The Bristol Magazine June 2022

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Issue 211

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THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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JuNe 2022

MAGAZINE

HEAR THE PEOPLE SING

Les Misérables’ musical director celebrates history-making melodies

RISE AND DINE Bristol bursts with brilliant brunch spots

A CUT ABOVE THE REST Award-winning butchers on ethically farmed and locally sourced produce

STAYCATION SPECIAL Find the perfect Great British break

Elbow EXCLUSIVE INT E RV I E W

Frontman Guy Garvey talks headlining Bristol Sounds

PLUS...

SO MUCH MORE IN THE CITY’S BIGGEST GUIDE TO LIVING IN BRISTOL

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64 Contents

June ’22

REGULARS ZEITGEIST

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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Highlights for the month ahead

CITYIST

Commemorate the Platinum Jubilee in style

INDIE ACTION

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Catch up on local news and meet Night Time Economy Advisor Carly Heath

... takes a look back as we look forward to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee .....................................................................

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Gloucester Road Books celebrates some of the country’s finest independent publishers and their latest releases

A CUT ABOVE THE REST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

BARTLEBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

WHAT’S ON

Credit Paul Massey

We talk to the owner of award-winning butchers Rare Butchers of Southville about ethically farmed and locally sourced produce

RISE AND DINE 22

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Discover some of the best brunch spots Bristol has to offer

Book your tickets! Our selection of interesting things to do and great happenings across the city

STAYCATION SPECIAL

FAMILY FUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat or luxurious spa, treat yourself to a Great British break away

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Discover the best things to see and do with the family this month

STEP INSIDE ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

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What’s showing, and at which of our local galleries you can see it

FOOD & DRINK NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Plate expectations from the city’s foodie scene

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Andrew Swift explores the city’s uniquely historical yet functional features – Bristol’s steps

HABITAT HOME FROM HOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

BRISTOL UPDATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 News and views from the city

We catch up with the interior designers and architects of Artist Residence, Moxy and Clayton Hotel

ADE WILLIAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

GARDENING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Ade takes a closer look at the meaning of superfood

Elly West welcomes the National Garden Scheme back with open arms

FEATURES THE SOUND OF REVOLUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Daisy Game chats to Les Misérables’ musical director Ben Ferguson as the show arrives at the Bristol Hippodrome

ELBOW RETURN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Melissa Blease sits down with Elbow frontman Guy Garvey ahead of the band’s appearance at Bristol Sounds

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ON THE COVER Elbow are set to headline the third night of Bristol Sounds on 24 June – the band’s first live performance in Bristol since 2018

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FATHER’S DAY

Flamingos I by Moish Sokal.

Read more about Moish’s latest exhibition on p.30

GIFT IDEAS

Recycled leather Dopp Kit Gift Set, £44 Sustainable gift set including recycled leather washbag, bamboo toothbrush and Cedarwood & Green Clay Soap, a wonderful set of responsibly-sourced, handcrafted gifts with the earth in mind.

Available at: laurenholloway.uk

from the

EDITOR Award-winning hampers

T Millie Bruce-Watt Follow us on: @thebristolmag @thebristolmag thebristolmag.co.uk

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his month’s cover stars mark the beginning of a summer packed full of events. Elbow, alongside Paolo Nutini, First Aid Kit, The War on Drugs and more, will be taking to the stage at Bristol Sounds from 22 – 27 June. For all of the acts, it will either be their first time appearing at the harbourside or their first time back in many years. Nutini, for example, hasn’t performed live in Bristol since 2014. As this year’s calendar fills up, it feels as though the city is well and truly making up for lost time, and it’s a joy to see.

Elsewhere in the city, a rescheduled tour of Les Misérables is finally back on the bill at the Bristol Hippodrome. Daisy Game chats with Musical Director Ben Ferguson to find out how the show managed to secure its place as the longest-running musical in the history of the West End. Bristol’s food scene is also booming and, as there’s nothing like adding brunch to the weekend menu, we round up of some of the city’s best spots on p.44. While looking into the history of the breakfast/lunch hybrid, we stumbled upon these words of writer Guy Beringer, thought to have coined the term in a publication in 1895. “Brunch is cheerful, sociable, and inciting. It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper; it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow-beings. It sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.”

We couldn’t agree more.

So, as we spring into summer at breakneck speed, enjoy a little light escapism this month – and see you next time…

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Boxlocal, a family-run hamper company, exclusively source premium products that are independent, sustainable and most importantly local to Bristol and the surrounding areas. From locally brewed beer, to handmade chocolates – you will be spoilt for choice. Available at: boxlocal.co.uk Paddleboarding adventure at Bristol's harbourside, £30 Available at yuup.co Draught beer tasting experience in Bristol with filled keepsake growler, £25 Visit yuup.co for 100s of local experiences

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ZEITGEIST

top things to do in June

Celebrate

Debate Think you can do better than our current politicians? Want to share your ideas with them and policy makers from across the country? Join conversations on regeneration, net zero, the future of the media and how we can transform our public services at the annual Radix Big Tent Ideas Festival on 11 June at Queen Square. Held this year in Bristol at the invitation of Mayor Marvin Rees, the festival will give you the opportunity to contribute to policies in Bristol, the region and across the country.

• bigtent.org.uk

Bristol Pride is a unique and important event that celebrates the LGBT+ community and offers the chance to connect and bring people together. As well as showcasing the city’s wonderfully diverse community, Pride is about overcoming prejudice, hatred, reducing isolation and showing members of the LGBT+ community that they are not alone. Running from 25 June to 10 July, Bristol will welcome Canadian singer-songwriter and Grammy Award nominee Carly Rae Jepsen as well as Alexandra Burke, RuPaul’s Drag Race Canada winner Priyanka, Bright Light Bright Light and Scissor Sister’s Ana Matronic.

This year will also see the return of the Pride Parade March, louder and prouder than ever as Bristol Pride marks the 50th anniversary of the first pride march in the UK. • See the full programme of events at: bristolpride.co.uk

Enjoy Join in with the UK's largest celebration of the natural world from 10–18 June.

Learn about and take action for nature by coming along to one of the fantastic 90+ activities lined up across Bristol and Bath this summer. There's something for everyone in the exciting programme, including 16 online events to join in with from home. This year’s festival is jam-packed full of wildlife workshops and talks, gardening taster sessions, wellbeing walks, film screenings, literary readings, family activities, exhibitions, livestreams, special guest appearances, and more.

• Places are filling up fast... book your spot on your favourite activities now to avoid disappointment! Visit festivalofnature.org.uk to find out more

Listen River Town returns for the first time in three years for a summer programme of world-class roots and country music. Presented by Bristol Beacon and running from 11 June – 1 August, River Town brings an unparalleled programme of blues, gospel, country and bluegrass, from across the pond and closer to home, performed by global icons and rising names. Crowds can expect barn-storming live Americana music this summer. With more than 20 musicians from the Americana scene, including big names such as Richard Hawley, Judy Collins, Martha Wainwright, Adia Victoria and Lee Fields, River Town brings the sounds of the Deep South to the South West.

• Find out more at: bristolbeacon.org

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Join The Human Nature Project is Light Box’s community-level response to the escalating public mental health crisis in the UK. The project provides free, professionally led forest therapy sessions, open to the general public.

The Human Nature Project in Bristol takes place in Leigh Woods Green Barn on Tuesdays and is launching on 28 June with a morning session (10am – 12pm) and an afternoon session (2pm – 4pm).

To learn more about The Human Nature Project, check out the short film and pilot report via the website below.

• wearelightbox.co.uk/humannatureproject

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THE CITYist

My

BRISTOL Meet Carly Heath, Night Time Economy Advisor for Bristol

Like so many others, I moved to Bristol for university and never left, that was 18 years ago now. I met some amazing friends whilst promoting music events. I started by standing outside venues flyering at 3am… I’ve been part of the fabric of the city ever since.

Bristol is one of those magical places, where friendships can forge, connections are made, and the community comes together to help drive change and make things happen. It has a national and international reputation as a leading city when it comes to music and culture. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.

BLOOM & WLD LAUNCH FIRST EVER POP-UP From May to July, Bloom & Wild will host a series of pop-up shops, for the first time.

With locations across London, Bristol and Edinburgh, the pop-ups shops will allow customers to browse and purchase botanical treats and homeware.

With the concept ‘Bloom & Wild at home’, the shops will be full of exclusive plants (starting from as little as £2), bestseller dried flowers and a range of vases and pots.

In addition, a team of experts will be on hand to chat through and share sneak peeks of the upcoming bouquets within Bloom & Wild’s new fortnightly flower subscription. This subscription will introduce customers to new, impactmaking stems for only £25 per delivery.

And as a bonus, Bloom & Wild will give everyone who arrives at any of the popup shops with a free ticket the chance to win a year of flowers too.

• Look out for Bloom & Wild’s pop up at Liberty House, 11-13 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3PY from 30 June to 3 July

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This first year has been all about helping to create a safer and more welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy Bristol’s amazing nightlife. Under the ‘Bristol Nights’ umbrella for all things night time, we’ve worked on a number of campaigns from the Bristol Rules, helping people returning to nightlife to have a safe night out after opening post-pandemic, or the Stop-Spiking campaign, embedding a city-wide response into 154 venues across Bristol. Since January 2022, we have been tackling misogyny and harassment, you might have seen our It’s Not Okay antisexual harassment campaign in Bristol. We’ve accompanied this with training for nightlife workers and the launch of a Women’s Safety Charter to help businesses design for safety.

The city doesn’t stop at 6 o’clock, and through training and a coordinated approach, the night time economy can be part of the

Illustration by Lucy Sherston @lucysherston

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The Mayor appointed me as the Night Time Economy Advisor to represent that part of the city’s economy that’s active between 6pm to 6am. His ambition is to have a thriving, safe and diverse night time economy and has tasked me with the job of working with relevant sectors, to represent them and provide him with the advice and guidance needed to shape progressive policies that supports inclusive and sustainable growth. It means I sit somewhere between industry and policy.

I help businesses embed best practices for their workforces and try to help the night time economy thrive.

My work touches on many areas, from safety, drug and alcohol harm reduction, mental health to skills and training. I work with colleagues in the council across public health, planning, licencing and economic development, and try to champion best practice on a local, national and international level.

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solution in making Bristol the best place to live, work or play in.

I want to shout out to the 100s of nightlife workers that have engaged in our training to create a zero-tolerance attitude to harassment in our nightlife spaces, the venues for investing their time and energy to embed these policies into their own businesses. Also to the army of promoters, musicians and audiences who create such a welcoming environment in Bristol’s nightlife.

I religiously listen to Felix Joy on the SWU FM Breakfast show, and so many of their shows are an incredible snapshot of the Bristol music community. I am listening to the Greentea Peng album Man Made or Children of Zeus’s Balance. I am currently reading The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart.

Bristol’s food game is amazing. I can’t get enough of the variety down at Wapping Wharf, my particular favorite is the Katsu Arancini Balls at Seven Lucky Gods. I’m really enjoying some of our newer spaces, such as Propyard, Lost Horizons and Strange Brew. I love so much of what Bristol has to offer, but Teachings in Dub at Trinity is fairly high on my list.

If I could have dinner with anyone from any era I would have to choose Mansa Musa, the middle-ages Malian Emperor and possibly the richest person to ever live. He journeyed with a caravan of gold-laden camels through the Sahara Desert and gave away so much that it depressed the price of gold in Cairo for years after his visit. I reckon a feast at that table would be pretty spectacular.

My philosophy in life is: keep love in your heart, every day is a brand new start.

• Follow Carly on Twitter at: @Carlybag

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SHAKESPEAREAN MASTERCLASS Melissa Thom from the Bristol Academy of Voice Acting (BRAVA) is empowering and supporting others to join the voice acting career path.

Melissa and her team create regular classes and workshops for those interested in this specialist and increasingly popular career. As part of the regular workshops from the team at BRAVA, there is now a new three-week programme surrounding the widely-loved play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

These Shakespearean sessions are for anyone. You don’t need any prior experience in reading or acting Shakespeare, just a desire to learn more about the playwright as a voice actor and discover why he is as alive and as relevant to our lives today as he was in Elizabethan times.

This three-week masterclass will be led by renowned Shakespeare actor and master coach, Chris Donnelly.

Chris has worked as an actor for twenty-five years, playing various roles on TV in the UK, upwards of thirty radio plays for BBC Radio 4 and a wide array of roles in theatre, nationally and internationally. He's played the title role of Macbeth, Prospero in The Tempest and Iago in Othello.

• Book tickets to the Shakespeare and The Voice Masterclass at: brava.uk.com

DINOSAURS LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE Featuring an original Tyrannosaurus rex and juvenile score by multiple shown in Prehistoric Planet Courtesy of Apple TV+ Academy Awardwinner Hans Zimmer, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and produced by the worldrenowned team at BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit based in Bristol, an enthralling exploration of ancient earth has been released on Apple TV+.

Prehistoric Planet is a five-episode groundbreaking series that transports viewers 66 million years in the past to discover our world – and the dinosaurs that roamed it – all in stunning detail. It presents littleknown and surprising facts of dinosaur life set against the backdrop of the environments of Cretaceous times, including coasts, deserts, freshwater, ice worlds and forests. From revealing eye-opening parenting techniques of Tyrannosaurus rex to exploring the mysterious depths of the oceans and the deadly dangers in the sky, Prehistoric Planet brings Earth’s history to life like never before.

The series combines award-winning wildlife filmmaking, the latest palaeontology learnings and state-of-the-art technology to unveil the spectacular habitats and inhabitants of ancient earth for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience.

The BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit worked in conjunction with the photorealistic visual effects of MPC (The Lion King, The Jungle Book) and brought together huge names from across the industry including the executive producers Jon Favreau, who was involved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, and Mike Gunton, whose previous credits include the BAFTA and Emmy-winning documentary Planet Earth II. • Prehistoric Planet is available to stream on Apple TV+

LOOK OUT FOR:

ROCKHAMPTON FOLK FESTIVAL RETURNS Bristol is renowned for one of the most lively and eclectic music scenes in the UK. But in the countryside around our city it’s often harder to find opportunities to hear topquality live music. In the small Gloucestershire village of Rockhampton, 15 miles north of Bristol, two professional musicians are working hard to bridge the divide and have created the Rockhampton Folk and World Music Festival.

Flautist Nicki Woodward is the artistic inspiration behind the festival. She studied at the prestigious Royal College of Music, but her heart has always been in folk and world music. “We pride ourselves on bringing top-quality performers to our village,” says Nicki. “As well as traditional music and dance from the British Isles this year we’re going more global.” The line-up includes Palestinian Nay flute master Faris Ishaq, a group from São Paolo in Brazil who were voted best street band of the year in the city, and Indian-inspired folk duo Mishra who have been shortlisted for BBC Young Folk awards.

“I know from my own experience how tough it is for young musicians to get started in their career, and that’s harder now than ever.” Nicki works in partnership with Live Music Now, a charity started by Sir Yehudi Menuhin, to connect young performers with local communities. “Our festival gives young talent a platform to perform and supports them in those crucial early days of their career.”

Nicki's partner in organising the Rockhampton Folk Festival is Chris White-Horne. Chris used to live in Bavaria on the doorstep of the Alps. “Folk music is at the heart of the Bavarian culture,” explains Chris. “I played in a traditional Lederhosen-clad band and really wanted to bring them to the UK when we returned to this country. So we teamed up with the village community choir and Rockhampton Folk Festival was born.”

Since that first festival in 2014, the event has grown in reputation but Chris and Nicki have no desire to create a big commercial event. “Small is beautiful. There are no commercial stalls, it’s simply about top notch music, local food and drink and a family-friendly safe atmosphere.”

Making a difference to their community is at the heart of what Nicki and Chris do. “Many people in our community don’t have the opportunity to experience live performance,” explains Nicki, “so we bring music to them.” The team have secured support from the Arts Council festival musicians perform in local schools and care homes. The focus is on young people, special needs settings and groups such as those with dementia. “It’s perhaps the most rewarding part of the whole thing,” enthuses Chris, “to see the smiling faces and the joy that music can bring.”

• The Rockhampton Folk Festival takes place on Saturday 18 June. Find out more at: rockhamptonfolkfest.org.uk

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THE

B R I S TO L MAGAZINE

Contact us:

Marking the occasion

G

osh, how the time flies! I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years since the last Jubilee, and 20 since the one before. It’s been 50 years since my little sister rode around the park with her bike covered in enormous rosettes made of paper plates and tissue paper! The bike was a rusty old beast that weighed a ton but on the occasion of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee it was a thing of beauty, like a mad mobile floral arrangement. The Chelsea Flower Show on wheels.

Whether you love it or hate it, jump up and down waving a flag or stay indoors with the curtains closed, you won’t be able to escape the Platinum Jubilee. Royal occasions are historical markers. Like it or not, they form part of the fabric of our lives just as they did in the days of the first Queen Elizabeth.

I must have been about 10 when the bunting came out for the Silver Jubilee. I used to keep a diary in those days and although I’m not sure where the 1977 edition is just now, I can make a pretty good stab at how I recorded that epoch-making day. My literary style as a 10-year-old was terse and factual, so I would no doubt have written something like this: ‘Jubilee in park. Q good. 4th in welly wang (3.42m).’ How do I know that welly-wanging was a feature of that long-ago festival? Well, we lived in rural Lincolnshire. It was the 1970s. What else would we have done?

My eighty-year-old mother can still give a welly a good wang, come to think of it.

She lives in a village in Somerset these days, in a quiet region where the monthly publication of the Parish magazine is much-anticipated. With everyone trying to enjoy life after the most tedious couple of years in history, the publishers recently put out a Jubilee special, filled with the various entertainments planned for local villages – 10 years’ worth of gettogethers in one weekend. In my mum’s village nothing very memorable has happened since the Diamond Jubilee, the main highlight of which was an energetic game of rounders enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.

One particularly unforgettable incident involved a burly farmer whacking the ball, which flew very fast about four feet off the ground, just missing the small, unprotected head of our youngest.

Some 10 years before that he hadn’t, as they used to say, ‘been thought of’. Although in actuality he had been thought of quite a lot, just not actually produced. We happened to be in America for that Jubilee, the Golden edition, but somehow Ms B managed to procure some Pimms and a wide-brimmed hat that she decorated with over-sized tissue-paper flowers, so it felt just like home. Only hot. And sunny.

This time around I suspect that the people who do celebrate this latest Royal milestone will do so with considerable gusto. Others will find it baffling that citizens of the 21st century should care about something so old-fashioned. The problem with this view is it presupposes that life has changed fundamentally since… the past, and I think recent events have put paid to that idea. Weren’t plagues supposedly consigned to the history books? European wars too? What matters most, however, is that with all our gadgets and gizmos we still grow up, raise families and age – hopefully not too gracefully – like our ancestors of the first Elizabeth’s reign.

In celebrating this Jubilee, most of us will be thinking less about the monarch herself than about our own lives and our own families – the people we’ve lost and the ones we are lucky to have still. There hasn’t been a lot to enjoy in life lately, so I know I’ll be venturing forth, glass of Pimms in one hand, welly in the other, ready for some fun. ■

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Publisher Email:

Steve Miklos steve@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Email:

Jane Miklos jane@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Editor Tel: Email:

Millie Bruce-Watt 0117 974 2800 millie@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

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

Jeff Osborne production@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales

Liz Grey liz@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

For advertising enquiries please contact us on: 0117 974 2800

Email: sales@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

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The Bristol Magazine Tel: 0117 974 2800 www.thebristolmagazine.co.uk © MC Publishing Ltd 2022

2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bristol Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers.

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THEATRE

The sound of revolution

After 36 years on the British stage, Les Misérables is one of the most successful musicals of all time. Ahead of the show’s arrival at the Bristol Hippodrome in July, Daisy Game chats to Musical Director Ben Ferguson about what makes the show such a crowd pleaser…

Les Misérables opened to London audiences in 1985, making it the longest running musical in West End history

B

“

anger after banger”: according to Ben Ferguson’s nonmusical friend, this is what the Les Misérables score consists of. It’s a fairly accurate description, if you ask me – or any of the 130 million people worldwide to have seen the smash-hit musical.

The musical director is telling me why it is he thinks the celebrated musical – based on the 1862 Victor Hugo novel of the same name and produced by King of The West End, Cameron Mackintosh – has whipped the general public into such a consistent frenzy for so many years. Les Misérables opened to London audiences in 1985, making it the longest running musical in West End history. In industry terms, that’s what they call A Very Big Hit Indeed.

“It’s an absolutely first class score,” Ben enthuses. “Claude-Michel Schönberg’s music is genius. It’s so catchy, but it’s also so stirring and so varied.” Ben’s word on the subject should be taken as gospel; having conducted the show over 600 times, he still leaves the orchestra pit humming. “It’s unbeatably brilliant music and there’s nothing like hearing it live, and seeing it live”, says Ben. Despite its unchallenged box office reign, Les Mis wasn’t an instant hit with the critics, the majority of whom slated Mackintosh’s English14 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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language version of its French equivalent (the novel was originally adapted for the Parisian stage by composer Schönberg and lyricist Alain Boublil). And yet despite some fairly dismal reviews from the people who apparently know best, the public were of a different opinion. Les Misérables became the fastest selling Barbican show of all time, selling over 5,000 tickets the day after press night – and all before lunchtime.

It’s a fitting story for Les Mis: the public revolting against the (critical) authorities. Hugo’s novel follows ex-convict Jean Valjean (that’s prisoner 24601 to those in the know) as he navigates life beyond the bars – and French Revolution conflict. With Hugo’s story seeing protests aplenty (of both the personal and the political variety) it seems only right that the critics of 1980s London were forced to swallow their words, and “hear the people sing”.

This year, Les Misérables is making the rounds: touring countrywide – including a three-week stint at the Bristol Hippodrome – until January 2023. Whilst this is technically the tail end of the 2018 tour (another of Covid’s cultural victims), Ben tells me that this year’s journey around the UK feels like a fresh start. Many members of the original touring cast and crew weren’t able to return to the production

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THEATRE All production images by Danny Kaan

Musical Director Ben Ferguson

Les Misérables became the fastest selling Barbican show of all time, selling over 5,000 tickets the day after press night – and all before lunchtime

post-pandemic: around two thirds of the orchestra and one third of the cast have been replaced. “We sort of started again. We recast, rehearsed, reopened”, he says.

This extra push – sad as the reason behind it may be – has paid off.

Post-Covid, audiences nationwide have been warm and giving. “We’ve had absolutely wonderful audiences everywhere we’ve gone”, says Ben. “We opened in Glasgow, and it was rammed – sold out every night with really appreciative, brilliant audiences. It was the same in Liverpool”, he concludes, reminding me that for some it will have been two years since they last experienced a live performance.

The great thing about tours like this one, Ben suggests, is that they bring shows out of the (often rather hard-to-burst) London bubble.

“It’s been wonderful to take it to audiences who might not have had the chance to see the show before, or for whom getting to see a show in London isn’t practical because of distance and expense,” he says.

Are there any songs that tend to give the audience – London-based or otherwise – a real kick, I wonder? It varies from city to city, says Ben – but Bring Him Home and One Day More are firm-fanfavourites. “It will be a long time before anybody writes a better end to Act One than One Day More,” Ben muses.

As musical director, Ben is a core member of the touring-team, accompanying the show on every step of its UK travels. Whilst the bulk of his job is to conduct each evening, Ben is also responsible for rehearsing understudies, giving notes to the orchestra and auditioning cast members; there’s a finger stuck in almost every musical pie, it seems.

Despite his jam-packed schedule, however, he still takes the time to admire the work of those around him. “I am astonished at the job that the people who move the show from city to city do”, Ben says, explaining that when Les Mis reaches the end of its run in a set location, everything on which the show is physically built (the set, the costumes, wigs, sound systems, lighting and so on) has to be deconstructed, and reassembled a few hundred miles down the road – all in the space of 48 hours. “The logistics of that always stagger me,” he says. “I leave the theatre on a Saturday evening, and when I show up at the next location on a Tuesday morning, it’s all been done.”

Not that Ben doesn’t have his own location-related juggling acts to perform. “Pits are all very different. Sometimes I’m up above the orchestra; sometimes I’m quite a lot lower. I have to adapt the pace of THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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the show to the theatre because when you go from quite a small theatre to quite a big one, suddenly it can seem a bit too vast – because you’re filling a much bigger space with sound”, he explains.

It all sounds pretty head scrambling to me; and yes, it’s tiring work, Ben agrees – but life on the road is yet to lose its appeal: “It’s an awful lot of fun. You get to see bits of the country that you wouldn’t normally see. We tour to each city for quite a long time; a lot of shows will only come for a week. But shows like Les Mis, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, come for longer periods.”

Les Mis is also unusual (“let me count the ways”…) in that it has kept on a designated conductor role. “Some 30 years ago almost every musical had a conductor in the sense of a man or a woman with a stick to wave about in front of an orchestra. Nowadays, it is quite a lot more common for a show to be conducted by a piano player. Les Misérables is one of a relatively small number of shows which still has a musical director who stick conducts every night.”

Mackintosh’s musical might take a more traditional approach in musical director terms, but Les Mis is very much a modern musical.

“It’s a show that easily adapts to being set in modern times,” Ben suggests, pointing out that “the parallels between the students in the ABC Café are very similar to the stories you see about people protesting against things like climate change and the government.

There are these parallels in the story that relate to different generations.”

Indeed, Do You Hear the People Sing became the unofficial protest anthem of the 2019 Hong Kong riots. The song has since been scrubbed from GQ Music, one of China’s popular streaming services.

But whether it’s on internet record or not, Les Misérables bears the hallmarks of a story which will remain important to any who seek political – or personal – change for many years to come.

In Ben’s expert words: “It’s so timeless, the story. It examines a lot of the fundamental qualities of what it means to be human and what it means to live. It’s a story about redemption, and about fighting for

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As musical director, Ben is a core member of the touring-team, accompanying the show on every step of its UK travels

what you believe in, and a story a love. Qualities that people nowadays relate to just as much as they would have related to them in the 1830s when Hugo wrote the novel.”

An astonishing 36 years on stage and counting, then. n • Les Misérables will be at the Bristol Hippodrome from Tuesday 12 July – Saturday 6 August. Tickets available from atgtickets.com

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Elbow return

As Elbow prepare to headline the third night of Bristol Sounds on 24 June – returning to the harbourside for the first time since 2018 – Melissa Blease sits down with frontman Guy Garvey to talk early memories, meeting McCartney, performing with dear friends, and much, much more...

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I

f you’re a thinking person, there’s a point in your life when you start realising that the way you are and who you are is a result of the people around you; like, you're not on a journey to somewhere else: This Is Who You Are.” If you’re Guy Garvey – lead singer of Elbow, longterm BBC Radio 6 Music presenter and all-round lovely person – it’s at that point that you write a song called Dear Friends, the final track on his band’s fifth studio album Build a Rocket Boys!, released in March 2011. And, if you’re one of the 350,000+ people who own that album, you know that the track is one of the most elegantly understated, beautiful tributes to friendship in the history of songwriting.

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But hang on: aren’t rock stars of Guy’s magnitude all about ego, narcissism and what wonderful things they do for other people rather than what wonderful things other people do for them?

“I’m a very, very lucky man,” he says, talking to me shortly before embarking on a tour that takes them to the Glastonbury Festival straight after their gig at the Lloyds Amphitheatre in Bristol on Friday 24 June. “I've really loved my life so far, and I’ve appreciated every second of that life.”

Guy’s much-appreciated life began in Bury in March 1974. The son of a newspaper proofreader father and a police officer (latterly a psychologist) mother, five elder Garvey girls preceded him and a younger brother Marcus (yup, Marcus Garvey the actor) completed

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“I’m a very, very lucky man. I've really loved my life so far, and I’ve appreciated every second of that life...” the heptade. In what can only have been a rather, erm, rowdy household, was Guy encouraged to be creative – or is creativity vocational?

“Funnily enough, I’m kind of considering that question in depth myself at the moment because my son has just turned five-years-old and he’s definitely brilliant at drawing, and really quite advanced for his age,” says Guy. “My wife Rachael and I have encouraged him in all things, but he’s really taken to drawing – it’s as natural to him as whistling is for somebody else. So you do wonder where that comes from; which tendrils of Jack’s life, or the universe around him, led him to do that?”

Can Guy pinpoint what, at a young age, led him to do what he does today? “I think sometimes it can be one solitary incident that makes you want to do something, as kid,” he says. “When I was 11 or 12, my dad was a night shift worker, so music was limited to one hi-fi in the house that could only really be played between teatime and the earliest kid’s bedtime; a two-hour window for music, if you like. But when my older sisters and my father moved out, my mum bought my brother and I a boombox each – remember them? And my brother says he remembers me playing music on one tape deck and recording myself singing on the other one, and harmonising with myself. I don't remember doing it, but he swears I used to do it. And I used to make radio programmes for my sister which I

would call Eurolink, which was the old name for the channel tunnel.

Yup, I used to make radio programmes for my sister, as a kid!”

Given Guy’s illustrious career in his ‘second job’ as a BBC Radio 6 Music presenter, that doesn’t really come as a surprise.

“Cue another early days memory!”, he laughs. “When I was a kid, my dad built me an office at the back of the garage to encourage me to do more schoolwork, because I was always behind; in a working-class family with seven kids – you can imagine! My sisters were like, what the f**k? But anyway, instead of doing my homework in there, I’d listen to Janice Long on the radio, and then through Janice Long I found John Peel, and then through John Peel I found my musical tastes. So to be part of that today, with the radio shows, is an amazing thing, I really love it – and I’ve got my little kiddie office space to thank for that.”

Was that when the songwriting kicked in too? “I remember starting a short story when I was like, 13, and realising that I didn’t have the patience for entire stories,” Guy recalls. “The writing was kind of there, but I didn’t really appreciate it, or practise it. But then I joined a band (which I only did at first to show off, as it happens), and then the writing became the most fun part, for me, of being in a band. To this day, I still find it the most fun part of what I do. I have to work hard at it, but you can sometimes stumble upon a phrase which you know in your heart is borne of your own truth THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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and it can make you cry. You’ve not arrived there by persisting; it just falls off your tongue while you’re singing, and you realise that’s what you wanted to say. These days, my songs are often led by nostalgia, or Jack, or Rachael – or the band, as a collective, collaborative experience.”

Ah yes: the band. It’s so easy, talking to Guy, to go off on all kinds of wonderful tangents; during our chat, for example, I made a decision to pour myself a huge glass of red wine and go and listen to Talk Talk in the bath... at Guy’s insistence. But really, we were chatting for one reason, and one reason only: “Elbow? Ah yes, them!” he laughs. Erm... start with the highlights, perhaps?

“Easy! Before we took to the Glastonbury stage in 2011 – or maybe 2013? It’s all a bit of a blur these days. But anyway, the DJ very cheekily started playing Hey Jude, which shares a chord progression with our most famous song. We were like, cheeky b*****d, what a low blow! But the crowd started singing One Day 20 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Like This over Hey Jude; in that moment, looking at each other and listening to however many hundred thousand people doing that – it was the best gig of our lives.”

Blimey! What does Guy think Lennon and McCartney would have made of it? “Well I reckon Paul’s still a bit of a jouster – he’d have had a laugh about it. But talking of Paul: I’ve still not met him, and I’d love to meet him, but he sent us an email once. He said he was dropping off one of his grandkids at school and he heard a song called Magnificent (She Says) on the radio, and he had to stay in the car until it finished ‘cos he wanted to know who it was by – he loved it so much. His email just arrived, out of the blue, to that effect – isn’t that lovely? It felt like such a genuine, off-the-cuff gesture. As the universe would have it, a couple of months later I was stood next to Stella McCartney in Glastonbury, and I told her what he’d done. And she said, ‘I love my dad, he’s such a nice man!’. And I thought, yeah, he is. And he’ll always be one of my

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

“There are two sides to Elbow’s music: the introverted, quiet, patient side, stories from our past, stories about childhood... And then there’s the music that we play when we’re all together in a field – or in an amphitheatre in Bristol. I genuinely love it all, every moment...” heroes – all of them, all of The Beatles; they all are.”

Guy: can Elbow be on your own heroes list? “Ha ha! In one way, I guess we are – I love us! We’re just a group of old friends who couldn’t sing or play when we met each other but 30 years on, we’ve lived off music ever since and we’re still getting to do what we do with the people we originally did it with. Elbow are all gentlemen; they’re all kind men, and we all really put a lot of stock in our oldest friendships. We’ve seen the world together, met most of our heroes together and become very well known for our music, which we love making. We’re back onto that song Dear Friends again, when I managed to encapsulate how important our friends are to us – it was their encouragement in the first place, supporting us when first played in a pub in Bury, that made Elbow who we are today, and that’s not lost on me. But there are two sides to Elbow’s music: the introverted, quiet, patient side, stories from our past, stories about childhood – particularly with our last record. And

then there’s the music that we play when we’re all together in a field, or all together having a laugh – or in an amphitheatre in Bristol. I genuinely love it all, every moment. As I said earlier, I’m a very, very lucky man.” n • Bristol’s much-loved open air series of concerts returns with an eclectic line-up of must-see artists including headliners Noel Gallagher’s High-Flying Birds on 22 June, Paolo Nutini on 23 June, Elbow on 24 June, electronic duo, Jungle, will guarantee a dynamic dancefloor set on 25 June and First Aid Kit will headline their biggest ever South West show on the Sunday. War on Drugs headline the final day of the event on 27 June. In the incredible setting of Lloyds Amphitheatre, Bristol Sounds will bring five huge shows to the heart of Bristol. Musically the event caters to different genres including electronic, indie-rock, pop and heritage. Find out more at: seetickets.com THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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LOCAL EVENTS

WHAT’S ON Temple Cloud Circus Festival

Amy Helm at The Louisiana

Bristol College of Massage and Bodywork n Throughout June Bristol College of Massage and Bodywork offers high quality training in the heart of Clifton. Founded in 1986, it runs a variety of different courses including: monthly holistic massage introductions for beginners; professional training in holistic, remedial and sports massage and Indian head massage; varied CPD workshops for qualified therapists; and a low cost graduate massage clinic every Thursday. bristolmassage.co.uk Van Gogh: The Immersive Experienc n Throughout June, Propyard Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience invites visitors to step into more than 300 of Van Gogh’s sketches, drawings, and paintings by using floor-to-ceiling digital projections, made possible by state-of-the-art video mapping technology. vangoghexpo.com Creating Spaces 2022 n Until 31 July, The Gardens at Miserden In conjunction with the owners of Miserden, members of the Cotswold Sculptors Association – professionals, semiprofessionals and keen amateurs from as far afield as Northumberland, London and Cornwall – are showcasing their work at an exhibition at The Gardens at Miserden.

Visitors can enjoy figurative and abstract in bronze, glass, metals, ceramics, stone, resins and multi-medium. The exhibition is open Wednesdays to Sundays – all art is for sale. cotswoldsculptorsassociation.com 22 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Bristol Craft Beer Festival n 10 – 11 June, Harbourside Bristol After a sell-out 2021 festival, Bristol Craft Beer Festival is back on the harbour celebrating all things craft beer in the summer sun. Expect banging beers from the best breweries from Bristol and beyond; a feast from the city’s finest independent kitchens and culinary talent; and a curated line-up of headliner DJ acts. bristolcraftbeerfestival.co.uk Temple Cloud Circus Festival n 10 – 12 June, Temple Cloud, BS39 5BX An exciting new mini-festival is shining a spotlight on the therapeutic benefits of circus for mental health. This unique family-friendly festival will feature a specially created performance called ‘Labyrinth’ that explores real-life stories of healing through circus. The festival also includes a one-off evening gig featuring the band Kangaroo Moon with a host of professional aerialists and a showcase of talent from the Temple Cloud youth circus school. Members of the public will also have an opportunity to try aerial activity for themselves. templecloudcircus.com AfroFest n 11 June, Trinity Centre Following a successful debut in 2019, AfroFest is set to return to Bristol this month.

Showcasing African culture through music, art, fashion, dance and more, audiences can expect to enjoy two stages hosting live bands and top DJs from Bristol and beyond. trinitybristol.org.uk

Amy Helm n 11 June, The Louisiana Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Amy Helm’s third album, What the Flood Leaves Behind, is her most autobiographical yet, both in content and creation. With musical polyglot Josh Kaufman (whose credits range from Taylor Swift’s Folklore to the Grammy-nominated Bonny Light Horseman) producing and contributing on piano, guitar, and mandolin, the record brings Helm’s powerful, emotive vocals to the forefront of the album. thelouisiana.net Red Hat Showcase 2022 n 11 June, Everyman Cinema Hosted at the luxurious Everyman Cinema, the Red Hat Showcase will be a night of entertainment, networking and celebration.

After three years of collaboration, Red Hat Productions is excited to screen eight unique, creative and high quality stories. With everything from comedy to sci-fi to romance to noir thrillers, there is something for everyone to enjoy. redhatproductioncompany.com Bristol Choral Society: Schubert’s Mass in A flat n 11 June, Bristol Cathedral This summer concert with Bristol Choral Society and Hilary Campbell will be an unforgettable experience. Schubert wrote such wonderful music for singers, and this is a rare chance to hear his Mass in A flat. It's a beautiful piece, full of heart and awash with melodies. On this occasion it is coupled with Continued page 24

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Magpie’s Nest

Aisling Bea

another lyrical, romantic piece of orchestral music which will be more familiar to some – Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture. 3choirs.org Clifton & Hotwells Open Gardens n 11 – 12 June Visit the communal gardens and squares hidden behind the elegant terraces of Clifton and Hotwells, with home made refreshments, stalls and entertainments including performances by the Gert Lush Choir and the Tobacco Factory Singers. Organised by Green Squares and Secret Gardens, this is a rare opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of Clifton village and enjoy the beautiful formal gardens, woodlands and wild gardens most of which are rarely open to the public. There will be a variety of refreshments and activities, including talks, conducted walks and a tree trail. gssg-bristol.com Magpie's Nest n 12 June, Windmill Hill City Farm The Nest Collective’s one-day festival celebrating the finest folk and roots music from around the world. Wander from stage to stage with music all around you, seeking out familiar sounds and discovering new favourites. See what treasures you might find at the Magpie’s Nest. thenestcollective.co.uk Nick Mulvey n 13 June, The Fleece Rough Trade Bristol is very excited to present a live performance from Mercury Prizenominated artist Nick Mulvey at The Fleece.

This unique event celebrates the release of the acclaimed artist and songwriter’s new album New Mythology released on 10 June via Fiction. thefleece.co.uk Mamma Mia! n 14 June – 2 July, Bristol Hippodrome Join the Bristol Hippodrome at Mamma Mia! and enjoy the ultimate feel-good factor at the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smashhit musical. Set on a Greek island paradise, a 24 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Bristol Comedy Garden n 15 – 19 June, The Downs Big names have been announced to perform at this year’s special birthday edition of Bristol Comedy Garden heading to The Downs from 15 – 19 June.

The arena-filling guv’nor himself Al Murray, Netflix star Joel Domett, Perfect Sounds’ James Acaster, Taskmaster’s Phil Wang, This Way Up’s Aisling Bea and The Mash Report’s Nish Kumar will all be guaranteeing a glorious celebration of ten years of laughter in the city. Don’t miss Have I Got News For You regular Sindhu Vee, QI’s resident dunderhead

Alan Davies, Father Ted star Ardal O’Hanlon, The Last Leg’s Rosie Jones, Bristol’s very own comedy superhero Mark Watson, Ventriloquism queen Nina Conti plus many more.

Alongside established names sit some of the brightest in breakthrough talent such as the multi-award winning Sikisa, fast-rising Josh Jones and the deadpan musical maestro Huge Davies all making their Comedy Garden debuts.

Good times are always guaranteed at the comedy extravaganza, with this year’s event also enjoying the welcome return of walk-up bars and street-food stalls. bristolcomedygarden.co.uk

story of love, friendship and identity is told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget. atgtickets.com

the wildness that exists in us all. Over one weekend IBT WILDNESS’s international artists, alongside the people of Bristol, invite audiences, visitors and participants into the forest, both literally and metaphorically. Find out more at: inbetweentime.co.uk

Suspension Theatre presents Sugar? n 16 & 17 June, The Wardrobe Theatre Through a blend of verbatim theatre, physical storytelling, original music and live and recorded sound, Suspension Theatre presents Sugar?: a patchwork of utterly hilarious, painfully relatable and beautifully told stories from people not too far from our doorsteps. At a time when homelessness figures in Bristol are at an all-time high, Suspension Theatre shares the stories which often go unheard. tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Bristol Film Festival: Four Weddings and a Funeral n 18 June, Averys Wine Merchants Vintage Screenings pair classic films with thematically linked wine tastings to create unique evenings in the stunning setting of Averys Wine Merchants’ historic wine cellar.

Following a sparkling wine reception, the film will be accompanied by a tasting of four carefully selected wines courtesy of Averys’ resident experts. This June, Richard Curtis’s seminal rom-com will be served up with wedding-friendly wines worthy of a summer celebration. bristolfilmfestival.com

IBT WILDNESS n 17 – 19 June, in and around Bristol IBT WILDNESS is a new programme from Bristol-based organisation In Between Time.

Via evocative public and live artworks, forest diving, workshops and community gatherings, IBT goes outdoors to explore and ignite

Bristol Bach Choir: Music for Royal Occasions n 18 June, All Saints, Clifton Bristol Bach Choir celebrates Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a majestic Continued page 26

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Nick Mulvey is coming to The Fleece on 13 June

Looking ahead

concert of favourite choral works associated with the Royal family. Drawing on masterpieces performed at celebratory and solemn state occasions during the Queen’s life, the concert will feature works instantly familiar alongside the lesser-known. bristolbach.org.uk Bristol Concert Orchestra n 19 June, St George’s Bristol Join Bristol Concert Orchestra for its summer concert with Berlioz’s Carnaval Romain, Elgar’s wonderful Enigma Variations, followed by fairies, fun and frolics in Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. bristolconcertorchestra.org.uk

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The Dead South n 24 June, Marble Factory Hailing from the Canadian prairies of Saskatchewan, The Dead South have earned a strong reputation for their highenergy bluegrass and neo-folk concoction.

Since the release of their debut album Good Company in 2014, the quartet has continued to hone their sound. Their latest album, Illusion & Doubt, channels the band’s passionate musicianship into striking sonic harmonies and virtuosic instrumental arrangements. bristolbeacon.org

City of Bristol Choir: Songs of Celebration n 2 July, St Mary Redcliffe Church A celebratory concert marking City of Bristol Choir's 30th anniversary season, as well as HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, featuring music with royal connections including Handel's Zadok The Priest, and dramatic works for choir and organ. Tickets £18 including a glass of fizz (£5 for students in full time education/under 18s) from cityofbristolchoir.org.uk Football Festival n 3 July, Lockleaze Sports Centre Bristol Rovers Women’s FC in partnership with Bristol Pride is launching an inaugural Football Festival.

The event will consist of a gender diverse 7-a-side friendly tournament, welcoming all LGBTQ+, Transgender, Non-Binary, Intersex Players and Allies to take part.

Spaces for teams will be available on a first come-first first-serve basis. Register at: bristolroverswomensfc.com

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EDITOR’S PICKS

Ruby, blue sapphire and diamonds are surrounded by a beautiful soft wave of 9ct yellow gold in this pendant, £1,850 • nicholaswylde.com

celebrations Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating 70 years on the throne and we’ve chosen a selection of temptations to mark the occasion – we’re in a record-breaking platinum mood...

Machin Design Jigsaw Puzzle, 750 piece puzzle presented in a cotton bag, £14.95 • royalcollectionshop.co.uk

M&S All Butter Shortbread with Strawberries & Clotted Cream Tin, which rotates as it plays God Save the Queen, £10 • ocado.com

Platinum Jubilee Tea Towel, £9.95 • royalcollectionshop.co.uk

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 70 Glorious Years Half Pint Mug

by Emma Bridgewater, £22 • emmabridgewater.co.uk 18ct Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Eternity Ring, £2615 + Platinum Sapphire and Diamond Eternity Ring, £3095 • mallory-jewellers.com (L-R) Embroidered Queen's Guards Bolster Cushion, £25 Velvet Embroidered Corgi Jubilee Cushion, £19.50 Union Flag Golf Umbrella, £25 • englishheritageshop.org.uk

Light-Up Embroidered Jubilee Crown Cushion, £17.50 • marksandspencer.com

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FAMILY DIARY DISCOVER THE BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO WITH THE FAMILY THIS MONTH Wildflower Walks n 4 & 11 June, Slimbridge Join WWT for a wonderful wetland wildflower walk. A Reserve Manager will take groups behind the scenes looking for the wetland’s finest wildflowers and orchids.

Get set for acres of adventure-filled wetlands bustling with life this spring.

There’s no better place to take in the sights and sounds of nature. wwt.org.uk Billionaire Boy n 8 – 11 June, Bristol Hippodrome From the award-winning West End producers of Gangsta Granny and Horrible Histories comes this amazing new production of David Walliams' best-selling story. Joe Spud is 12 years old and the richest boy in the country. He has his own sports car, two crocodiles as pets and £100,000 a week pocket money. But what Joe doesn't have is a friend. So he decides to leave his posh school and start at the local comprehensive. But things don’t go as planned for Joe and life becomes a rollercoaster as he tries to find what money can't buy. atgtickets.com Bristol Film Festival: Sing n 12 June, Clifton Observatory For Bristol Film Festival’s family-friendly matinee screening, it is showing the 2016 hit animated movie Sing. The film features an ensemble cast and enjoys over 60 famous songs in the soundtrack. Be sure to look out for the Golden Globe-nominated song Faith

by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande. bristolfilmfestival.com

Billionaire Boy at Bristol Hippodrome

Scribble and Sketch at RWA

Scribble and Sketch n Throughout June, RWA 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 grown-ups to take part in together – everyone is welcome. Admission is free. No pre-booking required. Suitable for all ages, children must be supervised. For more information about dates and times, visit: rwa.org.uk

Arnold Art Cart n Throughout June, Arnolfini The rather marvellous Stiling’s Workshop has created Arnolfini’s Arnold Art Cart for families to use for free while visiting.

Arnolfini’s fabulous Makers in Residence, Let’s Make Art, will ensure it is kept topped up with a range of creative materials and exhibition-inspired activities. Available Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm. arnolfini.org.uk Westonbirt, The National Arboretum n Throughout June With the blossoming of trees, bumbling of bees and the noisy return of migratory birds, this time of year brings with it bundles of energy, and an opportunity to get the family out and about enjoying the fresh air. forestryengland.uk Daily Animal Talks and Feeds n Throughout June, Bristol Zoo Gardens Bristol Zoo Gardens is the perfect fresh-air destination, set within 12 acres of awardwinning gardens. Get up close to Bristol Zoo’s incredible animals from gorillas and lemurs, to red pandas and penguins, and check out their daily animal talks and feeds.

With the zoo permanently closing its doors on 3 September, this will be the last summer to enjoy the Clifton venue. Keep an eye on the website for the latest news and events: bristolzoo.org.uk

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STATE OF THE ART

EXHIBITIONS

Postcards from Kenya, East Lambrook Manor Gardens, 4 June – 23 July Moish Sokal is bringing the colour of Africa to East Lambrook Manor Gardens in his latest exhibition Postcards from Kenya. The years leading up to this exhibition have been testing.

After finally landing in his hometown of Sydney after the long absence imposed by the pandemic, Moish was caught up in the severe flooding that hit the eastern coast of Australia in 2021. When he returned to his home, however, he found that his paintings had been spared.

It was during this time that memories of Moish’s trip to Kenya started to return. He remembered his visit to the Sheldrick elephant orphanage and to the famous Maasai Mara wildlife park. He also recalled his travels through the rift valley to the lakes in Naivasha and Nakuru wildlife parks and his exploration of old Mombasa. His memories are forever captured in his work.

Alongside Moish’s exotic paintings of Kenya, the artist has found inspiration in the English countryside, staying put for a while made him appreciate the changing seasons and allowed him to find the magic again.

• moishsokal.co.uk

Image: Milk for baby elephant by Moish Sokal

Holding the Baby, Arnolfini, until 12 June BS9 Arts Trail, 18 – 19 June After a couple of years of disruption due to the pandemic, the BS9 Arts Trail is back in its usual summer slot in the Bristol art calendar. This year, 88 artists will be showing their work over the weekend of 18 – 19 June.

The trail takes place in 13 fantastic venues around Henleaze, Stoke Bishop and Westbury-on-Trym. Take a summer walk around the BS9 postcode and discover amazing buildings in stunning locations, including Trinity College, Redmaids' High, Badminton School and Trymwood Studios. There are also new venues such as Bradbury Hall, TrinityHenleaze URC, and the We Make Bristol shop in Westbury Village.

The 88 local artists taking part in the trail are passionate about their work. Some are amateurs who make their work as part of their hobby, while others are established professional artists, whose work is shown in galleries around the country. The work on show includes paintings, prints, drawings, illustration, photography, digital art, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery and more. There will be something to suit all budgets, from unique original art works to more affordable prints and cards.

Several venues offer refreshments, which not only provide welcome breaks in your journey, but help with fundraising for local good causes.

• bs9arts.co.uk

Image: Indian Orange Poppies by Nancy Chambers

Award-winning documentary photographer, Polly Braden, in her latest exhibition, Holding the Baby, creates a portrait of the strength and resilience of single parent families facing austerity.

Braden’s participatory project (which began life at the Museum of the Home), features families from Bristol, London, and Liverpool, including photographic portraits and narrated stories, highlighting the lived experience, strength, and resilience of single parents.

Inspired and provoked by a United Nations report which stated that single parents have been hardest hit by UK austerity measures, Braden’s collaborative photographs – some taken during lockdown by the parents themselves – capture the families’ sense of adventure, optimism, creativity and ambition, that transcends the often difficult, situations they face.

Accompanied by excerpts from conversations between the families and journalist Sally Williams, and reflections on the idea of ‘home’ drawn together by writer Claire-Louise Bennett, Braden captures the individual stories of Fran, Jahanara, Charmaine, Aaron, Barbeline, Caroline, Gemma and Carike, highlighting the universality of their lives.

• arnolfini.org.uk Image courtesy of Polly Braden

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Indian Woman # Dipti by Natasha Kumar

All around the world - June 16 - July 17

Lime Tree Gallery, 84 Hotwell Road, Bristol BS8 4UB

Tel 0117 929 2527 • www.limetreegallery.com

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EXHIBITIONS

Me, Myself, I: Artists’ SelfPortraits, RWA, until 19 June Me, Myself, I: Artists’ SelfPortraits provides historical context to today’s selfie culture, through an exploration of selfportraiture over the last three hundred years. The exhibition, curated by Tessa Jackson OBE, in particular explores the last fifty years and the ways artists have imagined and presented themselves: from the highly personal and psychological to the controversial and political.

Me, Myself, I: Artists’ SelfPortraits includes over 80 artworks by major artists such as Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin, Sonia Boyce, Antony Gormley, Gillian Wearing, Harold Offeh, Shanti Panchal, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Angelica Kauffman, Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Lucian Freud, Patrick Heron, Tony Bevan, Madame Yevonde and many more.

Discover the artists who challenged social norms and defied conventions, who questioned identity, gender and representation ahead of their time, and who constantly think afresh in an ever-changing world. Me, Myself, I: Artists’ SelfPortraits is a timely re-examination of a fundamental area of art history that will bring together work from the 1720s to the 2020s, placing well-known artists alongside emerging talent.

All Around the World, Lime Tree Gallery, 16 June - 17 July From the shores to the cities, from the places to the faces, this exhibition explores artists’ inspiration from their travels around the globe.

The shrines and gardens of Japan, the lights and bustle of New York, and the rich colour of Marrakech contrast and excite.

From the gorgeously colourful women of Rajasthan to the bold expressions of Caribbean men, from the calm waters of Venice to the crashing waves of the Orkneys, Lime Tree Gallery’s artists have captured an emotional connection.

Featuring work by Michael Clark, Gerry Dudgeon, Andrew Hunt, Pedro Rodriguez Garrido, Natasha Kumar, Allan McDonald, Sylvia Paul, Peter Wileman, this is not one to miss.

• limetreegallery.com Image: Marrakech Haze by Gerry Dudgeon

• rwa.org.uk Image: Tony Bevan RA (B.1951), Head and Neck, 2007, acrylic on canvas, 90.6 x 74.1cm. Royal Academy of Arts, London. Photo © Royal Academy of Arts, London; photographer: John Hammond. © Royal Academy of Arts, London

111th Annual Paintings Exhibition, The Bristol 1904 Arts Society, 3 – 12 June The Bristol 1904 Arts Society’s artistic roots run deep into Bristol's creative history. In 2020, the society rebranded itself with a new name and new activities more accurately portraying their current interests as well as the enduring ones of painting, music, magic, poetry, storytelling and fellowship, progressing from an all male society to an open, diverse, inclusive and welcoming one. The society encourages new membership with artistic or musical talents or none and guests of members are very welcome.

The society meets on Wednesday evenings in the hall built in the style of an old tithe barn adjacent to the Red Lodge in Park Row Bristol where their major artistic event, the Annual Paintings Exhibition, is being held.

This major annual event, the 111th Annual Paintings Exhibition, is open to the public every day from 10am to 4.30pm. Paintings by the society’s team of talented artists will be on sale. Works by other local artists will also be on display.

• bristol1904arts.org Image: Clifton Wood from Underfall Yard by John Dunn

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Huw Richard-Evans: Skylines, Coldharbour Gallery, throughout June Textural and spiritual in quality, Huw’s landscapes have attracted collectors from as far afield as the USA and Japan. His latest works incorporate the energy, drama and passion derived from his approach to looking up. This unique process brings him great personal joy, which is abundantly evident in the ‘Skylines’ collection – a collection created especially for Coldharbour Gallery.

• coldharbourgallery.co.uk Artwork by Huw Richard-Evans

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Ma San Auction In Bath

SPECIALISTS IN ORIENTAL WORKS OF ART A Chinese Jade Water Buffalo Pendant, SOLD £780 incl. premium Group of nine Chinese Mandarin Hat Finials, Qing Dynasty, SOLD £1820 incl. premium

Large pair of Chinese Hardwood Foo Dogs, SOLD £4680 incl. premium

A Chinese hardwood side table, 19th C. SOLD £1430 incl. premium

Free ns atio g valu cceptin s a t Now signmen con r future fo les! sa

A Chinese yellow-ground Famille Rose Porcelain Candle Stick, Qianlong mark, SOLD £6240 incl. premium

A Chinese blue and white Porcelain Bowl, ‘Jiangxi Porcelain Company’ mark, SOLD £1560 incl. premium

Free valuations and home visits • Over 30 years experience • Competitive commission rates Direct contacts in Hong Kong and China • Sales every month 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Tel: 01225 318587

www.masanauction.com

THE

BRISTO L M A GAZINE

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ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM JUST £30* SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT www.thebristolmag.co.uk/subscribe or call: 0117 974 2800

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Our 2022 media pa ck can be viewed online

FOR A COPY OF OUR 2022 MEDIA PACK EITHER VISIT THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE WEBSITE THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK OR CONTACT US ON 0117 974 2800 EMAIL: SALES@THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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COLUMN | CHRIS YEO ON ANTIQUES

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

The Room outside Whisper it, Summer might be here. It seems that as soon as the chimes of the first ice cream van are heard, our thoughts inevitably turn to the outdoors and the garden - or the backyard, or terrace. Whatever the size of your plot, nowadays we expect our gardens to be every bit as stylish and distinctive as our homes – a plastic patio set and herbaceous border just won’t cut it. The urge to embellish our outdoor area is, of course, nothing new. The Georgians loved a garden ornament – particularly if it had appalling body odour. The must have accessory of the 1750s was a stone grotto complete with live-in human hermit, who – in the name of authenticity – was not allowed to speak, wash, or cut their hair or fingernails. The pay was good but the terms onerous, so much so that Lord Bath’s hermit at Longleat soon went AWOL and was found in a local pub in an advanced state of inebriation, contemplating a career change.

When it comes to our own patch, whilst many of us are used to having antiques indoors, how many would consider buying period pieces for the garden? For those looking for a truly original, quirky look outdoors, there’s a wealth of choice, requiring neither vast expense nor human servitude. You just need to think outside the (window) box. Some of the most effective garden ornaments are made from objects that started out with an entirely different function. Beaten coppers vats, used for boiling laundry, are having a new lease of life as bedding planters, as are stone troughs, originally used for animals to drink from. Once a feature of every farmyard, bedded out with plants they make an imposing statement and are highly sought after. Wheelbarrows and old carts also make perfect containers for planting out vivid summer blooms, while garden rollers simply need propping up against an old brick wall to look good. Terracotta flower pots, trowels made of metal from the 1950s, rakes with handmade teeth and branch handles and early 20th century metal buckets and enamelware watering cans, artfully displayed, all add a personal touch to the “room outside”. ■

• clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)

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THE

WATCH LIST

With the world’s leading watchmakers introducing new models for 2022, we asked Mallory Jewellers to highlight some of the stars of the show.

BREITLING NAVITIMER B01 CHRONOGRAPH 46 As Breitling’s legendary timepiece turns 70, the brand unveiled a redesigned collection that is all about bold colour, enhance styling – and incredible journeys.

Model: AB0137211C1P1 £7,050.00

PANERAI SUBMERSIBLE QUARANTAQUATTRO CARBOTECH™ BLU ABISSO The foundation for the Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro Carbotech™ Blu Abisso is a case composed of the lightest material employed by the brand. In keeping with the Submersible collection’s legacy of underwater exploration, the dial and accompanying coordinating straps are the colour of the deep undersea blue.

Model: PAM01232 £15,000.00

OMEGA CONSTELLATION TAG HEUER AQUARACER PROFESSIONAL 200

The dramatic and enduring design of the OMEGA Constellation is characterised by its famous half-moon facets and “claws” on the case.

Standout features on this 29 mm model are the dial made from natural blue Aventurine stone and the shimmering leather strap in matching colour. Model Reference: 131.28.29.20.99.003 £11,900.00

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Featuring ultra-durable construction and a sharper-than-ever profile, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 is the ultimate tool watch for explorers.

Model: WBP2111.BA0627 £2,300.00

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TIMEPIECE SHOWCASE

TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT S&G The iconic Tudor Black Bay GMT model is now available in a S&G (Steel & Gold) version, featuring warm colours and a nostalgic touch.

Recognisable by its 24-hour graduated rotating bezel with two colours, representing day and night, the Tudor Black Bay S&G also gives a subtle aesthetic nod to the history of this watchmaking function.

Model: M79833MN-0001 £4,290.00

LONGINES HYDROCONQUEST XXII COMMONWEALTH GAMES As the Official Partner and Timekeeper of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Longines presents the HydroConquest XXII Commonwealth Games. This exclusive edition, limited to 2,022 pieces, celebrates one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

Model: L3.781.4.59.6 £1,600.00

MONTBLANC 1858 ICED SEA Introducing the first-ever sports diving watch for Montblanc. The Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date features a glacier pattern dial, inspired by the Mer de Glace – Sea of Ice – the main glacier of the Mont-Blanc Massif.

Model: 129370 £2,435.00

Find out more at Mallory 1 - 5 Bridge Street, Bath BA2 4AP mallory-jewellers.com

PATEK PHILIPPE ANNUAL CALENDAR TRAVEL TIME Patek Philippe combines two of its outstanding patented complications for the first time in one watch: the Annual Calendar (that requires a manual correction only once a year) and the Travel Time system for the display of a second time zone.

The outcome is a travel watch whose date display is synchronized with the respective local time. It simultaneously adjusts the date when the time zone is corrected.

Model: 5326G-001 £59,200.00

ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST 31 A classic, reimagined. Rolex presented three new versions of the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31 with striking floral motif dials. Calling to mind wild summer meadows, the design comprises 24 flowers that stand out distinctly from one another thanks to their finishes – either sunray, matt or grained. Each of the flowers is lit from within by a diamond set into the centre. Model: M278274-0035 £8,100.00

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BOOKS

Indie action As Independent Bookshop Week fast approaches (18 – 25 June), we celebrate Gloucester Road Books, which, in turn, is celebrating some of the country’s finest independent publishers and their recent releases. Check them out...

an/other pastoral

Shalimar

by Tjawangwa Dema, published by No Bindings

by Davina Quinlivan, published by Little Toller

an/other pastoral is part of a wider multi-format project created by innovative Bristol publisher, No Bindings. Tjawangwa Dema's new poetry collection is a spellbinding and all-encompassing examination of the natural world and its witnessing of, amongst other things, empire, race and the climate crisis.

Dema has produced, in moving powerful verse, what ultimately becomes a book of hope: “all nature speaks if we listen”.

Left unmoored and unsettled by the death of her father, Davina Quinlivan sets out to unearth her Anglo-Asian family's rich history. She travels from England to India and Myanmar, discovering her ancestors' stories and their previously unknown and profound influence on her own life. The hypnotising and mesmeric prose turns this quest for home and identity into an unforgettable experience.

Davina will be discussing her book at Gloucester Road Books on Wednesday 22 June from 6.30pm – 8pm.

Tickets are available in store or from Eventbrite.

The Water Statues

Paradais

by Fleur Jaeggy, translated by Gini Alhadeff, published by And Other Stories

by Fernanda Melchor, translated by Sophie Hughes, published by Fitzcarraldo Editions

This strange and utterly compelling book is loosely presented as a play, where a cast of characters drift about in stage-like vignettes. The nature of their conversations are existential, characterised by the material qualities of water, stone, and light. They are preoccupied by the subject of time, but remain unhurried in states of lethargy and repose. This stunning book plunges you into its dreamlike spaces through hauntingly beautiful fragments, completely unique and powerful in its short form.

Seven Steeples

by Sara Baume, published by Tramp Press This is a truly beautiful book, in which almost nothing happens. A couple moves out to the Irish countryside to live in simpler fashion. Over time they gradually shed their previous lives, families and friends. They take almost nothing from the world, and put almost nothing back in. The seasons change, the years pass, their dogs age, and their routines set in. Baume's language is textural, rhythmic and tactile, and the novel is completely spellbinding.

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From early on in Paradais, it is clear that things are not going to end well. Once their egotistical fantasies have taken hold, the two teenage characters at the centre of the story cannot escape their own runaway momentum. This is a searing tale of a fractured society smashed apart by teenage lust for sex and status, written by a new star of Mexican literature.

A

note from the team: “Our primary aim is that the shop be a fascinating place to explore. Some of the subject sections are a little broader than they might be elsewhere – for instance our ‘Time and Place’ section encompasses books on History, Travel Literature, Geography and Reportage. We also have a significant focus on titles published by small independent presses. There are lots of really brilliant small publishers putting out incredibly exciting books at the moment, and we want to help get these out into the world.

We do, of course, have plenty of the kinds of books you would expect to find in any good bookshop – fiction, non-fiction, and a range of fantastic books for children of all ages. The stock is carefully chosen and constantly changing, so even if you pop in every week there will always be new books to find.”

Follow Gloucester Road Books on Instagram at: gloucester_rd_books.

Visit the bookshop at: 184 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NU. Open Monday – Tuesday 9.30am – 5pm; Wednesday – Saturday 9.30am – 6pm

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Gone to Look for America Gone to Look for America is the latest sequel to the popular trilogy which began with A Fraternal Attraction, continuing the taboo theme of a forbidden romance between two brothers.

The book is set in 1968 at a time when gender roles were more clearcut and homosexuality rarely discussed.

In its affecting portrait of small-town life, with much of the social interaction taking place on the front porches of residents or at local establishments like the drive-in theatre or late night diner, the writing is reminiscent of Harper Lee and Carson McCullers.

The novel is an elegy to lost innocence but above all it is about a nation’s dreams and unfulfilled possibilities.

Now available at www.unique-books.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK TASTY TIDBITS FROM THE CITY’S RESTAURANTS, CHEFS AND PRODUCERS

THATCHERS DONATES TREES TO COMMUNITY ORCHARDS

BRISTOL START-UP: MOVING ON UP All About The Cooks believes that one day, it will be possible to buy homecooked food from local people, wherever you are in the world. They have created an online marketplace to make this happen, and have already started doing this in Bristol.

Using the Crowdcube platform, All About The Cooks has set up a campaign to allow investors to buy equity, and Cookpad – the world’s largest recipe platform – has invested an impressive £125,000 in the start-up to lead the round. So far, All About The Cooks has raised £290,000.

Cookpad, founded in Japan in 1997, now has 100 million users in 74 countries. Its global head-quarters moved to Bristol five years ago.

Cookpad CEO Rimpei Iwata said: “All About The Cooks is about supporting home-cooks who love to share their food. That real and warm connection of people through cooking and sharing food is the future I aspire to create.”

Claire Ladkin, Founder of All About the Cooks, agreed: “I am thrilled that Cookpad has joined us on our mission to make it easy to eat ‘real food made by real people’, and has given us the backing to launch our crowdfund.

“Since our Bristol launch, we have taken over 850 orders and paid £30,000 to 50 cooks. That's the thing I’m most proud of. We take a modest commission on each order, so almost all the money changes hands within communities and is paid directly to cooks.

“We intend to launch in six new cities and recruit 250 new cooks within the coming year, and to be generically available in the UK by 2024.”

• allaboutthecooks.co.uk

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Community organisations across Bristol and the West Country have been planting young apple trees this spring as part of Thatchers Community Project 2022. The Somerset cider maker has donated 350 apple trees to 50 community groups across the UK who applied to be a part of this year's project, now in its second year. With 500 groups sending in applications, Thatchers selected this year’s recipients for their positive impact on their local communities.

“This is the second year we have run the project, doubling the number of trees we donated. With such an amazing number of groups applying to take part, we know there’s a massive appetite for planting trees, with people recognising the positive impact orchards, however big or small, can have on our lives," says Martin Thatcher, fourth generation cider maker in Somerset.

“This year we've donated to schools and colleges, care homes and hospitals, urban neighbourhood groups, veteran support groups and allotment societies, to name but a few," continues Martin. “It’s been an absolute privilege to read the applications, and to be able to help groups plant trees. We hope that by donating these trees they will make a difference to many people’s wellbeing.”

Thatchers Community Orchard Project was first run in 2021, when it gave away 120 apple trees to community groups up and down the country. The project attracted such demand in its first year, the family run cider maker decided to more than double the number of trees it donated this year, meaning more groups have been able to benefit.

• thatcherscider.co.uk

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FOR THE BBQ - A RANGE OF ENGLISH AND CONTINENTAL SauSAGES

ETHICALLY SOURCED, FREE RANGE, LOCAL MEAT WINNER OF THE BEST LOCAL BUTCHERS IN THE BRISTOL GOOD FOOD AWARDS

4 YEARS RUNNING. 250 NORTH ST. SOUTHVILLE, BRISTOL BS3 1JD

T: 0117 966 3593

DINE WITH DAD Celebrate Father’s Day with a delicious meal at Harvey Nichols Bristol Treat him to a beautiful 2 course roast dinner, complete with a house wine or beer for £35 per person.

Starters include smoked salmon and potato rosti with creme fraiche, and Roast marinated topside complete with roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire pudding is just one of the mains featured on the menu.

For the finale, choose sticky toffee pudding with beer ice-cream or peanut butter parfait, caramelised banana and caramel sauce.

The Second Floor Restaurant Sunday 19 June, 12– 4pm Email: Reception.Bristol@Harveynichols.com Tel: 0117 916 8898 @hnbristol_secondfloor

HARVEY NICHOLS, CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL

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FOOD

The seven-strong team at Rare Butchers of Southville

A cut above the rest

Rare Butchers of Southville – an award-winning independent butcher situated on North Street – is committed to changing the way people eat meat. Supplying ethically farmed and locally sourced produce, the team’s combined years of expertise helps customers get the best out of their meat, whatever their requirements. We sit down with owner Chris Cierpik to find out more...

S

ome 11 years since it first opened its doors, Rare Butchers of Southville has built an impressive reputation. Hailed as the best local butcher at the Bristol Good Food Awards four years in a row and Best Retailer of Year at the 2019 Bristol Business Awards, the North Street butcher is widely celebrated for its pristine cuts of meat bursting with flavour. Locally sourced and ethically farmed, the produce supplied by Rare Butchers is of the highest quality, with its free-range chicken boasting a nutritional value four times that of a factory-farmed animal.

As barbecue season approaches and grills are dusted off, we sat down with owner Chris Cierpik, who took us back to the very beginning of his 42-year career. He shared his love of food and independent business and explained why ethical farming is better for the planet, for the wildlife and for our health and tastebuds.

As we grab a coffee at Yafo, a brilliant café-cum-restaurant serving authentic falafels situated just a few doors up from Rare Butchers, there’s a palpable sense of camaraderie amongst the Southville indies. It’s a joy to witness, in fact, as endless streams of loyal customers and local business owners stop to chat to Chris as we take a seat on the veranda.

“I really love independent business,” Chris begins. “North Street is full of them.” He points out at least three others independents in our eyeline – all of which seem to be run with the same level of pride and enthusiasm. “I really love what I do. I have a strong passion for food.

When I’ve been asked before about why we’re so busy and why we’re 42 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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so successful, I think it’s mainly because I really want the food to taste great. We only get high-quality meat from local farms.”

Rare Butchers’ produce comes from within a 50-mile radius of Bristol. “We get our lamb from a farm in Abbots Leigh. We get our venison from Ashton Court. We get our free-range chicken from Radstock, our eggs from Chew Valley, our pork from Taunton, beef from Nailsea, and turkeys from Chew Magna.”

It’s evident in the way Chris speaks about the produce that he cares deeply about where he buys it from. Our conversation moves on to the subject of regenerative agriculture. A conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems, regenerative agriculture focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle and strengthening the health and vitality of farm soil. According to leading experts in the sector, regenerative agriculture can also help to mitigate the climate crisis. In recent years, the UK has made a significant shift towards this style of farming, working in harmony with nature, looking after the soil and the pastures, and ensuring the animals’ welfare.

“There’s a massive difference between a factory-farmed animal and a free-range one and regenerative farming is exactly what we need to be moving towards,” Chris points out. “I’ve done a lot of reading because I want to be knowledgeable about where our meat comes from. I want to answer our customers’ questions. When I first discovered local, ethically farmed meat, it was the taste and the way it looked that first struck me. Then you realise that it’s because of the

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FOOD

Owner Chris Cierpik

Rare Butchers of Southville sees around 900– 1,000 customers every week, feeding thousands of families in Bristol every month way the animal has lived on the farm.”

Rare Butchers of Southville sees around 900–1,000 customers every week, feeding thousands of families in Bristol every month. The shop’s success is manifestly built on the back of Chris’s experience and a brilliant seven-strong team. Working in the industry from the age of 16, Chris learned his craft at Bristol Meat Trader, which he says was “as tough a training ground as Gordon Ramsay’s kitchen”, before going on to fine-tune his skills at his first shop in Portishead, working as a retail and catering butcher. The success of these initial endeavours was down to maintaining an exceptionally high degree of quality control, keeping consistency at the heart of the business. “Uniformity is everything”, he emphasises. “We produce restaurant-standard cuts.

When you buy four steaks from us, you will have four identical pieces of meat to enjoy at home.”

Today, Rare Butchers supplies some of the best meat in the west to a whole host of local restaurants including Southville gem, Sonny Stores, where the team get together for their staff Christmas meal.

As he becomes ever busier, Chris hints at his plans for the future and even ponders on the idea of expanding the kitchen to make a range of new products, such as pâté, Scotch eggs and biltong. It’s abundantly clear that despite the success, however, Chris is always striving for perfection. “I never feel like I’ve arrived,” he tells me.

“There’s always something more we could be doing. We’re inspired by some of the best butchers in London and we visit them a couple of times a year. They always give us such a warm welcome and they’re always happy to share their knowledge.”

With summer just around the corner and the prospect of outdoor cuisine very much on the cards, you couldn’t do better than to head down to Rare Butchers for a cut or two of the finest meat around. n • Visit Rare Butchers of Southville at 250 North Street, Southville, Bristol BS3 1JD and follow them on Instagram: rarebutchers and Facebook: @RareMeatButchersofSouthville. Photography by Benjamin Andrews; benjaminandrewsphotography.com THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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GREAT BRUNCHES | BEST OF BRISTOL

Brunch out, the right way

Mimosas before lunch? Every day is a good day when you can do brunch - and Bristol does brunch best.

DARESHACK Wine Street, Bristol, BS1 2BD Tel: 0117 929 8216 Web: dareshack.com Dareshack is a multi-functional space in central Bristol rooted in the belief that hospitality and entertainment can connect people, evoke feelings, and spark change. Serving counter-based brunch, homemade sweets, and doughnuts alongside a great range of speciality coffee, every purchase contributes to the development of creative projects as part of their mission ‘Creative revolution one cup at a time’.

Located just opposite Castle Park, it's the perfect place to grab a picnic bag and sit in the park or to enjoy the great looking and alternative vibes the space offers. Find them on instagram.com/dareshack

COPPA CLUB – CLIFTON 2-10 Regent Street, Bristol, BS8 4HG Tel: 0117 332 4489 Web: coppaclub.co.uk Coppa Club is launching a new brunch menu in Clifton.

The menu has been created with local produce and is perfect for long, lazy weekend gatherings. Some of the menu highlights include buckwheat and rye pancakes with berries, granola and coconut yogurt, sharing shakshuka with baked eggs, chorizo, za’atar, tahini, and Greek yoghurt and Bloody Baller 10, a signature brunch cocktail made with Baller chilli and bacon vodka, bloody Mary mix, cucumber and sea salt. Coppa Club is well known for providing all the best elements of a café, bar, restaurant and lounge into one offering – with something for everyone. It’s a private members club experience, without the membership fees, offering an informal, relaxed feel.

EAT YOUR GREENS 156 Wells Road, Bristol, BS4 2AG Web: Eatyourgreensbristol.com EYG is an independent, award-winning, fully licensed vegan eatery in Totterdown. Run by chef Babs Greaves, menus are 100% vegan and designed to be gluten free (unless otherwise specified). Brunch is served on Friday and Saturday; signature dishes include: ‘Goldie Lox’, consisting of smoked carrot lox, baked marinated tofu wedge, local sourdough, rocket and a pea purée, and ‘The Beasty’, a magnificent plant-based full English.

Vegan Sunday roasts available and a Friday night supper club - with locally sourced organic tasting plates which change naturally with the seasons. Babs is committed to paying her staff the real living wage and to buying as locally and organically as possible.

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GREAT BRUNCHES | BEST OF BRISTOL

THE JOY OF BRUNCH Looking back at the history of brunch, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the breakfast/lunch hybrid first began. Many believe that it’s an English tradition of feasting after a hunt, others say it’s a Catholic custom of fasting in the morning before tucking into a large meal once church services have concluded. In America, some New Yorkers state that brunch came from the wondrous selection of breakfast and lunch options available after a night on the tiles. Either way, one thing is abundantly clear: the love of brunch absolutely transcends borders and boundaries, nationalities and neighbourhoods.

THE SHORE CAFÉ BAR TERRACE AT THE BRISTOL Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QF Tel: 0117 923 0333 Web: doylecollection.com/the-bristol-hotel/dining/shore-cafe-bar

Brunch made its print debut in Hunter's Weekly in 1895. British writer Guy Beringer coined the term in an article entitled Brunch: A Plea.

He writes: “All of us have experienced the purgatory of those Sabbatarian early dinners with their Christian beef and concomitant pie.

Have we not eaten enough of them? I think so, and would suggest Brunch as a satisfactory substitute.

To celebrate the onset of the warmer months ahead and The Shore Café Bar at The Bristol recent refurbishment featuring extensive terrace seating and ambient festoon lighting, the neighbourhood-favourite haunt has launched a delicious Weekend Brunch menu, including an extensive Bloody Mary selection. With abundant awnings, outdoor heaters and cosy McNutt of Donegal woollen throws sprawled throughout, the reimagined terrace space is an idyllic place to while away an afternoon and bring guests luxuriously into those twilight summer nights. The new menu features classic brunch favourites such as Eggs Benedict, Florentine or Royale and Crushed Avocado on Sourdough toast, as well as some more contemporary dishes, including Baked Egg Shakshuka and a moreish vegan Grilled Tofu Burger. Available on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 3pm.

“To a certain extent I am pleading for Brunch from selfish motives. The world would be kinder and more charitable if my brief were successful.

To begin with, Brunch is a hospitable meal; breakfast is not. Eggs and bacon are adapted to solitude; they are consoling, but not exhilarating.

They do not stimulate conversation.

Brunch, on the contrary, is cheerful, sociable, and inciting. It is talkcompelling. It puts you in a good temper; it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow-beings. It sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.”

BOCABAR FINZELS REACH

Amusingly, Beringer signs off with the final detail: “Beer and whiskey are admitted as substitutes for tea and coffee.”

So, there you have it, folks.

Brunch: a bringer of joy for 127 years and counting.

Fermentation 1, Hawkins Lane, Finzels Reach Bristol, BS1 6JQ Tel: 0117 374 1898 E: bocabarfinzels@outlook.com Bocabar Finzels Reach is a hidden gem in the recently reclaimed old city centre by the floating harbour. As an independent, it has the quirks, passion and attention to detail.

The look is vintage, rustic with a splash of luxury. Brunch on Saturdays ranges from full breakfasts, pancakes and much loved local Abu Noor bakery toasted bagels – among these are hot smoked salmon and poached eggs, or smoked mozzarella and Portobello mushroom, both topped with wilted spinach and hollandaise. Sip one of the 241 brunch cocktails on the sunny terrace, with heated jumbrellas and boho stretch tent for outdoor bookings.

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TRAVEL | GREAT BRITISH BREAKS

Great British breaks

Whether you’re walking, cycling, swimming, exploring gastronomic delights, relaxing in a heavenly spa, or simply stargazing, there are so many things to make a UK holiday the perfect choice, not to mention the most enjoyable way to support the UK economy. Your best holiday yet, can be found here.

THE WATERSMEET HOTEL

WOOLACOMBE, NORTH DEVON

The Watersmeet Hotel in Woolacombe, North Devon has recently won in the Best Waterside Hotel category in the UK and Ireland Conde Nast and Johansen’s awards for excellence. The luxury four star boutique hotel has one of the finest coastal locations in the whole of the West Country, with stunning sea views across the waters of Woolacombe Bay. The hotel overlooks Combesgate Beach and North Devon's rugged coastline with its own private steps down to the sandy beach. With an array of facilities such as an award winning two-AA rosette restaurant, informal bistro restaurant, indoor and outdoor pool with spa facilities, it is the perfect choice for couples, families or groups alike.

The hotel staff take pride in their high standards and traditional values and you’ll find the hotel to be exceptionally comfortable and the staff friendly and helpful. visit: watersmeethotel.co.uk Tel: 01271 870333

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TRAVEL | GREAT BRITISH BREAKS

THE COACH HOUSE AT SHARPHAM NEAR TOTNES, SOUTH DEVON A new retreat centre blends mindfulness and nature’s ability to comfort and heal - all in a stunning setting beside the River Dart. The Coach House is the latest retreat venue created by The Sharpham Trust - a charity established 40 years ago this year to connect people to nature and themselves through the practice of mindfulness. Participants can experience 6-night and 4night retreats in the newly-refurbished Coach House, which was built in the 1700s at the same time as nearby Sharpham House. Coach House retreats are full-board with delicious, home-cooked vegetarian and vegan food – which uses lots of the produce grown just metres away in the 18th century walled garden. People staying at the Coach House will be performing mindful tasks in that garden daily, getting their hands in the earth. There are 3 daily meditation sessions, plus plenty of free time for retreatants to rest and rejuvenate in a breath-taking place far from the frantic. Over the week, retreatants build a sense of community and kinship, supported by a team of Volunteer Coordinators in an amazing location within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Visit: sharphamtrust.org/coach-house

BLUESTONE NATIONAL PARK RESORT

PEMBROKESHIRE, WALES

Main image: Sunset at Kynance Cove in Cornwall

If you are looking for somewhere a little different for a getaway, try Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire on the south westerly coast of Wales. Nestled in 500-acres of rolling countryside, and within 20 minutes of Pembrokeshire’s National Park coastline, Bluestone is a place off the beaten track where you can turn your staycation dreams into a reality. Bluestone’s resort has miles of private walking and cycle tracks through ancient woodland and meadows, along with adventurous activities for all ages including a subtropical water park and a lake for watersports, and even an award-winning spa for those that prefer a little relaxation. The luxury, modern accommodation offers you the space to relax away from the world too. All lodges and cottages include an outdoor area, ideal for barbecues, or just sitting and enjoying the countryside! For late summer availability this September, visit bluestonewales.com

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TRAVEL | GREAT BRITISH BREAKS

MOOR AND SEA HOLIDAYS SELF CATERING LODGES - LYNTON, DEVON Moor and Sea Holidays is set in a beautiful location overlooking Exmoor five minutes from the sea at Lynmouth, perfectly situated to explore the stunning coastline, moorland and award winning beaches of North Devon. The newly renovated south facing lodges are set in lovely grounds, each with private outside dining spaces and stunning views of the gardens and the moor. There are six one bedroom lodges and two three bedroom lodges, Designed to provide calm and relaxing spaces with open plan living and dining areas and fully equipped kitchens.

Environmentally friendly choices have been made throughout the renovation and decoration of the lodges; from gorgeous cork walling, sheeps wool insulation, natural wood flooring to French linens in the bedrooms.

There is an art studio where guests can take part in rainy day craft sessions or a fused glass class or fun art workshop. The gardens and grounds have been thoughtfully landscaped and planted to encourage wildlife, full of birdsong and chances to see deer across the valley.

Surrounding Moor and Sea are lovely fields in which to play, wild camp or just walk enjoying the views. Moor and Sea is a wonderful holiday destination with a difference.

For more details, booking information and availability, visit: moorandseaholidays.co.uk. Tel: 07794594916 or 07534043059

ORIGINAL COTTAGES A SUPER SELECTION OF PROPERTIES ACROSS ENGLAND AND WALES Original Cottages has an extensive range of coastal and countryside cottages, from cosy boltholes for two to country style properties which can accommodate large family gatherings. For example, take Pencarreg, situated within moments of the South West Coast Path in a spectacular, cliffside location on the south Cornwall coast. This remodelled 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, reverse-level house has been designed to make the most of the sensational views across the bay.

The glistening waters of the ocean spread out ahead of you from the expansive deck which is home to a sevenseat hot tub and a great outdoor social area. The stylish, spacious interior has been finished to a superb standard. All bedrooms have TVs – perfect for both sharers and families, and there is a luxurious wellequipped kitchen which forms part of the open-plan living area and a full set of bi-fold doors lead out to the deck providing a splendid outlook from sunrise to sunset. For days out head down onto the coast path with your picnic and turn west into Polruan then catch the foot ferry from the harbour across to Fowey or head east towards Lantic Bay and marvel at the stupendous views along the way.

For more details, booking information and availability, visit: originalcottages.co.uk. Tel: 03332 020899

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40 Winks with Pride of Britain Hotels

To celebrate their 40th birthday, Pride of Britain Hotels are launching 40 Sleep Specials from their hotels across the British Isles.

I

n the belief that few things in life are more important than a good night’s sleep, the group have launched 40 brand new and exclusive, truly serene sleep packages, available this autumn (from 1st September to 30th November 2022).

The aim is to take you on a rejuvenation journey, Whatever relaxation means to you – whether it’s an afternoon nap by the fireside in a cosy Scottish lodge, a tranquil spa treatment, a morning in nature to reset your circadian rhythm, or a blissful night’s sleep on 1000-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets – the 40 Winks Sleep Specials have got you covered. Choose from such rejuvenating escapes as:

Restful Night’s Sleep Spa Break in Suffolk Indulge in a blissful spa day, with a relaxing lavender dry floatation experience, a healthy lunch and calming herbal tea infused with botanicals. After a delicious dinner, a restful night’s sleep beckons, assisted by a soothing gift with a heavenly pillow mist, restful night cream and essential oils.

Available at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa.

Sleepy Sundays in the Lake District Imagine a lakeside retreat where you’ll be nurtured by nature on a guided mindfulness experience before a relaxing massage. Following a herbal infusion tea and seasonal dinner, your Pillow Package, complete with a eucalyptus silk eye mask and calming mist, will ensure the land of nod isn’t far away. Wake up refreshed the next day for a Pilates class, refreshing swim or a hot tub soak. Available at Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa.

Indulgence Retreat in Yorkshire Surrounded by beautiful countryside, unwind with a forest therapy spa treatment and a candlelit dinner. Your fourposter bed with Egyptian cotton sheets and duck-feather pillows awaits. A mindfulness experience combining yoga and creativity will renew you in the morning. Available at Middlethorpe Hall & Spa. With 40 Sleep Specials to choose from, your serene sleep journey with Pride of Britain Hotels awaits. n prideofbritainhotels.com

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FASHION

SUMMER

LOVING Whether you’re vacationing, staycationing, glamping or camping this summer, you’ll be in need of some perennial pieces to take you through this season and beyond. Think bright, bold and vibrant hues...

Set stellaria shorts and top tropical, £335 • wolfandbadger.com

Beachwood square sunglasses, £120 • wolfandbadger.com

The mini poppy hand bag in white

by The Cambridge Satchel Co, £135 • wolfandbadger.com

Suede cropped jacket, £1250 • paulsmith.com

Disco checked flared-leg cotton trousers, £70 • harveynichols.com

The Karis tie back maxi dress in sunset orange – red, £200 • wolfandbadger.com

Bronte statement gold earrings, £122 • wolfandbadger.com

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FASHION

Inca sand straw bucket hat, £155 • harveynichols.com

Valeria dress by Hip + Happen, £329 • wolfandbadger.com

Ribbed underwire bikini top, £35 • whistles.com

Oversized shirt, £79 • whistles.com

Beige kitten heeled sandals, £30 • monki.com

Tweedmill, Newbury quilted palm leaf picnic rug, £55 • harveynichols.com

Bellerose Vanessa jumpsuit in lazuli blue, £189 • mazeclothing.co.uk

Joules Cambridge 53.5cm 4-wheel medium suitcase, navy floral, £169 • johnlewis.com

Tumi, Madina cosmetic case, £195 • harveynichols.com

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ANDREW SWIFT – JUNE.qxp_Layout 2 25/05/2022 11:44 Page 1

Crantock’s Steps on University Walk, where the risers were fitted with rainbow-coloured strips for Bristol Pride in 2019

Step inside

“Less celebrated but no less fundamental to Bristol’s DNA are the many flights of steps around the city. They may not have the monumentality of the Spanish Steps in Rome, the Staircases of Montmartre or the Potemkin Stairs in Odesa, but their appeal is more subtle,” says Andrew Swift, who, this month, explores the city’s uniquely historical yet functional features...

B

ristol’s character and development have, like those of other cities built on hilly sites, been profoundly affected by its topography. Think of the best-known views of the city and the chances are you’ll think of the vertiginous terraces of Cliftonwood, Redcliffe and Totterdown rising high above the Floating Harbour, of Cabot Tower atop Brandon Hill and, above all, of Brunel’s suspension bridge spanning the Avon Gorge.

Less celebrated but no less fundamental to Bristol’s DNA are the many flights of steps around the city. They may not have the monumentality of the Spanish Steps in Rome, the Staircases of Montmartre or the Potemkin Stairs in Odesa, but their appeal is more subtle. Hidden away, often quirky and redolent of times past, with a vague air of neglect, they offer a respite from the busy streets around them.

The best known – indeed the only ones that many people have heard of – are Christmas Steps. Originally, there was no more than a perilous ‘breakneck footpath’ at the west end of Christmas Street, but in 1669 it was paved, steps were built at the top and bottom and it was renamed Queen Street. Locals decided that Christmas Steps was a better name, however, and by the mid-19th century it had been adopted officially.

Many visitors to Christmas Steps may be surprised to discover, however, that, once they have reached the top of the steps, the climbing’s hardly begun. Across the road is a far more formidable flight leading up to Perry Road. Having climbed that, further steps lead up to St Michael’s church, beyond which lies St Michael’s Hill, where the pavement is punctuated by three more flights of steps. Finally, a choice of steps on the left leads up to Royal Fort – and level ground.

For something more challenging, though, you need to head over to Totterdown, where Thunderbolt Steps – all 157 of them – link Bath Road with Upper Street. Built around 1903, they replaced a footpath 54 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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which scaled the steep slopes of what was then known as Thunderbolt Hill. Today, apart from a brief glimpse westward partway up, vegetation rises high on either side, so that it’s bit like climbing through a green tunnel. And, when you finally emerge at the top, Upper Street continues remorselessly uphill. Like all of Bristol’s steps, however, they are a much valued cut-through, and, when they were closed for a spell in 2018 after being undermined by building work, local residents were faced with lengthy diversions.

At the other end of Totterdown, St Luke’s Steps, running down to Victoria Park, are a very different proposition. They are much wider, and have an even wider area alongside them paved with setts. They also cross a street – St Luke’s Crescent – partway up, while further up they form the only access to a short terrace called Clifton View.

Given their width, it seems almost as though the developers planned to build a street, but abandoned the idea when they realised how steep it would be and came up with the ad hoc but totally delightful compromise you see today.

Something similar seems to have happened to the north of the city, where Spring Hill runs up from King Square to Dove Street and on to Somerset Street. Although as wide as a street, it too is a quirkily impressive amalgam of steps and slopes, and utterly unique.

For quirkiness, though, the palm must go to White Hart Steps, running up from Jacob’s Wells Road to Cliftonwood. The inn after which they were named disappeared almost 150 years ago and the bottom of the steps now lies hidden behind a block of flats. Unlike St Luke’s Steps and Spring Hill, which run straight uphill, White Hart Steps wind obliquely, so you can only see a little way ahead. Tall buildings and trees tower on either side, further up, gates lead into quiet gardens. Then, as you approach the final flight, comes a Through the

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Cascade Steps with water coursing down a broad swathe in the middle

Royal York Crescent’s corkscrewing steps

Zed Alley

Spring Hill

St Luke’s Steps

Quarry Steps

Looking Glass moment, as you pass a bus stop – a relic of an arts trail some 25 years ago – before heading on up into World’s End Lane.

This part of Bristol is home to a rich variety of steps – Goldney Lane, following the course of an old footpath uphill from Ambra Vale, Church Path Steps, linking Mardyke with Cliftonwood, but recently closed due to the collapse of a wall, and the long, gloomy flight leading from Meridian Place down to one of the city’s most atmospheric hidden corners, Meridian Vale, the site of an old quarry.

Over a mile to the north, another former quarry provides the setting for what could well be the steepest and most uneven set of steps in the city. Quarry Steps, just west of Blackboy Hill, command one of the most striking urban views in Bristol as they plunge down to the tightlypacked network of streets occupying a worked-out quarry on the edge of the Downs. Just around the corner, though, as if to prove that Bristol’s steps come in all shapes and sizes, is Easter Garden, one of the most intimate and welcoming urban oases in the city, where a flight of steps runs down through land reclaimed by the community after a long and bitter battle to prevent its redevelopment.

Some of Bristol’s steps are so familiar as to need no introduction.

Some, like St Nicolas Steps and Market Steps, running down to Baldwin Street, or Trinity Street Steps by the Cathedral, are strictly functional.

Others, like the variety of steps in Castle Park or the magnificent flight leading up to St George’s, Brandon Hill, add a touch of pizzazz to the

Bus stop on White Hart Steps

urban scene. For sheer élan, though, the flight of steps corkscrewing down from the west end of Royal York Crescent is hard to beat.

Some of the most striking examples are more recent. Cascade Steps, for example, with water coursing down a broad swathe in the middle, is one of the most popular urban spaces in the city. Less well known, but just as memorable, are Crantock’s Steps on University Walk, where the risers were fitted with rainbow-coloured strips for Bristol Pride in 2019.

If your taste is for something more Dickensian, then you need to head off the beaten track – to St George’s Road, perhaps, where Brandon Steps, steep, narrow and with no handrail, climb to Brandon Steep. Rather alarmingly, 19th-century maps show they were once known as Devil’s Alley.

Also the bearer of an evil reputation was Zed Alley, so called because it originally zig-zagged between high walls. Although less than 50 metres long, the section in the middle could not be seen from either end, which made it popular with muggers, who were also in habit of bundling their victims down the steps at the top before rifling their pockets. In 1920, after years of campaigning, the area was redeveloped and the alley straightened out. It is the upper part of Zed Alley, however, which only dates from around 1872, that, with its old gaslight standards and a faint air of gloomy menace, really smacks of a Bristol long gone. n • akemanpress.com THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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NEWSLETTER PICKS – JUNE v3.qxp_Layout 2 26/05/2022 14:11 Page 1

TOP PICKS

Newsletter

SPORTS

FOOD & DRINK

Stay up to date with the Bristol Bears Don’t miss the latest news from Bristol’s favourite rugby club and keep up-to-date with when the teams are playing at Ashton Gate for when you fancy a night at the rugby...

Recipe by Melissa Blease

OBJECTS OF DESIRE

Baked Sea Bass with Rosemary, Olives and Capers This elegant dish is bursting with the kind of piquant flavours that perfectly compliment the delicate, subtly-sweet taste of sea bass. It isn’t going to be an everyday ingredient for most of us but if you’re dining à deux and fancy pushing the boat out, it’s time to make a splash.

Ingredients (serves 2) 2 medium-sized sea bass 500g new potatoes 4 bushy sprigs rosemary 1 medium-sized red chilli 1 tbsp capers, rinsed The juice of 1 small lemon

8 black olives, rinsed of any brine & sliced 1 tbsp red wine or sherry vinegar 2 garlic cloves, peeled & crushed 4 large sprigs parsley, finely chopped Olive oil

Method 1. Rinse (but don’t peel) the new potatoes and cut into thin slices, about the thickness of a £1 coin. Warm a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large shallow pan over a low to medium heat and slowly sauté the potatoes until their edges are just starting to colour (around 10-12 minutes), turning them occasionally.

2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 190°C/gas mark 5. Rinse the fish, wrap them in paper towels and set to one side.

3. Remove the needles from the rosemary sprigs, chop them finely and put them into a mixing bowl along with the finely-chopped chilli (flesh only, seeds discarded). Add the red wine or sherry vinegar, rinsed capers, sliced olives, lemon juice, peeled and crushed garlic, finely-chopped parsley, a grinding of black pepper and 3 tbsp of olive oil.

4. Transfer the softened, golden-edged potatoes to a roasting tin. Lay the fish on top of the potatoes and spoon the dressing over the top and into the open belly of the fish. Roast for about 25 minutes or until the fish is tender, opaque and just cooked through to the bone.

5. Remove the head and tail from the fish (by this time, it’ll be so tender you’ll be able to do this with a fork and spoon) then lift onto warm plates. Divide the potatoes between the plates and serve immediately, perhaps accompanied by steamed asparagus and/or a nicely-dressed green salad.

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FOPE springs eternal Founded back in 1929 by Umberto Cazzola, with a goldsmith’s workshop in Vicenza and developed through the family generations, FOPE is recognised as one of the finest luxury jewellery brands in the world.

FOPE is famous for creating the iconic Novecento mesh and the Flex’it collection – a superbly flexible and intricate gold weave that allows jewellery to be shaped into beautiful designs and is FOPE’s unmistakeable, signature style. Enjoying huge success since the late 80s and adored ever since, FOPE’s timeless designs and its collections are elegant and highly covetable.

Available at: mallory-jewellers.com

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MAGAZINE KIOSK

Interesting reads...

Magalleria has just imported three editions of the mostly sold out The Local Project (TLP), an architecture and interior design magazine showcasing the vitality of the industry in Australia and New Zealand. If you didn’t know, domestic building design and construction down under is pretty sensational. TLP works as a regional platform utilising a range of mediums including print, video, digital and social media to explore and communicate developing ideas around design, innovative materials and everything in between to provide inspiration for architects and designers all over the world. If you’re an architect, an interior designer or someone just looking for design inspiration, the latest issue – running to almost 400 pages and weighing in at 2.5kg – is all pure, fresh air. £24.99 Magalleria is a Bath-based shop and online retailer, selling fine and interesting magazines from independent and selected publishers from all over the globe; magalleria.co.uk

HOT NEW PRODUCTS Mulberry’s first carbon neutral collection With a name inspired by Mulberry’s commitment to becoming Net Zero by 2035, the Lily Zero collection comprises twelve styles from the iconic Lily family, which are fully carbon neutral from field to shop floor.

Exploring the origins of leather’s place in fashion history and its role in a sustainable future, Mulberry has also launched the Made to Last podcast, hosted by fashion journalist Susie Lau. Bringing to life areas of the manifesto by the same name, the series takes the listener on a journey over three episodes speaking to a range of voices, from television presenter Miquita Oliver, to fashion designer Nicholas Daley, to writer Rob Percival, who is also head of food policy at Bristol-based charity, The Soil Association.

Available at: mulberry.com

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UPDATES – JUNE v4.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:13 Page 1

BRISTOL UPDATES CALLING ALL ASPRING FILMMAKERS Redmaids’ High School has recently announced that the Bristol Schools 48-Hour Film Challenge is back this summer and will take place between 2426 June. The challenge is now open for registration for students from schools and extra-curricular clubs from across the city. All Bristol students aged 7-18 are invited to take up this fast-paced and creative challenge and shoot, edit and submit a short original four-minute film with any device or their mobile phones within 48 hours.

The project is endorsed by IMDb, the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. At the same time, it has also received endorsement via Bristol Film as the UNESCO City of Film, which supports Bristol’s dynamic and diverse film communities. The challenge is hosted by Redmaids’ High School and film education charity Into Film. Schools are invited to register their challengers by 17 June 2022. Teams must also have a designated adult to oversee the weekend, and there is a charitable donation fee of £5 per team.

The earlier teams register, the more workshops and guidance they will have access to, so early registration is encouraged.

• For further information or to register, visit: info.redmaidshigh.co.uk

THE UNSEEN CYBER EXPERTS While you are reading this article, a complex range of cyber threats from around the world is targeting the UK’s national infrastructure, including energy supply. Behind the scenes, Cyber experts at Leonardo in Bristol are working 24/7 to protect the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure from cyber attacks.

The health of the UK’s energy network is a high priority for the UK Government and electric, nuclear and renewable energy are used to power factories, blue light services and hospitals as well as heat homes, fuel cars, and support industry.

Scott Bartlett, Head of Consulting for the Leonardo Cyber & Security Division said: “We’re only just starting to discover the potential of what 5G technology can achieve across society, whether that be at your local power station, or on your phone. This could cover everything from energy supply, water and defence, to communications and emergency services. All of these elements deliver critical components for the general smooth running of society and have potential application not just in the UK, but all around the world. 5G provides freedom of action, and that freedom needs to be protected.”

• uk.leonardocompany.com

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FULL FIBRE BROADBAND ARRIVES IN PORTISHEAD & CLEVEDON Bath-based Truespeed has propelled the expansion of its gigabit broadband into North Somerset, having started rolling out its full fibre network into two new West Bristol areas, Portishead and Clevedon.

Connected by more than just their iconic coastal routes, the two seaside towns will now be connected to ultrafast, gigabit broadband.

Over 8,000 premises across these areas of North Somerset are set to benefit from Truespeed’s ultrafast, ultra-reliable broadband offering speeds of up to 900Mbps. Designed to provide the ultimate online experience, the state-of-the-art network delivers around the clock reliable connectivity. Reaping the benefits of guaranteed symmetrical upload/download speeds, residents and businesses can use multiple devices simultaneously to stream HD films, video call and upload and download large files with no drop-in service. Thanks to its futureproof 10Gbps capability, the network will continue delivering cutting edge speeds and crystal-clear connectivity for decades to come.

Keeping its community focused ethos at the forefront of the expansion, the South West based firm is investing £9 million into North Somerset with the arrival of its ultrafast network. The firm also remains steadfast in its commitment to provide schools and community hubs passed by its network to free broadband for life and has provided over 100 free connections to date.

Planning and building works are already well underway in both areas, with the first customers expected to go live by early summer 2022. Truespeed’s highly skilled teams are working closely alongside local residents, businesses and councils to ensure the build is completed at pace and preserves the area’s iconic scenery.

On a mission to bring under-served towns, cities and rural communities across the South West the benefits of affordable, full fibre broadband, Truespeed is providing a service that will benefit communities for generations to come.

• truespeed.com

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SAVE REDFIELD CINEMA Campaigners from across the city, including comedian Stephen Merchant and his father, actor Ron Merchant, are currently petitioning to save an East Bristol cinema from being developed into 44 bedsits. Redfield Cinema, situated on Church Road, was originally a 750-seat venue from 1912–1961. When it closed, the space became a bingo hall for 20 years before being bought by Wetherspoons in the 1980s. The St George’s Hall pub, however, closed in September 2021 after Lawrence Hill-based property developers Landrose purchased the site. Although a bar, kitchen and dining area has been built, most of the cinema remains intact – including 150 balcony seats.

Developers have revealed plans to include a “community-run boutique” 20-seat cinema within the historic art deco building, which will sit alongside a shop and gym, but campaigners say this is not enough.

Alongside screening movies, the group of passionate local volunteers wants the cinema to become an events space, community kitchen and cultural hub. So far, the petition has secured almost 9,000 signatures and attracted over 2,000 members to the campaigner’s Facebook group.

• Find out more about Redfiled Cinema at: saveredfieldcinema.com

THE OUTLAWS RETURNS Speaking of Stephen Merchant, his highly successful comedydrama, The Outlaws, is back with a bang on 5 June. The official synopsis for season two reads: “Following on directly from the first series, the Outlaws still have time to serve on their sentences – but now they must face the fallout from their actions. If they thought the criminal underworld or the local police were done with them, they are sorely mistaken.

“The Outlaws must depend on one another while working with unlikely allies to atone for their sins – but can they save themselves without sacrificing their souls?”

As well as writer-director Merchant, the cast includes Academy Award winner Christopher Walken, Eleanor Tomlinson, Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins and Jessica Gunning, all of whom will be returning for the second series.

In 2021, The Outlaws became the BBC’s biggest comedy launch of year with 11 million streams on iPlayer.

• The Outlaws season two will air on BBC One on 5 June, with all episodes arriving on BBC iPlayer. Season one is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now Image credit: BBC/Big Talk/Four Eyes

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 59

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BEAUTY

SKINCARE SPECIALS Harvey Nichols Bristol’s assistant beauty manager and make-up artist Layla Touati lets us in on her skincare must-haves....

AUGUSTINUS BADER, The Rich Creaml, £135 Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream is an intensely luxurious, super hydrator that stimulates skin’s natural processes of rejuvenation to dramatically improve the complexion’s appearance.

LA PRAIRIE, Pure Gold Radiance Concentrate £705 A generous serum, Pure Gold Radiance Concentrate provides immediate and longterm benefits to the skin for an unprecedented glow. The formula, infused with the Pure Gold Diffusion System, is designed to smooth the skin and refine its texture to revitalise its appearance and help even skin tone.

ANATOMICALS, Never Lose Your Cherry, Cherry Lip Balm SPF8 15ml, £2.50 Fight back against the elements with Anatomicals’ wonderfully rich Cherry Lip Balm. Perfect for wind-beaten dry lips, or as a luxurious treat for anyone seeking the softest lips in town, it’s our new handbag must-have.

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

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LA MER, The Hand Treatment, £88 The Hand Treatment creates an emollient barrier to visibly diminish age spots while protecting and helping heal even the driest skin.

CAUDALIE, Resvératrol Lift Instant Firming Serum, £48 Caudalie's Resveratrol Instant Firming Serum corrects wrinkles and fine lines and smooths facial contours to give back to the face its original Vshape using an exclusive patented alliance of Resveratrol, hyaluronic acid and vegan collagen.

SOL DE JANEIRO, Bom Dia Bright™ Body Cream 75ml, £20 In Brazil, skin is on display all year round so Brazilians want theirs to be silky-smooth with a healthy glow all the way down to their toes. Skin that’s radiant and renewed, remarkably soft and visibly more even toned. This is your skin – with a Brazilian spin.

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WORRIED ABOUT A HERNIA? Up to 100,000 hernia surgeries are carried out on adults in the UK every year. Mr Dan Titcomb, a Consultant Upper GI Surgeon at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, tells you what you need to know about hernia surgery.

What is a hernia, and how is it caused?

What does surgery involve?

A hernia is a protrusion of abdominal contents through a defect in the muscles of the abdominal wall. These muscles play a vital role in posture, mobility and physical exertion, and helps protect our internal abdominal organs.

Hernias may occur suddenly after a period of strenuous exertion, but in many people they may present typically as a painless bulge.

Symptoms such as aching and dragging may accompany the bulging, which can feel worse as the day progresses, and is eased by rest and sleep when the bulge usually reduces in size.

The most common hernia is an inguinal hernia, which occurs in the groin, and accounts for around 70% of all hernias.

Inguinal hernias also occur ten times more frequently in men than women. A hernia can often be pushed back by gentle massaging and pressure, which can improve the symptoms.

However, after a fit of coughing or physical exertion, a hernia may protrude further than normal, becoming trapped, which may compromise circulation. This is known as strangulation, and requires emergency repair.

For this reason, before they get to this stage, most symptomatic hernias should be considered for elective surgery.

Elective surgery dramatically reduces the risk of operative complications, and is highly successful. The recurrence rate for hernias is less than 1% in a year, and less than 5% in a patient’s lifetime.

Most hernia operations are conducted as day case surgery, and the operation itself takes between 30-60 minutes. Most are repaired with a general anaesthetic, although in some cases they are performed under a local.

For repairing inguinal hernias, keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery is suitable in most patients, with three small incisions made beneath the umbilicus to allow access to the groin. If not suitable for this approach, a small groin incision is made, but in both operations, the contents of the hernia sack are pushed or pulled back inside the abdomen, and the area of weakened muscle is reinforced with a synthetic mesh, tacked in place with absorbable tacks or sutures.

If you’re worried about a hernia and would like to discuss your options, you can book an appointment with Mr Titcomb, or another of our Consultants at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital who specialise in hernia surgery – Mr James Hewes, Mr Alan Osborne, Mr Shakeeb Khan, Mr James Hopkins and Mr Reyad Abbadi – by calling 0117 911 5339, or visit our website: www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol.

What to expect after surgery.

The patient should feel minimal discomfort after surgery, and they usually leave hospital 4-6 hours after their operation.

They will be able to eat and drink shortly after surgery, and at home, painkillers are recommended for 48 hours. Increasing amounts of light physical activity and walking will help, and most people will be able to drive and return to work two weeks later – although this may be longer for high impact jobs with heavy lifting.

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Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital 3 Clifton Hill, Bristol BS8 1BN nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

What is a superfood?

Ade Williams MBE, lead pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy and brilliant Bristol ambassador shares his thoughts on superfoods and remembers the University of Bristol scientist who helped thousands of people during WWII with his remarkable invention widely known today as Ribena...

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uperfoods – do you know what they are? Chances are you have heard about them. If so, that is a brilliant testament to the reach and success of specious creative marketing. The invention of the phrase and its continued prominence has no defined scientific basis amongst nutrition scientists and dietitians or even a regulated definition. Since that fateful decision around 1917 by the United Fruit Company to initiate an enthusiastic advertising campaign to promote its major import of bananas, a template was created. With a slick marketing campaign, research that lends itself to an exceptional properties narrative and trusted endorsements, it becomes a superfood and sales grow exponentially.

Regarding said benefits, a 2007 marketing ruling, which sadly did not define the weight of scientific evidence for compliance, requires some link to be made. Many foods, fruits and grains are now in bad reputation due to the exaggerations employed to pursue mega-sales.

What was missing in the early 20th Century was easily capturing and sharing images of superfoods, supergrains and superfruits. It may have started with bananas, but it soon came blueberries and pomegranates; even now, we wait with bated breath for the next list to be published, accompanied by purported health benefits.

The term itself draws on widespread ignorance about food. Playing up nutritional content and benefits into a ‘this is all you need to eat’ offer. This is harmful. It is difficult to redeem much from the ‘superfoods’ tag, yet one truth shines through: we know little and, in some cases, also care much less about the foods we eat, how they are grown and what benefits they offer our body. Some of the interventions to correct this can create tensions about a perceived erosion of personal choice – enter the Nanny State debate.

All healthcare professionals respect personal choice and must actively work to respect it by sharing and providing details that inform choices.

Take fruits and vegetables, which are wonderful sources of dietary fibre, contributing to a healthy balanced diet, especially as they are good sources of vitamins and minerals. They help maintain a healthy gut and prevent constipation and other digestive problems. We know they reduce the risk of cancers like bowel cancer as well as heart disease and stroke. Best of all there is a wonderful selection of them.

Evidence shows there are significant health benefits to getting at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. So much so that the World Health Organisation advice recommends eating a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of serious health problems. An adult portion of fruit or vegetables is 80g.

Children should also eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day. As a rough guide, one portion is the amount they can fit in the palm of their hand.

The NHS website provides helpful descriptive guides of fruit and vegetable portions for fresh fruit sizes, dried fruits and tinned fruits. It also covers vegetables: green, cooked, salad, tinned and frozen, pulses and peas. Remember to use fruit canned in natural juice rather than syrup and for tinned vegetables, choose those canned in water with no added salt or sugar. Not forgetting unsweetened 100% fruit juice, vegetable juice, and smoothies, which can also count as a maximum of one portion of your five-a-day.

What is ‘super’ about fruits and vegetables is how they offer uniquely needed nutritional benefits that enhance what is offered when added to a healthy balanced diet. The British story of evidence-based good use of this knowledge has a Bristol ambassador. Dr Vernon Charley was a 62 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Ade Williams’ portrait as taken by acclaimed photographer Rankin

leading scientist at the University of Bristol who developed Ribena in 1938. Becoming aware of the high levels of vitamin C in blackcurrants through his research, he developed a cordial, now known as Ribena. It was distributed free to children and expectant mothers during WWII when other fruits with vitamin C became increasingly scarce. In the face of cost-of-living pressures, agricultural workforce shortage and food price inflation wreaking havoc on the insufficient gains made on food poverty, we need to find ways to value and harness alongside protecting our society. This will involve choices. Supporting our local fruit and veg producers and retailers, taking an active anti-food poverty stance and looking for ways to ensure we can provide for everyone in a generous, dignified, and nourishing way is the example set by Dr Charley we can all follow. Thankfully, we don't need a science degree today, but sharing your pictures and menus, including any homemade low-sugar cordials, especially alongside essential cost-saving tips will be most welcome and help make a lot of positive difference. ■ • Follow Ade on Twitter: @adewilliamsnhs; and keep up to date with Bedminster Pharmacy: @bedminsterpharm

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CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

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

t CURA we’re always striving to find new ways of effectively treating people’s injuries. After working for 26 years with people in pain, I identifi ed a significant lack of options for many people for whom hands-on care/rehab was ineffective, yet who weren’t ready for, or suited to surgery or other invasive procedures. In my search to solve this problem, my practice has adopted several cutting-edge non-invasive technologies that initiate healing, improve function and manage pain in the most chronic of conditions, be it arthritic, old injury or postsurgical pain. We use a combination of MBST cell regeneration from Germany, Class IV Laser from the States, and new to market pain-management device Biowave to provide a multilayered approach to healing and painmanagement. ■

MBST is an award-winning innovation designed to manage long-term injury and osteoarthritis.

To discuss your treatment, contact Cura’s Clinical Director, James Scrimshaw today

0117 959 6531 curaclinical.com

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INTERIORS

Home from home As the city welcomes three new hotels, we catch up with the interior designers and architects of Artist Residence, Moxy and Clayton Hotel, and discover how they turned their vision into reality...

Artist Residence Bristol Located in the creative St Pauls community, just minutes from Bristol's city centre, this Georgian townhouse and old boot factory is an eccentric home from home in the heart of the city.

Downstairs, you'll find a light and airy library, a relaxed lounge bar, and the sprawling Boot Factory – an all-day neighbourhood café, bar and kitchen complete with a ping-pong table, photobooth, buzzing central bar and courtyard garden. It offers a relaxed atmosphere, a casual menu from brunch through to pizza and is a fun and friendly hub for both the local community and guests alike.

Bristol is the fifth boutique hotel to open in the Artist Residence series, following on from successes in Brighton, London, Oxfordshire and Penzance. We caught up with owners Justin and Charlotte Salisbury, who are at the forefront of the design process.

“My wife and I bought the former boot factory six years ago,” Justin tells us. “It was really important to us that Artist Residence Bristol had a very homely feel, that it didn’t feel like a hotel and was really part of the community. We have hand-picked every item and designed the space with low-key, down-to-earth interiors while retaining the character of the building and its best features.”

• artistresidence.co.uk; 28 Portland Square, St Paul's, Bristol BS2 8SA

Image credit: Paul Massey THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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Clayton Hotel Bristol City Mhairi Stenhouse, Interior Designer at Cunningham McLean What was your vision for Clayton Hotel?

The history and architecture of the building is beautiful, and we really wanted to keep that alive when doing the interior design. We worked closely with the architects to achieve this. You will see from the entrance lobby and lower bar; we’ve kept a lot of the original features, which harmonise with ‘Clayton’s’ design concept. We always knew we were going to need to combine the old with the new and one space that conveys how this has been achieved is walking from the entrance lobby into the atrium. It’s something you must experience yourself.

Tell us about the design concept...

The building has a history with printworks, and we saw this as an obvious concept for the artwork and signage within the hotel. If you visit the lower bar, you will see a selection of bespoke artwork that shows original prints of the building mixed with quirky and modern elements. Another area involved the bedrooms and corridors. We looked at custom directional signage to help guests navigate their rooms. The signage takes its design direction from a printing press.

These subtle nods work extremely well with the ‘Clayton’ design.

It’s always nice to explain where the thought process comes from.

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What’s your favourite stand-out feature of the hotel?

I love the lower bar. It sits just left of the main bar. It is located at the bottom of a small flight of stairs, and I feel it’s a space that guests would want to sit, unwind, and relax. That said, I also think it would work well for a small meeting or function, with the mix of furniture, it’s flexible.

Also, the meeting breakout space which is located at the bottom of the beautiful staircase is another favourite. Again, I feel it’s a space guests will want to sit and relax or work. We have designed a selection of curved booths that have a high-backed surround to create a private snug. Perfect for casual private meetings.

How do you hope guests will feel when they enter Clayton Hotel?

I would love the guests to feel special, welcomed and starstruck from when they enter the hotel to the journey to their bedroom. ‘Starstruck’ meaning the three-storey staircase that travels through the floors of the public areas. The hotel offers a range of areas where guests can unwind, relax, work, workout and of course socialise. ‘Clayton’ do this well.

• claytonhotels.com; Broad Street, Bristol BS1 2EQ; cmp.org.uk

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Moxy Bristol Mark Halbmeijer, Interior Architect at Apto Architects What was your vision for Moxy?

Bristol has an inspiring urban street art scene that matches perfectly with the core values of the Moxy brand. Moxy is stylish, but playful. The industrial chic interior design blends with the street art elements and reflects how the area around the hotel is transforming into a vibrant neighbourhood.

Tell us about the design concept...

Every aspect of the design has been considered and playfully executed, from checking in at the bar to relaxing in the social lounge to finding peace in the library. Moving up through the floors, guests will notice that their rooms match the industrial chic approach that greets them in the lobby.

What’s more, the Moxy team worked with Bristol-based social enterprise Bricks to inject a bold and ultra-local collection of vibrant pieces of public artwork. On entry to the lobby, fun-hunters are greeted with a commissioned piece of art

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evoking the famous St Pauls Carnival by painter and sculptor Bo Lanyon. It complements the numerous artworks on the walls, workstations and windows, which are by many celebrated local artists including Lawrence Hoo, Charles Golding, Lucas Antics and Dr Myles-Jay Linton.

They incorporate recognisable features of the culturally rich local communities as well as famous Bristolian sayings and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

What’s your favourite stand-out feature of the hotel and why?

The ambiance of the lobby is my favourite part of the hotel. It is designed to be a living room for the guests and is great space to hang out.

How do you hope guests will feel when they enter Moxy Bristol?

I hope guests will be excited for their stay at Moxy and eager to experience Bristol’s buzzing city life. n • moxybristol.com; 55 Newfoundland Street, St Paul’s, Bristol BS2 9AP; apto.nl; hotelco51.com

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Secret gardens

As thousands of the country’s most beautiful private gardens prepare to swing open their gates this month, Elly West welcomes the National Garden Scheme back with open arms...

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here’s something fascinating about walking around private gardens, admiring what people have created behind their garden gates. Whether we are gardeners or not, glimpsing into other people's lives appeals to our curiosity. The season for visiting gardens is here and all over the country proud garden owners are opening their doors to share their passion with others.

Seeing real-life gardens, like our own (but better), growing and flourishing, is very different from the spectacle provided by a grand National Trust property or Chelsea Show garden. These are real, working spaces, and often the result of years of nurture, development and evolution, providing both inspiration and aspiration.

As a garden designer, and nosy by nature, I love seeing into other people’s gardens. Every space is different and there is always something to discover, whether it's a stunning planting combination, some kind of upcycled ornamentation, or an unusual use of materials.

That’s why I love the summer months when there are so many of these secret gardens to explore that are usually kept private.

The National Garden Scheme (NGS) was founded in 1927, cashing in on the nation’s growing obsession with gardening, originally to raise money for district nursing. During that first year, 609 garden owners opened their gardens for a shilling a head, raising a total of £8,191. This year, 3,500 gardens will open across the UK and the organisation will likely donate around £3 million to charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and Carers Trust.

I visited Su and Alan Mills at their beautiful garden in Tockington, north of Bristol, opening this month for the fifth year running under the scheme. Both former teachers, Su is now a county organiser for the NGS and John is the driving force behind the garden’s creation.

This is a design that takes you on a journey, gently undulating with gravel paths around an S-shaped lawn (S for Su), densely packed borders lining the pathways and with different zones to explore, unrecognisable from the overgrown plot they moved to in 2014, which was divided in two by a huge three-metre hedge. The new garden has been carefully thought out and strategically planned, as John explains: “When we retired it was our intention to buy a plot and create a garden. We had six months between exchange and completion on this house to plan it all properly.”

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A keen photographer who thinks in terms of patterns, shapes and colours, John’s plans included sifting through his photographs of features, planting combinations collected when visiting other gardens, drawing out sketches, and even building a 3D cardboard model to show the positioning and heights of the many trees. The couple also filled four Luton vans full of potted plants from their previous, much smaller garden, and bought around 50 new tree saplings online.

“The placing of the trees was really important,” John says. The saplings are now grown and bring maturity and structure to the space.

Some of the original trees were left in situ when the garden was cleared after moving in, including a large trachycarpus palm, and a pond also remains from the previous incarnation.

“We felt we had to keep the pond because it had newts in, and also the trachycarpus was a feature that we didn't want to get rid of, so the design had to work around these. As soon as the strong S-shaped lawn was in place, I was suddenly intrigued by a journey, and it dealt neatly with the issue of the pond, as it curves around it.”

The trachycarpus was also the starting point for the zoned areas.

“This became the ‘exotic’ space and allowed us to start sorting out all the plants. Rose arches went up to create a summer walk, woodland plants went at the end. Then we created a second, oriental pond. The idea of ‘rooms’ helped with planting and organising, deciding what to put where.”

Nothing appears accidental in this garden. It’s full of thought, things to discover and the result of love, passion and hard work. Visit when it opens for the NGS on 10 and 12 June, 1-5pm. Admission is £5, children free. Tea and cakes are available, plus plant sales. Group visits can also be arranged by appointment from April to October.

Email susanlmills@gmail.com for more information.

More gardens to visit The following local gardens are all open under the NGS this month.

For more details, and other open gardens, visit ngs.org.uk.

92 Church Road, Winscombe, BS25 1BP. Peter and Ann Owen's garden was created in the late 1970s in an Italianate style based on several rooms separated by walls and hedges, including two formal ponds. In June, the clematis collection comes into its own.

Open 9 June, 2-5pm. £5, children free.

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GARDENING

4 Haytor Park, Bristol, BS9 2LR. Pat Prior’s quirky, personal garden includes a huge range of plants from tiny sempervivums to a giant fennel.

There are dragons for children to find, trellises made from bike wheels and lots of places to sit and relax. Open 19 June, 1.30-5.30pm. £3.50, children free.

Hillside Old Stables, 35 Westbury Hill, Bristol, BS9 3AG. Stephanie Pritchett’s half-acre garden includes trees up to 500 years old, formal walled gardens, kitchen and herb garden plus orchard and wildflower meadow. Open 18-19 June, 11am-4pm. £5, children free.

Penny Brohn UK, Chapel Pill Lane, Pill, BS20 0HH. These 3.5 acre gardens are attached to the charity’s National Centre, helping people to live well with cancer. The gardens provide a tranquil space, giving the people who visit the chance to explore nature and enjoy the plants, wildlife and history. Plants, teas and plenty of room to enjoy a picnic. Open 26 June, 10am-4pm. £4, children free.

Special Plants, Greenway Lane, Cold Ashton, SN14 8LA. Derry Watkins’ garden is on a steep slope with extensive views, created from a derelict field over the last twenty-five years. Gravel garden, orchard, bog garden and woodland walk are among the attractions. Also a black and white garden, and lemon and lime bank. Lots of plants for sale at the nursery. Open 16 June, 11am-5pm. £5, children free.

The Hayes, Newton St Loe, Bath, BA2 9BU. Jane Giddins’ garden is about an acre in size, with views over open Capability Brown parkland. The borders are a mix of shrubs and herbaceous plants at their peak in June, with lots of roses and foxgloves, plus a formal parterre edged with box. Open 11–12 June, 2-5pm. £6, children free.

Old Down Manor Gardens, Foxholes Lane, Tockington, Bristol, BS32 4PG. A Victorian walled garden contains the kitchen and cut flower gardens, and there is also a formal rose garden framed by yew hedges, rolling lawns and newly restructured rockery gardens with views across the Severn Valley.

Open 15 June, 10am-4pm. £5, children free. n

Plant of the month: Foxgloves These stately spires are quintessential of an English cottage garden and easily recognisable with their tubular flowers, loved by foraging bees.

The commonly grown purple Digitalis purpurea is a UK native, found in deciduous woodland, moorland and heath margins, sea cliffs and hedge banks, but there are also many cultivated varieties grown in gardens, mostly in shades of purple, pink and white, but also yellow and rusty orange. Foxgloves are generally biennial or shortlived perennials, meaning that they grow a rosette of leaves in their first year, then flower in the second year, after which they die. However, some will keep going for another year or two, and they are prolific self-seeders, so once you have them in the border they will likely keep popping up year after year. Cut them back after flowering and they may well flower again later in the summer.

Plants prefer damp soil and don’t mind shade. All parts of the plant are poisonous when ingested, so you may wish to avoid them if you have pets or children prone to nibbling things they shouldn’t.

• ellyswellies.co.uk

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ECO-FRIENDLY GARDEN SOLUTIONS We offer an affordable package of advice and guidance, that includes a home visit, to help you to make the most of your garden.

Let’s help save the planet together – one garden at a time! Together, we really can make a difference!

For just £150, we offer a comprehensive package of advice and guidance, for people with a garden in Bristol including: ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷

Personalised guidance on how to ‘green’ your garden A 90 minute home visit and written report A follow-up telephone call for further advice Access to further easy-to-understand information

Please contact us to book an appointment or find out more

Tel: 07866 943578 lindy@efgs.co.uk www.efgs.co.uk

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THE PROPERTY COLUMN

A foot on the ladder This month, Rupert Oliver of Rupert Oliver Property Agents shares his advice for first time buyers...

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aking your first-step on to the housing ladder is an exciting time, but navigating the property jargon can be a daunting process. From mortgages and solicitor’s fees to Stamp Duty Land Tax and help-to-buy schemes, here are a few of the important things to be aware of before buying a property.

Where to start Generally, you are considered a first time buyer if you’re buying a property you plan to live in as your main residence and you’ve never owned a property before. The first thing to do is to find out how much you can afford. Use a mortgage calculator to get a rough idea of what you could borrow, and what your monthly payments might be, or speak to an independent mortgage broker if you’re unsure which type of mortgage will suit you best – there are many options available.

Traditionally, first time buyers have been looked at favourably as they come without a chain, but in the current market whilst it remains “hot”, our advice is for first time buyers to do as much due diligence as possible before starting your search. It would pretty much essential to obtain a Mortgage Agreement in Principle (MAIP) from your bank or via a broker, and be prepared to provide the selling agent with “proof of funds”. This will show the agent (on behalf of the vendor) that you have saved, can access the necessary deposit and have a MAIP to cover the remaining amount. The total amount will need to equal the cost of the property plus the Stamp Duty, if applicable.

Help-to-buy schemes There are a number of schemes out there to help first timers get into the property market. For prospective first time buyers who are still saving, the government’s Help to Buy ISA can give you a cash boost and is definitely worth exploring.

For those ready to buy, the First Homes Scheme offers a 30% discount on the market value of new build homes. It is specially designed for first time buyers with a priority for key workers and army veterans. Although at present many banks are tightening their lending criteria due to the cost of living crises, many mortgage lenders will still lend to any home buyer who may only have a 5% deposit. This is under the 95% mortgage scheme where the government has agreed to underwrite a part of the loan. Again, eligibility criteria is in place. For example, it is only available on property purchases worth up to £600,000.

Additional costs to remember As well as your deposit, there are other costs that need to be considered when buying your first home. So, what to expect?

Stamp Duty Land Tax: As of November 2017, first time buyers paying £300,000 or less for a residential property do not have to pay Stamp

Duty Land Tax (SDLT). First time buyers paying between £300,000 and £500,000 will now only pay SDLT at 5% on the amount of the purchase price in excess of £300,000.

Mortgage Arrangement Fee: This covers a lender’s administration costs.

Some lenders also charge a mortgage booking fee to secure a fixed-rate, tracker or discount deal.

Valuation Fee: Lenders charge a valuation fee to check how much the property that you’re buying is worth, which can be different to what you’ve offered for it. While a valuation is for the lender’s benefit to confirm the property is satisfactory for the loan, a survey is a more thorough inspection of the property and is of benefit to the buyer. You don’t have to get a survey done, but doing one can be useful to check that your new home is in good condition. Many buyers use the information gained in the survey to renegotiate on the property price.

Conveyancing Fee: You’ll need to pay a solicitor to cover the cost of all the legal work associated with buying a home. This includes dealing with the transfer of ownership, checking paperwork is in order and checking whether environmental factors, planning permission issues or anything else could cause you problems.

Land Registry Fee: When you buy a property from someone else, the Land Registry charges a fee to transfer their entry into your name.

Improving your credit score A credit history is one of the ways lenders decide whether or not to lend you money. A credit score is a number that shows lenders how good you’ve been at keeping up to date with payments when you’ve borrowed money. Having little or no credit history can make it difficult for companies to assess you, and your credit score may be lower as a result. There are, however, a number of simple things you can do to improve your score. For example, paying your accounts on time and in full each month is a good way to show lenders you’re a reliable borrower. Keeping old accounts open and showing a long credit history can also help demonstrate your clean track record. There are some excellent websites aimed at those looking to improve their credit score and these are well worth a look. The big ones are Experian and Equifax, but comparison sites such as MoneySavingExpert will also offer helpful tips.

Keep an eye on the market Finally, keep your eye on the area that you’d like to buy in. Use our property search to stay up to date with the market in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Chat to our team of experienced estate agents either via our live chat service on our website or in-person at our office in Clifton for more professional property advice.

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

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MAKE YOUR MOVE The countdown is on to the end of the popular Help to Buy scheme. Vicky Dudbridge, a director in Savills residential development sales team in Bristol, explains why anyone who is thinking about buying their first home in the city would be wise to move quickly.

U

p to a third of buyers of new build homes in Bristol took advantage of the Government’s Help to Buy scheme last year, according to new figures from Savills. Now, however, nine years after the initiative was first introduced, it is coming to a close.

The hugely popular scheme, which gives first time buyers the opportunity to purchase a new home with just a 5 per cent deposit, will officially end on 31 March 2023, however the reality is that Bristol buyers only have a couple of months left to take advantage.

This is because Help to Buy support can only be used on homes that are build complete by the end of this year, which limits its availability to only a few developments in Bristol. Given the typical length of time of the sales process from reservation to legal completion, we are talking about a matter of months remaining for buyers to utilise the scheme.

Help to Buy has had a huge influence on the new homes market in Bristol, helping hundreds of people take their first steps onto the property ladder that otherwise would have been out of reach.

Buying your first home can be a daunting prospect. Help to Buy has undoubtedly helped make the process more manageable for many by reducing the size of deposit needed from 10 per cent to 5 per cent. The offer of an equity loan of up to 20 per cent of a property’s value, depending on location, has also increased the pool of properties people can afford.

There is huge demand for new build property at the moment, particularly among first time buyers keen to utilise Help to Buy support, and homes are selling quickly, especially those within the most popular locations.

Paintworks IV is a prime example of such a development. Widely acknowledged as one of Bristol’s most successful regeneration developments, Paintworks has become one of the most desirable areas of the city in which to live. Paintworks IV is the latest and final phase, completing the community with a collection of new apartments and retail

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spaces. It has proved incredibly popular, and over half of the apartments have already sold off-plan, leaving just a selection of two bedroom apartments still available for sale.

The remaining apartments are situated within two beautifully-designed buildings set on an attractive courtyard, which will also be home to a number of new restaurants and cafes. The apartments have been designed to provide contemporary open plan living and finished to a high standard.

Each one has allocated parking and some have a private balcony.

The apartments will be ready to move into from the autumn. Prices on those remaining for sale start at £335,000 and, if you are a first time buyer using Help to Buy support, you can purchase with a 5 per cent deposit, which could be as little as £16,750.

With the clock ticking on Help to Buy availability, anyone who is thinking about getting onto the property ladder within the next year is advised to start looking now to avoid missing out.

Savills specialist residential development sales team in Bristol markets new build developments and conversions across the city and its surrounding areas. For more information, contact the team on +44 (0) 0117 910 0360 or vicky.dudbridge@savills.com.

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Failand, Bristol | Guide Price £895,000 A superb and generously proportioned detached bungalow on a quiet no-through road with a private garden, separate one-bedroom annexe, double garage and expanse of off-street parking.

Fabulous four-bedroom bungalow on a generous plot | Private garden, raised decked terrace and front lawn | Generous double garage and off-street parking | Separate one-bedroom annex | Four double bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms | Triple aspect sitting room and a separate dining room | Family kitchen | Quiet no-through road | Private lane access to Clevedon Road (shared with near neighbour) | EPC: D

In all circa 2461 sq. ft (229 sq. m)

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Harbourside, Bristol | Guide Price £750,000 An exquisite two-bedroom apartment within a highly sought after and historic landmark building; covering circa 1,150 sq. ft. complete with a 36’ balcony and allocated underground parking space.

Stunning two double bedroom apartment with west facing views over Bathurst Basin | Superb open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting room opening up onto the balcony | Exceptional natural light and high quality of finish throughout | Striking mezzanine level master bedroom with an en-suite bath and shower room | Second double bedroom with an en-suite shower room | Separate study / home office | Concierge service | Allocated underground parking | No chain above | EPC: C

In all circa 1161 sq. ft (108 sq. m)

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