’s sauna-softening in the spa or the cathartic effect of fifty brisk lengths there’s something in the air that keeps Lido smart/ casual, with an emphasis on the casual. (Tony Benjamin)
CONTACT
LIDO OAKFIELD PLACE, CLIFTON, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 933 9530, WWW.LIDOBRISTOL.COM THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH
A fulsome harvest of treats served up in stylish comfort
most of us a delicious piece of cake can alleviate life’s many ills. Whether it’s mere grumpy tiredness or serious heartbreak that’s getting you down, here are 10 top slices of quality therapy and directions for where to find them. BOSTON TEA PARTY Four Bristol branches & Kingsmead Square, Bath (www. bostonteaparty.co.uk) • Raspberry and white chocolate ‘blondie’ - not a ‘brownie’, see? COFFEE@CAMDEN Claremont Terrace, Camden, Bath (www.coffeeatcamden.co.uk) • They do a Pimm’s Cupcake - honest! CORDIAL & GRACE The Mall, Clifton Village, Bristol (www.cordial-and-grace.co.uk) • Take your embroidery and stitch yourself a chocolate raspberry brownie. COX & BALONEY Cheltenham Rd, Bristol, BS6 (www.coxandbaloney.com) • Anything Noreen bakes has the taste of an English summer afternoon. THE CUPCAKERY Wellsway, Bath, BA2 (www. the-cupcakery.com) • Sherbet Lemon in the ‘decadent’ range is an ultimate taste sensation. THE GOOD EARTH Priory Rd, Wells, BA5 • Go for the Apricot Slice in this veggie/ vegan heaven. HARVEY NICHOLS Quakers Friars, Bristol (www.harveynichols.com) • Luxury afternoon tea featuring a heap of mini delights on a proper cake-stand. LAHLOO PANTRY Kings Rd, Bristol, BS8 (www.lahloopantry.co.uk) • Pumpkin meringues? Oh yes - just try one. SOCIETY CAFE Kingsmead Square, Bath (www.society-cafe.com) • How does a jumbo bourbon biscuit sound? Or custard creams… TART The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, Bristol, BS7 (www. lovelytart. com) • Their chocolate tart made this place a teatime mecca.
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EATINGOUTWEST
RESTAURANT PROFILE
MAAZA NAMASKAR LOUNGE ADDRESS: WELSH BACK, BRISTOL BS1 4RR TEL: 0117 929 8276 WEB: WWW.NAMASKARLOUNGE.COM
M
aaza Namaskar Lounge is delivering a contemporary take on classic Indian cuisine. The team behind this elegant Harbourside restaurant and bar are passionate about the experience that they offer, and want to take customers on an inspirational journey, providing a perfect environment in which to relax, entertain or simply escape the outside world. It’s the food of Mumbai, representing the whole of India, which inspires the menu. From ingredients and recipes fine-tuned over generations to the mesmerising sight of skilled Indian masterchefs working their magic, this Indian food is modern, fresh and simply beautiful. The day-long menu has something for all tastes, with tandoori and
BBQ mains alongside traditional and house selections. And they’ll happily adjust dishes to suit children or more conservative pallets. Light lunches (served with coriander rice or chilli fries and a drink) start at £4.95, while the ‘Ati Uttam’ menu brings a selection of their very best dishes served with rice, naan and a drink at £11.95 for two courses. Downstairs, this Harbourside bar is a great place to meet friends and enjoy unique cocktails, devised specially to complement the food. Ro Santus and Dutch Stamrood also run legendary cocktail masterclasses - a great way to learn the art of the mixologist, and an original gift, too. Maaza Namaskar Lounge is available to hire for parties and events, whether you’re a small group looking for a private alcove or would like to book the whole venue.
CHEF PROFILE
ARJUN KHANAL ➻ Maaza Namaskar restaurant and cocktail
lounge have welcomed talented chef and master of fine Indian dining, Arjun Khanal. Arjun joins them along with his ‘second chef’, Mukesh Bartaula, who hails from Nepal. Together they comprise two of the best Indian chefs to have landed in Bristol for many years. Arjun has honed his craft over 25 years, working in Mumbai, Dubai and London. With a vast knowledge of fine cuisine from all regions of India, he’s constantly developing and creating new dishes. Arjun’s influences come not just from India, but from around the world, and he regularly creates dishes that illustrate his international style. Healthy eating is big on Maaza Namaskar’s agenda, with fresh, seasonal and local ingredients alongside brown basmati rice and wholemeal pitta options. The chefs will even tailor a dish to suit individual tastes. Look out for new cookery classes next year, with Arjun and some renowned guest chefs.
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EATINGOUTWEST
RECIPE
of the month
LAMB SHANK IN KHADA MASALA A slow-cooked whole lamb shank in a rich whole-spice gravy.
INGREDIENTS SERVES 1
1 lamb shank 1 tblsp whole cumin ● 1 tbsp whole coriander ● 10g cinnamon stick ● 10g cardamom ● 50g fresh garlic & ginger paste ● 1 tbsp chilli powder ● 1 tbsp turmeric ● 1 tbsp garam masala ● 4 onions, chopped ● 1 tin chopped tomatoes ● 1 cup of water ● salt to taste ● fresh coriander to garnish ● oil for frying ● ●
TO MAKE Season lamb shank and seal meat in a hot pan until brown, leave to rest. Heat a small amount of oil in a pan and add the whole cumin and coriander and cook for 2 mins. Add the chopped onions and cook to caramelise. Add the garlic and ginger pastes, the whole cinnamon and cardamom, cumin and coriander, stirring continuously. Add the chilli powder, turmeric and garam masala and cook for 2 mins. Add the chopped tomatoes and allow to cook for a few mins. Add the lamb shank, reduce to a low heat, add water and place a lid on top. Leave on low heat until cooked about 2 hrs. Season to taste, garnish with the coriander and serve with rice or fried potatoes.
RECOMMENDED BATSMAN COCKTAIL 40ml Hendrick’s gin 12.5ml Darjeeling tea gomme (see below) 12.5ml gomme 20 leaves fresh mint 50ml hot water ginger beer to top up
➻ To make the gomme,
mix equal quantities of sugar and hot water, shake and allow to cool. Darjeeling tea gomme is the same process - just add a Darjeeling teabag. Add the gin and Darjeeling tea gomme to a teapot. Add the plain gomme and the mint leaves and hot water, and allow to steep for 2 mins. Pour into the teacup to serve and top up with the ginger beer to taste. FOLIO/NOV 2012 63
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EATINGOUTWEST
OLD
PUB of the month
FRIENDS It may be up there as Bath’s favourite gastropub, says Melissa Blease, but that doesn’t mean the Marlborough Tavern are resting on their laurels
T
he EOW team have, over the years, praised the Marlborough Tavern at every opportunity. It is, after all, probably Bath’s best-loved gastropub: the ultimate stylish, friendly local, which happens to serve exceedingly fab,
award-winning food in exceedingly fab, very welcoming surroundings. But as with all familiar old friends, it’s good to be reminded, every now and then, of your shared history. Marlborough Tavern head honchos Joe Cussens and Justin Sleath bought the historic pub (boasting a history that dates back to the 18th century) in 2006, when newer members of the Joe/Justin family (that’ll be Chequers and the Hare and Hounds, then) weren’t even a twinkle in their daddies’ eyes. “When we took the Tav over, it was a grubby, failing business, but it clearly had huge potential,” Joe recalls. “Just the right amount of space, and a great aspect on the edge of the golf course in a lovely part of town. Our aim was to open a pub that would do great food, with friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere - and those principles have remained at the heart of what we try to do. In the early days, Justin and I worked hard to give the MT its personality at a time when the whole gastropub concept was still relatively new, and we were delighted when our customers
welcomed us with open arms. But we’ve never, ever allowed ourselves to become complacent. We’re always striving to improve what we offer.” Joe readily admits, however, that although he and Justin expected the pub to offer more of a traditional ‘wet’ appeal to those in search of liquid refreshment, it’s the food that’s earned the team the greatest acclaim - to quote one of our own critics, ‘It’s all of the faultless modern British variety - plenty of twists on classic themes, made from ingredients that boast a perfect pedigree.” But now, more than ever before, there’s no space for laurel-resting, no matter how illustrious a reputation. “Like all businesses that have survived and prospered over the past few years, we’ve had to evolve in line with what our customers want,” says Joe. “We make sure we maintain appeal to both diners and those who just want to kick back at the bar in a friendly hostelry. It’s a tricky balance to maintain, but I like to think we manage it.” And manage it they most certainly do - it’s proved to be a winning combination, offering broad, enduring appeal. Joe and Justin’s ways of constantly offering plenty of reasons to return for yet another night spent chilling out at one of those chunky, funky tables ensure that this friendly local never gets lacklustre. Regular themed evenings such as Steak, Mussels, Game or Fish and Chip Nights make supper at the Tav an affordable midweek treat, and there’s always, always a lively buzz going on both at the bar and behind it - little wonder, then, that Joe and Justin’s efforts have garnered local and national acclaim. But when all is said and done, it’s the downhome, properly warm welcome that lies at the heart of the MT’s well-deserved success, and long may one of our favourite old friends continue to thrive.
CONTACT
THE MARLBOROUGH TAVERN 35 MARLBOROUGH BUILDINGS, BATH. FFI: 01225 423731, WWW.MARLBOROUGH-TAVERN.COM
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EATINGOUTWEST
Shop
USE YOUR
LOAF C
of the month
Tony Benjamin visits Mark’s Bread, the one man and his bike turned craft bakery and cafe
omputer-systems whiz Mark Newman had always been impressed by the village bakeries he found on holidays in rural France. Why, he wondered, did we Brits not have such bakeries at the heart of our communities? When he was given a place on a bread-baking course as a birthday present, Mark decided that he’d fill that gap himself, baking loaves to order and delivering them by bicycle around his Southville ’hood. Using organic flour from Shipton Mill, sea salt and tap water, he began to conjure up the kind of bread he wanted people to have. Good bread is a fine thing, and by late 2009 demand for Mark’s loaves has outgrown his home kitchen to take him into North Street premises alongside the similarly independent and locally sourced Bristol Beer Factory brewery. Given his single-minded mission, it was hardly surprising that Mark put the baking first, with a small table and a few shelves the
only concession to a ‘shop’. The result was a place where the customer finds themselves in the middle of the bread making, watching as dough is pounded on the big table and another piping hot rack of glorious-looking loaves comes
sliding out of the ovens. Fast-forward 36 months and the weekly Saturday-morning queue stretching out of the door says it all - Mark’s Bread is very much at the heart of its community, with locals happy to wait for the next batch of butter-rich croissants, crispy baguettes or sumptuous sourdough. Some familiar faces are even coming from much further afield. “We have regular customers coming from Cornwall, Ireland and Scotland,” says Mark’s partner Maria. “They visit their kids in Bristol and take our bread back with them. Others cycle over from Easton and Bishopston every week to fill their freezer.” Since mid-October those freewheeling customers have been able to take a refreshing break in the Mark’s Bread Cafe, a long-awaited development next door offering sandwiches, soups, quiches and cakes, all freshly prepared by chef Izzy using much of Mark’s finest stuff. “We want it to feel like an extension of the bakery, offering simple, top-quality stuff from great suppliers,” says Maria. “It’s great that people can see where much of it’s being made, too.” She has high hopes of Izzy, whose background as a French patissier raises all kinds of possibilities. “He makes the best handmade puff pastry I’ve ever seen! I’m sure that’ll turn out to be handy…” It’s all been another great leap forward for a splendidly independent business that’s grown in just three years from one man and his bike to a thriving concern employing 10 artisan bakers working flat out to supply between 15 and 20 restaurants and cafes, as well as the shop and cafe, every day. The shop opens at 8.30am and closes when they sell out - which can be as early as 2.30pm on a Saturday - while the cafe stays open until the evening interval at the Brewery Theatre upstairs. Best of all, it proves Mark Newman right - a community needs good bread at its heart, and he was the man for the job.
CONTACT
MARK’S BREAD: BAKERY & CAFE 291 NORTH ST, BRISTOL, BS3. FFI: 07910 979384, WWW.MARKSBREAD.CO.UK
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Beautifully marbled local steaks dry-aged
here
on
the
bone
Selection of continental & English sausages made using local, free range pork Pork pies by Mark’s Bread Aw a r d w i n n i n g S a n d r i d g e Farmhouse Dry Cure Bacon
250 North Street Bedminster Bristol 0117 966 3593
Christmas Menu 2012 £29 per person for 3 courses Starters/Antipasti Homemade Chicken Liver Pate with Chutney and Toasted Ciabatta Mushrooms, Dolcelatte and Rocket Salad Bruschetta Home Cured Salmon, Crushed Potatoes and Horseradish Roasted parsnip Soup with Truffle Oil Main courses Turkey Wrapped in Ham with Shallot and Sage Stuffing Ravioli of Goats cheese & caramelised red onion in creamy walnut sauce Seafood risotto Slow Roast Pork belly with Port reduction jus & spiced apple sauce Dolci Traditional Christmas pudding with Whisky Cream Rich Chocolate Terrine and Berry Sauce Mango and Blueberry Sorbet Italian Panettone bread & butter pudding with Bailey’s cream sauce Menu available from November 19th Monday to Friday lunch and dinner Offers available for lunch and early evening dining Please contact Heidi or Stéphane if you wish to discuss your party. Contact 0117 973 4499 or info@proseccoclifton.com
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EATINGOUTWEST
(News)
WHAT'S COOKING
CREDIT: ALISON THOMAS
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…
Stables courtyard of Ashton Court Mansion, Bristol, 10.30am–2.30pm, 3rd Sun of month. Ffi: www.ashtoncourtestate.co.uk BATH FARMERS MARKET Green Park Station, Bath, 9am-1.30pm, every Sat. Ffi: www.bathfarmersmarket.co.uk HARBOURSIDE MARKET No.1 Harbourside, Canons Rd, Bristol, 11am-4pm, every Sat & Sun. Ffi: www.no1harbourside.co.uk LONG ASHTON VILLAGE MARKET Long Ashton Community Centre, Keedwell Hill, Long Ashton, Bristol, 9.30am-1pm, first Sat of month. Ffi: www.longashtonvillagemarket.co.uk ASHTON COURT PRODUCERS MARKET
WHITELADIES ROAD FARMERS & FAIR TRADING MARKET Outside auction rooms on corner
B
ath fans of the pouting temptress of the culinary arts can meet and greet Nigella Lawson when she visits Hall and Woodhouse in Old King Street on Tue 13 Nov. The domestic goddess will be in town courtesy of the wonderful Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights to publicise Nigellissima, her collection of Italian-inspired recipes, with signed copies available at a specially reduced price. Bath’s resident domestic goddesses and yummy mummies are welcome at a new cafe that understands the pressures of parenting. Rhubarb (www.rhubarb.me.uk) in Grove St aim to be a place ‘where adults are allowed to be adults while helping busy parents juggle family life’. As well as breakfast, lunch and tea menus, Rhubarb offer a variety of cosseting at ‘upstairs@Rhubarb’ and even a ‘leave your
shopping and fetch it later’ service for the seriously overburdened. Following the success of their Graze ‘bar and chophouse’ developments in Bristol and Cirencester, Bath Ales have announced a bigger version in the new development at Bath Spa station. And not just a bit bigger - the new Graze will be twice the size of any of Bath Ales other 10 pubs and will even have its own microbrewery producing specialist craft beers. Bristol-based South American diner chain Las Iguanas have given their Whiteladies Road premises a bit of a refurb to celebrate their new ‘development dish’ scheme, giving customers a chance to choose from a special chef’s menu of new ideas for meals and cocktails, and give feedback afterwards. Dubbed ‘Clifton Cocina’, the place welcomes customers interested in being guinea pigs for the new dishes (though we should point out that, in Peru, guinea pigs are considered a delicacy).
of Whiteladies Rd & Apsley Rd, Clifton, Bristol, 8.30am-2pm, 1st & 3rd Sat of month. Ffi: www.sustainableredland.org.uk WESTON-SUPER-MARE FARMERS MARKET High St, Weston-super-Mare, 9am-12.30pm, 2nd Sat of month. KEYNSHAM FARMERS MARKET Ashton Way car park, Keynsham, Bristol, 9am-1pm, 2nd Sat of month. Ffi: www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk WESTBURY-ON-TRYM MARKET Medical Centre car park, Westbury Hill, Bristol, 9am–1pm, 4th Sat of month. TOBACCO FACTORY MARKET Raleigh Rd, Southville, Bristol, 10am-2.30pm, every Sun. Ffi: www.tobaccofactory.com SLOW FOOD MARKET Corn St, Bristol, 10am-3pm, 1st Sun of month. Ffi: www.stnicholasmarketbristol.co.uk BRISTOL FARMERS MARKET Corn St, Bristol, 9.30am–2.30pm, every Weds. Ffi: www.stnicholasmarketbristol.co.uk
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FASHION JEWELLERY BEAUTY SHOPPING FASHION JEWELLERY BEAUTY SHOPPING
➻ LIFESTYLE
INDIE POP-UP SHOP, BEAUTIFUL SKIN, CUTTING-EDGE FASHION AND MORE... POP-UP DESIGN SHOP
HOW’S THAT! ➻
After two years as a successful online venture, Howkapow. com are temporarily setting up shop in Bristol’s Quakers Friars, too. From now until Sat 8 Dec, the gorgeous design emporium known for their ‘stand-out smile-inducing style’ will open their physical doors for the very first time, bringing their unique blend of colourful homeware, kitchenware, jewellery, prints and gifts to the South West’s premier shopping destination. Set up in 2010 by young husband-and-wife team Cat (an ex-journalist and Central Saint Martins graduate) and Rog How (a producer for the BBC), Howkapow arose from their shared desire to nurture Britain’s unsung design talent, showcasing some of the most innovative work out there for all to see. “We took great satisfaction in slogging it out together at artist markets in Melbourne and London,” says Cat, “and met such wonderful and exceptionally talented people along the way. But we found that many of these people lacked either the marketing experience or commercial support they need to reach a wider audience. When we realised our own adventures had placed us in a unique position to provide that support, we jumped at the opportunity - and Howkapow was born.” Cat and Rog met while studying at Bristol University in 2001, and returned to their “spiritual home” of Bristol to set up Howkapow in 2010. Howkapow now have thousands of customers around the world and have been featured in everything from The Guardian to Elle Decor. They sell quirky products from independent designers, illustrators and design companies from all over, but also place great importance on sourcing many of their designers from Bristol, Bath and the South West. HOWKAPOW’S POP-UP SHOP 25 OCT-8 DEC, OPEN DAILY, QUAKERS FRIARS, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.HOWKAPOW.COM
BEAUTY
BETWEEN THE LINES
➻ Experienced dermatologist
Natalya Quandt is passionate about helping clients to achieve flawlesslooking skin. “By using the correct professional products for the right skin type,” says Natalya, who works with 29 product lines from leading cosmeceutical company HL Laboratories, “we can diminish wrinkles and sagging, and remove existing problems such as acne, scarring, hyperpigmentation and rosacea. By using the best of science and nature, the ageing process can not only be slowed down, but can be reversed.” Eyelight, a unique solution for the delicate eye area, comprises an organic natural peel and a homecare kit. “The synergy of both supporting skincare regimes provides impressive, immediate results, with reduced
express lines and diminished wrinkles.” Also for the eye area, Boldcare utilises hexopeptides for a long-lasting ‘no needle’ wrinklerelease effect. “Outstanding results are cumulative over time, and can be seen after only one month of daily application, with a wrinkle-depth reduction of approximately 30 per cent.” If you’re a beautician or skincare professional who’d like training on how to treat problem skin using their products, contact Kazi (07867 127272) or Natalya (07557 237480). CLIFTON FOREVER YOUNG FFI: 0117 973 5559, WWW.CLIFTONFOREVERYOUNG.COM (REGULAR CLIENTS: CLIFTON FOREVER YOUNG HAVE RELOCATED - BUT JUST CALL TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT AS USUAL)
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LIFESTYLE
FESTIVE CD
SWEET DREAMS ➻
ON THE ROAD
SHARE THE LOVE ➻ Do you have empty seats in your car
when you’re going on regular journeys such as going to work? Or taking the kids to school every day? Or going to sports? If the answer is yes, then it’s probably time to find your Car Share match and start saving money! If you could share those trips with someone in your area who is going the same way, just think of some of the benefits you could experience… First of all, cheaper motoring, by sharing the fuel costs. Second, the opportunity to make new friends and enjoy sociable chats. And third, helping to reduce congestion on the roads. Why not give it a go and see if anyone is travelling your way? You can sign up for free at the local travel information website www.
travelwest.info, where you can log on, register your journey and find your match. Try the savings calculator and see how much money you could save - the average car-sharer saves about £1,000 a year! And with Christmas coming up, why not try Park & Ride this year? It’s a great choice for Christmas shopping - avoiding the hassle of taking your car into the centre, sitting in traffic queues and paying car-parking costs. The buses are direct and more frequent than usual buses, and they use dedicated bus lanes, resulting in a fast and environmentally friendly service to beat the traffic queues. Again, just visit www.travelwest.info to find your nearest Park & Ride site.
The ‘Super-Dream’ of Bath music-man Grenville Jones, with its £20,000 target, is to give the 30 young people at the Mencap Super Saturday Club the holiday weekend of a lifetime. Grenville’s SuperDream has already hit the halfway mark, and five of his fabulous Bath-based choirs have contributed to a CD of 22 seasonal carols to support the appeal. Christmas-Dream features the Last Choir Standing Bath Male Choir, Bath Chorus mixed choir, Welcome Choir, children’s Choirskool group, and small mixed-group ChoirONE, with a guest appearance by rising star Tom Corbishley.
CHRISTMAS-DREAM CD £10, 2 COPIES £15, FROM THE SILVER SHOP, UNION PASSAGE, BATH OR VIA WWW.GRENVILLEJONES.BIZ. SUPER-DREAM FFI: WWW.SUPERDREAM.ORG.UK
CAR SHARE / PARK & RIDE FFI: WWW.TRAVELWEST.INFO
DESIGNER FASHION
BOUTIQUE STYLE ➻ Established for more than two decades now, the Ritz Boutique in Clifton Village has a reputation for being ahead of the game when it comes to cutting-edge fashion. It really is a treat browsing their casual and evening wear, with designer collections for weddings and special occasions from Milan, Paris and London. You’ll find everything here from Heymann, Linea Raffaelli, Bleu Blanc Rouge and James Lakeland, to Legatte, Bernshaw, NYDJ (Tummy Tuck Jeans) and Joseph Ribkoff. Ritz pride themselves on their expertise and quality of service: “We offer diversity, imagination and flair. If you enjoy attention to detail, relish the thought of finding something highly exclusive, and want to look and feel a million dollars, then you simply must come in and see for yourself!” RITZ BOUTIQUE 29 THE MALL, CLIFTON VILLAGE, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 973 0095, WWW.RITZ-BOUTIQUE.CO.UK
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FOLIO ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
Buy the best of
BRISTOL THIS CHRISTMAS Help is at hand from Visit Bristol, with their list of top five festive gifts unique to the city
I
t comes but once a year and is the perfect opportunity to treat family and friends to something special. Yes, Christmas is fast approaching, and finding the perfect present needs some careful planning and inspiration…
ON A BUDGET
➻ Bristol’s Tourist Information Centre in the
Harbourside is a treasure-trove of gifts for all age groups, with stocking filler-friendly prices starting at just 55p for Bristol-themed pencils. Other gems include fun books on the history of the city, including its infamous pirating past, plus the popular ‘I heart Bristol’ fine bone china mugs made by the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, available at £8.99.
A piece of Bristol Blue Glass is the ideal gift for friends outside the city
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP AT TOP ATTRACTIONS
➻ Bristol is home to award-winning attractions
Book a balloon ride as a treat to treasure
including Brunel’s ss Great Britain, interactive science centre At-Bristol, Bristol Aquarium and Bristol Zoo Gardens, plus there are a great number of rural attractions on the city’s doorstep such as Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm and Westonbirt, the National Arboretum. Treat loved ones to a gift that can be enjoyed throughout the whole of 2013 with annual membership to the city’s leading attractions. Annual membership at At-Bristol starts at £25 for a child or £38 for an adult (www.at-bristol.org.uk), Bristol Aquarium starts at £26.25 for a child or £37.50 for an adult (www.bristolaquarium.co.uk), and Westonbirt starts at £31.50 for an adult and children go free with a member (www.fowa.org.uk).
UNIQUE BRISTOL MEMORABILIA
➻ Bristol Blue Glass is unique to the city and has been free blown in Bristol since the 18th century. From jewellery and small animal figurines to goblets and plates, Bristol Blue Glass is one of the city’s most famous and best-loved products, and makes a perfect souvenir for friends and relatives outside Bristol. It’s available from the Bristol Blue Glass Factory in Brislington (www.bristol-glass.co.uk) and Bristol Blue Glass South West (www.bristolblueglass.com) in Bedminster, and prices start from £8.50. BLOW THE BUDGET
➻ For the ultimate gift to impress this Christmas, treat them to a breathtaking hot air balloon ride over Bristol and the surrounding countryside with Bristol Balloons (www. bristolballoons.co.uk) or Bailey Balloons (www. baileyballoons.co.uk). Bristol Balloons took their 10,000th flight in the city this year, and gift vouchers start from £85 per person, which includes a celebratory glass of Champagne. FFI FOR A FULL LIST OF CHRISTMAS ACTIVITY IN BRISTOL, LOG ON TO WWW.VISITBRISTOL.CO.UK. VISITORS CAN ALSO CONTACT BRISTOL’S TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE ON 0906 711 2191 (CALL CHARGED AT 50P PER MINUTE PLUS NETWORK EXTRAS) OR EMAIL TICHARBOURSIDE@DESTINATIONBRISTOL.CO.UK
FOR ANIMAL LOVERS
➻ If a friend or relative has a particular
Adopt one of 12 animals at Bristol Zoo including Jasmina the red panda!
passion for Kamal the Asiatic Lion at Bristol Zoo Gardens, or Kukena, the gorgeous baby western lowland gorilla, the zoo’s animal adoption makes a special gift for all ages. There are 12 animals to choose from, including Jasmina the red panda and Biggie the giant tortoise, and adoption packs include two tickets to the zoo, a cuddly toy, an adoption certificate, a copy of Zoo Matters magazine, the adopter’s name displayed at the exhibit and a fact-file about the adopted animal (www.bristolzoo.org.uk).
Membership to Westonbirt or At-Bristol is the gift that keeps on giving all year round!
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Email ~ info@boutique33.co.uk Tel ~ 01179 739570 33 Regent St, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4HR.
BOUTIQUE 33 74 FOLIO/NOVEMBER 2012
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LIFESTYLE
FASHION
LIGHTEN up! Suzanne Savill injects some colour and fun into your wintry wardrobe
S
taying warm doesn’t have to mean wearing heavy coats and dark colours that are as dull as rain-leaden skies. Often, easily removable scarves, ear muffs and a thick cardigan are a more practical and affordable option than a thick coat, which you inevitably end up having to carry around to avoid sweltering whenever you go into a shop, or get into a car or bus. And keeping out the cold can also be a way of brightening up a dreary day if you opt for colourful clothes and accessories, or items with a touch of fun.
WINTER WARMTH
in winter shades. This cream cableknit cardigan and burgundy-coloured dress show that you don’t have to resort to the inevitable heavy black coat to stay snug in seasonal colours. Vintage cable cardigan £99, Birch Tier dress £139, Antler pendant £29, Hobbs
PICK UP A PENGUIN
KEEP COSY AND CHIC in these ear muffs. Not only are they a great way of staying warm, but they can also help you to avoid ‘hat hair’ that unfortunate situation whereby you remove your winter headgear and discover that your carefully coiffed locks have been transformed into something resembling a bird’s nest. Faux fur adjustable earmuffs, animal print £15, black £15, John Lewis
and have some fun on even the chilliest of days. The penguin design on the front of this sweater is so jolly that it almost makes the drop in temperature worthwhile. Penguin sweater £32, Next
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FASHION LIFESTYLE SNUGGLE UP IN STYLE in this chunky pink snood. It’ll keep draughts at bay while providing a splash of rosy colour to enliven any winter outfit. Chunky snood £5, Primark
GO GET ’EM, TIGER in this wool wrap. Growl at the icy elements and predictable plain scarves. Metaphorically, of course. Tiger wool wrap £89, Plumo
GLITZY GLAMOUR
is guaranteed when you slip on this jumper with embellished sleeves. If you want to bring a bit of sparkle to a wintry evening, team it with a matching pair of dark foil jeans. Jumper with sequined sleeves £25 and dark foil jeans £11, Primark
ART FOR ART’S SAKE
takes on a new meaning in this womenswear pencil-design sweater, complete with grades. A humorous look that might bring a smile to even the most frozen of features. Pencil and grades jumper £42, Urban Outfitters
LET THE SUN SHINE
CONTACTS
on even the gloomiest winter day, in this yellow hooded gilet. A great way to keep warm, and in a colour that’s sure to raise your spirits. Yellow hooded gilet £55, Next
FUNNY FINGERS are
guaranteed in these Meadow Mates gloves. Decorated with animal images, they’ll keep out the cold, while you keep your sense of humour. Meadow Mates decorated gloves £10, Accessorize
ACCESSORIZE BRISTOL BROADMEAD; THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY; YATE SHOPPING CENTRE & BATH: AT MONSOON, UNION ST. FFI: WWW.ACCESSORIZE.COM HOBBS BRISTOL: QUAKERS FRIARS, CABOT CIRCUS; JOHN LEWIS, THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY & BATH: MILSOM ST. FFI: WWW.HOBBS.CO.UK JOHN LEWIS THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM NEXT BRISTOL THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY; CABOT CIRCUS; EASTGATE SHOPPING CENTRE; IMPERIAL PARK; GALLAGHER RETAIL PARK & BATH: STALL ST; UNION ST. FFI: WWW.NEXT.CO.UK PLUMO FFI WWW.PLUMO.COM PRIMARK THE HORSEFAIR, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.PRIMARK.CO.UK URBAN OUTFITTERS CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL & SOUTHGATE PLACE, BATH. FFI: WWW.URBANOUTFITTERS.CO.UK
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iBake large cakes or cupcakes cake for any occasions • birthdays • christenings • weddings • easter • christmas • novelty cakes
call Nicky to discuss your requirements on
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SHOPPING LIFESTYLE
SHOP OF THE
MONTH
“Our staff completely understand the challenges of having small children”
Melissa Blease finds the true spirit of Christmas at Bath toyshop My Small World
T
oys for little people are very big business, particularly in the run-up to Christmas, when a plethora of marketing campaigns and internet deals conspire to dominate the imaginations of the little people in your life. But not all toy-shopping experiences are as bland and corporate as those TV adverts may suggest - and one Bath-based toyshop in particular puts the magic back into those childhood dreams.
Everything in the shop is out on display for children to play with and explore
“My Small World has been at the vanguard of the cool, funky kids market in the UK for nearly eight years,” says the shop’s owner, Dawn Burden, who made use of her background as an actor and set designer to create the MSW ‘experience’ - “a warm and vibrant gem of a toy store”. Longterm fans may remember when Dawn’s shop first opened its doors in the Podium Shopping Centre (now a massive Waitrose redevelopment). But having been in the lovely, lively Little SouthGate independent arcade for a few years now, the shop has found a very comfortable new home, and also hosts a hugely successful website that ships toys across the UK. There’s an abundance of clubs and activities on the go, January to September, including My Small Gardener, My Small Scribble (a drop-in art club) and two vibrant book clubs hosting regular children’s author and illustrator events, with discounts to related books via the website. “My favourite event,” says Dawn, “is probably Champagne and Tissues - a place for parents who’ve dropped their children off at school for the very first time to come and enjoy a glass of champagne and, if necessary, a bundle of tissues to mop up the tears!” Despite the shop’s busy schedule, shopping for toys is really what MSW is all about. “Everything we sell is out on display for children to explore and investigate,” says
Dawn. “Meanwhile, parents can relax and see exactly which toys the children love playing with. Our staff completely understand the challenges of having small children, and our aim was always to make families feel at home and unhurried. I thank my stars every day that I’ve managed to find such a great team who take pleasure in cuddling babies, rocking prams, replacing lost socks and diverting tantrums, and who know our toys inside out - we can all help you find exactly what’s right for you, even while you’re juggling a teething toddler!” Dawn has recently taken delivery of brand-new train sets and Play Worlds by French company Janod. “It’s about time the wooden railway was given a new lease of life, and we think these guys do just that! We’re also proud of our shiny Spherovelos: revolutionary ride-ons for one-year-olds that help to speed up coordination and balance, as well as looking super cool. Our bestseller so far, though, is Bernie’s Number Bus: a chunky wooden bus with six passengers, for ages one-plus - I imagine we’ll be sold out well before Christmas!” Sold out, perhaps - but without any of the hard sell. MY SMALL WORLD 18 LITTLE SOUTHGATE, BATH. FFI: 01225 938338, WWW.MYSMALLWORLD.CO.UK
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PROFILE
CLIFTON ROCKS
BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE JEWELLERY FROM LOCAL AND NATIONAL DESIGNERS
I
f you haven’t paid a visit to Clifton Rocks yet - why not? It’s stocked full of beautiful handmade jewellery from local and national designers and has an onsite workshop for commissions, repairs and alterations. There’s still time to get your commission orders completed in time for Christmas. So if you have an idea for a gift for a loved one, just pop into the shop to discuss it with one of the jewellers. Your ideas can be developed and then handcrafted in to something totally unique. Clifton Rocks will be holding a one-off Christmas shopping evening on Thur 6 December from 5-8pm. You’re invited to come along for a glass of wine while you shop for the perfect Christmas gifts. Prices start from £10, so you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone.
CLIFTON ROCKS 100 QUEENS ROAD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL BS8 1NF TEL: 0117 973 1342 WEB: WWW.CLIFTONROCKS.CO.UK
ANGEL WINGS NECKLACE, 18-CARAT GOLD-PLATED SILVER, £139
Advanced Professional Aesthetics & Skin Clinic
Special offer
2 facials for the price of 1! £45 only!
Plus 20% off an additional treatment of your choice (Treatment consists of two advanced professional facials, plus a natural peel and a full skin assessment)
Moroccanoil stockists products are used in the Salon
Telephone 0117 973 5559 www.cliftonforeveryoung.com
6 Rockleaze Rd, Sneyd Park, Bristol BS9 1NF Tel: 0117 9682663 www.carlohairandbeauty.co.uk FOLIO/NOVEMBER 2012 79
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BEAUTY LIFESTYLE LEFT - Now sporting a glossy, loosely curled bob BELOW - Hannah before her transformation BOTTOM - Salon owner Padge and new stylist Ashley
SHINE
HAIR SALON Hannah Chapman revamps her grown-out bob with subtle highlights and a clever cut
T
ucked down an unassuming side street, Shine Hair Salon is a gem in the heart of Bristol. Since opening five years ago, the salon has enjoyed steady footfall through its doors and a growing list of loyal clients. The talented staff are trained in house, meaning that each member of the team is kept up to date with the latest trends and technologies, and shares owner Jason Paget’s (or Padge as everybody calls him) creative vision. On arrival I was greeted by Padge and DJ, an adorable bichon, and whisked into a chair for a chat with my stylist, Ashley. I’ve been trying to grow my hair, so what had been a pretty bob with full fringe had turned into an unruly, unflattering mess. Ashley nodded along politely as I tried to mime a centre parting and loose curls. I’d wanted to try out this hairstyle since I’d seen it on Kate Winslet in The Holiday back in 2006, though it’s been made popular by the Duchess of Cambridge’s chestnut waves. Ashley suggested a scattering of caramel lights through the front to frame my face and an all-over colour to boost my natural base and add a rich gloss. The first step was the highlights, and I watched, fascinated, as Ashley carefully applied the colour and foils. Ashley wove the colour through my hair to avoid it being too blocky and
“Ashley had me at ease from the moment I arrived, and the hours sped by”
to keep the whole look natural. Once the front sections were foiled, Ashley applied the colour to the rest of my hair. We agreed to keep the highlights near to the roots minimal and the base colour as close to my natural shade as possible, to minimise regrowth. All of the colour products used were L’Oreal and they left my hair feeling glossy and nourished. After having my hair washed and rinsed, it
was back in front of the mirror for my transformation. Ashley didn’t want to take off too much length, so instead he added layers through the back of my hair to remove some of the weight and encourage my natural curl. He feathered the front, starting just above my jawline. Ashley then blowdried my hair, curling the front sections away from my face to show off my new and subtle highlights, and finished it all off with a touch of L’Oreal Mythic Oil Colour Glow. If he hadn’t have told me that he was one of the newest members of the team, I would never have guessed that Ashley had been at the salon for less than three weeks. He had me completely at ease from the moment I arrived, and the hours sped by. I love my new hair, and as I stepped outside to show off my new look for the first time, my hair, quite literally, shone.
CONTACT SHINE HAIR SALON 18 ST NICHOLAS ST, BRISTOL, BS1. FFI: 0117 929 9749, WWW.SHINEHAIRSALONS.CO.UK
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SHINE HAIR SALONS
25% DISCOUNT WITH NEW STYLISTS. Nina Romeu (EGO) Ashley Barry-Symonds (DR SWEDE HAIRDRESSING) Trudi Williams (BOJOBROWNS)
Quote Folio when booking. Offer valid through to 2013 (Not applicable in December 2012).
WE CARE • WE LISTEN • WE ADVISE MON Appointment Only TUES 10am-5.30pm WEDS 12.15pm-7pm THURS 10am-6.15pm FRI 10am-8pm SAT 9am-5.15pm
18 St Nicholas Street | Bristol | BS1 1UB | 0117 929 9749 www.shinehairsalons.co.uk p81.indd 1
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BEAUTY LIFESTYLE LEFT - Ta dah! Ellie as she looked after her IPL treatment now red vein free! BELOW - Ellie make-up free and ready to try out her treatment
FRONTLINESTYLE Ellie Pipe is amazed by the skin rejuvenation treatment at this serene Bath salon
I
’ve never been blessed with what you’d call a good complexion. For years, I’ve stressed over the red veins, the blemishes, the spots, the spot scars… and it was around the time that the small wrinkles turned up to join in the party that I all but gave up. I’d heard of professional salon skin treatments, of course, but they were the domain of celebrity A-listers and wannabes, right? Well, as it transpires, not necessarily. A conversation with Frances, the owner of Frontlinestyle, opened my eyes. Frontlinestyle offer a non-evasive skinrejuvenation treatment that apparently achieves results. I can’t pretend that I wasn’t sceptical, but what did I have to lose? And so it was that I found myself booked in for a patch test the following week, in preparation for the Ellipse IPL Skin Rejuvenation treatment. The Frontlinestyle building is somewhat tardis-like (a tardis of the highest specification, that is): neat but unassuming from the outside, the salon stretches over three floors, cleverly planned so that the serenity of the spa and treatment rooms is far removed from the bustling hair salon below. It’s in one of these serene spa relaxation rooms that I’m now sitting, exactly two weeks after my patch test, clutching a complimentary juice and feeling a tad apprehensive about my impending experiment in the name of vanity. The lovely Fran leads me into the treatment room, a clean and private sanctuary. Fran’s frank, reassuring manner and extensive knowledge go a long way towards putting me at ease. Frontlinestyle
“My red veins have actually gone - I really am over the moon!”
are meticulously thorough in their pre-treatment care; they also boast the grand Ellipse I2PL machine, with an applicator that works deeper and safer than any other. I’m fully aware that this is meant to be an uncomfortable treatment, but right now, lying back on the comfortable bed while Fran gently cleanses my face, this feels really rather relaxing! I’m scrubbed free of foundation, and Fran notices the red veins riddled across my cheeks and exclaims with excitement - a reaction the veins have certainly never incited in me! - that she can work on them in particular. Next I get to sport some sexy goggles and lie back for the rejuvenation process to begin. The whole procedure feels bizarre but simple, starting at the side of my face Fran soothes on a layer of gel and works her way across my face, treating each area in turn with the light pulses. True to her word, Fran focuses in on my red veins - the most uncomfortable part of the treatment, but one that proves to be decidedly worth it. After all this IPL action (intense pulsed light, for the science geeks), my face throbs a bit, but it’s nothing that a little soothing aloe vera can’t help. It isn’t the prettiest sight that greets me in the mirror, that’s for sure, but my red veins have actually gone (well, greatly reduced, at least). I really am over the moon! My skin is plied with aloe vera and SPF protection and I’m good to go, with a temporarily rosy face that did, as promised, settle down within hours. A week later, as predicted, the pigmentation in my skin comes subtly to the surface and can be very gently exfoliated away. The result, to my delight, is
brighter, smoother, clearer skin - and no red veins! A one-off skin rejuvenation treatment at Frontlinestyle will set you back £225, which, to me, seems a small price to pay for the confidence to bare make-up-free skin in public - and it’s probably about what you’d save in foundation over a year or two.
CONTACT FRONTLINESTYLE 4-5 MONMOUTH ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 478478, WWW.FRONTLINESTYLE.CO.UK
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Spire Bristol Hospital are pleased to announce that we are now offering a free consultation service for Cosmetic Surgery and Weight Loss patients with a fully trained and experienced qualified nurse. Nicola will be able to answer your questions in a relaxed and friendly setting. Topics you may like to ask during your consultation include: • Standards and services of this hospital – and how we will look after you; • Choosing a surgeon appropriate to your needs; • Availability of operating dates convenient to you; • Terms and Conditions of our Inclusive Care Packages; • Flexible Finance Options; • Explanation of costs for your procedure. At Spire Bristol Hospital, you have the opportunity to have your procedure closer to home with a company who have over 25 years of experience, in our 80 bed state of the art hospital. You are welcome to bring a partner, friend or relative with you to attend this consultation. Please call 01179 80 40 80 to book your free consultation today! FOLIO/NOVEMBER 2012 83
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HEALTH LIFESTYLE
LOYALTY SCHEME ...
JUST RELAX
➻ Having been in the relaxation business for some 19 years now, and with practitioners boasting years of experience, Clifton’s Relaxation Centre definitely know their hot stones from their shiatsus. Every treatment on their tempting menu is totally holistic and always tailored to a client’s individual needs, ensuring a unique, bespoke experience. Treatments on offer include holistic massage, reflexology, Indian head massage, shiatsu, hot stone massage, Thai yoga massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, reiki and colour light therapy, to name but a few - all to be enjoyed in beautifully spacious treatment rooms on the upper floors of a homely Victorian mansion house hidden away in a quiet Clifton street. Treatments start at £30 for half an hour, but a brand-new loyalty
scheme makes regular me-time even more of an affordable treat. The Treatment Loyalty Card allows you to collect stamps each time you book a one-hour treatment, quickly resulting in free spa sessions and treatments. Meanwhile, their Come Again Soon promotion offers regular clients a 20% discount if you book your next session immediately after enjoying a treatment. What better excuse to build some regular heavenly treatments into your busy lifestyle? For last-minute offers and news, ‘like’ the Relaxation Centre on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ TheRelaxationCentre) or follow them on Twitter (@RelaxCentre). THE RELAXATION CENTRE ALL SAINTS RD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 970 6616, WWW.RELAXATIONCENTRE.CO.UK
FITNESS RETREAT
INSPIRED ➻ A new women’s health and fitness retreat has opened at Croydon
Hall in Somerset, a beautiful country mansion in Exmoor National Park, with far-reaching views over the rolling Quantock Hills. Get Fit, Love Life offer a holistic approach to healthy living through a combination of exercise regimes, life coaching, relaxation and nutritional advice, aiming to improve the way women think and feel about keeping fit and maintaining a long-term healthy lifestyle. Courses - for all shapes, sizes, ages and levels of fitness - include a range of activities offering both mental and physical challenges, from tai chi, Pilates and Nordic walking to boxercise and belly dancing, encouraging women to try new forms of exercise both inside and outdoors. The professional fitness team are passionate about what they do, offering inspiration and encouragement every step of the way. They want every woman to leave the retreat not only feeling fit and healthy but also inspired to continue a new-found sense of wellbeing in their everyday lives. GET FIT LOVE LIFE FFI: WWW.GETFITLOVELIFE.CO.UK
SPECIAL OFFER
➻ Take the stress out of Christmas in more ways
than one: spend £100 on gift vouchers at the Relaxation Centre in December, and earn a free spa session to enjoy all to yourself!
CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY
STRESSED? ➻ The Association for Solution
Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) are turning their attention to a nationwide problem as they focus on National Stress Awareness Day on Wed 7 Nov. According to recent statistics from mental health charity Mind, 12 million adults see their GP with mental health and stress-related problems every year - and many more struggle on without seeking medical help. “It’s already known that chronic stress can affect our health adversely in many ways,” says Claire Brigg, AfSFH research officer. “What’s not so well known is that it can also lead to premature ageing and the health problems associated with getting older. Latest research suggests that age-related diseases occur at different rates in different individuals, and ‘psychological distress’ appears to be an important factor in how quickly the onset of these diseases occurs.” But the good news is that these ageing mechanisms can be reversed. Solution-focused hypnotherapy - a modern research-based combination of hypnosis and psychotherapy - can help people to manage their stress levels, promoting relaxation and helping clients to make beneficial lifestyle changes. Stephanie Betschart, a Bristol-based solutionfocused hypnotherapist practising in Clifton, Bishopston and Windmill Hill, offers a free initial consultation.
ASSOCIATION FOR SOLUTION FOCUSED HYPNOTHERAPY FFI: WWW.AFSFH.COM STEPHANIE BETSCHART FFI: 07731 784254, WWW.STEPHANIE-HYPNOTHERAPY.CO.UK
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LIFESTYLE
EDUCATION
SPOTLIGHT ON…
BACKWELL SCHOOL
Backwell head Julian Baldwin with head boy and girls
➻ It’s been an extremely successful year for
Backwell School. Ofsted judged the school and sixth form to be ‘Outstanding’, and that judgement is borne out this year, once again, with excellent A-level and Diploma results. At A-level, 20 students achieved at least three grade A* and A passes, and well over half of all
exams entered were awarded A*, A or B grades. Five students have started at Oxford and Cambridge Universities this year, and others on highly competitive courses such as medicine and law. These figures are higher than many selective schools, but Backwell is a comprehensive secondary school, serving all of its community. It provides a challenging education to youngsters of all abilities and needs, preparing them for life in this fast-changing 21st century. As well as doing well academically, students take part in a wide, exciting range of new experiences, in and out of the classroom: theatrical, musical, artistic, technical, sporting, outdoor or just plain fun! Sixth-formers enjoy the use of Backwell’s new multi-million-pound Sixth Form Centre, with classrooms, common room, dance studio and large multi-purpose 260-seat lecture theatre for performances, seminars and assemblies. “This new building is a real asset,” says head Julian Baldwin (pictured, with head boy and girls). “It provides a fantastic modern social and learning environment for our sixth-formers.” FFI WWW.BACKWELLSCHOOL.NET
CHORAL HIGH-FLIER PERFORMING ARTS
MAID OF HONOUR ➻ Songstress and former Red Maids’ pupil Georgia
Comrie has hit the right note with Oxford University. Not only did she win a place to study French and German at St Hugh’s College but was also awarded a coveted Choral award at Queen’s. The award is given to an individual student, normally for a first-class performance in examinations - but in Georgia’s case, the Grade 8 singer and flautist blew the judges away with a 10-minute choral audition in German. Georgia achieved an A* and two As in her French, German and Music A-levels, and an A in History at AS-level. She was also one of 12 girls who studied the additional and stretching Extended Project Qualification, gaining an A* for her 5,000-word essay
on Existentialism. The 19-year-old from Bristol’s Westbury Park (pictured, right, with her twin sister Ella, who also went to Red Maids’ and achieved the IB Diploma and a place at Southampton University) is a qualified RYA Dinghy Instructor, performed in the Red Maids’ Chamber Choir and was head flautist at Bristol Schools’ Philharmonia. As an Oxford University choral scholar, Georgia will sing at chapel services, perform solo works, sing in chamber groups, choruses and mixed-voice
choirs and undertake concerts, tours and recordings. FFI WWW.REDMAIDS.BRISTOL.SCH.UK (SIXTH FORM OPEN EVE, TUE 6 NOV)
NEW HEAD
OUTSTANDING! ➻ With a new headmaster and
a programme of investment, these are exciting times for Heywood Prep in Corsham, an independent prep school and nursery for pupils aged two to 11. Guy Barrett (pictured) took up the post as new head at the end of last term and spent the summer overseeing some impressive renovations and improvements to the building and facilities. “The responses to the improvements we’ve made already have been overwhelmingly positive,” says Guy. “Parents, pupils and staff have been hugely supportive and have welcomed the investment as well as the broader changes at Heywood Prep. It’s our aim to maintain the traditional elements and ethos of the school, which we know are highly valued, but to modernise the facilities and increase the opportunities that are available for our pupils.” As one of the few truly independent prep schools in the area, Heywood Prep is well placed to help parents choose the right senior school for their child. Pupils from Heywood Prep have an excellent track record in entrance and scholarship exams, and the school’s most recent inspection report, published in February, particularly praised the ‘warm, caring and stimulating environment’ in the nursery and reception classes and graded the school as ‘Outstanding’ in every category.
FFI WWW.HEYWOODPREP.COM
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LIFESTYLE
SKILLS
Adam and Tom use the shavehorses and draw-knives to create legs for rustic stools and more shave-horses
THE GOOD Anna Britten finds out how to keep it simple
LIFE
H
ave you always dreamed of making your own, green home? Or maybe the recession has made you a recent convert to the idea of simpler, sustainable living. Or maybe it wasn’t until watching Kevin McCloud’s Man Made Home that you realised that you, too, would not be complete until you were elbow-deep in biodiesel and sawdust. Either way, a switch to truly simple living is rarely that simple. You need to acquire new skills, new tools and a new way of looking at everything. Luckily, a whole new industry has blossomed to support you - and the West Country is where it’s at.
COPPICE CRAFTS
Students on day two of a stool-making workshop at Heartwood Project
If you know how to gather wood and make stuff with it, you’ll never want for a chair or spoon again. And if you’re really handy, you could even, like the great McCloud himself, make your own log cabin. Heartwood Project was set up by Adam Shadlock and Karen Walkingshaw, in conjunction with sympathetic woodland owner Jane Goodwin, to make and sell traditional wooden crafts while working to
Demonstrating pole-lathe techniques to an aspiring ‘bodger’ (wood turner)
promote the importance of sustainable woodland management for biodiversity and productivity. As part of this noble mission, they run regular coppice crafts courses for the general public in ancient woodland in Limpley Stoke near Bath. Have a go at Rustic Spoon Carving on Sat 10 Nov (£59), learn how to make a Rustic Stick Chair over the weekend of Sat 17-Sun 18 Nov (£99), or get yourself a general Introduction to Coppicing on Sat 24 Nov (£49). HEARTWOOD PROJECT WWW.HEARTWOODPROJECT.CO.UK
BIODIESEL
Biodiesel fuel is undeniably the fuel of the future, with backyard refineries setting up all over the country, partly in defence of the environment, and partly to punish traditional fuel companies for their extortionate ways. Because it’s not just green, it’s cheap, too - you can make your own for 15p-20p per litre, and it can be used in diesel machinery and vehicles without modifications. What’s more, in recognition of biodiesel fuel’s many environmental benefits, the government grants generous tax-free allowances to promote it as a greener alternative to traditional diesel. Engineer, teacher and experienced biodiesel maker Tim Moore’s one-day➻ FOLIO/NOV 2012 89
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QUINTIN LAKE PHOTOGRAPHY
SKILLS LIFESTYLE
bedded rooms available in their selfcatering cottage, which can be booked for the duration of the course.
WHO’S WHO?
EMPIRE FARM THROOP RD, TEMPLECOMBE, SOMERSET. FFI: WWW.EMPIREFARM.CO.UK
➻ Feeling inspired by M Shed’s
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Learn butchery and sausage making at Empire Farm in Somerset
courses in making biodiesel take you through the process, from used vegetable oil (or animal oil/fats, tallow and waste cooking oil) through to finished product. Held on a farm in Goathurst, Somerset, (usually on a Fri), each course costs £130 including course materials and will pay for itself within weeks. There’s one on Sat 17 Nov. BIODIESEL MADE EASY WWW.BIODIESELMADEEASY.CO.UK
BUTCHERY, CURING, SMOKING
It’s not just vegetarians who dream the self-sufficiency dream. Meat eaters, however, have a little more to learn if they’re not simply to yield to the easy option of the supermarket meat counter. Empire Farm near Wincanton offer a three-day beginners course covering the butchery of the lamb, pork and venison, from how to skin a deer to making your own chorizo. Ideal for smallholders and foodies alike, and limited to 10 people so that everybody can see what’s going on and ask questions, the course takes place in a real butchery, runs from Tue 6-Thur 8 Nov, and costs £390 plus VAT (to include tuition, notes, lunch and refreshments). Then, as all supermarket dodgers need to know how to store food, on Sat 24 Nov, for £145 plus VAT, you can learn how to cure and dry your meat with the help of charcutier and author Marc Frederic. If you fancy making a mini-break of it, the organic farm have three double/twin-
To be 100 per cent self-sufficient, you need to have a skillset that goes beyond knowing how to use a wood-burning stove and make your own pesto. You need to know how to do big, serious, actuallyquite-scary things. Open Door Renewables will teach you how to install and run your own renewable energy system - and if that sounds like too much effort, it’ll at least arm you with all the knowledge you’ll need to hire a professional to do it for you. Their Integrated Heating course (Sat 3 Nov, £65) is aimed at widening access to renewable energy systems, and covers heating system controls, thermal stores/ buffer tanks, integration of solar or wood stoves to space heating, essential safety considerations, regulations, sizing, design and practical installation considerations. Workshops, held at Dick Willows Farm and Cider Shop near Bath, include lunch. OPEN DOORS RENEWABLES WWW.OPENDOORRENEWABLES.CO.UK
A BIT OF EVERYTHING
Shift Bristol’s wildly popular Practical Sustainability Course - the first of its type in the UK - invites you to spend an entire year exploring ‘where we are, where we’re going and what we can do as individuals and communities to create positive practical solutions’ to the problems facing planet Earth, with the help of leading experts. You’ll learn practical skills around permaculture, woodland management, organic horticulture, soil and ecology, re-localisation, energy, green building (includes a three-week roundhouse build), group dynamics, creating change, facilitating community engagement and more, and there’s plenty of hands-on work at various urban and rural locations, as well as in the St Werburghs study centre. Whenever possible, activities feed into and support existing community projects. The course is now full for 2012-2013, but it’s worth getting your name on the reserve list as places do sometimes become available. SHIFT BRISTOL WWW.SHIFTBRISTOL.ORG.UK
Real & Imagined Lives exhibition? Then get more involved, and let your imagination run riot, at one of the associated talks, tours and activities being held this month. On Fri 2 Nov you’re invited to learn how archives document people’s lives across the centuries, with the help of photos, wills, letters, diaries, archival records, illustrations and maps from Bristol Record Office. Feel free to bring your own examples if you have them. It’s a free event, so no need to book - just drop in between 10am and 5pm. Clare Freestone, associate curator of photographs from the National Portrait Gallery (in partnership with whom the exhibition is being held) will explain more about Real Lives in context in her free talk at 2pm on Sat 10 Nov. Dr Guy Saunders from UWE’s department of psychology, will talk about identity composition at the same time on Sat 17 Nov namely the conventions in painting and how we address the question: ‘Who do we conceive we are?’ A creative writing workshop with local author Rachel Carter on Sat 24 Nov will have you creating a character, developing their setting, and planning your story, using the Real & Imagined Lives exhibition as a source of inspiration (£25). Finally, on Sat 1 Dec, at 11am, you can join Dr Jenny Gaschke, the museum’s fine art curator, on a tour around the exhibition to discover what assumptions can be made about anonymous people in portraits.
STEPHEN MERCHANT BY SPENCER MURPHY, 2010 @SPENCER MURPHY
M SHED
REAL & IMAGINED LIVES RUNS UNTIL 6 JAN. WWW.MSHED.ORG
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Transcendental Meditation® as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
The only meditation fully researched by top scientists, for
Clearer thinking More energy Freedom from stress
I’m a lot more confident in myself, more truly happy. Also, anxiety, stress and fear levels have fallen dramatically, so work and study are successful! James Miles
Your official Bristol Transcendental Meditation Centre patrice.gladwin1@virginmedia.com
Call to book a free Introductory Talk, or just with your questions: 0117 914 7127
I’m a lot more confident in myself, more truly happy. Also, anxiety, stress and fear levels have fallen dramatically, so work and study are successful! James Miles
www.t-m.org.uk
G ITI1N U 3 R EC g 20
R Sprin nal ur io o NOW r fo rofess Course P ing n Trai
Sick of surviving on four hours sleep? Want practical tips on how to understand your child’s sleep needs? Keen to know what you can do to help establish a regular sleep routine? Desperate for tips to cope with a child who refuses to go to bed or to settle? These issues, your own and much more! Invaluable, involving and interesting workshops for mums and dads on Sleep and a range of other topics. Run by experts who have seen it and solved it. Next session is on Friday 16th November at The Southville Centre – limited places available so book NOW at:
www.fromlittleseedsgrow.co.uk info@fromlittleseedsgrow.co.uk facebook.com/FromLittleSeedsGrow twitter.com/GrowLittleSeed Exclusive offer for Folio readers Save 15% on all workshops until the end of November. Quote FOLIO15 on booking.
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MOTORING LIFESTYLE
Motorists are 50 per cent more likely to need roadside help in winter than in summer, flat batteries being the main culprit
CHILL I
Suzanne Savill visits the RAC Supercentre to get some advice on winter motoring t’s a clear, bright midweek morning, and through the vast windows of the RAC Supercentre at Bradley Stoke you can see the traffic flowing freely along the M5 and M4 at the Almondsbury Interchange. Looking at the cars and lorries gliding past in optimum motoring conditions, it’s hard to imagine how quickly this scene can change to gridlock. But the staff at this landmark building, just off Junction 16 of the M5, know only too well how motoring conditions can change suddenly and they’re currently working with the Highways Agency to raise awareness among motorists about the importance of being prepared before driving in winter. “We’re now using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
and Google+, to get the message out to motorists, in addition to providing advice through the media, the RAC app and on our website,” says social media manager Jo Darby. And judging by the figures provided by RAC media relations manager Simon Williams, there’s a real need for motorists to change their approach to driving in the winter. “During winter 2011-2012, we had 25 per cent more calls than normal, mostly for flat batteries. This is why you’re 50 per cent more likely to need our help at home in winter than in the summer,” he says. “The worst day of the year is usually when most people return to work after Christmas what’s been described as ‘Terrible Tuesday’ mostly because of problems with batteries. On 4 January this year we had 3,000 callouts for flat batteries, compared to about 1,000 on a typical winter’s day. The most useful thing motorists can do during the Christmas and new year break is to prepare for the return to work - by putting the battery on charge if possible, or, if the driving conditions allow, taking their car for a short drive to recharge the battery instead of leaving it parked for days.” So what else should motorists pay particular attention to during the winter months? Simon’s advice is that thinking ahead is crucial. He recommends planning your journey, and checking traffic and road conditions, as well as tyres, lights, anti-freeze, windscreens and screenwash. The RAC Supercentre on the outskirts of
Bristol, is not, as many believe, the control centre for the RAC’s 1,750 patrols that’s in Birmingham. Instead, the 750 staff here are involved in roles including membership, insurance, marketing and legal services. The legal aspect of deliberately driving through floodwater is becoming an increasing issue for breakdown firms such as the RAC. “This is not a mechanical breakdown,” Simon explains, “and becomes a matter for the driver and their insurance company. Cars aren’t waterproof, and it only takes a small amount of water to get into the wrong place to cause catastrophic engine damage, which may lead to a car having to be written off.” This is echoed by Darron Burness of the AA’s Special Response Team (SORT), who warns that driving fast through floodwater could cause water to be ingested. “If you come across flood water,” says Darron, “you should only attempt to drive through if you know that it’s not too deep, and maintain a steady, slow speed to avoid creating a bow wave. Use a low gear so that the engine revs are higher - otherwise, water in the exhaust could damage the catalytic converter.” PHOTO: TONY CULLEN
FEEL THE
FURTHER INFO RAC WWW.RAC.CO.UK AA WWW.THEAA.COM
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Ideal for weddings, private parties, corporate events, club nights and festivals!
To hire our booth for your special day contact us at
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KITCHENS BATHROOMS HOME IMPROVEMENTS SHOPPING GARDENING PROPERTY
➻ HOME FRONT
GLAMOROUS LIGHTING, WINTER CURTAINS, VINTAGE FINDS AND MORE... LIGHTING
CRYSTAL GURUS ➻ Lighting is an ever more important aspect of interior design - it’s
the finishing touch that sets the style and creates the ambience. So choosing the correct lighting to give the desired style while at the same time creating mood is equally (if not more) important as choosing furnishings. Lumination, one of the South West’s largest suppliers, recognise the different lighting requirements of different spaces and stock a collection of quality lighting to create the perfect solution for each location. With a vast choice of styles and configurations, they’ve taken a keen interest in modern designer crystal and are forging themselves a leading position in the provision of contemporary lighting. “Visually impressive pieces, utilising high reflectivity of chrome combined with stunning refraction of crystal, are currently proving the most popular,” says Lumination partner Gordon Gurr. Focal-point lighting solutions include their best-selling Libra (a helical design with crystal drops), Pegasus crystal sphere (pictured) and Carina flush fitting. “All are stunning and make for visual impact suitable for both home and commercial applications.” All three use halogen lamps, enhancing the contrast and showing the crystal to best effect. Libra also offers an LED option, for lower power consumption and long lamp life. “The Lumination collection has been carefully selected not to compromise style over function, or vice versa,” says Gordon. “Style is still an important deciding factor for casual and professional designers alike, yet efficiency and functionality are a priority when making important interior design decisions.” Lumination clearly pride themselves on their ability to marry these qualities in each piece and to create stunning light solutions to any brief. And an all-new showroom on the ground floor of Gardiner Haskins in Bristol means that these lighting design specialists are now right on your doorstep.
LUMINATION GARDINER HASKINS, BROAD PLAIN, BRISTOL, BS2. FFI: 0117 922 6435, WWW.LUMINATION.CO.UK (BRANCHES IN CIRENCESTER, TAUNTON, BARNSTAPLE)
CURTAINS & BLINDS
WINTER WARMERS ➻ As fuel prices continue to rise, we’re all looking for ways to reduce our energy costs. One quick, simple solution is interlined curtains - they can really make a difference. Rooms with interlined curtains will stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and they’ll save you money, too. Windows can account for up to 25% of your heating bill. Extra glazing helps, of course, but if you can’t do this - perhaps you’re in a conservation area or a listed building interlined curtains and blinds are the answer. “Not only do interlined curtains help to retain heat,” says Jamie Mills from Fabric Mills, “they’re also effective at soundproofing, keeping your noise in and traffic noise out. They can also block out light, making them ideal for bedrooms. And interlining improves the drape and hang of curtains, to give a luxurious look
and feel to the window treatment.” Interlining is a soft, fleecy-type fabric that’s sewn between the main fabric and the lining of curtains, blinds, drapes and window treatments. It’s available in different fabrics and textures some natural and some manmade. Fabric Mills offer three weights of interlining from stock: 200g, 260g and 400g (also known as ‘bump’). Your chosen weight will depend on the need and look, and Fabric Mills can advise on the best choice. Interlinings can add considerable weight to the curtains, so you’ll need to ensure that your curtain pole or track is sturdy enough and that the wall fixings are adequate. FABRIC MILLS LONDON RD, BATH. FFI: 01225 471167, WWW.FABRICMILLS.CO.UK (PLUS BRANCHES IN MONMOUTH & CIRENCESTER)
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Q
Int an
One of the rooms at the Queensberry Hotel in Bath, designed by Jane Clayton Interior Design, wallpapered and painted by R&B Interiors
HOMEFRONT
TECHNOLOGY PAINTING & DECORATING
WONDER WALLS ➻ R&B Interiors is a Bath-based painting and
decorating business run by proprietor Rebecca Bragg. The firm was founded by Rebecca’s father, Eric Bragg, who built a loyal following with his dedication to providing outstanding client service for more than 45 years. With an emphasis on maximising client satisfaction, R&B interiors provide a traditional decorating service, including repairs to woodwork and masonry, with quality finishes in paint, paper or tile. Rebecca’s aims are simple: to deliver the highest-quality finish and dependable professional service at a reasonable price. To achieve these aims, the firm employ a permanent team of experienced professional decorators.
Extensive experience in property refurbishment also enables Rebecca to provide bespoke project management services by employing a carefully selected network of professionals, in an integrated and costeffective approach to projects of any scale. Rebecca always visits clients personally to discuss their requirements, and takes pride in consistently surpassing expectations by delivering service and results of the highest standard. R&B INTERIORS CONTACT REBECCA ON 07917 413312, EMAIL: INFO@RANDBINTERIORS.CO.UK
SMART! ➻ Want to look into the future of
TV? Then look into the innovative 2012 Samsung Smart TV collection at Gardiners Bristol. Samsung have made the way that you control and interact with your new Smart TV more instinctive than ever. The unique voice and motion technologies of Smart Interaction mean that you can change channels, select apps or search the internet simply by speaking or waving your hand. The intuitive new Samsung Smart Hub also gives you access to catch-up services, movies on demand, sports, music, social networking, news and games, including exclusive apps such as ITV Player and Angry Birds. GARDINER HASKINS HOMECENTRE STRAIGHT ST, BRISTOL, BS2. FFI: 0117 929 2288, WWW.GARDINERHASKINS.CO.UK
VINTAGE
TALES TO TELL
➻ You never know what you’re going to find when you walk through the
doors of Owl in the Ivy, Bath’s vintage and salvaged furniture shop. There’s always something unexpected and everything has a story to tell. Their distinct modern style is created from the old, the used and the vintage: “The whole principle of antiques dealing,” says owner Emma Rice, “is to take something from where it’s not appreciated and put it where it is. It’s simply a case of seeing what’s there, realising its potential and putting it in a new context.” Inside, Edwardian theatre chairs that once graced Bath’s Theatre Royal now sit comfortably alongside reclaimed factory tables and useful day-to-day items. Visitors to the shop have included homeowners looking for unusual pieces, fashion stylists searching out props, and owners of Bath’s most fashionable bars and restaurants finding pieces for their latest ventures.
OWL IN THE IVY 4 CLEVELAND TERRACE, BATH. FFI: 07772 552393/07966 788070, INFO@OWLINTHEIVY.COM
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the
wooden blindcompany
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INTERIORS HOMEFRONT
A perfect example of chic, minimal design: Loft furniture collection (www.johnlewis.com)
LESS IS
W MORE Interior designer Lesley Taylor creates a chic, modern minimalist look on a budget
ith a little careful planning, you can easily design an ultracontemporary home without breaking the bank. Minimalist or urban chic is all about keeping the style simple and uncluttered. So follow the rules of stark, contemporary styling, then dress it up with a bit of pattern and colour, or you could even take a more nostalgic approach to enhancing some traditional styling - the key is to deliver this in a very simplified form. Minimalist chic is one of the latest trends for home decor this season, taking inspiration for colours, patterns and styles straight from the catwalk. Arm yourself with a little fashion knowhow and the knowledge that, with this style, less is more, and you can easily achieve this look in next to no time. Colour on the catwalk this season has varied, featuring more muted shades with splashes of zingy brights. Urban chic doesn’t have to be dull, and you can still be creative with the colours that you choose - you can take the chill out of modern with a rich tone or two to brighten up your palette. There are plenty of ways in which to introduce colour into your home, from painting the walls to investing in one bright statement piece of furniture that will stand out against more subdued shades such as beiges and creams. Introducing pattern to your scheme will reflect the print explosion that led the UK and European fashion-show catwalks for spring/summer 2012. However, to achieve minimalist appeal, the key is to
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Carpets Direct Largest stockist of carpets in Bristol Retail and trade We carry the stock and pass the discount to you! 2-4 Trinity Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0NT 0117 955 4327 FOLIO/NOVEMBER 2012 99
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INTERIORS HOMEFRONT
Above: Personalise your furniture with patterned and geometric fabrics (www. osborneandlittle. com) Below: Create visual impact with the Moderna Plus bathroom by Laufen (www. taylorsetc.co.uk) Opposite page: Use Noctis floor tiles in minimalist apartments or to add sleek sophistication in large spaces (www.taylorsetc. co.uk)
be sparing. Patterned tiles can look superb on a feature wall in a sharp, white bathroom scheme, while patterned fabric or wallpaper will look the part in a living room or bedroom scheme. Be careful with the size of the pattern you choose: larger versions will suit bigger rooms; smaller styles are more suitable where space is tight. The clean minimalist and stylish urban look can easily be achieved with well-designed storage solutions, which will help you to clear away unnecessary clutter and leave your home looking neat and tidy. This way, carefully chosen furniture can take centre stage while the extras are cleverly hidden away. This particularly makes sense when space is at a premium. Plan your purchases carefully, and buy furniture that maximises storage as well as looking good. The key to creating a minimaliststyle home is to work with
contemporary pieces that give the key rooms in your house a chic, clean appearance. You can then add texture to them with fabrics and accessories. In the kitchen, handy drawer storage solutions are a must, from a cutlery holder to a spice rack. The options are endless, so pick what you really need and, at the same time, keep an eye on your budget. The urban kitchen style, which is bang on trend, is sleek, handleless and glossy, so why not choose a glossy laminate rather than a high-gloss lacquered door-front to keep costs down? Pick an ultramodern fabric blind and spotlights to complete the look. Minimalist style is simple to recreate in the living room - choose a focal point such as a fireplace and look for furniture with clean, simple lines, keeping cushions and accessories to a minimum. You could choose a geometrically shaped rug to jazz up the
decor in this space, and introduce colour to create additional visual impact with a key feature, such as a chair or lamp. In the bathroom, make sure the furniture you choose looks sleek but will store everything you need behind closed doors - this includes the kids’ bath-time toys! You can still create minimalist charm in a communal family room in your home - the trick is to make sure that you have enough storage to support everyone’s needs. Pick your tiles wisely, and choose a modern design to act as a splashback against single-tone floor tiles. For the master bedroom, you could invest in an upholstered bed with fullbase storage. Bedside cabinets could include shelving hidden behind closed doors, and a large mirrored wardrobe will make the room look bigger and instantly hide all your clothes and shoes. Or you can pick up plenty of smaller storage accessories to help you realise your minimalist dream, from shoe holders to drawer dividers. Simple. As well as being easy to achieve, this look is ideal if you’re looking to spend wisely and still update your home with the latest trends.
Bold storage solutions for a minimalist urban look: Kartell Componibili 3 Element Cabinet by Anna Ferrieri (www.heals.co.uk)
CONTACTS ETON DESIGN 108 WALCOT ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 639002, WWW.ETON-DESIGN.COM FABRIC MILLS LONDON RD, BATH. FFI: 01225 471167, WWW.FABRICMILLS.CO.UK JOHN LEWIS THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 959 1100, WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM SPHERE LIVING DESIGN EMBASSY HOUSE, QUEENS AVENUE, CLIFTON, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 929 2365, WWW.SPHERELIVINGDESIGN.COM
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PROPERTY HOMEFRONT
Gardens OF EDEN
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HOMEFRONT
PROPERTY
Mulberries and damsons decorate the gorgeous gardens at this 17th century Dyrham cottage. Josie Drummond reports
G
ardens to die for come as standard at this dreamy 17th century Dyrham cottage with far-reaching views, and you won’t be surprised to learn that the current owner is a professional garden designer and plantswoman. Inside the four-bedroom cottage, the interior, spread across three floors, has been designed with great sensitivity to the home’s period features, which include timber beams, stone mullioned windows and a fine inglenook fireplace. You could trawl the property market for a fair few years before stumbling across another house of such high quality. Go in through the back door, and you’re greeted by a kitchen with bespoke painted units, part wooden/part granite worktops and attractive limestone tiled flooring. There’s a gas range cooker that’s powered by LPG, an integrated fridge and freezer, and a dishwasher. A delightful view across those gorgeous gardens beckons from a side window, while far-reaching views tempt you from the butler sink. From the kitchen, you enter a beautifully designed rear hallway with a cosy feel and bookshelves along one wall. At one end of the hallway, there’s a well-presented cloakroom and laundry room with a newly fitted modern shower cubicle and travertine tiled surround. Down one wall, attractive painted cupboards house a washing machine and dryer and the oil-fired boiler. At the other end of the hall, the wonderfully homely drawing room comes with an inglenook fireplace and stone mullioned windows - settle back in the charming window seat to soak up those far-reaching views. The drawing room leads through to the dining room, again with views from the stone mullioned windows. On the first floor, a superb large double bedroom has a bank of fitted wardrobes down one side. It’s a light and airy room, thanks to the double aspect, with a pretty FOLIO/NOV 2012 103
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PROPERTY HOMEFRONT
Victorian-style fireplace adding to the charm. Off the master bedroom is a family bathroom, and there are two further bedrooms on this floor, the larger of which has three fitted cupboards and a lovely window seat. Up on the top floor, a great attic room with gorgeous exposed beams provides a fourth bedroom. But let’s get back to those gardens… It’s quite hard to describe just how pretty they really are. The current owner has invested very heavily in creating a breathtaking garden with an incredible array of plants set out formally around fine lawns. At the top of the garden, a stone outbuilding provides useful storage and an area in which to sit out and enjoy the gardens. There’s also a further very pretty timber summerhouse, with a dovecote by its side. The views to the west of the garden are fabulous, and there’s a sense of being very well shielded, thanks to the planting scheme and woodland setting. Particular plants of note include several damson and plum trees, a mulberry tree, peonies and roses. At one end of the garden you’ll find a series of five compost bins shielded by a row of bamboo plants, while steps down from the front garden lead to off-street parking for two vehicles. There’s easy access into Bath from the lovely village of Dyrham, and it’s also convenient for accessing the M4, either to Bristol or towards London. The countryside surrounding Dyrham is a walker’s paradise, while nearby Dyrham Park is a spectacular example of a 17th century mansion with its exquisite gardens and parkland open to the public. Local amenities at Marshfield, a few miles from Dyrham, include an excellent primary school, butcher and convenience shop, and several pubs, and there’s a handy petrol station with a store a couple of miles away at Pennsylvania.
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HOMEFRONT
PROPERTY
THE COTTAGE
UPPER STREET, DYRHAM, WILTS, GUIDE £750,000 ➻ Drawing room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, cloaks/ laundry room with shower cubicle, four bedrooms, family bathroom, beautifully designed gardens, off-street parking for two cars.
FFI CRISP COWLEY, RALPH ALLEN’S TOWN HOUSE, YORK ST, BATH. TEL: 01225 789333, WEB: WWW.CRISPCOWLEY.CO.UK
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BRISTOL LIVING
PIECES OF ME
KIRSTEN BUTLER Bristol-based wedding stylist
WORDS: SUZANNE SAVILL
K
Kirsten and her daughter Ella love Clifton sewing cafe Cordial and Grace
PHOTO: SARAH VIVIENNE
My favourite part of the morning... is on a Sunday, when I set off at about 6am from my home in Bristol to go to the car boot sale in Bath with my friend Ali in her Mini convertible. It’s a beautiful drive, and when we have the roof down, it’s a bit like Thelma and Louise!
My ideal venue for lunch or dinner... would have to be Goldbrick House. Going there is always a real experience, with amazing food and helpful staff who are knowledgeable about their wine and food. It’s also the place where I hold ‘tweet ups’ every three months for people in the wedding industry in Bristol who are on Twitter. We go on the roof terrace and enjoy the amazing views over Bristol, and being looked after by the staff. My dream shop in Bristol... involves more than just one shop! My way of relaxing is to make my way down the Gloucester Road via all the charity shops. I hire and buy vintage furniture for my work, and I love being able to use somebody’s pre-loved sideboard or writing bureau as part of the styling for someone’s big day. I bought an amazing 1940s dressing table from the Marie Curie shop, and one couple had their cake displayed on it. My memorable place in Bristol... is Cotham Gardens park. I have fantastic memories of my mum collecting me and my brother from Colston’s Primary School and going to play in the park, and running to the fence when the trains pulled into Redland Station. Now I’m recreating those happy childhood memories by taking my daughter there after school. FFI WWW.LITTLEWEDDINGHELPER.CO.UK
My favourite aspect of my work... is taking a client’s idea and building upon it and making it a reality. I really enjoy going into an ordinary setting and developing it from a blank canvas into something that reflects the personalities of the bride and groom.
Goldbrick House is the venue of choice for Kirsten’s regular ‘tweet ups’
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irsten Butler lives in Ashley Down, Bristol, and transforms wedding venues with styling and decorating. Since setting up her company, The Little Wedding Helper, in 2004, Kirsten has worked her magic in locations ranging from marquees to village halls, often creating themes in keeping with the interests of the bride and groom, such as using cricket bats to display table-plan information. Kirsten was South West winner of the Special Touches category of the 2011 Wedding Industry Awards, and Highly Commended as Best Newcomer in the Perfect Wedding magazine awards.
My perfect cafe for a coffee or tea... is Cordial and Grace in Clifton Village, which is totally different to any corporate coffee shop. It’s a really interesting concept, with a cafe upstairs and sewing machines downstairs. My six-year-old daughter Ella loves the smoothies, and we had a great time recently when she sewed a cushion while the lovely staff brought me tea and cakes on vintage crockery.
The Little Wedding Helper can work her styling magic anywhere - these cricket bats made unusual but striking table plans for one couple!
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p108.indd 1
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