The Bristol Magazine August 2016

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Issue 146

WWW.THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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AuGusT 2016

MAGAZINE £3.95 where sold

IN THE SWIM

MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER AT ONE OF THE WEST COUNTRY’S ALFRESCO BATHING HOTSPOTS

T H E T R I N I T Y A N T H E M • WO N D E R F U L U N D E R FA L L • B R I S T O L : T H E Y O G I ’ S P L AY G R O U N D • INFINITI AND BEYOND – THE NEW Q30 • LIFE ON THE EDGE • B L A N C C A N VA S • F I N E D I N I N G AT T H E M I N T R O O M • INTERIORS: THE MIDAS TOUCH • HOT PROPERTY – SLOBLOCK HALL T H E C I T Y ’ S B I G G E S T M O N T H LY G U I D E T O L I V I N G I N B R I S T O L

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THE | CONTENTS

AUGUST 2016

54

38 Photograph by Paolo Ferla

26 12 ZEITGEIST

52

42 STATE OF THE ART

Five of our top things to do this month

What’s going on at our city galleries?

44 TRAVEL

14 THE CITYIST We chat to local musician Julia Turner

18 BARTLEBY ...Takes the pulse of the city following the EU referendum

20 IT’S IN THE BAG Hot handbags from Harvey Nicks

22 SHOPPING: KIDS Get set for the summer holidays

Take a dip at some of the region’s finest alfresco pools

50 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS Updates from the industry

Two world-renowned musicians help a historic cultural landmark; meanwhile Colin Moody checks out a piece of maritime history at the revamped Underfall Yard

34 WHAT’S ON

70 BALLOON FIESTA Top tips for making the most of your visit

Emma Cullen investigates the many types of yoga available around the city

82 WALK THE WALK Andrew Swift heads out to the eastern outskirts of the city

52 FACE TO FACE Louise Harrold chats to Raymond Blanc about his newly reopened eatery

54 RESTAURANT REVIEW 56 BRISTOL AT WORK Meet Bristol voiceover artist Greg Marston

28 HERITAGE

Photograph by Paul Lippiatt

74 HEALTH & WELLBEING

We chat to the edgy new Bristol company offering life-changing adventures

Fancy some fine Indian dining? Make haste to The Mint Room!

26 SWIMMING

84 SHOPPING: HOME We’ve got a major thing for metallics

86 THROUGH THE KEYHOLE Like the look of Little Normead Farm?

88 INTERIORS Let new local company Nisi Living’s Medthemed range inspire you

90 GARDENING

60 BRISTOL UPDATES Business news from across the city

Margaux Speirs loves a good water feature...

92 PROPERTY FOCUS

62 MOTORING Infiniti and beyond: Dara Foley drives the new Nissan

Carol Vorderman is selling her North Somerset home...

66 FREELANCE MUM

Diaries at the ready...

Faye Dicker discovers a food-sharing revolution in the city

38 MUSIC Boutique family-friendly festival Valley Fest is back next month – Charlotte Gallagher gives us her highlights

40 BOOKS Pat Reid proffers some of the best books on the Bard, and where to find them

Even more great content online: thebristolmag.co.uk 4 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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66 WHOLE LOTTA BRISTORY Julian takes us back to when holidays were practically unheard of...

ON THE COVER

We love this giclée print of Portishead Lido by Portishead-based artists souterandstanley.co.uk – see p26 for our feature on alfresco oases to frequent this summer

68 EDUCATION NEWS The latest from our local schools

Follow us on Twitter @thebristolmag

Like us: Facebook.com/ TheBristolMagazine

Follow us on Instagram @thebristolmag

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MOVE. Faster. Sell with Knight Frank.

Our understanding of the ever-changing market enables us to price your property accurately so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving.

Call +44 1173 171 999 to arrange your free market valuation.

Knightfrank.co.uk/bristol bristol@knightfrank.com

Guide price: £1,250,000

KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Clifton Grade II Listed property (2,723 sq ft) with suspension bridge views. 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, roof terrace, courtyard garden. Lower ground; offers flexible accommodation.

nTheMarket.com

Guide price £675,000

Guide price £650,000

Woodlands

Clifton

A spectacular and generously proportioned lateral apartment close to The Downs. Kitchen/breakfast, sitting room, 4 bedrooms, inner hall/study, play room, guest shower, gardens and parking. EPC D. No onward chain.

An impressive and elegantly proportioned first floor apartment (1,623 sq ft) in Clifton. Drawing room, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, 3 bedroom suites, parking and communal terrace. EPC D.

Guide price £450,000

New Instruction

From £295,000

Harbourside

Clifton

Harbourside apartment with private terraces, parking and fine views.

Open plan dining/sitting room, kitchen, 2 bedroom, bathroom, 2 private terraces, allocated parking. EPC C.

LAST PROPERTIES: This sympathetically converted chapel in the centre of Clifton will comprise of 16 one and two bedroom apartments. All apartments benefiting from parking. Last remaining: 2 two beds and 1 one bed.

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MOVE. Faster. Sell with Knight Frank.

Our understanding of the ever-changing market enables us to price your property accurately so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving.

Call +44 1173 171 999 to arrange your free market valuation.

Knightfrank.co.uk/bristol bristol@knightfrank.com

Guide price: £735,000

KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Chew Stoke Attractive detached modern house (2,117 sq ft) in the picturesque village of Chew Stoke. Kitchen, 2 reception rooms, study, 5 bedrooms (1 ensuite), family bathroom, detached double garage, private gardens.

Guide price £675,000

nTheMarket.com

Guide price £675,000

West Harptree

East Harptree

Immaculate detached village house (2,295 sq ft) with pretty rural views.

Sitting Room, Dining Room, Garden room, Library, study, kitchen/breakfast room. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Enclosed gardens, double garage. EPC D.

An attractive edge of village home (1,864 sq ft) in a peaceful setting. Reception hall, kitchen/dining room, sitting room, snug/study, utility, cloakroom, 4 bedrooms, office, bathroom. Delightful 'English Country' gardens. EPC E.

Guide price £595,000

Guide price £825,000

Stoke Bishop

Cotham

A superb family home (1,419 sq ft) in the heart of this ever popular residential location. Sitting room, kitchen/dining room, 3 bedrooms, family bathroom, WC. Gardens to front and rear. Parking, garage. EPC D.

A generously proportioned (2,641 sq ft) family home. Flexible accommodation over 4 floors, kitchen/breakfast room, drawing room, utility, 8 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shower room. Garage via separate negotiation. EPC D.

Knight Frank August.qxp_full page 20/07/2016 14:28 Page 3

MOVE. Faster. Sell with Knight Frank.

Our understanding of the ever-changing market enables us to price your property accurately so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving.

Call +44 1173 171 999 to arrange your free market valuation.

Knightfrank.co.uk/bristol bristol@knightfrank.com

Guide price: £1,100,000

Wookey Hole An impressive and immaculate family home (4,083 sq ft) set within beautiful gardens and grounds within 2 miles of Wells. 5 reception rooms, kitchen, utility, conservatory, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, games room, garage. EPC E.

OIRO £725,000

KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

nTheMarket.com

OIEO £1,100,000

Brockley

Chew Valley

An impressive Grade II listed house (9,998 sq ft) set within beautiful mature gardens. The property is suitable for both residential and commercial development, having been previously used as a care home.

Impressive country house (4,075 sq ft) enjoying a rural outlook. 3 reception rooms, kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 5 bath/shower rooms, tennis court, swimming pools, gardens, garaging. EPC D.

Guide price £785,000

Guide price £450,000

East Harptree

West Harptree

A substantial detached property (3,642 sq ft) with stunning views of Chew Valley Lake. 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 4 bedrooms (1 ensuite), bathroom, gardens, triple garage, outbuilding. EPC E.

Development opportunity (1,077 sq ft) with amazing views of the Chew Valley Lake. 1 reception room, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, garage, pretty gardens. EPC TBC.

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THIS MONTH WE’VE BEEN...

Make a splash this month at Portishead Lido, or one of the region’s other lovely alfresco spots – see p26 for more

Buzzing... ...About Nespresso opening its first South West boutique in the Mall at Cribbs (see p50 for more).

We are loving their Citiz coffee machine in chrome – making our mornings so much easier to deal with...

• nespresso.com

from the

Anticipating...

EDITOR “...Swimming is simply moving meditation...”

W

hile we can never be certain just how long it’ll last, whenever the intermittent British summer does show its face, we’re mad for it – adoringly basking in its beauteous rays; its absence immediately forgiven. We don’t know about you, but the recent heatwave saw us desperately dragging the paddling pool out of the shed most days – but of course we can do better than that, here in Bristol. Hence, this issue, we’re diving into some of the best regional alfresco swimming spots – you know there’s nothing more refreshing than a dip on a balmy day.

Recently we were also drawn to The Trinity Centre’s new Notes for Notes campaign – namely, because it contains themes of a Bristol music and heritage nature (two things we love to kind of a geeky extent). When we found out that a couple of the area’s bestknown musicians – one third of globally exported ‘Bristol Sound’ pioneers Portishead, Adrian Utley, and world-renowned musician John Parish – were getting involved and writing a brand new piece of music to help raise funds to conserve the historic cultural landmark, we thought we’d better get down there ourselves...

You can read more about that on p28, or continue to p32 for a bit on our maritime heritage, with Colin Moody, who’s been photo-documenting the revamped Underfall Yard recently. There’s more music on p38 as Charlotte Gallagher previews this year’s Valley Fest – set on a gorgeous Somerset hillside overlooking Chew Valley Lake – and travel inspo on p44 from the edgy new Bristol company leading once-in-a-lifetime adventures to far-flung destinations you’ve probably never even considered visiting. Read about how they’re hoping to break down some of the negative connotations associated with some of these beautiful, culturally rich places.

Needless to say, there’s plenty more to keep you occupied, from a chat with Raymond Blanc – who recently reopened his new-look restaurant in Quakers Friars – and our review of The Mint Room in Clifton, to tips for budding yogis on where to head for what sort of yoga, and the new interiors company offering everything you might need to create your own Mediterranean-inspired outdoor oasis. Until next time...

AMANDA NICHOLLS EDITOR Editor’s image by Paolo Ferla; ferlapaolo.com

@thebristolmag

10 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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AUGUST 2016

@thebristolmag

Photo © Jon Craig; joncraig.co.uk

We can’t wait for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta – from 11-14 August – especially with the new Luke Jerram installation! (See p14 & p70) • bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

We’re also looking forward Let Me Illustrate at The Grant Bradley Gallery (6-27 August), reaffirming Bristol's position as home to some of the best illustrators in the country. We’re especially enjoying Istanbul by Mark Boardman.

• grantbradleygallery.co.uk

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ZEITGEIST

Top

5

things to do in AUGUST

DEEPER UNDERGROUND

See singer-songwriter Katey Brooks on 6 August

GORGEOUS DAY! On 6 August, Windsor Terrrace – the listed Georgian terrace on the side of the Avon Gorge in front of Clifton Suspension Bridge – hosts Big Gorgeous, a one-day festival offering an eclectic mix of music, performance, food and drink. On the bill are Big Boss Man – a hip Hammond hybrid of Sixties and Seventies-drenched R'n'B, funk, Latin, jazz, soul and pop; singer-songwriter Katey Brooks; a quartet from the city’s only professional orchestra, Bristol Ensemble; Baila La Cumbia, guaranteed to get you moving; and Ilu Axe Samba, one of Europe's top samba-reggae groups. There’ll also be a Bollywood dance workshop, a performance from Bristol Capoeira, fantastic food and drink traders and kids activities. All proceeds to Cancer Research UK. • biggorgeousfestival.co.uk

A new sci-fi circus spectacular has been unveiled at Wookey Hole Caves – for the enjoyment of the many families that will be visiting the attraction over the summer holidays. Running until 31 August, the Las Vegas-style production includes everything from acrobats and trapeze artists to jugglers and some of the film industry’s most famous science fiction characters, as well as laser technology. Visitors can also investigate an unexplored new cavern with unique rock formations and a subterranean lake, and meet the pet bat, Harold, in the Witch’s Laboratory – he’ll be taking them on a journey to the Lost World of Dinosaurs 4D cinema experience...

• wookey.co.uk

Explore a new cavern with unique rock formations

BEER BLAST The fourth Bristol Beer Week takes place from 27 August to 2 September, celebrating the West Country’s best hop-based beverages and the area’s budding beer industry. There’ll be a Wild Beer Co tap takeover at The Volley; an East Bristol Brewery Trail – where five of Bristol’s best breweries roll up their shutters and welcome visitors inside – and a Wiper and True tap takeover at Kongs. The Bristol Craft Beer Festival closes the week on 2 and 3 September at Motion – showcasing Bristol’s best breweries and much more.

• bristolbeerweek.com

SEEING RED Also on 6 August is Redfest in St George Park – which began as a small festival in the garden of Grounded Redfield. See headliners RSVP – who grew up in St George and are renowned for getting a crowd bopping – grace one of the four music stages and blend traditional Punjabi music with electronic dance, or head for the local food stalls and bustling market area, a massage session, or a dedicated dance workshop in the performance space. Join in with breakdance from b-boy Ben Nash, try samba or tackle a bit of African, tango or swing dance. There’ll be reggae from Samsara, psychedelic pop from Rozelle, guitar trip hop from BOMBS and jazz from Henry's Hot Six, as well as a chill-out area playing reggae and ambient music. Sustainability is important to Redfest, so organisers ask that you cycle, walk, bus it or dance to the festival.

• redfestbristol.co.uk

Catch headliners RSVP

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TALKING SENSE Bristol Film Festival is bringing the sights, sounds and smells of some much-loved films to life on 20 August at the Arnolfini Gallery. The programme – which includes a 10am showing of The Lion King, a 4pm Goldfinger showing and a 9pm over-18s presentation of This is Spinal Tap – will offer additional entertainment and effects, providing a more immersive, sensory experience. Every viewing is enhanced by themed décor and real-time lighting, sound and smell effects, and introduced by an expert – for example, Bristol Museum will introduce Jurassic Park (12.30pm) with a talk on Bristol’s very own dinosaur. There’ll also be competitions and raffles to win experiential prizes. In the Dark Studio, talks run all afternoon, with Icon Films sharing their wildlife documentary process and talking about productions such as River Monsters at 12pm. At 4pm and 6.30pm, The Movie Lover’s Guide To Wine Tasting is presented in partnership with Averys – looking at the relationship between wine and film and allowing the audience to sample movie-related wines while experts offer a tongue-in-cheek guide to pairing a fine wine with a classic movie. • bristolfilmfestival.com

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ist

THE CITY THE BUZZ

My BRISTOL

We take five with local singersongwriter Julia Turner

So, Julia, tell us a bit about your background I was born in London and learnt to speak in Sydney (my dad’s Aussie) but really I’m a Bristol girl – my parents moved to Bristol when I was five and I grew up here. I went to Cotham School where I was part of a choir that nurtured a love of vocal harmony.

Promising the moon...

Luke Jerram’s latest artwork will see a new ‘moon’ rising over the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in Ashton Court this month. The Bristol artist, whose Park Street water slide, street pianos and fleet of abandoned boats in Leigh Woods quickly became big draws for visitors to the city, has created a work called Museum of the Moon, which will be seen in public for the first time at the fiesta from 11-14 August.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon will feature detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface, float above the fiesta, and be a part of the nightglows, with festival goers encouraged to ‘moonbathe’ beneath it. The Museum of the Moon – which is being created in partnership with the UK Space Agency, University of Bristol and The Association for Science and Discovery Centres – is being made by Cameron Balloons, one of the best-known companies in the city, and aims to highlight ongoing lunar exploration and research. It will also come with its own music – a surround-sound composition created

by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Dan Jones. “Different cultures around the world have their own historical, cultural and religious relationships to the moon, so depending on where the Museum of The Moon is presented in the world, its meaning and interpretation will shift,” said Luke. “As the artwork tours, new compositions will be created and performed by a range of established composers and musicians, adding to the museum’s collection. As it tours, new stories and meanings will be collected and compared, from one presentation to the next.”

For more information, visit: my-moon.org

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What do you rate about this city?

I could wax lyrical for ages but the main thing is that it’s such a friendly, relaxed place. I can be myself here. On a physical level, what I miss when I’m not here is just walking around.

There are so many ways to get to one place, through back streets, up steep lanes and through medieval archways, that I am always discovering new ways of looking at this beautiful city. The arts scene is busy and diverse, with tons of musicians, which means plenty of opportunity for collaboration between players from a vast array of musical and geographical backgrounds. It’s very inspiring and it’s easy to become a part of it.

Tell us about what you do I write my own music that I perform both solo, with my trusty blue guitar, and with my Bristol-based quartet. I also write and arrange for The Eko Trio, an a cappella group who I sing with, and co-host monthly female music night Femme De Musique. I lead several choirs including Bring Your Own Baby Choir – a group for parents with bubs in tow (no nursery rhymes allowed!) and various groups for south Bristol’s intergenerational Handfuls of Harmony Choir. I also co-lead community choirs Gasworks with Ali Orbaum.

So you’ve an album out in September?

Yes. I’m a jazz musician and poet at heart and the songs on this album are very story-based. I

Photo © Vien Tran

wanted to expose our vulnerability as musicians and people. Fifteen Times the Moon is a collection of original songs that explore the weather patterns of life, our fears, hopes and relationships with both ourselves and each other. The album title was inspired by the incredible true story of a Mexican fisherman, who, one quiet afternoon, set out on a fishing trip but was caught up in a huge storm. He was not heard of again for 15 months, at which point, after all hope was lost, he was discovered on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean. I’ve been working with the same musicians for a few years and the album itself was recorded over eight months. I feel we’ve had time to get to know each other’s playing and work together to create some real magic.

What are you reading at the moment?

Poet Holly McNish’s Cherry Pie and novelist Ken Follet’s Fall of Giants.

What’s pumping through your speakers?

Kate Tempest’s album Everybody Down. I love her energy and passion; she tells it like it is, with no apology.

Which foodie spot are you loving?

VX, the vegan junk food café in Bedminster.

Favourite watering hole in Bristol?

The Greenbank in Easton – that’s where we hold Femme De Musique. Great vegan pizza, nice vibe.

• juliaturner.co.uk

READ ALL ABOUT IT...

This month Charlotte Pope at Foyles bookshop recommends Oi Dog! by Kes and Claire Gray, illustrated by Jim Field The hilarious sequel to the classic kids’ picture book Oi Frog! is sure to have your little one in stitches. Frog has had enough and decided that dogs definitely cannot sit on frogs anymore – and everybody else is going to have to sit somewhere else too. Cat insists that there are rules to follow: only mules sit on stools, only hares can sit on chairs, and dogs sit on frogs. But Frog is determined to change the status quo! Dogs will now sit on logs, and cats will just have to sit on gnats. But will spiders like sitting on gliders? Will whales want to sit on nails? Can poodles possibly be happy sitting on noodles? And most importantly, where is Frog going to sit? The repetition of the text makes this a joy to real aloud. The illustrations are colourful and striking: and the book is worth a read just for the image of crabs sitting on kebabs! A cracking bedtime must-read.

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THE CITY

BRISTAGRAM Some of our favourite recent snaps taken by folk around the city! Tag your best pics of Bristol using #thebristolmag @bywayd esign cap ture Alex Turn er croonin d g at Bristol H arboursid e

xxxx

Exciting times for St George’s Work is set to begin on the St George’s Bristol £5.5million extension next month, following a major grant from Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund. The venue, which specialises in classical, world, jazz and folk music as well as family and spoken word events, has had Avon Archaeology on site in preparation for the building work and will be using Bristol construction company Galliford Try for the pavilionstyle extension. It will include multi-purpose events, education, workshop and venue hire spaces, a café bar and improved access. The Crypt will also house a heritage display retelling long-forgotten stories of the original church building, its music history and the surrounding area. “We are now within striking distance of our £5.5million target and our capital project is secure,” said chief executive Suzanne Rolt. “Our 'Building a Sound Future' project will improve, extend and upgrade St George's to make it fit-for-purpose in the 21st century, offering facilities for audiences and artists that reflect our high quality of artistic work. It will give us a long-term and financially sustainable future, which will enable us to deliver our ambitious education and outreach programme. Mayor Marvin Rees added: “It's important we invest in the city's cultural infrastructure much like we do housing and transport. This sector contributes over £260million a year to the city's economy, creating jobs, boosting tourism and supporting local business and enterprise.” The project is due in October 2017.

• stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

New book from Bristol bobby This month sees the publication of a local former police constable’s story of life on the beat as a dog handler – and one special canine who really got his teeth into fighting crime! A Job With Bite is Peter Chaplin’s gritty, funny, nostalgic memoir, offering a glimpse into the Avon & Somerset Constabulary through the 1970s to 1990s, and an incredible bond formed with a dog called Major. But Major’s enthusiasm for the job meant he was deemed too aggressive and was eventually put to sleep – a fate suffered by many service dogs – and so Peter has pledged £1 from every book sold to Bravo Working Dog Rescue, which rehomes dogs after they have finished their service.

“Major was utterly fearless and dependable – he was simply the best partner I ever had and I know he would have died to protect me,” says Peter. “In the past 10 years, more than 500 service dogs have been put down after retirement – I feel very strongly about this issue and hope that while my book is an entertaining read, it helps change such a tragic situation for dogs which have helped protect society.” A Job With Bite, published by Bristol’s Silverwood Books, will be launched at 7pm on 8 August, at Rivergate House on Redcliffe Street, where Peter willxx be signing copies of the book and reading extracts. • ajobwithbite.co.uk

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hing street d this touc ipp spotte versary of ni an h 0t @bristolh king the 10 me tribute mar e Battle of the Som th the start of Seal brou ght some Nineties nostalgia to Colston H all (@jobbin s23)

s Flyboarder Big Crazy oes er rh pe su e looking lik arbourfest @bristolh

Photogra p beautifu her @neiljames b lly captu red The Matt

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WIN A MEAL FOR TWO AT LIDO RESTAURANT, A NESPRESSO CITIZ&MILK COFFEE MACHINE AND A SELECTION OF CAPSULES

Bristol is about to get a new arrival to its already booming culinary scene, with the opening of the latest Nespresso boutique. To celebrate its arrival at Cribbs Causeway, Nespresso is giving away a fabulous prize worth £500. One lucky reader will win a delicious meal for two at the award-winning Lido restaurant, a Nespresso CitiZ&Milk coffee machine that retails at £199 and a selection of Nespresso capsules, including Envivo Lungo, the latest addition to the Nespresso range of 24 Grands Crus.

Nothing can top a perfect cup of coffee, especially one made in the comfort of your own home. 30 years ago, the Nespresso system revolutionised domestic coffee making and since then, a cup of coffee has become so much more than a simple daily routine.

It is a ritual, which can be personalised according to your preferences.

Whether you prefer a powerful Ristretto or a smooth latte, enjoy an expertly sourced single origin coffee or a crafted blend, there is a Nespresso Grand Cru to suit you.

Nespresso sources its range of 24 Grands Crus from the top coffee-growing regions around the world, providing Club Members with unique tasting experiences. What else?

For your chance to win, please send your contact details with ‘Nespresso’ in the subject line to amcnaugher@webershandwick.com.

The competition closes on the 30th August.

You’ll find the Nespresso pop-up boutique at the Upper Level in The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, BS34 5DG. Find out more at www.nespresso.com/uk.

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Taking the pulse

T

he evening after the EU referendum, a new exhibition opened at the RWA. ‘Jamaican Pulse’ is, as the name suggests, a show devoted to art produced in that Caribbean country since its independence 50-odd years ago, by Jamaican artists around the world. Overshadowed at first by political events, the private view of the exhibition soon got going, with music, dancing and plenty of chat – a riposte, you might say, to the image of Britain as an introverted island nation. Someone said to me afterwards that they felt proud to live in a city that was so outward-looking and inclusive.

At the same time, ‘Art from Elsewhere’ was running at the City Museum and Art Gallery, and at Arnolfini. This wide-ranging international show included all manner of strange and wonderful things created by 39 artists from 22 countries, ‘whose socially-engaged work addresses life, politics and identity in a globalised society’ (according to the blurb). A highlight was a black and white film, shot from the window of a high-rise apartment by Polish artist Józef Robakowski. Accompanied by a wry narrative, it shows daily life in the square below, through the dreary years of communism and into the 1990s – when a smart new hotel abruptly closes off the view. Put together by the Hayward Gallery in London, this exhibition had already toured to several cities around Britain, but on that fateful day in June, it was open in Bristol, and an art-loving visitor to the city would have been forgiven for thinking they had arrived in the UK capital of outward-lookingness.

❝ SOMEONE SAID TO ME THAT THEY FELT PROUD TO LIVE IN A CITY SO OUTWARD-LOOKING AND INCLUSIVE

❞

No surprise then, that a majority of Bristol people voted to remain in the EU. As a port with a thousand-year history of adventure and trade (some noble, some less so), Bristol does have a seaward gaze. For much of that history, its connections with Bordeaux, Porto and other cities on the Atlantic coast of mainland Europe were more important than any relationship with London. Unlike so many twin towns, brought together after World War II in an attempt to build friendships across the continent, the aforementioned ports were already close relatives and had been for centuries.

Bristol today is a European city – and will continue to be. This summer we can probably expect even more visitors from le continent than usual, lured not only by the city’s cosmopolitan charms, but also by the cheap pound.

But although Bristol as a whole voted pro-Europe, when you look at the breakdown of voting, ward by ward, the picture is less simple. In the south, for instance, Bedminster and Windmill Hill voted to stay, Hartcliffe and Bishopsworth to leave. Across the city, divisions were revealed – or, more accurately, highlighted. To an extent, these may relate to differences in wealth and class but there are more complicated forces at work, to do with ‘life, politics and identity in a globalised society’.

A survey carried out when Bristol was endeavouring to become European City of Culture, found resentment among the older Bristolian community towards incomers – not refugees or migrants from eastern Europe, but middle class folk drawn to the city’s charm and comparatively low house prices.

Around this time we moved into our street – then a friendly mixture of all ages and people, as they used to say, ‘from all walks of life’. We were ‘nouveaus’ – a source of amusement to at least one local builder who marvelled at the prices people were prepared to pay for run-down old houses.

The variety of residents has steadily diminished as the years have passed and prices have kept rising. Just before the referendum, as it happens, our longtime neighbours had an eye-watering rent increase and departed sadly for the suburbs. One day, perhaps, an artist will make a film about them... ■ 18 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Indoor Living Dining Outdoor Living Design Collections

NISILIVING.CO.UK

20% off your first purchase.

Quote ALFRESCO at checkout.

Valid for one purchase only. Offer ends 30 Sept 2016.

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 19

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SHOPPING | ACCESSORIES

It’s in THE BAG Time for a new piece of arm candy? Thought so. It’s always time for a new piece of arm candy...

All products are available from Harvey Nichols Bristol – harveynichols.com

COACH NOMAN BROWN HOBO BAG, £475 Soft and slouchy in supple glove-tanned leather, this simple, graceful bag has a polished metal hangtag, zip pockets organising its luxurious interior, and an adjustable strap that detaches for maximum wearability VALENTINO ROCKSTUD LEATHER CLUTCH, £580 Bordered with Valentino’s signature ‘rockstud’ pyramids, this clutch is chic and compact carry or use the concealable chain as a shoulder strap, as you see fit!

GUCCI DIONYSUS SHOULDER BAG, £1,230

VICTORIA BECKHAM CALF HAIR CLUTCH, £595

Unusual and eye-catching in beige canvas and decorated with the iconic 'GG' motif and silver tiger clasp – best paired with your favourite LBD, we reckon

Victoria Beckham's signature clutch is a spicy little number. We love its slim silhouette and leopard print design – bang on-trend for the coming season

GIVENCHY ANTIGONA LEATHER TOTE, £1,565 With a boxy silhouette and angular lines that lend a masculine edge to sharpen any outfit, the Antigona makes for a high-impact finishing touch and comes with an optional shoulder strap

ANYA HINDMARCH LEATHER CROSS-BODY BAG, £550 Anya Hindmarch's 'smiley' motif has become part of the brand's aesthetic and reflects the fun nature of the brand. Add a pop of colour to your day-to-day attire

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Exclusive designs hand made on the premises.

Have your precious family jewellery remodelled into a new personalised design you will always wear combining old and new.

Ready made collection.

Wedding and Engagement rings designed with your ideas and style.

Tel 0117 962 1111

WIN £500 TO SPEND AT To celebrate the arrival of Reiss at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon, one lucky reader could be in with the chance of winning a £500 gift card to be spent in store.

Since its launch in 1971, Reiss has developed a loyal fan base thanks to its heritage of exceptional quality and a reputation for producing inspirational, design-led clothing.

Offering everything from fine tailoring to easy-to-wear relaxed pieces, the new store will showcase the very best of the brand’s menswear, womenswear and accessories and provide Swindon shoppers with the chance to get their hands on some of Reiss’ most desirable pieces.

At McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon you can find your favourite labels with price reductions of up to 60%, all year round. To find out more go to swindondesigneroutlet.com.

How to enter: Simply answer this question: In which year was Reiss founded?

Send your answer along with your full name and contact details to: competitions@thebristolmagazine.co.uk. Entries can also be received by post. Send your answer with your name and contact details on a postcard to 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath, BA1 2ED. Entries must be submitted by midnight on 31.08.16. Details of all entries will be kept on a database and used by Reiss for marketing purposes.

Terms & Conditions: The prize is as stated and consists of one £500 gift card to spend at the Reiss store at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or used in concessions.

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 21

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SHOPPING | KIDS

SUNGLASSES, £6 Cute neon wayfarers to ward off the summer glare.

Accessorize, The Mall at Cribbs; accessorize.com

SHORTS, £10 These acid wash shorts for girls (0-5 years) are just too sweet, and perfect for outdoor play. River Island, The Mall at Cribbs; riverisland.com SWIMSUIT, £10/£14 This retro design is begging to be worn at one of the fab lidos to be found on page 26. M&S; marksandspencer.com

GAMES SET, £10 This tin suitcase is filled with enough games to ensure there’s zero chance of a plaintive “are we there yet?”

Imperial War Museum Shop; iwmshop.org.uk

NAME IT POLO, £11 We love a bit of Breton, we do...

House of Fraser; houseoffraser.co.uk

THE KIDS are alright

CAP, £9.50 Keep his head shaded in cool cotton Timberland.

House of Fraser; houseoffraser.co.uk

...So why not kit them out with a new summer wardrobe or treat them to something to help keep them entertained over the holidays – while your nerves are still in tact!

SKIRT, £10 Might tempt them to reach for their five-a-day instead of the ice cream...? Next, The Mall at Cribbs; next.co.uk

HONOLULU TOWELLING COVER-UP, £18 This girls’ towelling dress in tropical print is the perfect cosy cover-up for the beach or pool.

Monsoon; monsoon.co.uk

GAME, £20 This dinosaur-themed version of Guess Who? is sure to go down a treat; Natural History Museum; nhmshop.co.uk

BACKPACK, £16 Little lads’ll love loading up this cool colourblock rucksack, we reckon. Next, The Mall at Cribbs; next.co.uk

BUBBLE ROCKET, £5 Fill the launch pad with the rocket fuel, stamp on the pad and watch the bubbles fly out as the rocket soars up to eight metres! House of Fraser; houseoffraser.co.uk

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WELLIES, £12 Ideal for splashing around in if the weather takes a turn...

Next, The Mall at Cribbs; next.co.uk

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Engagement Rings Wedding Rings Wedding Gifts

Stunning Engagement rings, Wedding bands and tailor-made rings Beautiful Gift Ideas for the bridesmaids, mother of the bride and for the groom A 10% discount on any pair of rings purchased & off any further gifts for your wedding when you mention The Bristol Magazine We also offer Bespoke Jewellery • Silver Jewellery • Watches Jewellery & Watch Repairs • Gold purchased (old jewellery & coins)

History, Tradition & Quality the only Kemps Jewellers since 1881 9 Calton Court, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3DF

www.kempsjewellers.com

0117 950 5090 THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 23

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CITY | SHOPPING

StyleTIME Mallory Jewellers in Bath offers its summer selection of the very latest watches for ladies and gents. Purchase for a special birthday, graduation gift or to add to your own collection – you’re sure to find something to catch your eye…

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Lady Following huge success using ceramic in the Formula 1 family TAG Heuer have introduced the same concept to the ladies’ Aquaracer. The Aquaracer range has always offered easy to wear style and practicality but the introduction of polished ceramic in full or mixed case options means the watch will retain its original sheen and colour even as the watch ages. Robust and waterresistant to 300 meters (it is an Aquaracer after all), this watch is a true sports model which combines elegance and charm. The extremely accurate quartz movement is housed in the 35mm case, with or without diamonds, making it a truly versatile timepiece. Model shown is priced, £1200.00

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Rio 2016 Limited Edition In celebrating the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Omega has launched the Seamaster Diver 300m. This 3,016 limited edition piece is the perfect way to combine a unique watch with everyday practicality.

Since its introduction as the Bond watch in 1995, this model has evolved into one of the best sub £5000.00 diving watches available. Created with ceramic scratch resistant bezels, screw bracelets and the movements providing exceptional standards of mechanical accuracy through the edition of a Co-Axial escapement. This limited edition provides the opportunity for something a little different. The colours of the Olympic Rings are represented via the coloured numerals on the bezel and the wave pattern dial returns, this time inspired by the iconic mosaic of Copacabana’s sidewalk. As the official timekeeper of the games since 1932 a commemoration of the 2016 games was inevitable and with this subtle and inspired watch the message of experience and quality of the Omega brand are fully delivered. Model shown priced, £3520.00

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 31 If you want the purest, most straightforward example of what makes Rolex Rolex, then the Oyster Perpetual is surely it. This cool classic brings all of the elegance, attention to detail and robust quality you would expect from the brand, plus few of the superfluities that characterise models higher up the Rolex spectrum. Constructed from high grade 904L steel and with a water resistance of 100 meters, this model lends itself to all occasions. The introduction of new dial colours in blue, white and red grape (shown) in the 31mm size provides stylish alternatives. The Oyster Perpetual is a simply superb yet understated collection that offers incredible versatility and best of all at a fantastic price. Model shown in Red Grape, is priced £3300.00

Tudor North Flag Since its successful launch in to the Tudor range in 2015, the North Flag has surpassed all expectations in both quality and accuracy. Housing the MT5621 – Tudor’s first in house movement - it provides an approximate 70 hour power reserve and is shock and vibration resistant.The styling is not dissimilar to those of the early Tudor Ranger model dials, but the stainless steel casing provides a modern feel. Available on metal bracelet or canvas strap this is a fantastic all round watch and is exceptional value for money.

Model shown priced, £2430.00

TAG Heuer Connected The new TAG Heuer Connected has catapulted the avant garde brand into the smartwatch market, launching a premium Android Wear Watch with one noticeable difference from its competitors – Swiss engineering! The new Connected combines classic TAG looks with Android Wear technology.

Aesthetically it encompasses the quality features that you would expect from a traditional Carrera, with a 46mm high grade titanium case and a touch screen which is sapphire crystal. Developed in collaboration with Google and Intel, the watch features an Intel Atom processor and runs the Android Wear operating system. In terms of style and functionality, it can be personalised with multiple dial options and strap colours to compliment. Google voice command enables hands free texting as one of the many custom suite microapplications including a stopwatch/timer/alarm as standard. The other apps to be utilised are up to you. And if after two years you are tempted to switch to a nonsmartwatch version, TAG provide you with a trade in option to upgrade to a mechanical special edition Carrera for an additional £1100. Model shown, priced £1100.00

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DIVE ON IN Make the most of summer with a day out at one of the West Country’s outdoor swimming spots

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here are few things more refreshing than an alfresco dip on a summer’s day – and there’s something about it that feels quintessentially British, too. It’s that sense of the outdoors, and hardiness, as you venture a toe into the bracing waters...

While some lidos are open throughout the year for hardy open-air swimmers, others are only open in summer, so it’s always worth checking online or phoning ahead for opening times – but in the meantime, here’s our regional pick.

Clifton Lido Of course, in Bristol we’re lucky enough to have a lido very close by, tucked away in the heart of Clifton. The refurbished Victorian outdoor pool

(pictured above) reopened in December 2008 and features a sauna, outdoor hot tub, steam room, spa treatments, bar and restaurant, complete with the exquisite fare of chef Freddy Bird and co, as well as a glass frontage, so that diners can look out over the peaceful pool action. It’s open throughout the year, with the water heated to 22-25°C – so not too shudder-worthy but certainly enough to wake you up. It’s largely a members-only spa (£58 a month), but non-members are welcome Monday to Friday between 1pm and 4pm, for £20 – which buys three hours’ use of the facilities. The lido combines contemporary chic with Victorian heritage – the poolside changing facilities comprising of colourful striped curtains and wooden cubicles – and is very much an uber-stylish spot for grown-ups to relax and unwind in.

• Oakfield Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2BJ; lidobristol.com

Portishead Open Air Pool Portishead Open Air Pool is a 33m heated pool at the Lakegrounds in popular Portishead, with views of the Bristol Channel from its sun terraces. On a hot summer’s day, this is as near as we’ll get to the Riviera, as the sun sparkles on the pool and channel beyond.

There’s a paddling pool for toddlers, a separate lane in the main area for serious swimmers, and after a few lengths, you can dry off on the steps. It’s a hot spot for unfurling and showing off your best swimwear, if you’ve a mind to, and there’s a new community-run cafe selling Fairtrade coffee and locally sourced sandwiches and snacks plus delicious homemade cakes. The pool was saved by an inspirational public appeal and hosts events including evening swims by moonlight – the next are on 20 August and 17 September and tickets will be available online through Eventbrite, or in advance at reception.

• The Esplanade, Portishead BS20 7HD; portisheadopenairpool.org.uk

Cleveland Pools Natural swimming in the River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford

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Fundraising is underway to re-open Bath’s glorious historic baths, the Cleveland Pools, in anticipation of enjoying outdoor swimming again in the city in future. The pools, which have been closed to

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SWIMMING

Cheltenham’s 1930s Sandford Parks Lido in the heat of the day, and (below right) in the evening lightt

Cleveland Pools could be the next to join the club – it needs £600,000 by November

The gorgeously retro-looking Portishead pool – photo by Bryan Farrell

swimmers for years, are now subject to a vigorous restoration campaign which needs to raise £600,000 in cash and pledges by November. To date, the total stands at £238,500 and the army of volunteers who are behind the campaign are asking Bathonians and enthusiastic outdoor swimmers beyond to get in touch and pledge money to help realise the dream to restore these historic baths, which are the oldest in the country. To help, contact appeal board chair, Kim De Morgan at kim@clevelandpools.org.uk, or to join a public walking tour (11am every Tuesday), email info@clevelandpools.org.uk.

Bathurst Open Air Pool

• Hampton Row, Bath BA2 6QS; clevelandpools.org.uk

Farleigh & District Swimming Club

Wotton Pool Wotton outdoor pool is 18m long by 6m wide, and the depths go from 1m to just over 2m. With the water heated to 28-30°C, it makes for a very pleasant swim indeed. A referendum was held in the town to save this popular community site and the townspeople voted overwhelmingly in favour of paying a little more council tax to keep it going. In colder weather, a retractable roof is pulled over the pool and then drawn back for open-air swimming when the weather is fine. There are separate male and female changing rooms, toilets and hot showers and a municipal car park close by.

• Symm Lane, Wotton under Edge GL12 7BD; wottonpool.co.uk

Greenbank Pool Greenbank Pool was granted to the local people of Street thanks to a trust set up on behalf of a lady named Alice Clark, who wanted the village’s women and girls to be able to learn to swim. (The men already swam naked in the River Brue, apparently.) The pool opened in 1937 and still retains a lovely old-fashioned feel, with some of the reassuringly traditional rules remaining, such as no bombing, ducking or splashing. There’s a large main pool and a semi-circular children’s pool, both heated; a splash area with slide, fountains and water jets; and lawns for sunbathing; plus refreshments. The pool also has a small car park; or, as it’s ideally located opposite Clark’s Village, you can park in the pay-and-display there. The season ends on 11 September.

• Wilfrid Road, Street BA16 OEU; greenbankpool.co.uk

Given as a present to Lydney by the Bathurst family in 1920, Bathurst swimming pool is considered one of Gloucestershire’s best-kept secrets. This 38-metre outdoor pool (supervised by qualified lifeguards) in the Forest of Dean is run by volunteers and open during the summer. There’s a shop selling refreshments, an area for picnics and sunbathing plus toilets. Open daily until 3 September with free parking.

• High Street, Lydney GL15 5DY; bathurstpool.co.uk

Not strictly a lido, no, but this swimming club, founded in 1932, is one of the oldest wild swimming clubs in the country. It offers swimming in the silky waters of the River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford, with entry to the water just above an old stone weir. The waters get very deep (eight feet) quite quickly so people are advised only to swim when other swimmers are present. There’s also a wooden diving platform with ropes for the more daring to hurl themselves from; and plenty of parking in nearby meadows, as well as an open-air changing stall and Portaloo. You’ll also find space on the sloping field to picnic. Dogs are not permitted. Membership payable on arrival, if the gate is manned by a volunteer, and is £10 a year for adults.

• wild-swimming.com/farleigh

Sandford Parks Lido Sandford Parks Lido, in the spa town of Cheltenham, was built in 1935 and is one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the UK. It retains its quirky period charm with features such as a cascade fountain and slides, and has a 50m heated pool, heated to 21°C, where two lanes are reserved most days.

The children’s pool also has a slide, paddling pool, playground and poolside café. Spread out your towels in four acres of gardens, or put up a parasol and enjoy a bite to eat. Also on site is play equipment, table tennis and basketball. There’s also a large car park and your admission ticket allows you to stay poolside all day. On 12 August, there’ll be an evening swim session for season ticket holders while on 10 September, there’s a Heritage Open Day. • Keynsham Road, Cheltenham GL53 7PU; sandfordparkslido.org.uk

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BRISTOL HERITAGE

WORTHY OF NOTE(S) What do you get when two of Bristol’s best known musicians put their heads together to help conserve a major cultural landmark, the best way they know how?

The Trinity Anthem, that’s what...

Photograph by khaliphotography.com

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BRISTOL HERITAGE

Photograph by Paul Lippiatt (bristolpicture.co.uk)

Above: They’re used to raising the roof, but now John and Adrian are helping repair it

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ong-known as one of Bristol’s go-to gig venues and dedicated community spaces – home to everything from city dance groups and rollerdiscos, to creative, educational workshops and exhibitions, and its own recording studio – the 19th-century built, grade-II Gothic beauty that is The Trinity Centre has been an outlet for local youth culture and a whole lot more since the Seventies.

Having welcomed the likes of U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division and New Order in the Eighties, it began to earn international recognition during the following decade, as an important landmark for the globally exported ‘Bristol Sound’, hosting the likes of Roni Size, Smith & Mighty, and Portishead.

But as well as being a historic city landmark, key arts provider and accessible cultural hub, Trinity has a rich vein of philanthropy at its heart – and if you’re one of the 50,000 or so folk who use the venue in some way each year, you’ll probably know of the invaluable youth, welfare and education work that goes on under its ancient roof.

Said roof is now feeling its age, however – as are its fabulous imposing towers and beautifully intricate stained glass windows – with £500,000 of funding now urgently required to prevent the building’s Bath stone and glasswork from deteriorating further, and to repair the lead on the roof so the

The grade-II Gothic gem needs urgent repairs – photograph by Paul Lippiatt (bristolpicture.co.uk)

team here can continue with their admirable work beneath it.

Enter world-renowned musician, songwriter, composer and record producer John Parish – long-term collaborator of PJ Harvey – and Adrian Utley, one third of ‘Bristol Sound’ pioneers Portishead and creator of Adrian Utley's Guitar Orchestra, which performed for Trinity's relaunch in 2014. The pair, both local to the area, visited the centre recently to help launch new campaign Notes for Notes – which aims to raise £20,000 towards the cost of the repairs and will feature as its centrepiece a unique piece of music composed, performed and produced by John and Adrian, celebrating Trinity’s rich 40-year musical heritage and providing the impetus to drive donations. Each £5 raised will represent one virtual musical note, and when the charity reaches 4,000 notes, John and Adrian’s track will be released for download, under a ‘pay what you can’ music model; previously used by artists like Radiohead, to give people the freedom to pay what they can afford towards the track, in support of Trinity’s ongoing capital works programme.

“Trinity is one of our important venues in Bristol, and there are few of them,” says Adrian. “When I played here with Portishead, in the very early days, it was quite a different space.

It was absolutely wicked and great to play. We’ve all seen shows here over the years – it’s a great place with a team doing really good things, not just with their gigs, but with their recording studio and community projects, which are massively important.

We need as many of these sorts of venues as possible in Bristol, because we’re losing them quite quickly.”

“There’s pressure on a lot of places to close down at the moment because there’s more money to be made by selling buildings and redeveloping them as apartments,” agrees John, as we stroll around the Graffiti Room and music studio. “But what that gradually causes is a hollowing out of the cultural and artistic sides of the world’s great cities. The Fleece has been in trouble before – as has this place, which has been on the scene as long as I’ve been living in Bristol. I remember coming to gigs around the end of the 1970s, not long after it became a venue – I think the first show I ever saw here was Magazine. Astonishing atmosphere – quite violent – but it was an amazing gig. Now my daughters are coming to shows here. It feels like Trinity is part of the fabric of the Bristol music scene and, for me, it’s absolutely vital that we hang onto these places. Cities need them, young people need them, everybody needs them.

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BRISTOL HERITAGE “While Adrian and I have been involved in many projects together over the years, we’ve never actually composed anything together so we’re both really excited about this opportunity. We just want to make it as interesting and inspiring a piece of music as we can – the nice thing about collaborating with someone you really respect is it helps you to set the bar high. Hopefully we’ll encourage each other to step things up a gear.”

“It’s hard to have any input into everything that’s happening in our country at the moment, politically,” adds Adrian. “It’s frustrating to experience the things that are happening around us and not be able to do

historic rioting in the UK – at Trinity earlier this summer. “We approached him to produce the artwork to complement the Trinity Anthem, and it’ll be produced later this year,” Trinity fundraising officer Tony Goring explains.

“And we’ve launched a new beer for the campaign. The Notes for Notes beer is a holsten weis beer produced by our main supplier Carlsberg for us, and it’s now on sale at Trinity – with 10p of every pint sold going directly towards the appeal. Through sales of the beer, we can raise awareness of the appeal and the need for urgent conservation repairs to the building to the diverse audiences using the space during our live music events.”

“...We’ve never actually composed anything together so we’re both really excited about this opportunity...” anything about it. But we can write music and in this context, it feels like there is something we can give, and help change and contribute to. It’s nice to be part of the bigger picture; part of a group of people raising awareness of the work the centre does.”

Also getting involved in the project is artist Jimmy Cauty (formerly of acid house band The KLF) who launched his Aftermath Dislocation Principle Riot Tour – an experimental, off-grid artwork touring sites of

“This really is a total one-off project for us,” adds Dave Thomas, training coordinator for Trinity’s youth music programme. “We’re working right at the coalface within the community, and this campaign should really help to raise the profile of what we’re doing.” ■ Donations can be made via Just Giving on the Trinity website, or by texting ROOF31 £5 to 70070; 3ca.org.uk/renovation

Music to our ears: John and Adrian, pictured beside the gorgeous old stained glass, are keen to help keep a roof over the heads of the hardworking team at Trinity – photograph by khaliphotography.com

High notes: As well as hosting some of the world’s biggest bands, the centre also hosts local arts groups and has its own youth music programme

x

All kinds of workshops and exhibitions are held in the venue’s various spaces

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If there were Top Trumps for buildings in Bristol, this one would be a winner in the categories of historical significance, style, vibe and just plain coolness

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BRISTOL HERITAGE

WONDERFUL UNDERFALL There are so many reasons to love (and visit!) the newly revamped, historic boatyard on the harbourside. Words and pictures by Colin Moody

W

rite a bit about the Underfall Yard, they said. And send over a few photos while you’re at it, hey? (See, I've been photodocumenting the work and subsequent changes at the yard for a year and more now). Well, sure, I thought. First of all, there’s the science bit...

So, a weir with sluices (or underfalls) helps control the build-up of silt at the western end of the floating harbour – by that impressive red-brick chimney stack. That's what the Underfall does, which is amazing. But ask any of the cyclists, super-keen lean runners, strollers passing through, folk working on the boats, or one of the proud, new, green-overall-clad volunteers why they love the place and that’s just one of many reasons that are given.

Part of the appeal is that there’s so much going on at any one time; there are dozens of companies based here, making rope, forging essential components that you might need on your solo world yacht race, organising diving trips and various leisure activities, preventing flooding by careful control of those amazing sluice gates and – oh, of course – designing and building boats. Of all shapes and sizes.

Right now, Sarah Murray, who is in charge of the volunteers at the yard as well as the brand new visitors’ centre (someone so busy it wears me out simply watching her dart about the place) is explaining a new project. “We are making a time-lapse film of a boat construction here at the yard, which will take over a year,” she says. “You can see the first few stages on the interactive screens in the visitors’ centre, but eventually we will have the whole process on film for everyone to see. That reminds me, I need to pop over there and collect the next bit of footage...” And off she goes again, camera in hand, round a corner and out of sight, past a stack of ageing timbers. This is typical round here. One minute you are having a chat about what looks pretty and it feels like a tourist attraction, then it's time to stop because someone’s launching a boat or using a gaggle of schoolchildren at the visitors’ centre, hoisted up, to demonstrate how an ‘accumulator’ works.

Since they secured £3.8million of funding to shore up and secure the site for the future, there has been a real buzz around the place. Scaffolding quickly went up about a year ago, which upset some locals (one tweeted me recently to tell me that now it's come down, she’s got her view back).

That scaffolding, though, masked many thousands of essential worker

The £3.8m has allowed new facilities to be developed, including a visitors’ centre

hours, the building of new facilities for new workshops and the valuable visitors’ centre, as part of a very thorough programme of works to make sure that the whole place kept its industrial vibe but could be utilised in new and exciting ways.

Nicola Dyer, in charge of the restoration project, showed me – on day one of my involvement here – some metal supports embedded into the spaces between the brick walls, in what would become an education room.

“This will ensure we don't have to take down parts of the building brick by brick, and allows us to keep the feel of the place,” she explained. Nicola has been as busy as Sarah and I hope people will recognise the huge investment of time and energy these two have put in leading us to where we are today with the beautiful visitors’ centre – closed for years but packed with history. If there were Top Trumps for buildings in Bristol, this one would be a winner in the categories of historical significance, style, vibe, wheelchair accessibility, location and just plain coolness, for sure.

Recently Underfall’s own Pickle cafe has opened up, so you can now enjoy some good food and a refreshing drink or two while you sit back in a deck chair and watch the boats coming in and going out of the harbour (cue Otis Redding); pore over the huge interactive map of the city and harbour to learn about how the whole thing works; or simply try and spot your own house.

But if you want my tip on what's really great here right now, pass by the largest boat building area of the yard – with your flat white in one of the compostable cups they use at Pickle when someone working on the big boat comes out for a coffee break. Have a quick look through the gap in the swinging curtain where tonnes of oak, marked years ago for this project, are being shaped and worked into something beautiful that will, many months from now, slip into the water and be gone.

So, see you there. Sarah and Nicola are usually about, clad in green with a bunch of the volunteers they helped to recruit. If you are reading this and fancy wearing the green Underfall garb, and helping to run the visitors’ centre, you can. Be part of a long lineage of history here at a very special spot now secure for the foreseeable future. Oh, and me? I'm off now.

Something new to photograph over there...

• For more about the project or to get involved, visit underfallboatyard.co.uk, or for more on Colin, visit colinmoody.net

Grab a drink from Pickle and watch the boats come in and out

Nicola Dyer has been in charge of the restoration project

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LOCAL | EVENTS

WHAT’S ON There’s plenty to do in the city this month...

Find out what you’re made of and take part in Adrenaline Rush at Blaise Castle

Romeo & Juliet, screened at Curzon, stars Richard Madden and Lily James

Head to pretty Winterbourne Barn for some classic theatre this month

FROM AUGUST 1 UNTIL 13 AUGUST

Goldilock, Stock & Three Smoking Bears, The Wardrobe Theatre The silver-tongued Goldilocks can see that her days of selling moody goods on the cobbled streets of East End London are numbered.

But when circumstances leave her on the run from a pack of bears and badly indebted to a notorious gangster, will the young heroine be able to raise the needed ‘bees and honey’ in time and avoid doing porridge? thewardrobetheatre.com UNTIL 11 SEPTEMBER

Meet the Robots, At-Bristol Meet Baxter, a larger-than-life robot you can interact with, and get under the bonnet of cuttingedge robotics research! Part of ‘Robot Encounters’ across AtBristol this summer. Drop-in sessions throughout the day, check times on arrival; at-bristol.org.uk UNTIL 20 NOVEMBER

The Luminous Robot Circus, At-Bristol Roll up, roll up and take part in the robot circus! Meet a cast of almost inconceivable luminous robot performers, which each tell a story of how we might live alongside robots in the future.

Regular shows at weekends and during school holidays, free with standard admission; at-bristol.org.uk

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4 – 6 AUGUST, 7.30PM

13 AUGUST

Under a Cardboard Sea, Bristol Old Vic

Adrenaline Rush, Blaise Castle

In a nameless city, beneath a cloud of smog, there is a theatre. A little kingdom of its own, where secrets are hidden and lies are told.

Outside, the wheels of progress grind on while hundreds of children are vanishing off the streets. Eventually they reappear on the stage with painted smiles on their faces but behind the curtain nothing is as it seems...

Featuring a cast of 100 young people aged five to 25, the awardwinning Bristol Old Vic Young Company celebrate the Theatre's 250th birthday in style with their own signature blend of ensemble performance, original music and choreography. Tickets £15-£7.50; bristololdvic.org.uk

Urban obstacle race Adrenaline Rush is coming to Bristol! The event is suitable for all abilities, with both 5k and 10k race options, and the course will have a minimum of 20 obstacles in each race, including the biggest inflatable slide in Europe ‘Everest’.

35% of all entrance fees go directly to Macmillan to help ensure that no one faces cancer alone. Entrance fees start at £50 but rise closer to the event and discounts are available for group entries; theadrenalinerush.com

FROM AUGUST 8 9 – 13 AUGUST, 7.30PM (PLUS MATINEE)

The Mousetrap, Bristol Hippodrome The scene is set when a group of people, gathered in a country house cut off by the snow, discover to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be? One by one, the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until at the last, nerve-shredding moment, the identity and the motive are finally revealed. Tickets from £16.90; atgtickets.com

AUGUST 2016

FROM AUGUST 15 15 – 19 AUGUST; 22 – 26 AUGUST

Firetech Camp, Bristol Grammar School As Pokemon Go sweeps the city, Bristol families who want to capture and channel their children’s passion for gaming and tech and inspire the next generation of creators can help their kids become the master of their own digital destiny. They’ll create games that they can share, while learning important problemsolving and analytical skills, as well as an innovative mindset along the way. Youngsters aged nine to 17 can choose courses in programming, app and game design, digital music production, electronics, 3D printing and even

Minecraft-themed courses that help them learn to code, design, and physically wire up a games environment, working in small groups with a supportive and engaging instructor; firetechcamp.com 18 AUGUST, 7PM & 20 AUGUST, 1.30PM

Romeo & Juliet, Curzon Cinema Shakespeare’s enduring tragedy, with Lily James (Downton Abbey) and Richard Madden (Game of Thrones), pulses with urgency. Set in 1950s Italy, forbidden love is oppressed by men in dark suits, sipping espressos and embodying a cult of violence. This is a live streaming of the West End production from the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company; curzon.org.uk 21 AUGUST, 2.30PM

The Wind in the Willows, Winterbourne Barn Gloucestershire-based theatre company Ian Kennedy Productions presents an adaptation of Grahame Greene's classic novel. Join Ratty, Mole and Badger as they explore the Riverbank and try to contain the very excitable Toad. Expect animals, adventure, swashbuckling and beautiful, glorious, majestic motor cars! Five actors play a variety of characters, animals and woodland creatures in this brilliant, hilarious production. With something for all the family, this is

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the perfect show for a summer day out. The show starts at 2.30pm in the atmospheric medieval barn, but visitors are welcome to bring a picnic to eat in the grounds beforehand. Gates open at 12.30pm. Refreshments will be available during the interval.

Tickets £10 for adults, £8 for children; everymantheatre.org.uk

FROM AUGUST 22 28 AUGUST, 2.30PM

Hamlet, Winterbourne Barn To mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare, The Festival Players are proud to present the Bard’s most famous play. As in Shakespeare's day, an all-male company in full costume will bring you the excitement of this great thriller – with intrigue, ghostly visitations, passion, a playwithin-a play, a gripping duel, and humour, in a crystal-clear, fastpaced two-hour production.

Picnickers are also welcome in the grounds from 12.30pm. Tickets cost £13.50 adult and £10 for children under 16, and are available from the Cornish Riviera Box Office (website below) or in person from Daisy's Daisy's Coffee shop, Flaxpits Lane, Winterbourne; crbo.co.uk 28 AUGUST, 11AM-5PM

Absolutely Fabulous Vegan Fayre, Paintworks Featuring a host of vegan specialists from The Vegan Pizza Co to Rosie’s Raw Foods, this event promises to be as informative as it will be mouth-watering, so come along and be surprised by the diversity within the vegan food scene and learn more about this sustainable approach to eating and living.

There’ll be fun for the kids too, with a guest appearance from a real dinosaur, between 12pm and 1pm!

Admission £1 per adult, Children go free; paintworksbristol.co.uk

NEXT MONTH...

See Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at Bristol Hippodrome

3 SEPTEMBER, 3PM-10PM

Kirtan Fest, Newman Hall Join in the first Seven Hour Kirtan Fest in Bristol at Newman Hall in Westbury on Trym (BS9 4DR). Experience kirtan chanting led by the likes of Babaji Temple Singers and Amma’s Glastonbury Satsang Group. Kirtan chanting is a very old yogic practice of singing from the heart and is part of the devotional Bhakti tradition originating in India. It is an effortless and powerful way to quieten the restless and busy mind and relax the body.

Everyone can join in as it is incredibly simple, yet the results can be transformative. There will also be a selection of small stalls run by local traders selling treats and refreshments and a delicious Indian vegetarian meal will be served during the main break.

Tickets cost £7-£24; 7hourkirtanfestbristol. eventbrite.co.uk

Head to the Wardrobe Theatre and see Goldilock, Stock & Three Smoking Bears – photo by Paul Blakemore

11 SEPTEMBER, 12PM-5PM

Arts in the Park, Redcatch Park Fancy an arty family day out including colourful stalls selling arts and crafts; workshops and demos; graffiti artist Ollie Gillard working his magic with his spray paints; Countryfile artist Anthony Garratt painting live; Bradley Stoke Radio introducing live singers and bands; great food; stone and wood carving; hip hop and belly dancing; and much more? Then head to Redcatch Park! Organisers are also calling for amateur artists to gather their paints and show them what they can do within two hours (just turn up with your materials from 1pm till 3pm) – works will be judged by John Palmer RWA. For more information, email artinthepark@hotmail.co.uk or follow on Twitter, @ELKnowle

Kids can learn to design and programme their own games at Firetech Camp

EDITOR’S PICK...

27 AUGUST, 11.30PM

Jackson, No.1 Harbourside This eight-piece funk and soul group, headed up by keyboardist Jack Baldus, features some of the finest professionals to be found on the South West gigging circuit. Featuring all original compositions written by Jack, the sound is something of a throwback to the psychedelic funk of the Seventies, yet feels as fresh as the proverbial daisy. Influences can be traced to Jamiroquai, Herbie Hancock, and Stevie Wonder, to name just a few. Featuring keys, vocals/talkbox, guitar, bass, horns and percussion, Jackson is also pleased to showcase the talents of the five-time UK DMC champion DJ Asian Hawk.

• jackbaldus.com

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Photo © Jon Craig

PLEASANT VALLEY Charlotte Gallagher gets the lowdown on the boutique family-friendly festival taking over a serene segment of beautiful Somerset hillside next month – and bookmarks a few bits not to miss

H

aving begun in 2007 as a way to raise money for charity in memory of organiser Luke Hassell’s late parents, Valley Fest has steadily grown into a popular boutique festival with a stunning lakeside location in Chew Valley. “We want to engage with the countryside, get people onto the land and have a good time,” says Luke, who also runs The Community Farm enterprise from his 28 acres.

“We have lots going on this year – one of my personal highlights is seeing The Shimmer Band, which I think will be the next big thing to come out of Bristol, and we’re very excited to welcome The Blockheads with some classic tunes as well as the Stereo MCs and Craig Charles. We’re also planning a midnight feast on Saturday and a Sunday communal lunch cooked by some of the best chefs from around the region. Then we’re collaborating with Upfest who will be bringing a New York-style subway train, combine harvester and double decker bus to paint!”

DON’T MISS...

Stereo MCs Want to revel in the nostalgia of the Nineties and get yourself Connected?

Head to the Lake Stage on Saturday at 9.45pm and hear the summery, blissful beats of the band’s 1992 hit along with plenty of other material.

Appealing to hip hop, electronic dance and rock fans alike, the Stereo MCs are sure to get the valley shaking.

The Blockheads There’s another reason to be cheerful on the Saturday night from 8.15pm – the band behind Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, who will be tearing up the Lake Stage with Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll and a setlist

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constructed from their many albums. Now sadly without legendary lead singer Ian Dury, the band are continuing to carry the torch and their love of performing remains strong.

Craig Charles Charged with purveying some soulful Sunday vibes on the Lake Stage from 6.30pm is BBC Radio 6 Music’s voice of funk, Craig Charles. Now in demand across the world due to his oh-so danceable festival sets, he’ll be helping to bring Valley Fest to the smoothest close with his evening slot.

The Shimmer Band Anthemic, visceral, ferocious – these are the kind of words that come to mind when you find yourself in front of this dynamic Bristol five-piece, who’ve had fans of groove-laden, psychedelic pop in a spin, up and down the country this year. Expect spiralling synth lines, block-rocking beats and a big dollop of authentic rock and roll from this lot, who recently supported the Stereophonics and are being tipped for big things. See you at the Lake Stage at 7pm on Saturday, at the front of the crowd...

Yola Carter Another act proving that this city is absolutely brimming with top talent is Yola Carter (formerly of Phantom Limb) who delivers, with elegance and poise, the kind of perfectly pitched country-soul that’ll have you wondering if she’s actually a native of Nashville, USA. She’s a talented songwriter who’s penned tunes for the likes of Will Young, and toured with one of this city’s biggest musical exports, Massive Attack. Head to the Tipi Valley stage on Saturday at 6.30pm and hear her hugely powerful vocals demand your unwavering attention.

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Sheelanagig You can expect intricate, punchy arrangements of original and traditional tunes from this mad lot, who take their influences from the folk music of Europe and beyond. They’re a high-octane five-piece who play everything from guitar, violin, flute and banjo, to the drum kit and double bass, with reckless abandon, forcing you to dance your socks off or be damned! This is a band with a real reputation for exhilarating live performances – that we can attest to – incorporating aspects of street theatre, elements of storytelling and even acrobatics. Check ’em out...

auditioned for a drummer for a ‘mythological sea musical’... The pair aim to provide audiences with wild, cinematic rock and roll as untamable as the sea itself, sharing vocal duties and flinging a bit of folk into their beguiling rock-gypsy mix.

Pete Josef

Sea At Last

This Somerset-based multi-instrumentalist effortlessly blends jazz and his own shape-shifting take on pop, with a little bit of soul flavour to boot. Sit back and allow yourself to be taken back to sounds reminiscent of the Sixties and Seventies as he belts out tunes from his recent album Colour on the Tipi Valley stage at 3.45pm. ■

Describing themselves as gypsies in a Neptune-bound caravan, Sea At Last are a dynamic duo comprised of Cohen – on guitar – and Tory Elena – a one-woman rhythm section, who met in spring 2011, when Cohen

Valleyfest takes place from 2-4 September; tickets are still available on the website – visit valleyfest.co.uk

Enjoy Bristol country-soul que en Yola Carter’s powerful vocals

The super-talented and slightly bonkers Sheelanagig

See gypsy duo Sea

At Last

Funk soul brother Craig Charles will be doling out the Sunday vibes

Step back to the Nineties with Stereo MCs and get yourself Connected...

Bristol psych-rockers The Shimmer Band play the Lake Stage on Saturday at 7pm

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BOOKS

Wherefore art thou, folio?

With interest in Shakespeare at a high, Pat Reid recommends five of the best books on the bard out now – and five favourite Bristol bookshops where you can enjoy hunting for them

THE SHAKESPEARE BOOK

Various (DK, £16.99) Educational publishing titans DK know a thing or two about conveying big ideas and complex information in easy-to-understand formats. The Shakespeare Book is a fine example of their ethos, providing a full overview of Shakespeare's works with a fresh, modern outlook. Overseeing a top-notch team of contributors, the book's consultant editor is Professor Stanley Wells, a gentleman routinely referred to as the world's pre-eminent Shakespeare scholar. No less impressive is the book's magazine-style design, while its striking, mythology-inspired illustrations serve to remind us of the powerful symbolism that inhabits Shakespeare's words.

STATION ELEVEN

By Emily St. John Mandel (Picador, £7.99) You may already have encountered the Hogarth Shakespeare series, where contemporary authors including Jeanette Winterson, Howard Jacobson and Anne Tyler have each chosen a Shakespeare play and turned it into a highly individualistic novel.

Canadian author Emily St. John Mandel's 2014 offering Station Eleven is not part of Hogarth Shakespeare, but it's easily one of the decade's best Shakespeare-themed reads.

Set in a post-apocalyptic future where a mystery virus has eradicated most of humanity, it follows the fortunes of a wandering troupe of Shakespearean actors, one of whom has a powerful personal connection to a pivotal performance of King Lear 20 years earlier.

Where to find them...

Foyles, Brigstowe Street, BS1 3BH • Foyles has an excellent selection of the latest Shakespeare-related titles, along with a healthy smattering of Bard-themed classics.

Waterstones, 11A Union Galleries, BS1 3XD • Established bookworm haunt Waterstones has a strong and varied offering. The fact that it stocks many different selections to Foyles underlines the Bard's amazing popularity.

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SHAKESPEARE: IDEAS IN PROFILE

By Paul Edmondson (Profile Books, £8.99) You'd be amazed at how many ‘introduction to Shakespeare’ books are currently available, and you might be even more amazed by the fact that many of them are actually pretty good.

Of these, one of the most pleasing to emerge in recent years is Shakespeare: Ideas in Profile – whose series slogan is ‘small introductions to big topics’. Written by Paul Edmondson of Stratford-upon-Avon's Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, it's an eminently readable little book, with the author's love for his subject shining out of every sentence. Placing an emphasis on Shakespeare as a lifelong Stratford resident who “commuted” to work in London, Edmondson debunks a few of the old myths while reappraising some of the others.

PRESENTING SHAKESPEARE

By Mirko Ilic and Steven Heller (Princeton Architectural Press, £30) As the world's most widely-performed playwright, it inevitably follows that Shakespeare has had his name on more posters than any other individual. Compiled by Mirko Ilic and Steven Heller, Presenting Shakespeare features a staggering 1,100 Shakespeare posters from every corner of the globe. From quaint, text-laden 19th century efforts to X-rated 1970s extravaganzas, it's a fascinating window into the changing way we've looked at Shakespeare. As a coffee table book for art-loving fans of the Bard, this one is hard to beat. It also features a thoughtful preface by Julie Taymor, the acclaimed US director of two Shakespeare films, Titus and The Tempest.

SHAKESPEARE’S FIRST FOLIO

By Emma Smith (Oxford University Press, £19.99) First published in 1623, seven years after the Bard's death, the First Folio is the book that for the first time collected together most of Shakespeare's plays and packaged them as a desirable consumer object. Emma Smith's Shakespeare's First Folio is subtitled Four Centuries of an Iconic Book, and it opens with a marvellous account of Sir Edward Dering, the first person known to have purchased a Folio. Smith is one of the cleverest scholars around, but her academic weight is balanced with an accessible tone and wry humour. You may have to look up a few words in each chapter, but you'll be glad you made the effort.

Beware of the Leopard Books, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ • This second-hand bookshop offers some tasty morsels for Shakespeare fans. The proprietor will direct customers to a whole shelf of Shakespeare, including lovely antique editions of the Windsor Shakespeare at £5 each.

The Last Bookshop, 60 Park Street, BS1 5JN • The prices may be ultra-low but The Last

Bookshop keeps the quality high. With all books priced at £3 (or two for £5), there have been sensational Shakespeare bargains to be found here during the past year.

Books For Amnesty, 103 Gloucester Road, BS7 8AT • This Bishopston store calls itself "one of the best and friendliest bookshops in the West". It's certainly a fantastic place to search for second-hand Shakespeare tomes – and all for an excellent cause too.

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“Fireworks in Sorrento” by Nikolay Romanov

Artists of Russia August 11th-31st Lime Tree Gallery, 84 Hotwell Road, Bristol BS8 4UB

Tel 0117 929 2527

www.limetreegallery.com

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EXHIBITIONS

STATE OF THE ART Roald Dahl 100th anniversary exhibition, Sky Blue Framing & Gallery, until 14 September ,Sky Blue Framing & Gallery will be celebrating 100 years since the birth of favourite children’s author Roald Dahl with an exhibition of collectors prints featuring characters illustrated by Quentin Blake and a special, unique print which has been published including all these characters in one image. Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916, to Norwegian parents, and after a distinguished career as a fighter pilot and diplomat during WWII, he settled down to become a full-time author. Meanwhile, Quentin Blake, born in 1932, was already getting plenty of attention with his drawings – one of which was published by Punch when he was just 16. The Enormous Crocodile was the first Dahl story Quentin illustrated – they became firm friends, and one of the most distinctive collaborations in the history of children’s literature began.

• skybluegallery.co.uk

The Fox Got You, University of Bristol Botanic Garden (Bradley Room), until 11 September

Clifton Arts Club 108th annual open exhibition, The Undercroft at Victoria Methodist Church, 6 – 21 August

This art and science exhibition by photographer-artist Françoise Sergy is a photographic installation celebrating six common plants which are the origin of five major medicinal drugs. Plants have existed for millions of years and had time to evolve and deal with threats through infinitely slow genetic changes, and over a long period, Françoise has worked with plants, drugs, clinicians, patients, drug producers and scientists – recording and learning. By revealing the powers behind some of the plants in the Botanic Garden, this exhibition offers insight into the way we are made and changed by the natural world.

• bristol.ac.uk/botanic-garden

Clifton Arts Club was founded in 1906 by four artists – academicians at what was to become the RWA. During the summer, they paint outside most Saturdays, at locations in and around Bristol, as well as hosting trips and painting holidays. The rest of the year, once a month they get together in a studio on a Saturday morning with the choice of a still life, or portrait with a model. There are also workshops, lectures, life drawing mornings and meetings. Check our their open exhibition at this new arts venue, and see what a vibrant and mixed group of individuals they are!

• cliftonartsclub.co.uk

Infusion, Diana Porter Contemporary Jewellery, until 30 September An elegant union of contemporary colour, organic shapes and contrasting materials. The pieces stand as abstract art works, structural three-dimensional forms that emulate a tangible form of an idea, quality or feeling. Artists include Tanvi Kant who re-works an array of textiles evocative of personal and often private histories; Emma Calvert, who creates bold textile jewellery by fusing traditional techniques with sculptural forms and contemporary colours, and Bristol-based Japanese jeweller Chie Manami, who puts colour and pattern at the heart of all her pieces with nature-based textiles.

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EXHIBITIONS Artists of Russia, Lime Tree Gallery, 11 – 31 August

Xavier Antin: The Eternal Network, Spike Island, until 18 September For his first solo exhibition in the UK, French artist Xavier Antin presents a series of newly commissioned works that take as their starting point the independent publishing and printing house Beau Geste Press. From 1971 to 1976, BGP operated from a remote farmhouse in Devon where its founders – Mexican artist couple Felipe Ehrenberg and Martha Hellion and the art historian David Mayor – gathered around them a ‘community of duplicators, printers and artisans. His project for Spike Island addresses BGP’s heritage by using archival material as a score for a speculative history of the printing press. The resulting presentation, however, is keen to depart from its initial premise and free itself of the burden of history. • spikeisland.org.uk

An umbrella group of artists, based around St Petersburg, will be showing their work in collaboration with the Francis Iles Gallery. This eminent group cover an incredible range of genres and styles, exploring the best traditions of classical painting with a freshness and dynamism that encompass unusual subjects such as metaphysics with more typical areas such as figurative and landscape painting. Valeriy Gridnev, who won the prestigious gold medal on graduating from the USSR Academy of Arts, has gone on to forge a career in portraiture, painting the likes of the seventh Earl of Carnarvon and Lester Piggott. In this exhibition, his masterful oils of dancers and floral studies sing from the canvas. Andrei Smirnov, another featured artist, is one of life’s characters. His cheeky muses show his love of fun and pay homage to his hero Klimt. Also among the artists featured are the fabulous Armen Gasparian, and Liubov Basanova, with her majestic horse studies. • limetreegallery.com

Apsáalooke at Rainmaker Gallery, until 6 August A solo exhibition from emerging Native American artist Del Curfman, who will be presenting three series of paintings celebrating the cultural heritage and living traditions of the Apsáalooke (people of the Crow Indian Nation of Montana).

‘Vanishing’ portrays culturally significant figures, painted in loose, impressionist strokes, while the ‘Solstice’ series includes paintings of animals from the creation stories – Rainbow Crow and Old Man Coyote – and ‘Remembrance’ draws on 18th and 19th-century photographs of traditional Crow life and honours the importance of women and children.

• rainmakerart.co.uk

Also not to be missed... ● Moving Targets, Arnolfini until 11 September Arnolfini is embracing the unstable, the volatile and the downright unpredictable to celebrate punk’s 40th anniversary year. Moving Targets draws on Bristol’s unique independent spirit and explores punk as an attitude with more than one history and meaning. Arnolfini and the city of Bristol have a special relationship to punk. Delving into the city’s archives, Moving Targets uncovers a hidden history of antiauthoritarian creativity across music, visual art and political activity. New artist commissions and collaborations spill out of the gallery and explore how punk is articulated today, through provocation, broadcast, dialogue and a cyberpunk aesthetic.

Gillian Wylde will be creating a frantic foyer installation, mimicking an internet browser with multiple windows open, exploring political agency, disobedient desires and new technologies. While in the gallery Young Arnolfini carefully construct InHabit, a safe space for citizens to engage in dialogue. Outside the building, artist Phoebe Davies will be working with UWE graphic design students to create Apathy’s a Drag, a project exploring print as a form of protest. • arnolfini.org.uk

● Gromit Unleashed, The Mall at Cribbs, until 4 September Are you one of the millions of Gromit-hunters who enjoyed the award-winning Gromit Unleashed trail? Well, 18 of the most popular pooches are coming back to Bristol for a special free exhibition at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway. It’ll be the first time the Gromits have been reunited and on public display together since the trail swept the streets of Bristol in 2013. The show features fan favourites Gromberry – voted No. 1 Gromit on the trail – Cath Kidston’s Antique Rose, Ship Shape & Bristol Fashion, who watched over Clifton Suspension Bridge, Sir Gromit of Bristol, and Butterfly by acclaimed milliner Philip Treacy OBE, as well as lots of other beloved Gromit designs. • gromitunleashed.org.uk

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LIFE ON THE EDGE

We get under the skin of the new Bristol-born travel company celebrating beautiful, lesser known corners of the planet, hoping to alter perceptions and break down boundaries

E

ver stuck a pin in a map in an act of delightful spontaneity but been afraid to follow through with its suggested destination because it felt a little too much like uncharted territory? Well, what if you had a youthful, passionate team of adventurers, with loads of experience in organising more unusual expeditions worldwide, beside you? Edge Expeditions, recently launched in Bristol by record-breaking adventurer, travel writer and TV producer Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent and expedition leader and entrepreneur Marley Burns, specialises in journeys through remote parts of the world and hopes to change some of the more negative connotations associated with some far-flung spots. They travel in small, personal groups, spending nights under the stars, with native families, or on farms, hearing people's stories and learning about their lives with the help of a great little network of local guides, experts and translators – connections accrued after years of working in the worlds of television and adventure. We caught up with Antonia to find out more...

So, tell us a bit more about Edge Expeditions...

We are a travel-obsessed pair who specialise in running thrilling and unusual expeditions to the lesser visited corners of the planet. There’s absolutely nothing we love more than sitting under a starlit sky in a remote valley, clinking glasses with Kyrgyz nomads, or puffing up a hillside surrounded by a glittering palisade of unnamed peaks. Our expeditions are culturally immersive, respectful of the people and places we journey through and above all, fun. A lot of people seem to take themselves and the journey far too seriously when it comes to the more extreme end of travel.

I’ve spent a decade trundling around the globe in odd forms of transport, XX THE 44 THEBRISTOL BRISTOLMAGAZINE MAGAZINE || AUGUST JULY 2016 2016

breaking the occasional world record and writing books. Marley is a fellow inveterate traveller and, having run big solar power companies for years, is also the business brains of Edge. (If we left budgets and business plans to me, it would be disastrous!) Edge came out of our combined addiction to poking around countries most people have never heard of. Travel and exploration is what really makes us tick. When we’re not travelling, we’re based at Edge HQ in St. Werburghs.

The small, personal groups visit native families and their farms and hear their stories

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TRAVEL reception he received from the Palestinian people so this trip is an extremely rare chance to experience their culture, homes, food, staggering history and hospitality, first-hand. We’re cock-a-hoop to be working with Leon and think this is a real corker of an expedition, one that will truly inspire people, especially as Bristol has a strong Palestine connection – being home to the Palestinian embassy and the Bristol-Palestine Film Festival. We’re also busy plotting some new adventures for 2017, and I’m beavering away at my third book (about the remote north-east Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh) which will be published by Simon & Schuster next summer.

❝

...The world is still bursting with places that haven’t been clicked and blogged and trampled on, and it’s these places that really interest us...

❞ How can travel to these sort of destinations help break down stereotypes created by the mainstream media?

We were chatting to Leon about this recently, in relation to our Palestine trip. “These are beautiful, kind and important parts of the planet,” he said.

“The current climate of fear regarding the Middle East sets a dangerous precedent. Those of us fortunate enough (and motivated enough) to go there and see these places for ourselves, experience what they’re really like, and that puts us in a unique position to report back without any political influence or slant. We can do a lot in changing perceptions by simply giving a human face to places that are so often more associated with danger, terrorism or any of the other buzzwords that do much more harm than good.” If you’d like to read more of what Leon said, you can visit the blog on our website.

And why, exactly, is it that you guys specifically seem to travel to unusual, edgy destinations?

A lot of people grumble about how there’s nothing left to explore, but we think that’s rubbish. The world is still bursting with places that haven’t been clicked and blogged and trampled on, and it’s these places that really interest us. The general rule is that the less tourism there is, the more the local people welcome you and want to share their stories – you’re not a commodity; you’re another human being, someone to invite into your home and be curious about. The hospitality we’ve experienced in central Asia and Palestine has been truly heart-warming and humbling, and the more travellers experience that and come back to tell their friends the reality of these places, the more we lessen the grip of the fear-mongering media channels who like to portray ‘abroad’ as dangerous. Our lives in the West are generally frenetic and overcrowded. Our trips are about escaping to the wild; away from the tyranny of mobile phones, away from people, demands, pollution, traffic and stress. The more remote a place is, the better.

Where are you going this year?

We are currently knee-deep in a sea of packing as we’re off to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to lead two, two-week motorcycle journeys on the legendary Pamir Highway. In November we’re running a unique, exciting and immersive two-week walking expedition through the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which will be led by travel author and adventurer Leon McCarron. Leon has recently returned from a four-month walk through the Middle East and said that, of all the numerous journeys he’s done, this was his most interesting. He was really blown away by the

So what can walkers expect from the Palestine trip?

It’s an expedition from the north to south of the West Bank, starting in Jenin and ending in Jerusalem, one of the oldest cities in the world. We’ll stay with local families in their homes, alongside bedouins in their tents; partake of the amazing hospitality of the people here and gain a deep understanding of an often misunderstood culture. For such a small country, it’s hugely diverse. In Leon’s words; “The south is desert; the north green hills. There are wild open spaces that feel positively Biblical, and then there are bustling, busy cities like Nablus with crowds thronging on every street corner. Some days you get all of these things within a few hours of walking.”

Within a couple of hours you could experience everything from bustling cities to desert land and verdant hills

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TRAVEL

“...The more travellers tell their friends about the reality of these places, the more we lessen the grip of the fearmongering media channels...”

And why Palestine?

Lots of reasons! It’s a classic example of a country whose media image is grossly at odds with the everyday reality of life and travel there. The people are wonderful, the history extraordinary, the views fantastic and the food sublime. And the fact barely any tourists go there means the people are genuinely delighted to see you and literally can’t do enough to make your visit as memorable as possible.

But isn’t it a just a little bit dangerous?

In Leon’s words; “The West Bank is not dangerous. The only threat comes from clashes between local Palestinians and the Israeli Defence Force, but these are relatively rare and completely avoidable. There are flashpoints, like Hebron Old City and the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, but unless a

Edge came out of Marley and Antonia’s combined addiction to poking around countries most people have never heard of

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traveller is looking for it, I would suspect that it’d be nearly impossible to find trouble in the West Bank as a walker.”

Do you think Bristol as a city particularly fosters this sort of adventurous spirit?

Absolutely! It’s such a free-thinking, free-spirited city and there’s a great adventure community here. It’s the perfect city to run Edge from and we’re constantly inspired by what people are doing here. Bristol rocks.

• To find out more about Edge Expeditions, visit edge-expeditions.com or follow them on Twitter (@edge_expedition), Facebook or Instagram (@edgeexpeditions).

Tourists being few and far between means the local folk often can’t do enough to make your visit as memorable as possible

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Bar - Champagne Lounge - Restaurant

Your Food, Our Passion

The Mint Room, 12 - 16 Clifton Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1AF Tel: 0117 329 1300 www.themintroom.co.uk

info@themintroom.co.uk

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FOOD & Drink

TASTY TITBITS FROM THE CITY’S RESTAURANTS, CHEFS AND PRODUCERS James’ recipe sharing website was so popular he set up a pop-up restaurant

CROWD PLEASER The Chocolate Bear Kitchen has launched a crowdfunding campaign to offer members of the public the chance to be part of the pop-up restaurant’s growth. The Chocolate Bear Kitchen’s ethos is that food should be made accessible to all, without the exclusions and awkwardness sometimes caused by a person’s dietary needs. Menus are at least half vegan and 100% gluten free – the idea being that diners with intolerances, and those without, can all eat what they want, without having to worry.

Launched in May by James ‘The Chocolate Bear’ Gordon – a chef and entrepreneur with a background in fine dining – it was initially set up as a recipe sharing website but within a year, its social media following grew exponentially – which prompted James to start his own company. The Kitchen is now a finalist of the Crowd10 South West initiative, a programme showcasing 10 of the South West’s most promising start-up businesses.

• thechocolatebearkitchen.com

SECOND HELPINGS

COOL BEANS!

The South West’s first Nespresso boutique has launched in The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, offering customers the chance to taste highest quality coffee and learn about the Nespresso commitment to producing the perfect cup – from sourcing the finest beans to engineering the most advanced machinery and most stylish accessories. Customers can explore 24 Grand Cru coffees with distinctly individual characters and aromatic profiles, developed by in-house experts to ensure there’s a blend to suit every taste. To celebrate the boutique coming to Bristol, Nespresso also recently partnered with chef Freddy Bird at The Lido, to create some bespoke coffee-inspired recipes for the launch. “We’re excited to be bringing coffee connoisseurship to the South West, inviting shoppers to enjoy the Nespresso experience,” said Francisco Nogueira, Nespresso UK’s managing director. “We look forward to welcoming our club members to taste and purchase our Grand Crus, coffee machines and expertly designed accessories.”

• nestle-nespresso.com

There’s a new Turtle Bay in town, with a second branch having recently opened on Cheltenham Road. While the restaurant group now has 27 sites now around the country, Bristol is close to its heart as their company HQ is here. Housed in the former Caribbean restaurant Plantation, the restaurant, which includes a mezzanine, seats 160 diners and drinkers between its dining space and central island bar. “We’re proud have opened our second site in Bristol,” said founder Ajith Jayawickrema. “Being the place we call home, it’s very special to us.” The former owner and founder of Plantation, Beverley Forbes, added: "Plantation as a venue was great, and created a lot of happy memories for those involved. I am very happy to give Turtle Bay my blessing, and to hand the baton to them, particularly as the site will remain synonymous with Caribbean food and ethos.”

• turtlebay.co.uk

DOWN FROM LONDON London restaurant Polpo is to open in Bristol this month. The restaurant, run by Russell Norman and Richard Beatty, can be found on Whiteladies Road – in the spot where Greek eatery Entelia was. The menu takes its inspiration from Italian fare and the 'bacaro' – a restaurant serving simple food, and good northern Italian wines.

Expect dishes such as fried stuffed olives; spicy pork and fennel meatballs; sliced flank steak; and flourless chocolate and hazelnut cake. • polpo.co.uk

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A quality local independent Italian that's family run and well established.

WWW.PIAZZADIROMA.CO.UK 178 WHITELADIES ROAD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL, BS8 2XU OPEN 6PM TO 11PM TUESDAY TO SUNDAY (AND BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYS)

T: 0117 973 4183

THE MENU

SPECIAL OFFERS PICTURES&

REVIEWS ON OUR FACEBOOK &WEBSITE

FROM A ROMANTIC MEAL TO A PARTY BOOKING, YOU WILL BE WELL LOOKED AFTER

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FACE | TO FACE

BLANC CANVAS There’s more than a fresh lick of paint to be found at Raymond Blanc’s newly reopened eatery in Quakers Friars.

Here, the renowned chef chats to Louise Harrold about the new look, the Bristol scene, and his local foodie heroes

e were glad to see Brasserie Blanc back in action recently – for one thing, we were starting to get withdrawal symptoms from their cocktails. (You must try the rhubarb and honey martini – Absolut citron vodka, rhubarb liqueur, honey and pink grapefruit juice...)

An elegant homage to the origin of the distinctive Friary edifice – erected in 1747 – with a pretty terrace full of olive trees that add to the tranquil feel of this historic inner city oasis, it’s certainly worth a visit, as busy Monsieur Blanc explained when we caught up with him recently...

W

TBM: So what prompted you to decide to undertake such a big redesign?

RB: When we first acquired the building in 2008, we felt very lucky to be able to open in such an iconic Bristol building that was not only Grade-I listed, but which had such a link to romance, having been used as a register office for so many years. We wanted the redesign to enhance this romantic aspect and to also provide a more informal décor inside for our diners.

At the heart of French cooking and the French ethos of food is that time spent eating should be a casual and relaxed affair that is savoured and enjoyed; and I feel Bristol diners share this same idea. I wanted to provide a softer setting inside to reflect this; for the restaurant to be a place where everyone feels welcome, whether it is for morning coffee, a quick lunch, to meet a friend for a cocktail, or to dine with family.

Bristol has such a vibrant food and drink culture; what do you think the Brasserie adds to that?

It brings an element of quality, freshness, seasonality, good food and good service, and that has been the hallmark of the brand since the opening of our first Brasserie Blanc. I have always tried to add something to the food scene that did not seem to be around in England. Of course, the way the food scene in England has changed and evolved over the years is very exciting and I am happy to have been a part of that. We are much more responsible about where the food comes from, what is in it and, in turn, the consumer is much more knowledgeable and aware. I have always admired the food scene in Bristol and the chefs, like Barny Haughton (formerly of Rocinantes, Quartier Vert, Bordeaux Quay), creating it. I always admired him for his dedication to the organic food movement and for being a pioneer for all of those who followed in his example. Of course, the organic movement is now everywhere and is an important quality that many people consider when choosing the source of their food, but it is thanks to chefs like Barny that it is now so present in people's minds. At Brasserie Blanc we try to support as many small industries as possible – from small cheese makers to small fishmongers – and we roast our own coffee; it is exciting to be part of the food revolution.

❝

...I have always admired the food scene in Bristol, and the chefs, like Barny Haughton, creating it...

❞

What are the main changes?

There are an enormous amount of changes on a number of levels. The huge redesign has transformed the restaurant into a more modern space, and we have a wonderful sunken terrace outside – really beautiful and shady. We have been careful to make sure the building remains true to its heritage, which we realise is very important. We are completely in awe of the building – we know we have something belonging to the history of Bristol. We wanted to complement this history and so we have been sure to use natural stone and warm colours. We also have a new bar where we will be serving cocktails; a huge marble stone table; and a beautiful mezzanine floor. We have redesigned all of our locations over the last two years, with Bristol being the final location to be completed, and I have to say I feel we have left the best until last.

Raymond supports as many small industries as possible – from cheesemakers to fishmongers

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Tell us a bit more about the new menu...

Our head chef, Frederic Fetiveal, has been with us for eight months, and we are lucky to have such a passionate and highly skilled chef to create our menus. We have been careful to include, of course, many of the classic dishes that are so loved, such as steak tartare, moules marinière and l’escargot, but there are new options such as the potted Cromer crab – one of my favourites. I remain very involved with the menus and as the seasons change, my chefs and I all sit down together to go through what will be on them. Thankfully it is a joy to be in Bristol and to be able to make sure lots of local produce gets on to our menus; we source our steaks from Ruby and White and, of course, make sure we stock a good selection of local craft beers. ■ • brasserieblanc.com

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All the team feel lucky to be in such an iconic Bristol building, and it’s a joy to make sure lots of local produce finds its way onto the menu, says Raymond

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RESTAURANT | REVIEW

THE MINT ROOM Amanda Nicholls discovers another level of Indian dining at this fine Clifton Village eatery. Photography by Paolo Ferla

Y

ou may well be unaware of the sort of culinary artistry existent on the Indian food scene – you could be forgiven for thinking it’s all about a cheeky chicken madras and a cold pint of Cobra of a Friday night – but if you do want to get an idea, you need only travel up to Clifton Village, where the chefs at The Mint Room can be found performing a masterclass in the subject on a daily basis.

We arrive at the Clifton Road restaurant, rather warm after a pleasant pre-prandial stroll from Southville, across the docks and up the hill through Hotwells, and with raging appetites. Welcomed into the luxurious, low-lit lounge area – furnished with intricately carved mahogany mirrors, tea lights floating in petal-filled water bowls and ornate wooden chests – we peruse the extensive drinks menu. From here we select the White Russian, ice cold and elegant in a martini glass, and the Electricity champagne cocktail – the fizz further livened by the addition of amaretto and vanilla schnapps.

Once heart rates have returned to normal and brows have been mopped, we’re shown to the main dining area – contrastingly light-filled, sleek and contemporary in design, with chic lighting and big old bicycles hung on the walls. After devouring a slateful of poppadoms and two lightly spiced apple and raisin and tomato and cumin dips, we’re raring to sample the starters. While reluctantly eschewing the superb-sounding seven-course tasting menu, and likewise sorely tempted by a garam masala-cured salmon ‘gravadlax’ with a fresh Cornish crab, avocado and mango salad, I eventually pledge my allegiance to the tawa scallops – hand-dived, griddled and seared, and served with a creamy kaffir lime and fresh green chilli sauce that’s tempered by cucumber and 54 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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toasted whole peanuts.

Across the table, W displays no hesitation over his choice of quail three ways – after seeing one sail over to a nearby table. The first element of the beautifully plated affair comes fresh from from the tandoor, cooked and marinated; the second comprises a crispy quail leg ‘lollipop’ with the most delicate mix of spices, and the third is a perfect round of diminutive fried quail egg served with apple and vanilla purée. In contrast with your usual Indian restaurant dishes – which, we think it’s fair to say, can often be fairly unphotogenic despite their deliciousness – the fare here is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. The architecture and aesthetics of each of the dishes are clearly considered, with maximum visual impact in mind.

Next, the marinated lamb rumps, ‘Chettinad style’,

Above: Griddled, seared, handdived tawa scallops with a creamy kaffir lime and fresh green chilli sauce

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make their way over to W. A classic creation from the southern Indian region of Chettiyar, the star strand of the dish is undoubtedly the 6oz rumps marinated in freshly crushed black peppercorns and hung yoghurt, seared over hot plancha and served with saffron basmati rice and seasonal vegetables. The flavour of the meat is so rich, unique and sumptuous I can’t help but pinch a slab for myself.

❝

...The architecture and aesthetics of the dishes are clearly considered, with maximum visual impact in mind...

❞

For many of the dishes on the menu, there’s a suggested wine, and great care has gone into these pairings, chosen by expert Angela Mount. Varieties – many of which can be spotted maturing around the dining space – include the likes of Chilean chardonnay from the Leyda Valley though to fine Argentinian malbec. For my seafood moilee – a Mint Room signature dish featuring monster mussels, plump prawns, scallops, octopus and squid cooked in cooling coconut milk and given a piquant twist by the addition of mustard seeds and red chillies – a Yealands pinot gris is advised, though there are pages of grape-derived delights to choosen from should you wish to deviate from what’s recommended.

To finish, we share a white chocolate parfait with dark chocolate sorbet, strawberries and a fat cylinder of carrot cake – which, we find, doesn’t quite make for the most natural platefellow for the parfait and sorbet, which go harmoniously hand in hand. But we certainly admire the sense of adventure – a consistent culinary thread through an evening that, as my thoroughly Bristolian companion enthuses, has been aptly and absolutely mint. ■ • 12-16 Clifton Road, Bristol, BS8 1AF; themintroom.co.uk THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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BRISTOL AT WORK: Greg Marston We shine a spotlight on the folk that help make up the fabric of city life...

G

reg Marston is pretty much unknown in the UK and throughout the world in general, yet millions of people across the globe hear his voice every day – online, on radio, on television, and even while on hold. Yep, he’s a voiceover artist and he’s recorded for everyone from Samsung and Sony to Radio 4 and The X Factor; and the luxurious likes of Porsche and Audi.

“I’m also a born-and-bred Bristolian,” says Greg, who works from his studio in central Bristol. “I got dragged out to the antipodes in the great migratory rush of the Seventies when I was 13, and grew up in western Australia, dreaming that one day I’d become a pop star. I did sing and (attempt to) play guitar with many local pop/rock and indie bands in the Land Down Under, before realising that you really do need that ‘break’ to become famous...!”

Eventually, Greg fell into his other love, radio and broadcasting, ending up as the music director of the ABC (like the BBC here). Over those five years, he broadcast as a newsreader, presenter, DJ, anchor, quiz-master and interviewer, chatting with the likes of Sir George Martin, Ben Elton, Billy Connolly, Phil Collins and Norman Wisdom, before turning to voiceovering in the mid-Nineties and becoming ‘the voice’ of Classic FM. And there have been plenty of interesting, surreal and amusing moments since then. “A few years back, when I was one of the voices of Emirates airline, I’d somehow been upgraded to the business class lounge at Dubai International,” says Greg. “The staff at the counter asked me for my boarding pass and ID as, on the screen behind, the usual looped video played the Emirates ‘sonic’ – showing shots of the planes, the airport, the food served. Towards the end, the voiceover (which happened to be me) extolled the tag-line; ‘fly Emirates, hello tomorrow’. It took a while to process my boarding pass, and I found myself muttering the line, first under my breath and then louder and louder, in sync with the video. The staff all stopped dead, looked at me, looked at the screen and back at me – and then demanded to have selfies with me…”

Now, Greg’s stationed back in Bristol and happily so. “I love Bristol’s rich history (I loved learning all about it while I was at Cotham Grammar School in the late Sixties), and being able to walk around so much of the city easily, seeing so many different aspects of Bristol life as you go. And within 15 to 20 minutes’ drive, you’re in the heart of some beautiful part of the surrounding countryside.”

Most of his jobs come from regular clients and word-of-mouth referrals.

“Or new clients, looking to sell their product or service, often find me by searching online using keywords like ‘neutral accent’, ‘transatlantic’, ‘rich’, ‘dark’, ‘chocolatey’, ‘sexy’ (no, really!) through to ‘menacing’, ‘voice-ofGod’, ‘movie-trailer’, ‘corporate’ and ‘Gandalf’...

“I’m usually voicing several different things over the course of any given day,” he explains. “This last week, I’ve been working for a client using 360-degree film technology in Texas – meaning I’m up late here in order to make his mid-afternoon deadlines there – and I’ve been recording in-store announcements for a company in the Maldives, as well as talking about a tunnel in Europe for a client in Germany. I usually position my desk in the corner of a small-ish room and distribute duvets around it before I get started, to achieve the best acoustics. Or build a fort out of sofas! Then you’ve got to take the edges off of any reflective surfaces using cushions and pillows.

“Having not long returned to the UK, for me it’s now a question of networking to start picking up work here. It’s a brave new world, a long and winding road, but I’m enjoying the walk!” n

Rock Pool by Michael Salt. Oil on canvas 24”x24”, £1,600.

Memb

er Gall e

The Art Gallery

ry

home of ArtGallery.co.uk

Spencer House, 34 Long Street, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8AQ Tues-Sat. 9.30-5pm. Tel: 01666 505152 help@artgallery.co.uk artgallery.co.uk

art_gallery_uk

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Jo Morris, a family law specialist at AMD Solicitors, considers a case study

CAN I RELOCATE WITH MY CHILDREN?

E

mma and Mike have one son together, Milo, who is eight years old.

Emma and Mike got divorced two years ago and now Milo lives with Emma, spending every other weekend with Mike.

Emma is very lonely living in Bristol. Her family and many of her friends live in Manchester where she grew up. She wants to move back to Manchester and has found a house to rent near her parents, where the local school has a place available for Milo. Emma is a teacher and has spoken to a recruitment agency who have assured her that there is plenty of supply teaching available whilst she gets settled and looks for a permanent contract.

Can Emma move away?

Emma is Milo’s main carer and is able to move to a different part of England and Wales with him, if she wishes, but would be advised to take every step that she can to continue to promote his relationship with his father and to ensure that he can still spend time with him.

What if Mike objects?

If Mike wants to prevent Emma from moving away he would need to make an application to the Court for a Prohibited Steps Order under the Children Act 1989. When considering the application, Milo’s welfare would always be the most important consideration. The Court would analyse the competing proposals of the parents to decide if relocation was in Milo’s best interests. The sort of factors which the Court would consider are whether Emma’s desire to move was genuine and not simply to harm Mike’s relationship with Milo, whether it was realistic, what the impact of a refusal to allow the move would be on Emma, whether Mike’s opposition was genuine and the extent of the detriment which would be caused to Mike and Milo’s relationship if the move was allowed to take place. These factors would be weighed up when considering which decision would best promote Milo’s welfare.

The approach taken by the Court used to be that relocation within the UK would only be prevented if the case was exceptional, however the recent case of Re C (Internal Relocation) [2015] EWCA 1305 confirms that this is no longer the case and that the decision will ultimately rest on the welfare of the child concerned.

What if Emma and Mike share care of Milo?

Where Milo effectively lives with both of his parents, spending a substantial amount of time with each of them, if Mike objects to Emma moving with him to Manchester Emma would be advised to apply to the Court for a Specific Issue Order permitting her to move. The Court would look at the same factors set out above, and again Milo’s welfare would always be paramount.

If you are considering relocating, or your former partner is considering doing so, AMD Solicitors can assist you and advise on all the implications.

Jo can be contacted on 0117 962 1205 or by email on jomorris@amdsolicitors.com. © AMD Solicitors

A local award winning law firm

Telephone us on (0117) 9621205 or visit our website www.amdsolicitors.com 58 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

The Big Move - Living Together

By Madison Fowler, Sharp Family Law – Bristol and Bath Solicitors. Producing Resolution not Prolonging Conflict

Chris had worked tirelessly to save up a deposit for his new house – a three-bedroomed place where he hoped to raise a family one day.

His girlfriend could contribute only a quarter of the deposit, but agreed to share mortgage payments with him.

Rachel had lived in her flat for three years, after purchasing it using an inheritance from her grandparents. She wanted her boyfriend to move in and he offered to pay all the bills in lieu of rent.

In the midst of the house-warming parties and decorating plans, it may not seem like the time to consider what might happen if you were to break up. But in fact, it can be a good conversation to have before the big move.

There are six million cohabiting couples in the UK, but many have no idea that under current laws in England and Wales, they have no automatic rights or protections when they break up. This is the case no matter how long they have been together.

When it comes to housing, cohabitees are reliant on land and trust law to sort out any disputes over the family home. But because these laws were never designed for the specific needs of cohabiting couples, the outcome is often uncertain. With this in mind, it can stave off future conflict, and legal costs, if the couple’s intentions regarding the property are clearly recorded.

This is where a Cohabitation Agreement comes in. A cohabitation agreement can be tailored to meet the specific needs of a couple, by recording details as to: • who owns what • who will pay the mortgage and other household expenses • what should happen to assets and property if you separate

It was a big conversation for all four of them, but it gave them each a feeling of certainty and security once it was done.

Our solicitors at Sharp Family Law in Bath & Bristol can advise and assist you to handle the discussion sensitively, and then formalise your agreement taking into account you and your partner’s wishes, contributions and long-term plans.

Then you can start planning the house-warming!

• your intentions as to any future property or assets

Madison Fowler

❝

it was a big conversation for all four of them, but it gave them each a feeling of certainty and security once it was done

Clare Webb

❝

T

his year, Chris and Rachel each made a big, exciting decision – to move in with their respective partners for the first time.

After seeking advice from family lawyers, Chris arranged a declaration of trust to reflect his and his girlfriend’s initial contributions to their new home, and a cohabitation agreement to set out how they would share mortgage payments and bills. Rachel chose to arrange a cohabitation agreement with her boyfriend, protecting her ownership of the flat and agreeing that he would pay the household bills.

sharp F A M I LY L A W Sharp Family Law: Helping clients to reach solutions Broad Quay House, Prince St, Bristol, BS1 4DJ email: info@sharpfamilylaw.com m: 07766 107527 t: 0117 905 8805 website: www.sharpfamilylaw.com

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BRISTOL UPDATES BITE-SIZED BUSINESS NEWS FROM ACROSS THE CITY

SKY’S THE LIMIT!

Visitors will be able to come and check out the helicopter during the fiesta

The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity is to be the official charity partner of Bristol International Balloon Fiesta this month. The charity’s helicopter will be an integral part of the 11-14 August event at Ashton Court, where GWAAC staff and volunteers will mingle with visitors, aiming to raise £25,000 – the cost of keeping their helicopter operational for four days.

“We are delighted to have been chosen,” said chief executive John Christensen. “It is a great chance for us to not only raise the much needed funds to keep us going, but also to promote the work that we do. We hope as many people as possible who visit the festival during the four days come and talk to us, and have a look at our helicopter.”

• bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?

CONGRATULATIONS!

TOP DOG

Wild Place Project, which celebrated its third birthday in July, has been awarded a 2016 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor for consistently delivering superior service. “We would like to thank all of our visitors who have taken the time to share their experiences and feedback with us on TripAdvisor,” said Nigel Simpson, head of operations. “To have been recognised with such a prestigious accolade in the first 36 months of opening is a huge compliment and something we are all extremely proud of. We’re always looking for ways to improve the experiences that visitors receive and have lots of exciting plans for the next couple of years, which include the introduction of new animals as well as expanding our educational offering.” Wild Place Project is run by 21 full-time and part-time staff and 102 volunteers. The 50-acre attraction, off J17 of the M5, is home to animals ranging from zebra and lemurs to cheetah and reindeer.

• wildplace.org.uk

Fiona Sami from Sneyd Park has won the ‘Man’s Best Friend’ category of The Kennel Club’s annual Dog Photographer of the Year competition. “To win is extremely gratifying,” said Fiona. “If I had known there were 13,000 entries I’m not sure I would have believed I ever stood a chance.

I am an amateur photographer with a particular passion for dogs – this image was taken on board the steam train ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ and shows a gentleman and his dog, who appears to have the perfect vantage point from which to spot rabbits. I was instantly struck by the easy, relaxed companionship between this little dog and his owner.” The Kennel Club’s Rosemary Smart added: “The entries were some of the best we have ever seen. Choosing the winners was an incredibly challenging task and we commend every photographer who entered.” All the winning images will be on display at the Kennel Club in Mayfair until 12 September.

• dogphotographeroftheyear.org.uk

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The Sofa Library, which has been at 5660 Whiteladies Road for nearly five years, is now expanding next door into numbers 62-66, the old Maskrey's building. Their ranges of German wardrobes will vastly expand, they tell us, and there’ll be a new shop dedicated to all your flooring needs – with luxurious designer names and quality lower cost textures, a comprehensive measure, design and fit service as well as a five-day Premium Install service on stock carpets. The Sofa Library’s wardrobe ranges include budget ideas for children's rooms through to young adult/starter home solutions and sophisticated gliding and opening door wardrobes, while a full delivery and assemble service is also offered.

• thesofalibrary.co.uk

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The Infiniti Q3 pictured in Bristol. Image by TBM

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INFINITI & BEYOND There’s a new car on the block, and it is threatening the very heart of the premium compact segment.

Dara Foley discovers the Infiniti Q30 and finds there’s no end to its ambition.

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ike Lexus is to Toyota, Infiniti is the luxury car division of Nissan. For many years Infiniti only really sold across North America, a popular choice for drivers wanting great build, high performance, bucket loads of luxury plus cool, advanced technology without having to bust the bank. I remember a visit to New York in 2012 and my first sighting of the imposing FX30 (now revised into the QX70 since 2014) and once identified, you suddenly realised just how abundant they were on the streets of Manhattan. In fact, since 2006 over 100,000 Infinitis are sold every year in the U.S. Stark contrast that across the whole of Europe, fewer than 10,000 cars have been sold every year in the same period.

British interest really started in 2013; the Q30 was designed in the Nissan studios in Paddington, engineered in Cranfield and manufactured at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland where 4,000 workers have been specially trained in luxury vehicle production to bring the new Q30 to market.

They even have their own test track dedicated to the development of the Infiniti range. This £250million investment heralds a new era for Nissan’s Infiniti as they look to conquer Europe and the globe with giant strides.

With over 10 new UK showrooms scheduled to open during 2016, Infiniti will make its presence felt, with familiarity, engagement and availability in every key region of the country. Infiniti Bristol recently opened to show off the range, and an impressive new showroom on their Brislington site is currently being fitted – it should be finished and fully operational by September.

The Q30 is unlike anything previously produced by Infiniti. It is firmly targeted at the active compact market – fair to say that this is a very competitive segment, with the Mercedes A-class, Audi A3 and BMW 1series and even Volvo V40 dominating European sales, but Infiniti is not entering any bun fight without a carefully mapped strategy in place, and undoubtedly the Q30 looks like it has the capabilities to compete well.

Part of the attraction must be that through Nissan’s alliance with Renault and Daimler, the Q30 inherits much of the chassis architecture, drive train and even many of the interior controls from the Benz A-class. This may not be such a bad thing as the Q30 range starts at £20,550.

Although there’s a clear foundation of European pedigree, visually the Q30 makes a striking contrast to the traditional, conservative design preferences of the Germans, and since the Q30 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013 as a concept car, much of its looks have been maintained rather than diluted. This unique styling defies convention and its refreshing, flowing lines and sensuous curves, coupled with a sporty elevated stance, will appeal not only to a younger driver but also to those who hanker after something a bit different. Most noticeable is the distinctive Infiniti grille and logo.

Climb inside and the Q30 is deceptively spacious; good width, height, and leg room, and the boot really is substantial, all unexpected and compares well with other cars in this class. The interior design, though, is plush and tasteful, covered in complementary dark nappa leather and Alcantara – a beautiful suede-like material often used in the fashion industry but especially in high-end automotive and yacht manufacture, it feels opulent to the touch and with neat stitching, every inch of the cabin exudes the quality normally only seen in very high-end builds.

Mercedes owners will recognise the switchgear, the key fob, steering wheel controls, electric seat adjustment, window and side mirror controls on the door, and the slightly odd (but you soon get used to it) parking brake below the steering wheel which are all derived from the Daimler alliance.

One of the Q30's best assets is the drive – with a ride height a little higher than most luxury hatchbacks, it has a softer but supple suspension.

The engineers have put great effort into the shock absorbers; they hold the car taut and stable through cornering, while giving smooth cushioning

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against pot-holes and cobbles, a near-perfect balance for city driving.

Suspension and road noise have also been subdued through the springs and lavish padding.

However the Q30 has a playful side too, and is responsive and fun when you throw it about a bit; the steering is light and agile and the engine (even on the standard 1.6 model) is punchy and willing. On the test car, the six speed manual transmission was very agreeable. There are two petrol and two diesel engines on offer – the petrol ones are 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged units, while the diesel options are 1.5 and 2.2 litres respectively. There’s also choice of two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, automatic or manual transmissions. The Q30 also has a good choice of trim levels, principally SE, Premium, and Sport, however each option can be enhanced further with various convenience packs. But even at the standard base specification, the SE models are generously equipped, with an audio system with six speakers, two USB ports, voice recognition, bluetooth connectivity, a radio and a CD player. Also included is a seveninch touchscreen and a rotary controller to make it all work. All Q30s have automatic headlights, air-con, heated electrically adjustable door mirrors, a leather multifunction steering wheel, an electronic parking brake, rear parking sensors, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

One of the best add-ons is the innovative 360-degree view system, (similar to the feature on the new Rolls Royce Dawn). Four cameras – front, rear, and two located in the wing mirrors – are merged on screen to give an all-round view which is clever and particularly helpful for tight parking and helping to overcome blind spots. They also keep watch – alerting you to any moving object that might be at risk by approaching the car.

With cameras and sensors comes the ability to offer automated parking and intelligent driver assistance such as forward collision warning, assisted breaking, lane departure, and blind spot warnings should a vehicle be passing in an adjacent lane. You will also have options for traffic sign recognition which will display and remind you of sign-posted speed limits on the instrument panel. Other options that will be in big demand are the glass sunroof and a brilliant Bose entertainment system. Once again, these are priced keenly.

There’s also a first for Infiniti with the development of Active Noise Cancellation (only available currently on the 2.2d engined model) – low frequency sound-waves are emitted from the door speakers and sounddamping materials are also used to minimise noise. Infiniti says that this results in a 10% improvement in conversation audibility over the vehicle's leading competitor at a speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).

Overall, the Q30 is an impressive and very competent car, very well built... Nissan have a great track record in reliability, as do Mercedes, where the engines and mainframe are sourced. Include all the added 64 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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luxuries and devilish detail that make quality finishing affordable to anyone looking at this market, and you have a very viable alternative to the German monopoly.

Further evidence of the impact on the market came with a trading update from Infiniti; just six months into 2016 and Infiniti continues to increase its presence on UK roads with new car registrations already exceeding the total recorded during the full 12-month period of 2015 and up 157% year on year... Expect to see Infiniti go beyond. ■ Test car courtesy of Infiniti Bristol, 832 Bath Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5LQ; 0117 992 6111; infiniti.co.uk Sweeping curves and all toyed up: from the outside the styling is close to conceptual, on the inside up-to-date technology such as the 360° allround camera makes urban driving easy and controlled.

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Mum, voiceover artist and BBC Radio Bristol presenter, Faye Dicker, meets the Bristol businesses that make family life easier...

Happy holidays!

Local historian Julian Lea-Jones takes us back to a time when vacations were practically unheard of...

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And so OLIO (olioex.com) was born last year. In between bringing up her baby on maternity leave, Tessa launched her food-sharing revolution with business partner Saasha Celestial-One – who she met at business school in California and who shares her philosophy on waste – and piloted the scheme with a small group on WhatsApp before creating her own app. Put simply, the app lets you upload a photo of your food and share it. It simply gets lots of people taking lots of action –and the collective result of lots of action is change. They are no fees to pay upon signing up or downloading – it’s all about getting as many people as possible on board. It’s a classic chicken and egg situation, as the more people who are on the app, the better it works.

Bristol has been the second city to get it – as a number of folk were cross that it was launched in London first! – and with so many people interested in environmental issues here, it has worked well. Today there are 50,000 people on it and 10,000 people using it every month. It’s impossible to talk to Tessa and not talk passionately about stats: she told me that the average UK family is throwing away £700 of food year, which equates to £8billion of food being wasted annually. The numbers boggle the mind. But with OLIO, I feel I can do my bit while preparing our family meals. As Tessa says, if half the food that gets wasted, gets wasted in the home, then half of us have the solution. n

rior to the 19th-century, the only time most people could escape from work, other than the farming year’s natural seasonal breaks, was on holy days, such as church-organised Whitsuntide outings.

However, with the industrial revolution and the move away from the land, even these were lost. Not until an Act of Parliament in 1938 did workers get one week’s paid holiday per year. Our factories relied on having a full roster of workers, so the Paid Holiday Act forced most to shut for the week. This, coupled with the availability of rail, coach, (charabanc) or Campbell’s paddle steamers, meant that for the first time our factory workers had a chance to escape the daily grind.

This led to many Bristolians making for the sun and sand; at resorts such as Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, or Minehead. But there was an exception to this. The Wills family, owners of the Tobacco Factory, were hard taskmasters in the Victorian sense but nevertheless very paternalistic and much more so than most firms today. Reading through their early house magazines, you realise that, apart from workplace announcements, they contained more social news about their employees than most parish magazines. The staff even ran their own holiday groups such as the ‘English Riviera Winter Holiday Club’ and were encouraged to submit holiday snaps for inclusion in the magazine. Unexpectedly, many snaps were of far-flung places such as Venice, Morocco and Switzerland.

A surprising example of this paternalistic approach was the announcement by the company employment and welfare department that, for those planning holidays, they held information on resorts, lodgings etc, and welcomed feedback to help others. How many of our HR departments do that today?

Car ownership and the emergence of a national coach network opened up holiday vistas for many and ushered in the age of the holiday camp. Our most well-known was Billy Butlin’s at Minehead; not too far from Bristol but far enough away to make it an adventure and a treat! Meanwhile, the next holiday trend came thanks to former Bristol Aircraft Company metal worker Martin Bailey.

After World War II, he set up in South Liberty Lane, making touring caravans. The firm still thrives and now supplies holidaymakers worldwide.

Contrast these modest holidays with those of the Smythe Family of Ashton Court – owners of the Bedminster coal mines – who I’m sure were jolly kind to their house and estate staff. Nevertheless, while their miners were toiling away underground, they used almost an entire train to decamp to Scotland for their own holiday! But what of the less fortunate? As far back as 1884, Reverend Urijah Rees Thomas, the much-loved minister of Redland Park Congregational Church, founded the Penny Dinner Society – offering children an affordable way to eat. He also identified an urgent need for holidays for children and established the Bristol Children's Help Society and the Barton holiday camp at Winscombe (which is still on the same site, providing holidays for the less fortunate). Brian and Sylvia Hall have been involved with Barton camp for 42 years and now run it with their team of volunteers, building on Urijah’s vision to provide a much broader spectrum of respite care – how about that? n

• freelancemum.co.uk

• For more on Barton Camp, visit bartoncamp.co.uk/about-us/history

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ince having children, I can not get over how much of my time is spent planning our next meal. Yes, it’s fairly standard for me to be contemplating what am I going to cook for tea, before I’ve even had breakfast. And while I’m a big believer that food is one of life’s simple pleasures, it’s not quite the same once you’re the one dreaming up all the meal-time ideas.

Children (or at least mine) don’t seem to have nearly as much appreciation for tucking in – leaving you with a cupboard of products, a fridge full of vegetables and far too much waste. And, as a woman who can’t abide gluttony or waste in equal measure, it frustrates me when I find myself throwing perfectly good food away, just because it didn’t get eaten. It would seem I’m not alone in my thinking, either.

Tessa Cook – who grew up in a Wiltshire farming family and was taught to understand the hard work that goes into producing food – was equally as frustrated once, when she was planning to leave the country and didn’t want to throw perfectly good food away. When she found herself knocking on neighbours’ doors, trying to give them it, it made her think – half the problem was communication. If people knew of somewhere to leave their food, perhaps there wouldn’t be quite so much waste.

❝

“...If half the food wasted, gets wasted in the home, half of us have the solution...”

❞

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EDUCATION NEWS UPDATES FROM THE CITY’S SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

SILVER SUCCESS

CONGRATULATIONS!

GROWING FAST

Nick Short has been made principal of Merchants’ Academy. Having grown up in the South West, Nick returned to Bristol after five years at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knight’s Academy in London, and has been a member of the Merchants’ Academy leadership team since 2008. “We are now seeing the highest ever number of students going on to secure places at universities,” he said. “As principal, I will continue to drive the academy forward from strength to strength.” Executive principal Dr Hilary Macaulay added: “Nick has an unwavering focus that will ensure every student and member of staff achieves more than they ever thought possible.”

• merchantsacademy.org

A North Somerset independent school is expanding its nursery provision from September, with the opening of an additional class for children between two and three years old. “We are delighted to be able to offer more families in North Somerset and Bristol our nursery provision,” said Fairfield School headmistress Lesley Barton. “We believe that investing in children’s early education will launch them into a successful future and lay the very best foundations for the rest of their lives – and our nursery is a great investment which benefits from all the facilities of an outstanding Primary School.

• fairfield.school

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A team of Weston College students and staff has won a Royal Horticulture Society silver medal for bringing a local gardener’s designs to life. Students worked with award-winning gardener Mark Walker to create a garden based on designs from Mark’s book The Woodcutter’s Story. The project was led by horticulture lecturer Pete Lane and exhibited at the Malvern Spring Festival. “It was fantastic for the students’ effort and enthusiasm to be rewarded with a silver medal, but the project is far from over,” said Pete. “The next step is to bring the garden back to the college’s South West Skills Campus, where it will be reconstructed and stay as a permanent installation for college students and staff to enjoy.” The project was supported by a number of local companies who donated timber, tools and expertise to the development, including Fountain Forestry, Brandon Tool Hire and Badman & Badman Joinery Ltd. Students played a vital role in propagating the plants and helping to construct the ‘woodcutter’s cottage’, learning skills such as wood craft, logistics and horticulture; while also learning about teamwork, communication and planning. “We are so proud of the way the students represented the college through this innovative external project, and their fantastic result,” said Sam Mayhew, Weston College’s head of faculty for image and inclusive practice. The silver medal was presented to the team by the RHS ambassador Mary Berry at the festival, which this year attracted over 90,000 visitors.

• weston.ac.uk

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xx

HEIGHT OF SUMMER As local events go, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is one that really puts the city on the map, nationally and globally – but what’s worth making a beeline for this year, and how can you make sure your visit goes as smoothly as possible?

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t’s the biggest event in Bristol’s busy summer calendar, with tens of thousands of people enjoying the sight of scores of colourful balloons gliding through the skies over the city. The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta returns to Ashton Court from 11-14 August, with more than 150 hot air balloons taking off at dawn and dusk and the evenings lit up with spectacular night glows. Here are five ways you can make the most of this fabulous free event...

there are plenty of easy access points. There is also a regular shuttle bus service to Ashton Court from Broad Quay in the centre and Bristol Temple Meads station.

Let it slide...

Remember that 300ft ‘Park & Slide’ water feature that came to Park Street as part of Make Sunday Special and the Bristol Art Weekender, and saw a lucky 360 (of the 96,573 who signed up for the chance to get tickets)

Hear the dawn chorus There’s nothing like being in Ashton Court as hundreds of balloons are inflated for the mass ascents, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings you can beat the usual crowds and enjoy ‘Breakfast and Balloons’. On Saturday and Sunday the ascents take place to a soundtrack of classical music, courtesy of Classic FM, so set your alarm early and watch the spectacle unfold at 6am while enjoying a bacon sandwich and a cup of coffee as the sun rises. It’s a great way to start the day and when all the balloons have taken off, you can enjoy the rest of the fiesta site before it gets really busy. If you’re not a morning person, the evening mass ascents take off at 6pm.

Have a travel plan Being such a popular event, the fiesta does attract a huge number of visitors. The best way to avoid any problems and have the best experience possible is to sort out your travel plans in advance. Car parking tickets are available now and the earlier you book them, the better the rate – it’s currently £7.50 for standard parking and £12 for premium. To book car parking, visit bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk. If you’re a Bristol resident, the best way to avoid traffic jams is to go to the site by foot or bicycle, and

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Make sure you have a travel plan to avoid any problems – it’s often easiest by bike!

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MUSIC people sliding down the middle of the road? Well, this year’s balloon fiesta will feature a similar, but even more gigantic two-lane water slide so that visitors can make a splash while also raising money for a worthy cause.

The SlideRider comes to the fiesta courtesy of Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens and their patron – ITV West Country presenter Alex Beresford.

From 11am to 6pm on each day of the fiesta, there will be the chance to get a high-speed soaking, so why not enjoy the sight of all the balloons taking off while whizzing down the 500ft drop? Places are limited so you’ll need to book in advance at cancerresearchuk.org

ITV West Country presenter Alex Beresford clearly cannot wait to raise some money for Cancer Research UK via the SlideRider

Doing it for the kids Bristol’s very own Cirque Bijou – which aims to push the boundaries of contemporary circus, street theatre and spectacle, seeking out the new, unusual and surprising – will be making their debut at the family-friendly this year, and their presence is something we’re very excited about. Known for their eye-catching performances and breath-taking routines, the performers will be entertaining younger visitors and combining street theatre and circus skills to exhilarating effect. Firm favourites at events like the Bristol Harbour Festival, this group are well worth catching, as is The Desperate Men’s Balloon Toss - get involved!

Street eats Another first at this year’s fiesta will be a street food village, bringing some of the best stalls in the West Country to Ashton Court. The event has never been short of catering outlets, but this year the team are raising the bar. From halloumi to chilli dogs, tandoori and pizza, there will be something to cater for every taste – with Gourmet Farm, Chip Off the Old Block, La Rotisserie, Harissa and Lemon and Los Churros Amigos just some of the vendors who’ll be cooking up a treat for fiesta-goers. For those who like their balloons with bubbles, make sure to track down Betty the prosecco van and get yourself a glass of fizz! ■ • bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

Don’t miss the Desperate Men’s Balloon Toss

There’ll be a new child-friendly area courtesy of Bristol’s Cirque Bijou

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HEALTH & WELLBEING xx If you’ve ever wanted to run away to the circus, acro is the yoga equivalent

BRISTOL: THE YOGI’S PLAYGROUND Words by Emma Cullen

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e are a city in love with yoga; we’ve positively coiled our limbs around it in a warm embrace. And with so many fantastic teachers from near and far having laid down their mats in our fair city in recent times, we now have a veritable pick-and-mix of classes at our feet. As a firm devotee of the discipline myself, I decided to traverse the city to find out just a little bit more about some of the different types of yoga available to us across the city, and where we can join in with them...

Acrobatic yoga How many times as an adult do you get to high-five someone with your foot? Or wriggle along the floor using only your butt cheeks? If you’ve ever felt that you wanted to run away to the circus, then this is this is the yoga equivalent. Known as ‘the yoga of trust’, acro involves lots of interaction.

You’ll soon be comfortable in a whole room of people you don’t know

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and, before you know it, in the air, balancing on their feet. You’re going to get sweaty and push your boundaries. It’s practised in threes – with a base, a flyer and a spotter – and you all have to work together to get to positions you simply couldn’t achieve by yourself. We’re lucky to have Ash (of Flying Monkey Yoga) and her crazy-fun approach to acro yoga here in Bristol.

• flyingmonkeyyoga.org

Meditative yoga Yin is the calm, cooling, feminine side to the yin-yang balance. A yin yoga class is a chance to look inwards while holding asanas for longer periods of time. Yogis often find themselves turning to yin as a way of slowing down and restoring their bodies from a more fast-paced form of yoga, such as vinyasa. It’s a way of respecting your body. Local teacher Eleanor Coates’ classes are poetic in tone; each has a theme and, as you focus on each asana and breathe into your body, she reads, giving students a chance for contemplation. As a restorative yoga practice, no pose is too strong or too

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subtle; it’s, as Eleanor says, “playing with your edges”. Perfect for a Sunday evening wind-down.

• knowyogaknowpeace.co.uk

If you can’t make an evening class, perhaps you can squeeze one into your lunch hour?

Workout yoga The opposite to yin is Broga® Yoga. Even the name sounds more masculine; more yang. Broga® was originally developed by ex-footballer and body builder Matt Millar to offer a form of yoga that would be more accessible to men. Though that doesn’t mean it’s not for women.

As a fitness-based yoga class, it’s an intense, strong workout that should appeal to those used to hitting the gym. Ashley Miller teaches Broga® at BCY and stresses that it may be strength training, but it’s still yoga – you are still barefoot on your mat, connecting breath and body. The poses are recognisable yoga poses, but where in your usual yoga class there are numerous rest points, here: “There is no rest, and sometimes there are Fancy a bit of Broga Yoga? It was designed to be more reps.” If you go to the accessible to men but is not exclusively so gym regularly and are looking for an introduction to yoga, Broga® is definitely your bag. There are no Sanskrit names to remember, instructions are clear and you’ll learn the poses you find in iyengar and vinyasa flow, and get ripped while you’re doing it. Essentially a hard class with a soft approach to yoga.

• bristolcityyoga.co.uk

Lunchtime yoga If you sit at a desk all the day, you might fancy uncurling your spine of a lunchtime. Scaravelli is another slower approach, and will focus your attention on straightening out that computer hunch, based on the teachings from Vanda Scaravelli (author of Awakening the Spine). When I first discovered Kate Fox’s Scaravelli class, it was the first time I’d actually spent time in any one pose; the first time I’d slowed my practice down and learned just how to ‘feel’ each asana instead of worrying what it looked like. Kate’s compassionate class helps break old habits and cultivate new ones, and, while she does hold evening classes, there’s a lovely one at Breathe Bristol that you can squeeze into your lunch hour.

• yogawithkaty.co.uk

Yoga for the spirit Yoga is a spiritual practice, originally brought to the West by gurus of the East, and it has a way of getting under your skin if you let it. Yoga Prema was one of the first classes I attended in Bristol which really made me think beyond the physical movements, and Lila Conway’s teaching has a depth and richness that extends far beyond your weekly hour and a half. She’s one of the most humble, yet deeply spiritual yoga teachers I have ever encountered.

❝ “...Yogis often turns to yin as a way of slowing down and restoring their bodies...”

❞ Having spent a number of years fully immersed in the yogic way of life in ashrams in Thailand, India and Canada, Lila brings to Bristol a firm and authentic grounding in Sivananda with iyengar and hatha. Lila’s teaching is intuitive and inspires trust and curiosity. For those looking to learn about yoga in its fullest form, complete with breathing exercises such as kapal bhakti, and chanting this is a good place to start.

• yogaprema.org

Eleanor Coates’ yin classes are poetic in tone and each has a theme

Think beyond the physical movements with Yoga Prema

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LET’S TALK ABOUT HIPS AND KNEES Mr Baker is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield, who specialises in hip and knee joint replacement surgery for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Here he discusses osteoarthritis, its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. We also find out more about Nuffield Health’s ‘Recovery Plus’ – a unique programme designed to speed up your recovery after surgery, getting you back to the life you love.

O

steoarthritis is the most common condition to affect a human joint. It can affect the smallest through to the largest. Essentially the joint has “worn out”.

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of cases, a cause is not identified. It occurs more frequently as we age, accelerating in frequency in patients over the age of 40. It is estimated that over 4 million people in the UK have osteoarthritis of the knee and a further 2.5 million of the hip.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the articular cartilage, which lines the joint, is gradually

damaged. The articular cartilage is needed to decrease friction as a joint moves. With damage, the articular cartilage loses its smooth gliding surface and the joint surfaces become rough.

Eventually all the cartilage is lost and the joint is left with bone articulating on bone. Sadly, these changes are irreversible.

Typical symptoms of an osteoarthritic joint are

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pain (made worse with exercise), swelling, stiffness and night pain. When the knee or hip are osteoarthritic, a patient will notice slowing of their walking speed and a decrease in the distances they can cover before pain limits them.

In early osteoarthritis, simple treatments are appropriate. These include painkillers, physiotherapy, walking aids, weight loss and injections into the affected joint. When

Health Fitness & Wellbeing Centre, at no extra cost.

Everyone’s recovery is different. We work with you to understand what you want to get out of recovery. Whether it is getting back to a weekly round of golf, tending to the garden, or playing with the grandchildren, our priority is getting you back to doing the things you love doing.

you may feel worried that you are not exercising correctly. However, through our Recovery Plus journey we’re with you every step of the way, helping you progress at your own pace. You will be given a tailored exercise plan, stretching over 3 months, which includes membership to your local Fitness & Wellbeing Centre. Prior to starting your exercise plan you will also receive a Health MOT – a health check delivered by our recovery coach. This will allow us to tailor the programme to achieve the right results for you and to meet your needs in line with your consultant's and physiotherapist's advice. This ensures activities, exercises and levels of progression will be carefully chosen to ensure safe and effective progress.

Throughout the 12 week programme you also will have access to nutritional advice, as a healthy diet will help you towards a good recovery. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t exercised in years, are nervous about using the equipment or are nervous about going to a gym, our exercise professionals will ensure you are working in line with your personalised programme and there will be always someone on hand to explain things, so that you feel comfortable and confident.

Richard Baker and Steve Tolchard osteoarthritis is established and causes significant discomfort joint replacement is often needed. Thankfully joint replacement is a successful procedure. Hip replacement is often quoted as being one of the greatest medical inventions of the 20th century. Indeed, in 2015 100,000 hip and 105,000 knee replacements were performed in the UK. When a joint is replaced the damaged joint surfaces are removed and replaced with artificial components. In the case of a hip replacement, replacing the socket with a cup and placing a stem into the patient’s thigh bone to recreate a ball and socket joint. A spherical head is applied to the stem and this articulates with the cup.

In a complete knee replacement, the ends of the thigh and shin bones are removed and replaced with metal components. A polyethylene bearing is positioned between the two components and finally the kneecap is resurfaced with a polyethylene button. Partial knee replacements exist and these address disease that is localised to one side of the joint only.

Mr Baker holds regular knee and hip clinics at the Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield. To find out more or to book a consultation, please call 0117 405 8978 or visit nuffieldhealth.com/consultants/mr-richard-baker

The Recovery Plus journey is a programme tailored around you. After surgery our physiotherapist will guide your post-operative rehabilitation, both as an inpatient and an outpatient. Once your recovery has progressed and you are getting about relatively easily, regular low impact exercise can make a big difference to your recovery. Suitable exercises, together with activities such as walking, swimming and stationary cycling, can help you to regain strength, movement and flexibility.

Normally these activities are done alone, and

Recovery Plus is the first programme of its kind in the UK and our Consultants tells us that not only does it improve a patient’s experience, it improves recovery rates too. The professionals at our Fitness & Wellbeing Centres, who have all received additional training from experienced physiotherapists, will monitor your progress, ensuring that your care doesn’t stop when you leave the hospital or have completed your postoperative physiotherapy.

To find out more about Recovery Plus, please don’t hesitate to contact Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield, on 0117 405 8978 for a confidential discussion. Alternatively please visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol for more information.

If you would like to learn more about hip or knee replacements, our specialist Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons are holding free information evenings this autumn at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield where you can come along for some free expert advice. Tours of the hospital will be available, and light refreshments will be provided. The ‘Let’s talk about hip pain’ event is taking place on Thursday 22nd September at 18:15, and the ‘Let’s talk about knee pain’ event is on Thursday 13th October at 18:15.

Spaces are limited so please call 0117 405 8978 to reserve your place or visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol/events for more information.

Recovery Plus – getting you back to the life you love Recovery Plus is an optional 3 month enhanced recovery programme that starts after you have finished your post-operative physiotherapy following on from a procedure. It enables you to continue your recovery at your local Nuffield

Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital The Chesterfield, 3 Clifton Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BN Tel: 0117 405 8978 • www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol

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MIGRAINE HEADACHES

Migraines are the world’s sixth most debilitating illness. Can Acupuncture offer sufferers help?

Amanda Hair answers for CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine).

I

f you have experienced a migraine, you will know that it’s not like just having a bad headache. It’s best described as an incapacitating collection of neurological symptoms whereby the sufferer can experience visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell, and tingling or numbness in the extremities or face.

Migraines seem disproportionately to affect women. Interestingly, boys are affected more than girls before puberty, but during adolescence it is women who experience more migraines, more than likely connected to shifting hormones.

With more research emerging that typical painkillers and migraine pharmaceuticals can actually aggravate the condition, some people choose to explore alternatives, such as Acupuncture.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) include in their headache guideline (updated 2015) that a course of up to 10 sessions of Acupuncture may be offered if western pharmacology ‘isn’t suitable’ or ‘doesn’t work well for a particular patient’.

An Acupuncturist will diagnose migraine headaches through a series of differentiating signs and symptoms. For example, the nature of the pain, the location of pain, the frequency, the duration, triggering or aggravating factors. Once a diagnosis is reached, very fine Acupuncture needles are placed in Acupuncture

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points along channels which relate to the major organs within the body. It’s a very common occurrence for the liver organ and related channel to be activated as these are related to a woman’s menstrual cycle. Acupuncture needles may also be placed locally on the scalp or retained in the ear using seeds. The needles are retained for up to 25 minutes, during which time many people experience an extreme sense of relaxation.

In the UK, the Migraine Trust endorses Acupuncture as a viable alternative to western medication. In one study, patients suffering with chronic headache (80% with migraine) were given 12 sessions of Acupuncture over 3 months. This resulted in 34% fewer headache days, 15% less medication, 15% fewer days off work and 25% fewer GP visits after one year.

You can dramatically improve these results by looking at your migraines holistically, however. If you choose an Acupuncturist who has also been trained in Naturopathy, he or she will have an additional set of diagnostic lenses through which to see someone’s illness. As well as tongue and pulse diagnosis, they will use Iridology, which diagnoses illness via the iris of the eye.

We know that there are many triggers for migraines, such as certain foods, alcohol, stress, hormones, and weather. A Naturopathic Acupuncturist will help you identify triggers and causes specific to you, so you can get to the root cause of your problem. (This is a fundamental principle of Naturopathy, to help ensure problems do not recur.)

Naturopathic Acupuncturists also understand how toxins overload the body and how these can be eliminated using a range of appropriate natural techniques such as Nutrition, Herbal Medicine and Homeopathic remedies. They will tailor-make a naturopathic plan for you that not only includes

Acupuncture, but supportive dietary and lifestyle advice, so that you can address all the issues that may be contributing to your migraines.

So if you suffer from debilitating migraines, Naturopathic Acupuncture may be an appropriate therapy for you to explore.

If you’d like to find out more about training with Amanda Hair CNM as a Naturopathic Acupuncturist, a highly rewarding career which gives you the chance to make a difference in people’s lives, come along to an Open Evening at CNM. Amanda Hair lectures in Acupuncture at CNM Bristol.

CNM is the UK’s leading training provider in a range of natural therapies.

Attend a FREE Open Evening to find out about part time training with CNM Bristol for a career in Geoff Don Naturopathic Nutrition or Naturopathic Acupuncture.

17th August, 7pm-9pm Please book your place on line, or find out about studying with CNM at

www.naturopathy-uk.com 01342 410 505

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THE BEST OF | HEALTH

Wimbledon comes to Spire W

imbledon came to Spire Specialist Care Centre at Aztec West on the 7th July when a fundraising event was held in aid of Macmillan to celebrate the centre’s 2nd anniversary. Murray Mound was re-created with a big screen televising the afternoon’s play and a marquee kept off the fear of threatened showers.

The event was well supported by ex-patients, local cancer support groups, GPs, consultants and staff from the centre and sister hospital Spire (The Glen) in Redland.

Staff donated prizes for the tombola as did Starbucks and Alan Bendrey & Co hairdressers at Aztec West.

Guests enjoyed afternoon tea, strawberries and cream and a glass of Pimms, a good time was had by all.

Spire Specialist Care Centre is a purpose built facility offering state of the art technology to provide radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients.

It offers rapid access to treatment with no waiting lists in a calm environment with ample free parking.

Patients come from far and wide to receive their treatment at the centre and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

The centre is able to treat all cancer types and has full supportive services in place. The consultants and small team of clinicians are experts in their field and passionate about the care they provide their patients.

For more information visit www.spirespecialistcarecentre.com or call 01454 456500. Spire Specialist Care Centre , 300 Park Avenue, Aztec West, Bristol BS32 4SE

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WALK | THE WALK

EAST SIDE STORY Andrew Swift heads to the outskirts of the city and extols the verdant virtues of Hanham and Keynsham

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espite being surrounded by built-up areas, the Avon valley between Hanham and Keynsham, and the countryside to the north, remains surprisingly undeveloped. Amid its woods and fields lie ancient mansions such as Hanham Court, dating to Norman times, and Willsbridge House, known locally as ‘the castle’ because of battlements added in the 19th-century. Nearby, in a hidden valley, is Willsbridge Mill, once the hub of a busy industrial complex, and now the gateway to a 22-acre nature reserve.

For lovers of wild woodland, Bickley Wood is a must. Its cavernous hollows, sheer cliffs, switchback paths and flights of steps leading nowhere are the legacy of quarrying. Although most of the scars have healed, the result is something closer to a Tolkienesque fantasy than a sylvan retreat. A place to let your imagination – or your children – run riot. Then there is the riverside path, running through broad meadows. The River Avon between Bristol and Bath became navigable in 1727, when six locks were built to bypass the weirs created by mill owners to harness the power of the water. Until well into the 19th century, barges were towed not by horses but by teams of men, whose lumbering footsteps walkers still follow today.

This area was also served by one of the country’s earliest railways. The Avon & Gloucester Railway – otherwise known as the Dramway – was built in the 1830s to bring coal from

South Gloucestershire pits to two wharves – Avon Wharf and Londonderry Wharf – on the river. The wagons were drawn by horses, and, although the railway was abandoned over a century ago, some of the wharf buildings still survive, as does a steep incline, down which coal once descended, while sections of the old trackbed have become footpaths.

Another railway has also left its mark on this area. This was the Midland line from Bristol to Bath, closed in 1966, but now partially restored as the Avon Valley heritage line. This is a heritage line with a difference, though, for beside the track along which vintage trains trundle, is a tarmac path for walkers and cyclists. The headquarters of the Avon Valley Railway is at Bitton station, where an eclectic array of old locos, carriages, cranes and wagons has been preserved. A similarly varied collection of old boats can be found moored not far away on the river, where a stone-built soap factory, built in 1881, has been converted to a boatyard; while a conversion currently under way is that of the old Fry’s factory, a dominant presence in this broad valley, which is being transformed into business and residential units.

With all this to discover, this part of South Gloucestershire is ideal for a leisurely stroll on a long summer’s day. The walk below takes around five hours, and, apart from Bickley Wood and couple of fields where cattle may be encountered, is mostly on level, well-maintained footpaths.

Directions

● The easiest way to get to the starting point is to take a train to Keynsham station. If arriving by car, there is a car park on the A4175, 200m west of Keynsham station (ST658690). ● Arriving at the station from Bristol, head to the road, cross and turn right downhill. If arriving by car, turn left out of the car park. After crossing the river and canal, cross over, turn right and right again along a lane leading to a marina. ● Just before a bridge leading to the Lock Keeper pub, turn left along a footpath signposted to Swineford (ST660690).

After passing the marina, go through a kissing gate (KG) and continue along a drive. ● After crossing a cattle grid, bear right to follow a track alongside the river. The buildings in the field on the left were connected with Avon Wharf, while the white house was the Dramway company’s headquarters. Across the river is the old soap factory now used as a boatyard. ● Carry on along the riverside path for another 2000m. After

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Image above: The River Avon, with Keynsham visible in the distance Below: The charming, tranquil waterside at Hanham – we always like to imagine we’re in a chapter of Wind in the Willows

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WALK | THE WALK

This page: The Lock Keeper pub over in Keynsham and Bitton Station, circa 1910

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crossing a bridge over a tributary stream, follow a tarmac path up to the railway and turn left along it (ST681688).

After 2000m, follow the railway path to the right of Bitton station. After rejoining the railway line, carry on for 400m before turning left and left again to follow the Dramway footpath. Continue along a road, and, at a T junction, follow the Dramway path through a KG opposite (ST669709).

Shortly after passing the old coal incline (now with a zigzag path), when the dramway curves into a fenced-off cutting, continue along a path to Willsbridge Mill.

Carry on to the main road – with Willsbridge House ahead – and turn right. When you come to the roundabout at the top, cross to the left, turn left through a KG, and follow a pedestrian sign between fields of horses.

When you come to a gate ahead, turn right through a KG and bear right alongside the hedge (ST662704). At the corner of the field, carry straight on through another KG to follow a path between fences. After another KG, continue over a stone stile and head across a large field. Go through a KG on the far side and continue down to emerge by Hanham Court (ST650703).

Bear right along a drive, and, after passing a pond, turn left along a path. Go through an archway and between an avenue of limes before continuing along a road. After the bridge over the dual carriageway, turn left down a path. After 75m, go through a KG on the right (ST645706). Carry straight on through another KG and stepstiles into Bickley Wood, where a path leads steeply downhill. After crossing a footbridge, bear left and head down through the woods.

When you come to a pipeline, follow steps underneath it, carry on down to the riverside path and turn left to Hanham, where there is a lock and two pubs. Carry on alongside the river, and after 2000m you will pass a cottage associated with Londonderry Wharf, with the route of the Dramway clearly visible beside it (ST661699). After another 1100m you come to Keynsham lock and the Lock Keeper pub, from where you can retrace your steps to the starting point. n

At a glance...

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Distance & time: 9 miles, 5 hours

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Level: Largely straightforward; cattle are likely to be encountered at a couple of points en route.

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Refreshment stops: Cafés at Bitton station & Willsbridge Mill; pubs at Hanham and the Lock Keeper at Keynsham.

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Map: OS Explorer 155

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SHOPPING | INTERIORS

WILD & WOLF PHONE, £64.95 We’d happily take our calls on this cute copper 1960s-style dog and bone. John Lewis, Mall at Cribbs; johnlewis.com

CAKE STAND, £49.50 Display your fresh-baked treats in style. M&S, Mall at Cribbs; marksandspencer.com

THE

SAHARA MIRROR, £175 Named, we can only imagine, after its pretty sandyhued frame... Next, Mall at Cribbs; next.co.uk

COCKTAIL SHAKER, £17.50 Crack out the diamond cut shaker and concoct yourself (though it’s more sociable with friends) a summery creation...

M&S, Mall at Cribbs; marksandspencer.com

BIBA DITA VASE, £130 This luxe gold vessel puts us in mind of a sumptuous Roman temple.

House of Fraser; houseoffraser.co.uk

Midas TOUCH As self-confessed metalheads – of the interiors variety – one of our favourite recent design trends has been the return of warm, burnished coppers; bold brass; grand, indulgent golds; steely silvers and the like.

Metal gurus, assemble!

TOM DIXON HEX BOWL, £50 – £145 With its hammered hexagonal pattern, this pretty bowl has been handformed to echo the geometry of molecular structures and will develop a natural patina as it oxidises. John Lewis, Mall at Cribbs; johnlewis.com

ALEX MCCARTHY TEXTURED VASE, £110 With its gorgeous silver sheen, this vase is the ultimate in Mediterranean cool.

Nisi Living; nisiliving.co.uk

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BOOK ENDS, £60 These glam, contemporary book ends in teal agate will add decadent appeal to your book collection. Oliver Bonas; oliverbonas.com

BIBA CUSHION, £40 The devil (or metal) is in the detail of this chic embroidered cushion.

House of Fraser; houseoffraser.co.uk

GOLD BULLION c£16,500 (500g) Because of its devine heaviness, “four nines fine” Swiss gold makes the ultimate statement paper-weight. Buying bullion has become easier too through the likes of Harrods Bank with their own fine gold trading operation... not a bad thing to have on your desk. harrodsbank.co.uk

WINE RACK, £35 We love the minimal hexagonal design of this handy household item. Oliver Bonas; oliverbonas.com

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PROPERTY | PICK

Through the keyhole...

We enjoy a wander round the charming Little Normead Farm, a golden property opportunity in beautiful Bitton

S

itting among a good 14 acres of land, with its own natural spring-fed lake and stables, Little Normead Farm presents a pretty special and, we think, rather exciting lifestyle opportunity in the bustling village of Bitton – which is just about equidistant from both Bristol and Bath.

The 1930s farmhouse is easily accessed via a gated lane entrance – past a pond and down a track which meanders through the grounds for a few hundred yards. The front door opens into a hallway off of which an attractive dining room can be found – as well as a smart family room which has been opened up into the kitchen. The hub of the home, this area is currently filled with sofas and dining furniture, and you can really envisage a lot of quality time spent here with family.

Three sets of doors lead from the family room out onto the patio area – which is a lovely little spot for sharing social occasions with friends or simply relaxing, solo, in the tranquillity that the space affords.

Through the kitchen, there is a utility room which also acts as a useful storage space or could be converted as a prep kitchen if so desired by the new owner. Upstairs, there are four double bedrooms – the master of which has doors opening onto the balcony, and another going into the en-suite. The positioning of the three other double bedrooms allows for quite some flexibility, in the event of a relative or older child wanting their independence. In fact, the current owner has even been 86 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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able to use this space for holiday lets as and when required.

The stables – an added bonus for those house-hunters with equestrian interests – that come with Little Normead Farm have both water and electricity, and are located along a track to the rear of the house. The boundary of the land has been maintained but also left to thrive in the way nature intended – so wildlife is a key feature across the whole plot, along with lots of mature trees and shrubs including two beautiful old oaks.

The opportunities for this land are manifold, especially with such flexible accommodation to boot. There’s an outbuilding as well as a carport just behind the house, at the end of the pretty drive, and a walk to the top of the ‘garden’ – where it borders the surrounding land – is an utter pleasure, given the wonderful views of the house from beside the poplar trees. n

PROPERTY PROFILE Where: Golden Valley, Bitton, Bristol, BS30 6NZ Guide price: £1,350,000 Agent: Fine & Country, 147 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2QT Contact: 0117 973 3081; fineandcountry.com

Main image: the lovely 1930s farmhouse, accessed via a gated lane entrance Opposite page, clockwise from top: the handsome decked area – soak up the tranquil setting; the house has many lightfilled spaces; verdant grounds; the contemporary, open design is great for social occasions

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PROPERTY | PICK

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INTERIORS

MAKING A LIVING We catch up up with the new local interiors company hoping to inject some super-summery Mediterranean vibes into Bristol homes

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ummer’s here (intermittently at least) – as is nisiliving.co.uk, the new home accessories website recently launched by Bristol couple Eleni and Julian Portch. A former teacher and now mum of two young boys, Eleni had always been passionate about interiors, and before turning this passion into a career, had long enjoyed seeking out all sorts of unusual items for her own home. So, after the pair realised Julian’s accountancy background would prove invaluable in developing a clear business plan and dealing with all things financial, the business was born. “While we have quite different roles, I do like to get involved in product selection too,” says Julian. “It’s essential that we both believe in our range.”

Of course, we wanted to know more...

So, the website has quite a Mediterranean feel, was that the plan?

Julian: Yes, Eleni is Greek Cypriot and we love the Mediterranean way of life so we wanted to create a beautiful website that reflects the colour and vibe of the Med. ‘Nisi’ is Greek for ‘island’ but it’s also a nod to Eleni’s favourite beach – Nissi Beach in Cyprus. We’re really pleased with the clean, fresh look of the website, which we had designed by Tim and Dan at Design Militia on Colston Street.

What’s been your bestseller so far?

Eleni: Our Mario Luca Giusti lente glasses and palla pitchers are proving very popular. They are crafted from acrylic but have the appearance of solid crystal, so they’re really practical but look amazing too. We will be adding to this collection, so look out for the diamante glasses in more gorgeous colours.

We will! So, how we can achieve that Mediterranean look, here at home?

Eleni: You can create your own Moroccan oasis with – basically – lanterns, leather pouffes and a selection of cactus plants.

Pom-poms on cushions and throws are a massive trend this year and an easy way to add that bohemian touch to your home. If you want to create something more permanent, check out the Moroccan Encaustic Tile Company, based in Bedminster, who stock a great selection of vibrant Moroccan tiles. For indoors, think Santorini – with its cool white interiors, artisan ceramics, pastel floor cushions and metallic lanterns. Colourful platters for sharing meze and beautiful linen tablecloths will complete this laid-back look.

What’s next?

Julian: Outdoor living is such a way of life in the Mediterranean so we are looking into sourcing luxury outdoor furniture for next Where do you source your products? summer. Definitely on our wish list are Eleni: We always wanted to sell products from Europe so we could offer something a weather-proof outdoor rugs, floor cushions bit different. We have some exclusive designs and pouffes – perfect for our unpredictable from Marlo & Isaure, beautiful cushions British weather. We will also be working Eleni and Julian wanted to reflect the colour and from Moroccan brand Lalla de Moulati and with Bravas on Cotham Hill who are vibe of the Med – photo by Mark Bolton some hand-painted tableware from Da Terra. contributing some of their favourite tapas We also champion British talent like Bristolrecipes to our blog. Hopefully, just in time based Alex McCarthy Ceramics. His tactile, beautifully unique vases, for some alfresco entertaining in the heat wave we’ve all been waiting for! • nisiliving.co.uk with their opulent lustre detail, look very Mediterranean.

Create your own Moroccan oasis this summer with lanterns, leather pouffes, pretty tiles and succulents

We love this Mario Luca Giusti palla pitcher (£40)

We love the opulent lustre of this Alex McCarthy vase (£110)

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GARDENING

STILL WATERS There’s nothing so pleasurable in a garden than a water feature, says Margaux Speirs, and there’s a container for every budget

W

atching or listening to water in a garden is really quite therapeutic – it gives the garden an air of peace and tranquillity, reflecting glints of sunlight or lamplight and attracting the eye with the movement of small creatures. There is something fascinating and mystical about a water garden – and it is a very attainable pleasure for every garden owner.

Whether you have a country cottage, an urban courtyard, a family garden or even a balcony, I am confident that adding a water feature will give you greater pleasure than almost any other aspect of your garden. It doesn’t need to be expensive or expansive: there is a container pond for every budget and you can justify your treat to yourself by saying that it is educational for the children (who will doubtless be intrigued by the pond life it attracts); good for the local ecology (providing refreshment or a breeding ground for frogs, insects, birds and other little beasties); or just good for your mental health and serenity.

For the keen gardener, it also provides an opportunity to grow plants which remain lush even in high summer. A couple of years ago there was a theft of a rare miniature water lily from Kew Gardens, presumed stolen to order by or for a plant collector. It was shocking, of course, but I completely understood the short step between looking at its beautiful, tiny, perfect flowers and wanting to have it in one’s own garden. I think water lilies, more than any other plant, lay bare the kleptomaniac inside me!

They need still water to thrive so my favourite sort of miniature water garden does not have a fountain. That makes it easier to locate as well, because moving water needs a pump and therefore a nearby electrical supply, whereas a miniature pond in a pot can be placed anywhere in the garden. Site it where the still surface 90 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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reflects the sky or overhanging foliage, or among plants complemented by water, such as ferns, acers, irises or hostas.

There are probably two things which discourage a prospective water gardener: fears about setting up costs and maintenance hassles. However, the simplest ideas for introducing water to the garden are often the most effective and for under £200 you can buy an established, planted and charming pond in a pot – measuring about 60cm diameter by 25cm deep. If you have your own pot and just buy a miniature water lily (circa £20) it will cost a lot less. To maintain your plants’ health you will need to clean out the pot once the layer of leaf mould in the bottom is a couple of inches thick but if you keep leaves off the surface, that could be a couple of years off. In the meantime, just keep it topped up with water (preferably rain water).

The basic requirements for a container pond are a lovely looking pot (obviously, waterproof) and a selection of small-scale water plants. Plant selection, even with no expertise, is made easy by the internet as there are online suppliers who will post a suitable combination if you just tell them the size of your pot and whether it is to stand in sun or shade. For example, Waterside Nursery, which has been winning awards at Chelsea for several years, will post an appropriate selection of aquatic plants ready rooted in mesh baskets so you just unpack them and place them in your pond. Plants’ roots will need to be at the correct depth (which will be indicated on the packaging) – so if, for example, it says 15cm and your pond is 25cm deep, use a brick or upturned flowerpot to support the planting basket or roots at the right depth. Your plant selection should include an oxygenating plant to maintain the water’s oxygen supply but often these are ornamental at surface level too, such as isolepsis cernua which has delicate,

Image above: Give your garden an extra air of peace and tranquillity by adding a water feature – even if it’s just a tin bath creation for a more bijou space. Photo © Waterside Nursery

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arching seed heads which look like little fibre optic lights.

Choose a container which suits the style of your garden. A rustic garden invites something traditional such as a half barrel in wood, an old stone cattle trough or even a zinc tub. A modern balcony would probably look better with a glazed pot or a square-sided synthetic or metallic container. If you want the eye to be drawn to the feature, you could choose a striking colour, but if you want it to blend into your planting then go for natural and subdued tones. An oriental pot, either in traditional blue and white or dark glazed reds, can look good in any sort of garden. Again, if you prefer shopping online, there is a particularly good website for garden accessories, which sells pots in every shape, colour and size – Primrose.co.uk. Personally, I prefer to see what I am buying and I like the serendipity of finding just the right thing for the purpose I have in mind. There are several architectural salvage yards in and around Bristol which make for good pickings. The most important thing is to buy a pot that holds water. You can fiddle around waterproofing with waterproof sealant but I am all for an easy life.

The pot needs to be at least 25cm deep but the deeper it is, the greater the choice of plants you will have and it may even be big enough for a couple of goldfish. I am no expert but I have read that a general rule is to allow only one to two inches of fish length for every square foot of water surface. The biggest treat for me is when the damselflies discover the pond because they are so pretty to watch. I would select a pot of at least 60cm diameter so you have room for several plants – ideally a combination of heights and textures, with blades, broader leaves and flowers. Occasionally a single variety works – such as the bamboo-like equisetum hyemale which looks dramatic in a spikey, modern way with its evergreen, ramrod straight canes and brown stripes at the nodes.

As I say, miniature water lilies are a must for me, flowering for the whole summer, but they do need full sun. If you want inspiration (or just a lovely afternoon out) head to Longstock Park Water Garden in Stockbridge. It has over 40 types of water lily and is open on the first and third Sunday of the month, April to September from 2pm to 5pm. n Margaux Speirs is a qualified garden designer and runs her business, Margaux Speirs Garden Design, from her home in Bristol; margauxspeirsgardendesign.co.uk

PLANT OF THE MONTH: Hydrangeas have been around in England for so long they feel like natives (introduced to Britain in 1736) but there is a relative newcomer, found growing wild in America in the 1970s, which is usurping its English cousins in popularity: hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’. It has large pom-pom heads of white flowers with green veins, giving it a fresher look than a pure white variety. It flowers non-stop from July well into autumn, and when its flowers are over, they remain all winter as fine skeletons which look gorgeous when covered in frost. It is easy to grow, in sun or shade and is drought tolerant – although it flowers best on moisture retentive soil. Because it only grows to 1.5m high and wide, it can also be kept in a large container.

Note: it’s a good idea to plant spring bulbs underneath, given that it comes into leaf quite late in spring.

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BRISTOL PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

SLOBLOCK HALL This month’s feature property takes us to Cadbury Camp Lane in North Somerset to visit a unique country house that not only has true Hollywood glamour but also comes with a delightfully risqué name

S

loblock Hall - there’s an anagram in there - brings a touch of Hollywood-style luxury to a popular rural part of North Somerset. Cadbury Camp Lane is a no through road providing a high degree of privacy, yet allowing easy access to Clifton Village. Built of mellow honey brick in the 1970s and designed on a series of concentric circles, the property combines modern architecture and minimalist design to spectacular effect.

The house has been fully refurbished to the highest of standards with large frameless windows, additional insulation, new roof, plumbing and wiring systems and an integrated IT and music system.

The design of Sloblock Hall weaves a seamless transition from the interior to the exterior and is perfect for entertaining. Each room seems to possess its own touch of glamour, including a suspended fireplace in the drawing room, glass ceiling in the sitting room, circular master bedroom suite bathroom, leather clad wardrobes in the hall and a spiral staircase to allow a dramatic entrance to any party.

Outside the film star fell continues with a swimming pool with full kitchen, pool house and gym. There are beautiful landscaped gardens, a long tree-lined drive and woodland to explore.

In brief, the ground floor accommodation comprises: large entrance hall, lower dining room and lounge, upper lounge, snug/cinema room, large kitchen, utility room, study and cloakroom.

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Upstairs there’s a master bedroom suite with dressing room and bathroom, guest bedroom suite, three further bedrooms and bathroom.

Additionally the house has a huge basement for storage and potential for an indoor pool, triple garage, swimming pool with full kitchen, pool house and gym, landscaped gardens and woodland.

Sloblock Hall can only be fully appreciated upon viewing.

Full details are with agents Knight Frank Clifton.

Knight Frank, Regent House, 27A Regent Street, Clifton, Bristol.

Tel: 0117 317 1999

IN BRIEF: • • • • •

Main house (excl cellars) 4205 sq ft Garage & pool house 1342 sq ft In all approx 3,86 acres Potential to add indoor pool Price: £2.6 million

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PROPERTY | FOCUS

Ivywell Road, Sneyd Park, £799,000 Fancy the sound of a gorgeous period maisonette looking onto the Downs? We do.

Approached via a lane shared by a small number of properties, Stoke Lodge is an impressive building and the property in question – 12a – is accessed via steps directly in front. The lobby, where we imagine kicking off muddy boots after Sunday strolls, features stairs rising to the light-filled entrance hall and balcony, which offers lovely views – the ideal setting for morning coffee or evening refreshment. The three flexible reception rooms are currently arranged as a generous dual-aspect study – an inviting workspace – and a dining room with a pretty archway through to a sitting room with ornate period features. The kitchen and utility room complete the first floor, while upstairs there’s a master suite, two further double bedrooms – one with en-suite shower room – and a family bathroom.

We’ve got our eye on these three pretty local properties this month – wonder who’ll get there first?

Contact Fine & Country, 147 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2QT; fineandcountry.com

Hampton Road, Redland, £945,000 We love the pastel picturesqueness of this five-bedroom, early Victorian, semidetached house – set in a popular and convenient spot in the heart of Redland.

Sympathetically renovated so as to provide spacious and well-proportioned accommodation with an abundance of character and period features, it’s full of light, with high ceilings and large sash windows. The design is well thought out, and the westerly-facing walled back garden is a very pleasant feature of this muchloved family home, which is being sold for the first time in 70 years. On the ground floor, you’ll find, beyond the entrance hall, a charming drawing room and an attractive sitting room, while on the lower ground floor there’s a kitchen/breakfast room, shower room, and family/dining room. Then, on the first floor, are two bedrooms and a family bathroom; and above, on the second floor, three further bedrooms and a shower room. Offered with no onward chain, this Hampton Road property should allow for a straightforward move.

Contact Richard Harding, 124 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2RP; 0117 946 6690; richardharding.co.uk

House of Over, Almondsbury, £950,000 Dating from the 17th-century, this detached five-bedroom former farmhouse offers grounds extending to almost two acres, as well as a great deal of period character – with exposed beams, fireplaces and mullion windows. The current owners have sensitively maintained the house, and added an extension containing two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen/breakfast room and adjoining utility that overlook the gardens. The older part of the house has a welcoming hallway with character staircase, plus two spacious reception rooms; while the upper floor lays claim to three bedrooms, including a spacious master bedroom with en-suite shower room, and a family bathroom. The bedrooms and bathroom over the newer part of the house easily lend themselves as a handy annexe area, if desired.

Ouside, the drive provides parking and access to the garages, and there’s a lawned garden, patio, and ‘arboretum’ with rare maturing trees. For those with an equestrian leaning, there is also the option to fence off the bottom of the garden and create a paddock and stabling.

Contact Leese and Nagle, 61 Apsley Road, BS8 2SW; leeseandnagle.co.uk

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THINKING PROPERTY ROBIN ENGLEY, ASSOCIATE AT KNIGHT FRANK ESTATE AGENTS BRISTOL

BUSINESS AS USUAL? The property market, house prices and construction appears to remain the hot topic in the press and around the dinner table. A post BREXIT market has created lots of speculation and feeling of uncertainty which is understandable. Whilst it’s incredibly early to confirm what is likely to happen in the future, Knight Frank Bristol again continues a busy run of exciting sales..

With the Bank of England keeping the level of interest rates at a record low, the town market remains confident with sales including that of a Pembroke Road townhouse (guided at just under £1,000,000) selling within the first two days of marketing. Several examples of competitive bidding have arisen again and sales within our new homes developments continue to gather pace. Our country market has listed 8 new instructions priced between £450,000 and £1,100,000 regardless of the speculation with a clear message that the buyers and sellers that are in the market at the moment mean business and are committed with a purchase or sale.

Looking at stats within our office, applicants registering are up from this time last year, offers made are up 50% and the time that properties remain on the market has dropped considerably. Whilst speculation will remain constant, there does feel an atmosphere of ‘business as usual’. Perhaps with the confirmation of a new leader within the Conservative party all markets may continue to settle. At the time of writing we are moving into a summer holiday season which might slow things further however those considering a sale must remember that the shortage of quality stock is there to take advantage of with good buyers on our books looking for primary homes and indeed investments and second homes.

Below is the market comment from our head office in London given an indication of what we feel is happening in the bigger picture. Knight Frank.com has many useful research areas and is certainly worth visiting giving an insight in your area, an insight nationally and internationally not to mentioned the commercial property and finance options available to you.

‘We have seen a number of deals for properties exchange since the referendum, with activity noticeably picking up in certain pockets across the country market. We also have a handful of properties under offer at competitive bidding, which is very encouraging given the uncertainty that is and has been prevalent.

It is still too soon to comment on how each individual market and price point across the UK will fare in the longer term, and we expect some negotiations to be affected as the uncertainty continues, but it is important to note the positive signs that we have seen following Brexit. Our pipeline of stock for the coming months is also looking healthy.

For the majority of our clients, the lifestyle or financial reasons for their move still exist and they are motivated to progress, which is allowing us to continue business as usual.’

With the results of BREXIT and a market that has promoted uncertainty it may well be a perfect time to sit down with one of team and talk through the local market conditions. As ever, James Toogood and I in the town market and Freddie Wright in the country market will gladly give you an honest approach to the market. n Robin Engley, Knight Frank, Regent House, 27a Regent Street, Clifton Bristol. BS8 4HR Tel: 0117 317 1999

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Take a look at the stylish living on offer at Crest Nicholson’s Electricity House

W

ith high demand for property and plenty of mortgage options available there has never been a better time to invest in the property market. Award-winning housebuilder Crest Nicholson’s Electricity House development offers a stunning collection of penthouse duplex apartments, perfect for all.

Built in the 1930s by acclaimed architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Electricity House is an iconic building and has been an integral part of the history of Bristol. In 2014, it was restored to its former glory by award-winning housebuilder Crest Nicholson. A fantastic mix of apartments is now available, offering homebuyers a chance to own a piece of history.

The luxurious one, two and three-bedroom duplex penthouse apartments are perfect for those looking for a unique home in Bristol’s vibrant city centre.

Exquisitely designed to the highest quality, Electricity House incorporates original art deco features with all the benefits of a modern build. Electricity House is one of only a handful of developments in the city to offer a concierge service and secure undercroft parking. Ideal for first time buyers and young professional couples, Electricity House really is a stylish and sophisticated place to live.

The brand new fifth floor penthouse apartments have an open-plan living space with access to an outside terrace, perfect for entertaining and enjoying the stunning views on offer. The apartments also benefit from high-tech under-floor heating throughout to keep you warm and cosy during the colder months. The double bedrooms have been designed to maximise space, with fitted wardrobes and plenty of storage.

Located in the heart of Bristol city centre, Electricity House is just a stones’ throw away from Bristol Temple Meads station, which has great transport links right across the UK. The development is a mere 10-minute walk from the Cabot Circus shopping centre and in close proximity to a great selection of buzzing restaurants and bars, with the popular Hotel du Vin just across the road. Just a quarter of a mile from the M32, there are also excellent road links for both business and more rural countryside pursuits.

One-bedroom penthouse apartments are available to purchase from £350,000. For more information, come and visit our on-site Sales and Marketing Suite open daily between 10am and 5pm. Or visit us at https://www.crestnicholson.com/electricityhouse/

Henleaze

Henleaze

Westbury Park

This deceptively spacious, 1920’s family home is split over three levels and offers four reception rooms, welcoming central reception hallway, stairwell and landings, conservatory and a quality built-in kitchen. Further benefits include a south facing garden, ample parking and the property is in close proximity to Henleaze high street shops and amenities.

EPC D.

A characterful well-presented four bedroom home with two receptions, kitchen/diner, 28m westerly facing garden and ‘L’ shaped cedar cladded annexe/workshop with electric shutters and air conditioning. Further benefits include garage, parking, bike and wood stores. In close proximity to Henleaze Infant and Junior and the local shops and amenities within Henleaze High Street. EPC D.

Four bedroom, Victorian style family home with open plan extended ground floor creating a kitchen/lounge/dining area to rear with Quartz stone worktops and wooden floors, separate living room with bay and open fire. Private garden to rear which is laid to lawn and decking, security gate leading to rear providing access.

EPC E.

Price Guide £850,000

Price Guide £650,000

Price Guide £600,000

Westbury-on-Trym

Westbury-on-Trym

Blaise

A superbly presented, substantial semi detached, five bedroom family home with three individual receptions, built in separate kitchen, 100ft + garden, integral extended garage and ample parking. Extensive loft which is suitable for conversion subject to necessary building consent.

Marketed with no onward chain. Positioned within the popular Elmlea school catchment..

EPC D.

A delightful family home with three bedrooms, two individual reception rooms, modern kitchen/dining room, landscaped southerly facing garden measuring approximately 50ft in length and downstairs cloakroom/WC. Added benefit of an additional room off of bedroom three which is currently used as a study/office.

Integral garage and off street parking.

EPC E.

Renovated to a high specification with bespoke features throughout, this unique three storey characterful property is positioned adjacent to the Blaise Castle estate. Spacious lounge/diner, custom fitted kitchen with fitted appliances and access to a delightful courtyard garden.

Three double bedrooms and a spacious family bathroom with four-piece white suite. No onward chain. EPC E.

Price Guide £825,000

Price Guide £525,000

Price Guide £325,000

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Clifton Redland Road, Sneyd Park, BS9 1PU ÂŁ275,000

Kellaway Avenue Bristol, BS7 8UU ÂŁ575,000

Bishopston

A two bedroom purpose built apartment set within the large and well maintained communal gardens of tranquil Hazelwood Court, Sneyd Park. This property benefits from: level access, double glazing, gas central heating and direct access from the living area to a private patio area and communal gardens. The interior presents: entrance hall, spacious lounge/diner, separate kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom with modern white suite. The property also benefits from a garage. Energy Efficiency Rating: C

An impressive four bedroom semi detached family residence boasting a stunning garden. The property is well presented throughout and offers a wealth of space and flexible living. The ground floor accommodation comprises living room, dining room, garden room, study/fifth bedroom, kitchen, utility room, wet room and cloakroom. There is a 1st floor bathroom and large loft area. The property boasts a large, stunning rear garden, a garage and off street parking for multiple vehicles. Energy Efficiency Rating: E

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Harbourside 26 The Custom House, Bristol, BS1 6NE ÂŁ575,000

Yate Cotswold Lane, Old Sodbury, BS37 6NE OIEO ÂŁ550,000

Harbourside Yate

A generously proportioned modern apartment with exceptional attention to detail throughout. The property offers two double bedrooms or three depending upon your use of the separate dining room and three bathrooms, two of which are en-suite. The spacious open plan reception room has dual aspect as it is on the corner of the building and so enjoys excellent views over the harbour. The kitchen is very well equipped, opening on to the reception room and also enjoying views over the water. Energy Efficiency Rating: TBC

This bespoke 4 bedroom property offers modern living in a light and airy property built just 12 years ago.

Situated in the heart of the village and tucked away in a private little retreat the property remains ideally placed for a walk to the local pub or by car to Chipping Sodbury High Street, Yate Town Centre or indeed access to the M4 motorway at junction 18. Energy Efficiency Rating: E

Redland £685,000

Kellaway Avenue – 4 bedroom house

Clifton Office 0117 946 6007

Beautifully presented and newly renovated detached house with flexible layout and separate one bedroom annexe. Two en suite bedrooms including e master bedroom with a walk out balcony. Offering off street parking. This attractive property will suit a variety of buyers. Presented to the market in excellent decorative order throughout. EPC - D

Westbury-on-Trym £450,000

Westbury-on-Trym Office 0117 962 1973

Trym Road – Three bedroom house A characterful semi detached home in a very sought after location in the village of Westbury-on-Trym, the property retains features from the period including stripped wooden floors and fireplace but has a modern family feel. Set on one of the oldest parts of the village now just yards from the vibrant shops. EPC - TBC

oceanhome.co.uk

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Redland £599,950

Upper Belgrave Road – Three bedroom House The School House is an exclusive walled development of seven houses.

To the ground floor is a spacious 25’11 x 14’9 living room with tri-fold doors to the South facing terrace at the rear and a kitchen/breakfast room with a separate utility area and cloak room. The property also comes with a single garage within the gated enclosure. EPC - TBC

Westbury-on-Trym £365,000

Trym Road – Three bedroom house Nestled in a pedestrian back water in the centre of Westbury-onTym metres from the prestigious school. One of only a handful of 18th century properties in the village and grade 2 listed. Through the front entrance you approach the house via a lane and then through the landscaped private garden. EPC - TBC

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SOLD

Clifton | Bristol

Guide Price £625,000

SOLD - SIMILAR PROPERTIES REQUIRED. A wonderful mid-terrace family house with superb southerly views and well-appointed accommodation over three floors. 32' through-reception room with a modern open plan kitchen and access to the enclosed rear garden. Utility room. Three first floor bedrooms and a family bathroom. Top floor master bedroom suite with en-suite shower room. Excellent storage and a pretty fully enclosed rear garden.

EPC Rating: E

SOLD

Redland | Bristol

Guide Price £920,000

SOLD – SIMILAR PROPERTIES REQUIRED. A beautifully proportioned family house (circa 3500 sq. ft), with off-street parking for several vehicles and a pretty enclosed rear garden. Drawing room, dining room, study / play room. 30' family kitchen with AGA & dining room. Cloakroom and separate coat cupboard. Master bedroom with en-suite shower room. Five further double bedrooms. Two family bathrooms. Loft storage. Useful cellar. Off-street parking and a delightful family garden to the rear. EPC Rating: F

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NEW INSTRUCTION

Sneyd Park | Bristol

Guide Price £799,000

A stunning three bedroom maisonette occupying the top two floors of a period property on Ivywell Road, Sneyd Park. There are three reception rooms which offer flexible use, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It also has the added benefit of a garage and parking. The maisonette overlooks the Downs and is within a mile of Whiteladies Road in Clifton. EPC Rating: E

Olveston - ÂŁ1,650,000 This fine Grade II* Listed house is understood to be early 16th century in origin and sits within beautiful stone-walled gardens tucked away in a lovely corner of Olveston. Once inside the front door, character grabs your attention from every angle - the panelled entrance hall, the reception rooms with their high ceilings and fireplaces, up the ancient staircase to the two floors of bedrooms above and back down to the cellar below. The property enjoys an enviable location backing onto farmland, yet remains a short level walk to the heart of the village with its range of shops, Olveston CEVC Primary School, the Church of St Mary The Virgin and The White Hart public house. The gardens are secluded by a wide variety of mature and specimen trees creating a veritable private arboretum, all complemented by sweeping lawns, a picturesque pond to the front and a small vineyard tucked away behind. Within the grounds sits a substantial detached cider barn complete with cider-press, mill-stones, cobbled flooring and a vaulted basement. It also provides, in-part, garaging for the main house. Hill House holds significant links with The Quaker movement and it is understood that the founder, George Fox, honeymooned there after marrying in Broadmead, Bristol in 1669. This truly is a unique opportunity to continue the stewardship of this wonderful old village home.

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Stoke Bishop - Guide Price £795,000

Coombe Dingle - Guide Price £585,000

A classic 1930’s four bedroom semi-detached house, of over 2000 sq. ft, retaining much of its original charm and situated in a very convenient part of Stoke Bishop; only a short walk to the vast expanse of Durdham Downs and close to the well reputed Elmlea Primary and Infants School. EPC - F

This is a beautifully positioned very light and airy 1960’s built 4 bedroom detached family home, set in this highly sought after location with a sense of being halfway between city and country living. EPC - D

Westbury-on-Trym - Guide Price £585,000

Coombe Dingle - Guide Price £339,950

This is a lovely extended 4-bedroom 1930’s family house located in this highly sought after cul-de-sac situated off Abbey Road. The property is within the 2016/2017 admissions zone for both Elmlea Schools and St Ursula’s Academy for primary education and The Free School for secondary education. EPC - E

We are delighted to offer this three bedroom semi-detached house in the highly sought after location of Coombe Dingle, BS9. The property is fantastically well located with the woodland surround of Blaise Estate. EPC - D

Almondsbury - Guide Price £950,000

Westbury-on-Trym - Guide Price £695,000

Dating in parts from the Seventeenth century this detached five bedroom former farmhouse benefits from grounds extending to 1.4 acres, is situated in a small hamlet and has excellent communication links onto the motorway networks and back into Bristol. EPC - D

An intriguing detached 4 bedroom 19th century former farm cottage tucked away just off Stoke Lane in central Westbury. Enjoying almost total seclusion the house provides accommodation of considerable character in this historic part of Westbury. EPC - F

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NEW SHOWROOM

Our new dedicated wardrobe and flooring showroom in the old Maskrey's building next door to our existing store at 56-60, Whiteladies Road is open from 30th July We have hundreds of carpet, solid wood and vinyl flooring options as well as a vast range of German gliding and opening door wardrobes on show and an increased range of painted and solid oak cabinet furniture We have amazing promotional offers throughout the store during August to celebrate the new space - please call us or visit our website for details

Curtains and Blinds Sofas and Fabrics Bespoke Cabinet Furniture and Wardrobes

FABRICS

terms and conditions apply

We are just past Clifton Down Shopping Centre 56/64, Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2PY Mon-Sat 9.30 - 5.30/Sun 12 - 5

TEL: 01173 292746

All types of reupholstery Traditional to comtemporary styles Antique and Vintage pieces