A jolly crew are loving life on the water at Baltic Wharf Sailing Club
Tuck into the trends we expect to see piled high on plates this year
Soothe yourself into 2025 with the help of our health & wellness guide
The local, ground‐breaking tech solving global problems
We hear from the extraordinarily loquacious writer, broadcaster and speaker Gyles Brandreth, who has a lot to say about his visit to the city this month
Grab your passports... we’re flying to Australia, with the help of local travel experts at Miles Morgan
Our essential guide to local people and businesses dedicated to improving your physical and mental wellbeing
Gyles
Galleries
When
comes to major food and
trends
A few favourite picks from the bookshelf to ease you into 2025 with a fresh outlook
Explore the great minds fuelling the city’s deep and creative tech booms 64
Elly West on why midwinter is a great time to consider adding a tree to your garden
Property photographer Leighton James welcomes us through the front doors of his favourite home shoots
It’s
Psst, Bristol… I can assure you it’s safe to emerge from your homes – if a little bleary eyed, potentially picking the last flecks of tinsel from your hair or beard – and take those first, tentative steps into 2025. We’re now officially a quarter of the way through the 21st century and boy, has our city refused to sit still since the halcyon days of 2000. Even when life generally feels a bit fractious and difficult, Bristolians find a way to lead by example and produce pockets of positivity.
Intent on keeping this effervescent energy chugging along during one of the south west’s drearier months, and honouring the century’s silver jubilee, I’ve decided to shine a light on 25 things to be ever-soexcited about this year, in no particular order, whether you’re a proud local resident or just swinging by.
Our cover star Gyles Brandreth Can’t Stop Talking at Bristol Old Vic; Bristol Light Festival brightens up our wintry streets; Slapstick Festival marks 20 years with the likes of Ben Elton, Harry Enfield, Meera Syal and many more; Tina Turner The Musical is simply the best at Hippodrome; Ashton Gate welcomes the Women’s Rugby World Cup fixtures and BS3 Festival; Gromit Unleashed 3’s latest iconic sculpture trail will raise Grand Appeal funds; St. Pauls Carnival returns after its Back-a-Yard format last year; IDLES will take over Queen Square; Bristol Balloon Fiesta will fill the skies; M&S will open at Cabot Circus in autumn (Odeon will also settle into the cinema spot); renowned historian David Olugosa will bring two different shows to town (at St. George’s and Bristol Beacon); We The Curious celebrates its own silver jubilee, while Arnolfini will mark 50 years in its Harbourside home; national award-winning festival Bristol Pride will fly its flags; Texas, Kaiser Chiefs and more are on the Bristol Sounds line-up; Greg Davies’ first tour in seven years comes to the Beacon; the last-ever CrimeFest will take place; Nancy Medina will direct A Good House at the Old Vic; Bristol Technology Festival will encourage new ground-breaking ideas; inclusive theatre company Ad Infinitum’s nonverbal show Last Rites will tell a story from a deaf man’s perspective; Harbour Festival will welcome thousands of visitors to the waterside; key abstract artist Paule Vézelay’s largest ever solo exhibition of work will go on display at the RWA; and incredible local author tipped to be this generation’s Jacqueline Wilson, Amara Sage, will release her second novel Girl, Ultra-Processed. And there’s plenty more where that came from.
Rosanna Spence
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If you’re into folk traditions, then one way to inject a little more joy into January is participating in a Wassail. It involves blessing apple trees in the hope of encouraging a bountiful harvest later in the year. One local event is on 12 January at Redcatch Community Garden, Knowle. There’s a crafts and crown-making workshop from 12.30pm, followed by some singing led by Heartwood Chorus. Then the Wassail ritual will take place from 3pm. Make sure you bring your pots and pans to ward off the bad spirits and help wake the trees from their winter slumber! redcatchcommunitygarden.com
Spirited Bristol has teamed up with Remix Reeling to bring you a whisky-fuelled night of Ceilidh dancing with a modern electronic tunes twist. Think old school dances to banging beats and basslines. Before you take to the dancefloor, there’s a casual three-course, whisky-paired Burns Night Supper from Two Trees Catering. Ready to toast the bard? We are. Book at spiritedbristol.com
Kickstart 2025 by signing up to some incredible events that will support St Peter’s Hospice, a great local cause. The Rugby March will return on 22 March, when you can choose between a 5km or 10km route before watching Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate stadium. Other events include Tour de Bristol (5 April), Paris Marathon (13 April), and the Inflatable 5K Bristol (5 July) among many others. Find out more information on stpetershospice.org
Bristol Light Festival returns from 31 January until 9 February, bringing splashes of colour and plenty of play to the city’s dark winter nights. Three new installations will be added to the already dazzling lineup: a nostalgic exploration of water inspired by Sydney Harbour, a heartshaped disco ball (pictured) blanketing onlookers in dapples of light, and the return of musical installation Swing Song, which has enjoyed a little revamp. Other bright things to expect include a flock of 1000 flamingoes and three soulful robotic creatures. bristollightfestival.org
Join Bristol’s newest monthly open mic cabaret club night, Riot Act, on 20 January from 6.30pm for a special winter warmer at the Loco Klub near Temple Meads. Local comedians, poets, musicians and storytellers perform open slots alongside headliners of national profile in some of Bristol's most exciting and unusual spaces. Guest headliners this month include local hero Lawrence Hoo (pictured left), renowned comedian Mark Thomas (right) and stand-up rising star Hannah Streeter (centre). A suprise Bristolian DJ will close the night. Tickets via headfirstbristol.co.uk
Meet acclaimed author Tessa Hadley
I was born in Bristol and lived there until I was 18: my family and my past and my imagination are all entangled with the city. My parents went on living there until they were in their eighties and retired to the seaside – my father played trumpet for 50 years in a Bristol jazz band, the Avon Cities. There’s a black and white photo of the band in front of the Suspension Bridge on my father’s first LP, and the story goes that his great-grandfather, a tailor, carried a banner across the Bridge at its opening. When Dad’s grandmother’s house in City Road was bombed in the war, she came to live with them in Ashley Down. Her grandsons loved her. She had a sense of humour and drank a bottle of stout every day.
I think I write about Bristol more than any other city. It seems to me a roomy place, easily accommodating the kind of stories I want to tell. I don’t necessarily name it as Bristol – yet there aren’t really any other contenders for a big city in the south west; it floats usefully between specifics and anonymity.
When all of your upbringing was in a certain place, everywhere in it is charged with power for your imagination. I’m moved by all of it, from the Observatory tower and the Dumps on the Downs, to the old Wills factory in Bedminster (I went to Ashton Park School), and the grandeur of Temple Meads station. Everything’s saturated in memories. I owe so much to my local Redland library on Blackboy Hill, which was a temple to reading, and fed my early addiction to books. I revisited the library a few years ago, to make a podcast there with Ben Holden and local councillor Asher Craig, who’d also loved the library as a child. I'm so glad it's still open – we've lost so many libraries in Cardiff, where I live now.
My new novella The Party is set in the post-war Bristol of my parents’ youth. Ruins everywhere, and rationing, a very cold winter. Two sisters go to an arts students' party in a sleazy docklands pub, where they meet a couple of posh men slumming it; later they’re invited out to the stuffy wealthy house in Sneyd Park where these men and their friends are drinking and dancing. Are the girls out of their depth? We’re afraid for them, but they’re hungry for life and bold for themselves.
A wonderful memory I have is seeing My Fair Lady when it first came out, with my Nana, at the Whiteladies cinema. Then as teenagers in the seventies we haunted sleazy Dick Turpin’s Tavern below the cinema. Nowhere has ever seemed quite so glamorous since.
Mostly I set my Bristol stories in the recent past, because that’s the city I know best. In The Party the girls have seen men unloading the ships in the city docks, carrying planks on their shoulders: I can remember those scenes from my childhood. I think the city has changed hugely since the mid-century, becoming more dynamic and radical; it used to be a more stiff, hierarchical place, more divided. I still feel in touch with the city now though, and I often visit, as I have relatives there.
I’m halfway through a new novel – which is set partly in Bristol and partly in Cardiff. So that’s my focus for the next few months.
The Party is available to buy from all major bookstores; penguin.co.uk
Bristol-based poet Deanna Rodger was chosen to perform her poem LIQUID | SOLID | GAS MOTHER to a room full of more than 500 leaders from across the arts and cultural sector at Clore Leadership’s 21st anniversary celebration, held at Tate Modern in London.
The celebration coincided with Deanna’s graduation from the prestigious Clore Leadership Fellowship programme, after she was awarded the 2023/24 Excellerate Fellowship supported by Arts Council England, the Clore Duffield Foundation and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Deanna wrote LIQUID | SOLID | GAS MOTHER as part of her Fellowship journey, as well as being pregnant with her third child. She has continued to use the theme of motherhood as inspiration, and is currently developing a new project, funded by the West of England Combined Authority’s Creative Freelancer Grant, collaborating with working creative mothers in and round Bristol, asking the question: ‘How do you do it?’ for 2025.
deannarodger.co.uk
Local author Amara Sage (Influential) is releasing her second novel on 16 January. Girl, Ultra-Processed is set in Bristol, and takes a searing look at toxic diet culture and all its ugly consequences, exploring what it's like to be a teenage girl in our current body-obsessed world. Amara speaks openly about her journey to heal her own body image, having grown up in the 90s- and 00sera of fatphobia. She wrote Girl, Ultra-Processed as the antithesis to this culture, encouraging readers to understand that it’s possible to love and be loved in a bigger body. Amara is planning on some school visits in the city with Max Minerva's bookshop.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you’ll know that global rugby superstar Ilona Maher, pictured above, has signed to Bristol Bears Women, and will join the team starting this month on a three-month contract.
The 28-year-old Olympic bronze medallist – the most followed rugby player in the world on social media and recent Dancing With the Stars runner up – arrived in the West Country towards the end of 2024 to meet her new teammates and begin training.
Maher joins the Bears with her sights set on earning a place in the USA squad for the 2025 World Cup in England, with two quarter finals and both semi-finals taking place at Ashton Gate. bristolbearsrugby.com
The world’s largest garden wildlife survey returns this month, with hundreds of thousands of people watching and counting the UK’s garden birds over the last weekend in January for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.
This year’s event takes place on 24, 25 and 26 January. People in Bristol are asked to spend an hour watching and counting the birds in their garden or local park, or from their balcony, then send their results to the RSPB. In 2024, more than 600,000 people took part, counting in excess of 9.7 million birds, and over 2,700 of those passionate counters were right here in Bristol. Our top five birds spotted locally in the 2024 Big Garden Birdwatch were the house sparrow, blue tit, woodpigeon, magpie and starling. Registration is open now via rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
A Bristol midwife has received the NHS England Chief Midwifery Officer Gold Award for 50 years of outstanding service and achievements in the NHS.
Ann Remmers, the Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Lead at Health Innovation West of England based in Bristol, started her career as a midwife at Southmead Hospital, working in both the hospital and community before progressing to become Clinical Director and Director of Midwifery at North Bristol NHS Trust and Clinical Director for the South West Maternity and Children’s Clinical Network. Ann has led numerous maternity and neonatal-focussed improvements during her career, including the first free-standing birth unit in Bristol, setting up the regional maternity dashboard and the South West Regional Perinatal Equity Network. Now working for Health Innovation West of England, Ann has been the midwifery lead for Perinatal Excellence to Reduce Injury in Premature Birth that is improving outcomes for premature babies across the South West, and is currently the clinical lead for Black Maternity Matters, an antiracist behaviour change programme for perinatal teams and senior leaders to expose and address racist perceptions and behaviours that impact health outcomes for women racialised as Black and Brown. healthinnowest.net
Bristol-based artist (and former The Bristol Magazine front cover star) Anna Mazzotta was commissioned to design a new trophy for the Association for International Broadcasting’s (AIB) annual global AIB Awards for journalism and factual productions. Anna oversaw the production of the stunning design, from development to manufacture.
As part of the awards event, Anna was proud to present her commissioned drawing Around the World in 80 Years to Sir Michael Palin at the exclusive televised gala dinner (pictured, also holding the trophy she designed). She worked in collaboration with accomplished wood carver Sebastian Burchart, who is also based in Bristol. He created the prototype using his signature hand-crafted technique in lime wood. The final production was carried out by Amalgam Modelmaking, located on Bristol’s Croydon Street. annamazzotta.com
It’s been confirmed that ODEON has signed as a major new addition to Cabot Circus, opening in the former Showcase unit this year. The news, announced by Cabot Circus owner Hammerson, confirmed that ODEON was the 10th new occupier to sign at Cabot Circus in 2024, part of a drive to bring new brands and experiences to central Bristol to boost the daytime and evening offer for customers.
Other recently-agreed leisure operators include King Pins Bowl which will open its 16,500 sq ft venue featuring bowling, gaming and leisure activities in 2025. Meanwhile, Treetop Golf opened in December, delivering a new and immersive golf experience. Popular gastronomical concept, Six by Nico, will soon be opening at Cabot Circus, as well as Honi Poke, which chose Cabot Circus as one of its first sites outside London. Key retail signings include Marks & Spencer, which is marking a strategic return to the city centre. Fit-out works are now underway and signs on the unit currently indicate plans for an autumn 2025 launch.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain has four new experiences this year, including a Sensory Trail, Brunel’s Curiosity Quest that dives into his pioneering engineering feats within the Being Brunel museum, a Dry Dock Trail bringing visitors face-to-face with the remarkable 182-year-old iron hull and screw propeller, and a Botany Sticker Trail taking visitors back to the age of Victorian plant hunters. The audio content on the Bloomberg Connects app also provides a new option for visitors who want to delve deeper into the stories and collections with expert insights from museum curators.
Each ticket provides free return visits for 12 months, giving people the opportunity to discover four trails, explore 42 historic cabins and saloons aboard the ship, and view over 1,400 fascinating objects and exhibits across two museums.
ssgreatbritain.org
Novelist, actor, ex‐MP, podcaster, best‐selling biographer and conversation connoisseur Gyles Brandreth chats – at length – to Melissa Blease about his Guinness World Record, the secret to being a Very Happy Person, and an appearance at Bristol Old Vic in January
From bus stop blurters and over-chatty taxi drivers to that really annoying person sitting behind you at the cinema, people who insist on commentating on every stop on a train journey and the kind of verbose, self-obsessed knowit-alls we all dread being seated next to at a dinner party, talkaholics are all around us, all the time – and very few of them are saying anything that we want to hear.
But you know that old idiom about there always being an exception that proves the rule (the origins of which any half-decent mansplainer would be able to explain to you, in full?)… British broadcaster, writer, former politician and much, much more Gyles Brandreth is that exception: he can’t stop talking. But the Great British Public, it seems, can’t stop listening to everything he has to say.
“Talking too much has been a bit of a problem for me all my life!” Brandreth readily admits when chatting to me (at length, of course) in advance of his forthcoming visit to Bristol when his aptly-named one-man show Gyles Brandreth: Can’t Stop Talking lands at the Bristol Old Vic on January 12.
“When I was writing my autobiography a couple of years ago, I found a letter from my three older sisters in one of my parents’ keepsake boxes,” he recalls. “They’d written a petition to my parents in the very early 1950s when I was a very little boy, which read as follows: ‘Dear mother and father, if we agree to pool our pocket money and give it back to you, would you be able to afford to send Gyles to boarding school because he won’t stop talking and we can’t stand it!’ At the bottom of the letter, in my father’s neat handwriting, I saw the word ‘agreed’, and a tick. And yes, I was indeed sent to boarding school!”
But Gyles’ garrulous gallop was not to be stopped. In a career that spans over five decades, his opinions, comments and quips have dominated prime time TV (Countdown; The One Show; This Morning; Celebrity Gogglebox; Have I Got News For You), radio (Just a Minute; The Westminster Hour) and bookshelves (an authorised biography of actor John Gielgud; a couple of up-close-and-personal books on the royal family; political diaries; an autobiography; multiple works of historical fiction). Between 1992-1997, he was the Conservative MP for Chester, during which time he attempted to instigate a Plain Language Bill and was appointed a Lord of the Treasury, essentially in the role of a whip.
That’s a mere precis of the official Brandreth CV – we’ve yet to mention, for example, his penchant for novelty jumpers, or his status as one of Britain’s most popular afterdinner speakers, or his role as President of the Oscar Wilde Society; should you be lucky enough to have Gyles strike up a bus stop chat with you, you’d definitely want him sitting next to you for the whole journey.
“Oh yes indeed, I’ve got a lot to say,” he says. “But during the show that I’m bringing to Bristol my wife Michèle will be standing in the wings holding up a big sign that says, ‘you think you’re the thinking man’s Ken Dodd but you’re not - get off!’”
Isn’t that a bit rude of her? “No! She’s on the side of the audience - two hours is more than enough. I’m in The Guinness Book of Records for making the longest-ever after dinner speech: 12 ½ hours! And I’ve had somebody die during one of my shows. But as his widow said, at least he died laughing! She wouldn’t accept a refund for his ticket either, which was very sweet of her”.
While the Bristol show will (hopefully) avoid a death in the audience, what else – apart from Gyles, talking – can we expect?
“I don’t want the show to be all about me - even though it is, of course - so I’ve come up with this idea of having a menu: Brandreth’s Bistro! The audience gets to choose what I talk about: theatre stories, political stories, royal stories… or my worst stories, it’s up to them! They can literally ask anything they like, and there aren’t any questions that I won’t answer; I give it a go, whatever it is!”
Gyles is hoping, though, that there will be questions about his memories of the Bristol Old Vic itself.
“I’ve visited the theatre many times, but never performed in it,” he says. “My best friend since my school days was the actor Simon Cadell, who played camp manager Jeffrey Fairbrother in Hi-de-Hi, amongst other things. Sadly, Simon died in 1996, but he was at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School when he was very young, and I saw him appear there many times. I’ve been going to Bristol off and on for many years ever since; I used to work at the BBC on Whiteladies Road, so I know the city very well. I wrote a novel 30 years ago called Venice Midnight that includes a big scene on the Suspension Bridge. I might well go back to the bridge for old times’ sake while I’m in the vicinity”
Ah, our conversation is getting “very Gyles Brandreth” now; a chat that begins with an explanation of Brandreth’s Bistro ends up, on the twinkle of a tongue, with a trip down memory lane. It’s time for me to make my choices from my own interview menu before the cab Gyles is in drops him off at the This Morning studios (“Oh, I adore working with Alison Hammond! She’s lovely! Great fun, and always so jolly!”). Gyles: stop right there!
In all seriousness, do you ever stop talking? “Yes! When I’m at home I don’t talk much, and I certainly don’t bother talking to myself because I’d quickly get very bored with that. But I’m a great lover of reading, which requires one, by necessity, to keep quiet. I’m a trustee of the Queen’s Reading Room, which is Queen Camilla’s charity for encouraging a love of reading – reading is so good for you, for everybody! So yes, I keep quiet when I’m reading. Next question please!”
Do you ever wear yourself out by talking so much? “I’ve been exhausted ever since Michèle and I had our three children, so I’ve been exhausted for a very long time. From the moment you start having children you’re tired until you die; that’s reality and I’m a realist!”
Talk to me about your friends in high places… “As James Callaghan once told me, ‘senior royalty give you friendliness rather than friendship, never forget that’ – and it was a good piece of advice. But I first met Queen Camilla when we were both teenagers, so I’ve got quite a few stories there – though not necessarily for sharing here, ha ha!”
How do you remain so upbeat and optimistic when so much of the world right now – the news, social media, political debate – is apparently fuelled by anger? “Is it? How dreadful! This is why I only ever watch Bargain Hunt, you see – that’s all I watch, I’m serious! I don’t watch the news, haven’t done in years, so I think the world is a rather nice place! And anyway, I don’t ‘do’, as they say, anger; an anger management course would be wasted on me. I think I’m quite an equitable person, really.”
Final question, before This Morning reclaims Gyles to share him with another audience: what makes him such an apparently Very Happy Person? “When I was a little boy, my headmaster told me that busy people are happy people, and I believe he was right. Keeping busy certainly makes me happy!”
Thankfully, for all of us, Gyles Brandreth isn’t planning to stop talking any time soon. n
Gyles Brandreth: Can’t Stop Talking comes to Bristol Old Vic on 12 January, 3pm. For more information, tickets and to join the waiting list if tickets sell out, visit bristololdvic.org.uk
Our guide to the best things to see and do this month
Bristol Pitbulls vs Leeds Knights Ice Hockey Match
n 11 January
Planet Ice, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7SR
The Bristol Pitbulls face off against the Leeds Knights at Planet Ice Bristol! At the time of writing, the Knights were second in the league, with 33 points to the Pitbulls’ 18. Get ready for an exciting night of live hockey, featuring high-speed action, impressive skill, and an electric atmosphere that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Whether you're a lifelong hockey fan or a newcomer to the sport, this National League game is sure to deliver an unforgettable experience. bristolpitbulls.co.uk
The Bristol Comedy Festival
n 12-25 January
Various city venues
The Bristol Comedy Festival’s inaugural event aims to cement Bristol as a thriving hub for comedy, offering a platform to emerging and established talent alike. The festival kicks off with a launch party at Bambalan on opening night. Events include an eclectic mix of shows, from the edgy Roast Battle at The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer, to evenings of wit and improvisation at Mr Wolf’s Comedy Night. Highlights also include the Best of the West showcase at The Drawbridge and the Comedy Loft, promising something for every comedy fan. thebristolcomedyfestival.com
Winter Wedding Fair
n 19 January, 11.30am-2.30pm
Berwick Lodge, BS10 7TD
If you’ve just got engaged, congratulations! It’s the start of a wonderfully exciting time in your life and Berwick Lodge would love to be part of it. Visitors can view the ceremony and reception rooms set up as a wedding, take a full tour of the buildings and grounds, meet the friendly team, check out exclusive wedding offers only available on the day, meet trusted local suppliers and more. Entry is free, though the team kindly asks that you book a place via the website, and you’ll be welcomed with a complimentary glass of fizz.
berwicklodge.co.uk
Greater Bristol Young Musician Competition Final
n 24 January, 7.30pm
Bristol Beacon, Lantern Hall
After more than 20 successful years, the Final of the prestigious Greater Bristol region Young Musician competition, organised by local Rotary clubs, is coming to the Lantern Hall at Bristol Beacon. Six amazingly-talented finalists will play 15 minutes of classical music, each on a different instrument, in front of professional adjudicators. Come and listen to a really outstanding concert, with performances of a standard which is hard to believe... And see if you agree with the judges! bristolbeacon.org
Bristol Film Festival presents: The 39 Steps for Burns Night n 25 January, 6.45pm-10pm Averys Wine Merchants
Bristol Film Festival is hosting a very special 90th anniversary screening of Hitchock classic The 39 Steps this Burns Night. Set primarily in Scotland, celebrate this seminal film in style at Averys Wine Merchants with a Scotch whisky tasting experience to complement both the film and the annual celebration of Scotland’s beloved poet. Your evening starts with a sparkling wine reception on arrival, then over the course of the film, you will sample four single malt whiskies from the key regions of Scotland with tasting notes from Averys’ resident experts. bristolfilmfestival.com
BANES WLN
Inaugural Annual Conference: Empowering Women Leaders n 27 January
Apex Hotel, James St W, Bath, BA1 2DA
The Bath and North East Somerset Women’s Leadership Network (BANES WLN) Conference is an opportunity to connect, to be inspired and to be empowered; a space to collaborate, learn and develop. The day will explore the theme of ‘Empowerment’: empowering you to lead change in yourself, in others and in society.
For more info and tickets, search ‘BANES WLN’ on Eventbrite, or email hello@hannah-wilson.co.uk
Only Fools & Horses The Musical n 27 January until 8 February
Bristol Hippodrome
Based on John Sullivan’s legendary television show, this critically acclaimed home-grown musical spectacular features cherished material from Britain’s best loved TV series. With a script and original score written by John’s son, Jim Sullivan, and comedy giant Paul Whitehouse (who plays ‘Grandad’), prepare to get reacquainted with Britain’s most lovable rogues and experience the classic comedy brought to life on stage through an ingenious script and 20 hilarious songs. So don’t delay, get on the blower, and get a ticket for a truly cushty night out – only a 42-carat plonker would miss it! atgtickets.com/bristol
The Ancient Oak of Baldor n 29-30 January
Tobacco Factory Theatres
Frozen Light welcomes you into its latest fantasy realm, where we discover that what truly nourishes us through the long nights is our capacity for love in all its different forms. The Ancient Oak stands strong in the Forest of Baldor, in the land of Earten. There it has stood for millenia, rooted deeply to both the land and people of the forest. On this day, at the cusp of winter, the people of Baldor are celebrating The Great Cracking of the Ancient Oak. A multisensory experience for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their companions.
Tickets £12, carers go free. More info online at tobaccofactorytheatres.com
Looking ahead...
The Therapeutic Power of Language: a workshop n 4 & 5 February (9.30am-4pm)
Human Givens College, Engineers’ House, Clifton Down, BS8 3NB
‘The Therapeutic Power of Language’ is a two-day psychotherapy skills masterclass delivered by Human Givens College Diploma tutor Dr Gareth Hughes. The language we use has a huge impact on others – on this practical, inspiring course you will learn how to combine solution-focused techniques and effective language skills to help relieve distress and improve outcomes, as quickly as possible. The course provides 12 accredited CPD hours. For more information and to book, visit humangivens.com/college
Buffy Revamped n 5-8 February
Bristol Old Vic
Additional dates have been added due to demand for this fast-paced gem that brings you the entire 144 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as told through the eyes of the one person who knows it inside out… Spike.
Buffy Revamped is touring the UK following its awardwinning Edinburgh Fringe premiere in 2022, a Christmas season in Toronto in 2023 and several sold-out national tours. bristololdvic.org.uk
Our pick of the best things to see and do with the little ones this month
Hansel & Gretel
n Until 19 January
Tobacco Factory Theatres
In the middle of the cold, dark forest, Hansel and Gretel are lost and hungry. As they sit, shivering, they glimpse a tiny cottage through the trees and across the woods… a cottage unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Its roof is made of gingerbread, the walls of chocolate cake, the door is made of boiled sweets and the windows a clear, crystalised sugary glaze. But what’s inside? Find out at Tobacco Factory Theatres, where the Factory Theatre has been transformed into the magical and mythical land of the classic fairytale by the Brothers Grimm... tobaccofactorytheatres.com
Shaun the Sheep: Find the Flock
n Until 12 January
Bristol Zoo Project
Shaun the Sheep is at Bristol Zoo Project this Christmas! The winter sculpture trail is on until 12 January, where you can discover baa-rillianty ewe-nique sculptures across the zoo. If you find them all, complete the anagram to reveal the hidden word... In collaboration with Aardman, and in partnership with Wild in Art, each sculpture has been individually designed by artists from across the region and beyond. Free entry for visitors. bristolzoo.org.uk
Brick Robot Wars
n 18 January
St Werburgh’s Community Centre
Put your competitive side to good use and face the challenge of Brick Robot Wars. Learn how to build, program and improve your own bot before putting them to the test as you begin the battle of the bots! Brick Robot Wars is a fun and interactive way to start learning coding concepts and a practical means to reinforce an understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Suitable for ages 8 and over, children under 8 must be supervised by a paying adult. £30. brickrobotclub.co.uk
Winter Disco n 18 January, 1.30–3.30pm
Redcatch Community Garden
Join Redcatch Community Garden for a Non-Stop Kids
Entertainment Extravaganza! The action-packed, two-hour session features a mini arrival disco, an award-winning comedy magic show, a food break, high energy party games, disco lights, as well as tonnes of prizes and sweets. Don’t miss out on the ultimate party experience! Aimed at ages 4-11, tickets are £8, which includes a drink and cake. redcatchcommunitygarden.com
Rock the Tots: Friends are the Best n 23 January, 11am
The Wardrobe Theatre
Rock the Tots are back, and this month they’re celebrating friendship! That’s right – your buddies, those who have your back through the good times and the bad. And it’s no surprise that there are so many songs about friends, so Steph and Craig will be performing marvellous tunes from The Beatles to Bill Withers, The Rembrants to Rihanna. And, of course, they’ll have their puppet friends, comical characters, bubbles and more! Tickets £10, kids aged 2 and under go free. thewardrobetheatre.com
Home Ed Art Club
n 27 January, 10.30am-12pm
Kiln Workshop, Bishopston
Join Kiln Workshop and Colourful Minds for their Home Ed Art Club, where kids can get creative and make themed projects with a range of art materials and play. Perfect for kids aged 5 – 11 and their grown ups to make art together. Tickets are £8, accompanying adults do not need a ticket. kilnworkshop.com
Room on the Broom
n 28 January – 30 January
Redgrave Theatre
Iggety ziggety zaggety broom! Jump on board the broom with the witch and her cat in Tall Stories’ fun-filled theatre adaptation of Room on the Broom The witch and her cat are travelling on their broomstick when they pick up some hitchhikers – a friendly dog, a beautiful green bird and a frantic frog. But this broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK – it snaps in two... just as the hungry dragon appears! Will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? For ages 3+, tickets £15.30. redgravetheatre.com
As we enter a period when the future of Bristol’s harbourside will be under the spotlight, Andrew Swift explores the area’s history, uncovering the story of long lost docks, which were once a thriving hub of the city’s maritime history
Bristol City Council is currently working with stakeholders to produce a Place Shaping Strateg y for the transformation of Bristol Harbour over the next 20 years. The part of the harbour which was the hub of Bristol’s maritime activity for over 500 years, as the city grew to become the second busiest port in the country, is not included, however.
This is hardly surprising, for it no longer exists. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the docks which had fuelled Bristol’s rise to prominence were covered over.
Today the area is known as the Centre, and, while you can still walk the old quays, past buildings where merchants and mariners lived and traded, there is precious little to remind you of their illustrious past. It is hard to overestimate how close to the city centre the docks were. As you took a short stroll down Small Street, turning the corner at the end, you would have been greeted by a view of the docks stretching away into the distance. When Alexander Pope visited in 1732, he described the docks as being lined with ‘houses on both sides, and in the middle of the street, as far as you can see, hundreds of Ships, their masts as thick as they can stand by one another’.
No such stirring spectacle greets us today. The wide open space that stretches into the distance is bounded and bisected by busy roads, crisscrossed by cycleways, interspersed with statues and monuments, food vans, occasional changes of level and a whimsical, shortly to be removed, fountain installation. The Cascades dropping down at the end to what remains of the old docks has a sense of vision and presence, but for the most part the Centre seems characterised by an abiding uncertainty over what to do with it.
But, although the transformation seems total, links with the past can be found if you look hard enough. Standing at the bottom of Small Street 300 years ago, you would have seen, ahead of you, a stone bridge across the River Frome. The bridge has long gone and the river now flows underground, but an office block on the far side – Stonebridge House –provides a tenuous link with the past. Quay Head, on your left, carries more potent reminders. It was here that ships first docked over 750 years ago, and where the Customs House and Fish Market stood. Some 18thcentury buildings survive, and the White Lion, sole survivor of the
dozens of dockside boozers that once lined the quays, has been going for over two centuries.
Heading south along the Centre, modern buildings predominate on either side, but the name of the church on the right – St Mary on the Quay – recalls the days when ships moored in front of it. Crossing ahead at the pedestrian lights, you come to the statue of Burke, to the left of which a large transit shed was built as late as the mid-19th century. Over to your right are buildings which looked out across the docks in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The road you cross at the next pedestrian lights lies on the site of a drawbridge which crossed the docks here. To your left, a short stretch of the old Broad Quay survives. This row was once much longer, and home to scores of businesses. Among those listed in a directory from 1851 were ship agents, marine stores, ship brokers, ship’s biscuit makers, a shipping office, chandlers and seven pubs.
A little further on, past the doomed fountains, we come to the Cascades and the only surviving stretch of the old docks – which seems an appropriate place to consider their unlikely history.
When Bristol was founded, the River Frome ran along the valley where the Centre stands today, before curving east near the Cascades to flow into the Avon just below Bristol Bridge. It was too shallow to be navigable, and, for the first 200 years or so, ships that sailed up to Bristol moored near where the Grove is today. The Avon not only had a high tidal range but this stretch of it also had a rocky bottom – a combination which could spell disaster if ships beached on the rocks. By the mid-14th century, Bristol’s maritime trade was growing fast, but this hazard threatened to scupper its prospects.
sorted out by the opening of the Floating Harbour in 1809. This, however, created a new and far more lethal problem. North of the stone bridge at the head of the docks, the Frome ran through one of the most populous parts of the city, where 34 sewers discharged 20,000 tons of sewage a year into the river. When the tide carried it away twice a day, this was, if far from desirable, at least containable. When the tides stopped flowing, the little river and the docks it ran through became an open cesspool.
The long hot summer of 1825 brought matters to a head, prompting the authorities to build a culvert to carry the sullied waters away to the New Cut. This failed to resolve the issue, though, and when cholera struck in 1849, the decision was finally taken to build proper sewers.
It was decided that the only way the future of the port could be secured was by building a trench, half a mile long, through marshy ground north of the river, deep and wide enough to take the largest ships afloat. And in 1240 that is what they did.
The River Frome flowed into the trench from the north, and the trench followed its course for the first quarter of a mile. When the river curved east, however, the trench ploughed straight on through marshy ground to join the Avon. It took eight years to build, cost £5,000 (equivalent to around £7 million today) and set the city on course to become one of Europe’s busiest ports. That dealt with the rocky bottom, but the problem with the tides had to wait over 550 years before being
By now, the old docks, once the jewel in the city’s crown, were fast becoming a shabby backwater. Ships were getting bigger all the time, and the number unable to sail into the old docks started to rise. New docks were built along the Avon, the docks that had served the city for over 500 years slowly dwindled, and, little by little, they started to disappear, covered over as the city turned its back on them.
The stretch above Stone Bridge was culverted in 1857, creating Rupert Street. In 1893 the section between Stone Bridge and the drawbridge was covered over. Finally, in 1938, the section in front of the Hippodrome went, leaving only what became known as St Augustine’s Reach, below the Cascades.
Since then, the Centre has been remodelled many times. There have been occasional calls for the docks to be opened up again, but, alluring though this prospect may seem, it would be vastly expensive, vastly controversial and vastly risky. It is also hard to see how such a change could accommodate the constant flow of cars, buses, cycles and pedestrians through one of the city’s major pinch points.
One day, perhaps, the trench, built at such enormous cost almost 800 years ago, will be reinstated, letting the waters flow into the heart of the city once again. Until then, tracing the lineaments and legacy of Bristol’s first major engineering project provides a fascinating glimpse into the back story of a part of the city it is too easy to take for granted. n
For more of Andrew Swift’s work, visit akemanpress.com
Baltic Wharf Sailing Club has been taking to the water in the city centre for over half a century. We hear from the club’s commodore Adrian Holmes about how the group is encouraging new members to sign up, and are helping to make this historic Harbourside pastime more accessible for everyone
The watery depths of Bristol’s Harbour have been the talk of the town in recent months. The council has only recently finished a residents’ consultation period on its proposed Harbour Place Shaping Strategy, with plans including new moorings, commuter ferries and a Wapping Wharf transformation.
Overall, there were more than 100 projects or changes proposed in the report, which could be delivered across two decades, and the changes are, naturally, being met with both open arms by some, and a scrutinising eye by others who use the water regularly and call it home.
City spaces constantly evolve and adapt to the needs of its people using them, and anyone who’s lived in the city for more than 30 years will know only too well how much today’s Harbourside has changed beyond recognition to become a thriving hub: the water is a place to live, a day trip, a history lesson, a landmark, a home for nature, a tourist destination, a location for water sports – even swimming, as of April last year – and much more.
One group which has weathered momentous change throughout the last 50 years is Baltic Wharf Sailing Club, one of the very few – perhaps
the only – group to take to the water right in the beating heart of a city centre. Throughout its 50+ years, the Royal Yachting Associationaffiliated club has built a reputation as a friendly organisation where everyone is welcome. When speaking with its commodore Adrian Holmes, he enthusiastically encouraged anyone who’s curious to start a new hobby in 2025 to simply wander down to the club’s home on the south side of the Floating Harbour near the Cottage Inn, at around 1pm on a Saturday afternoon, and say hello.
“If I were a new sailor, I’d be very comfortable walking over and saying hello,” Adrian says. “People will talk to you, and there’s other things going on with the club too, not just sailing. You can have a beer, you can go and get a coffee, or you can choose to just watch what’s happening. It’s so easy to reach us, too. You can walk, jump on a bus or cycle to us if needed. Or sail!”
The group usually races at the west end of the docks most Saturdays, although sometimes you’ll spot them race all the way up to the Arnolfini. However, their boats can be seen sailing for pleasure during the week year round, as well as on the weekends.
If you’re brand new to the world of sailing, then you’d be forgiven for bearing a few preconceptions about the club. First of all, that you need a boat. And second, that the group might feel a bit ‘exclusive’ to those who already sail. “The difference is that our club is quite small, and you don’t need to go through a gate to reach us like many other clubs (and often unless you’re a sailor, they won’t want to talk to you). With us, whoever you are, whatever age or gender, we’ll say hello, show you what we’re doing and offer you some advice.”
This includes families with children – the club is very keen to see even more younger members join in on the fun. To make this happen, Baltic Wharf Sailing Club is working with All Aboard Watersports based just next door (which runs a thriving youth squad that races with the main club two weekends per month), to develop a joint programme that is enabling new members to get basic training at a reduced cost.
Following this, members can hire a boat from All Aboard Watersports to take out on the water. By removing the cost of boat ownership and storage, life with the sailing club becomes much more accessible to people – welcome news as the cost-of-living crisis lingers. According to Adrian, the youth squad are already giving the main club members a run for their money in the weekend races…
Though if you do already happen to own a boat, then the club may have some boat storage spaces available too, although there is usually a short waiting list for these and you will need to have been a member for three months before taking a space.
At a time when the Harbourside area may be entering a new era in terms of its development, joining a community with heritage at its heart has never been more important.
“When we started, the harbour was largely derelict,” Adrian explains. “The Cottage Inn pub was an old timber yard office. We go back a long way; sailing back then was a family sport – quite low-key and simple. People who lived in the Bristol area looking for somewhere to sail didn’t have to travel to a club out of the city.
“From those early days right up until today, a big reason a lot of people sail in the harbour is that you can sail at any time; you don’t have to wait for the tide to be right. But there’s also lots of other things going on, it’s become a bit of a spectator sport – we get a lot of people watching us!”
Whether you’re a sailor at heart, hoping to kick start the New Year with a new pastime, or are just feeling a bit nosey and want to have some curiosity-fuelled conversations with people who are passionate about keeping these harbour sports alive and kicking – then head along on a Saturday afternoon. You’ll be donning a life jacket and learning the ropes before you know it. n
Anyone interested in joining the club can find out more information on memberships by visiting balticwharfsailing.com. You’ll also find contact details for Adrian and the club’s secretary on the website. Follow the club’s Instagram for more updates @bwscbristol. All images provided courtesy of Baltic Wharf Sailing Club.
Rainmaker Gallery’s Winter Showcase, on now until 31 January
Rainmaker Gallery’s Winter Showcase brings together the work of several Indigenous artists, including patterned canvases by Laguna Pueblo painter Marla Allison, bold Pacific Northwest Coast serigraphs by Tlingit artist Preston Singletary, modernist monochrome masterworks by Mvskoke painter Rick Grimster, and more. The gallery also carries a unique collection of Native American jewellery, sculpture and traditional Pendleton blankets.
rainmakerart.co.uk; 140 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2RS
Image: Untitled, 2018, acrylic on paper by Rick Grimster
Paule Vézelay: Living Lines, Royal West of England Academy, 25 January until 27 April
Discover the internationally important work of Paule Vézelay, a key figure of 20th-century British abstract art. Her vivid explorations of colour and line fill this retrospective exhibition at the RWA – the largest solo show of Vézelay's work in more than 40 years. On display are more than 60 works including paintings, prints, sculptures and textiles, in addition to archive items such as photographs and personal letters.
rwa.org.uk; Queen’s Road, Clifton, BS8 1PX
Here Today, Here
Tomorrow: works from Jerwood Collection Arnolfini, until 2 February
A selection of 22 artworks from Jerwood Collection that draw upon themes of the cycles of life and our relationship to nature, place and the spaces that we inhabit. Works on display include quiet paintings of landscapes, still lifes and portraits, to bright and colourful screenprints that capture the textures of our everyday lives and the traces that humans leave behind.Open every Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm. Free entry, donations welcome.
Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA; arnolfini.org.uk
Image: Saturday Wait by Clare Woods, 2019
Curbside Ethos and 1LOVE®ART at Clifton Arcade
Curbside Ethos is a dynamic space where local independent fashion meets a curated art experience. In partnership with renowned 1LOVE®ART, the gallery showcases an exclusive mix of local and international artists, putting art at the heart of the store. Alongside rotating exhibitions, Curbside Ethos features independent clothing brands and serves delicious, baristamade coffee. The aim is to be more than a store – it’s a vibrant community hub offering events, workshops, and exhibitions for all ages. Here, art, culture, and creativity converge to inspire, connect, and celebrate local talent in an inviting, inclusive atmosphere.
1st Floor Clifton Arcade, BS8 4AA; 1loveart.com; curbsideethos.com
Are you a
or a Cavalier?
hen it comes to how we live our lives, there’s a school of thought which says we Brits divide into two sorts – the austere ‘Roundhead’ type (sensible shoes, for whom a smile is the exception rather than the norm) and the flamboyant, pleasure-seeking Cavalier kind. These opposing traits, so the theory goes, are key drivers in British life, continually locked in a battle for supremacy like it’s 1642 all over again. And a new front has opened up in the eternal tussle between Roundhead and Cavalier: your living room, with the news that 2025 will see maximalism (a Cavalier style par excellence) attempt to consign minimalism to the history books.
Having been assured, for the last decade and a half, that ‘less is more’, it seems we can now confidently say ‘less is a bore’. And with that news,
expect to be deafened by the sound of a thousand champagne corks popping as auctioneers up and down the land celebrate the prospect of a return to levels of knick-knackery not seen since Wham! were last on Top of the Pops. Yet, as we know, there is a fine line between an amply furnished and accessorised room, and Channel 5’s Hoarder Homes: No Room To Move. So, while less still doesn’t appear to be more, sometimes, more needs less, and within the best maximalism there should be areas of quiet.
You won’t be at all surprised to know that I’ve never met an antiques dealer who likes minimalism (or admits to it). That said, a wellproportioned, beautifully coloured Georgian chest of drawers can really sing-out in a cool, sparsely furnished interior. What a lot of people don’t seem to realise is that minimalism was always meant to be about quality craftsmanship and materials, not bare walls and a 42-inch plasma television. To paraphrase Dolly Parton, it really should cost a lot of money to look this cheap. ■ clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)
Recommendations by Tom Bleathman from The Great Wine Co.
After a holiday packed full of celebration and cheer, it’s now 2025 and New Year’s resolutions are in full swing. Instead of giving up one of life’s few pleasures, wine, this month consider options that have naturally lower alcohol levels. All these great lower and lighter wines are available from The Great Wine Co. greatwine.co.uk
QL Flowers Vinho Verde 2023 Quinta da Lixa 10.5%
For many, Vinho Verde is a simple drink consumed while relaxing on a sunbed in the Algarve. Quinta da Lixa is a real step up from this – at 10.5% this Vinho Verde is full of green apple, melon and white peach. Crisp, mineral and with a slight spritz, this wine is a great example of an easy-sipping house wine and only £10.50 a bottle.
Argeo Prosecco Brut, Ruggeri 11%
Often forgotten about as a lower alcohol wine, prosecco often hovers around 10.511%. This example is by one of the top winemakers in the prosecco region, Ruggeri, producing wines that are fantastically drinkable. The Argeo is complex with flavours of stone fruit, lemon and white flowers and at only 11%, you can have another glass! £16.65
Carignan, Pays de l'Hérault, Les Archères 12.5%
With climate change, finding reds that are below 13% which still have body and texture is proving tougher than ever. This Carignan is made from old vine around 80 years old produces a lovely cherry/ruby-red colour and is full of berry fruit intensity on the nose with hints of vanilla. A full-flavoured easydrinking classic of the Languedoc and at £11.10 a bottle, it’s a bargain.
This wholesome, hearty, meatfree winter warmer is an utter joy to come home to on a chilly January evening.
If you’re not a fan of goats’ cheese, add 200g of cheese of your choice; Gruyere, Edam or Taleggio all melt beautifully, but even good old Cheddar works well. Meanwhile, if you're embarking on a Dry January, omit the wine and use 200ml vegetable stock instead.
Ingredients (serves 4)
1 savoy cabbage, outer leaves removed, cut into quarters
300g Brussels sprouts, halved if large 1 large onion, peeled and finely sliced 2 fat garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
100g pearl barley
200ml white wine
3 tbsp plain flour
400ml whole milk (or vegetarian alternative)
100g sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
100g Gruyere, Edam or Taleggio cheese (or vegetarian alternative)
100g goats’ cheese
Bunch fresh basil, roughly chopped
50g Parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), finely grated
Method
1. Heat 1 generous tbsp olive or vegetable oil in a large flameproof casserole over a medium-high heat and sear the cabbage and sprouts for around 3-4 minutes, or until just starting to caramelise. Add 2 tbsp of boiling water to the pan and allow the veg to steam slightly until the water has evaporated. Transfer to a plate or bowl and set to one side.
2. Reduce the heat under the pan and gently sauté the onion until softened. Add the garlic and the pearl barley and continue to sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously until the barley is coated in the fragrant oil. Add the wine to the pan, turn the heat up slightly and allow the alcohol to bubble away for a couple of minutes.
3. Add the flour to the pan and allow to ‘cook’ for 1 minute, stirring continuously. Add the milk, bring to a gentle boil then simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring regularly until the barley has softened and the sauce has thickened. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 5.
4. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and the cheeses of your choice. Stir for 5 minutes until the cheeses have melted, adding the basil for the last 30 seconds of cooking time. Take the pan off the heat, add the cabbage and sprouts to the sauce, season with plenty of freshly-ground black pepper and transfer to a lightly greased, suitably-sized oven-proof dish. Grate the Parmesan across the top and bake for around 20-25 minutes or until golden.
Independent local brewer Left Handed Giant has launched a new specialty café as part of the recently-completed £12 million refurbishment project at the city’s BLOK business hub.
Commune Café is already proving a huge hit with customers –serving up a quality selection of hot drinks, sandwiches and sweet treats. Commune Café complements LHG’s other coffee offerings at New Cut Coffee on the Harbourside Hotplate Diner in Stokes Croft. There are plans to expand the operation in the near future to include an alcohol licence, so that customers can order all of the beverages that Left Handed Giant offers. lefthandedgiant.com
Cafe Kino, the workers’ cooperative and vegan community café in Stokes Croft that has been a staple of Bristol’s alternative scene for over two decades, is calling on the community to help secure its future. The café, known for its vibrant atmosphere and commitment to creativity, activism, and connection, has faced ongoing financial challenges. In response, the team behind Cafe Kino has launched a crowdfunding campaign with the goal of not only keeping the café open, but also transforming it into a dynamic venue for community events, workshops and gatherings. The campaign aims to raise funds to both preserve and enhance the café’s role in the city’s cultural landscape. 108 Stokes Croft, Cotham, BS1 3RU; cafekino.coop
Melissa Blease tucks into the top food and drink trends you can expect to see piled high on your plates and filling your glasses in 2025
raspberry ripple ice cream, seaweed caviar, Japanese 7 spice and Welsh rarebit
The UK’s ongoing cost of living crisis combined with turbulent political upheaval and the climate emergency continue to dominate the headlines at the start of 2025 –and food world, both on the domestic front and out-andabout, is adapting accordingly. While fads, fashions and trends should never be at the forefront of our agenda when it comes to what – and how – we eat, myriad influences dictate both conscious and unconscious decisions; you can dispute that statement as much as you like, but I bet you’re not eating a Vesta curry of Findus Crispy Pancakes followed by Arctic Roll or a slice of Black Forest Gateau for dinner… are you?
So! What are the key factors and ingredients that will guide us through a year of food and drink, 2025 style – and which fickle fads are yesterday’s news? These are our predictions...
Waste not, want not
Cutting back on waste will maintain high-priority status on the 2025 menu-agenda. According to the Soil Association, it’s estimated that a whopping 9.5 million tonnes of food is wasted or binned in the UK, the majority being generated by production and processing plants at various stages of the food supply chain. But this statistic is falling year-on-year as we become both more ingredient- and packaging/processing-savvy; as food writer and development chef Luke Churchill says, “Consumers are, today, less inclined to buy highly processed, over-packaged plantbased alternatives and would rather purchase foods where the provenance of the ingredients is traceable and seen as more ‘natural.’”
As a result, the rise in consumers who make more use of fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced vegetables is expected to increase in 2025 (new buzzword: cottagecore), and a stronger focus on grains, pulses and legumes as the hero ingredient in at-home dishes combined with clever use of – and even planning for – leftovers (new buzzword: ‘culinary upcycling’) is the way forward.
According to a 2024 YouGov survey, 13% of Britons now identify as flexitarian (increasingly referred to, in ‘hip’ parlance, as ‘reducitarian’) compared to just 7% the previous summer, and Waitrose is just one of the big supermarkets who report that searches for ‘plant-based’, ‘meatand/or dairy-free’ and plain old ‘vegetarian’ have increased by 115% yearon-year – that’s an almost direct correlation with the rising cost of meat in the UK, and figures are expected to continue soaring throughout 2025. Meanwhile, a 2024 Oxford University study indicated that switching just one red meat meal for a plant-based alternative every week has the potential to slash the UK’s carbon footprint by an impressive 50 million tonnes – and your wallet will certainly thank you for the change too.
In, out, shake it all about: What’s hot for 2025?
Newstalgia: Classic British comfort food dishes, reimagined yet again to revitalise jaded palates – think, fish and chip pie, fruit-laden Yorkshire puddings, sausage and mash burgers, savoury donuts/cheesecakes, walnut ‘meatballs’.
Shichimi Togarashi (aka Japanese 7 Spice): Sweet, smoky, a little bit citrusy… and addictive in the best possible way.
Seaweed caviar: A sustainable, affordable, plant-based alternative to caviar (typically made from unfertilised fish eggs) created from dried seaweed or kelp, a type of algae.
Embered food: Meat, vegetables or fish cooked directly on the embers or coals of a fire, bolder than a barbecue and all about theatre, theatre, theatre.
Foraged/heritage/indigenous UK herbs: Lovage, yarrow, cowslip, meadowsweet, woodruff, lemon balm, lavender, borage – the English country hedgerow is the ‘new’ herb garden.
Bespoke butters: Handmade, flavoured butters often made with different kinds of dairy (or non-dairy) produce (goats’ butter; raw butter; buffalo butter; plant-based butters; etc).
Soy sauce: Umami back-flavour to the max in savoury and sweet dishes.
Fig leaves: Sweet, floral and mildly citrus/coconut-y in flavour, fig leaves will pop up on menus/in recipes everywhere, from wrappings for baked fish and cheese to an ingredient in oils, dressings and cocktail syrups by way of panna cottas, ice creams, custards and compotes.
Rarebit: The classic combination of hot cheese, ale, mustard and Worcestershire sauce, usually served on toast and thought to have originated in Wales in the early 1700s, is having its catwalk moment, popping up in pickles, mash, pies, croquettas, tacos, donuts, cool canapes and more.
Black Garlic: Aged, fermented garlic resulting in a soft, sweet, umami-rich flavour bomb that adds depth, flavour and complexity to all manner of dishes.
Ripples: From a revival of traditional rippled ice creams (raspberry, strawberry, peach, etc) to thick ribbons of flavour semi-stirred through purees, soups and sauces, the ripple will make menu waves this year.
On the way out: What we’re
Towering, fully-loaded, stacked and/or dirty burgers, fries, sides, etc: Ugly, unmanageable and ostentatiously over-indulgent! 2025 is all about ‘clean’.
Deconstructions: Trifles, Cottage and Shepherd’s Pies, cheesecakes, salsas, crumbles, pizzas… they were all constructed for very good reason; in 2025, chefs will, at last, stop taking them apart.
Street Food sections on restaurant menus: If you’re not eating it in the street, you’re not eating Street Food.
Bowl food: We’ve all started to realise that it’s just food, served in a bowl. A Poke Bowl? That doesn’t mean anything. A Buddha Bowl? Same.
Violent menu descriptions: Traditional culinary terms such as mashed, marinated, blanched, barbecued and minced will replace words such as smashed, smacked, burnt, scalded and pounded all-kinds-of-everything, sending them all back to the boxing ring, where they belong.
Over-lit dining rooms: Massive filaments inside what appear to be goldfish bowls, spotlights that give an ‘interrogation room’ vibe and canteen-style striplights are, at long last, being turned off in restaurants everywhere as subtle backlighting comes back into (soft!) focus
Caramelised biscuits: They peaked too fast in 2024 to stay fashionable; the social media-generated backlash (“too sweet”; “just… sickly!”; “oh please, don’t add them to anything else!”) has begun…
Cocktails served in jars: Kilner jars, jam jars, sweetie jars et al are swiftly being removed from behind bars… and put back in the pantry.
All You Can Eat buffets: They disappeared in the postpandemic world and don’t seem to be making a return any time soon.
Cash!: According to an autumn 2024 Morning Advertiser survey, 89% of restaurant, pub, cafe and coffee shop customers in the UK now use cards or contactless payment to pay their bills. Meanwhile, 43% of hospitality operators in London don’t give customers the option anymore; cash-free, it seems, is the new king.
More and more food and drink venues are going
Convenience Chic
What the air fryer started, a whole host of ‘revolutionary’ kitchen gadgets will run with in 2025. The Crockpot – a heady combination of energyefficient slow cooker, pressure cooker and super-speedy oven (“roast a whole chicken/rustle up a curry in 30 minutes!”, etc) – leads the way, with chic, sleek electric/gas-powered barbecues set to replace that rickety old drumon-wheels thing that’s been rusting away in your back garden for years and instant pizza ovens, smokers and tandooris transforming our summertime menus. Will we, this time next year, be getting rid of our traditional/ conventional ovens altogether? It could happen…
And to drink with that…?
In 2024, those aged between 28-43 demonstrated a distinct shift towards non-alcoholic beverages than in previous years, with ‘fashionable’ coldpressed fruit juices, prebiotic and vitamin-supplemented sodas and alcohol-free seltzer/sparkling drinks proving to be a big hit with Millennials. But across the board, our thirst for alcohol will, it seems, continue to decrease. Roughly 20% of the UK population is now thought to be completely teetotal, and the keen interest in craft mocktails and ‘wellbeing’ drinks (coconut, birch and ‘balanced’ waters; matcha tea; Manuka honey-infused elixirs, etc) is thought to continue throughout 2025. Meanwhile, alcohol-free alternatives to wine and beer are popping up on Set and Tasting Menus in restaurants, and even supermarket meal deals are cashing in on the soft drinks action. For those who whine about not drinking wine, the demand for high-end, small format and environmentally sustainable canned wine is on the increase, with companies such as the Bristol-based Nania’s Vineyard, a drinks company born out of, and inspired by, its small urban vineyard on an allotment in central Bristol, at the vanguard of a wine revolution. n
The British winter is an ideal time to travel down under, which is enjoying its early summer season, and as flights usually start being sold eleven months in advance, now is the perfect time to start planning your trip – with a little help from our expert friends at Miles Morgan Travel, who have created an intinerary just for you
Australia is a land of stunning natural wonders, vibrant cities and unique wildlife – and it can offer unforgettable experiences – so what would be your ideal adventure to the land down under? Customers often ask us this question – and to help them realise their dream trip, we like to recommend a blend of iconic sights and off the beaten path adventure. Read on for a just a taste, or a ‘light bite’, of what Australia offers for visitors...
First things first
Start in Sydney, New South Wales, and explore the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge – which you can climb for a fee and see the city from a unique viewpoint. Head over to Bondi Beach and soak up the surf culture there. Catch the ferry to Manly for a gentle coastal walk and perhaps a sunset cruise around the harbour.
Next on your not-to-be-missed list is a visit to the Blue Mountains. Hike through the hazy eucalyptus forest that give the mountains their name, marvel at the Three Sisters rock formation, or why not try wine tasting and stargazing? A one-of-a-kind stargazing tour among the vines located in Wentworth Falls where you will embark on a captivating space
journey led by an Astronomer in the timeless beauty of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains dark skies.
Catch a flight up to Queensland for the ultimate marine adventure on the Great Barrier reef – a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, it’s home to endangered species of turtles, dolphin, dugongs and whales. Not a diver or snorkeller?
One novel way to explore the reef is The ScubaDoo – a small yellow motorised scooter with a large viewing dome, which acts as a diving helmet and is supported by a float from the surface.
Back on land, head to the Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest tropical rainforest and take a guided tour led by indigenous rangers to learn about the rich biodiversity and its cultural significance.
No trip would be complete without a visit to the Northern Territory. It’s the heartland of the Outback, and Uluru awaits you in Australia’s Red Centre. Witness an amazing sunrise or sunset over this iconic sandstone monolith; it’s a magical and sacred place for the Aboriginal tribes here.
We also recommend you explore nearby Kata Tjuta and learn about the spiritual stories of the Anangu people. You will be captivated by the rock art and dot paintings depicting the Dreamtime legends of the indigenous people. There are plenty of different ways to make the most of your outback experience. You can stay in a luxury Outback lodge, try ‘glamping’ in fixed tents or sleep in a swag beneath the stars.
When it comes to exploring Uluru, you can cycle or take a camel ride around the rock, hike around the base or take to the skies for a scenic helicopter flight.
The quieter, less well-known of Australia’s states (and a hidden gem), it offers, among other things, a rugged wilderness in the form of Cradle Mountain, the aptly-named Friendly beaches and Wineglass bay in Freycinet National Park.
‘Tassie’ is home to the quirky Tasmanian devil and the white wallabies of Bruny island. Just for fun, take a trip to Crescent bay down the Tasman peninsula, take boogie boards and slide down the huge dunes until you hit the water. If you're in Hobart on a Saturday, the Salamanca markets are worth a visit – it's all fresh local produce and local artisan products.
“ Take a side trip to Phillip island to see the tiny penguins doing their nightly ‘parade’, when they pop out of the water and stroll up the dunes to find their sleep spot ”
Finally a stop in Melbourne – a true Aussie city but with a European feel with its dynamic arts scene of Fed Square, lane way cafés, trams and Victorian-style shopping arcades – and take a side trip to Phillip island to see the tiny penguins doing their nightly ‘parade’, when they pop out of the water and stroll up the dunes to find their sleep spot.
How about a cool way of seeing the city? You can take a tour along the Yarra River, right at sunset by kayak. As the sky darkens, you’ll see the city come to life. From Melbourne, you can drive or take a tour along the famous Great Ocean road to Apollo Bay; keep a lookout for some native wildlife including echidnas and bandicoots, as well as whales and dolphins. En route you will pass the Twelve Apostles, glorious limestone stacks that emerge from the sea – a real highlight of this world-famous coastal route.
The Miles Morgan Travel teams in Clifton and across the south west are passionate about making your travel dreams a reality, and we hope this has given you ‘food for thought’ for your next holiday. The information provided on these pages doesn’t even cover the whole of this incredible destination. To find out more, seek help with some suggestions for stopovers and to discover even more tips to inspire you to start planning your trip down under very soon, get in touch with Miles Morgan Travel Australia experts. n
milesmorgantravel.co.uk; call the Clifton team on 0117 223 2096
Dior Prestige La Crème Texture
Essentielle (50ml)
December’s festivities can easily take a toll on your skin, so if you’re looking for a moisturiser to restore and revitalise, look no further. La Crème nourishes on three levels: the skin barrier, the epidermis, and the skin matrix, leaving your skin feeling as soft as the petals it’s formulated with. | £350, available from H beauty; harrods.com
After weeks of eating, drinking and merrymaking to your heart’s content, there’s no better time for a little TLC than the New Year. We’ve put together a selection of our wellness winners, so that you can recreate the restorative spa treatment from home and stave off those January blues...
Named after the Norwegian word for Island, this candle is inspired by the uninhabited islands that glitter like stars upon the lakes and seas of Scandinavia, inviting explorers to pull up and rest a while. Unveiling notes of crabapple, dog rose, water mosses and green leaves, it’s perfect for evoking that muchneeded sense of calm. | £35, available from the Harvey Nichols Bristol store and harveynichols.com
Biossance Squalane + Enzyme
Sugar Body Scrub
Dreaming of skin that’s smoother than ever? Lavish your limbs with Biossance’s Squalane + Enzyme Sugar Body Scrub: a gentle formula that’s powered by both enzymatic and physical exfoliators to shift rough, dull skin without disrupting the ever-important moisture barrier. You’ll be looking for any excuse to show some skin... | £22, available from spacenk.com
NEOM Wellbeing London Great Day Magnesium Body Butter
Stave off the January Blues with Neom’s body butter, purposely blended to help lift your mood. Containing shea butter, mango seed butter and coconut oil, it nourishes and softens skin with added magnesium. | £38, available from johnlewis.com
This Works has created a natural pure essential oil blend of Ylang Ylang, Neroli and Patchouli created through fMRI brain imaging technology to help relieve feelings of stress, modify mood and restore a sense of calm to a busy mind this January. | £16, available from the Harvey Nichols Bristol store and harveynichols.com
Olverum Bath Oil (60ml-250ml) and Bath Salts (200g)
Soothe achy muscles, ease stress and relax tension with Olverum’s bath products. They work to revive a tired immune system, calm the airways and bring lustre to dull or dry skin, restoring you to your rested best. Doesn’t that sound lovely? | Bath Oil £28-£78, Bath Salts £32, available from spacenk.com
If you would like to:
Feel more motivated Have more energy
Regain your confidence Get fit
And do all this with other like minded people, then this could be just for you!
I’m a Small Group Coach working in a private Studio at Kellaway Avenue, Bishopston, BS6 7XR.
What others have said about me:
“I enjoy training in a small group as I feel more confident and comfortable. Training with others with similar goals to me is very motivational” - Anna, 50 yrs
“The small group means that Polly is able to give each person individual attention and to be mindful of our specific injuries and needs”
If you’d like to find out more, Please get in touch
Pollyturnill@gmail.com
Fb: Polly Turnill Fitness Tel: 07954 381 845
Rather than setting unrealistic resolutions, we’re here to help you make some gentle‐yet‐meaningful changes that are designed to last instead. The New Year brings an opportunity for a fresh start, and there are some brilliant local businesses you should know about, who can help you feel really alive in 2025...
Polly Turnill is a Small Group Coach and Personal Trainer working mainly with older men and women in Westbury Park area. She works with those who are generally active, but know they need to do more focussed strength work in order to be able to grow old as strong and as flexible as they possibly can!
“I am much more confident around issues of balance; I never hesitate to go for a long walk or a long cycle ride because I know I am now capable of it,” says Colin, aged 74. “Training with others in a small group, all there for similar reasons, is both motivating and fun!” adds Tina, who is 64 years old. In celebration of opening a brand-new venue on Kellaway Avenue, Polly is launching three new groups in the New Year and offering a FREE trial for anyone who would like to give it a go!
Dr Courteney Mathewson practises facial aesthetics from the calm luxury of Kindred Clinic in Westbury Park. Her expertise and high-quality products create natural, understated results, so you can reap the compliments and confidence of looking radiant and rejuvenated, but also still feel like yourself.
To kickstart your New Year skin goals, she is offering over £100 off one of her favourite combinations for a luminous glow – Profhilo skin booster and Dermalux LED light treatment. She is also introducing Morpheus 8 radiofrequency microneedling to her treatment menu this month, which delivers unparalleled skin tightening.
To get in touch with Polly, email pollyturnill@gmail.com or call 07954381845
The exclusive Taste of Winter Spa Day package is designed to transport guests into a cosy winter retreat, complete with three hours of relaxation in the pool and thermal spa access; a Caudalie facial inclusive of a soothing shoulder, neck, and scalp massage (50 minutes), leaving you refreshed and ready to face the cooler months with renewed energy; a two-course lunch and a special ‘golden ticket’ that can be redeemed for a uniquely indulgent hot chocolate tasting experience; and a Caudalie gift set valued at over £40, including a 10ml fragrance, 30ml shower gel, 75ml hand cream, 10ml VinoPerfect serum, and 15ml cashmere cream. This luxurious gift, alongside a Daniel Thwaites tote bag and flip-flops, will extend the warmth of the spa day experience long after you leave.
Priced from £125 (£10 supplement for Sat-Sun) and available throughout January and February. To book, visit the hotel’s website aztechotelbristol.co.uk
Start your journey to feeling confident and looking radiant with a consultation, bookable online from drmathewson.co.uk
The Whiteley Clinic is a renowned medical institution specialising in the treatment of varicose veins. With a focus on excellence and innovation, the clinic has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Global Excellence Awards for Best Varicose Veins Treatments in the UK. Led by Professor Mark Whiteley, a respected figure in the field, the clinic offers advanced and personalised care, utilising state-of-the-art techniques to provide innovative treatment methods, leading to the lowest possible recurrence rates and high long term patient satisfaction.
For more information, please visit the website thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/ clinics/bristol-clinic or call 0330 058 1850 to book your consultation
In a market crowded with dentistry chains, CK Dental emphasises bespoke private dental care that puts the patient at the heart of the practice. Run by husband-and-wife team Cornelius and Sheryl Krause, the practice is in Clifton, operated alongside their clinic based at the Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, which is renowned for treating dental phobic patients under general anaesthetic or sedation. Both clinics offer innovative dental techniques combined with state-of-the-art digital equipment. As well as routine and restorative dentistry, CK Dental provides the full range of cosmetic dentistry procedures, including Invisalign. Call or go online to book.
1 West Mall, Clifton, BS8 4BH; 0117 472 1600; ckdental.co.uk
Kickstart your 2024 fitness journey by understanding exactly where you stand. Alixr’s body scan and posture analysis give you the precise measurements and insights you need to benchmark your progress and stay motivated. Gain clarity on muscle balance, identify imbalances and set realistic goals. Start turning ambition into action and move forward with confidence and purpose. Book your scan today and take the first step towards a stronger, healthier you.
Normally £29.50, now get it at 50% off – just £14.99 per scan, up to two scans with code BRISTOLMAG at alixr.co.uk/3d-body-scan
Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital brings patient service to a new level. This 30-bed private hospital in Clifton Village has 11 consulting rooms and three fully digital operating theatres, combining leading edge clinical facilities with an outstanding customer experience.
The hospital offers an extensive list of services including orthopaedics, spinal surgery, gynaecology, ophthalmology and weight loss procedures, as well as physiotherapy, a private GP service and rapid access to diagnostics –including X-ray and MRI. It is also the only private hospital in the city offering robotic-arm assisted hip and knee replacements, with greater surgical precision ensuring improved outcomes for our patients. Visit the hospital website for more details. nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol
Wellbeing Babes embraces a holistic approach to wellbeing, blending relaxation, movement, sound therapy and massage techniques to guide you back to balance. The signature experience combines yin yoga, sound baths, shiatsu massage, guided meditation, and aromatherapy – a true sanctuary for body and mind. Join Wellbeing Babes every other Wednesday evening at the Wild Goose Space for a midweek oasis to reset and recharge.
Looking for deeper rejuvenation? Explore the team’s one-day retreats featuring saunas, cold immersion, yoga and sound bath for ultimate rejuvenation.
Find out more at wellbeingbabes.com
Alice is a local doctor-turned-nutritionist with a nutrition practice in Bath, who has collaborated with Ali, a Bristol-based chef, to create a series of nutrition-focused workshops. These workshops are aimed at giving you the knowledge and tools to better understand nutrition as well as helping to inspire you in the kitchen. Incorporated in the day are talks and Q&A sessions, cooking demonstrations, and fermentation workshop – as well as a delicious lunch prepared by Ali.
On 17 January (10am until 4pm), they will host the January Nutrition Reset Workshop. The day includes talks on nutrition and how to incorporate nutritious foods and healthy habits into your every day without the need for restriction or fad diets. The workshops are set in the beautiful location of the Just Wild Barn, a tranquil rural retreat located between Bath and Bristol in the Chew Valley. At the end of the day, you will go home with your delicious ferment and recipe cards, as well as feeling informed and inspired going into 2025. For more information, visit justwildbarn.com. Tickets for the January workshop are £90; please email alice@dralicemayornutrition.co.uk to secure your place
A brand-new salon has just opened on Hanham High Street, making history as the only clinic in Bristol and the surrounding areas to offer life-changing and transformative cosmetic and medical tattooing treatments all under one roof.
Experienced owner Lauren Carter provides a diverse selection of treatments, including hyper-realistic hair stroke eyebrows and eyeliner for alopecia and hair-loss clients, scar camouflage for post-surgery, mastectomy, and breast augmentation, as well as hyper-realistic 3D nipple and areola reconstruction. Additionally, Lauren specialises in cosmetic tattooing for permanent makeup applications, such as eyebrow, eyeliner, and lip enhancements. Clients can also benefit from a range of other services, including tattoo removal, camouflage treatments for vitiligo, surgery and trauma scars, webbed toes reconstruction, microneedling and various anti-ageing treatments. If you would like to book an appointment or require any more information, please contact Lauren directly on 07821043330 or find her online at laurencarterspmu.co.uk. You can also search ‘Lauren Carter – Cosmetic Tattooing’ on Facebook.
Our 4 star Coastal Hotel could not be better located on the water’s edge.
Luxury Balcony, Terrace Rooms & Suites all have private outdoor seating & sun loungers.
Our 2 Rosette Restaurant offers dramatic sea views. from our unique cliff top location. Indoor and outdoor pool & spa.
Ramblers Package
• 3 Nights in a Deluxe Sea View Room
• Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
• Devon Cream Tea for 2
From £1200 inclusive.
Late Availability offers
Check our website for ‘Offers’ and ‘Late Availability’ offering a generous rate discount and room upgrade where possible, subject to availability.
By trade, James Scrimshaw has been a chiropractor for 29 years, and he still today thoroughly enjoys giving hands-on treatment at his clinics in Westbury on Trym and Thornbury. James says that on his journey he has also inevitably become a patient himself, suffering from a long-term back condition and knee injury. True to form, his conditions weren’t at all straightforward to manage, for which reason he looked ‘outside the box’ for other methods and new technologies.
This is how he came across MBST. A gentle adaptation of MRI, it dials the MR energy directly into damaged cells, creating a remarkable healing process in our tissues and joints.
In short, James reports that it literally cured his conditions, and is now a fundamental part of his practice and an exciting development to add into the future management of orthopaedic conditions.
Trym Lodge, 1 Henbury Road, BS9 3HQ ; 0117 959 6531; curaclinical.com
Eva is a fully qualified and highly experienced aesthetic therapist offering the most sophisticated and effective aesthetic treatments in the South West.
Whether you are seeking a natural looking facial lift, wrinkle reduction, blemish removal, skin tightening or injectables, she believes she has the answers… Eva is the only therapist who can offer medical-grade treatments, such as Fotona Non-Surgical Facelift, painless CIFU wrinkle reduction and Erbium laser skin re-surfacing. She focuses on individual client consultation, treatment compatibility and effectiveness, all fully supported by personal client aftercare. Her consultative approach and objective advice ensures her clients enjoy enhanced, natural looking results. Eva welcomes consultations at her private clinic, please call 07507 420244 or book online.
5 Hicks Field, Bath, BA1 7BZ (10 mins junction 18, M4); evaclinicbath.com
Meditation is an ancient tool. It is the ability to withdraw/separate from the mind. This separation brings about the functioning of your true self as an observer of your psychological and emotional processes. There is no spacing out, rather it’s a bright light awareness that can separate from and penetrate beyond physical form. In so doing, we can see the causes of our psychological conditioning, and as the Budda says, once you know how a knot was tied, you can undo it. Regular practising in a group environment slowly develops this latent ability. All you need is patience. The Seekers of Self-Knowledge offer free meditation classes each Tuesday from a location on Queens Road, visit the website for more information and contact details; thessk.co.uk
Clifton boutique Pilates and fitness studio MOHIITO is launching brand new six-week ‘Activate’ challenge from January. This is your chance to explore new ways of moving, and get the accountability and support you need for positive change, all tailor-made for your body. ‘Activate’ includes six weeks of group or 1:1 sessions (in Reformer Pilates, Barre, Mat Pilates and Circuit classes), regular check-ins and nutrition guidance – all wrapped up in a supportive community vibe that's all about lifting each other up. If you’re new to Pilates, or are looking for a way to try something new, the expert instructors are ready to help you make 2025 your strongest year yet.
For more details visit mohiito.com/activate or email hello@mohiito.com
Did you know your foot strength and balance is linked to your pelvic floor function? Alma Physiotherapy is award-winning, and committed to approaching the body as a whole. All four of its musculoskeletal physiotherapists are pelvic health trained, as well as having experience in supporting men and women in elite sport.
Why is a whole body approach important? The pelvic floor and diaphragm muscles aren’t usually included in diagnostic assessment, and this means that issues can often otherwise be missed. Our pelvic floor can cause hip and back pain, as well as issues with incontinence, pain in pregnancy and during sexual intercourse. Pelvic floor issues in general are a huge barrier to exercise, and can deeply affect our mental health. Postsurgical breast or abdomen support, recurrent UTI’s, prolapse, post-birth, perimenopausal or bowel issues are important to address early to protect from later problems.
All Alma Physiotherapy physios work closely alongside in-house Pilates and yoga instructors, and have complementary support therapies, such as massage, scar therapy, trauma support, nutrition, hypnotherapy and acupuncture to help you on your healing journey. Internal examinations are always optional, and informed consent is extremely important to the whole team. almaphysiotherapy.co.uk/book-online
If you're new to mindfulness or seeking a deeper connection with your practice, The Sharpham Trust offers the perfect setting to explore your well-being. Nestled on the tranquil banks of the River Dart, near Totnes, South Devon, this internationally-recognised centre combines mindfulness retreats with nature immersion in various venues on the beautiful Sharpham Estate.
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by modern life's demands or longing to reconnect with your authentic self, Sharpham provides guided meditations, relaxation and quiet contemplation within stunning natural surroundings. With 40+ years of experience, Sharpham creates a safe, nurturing space to discover tools to support your mental and emotional health.
sharphamtrust.org
Can you tell us a little more about yourself and why you opened a clinic in Bristol?
I am Professor Mark Whiteley, consultant venous surgeon and executive chairman of The Whiteley Clinic, the UK’s leading vein clinic and an internationally recognised centre of excellence for varicose vein treatments and pelvic congestion syndrome.
The Whiteley Clinic is known throughout the vein world for our multi award-winning research and innovative treatment methods, leading to the lowest possible recurrence rates and high long term patient satisfaction.
I was born in Bristol (Condover Road in Brislington), went to Henleaze School and trained in surgery at The Bristol Royal Infirmary and Weston General Hospital – and so when the chance came to return to Bristol with my clinic, it was like coming home.
What are varicose veins and the typical visible symptoms?
Varicose veins are abnormally large bulging veins that can be seen pressing out the skin of the legs or vulva/scrotum when standing or sitting. They bulge because of the pressure of the blood inside them. This occurs because the underlying veins have failed valves, reversing the blood flow from the heart and back into the veins.
Visible varicose veins in the legs can cause tired, aching, heavy legs and swollen ankles but can also lead to red or brown stains around the ankles, bleeding, leg ulcers (open sores), or blood clots (DVT).
What are hidden varicose veins and what are the signs to look out for?
“Hidden varicose veins” is the name given to the same underlying problem. but without bulging veins, and therefore they cannot be seen.
As such, these patients have the same problems and risks as those who have visible varicose veins, but do not know that they have them because they are not visible on the surface. They might be hidden because they are too deep in the leg, or because they are hidden deep inside the pelvis.
Hidden varicose veins in the legs still cause tired, aching, heavy legs but within the pelvis can cause an aching feeling, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder, pain during intercourse, lower back pain, hip pain and haemorrhoids of the vulva or vagina in females or the scrotum in
One in 3 (30%) of women attending gynaecology outpatients with chronic pelvic pain have pelvic hidden varicose veins, known as pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) or pelvic venous disorders (PeVD). Unfortunately, these conditions are not recognised by most gynaecologists and these patients are frequently told that they have endometriosis or that there is "nothing wrong with them". It is estimated that approximately 1 million women in the UK are suffering from pelvic pain due to PCS and are not being given the diagnosis by their gynaecologists.
However, with specialised venous duplex ultrasound scanning, the underlying problem can be found and curative treatment planned.
Although many doctors still think veins are easy, research has shown that there are many different patterns of veins disease – many relatively easy to treat for the specialist, but often there are complexities that cause early recurrence if missed. Venous duplex ultrasound scans at The Whiteley Clinic are performed by a team of dedicated Vascular Scientists/Sonographers, allowing the Whiteley Clinic trained consultants to devise a complete and personalised treatment plan for each patient.
All treatments are walk-in walk out and performed under local anaesthetic, reducing the risks of general anaesthetic, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
If you are concerned about your varicose veins or experiencing leg or pelvic pain, then please call The Whiteley Clinic on 0330 058 1850 or email info@thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk to book your consultation.
1 Litfield Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3LS www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/clinics/bristol-clinic/
The whole ‘New Year, New Me’ thing never really lasts long, does it? Promising yourself that you’ll tune into Yoga with Adriene every day isn’t for everyone, so why not avoid the short-lived resolutions and learn how to implement sustainable changes instead? If you like the sound of that, we’ve collated a list of our new book recommendations for changing your mindset and bettering your life in the long term... And also for learning to speak like a Gallagher (because any new talent counts as personal growth, right?).
The Twenty-Something Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age by Dr Meg Jay, HarperCollins. Larkin said it first: “I feared these present years, the middle twenties, when deftness disappears, and each event is freighted with a sourceencrusting doubt, and turned to drought.” And that was in the 1940s. God, imagine if he’d had to contend with TikTok and Trump as well?! Dr Meg Jay provides practical solutions for an age-old range of problems, as she expertly guides readers through finding purpose and embracing uncertainty without unravelling. So, whether you know someone going through them or you’re knee-deep in the middle, take this as a survival guide for the young and fearful. | £16.99
Less - Stop Buying So Much Rubbish: How Having Fewer, Better Things Can Make Us Happier by Patrick Grant, HarperCollins
Need to cleanse yourself of the post-Christmas consumer guilt? Well, just make this one final purchase, and then start learning how to appreciate a back-to-basics wardrobe. Clothier and clothes-lover Patrick Grant has turned his state-of-theworld despair into a careful consideration of how we can make ourselves happier by rediscovering the joy of living with fewer, better-quality things. | £22
Ebb and Flow by Tiffany Francis-Baker, Bloomsbury Tiffany FrancisBaker is stripping the wellbeing question right back to its core with a guide to seasonal living. We’re all guilty of complaining about the price and quality of strawberries in November, but Francis-Baker is teaching us how to roll with the punches and live as the earth intended, to improve mind, body and soul. Her efforts are helped by the fact that the book is beautifully illustrated and extremely aesthetically pleasing, of course. | £20
How to speak Oasis by Professor Mads
Forrit, HarperCollins
If you’re looking for a slightly less existential New-Year read but still want to change a habit, why not put down the Duolingo and instead learn to speak like our most famous marmiteflavoured Mancs? Take ‘New Year, new me’ to different regions, eh our kid. As you were. | £8.99
How to Think Like Socrates by
Donald J. Robertson, Macmillan
What did the Romans (and Greeks) ever do for us? If looking forward isn’t working, try turning back to advice from ancient thinkers. For anyone who’s read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, you’ll know that the old guys had some pretty good points. Cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist Donald J. Robertson’s new book is a comprehensive guide to Socrates, and effectively modernises the Athenian philosophy to teach us how it can continue to guide everyone to this day. | £22
lepharoplasty, a surgical procedure to treat excess eyelid skin, has become increasingly popular among individuals seeking both functional and cosmetic improvements to their eyes. To shed light on this procedure, we spoke with consultant ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon Miss Gemma Manasseh, a specialist in functional, reconstructive and cosmetic eyelid surgery, and complex cataract surgery. Here, she explains the ins and outs of blepharoplasty, its benefits, and who might consider it.
To start, could you explain what blepharoplasty is and what it entails?
Thank you for having me. Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin, fat or muscle around the upper and/or lower eyelids. This can improve the appearance of the eyes and give them a more youthful, refreshed look. It may also be performed for functional reasons, particularly when excess skin on the upper eyelids, known as dermatochalasis, obstructs the vision.
Who would be an ideal candidate for blepharoplasty and why would they seek it?
Ideal candidates are typically those in good health and have concerns about hooded upper eyelids or puffy lower eyelids. Individuals are typically in their 40s and older as the effects of aging lead to reduced elasticity and stretching of skin. The excess upper eyelid skin may be causing functional problems, such as heaviness of the lids or impaired superior and peripheral vision. Individuals may also experience soreness and irritation of the skin between the folds of the eyelids. Others may be seeking the procedure for cosmetic reasons, such as wanting to reduce the appearance of tired or aging eyes and have a brightened, refreshed look. Commonly, individuals have a combination of concerns. They may notice a shadowing of their vision and at the same time feel self-conscious about a hooded appearance of their eyes. Blepharoplasty can address both these issues in one procedure.
What does recovery from blepharoplasty look like?
The recovery from blepharoplasty is usually straightforward and easily tolerated. Patients will experience swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort for the first week or two. The sutures are removed in clinic one week following surgery. I usually recommend taking about a week off work and avoiding strenuous activities for two weeks. By the third or fourth week, most of the swelling has subsided, and patients can see the results more clearly. Scarring is minimal, as the incisions are strategically placed within the natural creases of the eyelids. Over time and with appropriate care, scars fade significantly and are often barely noticeable.
Are there risks or complications associated with blepharoplasty?
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Thankfully, they are relatively rare when the surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon. All surgery carries a risk of infection or an adverse reaction to the sutures or anaesthesia. After blepharoplasty, some patients may experience dry eyes or difficulty closing the eyes fully - this tends to be temporary and resolves once the eyelids have fully healed. There may be slight asymmetry in the results. In very rare cases, a second operation is required. Therefore, it is crucial to have a detailed consultation beforehand in which the individual’s concerns and treatment goals are thoroughly explored, as there are often a number of treatment options available. My approach is to ensure my patient has a full understanding of the potential risks and benefits of each option before reaching a treatment decision together.
How does blepharoplasty differ when performed by an ophthalmologist like yourself, as opposed to other specialists?
As an ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon, I have extensive training in both eye health, eyelid structure and function, and the unique interaction between these structures. This dual expertise allows me to approach blepharoplasty with a strong emphasis on eye safety, ensuring that eyelid function is preserved and the potential risks caused by “over-doing” blepharoplasty surgery are avoided. Patients often find reassurance in knowing that their vision and eye health are prioritised throughout the process. Ophthalmologists are also trained in intraocular microsurgery, a practice that requires meticulous precision. Having blepharoplasty surgery carried out by an ophthalmologist with oculoplastic subspecialty training, you can feel confident that your surgery will be approached with the same level of precision and perfectionism required for intraocular microsurgery.
What advice would you give to someone considering blepharoplasty? Do your research and consult with a qualified and experienced oculoplastic surgeon. Make sure to ask about their specific training and experience with blepharoplasty. Be clear about your goals and don’t hesitate to ask questions during the consultation—it’s vital that you feel confident and comfortable with your decision. Lastly, keep in mind that this is a highly individualised procedure. What works for one person may not be right for another, so having a tailored treatment plan is essential.
In closing, how do patients typically feel about their results?
Patients often tell me they feel more confident and that their eyes look brighter and less tired. Only last week a patient thanked me for "giving me the gift of my eyes back”. For those who had functional issues, the improvement in vision and comfort can be substantial. It is very rewarding to see how this procedure can make such a significant difference in someone’s confidence and quality of life.
Blepharoplasty can be a transformative procedure for those seeking to enhance their appearance or address functional concerns. With experts like Miss Gemma Manasseh, patients can feel assured they’re in capable hands. If you’re considering blepharoplasty, consult with a qualified specialist to explore your options. ■
To make an appointment contact: 0117 369 1179
Email: office@theeyeunit.co.uk www.theeyeunit.co.uk
The founder of local wedding and event florist Femme Petale, Gemma Felton, has won the title 'Wedding Florist of the Year –South West' as part of The Wedding Industry Awards, which took place recently at Aldwick Estate. This award will see Femme Petale enter into a national final, taking place in London this month, where Felton will find out if her business scoops the Wedding Florist of the Year title.
“Receiving the award is a huge honour as it's voted for by my couples,” says Felton. “Bringing people's ideas to life for their weddings is exactly what lights me up, and to receive their votes and support means so much to me.”
The national finals will see the business’ client feedback, work, website and online presence further scrutinised by a panel of industry experts, who will decide the overall winners. femmepetale.com
AI Simulator, a world-first AI-powered platform based in Bristol, has been selected as a consultant for a deep tech toolkit with the world’s largest angel investor community, the American-based Angel Capital Association (ACA).
As the only business from the UK to be used as a consultant, AI Simulator, founded by Ali Kazmi and Saj Hasnain (pictured), will help with best practices for identifying and evaluating investment opportunities and strategies for managing the inherent risk associated with deep tech investments. ACA’s toolkit will be rolled out to its 15,000member community for those interested in deep tech investment opportunities, helping to bridge the gap between capital and innovation and accelerating the development of groundbreaking technologies that address global challenges. angelinvestsim.com
Bristol Pride has picked up the award for Best Non Music festival in the 2024 UK Festival Awards. The award highlighted the fortnight of multiple events that happen during Bristol Pride; Comedy, theatre, sport, circus, cinema, and more are all part of the 40+ events that take place over 26 Bristol Venues.
“It's incredible to win in the Festival Awards, such national recognition for Bristol Pride is so great to receive.,” says Pride Director, Daryn Carter. “We are so proud of the event that we have created here, but it's the performers, public and incredible volunteers that make Pride such a special event.
Bristol Pride has confirmed that the main event will continue to take place on The Downs this year (12 July), with over 200 artists expected to perform across five stages at the annual event. Wristbands are already available to the public for the fortnight of events, which will run from 28 June. bristolpride.co.uk
South West Race Equity Research Network has secured just under £1 million in funding to counteract power imbalances in traditional research ecosystems and re-imagine the role of knowledge-production, centring Black and Minoritised people, delivering tangible positive change in the region. The money has been awarded through the implementation phase of the Community Research Networks programme, which has been funded by UK Research and Innovation, and will be delivered by The Young Foundation, a non-profit organisation that specialises in community research and social innovation. youngfoundation.org/community-research-networks
In October, Labour introduced several reforms to Inheritance Tax (IHT), including:
• Extending the freeze on nil-rate bands until 2030
• Subjecting pensions to IHT from 2027
• Adjusting Business and Agricultural Reliefs
Reviewing your estate plan now could help you navigate these reforms.
With the nil-rate bands frozen, it’s important to maximise tax efficiency
An additional allowance called the “residence nil-rate band” offers up to £175,000 in IHT relief if you leave your primary residence to direct descendants.
Combined with the regular nil-rate band, these allowances enable you to pass on up to £500,000 tax-free and up to £1 million if you’re married.
Giving gifts while you’re alive could be tax-efficient
Giving gifts while you’re alive can be an effective way of reducing your IHT liability.
Each tax year, you have an “annual exemption” that allows you to give gifts up to a certain amount without the value being added to your estate.
Assets held in trusts will usually still be exempt from IHT
Assets placed in trust are generally no longer considered part of your estate for IHT purposes, provided the transfer meets specific conditions.
It’s a good idea to consult a financial planner before establishing one.
We are Independent Financial Advisers who specialise in retirement planning and estate planning Get in touch
If you would like a review of your pensions and investments and whether you are on track to achieve your financial goals, please contact us for a free consultation.
We’re a city of lovers, learners and leaders – and something to be particularly proud of is the mark Bristol’s big thinkers have made on the global map when it comes to deep tech and creative technologies. We’re shining a light on some of the brightest local sparks who are changing the world with their great ideas...
Sure, Bristol may be world-renowned for its street art. For its musical influence. Its TV and film production prowess. Its near-maniacal enduring fascination for hot air balloons no matter how long you’ve lived here. But recent years have also seen these streets become a hotbed for technology, recognised the world over.
We know that ‘technology’ is a pretty broad term, and many tribes of thought from diverse communities thrive under the omniscient technology umbrella. But it turns out that Bristol’s particularly excelling in deep tech and creative tech universes. Of course there are many, many other areas of technical thought currently being flooded with ideas and solutions born of Bristol brains, but for the sake of sticking to some New Year light reading (and to be able to actually squeeze an unfathomably large topic into a monthly lifestyle magazine) we’ve kept our laser focus on just a few bright lights working hard locally to conceive, support, fund and make reality some truly awe-inspiring tech solutions.
Minds over matter
Not au fait with deep tech? This area of thought is often groundbreaking, is heavily research-driven and often aims to problem solve –requiring lots of investment. It can involve engineering, AI, quantum
computing and bioengineering. Typical applications might include medical marvels and solutions to tackle climate change.
Creative tech might feel like more familiar territory to some, focusing on how we can further push the boundaries of ways to capture and create sound and visions – lifting creative ideas from someone’s brain and making it a reality.
So, who’s in the business of making our world a more creative and scientifically advanced place, and based in Bristol? Of course, the city’s incredible research universities – UWE and the University of Bristol –are where many ideas originally form. Many of these teams evolve into individual start-ups, a great deal of whom have been able to get ahead thanks to the city’s hubs and incubators; there are major events, like the annual Bristol Technology Festival (last held in October 2024); and not forgetting organisations like techSPARK, which is a not-for-profit Bristol and Bath growth network – helping to facilitate conversations, upskill individuals and generally helping to make the magic happen.
Here’s our very own showcase of local success stories – which is by no means exhaustive – who are part of the fourth industrial revolution, catapulting us into the next phase of humanity…
Science Creates (sciencecreates.co.uk) is a Bristol-based deep tech ecosystem that helps scientists and engineers accelerate their ideas, creating disruptive businesses from scientific discoveries. The organisation invested in the region’s potential to become a deep tech centre outside of the Golden Triangle [the area formed by the university cities of London, Oxford and Cambridge] – this was directly driven by deep tech founders who needed infrastructure, investment and a network to grow their start-ups and who couldn’t find the support they needed locally. The impact and quick growth of this ecosystem is a testament to this (previously) untapped potential.
“Science Creates helps scientists and engineers turn their groundbreaking discoveries into inventions that can significantly improve the health of people and the planet”, says Ben Hetherington, head of outreach. “Our mission to support these technical founders spans decades and starts at an early age – much before they even know they will become founders.”
Deep tech has the potential to revolutionise how we live and solve major global challenges that require bold, disruptive innovation, according to Francis Lister, head of platform., who adds:“The first step to long-term impact is empowering people at the forefront of research and discovery to deliver the next breakthroughs.”
How does all this work look in practice? Science Creates is helping the growth of this the sector by providing lab, office and event space to deep tech companies to develop their technologies; supporting deep tech start-ups nationally with venture capital investment; enabling more technical founders to build deep tech start-ups through training, resources, mentorship and partnerships; and inspiring the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs through charitable programmes. One such programme is Science Creates Outreach, which is actively fundraising to diversify the scientific workforce and empower the next generation of innovators through school workshops with real-life scientists, site visits, work experience opportunities and internships. Later on, when people have started a career in research through a PhD or a postdoc, Science Creates can support them with training (accelerator programmes and events) to help them start their journey as deep tech founders.
“Bristol has a history of being the home to innovators and entrepreneurs, and it has a remarkable academic talent pool that produces
world-class research,” says Ashley Brewer, head of property. “Scientists already have some of the most important ingredients to become entrepreneurs - drive, resilience, problem-solving ability, creativity – but they need specialist support, infrastructure and investment to succeed.” Since 2017, Science Creates has designed and built two purpose-built incubators for deep tech – over 45,000 sq ft of specialist lab, office and event space. OMX, its upcoming third incubator, will increase this footprint to more than 75,000 sq ft and provide much-needed lab space for start-ups to grow and continue developing their technologies – big breakthroughs at the intersection of research fields such as quantum, AI and biotechnology, where the team is seeing significant leaps.
Science Creates’ flagship accelerator programmes support scientists with innovations in engineering biology – a growing field using modern breakthroughs in biotechnology to solve critical problems in medicine, the environment and food security – helping them to navigate the early stages of setting up a new company through training, funding and expert mentoring. These accelerator programmes have supported 43 entrepreneurial scientists from across the UK and resulted in 35 UK-funded EngBio companies being founded since summer 2023; five of these are Bristol-based. neo-fossil is a Science Creates-based start-up co-founded and led by Dr Joshua Ress-Garbutt, which is engineering bacteria to capture and store carbon dioxide for centuries, mitigating the impact of carbon emissions on global warming and environmental damage. Founded in 2023 during the accelerator programme, neo-fossil was one of 20 graduate companies to be awarded a £50k feasibility award from UK Research and Innovation at the end of the programme, and has since gone on to raise £60,000 from Bethnal Green Ventures. neo-fossil.com
Scarlet Therapeutics is a start-up based in Science Creates’ Old Market incubator and is also backed by SCVC, Science Creates’ venture capital arm. The start-up has developed ‘lab-grown’ blood that can be used therapeutically to treat a number of diseases, including metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cancer. The company is using their technology to initially focus on two rare metabolic diseases, hyperammonemia and hyperoxaluria, that are due to the build-up of toxic by-products in the body. scarlet-tx.com
A whole new world MyWorld (myworld-creates.com) is exploring the future of creative technology innovation by pioneering new ideas, products and processes – bringing together 13 partners including the likes of Watershed, BBC, local universities, BT, Bristol Old Vic and Aardman. The programme (funded by £30 million from UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund) is creating the opportunity for businesses to access premarket research, world class facilities, funding, tools and training.
“There's a lot that comes to mind when thinking about why Bristol has been such a success in becoming a home to creative tech, and I think that you can look at a unique combination of tangible and intangible qualities,” explains Oscar De Mello, MyWorld’s operations director. “From its location, facilities, and talent pool to its vibrant culture and natural sense of creative disruption to the status quo, with solutions found in community and connectedness that help to just make things better. This is at the core of the city and its people, and really drives the creative energy of the place.
“The tech sector here has grown significantly over the past decades, supported by substantial investment – some of the highest levels in the UK outside London. The presence of two excellent universities in the city further strengthens this ecosystem by fostering spinouts and enabling collaboration between academia and industry.”
Oscar notes that Bristol also excels in production, particularly in areas like natural history filmmaking, which has flourished here for years. This foundation in both creative and technical industries has been critical to the city's growth as a leading creative tech hub and the marriage of these industries reflects the collaborative spirit for which the city is known.
“Another key factor is Bristol’s culture,” he adds. “The city is known for its anti-conformist and disruptive spirit, which creates a welcoming and inspiring environment for creative innovation. It’s important to recognise in all of this that many of those born or drawn here who work in creative tech are freelancers, they play a huge role in driving forward and supporting the industry, but many are currently facing challenges due to shifts in the film and TV industries.
“As for MyWorld, the program has built upon the strong foundation that already exists in the region. Funded by the UKRI Strength in Places Fund, MyWorld has leveraged Bristol's existing strengths in research, production, and technology. It has helped amplify the fantastic work already being done in the sector, driving further growth and innovation while cementing Bristol's position as a leader in creative tech.”
A major milestone for MyWorld this year will be the opening of a new research facility at the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, often referred to as ‘The Sheds’. The space is equipped with advanced tools, including a 9x3m LED wall, motion capture, volumetric capture, and live broadcast capabilities. Additionally, the facility is adjacent to a 35-seat Dolby Atmos-level Smart Cinema, which allows for monitoring audience reactions, including physiological and neurological responses, to the content they’re watching. This setup enables creators to iterate and refine their work based on real-time audience feedback.
The studio and cinema in combination function as an experimental lab for exploring large-scale, live, immersive performances. This means businesses can conduct research on how to capture a performance, such as a concert or sporting event, and stream it in real time to an audience in a different location, maybe in a virtual venue that only exists in a digital space. This not only allows a whole new kind of experience with greater artist-audience interaction, but by using a virtual venue you make this kind of experience more accessible than a physical venue.
A standout example is the collaboration between MyWorld partner Bristol Old Vic and the production company Complicité with the performance Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead During several performances, audience members were equipped with monitoring devices to measure their physical responses to the show. These included heart rate, skin conductance and movement patterns. Simultaneously, the performance was broadcast live to a separate group of viewers watching in an ‘at-home’ environment. These remote viewers were also monitored in the same way, enabling researchers to compare the physiological responses of in-theatre audiences with those of ‘at-home’ viewers. This study offered valuable insights into how live, in-situ experiences, and remote live-streamed experiences differ, paving the way to improve future broadcast versions for remote audiences. Beyond the technological innovation, this work illustrates the transformative potential for the arts. Many theatres are looking at diversifying their revenue streams as they try to mitigate reliance on Arts funding that is increasingly uncertain at the moment. Live streaming capabilities are a great way to achieve this, but capturing the liveness and sense of 'being there' through a live stream is a real social and technological challenge; one that MyWorld is helping to solve.
Bristol Innovations is the University of Bristol’s innovation arm that manages some hubs and incubators including Engine Shed, SETsquared Bristol (setsquared-bristol.co.uk) and the Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre (QTIC). It’s the perfect example of how different organisations are collaborating to achieve technological breakthroughs. Engine Shed is a physical innovation hub next to to Temple Meads station, providing space, membership, training and events to individuals and businesses; meanwhile, QTIC is a cutting-edge quantum innovation hub in the city centre, providing round-the-clock access to affordable, dry laboratory spaces that are of a high spec – helping deep tech companies launch, grow and connect. The SETsquared partnership is a collaboration between six leading research-led UK universities (Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey).
Kelpi secured £4.35m investment last summer to take its pioneering biomaterial technology to market. The Bristol-based company and former SETsquared Scale-Up Programme member is developing a unique biomaterial from seaweed, a move which will see supermarket shelves shift from single-use plastic packaging to more sustainable alternatives. Seaweed can significantly contribute to combating climate change by absorbing carbon emissions, regenerating marine ecosystems, and serving as a feedstock for renewable bioplastics. As it grows, it absorbs and stores carbon, while simultaneously de-acidifying and re-oxygenating the ocean. Kelpi harnesses the power of seaweed to create unique biopolymers, which are then used to manufacture its bioplastic coatings for use across retail. Consequently, each piece of packaging made from seaweed reduces the demand for fossil fuels and lowers carbon dioxide emissions. kelpi.net
SETsquared Bristol has been around since 2002, supporting hundreds of promising start-ups. Founders can tap into a vast array of resources and benefits. Similar to the other incubation organisations, it offers coaching, training, workspaces and a vibrant network of advisors and investors.
Over the last five years alone, SETsquared Bristol has raised £276 million total investment, which created 1,175 jobs.
“At SETsquared we are proud to support some of the most innovative emerging tech entrepreneurs in the UK,” says Rosie Bennett, innovation lead at Bristol Innovations. “Bristol's success as a home for exciting tech startups can be attributed to its robust ecosystem, talented workforce, focus on innovation and sustainability, and high quality of life. The city has cultivated a strong collaborative environment of business networks, accelerators and investment initiatives to support start up growth.
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health crisis, where antimicrobial medicines are no longer effective in killing or slowing the growth of microorganisms. This resistance renders standard treatments ineffective, leading to persistent infections, longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality.
However, SETsquared Bristol member FluoretiQ has developed SCFI (SubCellular Fluctuating Imaging), an advanced optical system designed to analyse nanoscale movements within bacterial cells. The development comes from a collaboration between the medtech start-up and a team of researchers at the University of Bristol, led by Dr Massimo Antognozzi.
This technology can meticulously track and interpret the subtle changes that occur in response to antibiotic treatments, and within just 30 minutes of exposure, accurately determine the state of the cells, whether they are alive, dead, or in the process of dying.
The rapid assessment will allow healthcare professionals to identify the most effective antibiotics for each patient faster, reducing the time needed for treatment while ensuring that the correct medication is prescribed first-time for patients. Using it in clinical settings could significantly enhance the precision and speed of antibiotic selection, a critical factor in the fight against antibiotic resistance. fluoretiq.com
Fairfield High School students Aisha and Jai proved to be excellent ambassadors on a recent panel focusing on knife crime, as part of charity Integrate UK’s project and film production Theatre Boy, which is based around the escalating knife crisis.
Joined by MPs and the Police Commissioner, Aisha and Jai spoke articulately about the effects and concerns of knife crime on a community, highlighting that a large part of the problem lies in the lack of places for young people to socialise and integrate (like youth clubs, for example).
Aisha and Jai have been part of the group of students privileged to participate in the creation of Theatre Boy. The initiative, which ran across a select number of Bristol secondary schools, offered fascinating and enlightening workshops relating to discrimination. Knife crime was chosen as the theme for this year’s video which, after its launch, will be shared with schools nationwide.
fairfield.excalibur.org.uk
Years 5 and 6 in Redmaids’ High Junior School were delighted to hear author Natasha Farrant reading from her latest adventure book, The Secret of Golden Island. The girls were spellbound as the tantalising world of the book came to life in their imaginations.
Natasha’s 2020 book, The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk, won the Costa Children’s Book award, and her group of adventure stories extends to two further books: The Children of Castle Rock and The Rescue of Ravenwood. The recently-opened fiction library has already hosted many events and activities. Last term, there were book clubs, creative writing workshops and writing competitions, with lots more to come.
redmaidshigh.co.uk
Year 10 and 11 pupils from Badminton School, Bristol, have won the ‘Popular Vote Award: Years 10-12', in the 10 Shot Film Awards. They created the film Love is a Challenge as part of the project with The One Day Film School. The film was created by Lily, Izzy, Emily, Ava and Arisha in Year 10 and Florence and Emily in Year 11. Their film was shortlisted from over 1,000 others and won the ‘Popular vote award for Years 10-12' category. They were also nominated for Best Cast: Years 10-12.
Suzanne Smith, Emmy Award-winning Casting Director (Band of Brothers, Outlander, Good Omens) and 10 Shot Film Awards Judge, commented: “Beautifully shot. Lovely dynamics between the actors – it is so interesting you can see more when there is no dialogue”.
Watch the film via onedayfilmschool.com/screening-room; badmintonschool.co.uk
At this time of year, the garden lies mostly dormant and its bare bones are revealed, writes Elly West, who explains how this makes it easier to decide on any structural changes, and why midwinter is actually the opportune moment to consider adding a tree to your plot
My house is opposite a huge oak tree, and as I sit in my upstairs office looking out of the window and across the road, I realise how much I appreciate the view, constantly changing with the weather and the seasons.
Oaks are the best trees for biodiversity in the UK, according to the Woodland Trust, with mature specimens supporting around 2,300 wildlife species (not including the multitude of bacteria and other microorganisms).
While we may not have the space, or the patience, in our gardens for an oak, even the smallest plot can benefit from a tree, to add height and structure, plus a sense of permanence. My front garden at home is not large, but has five trees in total: two Japanese maples, a potted lollipop bay, an amelanchier and a magnolia, all earning their keep and providing their separate interest all year round.
At this time of year, the garden lies mostly dormant and its bare bones are revealed, making it easier to decide on any structural changes. When everything has died back, you can plan ahead and see where height is needed, perhaps to provide extra screening or a focal point, and it’s a good time to think about features that aren’t working, and what to remove or add. Trees can also be found at bargain prices during the dormant season, when they may well be sold root-balled or bare-root at a fraction of the cost of their potted counterparts.
A tree makes a great addition aesthetically, providing vertical interest all year round. Trees can frame a view, divide sections of the garden and blur the boundaries, creating the illusion of a larger space. Evergreens provide permanent structure and greenery, while deciduous trees often bring blossom and berries, plus changing foliage colours. Many trees, such as eucalyptus, silver birch or paperbark maple, also have the benefit of interesting and/or colourful bark.
Trees are great for wildlife, providing shelter and food for birds, squirrels, bees, caterpillars, moths and butterflies, plus they provide a good spot to hang bird feeders. They can also help our own physical and mental health, improving air quality and reducing noise pollution, and generally adding to the outdoor serenity that we look for in our gardens.
When choosing a new tree for the garden, perhaps the first consideration is its size and overall form. Although you can always cut back trees that get too large, it’s far better to choose one that is suited to the space to avoid too much maintenance. Trees with airy canopies, such as rowan (Sorbus), crab apples and hawthorn are good in smaller spaces as they filter the light, rather than becoming too dense and dominating the garden. The autumn cherry, Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ is another favourite of mine, producing semi-double, pink-tinged or white flowers from November to March, when not much else is flowering.
Deciduous trees are generally more interesting in terms of seasonal change, but may lose their appeal in winter when the branches are bare. If you want a tree for privacy or to screen an eyesore, then an evergreen option might be better. Photinia ‘Red Robin’ is a popular choice, with attractive leaves that turn from red to glossy green, or try Portuguese laurel, which has slim dark-green leaves and reddish stems. Both of these are easily pruned and trained to different shapes, such as a lollipop or pleached (clear stem, topped with a rectangular framework giving a contemporary look that’s good for adding extra height above a wall or fence). In a sunny and sheltered spot, an olive tree is an attractive evergreen choice, although slow growing. Holly is quick-growing if you don’t mind the prickles, while varieties of pittosporum, such as Pittosporum tobira and P. tenuifolium, although generally considered evergreen shrubs rather than trees, can grow
to several metres in a sheltered spot, and are easy to shape and train to suit the space.
Trees offer scope for ‘layers’ of planting, combined with bulbs, and lowgrowing perennials and shrubs around their base. I love a bit of a woodland theme, underplanting trees with hellebores, ferns and pachysandra, plus bluebells and snowdrops. Smaller trees can be grown in pots, then moved around to suit the season, or to change your garden layout. Japanese maples are a good choice for containers, providing a focal point on a patio or terrace.
A new tree is an investment that could be in your garden for many years to come, so it’s worth taking the trouble to give it the best start. The perfect time to plant is from autumn to spring, as long as the ground isn’t waterlogged or frozen. Dig a large planting hole, as deep as the tree’s rootball, but three-times as wide, breaking up the soil and loosening it in the bottom of the hole. Soak the root-ball thoroughly before planting, and gently loosen the roots to encourage them to grow out into their new space. Make sure the tree is planted at the same height as it was in the pot and no deeper, then refill the hole and firm the soil with your heel to get rid of air pockets.
Larger trees will need staking, and you may also want to add a tree guard if rabbits or deer are likely to be a problem. Finally soak the area with water, add a layer of mulch, and keep watering regularly during dry spells for at least the first year while it gets established.
Ashton Court is a great place to see ancient trees, with the largest cluster of veteran oaks in the country outside of Windsor Great Park. It is home to the renowned Domesday Oak, very much coming to the end of its life, but estimated to be at least 800 years old. If you’re choosing a tree for your garden, Chew Valley Trees has an excellent website
(chewvalleytrees.co.uk) that will help you select the right tree for your space. The RHS website (rhs.org.uk) is another good starting point. n ellyswellies.co.uk
The snowy mesipilus, more formally known as Amelanchier lamarckii, is one of my absolute favourite trees for a small garden. It’s at its show-stopping best in spring, when the starshaped pure-white flowers emerge in combination with the new small bronze leaves, that later turn green. It has a beautiful multi-stem form, and is fairly compact, so needs minimal pruning, which can spoil the shape. Purple-black fruits appear in summer through to autumn, and it also offers vibrant autumn colour. The berries are edible and can be used to make preserves, or as an alternative in sloe gin.
Amelanchier will grow in most soils and locations, but prefers a sunny spot for the best autumn colour. Underplant with spring bulbs such as Narcissus ‘Tete-a-tete’ and fritillaries for an elegant spring display.
Richard Higgs, Chartered Independent Financial Planner
The 2024 Budget announced that from 2027/28, pension funds will count towards an estate's value for inheritance tax (IHT). This change raises questions for those using pensions as IHT-free transfers for future generations.
Taking tax free cash?
Once the new rules take effect, unused pension funds at death will face an IHT charge alongside the over-75 beneficiary’s income tax. This makes it critical to reconsider the timing of withdrawing the Pension Commencement Lump Sum (PCLS).
If the PCLS has not yet been taken, it makes no sense to leave this beyond age 75 once 2027/28 arrives - and it may be sensible to draw cash now. By gifting the cash outright, it could be excluded from IHT if the donor survives for seven years. For those hesitant to gift directly or who require ongoing income, alternative strategies such as Discounted Gift Trusts or inheritance tax-free schemes using Business Relief can help mitigate tax liabilities.
In certain cases, a whole-of-life family trust fund policy might be a valuable tool to address the increased IHT liability created by the pension. Even if the PCLS remains in the estate, it could still result in income tax savings compared to leaving the fund intact post-75.
Different answers depend upon varying just one assumption. The hard truth is that different combinations of estate/pension proportions, available Nil Rate Bands, personal tax rates, beneficiary tax rates, investment returns and investment period will yield different results.
There is no one-size-fits-all rule. Take individual, independent advice!
We are running two seminars - Wednesday 29th January and Wednesday 5th February 1.30pm – 2.30pm at Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road BS9 1BN. Get in touch to book your place and find out more about how the budget impacts your situation. Call 0117 3636 212 or email marketing@haroldstephens.co.uk.
We record regular video updates on a range of later life financial topics - search ‘Harold Stephens IFA’ on YouTube.
50 High Street, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS9 3DZ. Find out more at www.haroldstephens.co.uk
Don’t you just love having a nose around other people’s houses? Especially when they’re picture‐perfect. Leighton James – known as The Property Photographer – gets to do just that, seeing inside some of the UK’s most beautiful homes, and capturing their essence on camera, every day for work. We wanted to find out more about what it’s like to see life behind some of Bristol’s best front doors, and if he has any insights around the city’s interior trends he sees coming up time and again…
I’ve been into photography since I was 11, when my mum purchased me my first camera for my birthday.
Having taking pictures of everything and anything from a young age, I first ventured into interior photography almost ten years ago when my friend Nick, co-founder of Boardwalk Bristol, asked me to take some photos for them. I’d always enjoyed photography, and this opportunity made me realise how much I loved showcasing homes in their best light. It was the perfect way to combine my creative side with a newfound appreciation for architecture, particularly period properties.
I love the challenge of bringing out a home's unique character and charm. Every property tells a story, whether it’s a Victorian terrace with intricate cornicing or a midcentury home with bold design choices. Capturing the atmosphere isn’t just about taking a picture – it’s about understanding how the light, space, and details come together to evoke emotion.
In terms of favourite neighbourhoods in Bristol, I have a soft spot for Clifton and Redland.
Those Georgian and Victorian homes with high ceilings, large sash windows, and original fireplaces are incredible to photograph. Totterdown is another favourite, with its colourful terraced houses neatly stitched along the roads. Each neighbourhood definitely has its own personality, which keeps things exciting.
Each and every home is completely different, however it is fascinating to see certain interior design trends cropping up.
Most recently it’s all been about colour – painted ceilings, colour drenched rooms, colourful kitchen cabinets, even the return of coloured baths and sinks! Open plan living remains a very popular choice and I’ve noticed some really nice ideas to divide rooms with glazing and Crittall doors to keep spaces feeling open. Sliding doors and easy access to outside spaces is something else that I’ve noticed more of. There’s also been an increase in sustainable choices with furniture being reupholstered and home owners opting for VOC-free paints [without volatile organic compounds] and reclaimed pieces.
Houses have changed since I’ve been photographing them. There’s been a huge increase in home offices, reflecting changes in how we live and work since the Covid pandemic. More recently, I've noticed a focus on maximising outdoor spaces, with beautiful garden studios and creative landscaping becoming a regular feature as we enjoy summers at home (when the weather allows!).
My favourite thing about my job is meeting so many interesting people every day.
I love hearing about how they’ve crafted such amazing spaces and I feel very lucky to learn from them not just on the interiors but life in general – I always say my job is a little like therapy. I love having the opportunity to capture their homes and showing them in a new light. It’s always rewarding to hear that my photos made a difference, whether it’s helping a house to sell or showcasing a beautiful kitchen or interior designer’s work. One of the biggest challenges has been working in properties with less natural light, but it’s pushed me to hone my skills and adapt creatively whether that is using lighting or finding new ways to work with the natural light that is available.
Bristol is a city that never ceases to surprise me.
In addition to photographing homes, I’ve taken great pleasure in capturing this wonderful city in short candid films (which I regularly share over on my Instagram page) I have so much to thank Bristol for and these short videos have helped me to showcase my work to an international audience, which is pretty cool! n
Follow Leighton on Instagram @thepropertyphotographerltd and visit his website thepropertyphotographer.com for more information and examples of his work.
An exquisite fully refurbished home in Bristol’s historic Berkeley Square with its own secure parking (5 cars) and garden occupying an elevated position with beautiful views over the Berkeley Square gardens to the front and Cabot Tower to the rear.
3 Berkeley Square totals c4,500 sq ft and has been converted to a very high standard providing 7 ensuite bedrooms plus a self contained basement currently fitted to a high standard as treatment rooms but would suit a self contained flat (STP).
Currently producing a gross income of approximately £189k pax with potential to increase the income to approximately £260k
Further information can be obtained via the sole agent: Burston Cook:
Springfield House
8,444 sq ft (784.45 sq m)
A rare opportunity to rent your own self contained HQ office providing open plan floor plates over ground and 3 upper floors, together with secure car parking and bike storage.
Eagle House
5,565—11,840 sq ft (517—1,100 sq m)
Contemporary Grade A office accommodation providing open plan space with collaborative zones to include shared break out areas, auditorium, and bookable meeting rooms. Very affordable rent!
Broad Street, Bristol
3,437—8,880 sq ft (319.3—824.95 sq m)
A substantial period office building within Bristol city centre offered for sale on a freehold basis with vacant possession. The property offers a rare opportunity to acquire an attractive building which can either be sold as a whole or split to provide two self contained buildings.
St Thomas Street
10,465—24,660 sq ft (972—2,291 sq m)
HQ office building with secure parking for 21 cars. To lease as a whole or floor by floor. Would suit other commercial uses. Highly competitive quoting rent.
Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk
Whiteladies Road, BS8 TO LET – POA
693 - 1,010 – 1,703 sq ft (64.4 – 93.7 - 158.10 sq m)
Attractive offices, refurbished to a contemporary standard. Car parking also available by separate negotiation. New flexible lease terms available.
Barnack Trading Centre, BS3 TO LET - £13,000 pax
802 sq ft (74.5 sq m)
A mid terrace industrial unit in a fantastic location incorporating first floor offices. On site car parking. Flexible lease terms available.
St Stephens House, BS1 TO LET – POA
6,554 sq ft (609.1 sq m)
Located in a prime city centre location, St Stephens House has been refurbished to provide a contemporary and creative open plan office, available fully fitted. Parking may be available by separate negotiation.
Central Park, Petherton Road
TO LET - £15,000 pa exc
1,572 sq ft (146.03 sq m)
An industrial unit positioned within the popular Central Park Industrial Estate in Hengrove over ground and first floor with rear courtyard for storage. New lease available.
Colston Street, BS1
TO LET – £18.95 PSF
2,620 sq ft (243.4 sq m)
A modern, open plan floor plate which is due to be refurbished throughout to provide contemporary space. 2 parking spaces, passenger lift and bike storage are also available. Very competitive rent!
Berkeley Square, BS8 FOR SALE – POA
4,015 sq ft (372.99 sq m)
A fabulous opportunity to create a magnificent family home in the upper terrace of Clifton’s renowned Berkeley Square, with ample parking. The property also suits investors seeking to benefit from high levels of income currently produced within the property.
Denmark Street, BS1 TO LET - POA
2,213 sq ft (205.61 sq m)
An exceptional unit positioned on Denmark Street in Bristol City Centre with very high levels of pedestrian footfall. Prime for Restaurant Use with planning for commercial extraction. New lease available.
St Mary Street Thornbury TO LET – £15,000 pa 905 sq ft (84.07 sq m)
Open plan ground floor retail premises in a prime position at the St Mary’s Centre. One allocated parking space to the rear and further benefiting from an external seating area to the front.
Etloe Road, BS6 TO LET – POA
1,273 sq ft (118.27 sq m)
A ground floor, self-contained “Class E” premises available to let in the popular suburb of Westbury Park. May suit a range of uses.
Paintworks, BS4 FOR SALE – POA
7,929 sq ft (736.6 sq m)
An iconic, landmark building in the heart of the Paintworks development, providing accommodation over ground and three upper floors. Finished to a very high specification, to include auditorium, lift, high quality M & E and 8 car parking spaces.
As we step into 2025, Bristol’s property market remains one of the most dynamic in the country. With its unique combination of cultural vibrancy, fantastic schools, excellent infrastructure and strong economic foundations, the city continues to attract buyers both nationally and internationally. With a new Government in place and promise of period of stability, what can potential buyers expect this year?
1. Getting the timing right
Often buyers fixate on the question of trying to predict ‘when would be a good time to buy’.
My overriding advice to buyers when asking about timings is to ‘go with what is right for you’. Properties are homes, they provide warmth and shelter for our families and as such, for many, sit outside the investment bracket. For those buyers with the usual triggers for a move, such as newborns and buying bigger, relocating for jobs or schools, or a “downsizer”, the buyer will need to roll up their sleeves and get on with it.
If as a buyer you have got the luxury of being motivated to move but can be flexible to as to when, Spring is often a good time for this type of buyer; with key metrics supporting early April and May as two of the most popular months in England to secure a purchase.
That said, 2024 has been unusually sluggish, so it may be that a vendor of a property still on the market from 2024 into 2025 might be minded to accept a sensible bid in part through concerns over competing with any fresh stock that the New Year brings.
With a sensible eye on what is going to happen over the next few years, any acquisition between now and the middle of next year would be a sensible one.
The snap July election, called in May 2024, followed by a long summer holiday and then negative rhetoric ahead of the Autumn Budget meant many homeowners put on pause their plans to sell (and buyers paused their decision to buy) in what would have traditionally been the busy end of Spring, and early Autumn markets. Speaking to selling agents, those vendors who put their plans on hold, are more motivated than ever, with many predicting the traditionally busy spring market may be brought forward to earlier in the New Year.
Stock levels as a whole look set to remain low, with a compound1.1% drop over the past five years through to 2023 to 2024. The prefinancial hey days of circa 1.5m (UK) transactions look long gone –with circa 1.15m transactions predicted for year-end 2024.
3. An eye on rates
Whilst there is positive expectations around interest rates, and it is plausible they will come down in the first quarter of 2025, the bank rates offered to buyers may hold firmer than the base rate that is set to drop, due in part to predications based around the Autumn Budget and its potential inflationary effect on the economy.
Many are predicting both bank and mortgage rates to be a lot lower in several years’ time, with many buyers therefore sensibly proceeding with purchases on a two-year fixed rate, or tracker rate and then looking to remortgage in 2026 / 2027.
4. Prices stabilising
After the rapid price hikes of the early 2020s (some parts of Bristol saw +20%), driven by pandemic-induced relocations and low-interest rates, 2025 could see a period of relative stabilisation.
While Bristol's average property prices remain higher than the national average (circa £354,000 v £302,000), the pace of growth is expected to slow, offering a window of opportunity for buyers.
Analysts predict that annual price growth may hover around 2-3% across England and Wales, providing a more balanced market compared to the double-digit increases at the start of this decade.
Expectations are that Bristol will perform slightly better than the national average however, so it might be worth factoring in potential house price growth of circa 3-4% for the wider Bristol market, coupled with the possibility of slightly more competitive bidding in the peak months of Spring and early Autumn.
Whatever stage you are at in the search for your perfect home, we’d love to chat.
Lili Oliver
Oliver Roth Property Consultants T: 0117 9877 828 | E: home@oliverroth.co.uk
Clifton, Bristol | Guide Price £1,750,000
A stunning circa 3735 sq. ft Grade II* Listed townhouse with a beautiful light-filled kitchen, west facing balcony and landscaped front & rear gardens.
Elegant Grade II* Listed family home | Superb retained period features throughout | Family kitchen / dining room with an architect designed fully-glazed rear extension | Gym and two hall floor reception rooms | Charming first floor drawing room with a canopied balcony | Five double bedrooms over the upper floors and two bath / shower rooms | Fully fitted top-floor utility room | Deep front and rear gardens with private lane access to the rear | Excellent storage throughout | Pedestrian access to a rear lane In all circa 3735 sq. ft (347 sq. m)
