The Bristol Magazine October 2022

Contents

OCTOBER 2022

10 CITYIST

Meet singer/songwriter and founder of MOON FEST, Monica Wat

12 BARTLEBY

... bids a last farewell to Her Majesty The Queen

14 FALL FASHION

Harvey Nichols Bristol welcomes new season designer collections

16 BREAKING BOUNDARIES

Catch up with Natasha Mortimer, co-founder of one of Bristol’s newest creative design studios

20 ONE TO WATCH

Rising star Mirren Mack on appearing in Bristol Old Vic’s Hamlet

22 WHAT’S ON

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

26 BRISTOL TECHNOLOGY FESTIVAL

We discover more about our beloved Silicon Gorge

28 ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

What’s showing at our local galleries

32 AN INDIE ODYSSEY

Local author Nige Tassel on the birth of indie music

38 GET YOUR BAKE ON Bake Off’s Giuseppe Dell’Anno lets us in on new cookbook

42 LUNGS OF OUR PLANET

Andrew Swift looks at the vital need for more trees in our city

48 FAMILY FUN

Discover some of the city’s best family-friendly activities

54 THE ULTIMATE SKINCARE ROUTINE

Harvey Nichols Bristol’s Layla Touati shares her beauty regime

56

INTERIORS SPECIAL

We gather some of our much-loved local designers, makers and creators for all the interiors inspo you’ll ever need

66 GARDENING: GROWING INTELLIGENCE

Elly West looks at some of our most intelligent plant species

ON THE COVER Giuseppe Dell’Anno Photography by Matt Russell

From Giuseppe’s Dell’Anno’s new cookbook, Giuseppe’s Italian Bakes Credit: Matt Russell

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EDITOR from the

Aswe pass the autumn equinox and officially welcome the new season with open arms, we also celebrate the launch of our cover star’s brand-new cookbook. This issue, reigning Great British champion Giuseppe Dell’Anno, who entertained the nation with his elaborate creations and light-hearted nature last autumn, let us in on his childhood memories and treasured family recipes that he now releases to the world, hoping we will all enjoy them just as much as he does. After a whirlwind year in the public eye, Giuseppe also spoke candidly about finally accepting himself for who he is: “Winning Bake Off has been a validating exercise on a truly spectacular scale, which has taught me that it is not only fine to accept your true self, but that striving (and working hard) to be the best version of yourself is, in itself, the most fulfilling reward you can ever hope for.” Get your bake on on p.38.

Elsewhere in the city, Bristol Old Vic is counting down the days until a talented cast full of acting royalty and rising stars take to the stage on 13 October. On p.20, we caught up with 24-year-old Mirren Mack as she prepares to star as Ophelia in John Haidar’s Hamlet. Having previously appeared in Netflix’s Sex Education and the BBC’s The Nest, Mirren is certainly one to watch.

As always, October also means our interiors special is back and bursting with inspo. From p.56 onwards, we gather up some of our local designers, creators and makers for a full round-up of brilliant Bristol businesses. With so much talent pouring out of all sectors of the city, this issue was a joy to write. Until next time...

thebristolmag.co.uk

Artwork by Chris Dye, whose work will be appearing at the West Bristol Arts Trail. Find out more on p. 30

THE CITYist My

I forged a dual connection with Bristol from the very beginning: I moved to Bristol last September from Hong Kong for my exchange year at the University of Bristol, but knowing well that I was moving here in the long term too. I had known about Bristol Old Vic as early as six years ago when I first visited the UK as a wide-eyed theatre student. For the longest time, I was also fascinated by Banksy. To me, Bristol had almost become synonymous with creativity and the arts, and I wasn’t disappointed. I have also met so many fellow talented filmmakers, musicians and creatives.

Get seen by top casting directors and agents

iampro is a Bristol-based online drama school created by actress Charlie Brooks, who plays Janine Butcher in the BBC’s Eastenders.

With a mission of making the TV, film and theatre industry accessible to all, iampro offers a range of classes and events, including masterclasses with some of the best in the business such as Game of Thrones star John Bradley West and Waterloo Road lead, Angela Griffin.

If you want to get seen by top casting directors and agents, iampro’s GET SEEN showcase is on the 2 October. This is the perfect opportunity to show off your talent to some industry experts.

Already confirmed on the panel are Des Hamilton (Casting Director), Chris Crocker (Argo Artists Agent) and Shaheen Baig (Casting Director)

• Sign up at: iampro.com/memberships

MOON FEST is a festival celebrating East and South East Asian (ESEA) creatives through art, performances, short film screenings and delicious food. We recently created the first MOON FEST at Arnolfini, which was also the traditional mid-autumn festival weekend, an important occasion for many ESEA cultures which symbolises reunion with families and friends. Our festival also falls in September because it is the ESEA Heritage Month initiated by besea.n, the biggest ESEA community group in the UK.

One hand is all it takes to count every Asian artist I’ve met in the past year. For sure, in an ideal world, we wouldn’t need to search for people who look like us or share similar heritages, because diversity would be so normalised that everyone shares equal appreciation and opportunities with each other. But that is yet to come, if ever.

Microaggressions, racism and differentiated treatment that I have experienced – from the streets of Bristol, gigs to networking events –really drive this desire within me to meet other talented Asian friends.

We are always looking for new friends (particularly those of ESEA heritages) who have better knowledge and experiences in areas that are fundamental to event organisation, from budgeting to graphic design so we’d love for people to message us if they’re interested. Before each MOON FEST, we will launch an open call to invite artists and food makers to sign up.

We have already started planning next year’s MOON FEST. I’m also producing new music –including tracks that document my experiences in Bristol so far – though it is certainly taking its sweet time especially with me moving between places all the time. Also, properly settling down in the UK and my final year of university. For

the immediate future, as in next week, I’ll be speaking at the Encounters Film Festival at Watershed as a pre-selector of Depict Short and MOON FEST’s founder, and I can’t wait to watch fellow MOON FEST filmmaker Clarenz Gutierrez Badlis’s new film at the festival too.

I love learning new things about this city and our society. The other day, I took the train to Cotham for the first time (somehow) and I wasn’t aware of how multi-cultural it was before. I walked into this Korean supermarket, met its gracious silver-haired Korean owner, talked about being migrants, his grocery store business, practiced my beginner level Korean and got a hotteok-making kit! Meanwhile, Ashton Court is my favourite forest to go to when I want to recharge and feel connected with myself and nature.

I promise I’m not told to say this but I’ve been listening to fellow MOON FEST performer Thomas Kam’s podcast, which was part of Making Tracks, a partnership project between Trinity Bristol, Basement Studios and Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE). I’m feeling very inspired by the deep conversations he has with fellow musicians, many of whom are Bristolbased. I’ve also been reading Minor Feelings to further acquire the language and concepts to articulate my experiences of being an Asian person in a Western country, for lack of a better word.

My philosophy will forever be evolving because that’s just how life works.

• Follow MOON FEST’s Instagram: @moonfestofficial. If you would like to help fund next year’s MOON FEST, donate at: kofi.com/moonfest

Meet singer/songwriter and founder of MOON FEST –a Bristol festival creating a safe space for the East and South East Asian community, Monica Wat BRISTOL

Image credit: Peter Wan

A last farewell

WhenI sat down to write last month’s column none of us could have known what an extraordinary month September 2022 would be. It wasn’t only that we lost such a long-standing public figure. There was also the incredible reaction from people across Britain and beyond. Perhaps we were used to thinking of our age as a bit cynical. If someone is held up for our approval, we tend to doubt them. Are they really so great? What are they hiding? With the Queen it was different. Even people who don’t like the monarchy had to concede that she was a wonderful human being.

I know I’m a bit behind here. We’ve moved on from mourning Elizabeth II and are back to shouting at each other on social media. But I find things tend to sink in slowly, especially huge, epoch-making events. The world has become different, but it’s hard to say exactly how. I never met the Queen, although I know plenty of people who did. One was my godmother, who was walking along Holkham Beach in north Norfolk when she encountered a familiar diminutive figure surrounded by corgis. A smile. A cheerful good morning. A bungled curtsey… Who could forget it?

No doubt someone has calculated how many people ER did meet, either officially or casually, and I bet there haven’t been many individuals in history who have outdone her. For those of us who never did, meanwhile, there was that all-pervading presence. The face on the TV at Christmas. The familiar profile on the postage stamp. The figure presiding over Royal weddings and race meetings. Readers of a certain age might remember the national anthem playing on the BBC every night, before ‘closedown’. At whatever time it was, broadcasting stopped, the more diligent stood to sing God Save the Queen, and the nation went to bed.

Bristol has never been a passionately Royalist city. Even during the Tudor period, when the aristocracy held sway over much of the country, Bristol was ruled by its most powerful merchants. So much of the city’s wealth derived from trade along the Atlantic seaboard of Europe that we had stronger ties with Porto and Bordeaux than with London. As a consequence, Bristol’s interests were not always represented well at court, and to remedy this the city’s leaders made a special effort to win over Elizabeth I, when she made her Royal Progress around the country in 1574.

The Queen stayed at The Great House, the palatial home built by Sir John Young overlooking St Augustine’s Back (today the site of Bristol Beacon), and sat through a mock sea-battle and various other entertainments. Perhaps she didn’t feel enough effort had been made on her behalf, because the city’s influence at court remained minimal. Ten years later the great and the good of Bristol were still arguing over the exorbitant cost of the visit, which was over a thousand pounds. Meanwhile, conflict with Spain had an increasingly dire impact on business, and when Bristol provided several ships to fight the Spanish Armada, the Privy Council failed to pay for them…

Today, of course, the monarch neither dictates foreign policy nor controls the government purse strings. We have yet to see what approach Charles III will take to the business of Kingship, but one factor behind the late Queen’s popularity was her determined neutrality. When you consider that a contemporary politician can unleash Armageddon with a single tweet, it seems amazing that she managed to give so many speeches over so many years, without offending anyone. Perhaps the fact that she didn’t have to win power allowed her to remain detached, but I think also that she met so many people from so many places and backgrounds, that she saw a bigger picture than most of us. As she put it so memorably, ‘Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.’ ■

BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Guest designers

Exclusive, new season designer collections are coming to Harvey Nichols Bristol

From Friday 7 – Monday 10 October, join the Harvey Nichols Bristol team to celebrate the new Autumn/Winter season with a weekend of special events and activity. For this limited time only, Harvey Nichols Bristol will be offering the latest collections from designers and brands not typically available at boutique stores. Expect new and exclusive womenswear and the latest drops in menswear. Plus, for the most stylish introduction to the season, join Harvey Nichols Bristol on Saturday 8 October to explore the best in fashion, footwear and accessories, alongside live DJs and complimentary refreshments.

• For more information, visit: harveynichols.com/store/bristol; all images courtesy of Harvey Nichols Bristol

JAKKE

Katie green faux fur coat

Breaking boundaries

One of Bristol’s newest creative design studios, Imagineerium, is on the road to sucess, attracting the attention of world-renowned brands and creating showstopping designs. This month, we catch up with co-founder and creative director

Natasha Mortimer to find out more...

Formula1. Netflix. VICE. Red Bull. Cadbury. Scroll through the website of Bristol-based creative design studio, Imagineerium, and you will see an impressive portfolio of internationally renowned brands with testimonials to match. Founders and designers Natasha Mortimer and Channon Wallace are the creative forces behind the 18-month-old company that was set up in the midst of the pandemic. “In March 2020, everyone in the events industry lost their work,” Natasha reflects. “As a freelancer, mine all got cancelled within the space of a few days. Then you had the government saying the arts aren’t viable and everyone should retrain. We all thought no way –it fuelled my fire.”

Within the space of three months, the co-creators set out their vision for their new company: a specialised design studio that brings physical spaces to life for brands, festivals and interiors. Ultimately, their goal was to “create amazing spaces that inspire people to do amazing things”. Now based in the heart of Stokes Croft, Imagineerium has been busy doing just that. Bounding from strength to strength ever since its inception, the months-old start-up managed to secure Formula 1 as its very first client. “Our first job was to design the F1 Fan Zone in Saudi Arabia,” Natasha explains. “There were loads of activities to do: e-gaming, have your picture taken on the podium. It was pretty crazy to be involved with Formula 1.”

Since then, the team have worked with the likes of Netflix on a Money Heist Experience, which ran for nine months in London. Members of the public were invited to live out the first ever international robbery in person, sleuthing their way through a building in search of a highly secret vault full of raw gold. Inspired by the original series, actors blurred the boundaries between fiction and reality, making for a truly immersive experience.

VICE Media Group was also interested in Natasha and Channon’s work. Although the project must still be kept under wraps due to a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) –as is the way with so many projects –VICE’s testimonial spoke volumes: “It wasn’t an easy brief by any means but they quickly understood the objective and what we were trying to achieve, were very creative and always offered smart solutions, were super committed, and an absolute joy to work with,” it read.

“We were working with experienced teams in New York, the Middle

East and Europe,” Natasha adds. “It was pretty amazing to be on a project where one team is always working over a 24-hour period.

As millions were either introduced or further immersed into the world of virtual reality during the pandemic, the team at Imagineerium have noticed a rise in interest in experiential events, and therefore a demand from brands to incorporate interactive experiences into their builds. “There was this whole boom of virtual reality while we were in lockdown and there was a real question about whether it was going to stick around but look at the number of festivals that sold out this summer, people are desperate to experience live music first-hand and experience something that is interactive. What’s more, all of the technology that became easily accessible during the pandemic is now being included within designs to give people a 4D experience. As shops come off the high street as well, brands are now having to wow even more at live events to get people interested. There is a need to create Instagram moments –all of their content for social media is now coming from live events.”

Over the past 18 months, The Beacon at Boomtown Fair, Vice City at El Dorado Festival and The Public Spirit at Imbibe have also been added to the company’s CV. It’s important to stress that, although the company may be young, the team behind it is vastly experienced.

Natasha trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School – one of the top MA Theatre Design courses in the country –after obtaining an

undergraduate degree in Architecture. Within four years of graduating from her MA, she had worked on Punchdrunk “the pioneers of immersive theatre”, Boomtown Fair “the largest interactive, story-led, fully immersive theatrical show in the world” and Glastonbury “the most famous festival in the UK”. As well as being a creative design and build manager for various festivals, Natasha also worked as a designer for brands such as Okuru Events in Bristol and AB InBev “the largest beer company in the world”.

It was at Okuru that Natasha and Channon first met. Channon – a graphic designer who has worked with big names including Paco Rabanne Global, Clarks at Paris Fashion Week, Becks, Budweiser, Corona, Brewdog, Cream Egg, the list goes on –is no stranger to the corporate world. Together they make a formidable team.

“We’ve also got a production manager now, JP Jammaers, who fills in the gap of being our absolute lighting and tech guru,” Natasha explains. “We are currently a team of five but we’re only going to get bigger and better.”

A moment in history

For Natasha, arguably one of her biggest projects came this summer in the shape of the Totem stage at The Common at Glastonbury. The 50th anniversary of the festival offered an opportunity to make history and she committed to organising a 100 per cent female build crew.

Co-founders of Imagineerium, Channon Wallace and Natasha Mortimer

Vice City, El Dorado Festival 2022

Explaining her decision, she says: “At times, it’s been very obvious that the events industry is male-dominated, especially when it comes to production – carpentry, rigging etc. During my first year at Boomtown, one of my teams was all-male apart from myself. The number of times that I was questioned or not trusted was astounding, it was quite a learning process. That same year on another team, myself and the build manager were the first female duo management to ever run a build at Boomtown.

“Diversity is a much bigger issue across the events industry but I think a lot of people think we’ve almost got there with gender equality and we are so far from it, even still. It was because of these various moments that I thought it would be amazing to do an all-female build. Having done lots before, I knew lots of talented women and I knew I could pull a team together.”

Further to Natasha’s commitment, the producers at The Common decided to also hire all-female security and venue crew, making it a female-led site. “Seeing it at the end was incredible.”

As for future builds: “We’ll certainly go ahead with an all-female crew when it makes sense. For example, we had a brief from Victoria’s Secret to do a build, so it would obviously make sense there but, ultimately, when we are hiring crews, I will always think of talented women.”

Why Bristol?

For what seems like millennia, Bristol has been known as an established centre of creative innovation. With Forwards Festival, Wake The Tiger, Propyard and Lost Horizon recently popping up in the city – all of which Imagineerium played a helping hand in creating – Bristol is seemingly the place to be for creative design studios. “We boast about the fact that we are Bristol-based because the city has got such a bold attitude – it is not afraid to challenge the status quo or stand up for what it thinks is right. Channon and myself are from the North and we have gravitated towards Bristol, I think very much because it’s a creative city

and it fits with our life ethos.

“The new ventures are very much a testament to a lot of the creatives in Bristol. There is so much talent here and it was so nice to see at the end of the pandemic where people were so unhappy but they actually pulled through it in more amazing ways then they could have imagined.

Winning awards

To add to the string of good news pouring out of Imagineerium, Natasha, along with 30 live event professionals, won the Access All Areas 30underThirty 2021 competition. The initiative was designed to recognise and reward excellence among the younger generation in the industry’s workforce.

“It felt like all the work I’ve been doing was actually validated, it definitely made me feel proud,” says Natasha. “Part of the competition was talking about the challenges within the events industry that you want to address and tackle. The main issue within the industry is sustainability, loads of events are so wasteful. The second one for me is gender equality and thirdly, diversity.

“We’ve been doing roundtable discussions talking about how to tackle sustainability and the problems new starters are facing. It’s really interesting to talk about the main issues with the people that can actually make a difference in their own companies and in the industry.”

Imagineerium, along with its founders, are absolutely destined for great things. Despite being unable to reveal what’s next in the pipeline due to a whole slew of NDAs, the message was clear: watch this space.

Before Natasha and I parted ways, she concluded with some great advice for the next generation: “Talk to everyone and anyone about what you enjoy doing –you never know who knows who. Show enthusiasm in your work and try to put yourself in the right places –opportunities will come forward. Above all, be confident and trust in your own abilities.” n

• Find out more at: imagineerium.co.uk

Money Heist Experience, London

Wake The Tiger, Bristol

Forwards Festival 2022

Totem Stage at The Common, Glastonbury

DEGREES OF SEPARATION a new novel by Bristol author Roger White

story of love and reconciliation

September 1942: Following the collapse of the Allied resistance in Burma, the full might of the Imperial Japanese Airforce has been unleashed on the cities of Chengdu and Chongqing, in an attempt to force the Chinese government to sue for peace. The brave actions of a squadron of Chinese pilots in their battered planes offer a glimmer of hope in these darkest of hours.

May 2019: 29 year-old Torin Cameron from London meets 26 year-old Lu Chen Xi (Sunny) at a business conference in Chengdu. Reluctant at first, she becomes his guide on a journey of discovery, that takes them deep into the Sichuan countryside and opens Torin’s eyes to China’s heroic role in the second world war –and a family secret that has remained concealed for seventy-five years.

Unravelling the threads between wartime China and Europe and modernday Chengdu and London, Degrees of Separation explores the yin and yang of tangled human experience, the twists of fate and tendrils of connection that wind through generations and across cultures. An uplifting and inspirational story of love and reconciliation.

Rising star

Ahead of her appearance in Bristol Old Vic’s Hamlet, which takes to the stage for five weeks on 13 October, we talk to Mirren Mack, playing Ophelia, all about her road to success...

Thismonth, Bristol Old Vic will welcome one of the most powerful and influential works of world literature to its main stage and, along with it, a remarkable cast oozing with the hottest young talent as well as theatrical heavyweights. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, directed by John Haidar, will see Outlaw King’s Billy Howle take on the coveted role of Hamlet –one that has been famously portrayed by the likes of Mark Rylance, Daniel Day-Lewis and David Tennant. Acting royalty Niamh Cusack will slip into the role of his mother, Gertrude and, standing next to Hamlet, playing his jilted lover Ophelia, will be none other than rising star Mirren Mack. At only 24-years-old, Mirren has already built quite the portfolio of acclaimed TV work, most notably appearing in the BBC’s The Nest and Netflix sensation Sex Education What’s more, only a few short weeks after she finishes her run at Bristol Old Vic –the oldest continuously working theatre in the English speaking world –Mirren will hit our screens once again, playing Merwyn in the upcoming Netflix miniseries The Witcher: Blood Origin, alongside Lenny Henry, Dylan Moran and Michelle Yeoh.

So, as the rising star from Stirling settled into the rehearsal room, we caught up with Mirren to find out all about this visceral new production, where her love for acting first began and where she’s going next.

Can you tell us all about this new production of Hamlet, how rehearsals have been and what audiences can expect?

[For those unfamiliar with the story of Hamlet –Shakespeare’s longest play –the tragedy follows the journey of Prince Hamlet as he seeks revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who has murdered his father in order to seize the throne and marry Hamlet’s mother.] We’re only in the second week of rehearsals at the moment where everything is wonderfully growing arms and legs, so I can’t tell you for sure what we’ll end up with. But I’d say we’re focusing more on the family drama and relationships, going for something that we can connect to on a human level, more so than a purely politically driven version of Hamlet

What’s it like working alongside Billy Howle, Niamh Cusack and a whole cast of talented actors?

It’s just the most special time – I’m loving being in that room. On the first day when we all read through the script for the first time, my jaw hit the table, I was so in awe of every one of them. I’m so lucky to be a part of it and I have so much to learn from these brilliant people. I’ve followed so many of them and their work before I met them so it’s really special to be in the same room and try and drink in their magic. Luckily, everyone is also a joy to work with.

What first attracted you to the role of Ophelia and how has it been slipping into her life? Is there a particular scene that you most look forward to?

I’ve been enjoying trying to figure this woman out and her role within this palace and kingdom – her relationship with her father Polonius, and her lover Hamlet. It’s a challenge because she is in a lot of scenes not being spoken to but being spoken about, that’s a difficult place to be for anyone and she struggles, particularly her relationships with the men in the court. It’s fascinating to work out what we can show of her that we can’t immediately see from the text.

She seems to have a real connection with nature. I’ve been up at Hamstead Heath ponds most days, which is an outdoor swimming area near where I live. I’ve been imagining the freedom she has in nature that she doesn’t in the court or in her relationships.

I think she’s a brilliantly exciting woman with all this possibility. Anywhere she gets to speak her mind is really exciting as you see how she manipulates language and get to feel some of her heart and soul and how she cares for people. You don’t get to see that in most of the rest of the play when she’s a pawn in other people’s game.

Where did your love for acting first begin? Can you take us back to your first performance and your journey to where you are today? I’m lucky that my dad has always been a working actor so I got to go to the theatre from a young age and knew that was something I wanted to do. My earliest memory of performing was actually in the pub at the bottom of our street, and reenacting scenes from The Jungle Book for all the locals trying to have a quiet drink. I was about three. I’d act out all the animals on a little fireplace in front of anyone who’d listen as they tried to have a pint in peace. So thanks to The Settle Inn for my first break.

Many audience members will also know you from your highly

acclaimed TV work. Do you prefer working in front of the camera or on stage? How does the process compare for you as an actor?

I find it quite hard to compare them. One thing that’s different about theatre is this time I’m in now, the rehearsals. I can do something and fail spectacularly and then try something completely different within a moment – it’s all part of the process of discovering the character. You also have five weeks of playing with each other and getting to know the cast members you’re going to do these scenes with. In film, you sometimes have to jump straight into a scene with someone you have never met before and play a married couple deeply in love. That can be a bit terrifying,

The terrifying part of theatre is when you stand on a stage with people watching you, anything can happen and that is absolutely terrifying but in such a brilliant way. And it’s live and you can’t go back to the beginning, you have to move through it and do that journey every night.

You successfully auditioned for the role of Kaya in The Nest while still a student at Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London –what was it about Kaya that you found most enchanting? I thought Kaya felt misunderstood by a lot of the characters and perhaps by the audience too, it was easy to judge her for her actions, sometimes quite rightly but at other times a shift of the lens revealed everything to be different than we thought. Basically, I loved that she had such depth under all the hard exterior. She had many layers as we all do, and such a difficult past that she was grappling with, while trying to make a better life for herself. It was great to get the chance to show that to people. I think that’s what I love about Ophelia too, she’s deeply complex, there are worlds within her to explore.

The Witcher: Blood Origin is about to hit our screens – how was the experience? Do you have a particular highlight from your time on set? The experience was really out of this world. I’m excited to see it because there are different storylines happening within it that I wasn’t a part of. It was great to be in a world that doesn’t feel like your normal day. The world was so rich and the exciting, the creativity of the people on set, the designers and costume and set makers were incredibly talented.

What’s next in the pipeline? Are you able to tell us about any upcoming projects?

No lines in my pipe right now, or oil or juice, but I do kind of like that in a sort of a way, it’s exciting to wait and hope to see what might be coming next. You never know where you’ll be or what’s around the corner. Right now Hamlet has taken over my whole head and heart, so I’ve lost myself in that for now. n

• Hamlet will be running at Bristol Old Vic from 13 October –12 November. Book tickets at: bristololdvic.org.uk

Mirren as Merwyn in The Witcher: Blood Origin

Credit: Netflix/Premiere Pro

Mirren in the rehearsal room with Billy Howle

WHAT’S ON

MOHIITO: Open Now!

n The Workshop, Hampton Lane, BS6 6LE Clifton boutique fitness studio MOHIITO is offering a new six-week fitness course, Barre Body, designed to kickstart your fitness regime. The feel-good barre fitness course mixes Pilates and fitness moves and promises to ignite your metabolism, fire up your muscles and make you fall in love with your workout again. With various start dates throughout October, the program includes six classes (all suitable for beginners), an optional nutrition program and a free 1:1 consultation with an expert trainer. If barre is not your thing, MOHIITO is also running other beginnerfriendly HIIT programs throughout October. Details and online bookings can be made at: mohiito.com

Think Global: Act Bristol

n Until 30 October, M Shed Bristol has declared climate and ecological emergencies. How did we get here? What’s our city’s role in it, and how can we help get out of it? What does a just, green future look like? Think Global: Act Bristol explores big environmental questions affecting people here and worldwide, and presents perspectives from a wide range of local voices. bristolmuseums.org.uk

Bristol Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society: 60th Anniversary Gala Concert

n 1 October, Newman Hall, BS9 4DR

Bristol Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society are delighted to be celebrating their 60th

LOOK OUT FOR...

Moor and Sea Holidays X Moor Wild Experiences n Throughout October, Moor and Sea This autumn and winter Moor and Sea Holidays is partnering with Moor Wild Experiences to offer wild outdoor activities and events. Enjoy Exmoor’s dark skies with bat detecting and pizza nights or fire pit baking and star gazing through telescopes. Book a foraging walk in the lovely fields or on local paths, bringing back your finds to make hedgerow ketchups and wild foods. Relax in the art room with views over Exmoor, try an inspiring three-day workshop in Indian miniature painting or spend a few hours creating a beautiful piece of fused glass. Indulge your creative side as part of your holiday or as an experience in itself. Contact Moor and Sea Holidays for more information and how to create your own bespoke getaway. moorandseaholidays.co.uk

anniversary with a gala concert. Richard Suart (ENO, Scottish Opera) and Pamela Rudge (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School) will be joining the company for a concert celebrating each of Gilbert & Sullivan’s operettas, including the famous Little List from The Mikado and We Sail The Ocean Blue from HMS Pinafore. Performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. bristolgsos.co.uk

Antique, Vintage & Collectables Fair n 2 October, Ashton Court Mansion

An Aladdin’s cave of fine jewellery, china, furniture, paintings, memorabilia, vintage clothing, retro items and so much more. With 40 indoor stalls plus a café serving light bites and cream teas, there’s truly something for everyone. Entry: £2, under 16s free. Main car park: Kennel Lodge Entrance via Portishead Road.

Contact anniehawksley@blueyonder.co.uk for more information

Exultate Singers: The Heart’s Music

n 15 October, St George’s Bristol Spend an evening in the company of Exultate Singers together with Craig Ogden and Gary Ryan, two charismatic and entertaining virtuosos of the guitar as they perform music from around the world including, of course, Spain. The temperature rises in lively guitar duets, and Romancero Gitano, a setting of Spanish poems by Castelnuovo-Tedesco. Tickets £14 to £23 plus booking fee; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Gilla Band

n 16 October, Trinity Centre Gilla Band is a force to be reckoned with in

Viva Viñalba event on 3 November at Mud Dock Cafe

Moor and Sea Holidays partners up with Moor Wild Experiences this autumn to offer art classes, workshops and more...

the alt-music scene. Signing to Rough Trade Records in 2015, they presented their debut album, Holding Hands with Jamie , returning in 2019 to unleash their second album, The Talkies , which was celebrated as one of the biggest comebacks of the year. Trailblazers for modern, Irish, alternative music; their cataclysmic sound avoids consignment to any single genre. Their thrusting noise-rock guitars, heavy techno drum beats, and wailing vocals create a ferocious, electrifying show. Like the last rave before the apocalypse. trinitybristol.org.uk

Bristol Friends of WNO: Castaway’s Choice with Rebecca Evans CBE n 17 October, Clifton Cathedral Bristol Friends of WNO invites you to enjoy a variety of talks with glorious music at its new venue, The Apostle Room, Clifton Cathedral (Worcester Road entrance). Enjoy the event, Castaway’s Choice with Rebecca Evans CBE, as the radiant-voiced international soprano reflects on her career at home and abroad in conversation with Andrew Borkowski. For more information, email: melaniejdavid@btinternet.com

Bristol Ensemble: La Création du Monde n 22 October, St George’s Bristol

EDITOR’S PICK...

Viva Viñalba

n 3 November, Mud Dock Cafe

Bristol’s professional chamber orchestra explores the wonders of the natural world in this programme of vividly evocative music including works by Milhaud, Copland, Wagner, Haydn and Max Richter, whilst audience members are enveloped in gorgeous lighting and images. Tickets £15 –£30, plus booking fee; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

A Vocabulary of Making Revealed n Until 23 October, Black Swan Arts, Frome BA11 1BB

A new show at Black Swan Arts by artist Cath Bloomfield features collagraph and collaged prints inspired by the human form and landscape. Cath Bloomfield explores colour, texture and narrative using the medium of collagraph and collage. Utilising textured and contrasting materials, she layers and constructs plates and stencils for printing. blackswanarts.org.uk

Bristol Film Festival: Horror In The Caves n 28 –30 October, Redcliffe Caves It’s back… Venture deep into Redcliffe Caves for the latest instalment of BFF’s infamous Horror In The Caves series. Showing vampire classics and horrors hit, this is the perfect way to spend Halloween season. Check out the films at: bristolfilmfestival.com

Image left: Worcester Cathedral Luxmuralis 2021

COMING SOON!

Luxmuralis Space Voyager Light Show n 1 –5 November, Bristol Cathedral

Take a journey to the edge of the galaxy and back inside Bristol Cathedral this November. Immerse yourself in a mesmerising light and sound throughout the medieval architecture of the Cathedral. Enjoy the building’s beauty while contemplating the wonders of the universe. Tickets £6.00-£9.50 per person. bristolcathedral.co.uk/whats-on/luxmuralis

Fragrance Wine Masterclass n 2 November, Second Floor Restaurant, Harvey Nichols Bristol

Join Harvey Nichols and Aspect Fragrances for a perfume-inspired wine masterclass to celebrate the launch of Nishane’s new Time Capsule Collection. Enjoy a welcome drink and canapés while sipping four wine flavours, each reflecting the different tones in Nishane’s new fragrances. £50 per person.

To book, email: Reception.Bristol@harveynichols.co m; harveynichols.com/store/bristol

One of Argentina’s top wine producers, Viñalba, is throwing an exclusive, ticket only event. You’re invited to taste your way around the estate's full range – from classic, rich and elegant Malbec, to the fresh and floral Torrontes, to the complex Cabernet: there will be something to everyone’s taste. Head along for a night with one of Argentina’s top wine producers, taste their incredible wines, enjoy some amazing food and dance to awesome beats.designmynight.com/bristol/whats-on/drinks-tasting/viva-vinalba

Bristol Choral Society & Bristol Ensemble: Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms & Faure Requiem n 5 November, Clifton Cathedral Bristol Choral Society is very pleased to bring you this programme which was due to be performed March 2020. Refined over a decade, Stravinsky’s Mass for the Dead sustains an abiding solace discharged in the luminescent hope and reassurance of the concluding In Paradisium. First though there’s profound spirituality of a different order as glittering woodwind, brass, two pianos and harp queue up to reflect the laser-sharp light of Stravinsky’s triptych ‘symphonising the singing of Psalms’. It’s prefaced by more Stravinsky, his time in black and white: his wartime Sonata for two pianos, a work shot through with crystalline neoclassicism. bristolchoral.co.uk

BristolFestivalTechnology returns

As Bristol Technology Festival prepares to get underway at Engine Shed this month, we chat to the hosts, TechSPARK, along with the festival partners SETSquared Bristol and GreenTech South West to discover more about our beloved Silicon Gorge...

BristolTechnology Festival is back once again, bringing an array of events across the city delivered for and by Bristol’s tech community. This year, TechSPARK, based in Redcliffe – a not-for-profit network dedicated to connecting, educating and strengthening the digi-tech cluster in the West – will be running the festival, showcasing the incredible feats of technological innovation, talent and sense of community that the city is proudly home to.

Bristol Technology Festival was first launched in 2019 by a small group of tech enablers, movers and shakers, with the ambition to collate a series of events in the space of a week. It was a huge hit, attracting an audience from across the country, putting Bristol’s tech scene on a pedestal, and paving way for an annual event.

From 10 – 14 October, Bristol will host a series of over 50 social events encouraging everyone to participate through interactive seminars, workshops and activity spread across the city. Open to everyone including people in the tech sector, business leaders from across sectors and anyone wanting to know more about the city’s digital industries, the festival will focus on a different theme each day: Purpose, Protect, People, Play, Pioneer. The themes will span the depth and breadth of what Bristol’s tech and digital cluster has to offer, encompassing everything from Green Tech companies innovatively tackling the climate crisis, to smart AI solutions to truly demonstrate the vibrancy of the local sector.

Ahead of the festival this month, we caught up with Abby Frear, Director at TechSPARK, Kim Brook, Programme Manager at SETsquared Bristol and the team at Green Tech South West to find out why the festival is so important to them and, most importantly, to the city we call home.

TBM: Why is it so important to TechSPARK to run the festival?

Abby Frear: At the heart of what TechSPARK does is community. If it wasn’t for all the fantastic tech and digital organisations running in Bristol and the wider South West and their unfaltering attitude towards collaboration, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Having been involved with BTF since its inception, we know how valuable it has been to the community. After a couple of disruptive years for in person events, we’re doing all we can to keep the momentum for meet-ups alive. The buzz that something like BTF brings to the city really illustrates events are so invaluable to the tech sector - the knowledge shared and connections made could pave way to the creation of the next accelerator, or initiate investment into a groundbreaking piece of innovation. We want to see our community flourish, and running BTF is one way of ensuring this happens.

Kim Brook: SETsquared Bristol has been involved with the festival from its start in 2019. We're based at Engine Shed, the enterprise hub by Temple Meads station, which is one of the founding partners of the festival. Bristol is home to some of the most exciting tech businesses and projects currently happening in Europe and as a tech incubator in the region, we want to engage with people from across the city about the opportunities available in the tech sector and to profile our fantastic

Abby Frear, Director at TechSPARK

member companies to attract inward investment in the region. The festival is a fantastic platform to showcase this.

GreenTech South West: GreenTech South West was part of the festival last year where we showcased three of the most exciting female Green Tech pioneers in the city and it was a very positive experience for us. We managed to reach a wider audience of people interested in sustainability and the use of technology for climate action, many of which have stayed with us as we head towards our 30th event. It's encouraging to see more talks this year surrounding sustainable software engineering and innovative use of tech to make a difference and we're very happy to be able to bring three amazing masters in their field regarding design for sustainability.

How does the festival help the tech community in Bristol?

AF: The Bristol Tech Festival is all about getting people together, allowing them to collaborate, network and see some of the awesome and amazing things that are happening in our community, all while

SILICON GORGE

reaching new and different people. It strengthens connections here in the South West, paving the way for new ideas and innovations. It also highlights the problems the tech community faces here in Bristol. Whether that’s technical barriers to building the most seamless solutions, or the issues we’re encountering around ensuring the tech sector is a diverse and inclusive place to work, the festival is a place where organisations and individuals can discuss these issues and search for solutions.

The festival is also a great demonstration of the array of talent in Bristol. It showcases the wealth of knowledge here, which in turn attracts more tech startups, scale-ups and international companies to the region, as well as illustrating the city’s potential to investors. All of these factors contribute to the growth of the South West’s tech sector, which is the underlying ambition for everything we do at TechSPARK.

Aside from all of this, the festival provides a space for people to get together, catch up and have fun!

SETSquared Bristol is running an event on health-tech productsInnovation to Implementation. Why it is so important to be talking about health tech right now?

KB: The digital health tech sector has huge potential for Bristol with the South West region seeing a 25% growth in the last three years.

It’s important to talk about health tech as the sector has significant wider market challenges, from how to navigate the NHS to a rapidly evolving international digital regulatory landscape. The product development journey is new for every health tech founder - so at Bristol Tech Festival, in collaboration with WEAHSN and Future Space, we’re bringing a panel of founders together with revolutionary and groundbreaking products to give a warts-and-all understanding of their versions of building a health tech company, their routes to market and route to investment.

Health tech is a focus for SETsquared Bristol as 25% of our member companies are in this sector, including 5 student startups or spinouts from the University of Bristol, our parent company, which provides a fantastic talent pool of startups to the region. We are also seeing strong investment raises, particularly in the areas of clinical decision support systems, screening & diagnostics, virtual care delivery and disease management. Recent SETsquared company raises include sepsis diagnostic company GenomeKey (£3.8M), breast scanning company Micrima (£4.1M), breastfeeding app LatchAid (£1M) and biotech startups Zentraxa and FerryX (£300k).

Green Tech South West is focusing on Design for Sustainability and Climate Action at this year’s festival. Why it is so important to be talking about this topic at the moment?

GTSW: Digital technology is a massive polluter and as our talks will show, simple changes can vastly reduce digital carbon footprint often without additional cost. The increasing demand for digital transformation and business sustainability is seeing designers finding their work grow in complexity, scale and impact. With the climate

crisis deepening and the clock ticking, designers and UI developers with a keen interest in sustainability are seeking out advice, techniques and resources to affect climate action through their work.

Are there any particular events/businesses you’re particularly excited to be partnering with this year?

AF: There’s going to be so many things to look forward to at the festival this year. We’re super excited to have Hippo Digital on board as a headline partner. The full-service digital consultancy has recently set up in Bristol, and we can’t wait for them to experience what our tech and digital community has to offer - and for them to hopefully make some long lasting connections! It’s also fantastic to have AND Digital, BaseKit and Newicon as our founding partners - the support from these companies is what makes it possible for the festival to exist, so we really are excited to be partnering with them all.

Sectioning the week off into different themes for each day has really brought some exciting ideas to the table. I’m particularly looking forward to Thursday’s theme ‘Play’ - the events are set to be super creative and will hopefully disrupt some traditional ways of thinking, while encouraging interactive participation from the audiences. There are also so many tech for good conversations planned for the week, which is really inspiring to see and I can’t wait to learn something new.

What makes the city so unique in your opinion?

KB: My experience of the tech community in Bristol is one of openness and collaboration. Tech founders recognise the value of Bristol’s unique connected tech and creative ecosystem and we see regular meet-ups and networking events within specific sectors and wider. In addition, many of our mentors and advisors at SETsquared are tech founders themselves and have a real ‘pay it forward’ attitude to support the next generation of tech entrepreneurs on their entrepreneurial journey. Despite its small size, Bristol has a real diversity in the types of technology sectors spanning everything from deep technology areas such as aerospace and quantum to tech for good through areas such as healthtech and fintech. This rich innovation scene means we have a wealth of things going on but contained within a small enough city to ensure everything is closely connected.

What do you predict for Bristol in the future?

GTSW: Bristol was the first city in the UK to declare a climate emergency and it feels as though there is a growing Green Tech sector emerging here. There's some really incredible companies in the Bristol area already doing amazing things, to namedrop a few, go check out Ecologi, Karshare, Spherics, Kaluza, Greener, Albotherm, Lettus Grow, Cistor and Greener Hours as a starting point. We can only see Bristol's Green Tech scene growing and thriving more as local developers and designers continue to seek out opportunities to work on climate change initiatives. We're thrilled that GreenTech South West has grown to 1500 members in under three years and look forward to showcasing, promoting and connecting people to the area's most exciting Green Tech pioneers. n

• For more information, visit: techspark.co; setsquared-bristol.co.uk and greentechsouthwest.org

Image credit: @JonCraig_Photos

Image credit: @JonCraig_Photos

STATE OF THE ART

Studio 74, opening early October

Studio 74 Fine Art is an exciting, eclectic art gallery about to join the Bristol art scene, situated at 74 Whiteladies Road, Clifton.

It will offer a bold and exciting space with the gallery designed with you in mind, creating a welcoming environment to learn and enjoy about

collecting art; whether you are new to the art world or a connoisseur. Its collections range from emerging artists to acclaimed industry names, something to suit everyone’s tastes. Its ethos is to redefine what a gallery can be. In this relaxed space, enjoy a curated mix of intriguing works of art and sculpture.

• Register your interest for Studio 74’s opening event at: studio74contemporaryart.com

Image: Artwork by Uri Dushy

Chew Valley Arts Trail, 8 –9 October from 10am –6pm

If you are planning a weekend in the countryside why not visit the Chew Valley Arts Trail, celebrating its 20th anniversary. There are 17 venues in the villages around the Chew Valley and Blagdon Lakes and the historic Stanton Drew Stones, between the A37 and A38 near Bristol Airport. There will be a wide variety of work on display and something for everyone to enjoy. Browse or buy, chat to the artists and have a fun day out.

• For more information, visit: chewvalleyartstrail.co.uk. Contact Sandy Bell, Organiser, tintinna@aol.com 01275 333 128

Image: Country Fields by Jennifer Davidson

Keepers of the Fire, Rainmaker Gallery, until 5 November

This exhibition brings together the work of Jason Wesaw and Douglas Klemm. Both artists are citizens of Pokégnek Bodéwadmik (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians).The Potawatomi Nation is known as the ‘Keepers of The Fire’ amongst the tribes of the Three Fires Confederacy. Both artists express a profound respect for the land. The minimalist drawings of Wesaw are juxtaposed with richly textured landscape paintings by Klemm. Through expanses of carefully chosen colour drawn with oil pastel on incised archival paper, Wesaw describes a deep connection to nature and his ancestral homelands: “My work focuses on observing how nature organises and influences us. The bold colours and simple patterning lend itself to a visual language that comes across more meditative and reflective in the way we feel when seeing a beautiful sunrise or looking out across a vast expanse of mountains. Spirit manifests itself in these sacred places. It is this amazement, this wonder, that is at the heart of our relationship with the natural world and forms the core of our identity as ‘Keepers of the Fire’.”

As a landscape artist Klemm is directly inspired by the natural world. He said: “Composition is very important as are the design elements of form, line, color, texture, rhythm, repetition and balance. If I use a photo reference, it must be one I have taken myself. I need to be on-site to experience the energy, details and spirit of the land.”

This exhibition calls on us all to be more respectful of the lands that we inhabit.

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

Image: Grassy Beach Lake Michigan by Douglas Klemm, oil on canvas

In the paintings of Andrew Bird and the cast bronze sculptures of Chris Buck, there is an exciting juxtaposition between the spontaneous and structural form. The balance between these forces gives their work impact and presence –revealing more the closer you look. Through Andrew’s layered, potent canvases, you can see the interplay between form and freedom, as he conjures fleeting images or what he calls ‘slices of time’ with immediate, gestural marks and rich, sometimes unexpected colours. Yet always there is a sense of solidity and permanence underneath – like the relationship between ancient rock and fleeting clouds. For Chris, creative freedom and spontaneity are his points of departure. His sculptures are essentially abstract, sometimes inspired by found objects and developed without planning or drawing. Yet beyond the enigmatic titles, patinated textures and polished surfaces, there is always a timeless form, like something shaped by the elements or made in the distant past. You can explore the interplay between form and freedom in these powerful, charismatic works at Clifton Contemporary Art this autumn.

• cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk Image: Elements by Andrew Bird – acrylic on canvas

The West Bristol Arts Trail, at various locations in and around West Bristol, 15 –16 October

Taking place over the weekend of 15 –16 October, the West Bristol Arts Trail will take over 50 homes, studios and large venues and open them to the public. The trail will showcase the work of 116 artists living and working in Clifton, Clifton Wood, Redland and Hotwells. There is a public preview on 14 October at the Clifton High School from 6.30pm –8pm with the official opening by the current Lord Mayor of Bristol, Paula O'Rourke. This is a free event open to all so no invitation is needed. Taking part in the trail are fine artists, photographers, ceramicists, print makers, textile artists, jewellers and sculptors. The trail offers everyone the chance to meet artists in their studios, talk to them about their work and buy directly from them.

• For more information go to westbristolarts.com or pick up an Arts Trial map from many venues around the city

Image: Artwork by Andy Davies-Coward

The RWA’s renowned Annual Open Exhibition will be returning for its 169th year from 8 October with a stunning variety of work from emerging and established artists. This dynamic and varied exhibition will include painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, installation and mixed media and is a showcase of some of the most exciting artists from across the country. All work will be for sale making the Annual Open a perfect opportunity to discover new artistst or invest in well-known names.

Located in a spectacular Grade II* listed building in the heart of the city, the RWA is the UK’s only Royal Academy of Art housed in its own, original, purpose-built gallery. The building has recently completed a £4.5m transformation - opening up access for all. It provides opportunities for everybody to get creative and feel inspired. Through its extensive programme of exhibitions, events, workshops, talks and lectures, the RWA is committed to providing great art for everybody, and to promoting the understanding and enjoyment of art for the widest possible audience.

• rwa.org.uk

RWA’s 169th Annual Open Exhibition, from 8 October

Image: Still Movement by Matthew Burrows; 2019 Oil on board 180 x 149 cm

Form & Freedom, Andrew Bird and Chris Buck, Clifton Contemporary Art, 15 October –5 November

An indie odyssey

Some 36 years ago, the NME released a cassette tape that comprised of 22 new guitar-based bands licensed from British independent record labels of the time, which even featured the then unknown Scottish rock band, Primal Scream. C86 was arguably the birth of ‘indie music’, but what happened to those musical dreamers? asked renowned journalist and local author Nige Tassell. In his new book, Whatever Happened to the C86 kids? An Indie Odyssey, he tracks down the members to find out exactly where life led them...

Bogshed,

Stump and Miaow; The Mighty Lemon Drops, Half Man Half Biscuit and Close Lobsters; The Wedding Present, The Soup Dragons and Primal Scream: we’ve pressed rewind on the musical memory box, hitting the stop button when it reaches 1986.

Back then, the New Musical Express (best known as the NME) was a best-selling British ‘rock inkie’, selling 300,000 copies a week at the peak of its circulation to young people for whom 50p was a very small price to pay for a ticket to ride the exciting, rebellious, subversive and occasionally glamorous waves of cultural revolution away from the sanitised, highly commercial UK Official Top 40 Chart.

In May of 1986, readers who cared to invest a little more spare cash surfing those waves were offered this: “NME is making a declaration of independents on our latest mail-order cassette: 22 tracks across two sides, all lined up and raring to go in exchange for a postal order for just £2.95”.

Today, Nige Tassell has been a journalist for more than twenty years. Having undergone a stint as editor for the now-legendary Bristol and Bath weekly listings magazine Venue, he’s written extensively about sport, music and popular culture for a range of titles including FourFourTwo, The Guardian, TheWord and BBCHistory.

Surely, though, tracking down members from all those bands can’t have been straightforward, all this time on? “There was an element of detective work at first, and I really enjoyed that element of quest: lots of online searches, following leads,” says Nige. “One of the first people I made contact with was David Gedge from The Wedding Present and he was up for it straight away because the band is his life, to the present day. When I finally made contact with other names on my list, only a very, very few wanted to keep the door closed; I can count on the fingers of one hand the people who said good luck with it, but I’m not interested. But I found that if I talked to one member of a band, the others would come along; the more I got hold of, the more the list lengthened – some on my doorstep, some much further afield – because people didn’t want to be left out. Some of them are still really good mates, and even do occasional gigs; the floppy fringes may not still be around, but the band members are!”

Inevitably, Nige unearthed a handful of sad stories too as his researched dived deeper, learning of band members who are no longer with us, or who are going through personal tragedies of their own. “Sadly, that’s all part of the story for all of us, isn’t it?” he says. “Then there are the ones who have vaguely stayed in touch, or drifted then come back together again, the way we all do with school friends, or people we used to work with back in the day. And sometimes, we’ve just thought, I don’t need to keep in touch with such-and-such a person, but I wish them well.”

What would have happened, though, if only half of those on the C86 lineup had responded to Nige’s requests? “Rather nervewrackingly, perhaps, I knew it had to be all of them or none at all,” he says. “I could perhaps have got away with maybe a couple of them not wanting to to be included because I could have turned their non-compliance into something or, if they were still gigging, gone to one of their gigs and just watched them from afar, for their section. Deep down, I knew I could have gone to all the trouble of setting the whole book out and then not been able to get it across the line. But fortunately, it all turned out fine!”

For Nige, publishing in general seems to have worked out fine, his effortlessly engaging style taking us on a lovely, lively literary journey, distinctly relatable to a ‘certain’ generation. But what will the next generation of live music fans make of Nige’s most recent book – his own children, for example, aged 14 and 17?

WhateverHappenedtothe C86 Kids? AnIndieOdyssey is the eighth book in Nige’s prolific career, offering interested parties a fascinating contemporary update on the lives of the members of every single one of the 22 bands listed at the start of this interview, 36 years on.

So, to start at the very beginning (of this book, anyway): how old was Nige when the C86 cassette was released?

“I was 17 – the optimum age for new bands to pitch at,” Nige recalls. “Unusually for music lovers of my generation, I wasn’t a big John Peel fan at the time, mainly because – and this is going to sound really sad of me – I had a daily paper round that started at 5.45am, so I wasn’t listening to Peel at 1am in the morning. But I was a big fan of Janice Long’s Saturday evening show, so I guess my tastes were much more kind of REM rather than Bogshed. The bands on the tape – the popular, more accessible stuff, if you like –was the stuff that chimed with me.”

But why revisit them in 2022? “I like to alternate my books between popular culture and sport – it keeps my interest levels up!” says Nige. “And I enjoy writing in slightly different styles, for different audiences. When I write about sport, the turnover of the people I’m writing about is much quicker than music – in football, for example, the players come and go really quickly. In C86, I had 22 different bands to write about in just one book, so I could go into depth without being ridiculously forensic. I love travel, and meeting people, and writing about their lives. So, where are the C86 bands now? I’ve gone off and found out – it’s really as straightforward as that.”

“Put it this way: they don’t put up with what I play in the car because they’ve got their headphones in – and I’ve no idea what they’re listening to!” he laughs. “Anyway, they’re both really obsessed by film – they talk about Kurosawa over the dinner table, and discuss soundtracks. But I tend to think, if they see me doing my thing, writing the books that I write at our kitchen table, they’re growing up knowing that they can go their own way and do their own thing too. You’re never going to catch me rolling my eyes and saying, ‘kids today, eh’? I want them to do their own thing, not mine.” Just like those C86 kids are still doing their own thing, today. n

• Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids? An Indie Odyssey; Nine Eight Books; hardback £20 (also available on Kindle)

I found that if I talked to one member of a band, the others would come along; the more I got hold of, the more the list lengthened... people didn’t want to be left out

Expert opinion

Saleroom Successes

Clevedon Salerooms held their latest Quarterly Specialist Sale on Thursday 1st September. A varied selection on offer saw some very healthy prices achieved throughout the day.

The high watermark of the sale was hit not once but twice in the Asian Art section, all in the space of two lots. A Chinese cloisonne enamel bowl had arrived in a carrier bag at the saleroom on a valuation day, having languished unloved in a cupboard under the vendor’s kitchen sink. Clevedon’s valuers sensed it could have potential and their hunch proved to be right, as a long bidding battle took it to £8,200.

In a similar story, a group of five Chinese Republican period (early 20th Century) porcelain vases achieved the same price. Finely painted and decorated with Chinese script, they had caught the eye of our valuer on a visit to the vendor’s home. He had sold one such vase years ago for a good sum, but could lightning strike twice? A resounding 'yes' was the answer, as £8,200 was the record for the second lot in succession.

Items with a strong local connection often prove most popular at the Salerooms. A pistol by rare local maker Joseph Callaway found its way home. The vendor had previously waivered over an offer of £1,500, but was rewarded for declining this as it sold at Clevedon for a more deserving £2,400. Also with a local flavour, a rare painted wooden diorama of a Bristol to London mail coach was the subject of strong bidding, selling for £2,800.

The Paintings section also yielded a number of strong prices. A good mid 19th Century oil on canvas of a farmer with prize bull and sheep attracted the attention of a Midlands-based specialist in animal paintings, who secured the work for a multiple-estimate £5,800.

Furniture closed the sale, and from a local Nailsea estate a beautifully primitive Windsor chair illustrated the strong demand for the best period pieces as it sold for £1,400. With some 85% sold and a total well above expectations, the sale represented another resounding success for a saleroom going from strength to strength. ■

• clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)

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

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FOOD & DRINK

Eat, drink and be merry

The South Glos Food and Drink Festival returns for its fourth instalment, taking place at the Bristol and Bath Science Park on 1 –2 October. Exhibitors will be offering an array of deliciousness, with something to suit all. There will be live music from the stage running throughout the afternoon. The festival will showcase cuisines ranging from Caribbean, Asian, Fried Chicken, Greek, Indian, Latino, duck wraps, gourmet burgers, hot dogs loaded fries, pizzas, burritos, jerk chicken and vegan options.

Try the UK’s #1 sausage, as voted at sausages week and as seen on ITV’s This Morning or an indulgent mac from Mac Daddies, with their signature cheese mac infused with truffle oil and black truffle crumb finished with gold leaf.

If you have a sweet tooth, you will love the selection of sweet stalls, brownies, waffles, fudge, gelato, donuts, plus delicious cakes from local cake maker Daisy B Bakes based in Emerson's green. Traders in the craft stall marquee will be selling headwear, jewellery, olives, spices and a range of handmade items. Four legged friends are covered with a stall selling treats for dogs. The event is running from 11.30am –7pm on both days.

• For more information and to claim your free entry ticket, visit: southglosfoodfest.co.uk

Renowned chef talks Lebanon’s rich culinary heritage

Chef, photographer and president of Slow Food Beirut, Barbara Abdeni Massaad will be at Cookpad UK in Bristol on 1 October to launch her new cookbook, Forever Beirut, and talk about Lebanon’s rich culinary heritage. Barbara is a well-known, much-loved, chef and food writer in Lebanon. Travelling the length and breadth of the country, she has recorded the traditional way food has been preserved in Lebanon. Her Soup for Syria cookbook features recipes donated by Sami Tamimi, Claudia Roden and Yotam Ottolenghi amongst others, to raise money and awareness of the plight of Syrian refugees.

• Tickets are available on shorkk.com

New spirits shop opens on North Street

A brand-new spirits shop and bar has opened its doors in Bedminster’s North Street. Specialising in whisky and rum, Spirited is the brainchild of whisky lover Katy Kennedy, who is focused on giving both a relaxed environment to enjoy food and drink with friends, and the ideal place to buy the perfect dram. Having worked for the likes of Oddbins, Avery’s and Elixir Distillers, Katy has built up a vast knowledge of the best drinks to suit your tastes, and budget. Now, she is excited to offer her expertise to Bristol’s community of whisky lovers and drinkers of quality spirits.

Connoisseurs can find spirits and wines from big-name distilleries and wineries, as well as craft spirits from small independent producers in Britain and abroad. Small drinks producers, little distilleries and craft breweries that flourish in the South West will be a mainstay.

The bar is serving a simple, seasonally changing menu of highballs and a rotating wine list. Wines can also be selected from the shelf to drink in at the bar. Comparative tasting flights – a board of three spirits – are to be a speciality of Spirited, as will a regular ‘break even’ bottle for customers to sample at cost. From October, ticketed tasting events and private sessions will be hosted by brands, suppliers and producers. Katy is also excited to collaborate with local business owners to hold other events such as chocolate and rum or cheese and whisky.

• For more information, visit: spiritedbristol.com and follow the new shop on Instagram @spirited.bristol; 196 North Street

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

HARVEY NICHOLS X THE MOUNT WITHOUT

Harvey Nichols Wine Masterclass at The Mount Without. 12 October 2022

Hosted by Harvey Nichols Wine specialist, Diana Lyalle, in the beautiful and historic Crypt space located in basement of The Mount Without, explore some of Europe's most classic wines which have been created using traditional winemaking methods.

Discover more about the regions in which they are created and how this affects the taste and style of these long-established bottles, along with what sets them apart from the New World. All wines will be paired with nibbles.

All wines included in the tasting are available from The Harvey Nichols Wine Shop, which offers a comprehensive and unusual selection of quality wines, sourced from around the world by our expert team of buyers.

The details: The Crypt at The Mount The Without, Upper Church Lane, Bristol, BS2 8FN 12 October, £35 per person

To book your tickets email: reception.bristol@harveynichols.com or scan the QR code to book at Eventbrite.co.uk

Reigning Bake Off champion Giuseppe Dell’Anno Image credit: ©Matt Russell

Get bakeyour on

Twelvemonths on from being crowned The Great British Bake Off’s first Italian winner, Bristol local Giuseppe Dell’Anno has had a year to remember. Having appeared on countless radio and television programmes, sharing his experience of the BakeOff tent and imparting his knowledge on all things focaccia, Giuseppe is now a RadioTimes columnist and published author.

The 46-year-old egineer entertained the nation with many a memorable moment during his time on the twelfth series of the show, forming close bonds with his fellow bakers, impressing judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith and building friendships with presenters Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas. From creating a spectacular Mad Hatter’s Tea Party showstopper to kissing Mr Spatula, tuning into watch Giuseppe every Tuesday night was a highlight on the autumn calendar.

Now, as his new cookbook, Giuseppe’sItalianBakes, prepares to hit the shelves on 13 October, we sit down with the Britalian baker to chat all about how his new book was “the most precious gift” Bake Off could ever give him, how he was able to transform his family’s most treasured hand-written recipes into 200+ pages of pure joy and, of course, what his predictions are for the brand new series...

One year on from Bake Off – how has this year been for you? What have been the highlights so far?

Over the past year my life has been turned up-side-down, quite literally: last summer I started a new job in Milan with the plan to move the whole family back to Italy. Twelve months down the line, I quit that job, moved back to Bristol, wrote my very first cookbook and had lots of fun with the BakeOff aftermath. I have greatly enjoyed having a peek into the entertainment world, previously entirely alien to me. Participating into the production of TV and radio programmes, visiting their studios and meeting people that I’d only seen on my telly until then has been epic.

Can you tell us all about Giuseppe'sItalianBakes, the family recipes included and how they’ve been developed from handwritten notes?

All the recipes in Giuseppe’sItalianBakes are timeless Italian classics: I have purposedly restrained myself from being overly creative and I have actively tried to remain as respectful as possible of the original flavours, formats and shapes. My dad’s recipes have been a phenomenal source of information and inspiration: in fact, I did very little other than translating his very sparse, hand-written notes into fullblown, workable recipes, fit for a domestic environment and suitable for bakers of all levels of experience.

What does it mean to you to publish this book? The possibility of writing this book is certainly one of the most

precious gifts BakeOff could ever give me: I had been planning for a long time to tidy up my dad’s recipes as a family heirloom to pass on to my children. The chance I have been given to share it far and wide to a much broader audience fills me with pride. My ambition is that every single copy of this book gets used and abused to exhaustion. The only thing that would make me any happier now is knowing that in many other families across the world many more people are enjoying the same treats I enjoyed myself.

What have you enjoyed the most about putting Giuseppe’s Italian Bakes together?

I have genuinely enjoyed the whole process: the research behind each recipe, the testing and tasting of each bake, the discussions with the expert bakers in my family to nail down the smaller details. The part that I have relished the most has been browsing through the old and crumbly notes that had been stored back in my parents’ house for decades. The cherry on the cake (pardon the pun) is that I also stumbled upon the odd, old family photo while diving into those packs, that we had all forgotten about.

As the reigning Bake Off champion Giuseppe Dell’Anno prepares to launch his debut cookbook this month, we sit down with the Bristol local to talk all about his most treasured family recipes and his nostaglia as the new series begins on Channel 4...

Giuseppe’s father’s hand-written recipes have been included in the new cookbook

Image credit: © Matt Russell

“Pastiera is without any doubt my favourite. It’s a moreish, extremely aromatic Easter cake, made with ricotta and wheat grain, flavoured with candied orange peel and orange blossom water.”

Image credit: © Matt Russell

Which particular recipe reminds you of your favourite memory? The smell of each bake is a particularly powerful trigger for me: the most aromatic bakes are those that, more than others, bring back memories of my childhood. Among these, pastiera is without any doubt my favourite. It’s a moreish, extremely aromatic Easter cake, made with ricotta and wheat grain, flavoured with candied orange peel and orange blossom water. My dad used to bake them by the dozen each Easter to give them out as presents to friends and family, so baking one now brings back in my mind the crisp, cool and sunny atmosphere of Italian early spring days.

What are you most looking forward to when the book comes out and you embark on your tour?

One of the things that I have enjoyed the most of my post-BakeOff life is interacting with the people. Which is pretty unusual for an introvert like me. I keep receiving so much affection and positivity from people, both in person and through social media and I cannot wait to meet in person all those that will be joining me during the book tour: I really look forward to thanking them for their incredible support.

What are you loving about Bristol’s food scene at the moment? Is there any particular restaurant/café/deli/bakery/chef that deserves a special shout out? This is a difficult question for me to answer: sad as it might sound, I have hardly had the time to have any social life recently. Eating out for me is a real, and rare, treat! I have only just recently discovered a delightful Indian restaurant in my very village: it’s literally a stone’s throw from my front door and I only went there for the first time last summer!

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned over the last two years? This is going to sound trite and corny, so apologies in advance: I have learned to accept myself, my coarse grey hair, my overlyMediterranean features and my stubborn Italian accent. Winning BakeOff has been a validating exercise on a truly spectacular scale, which has taught me that it is not only fine to accept your true self, but that striving (and working hard) to be the best version of yourself is, in itself, the most fulfilling reward you can ever hope for.

What’s next in the pipeline for you? Who knows? I miss my old engineering job, so I hope to be able to find the time to get back to it somehow. But I’d love to keep alive this new food-writing side of me. That is, of course, until some big TV producer comes up and offers me my own TV show… [fingers crossed].

How is it watching the bakers in the tent this year knowing exactly what they're going through?

I had a severe bout of nostalgia earlier in the year, while they were filming the new season of the show: I missed being in the tent and the continuous adrenaline rush that comes with it. I am now over it though, and have been able to enjoy the show as any other viewer. Perhaps the only difference now is that I also ‘see’ the things that are not shown on camera, having familiarised myself with the tent surroundings daily for over seven weeks. Thankfully, it does not detract in the slightest from the magic of the show!

Quickfire questions

What would you cook at your dream dinner party and who would you invite?

Pizza, pizza and more pizza. Maybe some focaccia too. Did I mention pizza? I’d invite all my old friends from uni.

Your guilty food pleasure is … Few things give me as much pleasure as a full English breakfast on a lazy weekend morning. And I don’t even feel guilty!

Preferably your eggs would be ... Poached to perfection and on a toasted English muffin.

Your spice cupboard essential is ... Balsamic vinegar of Modena: not a spice, strictly speaking, but I drizzle it on almost everything.

Your favourite family recipe from your new book is … Baci di Alassio: chocolate and hazelnut flavoured, small, chewy biscuits filled with chocolate ganache. Careful, though, they are utterly addictive!

• Giuseppe’s Italian Bakes by Giuseppe Dell'Anno, (Quadrille, £20) is out on 13 October and will be available to buy online and from all good bookshops

Recipe: Baci di Alassio aka ‘Alassio Kisses’

METHOD

GLUTEN-FREE DAIRY-FREE

MAKE THE BISCUITS

1. Place the shelf in the middle of the oven and preheat it to 180°C fan (400°F/Gas mark 6).

INGREDIENTS –MAKES 18

For the biscuits:

130g (1 cup) blanched hazelnuts

100g (generous ½ cup) caster (superfine) sugar

20g (generous 1 tbsp) unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ tsp ground cinnamon pinch of salt

35g (1¼oz) egg white (about 1 medium egg white)

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

25g (scant 2 tbsp) clear honey

For the filling:

70g (2½oz) dairy-free dark chocolate chips or a bar (50–55% cocoa solids)

2. Place the hazelnuts in a baking tray and roast for 8 minutes until just about golden. Give the hazelnuts a shake midway through the process to ensure an even bake. Take the hazelnuts out of the oven, let them cool for a few minutes, then chill them in the fridge.

3. Change the oven to the static setting at 180°C (350°F/Gas mark 4).

4. Once the hazelnuts have cooled completely, place them in a food processor, add the sugar and pulse the mixture a few times until fine and sandy. If your food processor does not have a pulse function, blitz on maximum speed for no more than 10–15 seconds.

Avoid overprocessing the nuts as they might overheat and leach out oil. Any grittiness due to slightly larger granules of nuts will not be a problem; in fact, it will add to the texture of the biscuits.

5. Transfer the nuts and sugar mixture to a medium bowl, sift in the cocoa, cinnamon and salt, and mix with a spoon until fully combined. Make a well in the centre and add the egg white and vanilla. Incorporate them into the dry ingredients with a spoon to make a stiff paste, then add the honey and combine. The sugar takes a while to dissolve in the liquid ingredients, so stir and fold the mixture for a couple of minutes longer than you think is needed; this will also soften it a little and make piping it easier. Transfer the paste into a piping bag fitted with a 12mm (½in) star nozzle.

6. Piping the biscuits is probably the hardest step, as the mixture is rather stiff. Single-use or silicone piping bags are unsuitable: you should use proper canvas or nylon piping bags for this mixture, or you risk a rupture. For the same reason, if in doubt, use a larger nozzle, as a smaller one will make your life more difficult. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper and pipe 3–4cm (1¼–1½in) wide dollops, about 3cm (1¼in) apart. You should be able to fit 18–20 biscuits on each tray. Rest the biscuits in the fridge for 12 hours at this stage to develop a slightly crunchier crust, if you have the time and the space; otherwise move to the next step straight away.

7. Bake one tray at a time for no longer than 9–10 minutes. Given the dark colour of the dough, it is pretty difficult to gauge when the biscuits are ready; however, 10 minutes should be more than enough. If in doubt, take them out a minute earlier rather than later: overbaking will make these biscuits tough. Take the biscuits out of the oven and slide the baking paper on to a cooling rack immediately. They will still be soft, so give them a few minutes to cool before taking them off the baking paper.

ASSEMBLE

8. If you are using a chocolate bar, chop it finely with a sharp knife. Place the chopped chocolate or chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave it for 30 seconds. Take it out and stir the chocolate with a silicone spatula for about 20 seconds to distribute the heat evenly. If there are still bits of solid chocolate, give it bursts of 10 seconds in the microwave, followed by 20 seconds of stirring until all the chocolate is melted. Let the chocolate rest at room temperature for a few minutes to stiffen up. To check whether it is ready, scoop a small amount with the spatula and let it fall back into the bowl: the chocolate is ready when it forms a blob that holds its shape without flowing back into the rest of the chocolate.

9. While the chocolate stiffens up, arrange half of the biscuits upside down on the cooling rack. If your food processor does not have a pulse function, blitz on maximum speed for no more than 10–15 seconds. Avoid overprocessing the nuts as they might overheat and leach out oil. Any grittiness due to slightly larger granules of nuts will not be a problem; in fact, it will add to the texture of the biscuits.

10. Transfer the chocolate to a small piping bag with a 3–4mm (1/8in) opening (no nozzle required) and pipe about ½ teaspoon of chocolate on each biscuit. You can also simply spoon dollops of chocolate on to the biscuits using 2 teaspoons. Pair each filled biscuit with its empty counterpart, slightly pressing them together, and place them back on the cooling rack to set. Work quickly or the chocolate will set; I recommend filling a few biscuits, then pairing them immediately rather than filling the whole batch first. Make sure the chocolate has hardened fully before taking the biscuits off the cooling rack. Store in an airtight container for up to a week. n

Image credit: © Matt Russell

Lungs ofour planet

Thissummer’s drought and record temperatures, along with the wildfires that raged across the land, demonstrated once again – as if we needed further proof –the seriousness of our climate emergency. They also highlighted how crucial trees are in our attempts to turn things round.

Put simply, without trees we could not survive. Trees reduce pollution, absorb carbon dioxide, store carbon and produce oxygen. They also provide shade, lower ambient temperatures and, by providing habitats and green corridors for insects, birds and animals, help to slow the catastrophic decline in biodiversity.

While it is no longer possible to deny how vital trees are – not just for our wellbeing but also for our survival – the battle to halt their destruction is far from won. It isn’t just in tropical rainforests that war is still being waged; the felling of thousands of trees by council contractors, backed up by the force of law, on the streets of Sheffield in 2018 shows it is happening much closer to home.

Given the imperative to build new housing and the infrastructure associated with it, it seems inevitable that controversial fellings will continue. There is general agreement, however, that more trees need to be planted, not just to make up the losses, but also to ramp up Britain’s tree cover. What is at issue is the speed and extent of this reforestation. Recent spats over the drive to increase Bristol’s tree canopy have focused not on its necessity but on how quickly it can be achieved.

Time, however, is not on our side. Although trees are among our most important allies in the fight against climate change, some species are already falling victim to it. Ash dieback is caused by climate

change, but milder, wetter winters allow the disease to spread more rapidly, while drought and high summer temperatures put the trees under stress, making them more susceptible.

In the longer term, it is feared that climate change threatens Britain’s beeches, whose shallow roots struggle to cope with drought and rising temperatures. The decline of particular species, although devastating, however, is compensated for by natural progression, as other species move in to fill up the gaps. It is the overall loss of tree cover that is the real problem.

It is estimated that, since we switched from hunter-gathering to farming the land around 12,000 years ago, the number of trees growing on our planet has fallen from around 5.8 trillion to around three trillion, with the rate of deforestation picking up speed over the past couple of centuries.

The trend in this country over the past century, however, has been in the other direction – not that we can take too much comfort from this. Only about 10% of England is covered by woodland, compared with 32% of France, 33% of Germany and 37% of Spain. A sizeable chunk of that 10% is also made up of commercial conifer plantations, far less ecologically diverse and far less effective in fighting climate change than broad-leaved woodlands.

And, although tree cover is increasing, the rate of that increase is alarmingly slow. The Climate Change Committee set up by the government in 2008 has advised that 30,000 hectares of new woodland need to be planted every year to 2050 if net zero targets are to be met. Between 2016 and 2020, however, only 7,720 hectares were planted.

In Bristol, too, the council has announced ambitious targets,

“Put simply, without trees we could not survive,” states Andrew Swift, who, this month, looks at the devastating impact of deforestation and the vital role trees play in keeping our cities livable...

aiming to dramatically increase tree cover in the city and prioritising planting in areas where cover is low. An increasing number of people are taking matters into their own hands, however. Community tree planting is gaining momentum all the time, and organisations, charities and individuals have racked up some impressive achievements.

The brilliant thing about planting trees is that you’re not just helping to save the planet, but also reaping more immediate dividends. Cynics may scoff at the concept of ‘forest bathing’, but so successful has the healing power of spending time in the woods proved to be that it’s now a medical prescription in Japan, while an increasing amount of research shows a correlation between exposure to the natural world and increased health and wellbeing.

You don’t need to delve into the research, though. A quicker – and more enjoyable – way of putting the idea to the test is to get out and explore the fantastic range of woods and trees on our doorstep. Bristol is fortunate in having had a slew of wealthy landowners who nabbed much of the prime real estate around the city to create private parkland, much of which now survives as green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Most extensive is Ashton Court, where, if you head through the Clifton Lodge entrance, at the end of Bridge Road, you can walk through a magnificent avenue of limes before following the drive as it curves downhill past a succession of ancient oaks, including one known as the Domesday Oak, which was selected by the Tree Council in 2002 as one of 50 remarkable trees to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Another option is to follow the wooded gorge at Coombe Dingle before climbing to Blaise Castle, an 18th-century folly hidden amid ancient woodland on the heights above. Ancient woodland – or ancient replanted woodland – also survives at Kingsweston, Oldbury Court, Stoke Park and Badock’s Wood in Southmead, along with several other sites in Bristol.

A little further off the beaten track is Bishop’s Knoll in Stoke Bishop, where the abandoned terraces and kitchen garden of a longdemolished mansion lie alongside a Victorian arboretum. Left for decades to its own devices, restoration has been limited to improving accessibility while maintaining a glorious wildness and labelling some of the rarer and more impressive trees. The largest is a Monterey Cypress with a seven-foot girth, while the oldest is a pollarded oak planted over 700 years ago as a boundary marker.

The most extensive area of ancient woodland, though, is across the Avon in Leigh Woods, where the rare Bristol Whitebeam was discovered in 1852. Along with six other kinds of whitebeam –including the Observatory Whitebeam and the Leigh Woods Whitebeam – it is endemic to the Avon Gorge, meaning that it grows wild nowhere else.

Parks such as Eastville, Grevylle Smyth, St Andrews, Victoria or St George, with its magnificent avenue of London Planes, also richly reward exploration. Some parks – such as Brandon Hill or Castle Park, with its celebrated avenue of Japanese cherries and those enormous fig trees growing out of the harbour wall – even have specially devised tree trails.

Garden cemeteries, so beloved of the Victorians, now double as wildlife havens and are also home to some spectacular trees. Arnos Vale is the most celebrated, but others well worth exploring include Greenbank in Easton, Ridgeway Park in Eastville and St Andrew’s in Clifton, where the path leading through it is shaded by a pergola of pleached limes.

With an unmistakable whiff of autumn in the air, there is no better time, as the leaves start changing colour, to get out and explore the infinite richness and variety of Bristol’s trees and woods – and, perhaps, mindful that they are our closest allies in the fight against climate change, be inspired to get planting. n

Avenue of Japanese cherries in Castle Park Leigh Woods from Bishop's Knoll

Oaks at Ashton Court

BRISTOL UPDATES

NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Solar-powered buses arrive in Bristol

CEO of The Big Lemon, Tom Druitt, is delighted to confirm that The Big Lemon has applied to the Traffic Commissioner for a licence to operate in the West of England and subject to that licence being granted it will be running four services in Bristol from 3 October.

The Big Lemon is a social enterprise based in Brighton focused on providing local community bus services using low emission and electric vehicles, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and providing an excellent passenger experience. Its drivers are famous in Brighton for the friendly and helpful service they provide, and the team are looking forward to bringing the same ethos to its services in Bristol.

The Big Lemon is working with the local transport authority to provide services on routes 505 (Long Ashton Park and Ride to Southmead), 506 (Broadmead to Southmead), 515 (Imperial Park to Stockwood) and 516 (Broad Walk to Hengrove Park). Fares will be in line with the requirements of the Combined Authority and will be announced prior to launch of the services.

• For more information, visit: thebiglemon.com or follow @TheBigLemon on Twitter and Facebook

Bristol-based befriending service calls for more volunteers

Time2Share@WECIL has been offering a befriending service for 50 years and is one of a range of services at the Bristol-based charity WECIL.

The service links disabled young people with volunteers who provide 1:1 support and a short break to parent/carers.

Befriending gives disabled young people with a range of disabilities the opportunity to build confidence and independence with their very own buddy. Links are based on shared interests and activities which can be enjoyed either in the family home or out in the community. Volunteers usually visit a young person for two hours a week and need to be friendly, caring and reliable.

• If you are interested in becoming a buddy then please see WECIL’s volunteering page: wecil.co.uk/volunteering

Huboo –one of the fastest growing global fulfilment technology providers –has demonstrated its commitment to innovation through co-founder Paul Dodd taking up the new post of Chief Innovation Officer. Formerly Chief Technology Officer, the shift comes at a pivotal time in Huboo’s incredible journey, which has seen it grow from two members of staff and £20,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) in 2017 to almost 800 staff and £1.7million MMR in 2022. To date, Bristol-headquartered Huboo has over 516,300.87 sq ft of warehouse space globally and operations in The Netherlands, Spain, Germany and the UK.

Innovation has been at the heart of Dodd’s career, having worked his way up from the graduate scheme to Global Physical Distribution Manager at Proctor & Gamble, where he was responsible for managing transport and warehousing innovation across the globe.

Dodd’s innovation expertise is what enabled him to devise Huboo’s unique micro-hub model. The hub system, each run by hub managers, allows both B2C and B2B customers to build strong relationships with their manager who looks after a limited number of clients to better meet their fulfilment needs, add personalisation and quality control. Meanwhile, ‘hubs’ also serve the Huboo team well and were designed with people at its core to create a warehouse system that is enjoyable to work in, without miles of daily walking.

•

For more information, visit: huboo.com

Huboo co-founder takes on Chief Innovation Officer role

BRISTOL UPDATES

NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

England Netball Roses Academy selection for Redmaids’ High student

Redmaids’ High School has recently announced that after attending an intensive two-day selection camp earlier this summer, Neve in Year 10 has been selected for the England Netball Roses Academy 2022 – 2023 squad. Neve was invited to the selection camp which consisted of court training, fitness testing, and match play after being observed on court whilst representing Severn Stars in the U17 National Performance League.

Neve received the news that she had been selected while on holiday and said “When I got the email to say I was successful, I was delighted. I feel very excited and proud as it will be a great experience and I've been training hard and challenging myself over the past few months to make sure I was ready. I'm so happy the hard work has paid off!”

Over the coming months, Neve along with the rest of the newly selected squad will travel to Loughborough for regular training camps, they’ll take part in friendly competitions and will have the opportunity to represent their country in the Europe Netball U17 tournament in early 2023.

• redmaidshigh.co.uk

Badminton School opens its doors for new behind the scenes CBBC TV Series

Badminton School in Bristol opened its doors to a film crew working for children's television channel, CBBC, in March this year for their new 20-part series Our Boarding School

Over a number of weeks, the television crew filmed behind the scenes at the all-girls school in Westbury-on-Trym to tell the story of life in a boarding school. The twenty-episode series reveals the fun, friendships and challenges the boarding pupils face while living away from home.

Mr Dalley, Acting Head at Badminton School, said “It was a hugely exciting spring this year as the staff and pupils welcomed the production crew and their cameras onto site. Boarding schools are places that people don't always know a great deal about, often with endlessly intriguing stories attached to them, so it was a joy to take part in this series that will give viewers a real glimpse into boarding life.”

Joyt, a Boarder in Year 8 at Badminton, said this about being part of the series: “It was cool being behind the scenes, watching people film. I found it really enjoyable. You were even able to film bloopers sometimes! They made it [the piece to camera interviews] really fun because you were even allowed to sit behind the camera sometimes and ask the questions!” The series is available to watch on iPlayer.

Local talent wins Footwear Designer of the Year

Bristol-based footwear designer, Hannah Stiles, has won the title of ‘Footwear Designer of the Year' at the Footwear Industry Awards, a ceremony that praises the talents in the shoe business.

Hannah Stiles, employed by family-run footwear and clothing distributor, Gardiners, was awarded the accolade due to her stylish range direction with comfort brand Hush Puppies.

The Footwear Industry Awards represent an independent stamp of approval of both technical excellence and outstanding reputation among industry peers. Retailers and brands across the sector nominate and vote for professionals to be awarded at the live presentation at the Birmingham NEC. These coveted awards provide recognition and highlight how much creativity there is to celebrate in the industry.

The 32-year-old from Bristol studied Footwear Design at De Montford University in Leicester and joined Gardiners in 2017. Since working with the fifthgeneration family wholesaler, her talents have grown from strength to strength.

•

The Hush Puppies styles designed by Hannah, along with global favourites, are available to buy at footwear stores all over Britain and online at hushpuppies.co.uk

FAMILY DIARY

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

See Monster

n Open now, Weston-super-Mare

The transformation of a decommissioned North Sea offshore platform is a world-first that is set to become one of the UK’s largest public art installations, aiming to inspire global conversations about the repurposing of large industrial structures and design-led solutions to sustainable futures. See Monster can be experienced from the seafront, beach and on board and will feature four publicly accessible levels animated by a 10-metre-high waterfall; a 6,000-piece kinetic installation forming the monster’s shimmering scales; an onboard oasis of grasses, plants and trees selected to thrive in a seaside micro-climate, and so much more. seemonster.co.uk

Wake The Tiger Amazement Park

n Open now, Albert Road BS2 0YA

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

Scribble and Sketch

n 8 October, Easton Community Centre

Join 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

Bristol Film Festival: Hocus Pocus

n 19 October, Arnos Vale Cemetery

Halloween season roars to life with two nights of appropriately spooky films, from the family-friendly to the blood-curdling, at Arnos Vale Cemetery. About Hocus Pocus: Salem teenager Max reluctantly takes his younger sister trick-or-treating on Halloween. However, when they sneak into a former museum and Max inadvertently resurrects the wicked Sanderson sisters, it’s a race against time to save the souls of Salem from the clutches of the evil witches before they permanently restore themselves. bristolfilmfestival.com

This October half-term, get ready for some spooky fun at Cheddar Gorge & Caves. Some of the Gorge’s famous goats have been ghoulified and are haunting the caves and the museum. Can you track them down and decode the secret message? The Halloween experience is included in the price of your Day Ticket, so you can hunt ghoulish ghosts while enjoying all six of Cheddar Gorge and Caves’ spectacular attractions, including Dreamhunters at Cox’s Cave, Beyond the View, Jacob’s Ladder, the Cliff-top Walk and the Museum of Prehistory. Just remember to keep your eyes peeled for the four-legged foes. cheddargorge.co.uk

COMING SOON!

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School: Robin Hood and Marian n 25 November –2 December, Redgrave Theatre

Deep in Sherwood Forest, swashbuckling power couple Robin Hood and Marian are taking from the rich to give to the poor. Along with their band of outlaws, they have one goal: to outsmart the fearsome Sheriff of Nottingham and greedy Prince John. An explosive musical adventure for the whole family; sword-wielding, dragons, venison pasties and more archery than you can aim your arrow at. oldvic.ac.uk

Haunted half-term: Cheddar Gorge & Caves n 21 –31 October

Taking the plunge

Notso long ago, we would only hear of ice baths in relation to elite athletes as they plunged themselves into tubs of ice water after a physically exerting training session or competition. Andy Murray would follow this recovery prescription religiously with an eight-minute routine. These days, however, the likes of Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey are all advocates of the ice bath. Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete Wim Hof –widely known as The Iceman –has garnered considerable attention for his ability to withstand low temperatures. He has long promoted a method –the Wim Hof Method® –which he believes will help others to achieve similar abilities, all for the benefit of their health. “Put in the simplest of terms, the Wim Hof Method® is a way to keep your body and mind in its optimal natural state,” reads his website.

The study of the benefits of water on the human body has a very expansive timeline. Even before the Romans; with their physicians and society championing therapeutic health benefits, we have the Greeks. Physician Hippocrates and philosopher Plato no less, studied and documented the effects and benefits of hot and cold water on the human body.

What’s more, the physicians John Floyer and James Currie, who lived for a short time in Clifton, explored the medicinal use of cold water to treat mental and physical ailments in the 1700s. Currie, an early advocate of the abolition of slavery, was a man with highly regarded literary and scientific views, and enjoyed the company of distinguished colleagues such as Erasmus Darwin, William Wilberforce, Sir Walter Scott, Sir Joseph Banks and Robert Burns.

So, in answering the key questions: are there any benefits to ice baths, and, if so, what are they? We thankfully have some current scientific knowledge to guide us.

Regarding exercise, the idea is that immersing the body in freezing cold water speeds up recovery after training due to a reduction in body temperature, blood flow and inflammation in tissues of the muscles, just like using a bag of frozen peas to reduce pain and swelling. Studies have shown that ice baths might be helpful for quick recovery between events during a competition, but not if you want muscles to get stronger in the long term. This is because the reduction in blood flow could slow down muscle protein synthesis, where the muscle rebuilds itself after injury or strain, slowing down muscle repair.

If you were taken aback by my ‘regarding exercise’ comment, it is because there are other inferred benefits of ice baths that are transposed from research into cold water swimming and cold showers. They would be better-termed effects of cold water on your health. We know cold water increases your metabolism; when in cold water, your body works harder to stay warm – and as a result, you burn calories much quicker. The colder the water, the harder

your body has to work to turn fat stores into energy. Cold water also stimulates the part of our nervous system, which helps our body rest and repair –promoting a feeling of calm that could lead to better sleep.

While focusing on the evidence, I find that many of the strongest ice bath advocates offer personal endorsements not necessarily aligned or backed up with any robust research. However, the health risk from exposure to extreme cold for prolonged periods remains very real. If you decide to brave this challenge, please listen to your body; if you start getting tired, are in pain, or your skin changes colour, get out immediately. It would be best if you didn’t do this alone without anyone supervising you. If you have any long-term health conditions, especially heart disease, this is certainly not right for you.

Considering all the information available, it would be remiss of me not to plug swimming as a brilliant form of exercise, even if the cold water experience is not your thing. As is often the case, whatever benefits a particular health fad offers are commonly hived off a more accessible and certainly less painful activity. In the South West, there are many ways we can enjoy the water that surrounds us, but please stay safe, be wise and actively help protect our rivers, waterways and coast.

• Follow Ade on Twitter: @adewilliamsnhs; and keep up to date with Bedminster Pharmacy: @bedminsterpharm

Ade Williams MBE, lead pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy and brilliant Bristol ambassador shares his thoughts on ice baths...

Ade Williams’ portrait as taken by acclaimed photographer Rankin

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

To keep the female body running as it should, it’s important to understand the basics of gynaecological health. Here, the Consultant Gynaecologists from Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital breakdown some of the issues you need to be aware of to keep your body in good working condition.

Menstrual health

Periods will generally last for between 3 to 5 days, and occur every 21 to 35 days. Just over a third of people will develop period problems during their lifetime. Although longer or heavier than usual periods are not a sign of a problem, it needs to be assessed further, and bleeding in between periods, with intercourse or after menopause, could be a sign of cancer and medical advice should be sought promptly.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs due to the hormonal changes prior to periods and can result in significant emotional imbalance, which may also require specialist input. Some mild discomfort is common, but if you are experiencing severe pain with your periods (dysmenorrhoea) you may want to speak to your doctor.

Hormonal contraception can affect periods in various ways, and if required could also be used as a method of treatment. Most period problems can be evaluated during a consultation with a gynaecologist by reviewing your past medical history, performing an examination, and potentially including an ultrasound scan and biopsies.

Gynaecological cancers

Up to two thirds of gynaecological cancers can be prevented by risk reduction, screening and vaccination programme, and it’s important to remember that the outcome of a cancer diagnosis can be improved by earlier detection.

Ovarian cancer can be silent, but symptoms such as weight loss, nausea, vomiting, persistent bloating, abdominal distension or difficulty in breathing could all

be a sign and should be taken seriously. Initial investigation requires an ultrasound scan and a CA125 blood test.

Womb cancer generally causes postmenopausal bleeding which should always be investigated. Outcomes of womb cancer are relatively good if detected and treated in the early stages. Ovarian and womb cancer can be hereditary, and if you have a strong family history of these types of cancers, as well as bowel or breast cancer, you should contact a specialist to discuss gene testing and prevention surgery.

Cervical cancer most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 40 years. Not taking part in a screening programme when invited is the biggest risk of developing cervical cancer. Screening is important, even for people who have received the HPV vaccine. Most cervical cancer presents with bleeding in-between periods or after sex. Vulval cancer is relatively uncommon. Any ulcer, lump or bleeding from vulval skin should be promptly assessed. Precancer changes can cause soreness and itching and should also be checked by a specialist.

Menopause

Menopause awareness is increasing, and 18 October is World Menopause Day. Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs, reducing levels of oestrogen hormone. The average age is 51 with a quarter of people experiencing severe symptoms. It occurs naturally or resulting from treatment for other issues, such as cancer. Treatment is based on symptoms which can include hot flushes, insomnia, fatigue, joint ache, painful sex, anxiety, and forgetfulness.

There has been much publicity about the risks of HRT (oestrogen replacement). HRT can increase the risk of breast cancer if used for 5 years, but this risk is lower than being overweight or excess alcohol intake.

HRT has considerable benefits too. Heart disease accounts for more deaths than cancer and starting HRT before age 60 is protective. Oestrogen can reduce the risk of dementia and protects the bones, reducing the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis. Not everybody needs HRT, however, individualised help is available for those who do.

At Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, our team of Consultant Gynaecologists – Dr Jo Bailey, Dr Suvarna Mahavarkar, Miss Naomi Crouch and Mr Amit Patel – work closely together to offer a comprehensive service for our patients. In addition to our Consultant team, one of our physiotherapists, Hayley Saunders, specialises in pelvic, obstetric and gynaecological physiotherapy, and Dr Sonia Mann from our private GP service includes gynaecology among her areas of special interest.

If you would like to book an appointment with a Consultant Gynaecologist at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, call 0117 911 5339, or visit our website.

Step 7: Glow

A face mist is a handbag must have. Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir is a multiuse, plant-based mist which preps skin, sets makeup and gives instant glow, while tightening pores.

Layla recommends: CAUDALIE Beauty Elixir 30ml, £12

Step 6: Moisturise

Lips can get dry anytime of the year and the cold weather can really cause chapped lips.

ANATOMICALS Never Lose Your Cherry, Cherry Lip Balm (SPF8 15ml)

Fights back against the elements so it's perfect for wind-beaten dry lips, or as a luxurious treat.

Layla recommends: ANATOMICALS

Never Lose Your Cherry, Cherry Lip Balm SPF8 15ml, £2.50

Step 5: Protect

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleanse the skin using a gentle foam that removes impurities leaves the skin clean with plenty of moisture. Mario Badescu’s The Gentle Foaming Cleanser lathers into a deep, but gentle clean, washing away lightweight makeup, excess oil and skin surface impurities. After use skin is left looking balanced, fresh-faced and moisturised.

Layla recommends:

MARIO BADESCU Gentle Foaming Cleanser, 177ml, £13.50

Ultimate skincare routine

Harvey Nichols Bristol’s assistant beauty retail manager and make-up artist Layla Touati shares her favourite product for each step of her regime. All products are available at Harvey Nichols Bristol; harveynichols.com

We all know a SPF is a must but it often gets forgotten. This pink-tinted cream applies invisibly on all skin tones – we’re talking zero chalkiness –and boosts and brightens skin, too, making pores, fine lines and wrinkles less visible (instantly and over time).

Layla recommends:

FENTY SKIN, Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF30, £34

Step 4: Nourish

Skin craves Vitamin C and we all know the benefits of Retinol. Uniquely formulated with both anti-aging superstars Retinol and Vitamin C, Kate Somerville’s lightweight and luxe moisturiser firms, brightens and nourishes skin overnight while improving texture, tone, and the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Layla recommends:

KATE SOMERVILLE, +Retinol Vitamin C Moisturiser 50ml, £84

Don’t forget to...

... use a cleansing tool to really deep clean the skin. The FOREO LUNA Mini 3 is a hi-tech electric face cleanser that enhances your skincare routine and achieves a natural skin glow.

Layla recommends: FOREO LUNA Mini 3, Sunflower Yellow, £149

Step2: Hydrate

Post cleansing, a face mask is a must to rehydrate the skin. Sisley’s Black Rose Cream Mask provides youthful skin in just 10-15 minutes. Upon the first application, the complexion is immediately luminous and the skin's density is restored.

Layla recommends: SISLEY Black Rose Cream Mask, 60ml, £124

Step 3: Tone

Next, apply a toner for moisture and toning. Pixi’s miracle-working Glow Tonic toner helps to brighten the complexion resulting in a healthy glow. Formulated with 5% glycolic acid, it exfoliates, brightens and smooths skin. Aloe vera, ginseng, and botanical extracts work together to nourish and treat, revealing an improved complexion.

Layla recommends: PIXI Glow Tonic 100ml, £10

Remember that...

... eye cream is so important as it helps prevent the common signs of aging. Created specifically for the fragile eye area, La Mer’s The Eye Concentrate is a highly active treatment that helps recover, rebuild, and renew the fragile eye area for clearer, brighter, more youthful-looking eyes. The skin around the eye appears lifted and firmed, resulting in a total transformation.

Layla recommends: LA MER, The Eye Concentrate 15ml, £195

CHRONIC

PAIN MANAGEMENT

James Scrimshaw of CURA CLINICAL explains how new technologies are providing effective answers to people’s pain and suffering

MBST: Healing at a cellular level

Meet Kathy: Kathy came to me several years ago with a painful arthritic knee that was limiting her walking and exercise. She also had an arthritic neck that wouldn’t calm down with typical hands on therapy. Both her conditions were really affecting her quality of life day to day so she decided to use MBST to heal the damage to the cartilage. I saw her this month and still, a number of years post MBST therapy she has very nice healing in her knee and neck joints... she’s recently treated her foot arthritis as well so we’ll monitor her progress and keep you updated. Most of our success with the healing from MBST lasts 4 years or more. Thanks a lot Kathy!!

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

MBST uses exactly the same technology as MRI scanning, just without the detector coils and imaging software. MBST stands for Molecular Biophysical Stimulation.

It was discovered by a German doctor who noticed that some of his MRI patients had reduced symptoms following their MRI scans. He then assembled a team of biologists and physicists to research these positive effects at a cellular level.

Cells that had not functioned properly due to damage, were stimulated in such a way by the energy transfer that they could again fulfil their original tasks.

It does this at cell level in a number of ways:

•Optimising cell oxygen levels

•Improving cell energy production

•Optimising intercellular signalling pathways

•Reducing inflammatory mediators

•Readjusting cell circadian clock - leading to less cell death and cell reproduction

This translates to you and I as a healing process in the tissue the energy is applied to, which leads to a reduction in pain and an increase in the natural mobility and lifestyle of the patient without any need of invasive therapy.

Obviously there are limitations of the effects relating to a number of factors such as severity and complexity of a patient’s case, however the technology is constantly being improved and we’re getting better at selecting the right patients and conditions in order to get higher success rates and better overall results ■

Designpicks

This month, we called on some of our interiors creatives for some much-needed inspiration. Here, they share their favourite products that could help any room look as if they’ve been designed with great finesse...

English Heritage Collection by Designers Guild

The English Heritage Collection by Designers Guild would be my interesting pick. Launching in the autumn, this collaboration infuses contemporary colours with England’s strong design heritage. Steeped in history, the collection has been created for a contemporary interior while using traditional techniques. It’s a wonderfully varied collection and definitely worth seeing. Explore the new fall collections at: designersguild.com

Alison Bracey, Bracey Interiors Bristol braceyinteriors.co.uk

Image credit: BoConcept; boconcept.com

Log basket

Woven baskets in the home are not only practical but beautiful and sustainable too. Hand-made willow baskets can be made to bespoke designs and sizes in a range of earthy willow shades that mellow with age. From log to laundry and fruit-gathering baskets, when not in use they can be displayed in the home to add rustic charm. To create a truly unique basket you can also attend a workshop and have the pleasure of weaving your own!

Log basket by Wyldwood Willow, 56 x 40 x 50cm, £157.50; wyldwoodwillow.co.uk

Kirsten Hecktermann cushions

With the nights drawing in, I could easily fill every room with these delightful cushions, I may have a few already! Distinctive and individual, Kirsten's designs offer a combination

of modern and antique textiles, many of them hand-dyed and embellished with her own unique style of embroidery to create beautiful bespoke designs. Cushions from £75; kirstenhecktermann.bigcartel.com

Home Fragrance by Ubiety

We love everything about Ubeity’s home fragrance range. Not only are their plant-based formulations made here in England, but they use vegan and environmentally ingredients too. From hand-poured candles to reed diffusers using sustainable carrier oil, and with all profits going to Dorothy House Hospice Care, we were thrilled to discover this local venture. findubiety.com

Wallpaper by Beata Hueman

Swedish born Beata Hueman is very much the designer of the moment. Fresh from her collaboration with Original BTC in creating the Alma Lighting range, Beata has also turned her hand to the design of a magical

range of wallpapers. With so many colours in each design, these papers act as a wonderful springboard for a scheme, and can add impact not only in large spaces but also in the finer details, such as the lining of bespoke cabinetry. shoppa.beataheuman.com

Louisa Morgan, Mandarin Stone mandarinstone.com

Woodhouse & Law, woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

Rooms for improvement

Our autumn/winter guide features all the best trades and services to help spruce up your home and garden. Whether it’s a small decorating touch or an ambitious major project, this directory offers a great range of expert services to make all those home, interior and garden ideas become reality

GARDINER HASKINS

Brunel Rooms, 1 Straight Street, Bristol BS2 0FQ 0117 9292288; gardinerhaskins.co.uk

Gardiner Haskins Interiors has luxury interior showrooms that allow you to create your dream home space. Its knowledgeable and skilled team of design experts can help you design your own bespoke kitchen or bathroom, with wrap-around project management from start to finish. Create your perfect bedroom with over 40 beds on display from brands such as Harrison, Sealy, Hypnos, Millbrook and Relyon. Blend in beautiful bedroom furniture from Ercol, or wardrobe storage solutions from Wiemann and Nolte Möbel. The team has over 40 years’ experience, so you can guarantee exceptional customer service. Open six days a week with a free customer car park and less than 10 minutes’ walk from Cabot Circus.

SUZY HARRIS DESIGN

07814 012044; suzyharrisdesign.com

With 20 years within interior design, Suzy has developed a broad skill set and has a creative mind with a solid, practical slant, technical ability and logistical knack. Known for her versatility, enabling her clients to make the most of their spaces and be included in the design process if they wish. Unpretentious and passionate, she has an innate ability to visualise a variety of schemes that ‘work’ while spotting and avoiding potential pitfalls. Focussed on delivering end results that work for the building and the occupiers, rather than pushing her own taste, she has been commissioned across a wide field of residential, commercial and event projects, artistic painting and can also work on a consulting basis by the hour.

GAROLLA

garolla.co.uk; 0117 369 0185

Boost your kerb appeal today with one quick and easy purchase from Garolla. The nation’s largest roller garage door installers, Garolla specialise in creating beautiful, bespoke garage doors that can truly transform your home’s exteriors. And with local installers across the country, it couldn’t be easier to update your home. Hand-crafted by highly skilled professionals, every Garolla roller shutter garage door is created with your home in mind. Increasing your thermal efficiency, safety and security these garage doors are an invaluable addition to any home and allow you to sleep easier at night. Available in a range of 21 stunningly vibrant shades and two different slat sizes, you can design the perfect accompaniment to your home’s style and architecture.

CHAUNCEYS TIMBER FLOORING

Chaunceys has been supplying high-end timber floors to homeowners, award-winning architects, builders and renowned interior designers since 1988. The family-run firm has a particular focus on sustainability, highly-rated customer service and the best quality in wood flooring. With hundreds of unique hard-wearing finishes to choose from, created in-house by their Finishing Team, as well as a range of formats, textures, and bespoke finishing options, you can have complete creative freedom for your next interior project.

Their stunning new 200sqm showroom located in St Philips, Bristol, features many of their most popular products and finishes as well as a range of characterful reclaimed timber cladding. Their friendly and knowledgeable team will work hand in hand with you to choose the best product and finish for your requirements.

For further inspiration explore their ever-expanding gallery of project photos on their website and Instagram page and order some free samples of your favourite finishes.

MANDARIN STONE

15 Regent Street, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4HW 0117 9731552; mandarinstone.com

Renowned for its comprehensive natural stone collection, Mandarin Stone has also gained quite a reputation for its on-trend and beautifully designed porcelain. Ranging from tiles that cleverly mimic materials such as wood, concrete and marble to striking glazed and patterned tiles, the collection has endless surface design possibilities. Established for over 25 years and with 10 inspirational UK showrooms, it offers dependable specialist knowledge as well as technical expertise. Almost the entire natural stone and porcelain collection is held in stock in the UK, so lead times are short.

LUMINATION LIGHTING

Lumination, within Gardiner Haskins, Broad Plain, Bristol BS2 0JP 0117 922 6435; lumination.co.uk

Lumination Lighting is a leading specialist retailer of lighting products and services, stocking more than 20 of the leading industry suppliers from the UK, Europe and the Far East which includes their own exclusively designed and specified ranges. Lumination understand that lighting design is not only about the location, intensity and control, it is about the aesthetics and the ambience created. They provide a comprehensive service covering all aspects of lighting and offer a design service to help you achieve the best possible results. There are hundreds of products on display in the showroom and online and thousands more products available to order. The store is manned by trained and experienced advisors who actively ensure that they are in touch with latest trends and technological developments and are only satisfied when you have exactly the lighting you desire.

KUSTOM FLOORS AND FURNITURE

Branches in Clevedon, Bedminster and Downend kustomfloorsandfurniture.co.uk

Operating in and around Bristol, Kustom Floors and Furniture are market-leading experts in the supply and installation of flooring as well as offering striking, quality furniture. The company supplies and fits carpets, vinyl, laminates, real wood, LVT and safety flooring in Bristol and the South West. Kustom tailor their service to fit with all your requirements in the belief that no two customers are the same. Whether you’re looking for a premium real wood flooring or you’re shopping for a new coffee table they have you covered. No job is too small and the friendly team are happy to help with your every need. Kustom proudly work alongside brands such as Karndean, Woodpecker, Cormar, Quickstep and many more. Think Kustom for all your flooring and furniture needs in Bristol and the South West.

Unit 1, St Philips Trade Park, Bristol, BS2 0YB; 01179 713131; chauncey.co.uk

HAL BUILD

The Studio, 23 Chandos Road, Bristol, BS6 6PG 0117 2591591; halbuild.co.uk

Hal Build provides high-end luxury construction projects for residential customers and property developers in Bristol and the surrounding areas. The company specialises in new build construction, extensions and period property refurbishments. All work is carried out to the highest standards and the company employs a team of professional, time-served craftsmen who take pride in every aspect of their workmanship. All projects are completed with exacting attention to detail and the Hal team can handle your entire project from design through to planning and building regulations, to completion. The team are more than happy to chat through your plans to see if they can help and will provide an indicative cost to help with planning your project so pop into the studio for a chat.

JUST SHUTTERS

0117 3701594; justshutters.co.uk/bristol

Whatever your style –contemporary, modern, cosy or traditional –Just Shutters have the perfect fit for you. The shutters do not fade, warp or age and come with a lifetime guarantee. Rob and Linda Reeves are experts in the field, trained to the market-leading Just Shutters standard. They are passionate about shutters and transforming the homes of local people, with an understanding of outstanding quality, great value, and professional customer service. Work closely with Rob and Linda as they tailor Just Shutters to your tastes, giving you honest and impartial advice. The company has the largest range of material and finishes in the UK, granting you choice and options in terms of shutter style.

EDEN DESIGN

Eden Design Studio, 9 Richmond Hill, Bristol, BS8 1AT; 0117 374 6006; edendesignstudio.co.uk

Eden Design is an architectural design studio based in Bristol. Formed by Tom Eden in 2014, the studio operates mainly in the residential sector, offering professional design and management services across a range of projects, including house refurbishments, property extensions, new-build houses, and works to Listed buildings. Eden Design are passionate about creating beautiful and uplifting spaces with personality and purpose. The team relish the unique challenges of each project they do, and aim to exceed the client’s expectations in every way. Using skills and experience in design, 3D visualisation, construction, and planning and building regulations, they seek out the best possible value to all their projects. They will obtain the legal permissions necessary to undertake your project, and produce professional design instructions to be used by a builder or tradesperson. Visit the website for more information or get in touch for a free consultation.

MARBLE SUPREME

Unit 8, Bridge Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 4FW 0117 9563030; marblesupreme.com

Marble Supreme provides master craftsmanship in stone. Whether you’re looking for new stone worktops for your kitchen or bathroom, it offers a range of materials to suit your needs. With over 20 years of experience, the team produce a wide range of products from beautifully crafted granite kitchen worktops and flooring, right through to bespoke stone fireplaces, vanity tops, splashbacks and sink surrounds. Marble Supreme provides a complete service –from sourcing the perfect stone to crafting perfectly fitting, beautifully finished kitchen worktops. It also prides itself on delivering the very best in granite, marble and quartz stone, knowing its creations will play a part in family life for years to come. Whether you know what you want or are considering the options, the team is happy to discuss your plans so pop into the Kingswood showroom.

KUTCHENHAUS BRISTOL

Clifton Down Shopping Centre, Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2NN. 0117 213 0680; uk.kutchenhaus.com

Kutchenhaus Bristol is part of the Kutchenhaus German Kitchen family. Located in the heart of Clifton, Kutchenhaus supply, design and fit German kitchens which with it bring innovation and the latest technology. Whether you are looking for a modern kitchen or a traditional kitchen, the friendly team at Kutchenhaus Bristol has over 60 years of combined experience, so can guarantee a professional and five-star service. All Kutchenhaus kitchens are manufactured and put together in Verle, Germany and get’s shipped directly to customers fully assembled which means no flat-pack! The kitchens are also manufactured by intelligent machines which completely eliminates the risk of human error –Guaranteeing your kitchen will be right first time! The team in Bristol also design spaces for bathrooms, bedroom and living areas too! So whatever your query may be, pop into the showroom today and get your dream project plans into motion!

BO CONCEPT

BoConcept Bristol, 51-53 Merchant Street, Bristol BS1 3EE 0117 929 3503; boconcept.com

Through Danish creativity and craftsmanship, BoConcept elevates spaces with iconic design that brings joy and inspiration, collaborating with some of the most respected designers in Denmark and further afield to be timelessly on trend. Live a life as individual as you are. You can change the size, colours and materials of nearly every design and the team at BoConvept are there to help you style your home, your way. Nothing beats having a face-to-face opinion you can trust, someone who understands your needs and can guide you to the right choice. BoConcept’s interior designers’ primary concern is getting to know you and your desires, problems and interior demands. Your interior designer will help unfold the potential of your home and help you discover your perfect solution, whether big or small. What’s more Bo Concept Bristol offer a free interior design service. Just visit the store and ask.

THE KITCHEN PARTNERS

The Kitchen Partners Design Studio, 102 Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2QY 0117 9466433; thekitchenpartners.co.uk

When you work with The Kitchen Partners on Whiteladies Road, you’ll work directly with Fiona, Clinton and Vicky –from the initial enquiry, throughout the design process, to the final completion. They will ensure the journey always begins with you. It’s your kitchen and your home and you will be a fundamental part of the process, with access to all trades involved.

The Kitchen Partners are design, planning and installation professionals dedicated to giving each client their dream kitchen. As a fully independent retailer they can offer clients not only a greater variety of choice, but the best quality prices and lead times when considering a kitchen restoration. They have a keen eye for up-to-the-minute kitchen design and extensive product knowledge, based on many years working in the kitchen and interior design sectors. With innovative spatial awareness and flair for interior design, they will make sure your visit to their kitchen design studio is a worthwhile and rewarding experience.

PAUL WHITTAKER BATHROOMS AND WETROOMS

Showroom by appointment at Bathroom Solutions, 54 Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6LS 0117 2230086 / 07879 666221; paulwhittakerbathrooms.co.uk

Paul Whittaker Bathrooms and Wetrooms is a design, supply and installation bathroom company with a huge reputation in the Bristol area. Working closely with his clients, Paul is able to deliver cleverly designed bathrooms and wetrooms, expertly installed by his experienced team of fitters. With 3D design layouts to help with decision making and project management through the course of the works, Paul Whittaker makes bathroom renovations easy and stress-free.

DODO WASH

07891 045643; info@dodowash.co.uk dodowash.co.uk

Dodo Wash is a specialist cleaner of patios, decking and artificial grass using a range of environmentally friendly treatments sympathetic to your garden, children and pets. Slippery biofilms of algae and lichen, as well as moss, fungus and dirt are cleared from patios and decking, leaving them clean and fresh. Artificial grass is refreshed with deep cleaning, brushing and sanitising, removing bacteria caused by pets and wildlife peeing and pooping on the lawn which can produce unpleasant smells as well as health risks. Dodo Wash is operated by the owner Nigel Broderick, a qualified softwash technician who will recommend the most suitable treatment for your property. Nigel provides no obligation, one-off and maintenance quotes for both domestic and commercial properties.

COLOURFENCE BRISTOL

colourfencebristol.co.uk; 0117 259 1789

Forget your fence worries for good this autumn. Choose ColourFence. The revolutionary metal garden fencing is both attractive and practical, meaning you don’t have to compromise. The ColorBond steel is virtually maintenance free, with no painting or treating required, meaning ColourFence will stay looking as good as the day it was installed for years to come. It is guaranteed not to rust, warp or peel for at least 25-years! You can find out more or book a FREE no-obligation quote using the contact details above.

JOHN BOYCE PLASTERWORK

Unit 5, Channel View Farm, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6US 07970 278028; john-boyce.co.uk

John Boyce Plasterwork Ltd is a locally based company with over 30 years’ experience in the plastering trade, tackling any size of job from a simple repair to a complete restoration project. The team has a large range of moulds built up over the last three decades and is capable of matching and reproducing any type of plasterwork. The company also has a large range of stock cornices and ceiling roses to pick from, with something to suit most tastes and budgets. They carry out ceiling surveys and repairs, lime plastering and rendering and bespoke one-off pieces; offering free, no-obligation quotes and advice. Visit the website for a taste of what John Boyce Plasterwork can offer.

BRACEY INTERIORS

15 Waterloo Street, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4BT; 0117 9734664 braceyinteriors.co.uk

With over 50 years’ experience, Bracey Interiors has earned an enviable reputation for its design services. Working throughout the UK and abroad, the team creates unique and bespoke interiors for clients. Within the showroom in the heart of Clifton Village, Bracey showcases fabrics and wallpapers from all the major suppliers as well as a unique and eclectic mix of home accessories. Paints by Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library are also mixed to order in a matter of minutes. No matter how big or small your requirements are, Bracey Interiors has friendly staff ready to help. With their own workrooms they ensure all soft furnishings are made to their exacting standards, and offer an installation service. 2017 saw their Silver House project win three awards in the RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards.

Notebook

New for the Autumn

THE ICONIC TRIPP TRAPP® CHAIR IN NEW FJORD BLUE

Founded on the west coast of Norway, in 1932, Stokke AS began as a producer of bus seats and furniture for adults. Launched in 1972, the iconic Tripp Trapp® chair was its first product for children and designed by Peter Opsvik. Stylish, versatile and practical, more than 13 million of these brilliant chairs have been sold globally and now, in a special celebration of its 50th anniversary the trusted Tripp Trapp® chair is available in a fresh, new colour: Fjord Blue. Enjoy your child learning and interacting in safety and comfort, sitting close to you at the family table. RRP £209. Visit stokke.com to find out more.

GARDEN AFFAIRS

Trowbridge Garden Centre, 288 Frome Road, Trowbridge BA14 ODT 01225 774566; gardenaffairs.co.uk

Create space for home working, hobbies, a growing family or even a new business venture with a cost-effective, versatile, fully-insulated garden room. Garden Affairs offer a huge range of high quality, sustainable garden buildings and will help you get the design, the installation, the quality and the price spot on. Visit their extensive display centre at Trowbridge Garden Centre in Wiltshire to see garden offices, art and craft studios, teenage dens, granny annexes as well as a range of ‘posh sheds’ and summerhouses.

CHAUNCEYS TIMBER FLOORING SHOWROOM LAUNCH — 10-14 OCT

Family-run Chaunceys Timber Flooring has been supplying and finishing high-quality sustainable wood flooring to homeowners, awardwinning architects and renowned interior designers since 1988. As a celebration of their beautiful new showroom, Retail and Trade clients are invited to come along to their launch event between 10th-14th October, to explore their latest product collections over a glass of champagne, get behind the scenes, and enjoy exclusive offers and giveaways. Fitted out with many of their most popular flooring products, finishes, and reclaimed timber cladding, the 200sq. m showroom offers a wonderful relaxing space where clients can find inspiration for their next project, and get expert advice from their friendly knowledgeable team.

To find out more visit: chauncey.co.uk/about-us/launch

Growingintelligence

Recently, I’ve been re-reading John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids. It’s a great story that I also remember watching on television as a child (and being terrified) –a world where the vast majority of people are blinded by a meteor shower, providing opportunity for the triffids, intelligent, moving plants, to take over the world, stinging and eating people.

Although it’s just a story, it got me thinking about plants and their potential intelligence, plus their remarkable ability to adapt to their environment and colonise the most inhospitable of habitats. The triffids were ultimately wreaking revenge on the humans that had oppressed them, but the idea of nature triumphing over civilisation is a powerful one.

Abandoned buildings, even entire villages, towns and cities, will quickly be taken over by plants. In our own gardens, it can sometimes feel like a constant battle against weeds. I have a clump of bamboo that’s running amok through my borders and I spent many hours trying to eradicate it earlier this year. It was interesting how the spreading runners and culms seemed to have chosen where to grow. Maybe it was just chance, but if there was a nice shrub or perennial in the same border, then you can guarantee the bamboo had grown right through the middle of its underground root system. In deliberate efforts to kill it off its competitors and colonise the border completely, I wonder? Biologically, that would make sense.

Plants have to cope and adapt to numerous environmental stresses, and David Attenborough’s The Green Planet, shown earlier this year

and available on the BBC iPlayer, is well worth a watch if you missed it, revealing the dramatic, beautiful plant life on Earth. Even in the most hostile environments, plants can forge a way, finding cracks in pavements or in a wall to deposit their seeds in urban areas, while desert plants may wait decades in suspended animation for rain to come, powering an explosion of colour and long-awaited chance to propagate. Plants are estimated to have first appeared on this planet 500 million years ago, and are likely to be here long after we’ve gone. Even in Chernobyl, plants were recovering within three years, showing extreme resilience to radiation and nuclear disaster.

Much has been written on plant intelligence. Experiments showing that plants grow better when they are talked to are rife. Admittedly, this could be because of the extra carbon dioxide they are receiving from our breath as we speak, but perhaps there are other factors at play. Plants are mysterious things, that’s for sure. And there is also evidence that they can communicate with each other. This reminds me of another fictional story, Roald Dahl’s Tale of the Unexpected, where a man is left in anguish after the discovery that plants emit a noise inaudible to human ears when they are damaged or destroyed, grass squeaking in pain or surprise when a blade is plucked, and a tree uttering a low moan when struck with an axe.

Science doesn’t (yet!) back up the idea of audible means of communication between plants, but there is evidence of a ‘wood-wide web’, with plants, and trees in particular, communicating via underground mycorrhizal networks. These are cobweb-like fungal networks that could link an entire forest together. Through these

“‘Crown shyness’ is a fascinating phenomenon where the crowns of trees avoid contact with each other, and there are remarkable photographs of tree canopies, particularly evident among same species, that have somehow grown in beautiful, interconnecting (but non-touching) patterns,” says Elly West

Elly West looks at the fascinating research behind plant intelligence...

networks, the trees can share water and nutrients, along with distress signals about drought, disease, insect attacks, with other trees altering their behaviour when they receive these messages.

Fascinating stuff. The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben has just been added to my reading list. And I’m also reminded of Enid Blyton’s beloved Faraway Tree, whose leaves often rustled in a mysterious way, as it communicated with the trees and magical folk of the Enchanted Wood.

‘Crown shyness’ is a fascinating phenomenon where the crowns of trees avoid contact with each other, and there are remarkable photographs of tree canopies, particularly evident among same species, that have somehow grown in beautiful, interconnecting (but non-touching) patterns.

An experiment carried out by a Professor Monica Gagliano at the University of Western Australia in 2014, involved the sensitive mimosa plant, which folds its leaves when touched. This experiment appears to show that plants can form memories, with a learned response to stimuli. A number of plants were dropped from a height of six inches, causing them to startle and fold their leaves. At five second intervals, the plants were dropped, over and over again. After a while some stopped closing their leaves as if they had realised they were not going to come to any harm. After 60 drops none of the plants bothered to close up their leaves. Perhaps they were just tired, some sceptics asked. However, when the plants were given a shake, they instantly curled up again, recognising the alteration in stimulus. What’s more, 28 days later, they ‘remembered’ what they’d learned, and still did not close their leaves when dropped.

There’s still much to learn, but talking to our plants and hugging trees is perhaps not seeming quite so strange anymore. And did my Aloe vera plant on my desk just wave at me? n

• ellyswellies.co.uk

Plant of the Month: Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

I’ve owned several Venus flytraps over the years. They’re not the easiest of houseplants to keep alive, but are fascinating and fun, particularly for children. These carnivorous plants live naturally in subtropical swamplands on the American east coast, so it’s worth keeping this in mind when trying to meet their needs indoors. Recognisable by their fierce looking ‘jaws’ lined with teethlike spikes, their favourite meal is live insects including flies, spiders and caterpillars. They catch these in their spring-loaded traps, which have fine, sensitive hairs inside that register the arrival of food and trigger the trap to close. The insect is digested via enzymes within about a week, when the jaws will reopen.

Venus flytraps need four things to flourish, water, lots of light, warmth and food. The compost should be kept constantly moist, with rainwater rather than tap water, which contains too many minerals and salts and can kill the plant. Additional fertiliser is not necessary as it will get the food it needs from eating insects.

Plants go dormant in winter when daylight hours decrease, and will drop their leaves. At this point cut back on watering, but don’t let the compost dry out completely, and start regularly watering again in spring when it should show signs of regrowing.

Elly’s Wellies Garden Designs

Turning your ideas into beautiful spaces

Elly’s Wellies Garden Designs will help you maximise the potential of your outdoor space and tailor it to your individual needs. Whether you are looking for a complete garden redesign, or just need advice on what to plant in a border, Elly’s Wellies will be happy to help.

For a free initial consultation, contact Elly West

Cosy autumn decoration that will warm buyers’ hearts and open their minds to your luxury home

especially in the bedroom. Layer tones, textures and patterns through window treatments, cushions and upholstery to make a space look really sensational. Well-placed throws not only add another dimension, they also give you something warm and stylish to snuggle up under when it gets chilly.

Switch your art

The art you have chosen to adorn your walls will have been chosen for a specific reason, adding personality and character where it’s displayed. Changing up the art in your home is another way to spruce up your décor in minutes; you could even pick out pieces that evoke autumn themes, whether through colours or design. Landscape pieces or atmospheric abstract prints – art is a personal choice and you want something that you will be proud to showcase on your wall. But when making your choices, try and think of their wider appeal as you don’t want potential buyers to get distracted by something that stands out for the wrong reasons.

Light up your living space

In Danish it is known as hygge, and Norwegian it’s koselig, that feeling of cosiness that invites you home as the nights draw in and autumn arrives. As the temperature begins to drop you may also be thinking what luxurious accessories you could add to your home to increase the comfort. When potential buyers view a property, they want to feel welcomed, experience a sense of contentment and, most importantly, to be able to see your house as their home. So at Peter Greatorex Unique Homes, we want to give you some ideas for cosy autumn decoration that will warm buyers hearts and open their minds to your luxury home.

There are some very simple ways to switch your interior décor from the bright airiness of summer to snuggly autumn hues without losing any glamour. You don’t need to undertake any major DIY, you’ll be pleased to hear, just a few elegant touches can transform your home and create a desirable look that buyers won’t be able to resist.

Seasonal colours

Pinterest is a great source of inspiration and often has ideas that give a nod to seasonal trends; WeThrift have researched what we’ve been adding to our inspiration boards lately. “For years, we have seen the interior scene saturated with beige colours and minimalist living spaces, but now we are seeing interior lovers creating homes that are a statement of their personality,” says Nick Drewe, Trend Expert at WeThrift. Colour can make all the difference in upping the cosiness level; the resurgence of bold patterns brings comfort, nostalgia and optimism, whether that’s through a statement wall covered in a rich and luxurious shade, or elegant accessories such as rugs, throws and cushions.

Build texture through layering

Layering different textures is the ideal way to bring instant cosiness to any living space; adding chunky knits with faux fur will create the desired feel with minimal effort. An ordinary room can become chic and beautiful by using layering tricks favoured by designers,

Lighting is incredibly important when wanting to create a cosy feel, and buyers typically want homes filled with natural light, which unfortunately can be minimal at this time of year. Ceiling lights can sometimes feel harsh on their own, whereas lamps are a wonderful compliment and can soften colours and dark corners, providing a soft glow. Candles are soothing, calming and, when mixed with a soft scent, can add to the overall atmosphere. Who can resist a roaring fire on a wet and windy day? Nothing would make potential buyers feel more welcome, helping them to relax and make themselves at home. If you have an open fire, make sure it is lit for viewings; any flame, real or otherwise, is just what a cosy and comforting home needs.

Celebrate the season

If you are looking to sell your luxury home this autumn, make sure your interior celebrates the season by adding some essential cosiness that will warm any potential buyers’ heart. At Peter Greatorex Unique Homes, we work with all our sellers to maximise your home’s potential.

www.petergreatorex.co.uk

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Keep up-to-date

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Station Road, Shirehampton

FOR SALE £150,000+VAT

578 sq ft (53.7 sq m

A first-floor office suite within a converted Coach House providing open plan accomodation and benefitting from period windows and car parking to the front.

Queen Square, Bristol, BS1

BS1TO LET – POA

313 – 2,106 sq ft (29 – 195.7 sq m)

An attractive, self-contained office building which is due to be refurbished throughout to a high standard. There are 2 parking spaces available by separate negotiation.

30 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1

TO LET - POA

411 sq ft (38.18 sq m)

Stunning office space, refurbished to a very high standard with secure bike storage, showers and onsite gym. The available suite comprises 411 sq ft and overlooks the Square.

25 St John’s Road, BS8

FOR SALE (MAY LET) – POA

4,500 sq ft (418.06 sq m)

A fine, period property with front and rear gardens.

Currently a language school but could suit a range of uses to include offices, day nursery, consulting rooms, medical uses, and more STP.

Queen Square, Bristol, BS1

FOR SALE / TO LET – POA

Available separately or combined

A rare opportunity to purchase a unique commercial offering, comprising two commercial buildings totaling 9,467 sq ft in one of Bristol’s prime office locations.

Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 TO LET (MAY SELL) – POA

3,539 sq ft (328.80 sq m)

An impressive Georgian office building with a triple window façade and attractive views across the Square. Currently used as offices and due to be fully refurbished.

The Old Brewery, Pill TO LET - £9,500 pax 570 sq ft (52.92 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.

Serbert Road, BS20

FOR SALE / TO LET - POA 8,727 sq ft

A fantastic opportunity to acquire a detached, modern, commercial building on a secure site of 0.52 acres and offering ground floor workshops and first floor offices. Suitable for a variety of uses STP.

Coronation Road, BS3

FOR SALE – POA 10,713 sq ft (995.26 sq m)

An impressive, detached building prominently located, providing open plan office space with excellent on-site car parking. The property could be suitable for a range of uses STP.

North Street, BS3 FOR SALE £225,000+VAT 695 sq ft (64.57 sq m)

A prominently positioned, ground floor retail unit. The property has a large sales area which has been recently fitted out to a high standard and benefits from a fully glazed retail frontage.

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Freehold For Sale.

LEIGH WOODS

STOKE BISHOP

Of interest to investors and speculators. Grade II Listed period building comprising of 5 x flats (4 x 1 Bedroom and 1 x 2 Bedroom). All five flats are currently let each with a six-month shorthold tenancy agreement. Details of current rents are available upon request. Prime Clifton location. Extensive communal gardens to the front and rear of the terrace. Basement, balcony, and courtyard gardens.

An impressive Grade II Listed Georgian Town House. Original features, charm, and character throughout. A versatile interior, Southwest garden & parking. Well placed for Clifton Village and City Centre. Viewing is highly recommended. No onward chain.

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.

A four bedroomed detached family house situated at the far end of a cul-de-sac. Full planning approved to extend the existing building to offer an extensive five-bedroom interior. A generous size South facing rear garden. Superb views towards the Severn Estuary and the Welsh hills beyond. Well placed for Clifton Village, M4, M5 motorway links and Bristol Airport.

An impressive Grade II Listed, three storey, semi detached Georgian townhouse, with a wide variety of local amenities close at hand and easy access to the City Centre. The accommodation includes five bedrooms, three bath/shower rooms, two reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, cellar and a garage, charming well-tended walled garden and to the rear, another mature garden with terrace, lawn and greenhouse.

A fabulous four-storey family home in an enviable location with a southerly facing rear garden, off-street parking and within catchment area for a leading local primary school.

A superb family home on a sought-after road in Redland

South-facing garden

Off-street parking

Full-depth open plan kitchen, family room and dining room

Sitting room with a balcony and access to the garden

Period features throughout

In all circa 2505 sq. ft (233 sq. m)

Study

Excellent storage

bedroom

double bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms (2 en-suite)