Bristol Life - Issue 219

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

ISSUE 219 / AUTUMN 2016 / £3

ISSUE 219 / AUTUMN 2016 / BE READY, BE READY TO BE CONFUSED

N A M U H G N I BE EMOTIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY AT ARNOLFINI FUNNY GIRL: LUCY PORTER’S BACK IN TOWN EAT, COOK, BRISTOL FASHION

BLACK STAR RISING (ALSO, 6 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT PRINCE)

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UP (AND DOWN) WHITELADIES ROAD

EDITOR’S LETTER / ISSUE 219 / AUTUMN 2016

38

ON WHITE HORSES Why is this magnificent stallion shown as if fallen mid-battle? What’s up with the monkey? And why is everything white?

Life in black and white White horses. Whiteladies Road.

Black Star – you’d almost think we planned these magazines.

But seriously, folks. If you don’t get your collective selves down to Arnolfini to see Daphne Wright’s incredible (and free) exhibition, you’ll be missing out on one of the best arts events of the Bristol autumn, and you don’t want to do that.

And Black Star? The BFI’s first season of black talent in the movies comes to Bristol; just to throw a splash of purple into the mix, Colston Hall have devised an unmissable night devoted to the life and times of Prince, with a special set by Norman Jay. Think you knew everything about the man from Minnesota? Turn to page 49.

Whiteladies Road? Presume that one needs no introduction, but if you haven’t cruised The Strip for a while, there are some recent openings that we think you’ll like.

Back in a few weeks time, in full technicolour.

Deri Robins, editor Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram:@bristollifemag

PHOTO BY JON CRAIG

FEATURES / ISSUE 219 / AUTUMN 2016

16

STRIP TEASE

The best bits of Whiteladies Road, by the people who live and work there

30

What’s On

The best stuff to see, do and hear this month

REGULARS / ISSUE 219 / AUTUMN 2016

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THE ARTS 27 Arts Intro Look at the lovely big Bristol Life balloon! Among other things

46 Film The coolest film festival ever? With a special event devoted to the world’s sexiest mf

52 Comedy Oh, Ms Porter: the loveable Lucy comes to Hen & Chicken

54 Theatre Pull up a seat at Brendan’s Bar. It’s going to be a long, dark and stormy night Gigs and plays you’ll wish you’d seen

SHOPPING Get these Made in Bristol fairs into the diary pronto

Bristol Life, MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash

60 Editor’s Choice

64 Flooring It’s much, much more exciting than it sounds

FOOD 74 Restaurants

BUSINESS

80 Recipes A flick through the Bristol Cook Book, and a little sweetener from Ahh Toots

95 Business Insider

A MAN’S WORLD

PROPERT Y

85 Seb Barrett

102 Property Showcase

Let the train cause the strain

The closest thing Bristol has to Venice. OK, it’s not that close

Russell Norman’s ‘backstreet Venetian bacaro’ comes to Bristol

SPORT

76 Food and drink

Who’s going to shine in the autumn internationals?

Five minutes with Coconut Chilli. ten minutes with Josh, and a sidehelping of short cuts

11

Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors: Mal Rogers, Lisa Evans, Kyle Tranor, Seb Barrett, Anna Britten Advertising manager Steve Grigg steve.grigg@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

Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk

59 Shopping Intro

INTERIORS

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

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

57 The Verdict

Before Christmas comes along and forces you into altrusim, why not spoil yourself a little bit?

M EET T H E T EAM

We’re launching the Bristol Life Business Club

© All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

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

87 Kyle Traynor

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11 88 91 114

Spotlight Great Escapes Snapped!

Bristol Lives

On the cover Daphne Wright at Arnolfini; page 38

The winning photos included these colourful captures by Carolyn Eaton and black-and-white shots by Richard Ford

PHOTOGRAPHY

ANSWERS ON A POSTCARD So, did you cast your vote? No, not Brexit; we’re so over that. We’re talking about the best photos of Clifton Village, taken by residents and visitors, who were asked to send in captures of all the picturesque shops, views and landmarks in this most chi-chi corner of the city.

Over 100 images were submitted and displayed in a pop-up photo gallery in Clifton Library between 30 September and 10 October. People voted for their favourite photos, and the most popular ten images have now been selected as postcard designs for the area; the winning photos included the shots shown here, by Richard Ford and Carolyn Eaton.

The challenge was part of ‘Discover Clifton’, an initiative launched earlier this year to demonstrate the various ways

people can reach and explore the Village.

The campaign was the work of BID Clifton Village and was supported by funding from the Cabot, Clifton and Clifton East Neighbourhood Partnership scheme’s Wellbeing grant.

“The Village’s Georgian architecture, green open spaces and cultural attractions make it such a beautiful area to visit,” said Andrew Morgan, chairman of BID Clifton Village. “So many of these have been highlighted in the images captured this summer, as people have travelled via the ferry boats, walked along the heritage trails through Clifton Wood and Brandon Hill, and taken in the beauty of the Downs and the Village as they’ve entered through the Promenade.”

For more www.discoverclifton.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT

KULTURE

POP MUSIK We’re not sure who holds the record for the fastest-selling gig in Bristol; this summer’s Massive Attack all-day festival certainly sold out in a matter of hours.

But the announcement that legendary 1980s German elektronik popsters Kraftwerk would play Colston Hall on 17 June next year sent the music venue’s website into total meltdown; it was tears before bedtime for many fans who just couldn’t get tickets (and for those who did, let’s hope the lads don’t fancy turning acoustic next year, hey?).

As for all those mysterious purple posters that sprang up across the city earlier this month, all was soon revealed; in due deference to the memory of the man who probably deserves the ‘greatest pop star of all time’ tag, a very special Prince night is planned for fans on 13 November: a purple people party with pre-film delights, a screening of 1984 classic Purple Rain, and an after-party with a DJ set from the legendary Norman Jay MBE. For more: www.colstonhall.org/shows/purple-rain

t doing what he does bes Sir David Attenborough m l, by @shotawaydotco tiva Fes n ree dsc Wil at

While everyone else was snap ping Daphne Wright’s sculp tures at Arnolfin i, @moodycoli was sneaking n319 shots of the vis itors. Typical

A snapshot of three weeks in the city on instagram. Find us on @bristollifemag Just a few of the pics that caught our eye this month, and made us think,“Bristol, though . . .”

get people ch fun o u s , m o w y. Als e ho We lov a sunny da f ours! on d re r One o arbourside a e ll to w H out of ul of them a htf thoug 12 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

This same exce

llent @bristolp ictures also ca ptured this new Princ e piece on Jama ica Street

sh’ by th Pari ainterly. iew of p t ‘V s o ly e lm v a This lo res is tolpictu s ri b @ Love it

45 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2LS

STREET LIFE

THE WHITE(LADIES) STUFF

It’s been a while since Whiteladies Road shook off its slightly down-at-heel reputation as ‘The Strip’ and became a deli-filled destination for discerning shoppers and diners. With the help of a group of local traders, we take a look at one of Bristol’s most familiar thoroughfares with fresh eyes

By L I SA WA R R E N Photo s by E M I LY C OL E S a nd JON C R A IG 16 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

U

ntil fairly recently, the long road linking the Victoria Rooms to the Downs was commonly known as The Strip. It was pretty much as it sounded; a lurid, neon-lit, after-dark magnet for goodtime Bristol girls and boys out on the lash, attracted by cheap chain restaurants, bars and nondescript clubs.

However, over the last decade, ‘The Strip’ has slowly changed; it’s got down with the Bristol zeitgeist. Think ‘Whiteladies’ today, and you’ll think individual boutiques, delis, Venetian-style bàcaros, artisan beers and home-made breads, along with a glorious Art Deco Picture House – successfully saved from redevelopment into boring old flats, and restored to its former glory by the Everyman group.

There’s a specialist kitchen shop, greetings cards at Paper Gangsta, outwear store Ellis Brigham, noted butchers Ruby & White, countless top-quality coffee houses, some of the best burgers in the city at Burger Joint . . . give or take the odd Costa, indies rule the roost.

Dive down one of the side streets, such as Alma Road and Chandos Road, and the offering increases still further. Here you’ll find delis, cocktail bars and cafés, quirky little theatres, and restaurants offering flavours from around the world, including one of only three Bristol restaurants to hold a Michelin star. 

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 17

STREET LIFE We talked to some of the people who work on or just off The Strip (sorry! Old habits die hard) to see what they think of it so far: what are the best and worst things about working here, and where they like to shop, eat and relax.

Everyone seems to love the community spirit, a lot of people would like to level out the hills – but opinion seems a bit divided over the parking issue and the RPZs . . .

THE BOUTIQUE OWNER

Marcelle Fletcher runs Movement Boutique on Alma Road. “There is always something different to find, and of good quality here,” she says. “Being on Alma Road, we do not have as much footfall as Whiteladies Road, so we want to encourage this a bit more.”

Marcelle’s favourites: “The Body Centre Clifton has a wide range of treatments, carried out by welcoming and professional staff; I also love Papadeli for the lovely food, gifts and staff, and Heartfelt Vintage and Bouton – all on Alma Road.”

THE COFFEE SHOP OWNER

Patrick Grant Sturgis runs speciality coffee shop/ café Roasted Rituals from a vintage Citroen van parked in St John’s Court. “The best thing is our loyal customers,” says Patrick. “The worst is the gradient up to the The Downs!”

Patrick’s favourites: “The Spiny Lobster – very, civilised, very fresh fish. Bosco, for Negronis and pizza. Number 38 – stylish and comfortable.”

THE PET SPECIALISTS

Karen Ray is co-director of independent pet shop Alfie & Bella. They’re “proudly independent,” she says, and offer a wide selection of quality foods and accessories for pets as well as wild birds, pond fish and chickens. The best things about Whiteladies is the “excellent selection of shops and restaurants on your doorstep, the Saturday

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market, near the Downs; amazing food”. She’d like someone to level off the hills, though; “one of us cycles in every day.”

Karen’s favourites: “The Marmalade Cafe –the best in Bristol; Divino Deli – amazing Italian food; Wild Oats and Better Food Company – for all things healthy and organic; Everyman Cinema – we have waited so long and it is just brilliant; The Port of Call pub – under new management and it’s fabulous; Creativity – this is the place for anything for arts and crafts . . . I could go on, there are so many lovely places.”

THE FURNITURE EXPERT

Alex Price is co-owner of the Bristol Raft store, selling reclaimed teak furniture and handmade sofas. “You meet interesting people everyday; so many great people from such diverse places and from all over the world with many interesting stories to tell,” he says.

“The worst thing is the amount of excellent cafés. It’s all too easy to lose an hour having a coffee and watching the world go by.”

Alex’s favourites: “We love the food from The Better Food Company and at The Ox. We also love to nip into Café du Jour for a coffee and to enjoy their garden. I must also mention Suave & Co, a barbers located at the bottom of Whiteladies Road. Their knowledge is the best I’ve experienced and they are always really friendly.”

THE INTERIORS GURUS

Ryan Whittaker is co-owner of Whittaker Wells – together with Pete Eastwood, they’re ‘the boys who sew’. The lads have a new interiors showroom, specialising in cutting-edge design and handmade quality.

“This is a very relaxed area,” says Ryan.”The centre is far enough away, but there is an energy here reminiscent of London’s Kings Road. There seems to be a genuine focus on service, w and

THERE’S AN

ENERGY HERE THAT’S

REMINISCENT OF

LONDON’S KING’S ROAD

This page Clifton Down Shopping Centre; it’s not all Boots and Starbucks, honest; opposite, clockwise from top: popular vintage store on Alma Road; Sheepdrove offer organically-reared meat; ribs-r-us at Gas & Co; better food at Better Food; it’s not just coffee at Brew Coffee

STREET LIFE

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 19

STREET LIFE helping people get the best of what they want.

It’s also got a surprisingly community-minded environment, with the businesses being very friendly and supportive of each other.”

Ryan’s favourites: “We love Aqua. We often work pretty late and the guys in there are always happy to prepare a meal, whatever the time.

In the mornings you get a great welcome in Latimers for coffee and a tasty bite.”

THE BRUNCH FAVOURITE

Matt Atkins is the owner of Brew Coffee Company – a popular hangout for brunch, lunch, cake or just a damn fine brew. Inspired by our Antipodean travels and Middle Eastern flavours our food is familiar yet creative and most importantly made by us,” says Matt. “Our coffee is roasted by Andrew Tucker at Clifton Coffee and together we put a lot of effort into sourcing a seasonal offering that will hit the spot.

“The best thing about working on Whiteladies is the community spirit, not just between the businesses but the people that use the area every day. Many of our customers come from the surrounding residential areas or work on Whiteladies Road. We are incredibly grateful and proud to be part of such a warm and inviting community” Matt’s favourites: “Mockingbird Café on Alma Vale Road: we always find time on days off to hang out in someone else’s café and this place is an awesome little spot to do just that. Our

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

newest favourite is Everyman Cinema; if you love the cinema then you will love this place. The building is glorious, the team are great and it’s a lovely treat.”

THE TRADING EXPERT

Ken Simpson is the leader of Winning Whiteladies Trader’s Association.

“It’s a great place to work, with some excellent places to eat, drink and shop. Being a main through route Whiteladies Road tends to be very busy, but parking is easier since the RPZs.” Ken’s favourites: Divino Deli – amazing food and coffee. Marmalade Café – great food and service. Falafel King, just round the corner on Cotham Hill – ideal for veggies. Mocking Bird – simply, wow. Chums Bar – great beers.

THE CAFÉ OWNER

Kevin Hanley runs Steam Bristol, a new bar/ restaurant at Clifton Down Station (formerly Roo Bar). “With the banks of TVs now consigned to the skip, this is now a truly amazing revival of this Gothic gem, complete with a festival tent outside in which you can rug up on a winter’s night; but the main event has to be the beer hall and rotisserie open kitchen. It’s all about fun, relaxed dining (even the food arrives on palm leaf platters) at great value for money.

“The best thing about Whiteladies? It still feels old-school. The worst? The parking.”

Kevin’s favourites: Bravas (on Cotham Hill) –w–

We put the same question to all our friendly traders: how would you sum up the Whiteladies appeal in five words to an outsider?

Marcelle from Movement Boutique Largely independent, different and interesting Patrick Grant Sturgis of Roasted Rituals Community driven with real quality Karen Ray of Alfie & Bella Vibrant, friendly, foodie, has everything Alex Price of Raft Creative, diverse, historic, fashionable, vibrant Matt Atkins of Brew Coffee House Hustle, bustle, friendly, Bristol love Ken Simpson, leader of Winning Whiteladies Traders Association Great shops, restaurants, great location Alex Williams of Bakesmiths Friendly, growing, vibrant foodie venue Mark Brigham of Ellis Brigham Vibrant. Welcoming. Different.

Independent. Interesting

STREET LIFE

– possibly better than tapas bars in Spain. Brew – a great welcome, great coffee. Cotham Hardware – stocks everything.

THE BAKERS

Alex Williams runs Bakesmiths, a new, independent micro-bakery, coffee shop and baking school. “We bake all our bread fresh every day. We believe in making simple, delicious food in line of sight of our customers; we also use as many local suppliers as we can such as Shipton Mill, Chew Valley, Ruby & White and Clifton Coffee.” The best thing about the area? “The food scene, and independents supporting other independents.”

Alex’s favourites: “Bravas, Bosco, Greyhound Printers, The Cowshed, Pasta Loco, The Ox, Whiteladies Farmers Market.”

THE SOLICITOR

Grant McCall is a director and commercial solicitor at AMD. “One of the big advantages of working on Whiteladies Road is that our clients can combine a meeting at the office with shopping, a coffee, a walk on the Downs or another appointment without having to fight through city-centre traffic.

If there is a downside, it would be in the lunch hour. With so many options of what and where to 22 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

eat, trying to enforce a strict diet isn’t easy . . .”

Grant’s favourites: “It’s too difficult to stamp a favourite café or restaurant (not sitting on the fence too much) but the return of a cinema on Whiteladies Road has certainly added an extra attraction to the area.”

THE SPORTSWEAR SPECIALIST

Mark Brigham is the MD of Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports, stocking clothing and equipment for skiers, snowboarders, hikers and climbers. “The best thing is the Downs at the top of the road – a great place to chill out in the summer. Also all the delis and independent shops, plus the friendly people, make Whiteladies Road that little bit special. The worst thing is the traffic – we need traffic-free days.”

Mark’s favourites: “Divino Deli – our little piece of Italy (try the olives). Better Food Company – organic food and a great selections of local beers.

Creativity on Worrall Road – essential if you’ve got kids, or are looking for presents. Kitchens – everything cooks could possibly need. Pizza at Bosco is amazing and the tapas at Bravas is not to be missed. The Ox serves great steaks, the Jersey Lily is everything a pub should be, the weekly market on a Saturday is always busy, and there are never many doughnuts left at the The Big O Donut Co stand . . . ” w

Worth the wait: three cheers for the Whiteladies Picture House, now restored to its Art Deco glory

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY You can still hear the odd gasp of disapproval from newcomers when they hear the names ‘Whiteladies’ and ‘Black Boy Hill’ – understandably, perhaps, given Bristol’s links to the slave trade.

As it happens, these particular gasps are unjustified. There was never any bartering for slaves on these roads; there were no women’s clothes stores with racist admissions policies. In this nomenclature, if nothing else, the city is guiltless.

It’s generally accepted that both street names were derived from pubs.

The Black Boy Tavern stood on the hill until 1874, its name reflected in the sign of a Moor’s head (admittedly still not the pinnacle of political politeness).

The name may also have referred to the tarred criminals who met their fate on the gallows on the Downs; it could even have been a reference to Charles II, a monarch of notably swarthy complexion. There was a White Ladies Inn, too, shown on mid-18th-century maps. So that’s that little nicety got out of the way.

COME AND ENJOY THIS FABULOUS NEW SPACE ON THE SITE OF THE OLD ROO BAR ROTISSERIE KITCHEN! CHICKEN, PORCHETTA & STEAKS, SPIT ROASTED TO PERFECTION

WWW.STEAMBRISTOL.CO.UK

0117 317 9200

CLIFTON DOWN STATION BS8 2PN

STEAM-BRISTOL

@STEAMBRISTOL

STREET LIFE

THE LIST Where to spend your money

SHOPS

Movement Boutique 66 Alma Road www.movementboutique. co.uk Global, ethical clothing

Polpo 50 Whiteladies Road www.polpo.co.uk Russell Norman’s ‘Venetian backstreest bacaro’

Better Food 94A Whiteladies Road www.betterfood.co.uk Wellbeing that doesn’t cost the earth

Raft Furniture 68 Whiteladies Road www.raftfurniture.co.uk Furniture store

No Man’s Grace 6 Chandos Road www.nomansgrace.com Restaurant specialising in small plates

Alfie and Bella 5 Worrall Road www.alfieandbella.co.uk Indie pet supplies

Bike Science Bike Science Ltd 184 Whiteladies Road www.bike-science.com High-quality cycling accessories and bicycles from top brands Clifton Brides 186 Whiteladies Road Bridal wear www.cliftonbrides.co.uk Clifton Framing 110 Whiteladies Road www.cliftonframing.co.uk Picture framing Creativity 7-9 Worrall Road www.creativitycraft.com Craft and card-making suppliers Ellis Brigham 160 Whiteladies Road www.ellis-brigham.com Sportswear and more In-Toto 102 Whiteladies Road www.intoto.co.uk Contemporary and traditional/country kitchens Mabel’s Greengrocer 17 Chandos Road www.mabelsgreengrocer. co.uk Lovely greengrocer!

Sofa Library 76-78 Whiteladies Road www.thesofalibrary.co.uk Quality, hand-made upholstery Whittaker Wells 157 Whiteladies Road www.whittakerwells.com ‘The boys who sew’

DELIS

Divino Deli 1 Worrall Road www.divinodeli.co.uk Lovely Italian-run deli Papadeli 84 Alma Road www.papadeli.co.uk Much-loved deli and catering service

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Bento Boss First-floor Restaurant Unit, 6, Clifton Down Station, Whiteladies Road www.bentoboss.co.uk Sushi and pan-Asian The Ox 96A Whiteladies Road www.theoxclifton.com Top notch British fare Bosco Pizzeria 96 Whiteladies Road www.boscopizzeria.co.uk Pizza

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River Cottage Café St John’s Court www.rivercottage.net HFW’s dependable, blamelessly organic gaff Steam Bar and Grill Steam Bar, Clifton Down Station www.steambristol.co.uk A bit of homage to Brunel and a bit of Steampunk thrown in . . .

Spiny Lobster 128 Whiteladies Road www.thespinylobster.co.uk Bristol’s best fish diner, owned by Mitch Tonks Wilks 1B Chandos Road www.wilksrestaurant.co.uk One of only three Michelin-starred restaurants in Bristol Wilsons 24 Chandos Road www.wilsonsrestaurant.co.uk Not to be confused with the above; popular bistro

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Bristol Barber Company 137 Whiteladies Road www.britishbarbercompany. co.uk Premium men’s hair stylists

EF Medi-spa 1 Whiteladies Road www.efmedispa.com Anti-ageing laser treatments and more

Wide range of meats, charcuterie, cheeses, wines.

ESTATE AGENTS

Bakesmiths 65 Whiteladies Road www.bakesmiths.co.uk Bakers and café

Fine & Country 147 Whiteladies Road www.fineandcountry.com Ocean 185 Whiteladies Road www.oceanhome.co.uk

PUBS

Kings Arms 168 Whiteladies Road www.kingsarmsbristol.com The Jersey Lily 193 Whiteladies Road www.wickwarbrewing.com

BUTCHERS

Ruby and White 48 Whiteladies Road www.rubyandwhite.com

COFFEE SHOPS AND CAFÉS

Brew Coffee 45 Whiteladies Road wwwbrewcoffee company.co.uk Coffee, brunch, lunch, cake Roasted Rituals Vintage Citroen parked in St John’s Court www.roastedrituals coffee.com Tradewind Expresso 118 Whiteladies Road www.tradewindespresso. com

Music/theatre/film/more

THIS IS BRISTOL

OK, we’re admittedly flattered by the size of the Bristol Life balloon drifting gently over the Suspension Bridge – but we would have loved Jenny Urquhart’s new This is our Bristol print in any case.

“Usually, my paintings celebrate the landscapes of Bristol, but I thought it was about time I celebrated the people,” says Jenny. ”Bristolians are proud of their city; it has a rich cultural heritage, and when there’s a local event, everyone totally embraces it. It feels more like a large village than a big city.

“I asked Bristol people to send me photos of themselves, their homes, or their favourite Bristol spot, to be used in a collage within the painting. Even James May joined in (specifying that he wanted to be small and in the bottom left-hand corner). It also features a copy of The Big Issue signed by Robert Del Naja, that I bought many years ago – it may have even been bought from the legendary Jeff, who also features.”

Signed posters cost £20, or you can buy raffle tickets at £5 (3 for £10) – 25% of all proceeds go towards Bristol Children’s charity CCS Adoption, of which Jenny is a patron.

For more: email jenny_urquhart@hotmail.com; also available from Room 212; www.room212.co.uk

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21 October – 21 November 2016

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

Dearly beloved: it’s Prince night at Colston Hall; reimagined romance: Giselle; man in a frock: Grayson Perry

Exhibitions

film, performance and language; spikeisland.org.uk

ONGOING

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF JIRÍ KOLA Czech artists Stetina and Burianek present a new film about the recording of poems by Kol; spikeisland.org.uk

CATH READ The Bristol painter celebrates the hilly city, from terraced houses to allotments and parks. At Downstairs@Artemis; artemisbristol.co.uk

UNTIL 31 DECEMBER UNTIL 5 NOVEMBER

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS Natural elements inspire this show from Tony Scrivener and Masako Tobita; cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk

DAPHNE WRIGHT: EMOTIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY Major new Arnolfini exhibition; See feature page 38

164 ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITION AT RWA The South West’s biggest and most prestigious Annual Open Exhibition returns for its 164th year; rwa.org.uk UNTIL 11 DECEMBER

HEDWIG HOUBEN The Dutch artist shows her sculptural works, mediated by

UNTIL 22 OCTOBER

GISELLE One of the most anticipated dance events of 2016; choreographer Akram Khan has created a new version for English National Ballet. At The Hippodrome; atgtickets.com 25-29 OCTOBER

Plays/Shows

THE ROOM UPSTAIRS What’s worst, when you’re trying for a baby? Facebook pics from other parents? Stupid comments from friends? Or the modern fallacy that IVF has made infertility a thing of the past?

Clem and Toby are slowly losing faith. . . Theatre West, at The Wardrobe; theatre-west.co.uk

UNTIL 13 NOVEMBER

25 OCTOBER-5 NOVEMBER

12 NOVEMBER - 5 MARCH UNTIL 21 NOVEMBER

based on a Victor Hugo story and set in a historical, if imaginary, Stokes Croft; bristololdvic.org.uk

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR This annual treat returns to M Shed; bristolmuseums.org.uk

THE GRINNING MAN Bristol Old Vic’s weird and wickedly wild new musical,

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THE WEIR New production of Conor McPherson’s play (see feature

page 54); tobaccofactory.com 25 OCTOBER-26 NOVEMBER

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL After 10 years in the West End, Daldry’s hit show takes to the road for a UK tour. At The Hippodrome; atgtickets.com 7-10 N0VEMBER

COULROPHOBIA Slapstick, mime, puppetry and a lot of cardboard: from Pickled Image, a company at the forefront of British puppetry.

Funny, heartbreaking and subversive; tobaccofactory.com 15-19 NOVEMBER

CHAMP Powerful new piece of work from young Bristol theatremakers Samuel Bailey and Jesse Jones; part of the ‘A Play, a Pie and a Pint’ series. Why are so many young men paralysed by their circumstances, and cut adrift with no purpose? (it asks); tobaccofactory.com

W H AT ’ S O N

15-26 NOVEMBER

30 0CTOBER

16-20 NOVEMBER

3 NOVEMBER

STOMPING ON SHADOWS Artist-turned-writer Hugh McCann’s surreal, madcap romp across the globe. At Hamilton House; theatre-west.co.uk 946: THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS Book at once for Kneehigh’s characteristically ebullient take on the Michael Morpurgo story, set among the D-Day landings; bristololdvic.org.uk

ARTS

ABC Dapper, suited-and-booted Martin and the lads rattle through The Lexicon of Love, etc at Colston Hall; colstonhall.org MILOŠ KARADAGLIĆ The hottest guitarist in the world (seriously, have you seen him? Next page. . .) brings his ‘Bach to Beatles’ baroque ‘n’ roll to Colston; colstonhall.org 4 NOVEMBER

17-26 NOVEMBER

OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD BOVTS’s revival of Timberlake Wertenbaker’s play, set in 18th-century Botany Bay. Premiering at Royal Court before transferring to the West End, the play won major awards on both sides of the Atlantic. At Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com 18-19 NOVEMBER

LEMONS LEMONS LEMONS LEMONS LEMONS The average person speaks 123,205,750 words in a lifetime.

But what if there were a limit?

Bernadette and Oliver are about to find out, in this taut two-hander from Walrus; tobaccofactory.com

Music 22-23 OCTOBER

SIMPLE THINGS FESTIVAL The fest takes over Bristol’s most innovative gig spaces again, for two days of musical diversity; simplethingsfestival.co.uk

THE SHIMMER BAND These Bristol boys are making a real name for themselves; catch them while you can, at The Fleece; thefleece.co.uk 4-5 NOVEMBER

JOOLS HOLLAND The boogie-woogie legend brings his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra to Colston Hall; colstonhall.org 8 NOVEMBER

GO-GO PENGUIN “We’re re-creating electronic music on acoustic instruments” say the Manc trio; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

running improvised soap; thewardrobetheatre.com

12 NOVEMBER

19 NOVEMBER

EATS EVERYTHING The Bristol-born superstar DJ briefly abandons Ibiza and the States to do a home tour that visits Motion; motionbristol.com 15 NOVEMBER

THE STYLISTICS One of the great soul acts of all time bring their Philly sound to Colston Hall; colstonhall.org

24 OCTOBER

KT TUNSTALL The award-laden Fife buzzball bounces back onto the stage; colstonhall.org

The hills are alive: Cath Read at Artemis

21 NOVEMBER

DAVID ESSEX Still twinkling after all these years; colstonhall.org

23 OCTOBER

MICHAEL CRAWFORD The indefatigable stage and screen star shares anecdotes and clips before receiving the 2016 Aardman Slapstick Award for excellence. At St George’s Bristol; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 28 OCTOBER

LUCY PORTER: CONSEQUENCES Lucy brings her Edinburgh hit to Hen & Chicken; see feature page 52 6 NOVEMBER

25 OCTOBER

DAUGHTER The folk trio du jour, who attract eulogies along the lines of ‘elegant’, ‘moving’, and ‘beautiful’, comes to Colston Hall; colstonhall.org 29 OCTOBER

CORINNE BAILEY RAE The Grammy-winning Leeds songbird tours her third album, The Heart Speaks in Whispers; colstonhall.org

23 NOVEMBER

PURPLE RAIN Celebrate the life of the ultimate sexy MF with a screening of Purple Rain, and afterparty with a DJ set from Norman Jay MBE; colstonhall.org

Comedy ONGOING

CLOSER EACH DAY Season 12 of the world’s longest-

BEYOND THE RIDICULOUS Each fool takes a step on to the stage with no idea what’s going to happen, taking the audience on an unexpected journey into the unknown. At The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com 11 NOVEMBER

SEAN WALSH: ONE FOR THE ROAD The Lie-in King returns with a brand-new show, at Comedy Box; tobaccofactory.com

SHAPPI KHORSANDI: OH, MY COUNTRY! FROM MORRIS DANCING TO MORRISSEY Shappi’s love letter to her adopted land. Comedy Box; tobaccofactory.com 13 NOVEMBER

NINCOMPOOP Some of the best new ideas in comedy, slapstick and audience participation, if you’re brave enough. At The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com 13 NOVEMBER

THE ELIS JAMES AND JOHN ROBINS EXPERIENCE Elis and John take their hit podcast on the road. Comedy Box; tobaccofactory.com 17 NOVEMBER

ANGELOS AND BARRY: THE NEW POWER GENERATIONS The lads talk bookies, Londis, Crimewatch, whether you can claim benefits in space and how Ban Ki Moon once nearly lost t he UN in a poker game. Among other stuff. At Colston Hall; colstonhall.org w

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 31

W H AT ’ S O N

ARTS

Other UNTIL 23 OCTOBER

BRISTOL COCKTAIL WEEK Bottoms up! Catch the last few days of the annual mixology fest; bristolcocktailweek.bar UNTIL 13 NOVEMBER

PLACE, TIME + ARCHITECTURE The Architecture Centre’s retrospective exhibition presenting the past, present and future state of architecture and place-making in the city; architecturecentre.co.uk UNTIL 3O OCTOBER

BRISTOL FAMILY ARTS FESTIVAL The fourth Family Arts Festival celebrates innovation, in a programme of high-quality family activities. At various venues; arnolfini.org.uk

20 NOVEMBER

JEREMY HARDY The stand-up who’s been at it since 1984 brings his schtick to Comedy Box; tobaccofactory.com 27 NOVEMBER

AUSTENTACIOUS The cast improvise a brand new Jane Austen work before your eyes, based on a single audience suggestion; colstonhall.org

Film

UNTIL 31 OCTOBER

BLACK HISTORY MONTH The annual celebration highlighting the importance of African Caribbean culture and history; www.bristol.gov.uk 2 NOVEMBER

UNTIL 31 DECEMBER

BLACK STAR The BFI’s season dedicated to black actors; see feature page 46

28-30 OCTOBER

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL BFF returns with a series of immersive screenings to get you in a spooky mood, including a second series of Horror in the [Redcliffe] Caves. See the line-up at bristolfilmfestival.com

9-25 NOVEMBER

INTO FILM FESTIVAL The film fest just for kids (aged 5-19) with over 40 free screenings, from blockbusters to more niche indie offerings, at various venues; intofilm.org

GRAYSON PERRY: TYPICAL MAN IN A DRESS To accompany the release of his new book The Descent of Man, the Turner Prize-winning artist embarks on a one-off UK live theatre tour. Expect humour, discussion, insight and costume changes; colstonhall.org.

WINE & CHEESE TASTING With Arch House Deli & Averys wine merchants, at Alno Store; alnokitchens.co.uk 8-9 NOVEMBER

BRIAN COX Join the particle prof on a dazzling journey through space and time, delving into ‘high science’ and freewheeling on the edges of the known cosmos; colstonhall.org

11-13 NOVEMBER

Clockwise: Going places: The Shimmer Band; going for a song: Miloš Karadaglić; going for the whiskey-drinking record: The Weir; going nowhere fast: Champ

AFRIKA EYE The South West’s biggest celebration of African cinema and culture returns to Watershed with the usual heady mix of films, discussions, family workshops and live music; afrikaeye.org.uk

19 NOVEMBER

PIZZA, BEER AND FIZZ FESTIVAL Bristol’s best pizza! Craft beer and cider! Betty the Pink prosecco van! All day DJs! It can only be the Foozie crew. At the Old Fire Station; foozie.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33

ARTS

EXHIBITION

MATERIAL GIRL Daphne Wright’s sculptures and multi-media work are currently on show at Arnolfini. But what’s ‘emotional archaeology’ when it’s at home? And why is almost everything white?

By L I SA WA R R E N

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

EXHIBITION

A

s you wander around Daphne Wright’s exhibition, you’ll probably have more questions than answers. Why is everything white? What’s with all the tin-foil cacti, and the Country & Western songs about broken hearts and murder? Why is that magnificent stallion captured as a fallen beast, instead of being mounted conventionally on a plinth? What happened to the monkey?

That’s all as it should be. Daphne’s art – which mixes photography, tin foil, sound, voice and video as well as plaster – springs from a relentless curiosity about the way that language and materials can create an involvement with human preoccupations.

It – she – invites us to take a look at difficult, often sidelined issues about class, aspiration, faith, parenthood, ageing and care, through art that’s often exquisite and shocking in equal measure; the personal is always political, the mundane emerges as surprising, and what first seems benign and nonthreatening is shadowed by something darker and more troubling.

Perhaps the most disturbing gallery (once you’ve recovered from the dead horse and monkey) is the one featuring the faces of children, crafted from unfired clay in the naive style of Surrealism and children’s art. In these faces, with only a gouge or a scrape for a feature, lie all our hopes for future generations. These forms are vulnerable; they do not appear as fully-moulded or polished, or ready for adult life.

Daphne – the mother of two sons – also gives us a replica of her family dining table at tea time: a poignant moment of childhood, frozen in time.

“In suburbia you will find lots of little hand-andfeet plaster casts of babies and children in people’s houses,” she says. “I thought, instead of casting a

ARTS

hand, I’d cast an entire portrait. It’s the expression of the loss of a child: they go on to be adults.”

Daphne, what does the title of the exhibition – Emotional Archaeology – mean to you?

It refers to archaeologists, and how they work; how they section off a space, then begin to take away layer after layer. Within that they’ll recover fragments, that may go together, maybe not – but they reveal something. Emotional Excavation – that could be another title.

We know that it spans 25 years of work – has your focus changed much, over the years?

The interesting thing is the question of human emotions – I wonder if they ever change? From 200 years ago to now, the basics of the human condition hasn’t changed, not really. The main human concerns: life, living, family, relations – all of those things are still just the same, and that’s why we always refer back to the classic stories.

How do the materials used reflect the themes in the exhibition?

The materials used in quite a lot of my work will disintegrate; a lot of my work has been destroyed and lost. Will tinfoil last? I don’t create my work to be an artefact in 100 years’ time; the nature of the work, and the materials I use, have an ephemeral quality to a degree, and that’s deliberate. I guess my work isn’t really designed to have that permanent effect, but it does leave fragments behind – for someone else to exhume at another point in time, and try make sense of what it was all about.

Your images are strikingly devoid of colour – what’s the reason behind this?

It’s really, really conscious – it’s about things being just slightly removed. Putting colour in, you are visually satisfied, because it fulfils what you think w

In Stallion, the unusual presentation of this fallen animal makes us question what happened to this majestic creature

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

ARTS

EXHIBITION

“I thought, instead of casting a hand, I’d cast an entire portrait. It’s the expression of the loss of a child: they go on to be adults”

it should be. If you reduce the colour or reduce the emotional expressions, that makes it more difficult for the viewer, more elusive. There is a pain in that, because it’s not satisfied.

Has being a mother affected your work?

Yes, although not in a way that is obvious. I think it influenced me in a much deeper way. I don’t think you can go through the experience of parenthood and not have it affect you and your work, it is an all-encompassing experience. Parenthood is such a big human responsibility and part of life – of course you’re going to look at it.

After having children, there was a shift in the way I worked; I didn’t have all that endless time. In terms of making methods, I just couldn’t do those time-consuming pieces anymore – and also, I didn’t want to.

As an artist, you live on the surface of society, then when you have children you have to get involved with community and in society. Then you begin to understand the mesh of community and your child’s place in it, and I guess the responsibility you have to forge a place for them within that society. That was a huge thing for me – turning back and getting involved. It makes you political, you have to be engaged in a political way, to understand where and how to support your children.

How accessible is your work, do you think?

Out in Tyntesfield one of the casts of a small stillborn calf needed to be cleaned off. One of the conservators was cleaning it outside, and told me

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

EXHIBITION

ARTS

IN BRISTOL WE FOUND A

REALLY GREAT ARTISTIC COMMUNITY, LEFT ALMOST TO ITS OWN DEVICES

Top: In Where do Broken Hearts Go?, cacti made from strips of tin foil are sound-tracked by Country & Western songs describing broken hearts and murder Primate highlights the difficult and conflicted relationship people have with animals

that someone came along, a retired farmer, who completely understood it. I think people do get my work. It’s the poignancy around it. I think it’s arts organisations that think people don’t get it, but people do, because the access is on a very human level, and they have a human empathy with it.

I’m interested in the individual and their paths.

You might start to overlook an individual, and the uniqueness of their experience, but actually it all ties up; humans are all much the same, with the same big concerns.

For instance the small clay faces – anybody who sends their kid to school knows what that’s about.

It’s just the poignant moments in people’s passages through life; sometimes you think about them, and others they pass you by.

What brought you to Bristol, and what keeps you here?

Well, it was very cheap to live here, and it was on route to America. At the time, we were definitely passing through. But my partner John got a job here, and there were brilliant cheap studios, lots of artists and it was a good place to live that wasn’t London. Everything was available, there was a really great artistic community, left almost to their own devices. I guess we just never left. That was 20 years ago now. Now I live between Dublin and Bristol, and this works well.

Emotional Archaeology by Daphne Wright, curated

by Josephine Lanyon, is exhibited at Arnolfini and National Trust Tyntesfield until 31 December.

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

The new Harold’s Club will be hosting a series of events open to the public throughout the year. Giving you the rare opportunity to try out the fabulous facilities at Clevedon Hall.

Special Events The Four Cuisineers Sat 29th October

SOLD OUT!

A Delicious Party Event.

Four of the Regions Best Chefs each take charge of a specific dish.

Canapes Reception with mini cocktails.

Stunning 3 Course Meal including pairing wines for starter and main.

Special Launch Event price £45.

Bedrooms Available.

New Years Eve 31st December

Valentines Day* 14th February 2017

Roaring 1920s Theme.

Dazzling 5 Course Taster Menu.

Amazing Live Band.

Surprise Entertainment.

Evening Snack (if you can squeeze it in!)

Fireworks at Midnight.

Tickets £105.

Bedrooms Available.

An Event for Couples.

Arrival Drink.

Fabulous 4 Course Meal Live Entertainment.

Tickets from £59.

*Details to be confirmed

at For more details please call 01275 795895 or visit us at: www.clevedonhall.co.uk/haroldsclub

ARTS

CINEMA

EMBRACE YOUR

BLACK STAR A major new film season curated by the BFI plays tribute to black talent in the movies – and it’s coming to Bristol

By E DSON BU RT ON

CINEMA

ARTS

Left: André Benjamin as Hendrix in Jimi: All Is By My Side; this page, Sid and Rod in Norman Jewison’s In the Heat of the Night

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT IS A TIMELY REMINDER OF

SIDNEY POITIER’S

ROLE IN DRAMATISING

RACIAL

TENSIONS DURING THE

1960S

W

hen planning a heist, the foul-mouthed White mobsters in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs choose colours to conceal their real names. They all want to be Mr Black. The scene is a brilliantly succinct comment on race and identity.

When I posed the question to a group of friends: ‘Tell me the name of a film star you admire, ‘George Clooney’ ‘Kate Blanchett’, ‘Joaquin Phoenix’, ‘Kate Winslet’, ‘Michael Fassbender’ were the responses. None of these cinema-savvy people named a black actor.

I have sat, laughed and digested cinema with these friends. I know that, if prompted, they will recount scene after scene of black cinematic performances which have touched their lives, and yet in this spontaneous probing, none of this archive came to their minds.

Their response is a microcosm of a wider amnesia – black actors hold their own at the box office, and increasingly on the small screen, but, just as soon as they’re fêted, they are quickly forgotten.

I cannot speak for my friends, nor for a wider cinematic audience, some of who will, quite rightly, not see themselves in the above scenario, but I hazard this amnesia is the result of the compartmentalisation of cinema and its cannon. w

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 47

ARTS

CINEMA

European cinema, world cinema, Hollywood and black cinema. Such categorisations obscure the universal in the particular, confuse cinematic quality with box office efficacy, but more importantly it misses the simple truth that black and white cinema, like the black and white experience, are intimately intertwined. Tragic colonial encounter, the protracted journey to undo that encounter and the hybrid culture forged along the way mean we are as close as the earth and sky.

The reason for our BFI’s focus on black stars is to bring this implicit truth into light, and by doing so, to celebrate in fullness, those stars, sometimes forgotten, we all hold dear.

Success in other fields has often served as the entry point for black stars. Even at the height of societal racism, music – the most pervasive and generally most democratic art form – has been receptive to black artistry. Music has afforded black performers a level of access and success at worst denied, at best more difficult to attain, in other art forms. Musicians featured in our season – Prince, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Jimi Hendrix – have broken through the narrow identifications with race. They have spoken of and for their time. Pop stardom has allowed them to move between stage and screen.

Opening our Stars Become Stars strand is the thinly disguised Motown story Dream Girls, which introduced the world to the acting and singing prowess of Jennifer Hudson and further cemented the iconic status of a certain Beyoncé Knowles. Staying with the diva theme the screening will continue in the café bar with Soul Sister No 1, a celebration of female voices featuring a DJ set and performances by some of Bristol’s finest starlets.

As with Ms Knowles, Boyz in the Hood transformed perceptions of Ice Cube from gangster rapper to talented actor. Singleton’s seminal urban drama also débuted one of the most versatile actors of recent generations,

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

Cuba Gooding Junior. Lovers of the long play series will have most recently seen Gooding in the series The People v OJ Simpson.

Ice Cube reappears in the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton. Both Boyz in the Hood and Compton feature in our hip-hop weekender.

‘The Jam of the Year’ – our Black Star tribute to Prince, featuring a screening of the incredibly influential Purple Rain, forms the centrepiece of Stars Become Stars.

We have laughed, wept, and loved to the music of our black icons so it is no surprise that even a risk-averse film industry will invest in the story of their lives. With this in mind we will be screening What’s Love Got to Do with It, featuring Angela Basset as rock legend Tina Turner.

The universality of human experience has long been accepted in literature. Rubber-stamped by critical praise and supported by a voluminous fanbase, the book adaptation has been a sure bet for film backers. Beloved, The Help and Precious have extracted excellent performances from emergent and established black actors.

Based on a novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple is our reflection on the book adaptation.

Comic actress Whoopi Goldberg forgoes laughter in her embodiment of abused wife Ms Sealey, whose story transcends her specific cultural context: it is the voice of dispossessed women across the globe.

MUSIC – THE MOST PERVASIVE AND GENERALLY MOST DEMOCRATIC ART FORM – HAS ALWAYS BEEN RECEPTIVE TO BLACK ARTISTRY

CINEMA

ARTS

Clockwise from left: Boyz in the Hood; Jackie Brown; Dream Girls

Unlike real cosmic giants, the on-screen life of a film star can be brutally short. A celebration of acting greatness, can become lost to a generation.

The skill of chameleon like transformation may steal a show and win awards, but can also obscure awareness of an actor’s oeuvre.

Youth-obsessed, the industry finds little room for mature female actors. Black stars are even more at risk of the challenges that face an actor’s career. Our strand Stars Under the Radar will bring some of the most outstanding performances by black actors back into popular consideration.

In The Heat of the Night and To Sir With Love is a timely reminder of Sidney Poitier’s role in dramatising racial tensions in the 1960s.

Dance lovers will be love our tribute to The Nicolas Brothers. We revisit the finest moment of underestimated blaxploitation queen, Pam Grier, in Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. Charlie Parker biopic Bird is one of two opportunities to enjoy the brilliance of actor/director Forrest Whitaker. He also features in late night screenings as warrior assassin in Ghost Dog. This is just a brief snapshot of the films and events in store for Black Star season. Many of our events will be accompanied by live performances.

Edson Burton is a co-curator of Black Star, which runs from October to December. See the Watershed, Colston Hall and Trinity websites for details.

DEARLY BELOVED . . . ... we will gather together on 13 November to celebrate the life, times and music of the world’s sexiest mf. Join fellow fans at Colston Hall for a Prince party, with a screening of Purple Rain, and an afterparty DJd by the legendary Norman Jay MBE SIX THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT PRINCE GO ON – BET THERE’S AT LEAST ONE SURPRISE IN HERE . . .

1. There is enough music from Prince to release a new album every year for the next hundred years.

2. Prince was born and bred in Minnesota, and never left.

3. According to his basketball coach Richard Robinson, Prince was an ‘excellent ball handler’ and ‘a good shooter’ despite being ‘very short’ (5’ 2”).

4. He played 27 instruments and produced his first album at the age of 20 – all by himself.

5. Prince loved playing ping pong.

6. Prince wrote many songs made famous by other artists: Nothing Compares 2 U (Sinead O’Connor), Like A Prayer (Madonna); Manic Monday (The Bangles);

Kiss Art of Noise, Tom Jones); How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore (Alicia Keys), and plenty more. www.colstonhall.org/shows/purple-rain

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 49

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WE love LUCY Her new show Consequences earned her five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe; now Lucy Porter is bringing her reflections on midlife angst, homebrewing, falconry and quite a bit more to the Hen & Chicken

By L I SA E VA NS 52 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

COMEDY

MY

ULTIMATE AIM IS TO OPEN A VEGAN, BREASTFEEDING-

FRIENDLY

CAFÉ IN STOKES CROFT

Y

es, we do, we really do – and not just because she’s a stalwart supporter of Bristol’s beloved Slapstick Festival, and spends quite a lot of time in the city; it’s also because she says such nice things about it.

“I love the cultural variety on offer in the city and the relaxed, friendly vibe of Bristol,” she says. “I often say that my ultimate aim is to open a vegan, breastfeeding-friendly café in Stokes Croft. I suspect there may already be at least one though.”

This month, Lucy – best-known as a regular on TV & radio shows such as QI, Mock The Week and The News Quiz – is heading back to Bristol, to astound us with her impeccably punch-lined anecdotes in new show, Consequences at the Hen & Chicken.

She reckons it’s her best show yet. “Although, I always think that,” she says; “it’s the only way to keep going I suppose. Other people have said they think it’s my best work too though, so I hope I’m not utterly delusional.”

Lucy took the show to Edinburgh, where it earned five-star praise and comments such as “outstandingly witty,” “natural stage presence,” and “an incredible breath of fresh air.” Bristol audiences can expect to hear about some or all of the following: censorship, generational conflict, theological ethics, home-brewing, quizzing, Britpop of the 1990s, falconry and Gary Wilmot.

A pretty thorough mix, then.

“It’s kind of a midlife reflection show - looking at all the ways life has changed since I started doing stand-up,” she says. “I was going to call it a midlife crisis show but it’s more a celebration of all the boring things I like now.

Radio 2, National Trust properties and Countdown all feature heavily.”

“I don’t want to say how many years I’ve been going to Edinburgh, as it makes me feel ancient,” she says. “I do still love it though, it’s the highlight of my year.

A bit less of a debauched month of drinking and carousing than it was in my 20s and 30s, but a lot more relaxing now.”

In general, she hasn’t got as much time for revelry as she used to; she calmed down, she says, when she started a family a few years ago. After ‘banging out a couple of kids’, she now balances her tour dates with motherhood – a great mingling, she’s found, as her kids kindle a cornucopia of comedic material.

ARTS

3 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT LUCY She’s a woman of hidden talents…

“I have started doing cross stitch. My latest one is of a dinosaur.”

Her interests may surprise you…

“Pub quizzes – they’re my number one hobby. I’ve done loads of the TV ones – most recently, Fifteen to One and Pointless. My main ambition is to compete on The Chase.”

She doesn’t mind a bit of controversy…

“If I were a queen for a day, I’d abolish the monarchy just for a laugh – it’s the most radical thing you could do isn’t it?”

“My children inspire me, of course, although this show is mostly about me – why should they get to hog the limelight? As a stand-up that’s the whole point of your life. If it will generate anything I can talk about on stage, that’s the most important thing.”

She feels that becoming a mother also changed her professional outlook. While she used to suffer from stage fright, that has completely evaporated now, and when it comes to worrying about life in general, well, she just doesn’t have time for that kind of self-indulgence anymore.

“I’ve done something that was more scary [than getting in front of an audience]… childbirth and commitment and all those sort of things,” says Lucy. “So yeah, it’s made a huge difference to my psychological outlook on life and just the sheer pressure of time.

“I’m more ambitious now, I think, because I’ve got two extra mouths to feed,” she adds. “Also, I don’t go away as much, but when I do I REALLY enjoy a night in a hotel. The way I juggle family and work is with constant stress, worry and guilt, just like everyone else.”

Even though she’s ‘constantly tired’, she still loves the enjoyable chaos of getting on stage in front of a sea of strangers. It was a career she happened to land in after realising that she was one of those accidently funny types who just couldn’t ‘do’ serious.

“I used to be asked to read out my stories in English class at school and people laughed even when I was trying to write something meaningful and poignant,” she says.

“So I thought I’d stick with trying to get laughs.”

We couldn’t let Lucy go without first getting her to share her favourite joke with us...

“What’s the difference between roast beef and pea soup?

Anyone can roast beef.”

Mic drop.

Lucy Porter brings her Consequences to Hen & Chicken on 28 October; tickets £14 www.henandchicken.com

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

DRINK FLOWS AGAINST A

BACKDROP OF HOWLING WINDS AND THE WHISTLING OF THE SEA

Hold your hour and have another.

You will you will you will

T H E AT R E

ARTS

FAIRYTALE OF LEITRIM Conor McPherson’s chilling contemporary drama The Weir promises heartfelt humour and spooky goings-on, as deepest fears are confessed in the dead of night. Perfect programming for the month of Hallowe’en, then

‘‘A

By M A L ROGE R S

cting is the shy person’s revenge on the world,” says Orla Fitzgerald, who plays Valerie in The Weir. Initially this statement seems surprising. After all, we tend to think of actors, if not quite as show-offs, then certainly not shrinking violets.

But there is logic in what Orla says. “As a youngster, the stage was the one place I could be myself,” she says. “It was my mother who hit on the idea. I’m not from any big acting dynasty — although we were a very verbal household. She took me to the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork, where we did improv and plays and all sorts of exercises. It was all about fun and being creative. I loved it.”

From then on a career in acting was all that Orla wanted. Success on the big screen, TV and stage followed; film roles have included Sinead in Ken Loach’s The Wind That Shakes the Barley and Mary in the BBC’s The ‘C’ Word.

Her voice, which could invest the bill of fare at Tony’s Fish & Chip Takeaway with sophistication and wryness, has ensured a full diary.

Her stage roles stretch from Abigail Colgan in Before Monsters Were Made to Pegeen in The Playboy of the Western World.

Orla’s love of acting from an early age has engendered great confidence. “I’m very comfortable onstage. I suppose if I thought about it, thought about the audience, I might get scared. But I don’t.

And anyway, you’re far safer on the stage than you are in real life. At least you know what’s coming next.”

This admirably sanguine approach explains why Orla is highly valued in stage work; indeed, why she was given the pivotal role of Valerie in Conor McPherson’s The Weir. The play brims with melancholy and humour, but segues — through various accounts of ghostly goings-on — into something very dark. It is, quite frankly, a bit unsettling. As the old saying goes, we have nothing to fear but fear itself; apart from all those spooky things that might jump out at you in the night.

Set in a remote, rural pub in County Leitrim, the story revolves around four friends telling disquieting stories to each other, and trying to impress a stranger . . . who also has a story to tell.

“It’s a terrific thriller,” explains Orla. “I enjoy that. And it’s a very collaborative piece. We’re telling ghost stories to each other, and

not the audience.” Which in a weird way involves the audience more, because they’re transported back to Leitrim. They end up eavesdropping at the pub, as if they’re listening in through a window.

But be warned — the world the audience looks in on is not as it seems. As in any bar, there’s plenty of what is called in Ireland “ould pub talk”. Rather than confront realities, the regulars engage in drink-fuelled banter, leg-pulling, circuitous banalities about the weather. But then things take a different turn, and what is uncovered ends up haunting the imagination.

The Weir has sprung from the same supernatural cauldron that produced Dracula. Tales of banshees and the undead walking the earth, and efforts to commune with the we-know-not-what, all helped to produce those masters of the macabre — Bram Stoker, Sheridan le Fanu and Charles Maturin. So a night in a Leitrim pub swapping spooky stories is not as unlikely a scenario as it would be in, say, Basingstoke.

Orla Fitzgerald has, as you might expect, given this aspect of the play some thought.

“Ghost stories are there alright.

But it’s a spiritual play as well.

There’s something really deep going on. It’s partly the heritage thing.

Religion is, or at least was, twenty years ago when the play was written, an integral part of Irish society.

But it quite comfortably sat alongside what we would today call ‘pagan’ beliefs — the banshees and the fairies and so on. Catholicism didn’t replace the old beliefs when it fetched up. I think it just merged with the old folklore. Like, when I was growing up in Cork, everyone would have had a ghost story, a party piece. I think Conor McPherson has tapped into that.”

The story is sparse, but laden with possibilities. Brendan’s Bar is a shelter, of sorts, for lonely souls. Drink flows against a backdrop of howling winds and the whistling of the sea; it’s not hard to imagine the undead arising from their graves on such a night.

Conor McPherson was inspired to write The Weir after seeing David Mamet’s play Glengarry Glen Ross. And while the wilds of County Leitrim may seem far removed from the brash world of New York real estate salesmen, both dramas display the same dramatic power, and ultimately the same bleakness.

The Weir plays Tobacco Factory Theatres 25 October-5 November For more info and tickets, see www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 55

REVIEWS

The VERDICT So many productions, so few little columns to squeeze them into . . .

SAM LEE St George’s Bristol; 29 September Award-winning singer Sam Lee has been entrusted to reinterpret the traditional songs of the Traveller and Gypsy communities for a modern audience. Seeing his exceptional performance at St George’s, it is easy to see why individuals such as the great Scottish Traveller singer Stanley Robertson have shared their stories with Sam, and why he continues to gather award nominations and critical acclaim in the UK, USA and beyond.

Any trad-folk clichés of grizzled beards were immediately dispelled as the band appeared on stage. The youthful musicians skilfully brought the songs to life in arrangements balancing controlled violin, piano and percussion with more idiosyncratic playing, like Josh Green’s beating of Flora Curzon’s violin strings or Jon Whitten’s ukulele style. The addition of a second violin from Francesca Simmons led to an epic rendition of The Moon Shone By My Bed Last Night; a song passed through Robertson’s family to Sam, which he said “holds a very special place for me.”

And that is where the true power of the performance came from: every song is clearly precious to Sam – an important part of our country’s history, seemingly lost only to be found and brought back to life. Between songs, he talked about the people and places the stories came from with a combination of humour, reverence and care which was complemented by the charming, unaffected performance of the talented players.

By Morgan Matthews

Sam Lee

BLUE HEART Tobacco Factory Theatres; 22 Sep-1 Oct

The Terrible Things I’ve Done

THE TERRIBLE THINGS I’VE DONE; The Wardrobe Theatre 29 September-1 October Part of Bristol Old Vic’s Walkabout season, this saw the studio programme being presented in venues across the city while redevelopment continues at King Street.

Invisible Ink started out with a question: what is a terrible thing? By gathering true stories and exploring themes of guilt and disclosure, director Sita Calvert-Ennals, writer Alan Harris and the company created an unusual theatrical offering.

A lively, varied crowd made their way into the theatre to find actors Lynn Hunter, Hannah McPake and Francois Pandolfo already on stage. Smiling and talking to the audience, they portrayed a knowing confidence which was slightly unnerving. Would patrons be called on to share their stories (there was a confessional booth in the bar before the show)?

During the performance, the actors built on the relationship they had established at the incoming, often telling their stories directly to the receptive Friday night crowd. The only set was a tetris-like wooden structure of interlocking pieces which the performers rearranged to suggest different environments.

This was often very effective but occasionally cumbersome as performers fought to get the pieces into position. There were many comic tales that enjoyed plenty of laughter from the audience, who seemed less comfortable when the tone took a darker turn. For me, however, this was when the piece had the most power – confessions of intimate betrayals, where people were culpable in the humiliation of a loved one by failing to do what they knew was right.

A daughter is returning home to her loving parents – or are they? A son is searching for the mother he’s always longed to meet – or is he? Carol Churchill’s extraordinary duo of short plays, Heart’s Desire and Blue Kettle combining as Blue Heart, could be said to explore hidden longings and the essential incoherence of human interaction. Or it could be called brilliantly bonkers. Either way, this collaboration between Tobacco Factory Theatres and Orange Tree Theatre is the first revival of a key work by a major playwright, and a superlative cast combine great comic timing with sharp emotional impact.

Both plays put sharp focus on the challenges of communication. In Heart’s Desire, none of the waiting family can explain their thoughts, and the action constantly repeats, often with comical truncation, as if to give them another chance. In Blue Kettle, irrelevant words intrude, making unacknowledged nonsense of attempts to communicate. As the audience, we become voyeurs, unable to help these floundering people in situations that are sometimes very moving and sometimes very funny.

Director David Mercatali uses the challenge of the in-the-round venue, where faces are always unreadable from some angles, to enhance this mood, and the lighting design is literally brilliant, giving brittle edge to the action. The nine actors, taking on 14 roles, are all superb, creating inherent realism from these perversely unreal situations.

By Crysse Morrison

Blue Heart

By Morgan Matthews www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 57

Fashion/gifts/stores/more

MADE IN BRISTOL

Don’t overreact – seriously, calm down – but it really isn’t that long until Christmas. You could solve all your present-sourcing in one fell swoop if you turn up at one of the festive Made in Bristol fairs at Colston Hall, where some of the region’s top artists and artisans will be selling their wares – artwork, jewellery, toys, ceramics, clothing, home accessories, etc. The first two fairs are on 26 November and 3 December; if you miss those, and panic is starting to mount, you have two more bites of the mince pie on 10 and 11 December. Among the goods on offer you’ll find classy beauties such as this brass necklace from Ava & Bea; earrings by Elin Horgan; fish necklace by Corinne Evans, and a terrarium (very hot in interiors right now) by Nikki James.

For more www.handmadeinbristol.co.uk

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

SHOPPING

2

ED’S CHOICE

1

LITTLE LUXURIES WE’VE RUN THE GAMUT OF TREATS, COSTING FROM JUST OVER A TENNER TO A MONTH’S SALARY

3

5

4

1. SCARF ACE

2. WANDERING STAR

3. BLUSH CRUSH

4. COOL BEANS

5. STONE LOVE

Copper pendant scarf holder, £12.50 A most elegant solution to the eternal scarf-storing conundrum. Equally handy for ties, presumably From Pod Company 24 The Mall, Clifton thepodcompany.co.uk

Alessi placemat, £55 The pageantry and magic of the circus is celebrated in Marcel Wander’s new collection, with its bold palette of black, white, yellow, gold and red From Bristol Guild 68-70 Park Street bristolguildgallery.co.uk

Ashlee Meadows earrings, £42 These lovely blush-pink and cream ceramic earrings are hand-shaped, glazed and gilded before being fired three times.

1.3cm across From Howkapow howkapow.com

Heston Blumenthal coffee machine, £1199

Cooee circle vase, £16-£45 As smooth and satisfying as a pebble on the beach, and a lot more symmetrical. Choose from black, grey, pink or white From Mon Pote 177 North Street monpote.co.uk

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

The dual boiler allows you to produce coffee and froth your milk at the same time, creating the ultimate caffeine hit From Kitchens Cookshop 167 Whiteladies Road kitchenscookshop.co.uk

6

7

8

9

10

6. HEART COLLECTION

7. MINT CHARMING

8. FUR BALL

9. IN LIKE FLINT

10. EEL DEAL

Tracey Emin hand-signed artwork, £575 Signed in silver pen by the artist, from a limited edition of 500. You know it can only rocket in value From Hidden 8-10 Clifton Arcade, Boyce’s Avenue myhiddenworld.co.uk

Mark Cross bag, £2710

Helen Moore pom-pom keyring, £24 In festive crimson and orange, or classy honey and jet – the obvious stocking-filler, if you’re feeling astonishingly organised From Amulet Boutique 39A Cotham Hill amuletboutique.co.uk

Jessica Russel Flint sponge bags, £45-£75 Jessica Russell Flint takes inspiration from life’s eccentricities, embracing colour and fun; which strikes us as wholly Bristolian values From Movement Boutique 66 Alma Road movementboutique.co.uk

Eel purse bags, £55 Soft, durable (around three times stronger than cowhide), with a unique look, eel skin gets softer as it ages – and it’s a by-product of the food industry.

From Artemis 214 Gloucester Road artemisbristol.co.uk

Fans of small bags will love this pretty ‘Grace’ python box bag in alwaysfashionable mint From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street, Quakers Friars harveynichols.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk II CLIFTON BRISTOL LIFE LIFE II 61 www.mediaclash.co.uk 69

T ID EN H D T U WI ST T % N 10 OU C IS D

Beautiful Gifts, Jewellery, Candles, Scarves, Home Accessories, Hand Finished Cards & Baby Clothes

Timber Windows of Clifton install the award-winning range of hand-made, hand painted and stained timber casement windows, sash windows and doors throughout Somerset, Bristol and Bath.

Whether your home is a country cottage, a Victorian semi, a modern townhouse or a converted barn, we have a range of traditional and contemporary timber windows and doors that will fit perfectly.

Our products do not stick, warp or twist, require very little maintenance, offer modern standards of security and significant energy savings. Our showroom in Clifton provides the perfect environment to see and experience the beautiful products on display and to talk to us about your home.

Open Mon-Sat, 10-6pm & Sun 10-4pm.

44a-46 Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6 6LA. Visit us online www.soukous.co.uk

enquiries@timberwindowsclifton.com www.timberwindowsclifton.com Timber Windows of Clifton, 29 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4JG

Formerly The Lighting Warehouse

Lighting the way it should be...

New, Odile Pendant, Champagne /Polished Nickel.

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

www.thelightingstudiobristol.co.uk

FLOORING SPECIAL

TILES ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY POPULAR FOR LIVING ROOMS AND BEDROOMS, THANKS TO THE EXCITING RANGE OF DESIGNS ON OFFER

TAKE the FLOOR ‘Flooring’ may not sound especially sexy, but get it right, and it can transform your home. And your life.

And actually, the options can be pretty damn sexy…

By L I SA WA R R E N

Fired Earth’s new Alvito range; add underfloor heating, and it’s perfect for living rooms, kitchens or bathrooms

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

Hard-wearing, practical and versatile: sisal is still a top choice, says Tailored Flooring

B

lack-and-white Moorish geometric tiling; pale, wide, blond Scandi-style wooden boards; thick, wall-to-wall 100% wool carpet; striped coir stair runners: see what we mean about flooring being sexy? If you’re undecided what to go for – stone? Wood? Wool? Vinyl? – three local experts talk you through some of the options.

DESIGN FLOORING

These guys have had a branch in Clifton Village for over 20 years, supplying carpets, wood floors and so forth, from budget prices right through to the outrageously lavish; they’re also the sole Bristol suppliers of Roger Oates, among other top names. Their latest showroom is the Design Flooring Carpet Warehouse based in Montpelier, where they carry stock of clearance ranges for flooring bargains.

We spoke to Design Florring Carpet’s Matt Collins:

What are the top trends in flooring at the moment?

Vibrant colours are back, but neutral tones and grey shades are still the biggest sellers. Chunky wool carpets and, more surprisingly, deep soft pile carpets are back on trend.

Your top recommendations for bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms?

Bathrooms and kitchens: Karndean or Amtico, for looks and durability. Living rooms: oak planks and parquet look and feel warm, are timeless and make the perfect backdrop for vibrant rugs. Bedrooms: chunky wool carpets or deep soft-pile carpets.

Best flooring on a budget?

At our branch in Montpelier we have rolls of Crucial Trading sisal and jacaranda carpets at clearance prices.  www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 65

FLOORING SPECIAL

And no expense spared?

Roger Oates stairs runners and rugs, and solid oak parquet flooring. www.designflooringltd.co.uk

FIRED EARTH

Stocking the kind of tiling that makes you want to rip out all your existing ones and start again; pop into their Whiteladies branch, and you’ll see what we mean. We spoke to Caroline Gow: What are the top trends in flooring at the moment?

Geometric pattern is a key trend; it can be surprisingly versatile and works equally well in contemporary and more traditional schemes. It also adds welcome visual interest to kitchens and bathrooms, where key elements tend to be quite neutral. Moroccan and French designs are particularly popular, as are black-and-white patterns. The latest additions to Fired Earth’s Sorrento range offer a contemporary take on traditional monochrome.

Your top recommendations for bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms?

A low-maintenance and resilient floor is a good investment for kitchens. Porcelain tiles are a great option, and there are designs and finishes for every style of home; they can also be suitable for outdoor use, so could be extended out from the kitchen onto a patio.

Vinyl is another hardwearing choice for kitchens, and today’s luxury vinyls are remarkably sophisticated (our new collections include replica stone and replica wood). If you have a traditional property, you may feel that there’s no substitute for the real thing, though, in which case timeless flagstones or a reclaimed terracotta may be a more appropriate choice for your kitchen.

Natural wood is inclined to warp in bathrooms; a vinyl or porcelain replica wood is a good alternative.

Some tiles can become extremely slippery, so always check that they’re suitable for bathroom floors, particularly if you’re planning a wet room. Marble is a luxurious choice for a hotel-style bathroom, and geometric encaustic tiles can offer a striking visual contrast to the curves of a bath or basin.

Tiles are becoming an increasingly popular choice for living rooms and bedrooms, partly thanks to the exciting range of designs on offer. They can be used over underfloor heating – surprisingly affordable – so no need to worry about them being chilly underfoot.

Best flooring on a budget?

Slate can be a particularly affordable option, and porcelain and stone are available in a wide variety of styles and finishes which are priced accordingly.

A money-saving tip is to tile most of your floor in an inexpensive base tile and then to create a border or panel using eye-catching tiles that might be beyond budget for an entire floor.

And no expense spared?

There’s nothing quite like the luxury and all-out 66 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

glamour of marble flooring. Fired Earth’s latest flooring collections include Terrazzo tiles that are handmade in Italy using marble chips, in keeping with tradition. www.firedearth.com

TAILORED FLOORING

NATURAL

WOOD IS INCLINED TO WARP IN BATHROOMS; A VINYL OR PORCELAIN

REPLICA WOOD IS A GOOD

ALTERNATIVE

Billing themselves as ‘the most reliable quality floorfitting firm in the West Country’, this Chandos Road firm specialise in natural fibre carpets, stair runners, wood-flooring and luxury laminates; brands stocked include Alternative Flooring, Crucial Trading, Brintons and Karndeen.

What are the top trends in flooring?

Natural fibres, particularly wool and sisal, have been in vogue for year. Both are incredibly hard-wearing and versatile enough to be woven and dyed into a variety of weaves and colours.

The British love affair with oak flooring continues unabated. There seems to be two parallel trends in the choice of colours when it comes to flooring at the moment. On one hand there is the drive towards warmth and authenticity, emphasising earthy tones, often employing undyed wool and making use of flecks and grains. On the other hand, neutral, muted tones in cool pastel colours have become increasingly popular in contemporary spaces.

Your top recommendations for bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms?

Karndean Design Flooring is the flooring we always recommend for a bathroom. A water-resistant luxury vinyl, available in an array of wood and stone effects, it’s incredibly hardwearing and effortlessly mimics natural materials.

An engineered oak board can be made to suit any kitchen space. Wider oak boards look beautiful in open-plan kitchens, while smaller boards, or even herringbone blocks, can bring refinement and elegance to pokier spaces, and there are any number of finishes and effects to choose from: hand scraping, brushing, distressing, smoking, in a huge palette of coloured oils.

A sisal carpet will often become the defining feature in a living room. Hard wearing and practical, it evokes sturdiness, homeliness and dependability, and is malleable enough to be woven into many different weaving, including herringbones, bouclés, thick, bouncy bubble-weaves and tight basket weaves. Although most come in natural and grainy shades, they are now also available in cool, airy pastels.

When you get up in the morning, there is nothing nicer than having a thick, heavy 100% wool that hugs your feet when you step out of bed. A number of carpet manufacturers are now making large looped and twisted piles of un-dyed wool – which are over a centimetre thick – emphasising comfort and simplicity.

Fired Earth’s new Studland Bay porcelain replica-wood in Durlston

Best flooring on a budget?

Cormar Carpets’ bouclé neutrals ranges, in a number of textured loops and shades.

No expense spared?

Crucial Trading’s wool/sisal mix carpets, or ‘sisool’ exude opulence, sophistication and style.

These carpets possess the comfort and warmth of wool under foot, while the admixture of sisal brings definition and a sense of permanence. www.tailoredflooring.co.uk  www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 67

Ridiculously lovely kitchens.....

t: 0117 9731062 4b Waterloo Street, Clifton

FLOORING SPECIAL

The HOT list Your essential local flooring directory AVONDALE TILES Roger Oats runner from Design Flooring

The Bristol-based flooring company and the specialist supplier and installer of all types of flooring. Established over 40 years.

Unit 9C Aldermore Way, Longwell Green, Bristol www.avondaletiles.co.uk Offering the finest quality tiles at competitive prices.

OAK FLOORING DIRECT

219 Gloucester Road www.bishopston-tiles.co.uk Traditional service offering design advice and experience

Unit 216, South Liberty Lane, Ashton Vale www.oakflooringdirect.co.uk With experience in the wooden floor and hardwood flooring industry dating back to 1967.

CERAMIC TILES

ORIENTAL RUGS BATH

BISHOPSTON TILES

109 Winterstoke Road, Bristol www.ctdtiles.co.uk One-stop-shop for all your tiling requirements.

DESIGN FLOORING

5A Regent Street, Clifton www.designflooringltd.co.uk Where style, innovation and expertise bring floors to life.

PARK FURNISHERS

DISNEY FLOORING

Albert Avenue, Weston-superMare; www.disney-flooring.com “In this world, very little stays the same. Tempus fugit, and so on.

Fortunately fashions change too, or we’d all be wearing kipper ties or something.”

FIRED EARTH

65A Whiteladies Road, Bristol www.firedearth.com An exclusive collection of wall tiles, floor tiles, designer paints, kitchens and bathrooms.

Unit 8, Bridge Road, Kingswood, Bristol www.marblesupreme.com A master craftsmanship in stone and a bespoke, friendly service 216 South Liberty Lane, Ashton Vale; www.nandsflooring.co.uk

RIVENDELL CARPETS & FLOORING

Baynton Road, Ashton www.rivendellcarpets.co.uk Quality carpets, vinyls, laminates, marmoleum, and real wood flooring, with a wide range to suit all budgets.

The Old Chapel, 52 Temple Street, Keynsham www.simplycarpets.co.uk A friendly, colourful atmosphere, free coffee and advice from very helpful sales staff (who between the three of them have over 100 years experience in the flooring trade)

Straight Street, Bristol www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk The city’s biggest independent department store.

N&S FLOORING

Willway Street, Bedminster www.parkfurnishers.co.uk The very best value, sales display areas, service and amenities for the benefit of customers.

SIMPLY CARPETS

GARDINER HASKINS

MARBLE SUPREME

Bookbarn International, Hallatrow Business Park, Bristol www.orientalrugsofbath.com Dealer in old and new quality handmade rugs, especially room-size and over-size. Specialist cleaning and repairs, valuations

TAILORED FLOORING

10 Chandos Road, Redland www.tailoredflooring.co.uk Supplying and fitting carpets and floor coverings for more than 20 years, with a wealth of knowledge and experience serving Bristol and the South West.

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

A cut above...

New Christmas Menu for 2016 2 courses ÂŁ30, 3 courses ÂŁ35.

Vegan and vegetarian options also available. Book early to avoid disappointment.

12-16 Clifton Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1AF Tel: 01173 291300 Longmead Gospel Hall, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3EB Tel: 01225 446656 Email: info@themintroom.co.uk www.themintroom.co.uk

fa

D N A R IN A W BO O D EN IL M W GA

HIGH QUALITY FRUIT & VEGETABLES

Opening times

Monday - Friday 9.00am - 6.00pm Saturday - 9.00am - 4.00pm Sunday - Closed

For great Christmas value

• Woolley Park (Bath) free range turkeys, geese and ducks • Copas organic and free range turkeys • Usk Vale boneless turkey crowns stuffed to order Gift vouchers • Set boxes

where we are

Like us for special offers and seasonal recipes ba 101 Henleaze Road, Bristol BS9 4JP. www.henleazebutchers.co.uk

GET IN TOUCH

0117 962 1095

17 Chandos Road, Bristol, BS6 6PG 0117 336 0046 | info@mabelsgreengrocer.co.uk x a @MabelsGreens

Also available for delivery from: www.goodsixty.co.uk

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

R E S TA U R A N T

FOOD

Polpo We know what the Romans did for us. But what about the Venetians?

And what, exactly, is a backstreet bacaro doing on Whiteladies Road?

By DE R I ROBI NS

P

olpo occupies the site halfway up Whiteladies Road where Greek restaurant Entelia used to stand. It’s now gone all Venetian – rather like so many muchcoveted and fought-over parts of the Mediterranean during the past. Still, no point in raking over any of history’s handbags now. We hadn’t come looking for a fight, just a night out.

Venice can lay claim to some of the world’s oldest cafés, but La Serenissima is also home to another venerable institution – the bacaro, or local wine bar. Here the Venetians serve cichèti, their version of Spain’s tapas – tasty little snacks such as polpetti (spicy meatballs) cuttlefish, crab, smoked ham, grilled polenta or cheese, served with an accompanying drink, or ombra.

And now Bristol has its own version. The brainchild of unstoppable restaurateur Russell Norman, Polpo launched in Soho’s Beak Street in 2009. The name means ‘octopus’, and its tentacles have now spread out beyond its five London branches to regional outposts in Brighton and Leeds. We have no idea why they’d choose Leeds before Bristol, but hey, they got here in the end.

If you were blindfolded and led into Polpo, you’d assume you’d arrived at a party. You’re met with a cheery wall of noise; it sounds like fun sounds. Packed to the gills even on a midweek October evening, Polpo is popular. Tables are packed tightly together; it seems almost rude not to exchange a few pleasantries with your neighbours. Even the bar’s full, with punters perched on high stools, sipping Aperol. The waiting staff’s welljudged level of chumminess – just enough to make you feel welcome, never irritatingly intrusive – adds to the feelgood, hail-fellow ambience.

The décor’s lovely, too; red leather banquettes in front of metro-tiled walls (reclaimed from the old Metropolitan Line, Tube-fanciers), bentwood chairs, lace-edged napkins used as lampshades to soften all that urban zinc; it takes real skill to make ‘casual backstreet restaurant’ and ‘gloriously faded elegance’ seem uncontrived and authentic.

The food was uniformly excellent. Our small-plates selection included plenty of seafood dishes, including the

YOU’RE MET WITH A CHEERY WALL OF NOISE; IT SOUNDS LIKE FUN SOUNDS

most blamelessly non-greasy fritto misto it has ever been my pleasure to polish off. A baby octopii carpaccio with chilli was fine and tender, though less zingy than we’d hoped; a crab linguini was creamy and indulgent with a surprisingly fiery hit, while the robust flavours of the fried gnocchi with rainbow chard pesto and pecorino had us racing to order the Polpo cookbook. Balancing all the carbs we chose a pea, radish, feta and mint salad, which was as refreshing as it sounds.

The plates kept on coming (we had erred, as ever, on the side of greed). The pizzettes, about the size of a largish saucer, are ideal for those who just don’t feel they’ve had the full Italian experience without a pizza; we chose the happy combo of aniseedy fennel, spicy salami and milky ricotta, which came on a base as whisper-thin as a cracker.

The star turn, though, was the pitch-perfect roast pork belly, the fat sweet and the rind chewy – two generous, chunky cuts, set off with apricot and sage. We’ve been served less generous portions as mains in posh restaurants.

The Italians believe that no matter how full you are from the first few courses, the human body has a second stomach that’s purely for dessert. Your Man and I were clearly born without one of these, but after a few glasses of house prosecco we always forget we don’t much like pudding and order one anyway.

The prosecco, incidentally, can also be served as a Bellini, or teased into a spritz, but we like it plain and undiluted.

Polpo serves theirs in the tiny, chunky little bistro glasses that I love, but which makes Your Man grumble about preferring thin stemmed glasses – far from where he was reared, in rural subsistence-level Co. Down.

We scanned a list featuring every possible Italian dessert – affogato, panna cotta, tiramisu – along with some we couldn’t even contemplate (nutello pizetta, chocolate salami), and settled on a blameless gelato. We gave it a few cursory licks before falling upon a glass apiece of nutty Frangelico – now that’s our idea of a dessert course.

As we don’t need to tell you, Bristol’s had a huge number of new restaurant openings over the last year or so, and many of them have been class acts. Polpo’s one of them; its warmth, vibrancy and lack of pretension guarantees a fun night out, the food’s highly affordable, and if they keep up the standard of the cooking, this one looks like a keeper.

All in all, we’ve decided to overlook the Leeds snub, Russell. Just don’t do it again.

DINING DETAILS Polpo, 50 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2NH; 0117 973 3100; www.polpo.co.uk Opening hours 11.30am-11pm; weekends open for brunch 10am. We visited Wednesday evening Prices cichèti £3-£4; small plates £7-£9; desserts: £3-£5 Vegetarian choice wide Disabled access full access Drinks Italian wines are naturally to the fore, from £19 a bottle; glass of prosecco £6, cocktails £6.50-£8.5 Atmosphere lively, buzzy Service charming, friendly

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

FOOD & DRINK

TAKE FIVE

N

Our regular five-minute interview with the people making foodie news in the city right now avina Bartlett is the founder of Coconut Chilli – an online shop and delivery service that brings fresh, ready-made ‘Hill Station inspired’ Indian meal pots into your home or office.

Hi Navina! Where does your cooking inspiration come from?

Our cuisine is inspired by the ingredients in the Coorg region, in the coffee hills above India’s ‘silicon city’, Bangalore. The South Indian countryside is among the most fertile in the country, and lush paddy fields and coconut groves make way for dense hillsides cultivated with coffee plants and pepper vines.

The Coorg region is where I spent many a summer on my aunt’s coffee estate. The hillsides house acres of coffee bushes, and there are a huge variety of plants growing in amongst the coffee. Ingredients include coconut, bamboo, pumpkin, cardamom, oranges and chillies.

What’s currently on the Coconut Chilli menu?

Lamb and black pepper keema meatballs in spicy coconut gravy; cardamom-scented chicken and squash; shrimp and coconut milk korma with crunchy cashews; root vegetable, mooli and lentil sambhar with a piquant hint of chilli. All dishes are served on a bed of basmati rice, and garnished with fresh ingredients including coriander, coconut shavings, tomatoes and pomegranate jewels.

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How often do you change the range?

We will bring out more vegetarian and vegan dishes in the future, but we’re currently concentrating on our key range.

Tell us a bit about your cooking methods We focus on using authentic ingredients and processes, such as toasting our spices, and the use of unusual ingredients such as mooli, black chana, tamarind and jaggery – those you just can’t find in manufactured pre-made food.

How much do the pots cost?

Our ‘man-sized’ 300g meal pots are £5.45 and our 200g meal-pots are £4.25.

What areas do you deliver to?

The office hamper delivery service has just been launched, and meal pots can be ordered online and delivered nationwide, packed in biodegradable Woolcool liners with ice packs. We have a minimum order of 10 meal pots, which is why we are focusing on office-based customers for the time being – order by 5pm on Tuesday and delivery is Thursday.

Planning any pop-ups?

We will definitely host more pop-ups – the last one at Spoke and Stringer was so much fun!

For more www.coconutchilli.com

PHOTO CREDIT: EAT PICTURES

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

FOOD AND DRINK JOSH EGGLETON, Chef pat ron

YES CHEF! This month sees the opening of Chicken Shed and the acquisition of The Kenny (see Short Cuts below) – does this dude ever sleep?

I

t’s been a busy few months filled with builders and paperwork, with two big projects on the go. For Chicken Shed, the latest Eat Drink Bristol Fashion venture, we’ve been on a mission to source the best organic chickens around. The Soil Association has been hugely helpful, helping us to find all organic local suppliers for the new restaurant.

It’s been such a learning curve, seeing how different chickens live, the quality of life and how their size varies. For us, ethics is much more important than profit, and the welfare of the chickens has to come first.

We’ve been down at CARGO a lot and I’m astonished by the size of the outdoor space we’ve got at Chicken Shed, looking right out over the Harbour. The whole vibe around CARGO and Wapping Wharf has a real sense of community, where you can have pre-dinner drinks, eat out, grab a bottle of wine to take home or continue a night out created by a host

Biblos bring their fastfood fusion to Wapping Wharf

of independent entrepreneurs; it’s a really unique offer for the city centre.

The Chicken Shed menu is completely focused on using the whole chicken, everything from beak to feet.

There’ll be options that make it really shareable, and we’re debating about whether to serve up whole chickens based on weight with all the sides.

As well as Chicken Shed, we’re taking over The Kenny with Guy Newell [see below] – with both our families involved, this is going to be great. We’ve worked together through The Pony and Eat Drink Bristol Fashion for ages, and I really respect Guy’s dedication to independents and localism.

It’s a proper Great British pub, with so much potential. There’s an upstairs space for functions, meeting and private dining experiences, and refurbishing those is next on the list.

Hopefully it’ll all be ready at the start of November, with a slightly tweaked menu and head chef Luke [Hawkins] and GM Ali [Yuill] at the helm.

Why did the Eat Drink Bristol team cross the road?

www.theponyandtrap.co.uk

SHORT CUTS . . .

Taste Chocolate festival 2017 . . . . will take place 15-16 April, over the Easter weekend. Next year’s event will be held in Bristol’s first central five-star hotel, the Bristol Harbour, which opened on Corn Street this month. www.tastechocolate.co.uk Josh is taking over the The Kenny! Our favourite food columnist, who already runs Pony & Trap, fish-and-chippy Salt & Malt and Chicken Shed, has joined forces with Butcombe Brewery to take over the popular Kensington Arms gastrobub in Redland. www.thekensingtonarms.co.uk

Biblos, famed Bristol-wide for its fast-food fusion of Middle Eastern and Caribbean cuisine, will become the latest independent food retailer to launch at Bristol’s Wapping Wharf. The new restaurant will overlook the harbour from 6 Gaol Ferry Steps. www.biblos.co.uk A new online food business now makes it easier than ever to shop local. Good Sixty, founded by entrepreneur Chris Edwards, connects locals with hidden gems in the city that produce high-quality food and drink. www.goodsixty.co.uk

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F O O D & D R I N K A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

DINING in BRISTOL A selection of the best places to eat out in Bristol and the surrounding area JAPANESE

BURGERS

BENTO BOSS Unit 6, Clifton Down Station, Whiteladies Rd, Bristol; 0117 973 6132; www.bentoboss.co.uk Pan Asian freshly made sushi in the heart of Whiteladies Road.

MEAT LIQUOR Stokes Croft, Bristol; 0117 402 0000; www.meatliqour.com Burgers and beer; fried chicken and cocktails. Enough said!

TAPAS

ALMA TAVERN 18-20 Alma Vale Rd, Avon, Bristol; 0117 973 5171; www.almatavernandtheatre.co.uk New chef Alert! Massive pub with regular jazz pianists, an intimate theatre upstairs and an art space downstairs.

BAMBALAN Colston Tower, Colston Street, Bristol; 0117 922 1880; www.bambalan.co.uk Fresh, healthy and exciting all-day dining with unrivalled views over the city centre.

BRACE & BROWNS 43 Whiteladies Rd, Bristol; 0117 973 7800; www.braceandbrowns.co.uk Creative Tapas Dishes, fabulous brunch and the BEST roast in Bristol!

KOH THAI TAPAS 7-9 Triangle South, Bristol; 0117 922 6699; www.koh-thai.co.uk Award-winning Thai tapas, small plates and cocktails.

NEW MOON CAFÉ 9 The Mall, Clifton BS8 4DP; 0117 239 3858; www.newmooncafe.co.uk Quality drinks, soulful food and regular live music evenings in the heart of Clifton.

PATA NEGRA 30 Clare Street, Bristol; 0117 927 6762; www.patanegrabristol.com Airy Spanish restaurant with table and counter stools – hams, tapas and an upstairs cocktail bar.

WALTERS’S ON THE SQUARE Bristol Marriot Royal Hotel; College Green; 01179 255 100; www.waltersbristolroyal.co.uk The perfect rendezvous spot to enjoy tasty West Country tapas, refreshing handcrafted summer cocktails and local flavoured craft beers.

GASTRO PUB

THE GLOUCESTER OLD SPOT 138 Kellaway Ave, Bristol; 0117 924 7693; www.theoldspotbristol.co.uk Light-filled gastropub with covered terrace and garden, menu made from locally sourced produce.

INDIAN MINT ROOM DINING 12-16 Clifton Rd, Bristol; 0117 329 1300; www.themintroom.co.uk Creative and classic Indian cuisine in a contemporary setting.

THALI CAFÉ 1 Regent Street, Bristol; 0117 974 3793; www.thethalicafe.co.uk Award winning Indian restaurants and eco tiffin take-away food, check out their other Bristol venues on their website!

PI SHOP The General, Lower Guinea St, Bristol; 0117 925 6872 www.thepishop.co.uk With their open-plan kitchen and wood fired oven, they create stripped back ‘Napoli meets Bristol’ pizzas.

POLPO 50 Whiteladies Road, Bristol; 0117 973 3100; www.polpo.co.uk POLPO is a 'bàcaro' – the Venetian word that describes a humble restaurant serving simple food and good, young Italian wines.

ROSEMARINO 1 York Place, Clifton, Bristol; 0117 973 6677; www.rosemarino.co.uk Rosemarino is a little gem to enjoy anytime, whether it be the full Italian feast or simply for a coffee while reading the papers.

VEENO CO. 1 Glass Wharf, Temple Way, Bristol; 0117 941 4181; www.theveenocompany.com Italian wine café in the UK serving family-produced Sicilian wines and authentic Italian spuntini.

STEAK

CASAMIA The General, Guinea St, Bristol; 0117 959 2884; www.casamiarestaurant.co.uk Michelin-starred restaurant with a menu that changes with the seasons whilst focusing on using the very best British produce available.

CHINESE ZEN HARBOURSIDE 4B, Harbourside, Explore Ln; 0117 920 9370; www.zenharbourside.co.uk Contemporary and classical Chinese cooking in a sleek dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

COFFEE SHOP BAKESMITHS 65 Whiteladies Rd; 07535 607061; www.bakesmiths.co.uk A bakery/cakery, coffee roaster, coffee shop.

BREW COFFEE CO. 45 Whiteladies Rd; 0117 973 2842; www.brewcoffeecompany.co.uk Brew Coffee company is a local Bristol hangout for brunch, lunch, cake or just a damn fine Brew.

THE OX 43 Corn Street, Bristol; 0117 922 1001; www.theoxbristol.com Stylish steak restaurant and cocktail bar in a basement bank vault, with a cool, speakeasy vibe.

ITALIAN

ROTISSERIE

PASTA LOCO 37A Cotham Hill, Bristol; 0117 973 3000; www.pastaloco.co.uk Opened by cousins Ben and Dominic; freshly made pastas, a range of antipasti and daily specials.

STEAM BRISTOL Whiteladies Gate Clifton Down Station, BS8 2PN; 07805 360592; www.steambristol.co.uk Brand new opening! Beer Hall & Rotisserie – what’s not to love?

PIZZAROVA 289 Gloucester Rd, Bristol; 0117 942 7770; www.pizzarova.com Handmade sourdough and glutenfree sourdough pizzas from our Gloucester Road, Bristol shop.

MIDDLE EASTERN

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FINE DINING

BIBLOS ON THE HILL 225 Gloucester Road, Bristol; 0117 942 5671; www.biblos.co.uk Delicious fast-food fusion of Middle Eastern and Caribbean cuisine.

MABEL’S GREEN GROCER 17 Chandos Rd; 0117 336 0046; www.mabelsgreengrocer.co.uk Good, old-fashioned service and fresh, high quality fruit & veg, served with a smile.

MOLESWORTHS OF HENLEAZE 101 Henleaze Rd; 0117 962 1095; www.henleazebutchers.co.uk A wide range of great tasting meat and poultry, produced to the highest standards of animal welfare, sourced as locally as possible and prepared by master butchers to your requirements.

FOOD

COOK BOOK

EAT DRINK COOK BRISTOL FASHION A new cookbook from some of Bristol’s best restaurants, cafés and food stalls makes a pretty tasty prospect – and has arrived just in time (whisper it quietly) for Christmas

I

Right: Old Market Assembly and (pretty damn obviously) The Ox Clifton

By L I SA WA R R E N t’s the book we’ve all been waiting for, without even realising that we needed it. It’s The Bristol Cook Book – and it brings together the very best of the city’s burgeoning food and drink scene, from our favourite indie restaurants, cafés, pubs, delis, producers and suppliers.

The book’s aim is to capture and promote the region’s vibrant, diverse approach to catering, with each chapter focusing on creative, unique food, along with the stories behind each foodie business.

The forward has been written by MasterChef finalist Dean Edwards, who tells us what we already knew: the Bristol food scene is not only flourishing, but also a massive influence on UK dining-out as a whole. Dean, by the way, also offers his recipe for belly of pork with scrumpy and apple sauce, and he’s in distinguished company; there’s burger-pushing supremos Three Brothers and Burger Joint, awardwinning eateries The Lido and The Ox, and top delicatessens such as The Mall and Better Food.

The brilliant Incredible Edible Bristol, who cultivate allotments that offer free veg and herbs to all comers, has also contributed; Ahh Toots and Pinkmans provide sugary treats, while there’s a broad array of drink inspiration from wine merchant Corks of Cotham and Corks of North Street, who have created a wine-pairing guide for every dish in the book.

SAY AAAHH . . .

By day, Ahh Toots in St Nick’s Market is a busy little café dishing up the type of breakfasts that have people queuing up day after day – sizzling free-range bacon hurled into soft baps, or Bostonstyle beans on toast as the veggie option.

But you’re likely to be a bit distracted even before you get to the counter, by some of the most tempting-looking cakes in the city. From banana bread dripping with salted caramel to intricate cakes that could probably be classified as art, it’s clear that owner Tamarind is a believer in “eating with your eyes” before taking the first bite.

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Tamarind grew up in a little bed and breakfast, helping out with the catering from the age of 12. Surrounded by a love of food and gifted with natural creativity, she gravitated towards baking, where she could indulge in dramatic designs and artistic creations.

With a degree in fine art under her belt, Tamarind has brought her joint passions together to create her astonishing cakes. She has been involved in some impressive collaborations, and was recently involved with the Young British Foodie events at The Tate Britain. She loves developing flavour combinations and striving to create something new, exciting and original that will excite all the senses.

There’s something magical about Ahh Toots.

Perhaps it is because everything is made in the little shed, maybe it’s the commitment to ethical suppliers and local produce, or perhaps it’s simply being part of that whole vibrant market experience, in which food, creativity and community come together so seamlessly.

Tamarind has kindly shared one of her cake recipes with us; turn the page, and get stuck in. w

MAYBE IT’S BEING PART OF THE WHOLE

MARKET EXPERIENCE, IN WHICH FOOD, COMMUNITY AND

CREATIVITY COME TOGETHER

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F 20%RIPOTF IONS

SUBSC

de use promo co S A M SX B M CRU on checkout

COOK BOOK

FOOD

Ahh Toots’s Orange and Earl Grey Cake Serves 6-8 For this cake, we follow a simple Tunisian recipe but dress it up in typical Toots fashion. This recipe is gluten-free and the cake could also be dairy-free if you don’t use the butter icing.

Preparation time: 30 minutes plus cooling time Cooking time: 1 hour 30 minutes Ingredients: 1 lemon 1 orange 800ml water 1 tbsp loose-leaf Earl Grey tea 6 eggs 220g sugar 250g ground almonds 1 tsp baking powder A pinch of salt For the butter icing:

250g softened butter 250 icing sugar A drop of bergamot oil (optional) For the drizzle: 300g icing sugar A little Earl Grey tea To decorate: Dried rose petals (optional) Finely chopped pistachios (optional)

Method: 1. Grease and line two 20cm round cake tins. Preheat the oven to 160°C. 2. Poach the lemon and orange in a pan, add the water and bring to a simmer.

3. Add the looseleaf Earl Grey tea and cook for 1 hour.

Drain, cool and blitz in a food processor then leave to one side.

4. Whisk the eggs and sugar until thick and white. Add in the blitzed fruit and whisk a little more.

5. Put the ground almonds in a separate bowl with the baking powder and salt.

6. Fold the egg mix into the dry mix and split the mixture between the two prepared cake tins.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until they’re evenly light brown on top and leave to cool in the tins.

For the butter icing: 1. Put the butter and icing sugar in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy (we add a drop of bergamot oil).

2. Turn the cakes out of their tins and sandwich together with butter icing.

3. Coat the outside with a layer of icing, too. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to set whilst you make the drizzle.

For the drizzle: 1. Place the icing sugar into a bowl and add the Earl Grey tea a teaspoonful at a time until you have a fairly thick and smooth mixture. Add more icing sugar/tea to get to a slow dropping consistency and pour this on top of the cake. Start in the middle and push to the edges to let it drizzle down the side.

Too wet and it’ll run right off the cake, too firm and it won’t go anywhere. We decorate this one with dried petals and a pistachio crumb but you can use anything you like really.

The Bristol Cook Book costs £14.95 from Meze Publishing and will be available in all of the businesses featured in the book from October. It will also be sold in select local gift shops, book shops including Waterstones, and online

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 83

Experience the magic of Christmas with family and friends at TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall’s private estate in Tetbury, Gloucestershire

At Artemis we are proud to offer our instant jewellery commission process - if you can’t find the perfect piece in one of our existing collections, you can sit and create something unique and special with one of our talented designers Artemis is also known as an Aladdin’s cave of gorgeous gifts and Christmas decorations which complement our jewellery perfectly Free gift wrapping service with any purchase

C H R I S TM A S S HOPPI NG & C H A M PA G N E Wednesday to Sunday each week from 23rd November to 16th December Lose yourself in Christmas cheer with a gift fair brimming with artisan wares. Enjoy complimentary champagne and options for lunch or afternoon tea Tickets from £3.50

HIGHGROVE CHRISTMAS BL ACK TIE DINNER Saturday 17th December Start your Christmas celebrations in style with a magical evening of delicious food and wine served with the splendour of Highgrove, including entertainment and an after dinner auction £99.95 per person

F E S T I V E FA M I LY BR U NC H O R L U N C H W I T H S A N TA Sunday 18th December An enchanting experience to receive a gift from Santa and his reindeer, including a delicious brunch or Sunday lunch served in the beautiful setting of the Orchard Room Tickets from £15

Tickets must be booked in advance and are strictly limited.

Please visit www.highgrovegardens.com or call customer services on 0333 222 4555 to book

Tel: 0117 924 1003 | www.artemisbristol.co.uk 214 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8 NU

A MAN’S WORLD

I’M A RECOVERING PASSIVE-AGGRESSOR, AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SARCASTIC CATALYST FOR MY RELAPSE

SEB BARRETT

STATION TO STATION Let the train take the strain? In your dreams, fumes our regular correspondent

S

tood on the platform of my local station, I felt an ominous pang in my spleen.

‘This bloody train isn’t coming,’ it told me.

“Oh yeah, that’s been cancelled,” said the disinterested voice at the other end of the intercom, after I’d taken it upon myself to represent the other glumlooking souls who were stranded with me.

The switchboard guy was clearly eating his breakfast on the job, because I could hear the rustle of a Greggs pasty wrapper, not to mention his mini-burps that sounded like a dying frog. “You’ll have to wait [burrrrp] another 45 minutes for the next one.”

“That’s alright,” I wanted to reply. “I don’t know why I expected anybody to notify us

about the delay. Anyway, we’re all getting on so famously we’ll probably start a commune right here on this platform.” But I didn’t, because I’m a recovering passive-aggressor, and that would have been the sarcastic catalyst for my relapse.

Being an hour late for work due to noncommunication is one thing, but the horror stories coming out of the Southern Railway fiasco have crystallised the importance of a reliable rail service. I’m thinking in particular of a case, illustrated excellently by Private Eye’s Scene & Heard, where a woman was left in tears on the platform because she’d missed her chemotherapy session due to the strikes. Is this how transport in a well-developed nation such as ours should function?

Southern Railway update emails pop up in my inbox at an alarming rate, notifying me

of yet another RMT strike. Although I use its service infrequently, I don’t unsubscribe from these updates for the simple reason that this ongoing impasse between Southern and its conductors is like ‘The Long Big Punch Up’ from The Fast Show. We don’t know when it will end, but we’ll all be affected in one way or another, no matter whom the victor.

In rail terms, it’s obvious we’re not a patch on the Scandinavians, for example, who have managed to hit upon the wacky notion that people like their trains to be clean, to run on time and to be reasonably priced. If we’re not comparable to our Viking friends, then to whose level have we sunk? The Philippines?

Burundi?

Regardless of pasty-tinged bad experiences, I always look forward to a good train journey.

I prefer it to driving (‘let the train take the strain,’ as Plato once quipped), especially on long trips when you can just sit back, try not to rub your leg against your fellow passenger, and catch up with a good book. Unless you’re reading Girl on the Train, that is, in which case a complete stranger is entirely within his rights to knock it out of your hands.

No, I didn’t enjoy Girl on the Train. In a disappointingly uncharacteristic lapse of judgment, I decided to see what all the fuss was about and picked up my girlfriend’s copy, still sandy from its carefree time at the beach.

Rubbish would be too strong a word to describe it, but predictable, one-dimensional and contrived would not. It lends weight to the theory (if any more were needed) that being a smash-hit bestseller does not a good book make. Feel free to pass on that message to the next person you see reading this book on the train, because chances are they’ll thank you for it.

By the same token, don’t blame me if you become a victim of the old coffee-to-the-groin takedown. They’re the worst.

Seb Barrett works in sports communications.

Follow him on Twitter @bazzbarrett

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SPORT

KYLE TRAYNOR

THE LEAD-UP

Loosehead prop

NORTH V SOUTH

N

Who’s likely to shine in the autumn internationals?

ow we’re into the thick of the Aviva Premiership season, the rugby world turns its attentions to the autumn internationals, pitting the best players in the southern hemisphere against their northern hemisphere rivals.

The end of year tests are great occasions in the rugby calendar and a good measuring stick of how the likes of England and Scotland have progressed during 2016.

There’s always a real sense of optimism ahead of the November test series. The lead-

PHOTO BY JMPUK

Bristol Rugby v Saracens

up to games inspires selection debates across the media – who is on form, whose form has dipped and who are the new kids on the block who will be pushing for selection? The games are typically well attended and highscoring affairs, too.

My first inclusion in a national squad was in the autumn test squad for Scotland in 2009. Although I had been playing well for Edinburgh, I did not expect to get a call up, so when the phone rang, it was an exciting time. It’s the first opportunity for a player during the new international season to put a marker down for selection and try to stake a claim for a starting jersey for the campaign that lies ahead.

INSPIRES DEBATES ACROSS THE MEDIA – WHO IS ON FORM, WHO ARE THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, WHO WILL BE PUSHING FOR SELECTION?

It’s well documented how good the All Blacks are, how classy the Australian players and how ruthless an on-form South Africa outfit can be. The November internationals gives supporters and players an early taste of what the Southern Hemisphere nations have to offer.

Where the northern hemisphere sides hold the advantage, however, is the weather conditions. I’ve been fortunate enough to play in these sort of games and it doesn’t need to be said that Scotland isn’t best known for its tropical climate and sunshine. The guys from Cape Town and Brisbane who visit these shores aren’t used to the autumnal weather that Edinburgh, London and Cardiff throw out, so it’s a real advantage to the home nations to try and capitalise on that.

With England full of momentum off the back of a Grand Slam win last season and a whitewash defeat of Australia down under, it would have been great to see them face the All Blacks. Unfortunately, it looks as though we will have to wait a little longer before we see the two in-form teams in world rugby play one another.

So, plenty of mouth-watering rugby to be played over the next few weeks and lots to look forward to. I am confident that the northern hemisphere will give a good account of themselves against the toughest competitors in world rugby.

Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleTraynor

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AYR FORCE ANNA BRITTEN flies from Bristol as far north as she’s ever been

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G R E AT ESCAPES

ornate cornicing, dark wood panelling, gently attentive staff. A cinema and rooftop terrace are in the pipeline. The hotel also bears the Relais & Chateaux mark of approval, which makes it a magnet for the international clientèle, many of whom are researching their Scottish ancestry (and doubtless praying it involves a pile like this).

Our junior suite, one of 17 regal bedrooms, surveys the Irish Sea, and within it rocky islet Ailsa Craig from whence, we learn, the world’s curling stones are hewn. Carpets are plush, bed is four poster, a huge bathroom seems to be around 70% marble. Wow.

THE GATES YIELD ONLY ONCE YOUR RIGHT TO BE THERE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED,

MAKING YOU FEEL A BIT KANYE

Clockwise from left: the clear night skies are ideal for starfaris; huge gates and a crenallated entrance make for an auspicious arrival; views towards Aisla Crag and Northern Ireland; the very picture of Scottish baronial romance

N

ormally, when it comes to mini-breaks, my first thoughts are of heading south. But since realising that a flight from Bristol Airport to Glasgow takes rather less time than the 9.37 from Temple Meads to Paddington, the charm of the far north has become temptingly tangible.

Integral to that charm are the thousands of castles scattered across Scotland, of which Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire is a strikingly beautiful example. Confession: I’d never been to Scotland. But the sheer luxury of this place lured me there.

On the one-hour-and-45 minute drive from Glasgow, and in moody, typically Nordic weather, the landscape is tranquil yet packed with geological drama, and seemingly unchanged for millennia. I’m reminded of the bit in Adrian Mole’s Diary when he writes an ode to the Scottish countryside that is almost entirely composed of the words ‘majestic’ and ‘majesty’. I now entirely sympathise.

Built in 1870 in the baronial style, Glenapp is at the end of a long, winding drive – and through gates that yield only once your right to be there has been established via the intercom, making you feel a bit Kanye.

All glowing sandstone turret and towers, amid glorious Gertrude Jekyll and Robert Lorimer gardens, the former seat of the Earl of Inchcape (now owned by asset management company founder Paul Szkiler), has been spectacularly restored over many years. It oozes reliable, old-fashioned, slightly strait-laced, period luxury: antiques,

After drinks in the main lounge, on one of the most-plumped-up sofas my derrière’s ever enjoyed, our six-course dinner in the hushed, crimson, chandeliered dining room is textbook linen-and-crystal fine dining. Head chef Tyron Ellul certainly has an overflowing local larder to delve into: we dine on roe deer from the Glenapp Estate itself, chicken paupiette, banana soufflé, and a spread of exceptionally good regional cheeses. Practically all fruit and veg is grown on the estate. Breakfast the next morning is equally impressive (and features, inevitably, haggis).

And attractions beyond the castle walls?

To be honest, Glenapp is the sort of place in which you take root for the duration of your stay. Long baths, pots of tea before the fire, gentle strolls around the 40 acre grounds, reading 200 pages of War & Peace... you get the picture. But, if you must, nearby attractions include several world-class golf courses (including Donald Trump’s Turnberry) and plenty of distraction for the non-golfer in the form of more castles, gardens, forests, boat trips (Glenapp has its own eight-seater rib that you can charter to the Mull of Kintyre and elsewhere), and quaint villages.

Glenapp’s ace team – special mention for manager John Orr – will stop at nothing to make your trip special. On clear nights they’ll organise stargazing sessions under blankets on sunloungers, and once conspired with an American guest for pipers to serenade his wife beneath the window on her birthday.

All in all, Glenapp is one of the most luxurious, and – yes, ‘majestic’ – places I’ve ever had the privilege of staying in. “Haste ye back” insist the road signs around here. That’d be nae bother, I think.

TRAVEL DETAILS An EasyJet flight from Bristol Airport to Glasgow takes 1 hour 10 minutes. Rooms at Glenapp Castle Hotel cost from £236 www.glenappcastle.com

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Adventures in party-going

SNAPPED!

Rybrook MD Henry Whale

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

NICE WHEELS ( YES, MORE OF THEM) The glamorous motor launches just keep on coming . . .

Premium car retailer Rybrook launched its state-of-the art facility at Cribbs Causeway with a party for 450 guests. The new facility is the home for Bentley Bristol, Lamborghini Bristol, McLaren Bristol, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bristol and Rybrook Specialist Cars Bristol.

Photos by Marcus Perkins

ART ATTACK When art and business mix Smith & Williamson’s clients and guests were invited to attend a private viewing of the 76 paintings shortlisted in the 29th Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, which is sponsored by the accountancy, investment management and tax group.

(L-R) Sir James Tidmarsh, Martyn Cross and Ruth Mower

(L-R) Sue McGowan, Sarah Spottiswood, Hilary Lewis, David Reed and Jackie Powell

(L-R) Nigel Gardner, Sir James Tidmarsh, Mike Lea, Imogen HiltonBrown and Kate Anthony Wilkinson

(L-R) Ben and Will Pearse, Dave Mouncey and Jeni Pearse

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Tel 01179 850383 visit www.westcomltd.co.uk

Available in Store Now at Westcom, 33 Regent Street, Clifton Village BS8 4HR

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

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

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

Shake-ups/launches/intel/promotions

B R IS TO L G E T S S ER I O US The godlike Michael Eavis at our first Business Club lunch at Hotel du Vin. Wonder if he’ll drop any hints about those ‘Glasto 2017 at Longleat’ rumours . . .

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE

“OUR CUSTOMERS ARE DELIGHTED THAT ‘REAL SHOPS’ ARE MAKING A COMEBACK IN THE AREA”

BUSINESS CLUB

SPEAK UP

Who’s embracing old-school values? See page 96

We’re launching a new business club – and just look who we’ve bagged as our inaugural guest speaker Bristol Life is launching a Business Club – and we’re delighted to announce that our first speaker will be Michael Eavis; local dairy farmer, and stellar Glastonbury Festival founder/guiding spirit.

The Bristol Life Business Club is a new, select lunchtime gathering for leading local business people.

We’ll be featuring an eclectic range of speakers over coming events, since we know that business insight and wisdom comes from multiple areas.

The first event will be on 14 November at the glamorous Hotel du Vin, and the Club will be sponsored by Milsted Langdon. For an invitation, please contact Stephanie at the email address below.

We could hardly have hoped for a more exciting inaugural speaker. Glastonbury is known worldwide

as an incredibly popular, enduring festival – but it’s also an extraordinary business, employing tens of thousands of people for a brief, wonderful time.

So, what’s it like running a vast international business like Glastonbury from a farm in the West Country? How do you keep the brand fresh and credible while attracting an ever-larger and evermore mainstream audience? How is the ethical intent juggled with the commercial opportunities?

All this and much more will be revealed by Michael at the very first Bristol Life Business Club. You’ll really want to be there.

Contact: stephanie.dodd@mediaclash.co.uk www.bristollifebusinessclub.com

£2.4m THE BIG NUMBER

The Heritage Lottery Fund award that is making it possible for Bristol Old Vic to become a major heritage destination For more see www.bristololdvic.org.uk/ heritagepress

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BUSINESS INSIDER

RETAIL

GREEN DAYS Mabel’s Greengrocer on Chandos Road has just celebrated its first birthday, cheered on by loyal local customers. Every Bristol post-code should have a Mabel’s . . .

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Which local restaurants do you supply?

We’re very fortunate to be surrounded by some of Bristol’s best independent restaurants – Wilks, No Man’s Grace and Wilsons to name but a few. As professional chefs, they tend to source their own ingredients but we are always happy to step in with that last minute bunch of mint or box of lemons.

elanie Hill is the owner of Mabel’s, an independent greengrocers on Chandos Road, which she runs with her family and colleagues Tom Weeks and Chris Ellingham. So if she’s called Melanie, how come the shop is called ‘Mabel’?

“The name has a timeless quality, and for me, conjures dependability,” says Melanie. “It comes from the Latin word meaning ‘loving’ and ‘dear’. It also fits with the heritage of Chandos Road as a bustling shopping street in the 1800s and 1900s.

What’s your favourite season/product?

I love autumn when the air is crisp, and the glorious winter squashes start to appear. They have fabulous names like Crown Prince, Carnival, Harlequin and Queensland Blue. I also love a good marrow – a spectacular vegetable. Jerusalem artichokes also appear now and are one of the world’s most underrated vegetables – along with brussels sprouts.

What were you doing before you opened the shop, and why did you become a greengrocer?

My background is in banking and financial admin, with a bit of marketing thrown in. Like many of us, I’ve always been interested in food and cooking, and love seeking out good, fresh ingredients. We’ve lived in Redland for fifteen years, and realised there was a huge gap in the local community for a good, traditional greengrocers.

Why Chandos Road?

Funny as it sounds, I began to dream about becoming that greengrocer, but my strict prerequisite was the Chandos Road location. It has a great community around it, full of families, students, young professionals and older customers who are delighted that ‘real’ shops are making a comeback in the area. Mabel’s feels like a community hub where neighbours and friends bump into each other, swapping cooking tips while buying their Saturday sourdough.

How long have you been open, and what has been the local reaction?

We celebrated our first birthday last month, with prosecco and nibbles for our regular customers. We have a loyal clientèle, some of whom visit daily and enjoy the convenience of being able to pick up fresh produce as they need it. Customers find they are spending less on their weekly grocery shop and are no longer throwing stuff away. Students, with their limited budgets, are really happy to be able to buy the odd carrot or potato, without having to buy prepackaged fruit and vegetables from the supermarket which lack flavour and don’t last.

They’re often surprised at just how much they get for their money when compared with a supermarket shop.

We also offer a 20% student discount and love sharing cooking tips and recipe ideas with them.

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Why is it so important to source locally?

The dominance of supermarkets is, frankly, scary. Anything we can do, no matter how small, to stall that, has to be worthwhile. If it means spending half an hour more on your weekly shopping then I think it’s a price worth paying. At Mabel’s we deliver for free within a five mile radius. You don’t even need to get into your car!

Seasonal, local, competitive, friendly – and the Mabel staff will also share recipe tips

How do manage to keep your prices competitive?

That’s very important as a community shop. I use supermarket price comparison websites to ensure that we are always good value for money.

Has it all turned out as you’d thought?

It sounds corny, but I love my job. If I’d known what I know now, I would have done it years ago.

PEOPLE ARE OFTEN SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH THEY GET FOR THEIR MONEY COMPARED WITH A SUPERMARKET SHOP

What are your plans for the future?

We’ll soon be offering fresh juices made on the premises with our produce. Home-made soup will also be back on the menu, which was a big hit last winter.

Any tips for others starting out?

Do your research – and if you really want to, do it. You won’t know until you try. Don’t regret not doing it later.

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

Fresh, ever-changing, colourful produce lends itself perfectly to social media. Other than that, word of mouth has been a very powerful tool for us.

For more mabelsgreengrocer.co.uk

BUSINESS INSIDER

BUSINESS ADVICE

ALTERNATE TITLE Ready to take your business to another level?

Jonathan O’Shea of The Alternative Board is here to help

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onathan O’Shea is the MD of The Alternative Board (TAB), which aims “to help business owners make better decisions.” Prior to running TAB, Jonathan spent 20 years in the charitable sector, as the CE and finance director of a number of different charities; today his role is facilitating meetings of forward-thinking business owners.

How did your experience in the charity sector help you move into business advice?

Charities always have to focus on helping as many of their beneficiaries as possible with the funds available, and this is achieved by combining the efficient running of the organisation while also providing a very high quality of service that makes a difference to people’s lives. Over the last few years I have used this as the basis of supporting senior leaders in both the charitable and business sectors. The move to doing this with TAB was the next obvious step.

How many people does TAB employ, and what do you look for in every new recruit?

TAB has 40 facilitators and staff operating around the UK. A facilitator needs to have at least 10 year business experience in a senior position, but the main quality we look for is a desire to help business owners be even more successful.

What are the main advantages of being part of a franchise?

Being part of a franchise is brilliant because of all the support you get not just from head office but also from all the other franchisees in the UK and around the world. I take part in telephone- and web-training with TAB franchisees from US, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Ireland. You gain access to their experience and a worldwide contact network that can directly benefit my members.

Are you someone that switches off the emails evenings and weekends?

Yes and no! I try not to work at the weekend and the evenings, but I also have to be ready to support my members if they have a challenge, and the only chance they have to speak to me is at the weekend or in the evenings. Overall the balance is pretty good.

What attracted you to TAB? I was attracted to TAB because of its values.

TAB supports people in terms of their work and their personal life. The focus is on enabling our members to both successful in their business while not missing out on the important things in their personal lives – they shouldn’t be mutually exclusive.

What can TAB do for a company that other similar advisory businesses can’t?

The power of TAB is in the board meetings.

These are all about business owners sharing their own experiences to help each other, and taking advice from those who have ‘been there and done it’. TAB Boards are made up of six to eight business owners from non-competing sectors who meet monthly. This is a very powerful way of garnering the expertise of senior leaders in a mutually beneficial and supportive way.

THE POWER OF TAB IS IN THE BOARD MEETINGS

What range of services does TAB offer?

We offer the board meetings together with one-to-one coaching sessions and a range of business tools that all members can access. It’s a potent combination that produces excellent results for the members.

Can you give us a brief overview of your clients – which type of businesses are you the perfect fit for?

The focus is on business owners and leaders of small- to medium-sized businesses. They come from all different sectors as it’s a condition of membership of a board that you don’t compete with any other members. So it’s less the type of business that’s important, more the attitude and experience of the business leaders who join the boards.

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

The key tool has been the support of my fellow franchisees and the experiences they openly share about their experience in growing their business. There’s a genuine willingness to help everyone succeed and that’s an incredibly powerful tool to be able to utilise.

How much time do you spend on marketing in comparison to practical?

I’m currently in a growth phase for my business and so I’d say currently half and half. As I get more members this will change with more emphasis on the practical (supporting and helping my members which is the really satisfying and fun part!), but the current focus on growth and marketing is essential in achieving that.

What advice would you give to other businesses who want to reach the same level of success?

Be clear about what you want out of your personal and business life, have a plan to help you achieve success in both these areas of your life and don’t do it alone - become a TAB member!

For more bristolnorth.thealternativeboard.co.uk

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BUSINESS INSIDER NETWORKING The team– Philippa shown central

A new Bristol networking group, We Mean Biz, launched on Monday 26 September. The brainchild of Philippa Constable, the founder of the acclaimed Women Mean Biz networking organisation, We Mean Biz brings everyone the benefits of a unique and highly successful networking model.

We Mean Biz will focus on people getting to know one other, by building authentic relationships in a comfortable environment.

“A unique aspect of our group is that attendees are encouraged to leave their suits behind and come dressed in their ‘normal’ clothes – we want to get to know the real people behind their businesses and make networking more accessible and inclusive,” says Philippa. “Smart business clothes or

GETTING TO KNOW YOU suits often cover up the real person hangers are provided!”

At the launch, over 70 business men and women from Bristol and surrounding areas met at the Radisson Blu hotel for networking and lunch.

Each future meeting will allow some time for free networking and also has a structured section that includes a member presentation, a business surgery and a guest speaker.

All members are encouraged to get to know each other better by having one-to-one meetings. This approach means that members build strong relationships and are able to make referrals based on real knowledge of ability and experience.

For more details: www.wemeanbiz.co.uk

WANT MORE? Sign up now for the Bristol Life newsletter Our aim at Bristol Life is to highlight all that’s best about the city – its events, places and people.

To keep readers even more up-to-date about what’s happening in the city, we’re launching a new, free, Friday email newsletter with news, tips and special offers.

(Note: we’ll never share your data with any third parties).

So if you’d like a friendly weekly hello from us in your inbox as the weekend beckons, sign up today: www.mediaclash.co.uk/magazines/ local-magazines/bristol-life

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS

HERE COMES THE JUDGE Invitations to become judges at the first Bristol Life Awards are being made as momentum builds for next year’s Awards.

A panel of impeccably independent judges will decide on the winners for the Awards. They will be chosen from disparate areas of Bristol’s business world, to reflect the diversity of the categories.

“We’re looking forward to talking with a wide variety of Bristolians to choose our judges. We’ll be seeking people who know Bristol and who know excellence,” said event manager, Steph Dodd.

“And we’ve been bowled over by the interest in the awards and the support we’ve had. We’re trying to create something very different, very special here – a night of glamour that celebrates the best of Bristol.”

The judges’ role is to read the finalists’ nominations, consider any supporting material, discuss at length with their fellow judges – and then make the all-important decisions.

The Awards categories are: Arts, Business Services, Café/Coffee Shop, Charity, Cocktail/Bar, Creative, Education, Event, Gastropub, Hair & Beauty, Health, Interiors, Legal & Financial, Leisure & Tourism, New Business, Property, Restaurant, Retailer and Sports.

And there is a special Platinum Award for the single best category winner.

Nominations open on 24 November and are made via the awards website.

Full details are on the site www.bristollifeawards.co.uk with updates on Twitter @BristolLifeAwd For sponsorship enquiries, please contact steve.grigg@mediaclash.co.uk.

To be involved on the night, contact stephanie.dodd@mediaclash.co.uk

AMD are an award winning firm Visit our website for details at www.amdsolicitors.com

a d v e r t i s i n g f e at u r e L E G A L

HOW DO WE PASS ON OUR FAMILY BUSINESS?

By Tony Forster at Metcalfes Solicitors

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usinesses can be volatile entities at the best of times. Changing the ownership structure of a business can only aggravate this, but, when such change is within the family then sometimes the fallout can be difficult to contain.

So how can you do this with the least instability? You must plan a strategy and you must consider which third parties you need to involve in the process. Looking at the strategy, there are three key aspects you must look at.

Type of business

Family businesses can take many different forms, from incorporated limited companies to unincorporated partnerships and sole traders.

If they are unincorporated then all business assets (such as contracts, property, employees and equipment) get transferred. If it is incorporated, then it is the shares in that business we need to concentrate on. Share sales give greater flexibility and are less fiddly than business assets sales. For instance you can arrange for a transfer to be in stages over a period of years. Also, you have the benefit of being able to do so without having to tell the outside world, ­thus the older generation

pass down to the younger generation, and few people appreciate there has been any change.

depending on the profitability and capital position of the business.

Third parties

We at Metcalfes can offer advice; guidance and assistance to you through this whole process. The paperwork may take a while sometimes, but always be aware that the planning which may need to occur within the internal structure of the family can take months ­maybe years s­ o start early with your thought process. Call us to discuss and plan using our skill and our experience.BL

Looking at other third parties who need to be involved - one group who may have a say in any change are the bankers to the business.

They will want to ensure a smooth and orderly handover. They will need to look at any company borrowing facilities which they may have made available to consider what effect the change from one generation to the next may have on their availability. For instance they may want some more or different personal guarantees to be signed by the owners of the business. In addition, there must always be close discussion with and disclosure to the Tax Office to ensure there are no unwelcome tax surprises arising from any transfer.

Funding

When transferring the ownership from generation to generation, you also need to look at how to fund it. You may not want the new generation to be saddled with borrowing or other debt. In some cases it could be that the company itself has sufficient funds to buy the shares of the outgoing generation

For more information or advice, please contact Matthew Watts on 0117 929 0451, or visit www.metcalfes.co.uk

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PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

FINZELS REACH Deluxe apartments within a heritage building, slap-bang on the waterfront. It’s a bit like Venice, with a Bristol accent . . .

By L I SA WA R R E N 102 112 II BRISTOL CLIFTON LIFE LIFE II www.mediaclash.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk

SHOWCASE

PROPERTY

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PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

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here have been several exciting names to conjure with over the last few years when it comes to waterside developments.

Unlike some other cities – Cardiff, say, in which almost all remnants of the city’s dockside past have been razed to the ground, and replaced by rows of domestic housing that would look a bit below par in a suburban Eastern bloc – Bristol’s record for retaining heritage and character wherever possible has resulted in some enticing options for those who want a slice of history in their brave new world.

Wapping Wharf, incorporating key heritage buildings that include the old gaol gates, and sexy new food-andretail hub Cargo, has earned itself a stellar reputation; the outstanding renovation of The General is another.

And then there’s Finzels Reach, set within the old Courage brewery on the banks of the Floating Harbour.

The latest phase in the redevelopment is Cask Store, thought by many to be the most attractive of the group of buildings; a collection of individually designed, contemporary one-bed and two-bed apartments and duplexes with a timeless appeal, situated so close to the harbour that you can almost touch the water.

There are views over to Castle Park on one side and a beautifully landscaped courtyard garden on the other; a tranquil location in the heart of the city, and a surprisingly peaceful sanctuary.

So much for the setting; want to hear a bit about the apartments themselves? The very high-spec interiors created by Cubex Land & Palmer Capital feature underfloor heating throughout; dark oak wood flooring in all the main rooms; fully-fitted fitted wardrobes in most master bedrooms; Laufen bathrooms with Hansgrohe taps, and contemporary, handleless fitted kitchens with Bosch appliances. Some of the apartments come 104 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

High-spec interiors within a handsome, heritage setting, directly on the waterfront

HOUSE NUMBERS

41

homes in the development

2

just two homes left for sale in the Cask Store phase!

2

bedrooms

£595K guide price

with private balconies and terraces; many have secure underground car parking.

Though to be honest, if you spend most of your work and leisure time in Bristol, you’ll rarely need the car; once the new, curvy Finzels Bridge has opened – hopefully before Christmas, developers say – there’ll also be direct access to Bristol Shopping Quarter and Cabot Circus, along with all the buzzing bars, shops and restaurants of the city centre and the Old City.

It seems almost inevitable that once the bridge has been built, the apartments will become more desirable overnight – so what could be savvier than to get in now, while it’s still just a pile of rubble and a landing stage?

From Savills New Homes; www.savills.co.uk

Bristol & Clifton's premier Commercial Property Agents Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk

FOR SALE – INVESTMENT OR OCCUPIER

THE DISTILLERY n amazing high ❖A specification office building

❖ Superb studio offices

tudio style open plan ❖S space

❖ Prime city centre ❖ 2,014 sq ft

❖ 6,380 sq ft

❖ Guide £350,000

CABOT CIRCUS BS1

CLIFTON OFFICE UNIT

❖ Open plan offices

❖S uperb high quality ground floor office unit

❖ 900 sq ft – 4,000 sq ft

❖ 700 sq ft

tudio style with exposed ❖S beams

❖ Flexible lease

❖ Flexible leases

❖ Rent on application

66 PARK STREET, BS1

16 COTHAM HILL ❖ Busy & prominent shop to rent ❖ Very busy student thoroughfare ❖ New lease ❖ Rent £16,500 pax

❖ Prime shop unit ❖ 1,941 sq ft sales ❖ Excellent footfall ❖ New lease

17 THE TRIANGLE CLEVEDON

COLDHARBOUR RD, REDLAND

❖ Retail opportunity

❖ Shop / A2 office

❖P rominent Town Centre location

❖ Established busy location ❖ 1st floor (if needed)

❖ Low rateable value

❖ New lease

❖ New lease FOR SALE – NORTH ROAD, BS6

3 WESTBURY MEWS, WESTBURY ON TRYM

opular location on North ❖P Road

Julian Cook FRICS

Jayne Rixon MRICS

(0117) 934 9977

❖ Mews offices

❖ A2 offices plus retail unit

❖ 1,184 sq ft

❖ Freehold for sale

❖ New flexible lease

❖R esidential development potential (STP)

❖ Only £12.50 psf

Charlie Kershaw MRICS

Finola Ingham MRICS

Tom Coyte BA Hons

• • • • •

Sales/Lettings Acquisitions advice Valuations Landlord & tenant Rent reviews

• • • • •

Development advice Investment Dilapidations Property Marketing Auction Services

BRISTOL LIVES

Q&A

S

am takes being a movie buff to a whole new level. Not only does he collect and sell cult posters, but he also designs alternative ones – you can see his Bristol take on the Cary Grant/Hitchcock movie North by Northwest bottom right.

Hi Sam! What do you do when you’re not selling film posters?

I’m a graphic designer at Hive at Paintworks.

How did you end up selling movie posters?

I started my online business Cult Film Posters when I began to run out of space for my own collection, and it seemed like something that wasn’t really available at vintage markets. It’s really taken off this year – I recently sold a poster of The Man with the Golden Gun to one of the stars of the film, Britt Ekland.

How do you go about designing posters?

Normally, the idea pops into my head while watching the film. From there, I draw a quick scamp, then design it up on my Mac and start to think how I might get it produced as a screen or giclée print.

What’s the first film you ever saw?

My uncle took me to see Jurassic Park when I was a kid, because I was obsessed with dinosaurs. I think it was at the cinema at Avonmeads.

When did you start collecting film posters?

I guess I was around 10, at a time when my local cinema, the Curzon, use to give out free cinema posters. I remember having Mars Attacks and Space Jam posters on my wall at home.

Favourite all-time poster?

It has to be Apocalypse Now by artist Bob Peak, as it really captures the essence of the film.

Dinner party with movie luminaries, alive or dead: choose six guests Jack Nicholson, Sid James, Kurt Russell, Sigourney Weaver, Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. It’s an eclectic mix of people, but it would make for an amusing night.

What’s the most rare poster in your collection?

I have an original 1979 Apocalypse Now US half-sheet and an original 1974 Turkish The Man With the Golden Gun poster. Both of these are hard to find now.

SAM BESSANT

He once sold a poster of a Britt Ekland film to Britt Ekland, he’s an out-and-proud Carry On fan and, as well as selling cult movie posters, he has a nice sideline in designing his own . . .

Favourite all time film?

It is, of course, Jurassic Park!

Best non-film thing you’ve seen recently?

I love the Wardrobe Theatre; their Eloise & The Curse of the Golden Whisk was brilliant.

We love your Bristoland poster! Any more like this in the pipeline?

I have a few more design ideas that I’ve started working on that are Bristol-related. I’m hoping to get them produced for the beginning of next year.

Will we be seeing you soon at any Bristol markets?

December will be busy, with the Folk House Festive Flea Market on Saturday 10 December and the Clevedon Curzon Cinema HAVE Market on Sunday 11 December. If you’re looking for a present for a film fan, then come along; we’ll be selling original posters from £10.

Favourite place to see a movie in Bristol?

I recently went to the new Everyman Cinema on Whiteladies Road, which was brilliant. Outside of Bristol, it would have to be Clevedon Curzon Cinema or the Little Theatre Cinema in Bath.

Where in Bristol do you live, and what’s the best and worst thing about living there?

I live in Bedminster at the moment, but soon to be moving to St George. The best thing has to

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be Upfest Festival and Windmill Hill City Farm.

The only bad thing is getting stuck in a queue in ASDA on a Monday after work What makes Bristol brilliant?

There’s always something going on, whether it’s a festival or a new play, so you never get bored.

I’m really hoping the Bristol Arena will happen; I think it something that everyone in Bristol has wanted for a long time.

Best place for a meal out?

The Lion in Cliftonwood has a great atmosphere and does the best Sunday lunch in Bristol.

Apart from design, what are you good at?

My friends say I’m really good at choosing weird and wonderful things to do and see in Bristol . . . . . . such as?

A Halloween event where there was an act which used real blood. Or watching theatre in cool venues like the Redcliffe Caves.

Finally, tell us something surprising…

I’m a huge ‘Carry On’ film fan.

For more www.etsy.com/ shop/cultfilmposters

0117 911 0556

NEW SHOWROOM

Our new dedicated wardrobe and carpet 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