Bristol Life - Issue 234

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 234 / SEPTEMBER 2017 / £3

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

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THE DOORS OPEN DAY TEAM WANT YOU TO GET UP EARLY (NO, REALLY EARLY)

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ISSUE 234 / SEPTEMBER 2017 / TRAINS, AND BOATS AND… CRANES?

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EDITOR’S LETTER / ISSUE 234 / SEPTEMBER 2017

76

CRANE OF THOUGHT Go on, admit it – you’ve been dying to see inside @Crane29

We ask the questions The big news for the city this month is that following a huge funding injection, At-Bristol is rebranding, with the intriguing new name We The Curious.

Which got us thinking: almost everything we do on this magazine is fuelled by curiosity.

Why and when is the Colston Hall changing its name? Who are the biggest names ever to have played the Hall, down the years? What are the very best vantage points to view the city at sunrise? What does it look like inside Crane 29? Is Spuntino any good? What’s topping the bill at this year’s Encounters festival? What’s Roni Size up to these days? How do I put extra value on my home?

Where should I take the gang this Christmas? And most importantly – what beer should I drink with my fish and chips?

The answers to these, and more, are contained in the following pages.

More searing questions coming up in the next issue.

Deri Robins, editor Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram:@bristollifemag

REGULARS / ISSUE 234 / SEPTEMBER 2017

THE ARTS

M EET T H E T EAM

16 Music

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

It’s quicker to list the musical superstars who haven’t played Colston Hall than those who have

Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors: Anna Farthing, Olly Robinson

23 Arts Intro Meet Outsider Alan. But don’t feel too sorry for him; he’s a pal of Grayson Perry’s

Advertising manager and commercial director Steve Hawkins steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Emma Stroud emma.stroud@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager James Morgan james.morgan@mediaclash.co.uk Production and distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager and production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk

24 What’s On A selective look at the treats in store this month. Mostly boozing beanos, it would seem

28 One to one What does playing a home town crowd mean to Roni Size? (Please don’t say ‘not a lot’, Roni...)

32 Festival Drinking in the morning sun; Blinking in the morning sun . . .

Oh, sorry, that’s Elbow at The Downs

36 Film

16 60 Christmas parties

PROPERT Y

You heard us

100 Real homes

SPORT

Take a pair of architects, a Southville home, and a generous injection of style . . .

You had us at ‘the creator of the Minions’

63 Olly Robinson Give the ref a bit of respect

106 Focus on design

SHOPPING

EDUCATION

What architectural changes can add value to the home?

40 Editor’s Choice

68 Talking heads

We’re still crushing on the colour pops of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Even our most august headteachers were once small schoolchildren in too-big blazers...

FOOD 46 Restaurant We’re nighthawks at the diner

50 Food & drink news Bristol, will you just stop? The new openings alone could fill this month’s allotted pages

HEALTH & BEAUT Y

112 Street art Home is where the art is

116 Property Showcase A contender on the waterfront

73 Cut & colour

DEPARTMENTS

In case we didn’t make it crystal clear in the actual feature, we absolutely loved Hair at 58

8 Spotlight 78 Snapped!

122 Bristol Lives

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

Bristol Life, MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

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

BUSINESS

54 Beer

85 Professional services

Love beer? Love good food? How about fabulous DJs? Oh, you won’t like this event, then . . .

AI, cyber-hacking and Brexit – what’s keeping our business leaders awake at night?

On the cover Were you strolling past ‘our’ crane on 10 August? Did we snap you...?

More on page 76

EDUCATION

CURIOUS CITY Big news! At-Bristol is to receive a £3m boost in funding, along with a new name and rebranding.

Move over, At-Bristol; welcome, We The Curious. No longer will we have to construe awkward sentences with too many ‘ats’ in, such as ‘the exhibition at At-Bristol . . .’

The transformation will begin this month, following funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial and Wellcome Trust’s ‘Inspiring Science’ Fund, which helps science centres to realise compelling new visions in what they offer to the public.

“We’re hugely excited,” says creative director Anna Starkey. “The funding is going to enable us to create a playful, inclusive, multidisciplinary space – the first major exhibition space driven entirely by the curiosity of the city it lives in.

“Our research revealed that people want us to be for everyone, not just for kids, and to be more challenging – a really inspiring mandate

from the city. So we evolved our vision from simply ‘making science accessible to all’.

“We believe in creating a culture of curiosity, where everyone is empowered to ask questions.

Because that’s what science is, and will allow us all as a society, as a city, to have a voice in shaping our future, together. Science isn’t a separate part of culture, and wonderful new energy springs up when you connect it with art, music, dance, philosophy, design . . . the future is all about removing boundaries between ideas.

And the thing that Anna is most excited about? “Being a new space of possibility, with ideas bubbling, experiences arising and people coming together in ways that we haven’t even imagined yet.”

We The Curious will also be launching a fund-matching campaign to raise an additional £1.3million to support the transformation.

More on page 122.

For more: www.at-bristol.org.uk

The ever-curious Anna Starkey

SPOTLIGHT

THEATRE

COMEDY OF MENACE We’ve worked closely with the Bristol Old Vic team for over 13 years now, and if we’ve learned anything, it’s this. When they say that a production is going to be special – that they’ve had goosebumps during the read-through – we need to go and see it.

The Caretaker, they say, is going to be “a completely original, blistering new take on Harold Pinter’s best-known and most-loved 20th-century classic. Even if you think Pinter isn’t for you, this talented team will make you sit up, pay attention, and most probably change your mind.”

Pinter had strong ties to Bristol. His first play, The Room, considered by critics to be the earliest example of his ‘comedy of menace’, was performed as part of a postgraduate programme at Bristol University in 1957; in 1998 the Uni made him an honorary Doctor of Letters. As the Nobel committee commented when awarding him the Prize for Literature in 2005, Pinter was a playwright who “uncovers the precipice under everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression’s closed rooms.”

The BOV revival of The Caretaker is directed by Chris Haydon, lauded former artistic director at The Gate.

Discerning parallels between the play’s main character’s need for a home and inclusion with present day issues of asylum and immigration, Chris has cast Sierra Leone actor Patrice Naiambana as the homeless Davies. Patrice feels that Davies has many similarities with his own experiences – he describes himself as an ideological refugee, who had to leave Sierra Leone just before the civil war began.

“Our incredible cast are truly electric – along with Patrice, young actors David Judge and Jonathan Livingstone play Mick and Aston – the three must navigate each other, make a play for control, try to escape, and try not to fall short.”

Will Davies ever get to Sidcup? Will Aston ever build that shed? Probably not; but join them in the endgame, anyway.

The Caretaker runs 9-30 September; www.bristololdvic.org.uk

Mick!

Davies!

Aston!

. . . aka (l-r) David Judge, Patrice Naiambana and Jonathan Livingstone

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SPOTLIGHT

August is the most colourful month on Instagram; no prizes for guessing why. We invited Jess Siggers of @igersbristol to choose 12 of the best Balloon Fiesta pics that were tagged with their account

@alexfiddian

@paddyo.11

@richmccluskey

@mrbenadams

@jimcosseyphotography

@moodycolin319

@richimal_bristol

@carolyn.eaton

@katewilliamsbrown

@jpuentephotography

@mrjamierhodes

@neiljamesb

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 15

MUSIC

CHANGE IS GONNA COME The Colston Hall is poised to get a multi-million transformation, along with a new name that will forever disassociate it from the slave trade and those who profited from it

By DE R I ROBI NS

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

MUSIC

GLITTER ROCKERS. FOLK ROCKERS. PROG ROCKERS, AND ROCK ROCKERS – THESE RAFTERS HAVE ABSORBED SOME OF THE GREATEST CHORDS EVER PLAYED

THE NEW FACE OF COLSTON HALL – WHAT TO EXPECT • The Main Hall will be remodelled, with major changes to the stage and the installation of international standards of acoustics, new seating and air conditioning.

• The Lantern will be redeveloped into a versatile performance venue • The cellars will be opened up for the first time in 100 years to create a cabaret-style performance area and education areas • The historic foyer and the Colston Street frontage will be renovated, opening up the Byzantine colonnades and restoring the buildings 150 year old historic façade

Bringing us right up to date, the Flaming Lips turned the Hall into a party at their gig last month.

There was ticker tape and zorbing. There was a giant inflatable robot. There was Wayne Coyne in angel wings, riding a unicorn

T

hink of a rock, pop or jazz superstar.

Chances are that they’ve played Colston Hall at some stage in their career. The Beatles; the Stones; Bowie. Brian Wilson – both as a young Turk fresh from the Californian surf scene and, infinitely more touchingly, a frail elder, supported by a new generation of musicians.

Hendrix and Floyd (on the same bill). Glitter rockers. Folk rockers. Prog rockers, and rock rockers – these rafters have absorbed some of the greatest chords ever played, by the greatest popular musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries.

But it’s even older than that – 150 years old, to be exact, and along with a year-long celebration that peaks with a free Big Birthday Bash on 20 September, precisely 150 years after the doors first opened, the Hall is poised for a £48+ million pound transformation, along with a controversial change of name that will remove its existing association with Edward Colston and the slave trade.

On behalf of Bristol Music Trust, the Hall’s chief executive Louise Mitchell gave us a bit of context for the name change. “We are a progressive, forward-thinking and open arts organisation, and it’s important to us that the Hall is a place where everyone feels welcome. We believe that when we reopen our extraordinary new building, it should be with a new name that everyone can celebrate. In 2020, we want to focus on the future, not look to the past.

“We are not looking to erase history. In fact, we want to embrace our position at the centre of this issue. We will be talking to local people and organisations about how we should recognise and acknowledge Bristol’s connections to the slave trade and Edward Colston in the new building.”

The free Big Birthday Bash on 20 September will see a complete takeover of the building, to which everyone is invited. It will give you the chance to explore every corner of the building, stumbling across musicians, DJs, installations and projections, as acts pop up to create a unique party atmosphere. To register for free tickets for the Big Birthday Bash please visit www.colstonhall.org/ colston-hall-150 w

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

THOSE WERE THE DAYS In which we trawl the archives to find some memorable milestones from the Colston Hall’s illustrious history

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

MUSIC

MAY 1959 No screaming please, we’re Bristol The Evening Post sent a writer to review the Cliff Richard Show on 7 May, but although the scribe did manage to compose a review, he confessed he did so with difficulty due to the “prolonged and incessant screams from the audience.” It wasn’t the first time the sound of excited girls would drown out the act on stage.

12 OCTOBER 1963 Gerry and the lawbreakers When Liverpool’s Gerry and the Pacemakers played the Hall in 1963, it didn’t end as planned.

Fuelled by the excitement around the band (and plenty of booze), the audience became boisterous and the management appealed for calm. When that appeal fell on deaf ears the police were called and the show ended ten minutes early.

NOVEMBER 1963 Queuing to see the Fab Four Sleeping on the cold pavement and prepared to wait for 24 hours, queuing fans – mostly female – were hell-bent on getting their hands on a ticket when The Beatles came to town. But while there was plenty of excitement, a letter to the local paper begged fellow concert goers not to make too much noise. “We are not a couple of priggish wet blankets but two ardent Beatles fans who are going to see their show and, we hope, hear it,” they wrote.

Their appeal was not heard. “You couldn’t hear for the screams,” said one reviewer, who also told the tale of Margaret Heath, 17, from Cardiff who leapt on the stage and tried to kiss John Lennon. Recovering in the rest room later she confided: “I know John is married and I can never have him, but it doesn’t matter. I felt there was such a short distance between us.”

SEPTEMBER 1965 ‘We’ll behave’ promises Jagger Ahead of their autumn show, the Rolling Stones promised they’d be on their best behaviour.

This promise was made in writing by manager Eric Easton after a furious venue manager Ken Cowley had accused them of whipping the audience into a frenzy on a previous visit in October. Mick Jagger’s ‘provocative’ antics that night had included dangling a foot over the edge of the stage – outrageous.

MARCH 1965 Boy Wonder’s airport angst Stevie Wonder, then aged just 14, flew into London ahead of his Bristol show and immediately hit trouble. His music director, Clarence Paul, was delayed for two hours by immigration officials who thought he had the wrong permit. It was eventually straightened out. Stevie told the press: “I like it very much here. All I need now is a hit record over here.”

Luckily he had quite a few.

The third auditorium opened in 1936

TIME TAKES A CIGARETTE . . .

Some venues seem to lead a charmed life, seemingly immune to wars and fires.

The Colston Hall, on the other hand…

20 Sep 1867 The first CH is opened, founded by the Colston Hall Company 1898 First Hall destroyed by fire that spreads from adjacent Clarke’s clothing factory 1900 Second Colston Hall opened 1909 Political meeting interrupted by suffragettes Elsie Howey and Vera Holme hiding in the organ who jumped out shouting “votes for women!”

1936 Colston Hall remodelled and the third incarnation opens 1945 Colston Hall survives WWII only to be destroyed shortly after the end of the war by a discarded cigarette 7 July 1951 After rebuilding is delayed due to limited resources following the war, the fourth Colston Hall opens, built in the distinctive Festival of Britain style 2009 Brand new foyer building extension opens 2011 Newly established charity Bristol Music Trust takes over management of Colston Hall from Bristol City Council

NOVEMBER 1967 Floyd and Jimi Hendrix on the same bill It’s hard to comprehend now, but two acts who had global stardom in their own right were packaged together in the late 1960s. The Floyd and Hendrix played the venue on 24 November – surely a once in a lifetime opportunity for most, but one man who was there, Malcolm Coates, wrote in his review that “When the last number, Purple Haze, was announced I thought the end of the world was upon us.”

NOVEMBER 1979 The final days of Joy Division Six months before lead singer Ian Curtis took his own life, Joy Division played Colston Hall, supporting the Buzzcocks. Tracey Holloway, writing for Bristol fanzine Waste Paper wrote “Ian Curtis is a schizophrenic genius. He dances mechanically, moving to the solid, tumbling beat...

Joy Division are just too good to be a support act, they really deserve to play in their own right.”

Unbeknown to the fans watching that night, Curtis was increasingly suffering from epileptic seizures and battling alcohol issues. It was one of the last times an audience would get to see this tortured genius playing live.

NOVEMBER 1992 Take That Taking their first steps towards stardom, boy band Take That played their first and only Bristol concert on 6 November. Robbie, Gary, Jason, Howard and Mark were on their way to the sort of status that would mean they only played football stadiums and arenas, but at least a select group of fans could say “I was there” as the boys began their careers. w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 19

MUSIC

COLSTON HALL A-Z Here’s an A-Z of some – yes, just some – of the huge names who’ve played the Hall down the years. We tried to pick just one act per letter, but we couldn’t help ourselves (hey, if you feel qualified to choose between The Beatles and Bowie, you’re welcome to our job). So from prog rock to folk to just the biggest stars who have ever blazed from the pop firmament – which ones would you give a month’s salary to go back in time to see?

A B

A-ha (1987) America (2007)

BB King (1969); The Beach Boys (1968); The Beatles (1963 and 1964); Bob Marley & The Wailers (1976); David Bowie (1969, 1972 and 1973); Blondie (1977)

E F G

The Eurythmics (1983)

Fleetwood Mac (1969, 1973 and 1977)

Genesis (1973, 1975); Goldie and the Heritage Orchestra (at Harbourside, 2015)

C

H

D

I J

Johnny Cash (1968 and 1991); The Clash (1980, 1984); Leonard Cohen (1976); Elvis Costello (loads of times)

Bob Dylan (1966; Bob also used the Hall to fi lm the concert scenes for his 1987 fi lm Hearts of Fire); Dire Straits (1979)

Jimi Hendrix (1967), Buddy Holly (1958); The Human League (loads of times) Iron Maiden (1981)

The Jam (1979); Elton John (1971 and 1973); Joy Division (1979)

K L M

R

Kraftwerk (1975, 2017)

Led Zeppelin (1969, 1970); Little Richard (1962)

The Monkees (1989); The Manic Street Preachers (2005, 2007, 2010); Muse (2001)

N O

Nina Simone (1989)

Please don’t ask us to name the acts in these photos . . .

Simple Minds (1984, 2003); Status Quo (many times); Stereophonics (2008)

T U V

T Rex (1977): Thin Lizzy (1976); Take That (1992)

Van Morrison – OK, we cheated putting him under V and not M (loads of times)

Pink Floyd (1969, 1970, 1972); Pet Shop Boys (2002) Queen (1974, 1975)

S

U2 (1983)

The Osmonds (2012); Outlook Orchestra (at Harbourside, 2017)

P Q

Lou Reed (1974, 1975, 2000); The Rolling Stones (1964, 1965); Roxy Music (1973, 1974, 1976, 1977)

W Y Z

The Who (1968); Robbie Williams (1998)

Yes (1971, 1972 and 1975)

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention (1969).

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 21

FASCINATED BY

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Music/theatre/film/more

MAKING PLANS FOR ALAN

Great! Now we know EXACTLY what do with that shell and pebble collection we’ve been hoarding all these years. Don’t tell Grayson Perry, though; nobody likes a copycat. Grayson is the creator of this little chap – his name’s Outsider Alan, and we can quite see how he might not fit in at your Clifton dinner party.

Tell you what is a perfect fit, though, and that’s Grayson and the Arnolfini, which is handy, as the artist is bringing his Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever! to the gallery this month. As ever, Grayson’s targeting contemporary society, from popularity to art, masculinity, class, politics, sex, religion and Brexit. Expect wit, astuteness and irreverence in bucketloads; and remember to say hi to Alan.

The Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever! runs at Arnolfini from 27 September – 24 December www.arnolfini.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 23

1 September - 1 October

J U ST A F EW S U GGES TI ON S FOR YOU R MON TH

Edie (though clearly, Audrey) by Maria Rivans, at The Affordable Art Fair; local artist Martin Turner at The Other Art Fair; Tosca sings again, at TFT

Exhibitions U N TI L 3 S E PTE M BE R

THE OTHER ART FAIR The ideal way to meet the best emerging and undiscovered artists in the UK, and buy directly from them; at Arnolfini; bristol.theotherartfair.com.

27 SEP T -10 DEC EMBER U N TI L 1 0 SE PTEMBER

ALTERNATIVE VISIONS Championing the undiscovered art of the South West; bristolmuseums.org.uk

GRAYSON PERRY ‘The Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever!’ tackles how contemporary art can best address a diverse cross section of society. (see page 23); at Arnolfini; arnolfini.org.uk

U N TI L 1 7 SE PTEMBER

L-SHAPED ROOM Sculptor Tessa Lynch works from the observation of her immediate surroundings and from her quest for the existence of a female flâneur; At Spike Island, spikeisland.org.uk

30 SEP T-17 DEC EMBER

AIR RWA’s celebration of the rich tradition in British art of finding inspiration in the skies above us and the air we breathe. rwa.org.uk

THE DRIFT Combining documentary footage with staged scenes, filmmaker Maeve Brennan depicts histories and communities in modern Lebanon; spikeisland.org.uk

Theatre

U N TI L 5 S E PTE M BE R

8 - 1 0 SE PTE MB ER

GLASS MICROBIOLOGY Last chance to see Luke Jerram’s jewel-like glass sculptures of deadly viruses; at The Box; atbristol.org.uk

MORPH: STILL NAUGHTY AT 40 And as such, an inspiration to us all. A celebration of the clay superstar who really kicked the whole Aardman thing off; at The Mall at Cribbs. grandappeal.org.uk

THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR You know the drill; dozens of artists exhibit at Brunel’s Old Station, including plenty of Bristol favourites; prints start from under £100. affordableartfair.com

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

KIM YONG-IK The first exhibition in the UK by this South Korean artist, tracing the progression of his work from his earliest Dansaekhwa paintings; spikeisland.org.uk

5-8 SEP TEMBER

MAFIA? WESTERN? SCI-FI? The multi-rolling, genre-splicing, physical comedy trio Sleeping Trees present their movie trilogy in a series of double-bills; thewardrobetheatre.com 9-30 SEP TEMBER

THE CARETAKER Chris Haydon directs Pinter’s masterpiece in a bold new

production (page 10) bristololdvic. org.uk 13-16 SEP T EM B ER

TWO-MAN SHOW Fringe First Winners RashDash return with their awardwinning, genre-defying hit about gender, language and humankind; at Circomedia. tobaccofactorytheatres.com HEATHER Explosive new play by Thomas Eccleshare explores what happens when a beloved author reveals a disturbing new truth. What matters more, the storyteller or the story? At TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com 18 SEP TEM B ER

LIVING WITH THE LIGHTS ON You last saw him as Iago in SATTF’s Othello; now Mark Lockyer returns to TFT with his touching and utterly bonkers one-man show; a gripping story of a life lived at the edge. tobaccofactorytheatres.com

W H AT ’ S O N 1 9 -2 3 S E P T E M B E R

THE ADDAMS FAMILY Click, click. Morticia, Gomez, and the fam return in a new musical starring Sam Womack; at the Hippodrome; atgtickets.com 2 4 -2 8 S E P T E M B E R

THE TRUMAN CAPOTE TALK SHOW Bob Kingdom reprises his critically-acclaimed one-man show, playing the social butterfly, gossipmonger and novelist, ‘dropping names until those names drop him’; at The Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com 2 6 -3 0 S E P T E M B E R

MY FAIR LADY The best musical of all time?

Shavian wit, that Lerner and Loewe score and the ultimate makeover tale – hell, yes. At the Hippodrome; atgtickets.com 2 7 S E PTE M B E R- 1 4 OCTOBE R

TOSCA Opera Project are back, with another intensely dramatic Puccini. Tosca has it all: love, jealousy, lust, despair, torture and murder – and don’t tell us you can get all this at home. At TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Music 2 SEPTEMBER

THE DOWNS FESTIVAL Can Elbow top last year’s Massive Attack gig? They’ll give it a go, along with Mike Skinner, Roni Size (page 28) and more. The gig of the year, for 46 of your Earth pounds; thedownsbristol.com

A typically punchy programme from the Brodskys, taking in Shostakovich, Beethoven and Borodin; at St George’s. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Comedy 4 , 1 8 SE PTE MBER

CLOSER EACH DAY The world’s longest improv soap comedy keeps on rolling along at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com 9 - 1 0 SE PTE MBER

MW AT THE WARDROBE Our favourite Bristol comedian continues his idiosyncratic tour of venues beginning with his initials; at W for Wardrobe. thewardrobetheatre.com 1 0 SE PTE MB ER

THE BRISTOL SESSIONS The soul collective return to The Lantern with their biggest show yet, performing R&B, rare groove and soul classics; colstonhall.org

FESTIVAL OF WHAT IF? At-Bristol’s new exhibition is designed to get kids thinking beyond the obvious; at-bristol. org.uk

1 1 SE PTE MB ER

UNTIL 7 SEP T

JOHN BISHOP Did you know that John’s stand-up DVD was the fastest selling in UK history? Come and see his Winging It tour to see what the fuss is about; at the Hippodrome; www.atgtickets. co.uk 1 6 SE PTE MB ER

JIMMY CARR The king of the one-liner’s back at Colston Hall; colstonhall.org

TOKYO WORLD The dance music fest returns to Eastville Park; tokyoworld.org 2 4 S E PTE M B E R

SUZANNE VEGA The legendary NY singer / songwriter’s on tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Solitude Standing. Feeling old yet? colstonhall.org 2 9 S E PTE M B E R

BRODSKY QUARTET

PLAY ME, I’M YOURS Luke Jerram’s trail of 18 decorated pianos, installed in public spaces across Bristol for everyone to have a tinkle on. bristolstreetpianos.co.uk

ANI MRU-MRU Like comedic cabaret? Give Poland’s satirical comedy trio a whirl; at Redgrave, redgravetheatre.com

FESTIVAL OF PUPPETRY The biennial celebration of all things animated on stage and screen; puppetplace.org DOORS OPEN DAY The chance to see inside private places or take behind-the- scenes tours of familiar ones; page 32. bristoldoorsopenday.org.uk 7-12 SEP TEMBER

JOHN RICHARDSON John’s on tour, complaining about the state of the world and offering no solutions; at Colston Hall, colstonhall.org

Other U N TI L 3 SE PT

DINOMANIA Eleven life-size animatronic dinosaurs have come to Briz from Texas to entertain y’all. www.dinomania.org.uk

Yet another new drinkfest; this time it’s all about whisky, and it’s held at the Loco Club; whiskybristol.co.uk BRISTOL RUM FESTIVAL Oh look, another one. A celebration of all things rum, rhum and ron, and no, we hadn’t heard of the last two either.

At Paintworks; find them on Facebook.

15 SEP T EM B ER

UNTIL 10 SEP TEMBER

7-10 SEP TEMBER

2 9 - 3 0 SE PTEMBER 2 3 -2 4 S E P T E M B E R

Mafia? Western? Sci-fi? the genre-splicing Sleeping Trees hit up The Wardrobe

SUSAN CALMAN Susan’s celebrating 10 years in the comedy biz, and she’s extending her current Calman Before the Storm tour to fit in a gig at The Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

1 7 SE PTE MB ER 1 6 S E PTE M B E R

ARTS

DINNER IN THE SKY . . . and indeed, breakfast, afternoon tea and night cocktails; eventsinthesky.co.uk 8-10 SEP TEMBER

FACTOBERFEST Bristol Beer Factory and Tobacco Factory’s annual beer festival – a whole weekend celebrating the very best of independent beer and cider; tobaccofactory.com 9 SEP TEMBER

BRISTOL WHISKY UNDERGROUND

COCKTAILS IN THE CITY It’s clearly Hangover Central month in Bristol, but if you’re going to have one it may as well be by cocktail; 16 bars pop-up to serve classic cocktails at Passenger Shed; cocktailsinthecity.com 15-17 S EP T EM B ER

BRISTOL CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL AT MOTION Another weekend devoted to the grain; see feature page 54; bristolcraftbeerfestival.co.uk

19-24 S EP T EM B ER

ENCOUNTERS The 23rd Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival’s back; encounters-festival.org.uk; see page 36 20 SEP T EM B ER

COLSTON HALL’S 150TH BIRTHDAY BASH The Hall celebrates the big one with a fabulous free party, to which you’re all invited – see page 16...

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 25

At-Bristol is changing.

Curious? Find out more... www.wethecurious.org

SIZE MATTERS F E AT U R E

INTERIORS SPECIAL

This September, Bristol drum and bass pioneer Roni Size marks the 20-year anniversary of his seminal album New Forms with a gig on The Downs – come and help him celebrate

By L I SA WA R R E N

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

ONE TO ONE

F

or those sufficiently long in the tooth to remember New Forms winning the Mercury Music Prize, and the days when Brown Paper Bag appeared to be on a permanent MTV loop, it’s hard to believe that the album was released 20 years ago.

But for Roni Size – or Ryan Owen Granville Williams, if you happen to be his mum – it’s not hard at all.

“I can believe it, honestly. It was one of those experiences that I’ve absorbed every day; I loved it. and I’ve never stopped working. The music stands up to the test of time. I still have a lot to prove to myself, and it’s going to take a lifetime to do that, but I’m still enjoying it.”

Much has been made about Bristol’s music scene back in the 1990s, but Roni says he and his fellow drum and bass collective Reprazent members DJ Krust, DJ Die, SUV, MC Dynamite and vocalist Onallee had no idea what was about to happen when New Forms was released, sending shockwaves through the music world and spreading the band’s fame globally.

“We didn’t have a clue it would be as big as it was. Not a single one! Who does?

“Some people have marketing strategies and tried-and-tested formulas, and it’s a given that those people will have success.

But we were doing something that had never been done. When we signed to Mercury Records, nobody was really aware of us.

“When we were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize we were at the Montreux Jazz festival in Switzerland and none of us even knew what it was, or cared what it was.

“When we got to the Grosvenor House Hotel for the Awards, we ate all the food that was there and got a little bit drunk; we started really enjoying the evening, and then suddenly we were announced as the winners, propelling us into an unknown world.”

Radiohead had been the bookies’ favourites to win the Mercury Music Prize, with Reprazent the 16-1 outsiders. New Forms, with its unique new sound, stunned the judges and was a testament to the passion of everyone who worked on it.

“The inspiration for New Forms was borne from like-minded people, myself and Krust, Onallee and Dynamite. We were just young kids who were looking for direction and loved music and

ARTS

wanted to be involved in it. The inspiration also came from our passion for the technology, and enjoying going out in St Pauls, going to parties given by Wild Bunch (the collective that produced Massive Attack), and the St Pauls Carnival.”

Reprazent’s music got them noticed in London, and a deal with Gilles Peterson’s label Talkin Loud allowed them to spread their wings and access the sort of studio facilities and musical talent that gave birth to New Forms.

“It was a connection of all those different elements of timing and technology and parties. It wasn’t like there was one source of inspiration.

It was more of a melting pot of different things coming together.

“We put together a palette of music and there it is. Twenty years later it’s still being celebrated, which is great.”

The biggest celebration of this revolutionary album will come on 2 September at The Downs Festival when Roni plays on the same bill as fellow Mercury Music Prize winners Elbow. Playing in his home town is a big deal for Roni, who also unleashed a storming DJ set during the Arcadia concert in Queen Square in 2015.

“You look out into the crowd and know you’ve got your old school friends there – maybe even some of your old teachers!

Back when I was a school kid in Bristol I was a bit of a tearaway and I think I surprised a lot of people that I ended up doing good. I remember getting chased by the police across The Downs when I was a kid, now I’m playing there.”

So what can the 27,000 fans coming to the all-day festival expect?

“It’ll be about the experience.

There are a lot of people out there using the same format, whether it’s with vocalists or MCs and drummers. I’ve been there and done that.

“I’ve gone down a different route since then. I’ve always wanted to make New Forms a new visual experience, involving lights and video and I think I’ve managed to pull it off. It’s about enhancing and celebrating the music. You can be sure I’ll put everything I have into the show.”

There’s nothing like a local boy done good playing a home gig, and Roni’s set feels like a natural follow up to Massive Attack’s last year. Get yourself along to the Downs, and show him some love.

I REMEMBER BEING CHASED ACROSS THE DOWNS BY POLICE WHEN I WAS A KID – NOW I’M PLAYING THERE

The Downs Festival takes place on 2 September; tickets cost £46 www.thedownsbristol.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 29

dawn patrol The festival producer for Architecture Centre’s Bristol Doors Open Days suggests we rise and shine (and get high*) if we want to see the best of the city * No, not that kind of high – what kind of degenerate publication do you take us for?

B

By a n na fa rt h i ng

ristol can seem endlessly restless.

There is constant bustle as pedestrians, buggies, bikes, cars and buses jostle to make their way from one place to another. As we impatiently navigate temporary diversions for the metrobus roadworks, rush hour can seem to extend all day. I am sure that everyone who negotiates Bristol at street level has at some point wished to rise above it all.

People have always been drawn to high places. In most cities, the houses on the hills are the most sought-after. In Bristol Museum, the engravings on display in the front hall show

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

that the view from above the city’s streetscape has fascinated artists for centuries.

Since 1766, the Camera Obscura on Clifton Down has enticed visitors to get some perspective and take a different view; on a clear day, the silent moving picture show playing in the dish shows views as far as Dundry, where people continue to climb the hill to look back over the city. Although the skyline has changed many times, as buildings have been erected and pulled down, we can still feel a sense of calm when we realise that a hill or a church spire is still there, timeless, watching over us, as we beetle about below.

While acknowledging the recent Grenfell Tower tragedy, and ongoing concerns about fire safety in high-rise housing, it is worth recalling that the construction of tall

DOORS O P E N D AY

buildings has always been controversial. Church spires were designed to direct our thoughts to the heavens, yet in secular architecture, competition to be the tallest has been associated with arrogance and ego. The penthouse suite is usually the most expensive. The rooftop terrace, the most exclusive.

Although tall structures provide density, which ought to bring people together, access is often through a single entrance, which is usually tightly controlled and restricted.

I was therefore particularly interested in getting these doors to open to the public during Bristol Doors Open Days so that more people could enjoy the view from above.

Moreover, as a former theatre director, I have always been fascinated by how light can affect our feelings about space.

In the rehearsal room, I used to adjust the anglepoise over the model box. But to see the cityscape in a different light I realised we were going to need a bigger lamp. In fact the biggest lamp. The sun.

At the Architecture Centre we are very grateful to all of the volunteers who open their buildings to the public for Doors Open Days, but this year I would particularly like to thank those who have agreed to open their tallest buildings at 6am, just before dawn, so early risers can climb to the top in time to see the sunrise and experience the city in a new light.

Main photos of Harbourisde taken at 6am. If we can get up this early, so can you . . .

Bristol Doors Open Days run 7-10 September. There are 120 events in the programme; overleaf we list just a selection. Some venues need to be pre-booked, but two thirds are available to drop in w For more: www.bristoldoorsopenday.org.uk

TO SEE THE CITYSCAPE IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT, I REALISED THAT WE WERE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER LAMP. IN FACT, THE BIGGEST LAMP. THE SUN

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

DOORS O P E N D AY

SOME OF BRISTOL’S TALLEST BUILDINGS HAVE AGREED TO OPEN AT DAWN TO ALLOW EARLY BIRDS TO EXPERIENCE THE CITY IN A NEW LIGHT

TOP PICKS Here are some of the best places to visit during Doors Open Days that offer views over Bristol and give you a new perspective on the city’s design.

CANOPY AND STARS @CRANE29 A treehouse in a crane overlooking the harbour; opening times include sunrise on Friday ST MARY REDCLIFFE Tours of the rooftop and bell-ringing chamber on Saturday, drop in on Friday.

RADDISON BLU HOTEL Former Bristol and West building, now a hotel.

Breakfast available after sunrise tours on Friday BRISTOL CATHEDRAL Rooftop and tower tours available subject to capacity

OBSERVATORY AT ARCHFIELD HOUSE 19th-century house with its own 360 degree observatory, now a nursery offering child-friendly views from Cotham on Sunday ST THOMAS THE MARTYR Tower tours with bellringing and views over the city on Thursday and Friday morning, drop in on Saturday HOLY TRINITY Offering views over Westbury-on-Trym for 1300 years

We raided instagram to find the best sunrise (and sunset) shots in the city. From left: Top row @richmccluskey_ photography; @bristolpictures Middle row: @chris.lawton; @daysatbristol; @bristoljj Bottom row @ryan_sainsbury1; @bitsofbristol; @paddyo.11

BLAISE CASTLE Wonderful views from the folly tower in landscaped gardens KINGS WESTON HOUSE Views over the city from the soon-to-be-restored grounds

ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH Tower tours at sunrise on Thursday, drop in at other times

All Year Round CABOT TOWER The tower on Brandon Hill is always worth a climb; open most days throughout the year

PREMIER INN HAYMARKET Former Avon House, now a hotel. Breakfast available after sunrise tours on Thursday

CLIFTON OBSERVATORY Camera Obscura on Clifton Downs, with access to the ‘Giants Cave’ and a newly opened rooftop café offering refreshments

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 35

FILM

One of dozens of short animations, at just four minutes long, Perfect World by Karni Arieli and Saul Freed is the tale of a boy and his mother’s journey through a frozen forest made of sugar 36 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

short cuts THEY HAVE the creator of the Minions. THEY HAVE Adam Buxton. THEY HAVE holographics and 3-D glasses, a live comedy smartphone game – and oh yes, a showcase of the freshest talent in film today. Isn’t it time you checked out Encounters, Bristol’s renowned festival of short films and animation?

By l i sa wa r r e n

O

riginally, Bristol’s short film and animation festival was called Brief Encounters, but in recent years it’s been changed to Encounters. We’re not sure why.

Maybe ‘Brief Encounters’ just wasn’t brief enough.

The festival was launched in 1995 by a group of enthusiastic young film makers, including the founders of Aardman.

“It was based in Bristol, as it was really the heartland around creativity at that time,” explains festival director Rich Warren.

“Since the first event, the festival has grown from a celebration of cinema into an international competition showcasing the very best new and emerging talent working with moving image. It has now become one of the must-see events in the European film calendar, and as such attracts guests to Bristol from all over the world.

“This year, more than ever, we’re putting emerging talent at the heart of the festival.

We’ve had a huge 3,000 submissions – the biggest we’ve ever received. We’re also including a new VR strand that celebrates this new medium of film making with a dedicated cinema.

“One of our proudest success stories of recent years is Marley Morrison, who attended the Widening the Lens initiative at the festival last year. Off the back of these sessions she

this year, more than ever, we’re putting emerging talent at the heart of the festival

successfully secured funding to make the short she pitched in 2016, and has used that short as a springboard to get a feature film idea greenlit – remember her name, as she will definitely be one to watch.”

Marley’s by no means the only success story to have been championed by Encounters. Esther May Campbell’s 2015 film Light Years – “a beautifully elusive family drama” – went on to win a BAFTA. Jesse Armstrong, co-writer for Peep Show and The Thick of It, has also featured some of his short films at the festival in the past.

And as well as rising stars, the festival has attracted bona-fide legends, such as animator Richard Williams of The Little Mermaid and Who Framed Roger Rabbit fame, back in 2013.

“We had hundreds of people queuing for hours that year,” says Rich.

Because of its talent-nurturing reputation, Encounters is of national importance.

“Apart from the prestigious awards that the festival is linked to (Academy Awards, BAFTA, European Film Academy) everything we do at Encounters is designed to develop and inspire the audiences in attendance. A vast proportion of that audience are filmmakers at various stages in their career, who utilise the festival as a training ground, or a sounding board for their next project. That said, of course we cater for non-filmmakers too with accessible programmes for those not sure where to start.”  www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 37

FILM

OK, we’re interested, yet still oddly uninitiated.

Where does Rich suggest we begin?

“For Encounters virgins, I would highly recommend coming to one of our evening showcases, which serve as a great launch pad to dive into the rest of the festival.

“On Wednesday night we have a double-bill of sci-fi shorts (Other Worlds) and horrors and thrillers (Thrilling & Chilling). On Thursday, things get a little more light-hearted, with a double-bill of comedy (Fun Rides and Love Bites) and finally on Friday night we have our worldrenowned Late Lounge programmes screening the sort of thing you can only get away with in shorts (Late Lounge: Red and Late Lounge: Blue).

“Our activity at the Arnolfini this year is head-turning. On Wednesday we have two polar-opposite events, beginning with a panel discussion and screening of films that have been specially commissioned for the Tate’s Soul of a Nation exhibition; this will be immediately followed by Wifi Wars, a world-record-breaking live comedy game show in which the entire audience plays along on its smart devices.

“Thursday night hosts our Animation Royalty double-bill, kicking off with the director of The Red Turtle, Michael Dudok de Witt, who tells us which Desert Island Flicks he’d most like to be stranded with; this is followed by a unique opportunity to hear from the mastermind behind the Minions, Pierre Coffin.

Our Arnolfini activity is rounded off on the Friday night with a special holographic screening of Holotronica 3D from Stuart Warren-Hill – a live show with music, holograms and 3D glasses – what could possibly be more fun than that?”

And that’s even before you get to Adam Buxton’s Best of BUG: the evolution of the music video, or Playback, a dynamic display of short films made by up and coming artist filmmakers from all across England, many from Bristol . . .

Come to think of it, we think we can see why they dropped the ‘Brief’.

For more: www.encounters-festival.org.uk 38 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

The Red Turtle director Michael Dudok de Witt picks his Desert Island Flicks; left, it’s only Adam Buxton!

One he made earlier: Pierre Coffin with a little guy who’s become rather familiar in the Bristol skies

Music, holograms and 3D glasses; what could possibly be more fun than that?

A RETIREMENT TO LOOK FORWARD TO

LAST REMAINING VACANCIES

at our lovely houses in Redland and Henleaze

1 3

2

5

4

1. TIN TIN

2. URBAN PLANNING

3. OK CORAL

4. PORTUGUESE LOVE

5. LILAC TIME

Canvas ‘Tinware’ mugs and cups, £5.49-£7.99 These charming mugs and cups may look like vintage metalwear, but they’re actually made from china From Movement Boutique 66 Alma Road, Bristol www.movementboutique. co.uk

Urban bottle, £16.95 At this price you could buy a range of colours; the perfect, practical accessory for the ecominded Bristolian From Amulet Boutique 39A Cotham Hill, Bristol www.amuletboutique.co.uk

Henbury jacket, £185 Good-sized waxed ladies jacket – a festival essential.

We love it in coral, but it also comes in classic navy From Peregrine Clothing Unit 1, Montpelier Central Trading Estate, Bristol www.peregrineclothing. co.uk

Da Terra platter, £46 Hand-painted and glazed in Portugal; guaranteed to waft a breeze of the warm south into your home From Pod Company 24 The Mall, Clifton www.thepodcompany. co.uk

Marc Jacobs ‘Maverick’ bag, £390 Leather saddle-inspired shoulder bag, in one of the prettiest shades of lilac around From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street, Quakers Friars, Bristol www.harveynichols.com

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

ED’S CHOICE

SHOPPING

6

7

SKY’S THE LIMIT 8

WE’RE FAR TOO BUSY CRUSHING ON THE BRIGHT COLOUR POPS AND PATTERNS OF THE BALLOON FIESTA TO YIELD TO THE MUTED HUES OF AUTUMN

9 10

6. PLEIN SOLEIL

7. RICE WORK

8. ALESSI IS MORE

9. LIFE TARGETS

10. STAR MAN

American Vintage jumper, £170 The colour is called Soleil, which even we know means sun; guaranteed to brighten up the gloomiest Bristol day From Grace & Mabel 32 The Mall Clifton www.graceandmabel.co.uk

Rice raffia basket, £30.95 All the way from Madagascar and ethically produced – and doesn’t it look exactly like a little hot-air balloon basket?

From Fig1, 9 Gaol Ferry Steps Bristol www.fig1.co.uk

Alessi bone china ‘Circus’ bowls, 2 for £24 Little bowls by Marcel Wanders, just waiting to be filled with scoops of your favorite artisan gelato From Bristol Guild 68-70 Park Street, Bristol www.bristolguildgallery. co.uk

Tango sofa, £1,450 A dynamic and dramatic shape inspired by movement and dance; the lime and red are equally eye-popping From Archer & Company 24 Alma Vale Road, Bristol www.archerandcompany. co.uk

Wesco Spaceboy XL bin, £199.95 The Spaceboy is out of this world: it looks like a retro rocket and comes in a wide range of colours From Kitchens Cookshop 167 Whiteladies Road, Bristol www.steamer.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk II CLIFTON BRISTOL LIFE LIFE II 41 www.mediaclash.co.uk 69

A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E B U S I N E S S

TAKING CARE OF YOUR TECH FOR LESS DIAL A GEEK will help you focus on what you do best, by offering you all the benefits of an in-house IT team at a fraction of the cost

D

ial A Geek began in the kitchen of Gildas Jones, working from a laptop perched atop an ironing board. “I wanted to provide a service that understands the needs of individuals and businesses to help them get the most out of their technology,” Gildas explains. “At the same time, I wanted to provide this support in a clear, non-patronising way.’

After growing success providing IT support for home users and small businesses, Gildas moved Dial A Geek to a dedicated office space in the Fire Station in Bedminster, taking on several technicians and a dedicated office manager to help with the workload. He describes himself as a hands-on managing director, heavily involved in both running the business and providing IT support to the 968 commercial clients the company has worked with so far.

In the last 12 months, Dial A Geek has taken on two new technicians, widening the in-house skill set to include enterprise servers and website hosting, and in January hired their first apprentice. Marketing Manager Jennifer Rollason says we should keep an eye out for even more exciting developments from Dial A Geek in the near future, including their new website being launched this autumn.

“Being involved in Bristol’s small business community is a large part of what makes Dial A Geek special” Jennifer tells us. ”So we were incredibly proud to represent the UK’s 5 million small businesses on the Small Business 100 List in 2015.”

“We were actually invited to 10 Downing Street on Small Business Saturday” Gildas adds, “but we were too busy putting on our own event for small business owners to go!”

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY:

“As a small business, I needed someone to oversee and help with all the IT issues I was having. It started with my machine running really slow and then some other small things which were stopping me from working effectively. Dial a Geek are professional, knowledgeable and really great to deal with. I have a perfectly running machine and the monthly service agreement is cost effective and fits with my needs. Would highly recommend.”

Kiron Collett, Inner Fix Wellness “Dial a Geek are brilliant. I’ve used them many times and they’ve got me out of many a fix.

With helpful and friendly advice you never feel bamboozled by techy info and always trust them to do a great job and it’s affordable too. It’s just brilliant knowing they’re there for all your techy needs and useful info. I wouldn’t be without them” Katy McDonnell, Photographer “We did a lot of calling around to find a new IT support provider and from the first phone call Dial a Geek were brilliant, we had decided to use them before we even received the quote!

We are not based in Bristol but decided to use them over a company local to us due to their amazing customer service and ability to deliver that service regardless of our location.

They have always delivered on every promise,

have talked to me in plain English and given me the best options for our business. As an SME other companies don’t feel we are big enough for them to work with, Dial a Geek has always made me feel as if my business is just as important regardless of the size. I would highly recommend this company.”

Helen McCabe, Harrier UK These guys take the fear out of our office IT and the calmness under pressure is infectious!

Dial a Geek have so far handled what we have chucked at them in a really nice and timely manner.

Dave Madden, Mustard Jobs

Phone: 0117 369 4335 Email: support@dialageek.co.uk Website: www.dialageek.co.uk Twitter: @dialageek Facebook: www.facebook.com/dialageek Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/ company/dialageek

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

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

R E S TA U R A N T

FOOD

Spuntino There were no lonely nighthawks at Russell Norman’s diner; just like the rest of Cargo on the night of our visit, the place was rammed . . .

By DE R I ROBI NS

V

iews of Harbourside: a gentle breeze blowing up the Avon. Hot-air balloons drifting across the sky. A happy crowd, hardening their arteries in the most delightful way, in a New York-style diner in a former shipping container – one that once plied the Seven Seas, perhaps, but which now serves up the likes of bacon devilled eggs, and Bismarck pancake, fried chicken and maple syrup.

Our envy for the flat-dwellers of Wapping Wharf grows sharper each day. It’s impossible to become bored with the eating-out offering here; Cargo 1 was impressive enough for any village (and yes, I think we may now call the Wharf a village – it may not have a duckpond, but it has a waterfront, and we know which we’d choose) – and now with the addition of Cargo 2, it has more choice of indie restaurants than some entire towns.

The M Shed steam locomotive stands just out front – a Portbury saddle-tank shunter says Your Man, who’s prone to pontificate about historical transport. All hissing pipes and tubes, it was gently letting off steam prior to retiring for the night – pretty much our own plans for the evening (perhaps not the hissing).

We were headed for Spuntino, which translates from the Italian as ‘light snack’. Light? You have to be kidding. This is comfort food of the most unapologetically indulgent order.

Spuntino is the baby brother of Polpo and Polpetto, Russell Norman’s other restaurant forays.

Spuntino could be on East 52nd Street, and it knows it. High stools at the counter overlook the open galley kitchen, where short-order cooks conjure up city fare with imagination and verve. The diners can choose to sit in one of the two leather-backed booths or the central table, or risk the elements outside; along with Salt and Malt, Spuntino has bagged the best Cargo 2 sun terrace.

It may be a diner, but with gastronomic nips and tucks that allow the likes of truffled egg toast and stuffed fried olives to be served. The menu is largely unchanged from breakfast to dinner; the staff are as over-easy as Tom Waits’s hashbrowns, the menu casually typewritten on exercise-book style paper.

THERE IS

SOMETHING VERY NEW-BRISTOL ABOUT EATING IN A CONTAINER, RATHER THAN OUT OF ONE AT A

BUS STOP

For starters we decided on eggplant chips served with fennel and yoghurt. It seems a tad affected to call an aubergine an eggplant this side of the Pond, but given the context, we’ll let them off.

For a mains I had the mac’n’cheese with added lobster.

The mac was meltingly good, the lobster adding seafoody sweetness; to accompany it we ordered one of the very few healthy-sounding options on the menu, a fresh-tasting pea, feta and mint salad.

Your Man only had eyes for the Swiss cheeseburger with chipotle and jalapeno. This is a dish you might expect to be served in a shack on the inter-state just outta town; the town probably being El Paso.

Here in Bristol it seemed to feel equally at home, with both buns piled high with cheese and meatiness and a side of skinny fries. The acid test for good chips, they say, is that you should be able to eat them when they’re cold and they’re still not half bad. These would definitely have passed the test, although none were around for long enough for us to be sure.

Even with a rash of top burger bars opening all over the city, Spuntino’s Swiss is a hot contender for Top of the Filth* (*as in the current complimentary parlance, obviously), but Your Man only managed to eat half – I nicked the rest while his attention was diverted by the whiskey menu.

This comprehensive document features mainly bourbon and rye, which must set a quandary for those popping in at 11am. It’s so hard to choose the perfect breakfast bourbon, I always find, but the 12-year-old Elijah Craig would probably do the job.

For dessert we went for, umm, more drinks. There was no way we could have made room for the PBJ – that’s the peanut butter and jam (sorry, jelly) sandwich; maybe we’ll order one for breakfast, next time we’re passing. Maybe following the devilled eggs. Maybe.

The local craft beer scene is well represented, and there are plenty of cocktails to choose from, many straight from the era of Mad Men – make mine an Old Fashioned, Joanie.

No, hang on; a New York Sour, Peggy.

Margaritas weren’t on the menu, but as they’re pretty much the thing I always want to drink I ordered one anyway, and was served a textbook-perfect one. OK, three.

Just when you thought that there wasn’t an empty niche in Bristol’s ever-expanding culinary landscape, Spuntino comes along and fills one. It offers a fun, inexpensive night out, the cooking is terrific and the atmosphere somewhere between the Bronx and Bristol. And there is something very engaging, something very new-Bristol, about eating in a container, rather than out of one at a bus stop.

DINING DETAILS Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf, BS1 4RW; 0117 376 3698 Opening hours Monday-Thursday 11am-10.30pm; Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday, 11am-10pm We visited Thursday evening Prices snacks/starters £2-£4.80, main courses £5.90-£7.90, desserts £6.50-£7 Wine list There’s a compact but well designed list, with guaranteed crowd pleasers from £18 a bottle Atmosphere buzzy Service relaxed and cheerful

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

A DELI & CAFÉ IN THE HEART OF CLIFTON VILLAGE Freshly made delights throughout the day from our deli kitchen Luxury picnic hampers available to order all through the summer Delicious homemade cakes which can be enjoyed in our café or ordered whole so you don’t have to bake!

Fabulous gift hampers full of West Country goodies

14 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4DR  0117 9734440 @TheMallDeli www.themalldeli.co.uk

Open 7 days a week

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

TAKE FIVE

Meet Nick Burton, store manager of Avery’s – the city’s most distinguished wine merchant, with a history that stretches back over 200 years. And if that sounds bit off-puttingly oenophilic, think again…

A

verys can trace its history as a wine merchant back to 1793, with a shop on Park Street just around the corner from the present site on Culver Street. But don’t feel you need to commit to a big spend here - they sell by the bottle as well as the crate. And then, of course, there’s the ‘cage’ . . .

What can we get from Avery’s that we can’t get at a corner wine shop?

You get to explore our unique vaulted historic cellars and choose from a range of over 1000 wines. If you aren’t sure what to buy, you can sample some wines at our wellstocked tasting table. We also run events from our cellars, and this year have had everything from pop-up restaurants to jazz bands and movie screenings in tandem with the Bristol Film Festival.

Is it OK to just pop in to buy just a few bottles at a time?

You can buy as much or as little as you like – we sell wines by the bottle as well as by the case, enabling customers to pick and choose and create their own selection.

Customers can also make use of our free car park, or we can deliver for free in BS1 to BS9.

Give us an idea of the range of the stock We stock wines from all over the world from as a little as £7.99 per bottle, and are particularly strong in France, where we have historic ties to the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy.

If you are after something special we also have our ‘cage’, where we store our fine and rare wines.

What does having a ‘personal wine advisor’ entail?

All of our wine advisors are fully trained, hugely knowledgeable and above all love wine. We love the challenge of finding the perfect wine to match a dish you may be cooking.

Give us some recommendations for some late summer wines – do you have any special offers?

We have many offers in the shop, but we do love a drop of fizz, and would recommend the excellent Aimery Cremant de Limoux Rosé. Made using the same method as Champagne, this is delicate, fresh and refined, with hints of strawberries and cream and a long, mouthfilling finish. It’s normally £13.99, but on offer exclusively in the shop for £10.99 a bottle. www.averys.com

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

TASTY BITES What, no wine fest?

Someone, somewhere, has decreed that September shall be Bristol. Hangover Month.

Let’s take a quick shufti at the drinks calendar.

8-10 September is Factoberfest, a weekend of beer and cider at Tobacco Factory – not to be confused with the Bristol Craft Beer Festival at Motion between 15-17 September (turn the page).

Not into beer? You don’t get off that easy.

There’s Bristol Whisky Underground on 9 September at the Loco Club, and at the same date the Bristol Rum Fest pops up at Paintworks.

Prefer cocktails? No problem at all. Sixteen bars in pop-up form will offer unique drinking experiences at Cocktails in the City at Passenger Shed on 15 September (a lethal 15 Sept bar crawl is starting to present itself as a real opportunity here). And Bristol Cocktail Week is back for its 7th year between 25 September-1 October.

September still looking a bit too dry and tame for your liking? You can always opt for cocktails 100ft in the air, courtesy of Events in the Sky . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY . . . . . . Papadeli, 15 years old this month. The business began as a shop selling the finest British, Italian, French and Spanish foods and takeaway meals; over the years, they’ve added a cookery school and an outside catering service. To celebrate, on the 15th of each month for a year, they’ll surprise a random customer with a gift, ranging from an artisan cheeseboard to a cookery school voucher. www.papadeli.co.uk

We introduced Liam in our last issue; now he takes up his duties as our wine columnist Last week I caught up with my old friend Kate Hawkins at her restaurant Bellita. In the wine industry, Kate’s educated opinions on wine, lists and hospitality in general are hard to ignore. Her writing is groundbreaking, and her wine lists tear up the rule book and force the consumer to experiment.

Rather excited that I might persuade her to buy the wines that I have been making in France and Spain, I was cut short quicker than imagined: “The problem is, Liam, you are a man”. Wow! That’s an operation too far, so I poured us a large glass on my Immortelle 2015, and asked for an explanation.

Kate wanted a wine list that told a story, stood out and perhaps acted as a filter against salesmen like me. “Every wine on this list is made by a woman. It was a decision that forced us to reconsider how we select wines, engage new distributors, and of course select wines that have a feminine touch”.

I had a quick think. Most of the winemakers I know are men; however, I could immediately think of a few that were not. Gislaine Barthod in Chambolle Musigny crafted the most perfumed, pretty red burgundy I had ever tasted; Anna Flowerdat at Te Whare Ra rewrote my organic understanding in New Zealand, and made wine that seemed to taste better; Katie Jones, at Domaine Jones in Fitou, poured some of the most beautifully packaged wines I had ever seen, and blew me away with flavours unexpected. Maybe, just maybe, Kate was onto something.

I am not suggesting that my palate has developed a gender preference, but I am willing to accept that maybe the hands and mind of a woman affects the style and quality of wine in the glass. www.globalwinesolutions.com

WHAT ELSE IS COOKING? Opening with remarkably little fanfare last month was Root, on the site formerly occupied

by Chicken Shed. It’s from the same Eat Drink Bristol Fashion team, and has become an overnight favourite; no dish is more than £8 and the ethos puts sustainability at the heart of the menu. Bucking the usual trend, meat dishes are the side options, letting the veggie plates take centre stage. Review next issue.

Steamed cod and mussel vinaigrette at Welbourne PHOTO BY CAROLINE PEEL

LIAM STEEVENSON

Witness the fitness: Burger Theory lands in Old City

www.eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk/root

Gibbens, who met at Michelin-starred Dabbous. www.wellbourne.restaurant

Eat Drink, Root and leaves

Due to open this month within Stokes Croft’s Jamaica Street Studios, Jamaica Street Stores will offer produce-focused, innovative food and drink that mirror the changing seasons.

“Our menus will have no culinary boundaries – drawing from the team’s personal experiences of working and travelling across the world,” they say. They’re dedicating a section of the menu to raw plates, while 50% of the menu will offer plant-based dishes. www.jamaicastreetstores.com

Mucho excitement over Wellbourne, just opened on the old Prosecco site on Clifton’s The Mall. A modern take on the classic wine bar, the team bring Michelin-star pedigree to the mix, headed up by the holy trinity of FOH Martin Irwin and chefs Michael Kennedy and Ross

At the new Potts Chocolate House on Park Street, Aussie couple Michael and Jennifer Potts are poised to tempt you with cocoa-based classics from fondue to cakes. There’s also a central marble counter with pots of pure melting chocolate, where you can coat desserts with milk, dark or white. www.mrspottschocolatehouse.co.uk

We haven’t even made it to Asado yet and look, here’s Burger Theory opening its first location in Bristol, on St Stephen’s Street. The business, founded and run by pals Rory Perriment, Oliver Thorogood and Nicolas Makin, has years of experience in supplying speciality cuisine to festivals and pop-up kitchens across the country. www.burgertheory.co.uk

Love Romy’s Kitchen? The celebrated chef brings her Indian cuisine to The Second Floor Restaurant at Harvey Nichols on 27 September, with a four-course menu at £50. www.harveynichols.com

So new that we have hardly any details, East Village Café promises to be a fully vegetarian café – it’s set to open on the Arch House Deli site on Boyce’s Avenue. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 51

“Rajasthan tasting menu� available throughout September and October

10 The Mall | Clifton | BS8 4DR | 0117 360 0288 | info@nutmegbristol.com | www.nutmegbristol.com

BEER F E S T I VA L

ALL HAIL THE ALE Bristol means cider, right? Well, obviously the amber nectar is part of the local DNA – but then increasingly, so is beer…

O

ver the middle weekend of September at Motion, in the heartland of Bristol’s brewery scene, the city’s best independent breweries will cosy up with the best beer producers – not just from the Bristol, not just from the UK, but Europe and the USA as well.

Now in its second year, the festival will set out to demonstrate the creativity and independent spirit that has put Bristol at the forefront of the worldwide craft beer scene.

For while most people outside the West Country rightly associate Bristol with cider, there’s been a healthy craft beer scene here for around a decade – and it’s really hotted up over the past five years.

The Bristol Beer Factory and Zero Degrees were among the standard-bearers for the movement. which had a huge shot in the arm when the bars that form what became known as the ‘Beermuda Triangle’ tapped into the huge demand for quality brews.

Brewdog, The Small Bar and Beer Emporium satisfy the thirsty hordes who gather on the cobbles of King Street every weekend. Bemmie’s The Steam Crane is another haven for craft beer lovers, as is near neighbour the North Street Standard – sister bar to Gloucester Road’s The Urban Standard.

That’s just a handful of the pubs and bars with a dizzying choice at the taps – and then there are the breweries. Wiper and True, with their stylish minimalist labels. Moor Beer Company, Arbor Ales, Left Handed Giant – it’s an increasingly impressive list. Cargo, too, has enriched the offering, with Wild Beer Co packed out most evenings.

Obviously, beer tastes even better when accompanied by something fine to eat, and nothing goes better with a cold, crisp beer than perfect fish and chips – which by an amazing coincidence, we have the perfect recipe for . . .

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

The holy trinity of the Craft Beer Fest: beer, food and music. This year’s blistering DJ line-up includes Norman Jay (left), while food is catered by Josh Eggleton (middle, bottom pic) and the EDBF team

MOOR BEER, VICAR? Top recommendations for your imbibing delight, from festival co-founder Greg Wells Wiper & True x Deya x Left Handed Giant x Verdant – Bristol Craft Beer Festival IPA In early summer we all got together to make a banging summer IPA with lots of tropical fruit with nice bettering balance that leaves you wanting more. This was a beer for Bristol and our festival.

Wild Beer Co – The Blend 2017 The brand new blend – they do one each year.

This one is super-complex but so very drinkable.

Wonderful balance and lots of interesting flavours from the barrel. Get it fresh and on draft.

Brasserie De La Senne – Zinnebir A real classic of modern craft. This wonderful newwave Belgian brewer takes influence from heritage and the modern beer movement, and they’ve made a beer that strikes a wonderful balance between those traditions.

Thornbridge – Passionfruit and Blueberry Tart Perfect summer drinking from one of the UK’s finest breweries; tart but with a wonderful balance and vibrancy coming from two very different fruits.

Kernel – Table Beer This super beer is in my fridge ALL the time.

A very light beer but with a nice body that profiles the hops so well. Always using the freshest hops means there is always something nice to discover.

Lervig – Hazy Days This is a new style IPA all the way from Norway.

That means low bitterness, hazy (hence the name) and lots of sweet tropical fruit flavours.

Moor – Hoppiness A Bristol classic and always nice to revisit. This is what the modern wave of craft beer is all about.

A great showcase of hops and malt, in balance, that creates a wonderful IPA, leaving you with a smile on your face.

Mikkeller – Spontanpear From one of the best and most exciting breweries, this beer takes inspiration from the natural fermentation processes of lambic beers from Belgium. Complex and fretting, tart and fruity, this a wonderful beer we’re proud to have at the festival Good Chemistry – Holy Roar One of the latest releases from one of Bristol’s most exciting small breweries. A beer that plays between the lines, using traditional influences, but in new ways, Holy Roar is fierce and deep.

Lost and Grounded – Keller Pils One of the leading examples of this in the country and brewed just a stone’s throw from our event.

Lost & Grounded are one Bristol’s newer breweries and are building some real nationwide acclaim.

Bristol Craft Beer Festival runs 15-17 September at Motion. Tickets start at £30, rising to £110 for the full weekend pass www.bristolcraftbeerfestival.co.uk

PERFECT FISH AND CHIPS Greg suggests serving this dish with a nice cold Lost and Grounded Keller Pils For perfect chips: Ingredients: 900g Maris Piper potatoes Oil for frying – ideally rapeseed Method: 1. Preheat a deep fat fryer to 140°C 2. Cut the spuds lengthways into 2cm slices, then cut each piece lengthways into 2cm thick sticks. Place in a large pan, cover with cold water and season with salt (30g per litre of water).

3. Place the pan on a high heat. When the water is barely at a simmer, drain the chips into a colander and allow them to steam for 5 minutes 4. Tip the chips into a tray, spread into a single layer and cool to room temperature.

5. Cook the chips in the fryer until soft and uncoloured, but still keep their shape, then remove from the oil and turn the fryer up to 180c.

• Note that you’ll cook the fish at this temperature, so leave it at 180°C 6. When you’re ready to serve, re-fry the chips for 3-5 minutes, drain well and serve hot.

Perfect fish in beer batter Ingredients: 4 x 170g cod fillets 250g plain flour 50g corn flour 150ml lager 150ml light ale 5g mild curry powder Maldon salt White pepper Method: 1. Heat a deep fat fryer to 180°C. 2. In a large bowl, whisk the corn flour, larger, ale, curry powder and 150g of the plain flour together until smooth. Season

with salt and pepper and set aside 3. Place the rest of the flour in another bowl and season well with salt and pepper 4. Trim the cod, remove any pin bones and if the fillets are damp, pat dry with a paper towel.

5. Dust each piece of fish in the seasoned flour and dip in the batter to coat.

6. Gently lower each piece of fish into the fryer and cook until the fish is floating and the batter is golden; this should be about 5-8 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.

7. Serve with chips, crushed peas, tartare sauce and a wedge of lemon Tartare sauce: Mix 250ml mayo with 80g cornichons, 2 tbsp surfine capers, 2 small minced banana shallots, 2 grated hard hardboiled eggs, 30g finely chopped flat leaf parsley and the zest and juice of one lemon. Once you’ve made your own you’ll never look back.

Garlic parsley butter (for the peas): Take 125g of unsalted butter, 2 cloves of garlic, 40g finely chopped parsley and a little salt and fold it all together until smooth. Pop it into a suitable container and move onto the peas.

Crushed peas (you can’t have fish and chips without them; rule) Take 500g frozen peas, defrosted and drained; 2tsp rapeseed oil, the garlic butter (above), 2 shallots, finely minced, salt and pepper. Blend half the peas and set aside. Take a saucepan and over a medium head sautée the shallot for 2 mins, then add the garlic butter. Once the butter has melted add the remaining peas and warm through. Season to taste and serve immediately. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 55

Your intimate neighbourhood bistro for every celebration Perfect for your Christmas Party

3 Private Dining areas seating 8–22 guests. www.shop3bistro.co.uk 3a Regent Street. 0117 382 2235

THE GREAT GATSBY CHRISTMAS PARTIES AT THE BRISTOL MARRIOTT ROYAL HOTEL Make your Private Christmas Party a special occasion for all within the luxurious surroundings of the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel. Join us for a sparkling arrival drink before entering an evening full of extravagance and elegance with the classic 1920’s Great Gatsby theme.

Dine from our festive three course menu on a stunningly dressed table, which includes crackers and novelties. Then enjoy dancing with our resident DJ to keep you dancing all night long.

From £39.00 per person* *Available for private parties 80 -120 guests. All Packages are subject to availability depending on day of the week.

BRISTOL MARRIOTT ROYAL HOTEL College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TA BristolMarriottRoyal.co.uk | 01179 255 100 For more information or to make a booking call or email mhrs.brsry.events@marriott.com

The most wonderful time of the year...?

It will be, if you plan it properly. Ho, ho, and thrice ho – it’s time to book the office Christmas party…

CHRISTMAS PA R T I E S NOW BOOKING Believe the HYPE: if you’re after a big, themetastic, glitzy do with more fun than the average person can handle, this is the one for you. Previous themes have included Lapland and Prohibition; this year’s shindig is Fairytale of New York. Groups from eight up to 720. Altogether: “It was Christmas Eve, babe…” www.hypeagency.co.uk MILK THISTLE Spread across four floors, the Milk Thistle offers the double whammy of a superstylish décor and great food from sister venue The Ox, along with some of the best cocktails in the city. With space for up to 130, the venue can be hired exclusively, or can offer use of each floor, each with a quirky, gentlemen’s-club vibe. www.milkthistlebristol.com THE OX The perfect venues for those wanting to eat, drink and be merry. Renowned for some of the best steaks in town, the guys offer exclusive hire for groups of 80, but are also ideal for a decadent team lunch, dinner or cocktails. www.theoxbristol.com PATA NEGRA Go Spanish style! Pata has two event spaces above their much-loved tapas bar on Corn Street; both can hold up to 120, and can be combined with the main restaurant to offer exclusive space for up to 300. With two dance floors and cocktail bars on each floor, Noche Negra and Noche Privada are perfect for partying. www.patanegrabristol.com BAMBALAN Bored with the standard turkey offering?

Bambalan serves a vibrant casual dining with a pintxosstyle menu with space for up to 200 people, including several outside terraces which can be used all year round. Great views across the city centre, too. www.bambalan.co.uk

SHOP3 BISTRO is charming, small and boutiquey; ideal for discerning foodies. With three private dining areas, they’re perfect for groups of six to 20 in one dining area, or whole venuehire for larger groups. Intimate, friendly, fun and festive. www.shop3bistro.co.uk

L

ook; we’re just like you; we’re all about spontaneity. But just try spontaneously booking in a group of 20 people into your favourite restaurant during December. Or November. Even October can be dodgy. Straight up, like it or not, September is really the latest you can leave it.

So with this in mind, here are some recommendations, from the big and glitzy to the small and artisan. You may jeer now, but you’ll thank us in the long run.

YURT LUSH Finding the festive period too in-tents? Head to the Yurt – to be exact, three Mongolian yurts, which can be joined together for larger groups, seating up to 130. Low ceilings create the perfect buzzy atmosphere for a Christmas party, there’s a DJ booth in the main yurt, and their vodka-cured salmon is the best you’ll ever taste. Rustic, fun, unorthodox, sustainable, Bristol! www.eatdrinkbristolfashion. co.uk/yurtlush THE MARRIOTT offers an evening full of extravagance and elegance; the theme is the ever-popular Gatsby, while festive menus include veggie options along with the usual carni. Luxury, Victorian-style, sophisticated, central, romantic. www.marriott.co.uk/Bristol

Quirk and cocktails at The Milk Thistle

THE SPIEGELTENT Wish you could travel back in time to a 1930s cabaret? The Spiegel’s parties are the next best thing; they run throughout December, including The Masquerade Ball on the 17th.

Magnificent, intimate, jawdropping and memorable. www.christmasspiegeltent. co.uk THE ROSE OF DENMARK The Hotwells favourite is ideal for big groups; the Buddha room can seat up 14 around one giant table while the restored old cellar with its atmospheric vaulted ceilings can easily seat 35-40. Welcoming, cosy, homely and traditional. www.roseofdenmark.co.uk

PIEMINISTER has been dishing up pies at Christmas for over a decade. Party food trends come and go, but one winter dish that is certainly not flash-in-the-pan is the great British pie. Comfort and joy on a plate. www.pieminister.co.uk

THE KENSINGTON ARMS Offering gastro-pubbery at its best, the Kenny has two private dining rooms seating up to 30.

The quintessential British pub, perfect for a Christmas gettogether, with fab fare from head chef Luke Hawkins. www.thekensingtonarms.co.uk

ZERO DEGREES With a decadent menu, free bubbles and fresh-brewed craft beer served straight from the tanks of the on-site brewery, including Christmas small-batch specials! www.zerodegrees.co.uk

SALT & MALT With a waterside location in the Chew Valley, Josh Eggleton’s superior fish diner is available for hire for parties of up to 80, or small groups in the restaurant. www.saltmalt.com

The best evocation of decadent 1930s cabaret you’ll ever experience, at The Spiegeltent

Comfort and joy on a plate at Pieminister

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SPORT

OLLY ROBINSON Back Row

FAIR PLAY “A good ref can’t make a bad game good, but a bad referee can make a good game bad,” said the legendary RWC ref Nigel Owen. So show a bit of respect, says Olly . . .

T

he digital age is upon us, and everywhere you look, technology is taking over.

Sport often mirrors everyday life and, in this regard, the use of video replays has been adopted across many different sports as a way of improving refereeing decisions. In football, there’s goal line technology – used to determine whether the ball has crossed the line, while cricket and tennis employ a ‘hawkeye’ review system, giving players an opportunity to reverse a decision that might have been incorrect.

However, video replays in rugby are viewed by many purists as an uncomfortable topic. An important core value of rugby is: “the referee is always right” and the decision of the referee is always accepted. Think of

PHOTO BY JMPUK

Bristol Rugby in training

football and crowds of players surrounding the referee and disputing decisions – it’s a rare sight on the rugby field.

For the past couple of seasons, rugby has seen the introduction of a video referee who can be called upon if there is any uncertainty during a period of play – usually, over whether a try has been scored. If you ask the player in possession – even if the ball is fumbled a yard from the line – they’re likely to respond with “oh yeah, definitely...”

The heat of battle on the field isn’t always conducive to fair play!

It’s not easy for referees to make the call in that split second, and they deserve a huge amount of respect for the job they do. During our biggest home game of last season, against Worcester on Boxing Day, in front of 20,000 passionate Bristolians,

GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A LAUGH OVER AN OFFICIAL’S ERROR

WITH A BEER AFTER A GAME – LIVELIHOODS ON GETTING THE CALL

DEPEND RIGHT

a high kick went up and one man from each side went to catch the ball.

In full speed, it looked like a fair contest and an accident, however when slowed down and scrutinised from all angles, the referee had no option but to send off the Bristol player.

Every refereeing decision is so critical now; jobs, careers, huge sponsorship packages rely on the tiny margins between victory and defeat. Long gone are the days when you can have a laugh over an official’s error with a beer after a game – livelihoods depend on getting the call right.

For me, referees needs to be brave enough to ask for assistance if they aren’t totally sure. Every try scored should be reviewed as the kicker is lining up the conversion, so that every try is valid.

The key is that interruption is kept to a minimum. Believe me, it’s incredibly frustrating for a player when a long passage of play is brought back because of a video referee’s interpretation of the law.

It’s vital that everything is done in order to help the person in the middle to reach the correct decision, and I believe video technology plays a role in this, as long as the right balance is found.

The beauty of sport is that supporters can get involved and feel as though they are a part of something. If rugby becomes less free-flowing, by stopping every 30 seconds to check a decision, then could supporters be lured elsewhere?

Follow Olly on twitter at @ollyrobbo

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TALKING HEADS Find it impossible to picture these dignified head teachers as small schoolchildren?

And yet obviously they were, once upon a time . . .

T

How would your classmates have described you?

As a slightly earnest chap who worked too hard but who enjoyed a great laugh.

hey may now be among the most influential people on the local education scene, but once Tim Greene, Isabel Tobias and Iain Kilpatrick were raw classroom recruits. So – were their schooldays the best days of their lives, or what?

Describe your own teaching style The key thing is that teachers’ love for their subject and their enjoyment of being in the classroom are obvious to the pupils. Being in the classroom remains the best bit of my day – I only hope the pupils get the same amount of enjoyment out of it.

DR TIM GREENE, HEAD OF COLLEGE AT CLIFTON COLLEGE

Clifton College is a co-ed independent school in Clifton, originally founded in 1862 Where did you go to school, and were they happy days?

I went to Methodist College Belfast.

I remember being taught by teachers who were passionate about their subject – not always the greatest classroom practitioners, but wonderfully enthusiastic and deeply knowledgeable. The school was quite strict, but I remember the atmosphere being relaxed, and alongside the work, there was always a huge amount of good humour.

What kind of pupil were you?

I have always had a love for learning, so I probably made for an easy pupil. The fact that people are not always as passionate about learning as I was is something I try to remember in the classroom – not everyone is as interested in electrochemistry as I was!

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

At the risk of venturing into Theresa May territory, what was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?

I fear my answer to this may be even duller than that of Teresa May. I cannot remember ever stepping out of line at school, although I do have a vague recollection of having to escape out of a window once because we were all somewhere we were not meant to be.

What advice would you give to your 11-year-old self?

To study less and practise the piano more.

Is Bristol a stimulating place for children? How could it be improved?

There is no doubt that being part of a city with so much to offer is a real attraction to our pupils, and there are many opportunities for them to explore and engage with the city as part of their study of subjects such as art, architecture, history, science, music and drama. In common with other cities, what Bristol lacks is the necessary funding to adequately support state education. In the independent sector we are acutely aware of how lucky we are and what a difficult task it is for many of our colleagues in the maintained sector.

On a more frivolous level, if someone could sort out the taxi rank at Temple Meads that would be very welcome indeed. www.cliftoncollege.com

E D U C AT I O N

How would your schoolmates have described you?

Small, talkative, noisy, fun, well-meaning, a big heart.

Describe your own teaching style I like to ask questions – it is the key to my style. I encourage independent work in groups and pairs and like to see role-play and presentation at the centre of good reflective learning.

What’s your favourite film, book or TV show about schools, teachers or teaching?

Jane Eyre, Miss Jean Brodie, To Sir with Loe. I really like the film Sing Street about a boys’ school in Northern Ireland, and Matilda, which is about the impact of a good teacher and a terrible head teacher!

ISABEL TOBIAS, HEAD OF RED MAIDS’ SCHOOL

The Red Maids’ School, an independent school for girls in Westbury-on-Trym, was originally founded in 1634, making it the oldest girls school in England Where did you go to school, and were they happy days?

I went to Heriots Wood Grammar School in Stanmore Middlesex. It was a modern girls’ school set in beautiful wooded grounds, and I was extremely happy. I had some wonderful teachers who really made me think, and who inspired in me a great love of poetry, of literature and the arts.

What were the best and worst things about the school?

The best things – the teachers, the allgirls’ environment where I formed deep and enduring friendships, the space to run around in the fresh air, and the library. The worst – I can’t think of any, except perhaps the uniform. I even loved school dinners.

What kind of pupil were you?

Very chatty – as my school report stated!

I was noisy and full of ideas and opinions.

I was also a bookworm and loved reading above everything, closely followed by discussion and debate.

What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?

Climbing out of a ground floor classroom window in order to be at the front of the lunch queue.

What advice would you now give to your 11-year-old self?

Listen to other people a bit more. Work harder at French and the violin. Short-term pain = long-term gain.

Is Bristol a stimulating place for children to grow and learn?

It is a wonderful place for young people.

We are very lucky in our outdoor spaces and our museums, concert halls, theatres and libraries. I am pleased to see the Youth Parliament and Youth Council taken seriously. Public transport is very important and should always be subsidised for under-18s. www.redmaidshigh.co.uk

IAIN KILPATRICK, HEAD OF SIDCOT SCHOOL

Sidcot School in Winscombe is a co-ed independent school and one of seven Quaker schools in England; it was originally founded in 1699 Where did you go to school?

The High School of Stirling in Scotland.

I recall them as reasonably happy, although

there was a teachers’ strike in my final year which meant that all the extra-curricular activities were cancelled.

What were the best things about the school?

There was a good feeling of team spirit and, although quite strict, a sense of school pride.

What kind of pupil were you?

Quite gregarious, chatty (probably too chatty) and keen to get involved.

What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?

I once forged a note from my parents excusing me from games, as there was snow on the ground and I didn’t want to get cold.

I ended up as deputy head boy, so I think my crime was ultimately forgiven.

What advice would you now give to your 11-year-old self?

Be more relaxed and don’t take yourself so seriously.

How would your schoolmates have described you?

Not the life and soul of the party, but a decent guy with a strange accent. (I moved to Scotland from England when I was twelve, and brought my accent with me.)

Describe your own teaching style I encourage pupils in my class to express their views, while respecting and challenging those of others. I don’t assume that I am the brightest person in the room – because I never am – and I like pupils to take chances in their learning and not be afraid of making mistakes.

What’s your favourite film, book or TV show about schools?

Dickens’ Hard Times is one of my favourite novels and one I would recommend to anyone thinking of becoming a teacher.

I enjoyed watching the Channel 4 series Teachers, which captures the politics of a school staff room perfectly. I also remember the original series of Grange Hill, which dates me terribly!

Is Bristol a stimulating place for children to grow and learn?

Bristol is a wonderful city for young people: mixing creativity and innovation with tradition. You can visit the ss Great Britain and At-Bristol, and see an edgy piece of theatre at the Tobacco Factory all in the same day.

Making all of the city’s facilities accessible regardless of ability to pay would be a way of encouraging everybody to take full advantage of all Bristol has to offer. www.sidcot.org.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 69

Celebrating 8 years in Business 58 Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6 6JX | 01179737793 | sam@hairat58.co.uk | www.hairat58.co.uk

H E A LT H A N D BEAUTY

HAIR AT 58

It may have one of the most elegant salons in the West, but what brings regulars back time and time again to this Cotham Hill hairdressers is the friendly team at the top of their styling game

By DE R I ROBI NS

I

t was only my first visit to Hair at 58, but by the time I left – looking as sleekly shipshape and Bristol fashion as it’s ever possible for me to look – I felt the staff and I were friends. How on earth must regular customers feel? Like close family, I expect.

They probably pop in for tea when they’re passing, served in the cups emblazoned with the salon’s name, and the message ‘we want you to leave with more than a haircut’. I bet they give a little stroke to Rascal, the resident long-haired dachshund; who doesn’t love a salon dog?

Hair at 58 is at number 58 Cotham Hill, but you probably figured that out. It’s owned

by Sam Bell, who manages to combine a great head for business (she’s built Hair at 58 up from nothing) with genuine warmth; this combination is not exclusive to Bristol but somehow seems to sum up the city’s businesswomen very well, at their best.

Sam opened her salon eight years ago – the big copper balloon in the upstairs room (see photo above) is a bit of a clue – and she’s given the place an elegant makeover, with huge ornate mirrors and contemporary crystal chandeliers; rather than the ubiquitous black chairs at the sinks, there’s a big comfy silver sofa. The artwork on the wall, curated from the Smithson Gallery, is both covetable and available to buy; one gold leaf Bristol cityscape very nearly came home with me.

It’s bigger than it first appears, too, spanning over four floors; downstairs is the

Beautiful salon; happy shiny client

58 Training Academy, with two floors of salon space connected by a mezzanine and a luxurious spa at the very top. All in all, it’s cool, stylish and comfortable; it could almost be intimidatingly so, were it not for the friendly staff, who are anything but.

Which brings me to the two talented stylists who transformed my hair. Sam entrusted my colour to Fraser; we had a bit of a chat, and agreed on a classic chocolatey brown colour with auburny slices. This is an Aveda salon, so I knew that the colours would be head-turningly rich yet natural looking.

Fraser is both assured and charming; I was intrigued by a clever technique he used, which involved backcombing before colouring, creating the almost balayage effect (or is it ombre? I’m never quite sure which is which) that you can see above.

Sam cut my hair, and boy, does she know what shes’s doing. We’re both fans of long locks, so she set out to keep the length while

eliminating the weight, by creating textured gradation, encouraging natural movement.

Her aim is to create a shape that will evolve into a new shape, rather than grow out, and already I can see what she means.

You know how a cut never looks quite as good once you get it home? This hasn’t happened. I like my hair tousled, rather than salon-neat – ‘deliberately messy’ is the dream – and my new, versatile cut has proved really obliging in this respect.

I thoroughly, hand on heart, recommend Sam and her team, both for a lovely experience and a really expert styling; thanks everyone.

Hair at 58, 58 Cotham Hill 0117 973 7793; www.hairat58.co.uk Full head colour £65 Full-head highlights £110 Cut and blow dry £37-£60 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 73

STYLING | BESPOKE BARBERING | COLOURING | BALAYAGE | MAKE-UP

MEET YOUR GO-TO GIRLS FOR COLOUR AND ENHANCEMENTS

EMMA

BRYONY

Extension Specialist

Balayage Expert

Hair Extensions, Before and After

Balayage Colouring, During and After

WINNER OF:

GOLD SALON 2016/17

For appointments call: 0117 925 4864 16 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5HR b McQueens hairdressing | x Mcqueensbristol | a @Mcqueenshair www.mcqueenshairbristol.co.uk

a d v ertisi n g fe at u re h e a lt h a n d b e a u t y

Meet the STYLIST One of the most frequent questions we’re asked at Bristol Life is ‘Could you recommend a hair stylist?’ Here are four of the best . . .

TORI solman

fraser Manley

Emma Jane Choremi

What would you say is the most important part of the service you give?

Making sure people have a relaxing and enjoyable experience. I also like to teach clients how to blow dry and give them tips on styling and dressing their style out. A great haircut should be versatile and you can reinvent yourself daily just by changing a parting or introducing texture.

Whats the secret behind a good colour?

Being an Aveda colour ambassador gives you the freedom to be creative; unlike any other colour range, it’s like an artists palette. Each colour is unique, just like my clients.

What would you say is the most important part of the service you give?

To communicate and try and break down the expectations of our clients and make the client feel confident with their stylist. A client should feel that their stylist is interested and confident with what is agreed; we take notes of every client’s needs and requests, so that each one is treated as an individual.

Atelier Clifton Tel 01179 734 142 www.atelierclifton.co.uk

What can a client expect from a consultation?

My full attention and an understanding of who they are. Every client is different, with a different lifestyle, hair texture, etc and it’s my job to suggest solutions and give clients the tools to recreate their new look.

What’s the best advice you have received?

My boss always says ‘underpromise and over-deliver’.

Exceeding expectation and seeing my clients glow with new-found confidence, gives me great satisfaction.

Best part of your job?

Meeting people from different walks of life, being creative and making people happy.

Hair at 58 Tel 01179737793 www.hairat58.co.uk

What can a client expect from a good consultation with you?

Honesty! A good consultation is the key to client satisfaction; it is my job to educate my clients on what will and may not work and why. I like to explore new ideas and encourage change but also believe... if it ain’t broke... don’t fix it.

Why hairdressing?

Hair is so important and plays such a huge part of a person’s identity and image.

Being able to transform the way somebody feels about themselves is such a privilege. Being a hairdresser allows me to push the boundaries of creativity.

I love to understand new and upcoming trends, colours, and shapes that are emerging from fashion week and editorial work.

Jak Roome

McQueens Hairdressing Tel 0117 925 4864 www.mcqueenshairbristol.co.uk

What’s your top tip to share with clients?

Ask your stylist to show you and give you a lesson on how to do your hair!

Practise and practise to get the best from what you have Why hairdressing?

I knew at 11 I wanted to be involved in fashion or music.

My mother took me to a fashion show and to some amazing shops when I was this age and I loved it, so I asked for a pair of scissors when I was 12. I started cutting my friends’ hair from school at 13 and finally opened McQueens at 18!

Who inspires you?

My friends and colleagues inspire me a lot.

Robert John Hairdressing Tel: 01275 842177 www.robertjohnhair.co.uk What is the most important part of the service you give?

A consultation is the most crucial part of your service, listening and understanding the client’s expectations and building an individual picture between you and the client using tools available such as iPads, Pinterest and Instagram.

Do you prefer trend-led or classic styles?

Classic cutting is the foundation of all haircuts, but using trend-led, modern techniques to give the client a more bespoke style.

Who inspires you?

The team around me inspire me. We are all passionate about our industry and strive to work together to be the best.

What is the best part of your job?

Working in an environment that has the ability to make your clients look and feel great about themselves.

What is your top tip to share with clients?

Show your personality through your hair.

Be individual!

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

A Bristol state of mind Has Canopy & Stars @ Crane 29 been the most brilliantly fresh concept of the year? You bet your bottom Bristol Pound it has. Permit us to give you a tour . . .

By DE R I ROBI NS

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

GLAMPING

Look how much they fitted in! Does it travel through time and space, too?

Photos (apart from the two top left)

by Iris Thorsteinsdottir

F

or the benefit of those who have just arrived back in Bristol after a year-long secondment to Mars, let us explain. In early spring, Canopy and Stars – the splendidly eco-minded glamping arm of Sawday’s Special Places – announced a distinctive addition to their roster of rural yurts and Romany wagons: following a secret three-year planning process, in tandem with the culture team at Bristol Council, they would build a cabin in one of the historic docklands cranes fronting M Shed.

How Bristol is that? This is a city that likes to be playful; it values its history as much as any place, the Harbourside regeneration being a textbook example of how heritage and progress can be made to coexist harmoniously – but it’s never po-faced about it. Those cranes are sacred, but that didn’t prevent us from making them dance to bhangra music during a light show in 2015 (or did we dream that?)

So while it was essential that no cranes should be harmed during the making of this programme, the go-ahead was given, and the framework of Canopy & Stars @Crane29 began to appear in May. A sleepover has since become the hottest ticket in town, with demand higher than a redwood; you have to be selected from a prize draw just for the privilege of paying £185-£250 to spend a night in the cabin, with all profits going to Friends of the Earth.

With a busy programme of events taking place at Harbourside during the summer, some dates have come with added benefits: a bird’s eye view of the Summer Sounds gigs and Grillstock; the four-day flotilla of the Harbour Festival, or in our case – and yes, obviously we thought this through, we do read our own listings – the weekend of the Balloon Fiesta.

First, there’s the enjoyable novelty of the ascent, up a three-storey metal staircase (views!).

This takes you to the cabin’s front door, which is constantly in danger of being engulfed by the leafy tendrils that trail down from the wildlifefriendly plants on the roof.

Once inside, your eye is drawn along a curving woodland path. Yes, you heard us: a wood, inside a crane – or at least, a heavily planted tunnel of green plants. Birds tweet sweetly from a cunningly placed iPad. Turn left at the end, and you’ll reach a surprisingly large living room. A big sofa is poised for optimum people- and rivercraftwatching; a hammock is slung in a window pointed at the direction of the sunset. There are lots of very Canopy-and-Starsish books dotted about, from slim volumes of verse to mindful colouring-in books, but there’s just too much else to occupy your attention: it’s a multi-sensory onslaught of textures, colours, smells and sounds that work together with the architecture and interior design to evoke a feeling of calm, inspired by nature and by Bristol’s industrial heritage.

Props go to B&Q, who supplied materials and building advice, including the kitchen’s polished concrete worktop, taps made from copper piping and a watering-can shower; a woodframed bed appears to have an ancient tree growing through it, while a wall in the living room is lined with sawn-off logs. It’s also completely carbon neutral, built using fully sustainable materials.

Final décor touches come from Anthropologie, and there’s a welcome food basket with a sourdough loaf from Hobbs, Rude Health muesli, jams, teas of every flavours and coffee.

You won’t want to tear yourself away for a moment, so if you’re staying we suggest you make a quick dash to one of the excellent takeaways at Cargo – Pizzarova, perhaps? – and dine at the little table overlooking the amphitheatre. Try not to get melted mozzarella over the mobile as you instagram the sunset.

Crane 29 will grace Bristol’s skyline until the end of September, before disappearing without a trace as the first leaves drop from the trees. Look out for future, equally brilliant concepts from C&S; a treehouse in Queen Square, perhaps?

A floating hotel of canal boats? A balloon?

American actress Abigail Breslin once said “I’ve never had a treehouse because I live in New York City. It would be a little bit hard to fit a treehouse in a New York City apartment.”

Hard, perhaps, Abigail, love; but not impossible. Not in Bristol.

@CRANE29 HAS BECOME THE

HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN, WITH DEMAND HIGHER THAN A REDWOOD

HERE ARE THE STATS:

3 years of planning and design 3 weeks of build, between 9 June – 30 September 100 nights 200+ guests (aged 21+ only) £185 per night (£250 weekends) - all profits to Friends of the Earth

KEYS TO THE CASTLE

The concièrges of the world’s top hotels might be advised to take a leaf out of Canopy & Stars’ book. When you arrive at the unassuming plywood door at ground level, a member of the team is there to meet you with the key – at which point they briefly disappear. They want you to savour your first impressions, at your own pace, without any distracting health-and-safety bunny to dampen the childlike sense of wonder.

For more: www.canopyandstars.co.uk/crane29

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 77

Adventures in party-going

SNAPPED! O N E S H I N D I G AT A T I M E

DOUGH! Tom and Henry Herbert, aka The Fabulous Baker Brothers of C4 fame, are admired far and wide for their fabulous Hobbs House Bakery loaves.

Until recently the baking bros’ only shops were in the Cotswolds, though many Bristol delis and cafes stoked their wares. Now they’ve opened two bakery/cafés here in Bristol – the first in Bishopston, and now on North Street. Photographer Jon Craig popped along to help them celebrate the Bemmie branch.

Photos by Jon Craig

Say ‘sourdough’ ...

Milo Herbert, Callum Parsons and neighbours

Jo Cox, Henry Herbert and Will Ugle

Sara Morley and Trevor Herbert Caroline Peel and Anna Herbert

Karina Herbert, a baby Herbert, Charlie Herbert and Laura Rawlings

SOCIETY

GET ON MY LAND! With good food, great music, kids running wild and lush views, Valley Fest is one of the most laidback festivals of the summer. What a great place to get engaged – so huge Bristol Life congratulations to Abi and Jack (below), who met while working for Valley Fest boss Luke Hassell. Oh yeah, and it was Abi who proposed...

Photos by Jon Craig

Marcus Hassell and Bec Claridge with friends

Eva Lazarus

Congratulations!

Jack Moores and Abi Edgar

Sue Hassell, Luke Hassell, Ed Parson, Steve Gallagher, Pascal Maronei

Kids love Valley Fest, and Valley Fest loves kids . . .

Ben Gilks of Nailsea Electrical and friends

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 79

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

Online Freelancers – Some Do’s and Don’ts

by Tony Forster Consultant at Metcalfes Solicitors

M

any of you know about the new “Gig Economy” – we have discussed how in essence it is just an extension of the traditional business of freelancing with a few more complications and nuances.

Many of you will be freelancers of varying types; running your own business, many utilising digital media such as the internet.

Many will never see your customers – this is an intrinsic element of modern enterprise culture – selling is, and will continue to be, conducted online and at a distance.

Online selling brings with it legal complications and more stringent rules of which business people, like yourselves, need to be wary. This is not the place to delve into legal minutiae, but what I can do is give you some basic pointers to look out for. Solicitors, like Metcalfes, can provide detailed advice.

When you are dealing online you must do what any face to face seller must do when making a deal with a customer e.g. the customer must be given a full description of the goods or service they are considering buying, a clear understanding of the price and all associated costs such as delivery must be given to them and they must know when a service is going to start and when it will end.

Customers must know the obligations in each contract they are to enter into and specifically what warranties and assurances come with it.

However, crucially, when your business deals online it must go further. You must, in effect, go back to basics. Start with you – you must make sure the customer knows who you are; where your business operates from, and a telephone number and an accessible email address must be given. It may be necessary for you to make all these elements available to users in several different languages. When online selling, all potential customers must be given a clear understanding as to how they place an order and how they merely browse. Once they come to pay they must be able to establish firstly that it is at that point that they may be committing themselves and, secondly, exactly what they may be committing themselves to do.

In essence, throughout the online process, all persons considering becoming customers should be aware at what stage they are placing an order for goods or a service. At all stages until the very last press of the button or touch of the screen, they must be able to

correct errors, make changes and terminate the process.

Once you have a customer who makes a decision and completes a purchase, do remember that you must despatch to them all online sales items within 30 days generally, and you must have sent them a paper copy of what they have agreed to online, as soon as reasonably practicable.

One of the more stringent rules which online entrepreneurs must follow relates to the post purchase cancellation procedure. It is worth looking at them as they differ from the norm significantly. Basically, because you are distance selling you must tell your customer that they can cancel their order up to 14 days after that order is delivered. They do not have to give a reason if the customer cancels; you pay them back their money within 14 days of receipt of the returns, no questions asked.

There are exceptions – obvious ones where the 14 day rule would make a mockery of a transaction – for instance purchase of package holidays or travel tickets. But many of you may be in the business of providing downloads or streaming – the 14 day rule would make a mockery of those too if it was enforced. However, do be careful because the exception against the 14 day cancellation rule in respect of sales of downloads or streaming will only apply if you both tell the customer in advance that it does not apply and that the customer confirms that they agree to that

exception. Without that confirmation the rule stays – and think of the damage that could do to a computer game business if that happened too often.

On top of all this, you obviously do have to follow the general rules and regulations that face to face sellers follow, for instance, in respect of returns and refunds. Generally you must offer a full refund if any goods are faulty; not as described or do not perform the functions they are meant to. As we all know online and distance selling provides immense opportunity for the freelance entrepreneur culture. For entrepreneurs, the benefits such as flexibility and self-reliance are there, but as we have briefly seen there are also pitfalls to watch out for which differ from those in the traditional business relationships.

Tony Forster, Metcalfes Consultant tforster@metcalfes.co.uk 0117 945 3040

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

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

BRISTOL means BUSINESS The future’s pretty uncertain, with some very modern challenges ranging from life after Brexit to cyber-hacking. So, Bristol business leaders – how’s it all going in your world? w

By L I SA WA R R E N

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 85

R

obots, hackers, virtual reality and life outside the EU – we ask a cross-section of Bristol businesses for their thoughts on some of the biggest issues set to transform global industry over the next few years.

Simon Heald, Veale Wasbrough Vizards

Simon is managing partner at VWV, a full service law firm based at Narrow Quay; they also have branches in London, Watford and Birmingham Given the imminence of Brexit, what challenges have you seen?

The biggest challenge is the uncertainty created by all the unanswered questions around Brexit. We know that the Great Repeal Bill will transpose EU laws into UK law, but how will the Government use the so called ‘Henry VIII clauses’ that will permit the Government to repeal or amend those laws? We continue to support our clients when employing overseas staff, contracting with European businesses and also those who may have to grapple with public procurement and state aid issues which are firmly rooted in European law.

Do you have any plans to move to continental Europe? Been tempted?

No, no business plans to move to continental Europe, but we are active in Europe via our memberships of the Association of European Lawyers (we were founders), and Euro Juris. The memberships enables us to continue to grow our affiliations with overseas law firms, both in Europe and further afield. I think a lot of people have investigated their heritage and whether they can apply for an Irish passport . . .

Brexit has highlighted the need to consider a global investment approach

within

portfolios

Andrew Davies, LGT Vestra

Do you need to recruit or reskill/upskill your existing workforce?

We’ve seen an increase in immigration, commercial and procurement instructions and we have recruited in those teams. Most recently, procurement expert, Stephanie Rickard has joined us from Burges Salmon.

What measures have you put in place to prevent being hacked? What cyber security measures should ALL companies, big or small, be putting in place right now?

Around 18 months ago we undertook an audit of our systems, which identified what we were doing well and what we could do better. We have implemented a programme of work on the back of the audit both in relation to enhancing our systems and also continual education of our people, which we see as key to minimising the cyber-security threats. One thing all companies should do is train their people to recognise and deal with the cyber-security risks that come their way through email and web traffic daily.

How are you addressing the question of non-UK employees?

Along with many of our clients, we are providing support to employees from overseas who may be concerned about their immigration status. We await clarity on the final position.

What, if anything, are you looking forward to about the post-Brexit era?

Post-Brexit is a hard thing to imagine – and we think the process of change will be underway for much longer than the formal governmental Brexit process is due to take, however it is done.

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

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES If we gave you a soapbox in Queen Square, what would you talk about?

The need for the wider business community in Bristol and the SW to get behind the ideas and work of our local politicians (whatever their party). There are opportunities and challenges that need to be grasped in a joined-up way, that will make Bristol an even better place to work and live.

Finally, any tips for anyone starting out in law?

As a junior lawyer, don’t be too fixated on becoming a specialist in one area. Whatever the business, be it a law firm or anything else, we all have to be excellent at what we do. And it is equally important to have the ability to create new ideas, change and adapt. www.vwv.co.uk

LGT VESTRA

Andrew Davies is Head of South West at wealth management firm LGT Vestra at Temple Quay; they also have branches in London and Jersey Do you work with AI, such as chatbots?

We have a watching brief, as do many law firms, and look for opportunities to apply AI to bulk mechanical tasks. We’ve been watching with interest as AI has started to make its way into legal services and have recently been supporting Clerksroom, a chambers (group) of barristers and mediators, with their development of BillyBot. This is a project to build a chatbot who will do the work of a junior barrister’s clerk, and eventually guide users to online legal information.

Opposite page, Simon Heald and the rather snazzy VWV offices. Above, Andrew Davies of LGT Vestra

Of the post-Brexit changes so far anticipated, which are likely to affect your business?

It is too early to say; however, our clients are sensitive to the uncertainty. If anything, Brexit has highlighted the need to consider a global investment approach within portfolios, a value shared by LGT Vestra, where we look to help clients achieve this.

What measures have you put in place to prevent being hacked? What cyber-security measures should ALL companies be putting in place right now?

It would be impossible to list all the measures but, suffice to say, LGT Vestra take information security very seriously. As the world becomes ever more dependent on data, it is critical for businesses to take every necessary measure to ensure that their systems are secure and clients are protected. w

One report predicts that in 45 years, half of all jobs will be done by AI. What do you think the law field will look like in 2060?

Technological advances are nothing new – 30 years ago, the internet didn’t exist! Lawyers will adapt and innovate as AI develops, and I believe there will always be a need for top-level advisory work being done by people, not bots.

PROPERTY | COMMERCIAL PROBATE | FAMILY VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.AMDSOLICITORS.COM

One report predicts that in 45 years half of all jobs will be done by AI. What do you think your field of business will look like in the 2060s?

LGT Vestra prides itself on a close relationships with clients, and wealth management, by its nature, has to be built on trust. It will be interesting to see over the coming decades whether we are more able to trust ‘robots’ as artificial personas become more present in dayto-day life (witness the spectacular success of Amazon’s Alexa), or whether we will still prefer a trusted human advisor to be in ultimate control.

I suspect the answer lies in a hybrid of the two.

What I wish I’d known when I’d started…

How much change lay ahead in professional services – particularly in the world of investments. There have been many challenges to our industry, but these have also created a great deal of opportunity. It’s fantastic to be part of the LGT Vestra team, that’s always seeking better ways of serving our clients. www.lgtvestra.com

Bristol Energy

Dave Mathews is sales and marketing director at Bristol Energy, a national gas and electricity supplier based at Temple Quay, with a strong remit in championing social equality, local renewables and stronger communities How are you addressing the question of non-UK employees?

This doesn’t affect us at the moment, as we have a really strong local workforce, 75% of who live in 88 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Bristol. More and more people want to work for a company with a social purpose, which we know has helped us recruit our team.

More and more people want to work for a company with a

social

purpose

dave mathews, bristol energy

What measures have you put in place to prevent being hacked? What cyber-security measures should ALL companies, big or small, be putting in place right now?

We take protecting our customers’ data extremely seriously. We do regular testing, and use external auditors to check our systems are the most robust they can be. With smart meter technology this is even more critical. Smart meters collect information about how much gas and electricity you’ve used. It doesn’t store any personal information, but the information about your energy use is strongly protected. We always remind our customers: it’s your data, and you choose what you want to do with it.

Do you work with artificial intelligence; chatbots, for example?

At the moment, no. Our priority is to give energy a human face, which is why we offer face-to-face customer service in the Bristol Energy Hub on the Harbourside, as well as being available online and on the phone. We may use chatbots in future, but only if it will benefit our customers.

If we invited you to stand up on a soapbox in Queen Square, what would you talk about?

Switching! Two thirds of us are being overcharged by around £200 a year for our gas and electricity because we don’t switch. But if I asked you if you’d like £200 for five minutes

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

What, if anything, are you looking forward to about the post-Brexit era?

Nada. Rien. Nichts. Semmi. You get the picture...

What measures have you put in place to prevent being hacked? What cyber-security measures should ALL companies, big or small, be putting in place right now?

We are very aware of the risks, because like most solicitors, we hold money on behalf of our clients.

As just one example of special measures, we have very strict rules about accepting or sending bank account details by email. If we’re asked to send money to a new bank account by email, we always ring the sender to verify they really did send the request, and that the account details are correct. We’re also involved in the Cyber Essentials scheme.

work, I know you’d say yes. What’s worse, 25,000 families in this city can’t afford to heat their home. It’s our job to help educate people. www.bristol-energy.co.uk

BARCAN KIRBY

Bill Willcocks is managing partner at Barcan Kirby, an expert lawyers and solicitors, providing legal services to clients from six offices in Bristol and South Gloucestershire Of the post-Brexit changes so far anticipated, which are most likely to affect your business?

We have a fair number of staff who are nationals of other EU countries. They work hard and we love the diversity they bring. We’re very keen to keep them and would love to be allowed to continue to recruit them.

Above, Bill Willcocks of Barcan Kirby; Below, Dave Mathews of Bristol Energy

One report predicts that in 45 years, half of all jobs will be done by AI. What do you think your field of business will look like in the 2060s?

My field seems to be changing so rapidly that I wonder what it will look like in the 2020s let alone the 2060s! Ultimately, however, I think that there will always be a need for top-quality personal service. I find it hard to believe that people will want some of the most personal aspects of their lives (buying a home, getting a divorce, sorting out their deceased parents’ estates etc) to be dealt with by a machine. While some of the systems will certainly be automated, I do think there will remain the need for a real person at the helm.

Finally, what do you wish you’d known when you started in this career?

How much fun it would be. If I’d know that, I would have started six years earlier. www.barcankirby.co.uk

a d v ertisi n g fe at u re L E G A L

Probate – Can you afford to take the risk?

by ANDREW JACK, a solicitor at AMD Solicitors

M

any people who are appointed as executors under a will know that their duties include administering an estate in accordance with the will to ensure that the beneficiaries receive what they have been left.

However, wills can be complicated documents and the law surrounding wills and probate is, to put it kindly, quite old.

While wills do not have to be complicated documents they often are and mostly this is for a good reason.

For example, the will may include provisions to ensure children from first marriages inherit their parents’ share of the estate, to protect minor beneficiaries and sometimes to protect beneficiaries from themselves or from others taking advantages of them.

This can mean that the will is complicated and not always as straightforward as it may appear. Examples we have seen include a will where money was to be invested for an individual for his lifetime with the capital going to someone else in the future.

Sadly the executors did not realise the significance of this clause and paid the capital to someone who was not entitled to receive it. Fortunately it was returned once the situation was explained, but the executors would have been personally liable to the other beneficiaries if it had not been returned.

The executors would have been entitled to sue for the return of the money, but this could well have been costly and time-consuming, and of course would have added extra stress at what is otherwise a difficult time.

Few people seem to know that executors may be personally liable throughout the administration of an estate. They are not just liable to beneficiaries, should they fail to deal with the tax affairs of the deceased be it inheritance tax, income tax or capital gains tax they can be liable to HMRC personally for failing to deal with matters.

These tax bills can sometime run into thousands of pounds.

Taking advice from a solicitor can ensure that all your obligations as an executor are fulfilled so that not only are the wishes

of the deceased carried out completely and correctly but also you are protected from claims against you for failing to administer the estate properly.

Administering an estate fully and correctly can take time and if you are doing this around a busy life, sometimes even the most simple things can be overlooked. Using a solicitor who specialises in this area can ensure that this does not happen.

Obtaining legal advice may appear expensive, especially with the complexities of modern finances and complex family situations; however, with your family finances at risk if you do not fulfil your obligations correctly, can you afford to take the risk? BL

For further advice on the administration of estates, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and other private client matters, contact Andrew Jack or one of his colleagues at AMD Solicitors For more information please pop into one of our offices in Clifton, Henleaze, Shirehampton or Whiteladies Road, or visit our website www.amdsolicitors.com

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HOMES P R O P E R T Y I N S P I R AT I O N

“We knew exactly how we wanted the built-in bookshelves in the loft to look” – meet this issue’s very precise Real Home owners on page 100

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DUE SOUTH As anyone who knows anything about the local property market will tell you, Southville’s properly up-and-come. We meet a pair of architects who have made this corner of BS3 their home

By L I SA WA R R E N

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

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Rachael, Kieran and ‘crazy threeyear-old’ Arthur

achael Sherratt and Kieran Lilley had Southville in their sights for nine years before they made the move.

“We were living in a flat in Hotwells, and loved living between the thriving city centre and the space of Ashton Court, but we needed more room and a garden,” says Rachael.

“Southville seemed perfect, especially with all the bars and shops just around the corner on North Street. We looked round a few houses but were drawn to this one as it was the biggest challenge – not necessarily the most sensible reason for buying a house, but thankfully it all worked out for the best, as we love it here.”

As architects, they were cheerfully undaunted by the prospect of taking on a house that hadn’t been touched internally for around 20 years, even though on the outside, “the beautiful stonework had been painted a cat-vomit yellow colour. It didn’t exactly have typical kerb appeal, but we liked the idea of being able to rip everything out and start from scratch – getting the layout exactly as we wanted it.”

When they bought the house, Rachael was working at an architects practice in the Cotswolds, “doing listed buildings and country

REAL HOMES

manor houses,” while Kieran was (and is) a student accommodation specialist for Stride Treglown. “So neither of us had a particularly direct experience of doing up this type of house – it was a learning curve on both sides.”

What helped, though, was that Rachael and Kieran shared the same overall vision, though as she explains, “specific decisions always involved lots of discussion, from exactly how we wanted the built-in bookshelves in the loft to look, to the shade of blue paint we wanted. I think we must have bought a sample pot of every shade of blue from Farrow & Ball in the process; it was a running joke with friends that there would always be neatly laid-out squares of around 10 shades of the same colour in each room of the house during the works.”

Anyway, back to that learning curve.

“We learned a lot about how well, or not, Victorian terraced houses were built. After lifting up floorboards, knocking down walls and replacing joists we were glad we lived mid-terrace with plenty of structural support from either side.”

Obviously, as architects, this couple had

I THINK WE

BOUGHT

A SAMPLE POT OF EVERY SHADE OF BLUE FROM

FARROW & BALL

PROPERTY

a headstart when it came to simple yet effective build solutions – the exterior of the dormer to the loft conversion being a good example.

“A1 Lofts did our loft conversion and were great at dealing with the many specific requests and precise queries that come from dealing with architects,” says Rachael.

“I love that it looks so different to a typical roof dormer, yet all it took was using a particular style of timber cladding and creating a blind window vent detail to give the elevation some aesthetic balance – nothing that was particularly expensive or difficult to achieve. It was great to get feedback from friends who live on the adjacent street who said how nice it was to look at from their garden.”

Another talking point when guests come to visit is the lighting and detail above the stairs.

“Instead of a plain sloping ceiling, we created a stepped soffit to mirror the steps of the stairs themselves; all a bit Escheresque. Thin little LED lights illuminate each step, giving a good night light for the stairs. Our plasterer hated us, but the end result is fantastic.”

As Rachael explains, “feature lighting is really important to give a different sense of space to reflect how you use the rooms, so we have lots of concealed little LED lights to give background light at night. We also illuminate special features around the house to highlight them – for example, the bar shelf in the kitchen has strip LED lighting concealed at the back, and works really well when used in conjunction with the feature lights over the dining table to balance light around the room.”

Rachael’s childhood was spent in Bangladesh, an experience that has influenced her style and tastes to some degree. “Bangladesh is a riot of colour, light and tropical plants. Clearly we don’t quite have the climate in the UK for many tropical plants, but we have tried to create an urban oasis in the garden, with the timber cladding, water features and palm trees.

“It was important to us to feel a connection between inside and out, so as well as designing the garden we also opened up the house at the rear with sliding glass doors.

“We’ve also got lots of art and maps from Bangladesh dotted around the house – in fact, everything framed on the walls is a part of our history, from the framed pictures of Whistler, which is where we got engaged, to the Bristol map by Fuller which shows some of our favourite areas of the city in which we’ve lived and worked for nearly 15 years.”

But then as architects, she says, “inspiration comes as standard. I’d describe the house as styled yet homely, with plenty of quirky touches, colours and materials. I don’t believe in houses looking like show homes – they should reflect your personality.”

Given the success of the renovation, are they tempted to sell up and move on? Have they caught the refurb bug?

“I’m tempted by another project, but Kieran is adamant that we need to live here for a while to www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 101

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REAL HOMES

enjoy the fruits of our labours. Given the location and all the activities available on our doorstep, from North Street to the Tobacco Factory market and Ashton Court, I think it will be a while before we decide we want to move.”

The ‘urban oasis’ was inspired in part by Rachael’s colourful childhood in Bangladesh. Young Arthur loves the mirror!

FABRIC, FIXTURES AND FURNITURE

“We’ve got a real mix of furniture,” says Rachael.

“Our dining chairs are original Series 7 by Fritz Hansen, but the table is a simple wooden Ikea one, which we painted sky blue.

“Our coffee table is by Habitat, the black side tables are Dieter Ram limited editions for Vitra, and the chairs are old freecycled Ercol chairs which we recovered in grey geometric fabric from John Lewis. Paints are either Farrow & Ball or Little Greene Paint Company – I love the chalky finish and colour tones you get from these guys.

“All the tiling throughout the house is Mandarin Stone – we’ve a mixture of natural slate/stone and porcelain, both of which not only look great but are also really easy to maintain, which is critical for us as we both lead busy lives. My favourite piece in our house is our Eames RAR rocker chair, which is so comfortable, and the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by.”

It all looks idyllic to us. But in hindsight, would they have done anything differently?

“We converted our dining room to a playroom recently, as the amount of plastic toys in the house was overtaking everything [they have a ‘crazy three-year-old’, Arthur]. This has meant the kitchen table has become our main eating space.

If I did it again, I’d make this area bigger to allow for a larger dining table, given that we use it every day. Also, our lovely dining table is now in the loft as a desk, because it doesn’t fit in the kitchen!

“I love looking back at old photos of the house and seeing how much we have achieved – there’s 102 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

I DON’T

BELIEVE IN HOUSES LOOKING LIKE SHOW HOMES – THEY SHOULD REFLECT YOUR PERSONALITY

one photo in particular of a fully-paved rear garden with just one sad pot plant in it; now it’s our urban oasis with pond, mirrored walls, canopy, terraced garden, raised beds and even a little veg garden, all accessible from the bi-fold doors in our kitchen.

“Probably the worst thing during the renovation process was realising that while we may be used to going onto building sites during our working day, it’s not the same as living with builders in your own home. Even though they did a great job of not overtaking the house, it was still a challenge to go from building site at work to building site at home.”

Ultimately, homes are all about the people who live in them, so we’ll let the last word go to young Arthur. What does he like best about the house?

“Pudding! I like eating pudding on the bench [kitchen table], so I can pull funny faces in the mirrors outside and look for helicopters, and eat pudding. . . ” Pudding views! This will now become our criteria for homes for ever more.

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EXPERT ADVICE

ADDED VALUE So, you’re thinking of making changes to your home. So which alterations are likely to put value on the house, and which aren’t? We consulted three experts at award-winning local architect firm Nash Partnership We’re looking to put extra value on our house while creating more living space – what are the best options?

Ciaran: Most houses differ in their internal arrangement, so would need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. However, if the possibility exists to extend to the rear of the property into a garden – for the full width of the site, for example – it can produce very good results that offer the ability to create a living space that extends into the garden, weather permitting!

arranging the furniture within the rooms. Having light coming from differing sides of a room will also improve the ambience of the space. So yes, especially in properties where space is limited, combing rooms to make larger spaces can often result in them being greater than the sum of the parts. That said, having adaptable spaces where areas can be closed off or opened up – depending on the nature of the activity going on in the room – is beneficial for different size groups. It is much about family flexible space.

Are there any alterations that don’t tend to add value?

Ciaran: Many houses in the Bristol area tend to have lean-to accommodation to the rear which, while adding space, can also make adjacent rooms darker and sever the link to the garden if the design isn’t thought through. This is something to consider as part of the design process.

My house is listed – can I make any alterations to the interior without applying for permission?

Ciaran: Quite simply, no. Listings refer to the whole property and while the actual text of the listing might mention specific features, it is the whole building that is protected. Repairs that are made on a ‘like for like’ basis (with the same materials and details being used) are possible without permission, but owners of listed properties should consult with a conservation architect when considering any alterations.

Is the open-plan fashion still popular?

Ciaran: Increasing the size of the living space where possible will afford greater flexibility in 106 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

MEET THE TEAM: Ciaran Andrews, architect Kevin Balch, associate, project design director John Everett, associate architect For more www.nashpartnership.com

EXPERT

HOW A BUILDING WAS

Our house was listed after a later ugly extension/decoration was added. If I want to restore it to the original, do I still need permission?

Ciaran: Yes. In most instances, quite a lot of detective work is required in order to establish exactly how a building was arranged and detailed prior to any building interventions. For old buildings, it is often the case that a number of structural modifications have been made and layers of decoration are built up over the years.

It usually involves a desktop study of researching previous planning applications and finding any historic references or plans of the building.

Following this, physical investigations (with the help of a suitably experienced builder) that peel back these veneers to gain an insight into the history of the property. It is a fascinating part of the process and provides a solid basis for triggering a design response that is sympathetic to the building.

Opposite page: Nash introduced a spiral staircase into this Dutch barge to help create a multi-use space in the lower deck Below the converted mill, showing the room under the eaves, before (left) and after

Can you give us some great solutions to maximise small spaces?

Ciaran: Think caravan, boats or even treehouses! Generally, space-saving furniture is great, like a set of table and chairs that folds away to the space of a radiator, or a bed that is elevated to allow for more than storage underneath. Understair storage is a great use of spaces; in fact stairs, can be so much more than just a way to move between floors! We redesigned the space in a Dutch barge and

QUITE A LOT OF DETECTIVE WORK IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH EXACTLY ARRANGED

PROPERTY

included a spiral staircase to the lower deck to create a multi-use space below.

Can you tell us about some awkward spaces you’ve had to work around?

Kevin: Creating more space for a bedroom and bathroom in the roof area of a converted mill required some clever space-planning. We built floorspace into the eaves to make the space more usable, to create more storage space and to allow for the addition of an en-suite bathroom.

To do this effectively, we modified the window position to enhance the proportion in the room and create more light. Technically, the floor space is smaller than before, but the final design makes it feel bigger and the use of the room much more pleasing and practical.

Tell us about a recent Bristol project John: In Redland, our brief was to convert an old garage building that occupied the full extent of the site into three residential units.

The challenge with this specific site in Fitzroy Terrace was working out how to convert an existing deep-plan building that had a very narrow street frontage and was landlocked with no additional access into the site. Our solution was to create two light wells serving two external courtyard spaces, thus flooding the internal areas of the deep-plan building with natural daylight and creating three interesting bespoke residential units that retained and enhanced the existing character of the original building.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 107

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

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Not only has street art in Bristol become positively gentrified; according to new findings from the Affordable Art Fair, it can add a huge amount of value to your home

STREET ART

PROPERTY

Queen of Arts: Alex Lucas (main pic) once told us that she wanted to show the ‘softer side of graffiti’ – from her own house on Picton Street (left) to murals commissioned by businesses and home owners

FACT FILE • Bristol was voted the streetart capital of the UK by almost half (49%) of Brits • Research by the Affordable Art Fair revealed that street art could boost the value of your property by up to £50,000 • With demand for colourful al fresco art on the rise, a third of Bristolians would prefer to live in an area with street art than a coffee shop

BUYERS

ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE DRAWN TO AREAS WHERE

STREET ART

SHOWS THE VIBRANCY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

S

treet art has officially become one of the most desirable features in this city’s neighbourhoods, with 34% of Bristolians saying that they would rather live in an area with beautiful murals than a great local coffee shop. A further 18% claimed to prize good street art over good transport links.

With the UK housing market remaining flat, street art could be the vital ingredient to boost property values. According to new research commissioned by the Affordable Art Fair, 22% of Bristolians are willing to pay up to £50,000 more for a home in an area with colourful street art than one without, with 80% agreeing that eye-catching murals contribute to a positive community atmosphere. A further 64% said that seeing a beautiful piece of street art brightened their day, and 54% that they would like to see more street art in their local area.

Previously unwelcome in British suburbia, street art’s popularity has risen over the years, thanks to the likes of Banksy (recently voted the nation’s favourite artist), with images such as The Great Wave by Japanese artist Hokusai being among the most reproduced on walls in the world Almost a third have noticed an increase in the number of murals in their area over the past two years, and over one in five said that they would commission an artist to create a mural on the outside of their own house.

That said, when asked who they would most like to decorate their exterior walls, many Brits (though not Bristolians) shied away from contemporary artists such as Grayson Perry and Tracey Emin, and opted for the likes of Monet, Dalí and Picasso. We’re trying to imagine coming home to Guernica every night . . .

“Street art has had an overhaul of its image over the past few years,” said Sam Gare, the director of Affordable Art Fair Bristol. “Muralists creating beautiful, thought-provoking and inspirational works have decorated our cities

from Bristol to Glasgow, and their popularity is reflected in the number of us calling out for more art on our streets.”

To mark this, the Affordable Art Fair has appointed street artist Alex Lucas as its Artist in Residence for their Bristol fair this September.

“We’ve always had an ethos of championing up-and-coming artists in all mediums at the Fair, and we are so happy to offer a platform to Alex in Bristol – the home of British street art, no less!”

“I’ve been creating murals across Bristol for 10 years now, starting with my own house,” says Alex. “I always love seeing the reactions of homeowners and the local community when they see the finished pieces.

“Many of my works start out as small projects and grow organically with the owner of the space, and even little pieces can make an impact.

My clients often tell me how much my murals brighten their day, and that of their community, by sharing this space with others. Families tell me how their everyday routes involve ‘saying hello’ to my painted characters. I’m thrilled to be appearing as the Affordable Art Fair’s artist in residence in a city with such a brilliant street art heritage and am looking forward to chatting to local residents over the weekend.”

Finally, a comment from buying agent, and property expert Henry Pryor: “Today, buyers are more likely to be drawn to areas where street art shows the vibrance of the local community, and indeed, there are people who will pay a premium to be a part of it. In fact, we are now seeing architects making space for bespoke al fresco artworks in their new projects, and either commissioning one-off works or giving space to rotate works.

“Culture is a positive for prices, and the best acts as a magnet, pulling in buyers who admire and appreciate the styles. With such competition come the premiums that must be paid to be able to be a part of these places.”

The Affordable Art Fair runs 8-10 September at Brunel’s Old Station, Temple Meads; www.afffordableartfair.com

TOP 10 The top 10 artists Bristolians would most like to create a mural on the outside of their house.

What, no Banksy?

• Claude Monet • Pablo Picasso • Salvador Dali • Andy Warhol • Quentin Blake

• Roy Lichtenstein • Grayson Perry • Georgia O’Keefe • Tracey Emin • Ben Eine

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a d vertising feature P R O P E R T Y

The high life Discover luxurious penthouse living at Crest Nicholson’s new Electricity House show apartment

I

f you’re looking for a luxurious city centre bolthole in Bristol, look no further than Crest Nicholson’s inspiring two-bedroom penthouse show apartment. This spacious home, with interiors designed by Edward Thomas Interiors, is one of just three apartments still available at this popular redevelopment of Electricity House, an historic Bristol landmark.

The spacious layout over two floors includes an open-plan living space on the top floor

that is perfect for entertaining, with wonderful views of the Bristol skyline. Two good-sized bedrooms lead onto a private terrace, and have been designed to maximise space with fitted wardrobes providing plenty of storage.

This apartment benefits from high-tech underfloor heating throughout to keep you warm and cosy during the colder months, and includes a secure undercroft parking space plus separate storage in the unique tube in the atrium.

Residents of Electricity House also benefit from a dedicated concièrge service.

Built in the 1930s by acclaimed architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Electricity House is a Bristol landmark. In 2014, Electricity House was restored to its former glory by awardwinning housebuilder Crest Nicholson, offering homebuyers a chance to own a piece of history.

Apartments at Electricity House are available using the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, making these beautiful penthouses more affordable for professional couples looking for a luxurious new home and families searching for a larger city-centre apartment alike.

Located in the heart of Bristol city centre, Electricity House is close to Bristol Temple Meads station, which has great transport links right across the UK. Residents are less than a 10-minute walk from the Cabot Circus shopping

centre and in close proximity to a great selection of buzzing restaurants and bars, with the popular Hotel du Vin just across the road. Just a quarter of a mile from the M32, there are also excellent road links for both business and more rural countryside pursuits. BL

The final two and three-bedroom penthouse apartments are available from £479,000, or just £383,200 through Help to Buy. Potential buyers can book an exclusive VIP viewing of the show home between 10am and 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday or for more information go to www.crestnicholson.com/ electricityhouse/.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 115

PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

ON THE WATERFRONT A bit like Brando in the above-named movie, when it comes to Bristol’s most desirable new waterside development, Brandon Hill could well be a contender

By L I SA WA R R E N

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

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t’s turned into something of a Harbourside special, has this issue. From Cargo to @Crane29, we’ve barely strayed 100 feet from the waterfront.

It’s more than just coincidence. Increasingly in Bristol, residential and recreational life has come to revolve around the harbour, from premium home developments to that microcosm of the local indie food scene that is Cargos 1 and 2.

We’ve toured Wapping. We’ve admired The General.

And now throwing its hat into the ring is Brandon Yard – a prestigious waterfront development of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, occupying the last available spot on the northern section of the river. Just across from the ss Great Britain, Brandon Yard represents the conclusion of the huge regeneration programme that’s transformed the docks over the last 40 years into an innovative cultural and creative quarter of new homes, visitor centres, restaurants and cafés.

The earliest recorded building on the Brandon Yard site was the Limekiln Glassworks, built in the late 17th century and demolished in 1838. The site had a brief stint as a timber yard before becoming the Canon’s Marsh Gasworks in the late 19th century.

The decline of the docklands began in the 1960s, leading to the closure of the gasworks and the land becoming dormant; now, these once-derelict industrial buildings have begun a new chapter as distinctive homes.

Given its unique combination of design opportunities, the site is an architect’s dream project. It’s grounded in the kind of maritime history Bristol does so well, with the existing structures of Engine House and Oculus House bounded by a stone wall, edged by the evocatively named Lime Kiln Road and Gasworks Lane. ‘Dirty old town’ it may once have been; those days are long gone.

The last piece in the Harbourside renovation jigsaw, Brandon Yard combines the historic Oculus and Engine Houses with newbuild New Retort

HOUSE NUMBERS

41

1-3-bed apartments in New Retort House

15

1-2 bed apartments in Oculus House

2

2-bed houses in Engine House Prices from

£290,000

Developers Acorn chose to work with local architects AWW, who have impressive previous when it comes to renovating heritage industrial buildings and creating attractive contemporary apartments. Earlier projects have included the conversion of nearby Purifier House, back in 2015.

History never stops, but moves with time. The design team felt it was important that in renovating these buildings, and adding new ones to the site, the look should be clearly contemporary while respecting the original character. This can be seen most clearly in the aptly named New Retort House, which has vast windows facing the courtyard, river-facing balconies, terraces and a sleek floating roof. There’s a robust and elegant rhythm in its double-height bays, framed with brick that’s been carefully selected to highlight the colours and character of the stone.

Across the whole development, the industrial-style materials provide a palette which complements the monumental quality of the old stonework. The new glassroofed gallery in Oculus House, named after the huge circular windows on the gable ends, provides a dramatic contrast between lightness and strength, complementing each other to provide a rich and layered architecture.

Interiors are predictably cool and collected, presenting a blank canvas on which you are invited to make your mark, whether your style leans to the sharply contemporary or industrial chic. Us? We’re envisaging a huge vintage Chesterfield and the occasional reindeer skin throw . . .

Knight Frank, Regent House, 27a Regent Street, Clifton, Bristol 0117 317 1999; www.knightfrank.com

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P R O P E R T Y a d v ertisi n g fe at u re

Home in bRISTOL Bristol Life’s selection of property experts in Bristol and the surrounding area

Architects

Barton Willmore 0117 929 9677 www.bartonwillmore.co.uk Graham Rivers 0117 942 8373 www.riversarchitect.co.uk Jonathon Lees 0117 379 0079 www.jonathanleesarchitects.co.uk Nash Partnership 01225 442424 www.nashpartnership.com Quentin Alder 0117 968 3111 www.quentinalder.co.uk Stride Treglowan 0117 974 3271 www.stridetreglown.com Winsor Leaman 0117 923 8617 www.winsorleaman.com

Bathrooms

Ripples Bathrooms 0117 973 1144 www.ripplesbathrooms.com

Conveyancing & Lawyers AMD 0117 962 1205 www.amdsolicitors.com Barcan + Kirby 0117 325 2929 www.barcankirby.co.uk Burroughs Day 0117 929 0333 www.burroughsday.com Metcalfes 0117 929 0451 www.metcalfes.co.uk VWV 0117 314 5261 www.vwv.co.uk

Decorators

Berkeley Place 07770 942190 www.berkeleyplace.co.uk Build Bristol 07545 339908 / 0117 909 1969 www.buildbristol.com

Clifton Bristol Decorators 0117 244 0093 www.cliftonbristoldecorators.co.uk

Jon Pritchard 0117 982 6596 www.jonpritchard.co.uk

Developers/ Builders

Moon Design & Build 0117 973 3284 www.moonarchitectandbuilder.co.uk

Ashford Design And Build 07967 967625 www.ashforddesignandbuild.co.uk

Nest Design and Build 01275 832528 www.createyournest.co.uk

Estate Agents

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

Fireplaces

Clifton Fireplaces 0117 973 6474 www.cliftonfireplaces.co.uk Kindle Stoves 0117 924 3898 www.kindlestoves.co.uk

Furniture, interiors and homeware shops Clarks Village 01458 840 064 www.clarksvillage.co.uk

Gardiner Haskins 0117 929 2288 www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk Greenfinch 01934 830029 www.greenfinchkandi.co.uk

Alexander May 0117 974 4766 www.alexandermay.co.uk

Oskar Furniture 0117 973 4777 www.oskarfurniture.co.uk

Fine and Country 0117 973 3081 www.fineandcountry.com/uk/bristol

Park Furnishers 0117 966 9253 www.parkfurnishers.co.uk

Mayfair Town and Country 0117 906 4050 www.mayfairproperties.net

Raft Furniture 0117 992 7800 www.raftfurniture.co.uk

Roderick Thomas 0117 973 4464 www.roderickthomas.co.uk

The Pod Company 0117 973 9040 www.thepodcompany.co.uk

Savills 0117 933 5803 www.savills.co.uk

The Sofa Library 0117 329 2746 www.thesofalibrary.co.uk

Gardens

Artisan Garden Design 07752 998962 www.artisan-gardens.co.uk Greener Designs 07909 988399 www.greenerdesigns.co.uk

Interior Design Arlberry Bespoke 0117 205 0600 www.arlberry.com

Bracey Interiors 0117 973 4664 www.braceyinteriors.co.uk Designs for Living 07989 854295 www.clairebeckhaus.com

Design Flooring 0117 973 2266 www.designflooringltd.co.uk

Fawn Interiors 0117 205 0203 www.fawninteriors.com

Marble Supreme 0117 956 3030 www.marblesupreme.com

SJP Interior Design 0117 973 0880 www.sjpinteriordesign.co.uk

Miety Stone 01275 333589 www.mietystone.co.uk

Whittaker Wells 0117 983 8485 www.whittakerwells.com

Oriental Rugs Bath 01761 451764 www.orientalrugsofbath.com

Kitchens

Simply Carpets 0117 986 4650 www.simplycarpets.co.uk

Alno 0117 941 4179 www.alnokitchens.co.uk Ben Argent Design www.benargentdesign.com KutchenHaus 0117 213 0680 www.kutchenhaus.co.uk Neptune 0117 246 4200 www.neptune.com Stephen Graver 01380 871746 www.stephengraver.com The Kitchen Man 0117 973 1062 www.thekitchenman.co.uk Wren Kitchens 0117 244 3168 www.wrenkitchens.com

Lighting

Ablectrics 0117 942 5355 www.electricsandlighting.co.uk Parkway Lighting 0117 965 7991 www.lightingwarehouse-bristol.co.uk

Tailored Flooring 0117 973 3393 www.tailoredflooring.co.uk Handelsbanken 0117 973 0026 www.handelsbanken.co.uk

Upholstery

Steve Mears Mortgage Services 0117 973 4300 www.stevemears.com

Tiles and Flooring Mortgage Brokers & IFAs

Avondale Tiles 0117 967 4673 www.avondaletiles.co.uk

Anderson Financial 0117 900 1639 www.andersonfinancial.co.uk

Ceramic Tiles 0117 966 5801 www.ctdtiles.co.uk

Clifton Private Finance 0117 403 4144 www.cliftonpf.co.uk

Core and Ore 0117 904 2408 www.coreandore.co.uk

Bristol Upholstery Collective 07769 355535 www.bristolupholsterycollective.com Southwest Upholstery 0117 370 2745 www.swupholstery.co.uk

Windows, blinds and shutters Shutter Craft Bristol 0117 322 4900 www.shuttercraft-bristol.co.uk

Timber Windows of Clifton 0845 652 7300 www.timberwindowsclifton.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 121

BRISTOL LIVES

Q&A

I

n our ignorance, we’d assumed that the creative director of a science centre must have followed a fairly linear career path – years slaving over bunsen burners, stuff like that (can you tell we know nothing about science?).

But while Anna Starkey has impressive science credentials – she holds a MSc from Imperial College, for heaven’s sake – her CV is surprisingly eclectic. Before becoming CD of At-Bristol, she mainly worked in TV, as a freelance writer and producer; she’s produced the Proms and live cinema broadcasts from the Royal Opera House; she’s done script editing, voice directing and written lots of children’s animation. She was the director of Impossible Projects at a public neuroscience laboratory at London’s Science Museum; she’s lectured on antimatter, and worked in particle physics communications.

The phrase Renaissance woman springs to mind. “I guess it’s been less of a career and more of a zig-zag through different phases of work,” she says. But then both science and the arts are propelled by the same thing: curiosity . . .

What attracted you to the At-Bristol job?

The opportunity to put my bundle of experiences together in one place. At-Bristol asked me to bring a fresh view to what a science centre does, and connect up science and the arts. You can’t get any better than being invited to be a bit disruptive in a job.

What have been the most popular exhibits since you began?

Every visitor has a different favourite exhibit or experience – it might be Animate It! or a Planetarium show . . .

OK; how about a few personal favourites?

The launch event for our new Tinkering Space last summer was a really lovely occasion, with lots of new city partners and friends there. Our collaboration with the British Paraorchestra, who performed in our Planetarium for the Simple Things Festival, was a really special experience for everyone who attended. That week we also opened our first art exhibition in The Box; for me personally, that was a moment when I really got excited to see new ways of working coming together, and the different possibilities and experiences we can create with – and for – all sorts of people here.

What aspect of the job do you love most?

For me, and probably the whole team, what we love most is often just observing a tiny interaction between people on the exhibition floor or at a workshop. That’s the best thing about this job – seeing people connect and their eyes light up.

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

ANNA STARKEY We’re tempted to call the creative director of At-Bristol a Renaissance woman; she’d probably just describe herself as really curious. Either way, she has some big news to share . . .

OK – now tell us the big news We have been awarded £3 million to re-imagine our ground floor exhibition and entrance space in line with our new vision for At-Bristol – which is to create a culture of curiosity, in Bristol and beyond. We’re starting to develop the project this month, and work will continue into 2019 [see Spotlight, page 8, for full story].

We ran a ’24 things you didn’t know about At-Bristol’ feature in our last issue – go on, give us one more . . .

In a far corner of our space gallery you can watch real cosmic rays arriving from far across the universe. I think some people might not spot that exhibit when they’re here, but it’s one of my favourites.

Tell us about your plans for the rebranding and At-Bristol’s new name: We the Curious Curiosity is at the heart of both scientific and artistic enquiry about the world around us. So, by putting people and curiosity at the heart of what we do, we’ll be bringing more of a multidisciplinary approach into the science centre. Science isn’t a separate part of culture, and wonderful new energy springs up when you connect it with art, music, dance, philosophy, design… the future is all about removing boundaries between ideas.

Where’s your manor, and why did you choose to live there?

I landed in Clifton in a big hurry with just a few days before my job started. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it, because when I was looking for somewhere to rent I’d just missed out on a few flats in Stokes Croft, which I’d set my heart on. But I’m still here two years later. The best bit is definitely the almost impossible proximity of city life and nature. I love that The Downs and The Avon Gorge are as close to walk to as coffee and fresh veg shops.

Where do you like to eat out and meet friends for a drink?

Almost anywhere; I love the dynamic food scene here. That said, I am a big fan of The Stable, Clifton Village’s chip shop, The Society Café’s chocolate and peanut butter brownies, Bells Diner… I’m not a big drinker, but I do enjoy a cider at The Apple.

If At-Bristol had a time-machine (and frankly, we wouldn’t be surprised if it did) what era and location would you set it to?

Who let that cat out of the bag? I’d go to a big city centre in 2100 to see what the future looks like and bring back the most mind-blowing piece of tech or knowledge I can get my hands on.

www.at-bristol.org.uk

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