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A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY
ISSUE 236 / OCTOBER 2017 / PARR AND THE MADDING CROWD
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Hanoi Studio, Havana, Cuba, 2001 From the series ‘Autoportrait’ ©Martin Parr Collection / Magnum Photos
EDITOR’S LETTER / ISSUE 236 / OCTOBER 2017
Snap!
14
PARR SIGHTED The master photographer opens a permanent home for his Foundation at Paintworks this month. Consider us excited.
You wait years for a Bristol Life feature on photojournalism, and what happens? Two articles in consecutive issues, that’s what. No sooner had Colin Moody given us a masterclass in street photography in our early-autumn mag than we learned that the Martin Parr Foundation was opening a permanent home in Paintworks. Naturally we hotfooted it to the master’s Clifton lair for a chat (page 14). And then look what happens: Colin only went and papped Martin at the Arnolfini, during the Grayson Perry launch. Martin Parr, taking a selfie, at Arnolfini, by Colin Moody! We were so excited we nearly bought our own beer, but recovered ourselves sufficiently to put his photo on the cover Talking of excitement: turn to page 57 to see Bristol’s foodies suited and booted for the first Crumbs Awards. And then turn to all the other pages, for more great Bristol stuff. Yes, including a talk by the Lovehoney sex toys guys. You’re so very welcome.
Deri Robins, editor Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram:@bristollifemag
REGULARS / ISSUE 236 / OCTOBER 2017 M EET T H E T EAM Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors: Mal Rogers, Olly Robinson, Josh Eggleton, Kam Kelly 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 Senior advertising executive Melissa Barnes melissa.barnes@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
NEWS 7 Spotlight It’s time to get your circus on
8 Brizzogram How do you take your autumn?
THE ARTS 20 What’s On Four full pages of events and shows and you get the picture
28 Theatre Hip-hip and neigh; War Horse canters back to the Hippodrome
32 The Verdict
Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk
It was a dark and stormy month
SHOPPING
32
36 Editor’s Choice You could camouflage yourself in Leigh Woods with these autumnal colours
FOOD 40 Food & Drink A new gaff for the Loco guys, Jon Finch is brewing up, Josh actually sends us a column, and the Indeep pun we’ve been waiting to make since 2002
46 Christmas Parties Admittedly, it’s not beginning to look especially like Christmas – but if you book your party now you’ll thank us come December
SPORT 53 Olly Robinson They’re the Lions; hear them roar
SOCIET Y
HOMES
57 Snapped!
80 Real Homes
Foodies in frocks: it can only be the first Crumbs Awards!
Who needs ‘a host of original features’ anyway?
BUSINESS 66 Women in business The femme squad speak out
74 Business Club The Lovehoney guys bare all at Sansovino Hall
84 Home focus
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
Admit it; you’re tempted by a woodburner
INTERVIEW 98 Bristol Lives The theatre MD who wants to make us think
On the cover Snap! Colin Moody captures Martin Parr taking a selfie. Full feature on Martin begins on page 14
Clockwise: Yablochov Candle; Tipping Point; Fauna
Xxxxxxx
FOOD AND DRINK
DINNER WINNERS It’s been a busy old year for the Mediaclash events gang; hot (OK, hot-ish) on the heels of the inaugural Bristol Life Awards in April came the first Crumbs Awards on 1 October. Our foodie sibling mag, which celebrates the thriving dining and produce scene in Bath and Bristol, held its ceremony in the auditorium of Bristol Old Vic, with drinks and an afterparty in the theatre’s groovy Backstage Bar. Chris Cox – “the mind reader who doesn’t read minds” – was beyond compère, doing a sterling job of entertaining the audience while dazed winners negotiated the labyrinthine BOV corridors to reach the stage and claim their prizes. You can see who won on the Crumbs website (p 57 for highlights). For more: www.crumbsmag.com
CIRCUS
SEND IN THE CLOWNS October is unofficially Circus Month in Bristol. Or maybe it’s official; maybe we didn’t get the memo. There’s the Moscow State Circus until 15 October, Circus of Horrors on 14 October, and now *drumroll* the big one: an entire three-week festival given over to all things circussy between 12-29 October. Circus City is Bristol’s contemporary biennial circus fest: an eclectic collection of shows for theatre-lovers, party animals, punks, swing dancers, science geeks, jazz fans; you name it. Events include Cirque du Sillé from Lavrak, an interactive comedy cabaret, subtly referencing and celebrating Bristol culture; Fauna, featuring ‘wild creatures in a beautifully
controlled acrobatic story’; Yablochkov Candle, a cabaret show from Finland combining jazz and aerial performance, and Tipping Point, a feast of high-risk brilliance in which five performers transform seemingly simple metal poles into a rich landscape of images. Meanwhile at Trinity Centre, Swing Circus is a weekend-long extravaganza of swing, circus and dance. “The very nature of circus is to push the limits of what’s possible in pursuit of the extraordinary – we encourage you to keep this spirit in mind, and take a risk on something new,” says Circus City co-director Kate Hartoch. For full programme see below. For more: www.bristolcircuscity.com
SPOTLIGHT
ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN . . . How do you like your Bristol autumn? Grey, misty and mysterious, or vibrant blue-skied and red-leafed? Our igers all-stars have both flavours covered
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8 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
PHOTOGRAPHY
s
Britain’s greatest living photojournalist – many would say greatest photographer – has lived in Bristol for the past 30 years. And now MARTIN PARR is giving back big-time to the city, with a new photography foundation and gallery in Paintworks By M A L ROGE R S 14 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
I OFTEN THINK OF MY IMAGES AS A SOAP OPERA, WHERE I’M WAITING FOR THE RIGHT CAST TO FALL INTO PLACE
M
artin Parr is not an easy man to tie down. He’s generally to be found travelling the globe in search of new subjects for his distinctive photography – work that has filled countless galleries worldwide, and around 40 solo books. Well, we say ‘subjects’. Some critics have used the word ‘victims’, and levelled accusations of cruelty at Martin’s intimate, sometimes satirical captures of modern life; work which frequently documents social divides. Martin himself would probably just describe himself as ‘nosey’. Or perhaps ‘anthropological’. “I think that all photography involving people has an element of exploitation, and I’m no exception,” he admits, when I speak to him at his home in Clifton. w
De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on Sea, England, UK, 1979 ©Martin Parr / Magnum Photos Left: Harbhajan Singh, Willenhall Market, Walsall, 2011 ©Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
PHOTOGRAPHY
“I feel I am part of a long tradition in the UK in employing irony as part of my work. Although I deal with serious subjects, these can be made more accessible with an element of this thrown in. They are serious photographs disguised as entertainment.” This type of photojournalism does mean that Martin is, literally, in your face. Or somebody’s face. “If you’re in photography for a long time, you get to understand such things as body language. I often don’t look at the people I photograph, especially afterwards. I’m looking at the set. But when I want a photo, I become somewhat fearless, and this helps a lot.” As the law stands in the UK, you can take photographs anywhere in a public place; Martin makes full use of this freedom. “Occasionally people object, at which point I move on,” he says. Mostly they don’t, however. “I often think of my images as a soap opera, where I’m waiting for the right cast to fall into place. In more recent years, I’ve photographed in much closer, allowing bits of people and food to become part of the big picture, and one advantage of this is that it means people are less recognisable.” The 21st century heralded the era of smartphones and digital cameras, a development that smoothed the path of public photography: everybody now has a camera. People are used to taking snaps, used to snapping and being snapped. “I welcome that, as well as platforms like Instagram and Flickr,” he says. “The more people who appreciate photographs, the better.” It’s a state of affairs that can only be advanced when the Martin Parr Foundation opens in its new permanent home at Paintworks this month. “I started The Foundation in 2014,” he says. “I want to preserve my own archive, and also
to promote British documentary work. The collections include my own photos, as well as work from other British and Irish photographers. In general, British photography is underrated. Things are improving, especially now that The Tate has started to embrace photography.” In September, The Tate bought a 1200-strong photo-book collection from Martin, which he part-gifted. Tate Modern director Frances Morris said the collection “is undoubtedly one of the greatest of its kind anywhere in the world”. The Foundation, which opens at the end of October, will help copper-fasten that increasing awareness of the art of photography in the UK. For aspiring photographers it will be a place of diverse inspiration. Martin Parr’s own interests occupy a wide sweep. In his Clifton home he hoards collections that range from Soviet space dogs memorabilia through to Saddam Hussein watches, prostitute advertising cards from phone-boxes, book dummies and John Hinde postcards. He admits to being a bit obsessive. At the age of 65, Martin is as enthusiastic as ever for his art, and every aspect of it. Aside from The Foundation, he’s working on a project for the National Maritime Museum, and continuing his work producing the BBC One ‘Oneness’ on-screen channel identities. Little thought has been given to retiring: “I guess the energy and passion you have when you start out as a photographer is difficult to match. But I still enjoy working. Maybe one reason why I try so many new challenges is to stop me going stale and keep me on my toes.” For more: The Foundation opens 25 October at The Paintworks, Bath Road, Bristol www.martinparrfoundation.org
Youth on Wall, Tyneside, 1976 ©Chris Killip
16 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
MARTIN PARR
CV: Professor of Photography, Belfast School of Art, University of Ulster; photographer, documentary maker, photojournalist Beginnings in photography: “I first got interested in photography when I was a teenager and went to visit my grandfather near Bradford. He was a keen amateur photographer, and lent me a camera. We would go out together shooting; ever since then, I wanted to be a photographer.” Martin’s favourite Parr book: The Last Resort; the photographs portray the life of families on modest holidays in New Brighton, a small seaside resort in the Wirral. The collection remains a classic of modern photography, capturing a glimpse of essential Britishness. For equipment geeks: Martin has embraced digitalism: “In 2007 I bought a Canon 5D, later upgrading to a Canon 5D Mark 4. I am now conversant with the Canon and I really like the way you can balance the ambient light with the flash. I do this with the aid of my Gary Fong diffuser which I find invaluable. I also have a Canon ring flash, so work with one camera and two flash guns.” Advice for aspiring photographers: “Really first-class photography only emerges when you make a good connection to a subject. So, part of the skill is to find the right subject and to then get involved in a very thorough and meaningful way with it. That’s how you start a good project.”
Gateshead,1973 ©Graham Smith
when I want a photo, I
become somewhat fearless, and this helps a lot
Burning Boat, Oriel, Oxford,1984 ©Dafydd Jones
Sorrento, Italy, 2014. ©Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 17
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A RETIREMENT TO LOOK FORWARD TO
LAST REMAINING VACANCIES
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13 October – 13 November 2017
A F EW SU GGES TI ON S FOR YOU R MON TH
The tragedy of being just too damn fabulous: How to Win Against History; say hello, wave goodbye to Marc Almond at Colston Hall; dreaming of being tall enough to reach the mic: Rob’s back on tour, and Standing Up at Colston Hall
Exhibitions UNTIL 26 OCTOBER
THROUGH THE EYES OF AN OSTRICH The fascinating, hugely-rated Clifton-born painter/street artist Andrew Burns Colwill shows at The Rope Walk in Bedminster; rampubcompany.co.uk UNTIL 28 OCTOBER
JOURNEY TO JUSTICE Multi-media installation focused on the US civil rights movement; at Bristol Cathedral; bristol-cathedral.co.uk UNTIL 3 DECEMBER
165 ANNUAL OPEN The RWA’s renowned annual exhibition – now, impressively, in its 165th year; rwa.org.uk
UNTIL 17 DECEMBER
KIM YONG-IK The first exhibition in the UK by the South Korean artist; spikeisland.org.uk UNTIL 24 DECEMBER
GRAYSON PERRY ‘The Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever!’ tackles how contemporary art can best address a diverse crosssection of society post-Brexit via pottery, tapestries, bikes, prints and shizzle; at Arnolfini; arnolfini.org.uk
UNTIL 31 AUGUST 2018
EMPIRE THROUGH THE LENS Bristol Archives’ collection of photos and film of life in the British Empire and Commonwealth, mostly taken between 1880s-1960s. At Bristol Museum; bristolmuseums.org.uk
21 OCTOBER-8 APRIL 2017
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR The renowned photography comp’s back, with 100 spectacular images; you can put money on us covering it in the next issue. At MShed; bristolmuseums.org.uk FROM 25 OCTOBER
14-15 OCTOBER
WEST BRISTOL ARTS TRAIL Now in its 10th year: 100 artists show their work in 50 homes. westbristolarts.com
MARTIN PARR FOUNDATION A new home for the renowned photographer’s archive, and a showcase for other photographers opens at Paintworks; see page 14. martinparrfoundation.org
20 OCTOBER-18 NOVEMBER UNTIL 28 DECEMBER
YATIKA STARR FIELDS Solo exhibition showcasing the recent work of this contemporary Native American painter and muralist; at Rainmaker; rainmakerart.co.uk
20 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
CARL MELEGARI AND HANNAH WOODMAN From Cornwall’s Atlantic coast to the innate character of a living subject: both artists make the painted surface a dynamic, breathing space. At CCA; cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk
27 OCTOBER
MEETING THE MAASAI Phil Field’s photos taken at African Initiatives at Northern Tanzania, which helps to make women’s voices heard and enables girls to attend school. At Hours Gallery; hours-space.com
W H AT ’ S O N
ARTS
Grayson’s Gay Black Cats at Arnolfini; while Simon Amstell’s clearly not minding the Buzzcocks at all; in fact, he’s at Colston Hall
Theatre & shows UNTIL 14 OCTOBER
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 THE WEIR (Almost) back in time for Halloween, Conor McPherson’s chilling, modern classic set in an Irish bar is on tour to mark its 20th anniversary; it won the Olivier for Best Play in 1997. bristololdvic.org.uk UNTIL 19 NOVEMBER
ICE ROAD Leningrad, 1942. The siege has begun. Harnessing Russian folklore and historical witness accounts, Ice Road fuses performance, creative technology, original music, film and (intriguing!) aroma to tell the story of the children that war leaves behind. At Jacob’s Well Baths; raucous.org.uk
13 OCTOBER
OLD MARKET VAUDEVILLE: TALES OF MISFORTUNE A new cabaret night comes to the OMA: expect a night of dark tales and mystifying performances from some of the cabaret scene’s best and brightest. oldmarketassembly. co.uk 17-21 OCTOBER
TOP HAT Nostalgiafest alert, with The Redgrave’s lulabelles and swell beaux puttin’ on the Ritz; redgravetheatre.com 18 OCTOBER-11 NOVEMBER
WAR HORSE The perennial favourite that showed the world what puppets could do for drama is back at the newly refurbed Hippodrome; feature page 28. atgtickets.com 18-29 OCTOBER
THE TURN OF THE SCREW It’s the witchy month, so here’s a revival of the Henry James Gothic chiller; at Arnos Vale cemetery, for extra ‘ermahgerrd goosebumps’; arnosvale.org.uk 19 OCTOBER-4 NOVEMBER
WAITING FOR GODOT
TFT takes on Beckett’s 65-yearsyoung four-hander about the struggle for purpose, the power of friendship and the hunt for a pair of decent boots. As funny, thought-provoking and quotable as they come. tobaccofactorytheatres.com 21 OCTOBER
MARK THOMPSON’S SPECTACULAR SCIENCE SHOW Think science in a theatre sounds dull? Think again. Explore the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephants toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins, dancing paste, vanishing beakers and even exploding Pringle tubes; at colstonhall.org 21-25 OCTOBER
YANA AND THE YETI Bristol puppetry geniuses Pickled Image collaborate with Olivier-nominated writer Hattie Naylor for their latest family show. With a Yeti. At TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com
sober up? The NT’s critically acclaimed sold-out show comes to BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk 2-11 NOVEMBER
HOW TO WIN AGAINST HISTORY Henry Cyril Paget was one of the world’s wealthiest men, until he lost it all by being too damn fabulous, blowing his family’s colossal fortune on diamond frocks, lilac-dyed poodles and simply amazing plays to which nobody came; Seiriol Davies’s new musical for TFT and The Wardrobe is a true story of being too wacky for this world; at The Wardrobe; tobaccofactorytheatres.com. 7-18 NOVEMBER
THE TIN DRUM Günter Grass’ surreal post-war masterpiece gets the Kneehigh treatment. It’s the same writing/directing/musical team behind Dead Dog, which tells you roughly what to expect. At BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk 8-18 NOVEMBER
24-28 OCTOBER
PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS When drink feels like the only way to survive the modern world, how can Emma ever
UP DOWN MAN The charismatic Nathan Bessell plays Matty Butler, as Myrtle Theatre asks the question that w faces every parent of an
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 21
WEST BRISTOL ARTS TRAIL 14TH-15TH OCTOBER VENUE 39
HIDDEN
Contemporary art from Bristol and beyond alongside design-led homeware, gifts and interesting artefacts
HIDDEN RARE
Lithographs, prints and original hand-signed work by some of the 20th and 21st century greats Picasso, Warhol, Matisse, Banksy, Miro, Huw Richards Evans, Feona Ness, Chitra Merchant Units 8, 10 & 11 The Clifton Arcade, Boyce’s Avenue, Bristol BS8 4AA www.myhiddenworld.co.uk | hello@myhiddenworld.co.uk | Telephone: 0117 279 6402
W H AT ’ S O N
ARTS
of truth to society, and he can see right through it, which means it’s probably just a window. colstonhall.org 29 OCTOBER
JOHN HEGLEY The former Poptician doesn’t talk so much about his glasses these days; expect him to riff about Keats, Daleks, soot, belief, osmosis and compassionate autobiographical poems and correspondence between family members. thecomedybox.co.uk 3 NOVEMBER
MAE MARTIN: DOPE The Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee 2017 shines a light on that one weird shrimp we all have in our brains that is happy to pursue short-term pleasure, despite knowing the long-term negative consequences. Mae asks: who are we when we’re not addicted? At The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com 4 NOVEMBER
No, it’s not The Stripes; OMD come to Colston Hall
adult with a learning disability. See feature page 98. At TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com
two decades fine-tuning his concerto farewell, sparks will fly; colstonhall.org
Music
19 OCTOBER
14 OCTOBER
RICHARD THOMPSON ‘The finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix’ returns to Colston Hall; colstonhall.org 18 OCTOBER
THE WATERBOYS Occupying the sweet spot between folk and swaggering rock ’n’ roll, Mike Scott and co take in everything from country, gospel, traditional Celtic roots, blues and more. colstonhall.org
UTE LEMPER Expect Brecht & Weill, Piaf, Brel and more as the renowned chanteuse performs her Last Tango in Berlin at Colston Hall; colstonhall.org 20 OCTOBER
MARC ALMOND With a full orchestra behind him, one of pop’s most distinctive voices performs hits from his 36-year career; colstonhall.org 27 OCTOBER
MARTIN SIMPSON The bluesman par excellence; one of the finest ever acoustic and slide guitar players, and a fine banjo-picker to boot. At the Hall; colstonhall.org
GEORGIE FAME Admit it; you saw the name and instantly began humming ‘yeh yeh’, to the annoyance of your workmates. Find out what else this total jazz/blues/pop legend is capable of, at St George’s. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk
19 OCTOBER
30 OCTOBER
ST PETERSBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA A Russian orchestra in Russian music. As Tchaikovsky tangles with Shakespeare and Rachmaninov spends
OMD Pioneering synth-pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark return with their 13th album and a night of stylish toons at the Hall; colstonhall.org
5 NOVEMBER
JOHN MAYALL The legendary blues singer, pianist, harmonica player, guitarist, and songwriter comes to the Hall; colstonhall.org
ROB BRYDON: I AM STANDING UP The genial Welsh charmer’s been booked for a second date at The Hall; it’s his first stand-up tour since 2009. Expect some phenomenal impressions combined with thinking-on-his-feet observational wit. colstonhall.org
8 NOVEMBER
THE STYLISTICS The smoothest soulsters of all time return to Colston Hall. They can’t give you anything but their love – that, and a classy tour through their greatest hits. colstonhall.org
10 NOVEMBER
9 NOVEMBER
Other
ANDY SHEPPARD Bristol’s own sax star launches the release of his new album at St George’s. stgeorgesbristol. co.uk
SIMON AMSTELL: WHAT IS THIS? The Never Mind the Buzzcocks host explores beauty, intimacy, freedom, sex and love at the Hall; colstonhall.org
UNTIL 15 OCTOBER
Comedy
MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS One of the most spectacular circus displays in the world returns to The Downs; moscowstatecircus.com
16, 30 OCT, 13 NOV
UNTIL 29 OCTOBER
CLOSER EACH DAY The world’s longest improv soap comedy keeps on rolling along at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
CIRCUS CITY FESTIVAL Three weeks, 50 events for theatre lovers, party animals, punks, swing dancers, science geeks, jazz fans; you name it, they got it. bristolcircuscity.com
25 OCTOBER
MILTON JONES Milton’s holding up the mirror
UNTIL 30 OCTOBER
BLACK HISTORY
w
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 23
W H AT ’ S O N
ARTS
Tall tales in an Irish pub: The Weir makes its spooky way to BOV; Kneehigh’s back, and crossly banging its Tin Drum at BOV
MONTH The annual celebration of the culture, history and achievement of Britain’s African and Caribbean communities; various venues. bristol.gov.uk BRISTOL FAMILY ARTS FESTIVAL A month-long citywide celebration of creativity for all ages; at various venues. arnolfini.org.uk 13 OCTOBER
GHOSTWATCH It’s the 25th anniversary of the cult ‘supernatural investigation’ mockumentary featuring Michael Parkinson, Craig Charles and Sarah Greene; never again screened on TV in the UK, Ghostwatch caused national controversy, receiving an estimated 30,000 phone calls from spooked viewers. At Watershed; bristolhorrorcon. weebly.com 14 OCTOBER
CIRCUS OF HORRORS What is it with October and
circuses? Voodoo promises a spectacular amalgamation of bizarre and fantastic circus woven into a sensational shock/ horror story and the darkest of magic. Maybe not one for the rugrats, then. circusofhorrors. co.uk
queue-it.net 19-29 OCTOBER
BRISTOL HORROR CON What it says on the tin; with plenty of guests, traders, cosplay, panels and films. At Doubletree by Hilton; bristolhorrorcon.weebly.com
BRISTOL FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE From scary tales in Arnos Vale and Redcliffe Caves to flashslam hosted by comedian Angie Belcher, along with the chance to glean tips from publishers, literary agents and authors, the BFoL brings together Bristol’s writing talent with ten days of exceptional, inspiring events. unputdownable.org.
18-20 OCTOBER
21 OCTOBER
FESTIVAL OF THE FUTURE CITY Part of Festival of Ideas, this big public debate brings together people across a vast range of areas to discuss the future of cities. At various locations; ideasfestival.co.uk 19 OCTOBER
SIR GEOFF HURST The hat-trick scoring striker hero from 1966 is the Big Sports Speaker at Ashton Gate; bristolsportq-bristolsport.
SIMPLE THINGS Adventurous as ever, the fest returns to Bristol’s most innovative gig spaces for a full day of musical diversity; simplethingsfestival.co.uk
re-working material live with improvised soundtracks from a team of quick witted musicians. bristoljazzandbluesfest.com 29 OCTOBER
LOVE FOOD FESTIVAL Mulled cider, beautiful local produce, street food and more; at Paintworks, lovefoodfestival. 2-3 NOVEMBER
TEDX BRISTOL 2017 Meet the Positive Disruptors: challenging the status quo, reimagining what is possible and redefining the future. At Colston Hall; colstonhall.org 10 NOVEMBER-24 DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS MARKET Don’t shoot the messenger, but Broadmead’s breaking out the tinsel. xmas-markets.com
22 OCTOBER
TONGUE FU, FEAT. DIZRAELI Now apparently expanding into autumn, the Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival brings you the UK’s leading spoken word and music show; poets, storytellers and rappers will take risks,
11 NOVEMBER
INTERIOR DESIGN WORKSHOP Zoë, Stylemonger of Bristol, hosts a full day of interior design. At Hamilton House; zoehewettinteriors.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 25
F E AT U R E
INTERIORS SPECIAL
Our love affair with War Horse shows no sign of abating, with the latest production cantering into The Hippodrome next month. Tour director Katie Henry takes the reins of a show that’s been previously directed by Tom Morris and Steven Spielberg – no pressure, then . . . By DE R I ROBI NS
E
ven if you’ve never seen the play or read the book, you probably feel as if you have. It’s so well known, it has its own website. First adapted from the Michael Morpurgo novel, by Tom Morris for the National 10 years ago, War Horse has become one of the biggest commercial and critical successes in 21st-century theatre. It was even adapted into a movie by Steven Spielberg; a chap who recognises a good yarn when he sees it. With its harrowing World War I focus, the story of young Albert’s beloved horse Joey, whose dramatic story arc frankly makes Black Beauty’s look like a graze in the park, played for eight record-breaking years in the West End and toured 11 countries around the world; it’s been seen by around seven million people. As the current production heads for the Hippodrome, tour director Katie Henry shares the joys and challenges of helming a modern classic.
28 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
T H E AT R E
So Katie, how does it feel to be directing a production that’s become a national treasure? It’s an incredible privilege to work on such a perfectly crafted and much-loved show, but that’s also what makes it daunting. You obviously want to exceed audience expectations, and when the expectation is as high as it is on War Horse, that’s a tall order. I wanted the show to feel fresh while also being as good as, if not better, than audiences remember or hoped it would be. The actors performing it night after night, up and down the country, for 15 months, need to feel ownership of it, while respecting its history and the love people have for it. This company absolutely feel that, and have risen to the challenge with grace and commitment. For me, it wasn’t about bringing something new to War Horse, but just making sure the production was brilliant, and that it’s this company’s version of the show. With that in mind, I thought carefully about casting, because the 34-strong company is what makes the show. It’s such an epic and complicated piece to put together that it was essential to work with actors who were not only thrilled to be in it, but also that I thought could become a community, both onstage and off. Why do you think it has become such an enduring show? I think it’s due to the fact that the show cuts across age, gender and background. There is a universality to the story, and the puppetry, that allows everyone in. It speaks to fundamental
THE
PUPPETRY IS THE BEATING HEART OF THE SHOW; IT SIMPLY WOULDN’T
WORK
WITHOUT IT
Joey’s not the only puppet in the show (note the goose). But yeah, he’s *the* puppet
ARTS
human instincts and tells the story of a friendship between a boy and his horse in the face of hellish adversity. It’s also about a community torn apart by war; Michael Morpurgo talks about it being an anthem for peace, and sadly it seems to me to be more relevant than ever. Tell us about your time at Bristol Old Vic I was associate director for Richard Eyre’s production of Long Day’s Journey into Night, that’s transferring to the West End in January next year. The highlight for me was working with such incredible talent, in director Richard Eyre and actors Lesley Manville and Jeremy Irons, on one of the greatest plays ever written. A huge honour to learn from such theatre giants. It was also a childhood dream of mine to work at the Bristol Old Vic. Born and raised in Gloucester, Bristol was where I had all my first theatrical experiences and so as I sat in the pit on press night, I had to pinch myself that it was real. Presumably War Horse’s original director Tom Morris will be popping in to see how his show is coming along – no pressure, then…? Ha ha, I’m thrilled to say he has popped in! It’s always great to have him around; we want to make sure we are serving his production and his idea of the story. He came in a couple of times to rehearsals, and then for a preview, after which we worked on some scenes which was massively helpful. I think he was really pleased with the show overall – phew. w
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 29
ARTS
T H E AT R E
These days, every other play (especially if Tom Morris has a hand in it) seems to contain an element of puppetry, but War Horse really was a pioneer, wasn’t it? It was a game-changer in terms of using puppetry in shows; it freed up theatre-makers’ imaginations. If we can make a life-size puppet horse the central character of an epic show, what else is possible? Puppetry allows a theatrical freedom because the audience have already made a leap of faith, and invested in bringing an inanimate object to life, so you can be bolder and braver with what that puppet then does. You can fly it through the air, or make it swim in a sea in a theatrical way that is exciting, but also liberating. It’s harder to make actors do that convincingly on stage. What does puppetry bring to War Horse that would have been impossible without it? It’s the beating heart of the show – it simply wouldn’t work without. It’s the spectacle that audiences come to see, because you can’t quite believe it’s possible to tell a story about a boy and his horse with a puppet. Puppetry offers the most theatrical of choices because you aren’t being literal; performers are bringing it to life moment to moment. Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler of Handspring Puppet Company have evolved a set of puppetry principles that are rooted in the life of the puppet springing from the hand, hence Handspring. That one premise is the key to bringing the puppets to life – I love the simplicity of that. Seeing the puppeteers achieve that night after night is an aweinspiring experience. Who works the puppets? There are four horse teams who puppeteer the big horses, Joey and Topthorn. The teams rotate each performance so that they get a rest – the horses are heavy, especially once we add riders. The horse teams and the puppetry directors work incredibly hard and are the heroes of the process, really. It’s a constant and evolving process; the puppeteers get quite nerdy about horse sounds (they’ve been known to forget themselves and whinny in the street) and horse movement, to make sure they do appear real. If the audience forget they are puppets then we have all done our jobs properly. The classic advice to actors is never work with children or animals; is this also true of co-starring with an iconic animal puppet? The puppetry only works if the rest of the performers on stage believe the animals are real too – we call them the ‘fourth puppeteer’ – the way the characters behave around the puppets is key to how the audience perceives them. If a character is scared of the power of a horse charging at them, the audience can believe in that too. Everyone knows Joey – tell us about some of the other great puppets in the show. The Goose is a real favourite with the audience. She’s cheeky, and a bit like a guard dog at Narracott’s Farm where she lives. Joey as a foal 30 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Katie in action, effortlessly filling some pretty big directorial boots
THE
PUPPETRY ONLY
WORKS IF THE REST OF THE PERFORMERS ON STAGE BELIEVE THE ANIMALS ARE REAL, TOO
is a challenging puppet to work on, but is the first puppet we meet – from here we set up the physical language of the play. Topthorn is a powerful thoroughbred horse, and there are plenty of others too – swallows, crows, military horses, soldiers. Tell us a bit about your own theatre company . . . I set up Stand Fast Theatre 18 months ago. I have always had a bee in my bonnet about the type and volume of work available to female actors and the number of female playwrights whose work gets produced, especially on a larger scale, alongside the number of women working in production roles. Men dominate across all disciplines, with the type of roles offered to women not being as complex or diverse as roles for men. I direct at drama schools, and it’s always a challenge to find good plays for a large female cast, and I just thought, this can’t be right. We must do better. So, the focus of Stand Fast is to only produce plays written by women, with at least parity of roles for women, and to prioritise working with female production and creative teams. Finally, share a few productions you’ve loved in Bristol theatres in recent years I loved The Grinning Man at Bristol Old Vic – exciting Tom Morris fare. I think the work that Bristol Old Vic does with local talent for their Ferment programme is always so fresh and bold, and it’s exciting to catch work at that early stage. I really admired Pink Mist, which went on to tour very successfully. I haven’t had time to catch much at the Tobacco Factory recently, but I love their Shakespeare season. The last time I was at Bristol Hippodrome I saw Mamma Mia! for the first time – a great night out! I have very eclectic taste and Bristol caters to it all. I really hope to contribute to its theatre scene with my own work one day soon – alongside War Horse, of course. War Horse gallops into Bristol Hippodrome on 18 October and plays until 11 November. Book tickets at www.atgtickets.com
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REVIEWS
The VERDICT If you like your drama as dark as espresso, the last few weeks in the theatre and cinema might have been tailor-made for you THE CARETAKER Bristol Old Vic, 9-30 September In Oliver Townsend’s cluttered explosion of a set, large pieces of furniture dangle perilously in midair, windows are set at odd, awkward angles, and a ladder leads precisely nowhere. We’re unsettled from the get-go. It takes a few minutes for us to spot the reclining figure of Mick on a top bunk, until he slinks down the ladder, paces about the room a bit, with edgy, feline grace, and leaves. Mick’s the landlord. He’s not a nice guy. His brother Aston is, but he’s also a bit odd and damaged, which is why he’s invited the itinerant Davies into his home. Perhaps Davies would like to stay on in the house, as caretaker? Perhaps. And that’s the plot, really. So what makes Harold Pinter’s dialogue-heavy, action-lite, 1960s threehander of a play so engrossing, and why did Bristol Old Vic choose to revive it in 2017? To start with, it’s darkly comic; at least, up to a point. “Beyond that point, it ceases to be funny, and it is because of that point I wrote it,” Pinter once said. In director Christopher Haydon’s hands, we’re never allowed to forget that we’re watching a tragedy; not only does Davies’s plight echo the homeless crisis, but the casting of Sierra Leone actor Patrice Naiambana neatly brings in the subtext of migration. Mick’s cat-and-mouse taunting of Davies is an uncomfortable echo of governmental xenophobia; never has Davies’s assertion that everything will be OK once he gets to Sidcup to retrieve his papers felt more relevant. But Davies isn’t the only loser. You just know that Mick’s jumped-up ambitions are all a bit doomed; he’s not without a certain pathos, either. Aston’s back-story is the most tragic of the lot, involving a history of mental illness and ECT; the only glimmer of humanity in this play is the tacit bond between these two very different brothers, who Davies fatally tries and fails to play off. With a cast of three there’s nowhere to hide, and in this production each actor more than punches above their weight. David Judge’s lithe, sadistic Mick extracts every ounce of sardonic humour from his lines; Jonathan Livingstone plays the dreamy, slow-witted Aston to straight32 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
man perfection, while Patrice Naiambana’s powerhouse of a central performance offers an unforgettable mixture of bluster and vulnerability. We may not empathise with this fundamentally dislikeable man, but we’re deeply unsettled by his predicament, and we pity him. Director Christopher Haydon mostly works with new plays, but this reimagining of a 1960s classic could hardly feel more timely or relevant. By Deri Robins ENCOUNTERS FILM FESTIVAL Watershed and Arnolfini, 19-24 September What do I love most about Encounters? Is it the bold programming that showcases films that never fail to surprise, test our taste, and show the world as it is, as it might be or even as it ought to be? The many virtual reality events this year offered a sure sign that filmmaking is as fresh, varied and exciting now as it was when first created over 100 years ago. Then there were the one-off specials, like Stuart Warren-Hills Holotronica 3D experience, experimenting with the way we view a film. Stuart’s making this ground-breaking new tech at Paintworks, keeping Bristol at the centre of innovative cool thinking and film production. Among my favourite films this year was Daphne by Peter Mackie Burns, from the Shorts to Features slot; the story of how a young woman negotiates the tricky, busy business of modern life. I spoke to Peter, who explained how he built the film around the main actor Emily Beecham, and allowed her to develop the character and performance. Daphne does not need a man to fix her, to damage her, guide her overtly or limit her; yes, she’s a mess, but that’s her life, by her choice. I’ve not enjoyed sharing the progress of a central character like this for a long time. Ugly by Nikita Diakur from Germany took me on a journey unlike any other in a short film for ages. No spoilers here, but on leaving the screening I overheard one couple sum up every reason to attend this festival next year and see films like this. “That last one, Ugly... I don’t know what it was about – but I loved it.” By Colin Moody
THE ADDAMS FAMILY 19-23 September Bristol Hippodrome This musical-of-the-film predictably spans the creepy and the kooky. With a new story that works as a sort-of-sequel to the stories, a now grown-up Wednesday Addams has done the unthinkable and fallen in-love with a ‘normal’ boy. The fish-outof-water comedy derives from Wednesday’s attempts to rein in her family’s oddities so that they give their blessing to her proposed unholy union. Musical clichés are turned on their head as morbidity is marvelled at, and the stars sing of darkness and horror. Sam Womack (pictured) is deliciously dark as Morticia, and Carrie Hope Fletcher is wonderfully full of woe as Wednesday; Dickon Gough almost steals the show as Lurch. Despite the underworld undertones and moonlit mayhem, the Addams are a positive family unit: while they may show it in a different way, they still love each other. And in today’s world seeing difference celebrated is a good thing. This danse macabre will leave you with a smile on your lips. By Tim Popple
From 3D to Daphne: the always groundbreaking Encounters
THE CARETAKER IS DARKLY COMIC – AT LEAST, UP TO A POINT
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33
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COSY CLUB
MISSING THE LONG SUMMER DAYS? OH, GET A GRIP. AUTUMN IS THE BEST SEASON BY FAR, WITH GORGEOUS NEW HUES, TASTES AND TEXTURES FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE 4
5
1. WHEN LIFE GIVES
2. THE CONSTANT READER
3. LET IT CHINE
4. CURRANT TREND
5. RE-BOOT
YOU LEMONS
Pin badges, £5.99 Autumn and winter = curling up in front of the woodburner with big, fat novels. Be out and proud with your love for all things literary with these pins, made by local designers UStudio for Waterstones From Waterstones www.ustudio.design
Dries van Noten silk scarf, £465 In hand-finished crêpe de chine, and guaranteed to lift the most ordinary jumper into the realm of the extraordinary From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street, Quakers Friars www.harveynichols.com
English Oak & Redcurrant Candle, £44
Redwing Moc Toe boot, £249 The original work boot style, carefully oiled by SB Foot Tanning Company, in the most gorgeously autumnal russet hue From Maze 26 The Mall, Clifton www.mazeclothing.co.uk
Smashed Lemon dress, £64.99 Shop-owner Hemali has sourced the perfect, flattering dress in beautiful autumnal hues; we see you wearing this one a lot From Amulet 39A Cotham Hill, Bristol www.amuletboutique.co.uk
36 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
The forest at dawn. The juicy bite of redcurrant, enveloped in roasted oak. It’s basically an autumnal forest in a candle From Jo Malone Quakers Friars www.jomalone.co.uk
6
ED’S CHOICE
SHOPPING 7
8
9 10
6. SHEAR CLASS
7. FEEL THE LEAH AND BUY
8. AMBER NECTAR
9. DON’T TELL SHAUN . . .
10. ORANGE AID
Baum Und Pferdgarten Berwyn Jacket, £269
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Bristol Urban Honey, £6.95 Bees in the City promotes urban beekeeping, producing honey from bees that fly just hundreds of yards away from Papadeli From Papadeli 84 Alma Road, Bristol www.papadeli.co.uk
Sheepskin, £80 From a South West tannery where skilled craftsmen use traditional processing techniques handed down over 200 years. You know your home needs one From Midgley Green 26 Alexandra Rd, Clevedon www.midgleygreen.com
Desk lamp, £72 The Anglepoise is an absolute design classic and has been endlessly imitated; we love the bright orange pop of this version by Task From Pod Company 24 The Mall, Clifton www.thepodcompany. co.uk
Craving the warmth of shearling, but with the edginess of leather, in fashionable blush pink? You’re welcome From Grace & Mabel 32 The Mall, Clifton www.graceandmabel.co.uk
Leah clutch, £99 Smooth Bordeaux suede in gorgeous mahogany, with asymmetric front flap; it comes with a chic silver chain shoulder strap (annoyingly not shown) From Mint Velvet 44 Regent Street, Bristol www.mintvelvet.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk II CLIFTON BRISTOL LIFE LIFE II 37 www.mediaclash.co.uk 69
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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
They came; they opened on Cotham Hill; they conquered. Pasta Loco won the hearts of Bristol foodies everywhere from the get-go, and now cousins Ben Harvey and Dom Borel – Ben’s the head chef, Dom’s one of the best FOHs in the city – are opening a new ravioli restaurant in Old City next month. It’s still very much a family affair, though Well, Pasta Loco has been a bit of a triumph! Were you surprised to discover how blown away everyone was? Totally taken by surprise – to be honest, Ben and I didn’t know what to expect. I think we had so much on our plate [!!] that we just didn’t get around to thinking about people’s response. What’s the secret of your success? I think you have to have a wealth of mixed experience within hospitality. You need to have gone through the ups and downs, and really learned from them. You also need to know how to understand and respect the people you work with. It also needs to feel natural; ultimately, you need to love it, really love it.
Tell us who does what in the restaurant . . . Ben’s the man. His passion really guided Loco to where we are today. His curious mind led the kitchen team into discovering some great dishes. So now he guides Konrad, Frankie and Nick on their journeys with food. It’s great to watch and be a part of. Myself, I keep an eye on the front, making sure the small details of good service are applied, but just as importantly, making sure the atmosphere is what it should be – fun and relaxed, with a delicate presence of professionalism. Our manager Ruth Bolton keeps me and the staff in check, basically steering the ship on a daily basis. It’s a great family, and very, very Loco. You’re opening a ravioli restaurant, Pasta Ripiena in November – discuss! Like, why ravioli? Ravioli is fun, as is all stuffed pasta, which we will offer sooner or later. There is so much you can do with it, and there is nowhere in Bristol that currently offers such a unique and simple idea, but one that’s so delicious. And why Old City? To be honest, it was actually an area we were avoiding; we wanted to be in an up-and-coming area, but the Old City seemed so suitable for us. There’s a lot happening around there, and we’re surrounded by some of our friends and family. We feel a ravioli bar will go down a storm, and bring something fresh to the centre. How many covers will it have? Roughly 24, including a few bar seats. I think this is where you’ll be able to find Ben and myself. . . Will it be very similar to Loco in the level of cooking? With Joe Harvey heading up the kitchen (my cousin, Ben’s brother and ex-head chef of Bellita) the food will be slightly more refined, more tapas-style, and very, very delicious. What’s the décor going to be like? Similar to Loco – lots of wood, but a little more green. It’s really exciting; we have Mike Harvey (Ben and Joe’s father, my uncle) in charge of this, as he was with Loco and the initial designs are looking fantastic.
40 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
FOOD & DRINK
WITH A HIP, HOP . . . We get the distinct impression that if Jon ‘Grillstock’ Finch isn’t stoking his wood-fired barbie, he’s quaffing his home-brew, a scenario which the photo right seems to confirm. Following his Grillstock book, Jon’s just brought out a book dedicated to making and enjoying damn good craft beer at home. Inside you’ll find all things beery, from cocktails to recipes (Belgium cherry beer glazed pork tenderloin followed by stout chocolate cake, anyone?) Look out for a few choice recipes in our next issue; meanwhile, go forth and purchase the book, published by Little Brown at £14.99 hardback. Bet you know a Christmas stocking that’s gagging for one.
BUTTER WOULDN’T MELT Tell us about head chef Joe . . . Joe began like the rest of us, being brought up in a family with lots of kids running around and the kitchen always buzzing – needless to say, the house always smelt fantastic. His career began, like most chef’s, as a kitchen porter at the young age of 14 – this was at Riverstation. He then moved around a few places before ending up with Sam Sohn-Rethel in Manna and Prego, before moving into the newly re-established Bell’s Diner in Montpelier, where he really came into his own. Joe and older brother and sister Ben and Clarrie began a very popular pop-up in St Werburghs, called Café Mulino. While this continued, Joe was given his opportunity as head chef at Bellita, Bell’s younger sister restaurant, where he became an award-winning chef for the venue. And now Joe, with the Loco boys, will open Rupieno – Bristol’s first stuffed pasta bar. Get us excited by telling us about a possible few dishes . . . A sample from the small-plate menu would be the Duroc pork ribs, slowly cooked in Marsala served with sage and quince aioli. A ravioli dish might be cacio e pepe with wild mushrooms and truffle butter – simple, but so delicious. A sweeter example would be the rosewater, cardamom and yoghurt panna cotta with pistachio praline. These dishes may change depending on how many Negronis Joe has had, but you get the gist. . .
Another week, another new restaurant – this time, we welcomed Buttermilk and Maple, the alluringly-named new offering within Mercure Bristol’s Brigstow branch. The menu is squarely sophisti-comfort, offering ‘breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and everything between and after’, and they pride themselves on their flexibility – so if you want a Bloody Mary with your truffled eggs or shakshouka, cocktails and cake or steak and chips with coffee at midnight, that’s no problem at all. There’s an extensive drinks menu, too, including Bristol-themed cocktails such as a Cider Kiss – gin, passion fruit and cider – for £8.50. For more: www.buttermilkandmaple.com
Muesli with your margarita, madam? No problemo
For more www.pastaloco.co.uk
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D N A R IN A W BO O D EN IL M W GA
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FOOD & DRINK
JOSH EGGLETON,
FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION THAT, JOSH . . .
Chef pat ron
YES, CHEF! Melon turnips, collett, acocha cucumbers and other stuff we’ve never heard of; autumn brings an amazing bounty – or as Pony gardener Tim would have it, ‘kit’ . . .
T
he changing of the seasons is always an interesting time for any chef; it’s a great opportunity to shake things up, develop menus and experiment with different produce and concepts. Autumn brings with it an amazing bounty, and The Pony’s garden is full of produce right now. Our gardener Tim calls it ‘kit’, and in Tim’s world there’s a lot of kit in our garden at the moment. There are melon turnips, collett, acocha cucumbers, runner beans, inca berries, marbled aubergines, kohlrabi, tree spinach, lots of seeds and grains and loads of apples, pears and plums – I could go on! While we may have an excellent crop now, 2018 is going to be even better, as Tim has been hard at work on next year’s yields. He’s even got rid of all fertilisers, and planted companion plants that attract insects away from the wanted produce. The key to seasonal cooking is being open-minded and not being afraid to use ingredients that you’d never used or heard of before. There’s lots of interesting produce out there so get down to your local grocers and try it. You can also get some Christmas booze prep out of the way in the autumn. Sloes and damsons are now ripe for picking and go great with spirits like gin or vodka. George and the team at the Pony are doing this now; just steep the berries with sugar in the booze from now until Christmas, and you’re good to go. From the coast, we’re currently getting a lot of sea buckthorn from our forager Chris at Bello Wild Food, which we’re preserving for the winter months, and working on a number
of dishes including pre-desserts and a festive take on chocolate orange. We’re also looking at using it in some cured fish dishes. Out in the skies and fields, there’s lots of incredible game to be had around autumn time. Partridge season has also just started. A very traditional game bird with a great depth of flavour, these make for an excellent alternative to roast chicken on a Sunday, but be sure to keep an eye on it and baste regularly as they can go dry if you don’t give them the attention they deserve. Venison is a great autumnal dish and we’ve just taken a delivery of an incredible 40kg of sika deer. You can do so much with this animal; we made venison faggots with the shoulder, roasted the loin, seamed the legs to roast, slow-cooked and pressed the belly and made a braised-neck ragu which we accompanied with a potato foam for a take on hunter’s pie. Autumn is also a great time of the year for foraging and we recently picked a huge stash of field mushrooms from a 70 acre site. It wasn’t just mushrooms, either; we picked loads of blackberries, watercress and even wild mint. Foraging aside, this autumn has got off to a cracking start. I recently attended the 2018 UK Michelin Guide ceremony and I’m happy to say that The Pony & Trap retained its Michelin Star status. A big moment in the ceremony was seeing my good friend Peter Sanchez Iglesias and his mum and dad get a star for Paco Tapas – that’s his second, after Casamia, and I’m so happy to see him have such success. For more: www.theponyandtrap.co.uk
. . . because we also wanted to give a MASSIVE shoutout to Paco Tapas for winning its Michelin star – not only a triumph for the Sanchez Iglesias family, but an achievement that boosts Bristol’s Michelin count to four from three. Huge congratulations, team. For more www.pacotapas.co.uk
LAST NIGHT A BHAJHEE SAVED MY LIFE Listen up to your local DJ: we unleash Kam on Bristol’s curry houses
KAM KELLY Question. Do you eat the same meal at a curry house on date night as you would do on a lads-the-lads-the-lads’ night with... the lads? My mate Tony says yes. I say, absolutely not. Firstly, a curry with the lads is just a continuation of a night out that you’ve already had, with the added bonus that food may sustain you to extend that night even further, after you’ve mopped your face with hot towels. A curry with your partner, however, is most definitely a date. For a lads’ night out, it’s any given place that serves curry, ideally within walking/stumbling distance from the last ale stop. Lads etiquette dictates that it needs to be as hot as humanely possible, washed down with more beer. On date night, however, I will take my partner (who understands, but doesn’t respect, lads-the-lads-thelads etiquette) to Nutmeg in
Clifton. I never go super-spicy there because it’s ‘date night’. Sweating profusely in front of a date and saying things like “*@@**!! that is *&*ng HOT!” just borders unromantic. Anyway, Nutmeg’s sheek kebabs are sublime. Next level! As a rule, your sheek is a dry beast, but Nutmeg’s are juicy and lush and moreish. Plus, the place itself lends itself to a romantic night. So, if you want to sweat and be unsightly in front of the ladsthe-lads-the-lads, go where you want; I can think of a million places in and around our city. Please share your thoughts on your favourite with me at haventsetupany emailaccountforthis@ anywhere.unfortunately. And always remember: “enjoy curry responsibly”. Kam Kelly’s breakfast show, every weekday from 6am, Sam FM Bristol, 106.5fm
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 43
“Home of the world famous dirty, dirty fries!�
69-71 Gloucester road, Bristol, BS7 8AS | 07830 188054
| thehob.bristol@gmail.com
CHRISTMAS PA R T I E S
TALKING TURKEY Well, somebody has to. It really is high-time you booked that Christmas party – we won’t tell you again
46 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
W
e gave you fair warning two issues ago, but did you listen? Did you hell. And now look – all your colleagues/ friends/family have elected you as the Chosen One, with the responsibility of booking the best possible venue for the Christmas bash. So here, once more with feeling, are some of the tastiest festive options in Bristol.
Bambalan
What could be more appropriate at Christmas than a menu inspired by the Middle East? The vibrant, cheerful and colourful Bam has a well-priced Christmas lunch for £19.95, dinner for £24.95: mezzes to share, followed by spiced duck, rotisserie lamb or a pumpkin and chickpea terrine, and don’t miss the pomegranate pavlova. Hardcore smokers (or only-because-it’s-Christmas cigar-puffers) will enjoy the covered terrace. www.bambalan.co.uk
Milk Thistle
Even at the height of June, The Milk Thistle looks positively festive; it’s that clubby, deep-buttoned mahogany leather, taxidermy vibe – so it makes a total cinch for anyone wanting an atmospheric venue. There’s space for up to 130 – you can hire it exclusively or they can offer hire of the separate areas, feeding between 16-80 people. Choose from
Hyde & Co’s interiors could have been designed for Christmas, both at The Ox (left) and Milk Thistle, where the cocktails are as good as any in the city Mine’s an eggnog please, bartender
the £15 canape cocktail menu, the £20-£28 buffet or the full-on £39.50 three-course dinner; maybe kick off with a deep-fried globe artichoke and follow with the turkey? Your call. Well, obviously. www.milkthistlebristol.com
nutmeg
Spice up your Christmas at this superior, authentic Indian, which is offering its favourite dishes from mild butter chicken to more fiery lal mass handi, in a three-course feast with drinks, £32-£35.
Even at the height of June, Milk Thistle
looks positively festive
www.nutmegbristol.com
Pata Negra
Tapas are made for jolly festive sharing. Pata can cater for up to 300 people, or smaller groups. Food-wise, choose from the tapas feast (£28), or a selection of pintxos at £2 each; great for veggies who generally get palmed off with two choices at most Xmas set lunches, ie “You can have the leek risotto, or you can p*ss off”. www.patanegrabristol.com
Pieminister
Comfort and joy on a plate, with four festive pie specials turned into a winter pie party (£15), with buttery mash, minted peas or spiced red cabbage and a festive pimp stick (you heard). Puds include mince-pie ice-cream, and groups over six get a free bottle of Prosecco; better order a second or fifth too, we reckon. Or book for the Gatsby Party: flappers! Showgirls! Pies! (£48). www.pieminister.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 47
CHRISTMAS PA R T I E S THE OX
At the sexy, Prohibition-style, ruby-red, woodpanelled Corn Street branch, dinner and lunch (£29.50-£39.50) is the same as the Milk Thistle’s; hire the whole gaff for £80, or the Green Room for 30 guests. The Clifton branch is ideal for groups of all sizes; the same-price menu is slightly different but with the same focus on simple, top-notch British fare; these guys are famed for their steaks, so we’re having the 75-day dry-aged rump with triple-cooked chips and bone-marrow gravy, please. www.theoxbristol.com
THE ROSE OF DENMARK
Welcoming, cosy, homely and traditional, the Hotwells favourite is ideal for big groups. The Buddha room can seat up to 14 around one giant table while the old cellar/scullery has been lovingly restored with original vaulted ceilings and glassed covered barrel drop – a great space that can easily seat 35/40 guest. Lunches start from £19, dinner £23- £29 per head; expect the classics, but also options such as black pudding and ham hock croquettes followed by Somerset cider-braised pork belly. Don’t miss the homemade desserts, including the clementine and forest berry iced roulade with hazelnut tuile. www.roseofdenmark.co.uk
SHOP3 BISTRO
Winner of the Crumbs Award for Best Newcomer, this adorably bijou Clifton bistro run by Kathryn and Stephen is ideal for discerning foodies. Three private dining areas can cater for groups of 6-20, or opt for whole-venue hire for larger groups. The three-course Christmas menu (£34, with discounts for groups over six) is looking rather beautiful, with starters such as Chew Valley smoked salmon, crayfish mousseline, celeriac remoulade, caper and shallot dressing; mains of Dartmoor venison or hay-roasted turkey breast, pigs in blankets, mulled red cabbage, stuffing, cranberry and crab apple jelly; and desserts such as rum-and-raisin bread-and-butter pudding, salted
caramel ice-cream and Redland honeycomb – Bristol’s own amber nectar. www.shop3bistro.co.uk
YURT LUSH
IT’S A VERY
MERRY CRAFTSMAS, WITH BEER STRAIGHT FROM THE TANKS OF THE ONSITE BREWERY
Find 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. The low-ceilinged spaces are intimate and buzzy, while the DJ in the main yurt can be heard throughout the rooms. The team can provide standard or bespoke packages; being positioned right next to Temple Meads means that public transport is easy for partygoers. The Christmas set menu (£20-£23) features vodka-cured salmon from the Chew Valley Smokehouse (they swear it’s the best you’ll ever taste); Christmas roasts such as salt marsh lamb belly with garlic and anchovy stuffing, smoked bacon and coconut haricot stew. Hearty, tasty and locally sourced from the South West; rustic, fun, unorthodox, sustainable; Brizzle to the core. www.eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk/yurtlush
ZERO DEGREES
It’s a very Merry Craftsmas at Zero, with beer served straight from the tanks of the on-site brewery, including Christmas small-batch specials. The menu’s looking well-priced and interesting; maybe kick off with arancini or mussels, and follow with a Christmas ale stew or Moroccan tagine and a selection of puds (£19.95 lunch, £22.95-£25.95 dinner). www.zerodegrees.co.uk
Need we caption this up? Really? Pieminister – as if you needed to be told 48 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
CHRISTMAS PA R T I E S
The Yurt. It’s lush. Right, mixing it at Pata
GET THIS PARTY STARTED Fancy a side order of quirky with your turkey? Here are some more unusual options, along with those that offer a damn good party as well as dinner Aerospace Bristol, Hayes Way, Patchway Fancy dining under the wings of Concorde? Bristol’s newest museum can cater for up to 500 guests for a three-course meal under the wings of the supersonic one, or drinks on the balcony; you also get a private viewing of the museum. www.aerospacebristol.org
Bristol Harbour Hotel, Corn Street, Old City Built during an era when banks were designed like temples, the soaring ceiling and ornate columns of Sansovino Hall are just a bit jawdropping. A three-course menu with ‘festive novelties’ culminates in a DJ set (£49.95). Splash out on a room, and you won’t need a taxi home. www.bristol-harbour-hotel.co.uk/Christmas
Bristol Zoo, Clifton Down Choose the two-course lunch (£29.50), with a zoo quiz and a stocking stuffed with Christmas novelties – animal masks, people! – followed by a stroll around the animal enclosures; or the three course dinner and DJ; £39.50-£45. www.bristolzoo.org.uk/venue-hire
Fairytale of New York, Passenger Shed Hype’s large-scale Christmas parties vie with Spiegeltent to be the biggest and glitziest in town, offering more fun than the average person can handle. Previous themes have included Lapland and Prohibition; this year, groups from 8 to 720 will witness a suspended Brooklyn Bridge, a 3D NY skyline, a customer build brick Hype Rock Café complete with side set of the back alleys and fire escapes, snowy Central Park and a yellow cab photo booth. Altogether: “It was Christmas Eve, babe…” www.hypeagency.co.uk
M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road Little Helpers will lead you through a magical world of candy canes and nutcrackers ready to your Christmas feast. Choose between the three-course Candy Cane lunch (£38.50); Nutcracker two-course dinner in the café or studio with DJ until 1am (£42); or Santa’s Workshop up on the rooftop terrace (£48.50)
ss Great Britain, Gas Ferry Road Shipshape and thoroughly Bristol-fashion parties are held on the historic ship; there’s a wide range of options, from exclusive dinners and parties to a special Captain’s Dinner, which promises a journey of Victorian opulence with four-course fine-dining followed by a tour of the ship, £55. There’s even a murder mystery party if that’s your thang. www.ssgreatbritain.org
Watershed, 1 Canon’s Road, Harbourside Want to pick up an Oscar for your partyplanning skillz? How about your own bespoke James Bond, Harry Potter, Top Gun, Star Wars or other film-themed bash? The guys are poised to put on an A-list night to remember – just pick your theme, and they’ll source the props and décor, as well as delivering fizz, a festive buffet and a pop-up snack bar with pick’n’mix sweets and popcorn. £50 a head. www.watershed.co.uk
www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed
The Spiegeltent, Waterfront Square, Unique, legendary and decadent, parties run throughout December within this historic travelling ‘tent’ filled with rich mahogany, foxed mirrors, stained-glass and sexy boothed seating. Christmas parties include a threecourse festive dinner, live acts, a live band, a DJ until late. Dress to the nines, then go further.
We The Curious, Anchor Road Never mind the goose; take a Christmassy gander at the revamped and rebranded centre at the Winter Wonder Lab; after a glass of bubbly you can get your science on at interactive exhibits before tucking into a festive feast and afterparty, which also has access to the rooftop terrace overlooking the sparkly, beautiful city. Ah, Bristol.
www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk
www.wethecurious.org
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a d v ertisi n g fe at u re f o o d a n d d r i n k
Meet the Caterer Can’t cook, won’t cook? Got an event coming up? Who you gonna call...?
Kate Ploughman
SIMON Macdonnell
What is the best part of your job? I love the variety that event catering brings. One week we could be catering for a wedding in a marquee for 100 people, then the next week we could be catering in an office kitchen for a high end business lunch. Variety is the spice of life!
Tell us about your chefs Brilliant, talented, original, full of fabulous ideas. I think they’re the best in the business. They have a way of adding something to everything they do to make it all stand out.
Kates Kitchen Catering Ltd Tel 0117 3308189 www.kateskitchenbristol.co.uk
Where does the food come from? Our main ethos is sourcing food responsibly. We use local food as much as we can. Our meat is from The Story which is free range. All our dairy is from the West Country and we use English vegetables as much as possible – we do this by cooking with the beautiful English seasons. How long have you been in the catering business? I have been in catering since the age of 14 as a kitchen porter, and am still going 23 years on! Do you offer themed menus? Yes, with Christmas around the corner we are busy creating menus for our busy festive season ahead.
Papadeli Tel 0117 973 6569 www.papadeli.co.uk
Does Papadeli have a signature dish? We have always been into big flavours and sharing food. Our wedding feasts – lots of big chunky wooden boards and bowls full of multicoloured vegetables, spices and flavour, heaped dishes of tender, slow cooked meats. And our canapés. They go down very well indeed. Where does the food come from? We know pretty much all our suppliers and only source from small, artisan producers. We’re not into anything massproduced or processed. What sets you apart from any other caterers? We won’t cut corners. We want customers to genuinely enthuse about our food as that is what makes an event really memorable. We won’t serve anything that we wouldn’t feel excited about sharing with our own friends or family.
Mike Pudsey
Rachel Best
What is the best part of your job? Every day is different, and reacting to the seasons is a great way to keep me experimenting with fresh ingredients from my allotment and brilliant local suppliers.
What is the best part of your job? Getting welcomed into peoples homes to cater dinner parties and being able to watch them enjoy our creations is a great instant reward.
Pudsey Catering Tel 0117 9421 478 www.pudseycatering.com
What would you say is the most important part of the service you give? I pride myself on being able to tailor menus to suit each customer. It gives me some fun coming up with some new dishes as well. Do you specialise in certain cuisines? We take inspiration globally with dishes from Asia, Spain, Africa and more... but personally I love modern British dishes, I think it’s important to play to your produce. All of our menu will use seasonal produce where available, and if we can sub in an item because it’s fresher then we definitely will. What sets you apart from any other caterers? We deliver fresh, honest and great-tasting food at incredible prices. We also run our award winning popup restaurant Durty Gurties Dining Room!
Yummy Scrummy Catering Tel 01454 854 963 www.yummyscrummycatering. co.uk
Who inspires you? I think Instagram is a great modern tool for inspiration. I like to follow local chefs, a favourite of mine is Peter at Casamia. What is your signature dish? Dark chocolate fondant and homemade honeycomb ice-cream What would you say is the most important part of the service you give? Personal touch. We are there from the initial booking with the client right up to the cooking and serving. Do you create the menu from scratch or do you provide set packages? We have set menus but we do create bespoke menus on request and these can have a theme or just a favourite flavour. How long have you been in the catering business? Yummy Scrummy is about to enter its 5th year.
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 51
SPORT
OLLY ROBINSON Back Row
HEAR THEM ROAR
THE RUGBY PLAYED IN THE TEST MATCHES CAN BE AS PHYSICAL, FEARSOME, BEAUTIFUL AND HEART-WRENCHING AS ANY SPORT WORLDWIDE
The Lions are about to go on tour: bring it on . . .
T
PIC (CREDIT IS JMPUK)
here is a feeling that a rugby fan gets once every four years. It’s difficult to describe, but it’s akin to the feeling a kid gets on Christmas Eve. Yes, I’m talking about the emotions and excitement when the British and Irish Lions are about to embark on a tour of one of the three Southern Hemisphere giants, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. To be invited on a Lions tour is the pinnacle of any player’s career. Young boys dream of running out to the chorus of ‘Lions, Lions, Lions’, while older men save for months to be able to be part of the crowd singing and following their team. The rugby played in the test matches can be as physical, fearsome, beautiful and heartwrenching as any sport, played in any arena, worldwide. However, despite an overwhelming love for the famous red jersey among the rugby public in Great Britain and Ireland, there is a growing uncertainty about the Lions tour and
Bristol Rugby v Richmond
its place in the modern game. Historically, Lions tours have been lengthy affairs. In the 1950s, players would have to take up to six months off work to take part. In today’s fast-paced industry, an eight-week tour is deemed too much for professional players, especially when added onto the end of a 42-week season. I’ve spoken about the importance of time away from the physical and mental battering in a previous issue, and these are the top players from the northern hemisphere, all of whom will have played 22 games for their clubs, as well as eight internationals. So, to add on another 10 of the most intense games of their lives looks like too much. Injuries are commonplace on a Lions tour. The harsh reality is that the 38 players who begin the tour are unlikely to finish it. Coaches then have to make decisions in order to replace these injured players – decisions that can often be scrutinised heavily by the public, such as Warren Gatland’s decision in 2017 to call up
six players due to their close proximity to New Zealand. Some argued that he had damaged the sanctity of the Lions, particularly because there were perceived to be better players playing elsewhere. I am incredibly proud to say that my dad, Andy Robinson, has experienced three Lions tours, one as a player and two as a coach. My family still have the lifesized cuddly lion awarded to those who have been a part of a successful Lions tour, as my dad was in 1989; an incredible achievement. Twelve years later, as a 10-year-old, I went to support him and the Lions in 2001, and the memories made while following the final two tests will stay with me forever. As has often been the case in the professional era, the Lions were finally defeated 2-1 in that test series; however, the sea of red shirts crossing the bridge out of Sydney Olympic Park, and Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish voices happily singing the night away, not only still gives me goosebumps, but also reminds me in hard times of how special rugby is to so many people. The latest Lions tour to New Zealand in June was particularly memorable for the incredible quality of rugby produced in the test series; a series that finally ended in a draw, but which was full of the twists and turns that all sport of the highest level should contain. In my opinion, the Lions tour cannot be scrapped. I believe anyone who has been a part of playing, coaching or lucky enough to be able to follow a tour will agree with me that it is the most important date on the rugby calendar. For certain, there needs to be changes in the management of players, but this can be done by clubs in the season leading up to, and following, a Lions tour. The fun and excitement of a tour is incredibly important for rugby; I know my best mates have already started saving for South Africa 2021 and I’m sure they won’t be alone. Bring on Cape Town. Follow Olly on Twitter at @ollyrobbo
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 53
ALL INFERTILITY TREATMENTS OFFERED INCLUDING IUI, IVF and ICSI
Bristol Open Evening Thursday 16th November 7:30 Please book in via the website or telephone the clinic
CRGW’s two independent centres offer the latest scientific technology and facilities needed for all fertility treatments. CRGW Bristol is located adjacent to the M4/ M5 intersection (M5 J16). CRGW Cardiff is located at M4 J34, only 15 minutes from Cardiff City centre
We pride ourselves in placing patients before profit to enable affordable, cost effective treatment options while maintaining the best pregnancy rates. Options include: • IUI • IVF • ICSI • EmbryoScope time lapse monitoring • Embryo freezing • Egg freezing • Donor egg and donor sperm treatments • Female fertility assessments • Sperm tests • Sperm freezing • Surgical sperm retrieval Fertility consultation (60 minutes) £150, includes:
Dr Amanda O`Leary MBChB, MRCOG, MD
Consultation Pelvic ultrasound scan of uterus and ovaries including antral follicle count (and doppler if applicable) Sperm test with same day results One pre-treatment follow up appointment
QUESTIONS? Ask a question about infertility or fertility treatment options and our expert panel will answer. Submit questions via the website Ask an Expert button.
OPEN EVENINGS Open evenings Join us at our free monthly open evenings in Bristol or Cardiff for a tour and presentations from fertility experts. We offer open evening’s specific for same sex couples and single women also. Ask questions on a one-to-one basis. Alternatively we can arrange an informal personal tour where your questions can be answered. FREE SPERM TESTING CRGW offers free sperm testing days in Bristol and Cardiff. Visit the web site to find the next available date and book yourself in.
Bristol: 01174 409999 | Cardiff: 01443 443999 | www.crgw.co.uk | info@crgw.co.uk
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Miety Stone Limited Hillmans Transport Depot, Chelwood Bridge, Chelwood, Bristol, BS39 4NJ
Bristol Life team 01225 475800
Adventures in party-going
SNAPPED! AC ROS S B R IS TO L , O N E S H I N D I G AT A T I M E
Beyond compère: ‘mind-reader who doesn’t read minds’ Chris Cox blew our tiny little foodie minds
FOODIES IN FROCKS It’s only the very first Crumbs Awards! Well, not everyone was in frocks, we can’t all be Grayson Perry. But didn’t Bristol’s foodies scrub up well? Mind-reading Chris Cox amused and bemused us, while the grace and beauty of Bristol Old Vic managed to rise above the rowdy cheering – yes, even from the Upper Circle. For all the winners see www.crumbsmag.com Photos www.ferlapaolo.com w Look at all those excited little faces: Team MediaClash prepare to welcome guests
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 57
SOCIETY
Mediaclash’s Justine, Deri, Lisa and Lorena toast the winners
Continued from page 57 Kalpna Woolf and Sam Goldsmith Alivia Howell and Monse Buitrago
Rosie Godwin, Polly Atkielan, Shonette Laffy, Caroline Peel, Natalie Brereton, Frankie Wallington and Meg Pope
Tom Herbert and Dawn Hawkins
Hey there, Ms Laura Rawlings! Seated next to Ben White
Nell Robins and Claudia Butler
Nina Perry and Peter Milton
Laura Dodds and Marti Burgess 58 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
SOCIETY
Bethanie Whereatt, Ben Gatt and friend
Noya Pawlyn and Anne-Marie Osmond
Pete Axford and Maria Badel
Trevor Gilham, Kate Authers and Vicky Gilham Ellie Curshen and friends
Jon Simon and friends
Larkin Cen (centre) and pals
Kate Holland-Smith, Josie Clifford and Harry Calvert
w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 59
SOCIETY
Continued from page 59
Kathryn Curtis and Stephen Gilchrist
Heather Munro and Nik Read
Polly, Pam and Olivia from Pam Lloyd PR
Team Poco: Emma Hesom, Tom Hunt and Jennifer Best Madeleine Joanes, Claire Warren and Alistair Taylor
Mark Vicary and guest
Stephanie Dodd and Jessica Carter
Meg Pope, Russel Allen and Frankie Wallington
60 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Rob Dacey and friends
CLUB CLASS The most popular Bristol Life business club ever, by the length of a batteryoperated rabbit, was held in the glorious Sansovino Hall at Bristol Harbour Hotel. To find out more, turn to page 74 . . . Photos www.leondayimages.com
Daniel Tapson and William Wood
Andrew James, Roger Isaacs and Jonny West
Xxxxxx
Louise Kelly and David Ayres
Hannah Sparrow and Jonathan Oddy
Emma Stenning, Deri Robins and Mal Rogers
Shake-ups/launches/intel/promotions
B R IS TO L G E T S S ER I O US
PRIVATE BANKING
QUOTE OF THE ISSUE
A QUESTION OF HERITAGE
“I’VE NOTICED MALE COLLEAGUES STORMING IN TO ‘SAVE THE DAY’ IF I’VE SHARED A CONCERN”
If Bond had a bank, it would have to be Arbuthnot Latham & Co
A
rbuthnot Latham & Co Limited, the private, commercial banking and wealth management arm of the Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC, celebrated the opening of a new office in Bristol with a launch party at the Aston Martin showroom at Cribbs Causeway. The event was themed to celebrate the Best of British, to reflect Arbuthnot Latham’s rich heritage. In its early years, the company thrived as a merchant of produce from India, such as cotton, tea and jute. Adapting with the times, it also expanded into lending and finance. Celebrating all things British, where better to host the launch event than at Aston Martin, which was founded in 1913. A rich and prestigious heritage defines Aston Martin as something truly unique within automotive history. As a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers, Aston Martin has long been regarded as a British cultural icon. Arbuthnot Latham have had a presence in the South West for over 20 years, and have recently expanded their Exeter office, moving to a new premises based at the Senate in the heart of the city. The new Bristol office will be led by two new recruits in the form of
senior private bankers, Mark Lucas and Courtney Kerkin, extending the bank’s footprint for existing and prospective clients based in and around Bristol and the M4 corridor. Mark Lucas and Courtney Kerkin join Arbuthnot Latham from Duncan Lawrie private bank in Bristol where they were private client directors. Previously, Mark also held roles at Credit Suisse, Coutts and Lloyds, whilst Courtney held roles at Clydesdale Bank and Barclays. “We established a presence in the South West from Exeter in 1994 and since then we have increased our footprint significantly across the region; Bristol seemed to us to be the next logical step,” said Ian.
For more www.arbuthnotlatham.co.uk
Is casual sexism still a thing in Bristol business? See page 66
750k THE BIG NUMBER
The sq ft of office space occupied by law firms in Bristol – the city tops the UK table in terms of total legal office space For more www. totumpartners.com/insights/ regional-powerhouses
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
FEMME SQUAD What’s it like being a woman in business in Bristol 2017? Is it still a man’s world out there? Why are women still talking about the ‘home-work balance’, when hardly anyone asks the men about this? How flexible are the bosses? Is casual sexism still a thing? Oh, don’t ask us; let’s ask them . . . By L I SA WA R R E N
W
hile Bristol tops those ‘best places to live and work in the UK’ polls with almost monotonous regularity, a recent analysis by the National Centre for Social Research found – shock, horror! – that it scores relatively badly for women. As Bristol doesn’t seem to have hindered any of the female powerhouses featured below, we asked: how is being based here working out for you? How difficult is it to balance work and home? And was Joe Jackson’s mum right after all when she said it was different for girls?
ANNA WILSON
PARTNER AND FAMILY LAWYER AT BARCAN KIRBY I love living and working in Bristol. It’s relatively small, but large enough to provide everything I need. The legal community is very supportive, as are my colleagues, from the partners to my HR and family law team members. The only real negative for me is a lack of time – not only can it be difficult to get everything done, it’s also a constant battle to achieve the right work/life balance.
I NEED TO MULTITASK AND
I specialise in strategic and operational HR, meaning that I need to multitask and manage very difficult and demanding roles in my professional life. Alongside this, I have two young children and an equally important role to play at home. As a woman, this gives me the ability to understand and empathise with staff who are also balancing family life and their career – which is one reason why the firm is so keen to support and encourage flexible and agile working. I think it’s important to take the time to reconcile a setback. I try not to dwell on the past, or an unexpected sequence of events, preferring to turn my attention to problem-solving. I believe in taking a positive and constructive approach to everything I do, both personally and professionally, to work hard to make improvements, build on what I’ve achieved and, where necessary, find a better solution. www.barcankirby.co.uk 66 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
MANAGE VERY DEMANDING ROLES IN MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE Anna Wilson
WOMEN IN BUSINESS NINA WHITTAKER
CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER AT STRATTON CRAIG I love Bristol; I can walk to work, and to almost everywhere else I need to go. It’s great physically, but also mentally – starting the day off at my own pace makes a huge difference to me. I find the businesses and people in the South West are more relaxed and open to ideas and suggestions. There seems to be an appetite for sharing knowledge here, and also a sense of unity in making Bristol a hub of creativity and excellence. I’ve also found the pace of life and work here to be steadier than London’s. We’ve made some of our best hires since moving to Bristol. There is a lot of young, creative talent here, and also senior people looking to take a step back from big-city living. It’s brought a great mix of skills as well as a lovely culture to the office. I can actually imagine buying a property here soon, which was never a financial possibility for me in London. It also feels like I have a better opportunity to be a working mum here one day. I always felt that the pressure of London would have hindered me a little. Bonita Walters
BONITA WALTERS
PARTNER AND HEAD OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION AT BURROUGHS DAY SOLICITORS I escaped the rat race in London and live in the countryside just outside Bristol. It was a good move, even though I have to drive in every day.
Bristol has all my favourite parts of London – the foodie scene, the arts, and plenty of festivals and events. But it also has what London was lacking w Nina Whittaker
It makes no difference whether you are male or female in the legal profession. In my firm, we have equal numbers of male and female partners. I can understand, however, that some women may prefer to deal with a female lawyer if, for example, they are going through a divorce or facing family issues concerning children. I have not experienced any sexism. In my line of work, clients want the right person for the job regardless of gender. I see setbacks as things that are not meant to be. I like to think that every time I overcome a problem, I become that little bit stronger. Work and home life don’t necessarily have to compete with each other. There are always evenings and weekends. I have from time to time worked well beyond office hours, but I try to avoid that, and I am reaching the age that if I do this too often, I will have to lie down for a few days afterwards to recover. In a parallel universe I would play the piano and cello all day, every day. www.burroughsday.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 67
WOMEN IN BUSINESS – the countryside and coast within half an hour, the lively harbourside, and a city full of friendly people with a genuine zest for life. As an account manager, interacting with people, managing expectations and having difficult conversations when needed are central to my role. Managing these situations with finesse and grace is essential, and I have observed that I am often able to grasp the subtleties of personal relationships more quickly than my male colleagues do. I’ve really had to work hard to accept failure as an inevitable part of long-term success. I’ve learned that with bigger risks come bigger rewards, and it’s an important part of personal development to challenge yourself and dig yourself out of your comfort zone. My standout moment? Getting a high-performing team in place in Bristol. We have grown steadily since last summer and finally filled the last gap in the team in the first quarter of this year. Feels good! It’s very hard to say how Brexit will affect us at the moment. We’ve noticed a slow-down in decision-making this year, and as many of our clients have offices across Europe this is likely to be due in part to Brexit. We’re trying to look on the bright side and consider that Brexit may make working with us more appealing for some clients, because right now we are cheaper than our European counterparts.
BE BRAVE. BE CURIOUS. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. OH, AND DON’T BE A DICK. THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE OF ALL
www.strattoncraig.co.uk
ALISON WEIR
FOUNDER OF WONDERLAND COMMUNICATIONS Bristol is a progressive city and I’ve found it hugely welcoming and generally a lovely place to live and work. That being said I am a middle-class white woman living and working in a relatively affluent part of the city. I’m sure if you asked the same question of 100,000 women across the city, you’d get 100,000 different answers. But that’s not a problem just here in Bristol. It’s a problem in every corner of the world. That said, there are certainly some avoidable trends that do affect women for sure, one of them being the gender pay gap. I know it’s alive and kicking in Bristol because I have experienced it first-hand. It’s totally unfair and archaic. Addressing it should be a priority for employers in the city.
I’ve witnessed women thinking that the best way to get ahead is to take on the worst traits of their male counterparts and display the most sexist, aggressive, uncompassionate behaviour. Equally there are some amazing women and men out there doing incredible work, being brilliant bosses and genuinely inspiring people and making a real difference along the way.
I am naturally drawn to strong, independent, passionate women. Anna Starkey, the creative director at We The Curious, is a huge inspiration. She’s incredibly positive, engaging, smart and funny.
I’ve learnt the hard way to accept setbacks. It’s important to have the right people around you, to be kind, ask whether you’re OK or make you a cup of tea, or make sure you have a day in bed when you have death-mask-stress-face. Good sleep, great friends and red wine solve pretty much everything.
People in PR don’t have the best reputation regardless of gender. I have seen women in PR turn into caricatures of themselves, often a reaction to just trying to fit in.
Casual sexism isn’t a problem for me because I own the business. Over the years I’ve had men and women suggest I should dress differently, wear make up to work, change how I talk, stop being so
68 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Alison Weir
WOMEN IN BUSINESS ‘me’. Every comment like this has hurt. It’s telling you that unless you change a fundamental part of yourself, you’ll never be good enough. It makes me livid. I mean, when did lipstick help you think more strategically or creatively? We’ve worked hard to make sure Wonderland breaks the mould and have purposefully created an environment where everyone can thrive. The ambition we had when we were setting up was to create a communications agency that put a big smile on our faces every day, and made us excited about getting to work. Everyone who starts at Wonderland fills in a personal feelgood plan when they start, telling us what makes them feel happy and fulfilled (or not), and we try our hardest to make sure we’re offering this. We have a super-happy team, great clients that we get on with really well, and get to do fantastic work because people trust us, find us fun to work with and know we’ll give it our all. We won’t and don’t work with people we don’t like. We have unlimited holidays, a very cuddly office dog and genuinely spend a lot of the day laughing at our terrible jokes. I fell into PR and comms almost literally. I met a friend of a friend in a pub, and we got hideously
ONE OF OUR FEMMES SAID THIS ANONYMOUSLY: Unfortunately, casual sexism is still a thing. Although the intent is not malicious, I see an element of this when I receive emails that say ‘don’t panic!’ after I’ve raised a legitimate concern in a rational way. I have also noticed my male colleagues storming in to ‘save the day’ if I’ve innocently shared a frustration or a concern. If I haven’t asked for assistance and was just airing an irritation, it’s annoying to be undermined as if you need ‘rescuing’. I also notice, very subtly, that being direct and forthright as a woman can still be seen as being ‘difficult’ or a personality flaw. Whereas I appreciate constructive feedback and have no problem with this kind of communication, efficiency is important, and tiptoeing around egos is not efficient!
drunk together. She worked at a creative comms agency in West London. She got me an interview and I started work there two weeks later. I honestly didn’t even know what PR was. Within a matter of months we were hosting parties at Glastonbury, doing shoots with rock stars and managing photographers in mosh pits. The people I was working with were the absolute best, and I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to do it. As well as the fun stuff, it was also where I really learnt my craft. Then I moved back to Bristol in 2006, headed up a couple of agencies and set up Wonderland in January 2016. We’re only a young business but people really seem to like our style, what we do and how we do it. My partner in life, Rich, joined the business last July, so it’s actually fairly easy to juggle work and home because it’s in both of our best interests to do so. We have each other to lean on when we need it, personally and professionally, and it makes scheduling time for ourselves much easier too. It’s amazing to have someone you trust so implicitly by your side every day. This year I co-founded a charity called The Kindly Collective, working for grassroots charities and organisations who have a big mission but small voices. We work across three areas: Kindly Kids, Kindly Women and Kindly Creatures, raising awareness and vital funds for them. We’ve just started working with Heinz, which is massive for us as a 19-month-old business. Doing the PR for Canopy & Stars at Crane 29 was also pretty awesome. I don’t have any regrets. I’m a great believer that all things happen for a reason, so if something hasn’t gone to plan but we have learned from it then that’s cool. That said, there is a pair of Nike Air Max that I wish I’d bought when I saw them, as I haven’t been able to find them since . . . Best advice I’d give to a woman starting up her own company? Be brave. Be curious. Be true to yourself. Oh, and don’t be a dick. That’s the most important rule of all. No-one wants to work with a dick. www.wonderlandcomms.com
KIRSTY NORTHOVER
Kirsty Northover
SELF-EMPLOYED PHOTOGRAPHER AT LITTLE PICKLES I work in a very a female-led industry. In fact, I’m not aware of any men doing exactly the same job as me locally, but the downside is that the profession is often dismissed, as sexism is still very rife. You can’t run a successful business as a woman, you must just be a ‘mum with a camera’. I work predominantly with newborns, so I do find that being a woman is an advantage; I know firsthand that as a new mum you want to feel confident that your baby is in the safest of hands, that the other person empathises with your feelings. w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 69
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Laura Flowerdew
It can be hard to separate the business from myself sometimes, meaning that things may feel personal, as so much of the business is actually me, but I’m trying to toughen up and see the two as separate entities. It’s hard to juggle work and family, especially being a sole trader as there isn’t anyone to delegate to when the childcare ends and there are still deadlines to meet. I find I have to be creative with squeezing in extra working hours and I will often edit photos at night when my son is asleep. It doesn’t make for a great social life, but it does get the job done. The best advice I could give a woman starting up her own company? Do your numbers, complete a thorough cost of doing business analysis so you don’t end up working for free, understand your target audience and tailor your marketing to them. Most of all, believe in yourself as there will be days when it all seems unachievable, but find a great mentor and stay focused. www.littlepicklesphotography.co.uk
LAURA FLOWERDEW
I KNOW MANY
WOMEN WHO FEEL IT’S HARD TO HAVE THEIR VIEWS FULLY LISTENED TO
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AT BRISTOL ENERGY I previously worked at Anglo American, a global mining company. The chief executive was Cynthia Carroll – not only one of just a handful of women at the helm of FTSE100 companies, but also working in hugely male-dominated industry that is rooted in tradition and history. Her ability to reach this level, as well as her focus and direct support in supporting diversity and change in a very traditional organisation, was hugely influential to me, demonstrating the difference you can make if you are not afraid to upset expectations and stereotypes. Oh, and her hand shake was bone crunching; I can still remember the impact that made . . . Bristol Energy is a really flexible place to work, and I am able to manage my family commitments around my working day. I wouldn’t say it’s without its challenges – I frequently feel guilty about not giving enough time to either my children or my job – but I certainly feel that it is easier now than it was before the move. And a supportive workplace makes a real difference in allowing me both to undertake a fascinating role as well as spending time with my two young children. I think casual sexism is still common in business across the board. There can still be a subconscious assumption that a male colleague must be more senior, and I know many women who feel it is harder to have their views fully listened to. I think there’s an issue with ‘subconscious’ sexism across many walks of life. So it’s important that women continue to challenge expectations and become role models for the next generation. www.bristol-energy.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 71
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 ECLIPSE OFFICE PARK
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Julian Cook FRICS
Jayne Rixon MRICS
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PROPERTY EXPERTS IN NORTH BRISTOL SINCE 1953 Laura Wilkinson of AMD SOLICITORS explains how using our conveyancing specialists can assist you with your property transaction
B
uying a property is not simply a process of finding a house you like and paying for it. There are many legal issues involved and most of the considerations are legal rather than financial. AMD Solicitors have teams of experienced conveyancers with a wealth of experience in all aspects of buying and selling. Our Whiteladies Road conveyancing team of Laura Wilkinson, Laura Lynn and Amanda Coates are this year marking 15 years of working together as a team at AMD Solicitors. Our conveyancing specialists have seen many changes over the years that have taken place in the housing market and also in the legal process involved in property transactions. Asking AMD Solicitors to act for you in your property purchase will give you peace of mind that not only will the legal ownership of the property be properly transferred to you but also that a fair and professional investigation of the title to the property has been undertaken on your behalf and any issues arising reported and explained to you in plain English. As part of the process we carry out a full review of the title documentation and obtain local authority water and environmental searches, together with any other searches appropriate to the location and nature of the property. Queries can often arise from the documentation received and these can range from missing title deeds to lack of local authority planning or building regulation consent to alterations. The purchase of a flat can be more complicated than buying a house. It is not uncommon to discover errors within flat leases which may need amending or clarifying before the flat is bought. The management of flats and any service charges payable is also a matter which requires detailed investigation, consideration and advice. Most buyer clients will require a mortgage to buy their property. We are on the panels of all major
lending institutions which means that we can act for both buyer and mortgage lender in not only transferring the property ownership but also ensuring that the lenders’ interest is protected in the property as required by them. We can guide you through the conveyancing process from the acceptance of your offer to buy the property, through to the day of completion when you can collect the keys to your new home and start enjoying the next chapter of your life! We take pride in our commitment to excellence in providing a high-quality professional conveyancing service to our clients. We can assist you with buying and selling leasehold or freehold properties, and flats and houses of all types. BL
For a quote or to discuss your property sale or purchase contact Laura Wilkinson or one of her colleagues on 0117 9735647 or pop into one of our four Bristol offices or email jomcgrath@amdsolicitors.com
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 73
BUSINESS INSIDER
BRISTOL LIFE BUSINESS CLUB
RABBIT, RABBIT In the latest, highly entertaining, talk at the Bristol Life Business Club, Lovehoney founders Richard Longhurst and Neal Slateford gave us a blow-by-blow account on how they made a million (actually, several millions) from selling sex toys online By M A L ROGE R S
N
eal Slateford and Richard Longhurst could conceivably have called their adult-orientated company Neal & Dick. But good sense prevailed, and they decided Lovehoney was the name to go with. By the way, ‘Neal and Dick’ is the last risqué thing you’ll read in this article. Whenever I spot a double entendre I just want to whip it out. Oh, sorry. Last one, I promise. So, let’s get right on with the nuts and bolts of the interview with the lads from Lovehoney; a company where the customer always comes first. Oh dear. There I go again. Neal and Richard started their multi-million pound company in 2002. Working at Future Publishing in Bath, Neal was a web developer and Richard editor of an online magazine. This was back in the days when to cut and paste a web address required something like three days’ notice for your computer, and when buying online could be a risky venture indeed. But the pair spotted the future was beckoning, and that online marketing, however dodgy, was going to become the norm. So with their redundancy money from Future, a total of £6000, they went for the online market. “We tried quite a few products: kitsch toys, needlework, cross-stitching,” said Neal. None seemed a 74 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
ALL THE
OTHER COMPANIES
DOING IT WERE SO BAD THAT WE DIDN’T HAVE TO BE VERY
GOOD
passport to sexy internet success. Then a serendipity moment: Neal decided to add an adult section to the online shopping directory he was working on – and this coincided with a visit to London. “We went to Erotica, at Olympia in London. That’s where the light-bulb moment happened,” Richard said. Erotica, in case you’re unaware, was the annual ‘lifestyle’ event that showcased everything from lingerie to lubes, and, really, all stops in between. A sort of Glasto for adult entertainment. “We saw guys selling sex toys from a trestle table, and customers throwing money at them,” said Richard. The pair had found their niche. “We realised that the world of online sex toy retail was far from impressive,” Richard explained. “The sites were badly designed. They were tawdry, looked crap, were misogynist. They were half-porn, halfadult, and above all, technically limited. There was little understanding of what the customer actually wanted, and how it was presented. “But the thing was, all these sites were offering giant commissions on referred sales – meaning some good profit margins were available. So that’s what we plumped for. We didn’t know anything about sex toys, so we had to send away for a few. “We came up with designs, found a supplier and off we went. All the other companies doing it were so bad
Page 74 (l-r) Neal and Richard; this page, talking sex toys at Sansovino Hall
VITAL STATISTICS F O UN D E RS
Neal Slateford and Richard Longhurst B E G AN T RAD I NG
2002 I N I T I AL T URN OVER
After two years, Lovehoney was turning over £1 million C URRE N T T URN OV E R
£54m year end March 2016 and growing at 35% a year. N UM B E R O F E M P LOY E E S
Upwards of around 65 employees worldwide I N I T I AL I N V E S TMENT
£6000 C US T O M E R G E N D E R- B AS E
An even split of around 50/50 N UM B E R O F LOV E H O N E Y B RAN D S
Around 25, which means something in the region of 500+ products P RI C E E XAM P L ES
Rabbits remain the most popular item and range from £14.99 to £159.99 T H E S E C RE T O F T H E I R S UC C E S S
Good web development, amazing customer service, efficient warehouse operations (and, they say, ‘luck’) B I G GE S T C H ANG E I N T H E I R S E C TO R
The adult-orientated industry has moved from a niche sector to mainstream trading
that we didn’t have to be very good.” A slow start was followed by success beyond their wildest, and presumably their customers’, wettest, dreams. “Our first sale was on April 21, 2001. It took a further six days for the next order to come in. But we were on our way.” They certainly were. Today, the likes of the Lovehoney Thrill Seeker Remote Control Vibrating Love Egg and the Advanced Unisex Strap-On Harness Kit wing their way to every corner of the globe. “The internet goes everywhere, and people have sex everywhere,” is Richard’s mantra. “The customer split between women and men is about 50/50. Our largest market remains the UK, but we have dedicated sites for the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and France. We also have a .eu site that enables shoppers in Europe to pay in euros. But we’ll send our products anywhere in the world.” Ideas come from both in-house and from customers. “One of our best-selling products is the Squeal. It was an idea sent to us by a customer called Trevor. He came up with the concept of several vibrating tongues attached to a wheel – aimed at giving maximum pleasure during oral sex.” Trevor got £1000 plus a ten percent share of Squeal profits. He has netted £100,000 so far, and has decamped to Canada, where he has followed his lifelong ambition of being a stand-up comedian. There must be a lesson hidden in there somewhere. One of Lovehoney’s best moves was to land the exclusive licence for an official Fifty Shades of Grey range of products. They went straight to the author’s agent and, yes, tied up the deal. Unlike a company that manufacturers wing-nutted sprockets or the like, Lovehoney’s products are such that an in-house team are happy to try the new products at home and report back. The product range is impressive: the Dream-Rabbit, the 10-Function Slimline Rabbit Vibrator, Bondage for Beginners kit and Bliss Orgasm Balm. There is also the Blow-Up Doll line, for the odd occasion when you might fancy a ménage-à-un. Richard held up one of their biggest selling lines, the Butt Plug — apparently very popular with first-
year students at the nation’s unis. Don’t ask. Not only have sex toys and adult pleasure products become mainstream, Neal believes that their website has been influential in the way marketing online has developed. “The products are displayed out of their box, we have videos showing how to operate them, we have a site where customers can review the product.” A sort of Shagadvisor, if you like, and according to the guys a worthwhile read, with high LOL value. Today Lovehoney has a turnover of £54m (year end March 2016) and growing at 35% a year. They’re still based in Bath, have had a Channel 4 documentary, More Sex Please We’re British, made about their business, and are expanding all the time. Richard stresses that the company do not do porn. “It’s pleasure-orientated. We believe that anything is permissible between two consenting adults, that doesn’t involve pain. Well, not much pain.” So, basically, if you’ve ever said to a prospective partner: “You’re twisted, depraved, and rotten to the core. I like that in a person,” then it might be worth logging on to Lovehoney to see what they have in stock. www.lovehoney.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 75
no80 Alma road CLIFTON BS8 2DJ
0117 973 3393
www.tailoredflooring.co.uk
BUSINESS INSIDER
RETIREMENT LIVING
INDEPENDENCE DAYS
B
ased in Clevedon, The Hawthorns is a unique concept in the retirement property market, offering a complete and flexible lifestyle. Residents can opt for studio, one- or twobedroom apartments, fully serviced and available to rent on a monthly lease; the fixed cost covers everything, including three restaurant-served meals a day and all utility bills with the exception of a private telephone. The in-house maintenance team are permanently on hand, weekly housekeeping takes the worry out of cleaning, while a wellbeing and activities coordinator promotes a comprehensive programme. There’s even a minibus to take you to the shops, appointments and local day trips. “There are 100 guests staying with us at this time, and we have a team of 60 staff throughout the complex to give round-theclock service to our residents,” says acting general manager Steven Bryant. “The opportunity to rent and not buy one of our apartments gives you peace of mind that your chosen retirement home will not depreciate in value, as is common with
A fresh new concept for retirement living is available at The Hawthorns in Clevedon. Acting GM Steven Bryant tells us what makes it so special bought retirement accommodation. You are not tied into your contract any further than the 30-day notice period required, should your circumstances change. “Our residents appreciate the entire lifestyle, which takes away the everyday chores and stresses of home ownership and gives you the time to enjoy life again. The companionship of like-minded residents
THE HAWTHORNS IS A UNIQUE CONCEPT IN THE RETIREMENT PROPERTY MARKET makes for a complete package and a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere for friends and family alike. “Our dedicated activities and wellbeing coordinator compiles a comprehensive monthly activity calendar packed with classes and entertainment, from exercise classes to bridge, knitting, art, choir, snooker and talks and presentations by guest speakers. “Our independent lifestyle option is aimed at those who would benefit from getting away
PROPERTY | COMMERCIAL PROBATE | FAMILY VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.AMDSOLICITORS.COM
from the worry of everyday chores, no longer having to worry about multiple bills to pay – just one simple monthly charge. When the time comes and if extra care is needed, our parent company Avery Healthcare are able to offer the next step. “We offer a range of apartment sizes, which vary in price according to size and location in the building. Our studios start from just £1995 per calendar month, with one-bed apartments from £3050 per month and two-bed apartments from £4210 per month, which is a fully inclusive fee. “There is a one-off community fee when you first move into The Hawthorns and no other service charge throughout your time with us. Best of all, there is no exit fee and you only have to give us 30 days if you wish to leave.” If you want to sample the lifestyle at The Hawthorns before fully committing, they are currently offering a try-before-you-rent option. The all-inclusive one month’s trial stay is only £1995, or £2445 for two, and is the ideal way to get a feel for what living at The Hawthorns is like. For more www.hawthornsretirement.co.uk
The DESIGNERS’ HOUSE Gillian Marles and Adrian Barclay’s Kingsdown Parade home came with its Georgian proportions intact, but most original features removed – which they found no problem at all By L I SA WA R R E N
REAL HOME
The uncluttered rooms reveal Gill and Adrian’s love for the clean lines of Modernism
PROPERTY
K
ingsdown exudes enormous appeal, its elegant Georgian terraces being an easy walk away from the city centre. Despite all this urban convenience, the lane at the back of Gill and Adrian’s house has a positively villagey feel, with an open view across to St Michael’s Church; it’s also only one of a few Bristol streets to still have gaslights. So far, so charming; but if you viewed a house that was devoid of original features, would you be deterred from buying? Gill and Adrian weren’t. “Significant modernisation of the house took place over 30 years ago; but it was a very wellconsidered, architectural approach to remodelling the house, which kept the gorgeous Georgian proportions, but introduced cleaner lines, open rooms and well-planned storage,” says Adrian. “It was a perfect blank canvas that enabled us to work on the interior design without having to get involved in building or remodelling.” The couple know a fair bit about style and design: together, they run branding consultancy Marles and Barclay, working mostly in retail, craft and culture. “The same aesthetic and sense of style informs our graphic design, our personal creative work and our approach to interior design,” says Adrian. “We love this quote by Charles Eames: ‘The details are not the details. They make the design.’ “Gill has always been slightly obsessed with 1960s style – she was a Mod, back in the day. Her own pottery is pared down, with a minimal colour palette, but great attention to the form and detail.” Alongside his design and brand strategy role at M+B, Adrian is an illustrator with an impressive list of clients ranging from the BBC to the Wall Street Journal. He is also an accomplished painter. “Our overall aesthetic is clean and minimal,” w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 81
PROPERTY
REAL HOME
says Gill, who offers another mantra: “The William Morris adage is ‘Have nothing in your home which you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful’ – but we want the useful stuff to be beautiful too.” Gill and Adrian have a remarkable level of agreement when it comes to interiors, with a shared enthusiasm for Modernism and mid-century design. Adrian has had to learn to accept a more rigorous approach to a clutter-free existence and clear surfaces since living with Gill – even the ubiquitous bread bin is consigned to a drawer, and the Aga negates the need for an electric kettle or toaster. With the house being a listed building in a conservation area, the couple didn’t attempt structural changes, but worked with the building as it was, concentrating on maintenance and decoration: “With a 225-year-old house, there is always something to be looked after.” The garden presented more of a problem. “Because it’s at the front of the house, we had a bit of a challenge to make the space feel more private. Changes to the pathway, new fencing (in Canadian maple) and a new border with a more architectural planting scheme, bamboos, castor oil plants and large ferns have all worked to create a more secluded space and make the garden a really relaxing place to be.” And the bit of the process they enjoyed the most? “We particularly liked the finishing touches – finding the perfect space for treasured artworks and selecting the right objects and pictures that bring the space alive. Many of our friends and family are artists and designers, so we have a wealth of artworks, particularly prints and ceramics, to find space for. These add a more individual and characterful aspect to what otherwise might be a cooler, more minimal space.” Gill’s favourite room is the top floor bathroom, where a huge Philippe Starck bath sits under a large glass lantern roof, allowing a view of the stars or sky – “although being Bristol, there is just the occasional risk of exposure to passing hot air balloons. . .” Fancy stealing their style? “Richard Bannister of Clifton Wardrobes created sharp, deceptively simple fitted storage. We’d also recommend New Leaf furniture for bespoke storage and furniture. “We are great enthusiasts for Bristol independents, [M+B designed and published The Insider’s Guide to Independent + Creative Bristol]; our luscious chartreuse interlined silk curtains were from Fabric Magic in Westbury Park, and we have a Conran ex-display sofa and chair from Bristol Guild. “Our favourite Eames chair, a mid-century rocker and large Howard Hodgkin print all came from Cream and Chrome. Our bed was created by a friend and ironwork artist, Val Steel. Treasures from our travels include a graphic monochrome striped plate – the result of hard bartering in Marrakech! And local art trails, especially North Bristol Art Trail, have been a great source of good value artworks.” Suddenly, fancy cornices and other ‘essential’ original features seem less mandatory after all. For more www.marlesandbarclay.co.uk 82 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Gill and Adrian are huge supporters of Bristol’s indie makers and shops, from locally-made storage to the Conran sofa from Bristol Guild
Timothy paul Bespoke Bathrooms & Kitchens
Timothy-paul.co.uk 07837 333718 37 Alma vale road, clifton BS8 2HL
SPECIALISTS IN CURTAINS & BLINDS INC. HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEMS PAINT - MIXED WHILE YOU WAIT WALLPAPERS & FABRICS ANGLEPOISE LIGHTING INTERIOR DESIGN
TAILOR YOUR HOME WITH THE BOYS WHO SEW 157 Whiteladies Road 01179 838485 | hello@whittakerwells.com
Burning love Cold enough for you at the moment? Installing a woodburner can turn your home into a cosy (yet cool-looking) retreat overnight By L I SA WA R R E N
84 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
FIREPLACES
WITH THE GLOW, SNAP AND CRACKLE OF THE FLAMES, A WOOD-BURNER WARMS YOU IN MORE WAYS
A
long with an unassailable excuse to buy a new winter coat and other cosy accessories, one of the chief joys of autumn is the prospect of lighting the fire. Open fires are romantic – and messy, and hard work, and not remotely ergonomic. In fact, about 70% of that roaring heat goes straight up the chimney, so barely reduces the gas bill at all. Woodburners, on the other hand, combine the same feelgood factor and toasty glow with far more efficiency – 80% more, to be precise. This means you use less fuel, and spend less time loading the fire, so have more time to sit back and enjoy it. Sounds good? Let Clare Collins of Kindle Stoves and Cody Selby of Stovecraft fuel your enthusiasm still further . . . w
THAN ONE
One of the latest models from Kindle; styles range from cool and Scandi-chic to more traditional
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 85
CORE AND ORE LTD
Bristol Wood Stoves pride themselves on being able to find the stove that complements your home, on being able to design and install properly and allowing the stove to function efficiently to heat your space.
Inside Tile - Bathe - Shower - Outside Tile Showroom - 16 Portland Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4JH. Tel: 01179 042408 | Email: sales@coreandore.com Web: www.Coreandore.Com
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Bristol Wood Stoves, Nursery Cottage, Greenhill Road Sandford, North Somerset, BS25 5SB
01934 611385 | bristolwoodstoves.com
FIREPLACES
Top left: a contemporary take on the classic Swedish Kakelugn stove; right: a traditional stove is an ideal fit for a pretty cottage
people are using coal these days, many multi-fuel stove owners will still only burn wood and this will make no difference at all.”
Why have woodburners become so popular? “I think the main reason most people choose to have a woodburning stove is because it provides a focal point to a room, and a snug and cosy atmosphere,” says Cody. “Customers often comment on how nicely they finish off the room. Also, the heat they provide is a very pleasant, dry kind of heat, very different to that of a radiator, and combined with the glow and the snap and the crackle of the flames it warms you in more ways than one. Some people prefer modern-looking stoves with clean simple lines while others prefer more traditional cast iron ones, but nearly all of our customers are looking for a stove with a big window, so they can have a good view of the fire.”
Do I need to have an existing fireplace? “While having an existing fireplace is ideal, as lining an existing chimney is the simplest and therefore cheapest type of installation, it is by no means a must,” says Cody. “We fit many stoves in new houses or extensions that do not have a fireplace; we install a factory-made chimney – basically, an insulated stove pipe – either through an outside wall and up the side of the building, or straight up through the house to exit through the roof, much like a brick chimney does.”
And a woodburner can save us money? “Yes, if you use it regularly, you can turn off the radiators around the stove, saving money on your gas bill,” says Clare. “If you buy seasoned wood in bulk it will keep the cost of your fuel extra low.” “People choose woodburners to save money on their utility bills, and also to avoid being entirely dependant on the utility companies,” says Cody. “Should there be a black-out, you can still cook and stay warm if you have a wood stove!” Log-burner v multi-fuel: discuss . . . “Many stoves are multi-fuel, meaning that you can burn coal or wood,” says Clare. “Generally, the more traditional stoves are multi-fuel and the more contemporary are log burners only. As fewer
SHOULD
THERE BE A BLACKOUT, YOU CAN STILL COOK AND STAY WARM IF YOU HAVE A WOOD
STOVE YOU HAVE BEEN READING
Kindle Stoves www.kindlestoves.co.uk Stovecraft www.stovecraft.co.uk
Can I have a wood-burning stove if I live in a smoke-control area? “Yes – the most clean-burning and efficient stoves have been approved by DEFRA for use in smoke control areas,” says Clare. “Brands such as Clearview, Woodwarm, Rais and Contura have a range of stoves suitable for smoke-control areas.” Where can I buy fuel for my stove? “We are very lucky in the South West that we have a lot of local log suppliers to choose from,” says Clare. “I always recommend that you shop around for the best price, but it is important to remember that the quality of your wood can make or break your stove experience.” What kind of aftercare is required? “Once installed, stoves require minimum maintenance,” says Clare. “You will only need to empty the ash around once per week and have your chimney swept once per year.” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 87
F u r n i t u r e a d v e r t i s i n g f e at u r e
Newleaf Furniture An interview with Nick Butler
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eautiful bespoke furniture and stylish storage solutions are what Newleaf Furniture does best. Founder Nick Butler is passionate about customer service and it’s what keeps his customers coming back… Q: Who is Newleaf Furniture? We are a local Bristol company. I trained as a cabinet maker under the renowned Peter Sefton at his Furniture School near Malvern. Q: What does Newleaf Furniture do? We design and make quality, bespoke furniture
“Many Bristol houses have a lot of wasted space that could be cleverly and stylishly utilised.”
as well as storage solutions. When we say bespoke, we mean bespoke. With some bespoke furniture companies, you don’t actually get what you want, you have to choose from various standard options. Bespoke furniture means we create and design furniture to suit your specific requirements, your particular style in your home. So you’re really getting what you want without having to compromise. Q: What sort of furniture do you make? We can make anything from free-standing furniture such as tables, bedroom furniture and so on, to fitted furniture such as wardrobes and bookshelves. Many Bristol houses have a lot of wasted space that could be cleverly and stylishly utilised. Alcoves and under-stairs storage, for example. Or bay windows where you can have a seat that also doubles as storage. Q: How can I commission work from you? It is very important to me to support you through this process. I’ll visit you and help you
develop your ideas into something that works for you, both functionally and aesthetically. I will also give you drawings so you can see exactly what you’re going to get.
Newleaf Furniture Unit 8, Londonderry Farm, Keynsham Road, Willsbridge Bristol BS30 6EL; 07759 277659 info@newleaf-furniture.co.uk www.newleaf-furniture.co.uk
craftsmanship means
F OCU S ING ON F INE DETAIL S AND TA K ING THE TI M E TO M A K E EVER Y J OB OUT S TANDING
See Check a Trader and Google Review f o r 5 r at i n g s Opening times M o n d ay – F r i d ay 8.00am – 5.00pm S at u r d ay 9.00am – 12.30pm Marble Supreme T: 0117 956 3030
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U n i t 8 B r i d g e Roa d
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K i n g s w o o d | B r i s to l | B S 1 5 4 F W | w w w. m a r b l e s u p r e m e . c o m
e: info@marblesupreme.com
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
96 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 298 0609 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
Goodchild Interiors 0117 239 3486 gill@goodchildinteriors.net
Miety Stone 01275 333589 www.mietystone.co.uk
SJP Interior Design 0117 973 0880 www.sjpinteriordesign.co.uk
Oriental Rugs Bath 01761 451764 www.orientalrugsofbath.com
Whittaker Wells 0117 983 8485 www.whittakerwells.com
Simply Carpets 0117 986 4650 www.simplycarpets.co.uk
Kitchens
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
Tailored Flooring 0117 973 3393 www.tailoredflooring.co.uk
Wren Kitchens 0117 244 3168 www.wrenkitchens.com
Handelsbanken 0117 973 0026 www.handelsbanken.co.uk
Lighting
Steve Mears Mortgage Services 0117 973 4300 www.stevemears.com
Ablectrics 0117 942 5355 www.electricsandlighting.co.uk Parkway Lighting 0117 965 7991 www.lightingwarehouse-bristol.co.uk
Mortgage Brokers & IFAs
Anderson Financial 0117 900 1639 www.andersonfinancial.co.uk Clifton Private Finance 0117 403 4144; www.cliftonpf.co.uk
Tiles and Flooring
Avondale Tiles 0117 967 4673 www.avondaletiles.co.uk Ceramic Tiles 0117 966 5801 www.ctdtiles.co.uk Core and Ore 0117 904 2408 www.coreandore.co.uk
Upholstery
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 97
BRISTOL LIVES
Q&A
Heather supporting Nathan Bessell as Matty
Y
ou could choose any number of words to sum up Myrtle Theatre. ‘Diverse’ is one of them. ‘Groundbreaking’, ‘inspiring’ and ‘compassionate’ are others. We’re going to go for ‘unafraid’ – past productions have tacked mental health, domestic abuse and juvenile crime. Though it’s not all ‘problem plays’ in Myrtle’s world; they also brought us Hot Air, a celebration of the people of Bristol via the industry of hot-air ballooning. But whatever Myrtle does, one of its chief aims is to make us rethink our view of the world – an ambition that artistic director Heather Williams most definitely cherishes for her latest production at TFT next month.
Heather, how did you end up with a career in theatre? At university I was lucky enough to be a contemporary of the late, brilliant film director Anthony Minghella. He cast me early on in our careers, in his stage play Two Planks and a Passion and films Whale Music, A Little Like Drowning and Truly Madly Deeply. He gave me faith in myself as an actor and a passion for highquality, meaningful new writing. I miss him.
HEATHER WILLIAMS
Who are your other theatre heroes? Joan Littlewood, who tore down the barriers between art and popular theatre; writer Catherine Johnson (best known for Mamma Mia!) who has been an invaluable support to Myrtle Theatre, and my colleague Hilary Davis, the administrative director of Myrtle – she is truly an unsung hero.
Why should we all come to see it? First and foremost, it’s a great piece of theatre – set in Bristol! Brendan’s text is sharp, funny, moving and beautifully crafted. I’m particularly excited that the creative and performance team all have strong Bristol connections and are at the top of their game. Nathan’s performance is incredibly affecting. He expresses his ideas and feelings through movement, in a way that is enlightening, inspiring and profoundly moving. Much of the play’s realistic text is interspersed with more abstract dance sections, giving a fascinating glimpse into Matty’s inner world.
Best and worst thing about Bristol? The best thing is that we have four Labour MPs, three of them female. It’s diverse and multicultural. However, as in all cities there is still a large gap between the have and have-nots.
What have you learned yourself? It has taken me 15 years of working with Nathan to realise he is capable of so much more than I first thought. What was needed from me was a change of attitude and mindset, and a different way of working, to uncover exceptional gifts that have not only enhanced the theatre I make but also improved my life in general. As a society, we ignore to our detriment what people with learning disabilities have to offer.
Which shop would you happily spend a month’s salary in? The Better Food Company.
How did Up Down Man come about? Up Down Man is the sequel to Up Down Boy. For a few years I had been working with Nathan Bessell, who has Down’s syndrome, as a participant in some of our shows. He began revealing an extraordinary talent for performing, which we wanted to harness. At the same time, his mum Sue had been sending us texts about their life together, demonstrating a talent for writing. We realised their story would make a great play, and asked Sue to write it. I played the Mum and Nathan played the fictional version of himself, Matty, on the eve of going off to college. And it was a huge hit . . . It was successful beyond our wildest dreams, touring nationally, internationally and ending up at the National Theatre. We found audiences wanted to know what happened next. Up Down Boy was told from the mother’s perspective, but we felt Up Down Man should be based on the son’s view of the world, and so I commissioned award-winning Brendan Murray to collaborate with Nathan and write and direct the play. It was first performed at Salisbury Playhouse last year, and we were thrilled when Tobacco Factory Theatres invited us to bring it home to Bristol.
98 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
The artistic director of Myrtle Theatre is in the business of producing fresh, powerful work that surprises audiences, influenced by diverse voices. And the latest voice belongs to young Matty, aka the Upside Down Man . . .
What has it meant to Nathan and Sue to have had success with the play? I know Sue is incredibly proud. In her own words, “It is a special experience to witness your child, now a young man, in an environment where he’s treated equally, accepted for who he is and given respect. As for Nathan he just says, “I love it!” Where do you live, and why? About 15 years ago my family moved to a flat just off the Triangle so that we could walk everywhere. It’s brilliant: I love being able to stroll down to the docks or up on to Brandon Hill, and as soon as I round the corner into my street it’s peaceful.
Tell us about your favourite hangouts . . . One of my favourite locals, The Lion in Clifton Wood does the most amazing Sunday lunches, and I also love The Eldon for the friendly atmosphere and great beer. I go to Boston Tea Party or the wonderful Rosemarino for breakfast, and for a quiet cuppa I love Bristol Folk House.
Apart from acting and directing plays, what are you secretly quite good at? Rustling up meals from a half-empty store cupboard. What’s your most treasured possession? A necklace from Diana Porter that my husband gave me. What are you doing after these questions? Going to Travelling Light Theatre for a costume fitting. I’m playing Mother Duck in The Ugly Duckling at TFT this Christmas. Before you go, surprise us . . . I used to be on Play Away with the much-loved Brian Cant. Up Down Man plays at Tobacco Factory Theatres between 8-18 November www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com