The Bristol Magazine January 2023

HEALTH & WELLNESS

MARKING OCCASIONS

VERONICA

PROPERTY HOT SPOTS

ON THE LEVEL Andrew Swift suggests seven spectacular walks on mostly level terrain around the Bristol area

ETSY FOR FOOD Bristol-born online marketplace, All About the Cooks, puts a healthy spin on their much-loved recipes

FARM TO FORK Delve into the menu one of Bristol’s finest restaurants, which was awarded a Michelin Green Star in 2022

HEALTH & WELLNESS Bristol’s businesses doing wonders for our body and mind...

GARDENING Elly West looks at the best ways to encourage our feathered friends back to our gardens in the winter months...

PERSONAL & POETIC

closer look at the work of Bristol-based artist Veronica Ryan –winner of the Turner Prize 2022

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRISTOL The city celebrates its 650th year of being an independent city and county

ON THE COVER Veronica Ryan photographed in her exhibition Along a Spectrum at Spike Island (2021). Photograph by Max McClure. Courtesy Spike Island, Bristol, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York and Alison Jacques, London

EDITOR from the

The January issue always feels as though we’ve travelled in time.

The magazine hits the streets at the end of year, but for us, and for many weeks, it’s been all about 2023.

Publisher Steve Miklos

Email: steve@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Jane Miklos Email: jane@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Editor Millie Bruce-Watt

Tel: 0117 974 2800 Email: millie@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Assistant Editor/Web Editor Daisy Game Email: daisy@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Jeff Osborne Email: production@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales Liz Grey liz@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

For advertising enquiries please contact us on: 0117 974 2800 Email: sales@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

The Bristol Magazine is published by MC Publishing Ltd. An independent publisher.

Millie Bruce-Watt

The New Year embodies fresh starts and new beginnings and this issue we’re very much looking forward to what is to come over the next 12 months. Bristol is celebrating a number of new ventures and re-openings this year and preparing, it seems, for twice as many anniversaries, including its 650th year as an independent city and county. We’ve gathered them together on p.24 – flick through to get some dates in the diary.

Staying on the theme of new beginnings, we’re celebrating our cover star this month, British- Caribbean sculptor Veronica Ryan. Ryan was recently awarded the prestigious Turner Prize in recognition of both her major exhibition at Spike Island and her Hackney Windrush Art Commission, which became the first permanent artwork to honour the Windrush generation in the UK and the first permanent public sculpture by a Black female artist. After many years in the “shadows of the art world”, Ryan has burst onto the main stage and we’re excited to see what she has in store for art lovers in 2023. Echoing the words of the director of Spike Island, Robert Leckie, it is a joy to see her outstanding contribution to British art finally acknowledged.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we’re focusing on food, health, wellness and looking at a more mindful, sustainable approach to the way we eat and live. On p.44, Jan Ostle, head chef of the Redland-based restaurant, Wilsons, explains how they secured a Michelin Green Star for their outstanding environmentally friendly practices.

At the time of writing, the temperature has just rocketed from -5 degrees Celsius to a balmy 9 degrees. So, whatever the weather may bring, and whatever January may look like, we hope it’s a good one. See you next time…

Featured image: Vegan, cruelty-free, recycled and sustainable handbags by Bristol-based brand Amsschela. See more on p. 14

Every month The Bristol Magazine is hand delivered to more than 15,000 homes in selected areas. We also deliver direct to companies and businesses across the city. Additionally there are many places where we have floor-stands and units for free pick-up:

things to do in January 5

Celebrate

On 28 January, Cadbury House Hotel invites you to its Burns Night celebrations. The bar will be open from 6.30pm, followed by three course banquet dinner with tea and coffee, and the resident DJ and disco for evening entertainment. Tables are booked on a ‘Join a table’ basis and will be set up banquet style for the event. Ticket cost £49 per person.

Watch

Set in a re-education centre a few hundred metres below the earth, There’s Nobody Else In The World and The World Was Made For Me is the latest show from Bristol Old Vic’s Young Company exploring power, punishment and the current state of young people’s mental health.

• Running from 11 –14 January at Bristol Old Vic. Book your tickets at: bristololdvic.org.uk

• To book, call 01934834343 and press option 1, or email info@cadburyhouse.com. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to the Guide Dogs Association; cadburyhotelbristol.co.uk/burns-night

Admire

From 3 –30 January, Tobacco Factory is hosting an exhibition by Bristol artist and writer Graeme Robbins in its main bar area. Robbins is the co-founder of The Independent Group; a collection of West Country artists who come together once a year for an exhibition at Hamilton House, a creative hub in the heart of Bristol’s artists’ quarter.

Graeme has developed his business Pub Sign Design over 15 years, with work hanging around the world, outside of pubs and inside homes. He has also featured in several publications including The New York Times and Yomiuri Shinbun (one of Japan’s most-read newpapers.) His most recent work was put together mostly during lockdown.

• tobaccofactory.com

Explore

RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is returning from 27 –29 January. It’s

Enjoy

The One and Only, written and directed by Briony Waite, performed by Fiona Battisby, and with musical accompaniment by Freya Evans, tells the story of Marie Lloyd, Queen of Music Hall who died 100 years ago.

In the late 19th century, performers, mainly from London’s East End, came together to create a unique phenomenon: Music Hall. Marie Lloyd started treading the boards at the age of 15, developing a singing repertoire that combined arch sauciness with lyrical intensity. Hailed as the One and Only, Queen of Music Hall and enjoying huge popularity worldwide, Marie had an equally colourful life off stage.

• Running from 12 –14 January. Book your tickets at: henandchicken.com

• rspb.org.uk

Image credit: Chelsey Cliff

BRISTOL THE CITYist My

I’ve lived in Bristol for 18 years and there’s so much that makes the city unique. For me, it’s the people and the feel of the place. I love that we have so many large green spaces that are all walkable from the centre.

200-year-old venue receives funding for performance area

A music venue in Bristol can create a second performance area and hold more events following a grant from the charity Music Venue Trust (MVT). Louisiana received £4,855.28 from MVT’s Pipeline Investment Fund to pay for speakers and a new mixing desk.

“Running a venue, especially one that is over 200-year-old, is very expensive. With running costs increasing daily, it means that we no longer have the funds to put aside for reinvestment into projects such as this. The funding received means that we can fit a second stage in the bar area, and will now look to host more weekend events over two floors. This will mean an increase in the amount of artists we can book in to play,” said venue owner Mig Schillace.

Schillace turned to Music Venue Trust following the announcement of the charity’s Pipeline Investment Fund, a major new funding initiative which provides grants of up to £5,000 for UK Grassroots Music Venues.

The Pipeline Investment Fund was established with the support of members of the Music Venues Alliance and was primarily funded by donations from ticket sales of MVT’s recent Revive Live programme of gigs around the UK, which was a partnership with The National Lottery.

The first recipients of the grants are 11 Grassroots Music Venues who have received almost £40,000 in total for a range of lighting, sound and associated equipment purchases, air conditioning units and building work.

• thelouisiana.net

I started my career in commercial radio – on Brighton’s Surf 107.2 as station voice in 1999, then weekday breakfast presenter for GWR’s Gemini FM; weekends on Bristol’s Galaxy 101. I’ve been voicing for brands in the commercial and corporate sector for many years and a bit later got involved in gaming, which I absolutely love. I’m also experienced in marketing, digital agencies and startups. In 2016, I spent nearly two years in California working as a voice actor, which was a blast. I worked with some of the best in the industry and established my career in America, signing to a number of US agents, who I continue to voice for today. When I came back to the UK, I started teaching voice acting at drama schools, including Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and LIPA, alongside my full time role as a VO. Lockdown was a difficult time for many professional actors, while the voice acting industry continued to thrive. It was at that point I thought about setting up something more established, and it made sense to pass on some of my knowledge and experience in a meaningful and useful way, as well as bring in some of the master coaches from America that I’d met along the way. During the pandemic, actors were coming to me to help them add VO to their skillset and BRAVA was born out of that need.

BRAVA offers personalised training in the art and business of voiceover and is aimed at anyone interested in adding voice acting to their skillset. We bring together performance experts from the UK and US to deliver high quality training and advice about the industry. Much of our offering is 1-1, as well as group sessions, and cover a wide range of topics, including Getting Started in VO, Corporate, Commercial and Narration, Performance Techniques, Auditions, Vocal Health and Presentation Skills. We also invite master coaches from the US to run in-person sessions.

BRAVA is made up of some really lovely people, so it’s a genuine joy when we come together. But people tell us it’s about so much more. We really help to build confidence in performers, as that’s often the barrier to entry, and we provide consistent support.

We’ve got a lot going on at BRAVA this year, delivering our core teaching and training and we’ll be heading back to San Francisco in late March to showcase our talent, which I’m really excited about. We’ve got a whole roster of events including talks from industry professionals,

workshop and more –and we’ll continue to work with our incredible partners across the city to support our talent every step of the way.

When I’m looking to be entertained in the city, I either head to The Everyman or Watershed to watch as many films as possible. Chandos Road is where I pop out for a drink or a bite to eat. I love going to St George’s to listen to some music or Bristol Old Vic to catch a play when I can.

At the moment, I’m reading Katherine Rundell’s The Transformations of John Donne and I’m savouring every single sentence. She is an incredible writer. I’ve recently started watching Tokyo Vice, which I’m loving. I’m mainly listening to Agnes Obel and local artist, Billy Nomates, on repeat. Even the kids know all the words. And Radio Paradise when I want to feel like I’m back in sunny California.

If I could have dinner with anyone from any era, it would have to be Nina Simone. I met her while I was hosting the Bishopstock Blues Festival in 2001. I think her art is something quite unique. Meeting her briefly was something I’ll never forget and I would love to sit down and have dinner with her for a longer conversation.

My philosophy in life is: keep it simple, focus on the next step and surround yourself with people that make you feel good. Travel and read as much as you can and be genuinely interested in other people. That approach has saved me many times whenever I’ve encountered difficulties on my travels.

• For more information about Bristol Academy of Voice Acting (BRAVA), visit: brava.uk.com

Meet the founder of Bristol Academy of Voice Acting (BRAVA), Melissa Thom

masterclasses, our advanced character summer

Belly Laughs returns to Bristol

Belly Laughs is returning this month to once again banish winter blues. If you’ve not heard of it before, Belly Laughs is a comedy and food festival that brings smiles to faces, punters to independent venues, and money to local grassroots charities. Now in its fifth year, the team have recently announced that they’re adding Bath and Birmingham into the mix. Since being founded in Bristol by comedian Mark Olver in 2018, Belly Laughs has raised over £100k for local and grassroots charities and put an estimated £120k into local hospitality. This year, with three cities under their belts, they’ll be running over 100 gigs and expecting to raise a bumper amount for their chosen charities. In Bristol, they’ve partnered with the charity Caring in Bristol, which supports homeless and vulnerable people across the city. The festival will also be supporting other local charities including FareShare South West and Julian Trust. What’s more, to make their events as inclusive as possible, Belly Laughs have dropped their ticket price from £10 to £5.

Founder Mark said: “We’re really excited to have our January gigs running across three cities with an amazing range of comedians and know that this year will be fantastic and bigger than ever before. I’m slightly nervous but in the usual chaos of Belly Laughs I know we’ll pull it off. I’m always blown away by people’s generosity at these events and am sure we can raise some money for these great causes whilst having a bit of a laugh at the same time”

• Tickets are on sale at: yuup.co/belly-laughs

Upfest to take a break in 2023

Europe’s largest street art festival, Upfest, will move to a biannual model, taking a break in 2023, following the rise in infrastructure costs. Organisers have made the tough decision to not hold the festival in 2023 as they focus attention into planning ahead for 2024 with another stellar line-up of artists.

Upfest is a highly anticipated event on Bristol’s cultural calendar, which attracts over 50,000 visitors to the festival across the weekend. As one of the city’s largest free-to-attend festivals, it is important to the Upfest team that it remains a free festival for everyone to attend. Previous editions have brought phenomenal, large-scale murals to Bedminster.

Due to the increasing costs related to putting on such a large-scale event, bringing world-class street artists from across the globe to the city of Bristol, festival organisers need to raise at least £180,000 to stage the free event in 2024. The Upfest team will focus on other projects and interventions throughout 2023 including artist exhibitions at their North Street Gallery, as well as getting a head start on 2024 planning.

Upfest 2022 saw the festival move to a brand new location at Greville Smyth Park, as well as Ashton Gate Stadium and the Tobacco Factory, and saw over 400 artists from 70 countries congregate for a weekend of street art magic. World-class artists such as Aches, Inkie, Kashink, L7m, Sabek and Goin are amongst the many talents to have picked up a can of spray paint and unleash their unique talents onto the blank canvas of Bedminster’s high streets.

• upfest.co.uk

Bristol Sounds announces 2023 line-up

Bristol Sounds has revealed the first acts on the bill for the return of this harbourside gig series, with Jacob Collier, James and Leveller’s Beautiful Day Out making up three nights of the action at Lloyds Amphitheatre. The event returns from 21 –25 June. Dubbed one of the most innovative musicians of his generation, Jacob Collier will hit the stage on Thursday 22nd June. Since his self made Youtube videos achieved legendary status in the music world, he has been renowned for his stellar collaborations with the likes of John Mayer, Lizzo and Mahalia.

Expect the ultimate singalong when James plus Guests take over the stage on Friday 23 June. The legendary Manchester rock band follow a huge pedigree of artists who have graced the stage at Bristol Sounds over the years including Noel Gallagher, Elbow and The Kaiser Chiefs.

Saturday 24 June will see an all day festival take over the Lloyds Amphitheatre. A Beautiful Day Out with Levellers will feature The Selecter, Black Grape, Peat & Diesel, Goldie Lookin Chain, Gaz Brookfield and Emily Breeze perform thoughout the day, with a second acoustic stage to be revealed in the new year.

An additional two nights of shows are still to be announced for Bristol Sounds, as well as support artists across al the shows.

• Tickets are on sale now at: seetickets.com

Emily Breeze, Jacob Collier and James

As I write, rain is pelting against the window, driven by a south-westerly wind that seems to have a particular animosity for the next-door neighbours’ bay tree. Every few seconds the branches are flattened by another gust, then another, and another. It seems extraordinary that only two days ago I was scraping ice off the car windscreen and worrying about whether the steep road off our hill would be treacherously slippery. The temperature has risen more than 10 degrees since then. It’s a different world.

A cold snap in Bristol is something of an anomaly. I don’t think we had a single proper frost last winter, and the presence of a palm tree in a front garden up the road suggests that mild weather has been the norm for a while. But we remember the rare snow days. Memory is such a fickle creature, in fact, that we tend to forget the dull grey-green months and recall only those precious moments of extreme cold, so that it seems in retrospect as if our kids’ childhood was one long round of tobogganing and snowmen.

It snowed heavily once when they were in primary school and the Head – no doubt with the best intentions – decided that the school should demonstrate its resilience by remaining open. We felt that the children would learn more spending a day in the snow than they would cooped up in a classroom, so made an excuse to keep them home. We dug the old sled out of the basement (an optimistic purchase, rarely used), bundled everyone up and set off for some surreptitious winter sports.

In the park we found that many of our neighbours were making the most of a rare snowy day. There were one or two actual skiers, slaloming down the hill in their alpine outfits, but most of the equipment on display was makeshift, to say the least. People were sliding down the slope on sleds made that morning from unwanted shelving, on bikes with old skis in place of wheels, even – in one extreme case – on the bonnet of a car. The main run became lethally slick. Small children hurtled down, three to a sled, as lads riding repurposed For Sale signs whizzed by.

I was brought up on the east coast where winters are colder, so there’s something nostalgic about a real freeze. I only remember one in the past 10 or 15 years, and my abiding memory is of the sound made by people walking up and down the road. Driving was impossible for... how long? Three days? A week? The pavements were too dangerous to walk on, so everyone scrunched up and down the street. Lying in bed at night you’d hear these footsteps that seemed to belong to another place and time. The brightness of frosty weather may lift the spirits, but the chill can be deadly, or at least inconvenient. We’re so unused to extreme cold here that we forget to insulate vulnerable water pipes, so the thaw brings the plumbers’ vans out in force. Visiting my mother in rural Somerset during the recent freeze, we took the dog out for a walk in the fields, only to discover that the grass had recently been fertilized with a liberal covering of dung. This delighted the dog, who rolled merrily in the muck and oomska. Subsequently he smelled, as you can imagine, less than fresh, so we ran a bath and gave him a scrub.

This he didn’t like much, but he stood there resignedly while the bath filled with disgusting brown water, then got his revenge by leaping out and shaking himself dry. I bent to pull out the plug and let the water out and... nothing happened. I put it back in. Took it out. Still nothing. The outflow pipe was frozen, leaving us with a bath full of... dogwater. For once I was glad the cold snap ended quickly. ■

Bagsof joy

Feast your eyes on some of this season’s minis and maxis –the perfect addition to your winter wardrobe...

Runa Recyled Rubber And Natural Bamboo Mini Bag –Epicene Lilac, £235 Shop at: amschela.co.uk

Amschela’s photography by Alex Maceachern (Insta: @alexmac.creation)

Modelled by Amschella’s Bristol-based Brand Ambassador and RnB singer, Xyzelle

Runa Recyled Rubber And Natural Bamboo Mini Bag –Onyx, £235 Shop at: amschela.co.uk

IOLA Vegan Leather Oversized Pouch – Rustic Tan, £170 Shop at: amschela.co.uk

Reina black vegan handbag, £75 Shop at: frankly.store

Stine Goya, lotta bag –clouds, £110 Shop at: graceandmabel.co.uk

Payton satin top handle bag in dark green, £125 Shop at: whistles.com

Embroidered cross-body bag, £45 Shop at: monsoon.co.uk

Jacquemus, Le Chiquito Moyen lilac top handle bag, £535 Shop at: harveynichols.com

Becksondergaard tone candi bag, £70 Shop at: anthropologie.com

Sassy leopard navy blue velvet clutch Bag, £55 Shop at: oliverbonas.com

Next Chapter

When ITV West Country reporter and presenter Ellie Barker, who has spent 24 years working in the television industry, decided to embark on a journey into the world of books, she discovered ‘next chapters’ were full of obstacles that must be overcome. Launching a podcast, entitled Next Chapter, Ellie interviews some of Bristol’s most prominent figures and household names in the hope that it will offer a helping hand to those looking to turn the page...

The whole idea for the Next Chapter podcast came to me while I was walking on the Downs. The open space, the beauty and the fresh air make for a perfect combination to inspire new ideas. It made me wonder: how many ‘next chapter’ ideas have come to people while walking beside the Avon Gorge?

In Bristol we’re surrounded by ‘next chapter’ ventures. It’s the ideal city for them – it loves independence and welcomes creativity with open arms.

My ‘next chapter’ idea is writing women’s fiction. I hope to leave the reader feeling both uplifted and comforted in the knowledge that we’re all somehow in this funny old world together.

At first, my plan was simple: I would write a book, get an agent

and sign a wonderful book deal. However, as many people embarking on ‘next chapters’ will know, things don’t always go according to plan. Three books and 70+ rejections later, I started to think I had to come up with a different route.

A friend, whose own ‘next chapter’ idea took them into selfpublishing, suggested I give it a go. I had a choice: put my third manuscript in the bottom drawer and start again, or try something else. I chose the latter as my bottom drawer was already rather full.

As I learned everything that I needed to know to create my own business and publish my own books, I thought: why not interview other people who’ve already started ‘next chapters’ in the hope that it might inspire others to begin theirs? Along came the idea for the podcast. It’s funny how rejection can also provide the perfect space

ITV West Country reporter and presenter Ellie Barker

for a new thought. I truly believe if more of us did what we really wanted to do – however painful and tough it may be – it might not change the world, but it would make our own worlds a better place.

The process is painful, tough and embarrassing. We fall, we get up, we fall again. But it turns out we’re not alone. I’ve interviewed more than 40 people since the podcast’s inception, from household names like Eamonn Holmes and Dr Sian Williams, to a foster mother, a Reverend, a murder detective, a florist and numerous bestselling authors. Every one, it turns out, has had their ups and downs. They may be doing different jobs, but they have the same insecurities, doubts and hurdles to overcome. The most impressive thing that they all have in common is how they’ve learned to dust themselves off and carry on.

I can’t deny I was nervous starting all of this. I’ve worked as a television journalist for more than 20 years, but this was the first time I was doing something alone. I didn’t have a big following, but I knew their stories would help others. Would potential guests trust me with telling them?

It turns out they would. People who have already started a ‘next chapter’ venture are often incredibly generous with their time. They recognise the fear, they lend a hand and offer huge support to those starting out.

I’m now on my seventh series of the podcast. I kicked it off with

the brilliant Bristol-born actor Joe Sims, who has reinvented himself many times over. Not only does he star on the big screen, but he manages his own production company and has founded a fundraising concept devoted to making the world a better place. He believes everybody should do what they love. As he explains during the episode, he sees his whole life as an apprenticeship, for which he will never stop trying.

I also interviewed Martin Bisp, who is one of the founders of Empire Fighting Chance, a charity born on the streets of Bristol to fight the impact of deprivation on the lives of young people. Martin left his job in finance to work full-time for the charity. Its work has helped thousands with their mental health. Martin thinks that you should never be afraid to be fail. It’s far better to try something than to look back on your life with regret.

If there is ever someone who will never regret having the courage to pick up a pen and write, it’s Catherine Johnson. Best known for writing the ABBA-inspired musical Mamma Mia! and screenplay for the musical’s film adaptation, Catherine’s own life story is worthy of a Hollywood film. The best part is how humble Catherine is, and how generous she is with her time. She spoke openly about how we need to ignore the voice in our head that tells us we can’t, because we must.

Over the last two years, I’ve also interviewed artist Jenny Urquhart, The Wave founder Nick Hounsfield, Little French’s Nessa Bird, Mon Pote’s Anna Clements, world-renowned heart surgeon Cha Rajakaruna, Bristol Loaf founder Gary Derham, owner of Bloggs Salon Joe Hemmings, and one of my favourite authors of alltime, Jill Mansell. And yes, they all live in Bristol.

Each guest has given valuable insight into their lives and invaluable advice on how to navigate some of life’s hardships. Their words have pushed me through my own struggles in self-publishing. Believing that life is too short not to do what you love, they’ve somehow found their way and they’re wanting to help others too.

Filled with inspirational and aspirational moments, Next Chapter offers a helping hand to those looking to turn the page and start afresh. So, if you’re wondering where to start, perhaps a walk on the Downs may be a good place to begin – and I know a podcast you might enjoy listening to while you’re there. n

• Read more about Ellie’s Barker’s self-published books and listen to Next Chapter via her website: elliebarkerwrites.com

“Martin Bisp is one of the founders of Empire Fighting Chance, a charity born on the streets of Bristol to fight the impact of deprivation on the lives of young people. Its work has helped thousands with their mental health”

“[Actor Joe Sims] believes everybody should do what they love. As he explains during the episode, he sees his whole life as an apprenticeship, for which he will never stop trying.”

Bristol-born actor Joe Sims

My Fair Lady

Following its critically acclaimed West End run, the Lincoln Center Theater’s multi-award-winning production of My Fair Lady is coming to The Bristol Hippodrome next month, running from 15 –25 February.

This glorious production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s world-famous musical features the much-loved classic songs I Could Have Danced All Night, Get Me to the Church on Time, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,On the Street Where You Live, The Rain in Spain, and I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face. Directed by Bartlett Sher (The King and I, To Kill A Mockingbird), this sublime production features Loewe’s ravishing score and book and lyrics by Lerner.

My Fair Lady is a beautiful musical about transformation, patronage, gender politics and class, based on George Bernard Shaw’s play, Pygmalion. The story follows acclaimed professor and confirmed bachelor Henry Higgins as he makes a wager with his linguistic colleague Colonel Pickering that in six months he can transform a Cockney working-class girl into someone who can pass for a cultured

member of high society. Drama quickly ensues.

The musical first hit the stage on Broadway in 1956 and soon became a notable success, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It set a record for the longest run of any musical on Broadway up to that time and was followed by a hit London production. Rex Harrison and 20-year-old Julie Andrews starred in both productions. Many revivals have since followed, and the 1964 film adaptation, strarring Audrey Hepburn, won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

As the production prepares to take to the stage at The Bristol Hippodrome, bringing with it an extroadinarily talented cast, which includes the likes of Michael D. Xavier (Outlander) and Adam Woodyatt (Eastenders), we sit down with world-renowned soprano singer Lesley Garrett CBE, who will playing Mrs Pearce. Boasting an extensive career in music and theatre, Garrett is a living legend in her own right. Here, she explains what first attracted her to the role and why the production still resonates with audiences today...

As the world-famous musical prepares to hit the stage at The Bristol Hippodrome in February, we sit down with renowned soprano singer Lesley Garrett CBE as she gets ready to slip into the life of Mrs Pearce...

Tell us about the new production of My Fair Lady, how rehearsals have been and what Bristol audiences can expect from the first major revival in 21 years...

This production of Lerner and Lowe’s My Fair Lady originated in the Lincoln Centre in New York, before it transferred to Broadway. The score is a masterpiece and the production is one of the best I’ve ever seen or been involved with. No expense has been spared on the beautiful costumes and sets. The audience can expect a high-class show.

What first attracted you to the role of Mrs. Pearce?

I was attracted to the role of Mrs Pearce because she is a powerful force of nature. She runs Professor Higgins’s household and life with consummate authority and it very much appealed to me to play a character like that. I feel I am the right age and, as I’ve got bossier as I’ve got older, the casting makes perfect sense. My only disappointment is that she doesn’t have more to sing, but I can’t imagine playing a more wonderful character.

What’s it like working alongside this cast of brilliantly talented actors and creatives, including director Bartlett Sher?

All of the players in this production are of the highest quality. I really have to act and sing my socks off to keep up with any one of them. The ensemble have had the advantage of doing the London run at the London Coliseum with the English National Opera Orchestra. I’ve never met an ensemble with more depth of talent. They are an extraordinary group of people and we have really become like family.

The cast are all newcomers to their parts, and we have benefited enormously from the experience and help of our colleagues on stage. Myself and the rest of new cast had about a week working with our director Bartlett Sher. It was an absolute My Fair Lady crash course, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

How does the revival differ from the original production starring Julie Andrews and the 1964 film adaptation with Audrey Hepburn?

Bartlett researched the piece very carefully. He went back to the original George Bernard Shaw play, Pygmalion, and its film adaptation, starring Leslie Howard, before he looked at the musical

Shaw had written the three main female roles – Eliza, Mrs Higgins and Mrs Pearce – as very strong, determined and self-possessed characters. Shaw’s men by contrast –Professor Higgins, Colonel Pickering, Alfred Dolittle and Freddie Einsford-Hill – are often weak, self-obsessed and rather flawed. He has been very faithful to Shaw’s original play and, of course, the wonderful book and score of Lerner and Lowe.

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Why do you think the show is so successful in resonating with audiences even today?

The music in My Fair Lady is sublime. The lyrics, the tunes, the orchestration –everything about it is faultless. Every single song is a hit and is well known to every member of the audience. It is a classic of its kind and in a class of its own. George Bernard Shaw was a genius and championed feminist ideals well before his time. Women are still fighting for parity in this world. Even in the UK, we are still struggling for equal pay. In other parts of the world, things are even harder for womankind. The story of a young woman who fights her way out of class-ridden poverty is timeless, and so is this show.

What are you most looking forward to when the production arrives at Bristol Hippodrome?

We are all very much looking forward to presenting our My Fair Lady in the Hippodrome, for the people of Bristol and the south west. I’ve performed many times in Bristol and I know the audiences are both enthusiastic and discerning. The Bristol Hippodrome is a fine old Edwardian theatre and was actually built only a year before Pygmalion was first staged, so I am sure My Fair Lady will sit perfectly on its stage.

After a hugely successful career, could you tell us about your first memory of music and where your love for singing first began?

I was lucky enough to be born in Thorne, on the South Yorkshire coalfield, into a community and a family full of music. My relatives were mostly miners and railwaymen. There were brass bands, choirs, amateur operatic societies and the music of all kinds in clubs and schools, and particularly in my home. I can't remember when I didn’t sing or express myself through music, and I know I will be the same until my last breath. n

• My Fair Lady is running from 15 –25 February at The Bristol Hippodrome. Book your tickets at: atgtickets.com. Photography by Marc Brenner

version. He studied the Hollywood film with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn, and concluded he would need to make the show more faithful to Shaw’s original feminist ideal if it was going to appeal to

modern day audience.

Personal & poetic

As Bristol-based sculptor Veronica Ryan wins Britain’s most prestigious art award, the Turner Prize, in recognition of her major exhibition at Spike Island, we take a closer look at her life’s work...

Sculptor Veronica Ryan –who splits her time between Bristol, where she has a home in Spike Island, and New York –recently won this year’s prestigious Turner Prize for both her major exhibition at Spike Island art gallery and her Hackney Windrush Art Commission.

The Turner Prize 2022 was announced at a ceremony at St George’s Hall in Liverpool in December. The prize, which comes with a monetary award of £25,000, was presented by musician Holly Johnson during a live broadcast on the BBC. After Ryan’s name was announced, the hall filled with rigorous applause and Ryan began her acceptance speech with the words: “Power! Visibility! We are visible people”, as the cheers rang out.

Stepping on to the stage wearing her father’s hat, Ryan paid tribute to her family, including her three late siblings, whom she made a point of naming – Patricia, Josephine and David. “They were fantastic people and I think they’re looking at us right now, and they’re proud,” she said.

The British-Caribbean artist –who received an OBE in June 2021 –is well-known for creating installations using containers, compartments, and combinations of natural and fabricated forms to reference displacement, fragmentation and alienation. Her exhibition, Along a Spectrum, at Spike Island, which was supported by Freelands Foundation, examined these themes through works that included cast forms in clay and bronze; sewn and tea-stained fabrics; and crocheted fishing line pouches filled with a variety of seeds, fruit stones and skins.

A month after the exhibition finished in September 2021, Ryan unveiled the UK’s first permanent public artwork to honour the Windrush generation, placing giant sculptures of three large Caribbean fruits – a custard apple, breadfruit and a soursop made of bronze and marble – on a street in Hackney in east London. Ryan hoped her artwork would foster a sense of ownership among the local community and provide a vital public space to celebrate their cultural heritage, which captured the attention of this year’s jury.

The Turner Prize aims to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art. Named after the English painter J. M. W. Turner, who is regarded as Britain’s greatest and most prolific painters, the prize has become one of the best-known awards for visual arts in the world.

Between 1991 and 2016, only artists under the age of 50 were eligible for the Turner Prize. The restriction, however, was removed for the 2017 award. As a result, Ryan, 66, has become the oldest winner in the award’s 38-year history.

This year, the Bristol-based sculptor was nominated alongside Heather Phillipson, Ingrid Pollard and Sin Wai Kin, all of whom received a £10,000 prize for reaching the final stages of the process. During the ceremony, the jury congratulated all four nominated artists

for their strong and varied presentations which have offered visitors to Tate Liverpool – where the Turner Prize 2022 exhibition will be presented until 19 March 2023 – a rich sensory experience. They believed that all had pushed the boundaries of material exploration through unravelling the complexities of body, nature and identity, but awarded the prize to Ryan for the personal and poetic way she extends the language of sculpture. Her recent practice combines found and usually forgotten objects and crafted materials, underpinned by interconnecting themes such as healing and loss. They praised the noticeable shift in her use of space, colour and scale both in gallery and civic spaces.

Ryan moved from Montserrat in the Caribbean to the UK as a toddler. She studied at Bath Academy of Art before moving to London and attending The Slade School of Fine Art and later The School of Oriental and African Studies. In her acceptance speech, Ryan thanked people “who’ve looked out for me when I wasn’t visible and I was

Veronica Ryan

© Brian Roberts Images

making work from rubbish”, adding: “But actually some of the rubbish [works] are some of the most important works, I think.” Over the years, Ryan has spoken at great length about how her love for repurposing old and outgrown materials, skills that her mother passed down to her as a child.

Although the Bristol-based sculptor had a promising start to her career, she told the BBC that it has been “an incredible struggle” at times, explaining that “there were 20 years, almost, when no-one was paying attention to my work.”

The repetition of the word ‘visible’ in Ryan’s acceptance speech seems all the more poignant when you look back at certain points in her life – times when she was “being made invisible”, as she has stated in previous interviews. In July 1995, a volcano in Montserrat’s Soufrière Hills, which had

Turner Prize 2022: Veronica Ryan

Installation View at Tate Liverpool 2022

Photo: © Tate (Matt Greenwood)

laid dormant for centuries, erupted and buried the island’s capital of Plymouth, where Ryan was born. The eruption covered the city in more than 39ft of mud and rendered the southern part of the island, now termed the exclusion zone, uninhabitable. What’s more, less than 10 years later, Ryan lost a huge amount of work in the 2004 Momart fire, which destroyed an art storage warehouse in London and turned more than 100 works by some of Britain’s leading contemporary artists to ash. The media reported on the great loss felt by many artists such as Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst but left out any mention of Ryan’s heartache.

Ryan has described those years as living in “the art world’s shadows”, but through it all she persevered regardless, and etched her name into the history books.

Speaking about Ryan’s exhibition in Bristol, the director of Spike

Island, Robert Leckie, said: “Veronica Ryan’s Spike Island exhibition was supported by the Freelands Award, designed for mid-career female artists whose work has not yet received the recognition it deserves. This enabled us to commission and produce significant new work, invite Veronica to join our studio community as a resident artist, and publish an extensive monographic publication.

“It is a joy to see her outstanding contribution to British art finally acknowledged with the Turner Prize.” n

• An exhibition of the four shortlisted artists is at Tate Liverpool until 19 March 2023. This year Turner Prize is held at Tate Liverpool to mark 15 years since the prize was first held in the city. Tate Liverpool was the first gallery outside London to host the prize in 2007 when it helped launch the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.

Veronica Ryan standing by Hackney Windrush Art Commission

Photo: © Holly Falconer

Along a Spectrum at Spike Island (2021). Photography by Max McClure. Courtesy Spike Island, Bristol, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York and Alison Jacques, London

Happy Birthday, Bristol!

As Bristol marks its 650th anniversary of becoming a city and county in 2023 with major celebrations in the pipeline, the year also sees the re-opening of Bristol Beacon and the launch of new food hotspot destination BOXHALL, alongside the usual world-renowned events. We take a closer look at what’s to come in 2023...

Anniversaries

Bristol 650

This year marks the 650th anniversary of Bristol becoming a city and county. Festivals and events will be celebrating the anniversary throughout the year, many of which are yet to be announced. Look out for the launch of Visit Bristol’s microsite in February: visitbristol.co.uk

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery turns 200

This year will also mark the 200th year of Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and the bi-centenary of its forerunner, The Bristol Institution for the Advancement of Science, Literature and the Arts. The anniversary will bring together brilliant stories from the museum’s collections through a series of themed seasons taking place throughout the year. The programme will also feature a number of high-profile events highlighting significant milestones in the museum’s history.

60th anniversary of Bristol Bus Boycott

The Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963 is considered to have been influential in the passing of the Race Relations Act in 1965 and 1968. The boycott arose from the refusal of the Bristol Omnibus Company to employ black or Asian bus crews in the city. Community worker Paul Stephenson led a campaign with the West Indian Development council, Roy Hackett, Prince Brown and Audley Evans and the city’s West Indian population stopped using the buses. The campaign was soon joined by local white people including church groups and local Labour MP Tony Benn. The marches and demonstrations that followed drew national attention to racial discrimination in Britain and the bus company overturned the ban

four months later. Read more about The Bristol Bus Boycott blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/civil-rights-movement/thebristol-bus-boycott-of-1963

St George’s Bristol’s 200th anniversary St George’s Bristol concert hall is also set to celebrate its 200th anniversary this year. The Grade II-listed building started life as a church in 1823, but is now a creative space for music and ideas, which attracts world-renowned artists to perform in its unique acoustics, running over 200 events every year. Look out for the full programme at: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

55 years of St Pauls Carnival

The annual Caribbean Carnival, held usually on the first Saturday of July in St. Paul’s, began in 1968 as a way to celebrate African and Caribbean culture through music, art and dance. This year, it turns 55. Keep an eye on the carnival’s website for more details: stpaulscarnival.net

Remembering Cabot

Cabot Tower, set in the gorgeous parkland of Brandon Hill near Park Street, is a 105ft tower built in 1897 to commemorate John Cabot’s famous voyage from Bristol to North America in The Matthew ship, where he ‘discovered’ Newfoundland. This year marks 125 years since the tower was built and 525 years since Cabot’s voyage.

Tobacco Factory Theatres celebrates 25 years...

... with a jam-packed programme of diverse shows from classic and contemporary plays, comedies, dances and opera to to shows for all the family. Head over to Tobacco Factory Theatres website for more information in the coming months: tobaccofactorytheatres.com

New openings

BOXHALL

From the creators of BOXPARK in London, BOXHALL is a new and hotly anticipated premium food and beverage-led concept with a modern food hall structure set to open on Bristol’s waterfront in the summer of 2023. With high-quality product ranges and carefully curated, authentic cuisine from local, independent street food traders and restaurant operators in Bristol, BOXHALL will be spearheaded by its Food Ambassador and renowned local chef, Josh Eggleton. Look out for more at: boxhall.co.uk

Bristol Beacon

Formerly known as Colston Hall, Bristol Beacon has undergone a complete refurbishment and redevelopment and is set to reopen in

the autumn. As Bristol’s largest concert hall, Bristol Beacon has undergone a £48.8m transformation, which will turn the venue into a modern, accessible, state-of-the-art facility with two international standard performance venues, a bright new restaurant and its cellars in use for the first time as education and performance spaces.

We the Curious

We the Curious science museum had to close in April 2022 after a devastating fire on its roof. Repairs to resulting water damage are under way and the plans are to reopen in 2023. Brimming with exhibits to inspire your curiosity and home to the UK’s only 3D planetarium, We the Curious is the place to ask questions and get creative.

Ashton Gate stadium

Works have started on a 3,626 seater Sports and Convention Centre next to Ashton Gate Stadium, with phase one opening in 2023. The Sporting Quarter will provide a new home for the Bristol Flyers basketball team, a hotel, conferencing facilities, a multi-storey car park, retail space alongside commercial and residential space. The first phase of the Sporting Quarter development will be the Sports and Convention Centre alongside the hotel, with hopes to be on site in late summer 2023. n

All images courtesy of Visit Bristol; visitbristol.co.uk

Unsung hero

Football volunteer, Mike Alden, was recently honoured with the 2022 BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero award for his unwavering commitment to Bristol-based club, Park Knowle Football Club. The award celebrates the best volunteers in sport whose work are not only making a remarkable difference to their communities across the country but a substantive yet unrecognised contribution to sport. Mike set up Park FC 10 years ago to provide a club for all ages, including more than 120 children, people with disabilities and adults.

After receiving the award from Denise Lewis and Jonnie Peacock live on stage at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which also saw England and Arsenal forward Beth Mead win the prestigious award, Mike opened with: “Wow. I didn't expect that,” adding: “I think everyone should be included in everything. With our youth teams we’ve got kids as young as seven. You never know, one day

one of them might be sat here.”

Mike had previously said it was “such a shock” to be nominated. “I’ve never had anything like this happen to me before, so it was a bit hard to take in,” he said. “I don’t do it for recognition, I do it because I love doing it. It’s all been very overwhelming, but I’m very grateful to have been nominated.”

Mike’s journey to this moment is nothing short of extraordinary. At four-years-old, he was diagnosed with brittle bone disease, a lifelong genetic disorder that causes your bones to break easily. As a child, however, and despite his disease, Mike was football mad, joining local teams and playing throughout his teens and into his adulthood, but a bad ankle break sadly ended his career at 35.

Eager to get back on the pitch, Mike started a club for local children and, in 2011, was approached by Park Knowle, a large community centre in Knowle West, to start a bigger club.

As Bristol-based football volunteer Mike Alden wins the BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero award –nominated alongside fellow Bristolian, Becca Todd, we take a closer look at the brilliant work they’re doing in the community...

Image credit: BBC / James Stack

Mike Alden received the award live on stage at the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year ceremony

A decade later, Park FC boasts an enviable cabinet of silverware. But besides the trophies, the real magic is that Park FC now has 11 teams that play regularly – four boy’s teams, two girl’s teams, a veteran’s team and five disability teams. An estimated 250 children and young adults have come through the club, many of them becoming team managers themselves.

As far as Mike is concerned: “Nobody gets turned away. If you want to join the club, you get to play.”

The club still stands today thanks to Mike, his wife Linda and his entire family, who dedicate over 100 hours of their spare time every week. Every penny that is raised from player subs, the clubhouse café and small local grants, goes back into running the club.

“The best thing in the world is seeing what it means to the kids,” Mike said. “Just getting involved in something positive helps them feel part of a team – that never fails to make me happy and makes all the work worthwhile. Especially the players with disabilities, we have five disability teams now and they get so much from being included. As someone with disability myself, this brings me particular joy.

“It’s not just football, it’s much more important than that, the players have something to aim for and feel a part of.”

Mike was one of eight volunteers shortlisted for the accolade, standing alongside fellow Bristol-based footballer and women's club leader, Becca Todd.

Becca, from Henbury, runs Team Brave, an inclusive women's football club at Windmill Hill City Farm in south Bristol. Speaking to the BBC, she said she was “emotional” and “really touched” to have been nominated. In the interview, Becca said she decided to set up the group after seeing “lots of younger girls were really low in confidence, doubting themselves and had low self esteem” while she was coaching in the community.

Team Brave – a UK and Chilean based non-profit organisation –aims to harness the power of sport and outdoor activities to enhance self-esteem, improve both mental and physical health and help people to lead happier lives. Team Brave UK offers free, fun, friendly football sessions and a variety of other sports and fitness opportunities and mentoring services.

Both Becca and Mike have received a huge amount of support from the people of Bristol. In a post on Twitter, Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees wrote: “Congratulations to Becca Todd from Team Brave and Mike Alden from [Park Knowle FC] for being shortlisted for [BBC SPOTY’s] Unsung Hero award – Bristol is so proud of you both.”

As for the future of the club, Mike said: “My hope is that it just continues and grows. My whole family help with the running of the club and I couldn’t do it without them. We’re busy trying to raise some funds to make improvements to the disability and girl’s teams changing facilities, which will allow us to accommodate away teams and play more matches. I’d like my legacy to be a club that runs successfully for generations to come.” n

It’s not just football, it’s much more important than that –the players have something to aim for and feel a part of

Mike, with his wife Linda, receiving the finalist award after being shortlisted for the prize in early December

WHAT’S ON

We Were Everywhere: World war experiences from pre-Partition India n Throughout January, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

We Were Everywhere is an exhibition that explores the experience of Indians and Pakistanis during the world wars and the partition of India. The exhibition combines archival material and objects from the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection, and new oral histories collected by curator Ananya Sharma.

The interviewees are Bristol residents sharing the stories of their family members, who were caught up in the wars and their aftermath on the Indian subcontinent. bristolmuseums.org.uk

Preview: Enys Men

n 7 January, Watershed Mark Jenkin follows up his acclaimed breakthrough Bait with this mind-bending Cornish folk horror tale, gorgeously shot on grainy 16mm.

In 1973, on a remote island off the Cornish coast, a wildlife volunteer’s daily observations of a rare flower take a dark turn into the strange and metaphysical, forcing both her (and the audience) to question what is real, and what is a nightmare...is the landscape not only alive, but sentient? watershed.co.uk

COMPETITION TIME

Slapstick: Guess Who

n Closing date: 23 January

Ahead of the festival launch on 14 February, Slapstick is running a competition to find out who can put names to the highest number of faces on its Sgt. Pepper-inspired poster. The prize will include a signed copy of the poster, tickets to the festival’s 100th anniversary screening of the Harold Lloyd comedy Safety Last! at St George’s Bristol on 1 April and a Slapstick 2023 t-shirt. The winner will be announced on or around 14 February. Entries should be emailed to info@slapstick.org.uk with the subject line ‘Guess Who’. Head to Slapstick Festival’s website for more details: slapstick.org.uk

Jersey Boys n 10 –21 January, Bristol Hippodrome

They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story –a story

that has made them an international sensation all over again. The internationally acclaimed stage sensation Jersey Boys is working its way back around the UK and arriving at Bristol Hippodrome this month. This smash hit musical has won 65 major awards and has been seen by over 27 million people worldwide. atgtickets.com

The Jersey Boys at Bristol Hippodrome

Bristol Film Festival: Parasite n 12 January, Averys Wine Merchants

Starting Bristol Film Festival’s 2023 series is Parasite, the first non English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Bong Joon-Ho’s savage social satire wowed international audiences upon its release in late 2019, and won numerous awards. Darkly hilarious, deeply unsettling and full of shocking twists and turns, it’s a must-see highlight of 21st Century filmmaking that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Every screening includes an arrival drink and an introduction explaining the context and significance of the chosen film, and the rationale behind its selection for the Bristol Film Festival programme. bristolfilmfestival.com

Gabrielle Aplin

n 12 January, St George’s Bristol

This unique event celebrates the release of Gabrielle’s fantastic new studio album

Phosphorescent, released via Never Fade on 6 January. Book your tickets at: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Wedding Showcase

n 15 January, Aztec Hotel & Spa

On Sunday 15 January, Aztec Hotel & Spa is hosting a Wedding Showcase from 10am –3pm, offering an opportunity to view its function suites set up for a wedding and meet its team to discuss your special day. For more information, contact Aztec Hotel & Spa’s wedding specialist on 01454 201090 or email events@aztechotelbristol.co.uk

Kate Bollinger

n 22 January, The Louisiana “Kate Bollinger’s unique sound marries the lyrical dexterity of early Joni Mitchell with a slick, neo-soul influenced instrumental,” as state on The Louisiana’s website. thelouisiana.net

Black Creatives

n 23 January, Trinity Centre Artists Rider Shafique and Khali Ackford (IDentity) and Trinity are teaming up to bring a monthly meet-up to a offer a place of support, reflection, reason and opportunity for Black Creatives (all disciplines welcomed). Supported by Trinity, the meetups have been inspired following feedback from online workshops, delivered by Rider and Khali, as part of Trinity’s community arts project What I Want To See, What I Want To Be. Meetups are on every fourth Monday of the month. trinitybristol.org.uk

Circa Waves

n 24 January, 02 Academy Circa Waves hit the road in support of their fifth album with Never Going Under, the encapsulation of a continued upward trajectory for Circa Waves over the last decade, in becoming one of Britain’s most influential and adored guitar bands. academymusicgroup.com n

COMING SOON

Lucy Porter n 2 February, Hen & Chicken

Following a successful run at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, comedian, actress, writer, voiceover artist and podcaster Lucy Porter is set to embark on a national tour of her critically acclaimed show ‘Wake Up Call’. ‘The show is about revelations, realisations and epiphanies –both large and small. henandchicken.com

Vivaldi Four Seasons by Candlelight n 3 February, John Wesley’s New Room

The Bristol Ensemble brings their memorable performances of Baroque masterpieces to the atmospheric candlelit chapel of John Wesley’s New Room, including Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Pachelbel’s Canon as well as music by Bach, Albinoni and Telemann. Tickets £20 (concessions £18) from: newroombristol.org.uk

I’m Actually Fine n 3 & 4 February, Alma Tavern & Theatre

Harry is a normal boy –but he’s suffocated by anxiety and gagging for attention. He decides to do what any normal boy would do in his situation: Sing about it! I’m Actually Fine! is a funny and touching examination of mental health and a razor sharp takedown of modern masculinity. Produced by Crumplehorn Theatre and written by Harry Creffield. Book your tickets online at: tickettailor.com

Bristol Classical Players n 4 February, St George’s Bristol

For their first concert of 2023, Bristol Classical Players invite you to a magical mystery tour in and around Vienna. The journey begins with Beethoven’s beautiful Pastoral Symphony, charting his ‘awakening of happy feelings on arriving in the countryside’, a scene by the brook, a peasants’ dance, a ferocious thunderstorm and, finally, shepherd’s thanksgiving after the storm has abated. The second half interleaves three pieces by Johann Strauss II (the overture to his sparkling operetta Die Fledermaus, a wild and whirling Czárdás and the Blue Danube, the ‘Waltz King’s most famous work) with dances from Slovakia, Hungary and Romania from Dvořák, Liszt and Bartók. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Gabrielle Aplin at St George’s Bristol

Kate Bollinger at The Louisiana

FAMILY DIARY

DISCOVER THE BEST THINGS TO SEE & DO WITH THE FAMILY THIS MONTH

Wake The Tiger Amazement Park

n Open now, Albert Road BS2 0YA

From the artistic team behind the groundbreaking festival, Boomtown Fair, journey to the world of Meridia. Having spent over a decade creating one of the most large scale immersive festival experiences in the world, the team wanted to expand and diversify their creative potential by establishing a year round arts and events venue where audiences can experience the work in a non-festival environment. wakethetiger.com

Belle and Sebastien

n Until 8 January, Bristol Old Vic

A Travelling Light and Bristol Old Vic coproduction based on Belle and Sebastien by Cecile Aubry. Much-loved Bristol actor Felix Hayes (A Christmas Carol, Bristol Old Vic) plays Belle –the Pyrenean Mountain Dog and best friend to Sebastien, played by Mogali Masuku, who is welcomed to Bristol for the first time. bristololdvic.org.uk

We Are Family: Festive Snowflake Mask

n Until 8 January, online

Let’s Make Art have created an easy- tofollow, step-by-step guide to creating your own snowflake mask using materials you can easily find at home. Arnolfini would love you to share your creations and Let’s Make Art so remember to tag them on Instagram. arnolfini.org.uk

The Snow Queen

n Until 15 January, Tobacco Factory Theatres

Running until 15 January, this production is being co-produced with New International Encounter (NIE) and Cambridge Junction. Natisha Williams takes on the lead role of Gerda in her professional stage debut, with cast members Joey Hickman, Stefanie Mueller, Alex Murdoch and Abayomi Oniyide returning to TFT having performed in Snow White in 2019. Samantha Sutherland returns having performed in Beauty and The Beast in 2018. Book your tickets at: tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Scribble

and Sketch

n Once a month, various locations

Join the RWA’s Scribble and Sketch artists at locations across the city on Saturdays once a month for free family workshops. These sessions are designed for children and grownups to take part in together –everyone is welcome. Admission is free. No pre-booking required. Suitable for all ages, children must be supervised. rwa.org.uk

The Snow Queen at Tobacco Factory Theatres

Image credit: Mark Dawson Photography

Global Traveller Trail

n From 10 January, SS Great Britain SS Great Britain needs your help! Chief Steward John Campbell’s passenger list has been stolen by a seagull. Can you solve the clues to complete his records?

Based on real people who travelled on board the ship, our Global Traveller Trail is a hands-on way of exploring their stories and

the ship’s history. Pick up a trail map on arrival to start hunting for clues and collect your reward sticker once you’ve finished.

SSGB recommends this activity for families with children aged 5+. The trail is part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to explore the less well-known stories of the SS Great Britain.

The trail is free with entry to Brunel’s SS Great Britain. ssgreatbritain.org n

Wake the Tiger

STATE OF THE ART

Bharti Kher: The Body is a Place, Arnolfini, until 29 January

Arnolfini welcomes you to explore the alchemical practice of internationally renowned artist Bharti Kher, in a major solo exhibition of drawing, sculpture, and the spaces that lie between. Including new and previously unseen works created during a residencies in Somerset in 2017 and 2019, The Body is a Place also features Kher’s monumental bindi drawings, the playful and political drawing-based installation Links in a Chain, sculptures made from found objects and plaster casts, and a new encounter with her site-specific bindi work Virus; part of a 30-year project began by the artist in 2010.

The Body is a Place is accompanied by a programme of film, music, talks and workshops for all ages, as well as a new publication available through Arnolfini Bookshop.

• arnolfini.org.uk; 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA

For Winter: a mixed show by gallery artists, Clifton Contemporary Art, until 10 January

Throughout midwinter the gallery will be filled with an inspiring variety of original paintings, printwork and sculpture, fine ceramics and handcrafted jewellery.

The mixed show will encompass 100 million-year-old stone carved into new life, timeless limited edition bronzes, cutting edge digital prints, deeply atmospheric landscapes, light filled still life compositions, elegantly simple porcelain bowls and vases, silver, gold and semi-precious stones, crafted and combined with freshness and ingenuity.

For winter, the galley is celebrating creative individuality and its ability to move and surprise you.

• cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk; 25 Portland Street, Clifton, BS8 4JB

Image: Dahlias with Lace Tablecloth by Lynne Cartlidge

Serigraphs from the Pacific Northwest, Rainmaker Gallery, throughout January

The winter exhibition at Rainmaker Gallery showcases Pacific Northwest Coast ‘formline’ serigraphs from Tlingit artist Preston Singletary and Coast Salish print makers Peter and Araquin Boome. Also featured is a glorious formline wolf painting by Alaskan artist Crystal Worl (Tlingit and Athabascan), minimalist serigraphs by Jordan Ann Craig (Northern Cheyenne) and fine art photographic portraiture from the amazing Cara Romero (Chemehuevi). Each work of art has been selected for a seasonal palette of red, black and white.

• rainmakerart.co.uk; 140 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2RS

Image: Eagle & Killer Whale, limited edition serigraph by Preston Singletary

Image: Body Incantatory 21, 2019. © Bharti Kher. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth. Photo Dominic Brown Photography

Lawrence Abu Hamdan: 45th Parallel, Spike Island, until 29 January

Lawrence Abu Hamdan is a Private Ear: a detective of sounds and their traces. His new film commission, 45th Parallel, focuses on the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, a unique municipal site that straddles the jurisdictions of Canada and the United States.

Built by the Haskell family in 1904, the site was originally constructed to provide education and cultural enrichment to the border communities located on the 45th parallel in Rock Island, Quebec and Derby Line, Vermont. A thick black line demarcating the border runs through the entire building, dividing the library collections and creating the only cross-border theatre in the world, where the audience and actors are in different countries.

Filmed on location, 45thParallel activates this unique site’s legal and symbolic potential. The work is structured as a monologue in four acts, performed by acclaimed film director Mahdi Fleifel. The story centres on Hernández vs Mesa, a judicial case covering the fatal, cross-border shooting of an unarmed 15-year-old Mexican national in 2010 by a US Border Patrol agent.

In 2019, the US Supreme Court ruled in favour of Mesa –the border agent –claiming that, as the firearm was discharged on US soil and the murder of Hernández took place in Mexico, the guard could not be prosecuted in the US. Supreme Court judges were fearful that Mesa’s bullet could implicate drone strikes in Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia and Libya. The work temporarily suspends us in a parallel world where the one vote that stood between justice for Hernández and the thousands like him killed across the border, went the other way. Each act is demarcated by a scenographic change in the hand-painted backdrop on the Opera House stage. Together the film and installation render the Haskell Free Library and Opera House as a grey zone, continually recasting the border as at once powerful yet superficial, absurd yet lethal.

• spikeisland.org.uk; 133 Cumberland Road, BS1 6UX

RWA’s 169th Annual Open Exhibition, until 8 January

The RWA’s renowned Annual Open Exhibition is back for its 169th year with a stunning variety of work from emerging and established artists. Most notably, two water colours painted by His Majesty The King (when he was The Prince of Wales) have been installed in the main gallery at the RWA, and included as part of its Open Exhibition. The RWA is now the first art gallery in the UK ever to exhibit the art of a reigning British monarch as part of an Open Exhibition.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year, M Shed, until 29 May

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is back at M Shed with a brand new set of images capturing the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.

From fascinating animal behaviour to remarkable species, 100 powerful photographs illustrate the precious beauty of our planet.

The images shine a light on stories from all over the world and convey the impact of human activity in ways that words cannot. Now in its 58th year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases some of the best photography talent from around the world. Launching in 1965, today the competition receives entries from over 90 countries all over the world. Winning images are selected for their creativity, originality and technical excellence by a panel of international experts.

• bristolmuseums.org.uk; Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, BS1 4RN

The dynamic and varied exhibition includes painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, installation and mixed media and is a showcase of some of the most exciting artists from across the country. All work will be for sale making the Annual Open a perfect opportunity to discover new artists or invest in well-known names.

Located in a spectacular Grade II* listed building in the heart of the city, the RWA is the UK’s only Royal Academy of Art housed in its own, original, purpose-built gallery. The building has recently completed a £4.5m transformation –opening up access for all. It provides opportunities for everybody to get creative and feel inspired.

Through its extensive programme of exhibitions, events, workshops, talks and lectures, the RWA is committed to providing great art for everybody, and to promoting the understanding and enjoyment of art for the widest possible audience.

• rwa.org.uk; Queens Road, Clifton, BS8 1PX

Pictured: Kilphedir Pool on The River Helmsdale, Sutherland (HRH 2015.06) and Brecon Beacons from Llwynywermod (HRH 2016.05)

Image: Heavenly flamingos by Junji Takasago, Japan | Winner, natural artistry Junji Takasago/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Image: Lawrence Abu Hamdan, 45th Parallel (2022). Installation view, Spike Island. Courtesy the artist, photograph by Dan Weill

Expert opinion

Stars of the East

Clevedon Salerooms held their Winter Specialist Fine Art Sale on Thursday 24th November. Seasonal downpours outside did little to dampen the enthusiasm of bidders at the sale, resulting in strong prices and a sale total well over expectations.

As is so often the case, Chinese taste lay behind some of the day’s best performing lots, all of which attracted strong online and telephone competition. Leading the pack, a large 19th Century Chinese flared footed vase, well painted with three kylin which measured in at an impressive 41cm high. Although unmarked, it clearly struck a chord and after some feverish bidding the hammer finally fell at £7,200. Also causing a good deal of excitement, a Chinese Canton porcelain Gu ‘Bajixiang’ vase, delicately painted in the Famille Rose palette. Bearing an "archaic seal" mark of the Emperor Jiaxing (1796-1820), despite some professional restoration it left its estimate standing to sell for £5,200. From the same local deceased estate, and scoring high on decorative appeal, a large Chinese Republican (early 20th century)

porcelain panel painted with a mountainous landscape, which sold for a very respectable £3,200.

Amongst a strong showing of quality silver, once again it was China that led the way. A Chinese export white metal mug, the handle formed as a dragon, surpassed all expectations to sell for £2,200. Other highlights in the Asian section included an impressive matched pair of 18th Century Japanese Imari moulded vases and covers. Catalogued as ‘large’, at 66cm high they were perhaps better described as monumental and, despite significant repairs to one vase, their decorative appeal was clear to see. The focus of fast-paced bidding, they quickly left their estimate in the shade to sell for £3,800 [LOT 301].

With 2023 on the horizon, Clevedon Salerooms are gearing up for an exciting year of Fine Art and Interiors auctions, as well as their free valuation days at the Saleroom, which will run every Monday (except Bank Holidays), and regular outside valuation events. Please visit the website www.clevedonsalerooms.com for more details. ■ • clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)

Our regular columnist Chris Yeo is away but Clevedon Salerooms report on yet another successful specialist sale.

On the level

Just when resolutions are being made to get out and do some more walking, the idea starts to feel a lot less appealing. It’s not just the nippy weather and ludicrously early sunsets; slopes have turned slippery, woodland tracks have degenerated into boggy quagmires, and, if you’re not careful, a gentle stroll can easily become a gruelling slog. So, to help break the new year in gently, here are some suggestions for seven short, undemanding walks. Although some may be muddy in places, all are over level – or nearly level –terrain, and several of them (marked with a *) are suitable, at least in part, for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

ULEY BURY

Uley Bury, high above the Severn Plain, is perhaps Gloucestershire’s most impressive iron-age hillfort, guarded by unassailable green cliffs, with views westward to the Forest of Dean and the Welsh mountains. It is also one of the most accessible, with no climbing required to get there and rough but reasonable level tracks around its ramparts. To find it, head east from Dursley along the B4066, carry on through the village of Uley, and, after climbing steeply for half a mile, pull into a parking area on the left (ST786993). Go through a gate on the left and after 60m turn left through another gate to follow the path around the ramparts. And if you’re a bit chilly after taking in the views, the Old Crown Inn down in the village (GL11 5SN) is an excellent place to recharge your batteries.

COMBE HILL WOOD*

Combe Hill Wood commands one of the finest views in Somerset, extending over the Somerset Levels to the Quantock Hills, 15 miles away. A circular all-ability path from the car park leads to the viewpoint, while further north, where the going gets rougher, a track leads past a prehistoric earthwork called the New Ditch to the 33m-high Hood Monument, where there is a surprise view eastward to Glastonbury Tor.

To find Combe Hill Wood, drive to Wells, head west along the A39 and, after passing Glastonbury, bear left at a roundabout along the B3151. Two miles further on, bear left along a road signposted to Keinton Mandeville. After a mile and a half, pull into a large car park on the right (ST503329; combehillwood.co.uk).

LEIGH WOODS*

Leigh Woods is the largest area of ancient woodland in the Bristol area and is criss-crossed by a range of colour-coded tracks giving access to its deepest recesses. Among them is a 2.5km all-ability trail, waymarked in purple, which, despite a few uneven stretches, should be suitable for most wheelchairs and pushchairs. It starts from the main car park, which can be reached by a turning off Abbot’s Leigh Road (BS8 3QB; ST553740; charges apply). From here it leads south to the ramparts of Stokeleigh Camp, an iron age hillfort, passing ponds, sculptures and a celebrated viewpoint en route.

As winter well and truly sets in, Andrew Swift suggests seven spectacular walks on mostly level terrain around the Bristol area that will provide some much-needed time in the great outdoors...

CLEVEDON*

Few things beat a brisk coastal walk for blowing away the winter cobwebs. Clevedon’s promenade, stretching over half a mile from the pier to the Marine Lake, is hard-surfaced and largely flat, although with one short incline. Beyond the Marine Lake, steps lead up to Poet’s Walk, which continues south past a 19th-century lookout to St Andrew’s church and Wain’s Hill, from where there are views southward to Woodspring Bay and Worlebury Hill, with the Quantocks and Exmoor in the distance. Perhaps the highlight of a visit to Clevedon, though, is a walk out to sea along its Victorian pier – although you need to bear in mind that it’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in the winter.

SEVERN BEACH*

The paved promenade running north along the shoreline from Severn Beach is another superb place for a bracing winter walk. It leads under the Second Severn Crossing to New Passage, where ferries once set out for the perilous trip across the estuary. Beyond New Passage, where the path is rougher, you come to Pilning Wetlands, an important site for migrant and over-wintering birds.

There should be ample parking at the northern end of Beach Road (ST539852; BS35 4PF), but a better option is to take the Severn Beach Line from Temple Meads – a fascinating 37minute journey with trains every hour. It once featured in Thomas Cook’s list of Great European Rail Journeys, which gives an idea of what a little-known gem it is.

UPHILL

A very different coastal experience can be found at Uphill, with rutted tracks and boardwalks instead of paved promenades. The Romans established a port here, but today the tidal creek is home to a bucolic marina set amid sea marshes and overlooked by a ruined church on the edge of a cliff. One path leads through two nature reserves where birds overwinter on the salt marshes, while another winds alongside the creek to emerge on sands stretching all the way north to Weston-superMare. Parking is at the village car park on Uphill Way (ST316585; BS23 4XP). Walk west along the road from here for 150m and take a left turn at Uphill Sluice to the nature reserves. Alternatively, carry on along the road for another 40m and turn left to follow the footpath alongside the creek.

SNUFF MILLS

Finally – and much closer to home – the Frome Valley Walkway above Snuff Mills is always worth a visit. The first part of the walk, leading past a spectacular weir, is along a level, tarmaced path; thereafter the going gets rougher, with inclines to negotiate, and eventually steps. For something more adventurous, a path cut into the hillside high above the river by the landscape gardener Humphry Repton in the early 19th century provides some spectacular views. Alternatively, you can carry on along the river to Frenchay and explore its splendid common. Access to the car park at Snuff Mills is off Broom Hill (ST622765; BS16 1DL; charges apply). n

FOOD & DRINK

TASTY TIDBITS FROM THE CITY’S BEST RESTAURANTS, CHEFS AND PRODUCERS

Thatchers Cider releases new

limited-

edition blend

Specially designed dishes

Bristol-based entrepreneur, food photographer and Crohn’s sufferer, Helena Murphy, is set to release her new cookbook, The Plant-Based Crohn’s and Colitis Cookbook, this month. Sharing nutritious, easy-to-digest plant-based recipes created specifically for people suffering with Crohn’s and Colitis, the recipes are based on Murphy’s own experiences of living and cooking with the disease.

The cookbook contains over 70 recipes that incorporate dishes designed for maximum nutrition. What’s more, in The Plant-Based Crohn’s and Colitis Cookbook, you’ll find evidencebased research about plant-based diets in relation to IBD, suggestions for how to diversify a plant-based diet, a useful list of kitchen staples to buy in bulk, customisable recipe ideas for breakfasts, dips, sauces, salads, soups, curries, mains and more involved weekend dishes, and flare-friendly recipes.

As a food and product photographer, Murphy has created a visually bold, dynamic and playful cookbook to contrast the drudgery and tedium of living with this disease. Her hope is to provide an inspiring go-to resource.

•

Combining two of its favourite apple varieties, Thatchers Cider has added a new blend to its Cider Barn range. Katy & Redstreak, at 7.4% abv, joined the limitededition selection as the 2022 harvest drew to a close for another year.

With a light fragrant aroma, and soft rounded finish, Katy & Redstreak has a fine, full flavour, combining the characteristics of both apple varieties. Katy, Thatchers’ signature single variety, is a beautiful dessert apple that offers a light, crisp sweetness, while the Somerset Redstreak apple, prized for its cider making qualities since the 17th century, brings a bold spiciness and a deep rich colour to the cider.

Katy & Redstreak is a contemporary style cider made from 100% freshly pressed apples grown in West Country orchards.

A batch of last year’s Katy apples harvested during September were handpressed by visitors at the Thatchers Open Day, with the juice used in this special cider.

Thatchers’ special visiting pressers were able to put their names forward to be featured on the Katy & Redstreak label – and it was Laura Rusbridge of Bristol who was randomly chosen from the draw.

So Laura, under her nickname “Geary” appears on the Katy & Redstreak label as Thatchers’ very first guest presser.

• Katy & Redstreak is available online, in the Thatchers Cider Shop, and in the Railway Inn, Sandford, RRP £2.40 for a 500ml bottle; thatcherscider.co.uk

Cow & Sow opens second venue

After a successful first 10 months trading, the owner of Bristol steakhouse The Cow & Sow has secured a licence for a second venue in the city – with support from law firm Shakespeare Martineau.

The first contemporary chophouse opened in January 2022, serving up local prime cuts and small plates from its Queen Square restaurant. Now, it has branched out from the city centre, with a new restaurant in the former Cowshed on Whiteladies Road.

The restaurant is open between 10am and 12pm Monday to Saturday and between 12pm and 11.30pm on Sundays, serving lunch, main, Sunday and light bite menus.

• thecowandsow.co.uk

Purchase The Plant-Based Crohn’s and Colitis Cookbook (£24) via Amazon. Image credit: Helena Rose Photography

KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar releases new vegan dishes

Say hello to KIBOU’s new vegan Volcano Roll! Over the years, KIBOU’s signature Volcano Roll has pretty much become one of their most talked-about dishes, gaining a cult-like status amongst diners who just can’t get enough. So this year, KIBOU wanted to go further and tasked their creative sushi chefs to conjure up a new vegan Volcano Roll that would hit the same moreish, must-have notes among the meat-free community.

And the results didn’t disappoint, with the launch of their new Yasai Volcano Roll, a 10-piece futomaki sushi roll, stuffed with red pepper and avocado, then dipped in tempura batter, fried and drizzled with their own very special KIBOU sauces.

It’s just one of the dishes that the colourful Japanese restaurant has introduced to their vegan menu… a menu that’s available all year round, not just for Veganuary.

You’ll also find a heap of other tasty vegan dishes, including the gorgeously generous Yasai Moriawase dish – a 17-piece vegan sushi sharing platter, veggie ramen, a new pumpkin korokke vegan katsu curry, and a deliciously smoky chargrilled aubergine bao bun with sweet miso sauce.

Plus, for January, KIBOU has introduced a few extra vegan specials to its menu, including a mushroom tartare and truffle maki, spicy dynamite cauliflower and sweet potato tempura bao bun.

So, whether you’ve opted to go completely meat-free this January, or are just looking to add a few more plant-based options to your diet, then be sure to try all of the new vegan dishes at KIBOU.

• To view the full menu, visit: kibou.co.uk

Salt & Malt expands with new dining area

Salt & Malt, Award Winning fish and Chips restaurant at Wapping Wharf, run by Michelin star chef Josh Eggleton and sister Holly Eggleton, who also runs the famous Pony & Trap, has expanded with a new unique dining area for guests, ‘The Fish Tank’.

Located in Bristol’s historic harbourside, Salt & Malt is found on the ground floor of the shipping container complex, Cargo, at Wapping Wharf.

The newly constructed restaurant expansion, which continues with the use of shipping containers, houses a new glass-fronted dining area with views out to the famous Bristol harbourside and historic Matthew. The newly nicknamed ‘The Fish Tank’ provides a warm ambient hideaway during the colder months, with byfolds opening out to a terrace, for the spring and summer. The seating style has also taken an upgrade from the current Salt & malt, with lower dining tables and comfy chairs providing a much cosier restaurant feel. The option for exclusive hire brings a new and exciting dining experience to Wapping Wharf something owner Josh has wanted to bring to the area for some time.

Booking for the new dining area is now and is available for regular dining and private dining. The near future will see the space launch a variety of hot and cold seafood platters, fish soups, and new small plates that will continue to celebrate local British sustainable seafood.

• Tables can be booked online at saltandmalt.co.uk/wapping-wharf

KIBOU’s brand-new vegan Volcano Roll

“ Etsy for food ”

Bristol-born online marketplace, All About the Cooks, is continuing to help people all across the city eat real food made by real people in the comfort of their own homes. This month, they’re putting an even healthier spin on some of their much-loved recipes to help kick off the year. Let Veganuary commence...

Nick-named “Etsy for food”, All About The Cooks is an online marketplace founded in Bristol, which makes it deliciously easy for the people across the city to eat real food made by local people, all in the comfort of their own homes.

This month, the platform’s talented home cooks have created vegan feasts, inspired by the national campaign Veganuary, with meat and dairy-free twists on their globally-inspired menus.

At its core, All About The Cooks enables home cooking enthusiasts hungry to share their love for home-cooked food with even hungrier residents, with menus and dishes from across the world, all prepared right here in Bristol and available to order online. With collection or delivery arranged directly from the cook, the days of junk food and faceless deliveries are over. Similarly, you’ll be supporting your neighbours –with over £40,000 already paid to local cooks since the marketplace’s launch.

Inspired by her native South America, Mireya, who lives in Henbury, usually cooks up Brazilian and Chilean delights, including empanadas Chilenas and pao de queijo (Brazilian cheese balls). For Veganuary however, Mireya has veganised the traditional Brazilian

Feijoada, typically made with pork, with vegan smoked sausages and bacon exclusively for Bristol residents to order via: allaboutthecooks.co.uk.

Tomer, who lives in Bishopston, will be offering Middle-Eastern vegan feasts with a menu that changes weekly. Stella in Redfield will be baking stunning vegan celebration cakes, and as a baker at Bristol’s ever popular Hart’s Bakery, her sweet treats are not to be missed. Those looking for Spanish dishes will be delighted to try Horfieldbased Rosa’s menu, including vegan tapas plates such as meat-free chorizo cooked in cider. Those in Easton will be delighted to tuck into Indira’s Cuban delicacies including Frijoles negros; a delicious and rich black bean stew flavoured with bay leaf and garlic and served alongside rice, cassava with a mojito sauce and plantains. n

• Those yet to try out the food of Bristol’s best home cooks can get £10 off their first order by signing up for the newsletter on the website: allaboutthecooks.co.uk/newsletter-sign-up. To join in the fun and become one of Bristol’s most well-loved cooks from the comfort of your own home, local cooks can apply via the website: allaboutthecooks.co.uk/become-a-cook

Mireya’s vegan Brazilian feijoada

Method

1. First, start the feijoada. In a pressure cooker, pan fry one of the onions and three cloves of garlic. Add the vegan bacon and stir until lightly cooked. Add the vegan sausage and let it cook for about 2 minutes, then add the rinsed black beans.

quickly. Add the salt and mix more. Remove from the heat when it's brownish but not too much. Add the chopped parsley and it's ready!

Serves: 6 | Ingredients

Feijoada:

3 tbsp vegetable oil

2 large onions, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

500g black turtle beans (soaked overnight if you don’t have a pressure cooker)

100g vegan bacon lardons

260g vegan smoked sausage cut around 3 cm slices

2 bay leaves

500 ml boiling water (or just enough to cover the beans)

2. Add the salt and the bay leaf, mix well then add boiling water - enough to cover the beans. Put the lid on, ensure it is well locked and that the steam will release properly. Leave to cook for 25 to 30 minutes or when it starts to noisily steam.

3. While the feijoada cooks, prepare the farofa. In a small pan on a medium heat, add one tbsp of vegetable oil and fry the vegan bacon until crispy, add the garlic and the onions and let it simmer until transparent. Add one tbsp of vegan butter then the manioc flour. It’s important to keep mixing once you put the manioc flour in because it tends to brown quite

4. Make the rice: In a medium pan, add the vegetable oil and fry the garlic until light brown. Add the rice and mix it with the garlic, add the salt and boiling water. Mix it well together and put the lid on. Lower the heat to number 2 and let it cook for around 20 minutes, do not remove the lid otherwise the steam used to cook the rice will escape and it might burn before it's properly cooked.

5. Once the beans of the feijoada are ready, add one tbsp of vegetable oil into a large pan, fry the remaining chopped onion, and three minced garlic cloves. When transparent, add the beans in and adjust the salt. Let it boil for 10 more minutes, and add water if it gets dry; feijoada has to have caldo (sauce). Simmer occasionally.

6. To prepare the couve (greens), wash the leaves and place them all on top of each other,

Farofa:

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 handful vegan bacon lardons

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp vegan butter

250g manioc flour (found in Brazilian shops or world food section of most supermarkets)

Salt to taste

Handful parsley, chopped

Rice:

2 cups long-grain rice (don’t use easy cook, it won't taste the same), washed and rinsed

2 cloves garlic minced

1 tsp salt

3 cups boiling water

Couve (Greens):

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 pack greens, finely cut into strips

3 cloves garlic, minced

Salt to taste

Plantain:

4-5 plantain cut in half, then half again horizontally

make a roll and finely chop it. Now, in a medium pan at medium heat, add the oil and fry the garlic slightly, before it gets brown, add the finely chopped greens, add the salt and mix all well together. Let it sweat on a low heat with the lid on for one minute. Remove from the heat, let it sweat a bit more with the lid on until serving. I like to do it at the last minute so it's still green and fresh.

7. To make the fried plantains, in a frying pan, add 3 tbsp of vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, add the cut plantains and fry until golden

brown then turn to brown the other side. Remove and let drain on kitchen towel.

8. To serve, on a plate or dish, add two generous spoons of rice, then a spoon of the feijoada on top or on the side, like I do, and complete on the sides with some farofa to absorb the sauce of the beans, couve (greens), and plantains to finish. Eat and enjoy!

VINYASA FLOW YOGA CLASS & BRUNCH

Harvey Nichols Bristol from 9.30am – Midday on Sunday 29th January

This exclusive Vinyasa Flow Yoga class and brunch event will be hosted by Bristol-based Yoga Teacher, Lucy Coxon from 9.30 am – 10.15 am on the Womenswear Floor at Harvey Nichols Bristol

Following the Yoga session, guests can head up to The Second Floor Restaurant, to enjoy a main course from our yoga brunch menu, along with a superfood smoothie.

Tickets £35 per person

To book your place: email: reception.bristol@harveynichols.com

• Published and written by Mireya González

Photography by Emily bin Dixon

Jigged squid with rainbow chard

Bread and butter, chicory and chicken liver, with smoked cod’s roe

Farm tofork

As more of us adopt habits to help protect our health – and the health of the planet – one forkful at a time, we take a closer look at one of Bristol’s finest restaurants, which was awarded a Michelin Green Star in 2022. We caught up with co-owner and head chef Jan Ostle to learn more about the inner workings of Wilsons…

across the world. The annual award highlights those who are making a difference and Wilsons is doing exactly that. Growing its own menu every season means nature very much dictates what and how the team cook on a daily basis. “I love the challenge,” Jan says. “Trying to write a whole menu based around what we grow is not easy, things are constantly changing, getting swapped around or running out. It keeps it exciting and produces things like celeriac ice cream.”

The restaurant has its own market garden where the team grow much of the produce used in the restaurant, including vegetables, herbs, and edible and ornamental flowers, all of which are set in a two-acre field in Barrow Gurney, just 20 minutes away from the restaurant. The wine list is also short and frequently changing. Jan and Mary source wines from small scale producers using organic, biodynamic and low intervention techniques. When renowned food critic Jay Rayner arrived in Bristol, he described the restaurant’s dishes as being “big and bold, but also thoughtful,” adding: “It is a bunch of good things treated very well. It’s all extremely beguiling; hating Wilsons would be like hating Una Stubbs or kittens.”

Awarded a Michelin Green Star for its exceptionally high ethical and environmental standards, Wilsons is currently at the forefront of the industry when it comes to its sustainable practices. Offering a dining experience that combines culinary excellence with outstanding ecofriendly commitments, the Chandos Road bistro is one to admire.

Opened in 2016 by head chef Jan Ostle and Mary Wilson, the husband-and-wife team have placed sustainability at the heart of everything they do, working with and supporting producers, growers and traders that use ethical and low impact methods. Making sure to consider the provenance of their ingredients, the use of seasonal produce, their environmental footprint, food waste systems, general waste disposal, recycling and much more, Wilsons is a role model in Bristol and beyond.

Jan has spent his career working in some of the country’s most acclaimed kitchens including London’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant The Clove Club and with Tom Kerridge, while Mary has a background in biodynamic agriculture and grew up in her family restaurant in London, which went by the same name. When asked about what inspired the decision to open a restaurant that has such a strong commitment to sustainable gastronomy, Jan explained that “it happened organically.”

“Mary has loads of experience in farming and growing. I grew up with my parents growing all of the vegetables that we ate so it seemed normal. We wanted the restaurant to feel like a home, and home for me was food from the allotment.”

The Michelin Green Star award was first revealed in 2020 and introduced into several of the 2021 editions of the Michelin Guide

The city’s easily accessible leafy green surroundings must also allow restaurants, traders, producers and growers like Wilsons to uphold their green values with relative ease. But what other benefits does Bristol bring? “There would be no food scene in Bristol without the people of Bristol. That sounds pretty obvious but it’s more nuance than it sounds. Bristol folk are generous with their support and encourage each other to take risks, do things differently and challenge the status quo. They support people who are different and are doing what they love to do. I don’t think Wilson’s could exist anywhere else.”

Although proud of their sustainable practices, Jan also states: “It’s important to realise that we are incredibly fortunate to be able to grow our own and that by no means is it the right path for everyone. But there are lots of small changes that you can make to your day-today. A big thing we’ve done is to build sustainability in to a key requirement for how we work. Most restaurants ask: is it delicious, is it profitable and is it possible? All we do is add as much importance to the sustainability as you would to whether something is delicious. You wouldn’t serve something that’s disgusting but profitable.”

During the winter months, the restaurant’s allotment must endure the weather at its harshest, where natural food sources are scarce. Despite a battle with the elements, however, the Wilsons menu never ceases to impress, for it is a work of imagination executed with great skill. “We’ve been storing vegetables, pickling and preserving them so we can get through the ‘hungry gap’ [which typically lasts from December to March],” Jan explains. “We also invested in another poly tunnel so we will have some super fresh stuff as well as the preserved.”

As more people look for ways to stop negatively impacting our natural world and support and invest in those that are taking action to address some of society’s most critical challenges, restaurants like Wilsons are paving the way for a greener tomorrow. “I’m super happy doing what I’m doing,” concludes Jan. “I just want to keep on growing, figuratively and literally.” n

Jan Ostle and Mary Wilson

BRISTOL UPDATES

NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Bristol company keeping UK homes warm

Across the UK, it’s predicted that one in four households will not be able to eat, heat and pay the rent this winter. The UK has the most energy-inefficient homes in Europe, and government attempts to improve this have stalled. The government claims it costs £25,000 to retrofit a house, but an award-winning thermal-imaging scheme started in Bristol seven years ago can show exactly where the energy escapes so that with DIY and £100 you can keep warm, save money, and help save the planet.

In 2014, the not-for-profit CHEESE Project (Cold Homes Energy Efficiency Survey Experts) was founded by Mike Andrews a former TV Executive Producer/Director with the BBC Natural History Unit, and Jeremy Birch, who founded Friends of the Earth in Bristol and who has decades of experience in software and silicone chip design. Drawing on experience from around the world, they developed a brand new thermal camera, software, and an enhanced thermal imaging system and used it inside homes to perfect a lowcost grass-roots community solution to energy conservation in the home. Mike Andrews says: “What we offer is the difference between £300 and £25k to start making your home energy-efficient.”

Now Mike and his team are beginning to replicate this model across the UK by launching First Thermal Ltd as a Social Franchisor. Community groups will receive all they require to run a valuable social service while building a financially sustainable business: the equipment, software, training and a self sustaining business model that can keep running once grants and funding pots dry up. No matter where householders are in the UK they can expect the same high standard of results from every First Thermal Survey.

• For more information, visit: cheeseproject.co.uk

Calling all carers

Carers Support Centre for Bristol and South Gloucestershire has announced new Walk and Talks for unpaid carers and the people they care for. Walk and Talks are popular, easy walks around local green areas where carers are given a chance to enjoy a break from their responsibilities in the company of other carers. One of the charity’s friendly support workers leads the walk, offering a listening ear and providing information to support walkers in their caring role.

The groups take place once a week over six weeks, and there are a mixture of groups, including ones for carers on their own; for carers and those they care for; and for age-specific carers, for example, young adult carers. It is free to take part and all are welcome.

Carers Support Centre’s aim is to make the walks as inclusive as possible. So, whatever your background, whatever your walking ability, Carers Support Centre want you to come and join them on a Walk and Talk. The new walks are scheduled to take place in the new year in Bradley Stoke, Horfield and Winterbourne, with more planned for later in the year. • carerssupportcentre.org.uk

Avon Wildlife Trust taking action for nature

Avon Wildlife Trust has received a grant of over £235,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help establish a network of Wildlife Champions across the region. These Wildlife Champions will facilitate a movement of community action for nature, based on peer-led advice and training. This is part of Avon Wildlife Trust’s aim to see one in four people in Avon taking action for nature by 2030. By reaching this social tipping point, we’ll see more people change their habits to help nature recover.

An initial network of 12 volunteer Wildlife Champions will co-design work with their local community, focusing on priority areas of social and nature deprivation within the Avon region (Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset). These Champions will work with residents to establish what they need to create more space for nature and improve biodiversity in their area, and then tailor training and resources to help achieve the community’s goals.

Julie Doherty, Head of Communities and Engagement at Avon Wildlife Trust, said: “We’re delighted to have received this support for our Wildlife Champions project, thanks to the National Lottery players.

“This project is designed to resource and connect community-led activity, and champion nature in our everyday lives. We’ll be providing a free ecological advice for residents across Avon, and supporting local champions to help create a wilder, nature-rich future for all.

“At Avon Wildlife Trust, we’ve got ambitious goals we want to achieve for nature – one in four people taking action works out as 250,000 people in the West of England. That’s why we need more people on nature’s side, being part of Team Wilder and making space for wildlife where they live.”

• For more information, visit: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Image credit: Broni Lloyd-Edwards

BRISTOL UPDATES

FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Bristol not-for-profit sustainable lifestyle store up for national award

A shop that showcases work by 150 sustainable designers in Bristol city centre has been nominated in a nationwide search to find the UK’s favourite local business.

Prior, which is a registered living wage employer, an advocate for the Good Employment Charter and a Bristol Sustainable Impact Champion, was set up by Beck Prior in 2019 and is located in Cabot Circus.

Speaking about the nomination, Beck said: “I’m speechless at being nominated for this award. I still get goosebumps when I look around and see what our team has created. I’m so proud that others see Prior as a welcoming, comfortable community space in Bristol.

“I’m a maker myself, and after studying fine art and visual culture in Bristol, I started my own business in set and prop design, alongside working in art technician, education and outreach roles. However, in 2010, when I was 26, I was diagnosed with leukaemia. In the three years that I was ill, I couldn’t have a regular job but started doing markets on a Sunday as a way to still work and be creative. It grew and grew. In 2018, an opportunity came up to take on a shop in Old Market. I thought it would be a workshop space but once I had the keys and opened the doors, I saw it as an opportunity to bring people together in a creative way. I reached out to some other designers and Prior was born in 2019.”

Vicky Lee, Head of Bristol City Centre BID, adds: “Beck’s story is inspirational, an individual who has poured her passion and creativity into a shop and community hub that is a positive force in our community.”

UWE welcomes founder of Plimsoll Productions

Grant Mansfield, CEO and Founder of Plimsoll Productions, an ITV Studios company, has been appointed a Visiting Professor for the College of Arts, Technology and Environment at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). In his new role Mansfield will be working with the University to help inspire the next generation of programme makers. He said: “UWE Bristol is a wonderful University where it’s my privilege to serve as a Board Member and now a Visiting Professor. Under Professor West’s leadership, links with employers have been significantly strengthened, benefiting students as they seek employment: in my new role, I hope to highlight pathways, opportunities and the skills required for a career in the creative sector.”

Mansfield founded Plimsoll in 2013 and the company has grown rapidly since with a total workforce of more than 400 across its officers in Los Angeles, Bristol and Cardiff. Plimsoll’s BAFTA, Academy and Emmy Award-winning team specialise in wildlife, documentary, live and factual entertainment shows and is a global leader in natural-history programmes. Before launching the company, Mansfield spent three years in Los Angeles as CEO of Zodiak USA. Previously, as Managing Director of RDF and, before that, Director of Programmes at Granada TV, Mansfield was the creative lead for two of the UK’s most successful production companies.

Osborne Clarke partners with UK community groups

As part of its partnership with UK Youth, Osborne Clarke has announced that it has chosen 20 community groups that will receive multi-year grants to address the lack of digital skills and resources for young people over the next three years.

According to the European Union, demand for digital skills is expected to increase more than any other area by 2030, with many hopes pinned on young people to lead the ‘digital jobs of the future’. But a recent 2021 report finds 42% –or six million young people – don’t have access to either a suitable device or home broadband.

The long-term grants will be distributed over the next three years to support the community groups in addressing local needs. Most of the successful grantees are based in the communities where Osborne Clarke operates – with 15 youth organisations across London, Bristol and Reading receiving funding.

The funding has also been targeted at the most concerning digital cold spots across the country where digital skills and resources are most in need, and the firm will also support five youth organisations in and around Manchester, Birmingham and Middlesborough.

As further sign of the firm’s commitment to boosting digital skills, Osborne Clarke is supporting the successful community groups with pro bono and volunteering support where it can. The funding will be used in a myriad of ways including for skills development (both for young people and staff), additional resources, hardware equipment, creation of digital resources, software, wifi/data and impact evaluation.

In Bristol, the firm will support: Work out of the Pod, which is based at the local skate park, offering a café and a youth zone. The Open Blue Trust, which looks to build community for those struggling with rural poverty and isolation; and Youth Moves, a youth charity providing a wide range of services to young people in South Bristol aged eight to 18.

NEWS

EDUCATION NEWS

Redmaids’ High named as one of top independent schools in South

West

Redmaids’ High has been named by The Sunday Times as one of the top independent schools in the South West in the latest Parent Power league table. The Parent Power table ranks all state and independent schools based on their GCSE, A Level, and IB Diploma results from the previous summer.

Within the national rankings for independent schools, Redmaids’ High is listed 79th and is the only Bristol school to be included in the top 100. Regionally, they have placed fifth for the South West. The recognition by the Sunday Times Parent Power table comes after Redmaids’ High achieved the highest Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) grade possible of ‘excellent’ in all areas by ISI Inspectors earlier this year. The report stated that “the success of the pupils reflects their high aspirations as individuals which is a key aim of the school. Pupils are supported in their learning by focused teaching which represents an understanding of pupils' strengths and how to help them achieve their potential.”

Head of Redmaids’ High, Paul Dwyer, expressed his delight at the newly released data stating: “I am thrilled Redmaids’ High has been recognised in this way. To rank as highly as we have on a national basis, as well as being the only independent school in Bristol listed in the top 100 is an achievement everyone at Redmaids' High can be extremely proud of.”

• redmaidshigh.co.uk

Badminton welcomes Wild Pioneers

There’s an exciting, adventurous, creative and curious new club in Bristol for girls aged seven and eight. Introducing Wild Pioneers. Being a Wild Pioneer is about trying lots of exciting activities that allow children to explore nature and all its curiosities while learning how to make a contribution to their community and a difference in the world. Through an expertly constructed programme of activities, Wild Pioneers will develop life skills and knowledge through handson experiences to help them become people that can change the future. A team of specialist leaders will run weekly sessions that will be centred around outdoor activities and creative projects promoting sustainable practices through hands-on experiences.

There will be a focus on personal wellbeing and consideration for others in a supportive, friendly and fun environment. A collection of achievement badges will be worked towards and awarded for outstanding effort both in and outside the club. An opportunity to be adventurous and build resilience is delivered through new experiences and an optional overnight trip in the local area at the end of the year.

Wild Pioneers meet every Monday between 4.45 – 5.45pm during term time in The Hub at Badminton School in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol. Membership costs £30 per term, which covers badges, resources, specialist instructor activities and subsidises the cost of a camp at the end of the year. Refreshments and a snack will be provided every week.

The number of places is limited and can be booked by emailing wildpioneers@badmintonschool.co.uk or calling 0117 905 5200.

Ukranian students make their mark at

Millfield

Two Ukrainian students have spoken about their experiences of being welcomed into Millfield after fleeing their country. Ana Sandalova, a 17-year-old pianist, guitarist, singer and songwriter, has found solace in Millfield’s music department, performing in multiple concerts, and 16-year-old Vitalii Klymenko has set up a water polo team to pursue his passion for the sport and has already entered the National Championships. As a result of the conflict in Ukraine, Millfield offered 10 free Ukrainian student places to enable children affected to safely continue with their education. Ana and her family left their home in Kyiv at the start of the conflict, moving to Montenegro. She travelled to the UK on her own and her parents and younger sister Eva stayed in Montenegro, her guardian who lived locally heard about Millfield’s offer of places and Ana started in June. Ana is studying BTEC music, with aspirations of a career in music and the dream of one day singing at Wembley Stadium. Vitalii quickly settled into Millfield after leaving Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and moving to Italy at first. His mum, dad and younger sister remain in Kyiv. Missing his sporting passion, he asked Millfield’s Director of Swimming Euan Dale, if he could set up a water polo team, which Vitalii now coaches three times a week in the school’s 50m pool.

Ana said: “All I want is to be in a safe place and continue my education. Millfield gave me lots of support when I joined the school, the teachers have helped me a lot with my language barrier and the Millfield community has helped me to continue to make my dreams come true.”

Vitalii added: “I found my transition to Millfield quite easy because of the relationships between teachers and other students, which are all very friendly. I have received lots of support from them.” • millfieldschool.com

Local tutoring service joins Greenhouse Learning

Education Provider Greenhouse Learning is pleased to announce the acquisition of local tutoring company Bristol Tutors Ltd. With this acquisition, Greenhouse Learning expands its reach and offerings, providing even more high-quality tutoring services to students in the greater Bristol area. Founded in 2009, Bristol Tutors Ltd has built a strong and longstanding reputation for its dedication to student success. The acquisition will be seamless for Bristol Tutors’ clients, as they will continue to receive the same high-quality tutoring services they have come to expect. Greenhouse Learning looks forward to working with the incoming team to ensure a smooth transition and continued success for all students.

• For more information about Greenhouse Learning and its services, visit: greenhouselearning.co.uk

Rest & recharge

‘Best Boutique Spa of the Year’ launches 2023 Lifestyle

Membership

Recognising that wellness requires a multi-targeted approach and isn’t confined to the gym, Bristol’s award-winning ‘Best Boutique Spa of the Year’, Aztec Hotel & Spa has launched a new Lifestyle Membership for January 2023. The membership brings together the very best in person and online spa, fitness and hotel experiences into one accessible monthly membership.

For £95 a month, guests are invited to enjoy full access to the Aztec Hotel’s gym, pool and thermal experiences at any time, as well as additional treats to enjoy throughout the year. With wellbeing at the forefront of the membership, it includes the opportunity to rest and recharge with one complimentary Sunday night getaway for two, as well as a complimentary dinner for two at the hotel’s award-winning Curious Kitchen, to be enjoyed during the year. There are also two Taster Spa treatments per annum, so members can experience a stress-busting massage or rejuvenating facial from Aztec’s highly trained therapists at no extra cost.

Acknowledging that people lead increasingly busy lifestyles, the membership provides extra support for all fitness and wellbeing needs, by including some unique online perks such as online classes through the MyWellness App and a monthly nutritional meal plan from the Spa & Fitness Kitchen. Combining this with ‘any time’ access to the gym, pool and thermal experiences, the membership works around each member’s needs.

• For more information, visit: aztechotelbristol.co.uk. Aztec Hotel & Spa, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4TS

Glowing testimonials for Cura’s James Scrimshaw

Chiropractor James Scrimshaw has reported another successful year treating sports injury, spinal injury, degeneration and joint pain using MBST™ therapy at his clinic in Westbury on Trym. MBST™ is a gentle adaptation of MRI, dialing the MR energy directly into damaged cells creating a remarkable healing process in tissues and joints.

Along with physiotherapy and exercise

Free class at Hotpod Yoga

This month, Hotpod Yoga Bristol is offering one free class to new customers. Find the studio tucked away in the heart of the city just a stone’s throw from St Nick’s market. Its teachers come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, offering something for everyone.

Hotpod Yoga is Europe’s largest yoga business. Since 2013, over 100,000 people have immersed themselves in a Hotpod class at one of its 50+ locations around the world. You’ll stretch further, breathe deeper, sweat harder and melt fully into the Hotpod experience – a balanced flow of active and passive postures, working the body and calming the mind in equal measure.

• Get one free class* using the code: HPYBRISTOLMAGAZINE . *New customers only. Valid 1 January – 4 February 2023. For class times and more, visit: hotpodyoga.com

treatment plans, MBST™is now a fundamental part of his practice, and an exciting development to add to the future management of orthopaedic conditions. The treatment has no side effects and needs no surgery, injections or drugs.

Throughout 2022, James has achieved superb results and has received many glowing testimonials including from Bristol Bears Team manager Jack Targett, who has made use of the facilities at CURA Clinical for the recovery of several members of the elite squad.

• For more information, visit: curaclinical.com

As the new year brings an opportunity for a fresh start, we look at what some of Bristol’s brilliant businesses are offering this year that will work wonders on our body and mind...

Image credit: Nic Pedron; nicpedron.co.uk

Get fit with MOHIITO: the ultimate cocktail of high energy

Clifton boutique fitness studio MOHIITO has launched brand new fitness programmes for 2023 designed to help kickstart better movement, health and wellbeing, even

City set to welcome new North Bristol Private Hospital in early 2023

Surgical tourism, or UK citizens travelling abroad for elective surgery, is sadly still on the rise, despite the all too regular reports of botched results, less than adequate facilities and questionable aftercare. Then, there are the risks associated with post-operative long-haul flights. But, for some, travelling abroad for surgery feels like the only option when UK hospital and treatment facilities catering to elective surgery, are overrun or largely unavailable.

The good news is, for those looking to have cosmetic and plastic surgery treatments in Bristol and the South West, a new, world-class patient-centric private hospital facility is opening to take up the standard of care throughout patients’ treatment journeys.

Change the way you think of hospital care; comfortable, luxury surroundings, expert medical facilities, top-notch nursing staff, free parking, restaurant facilities nearby for visitors and dedicated individualised patient care and support. North Bristol Private Hospital is set to become the regional hub for medical excellence and private treatment epicentre. What’s more, part of its

Gert lush: Climate positive sportswear brand Presca releases Bristol collection

The world’s first climate positive sportswear brand is on a mission to make garments that are: better made, better to wear and better for the planet. Based in Bristol, Presca was created to offer brilliant clothing with the minimum impact possible.

Showing their love for Bristol, the team have now brought out a Bristol collection, each item telling its own unique story, inspired by the city.

• Check out the new collection at: prescasportswear.com

if you’re new to exercise. Choose from a range of six-week programmes, (aimed at helping you build a fitness habit with confidence and get results) or dip your toe in the water with a threesession introduction pass.

Some of the most popular kickstart programmes include Barre Body, (think Pilates meets bootcamp), Momentum, a 12-week personal training plan and Metabolize, a sixweek metabolism-boosting HIIT programme.

MOHIITO’s club-vibe studio classes are designed to make your sessions pass in a flash, while the private training area is ideal for those who prefer privacy to a crowded gym floor.

• Find out more at: mohiito.com

commitment to patient satisfaction promises to forefront speedy treatment and recovery programmes, staffed by highly trained healthcare professionals.

• For more information, visit: northbristolprivatehospital.co.uk or email info@nbph.co.uk

Beauty treats

This winter, treat yourself to Sisley bath oils, Fenty body creams, La Mer renewal balms and more. Take a look at what’s in stock at Harvey Nichols Bristol...

SISLEY

Eau de Campagne Bath Oil 125ml, £74

SISLEY Energising Foaming Exfoliant 200ml, £95

TOM FORD

Soleil Blanc

Shimmering Oil 100ml, £85

FENTY SKIN

Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream 200ml, £29

SISLEY

Eau du Soir Perfumed Soap 100g, £27

FENTY BEAUTY

Face & Body Kabuki Brush 160, £26

LA MER The Renewal Body Oil Balm 200ml, £155

FENTY BEAUTY

Body Lava Body LuminizerCognac Candy, £46

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

MBST : Helping patients with Arthritis

We’ve had an exceptionally busy 2022 with MBST in Bristol, treating nearly 300 patients who were living in chronic pain. A lot of those patients had tried most other avenues and were intrigued and hopeful of it having a positive impact on their lives. Many were on NHS waiting lists that were only getting longer. Following the delivery of the next generation device in February, 85% of those patients had an extremely positive response to MBST which is an outstanding outcome, especially considering the lack of alternatives for the treatment of their condition.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2023 from everyone at Cura Clinical

Jane kindly allowed me to use her testimony. This is probably one of the most painful cases of neck pain due to arthritis I’ve seen. Jane was unable to live her life due to the severity, often having to sit still for days due to the pain, unable to lie down, with regular migraines and a vice like feeling in her head. She had MBST for neck cartilage last year (almost a year ago). Whilst Jane still has some fluctuating pain her life now looks very different. She swam at Henleaze lake 4 times last week and does exercise classes every day she doesn’t swim. There is no way she ‘could have considered exercise a year ago.’ This case is a great example of the fact that healing from MBST is NATURAL for which reason it takes time, but over time it can change lives.

Rob (above) is a great example of how MBST heals cartilage in a moderate to severe arthritic knee. 15 months after his MBST therapy he now runs, plays racket ball and golf without any pain and that’s without his braces. He’s recently done a course on his severe arthritic neck and after 3-4 months has significantly less neck pain and improved mobility. Over the next 6 months I expect his condition to reach over 90% improvement.

I treated Zoe, who is a Pilates instructor, for her arthritic thumbs in February this year: This is her take on MBST:

“Just 4 days into the 9 day course I honestly felt as though I could already notice improvement, my thumbs felt different. By day 7 I was full of hope and by the end of it I was jumping for joy! I am now 3 months on and am completely pain free in one thumb and 90% more comfortable in the other (which had been significantly the worse). I can peg out laundry without feeling like the guy on the Skittles advert and hardly notice if I get kicked in the pool! I have recommended many friends and clients to James, I truly believe in it. James himself is kind, personable and fun. If you have joint pain - look no further”.

The Future of Private Hospital Care is Here… and Just Around the Corner

A Passion for Excellence

Naturally, we demand specialist care and absolute safety as part of a hospital treatment, and now you can expect even more. Best-in-class nursing support and clinical facilities, coupled with luxurious surroundings and supreme comfort - the future of patient care.

NEW North Bristol Private

Hospital (NBPH) is a world-class facility that has been created to surpass the general standard of private hospital care for patients, with safety and highly individualised, bespoke treatments at the heart of its offering. With an eye on the detail and patient welfare at its core, your stay at NBPH promises to provide the best possible recovery experience. With a small, controlled number of beds in the ward, nursing staff can provide individualised specialist care that you would expect at exceptional private hospitals, such as London’s Harley Street.

Your Treatment, Our Specialty

Whether you are visiting us for cosmetic surgery, a routine operation or medical treatment, our facilities are designed to make your entire journey smooth, safe, relaxed and comfortable.

Home from Home

Patients can now experience expert care within exemplary facilities locally, with easy access from the airport, train station and M4 and M5 motorway junctions, without the need to travel to London, therefore removing any risks associated with long distance travel after major procedures. North Bristol Private Hospital is a first in this category, catering for Bristol and the Southwest.

The Wait is Over

This new facility of medical excellence is set to become the long-awaited private treatment epicentre for patients in Bristol and the South West of England and Wales.

Opening Offer

North Bristol Private Hospital will be offering an introductory opening promotion for the first 20 patients who contact us* of a free 15-minute mini cosmetic consultation, with our Expert Patient Advisor.

To book your free consultation appointment, please email us at info@NBPH.co.uk quoting ‘Bristol Magazine’ offer.

“Please meet our vibrant senior management team: Kelly Cavallo (back centre) is our Hospital Operations Manager, in charge of running our facility and staff to the highest standards, Ms Elena Prousskaia, Consultant Plastic Surgeon (front centre) is our Medical Director, Maria Porter (right) is our theatre manager who is in charge of running our theatres safely and efficiently, together with Lynn Cottle (left) as our Administration Lead and Patient coordinator who is always there for our patients to make every step of their journey with us a wonderful experience.”

A Hospital Stay Worth Shouting About

At North Bristol Private Hospital, you will be greeted by: 

Comfortable and inviting consultant and treatment rooms staffed by our meticulously trained administrative and front of house staff. We pride ourselves on exceptional management staff to make your treatment journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible



Excellent and spacious theatres and round the clock nursing staff, with female-only team available on request



Ultimate in luxury and comfortable surroundings for the perfect post-operative overnight stay – a home from home experience



Superb transport routes to and from the hospital, making travel easy and efficient; 30-minute drive from Bristol Airport and very close to both M4 and M5 motorway junctions and Bristol Parkway Train Station



Ample, free carparking on site

Variety of restaurant options and comfortable hotel accommodation facilities for your family and visitors within walking distance



Come

North Bristol Private Hospital, 150 Aztec West, Bristol, BS32 4UB

A question of cataract

Adam Ross is a Consultant Ophthalmologist with a subspeciality interest in cataract surgery including micro-incision and complex cataract surgery, medical retina and uveitis.

He carried out his training in Bristol and Cheltenham, as well as visiting fellowships in New York and Washington.

He has an extensive background in teaching and was the Ophthalmology Postgraduate Training Director and Head of School for Ophthalmology in the Severn Deanery as well as an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Bristol.

His main clinical practice is at the Chesterfield Nuffield Hospital, Bristol and is also involved in research within the subspecialty of retina at Boehringer Ingelheim. Furthermore, he sits on the board of trustees for the charity SRUK (Sight Research UK).

TBM posed some questions to Mr Adam Ross about the common eye condition, cataract.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a common condition that causes clouding of the natural lens of the eye resulting in blurring or glaring of vision. They usually occur slowly over time.

Surgery is the only treatment for cataracts and is recommended based on the severity of the disease and the impact on the daily activities of the patient. During surgery the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear plastic lens in the same lens capsule as the natural lens.

What are the symptoms?

Patients usually complain of a general reduction in vision, clouding of vision or other symptoms such as glare or haloes. Patients may find they also require brighter light for reading or other activities or that they are having to change spectacles on a regular basis.

How can they be treated?

Surgery is the only treatment for cataract and is recommended based on the severity of the condition and the impact it has on the daily activities of the patient. It is performed one eye at a time on an outpatient basis under local anaesthetic.

Are there different lens options?

Some options include: Monofocal intraocular lenses are set at a fixed point usually at distance and are the most common lenses used in cataract surgery.

Multifocal intraocular lenses are recommended after a thorough preoperative diagnostic evaluation. You will be questioned on your visual expectations and lifestyle - both work and leisure activities –and the importance given to both and amount of time spent on each.

Toric intraocular lenses are recommended for patients with moderate/severe degrees of regular astigmatism and can be used in monofocal or multifocal lens settings

With all lenses, it is important that an extensive assessment is carried out explaining the pros and cons of each option, often with repeated measurements and detailed discussion with the patient.

For further assessment?

It is important to see your optometrist/optician on a regular basis who can advise you on the general health of your eye and look for any signs of cataract. ■ • Mr

Adam Ross is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and is available for private consultation at the Nuffield Hospital, Bristol.

Design & décor

With the new year come new trends and ideas from which we can take inspiration –why not dive head first into the Magentaverse...

Viva Magenta!

(We are liking the vibes here.)

“This year’s Color of the Year ... revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement. It is a colour that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all.

Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2023, Viva Magenta 18-1750, vibrates with vim and vigour. Pantone explains that it is “a shade rooted in nature, descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength.” (Excellent plan.)

“Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.”

“Viva Magenta is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known. Rooted in the primordial, it reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, it galvanises our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”

Now let’s see which of us is brave enough to use it in the coming months!

• pantone.com

Celebrating 40 years

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Fired Earth launched six beautiful additions to its paint collection. The paints range from the warm burnt orange of Taos House (see above) to the soft umber of Silver Needle, and the jewel-like deep teal of Hesper – all timeless and versatile shades that are perfect for today’s interiors. All six colours have been specially designed to complement the extensive collections of tiles for which the brand is renowned. The paints are priced at £49.50 for 2.5 litres of matt emulsion, and are also available in eggshell and exterior masonry paint.

The Fired Earth winter sale runs throughout January so it’s the perfect time to get shopping if you're thinking about giving your home a bit of an update.

• firedearth.com; 01225 471212

Plunge into the Magentaverse

Pantone’s colour of the year is powerful, empowering, animated, electrifying and boundaryless –we discover some of the associated shades that you can welcome in your interior... if you dare

Everhot 100 in Burgundy with cast iron doors, and two cast iron lids; boniti.com

Magenta Oaks shade, from The Paint Collection, Fired Earth £49.50 for 2.5 litres; firedearth.com

Asher’s Cranberry, Proper Good Paint shade, by Ca’ Pietra capietra.com

Feria Magenta decorative weave from Romo £129.50 per metre; woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

Pick a pattern

Handmade sustainable bags by Lauren Holloway

Lauren Holloway –named after its founder –is a slow-fashion handbag and accessory brand established in 2013.

Desinger and maker Lauren Holloway specialises in creating unique bags, purses, laptop cases and toiletry storage, all carefully and lovingly handcrafted in her Bristol-based studio.

Characterised by bold, eye-catching fabrics and practical, stylish designs, Lauren’s small batch production means each piece is made with attention-to-

detail and waste is kept to a minimum. Prioritising quality over quantity is important and each bag is made to be delicately durable, not disposable. Respecting the environment is at the very heart of all that Lauren does, which is why all the leather used is repurposed from offcuts that would otherwise have ended up in landfill, and fabric scraps are donated to community projects.

Inspired by her travels around the globe, especially the beautiful patterns of Japan and the bold, colourful fabrics of Bali, Lauren’s aim is to create sustainable, unique and practical items that reflect her values and bring a little sunshine into the world.

• laurenholloway.uk

New textile range from Kate Loudoun Shand

Textile and wallpaper designer Kate Loudoun Shand has recently unveiled a new range of textiles that celebrates the art of block printing and presents a new take on a classic stripe.

Inspired by the iconic Cabana Stripe with its minimalist, bold pattern, the new collection offers a series of compelling stripes with character and depth. The range features three new designs with a total of 10 colourways that together make a grounding colour palette.

On the new collection, Kate Loudoun Shand comments: “I’ve always wanted more stripes in the line. There’s a lack of stripes with zest and personality in the market and I want this collection to be the answer to that. We work with a family-run business who have been block printing for generations. l love the alchemy that happens when the block is carved by hand and the design is then printed by hand; each element of the pattern is unique and there’s not a machine in sight,” Shand adds.

The new collection is produced from 100% linen made from EU certified flax.

• kateloudounshand.com

RIGHT: Chaand Stripe in brown and pink

Addicted to pattern

Each design in the artisan collection of printed wallhangings by local company Addicted to Patterns is hand-drawn and then transferred to the silk screen. Specialising in designing and printing collections of wallpapers and upholstery fabrics, Justyna Medon’s linear and organic motifs establish a dialogue with the past. She often collaborates with fashion designers and fine artists, loves to play with materials and develop techniques to print on challenging surfaces and to apply colourful patterns that have a visual language filled with mystery and symbolism.

Addicted to Patterns also creates project based custom pattern and placement design for costumes and sets for film, TV, theatre, fashion and interiors.

• addictedtopatterns.uk

ABOVE: Birds from the Meadows wallhanging, 59cm repeat pattern by Addicted to Patterns

Delve into the beautiful work of three local textile artists and designers...

Toiletry Bag, Navy Asanoha, £36.00

Bring in the birds

One of the greatest pleasures of gardening is that feeling of oneness with nature, the moment when you spot a friendly, curious robin hopping nearby while digging on a cold day, edging closer to see if you’ve unearthed a treat. Watching birds from indoors when it’s too cold to go outside is another delight, a free live-show, and I’ll always encourage clients to hang bird feeders and put out bird baths to add another element to the garden, particularly in winter when there’s not as much else going on.

It’s a tough time for birds in the garden right now. They need extra energy to keep warm, but food supplies are scarce and short days mean fewer hours for foraging. Garden birds as a whole are in gradual decline, and many once common species are struggling, particularly greenfinches, swifts, house martins and sparrows. There are lots of ways we can help our garden birds, improving their chances of surviving the winter as well as increasing their breeding success, by boosting their food supplies during these long, dark days.

The most obvious way to help them is to put out food, and the right kind of food, not just in winter but all year round. A good range will encourage different bird varieties, so try to include a seed mix, some fat-based snacks, and protein-rich options such as mealworms. Scraps from the kitchen can also be put out, such as grated cheese, crumbled pastry and bits of unsalted meat fat. And there are various recipes online if you want to make your own suet or fat balls, loved by many birds including tits, robins, sparrows and woodpeckers, and vital for energy and insulation when it’s cold.

Peanuts and sunflower seeds also have a high fat content, which is particularly important at this time of year.

Site your feeders in quiet places in the garden where birds won’t be disturbed, not too close to low bushes where predators can hide in wait, but where there is high cover from which they can flit to and fro, so they feel more safe. Don’t worry if nothing arrives for a week or two, it takes a while for birds to discover new feeders and to feel confident and safe using them. Choose somewhere a few metres away from the house, but where you can still see them from a window to enjoy the display.

Be sure to clear away uneaten food, and bits that have fallen on the ground that could encourage predators and rats. Good hygiene is vital. One of the main reasons finches are in sharp decline is because of a parasitic disease, trichomonosis, spread by contaminated food and drinking water. Try to clean and disinfect feeders every week, and remember to top up bird baths with fresh water, defrosting with warm water if it’s frozen.

As well as buying food, or giving them bits from your kitchen, you can also boost their natural food supply with the right kind of plants. Think seeds and berries – sunflowers are a popular treat, particularly for finches, blackbirds and thrushes. Other seedheads loved by garden birds include echinacea, globe thistles and rudbeckia, so don’t be too quick to clear away the dead and dying at the end of the season. Leaving seed heads on the plant will bring in more insects for birds to feed on, as well as the nutrition from the seeds themselves.

Elly West looks at the best ways to encourage our feathered friends back to our gardens and help them through the cold winter months...

Berried plants bring autumn and winter colour to your borders and will also benefit your feathered friends. Good plants for berries include cotoneaster, rowan, pyracantha, holly, honeysuckle, ivy, and roses for their hips.

Planting hedges and trees will provide food, but also important shelter and nesting spots for birds. You can also help by installing bird boxes ready for the breeding season ahead. Now is a great time to put them up, so they have time to find and investigate them before nesting time. You can buy them ready-made, or if you have a few DIY skills, have a go at building one yourself. Where to put the box will make a big difference to its success, so choose a sheltered site away from cold winds and direct sunlight and at least two metres from the ground, ensuring protection from predators, especially cats. Don’t put a nest box near your feeders, as this can lead to territorial disputes.

It’s nearly time for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which takes place 27–29 January. This annual event is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey and last year nearly 700,000 people took part. The more the merrier, so if you want to get involved and help the RSPB collect vital information about bird numbers and distribution, all you have to do is spend an hour watching birds in your garden or local park and noting what you see. Visit rspb.org.uk/birdwatch to find out more. n

• ellyswellies.co.uk

Plant of the Month: Ivy

I feel this familiar climber is somewhat misunderstood, and perhaps under-rated despite its ability to grow and thrive in the darkest spots and rubbish soil. Admittedly it can be a thug, but it can also be an extremely valuable garden plant, brightening a shady spot and covering unattractive eyesores with greenery and wildlife-friendly, nectarrich flowers followed by berries.

It’s self-clinging, so won’t need support or tying in if you’re growing it vertically, and also makes excellent groundcover, stabilising soil, which is useful for sloping banks, and providing year-round greenery. It can even be used to create topiary shapes, if you choose a small-leaved variety and grow it around a wire frame.

There are lots of attractive variegated varieties available, with multitoned foliage. ‘Sulphur Heart’ has large, dark-green leaves with a central splash of yellow and yellow-green. ‘Glacier’ is a pretty, more delicate smallleaved variety with grey-green and cream leaves.

In terms of pruning, the ideal time to cut back excess growth is in midspring, although they are generally tough plants and can tolerate hard pruning at other times of the year as necessary. Wear long sleeves and gloves while pruning as it can irritate the skin.

Property predictions

Bristol agents predict what’s to come for the city’s property market in 2023...

What is happening to house prices in Bristol at the moment?

Following the Government’s “mini-budget” in September, Bristol, like the wider UK market, suffered a sharp and almost immediate shock as the macro-economic implications of the “budget” became apparent. Bank lending criteria became stricter and mortgage rates rose just as inflation increased

Why are people relocating to Bristol?

Bristol regularly resides at the top of any “great place to live” survey. Sure the area has buoyant employment across all job sectors, world-class transport links with an airport serving 111 destinations and some beautiful housing to suit all budgets but, it’s the thriving cultural sector, burgeoning foodie reputation, rich history and excellent schooling that draws most people to the city.

Bristol’s unique independent retail sector is unrivalled anywhere with a healthy contempt for large corporate chains but, if there is not enough to keep you occupied within the city limits, then wonderful Bristol sits nestled in the most beautiful countryside and only a short drive from the beaches of Devon or West Wales, what’s not to love?

The pandemic taught us that a healthy work-life balance is so important, Bristol was a magnet for those looking to get out of

the day-to-day cost of living. Many buyers, funding their purchase with a mortgage, found themselves unable to afford the type of house they were hoping to buy and many cash buyers found the value of their cash had fallen (as the stock market fell dramatically) and they too were forced to revaluate. This led to an increased number of sales falling through and many registered buyers amending their search criteria to take into account this revised affordability. Fortunately, since then, the market has stabilised and sales that “fell-through” have been re-agreed, most now have Completed and new stock coming to the market reflects the changes, with buyers motivated and more financially prepared.

Rupert Oliver, Director of Rupert Oliver Property Agents; rupertoliver.co.uk

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the rat race and slow down a little. We enjoy the unique combination of having big city facilities but with the local high street neighbourhoods that many craved. Operating out of 10 High Street locations across the city, Ocean’s experienced staff monitor even very small fluctuations in the market. We currently have nearly 800 registered applicants who are looking to move out of London and set up home in a BS postcode. Some homeowners chose to move out of the city during the pandemic in search of tranquility and are hoping to move back into the bright lights and hubbub. There are no hard and fast trends to spot currently but there certainly is a noticeable ebb and flow of buyers moving in and out of Bristol and that is what keeps our vibrant, diverse city alive.

• Chris Moody, Associate Director at Ocean Home; oceanhome.co.uk

How did Bristol fare in 2022?

Broadly, we are seeing the market normalise after a high period of activity driven by the pandemic and stamp duty. However, it’s not reset just yet. Transactional activity continues – exchanges at Knight Frank Bristol were up 32% in November versus the five-year average –and sellers are responding to a strong market with instructions up 16% in the same period.

Drivers this year have been buyers trying to secure their ideal property before their lower rate mortgage deals lapse and sellers looking to make the most of a market that has seen average prices climb by more than 20% in the mainstream market since the start of the pandemic and has peaked. The change of prime minister and Autumn Statement have calmed the market (and buyers) after the volatility caused by September’s mini-Budget, but buyers are becoming more cautious.

Supply in Bristol is at its highest level this year, although it remains down 3% in the 12 months to November compared with last year, giving buyers, of which there remain many active, improved choice.

We expect prime regional prices to come under pressure next year with a 5% contraction as the economy enters recession, the job market weakens and the cost of borrowing weighs on transactions volumes. However, areas with more cash buyers and lower reliance on mortgages will perform better. The South East and London tend to be the areas with fewest cash buyers. Again, the South West isn’t as exposed to increases in mortgage rates as some parts of the UK.

Having hit a low point at the start of the pandemic when the ‘escape to the country’ trend was in full force, city markets like Bristol are very much back in favour as workers return to the office (even if it’s a hybrid arrangement rather than full-time), something that will support demand and prices in the mid-term.

• James Toogood, Office Head at Knight Frank; knightfrank.co.uk

Following a remarkable period in the property market, as economic conditions have become increasingly challenging, buyers are now, understandably, more cautious. However, despite this tougher climate, the prime property market here in Bristol remains largely unchanged. We have continued to see a strong appetite to buy, partly due to there being less reliance on borrowing at the upper end of the market.

We anticipate the number of prime property transactions to be lower in 2023 than it has been, however, given the continued gap in supply and demand, we still expect to see competition in the market. This is likely to be the case particularly in the most popular parts of the city, such as north west Bristol, which is a big draw for relocating families thanks to its choice of highly regarded schools and institutions, alongside several major employers.

It is well-known that the south west of England experienced a surge in interest since the start of the pandemic as lifestyle became a key driver of the property market. Despite the changing climate, buyers are continuing to prioritise factors such as being close to parks and open spaces, which Bristol is of course notable for enjoying in abundance.

In terms of values in the prime property market, over the next 12 months or so we are likely to see downward pressure, in the region of -5 per cent on average across the south of the country, according to Savills research. This follows unprecedented price growth of +16.4 per cent on average across the wider south between March 2020 and September 2022. Looking ahead, we anticipate a return to growth as early as 2024, with prices over the five-year period to 2027 to see net increases of up to +11.6 per cent.

• Richard Brooks, Head of South West Residential at Savills Bristol Estate Agents; savills.co.uk

What are your predictions for the premium market in Bristol in 2023?

Have you seen a rise in demand for later living communities in Bristol?

Choosing to sell the home where you raised your children is probably one of the most difficult decisions anyone can make. The pandemic hastened that choice for some, where isolation was more evident and security important. While many Later Living communities bypass estate agents and are sold directly by the providers, we have certainly helped many clients sell their homes and move into specifically designed communities or join forces with family members and buy larger homes where they can all be together.

Our team understands that the balance between the push and pull factors can be very fine and the timeline extended. We are often called in very early in the process and moving day can be many months if not years from first contact. It is vital, for anyone considering such a move, to keep in regular contact with an agent who will be able to advise on current market conditions and saleability. Later Living opportunities often require a quick jump after a period of inactivity due to demand, a leading estate agent will always be ready to make the move as stress-free as possible.

• Chris Moody, Associate Director at Ocean Home; oceanhome.co.uk

One would ideally direct anyone looking for a school catchment area to visit the Bristol.gov.uk site in order to check out Ofsted Reports which will highlight whether a School is outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate, especially when going down the State or Academy status. Bristol has many good Primary Schools and many of the State Secondary Schools are now Academies. However, Bristol also has an abundance of Independent Schools which allows anyone sending their child to a fee-paying school to buy in any area.

Families looking at specific catchment areas will also need to build into their criteria affordability of housing within that area as house prices in the past few years have definitely had an impact and, at times, purchasers will offer well above the selling price to secure an address. These areas are more than often Cotham and Redland, especially the Redland Green catchment. Good nurseries are also very sought-after these days with so many mothers returning to part or full-time work, although most are fee-paying until you can claim from the Government so many hours after your child’s third birthday until they reach compulsory school age. So summing up, it really does depend on the individual’s affordability and the route they want to take regarding which catchment area they decide to choose.

With regards to the market going forward, unfortunately, none of us have a crystal ball and it will be hard to predict until we hit the first quarter of next year. Christmas is always a time when families discuss the year ahead, jobs may also change and everyone will be wanting to look at their energy costs and whether the Government step in with any further funding before making any big decisions. The housing market always takes time to re-adjust to any economic climate but we remain optimistic and positive that we will come through the current ‘lull’ and the market will recover over the Spring.

• Howard Davis, Managing Director of Howard Homes; howard-homes.co.uk

What are your UK house price predictions?

When we woke on 1 Januaury 2022 few people could have predicted the war in Ukraine, the rapid increase in inflation and September’s spike in mortgage rates. So, a tough ask as we enter a new year. If all things are equal (in 2023) then my prediction is an average 5% to 6% drop in house prices –with some areas suffering less (circa 3%) and some more (upto 8 to 10%).

The family house market will remain the more stable as their needs are often more driven and equity in their exisiting homes is often greater; while first time buyers and investors will be the main two demographic groups to be hit hardest by the increased costs.

Overall, if the affordability is there for a purchaser to upsize then a falling market is a good time to buy a bigger, more expensive house –if the desire is there to hold it for more than several years. Bristol has consisitently seen less aggressive falls than other areas of the UK during a downturn and often a quicker return to house price growth as the market recovers. n

• Rupert Oliver, Director of Rupert Oliver Property Agents; rupertoliver.co.uk

Where are the best places for families to live in Bristol in terms of school catchment areas?

Light the way

January, February, March; the days are short, and natural light is at an all time low. During these darker months of the year, a well-lit home can be a real game changer –boosting mood and productivity. Before you start laying the lighting plans, however, it may be helpful to understand the three categories into which interior lights are broken down: ambient, task, and accent. Ambient is the base layer – the blank canvas; it’s the light you get when you flick that main switch. Task lighting (table lamps, under cabinet spots, and so on) is the more practical kind, enabling you to carry out activities at your desk or food prep area; and accent lighting serves to spotlight prized photographs, works of art, or favourite pieces of furniture.

Start with a strong foundation

To get things off to a good start, interior designers suggest making a decision about which kind of overhead (i.e. ambient) lighting you like the best. From flush mount, to hanging, to recessed downlights, making the right decision early on will help to create a good base to build on later.

Flush mount fixtures, which lie flat against the ceiling, are great for illuminating smaller spaces – think closets and hallways – as they take up minimal space and attention.

If you’re looking at a room with a high ceiling, however, you may opt for a hanging option – such as a chandelier or a modest pendent. It’s a more decorative route that will help fill out lots of overhead space, while casting a soft light into a room.

Recessed downlights, which are mounted into the ceiling in small groups, are an option if you like your lighting to blend into

the background. They don’t tend to illuminate a space fully – but that’s where the next step comes in.

Layer that light

Introducing some variety is a great way to bring a more atmospheric feel into the room. Once you’ve sorted your base layer, it’s time to think about the bells and whistles, or the task and accent lighting. Table lamps (task) can be used to create a warm pocket of light in which to sit and read –or to illuminate a dark corner –while wall fixtures (accent) throw a nice spotlight on a standout feature. Adding a pop of light here and a soft gleam there can completely transform a space.

Know your bulbs

Warm coloured LEDs do wonders for creating an inviting room; opt for a warm white bulb (2,700 to 3,000 kelvin) to create a homely living or bedroom area. The higher up the lighting range you go, the bluer the light cast will be – and the cooler the environment created. Cool isn’t always bad, mind; it can do well in more ‘practical’ spaces, such as garages and utility rooms. But if cosy is top of your wish list –as it might well be at this time of year – avoid those higher ranges.

If you are living and working in the same space, using light to change the mood may also make it easier to switch off or create focus when you need to.

Ultimately, get creative with your winter sanctuary this month and before long we’ll be welcoming back the balmy, brighter days with open arms.

This month, Rupert Oliver of Rupert Oliver Property Agents walks us through the ways to brighten up our homes over the winter months...

PRIME BRISTOL OFFICES FOR SALE OR TO RENT

FOR SALE OR TO RENT...

Situated just off Queen Square and overlooking the River Station. Due to undergo an extensive refurbishment. The building is approx. 4,376 sq ft GIA, orsuites are available from 793— 1,727 sq ft. Freehold offers considered! Suitable for an owner occupier or investor with resi-potential (STP).

TRIPLE WINDOW FRONTAGE OVERLOOKING QUEEN SQUARE - FOR SALE OR TO RENT

This impressive Queen Square property is due to be refurbished to a very high and contemporary standard and will suit owner/occupiers to purchase, or to rent with suites ranging from 313 sq ft - 2,106 sq ft.

A ground floor office suite which has been newly refurbished to offer modern space benefitting secure bike storage and shower facilities.

Could suit a range of uses under Use Class E!

STUNNING GEORGIAN HOUSE SET WITHIN 15 ACRES OF PARKLAND OFFERING A SUPERB FAMILY HOME OR COULD SUIT BOUTIQUE HOTEL

• An impressive property with wonderful proportions, the accommodation is bright and warm and lends itself to a beautiful family home.

• Set within approximately 15 acres of parkland with sweeping driveway, formal lawned garden, walled kitchen garden, paddocks and swimming pool.

• The property in its entirety has been fully refurbished to a very high standard and provides nine en-suite bedrooms, four stunning reception rooms, plus useful ancillary rooms in the basement.

• There are several additional buildings in the grounds to include two large three-bed cottages, one detached house, estates office and various outbuildings with conversion potential to provide significant rental income if desired.

• Excellent location situated on the edge of Bristol, just 5 miles to the City Centre, only 20 miles to Bath, and within just a 15-minutes drive of Clifton.

• Freehold For Sale.

Bristol

Coldharbour Road, BS6

TO LET / FOR SALE

1,841 sq ft (171 sq m)

A commercial retail unit over ground and basement benefiting from a return frontage offering excellent visibility for passing motorists and pedestrians. Class E – could suit many uses.

Portishead, BS20

TO LET – POA

1,395 - 4,964 sq ft (130 - 461 sq m)

Two new-build commercial units forming part of the Harbour Crescent development to be fitted to a high standard. Use Class E – would suit a range of uses.

Dial Lane, Downend TO LET - ROA

5,108 sq ft (475 sq m)

Storage accommodation and office with potential for other uses - subject to planning. The property is close to the high street and within easy reach of Bristol City Centre, the ring road and M32/M4 motorways.

Queen Square, BS1

TO LET - £26.50 psf pax

2,728 sq ft (253 sq m)

A modern, newly refurbished, open-plan office. The specification includes air conditioning, bike storage, shower facilities, and two car parking spaces, and the common areas are being fully refurbished.

Cumberland Road, BS1

TO LET - £8,000 pax 415 sq ft (39 sq m)

A ground floor office suite which has been newly refurbished to provide modern, open plan space. Benefits on-site bike storage, shower and changing facilities, and communal green space.

Queen Square, BS1 TO LET – POA

313 – 2,106 sq ft (29 – 196 sq m)

An attractive, self-contained office building benefiting a corner position on the Square and which is due to be fully refurbished to a high standard. Potential for two car parking spaces!

The Old Brewery, Pill TO LET - £9,500 pax 570 sq ft (53 sq m)

An open plan, studio office refurbished to a high standard and benefitting on site car parking, bike storage, gym, and shower facilities. Could suit a range of uses STP.

Temple Back, BS1

TO LET – POA –1,575 sq ft (146 sq m)

A modern, predominantly open plan office with waterfront views, superbly located within close proximity to Finzels Reach, Castle Park, Cabot Circus, Old City, and Temple Meads Railway Station.

Warminster, BA12

FOR SALE - £850,000 excl.Total plot of 0.4 acres

An income-producing commercial investment opportunity with future development potential, subject to necessary consents. Situated in a stunning, rural setting with river frontage and large parking.

Queen Square, BS1 FOR SALE / TO LET – POA 4,772 sq ft (443 sq m)

A substantial property situated just off Queen Square offering predominantly open plan accomodation overlooking Bristol Harbour. Could be suitable for alternative uses (STP). For sale by way of the long leasehold interest.

How to prepare for selling your luxury home in 2023

There is an annual tradition when it comes to house hunting – every Boxing Day, the property portal Rightmove receives its highest volume of traffic, more than any other day of the year. Rightmove claimed last January that 2021’s Christmas period was the busiest ever, with ‘buyer demand’ up by 23% compared to the same time the previous year. This year, as we know, things are a little different. The economy is in a different place and the cost of living crisis is impacting buying and selling decisions. When it comes to the premium market, things often move in a different way, so if you are looking to sell your luxury home next year, here is how to prepare.

The forecast

The latest Rightmove House Price Index highlights that ‘2022 will end with new seller asking prices 5.6% higher than a year ago’. Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Science, states: “It’s understandable that some buyers are distracted, not only by the festive season, but also by the thought that they may get a better fixed-rate mortgage deal and a more stable outlook by waiting until the new year. Our data suggests that there are many ready-to-go movers out there waiting for what they feel to be the right time to enter the market in 2023. We’d usually see a jump in home-mover activity in January, but it takes a while at the start of the year for any significant price changes to feed through, so we’ll be waiting for a potential bounce back in prices in February, which will be a very important leading indicator for the spring moving season.”

According to research by Savills “Macroeconomic pressures will have a varying impact across prime regional markets,” said Frances McDonald, Savills research analyst. They conclude that the prime markets in the wider south will be more resilient, mainly due to the number of cash buyers.

When it comes to the prime country market, it has always danced to its own tune as sellers are often more considered. By this, we mean that they tend to not have moving timescales and would rather wait for the right offer from the right buyer. We often see this with homes that have historical importance, as the seller feels a responsibility to find the right next ‘custodian’ of their home.

How to sell

When it comes to the prime market in Bristol, the majority of our sellers prefer to find a buyer privately; by this, we mean that they do not wish their home to be marketed by traditional methods. As a property broker, we can discreetly introduce a home to a carefully hand-picked selection of rigorously qualified potential buyers.

Should you wish to sell via this method, we do not rush your home to buyers; we take time to truly understand your home, its needs and your standing and wishes. Working with buyer agents across the UK, we know that the buyers we introduce completely understand and respect sellers’ privacy and also their responsibility as the potential future custodian of an exceptional unique home.

There are many dormant buyers in the luxury property market, by which we mean they are not actively looking for a home, but should the right one magically appear they will consider moving. This is where an online presence can be valuable in reaching those buyers and grabbing their attention. We never rush into a viewing, waiting until we are sure that any potential buyer is right for your home.

Before you decide if you wish to sell, it is worth considering all the selling options open to you. We are happy to discuss what each method entails and find the right mix to create a bespoke plan that you feel comfortable with and through which we are confident we can deliver.

Emotions

We are currently working with a high proportion of sellers who are seeking to downsize or move closer to family members.

Emotions play a huge role in these sales, as often for the seller it is a decision being made based on a need rather than a want.

Emotional sales require a delicate balance of honesty and support – at the end of the day, we want what is best for you and your property. These moves are not always about the sale but about the home and what it can offer for the future, and it is here where we can provide an extra layer of advice and support, often finding you that perfect future home.

When your move is the result of an emotional decision, things need to move at a speed you are comfortable with, so it is essential to be honest with us as your broker and raise any concerns in advance.

Preparation

We know it may take some time to find the right buyer for your property, but you need to play your part to ensure that your home draws them in. You want to present each room to look homely and elegant, which is why you may wish to consider employing the services of a home-staging expert. A survey of property professionals by the Home Staging Association UK & Ireland found that 100% of estate agents who were surveyed agreed “home staging makes it easier for a buyer to visualise the property as their future home” and 94% said that the number of viewings a property received increases when the home has been staged.

Many sellers decide to personally take on the home staging, as it helps them to have a sort out before the move and also undertake a little advance packing.

Moving in 2023

Even though the prime housing market is more stable, it does require that you make the right decisions to ensure you achieve the sale you are hoping for. If you would like to understand how we, as a property broker, holistically take care of your move, contact our team today.

Scan here and see what the market is like for your home

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