Folio 205 by Sarah Malone

folio bristol & bath

free take one! the west’s best lifest yle m ag

february 2012 l No. 205

WIN A night at Thornbury Castle & dinner for 4 at Za Za Bazaar!

Cheap eats Top nosh for under £15

Local legends In praise of our indie department stores

Meet the residents of Avenue Q rocking up at Theatre Royal Bath this month as they attempt to tackle life’s conundrums

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FACTORY SHOWROOM – OPEN BY APPOINTMENT

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/february 2012 HEAD OVER HEELS How sensible of our ancestors to break up the endless gloom of winter with some major fun fests – Christmas being the daddy, of course, followed by Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and ooh, Easter! Then before we know it, we find ourselves safely delivered on the other side into fully fledged technicolour springtime. Pure genius. So, being in the loved-up Valentine’s phase, we’ve come up with our top 10 favourite ideas for showering your significant other, or indeed yourself, with love – see page 24 and get ready to feel squishy. And while you’re in the mood for splashing the cash, why not whisk your darling away on a romantic break to the delightful Pear Tree Inn (p41)? If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the Pear Tree’s owner, kitchen god Marco Pierre White, himself… To further lift the winter gloom, this issue we’re celebrating Bristol and Bath’s independent department stores – turn to page 4 to find out just what it is that keeps their tills humming from season to season. Plus, on page 54, we’ve rounded up our top places to grab a bargain bite. What’s not to love about that?

Have a wonderful month!

Features 4 Singing the praises of our local department stores 8 Mike White’s top things to do in February 11 Eugene Byrne on England’s ‘fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church’ 15 Avon Wildlife Trust take us on a walk around the Walborough nature reserve

bristol & bath's independent department stores 4

Competitions 16 Win a night’s stay at Thornbury Castle, plus a meal for four at Za Za Bazaar!

Lifestyle 20 Undies to make your heart go thump 23 Personal stylist Niki Whittle answers a plea from a reader! 24 Make this V-Day one to remember with our loved-up gift ideas 28 Our shop of the month is Tuesday’s Child 30 Five gadgets that Velimir Ilic can’t live without 32 Rachel Nott opens up her make-up bag 34 Our salon spy gets a new look at Hush 36 News from the world of wellbeing 38 The latest schools report 39 Motoring news 41 We review the Pear Tree Inn near Malmesbury

20 Lovely lingerie...

Homefront 46 Kitchen gods Homeworx reveal their latest grand design 50 A round-up of the property market

Eating Out West

Cover image: avenue q is on stage at theatre royal bath until sun 5 feb. to book tickets call 01225 448844 or visit www. theatreroyal.org.uk. see venue page 65

@folioeditor

54 A bumper clutch of our favourite cheap eats 62 The seven deadly dinner party sins 66 Restaurant review: Siam Harbourside, Bristol 68 Restaurant review: The Olive Tree, Bath 69 Restaurant review: The New Inn, Backwell 70 Restaurant review: Cote, Bath 72 Food news 74 A delicious recipe from Aio Italian restaurant

Sweets for your sweet page 24

pic credit Pete Evans

Rachel Nott Folio editor

Look out for Little Owls at Walborough nature reserve

editor@foliomagazine.co.uk

Subscribe to Folio and get Venue with it! Just send a cheque for £37.50 (payable to Folio) to our Bristol address or phone with credit/debit card details and you’ll get the next 12 issues sent to your home, or 6 issues for £19.50 – the only way to guarantee you’ll get every copy of the West’s fastest-growing lifestyle magazine. Ffi: 0117 934 3741 Folio Bristol 4th Floor, Bristol News & Media, Temple Way, Bristol, BS99 7HD tel 0117 942 8491 fax 0117 934 3566 email r.nott@venue.co.uk or editor@foliomagazine.co.uk Folio Bath Bath News & Media, Floor 2, Westpoint, James West St, Bath BA1 1UN tel 01225 429801 fax 01225 447602 Editor Rachel Nott Group Editor Dave Higgitt Production Manager Cath Evans Design Team Sarah Clark, Sarah Malone Sub-editor Jo Renshaw Publications Co-ordinator Sam Ulewicz Commercial Manager Becky Davis Advertising Bex Baddiley, Adam Burrows, Ellie Pipe, Ben Wright Distribution Dave Higgitt Ring us now for details of how to reach our 75,000 readers – and if you’re a reader, contact our advertisers now! Do please let them know where you read about their services. Thank you. Folio articles preceded by the words ‘Folio Profile’ have been supplied by a third party, and the information contained within them does not necessarily constitute a direct recommendation by the publishers. However, we only accept submissions from bona fide companies whom we know from long experience to provide quality goods or services.

54 Eat well for less at a clutch of top local restaurants

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Feature

Independence

DAYS The economy may be stalling, but our fab five independent department stores are still going strong, as Velimir Ilic reports

n these recession-hit times, it’s proving difficult for all kinds of retailers – let alone the independent ones – to keep their heads above water. More economic pain is predicted for 2012, as the burgeoning cost of living forces UK consumers to cut a projected £1bn from spending on fripperies such as furniture, clothing, household goods and electrical gadgets. With falling retail sales, the rise of internet shopping and the dominance of chain stores, it’s no surprise that smaller shops and stores everywhere are feeling the pinch. But in our corner of the South West, a quintet of longestablished independent department stores – Bristol Guild, Rossiters of Bath, Challicoms of Clevedon, Bristol’s Gardiner Haskins, and furniture store TR Hayes in

Bath – are bucking the national trend, defiantly flying in the face of the retail doom-mongers by continuing to do things very much their own way, and – whisper it – even thriving in the process. All five stores are local institutions with unique appeal, each one attracting a very different customer base; what they do have in common is that all of them are surviving in the face of economic meltdown, amid entrenched competition from larger UK department store chains such as House of Fraser and Debenhams. So just how are these hardy independents managing to make ends meet and competing with the big boys? “We’re a design-led store that strives to find the unusual and quirky,” says Mike Canning, managing director of Bristol Guild of Applied Art, the privately held

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Opposite page: Rossiters’ window and a room plan within the store’s furniture department This page, clockwise from top left: the Guild’s iconic entrance; Jasper sofa by Ashley Manor, and Sheldrake range by Neptune, both available at Challicoms; kitchen showroom at Gardiner Haskins

department store known locally as the Guild. “Being independent, we’re able to quickly put new ideas into action. Our local perspective allows us to develop ranges that may be more relevant to Bristol or events taking place in our area. “Compared to larger stores, we’re nimble and responsive,” he continues. “We can introduce new lines more promptly and adapt to trends and events. Our scale also allows our decision-makers to be fully involved in trading, rather than the often remote head offices that govern the running of larger organisations. I believe this gives us a keener sense of market conditions.” Founded in 1908, the Guild has been a fixture on Bristol’s buzzy Park Street ever since. Inspired by the philosophy of William Morris’s Arts and Crafts movement, it was originally a focal point for local artists and craftsmen to meet, exchange ideas and sell their wares. In 1918, after being bought out by three local businessmen, it became more of a commercial venture, importing glass from Sweden and

selling crystal and pottery sourced from across the UK. An extensive refurbishment programme and shop overhaul began in 2008, creating a much more open feel. Today, it showcases an even wider remit of artists, while operating as a small department store, selling everything from gourmet foods and kitchenware to jewellery, prints, gifts and furniture. “A key element in our strategy is that we continually introduce new designers and products,” explains Canning. “In this way, we hope to encourage repeat visits. Our second-floor gallery hosts exhibitions that change monthly and continually draws in a new audience.” The Guild is clearly a great place to work, too, given its vibrant atmosphere and many long-serving staff. “Several of our staff have been at the Guild for over 20 years,” Canning says. “The pioneer of the modern Guild was our chairman Ken Stradling, who joined in 1948 when the store was a one-room shop. Although technically retired, you can still find him here most days. Given that everything we sell is nonessential, it really is an important cornerstone of our philosophy that we create a happy store.” Meanwhile, across the city at Broad Plain, just a few minutes’ walk from Cabot Circus, stands Gardiner Haskins Homecentre. It proudly boasts of being the biggest store of its kind in the South West, with six floors of showrooms selling a panoply of goods. Founded in Bristol in 1823, the store reputedly supplied Isambard Kingdom Brunel with drawing instruments while he was working on the ss Great Britain and the Great Western Railway. Aesthetically, the outer shell of the building (the site of the former Puritan Soapworks) remains an imposing sight today. Inside, it’s been described by some as a bit of a relic, but there’s a distinct charm to the place; £250,000 has

now been spent on refurbishing the building, providing better access to all floors. But is it a hardware store, garden centre, department store or kitchenware outlet? If truth be told, it’s all of them rolled into one. Even without a tangible identity, Gardiner Haskins seems to have been something of a Bristol institution, well, for ever. Despite the dominance of national chain stores, Gardiner Haskins, like Bristol and Bath’s other independents, has not just survived, but flourished. “It’s probably because we specialise on choice, price and advice in a number of areas,” says Gardiner Haskins’ retail director Mike Carr. It’s divided into two separate buildings, with a huge car park, and the sheer array of stuff you can find in this one-stop shop is staggering, from electricals and bathroom fittings to ironmongery and bicycles; they even sell angling equipment. Carr explains that two of their key areas are furniture and kitchens. “Our furniture section is renowned as one of the best in the South West, with major brands including G Plan, Ercol and Parker Knoll,” he says. “And we supply quality kitchens from four major manufacturers, offering planning, design and installation, with prices to suit a wide range of pockets. The showroom is extensive, and as a Neff Master Partner we have over 40 built-in Neff appliances on show, even working ones.” Essentially, it’s the sort of store that consumers know all too well – you go in looking for a particular product and end up coming out with armfuls of stuff you don’t really need. But maybe that’s one of its strengths – given the sheer volume of stock under one roof, you almost can’t fail to leave without having bought something. Over in Clevedon, just outside Bristol, Challicoms and Co is an altogether smaller and quieter operation, established as a familyowned single outlet store since 1858. Back then, it was run by Mr and Mrs C.E. Challicom, under the moniker of the Clevedon Depository and House folio/feb 2012 5

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Clockwise from top left: Challicoms on Hill Road; the kitchenware department of Rossiters; the garden centre within Gardiner Haskins

Furnishers. The current premises opened in 1872, offering a diverse range of products and services – they sold furniture, curtains and china, but also undertook removals and even conducted funerals and cremations. The present family purchased the company and property in 1949; now, as you’d expect, much has changed. Located amid Hill Road’s largely independent shops and cafes, Challicoms’ four floors stock a wide selection of furnishings, interiors accessories, lighting and carpets, plus interesting items and gifts sourced from around the world – popular buys include leather chairs and sofas from Norway, and natural oak furniture. Although its main custom is primarily local (generally within a 30-mile radius), buying replacement furniture rather than initial pieces, it has an excellent reputation for providing good service and quality products at very competitive prices – as part of a large buying group for the past couple of decades or so, the company’s increased buying power means that it’s feasible to pass on the savings it makes to customers. Over the years, the furnishings side of the business has grown and the showrooms have been expanded – today, recently refurbished and modernised, Challicoms still strives to source new and interesting furniture. And according to managing director Edward Dark, who has been with the company for 40 years, it competes with larger chains by using owner-drivers and keeping overheads to a minimum; both he and his fellow director work long hours, with a

“dedicated” team. “They’re professional, and deliver excellent service with a personal touch,” says Dark of his staff. “We’re a happy family – we all have a close working relationship, and the team spirit creates a good working atmosphere.” Take a short hop to Bath and you’ll find family-run furniture, home entertainment and soft furnishings emporium TR Hayes in fine fettle. Trading since 1915, it’s now on its fourth generation – the founders being chair makers in London’s East End. With seven floors of attractive display space featuring top-end brands such as Ercol, Ekornes, and William Morris, everything you could possibly want to furnish your home beautifully from top to bottom can be found under this impressive roof. Further into central Bath, upmarket department store Rossiters is found in rude health, too, having recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Located on the site of a former tobacconist’s shop, the original store was launched by Anne and Michael Rossiter in 1961. It stocked Scandinavian glass, china and kitchenware, but it was the French cookware supplied by influential food writer Elizabeth David that really began to capture the imagination of Bath’s shoppers. In 1967, Rossiters broadened its range and introduced Terence Conran-designed furniture, fabrics and storage, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that the floor space expanded into the more recognisable premises it occupies today. Managing director Peter James and his wife Ann-Marie bought the business from the retiring Rossiters in 1999, and have developed the company ever since, opening another Rossiters in Cardiff in 2007. The couple source homeware and gifts from home and abroad, stocking an impressive range of goods from furniture, interior-ware and fabrics to glass, china and gifts. Since the outset, Rossiters have always embraced emerging trends and sourced new and interesting products – something they continue to do.

WHERE TO SHOP ➻ Bristol Guild 68-70 Park St, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 926 5548, www. bristolguild.co.uk ➻ Challicoms of Clevedon 10 Hill Rd, Clevedon. Ffi: 01275 874388, www.challicoms.co.uk ➻ Gardiner Haskins Straight St, Broad Plain, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 929 2288, www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk ➻ Rossiters of Bath 38-41 Broad St, Bath. Ffi: 01225 462227, www. rossitersofbath.com ➻ TR Hayes 15-18 London St, Bath. Ffi: 01225 465757, www. trhayes.co.uk

“We’re a design-led department store, specialising in making homes look beautiful,” says Peter. “Our reputation is spread by word of mouth as opposed to price-led marketing. There is no other shop like Rossiters anywhere – it’s a quirky, much-loved local institution.” According to Peter, the major changes over the years have been escalating costs associated with independent retailing (rents, business rates, utilities) and the intensifying of competition. “A lot of family-owned department stores have gone under because of increased costs, and there are relatively few of us left,” he says. “We’ve survived because our format is perfectly suited to the local market in Bath, and because we’ve embarked on a relentless process of reinvention and rejuvenation of our offer.” Despite the cheerless prognosis for the high street as a whole, the fortunes of the South West’s fab five show no sign of dwindling. “Our Christmas trade has been very good. Customers come back because they love the shop, the product and the service – simple as that,” says Peter. It’s a sentiment that his fellow independents would no doubt heartily concur with.

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what’s new

what to do in...

Feb

LOVE STORIES, COMEDY, CHOCOLATE WORKSHOPS, KNICKER MAKING AND GALLERY

Give your knicker drawer a pep up with pretty new pants handsewn by you...

TOURS… MIKE WHITE’S DIARY IS FILLING UP

WONDERPANTS

Surprise your significant other this Valentine’s Day by wearing a pair of unique, handsewn knickers that you made yourself. This friendly workshop (aimed at people with some sewing experience) leads you through the whole process, beginning with choosing your colours from a selection of soft, lightweight cottons cut to your chosen size. Then you’ll learn how to construct your knickers and apply the elastics and laces, before finishing them with a selection of trimmings including ribbons, beads and vintage buttons. Go on, give him a gift he’ll really enjoy unwrapping… VALENTINE’S KNICKER MAKING SUN 5 FEB (6-9PM), THE MAKERY WORKSHOP, 146 WALCOT ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 421175, WWW. THEMAKERYONLINE.CO.UK

VINTAGE VALENTINE

A one-off screening of romantic blockbuster An Affair to Remember with local boy Cary Grant in the starring role. The film complements the M Shed’s current An Eye for Fashion exhibition, showcasing vintage photographs from celebrated shutterbug Norman Parkinson that – not unlike the film – evoke a sense of timeless glamour and elegance.

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER TUE 14 FEB (8PM), M SHED, PRINCES WHARF, WAPPING RD, BRISTOL. TICKETS £8, BOOKING ESSENTIAL: 0117 352 6600 FFI: WWW.MSHED.ORG

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SHIPSHAPE AND…

Hosted by TV stylist Mark Heyes and celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton, Bristol Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 is your chance to get a close-up look at the must-have designer and high-street trends of the season. This may not be until next month, but tickets go on sale from the first week of February, so snap one up while you can and look forward to catwalk shows packed with style advice, celebrity gossip and insider fashion knowledge – plus a Bristol Fashion Week goody bag full of products to sample, complimentary refreshments from M&S and a free event guide full of offers and discount vouchers to use at the Mall. BRISTOL FASHION WEEK 21–25 MARCH, THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL. TICKETS (PLATINUM £13.95, STANDARD SEAT £8.95) FROM THE MALL’S INFORMATION DESK OR ONLINE AT WWW.MALLCRIBBS.COM

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what’s new Planning a natureinspired wedding? Choose elegant jewellery to match at Diana Porter

SPECIAL KAY

Funnyman Lee Lard has carved a niche for himself in the comedy world as the ‘UK’s number one Peter Kay tribute act’. He offers an uncanny take on Brian Potter from Phoenix Nights and Max from Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere, complete with wheelchair and attitude, both of which he brings to Cadbury House this month. Endorsed by Peter himself, Lee even performed in the video to Kay’s chart-topping Is This the Way to Amarillo? It’s as close as you can get to the real thing – without actually seeing Peter Kay, that is. But does his show offer a three-course meal and a disco afterwards? Thought not.

KEEP IT NATURAL

For this year’s wedding show at Diana Porter, a selection of top British designers present intricate and textural jewellery inspired by the natural world – like this tactile multi-strand bracelet from Kate Holdsworth, made from knitted textiles and fused glass, with delicate silver fixtures. NATURAL BEAUTY 3 FEB-27 APRIL, DIANA PORTER, 33 PARK ST, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW. DIANAPORTER.CO.UK

THE PETER KAY EXPERIENCE FRI 24 FEB, DOUBLETREE BY HILTON CADBURY HOUSE HOTEL, FROST HILL, CONGRESBURY, BRISTOL, BS49. TICKETS £28. FFI: 01934 834343, WWW. CADBURYHOTELBRISTOL.CO.UK

LOVE STORIES

Something a bit different – a special guided tour of the fabulous Tyntesfield house, themed by the love stories that shaped the long-resident Gibbs family history, and played out in the panelled rooms and creaking corridors of this spectacular Victorian Gothic mansion.

LOVE STORIES TOUR AT TYNTESFIELD TUE 14 FEB (11.30AM), WRAXALL, BRISTOL. TICKETS £10/£22.60 (ADULT MEMBERS/NON-MEMBERS), £10/£16.20 (CHILD MEMBERS/NON-MEMBERS), BOOKING ESSENTIAL: 01275 461900. FFI: WWW. NATIONALTRUST.ORG.UK/TYNTESFIELD

VICTORIA’S SECRET

Take a mystery tour behind the scenes at one of Bath‘s most illustrious and historic art galleries, as an expert guides you through the gallery’s stores to discover the full scope of their superb collection. Best of all, it’s absolutely free – but be sure to book in advance, as places are limited. BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR OF VICTORIA ART GALLERY WED 22 FEB (12NOON), BRIDGE ST, BATH. FREE, BUT BOOK IN ADV. FFI: 01225 477232, WWW.VICTORIAGAL. ORG.UK

BE MY SWEETHEART

A box of Milk Tray is a bit of a V-Day cliche – but not if you made them yourself. The Bath Chocolate Museum is offering Chocolate Initiation Workshops, including tastings, a talk on the history of chocolate and a lesson in the fine art of chocolate making from master chocolatier Philippe Wall – followed by a glass of champagne. The kind of initiation we can all enjoy…

CHOCOLATE INITIATION WORKSHOPS RUN ALL YEAR ROUND AT BATH CHOCOLATE MUSEUM, 15 ABBEY CHURCH YARD, BATH, £40. FFI: 01225 464999, WWW.BATHCHOCOLATEMUSEUM.COM

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Feature

Heaven

on earth

From the cat’s grave to the whale’s bone, Eugene Byrne takes us on a quirky tour of Bristol’s most beautiful parish church

he thing that everyone ‘knows’ about St Mary Redcliffe is that Queen Elizabeth said it was the “fairest, goodliest, and, like, oh my god, totally cool parish church in all of your little old Englandshire”. Or words to that effect. However, Good Queen Bess visited Bristol just the once (in 1574) and the most reliable accounts we have of her stay don’t mention her saying anything of the kind. (She spent most of her time here politely listening to awful poetry, and watching amateur reenactments of battles using real gunpowder. The city spent a thousand quid on her visit – a vast sum back then – and everyone agreed that it had been a great success.) Even if she didn’t say it, though, she was right. St Mary Redcliffe is a fabulous church. The problem is that, nowadays, visiting it is a slight challenge. There’s no convenient free parking, it’s slightly removed from the attractions of the city centre, and on two sides of it there’s a horrible big noisy road. If it were more approachable on foot, and if it were surrounded on a couple of sides by greenery like, say, Wells Cathedral or even Bristol Cathedral, it would be pulling in five times as many visitors. As things stand, if there is a hell, there’s a corner reserved for the special torment of whichever townplanning genius thought it was a good idea to place that road round the most interesting and beautiful parish church in Bristol. The oldest parts date back to the 12th century, though most of it was built in the 1400s. You’d expect a local cathedral or abbey church attached to a major monastery to be wealthy and imposing, but SMR was, and still is, just a local place of worship. That a mere parish church could grow so big and opulent was testimony to the fabulous wealth that Bristol amassed in the middle ages. These riches came from seaborne

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left-hand page left to right: The nave; 18th century wrought ironwork, complete with gilded mouse; the roof – admiring it by lying on the floor is probably frowned on, but there’s a mirror on a tea trolley if you don’t want to strain your neck this page left to right: South porch door with the arms of King Charles II; a big bone, which probably once belonged to a whale, said to have been brought back as a present by Cabot and his crew; grave of the church cat, who attended more services than any of the clergy

trade – specifically the exchange of woollen cloth (woven, finished and dyed within a few hundred yards of the church) – for wines from France, Spain and Portugal. Many merchant families sought to speed their way to heaven by giving it money. To this day, it still benefits from ancient endowments that maintain the fabric of the church in a way that the proceeds of the collection plate every Sunday could never do. You get a hint of the sort of cash we’re talking about from the memorials to William Canynges. There’s the tomb of Canynges and Mrs Canynges, and there’s also a grave monument of Canynges alone in priest’s vestments. A nearby wooden plaque outlines his achievements, including ownership of a fleet of merchantmen, which included the medieval equivalent of a couple of supertankers. This man was absolutely loaded, but he couldn’t take it with him. After his wife died, he gave it all away and ended his days as a simple priest in Westbury-on-Trym. When the wine-for-cloth business with France hit a crisis because of war, Bristol merchants looked around for other markets, which is almost certainly the reason John Cabot found financial backers here. Cabot and his crew were said to have prayed for the success of their voyage at St Mary Redcliffe, and when they returned they brought back the gift of a really big bone (it had probably once belonged to a whale), which is on display to this day in one of the chapels. All this is interesting enough to American visitors, but what they really get off on is the memorial to Admiral William Penn. Penn’s greatest achievement was the bloodless capture of the island of Jamaica from the Spaniards, serving under Cromwell until he saw the way things were going and quite sensibly transferred his loyalties to the returning King Charles II. Charles owed him big-style, not just for political favours, but hard cash, too. The debt was unpaid on Penn’s death, but Charles repaid his son, the Quaker William Penn, in land in the American colonies. Penn named this large landholding after his father. And that’s how we got Pennsylvania. “We do get a lot of American visitors, because of the American connections,” says church administrator Pat Terry. “The Americans all want to know about William Penn, of course. But we also get quite a lot of local people who have lived in Bristol for a long time, and who have never visited before. People remark on how beautiful it is when you get through the door; they’re impressed by the height of the building, the way your eyes are drawn

The south porch door complete with the arms of King Charles II

upwards. They love the roof-bosses and, of course, all the stained-glass windows.” She has a point. Even if the history doesn’t float your galleon, the place is astonishingly beautiful, in a way that its gloomy, grimy, grey-brown gothic exterior doesn’t prepare you for. There’s stained glass from medieval times right up to the 1960s, and hundreds of gilded roof-bosses. The church provides visitors with one of those mirror-on-a-tea-trolley contraptions so that you can admire them without having to strain your neck. There are wrought-iron gates, too, dating back to 1710 (if you have children in tow, get them to spot the mouse). This church is so old and so rich, both in objects and heritage, that you’re probably going to have to visit several times to really get to grips with it. There are all the famous connections, like tragic boy-poet Thomas Chatterton, or the altar-piece that Hogarth painted (no longer on display), or the fact that Handel used to come here to visit a friend and hide away from his creditors in London. Handel also used to tickle the ivories on the church organ, part of which was incorporated into the present-day organ, and which has recently been restored to its former glory. And music is, of course, another reason to visit SMR. This place prides itself on its sweet sounds, and there are regular lunchtime recitals and evening concerts. “People do find it quite imposing,” says Pat, “and many are also put off by the dual carriageway, so I suppose they think we’re not welcoming. But then they come through the door and they’re amazed by the beauty of the place, and by the welcome they receive here.” ST MARY REDCLIFFE REDCLIFFE WAY, BRISTOL. USUALLY OPEN TO PUBLIC MONSAT 9AM-5PM, SUN 8AM-7.30PM, ADMISSION FREE, DONATIONS WELCOME. FFI & DETAILS OF SERVICES & CONCERTS: WWW.STMARYREDCLIFFE.CO.UK

CAT THAT GOT THE CREAM St Mary Redcliffe may be ➻ magnificent on the inside, but you

have to take a good look outside as well. The churchyard has a couple of famous features. At the edge, close to Colston Parade, there’s a tram rail embedded in the ground. It was put there by a German bomb during the Blitz and left there as a reminder of the war, and of how close the church came to being destroyed. Everyone’s favourite, though, is the cat’s grave. There’s a little memorial stone to ‘The Church Cat 1912-1927’. In the way of many felines, the Church Cat appears to have had more than one claimant to its ownership, and was either known as Tom or Blackie, and either belonged to the verger, or to one of the cleaners – or both… In any event, this moggy was said to love sitting beside the organist, or on the lap of congregation members. Consequently the joke went that the cat had attended more services than any of the church clergy. He was also a formidable hunter, not just of rats and mice, but also of the pigeons in the churchyard. When he died, he was given a first-class send-off, with the vicar and churchwardens accompanying the coffin carried by the verger.

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pic credit avon wildlife trust

Left to right: green-winged orchid; little owl; this low-lying field is being restored to salt marsh via a process called ‘managed retreat’

pic credit pete evans

pic credit avon wildlife trust

feature feature

WALBOROUGH Look out over the silvery Severn Estuary on a clear winter morning, watching the wintering flocks of redshank, dunlin and shelduck…

A pic credit rich andrews

von Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve at Walborough near Weston-super-Mare is a perfect place for a stroll, with the option of extending your walk by including Uphill Local Nature Reserve. The main entrance is found off Uphill Way, from where you follow the surfaced path through the boatyard. Pass an old lime kiln through a kissing gate, beside the old Uphill quarry where kestrels and little owls

Dunlin can be spotted in autumn and winter

nest. Continue along this path past the kissing gate that leads to the sea wall. RETURN OF THE SALT MARSH The low-lying field here is being restored to salt marsh through the Trust’s management of the nature reserve, via a process called ’managed retreat’, by which the sea is allowed again to inundate the area. The salt marsh has a number of nationally scarce plants, including sea barley, slender hare’s-ear and sea clover. Patches of sea-lavender add a splash of colour in the late summer. Continue straight on through the next gate and on up towards Walborough Hill. Across the hill here in spring cowslips and greenwinged orchids are abundant, followed by swathes of autumn ladies tress in late summer. You could at this point make a detour up the hill to visit the Norman church of St Nicholas at the top, overlooking Weston Bay, Brean Down and the mouth of the River Axe. In Roman times this was a flourishing port, probably for the export of lead from the Mendip Hills. WILDFOWL & WADERS Once on Walborough nature reserve, you follow the path along the edge of the grassland, which gives elevated views across the Axe Estuary and Bleadon Levels where good numbers of wildfowl and waders can be seen in autumn and winter, including redshank, dunlin, black-tailed godwit and shelduck. Large flocks of linnet and starling can also be seen, as the salt marsh is covered

by the rising tide. These flocks in turn attract birds of prey; look out for merlin, peregrine and sparrowhawk. Follow the path round to join a lower path, where you turn sharp right, following the path back down along the sea wall, with the estuary to your left, and back through the boatyard, returning to the beginning of the walk. Access… A surfaced path allows access to parts of the site for those who are less mobile. There is open access to the grassland areas but please keep off the salt marsh to avoid disturbance to birds. Walk on… Uphill Village Society have produced a series of walks that can be downloaded if you would like to extend your walk across the neighbouring Uphill Local Nature Reserve. Ffi: www.uphillvillage.org.uk AVON WILDLIFE TRUST OUR GUIDE COMES COURTESY OF THIS LEADING LOCAL CHARITY WORKING FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. FFI: 0117 917 7270, WWW.AVONWILDLIFETRUST.ORG.UK

How to find the reserve Grid ref: ST 314 582 Nearest postcode to reserve: BS23 4XR By bike: See a location map of the reserve on the National Cycle Network website: www.sustrans.org.uk By bus: See www.traveline.org.uk By car: Take the A370 and travel south from Weston-super-Mare. At the hospital roundabout take the exit onto Grange Rd, signposted for the hospital. Continue past the hospital entrance. Drive for 500m, then turn left onto Uphill Way. Continue until you see signs for Uphill Boatyard and turn left into it. Some parking is available in an area immediately on the left. Walk past the boatyard, either along the track or along the sea wall, to reach the reserve.

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Competitions

luxury hotel stay!

Win A night at Thornbury castle! A favourite Cotswolds retreat of famous

kings and queens (including Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, who spent a loved-up 10 days here, and Mary Tudor who spent several years in residence), the stunning Thornbury Castle is the only Tudor castle in England to operate as a hotel. We’ve teamed up with Thornbury Castle to offer one lucky Folio reader plus guest a night’s accommodation in a Classic Bedchamber (worth £240), including full English breakfast. Expect fabulously atmospheric, surroundings – all stone walls, tapestries, roaring fires and views to historic parkland and the River Severn beyond. Enjoy a mini-break of history and romance – just don’t lose your heads. THORNBURY CASTLE Thornbury, South Glos. Ffi: 01454 281182, www.thornburycastle.co.uk

To Enter

➻ THORNBURY CASTLE

Just answer the following question: Which wife did Henry VIII bring here for 10 days? Email your answer, with ‘Thornbury Castle’ in the subject line, to: editor@ foliomagazine.co.uk by Fri 24 Feb. Entries after this date will not be counted. Winner will be picked at random and notified by Mon 5 Mar. Please include your full contact details (name, address, postcode, email, mobile, landline). Available Sun-Thur nights only. Subject to availability at the time of booking. Prize to be taken before Mon 30 April 2012.

➻ ZA ZA BAZAAR

Just answer the following question: From what country does piripiri chicken originate? Email your answer, with ‘Za Za Bazaar’ in the subject line, to: editor@ foliomagazine.co.uk by Fri 24 Feb. Entries after this date will not be counted. Winner will be picked at random and notified by Mon 5 Mar. Please include your full contact details (name, address, postcode, email, mobile, landline). THE WINNERS Combe House comp: Congratulations to Emma West who won a night’s stay, with dinner, at Combe House, Devon. Correct answer: Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset. Motel Rocks comp: Congratulations to Marian Hill who won a Motel Rocks voucher. Correct answer: Park Street.

fabulous compS

Enter today to be in with a chance of winning these great prizes!

Win DINNER FOR FOUR PLUS WINE AT ZA ZA BAZAAR ‘A passport to the world of food,’ the brilliantly buzzy Za Za Bazaar on Bristol’s Harbourside is the largest restaurant in the country. A fixed-price, all-you-can-eat ‘world banquet and bar’, it’s winning warm support from all quarters, not least in the form of hard-to-please food critic Tom Parker-Bowles. Hungry diners can travel the world stomach-first, from Vietnamese pho soup through to Indian rice pudding via Portuguese piri-piri, Texan buffalo wings or good old British shepherd’s pie. All is dished out in a vibrant, neon-lit, Asian-night-market atmosphere. We have a meal for four plus a bottle of house wine to give away to one lucky Folio reader with a big appetite, three mates and an adventurous palate. Seriously, who needs a gap year?

meal for four!

ZA ZA BAZAAR CANONS RD, HARBOURSIDE, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 922 0330, WWW. ZAZABAZAAR.COM, TWITTER @ZAZABAZAAR

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Specialising in waxing since 2005

ÂŁ15

www.stripwaxbar.com 0117 916 8864 Harvey Nichols, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BZ p17.indd 1

1/25/2012 4:19:05 PM

➻ life style salon charity event, shopping in bath, fresh design talent & more... MILSOM PLACE

BATH TIME

➻ If you’ve got the February blues, a visit to Bath’s Milsom Place could be the

we love... Super-cute children’s clothing, toys, room décor and gift boutique The Pippa and Ike Show on Bristol’s Gloucester Rd. Ffi: www.the-pippa-andike-show.com

perfect pick-me-up. Its 13 listed buildings provide the backdrop for the courtyard spaces and streets that link Milsom and Broad Streets, with the courtyards a favourite haunt for alfresco coffees in the spring sunshine. Feeling peckish? Milsom Place incorporates two of Bath’s buzziest restaurants. Jamie’s Italian, with its friendly staff, serves perfectly cooked fresh pasta (and much more besides), and its quirky presentation finds tins of Italian tomatoes propping up delicious starter platters of charcuterie. Cote, meanwhile, has also been a runaway success. Open all day, it’s a good bet for breakfast or coffee, and the tasty lunch and early-evening French menus represent really good value. Or try Yo! Sushi’s fresh, healthy, appetising fare – ideal for a no-fuss lunch-stop before the serious shopping begins. On the retail front, independents rub shoulders with high-street names like Hobbs, Phase Eight and Cath Kidston. Traffic People, who chose Milsom Place for their only store outside London, have some gorgeous floaty dresses to tempt you in the month of romance. Or head to Hannah Dulcie, an independent specialising in delectable lingerie, some of which is crafted by Hannah herself (for Valentine’s Day, check out her limited edition collection combining silk, satin, chiffon, French lace and crystal diamantes). Alessi fans will be pleased to hear that Quadri has doubled in size and now stocks an even wider range (and that Matteo Alessi himself will be trading family secrets at the start of Bath in Fashion, with a talk at the Octagon on Mon 25 March). More gallery than gift shop, Quadri boasts a superb collection of watches and jewellery, and is the only place in Bath where you’ll find Jane Watling of Lacock’s lovely crafted pieces in silver and gold, as well as the ‘Tales from the Earth’ jewellery. FFI WWW.MILSOMPLACE.CO.UK, WWW.BATHINFASHION.CO.UK

DESIGN STORE

BRISTOL’S GOT TALENT

➻ There’s a slew of fresh young talent coming up at Bristol-based

online shop Howkapow this spring. A colourful showcase of design products and illustration, Howkapow promotes only the most innovative and interesting work from breakthrough talent, from across the creative industries. Look out for Fox Cushions from Robin & Mould, Pearl Person and Berry Lady jewellery from Hairy Sock, and a Mermaid Print from Eleanor Meredith, not to mention collaborations with illustrator Linda Ketelhut and more work from Matt Keers. The brainchild of Rog and Cat How, who met at Bristol University in 2002 and married in 2009, Howkapow is the place for those of you who covet the unusual and eclectic at affordable prices, from jewellery, homewares, gifts and accessories to prints, posters and stuff for kids, stocking around 40 new graduates and independent designers and illustrators at any one time.

HOWKAPOW FFI: 0117 373 1900, WWW.HOWKAPOW.COM

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lifestyle SALON CHARITY EVENT

TREATS IN STORE ➻ Bristol hair gurus SeanHanna will be hosting their

monthly in-salon Girls’ Night In charity event on Fri 24 Feb, in order to raise money for Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal’s latest incentive: drumming up funds to build a new ward at Bristol Children’s Hospital’s St Michael’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. On the night, guests will be served delicious cocktails and canapés, courtesy of Italian restaurant and bar Piccolino. They will also be treated to an amazing hand massage and blowdry from the SeanHanna team, followed by a mini manicure from the staff at Sanctuary Spa. What’s more, SeanHanna are offering all guests a massive 25 per cent off their bill at Brasserie Blanc. Tickets are priced at £10 each, with all proceeds going to the Wallace and Gromit’s Children’s Foundation. Give SeanHanna a call or ask at the Cabot Circus salon for more details. “Book your place now!” say the salon. “Surely treating yourself for a good cause can never be wrong!” SEANHANNA GIRLS’ NIGHT IN FRI 24 FEB, 6-9PM, SEANHANNA, 13 QUAKERS FRIARS, CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL. TICKETS: £10. FFI: 0117 934 9393, WWW.SEANHANNA.COM

ANTIQUES WEEKEND

PAST PLEASURES ➻ The luxury antiques weekend at Tortworth Court in Wotton-under-Edge returns this month for its third staging, offering a fantastic opportunity to browse, buy and learn about the rich tapestry of antiques through the ages. This is a stylish boutique-style event, with 22 specialist dealers including BBC Antiques Roadshow clocks expert Richard Price. It’s a wonderful chance for interior decorators, art connoisseurs and those in the know to shop for a huge variety of the very best antiques – all under one roof. Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel is a five-minute drive from junction 14 of the M5. Explore the impressive treasure-trove on offer, ranging from Old Masters to contemporary paintings, stunning art deco jewellery to 19th century bronze sculpture, ancient Persian carpets to fine English furniture and highly ornate French clocks, alongside a wonderful mix of the quirky and eclectic. There are stylish one-off decorative pieces to choose from whether your budget is £500 or £20,000. Particular highlights include an exquisite pair of Dutch ivory and fruitwood marquetry inlaid walnut side chairs from Bath-based Freshfords Fine Antiques (who, incidentally, are celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2012), an unusually small Bachelor’s teapot (made at the Plymouth factory of William Cookworthy in the 1760s) from Oxfordshire’s Parkside Antiques and a charming 1900s turtle brooch with ruby eyes by Liberty and Co from T Robert. TORTWORTH COURT ANTIQUES & FINE ART FAIR 24-26 FEB (FRI 11AM-6PM, SAT 10.30AM-6PM, SUN 10.30AM–5PM), TORTWORTH COURT FOUR PILLARS HOTEL, WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE, GLOS, GL12, £5 INC CATALOGUE. FFI: WWW. TORTWORTHCOURTFAIR. COM

ART

CAN YOU FEEL THE FORCE? ➻ In celebration of a year’s working partnership with Bristol’s Muset restaurant, renowned artist Karen Barber will be showing canvases and screenprints spanning several bodies of work. Her most recent collection, 37 Degrees, deals with cells and the thousands of processes that enable us to function at a healthy body temperature. Her Centrifugal works are made on a large industrial centrifugal machine, with which canvases of up to 8ft sq can be made, rotating and blending beautiful pigment colours to create wild, vibrant images. Karen runs courses in centrifugal painting, in collaboration with artist Nigel Oddy, at her Sion Lane studio in Clifton. KAREN BARBER @ MUSET ON SHOW FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AT THE MUSET BY RONNIE, 12-16 CLIFTON RD, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW. INSUSPENSESTUDIOS.CO.UK

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fashion

lifestyle

Crisp, fresh, goodenough-to-eat cotton from Bristol’s own Fleur Turner and team, whose celebrity wearers include Katy Perry and Sarah Jessica Parker. (Brigitte camisole £89, Brigitte brief £45, Fleur of England)

FLEUR OF ENGLAND FFI: 0117 970 6701, WWW. FLEUROFENGLAND.COM

SCANTY attention Anna Britten looks for lingerie to get your knickers in a twist

he biggest myth about lovely underwear is that it’s only worth buying and wearing if someone’s going to end up with part of it between their teeth. Poppycock! Feelgood lingerie will make your day, in much the same way as a hearty breakfast or a high pressure front. So, women, if you must blow the month’s phonebill money on a new set, please don’t feel guilty about it. They are your foundation garments. If, however, you’re a lad buying scanties for a lass this Valentine’s, you really need to get one thing into your heads. What you like, and what she likes, are two totally different things. You’re thinking red satin, she’s thinking broderie anglaise. You like suspenders, she thinks they serve only to put a person at increased risk of deep-vein thrombosis. You: lapdancer. Her: Lara Stone in the Calvin Klein ads. Happily, we no longer live in a time where our choice of lingerie must be between the polar opposites of Ann Summers’ flammable offerings and M&S bellywarmers. Nowadays, sexiness and modesty, detail and comfort tend to co-exist peacefully in lingerie departments around the country, keeping everybody happy and draught-free. Some of it’s even so good that it’s a shame to cover it with a jumper. Like this lot…

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fashion

lifestyle

The troubled company marches on with a new owner – and no wonder, given these supportive but sexy, Old Hollywood-elegant, allbox-ticking intimates. (Catherine lace black bra £22, shorts £10, La Senza) LA SENZA THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 950 9930, WWW.LASENZA.CO.UK

Swap wintery greys for these fresh, springbeckoning florals. (Ivory floral-print satin balcony bra £18.50, matching knickers £6.50, Debenhams) DEBENHAMS ST JAMES BARTON, BRISTOL & SOUTHGATE, BATH. FFI: 0844 561 6161, WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM

Love the 1950s feel to this strawberry-pink, frilly, satiny set. (French Follie bra £20, shorts £8, La Senza) LA SENZA THE MALL AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 950 9930, WWW.LASENZA.CO.UK

One for the young ‘uns. Let it peek out

from under artfully dishevelled American Apparel separates, à la some filly from Skins. (Miss Ultimo bra, £18, shorts £8, Debenhams) DEBENHAMS ST JAMES BARTON, BRISTOL & SOUTHGATE, BATH. FFI: 0844 561 6161, WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM

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fashion

what to wear...

FOR A MARCH WEDDING Personal stylist and image consultant Niki Whittle keeps our wedding guest warm Dear Niki,

I'm going to a friend's wedding in March and am getting a bit panicked about what to wear. The evening reception will be held in the Roman Baths, which could be quite chilly, plus the flagstones could be uneven, meaning stillettos are out! I'm looking for something knee-length, fitted at the waist but not too clingy, and have a budget of about £200 for the whole outfit. Hope you can point me in the right direction!

Hello sunshine... Lisa at a summer wedding last year

Lisa Jones, 31, Bristol

eddings at this time of year are always tricky to dress up for. The weather’s cold and (most probably) wet, and thanks to the January sales the collections are rather uninspiring. The best time to shop for a wedding in March is either before the sales in November and December or after them in middle to late February. The first takes some serious planning ahead and the other is lastminute, which isn’t for the faint-hearted. Our wedding guest, Lisa, has the added difficulty of finding something that’s suitable for an evening reception outdoors at the beautiful Roman Baths, which will be chilly and challenging to navigate in heels. It’s not all bad, though: weddings at this time of year offer the excuse to wrap up in fur and add some glamour and elegance to your outfit. For Lisa, I suggest something like this dress from Mint Velvet (£89, John Lewis). She has a fabulous hourglass figure, so should always wear clothes that highlight her curves and show off her waist. This dress does that beautifully, and the length sits just below the knee, which is incredibly flattering and a little warmer than its mini counterparts. To go with the dress I’ve picked this fur cape (£12, Accessorize) – it’s much more fun than the traditional dress-andjacket combo and should keep her warm and cosy. These platforms (£85, Dune Footwear) complement the outfit perfectly, and the chunky heel is perfect for navigating the cobbles. Finally, for a splash of colour I’ve accessorised the look with a pair of earrings (£6, Accessorize) and clutch (£25, Therapy at House of Fraser) in S/S 2012’s favourite, orange. FFI WWW.NIKIWHITTLE.COM / WWW. HIPSHAPESANDBRISTOLFASHION.BLOGSPOT.COM

It's a wrap... Fur cape, £12, Accessorize

Colour injection... Clutch, £25, Therapy at House of Fraser Wild at heart... Dress, £89, Mint Velvet at John Lewis

Apple of my eye... Earrings, £6, Accessorize

Well heeled... Platforms, £85, Dune

If you have a question for Niki, drop an email to editor@foliomagazine. co.uk with 'Dear Niki' in the subject line! folio/ feb 2012 23

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gift guide

Light Of My Life Get ready for your close-up with soft fairylights. Peony lights £21.99, iota

heart

the of

giving

The 12 best Valentine’s Day presents in town…

Touched

Touchy-feely types? Learn to soothe each other’s troubles at Clifton’s beautiful Relaxation Centre. Couple’s Massage Workshop £84 per couple (introductory offer), Relaxation Centre

Creature comforts

For some people, a Cadbury’s Creme Egg would swing it. For everyone else there’s Jamie Oliver. Light My Fire chocolate £2, Jamie Oliver

Diving for pearls

Both romantic and modern, these silver and freshwater pearl stud earrings are tiny works of art for your earlobes. Sally Collins ‘Rosie Posy’ earrings £63, Diana Porter

pic credit: jon davey

Nothing says ‘I’m caring and imaginative, baby, and I know you are, too’ better than an animal adoption pack from Bristol Zoo – discounted until the end of Feb. When ordering, tell Bristol Zoo you love them and they’ll throw in a free animal chocolate bar. Animal adoption £36 (normally £45), birds of prey experience, from £24 (normally from £30) and animal experiences £56 (normally £70), Bristol Zoo

Sweets for my sweet

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gift guide

Country charmer lifestyle Based in an early 18th century mansion

nestling in the Somerset countryside, the elegant Cedar Falls Health Farm is one of the UK’s premier spas. Choose from over 80 vouchers, ranging from a round of golf (£8.70) right through to spa breaks (from £165). Vouchers Various prices, Cedar Falls

Cupid’s Arrow

Not-so-stupid Cupid – this silver heart and arrow necklace hits its target perfectly. Tiger Lily pendant £95, Clifton Rocks

Say it with silver

Are your darling’s neck and wrists looking a bit bare? Let Bristol silversmith Catherine Amesbury help. ‘Sweetie’ necklace from £125, and bracelet from £55. Catherine Amesbury Collection at Artemis

Flower child

French company Vermont – just landed in the UK – create gorgeous preserved flower arrangements that last for four to six years, and for ever in the heart. Heart of Roses £40, Vermont

Pamper her A Brazilian or Hollywood wax and eyebrow wax (in voucher form), Lycon lavender and chamomile scrub and body moisturiser, and a lacy thong, all packaged up in a fancy giftbox courtesy of the Strip Wax Bar at Harvey Nichols. Strip Goddess Package £99, Strip

Spa-ing partners

Treat your loved one (and yourself!), to a revitalising spa experience at Thermae Bath Spa. Gift vouchers from £26-£188, Thermae Bath Spa

Contacts Artemis 214 Gloucester Rd, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 924 1003, www.artemis.co.uk, www.catherineamesbury.com Bristol Zoo Guthrie Rd, Clifton, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 974 7300, www. bristolzoo.org.uk Cedar Falls Taunton, Somerset. Ffi: 01823 433233, www.cedarfalls.co.uk Clifton Rocks 100 Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 973 1342, www.cliftonrocks.co.uk Diana Porter 33 Park St, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 909 0225, www.dianaporter.co.uk House of Fraser Cabot Circus, Bristol & Milsom St, Bath. Ffi: 0844 800

Guess who?

Just good friends? This pretty, designer friendship bracelet (with handset Austrian crystals!) may well get you promoted to something more… Guess friendship bracelet £40, House of Fraser

3710, www.houseoffraser.co.uk iota 167 Gloucester Rd, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 924 4911, www.iotabristol.com Jamie Oliver jamieoliver.com/jme Relaxation Centre 9 All Saints Rd, Clifton, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 970 6616, www.relaxationcentre.co.uk Strip Harvey Nichols, Cabot Circus, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 916 8864, www. stripwaxbar.com thermae bath spa hot bath st, Bath. Ffi: 0844 888 0844, www. thermaebathspa.com Vermont 9 Saracen St, Bath. Ffi: 01225 571395, www.vermontflowers.co.uk

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Are your 2012 resolutions fading fast?

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help Free consultation and relaxation CD + ÂŁ10 off first session E: paul@avongorgehypnotherapy.com M: 07834 635903 www.avongorgehypnotherapy.com (Clinics in Southville and Clifton) Beat smoking is a single session and does not include free consultation. Book by end of February for ÂŁ20 off this session! Beat smoking requires the desire to quit + willpower Weight loss requires healthy eating, exercise + commitment

26 folio/feb 2012

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WE BUY

Gold, Silver & Platinum in any form or condition and at the highest price in Bath.

WANTED

Sovereigns, Krugerrands, Quality watches and Silver items. Please call in or telephone for a price.

Nigel Dando 11 Pulteney Bridge Bath, BA2 4AY Tel/fax: 01225 464013 www.nigeldando.co.uk

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shopping

lifestyle lifestyle

Shop of the

Month

Melissa Blease pops into Tuesday’s Child, the little person’s clothes shop with a big difference

ll too often, the hunt for quality clothes for little people is limited to a hurried search on the sidelines of an overcrowded high street department store. Thank goodness, then, for Tuesday’s Child, which nestles at the heart of Bath’s calm but funky Walcot Street ‘strip’. “Tuesday’s Child offers a unique children’s clothes shopping environment that’s vastly different from the high street experience,” Charlotte

Eames – who co-owns the shop with partner Jon – tells Folio. “All our customers receive a warm welcome and friendly advice and service, without feeling pressured in any way. You’re made to feel very welcome even if you’re just popping in for a browse.” And Charlotte, with a background in retail, accountancy and childcare, really does know the meaning of a warm welcome. “The idea for Tuesday’s Child first developed after the birth of my daughter three years ago,” she explains. “She had a low birth weight and we were unable to source suitable clothing for her anywhere in the Bath area. I got to thinking how nice it would be if there were a local shop that specialised in premature clothing for babies. As our daughter grew, I still experienced difficulty in finding the style of clothing I wanted for her. It was easy to find high street fashion, but I wanted clothes that were something more than just smaller versions of adult ranges.” Tuesday’s Child opened its doors early last year, and today specialises in quality traditional and contemporary clothing for premature babies and children up to eight years of age. “We wanted to supply mid- to high-quality ranges that offer broad appeal,” says Charlotte, talking us through her current range. “I think we’ve achieved this with the variety of brands we stock, such as Mayoral,

“We supply mid- to highquality ranges that offer broad appeal”

Clothes at Tuesday's Child range from practical yet stylish everyday wear to special occasion clothing, all with matching shoes and accessories

Hatley, Sarah Louise, Emile et Rose and Pretty Originals. Within these ranges, you can find hats and coats, smocked dresses, blouses, shirts, trousers and skirts, all of which vary from traditional styles to more modern concepts, and all at extremely competitive prices. The brands we stock are stylish but practical and vary from everyday clothing to special-event wear for weddings and christenings for boys and girls, complete with matching shoes and accessories.” The selection doesn’t end there – you’ll also find gift items and accessories including pram blankets, hairbands and bows, baby bags, soft toys, music and memory boxes, rag dolls for both sexes and much more. Charlotte tells us that pyjamas, nightdresses and dressing gowns are particularly popular gifts, while Sarah Louise and Hatley coats, suitable for both summer and winter seasons, are always in demand. Meanwhile, regular customers will be delighted to learn that Tuesday’s Child’s new summer collection will be gradually introduced over the coming months. “We also have plans to increase the age of our ranges to 12 years old for the 2012 winter collection, so there’ll be something for not-so-little people to look forward to as well.” TUESDAY’S CHILD 27 WALCOT ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 311992, WWW.TUESDAYSCHILDCLOTHING.CO.UK

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profile

Fancy owning a one-off? Want to grab yourself a bargain? Head to Bristol Flea Market at Ashton Gate

BATH & BRISTOL FLEA MARKETS For stallholders information contact Shaun on bathfleamarket@live.co.uk tel: 07730 283632 www.bathfleamarket.co.uk

vintage chic

he Bristol Flea Market has now been running for a couple of months after its inaugural success at Bath Racecourse in 2011. The Bristol event is held monthly at Ashton Gate Stadium and features more than 120 exciting stalls from across the country, even some from France and Denmark. The stallholders sell hundreds of items, from vintage clothing and jewellery to quality shabby chic furnishings and gardenalia. With some of the best dealers signed up to exhibit at the event you will be sure to find the perfect item for you and your home. Doors open at 9am and the event closes at 3.30pm. The flea market team has put together some easy hints and tips if you’re thinking of coming along: • Don’t be afraid to make the trader an offer

you feel to be more suitable, • they can only say yes, no or make you a compromise. • Say your offer with confidence. An item is only with what somebody is prepared to pay, the stallholder wants to sell and you want to buy. • Don’t forget the traders don’t get these items for free and they often make very small profits, so bear this in mind when deciding on the price you are willing to pay. • Thousands of people visit the flea markets and if you see something you really like make an offer and get it there and then as often someone else will snap it up instead. • Last of all, make sure you check any electrical items before using them. Flea markets are full of high-quality items but it’s best for peace of mind.

29 January 2012 marks the first of a full season for the Bristol flea market, and we’ve decided to start as we mean to go on! Here are some dates for your diary, we hope you can make them: 29 JANUARY, 19 FEBRUARY, 18 MARCH, 15 APRIL, 13 MAY, 28 OCTOBER, 25 NOVEMBER

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gadgets

lifestyle gadgets

switched

on 1

BIRD IN THE HAND You know the feeling – the Christmas lights are packed away, the daily grind is getting you down and you’re craving a bit of that festive glow. Well, this quirky, wall-mounted pigeon light is a quick fix to brighten up your life and interior space – a bulb and wall fixing is supplied, so it’s quick to put up. Available in white, black or orange, or our favourite, shocking pink.

WATCH THE BIRDIE! PIGEON WALL LIGHT £65, BLOOMSBURY

PLAY THAT THING The latest multi-touch version of the iPod Nano is funkier and more versatile than ever. With 18 clock faces to choose from, and straps in various colours, you can wear it on your wrist like a watch – do you go analogue or digital? Mickey or Minnie Mouse? It can track your workout progress too, with Genius playlists on iTunes to keep you going. There’s even an FM tuner, and live pause when you need to take a break. Just clip it on and go.

Velimir Ilic’s five must-have gizmos for February and body mass index (BMI), then beam the information to your computer or iPhone via Wi-Fi. A cinch to use, their online browser is rammed with handy features. The only slightly scary thing is that these scales probably know your body better than you do. WITHINGS WI-FI BATHROOM SCALES £119, FIREBOX.COM

MEANING OF LIFE We’ve all stumbled across unfamiliar words in those intellectual novels we keep on the shelf to impress friends and acquaintances. But rather than leaf through a heavy dictionary or boot up the laptop to search online, this whizzy electronic bookmark provides the answer in seconds, drawing on 38,000 definitions taken from the Collins English Dictionary. Easy, eh? Now where did I put that copy of Flaubert’s La Tentation de Saint Antoine? ELECTRONIC BOOKMARK DICTIONARY £19.99, IOTA

IPOD NANO FROM £115, APPLE STORE

FEELING JUICY? If the new year detox is still going strong, this Magimix juicer is a brilliant bit of kit. Stylish and sturdy, its large super-efficient ‘spin dryer’ basket extracts virtually every last drop of juice from fruit or veg. A generous 1kg capacity means no constant emptying, and with dishwasher-safe components, it’s easily cleaned, too. The bright red gloss finish is hard to ignore – so no excuses not to juice towards your five a day.

MAGIMIX LE DUO XL JUICE EXTRACTOR £149, JOHN LEWIS

FAT CHANCE Still trying to shift that postChristmas flab? If you need to keep tabs on how the diet’s going, these ultra-slim scales are very handy to have around. Step on, and they automatically record your weight, fat mass

Contacts Apple Store Southgate Place, Bath. Ffi: 01225 487000, www.apple.com Bloomsbury 15 New Bond St, Bath. Ffi: 01225 461049, www. bloomsburystore.com Firebox.com (online). Ffi: 0800 044 5010, www.firebox.com iota 167 Gloucester Rd, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 924 4911, www.iotabristol.com John Lewis Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 959 1100, www.johnlewis.com

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Beauty

lifestyle

ABOUT TIME

Forget painful injections of face-freezing Botox – if you really want to look younger, be kinder on your skin and do it the natural way with Body Shop’s new Nutriganics Drops of Youth. This youth-in-a-bottle harnesses the latest in plant stem cell technology to enhance surface skin renewal, revealing smoother, fresher and healthier looking skin, day after day. What’s not to love?

ENGLISH ROSE

Everyone looks better with a light pinky flush (just enough to look as if you’ve been for a brisk walk in the fresh air), and this new blusher from MAC’s new Naturally collection will ensure you look more Duchess of Cambridge than Princess of Essex. Remember the mantra, girls, when it comes to fake tan, boobs and blusher: less is most definitely more…

MAC MINERALIZE BLUSH IN SUBTLE BREEZE £19, DEBENHAMS & JOLLY’S. FFI: WWW.HOUSEOFFRASER. CO.UK, WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM

NUTRIGANICS DROPS OF YOUTH £22, BODY SHOP. FFI: WWW.THEBODYSHOP. CO.UK

GLOW IN THE PARK

Skin looking a little ashen after a glut of late nights and vitamin-sapping cocktails? Laura Mercier’s latest Foundation Primer – Radiance will trick everyone into thinking you’ve had a fortnight at Babington House at a teeny tiny fraction of the cost. Smooth under foundation for a shine-free glow that also fixes your base in place all day long. We can’t leave the house without it…

LAURA MERCIER FOUNDATION PRIMER – RADIANCE £28, SPACE NK. FFI: WWW.SPACENK.CO.UK

Spring 4

RISE AND SHINE

Condition, condition, condition! From root to tip, treat your hair with Percy & Reed’s Brilliantly Beautiful Superglossing Mask. From the men behind the styling on The X Factor and Britain’s Next Top Model, this indulgent treatment helps to restore vitality, leaving your hair sheeny shiny and super strong.

fever

What’s been catching Rachel Nott’s eye this month…

PERCY & REED’S BRILLIANTLY BEAUTIFUL SUPERGLOSSING MASK £18, HARVEY NICHOLS. FFI: WWW. HARVEYNICHOLS.COM

BOX OF TRICKS

Not sure which eye colours work with your colouring? Let Smashbox take the hard work out of it for you with their eye palettes of six shades tailored perfectly to enhance the natural beauty of hazel, blue and brown eyes. Use the top three shades for everyday, or the bottom three to create a classic smoky eye. Get application tips by peeling back the shade labels. Sorted! SMASHBOX PHOTO OP EYE ENHANCING PALETTE £30, DEBENHAMS. FFI: WWW. DEBENHAMS.COM

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beauty

lifestyle

HUSH

HAIRDRESSING A salon that can change your hair colour without using any chemicals? Becky Davis is intrigued…

was invited to go along to the recently opened Hush Hairdressing salon on Baldwin Street in central Bristol, where I’d be trying an organic colour and cut. I couldn’t quite get to grips with how a product containing no chemicals could change the colour of my hair and was fascinated to learn how good this would be. After selling Guy Fawkes, which he’d owned for over 30 years, Mark Andres opened Hush with business partner Glenn Holmes. It’s an organic and mineral-based salon that combines a modern, caring approach with the latest skills and organic technology, reducing the salon’s carbon footprint. The team use only natural, plant-based products that are free from ammonia, sulphates and chemicals and are

certified organic. The moment I walked in the door I could tell why the salon was so successful already, after only being opened four months ago. I was greeted by Mark who instantly made me feel as though I’d known him for years. My stylist was to be Glenn who, after training at one of the top 10 salons in Melbourne, has been colouring and cutting men’s and women’s hair for the past 28 years, with an eye for creative, natural hair colouring. Before opening up Hush with Mark, Glenn was colour specialist for the Organic and Mineral Research Institute and owned the only approved Organic and Mineral Colour Specialist salon in Ireland. I decided to leave it completely up to Glenn what he did to my hair. It had been a while since I last went to a salon and my hair certainly needed the love and care it was about to receive. Glenn decided that we’d be doing a natural 100% watercolour along with a cut to make the most of the movement I had in the longer section of my hair, since I’m trying to grow it. The colour we chose, which would last up to six weeks, was a warm mix between toffee and caramel to complement my eyes and skin tone. With refreshments and reading materials in abundance, you aren’t left twiddling your thumbs while waiting for the colour to take. And anyway, I’d decided to treat myself even further and have my nails done. Anne-Marie explained to me what CND Shellac nails were, then asked me to choose a colour from the vast selection she showed me. I opted for something completely different to what

“I could see and feel the difference the organic colour had made”

Hush uses only natural, plant-based products, free from ammonia, sulphates and chemicals

Becky treated her nails to a file and glittery polish with hardwearing CND Shellac

I’d normally wear, choosing metallic grey with a glitter haze over the top. CND Shellac nails last for two weeks – sometimes longer – and take about half-an-hour to do. Instantly dry and very polished, they’re a perfect lunch-hour option. Salons are increasingly offering different types of chairs at the basins in order to make the rinsing as pain-free as possible, but at Hush they have what can only be described as beds, which you lie on while having your hair washed… and, yes, they’re completely pain-free! I could already see and feel the difference that the organic watercolour had made – it locks in the colour as well as the moisture, leaving your hair feeling completely reenergised. Glenn cut and styled my hair, then showed me the final result – it was exactly what he’d described when we started, and I was so pleased with it. I would highly recommend the products, treatments and staff at Hush - in addition to directors Mark and Glenn, and Anne-Marie, there are four talented stylists and another nail technician. I’ll definitely be going back there in the future, safe in the knowledge that all the products they use on me are completely natural.

Contacts HUSH HAIRDRESSING 27-29 BALDWIN ST, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 930 0350, WWW. HUSHHAIRBRISTOL.CO.UK (OPEN MON-FRI 9.30AM-7.30PM, SAT 9AM-5PM)

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mark simmons photography Tel: 0117 9140999 Mobile: 07778 063 699 “Mark has both the skilled eye and craftsmanship to make your wedding album come alive every time you turn the pages. Decisive moments and classic art are merged to create an emotional trip down memory lane. Mark’s documentary style is energy filled, fun and delivered with an ever reassuring calmness for even the most camera shy family member.”

Natural Weddings

Rhianna & George

www.marksimmonsphotography.com

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health

lifestyle

spotlight on . . .

massage ➻ Imagine a long day on your feet, lifting

heavy boxes or sitting at a desk. Your back’s killing you, there’s a sharp pain in your shoulder and your temples are throbbing. This is your body’s way of saying, ‘Slow down and take it easy.’ Cedar Falls Health Farm in Taunton report that about 80-90% of massage customers turn to the age-old therapy to help resolve these common niggles. These guests leave feeling wonderfully relaxed and mellow, but is there any science behind it or is it just a pamper treatment? Researchers in Los Angeles recently recruited 53 healthy adults and randomly assigned 29 of them to a 45-minute session of deep-tissue Swedish massage and the other 24 to a light massage. They found that just a single session of massage caused biological changes. Volunteers who received Swedish massage experienced reduced stress and significant decreases in levels of stress hormone cortisol in their blood and saliva. The hormone arginine vasopressin, which can lead to increases in cortisol, also reduced, and volunteers experienced increases in the number of lymphocytes (white blood cells that are part of the immune system). Even volunteers who only had the light massage

experienced increases in oxytocin (a hormone associated with contentment) and decreases in adrenal corticotropin hormone, which stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol. Previous studies have demonstrated that massage decreases migraine frequency, enhances sleep quality, improves chronic neck pain by 55% and reduces high blood pressure. Massages are more than just indulgences – they’re proven health and mood treatments. Massage Top Tips 1. Discuss any medical conditions or allergies you have. 2. Avoid heavy meals or alcohol directly before your appointment. 3. Drink plenty of water to help flush toxins out of your body before your treatment. 4. Arrive in good time and leave time at the end so you don’t feel rushed. 5. Try not to plan any hectic activities immediately afterwards. CEDAR FALLS HEALTH FARM TAUNTON, SOMERSET. FFI: 01823 433904, WWW.CEDARFALLS. CO.UK CALL AND QUOTE ‘FOLIO’ TO BOOK A 55MIN CLARINS RELAX FULL BODY MASSAGE FOR £48 (SAVING £12) OR SEE WEBSITE FOR INFO ABOUT FEELGOOD SPA BREAKS FROM £195

BARIATRIC SURGERY

A SURGEON SPEAKS ➻ Some people think there’s

GYM NEWS

THAT FRIDAY FEELING ➻ We all know that there’s no better way to stay motivated than working out with a friend – and Bristol Harbourside’s Fitness First are inviting members to bring a friend to the gym for free every Friday. To make Fridays even more fun, they’re also introducing a brand new programme, the ‘100 Workout’, for members and guests to use to get the most out of their workout. The 100 Workout combines four separate workouts, each including a number of exercises adding up to a total of 100 repetitions. The Fitness First team will hold gym floor workouts each Friday to take members and their friends through one of the four 100 Workout sessions. If you don’t have a friend who’s a Fitness First member but would like to try them out for free any day of the week, just download a guest pass from the website. FITNESS FIRST EXPLORE LANE, MILLENNIUM SQUARE, BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE. FFI: WWW.FITNESSFIRST.CO.UK

too much obesity surgery going on in the UK… Isn’t obesity about lifestyle? And is surgery a good use of cash? Well, last year, Richard Welbourn, lead surgeon of the Bariatric Group, wrote a significant study for the Royal College of Surgeons, looking at almost 9,000 bariatric surgical cases at 86 different hospitals. “Twenty-six per cent of patients had type 2 diabetes before their operation,” says Richard. “Twelve months afterwards, this figure had halved. Thirty-one per cent had high blood pressure, which reduced to 20% after surgery. And 16% had high cholesterol – again, after surgery this was halved. “Obesity surgery works. It reduces weight and other damaging medical conditions. No other treatment exists that can produce all these benefits in one operation and within one year – and it saves money.

Before

To treat someone with diabetes costs the NHS about £3,000 per year. We can make substantial financial savings if we reduce the number of people who need that care”. THE BARIATRIC GROUP FFI: WWW. THEBARIATRICGROUP.CO.UK

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£30 £18

products are used in the Salon. 6 Rockleaze Rd, Sneyd Park, Bristol BS9 1NF Tel: 0117 9682663 www.carlohairandbeauty.co.uk folio/feb 2012 37

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Education

lifestyle

MUSICAL ACCOLADES

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT ➻ Thirteen-year-old Amelia Gilmartin (pictured), a Year 8 student at Badminton School in Bristol, has just been awarded one of the top marks in the country for her Grade 8 violin. Gaining 145 out of a possible 150 marks, a distinction, she performed the third movement of Suite Hebraique by Bloch, the first movement of Vivaldi’s Concerto in E Major and Legende by Henryk Wieniawski. Amelia is taught by Professor Richard Crabtree and has been playing the violin since she was seven. She practises for at least an hour-and-a-half every day and is also a pianist, studying for her Grade 7 next

summer. “In the whole of my teaching career, I’ve never known a student get such a high mark for Grade 8,” says Matthew Bale, director of Music at Badminton, which has an excellent reputation for music and regularly holds concerts at professional venues around Bristol. Amelia plays in the senior school orchestra and is also a member of the senior school choir. She also enjoys composition and is hoping to study music at university. FFI WWW.BADMINTON.BRISTOL.SCH.UK

VENUE NEWS

GO WEST! ➻ Hayesfield Girls’ School in Bath

have announced exciting plans to promote the facilities at their new West Wing in Upper Oldfield Park, with a competitive pricing structure that will enable localbased organisations and schools to use the facilities, including a sports centre with fitness suite and outside sports pitches. Newly appointed centre manager Ross Purcell is pictured here with Hayesfield head Erica Draisey inside the state-ofthe-art, 330-seat concert theatre with raked seating and sound recording facilities. THE WEST WING AT HAYESFIELD GIRLS’ SCHOOL FFI: WWW.E-HAYESFIELD.COM/ WESTWING.ASP

FOUNDATION STAGE

CHILD’S PLAY? ➻ Shrieks of delight and sounds of

splashing water fill the air at Clifton High School’s Nursery and Reception classes, as children fervently fetch and carry an array of pipes, tubing, guttering, buckets and poles. The construction begins to take shape… It’s ambitious in design, and requires frequent adjustment and lively discussion, but when finished is a wonder to behold and fit for purpose. The water runs smoothly from top to bottom and the children stand back and admire the magnificence of their creation; their excitement and pride are tangible. Children at play? Yes, but so much more. The seemingly simple activity of finding a way to funnel water from one place to another has involved the children in high-level learning through doing. Together they have used imagination, creativity, innovation, questioning, deduction and discussion to achieve their goal. They have experimented, taken risks, overcome

challenges, acted collaboratively and independently, and have genuinely enjoyed learning. This typifies the many activities that you’re likely to witness at Clifton High School. Highly skilled teachers and nursery nurses engender a genuine thrill in learning, supporting small groups of children in spacious and wellresourced environments, both inside and outside. Valuing children’s ideas, allowing them ownership and working alongside them ensures a passion for learning that will last a lifetime. The excited chatter and proud smiles are testament to the unique learning experience that Clifton High School provides for Nursery and Reception children. If you’d like to have a look for yourself, give your child the opportunity to experience a taste of life at Clifton High at their Foundation Stage Open Morning this

Nursery children at Clifton High School learning through play

month. There will be an array of activities for children to enjoy, and opportunities to tour the school and meet staff and parents in an informal and friendly atmosphere. CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION STAGE OPEN MORNING FRI 2 MARCH, 9.30AM-12.30PM. FFI: CONTACT ADMISSIONS REGISTRAR KATE BOLTON-JONES ON 0117 933 9087 OR VISIT WWW.CLIFTONHIGH.BRISTOL. SCH.UK

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motoring

lifestyle

THE ONLY WAY IS UP! news

100mph, reaching 60mph in 14 seconds from a standing start. And what it lacks in straight line power, the up! more than makes up for in friendliness and tractability. It’s a sweet engine that does its best work between about 2,000 and 5,000rpm, so it can more than hold its own in city traffic. The throttle response is a little soft, but this does make it easy to drive smoothly, while the steering and manual gearbox are both light and accurate. Visibility is also very good, which helps with parking manoeuvres – as do the very short front and rear overhangs, which make squeezing into tiny bays simplicity itself. So, if you’re in need of a compact, smart and ever-so-green city car that’s easy to manoeuvre, cheap as chips to run and boasting the unmistakable VW cachet, it’s probably time to move up! market…

➻ All hail the Volkswagen up!, the pint-sized city car that’s just been named Car of the Year 2012 by esteemed UK monthly auto bible What Car? The funky-looking up!, which goes on sale in the UK next month, is essentially a smaller and more affordable version of VW’s ever-desirable supermini, the Polo, with four seats, a base price of £7,995 and an impressive 62.7 miles to the gallon. CO2 emissions are rated at 105g/km, although, as ever with VW, there’s a greener BlueMotion eco model on offer that will pump out just 97g/km, one of the lowest figures currently on offer. Of course, all this greenness comes with a fairly tiddly engine: pop up the bonnet of the up! and you’ll find a three-cylinder unit not much bigger than your kitchen microwave. Producing just 60bhp (75bhp further up the range), it’s not what you’d call zesty. Find a long enough stretch of motorway, though, and the car will manage

FFI WWW.VOLKSWAGEN.CO.UK

y m Da-12.30p n e m Op ay 10a

M 26 Sat

BRISTOL & bATH'S mAGAZINE

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motoring

lifestyle

COMING OF AGE Jonathan Crouch tests the ninth-generation of Honda’s popular Golf rival

he eighth-generation Honda Civic, sold between 2006 and 2011, was frustratingly close to greatness. After all, for a Focussized family car, it was best in class in so many ways, offering the smartest styling, greatest practicality, slickest gearbox and sportiest engines. If only the ride, refinement, cabin quality and running costs had been better – and if only the awkward rear window arrangement hadn’t put so many off on the test drive around the block. The result, the ninth-generation Civic on sale now, offers no excuses. It’s the car it should have been six years earlier. And it’s a family hatchback that Honda reckon every thinking buyer in this sector ought to consider. ‘Kaizen’, the Japanese approach to ‘continuous improvement’, characterises every aspect of the new Civic. It may look similar to its predecessor, but it’s a couple of generations ahead when it comes to dynamics and engineering. And it shows that Honda aren’t afraid to go against the grain when designing a car of this kind. You couldn’t,

after all, imagine any other mainstream maker offering you highrevving but potentially noisy VTEC petrol engines, or a stylish but potentially awkward-to-use split-rear tailgate. But Honda have. In the MK8 Civic, none of this stuff really worked. The difference with this MK9 design is that the designers have sorted things so that it does. So that owners can live with the benefits of their brave and characterful approach, the sporty feel of the engines, and the concept-car looks that will have the neighbours craning their heads over the fence. Add to all that class-leading running costs, brilliant British build quality and the best

gearbox and driving position you’ll find, and you’ve got a tempting package perfectly suited to those willing to look beyond the Focuses, Astras and Golfs that most will choose in the family hatchback sector. The ninth-generation Civic retains the bold styling theme of its predecessor but beefs up quality, improves efficiency and pays particular attention to ride and refinement, dramatically improving its appeal in the Focus-class family hatchback segment. As a result, an already strong and very practical package is now a whole lot better. Honda’s rivals should start worrying. FFI WWW.HONDA.CO.UK/CARS/NEWCIVIC

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Travel

PEAR TREE

INN Steve Wright books a night at a Wiltshire country pub and enjoys one of the best meals he’s had in a decade

Clockwise from top left: The picture-perfect exterior of the Pear Tree Inn; the ‘Godfather of Modern Cooking’ Marco Pierre White; a cosy bedroom under the eaves; the elegant dining room

hat do you really want from a night in an upmarket country inn? If, like me, your answer is ‘Supremely comfortable yet unshowy surroundings and seriously good, traditional British grub’, you should probably book yourself in for a weekend’s R&R at the Pear Tree Inn. A handsome, foursquare Georgian inn set in large gardens in the otherwise undistinguished Wiltshire village of Whitley, the Pear Tree has had an interesting recent history. For 10 years until 2007 the pub was run by Martin Still, a local entrepreneur who turned a basic village boozer into a nationally renowned gastropub (remember them?) with beautiful gardens and, splendidly, a handful of bijou little bedrooms. When Still left for pastures new (nearby Corsham, to be precise), the Pear Tree fell back down the pecking order – until, last spring, charismatic celeb chef (and so-called ‘Godfather of Modern

Cooking’) Marco Pierre White added it to his growing panoply of restaurants, hotels and country pubs. This, unsurprisingly, attracted serious attention in this fairly sleepy corner of west Wiltshire. White, after all, is a modern gastronomic legend – the youngest chef, at the time, ever to have been awarded three Michelin stars, and a mentor to Messrs Ramsay and Blumenthal, early in their careers. Now, almost a year after his arrival, White’s stamp is all over the Pear Tree’s impressive menu. When Rach and I pitched up one cold, dark January evening, wearied and shop-soiled from a week’s work and an hour’s drive, we were treated to some truly beautiful food in the pub’s long, elegant rear dining room. Starters of Morecambe Bay potted shrimps and smoked salmon prepared us well for a pair of truly triumphant main courses. My rib-eye steak was prepared ‘à la Boston’, which meant (who knew?) that it came with three wonderful oysters, raw and bursting with that intense flavour that you can only describe as a pure lungful of salty sea breeze. The combination with the rich, tender rib-eye might not be obvious to the foodie layperson, but by ‘eck was it good: a perfect marriage of opposites – strong/ delicate, rich/fresh, and so forth. The chips that accompanied these delicacies had been triple-cooked, making for a beautiful rich, buttery flavour. Rach, meanwhile, was purring over her roast rump of lamb à la dijonnaise, a rich, mustardy hunk of tender, aromatic meat served with creamy dauphinoise

potatoes. The meal’s high watermark, though, was the pudding for which we nobly left room: a frothy, perfect tower of raspberry soufflé that was picture-perfect on the plate – and heavenly in the mouth. After one of the finest meals I’ve eaten this decade (or indeed ever in west Wiltshire, since you ask), it was time to shuffle slowly and contentedly upstairs to our cosy little quarters under the eaves. In common with the rest of this relaxed, gracious country inn, our room had got the mix of comfort and style just right: yes, everything from the big, luxuriant bed to the well-stocked bathroom was just as you’d want it for maximum indulgence, yet neither this homely room nor the bar beneath it had succumbed to the temptation to become posh, exclusive, primped and pampered out of all recognition. From the anthologies of Wiltshire village tales on the windowsill to the splendid array, downstairs, of original political cartoons (from his 1970s-80s heyday) by Mail on Sunday cartoonist Jak, the Pear Tree is not a place to be awed by. It’s a place to stretch out, relax, and feel at home in – and, when those blissful feelings of seclusion have truly set in, to treat your palate to some of the best upmarket British grub currently on offer.

Contacts

THE PEAR TREE INN WHITLEY, NR MELKSHAM, WILTS. FFI: 01225 709131, WWW.WHEELERSPEARTREE.COM

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➻ home front bespoke furniture, sleek & eco radiators, plus Flog it! comes to town FREE ANTIQUES VALUATION

STRIKE IT RICH

➻Popular BBC2 antiques programme Flog It!, which is presented by

we love... this velvet tub chair (£385) from gift, fashion and homewares emporium Oliver Bonas. Available in nine eye-popping colours, turquoise gets our vote. Ffi: www.oliverbonas.com

Paul Martin (pictured) and regularly gets an audience of two million viewers, is coming to Bath’s Assembly Rooms this month, and you’re invited to come along and have your antiques valued free of charge by one of their team of experts. Flog It!’s free valuation days are a bit like a treasure hunt, with members of the public bringing along antiques and collectables they might be interested in selling. Once the items have been valued, the owner and team of experts decide whether they should go forward for auction. If an item is chosen, it’s sold a few weeks later – often with the owner making a tidy sum. And everyone who goes along to the valuation day will receive a valuation – even if their antiques aren’t chosen to go forward for auction. Previous programmes have seen a small cream jug sold at auction for £1,300, a ceramic bowl (bought for £4 at a car boot sale) achieve £1,500, and a woman in Aberdeen sell a Shelley tea set for a whopping £3,400. More recently, a man brought in a ceremonial cup made from rhino horn… it later sold for £44,000. “Paul Martin and the team are really looking forward to bringing the show to Bath,” says series producer Heidi Ellert. “It’s a beautiful city and the Assembly Rooms will provide the perfect setting. We hope you’ll join us on the day for a free valuation – if you’ve ever wondered how much your boot-sale bargains or clutter in the loft might be worth, now’s your chance to find out.” (The selected items will be auctioned at Clevedon Salerooms on Thur 8 March, and the Bath editions of Flog It! will be broadcast as part of the 11th series of the antiques show.) FLOG IT! FREE VALUATION DAY THUR 16 FEB, 9.30AM-4PM, ASSEMBLY ROOMS, BENNETT ST, BATH. FFI: WWW.BBC.CO.UK/FLOGIT

FURNITURE

KNOCK ON WOOD ➻ Browse a vast array of oak, pine and painted bedroom, dining, living room, nursery and home office furniture, as well as quality beds and mattresses, mirrors, clocks and prints, at Branches of Bristol. Their large, bright showroom (open daily opposite Temple Meads train station) has its own free dedicated parking at the rear. You can also view and buy most ranges online. Wood for all Branches’ products is sourced from sustainable forests, with the emphasis on quality and value for money. Employing local craftsmen, they also offer a made–to-measure service, in either pine or oak. Using their own warehouse and delivery men for local deliveries means the best possible service all the way to your door. And you can rely on honest, experienced advice from manager Will Carley, who has been with the store from the very start, along with the rest of his staff, all longstanding loyal employees. BRANCHES OF BRISTOL OPPOSITE BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS TRAIN STATION, BS1. FFI: 0800 542 7448, WWW.BRANCHESOFBRISTOL.CO.UK

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homefront SOFAS & SOFT FURNISHINGS

SITTING PRETTY

➻ The Sofa Library’s new Bristol store on Whiteladies Road is now open. Head there for dozens of styles of sofas (and sofabeds) that can be adjusted in all dimensions to suit, starting from about £50. These guys really are that rarity – a truly bespoke sofa company. While other companies may offer the odd dimension change, the Sofa Library will even let you design your own sofa, with expert staff on hand to assist the process. All the sofas are made at their own factory in Fishponds, where they also make handmade curtains and any other soft-furnishing or upholstery requirements that you can come up with. They boast by far the largest selection of fabrics of any upholstery store, with over 10,000 on display, and easily the same amount again not shown in book format – for reasons of space! Don’t feel daunted by the choice, though – staff are old hands at helping to narrow down your choices, as guided by your preferences and what’s appropriate for your interiors scheme. The Sofa Library offer a full interior design service – anything from just one room to entire properties (including recommendations on alterations and building works) at only £39 per hour. Best of all, delivery takes just two weeks! THE SOFA LIBRARY 56-60 WHITELADIES RD, BRISTOL & UNITS 5-6, EASTPARK TRADING ESTATE, GORDON RD, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 951 2624, WWW. THESOFALIBRARY.CO.UK

Q&A

RADIATORS

TALKING RUBBISH The Junk Buster, an eco-friendly, hassle-free alternative to skips Tell us about the Junk Buster We’re Bristol’s fresh-faced, on-demand, environmentally-friendly waste-removal company. We operate two-man teams in shiny trucks who arrive in your chosen time-slot, clear your unwanted items from anywhere on the premises for you (from single items to multiple truckloads), and always sweep up after ourselves. Our customers are charged simply by the volume of the truck they fill, with an upfront quote, making it structured and transparent. What happens to the rubbish that you pick up? A key value of ours is ‘Reduce, Re-use and Recycle’, so we do everything in our power to re-use first, then recycle. We do this by offering re-usable items to

charities, and then finally recycling with Environment Agency-licensed wastetransfer stations. What area do you cover? Currently, a 40-mile radius of Bristol. Is there anything you won’t collect? We’ll pretty much collect anything as long as it’s not asbestos, petroleum, toxic waste, paint, solvents, motor oil, or medical or biological waste. There are certain items technically classified as hazardous waste, though, which we can collect, such as computer monitors, TVs, fridges, freezers, fluorescent tubes, car tyres and car batteries. THE JUNK BUSTER FFI: 0117 373 8251, WWW.THEJUNKBUSTER.CO.UK

THE HEAT IS ON

➻ Innovative radiator company Bisque are unveiling four new ranges this month. Chime (£666) is a dedicated stainless-steel towel radiator, while Blok (from £514), Svelte (pictured, £597) and Ellisse (pictured, from £700) fuse eye-catching industrial design (and the attention to detail for which Bisque are renowned) with exceptional energy efficiency. Designed and manufactured in Italy, Blok, Svelte and Ellisse combine sleek Italian style with state-of-the-art eco technology incorporating recycled aluminium. The advantages of aluminium radiator construction include using less energy to heat the water, faster temperature response times, smallersized radiators to produce the same heat output, and the fact that they can be used with low-temperature systems such as heat pumps. BISQUE 15 KINGSMEAD SQUARE, BATH. FFI: 01225 466367, WWW.BISQUE. CO.UK

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to get your garden ready for Spring!

Come and choose from our huge range!

CLEEVE NURSERY Main A370, Cleeve, Bristol BS49 4PW Tel: 01934 832 134

For great home grown plants

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Winter Sale of 50 f % rr p

tarka pine bedroom solid pine bedsides from

£69 double wardrobes from

£239 % rp 35ff r o

nevada oak dining extending oak tables from

£249

solid oak chairs from

of 50 f % rr p

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nevada oak bedroom

Oak bedside

£89 Oak Chests from

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Oak Wardrobes from

£299

Nevada oak bedroom is currently 50% OFF rrp and comes with both metal handles and wooden knobs.

Opposite Temple Meads Station Bristol | BS1 6PL Opening Times: Mon - Sat 9.30am - 5.30pm Sun 10.30am - 4.30pm Free Parking at rear Tel: 0117 934 9200 www.branchesofbristol.co.uk folio/feb 2012 45

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MyGranddesign

KITCHEN

GODS

The project The brief Elaine and Simon have a lovely, large home in a great location in Bristol. The house was built around 15 years ago when kitchens were generally rather small rooms; the house warranted a much larger kitchen. They wanted the dining table within the same space and both areas to have a larger, lighter feel.

The solution

Homeworx worked with architect and designer David Rhodes to come up with an extension along the back of the house, incorporating both the existing kitchen and dining rooms and adding a couple of metres of extra space. The bricks were

carefully matched in with the original construction, and with the wall removed between the existing kitchen and dining rooms, this created the perfect new space. Homeworx added underfloor heating to avoid adding in lots of radiators to the remaining walls, as they needed the walls for new furniture to as great an extent as possible. The kitchen was designed in solid oak doors with pale, pretty Fired Earth shades, spray-finished and lacquered for durability. The flooring was kept light and pretty with Mandarin Stone’s ‘Jerusalem Limestone’. They added warmth to the kitchen with an oak breakfast bar, shelving and dresser top that Elaine was adding to with her dining furniture.

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MYGranddesign

VAULTED CEILING

The extension had a new vaulted ceiling with Velux windows and quad-folding doors to open the space onto the garden in the summer. While spot lights in the ceiling increase illumination whatever the weather outside.

HOMEWORX

➻Homeworx specialise in a

complete service, from architects’ drawings, planning permission and kitchen, bathroom and interior design to extensions, conversions, renovations and new build, incorporating building regulations and structural engineering. Below: Gemma Casey, kitchen designer and Dominic Taylor, project manager

BATHROOM REVAMP

The WC had a makeover, with new sanitaryware, vanity top, doors, and mirror. (The utility before room was also renovated, with new cabinets, sink, tap and worktop, working around existing appliances.)

TIME FOR A DRINK!

➻testimonial

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

“Thank you both so much for all your hard work on our extension and new kitchen. It’s amazing – and we love it!” Elaine & Simon, Bristol

Contact

HOMEWORX DESIGN & BUILD TEL: 01275 845011. MOB: 07809 152636. EMAIL: INFO@HOMEWORXBRISTOL.CO.UK. WEB: WWW.HOMEWORXBRISTOL.CO.UK

A wine cooler was added on the island, handy for the dining table and balmy days in the garden. Concealed storage units were tucked away under the breakfast bar and opened with push-release pistons to avoid banging knees on any handles. Handy pullouts and large, wide pan drawers optimized storage.

SIMPLE LINES

Around the induction hob, lines were kept simple with a downdraft extractor to avoid any large wall-hung appliance. The ISE hot/ filtered water tap removed the need for a kettle standing on the island, and the undermounted sink bowls allowed uninterrupted engineered stone surfaces.

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the

wooden blindcompany

bespoke shutters & blinds

Checklist • We promote Re-use • Fully licensed & insured • 2 hour arrival windows • Up front fees • Single items to multiple truck loads • Uniformed teams • Shiny trucks • Environmentaly friendly

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profile

lifestyle

MAKERS OF QUALITY WOODEN BEDS

THE bed workshop

espoke, handmade, handcrafted, made to measure, personal service… They’re all terms that can strike fear into anybody’s wallet. If you want quality and good service, you have to dig deep. But maybe there’s an exception…? Tucked away on Bristol’s Braunton Road in Bedminster is the Bed Workshop, where handmade beds are created onsite alongside the restoration of imported antique French furniture. You enter directly into the busy workshop with its smell of sap and wood lacquer where, amid piles of oak and pine timber, clamps, saws, chisels, semiconstructed beds and wood shavings, you’ll find Ned Fitzgerald. A former manager at Litvinoff and Fawcett bed makers of London,

Ned came to work for the Bed Workshop in 1999 and is now chief carpenter. “We have different designs and sizes of bed, made from either oak or pine, which we can stain in various shades and finishes,” he says. “The wood is from sustainable sources, and because they’re handmade, I can tweak and rejig dimensions to what the customer wants. We also make accessories like drawers and trundle beds that fit underneath the main bed. There’s not much we can’t do to accommodate a customer’s requirements.” As well as the modern handmade beds and antique French ones imported from Brittany, other French furniture includes farmhouse dining sets, wardrobes, bedside cabinets, chests of drawers and mirrors. They can look out for specific pieces of furniture you might request while they’re procuring items in Brittany and can even colour-match to your existing furniture. An ancient wooden staircase leads up to the showrooms, truly a contrast of old and new. The first floor has rows of handmade beds whose

THE bed workshop Braunton Road, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 3AA Tel: 0117 963 6659 Web: www.thebedworkshop.co.uk

various modern designs fall into that ‘simple, clean, classic’ look. Up another level is a room full of restored French furniture, a mixed selection of ornate opulence and utilitarian rusticity. There’s an easygoing charm that belies the professionalism of the people who work here, and their amiable, relaxed approach is refreshing in these days of ‘hard sell’. If you’re looking for a value-for-money purchase with that personal touch, pop into the Bed Workshop.

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Property news

Clifton Wood’s prettily painted terrace is a key landmark on Bristol’s skyline

VICTORIAN

VALUES

There are some real finds among Bristol’s terraced housing stock. Velimir Ilic reports

or more and more people, value for money is the most important consideration when thinking about buying a new abode in these uncertain times. And when you consider that a large proportion of properties in Bristol are Victorian terraces, it makes sense that they will be on a lot of buyers’ radars. For various reasons, terraced housing isn’t for everyone (close proximity to neighbours, noise, parking problems, etc), but such problems are often blown out of proportion. Even for those aspirational buyers who might not immediately consider looking at the terraced option, there are some terrific examples pocketed throughout Bristol that are well worth a second glance.

For £650,000, this charming six-bedroom house on Clifton’s Camden Terrace could be yours...

Desirable Victoria Park – for many the bijou jewel in south Bristol’s crown - is a great place to start. Its vibrant smattering of short streets attracts a good mix of young families, artists, academics and professionals. The houses are almost all three- and four-bedroom terraces from the 1890s, many of them now with loft conversions that double as extra bedrooms. A friendly and increasingly hip neighbourhood, it offers great views of the city, too. CJ Hole currently have a two-bedroom Victorian midterrace house for sale on Holmesdale Road at a guide price of £249,995; factor in the 52-acre park and fabulous gastropub the Victoria Park, and it becomes an even more attractive option. There are plenty of choice examples elsewhere, too. Currently on the market for £550,000 with Chappell and Matthews is a fivebedroom, grade II-listed period townhouse on St Michaels Hill in Bristol, part of a charming terrace with great access to the city centre. When you consider that it’s a characterful fourfloor family home on a charming terrace and with an inviting rear garden, it’s a bit of a snip at the asking price. With two reception rooms and sitting room, plus heaps of space to call your own, this is a great property for a large family, and perfect when friends and relatives come over to stay, too. Meanwhile, Andrews have a generously proportioned, six-bedroom terraced Victorian townhouse available on Camden Terrace in Clifton, priced at £650,000. Spread out over five

This four-floor family townhouse is on uberdesirable St Michaels Hill

floors, this elegant property has large rooms and impressive features, including a sitting room with period fireplace, a self-contained basement flat with its own private entrance, a terrace and a walled cottage garden. Some modernisation is needed, but for the right buyer, this is a lovely prospect, within easy walking distance of the harbour and Clifton Village. “We find that terraced properties always sell very well,” say Richard Harding estate agents in Clifton. “In our experience they tend to be the next step up for buyers moving from flats up to a family home. Many of the Victorian terrace houses in the areas we cover are near excellent schools, which is also a driving factor. This, coupled with the character and charm of period properties, adds to the appeal. We’ve recently agreed a sale on a property in Westbury Park at over the asking price within a week, which indicates the demand and popularity for this type of property in prime residential areas.” ANDREWS & PARTNERS 158 WHITELADIES RD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 973 2551, WWW. ANDREWSONLINE.CO.UK CJ HOLE 268 NORTH ST, SOUTHVILLE, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 963 4373, WWW.CJHOLE.COM CHAPPELL & MATTHEWS 151 WHITELADIES RD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 905 1081, WWW. CHAPPELLANDMATTHEWS.CO.UK RICHARD HARDING 124 WHITELADIES RD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 946 6690, WWW. RICHARDHARDING.CO.UK

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property

FUNDING NEWS GETTING WARMER

ristol City Council has been awarded £102,000 by the Department of Health to help make homes warmer and safer for vulnerable people this winter. The Bristol Warm Homes project will bring together health services, housing, social care and voluntary groups to develop a support programme for those most at risk, primarily older people and families with young children living in cold homes. Advisors from various key organisations will provide in-depth advice on keeping warm, aiming to reduce the mortality rate caused by cold homes during winter. “This additional funding will help ensure that up to 5,000 of the most vulnerable households across Bristol keep warm this winter, which is very welcome news indeed,” says councillor Anthony Negus, cabinet member for Housing, Property Services and Regeneration. The project will also offer benefit entitlement checks and referral to schemes such as Warm Front and Bristol City Council’s Energy Efficiency Scheme, which provides free loft and cavity wall insulation to vulnerable private sector households.

PORTISHEAD

the wow factor

➻ Crest Nicholson recently unveiled Sixty8, the latest

phase of its popular Port Marine development in Portishead. Located along the Marina dockside, Sixty8 offers 60 one- and two-bedroom apartments, and eight exclusive two-bedroom penthouses, all with excellent views of the marina and easy access to nearby amenities, venues and entertainments. All the properties are built to a high specification, and the combination of brick, timber and modern cladding creates a modern feel. One-bedroom apartments are available from £132,000, and two-bedroom apartments start at £185,000. Laura Osborne, sales manager for Crest Nicholson, says, “The latest phase of our development at Port Marine not only offers value for money, but also encompasses that extra wow factor that waterside living provides. Portishead is the perfect location for people who enjoy the picturesque surroundings of a marina, as well as being close to the buzzing city of Bristol.’

FFI WWW.PORTMARINE.CO.UK

property of the issue ABBOTS LEIGH HOUSE, CHURCH RD, ABBOTS LEIGH, BRISTOL, £POA

➻ Set in stunning grounds

HARBOURSIDE

ROOMS WITH A VIEW

➻ Apartment living is certainly proving popular this month – so

much so that there are only three of them left to buy at The Crescent on Bristol’s Harbourside. Anyone wanting to move into one of these high-spec, generously sized apartments is being urged to act quickly to avoid missing out. “The development has attracted attention from the outset because of its superb location right in the heart of Bristol, alongside the historic floating harbour,” says Susan Young, sales and marketing director for Harbourside. “With amenities on the doorstep and stunning views, house-hunters have been hardpushed to find anything comparable in the region. The fact that 269 out of 272 properties in The Crescent have been sold is a clear demonstration of the development’s appeal.” Prices start from £299,000. And in addition to the numerous shops, restaurants and bars nearby, there’s an added bonus – commuters wanting to get to Temple Meads can simply hop on the water ferry at the designated stop.

FFI 0117 908 8888, WWW.HARBOURSIDE.CO.UK

in highly desirable, semirural Abbots Leigh, this is proper pipedream territory. When the brochure says ‘one of the best addresses in Bristol’, it isn’t joking. Originally built in about 1780, the house is grade II-listed, with fabulous views across to the Welsh Hills. Fully refurbished, this bright and spacious family home offers superb reception rooms with beautiful working fireplaces, high ceilings and full-length Georgian sash windows. In the kitchen, there’s an oil-fired Aga, a south-east balcony and access to a conservatory/garden room downstairs. The basement has extensive storage space for a laundry room and other amenities, while upstairs there are eight bedrooms and five bathrooms. Across the courtyard, the converted coach house is a self-contained two-storey cottage, and there’s a double and single garage, plus carport. But it’s those immaculate landscaped gardens, stretching across seven acres, which really catch the eye, with a Venetian water feature, croquet lawn, paddocks, stables and various outbuildings. You’ll no doubt be frequenting the nearby golf course and country club, too. Best get practising that swing.

SAVILLS 20 THE MALL, CLIFTON VILLAGE, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 933 5800, WWW. SAVILLS.CO.UK

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➻ eatingoutwest Health foods and teas, gifts for gourmets, and a brand new bistro barn bistro

lovestruck

➻ Old Down Manor, just north of Bristol, has long been known for its Country

Park, a popular holiday day out for the kiddies thanks to adventure playgrounds and an abundance of rare-breed animals including long-horned cattle, alpacas, wallabies and such. But following a massive £5m refurbishment it seems that the house itself may soon be the main attraction at Old Down, not least for the new barn-conversion dining room. Opened last September under Spanish chef Manuel Perez Monson, the stone-walled bistro boasts a wood-burning stove and an imaginative menu of contemporary European food like seared scallops with parsnip purée and sautéed white pudding, ham hock terrine with sauce gribiche, and roasted monkfish tail wrapped in jamon serrano with sun-dried tomato risotto. Situated in the South Gloucestershire countryside, they’re naturally keen to use locally sourced ingredients, with as much produce as possible coming from within 20 miles. Thus venison and sausages come from Days House Farm (about 10 miles away) while eggs come from the hens scratching around in the garden outside. Just to show how grown-up the place has become they’re opening up the Manor House Orangery on a couple of special nights for Valentine’s Day. On Sat 11 and Tue 14 Feb, Sr Perez Monson and his team at Old Down will be offering champagne cocktails, flowers and a serenading classical guitarist to the lovestruck, as well as a particularly sumptuous six-course tasting menu (with vegetarian option). All very special, but it’s also worth keeping an eye on the regular menu (the bistro is open Thur-Sat) as it evolves to match the seasons and whatever becomes available throughout the year. OLD DOWN BISTRO AT OLD DOWN MANOR FOXHOLES LANE, TOCKINGTON, BRISTOL, BS32. FFI: 01454 414081, WWW.THEOLDDOWNBISTRO. ABSOLUTEWEBHOST3.CO.UK

health food

word of mouth ➻ Like most retailers, Wild Oats co-proprietors Mike and Loes Abrahams were bracing themselves for a chilly winter, given the financial climate, but were surprised to find that it hasn’t been at all bad so far. “I guess people realise they need to stay healthy to keep their jobs!” Mike speculates. “Diet and nutrition are crucial to health, and people are increasingly coming to us for consultations.” The shop has been committed to selling healthy foods since 1980, when Mike and Loes left careers in the European Space Programme to open a healthfood shop. Over the years the place has expanded in size and range, notably establishing a comprehensive stock of supplements and remedies, with expert advice available at all times. The Wild Oats team have become something of a centre of expertise, largely thanks to customer feedback. Mike explains: “We sell on results – if something doesn’t do what

it claims, we want to know. People can bring it back. We trust our customers and they trust us – word of mouth is always the best recommendation – so we in turn vet all our suppliers continuously. And if we don’t have the answer to a customer’s enquiry, we usually know someone who does.” So far, the big thing for 2012 looks as though it’s going to be raw food, with dried kale, cheesecake, banoffee pie and even hummus joining the more established chocolate in the raw section. It may not be rocket science but, after 32 years of successful trading, they must be doing something right. WILD OATS 9-11 LOWER REDLAND RD, BRISTOL, BS6. FFI: 0117 973 1967, WWW.WOATS.CO.UK

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herbs

when tim met seb ➻ It’s a classic story: a man wants something more from life, advertises in a local magazine and, happily, finds someone to share life’s path… ‘Do you want to grow a business in a healthy way?’ asked the ad that Tim Westwell placed in Venue back in 2002 and, fatefully, Sebastian Pole was the only respondent. Combining Westwell’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to green and healthy living with the training in herbalism and ayurvedic medicine that Pole had spent 10 years gaining in India, they started Pukka Herbs in March 2002. “I just knew that Venue readers would be the right type of people,” Westwell reflects as they celebrate their 10th anniversary. “And meeting Seb was perfect timing for both of us.”

The business grew steadily and now achieves £10m revenue from its Whitchurch HQ, with Pukka Teas gracing the shelves of Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, and a wide range of herbal remedies and health supplements available through specialist stores and their website. Westwell is proud of their work with Indian growers. “We’re working with around 500 families and co-ops cultivating over 300 hectares of sustainable organic land. We know the whole story from the seeds onwards.” And we can feel a teeny glow ourselves for that small but vital part that Venue played. Happy anniversary, Pukka People! PUKKA HERBS FFI: WWW.PUKKAHERBS.COM

valentine gifts

food of love ➻ If you’re stuck for something to give

your loved one this Valentine’s Day, visit the FieldToFeast website where you’ll find truly sumptuous and unique foodie gifts. Devon artisan chocolates, West Country sparkling wine and organic heart-shaped cheddars are just a selection of what’s on offer. You can choose to have your items enveloped in luxurious gift-wrapping, and Imogen from FieldToFeast is offering every customer a bag of artisan white chocolate hearts, free with each order. Either nibble quietly to yourself or share with someone special!

FIELDTOFEAST FFI: WWW.FIELDTOFEAST.CO.UK

LUNCH FOR A FIVER

MEATLESS MAGIC

pic credit: MARK SIMMONS

➻ There’s a lot about ‘cheap eats’ in this issue, but we felt that there’s one place in Bath that deserves a special mention. Bath doesn’t have many meat-free establishments – and when it comes to pubs, there’s just one. Yes, it’s the gloriously comfy, multi-levelled experience of The Porter we’re celebrating, those all-day purveyors of splendid veggie (and vegan) food from Full English Breakfast-time onwards. Using as much locally sourced produce as they can find, the selection of cooked food (including stews, pies, burgers, curries and pizzas) is as wide as any other pub, albeit with nary a trace of animal about it. But it gets better! Pop in at lunchtime (12noon-3pm) on any weekday and they’ll offer a choice of main course, plus glass of wine, half of beer or soft drink for a shockingly measly £5. You lucky vegetarians! THE PORTER 15 GEORGE ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 424104, WWW.THEPORTER.CO.UK

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➻ EatingOutWest

cheap

eats

Bypass the kebab shop and treat yourselves to top-quality nosh for not a lot of dosh Words: Tony benjamin

Under £15

ou know the riff by now: blah blah recession, blah blah austerity, blah blah cutbacks… and, of course, it’s all true. But if there’s one thing that cheers us all up, it’s eating splendid food in a welcoming diner - and if you know where to go, there are some amazing bargains to be had. We may have tightened our belts but that doesn’t mean we can’t let them out a notch or two now and then, does it?

Bocabar Paintworks, Bath Rd, Arnos Vale, Bristol, BS4 (0117 972 8838, www. bocabar.co.uk) • The awardwinning Bocabar’s big airy rooms are at the arty-heart of Bristol’s Paintworks. Somehow combining sophistication and familyfriendliness, their generously topped pizzas (from £9.95) are legend. Pop in for lunch during February and you’ll find a ‘deal of the day’ hot special for a mere £5, or bring the kids for tea and get a free ‘junior’ pizza and soft drink for each big pizza ordered (Mon-Thur, 5-7pm).

Catherine Wheel High Street, Marshfield, Wilts, SN14 (01225 892220, www. thecatherinewheel.co.uk) • There’s a 16th century charm about the Catherine Wheel, and their reasonably priced classic English pub lunch menu sits well with the real ale, panelled walls and exposed stonework. Only the priciest combination of two courses pans out around £15, while the monthly curry night – pickle, poppadom and all – is understandably popular at £9.95.

Burger Joint 32 Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6 (0117 329 0887, www.theburgerjoint. co.uk) • They say they’re ‘serious about burgers’ at this tidy little Cotham outfit, and by the time he’d finished his customised jawstretcher, our reviewer pronounced it perfect. Find out why by sampling one of the 78 million possible combinations of burger, sauces, toppings and sides for a mere £4.95 if you go between 3-5pm on a weekday, or go earlier (12noon3pm) and get any burger with a side dish and a drink for £7.50.

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Jazz Café

The Cork

1 Kingsmead St, Bath (01225 329002, www.bathjazzcafe.co.uk) • Every day, Bath’s Jazz Cafe opens its doors from breakfast to tea time and treats jaded passersby to a swinging burst of… jazz, natch! Venture inside and you can pick a ‘Jazz Bacon Buttie’ (£4.25), a ‘Jazz Club Sandwich’ (£6.25) and even a ‘Jazz Special Omelette’ (£7.50) from a menu that’s as eclectic as their record collection. Daily specials are a must, with mezze a perennial hepcat favourite.

11-12 Westgate Buildings, Bath (01225 333582, www.thecork.co.uk) • At The Cork they call them ‘classics’ – burgers, fish and chips, quiche and so on – and they’re treated with proper respect at this lively central Bath bar with its ‘see and be seen’ terrace seating. With a choice of puddings coming in at a mere £3.95, you might also want to go Spanish and grab three tapas-style sharing plates for £9.

Marlborough Tavern 35 Marlborough Buildings, Bath (01225 423731, www.marlborough-tavern.com) • This very welcoming gastropub’s big foodie reputation is down to chef Richard Knighting’s passion for fresh, seasonal, local produce. Find out what all the fuss is about by popping in on a weekday lunchtime (12.30-2.30pm) and ordering the likes of ham hock terrine, mushroom and leek pearl barley risotto, or beerbattered fish and chips from the special set menu at just £12 (two-course) or £15 (three-course).

Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia St, Quakers Friars, Bristol (0117 916 8888, www.harveynichols.com/bristol) • Hang on – are we saying that you can eat in ultra-chic Harvey Nicks for under £15? It’s no mistake, as it seems that throughout February they’re offering a three-course lunch (MonThur) or dinner (Tue-Thur), including things like venison kofta, braised leg of guinea fowl, and lime and ginger pannacotta, for just £10 a head. What’s the catch? You have to book in advance and have a friend – it’s a 2-4-1 deal – but that’s all. How Fab is that? Absolutely!

The Richmond Pub & Kitchen 33 Gordon Rd, Bristol, BS8 (0117 923 7542, www.therichmondclifton.co.uk) • After numerous changes, a recent refurbishment has restored the Richmond to exactly what it should be: a proper pub, with a proper bar menu full of proper homemade tasties like fishcakes, meat pies and burgers. A twocourse feast will still come in at under £15 – and that’s without the 15% off all food, wine and spirits available every weekday, 4-7pm.

Clifton Sausage 7-9 Portland St, Clifton Village, Bristol (0117 973 1192, www.cliftonsausage.co.uk) • We think that the Clifton Sausage is blooming good value at any time, what with the topquality locally sourced stuff in their bangers and the lashings of mash’n’gravy to boot, so when we heard that you can get a threecourse lunch for £11.50 (two-course £9.50) any weekday in one of Clifton’s friendliest diners, we were frankly gobsmacked.

River Canteen Spring Gardens Rd, Bath, BA2 (01225 424800, www.river-canteen. co.uk) • Newly opened in a fantastic Bath weir-side location, the River Canteen offers three courses from a classic selection of Italian favourites like funghi fritti, pollo cacciatore, gnocchi, stone-baked pizza and tiramisu for the amazingly nononsense price of £11.50 (lunch) or £12.50 (dinner). If you’re in a hurry they’ll do a one-course ‘express’ lunch for you, but at that price why on earth would you be in a hurry?

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!! m 3a 12am til -Wed am un: Sun Sat 1 en entryhurs Op last T

Classic Cocktails

@Mandalyns www.thecork.co.uk Westgate Buildings, James St. West, Bath, BA1 1EB

Two 4 One

Every night before 9pm!

The Catherine Wheel Pub with a buzz - and great food

Marshfield, the gateway to the Cotswolds and just a few miles north of Bath, is at the centre of many spectacular countryside walks and cycle rides. The Catherine Wheel,nestled in the picturesque high street, is renowned for its traditional homecooked food and real ales, including Butcombe Bitter and Cotswold Springâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stunner. A friendly pub, gorgeous inside and out with exposed stone walls, open fires for the cold winter months and a sheltered sunny courtyard bedecked with hanging baskets and flowers for the more balmy months. Open 12 noon to 11pm everyday

The Catherine Wheel 39 High St, Marshfield, nr Bath, Wilts SN14 8LR Tel: 01225 892220 Email: roo@thecatherinewheel.co.uk

Food available Monday to Friday 12 - 2pm and 6.30pm - 9pm Saturday 12 - 3pm and 6.30pm - 9.30pm Sunday 12 - 3pm and 6pm - 8.30pm Booking recommended (See website for details)

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➻ EatingOutWest Tampopo Glasshouse (Level 3), Cabot Circus, Bristol (0117 927 7008, www.tampopo. co.uk) • A little slice of pan-Asian heaven up in the Cabot Circus ‘Glasshouse’, Tampopo prepares richly flavoursome dishes from eight Far Eastern countries including Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Korea. Students get a 20% discount but anyone can opt for the special Eastern Express two-course menu for £7.95. It’s available Mon-Fri, 12noon-5pm or to customers showing a ticket for theatre, concert or cinema performances.

Zerodegrees

Shanghai Nights

53 Colston St, Bristol (0117 925 2706, www.zerodegrees.co.uk) • In the ultracontemporary setting of Zerodegrees microbrewery you can watch house specialities like Dark Lager and Mango Beer maturing on their way to the taps while treating yourself to a handsome bowl of pasta, mussels or a stone-baked pizza for under £15. Come at lunchtime, though, and there’s a whole extra menu of imaginative wraps, crepes and sandwiches around the £6 mark

Nelson St, Bristol (0117 945 0505, www. shanghainightsbristol.co.uk) • Slap-bang in the centre of Bristol on one of the world’s paintiest thoroughfares, Shanghai Nights is a cool, purple temple of oriental eating with a great reputation for freshly made dim sum and a fixed-price buffet (£6.50, lunch; £12.50, dinner) that covers over 100 regional Chinese dishes. Brilliant value – but it gets better! Grab a pal or three, download the voucher from their website, and you’ll get 2-4-1 on the buffet throughout February.

Tiffins 151 St Michaels Hill, Kingsdown, Bristol (0117 973 4834, www.tiffins-bristol.com) • Whether eating in or taking away, the quality of Tiffins’ traditionally prepared Gujerati food is downright awe-inspiring, so it was no surprise to us when they ended up as finalists in BBC Radio 4’s national 2010 Food and Farming awards. Lunch boxes of curry and rice (£5/£5.50) are great value, but go for one of the ‘specials’ for £14.50 (veg)/£15.50 (meat) and you can guarantee that two people will soon be happily stuffed.

Sotto Sotto 10 North Parade, Bath, BA2 (01225 330236, www.sottosotto.co.uk) • This brand new Italian ristorante may be hidden below the North Parade pavement but its collection of regional dishes and quality cooking are already catching the taste-buds of discerning Bathonians. You can find plenty of two-course combinations for around the £15 mark – tuna carpaccio followed by a Tuscan pasta dish, or pizza perhaps? – but you’ll need an iron will to stop yourself ordering more from their dreadfully enticing menu.

The Wheatsheaf at Combe Hay Combe Hay, BA2 (01225 833504, www. wheatsheafcombehay.co.uk) • Finding yourself in the Wheatsheaf garden on a summer’s afternoon is as close to paradise as a BA postcode allows. Sampling some of chef Eddy Rains’ deft cookery puts the icing on the cake, and the bar menu offers affordable (and sustainably locally sourced) goodies like fish of the day (£12) and burger of the week (£11). Is it summer yet?

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Over £15

Byzantium 2 Portwall Lane, Bristol (0117 922 1883, www.byzantium.co.uk) • With its exotic Middle Eastern décor and occasional magical and musical entertainment, Byzantium is more of an experience than your average restaurant. The food’s a tempting mix of Mediterranean classics and tasty new interpretations and, throughout February, they’re offering a special three-course Spanish menu for £22.95. They love our readers, though, so if you seek out their advert in this very edition you can take advantage of a stunning 30% reduction on your food bill.

f you want to mark an occasion or just plain spoil yourself, it’s astonishing how welcomingly some of Bristol and Bath’s swankiest doors will open for a lot less money than you’d think. Check out the alluring offers at these classy establishments.

Muset by Ronnie’s 12-16 Clifton Rd, Bristol, BS8 (0117 973 7248, www.ronnies-restaurant. co.uk/muset) • The comingtogether of much-loved restaurant Muset with Thornbury superchef Ronnie Faulkner added a new star to the Clifton dining scene. If you fancy sampling artful cuisine in supersmart surroundings but want to keep both arms and legs, there’s a fixed-price dinner menu (TueThur) at £16 (two-course) or £19 (three-course) discounted by 25% at lunchtime (Tue to Sat).

Casanis 4 Saville Row, Bath (01225 780055, www.casanis.co.uk) • How much does it cost to get to a Seine-side bistro in gay Paree? Well, £18.75 buys a three-course lunch at Casanis (£14.75/two-course), and once you’ve tasted their goat’s cheese croustillant or omelette aux fines herbes, you’ll believe you’ve Eurostarred it. You can have the same menu between 6-7pm for £18.50/£22.50 and still make curtain call at the Theatre Royal, but (sadly) Gauloise smoke is off.

Demuths

Ronnie’s of Thornbury 11 St Mary St, Thornbury, BS35 (01454 411137, www.ronnies-restaurant.co.uk/thornbury) • The Good Food Guide’s top UK restaurant choice in 2009, Ronnie’s is a very classy option for fans of contemporary British cuisine. Which makes taking advantage of their fixed-price lunch (TueSat, £13/£16) and dinner (Tue-Thur, £19/£22) menus in the converted schoolhouse dining room very appealing indeed. Pheasant arancini? Roasted venison haunch? Now you’re talking!

2 North Parade Passage, Bath (01225 446059, www.demuths. co.uk) • Rachel Demuth’s Abbey-side kitchen has been making state-of-the-art vegetarian food in Bath for 25 years and now new chef Richard Buckley brings another generation of skills and techniques to the mix. The standard evening menu is always great value at £19.95 (two-course) or £24.95 (threecourse), but get in early (Mon-Thur, 5.30-6.30pm) and a twocourse dinner costs only £15.90. Believe us – you won’t miss the meat.

Cadbury House Hotel Frost Hill, Congresbury, BS49 (01934 834343, www. cadburyhotelbristol.co.uk) • How far would you be prepared to go for a bad boy superchef? Down in Congresbury, the Cadbury House Hotel has given over its smart black and white dining room to Marco Pierre White’s steakhouse – as unabashed a celebration of meatiness as you could hope for. Naturally Sunday lunch (£14.50/ two-course; £19.50/threecourse) is a popular highpoint but there’s a fine set menu for the rest of the week available as lunch (£14.50/£20) and dinner (£20/£25).

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Ronnies of Thornbury 11 St Mary Street, Thornbury 01454 411137 info@ronnies-restaurant.co.uk www.ronnies-restaurant.co.uk

Fixed Price Lunch 2 courses £13 3 courses £16 (Tues to Sat) Fixed Price Dinner 2 courses £19 3 courses £22 (Tues to Thurs)

25% off food @ Lunch until 14th February.

Lunch Party Package £25 (service included) A glass of Jeio Prosecco on arrival • Two courses from the Fixed Price Menu • A glass of house wine with your meal • Coffee or tea with petit fours (Tues to Sat)

Muset by Ronnie 12-16 Clifton Road, Clifton 0117 973 7248 muset@ronnies-restaurant.co.uk www.ronnies-restaurant.co.uk

Dinner Party Package £35 (service included) A glass of Jeio Prosecco on arrival • Three courses from the Fixed Price Menu • Half a bottle of house wine with your meal • Coffee or tea with petit fours (Tues to Thurs)

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➻ EatingOutWest

THE SEVEN DEADLY DINNER PARTY SINS Melissa Blease is our hostess with the mostess

Cocky Behaviour

Cocktails are, in theory, a great way to welcome your guests. But foisting a heady concoction of unbidden, mismatched spirits on everybody at the start of the evening is downright impolite. Play safe, and serve a stylish glass of fizz on arrival instead. But please don’t serve it in those dreadful flutes that have a long stem but no base – there’s a reason why you can always get such utterly ridiculous glassware in your local charity shop.

Cumbersome Canapés

A canapé should be a thing of elegant, one-bite beauty: a palate-teaser to enjoy with your fizz, a prelude to the food proper to come. The current craze for ‘mini’ beefburgers in soggy buns oozing with sticky relish, massive wedges of bread topped with a pile of tomatoes or whole slices of carpaccio wrapped around a whole bread stick served before you sit down to enjoy your starter is a tough trend to digest, let alone nibble while mingling. What’s wrong with a bowl of olives, a

platter of lightly topped blinis and – if you must – a handful of upper-crust crisps? Nothing, that’s what.

DÉcor Decorum

A beautifully decorated dining table is a joy to behold. A cluttered, over-fussy place setting that looks like a cross between a Claire’s Accessories window display and Lily Savage’s dressing table, however, is not. Feathers, foil stars and glitter have no place on a dining table. Perfumed candles and/or strongly scented flowers

play havoc with all sense of taste. And as for sparklers in desserts... don’t even go there.

A Matter of Course

Onion bhajis, lasagne, bread pudding and custard. French onion soup, Thai curry, Black Forest gateau. Gazpacho, boeuf bourguignon, spotted dick. None of those combinations could be described as munching marriages made in heaven – and you certainly wouldn’t order such a menu in a restaurant. So why force your guests to eat such a mismatched mélange? If you theme your menu according to a culinary map (English, French, Italian, Spanish, etc) and stick to seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, you can’t go wrong.

Botheration!

‘I meant to set the table.’ ‘There should really be some bread to go with this.’ ‘Sorry, I forgot to chill the wine.’ ‘If you just shove that pile of newspapers to one side, you might be able to sit down.’ ‘I was going to make

a pudding but I couldn’t be bothered.’ OK… and I couldn’t be bothered to turn up and pretend to enjoy your lacklustre food. If you’re going to make an effort, make an effort!

Tweedle Dumb

Unless you’re a Come Dine With Me contestant, a printed menu listing details of what you’re about to feed your guests has no place at home, especially when it’s designed to make mundane dishes sound magnificent. Meanwhile, ‘cutesy’ dish descriptions (Piggy Wiggy Pork, Sarah’s Surprise Sorbet, Hot Patooties – aaargh!) are a recipe for twee twaddle.

Play Safe

Too much rich food, too much cheap alcohol and too many people can only lead to dinner party disaster. Stick to manageable numbers of friendly faces, serve a selection of downhome, uncomplicated tried-and-trusted recipes, and keep your merriment mellow – that’s the ultimate recipe for a super supper party indeed.

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TAKE AWAY AND INFORMAL CAFE STYLE SEATING

Look around and see, feel, smell and breathe in the freshness of our working brewery, open plan kitchen and our stylish bar. Everything is there for you to be a part of the experience. All of our innovative pizzas are creatively designed on a delicious crust and stone-baked to perfection. We also serve fresh kilo pots of mussels that perfectly compliment our beer, creative salads, pastas, classic appetisers and indulgent desserts. We have a flavour for every palate.

At Tiffins we cook and serve traditional home cooking style Gujarati food. We cook in only little amounts pure sunflower oil and do not use ghee, or any artificial colouring or flavours. All dishes are cooked individually, in the traditional way, and all the dishes are displayed in front of you for you to choose and mix and match as you wish. Our menu changes daily with a selection of 7 veggie curries and 2 meat curries to choose from. Dishes can be taken home cold to heat up later or we can heat it up for you.

53 Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5BA

EVENTS CATERING Tiffins offer event catering to tailor-made to suit your budget and needs.

www.tiffinsbristol.com

Finalist for Best Take-away 2010 by BBC Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards.

0117 925 2706 www.zerodegrees.co.uk bristol@zerodegrees.co.uk Reader Offer:

Celebrate the month of love with your friends and family with this

2for1 offer

on main meals.

Bring this voucher to claim your free main meal when you buy another.

151 St Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hill, Bristol, BS2 8DB 0117 973 4834 www.tiffinsbristol.com info@tiffins-bristol.com

T&Cs:The cheapest dish will be free. Valid til 29/2/12, sundays to thursdays (except on 14/2/12). Please give this voucher to your waiter/waitress before ordering. Extra toppings or substitutions are excluded from this offer. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers, promotions or set menus. This offer is not valid on takeaway.

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you... WE WANT TO HEAR FROM

Tell us about your big day or wedding plans; let us know all about the gorgeous dress you discovered or about that perfect venue. Ask us any questions you have about planning for your nuptials or share some useful tips of your own. Email the editor at m.gartside@venue.co.uk and you could be gracing the pages of our next edition.

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THE BULL AT HINTON Fixed price menu Mon 6 - 7 pm Tues - Thur 12 - 2pm & 6 - 7pm

Bath’s only vegetarian pub, serving gourmet vegetarian & vegan food but at pub prices from 12-9pm 7 days a week -no need to book

Starter

Soup of the day with fresh home made bread. Chicken liver pate with toasted brioche & onion marmalade. Tomato & mozzarella salad with balsamic reduction.

Great selection of wine and real ales. Fabulous £5 lunch Deals Daily specials

Main course

Char grilled chicken breast served with green beans and roasted new potatoes, pancetta & mushroom sauce. Pan fried sardines on toasted home made bread with mixed vegetable salad. (v) Rigatoni gorgonzola pasta with rocket salad & parmesan shavings.

15 George Street, Bath 01225 424104 / theporter.co.uk

Desserts

Vanilla cream brulee with biscuits. Selection of ice creams & sorbets (2 scoops).

3 Courses for £9.95 2 Courses for £ 7.95

BRISTOL & bATH'S mAGAZINE

Wine offer of the month Pay for 2 large glasses of wine & get the rest of the bottle free

When eating any main meal (offer applies only to wines sold by the glass)

Tel: 0117 937 2332 reservations@thebullathinton.co.uk

www.venue.co.uk

“ Best of both worlds” Our handpicked Pan Asian chefs enable us to offer authentic regional dishes providing a truly Oriental experience

2-4-1

Pay for one buffet & get second one absolutely FREE! Please quote VENUE / FOLIO when booking / visiting or simply present this advert to claim this offer. Offer ends 29th February 2012. Lunch: 12 noon – 3pm £6.50 per person After 3pm: £12.50 per person

Shanghai Nights Nelson Street Bristol BS1 2JT T: 0117 9450505 www.shanghainightsbristol.co.uk

* Terms and conditions apply. * Offer ends 29th February 2012. Offers excludes - Chinese New year Eve’s and NYE Day 22nd and 23rd January. Valentine’s Day 14th February. All BankHolidays or Special days. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers

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➻ EatingOutWest

ReView SIAM HARBOURSIDE Tony Benjamin finds out how Hotwells’ long-established Thai eatery is shaping up under Anglo-Thai management and a newish Thai chef

t had been there on Hotwell Road for a fair few years before the Grain Barge heaved to and moored next door, and initial appearances suggest that little has changed at Bristol’s longest-established Thai restaurant. Behind that dark red frontage there’s the little reception bar with sofas and fireplace where you’re greeted with warmth and coats are taken away. Then you’re shown into the large dining room where the elaborately carved chairs and wall panels combine with plentiful flowers, plants and oriental easy-listening music to convey a definite ambience of old Thailand. So far, so familiar. It’s when the menu arrives that things start to look a bit different – there’s somehow less of it and yet a wider range of choices than before. This is encouraging. A glass of Thai ‘Monsoon’ white wine and the obligatory prawn crackers both dwindle as we take stock before ordering, but there’s no pressure and it’s a relaxing pleasure to imagine the different combinations we might enjoy. It’s good to note a nicely diverse section of starters and mains for vegetarians as well as the copious meat and seafood choices and some intriguing ‘specialities’. In the end we settle things in a rush of our own making – both me and the Lovely She are hungry, after all – and order a tumble of dishes. “Does that sound greedy?” I ask the waitress and she shakes her head, smiling discreetly. Since I last ate at Siam Harbourside it’s changed hands, with a new Anglo-Thai partnership running things and a recently arrived Thai chef installed in the kitchen. That should be good news as previous visits had revealed rather bland dishes that harked back to a time when Thai food was a rarity

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in this country and few of us would have been to Thailand to sample the real thing. Post EasyJet and the gap year industry, however, more British people have eaten in Bangkok than Bangor, with a Thai place to hand in every high street to refresh those tasty memories of high-impact spices and vivid flavours. Bland won’t cut it any more (if it ever did). Two spoonfuls into our po tak samui soup and we catch each other’s eye-watering glance – it’s amazing; a pungent stock infused

“Two spoonfuls into our po tak samui soup and we catch each other's eyewatering glance – it's amazing”

with green chilli bubbling with fat tiger prawns and strips of supple squid topped with massive Pacific mussels in their shells. It’s a sharing dish, served in a nifty candlepowered heated tureen, and one of the brightest tastes I’ve sampled for a long time. According to the menu it’s a mildly spicy dish, but it actually kicks like an upcountry mule (only in a good way). Having ordered at least one hotter-rated main-course dish, I’m slightly nervous – but only slightly. The soup is worth lingering over and we shamelessly scrape and drain that tureen before letting it go and welcoming the mains. They don’t disappoint, either, with the same combination of satisfying ingredients and vigorous flavours making each dish distinctively enjoyable. We’ve picked a vegetable green curry (gaeng kiew wan phak) that offers properly crunchy broccoli and moist asparagus with crisp fried tofu in rich creamy coconut sauce. That’s balanced by a couple of ‘speciality’ stirfry dishes featuring squid (pla meuk phad prig sod) and duck (ped

phad kee mao). The squid is once again meltingly soft, with a hot peppery dryness to its garlic-scented sauce, and the duck is perfectly marinated meat, moistly cooked with Thai aubergine in a dark, sweet, caramel-hinting sauce. Laid out before us with noodles and rice, it looks ambitious but, once started, we steadily work through the lot – including those elaborately carved carrot garnishes. It leaves us feeling satisfied, which is the best kind of full, and apart from a mild dispute about which was the tastiest sauce, the whole thing has been exceedingly agreeable. With a second glass of wine each, the bill runs out at just under £60, and that’s plenty of Bangkok for your buck.

Contact

siam harbourside 129 Hotwell Rd, bristol. FFI: 0117 330 6476, WWW.thaiharbourside.CO.UK The Verdict HHHHHHHHHH

A proper fireworks display of Thai flavours to celebrate Siam Harbourside’s new era

1/25/2012 6:37:17 PM

profile

lifestyle

THE THRIFTY, ETHICAL WAY TO EAT MEAT

RIVERFORD ORGANIC TEL: 01803 762059 WEB: WWW.RIVERFORD.CO.UK

RIVERFORD ORGANIC Sausage stew with celeriac and kale This is a great one-pan dish, in which you build up the gravy around the ingredients as they cook. Serve with good crusty bread, so none of the juices go to waste.

egbox delivery company Riverford Organic are encouraging the nation to rethink how they cook with meat. ‘Meat and 10 veg’ is the phrase they use to sum up their philosophy: let the meat we eat be better quality, eaten less often, in smaller quantities and with confidence that the animal has been treated respectfully. And above all, make the veg the star of the show. Using meat in this way also helps it to go further, so it’s a good strategy for those on a tighter budget. Meat from animals that have been slowly reared on a natural diet often has much more flavour than its intensively produced counterpart, so it makes sense that you won’t need to use as much to make a tasty meal. Making sure that the whole animal is used is another part of the

Meat and 10 Veg philosophy. With this in mind, Riverford Organic make a point of selling less mainstream cuts like brisket, pork belly and oxtail through their meatboxes. Nick Riley, who delivers meat and vegboxes to families in Bristol (vegboxes start at £10.35, with free delivery), says, “It’s really easy to get stuck in the routine of using the same quantity of meat in the same dishes. However, by replacing, say, a third of the mince in spaghetti bolognese with a variety of tasty, colourful veg, you still get a really flavourful, satisfying meal. I’d say it usually tastes even better for it!” You can give the idea a try yourself with this warming winter stew recipe from Riverford Farm: Recipes for Everyday and Sunday by Jane Baxter.

INGREDIENTS Serves 4 500g good pork sausages 100g bacon, cut into lardons 1 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, sliced half a celeriac, peeled & chopped into 2cm pieces 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 sprig of thyme (or pinch of dried thyme) 1 bay leaf 1 tablespoon tomato purée 100ml red wine 600ml chicken or meat stock dash of worcestershire sauce 4 tsp dijon mustard 200g kale, stripped from stalks, shredded 400g tin white beans, rinsed & drained sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

n a large, heavy-based sauté pan or saucepan, shallow-fry the sausages and lardons in the oil for 5 mins. Remove the sausages. Add the onions and cook for 10 mins. Increase the heat and add the celeriac, stirring frequently to stop the onions from burning. Add the garlic, herbs and tomato purée and stir well for 2 mins. Deglaze the pan with red wine, stirring to remove the sticky bits from the base, then add the stock, worcestershire sauce and mustard. Bring the contents of the pan to a simmer, return the sausages, cover and cook for about 20 mins. Add the kale to the pan and wilt on top of the other ingredients for 10 mins, then mix it in. Add the white beans, season and cook for a further 5 mins. folio/feb 2012 67

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➻ EatingOutWest

ReView the olive tree If your night out at this fine-dining hotel restaurant in Bath isn’t the stuff that dreams are made off, Melissa Blease will eat her superlatives

n years to come, I’ll be happy to say that I was there right at the start of the Olive Tree’s ascent into fine-dining greatness…’ That was me, around seven years ago, not long after Laurence and Helen Beere waltzed into one of Bath’s longest-standing hotel dining institutions (which was, at the time, a rather fusty, archaic experience), ditching the chintz in favour of understated bling and generally giving a Heritage City ‘tradition’ long since past it’s sell-by date a new lease of life. And now that those years have caught up with me, I’m delighted to say that I wasn’t wrong. Today, I can’t imagine what kind of person could possibly dislike the slick, chic but thoroughly welcoming restaurant that forms the foundation of the subtly glamorous Queensberry Hotel, where head chef Nick Brodie has become nationally renowned for his wonderful ways with locally sourced, seasonal produce prepared and presented to its very best advantage. The décor – a paean to clean lines, pristine table settings and super-flattering lighting – provides a suitably elegant backdrop, while there simply isn’t enough available space here to do the wine list (award-winning), the service (the most elegantly efficient old friends you’ve yet to meet) and the delights of the hotel’s delightfully quirky Old Q Bar (where you wouldn’t be surprised to see Cheryl Cole shooting the breeze with Jeremy Paxman while The Hoff gets a round in) enough justice. Ah well, let’s get on with the task in hand, then: Nick’s nosh, summarised in around 300 words… On paper, an emulsion of salt-preserved cod and olive oil doesn’t sound like a particularly

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promising partnership. But trust me when I tell you that Brodie’s brandade is a marriage made in heaven, served as it is with a soft poached egg, caramelised garlic and crispy parsley, all of which add layer upon layer of texture to every soft, soporific bite. A risotto of Cornish cock crab, meanwhile, came lubricated with its own velouté and enriched with perfectly ripe grana padano. Had our meal ended there we’d have dreamt about it for

“it's my bet that only brodie can turn slow-cooked gloucester old spot pork belly into such a stylish and surprisingly girly treat.”

months to come – but, of course, we were only just beginning a journey into prandial perfection. It’s my bet that only Brodie can turn slow-cooked Gloucester Old Spot pork belly into such a stylish and surprisingly girly treat to behold: neat, sweet and almost paté-like in consistency, piggy came served with spring onion-infused creamed potato and a shard of delicate crackling. But while Mr Macho’s choice of sherry-glazed shin of Stokes Marsh beef looked equally polite on the plate, the kick it delivered was a force to be reckoned with: a depth charge of meltingly silky carnivorous flavour, aided and abetted by characteristically earthy pied de mouton mushrooms and cavolo nero. Our feast was punctuated with unbidden treats including oven-fresh bread, creamy butternut squash soup served in espresso cups and dinky briquettes of duck parfait. Wine recommendations were made after tasting sips had been offered, including perfect sweet matches for

my divinely decadent dark chocolate fondant (given a playful twist by the addition of a shot glass of chocolate milkshake and an orb of peanut icecream) and His slightly more grownup almond and fig iced parfait served with glazed figs and a splash of Mascarada liqueur; foodie fulfilment delivered in spades. Now I’m fully aware that times are hard for most of us right now, and I really don’t want to be compared to Michael Winner by blithely writing off the total bill for such an encounter as a bargain at around £140. But at the Olive Tree you really do get what you pay for. If want to feel like an A-list superstar and remember such an event for years to come, this is the place to live the dream.

Contact

THE OLIVE TREE @ THE QUEENSBERRY HOTEL 4-7 RUSSELL ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 447928, WWW.THEQUEENSBERRY.CO.UK The Verdict HHHHHHHHHH

Faultless, impeccable perfection

1/25/2012 6:42:17 PM

➻ EatingOutWest

ReView CÔtE

You can’t go wrong with the simple, freshly prepared bistro fare at this chic French brasserie in Bath Once a leftfield notion, Fairtrade is now firmly mainstream

Table Talk Chocs away ➻

f it doesn’t seem like long since a review of the Bath branch of Côte – the très amiable French-themed brasserie that magpied into the empty nest vacated by the Moon and Sixpence around half a year ago – first appeared on these pages, that’s because it isn’t. So why, a mere six months after our first foray into the Franglais franchise’s Heritage City incarnation am I here again, nibbling on a generous slab of anchovy pissaladière while sipping on Côte’s signature kir royale aperitif and mentally tossing a coin between a main course of poulet Breton or beef bourguignon? Because, dear reader, Côte offers far more than a nouvelle kid on the block experience, and has – in a relatively short space of time - easily proved its worth as the kind of place that shouldn’t be overlooked in your search for fairly priced, thoroughly decent grub in a smart but relaxing environment, cosy in summer and promising all manner of alfresco frolicking opportunities when the sun finally reappears. And so it came to pass that here we are again, because here you’ll often find us: Him predictably opting for a starter of another Côte sig-dish that I swear he loves almost as much as he loves me (the sublimely savoury steak tartare, £6.75), and me going unpredictably carni-crazy and choosing a fully loaded charcuterie platter (£5.95 for a starter that would easily satiate two less greedy cohorts) over my beloved moules marinières (they’re very good here; you really should try them some time). On the mains front, the chicken won the toss: I chose to take mine accompanied

by a very fresh wild mushroom sauce that still only nudged the price up to around £12, while Mr Meat was reunited with yet another of his best friends: a flavoursome rib-eye steak with peppercorn sauce, circa £16. We chose to sidecart our mains with a dish of green beans that reminded me of my only Côte niggle: shouldn’t at least one fivea-day come as standard rather than as an optional £2+ extra? Still, excellent fries came as standard, and we managed to find room for a very fine tarte fine aux pommes (£5.15) and a nice, neat coupe noire (proper vanilla ice-cream with a sexy warm chocolate sauce, £4.15) to bring the curtain down on yet another satisfying Côte experience. (Melissa Blease)

Contact

CÔTE – BATH 27 MILSOM PLACE, BATH. FFI: 01225 335509, WWW.COTE-RESTAURANTS.CO.UK The Verdict HHHHHHHHHH

Reliably good, value-for-money French brasserie fare in cheerfully chic surroundings

Rising sales figures are rare these days, but in 2011 the British, apparently, bought five per cent more chocolate, with sales of Fairtrade munchies continuing to rise significantly. Good news, then, for the annual Fairtrade Fortnight (www.fairtrade. org.uk), starting on Mon 27 Feb, if less good for obesity statistics. Last year’s celebration of ethical consumerism was a great success locally, with Bristol’s effort gaining the UKwide Outstanding Achievement Award. Once a fairly leftfield notion, Fairtrade is now firmly mainstream, with all major supermarkets offering a choice of Fairtrade chocolate goodies and even classics like Maltesers (the UK’s third most popular chocolate product) switching to Fairtrade producers. If, as is strongly rumoured, the way to a woman’s heart is through cocoaderived products, then would-be Valentines can track down top-of-the-range ethical confectionery after mere seconds on the interweb. It’s a heartwarming echo of English chocolate’s Quaker roots, when enlightened 18th century families like the Rowntrees, Cadburys and Frys promoted social welfare and the use of wealth creation to benefit all involved. In the 1850s Fry’s eight-storey chocolate factories in Union Street, Bristol were the largest in the world and yet, according to Deborah Cadbury’s Chocolate Wars, the Frys happily shared their secrets with failing rivals Cadbury and later collaborated with them and Rowntree’s to ensure fair pricing. Such gentility could never resist the hard-nosed invasions of global capitalism, however, and between Swiss giant Nestle and US cheese behemoth Kraft, their heritage has been bought and busted. Cadbury’s Crunchies and Curly Wurlys coming out of Fry’s Somerdale works were the last link with this glorious industrial heritage but new owners Kraft closed the Keynsham factory last year and it now stands empty and dark. Maybe sometimes Fairtrade could begin at home? (Tony Benjamin, Food & Drink editor)

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10 of the best Organic Food Shops Never mind the wholesome glow of buying ethical, healthy grub, it’s the sheer deliciousness of organic food that makes it worth seeking out these splendidly independent chemical-free shops.

➻ Bath Bakery Chelsea Rd & High St, Upper Weston, Bath • Pioneers of artisan breadmaking since the mid 80s, with an unrivalled range of certified organic breads, cakes and pastries. ➻ Better Food Co Sevier St, St Werburghs & Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, Bristol • With BFC’s new addition well settled in Clifton, both places offer a comfy cafe to sit in and eat the stuff as well as take it home. ➻ Earthbound Abbotsford Rd, Bristol, BS6 • The compact front shop is tempting enough, but there’s a Tardis-like backroom, too, stuffed with all kinds of niceness to explore. ➻ Harvest Walcot St, Bath & Gloucester Rd, Bristol • Two friendly shops from the wonderful Essential Trading co-op but with many other brands on their shelves. ➻ Radford Mill Farm Shop Picton St, Montpelier, Bristol • A direct link to the countryside, selling produce so fresh that you can smell their Timsbury farm (in a good way). ➻ Real Meat Co Hayes Place, Bath, BA2 • While not 100% organic, this lot have been absolutely committed to animal welfare and purity in sourcing delicious meat for 25 years. ➻ Seasons George St, Bath • The back room is full of beans (and other essentials), while you’ll find all kinds of health-affirming stuff and helpful advice out front. ➻ Sheepdrove Organic Farm Lower Redland Rd, Bristol, BS6 • Primarily offering meat from their Berkshire farm, they also have organic fruit, veg, wine and honey. ➻ Southville Deli North St, Bristol, BS3 (pictured) • South Bristol’s mecca for chemical-free muesli, biodynamic wines and all kinds of organic treats. ➻ Wild Oats Lower Redland Rd, Bristol, BS6 • A comprehensive selection of wholefoods and alternative health products, with expert advisors always on hand.

➻ EatingOutWest

ReView The New Inn at Backwell An innovative, inspired and ambitious menu at this country pub cum dining room

t was truly ‘new’ 450 years ago, but a thorough refurbishment in 2010 turned a fresh page in the New Inn’s history. Having transformed the Robin Hood’s Retreat in Bristol into a top-rated gastropub, chef/proprietor Nathan Muir gave the rundown Backwell roadside pub a similar makeover. The place gained a classy, contemporary colour scheme while holding onto its rural friendliness, making it an ideal setting for contemporary British cooking. Last year Muir passed the reins to protégé Ash Bennett and the place entered another new phase, with Bennett’s distinctive finesse giving the menu an intriguing ambition that soon generated a buzz. I’d flagged up the appeal of originality and discovery to The Princess, for whom Backwell holds mixed feelings (she went to school there). I succeed in edging her towards a starter of rare seared tuna with confit egg yolk and tapenade but can’t draw her away from rib-eye steak and chips as a main. I’m guessing that’s there for the traditionalists and, in her case, it works. I’m drawn to other imaginative fish choices – squid ink brandade with crab and spiced oil followed by pan-roasted turbot with pork cheeks, parsnip purée and sherry jus. See what I mean about ambition? But, as Max Bialystock says in The Producers, ‘If you got it, baby, flaunt it!’ and as the sharp tang of the apple and celeriac soup ‘amuse bouche’ gives way to the pitch-black velvet of the brandade (a purée of saltfish), I’m already becoming impressed. Both dishes create a

synthesis of flavours that adds something extra without losing the ingredients. The Princess feels the same about sashimi-tender slices of tuna that taste more intensely fishy than she expected. She’s not about to fault her slab of rib-eye, either, cooked to rare exactness and chunked with triple-cooked chips, but as I find my way round my own main-course confection, I know she missed the trick. The generous chunks of fish have a golden sheen from the roasting, while the sweet parsnip purée chimes precisely with that fabulous turbot taste, and the dark cheek meat is wrapped in a jus so thick and tasty it’s almost toffee. It’s an inspired combination that I eke slowly, sipping shockingly crisp muscadet between each reflective nibble. Desserts are similarly exciting. She vanishes a featherlight lemon posset with white chocolate and vanilla fudge, and the sprinkle of vanilla salt that comes with my salt butterscotch brulée is so intense that I dab each grain individually. Given a fixed-price menu at £25 for three courses (£6 supplement for steak) and an equally interesting choice of wines, it’s well worth the tab for such memorable dining. (Tony Benjamin)

Contact

THE NEW INN AT BACKWELL 86 WEST TOWN RD, BACKWELL, BS48. FFI: 01275 462199, WWW.NEWINNBACKWELL.CO.UK The Verdict HHHHHHHHHH

The perfect combination of country comforts and cosmopolitan class

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The

New Inn at Backwell 2 courses for £10.00 3 for £13.50

Wed-Sat 12-3pm throughout February On March the 6th we will be hosting “An evening with the chefs” Experience true indulgence with an exquisite culinary treat comprising of an 8 course tasting menu

To book Call 01275 462 199

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➻ EatingOutWest

What's Cooking?

Our monthly round-up of news from the foodie world

Super Markets Forget those trolleys and barcodes. With good things falling off the trees and springing up out of the ground, now’s the time to check out your local farmers’ market and catch the local harvest at its freshest…

hings started looking good for our local brewmeisters before Christmas when the splendid Bristol Beer Factory won the Best Drinks Producer award in the national BBC Food and Farming Awards, putting them in the top rank of UK craft brewers. Then Bathonians voted with their throats to give Abbey Ales their best December sales figures ever, just as MD Alan Morgan announced a mega distribution deal with the mighty Punch Taverns for 2012. Meanwhile, over in Holt, Wiltshire, the Box Steam Brewery (pictured) unveiled their brand new premises, reflecting the continuing rise in demand for their Piston Broke and other tasty ales. And, finally, Bath Ales announced a planned move to a new brewery with a massive hike in production levels on the cards. The Warmley-based brewer also opened Beerd, a ‘craft beer’ bar on St Michael’s Hill, Bristol with 45 different keg, cask and bottled beers from around the world and the option of thirdof-a-pint glasses for risky nine

per cent tipples like Flying Dog’s Gonzo Imperial Porter and Straffe Hendrik Triple. Tales of foodie couples coming together to achieve great things always warm our hearts, too. Former Canteen/ Zazu’s Kitchen chef Joel Black met and fell in love with Betty Cottam while working at Glastonbury Festival in 2010. After the 2011 festival, the couple set off to cycle to Nepal, where they finally arrived late last month, having raised big money for a school in Kathmandu.

Every Sat Bath Farmers’ Market Green Park Station, Bath, from 8.30am. Ffi: www.bathfarmersmarket.co.uk Every Sat Harbourside Market No.1 Harbourside, Canons Rd, Bristol, 11am4pm. Ffi: www.no1harbourside.co.uk 1st Sat of month Long Ashton Village Market Long Ashton Community Centre, Keedwell Hill, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41, 9.30am-1pm. Ffi: www. longashtonvillagemarket.co.uk 1st & 3rd Sat of month Whiteladies Road Farmers’ & Fair Trading Market Outside auction rooms on corner of Whiteladies Rd & Apsley Rd, Clifton, Bristol, 8.30am-2pm. Ffi: www. sustainableredland.org.uk 2nd Sat of month Weston-superMare Farmers’ Market High St, Weston-super-Mare, 9am-12.30pm 2nd Sat of month Keynsham Farmers’ Market High St (next to Clock Tower), Keynsham, Bristol, BS31, 9am-1pm. Ffi: www. somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk 4th Sat of month Westbury-onTrym Market Medical Centre car park, Westbury Hill, Bristol, BS9, 9am–1pm Every Sun Tobacco Factory Market Raleigh Rd, Southville, Bristol, BS3, 10.30am-2.30pm. Ffi: www. tobaccofactory.com 1st Sun of month Slow Food Market Corn St, Bristol, 10am-3pm. Ffi: www. slowfoodbristol.org Every Wed Bristol Farmers’ Market Corn St, Bristol, 9.30am–2.30pm

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Italian Grill & Sardinian Specialities From January every Sunday we will be serving a

Sardinian style roast piglet (booking recommended)

 Reservations are now being taken

for Valentines Day

Please check website for full menu.

 7 Edgar Buildings, George Street, Bath, BA1 2EE

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➻ EatingOutWest Recipe ROBERTO LILLIU Age: 40 Nationality: Sardinian Restaurant: Aió

➻

I come from Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, and my love has always been for cooking. One of my most precious experiences was at Ristorante Lillicu, working alongside some of the island’s best chefs. I worked my way up from kitchen assistant – I asked questions and tried hard, and with time mastered the skills to make a dish mine. Later, as head chef on a private yacht, I cooked for Italian stylist Ermenegildo Zegna and for Kennedy’s niece – she loved my tiramisu! Eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and if I can make someone happy by making something special for them, I’m happy too. Aió owners Mauro and Salvo are very enthusiastic about good food. Cooking with them isn’t static, but an everprogressing process. Our first thought is always about what we like to eat - all our dishes are among the food I like the best. I try to put together dishes that, even in large portions, aren’t too heavy. Our food is summery, sincere, refreshing, and our ambience lively, warm and relaxed. My advice to a budding chef? Never stop trying new recipes. Cooking is an ever-changing art, and you have to keep moving on.

ROBERTo LILLIU AT

AIÓ

Address: 7 Edgar Buildings, George St, Bath BA1 2EE Tel: 01225 443900 Web: www.aiorestaurant.co.uk

ió’ is a well-known Sardinian expression that roughly translates as ‘Come and join us’. Which should give you a feel for what the restaurant is all about – Aió is the first (and only) Italian restaurant in the South West specialising in Sardinian cuisine, and you’ll find all the friendliness of a local trattoria, with a modern vibe and intriguing Mediterranean menu. Mauro, Salvo and head chef Roberto Lilliu have combined their years of experience to provide fresh, simple Mediterranean flavours with excellent locally sourced, quality ingredients, beautifully cooked. Specialities include chargrilled fresh calamari with chilli, paprika and honey; sardines seasoned with coriander seeds, cumin and cinnamon; and whole sea bream with vernaccia wine and black olives. Try the 40oz rib of beef to share, with grilled vegetables; homemade pecorino and mint ravioli with lamb ragout; Sardinian-style roast piglet with rosemary potatoes and grilled vegetables; or the unique Sardinian fregola – a kind of giant couscous served with seafood or game meat sauce. “Through the millennia,” says Roberto, “Sardinia has seen many people invading and making it their home – from the Middle East, North Africa and Spain, and of course the Romans. Sardinian cuisine is simple and healthy with a broad use of the

chargrill, and these specialities, with their rustic and earthy qualities, are all reminders of such a varied history. Around the Mediterranean I saw often that less is more when it comes to making a dish, and at Aió we apply the same rule, using fresh dressings to bring out the flavour of the good ingredients rather than disguise it.” Aió is open daily from 10am for breakfast, with live music on Thursday nights and roasts on Sundays. With two warm-coloured dining rooms inside and a lovely secluded garden at the back, it’s the perfect venue for a cosy meal for two. Or celebrate with loved ones in the large party room, which is available for hire, including for private barbecues.

“AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN I SAW OFTEN THAT LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING A DISH” roberto lilliu, Aió

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Rabbit cacciatora INGREDIENTS

Rabbit cacciatora Serves 4 2 whole rabbits 100g good black olives (Gaeta or Kalamata) 200g mushrooms 2 tins cherry tomatoes onion, celery, carrots & garlic, finely chopped 1 glass white wine rosemary, thyme & bay leaves flour to coat salt & pepper to season

TO MAKE

Cut the rabbit into pieces, season and lightly coat in flour. Fry up gently on all sides, then take off the heat. In the meantime, pour some olive oil into a flat shallow pan and fry some onions, celery and carrots, then add the garlic, all finely chopped. Add a bay leaf and some thyme and rosemary, and add the mushrooms. Return the rabbit to the pan and pour in a glass of white wine. Leave to evaporate, then add the chopped tomatoes and black olives and cook for a further 25-30 mins, according to the size of the pieces of rabbit.

TO serve

We serve our rabbit with a parmesan-crust mashed-potato cake.

Recommended... CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA RISERVA, SELla & mosca

➻ Cannonau, also known as grenache in France, is Sardinia’s most famous red variety. It produces a wine that is rich, smooth and full-bodied, with a combination of plums, blackberry and violets. The finish is long, with hints of oak and savoury flavours. This is a great match with the rabbit as the fruit will highlight the rich flavour of the meat, and the savoury flavours will complement the olives and parmesan crust very well. A stunning Italian pairing – an absolute must-try! FFI WWW. MATTHEWCLARK.CO.UK

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