Bristol Life - issue 216

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property

X I S ISSU E 216 / CITY SPECIAL 2016

/ £3

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

ISSUE 216 CIT Y SPECIAL 2016 / THE BIG PICTURE

AND THE CIT Y

AND

6 PHOTOGRAPHERS! 1 INCREDIBLE CITY! LOADS OF AMAZING SHOTS!

D O O R S W I D E O P E N / P U T T I N G T H E P I I N P I Z Z A / T H E V O W FA C T O R

PHOTO BY COLIN MOODY

EDITOR’S LETTER / ISSUE 216 / CITY SPECIAL 2016

14

TAKE SIX What happens when you ask a group of Bristol photographers to be tourist guides for the day?

They think it’s all over . . . the ‘it’ in question being the Bristol summer; it’s very nearly over, but not quite.

There’s so much on between May and October that you sometimes find yourself disloyally fancying a weekend off – but only almost. And once November drizzles in, you’ll find yourself poring over those crazily colourful mass ascent photos from the Balloon Fiesta, cobalt skies over Grillstock and mad skills at Upfest with misty nostalgia.

We’re definitely at the tail end of all the outdoor events now, but save a bit of energy for two more big-hitters – the wellie-stomping Valley Fest at Chew Magna, and Massive Attack on the Downs.

Then, and only then, may you start to batten down the occasional hatch and start to leaf through all the autumn brochures. We’ll see you in three weeks time, with slightly more clothing on.

Deri Robins, editor Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram:@bristollifemag

REGULARS / ISSUE 216 / CITY SPECIAL 2016

THE ARTS

M EET T H E T EAM

23 Arts Intro

Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk

Rio, Rio, everything will be OK

Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors: Baz Barrett, Kyle Traynor, Josh Eggleton, Katie Darling, Morgan Matthews, Stella Darcy, Jessica Cook, Becky Male

24 What’s On The events calendar is warming up again as we head into September.

By the next issue it’ll be crazy

30 Open doors

Advertising manager Simon Hawkins simon.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Emma Stroud emma.stroud@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager James Morgan james.morgan@mediaclash.co.uk Commercial director Steve Hawkins steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk

See inside the city’s secret places, and view familiar ones with fresh new eyes

36 Art The Affordable Art Fair returns, affordable being a relative concept, of course

40 The Verdict From Upfest to youth theatre to a preview of the up-and-coming Bristol Biennial, we throw a wide but reassuringly arty net

14

SHOPPING 43 Shopping Intro Have nothing in your home, etc etc

64 Food & Drink

SPORT

Amazing scenes at Cargo, two prestigious openings up from London and the rest of the best of the local food and drink scene

71 Kyle Traynor

48 The vow factor

67 Yes, Chef!

Top tips from a top local photographer

Josh is back: it’s chicken tonight (and most nights, actually) and gourmet feasts at Valley Fest

81 Business Insider

44 Editor’s Choice Working the evergreen floral trend

WEDDINGS

52 Lace, Sparkle and Abandon The spectacular world of Molly Mishi May

FOOD 60 Restaurants The guys putting the Pi into pizza

A MAN’S WORLD 69 Seb Barrett Man’s best friend – and it’s not your girlfriend

Trayning hard

Production and distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager Christina West christina.west@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bristol Life, MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

BUSINESS And it’s a big announcement from us

PROPERT Y 94 Property Showcase Something completely different

About MediaClash We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Salisbury. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs. (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag) and wedding title Vow (@VowMag).

Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help.

Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

DEPARTMENTS 11 75 98

Spotlight Snapped!

Bristol Lives

On the cover We see you, igers Bristol: photo by Colin Moody

BATH: ITS LIFE AND TIMES

ART

WALL FLOWERS Don’t panic; it’s only a calendar. We’re not about to do the ‘only 16 weeks to Christmas’ thing yet. We just decided that there was no need to wait until 2017 to get this burst of Bristol wonderfulness on our walls.

You’ll be unsurprised to hear that there’s a picture for each month, and you’ll probably recognise at least some of the artists – there’s Alex Lucas, with one of her cheeky fox-bothering seagulls; one of Adrian Barclay’s lush Bristol maps; Jenny Urquhart’s colourful balloon scenes; a beautiful impressionist landscape by Huw Richards Evans – but hey, we don’t want to spoil all the surprises.

Get your copies now – we’ve seen them stocked at both Hidden in Clifton Arcade and at Pod on The Mall.

For more: www.artistcalendars.co.uk

COMEDY (AND CHARITY)

STAND UP (AGAIN) It’s a testament to just how revered Bristol’s Slapstick Festival is in the comedy business, that top names on the circuit regularly offer their services to raise money for the event. It’s Europe’s biggest celebration of its kind, attracting an international audience of around 5,000 with its programme of vintage films, live music, television nostalgia and celebrity guests.

This year, the comedy legend that is John Cleese will give a rare solo performance to help the festival. The fund-raising show at Colston Hall on 29 September will see Weston-super-Mare’s most famous son joining long-time Slapstick supporters Barry Cryer, Neil Innes and Rory Bremner; all profits will go towards mounting the 13th Slapstick Festival next January.

“Previously, we’ve managed to supplement ticket-sales income with just one big fundraiser a year,” says Slapstick director Chris Daniels, “but we are really struggling with the budget for Slapstick 2017. Amazingly, though, as word of our difficulty has spread across the comedy circuit, we’ve had huge names saying they’d be delighted to help.

“As a result, we’ll be following up the magnificent Stand Out Stand Up show we’re already hosting on 15 September with Jack Dee, Susan Calman, Jason Manford and Richard Herring, with another stellar night headlined by none other than the unique John Cleese.”

Tickets for both shows are on sale at www.colstonhall.org; book ’em now, Danno.

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SPOTLIGHT

…thoug h this be auty by our favo @caroly urite cap neaton is ture from pro the pres s launch bably this year

r ly early – fo early – real We got up -raiser... in rta cu ta Balloon Fies

the Bristol 1’s cheeky little We love this shot of @Leilaa8 always seems to ily fam this – lfini Arno at girls the city! be getting the most out of

We’re on instagram! Follow us at @bristollifemag, and don’t forget to tag us with your pics Here are some of the people we’re following at the moment, a few pics we took earlier, and some of the top shots that caught our eye this month t 2016 capture Upfes Did any photo @neiljamesb? by e on s thi n better tha

@porthjess’s colourful capt ures are amon the most disti g nctive Bristol pics on insta gram

Benny and Br exit by Odeit h: one of our Upfest memor own ies

t and Lloyds, snapped Two in one – The Kaskelo @paddyo.11 by oon ball air hot a from

We love this rom anti Suspens ion Bridg c vignette taken e by @m b oodycolin y the 319

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INTERIORS SPECIAL

What happens when you unleash the leading lights of igersBristol on an unsuspecting city and ask them to capture familiar landmarks in a fresh new light? Armed only with SLRs, camera phones and Colin Moody’s umbrella, this is what they came up with . . .

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STREET LIFE

W

e put Bristol’s igers queen in charge of proceedings.

If anyone was capable of herding a rogue band of snappers around town without incurring actual police arrest or running up considerable fines for this magazine, it was Jess Siggers.

After meeting for lunch at Bambalan, the team headed to the Bristol Tourist Office.

“We chose six main Bristol landmarks to shoot, but once we set off, we went off the beaten track a bit,” says Jess. “A few extra locations were added as we went along.”

Each of the six chose a favourite location to capture. “I was surprised when Matt and Rich chose Cabot Tower as their joint favourite – because I pass the tower most days of the week, I’ve become a bit blasé about it,” says Jess. “However, my love for it has been reborn. It really is quite spectacular, isn’t it?”

Here’s what else the gang came up with.

JESSICA SIGGERS “I can’t choose between my shot of Colin being Mr Tourist at Banksy’s Well Hung Lover (we were all in hysterics at this point and had to calm down over a gelato) and a shot I took of Rob sending his Bristol

postcard home from Royal York Crescent.

If I was being a Bristol tourist guide for the day, I’d have to show both locations; the juxtaposition of urban and elegant within our city is quite incredible. So I’d do a bit of a street art tour, while also showing off the beauty of some of our Georgian architecture.

“Having lived in Bristol my entire life, I find it impossible to see the town through the eyes of a newbie. However, I think what we all agreed on by the end of the shoot was how it had reinforced how incredibly lucky we feel to be part of this beautiful city and how proud we’d be to show it off to tourists if we were proper guides for the day.” 

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STREET LIFE

JIM COSSEY “I’d take my tourists to Wills Memorial. When you’re walking up Park Street, it’s such a striking landmark, standing gracefully at the top of the road. I’d show my tourists the Grand Hall and the library, and take them up on the Tower Tour to show them Great George, the seventh heaviest bell in the country, then up to the rooftop to see the one of the best views in the city, and to show them how the steep incline of Park Street looks deceptively flat.”

16 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

MATTHEW PRICE “I’d choose Cabot Tower: it captures both the green and urban spaces of Bristol and reveals the geography of the city as well as showing how eclectic it is. Nothing beats seeing a new place from high up; you don’t really get an understanding of a place until you are above it; there, removed from the noise and activity, you get a chance to really reflect and soak in the place.”

RICH CARTER “I would take a visitor on a Bristol Ferry from Temple Quay to Underfall Yard, where we’d have lunch and look at the new visitor centre. From there we’d wander around the harbourside, taking in the views and visiting the ss Great Britain and M Shed museums if we had enough time.”

We loved all Rich’s shots of the above, but couldn’t resist choosing this one of Rob sending his postcard from Royal York Crescent . . . 

STREET LIFE

COLIN MOODY “My favourite photo is the one of the team marching past Bristol Cathedral, because for me, coming to Bristol is so ‘stop and snap that’ all over! I’d take my tourists there because it leads to all those other interesting places. Bristol is a web of places you have to snap, march on and keep at it.” 

18 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

STREET LIFE ROB JONES “My favourite photo of the day was the one taken on Millennium Promenade, leading down to the harbour. It’s a wonderful area and the path leads your eyes perfectly down to the harbour and across to the ss Great Britain.

There’s no better spot to spend a sunny day with a G&T!”

PERFECT PITSTOP OK, by now your tourists are VERY hungry and thirsty. So what will it be? Pizza at Pi Shop? Ices at Swoon Gelato? Or do as we did, and take them to the lipsmackin’, thirstquenchin’, acetastin’, goodbuzzin’, coolfizzin’ dining destination that is Bambalan (it’s also very central)

FOLLOW THOSE GUYS...

Find them on instagram Jess Siggers @porthjess Jim Cossey @jimcosseyphotography Colin Moody @moodycolin319 Rob Jones @robmuch Matthew Price @matthewpriceartist Rich Carter @richimal_bristol

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Music/theatre/film/more

HIS NAME IS RIO* If you know just one thing about David Hockney, it’s probably this: he had a bit of a thing for swimming pools. A Bigger Splash isn’t just his best-known work, it’s one of the most famous Pop Art pieces of the last century – even though he strenuously resisted being pegged by that label.

It was a move to California that inspired Hockney to paint pools, using his trademark bright, sundrenched acrylics. His other lifetime enthusiasm was for the idealised male form – think Peter Getting out of Nick’s Pool – so the poster shown left, commissioned to advertise the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, must have been no push at all.

Hidden Gallery have sourced an original vintage litho poster of the painting, just in time for the Rio Olympics. Susie at the gallery informs us that it’s in superb condition, measures 64 x 101cm, and is yours for £1,950. *OK, we’re almost sure it’s not; but isn’t he a dead ringer for Tom Daley?

Hidden, 8-10 Clifton Arcade, Boyces Avenue www.myhiddenworld.co.uk

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19 August-19 September 2016

O U R T O P S U GGES TI ON S FOR YOU R MON TH

Grant and Robert on the Downs; Goldie’s back at The Wardrobe; Rich brings his hoedown to Comedy Box

Exhibitions UNTIL 21 AUGUST 108TH ANNUAL

OPEN

EXHIBITION . . . for Clifton Arts Club; who else? Over 400 pieces of affordable art at Undercroft Gallery; cliftonartsclub.co.uk UNTIL 24 AUGUST

INTIMATE Six artists explore intimacy and sexuality; at Centrespace; centrespacegallery.com UNTIL 27 AUGUST

LET ME ILLUSTRATE IV Large group exhibition demonstrating many genres and styles; grantbradleygallery.co.uk UNTIL 11 SEPTEMBER

JAMAICAN PULSE Exhibition bringing both classic and Jamaican art to the city; at RWA; rwa.org.uk MOVING TARGETS In punk’s 40th anniversary year, a new exhibition at Arnolfini

explores an attitude that has more than one history and meaning; arnolfini.org.uk

Valley Organic Garden presents her gorgeous large-scale drawings of vegetables; room212.co.uk

UNTIL 18 SEPTEMBER

11 AUGUST-24 SEPTEMBER

STUART WHIPPS: ISLE OF SLINGERS Exhibition drawing together the multiple strands of this artist and photographer’s work; at spikeisland.org.uk

27-31 AUGUST

UNTIL 25 SEPTEMBER

30 AUGUST-14 SEPTEMBER

Plays/Shows 18-19 AUGUST

XAVIER ANTIN: THE ETERNAL NETWORK The first solo UK exhibition of the French artist, with works based on the publishing house Beau Geste; spikeisland.org.uk

THE STORY OF CHILDREN’S TV FROM 1946 TO TODAY Your inner seven-year-old can wallow in nostalgia while your actual seven-year-old looks at Little Weed and asks, Dad, seriously, wtf? At M Shed; bristolmuseums.org.uk

ALEX LUCAS: POLARODDS The Bristol Life fave has a solo exhibition; expect lots of colourful anthropomorphic pieces that will make you smile. At Gallery Twenty Two; gallerytwentytwo.co.uk SHIFTING DIVIDES Contemporary artists embrace drawing and print as an essential part of their creative practice; centrespacegallery.com ALLEZ! ALLEZ! To celebrate the Tour of Britain coming to Bristol, Clifton Contemporary Art shows a selection of Lisa Takahashi’s dynamic linocut prints depicting racing cyclists; cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk

BABYHEAD TOM AND DJ CHEBA Two meteoric stars of Bristol’s musical universe present the best superhero, sci-fi, hip-hop, video mash-up, immersive kids’ show ever to hit Planet Earth. Probably.

At Colston Hall; colstonhall.org 26-27 AUGUST

THE DUMB WAITER The Pigeon Collective bring Pinter’s renowned one-act play to the Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk 24-28 AUGUST

3 LITTLE PIGS Musical duo Stiles and Drew’s CV includes the new score of Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins; their new show should be a shoo-in for Bristol’s young ‘uns this holiday; colstonhall.org

9-11 SEPTEMBER UNTIL 1 OCTOBER

NATASHA CLUTTERBUCK The artist-in-residence at Yeo

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AFFORDABLE ART FAIR See feature page 36. affordableartfair.com/bristol

27 AUGUST

BLOOM PRESENTS A new collective of musicians

W H AT ’ S O N

present the second night of experimental new music at The Wardrobe; thewardrobe.com 30-31 AUGUST

COCKROACHED Taylor has always been alone.

Taylor has always been fine with that. Until they find an orange coat, a radio and a voice on the other end... a new show by emerging company Theatre 63 at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

ARTS

3 SEPTEMBER

MASSIVE ATTACK The local heroes are curating and headlining this sold-out event. With Smith & Mighty, DK Krust, Pinch, Primal Scream and Skepta. gigantic.com ENGLISH NATIONAL BAROQUE ENSEMBLE Baroque ‘n’roll at St George’s with this annual outing of the great concertos; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

30 AUGUST-3 SEPTEMBER

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Lavish new staging of the singing Von Trapp saga; at The Hippodrome; atgtickets.com 1-24 SEPTEMBER

TRAINSPOTTING It’s back! The production of the other Scottish play that blew our tiny little minds earlier this year returns to Loco Klub.

Choose life; choose to sit as far away from the onstage toilet as humanly possible; tobaccofactory.com 9 SEPTEMBER-2 OCTOBER

THE RIVALS Sheridan’s enduring 18thcentury comedy of manners (it’s set in posh Bath) in a major new production directed by Dominic Hill; top cast includes Maggie Steed and Desmond Barrit; bristololdvic.org.uk 12-17 SEPTEMBER

THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ Following previous hits such as Dick Tracy, physical comedy company Le Navet Bete offer a spin on the classic tale that’s a long, long way from Kansas. tobaccofactory.com 14-17 SEPTEMBER

GHOST The timeless story of love, despair, hope and sexy potthrowing; At The Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

Music 27-29 AUGUST

LIVE FROM THE LAWN Tyntesfield’s mini-music festival showcasing upcoming bands, Bristol-based performers and artists from further afield; nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield

8 SEPTEMBER

TRILOGY Ivanov, Gatto and Avanesyan put the excitement back into classical music with thrilling and unique arrangements; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 9 SEPTEMBER

DANIEL O’DONNELL Donegal’s favourite crooner has released a new album called The Hank Williams Songbook, so it’s fair to say you expect to hear a shedload of C&W; colstonhall.org 10 SEPTEMBER

HOT CHOCOLATE Expect all the velour-smooth hits – though not, sadly, original frontman Erroll Brown. At The Hippodrome; atgtickets.com SIMON AND GARFUNKEL THROUGH THE YEARS A journey through the music of the greatest ever folk-rock duo; interviews with Paul and Art, original movie footage and live performances of the hits; redgravetheatre.com 11 SEPTEMBER

RONAN KEATING The boy-band pin-up’s come of age, and he reckons his new material is his best yet, with an acoustic folk sound. Remember kids; life is a roller-coaster, just gotta roide it; colstonhall.org

Comedy 6-8 SEPTEMBER

RICH HALL The deadpan American brings his epic Hoedown to the Comedy Box; expect plainspoken growling indignation and acerbic observations; tobaccofactorytheatres.com 

Clockwise from top left: Jamaica Street artist Dan Parry Jones at Affordable Art; Girl Rising screens at Arnolfini; Sean looking sharp in BBF’s showing of Goldfinger; Alex Lucas and friend, at Gallery Twenty Two

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W H AT ’ S O N

ARTS

Discover Brunel’s Other Bridge during Doors Open Day; the Art (and Paul) of music at The Redgrave 14 SEPTEMBER

STAND OUT STAND UP FOR SLAPSTICK Headliners for the autumn fundraiser include John Cleese, Jack Dee, Richard Herring, Susan Calman and Jason Manford; at Colston Hall; colstonhall.org

Film DURING AUGUST

ROALD DAHL ON FILM AT THE WATERSHED Season of workshops and screenings to coincide with Roald Dahl 100; watershed.co.uk 19-20 AUGUST

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL The festival’s inaugural summer event – a sensory cinema experience that will bring the sights, sounds and smells of some much loved films to life at Arnolfini; bristolfilmfestival.com 20 AUGUST

CUTTHROAT ISLAND The latest offering from Bristol Bad Film Club is “a one-ofa-kind, full-steam-ahead practical pirate event bolted together with minimal attention to thespian proficiency”; bristolbadfilmclub.co.uk.

24-28 AUGUST

CULT SCREENS Classic outdoor film screenings

at Clifton College, from Top Gun to Pulp Fiction etc; wegottickets. com/cultscreens 2 AND 4 SEPTEMBER

BRISTOL SUNSET CINEMA This year at Ashton Court Mansion; The Goonies on 2 September and Close Encounters of the Third Kind on 4 September. facebook.com/ BristolSunsetCinema 3 SEPTEMBER

GIRL RISING Oscar-nominated Richard E. Robbins directs this important film about the power of education to change girls’ lives – and the world. The film follows nine girls battling to get an education in various different countries. arnolfini.org.uk 18 SEPTEMBER

THE GODFATHER LIVE The greatest film of all time (possibly) with Manchester Camerata providing a live orchestral accompaniment. colstonhall.org

Other ONGOING

THE TINKERING SPACE/ MEET THE ROBOTS At-Bristol’s latest hands-on exhibitions; at-bristol.org.uk

27 AUGUST-2 SEPTEMBER

BRISTOL BEER WEEK Showcasing everything beery that the West Country has to offer; the Bristol Craft Beer fest-within-a fest dovetails neatly on 2-3 September; bristolbeerweek.com

3-5 SEPTEMBER

BEE FESTIVAL Yes, a festival devoted to the life and times of the little furry wonders; Botanic Gardens. bristol.ac.uk/ botanic-garden 8-10 SEPTEMBER

2-4 SEPTEMBER

VALLEY FEST Yurts, organic food cooked by top chefs, a laidback family vibe and a line-up that includes The Blockheads and Craig Charles; valleyfest.co.uk

BRISTOL BURLESQUE FESTIVAL Bigger and badder than ever (they say); at Smoke & Mirrors and Jam Jar Collective; bristolburlesquefestival.co.uk

2-10 SEPTEMBER

9 SEPTEMBER-13 NOVEMBER

3 SEPTEMBER

10-11 SEPTEMBER

BRISTOL MINI-MAKER FAIRE Family-friendly showcase of invention and creativity and a celebration of the Maker Movement; at AtBristol bristolmakerfaire.com

11 SEPTEMBER

BRISTOL BIENNIAL Bathe in a rainbow; party in the future; sing to the stars; the artist-led Bristol Biennial 2016 festival takes the theme of In Other Worlds, at various venues; bristolbiennial.org RECORD AND CD FAIR The biggest record fair in the South West is back at Colston Hall; vinyltastic with a few CD traders too. colstonhall.org

PLACE, TIME + ARCHITECTURE 20 years of people and places in Bristol: the Architecture Centre’s retrospective exhibition; architecturecentre.co.uk

DOORS OPEN DAY A once-a-year chance to look behind closed doors (see feature page 30) bristoldoorsopenday.org.

5X15 Five inspirational people offer 15-minute talks on an eclectic range of topics, in an atmosphere more saloon than salon. tobaccofactory.com

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Look slowly and hear the buildings talk Every day we pound the same streets, passing the same familiar landmarks. We spend a lot of time watching out for junctions, potholes and puddles. But for one weekend in September, we can tour the city at a more leisurely pace, look up, go behind closed doors and gaze through windows from the other side By k at i e da r l i ng

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OPENING DOORS

B

ristol Doors Open Day is a key event in The Architecture Centre’s 20th birthday celebrations, and one of the largest programmes in the national Heritage Open Days Festival. It’s been a popular date in the calendar for over two decades but this year, for the first time, the programme offers a whole weekend of activity.

Over 10-11 September, the whole city is invited to enter extraordinary buildings in unexpected places and hear untold stories about the people connected to them.

Anna Farthing is producing the event for the Architecture Centre. So, Anna, what can we expect?

“Bristol Doors Open Day 2016 is all about going further – further afield into new areas of the city as well as discovering more through new ways of exploring,” she says.

“Whatever your interest, whether it’s art, architecture or social history, there are plenty of inviting places to provoke curiosity. It has been a real privilege working with the 80-plus venues and all of the volunteers who provide such an enthusiastic welcome– and as over a quarter of the sites are new to the programme this year, even loyal explorers from the past twenty years will find something interesting and unexpected.” w

IT’S ALL ABOUT GOING FURTHER, INTO NEW AREAS OF THE CITY

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MANY OF BRISTOL’S PERFORMANCE SPACES ARE OFFERING PEEKS QUITE LITERALLY BEHIND THE SCENES

OPENING DOORS

Previous pages: Learn about the architectural design of the awardwinning Southmead Hospital, and watch medical technology in action Left: Doors Open Day is part of Bristol Biennial 2016: In Other Worlds (see preview page 40) Above: Gaol Ferry Steps is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting foodie hubs in the city (photo Jon Craig)

Many of Bristol’s performance spaces are offering sneak peeks quite literally ‘behind the scenes’. Visitors can go backstage at The Bristol Hippodrome and The Wardrobe Theatre, see how objects get animated at The Puppet Place, hear from favourite broadcasters at BBC Bristol and see how The Bottle Yard Studios have transformed a disused industrial space into a vibrant creative production hub capable of hosting Poldark, Sherlock and Wolf Hall.

The weekend also offers a unique chance to get under the skin of the city, or more accurately, beneath the pavement. Tickets to the tours beneath Temple Meads are always snapped up, but there are many other opportunities to explore creepy cellars and dingy tunnels, and not only in the many churches that are opening their crypts. Steady nerves as well as sturdy footwear are required to explore the shadowy labyrinth of Redcliffe Caves, to venture beneath St Nicholas Market and Colston Hall, or to descend into the rock chambers of Clifton Suspension Bridge.

If lofty heights are more your thing, amazing views can be had from the top of the sky-piercing spires of the city centre churches of St Stephen’s, St Thomas the Martyr, St Philip and St Joseph,

locally known as ‘Pip n Jay’. You can also scan the horizon of Westbury-On-Trym from Holy Trinity Church, which is gearing up to celebrate its 1300th year. If you fancy making your presence heard, some churches are also offering one-off bell ringing tasters where you can ‘learn the ropes’.

Hatches and portholes will also be opening among Bristol’s maritime architectural gems on land and afloat. A walk around the Harbourside could include hopping aboard The John Sebastian Lightship, or seeing how Floating Harbour Studios has been converted from a Dutch sand barge. You can learn more about dockside heritage at The Benjamin Perry Boathouse, in the new visitor centre at Underfall Yard or the soonto-be-restored Dock Office alongside the ss Great Britain. For a breather and refreshments, stop off at Wapping Wharf where the independent food outlets that line the new walkway of Gaol Ferry Steps will be laying on special treats.

If all this exploration raises a sweat, you might like to consider how architecture has responded to the needs of personal hygiene over thousands of years. Move over, Bath; Bristol hosts evidence of bathing rituals over centuries that can be seen in the mosaic floors of Kings Weston Roman w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33

OPENING DOORS FOOD FOR THOUGHT Bristol is a foodie capital, and there are many fascinating pit-stops for a spot of selfnourishing during the Doors Open Day weekend.

• Order a meal or a drink in a converted bank at the Old Market Assembly while visiting The Wardrobe Theatre.

•Sample a famous cookie inside the unique spherical restaurant converted from an ancient glassmakers lime kiln in the Doubletree Hotel.

• Indulge in cakes made by volunteers at many venues, including The Julian Trust where 60 meals are produced each night for those most in need.

• Along the new pathway at Gaol Ferry Steps and among the CARGO containers at Wapping Wharf you’ll find several new independent eateries, (see also page 64).

Left: Divine interior, darling: All Saints Church Below: This former fire station is now home to the Creative Youth Network

Villa or the Art Deco trimmings of the rarely accessible Slipper Baths in Southville. And for a contemporary twist on the changing use of the humble loo, visit the Edwardian Cloakroom on Park Row which been transformed from an ornate public lavatory into an artists’ gallery space.

Architecture is the art that is all around us, and Bristol Doors Open Day celebrates every space and place that shapes our city. For one weekend, you, the people of Bristol, are welcome to go under, inside, behind and above buildings that are normally private. Whether your passion is for grand civic institutions, churches, or humble workplaces you are sure to find something of interest. Opening doors can open your eyes to see your city differently.

Bristol Doors Open Day runs on Saturday 10 September and Sunday 11 September. During the weekend over 80 venues in the city will open their doors for visits, talks, walks and workshops. All of the events are free, and some need to be booked in advance. To find out more, www.bristoldoorsopenday.org.uk has a full list of venues, updates and further information.

34 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ARTS

BUYING

ART STRINGS

Yes, the art world can often seem like a closed-off, intimidating space, and to a degree that’s because it is. But it doesn’t has to be that way – and investing in art doesnt need to break the bank – at least, not if you head to the Affordable Art Fair. Still a bit nervous? Read on . . .

‘‘B

uying art is fun and emotionally rewarding,” says Sam Gare, director of Affordable Art Fair Bristol, encouragingly.

“No matter whether your taste runs to street art or more traditional work, you’ll be able to find a piece that will stay with you forever: the key is to buy art that you love.”

Easier said than done, perhaps. But if you do fall for a piece of art, says Sam, there are a few questions you can ask the gallerist to help guide your choice.

For example: where did the artist study, and how widely have they have exhibited? If they’ve trained at a well-known art school, shown commitment to exhibiting, and been picked up by a number of galleries or collectors, these are all ingredients for beginning a successful career.

On the other hand, if the artist was self-taught, don’t be put off: ask where, and how often, they have exhibited, as well as finding out a bit of their backstory – an artist who is really committed will have the tenacity to keep going through the tough years. Find out how well their work has sold, or if they have won any prizes; a piece by an artist whose work is already in demand may make you feel more confident in your choice.

Take a look at the artist’s wider collection of work, and think about whether the piece you like represents their style. Speak to the gallerist about how the work has been made, and what the artist’s inspiration might have been.

An artist will most often make a name for his or herself by developing a consistent body of work, and the gallerists representing them at the fair will be able to talk you through the intricacies of their practice. A piece which uses good quality or rare materials will also command a higher price.

“Exploring work from emerging artists at the very start of their careers can be an exciting way to find pieces for lower price points,” says Will Ramsay, the founder of the Affordable Art Fair.

“Buying work by artists who are just starting out

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not only means you’re potentially investing in a future superstar, but providing early-career artists with the financial support that will allow them to continue developing their practice in the future.”

WORD ON THE STREET

If you have a very Bristol passion for street and urban art, the AAF offers a chance to dip your toes into the exciting art scene of the South West and beyond. “Imagine Beatrix Potter meets Tarantino, and you’d be close to the work of Harry Bunce from Clifton Fine Art,” says Sam Gare.

“Harry has been described as a ‘bucolic street artist’, and his work features a cast of cool and vaguely sinister anthropomorphic animals.

“Rostra gallery will also be bringing the work of Dan Baldwin. Dan’s bold and distinctive work is dense with symbols, colour and imagery about politics and current affairs that delivers an aesthetic thrill whilst also making you think about the world around you.”

THE NEXT YBA?

Tracking back to earlier Affordable Art Fairs, one artist who has made the big time from fairly humble beginnings is Antony Micallef, whose ‘critical pop’ work ‘examines this generation’s complex relationship with consumerism and indulgence.’ When his pieces were shown at Battersea AAF they sold for around £1,000, before being picked by London’s bigger urban galleries and shown alongside the likes of Banksy; today, they can reach the dizzying heights of £300,000.

Chris Levine, a pioneer in the field of light and art, also sold work at the 2004 AAF for around the £1,000 mark. Today, Levine is recognised today as a 21st-century icon, and his work is now selling for around the £46,000 mark.

If you can spot an artist exhibiting this year who’s likely to reach similarly stratospheric heights in the future, you’ll tell us, yeah?

Affordable Art Fair Bristol runs 9-11 September 2016 at Brunel’s Old Station. www.affordableartfair.com/bristol

The sinister-looking bunny and badger are by Harry Bunce; look out, too, for work by the very collectible Jamaica Street artist Dan Parry Jones (top right) and Dan Baldwin’s street artinfluenced pieces

IMAGINE

BEATRIX POTTER MEETS

TARANTINO, AND YOU’D BE CLOSE TO THE WORK OF

HARRY BUNCE

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ad v ertisi n g feat u re H e a lt h

Let’s talk about knee pain Is a bad knee limiting your lifestyle? Mr Nick Howells, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield, reveals the key signs of trouble and ways to manage it.

K

nee osteoarthritis develops over time and can sneak up on you.

When you do begin to experience symptoms, much of the damage may already be done.

Simple measures can go a long way to improving symptoms for many but surgery may be an option once such initial treatments fail.

knee doesn’t have to impact on your quality of life.

Here are the common symptoms: 1. Pain - Pain with activity: knee pain manifests in many ways, including pain that can come on with activity and limit what you can do.

Delayed pain: Pain doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks to be serious. Pain that comes on after activity can be a warning that your knee isn’t performing as it should.

Pain that interrupts sleep: Knee pain that prevents you from falling asleep or you wake up because of pain during sleep.

2. Get strong - Your thigh muscles (quadriceps) provide an important role in supporting your knee joint. This becomes even more important once osteoarthritis develops. Exercises to strengthen them can be beneficial.

2. Limited movement - Difficulty sitting down in a low seat such as in a car or cinema because your knee refuses to bend is a common sign of osteoarthritis. Seizing, catching or grinding of the joint during movement can also indicate advanced deterioration.

3. Lifestyle limitations - It doesn’t matter if you want to climb a mountain or simply prune the garden - any symptom that prevents or limits your ability to do the things you love is cause for concern. With a little help, a bad

Here are the key measures to manage symptoms: 1. Keep moving - Knees with osteoarthritis need to be used. Regular movement to prevent development of stiffness is vital. Daily low impact exercise can really help.

knee pain from advanced osteoarthritis is affecting your quality of life and you really want something done about it.

When to seek help and advice?

Most knee problems don’t require a full knee replacement. There are a number of treatments available, including those discussed here plus physiotherapy and other treatments which may better address your symptoms. This can be discussed and treatment options tailored to suit you in consultation with a specialist. BL

3. Lighten the load - There are many good reasons to lose weight, and looking after your knees is one of them. The heavier you are, the more load knees have to bear and the faster they’ll wear out. Even losing a small amount can make a big difference in knee symptoms.

4. Ease the pain - Most people naturally try to avoid taking medication. Regular pain relief can however allow you to continue safely to achieve measures 1 and 2 more successfully and is really important. Advice should be sought from a health professional to discuss what is most appropriate for you.

What about a knee replacement?

The right time to have knee replacement surgery is when despite simple measures,

Mr Howells holds regular clinics at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield. To book a consultation please call 0117 9110 556, or visit nuffieldhealth.com/consultants/mr-nickhowells for more information.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 39

REVIEWS

The VERDICT A hat-trick of local culture: street art, a celebration of Bristol’s art scene and a corker from the Bristol Old Vic Young Company PREVIEW: BRISTOL BIENNIAL: FESTIVAL OF ART & IDEAS 2-10 September; www.bristolbiennial.org

A whopping 700 artists applied for a spot at Upfest this year, with just over 300 making the cut – a testament to not only the popularity of the festival, but also the calibre of artists coming from all over the world. As a result, Upfest 2016’s line-up was the most diverse ever, with artists painting on venues, walls, boards, a double-decker bus, a New York style subway train; a bunch of locals even used a car as their canvas.

Seasoned Bristol artists such as Inkie and Jody left their stamp, alongside Cheba, collaborating with Fanakapan to create a dreamy yet photorealistic mural on Redpoint Climbing Centre. Dynamic Spanish duo Pichi&Avo showed us what happens when modern meets classic art; there was social comment (of course) with Odeith’s Benny Hill – Goodbye Europe, while anamorphic artist Leon Keer’s spooky piece took a new spin on ‘digging your own grave’.

Add in two beautiful new pieces by Gemma Compton, Shok-1’s aerosol x-ray of a unicorn by the Brewery Theatre, Fin DAC’s ‘Henrietta’s Homecoming’ by the Nursery and Cheo’s Mr Men and Little Miss mural, and many, many more, and BS3 was comprehensively transformed for another year. Missed the fest? You have 12 months to wander down to this part of town, where the streets offer one gigantic, outdoor canvas.

By Stella Darcy

Earmarked as a ‘festival of art and ideas’, this bi-yearly immersive celebration of Bristol’s art scene encourages visitors to get on their feet, take part, and create. If you want to learn how to perform for your pets, or find out what stars sound like, then Biennial will be your cup of decaf soy latte.

Centred on the theme of ‘Other Worlds’, the festival uses art to explore different perspectives through a diverse range of experiences, from a floating writers’ workshop group to a rainbow-themed light installation.

Running every two years, the fest takes a little while to ferment, but it’s all the better for it, with a carefully curated line-up designed to provoke dialogue, not just with art, but with the city itself. Bristol-centric, the festival’s foundations might be firmly local, but its brickwork is global.

Biennial is, at its core, an exploration of Bristol, with events such as Tom Stone’s ‘Stand Up, Dear City’, a series of walks designed to map the ‘state of mind’ of Bristol, helping locals to get to know their neighbourhood. Performance art pieces such as ‘DIY City’, where artists Jasmin Moellerand and Marieke Warmelink let the city dictate the outcome of their piece, work to bring Bristol’s spirit alive.

Pretension-free and self-aware, this disruptive festival displays an unwavering commitment to dialogue with its audience,

PHOTO BY JACK OFFORD

UPFEST 23-25 August 2016; Bedminster and Southville; www.upfest.co.uk

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WANDER DOWN TO BS3, WHERE THE STREETS OFFER ONE GIGANTIC OUTDOOR CANVAS Below: Under a Cardboard Sea; opposite, just a few gems from this year’s Upfest

and promises to be as refreshing as the nippy, sea-travelled wind at the Harbourside.

By Jessica Cook UNDER A CARDBOARD SEA Bristol Old Vic; 4-6 August; www.bristololdvic.org.uk Devising a piece to celebrate the theatre’s 250th anniversary, the award-winning Bristol Old Vic Young Company’s Under A Cardboard Sea emerged from research into the history of theatre, focusing on the stories of children who worked in the industry. The play is set in a dystopian world ruled over by ‘The Machine’, a shadowy construct which may well be hindering rather than helping the community.

The show is ambitious in its scope, full of big ideas about society while spotlighting individual stories, using a knowing script employing humour alongside the heartfelt exchanges. High production values and neat direction gave a professional finesse to the piece. A split level set, clever lighting and skilful choreography of the 100-strong cast resulted in some striking imagery and stylish stage pictures.

Co-directors Lisa Gregan and Matt Grinter worked with the large cast, ranging from five to 25 years old, to create an impressively theatrical and cohesive piece that demonstrates how Bristol Old Vic Young Company enables young people to create bold original work and share it on a worldrenowned stage, giving audiences the chance to see the theatre makers of tomorrow.

By Morgan Matthews

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 41

Photo credit Neil James

Photo credit plaster

Photo credit Neil James

The Southwest Hair & Scalp clinic operating out of HAIR @ 62

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Fashion/gifts/stores/more

FOREST FRIENDS

Admittedly, this little forest of trees has no practical use, but we’ve given house-room to far less compelling objéts. Cluster them on a windowsill; dot them singly and mysteriously around the house; use them as the world’s most minimalist Christmas decorations, or play some obscure, chesslike game of your own invention like the chap shown above. Relish the craftsmanship, and bask in the smug knowledge that William Morris would give them his full blessing (come on, you know the quote). Made by Forge Creative from offcuts of wood, five trees (each about 10cm high) cost £58, and come in three different sets.

From www.midgleygreen.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 43

1 2

PETAL GURU

SMALL AND DAINTY, BIG AND BOLD: WE’RE ALL ABOUT FLORALS IN THIS ISSUE 4

3

1. PRINT CHARMING

2. JACKET REQUIRED

3. WALL FLOWER

4. FORERVER AMBER

5. MORRIS MINOR

Flowers print, £45 Just how we like our florals. A bit dark and moody. With a bit of pink From Mon Pote 177 North Street www.monpote.co.uk

Smashed lemon blazer, £78 Beautifully, flatteringly fitted; we see you totally rocking this with your favourite pair of jeans From Amulet Boutique, 39a Cotham Hill www.amuletboutique.co.uk

Sunflower clock, £722 Designed by George Nelson for Vitra in 1958, this large wall clock comes in natural birch or black stained ash with a brass centre From Oskar Furniture 47 Whitelaides Road www.oskarfurniture.co.uk

Flower rings, £8 Laser-cut from 3mm birch wood and delicately hand painted by Layla Amber (whose woodland earrings are equally adorable and affordable) From Soma Gallery 4 Boyce’s Avenue www.soma.gallery

V&A enamel mug, £9.95 William Morris famously claimed that you should only have useful or beautiful things in your home; this mug featuring one of his designs counts as a double-strike, then From The Pod Company 24 The Mall, Clifton www.thepodcompany.co.uk

44 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SHOPPING

ED’S CHOICE 5

7

8

6

9

10

6. LITTLE WEED

7. TRUE BLUE

8. FROCK STAR

9. PRETTY IN PUNK

10. DOG ROSE

Dandelion necklace, £90 Mexican jewellery designer Iris De La Torre’s acrylic dandelions are the perfect way to rock the floral look, modern style From Howkapow www.howkapow.com

Bristols Bluebells candle, £26 Inspired by the bluebells in Leigh Woods, with a touch of jasmine, rose, orange blossom and citrus; designed, packed and labelled in Bristol From Scarlet and Nell www.scarletandnell.com

Floral print dress, £45 Fans of vintage style – so that’s everyone then – wll adore both the cut and pansy print of this sweet summer frock From Sweet Pea 14 High Street, Westburyon-Trym www.sweetpeafashion. co.uk

Tabitha Simmons ankle boots, £525 There’s nothing of the shrinking violet about these multi-coloured, rockstar boots From Harvey Nichols Cabot Circus www.harveynichols.com

Antique Rose Gromit, £50 It’s a mini-Gromit, it’s sprigged with pretty Cath Kidston roses, and profits go to the Grand Appeal; there is absolutely nothing not to love here From The Grand Appeal Shop www.grandappeal.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk II CLIFTON BRISTOL LIFE LIFE II 45 www.mediaclash.co.uk 69

A truly unique wedding venue in the heart of Clifton Village, licensed to carry out weddings and civil partnerships in the most breath taking surroundings.

Fine dining prepared in house for you by our Resident Chef, with free Wedding Menu Tasting for the Bride and Groom.

Wedding parties of between 20 and 100 guests can be arranged in one of our exquisite rooms.

Bespoke Wedding Service Luxurious Heritage Interiors Dedicated Events Team Exceptional Service Guaranteed Exclusively Yours Ceremony Only Options Available For further information or for a copy of our Wedding Brochure, please get in touch.

Tel: 0117 9745039 – Fax: 0117 9743910 Email: sarah.davidson@thecliftonclub.co.uk

www.thecliftonclub.co.uk

T @CliftonClub f Clifton Club Weddings The Clifton Club, 22 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4DS

FW E AT E E UDRD

I NI NG S TERIORS SPECIAL

SPECIAL

The VOW FACTOR It’s easy to lose perspective among a frothy sea of tulle and gypsophila, but if you just remember what your wedding day is all about, you won’t go far wrong Wor d s a nd photo s by BEC K Y M A L E

R

oald Dahl summed it up, as only Roald Dahl could: “If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams, and you will always look lovely.”

I love that. Yet despite these fabulous words, in all my time as a photographer I’ve never met one person who has told me upfront they enjoy being in front of a camera.

We all have our own insecurities, and bits of our face and body that we don’t especially like.

Perfection doesn’t exist; I expect even Grace Kelly fretted occasionally that her hair turned uncontrollably frizzy in a light mist.

My role is to help my couples look their very best in their photos, and while I understand that not everyone likes to be the centre of attention, there is something utterly magical about a real-life bride in her wedding dress, that not even the most cleverly staged commercial shoot, with the most beautiful models, can capture.

So how can you ensure that you really do radiate sunbeams all day? After all, if you had to pick one day in your life on which you wanted to look your absolute best, it would undoubtedly be your wedding day.

Of course, if you’re marrying the right

48 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

person, your betrothed won’t care too much about how you look, or what you wear. They just want you to be there, to share every moment together, and for your adventure as a married couple to begin. But if you do want to get to grips with how to project stellar style, a personal stylist can certainly help build your confidence.

Bristol stylist Becky Barnes has helped many women to look and feel fabulous, through three simple precepts: One, to allow their personalities to shine, through their clothes and accessories. Two, to wholeheartedly embrace their body shape, in particular, learning to accentuate their positives. Thirdly, to work with, not against, their natural colour characteristics.

For example, you may not be sure which colours suit you best. A white wedding may make this choice seem easy, but far from it; depending on your colouring, you may look more radiant in ivory or cream than an unforgivingly brilliant white. Perhaps you don’t want to go the traditional wedding dress route; perhaps you don’t want a dress at all!

A good stylist will work with brides to help them achieve confidence with all of the above.

Becky describes it as a “fabulous journey of selfdiscovery which is fun and exciting rather than overwhelming and stressful”. It’s also a lasting 

I’VE NEVER MET ONE PERSON WHO HAS TOLD ME UPFRONT THEY

ENJOY BEING IN FRONT OF A CAMERA

WEDDINGS SPECIAL

CANDID CAMERAS All brides and grooms love seeing candid snaps taken by their friends, so here are Becky’s top tips for getting some top shots. These images could make a perfect gift for the couple who has everything: an online photobook can cost as little as £20.

• DON’T JUST SHOOT THE OBVIOUS.

Have fun and think of different angles – shoot from up high or from down low. Change your perspective.

• GET CLOSER. A lot of photographs

can be improved if you get closer to your subject, and this helps to avoid clutter in the background, too.

• IF YOU’RE PHOTOGRAPHING CHILDREN, let the kids be kids, having

fun, then get down low and shoot from their height, see the world through their eyes.

• STOP AND PAUSE before you take the photo, rather than simply mindlessly snapping. Wait for a moment and when you see something fun about to happen, take the photo.

Watch for the unexpected moments – drinking, chatting, dancing, laughing at the speeches – and capture your family and friends letting their hair down.

• RESPECT THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER and remember they

have a job to do, as well as a tight schedule to stick to, so don’t compete with them to get a shot, and don’t follow them around on the day.

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C A R I NA B AV E R S TO C K C O U T U R E w w w. c a r i n a b c o u t u r e . c o m

WEDDINGS SPECIAL

Candles are nice. So are colourful bottles stuffed with ribbons and whatever flower that is over there.

But all that really matters is you, and the person you’re marrying . . .

style legacy; something that stays with her clients long after the register has been signed and the confetti has been swept away.

And it’s not just for brides. Mothers, bridesmaids and wedding guests can all benefit from (and enjoy) styling advice. Whatever aspect you think you might need a little confidence with – from your dress, accessories and lingerie through to honeymoon outfits and beyond – a stylist can help enormously.

MAKE-UP

DON’T HOLD BACK YOUR TEARS, SMILES OR LAUGHTER – THESE ARE THE

MOMENTS THAT YOU WILL TREASURE FOREVER

Dress sorted? Consider your make-up. When it comes to photos, your make-up actually benefits from being a little heavier than normal. I’m not suggesting it needs to be caked on, but going slightly darker on your eyes, or applying a little more bronzer will help.

Most make-up artists will offer you a trial, and will rework things until you are 100 per cent happy. If you’re not sure, tell them. Remember they are there to make you look beautiful and they can’t read your mind.

I usually recommend Grace Kingsley to my brides (gracekingsley.co.uk); her goal is to make her brides look radiant and flawless on their wedding day, and her experience and skill helps to ensure that you look and feel fabulous.

THE SHOOT

Getting used to having your photograph taken, and seeing yourself in photographs, can also really help you on your wedding day, and an engagement shoot can help with this.

On the wedding day itself, don’t hold back your tears, smiles or laughter – the moments that you will treasure forever are the natural and unscripted ones. When you look at photographs once the day is over, you should see how happy you both were, how much love there was for you from friends and family and how beautifully

content you looked.

With the huge array of wedding gorgeousness that can be found on Pinterest it is easy to fall into the trap (and money pit) of feeling the need to spend, spend, spend on the most amazing, perfect show-stopper of a wedding, but the one thing never to lose sight of is that you are marrying someone you really love and enjoying that moment. Being present in the moment as you say your vows, as you become a married couple surrounded by your closest friends and family, is what matters.

If I was to pass on one piece of advice? Just remember it’s your day, your celebration, the start of your future together – so let your happiness shine through, and you’ll look radiant whatever you wear.

Becky Male, wedding photographer; www.beckymalephotography.com Becky Barnes, stylist; www.beckybarnesstyle.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 51

LACE, SPARKLE and WILD ABANDON Meet Molly Mishi May – a Bristol designer and maker of couture clothing including unique bridal gowns, redcarpet head-turners and wearable art. ‘Fashion is a moodaltering substance’ is her motto, and she aims to celebrate uniqueness, art, and the sheer fun of dressing up – which sounds like a recipe for the perfect wedding outfit to us . . .

By DE R I ROBI NS

I

t all happened pretty organically,” says Molly Mishi May. “I’ve always liked making all kinds of things, for no particular reason, It didn’t occur to me until I was over 30 that I could possibly do this for a living, and by then, a lot of the ground work was done...”

Mishi May, she says, is “the sum of my parts, a combination of my experiences in fashion, technology, visual arts, dance, drama, and also of my own self expression”.

“I didn’t know how to dress when I was younger; perhaps having grown up in hand-medowns meant I never got used to choosing what I wanted. In every photograph of me pre-2007, I am wearing something truly terrible.

“But eventually I started to enjoy clothes, and the more I experimented, the better I felt, I learned what a powerful mood-enhancer it can be just to put on a good outfit, and harnessing that power was a revelation. Fashion is a moodaltering substance. Since that epiphany, I’ve been w

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WEDDINGS SPECIAL

Victorian high romance (and high collars); models Thais Hilgenberg and Andrea Bennett.

MUA Naomi Benjamin

FASHION IS A MOOD-ALTERING SUBSTANCE . . .

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 53

WEDDINGS SPECIAL

Photographer Juliet Pea captured one of Molly’s ethereal, ballerina-like outfits (top) and the A-list glamour of this floor-sweeper of a dress shown below. Model Victoria Boyko

pretty obsessed with clothes, all kinds of clothes, from minimalist to vulgar to divine, intrigued by the power they hold, what they say about us, why we are drawn to certain things, and most of all, how they make us feel. The saying ‘What you wear can change your life,’ has some truth in it, I think. Is it a shallow way to boost one’s self esteem? I really don’t know, possibly, but it works for me.

“When I design, I start with how I want to feel, do I want to be a panther? Or a goddess? A gliding apparition? Or do I want to have fun? Do I want to dance? It’s all a bit of a fantasy world, really.

“Bridal is a wonderful area of dress design, you’re able to open the floodgates of romance, drama, beauty, in a way that there are few opportunities to do in everyday life. It’s not just a dress, it’s a dream dress, something magical.

Bridal clients who choose to have a bespoke dress are usually already pretty style-savvy, very often creative (although they sometimes don’t know it) and always highly individual; the design process is collaborative from the start.

“We chat over coffee, sketch out some ideas, look at some fabric samples and I try to get to know as much as I can about the bride and the wedding. The wedding dress has to suit her personality every bit as much as flatter her figure. It’s a bold choice, putting all your faith in a dress that doesn’t yet exist, but watching it come together is usually a bit of a magical experience for all involved, including me.”

So, the inevitable question: what are the most popular wedding trends Molly’s been seeing?

“2016 has been quite sexy; lots of lace, and a few really good contemporary bridal collections, too.

I’m not sure the trends have all that much impact; we are all so individual, and when we’re choosing our wedding dress it’s bigger than a trend – women choose the perfect dress for them, rather than the right dress for now. Trends do have an impact on the style of the wedding itself however, and that can influence the style of dress.

“Alternative weddings are big in the south west.

Gone are the days when people had a nervous breakdown trying to match the napkins to the bows to the pageboys’ socks.

“Bristol, being a laidback kind of town, tends to favour a more boho kind of wedding – the big thing now is the mini-festival, camp-overnight wedding, which is such a fun way to do it. I’ve been to a few that have been amazing, an absolute explosion of colour and sparkle, dancing and wild abandon.” Sounds a perfect match for for the Mishi May style.

For more www.mishimay.com 54 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

with bridal fashion you can open the floodgates of romance, drama and beauty; it’s not juST a dress, it’s a dream dress The wild bride: photo Magic Owen; model Cat Voysier

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VOW

NOW Bi-M ont hly

M AG A ZINE The South West’s new wedding bible PICK Up your free copy now

T Follow us @VowMag From the makers of Crumbs, Bath Life, Bristol Life, Cardiff Life, Exeter Living and Salisbury Life Ad enquiries: Helen.Kembery@mediaclash.co.uk; Editorial: Matt.Bielby@mediaclash.co.uk; 01225 475800

Creative & individual flowers for your special day From her chic boutique florist in the heart of Clifton Village, Lisa and her creative team will design gorgeous wedding flowers to enhance your perfect day – from beautiful bridal bouquets to fabulous floral decorations.

Bristol 0117 9732440 1 Waterloo Street, Clifton Village, Bristol BS8 4BT email: lisa@lisa-elliott.co.uk www.lisa-elliott.co.uk

WEDDINGS SPECIAL

DIRECTORY Useful names for your little white book

ABIGAIL WESTRUP

www.abigailwestrupbridal.com

ARNOS VALE

www.arnosvale.org.uk/weddings

BECKY MALE

www.beckymalephotography. com

BRISTOL MARRIOTT HOTEL

www.mercure.com/gb/hotel6698-mercure-bristol-hollandhouse-hotel-and-spa/index. shtml

BRISTOL BLUE GLASS www.bristol-glass.co.uk

CARINA BAVERSTOCK COUTURE www.carinabcouture.com

CERTUS CARS

www.certuscars.co.uk

CLIFTON BRIDES

www.cliftonbrides.co.uk

CLIFTON COLLEGE

www.eventsatclifton.com/ weddings

CLIFTON ROCKS

www.cliftonrocks.co.uk

CLIFTON VILLAGE ANTIQUES 07831 166979

DARREN CAMPBELL MAGICIAN

www.darrencampbellmagic. co.uk

DIANA PORTER

www.dianaporter.co.uk

HARBOUR HOTEL & SPA

www.harbourhotels.co.uk/hotels/ bristol-harbour-hotel-spa

LACE & GRACE BRIDAL

www.laceandgracebridal.co.uk

LISA ELLIOTT FLORAL www.lisa-elliott.co.uk

MALLORY E.R AND SON www.mallory-jewellers.com

Photos courtesy of The Little Wedding Helper

MILES MORGAN

www.milesmorgantravel.co.uk

NICHOLAS WYLDE www.nicholaswylde.com

ROYAL CRESCENT

www.royalcrescent.co.uk/ weddings

THE CLIFTON CLUB www.thecliftonclub.co.uk/ wedding-hire

THE CRESCENT HAIR & TRICHOLOGY www.hairandscalpclinic.net

THE LITTLE WEDDING HELPER

www.littleweddinghelper.co.uk

THE MEWS BRIDAL

www.themewsclifton.co.uk

THE ROSE SHED

www.theroseshed.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 59

60 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

R E S TA U R A N T

FOOD

Pi Shop Coppa load of that carbonara: Bristol’s newest pizza restaurant is everything you’d expect from the culinary wizards who brought you Casamia

P

By DE R I ROBI NS

izzas first came to Britain in the 1950s, when they were marketed – we kid you not – as ‘Italian-style Welsh rarebits’.

The British found them to their liking, and inexorably the delicacy became a staple of the local diet.

I use the word ‘delicacy’ advisably.

These first English pizzas came in a variety of guises, some worse than others — frozen pizzas, deep-fried pizzas, pizzas from dismal fast-food chains.

Supermarkets soon got into the act with their own-brand concoctions whose serving suggestions, it has been suggested on the web, include a picture of the pizza being tossed in the bin.

Fortunately, the last few years or so have witnessed a pizza revolution, with the likes of Flour & Ash, Pizzarova, Pizza Workshop, Bertha’s etc all getting in on the local craft/gourmet/artisan act, baking proper sourdough bases topped with freshly prepared ingredients in authentic wood-fired ovens.

The latest of the breed now comes to us courtesy of Sanchez Brothers, who have opened Pi Shop right next door to their revered fine-diner Casamia in new development The General. The family have taken over the whole of the ground floor; Casamia and Pi Shop will be joined

by Paco’s Tapas this autumn.

The interior is cool, distinctive and modishly industrial, with blond hardwood tables held together with stainless-steel scaffolding. Sit outside and you’ll have unrivalled views of Bathurst Basin, still dotted with the muscular trappings of a once busy dockside. It’s quintessentially Bristol, but on a sunny day, when everyone’s al-frescoing like crazy, this little corner of harbourside has a European flavour all of its own. Get Matt to mix you one of his cocktails, take in the scenery, and take your time.

The heart of the operation is the open kitchen, where a team of chefs (why is there no collective noun for this?

A commotion of chefs? A bouillabaisse? A jus?) tend a vast, gleaming, copper-cased beast of a wood-fired oven, producing bases that are wafer-thin in the middle and surrounded by charred crusts – light and fluffy, with

IN NAPOLI YOU’RE CARVED OUT A SLICE OF MARGHERITA THE SIZE OF A ROOF TILE, AND TOLD TO JUST GET ON WITH IT

alluringly blistered bubbles of pastry. The sourdough recipe evolved from years of baking at Casamia; it’s naturally fermented which gives it an elastic, delicate feel.

On this, you can have toppings that would buckle an ordinary pizza — beetroot, ewe’s curd, broccoli, Pugliese onion, pine nuts, Rustego ham, and many ingredients you won’t ever find on the pizza delivered to your door.

There are five ‘classic’ flavours to choose from – marinara, margherita, Hawaiian, meat feast – and the ‘JR’ – named for Peter’s late brother Jonray, with a donation to charity from each order.

Alongside these are a list of four specials, into which we dived as eagerly as Laugher and Mears on their synchronised swimboards. Coveting each other’s choices, we agreed to share nicely. ‘My’ carbonara was topped with coppa (Italian sausage), 36-month aged parmesan, and a little ball of molten, sunshiney goodness in the form of an egg yolk from Cackleberry Farm; ‘his’ had 18-hour-lamb, cooked in the coals from the pizza oven overnight, with pickled cucumber, garden mint yoghurt and shiso leaf – the latter being a transforming Japanese herb grown on the premises. This was top-tier cooking, pulling off the hat-trick combination of comfort-food, Italian cuisine and exotic overtones in each bite.

It’s pizza-dining the Italian way; creative pizza, that you eat with your knife and fork. The Pi Shop menu says they even do this in Napoli, but Your Man disagrees; according to him, in that caffeine-crazed city you’re carved out a slice of margherita for a couple of euro; the pizza, roughly the size of a roof tile, is piled on a paper napkin, and you’re told to just get on with it.

You’ll want to stick around for the pudding. There’s just one: an ice-cream sundae made from Jersey cream and whatever local fruits are in season, mixed to Mr Whippylevels of softness in the Carpigiani ice cream machine, specially imported from Italy. On our visit, a not-too-sweet strawberry sauce was dribbled over a helter-skelter of icecream, topped by freeze dried strawberries – well, this is the little sister of Casamia, after all; they probably couldn’t help themselves.

If you’re assuming that such superior fare means far higher prices than the high-street chains, think again; the cheapest pizza is £6.15, rising to £14 for the most expensive. Not bad, for authentic, exciting food served by impeccable staff, in a setting that feels like you’re out for a special treat.

DINING DETAILS Pi Shop, Lower Guinea Street, BS1 6TJ; 0117 959 2884 Opening hours 7 days a week 12noon-11pm, last pizza orders 10pm (unless they run out of dough, warns manager Kamil) We visited Tuesday lunchtime Prices pizzas £6.50-£24 Kids? Very welcome, they get their own menu Disabled fully accessible Vegetarian choice good Service smiling and professional Drinks wines from £19 a bottle; cocktails £5.50-£8.50; local beers and cider £4

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 61

FOOD & DRINK W H AT ’ S M A K I N G T H E G O U R M E T N E W S I N B R I S T O L

It’s a full time job trying to keep up with Bristol’s burgeoning food and drink scene these days. You may all be a bit busy, what with full-time jobs and childcare and things, so we thought we’d start a regular column to save you time . . .

Take five In the first of our regular five-minute interviews, Peter Sanchez-Iglesias gives us the lowdown on his recently opened pizzeria, Pi Shop What’s on the menu, Pete?

Pizzas. That’s what it’s all about. We believe we use the ultimate recipe for them — they’re what pizzas should be.

So what’s the recipe for pizza success?

It’s a development from recipes and ingredients we use at Casamia, especially the sourdough bread. We use sourdough because it’s already naturally fermented and digests more easily.

The advantage is you can eat more pizza without feeling stuffed.

We see no pies. Why are you called Pi Shop?

Well, Pi is an abbreviation of pizza, and in fact pizzas in New York are called pies. When they first came to Britain they were called pizza pies. A name is quite difficult to come up with — we wanted something quirky and memorable, and something that sums up what we do.

What’s your favourite pizza on the list?

The simple one, the margherita. It’s the perfect pizza; the ingredients can’t hide. It’s just dough, tomato and mozzarella.

What drinks go best with pizza?

Beer goes very well. We have beer on tap from the Left Handed Giant brewery in Bristol; to me that’s the perfect accompaniment.

What about pudding?

We serve soft ice cream with whatever fruits are in season and locally available, and herbs such as tarragon. The ice cream is made here on the premises, of course. The Jersey cream is whipped up so that it’s light and fluffy, and infused with the flavour of the fruit and herbs. It’s a natural organic way of producing and serving an ice cream. Pizza is a substantial dish, so we went for a light, refreshing dessert. www. sanchez-brothers.co.uk 64 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

FOOD AND DRINK

…EVERYONE’S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT…

Pasta Loco. Crumbs food guru Mark Taylor is RAVING about this new Italian on Cotham Hill. Run by cousins Ben Harvey and Dominic Borel, the menu’s short but imaginative as well as being well-priced; these guys are out to win hearts and loyalty, not your one-off patronage. www.facebook.com/pastalocobristol The Ivy Clifton Brasserie

TASTY BITES:

So, the Ivy Clifton Brasserie (don’t call it ‘The Ivy’, they hate that) has opened, in the old Nat West bank on Clifton’s The Mall, with a suitably swanky launch party (see page 75).

It’s not a branch of the legendary London restaurant, but its spin-off brasseries. Dress the part, and turn up in your Jack Wills rather than your favourite torn vintage jeans, otherwise you’ll look considerably less smart than the immaculate waiters. The interior’s looking beautiful, and the kitchen’s serving up uncomplicated brasserie fare from breakfast to dinner; we’ll be reviewing in the next issue, but in the meantime have a look here: www.theivycliftonbrasserie.com

. . . another firm London favourite, Polpo, is also due to open, on Whiteladies Road this month. Modelled on the scruffy wine bars of Venice, the recipe’s simple: straightforward food, good, young northern Italian wines and an all-day dining philosophy. You’ll get the general idea here: www.polpo.co.uk

MORE TITBITS

Polpo fare

. . . Bristol’s craft microbrewery experts Zerodegrees have announced their new Limited Edition August Beers . . . South Indian meal pots manufacturer Coconut Chilli will host an exclusive pop-up to launch its nationwide office delivery service at Spoke and Stringer on 23-24 August 2016. . . . Caribbean-flavoured restaurant Turtle Bay has opened a second branch at 221-223 Cheltenham Road . . . and Chandos Road gets yet another top dining destination in the form of Wilson’s, with a stripped-back interior and English bistro fare.

Local food hero alert!

ANYTHING ELSE?

Hell yes! We’re eagerly applauding development Wapping Wharf, which is saying NO to the chains at its new foodie hub Cargo: instead, expect the likes of Woky Ko, a 40-seater Asian; Eat Drink eatery Chicken Shed (see

page 67); Box-E, modern British seasonal cooking by award-winning chef Elliott Lidstone, along with Pigsty, Lovett Pies, Bristol Cider Shop, Corks of Cotham, and Bertha’s Pizzas.

More-much-more in our next issue . . . www.wappingwharf.co.uk

Coconut Chilli

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 65

FOOD

JOSH EGGLETON,

YES, CHEF! It’s chicken tonight (and every night!) at Eat Drink Bristol Fashion’s new venture at Cargo, and gourmet picnics at Valley Fest

W

e finally put an orchard behind The Pony and Trap last year, and we now have our own fruit from more than 30 trees to go with our flourishing herb garden. We have plenty of veg starting to sprout, which is exciting for the kitchen as it means no day is the same, and it forces us to be more creative with our meals depending on what’s available in the garden. We hardly used redcurrants before, but growing these has forced us to come up with something different and making syrup to add to duck or pine oil. We also have blackcurrants growing, and use the leaves to make oil and cook scallops to make a delicious starter.

We have a variety of wild and cultivated strawberries growing, as well as green beans, four to five different types of mint, loveage, thyme and sage. This has now spurred us on to buy the field next door; building our aspirations to have most of, if

FRIED CHICKEN, AND WE’VE BEEN PLAYING AROUND WITH SOME GREAT RECIPES I LOVE

Chef pat ron

not all of, our fruit and veg coming from our own garden.

Another thing that I have always wanted to do is open up a chicken shop. It probably comes from growing up and eating at the round table where roast chicken was most likely to be involved. It’s inspired me and the rest of the Eat Drink Bristol Fashion team to open Chicken Shed, as part of the new Cargo development at Wapping Wharf in September. I love fried chicken, and we’ve been playing around with some great recipes with local and free range birds from just down the road.

Without giving away the whole menu, expect delicious roasted chicken, fried chicken legs, soft-boiled eggs, curly fries, chicken in a bun, chilli chicken wings, waffles, fresh salad and pickled green peppers on the menu.

We’ve got the containers upstairs at the front, so we’ll have a terrace for drinking Yurt Lush-inspired signature cocktails or some of the best craft beers.

There are some great independent businesses going in with us too like The

Jolly Hog, Wild Beer Co and Bristol Cider Shop, so it’ll be a hub of Bristol’s best food and drink teams.

Last but certainly not least, my next-door-neighbour and Eat Drink Bristol Fashion partner Luke Hasell is hosting Valley Fest on his farm from 2-4 September. It’s a great family-friendly festival situated on one of the best sites I’ve ever seen; on a farm, overlooking Chew Valley Lake, straight across from Salt & Malt. I’ll be down on the weekend cooking a communal picnic with Toby Gritten from The Pump House and Paul Collins from Yeo Valley Canteen. We’ll each take one of our favourite picnic dishes to make, and festival-goers can get a selection from each of us and sit on a communal blanket for lunch. See you there to see out the summer . . .

For more, theponyandtrap.co.uk

Family-friendly, comfy tipis, *that view* and gourmet chefs: even folk who don’t like festivals love Valley Fest . . .

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 67

A MAN’S WORLD

SEB BARRETT

A POLITELY BRITISH BREAKDOWN Don’t expect too many wisecracks from Baz this month . . .

M

y girlfriend used to joke that she’d never seen me cry in all the time we’d been together, so my reaction to the loss of our beloved family dog, Billy, must have taken her aback somewhat.

RIP Billy

I was doing the dishes the morning after my brother had texted me with the news, and I had what I would call a politely British breakdown. A bit like Emma Thompson in Love Actually, sobbing whilst listening to Joni Mitchell; except I was holding a frothy scourer and a frying pan.

Evidently, all it takes to make a grown man weep is the death of his beloved canine.

Among his slightly autistic tendencies (and a border collie is the Rain Man of the dog world), Billy would nudge his various ragged tennis balls towards you, only to chomp it back just as you reached for it if he wasn’t quite happy with his ball placement.

I’d grown particularly close to Billy during the period after finishing university – what I refer to as my ‘Wilderness Year’ – when taking him for long walks was the best way to break up the soul-crushing monotony of applying for jobs. It became almost a meditative thing: I could have spent hours throwing that ball to him, and he could have chased it for double that time.

Thinking back to the last time I saw him, he’d looked a little down in the dumps, sluggish, but I thought he’d soon be back to his excitable self after the vet had prescribed him with some antibiotics. Then the x-ray showed a shadow on his lungs and that was that.

We spread his ashes in the garden of my grandparents’ house in the countryside.

It was his favourite place, where he

WIFE OR GIRLFRIEND MIGHT ENVY THE AMOUNT OF AFFECTION WE SHOW OUR FOUR-LEGGED A

COMPANIONS

would happily roam the woods until my grandfather whistled him back.

If I was affected by Billy’s passing, I can only imagine how badly it upset my mother.

He was her dog, after all, and his boundless energy meant he required at least four walks a day. Parents frequently spend less time with their children.

I know why they call a dog a ‘man’s best friend’. As men, we can find it hard to express our emotions or any obvious affection to fellow human beings – but not to dogs. A wife or girlfriend might envy the amount of affection we show our fourlegged companions.

Now, whenever I knock on the door of the family home, all I want to hear is the bark of that crazy dog. It would be the sweetest greeting of all.

Seb Barrett works in sports communications.

Follow him on Twitter @bazzbarrett

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 69

SPORT

KYLE TRAYNOR Loosehead prop

TRAYNING HARD

W

It’s time to step up: it’s Aviva time

ith the new season just around the corner, the gruelling work continues at Bristol Rugby. As well as conditioning sessions at the Clifton RFC training base, the boys have been put through their paces in the gym, out on the rugby field and in the pool at David Lloyd Westbury.

We’ve even been out to Font Romeu in the French Pyrenees to embark on a week of altitude training which, unsurprisingly, was really tough. It’s great to be able to bond with the squad in a different environment, and we happened to be sharing the resort with Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah. I’m sure there’s a spot on the roster for Mo if

he fancies a change of career – after all, it’s always good to have a pacy winger or two.

The step up in physicality and fitness levels in the Aviva Premiership is huge.

It’s important that we are prepared for the opening game of the season in September.

It’s different in the Championship – we structure our schedule to ensure we peak in May for the play-offs. Now, we need to hit our stride every time we take the field, whether that’s in European, domestic or cup competition.

For the players, that’s incredibly exciting.

It’s a challenge we are relishing. With the fixtures out and the teams that we can look forward to welcoming to Ashton Gate, it’s going to be tough, unrelenting rugby every weekend which, as a professional, is all you can ask for. What’s key for us is that we play for 80 minutes and that’s where fitness levels are crucial. When you start to fatigue, that’s

PHOTO BY JMPUK

Either Kyle’s in training, or he really wants to kill that spider . . .

EVERYBODY, ON AND OFF THE FIELD, IS BUYING INTO THE SAME VALUES when the errors start to come in and the penalty count goes up. We can’t afford to give away possession or territory cheaply because it will cost us in the top flight.

The lads that have arrived have gelled quickly and now we’re past that ‘back to school’ feel of the early days of pre-season.

Everybody, on and off the field, is on the same page and buying into the same values.

The culture is particularly strong this season and it’s a fantastic environment to be a part of. For us, we want to go out and earn the respect of our opposition and the Aviva Premiership from the way we play and the way in which we conduct ourselves.

The standard has been set now in training and it’s up to the players to ensure that’s continued throughout the campaign. We’re under no illusions about the step up and the challenges that await us, but that’s what we’re looking forward to. In the Premiership, every single point counts, so it’s important we keep battling until the closing moments. I’m confident that we have the characters and the leaders in our dressing room that won’t let their foot off the gas until the final whistle.

By this stage, everybody is looking forward to the return of games and getting back amongst it. There’s so much going on at the club as we prepare for the forthcoming season and it’s an incredibly exciting time to be involved with Bristol Rugby. Now, we have to make it count.

Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleTraynor

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 71

Goatman & Batham OPTOMETRISTS & CONTACT LENS PRACTITIONERS Every pets’ favourite shop!

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BRISTOL RUGBY FIXTURES 2016/17 DATE

COMPETITION

OPPONENT

HOME/AWAY

K.O.

18 Aug

Pre-Season Friendly

Worcester Warriors

Away

19:30

20 Aug

Pre-Season Friendly

Cardiff Blues

Away

15:00

27 Aug

Pre-Season Friendly

Wasps

Home

14:30

03 Sept

Aviva Premiership

Harlequins

Away

16:30

11 Sept

Aviva Premiership

Northampton Saints

Home

15:00

18 Sept

Aviva Premiership

Wasps

Away

14:30

23 Sept

Aviva Premiership

Exeter Chiefs

Home

19:45

30 Sept

Aviva Premiership

Saracens

Home

19:45

08 Oct

Aviva Premiership

Newcastle Falcons

Away

15:00

30 Oct

Aviva Premiership

Sale Sharks

Home

15:00

18 Nov

Aviva Premiership

Bath Rugby

Away

19:45

25 Nov

Aviva Premiership

Leicester Tigers

Home

19:45

03 Dec

Aviva Premiership

Gloucester Rugby

Away

15:00

*Fixtures are subject to change.

Professional Sport & Fitness www.psfshop.com

SPORTS SHOP

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 6 DAYS A WEEK Unit 1&2 Gordon Road, Whitehall, Bristol BS5 7DL | 01179 619999

RUGBY, CRICKET, FOOTBALL, BOWLS, TENNIS

See www.bristolrugby.co.uk for latest information Specialist Italian Deli - also serving coffee & lunch

www.divinodeli.co.uk

DATE

COMPETITION

OPPONENT

HOME/AWAY

K.O.

26 Dec

Aviva Premiership

Worcester Warriors

Home

15:00

31 Dec

Aviva Premiership

Sale Sharks

Away

15:00

2017 07 Jan

Aviva Premiership

Northampton Saints

Away

15:00

10 Feb

Aviva Premiership

Harlequins

Home

19:45

18 Feb

Aviva Premiership

Leicester Tigers

Away

15:00

24 Feb

Aviva Premiership

Bath Rugby

Home

19:45

04 Mar

Aviva Premiership

Worcester Warriors

Away

15:00

26 Mar

Aviva Premiership

Gloucester Rugby

Home

15:00

08 Apr

Aviva Premiership

Exeter Chiefs

Away

15:00

16 Apr

Aviva Premiership

Wasps

Home

15:00

29 Apr

Aviva Premiership

Saracens

Away

15:00

06 May

Aviva Premiership

Newcastle Falcons

Home

15:00

*Fixtures are subject to change.

For more info: www.amdsolicitors.com

138-140 Kellaway Avenue, Horfield, Bristol BS6 7YQ Tel: 0117 924 7693 ...FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, COFFEE, DRINKS AND MUCH MORE!...

WWW.THEOLDSPOTBRISTOL.CO.UK

Adventures in party-going

SNAPPED! AC ROS S B R IS TO L , O N E S H I N D I G AT A T I M E

VIB (Very Important Brasserie) Oh, the glamour: The Ivy Clifton Brasserie opened on Clifton’s The Mall (where else?), with a launch party attended by local VIPs and a bevy of familiar faces off the telly. Review coming up in the next issue . . .

Photos by Adam Gasson Actors Jason Watkins and Chanel Cresswell

Actor Stephen Tompkinson Designer Gilly Woo from Gilly Woo Couture

Presenter Kylie Pentelow from ITV West

Peter Lord from Aardman

Presenter Liz Bonnin, agent Jo Sarsby and presenter Dr Ben Garrod

Chef Josh Eggleton (left) from the Pony & Trap with friends

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 75

L E G A L ad v e rtising f e atur e

NEW RULES FOR LANDLORDS John Todd of AMD Solicitors looks at Assured Shorthold Tenancies in the wake of the Deregulation Act 2015

J

ust when landlords thought their position could not be more restrictive or complex, the Deregulation Act has imposed further restrictions.

Although the Deregulation Act came into force in April 2015, it only applies to new or replacement tenancies after 1 October 2015. The principal changes are:-

new version of the Notice seeking lA Possession. l The Notice can no longer be served in the first four months of the tenancy. l The landlord must now, at the commencement of the tenancy, provide:1. A gas safety certificate and 2. An energy performance certificate ervice of the Government’s “How to 3. S Rent” booklet, which is only available in electronic form online and so will need to be printed out, unless the tenant consents to it being sent to him/her by email. l The landlord also needs to be aware that retaliatory eviction is no longer an option.

Up until now there have been occasions where a tenant has complained about the condition of the property to which the landlord’s response has been to serve a Notice Seeking Possession. It will be comforting for tenants to know that if 76 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

they make a written complaint about the condition of the property the landlords will be unable to serve their (Section 21) Notice within six months after service on the landlord of one of three specified Local Authority notices, the most important of which is an improvement notice. Clearly this means that the Local Authority will have to support the tenant’s complaint, but if the Notice is served after the complaint, it will be invalid if the complaint is subsequently upheld by the Local Authority.

As stated above, the new provisions only apply to new or replacement tenancies after 1 October 2015 but landlords will need to take care when considering service of a Notice Seeking Possession of the property where the tenancy began before 1 October 2015 or after it. Landlords would be strongly advised to obtain specialist advice on their position before serving the required Notice. Equally, tenants who are served with a Notice would be strongly advised to seek specialist advice as to whether the Notice is valid or not. Just one more cautionary note, which is that when seeking possession of a house in multiple occupation (HMO), there are additional conditions – following the Housing Act 2004 – and on which specialist advice should be sought. BL

AMD are pleased to advise in these situations and contact can be made with Chris Brown at our office at 2 Station Road, Shirehampton, Bristol BS11 9TT (tel. 0117 923 5562) or John Todd at our office at 100 Henleaze Road, Bristol BS9 4JZ (tel. 0117 962 1205).

Shake-ups/launches/intel/promotions

B R IS TO L G E T S S ER I O US

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS

“WE HAD A EUREKA MOMENT WHEN WE WERE ON A WALK THROUGH ASHTON COURT”

YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT . . .

Who knew that the deer could be so inspiring?

Find out on page 83

Feel your business deserves the highest possible accolade? Whatever you do, make sure you nominate yourself for one of the first Bristol Life awards Bristol Life is all about celebrating the best of this city, which gets better and better every year – just take a look at all those ‘best places to live/work/study in the UK’ features in the national press. The next step was logical, really; in order to fully celebrate all that’s on offer, we’ve unveiled our own prestigious Bristol Life Awards, to be held at the end of April 2017. The first sponsorship opportunities are now available; take a look at www. bristollifeawards.co.uk for full information.

Entry is via self-nomination in the following categories: Business Services, Property, Education, Restaurant, New Business, Café/Coffee shop, Interiors, Charity, Creative, Cocktail bar, Technology and Innovation, Hair and Beauty, Gastropub, Leisure and Tourism, Arts, Food/drink producer, Legal and Financial, Event, Health and Retailer. There’s also a Platinum Award for the individual best winner. All decisions are

made by a panel of independent judges.

“We are delighted to be showcasing the best businesses and organisations in Bristol,” said Jane Ingham, chief executive of Bristol Life’s publisher, MediaClash. “And we can promise an evening of great glamour and prestige.

We already run superb awards ceremonies in Bath, Cardiff and Exeter, showcasing some of the region’s finest companies. Nothing beats the drama of the night or the excitement of being a finalist, let alone winning.”

The first category sponsor has already signed up: TAB (The Alternative Board) is the Charity category sponsor.

For sponsorship enquiries, please contact steve.grigg@ mediaclash.co.uk. To be involved on the night, contact stephanie.dodd@mediaclash.co.uk.

Full details are at www.bristollifeawards.co.uk, with regular updates on twitter @BristolLifeAwd

267 THE BIG NUMBER

The number of balloons that eventually took flight at the 2016 Balloon Fiesta - when the wind finally died down!

For more, see www. bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 81

BUSINESS INSIDER

SPORT

GOOD CLAY DAY Aim, shoot, fire: at Lady’s Wood shooting school in Chipping Sodbury, general manager Chris Hanks will teach you all the basics. Just try not to hit the peacocks

C

hris Hanks has been involved in the shooting industry all his life; he’s been loading and instructing on shoots for the last 16 years, and has been the full-time GM for the past three and a half years.

We know that the huntin’-shootin’ rural community see the word slightly differently to sensitive Bristol vegans, so we’re delighted to tell you that no real animals are ever shot on his watch . . .

So, they’re not real pigeons?

No, we only shoot clay pigeons. We have a wide variety of targets, from those suitable for beginners or corporate groups right through to high-testing targets thrown from our 120 ft high tower. We offer both practice and lessons and have a Cotswold stone lodge that is home to Sportarm at Lady’s Wood, our new gun and country clothing shop.

How did the school begin, and how did the owners grow the business?

The shooting school was set up back in the 1980s by the late Michael Pinker, who represented England and was regarded as a very good all-round shot. Michael had a very clear ambition for the school, which was not only to teach to the highest standard, but to also instil good sporting etiquette into all shooters. In 2013 an old friend and shooting buddy of Michael’s, Ernie Hemmings, took on the business, with the intention to bring it back to its former glory..

Please tell us a bit about the facilities We were shortlisted this year as one of the UK’s top shooting schools, which is a testament to how much hard work goes into making Lady’s Wood what it is. Our facilities have undergone a huge investment in the last few years and we pride ourselves on having beautifully well-kept grounds with a wide variety of targets.

What levels do the lessons cover?

The lessons cover everything from gun safety to how to handle a gun correctly, how the gun works and most importantly how to shoot a clay pigeon. Lessons last approximately one hour, and you can shoot up to 100 clay pigeons during that time, under the watchful eye and expert guidance of one of our instructors.

How many people does the school employ?

The school employs five full-time members of staff and then we have another five part-time instructors that we 82 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

can call upon when we have busier days, or if we are running one of our corporate days.

What makes Lady’s Wood perfect for corporate days out, and what’s on offer?

We tailor each corporate day to the individual booking, as we have found everyone is looking for something a little different and special. Whatever the reason we can put together anything from a couple of hours to a full day’s entertainment. The gallery is our beautiful private dining/meeting room, perfect formal or informal setting. Or, if you were looking for something a little bit special or different, we have a handful of some of the UK’s finest country estates that we work with regularly, where we can offer simulated game shooting.

Chris Hanks

Are people encouraged to dress the part, or can you turn up in jeans and t-shirts?

You turn up in what is most comfortable for you. All the pathways around the grounds are gravelled, but sensible footwear is recommended. You are supplied with a hat, hearing and eye protection before going out onto the grounds.

What have you found to be the best tools for growth in your business?

Word of mouth and social media are two great tools to grow a business like ours. We pride ourselves on being the best of the best, and looking after everyone who steps foot in our lodge like we are welcoming old friends into our home. We want everyone to go away feeling like they have achieved and learnt something new.

Is there anything about the School that you think would surprise people?

The peacocks – we have many pairs of peacocks that roam freely around the ground. It is not unusual to have to stop and wait for them to cross as you drive into the car park, or be greeted by one displaying his tail.

For more www.ladyswood.co.uk

EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND SPECIAL

BUSINESS INSIDER

INTERIORS

INTERIOR DUOLOGUE

F

It’s the all-inclusive element of Fawn Interiors that sets them apart from the crowd, say coowners Jess Davis and Robyn Knibb awn Interiors are Jessica Davis and Robyn Knibb – two designers with a lifelong passion for beautiful interiors.

Jess and Robyn believe that everyone should have a home that reflects them and their families’ personalities.

What sets Fawn apart from the crowd?

We offer a service which provides in-house bespoke joinery and furniture designs for kitchens, bathrooms, dressing rooms, walk-in-wardrobes, media rooms and much more. Our skillset in bespoke design means we can design and install to any requirement, and our talented Bristol craftspeople produce our designs to the highest quality. With our expertise in joinery, spatial planning as well as interior decorating, our allinclusive service sets us apart from the rest.

Why the name?.

When you look at some of the most successful brands in the world, they have used names that are completely unconnected to what they are offering, so we set out to find a word. We had a eureka moment when we were on a walk through Ashton Court watching the baby deer in the park; we laughed and said that was us leaping into the unknown… somehow, the name stuck!

Tell us a little more about how you work . . .

We offer an initial face-to-face consultation to create a bespoke 3D design and a quote. Our customers can choose to have a full and inclusive interior design service, from single-room designs through to whole home packages. If they wish to move forward, we delve deeper into the design, and go through colours, finishes and specifications.

THERE IS SOMETHING WONDERFUL ABOUT EACH AND EVERY PART OF THE PROCESS

What part of the process excites you the most?

There is something wonderful about every part of the process. However, we both love getting a new brief and the exciting process of developing the 3D space. We enjoy getting to know our customers, the personalities, and channelling that into the designs that we produce, which leads to our favourite part; seeing the client’s excitement when they view their design.

Is there a style that typifies what you do?

We are very much driven by the client and their personality, but our designs always have the same underlying quality; elegance and sophistication. We love designing fitted furniture that is sympathetic to its surroundings.

Is there a particular period or style that appeals to you both?

We like many periods – each for their own quirks.

However, we do love Regency and Georgian architecture and properties, for all the beautiful design features and dramatic design, from elaborate cornicing, theatrical window architraves and much more. Clifton and surrounding areas is a little slice of heaven to us.

What’s your background?

We met while working within a previous sector, and instantly clicked; we had the same ideals and design styles, and the same things excited us. It didn’t take long to also recognise that we both wanted to achieve more, and had ambitions that we wanted to reach.

With our combined degrees in BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and BA (Hons) Industrial Design, and our years of experience, we made a decision to take a leap together. From the international retail sector to the super-high-end of bespoke interiors, between us we have varied and invaluable experience and offer great things together.

What are the most popular trends you’re seeing at the moment?

Bold colour is big. Gone is the grey era; many of the paint brands are releasing fantastic bright and bold colours and we love using them. We have experienced a change in the classic styles and we are modernising the style by simplifying the lines, creating a less fussy look and keeping designs fresh by adding unique handles and using less traditional colours or materials.

How much time do you spend on marketing?

We share inspiration over Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram etc. Social media is very important and such a strong tool to drive traffic to the website and raise our SEO! One person shares our post and raises our profile to hundreds. We love it!

What are your plans for the future?

Next month we’re opening our new showroom display at 157 Whiteladies Road – we can’t wait to show our customers the level of design, quality and craftsmanship of our products. Our future goal would be to open up our own retail premise and in the next 10 years to have a couple throughout the country.

For more www.fawninteriors.co.uk

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f i n a n c e a d v e r tisi n g f eat u r e

THE IMPORTANCE OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION IN THE SUCCESS OF YOUR BUSINESS Philip Barry, partner in Hollingdale Pooley, looks at the importance and reliance on timely and robust management information in enabling quick and effective decision making, that can help ensure the success of your business, particularly in these times of post Brexit uncertainty.

B

usinesses are required to keep adequate accounting records by the Companies Act and the Taxes Act. However, while a business’ accounting records may be adequate to ensure compliance with the law, they may not be adequate to provide the management information needed to run the business effectively, profitably and solvently.

“Profitable businesses fail due to cash flow not being managed” There are four main areas that businesses need to monitor: sales levels; gross profit margin; control of overheads; and cash flow management. Many smaller businesses often say that they do not have the resources to set up, maintain, and monitor management accounts systems and information.The reality is that such systems do not need to be complex and take relatively little time and expense to set up.

Set a budget

If the business knows its forecast gross profit margin on sales and its forecast overheads, it will be able to calculate its breakeven sales level. If you need help on this, we have an easy to use breakeven calculator on our website at www.hollingdalepooley.co.uk.

Once you know your breakeven sales level, you will then be able to set a sales target to achieve the level of profits that you require, and complete the budget.

Monitor actual performance against budget If your business keeps its accounting system on SAGE or Quickbooks, you can enter the budget onto the accounting system. You will then be able to run an actual profit and loss account versus budget report on a monthly 84 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

or quarterly basis. This will show you if your business is not achieving budget and enable you to address this.

If your business has a manual accounting system, simpler measures will have to be adopted, such as comparing monthly sales against budget and reviewing cash balances.

You may wish to consider adopting SAGE or Quickbooks and we can help you in setting this up.

Cash flow is King

Profitable businesses fail due to cash flow not being managed. We can help you set up simple and effective cash flow spread-sheets. BL

GLOBAL INFLUENCERS

INNOVATORS

MediaClash Agency

FORWARD-THINKERS

THOUGHT-LEADERS

Can you judge a brand by its cover?

We think you can

mediaclash.co.uk

We create magazines for our clients that help them stand out from their competitors. If you are interested in making a powerful brand statement then please contact steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk

4 Whiteladies Road Clifton, BS8 1PD Tel: 01179 292281

“A name you can trust for specialist legal services” • Accident Claims • Attorneyships & Court of Protection • Business Sales & Purchases • Commercial Property • Conveyancing • Debt Recovery

• Dispute Resolution • D ivorce, Family & Children • Employment Advice • Probate & Estate Services • W ills, Trusts & Tax Planning

Call free for a no obligation consultation

0800 097 8611 www.johnhodge.co.uk | email: mailbox@johnhodge.co.uk

BRISTOL | CLEVEDON | WEDMORE | WESTON-SUPER-MARE | YATTON

PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

HALL CHANGE 94 112I I BRISTOL CLIFTONLIFE LIFEI Iwww.mediaclash.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk

SHOWCASE

PROPERTY

We’ve never seen a house quite like The Old Hall in Chelvey before – which makes it the perfect choice for rugged individualists who refuse to run with the pack

By L I SA WA R R E N

www.mediaclash.co.ukI ICLIFTON BRISTOLLIFE LIFE I I 113 95 www.mediaclash.co.uk

PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

N

o, we agree with you – despite its name, The Old Hall doesn’t look especially old – at least, not at first glance, when you see the house from the garden.

We were as surprised as you are to learn that this impressive and unusual family home dates back to the 16th-century. Of course, it was massively worked over in the 1980s, then further modernised over the last few years. And if that rings alarm bells, prepare to silence them, as once you step inside you’ll find an abundance of historic character and charm, with exposed stone walls, part of the original 16th-century spiral staircase, stone fireplaces, heavy, baronial doors, overhead wooden beams, and what have you.

The house sits peacefully, rurally and idyllically in Chelvey, a quiet little hamlet on the fringes of Backwell and Nailsea. It’s a spacious home, spread over three levels, with three good-sized reception areas as well as a garden room, and that classic hub-of-the-home, a large open-plan kitchen/breakfast room.

The drawing room measures in at 22ft; it has a bay, windows on three sides, an inglenook with a woodburning stove, and an added bonus that would definitely not have been available to the original 16th-century inhabitants: a home cinema.

This leads into a large reception hall, which opens in turn to a cosier sitting room, also with a wood-burning stove; it’s currently used as a play room, but could easily be pressed into service as a home office or study.

The open and inviting kitchen/breakfast room mixes traditional oak-and-granite-topped wall and base units with an Aga, oven and hob, within a rather fabulous 19ft space with a warm terracotta floor and a splendid painted beamed ceiling; full-length windows look out over the 96 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Contemporary where you want contemporary, yet historic in all the right places

gardens, while an actual garden room is currently used for formal dining, and contains impressive gadgetry in the form of thermostatic and rain-sensor-controlled window vents. Finally on this floor, you’ll find a utility room, cloakroom, boot room and integrated garage, which may not sound as glamorous as the main rooms, but which make all the difference to daily family life, as anyone who has ever tried to lived without them can attest (three words: mud; dogs; wellies).

There are four bedrooms up above on the first and second floors; whoever pays the mortgage will definitely pull rank when it comes to bagging the master bedroom high up in the tower, with its panoramic views through full-length windows, and a large, contemporary bathroom with a sizeable jacuzzi bathtub and walk-in shower, to which you descend via your own private spiral staircase.

HOUSE NUMBERS

The garden is extensive and beautiful, and neatly divided into rooms. A walled courtyard which greedily soaks up all the morning sun overlooks the village church, and is filled with flowers, evergreens and rose bushes.

The main formal gardens have areas for ‘recreation, al fresco dining and quiet contemplation’ (should you be so lucky); borders are heavily stocked here, too, with herbs, flowering plants, shrubs and trees. Low box hedges are immaculately trimmed, and we feel sorry for any dandelion attempting to inveigle its way into that velvety sward of lawn. There’s even a summer house, and a small pavilion for barbeques. A separate area houses a kitchen garden and orchard, greenhouse and garden store.

All in all, a most idyllic country retreat for anyone who wants the best of the new served with lashings of historic charm, with easy access to, well, almost everywhere.

3

receptions

1

garden room

£975K guide price

5

bedrooms

2

bathrooms

Savills Clifton, 20 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4DR; 0117 933 5800; www.savills.co.uk

Top tips ing for buy nch your Fre y! propert If you’re looking to buy a property in France, then the French Property Tips Seminar will provide you with all the information and tools you need.

Buying a property in France is a major decision and investment which requires thorough research and professional guidance. The seminar gives you the opportunity to meet a team of experts and gain valuable information and tips.

COME AND MEET THE EXPERTS IN BRISTOL

10TH SEPTEMBER Key areas include:

Property Purchase

Mortgages

Currency

Purchasing Trends

Healthcare

Come join us on the 10th September 2016 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Broad Quay, Bristol, BS1 4BY. The day includes tea/coffee, snacks and lunch. The cost is £25 or £40 per couple.

Tickets are limited so book now to avoid disappointment!

www.french-property-tips-seminar.com

Tax

Brexit

SAVE 20%

quote ‘BLIFE2 0’

BRISTOL LIVES

Q&A

H

ow does a London girl, who trained as a jazz dancer, and once had zero interest in gardening, end up as the co-owner of a West Country farm? And not just any old one-horse farm, but one of the West Country’s most respected organic operations?

“Easy – I married a great guy,” says Sue Mead.

The great guy in question was (and is!) Tim Mead, scion of the Yeo Valley family; her career trajectory is fascinating in its own right, but what we really really want to ask her about right now is a certain farm festival . . .

Was there a lightbulb moment when you thought, ‘I really want to do farming’?

I guess for me it’s been about confidence. The older I’ve got the more I’ve realised that if you approach everything with a degree of certainty and give things your best shot, people will normally come along for the ride. Once I realised that I had the backing of an amazing team I knew I really wanted to do this.

What changes have you and Tim made to Yeo Valley Farm since taking it over?

The foundations were laid by Tim’s parents and 500 years of dairy farming; there were no major changes in essence, just more hard work and plenty of attention to detail.

Why did you change to fully organic?

It was a natural progression. The garden followed close behind, and is now fully certified by the Soli Association. The longer the land was farmed organically, the more you could see the benefits; we could grow healthy crops for our cows, and so moving to 100 per cent organic was easy.

How did you come to team up with Luke Hasell on Valley Fest?

Tim and I have known Luke for a long time and we have a lot in common. We wanted to get involved after we went to the festival last year and absolutely loved it. We admired what Luke was doing and saw what a huge job it was to organise and market it – festivals are hard work to make happen. We got talking and I’m happy to say Valley Fest 2016 is the result.

What are you most looking forward to at Valley Fest this September?

Donning my sequins, gathering my friends and family around me and dancing non-stop on the last weekend of the summer holidays while watching everyone else doing the same. I can’t wait. Also a large beer with Luke and the team on Sunday evening.

98 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SUE MEAD [sing with us] ‘Yeo Valley, Yeo Valley; they changed the game, it’ll never be the same’ – and now they’re part of the team bringing you Valley Fest. Expect great food, a disproportionate amount of glitter and wellie-tapping music, says Yeo’s co-owner, Sue Mead What kind of food and drink can people expect to find at the fest?

We have been really keen to ensure that everyone is well-fed and watered all weekend.

We have an amazing food offering on site: local favourites Pukka Herbs, Riverford Organics, Boston Tea Party, Tideford Organics and Wyke Farms will be there, alongside smaller food stalls to give plenty of choice and a few surprises too.

On Saturday we are holding a midnight feast and Sunday sees the BBQ picnic where we’re inviting people to ‘join rugs’, while some of the best chefs in the West cook up a storm on the BBQ. Oh, and Yeo Valley will be there as well.

sense it won’t get bigger. However would I like it to stay exactly the same? No! I want it to get better and better, and I would love it to sell out in 20 minutes just like another farmer I know.

What else is on offer?

Some great headliners, but the thing that does it for me is the non-stop feel-good factor of consistent wellie-tapping music on offer all weekend over three stages. There’s a Village Green for kicking back, a children’s area and a cinema, the Chew Stage and a disproportionate amount of glitter; what’s not to love?

What’s your biggest extravagance?

Sparkly, sequinned clothing. I’m addicted.

When you get into Bristol, where do you love to eat and drink?

I always love going to Lockside. The whole menu appeals, it’s great value and you can park. . . . and shop?

Bees and Graves in Clifton Arcade. I defy anyone to emerge from this shop without feeling more glam and sparkling than when they went in.

Apart from running a farm, what else are you really good at?

Name that tune!

What’s your most regrettable habit?

Whisper it... the occasional cigarette.

Who will love Valley Fest (and who won’t?)

Anyone and everyone! Ok, possibly not if you are into Skrillex but I could be soooo wrong.

Finally, tell us something surprising…

I was once in a dance troupe with Liz Hurley.

We can think of another local farmer who allowed a few bands to play on his land – would you like to see Valley Fest grow?

Woah... steady on now. VF will stay a small family shindig on an amazing plot of land so, no, in that

www.yeovalley.co.uk www.valleyfest.co.uk

NEW SHOWROOM

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

We are also showing new sofa styles and an increased range of painted and solid oak cabinet furniture Promotional offers are available and remaining Clearance ex-display pieces are 50-75% off!

Curtains and Blinds
 Sofas and Fabrics
 Bespoke Cabinet Furniture and Wardrobes

FABRICS Terms and conditions apply

We are just past Clifton Down Shopping Centre 56/60, Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2PY Mon-Sat 9.30 - 5.30/Sun 12 - 5

TEL: 01173 292746

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