Folio 207 by Sarah Malone

FOLIO BRISTOL & BATH

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APRIL 2012 l No. 207

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A CORNISH HOTEL BREAK BY THE SEA!

With a busy spring ahead for Bristol and Bath's art galleries, Folio surveys the very best that the local art scene has to offer

HOTTREND! HOW TO WEAR FLORALS

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FASHION HEALTH INTERIORS PROPERTY FOOD 3/27/2012 11:20:10 AM

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/APRIL 2012 PICTURE PERFECT

Don’t those sleepy cats look utterly at home lounging on some of the 20th century’s most stylish chairs? I can’t quite decide which combination I covet the most – maybe the chair with Eiffel Tower-style legs nestling in the bottom right corner of Folio’s cover (currently gracing many a contemporary dining table). Or perhaps the button-backed armchair in the top left, complete with languorously slumbering feline. Ooh, decisions, decisions… When it comes to art, there’s such a wealth of choice out there (to view or buy), from cheap and cheerful prints to exquisite works by the Masters via controversial installations and street art by the likes of Damien Hirst and Banksy (see Venue for a feature comparing the latter to Da Vinci), that there really is something to make everyone’s heart skip a beat. On page 6, Venue’s art editor Steve Wright takes the pulse of the local art scene, giving us the lowdown on the galleries worth making a detour for. And once you’ve splashed out on a new piece of wall candy, why not turn your attentions to your taste-buds with a tantalising visit to the Chocolate Festival (see p58), rounded off with a quaffable glass of something red, rich and luscious (p60).

Have an inspirational month,

Rachel Nott Folio editor

WIN A MINI BREAK AT IDLE ROCKS page 20

FEATURES 4 6 16 18

COMPETITIONS 20 WIN a stay at the Idle Rocks Hotel, St Mawes, plus a family portrait session!

LIFESTYLE 24 30 31 32 35 36 39 41 43 44 45

Anna Britten relaxes at the best spas in the West Our spy gets a new look at funky salon Mack Daddy’s The Thermae Bath Spa is our shop of the month Our edit from Bristol Fashion Week at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway Stylist Niki Whittle on how to wear prints Rosa Park raids her boyfriend’s wardrobe Spotlight on reiki plus why asparagus is a superfood Why watching Harry Potter is good for your kids’ creativity Gearing up for Bristol Classic Car Show Melissa Blease enjoys a spot of rest and relaxation at Cedar Falls Health Farm & Spa Steve Wright escapes the urban jungle in rural Herefordshire

32 Say it with flowers... our edit from Bristol Fashion Week

HOMEFRONT 50 Close up with furnishing experts Fabric Mills 53 How to grow primroses 54 Property news

EATING OUT WEST 58 60 66 68 70 71 72 74

Life is sweet at Bristol Chocolate Festival, says Tony Benjamin Learn how to taste wine like a sommelier Restaurant review: Jacks Brasserie Restaurant review: The Assembly Inn Restaurant review: The Wheatsheaf Restaurant review: The Prince of Wales What’s cooking locally Seasonal recipe from Filini Restaurant at Radisson Blu Hotel

COVER IMAGE: COVER ARTWORK IS AN EDITED VERSION OF AN ORIGINAL PESKIMO ARTWORK. FFI: WWW.PESKIMO.COM

@folioeditor

LOCAL ART GALLERIES 6

UWE graduate Mollie Hughes hopes to become the youngest British woman to climb Everest Steve Wright takes us on a tour of the West’s best art galleries Top ways to while away your month Avon Wildlife Trust take us on a tour of Prior’s Wood, near Portishead

editor@foliomagazine.co.uk

50 Up close with soft furnishing experts Fabric Mills

Mmm... there’s plenty to tempt you at the Chocolate Festival!

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 Publishing Director 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.

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Q&A

CLOSE UP WITH

MOLLIE HUGHES The local graduate who’s going up in the world WORDS: SIMON FRY

wenty-one-year-old UWE psychology and sports biology graduate Mollie Hughes hopes to become the youngest British woman to climb Mount Everest in May, raising funds and awareness for anti-poverty charity ActionAid in the process. How did you get into climbing? I’ve always been an outdoorsy type, living near Dartmoor and going surfing. At 17, I climbed Mount Kenya with my school and got the bug for mountaineering. It was great to be in a beautiful place and have a physical challenge. During sixth form and university I saved up to go to different countries – the year after Kenya I went to India and the Himalayas, and have now climbed 14 mountains. In my final year at university I wrote a 10,000-word dissertation on the psychological experience of climbing Everest, interviewing seven guys who’d been up it. Halfway through the first interview, I decided to go up myself! How have you been preparing for the Everest attempt? I recently spent three weeks with a group climbing Ama Dablam, a 6,800m mountain next to Mount Everest. Tragically, one of our party fell to his death and we returned home a week early, not making it to the summit. Back home I’ve been working as a lifeguard, raising funds for the trip, and have even had a Country Life feature done on me. I’m expecting some stick from my mates for that. What challenges do you think it will bring? The trip will take eight weeks, with acclimatising to the altitude after we fly into Kathmandu being a slow process. Keeping fit and healthy will be the main challenge, with the altitude worsening minor ailments – and not helped by it suppressing your appetite! The temperature could be -15°C at base

camp, but at the summit it could be as low as -40°C! There’s one-third less oxygen at the top than at sea level, so we’ll have to wear oxygen masks and carry canisters. Summit day may see us climbing through the night from 9pm-9am. We’ll have an hour at most at the summit, where I might have a little cry! I’ll be taking my ActionAid banner up, and I’d like to commemorate the climber who died during my previous expedition, but after getting up the idea is to get down as fast as possible – the descent is the trip’s most dangerous part, so you can’t drop your guard. It’s likely to be a good 18-hour day! Why did you choose to study in Bristol? It’s a great city and I’ve had a lot of fun here. I saw the course on offer and visited Bristol, which I found to be cool. It’s two hours from home, which isn’t too far away, but far enough from mum! I lived in Clifton and Horfield in my second and third years and loved the nightlife and made a lot of friends. I’ve been doing a strength and conditioning programme at UWE since May 2011. FFI WWW.MOLLIEHUGHES.CO.UK, WWW.ACTIONAID.ORG.UK

Training in Chamonix in the Alps

Visiting an ActionAid project in a village just outside Kathmandu

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Voted in the Top 50 antique shops in Great Britain 2010 by The Independent on Sunday

OLD BANK ANTIQUES CENTRE 14-17 Walcot Buildings, Bath

Retro g Clothinble Availa

Situated on the London Road (A4), just a short walk from the top of Walcot Street. Old Bank Antiques Centre is the largest retailer of antiques in Bath, without being stuffy and too grand. This is how antiques shops used to look: a hoarderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise. fifteen dealers spread through lots of showrooms in four shops with everything from 17th century to 1970s retro. Experienced and professional advice is always available. Customer parking is at the rear, accessed via Bedford Street. Deliveries can be arranged anywhere in the UK or the rest of world, at cost price. Furniture restorer on premises. Open seven days a week and most bank holidays Visit our website: www.oldbankantiquescentre.com Tel: 01225 469282 & 338813 Email: alexatmontague@aol.com

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Melvin Sokolsky, ‘Fashion by Venet’ (1963), showing as part of the Royal West of England Academy’s ‘Selling Dreams’ exhibition (to 29 Apr); two more images from ‘Selling Dreams’, Tim Walker’s ‘Lily Cole and Giant Camera’ (2004) and John French’s ‘Ice-Skater’

FEATURE

‘Angel IV’, stunning underwater photography by Zena Holloway, at Bath’s bo.lee gallery from this month

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FEATURE

: n g of ng 9

ART AND

SOUL

With another busy spring on the local arts scene, Venue magazine art editor Steve Wright takes the pulse at some of Bristol and Bath’s finest galleries

LEFT: ‘Studio’ by David Cobley, showing as part of the Victoria Art Gallery’s annual Bath Society of Artists exhibition (to 19 May). RIGHT: ‘Acacius’ by Carl Melegari, a Bristol artist on the roster at Clifton’s Innocent Fine Art

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American Museum in Britain Housed in the Georgian grade I-listed Claverton Manor, the American Museum in Britain celebrated its 50th birthday last year. It’s perhaps best known for its magnificent collection of indigenous decorative arts, including over 200 historic American quilts, exceptional pieces of Shaker furniture, exuberant folk art paintings and sculptures, Native American objects, and Renaissance maps of the New World. Fine art lovers, meanwhile, will find a trio of fine shows to enjoy this spring and summer, including Fur and Feather, a celebration of the incomparable American ornithological artist John James Audubon. FFI: CLAVERTON MANOR, NR BATH (01225 460503, WWW.AMERICANMUSEUM.ORG)

Arnolfini Like Bath’s American Museum, Arnolfini – Bristol’s world-renowned,

contemporary arts centre – celebrated its 50th birthday last year. Over the decades, different media from dance to film have dominated Arnolfini’s output; these days, visual art is a very strong suit. Within its cool, white walls you’ll find an always-intriguing roster of shows by international artists – strongly conceptual and sometimes playful in feel. You’ve got until 22 April to catch To the River, Sophy Rickett’s sound and video installation inspired by the Severn Bore – the large tidal wave that runs along the great river during the moon’s equinox. FFI: NARROW QUAY, BRISTOL (0117 917 2300, WWW.ARNOLFINI.ORG.UK)

Soma Established in 2004, this bijou Clifton selling gallery was a pioneer in promoting contemporary illustration and graphic design in a serious gallery setting. Soma specialises in limitededition prints by illustrators and printmakers using such traditional media as silkscreen printing and letterpress. Alongside the ranks of tempting prints, there’s a wide range of artworks, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, magazines and books. Soma’s April exhibition, fresh from London’s prestigious arts venue Somerset House, features works by some big names in the contemporary illustration world, including Andy Smith, Crispin Finn and Bristol’s own Peskimo (pictured on page 10). FFI: BOYCES AVE, CLIFTON, BRISTOL (0117 973 9838, WWW.SOMAGALLERY.CO.UK)

Grant Bradley Gallery Since opening in 2005, Bedminster’s Grant Bradley has quickly become both a valuable exhibiting space for emerging and established Bristol artists, and a vital cultural destination for south Bristol. A trio of typically finelooking April exhibitions includes Indoors Outdoors (artist/pet David C. Johnson’s etchings and prints of landscapes from Istanbul to Somerset) and some stunning landscape-inspired abstracts by Angie Kenber (pictured p10). Kenber (based at Grant Bradley’s near-neighbour, the 75-strong artists’ community BV Studios) has based these recent works on her travels to two ends of the British Isles, the Orkneys and Cornwall’s western extremities. FFI: BEDMINSTER PARADE, BRISTOL (0117 963 7673, WWW.GRANTBRADLEYGALLERY.CO.UK)

Courtyard Gallery Bristol’s newest ‘roaming gallery’, Courtyard is owned by Tina Brown, who moved to Bristol from Hampshire and brought her gallery with her. “I chose Bristol for its vibrant cultural scene,” Tina explains. “I want to continue the gallery’s ethos of supporting, promoting and ➻ FOLIO/APRIL 2012 7

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nick cudworth gallery

The Four Seasons Original by Nick Cudworth Limited Edition Giclee Print on Canvas Perfect Pitch Exhibition of paintings and prints based on musical instruments 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 30 April 5 London Street (top end of Walcot Street), Bath BA1 5BU tel 01225 445221 mob 07968 047639 email: gallery@nickcudworth.com www.nickcudworth.com

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FEATURE

Above: ‘Aspirations’ by sculptor Emma Jean Kemp, who exhibits at Bristol’s Coldharbour Framery and Gallery Far right: ‘Painted Landscape’ by local artist Angie Kenber, part of a fine-looking group show at Bedminster’s Grant Bradley Gallery

BELOW: Two illustrations (‘Cat Nap’ and ‘Sausage Sundae’) by Bristol duo Peskimo, showing at Clifton gallery Soma this month

showing work by local artists, and I’m keen to break down the perceived barriers to buying art.” Starting this month is a series of ‘meet the artist’ events at Tina’s Paintworks flat: the three artists featured in this opener include Bristol’s Jimmy Galvin, an artist and musician who’s curating a major show at the Royal West of England Academy, and Nicholas Lees, who’ll shortly be exhibiting at London’s Royal College of Art. FFI: PAINTWORKS, BRISTOL (07977 219037, WWW.COURTYARDGALLERY.ORG)

Coldharbour Framery & Gallery This Westbury Park gallery and framing service offers affordable art by local artists working in various media. Coldharbour’s regular roster includes paintings and prints by Abigail McDougall and Jenny Urquhart, linocuts by Mary Collett and Jay Luttman-Johnson, and etchings by Catherine Williams. You’ll also find sculptures in clay and bronze resin by Jill Dunmore and Emma Jean Kemp, and a range of ceramics both decorative and practical. The gallery also offers a hugely professional framing service for anything from children’s drawings via antique maps to modern classics. FFI: COLDHARBOUR RD, BRISTOL (0117 944 6244, WWW.COLDHARBOURGALLERY.CO.UK)

Innocent Fine Art Following an extensive refurbishment, this prestigious Clifton Village gallery returns with an exhibition of work by some of Bristol’s finest and most distinctive artists including Victoria Coombes, Rose Sanderson, Carl Melegari and Anthony Garratt. Alongside this, you’ll find a permanent exhibition of work by some truly top-table British artists including Sir Peter Blake, Sir Terry Frost RA, Sandra Blow RA, Bruce McLean and Barbara Rae RA. The gallery also offers framing and picture restoration services, as well as its own comprehensive Art Consultancy. FFI: BOYCES AVE, CLIFTON, BRISTOL (0117 973 2614, WWW.INNOCENTFINEART.CO.UK)

Holburne Museum of Art This handsome Georgian mansion set in ➻

BATH ➻ Adam Gallery John St. Ffi: 01225 480406, www. adamgallery.com • City-centre gallery exhibiting work by world-class 20th century artists – from Piper to Picasso, Miro to Moore. ➻ Bath Artists’ Studios Upper Bristol Rd. Ffi: 01225 482480, www.bathartistsstudios.co.uk • Regular programme of exhibitions, events and talks at these thriving artists’ studios opposite Victoria Park. ➻ Bath Contemporary Gay St. Ffi: 01225 461230, www. bathcontemporary.com • Friendly, dynamic gallery hosting high-quality solo and group exhibitions by midcareer artists from Bath and beyond. ➻ Beaux Arts York St. Ffi: 01225 464850, www. beauxartsbath.co.uk • Longestablished gallery showing work by major 20th century painters, sculptors and ceramicists. Some very fine regular exhibitors. ➻ Ben Hughes Fine Art Upper Bristol Rd. Ffi: 07941 426071, www.benhughesfineart.co.uk • Gallery and studio of talented Bath artist, showing Hughes’s landscapes and distinctive contemporary portraits. ➻ bo.lee gallery Queen St. Ffi: 07970 492858, www. bo-lee.co.uk • One of Bath’s more intriguing galleries, favouring contemporary painters and sculptors with dark, surreal, fairytale or allegorical leanings. ➻ Edgar Modern Bartlett St. Ffi: 01225 443746, www. edgarmodern.com • Colourful, often playful contemporary fare. Excellent regulars include Dan Parry-Jones, Mungo Powney, Dominic Hills and Jessica Cooper. ➻ Hilton Fine Art Margaret’s Buildings. Ffi: 01225 311311, www.hiltonfineart.com • Fledgling gallery showing contemporary painting, prints, sculpture and ceramics. Leans very much towards painterly, semi-figurative

work, favouring the visual over the narrative. ➻ ICIA University of Bath, Claverton Down. Ffi: 01225 386777, www.bath.ac.uk/ icia • Bath University’s own artspace has a regular term-time programme of exhibitions and residencies with a strongly conceptual theme. ➻ Larkhall Fine Art Margaret’s Buildings. Ffi: 01225 444480, www.larkhall.com • Welcoming gallery specialising in 19th and 20th century master prints by artists – Dufy, Blake, Gauguin, Henry Moore and others. ➻ The Octagon Off Milsom St. Ffi: www.milsomplace. co.uk/events.php • Contemporary art exhibitions, most by local artists. ➻ Quest Gallery Margaret’s Buildings. Ffi: 01225 444142, www.questgallery.co.uk • Thriving gallery in Bath’s ‘Gallery Quarter’ (see also Hilton Fine Art, Larkhall Fine Art, Red Rag, White Room), showing quality paintings, prints and applied art from the UK and beyond, especially the Far East and Australia. ➻ Red Rag Gallery Brock St. Ffi: 01225 332223, www. bathartgallery.co.uk • Contemporary painting by artists across the UK – landscapes a speciality. ➻ Rostra & Rooksmoor George St. Ffi: 01225 448121, www. rostragallery.co.uk • Welcoming, informal city-centre gallery. Prints, paintings, ceramics and handmade jewellery, by a mix of established and emerging artists. ➻ Royal Photographic Society Wells Rd. Ffi: 01225 325733, www. rps.org • The RPS’s regional headquarters holds monthly exhibitions by recognised UK and world photographers. ➻ White Room Gallery Brock St. Ffi: 01225 331500, www. thewhiteroomgallery.com/bath.html • Bi-monthly exhibitions featuring limited-edition prints by some real bighitters. Plus prints, photographs and paintings of Bath. ➻

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Coldharbour Framery & Gallery

affordable art by local artists bespoke and ready-made frames 111 Coldharbour Road, Bristol BS6 7SD www.coldharbourgallery.co.uk phone 0117 944 6244

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LEFT: The beautiful new glass-fronted Garden Cafe at Bath’s extensively refurbished Holburne Museum of Art

FEATURE

BRISTOL

Clockwise from top right: Linda Bean, ‘Still Life’, at the Victoria Art Gallery’s Bath Society of Artists spring show; ‘From Major to Minor’ by music-loving painter Nick Cudworth, showing at his Bath gallery during April; interior scene from Bristol’s up-and-coming Courtyard Gallery

Georgian pleasure gardens near the centre of Bath made a triumphant return last spring after a lengthy refurb. The new, improved Holburne combines a large permanent collection with an exhibitions programme mixing the contemporary and traditional. You’ve still got a month to catch the rather fine Art of Arrangement, an arresting exhibition tracing the evolution of still-life photography, from its early 19th-century origins via Dali and his fellow Surrealist experimenters onto contemporary photographers such as Somerset’s Don McCullin. The museum has also been longlisted for the prestigious Art Fund Prize 2012 (you can post a comment in its support at www.artfundprize.org.uk). And don’t forget to refuel in the gorgeous, glass-walled garden cafe. FFI: GREAT PULTENEY ST, BATH (01225 388588, WWW.HOLBURNE.ORG)

Nick Cudworth Gallery Sited at the meeting-point of Walcot Street and London Road, Nick Cudworth works as both a studio and monthly changing exhibition space for its eponymous owner. Cudworth is a master at both landscapes and portraits, painted in his clear, defined style: his limpid, exquisitely lit Bath streetscapes are a particular highlight. This month, the artist is showing a selection of paintings and prints of musical instruments he’s ➻

➻ Alexander Gallery Whiteladies Rd. Ffi: 973 4692, www. alexander-gallery.co.uk • Lively contemporary gallery specialising in art at the prettier (rather than edgier) end of the spectrum. Also hold the UK’s largest selection of work by the late Beryl Cook. ➻ Antlers Nomadic – see website. Ffi: www. antlersgallery.com • Peripatetic Bristol gallery holding fine regular exhibitions of Bristol talent, always with a certain edge. ➻ Bristol Gallery Millennium Promenade. Ffi: 0117 930 0005, www.thebristolgallery.com • Spacious, light-filled gallery down on the Harbourside. Bold, contemporary programming. ➻ Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Queens Rd, Clifton. Ffi: 0117 922 3571, www.bristol.gov.uk/museums • Bristol’s big and brilliant municipal museum and gallery boasts a large permanent collection (early 20C a speciality) as well as changing exhibitions including, currently, some exquisite drawings by Leonardo da Vinci. ➻ Centrespace Leonard Lane, off Corn St. Ffi: www. centrespacegallery.com • Short, often experimental and thought-provoking exhibitions by local contemporary artists. ➻ Folk House Park St. Ffi: 0117 926 2987, www. bristolfolkhouse.co.uk • Adult education centre, music venue and cafe that holds monthly exhibitions by local talent. ➻ Glass Room Inside Colston Hall, Colston St. Ffi: 0117 922 3686. Web: www.colstonhall. org • Elegant glass-box gallery inside the music venue. Emerging local artists a speciality. ➻ Grain Barge Hotwell Rd. Ffi: 0117 929 9347, www. grainbarge.com • Floating bar and restaurant with monthly exhibitions by local artists – generally quirky and upbeat in feel. ➻ Guild Gallery Park St. Ffi: 0117 926 5548, www. bristolguild.co.uk • Hundred-year-old shop and gallery with 2D and 3D shows by local artists – plus a vast array of contemporary arts and crafts for sale. ➻ Here Stokes Croft. Ffi: 0117 942 2222, www. thingsfromhere.co.uk • Kooky gallerycum-shop with a strong comic/indie/ poster art bent. Funky, off-centre, affordable stuff for sale.

➻ Lime Tree Gallery Hotwell Rd. Ffi: 0117 929 2527, www. limetreegallery.com • One of Bristol’s most inviting small galleries, specialising in elegant, atmospheric contemporary British and Scandinavian landscape painting. ➻ M Shed Princes Wharf. Ffi: 0117 352 6600, www.mshed.org • Bristol’s ‘People’s Museum’ has been shortlisted for the European Museum of the Year Award, announced next month. Top-floor gallery hosts regular, quality exhibitions. ➻ Motorcade/FlashParade Philip St, Bedminster. Ffi: www. motorcadeflashparade.com • Artist-run project space, providing a platform for emerging artists. Conceptual, thoughtful exhibitions and events. ➻ PRSC Selling Gallery Jamaica St. Ffi: http://sellinggallery. wordpress.com/ • HQ of the excellent street art/urban pressure group People’s Republic of Stokes Croft holds regular exhibitions by local talent. ➻ Tobacco Factory Raleigh Rd. Ffi: 0117 902 0344, www. tobaccofactory.com • Monthly exhibitions by local talent on the walls of the cafe-bar and neighbouring Green Room. ➻ Upfest Gallery North St. Ffi: 07725 231878, www. upfest.co.uk • Like Park Street’s Weapon of Choice (www.weaponofchoicegallery. co.uk), Upfest is one of Bristol’s specialist street art and graffiti galleries. ➻ View Hotwell Rd. Ffi: 05603 116753, www. viewartgallery.co.uk • Monthly exhibitions favouring adventurous, quietly provocative painting and sculpture. Recently opened a second gallery space in the atmospheric Harveys Cellars in the centre of town. ➻ Works|Projects Sydney Row, Spike Island. Ffi: 07714 480849, www.worksprojects.co.uk • Regular roster of strongly conceptual exhibitions based around themes such as architecture, space and materiality.

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The Centrespace Gallery was founded in 2000, and is an independent not for profit exhibition space available in the heart of Bristol, along the historic city walls, close to the Watershed Media Centre, The Arnolfini Gallery and Bristol City Centre. Centrespace actively seeks to show unique and diverse work across all mediums of art including painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installation, performance and film. The ethos of the gallery is to show fresh and innovative work, exhibitions range from solo shows to group shows and there is always something worthwhile to see.

Centrespace Gallery 6 Leonard Lane, BS1 1EA T: 0117 9291234 E: info@centrespacegallery.com www.centrespacegallery.com 14 FOLIO/APRIL 2012

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FEATURE

Left to right: Inside the studio of Anton Goldenstein, one of the 70+ resident artists at Bristol’s Spike Island who’ll throw open their studios to the public in May; ‘Carl Cox’, a lifesize clay portrait of the iconic DJ by French duo Dewar & Gicquel, who visit Spike Island this month; ‘St Michael Mount’ by Anges de Lumiere, founder of new Almondsbury cafe/artspace Cafe la Lumiere

produced down the years. Music is a big part of Cudworth’s DNA: back in the late 1960s, he recorded on John Peel’s own record label with the blues band Siren, before moving onto the Bristol band Flash Harry and, more recently, the splendidly named boogie/blues outfit The Elderly Brothers. FFI: LONDON ST, BATH (01225 445221, WWW. NICKCUDWORTH.CO.UK)

Museum of East Asian Art A beautiful and informative museum located in a Georgian house just off The Circus, the MEAA’s mission statement is ‘to encourage the appreciation and study of Asian arts and cultures and to foster better understanding between east and west’. The museum re-opens fully this month after a six-month refurbishment. Its collection of almost 2,000 objects, ranging from c.5000 BC to the present day, includes ceramics, jades, bronzes and more from China, Japan, Korea and south-east Asia. Check the website, meanwhile, for updates on the Museum’s busy calendar of all-ages activities. FFI: BENNETT ST, BATH (01225 464640, WWW. MEAA.ORG.UK)

Victoria Art Gallery This imposing city-centre gallery just next to Pulteney Weir boasts an impressive permanent collection of British painting from the 1800s to the present day, alongside some high-profile visiting exhibitions. Coming up next is the brilliant annual Bath Society of Artists exhibition (until 19 May), a vast annual group show featuring some 350 works, mixing pieces by BSA members and an open-submission section. BSA formed in 1904, and past members have included messrs Sickert, Heron and Hodgkin, while today’s society numbers some 120 artists from Bath and its environs, including Peter Brown, David Cobley, Mary Fedden and Venue/RWA Emerging Artist Award winners Vincent Brown and Ben Hughes. FFI: NR PULTENEY BRIDGE, BATH (01225 477233, WWW.VICTORIAGAL.ORG.UK)

Royal West of England Academy This vast, increasingly dynamic gallery and artists’ academy has, of late, introduced a rolling programme of finelooking exhibitions drawing together a host of artistic themes, styles and artists from Bristol and way beyond. A finelooking quartet of spring exhibitions includes a retrospective for the wonderful English landscape artist Eric Ravilious; a journey through the history of Penguin Books (founded by a Bristolian, Allen Lane) featuring posters, artworks and, yes, books galore; a look back at the first 100 years of fashion photography, from Liberman to Lily Cole; and an appreciation of the late Peter Reddick, Bristol printmaker and one of the UK’s leading wood engravers. FFI: QUEENS RD, BRISTOL (0117 973 5129, WWW.RWA.ORG.UK) Spike Island A former tea-packing warehouse, Spike Island is home to several large galleries and dozens of artists’ studios, including students from UWE’s Creative Arts faculty. Spike’s programming tends towards the conceptual and leftfield – as you’ll see from their current exhibitions, which include a first UK show for the quirky French installation duo Dewar & Gicquel, whose previous exploits have included an outdoor clay sculpture of DJ Carl Cox. Next month (4-7 May), you must make time for the Spike Island Open, when Spike’s 70 resident artists throw open the doors of their studios and invite you inside. FFI: CUMBERLAND RD, BRISTOL (0117 929 2266, WWW.SPIKEISLAND.ORG.UK)

Sky Blue Framing & Gallery Expert, sensitive picture framing is a key speciality at Sky Blue: the gallery has been a finalist or winner of the Fine Art Trade Guild’s Framing Award every year for the past five years. Artist/owner Mike Ogden and gallery manager Sylvia Morris specialise in contemporary framing styles – in particular the designer box frames that give artworks a unique ‘floating’

look, perfect for etchings and silkscreen prints as well as memorabilia and 3D assemblages. The gallery also houses a range of signed, limited-edition prints and etchings by popular contemporary artists including Susie Brooks, Jane Ormes and the much-loved illustrator Quentin Blake. Ffi: NORTH VIEW, WESTBURY PARK, BRISTOL (0117 973 3995, WWW.SKYBLUEGALLERY.CO.UK)

Cafe la Lumiere Opening on Fri 4 May, Cafe la Lumiere is a new artspace setting out to nurture creativity and wellbeing. Things will kick off with a joint exhibition (4-13 May) by mosaic artist and gallery owner Anges de Lumiere and illustrator/oil painter Hayley Anne. Further ahead, you’ll find an ongoing programme of workshops in everything from mosaic art to reiki, holistic swimming and childbirth with hypnotherapy. Wellbeing through artistic expression will be a key strand, as Anges explains: “Most people think that artists are just naturally talented and consider that they have no talent, but everyone can be creative.” FFI: OLD AUST RD, ALMONDSBURY, BRISTOL (07914 606729, WWW.CAFELALUMIERE.CO.UK)

Easton Arts Trail Easton’s popular neighbourhood art trail returns on 30 June-1 July, when over 100 local painters, photographers, sculptors, performers, craftspeople and artists of all kinds will be exhibiting and selling in their homes and gardens and elsewhere, and you’ll also find music, performance and activities for all ages, both in and outdoors across BS5. If you fancy getting involved, you still can: the deadline for registration is Fri 20 April. Other local neighbourhood art trails coming up include Southville’s Southbank (May: www.sbaweb.co.uk) and, in Bath, Larkhall (May: www. larkhallopenstudios.weebly.com), Bear Flat (May: www.bearflatartists.co.uk), Newbridge (May: www. newbridgeartstrail.com), Fringe Arts Bath (May-June: www.fringeartsbath. co.uk) and Widcombe (June/July: www. widcombeassociation.org.uk). FFI: VENUES ACROSS EASTON, BRISTOL (WWW. EASTONARTSTRAIL.CO.UK

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WHAT’S NEW

WHAT TO DO IN...

April

KITSCH PARTIES, AVON CRUISES, EGG HUNTS AND A TREE OF DREAMS... MIKE WHITE KNOWS WHERE TO GO

THE STUFF OF DREAMS

This touring exhibition from the V&A Collection takes its title from a quote from the legendary photographer Irving Penn, who said his work for Vogue was about “selling dreams, not clothes”. Those dreams linger in the RWA’s lofty galleries across 60 works by more than 20 major fashion photographers, reflecting key themes in fashion photography across the past century and exploring the often blurry boundary between fashion photography and fine art. SELLING DREAMS: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY UNTIL SUN 29 APR, RWA, QUEENS RD, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 973 5129, WWW.RWA.ORG.UK

EYEFUL TOWER

William Beckford – art collector, writer, aesthete – was fabulously wealthy and fabulously profligate. Among his many little indulgences was the commissioning of a tower folly on Lansdown Hill, and though he later wished that he’d built it 40 feet higher, he conceded hat “such as it is, it is a famous landmark for drunken farmers on their way home from market”. A rare moment of modesty for Beckford – the tower’s a beauty, standing proud above Bath and topped with a gilded lantern. Though now a celebrated part of Bath’s architectural heritage, the tower’s safety was not always assured – 40 years ago, the tower stood neglected until brave Bath residents Leslie and Elizabeth Hilliard purchased it and, with huge self-belief and not a little elbow-grease, rescued it and established it as the fascinating museum it is today. A new exhibition opening this month tells the Hilliards’ fascinating story – in the very museum they helped to create.

SAVING BECKFORD’S TOWER 7 APR-1 JUL, BECKFORD’S TOWER & MUSEUM, LANSDOWN, BATH. FFI: 01225 460705, WWW.BATHPRESERVATION-TRUST.ORG.UK

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER

Spring has sprung. At least, some days it looks as though it has – so take a leisurely boat cruise up the cool green Avon to Beeses, a riverside oasis of a tea room, with treedappled gardens, fine food and good ale. Bristol Packet tours kick the cream-tea season off on Fri 6 April.

BEESES TEA GARDENS BOAT TRIP FRI 6 APRIL, DEPARTS WAPPING WHARF, OUTSIDE WATERSHED & FROM BRISTOL BRIDGE (RUNS EVERY SUN & BANK HOL MON UNTIL MID-SEPT, PLUS FRIS DURING SCHOOL HOLS), £9.90 ADULT, £6.25 CHILD. FFI: 0117 926 8157 WWW.BRISTOLPACKET.CO.UK

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WHAT’S NEW

ANIMAL MAGIC

Habitat destruction is one of the biggest threats to wildlife in Britain. But your garden can give Mother Nature a helping hand, however tiny your plot may be. Even a pot on a windowsill can, if thoughtfully planted, support native bees and butterflies, and wildlife friendliness doesn’t have to mean nettles and bramble thickets, as expert Emma Smith explains on this friendly one-day course. Your garden can be more attractive for everyone – birds, frogs and dragonflies included.

GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE SAT 14 APR, 10.30AM-4.30PM, £30. UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL BOTANIC GARDEN, THE HOLMES, STOKE PARK RD, STOKE BISHOP, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 331 4906, WWW.BRISTOL.AC.UK/BOTANIC-GARDEN/

PAPER SCISSORS STONE

EXPRESS YOURSELF

Tired of exhibitions where everything’s roped off or cased behind glass? Then you might like Expressions, a festival of creativity in which you’re actively encouraged to touch, smell, hear and even walk inside the artworks on show. Working with the Milestones Trust, hundreds of artists explore the strange world of the subconscious, recreating their imagined, inner worlds for all to experience – including six giant animal-headed dolls (at a tea party, naturally), a tunnel of sensory delights and an interactive Tree of Dreams. Sounds intriguing…

EXPRESSIONS 18-22 APR, PAINTWORKS, BATH RD, BRISTOL, FREE ENTRY. FFI: 0117 971 4320, WWW.PAINTWORKSBRISTOL.CO.UK

A new autonomous, artist-run ‘temporary emporium’ called Paper Scissors Stone pops up this Easter in Cabot Circus, presenting the work of hundreds of local creatives from now until Christmas. The beautiful things will be presented in five ‘Volumes’, with up to 30 artists in each. Volume 1 runs from 5 April–29 May, with a free launch party on Wed 4, from 5pm, with wine and music. Expect work from illustrators, ceramicists, jewellers, fashion and textile artists, sculptors, printmakers, glass and metalworkers, milliners – even artisan food producers.

KITCHEN SINK DRAMA

The best parties always end up in the kitchen, don’t they? Bristol’s Big Chill Bar have taken that idea and run with it, down a mysterious corridor to a new secret area completed with a fully fitted kitsch kitchen and dining room all carefully styled to make it feel as though you’ve slipped down a time tunnel back to a hip 1970s house party. There’s a real antique music centre complete with vintage 45s, and you can have your own cocktail waitress/ barman to serve your drinks straight from the original orangey-brown Formica worktop. After a few riotous trial runs involving plenty of dirty dancing and spilled cocktails, the room is now available for free hire. Slip on your bellbottoms and get ready to party like its 1979… THE SECRET KITCHEN PARTY THE BIG CHILL BAR, SMALL ST, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 930 4217, WWW.BIGCHILL.NET/BRISTOL

PAPER SCISSORS STONE FROM THUR 5 APRIL, QUAKERS FRIARS, CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.POPUPBRISTOL.COM

PARK LIFE

Alongside its fabulous 18th century architecture and interiors – including the laboratory where Dr Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen in 1774 – Bowood is famous for its grounds. There’s parkland designed by ‘Capability’ Brown, impressive formal gardens, a rockwork garden, pinetum and arboretum, and (parents take note) one of Britain’s best adventure playgrounds. They’re big on Easter fun this year, with arts and crafts activities and an Easter egg hunt on Fri 6 April, and from Fri 20 April the stunning Rhododendron Walk will be open – some 60 acres ablaze with dozens of species of azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons.

BOWOOD HOUSE CALNE, WILTS. FFI: 01249 812102, WWW.BOWOOD-HOUSE.CO.UK

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FEATURE

Left: chiffchaff Below: Bluebell wood, wild garlic and wood anemone

PIC CREDIT: DARIN SMITH

PRIOR'S

WOOD Wander through the dappled haze of bluebells at Avon Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve near Portishead

DID YOU KNOW…? PIC CREDIT: CHRIS DAVIES

walk through the astonishing drifts of sapphire blue at Prior’s Wood, scattered with patches of white-flowered wild garlic and wood anemone, is guaranteed to make your spirit soar. From Portbury village, turn right after the gatehouse and continue up the track between the fields. When you enter the nature reserve by the interpretation sign, turn left off the main track and follow the waymark to the top of the hill and down another ride into the heart of the woodland.

WHERE SPRING MEETS SUMMER

Prior’s Wood was once part of the great Tyntesfield Estate near Wraxall. Timber from the woodland was processed in the saw mills of the estate.

HOW TO FIND THE RESERVE Grid ref: ST 494 749 Nearest postcode to reserve: BS20 7UF By bike: View a location map of the reserve on the National Cycle Network site: www.sustrans.org.uk By public transport: Visit www.traveline.org.uk By car: Travel into the village of Portbury on the High Street from the A369. Turn right onto Station Road. Parking: please note that Portbury Village gets really busy in bluebell season, causing problems in the village due to parking, so please follow the signs and park in the Gordano Rugby Football Club car park on Caswell Lane, just past the Portbury Village entrance to Prior’s Wood. Access: Some of the paths can be muddy, slippery and steep-sided. Keep to the best-used paths.

In the spring, on either side of this path bluebells blur into a haze up and down the slopes, dappled with patches of white wood anemone and wild garlic. Columns of mature oak and sweet chestnut rise from the ground, and in high summer very little light penetrates the rich green canopy. In places where trees have naturally fallen, glades have formed, and it’s here during the summer months that spotted flycatchers can been seen catching insects on the wing. Prior’s Wood is very rich in bird life, including buzzard, garden warbler and chiffchaff.

GLADE IN HEAVEN

As you follow this path, it gently rises and bends to the right, bringing you out again on the main ride. Continue past the entrance to the Children’s Hospice South West; don’t leave the reserve yet, but turn right to descend the path that takes you down to the stream. Cross the bridge and follow the path uphill, taking the first right onto the main track, where you’ll pass through a large glade that’s a truly breathtaking carpet of bluebells in spring. At the end of this path, cross a new bridge, which will take you up a slope and along a narrow woodland path, which eventually rejoins the ride near the first sign. 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

BLUEBELL WALK Why not sign up for the Children’s Hospice South West annual Bluebell Walk, which takes place on Sun 29 April? Part of the walk goes through Prior’s Wood, and there are three walks of different lengths to choose from. Dogs are also very welcome. FFI WWW.CHSW.ORG.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 marked 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: 15 APRIL, 13 MAY, 28 OCTOBER, 25 NOVEMBER

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COMPETITIONS

WIN A STAY AT THE IDLE ROCKS HOTEL!

WIN A HOTEL BREAK!

Fancy recharging the batteries in a boutique hotel perched on the harbour wall in a quaint, unspoilt fishing village? The Idle Rocks Hotel in St Mawes, Cornwall has 27 individually furnished bedrooms – many with fabulous sea views – and an award-winning restaurant where you can dine on locally caught and landed seafood while gazing out over the gorgeous sandy beaches and castles of the Roseland Peninsula. We have a twonight stay for two people to give away, including breakfast and three cookery sessions with one of the hotel’s top chefs. Pack a sundress – the climate’s so mild here that the daffodils spring up in January! THE IDLE ROCKS HOTEL HARBOURSIDE, ST MAWES, CORNWALL. FFI: 01326 270771, WWW.IDLEROCKS.CO.UK

fabulous COMPS

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

TO ENTER ➻ IDLE ROCKS HOTEL

JJust answer this question: In what county is the Idle Rocks Hotel located? Email your answer, with ‘Idle Rocks’ in the subject, to: editor@ foliomagazine.co.uk by Fri 27 Apr. Entries after this date will not be counted. Winner will be picked at random and notified by Mon 7 May. Bookings will be subject to availability and must be taken before Sun 1 July. Please include your full contact details (name, address, postcode, email, mobile, landline).

➻

FRANCES TAYLOR Just answer this question: Frances Taylor works out of which city? Email your answer, with ‘Frances Taylor’ in the subject, to: editor@ foliomagazine.co.uk by Fri 27 Apr. Entries after this will not be counted. Winner will be picked at random and notified by Mon 7 May. Please include full contact details. THE WINNERS Honey Tree Bespoke comp: Congratulations to Lynden Walker, who won a £100 voucher for Honey Tree Bespoke stationery. Correct answer: Somerset. Pixie Belle comp: Congratulations to Gill Brice, who won a makeover with Samantha Bell. Correct answer: American.

WIN A FAMILY PORTRAIT SESSION! Experienced Bristol photographer Frances Taylor has been training her lens on weddings and families for fourteen years – with stunning results. Frances takes a relaxed and unobtrusive approach to her subjects, capturing their spirit and personality whether they’re a fidgety two-year-old or a sceptical teen. The setting is up to you – whether it’s the chaotic bedroom of brand new parents, your favourite picnic spot or the lavish surroundings of a country house, she’ll make it the perfect backdrop. “Frances is a class act!” says one happy client. We have a family portrait session (including one free digital image) to give away. Say cheese!

WIN A PORTRAIT SESSION!

FRANCES TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY FFI: 07979 551580, WWW.FTPICTURES.CO.UK

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➻ LIFE STYLE

FREE FASHION SHOWS, SAMPLE SALES, LOCAL MARKETS, EVENTS AND MORE... GAY SOCIAL NETWORKING

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! ➻ Members was started three years ago as a professional social

networking event for discerning gay men of a certain ilk. The founders, Ronan, Ben and Bernie, were very aware that the gay scene wasn’t really catering for professional gay guys with a mature outlook who want to meet and socialise in pleasant surrounds and a fun, friendly atmosphere. Because of this, men who perhaps wouldn’t go out to gay bars and clubs were missing out on their chance to socialise and meet. So Members was created, the niche was filled and it’s proven to be a resounding success. They hold a monthly drinks event at Bristol’s Goldbrick House on the last Wednesday of every month, along with supper nights throughout the year. Attendance is growing, with guys from a diverse range of ages, backgrounds and professions who come to socialise professionally, personally or occasionally romantically. This year’s programme of events looks to be the best so far, and one of the shining jewels in the Members crown is their Third Birthday Party. This event always has the highest attendance of the year, and 2012’s party is going to be the biggest to date. Sponsored by their new associates MANtastic and Spire (who are launching their brand of male-only aesthetic surgery services on the same night), the Members board will be pulling out all the proverbial stops to make this their best birthday yet.

MEMBERS MANTASTIC BIRTHDAY WED 25 APRIL, GOLDBRICK HOUSE, PARK ST, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.MEMBERS-BRISTOL.CO.UK, OR LOOK FOR ‘MEMBERS EVENTS’ ON FACEBOOK

GREEN PARK STATION

LOCAL LIFE ➻ Green Park Station has been a

hallmark in Bath for more than 130 years, ever since its start as a busy railway station. It now offers a unique shopping experience, with independent shops, a weekly Saturday Market including Bath Farmers’ Market (the oldest in the country) and a buzzing Monthly Vintage and Antique Market as well as other events throughout the year, including the Love Food Festival. During the week, meanwhile, you’ll see locals pounding the square at the station’s Feel Alive Boot Camp. This year sees the introduction of two new events. Dig In! @ The Bath Gardeners Market will be hosted by a local landscape company, the Garden Works Company. The first event, on Sun 22 April, brings a showcase of more than

40 gardening experts, with everything from pergolas and plants to artificial grass and allotment advice. And then, on Sun 6 May, it’s the first So Natural Baby Festival. The event will feature a whole host of stalls, reinventing the traditional baby fair by focusing awareness on natural supports and holistic health, from before your baby is born all the way through childhood. Parents, practitioners, experts and families are welcomed to explore and discover everything on offer to help you to create a natural environment for your family, with free workshops and demonstrations to enjoy.

GREEN PARK STATION GREEN PARK RD, BATH. FFI: WWW.GREENPARKSTATION. CO.UK

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LIFESTYLE FREE FASHION SHOWS

CATWALK COOL ➻ Fashionistas from Bristol and beyond will be heading

to the Cabot Circus Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion Show this month for a series of free fashion shows presenting the season’s hottest trends. Featuring the latest looks from new collections available from stores in the centre, from high-street to high-end, the catwalk will showcase something for every budget and taste – whether you want to indulge your feminine side with pretty florals, grab attention with this season’s acid brights or spice it up a bit with the latest Miami trends. Presented by JP, one of London’s hottest stylists, the free shows should give even the most fashion reluctant a nudge in the right direction. You can enjoy fantastic discounts and offers at many of Cabot Circus’s stores and restaurants, and indulge in free treatments at the ‘pamper lounges’, where experts from House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols, Sanctuary Spa, SeanHanna and the Body Shop will be on hand to talk you through the latest hair and beauty trends. While you’re there, pick up some inspiration from the fabulous clothes and brilliant beauty buys showcased in glass display cases dotted around Cabot Circus and Quakers Friars.

CABOT CIRCUS SPRING/SUMMER 2012 FASHION SHOW 21-22 APRIL. SAT 21: 11.30AM, 12.30PM, 1.30PM, 2.30PM, 3.30PM, 4.30PM, CHILDREN’S FASHION SHOW 5PM. SUN 22: 12NOON, 1PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4PM. FFI WWW. CABOTCIRCUS.COM

WE LOVE...

These cute vintage-style dresses, just perfect for enjoying a ladylike afternoon tea with macaroons. Twist ‘n’ Shout Dress, £55 & Twisted Square Dress, £52. Ffi: www.coxandbaloney.com

FOOTWEAR

FANCY A FITFLOP? ➻ With summer on its way, SoleLution have something for all the family, whether you’re after a shoe, sandal or canvas. Women are spoiled for choice, with flats, heels and wedges, all designed for style and comfort, from the likes of Fly London, Hush Puppies, Rocket Dog, Josef Seibel and Rieker. For wider fittings, there’s a range from Hotter and Padders. And don’t forget FitFlop, with a style to suit all occasions – Ciela for a bit of glitz (in a slide or flipflop), Lunetta (above in white, £60) and Rokkit (above in navy, £65), Fleur and Frou for beauty, Sling (the flipflop with a twist) and the ever faithful Walkstar, which ‘goes with anything you’ve got on’. Each style has FitFlop’s biomechanically engineered Microwobbleboard midsole. You’ll find fab ranges for men and kids, too, and knowledgeable staff to help you find the shoe for your sole. SOLELUTION 1-2 BOYCES AVE, CLIFTON VILLAGE, BRISTOL (0117 973 8350) & 114 HIGH ST, PORTISHEAD (01275 843399)

BOUTIQUES SALE

BARGAIN HUNTER’S HEAVEN ➻ Over the Easter weekend a group of Bath’s

independent boutiques are clubbing together to create what sounds like a great sample and end of line sale, with a percentage of the profits donated to Dorothy House Hospice Care. Make a B-line for Milsom Street to find bargains and unique pieces among reduced-price womenswear, childrenswear and accessories, from the likes of Traffic People, Sassy and Boo, British Designers, Image, Noa Noa, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Bibico, Stella and Dot, and Just Fiona.

SAMPLE SALE 5-7 APRIL, MILSOM PLACE, UNITS 4 & 5 (NEXT TO THE PARISIEN CAFE COURTYARD), THUR 10AM–6PM, GOOD FRI 11AM–4PM, SAT 10AM–6PM

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BEAUTY

Just RELAX..

…and let Anna Britten book you in for one of the best spa breaks in the West

n recent years, the spa break has gone from something done by TB-stricken characters in European literature to the go-to escape for modern women and their pals. Even men, long stereotyped as gnarly moisturiser-dodgers, are getting in on the fluffy robe and herbal tea action. Here we celebrate the West’s finest spa breaks – anything from a day to a full weekend of having your muscles unknotted, your pores unclogged and your mojo rekindled. All are very special places where you can feel a million miles away while being within just an hour’s drive.

BEST FOR… MUMS-TO-BE

Above and top left: Lucknam Park; top right: Cedar Falls

Knocked up and knackered? Parisbased spa specialists and essential oils pioneers Anne Semonin don’t ship out their luxurious ‘Mummy to Be’

treatments to just any old high street beauty parlour. The truly exquisite Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, set deep in 500 acres of parkland in the Wiltshire countryside, is one of a handful of UK establishments to offer the Mother to Be Pampering Therapy (1.5hrs, £135) and Mother to Be Body Therapy (1hr, £90), both of which tackle stretch marks, stress and swollen ankles, using gentle but effective essential oils. While there you can also enjoy a 20m indoor pool and a brasserie helmed by a Michelinstarred chef and full of embryoencouragingly healthy dishes like smoked haddock, Welsh rarebit and glazed featherblade of beef. LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL & SPA COLERNE, CHIPPENHAM, WILTS. FFI: 01225 740570, WWW.LUCKNAMPARK.CO.UK

BEST FOR… FOOD

As part of its one-, two- and threenight packages, Somerset health farm Cedar Falls offer 44 acres of beautifully manicured grounds in the romantic Quantocks, a comprehensive menu of spa treatments, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and tennis court, fitness and relaxation classes, gym and golf course. They also – and this is where Cedar Falls really come into their own – boast a sumptuous dining room with a lavish, no-scrimping menu featuring dishes like five spice sea bass fillet with leek and cumin sauce, finished off with dark chocolate pudding with white chocolate and cointreau. After dinner you can feed your brain, too, by joining an informal themed talk or workshop – topics

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BEAUTY

Clockwise from above left: Cedar Falls; Champneys Bath; and Thermae Bath Spa

include stress, fitness and skincare. CEDAR FALLS HEALTH FARM BISHOPS LYDEARD, TAUNTON, SOMERSET. FFI: 01823 433233, WWW.CEDARFALLS.CO.UK

BEST FOR… HISTORY

No trip to Bath – or even longterm residency – is complete without taking the legendary warm mineral waters, and since the Roman Baths closed to dippers in the 1970s, the only place you can do this is at Thermae Bath Spa. Set in the city’s ancient heart, their history sets them apart from any other spa experience in the country. For a start, you’re swimming in over 2,000 years of history – especially if you dip into the small Cross Bath, built on the site of an ancient Celtic temple. Within seconds of immersing yourself, you’ll understand why this was the number one pastime for the Romans and

Georgians and why this particular H2O was considered the panacea to all ills.

CHAMPNEYS BATH NEW BOND ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 420500, WWW.CHAMPNEYS.COM

THERMAE BATH SPA HOT BATH ST, BATH. FFI: 0844 888 0844, WWW. THERMAEBATHSPA.COM

BEST FOR… TIRED SHOPPERS

BEST FOR… FEELING LIKE A CELEB

Part of the famous Champneys family of luxury spas – frequented by all manner of pop stars, footballers and actors – New Bond Street hideaway Champneys Bath invites you to pop in for anything from threading or a manicure to a full day of A-list grooming. CACI non-surgical facelifts, Hot Lava Shells massage, Bikini Boot Camp and chocolate body wraps are among the treats on offer. You can also book a private party or swank it up at an exclusive ‘Ascot Ladies Day Experience’ at Bath Racecourse on Thur 21 June. You never know with whom you might be rubbing (exfoliated, moisturised and possibly spray-tanned) shoulders.

Tucked away just off Bath’s busiest shopping streets (there’s also a Wells branch), the charming Frontlinestyle have devised four day-spa packages of increasing lavishness: ‘Stress Buster’, ‘Total Relax’, ‘Ultimate Detox’ and ‘Pure Indulgence’. The former promises the perfect pick-me-up for the busy and stressed, while the latter indulges you with full body massage, bespoke facial, manicure, pedicure and a light lunch. If you’re just popping in, however, you can opt for Clarins or Saint Tropez bronzing, anti-ageing for the hands and all manner of other tasty treatments. For men there’s the tension-relieving and oh-so-cleverly-named Hero Treatment. What dude wouldn’t prefer that to being dragged round Jolly’s? FRONTLINESTYLE MONMOUTH ST, BATH (01225 478478) & BROAD ST, WELLS (01749 672225). FFI: WWW.FRONTLINESTYLE.CO.UK

BEST FOR… COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS

Set in extensive, Capability Browndesigned parkland owned by the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, Bowood Estate Spa outside Bath is the place to find not only European but also Asian spa philosophies, based on Ayurveda, India’s traditional, natural healing system of medicine, and using fresh ingredients gathered from the gardens. Enjoy your luxury spa treatments in state of the art facilities that include a glass-fronted gym, infinity pool, crystal steam room, rock sauna and aromatherapy showers. The bestFOLIO/APRIL 2012 25

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The haircolour you've been waiting for Chromatics • Hair feels up to 2x stronger • No amonia, no odour

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

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BEAUTY

Clockwise from above left: Royal Crescent Hotel & Bath House Spa; Vale Spa; and the Sanctuary Spa

named spa feature ever, the SPAtisserie serves light meals, smoothies and champagne to iron out the kinks even further. A stunning spot. BOWOOD ESTATE SPA CALNE, WILTS. FFI: 01249 823883, WWW.BOWOOD-HOTEL.CO. UK/SPA

BEST FOR… IMPRESSING YOUR PALS

They’ll know the iconic Royal Crescent, and some may be aware of the five-star hotel in the middle, but your friends from out of town will be delightfully surprised when you tell them you’re all booked into opulent secret spa the Bath House. A converted coach house and stables with a timeless, almost Romanesque feel, the Bath House sits within the hotel’s verdant lawns (herbs grown here are used in certain treatments) and features a relaxation pool, cool and tepid plunge tubs, sauna and steam, and gym. Day retreats and treatments focus on the natural elements of earth, air, fire and water, and use world-renowned product ranges. ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL & BATH HOUSE SPA ROYAL CRESCENT, BATH. FFI: 01225 823333, WWW.ROYALCRESCENT.CO.UK

BEST FOR… AN OUTDOOR DIP

Everyone who’s been to the Bath Spa Hotel’s first-rate spa (open to nonresidents) raves about the heated outdoor pool and its ability to turn tired muscles to jelly. But in the rush to get there, don’t overlook the rather special signature spa treatments, too, designed exclusively for this place by Parisian beauty specialists Decléor, and combining the best of Bath’s spa traditions with ancient Celtic wellbeing secrets. Treatments are given in seven beautifully lit, tranquil treatment rooms, including a double room for couples and disabled guests. Afterwards, you

can don a cosy robe and zone out in one of the relaxation room’s soft leather recliners until, if you’re really planning to spoil yourself, dinner in the Vellore restaurant.

SANCTUARY SPA CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 370 2791, WWW.THESANCTUARY. CO.UK

MACDONALD BATH SPA HOTEL SYDNEY RD, BATH. FFI: 0844 879 9106, WWW. MACDONALDHOTELS.CO.UK/OUR-HOTELS/ MACDONALD-BATH-SPA-HOTEL

If you want to relax in tandem with your partner, the award-winning Cadbury House Health Club and Spa is the place to be. Why? Their popular and ingenious Couples Suite enables two therapists to work simultaneously and side by side on you and your significant other – bamboo massage therapy, Crystal Clear microdermabrasion and the De-Stress aromatherapy cocoon are all on the menu. All you have to do is decide whether to chat or nod off (just don’t argue). There are also some fabulous, good-value hen-night and mother-anddaughter packages to choose from. Hair salon, gym, indoor pool, bistro and bar all await if you’re planning to linger. Date night with a difference, eh?

BEST FOR… FEMININE ATMOSPHERE

Ah, the Sanctuary. The ultimate upmarket girly oasis. Not only is the brand a super-famous one, with salt scrubs and face masks on supermarket shelves all over the country, but it also comes with a trailblazer rep – the original day spa opened in London’s Covent Garden 30 years ago, for the female dancers of the Royal Opera House. Though the clientele tend to wear fewer legwarmers nowadays, the original women-only ethos remains. It also feels like a boutique hotel, or private members’ club. Beautifying/de-stressing takes place across five treatment rooms as well as the fabulous Champagne Nail Bar. We can highly recommend the Prescriptions Facial, which does things to your face that we guarantee nobody’s ever done before. And not a hairy back in sight. Bliss.

BEST FOR… COUPLES

CADBURY HOUSE HEALTH CLUB & SPA CONGRESBURY, BRISTOL. FFI: 01934 834343, WWW.CADBURYHOTELBRISTOL.CO.UK

BEST FOR… A COMPLETE MINI-BREAK

A stone’s throw from Cardiff and set in acres of lush countryside, the spa at the Vale Resort is Wales’s largest such establishment and would make an excellent choice for anyone wanting to make a weekend of it. It was the only spa in the country to be shortlisted for a national beauty industry accolade at this year’s Professional Beauty Awards. Much of this acclaim will be down to its dazzling quarter-of-a-millionpound revamp last summer, which also scooped it a maximum fivebubble rating from the Good Spa Guide. The four funky relaxation zones, featuring leather sofas, water beds, shimmering lanterns and sumptuous quilts, are seriously cool. The bright lights of Cardiff and sandy beaches of the South Wales coast await when you emerge. VALE SPA HENSOL, NR CARDIFF, WALES. FFI: 01443 667800, WWW.VALE-HOTEL.COM

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MARK SIMMONS PHOTOGRAPHY Tel: 0117 9140999 Mobile: 07778 063 699

Natural Weddings

“Mark’s gift lies in his ability to tell a story in picture form. He totally captured the atmosphere of our memorable day and didn’t miss one precious moment. He is incredibly talented, very likeable and does not at all get in the way of the celebrations. He comes highly recommended!” Marie-Claire Gutfreund

NEW Website: www.marksimmonsphotography.com

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BEAUTY

LIFESTYLE

MACK

“Sean was most definitely talking my language”

DADDY'S

So what happens when self-professedly unfunky Cath Evans rocks up at Bristol’s super-cool salon with a difference?

ot being one of the world’s most glamorous people, or indeed the most funky, I’ve never really fitted into the whole salon ‘thing’. Maybe Mack Daddy’s could be my kind of

your usual salon, stacked with make-up-clad stylists with perfectly curled and bleached hair. Music is pumped onto the street to beckon you in and, once inside, this place simply oozes cool. With loads of trendy stylists and urban art all over the walls, this was definitely a new kind of salon experience for me. As I stepped through the door, the lively salon…? atmosphere hit me – on what, staff told me, was a Before you even enter Mack Daddy’s, you’re “quiet” day. Any nerves I had about not being struck by the originality of this place. This isn’t ‘cool’ enough to have my hair cut here were quickly dispatched. Sean, the owner, welcomed me in: a really chatty bloke, he had all the AFTER requisite charm but was a lot more approachable than many of the stylists I’ve been BEFORE to in the past. Sean had a good look at my hair and decided what he wanted to do with it. He talked me through the whole process, including techniques and the kind of cut he likes to deliver (a cut that lasts and grows out well). He was most definitely talking my language – I’m not one of those people who want to come back every six weeks in order to keep my style looking Even though Sean didn’t sharp. add any colour to Cath’s newly choppy locks, he So off I went to get my hair managed to create the illusion of fresh highlights washed in preparation for the main event, and

Urban art adorns the walls of funky salon Mack Daddy's, which simply oozes cool

the products used smelled amazing, which is always a big ‘tick’ for me. Sean wanted to get some colour into my hair but, due to time restraints, had to settle for just a cut. Despite having the gift of the gab, when he’s cutting hair he goes quiet and you can see the concentration – which is another big tick for me; I like to know that my hair is getting the stylist’s complete attention. Sean has big plans for Mack Daddy’s, and with three salons to date (the newest of which is on the Gloucester Road), he’s obviously found a recipe for success. He told me that he wants to steer clear of the “industry norm” of fashion shows and the like, and has plans to host an art exhibition later in the year. But back to the hair… With plenty of layers to break up my thick mane, and despite not putting any colours in himself, Sean managed to work his magic on my hair to make it look brighter and as though I’d had a fresh set of highlights worked in. When confronted with a less than glamorous or funky thirtysomething, Sean has created an amazing effect with little more than a pair of scissors. Pure genius.

CONTACTS MACK DADDY’S 22 PARK ROW, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 933 0948. ALSO AT 76 COLSTON ST (0117 929 7811) & 77 GLOUCESTER RD (0117 924 9432), BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.MACKDADDYS.CO.UK

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SHOPPING SHOPPING

LIFESTYLE

SHOP OF THE

“A modern-day Aladdin’s cave to treat, delight and spoil”

MONTH

Melissa Blease spoils herself silly at the Thermae Bath Spa Shop

ath’s Heritage City status was built around the natural mineral-rich springs that flow beneath the city’s historical Roman remains and elegant Georgian facades. Today, the element at the heart of the matter has been brought bang up to date, combining original history with contemporary glamour to stunning effect. At the Thermae Bath Spa, the breathtakingly dramatic rooftop pool, various steam rooms and legendary Hot Baths combine to create an unforgettable rejuvenation experience. If you want to take the Thermae Bath Spa home with you without getting wet – or indeed, treat yourself to a souvenir of your luxurious experience – the spa offers a glorious spa-to-go opportunity for Bath residents and visitors alike. After a total refurbishment, the Thermae Bath Spa have recently reopened the doors to their main shop, revealing a modernday Aladdin’s cave of original

spa, health and beauty products to treat, delight and thoroughly spoil all those who seek a blissful beautifying sanctuary. Located just opposite the main spa building at the heart of the historical Hot Bath Street axis and adjacent to the ancient Cross Bath, the shop has the kind of welcoming, contemporary feel typical of the Thermae Bath Spa complex itself, but, like it’s now iconic mothership, still fits seamlessly into the history-laden backdrop. Inside the shop, a friendly, dedicated staff team are on hand to provide expert advice as shoppers browse a skincare regime featuring Bath’s most extensive selection of the delectable Pevonia range of health and beauty products. Pevonia Botanica is a world leader in skincare products containing naturally sourced ingredients combined with technologically advanced formulas and treatments that deliver highly visible results, as endorsed by celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, Cameron Diaz and Matthew

McConaughey – yes, you can find a treat for the man in your life here, too! There are also, of course, lots of Bath-specific treats to take away with you: a dazzling array of the Thermae Bath Spa’s own products, including shampoo, body lotion and shower gel, are all enhanced with Bath’s very own natural, mineral-laden spring waters, allowing you to recreate the unique Heritage City beautifying experience at home. Meanwhile, a thoughtful selection of spa-related products includes massage oils, soft fleece robes, drawstring bags and spa candles – perfect for a spot of spoil-yourself pampering or as totally treatsome gifts. Vouchers for the Spa itself include full use of the open-air rooftop pool, the indoor Minerva Bath and the series of aroma steam rooms. Spa vouchers offer great value for money, and most of the seven spa package experiences include a choice of spa treatments and tasty meals in the Springs Restaurant. Stuck for gifting ideas? Wonder no more! A visit to the Thermae Bath Spa Shop offers the ultimate shopping therapy for all. THERMAE BATH SPA SHOP 2 HOT BATH ST, BATH. FFI: 0844 888 0844, WWW. THERMAEBATHSPA.COM

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FASHION

LIFESTYLE

Pale perennials are an instant hit and work fabulously with the must-have pastel shades filling the high street this season. Dorothy Perkins, £35

Floral chic never looked so good! Muted florals add a sophisticated edge to decorative daywear. Limited Collection at M&S, £39.50

The spring/summer catwalks were full of clashing blooms – this stunning dress adds a quirky edge to floral chic. Monsoon, £85

Create a sophisticated look with monochrome prints like this beautiful top. Phase Eight, £59

Add some spring into your step with floral chic - the spring/summer catwalks at last month’s Fashion Week at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway were positively blooming with printed perennials. Here’s a pick of our floral faves…

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FASHION

LIFESTYLE

‘Two for a pound, two for a pound…!’ Fruit and veg are set to take over the high street later this season. Watch out for unusual chilli and aubergine prints or nod to the trend with this juicy strawberry ring. Accessorize, £10

Team chintzy floral prints with denims to add a touch of spring to your look. Ted Baker at John Lewis, £129

Florals come in all shapes and sizes this season. Channel your inner 50s housewife with large blooms and bold colours. Next, £45

Be bold with your blooms and opt for head-to-toe glamour in floral jumpsuits or shirt-and-trouser combinations. Miss Selfridge, shirt £37, trousers £39

CONTACTS If you’re more of a wallflower, add some floral charm to your look with a gorgeous flower necklace. Oasis, £16

ACCESSORIZE FFI: 0117 950 0848, ACCESSORIZE.COM DOROTHY PERKINS FFI: 0117 9507665, DOROTHYPERKINS.COM JOHN LEWIS FFI: 0117 959 1100, JOHNLEWIS.COM KAREN MILLEN FFI: 0117 950 2788, KARENMILLEN.COM MARKS & SPENCER FFI: 0117 904 4444, MARKSANDSPENCER.COM MISS SELFRIDGE FFI: 0117 959 2340, MISSSELFRIDGE.COM MONSOON FFI: 0117 950 0753, MONSOON. CO.UK NEXT FFI: 0844 844 5094, NEXT.CO.UK OASIS FFI: 0117 959 0111, OASIS-STORES. COM PHASE EIGHT FFI: 0117 950 8986, PHASEEIGHT.CO.UK

Brighten up anY Outfit with this limited edition scarf. Karen Millen, £75

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Bold statement… Niki wears… scarf from Urban Outfitters £38, secondhand denim jacket, jeans from Oasis £48, striped t-shirt from Whistles £45, fringed boots from Zara £29.99

FASHION

HOW TO WEAR...

PRINTS Personal stylist and image consultant Niki Whittle tackles the trends

ou’ll find it hard to avoid print this season – it’s one of the big trends for spring. You’ll find it covering shoes, jeans and jackets with soft floral prints, bold fruit prints, striking geometrics, pretty paisleys and tropical designs – there really is a print to suit everyone’s style. But with so much choice, you might find it hard to know what to go for, and even harder to pull together a complete outfit. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been faced with unworn print items when going through a client’s wardrobe. I say, keep it simple and let the print do the talking. Too many bold prints will compete with each other, but if you do want to mix your prints, make sure one is softer and smaller and use coloured accessories to tie them together. A bold print will attract attention, so make sure it flatters you and your shape. I’m pear-shaped, so I like to wear print on my top half. If you’re an apple shape, then you can do the opposite… printed jeans will make a fabulous choice. A scarf is a versatile and failsafe safe way to introduce print into your wardrobe. Here I’ve teamed a bold scarf with a jeans and T-shirt combination, tying the look together with a blue denim jacket. If you want to make more of a statement, then the jacket pictured here might be for you. A casual tailored jacket is a wardrobe staple and a great alternative to knitwear in the summer, and this floral number is no exception. Wear it with jeans in the day or throw it over an LBD in the evening.

FFI WWW.NIKIWHITTLE.COM / WWW. HIPSHAPESANDBRISTOLFASHION.BLOGSPOT.COM

Flower power… Niki wears… jacket from Zara £59.99, striped t-shirt from Whistles £45, necklace from Urban Outfitters £16, J Brand jeans from Mimi Noor, Milsom St, Bath £175, Converse shoes from Schuh £53

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FASHION FASHION

BLACK TO BASICS

LIFESTYLE

Men’s black button-down shirt (worn as a shirt dress) & men’s red velvet bowtie, both from H&M. Skinny black patent leather belt from J.Crew. Grey light wool blazer by Aritzia (not available in the UK). Glasses frames bought in Korea

Rosa Park raids her boyfriend’s wardrobe

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN Men’s grey chunky jumper from Reiss. Black lace knee-length skirt from Zara. Grey crystal necklace from Hobbs. Cluster crystal necklace bought in a market in Korea. Glasses frames bought in Korea 36 FOLIO/APRIL FOLIO/FEB 2012 2012

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LIFESTYLE

FASHION

BUTTONED UP Men’s chambray button-down shirt from J.Crew. Sequined silver skirt from Gap. Necklace from Urban Outfitters. Glasses frames bought in Korea

is that this style has a universal appeal. Wellcrafted items like a man’s button-down shirt and a knit jumper are timeless and versatile. There’s an undeniable feeling of women’s fashion growing beyond its girly phase and reaching out to that elusive woman who favours more of a mannish flair. The ‘borrow from your boyfriend’ dictum that has so many of us girls garbed in baggy cuffed jeans has transcended its fad status into something more permanent. No longer a trend, it’s become an intrinsic part of our attire. So take the shirt off his back and add your own feminine touch. Tie a belt around it and pair it with black opaque tights and a blazer to dress it up. Layer on some sparkly statement jewellery with his knit jumper to make it pop from day to night. Borrow his worn-in chambray shirt and rock it with a sequined skirt as a flirty work outfit. Match his plaid shirt to your leather hotpants. And don’t forget his accessories! Bowties and

thick glasses frames do well to smarten up a man – now they do for you, too. Ladies, it’s time to man up.

CONTACTS GAP GALLERIES, BROADMEAD, BRISTOL & OLD BOND ST, BATH. FFI: WWW.GAP.COM H&M BROADMEAD, BRISTOL & SOUTHGATE, BATH. FFI: WWW.HM.COM HOBBS CABOT CIRCUS & CRIBBS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL; MILSOM ST, BATH. FFI: WWW.HOBBS. CO.UK J.CREW FFI: WWW.JCREW.COM REISS PARK ST, BRISTOL & MILSOM ST, BATH. FFI: WWW.REISSONLINE.COM TOPSHOP CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL & SOUTHGATE, BATH. FFI: WWW.TOPSHOP.COM URBAN OUTFITTERS CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL & MILSOM ST, BATH. FFI: WWW. URBANOUTFITTERS.CO.UK ZARA CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW. ZARA.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICH STAPLETON AT ODD & EDEN PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO (WWW.ODDANDEDEN.CO.UK). FFI: WWW.TEXTURE.CO

ore than two months on and I’m still in recovery mode from the Christmas overspend but I’ve been itching for a new wardrobe for 2012. Combing through my closet and revamping old threads with trendy accessories usually does the trick in satisfying my impulse to shop, but this year I’ve decided to change my game plan. I’m raiding my boyfriend’s wardrobe. There really is no need to buy new boyfriend jeans or boyfriend jackets when your partner has those very items waiting to be swiped by clothes-horse girlfriends. (If you’re not in a relationship, a close male friend is your answer.) The cool nonchalance of an androgynous look has been the leitmotif of women’s fashion for several seasons now, and what I’ve deduced

CHECK, MATE Plaid button-down shirt from Gap. Men’s plaid bowtie from H&M. Black leather shorts from Topshop. Glasses frames bought in Korea

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For more information call Simon Wellby your certified Rolfer: 07799 693 546

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HEALTH

LIFESTYLE

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

REIKI ➻ Reiki is a popular Japanese treatment dating back some 2,500 years. Like many alternative therapies, it’s based on the principle of energy, and the practitioner uses a healing touch on or around the body to redirect the flow of energy within. Many people believe that reiki can cure specific ailments such as stress, anxiety, insomnia, migraines, sciatica and arthritis, as well as increase the quality of life in general. A wealth of clinical studies report positive results. One controlled study of 46 participants, which compared reiki with a placebo, identified a significant reduction in symptoms of psychological distress in participants who received a true treatment. In this instance, each participant received a 60-minute treatment every week for just six weeks and, impressively, still reported reduced distress one year later. The treatment isn’t remotely intimidating: you simply lie on a couch, fully clothed, while the practitioner places their hands on or over you at various parts of your body. Some people report a tingling

Reiki is thought to cure a raft of ailments from insomnia to arthritis

sensation; generally, you’ll feel relaxed and a little drowsy. “Reiki can be a very intense and very personal experience,” says Honor Ballantyne, a complementary therapist based at Cedar Falls Health Farm in Taunton. “Some people get quite emotional as there’s often a rather overwhelming sense of release after treatment. My belief is in treating the person as a whole, working to find a balance of mind, body and spirit to bring a feeling of wellbeing and contentment within.” “I’ve had reiki three times, but the treatment with Honor at Cedar Falls was the most effective,” says journalist Suzi Dixon, who recently reviewed reiki for a piece in mytelegraph. “Immediately after the

treatment, I felt energised. For two weeks afterwards, I slept well but also felt calm and thoughtful, as though I was processing thoughts that had been making me feel ill at ease. It was as though a blockage had been cleared – I could think clearly and deal with everyday commitments without getting overwhelmed.” CEDAR FALLS HEALTH FARM TAUNTON, SOMERSET. FFI: 01823 433904, WWW.CEDARFALLS. CO.UK (CALL TO BOOK A 1.25HR REFLEXOLOGY SESSION FOR £58, OR SEE WEBSITE FOR INFO ON 2-NIGHT HOLISTIC RETREAT BREAKS FROM £310) (QUOTE ‘FOLIO’ TO BOOK A 60-MINUTE REIKI TREATMENT FOR £40, SAVING £10)

SUPERFOODS

IT MUST BE LOVE ➻ A wonderfully vibrant

reminder is set to alert us to the prospect of brighter days on the horizon: the British Asparagus Season starts on Mon 23 April. But did you know that those long green spears are actually a superfood? Asparagus is low in fat and calories but loaded with all kinds of health-enhancing vitamins and minerals, including prebiotics, folic acid (a musthave mineral for all mums-tobe) and vitamins B1, C and E.

Rumour has it that asparagus is also an aphrodisiac – what’s not to love? Find out more about the nutritional benefits of this Great British Harvest and browse a selection of inspirational recipes from chefs including Valentine Warner and Dean Edwards and British Hockey Team player Georgie Twigg at the British Asparagus website. FFI WWW.BRITISH-ASPARAGUS.CO.UK

THERAPIES NEWS

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT ➻ The Clifton Practice is proud to introduce two new practitioners to a team that already includes some of the most successful, accomplished practitioners in the UK. Zoe Gray (also an NLP Coaching Practitioner) will be offering clients a full nutritional therapy service and specialises in optimising fertility and children’s health through individualised nutritional programmes, while Louise Chapman will concentrate on acupuncture, an ancient Chinese treatment that works on the concept of balancing energy throughout the body to help with physical, mental and emotional issues. Contact the Clifton Practice to explore the benefits of nutritional therapy, acupuncture and much, much more. THE CLIFTON PRACTICE 8-10 WHITELADIES RD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 946 6070, WWW.THECLIFTONPRACTICE.CO.UK

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EDUCATION

LIFESTYLE

SPOTLIGHT ON...

BADMINGTON SCHOOL ➻ Ranking highly in the national

league tables and among the top girls’ schools in the UK, Badminton is well known for its excellent academic results, as well as for being a caring, happy school with small class sizes, great facilities, excellent teaching and a strong emphasis on pastoral care. An independent boarding, weekly boarding and day school for girls aged three to 18, Badminton has a strong community ethos that sees it consistently achieving impressive academic results: the school is currently ranked highly in the national league tables and has a 100% pass rate at A-level. And although academic studies are important, perhaps of equal importance to the school is that Badminton girls become valued members of a team, sing in the school choir or improve their artistic skills. Pupils are encouraged to be busy, rounded individuals with a variety of interests. But don’t take our word for it – you can judge for yourself at next month’s open morning.

BADMINTON SCHOOL WESTBURY ON TRYM, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 905 5200, WWW. BADMINTON.BRISTOL.SCH.UK OPEN MORNING MON 7 MAY. FFI: 0117 905 5271

SCHOOLS FESTIVAL

THE BARD’S NOT HARD ➻ More than 20 local primary schools will be under the spotlight this October, with hundreds of local children given the chance to perform Shakespeare’s plays on professional stages. The Shakespeare Schools Festival, a big hit for more than a decade now, is expanding this year to allow primary schoolchildren to tread the boards for the first time – proving, in the words of the SSF charity, that ‘the Bard’s not hard!’ Says children’s author and festival patron Michael Rosen: “Poetry, fiction and drama can be the route for children to discovering emotions and thoughts they didn’t know they had, or discovering emotions and thoughts that they didn’t know other people had. A festival is an ideal way to get children involved in Shakespeare because it immerses them in the excitement of the time. There’s a buzz in the air that

everyone wants to enjoy.” Participating schools in Bristol include Ashton Gate Primary, Badminton, Bristol Grammar Upper School, Cotham, Fairfield High and Red Maids’, while Blagdon Primary, King Edward’s Junior and Kingswood are among the Bath schools taking part. Locally, the festival will be spread between the Tobacco Factory (pictured: last year’s production of Macbeth), Redgrave Theatre and Egg at the Theatre Royal, with pupils aged eight to 18 coming together to celebrate Shakespeare’s works. Tickets will be available from August. FFI: SHAKESPEARE SCHOOLS FESTIVAL, WWW.SSF.UK.COM (REGISTERED CHARITY SSF ARE HOLDING A FUNDRAISING GALA AT LONDON’S ROYAL COURT THEATRE ON SUN 13 MAY. IF YOU’D BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING OR SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE FESTIVAL, CALL 020 7601 1809 FOR MORE INFO)

RESEARCH

MAGIC MOMENTS ➻ Another attack of the guilt

Badminton girls are encouraged to be busy, well-rounded individuals

pangs after plonking the little ones in front of Harry Potter for the nth time while you catch up on the housework? Don’t worry, It's official! Watching Harry say researchers from Lancaster Potter can help your children University, who recently carried think more creatively out a study to find out whether there are any educational benefits or driving a car; thinking up alternative in exposing kids to ‘magical content‘ like uses for a plastic cup) and found that witches and wizards, Santa Claus and the children who’d watched the magical the tooth fairy. scenes performed significantly better on Researchers from the university’s the creativity tests. Department of Psychology showed “Magical thinking enables children groups of 4-to-6-year-olds 15-minute to create fantastic imaginary worlds,” clips of Harry Potter and the say the research team, “and in this way Philosopher’s Stone, with one group enhances children’s capacity to view seeing scenes showing animals talking the world and act upon it from multiple and witches and wizards performing perspectives. The results suggested that spells, and one group viewing the same books and videos about magic might characters but without any magical serve to expand children’s imaginations content. They then tested them for and help them to think more creatively.” creativity (pretending they were a rabbit FOLIO/APRIL 2012 41

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

26 Sat

BRISTOL & BATH'S MAGAZINE

www.venue.co.uk

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MOTORING

LIFESTYLE

ALL TOGETHER NOW EVENT

HYUNDAI I30

SECOND COMING ➻ The second generation of Hyundai’s Golf/Focus rival, the

➻

Lovers of classic and vintage automobiles should make a beeline this month for the 33rd Bristol Classic Car Show, held at Shepton Mallet’s Bath & West Showground on the weekend of 21-22 April. More than 70 car clubs, from Mudford Minis to the grand-sounding Daimler & Lanchester Owners’ Club, will be displaying their lovingly maintained motors. You’ll find around 900 elegant classics awaiting your inspection, as well as an autojumble, with over 100 stalls selling everything from clutch components to diecast models. An inked-in diary highlight, in short, for any car enthusiast. The BCCS got into gear back in 1980 in Bristol’s dockside exhibition centre, moving to Shepton Mallet later that decade. Thirty years on, BCCS is big business: an estimated 8,000-10,000 petrolheads should turn up over the two days, making it one of the largest car-lovers’ gatherings across the UK. BRISTOL CLASSIC CAR SHOW 21-22 APRIL, BATH & WEST SHOWGROUND, SHEPTON MALLET. FFI: WWW.NWE.CO.UK

i30 hits UK showrooms this spring, and a fine piece of engineering it is, too. The new i30 offers far sharper styling and better build quality than its hugely successful predecessor, which did so much to catapult Hyundai into the mainstream of car manufacturers; otherwise, though, it sticks to much the same formula. There’s plenty of kit thrown in, and a Blue Drive version will trim those monthly bills still further. Hyundai are concentrating hard on moving away from their bargain-basement image, and the styling and finish of the elegant MkII i30 should go a long way to achieving that. Test-drive one for yourself at Simonstone Hyundai in Bristol. FFI SIMONSTONE HYUNDAI, 803-805 BATH RD, BRISLINGTON, BRISTOL. TEL: 0117 971 1311, WEB: WWW. SIMONSTONEBRISTOLHYUNDAI.CO.UK

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TRAVEL

AFTER THE

FALLS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Hot stone massage; yes, puddings are on the menu!; the beautiful house is set in acres of lush grounds; the indoor pool

olling landscapes, aweinspiring scenery, historic frolics: Somerset offers a rich bounty of Away Day gifts that keep on giving. Seasoned Somerseteers know that if you follow the sunset you soon find yourself exploring the breathtakingly beautiful wilds of Exmoor, which enjoys a roughly two-third/onethird share with neighbouring county Devon and offers a wonderful introduction to the most glorious, unspoiled coastline in the UK. But before we embarked on such a journey, we planned a pitstop eight kilometres west of Taunton to indulge in a spot of rest and relaxation at the perfectly picturesque Cedar Falls Health Farm and Spa, nestling in the serene shadows cast by the Quantock Hills and surrounded by acres of lush private grounds. This non-intimidating but totally luxurious haven of life-affirming indulgence turns 30 this year, making it one of the original health farms on the burgeoning spa scene. The Falls enjoy a longstanding reputation for traditional

Melissa Blease heads to Somerset to strike spa gold beneath the Quantocks

excellence, but the treatments and therapies on offer span a thoroughly modern array, from quick-fix beautifiers (manicures, pedicures, make-up, etc) to reiki and counselling, taking in body wraps, hot stone therapies, a massive selection of massage opportunities and more along the way. As this Grand Old Dame of pampering hotspot delights wears three decades of experience extremely well, it was time for us to opt for a little bit of what she’s having (or rather offering, as the case may be). At the desk, we were introduced to an affable porter who treated us to a full tour of our country-house home for the night, guiding us on a route that took in various treatment rooms, exercise suites and relaxation areas, as well as the inviting pool, whirlpool and sauna facilities and those all-important dining areas and bar surely we’re all aware of the benefits of a dignified tipple with dinner? Although it was tempting to surrender to an afternoon siesta in our spacious, wellappointed room with ultra-pretty views over the terrace and the fields beyond, our treatments beckoned: for him, a Fitness Body Massage that at once relaxed and revitalised the muscles, ligaments and tendons that less wellinformed masseurs simply cannot reach, and for me, the hour-long Jessana Deluxe Manicure, which turned my seriously neglected talons into soft, tantalizingly tipped beauties to be proud of. The staff and therapists we met along the way were relaxed, friendly and efficient, and the serenity exuded by our fellow guests further confirmed that we had indeed struck spa gold. After a refreshing stroll around the grounds and golf course, we glamourised ourselves for dinner (a task for which I

owe much gratitude to the Clarins makeup bar, a three-minute glide away from our room). In the cosy, wood-panelled dining room, we sampled starters of sublime smoked salmon and avocado salad and a featherlight chicken liver parfait, followed by guinea fowl for him, and moist, perfectly cooked salmon topped with exceedingly fresh salsa for me, both accompanied by masses of fresh vegetables bursting with flavour. And yes, dear reader, there are puddings on the menu; healthy eating doesn’t have to mean you can’t yield to treats from time to time, and if there’s a more sensual warm chocolate mousse in any kitchen this side of Exmoor, I’ve yet to discover it. Should you opt for a Spring Detox Package at Cedar Falls, there’s a Superfood-rich Detox Menu available, and all dietary requirements are catered for, but rest assured that even the set dinner is about as fresh, light and seasonal as good food gets, resulting in a lively feast that failed to impinge on the deep, away-from-it-all sleep that followed. Next morning, we both made full use of the glorious pool area before enjoying a freshly cooked, healthy breakfast in the sun-filled breakfast room, setting us up perfectly for a whistlestop tour of that scenic moor and the charming harbours dotted along the coastline borders. Should you choose to follow in our footsteps, I guarantee you won’t regret it.

CONTACTS

CEDAR FALLS HEALTH FARM & SPA NR TAUNTON, SOMERSET, TA4. FFI: 01823 433233, WWW.CEDARFALLS. CO.UK

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TRAVEL

UPPER CROSSWAY

COTTAGE Steve Wright gets a warm glow in this stone-built smallholder’s cottage in rural Herefordshire

Upper Crossway Cottage is the perfect cosy bolthole from which to explore the bucolic delights of Herefordshire and beyond

erefordshire is one of England’s least peopled counties. Green, wild and empty, a typical Herefordshire landscape features lush meadows grazed by sheep and cut through with wooded river valleys, with the stark ridge of the Black Mountains for a backdrop. The hubbub of urban life, in short, is conspicuous by its absence. You can feel this sense of splendid isolation strongly at Upper Crossway Cottage, a cosy yet elegant stone cottage set in typically unsullied countryside midway between Hereford and Abergavenny. The cottage’s immediate surroundings couldn’t be prettier: acres of green wilderness all around you, the call of sheep and the occasional, distant drone of a tractor the only sounds, and those mountains looming imposingly in the background. You could happily spend days just roaming your immediate surroundings, exploring some of the emptiest countryside England has to offer. Or, as we did on our early spring weekend at Upper Crossway, you could venture a little further into the fascinating landscape that surrounds you. As a Marcher county, hard by the

Welsh border, Herefordshire has a rich history of defence and resistance, best seen in its clutch of brilliant and variously intact mediaeval castles. We ventured out to Grosmont, set above its own woodlands in the pictureperfect village of the same name, and the amazing White Castle, a vast and largely preserved structure with panoramic views over the troublesome borderlands – and there are others of similar beauty and history no further away, at Goodrich and Skenfrith. This border landscape is richly atmospheric, and you don’t have to be a medievalist or military history buff to catch the bug. Also within easy reach is the charming town of Hay-on-Wye, with its winding lanes, Black Mountains views and, of course, that extraordinary warren of secondhand and antiquarian bookshops catering to every imaginable taste and obsession. Meanwhile, if you’re in the mood for some serious yomping, both the Black Mountains and, a little further off, the Brecon Beacons lie nearby. Folio can particularly recommend, on a sunlit spring day, a hike up the Sugar Loaf just a few miles south-west of the cottage, with its wonderful gradations in landscape from flower-rich meadows to bald, windswept bluffs. After all this exercise, of course, you need somewhere warm and welcoming to return to – and this, even after all the marvels you’ve encountered outside, is Upper Crossway’s strongest suit. The stone cottage has been beautifully renovated by Mel and Steph Curtis (who live handily, yet discreetly, right next door), so that everything inside, from the

elegant, clean-lined shower room to the book-lined, wooden-floored bedrooms, lulls you into a blissful serenity. Evenings, meanwhile, can be spent idling in the cosy sitting room complete with woodburning stove and French windows onto the garden, sampling the local ales and ciders that await you in the old bread oven. Every step is taken to make the visitor, be you self-catering or a bedand-breakfaster (Mel and Steph cater for both), feel utterly welcome and relaxed, and to ensure that the warm glow cast by those lush meadows and rolling hills stays with you when you cross the threshold. For the perfect mix of cosy living, rich history and beautiful, Eden-like landscapes, Upper Crossway is an unrivalled destination.

CONTACTS

UPPER CROSSWAY COTTAGE NEWTON ST MARGARETS, HEREFORD. FFI: 01981 510620, WWW. UPPERCROSSWAYCOTTAGE.CO.UK

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➻ HOME FRONT NORDIC CHIC, ELLIPTICAL RADIATORS, ETHICALLY PRODUCED RUGS & MORE... RUGS AS ART

WEAVING TALES ➻ A new Bristol venture is using the traditional techniques of the

WE LOVE... These cute and colourful mugs designed by Michelle Mason for Linea at House of Fraser. Buckingham Palace mug and Big Ben mug, £5 each. Ffi: www. houseoffraser.co.uk

east to bring to life the modernist vision of a West Country painter. Land Rugs are enlisting Nepalese handweavers to turn the designs of Pip Benveniste into rugs that are both practical and strikingly beautiful. Pip was born in 1921 into the artists’ colony in Newlyn, a crucible of British modernism. The natural world remained an inspiration throughout her life – but her work is far from the genteel traditions of English watercolourists. Hers is a bold, engaging vision – largely abstract in style, influenced by the spirit of the east and landscape of the west. She died in 2010, having had a small number of rugs woven in India – but now, through Land Rugs, her designs are finding a wider audience. Set up by her Bristol-based son Mark Vaughan, the business’s first task was to find new weavers who could turn her glowing colours and dancing forms into hardwearing reality. Mark found them in Kathmandu; local artisan weavers are handknotting rugs in Tibetan yarns to the highest standards and, crucially, they’re doing so in the Tibetan and Nepalese tradition so dear to Benveniste. Land Rugs have registered their operation with GoodWeave, the global not-for-profit organisation that promotes ethically produced rugs and ensures that no child labour is used in their making. Land Rugs are donating a further five per cent of all sales to help GoodWeave’s pioneering educational projects among the children of Nepal’s weavers. “It’s an extraordinary feeling,” says Mark, “to unwrap one of these deliveries from Kathmandu. I know the designs so well, but to unroll these rugs and see my mother’s ideas unfolding in front of you is very moving. You can smell them, touch them, run your fingers through the pile – they’ve been transformed into something with a life and energy of its own.”

LAND RUGS FFI: 0117 973 4031, WWW.LANDRUGS.COM

RADIATOR DESIGN

HOOP AND GLORY ➻ British company Bisque are celebrating the forthcoming Olympics with their usual panache, turning out their iconic Hot Hoop radiators in blue, yellow, black, green and red. In fact, starting this month, the Bisque Hot Hoop will be available for the first time in any one of over 2,000 colours on a ‘to order’ basis, and all at the standard white price. Conceived by acclaimed industrial designer Paul Priestman, this deceptively simple circular radiator is made from coiled tubing, with the circle’s pure form lending itself perfectly to a radiator design. Made from elliptical mild steel, the continuous ovalsection tube is looped closely into four thick rings, offering a rich finish and efficient heat output. The Hot Hoop’s clean, contemporary shape will suit any room, including kitchens and bathrooms, where it makes an excellent towel radiator. Choose from three sizes (500mm, 700mm, 900mm, each projecting 180mm from the wall), with prices from £793. BISQUE 15 KINGSMEAD SQUARE, BATH. FFI: 01225 466367, WWW.BISQUE.CO.UK

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HOMEFRONT NEW FURNITURE WEBSITE

BEST OF BRITISH

➻ Makers’ Eye is an inspirational new website where you can view and buy the work of over 50 of the greatest designer craftsmen in Britain. Visitors now have the chance to peruse – on a stylish and easily accessible website – a huge range of beautifully designed handmade furniture that will last a lifetime. The website contains iconic pieces from a selection of handpicked makers, whose work spans the spectrum of contemporary design. From straightforward yet stunning designs to radical, functional artwork, there’s a style to suit a whole cornucopia of different tastes. Many of their makers have been awarded the prestigious Bespoke Guild Mark for their work. And some Makers’ Eye members, including Wales & Wales, David Colwell and John Makepeace, are also represented in the V&A permanent collection, as is Fred Baier who has just finished his artist-in-residence at the House of Lords. Makers’ Eye co-founders Tony Portus and Ross Fenn are both well established in the world of handmade furniture, with over five decades of experience between them. Says Tony: “Ross and I wanted to bridge the gap between the UK’s enormously talented furniture makers and people looking for the perfect piece to complete their home or office. The broad spectrum of design represented on the site means there’s something for everyone. Every piece on the website is unique and finished to an exceptional standard, and for those looking for that extra special piece, the Makers’ Eye members also design and make to commission.” MAKERS’ EYE FFI: WWW.MAKERSEYE.CO.UK

GARDEN FURNITURE INTERIORS

NORDIC KNOW HOW ➻ Dutch label HKliving turn out a

gorgeous range of home accessories and furniture inspired by honest, old materials and an appreciation for retro design. Their pure, rustic, beautifully authentic spring collection features a covetable mix of coloured glassware, retro-style cushions and wicker chairs, industrial lamps and large funky button hooks, all combined with a range of rustic-looking goodies like breadboards and stools made from recycled teak. And the good news? You can now get your hands on HKliving products and give your home that chic Nordic look thanks to Nordic Rose, an e-commerce business appointed by HKliving as their UK agent. Cotswolds-based Nordic Rose is owned by a Dutch woman, Trinske Driscoll-

Antonides, who’s lived in the UK for over 10 years now. With her roots in the Netherlands, Trinske boasts an in-depth knowledge of all the hot brands in the Dutch interior design market, HKliving being one of them. Having worked for luxury fashion brand Mulberry, and more recently for high-end office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, Trinske decided on a career change, in order to fit work around family life with two small children. Via Nordic Rose, she now sells gorgeous Dutch and Scandinavian home accessories, bringing the best of northern European design to light. HKLIVING AT NORDIC ROSE FFI: WWW. NORDICROSE.CO.UK, WWW.HKLIVING.NL

HEAVY METAL ➻ All Ironart garden furniture is handmade by a small team of artist blacksmiths in their Larkhall workshops on the edge of Bath. Their Lansdown range – available in three sizes and as comfortable as it looks – is designed with a contoured profile and ergonomic laidback seating position to support the curve of your back. Each one is finished with rivet details and beautiful handforged tapered arm scrolls. Ironart galvanize everything for rust-resistant longevity and ease of maintenance before finishing in a range of durable heritage-inspired colours. IRONART OF BATH UPPER LAMBRIDGE ST, LARKHALL, BATH. FFI: 01225 311273, WWW.IRONART. CO.UK

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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

Services • Home, garden & garage clearance • Office clearance • Confidential document disposal • Fly tipping • WEEE recycling and I.T disposal

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Q&A

HOMEFRONT

CLOSE UP WITH FABRIC MILLS

We talk to the soft-furnishing experts with a celebrity client list and recession-busting prices

Armchair, curtains and cushions in the Voyage Country range

WORDS: RACHEL NOTT

abric Mills is a family-run business specialising in topquality soft furnishing designer fabrics, with thousands of metres of exclusive designer fabrics in stock – on the roll, and at clearance prices – as well as sample books and hangers from most major designers. They make and fit quality made-to-measure curtains and blinds, from simple pencil pleats to swags and tails, and supply tracks, poles and fittings. Their skilled upholstery team can restore any sofa or chair or take commissions for bespoke items of furniture, at competitive prices and with quick turnaround times. They can complete the picture by making up cushions, pelmets, tablecloths, headboards and more, with experienced, knowledgeable staff on hand to provide inspiration and guidance. Why did you open a shop in Bath? We felt there was a need in Bath for a company that could supply a diverse range of quality fabrics at competitive prices. Bath also provides a good synergy with our other two shops in Cirencester and Monmouth. We looked at several locations, but London Road won us over. It’s such a great location, especially with the current investment and

regeneration programme in place. It’s the gateway to Bath; so many people pass our door every day. How do you keep the cost of your designer fabrics so low? We have an extremely good reputation within the fabric world and very good relations with all the design houses, who are keen to support us. Tell us about your famous clients! We work with numerous country estates and celebrities and have produced items such as magnificent swags and tails in embroidered silk, and bespoke handmade pelmets commissioned in a range of shapes and sizes, from the traditional to those that curve into the room, as well as coronas above beds partnered with bedspreads, throws, headboards, valances, pillow shams and scatter cushions. We’re also often asked to re-upholster period furniture, and we’ve been featured in a number of TV programmes. As much as we’d like to blow our own trumpet, though, we do respect our clients’ desire for confidentiality! How do you nurture the rapport and loyalty that you enjoy with your many regular customers? We consistently produce quality work with great service and quick turnarounds - and our clients keep coming back! They often come with an idea or item they want copied - they love our ability to create their vision. Recently we started up an ‘Inspiration Corner’, inviting customers to bring in pictures of what they’ve made from our fabric. We’re constantly in awe of our customers’ talent and imagination, from bags and upholstered dining room chairs to PVC raincoats and even a handmade three-piece suit – it’s amazing! Customers can receive a 10% discount card off clearance fabrics if we feature their picture on our website!

Laurence Llewelyn Bowen 'Married Quarters'

Have you noticed the recession driving people to try making their own curtains and soft furnishings? Yes, we’ve definitely seen an uplift in sales of our soft furnishing supplies, especially curtain linings and interlinings, which suggests that more people are making their own. Customers are always asking our advice on curtains and blinds, which we’re more than happy to give. What are the trends in fabrics this season? Everyone’s going crazy for animals: ducks, fish, dogs, even pigs! Voyage Country Garden and Ashley Wilde’s Thornbury collection really capture this trend. Nautical themes are also coming back again - Clarke & Clarke’s Maritime collection and Prestigious Textiles’ Westward Ho and Maritime collections are good examples. In upholstery, everyone’s going mad for patchwork and plaids - we can make up patchwork to a customer’s chosen colourway. Or take a look at Fibre Naturelle’s Denver collection, a fantastic range of denim patchwork. Any plans for the immediate future? We’re very excited to be setting up our online shop. With so many products, from fabrics to upholstery supplies, it’s taking a bit of time but we hope to launch it by the end of the year.

Left: Clarke & Clarke 'Maritime' collection Right: Commissioned patchwork sofa

FABRIC MILLS LONDON RD, BATH. FFI: 01225 471167, WWW. FABRICMILLS.CO.UK (PLUS BRANCHES IN CIRENCESTER & MONMOUTH)

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PROFILE

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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GARDENING

HOMEFRONT

IN THE

GARDEN

Ideas and inspiration from Trish Gibson to help you make the most of your garden this month

GROW SOMETHING SPECIAL PRIMROSES

any of the prettiest spring plants enjoy the sort of dappled shade found in woodland before the trees’ leaves are fully open. In the garden, any semishaded spot under a shrub or in the shadow of a fence or wall will suit them fine and they will brighten it up beautifully. And you can rely on them returning year after year. The soft yellow of the classic primrose is a real spring delight, and they’ll gradually self-seed and spread around your garden. Growing tips Obviously, shade lovers won’t enjoy being positioned in full sun, which will just scorch them and spoil their good looks. They mostly prefer a soil that remains reasonably damp - and if you can provide a bit of leafmould, they’ll be truly happy.

JOBS FOR APRIL Trim lavender, santolina and rosemary back to where you can see fresh growth. Split and move snowdrops before their leaves die down. Stay on top of weeds this month – they’re growing at their fastest now and will soon take over if ignored.

A classic springtime woodland plant: the primrose

➻ OTHERS TO TRY ERYTHRONIUM CALIFORNICUM ‘WHITE BEAUTY’ This dogtooth violet will clump up pretty quickly, producing quantities of soft-cream, lilylike flowers with sweeping pointed petals that curl backwards. The leaves are slightly mottled. CARDAMINE QUINQUEFOLIA A gently spreading relation of Lady’s Smock, with violet-mauve flowers appearing a few inches above dark green leaves. By late spring, it retreats underground, leaving space for hardy geraniums and dicentras.

TULIPA SYLVESTRIS The wood tulip is dainty and deliciously scented. It’s ideal for naturalising in short grass or under trees or even rocky ground. Make a note to plant bulbs 10cm-12cm deep in September to December.

WE’LL BE SPLASHING OUT ON…

This attractive set of mini glass cloches (£45 for set of four, plus £5.95 delivery) – ideal for keeping young tomato plants warm. They’d look good indoors, too. FFI WWW.COXANDCOX.CO.UK

THIS MONTH WE'LL BE VISITING... The three acres of mature walled gardens at Bath Priory Hotel. Billowing borders, croquet lawn, wild flower meadow, ancient trees and a kitchen garden brimming with produce for the hotel’s restaurant. FFI BATH PRIORY HOTEL, WESTON RD, BATH (OPEN 17 APRIL & 16 AUG, 2-5PM, ENTRY £2.50, CHILD FREE. HOMEMADE TEAS). WEB: WWW.THEBATHPRIORY.CO.UK

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PROPERTY PROPERTY NEWS

This imposing, ‘beautifully proportioned’ country house set in expansive formal grounds has myriad rooms, cellars, and an old coach house

PROPERTY OF THE ISSUE

LANGFORD PLACE LOWER LANGFORD, NORTH SOMERSET, £895,000

t must be such a treat to grow up in a building as beautiful and interesting as Langford Place, with its myriad of rooms, cellars and old coach house, not to mention expansive grounds to explore. A game of hide and seek must have taken all day! The current owners raised their family here and, after 33 years, are now joining the ranks of ‘downsizers’ who are moving on after their children have flown the nest. This grand old house has a well-documented history dating back to the 1820s, and was once owned by the Marshall family, of Marshall and Snelgrove fame – a 19th century department store that was eventually taken over by Debenhams. At one stage, Langford Place was the dower house to the Langford Court Estate, and was also owned by Bristol University, which sold it at auction in the late 1970s. At this point, the building was expertly divided into three separate dwellings, Langford Place being the principal property, taking up the entire southern elevation. It’s grade II-listed, and while it’s attached at the rear, you wouldn’t know it. In estate-agent speak, the house is ‘beautifully proportioned’, with a portico and doric columns and steps setting the scene in front of a large, central reception hall. Its southerly orientation, high corniced ceilings and large sash windows, all of which have working shutters, make for a bright space. The ground floor features a drawing room with triple bay window and marble fireplace, dining room and family room, a bespoke kitchen/ breakfast room, utility and cloakroom. There’s an elegant staircase, of course, which

arrives on the wide first-floor landing, off which there’s a bathroom and four bedrooms, two with ensuite facilities, in white, and all with wardrobes or cupboards. Continue to the second floor and you’ll reach two further rooms, one kitted out with a desk and shelves and the other with a beamed ceiling. Beneath the house are the cellars, which are practical as playrooms or for dry storage, while in the grounds is a detached stone coach house – currently divided into a garage with a first-floor studio/office above. Formal gardens reflect the imposing nature of the house, with a large level lawn at the front flanked by deep borders and divided from a further lawn by a yew hedge. Elsewhere there’s a greenhouse, orchard and rose garden with low trimmed box hedges and trellising. On the east side of the house an original gate opens into a walled garden, with fish pond, onto which the drawing room opens. A final touch is a magnificent mature wisteria, which graces the front of this lovely house. Once you’ve finished a tour of the property, repair to the village pub/restaurant for refreshment, or refuel at the 24-hour garage and supermarket. Though it’s a country house, the nearby A38 links directly to Bristol, and Bristol International Airport is also easily accessible, though Langford Place is not under the flight path. FFI LANGFORD PLACE IS ON THE MARKET FOR £895,000. CONTACT DEBBIE FORTUNE, THE CLOCK HOUSE, HIGH ST, WRINGTON. TEL: 01934 862370, WEB: WWW.DEBBIEFORTUNE.CO.UK

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PROPERTY

ON THE MOVE

Kate Edser investigates the irresistible rise of the online agent

hy do estate agents’ fees seem to rise in line with the price of the property they’re selling? The answer, according to new ‘alternative’ agents who have just started up in the South West, is that it’s just an excuse to charge a fat commission. Clare Bradbury and Ian Jones are among a growing number of property experts ditching high-profile offices in favour of a cheaper online service. “The fact is,” says Clare, “it isn’t more expensive to sell a £200,000 home than a £400,000 home. Yet the commission would be around £6,000 for the £400,000 property – double the fee for the £200,000 home. How can that be fair? The price has no effect on the sale service needed at all.” Clare has just launched Oui Move Property, an online agency that will sell any property for a flat fee from £400 to £725. Cheltenham-based

Clare says that, since a growing number of people search for property to rent or buy online, the need for high-street offices is “becoming pretty irrelevant”. Similarly, Bristol-based Ian Jones says, “In recent years there’s been a noticeable change in the way that service industries make use of the internet and mobile technology, and this is particularly noticeable in the estate agency industry. Due to the present economic conditions, the public are watching their finances closely, and with the high expense of funding office premises, many agents have to maintain higher fees. “Over recent years,” Ian continues, “the numbers of people dropping into estate agents’ offices has dropped considerably as more and more people go online to view houses, register on mailing lists and book viewings. An online

agency can offer everything needed to sell properties, and I can pass on the savings to my customers.” IAN JONES ESTATE AGENTS FFI: 0117 939 0666, WWW.IANJONESESTATEAGENTS.CO.UK (IAN SPECIALISES IN THE AREA AROUND EAST BRISTOL, AND IS OFFERING A SOLE AGENCY FEE OF 0.5% PLUS VAT) OUI MOVE PROPERTY FFI: 0844 997 0005, WWW.OUIMOVEPROPERTY.CO.UK

CONSUMER BOARD GOLDEN YEARS

HARBOURSIDE

DON'T LOOK NOW ➻ The latest piece in an ongoing public art programme has been completed

at Crest Nicholson’s Harbourside development in Bristol city centre. The ‘Shy Fountain’ has been installed at the intersection of Millennium Walk and Cathedral Walk at College Square on Anchor Road. Commissioned by Crest Nicholson, who have recently sold the last of 376 apartments at Harbourside, the water feature has been created by artist Simon Faithfull to suggest the behaviour and silhouette of a shy person. When no one is around, the single illuminated jet of water will be at its maximum height of 1.7 metres, but shuts off abruptly when hidden sensors detect movement, leaving no trace other than a patch of wet paving. After a short time the fountain will slowly re-emerge, reaching its full height again after about a minute. “Public art has grown to become a major element in our design strategy,” says Susan Young, sales and marketing director at Crest Nicholson, “and an essential ingredient in creating desirable places where people want to work, live and enjoy their leisure time. The objective was to develop an arts vision for Harbourisde, one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe, and as you walk among the offices, shops, homes and leisure facilities you can find some exciting pieces of art – some big, some small, some temporary, some permanent. Together they create a public art trail throughout the development, and the Shy Fountain is a fitting way to complete Millennium Walk.”

pecialist retirement developer McCarthy and Stone are recruiting pensioners for a new national consumer advisory board. The company, who have a development in Downend, Bristol, want this new group to advise it on the key issues affecting the 50-plus age group. In return for championing these age-related issues, and helping to guide the development of the company’s new products and services, members will receive £2,000 per annum. The board will meet four times a year and members will also be expected to speak publicly on behalf of the group. The new board is a key initiative by recently appointed executive director Ali Crossley, who joins McCarthy and Stone from the financial services board of Saga. “We already play an active role in the debate on older people’s issues,” says Ali, “supporting research by both the University of Reading and Shelter, and working with the Housing and Ageing Alliance and the Housing Learning Improvement Network. Now, with the creation of this new board, we’ll be putting a passionate group of older people at the very heart of our business.” FFI TO APPLY TO JOIN THE NEW BOARD, VISIT WWW. MCCARTHYANDSTONE.CO.UK OR CALL 0800 919132

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➻ EATINGOUTWEST MALBEC WORLD DAY, POP-UP GOURMET CAMP, SUNDAE SUNDAYS & MORE... WINE

BOTTLED GENIUS ➻ Lovers of full-bodied red wine would do well to mark Tue 17 April in their diary because that will be Malbec World Day. The annual celebration marks the day in 1853 when the Argentinian president commissioned a French expert to bring new grape varieties to the country, with malbec being far and away the most successful. We Brits may have been a bit slow to take up the feast but there’s no excuse this year, as venerable Bristol wine merchants Averys are properly pushing the boat out. No less than 21 new malbecs will be arriving to add to their regular range of 10, and a special tasting evening will be held in their historic cellars beneath Park Street. Quite where they’ll put them in those well-stocked vaults is anyone’s guess, but it probably won’t be in ‘The Cage’, a specially secure section holding their rarest stock. Blow the dust off some of the labels behind those locked gates and you’ll find bottles dating back to 1899, including a 1941 armagnac brandy with a £270 price tag and a Mouton Rothschild 1996 which, at £625, is the most expensive in the shop. “It was an exceptional year,” explains manager Adam Mills. “We do sell a bottle every now and then.” But the real action is elsewhere, and he’s quick to point out that there are plenty of great buys for less than a tenner, including some interesting ‘discoveries’ from Portugal and Spain. “Tasmania is making some fantastic stuff now, and Lebanese wines are getting more accessible, too.” And malbec? “Always popular – getting even more so. The Torino Coleccion Malbec 2010 is one of our best sellers, at £7.99.” Best get stocked up for April 17, then. AVERYS WINE SHOP 9 CULVER ST, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 921 4146, WWW.AVERYS.COM

CAKES & SUGARCRAFT

Sweets for my sweet

➻ When Celia Adams opened the Bath Cake Company in 2010, her main aim was, unsurprisingly, to make and sell cakes. Her own experience as an erstwhile baker, however, had shown her how difficult it could be to get the necessary bits and pieces in central Bath, so it was inevitable that they began to stock and sell the tools of the trade for the keen amateur interested in making their own sweet sensations. Two years later and business has boomed – so much so that they’ve taken on the premises next door to their original Lansdown Mews bakeshop. Naturally it will mean the chance to make even more cakes, but Celia is especially keen to extend the sugarcraft side of things, too. “People have really taken to cakebaking and sugarcraft; it’s a fast-growing market. There’s nowhere else in

Bath that keeps a really good stock of what you need – tools, cutters, cakestands, tins and the like – and if someone is looking for something specific, we can usually track it down for them. “People come in all the time with unusual ideas. We can often give them advice and then it’s nice to see how they create what they want to.” But while she may be happy to encourage DIYers, it’s her own cake-making that motivates Celia, and that’s driven by a love of the final product. “You can’t do this and not be a big fan of cakes,” she admits. “And I love them!” BATH CAKE COMPANY UNIT 2, LANSDOWN MEWS, BATH. FFI: 07834 270198, WWW.BATHCAKECOMPANY. CO.UK

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EVENT

BEST OF BRISTOL ➻ One of 2011’s culinary highlights was An Evening with the Chefs – a series of amiably competitive kitchen collaborations between Josh Eggleton (Pony and Trap), Nathan Muir (New Inn, Backwell), Toby Grittlesham (Pump House) and the SanchezIglesias brothers (Casamia), held in each restaurant in turn. So far this year Bell’s Diner wizard Chris Wicks and the teams from the Star and Dove and The Ethicurean have added their distinctive contributions, highlighting Bristol’s distinctively excellent cuisine scene. Now Josh and Luke Hasell from the Story organic collective are really putting all this on the map by

filling Queen Square with Eat, Drink, Bristol Fashion, a 14-day pop-up camp of deluxe tipis housing a banqueting suite, restaurant dining and a Champagne, Wine and Tapas Bar, with a cavalcade of illustrious chefs offering their wares, either for lunch or evening service. All of the above will be there, naturally, with Ronnie’s Restaurant, Dynasty, the Bird in Hand, Namaskar Lounge and charcutier Vincent Castellano adding to the bill of fare. EAT, DRINK, BRISTOL FASHION EVERY DAY 25 APRIL-7 MAY, QUEEN SQUARE, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.EATDRINKBRISTOLFASHION.CO.UK

SUNDAYS

HERE COMES SUMMER ➻ Despite the success of their Sunday lunches, the cunning crew down at the Old Bookshop – Southville’s latest hip’n’happening tapas bar and live music venue – really know the meaning of seasonal eating. Now that the weather’s getting a bit brighter, they’re leaving off the roasts and shifting to Sundae Sundays, an altogether more summery offer of pancakes, ice-cream sundaes, milkshakes and… er… Bloody Marys? “They’re the classic hangover thing,” explains manager Ben Gatt. “We find there’s a demand on Sundays so we make five different kinds.” A case of ‘Sunday, Bloody Mary Sunday’?

THE OLD BOOKSHOP 65 NORTH ST, BRISTOL, BS3. FFI: 0117 373 8907, WWW.THEOLDBOOKSHOP.CO.UK

VENUE

GOING UNDERGROUND ➻ When the walls of a place are steeped in history, you’d be foolish to ignore it, and when the splendidly refurbished Harveys Cellars opened last November, it was clear they knew where they were coming from. The atmospheric underground premises had once been the cellars of Bristol sherry legends Harveys as well as housing Harveys Restaurant – for years the city’s premier fine-dining establishment until it closed in 2003. You’ll find plenty of clues as you look around the new sherry, wine and tapas, from a wall of distinctive blue glass bottles and sherry barrel tables to antique artefacts from the old Harveys Museum, but most relevant is the impressive range of sherries on offer. Pop in on Fri 20 April for a full-on Spanish experience including cocktails, paella and flamenco, or the following Friday (27), when a four-course flight of Harveys sherries matched to tapas dishes will be on offer. HARVEYS CELLARS 12 DENMARK ST, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 929 4812, WWW.HARVEYSCELLARS.CO.UK

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➻ EATINGOUTWEST Mash Childs of the Bath Pig

Life is sweet... Imagine tucking into delicious chocolate pastries like these and more at Bristol’s Chocolate Festival Below: Guilbert’s factory in the 1950s

CHOCOLATE’S COMING HOME... A splendid Harbourside chocfest reminds Tony Benjamin that Bristol is where the whole thing started

orget trip-hop, Banksy, and sherry in blue bottles – there’s another great Bristolian invention that puts all that in the shade. It happened in 1847 in Union Street, roughly where the Odeon cinema now stands. That’s where cocoa-loving genius Joseph Fry devised a recipe using cocoa powder, cocoa butter and sugar to make the world’s first ever solid chocolate bar. It was a fantastic success, capped only when the

enterprising confectioner worked out how to fill the bar with fondant to make Fry’s Chocolate Cream (another world’s first and still in production), and the firm went on to make the UK’s first chocolate Easter eggs in 1873. By the early 20th century, Fry’s Bristol factory was the largest chocolate works in the world, while Packer’s works in Easton were turning out tons of the sweet stuff and rival newcomers Guilbert’s launched their luxury handmade brand on Park Street. Bristol was one of the world’s

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Resistance is futile... buttery, crumbly, melt-in-the-mouth cookies and beautifully wrapped Easter eggs on display at this month’s Chocolate Festival

Chocolate Cities – an achievement shamefully forgotten over the years as the big factories closed down but about to be celebrated big-time over the Easter weekend. Thanks to a collaboration between independent business promoters Love Local Buy Local, Bristol City Council and nationally established event organisers the Chocolate Festival, Bristol’s harbourside area will become a chocoholic’s dream for two days. Here’s an idea of some of the sticky-fingered delights that will be on offer… The Chocolate Festival Slap-bang in the centre of Bristol (at the top of Cascade Steps), you’ll find some of the country’s finest producers of chocolate-related goodies, including ‘sweet tree’ makers Edibubble, Fair & Square Fairtrade Belgian brownies, and Churros Garcia, described by festival organiser (and self-confessed “complete chocoholic”) Yael Rose as making “the best churros and chocolate in the country”. Local artisan producer Zara Narracott of Zara’s Chocolates will be there, augmenting her highly popular chocolate teacups with some customised Easter egg designs. Zara will also be collaborating with

Cheddar-based chocolatier Maison Loulou to create a special chocolate display in the Bristol Hotel just up the quayside. See website for further details. Chocolate Events The Easter Bunny will be very busy, with a special trail for children around St Augustine’s Reach and an Easter Bunny ferryboat trip, too, with chocolate eggs. Join a giant drawing event on the At-Bristol windows in Millennium Square, with children’s films on the Square’s screen plus special screenings of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

at Watershed (complete with hands-on chocolate workshop). Bordeaux Quay will host chocolate demonstrations as well as featuring sweet treats in the deli, and the Arnolfini will be offering chocolate goodies and face painting. Chocolate Heritage The M Shed museum has an all-day programme of family activities and a special exhibition to celebrate the history of chocolate in Bristol. As well as getting stuck into the chocolate-making process ‘from bean to bar’, there’ll be archive film showing the life of the former

chocolate factories and a chance to make your own contribution by designing an Easter egg, suggesting a favourite recipe or telling them about your memorable chocolaterelated moments. Exhibition organiser Anna Farthing of Harvest Films is especially keen to hear from anyone with a choctastic tale to tell – you can contact her via the M Shed website (www.mshed.org). And it’s not all history, by any means. The mighty behemoths like Fry’s might have gone, but Guilbert’s have just celebrated their centenary with a special range of handmade chocolates. Equally encouraging is the resurgence of local independent artisan chocolatiers like Zara and Maison Loulou, part of an increasingly creative and diverse market for quality goods. As Chocolate Festival organiser Yael Rose explains: “You get what you pay for – if chocolate’s well-made from well-sourced ingredients, you don’t need a lot to feel satisfied. So much skill and commitment goes into handmade artisan chocolate that you TASTE THE DIFFERENCE WITH EVERY BITE.” THE CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL 7-8 APRIL, HARBOURSIDE, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.FESTIVALCHOCOLATE.CO.UK

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➻ EATINGOUTWEST

CREDIT JOE FARR

Mash Childs of the Bath Pig

This pic and below: Gloucester Rd’s Grape & Grind runs monthly tastings, but these popular events sell-out extremely quickly – you have been warned!

BEST

When it comes to unstuffy wine tastings, says Melissa Blease, these guys know their plonk from their pinot noir

CELLARS

ccording to Ernest Hemingway, wine is the most civilised pleasure in the world – and here at Eating Out West, we wholeheartedly agree. So why do so many of us stock up on vino at the supermarket, home of cat food, toilet rolls and lossleading, distinctly non-tasteful ‘bargains’? Whether you prefer yours full-bodied and fruity,

lean and oily, salaciously spicy or rich and jammy, there are eminently characterful wines out there for every taste, occasion and budget – and a whole host of fascinating stories going on behind the labels. But if you’re not sure where to start your foray across the Lake of Good Taste, there’s plenty of expert help at hand thanks to cracking independent wine sellers and the tasting events they so liberally offer. Slurp on! AVERYS 9 Culver St, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 921 4146, www.averys.com The thundering Park Street traffic is no clue to the 200 years of wine-loving history and around 1,000 bottles nestling comfortably in Averys’ cellars beneath. Presided over by John Avery, the latest in a very long line that includes notorious pirates as well as dedicated oenologists, the range of Averys’ stock encompasses almost every region and variety that you can think of, with a reputation for picking the winners when spotting those ‘en primeur’ vintages still➻

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➻ EATINGOUTWEST in the barrel. The helpful cellar staff can always offer knowledgeable advice on purchasing wine, the website is a fount of information, and the year-round series of tasting evenings in those atmospheric vaults are really popular. Wed 25 April sees a particular favourite, when the focus will be on the diverse styles of Burgundy, promising ‘something very special’ at the end of the evening.

This pic and below: Check out the regular wine-tasting events at Clifton’s cosy Quadrant – and don’t miss their champagne tasting on 19 April. Hic!

FLINTY RED 34 Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6. Ffi: 0117 923 8755, www.flintyred. co.uk An uber-smart collaboration between chefs Matthew Williamson and Claire Thomson and wine merchants Dominic Harman and Rachel Higgens of the delightful Corks of Cotham, itself a flourishing hotspot of wine-tasting events. If you’ve yet to discover either the Flinty Folk or the Cotham Collective, earmark Tue 17 April as a distinctive Red Letter day, when the prestigious Portuguese estate Quinta dos Roques host a winemaker supper (£45pp) at Flinty Red. “Our winemaker nights are always a big draw for our customers,” says Matthew. “Everyone enjoys meeting the people behind the wine, and cooking for these nights is a joy.” What’s not to love? GRAPE & GRIND 101 Gloucester Rd, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 924 8718, www.grapeandgrind. co.uk Dynamic duo Darren and Polly Willis opened Grape & Grind in November 2010. Today, this vibrant emporium of good taste offers well-crafted wines from exceptionally talented independent winemakers from across the globe, with European examples supplemented by rising stars from well-established New World producers and an organic, biodynamic and natural wine range. Darren and Polly host tastings for up to 30 people approximately once a month, but be warned: these popular gatherings sell out extremely quickly – join the mailing list if you want to stay ahead of the bunch. Meanwhile, the G&G Wine Club guarantees successful slurping for all: a flexible, bespoke doorstep delivery service that’s well worth investigating.

Tastings notes come as standard with every tipple on offer, which all come with price tags specifically designed to appeal to all wallets.

QUADRANT BAR & WINE CELLAR 2 Princess Victoria St, Clifton, Bristol. Ffi: 0117 974 1025, www. quadrantbar.co.uk The fabulous building may be over a century old, but there’s nothing fusty about Clifton’s Quadrant Bar, where good taste in all senses of the word dictates the ambience. Meanwhile, the wine cellar enjoys one of the biggest and best reputations for miles around, but there’s no excuse to be intimidated. A regular menu of wine-tasting events takes in all manner of region-specific forays, the next one concentrating on champagne (hoorah!) on Thur 19 April. On the food front, the menu includes scrumptious delights

(and perfect with-tipple nibbles) such as Clifton sausage rolls, whole baked camembert, charcuterie platters and the kind of pizzas that a genuine goodfella would go weak at the knees for. RAISIN WINES 132a Walcot St, Bath. Ffi: 01225 422577, www.raisinwine.co.uk The brainchild of former Harvey Nichols sommelier Colin Bell (who, by the way, fought off competition from sommeliers at El Bulli, the Fat Duck and Fifteen to win the title of Sommelier of the Year), Raisin offers regular tasting sessions, corporate services, party planning (with free glass hire) and case discounts alongside all manner of wine-related, slurpable events.

THE TASTING ROOM 6 Green St, Bath. Ffi: 01225 483070, www.tastingroom.co.uk Founded in 2002 by experienced bon viveur William Baber, the Tasting Room offers the ultimate boutique wine-tasting opportunity. Will works with individual and independent winegrowers who not only produce wines in the traditions of the generations who went before them, but who are today as fascinated by innovation as they’re pernickety about their quality. Visit the website for details of the Tasting Room Members’ Club or drop by Will’s glorious gourmet haven on Green Street to find out more about regular tasting sessions (including whisky tastings for those who thirst for a bit of grain). Meanwhile, the Tasting Room’s next six-week Introduction to Wine course (£150) starts on Mon 14 May and is aimed at ‘enthusiastic beginners with a thirst to broaden their knowledge and enjoyment of wine in a friendly, fun, structured and relaxed atmosphere’ – that’s you, that is.

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An exciting range of wine from some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best independent producers together with spirits, beer, cider, coffee and tea q Come along to our informal and informative wine tasting evenings q Join our Wine Club for regular cases delivered direct to your door q Or drop in for friendly advice on tap

NEW ONLINE WINE SHOP NOW OPEN!

www.grapeandgrind.co.uk

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➻ EATINGOUTWEST

REVIEW JACKS BAR

& BRASSERIE

Tony Benjamin finds everything fresh, flavoursome and at a fair price at this Bristol waterfront eatery serving classic British with a twist

hanks to its fine dockside vista, Jacks is one of Bristol’s best alfresco lunching spots. While tourists trudge from M Shed to ss Great Britain on the opposite bank, Jacks gets a more easygoing pedestrian traffic sauntering along the quayside. The contemporary building, with its distinctive external staircase, recalls a European yacht club while the dining room decor’s economy of shape and colour has the right smartness for a proper date or business lunch. This is my first evening visit, and leaving Millennium Square for the gloomier hinterland of the Lloyds buildings, I wonder if the location of Jacks might be less welcoming after dark. Several people arrive, however, while I’m waiting outside for Please Sir and, inside, the place is three-quarters full – smart young folk in groups and pairs, in the main, with a definite couple of proper dates among them. After a hard week marking GCSE coursework, Please Sir is quick to scan the menu’s half-dozen starters and eight mains, noting the nice diversity of style and a strong emphasis on the local and seasonal. It’s a tough choice, thanks to imaginative thinking about flavour combinations, but I’m quick to pick the daily specials – a rather English selection of cauliflower soup with wild garlic pesto and ‘catch of the day’ pollock – in the hope of maximum freshness. Sir goes for the more cosmopolitan chorizo and smoked paprika croquettes with bravas potatoes, followed by roast Gressingham duck breast served pink on a glass noodle cake with bok choi and a soy and plum sauce. The wine list has been well thought out, with bottles ranging from £14.50 for a Spanish

tempranillo or Blanco Albali up to a Barolo Il Bastione at £39, and something for everybody in between. There’s a good selection by the glass, too, and with Sir’s hand firmly round his pint of Pilsner Urquell, I opt for a friendly Chilean merlot and the chance to savour the well-behaved informality of the place and the

“SCANNING THE MENU, THERE'S A NICE DIVERSITY OF STYLE AND EMPHASIS ON THE LOCAL AND SEASONAL.”

unruffled efficiency of the waiting staff drifting smoothly between tables and the serving hatch at the far end. Our food glides in and while Sir enjoys the spicy Spanish undertow of the bravas sauce with the crisp croquettes, I’m seriously impressed by the soup – the cauliflower’s creamy subtlety jangled into life by the lurid swirl of pesto. Its punchy freshness works surprisingly well with the merlot, too, though I switch to a fruity Chilean chardonnay in readiness for the fish. That comes as a hefty grilled fillet, with a ‘bubble and leek’ potato patty and a bed of dark shredded greens cooked in butter with pancetta bacon. Once again, all the flavours are properly there and working together - nothing fancier needed. Across the table, the duck gets particular approval for its fat-free moistness, and though Sir’s hardcore palate would have liked some kind of chilli bite to the noodles, he has to concede that wasn’t what the menu offered.

With desserts, he beats me to the apple and plum crumble with crème anglaise – a mutual favourite – so I order blackberry and meringue parfait. My lack of passion when it comes to desserts is well known, and thus my ignorance is revealed when what I assumed would be a smooth soft dish (à la chicken liver parfait) turns out to be a crunchily frozen confection topped with raspberry sorbet. It’s a French classic, I later learn, that’s managed to pass me by till now. Its slightly acid fruitiness rounds off the meal perfectly, and the bill (including drinks) comes in at around £30 a head – a very fair price for such good food in so accommodating and central a venue.

CONTACT

JACKS BAR & BRASSERIE 1 HANOVER QUAY, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 945 3990, WWW.JACKSBRASSERIE.CO.UK THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH

Confident cookery that lets fresh ingredients do all the talking

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THE WHEATSHEAF COMBE HAY

THE PERFECT CHOICE - WHATEVER THE WEATHER! Two Courses £14 available Lunch and Early Bird Dinner (Tuesday to Friday). We will be open ALL Bank Holiday Mondays for Lunch

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➻ EATINGOUTWEST

REVIEW THE

ASSEMBLY INN

Melissa Blease test-drives the proper-pub glories of the new-look Abbey Ales inn that’s not afraid to call a pie a pie

n 1769, uber-architect John Wood the Younger stumbled across the Alfred Street/Bennett Street axis and deemed it to be a suitable location for the Assembly Rooms: a multipurpose pleasuredome for the groovy Georgian elite clique. In 1997, legendary local impresario Alan Morgan founded Abbey Ales, the Heritage City’s very own brewery. In 2012, chef Philip Roseblade and entrepreneur Christopher Parry collaborated to create Lovett Pies, the Bath-based gourmet pie company responsible for a range of glorious crusty things that have already earned a cult following around these parts. Put ‘em all together and what have you got? Welcome to the Assembly Inn: an Abbey Ales pub a mere fan-flutter away from the Assembly Rooms... and home to the Bath Pie. The Assembly Inn is currently under scaffolding wraps as it undergoes yet another facelift (oh come on – if you were built circa 1780, you’d need a bit of help, too), but even the temporary disruption to the pub’s fascia fails to conceal the glories of this classic, traditional city centre inn. Inside, comfy sofas, sturdy furniture and a well-stocked bar that bridges the gap twixt two lively, spacious merrymaking areas set the scene for a warm welcome that doesn’t attempt to blind you with unnecessary frills or flourishes. Yup, this is a proper pub at its very best, which manages – rather refreshingly, given the location – to be distinctly more Sherlock Holmes than Mr Darcy in ambience. On the night we visited, the regular card game group had collected to shuffle in

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intensity at the proper card tables towards the rear, adding to a timehonoured ambience that was only slightly (for me, anyway) marred

“THIS IS A PROPER PUB AT ITS VERY BEST, WHICH MANAGES TO BE DISTINCTLY MORE SHERLOCK HOLMES THAN MR DARCY IN AMBIENCE.”

by the footie being shown on all available TV screens. Non-footie fans be warned: don’t expect to be the apple of your partner’s eye if certain fixtures fail to comply with your suppertime plans; that said, the Assembly Rooms offers a thoroughly civilised opportunity to keep ahead of the game while enjoying perfect match-day grub. In keeping with the vibe we’ve already established, food at the Assembly Inn doesn’t pertain to be G-spot related. Sausage rolls, burgers and nachos dominate one half of the menu, with those pies (all £8.95, to include a choice of mash and gravy) flaunt their eminently tasteful wares on t’other. I opted for the chicken, gammon and leek with an Old Winchester cheese and thyme crust, leaving The Man to meet

the Bath Pie, which combines Marshfield beef and Abbey’s very own Bellringer Ale with red onion marmalade and a Bath Blue Cheese crust to great effect. Oh joy of joys, these were proper pies indeed: fat, round, beauties bursting with fresh flavours and wrapped in the kind of perfect pastry that serves to remind us all that a certain highstreet bakery chain is nowhere near as gregarious as their ad campaign attempts to lead us to believe. The mash was as soporifically soothing as all good mash should be, and the gravy was a flowing gift that kept on giving; a fulfilling – and super-filling – combo to say the least. Why, then, did we opt for puds? Because, dear reader, the kitchen here turns out the best homemade treacle sponge for miles around, and the St Emilion au Chocolat – while slightly incongruous, given the downhome theme that dictates to the rest of the menu – is depthcharge chocolatey enough to keep even the most football-phobic of folk quiet for at least a quarter of the match. In the late 1770s, single ladies hoped to find themselves a suitable husband at the Assembly Rooms. In 2012, today’s modern men gather at the pub across the road. While it is a truth universally acknowledged that few contemporary gentlemen allow the fairer sex to distract them from Steven Gerrard in Action Man mode, those pies are the way to a man’s heart indeed.

CONTACT

THE ASSEMBLY INN 16-15 ALFRED ST, BATH. FFI: 01225 333639, WWW. THEASSEMBLYINN.CO.UK THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH

Good grub, good vibe, good prices

3/28/2012 3:53:27 PM

But one cocktail get one free every night between 8 and 9 pm Open until 3am (last entry 1am)

Thursday, Friday and Saturday Lansdown Road, Bath, BA1 5DX

Mandalyns.co.uk

BRISTOL & BATH'S MAGAZINE

www.venue.co.uk

Now spring has sprung enjoy scenic waterfront views while dining alfresco with Jacks Bar & Brasserie. Escape the hustle and bustle of city life in secluded settings on Bristol’s Harbourside and Portishead Marina, both with vast outdoor space for making the most of the finer weather. The menus feature locally-sourced seasonal produce to create dishes that take a contemporary twist on Great British classics, for the casual diner.

In conjunction with Venue, Jacks Bar & Brasserie are offering guests two main courses and a bottle of wine for two people for just £25. To redeem this offer please call the restaurant of your choice in advance and quote ‘venue’ when booking your table. Offer Terms & Conditions - This offer includes any two main courses from the menu and a bottle of house wine for two people. - This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. - This offer is not valid on Friday & Saturday evenings or Bank Holidays. - To redeem this offer a table must be booked in advance and ‘venue’ must be mentioned at the time of booking.

Portishead Marina Spinnaker, Harbour Road Portishead, BS20 7AW T: 01275 397304 E: portishead@jacksbrasserie.co.uk Bristol Harbourside 1 Hannover Quay, Harbourside Bristol, BS1 5JE T: 0117 9453990 E: bristol@jacksbrasserie.co.uk FOLIO/APRIL 2012 69

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➻ EATINGOUTWEST

REVIEW THE WHEATSHEAF

Thanks to rising feed prices and no extra pay from supermarkets, farmers across Europe are giving up on eggs

Kitchen god Eddy Raines serves up perfection on a plate at this country pub near Bath

TABLE TALK Bad eggs

➻ The Daily Mail first appeared

in 1896 so were too late to raise the alarm about the 1864 banning of boy chimney sweeps. No doubt they’d have warned of an epidemic of ‘squeezed middle’ families burning to death as rising costs led to a drop in sweeping, while ‘hard-pressed’ families starved for the loss of the family breadwinner. When the EU banned the worst excesses of battery farming on 1 Jan, most UK ‘lion egg’ producers had already switched to the slightly less appalling ‘enriched colony’ cages. One-and-a-half cheers for animal welfare, you’d think, but no – the good old Mail managed to combine warnings of families facing a 20p price hike with news of a foreign menace. Apparently having failed to prepare for the big switch, those feckless French were raiding the British market lest – quelle horreur! – their brioche manufacturers should have to close down. The Mail also mentioned that free-range egg prices were also likely to rise, though this obviously has nothing to do with cage sizes. It’s another case, presumably, of evil European interference – and the sooner we’re out of it the better. The truth is more complicated (and more stark). Whatever the regulations, the fact is that feed prices are rising (hence free-range eggs being affected) but supermarkets won’t pay producers any more. So farmers across Europe are simply giving up on egg production, leaving the consumer to battle for a diminishing supply with manufacturers of cakes, mayonnaise, ice-cream and other eggy goodies. Since that’s good old market economics, you’d think the Mail would be delighted, but there’s no pleasing some people, it seems. (Tony Benjamin, Food & Drink editor)

his is amazing! I’ve never been to a pub like this before…” Welcome to the Wheatsheaf, Texans-at-the-next-table – didn’t you have a lucky find? But the thing is, the Wheatsheaf is most definitely not, to paraphrase a certain annoying TV ad, Just A Pub - and the food they serve certainly isn’t Just Food. But if you happened to be wandering through the lush lanes and byways of Combe Hay – an uberpretty village a mere three miles south of Bath – and then happened to come across this distinctly upper-crust gastro-haven without anticipating the glories within, you too would experience a jaw-dropping moment of incredulity (especially, perhaps, if you happen to be Texan). Many people, however, are already familiar with the delights of this longstanding gastronomic haven featuring a kitchen currently overseen by head chef Eddy Raines – a man who, were he not a rising hob god, could easily front up the Next Big Boy Band. Swoon! Had the weather complied, we would no doubt have taken to a table in the glorious multi-tiered garden that offers seamless views of the surrounding countryside and wide open sky above. But warm nights are on the near horizon, and until such a time it’s hardly a chore to enjoy an aperitif on a velvet sofa in front of a roaring log fire

before settling down at a chunky, funky dining table in a chunky, funky ancient supper room. And then... well, here we go: soft, sweet Lulworth Bay scallops balanced by intensely chicken-y chicken wings and an earthy mushroom purée. Rustic ham hock terrine with a Hestonesque blob of lively piccalilli jelly. Silky fillets of wild sea bass that tasted of the sea that they had so recently vacated, accompanied by velvety crab cannelloni and smoother-than-smooth crab bisque. A huge, juicy rib-eye steak served with a creamy duck egg and a fistful of the kind of chunky chips that girls like me dream about but rarely encounter in waking life. Warm treacle tart with malted milk icecream that successfully married childhood memories with adult fantasies. Lustrous milk chocolate and hazelnut parfait with cute candied hazelnuts. Petits-fours that included Eddy’s own version of the Bounty bar: an authentic taste of paradise indeed. The final countdown? Estimate to spend circa £80-ish for two, and you too can go this wild in the country. Yee haw! (Melissa Blease)

CONTACT

THE WHEATSHEAF COMBE HAY, NR BATH, BA2. FFI: 01225 833504, WWW.WHEATSHEAFCOMBEHAY.CO.UK THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH

Prandial perfection in a pastoral paradise

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10 OF THE BEST

Bakers Since that brace of Nailsworth Herberts have made baking sexy, let’s not forget some of our other top local crustcrafters… ➻ Baker’s of Bath 141 High St, Twerton, BA2 • There are four-score years of artisan bakery experience in the appropriately named baker family’s original steam-tub ovens.

➻ EATINGOUTWEST

REVIEW PRINCE OF WALES

Raise a glass to absent friends, happy days, the banoffee pie and an imaginative menu at this ultrafriendly Gloucester Road boozer

➻ Bath Bakery 3 Chelsea Rd, Lower Weston, Bath • Their main bakery serves four more local shops with a wide range of organic breads and rolls. ➻ Bertinet Bakery 6 New Bond St Place, Bath • Le maitre – Richard Bertinet’s international reputation brings in dough fiends from far and wide (and you can even buy online).

➻ The Breadstore 45 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, Bristol • Pavement-blockingly popular bread makers on Bristol’s personable Gloucester Road. ➻ Herberts 12 York Rd, Montpelier, Bristol • Even before David Herbert pioneered organic wholemeal bread here in the 70s, this was the destination bakehouse for the discerning that it remains today. ➻ Joe’s Bakery 240 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol • Their own range was delicious enough, but now that Joe’s sells Bertinet bread as well, it’s incomparable. ➻ Love Bristol Bakery 123 Stokes Croft, Bristol • Bristol’s newest started as a ‘popup’ in the old Sofa Riot place but now it’s a permanent chance to buy Jeremy’s locally made breads. ➻ Mark’s Bread 291 North St, Southville, Bristol • Walk straight into the bakery kitchen and buy the still-warm artisan bread, including ‘daily specials’, that so impressed the People’s Jamie. ➻ The Thoughtful Bread Co Green Park Station, Bath • Small but perfectly formed treasure-house of ‘eco-artisan’ bakery - and they’ll even offer to create bread just for you.

PIC CREDIT: MARK SIMMONS

➻ The BreadShop 18 Chandos Rd, Redland, Bristol • With fresh bread at the heart of its community, this diminutive shop punches way above its weight.

h, the enfolding warmth of the Prince of Wales! Like a favourite cardigan, it snuggles around you before the door shuts behind. Hard day? Hard week? Slip into the Prince and it’ll melt away. Time was, Venue’s tribe would regularly claim a Princely corner for convivial team-building purposes, a thought that almost brings a tear to Head Honcho’s otherwise flinty eye as we see little knots of amiable people scattered around the two bars and that commodious ‘smoking area’ out back. Absent friends, we toast, and happy days. And then it’s ‘grab the menu’ time and get noshing because the quiz is starting at 8.30pm and we were suddenly feeling competitive. The choices are interestingly diverse, with a ‘nibblets’ menu of tapas-style dishes offering one way to eat, and a tempting specials board suggesting another. Honcho is a stickler, however, so we do the three-course thing: a couple of tapas numbers to start and a ‘proper’ main course. He’s got what are clearly identified as lemon, pine nut and leek risotto balls stuffed with buffalo mozzarella and served with roast pepper dip. I say this because his comments are (quote): “Quite nice, but where’s the meat?” I give him the eyebrows and he sighs: “You’re going to make me look stupid, aren’t you?” But I honestly tell him no, he doesn’t need my help, and return to my heap of crispy whitebait and aioli dip. Yum.

Somehow we’ve passed on meat, which is a shame because it’s all from local butchery legends Murray’s, but the fish looked pretty tempting. Honcho’s fish pie, jostling nuggets of salmon, mackerel and smoked haddock in creamy white wine sauce, quickly gains his sincere approval (and he cooks a mean fish pie himself). “Rich without cloying,” he pronounces, finding his inner Jay Rayner all of a sudden. “Velvet smooth sauce.” He tucks into dark green kale while I enjoy a healthy slab of rare-cooked tuna glazed with punchy honey and soy and balanced on a nice heap of spiced noodles and garlic-fried French beans. Good fusion stuff, nicely done, and pretty filling. Around us the quiz-types are assembling, and our team-mates arrive at the same time as the banoffee pie. I could have done without sharing it so widely, myself, but we’re all agreeing it’s brilliant as the Princes’ ever-amiable owner Anna announces round one. Which, as it turned out, was all it took to make me look stupid. Doh! (Tony Benjamin)

CONTACT

THE PRINCE OF WALES 5 GLOUCESTER RD, BISHOPSTON, BRISTOL. FFI: 0117 924 5552, WWW. POWBRISTOL.CO.UK THE VERDICT HHHHHHHHHH

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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 and check out one of the West’s vibrant markets to catch the local harvest at its freshest…

t’s pretty much always a party at Bristol’s popular Big Chill Bar, but don’t all good parties need a kitchen where you can do that hanging-about-with-the-cool-kids thing? In a reckless bid for ‘your mum’ chic, they’ve built a Formica-filled replica of a classic 70s kitchen/diner (pictured) which is now available for private parties, complete with bar and bartender. Just give them a call to book it, but be warned – it’s very orange up there! With the school hols looming, Komedia in Bath have come to the aid of parents by offering a Children’s Easter Cooking Club. Over four morning sessions, accompanied under-10s with a hankering for the kitchen can learn to make the likes of monster cup cakes or ‘alien’ tartlets and (here’s the good bit) someone else will clear up the mess (tickets available from www.komedia.co.uk/bath). Back in Bristol, the first real sign of summer has been spotted as smoke rises again from the Spyglass barbecue range after their usual winter closure. Thoroughly refurbished and offering new menus using carefully sourced meat and

seafood, things resumed sizzling again along Welsh Back at the end of last month. And with the boom in buffet eating showing no signs of slackening, Clifton pacesetters Cosmo are re-opening on Wed 18 April after a refurbishment break that’s allowed them to add even more ‘live’ cooking with a tandoori oven and a traditional Japanese robata grill. And, finally, fans of master charcutier Vince Castellano will be delighted to know that he’s hosting ‘All Things Moroccan’, another five-course BYO ‘pop-up’ evening in Bristol’s St Aldhelm’s Church, Bedminster on Sat 21 April (advance booking essential, via www. castellanos.co.uk).

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-on-Trym Market Medical Centre car park, Westbury Hill, Bristol, BS9, 9am–1pm Every Sun Tobacco Factory Market Raleigh Rd, Southville, Bristol, BS3, 10.30am-2.30pm. Ffi: www. tobaccofactory.com 1st Sun of month Slow Food Market Corn St, Bristol, 10am-3pm. Ffi: www. slowfoodbristol.org Every Wed Bristol Farmers’ Market Corn St, Bristol, 9.30am–2.30pm 3rd Sun of month Ashton Court Farmers’ Market Courtyard of Ashton Court mansion house, Bristol, 10.30am–2.30pm

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➻ EATINGOUTWEST Recipe NADEEM AKHTER Age: 42 Nationality: Pakistani Restaurant: Filini Restaurant at Radisson Blu Hotel

➻

“I started my career at the age of 18, as an apprentice back in Pakistan. I soon found a job in Dubai, and spent 12 years there, working in different positions at various world-famous hotels. Dubai helped me a lot en route to my becoming executive chef at the Radisson Blu Hotel, giving me lots of opportunities to learn a variety of cuisines. “Over the years, I’ve participated in lots of cooking competitions and have been awarded many gold, silver and bronze medals. I love taking part in competitions – the anticipation of wondering what others have done and the thirst to win an award yourself are all very powerful motivators. “My speciality is modern French cuisine, but I also have extensive knowledge of Middle Eastern, Japanese, Chinese and Italian food. I’ve always been hungry to learn about different cuisines and new food production techniques, and I’ve worked in many areas of the UK to satisfy my hunger for learning. Cooking is my passion and the kitchen is my wife – we spend nearly 12 hours together each day!”

NADEEM AKHTER AT

FILINI RESTAURANT AT RADISSON BLU HOTEL Address: Broad Quay, Bristol BS1 4BY Tel: 0117 934 9500 Web: www.filinirestaurant.com/restaurantbristol, www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-bristol

ilini Restaurant at the Radisson Blu Hotel offers exquisite modern Italian cuisine, taking the best local – as well as Italian and Sardinian – produce, merging them to create mouthwatering dishes and offering some of the most creative cuisine in Bristol. Located on the first floor of the hotel, the restaurant offers authentic and contemporary Italian cuisine in stylish surroundings. The restaurant’s contemporary interior features stylish artwork, clean lines and a relaxed atmosphere with panoramic views from the window-side tables. Filini restaurant is the ideal place for lunch with friends, a business meeting or a more intimate dinner in the evening. The wine list is resoundingly Italian, featuring a selection from the various wine-making regions of Italy to suit all tastes and budgets.

You’ll find everything from affordable classics such as Il Banchetto Trebbiano and Toscano Rosso (Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon) Villa Lucia to more exclusive wines such as Sauvignon Blanc Collio Villa Russiz (Friuli) and even Amarone della Valpolicella Classico. For a taste of Italy in real style, visit the Radisson Blu Hotel for a stunning dining experience.

‘THE BEST LOCAL, ITALIAN AND SARDINIAN PRODUCE, AND A RESOUNDINGLY ITALIAN WINE LIST’

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Modern Asian-style sea bass INGREDIENTS Serves 2

2 whole sea bass (ask your fishmonger to make fillets) 6 asparagus 4 cherry tomatoes 1 whole aubergine, skin off 2 shallots 1 bunch mint 1 bunch coriander 15g green chilli 1 single clove garlic 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp paprika powder 1 plum tomato, diced olive oil butter, small amount vegetable stock, small amount red radish, sliced

TO MAKE

Dice the aubergines and sauté with olive oil and garlic. Add some cumin powder and paprika, then cook on a gentle heat until the aubergine turns soft. Then add seasoning and keep to one side.

GREEN PASTE

Sauté the shallots in olive oil and garlic until light golden, then put into a food blender with mint, coriander and green chilli. Blend to a smooth paste with a little vegetable stock. Strain the green paste and keep to one side.

ASPARAGUS

Peel the asparagus and boil in salted water and a little butter until cooked, then strain the asparagus and keep to one side.

SEA BASS

Marinate the sea bass with olive oil, cumin powder, paprika and a little green paste. Panfry the sea bass on the skin side until crispy, then turn the fish and cook it for no longer then one minute, then put to one side.

ASSEMBLING THE PLATE

Take a food ring (or any metal ring), place on the side of the plate and fill it with aubergine, then press down with a spoon. Remove the ring and put the sea bass on top. On the other side of the plate, put one spoon of green paste and then put the fish on top. In the centre of the plate, stand the asparagus upright and add a slice of red radish

Recommended... ALOIS LAGEDER BIODYNAMIC CHARDONNAY/PINOT GRIGIO 2008/09

➻ This is a crisp and refreshing wine perfumed with rich mineral notes and ripe subtropical fruit flavours. It comes from a family winery in the north-eastern Alto Adige region of Italy, and is made from certified organic grapes from vineyards farmed according to biodynamic methods of viticulture. Mediumbodied, with a wellbalanced flavour, nice citrus touches and an attractive, crisp, fresh fruit aftertaste, this will work well alongside the subtle flavours of the fish, the powerful spices and the woody notes from the asparagus. FOLIO/APRIL 2011 75

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