The Bristol Magazine February 2023

Contents

10 CITYIST

Meet the CEO of Bristol Beacon, Louise Mitchell

14 WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?

... asks international bestselling author Kate Mosse as she embarks on her first ever theatre tour based on her new book

16 60 YEARS OF THE SCAFFOLD

Melissa Blease speaks to Mike “McGear” McCartney of The Scaffold ahead of their appearance at Slapstick Festival

20 SLEEPING BEAUTY

The lead performers of Matthew Bourne’s award-winning production let us in on life behind the scenes

24 ARTISTS IN FOCUS

A closer look at the renowned photographers set to arrive at the RWA, Arnolfini and The Royal Photographic Society

30 WHAT’S ON

Book your tickets! Discover all the great things to see and do

36 ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

What’s showing at our local galleries

40 BRISTOL TURNS 650

Andrew Swift looks at the curious way in which Bristol became a county 650 years ago

44 MOUNTAIN MOMENTS

Travel writer Patrick ‘The Snow Hunter’ Thorne on his latest book, Around the World in 50 Slopes

48 FROM PAGE TO SCREEN

Can the film ever be as good as the book? Daisy Game looks at this year’s best page to screen adaptations

50 WHAT TO READ NEXT?

Gloucester Road Books share some of the best – and most anticipated – titles of the year so far

52 CREATIVE FUTURES

We investigate how Bristol + Bath Creative R+D have been bringing networks together in the two cities

64 VERSA-TILE STYLE

Dive into the world of tiling and discover the colour that everyone’s applauding

70 IN WITH THE NEW

Elly West looks at how to create a garden perfectly tailored to your needs

ON THE COVER

The 19th edition of Bristol’s very own silent, visual and classic comedy festival, Slapstick, is taking place from 14 –19 February. Flick to p.16 for more details...

International bestselling author Kate Mosse OBE | Photography by Ruth Crafer

EDITOR from the

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

WEmail: 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

e’re welcoming February with open arms as it brings Bristol’s very own silent, visual and classic comedy festival, Slapstick, back to venues all around the city. What’s most exciting about this year’s festival – the 19th edition, can you believe – is that it’s not only remembering the brilliant work of some of the best comics of all-time, but celebrating the marriages between comedy and music. On 18 February, Slapstick is hosting all three members of the 1960s Liverpool band The Scaffold at St George’s Bristol. A satirical performance group like no other, their unique blend of comedy, music and poetry made John Gorman, Roger McGough and Mike “McGear” McCartney chart-topping legends and much-loved household names. Having reunited just last year –60 years since their inception –we had the pleasure of sitting down with Mike, the younger brother of Sir Paul McCartney, to delve into some of his most fascinating stories from the last six decades.

Like a gift that keeps on giving, Slapstick’s 2023 programme also includes an eight-event strand saluting the comic legacy of Michael Palin – this year’s guest curator – and Monty Python’s Flying Circus. The stellar events are set to focus on solo projects by Sir Michael as well as nod to the people he, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam have and continue to influence to this day.

Elsewhere this month, international bestselling author Kate Mosse OBE opens up about her latest non-fiction book, Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries: How Women (Also) Built the World. Packed with a diverse and global cast of names, Kate’s new title is a celebration of unheard and under-heard women’s history. Ahead of her first-ever theatre tour, which brings her to the Redgrave Theatre on 3 March, we caught up with Kate on p.14 to discuss why legacy matters.

In the art world, two of Bristol’s favourite galleries are set to showcase the work of local photographers, Jem Southam and Garry Fabian Miller. As Jem said during our interview on p.24: “two Bristol lads have returned to their home city with large exhibitions at the same time – that is something to celebrate.” And we couldn’t agree more. With a whole array of excellent events taking place this month, we’re looking forward to a joyful 28 days ahead. See you next time…

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 February 5

Be entertained

Immerse yourself

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is bringing Shakespeare’s As You Like It to the Malcolm X Community Centre from 9 –11 February.

Banished by her power-hungry uncle, a disguised Rosalind – and her cousin Celia – find solace in the Forest of Arden, which is occupied by a bohemian community of New Age Travellers led by Rosalind’s father, Duke Senior. The forest provides a magical playground for self-exploration and transformation, where its inhabitants are liberated from an establishment intent on cracking down on free parties and rave culture.

Set against a backdrop of post-Thatcherism and accompanied by a throbbing acid house soundtrack, Shakespeare’s poetic and punchy ode to love and identity is transformed by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

• Book your ticket at: oldvic.ac.uk

A Cadbury House favourite and one of its most popular events is back on 3 February with a Murder Mystery Night. To set the scene: it is 1941. While the might of the German army wages war across Europe, British intelligence is hard at work to develop a weapon that will aid the invasion by sea onto the beaches of France. Many prototypes have been tested, but most have failed miserably. Now it is the turn of The Great Panjandrum, and such is the interest in this machine of destruction that Churchill himself will witness the tests.

An advance party from army intelligence is in the town, ensuring that all is ready. However, when the whole world is at war, you can never be too sure who is your friend or your deadly enemy. Unfortunately for some people, by the time they have worked out the dilemma, they will already be dead...

• Enjoy a three-course dinner with coffee or tea and entertainment until midnight; £45. For more information, visit: cadburyhotelbristol.co.uk

Watch

A conservative family in Pakistan is torn apart when a son falls in love with a transgender erotic dancer, in director Saim Sadiq’s riveting queer drama, Joyland

Set in bustling Lahore, the Ranases are, on the surface, a functional, patriarchal family. The household is made up of Abbas, the elderly father, the older brother, Saleem and his wife Nucchi, and younger brother Haider and his wife Mumtaz. Much to the embarrassment of his traditional father, Haider is the one in his relationship who stays at home, whilst Mumtaz goes to work at the salon every day –a job that she loves. When Haider gets a job in an erotic theatre as a backup dancer for trans starlet, Biba, and starts secretly dating her, everything changes, and the cracks that have always been there, tear the family apart.

Joyland has made history by being the first feature film from Pakistan to make it on to the Academy Awards shortlist and the first film by a Pakistani director to win at the Cannes Film Festival. Malala Yousefzai signed on as Executive Producer and actress Alina Khan was the first transgender actor from Pakistan to have walked the Cannes red carpet.

• Enjoy a preview of Joyland at Watershed on 24 February: watershed.co.uk

Enjoy

Dine out

Dine in style this Valentine’s Day at The Second Floor Restaurant in Harvey Nichols Bristol and make your day a special one.

Enjoy a glass of champagne on arrival, followed by canapés and a three course menu. Available from 11 –14 February from 6pm, celebrate the most romantic time of the year at Harvey Nichols.

• To book, visit: harveynichols.com

Following the success of last year’s inaugural GLOW Festival in Weston-super-Mare, the enchanting event is back in 2023 to light up the town with a dazzling array of illuminated artworks and performance.

A new, expanded programme, funded by Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund and Weston-super-Mare Town Council, will see the event shine bigger and brighter in the town's Grove Park and additional town centre locations.

Over four evenings during February half term, visitors to GLOW can expect to be enthralled by stunning light displays, interactive activities and sensory experiences suitable for all the family –from nationally-acclaimed installations and new showcase commissions to a shining community programme of local, creative talent.

• Book your tickets at: cultureweston.org.uk

Image credit: Alison Smith

THE CITYist My

BRISTOL

Digital theatre of the future

What is it about the magic of theatre that makes our hearts race? When are we so immersed in the show that we lose track of time? Do we all shed a tear at the same moment, and do we collectively hold our breath? Bristol Old Vic and a team of researchers in neuropsychology from across Bristol and Bath want to find out. Becoming totally immersed in a show and moved by a performance is something many people have experienced in the theatre, but little is known about why it happens and in particular, why when we’re watching with others, we start to behave in similar ways – right down to the synchronizing of our heartbeats.

To discover more about this phenomenon, Bristol Old Vic has announced a major £150,000 research project bringing together the worlds of science and art. Funded by MyWorld and working with MyWorld partners University of Bristol, Bath Spa University, University of Bath and University of West of England, this investigation will centre around awardwinning international touring company Complicité’s latest production Drive Your Plow

Over the Bones of the Dead.

This is the biggest research project of its kind so far, with the aim of capturing the hidden audience experience. Up to 140 audience members over 10 performances will be invited to participate in the study. By wearing a simple wristband packed with state-of-the-art sensors, heart rates and other physiological responses will be recorded as they watch the production –to see if they all have similar responses at the same moment during the play.

• bristololdvic.org.uk

What’s your connection to Bristol and what makes the city so unique in your opinion? I came to Bristol in 2011 when the independent charity Bristol Music Trust was formed and I was recruited to head it up. Bristol is special because it is a human-size city, large enough to have strong cultural resources like Watershed and the Bristol Old Vic but can also be home to a rich variety of smaller scale arts activity.

How did it feel to be named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in King Charles III’s first New Year’s Honours list? It was surprising, but a brilliant chance to be able to show all of team Beacon that our work is recognised and celebrated.

Bristol Beacon is set to reopen this year as a world-class music venue. What is your vision for the future of Bristol Beacon and what are you most looking forward to when it reopens?

We can’t wait to open Bristol Beacon later this year and to be able to use the new venue to showcase local talent as well as present top international artists. The closure period has turned out to be much longer than we expected and I’m really looking forward to the daily buzz of greeting musicians and audiences into our inspiring new music spaces.

What do you enjoy the most about your job? I love it when we do something we didn’t think would be possible. A good example of this has been the free live-streaming of our London Symphony Orchestra concerts into care homes nationwide. We didn’t think the orchestra would be able to concede the rights or that we could afford to make it happen but a combination of goodwill and a generous sponsorship partnership with Bristol Care Homes made it all possible. I also really enjoy using contacts built up over many decades working in music to help talented colleagues widen their experience.

Where in Bristol do you go to be entertained/inspired?

For inspiration, I walk around the Harbourside or join a Nordic walking class on the Downs. My favourite night out is at Tobacco Factory Theatre or St George’s Bristol, hearing something new.

What are you reading/watching/listening to at the moment?

I’m reading Bad Blood by Colm Toibin, an account of recent Irish history as he walks along the Irish border. I’m listening to everything by the Icelandic classical pianist Vikingur Olafsson, who I was lucky enough to meet recently at the Steinway piano factory in Hamburg – in particular his recent release, From Afar

If you could have dinner with anyone from any era, who would it be and why?

I’d like to have met the 17th century English composer William Byrd, who wrote sublime music, stayed true to his political and religious beliefs and yet seemed to stay in favour throughout his long life. He must have been a wise man. I also didn’t really know any of my grandparents so I would love the chance to talk to them.

What is your philosophy in life? Do the best you can, and do it with a smile.

• bristolbeacon.org

Meet the CEO of Bristol Beacon, Louise Mitchell

Image: Kathryn Hunter as Janina surrounded by the Complicité ensemble. By Camilla Adams

Could 2023 be the year you Try a Tri?

GO TRI, developed by British Triathlon is a fun and accessible way for people to get into triathlon and multisport events for the first time. Triathlon is a great sport to get active and challenge yourself, and by taking on the three elements of swimming, cycling and running you can keep training fun and varied too.

Local GO TRI organiser Garga Chamberlain, a member of Bristol’s Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team running club, completed his first Try-a-Tri event in 2008 despite having “none of the gear and no idea” and being a total novice at swimming. “The short distances made it achievable and the event was very small and friendly, which helped a lot. Most of the entrants were first-timers like me and didn’t have state-of-the-art triathlon bikes that cost more than my car, so I didn’t feel out of place on my second-hand road bike,” he says.

Since that first event, Garga, a contact centre worker from Filton now in his fifties, has gone on to complete dozens of races including two Ironman events. “That first beginner’s event was a great stepping-stone for me, so now I’m very happy to be part of the GO TRI initiative putting on races for a new generation of beginners, with each event costing only around ten pounds. The cost of some Triathlon races and equipment can put people off trying it, but with GO TRI you can use any type of bike so long as it’s well maintained. You don’t need a wetsuit or trisuit or any other specialist kit. Your regular running or cycling clothes and a swimming costume will do fine. GO TRI events attract a broad spectrum of ages and abilities too –in our 2022 series we had an age range from teens to eighties.”

• For more information, visit gotri.org

Bristol Light Festival: 10-day light spectacular

Bristol’s favourite winter event is set to return in 2023, bigger, better and more exciting than ever before. Bristol Light Festival will illuminate the city centre from 3 – 12 February, with stunning interactive and captivating light installations creating a trail through the centre of Bristol. In 2023, the award-winning event will span 10 days to include two weekends, making it the longest edition to date. Showcasing a collection of local, national and internationally-renowned light artists and featuring up to 10 light installations, Bristol Light Festival will bring light, fun and colour to the city centre to brighten up the winter evenings. Visitors can wander and explore the city’s streets to see the light artworks come to life and enjoy Bristol’s wonderful retail and hospitality businesses along the way. Across the evenings from dusk till 10pm, the installations will shine a light in a few unexpected places as well as illuminating some of Bristol’s most iconic landmarks across the city.

• bristollightfestival.org

Eight young entrepreneurs from the South West –with five from Bristol –win national award

Eight of this year’s Young Innovator Award winners, announced by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, are from the South West –with five of the eight from Bristol. The winners have started the New Year with a boost after winning a coveted award for their new business projects.

From eco-friendly electronic sensors that convert light into electricity to an on-the-go power solution for cyclists who plan and track routes via apps, the South West innovators promise to make the world a better place.

The South West winners will take a share of the £1.25 million prize fund. They join a cohort of 94 young people aged 18 to 30 with business ideas that could change the world and will benefit from a £5,000 grant, one-on-one business coaching and an allowance to cover living costs. Winners from Bristol include:

Alasdair Aegerter (28 years old), an aerospace engineer who has created a hybrid aircraft, the ‘planeo-copter’, that can land anywhere. It can be used to transport goods more efficiently and to combat illegal logging, poaching and human trafficking. Alberto Morón Hernández (25 years old), originally from Madrid now living in Bristol, who has created Dellista, which develops privacy-preserving machine learning algorithms. Alberto hopes to fill a gap in the algorithm market, by creating safer, language-inclusive anonymised data. Ethan Wilkin (23 years old), who is developing a foldable electric motorbike aimed at urban commuters without secure off-street parking. Ethan’s prototype, the Hornet, can fold down to the size of a large suitcase. Jake Biele (28 years old), is passionate about creating technology that fights climate change. Jake is developing first of their kind electronic sensors that convert light into electricity, providing an ecofriendly and financially feasible solution. It will be used by companies and scientists that are trying to develop new technologies that utilise light to help tackle major challenges such as climate change or the ageing population. Samuel Graham (29 years old), who has created Revolv, an on-the-go power solution for cyclists who plan and track routes via apps. The rim-mounted device harnesses wheel motion to fast-charge smartphones and other devices as you ride.

• If you’re an inspiring young innovator, check out how Innovate UK could support you here: ktnuk.org/programme/young-innovators

Winner Jake Biele

Anna Cake Couture

From Anna’s Valentine Day Collection -These delicious and beautifully presented Macaron gift boxes are available for click & collect, as well as national UK delivery. Prices from £22.50 Use code: BRISTOLMAG-10 for 10% off.

Anna Cake Couture 7A Boyce's Ave, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4AA. Tel: 0117 329 5959 Visit: thisisanna.co.uk

TRUE ROMANCE gift guide

SHOW SOME LOVE WITH A GIFT...LARGE OR SMALL

Rubies & diamonds

Mallory’s 18ct white gold claw-set pear shaped ruby and round brilliant-cut diamond halo cluster stud earrings - £1,300

See these and many more great gifts at Mallory Jewellers in Bath.

1-5 Bridge Street, Bath BA2 4AP Tel: 01225 788 800 Visit: mallory-jewellers.com

Say it with Clifton Flowers

A Bouquet of luxurious, scented Naomi roses with mixed foliages, £85 for a dozen. Other sizes available. Pre-ordering advised either by phone or online. Clifton Flowers, 17 Chandos Road, Bristol BS6 6PG. Tel: 0117 929 9518 Visit:cliftonflowers.co.uk

You are ‘Loved’

A most sentimental and delightful Valentine gift. This necklace, a top of the range version of Diana Porter’s signature Sibyl collection, is made using 9ct Fairtrade yellow solid gold etched with the word ’ LOVED’ on a fair-mined yellow gold chain. £830. With lots of options, the Sibyl range starts at just £46 with a silver pendant on a simple leather thong.

Visit the shop at 33 Park Street, Bristol BS1 5NH or shop online at

Happy Sport by Chopard

With diamonds and hearts sealed in the crystal glass that magically float around the watch face, the 36mm Happy Sport watch in steel is a joy to possess and to love. £6,050

Available from Mallory Jewellers in Bath.

1-5 Bridge Street Bath BA2 4AP. Tel: 01225 788 800

Visit: mallory-jewellers.com

Qu’elle est Belle

Quite simply, gorgeous bouquets, plants and gifts created and arranged by artisan florists, Belle de Jour in Clifton.

Visit the shop or view online for all the options and delivery details. Belle de Jour, 29 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4JG. Tel: 07989 668991

Visit: belledejourflorist.co.uk

serious heartthrob. Well, do some practice first on balloons and poppable inflatable targets - One hour sessions, 18+ only, couples from £50. Try something different this Valentine's, that's guaranteed to make you smile. Get your experience at yuup.co

“Where are the women?”

This month, international bestselling author Kate Mosse OBE will embark on her first ever theatre tour based on her most recent non-fiction book, Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries: How Women (Also) Built the World. Ahead of her appearance at Redgrave Theatre on 3 March, we ask Kate about the inspiration behind her latest title...

Photography by Ruth Crafer

Where are the women?” asks best-selling novelist Kate Mosse’s latest offering, Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries: How Women (Also) Built the World. The title shines a light on hundreds of phenomenal women whose stories, for one reason or another, have been left out of the history books and their accomplishments largely forgotten.

This month, Kate –the author of number one best-selling The Joubert Family Chronicles –is taking Warrior Queens& Quiet Revolutionaries totheatres countrywide, including Bristol’s Redgrave Theatre on 3 March. Audiences can look forward to getting on better terms with some familiar faces (think Agatha Christie and Beatrix Potter) before being introduced to some lesserknown women: from a Victorian explorer, to a comet hunter, to a 13th Century Mongolian princess. Here, we ask Kate about the inspiration behind her latest work.

What first inspired you to write Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries: How Women (Also) Built the World and take it on tour? Where did it all begin?

It began with a social media campaign during lockdown –#womaninhistory – where I invited people to share the one woman from history they’d like to celebrate or be better known. Within days, I had thousands of nominations from people all over the world –Scotland to Saudi Arabia, Japan to Chile, France to Australia, South Africa to Italy – amazing women, from all periods of history, who had done incredible things to change the world. Friends took part, too – so Clare Balding suggested the great English footballer Lily Parr, Richard Osman the Chinese poet Ding Ling, Martina Navratilova suggested Katharine Hepburn, Professor Kate Williams said the Japanese novelist Murasaki Shikibu, and Bernardine Evaristo the amazing Mary Seacole. This gave me the idea for the book –and now the tour – to celebrate and share the stories of some of these incredible women and also to ask the question why many of them were not better known. The book is a question to myself: what is history, who gets to decide who and what matters, and how do we get women back into the history books? After all, women and men built the world together.

Can you tell us about your writing process and how you researched each story?

There are nearly a thousand women mentioned in the book, so some obviously get more space than others. But, pretty quickly, I realised that, in every period of history, there were key areas – so, women in law, women of courage, women in medicine, mothers of invention, explorers, scientists, inventors, women of faith – very important link with Bristol Cathedral in this chapter – artists, writers. Because it started in lockdown, I did a fair amount through online sources and libraries, reading biographies, getting in touch with specialist organisations like women in STEM or women in sport for their recommendations. It was a huge amount of work, but so fascinating. For every one woman in the book, there could be a hundred more.

Can you tell us about your own family history in the book and how you first discovered the story of your great-grandmother, Lily Watson? How did it feel to discover that you were related to a highly-successful novelist, whose story was also lost in history?

I had always known there was someone in the family ‘who wrote’, but it was never talked about as if it was serious or a profession. I wanted to know more about this mysterious great-grandmother of mine who was, in her day, a really famous and celebrated novelist – the Prime Minister Gladstone’s favourite novelist. She wrote fourteen novels, hundreds of articles and essays, books of devotional poetry and children’s stories. Yet all of her books are out of print now and her name doesn’t appear in any books about Victorian writers. So, I turned detective, trying to find out what had happened to Lily and learning all about my own family history. It was fascinating and, in one particular way, heart-breaking when I discovered a family secret I knew nothing about.

What did you learn while researching and writing Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries in terms of the way history has been recorded and why women’s stories are often left out of archives?

There are all sorts of reasons why women’s achievements are overlooked or ignored, some sinister and others just down to old fashioned neglect. But the biggest issue is that, for most of human history, learning, education and the writing of history has been in the almost exclusive hands of men, who often therefore simply don’t ‘see’ women’s achievements. It also can lead to what historians called the ‘silence in the archives’, whereby women’s work isn’t preserved in the archive so it’s not there for future generations to find. There’s also the issue of women’s successes being misattributed to the men who worked alongside them; think of the fossil hunter Mary Anning or the scientists Eunice Newton Foote, who actually discovered the phenomenon we now know as global warming way back in 1856, but male scientists who came after her claimed the credit.

Why is it so important to tell these stories today?

If we don’t know the real story of who made history – all of us together – then we run the risk of repeating the same mistakes. It matters that girls and boys all over the world know that there have always been women scientists, women athletes, women doctors, and that sometimes people have to fight for the rights they deserve. We can see that today in Iran and Afghanistan, with men and boys standing shoulder to shoulder with their sisters, friends, mothers, grandmothers. History matters because without knowing where we have come from, we cannot know where we might go for the future.

What do you hope audiences will take away from the tour?

First and foremost, it’s will be a great night out in the theatre – lots of music, and wonderful stories to make the audience gasp, laugh, cry and possibly roar with rage. I hope everyone will come out feeling that they’ve spent the evening in the company of some incredible women from the past and inspired to share their stories with other people. Also, for those who are interested in researching their own family history, there will be a few tips and shortcuts into how to go about it. Because I’m travelling around the UK, I’m so keen to hear about amazing women from all the towns I visit – who might or might not yet be in the book – so that, together, we can build an ever-expanding library of women of achievement. At each venue, we’ll be inviting audience members to nominate their ‘one woman’ to celebrate, so this is about getting a national conversation started. Oh, and there will be t-shirts and other merchandise: I’ve never had that before.

You founded the Women’s Prize for Fiction, which has become one of the largest annual celebrations of literary talent in the world. How do you look back over the last 28 years of the prize and what do you look forward to over the next three decades?

It is so important to champion women’s voices and to make sure that any woman who has a story to tell feels empowered to tell it –wherever they come from, whatever their background, however old or young they are. The Women’s Prize is about putting incredible novels in the hands of male and female readers who’ll appreciate them; it’s about travelling the world and time through the pages of a book; its about standing in other people’s shoes. I’m proud that we have put thousands of books into the hands of millions of readers over the past twentyeight years, and we’re developing a significant charitable programme now to support reading and writing at every level. Look out for a few big announcements, and then our thirtieth birthday in a couple of years’ time. n

• Kate Mosse will be at the Redrgave Theatre on 3 March. Book your tickets at: katemosse.co.uk

1960s Liverpool band, The Scaffold

Celebrating The Scaffold

As the 19th edition of Bristol’s very own silent, visual and classic comedy festival, Slapstick, returns this month, Melissa Blease sits down with Mike “McGear” McCartney of satirical performance group The Scaffold to discuss how their unique blend of comedy, music and poetry has bought them back together 60 years later...

Ah, Bristol; I’ve gigged there before. We did TV show called Now, years ago, hosting with a bloke called Michael Palin who we hadn’t heard of at the time. The Yardbirds, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Carly Simon – we were all on the same bill. We finished the show, hit the pub, and hit the scrumpy; Michael said, go easy, order it in halves! But we went to the bar and ordered a few pints. And that was it! We got a taste for scrumpy. All I remember about that night is, much later on that evening, somebody saying, “I’m a policeman – what have we been up to?”. I played the place that used to be called Colston Hall too, in a one-man show called Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’Roll. Story of my life? Exactly! I ended up lying in a taxi looking up at the ceiling after that one. Fond memories indeed!”

Heck, I could be talking to Jimmy Page, or even Keith Richards. But this is the ostensibly mild-mannered, subtly witty Mike McCartney (aka Mike McGear) talking: the Liverpool-loyal former apprentice hairdresser, hugely successful photographer, long-term member of comedy, poetry and music trio The Scaffold... and younger brother of Paul (“Our Kid”) McCartney who, despite growing up with the force of nature that his next-one-down was destined to become, managed to forge a reasonably successful music biz career of his own.

You probably need to be of a certain vintage to recall The Scaffold in their glory days circa 1968-1974, during which time the band notched up three Top 10 singles and recorded four enduringly popular albums. But if your rib-tickle tastes take you in the direction of the Pythons, The Mighty Boosh or, perhaps, even The Young Ones, The Scaffold’s very own brand of peculiar performance art that takes us on a trip into slightly surreal, psychedelic, vintage counter-culture territories are set to take you on a voyage of mind-bending discovery.

The meaning of the lyrics to Thank U Very Much, for example (the band’s first hit single, back in 1967) originally caused much speculation, not least of all due to Mike saying, at the time of the single’s release, that the song was all about “drugs, women, sex and depravity”. Their number one hit Lily the Pink, meanwhile – which, in 1968, sold over one million copies, earning The Scaffold a gold disc – was a ‘sanitised’ version of a bawdy, late Victorian-era drinking song celebrating the life of Lydia Pinkham, the inventor of Pinkham’s (mysterious) Medicinal Compound, which claimed to cure all manner of, erm, feminine disorders.

“Ah, Lily – we’ll always love Lily”, says Mike. “But I suppose Thank U Very Much will always be my favourite Scaffold song, because I wrote it! It was actually just all about me thanking Our Kid for a posh Nikon camera that he bought me way back in the day, which really got my career in photography going. But it somehow became – can you believe this! – proof that The Scaffold were satirists who took the p*ss out of the establishment, and the government, and the royal family, and people who were born privileged. It was fascinating for me, having written a song that simply said thank you to my brother, watching it turn something else for other people. Yeah, I said that thing about drugs, and women, and all that – but I was having a laugh! Come to the Slapstick Festival and you might hear the full story...”

Indeed, Mike and his Scaffold-ing mates (that’ll be poet Roger McGough – yes, the Roger McGough) and John (latterly, Tiswas superstar) Gorman – will no doubt be sharing all manner of fascinating stories, secrets and, perhaps, scandals in Bristol when guest presenter Harry Hill hosts a celebration of the band’s work at St George’s Bristol on Saturday 18 February (part of this year’s fabulous Slapstick Festival line-up). Mike promises sketches, songs, poems and rare footage too, alongside a screening of their then-controversial short film Plod (1972). The Scaffold, reunited after all these years! But Mike: has the band ever not been united?

“Oh God yes, of course!” he laughs. “Even the best good friends fall out sometimes. Gorman originally suggested getting back together, and I said, I'm up for that! Let’s just take it nice and easy, read scripts together like in the old days, see how we go. Roger wasn’t sure at

Mike “McGear” McCartney, lead singer of The Scaffold

Al images courtesy of Slapstick Festival

first, but he asked me what I thought. I said firstly, the three remaining original members of the Scaffold are still alive –that’s quite a feat. Secondly, those three original members are finally talking to each other again! You know, with so many groups from that time, half of them are dead and half of them can’t stand each other. But we formed 60 years ago this year, and we’re all still here, and that’s quite the benchmark. That premise alone is a good start for a celebration! So we both said yes.”

So how does it feel, being a Scaffolder again? “It’s been fascinating for us because we haven’t done it in so many years, and the whole concept of getting together again has been a very interesting process. We did a show at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool (which is where we began) last year, and it went really well. But, you know, expect anything and everything from this one!”

Mike’s also looking forward to the special event screening of the original footage of The Scaffold at the Talk of the Town that acts as a curtain-raiser to their St George’s reunion gig at the former Bristol Imax Cinema (Bristol Aquarium) on Friday 17 February. “There we are in this huge, iconic venue wearing our smart white suits, me singing a song on

my own, and John doing sketches, and Roger doing a very serious poem – us, doing our thing,” he says. And – ever the busy man –he’s staying in Bristol for Sunday 19 February too, when he’ll be in conversation with fellow Liverpudlian Paul McGann prior to a screening of The Beatles/Richard Lester’s 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night at the Bristol Old Vic. At this point, I can’t resist asking the obvious question: Mike, will Your Kid be in the audience for any – or all! – of the Bristol gigs? “My big brother?” Mike laughs. “God knows; he’s a big brother, he does what he wants. Is he even in this country? Not only do I never know where he is – he doesn't know where he is either!”.

But right here, right now, we’re on Scaffold territory. “The whole thing about The Scaffold, then and now, is that The Scaffold don’t know what they’re going to do, when they do it – and that’s the joy of us, really,” says Mike. “The three members are three unique human beings, and together we’re one unique thing.” And as long as they all step away from Bristol’s infamous scrumpy this time around, we’ll be thanking them very much for doing that unique thing right on our doorstep. n

• The Scaffold Live at Talk of the Town (1969) is taking place on 17 February at the former Bristol Imax Cinema, Bristol Aquarium and The Scaffold: A Celebration with special guest host, Harry Hill, will follow on 18 February at St George’s Bristol. Book your tickets at: slapstick.org.uk

Sleeping Beauty

As Matthew Bourne’s award-winning production of Sleeping Beauty returns to Bristol Hippodrome on 28 February, we speak to Ashley Shaw and Andrew Monaghan about returning to their lead roles as Princess Aurora and Leo...

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty is back by popular demand, celebrating 10 years since its premiere at Sadler’s Wells in London, when it became the fastest selling production in the company’s history. Now established as a firm favourite in the New Adventures repertoire, the award-winning production has enchanted international audiences throughout the UK and across the globe, scooping up three Los Angeles Drama Critic Awards and the Ovation Award for Best Production along the way.

Set to grace the stage at the Bristol Hippodrome from 28 February to 4 March, audiences are invited to enter a wondrous world of magical fairies and vampires, where the timeless tale of good vs. evil is turned upside-down, creating a supernatural love story that even the passage of time itself cannot hinder. Will Princess Aurora ever find her true love again?

With an unforgettable score by Tchaikovsky, sumptuous sets and costumes, evocative lighting and masterly storytelling, the beloved fairy tale is brought to life.

As many prepare to be transported in time from the halcyon days of the late Edwardian era through to the modern day in this dazzling gothic romance, Ashley Shaw, who plays Aurora, and Andrew Monaghan, who plays Leo, let us in on life behind the scenes of Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty

How does it feel to be returning to Sleeping Beauty?

Andrew: It’s nice return to the show because I’m getting to step into the role I covered last time. In 2016, I covered Leo and now I get to play him full-time, which is really lovely. I get to have a bit more of a go at it, perform it more often and dance with Ashley more –it feels like a nice progression while visiting something familiar.

Ashley: It’s always great to return a show and a role. I’ve done this role twice before and each time you return, you find new things within the character and the dance, you find new ways of telling the story using your experience so it’s really nice to be back.

How do you go about building your character in rehearsals?

Andrew: We do a lot of research outside the rehearsal room. Matt (Bourne) is such a film buff, so we get an amazing list of films and resources that he wants us to watch. For our characters and relationships, we looked at works like The Go Between and Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which also tackles class division in relationships so we use that as inspiration but we also chat with the people we share our roles with –they always have a different approach and it’s nice to marry the two together.

Ashley: The shows never sit still; we’re never satisfied. I don’t think

Ashley Shaw (Aurora), and company

we’re ever satisfied as dancers and I’m sure it’s the same with Matt (Bourne) as a creative. It’s constantly a living breathing thing that we want to develop and make better and there’s always room for improvement.

Your roles are both integral to the storytelling of the show – how do you manage the pressure?

Ashley: It is a lot of pressure. We try not to dwell on it too much. It’s not something I really think about, but when I do think about it, it is quite a responsibility. We have experience behind us, which always helps. We’ve told stories like this before; we do know how to do it and that gives you that self-confidence. You feed off each other, and if you’re truly in the story and the character, you’re thinking about that, rather than ‘oh I need to deliver this story’, you’re just living the story and hopefully that translates.

Andrew: I think particularly when I was first started out, Etta (Murfitt), our Associate Artistic Director, said if you get nervous, just tell the story. Taking the external pressures off performing for 2,000 people really helps. So it’s nice to tap into that if you do have those shows that feel a bit nervy, but generally I quite like it.

How does performing the show in front of an audience influence your performance?

Ashley: The audience really is that final piece of the puzzle. We rehearse on our own, we practice our quick changes, we try on our wigs and costumes and everything and that final piece is when the audience enters the auditorium. It’s who we do it for.

Andrew: It’s always really interesting to see what gets a reaction and what doesn’t. When you’re prepping the show in the rehearsal room you’re doing it under bright lights, really close up mirrors, management are really close, and things just don’t get a reaction because they’ve already been seen 50 times. When you start to do it in front of an audience and things get an applause, it’s a really lovely last piece of the puzzle, like Ash was saying. You realise what is key is connecting with the audience.

How do you work to keep your performance fresh and alive throughout a long run?

Ashley: For the last two tours I’ve done of this show, I’d say I’ve done maybe 300 shows as Aurora. For me, every show is a fresh slate with different casts and different audiences. Quite frankly, it’s just what I love doing –I love performing and I love this role so much.

Andrew: I think a big attraction of New Adventures company is the fact that the work is so rich in detail and you have different casts, which helps keep it fresh. People like to come back and see the show more than once –they become friends of the company.

Do you have any routines or rituals that help you prepare for a show?

Andrew: I used to have pre-show rituals. Last time we did this show I did one of the fairy tracks, which is quite a lot of technical dancing right at the start of the show. I used to have to go through my solo before the start and if I didn’t I’d really freak out. And actually, that was really bad because I’d be really stressed if I didn’t do it so it was a really good experience of trying to let go of stuff and not have anything to do before the show. Now, I generally just like to take my time; I don’t like to rush. I like to have time to stretch and wake my body up.

Ashley: I’m the same, I don’t like to get too attached to anything in case for whatever reason that can’t happen and then it throws you. But unlike Andrew I get ready really early. My character doesn’t come in until the very end of Act 1, because Aurora is a baby at the beginning and is played by a puppet. I have about 25 minutes from when the show starts to when I’m actually on, but I feel the need to come down at the beginning and do my barre in the wing whilst the fairies are doing their solos –I’ve actually musically choreographed a barre to the show. n

• See Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty at Bristol Hippodrome from 28 February –4 March. Book your tickets at: atgtickets.com.

Photography by JohanPersson

Ashley Shaw (Aurora) and Andrew Monaghan (Leo)

Artists in focus

As three of the city’s finest art galleries prepare to showcase the brilliant work of renowned photographers –including Bristol-born artists Jem Southam and Garry Fabian Miller –we take a closer look at what’s on offer at the RWA, Arnolfini and TheRoyalPhotographicSociety this month...

Jem Southam: A Bend In The River, Royal West of England Academy (RWA), until 1 May

This month, the RWA presents a special exhibition by leading Bristolborn photographer Jem Southam. Southam is known for his diligently observed landscape photography documenting subtle changes in an environment over time, often photographing his surroundings in the South West of England.

A Bend in the River, presented in collaboration with Bristol Photo Festival, displays a series of the same name structured in two parts representing arrival (at dusk) and departure (at dawn). The images were taken at a particular spot on a riverbank where Southam became lost in contemplation one December evening. He returned to the same spot each day during the rest of the winter. Over the following five years between 2015-2020, Southam continued creating series in the same location. The ever-changing surface of the water, passing clouds, trees waving in the breeze, ducks gliding across the river and swans flying to roost caught Southam’s attention and what began as a passing digital photo led to powerful ongoing series of deeply affecting photography.

Interspersed across Southam’s photographs is a curated selection of artworks that have inspired him and complement his practice. For example, pieces by artists such as JMW Turner, John Constable and John Leigh-Pemberton; illustrators of popular natural history books; and artists who worked for publications such as Ladybird and Shell. Ahead of the exhibition launch, we spoke to Jem to learn more about his recent project and his everlasting relationship with the West Country...

What’s your relationship with the West Country landscape, and why you have made it central to your work?

I was born in Bristol in 1950 and came back to live in the city in 1972 after studying photography in London. I worked at Arnolfini through the late 1970s and spent five years making a study of the docklands landscape of the Floating Harbour. Then, I moved to west Cornwall for my first teaching job at Falmouth School of Art, and began photographing in the area. Another teaching post brought me to Exeter and Devon, where I have lived and worked ever since. There are a number of reasons why I make my work here. One might be called a philosophical reason, and that is a belief that the world outside one’s own front door is just as remarkable as that anywhere else. So good pictures can be made anywhere, not at the end of some metaphorical rainbow.

The second reason is a practical one. I work five days a week while teaching and have a family, so little time to travel. As I have mentioned my practice involves becoming fixated by a site and making work by repeatedly visiting it often, but not always, over many years. I do not have any idea what is going to happen when I begin, rather allowing the process to lead me towards a new project, exploring new ideas. So, proximity makes sense and I develop strong relationships with the places I photograph.

There is another reason though, and this one is really important. We just so happen to live, here in the South West of England, in one of the most extraordinary places on Earth to make colour landscape pictures. Because of the latitude and longitude, our seasons transition gradually, spring stretches out from some time in February to maybe the middle of June, a slow, slow slide through a season. Dawns in midwinter last an hour and a half, near the equator it is a matter of minutes – so once again that gradual shift from one state to another. Furthermore, because the South West projects out into the Atlantic, into the Gulf Stream, we have a warm temperate climate, a great deal

of humidity and endlessly varied weather, which all helps create what I reckon are the very best conditions on Earth to explore the making of colour pictures.

How did Bend in the River evolve?

Thaw by Edward Thomas

Over the land freckled with snow half-thawed

The speculating rooks at their nests cawed

And saw from elm-tops, delicate as flowers of grass, What we below could not see, Winter pass

This poem gave me the idea to photograph the passage of a Winter, a study of something we could not see. I began in 2010 photographing at a variety of sites along the Exe river, it was such a wonderful thing to do that after the first winter, I started all over again and then again, four winters in all, with a huge 10x8-inch plate camera using analogue film. Then, one December evening I was sitting on a log by

the river, contemplating life while watching the dusk settle, and becoming completely absorbed with the view in front of me, the rippled surface of the stream, the swaying trees and bushes along the bank and a pink cloud that was making its way over the distant hills, when two mallard ducks suddenly pushed their way across the stream. I quickly took a picture with the small digital camera I had started carrying around and was so captivated by that moment that I decided there and then to return to the same place, at dusk, through the rest of that winter, and wait for the world to present something to make a picture about, and that I would call the work that resulted ‘a bend in the river’.

That winter was not especially successful, though the experience of each visit was highly rewarding, so I started again the next November, and am now photographing through the eighth winter, doing the same thing, on the same bend –it is that compelling.

What drew you to this particular location?

Firstly, I always make work in proximity to, and about, water, and

Taken on 25 January, 2017 by Bristol-born photographer Jem Southam as part of his exhibition currently exhibiting at the RWA

A Bend in the River © Jem Southam

have done several river studies over the past 40 years, the best known called The Red River, along a tinning stream in west Cornwall. Like all the places I make bodies of work, this current site is close to home, which I can visit frequently. It is on the floodplain, the Exe is a highly volatile river, so though a quiet scene, I witness an endless landscape drama. This is significantly added to by the presence of swans, geese and ducks, which spend the night on the river – arriving almost in the dark and leaving usually before the sun rises. As well as following the passage of a season, I also follow the passage of a dawn or dusk, times of the day when the light is steadily changing and providing opportunities for making rich, sonorous pictures.

The gathering of swans seemed to become a particular inspiration leading to the second part of the series Swan Winter – could you tell us about the northern European myth and Scandinavian folklore that the series draws on?

One dusk early on, a large group of swans descended onto the river in the near dark and paraded backwards in a line along the river in front of where I stood. This sight brought to mind the ‘corps de ballet’ of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. I began to reflect on the presence of the

many folktales from North West Europe in which swans played a significant part. This was spurred on by fact that my mother-in-law was Finnish and growing up in rural Finland her imagination was steeped in these myths. In Bronze Age Scandinavia swans are depicted, along with horses, pulling the sun across the sky and then down into the underworld, before reappearing each new day, raising it back into our own world once again. I think these powerful myths still have resonance in our modern world.

What do you hope audiences will take away from the exhibition?

That the world outside their front door is just as interesting as that of anyone else’s on this planet. That good pictures can be made by standing still and watching and listening, by being patient and paying attention. I would hope that they, like me, might wonder at the birds and their behaviour. That at the RWA and at other galleries in Bristol, they can see and hopefully relish, a wonderfully varied mixture of fine art. My friend, the artist Garry Fabian Miller, who also now lives in Devon, has an exhibition at the Arnolfini beginning in February. That two Bristol lads have returned to their home city with large exhibitions, at the same time, is, I like to think, something to celebrate.

• For more information about the exhibition, visit: rwa.org.uk

Garry Fabian Miller: ADORE, Arnolfini, 18 February – 28 May

Garry Fabian Miller is arguably one of the most inventive and original photographers of his time. This month, he makes a very welcome return to Arnolfini, and his home city of Bristol, to present ADORE, a major exhibition celebrating a lifetime of his work.

ADORE invites audiences to explore Fabian Miller’s ‘camera-less’ practice that experiments with darkness and light, and weaves in work by the artists, writers and thinkers that have inspired him over the years. Arranged around different elements, ADORE reveals an artist of incredible patience – returning to capture the same grove of hawthorn trees throughout the seasons, year after year – and for whom the

Taken on 17 December 2016 | Jem Southam, A Bend in the River © Jem Southam

Taken on 12 December 2017 | Jem Southam, A Bend in the River © Jem Southam

slowing of time has taken on a deep-rooted importance.

Beginning with images from Sections of England: The Sea Horizon (1976 to 1977) – originally shown at Arnolfini in 1979 in Fabian Miller’s first ever solo exhibition when he was just 19 years old – the artist’s deep affinity with nature is established.

Followed by early examples of his pre-abstract practice, ADORE introduces audiences to just some of the recurring characters, such as the plants and flowers that adorn his garden and stretch out into the surrounding hedgerows.

With a myriad of artists and makers, gardeners and Quakers, thinkers, and writers, ADORE welcomes you into a homely space of new tapestries and rugs created with Dovecot, Edinburgh and Dash + Miller, alongside a rich array of pottery, printmaking, archive material and textiles.

The exhibition then moves into themes of light (and colour) that run throughout Fabian Miller’s practice, as his work moves out of the darkroom to discover a new stage of his imagery development process.

Finally, the narrative winds its way back to Dartmoor – the place in which the artist has made his home and found endless inspiration – featuring a collaborative project with photographer Nicholas J R White, and revisiting some of the places that have been the inspiration for earlier works in the exhibition.

ADORE is Garry Fabian Miller’s third major exhibition at Arnolfini, his earlier shows being in 1979 and 1997. What’s more, in January 2022, Fabian Miller was awarded an Honorary Fellowship with the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University. Garry’s Fellowship came as part of the libraries’ increasing commitment to enhancing both the study of photography at the university and public engagement with the field, especially where it relates to material practices.

• For more information about the exhibition, visit: arnolfini.org.uk

Bristol-born artist Garry Fabian Miller will be exhibiting his work at Arnolfini until the end of May

International Photography Exhibition 164, The Royal Photographic Society (RPS), until 7 May

The RPS International Photography Exhibition is back with its 164th edition showcasing powerful stories and highlighting important themes. The world’s longest running contemporary photography exhibition is now open at RPS Gallery, showcasing 103 works by 46 photographers until 7 May.

The exhibition explores themes of identity, cultural heritage, sexuality and gender, mental health, and environmental and political issues. This edition is especially strong with both traditional and alternative processes being used in photography including analogue work, cyanotypes, and collage. The selected photographs were chosen anonymously from a worldwide open call in which over 6,000 images were entered by 3,466 photographers from 48 countries.

Each edition of the International Photography Exhibition invites a panel of leading voices in photography, and they bring an exciting mix of expertise as artists, curators, editors, and commentators. This year’s guest selection panel were Mariama Attah (Curator, Open Eye Gallery), Amak Mahmoodian (Artist), Ryan Prince (Portrait and Documentary Photographer) and Dr Michael Pritchard, RPS Director of Programmes and photohistorian.

Every year selected exhibiting photographers are offered exclusive opportunities including two awards, the IPE Award and the Under 30’s Award alongside a £4,000 prize fund for standout entrants, a photographic commission to create new work, and features in the award-winning RPS Journal. This year, the IPE 164 Award was given to Natcha Wongchanglaw for her series Couchsurfing Hosts and the Under 30s Award was presented to Siqi Li for her series EmptyNest, which explores family, parenthood, ageing and the sorrow of separation.

On receiving the IPE 164 Award, Natcha Wongchanglaw said: “In addition to knowing that my work has been chosen for the exhibition where the work of the world’s most renowned photographers, including Roger Fenton and Paul Strand, was once exhibited, I am thrilled and deeply humbled to have received the IPE Award. I can’t

even begin to express how grateful and honoured I am.”

The International Photography Exhibition 165 opens for entries on 7 February.

• For more information about the exhibition, visit: rps.org. Images courtesy of The Royal Photographic Society

Vogue House by Frederic Aranda as part of the International Photography Exhibition 164 at the RPS

Lou and Paisley by Owen Harvey

WHAT’S ON

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 take-down 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

Next-Gen Sounds

n From 9 February, Trinity Centre

Next-Gen Sounds is a series of free, openaccess music sessions for young people aged 16-18. This project will offer young people a chance gain knowledge and skills from expert tutors in Trinity’s fully-equipped

SCREENING AT WATERSHED

n Throughout February

This month at Watershed, Steven Spielberg’s homage to his family and the magic of filmmaking is finally here. Heartfelt, funny, semi-autobiographical The Fabelmans has been nominated in nine categories for this year’s Oscar’s®. And there’s more.

Aronofsky’s resplendent The Whale – nominated in three categories including Best Actor for Brendan Fraser opens on Friday 3 February and is destined to be one of the talking-point films of the year.

Finally, with the release of Saim Sadiq’s ground-breaking Joyland at the end of the month, Watershed brings you a season that invites you to reflect on representations of gender in on-screen narratives worldwide. Reflections and Refractions: Gender on Screen, kicks off on Sunday 5 February, and includes Brian De Palma’s controversial Dressed To Kill, followed by Sally Potter’s free-spirited Orlando and much more in this packed season of films. Book your tickets at: watershed.co.uk

rehearsal room and production studios. These sessions will be student-led, meaning that young people will be able to shape the programme whether that be learning to play instruments, music production, performing live, or anything in-between. trinitybristol.org.uk

Bristol Film Festival: Dirty Dancing

n 12 February, Clifton Observatory

The historic Clifton Observatory plays host to Bristol Film Festival’s Spirit Of Cinema screenings. Join an intimate setting overlooking the Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge, and (weather permitting) enjoy the stunning views day and night on the rooftop terrace before the film begins. Tickets include a gin and tonic on arrival, as well as a gin-based cocktail served during a brief interval in the film. The enduring fan favourite DirtyDancing stars Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze as a perfect onscreen

couple –you’ll have the time of your life reliving the magic. bristolfilmfestival.com

Looking For Me Friend:

The Music Of Victoria Wood

n 14 February, The Wardrobe Theatre

A funny and touching tribute to this much loved and sorely missed national treasure, written and performed by Paulus, directed by Sarah-Louise Young (An Evening Without Kate Bush). “The most feel-good show in town” (Daily Mail), Looking For Me Friend is a celebration of Victoria Wood’s unforgettable characters, songs and sketches and the power of friendships forged through laughter. From Mrs Overall to Barry and Freda, everyone is there. The only thing that’s missing is you! Book at: thewardrobetheatre.com

Bristol Ensemble: Valentine’s Day concert

n 14 February, St George’s Bristol

Still from The Fablemans, showing at Watershed

RomeoandJuliet as well as much-loved classics by Beethoven, Elgar, Mascagni, Einaudi and more. Tickets £10 to £30. Book at: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Rhodes

n 15 February, The Louisiana Hertfordshire-raised, London-based singersongwriter Rhodes first captured everyone’s attention with a series of EPs leading up to the release of his acclaimed 2015 debut album Wishes. The album, which charted inside the UK Top 25, included the hit single LetItAtAllGo, a duet with Birdy that has now amassed 175 million Spotify streams, and sent Rhodes’ trajectory skywards. He’s captivated audiences on a series of headline shows and tours and opened for the likes of Sam Smith, London Grammar, and Hozier. thelouisiana.net

My Fair Lady

n 15 –25 February, Bristol Hippodrome

Following its critically acclaimed West End run, the Lincoln Center Theater’s multiaward-winning production of My Fair Lady is coming to The Bristol Hippodrome for two weeks only, starring world renowned soprano singer Lesley Garrett. This glorious production of Lerner and Loewe’s world famous musical features much-loved classic songs, lavish sets, stunning costumes and standout performances. It’s the perfect celebration of the theatre scene back in full bloom. Read more at: atgtickets.com

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School: Emilia

n 17 –25 February, St Paul's Church

It’s 1611 and, at the age of 42, Emilia

Bassano becomes the first woman to have her poetry published in England. For centuries, history has overlooked this achievement in favour of her male contemporaries. Until 400 years later, that is.

Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s triple Olivier Award-winning comedy storms into Bristol on 17 February. A concoction of historical inspiration and imagination, this period romp charts our heroine’s journey from young courtier to a radical writer, well-versed in pushing the boundaries of a stiff society. Book your tickets at: oldvic.ac.uk

The Bristol Hi-Fi Show

n 24 –26 February

After two years away, The Bristol Hi Fi Show is back and taking place from 24 –26 February. The UK’s largest and longest running Hi-Fi Show is now in its 34th year. Experience the latest Hi-Fi and talk directly to the manufacturers of 163 brands. With exclusive deals and special offers up for grabs, don’t miss out! Find out more at: bristolshow.co.uk

You Bury Me

n From 24 February, Bristol Old Vic Paines Plough, The Women’s Prize for Playwriting, 45North, The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and The Orange Tree Theatre, in association with Bristol Old Vic, are set to present Ahlam’s play You Bury Me this year. Ahlam’s You Bury Me is about coming of age in post-Arab Spring Cairo and was joint winner of the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020. The production will open at Bristol Old Vic from 24 February –4 March. bristololdvic.org.uk

COMING SOON

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

n 1 –3 March, Malcolm X Community Centre

Set beneath a glittering, ethereal surface you will find Shakespeare’s dazzling play transformed into a macabre Edwardian fable from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. As night falls our slumbering players are swept up in an otherworldly experience, left to navigate fairy enchantments, lovers’ quarrels and patriarchal norms. Book your tickets at: oldvic.ac.uk

Bristol Symphony Orchestra

n 4 March, St George’s Bristol “Saw sixteen swans,” wrote Jean Sibelius. “One of the greatest experiences in life. Oh god, what beauty!” That dazzling vision became the mighty theme that crowns his stirring Fifth Symphony and tonight it’s the climax of an evening packed with emotional intensity, featuring Strauss’s epic tone-poem Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration), a vivid portrait of the last hours of a dying artist which explores ideas of the mind and spirit. But first, prepare to be swept along in Tchaikovsky’s passionate fantasyoverture, which balances the hatred between the Montagues and Capulets, and the passion of the young Romeo and Juliet in a work of heart-breaking beauty. Conductor Robert Weaver and the Bristol Symphony Orchestra return to the stage after their sold-out performance of Dracula in November for this emotional rollercoaster of an evening. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Misplaced Theatre: Tender Napalm n 7 –11 March, Alma The Alma Tavern & Theatre Misplaced Theatre returns to the Alma Theatre with Philip Ridley’s explosive, poetic and brutal play Tender Napalm. A compelling tapestry, re-examining the language of love and the politics of sexual attraction amongst the ruins of a relationship scarred by catastrophe.

Grenades, bullets, monkeys, aliens, sea Gods, a tropical wasteland and memory and imagination. Ridley’s world is both barbaric and beautiful in equal measure.

Starring Bristol actors Jack Bannell as Man and Nina Bright as Woman. Directed by Ben Jenkins. Tender Napalm contains sexual language and threats of violence. Book your tickets at: almatavernandtheatre.co.uk n

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 largest 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

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

Sunday Market

n Every Sunday, Tobacco Factory Tobacco Factory’s bustling Sunday Market (10am – 2.30pm) is the perfect spot to meet with friends, relax with family and discover exceptional food, crafts and produce, made and grown in the local area. There are around 60 stalls to explore each week, featuring beautifully designed, sustainable and locally made produce – from clothes and jewellery to patisserie and freshly baked bread. tobaccofactory.com

Stories from the Stars

n 2 & 9 February, Bandon Hill park

Join We The Curious for 50 minutes of stories from around the world, all inspired by stars, constellations and celestial objects. These include stories from Ancient Greece, Wales, China and many more.

Find out why Cassiopeia is trapped in the sky, why the Moon and Sun never married and what the three wise men were following.

These tales paint an incredible picture of how humanity has interacted with the night sky for thousands of years.

Meet the team at 6.45pm at the Charlotte Street entrance to Brandon Hill park and they’ll then guide you to the stargazing location at 6.55pm. Book your free ticket at: wethecurious.org/event/stories-stars

The Tap Dancing Mermaid

n 12 –16 February, The Wardrobe Theatre

The “truly amazing one-woman powerhouse”

Tessa Bide brings you her celebrated devised solo production, called “just everything a

children’s theatre experience should be” (Childplays). There are stunning puppets, original live music to sing along to and tap dancing that will make you want to stick 50ps to your shoes and join in. For everyone aged 3 to 133. thewardrobetheatre.com

Bristol Film Festival: Up

n 12 February, Clifton Observatory

With the venue’s prominent location overlooking Avon Gorge that’s ideal for balloon-spotting, what better film to screen here than Up? Perfect for the whole family, it’s sure to make your heart soar… bristolfilmfestival.com

Mog the Forgetful Cat

n 14 –18 February, Bristol Old Vic Join Mog and the Thomas family on a journey through one year in the life of a really remarkable cat, as she catches a burglar, gatecrashes a cat show, goes to the V.E.T. and gets to eat lots and lots of eggs. Everyone’s favourite cat might be forgetful, but she certainly has a lot of adventures, and she loves her family very much.

The Wardrobe Ensemble (RobinHood: Legend of the Forgotten Forest) adapt Judith Kerr’s beloved and iconic stories for the stage, in a lively and enchanting production directed by Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton with songs, live music and a menagerie of creatures little and large. Book your tickets at: bristololdvic.org.uk

The Baby & Toddler Show

n 18 –19 February, Bath & West Showground

The Baby & Toddler Show is returning to the South West at its new home at the Bath & West Showground on 18 –19 February. Don’t miss the incredible pop-up shopping event with an unbeatable line-up of big name brands, unique innovative products, local services and free baby-first aid workshops with the Royal Life Saving Society to give you a helping hand in parenthood and make sure you and your little ones are happy, safe and on-trend too.

Take home a complimentary goody bag from Pura with a pack of plastic-free, biodegradable and compostable baby wipes and other goodies inside. To book a free pair of tickets worth £32 with code BATH40 and to find out more information about what’s on at the show, visit: babyandtoddlershow.co.uk n

Tobacco Factory’s Sunday Market

STATE OF THE ART

Found, Arnolfini, until 26 February

Inspired by Arnolfini’s recent show Bharti Kher: The Body is a Place, UWE Bristol students from across Fashion Communication, Fashion Textiles, Filmmaking, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, and Interior Design have collaborated in mixed-discipline groups to create new work, showcased in this exhibition on Arnolfini’s second floor gallery. Taking direct influence from Kher’s process and work, students have explored the themes of readymade, recycled, sustainability, culture, identity, appropriation, meaning, and more. The work on display was created for the module Collaborate which is offered to undergraduate students across UWE Bristol’s School of Arts.

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

Accumulate by Kleiner Shames, That Art Gallery, 10 – 25 February

Kleiner Shames makes geometric abstract paintings and structures distinguished by bold forms and solid areas of strong colour. Originally from Oxford, he cut his teeth on street art before taking strides forward in his personal style and artistic confidence in London and then in Bristol, where his work moved on to commissioned murals and retail shopfronts. This exhibition represents Shames’s return to the city from his current base in Cornwall where his career shifted up another gear to include regular exhibitions in the county’s commercial art galleries.

• thatartgallery.com; Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8DJ

Image: Weightless byKleinerShames

Between Work and Window: Photographs of RWA Academicians by Anne-Katrin Purkiss, RWA, until 12 March

This exhibition of photographs of Royal West of England Academicians forms part of a larger collection of portraits, documenting British artists in the context of their working environment. It is an ongoing project that began more than thirty years ago with photographs of artists commissioned for press and news agencies and that is now pursued largely out of personal interest and based on commissions from the art galleries and publishers.

These images have come to reflect social changes as well as new practices and a new approach to using studio space. The selection of 35 photographs for this exhibition illustrates these developments. A third of the portraits were taken specifically for this occasion during the past year, including photographs of long-standing Academicians and of another generation of artists from different cultural and social backgrounds, working with new media and in less conventional spaces. The space between work and window describes the place of an artist in the studio and the photographer’s place for recording a moment during a studio visit. It refers also to a metaphorical space between the outside world and the artists’ way of seeing and interpreting it.

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

Image: Anne-Katrin Purkiss, Portrait, Sir Frank Bowling, 2014, photograph, Giclee print, b/w © 2022 A. K. Purkiss

Image: Bharti Kher during her residency at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, 2017.

Photo Mark Pickthall. © Hauser & Wirth

Ayo Akingbade: Show Me The World Mister, Spike Island, 18 February –21 May Show Me

The World Mister is an exhibition by Ayo Akingbade comprising two new film commissions shot on location in Nigeria. The Fist is a portrait of the Guinness brewery in Lagos, where histories of colonialism, industrialisation and labour collide; while Faluyi follows protagonist Ife on a journey tracing familial legacy and mysticism in ancestral lands. Building on Akingbade’s interests in history, placemaking, legacy and power, these are her most ambitious productions to date.

Produced by Chisenhale Gallery and Spike Island, Bristol, and commissioned by Chisenhale Gallery; Spike Island; the Whitworth, The University of Manchester; BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead; and John Hansard Gallery, Southampton. The exhibition is part of the West of England Visual Arts Alliance programme, supported by Arts Council England.

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

Image: Ayo Akingbade, The Fist (2022). Film Still. Courtesy the artist.

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

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

Sweet Patootee Arts: Turning Point, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, until 5 March

From the neglected heritage of early 1920s British Caribbean, Tony T from Sweet Patootee Arts has crafted Turning Point, a series of four short films inspired by oral histories about the Black Caribbean experience after the First World War.

High-profile actors and rising stars perform Caribbean melodrama and comedy to camera with a backdrop of projected archive footage and a 3D soundscape of community participant voices. Featuring performances from Paterson Joseph (The Beach, Vigil, Noughts + Crosses), Suzette Llewellyn (Holby City, Eastenders, Surgical Spirit), Ashley D. Gayle and Veronica Beatrice Lewis. The use of folk culture and comedy reawakens a hidden age of revival and New Negro* rebellion. Real experiences of Black women and First World War veterans have inspired four dramatic vignettes, interwoven with archive imagery, text, and rare folk songs. The result is a call to arms: triumphant Black British heritage waits to be celebrated.

*The use of New Negro relates to a post-First World War shift in the British Caribbean. Game-changing new Black pride and self-esteem of ordinary Black people trapped at the bottom of the social ladder.

• bristolmuseums.org.uk; Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RL

Image courtesy of Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

Expert opinion Sewn Up

George Müller was born in 1805 in Prussia (now Germany) but his life’s work was in Bristol. Müller was a godly man who worked tirelessly to save, educate, and provide purpose for Bristol’s unwanted orphaned children. His life, however, did not start out in such a pious way. By his own admission he was a liar, drunkard and thief who stole from his family and friends. His wayward ways eventually caught up with him and he spent time in prison, then, at the age of twenty he was converted to the Christian faith and his life took a completely new course.

In 1829 he arrived in Bristol and started his extraordinary work amongst the orphaned children of the city. In Victorian England orphans were an unwelcome problem. Some – if they were lucky - were sent to orphan asylums where conditions were notoriously harsh, the rest had to suffer in the workhouse. Müller and his wife Mary sought to change that.

In 1836 they opened their home on Wilson Street to thirty orphan girls. A decade later, with more children arriving and the neighbours complaining about the noise, the Müllers looked for an alternative location and in 1849 opened the first orphan house on Ashley Down. By the time the fifth house had been completed in 1870, thousands of children had been taken off the streets and placed in the care and protection of the Müller orphanage.

All Müller children were smartly dressed, well fed and educated. The children received instruction in a range of subjects including reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history and singing. Skill with a needle was a key part of the syllabus with the boys being taught the same subjects as the girls, including learning how to knit their own socks. When they left the orphanage all children were found employment, and given clothing and a Bible.

As part of her education, every Müller girl would stitch a fabric sampler to demonstrate her needlework skills. These followed a set pattern, with alphabets and motifs, and were worked in red thread on cream linen, making them instantly recognisable. Intended as keepsakes, they were also useful when showing potential employers their abilities.

Today Müller samplers have a worldwide following and regularly sell for over £1,000. ■

• clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)

From Chris Yeo, Valuer at Clevedon Salerooms and regular expert on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow

Bristol turns 650

In the past 50 years, redrawing the boundaries of England’s counties – and inventing new names for them – has become a regular occurrence. In 1974, Bristol lost its cherished county status when it became part of the county of Avon, only to regain it in 1996. Seen in the context of such changes, the 650th anniversary of Bristol’s elevation to county status in 1373 may not seem worth making that much of a fuss about. But that distant event was a total game-changer – and it came about in the most curious of ways.

As towns go, Bristol was relatively late on the scene. The first we hear of it is when some coins were minted in Brycg stowe – the place by the bridge – around 1010. Any market town could mint coins back then, and these coins are the first indication that, although small and only recently established, Brycg stowe was determined to make its mark.

It started off as a modest settlement on the north bank of the Avon, near its confluence with the River Frome. The Avon marked the county boundary, so, while Brycg stowe was in Gloucestershire, the bridge after which it was named crossed over into Somerset. As the town grew, some people decided they preferred living south of the river, so almost from the start the town straddled two counties.

In 1054, Brycg stowe was mentioned in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle; nine years later, the future King Harold used it as the base to launch a campaign against Wales. It was the Norman Conquest, though, that marked the beginning of its rise to prominence. It came under Norman control in 1068 and within a few years a motte and bailey castle had been built on its east side. Around 1120 the castle was rebuilt, extended and furnished with a monumental stone keep, making it one of the

grandest fortresses in the land. With the town so well defended, it flourished as never before. Walls were built around it and the Benedictine priory of St James – now Bristol’s oldest building – was established to the north. The Abbey of St Augustine – now Bristol cathedral – followed a few years later, and in 1155 Bristow, as it was now called, received its first royal charter, making it a chartered borough.

This prodigious growth was down to its unique advantages as a port. Other harbours in the Bristol Channel, and along the south and west coasts, were prey to pirates and privateers – not to mention the French – who attacked ships, pillaged and burned, and carried away the townsfolk. Any hostile craft which managed to get as far up the Avon as Bristol, however, would, when the tide turned, have been trapped. It was the safest of safe havens, and ideally placed to trade not only with the continent, but also with Wales and Ireland – both of which the Normans, and later the Plantagenets, were keen to subdue.

Trade boomed, as Bristol cornered the market in the export of manufactured cloth and the import of wine. South of the river, Redcliffe grew rapidly as new wharves were built along the river. As Redcliffe lay in Somerset, however, it fell outside the jurisdiction of the civic authorities, and, while this suited the merchants on the south bank, it went down less well north of the river.

In the early 13th century, Bristol bridge was rebuilt, the harbour was enlarged by digging a massive trench to divert the Frome, and walls were built around Redcliffe. Growth seemed unstoppable; by the middle of the following century the only question was whether Redcliffe would ultimately eclipse the original settlement on the north

As Bristol celebrates its 650th year of being an independent county, Andrew Swift looks at the curious way in which the distant event took place...

St James Priory

bank. The rebuilding of St Mary Redcliffe as one of the grandest churches in the kingdom, which got under way around 1340, seemed to suggest the answer.

Lack of jurisdiction across the Avon wasn’t the only problem facing Bristol. Bristol’s castle was one of the most important in the country, and friction between town and castle had long been simmering. Things came to a head in the early 14th century, when high-handed tactics from the king’s officials prompted the townsfolk to build a high wall cutting the castle off from the town.

Bristol was now the greatest cloth-exporting town in England and the third largest settlement in the country, surpassed only by the ancient cities of London and York. It was, though, a town divided. If it was to capitalise on its economic success, it needed not only to resolve the issue of jurisdiction over its southern suburbs but free itself from interference by the castle. Autonomy was essential, and in 1373 the opportunity arose to claim it.

England had been fighting France, on and off, for 30 years, and the war was not going well. The ageing king, Edward III, was desperate for money to fund the campaign – so desperate that he tried to grab some

of the revenue from Bristol’s borough courts. This was a direct attack on the city’s chartered privileges – and just what the burgesses of Bristol had been waiting for.

They made Edward an offer – give us autonomy and we’ll give you £400. It may not sound much today, but it was enough for Edward to declare that ‘the town of Bristol with its suburbs and precincts shall henceforth be separate from the counties of Gloucester and Somerset and be in all things exempt both by land and sea, and that it should be a county by itself, to be called the county of Bristol in perpetuity’. The charter was signed at Woodstock on 8 August 1373. All that was excluded from the deal was the castle, a royal possession which remained an island of Gloucestershire within the county of Bristol until its destruction in the 17th century.

The new county included not just the area within the town walls, but a good deal else besides – and crucially the districts south of the river. In recognition of the importance of Bristol’s maritime trade, it also included the Avon downstream from the town and the Bristol Channel as far out as Steep Holm and Flat Holm.

One benefit of this new-found autonomy was that Bristolians with business to transact at county courts no longer had to traipse to Gloucester (if they lived north of the river) or to Ilchester or Taunton (if they lived in Redcliffe). But the charter’s most important legacy was that Bristol was no longer divided, no longer beholden to the king’s officials in the castle.

To commemorate the event, the burgesses erected a High Cross where Bristol’s four principal thoroughfares – Corn Street, Broad Street, Wine Street and High Street – met. There it remained until the early 18th century when, deemed an obstruction, it was moved to College Green before being sold to Henry Hoare, who re-erected it at Stourhead where it stands to this day – not in Bristol, nor in Gloucestershire or Somerset, but in deepest Wiltshire.

One thing Edward III didn’t grant Bristol was city status. That had to wait until 1542, when, after Henry VIII had dissolved the Abbey of St Augustine, it became the cathedral of the newly-created Diocese of Bristol. But, however coveted city status may have been, it was the autonomy that came with county status over a century and a half earlier which really mattered, and which made possible so much of what was to follow.

Although it may seem, on the face of it, that a crumbling monument in a Wiltshire valley is the most tangible legacy of the charter signed at Woodstock 650 years ago, its importance goes far deeper. As calls for greater devolution of power from central government grow ever more strident, the burgesses of Bristol’s robust defence of their right to self determination still serves as an inspiration today. n

• akemanpress.com

Bristol's High Cross at Stourhead

A map of Bristol in the 13th century...

HIT THE SLOPES...

Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Colmar Originals provides highly technical ski wear with great focus on functionality combined with immaculate styling. Move freely in the mountains with a collection adaptable to every level of performance and made to withstand all weather conditions. Feast your eyes on this season’s sale and shop at: colmar.com/gb

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Mountain moments

As skiers and snowboarders turn their attention to the 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships this month, we speak to travel writer Patrick ‘The Snow Hunter’ Thorne about his latest book, Around the World in 50 Slopes, to discover the fascinating stories behind some of the world’s greatest runs...

Veteran snow travel writer Patrick Thorne, nicknamed ‘The Snow Hunter’, is believed to be one of the few people in the world to have made a living over nearly four decades as a year-round ski holiday travel writer and researcher. Over the years, he has written tens of thousands of ski news stories and articles for hundreds of global publications. The long-time editor of InTheSnow magazine, Patrick is the author of more than a dozen ski books. In the 1990s, in the preinternet era, he sought to locate every ski area on earth, eventually finding more than 6,000 in 80 countries. In the 2010s, he went beyond mere earth-bound snow and researched snow on other moons and planets for his book Snow In Space

Patrick’s latest title, Around The World in 50 Slopes, takes skiers on a journey between ski runs located in 30 countries across six continents.

“There are lots of lists online covering the world’s steepest, most challenging runs and it’s normally the usual suspects, but I’m more interested in runs that have a story to them, an added dimension beyond just being great runs,” he says. “In short, I wanted to compile all the amazing stories I’ve been collecting over the past four decades.”

The runs take us to the world’s most northerly and southerly ski areas, to slopes skiable 365 days a year, or on the only slope for thousands of miles in southern Africa, down a volcano in the Andes or

under the phenomenal northern lights. Some of the runs are important in the history of snow sports, marking key points in the evolution of many of the world’s great ski areas, including Mammoth Mountain, St Moritz and the Colorado run where (arguably) the first snowboarding competition took place.

Some of the more serious subjects raised include the development of ski areas to reverse rural depopulation, the battle by indigenous tribes to keep control of their ancestral lands (several opting to run their own ski areas), the connections between different religions and ski resorts, how former mining communities reinvented themselves thanks to ‘white gold’, the fight for gay rights, a ski area recovered from the Taliban, how some ski areas developed thanks to the growth of rail networks and even ski areas that developed thanks to mountain warfare training.

The climate emergency is another subject that Patrick, who also runs SaveOurSnow.com, and other skiers have witnessed first-hand. One famous run graphically illustrates the impact of melting glaciers.

So, as the 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships –one of the most important sporting events in the world of alpine skiing –prepare to take place in Méribel and Courchevel from 6 –19 February, we speak to Patrick about his life’s work, the inspiration behind his new book and who to look out for when the world’s eyes turn to France this month.

Kaprun, Salzburg, Austria

Tell us about your background in the industry, where your love for skiing first began and what has kept you hooked... My mum and dad got me on a school trip when I was 15, a long bus trip to Italy to stay in a hostel type place. I loved it from the start but I’d been crazy about sledging and all things snow since I was little my mum tells me. I think a good thing with skiing and boarding is you can have as much fun learning as when you get good.

What has kept me hooked for 40 years? Well, I think the places and the people mostly. Lots of stunning, amazing places around the world and all inhabited by people who love the natural world, are open to all types, faiths, orientations just sharing a love of being in the mountains and the simple childhood fun of playing in snow.

What inspired you to write Around the World in 50 Slopes?

I think skiing and ski holidays are about much more than sliding as fast as you can down a hill and I’m very bored with traditional resort guides and clickbait website lists of “The 50 Best ski Runs” … which always go for the scariest options few people are capable of safely skiing. I think that skiing is pure, innocent fun – a way for us to connect to our childhood, so my first priority was to get runs in the book that most people can ski and will love. I have been writing about ski destinations for nearly 40 years, year-round, so you can imagine I have come across many different stories and I really just wanted to bring as many of them as I could into the book. I could have written about 10 volumes so I kept narrowing it down. I also wanted a geographic spread so ended up with the 50 runs coming from 30 countries on six continents with no more than half a dozen runs from any one country.

There are fun chapters tied to subjects like cheese, James Bond, The Beatles, Zeus, St Patrick’s day, St Valentine’s day, Count Dracula, Santa and the Northern Lights and many others, along with famous names in skiing through the decades where they’re tied to a particular place.

Ski areas are also places where big issues can be seen and addressed – international borders, religion*, sexuality, climate change, depopulation of rural areas, indigenous land rights. The book isn’t too ‘heavy’ but I do try to bring these in too.

(*I could write a whole book on religion –everyone from past Popes to the Taliban have had views on skiing. Pope John Paul II was a good skier and his old ski jacket is now classed as a Holy relic because he’s been made a saint.)

What is one of your favourite stories that you discovered while writing the book?

I have written tens of thousands of ski news stories over the decades so, for me, the best thing writing the book was to select the best of them and bring different stories together. For example, there are lots of different James Bond skiing connections from the first snowboarding on screen when Roger Moore pretended to take a sled off a snowmobile and board with it, or the scene where he skis off a cliff with a union jack parachute opening up, to Ian Fleming being based in Kitzbuhel a century ago to Daniel Craig in the Austrian resort of Solden in Spectre. So it was quite cathartic for me to bring all these separate stories from my brain into one chapter.

Why did you decide to set up Save Our Snow in 2004?

I have followed ski resort developments and skied myself since the 1970s and I noticed that there was a change in the late 1990s when resorts stopped talking about expanding and instead spent on snowmaking, I also returned to glaciers I’d skied five or 10 years before and saw they were disappearing. In the early 2000s, newspapers started saying: “if you care about the environment make sure you check what your chosen ski resort is doing before you travel there” … but there wasn’t an easy way to find that out so the original idea was to provide concise information on the environmental efforts of ski resorts.

What has it been like witnessing the climate emergency first-hand and what have you noticed in particular over the last 30 years in terms of the way ski resorts are addressing their impact and implementing environmental initiatives?

Back in the 1980s and 90s it was clear the ‘old guard’ running ski resorts then found environmental campaigns an annoyance and irrelevance in many places. Now those campaigners are employed by the resorts and they almost always consider the environment, normally reducing their current impact each time they make a decision. They’ll replace four old inefficient lifts with one new one that uses a fraction of the energy, often generated on-site with renewables. It’s a 180degree shift in attitude.

Many now invest in onsite green power sources. Those that are ahead of the game are well placed to handle the energy price hikes this year, so it’s nice they’re being rewarded for their eco efforts.

What are your predictions for the World Ski Championships in February? Who should audiences look out for?

I guess Marco Odermatt is most exciting of the new generation, will be odd without Beat Feuz. I’m most excited about Mikaela Shiffrin, finally (though I don’t want to jinx her) becoming the all-time number one World Cup winner overtaking Ingemark Stenmark’s over threedecades-old record of 86 wins. She’s up to 83 at time of writing, the last six in the past month.

Where is usually good to ski and board in February and March?

I’m hoping Austria in March as I have a trip booked, but most places should be good by then. It’s a bit of a way, especially if you’re watching your carbon footprint, but the US West Coast, particularly California, has had the most snow in the world so far this year – it’s five metres deep at Mammoth Mountain already.

Having visited thousands of ski areas around the world, which area should skiers add to their bucket lists?

Too many! I am a sucker for stunning scenery so the Canadian rockies, Niseko in Japan with Mt Yotei, the Matterhorn above Zermatt and the Scottish west coast from the Nevis Range are all phenomenal. But I like the saying a great ski film maker Warren Miller repeated, “the best run is your next run” wherever you are. That’s very true.

What is your most memorable moment in the mountains so far?

That would be 1986 in Aviemore, Scotland, on a college ski trip I organised. We couldn’t afford lift passes so my new girlfriend and wife-to-be Sally stood on the back of my skis as I slid down a gentle slope. That shaped my whole life.

• Around The World in 50 Slopes by Patrick Thorne is available now in bookshops and online; £16.99

Patrick ‘The Snow Hunter’ Thorne

FOOD & DRINK

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

New season of residencies at Kitchen by

KASK

Kitchen by KASK has announced a brand new line-up of dates that should be in every food-lover’s diary. Taking over the kitchen at the new North Street location, expect unbelievable flavours from some of Bristol’s best chefs, complemented with drinks chosen by the KASK team to perfectly pair with the food.

The new line up includes takeovers by street-food favourites The Cheese Guys, Peckers, King Fin and Fat Rice. Kicking off the season, Old Market’s popular restaurant Tomo No Ramen will be heading south of the river to create a temporary second-outpost until 4 February, serving up their banging-bowls of ramen combining local ingredients with traditional techniques in the casually-cool setting of the neon-clad dining area.

The Cheese Guys will be taking up residency between 9 –19 February, serving up a variety of dishes, both sweet and savoury, all centred around the hero of the night –cheese. With special Raclette evenings on Thursdays and a weekend/Sunday brunch menu (think brioche French toast with whipped ricotta, aubergine shakshuka and croque madame).

• Book a table at: kaskwine.co.uk

Aqua Grand Café opens its doors

The Aqua Grand Café is opening on Whiteladies Road on 6 February, with reservations now open. Book to reserve your table and experience a magical memory, as the team takes you through a journey of exquisite service, classical French cuisine with beautiful ambiance.

From early morning breakfasts with papers, to a bit of theatre at the tables with our head waiters filleting the finest of fishes such as dover sole meunière or the king of fish –a classic turbot. Why not unwind with a cocktail in the new cocktail lounge bar to take in the atmosphere...

• For more information, visit: aquagrandcafe.com

Critically acclaimed chef launches new restaurant

This month, West Country Chef Sebastian Merry is launching an exciting new concept restaurant on Whiteladies Road, fusing classical cooking with South East Asian influences and a playful take on traditional fine dining.

Situated at the site previously occupied by Flipside cocktail bar, A.B.O.E (which stands for A Bit Of Everything) will showcase Seb’s vast experience in the culinary world, fused with his passion for sustainability, locally sourced produce and a groundbreaking belief that outstanding food shouldn’t just be reserved for the world of fine dining and Michelin stars.

Having grown up just outside of Bristol, Seb’s love of food started at an early age, cooking with his grandmother, before making the move into professional kitchens at just 18. After competing in MasterChef: TheProfessionals, he moved to London, then France, working in one, two and three Michelin-star restaurants before spending five years as Head Chef at one of Mayfair’s best restaurants. His impressive resumé continued with a year as Head Chef at Sheer Rocks in Antigua, widely renowned as the best restaurant in the Caribbean, before a stint as private chef on a super yacht.

The menu at A.B.O.E will showcase Seb’s classical culinary training with a huge focus on championing local, seasonal produce.

• A.B.O.E will open in mid-February. Customers can register to be the first in the know by signing up to A.B.O.E’s newsletter at: aboebristol.com

Circumstance Distillery’s auction raises money for charity

Circumstance Distillery has auctioned bottle number two of its inaugural whisky release to raise funds for Shelter, with all proceeds going towards providing vital services and resources for those experiencing homelessness in our community. Bidders competed for the chance to own a piece of Bristol whisky history. The auction raised £350 for the charity, a vital contribution to their ongoing efforts to combat homelessness in Bristol.

A representative at Shelter said: “We are thrilled that the auction was able to raise such a substantial amount,” said a Shelter representative, “£15 could pay for a web chat for someone tackling homelessness, £20 could pay for a call to our helpline, £100 could pay for for face to face chats with an advisor. The money raised will be put to very good use.”

• circumstancedistillery.com; england.shelter.org.uk

WINTER DINING

Enjoy our new Winter Dining 3 course menu in partnership with St-Germain Spritz

Specially designed by our chefs to showcase the best in seasonal produce, the new menu has been specially created to be enjoyed with a St-Germain Spritz.

Starters include Fish and Potato Croquettes with Aioli, or Artichoke Salad with Pear and Serrano Ham, whilst Seared Hake with Masala Spiced Lentils and Roast Leg of Guinea Fowl are two of the mains on offer. Vanilla Panna Cotta and Chocolate Crème Brulee feature on the dessert menu.

The Winter Dining menu is available until Friday 31 March

Three courses for £28 per person served with a St-Germain Spritz. Wednesday – Saturday, 12pm – 3pm and 6pm – 10pm

To book: email: reception.bristol@harveynichols.com or scan the QR code to book online

Page to screen

It’s the Age Old Debate: can the film ever be as good as the book? Whether you’re a die-hard-book-believer, or a silver-screen-supporter, Daisy Game gathers together a selection of 2023’s best page to screen adaptations...

Hold onto your popcorn, people –Hollywood’s Coolest Couple (not up for debate) have had a crack at adapting Don DeLillo’s White Noise. Noah Baumbach (directing) and Greta Gerwig’s (starring) latest flick has divided audiences; Literary Hub celebrate White Noise as “vibrant, unafraid and compelling”, whilst to The Guardian, it’s of the more “laboriously quirky” variety. Story and dialogue are certainly dense, and with plot points including an ‘airborn toxic event’ and a supermarket dance-off, there’s plenty to chew on –you just may need a break or three in order to enjoy the full meal. But White Noise, curious as it may be, is worth a watch – if only for Gerwig’s excellent wig. netflix.com

Elena Ferrante’s The Lying Life of Adults throws its audience through a loop of the less confusing, more cerebral kind. The Italian author’s (relatively streamlined, by comparison to her Neopolitan tomes) coming-of-age tells the story of Giovanna Trada, whose life takes a turn for the strange after she overhears the beautiful Mr and Mrs Trada discussing how ‘ugly’ their

daughter has become. Ferrante has been doing pretty well for herself –whoever ‘herself’ may be: the Italian novelist’s identity remains a mystery –in the page-to-screen department. Picked up by Sky back in 2018, the writer’s Neapolitan novels kicked off a cultish craze for all things Elena; Netflix were next to bite-the-bait, assembling a trendy team (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Olivia Coleman, Paul Mescal) for its critically acclaimed adaptation of The Lost Daughter (2022); now, it’s the turn of Adults –and once again, the goods have been delivered. The series is incredibly stylish – from cinematography, to wardrobe, to toe-tapping soundtrack – and ohso-Ferrante (light, carefree conversation –begone). This is beautiful, absorbing television. Streaming now on netflix.com

Let’s hear it for Netflix! The streaming service turned megamovie-churner-outer is dominating the adaptation game, having recently bagged production rights for Guillermo Del Toro’s stop motion animation, Pinocchio (the original story for which comes from Italian author Carlo Collodi’s novel of the same name). As is the Del Toro way,

Pinocchio sports a strong political backbone; set

The notoriously ‘unfilmable’ White Noise, starring Adam Driver | Wilson Webb/Netflix. RIGHT: White Noise, Pan Macmillan, £9.99

against the backdrop of Facist Italy during the interwar and Second World War periods, the Oscar winning director’s latest features some fairly unsavoury characters and plot points beneath its more family-friendly exterior. It’s not scary, exactly, but it is unsettling –and strangely moving. Pinocchio is a story about life, love, identity –and the little power that we have over any of them. Streaming now on netflix.com

From Facism to Fleetwood (Mac), Amazon Studios is giving

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & the Six a Hollywood makeover. Jones’ best-seller documents the journey of a rock ‘n’ roll outfit from the ‘70s (thought to be based on Fleetwood Mac) as they rise to fame on the LA music scene –before crashing back down again. The first-look pictures are fabulous; Sam Claflin and Suki Waterhouse lounging about in bell-bottoms and bigger-thanbig hair seems like a sensible thing to get excited about. Daisy Jones & the Six will arrive on Amazon Prime on 3 March. amazon.co.uk/amazonprime

Reid’s isn’t the only tuneful adaptation to hit screens this year; perhaps the most hotly anticipated of all 2023 adaptations, Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is getting a musical reboot –with none other than American icon/institution Oprah Winfrey at its helm. The Pulitzer prize-winning novel tells the story of Celie, a young black girl born in the deep American South to a life of segregation and poverty; but when Celie meets glamorous and headstrong singer Shug Avery, things take an unexpected turn. Oprah is no stranger to Walker’s text, having starred in Steven Spielberg’s first screen adaptation of the novel back in 1985. The 2023 version will be directed by Blitz Bazawule –and Spielberg returns to help out on the production side of things. The Color Purple arrives in cinemas

on 20 December. Time enough for a re-read, then. n

Daisy Jones & The Six, starring Sam Claflin (right) and model-turnedactress, Suki Waterhouse (middle) | Lacey Terrell/Prime Video. RIGHT: Daisy Jones & The Six, Cornerstone, £8.99

The Lying Life of Adults: the third Ferrante to be adapted for screen | Eduardo Castaldo/Netflix.

RIGHT: The Lying Life of Adults, Europa, £8.99

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio –(L-R) Gepetto (voiced by David Bradley) and Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann) | Netflix © 2022

What to read next?

The brilliant team at GloucesterRoadBooks let us in on some of the best –and most anticipated –books of the year so far...

Anote from the team: “Our primary aim is that the shop be a fascinating place to explore. Some of the subject sections are a little broader than they might be elsewhere –for instance our ‘Time and Place’ section encompasses books on History, Travel Literature, Geography and Reportage. We also have a significant focus on titles published by small independent presses. There are lots of really brilliant small publishers putting out incredibly exciting books, and we want to help get these out into the world. The stock is carefully chosen and constantly changing, so even if you pop in every week there will always be new books to find.”

Visit Gloucester Road Books’ website: gloucesterroadbooks.com. Follow them on Instagram: gloucester_rd_books and browse the collection in store: 184 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NU. Open Monday –Tuesday 9.30am –5pm; Wednesday –Saturday 9.30am –6pm

What July Knew by Emily Koch.

Published by Harvill Secker and released on 9 February

The third novel from Bristolbased Emily Koch is set squarely in the middle of the 90s and is guaranteed to deliver era nostalgia as well as suspense! Ten-year-old July knows she lost her mother to a car crash when she was very young, but a cryptic note slipped into her bag has left her questioning what really happened.

Victory City

by Salman Rushdie.

Published by Jonathan Cape and released on 9 February

In fourteenth-century southern India, a young girl is visited by the goddess Parvati and tasked with a vital role in bringing about the rise of a great city, called Bisnaga –‘Victory City’. The girl’s life becomes intertwined with that of the fabled city, but fate can be fickle, and stories change...

Brutes by Dizz Tate. Published by Faber and released on 2 February

One of the most anticipated debut novels of 2023, Dizz Tate’s Brutes is a striking and tense experience. Set in Florida, it recounts the aftermath of the disappearance of the local preacher’s daughter on the local community, seen through the eyes of a group of teenage girls. Mesmerising and ambitious, Brutes confirms Tate’s soaring storytelling talent; evident when she won the 2018 Bristol Short Story Prize.

We’ll be welcoming Dizz Tate to the shop on 10 February at 7pm to discuss Brutes with our own Joe Melia.

The Private Lives of Trees by Alejandro Zambra - translated by Megan McDowell. Published by Fitzcarraldo Editions and released on 7 February

Zambra is a master of doing lots with very little. Here he gives us a man waiting with his young step-daughter for his wife to return home one evening, exploring his memories and his choices, and thinking about how the story of a life is constructed. Warm, clever and charming, this is consummate storytelling from a brilliant Chilean writer.

Still Pictures: On Photography and Memory by Janet Malcolm. Published by Granta Books and released on 2 February

This is a posthumous memoir by journalist and critic Janet Malcolm who died in 2021. Malcolm weaves her story around a selection of photographic snapshots depicting her family fleeing the Holocaust to their new life as Czech refugees in a Manhattan enclave, and also encompassing her experiences working as a critic and journalist in New York. In this brief and final book, Malcolm further explores her life-long interest on themes of memory and the complexity of autobiographical writing.

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• Deluxe sea view room B/B £675 per couple inclusive Selected dates apply.

The Watersmeet Hotel in Woolacombe, a four star hotel on the water’s edge. Indoor and outdoor pool & spa. Two restaurants to include a bistro and a fine dining option, both with stunning sea views.

Package - 3 nights’ Explore the coastal footpaths on our doorstep.

Creative futures

The mission of Bristol + Bath Creative R+D has been to bring together creative networks in Bristol and Bath to forge connections, share knowledge, create opportunities and drive innovation. As the project nears its conclusion, Emma Clegg asks its director Jon Dovey what has been achieved...

Bristol + Bath Creative R+D is a £6.8 million collaboration designed to raise the bar for the region’s creative industries. With funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the five-year programme, running from 2018 –2023, has aimed to forge connections and partnerships in Bristol and Bath, sharing knowledge, creating crossovers and even greater opportunities in what’s already one of the most vibrant clusters in the UK.

The cluster incorporates Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire, an area represented by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). The size of the creative industries sector in this region is significant – including 7,000 business and 50,000 people in work – making around £2 billion for the regional economy, and it is one of WECA’s key economic development areas.

Jon Dovey, Director of Bristol + Bath Creative R+D and Professor of Screen Media at UWE Bristol, breaks this down: “Creative industries are full of small companies dotted all over the place, many with as few as 4 –12 people. They don’t have the visibility that more traditional industries have, so we wanted to aggregate those companies, and give them a network for working together.”

This collaboration between UWE Bristol, Bath Spa University, the University of Bath, the University of Bristol and digital creativity centre Watershed is the first-ever involving all four universities.

“The project began with three questions: how best to ensure inclusion and diversity? What were the future technologies that would make a difference, and what are the new ways to reach audiences in the future?” explains Jon. The next stage was to ask new businesses about the things they were working on that would benefit from research.

Jon says that academic research is more connected than it was: “Over the last 10 years we’ve been led towards a different kind of research where we work with partners all the time. Our region is already recognised outside London as an important national centre for this kind of work, which universities can support. This money and this R&D (research and development) project allows us to create a little experimental corner of that landscape.

“UWE, for instance, is a partner with Watershed, the Arnolfini and Spike Island, and its campus is a crucial part of supporting the city’s cultural offering and developing relationships with important creative businesses in the city. Our arts faculty is a big part of our teaching offer as well, so as arts and technology move closer and closer

together it makes sense for us to develop those kinds of relationships with business partners who are at the cutting edge – frequently more so than we are, because they are in the market and have to respond quickly to what’s coming up.

Bristol + Bath Creative R+D: how it worked

The project focused on five Pathfinders, representing blocks of R&D investment. “Each one linked to a particular type of creative industry, and each had a group of people –from industry partners to academics –who we funded to go away and think, talk, research and come up with new ideas. And we used that to put out a call for prototype projects.”

Once funding was agreed with a company, a producer was assigned and they would work with the teams, acting as a sounding board, chasing the process, being an inspiration and a connector. “We want this money to be the start of this journey, not the end of it. We want to support the companies to develop their market offer, get further investment, and achieve the greatest success,” says Jon.

Achieving inclusivity was crucial, because creative and technology industries aren’t known for their social diversity. “If you look at where the creative industries and creative technologies meet – degree level education, usually white, often male – it’s very prescriptive. We ran a project, Creative Workforce of the Future, where we got money from WECA and we gave placements to people from different backgrounds,

Lost Horizon | Photography by Jon Aitken

and talked to companies about inclusion and what it meant.

“We learnt that offering, say, £50K to a company was quite a lot of money for a new start-up, so we started the Trailblazer Fund, which focused on awards of between £5K and 10K. This allowed us to make lots of smaller investments, to respond to different kinds of people less established in the industry, and to spread our resources more widely.”

Another Pathfinder, Here + There, aimed to find new ways of creative set-ups working internationally. “Immersive theatre company Raucous is a great example,” says Jon. “They partnered with a Canadian company and came up with a story about a women whaler who lives in a lighthouse in the middle of the Atlantic. It’s regional, but it’s also global because it’s about whales and ecology, and it didn’t involve getting on a plane, and the performance happened in real time and online. So they pioneered a new form of global entertainment in performance, as well as working on their sustainability imperative. It’s important to have the confidence to know that we don’t have to connect internationally via London. We can go directly from local to global.”

Bristol and Bath: an effective collaboration

How have the respective projects fitted within Bath and Bristol? “I’d say the work we have commissioned has reflected each city’s characteristics. Connectivity between the creative industries and

universities in Bristol was already quite well developed, but at the same time Bath has particular strengths that fitted well with many of our projects and the two cities have amazing complementary offerings. The Pathfinder on Amplified Publishing, which considered all the ways content is being produced, was very much driven by the Bath community because the publishing industry has a strong history there.

Bristol and Bath are two different cities united by a combined authority, but Jon says it’s crucial to work together. “The WECA development and their strategic role in the development of the region means we need more of a combined offer between the two cities because that is one of our routes into government, routes into policy,” says Jon.

Looking ahead, Jon is optimistic: “We have an inventive, innovative creative environment and that will carry on manifesting itself as young people come out of the creative education system. The involvement of the universities, the city and WECA with the creative industries isn’t going to stop. The University of Bristol has a £30 million project called My World where they are working with similar partners and developmental goals and that conversation will carry on. I’m confident that the future development of the creative industries in our region will continue to grow. This is an exciting area that has a lot of potential.”

• bristolbathcreative.org

“We have an inventive, innovative creative environment and that will carry on manifesting itself as young people come out of the creative education system...”

VILK COLLECTIVE

At its core Bristol based Vilk Collective are creative duo Roxana and Peter Vilk, both musicians and award-winning filmmakers, who met in Bosnia just after the war. Conflict was a backdrop to both their childhoods. Roxana grew up in Iran and her family fled when the Iran/Iraq war started. Pete was born in London but his parents grew up in the old Czechoslovakia and fled when the Russian tanks invaded in 1968.

At the heart of their artistic approach is collaboration, and they have created works globally with a variety of communities, organisations and artists. The themes of heritage, identity and migration are often central to their work. Most recently, they received prototype funding from Bristol+Bath Creative R+D to work with renowned installation artists Squidsoup. They spent research time at Trinity Centre in Bristol (where Roxana was Associate Artist) exploring spatialised sound composition.

They experimented with the AudioWave technology, working to fuse Squidsoup’s expertise of creating sound and light artworks, with the live performance and compositional skills of Vilk Collective. Out of these new approaches they co-created a new immersive piece of work called Circle/دایره. This intimate live performance combines original music, mesmerising lights and unique choreography, exploring themes of identity and migration. The audience is invited to experience the piece live in the moment and they can be anywhere around the circle. Focus can be switched from the live music, to the light and sound of the Orbs, the movement of the live dancers and the synergy between them. They have performed sold out shows of Circle/دایره at Trinity Centre, Egg Theatre Bath, Bristol Beacon and Arnoflini Bristol.

• Vilk Collective is touring the show to St Mary’s Fratton, Barbican Plymouth and Freedom Festival Hull. If you are interested in finding out more, contact: roxana@vilkcollective.com

BRISTOL IDEAS: HERE + THERE

“Since 1995, Bristol Ideas have run 2,000 Festival of Ideas events, published 10 books, organised specialist regular festivals on economics and the future of cities, and created and managed a festival devoted to city films,” explains Andrew Kelly, Creative Programmer at Bristol Ideas.

“Central to our work has been looking for solutions to the challenges we face. These challenges are international in scale and the ideas for the solutions we need will come from many places.

“I’ve always wanted to bring together an international ideas festival to help with this search. The Here + There funding from Bristol + Bath R+D provided a great opportunity to start on this and we grasped it fully.

RAUCOUS

Raucous is a female-led immersive company that melds live performance, digital technology, projection mapping, film, AI, binaural sound, AR, scent, music and film to create uniquely immersive, sensory experiences. They have mounted two large-scale shows in Bristol; The Stick House in 2015 and Ice Road in 2017, and last year produced a binaural online experience, The Prick & The Sting.

Raucous also works as an R&D hub, investigating new ways of working that they share with the industry and sew into their work.

During the pandemic, Raucous developed a relationship with Canadian immersive theatre company, Lost & Gone. Both companies are interested in durational storytelling, where the story starts before the show and continues afterwards, and together they developed the idea of a simultaneous transAtlantic production, The Lantern Room. In this, despite the time difference, the audience will affect the storytelling in the other city.

Raucous’ work explores what theatre can become when live performance meets digital technology. Thanks to funding from Bristol + Bath Creative R+D and ACE, Raucous has been able to build a new immersive story that they could test using live performance, bone-conducting technology, augmented reality and binaural sound to build the rich, visceral story world of a female whaler.

Sharon Clark, Creative Director at Raucous, said: “This funding has enabled us to push our work further creatively and allowed us to connect our work with international colleagues. We have been able to explore how theatre audiences in Canada and the UK can be part of the same immersive experience even though an ocean separates them.”

• raucous.org.uk

“We worked with Aké Arts and Book Festival in Lagos and Toronto International Festival of Authors in Canada. Much of the work was R&D – which will pay many dividends in the years to come – but we wanted to show also the potential of working together with new work. 2022 was the centenary of T S Eliot’s great poem The Waste Land and we used this in our work as the parallels of the poem – which came out of war and crisis and a pandemic – are depressingly like today.

“We challenged 12 poets, four from Canada, four from Nigeria and four from the UK, to write poetry responding to The Waste Land. All 12 poems were published online, in a special zine designed by Grace Kress, in print in Aké Review, and presented live and digitally in our three cities.” n

• bristolideas.co.uk

Caro Sealey Circle, Vilk Collective, Squid Soup

Photography by Jon Aitken

BRISTOL UPDATES

NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Whiteladies Road flagship shop seeks volunteers

St Peter’s Hospice is a local charity that provides care and support to adults who are living with a progressive lifelimiting illness in Bristol. Everyone with a life limiting illness deserves access to the best possible care and to live their final days with dignity. Every year St Peter’s Hospice makes a difference to the lives of thousands of patients and their families when it matters most.

This March, St Peter’s is opening a new flagship shop on Whiteladies Road and is looking for people to join their volunteer team.

There are opportunities for volunteers on the shop floor and stock room. All roles are flexible to work around your lifestyle and all offer a chance to form friendships, build confidence, and most importantly, support the local hospice and give back to your community.

• If this sounds like your cup of tea, then visit the volunteering page on the website: stpetershospice.org, or drop into the Blackboy Hill shop at 154 Whiteladies Road to find out more

‘Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week’ participant visits Redmaids’ High School

Junior School pupils at Redmaids’ High School finished the first week of term on a real high with a visit from real-life adventurer and ‘Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week’ participant Katy Parrott.

Katy’s visit was part of the pupils’ first ‘Wow day’ of the year, where they spent the day learning all about explorers through a series of fun challenges including orienteering, taking blindfolded directions, learning about French and English compass points, and planning their own expeditions.

A former Redmaid herself, Katy kicked off the day delivering a truly inspiring talk about her stories of survival and brave adventures from her travels around the world. From high altitude mountaineering to Ironman triathlons, Katy had a captive audience as she shared some of her incredible achievements. She encouraged the girls to explore not only different places, by taking the opportunity to travel and experience different countries, but also to explore themselves – testing their limits, trying new things, and pursuing the things that excite them.

The final challenge of the day ended with pupils taking part in a fun-filled ‘Staff adventures’ quiz where they were asked to try and match the type of real-life adventure with the member of staff. To the surprise and delight of the pupils, adventures ranged from completing a two-day mountain marathon in the Lake District, sea kayaking and camping in Sweden, to taking a helicopter to the top of a glacier and snowboarding down it! It was a hugely successful and enjoyable day for pupils and staff alike, made even more special by Katy’s visit.

• redmaidshigh.co.uk

Enjoy a getaway at Bluestone National Park in Pembrokeshire,

If you're looking for a getaway that offers something a little bit different, try Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire on the south westerly coast of Wales. Nestled in 500-acres of rolling countryside, and within 20 minutes of Pembrokeshire’s National Park coastline, Bluestone is a place off the beaten track where you can turn your family staycation dreams into a reality. The luxury accommodation offers you the space to relax away from the world. Bluestone's resort has miles of private walking and cycle tracks through ancient woodland, along with adventurous activities for all ages, including a subtropical water park, a lake for water sports, and an awardwinning spa for those that prefer a little relaxation.

The luxury accommodation offers you the space to relax away from the world, with brand-new Platinum lodges.

• Book now at: bluestonewales.com

BRISTOL UPDATES

UoB graduate and activist picks up 360kg of rubbish during 30-city UK 'plogging' challenge

An Indian environmentalist, and local volunteers who came out to support him, picked up 360kg of rubbish during a 30-day, 30-city ‘plogging’ tour of the UK.

Vivek Gurav, who graduated from his MSc in Environmental Policy and Management at the University of Bristol in November, wanted to spread awareness of plogging – that's littler picking and jogging – and help others start their own plogging groups.

The 27-year-old began plogging in his home city of Pune, western India, where he and his many volunteers have picked up 1,000 tonnes (1million kg) of litter over the past five years.

He brought his enthusiasm for plogging to the UK in 2021, when he left India for the first time to take up a scholarship at the University of Bristol. His plogging group has since become a common sight in the city.

In December, he decided to take the show on the road, visiting 30 UK cities in 30 days. Along the way, more than 250 local volunteers joined him, helping to collect 360kg of litter. Recycling the rubbish will save around 500kg of CO2 emissions.

His 1,500 mile tour of the UK, using public transport, included visits to Wolverhampton, Manchester, Stoke, Leeds, Liverpool, Lincoln and London.

During his time in the UK, Vivek was given a Points of Light Award by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, visited No 10 on the invitation of current PM Rishi Sunak and spoke at COY17, the youth version of COP.

He is now working for a UK environmental consultancy while continuing his plogging runs. Vivek plans to use the skills he has learnt in the UK to help make India more sustainable.

• bristol.ac.uk

Nominate your local heroes!

BBC Local Radio is once again honouring your great neighbours, super carers, and awesome volunteers for everyday acts of kindness where they live.

For this year’s ‘Make A Difference Awards’ every local BBC radio station across England needs your help to find these remarkable individuals. They want to hear about the amazing people who have positively impacted communities over the past year.

‘Make A Difference’ was established days after the first lockdown was announced in 2020. It is a virtual notice board where members of the public can offer help to or seek support from people in their local area. To date, nearly 11 million people have interacted across all 39 local BBC radio stations.

There are eight award categories that cover the unsung heroes of every community, including a new one this year – Bravery. The nominations close on Sunday 5 March at 11pm.

The winners will be announced at the Make a Difference Awards Ceremonies hosted by local BBC radio stations up and down the country in September.

• For a full list of categories –and details of how to nominate someone –go to: bbc.co.uk/makeadifference

Inner city would-be explorers wanted for high arctic waters ocean expedition

Internationally renowned explorer, Jim McNeill, veteran of more than 30 years of polar exploration and expeditions, is seeking up to 10 would-be explorers from inner cities areas across the UK, including Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and Gloucester, to join his latest polar-bound endeavour, #Resolute Expedition.

The lucky 10 will join 134 other aspiring explorers on the Ocean Warrior Project, which is undertaking a marine expedition to gauge the pulse of the planet and the health of the oceans, in a life-changing citizen science voyage from Plymouth to Resolute Bay, High Arctic Canada, and back again.

The 10, who will be hand-selected and personally funded by Jim, will join the broader Ocean Warrior Project crew, made up of individuals who will either selffund or fundraise to secure their place on the scientifically significant #Resolute Expedition.

Departing in June, on board Europe’s largest threemasted wooden schooner, SV Linden, itself modelled on a ship of the same name from the 1920s, the not-forprofit expedition has eight legs on its 10,000 nautical mile voyage.

Supported by Patron Tracy Edwards, the worldrenowned yachtswoman, who skippered the first allfemale crew to sail around the world, Jim is hoping to attract a broad gender representation on the trip.

Requiring no previous experience, all funded Ocean Warrior Project participants will need to sign up for Warrior Selection before the end of February. Aspiring explorers will need to show initiative, resilience, tenacity, and good humour, all of which will be tested during a series of challenges on a pre-selection weekend held in February.

• To find out more information about Ocean Warrior Project, the #Resolute Expedition and its selection process, visit: warrior-ocean.com

FANTASTIC MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES FOR 2023

To celebrate our award-winning ‘Best Boutique Spa of the Year’, we are launching a new Lifestyle Membership for 2023.

The membership brings together the very best in-person and online spa, fitness and hotel experiences into one accessible and super value monthly membership.

For £95 a month, you 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 our award-winning Curious Kitchen, to be enjoyed during the year. There are also two Taster Spa treatments per annum, so our members can experience a stress-busting massage or rejuvenating facial from Aztec’s highly trained therapists at no extra cost.

What’s included in our membership:

•Full access to the Aztec gym, pool and thermal experiences

•Online classes through the MyWellness app.

•25% Discount in the hotels

•Monthly nutritional meal plan

•12 Guest Passes per annum

•2x Taster Spa treatments per annum

•Fitness review every quarter

•1x Sunday night getaway for two per annum

•1x Dinner in restaurant for two per annum

•Towels and hot drinks provided

The New Relax Lounge

Our guests are invited to retire to the comfort of stunning new lounge beds after their treatment, or what about enjoying a manicure or pedicure at the new stations, created for maximum relaxation. The Aztec team recommend making sure guests take time out to unwind after their treatments, to ensure they get the maximum benefits from the oils. And, while in The Relax Lounge, you can sample herbal teas, infused waters and tasty treats, cocktails and fizz are also available for those in search of serious pampering.

The Aztec Spa & Treatments

Our spa journey is created to leave every guest feeling special and truly relaxed, you can enjoy the beautiful sauna, hot tub, steam room and both our spa pool and swimming pool. Robes and slippers are provided on arrival. The treatment menu is comprised of experiences to induce the mind and body into perfect levels of relaxation. There are a number of exquisite Caudalie spa treatments, using natural ingredients from the vines and grapes from the family Caudalie vineyard. And new for 2022 is a wonderful signature treatment menu of Temple Spa treatments dedicated to the body, offering simplified wellness at its very best.

There are four treatment rooms designed for maximum relaxation, with a bespoke nail station created to offer the highest comfort. For those who have booked a treatment, an online consultation will be sent to before arrival, helping to guide the therapist when tailoring the treatment so it can be bespoke to every individual’s lifestyle, stress levels, any skin issues and previous treatments.

OUR SPA TREATMENTS

Caudalie Signature Treatments

Wellness Back of Body Experience. 40 mins. £58

Caudalie Back, Face & Scalp Treatment. 1 hr 25 mins. £95

Caudalie Ultimate Face & Body Experience. 1 hr 55 mins. £120

Facial Care

Resveratrol Facial. 55 mins. £75

Premier Cru Facial. 55 mins £79

Personal Touch Facial. 55 mins. £72

Body Rituals

Full Body Massage, (Wavestone add on £10). 55 mins. £72

Crushed Cabernet Back Treatment. 55 mins. £72

Relaxing & Nourishing Body Wrap. 55 mins. £72

Designed For You

Caudalie Pre-Natal Massage. 55 mins. £72

Caudalie Winemakers Massage. 55 mins. £75

Fleur de Vigne Candle Massage. 55 mins. £72

Taste of Wellness Treatments

Choose from... 25 mins. £45.

The Des Vignes Back Massage, Cranial Massage, D-Vine Facial, Foot Ritual or Crushed Cabernet Body Scrub.

Wax/Tint Sessions

Eyebrow Wax or Tint. 10 mins. £12 Lip. 10 mins. £12

Underarm. 10 mins. £12

Classic Bikini. 10 mins. £12

Lash Tint. 25 mins. £25

Half Leg. 25 mins. £25

Extended Classic Bikini. 25 mins. £25

Arm, Chest or Back. 25 mins. £25

Intimate Wax - Please Enquire Nails

File & Gel (Non-gel £28). 40 mins. £35

Gel Spa Manicure (Non-gel £40). 40 mins. £45

Gel Spa Pedicure (Non-gel £45). 55 mins. £49

Removal. 25 mins. £10

(Only available if applied or having a new set with us)

Please note there is a £5 weekend supplement per treatment

Aztec Hotel & Spa

Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4TS

www.aztechotelbristol.co.uk

For more information call 01454 201090 spa@aztechotelbristol.co.uk

ENJOY A

WEEKDAY WELLNESS SPA DAY

Enjoy full use of the Spa facilities. The Weekday Wellness Spa Day also includes aftrenoon tea and 25% off any treatment!*

Available Monday - Wednesday 10am –3pm. £40 per person

*T&Cs apply

BEAUTY

Beauty treats

Keeping your finger on the beauty pulse just got easier thanks to the new edit curated by Harvey Nichols Bristol. Featuring limited edition luxuries and soon to be staples, take your pick of the latest beauty to drop. All products are available from Harvey Nichols Bristol or harveynichols.com...

OUAI, £32

OUAI’s gentle shampoo with salicylic acid helps reduce flaking, itching, and irritation associated with dandruff while leaving hair feeling clean and soft.

FENTY BEAUTY, Icon Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick, £18

The semi-matte, creamy formula hugs lips with a smooth, plush texture and lasting iconic wear.

Harvey Nichols Beauty Wellness Box, £85

Harvey Nichols’ new Wellness Beauty Box has been carefully curated by their expert beauty buyers, and contains 12 products worth of over £300. The impressive line up also includes four fullsized products from Kate Somerville, Sunday Riley, OTO and Neom. Limited time only –grab it while you can!

TOM FORD, Noir Extreme Parfum, £165

An intensification of the original Noir Extreme scent, Noir Extreme Parfum breathes a heightened concentration of spicy cardamom, spiked with the warmth of Shimoga Ginger and the rich sensuality of tonka bean and guaiacwood.

SHAVATA SINGH, Day Long Tint, £21

The Day Long Brow Tint will take you from desk to disco. This revolutionary tinting pen, glides easily over your brow to coat each hair.

DR. DENNIS GROSS

SKINCARE, Vitamin C + Lactic Oil-Free Radiant Moisturizer, £74

Loaded with three forms of vitamin C that’s combined with lactic acid, this moisturiser works to increase absorption and enhance performance to improve visible signs of aging and to dramatically brighten and hydrate skin.

PATCHOLOGY, Rose Fingers Renew Hand Mask, £10

Infused with the scent of sparkling wine, Patchology's rose gold mittens are the chicest way to hydrate your hands. Slip them on for ten pamper-filled minutes, and let their rich, creamy lining of age-defying Resveratrol, moisturising Strawberry Oil, and softening Shea Butter serve exactly what your skin needs – renewal.

Versa-tile style

It’s here – 2023 and a whole army of trends to sit up straight and duly pay attention to,” says Ca’ Pietra’s Head of Creative Grazziella Wilson. “So, if you’re a sucker for having the single most stylish interior on the block, if you want to cover your home in the colour that everyone’s applauding, or even if you’re the timeless sort who just likes to pepper a bit of trend here and there, buckle up.” We speak to some of the city’s favourite tiling experts to discover the latest looks to welcome into your home...

Bamboo Lustre Porcelain Mosaic Satin Avocado by Ca' Pietra

Maldives Lagoon and Reform Aqu aby Ca' Pietra

Credit: BC Designs Copper Bath

California Peach and Reform Cotto and Salmon Pink by Ca' Pietra

Clarissa Hulse x Ca'Pietra Wild Botanicals Blue

Grazziella Wilson, Head of Creative at Ca’ Pietra

The so-right-now looks for the next twelve months are:

Stripes: Make Them Wavy and Straight

Circus stripes, pinstripes, candy stripes. Love. Them. All. And while we saw plenty of playful stripes across everything from tiles (hello Deck Chair tiles) to textiles in 2022, they’re not going anywhere fast. In fact, this year, expect to see them really make waves. Literally. One of 2023’s top trends are that stripes will take on a new undulating form, rippling their way across cushions, dancing their way down playful curtain trims, and waving back at you from rugs underfoot. We put it down to the celebrated scallop edge that took the worlds of furniture and fashion by storm, but whatever the muse, we’re lapping them up and loving even more when straight stripes meet waves in the same space.

Flawsome: The New Wabi-Sabi

With every year comes a new buzzword that we must: a) learn how to pronounce (we’re still not 100% confident on saying hygge out loud) and b) learn how to practice. This year’s interiors term is a little easier to get your brain around and preaches similar virtues to what the Japanese taught us with Wabi-Sabi…

Flawsome. As the name suggests, is all about the love of the handmade, the acceptance of imperfection and the thrill that comes with letting it all loose. The rejection of a pristine, polished, perfect interior is one that is more than just a look or a trend, it’s a mindset and a whole new way of living that we’re all for.

In tile speak? That means bring on that tumbled edge and love it for its unruliness. Embrace naturally imperfect stones. And fawn over finishes where the colour varies (slightly) from tile to tile because of the artisanal nature that makes them what they are – so very special.

Earth Song: Warm Brown Tones Are Back

There’s never just one colour trend to follow – far from it. Pantone tells us vivid magenta is the one to want for 2023. Other sources cite primary colours are the ones you’ll want to splash onto your walls. But the one colour on which the design world unites? Brown. Warm, earthy browns specifically – those that will make your shoulders drop, help your mind unwind and cocoon you like a chocolate advert (or better still, chocolate bar) does.

As the story usually goes, fashion cottoned onto brown first and now our interiors are following suit. Restful, earth tones have been the grounding go-to for many of us over the past few turbulent years but now we’re beginning to find our feet again, deep and bold tones feel

favourable again. Brown leads us into bolder colour choices but still with the feeling of safety and steadiness. If the deepest browns feel too far, however, consider a putty brown like the Sand tone of our Brasserie Mosaic tiles, hints of varied browns in tiles like Milan Bronze Marble Mosaic or the nurturing hue of Edith’s Pampas. Want to step it up a notch? Look to plum and mustard.

The Med: We’re Talking Terracotta and Moorish Pattern

Why wouldn’t you want to have a taste of the Med every day of the week is the question? And why has it taken until 2023 for it to become one of the top looks to bring home is the other?

The love affair with terracotta – the colour and the material – is about to move up a gear as references to Mediterranean-inspired interiors takes off. The terracotta tile at the top of our list for doing so? Our new Marlborough Arabesque that gives you Moorish pattern via its shaping and sun-baked style via its terracotta nature. Or if you’re looking to nod to sunnier climes through your paint palette, acquaint yourself with the likes of Cassia’s Terracotta and Mable’s Kale. And for a pure Med pattern punch, try Cabana Algarve and Cuba Iberia.

Marble: But Make it Dramatic

Correct, marble isn’t ever really a material that falls out of favour. It’s one of those that transcends trends and is a mainstay for so many homes. But, marble does have its moments – the Deco trend that was all about marble paired with gleaming gold and rose gold being one of the biggest of all of late.

This year’s marble moment is set to be all about drama. Less Carrara and more mesmerising coloured stones like the jade green marble effect in our California tiles, the striking shades and shapes of our East Java collection, or the look-at-me veining of our honed marble Pantheon tiles and Marble Luxe collection.

How do you recommend using Reform tiles and what are the benefits of using recycled stone materials in terms of the design?

An ingenious blend of recycled stone materials made in a carbonneutral factory, Reform is highly durable and yet natural in effect. We adore this tile used indoors and out. Use it to add a natural and organic element to any design.

• See more at: thetileandbathroomwarehouse.com

California Porcelain Jade tiles by Ca' Pietra

Jungle tiles by Ca' Pietra

The Tile and Bathroom Warehouse is a proud supplier of Ca’ Pietra and showcases the market-leading collection at Bristol’s largest independent tile and bathroom showroom –located on Eldon Way in Brislington.

Ask the experts at Mandarin Stone:

What's the difference between ceramic and porcelain tiles?

Ceramic and porcelain are part of the same family and some often use the terms interchangeably. However, there are some important differences that affect how they can be used. They are made from different clays and porcelain is fired at higher temperatures. This means that porcelain has a much lower water absorption rate and is more dense and hard-wearing. While some ceramic tiles can be used on floors, they are mainly used as wall tiles. Porcelain can be used on walls and floors and also outdoors.

What is the best type of flooring if I have pets?

Hard flooring, including both stone and porcelain, is an ideal option if you have pets as unlike carpet, it can be easily cleaned by sweeping, vacuuming or mopping. It is also useful for temperature control being warm in the winter with under floor heating, while remaining cool in the summer. Tiled floors are easy to clean, they do not trap odours and are resilient to stains and hard to scratch. As with all flooring, tiles with more variation will be more forgiving underfoot than surfaces that are very plain.

Will tiled floors be cold in the winter? Can underfloor heating be used with them?

Stone and porcelain tiles are excellent conductors of heat so will hold onto heat and make the perfect option to use with underfloor or under-tile heating. By the same token, hard surfaces will have a cooling effect during our recent warm British summers.

Can floor tiling be a DIY job?

Yes, it can, the key is, as always, ‘measure twice, cut once’. The more prepared you are the smoother the job will go. Dry lay some tiles so that you can plan out any awkward cuts and distribute shades or patternation evenly. If laying a random mix of patterns, have an idea before you start to ensure you achieve your desired results. Nevertheless, depending on the size of the area, your knowledge and ability, it will be well worth getting an experienced fitter to lay your tiles. Choose someone who is experienced in laying hard floors. When purchasing tiles from Mandarin Stone a list of suggested fixers is available on request.

• mandarinstone.com

Monaco Porcelain Zellige and 2022 Sage Gloss Ceramic by Mandarin Stone

Cobana Gloss Porcelain, Rosso Tumbled Marble and Bluestone Tumbled Marble by Mandarin Stone

Colin Roby-Welford, Creative Director

at Fired Earth

Which tiles would go best with this year’s kitchen trends?

Today’s kitchens have a relaxed, timeless feel. As kitchens have become more open-plan, they’ve also become more eclectic –incorporating everything from dining furniture and sofas to bookshelves and artworks – and tiling reflects this trend. Here at Fired Earth, we’re noticing that customers are becoming more experimental with tiles, perhaps combining two or three colours on one wall, opting for bold geometric pattern or using layouts such as chevron and lattice designs as an alternative to classic brickbond formats. Our English Delft Charcoal tiles are also in keeping with the trend towards relaxed and eclectic kitchens, offering a fresh, contemporary take on traditional blue and white Delft designs.

What have been your best selling patterned tiles and what can these more vibrant styles add to a space?

From Moorish designs to classic Victorian motifs, geometric tiles have been gracing interiors for centuries. It’s this timelessness and sense of familiarity that means bold but simple designs are totally at home in every style of interior.

Ask the experts at Boniti:

Where in the house do wall tiles work well?

Where don’t they work well! We see decorative wall tiles used throughout the house, think fireplaces, boot rooms, and open wood burners. A little fireplace could be the perfect opportunity to add a pop of personality without taking over the whole room, or let your imagination run wild and use a woodland inspired tile in your boot room.

What are the popular tile styles at Boniti?

More and more over the last few months we have seen people move away from the glamourous polished tiles, and more towards earthy neutral tones, going for soft and warm over luxurious and opulent. You will be seeing a lot more Zellige-inspired tiles, bringing texture back into the home. Nature-inspired tile formats are also taking over. Look out for hexagon, leaf and scallop shape tiles.

Which tiles would best suit Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian houses?

We often find that many of our clients own Georgian properties, and while many choose to add a modern twist to their homes, a good few decide to maintain the houses heritage and install floors which are more in keeping with the original times.

It’s unlikely to find this style of floor in modern homes, but listed buildings, period properties and Georgian style houses

People can really make the designs their own, creating completely different effects with them, and this is one of the reasons for their appeal. For example, tiles such as those in Fired Earth’s encaustic Azores collection are a beautifully classic choice for hallway floors, creating a welcoming first impression, but the tiles can just as easily introduce a modern and architectural feel to living room walls and floors.

Similarly, the Urban tile collection and the latest Bert & May at Fired Earth ranges feature simple but striking motifs that can be styled in very different and creative ways to look stunning in traditional and contemporary interiors. The tiles are made from porcelain so they’re exceptionally low-maintenance and robust. They can even be used outdoors too, so they’re ideal for extending seamlessly from a kitchen onto a terrace. It’s this versatility and the fact that tiles like these are perfect for today’s homes that explains their popularity.

• firedearth.com

fantastically suit cabochon floors. The traditional design of a cabochon floor will typically feature classic black cabochon inserts and lighter tiles, which have been cut on the corners and are usually finished with tumbled or pillowed edges. This timeless style of floor is a popular choice for entrance halls but can be used in many different settings such as bathrooms or dining areas.

Original installations of cabochon floors tend to feature beautiful English Limestone’s such as Bath Stone, but a lot of clients tend to choose more cost effective options from places such as Egypt. Although white and black are the most common colour choices for this style of floor, many people choose alternative colours, shapes and sizes to create something truly individual.

• boniti.com

Portland Limestone in a Pillowed finish with Nero Cabochons by Boniti

Azores Tavira encaustic tiles by Fired Earth

South Cliff Lavender porcelain tiles by Fired Earth

In with the new

Every garden I visit as a designer offers different challenges. I see a lot of old, neglected gardens in need of renovation and rejuvenation, but at the other end of the spectrum I also see many gardens belonging to new-builds, which are total blank canvases. A typical new-build garden is levelled and turfed, perhaps with functional paving slabs at the entrance and exit points, and stark boundary fences to which the eye is immediately drawn. It amounts to an empty outdoor space rather than a garden, and this can seem overwhelming – particularly to first-time buyers who may never have owned a garden before. However, this offers the perfect opportunity to get creative.

With local governments having to fulfil quotas to meet the housing shortage, new housing estates seem to be popping up everywhere. Although many of these houses look the same from the outside, the gardens are spaces that can be made individual and personal, the chance to start from scratch and tailor it exactly to your needs with plants and materials that you have chosen. Although this can be a good time to call in the professionals, there are many things you can do yourself to get your garden underway.

One of the main challenges that most people want to tackle sooner rather than later is privacy, especially on new housing estates where space is at a premium and houses are built closely together. The maximum permitted height of a boundary fence is two metres, and most standard panels are 1.8m (six feet). A trellis fence topper could gain you a little more height and privacy, but be wary of just trying to raise the boundaries as a solution. New gardens, especially small gardens, can already feel very boxed in by the fences. Better to obscure

the boundaries with planting and create focal points within the space so your eye is not drawn straight to the neighbouring houses. Painting the fences a dark colour will help them to recede. Charcoal, black or dark olive-green make a good backdrop against which colourful flowers will pop. Fix up trellis or decorative panels, perhaps even an outdoor mirror, to break up an expanse of wooden fencing.

A carefully placed pergola can help to create a more secluded feel, particularly around a seating area, and is another visual obstruction between you and your neighbours. Quick-growing climbers such as honeysuckle, passion flower or evergreen Clematis armandii are ideal for covering bare fences or a new pergola or arch, providing screening and obscuring and softening the edges. Plant climbers at least 30cm away from the fence, or 45cm from a wall, to enable them to get enough moisture, and fix a simple system of vine eyes and wires between your fence posts to give the plants support.

Pleached trees are another option to give you more height and screening, if budget allows. These have a clear stem, usually to around fence height, then the branches are trained on a flat, square frame above. They may cost several hundred pounds each, bought at a good size and ready-trained, but make beautiful living screens and are ideal for small spaces, as they don't take up much border space.

Another common challenge with new-build gardens is the state of the ground. There may well be rubbish and rubble left behind, and the soil is often compacted and of poor quality. Once you’ve decided where your planted areas are going to be, it’s time to get digging. Remove any rubble and dig it over to at least a spade’s depth to break up compaction. Add in soil conditioner such as well-rotted manure as you

Elly West looks at how to create a garden perfectly tailored to your needs...

go to give your plants a really good start. Chipped bark makes a good mulch for your newly planted borders, as it helps to suppress weeds, looks nicer than bare soil and will improve the soil structure as it breaks down.

When planning a new garden, it makes sense to draw it out on paper. Often you will have a scale plan from the building company, which can save you having to measure it yourself. This is especially useful if it's an awkward shape. Look for ideas in magazines and on the internet, and gather images of things you like. Think about how you want to use the garden, whether you prefer to sit in sun or shade, and what time of day you are most likely to be outside enjoying the space. Decide on your long-term plants first, such as trees and hedges. Larger plants will have the most impact and make your garden feel established more quickly, but can be expensive. Another option is to choose tall grasses and plenty of flowering annuals such as cosmos and nigella for instant impact during your first summer, while shrubs and perennials are still getting established.

If you’re changing the hard landscaping, think about adding pathways so you can get around in all weathers without muddy feet. You may want to choose modern materials that tie in with the colours of the house. Or you may prefer to steer away from the ‘new’ look and go for recycled materials such as reclaimed brick or clay pavers and timber for a more traditional rustic look. Whatever your style, a new-build garden offers the perfect opportunity to start afresh and create the garden that is perfectly tailored to your needs. n

• ellyswellies.co.uk

Plant of the Month: Snowdrops

The first signs of spring bulbs pushing through frozen soil are always going to be an uplifting sight and a boost to our mood, which is why snowdrops are among my very favourite flowers at this time of year. Galanthus nivalis is our common snowdrop, although there are literally hundreds of cultivated varieties, including giant, double and rare yellow flowers. Most are typically white, with nodding heads marked with green on the inside. Plant them in drifts in a partially shaded site, such as under deciduous trees and shrubs, then leave them alone to form growing colonies. Overcrowding doesn’t bother them, and they will spread both by seed and underground bulb division. Best results are generally from planting ‘in the green’ – that is, after flowering and before the leaves die back – but they are readily available in pots in garden centres now ready to flower, or you can buy them as dry bulbs in autumn. Plant the bulbs as soon as possible though, as they are small and dry out quickly. Dig a hole that’s deeper than you might expect, around 10-15cm, and incorporate some leafmould or compost into the soil when you plant them, making sure the soil doesn’t get too dry over the summer.

studio with its own private entrance.

• For sale by way of the long leasehold, alternatively to let as a whole or on a floor by floor basis.

• Approximately 3,539 sq ft (329 sq m) in total, or on a floor by floor basis offering suites from approximately 489 sq ft (45.43 sq m) upwards.

• If let, due to be refurbished throughout to a contemporary and high standard.

• Permitted use is as offices under Use Class E.

• Easy access to Temple Meads Railway station.

Further information can be obtained via the joint agents: Burston Cook: Knight Frank Julian@burstoncook.co.uk

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).

STUNNING NEW REFURBISHMENT...

Prominently positioned with attractive views across Queen Square.

Superbly appointed and refurbished to a high standard to offer bright, contemporary space with stunning period features.

A STONES THROW FROM PARK STREET AND COLSTON AVENUE…..

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!

THIS VIEW FROM YOUR OFFICE...

A top quality, contemporary office which has been refurbished to a high standard offering studio-style space with exposed services, bike storage , showers and up to 6 car parking spaces in a secure under-croft car park.

Harbourside House, 4-5 The Grove, Bristol, BS1

Griffin House, 15-16 Lower Park Row, Bristol, BS1

60 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1

Quayside, 40-58 Hotwell Road, Bristol, BS8

A STUNNING GEORGIAN HOUSE, FULLY REFURBISHED, TO PROVIDE AN EXQUISITE FAMILY HOME

Guide Price £3,450,000

BACKWELL HOUSE - JUST 15 MINUTES DRIVE FROM CLIFTON, BRISTOL

The main living accommodation is principally arranged over two floors and would ideally suit a growing family.

The ground floor provides 4 beautiful reception rooms plus conservatory and kitchen / utility around a stunning central staircase leading to the first floor which provides 7 ensuite bedrooms, each with beautiful views over the grounds.

The second floor currently provides a further 2 ensuite bedrooms, which could be readily adapted for other uses within this family home . The property also benefits from a good sized basement, partially fitted out and ideal for a variety of ancillary uses.

The house is approached via a sweeping driveway and sits within approximately 14 acres, comprising front lawn, a rear private garden and surrounding paddocks. There is an outdoor swimming pool which can be readily recommissioned along with a former tennis court.

In addition, there are numerous outbuildings which could offer scope for useful rental income to include fitted offices, a billiard room with garaging below, further garaging, stores and stables.

Burston Cook: Knight Frank

BRISTOL & CLIFTON’S PREMIER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS

Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk

Westfield Office Park, Clevedon

TO LET - £12.50 psf pax

1,722 sq ft (160 sq m)

A modern office building offering open plan accomodation which has been newly refurbished to a high specification. Junction 20 of the M5 Motorway is within 2 miles away.

Marsh Street, BS1 TO LET - £16,000 pax 983 sq ft (91.35 sq m)

A prominent, ground floor commercial unit with self-contained entrance. Provides open plan space and benefits Use Class E so is therefore suitable for a range of uses.

Emersons Green TO LET / MAY SELL – POA

5,063 sq ft

The property comprises a modern, semi-detached, 3 storey office building providing an open plan working accommodation over 3 floors. Located on a popular business park and befitting from excellent car parking.

Harbour Crescent, Portishead 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.

Queen Charlotte Street, BS1 TO LET £17.50 psf pax 1,741 sq ft (161.65 sq m)

A modern, ground floor office suite located in Bristol’s Old Quarter. The suite is predominantly open plan and benefits shower, bike storage, and car parking.

Wells Road BS4 INVESTMENT FOR SALE

£350,00 exclusive

Fully let to a high quality bar/restaurant operator producing £24,000 per annum. Forming part of a beautifully refurbished building in a densely populated area close to the City centre.

Whiteladies Road, Clifton TO LET - £42,000 pax 2,030 sq ft (188.59 sq m)

Cool studio space located on Whiteladies Road with meetings room and 1 car parking space.Finished to a contemporary standard.

Buckingham Court, BS32 TO LET - £15.50 psf pax

3,089 sq ft (287 sq m)

A self-contained office building offering modern accommodation within an established business park with good road connections. Excellent parking ratio being 1,257 sq ft.

St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 TO LET – POA 2,170 sq ft (201.60 sq m)

Modern, loft-style office suite located in the heart of the city centre providing open plan space with period features and excellent natural light. Benefits showers and secure bike storage.

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.

Home improvements

From smart storage solutions, to multi-use furniture – whether you’re getting your home ready for sale, or just tidying things up a bit before spring rolls around, there are some great tools out there to help you de-clutter your space. This month, Rupert Oliver of Rupert Oliver Property Agents gives us some tips and tricks for making sure your home stays smart...

Tidy space, tidy mind, tidy profit; it’s always nice to have an organised home, but when you’re getting yours ready for sale, it’s essential. First impressions really do count, and a buyer should feel like they’ve walked into a calm and tidy oasis – if they’re tripping over shoes in the corridor, you might not be off to a great start.

Clever space

When it comes to successful storage systems, there are options for homes of all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to consider what would suit the space available to you. When you’re working with a small space, making proper use of the walls is a great way to start your organisational journey; built-in, floor-to-ceiling shelving, for example, is a bespoke route that will ensure not a scrap goes to waste. In a similar vein, you might opt for a mounted storage unit without legs to increase square footage (that way you’ll get the benefits of storage without losing out on floor space). Or perhaps a wall-mounted rack to stow larger items, like your bicycle, up-upand-away.

In the kitchen, hang your pots and pans on hooks beneath your cupboards to double storage potential. In the bedroom, use an over-the-door shoe rack on the wardrobe to clear away any corridor clutter. It’s also a good idea to invest in storage solutions that do two jobs for the price of one. An ottoman, for instance, gives you somewhere comfortable to sit while doubling up as a place to store living room knick-knacks.

Dormant storage space can often be upcycled into something a

little more useful too. Take the ‘cloffice’ – aka, an office in a closet. With the use of a few well-placed shelves and a micro desk, many WFH-ers have made the most of wasted space by transforming it into miniature offices. Think a little outside the box, and you’ll have a tidy home in no time.

Optical illusions

Sometimes, no matter how finely tuned the storage system, your home can still feel cramped; but there are ways and means to create the illusion that you and your guests are swimming in space. A well-placed mirror can double the appearance of a room in seconds; using light shades of paint on the ceilings is another neat, optical trick to have up your sleeve: a pale coloured ceiling will seem further away – and the room larger as a result.

Another tactic to keep a space feeling fresh and open is to bring the outdoors, in – and houseplants are a great way to go about the task. Adding some greenery gives a room a pop of vibrant, natural colour, the mood-boosting effect of which is not to be underestimated. As an added bonus, plants have an active effect on the quality of air in a room: increasing the humidity of a space (through a process called evapotranspiration, for the curious), they’re great at balancing out dry air created by central heating systems. Those without the gift of green fingers can still reap the aesthetic benefits of the houseplant: simply pick up a fake, and your visitors will be none the wiser.

• rupertoliver.co.uk; 14 Waterloo Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4BT

5 key marketing tools to help sell your home

Exquisite brochures

Every home is unique. Brochures should reflect their style, period and lifestyle with the use of professional photography, beautifully crafted copy and vendor interviews which together help present a home and its character in the best light, whilst offering a true insight into what it’s like to live there and in the local area. They’re one of the best ways to catch the eye of potential buyers and make a house or apartment stand out above the rest.

Property styling

In the current market property buyers are more cautious about how much they spend on a property. This means to attract their attention, your home needs to stand out from the crowd with sophisticated presentation, whilst promoted to the widest possible audience via a good marketing campaign that goes beyond just listing on the property portals.

Our Founder, Peter Greatorex, explains five essential marketing tools sellers should ensure their chosen estate agent is offering, in order to help maximise your chances of selling quickly and for the best possible price…

Professional photography

Photographs are the very first thing a potential buyer sees when looking for their next dream home. They can find these online, in newspapers, magazines, brochures, on an estate agent’s website or in high street window displays. It’s therefore vital they are looking exceptional if sellers are to create that all important good first impression. Buyers can tell quite easily when a house has been photographed by a professional or on an iphone, so you want to be dazzling them come rain or shine to help bring your home to life. For example, factors such as lighting can be a nightmare if you don’t know how to control it in pictures. This is because the time of day and weather conditions can make a huge difference to which rooms look dark or too bright. Angles are also very important, as is property styling and seasons. Whilst twilight shots add another layer, providing a vivid contrast between the warmth inside your home and the sun setting, helping to capture attention and create a lasting impression.

National PR

National newspapers and magazines write about the property market every week. By using an estate agent who has a PR team continuously working with top property journalists to place your home in the likes of Country Life, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph and The Week, your home can be given widespread exposure, targeting the lucrative London, international and UK markets.

It is often those little finishing touches that can make the biggest difference in creating that ‘wow’ impression for buyers, and this is where property styling can play a big part. A good estate agent, as well as their professional photographer, should suggest how to stage your home to help deliver exceptional photographs and exude the aspirational lifestyle your home offers. For example in winter, images will look amazing with the fire lit alongside carefully placed throws and cushions, whilst in summer, neatly laid outdoor furniture with fresh flowers or a basket of fruit on can help reinforce the appeal of alfresco dining. Kitchens displayed with bunches of fresh flowers or scones with jam are also very attractive. Other tips include ironing out your bedsheets, putting the toilet seat down, moving your cars out of shot, turning interior lights and lamps on and removing anything unsightly outside your windows that could be captured in a photograph.

Professional videos

Video is an essential tool today, especially as over 80 per cent of internet traffic is video based and this number is only set to rise. Through drone footage, glorious exterior shots and thoughtful interior tours, the quality and artistry shown by a good videographer is exceptional, whilst the storytelling is powerful.

Other marketing tricks we recommend include bespoke social media campaigns, database marketing and targeted mail shots. At Peter Greatorex Unique Homes, we don't rush your home to market. We create a comprehensive and structured marketing strategy and bespoke materials incorporating the above that will give your home the attention it deserves.

For more information visit www.petergreatorex.co.uk or call Peter Greatorex or Sharon Clesham on 0117 325 2600.

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

STOKE BISHOP GUIDE PRICE £1,700,000

An elegant detached four-bedroom family home, situated in one of Bristol’s most desirable areas. Extensive and well-presented interior. South facing gardens incorporating woodland copse. Gated entrance and detached garage. Beautiful open outlook.

WESTBURY-ON-TRYM GUIDE PRICE £750,000

Four Bedroom 1930s semi-detached family house. Two receptions, garage and drive. Mature front and extensive rear garden. Believed to be in the Elmlea School catchment area, close to Westbury village.

CLIFTON GUIDE PRICE £693,000

A charming 4 bedroom house in the heart of Clifton Wood. Delightful rear garden with lawn and decking area. Living room and separate kitchen/dining room. Front courtyard and parking space. Two bathrooms, cloakroom and home office area. Excellent central location. No onward chain.

SOUTHVILLE OIEO £900,000

An impressive Grade II listed detached Victorian house. Offering a versatile interior set over four floors. Scope to make further improvements. An impressive South facing walled garden. Superb central location. Viewing is highly recommended.

Tickenham, Bristol | Guide Price £1,395,000

A stunning and beautifully proportioned family house in a fully enclosed private setting with expansive views, gated driveway and superb gardens.

A beautifully proportioned family house in a fully enclosed private setting | Stunning 38’ family kitchen, dining room and sitting room | Separate family room and a further study | Master bedroom suite with a private balcony and far-reaching views | Four further double bedrooms | Family bathroom | Gated driveway with excellent off-street parking | Expansive gardens to front and rear | Garage, workshop and further outbuildings | EPC: C

In all circa 3640 sq. ft (338.2 sq. m)

Clifton, Bristol | Guide Price £1,695,000

An effortlessly grand and elegant Grade II Listed townhouse with income generating self-contained accommodation, a south facing balcony and a private rear garden.

Stunning Grade II Listed family home | Beautifully refurbished by the current owners | Superb retained period features throughout | Fabulous full-depth open plan kitchen, breakfast and dining room | Full-depth first floor drawing and sitting room with south facing balcony and stunning views | “Whole of floor” luxury master bedroom suite | Three further double bedrooms and family bathroom | Lower ground floor self-contained one-bedroom flat | Versatile cellar and further vaulted storage | Deep rear gardens with private lane access | Clifton Village residents parking permit

In all circa 3300 sq. ft (306.5 sq. m)