The Bristol Magazine January 2017

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THE

Issue 151

I

JANuARY 2017

MAGAZINE

WWW.THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

£3.95 where sold

Yo a u re

he re

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Things are about to get cosmic as world-famous astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield heads for Bristol Hippodrome

PLUS: Warming seasonal recipes from Marco Pierre White

THE OLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Antiques tips from Paul Martin

JANUARY BLUES We chat to soulful Bristol singer Elles Bailey

WINTER CHEER Plenty to smile about at Slapstick Festival

T H E B I G G E S T M O N T H LY G U I D E T O L I V I N G I N B R I S T O L . . . I N T H E K N O W N U N I V E R S E

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SALE STARTS 28TH DECEMBER

FINE CARPET

We make bespoke sofas and upholstery and curtains in our own factory in Bristol and design and make painted or solid pine or oak cabinet furniture from standard ranges or made to measure and to your own or our designs 25% off wardrobes, sofas and cabinet furniture made to order. 50% off ex-display

Curtains and Blinds Sofas and Fabrics Bespoke Cabinet Furniture and Wardrobes

Sofas, Curtains and Cabinet Furniture Made to order in 2-4 weeks

terms and conditions apply

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

TEL: 01173 292746

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

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25 % OF 50% F

Our new dedicated wardrobe, carpet and flooring showroom is now open in the old Maskreys building next door to our existing store at 56-64 Whiteladies Road.

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MOVE. Faster. Sell with Knight Frank.

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

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

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

Guide price: £1,100,000

KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Clifton A luxurious 2 bedroom apartment (1,384 sq ft) enjoying some of Bristol's finest views finished to the highest of standards. Drawing room, bespoke kitchen/breakfast room, master suite, guest bedroom, guest shower room, ample storage and surround sound. With concierge service and secure parking. EPC C.

Guide price £1,500,000

nTheMarket.com

OIEO £900,000

Sneyd Park

Long Ashton

Detached 5 bed family home (3,074 sq ft) located at the end of a private no through road. 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast/sitting room, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Gardens, integral double garage. EPC C.

Attractive brand new bespoke family home (2,500 sq ft). Sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, garden room, 5 bedrooms, 2 en suites, further family bathroom. Roof terrace, garden, ample off street parking.

Guide price £475,000

Guide price £379,950

Clifton

Harbourside

A beautiful 2 bedroom (774 sq ft) hall floor apartment with private garden and communal garden. Drawing room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, guest WC, attic storage, private and communal garden.

Harbourside apartment (890 sq ft) with private terraces, parking and fine views. Open plan dining/sitting room, kitchen, 2 bedroom, bathroom, 2 private terraces, allocated parking. EPC C.

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MOVE. Faster. Sell with Knight Frank.

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

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

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

Guide price: £2,000,000

KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Litton A stunning former farmhouse (4,676 sq ft). 5 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Party barn, 4 stables, swimming pool/pool house, stores, tennis court. About 10.2 acres.

EPC F.

Guide price £1,600,000

nTheMarket.com

Guide price £799,950

Near Chepstow

Failand

Stunning immaculate country house (4,499 sq ft). 4 receptions, kitchen.

6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 en-suite). 2 bed cottage (1,470 sq ft).

Garaging, gardens, paddocks, tennis court. In all about 22 acres. EPC F.

Newly renovated 4 bed family home (2,637 sq ft) including 46 ft kitchen/dining/ sitting room, 3 miles from Clifton. Level gardens, in and out drive, detached tandem garage. EPC D.

Guide price £640,000

Guide price £750,000

Congresbury

Wedmore

Immaculate detached house (1,948 sq ft) with stunning distant views.

2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, utility. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 ensuite). Gardens, terrace and parking. EPC G.

A Grade II listed Georgian house (3,192 sq ft) with views. 4 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room. 4 bedrooms, 3 bath/shower rooms, attic space. Barn with stores and games room. Gardens, summer house.

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52

38

36

Contents January 2017 REGULARS ZEITGEIST

COMEDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

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16

There’s plenty to smile about this month, thanks to Bristol’s superb Slapstick Festival

MUSIC

Five of the best things to do in the city this month

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38

Soulful Bristol singer Elles Bailey takes five with us

CITYIST

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18

We catch up with Laura Tomlinson and report on local goings-on

ANTIQUES

BARTLEBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Expert Paul Martin imparts knowledge on all things old and beautiful as we raid our attics in preparation for Flog It! at Bristol Cathedral

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42

...Finds beauty in even the bleakest January nights

BRISTOL AT WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

THE CULTURE

We discover the joy of owning a piece of British history in the form of a Morris Minor

WHAT’S ON & HAPPENINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

BUSINESS UPDATES

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58

Get your diaries out!

EXHIBITIONS

Bite-sized news from local firms and organisations

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40

What’s going on at the city galleries this month?

FEATURES SCIENCE

FOOD & DRINK

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A spaceman came travelling: world-famous astronaut Chris Hadfield is on his way to Bristol

10 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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24 NEWS

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The latest from the city’s dining scene

48

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Contents January 2017 RECIPES

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50

Marco Pierre White shares some winter warmers

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT FITNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 ....The one where we discover there’s no gain without Payne

WALK THE WALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Andrew Swift is banishing any residual blues with a jaunt to Badminton Park

82

EDUCATION ADULT LEARNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Expand your education in an unfamiliar direction in 2017

EDUVACATING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Local author and teacher trainer Sue Cowley offers tips on how best to continue children’s learning on the road

EDUCATION NEWS

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64

The latest from local schools and colleges

50

SHOPPING SKIWEAR

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68

Gearing up for an alpine adventure? We’ve been digging around for some chic essentials

HABITAT INTERIORS

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78

What we can expect when Neptune opens on Whiteladies Road later this month

CRAFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Samantha Coleman chats upcycling with local furniture designer Nessa Doran O’Reilly

42

GARDENING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 We welcome new green-fingered columnist Elly West – who’s talking fresh starts this issue

PROPERTY

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Take a look around number nine Richmond Park Road

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ON THE COVER 86

Ultimate explorer Colonel Chris Hadfield, who chatted to us ahead of his visit to Bristol Hippodrome this month – see p24 for more. Image © CSA/NASA.

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Image © Chris Hadfield/NASA

THIS MONTH WE’VE BEEN...

from the

...

N i

ur way thr ou ng o i l gh b b

...The menu at Flour and Ash’s new bakery and cafe in Westbury on Trym. The salads are pretty dreamy, and we’re big fans of the shakshuka with chickpeas, kale, baked eggs and feta too.

• flourandash.co.uk

EDITOR

Excited to welcome...

Image © Jon Craig

“...No one ever accomplished anything great sitting down....”

– Colonel Chris Hadfield

I

t was the above-mentioned Canadian astronaut’s deeply positive, motivational attitude that most inspired us when we spoke to him ahead of his visit to Bristol Hippodrome this month – and, along with the incredible images of him strolling around in space, that we want to take with us as we boldly go where no man has gone before. That is, into 2017.

On p24, he reflects on an incredible career, that cosmic Bowie cover, and continuing to fully explore our planet every single day, now that he’s back on it for good. Prepare to feel thoroughly spurred on.

We’ve loosely threaded the theme of ambition and achievement through the rest of the issue, as we think not only about our usual New Year health plans, but challenge ourselves to take up something new, test our limits, or acquire a new skill. Emma Payne has got plenty of ideas on p52 – check them out, if you will...

We’re determined to finally clear out the attic this month too – mainly to see if there’s anything we can take along to Paul Martin and the Flog It! crew, who’ll be filming at Bristol Cathedral on 14 January. An unexpected windfall would be just the ticket after the financial assault that is December...

And if you come to find yourself floundering a little in the depths of midwinter, there’s plenty of cheer on the horizon thanks to the city’s Slapstick Festival (see p36 for our fave bits from the programme); January blues (the good kind) in the form of Bristol girl-donegood Elles Bailey, who’s just finished recording her soulful debut album in Nashville; and good old comfort food from Marco Pierre White.

Finally, if you’ve been distracting yourself by planning a winter break, or something for the summer, and you’ve kids in tow, local author and teacher trainer Sue Cowley has kindly been imparting some tips for how best to continue their learning on the road.

Come on, January’s not so bad – start expanding those horizons and we’ll see you on the other side...

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

@thebristolmag

14 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

thebristolmag.co.uk

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JANUARY 2017

@thebristolmag

...The new residents of Cargo 2 at Wapping Wharf, which will include Gambas – sister restaurant to Bravas – and its Andalusian tapas; Mabboo, whose clothing and accessories are made using bamboo; street food endeavour The Athenian; Pure Yoga; CUPP Bubble Tea; Bristol’s first salt beef bar The Pickled Brisket; Oliver’s Ice Cream; Loop Massage; butchery Story @ Cargo; and Pizzarova to name a few!

• wappingwharf.co.uk

Ready to refresh...

Wiltshire-born interiors brand Neptune opens in Bristol this month – we’re looking forward to refeathering the nest for 2017.

Turn to p78 for more.

• neptune.com

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ZEITGEIST

Top

5

things to do in JANUARY

BECOME A BALLETOMANE

GET TRIGGER HAPPY It’s no secret that our city is a hub for street artists, with huge murals and eye-catching designs at every corner. But for those inspired to create their own art, award-winning company Where The Wall is hosting graffiti workshops at The Island in central Bristol, allowing participants to put their skills to the test. The ‘spray sessions’ take place on the last Saturday of every month, from 28 January, and see budding artists taking aim with waterbased spray paints and laser cut stencils (as preferred by Bristol’s own Banksy), allowing any age to take part. The workshops can also be combined with street art tours to the city’s most famous masterpieces – including Jack Dones' Donald Trump and El Mac's Mother & Child – every Saturday and Sunday, plus weekdays during school holidays.

• wherethewall.com

If you’ve never been to a ballet before, now is the time to take the leap as the internationally renowned Russian State Ballet of Siberia bring three pillars of the repertoire to Bristol Hippodrome this month. Expect breathtaking ensemble scenes, stunning costumes and luxurious romance, all set to some of the most dramatic scores ever written. Enjoy a quaint tale of thwarted love in La Fille Mal Gardée, mischievous living toys in the wonderfully festive Nutcracker and splendid tragedy in the infamous Swan Lake – all performed across 19, 20 and 21 January.

• atgtickets.com

WHEN IN ROME...

It doesn’t get much better than a perfect Italian restaurant, complete with crowd-pleasing pizzas, comforting risottos and no end of pasta-led delicacies for every occasion. The newly-opened L’Osteria, which landed at Cabot Circus in December, has all those things and more. Lesser-known dishes on the menu include orecchiette or ‘small ears’ of pasta, calzone alternative panzerotti and a host of delicious desserts. After great success throughout Europe, with restaurants in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, L’Osteria’s Bristol branch is the first to have opened in the UK – make sure you book a table if you want to beat the teeming crowds.

FLY TO THE MOON Well, perhaps not literally. But if you are inspired by our talks with astronaut Chris Hadfield (see p24) and are craving further insight into the universe, At-Bristol’s popular Planetarium Nights series is the way to go. Using the latest technology, stunning visuals and extended presenter-led shows for the adults, these evenings provide an immersive extra-terrestrial experience.

Set in the iconic 3D planetarium, the series returns with a (big) bang this year: more sessions than ever have been programmed including 5, 12, 17, 19, 25, 26, 31 January and numerous dates in February. We can’t think of many better ways to banish the post-Christmas blues! Tickets cost £8 for adults and £7 for children.

• at-bristol.org.uk

• losteria.co.uk

HIT THE SLOPES Forget Chalet Girl, the Warren Miller Ski Film Tour is bringing epic snow sports to the fore with their 67th annual film, Here There And Everywhere. Screening at 10 UK locations this month including Bristol’s Redgrave Theatre on 14 January, the film features globetrotting adventurers in iconic snow-capped spots such as the Squaw Valley in California, Kicking Horse in Canada (pictured) and Crested Butte in Colorado. Pioneering action sports cinematography since 1957, Warren Miller captures the thrill of every backflip, nose grab and 360° with exhilarating film techniques. It’s not just about the usual sports either, with footage of snowmobiling, dog sledding and fatbiking all taking centre stage in the powdery mountains. Strap yourself in for a wild ride, and don’t forget the après ski hot chocolate!

Image © Cam McLeod

Image © Lee Pullen

16 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

• redgravetheatre.com

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JANUARY 2017

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THE CITY THE BUZZ

My

BRISTOL

Laura Tomlinson is heading up Wild West Comms’ new Bristol office

Ahead of the curve A team of Bristol creatives and performers are opening the UK’s first full-time, permanent theatre space dedicated to improvised theatre and comedy. The project will transform a former members’ club in Clifton into a fullyequipped 100-seat theatre with a licensed bar, rehearsal rooms and office space for start-ups.

The Bristol Improv Theatre, also known as the ‘BIT’, will open its doors on 3 March. The fundraising campaign has so far raised over £27,000 for the renovations. Once they have opened, organisers plan to raise another £58,000 to develop the premises into a fullyequipped performance and teaching space.

• buildthebit.com

Bristol fashion South-West company VoyageVert is to begin a transatlantic ferry service operating entirely under sail and renewable energy. The pilot project will ferry 26 passengers from Bristol to Boston in seven days, with the eventual aim of 150 and 200 passengers at a time on custom-built catamarans. “There is absolutely nothing like this at all,” says founder and marine engineer Ross Porter. “Which is really, really exciting, and quite daunting.” The company aims to attract those looking for adventure and a sustainable alternative to flying, and passengers will live on board, as part of the crew if they wish, learning about navigation, meteorology, marine biology and more from guest speakers. “The vision is for a truly global passenger transport network that’s totally sustainable and high speed,” adds Ross. “Cheap and fast has had its day, and it's now really becoming a problem.

We’ve got to start travelling with intention.”

The first trip could come as early as 2018.

• voyagevert.org

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So why Bristol?

With a renowned sister agency, Wildcard, in London and a busy Truro office, geographically, it made sense to look to Bristol to grow our client base. But the move is about so much more than that. Bristol does things its own way, and as such, is home to a whole host of fantastic trailblazing businesses and organisations.

developed; I tend to sing along to whatever’s on the radio. Today I’m listening to Bruno Mars’ latest album, 24K Magic, which is the perfect antidote to a dark Monday morning.

What’s in the pipeline for 2017?

Our roots are in food and travel and we’re lucky enough to be working with some of the greatest names in the South West, from Rodda’s Clotted Cream, Kelly’s of Cornwall Ice Cream to Watergate Bay Hotel and Eden Project. We are also supporting a growing number of education and corporate clients.

What are you reading right now?

I’ve just started I Let You Go, the debut novel from local author Claire Mackintosh.

It’s a Psychological crime thriller – my favourite genre – that opens with a tragic, life-changing accident on the streets of Bristol and goes on to deal with the fall-out. I can tell it’s going to keep me awake at night.

What do you love most about Bristol?

I’ve worked in the city for 12 years and married a Bristolian, with whom I have two Bristolian children, so it’s very much where my heart is. I’m constantly surprised by how much Bristol has to offer; it’s no exaggeration to say there is always something new to discover, an event, an exhibition, a new place to eat or drink; our city is evolving all the time. I love that its culture embraces and encourages difference, and that this has become a driving force, across our communities and filtering into business.

In PR we talk about challenger brands; synonymous with ‘maverick’, challengers strive for success but refuse to follow the norm. I can see that ethos running through our business community and that’s what makes our output so interesting and exciting.

Favourite thing to cook?

I have a fantastic cook for a husband, and we get a lot of joy from cooking and eating together and with friends and family. There is almost always something cooking in our kitchen; my favourite occasion is weekend breakfast. My seven-year-old, Isabel, is a whizz at making a stack of pancakes (Jamie’s way, American-style) which I serve with a tableful of options; apple in cinnamon, fresh berries, Greek yoghurt, maple-smoked crispy bacon and Clarks maple syrup. And coffee.

There has to be coffee.

What’s pumping through your speakers?

I admit my music tastes are not very

Which local venues are you loving?

Cargo; Bristol’s newest independent shopping quarter in the Wapping Wharf development – not so long ago a derelict area, and now buzzing with life, thanks to a host of cool Bristol retailers. Woky Ko, Chicken Shed and The Wild Beer Co are favourites so far.

• wildwestcomms.co.uk

READ ALL ABOUT IT...

Charlotte Pope at Foyles bookshop recommends Tools of Titans In the last two years, entrepreneur and public speaker Tim Ferriss has spoken with almost 200 world-class performers for his hit podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show. From Seth Godin to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tim has interviewed billionaires, athletes and many others at the top of their game. While recording, Tim kept copious notes on the techniques and routines used by these people day to day, to help them on the way to greatness – simple things like exercise habits, time-management tricks and books they recommended.

Tim intended to keep the notes for his own use but soon discovered he had an amazing archive of information that worked as a brilliant 'how-to' instruction manual. Helping with overcoming failure and setbacks and how to turn weaknesses into strengths, this fascinating book is a useful motivational tool when setting out those New Year’s resolutions. A veritable goldmine, and valuable self-development reference book, I especially liked Tim's own ‘nonprofile’ chapters, which add wonderfully poignant insights.

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0117 950 5090 THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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THE CITY

BRISTAGRAM Some of our favourite recent snaps taken by folk around the city! Tag your best pics of Bristol using #thebristolmag

We loved th

is recent cr by @jessic eation abakes_x

a wintry ue captured ton Court @monalog sh A at e deer image of th

God save Trinity Centre!

Trinity is holding a Crowdfunder event, beginning next month, to raise money for the centre’s Notes for Notes appeal – and from 1 February to 2 March, there will be some exciting incentives on offer, with a view to attracting donations. Artist Jimmy Cauty and his art collective L-13, as well as Bristol urban artist and illustrator, Andy Council, have already voiced their support for the campaign, and created original pieces specifically for the Crowdfunder. These artworks will be reproduced and exchanged for donations, while the original pieces are auctioned off. Jimmy Cauty has worked with L-13 to create the 'God Save the Trinity Centre' poster (pictured below) that will become the front cover of the Trinity Anthem – a unique piece of music written, performed and recorded by Portishead’s Adrian Utley and PJ Harvey collaborator John Parish. The artwork will be printed digitally and as screen prints, with a limited run of 20 copies that will be signed by Jimmy and the L-13 artists who produced the work.

Jimmy, whose work has become very collectible, has developed a diverse career as an artist, jointly forming the L-13 collective as well as electronic music groups The Orb and KLF in the 1990s. He is a keen supporter of Trinity, and launched his ADP tour at the centre in February last year.

Andy Council is known for producing the ‘Bristol Dinosaur’ and has now created the ‘Trinity Fox’ – a collage made up of sketches of the historic buildings located in the Old Market quarter of the city. Andy's work can be found in many locations throughout the city and is, likewise, increasingly collectible. There will also be a limited run of printed Trinity Fox editions, hand finished and signed.

Meanwhile, Adrian Utley and John Parish's Trinity Anthem is in the process of being recorded and will be released at the end of the Crowdfunder with a limited vinyl dub press made available by the generous support of Dub Studio and Optimum Studio in Bristol, and signed by Adrian and John to raise additional funds. There will also be the chance for one Crowdfunder supporter to visit them both in their respective studios, and receive a 'bundle' of the artwork, vinyls and more.

• 3ca.org.uk 20 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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The best of times w er @christm asspiegelt e had ent

most dy_artist’s One of @jo ints last year pr popular

Last mo nth at M il the brill iant @n lennium Square eiljames , by b

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January duties

I

t may be winter and the outside world may look as though someone’s chucked a sodden Great War army blanket over it, but the dog still needs his two walks a day. He really doesn’t care if it’s raining, or blowing a gale. Frost and mud are much the same to him. I’ll open the door to show him the water hurtling almost horizontally along the street, and before I can ask him if he’s absolutely sure he wants to go out, he’s plunging forward, tail up, ready for fun.

Mornings are okay. I start work by lamplight while the dog dozes, waiting for the sun to drag itself into the sky for another 1970s-shopsteward-style six-hour day. By 9am, the end of the street is just about visible: time to head for the park for an hour of scampering and sniffing/squelching and grumbling (delete as applicable). The plan then is to go back to work and emerge again, sometime in the afternoon, but it never seems to work out like that.

Instead, I find myself leaving the house in what appears to be the dead of night. If it was the summer I’d be squinting at the yard arm wondering whether the sun was in the appropriate position yet (Over?

Past? Under? What exactly is a yard arm?) but it isn’t. It’s January, and the celestial orb is on a work-to-rule.

But here’s a thing. Aside from the obvious inconvenience of being cold and (usually) wet, I’m learning to enjoy these nocturnal rambles – or ‘ambles’, to be more accurate. Since Jarvis is the same colour as the night, I decided some time ago not to let him off his lead after dark, and now that he has accepted his fate, he doesn’t try to drag me off across the park but potters contentedly along, pausing every now and then to nibble at something delicious/unmentionable. The torch on my phone enables me to deal with anything that needs to be dealt with, and otherwise I’m at liberty to observe the city by night.

By day the park is fairly humdrum, a small green hill surrounded on all sides by streets and houses. There are the usual trees with the usual squirrels, and the usual grass with the usual woodpigeons – not that a squirrel or a woodpigeon is ever anything less than fantastically thrilling if you’re a dog. By night, however, the scene is transformed.

Trees become dim, mysterious beings, while the tiny wood seems vast and impenetrable. Everyday features like goalposts fade into the darkness, so that the park feels like an island of night surrounded by a sea of lights.

There is light coming from all directions, from the rows of streetlights marking the topography of nearby roads to the brightness spilling from factories and schools. Down on street level you can make out the red of a stop light, then the shift to green, and the corresponding bloom and fade of brake lights. Looking up, all the landmarks of Bristol – the towers and bridges and cranes – are illuminated in their different ways, the Suspension Bridge outlined in white, while at the top of Cabot Tower a red light blinks as if marking the port side of a harbour entrance.

Whether clear in the cold, bright evening or smeary with mist or rain, the lights of the city always put on a show. One can’t help but pick out patterns – constellations – and wonder to what streets or buildings they correspond. Funny to think that in six months’ time, the sun will be high in the sky at this hour, and the park full of people having a picnic and enjoying the view.

Right now, the dog is happy as can be, tracing scents in the mud, and so am I, playing join-the-dots with the lights of the night. ■ 22 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Astronauts only go outside when they truly have to – when they can’t fix something robotically, or if it’s something that requires human ingenuity or dexterity. Image © CSA/NASA

A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING We chat to the endlessly inspirational Canadian astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield ahead of his visit to Bristol Hippodrome

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SCIENCE

“Y

ou’d like it, you should try it,” says highly decorated fighter pilot, engineer and astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield of the “magnificent, overwhelmingly beautiful human experience” that is striding out into space, and as we immediately check our diaries for our next available Saturday afternoon, he takes us back to where his interest in the cosmos began – the moments that triggered his incredible career trajectory, resulting in the kind of résumé a Canadian boy growing up on a corn farm would usually only dream of.

“I was always curious about how things worked,” Chris explains from his cabin in southern Ontario, where he’s hanging out with the family pooch when we call from across the pond. “As a child I loved the fantasy side of science fiction – comic books, the real imaginationbending side of all the things that might be possible. I liked reading Arthur C Clarke and Edgar Rice Burroughs, and about the adventures of space heroes and super heroes; even Superman came from another planet. And then came Star Trek and 2001: A Space Odyssey – they were very much laying the groundwork and opening the mental possibilities for me.”

❝

...You’re in the jaws of this enormous beast that is trying to shake you to death and, meanwhile, you have to operate at extremely high efficiency...

❞ Then, in the late ’60s, there was the ‘Space Race’ – the peak of which came, of course, on 20 July 1969, when Aldrin and Armstrong walked on the Moon. “For me, that night was definitive,” remembers Chris. “That was the day that I decided: that’s what I want to do when I grow up. It was knowing that could actually happen – the tying of the fantasy of all the things I’d been reading, with the reality of what those astronauts were actually doing. It was pivotal to what I chose to do later in life – a direct result of that sequence of events.”

Direct yet far from immediate, given the long, complex and intense journey it would take before he would leave the Earth’s atmosphere It took Chris decades of prep to get to this point – from working as a fighter pilot to years of study at universities and, finally, astronaut training

Image © CSA/NASA

for the very first time – an experience reserved only for the most mentally, physically and intellectually strong.

“The decades of preparation are absolutely necessary because it’s an enormous responsibility and a huge amount of work,” says Chris.

“The spaceships don’t fly themselves so the amount of training required is staggering, right from when I first learned to fly as a teenager, through to studying at the different universities I went to, training as a fighter pilot, going to test pilot school, and then finally the years training as an astronaut. When you’re up there, you have thousands of people telling you what to do next and your schedule is organised in five-minute increments by a people at five different mission controls around the world so there’s an enormously detailed schedule moving unendingly across your screen and every five minutes it tells you what you’re doing, for six months!

“It actually takes about nine minutes to leave the atmosphere, from sitting on your back on the launchpad until you’ve successfully navigated and survived your way through launch and got yourselves up to 25 times the speed of sound, around 17,500 miles per hour,” continues Chris. “It’s extremely physically arduous and if you didn’t train for it, I think you’d just be overwhelmed by the physical experience. It’s so powerful – you’re in the jaws of this enormous beast that is trying to shake you to death and, meanwhile, you have to operate at extremely high efficiency, so it’s a lifetime of preparation.

Otherwise there’s no way you could focus and mentally detach yourself enough to do what you need to do.

“But then, when the engines shut off, you are instantaneously in a new world. It is so magically different. It’s like if some great animal was jumping up and down on you, shaking and slapping you, and punishing you physically, as you were writing the hardest test of your life, and then suddenly they threw you off a cliff. It’s that immediate – peaceful and silent, and the vast majority of the danger is over. And suddenly you’re weightless. It’s an almost comically abrupt transition.

There is a definite period of adaptation that goes on.”

Second that emotion It’s beyond comprehension – we can only imagine there’d be uncontrollable tears of terror, relief, joy and ecstasy involved at each stage respectively. Although, having seen a YouTube video of Chris demonstrating what happens to tears in a zero gravity environment (they gather in a mass around the eyes rather than falling), that really wouldn’t be practical.

“Your emotions sort of get trapped in time behind you – there’s so much happening so fast that you just have to stiff-arm them and put them at bay, then work out later what it actually meant to you. When we docked with the Russian space station on my first space flight, I had a camera running in the corner of the room – it was intriguing to see how it took two or three minutes before one of us said out loud, ‘Hey, we actually did it!’ And then we physically celebrated and slapped each other on the back. I think your emotions have to be put in second or third place just to be able to do what you’re doing.”

So it’s possibly not for everyone, then – despite the Russian Space Agency having already experimented with space tourism. “Well it’s still incredibly expensive because it’s in its infancy, and still very dangerous, but it’s what Sir Richard Branson is working on, and Jeff Bezos too,” says Chris. “When you’re riding with British Airways and it’s bad weather, the people up front are working hard and concentrating which allows the people in the back to sit and relax and sip their coffee, so I think that transition will happen in space flight aswell – we just haven’t invented all of the technology that allows it to work yet.”

But plenty of technology has been invented to change the experience of space travel, and not just for those up in orbit. Chris became a household name after using social media to document his time in space and make the unreported details of even the smallest of his experiences accessible to all.

“I think people can only make their decisions based on the things they know exist,” he muses. “So if you’re a school child trying to think about what you might do in life, if you don’t know something exists, you will never try and turn yourself into someone who can do that.

There are so many different things we can choose to do as a civilisation, country, city or species. Should we focus on playing THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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SCIENCE

football? Having good sewer or rail systems? How do we apportion all the different things that we think are worth doing as part of an organised society? And exploration and research and development are always part of that. But people need to feel aware, and therefore inspired. Some of the most inspiring things we do are way over the edge of normal society and push people to the limits of their abilities, and if you are someone who is doing one of those new, complex, interesting activities, it’s important to do it as well as you possibly can, and share the experience so other people can be inspired to do something different with their lives.

“It’s like climbing Everest – it’s on the edge of society but at the same time inspires people to change who they are, or push themselves to the limit in a way they might otherwise never have. The results are measurable sometimes – when we came back from my third space flight, they had discussed my flight and the impact it had on the youth, in Irish parliament, and there was a measurable change in the number of students who came out of high school the following year, and went into science and math programmes at university, because of our ability to successfully share our experience.”

Space Oddity Then, of course, Chris made a big impact with his 2013 David Bowie cover – the video for which went viral across the planet, with its intriguing juxtaposition of fantasy and reality, past and future, art and science. “I’ve always been a musician,” he explains. “And there have been guitars on space stations since the 1970s – the Russians had one on their early stations and transferred it to Mir, and when I was there in 1995, that guitar was there. In fact, I also brought a guitar up to Mir that’s now in the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.

“So music on board a space ship was nothing new, and lots of astronauts play and sing, but my brother and I had written a Christmas carol called Jewel in the Night and when I released it just prior to Christmas 2013 and my son Evan put it on Soundcloud, a lot of people suddenly realised there was someone up off the Earth, recording music, and started asking for me to do Space Oddity.

“I’d never covered Bowie – he’s just not the type of guy that you cover. He’s a terrific original artist and musician. So I dismissed the idea. But Evan was insistent, and pointed out that it would have a big potential impact and I’d be doing it for other people, not me. So I did a quick version to satisfy him more than anything – he’d rewritten the words so the astronaut didn’t die in the song, which seemed like a nice, important change...

The Richat Structure in Mauritania, also known as the Eye of the Sahara, as seen from the International Space Station. Image © CSA/NASA

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“Of course, Bowie had written that song prior to the Moon landing – just after Space Odyssey came out but before Apollo 11. He was just out of his teens I think, and was guessing completely as to what space flight was going to be like. So it didn’t hurt to update the words a little bit, with some of the things that had changed since then, but what really convinced me was – when I listened to my vocal recording – how it sounded more poignant, more haunting, more applicable than I expected it to. I thought; ‘Maybe this is worth doing’ so I put the guitar underneath then enlisted a friend named Emm Gryner, who used to be a singer in Bowie’s band in the late ’90s, and she did that beautiful piano intro. Once we had the instrumental track back up on the space station,

❝

...Bowie was just out of his teens when he wrote Space Oddity, prior to the Moon landing, so he was guessing completely as to what space flight was going to be like...

❞ I redid my vocals – and when we sent it to Bowie, he loved it. But then my son weighed back in and said, ‘Dad, you have to make a video’. By this time I was commander of the space station, so I was awfully busy up there, but one Saturday I floated around for an hour or two and made all the raw video and sent it down to my son to edit down.

“Meanwhile, we had a serious problem up on the space station with an ammonia leak and had to do an emergency space walk so we ended up getting it done just in time. Evan released it the day before I came home and the impact was huge – hundreds of millions of people have seen that video. I think it feeds back to the idea of people seeing space exploration more realistically, for what it is. It isn’t some strange, weird, esoteric, fringe thing, it’s just people, living in a different place with culture and art and a reinterpretation and understanding of who we are. A lot of people who didn’t even know the space station existed, suddenly knew about it because of the Space Oddity cover. So I’ve been pretty amazed by the impact.”

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SCIENCE

Hallo, Spaceboy! Image © CSA/NASA

Watching a bubble of water float on the International Space Station – image © CSA/NASA

Alone in the universe So, Chris is now part of cultural history as well as a major scientific pioneer – oh, and the first Canadian ever to step outside of a spacecraft while in orbit. Can he even put into words what that feels like?

“We don’t go outside lightly, only when we truly have to – when we can’t fix something robotically or if it’s something that requires human ingenuity or dexterity – because the risk is so much higher. But the physical, human experience is so much richer – it’s the difference between staying indoors and going outdoors. Or driving in a car versus hanging off a cliff – you may be quite physically close to something but the experience of being among it is so much more visceral. I was lucky enough to do two space walks, and it’s incredible to be clinging to the outside of a spaceship, with the world turning next to you and the entire universe around you, and an infinite, bottomless silence beyond.”

❝

...It’s incredible to be clinging to the outside of a space ship with the world turning next to you...

❞ We’re speechless at the very thought of it. As for future explorations, it sounds like ‘retiree’ Chris has more than enough to keep him busy... “I still explore everyday – I mean, exploration is just answering the questions in your own mind. I have a granddaughter who’s 15 months and she’s an explorer, beyond belief – using her new-found ability to walk on her sturdy little legs and investigating the universe around her to try and explain it to herself.

“I’m 57 but I don’t see myself as any different. I know certain things but the number of things I don’t know is endless.

I’m constantly curious about everything around me – I was recently in the high Arctic as part of an expedition almost to the North Pole. We went to 81.5 degrees north, way up the Canadian Archipelago – that was fascinating. I had read about it and seen pictures but the actual

exploration and your subliminal comprehension of it is different.

That’s true of everything so I try and constantly challenge myself, and to be dissatisfied with my ability to fully understand or do things. Life is really nothing but continuous explorations, whether it’s on the surface of the Earth or the depths of the ocean, orbiting the planet or all the way out beyond the edge of the solar system.

“As for what will I be doing in 2017 – apart from going to Bristol?

I’m very much looking forward to that – it’ll be a fascinating opportunity to look back, look around and look forward, and interact with the audience with images, ideas and a little music. But let’s see: lots of travel as usual, I’ll be doing my one-man speaking tour across Australia; hosting a few TV shows which is new for me; it’s the 150th anniversary of Canada this year so there are multiple events going on for that; and its the 100th anniversary of some significant events in World War One so I may be over in Belgium and France then.

“I also teach at university and that’s a constant rediscovery; and I fly, so I’d like to do more of that. It’s all one big continuous tapestry.

A balance of observing the world, trying to see parts of it that I haven’t seen, thinking about what they mean to me, and then sharing those ideas, whether it’s teaching at my university or giving lectures around the world. We’ve also just released my third book, and are starting the fourth, and I’ll be writing some music too.”

So, not much then – bit of a lazy year, some might say. Boy, does this guy make us feel like under-achievers… ■ • Colonel Chris Hadfield will be appearing at Bristol Hippodrome on 18 January at 7.30pm; atgtickets.com

Across the universe: a spacewalk in progress.

Image © Chris Hadfield/NASA

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LOCAL | EVENTS

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

Pink Mist depicts life at home for three veterans at Bristol Old Vic

International House Bristol holds a virtual tour of the Uffizi Gallery

Bristol Museum hosts a talk on Victorian artist Adela Breton

FROM 8 JANUARY

FROM 1 JANUARY 1 – 5 JANUARY, 8.40PM

10 JANUARY, 7.30PM – 9.30PM

The Darkest Dawn, Watershed Cinema

Writing for Wellbeing Taster, The Practice Rooms

This indie sci-fi film was shot by 21-year-old director Drew Casson for Wildseed Studios, and tells the tale of teenager Chloe whose life turns upside down after an alien invasion.

Tickets from £6.50 to £9; watershed.co.uk

This new group offers participants the chance to relax and nurture their creativity and wellbeing through 10 weekly imaginative writing sessions, beginning with this taster day.

Entrance costs £14 per session; thepracticerooms.co.uk 12 JANUARY, 7.30PM

3 JANUARY, 11AM

Roy Wood, Bristol Hippodrome

Sea Hear Storytelling, ss Great Britain Seafaring storyteller Sarah Mooney captivates the imaginations of visitors with a mixture of original tales and new twists on classic legends.

Children can even join in the action with stories of whales and angel fish, pirate treasure and stormy seas. Entrance is free, no booking necessary; ssgreatbritain.org 5 JANUARY, 1.15PM

Ancient Mexico in Colour Lunchtime Talk, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery Discover the importance of Victorian artist Adela Breton, whose beautiful watercolours helped preserve the history of ancient Mexican ruins. Entrance is free, although donations to the museum are welcome; bristolmuseums.org.uk

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Rock ‘n’ roll veteran Roy Wood – co-founder of The Move, Wizzard and Electric Light Orchestra, no less – brings his classic hits to Bristol Hippodrome. Tickets cost £33.65; atgtickets.com 12 – 13 JANUARY, 7.30PM

Jelli Records Mini Acoustic Festival, The Thunderbolt & The Louisiana After a 13-year run for the fullsize event, this mini version of Jelli Record’s Acoustic Festival includes headliners The Phoenix River Band, Funkensteins and John Ross.

Tickets cost £7.75 for one evening or £13.25 for both; bristolticketshop.co.uk 13 JANUARY, 7PM

The Hangover, Avery’s Wine Cellar

JANUARY 2017

Following the success of their Halloween horror series in the Redcliffe Caves, the team at Bristol Film Festival present a ‘drink-along’ evening of fine wine, nibbles and great cinema.

Tickets cost £25; bristolfilmfestival.com 13 – 21 JANUARY, 7.30PM

La La Land, Curzon Cinema Clevedon In an ultimate homage to the golden era of the Hollywood musical, Emma Stone stars as a struggling actress who falls in love with Ryan Gosling, who plays a spirited jazz musician (who wouldn’t?). Tickets from £5.50 to £6.90; curzon.org.uk 14 JANUARY, 7PM

Teenage Cancer Trust Concert, The Louisiana Local groups The Monarks, The Happy Few and Lady Nade star in this charity concert, with an auction including a signed Arctic Monkeys drum skin and threecourse meal voucher. Tickets cost £12 and all proceeds go to Teenage Cancer Trust; bristolticketshop.co.uk

FROM 15 JANUARY 15 JANUARY, 7.30PM

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, Colston Hall This tribute to one of the most successful musical institutions of all time features all the classics including Landslide, Dreams and

Go Your Own Way – an unmissable concert for any Fleetwood Mac devotee. Tickets from £25.26 to £36.01; colstonhall.org 17 JANUARY, 8PM

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, St George’s After making tracks – 2,728 miles, to be exact – across the USA, writing classic ‘railroad’ tunes as they went, Billy and Joe bring their Shine A Light Tour to the UK. Tickets cost £22 in advance, £24.50 on the door; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 21 JANUARY, 7.30PM

Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Lantern American folk is the order of the day in Colston Hall’s intimate second space, as Alynda Segarra draws on her roots as a travelling musician in the USA with tracks from her new album Small Town Heroes. Tickets cost £10.75; colstonhall.org

FROM 22 JANUARY 22 JANUARY, 8PM

Jazz Dames, Redgrave Theatre Six of Bristol’s finest jazz vocalists come together with the George Cooper Trio to celebrate the ‘First Lady of Song’ Ella Fitzgerald, with belters from The Great American Songbook.

Tickets from £17.20 to £21.50; redgravetheatre.com

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LOCAL | EVENTS

23 – 28 JANUARY, 2.30PM & 7.30PM

28 JANUARY, 10AM – 4PM

Pink Mist, Bristol Old Vic

Open Day, Royal School of Needlework Bristol

Pink Mist tells the story of three young Bristol men deployed to Afghanistan. Returning to the women who must now share the physical and psychological aftershocks of their service, Arthur, Hads and Taff find the journey home is their greatest battle. Tickets from £12.50 to £27.50; bristololdvic.org.uk

An institution steeped in history with unrivalled expertise in the techniques of hand embroidery, the RSN hosts an information evening with live demonstrations – courses include embroidery, silk shading and crewelwork. Entrance is free; royal-needlework.org.uk

24 JANUARY, 7.30PM

28 JANUARY, 7PM

St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, The Lantern

Bach’s B Minor Mass, St George’s

Russia’s most venerable orchestra presents three of the country’s greatest composers – Prokofiev, Rimsky-Korsakov and Khachaturian – in a glittering concert filled with ‘Eastern promises’. Tickets from £1 (under 18s) to £42; colstonhall.org

As part of their 50th anniversary celebration season, Bristol Bach Choir presents one of Bach’s most beloved masterpieces, alongside leading Baroque ensemble Canzona and a team of four upcoming soloists. Tickets from £5 to £25; stgeorge’sbristol.co.uk

25 JANUARY, 6.30PM – 7.30PM

29 JANUARY, 7.30PM

Thriving in the Age of Acceleration, At-Bristol

5x15, Tobacco Factory Theatre

Noted New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman discusses how the planet’s three largest forces – the advance of technology, globalisation and climate change – are each driving the other and fundamentally reshaping the world. Tickets from £6 to £8; at-bristol.org.uk

Curzon Cinema screens vintage Hollywood-inspired musical romance La La Land

The Royal School of Needlework hosts an open day with live demonstrations

Tobacco Factory Theatres’ popular unscripted talks return, kicking off this year with Kate Dimbleby, Dr Matthew Green, James Jones, Cathy Rentzenbrink and Kerry-Ann Mendoza. Tickets from £12 to £15; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

NEXT MONTH...

25 JANUARY – 4 FEBRUARY, VARIOUS TIMES

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Bristol Hippodrome Jason Manford, Claire Sweeney and Phill Jupitus star in this glittering, smash-hit musical, complete with all the whacky charm of Dick Van Dyke’s original – it’s sure to be truly scrumptious. Tickets from £18.50 to £49; atgtickets.com

11 FEBRUARY, 4.30PM – 6PM

Italian History of Art Workshop, International House Bristol Enjoy a virtual tour of the Uffizi gallery in Florence and learn about Italian culture through the masterpieces of Giotto and Caravaggio among others.

Tickets £12; ihbristol.com

Local band the Monarks star in a Teenage Cancer Trust charity gig at The Louisiana

EDITOR’S PICK...

22 JANUARY, 7.30PM

The Magic of Motown, Bristol Hippodrome There ain’t no mountain high enough to keep us away from this show at Bristol Hippodrome. Now in its 10th year, The Magic of Motown is a non-stop party celebrating favourites from the genre, such as the Supremes, Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder alongside countless others. With every glittering costume change, dazzling dance moves and impressive tributes to the greatest artists of the era, it’s a perfect evening out to shake up the post-Christmas lull. If you fancy going for free, keep your eyes peeled on our Twitter page for the chance to win two tickets – winner to be announced on Friday 13 January.

• atgtickets.com

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COMEDY

WINTER CHEER We don’t know about you but we often feel like we need a bit of a laugh once the merriment of the festive season has petered out – so this month’s Slapstick Festival is perfectly timed Opposite page, clockwise from top left: The comedy genius of Rik Mayall will be celebrated with two separate tributes; Rory Bremner hosts the festival’s flagship gala event; The Young Ones is revisited on 22 January; remember the late, great Victoria Wood on 18 January; Harold Lloyd in The Freshman; Shazia Mirza will be introducing Shooting Stars at the Watershed

Y

es, there are days in the first, somewhat bleak month of January that can be a bit of a struggle, so when Britain’s biggest festival of silent and classic screen comedy returns – this year from 1822 January – we breathe a sigh of relief.

2017’s five-day festival will see veteran entertainer Roy Hudd and taboo-busting stand-up Shazia Mirza, among others, making their Slapstick debuts, while late comedy giants, who are gone but far from forgotten, are celebrated with special tribute events. “Slapstick 2017 is shaping up to be our most varied and star studded yet,” said festival director Chris Daniels, “offering classic comedy for all tastes and ages and celebrating mirth makers from many different countries and periods, including some remarkably funny recent rediscoveries. We’re especially pleased to be offering a tribute to Victoria Wood. She was a great friend to Slapstick, stepping in at extremely short notice to host our gala in 2013, and later returning to host an event celebrating the comedy work of Gloria Swanson. From what we learned of her then, we’re sure she’ll be pleased that we are remembering her with laughter, and with the help of two women following in her comedy writing and performing footsteps – Lucy Porter and Pippa Evans. We’re also delighted to be recognising another comedy genius lost too soon, Rik Mayall – first with a roundup of footage most will not have seen before and then by reuniting cast members Alexei Sayle and Nigel Planer for a look at the origins and impact of The Young Ones.”

As always, there are many more superb events on the programme than we have room for here (see slapstick.org.uk) so we’ve compiled a few highlights...

triple bill of silent classics accompanied by live music. The programme opens with Harold Lloyd in The Freshman (1925) followed by The Finishing Touch (1928) starring Laurel and Hardy, and The High Sign (1921) from Buster Keaton. Music from the 25-piece Bristol Ensemble and the European Silent Screen Virtuosi, under the baton of Slapstick’s musical director Gunther A. Buchwald.

• 20 January, 7.30pm; tickets £27.50/£10.75

The Goodies: Book Shambles (Watershed) Robin Ince, co-host of the popular comedy-literary podcast Book Shambles, interrogates Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie about the books they made as two thirds of the TV comedy trio The Goodies and about their personal favourite authors/titles. While Robin’s usual Book Shambles partner Josie Long won’t be in attendance (she’s “showing off in New York” he explains) he promises a special stand-in.

• 21 January, 1.30pm; tickets £9/£6.50

Roy Hudd in Conversation (Watershed) Join legendary entertainer Roy Hudd OBE as he shares memories and clips from a career which began seven decades ago, and talks to broadcaster and author Matthew Sweet about his love of other stage and screen performers – among them Max Miller, Jacques Tati and Charlie Chaplin. This event will also include a screening of Hudd’s near forgotten and hugely underrated 1966 ‘silent’ comedy, The Maladjusted Busker.

• 21 January, 11:30am; tickets £9/£6.50

The Young Ones Revisited (Bristol Old Vic) Shooting Stars (Watershed) The celebration of early screen comediennes starts with standup Shazia Mirza introducing Annette Benson as Mae – one half of a husband-and-wife acting team torn apart when he (Brian Aherne) discovers she is having an affair. Mae then decides to get rid of her spouse by putting a real bullet into a prop gun being used in their new film, but matters don’t quite go to plan in this Anthony Asquith comedy, newly restored by the British Film Institute.

• 18 January, 8.30pm, tickets £9/£6.50

Anarchic, gross, brave, brash, innovative, hysterical – The Young Ones was the first TV sit-com to come out of the alternative comedy revolution of the 1980s and made household names out of a cast of student housemates which included Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson. 35 years on from its first airing, co-writer Lise Mayer, Neil the Hippie actor Nigel Planer and Alexei Sayle (the Belowski family) return to the city where much of the series was filmed to talk to Marcus Brigstocke (once a student here himself) about the origins and social impact of this game-changing comedy.

• 22 January, 4.15pm; tickets £15

Victoria Wood: Let’s Do It! (Watershed) Stand-up stars Pippa Evans and Lucy Porter join Andrew Kelly, director of the Bristol Festival of Ideas and Louise Wingrove, a comedy and theatre historian, to look back at the extraordinary contribution made to comedy writing and performance of the late, great Victoria Wood, a regular supporter of Slapstick until her death in April last year.

• 18 January, 5.40pm; tickets £9/£6.50

A Celebration of the Stickiest Bogeys of Rik Mayall (Watershed) Robin Ince and his Variety Radio podcast co-host Michael Legge pay tribute to the anarchy, intensity and occasionally blazing stupidity of the late lamented Rik Mayall, helped by a selection of favourite and less familiar clips, including excerpts from The Oxford Roadshow, Boom Boom Out Go The Lights and other magnificent outrages.

• 19 January, 7.30pm; tickets £9/£6.50

Silent Comedy Gala (Colston Hall) Rory Bremner hosts the festival’s flagship event, featuring a

Just Like That! (Bristol Old Vic) Barry Cryer discusses his working relationship and friendship with legendary magician and comic Tommy Cooper.

Illustrated with classic clips and hosted by writer and comedy historian Robert Ross, this is a chance to rediscover the joyous comedy and erratic genius of one of Britain’s bestloved entertainers.

• 22 January, 11am; tickets £12.50

Surviving Slapstick on 16mm (Watershed) Slapstick comedy shorts were money spinners in the 1920s and 1930s, for companies like Kodascope and Pathéscope who rented or sold safety prints of them for people to watch at home. Decades later, many of these 16mm prints have survived where the ‘proper’ 35mm versions have not. Bill Oddie and Robin Ince present a programme of these accidentally preserved gems starring, among others, Lloyd Hamilton, Wallace Lupino and Marcel Perez. With live accompaniment from Guenter A. Buchwald.

• 22 January, 9.30am; tickets £8/£6

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Elles’ husky tone actually developed after a serious stint in hospital as a child

JANUARY BLUES ...And we mean that in a good way! Make sure you get your dose from local singer songwriter Elles Bailey he past year has been a bit of a whirlwind for Bristol ‘blues princess’ Elles Bailey – taking in an extensive tour of Europe that finished with a slot at The Bristol Jazz & Blues Festival; and bills shared with the likes of Lisa Simone, The Mystery Jets and Wilko Johnson; plus plenty of summer festival action including a set at The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne. Naturally, we wanted the story behind this exciting homegrown name, and immediately set about interrupting her busy schedule...

T

How have you updated the genre for current audiences?

I grew up on a diet of Chess Records blues and rock and roll, but I listen to loads of different music, and take inspiration from everything I see and hear. Due to that, my music crosses between quite a few genres so I guess that in itself modernises it. I really feel nowadays that so many artists are breaking down the barriers of traditional genres by blending lots of influences – it’s very exciting being a musician right now and hearing what people are up to!

How would you describe your music and vocal style?

I mix the soul of the blues, and blends of country and soul, with a contemporary edge. My voice has a husky, bluesy tone which developed from a pretty serious stint in hospital as a child, where my throat almost closed up. When finally I came out of hospital and started to talk again, my parents were shocked – gone was the voice I had before and in it its place was someone who sounded like they smoked 60 a day! Not the voice you expect from your average three year old... They took me to a voice specialist, who checked it out and thankfully found nothing wrong. However he did say, “If she’s a singer, she will be great at singing the blues!”

Your latest EP, The Elberton Sessions, was recorded completely live.

Why did you decide to use this style of recording?

Honestly, my first EP, Who Am I To Me, was a highly produced piece of work, and I have always had plans to record a full studio album (which I am just in the process of completing). So to break those up I wanted to release something that really took the music back to its roots, leaving space for every instrument and my voice. We headed out of town, to a beautiful 16th-century manor house in Elberton, set up in the stunning living room, mic’d up the instruments and off we went!

Who are your main influences?

I owe a lot to the big female powerhouses. Etta James is probably my all-time favorite voice, however Janice Joplin, Dusty Springfield and Fleetwood’s Stevie Nicks have all played a massive part in my musical upbringing. I love all the old Chicago blues and the stories and artists behind the music.

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Do you draw on personal experience when writing your lyrics?

I do write a lot about personal experience, however I don’t just limit myself to that. I like to write about the world around me, and I do have a habit of writing about artists and stories that have played a part in the music that I listen to. On The Elberton Sessions is a track called The Girl Who Owned The Blues. This is written about Janice Joplin, an incredible artist, with an amazingly powerful voice, but who was known for her turbulent lifestyle. There was so much agony and pain in

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MUSIC

We hear your band is made up of some of the city’s best players…

I feel so lucky to have worked with a lot of great Bristol musicians. Joe Wilkins plays guitar for me and Zak Ranyard plays the bass. Both are incredible musicians with unique styles and it’s a privilege to perform with them. I have worked with quite a few drummers in the city. Tom Gilkes, a seriously talented drummer, has done a lot of my tours and played on my Who Am I To Me EP. Ed Gallimore, who plays drums in The Ramona Flowers, played on The Elberton Sessions and Andy Sutor joined us on drums for the most recent tour back in October. Jonny Henderson, who plays the Hammond, has also graced the stage with me as well as playing on my new album.

What would be your dream collaboration?

I think right now I would love to duet with an artist called Chris Stapleton. His voice is just sensational. As I write this I’m listening to his album Traveller while on my third flight of four back to the UK from Nashville. He’s getting me through the travel blues.

her life, but from that was born such creativity.

We hear you spent some time in America recently?

I mentioned earlier that I am just putting the finishing touches on my debut album. I have been lucky enough to record this in Blackbird Studios in Nashville and I got to work with an incredible team of musicians from there. I started tracking the album in September, but came home to tour in October so headed back out there in November to finish it off. I’m very excited for it to be released in spring.

Tell us about the making of the video for Shake It Off...

I wanted to make a video in Tennessee and it seemed this song was the perfect track to do it to. It’s got a real Nashville feel about it. Basically I got dressed up and performed the track at iconic sites in the city. It was quite embarrassing at times as there were crowds of people watching but I just had to ‘shake it off’! It was a lot of fun.

You actively support upcoming artists, most recently through your appointment as head of production and host of radio station Positively Talented. Why is this important for you?

It’s tough out there as an emerging artist and it’s always great to know that there are people who will support you – especially other musicians.

I love finding new talent – it inspires me! Everyone has got something to say and its great to provide a platform for new artists trying to break into this hard industry.

Top three songs for the country and blues beginner?

Oh wow, where to start? There are so many. For the blues beginner, Smokestack Lightning by Howlin Wolf. I love the country band Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Fishing in the Dark is great! And for something way more recent, from her Dig in Deep album released in February 2016, check out Gypsy In Me by the legend that is Bonnie Raitt.

Where can readers catch you next in Bristol?

I’m going to be touring in March and April, promoting my new album! I’m just finalising a Bristol date so watch this space. In the mean time, if you head on over to my website and sign up to my mailing list, you will get a free track to enjoy too! ■ • ellesbailey.com

The band consists of top Bristol musicians such as Joe Wilkins, pictured here on guitar

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EXHIBITIONS

STATE OF THE ART New Designers 2017, Diana Porter, 13 January – 31 March Diana Porter’s New Year exhibition features a hand-picked selection of favourite new graduate designers. Each year the team scour the degree exhibitions to find the most exciting emerging talent around, and this year they have discovered six designers whose collections deliver a range of conceptual, wearable art pieces. Featuring an aesthetic response to an exploration of their individual societies, cultures and environments, the exhibition showcases holistic pieces to stir the senses through kinetic movement and fragrance. These are artists whose work provides a visual narrative to their journey through their own spirituality; designers that meticulously hand-craft pieces to combine disposable materials with precious metals. Find minimalistic jewellery in reclaimed materials which contrasts with natural raw form, as well as exquisite rings, pendants and brooches with hidden details and unusual materials set in silver that will change over time. An exciting, thought provoking and intriguing exhibition to kick off 2017, showcasing the work of: Aelita Galevska, Amber Cooper-Green, Chloe Lewis, Sinéad Cooke, Sophia Florence and Zoë Fitzpatrick Rogers.

• dianaporter.co.uk

Still Lives, Grant Bradley Gallery, until 7 January This is a series of oil paintings by Victoria Laird, inspired by found animal skulls and fairy lights.

Through this work, Victoria has discovered a beauty in the macabre and how the fragility of life makes it all the more precious. Meanwhile, Bill Moore offers a painting style unique in its simplicity. He is inspired by humanity, the built environment, the strange, often humorous and absurd aspects of the everyday and commonplace, and the subsequent changes that time brings. See also Bristol-born artist John Garland’s work, focused on capturing landscapes and cityscapes in Expressionist style.

For The Love Of It, Guild Gallery, 28 January – 18 February See works by three artists united by a passion for creativity. Deborah Mann investigates colour, line and form in sculpture (pictured), painting and drawing; and Susie Nott-Bower conveys the essential nature of being human through portraiture, life drawing and writing; while Julia Shaw explores the qualities of clay.

• bristolguildgallery.co.uk • grantbradleygallery.co.uk

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EXHIBITIONS

Lubaina Himid: Navigation Charts, Spike Island, 20 January – 26 March Lubaina Himid was a pioneer of the Black Arts Movement in Britain in the 1980s, which offered a forum for black artists exploring the social and political issues surrounding black history and identity. This exhibition – a collaboration with Modern Art Oxford and Nottingham Contemporary – focuses on migration, labour and creativity. Anchored by Naming the Money (2004), an installation of 100 life-size, painted figures that has been shown only once before in its entirety, the presentation brings into dialogue major works from the past 20 years.

• spikeisland.org.uk

Strange Worlds: The Vision of Angela Carter, RWA, until 19 March Chagall, Rego and Pacheco evoke the haunting magic of Angela Carter in a new exhibition from Bristol’s first art gallery, 25 years after her death. Celebrating the life, work and influences of one of the most distinctive literary voices of the last 100 years, it will invite a dialogue between art, literature and the imagination by exploring the artists who influenced Carter and those who were inspired by her.

Delving into the latent meanings of childhood fairytales and the twisted imagery of gothic mysticism, the show pays homage to the dark, compelling drama of Carter’s visual imagination – brutal, surrealist and savage. It will reveal the profound impact of her work on 21st century culture, and include painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, printmaking and film from the 19th century to the present day.

Echoing her recurring themes of feminism, mysticism, sexuality and fantasy, it will include historically significant works by Marc Chagall, William Holman Hunt, Dame Paula Rego, Dame Laura Knight, Leonora Carrington and John Bellany.

• rwa.org.uk © Charlie-Hamilton-James

Also not to be missed... ● Wildlife Photographer of the Year, M Shed, until 5 March See 100 breathtaking images from the world-renowned wildlife photography competition from the Natural History Museum. From balletic whales to lizard-chasing parakeets, urban visitors to fantastical landscapes, this year’s selection is strong on both visual drama and narrative. Launched in 1965 – when it attracted 361 entries – Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, and has provided a global platform that showcases the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights, for over 50 years. Today the competition receives over 42,000 entries from 96 countries, highlighting its enduring appeal, and resulting in an incredible calibre of imagery.

• bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed

● A Sense of Space, Lime Tree Gallery, 21 January – 21 February A sense of space has always been, by definition, an integral part of still-life painting.

Stillness is an unchanging relationship between an object or objects and the space in which it sits. Over the years, painters have sought to exploit this relationship in many ways. Maybe the often beautiful combination of traditional realist painting set against a vague or even abstract background. Or perhaps representing the objects so that they appear weightless and floating in lightly suggested two-dimensional space. Traditional realism has every detail of the background carefully considered and faithfully reproduced. This show brings together a wide range of artists, who cover a broad spectrum of still-life painting, including James Blanc NEAC, John Button, Mhairi McGregor RSW, Lucy McKie ROI, Robert Walker and Mats Rydstern. A strong, colourful and varied exhibition offering something for all.

• limetreegallery.com

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THE OLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL BBC antiques show Flog It! is coming to the historic surrounds of Bristol Cathedral this month. Presenter Paul Martin urges anyone with an item of interest to come and chat to the team; and has been offering Emma Payne a few tips, too...

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ANTIQUES

Y

ou know how the ’70s have had a real revival in the fashion world over the past couple of years? Well, they’re all the rage in the antiques sphere too now, which is something we didn’t know. In fact, there’s a lot of things about antiques we don’t know – so it’s a good thing we had antiques dealer Paul Martin on hand recently to fill us in ahead of Flog It’s valuation day at Bristol Cathedral, which he’ll be heading up on 14 January...

So, tell us what goes on at valuation day – can anyone bring their vintage items along?

Yes – we pick a historical venue and have four experts on camera and about eight off camera, behind the scenes, working hard with researchers as well. There are about 35 team members, so it’s a big, major event. We film it live, and give each programme a different thread with a different insert in the middle.

Half the fun is hearing the background behind the pieces, isn’t it?

It is – it’s the personal stories, the unique finds, and the link to the past. We don’t get masses of valuable items. We’ve had tribal memorabilia, Aboriginal shields, which sold for £40,000, and Tibetan artefacts selling for £160,000, so we do get some big value items, but we also get documents of social history dating back to the Victorian and Edwardian periods. They tell us how craftsmen worked in different regions, about the materials and tools they used and their techniques, pottery, and art. Without the members of the public, their stories and their items, our programme wouldn’t work.

And, of course, Bristol has a wonderfully rich history…

Oh gosh, yes. As a trading port, it’s a melting pot of everything really.

You’ve got Bristol Downs, which date back to the 17th century; Bristol blue glass was very popular in the 19th century; you’ve got the Great Western Railway linking London to America via the ss Great Britain, and everything that was imported – sugar, tobacco, wine and port… We’re very, very lucky.

If we were scouring the attic for something to bring along to valuation day, what would we be looking for?

Well, we’re looking for anything that goes right up to the 1960s and ’70s. As long as they have a good design, are strikingly made, with great craftsmanship and an iconic look, these are the antiques of the future. We love 20th-century modern, so we’re looking for plastics, contemporary pottery, studio pottery thrown by local artisans, upand-coming masters and makers of the future, and anything to do with our maritime history. You might look in your attic and see a spear or boomerang and think it’s tourist ware from the 1950s, but it could date back to the 18th century! And that’s the idea, we want you to bring along something you think might be worth something so we can unfold those stories.

❝

...We’ve had tribal memorabilia, Aboriginal shields, which sold for £40,000...

❞ People tend to think of antiques as a Victorian grandfather clock and the like, so it’s interesting you mention ’60s and ’70s….

It doesn’t have to be 70 or 80 years old; we’re looking for contemporary design and British 20th century modern. Early Habitat is very collectable! Ercol furniture is very collectable. These things hark back to the early Arts and Crafts period and the rebellion against mass production. It’s well made and there’s a degree of craftsmanship. Because of course, now this is what everyone is calling ‘retro’.

Paul is looking for plastics, contemporary pottery, studio pottery thrown by local artisans, up-and-coming masters and makers of the future, and anything to do with our maritime history

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ANTIQUES

Paul ran a stall in London’s Portobello Road when he was 22 and always wanted to work with furniture

We never thought we’d hear an antiques expert say that!

Habitat is now reproducing it’s own 1970s designs – the bubble chair, the egg chair, the globe chair. People want that clean look with sharp contemporary lines. ‘Antiques’ is a word that isn’t really used that often any more. Good design transcends decades and periods in history, so you can mix and match – George I’s furniture with 1960s whacky glass and a Queen Anne bureau! Antiques have got to be exciting, and the old drab look is gone – be radical!

If we were furnishing our flat, could we buy antiques online with sites like eBay and Gumtree?

Don’t! Go on eBay by all means to get your comparisons, and then look in magazines and auction rooms to find things you like. Go online and look at all the lots coming up, compare to the prices on eBay and in antique shops, and then have a go at buying something in auction.

Attending an auction can be overwhelming, with fast-paced bidding and mounting prices. Do you have any advice for a first-time buyer?

Talk to the auctioneer about the piece you’re after, and ask them if it looks like an investment or just something to furnish a house. Take a tape measure and make sure it fits the space you’ve got at home, or you’ll be stuck with it. Make sure you’ve got transport available up to two days after the sale, or you will be charged for the storage. Stick to your limit and don’t get carried away, because there’s always another piece on another day. There’s no panic at all, there are auctions all over the country. Check out thesaleroom.com for every single auction happening this year. All the images and dates will be there.

How can a budding collector spot a quality piece, and avoid fakery?

If you want to get serious about antiques, go to a specialist shop and pick the dealer’s brains. Get to know them and their stock, because you need to see good quality before you buy anything. Also, ask the dealer how to inspect a piece: turning it upside down, looking inside, looking at the way the grain runs, spotting extra handles, chips and alterations.

Just be on guard and ask – the antiques trade won’t lie, they’re not trying to pass off something duff for lots of money. If it’s cheap, there’s something wrong with it!

What do you take into consideration when valuing a piece?

We research the item to see if something similar has been sold last month, and that’s what we base the valuation on. Things that were flying eight years ago are now down in the dumps, and vice versa.

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Do think we have the same level of craftsmanship now as we did in the past?

Yes, but you have to pay for it. You could buy a very high quality 18th-century Cuban mahogany chest of drawers for £400, or you could pay the same price for a new walnut one of average quality.

Because craft skills cost, and then there’s sourcing the wood! Antiques are ‘green’ – paint things, stick new knobs on it, upcycle!

❝

...Good design transcends decades and periods in history, so you can mix and match – George I’s furniture with 1960s whacky glass and a Queen Anne bureau! ....

❞ Some people might be scared of altering or painting an antique…

The market dictates what’s rubbish, what’s collectable and what’s recyclable. If you get a chest of drawers for £200, it’s not a soughtafter collectable. Rip it apart, change it, make something – you’re giving it a new lease of life.

What drew you to the antique trade?

I ran a stall in Portobello Road when I was 22. My uncle was an antique dealer and I didn’t want to do anything else. I wanted to work with furniture and make things – I was quite creative!

What’s the best thing you’ve ever found on the show?

Oh, that’s a tough question. It’s constantly changing. The strangest thing we’ve ever had was a Victorian taxidermy two-headed kitten in a glass dome. But my favourite would have to be a Mary Pheasant painting. We put £800-£1,200 on it and it sailed away for £3,000.

Simplistic and bold, with bright colours; that was something I would have loved to own... ■ • bbc.co.uk; bristol-cathedral.co.uk

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Free Jewellery Valuation Day in Bristol

Cartier Brooch

Diamond ring

Cocktail Ring

Rolex Ref: 8171

£4,150

£30,000

£3,550

£69,000

Clevedon Salerooms will be holding a FREE no-obligation Specialist Jewellery, Watch, Silver & Gold Valuation Day at Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road on Wednesday 8th February between 10am – 4pm. Clevedon Salerooms Valuers, gemmologist John Kelly and watch specialist Marc Burridge will be providing free no-obligation verbal estimates with the March Quarterly Specialist Sale in mind. Tea and coffee will be served throughout the day. For more information contact Toby Pinn on 0117 3256789

Free Jewellery, Watch, Silver & Gold Valuation Day Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN --------------------------------------------------

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers The Auction Centre Kenn Road, Kenn Clevedon, BS21 6TT

Tel: 01934 830111

8th February 10am – 4pm No appointment necessary – Ample Free Parking

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The youngest model you can get might be 45 years old, but we reckon the Morris Minor looks pretty darn cool

BRISTOL AT WORK: Charles Ware’s Morris Minor Centre We shine a spotlight on the local folk that help make up the fabric of city life

Z

ac Ware might be best known as the guitarist in The Proclaimers, but he has another, quite different, passion too – for the humble Morris Minor – inherited from his father, Charles Ware, who started an automobile restoration business in Bath back in 1976. “While he was searching for a new business idea, he went to some local car auctions and found that Morris Minors were still very cheap but reliable,” says Zac, who now directs his dad’s company from its Brislington base. “He’d always loved classic cars, and in the early ’70s had imported American classics until the OPEC oil crisis meant that gas guzzlers were no longer economical to use. The Morris fused his love of design, cars and conservation.”

Starting out with three cars, the business soon grew to become the leading Morris Minor restoration company in the UK, inspiring others to preserve the future of the British icon. “When my father fell ill in 2010, my partner Lucy and I moved from Glasgow to Bath to look after him,” explains Zac. “We soon found ourselves looking after his business interests and began to run the company full time in 2011.”

Nowadays there’s an ‘a la carte’ menu to give customers an understanding of all the work that can be done on their beloved vehicle. “We help them choose the most essential work to make the car safe and functional, depending on their goal and budget,” says Zac. 46 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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“They have the choice about how far they want to take the restoration and whether they wish to add any of the extensive upgrades to adapt their Minor to modern driving conditions – for example, disc brakes, telescopic suspension – and can plan a staged restoration over many years. Recently we restored a Minor Million and have another one in production that will also be fully restored. Seeing a customer’s pride and joy – dragged out of a garage or barn – driving off our premises in all its new-found glory, is always the best bit.”

❝

...The Morris fused his love of design, cars and conservation...

❞ And meeting like-minded Morris lovers too, we bet. “We have world famous authors, musicians, comedians and media types among our clientele – my father once drove Princess Diana around the grounds of Viscount Linley’s estate,” remembers Zac. “There were

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many people who had the ‘pleasure’ of being taken on a test drive by him and came out the other side with white knuckles and a fresh impression of what a Minor could do on the roads – the company was so well known in the early days that letters would just arrive addressed to ‘the Morris Minor Man, UK’. A letter sent from Japan even got to him with just some hand-drawn sketches of the Morris Minor badge!”

In a nutshell, the beauty of owning a Morris is that you are owning a piece of history. “The design is a throwback to coachbuilt lines and curves, and wherever you are in the country, you can pull up to a traffic light or into a carpark and have people crowding round and telling you anecdotes about their auntie’s, father’s, grandmother’s Morris,” says Zac. “This social aspect is augmented by the large Morris Minor Owners Club and its rallies, as well as all the regular classic car meets. The driving style is unhurried and appeals to those who don’t want to rush at the pace of modern society, and – even though the youngest model is 45 years old – they have surprising reliability. The smell is instantly recognisable too. To an owner who has a close relationship with their car, perhaps to the point where it feels like a member of the family, all these things add up.”

We have to say, life with a Morris does sound pretty appealing.

Think our run-of-the-mill modern motor might have outstayed its welcome... ■ • morrisminor.org.uk

Back in the day...

There’s an a la carte menu of restoration options for the Morris owner

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FOOD & Drink

TASTY TITBITS FROM THE CITY’S RESTAURANTS, CHEFS AND PRODUCERS

ITSU TASTY...

The healthy hot and cold dishes taste super fresh

Healthy Asian-inspired food brand itsu has brought its ‘eat beautiful’ menu, with 64 protein-packed, low carb dishes, to Broadmead. The brainchild of Julian Metcalfe (Pret a Manger cofounder and pioneer), it also offers udon dishes – hot noodle delights available from 5pm and guaranteed to warm you on cold winter days – and a bar serving wine, beer and prosecco. There are vegan and veggie dishes, a new Bento box or hot food every month, a variety of snack options from the itsu grocery range – including award-winning crispy seaweed thins, chocolate edamame and prawn crackers – and anyone who buys a tea or coffee receives a free banana to keep them going throughout the day. “We’re excited to be introducing our ‘eat beautiful’ concept to Bristol,” said Agne Kazberaite, itsu’s head of regions. “It’s vibrant, relaxed and quirky, just like itsu – add to that the thriving food scene and desire for healthy, tasty food, and it’s a perfect fit for us.” In keeping with the city’s green credentials, itsu Bristol is taking sustainability seriously and reducing all sushi and salad boxes to half price half an hour before closing, so as little as possible is thrown away.

• itsu.com

NEW FOR CLARE STREET Specialist Bristol coffee house Tincan Coffee Co opened the doors to their second shop on Clare Street at the end of last month – after only eight months of trading in their first address on North Street in Southville. Serving a locally roasted own-blend espresso alongside award-winning cakes, cold pressed juices, sourdough toasties, and healthy, seasonal breakfasts and lunches, Tincan is a collaboration between Adam White and Jessie Nicolson and began trading as a fleet of vintage Peugeot fire trucks and Citroen HY coffee vans at events throughout the region. The new coffee houses’ interior design take their inspiration from these vehicles and provides a relaxed space to work, meet and chill out while enjoying cracking coffee and service. All suppliers are local, seasonal and organic where possible, all milk is organic and all packaging and disposables 100% compostable, recycled, and made using bio plastic. Founder Adam White said “Tincan has carved its own niche in the market, and we’ve created a very loyal customer following as a result. We are delighted to be opening in the old city amongst other well regarded coffee shops and to be adding something unique to the old city’s burgeoning coffee quarter”.

• @TincanCoffeeCo

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TREAT YO’SELF Bristol-based entrepreneur, James Hutchins – owner and founder of James Chocolates, which manufactures award-winning chocolates for retailers including Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Waitrose and Tesco – has launched a £150,000 crowdfunding campaign to give chocolate aficionados the opportunity to become shareholders in the UK’s first personalised, chocolate subscription service. The business aims to be Europe’s number one tailored chocolate subscription brand, with financial projections forecasting total revenue to reach £9.1million by 2021. “The way we consume chocolate is changing,” says James. “Products are being premiumised as the rise of a ‘treating’ mentality means consumers are increasingly opting for ‘a little of what they fancy’, and are prepared to spend more on a higher quality product. At the same time, our lives are being driven by digitalised subscriber services – be it fresh food, flowers or chocolate – and a ‘convenience culture’ is growing as people expect their favourite products delivered direct to their door. “Chocolate Treat Club fills the gap in the market for a unique, personalised and convenient chocolate subscription service, which I believe to be the biggest opportunity in chocolate for 20 years.” As investors, chocolate fans will be at the heart of club operations, using web technology and social media to give feedback, influence development and share ideas. Rewards (dependent on level of investment) will include free subscriptions, invitations to join a tasting panel, opportunities to design treats, and chocolate making masterclasses.

• @ChocolateTreatClub

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FOOD | RECIPES

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FOOD | RECIPES

ESSENTIALLY MARCO Take a leaf out of culinary master Marco Pierre White’s book and make sure you ace winter suppers this season...

C

hef, restaurateur and television personality Marco Pierre White’s new cookbook posits itself as “perfect for the home cook” – sharing tricks and tips, stripping away the more complicated, time-consuming elements of professional cooking and delivering clear-cut, fuss-free recipes for comfort food favourites.

Featuring gorgeous photography by Chris Terry, Essentially Marco is divided into starters, fish, meat and puddings for every palate and occasion, whether it's a celebratory roast, romantic supper, or warming dish for a frosty night. “The idea is to show people that they don’t need to be a professional chef in order to create delicious, hearty dishes that can feed the whole family,” says Marco, who recently popped into his eponymous steakhouse bar and grill at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House hotel, to demonstrate some of his techniques – and shared with us a sample starter, main and dessert to try at home...

Brandade of smoked mackerel with fresh horseradish (Serves 4) “We think of brandade as a Provencal mixture of salt cod and olive oil, but this is a different take on it. I’m using smoked mackerel and horseradish – a classic, winning combination – with a creamy sauce.”

Ingredients: • • • • •

4 smoked mackerel fillets, skinned and pinned (small bones removed) 2 shallots finely sliced Softened butter Fresh horseradish Parsley or herbs of your choice

Method ❶ In a large bowl, mix the mackerel with the butter. Add shallots and grated fresh horseradish to your taste. ❷ In a terrine or Kilner jar, layer one third of the mackerel, shallots then horseradish, and repeat in layers three times. Top with shallots and parsley and serve with Melba toast.

Lamb dijonnaise

(Serves 2)

“This is an easy, colourful main course, but please allow time for the meat to rest.”

Ingredients: • • • • •

2 rumps of lamb, each weighing around 280g Extra virgin olive oil Dijon mustard to your taste A handful of fresh chives, diced to the size of small beads Chives or fresh herbs of your choice

oven and roast for 10 minutes. Remove the lamb from the oven and allow the meat to rest for at least five minutes. Keep the roasting juices. ❸ Cover the lamb with the mustard. Cover it with the diced chives – they’ll stick to the Dijon. Give it a drizzle of olive oil. ❹ On a chopping board, slice each piece of rested rump into two.

Place the slices in the pan. Scatter with long strips of chive. Serve with your choice of potatoes and vegetables.

Rice pudding with apricots (Serves 6) “Once upon a time, rice was an expensive import and only the rich ate rice pudding. Thank goodness things have moved on since medieval days. The trick is to cook it slowly on a low heat. For many, proper rice pudding is the epitome of comfort food.”

Ingredients: • • • • • • •

200g pudding rice 200g sugar 800ml double cream 400ml whole milk 50g unsalted butter 2 vanilla pods, split in two, lengthways 12 tinned apricot halves

Method ❶ Pre-heat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius. On a pan, melt the butter on a medium heat. Add the rice and stir. Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves. ❷ Add the cream, milk and one split vanilla pod. Stir well. Slowly bring to a gentle simmer. Remove the pod and scrape out the seeds, returning them to the pudding. ❸ Bake the pudding for an hour in the oven. Meanwhile, use a stick blender to make a purée of six apricot halves. Put to one side. ❹ Place the remaining apricot halves into a saucepan and add the remaining vanilla pod. Pour in the syrup from the tin and very gently bring to the boil.

Remove from the heat and allow to infuse.

❶ Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius. Heat the oil in a frying pan and caramelise the lamb for a couple of minutes on each side, turning once.

❺ When the pudding is ready, pour the purée into the centre.

Arrange apricots on top of the puree and place the vanilla pod halves on top of the apricots.

Serve while the pudding is warm. ■

❷ Transfer the lamb to a roasting tin, skin side down. Pop it in the

• marcopierrewhite.co

Method

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NEW TRICKS Why not usher in the new year with a newfound passion?

Emma Payne scours the city for the best courses and workshops

Little Kitchen teaches everything from classic cuisine to exotic street food – photo by jimmyimage.uk

I

f you’ve decided to skip the gruelling hours in the gym and the salad-based diet and go straight to the resolution relapse this January, don’t judge yourself too harshly. We reckon a new year is just as good an opportunity to challenge ourselves in an entirely new way – and with that in mind, we’ve come up with a selection of ideas for how to expand your horizons, with everything from embroidery to survival, skiing to flying...

Capture the moment Bristol Folk House In this world of smartphones, Instagram and instant editing, traditional photographic techniques have fallen out of the limelight. But Bristol Folk House, home to seemingly limitless courses in every discipline, has recently opened a purpose-built darkroom and now offer a series of five or 10-week film photography lessons. Create black and white, gum bichromate and cyanotype prints to rival even the most exotic snapchat filter – and if you already know your way around the camera, book an assisted session in the darkroom to develop your snaps.

• bristolfolkhouse.co.uk

Stitch up a storm Royal School of Needlework Bristol Embroidery is enjoying a resurgence of popularity both in interior design and fashion at the moment, so why not learn the ropes yourself?

If cosying up with your own fledgling project sounds like your thing, the Royal School of Needlework is the place to go, given its international reputation as a centre of embroidery excellence. The wide range of short courses includes appliqué, silk shading, metalwork and a number of other traditional techniques. Students can then go on to study for a certificate and diploma in technical hand embroidery.

• royal-needlework.org.uk

Go wild Survival School Bristol The idea of living alone in the wilderness has become increasingly XX THE 52 THEBRISTOL BRISTOLMAGAZINE MAGAZINE || JANUARY JULY 2016 2017

appealing over the last 12 months, and luckily we know just the people to prepare us for life in the great outdoors. The folks at Survival School run a weekly adult evening class covering all manner of skills including foraging for edible and medicinal plants, fire lighting, string and rope making, trap setting, weaving and shelter making. Once you’re confident in the basics, you can make like Bear Grylls and put them to the test with an overnight stay in the wild.

• survivalschoolbristol.co.uk

Fly high Bristol Flight School Alternatively, you could choose to fly away from all the trials and tribulations – we’re not quite promising a move to Mars, but taking to the skies might just be the perfect shake-up during the grey, postChristmas lull. Bristol Flight School offers a trial lesson to get you started, and from there you can work towards a private pilot’s licence through lessons in the air and on the ground with highly experienced tutors. It’s not for the faint-hearted (or perhaps the easily nauseated) but thrill seekers will be hard pushed to find a more exhilarating hobby.

• bristolflying.co.uk Bristol Write Club is the perfect place to release your inner author

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ADULT EDUCATION

Hit the slopes Mendip Snowsport Centre The lure of the black slopes is strong, but any good skier knows it takes a lot of practice to work up to the more demanding routes – unless you want a Bridget Jones-esque disaster. Thankfully Mendip has a number of centres across the South West, offering ski, snowboarding and tobogganing lessons from the absolute basics up, with specialist trainers also on hand for disabled participants. It won’t be long before you’re getting some serious air – Eddie the Eagle, eat your heart out.

• mendipsnowsport.co.uk

Get cooking Matt shows fellow survival skill enthusiasts the way to keep warm in the wild - image © Base Camp Festival

Little Kitchen So you’ve nailed the omelette, cheese on toast and – wait for it – beans on toast, but if it’s time to expand your culinary repertoire, Little Kitchen offer a variety of hands-on courses to get you started. Weekly ‘Kitchen Classics’ sessions include beef stroganoff, chicken filo pie and sweet and sour pork, while the street food series takes you to the Caribbean, India, Vietnam, Morocco and Mexico. Craving more?

There’s a whole host of one-off evening lessons and school holiday courses for little ones and teens too – farewell, ready meals!

• little-kitchen.co.uk

The Royal School of Needlework teaches a range of traditional techniques

Roll up, roll up Circomedia If the thought of swinging upside down and flinging yourself through the air pushes your buttons, why not start the new year by quite literally running away to the circus? Total beginners can start off with the static trapeze or hoop, offering the perfect introduction to aerial skills, then progress to drops, tumbles and poses on the ropes and silks.

Once you’ve honed your skills and built up your confidence, take to the grand volant for more exhilarating tricks. If the daily grind has lost its appeal after your descent, Circomedia offer qualifications from diplomas to a full master’s degree – who said ‘don’t quit the day job?’

• circomedia.com

Make a statement Make It

Put pen to paper Bristol Write Club “Would this make a good book...” we ponder most days, with little knowledge about how to transform our illegible scribbles into the next Game of Thrones. Bristol authors Alison Powell and Emily Koch would be sure to know, with their monthly writing workshops, dedicated to sharing useful strategies, discussing ideas and thinking creatively to help tease your would-be novel onto the page. Kick-start a new project this month with their all-day writing retreat on 14 January.

• writeclub.org.uk

There’s nothing cooler than an eye-catching, statement piece of jewellery to jazz up any outfit, and Kim at Make It offers the chance to create stunning pieces unique to you. Her small group workshops include stacking rings, earrings, pendants and beaded necklaces, offering students the opportunity to use specialised tools and learn new techniques in her contemporary silversmithing studio. Looking to tie the knot in the near future? You and your partner can also sign up to her best-selling silver wedding ring session.

• makeit.kim

Find your inner artist Paper Arts Usually relegated to risqué comedy sketches, life drawing isn’t always taken as seriously as it should be. And we’re not sure why, because we Soul Pilates offers classes using mats, machines and ballet techniques

Strengthen your core Soul Pilates Limitless chocolate and endless roast dinners are the order of the day during the festive season, so if you’re in need of a wellbeing boost, we thoroughly recommend an energetic pilates session. Soul Pilates go beyond the mat with specialist machines, props and ballet barre sessions for all abilities, the latter combining the elegance of ballet with the precision of pilates. Founder Nic also focuses on rehabilitation for long-term pain and injury, with private tuition available for specific needs and a strong ethos of finding ‘pain-free movement’ for all ages.

• soulpilates.co.uk THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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ADULT EDUCATION think celebrating the human form can only be a good thing – plus it allows budding artists, designers and even animators the chance to practice quick studies and observational skills. Paper Arts runs a weekly session for any ability, led by industry professional James Alexander from 6pm-8pm each Thursday.

• paperart.org.uk

Learn the lingo International House Bristol School hours spent reciting past participles and different ways to ask for cheese may seem like a lifetime ago now, but if you fancy speaking like a local on holiday, it’s never too late to learn. International House offer a range of familiar European language evening lessons including French, German and Italian, as well as Welsh, Arabic, Japanese and Russian, with discounted 10-week courses for GCSE and A-level students and over 65s. There’s also the chance to study abroad, allowing you to immerse yourself in the culture and try out your new catchphrases.

• ihbristol.com

Fire up the furnace Creative Glass Guild Freshen up your home and prepare for the glistening sunshine of spring with handmade stained glass and glittering ornaments – the perfect substitute for those boxed-up Christmas decorations. The folks at Creative Glass Guild lend their expertise as you take on traditional methods of glass painting, fusing and engraving, or try your hand at copper foiling – the technique used to create Tiffany glass lamps and trendy terrariums (a geometric plant-pot alternative, don’t you know).

• creativeglassguild.co.uk

Put your best foot forward Salsa Souls The Strictly Come Dancing team may have hung up their glittering costumes for another year, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Spice up

Give silversmithing a go with Kim at Make It

the winter months with Salsa Souls, who offer weekly lessons to beginners, improvers and advanced dancers of any age. Nail the bachata, mambo and back step and get those figure of eight hips working, then show it all off during the freestyle sessions at the end of each class. Can’t get enough? Their Friday salsa parties are second to none, so don your dancing shoes and show ’em how it’s done!

• salsasouls.co.uk

Bottoms up Wine and Spirit Education Trust We know we’re not the only ones who fake our way through descriptions of ‘oaky flavours and fruity notes’ when asked to taste a wine, so if you fancy yourself a dinner party aficionado, the Wine and Spirit Education Trust’s Clifton branch is happy to hone your skills.

Learn to recognise the sights, smells and tastes of different types, identify key characteristics such as acidity, sweetness and tannin levels and discover the basics of wine production, with qualifications up to a Level 4 Diploma available.

• wsetglobal.com Design your own stained glass with Creative Glass Guild

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New year, new goals?

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 55

Motoring - Road Trip Jan.qxp_Layout 1 21/12/2016 15:32 Page 1

RIDE TO REMEMBER The rolling countryside of the Mendip Hills provides James Fossdyke with the perfect challenging roads to put Infiniti’s new QX30 crossover through its paces...

A

350-million-year-old lump of jagged limestone flashes past the passenger window as I sweep through the hairpin bend.

Blasting up Cheddar Gorge, it feels like I’ve been away from the drudgery of the office for a lifetime, rather than a couple of hours.

Just this morning, I was sitting at my desk, answering phone calls from people I’d rather not speak to and writing emails to people who’d rather not hear from me.

But then a phone call came from Infiniti, who invited me to vacate my desk for an afternoon in search of the South West’s best driving route.

Never one to pass up an opportunity to get away from Microsoft Word’s blinking cursor, I grabbed the keys to the British-built QX30 and left.

To my colleagues, it must have looked as though I’d simply vanished.

Leaving the office, I still wasn’t sure where quite I’d go, but with my editor’s rules still ringing in my ears (don’t be longer than two hours), I pointed the QX30’s nose at the Mendips and cruised into the countryside.

The Mendip Hills – like the Yorkshire Dales and the Highlands of Scotland – provide a concoction of elevation changes, isolation and rolling scenery that’s perfect for a stress-relieving drive.

About 20 minutes out of Bristol, I found myself crawling along the village of Chew Magna’s narrow streets. Other than the odd artisanal shop, a bank and a couple of pubs, there’s little to the place, but it’s pretty enough and seemed as good a place to start as anywhere.

At the top of the village, I peeled off to the left, a low brick wall flashing past on my right as I left the claustrophobic street behind and ventured out into the countryside. Soon enough, though, the greenery of the Mendips’ farmland was replaced by another village.

Chew Stoke, like Chew Magna, is a diminutive village with even more diminutive roads, but despite its size it seems to go on forever, almost fizzling out before another clump of buildings re-establishes its presence.

Eventually, the road opened up, but rather than being surrounded by a patchwork of fields, the view from my passenger window was filled with restless grey water.

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Chew Valley Lake is the largest artificial lake in south-west England, and among the biggest in Britain. As well as having been occupied by the Romans long before its inundation in the 1950s, the lake is also a national centre for birdwatching.

A massive 260 different species of birds live there, but today the only things spreading their wings in the mucky weather were a couple of geese – hardly enough to bring out my inner Bill Oddie.

After leaving the lake far behind, I scythed between a small collection of houses in a seemingly nameless hamlet. Fortunately, I had the QX30’s satellite navigation to guide me, though I was caught a little off guard when the road suddenly stopped at a slightly skewed crossroads.

Turning right, I wound my way through Compton Martin, only to be faced by another huge body of water when I emerged on the other side.

Blagdon Lake, the predecessor to Chew Valley Lake, is neither Britain’s largest nor best-known reservoir, but it certainly looks dramatic.

Sadly, the road couldn’t quite match the view for drama, but gentle elevation changes and an unending stream of sweeping, fast S-bends made it fun without being hard work. Only the tight streets and limestone walls Chew Valley Lake offers stunning views

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MOTORING PROMOTION | THE DRIVE

Explore Cheddar’s cheese shops

Roads wiggle through the rocky landscape

of Blagdon and Upper Langford interrupted a thoroughly pleasant road.

Joining the A38 at Churchill, I found myself with an overwhelming sense of being too close to the real world. The junction looks far more complicated when seen on a map than it actually is, but the collection of shops and pubs that cluster around the crossroads give an urban feel that jars when compared to the landscape I’ve travelled through thus far.

That sensation was soon relieved, though, as I peeled off the main road and found myself back on distinctly rural roads once more. The short blast to Shipham brought me back to the isolation of rural Somerset, and I was glad to be returned to a world of cattle and quaint villages.

It wasn’t long, though, before I ended up in Cheddar, the village famed for its cheese, and which seems incapable of deciding whether it wants to be a vast urban area, a quiet Mendip village or a teeming tourist trap. It was certainly a hit with the visitors, who turn up in their droves to explore both the cheese shops and the famous gorge.

❝

...Few things are as satisfying as perfectly judging a corner, whooshing past the cliffs and diving into the next bend...

❞ And it’s that gorge I’m climbing, following a path forged 200 million years ago by glacial meltwater. The river has now migrated underground, and in its place lies a ribbon of tarmac that wriggles around outcrops of limestone. The penalty for getting it wrong up here is severe, then, but the rewards for perfect cornering are huge. There isn’t too much scope for exuberance lower down though, simply because of the volume of traffic.

For the first few corners, you have to sit back and enjoy the view.

Once you’ve climbed beyond the visitors’ cars though, you can open the taps and enjoy yourself a bit. Few things are as satisfying as perfectly judging a corner, whooshing past the cliffs and diving into the next bend.

At the top of the gorge, the road opens up into countryside, with fields of long grass acting as foreground to curvaceous hilltops characteristic of the area. I leave the main road and head for Wookey Hole, a village famed for its caverns, and end up on a narrow road punctuated by tiny spaces where two cars can just about pass each other. Now and then, I have to stop for something coming the other way, folding in the Infiniti’s mirrors to avoid a scrape. But for the most part I’m left to enjoy the view.

And what a view.

From the crest of Deerleap Road you can see for miles across the vale to the next ridge. I pull over into the car park that serves as a viewpoint, and look out across a valley that was forged over millions of years. Out

in the distance the towns of Glastonbury and Street are swallowed up by a chaotic mess of fields, hedgerows, rocky outcrops and villages.

But with time constraints lurking in the murky depths of my consciousness, I tear myself away from the view and hop down into Wookey Hole, and then back onto main roads.

I skirt around the edge of Wells, the city often referred to as England’s smallest, despite the fact that the City of London is actually smaller. I avoid the city centre, instead opting to cut the corner and join the A39 heading north towards Chewton Mendip. It’s the first real A-road I’ve been on for a while, and its relatively well-maintained road markings and abundance of signposts mean my workload is reduced, allowing me to enjoy the scenery.

Almost without noticing, I find myself on the A37. The two roads merge almost seamlessly, and carry me swiftly back towards Chew Magna.

Before I leave the fast roads behind me and sweep back into Chew, though, there’s another stunning view waiting for me. As I plummet down the hill after Clutton, the city’s sprawl is just about visible beneath the fuzzy grey blanket, sitting in stark contrast to the green foreground of the North-East Somerset countryside.

Returning to Bristol half an hour later, I glance down at my watch. I’ve been gone a touch longer than two hours, but who cares if my boss has a little tantrum? If that’s the only penalty for two hours of stress-free metime, some stunning scenery and a little bit of good, honest fun, I’d do it again tomorrow. ■ THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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BRISTOL UPDATES BITE-SIZED BUSINESS NEWS FROM ACROSS THE CITY

NEW AMBITION

SWEET!

BOFFIN BRISTOL

The Chocolate Quarter, the £60 million retirement community developed by the St Monica Trust at the former Cadbury’s Factory in Keynsham, has opened a new show home. Interior Designers Jane Clayton & Company were commissioned by the Bristol-based charity to dress and furnish The Chocolate Quarter’s show home and marketing suite. “It was very clear how passionate the team at the St Monica Trust were about the finer details and ensuring the apartments suit the purchaser’s requirements,” said Jane Clayton’s business development manager Wendy Melluish. “There is so much history associated with the architecture and we felt it was crucial to tap into that.” Jane Clayton will also be offering a unique design service, where prospective residents can purchase any of the show home’s furnishing that may have caught their eye for their own apartment at The Chocolate Quarter, due to open this summer with 136 stylish apartments and a 93-bed care home, as well as office space, retail outlets and leisure facilities.

Construction has begun on Unit DX, a new

• stmonicatrust.org.uk

• unitdx.com

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lab space and science incubator in central Bristol. In partnership with university-led business incubator, SETsquared, it will bring much-needed facilities and support to the growing number of entrepreneurs in the city, adding a new scientific dimension to the already thriving Bristol tech scene.

“I am very excited that SETsquared will be working with Unit DX to increase access to laboratory space and tailored support for scientific enterprise,” said Monika Radclyffe, centre director at SETsquared Bristol. “We look forward to supporting innovative technologies in the life sciences sector and helping Unit DX companies scale their businesses with our proven incubation model.” Of the 183,000 life sciences jobs in the UK, over half of these are located in the ‘golden triangle’ of London, Cambridge and Oxford. Unit DX will help to ‘translate’ Bristol’s scientific research into commercial business opportunities. Unit DX will also provide access to mentoring and business support, as well as links to investors and industry networks through its partnerships.

Music making opportunities for young people with special educational needs and disabilities is being given a boost, thanks to a new partnership between Bristol Music Trust and DAC Beachcroft LLP. The leading international law firm will support the trust’s inclusive arts education programme, A New Ambition for Inclusive Excellence.

The programme aims to develop a sustainable long-term strategy that delivers a high-quality, inclusive music offer to those in most need, setting a new standard of excellence for music education in the greater Bristol area.

“Inclusive practice is such an important issue and we are proud to get behind a project that will make such a positive impact for years to come,” said Nick Knapman, regional senior partner at DAC Beachcroft. “Colston Hall is a wonderful venue, delivering fantastic performances and educational programmes. We are delighted to support A New Ambition as part of our wider sponsorship of Bristol Music Trust.” Louise Mitchell, chief executive of Bristol Music Trust, added: “A New Ambition is part of our wider project to raise £45million to support Colston Hall’s transformation. To establish Colston Hall as a leading music education hub, spaces for lifelong learning must be constructed, including new classrooms and a technology lab. This will provide Bristol Plays Music with an inspiring cultural base to educate 20,000 children of all abilities and backgrounds every year. We want to thank DAC Beachcroft for their generosity and look forward to working together over the coming years.”

A New Ambition, which is also supported by The National Foundation for Youth Music, is creating a blueprint for inclusive practice which will become the new standard for the music education sector. Between 2015 and 2018, A New Ambition is investing over £630,000 into the West of England for children and young people with special educational needs and disability.

Colston Hall launched its £45million transformation programme Thank You for the Music in September 2014. Since then, commitments have been made from Bristol City Council (£10m), central government (£5m), Arts Council England (£10m), Heritage Lottery Fund (£4.75m) and private donors.

• colstonhall.org/transformation

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Happily never after: Can you PROBATE – NOT AS really have a ‘good’ divorce? SIMPLE AS IT SEEMS! Many people would argue that the concept of a good divorce doesn’t actually exist. But with over a third of UK marriages now ending in divorce, attitudes are changing and modern marriages are considered more disposable than ever before.

Chris Miller, family Partner at Barcan+Kirby, looks at alternative ways of ending a relationship.

S

o common is the surge in January divorce enquiries that the first Monday of the New Year is now commonly known as ‘D-Day’ – or ‘Divorce Day’ – amongst family lawyers.

Having limped through Christmas and the family festivities, the sad reality is that many couples will choose January and the start of the New Year to call time on their relationship.

If you’re one of these couples, you might be considering what steps to take next. Modern divorce doesn’t necessarily mean court. Instead you can look to calmer, more flexible ways of ending your relationship, such as collaborative law or family mediation.

Think ahead If you’re considering a separation, it’s useful to understand the processes and legalities involved in ending your marriage.

If you’re on a fact-finding mission, you can speak to a family law solicitor. Some law firms, us included, offer all new clients a free 30 minute consultation, during which you’ll be given general information about the options available and guidance on the next steps in the process.

Longer-term, it’s worth considering your post-separation relationship.

Do you want to stay on amicable terms? Will you need to co-parent your children? If it’s important that you remain civil, keep this in mind and commit yourselves early on to a co-operative divorce.

Consider your options If a co-operative post-divorce relationship is important to you, you should consider family mediation. In contrast to the adversarial court system, mediation offers flexibility. It’s often quicker and cheaper than more traditional routes, and enables you to work through your issues constructively, together and on your own terms, although you do need legal advice to ensure any agreement you reach is workable and legally binding.

Of course, family mediation isn’t for everyone. If the process isn’t for you but you still want to avoid going to court, collaborative law may be an option, so you can access professional support and legal advice as an integral part of the process.

Work together If you and your former partner can stay on civil terms, it will be quicker, easier and more cost-effective to work through the various legal processes together. A family mediator can help you with this, from separating your assets through to helping you determine how you communicate together in the future.

Research suggests that cooperation between parents can lessen the impact of separation on children. That’s why, where children are involved, we’re huge advocates of family mediation and collaborative law.

Either process can help you agree where your children will live, who they’ll live with and which parent will be responsible for their day-today care as well as how much time they spend with each parent.

But for mediation or collaborative law to work, you need to approach it with transparency, a willingness to listen and a commitment to make the process a success.

T: 0117 325 2929 • E: info@barcankirby.co.uk www.barcankirby.co.uk • F: @barcankirby

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T

he death of a loved one is one of life’s most stressful events. Dealing with the grief and arranging the funeral are only the start. Unfortunately like most of modern life there is a large amount of paperwork that needs to be dealt with.

If the person who has died left a will, it should name one or more people to act as the executors of the will.

Brenda Smyth If you are named as an executor of a will you may need to apply for a grant of probate.

A grant of probate is an official document which the executors may need to administer the estate. It is issued by a section of the court known as the Probate Registry.

If there is no will (known as dying intestate) the process is more complicated. An application for a grant of letters of administration (an official document, issued by the court, which allows administrators to administer the estate) will need to be made. The person to whom letters of administration is granted is known as the administrator.

Executors and administrators (the personal representatives) are personally liable for making sure that the estate is administered correctly. If there is a will, the personal representative must make sure that the wishes of the person who has died, as set out in their will, are followed. If there is no will, they must follow the rules of intestacy (set out in the Administration of Estates Act 1925).

Executors and administrators are also responsible for finding out if inheritance tax is due as a result of a person's death. If it is, they have to make sure that it is paid. Whether inheritance tax needs to be paid can depend on various factors and not just the size of the estate at the date of death.

Charges can vary and depend on what is involved in administering the estate. It is often not possible to know immediately what may be involved and how much advice and help is needed.

However, cost should not be the only consideration. It is equally important to find a solicitor who is approachable and sympathetic, and whose advice you understand.

The Probate Team at AMD Solicitors has extensive experience of all aspects of probate and intestacy whilst providing a personal and supportive service to all those involved.

For advice on administration of estates and all other private client issues please contact Brenda Smyth or another member of our team on 0117 962 1205, email probate@amdsolicitors.com or call into one of our four Bristol offices.

100 Henleaze Road, Henleaze BS9 4JZ 15 The Mall, Clifton BS8 4DS 139 Whiteladies Road, Clifton BS8 2PL 2 Station Road, Shirehampton BS11 9TT © AMD Solicitors

A local award winning law firm

Telephone us on (0117) 9621205 or visit our website www.amdsolicitors.com

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It might be learning a new sport, seeing amazing cultural sights, exploring a challenging landscape or trying out a few words in a different language

LIVE AND LEARN Planning a family break for 2017?

Bristol author and teacher trainer Sue Cowley – whose new book focuses on the concept of ‘edu-vacating’ – offers a few tips on how best to continue children’s learning on the road

W

hen you are making holiday plans, it is tempting to imagine your family flopping on a beach somewhere warm, and doing nothing for a week or two. While this kind of travel experience can be relaxing and beneficial, a holiday is also a great time for you and your children to experience some unexpected learning opportunities. In my book, Road School, I describe what happened when we took our children out of school and spent six months learning with them on the road. We learnt about volcanoes first-hand in Italy, by climbing Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius, and visiting the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. We had the chance to explore the history of China by seeing the Terracotta Army and climbing along the Great Wall of China. We got to learn about the artistic genius of Leonardo da Vinci, by visiting his birthplace and seeing his masterpieces The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa ‘in the flesh’. But even if you can’t commit to a long-term learning adventure like we did, you and your children can still learn plenty in the much shorter timescale of an annual family holiday.

❝

...A holiday is a great time to for you and your children to experience some unexpected learning opportunities...

❞ Travel is great for helping children build their independence and resilience. It helps them learn how to cope with change and with different cultural experiences. During our trip, our kids were able to try a taste of snake, witness a dazzling Chinese drum performance and bargain for their own souvenirs in a foreign currency. Depending on your destination, your children might be learning a new sport, seeing amazing cultural sights, or exploring a new and challenging landscape.

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They could be learning more about the history of the places you are visiting, or trying out a few words in a different language.

Whether you’re travelling within the UK, or going somewhere much further afield on your holidays, there are all sorts of fresh and exciting learning opportunities on offer beyond the classroom walls.

Here are a few top travel tips to bear in mind...

WHAT TO DO • Encourage your children to take control of their own holiday experience. Let them choose their own suitcase, and get them involved in packing and unpacking it for your journey. Even quite small children will love getting involved with this.

• Show your children where you are going in an atlas, and preferably on a globe as well. A holiday is a great opportunity to help them to put countries into context in terms of the wider geography of the world.

• Get your children a wallet and give them a small amount of holiday spending money, so that they can make their own purchases while you are away. This will help them learn their first small lessons about budgeting and sensible spending.

• Take some books with you related to the places that you are going, to read together while you are away. You might read about the history, the geography, the culture or the science behind your experiences. The Dorling Kindersley range of non-fiction titles are great for children of all ages.

• Keep souvenirs as you travel around, to remind you of the places you went and what you learned when you get home. Children love to keep mementos like tickets, leaflets and coins, and to collect random objects like shells, birds’ feathers and pebbles. You might stick these into a holiday diary, or keep them in a special box, when you get home.

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Show them where you are going on an atlas or globe to help them to put countries into context

• Encourage your children to try a little bit of a new language, by asking them to buy their own ice creams or snacks, and teaching them to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ as well. We found that there is little more motivating than the desire for an ice cream, to encourage your children to speak a few words in a new tongue.

• Remember that many museums are free or reduced price for children, and some countries also have special ‘free days’ when you can visit cultural attractions. For instance, there is free entry to Italian state museums on the first Sunday of every month.

WHAT NOT TO DO • Don’t expect your travels to be entirely stress-free. Part of the joy of travelling is in how it helps your children learn to cope when things don’t go entirely to plan.

• Don’t do all the decision making by yourself. Involve your children in planning your holiday adventures – where do they want to go and what are they interested in learning about while they are there? This helps to avoid complaints of “do we really have to?” when you are out and about on your holidays.

❝

...Travel is great for helping children build their independence and resilience...

❞ • Although your parenting style will inevitably be more relaxed while you’re on holiday, it is best to avoid completely abandoning all your usual routines. This helps give your children a sense of security and it also reminds them that it is your holiday as well as theirs! For instance, you could ask that they still help lay and clear the table, or dry up the dishes.

• Don’t force the issue when it comes to your children trying new types of food. Children experience the sensory aspects of their world in a heightened way, and they may not have as much of a desire to try new tastes as you do. Having said this, our son was the keenest out of all of us to eat snake on our visit to China! ■ • Sue Cowley is a parent, author and teacher. Her book, Road School, is published by Crownhouse. Find out more at roadschool.co.uk THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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EDUCATION NEWS UPDATES FROM THE CITY’S SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

MEET THE CHANGEMAKERS

The award was given to director of peace and global studies Miriam-Gosling and headmaster Iain Kilpatrick

MONTY & THE MILESTONE

Renowned education specialist James Wetz has been appointed as an ambassador for Bristol Steiner School.

James, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the education sector, is best known from his Channel 4 Dispatches programme, The Children Left Behind, and his book, Urban Village Schools. He has recently been working with Bristol Steiner School as a special consultant, advising on the school’s strengths, structure and strategies. “Steiner values are strong,” he said. “This is a childcentred school, where young people are respectful of each other, where difference is celebrated, where there is a strong sense of community, where the class teacher model supports the strengths of each child and provides a continuity of care, where there is a collaborative approach to learning, where academic progress is balanced with children’s wellbeing.”

QEH students welcomed acclaimed marine biologist, broadcaster and explorer, Monty Halls, to officially open the school’s new £3.5million science and ceramics building recently. Three state-of-the-art laboratories and a seminar room have been delivered, plus an inspiring ceramics centre complete with a teaching balcony overlooking the city, and an outside seating area ideal for outdoor lessons, recitals and drama performances. “This is a fantastic new facility, which I am sure will inspire students for years to come,” said Monty, who was pleased to see the copper-clad building, which has solar panels and a ‘natural roof’, had been sympathetic to the neighbourhood and green space of Brandon Hill. "I am delighted that this year we have been able to celebrate the opening of our inspirational new science and art building,” said headmaster Stephen Holliday. “This will enable us to continue meeting the needs of an ever changing curriculum and provide our pupils with the outstanding facilities for which we are so well known.”

• bristolsteinerschool.org

• qehbristol.co.uk

WELCOME, MR WETZ

Sidcot School, one of the country’s most progressive independent schools, has been awarded the coveted status of Changemaker School by the world-renowned Ashoka organisation.

The award puts Sidcot among only 15 schools in the UK, and 280 globally, to have achieved the status, which acknowledges those that have social entrepreneurship and a global perspective at the heart of their educational philosophy.

The award was presented to headmaster Iain Kilpatrick and director of peace and global studies Miriam Gosling at a special Ashoka event at the Royal Society of Arts.

Mr Kilpatrick was delighted that the school’s work embedding global citizenship into its educational philosophy had been acknowledged in this way and set out the future for Sidcot: “Traditionally Quakers have always been social entrepreneurs leading change and fighting for new and exciting causes,” he said. “We are determined to bring this ethos into the 21st century by providing our students with an alternative viewpoint of the world.

“Changemaker is not a new phrase or idea at Sidcot but a common topic within our school community – all our students are taught to believe they too can be changemakers.”

Ashoka has recently been voted the sixth most influential nongovernment organisation in the world, bringing even greater credence to the prestigious accolade.

The Ashoka Changemaker School network identifies, connects and supports innovative schools around the world – empowering their pupils by equipping them with core skills such as empathy, teamwork, leadership and creativity enabling them to work successfully in rapidly changing environments.

• sidcot.org.uk

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By Dr Caroline Pascoe, Headmistress of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls

SWEET CHARITY T

• Co-educational day school for pupils aged 5-13 with

dyslexia and other specific learning/language difficulties.

• Located in Wiltshire between Bath and Chippenham.

CReSTeD approved.

• Fully qualified specialist teachers with maximum class size of eight - reducing to one-to-one as required.

Call 01225 743 566 or visit www.CalderHouseSchool.co.uk

he happiest people are the ones who make others happy. Throughout Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls’ 125-year history, staff have instilled this vital life lesson into our pupils’ hearts and minds.

Achieving top academic results and shining in sport and the arts are always high up on an HMSG girl’s list of priorities.

But, equally important to her, will be finding ways to support less fortunate people, both close to home and further afield. From cake sales to full-scale variety shows, the school is always planning for its next opportunity to make a difference.

We have put on musical extravaganzas in aid of Children in Need since 1984, raising more than £50,000 for the cause in that time. Our latest Pudsey-inspired gala saw children from Year 7 to Sixth Form take to the stage to deliver a colourful array of dances, vocal performances and instrumental pieces. Thanks to ticket sales, a raffle and an auction, generous parents helped us to raise £4,000 for the charity.

Locally, a group of Sixth Formers have joined forces with boys at Monmouth School to volunteer at a Newport-based organisation which provides food and furniture for people in need throughout the region.

As well as fundraising for Raven House Trust, the pupils regularly work at the branch, helping to make and distribute food parcels.

Hands-on, worthwhile work like this puts things into perspective for our girls and makes them appreciate how fortunate they are.

Our adventurous expedition to India in the summer holidays gave 22 HMSG girls and 18 Monmouth School boys the incredible opportunity to change lives on another continent.

They spent a week acclimatising in Burua, working at the Upper Valley School, which I established in 1997.

A sparkling new paint job was the result of their hard work and preceded a mammoth high-altitude trek in the Himalayan foothills.

Acts of kindness like this, combined with year-round fundraising, create humble, well-rounded girls, motivated to make a positive impact on the world when they leave us.

*The Schools have an established bus route covering the Thornbury area.

For more information, visit habs-monmouth.org, call 01600 710433 for Monmouth School or 01600 711104 for HMSG. THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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SHOPPING | SKIWEAR

SLOPE

STYLE YVES SALOMON EARMUFFS, £60 These ruby red beauts will keep you snug and stylish.

Harvey Nichols; harveynichols.com

OAKLEY GOGGLES, £140 We love the fab white and pink iridium with anti-fog coating.

John Lewis; johnlewis.com

If you’re mountainbound this month – seeing in 2017 by swooshing over snow-capped peaks and carving out your own alpine adventure – you’ll no doubt want to look incredibly cool and chic while doing so. Especially if there’s a bit of après hobnobbing on the cards. Vin chaud and tartiflette, anyone?

MONCLER JACKET, £1,750 With jura cream shearling, and a zipped ski pass pocket!

Harvey Nichols; harveynichols.com

SAMSONITE CASE, £299 You’ve got to get there in style too... Harvey Nichols; harveynichols.com

NORDICA SPEEDMACHINE 130 BOOTS, £380 Phwoar... Ellis Brigham; ellis-brigham.com

JONES MOUNTAIN TWIN SNOWBOARD, £400 With advanced directional twin shape, and a playful freestyle ride.

Ellis Brigham; ellis-brigham.com

OSPREY KAMBER 32 PACK, £119 Excel in the backcountry with a bag obsessively designed to meet the needs of off-piste enthusiasts. Ellis Brigham; ellis-brigham.com

YVES SALOMON HAT, £120 Don’t forget to keep your noggin toasty...

Harvey Nichols; harveynichols.com

NORTH FACE LADIES’ SALOPETTES, £150 Hopefully you’ll match the clear blue skies... John Lewis; johnlewis.com DOLCE & GABBANA SHADES, £149 We need this hexagonal frame in our lives, stat. Sunglasses Shop; sunglasses-shop.co.uk

GO PRO, £249 Capture every moment! John Lewis; johnlewis.com

SPYDER TIMELESS JACKET, £239.99 Light, luxuriously warm and perfect for après evenings. Ellis Brigham; ellis-brigham.com

GIRO LEDGE MIPS HELMET, £90 Lightweight with adjustable vents – a must for safety and comfort. Ellis Brigham; ellis-brigham.com

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THIRTYTWO PRION SNOWBOARD BOOTS, £150 Slick new-season snowboard boots for riders on a tighter budget. Ellis Brigham; ellis-brigham.com

HEAD I.TITAN SKIS, £525 Great grip, balance and power – and even more responsive. Ellis Brigham; ellis-brigham.com

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FITNESS

NO PAYNE, NO GAIN It’s all about Théa Payne’s new class for us this month...

I

f you regularly put yourself through your paces at various fitness classes, and fail to see any decent long-term changes, you’ll know how frustrating that is – especially if your instructor seems more concerned with how many reps you’ve done than whether you’re working the right muscles or potentially doing your back in.

A trained international gymnast, personal trainer Théa Payne’s priority is making sure students learn the correct way to carry out her exercises, and build both strength and confidence. We joined her, early on a crisp winter morning, to sample her new new whole body workout for 2017; Boost and Burn. As the title sugegsts, it boosts fitness and quickly burns calories, using a range of easily followed bodyweight movements and just one piece of versatile equipment; a kettle bell. But it’s not a kettlebell class as such – making use of a lighter weight (4kg or 6kg) to give that extra bit of resistance to exercises such as the squat. (Théa has a qualification in ‘Master Kettlebells’ so we reckon she knows a thing or two about them).

We repeat varied exercises in sets of 30 or 60 seconds; raising our heart rates, working muscles hard and switching between lower/upper body, core exercises and compound movements. (The combination of cardio and resistance is key to sculpting and toning.) It’s accessible for all fitness levels, with each exercise having an alternative regression and progression option if you want to push further or scale back, and no set amount of reps to do in each 30 second or 60 second set – so you get out what you put in. After 10 minutes and 10 exercises, there’s ‘active rest time’ – a moment to grab a drink while keeping heart rates up by jogging around the room, for example – before the next set. We love the variety, and being corrected when necessary means all the right muscle groups are engaged – at last!

Théa’s top New Year fitness tips

Schedule: If you’ve made a plan, you are more likely to avoid distractions. Schedule your class/activity and stick to it each week – make it a priority. Even just 10 minutes per session is a start.

Start small: Whatever your current fitness level, getting back on track might seem a big step so set yourself small, realistic goals with a time limit. Write down what you will achieve and pin it somewhere you will see it every day. Ease into exercise and build up gradually.

Prepare yourself mentally: You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve when you tell yourself you CAN do it. Use other people as encouragement by letting them know what you will achieve, and have confidence in your potential. There’s always room for improvement, be it starting from the couch or stepping up from a half to a full marathon. Are you doing it right? Technique is paramount for targeting the correct muscle groups and preventing injury. If you are unsure, ask a professional for advice.

Images courtesy of Plaster Communications

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Core strength: This is so important, and doesn’t just mean sit-ups and a six pack, but everything that supports your spinal column. Having a strong core will improve posture and make you feel light on your feet.

Get the right mix: The national minimum guidelines say we should be doing at least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise that gets us a bit hot and out of breath, which works out at 30 minutes a day for five days. This can be done in bouts of 10 minutes or more at any one time – you don’t need to do it all at once. Fast walking is a good example. You could also do 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (getting really hot and out of breath) a week, made up from at least 20 minutes of continuous exercise. Or you could do a mixture of the two!

In addition, two or three muscular fitness sessions a week are recommended. You don’t have to go to the gym for this, it could simply be doing the gardening!

Ask yourself: Are you doing the minimum? Regardless of your fitness goals you should always look to combine resistance and cardio in your training. When done properly, they really complement each other.

Shift the festive weight – every year: It’s pretty impossible to avoid putting on some weight over Christmas, but be sure to get on track in January. You could record your weight on 1 January every year and create a separate record of January weighings only. Work out what your ideal weight is and maintain it every year. If your goal is weight loss, aim to lose weight every year until your target has been reached – even if it’s just a pound or two.

Once you’ve hit the ideal weight, make it your aim not to go above this – even after the Christmas indulgence! It’s all too easy to gain 1lb every year and reach 60 wondering how you got so big. Going down on the scales gradually or maintaining your healthy weight will prevent the subtle weight gain which adds up over time.

Portion control: Use a smaller plate or cereal bowl to prevent piling up.

The palm of your hand is a good measure for one portion of a food group.

Exercise with a friend: Pairing up will increase your chances of success and you’ll have more fun. Working out or running or walking with someone you know not only creates a support system but makes exercise a more sociable, positive experience. Don’t let the sofa win!

The more you do the more you’ll want to do – trust me. I’ve been there at the end of a long day at work and all you want to do is sit down.

Exercising will increase your energy levels and relieve that sense of tiredness and stress. Look forward to it rather than dreading it and remind yourself how good it makes you feel and the social side. ■ • Boost and Burn begins on 18 January; tpaynefitness.com

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Put the spring back in your stride by tackling signs of joint pain Specialising in hip and knee joint replacement surgery for the treatment of osteoarthritis, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Richard Baker is based at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield. Here, he discusses osteoarthritis, its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

O

steoarthritis is the most common condition to affect a human joint. Affecting any joint, from the smallest to the largest, it essentially means the joint has worn out. Although a number of predisposing conditions or traumatic injuries may precipitate this degenerative condition, in the majority of cases, a cause is not identified.

It occurs more often as we age, accelerating in frequency in patients over the age of 40. It is estimated that more than four million people in the UK have osteoarthritis of the knee and a further 2.5 million have affected hips.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the articular cartilage, which lines the joint, is gradually damaged. The function of cartilage is to decrease friction as a joint moves, but, with damage, it loses its smooth gliding surface and the joint surface becomes rough. Eventually, all the cartilage is lost, so that bone rubs on bone.

Sadly, these changes are irreversible. Typical symptoms of an osteoarthritic joint are pain (made worse with exercise), swelling, stiffness and night pain. When the knees or hips are affected, a patient will notice slowing of their walking speed and a decrease in the distance they can cover before pain limits movement.

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

When osteoarthritis is established and causes significant discomfort, joint replacement surgery is often needed.

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

In a complete knee replacement, the ends of the thigh and shin bones are removed and replaced with metal components. A polyethylene bearing is positioned between the two components and, finally, the kneecap is resurfaced with a polyethylene “button”.

Partial knee replacements address disease that is localised to one side of the joint only.

If you suffer from hip or knee pain and would like some professional advice, Mr Baker is holding a free information evening at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield, on Wednesday, February 8th, at 6.15pm. He will also be joined by a physiotherapist who can talk you through Recovery Plus – Nuffield Health’s flagship recovery programme available free of charge to our private patients. Light refreshments will be provided and parking is available on site. Spaces are limited, so to reserve a place, call 0117 9115 339 or visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol/events for more information.

Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital The Chesterfield, 3 Clifton Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BN

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER? Life as a Nutritional Therapist – Fiona Campbell explains what it’s like to be a practicing Nutritionist, having graduated from CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine).

I

worked for years in the IT industry, whilst also qualifying in other natural therapies.

The more I learnt about natural health, the more I wanted to become a Nutritionist, as it was clear that our dietary choices have a huge impact on health.

I chose to study Nutritional Therapy at CNM because I was keen on the naturopathic, holistic focus of the course. I was also able to study part time and so could keep earning in the meantime. My inspirational lecturers and hundreds of hours of clinical practice meant that I graduated in 2008 and went on to become a successful Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, or ‘Nutritionist’.

It’s a job I love, and a fantastic feeling to know that I personally have been able to change people’s lives for the better. The concept of food as medicine was familiar to our ancestors, yet today many people are surprised to discover that changes made to their everyday diet can result in significant improvements to their health and wellbeing.

It’s immensely rewarding to get feedback from clients who come to me with conditions including hormonal imbalances, weight issues, digestive problems, stress, joint problems and inflammatory conditions and who afterwards report that they’ve never felt as healthy, or as energetic.

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My role as a Nutritionist is to empower my clients to make dietary and lifestyle changes which help them achieve the very best health they can. Every client has a unique constitution and a different set of circumstances, so the content of my day is never routine.

Clients complete a medical symptoms questionnaire and a food diary prior to our consultation. They needn’t be shy. If everyone was perfect no-one would need help!

The initial consultation lasts about an hour and is a chance to gain a detailed picture of the person’s medical history, circumstances, diet and lifestyle, and their health goals. I have to know about the functioning of their digestive, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, about any supplements or medications they are taking, and to take account of test results on blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and food sensitivity, etc.

I produce a full personalised naturopathic plan for my client, including specific nutritional and lifestyle changes to address both his or her current problems and prospects for longer term health. The plan needs to be simple and at a pace which is realistic for them to follow. Half hour follow up consultations are offered as required.

Not everyone waits until they are ill before they come to see me, fortunately. Sports people consult me about optimum nutrition to meet their energy needs. Others want a twice yearly detox programme. Some want advice about what constitutes a healthy diet.

I love food and I’m always keen to share a good recipe!

In addition to my clinical work, I also work with natural food companies to produce videos and publicity material explaining the health benefits of their products.

My media work also keeps me busy. I’m a regular guest speaker on nutritional matters for Sky News and Made in Bristol TV. I've

also featured frequently on the radio, and in national and international newspapers and magazines. Excitingly, I’m also a guest speaker for Bristol University's undergraduate medical programme, presenting case studies showing how nutrition has helped my clients.

There is definitely a role for properly trained nutritional therapists in today’s healthchallenged society. I can’t think of a career I’d rather have.

Nutritionist Fiona Campbell

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

Thursday 19th January at 7pm Please book online at

www.naturopathy-uk.com 01342 410 505

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WALK | THE WALK

A JANUARY JAUNT Our resident wanderer Andrew Swift starts 2017 with a reinvigorating ramble around Badminton Park

J

anuary is, of course, a time for resolutions, and if one of yours is taking more exercise, you may be tempted, should the weather be fine, to take a brisk walk in the country. Unfortunately, January can also be a time for muddy going underfoot, turning hopes of a reinvigorating ramble into a slow, moist and slippery slog.

To avoid any such eventualities, this month’s walk sticks to hard surfaces more or less throughout, heading to South Gloucestershire for an exploration of Badminton Park. At the heart of the estate is Badminton House, dating from the 17th century and surrounded by a deer park which has changed little for centuries. Since 1949, however, it has hosted the internationally renowned horse trials, which annually attract around 200,000 visitors. The footpath we’re following cuts through the area where, in four months’ time, much of the action will take place. At this time of year, however, apart from the odd dog walker or horse rider, you should have it more or less to yourself.

Although ideal for show jumping, the landscape of the park is less than inspiring, being almost unrelievedly flat.

This prompted the first Dukes of Beaufort to plant beech coppices, create tree-lined avenues and commission architects to design eye-catching buildings to enliven the view. Some of these folly-like buildings will be encountered en route, along with the wholly delightful village of Little Badminton, slumbering today amid the fields, but, as the faint outlines of former buildings seem to suggest, once a place of some substance.

Unfortunately, most of the estate is out of bounds, including Badminton House, although it can at least be glimpsed from afar, due to the leaves – which screen it during other seasons – having fallen from the trees. The insight this walk gives into the workings of this grand ducal enclave is, nevertheless, a fascinating one, evoking a social order long vanished elsewhere but with none of the customary trappings of the heritage industry. The 76 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Badminton Estate is very much a working concern – as witness the copious Land Rovers barrelling about – and, for the most part, its buildings are not mere architectural showpieces, but continue to fulfil the functions for which they were designed. Perhaps best of all, though, you do not have to wade through mud to take a look at them.

Directions ● To get to Badminton, head east along the M4, leave at Junction 18 and head north along the A46. After two miles, turn right at traffic lights, following a sign for Malmesbury. After 1.5 miles, turn left, following a sign for Badminton, then after another 1.5 miles, when you reach a T junction, go left along Station Road and park a little way along on the left (ST804824). ● Leaving the car, cross over, head back a little way and turn left along a road signposted to Luckington and Sherston. After 200m, go left again along Hayes Lane.

Through the trees on the right, you can catch glimpses of Badminton House. At the end, you emerge on Great Badminton High Street, with the gates to the house on the right. The building to the left of the gates is the old Portcullis Hotel, named after the portcullis featured on the crest of the Dukes of Beaufort. It closed in 1904 and now houses an estate office and the village club. ● Carry straight on, following the drive to the left of the former Portcullis – the signs forbidding access apply only to vehicles, and if you look carefully you will see a footpath sign pointing discreetly onwards. Follow the drive as it winds between stables and the kennels of the Duke of Beaufort’s hunt before leading through gates into the deer park, with the octagonal elegance of Kennel Lodge on your left. ● Head straight on, and, when the drive forks, take the left one. It is difficult to imagine that this empty and largely

This page: The wholly delightful, sun-drenched village of Little Badminton Opposite page: Upper Slait Lodge, with its circular turrets

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WALK | THE WALK

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featureless landscape will, in a few months’ time, be transformed into the main arena of the horse trials. For now, though, the main point of interest is the cluster of ancient buildings ahead – the village of Little Badminton.

Carry on towards it, and, when you come to a gate leading out of the deer park, go through it and head straight on along a lane, passing a medieval dovecote on the right (ST801841). Carry on past estate cottages, including one roofed in thatch, and turn right along Church Lane. A little way along is St Michael & All Angels – a tiny church in a large churchyard – which dates from the 13th century. Little Badminton Farm, just beyond it, has a couple of impressive 18th-century barns and a granary. Follow the lane as it curves right and circles round to give a distant view of the church across a field whose humps and bumps suggest there was once a medieval settlement here.

When you come back to the gate leading into the deer park, you can either head through it and retrace your steps or carry straight on along the road, keeping to the right-hand verge for the first 300m, after which you can cross to a broad grassy verge on the left.

Just before you reach the broad verge, you come to Lower Slait Lodge, built around 1750 to a curious design with four octagonal corner turrets. A little further on, lights on either side of the road mark the location of a landing strip on the right, while jumps for the horse trials can be seen on the left. Then comes Upper Slait Lodge, this time with circular turrets, beyond which, if you look across the fields to the right, you will see Castle Barn, a far more imposing folly, but with no public access.

After the road enters woodland, the wide verge disappears, so cross back to the right-hand side, and, after going under a bridge carrying a private drive to Badminton House, Great Badminton village comes into view ahead. When you get there, follow the road as it curves right along The Limes to return to your car. ■

At a glance...

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Length: 4 miles

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Approximate time: 2 hours

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Level of difficulty: Virtually level and on hard surfaces throughout (apart from occasional grassy verges). Dogs need to be on leads throughout.

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Map: xOS Explorer 168

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PLANET NEPTUNE The city’s interiors quarter gets a boost this month as Wiltshire-born brand Neptune opens on – you guessed it – Whiteladies Road

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INTERIORS

T

he huge success that is locally-born interiors brand Neptune, opens its 17th store this month, in Bristol’s burgeoning interiors quarter. Founded in 1996 by friends John Sims-Hilditch and Giles Redman, in a farm workshop in Wiltshire – where absolutely everything was designed, built and tested with a small team of very dedicated (and dusty) individuals – it gradually built its reputation on design-led asthetic and expert craftsmanship, becoming particularly well known for its kitchens.

Having grown their business to a team comprising over 100 passionate designers, carpenters and painters, John and Giles need somewhat larger buildings now, as you might expect, and lots more of them. The new Bristol store, which is housed in an elegant, historic building dating back to the 1800s, suits its surroundings but has required a couple of updates – including a new double-height gallery space on its ground floor. Visitors can also expect a welcoming living room environment with a large Georgian fireplace perfect for helping them envision their own cosy winter interiors. “It’s very much an eclectic space inside,” says store design manager Fred Horlock.

“We’ve mixed classic and contemporary influences to showcase our collections in different settings and styles, but most importantly, in a way that feels like a home.”

Of course, there’ll be a big focus on its kitchen collections, too.

“Chichester will be styled in quite a traditional way, while our Suffolk kitchen will be hand-painted in a calming palette,” Fred continues.

“Henley, on the other hand, is going to be in an open-plan room where kitchen and dining come together, and we’ll also have an intimate Limehouse kitchen with a little breakfast bar.”

In addition, we’ll see a bedroom area complete with timberpanelled washroom, as well as a design office, large accessories area the Neptune flower shop and Neptune Tailored, where visitors can get up close to its house-blended paints and extensive selection of textiles in its fabric library.

"Bristol is another fantastic city location for us and our store is in a really lovely location, surrounded by lots of other interiors boutiques and artisan delis,” adds Fred. “It's easy to access from the city centre and is just the right size – large enough for people new to Neptune to get to know us properly, but not so vast that it dominates the area.

Inside we've tried to balance classic and contemporary styling so guests to the store can see quite easily how our designs translate to any style of interior. And just as we do with all of our stores, we've designed it to feel like a home so that everyone who visits feels the warmest of welcomes."

And, if you’re looking to give the house, or just a room or two, a lick of paint to freshen things up for the season ahead, you might want to drop in and take a look at their 28 colours too – all of which work with Neptune’s limestone, terracotta and oak flooring, shiplap wall panels and slip-glazed tiles, so you can add colour, contrast and texture in whatever combination you like, confident in the knowledge the pairing will be a successful one.

And once you’ve finished? Don’t forget to tag us in any snaps on social media (@thebristolmag or #thebristolmag will do nicely) – we want to see how your dream room turns out! ■ • Neptune opens over the weekend of 19-22 January. For more information, hop online and visit neptune.com Neptune became particularly well known for its kitchens, so these will be on display too

Expect a welcoming living room environment

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Sale now on!

Daniella pendant and wall set.

Lighting the way is should be

Tel: 0117 963 5943 Email: info@thelightingstudiobristol.co.uk www.thelightingstudiobristol.co.uk Visit us in store at: Unit 2, Bedminster Retail Park, Sheene Way, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4TA

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REWORK IT Samantha Coleman talks upcycling with designer, maker and TV expert Nessa Doran O’Reilly of Furniture Magpies

We’re into Nessa’s ‘Lovely Legs’ table lamps – made from discarded Windsor chair legs

T

he saying, ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’, does not ring more true than with Bristol-based furniture restorer Nessa Doran O’Reilly, who spends her working life finding discarded, broken and pre-loved pieces of furniture and completely transforming them into cool, inspiring designs that wouldn’t look out of place in a rock star’s apartment.

Whether it’s reupholstering a worn chair, turning broken table legs into lamps or giving salvaged drawers a new lease of life as a coffee table, there’s nothing this superwoman can’t rescue.

"I don’t believe in good furniture going to landfill when it can be redesigned into a piece that people can love all over again,” says Nessa.

“I‘m passionate about restoring quality furniture – I really appreciate the beauty in the original design and workmanship. And I always think: how could something this lovely be chucked away?”

surfaces are warped or water damaged, or chairs and tables have timber splits.”

But how does she envisage the potential of a broken piece of furniture? “Well the piece itself inspires the design,” explains Nessa.

“Our work strives to retain the character and story of the furniture we use, allowing the user an insight into the item’s original identity. Each design is a recipe and depending on the ingredients, it comes out a little different every time.”

That’s the beauty and fascination of Nessa’s work – it can be a wonderful curiosity in any room. “One of the most popular pieces are the Lovely Legs table lamps, which are made from discarded Windsor chair legs,” she tells us. “Because they are handmade from rescued furniture components, each is totally unique.”

Scrapheap challenge

❝

...I don’t believe in good furniture going to landfill when it can be redesigned into a piece that people can love all over again...

❞ Having moved to Bristol last year, Nessa now runs an upcycling and restoration business, Furniture Magpies, with her partner Sam, and their workshop is ideally situated in the Old Market area of the city, which is starting to carve a name for itself as an artisan quarter of designer makers.

“Bristol is a great place for creatives to work and also for finding old pieces of furniture and antiques,” says Nessa. “In fact, about 90% of the furniture we work on is donated for free, usually because the 82 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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And this is no amateur DIY job; Nessa’s impressive upcycling skills have been honed through years of studying, first in her homeland of Ireland where she trained in furniture design, and then later on in High Wycombe where she completed an MA in design and technology.

However, unlike her fellow students, Nessa just couldn’t justify making a career out of designing her own pieces of furniture when she saw that there were so many quality old pieces heading for the scrapheap.

“All around High Wycombe were charity shops chock-a-block with amazing furniture being thrown away,” she remembers. “There were mid-century modern designs made from incredible teak but with a bit of wear and tear, so I started collecting this old furniture and doing it up. As I worked on it, I realised I wanted to know more about restoration and the sorts of finishes that I was dealing with.”

This prompted a return to education for Nessa, to study Conservation and Restoration of Furniture and Decorative Arts, which opened up a whole new aspect of upcycling that changed the way she approached her work from then on.

Now, Nessa is just one of the pioneers of the so-called upcycling

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CRAFT recently finished some filming for Phil Spencer’s Perfect Home on All4, Nessa says she would love to get involved in more filming projects and plans to launch her own You Tube channel of online restoration tutorials, as well as write a ‘recipe’ book of projects that people can follow at home. “It would be great to run restoration courses in Bristol, too,” she says. “I definitely think Bristol would be up for it.” Best get a good drill then…

Nessa and Sam

• All the Furniture Magpie pieces are sold via the online shop on the website – furnituremagpies.com – and Nessa and Sam also take private commissions. Follow Nessa on Twitter @furnituremagpie to keep up to date with her latest projects.

Nessa’s Top Five Upcycling Tips • Have fun and don't be too precious. Upcycling is all about experimentation and trial and error. Some of my best pieces have come about from mistakes.

• Throw nothing out! Well, not without having a really good think about it and what it could potentially be.

revolution, which has been taking the world of interior design and social media by storm. Search for #upcyclerevolution on Twitter and you’ll see what I mean. Hundreds of professional and have-a-go DIYers are jumping on the bandwagon and sharing the message that in this increasingly throw-away society, there’s much more that we can be doing to reduce waste – by turning redundant items around our homes into new, exciting pieces. You’ll find pictures of projects where people have given new life to a worn piece of furniture with a lick of chalk paint and some colourful knobs or decoupage; pallets that have been transformed into cool wine racks or potting shelves for the garden; and unusual bric-a-brac items that have been turned into funky lampshades and decorative art. Even online marketplace giant Gumtree has got on board with the upcycling revolution, enlisting upcycling star Max McMurdo to travel around the country on a workshop bus, offering advice, inspiration and ideas.

• Car boot sales and charity shops are amazing treasure troves.

Ask sellers if they have any broken furniture that they are looking to get rid of. I have had some wonderful drawers and mirrors from broken dressing tables.

• Tool kit. Having the right tools for the job makes it much, much easier. It doesn’t have to be huge or expensive but you’ll need a basic drill, hand saw (Japanese saws are great as they are small cut on the pull which makes them easier to control and give a very fine cut), staple gun, a set of screw drivers and a good selection of sandpaper.

• Don't be scared of colour; upcycling is a great opportunity to play with bold colours and fabrics. Just make sure if you are painting, to prepare your surfaces – there’s nothing worse than seeing all your hard work flaking off. ■

❝

...Each design is a recipe and depending on the ingredients, it comes out a little different every time...

❞ But what does upcycling mean, exactly, I hear you ask? Well, Nessa simply says: “It’s about taking a piece of furniture in its current preloved state, and making it desirable again.” It’s certainly the buzzword of the moment – and no longer just about thrifty recycling, but creating a piece of unique artwork and design. You may have noticed that there are a lot more home improvement shows on TV at the moment, all about realising the potential of redundant pieces of furniture and homewares knocking around the house. In fact, if you recognise Nessa, it’s probably because you’ve seen her on the recent Channel 4 show, Fill Your House for Free, presented by Gok Wan. Nessa featured as an upcycling expert, alongside fellow gurus Max McMurdo and Jay Blades, helping people to embrace upcycling in the interior design of their homes.

“It was so much fun working on this show,” says Nessa. “Gok is brilliant and has so much positive energy. Everyone I worked with inspired me. Hopefully there will be another series, so watch this space…”

Never one to stop, Nessa has big plans for 2017. Having also

How about the Hang On To Your Drawers dressing table, then?

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GARDENING

NEW YEAR, NEW GARDEN...

This issue we say hello not only to 2017 but to our new green-fingered columnist, Elly West

J

anuary is a tough month in the garden. It’s hard to maintain the passion when it’s cold, the days are short, and we’re looking out at bare stems, empty borders, fallen leaves and the odd static evergreen. But however bleak the month is, we’ve passed New Year and it won’t be long until the garden wakes up with bulbs bursting through the soil and buds forming again. This is the dark before dawn, and as soon as the sap starts to rise, it’s all about looking forward to the new season. In corporate-speak, January should be seen as an opportunity, rather than a challenge. January is, after all, named after Janus, the Roman god of doorways and beginnings, who is usually depicted with two faces, one looking to the past, and one forwards to the future. I love this quote from American garden writer Josephine Nuese: “Anyone who thinks that gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year. For gardening begins in January, with the dream.”

So now’s the time to stay in the warm and start dreaming.

Look through seed catalogues, magazines and books for ideas and inspiration and plan ahead. Make some notes, draw diagrams, make lists, start a garden diary. Think of new plants you’d like to try. Curl up in front of a gardening programme on television or the radio and scribble down ideas.

While the soil is bare, the garden is stripped back to its bones and we can really see the structure that sometimes gets lost in the abundant flourish of summer. As a designer, my work is all about getting the outline of the garden right for the customer’s needs, and then the fun bit is filling in the gaps with plants. Colour palettes can be changed relatively easily. But the layout of the garden is crucial for a design that works. This year I’ll have the luxury of being able to start from scratch with my own garden, as I’m having an extension built on the house that’s altered the size and shape of the plot – while trashing the existing space! So, once the builders have gone, I’ll 84 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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be measuring it to produce a scale drawing, deciding what I want to include in terms of hard landscaping, lighting and so on, then playing about with shapes to see what works. Watch this space for future updates!

In winter, it’s the permanent objects in the garden that lead the eye and create focal points, while your herbaceous plants have a rest. Features such as statuary, obelisks, garden buildings and paving are more prominent, and evergreens come into their own. These are the green living structures, the topiary, shrubs, trees or hedges – perhaps yew, holly, privet, cypress or box. Now is a good time to plant structural plants and hedges. If you can buy bare-root, you’ll also make big savings on their potted counterparts. Clipped at the end of summer, your evergreens should still look good in mid-winter.

A garden needs a solid skeleton to see it through the winter.

You may even want to make bigger changes; move or create new paths or patios, or install a feature such as a pergola or arch. It’s easier to see where the hard landscaping should go when the garden is stripped bare. Make changes now, and you’ll be ready to plant in spring.

When you’re thinking about your winter garden, assess the view from your house. In reality, this is where you’ll mostly be enjoying your garden, from the warmth and comfort of indoors. Think about creating contrasts. If there are already lots of dark greens, then use other plants as a foil, perhaps the distinctive, almost luminous bark of silver birch, or goldenleaved grasses such as acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’. Think about scent too, for the days when you do step outdoors. Viburnum, osmanthus, Daphne odora, chimonanthus praecox and sarcococca confusa are all early flowering and wonderfully scented. The placing of these plants is key as you’ll want to enjoy them without trekking across a sodden lawn in icy temperatures. Position them near paths, by the back door or in the front garden.

Image above: There’s certainly beauty to be found in the dead and dying, too Opposite page: A garden needs a solid skeleton to see it through winter, as seen here at Tyntesfield

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And if you’re desperate for some colour, winter is a time when it can really have some impact. With not much else to distract your attention, a carefully placed pot of winter flowering pansies, cyclamen, or the brightly coloured stems of dogwoods will really stand out. I like to see January as a calm month to take note of where the gaps are and plan ahead. And there’s certainly beauty to be found in the dead and dying too. Think sparkling laced cobwebs, seed heads dusted with frost, and ornamental grasses, all in tones of brown, beige and icy white... n • In this regular feature, Elly will be offering seasonal ideas for what to grow and do in your garden, as well as recommending places to visit in and around Bristol, and sharing her own garden updates from home.

ELLY WEST As a garden and planting designer, Elly has experience working in rural and urban spaces and has always loved plants and gardens. She has worked on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, with some of the top names in the industry, and now runs her business, Elly’s Wellies Garden Designs, from her home just south of Bristol. She also teaches one-day garden writing courses at the Cotswold Gardening School. If you’d like help deciding what to do with your garden, get in contact with Elly via her website: ellyswellies.co.uk

Elly’s Wellies

Garden Designs

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

For a free initial consultation, contact Eleanor West

www.ellyswellies.co.uk ellyswellies@gmail.com 07788 640934 THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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PROPERTY | PICK

Through the keyhole...

This issue it’s over to Richmond Park Road with us as we explore a charming two-bedroom apartment, a stone’s throw from bustling local hotspots

S

tylish, light and airy: three of the qualities we’d covet if we were on the hunt for a ground-floor garden apartment. This one, which we’ve sought out for those of you who are seeking such accommodation, forms part of a very attractive Grade-II property at 9 Richmond Park Road – a lovely residential avenue within walking distance of both Clifton Village and Queens Road.

The first thing that struck us about number nine was the beautiful honey-hued symmetry of its stone exterior, classically punctuated with pretty sash windows – as well as the extra bit of privacy afforded by the greenery and hedging out front, and its charming bright red door and old brass knocker.

As we headed inside via a private entrance, which leads to a decent-sized lobby, we found doors opening out to each of the apartment’s individual rooms – which include an elegant sitting room with a large picture window with shutters and uninterrupted views, plus sleek dark wood flooring and a decorative fireplace. The decor, as it currently stands, is cool and contemporary, with plenty of natural light flooding in from outside.

There’s also a contemporary kitchen and sitting room located at the front of the property, overlooking the mature

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garden, and there are two charming bedrooms to boot, served by a pristine, modern bathroom located towards the back of the property – along with a good amount of storage space, we think.

We hear the current owner also has use of a small outside space suitable for a bistro table and chairs, and the period apartment also has one other sought-after benefit – an offstreet parking space. Now, don’t tell us you don’t know how valuable that is... n

PROPERTY PROFILE Guide price: £405,000 Agent: Property Concept, 21 Princess Victoria Street Clifton, Bristol BS8 4BX

Contact 0117 970 6119; propertyconcept.co.uk; enquiries@propertyconcept.co.uk

Main image: We love number nine’s elegant sitting room space Opposite page, clockwise from top: A pretty symmetrical exterior; the pristine, modern bathroom; oh, that gorgeous dark wood flooring; plenty of natural light to be found here; one of the two charming bedrooms

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PROPERTY | PICK

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OFFICES –

(0117) 934 9977

16 COTHAM HILL

CLIFTON VILLAGE

• Very busy retail location

• Shop to rent • Fitted as a hair salon

• Lock up shop

• New lease

• 1,000’s of students passing by

• Only £9,000 pax

• New lease QUEEN SQUARE – BS1

PRIME OFFICES

• Open plan office suite + 1 car space

• Portis Fields, Portishead

• 1,568 sq ft

• C 1,000 sq ft

• New refurbishment

• 4 car spaces • Rent - £13.95 psf

• New lease 17 THE TRIANGLE CLEVEDON

CLIFTON VILLAGE • D1 Medical use

• Retail opportunity

• Fully fitted out to a high standard

• Prominent Town Centre location • Low rateable value

• New lease - £14,500 pax

• New lease

• Also suit shop use

ST BARTHOLOMEWS – BS1

CHURCH CRT, SOUNDWELL

• A selection of 3 ground floor open plan office units to rent

• Contemporary studio offices – Superb space for creative / design based occupiers • 2,522 sq ft • New flexible lease • Rent O/A

• 500 sq ft to 1,000 sq ft • New leases • Rent only – £12.95 per sq ft 53 QUEENS ROAD

PORTLAND VIEW, DEAN STREET, BRISTOL, BS2

• Prime Clifton shop

• 2 New contemporary office units

• Excellent trading position close to university

Julian Cook FRICS

Jayne Rixon

Burston Cook January.indd 1

MRICS

• 368 sq ft & 560 sq ft

• 586 sq ft

• New flexible leases

• New lease

• Great space…

Charlie Kershaw MRICS

Finola Ingham MRICS

Tom Coyte BA Hons

• Sales / Lettings • Acquisitions • Valuations • Landlord & tenant • Auction Sales

• Rent reviews • Property Management • Investment Sales / Purchase • Development & Planning • Dilapidations Advice 20/12/2016 11:45

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BRISTOL PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

B

ridge House is an iconic Clifton landmark perched at the top of Sion Hill opposite the Suspension Bridge. The building was meticulously restored and refurbished approximately ten years ago and offers luxury, high quality specification and impressive period dimensions blended to produce what is arguably Clifton’s finest and most highly regarded apartment development. Number 301 is immaculately presented, with integrated wiring for sound throughout. The spectacular dual aspect bespoke kitchen/breakfast room by Smallbone of Devizes is a generous space for entertaining and is complete with a full range of appliances. The large drawing room features large sash windows with far reaching views to both Dundry and east across Clifton.

Much of the apartment is fitted with engineered oak flooring which enhances the flow from room to room. The wide and welcoming entrance hall leads to the beautiful master bedroom and its two large sash windows with bespoke plantation style French shutters. There is a luxurious en suite bathroom with the pure indulgence of an integrated Aquavision TV. The guest bedroom also has plenty of life’s luxuries with beautiful views, integral storage and high quality shower room. The apartment benefits from allocated off-street parking via secure gates at the rear of the property. The building has a concierge service. Bridge House has proved popular with owner occupiers as well as second home owners and investors in prime Bristol property. Agents for apartment 301 are Knight Frank.

Knight Frank, Regent House, 27A Regent Street, Clifton, Bristol. Tel: 0117 317 1999

THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

301 BRIDGE HOUSE CLIFTON • Two bedroom apartment • Iconic landmark building with spectacular views • Luxurious en suite bathroom and guest shower room • Spacious and elegant with period features

Guide price £1,100,000 |

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Clifton Windsor Court, Clifton, BS8 4LJ ÂŁ330,000

Harbourside Custom House, Bristol BS1 6NE ÂŁ440,000

A well-presented two bedroom purpose built maisonette with level access from street level, fantastic cityscape views, the rare commodity of a sheltered car parking space and within a mile of Clifton Village.

The property enjoys a southerly aspect allowing plenty of natural light. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

A well-proportioned modern apartment situated on the first floor of the superb well renowned Custom House development. With exceptional attention to detail throughout, the property offers two double bedrooms and two bathrooms. The spacious and attractive open plan reception room has dual aspect and enjoys excellent views.

The kitchen is very well equipped, opening on to the reception room thus also enjoying the views. The spacious master bedroom offers an en-suite shower room. Allocated underground parking. Energy Efficiency Rating: E

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Clifton Frederick Place, Bristol, BS8 1AS ÂŁSOLD

A unique property spanning the whole of the top two floors of this characterful Georgian property and enjoying a lovely roof terrace via French doors from the open-plan kitchen/diner. This property benefits from a generous master bedroom, a second double bedroom and a stunning contemporary bathroom with roll-top bath and separate shower. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Westbury on Trym Gainsborough Mews is a Grade 2 Listed historic building which is infused with a modern contemporary interior.

With kitchen diner, lounge, cloakroom, two double bedrooms, en-suite to bedroom two & rear garden. The Gainsborough historic building is something very special as this home is truly a labour of love. Energy Efficiency Rating: C Mews, Bristol, BS10 6TB ÂŁ375,000

Westbury on Trym

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Hill View, Henleaze Superbly presented four/five bedroom semidetached family home with three receptions; the third leading to a modern kitchen/ breakfast room, downstairs cloakroom/WC, modern bathroom, ample parking via modern landscaped front garden and driveway, single garage, double glazing and gas heating.

Positioned within close proximity to Henleaze Infant and Junior Schools. EPC F.

Wanscow Walk, Henleaze

Upper Cranbrook Road, Redland A substantial three storey family home positioned on the Redland and Westbury Park borders with five bedrooms, family bathroom and additional shower room, living room to front and full width kitchen/diner to rear with access to a 22m family garden. Positioned within close proximity to Redland Green Secondary School. EPC F.

Price Guide £700,000

£735,000

Filled with character throughout and significantly extended is this 1920’s family home positioned adjacent to Henleaze Infant and Junior School. Three receptions to ground floor with kitchen to rear including access to a 20m, southerly facing garden. The two upper floors offer four bedrooms, bathroom and an en-suite WC. Marketed with no onward chain.

EPC E.

£650,000

Birbeck Road, Stoke Bishop

Druid Hill, Stoke Bishop

Northover Road, Westbury-on-Trym

A substantial, natural four bedroom family home positioned within a quiet back water of Stoke Bishop offering two receptions; rear with access to a private, 25m, south westerly facing garden, and kitchen/breakfast room to the ground floor. There are four bedrooms, bathroom, additional shower room and loft conversion to the two upper floors. EPC D.

Substantial 1920’s detached family home with extensive central hallway, living room which in turn leads to family garden, kitchen/diner, integral double garage, four double bedrooms and spacious family bathroom with five-piece suite. Further benefits include ample gardens to front, rear and side, extensive views to first floor with dual aspect to master bedroom.

EPC D.

Immaculately presented family home positioned within a substantial plot in close proximity to Bristol Free School. The property offers two receptions, quality contemporary kitchen, separate utility/workshop and downstairs cloakroom/WC. To the first floor are four double bedrooms and a modern contemporary bathroom with heated flooring.

EPC D.

£775,000

£635,000

£780,000

CJ Hole Jan 2017.indd 1

19/12/2016 15:35

Clifton t: 0117 923 8238 (sales) t: 0117 946 6588 (lettings) clifton@cjhole.co.uk

www.cjhole.com I’m looking forward to 2017. I know that’s a bit of a paradox given the uncertainty of 2016 -but we love what we do in our bit of Bristol and here we are doing it for another year!

Selling and letting property is a bumpy business, you don’t need me to tell you that. Where there are large financial transactions, there can be problems and very often stress. But we have the expertise, the local knowledge and due diligence to really deal with those bumps in the road and deliver a great service to our clients. We have negotiated thousands of transactions over the years

and our feedback, recommendation and satisfaction ratings tell us that we are getting it right.

If you are thinking of moving this year please get in touch. Whether you want a NO OBLIGATION valuation or general property advice just call or email the team and we’d be delighted to help…

Howard Davis M.N.A.E.A Managing Director - CJ Hole Clifton

REDLAND Guide Price £1,000,000 A superior period property within this prestigious Victorian terrace set over five storeys and offers a versatile interior. Externally there are gardens to the front and rear with a double garage beyond the rear garden. This is a fine period property in an excellent location, convenient for nearby Whiteladies Road, Clifton Triangle and the Downs. The upper floors benefit from panoramic views over the City below.

EPC TBC

NORTH SOMERSET Guide Price £895,000 A substantial family home offering an extensive interior displaying a great deal of original character throughout. The front door opens to reveal the grand entrance hall, two main receptions, study and kitchen/breakfast room. The former cellar is being used as a games room with access to a wine cellar. On the first floor there are four substantial bedrooms, two with en suite plus a family bathroom. The top floor is currently used as a bedroom and sitting room. There are generous gardens, a heated swimming pool and plenty of parking. EPC E

Download our dedicated iPhone App today

CJ Hole Clifton January 2017.indd 1

Other offices also located at: Bishopston, Clifton, Hanham, Henleaze & Southville

19/12/2016 15:34

CENTRAL £550,000 Southey House is situated just a few minutes’ walk from Harvey Nichols, Cabot Circus and St Nicholas’ market. The Penthouse offers an extensive roof terrace, covered cooking area, plus a further terrace off the kitchen. This stylish Penthouse has a quality kitchen with dining area, living room, three bedrooms with two en suites plus a family bathroom. Southey House is just a mile from Temple Meads station and close to the major motorway commuter routes.

EPC C

COTHAM Guide Price £675,000 A charming Victorian built family house offering a well-presented interior retaining much of its original character. The generous accommodation includes: Two reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, four bedrooms and family bathroom. Externally to the front there is a small garden area and the rear garden enjoys most of the day’s sunshine. An excellent location within easy reach of the City Centre, Clifton Triangle, Whiteladies Rd, Gloucester Rd and Cabot Circus.

EPC D

Download our dedicated iPhone App today

CJ Hole Clifton January 2017.indd 2

Other offices also located at: Bishopston, Clifton, Hanham, Henleaze & Southville

19/12/2016 15:34

Westbury Park ÂŁ685,000

Clifton Office 0117 946 6007

4 bed house

Detached family house, beautifully refurbished throughout. The living room has large bi-fold doors leading to a sizable garden, there is access to a detached 1 bedroom annexe, and to the front is ample off street parking. Both 1st floor bedrooms have vaulted ceilings, en-suites, and 1 even has its own private terrace.

Westbury-on-Trym ÂŁ450,000

oceanhome.co.uk

Ocean January.indd 1

Westbury-on-Trym Office 0117 962 1973

3 bed house

Originally extended in 2000 the property now offers exceptional square footage for a period property at over 900 sq foot. The extension works have resulted in a substantial open and light space. The garden measures almost 100 foot in length.

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Fine & Country Jan 17.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2016 11:06 Page 1

Bromley Heath | Bristol

Guide Price: ÂŁ725,000

A stunning early 19th century converted barn on the site of former Bromley Farm, this four bedroom home is a fine example of the perfect blend between period features and modern convenience. EPC Rating: D

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Frampton Cotterell | South Gloucestershire

Guide Price: ÂŁ750,000

A beautifully restored, Grade II listed home in approx. half an acre and surrounded by green belt land in the heart of South Gloucestershire.

EPC Rating: Exempt.

Richard Harding Jan 17 P1+2.qxp_Layout 6 21/12/2016 13:13 Page 1

Richard Harding Chartered Surveyors • Estate Agents • Auctioneers • Valuers

SOLD WESTBURY PARK

SOLD guide £725,000

REDLAND

guide £365,000

REDLAND

guide £745,000

REDLAND

SOLD LEIGH WOODS

SOLD CLIFTON

REDLAND

guide £695,000

CLIFTON

REDLAND

guide £775,000

CLIFTON

guide £775,000

REDLAND

guide £359,950

REDLAND

SOLD guide £1,300,000

guide £845,000

guide £880,000

SOLD

CLIFTON

REDLAND

guide £539,000

COTHAM

guide £745,000

HARBOURSIDE

CLIFTON

LONG ASHTON

guide £439,950

SOLD guide £260,000

SOLD guide £1,175,000

REDLAND

guide £250,000

REDLAND

SOLD guide £1,375,000

guide £945,000

SOLD

SOLD range £300,000-£349,950

SOLD guide £1,050,000

BRANDON HILL

guide £760,000

SOLD REDLAND

SOLD

KINGSDOWN

SOLD guide £1,200,000

HENLEAZE

HENLEAZE

guide £1,250,000

SOLD

WESTBURY PARK

SOLD guide £615,000

guide £899,950

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD HENLEAZE

guide £575,000

SOLD guide £285,000

SOLD REDLAND

STOKE BISHOP

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

guide £775,000

SOLD

SOLD CLIFTON

SOLD

guide £950,000

SOLD guide £925,000

Large or small – High end or modest … We have successfully sold an interesting and wide array of high quality homes for our vendor clients throughout 2016, with a selection above. We expect the demand for homes in 2017 to start strongly from the very first day of the New Year.

If you are reading this and thinking that it is time for a move or if you would just like some sage property advice, then please call us and we will be happy to give you the benefit of our knowledge to help you plan, prepare and make the right decisions.

Richard Harding Jan 17 P1+2.qxp_Layout 6 21/12/2016 13:14 Page 2

Richard Harding Chartered Surveyors • Estate Agents • Auctioneers • Valuers

SOLD HOTWELLS

SOLD guide £425,000

REDLAND

guide £415,000

CLIFTON

guide £350,000

CLIFTON

SOLD CLIFTON

WESTBURY PARK

CLIFTON

guide £795,000

MONTPELIER

SNEYD PARK

guide £295,000

CLIFTON

guide £235,000

guide £1,095,000

COTHAM

SOLD

guide £1,500,000

CLIFTON

WESTBURY PARK

guide £825,000

CLIFTON

guide £665,000

HENLEAZE

guide £525,000

COTHAM

guide £850,000

CLIFTON

guide £650,000

SOLD

COTHAM

guide £319,950

WESTBURY PARK

guide £399,950

SNEYD PARK

SOLD

guide £565,000

SOLD

SOLD

If you are reading this and thinking that it is time for a move or if you would just like some sage property advice, then please call us and we will be happy to give you the benefit of our knowledge to help you plan, prepare and make the right decisions.

CLIFTON

guide £695,000

SOLD guide £975,000

Professional, Reliable, Successful...

guide £675,000

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SHIREHAMPTON

SOLD

guide £665,000

SOLD

SOLD

guide £750,000

WESTBURY-ON-TRYM guide £475,000

SOLD REDLAND

REDLAND

guide £395,000

SOLD

guide £550,000

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD guide £300,000

SOLD REDLAND

guide £595,000

SOLD guide £1,250,000

SOLD REDLAND

HARBOURSIDE

SOLD

SOLD CLIFTON

guide £895,000

SOLD

SOLD CLIFTON

SOLD

guide £319,950

SOLD guide £435,000

0117 946 6690 www.richardharding.co.uk 124 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2RP

Richard Harding Jan 17 P3+4 .qxp_Layout 6 21/12/2016 13:19 Page 1

Richard Harding Chartered Surveyors • Estate Agents • Auctioneers • Valuers

SOLD

SOLD

BRANDON HILL range £795,000-£845,000

SOLD HORFIELD

WESTBURY PARK

guide £365,000

CLIFTON

CLIFTON

guide £575,000

CLIFTON

guide £350,000

REDLAND

SOLD HENLEAZE

WESTBURY-ON-TRYM guide £565,000

guide £825,000

REDLAND

guide £675,000

SOLD

CLIFTON

guide £795,000

KINGSDOWN

guide £395,000

REDLAND

COTHAM

STOKE BISHOP

CLIFTON

guide £1,275,000

guide £495,000

CLIFTON

guide £785,000

guide £550,000

SOLD guide £645,000

SOLD

STOKE BISHOP range £650,000-£675,000

STOKE BISHOP

guide £415,000

SOLD CLIFTON

SOLD

SOLD

REDLAND

guide £629,950

SOLD guide £425,000

CLIFTONWOOD

SOLD guide £1,050,000

SOLD guide £379,000

SOLD

SOLD

guide £500,000

SOLD guide £1,175,000

SOLD guide £475,000

HENLEAZE

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD CLIFTON

guide 495,000

SOLD guide £560,000

SOLD

SOLD

CLIFTON

SOLD

SOLD STOKE BISHOP

SOLD guide £279,950

SOLD guide £450,000

SOLD COTHAM

COTHAM

KINGSDOWN

guide £850,000

SOLD guide £1,395,000

REDLAND

guide £525,000

Large or small – High end or modest … We have successfully sold an interesting and wide array of high quality homes for our vendor clients throughout 2016, with a selection above. We expect the demand for homes in 2017 to start strongly from the very first day of the New Year.

If you are reading this and thinking that it is time for a move or if you would just like some sage property advice, then please call us and we will be happy to give you the benefit of our knowledge to help you plan, prepare and make the right decisions.

Richard Harding Jan 17 P3+4 .qxp_Layout 6 21/12/2016 13:22 Page 2

Richard Harding Chartered Surveyors • Estate Agents • Auctioneers • Valuers

SOLD CLIFTON

SOLD guide £495,000

SNEYD PARK

guide £675,000

STOKE BISHOP

SOLD BISHOPSTON

SOLD CLIFTON

guide £975,000

BISHOPSTON

guide £565,000

REDLAND

LEIGH WOODS

CLIFTON

REDLAND

guide £375,000

STOKE BISHOP

guide £550,000

STOKE BISHOP

WESTBURY PARK

guide £535,000

STOKE BISHOP

guide £679,950

REDLAND

SOLD

HENLEAZE

guide £395,000

REDLAND

guide £1,450,000

REDLAND

guide £750,000

REDLAND

guide £685,000

HENLEAZE

guide £745,000

CLIFTON

Professional, Reliable, Successful...

If you are reading this and thinking that it is time for a move or if you would just like some sage property advice, then please call us and we will be happy to give you the benefit of our knowledge to help you plan, prepare and make the right decisions.

range £350,000-£365,000

SOLD

HARBOURSIDE

SOLD

SOLD

BISHOPSTON range £500,000-£550,000

SOLD

REDLAND

SOLD guide £1,250,000

guide £575,000

SOLD guide £625,000

SOLD guide £495,000

guide £725,000

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

guide £975,000

SOLD

SOLD guide £775,000

SOLD

SOLD guide £525,000

SOLD guide £1,250,000

SOLD CLIFTON

SOLD CLIFTON

REDLAND

guide £415,000

SOLD REDLAND

guide £689,000

SOLD guide £1,095,000

REDLAND

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD CLIFTON

SOLD guide £1,200,000

guide £415,000

SOLD guide £665,000

0117 946 6690 www.richardharding.co.uk 124 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2RP

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D

D

W ON NE CTI U TR NS

L SO

L SO

I

STOKE BISHOP

CLIFTON £155,000

D

L SO

EPC – TBC

WESTBURY ON TRYM W ON NE CTI U TR NS

Thinking about moving house?

I

As you expect, friendly advisors, we can help guide you from those first thoughts of moving through to the very moment when you unlock the door of your new home.

CLIFTON

CLIFTON

With our two North West Bristol offices working together, we can significantly increase the market exposure when selling your current property.

£440,000

EPC – C

W ON NE CTI U TR NS

I

To help get things moving, why not call us today and take advantage of our free no obligation market appraisal. We’d be delighted to hear from you.

EPC – D

STOKE BISHOP £575,000

D

D

L SO

WESTBURY PARK

STOKE BISHOP £435,000

L SO

STOKE BISHOP £745,000

EPC – D

CLIFTON

EPC – C

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