Bristol Life - Issue 239

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 239 / CHRISTMAS 2017 / £3

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

THE 12 DAYS OF BRISTMAS

ISSUE 239 / CHRISTMAS 2017 / ROCKIN’ AROUND THE BRISTMAS TREE

MEET THE FOLK OF HAMILTON HOUSE

YES CHEFS!

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL WHAT’S COOKIN’?

MeRRY

A CLIFTON CHRISTMAS

BRISTM AS, BABY!

EDITOR’S LETTER / ISSUE 239 / CHRISTMAS 2017

The big chill

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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS What price romance in 2017 Bristol?

Could this city look any more Bristmassy? If in doubt, flick to page 9, where we’ve selected 16 of the most festive images spotted on instagram over the past few weeks. See? Super-Bristmassy.

This issue will reach you on 15 December. Bet you’ve already got mince pie crumbs all over the pages. As long as they’re artisan crumbs, that’s fine . . .

We’ve gone full-on festive, from the special Christmas cover by one of our favourite Bristol artists, Alex Lucas, to a notentirely-serious totting-up of the cost incurred by the 12 Days of Christmas in modern-day Bristol; Mal wrote that one, so if the numbers don’t add up, then email him at mal@madeupaddress.com.

Colin Moody shows us his photographic love letter to Hamilton House, Nick Raistrick’s still all about the Easton look, Kam chooses his top Christmas movies, and some of our favourite chefs tell us how to keep cool when cooking the Christmas dinner. Just pour a Snowball, and chill . . .

Deri Robins, editor Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram:@bristollifemag

LE SA !

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REGULARS / ISSUE 239 / CHRISTMAS 2017

52

BRISTMAS 7 Christmas quiz How well do you know the city?

9 Brizzogram The most festive Instagrams from the past few weeks

THE ARTS 18 What’s On Not just the very best of Bristmas, but the finest New Year’s Eves known to humanity

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, Kam Kelly, Stan Cullimore, Josh Eggleton, Baz Barrett Advertising manager Lily Dalzell lily.dalzell@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager James Morgan james.morgan@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Michael Stevens michael.stevens@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

26 Hamilton House It’s important, and here’s for why

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

31 Kam Kelly Our DJ columnist unveils his festive film faves

34 Get the Easton Look Liked the Look? Now get the book

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

SHOPPING

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

38 Ed’s choice Still stuck for presents? An hour or two in Clifton Village will soon sort that out

42 Fashion If you’ve got it, flaunt it. If you haven’t got it, smother it with sequins; no-one will notice

FOOD 44 Restaurant Lushness at the Yurt

52 Yes chef! Christmas special

BUSINESS

How to keep cool during yule, and other interesting morsels from our top chefs

Successes and highlights of 2017

A MAN’S WORLD 61 Baz Barrett Who’s the daddy? Baz is back, and he has a Mini-Me . . .

INTERIORS

71 Business Insider

PROPERT Y 86 Property focus The former chocolate factory that’s changing the face of retirement living

92 Property showcase Location, and then some

62 Make a Christmas wreath

BACK PAGE

Our favourite butcher, the prettiest cocktails in town, the burger raising money for the homeless, and Farmdrop get festive

Pretty much what the header says

106 Bristol lives

51 Café society

Launches and fundraisers

46 Food & Drink

Stan’s quench quest continues . . .

SOCIET Y 65 Snapped!

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

Katy Owen’s just visiting On the cover Our special Bristmas cover is by Alex Lucas – who also has loads of lovely things to buy at her shop at Cheltenham Road www.thelittleshop.co

SPOTLIGHT

QUIZ

THE BRISTMAS FESTIVE 20!

1 Daniel Defoe

We proudly bring you our traditional Bristmas Quiz, kindly compiled by our friends at Tangent Books (diolch yn fawr, Richard Jones). Need even more more Brizzleness in your life? The books below make perfect stocking fillers

1

2

12 13

3

14

Which book resulted from a meeting in Bristol between Daniel Defoe and Alexander Selkirk?

Two famous fictional ships set sail from Bristol – The Hispaniola and The Antelope. Which books are they from?

6

16

In which Bristol pub did Samuel Taylor Coleridge make inflammatory speeches and distribute his radical pamphlet The Watchman?

4 5 6

Where was Bristol’s original library, built in 1738-40?

What is now on the site of the Old Library?

Goldilocks and the Three Bears was first published anonymously in 1837 as The Story of the Three Bears. Which Bristol poet wrote the story?

7

In 1889, which Bristol publisher produced the first edition of Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat?

8

What was Blackbeard’s real name and what area of Bristol was he from?

9

In Treasure Island, Long John Silver was the landlord of which Bristol pub?

10 11

What modern-day pub is thought to be on the site of Silver’s pub?

In which pub close to the cat pub did the landlord’s Jack Russell Terrier used to call last orders by jumping on the bar and ringing the bell?

The Westbury Park was better known as the Kebab and Calculator in which TV comedy?

15

In which Bedminster pub in 1827 was a customer killed by the landlord’s pet tiger?

16 17 18

This Beryl Cook painting is set in which Bristol pub?

Name four suspension bridges in Bristol.

Two books were published this autumn celebrating Harry Bamford of Bristol Rovers and Harry Dolman of Bristol City. a. When did Harry Dolman become chairman of Bristol City? b. In 1950, which country did Harry Bamford tour with an FA Xl?

19 20

What do Bristol grapes, rhubarb and pineapple have in common?

What famous Bristol landmark does Mayor Marvin Rees want to demolish and replace with housing? a) Cumberland Basin b) Brandon Hill c) City Hall

Answers 1 Robinson Crusoe 2 Treasure Island and Gulliver’s Travels 3 The Rummer 4 King Street 5 Rendezvous Chinese restaurant 6 Robert Southey 7 JW Arrowsmith 8 Edward Teach, Redcliffe 9 The Spyglass 10 The Hole in the Wall 11 The Seven Stars 12 Bag O’ Nails 13 Three Tuns 14 The Young Ones 15 The Bull (now the Steam Crane) 16 The Old Duke 17 Clifton bridge, Sparke Evans Park bridge, Gaol Ferry bridge, Castle Park bridge to hotel 18a 1949 18b Australia 19 They are all pub names 20 Cumberland Basin.

Questions from Tangent Books and Bristol Books CIC loosely based on The Naked Guide to Bristol, A Dictionary of Bristle, Banksy’s Bristol, Punks, Adge King of the Wurzels, Louise Brown, My Life as the World’s First Test-Tube Baby and other titles all of which are available at www.tangentbooks.co.uk.

Bristol Life readers get 20% off all orders if they use the code ‘supporter’.

In which Bristol pub was Thomas Clarkson based when he gathered evidence which led to the abolition of the slave trade?

Which Bristol pub is famous for its cats?

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 7

SPOTLIGHT

STEP INTO BRISTMAS From Christmas Steps to the little St Nick’s; from fairylit Park Street to the Skyview, to the Bemmie reindeer and Clifton tree – this is a city made for Christmas

@eleanore_photography

@russellbeard

@rogerturner6

@bencostiganphotography

@louis_mcclean

@weareplaster

@chill1983

@joncraig_

@neiljamesb

@rogerturner6

@neiljamesb

@keirgravil

@timmah666

@richimal_bristol

@mathewpriceartist

@eleanore_photography

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 9

BRISTMAS TIME

The

TWELVE days of BRISTMAS Blimey, the cost of Christmas has rocketed! Here we attempt to work out the real cost of keeping your true love happy over the festive season in Bristol today

By M A L ROGE R S

O

nly nine shopping days left until Christmas, Bristol!

(Or if you’re a bloke, one day: Christmas Eve.) Either way, time is running out.

The postie will have left his card saying, “Merry Christmas — second reminder”. You may already have had some panettone for breakfast, heralding the very first “What the hell, it’s Christmas” of the season.

But gift anxiety may be building up. Fear not! You’ve still time to furnish your true love with pressies, as outlined in the English carol The Twelve Days of Christmas.

But it might be sensible to look at the cost of that most traditional of gift hampers. The song’s admirably eclectic round-up of poultry, game, bling, minor aristocracy, agricultural work crews and performance artists doesn’t come cheap, and is probably as good a yardstick as any to measure the rising cost of Christmas.

Many thanks to Colin Moody for photos of the drummers, the leaping dog, the swans and the zombie dancers.

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2

Two turtle doves Problems already. The European turtle dove is currently struggling in terms of population numbers, so it’s probably better to go for a close relative like the wood pigeon. We’ve sourced a brace at Wiltshire Game — £4.40 the lot.

1

A partridge in a pear tree These days a partridge will set you back only a few quid from any good butcher or farm shop. You could conceivably bag one yourself in the wild, with dog and gun, but you wouldn’t have much change out of five hundred quid after you’ve paid for petrol, dogfood, kennel, transport etc. On the other hand, a fine English partridge, or Perdix perdix as it likes to be called on formal occasions, costs £5.33 from Meat Box (meatboxbristol.co.uk Depending on the size, a pear tree from your local garden centre will set you back anything from £15 upwards.

We’ve gone for a Beurre Hardy specimen from chewvalleytrees.co.uk, cost: £27. So that gives us a total for the First Day of Christmas of £34.95.

BRISTMAS TIME

4 3 5

Three French hens Pop along to your nearest poultry farm and ask for three of their finest specimens – something like a Bassette Liègeoise or a Ardenner Bolstaart. But don’t forget, you’ll need a hen-run and lots of corn, so total cost in the region of £500.

Four collie birds Four collie birds pose another legal conundrum: a collie bird is, in fact, a blackbird. This is, once again, protected by the Countryside Act; also, currently, EU regulations. So it looks like we’ll have to settle for wood pigeons here as well.

They’re widely available from most butchers, so let’s call that £8.80.

Five gold rings OK, here’s a 25-carat globule of information — at Clifton Rocks on The Mall, Chloe and Anny will be delighted to show you their Five Gold Rings exhibition, the range running from £500-£5000.

Well, we don’t want look cheap, especially in front of the charming Chloe and Anny, so let’s say £4,875.

To reward ourselves for our generosity, and as we’re on The Mall, we should pop into the The Ivy for a Chrimbo snifter: The Clifton Royale – Kir Royale with Sipsmith sloe gin, Briottet Rose liqueur & hibiscus topped with champagne (£10.25) goes down very smoothly. Especially after a few glasses of chablis from the very home of the drink, La Finage in burgundy (£11.25).

Maybe follow this with Ivy nibbles and a chaser of armagnac, maybe a cognac or two. Christmas is for the kids, after all.

Total for Day 5: £4905.50.

6

Geese a-laying A free-range goose costs £17.50 per kg from the excellent Meat Box. If you’re cooking a romantic meal for two, then a 2kg one should do you, so let’s call it £36. And don’t even think of poaching one from the harbour.

7

Seven swans a-swimming Further environmental difficulties. According to the Schedules of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) swans are protected birds, and the Queen owns most of them, so we can’t really present them to our true love. The last thing you want on Christmas Day is Her Maj turning up on the doorstep to harangue you. Alternatively, you could go to www. lastminutemusicians.com where you’ll find a singer (hello there!) happy to perform a swan-related song for something in the range of £150.

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BRISTMAS TIME

9

8

Nine pipers piping We could go for the most famous pipe band on the planet, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. But they’re likely to be a tad on the expensive side. Better to opt for a local town band. We’ll put aside £1000, plus tea and biscuits as a rider — and guarantee them no piper jokes.

(Such as: What’s one thing you never hear people say? ANSWER: “Oh, that’s the bagpipe player’s Porsche.”)

Eight maids a-milking Eight milking maids will come under the agricultural wages spectrum. According to PayScale, the average hourly rate for a farm worker is £8.57. We’ll want the maids — male or female (Bristol Life believes in a genderneutral Christmas) for eight hours. So that’s 8 x 8 x £8.57, which gives us a total of £548.48.

The Yeo Valley cows shown below declined to confirm this figure.

10

Ten ladies dancing This is a very difficult figure to compute.

Maybe our best bet is to settle for some ballet dancers and pay them the going rate. Members of the corps de ballet at the Royal Ballet earn something in the region of £30,000 a year. Sign them up and tell ’em to get on with a few en pointe pas de basques.

Total bill for the day will be £3000.

We have no idea what the zombie dancers shown right might charge.

11

Eleven lords a-leaping Members of the House of Lords are entitled to a daily allowance of £300. Our local peer is Frederick Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol, a descendant of John Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol. The 4th Earl was so famed for poshness that ‘Bristol’ became a byword for luxury — and explains why cities round the world have hotels and cafés called ‘The Bristol’. So Fred sounds like our man, and if he can round up another ten of his lordly mates, that’s a bill of £3,300. PS we’re not sure if the dog left is called Lord, but we don’t care.

12

Twelve drummers drumming Currently, twelve drummers will set you back quite a bit.

MU rates dictate something like two hundred quid an hour for a top-notch percussionist. That’s about a pound a paradiddle, or £2 for a multiple bounce roll (not remotely like a sourdough roll). A cheaper option is to buy a Roland SPD-SX Digital Sampling Padmachine from PMT Bristol on Rupert Street, and programme it for 12 drum tracks, total cost £629.

And remember, the advantage of a drum machine over a real drummer is that you only have to punch the information into a drum machine once.

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

This gives us a grand Christmas total of £14,117.13 Of course, we’re treating the costs on a non-cumulative basis — only adding up the cost of each day’s individual gifts. However, if we look at it exponentially, with — as per the song — presents building up every day, then we have to employ the formula: Sum = n/2[2+(n-1)] x p(?)* — where n = the number of individual presents, multiplied by the by the mean output (?) and average cost of each gift *.

As it says on the T-shirt, “What part of Sum = n/2[2+(n-1)] x p(?)* do you not understand?”

Well, we’ll quickly do it for you.

The cumulative total for the Twelve Days of Bristmas now stands at: £416,455.33

** HOW TO SAVE A LITTLE MONEY — look out those 1990 calendars you’ve carefully got stashed away. Their dates are exactly the same as 2018; so that’s a few bob to the good.

15 December 2017 – 15 January 2018

SAFELY TAKING YOU FROM A BRILLIANT BRISTMAS INTO A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Norma’s ready for her close-up at the Hippodrome; Martin’s Black Country Stories continues at Paintworks; Ricky’s probably got one or two things to rant about at Colston Hall

Exhibitions UNTIL 17 DECEMBER

KIM YONG-IK The first exhibition in the UK by the South Korean artist; Spike Island, spikeisland.org.uk EAMES POP-UP Eames Fine Art returns to Christmas Steps Gallery with paintings, original prints and sculptures; lots more at the gallery during Nov/Dec too, see website: galleryspaces.co.uk UNTIL 23 DECEMBER

SPACE OPEN - PART I The Peoples Republic of Stokes Croft celebrates local creative talent in a lively month of exhibitions and events. prsc.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 DECEMBER

MARTIN PARR’S BLACK COUNTRY STORIES The new Parr Foundation presents photos taken between 2010 and 2014 in the industrial West Midlands. Paintworks; martinparrfoundation.org UNTIL 25 FEBRUARY

NATIVE COLOUR Group exhibition celebrating

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

contemporary Native American artists who are all renowned as great colourists. Rainmaker; rainmakerart.co.uk

Theatre & shows

UNTIL 8 APRIL 2018

UNTIL 19 DECEMBER

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR The renowned photography comp’s back, with 100 spectacular images. At MShed; bristolmuseums.org.uk

THE WIZARD OF OZ It’s the RSC version, with the MGM tunes. Dorothy, Toto and all the trippy Oz weirdos, brought to life by the rising stars of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, at The Redgrave; oldvic. ac.uk

UNTIL 31 AUGUST 2018

EMPIRE THROUGH THE LENS Bristol Archives’ collection of photos and films of life in the British Empire and Commonwealth, mostly taken 1880s-1960s. At Bristol Museum; bristolmuseums.org.uk

UNTIL 23 DECEMBER

KRISTMAS WITH THE KRINGLES A festive night of improvised fun with games, sketches and songs from the Closer Each Day team: at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

W H AT ’ S O N

UNTIL 30 DECEMBER

LIVING SPIT’S NATIVITY Gold, frankincense and myrrh; a donkey, a camel and a new born lamb... but enough about what Stu’s bought Howard for Christmas. Through songs, pitiful puppetry and Biblical befuddlement, Living Spit offer a cornucopia of comic Christmassyness, at The Theatre Shop, Clevedon; tobaccofactorytheatres.com THE SNOW BABY A magical children’s show of castles in the air, weathering the storm, and dreams coming true. thewardrobetheatre.com UNTIL 7 JANUARY

ALADDIN It’s panto at the Hippo, with comedian Joe Pasquale sharing the bill with singer Marti Pellow and soap queen Hayley Tamaddon. We’re promised a ‘magical 3D sequence which will see audiences transported to Old Peking on a magical carpet ride adventure’; atgtickets.com UNTIL 14 JANUARY

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Forget Emma and Dan; this retelling goes back to the French classic fairytale, in another fab festive offering from Tobacco Factory Theatres. tobaccofactorytheatres.com THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL & OTHER HAPPIER TALES Emma Rice brings her magical show to Bristol from a critically acclaimed run at The Globe. bristololdvic.org.uk THE UGLY DUCKLING The award-winning team behind Cinderella: A Fairytale brings its trademark magic and mastery to a wintry tale of family, feathers and fitting in. At the TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com UNTIL 21 JANUARY

RESERVOIR CATS The Wardrobe’s annual alternative festive offering – this year, it’s a mash-up of Tarantino and Lloyd Webber from the brilliantly funny ensemble. thewardrobetheatre.com 17 DECEMBER

PADDINGTON AND THE SNOWMAN A double-whammy of seasonal

ARTS

faves; storytelling by CBeebies’s Pui Fan Lee, the WNO and The Snowman movie combine in a magical musical family evening at Colston Hall; colstonhall.org ALAN BARNES’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL Dickens! But with jazz! Readings from the novel followed by suites inspired by the chapters; at the Hen & Chicken. jazzata.com 19-20 DECEMBER

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Yes, another one; that’s the third so far this year, and BOV are doing it next year. This one’s from The Dickens Theatre Company, who presumably have read the book once or twice; at Winston Theatre at Bristol Uni SU; bristolsu.org.uk 4-6 JANUARY

CINDERELLA A lively night of panto at The Redgrave by members of the Old Cliftonian Drama Society; proceeds to Above and Beyond. redgravetheatre.com 9-13 JANUARY

SUNSET BOULEVARD Norma’s ready for her close-up; it’s the Lloyd Webber version, with tunes; at the Hippodrome atgtickets.com

Music

Art at the People’s Republic; a jazzy Christmas Carol

quartet give us their festive carolsinging best; stgeorgesbristol. co.uk 20-21 DECEMBER

One of our all-time favourite venues returns with its heady mix of gigs, events and completely over-the-top parties; christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

Other

BRISTOL LOCAL CHRISTMAS MARKET Some of the city’s best indie traders open their stalls in Broadmead for the festive period; bristollocalchristmasmarket.com

16 DECEMBER

BRISTOL BACH CHOIR St George’s overflows with the spirit of Christmas in this heartwarming and enthralling concert at St George’s: st georgesbristol.co.uk 18 DECEMBER

THE OVERTONES The festive five-piece belt out all the pop classics at Colston Hall; colstonhall.org 19 DECEMBER

THE BOOTLEG BEATLES Well shake it up baby now; the tribute band that’s been going for much longer than the original, with the added bonus that all four members are still alive. colstonhall.org G4 CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT The X-Factor stars and operatic multi-platinum-selling vocal

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR Orchestral and choral faves, with a chance to join in; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

UNTIL 22 DECEMBER

MADE IN BRISTOL: HOME The makers return to the Architecture Centre with a new seasonal shop celebrating where we live; architecturecentre.org.uk UNTIL 23 DECEMBER

BRISTOL BAZAAR A pop up shop in Bristol curated by Bristol based artists and makers. At The Island; rosiemclay.wixsite.com/ bristolbazaar CHRISTMAS AT THE SPIEGELTENT

CHRISTMAS AT THE ARCADE As in St James’s, in Broadmead; lots of different events are planned. thearcadebristol.com WOODLAND GROTTO Santa at the Spiegeltent; an interactive experience in a beautiful, theatrical set in its own standalone venue complete with mini bar. www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk UNTIL 24 DECEMBER

BRISTOL’S CHRISTMAS MARKET Broadmead does its annual chalet- w

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W H AT ’ S O N

16 DEC

HAPPY HANDMADE CHRISTMAS The Made in Bristol Gift Fair brings together a huge bunch of designer/makers – the perfect place to find distinctive and unusual hand-made gifts. At Colston Hall; colstonhall.org CHEESEFEST OD’d on all the tinsel offerings?

Head to Cheesefest at Motion for some of the cheesiest

ARTS

cheeses in the world – melted raclette, gooey mozzarella sticks, halloumi fries, mac’n’cheese – it’s basically one big cheese spectacular. cheesefestuk.com 17 DECEMBER

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL POP-UP CINEMA Step into a New York-themed winter wonderland at Passenger Shed for a day of popular festive films of all kinds, for all ages; part of Bristol Film Fest, bristolfilmfestival.com w

The VERDICT Eagle wasn’t sure the gelled look was really *him*: Wildlife photos at M Shed

and-Glühwein thang; new for this year is a Jägerbarn bar and beer garden. It’s part of a chain, and last year’s wasn’t without its critics, but at least it has the moxy to run up until Christmas Eve, unlike a certain market in a neighbouring town which packs up on the 10th, which is practically midsummer in our book. xmas-markets.com ST NICK’S CHRISTMAS MARKET Over 60 independent retailers sell a mixture of unique gifts, original fashion, hand-crafted accessories and delicious food at this utterly charming market; bristol.gov.uk SANTA SPECIALS Join the Avon Valley Railway this festive season for a ride on one of their steam-hauled trains, and enjoy a special visit from Father Christmas. avonvalleyrailway.org UNTIL 24 DECEMBER (WEEKENDS ONLY)

HARBOURSIDE CHRISTMAS MARKET Street food, makers, music and mulled things, for five whole weekends; www. theharboursidemarket.co.uk UNTIL 3 JANUARY

A VERY VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS It’s a case of Christmas Past at Tyntesfield, with the season’s best-loved traditions brought to life with an immersive

Victorian experience. Bring the brougham round, Branson. www.nationaltrust.org.uk UNTIL 7 JANUARY

WINTER WONDERLAND The South West’s largest outdoor ice rink, Santa’s Enchanted Ice Castle, a Christmas train ride inside the Mall and a selection of festive foodie treats. Oh, and shopping.

At Cribbs; mallcribbs.com WINTER WONDERLAND Christmas comes to Wookey Hole, with its Santa’s Grotto and over 20 festive attractions; wookey.co.uk 10-11 JANUARY

RICKY GERVAIS: HUMANITY They say: one of the most influential British comedians since Charlie Chaplin.

We say: don’t miss it. Actually you may have to – it’s ticket returns only; at Colston Hall colstonhall.org

In a mini-version of our usual round up, TIM POPPLE enjoys a nice bit of WNO WELSH NATIONAL OPERA Bristol Hippodrome, 15-18 November

WNO’s latest mini-season brought two greats of Russian art and a light Viennese whirl. In Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky adapts Pushkin’s short story of class conflict and love into an opera redolent with missed opportunities and mansplaining. Short version: men are idiots.

In From the House of the Dead, Janácek adapts Dostoevsky in a devastating one-act opera that is best described as Orange is the New Black set in a 19th-century Siberian gulag, turned into an early 20th-century opera. No, really.

Finally, Johann Strauss II’s famed light opera Die Fledermaus, finished the trio of operas. A tale of revenge, love, and ridicule, set to glorious decadent waltzes; nobody ever quite wrote a tune like Strauss II. Each opera was utterly beguiling in its own unique way; yet the WNO interpreted each with dazzling variety. WNO are back at the Hippodrome in April 2018 with Puccini, Mozart, and Verdi.

Eugene genie: shootout in the snow à la WNO

13 JANUARY

SISTER WORKS SisterWorks’ début event aims to champion women in the creative industry while demystifying the process of becoming part of it: expect an all-star team of experts and influencers including Eva Lazarus, Tanya Lacey, Hannah Williams (& The Affirmations), Liz Horsman (YouTheMiC), Queen Bee and many more, at dBS studios.

Find SisterWorks on Facebook www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 21

Reach the best in the west Auent, active and inuential and just a call away

Bristol Life team 01225 475800

W H AT ’ S O N

ARTS

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN Struggling to choose between this year’s NYE offerings?

We’re here to make the choice that little bit harder…

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS Bristol’s fave Prohibition-style bar Hyde & Co is poised to transport you to a bygone, more stylish age with their Midnight in Paris party. Through the medium of cocktails, partygoers will be whisked to 1920s Paris, where, in case merely drinking isn’t exciting enough, they’ll follow the journey of a private investigator who becomes embroiled in a mysterious jewel heist in the Bohemian capital.

Tickets include three cocktails and fizz at midnight, £45; www.hydeand.co NEW YEAR TROPICANA Trust Bristol’s most colourful restaurant to come up with a tropical New Year’s theme; Bambalan’s 1980s-flavoured shindig offers a cocktail, four course feast and dancing to the sound of Bambalan’s DJ, £35; www.bambalan.co.uk MOULIN ROUGE We’re staying in Paris at The Square, for an exclusive night of decadence and flamboyance; dress is black tie with a burlesque twist – think feathers, top hats, masks, and the all-out glamour. Tickets include unlimited food and drink, a casino and live entertainments. £80-£135. www.thesquareclub.com NEW YEAR’S EXTRAVAGANZA Over in Old Market, OMA bids goodbye and good riddance

to 2017, with fabulous drinks, daring DJs and a headline act in The Zen Hussies that always brings the party. A six-piece musical behemoth, the Hussies draw on various influences including vintage rock and R&B, ska, pre-war jazz, mariachi and Latino, all infused with a feisty post-punk attitude and a terribly English sensibility. Dressing up is very much encouraged – theme: circus glam; £20-£30; www.oldmarketassembly.co.uk NEW YEAR’S EVE FEAST AND FIESTA Trust Pata Negra to put food at the heart of their New Year’s Eve. For £45 you can enjoy an indulgent four-course tapas feast of authentic Spanish fare, complete with cava on arrival.

Meanwhile, up in Noche Negra, the bottomless Cava & Pintxos Fiesta returns: £35 for two hours of unlimited cava and pintxos followed by DJs and dancing until the wee small hours; www.patanegrabristol.com GRAIN BARGE Party on the boat! Welcome in 2018 from the top deck, soak up the panoramic harbourside views in the main bar and dance the night away below deck. DJs will be playing classic funk, soul, old school hip hop, ’90s dance and disco. Just £15. www.grainbarge.com END OF DAYS Celebrate the end of the old world and the beginning of the

new at The Loco Club. Species gallop towards extinction, and humanity hurtles ever onwards.

Fast-forward to oblivion, raise a glass and have a few laughs at the pointless idiocy of the human condition. Dress code: genetic mutations gone wrong and artificial unintelligence.

Live Music, Apocalypse Photobooth, Catastrophic Cabaret and DJs; £26.50; www.headfirstbristol.co.uk SMUGGLER’S BALL The Milk Thistle toasts 2018 with a raucous evening of cocktails and entertainment inspired by its own colourful history; take a journey through the history of one of the city’s most impressive old buildings with an opulent evening of costume, cocktails, live music and DJs. It’s the classic Milk Thistle party with a few dark twists and turns; £35 including three cocktails and all-night entertainment. www.milkthistlebristol.com TOP OF THE POPS CON Thekla’s tribute to Top of the Pops showcases the biggest hits from across the decades. Dress up as your favorite pop act from all eras and you may win a prize; expect BIG pop anthems, while upstairs the ’70s set plays classic disco, soul, funk and hip hop. £7-£15; www.popconfessional.co.uk DISCO BALL The Tobacco Factory are

predictably pulling out all the stops with a Studio 54style nightclub hosted by Supersmash. Outdoors, Cirque Bijou will be in a big top (you heard us); in the Thali space, On the Corner showcase Afro-Latin electronic band Penya; you can also take a trio through the Tunnel of Love and discover something a little mischievous in The Loft as Tooty Frooty take over the Theatre Bar. Plus street food, a retro photo booth and a few other surprises; £38; www. tobaccofactorytheatres.com FUNK YEAH Over at Colston Hall, BBC Radio 6 Music’s Craig Charles hosts a funk, soul and retro grooves takeover, Soultrain DJs spin the hottest soul, funk and disco classics, there’s the downright funky acid jazz of the James Taylor Quartet, the high octane dance music of The Correspondents as well as a substantial helping of cool from Don Letts £35 to £42.49; www.colstonhall.org

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

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

BEAT THE WINTER BLUES The UK’s number-one kitchen retail specialist*, WREN KITCHENS has the biggest kitchen collection in the country

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ophisticated, elegant and calming, embracing the winter blues at Wren Kitchens opens up a new world of colour for your home that will boost your mood for years to come.

There are lots of ways to sing the blues at Wren with seven shades from playful Periwinkle and moody Midnight to beautiful bold Baltic. Mix and match with cool greys and crisp whites or team with bright primaries like Bumblebee yellow for a unique design statement.

Wren’s bespoke-built Infinity Plus range offers a choice of 50 colours and finishes including seven blues and over a dozen shades of grey.

Infinity Plus, designed and manufactured in the UK by Wren, gives you all the elements you need to create a bespoke kitchen at a price every homeowner can afford. With a choice of 15 frontal styles and thousands of unit sizes and special feature units, there are millions of potential combinations. It’s the next best thing to a handmade kitchen.

Look out for the Infinity Plus Milano with matching or contrasting profiles, a sleek truly handleless style that’s normally only found in high-end studios. A Milano Contour island in Lagoon with gold profiles and a Shaker in Glacier and Gullwing make a stunning combination. New to the range is Milano Ultra - choose Dove and Cloud for a match made in heaven. At up to 80% less than other handleless kitchens in the UK, this is a designer-style kitchen that everyone can afford.

Autograph Pacrylic in Ice Blue provides a touch of understated glamour with its super gloss finish, while Autograph Elements, from the Elements range which uses the textures and

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There’s classic, modern and traditional kitchens on offer at half price plus an extra 25% off normal prices and that includes all kitchens in our top two ranges - Infinity Plus and Infinity.

patterns inspired by nature, in Concrete Oak teamed with Contour in China Blue, is perfect for a sophisticated room for all seasons.

For a traditional look, there’s the classic Shaker and Country kitchens. They come with a range of feature units to enable you to personalise your design: cook’s tables, pet beds, dressers, overmantles and open shelves.

Feature units come in 17 colours including Ice Blue and Slate. Infinity Plus Shaker in Midnight Blue and Winter White is a classic look while the subtle combination of Shaker in Cathedral and Slate gives this framed kitchen an added dimension that fits just right in homes of any era.

Check out your local showroom – there are 68 nationwide – and come and talk to one of our Kitchen Designers. They’ll introduce our

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For more inspiration, ask for our new 268-page brochure - the biggest retail kitchen brochure in the UK - or check out your options online at wrenkitchens.com. BL

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ARTS

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hamilton House is one of the most beloved creative hubs in the city.

It is also under threat. COLIN MOODY has created an art work to help Coexist in its campaign to save the House – for the sake of Bristol

By L I SA WA R R E N

“This is Hamilton House. Well, its more than that. A nondescript three-block property that was empty for years, but has for some time now been at the centre of creative space in Stokes Croft. I have been documenting activities in the building as its artists try to Save Hamilton House, as the current owners make moves to change many aspects about the way the building functions. Hundreds of little rooms have sprung, with the help of managers Coexist, into printing workshops, dance halls, Radio 4 programme production, Arctic research lab, film producers, ceramicists, weavers, fashion designers, fine artists, and that’s just one small part. So look closer – each window is a photograph of an artist at work, a dancer dancing, food being prepared, John Nation giving his Banksy graffiti art tours, and so much more.

This building is a Bristol hero. Without these artists collaborating the arts scene here would suffer” – Colin Moody 26 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY

THIS

BUILDING IS A BRISTOL HERO. WITHOUT THESE PEOPLE COLLABORATING, THE BRISTOL

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olin Moody has been hanging out at Hamilton House for a few weeks. He is very fond of the place. But recently it has looked as if the 200+ artists, writers, designers, musicians, dancers, charities and many others who use the house might not have a home here in the future, at least not in its current form.

Colin wanted to document the artists and users of the building going about the place, and turn it into one single art piece that reflected how busy, dynamic, diverse and open Hamilton House really is. As a community and arts hub alone, it’s unique for its scale and the ideas coming out of the building.

ARTS

If a land trust can be found, then perhaps the output of hundreds can continue to help shape and add to the area and the wider city beyond.

The energy of the place is incredible. In exploring the building and the people within, Colin was surprised to find Radio 4 plays being written, award-winning artists using the latest technologies, and vibrant African street dance; you can even hire a Christmas tree in a pot from from Christmas Tree Craig. What a place.

Coexist manage the building and are currently running a dynamic Save Hamilton House campaign. Colin made this art for them and is gifting it for their campaign. You will see it hanging up on the wall in December for a Save Hamilton House Gallery special. w

ARTS SCENE WOULD

SUFFER

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 27

ARTS

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Clockwise from above: Martin Riesner, alone in his studio. Just look at the marks on the floor. This is a busy artist, and this space is everything to him; Jeff, The Big Issue seller. That’s not quite right; let’s just call him Jeff. Legend; Emmie van Biervliet as seen through the famous La Misa Mayor building, Havana, Cuba. Or at least a cutout she uses to create extraordinary art that is shown all over the world. She is passionate about staying here and keeping the art space alive; J Tim from the band The Pink Diamond Review. They played at the Open Day festival in October. When I said I liked his look he said “you should stick around, see our lead singer, that’s a look!”; Avant Garde Dance Masterclass with everyone off the floor and four feet in the air.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

ARTS

Clockwise from top left: Uncertain future. What happens if you remove people from Hamilton House? What happens to their arts practice and the people they once networked with, shared resources with?; Christmas Tree Craig with his trees (each with a name – no, really): John Nation (aka The Graff father and other names) outside the house, sharing his passion and Banksys with those on his Street Art Tours round the area

WILL THEY BE LEAVING SOON? THE WHOLE OF HAMILTON HOUSE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE A GREAT DEAL

Above: James Barrett, producer of films, in his room in the middle of the building. Will he be leaving soon? The whole of Hamilton House is about to change a great deal.

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

l o t S i r B t r a T s e M o h A Be ! r E e t n U l o V Start Bristol, you’ll be a When you volunteer for Home m get back on their feet lifeline for a family: helping the d to cope in the future. and develop the skills they nee ndent registered charity Home Start Bristol is an indepe h at least one child under supporting struggling families wit s and carefully match five. We recruit and train volunteer them with local families.

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CHRISTMAS

7 K A M K E L LY

KAM’S FESTIVE COUNTDOWN Watershed season-ticket holders, look away now. There’s no Jimmy Stewart on Kam’s festive movie list. No Mogwai, Jack the Pumpkin King or Edward Glenn. Cary Grant in The Bishop’s Wife? Forget about it. On the plus side, there’s no sign of Bing . . .

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am the first to slam (to be fair, I’ve never ‘slammed’ anyone or anything in my life. Tabloid term. But I’ve always wanted to, so here goes)…. supermarkets and the like for pushing Christmas in September or earlier. That said, I kind of secretly love the whole holidays a-comin’, holidays a-comin’, holidays a-comin’ thing. And part of the reason I love the festive period is because I have a cast-iron excuse to rewatch my favourite movies – which happen to be Christmas movies Never seen Miracle on Something Street. Never read A Christmas Carol.

The following are the top 10 Christmas movies IMO; if your favourite differs from mine, please email me at: MyChristmasMovieBeatsYoursSoStop TypingNow@SeriouslyStopNow. This.A.FakeEmailAccount.

Co.ReallyYoureStillReadingThis.

QuestionMark.ExclamationMark.co.uk

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The Departed (2006) OK, not a Chrimbo movie as such,

but is there really ever a bad time to watch it? Seriously? Just an incredible movie.

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The Night Before (2015) This is fantastic. Only just seen it on Netflix the other day. It stars Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie as three lifelong friends looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties in New York on Christmas Eve. It made me cry (with laughter). If you’re into doing lots of illegal stuff (he worded, carefully) and proposing with the help of Miley Cyrus, you’ll love this even more than I did.

Which is a lot.

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Home Alone (1990) The most bizarre thing about this film is the fact that there was a sequel.

That means it happened AGAIN! How did Kevin’s parents get away with it? How did they not have their kid taken off them and put into care? How you gonna leave a kid alone? With aftershave? And they did it again in Home Alone 3. Still, I’m gonna allow it because it’s festive ’n’ that.

Muppets Christmas Carol (1992) If you’re not with me in my love for this movie, then just chuck this magazine away. [sorry?? – ed]. Admittedly, Kermit is a bit of a douche, though in a loveable kind of way.

And it has Fozzie Bear! And Michael Caine!

So check ya (s)elf.

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National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) It’s the quintessential Christmas movie!

Audrey’s eyes being frozen. The tree combusting. Clark in the attic. Don’t ever diss the ’Poons (That sounds/reads soooooo wrong).

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Love Actually (2003) I want to tell you that the reason I love this movie is because I, like Liam Neeson in the film, am a stepfather. But the reason I love love LOVE this film is because of Martine McCutcheon (just lush) and Emma Thompson (lush and makes me cry every time). But as far as Lincoln goes – not cool, dude, she literally just got married.

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Scrooged (1988) Bill Murray could dump a tonne of horse manure on my doorstep, call it a movie, and I would still love it. I so want to say that this is my favourite Chrimbo movie ever, but read on and you’ll see why it’s not.

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Trading Places (1983) “Looking good Billy Ray.” “Feeling good Louis.” And those are the least memorable quotes of the movie. Then there’s “Karate men bruise on the inside” and “YEAH”. If you’ve seen it, you know. You get it.

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Elf (2003) Will Ferrell plays an elf. That’s pretty much it. It’s Will Ferrell. That’s all you need to know. If you ever see Santa in the street, just scream “SAAAAAANTA . . .

I KNOW HIM!” whether you know the film/Santa or not.

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Die Hard (1988) I will go John McClane on anyone who fights me on this. It may not be the conventional Christmas movie, but I feel happier watching it from December onwards. A soundtrack that includes Run-DMC and Beethoven can’t be wrong.

Don’t question me on this, if you do, you’re a Gruber NOT a McClane.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays. Love to you and yours, whatever your beliefs (or taste in movies) at this time of year.

Kam Kelly’s breakfast show, every weekday from 6am, Sam FM Bristol, 106.5fm www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 31

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ARTS

BOOKS

This year, give them the gift of BS5. NICK RAISTRICK looks back at a project that occupied a ridiculous amount of his time over the past few years, and suggests you stick the book-of-the-Facebook-page into your nearest Bristol stocking. It’s niche – but it’s witty af

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don’t wish it could be Christmas every day.

You’d be completely reliant on the 24-hour garage, for a start, and scurvy would soon kick in. Plus the city centre would be permanently covered in those retail unit wooden sheds masquerading as German markets and pretending to be traditional, even though nobody had seen them until . . . hold on, maybe they’ve always existed? Like the ancient holiday of Black Friday.

That’s the festive period for you: capitalism playing a giant trick on your brain, filling your head with ersatz memories of Christmases past, in order that you buy more stuff, possibly in plastic bags, which end up strangling baby turtles.

Which is why I love the rip-off Winter Wonderland Experience stories that pop up in the tabloids at this time of year, featuring a tipsy Santa smoking a fag who tells tearful kids he doesn’t really exist, as an Alsatian desperately attempts to paw off reindeer deely boppers in a muddy field and angry dads seek out the person in charge. Like a metaphor for post-Brexit Britain.

Get the Easton Look is a celebration of the wonkier side of life. It started out in 2013 when a friend who had just moved into the area needed a sofa, and I sent her a picture of one which had been left on my street. Then another. And another. I noticed how much tat was generally available on the streets of Easton, and I pretended to be a metropolitan art critic, providing pretentious commentary for a Facebook group.

It was a handful of friends at first, but loads of people I didn’t know joined in with their own photographs of fly-tipped bits and bobs, with their own critiques. It was funny, but some people got angry: they thought I was laughing at the rubbish, 34 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PEOPLE

REJECT THE CONFORMITY OF SUBURBIA

TO LIVE

SOMEWHERE EDGY, THEN

COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NOISE

or condoning it, or laughing at Easton, or that I was genuinely an art critic or some kind of hipster – the only outsider group it’s OK to hate.

I’ve left now, but the book, an attractive coffee table or perhaps toilet book, covers a period of change for Easton. It used to be cheap and diverse, a place that people with money would avoid, where you couldn’t get a fresh vegetable, but you could get, er, other stuff.

Where living in an ambulance and having a rave that lasts till Tuesday was basically OK. Where Somalis and Italian crusties with dreamcatchers and grass-covered bicycle sheds in their garden would peacefully co-exist and grumble about traffic in this, the abandoned mattress capital of the South West.

There’s still a bit of that about, but as it got prohibitively expensive to live in other places previously considered desirable by people with money, a specific kind of gentrification happened. People who couldn’t afford to buy a place in London moved in. Partly this is a global phenomenon: people rejecting the conformity of suburbia to live somewhere edgy, then complaining about the noise.

But the housing crisis and gentrification experienced in Easton is very British, and involves a new kind of class war.

How Theresa May must love the fact that people are blaming hipsters for a housing crisis which was caused by her predecessors: successive governments choosing not to build new houses, and even selling off the public housing stock that people like my Nan had paid for with actual tax.

That so many of us have become greedy, selfish and obsessed with house prices is not the fault of men with beards and tattoos who patronise muesli restaurants, but it’s always been easier to blame people who look different than the people in charge.

I digress. I miss Easton, and the book turned out to be much more of an affectionate portrait of the place than I expected. GTEL has had its highs and its lows. Who can forget the mystery mattress competition? The horse porn? The sponsored art installation which was actually a skip, which people were too scared to use because they thought it was a piece of art (even though I told them it was just a skip)?

Or the students from Goldsmiths who came down to see the phenomenon? The Arts Trail bath-full of Tyskie? The book launch where we sold the book out of a van and gave away a rowing machine to a drunk Irish girl as a prize? It’s all so hard to explain to outsiders.

Sadly, I had to leave Easton for personal reasons, but I truly hope it retains some of its character as it changes.

Get the Easton Look, £9.35 from www.blurb.co.uk/b/7923021-get-theeaston-look Go on.

BOOKS

ARTS

Left: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – anon MODIFIED BAUBLE, CIGARETTE BUTT Discovery date: 29 August, 2014 This piece echoes the form and colour of a red berry, and in doing so seems to be critical of the ever-earlier onset of Christmas. The bright red is a signifier for danger. Are we consuming too much?

Will our own globe’s resources become ‘threadbare’ if we continue? The artist is making a statement about commercialisation, yes, but something more.

There is decay here, and a careful positioning of the bauble on a dividing line indicates a political statement. On another level it can be seen to be revelling in the brash sensuality of the season, as celebrations are enjoyed by all, and not just those leaving The Chelsea on a Saturday night.

Social allegory, comment on global capitalism or a playful rejection of both? A mixture of all three? It is a work which asks much of us.

We flicked through the book to find you some of the more festive entries Right: Holidays are Coming – anon.

DISCARDED BEVERAGE RECEPTACLE, DECIDUOUS LEAFWORK Discovery date: 9 November, 2015 “Will the Coca Cola truck come to Easton?” is the question on everyone’s lips, along with “Will this be the year that Banksy turns on Easton’s Christmas lights?”

Alas, we can but speculate.

But this topical environmental sculpture certainly succeeds in capturing the excitement of the moment.

Will the can continue its journey, rattling through the streets of a cold windy eventide, its magic sound not unlike distant sleigh bells, tapping out the words we can almost hear if we try hard enough and if we truly believe in them: holidays are coming, holidays are coming, holidays are coming…

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

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Clifton Suspension Bridge print, £20 My World take iconic landmarks and sights and turn them into bright, highquality pop-art prints – just like this one From Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre, Bridge Road www.cliftonbridge.org.uk

GOOD GIRL?

Monkey coinbank, £55 Cute little monkey says that whether you stuff him with coins or not, he’ll look amazing on the mantelpiece From Grace & Mabel 32 The Mall www.graceandmabel.co.uk

Day of the Dead corkscrew, £25 Because nothing quite says Christmas like a Mexican skeleton corkscrew From Otomi Clifton Arcade www.otomi.co.uk

Handmade felt slippers, £30 kids, £42.50 adult Handmade in Nepal using organic wool: good working conditions and fair wages mean this gift will warm hearts as well as toes From Bristol Trading Post Clifton Arcade www.bristoltradingpost.co.uk

Katie Chapman ring, £4599 We love the Deco-style design of this 9ct yellow gold beauty set with 0.55ct diamonds From Clifton Rocks 31 The Mall www.cliftonrocks.co.uk

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

SHOPPING

ED’S CHOICE

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CHRISTMAS in CLIFTON 10

IF, FOR ANY UNACCOUNTABLE REASON, OUR TWO MEGA BRISTMAS GIFT GUIDES FAILED TO INSPIRE YOU, HERE’S ONE FINAL TIP: HEAD TO BS8, MATE . . .

6. LIFE IN BLACK & WHITE

7. WYLDE THING

8. A BIT OF R&R

9. HAPPY FEET

10. POSH SPICE

Zebra wall vase, £33 The witty no-animalswere-harmed-in-makingthis--trophy trend shows no sign of abating; this ceramic zebra is just as happy holding pencils as flowers (or indeed, neither) From Bracey Interiors 15 Waterloo Street www.braceyinteriors.co.uk

Silver butterfly pendant, £95 From the ‘Wild’ collection, in solid silver; puffins, dolphins, hares and many more appealing creatures also available From Nicholas Wylde 6 The Mall www.nicholaswylde.com

Rodgers & Rodgers earrings, £30 Some of the prettiest and most affordable jewellery around, in a range of gorgeous colours From Pod Company 24 The Mall www.thepodcompany. co.uk

Penguin vases, £120£240 Dennis Chinaworks’ penguins are for life, not just for Christmas (but they’re undoubtedly rather festive, too) From Clifton Ceramics 58 The Mall www.cliftonceramics.co.uk

Absoluto parfum by Giovanna Antonelli, £135 Inspired by São Paulo, this spicy Oriental perfume, leaves a honey trail mixed with notes of saffron and intoxicating rum. Exclusive; handmade in France.

From Shy Mimosa 42B The Mall www.shymimosa.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk II CLIFTON BRISTOL LIFE LIFE II 39 www.mediaclash.co.uk 69

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SHOPPING

FA S H I O N

PARTY FAVOURS Sartorially speaking, this festive season really isn’t a time for shrinking violets

By IONA MC C A BE

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e’re not sure where it came from (wasn’t it summer, like, yesterday?), but the Christmas party season is upon us, and this year it’s all about going ‘OUT OUT OUT’. It’s taking every party invite as an invitation to go full-throttle glam, we’re talking high drama, striking sparkles and totally outrageous fun!

Every decade was represented in the AW17 shows, but the 1970s prevailed, with designers including Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu luring us to the dance floor. Ruffles, playful fabrics and vibrant colourways are at the heart of this decadent, disco-inspired trend.

Introducing the ultimate, can’t-livewithout party piece of Christmas 2017: the red dress. It’s bold, it’s fiery and there’s no better way to make a statement and showcase that this season it’s time to dress up. Not necessarily a colour for the fainthearted, the good news is, there is a hue that complements every complexion.

Modern metallics, sequins and glitter dazzled the catwalks of Saint Laurent, Balmain and Isabel Marant, leading the way for an unforgettably embellished era. The perfect way to bring style and shine to any party? Simply cinch a floor-length dress with a chic waist belt for the ultimate ‘OUT OUT’ look.

Iona McCabe is womenswear stylist at Harvey Nichols Bristol 42 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Amanda Wakeley Metallic Drape Dress £1,095; gold tassel judo belt £115

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1. Three Floor cinnamon pleated chiffon midi dress, £385 2. Amanda Wakeley red embroidered evening dress, £1,995 3. Pinko light pink faux fur jacket, £445 4. Samsøe & Samsøe Johanne sequinned mini dress, £160 5. Aspinal of London star clutch, £895 6. Self-Portrait metallic pink ruffle-trimmed skirt, £200 7. Alice + Olivia samba tiered satin maxi skirt, £680 8. Sophia Webster Vivi Glacia black velvet box bag, £550 9. Red Valentino black point d’esprit mini dress, £925 10. Sophia Webster Chiara rose gold winged leather sandals, £525 11. Samsøe & Samsøe Gillian lace-trimmed top, £95 12. Valentino Rockstud 100 patent leather pumps, £670. All available at Harvey Nichols, 27 Philadelphia Street, Quakers Friars; www.harveynichols.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 43

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

R E S TA U R A N T

FOOD

Yurt Lush ‘A yurt made cosy with woodburners and fairylights’ sounds like the stage directions for a Bristol Old Vic Christmas play – but is, in fact, the description of one of the city’s most distinctive dining venues

By DE R I ROBI NS

A

nyone hoping for a peaceful dinner à deux in Bristol during high Christmas season can whistle for it. If a restaurant is worth going to at all, you can bet your novelty Santa socks that it’ll be booked solid during December and swarming with office party people hellbent on drinking the free bar dry.

Dining out as a couple, it’s easy to feel marginalised as the decibels of seasonal jollity rise in direct proportion to the craic (that’s generally set at 90, btw, non-Irish people).

But the great advantage of Yurt Lush is that it has three discrete spaces: two dining rooms, bisected by a large, cosy bar. Two separate black-tie parties were in full swing on the night we visited; the bar was rammed until 7.30, after which the revellers trooped off merrily to their tables, leaving us in the convivial company of a few casual diners, families, and friends meeting for a pint after work.

It’s not every city that has a yurt right next to its main railway station. The funny thing is, that when you pass beneath the imposing Temple Meads stone archway, and wander along the cobbled road towards the converted shipping containers, the sight of a Mongolian encampment doesn’t strike you as odd.

Granted, there are no be-turbaned hordes playing buzkashi across the high steppes, but the smoke rising from the interconnected tents looks promising in the extreme, and the whole concept is quite the sort of thing you’d expect from Bristol’s premier gastro-entrepreneurs, Eat Drink Bristol Fashion.

We were in for chef Oscar Davis’s full seasonal Monty, created in consultation with EDBF head honcho Josh Eggleton. Just to be super-annoying, we’d arrived 20 minutes early – why does Bristol’s traffic run blamelessy smoothly only when you’ve allowed buckets of extra time?

– meaning that extremely can-do waiter Jamie with the lovely Dublin accent was obliged to weave through the black ties with our various courses held aloft. Sorry, Jamie.

We got stuck in. Valley Smokehouse supply directly to a select bunch of chefs, so we knew their vodka-cured

THERE ARE FEW BETTER PLACES TO CELEBRATE SATURNALIA THAN ROUND A WOOD-BURNER IN A YURT

salmon was going to be special. My sizeable cut had a winningly dense yet soft texture, and a fresh, subtle flavour gently spiced up by apple and horseradish. A golden salsify and butternut squash – velvety and comforting, with an agrodolce hit of sage, vinegar, sugar, chilli and honey – was every bit as good as that sounds.

Veggies are well catered for by the three-choice mains selection, and a Portobello mushroom, salted peanut and squash loaf with roasted chestnut dukkah almost won my vote. As it was, I had no regrets about my Powells’ rolled salt-marsh lamb belly, a robust wintry-tasting thing on a fragrant bed of coconut haricot stew.

A pan-roasted fillet of cod in tomato and ginger sauce was flaky and succulent, with a punchy English gruyère croquette for a plate-fellow. A silky pool of salsify mash was the perfect vehicle for hoovering up all the juices, and the dish returned to the kitchen looked suspiciously like it had been licked clean. It was probably Jamie.

The sides deserve a shout-out, because the roasties were spot-on while the braised red cabbage tasted as boozy as mulled wine, and we’d like the recipe, now, Oscar, please.

OK. Please concentrate now, because we’re about to divulge some very important information. Bristol may be full of authentic and very good ice-cream parlours, but nobody-but-nobody does it better than Oscar.

We had forgotten just how incredibly good his ice-cream was. For Christmas, he’s given us a roasted pistachio and brown-butter version, meaning that all that rich creaminess is broken up with chewy bits of – oh, don’t get us started. We’d foolishly asked for ‘one portion with two spoons’, as tends to be our modest MO, but at the risk of winning the hotly coveted Most Irritating Diners of the Night award, we sheepishly sent Jamie back into the kitchen with a plea for seconds.

Yurt Lush, as you probably know, began life as one of the pop-up teepees in Queen Square during the original Eat Drink Bristol Fashion festival – rumour has it that the fest may return for 2018. Either way, the Yurt seems to be settled into its permanent patch, at least until some bright spark decides to turn Clock Tower Yard into office blocks.

It’s fun, it’s idiosyncratic, and it’s supremely cosy in the deep mid-winter. Christmas started off as a pagan feast of bacchanalian proportions, and that’s what it’s largely returned to today. And there can be few better places to celebrate Saturnalia than round a wood-burner festooned with greenery in a yurt settlement in Temple Meads.

DINING DETAILS Yurt Lush, Clock Tower Yard, Temple Meads, BS1 6QH; 07582 048090 Opening times Yurt is open for lunch/brunch Monday-Sunday starting 10am; in the evenings the kitchen serves dinner variously from 5pm We visited Thursday evening Christmas menu prices two course menu £16, with dessert £20. The Christmas menu runs until 23 December Vegetarian choice On the three-choice Xmas menu, one is veggie. Wine Excellent range, with plenty of beer and ales and cocktails also available Atmosphere Brizzle Staff Engaged and engaging Kids? There’s an easy-going family vibe Disabled access All on one level

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FOOD & DRINK

TAKE FIVE

Q: What could be more fitting for a Christmas Food & Drink section than a chat with a butcher? A: A chat with butcher extraordinaire Luke Hasell of Story Farm, who’s recently opened the fabulous, compact, carnivoro-tastic Meat Box in Cargo 2 Hi Luke – what’s the customer response to Meat Box been like so far?

We’ve been blown away. People are coming in and taking pictures, and showing a real interest about where we source, asking questions about our meat and our dry-ageing chiller. We’ve also had a lot of people asking about rarer cuts and game, alongside the steaks and Christmas ideas.

Why should we buy our meat from a traditional butcher, rather than the supermarket?

Well, by supporting the units down at Cargo and Wapping Wharf you put money back into the local economy, not boardroom pockets, for one thing; but it is much more than that.

We can tell you all the farms your meat comes from – real ones, not ones invented for labels, and we can talk you through all the cuts.

How do your prices compare?

Some things are more expensive than the supermarket, but like-for-like – so organic beef is competitive with organic beef, but supermarkets only offer maybe one or two organic options. We should perhaps ask how or why supermarket meat is so cheap. It’s like the philosophy for Root – eat less meat, but make sure it’s amazing when you do.

How much of the meat is reared at Story Farm?

All the organic beef is from Story Farm, so those cows graze the land you dance on at Valley Fest. My philosophy is quite simple, really; I farm responsibly, so I care for the animals and the land they graze. No pesticides, no unnecessary antibiotics and no 46 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

GM feed, just 100% pasture-fed. Be kind to the land and it will be there for the future, and the meat tastes better, too.

venison perhaps, we suggest ordering by 15 December but we are open right through to Christmas Eve.

As well as field-to-fork, we know Meat Box is very much about nose-to-tail. Can you recommend a bit of the animal we might not usually eat?

As the nights draw in, or perhaps as the purse strings do, post-Christmas, what about ox cheek and mash? They need to be cooked low and slow – perfect if you want to come back to them after work; cook in red wine and stock with some root veg and a bit of Marmite!

What will you and the family be carving up on the big day?

It has to be an organic turkey with all the trimmings, which we sell, by the way, but we will also have a goose.

What else do you have in the cold store?

We are stocking Somerset Charcuterie, which is fantastic tasting. In fact, on opening weekend, we had some Spanish people come in and they said it was as good as at home. Somerset Charcuterie have a brilliant ethos that matches ours, too.

We also sell handmade pies, pasties and scotch eggs, all made in the Chew Valley for us, and have cold meats like pastrami and ham. We also have store cupboard items like stuffing and mustards.

Is this the busiest time of year for a butcher?

Yes it is, by a long way! But I like to be busy.

What’s the cut-off date for ordering our Christmas bird and hams?

We are taking orders now, with a £25 deposit, and you can book your collection day; we are also doing deliveries in Bristol and Chew Valley. To be sure of getting what you want, especially if that is a goose or

Back in 2014 you told us that you never had any time off. Since then we’ve had Valley Fest, Root, Yurt and now Meat Box – how’s that work-life balance going…

Well, you decide – three kids, 180 cows, pigs, sheep and the dog! (And a very understanding wife – Happy Christmas Mel).

Happy Christmas, Luke and Mel! For more www.meatboxbristol.co.uk

LUKE’S TOP TIP FOR COOKING THE PERFECT TURKEY First, it needs to be a good-quality bird. I’m not an all-night roaster, I’m an on-the-day cook; I’m up early anyway with the cows.

Make a stuffing with olive oil, lemon zest, pancetta, breadcrumbs, organic eggs and herbs, and outdoor-reared pork mince. Stuff gently under the skin. Then add some lemons and onion halves into the cavity. Have the heat of the oven up high, then pop your turkey on a bed of root veg and turn it down to about 180/200°C for the cooking time of your bird. Use a thermometer to check it’s cooked; the trick is to rest it under foil for at least an hour before carving.

PHOTO BY JON CRAIG

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

FOOD & DRINK

MORE TASTY BITES… Stephen Gilchrist and Kathryn Curtis of Shop 3 Bistro have opened not one (too easy) but two new dining establishments on Chandos Road.

Otira’s a full-on restaurant serving Stephen’s now-familiar imaginative spin on contemporary food, while Chandos Social is more of a casual beast, with a bar offering balanced by small plates. www.otira.co.uk Play that funghi music, Otira . . .

We’re guessing this is the Loch Ness cocktail, then

SHAKEN AND SERVED

Don’t miss the beautiful new cocktails being mixed up at Her Majesty’s Secret Service between now and March. Winston the Bulldog’s Guide To The British Isles – a menu in the style of a vintage pocket edition travel guide – offers a witty drinking journey through the UK’s favourite attractions, from the White Cliffs of Dover to Loch Ness and beyond. Ingredients include acorn vermouth, laughing gas(!) and even a chip of prehistoric stone. www.hmssbristol.com

Buttermilk & Maple (below) have launched their heart-warming Human Library in partnership with the Royal British Legion. The initiative aims to connect the old and the young, combating loneliness and enabling storytelling between the two generations this Christmas.

The restaurant will host The Human Library on 18 December, in a warm and inviting environment where veterans can share their stories with Bristol’s youth, building community spirit and alleviating loneliness in the winter months. www.buttermilkandmaple.com

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

Massive props to Squeezed in Cargo 2, where proprietor Alex Hayes has launched a new fundraising initiative for Julian House, the homeless charity behind Bristol Night Shelter. The Big Church Burger – a massive pile-up of beef patty, double Swiss cheese, shoestring fries, IPA pickles and hot Hollandaise in a salty pretzel burger bun (from Joe’s Bakery) – costs £8 and will be available up until 22 December.

First come, first served, etc.

Hot damn. www.wappingwharf.co.uk/squeezed

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FOOD & DRINK

A BRISTMAS HARVEST Our friends at Farmdrop aren’t just poised to deliver your Christmas essentials straight from the farm, but they’ve come up with these toothsome festive recipes – both suitable for veggies

PANETTONE BREAD & BUTTER PUDDING (Serves 4) Add a bit of Christmas magic to an old favourite using panettone. The scent of this bad boy baking in the oven will be enough to make you giddy with festive cheer.

STILTON, WALNUT & TRUFFLE HONEY CHICORY CANAPES (Serves 10 as a canapé) Deceptively simple yet elegantly impressive. Creamy, crunchy and with truffle honey to really send these moreish morsels into festive indulgence.

Ingredients 2 chicory bulbs 200g Stilton cheese 150g walnuts 1 jar of truffle honey Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Spread the walnuts onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 5-10 minutes until toasted and fragrant. Remove from the oven and leave to cool a little before crumbling

into a mixing bowl.

2. Chop the base from the chicory bulbs and separate the leaves. Give the leaves a wash and pat dry, then arrange on a serving platter.

3. Crumble the Stilton into the mixing bowl with the walnuts.

4. To make the honey easier to drizzle, place the jar into a bowl of hot water and leave to warm through (with the lid on) for a few minutes.

5. Take 1/2 tsp of Stilton and walnuts and nestle into a chicory leaf. Repeat to fill all the cups.

6. Carefully remove the lid from the truffle honey jar and drizzle 1/4 tsp honey over each cup. Serve straight away.

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Ingredients 1 panettone 350ml whole milk 100ml double cream 2 eggs, beaten 2 tbsp light brown soft sugar A pinch of cinnamon Butter, to grease baking dish Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a baking dish with plenty of butter.

2. Slice the panettone in half

vertically, then vertically cut each half into 2 inch thick wedges.

3. Whisk together the milk, cream, eggs, 1 tbsp sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl.

4. Arrange the panettone slices in the baking dish, then pour over the custard mixture.

Leave to soak in the custard for 20 minutes.

5. Sprinkle over the remaining sugar and bake for 20 minutes, when the custard has set and the top is lightly browned.

See website for more recipes and full details about the products used; www.farmdrop.com

FOOD & DRINK

CAFÉ SOCIETY Sta n Cullimore

GO WESTON There’s only one thing better than a great café fry-up, reckons Stan – and that’s a great café fry-up justified by a brisk, calorie-busting wintry walk

I

t’s that time of year again. When we eat sackfuls of comfort food in front of the fire, drink far too much, while simultaneously trying not to fret about the enormous amount of calories we’ve just tucked away. A time of guilt and gluttony. Just me?

When snoozing in front of the telly gets too much for your soul, there is only one way out.

A wintry stroll to blow away the cobwebs and hopefully burn off a few of those sticky calories.

All of which is just a long way of explaining how I ended up at Kings Weston House

recently. It’s a strange neck of the woods. A half-forgotten neighbour to Blaise Castle that looks like the second cousin, twice removed, to Ashton Court. The good news is that it’s fab, well worth the journey and has a lovely café.

To get there, you cross the Downs, head for Blaise and then, at the last minute, take a curving left-hand dive into a backwater which leads to a bumpy car park. Once you’ve got wrapped up in your cold weather gear, it’s time to explore. And what a pleasure that is. The mansion itself is set high above a plateau that opens out to reveal Avonmouth and beyond,

giving terrace views of enormous skies and manmade motorway madness.

Then there’s the house itself. A feast of sandstone slabs and mock Roman columns glowing in the sunshine. Once you’ve got your head round how pleasant it all is, you might find your feet directing themselves towards a doorway round the side which leads you to the café underneath the big house. The Vaulted Tea Rooms. A rabbit warren of novel spaces to take coffee in. Honestly, I would’ve gone all that way for the décor alone. It’s dress-down Friday at the National Trust meets Downton Abbey.

We decided to treat ourselves to a little something before we set out for a stroll. My companion and I have always been fans of builders’ breakfasts. Fry-ups as big as your head that set you up for the day ahead. Luckily, the café has a wide choice of breakfasts available, with options that can satisfy every appetite, from tiny tums to belly busting big ’uns. I went for the Light Veggie Breakfast and my companion went for its meaty namesake.

The breakfasts arrived and did the job perfectly. We also had a brace of coffees which were particularly good. Chatting to the girl who came to our table, it seems they also do a very pleasant lunch menu. But by now, we were beyond eating and decided to move before we fell asleep in front of the woodburner.

Heading outdoors, we walked along paths, rustled through leaves and watched as squirrels scampered happily through the undergrowth.

A good time was had by all, especially Mabel the dog.

I’m thinking we will return. Next time, we’ll be looking for lunch. And probably cake.

Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer www.stancullimore.com

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YES CHEFS! All we want for Bristmas is a top chef in the kitchen to do all the cooking – is that really too much to ask? Turns out they’re all a bit busy – but at least they made time to enthuse about their current menu, reveal what they like to snack on at the end of the shift, and share their top Christmas survival skills . . .

By DE R I ROBI NS

A wintry beauty at Box-E: roasted hazelnuts and vanilla pannacotta with charred orange and poached quince

C O O K I N ’ AT CHRISTMAS Yes please, chef: gingerbread soufflé at the Pony this Christmas

T

he chefs featured on these pages may have varying culinary tastes and influences, but they have one thing in common: they’re right up there with the very best in Bristol today. Seriously; if you haven’t eaten at their restaurants, you really can’t say you’ve sampled the best of the local food scene.

Happy Christmas, you bunch of legends you . . .

JOSH EGGLETON

The gaffer of the Michelin-starred Pony & Trap and co-founder of Eat Drink Bristol Fashion needs no introduction from us – but it was fun finding out a few more things about him anyway What made you want to be a chef?

I’ve been in kitchens since I was 15, and even as a kid I was always cooking. I was always into baking, too; I used to sell my cakes to the neighbours.

Favourite meals as a child?

Mum used to make a grilled chicken marinated with coriander leaves, lemon, whole black peppercorns, tomato and smoked paprika and steamed rice . . . banging!

Does the family always expect you to cook at Christmas?

They do, but I always enjoy it, as I’m not too good at sitting still and doing nothing.

What are you having as the main family Xmas meal?

Honestly, I usually decide the week before, because it’s so busy with the restaurants that it’s hard to find time to think about it.

Last year we had loads of steamed crab. This year, who knows?

Tip for remaining chilled while cooking at Christmas?

Drink lots of dry sherry, eat lots of festive snacks and roasties, and have a bacon sandwich in the morning.

I THINK I SERVED

MADONNA AN OYSTER ONCE, BUT I DIDN’T KNOW

IT WAS HER

What kind of vibe and food can we expect to find at The Pony & Trap over Christmas?

We have two festive menus, a regular set menu and a festive tasting menu, which will be on offer throughout December. A mix of warming familiar flavours and combos, but also with modern local ingredients, and some inspired from a little further afield.

Favourite ingredient at the moment?

Love a sea buckthorn. I know they’re not in season, but we harvest it and use it throughout the year. It could make an oil for a marinade or an ice cream; they’re really versatile.

Top three bits of kitchen kit?

TOG Knives, woodchip chargrill and VitaPrep blender.

Food heroes?

Keith Floyd is an absolute legend. Loved his cooking and his drinking habits.

Most famous person you’ve cooked for?

I think I served Madonna an oyster once, but I didn’t know it was her.

Favourite cookery book?

Favourite of all time is French Laundry Cookbook by Thomas Keller, and The Nomad Cookbook by Daniel Humm, Will Guidara and Leo Robitschek.

What do you eat when you get home at the end of a shift?

Cheese and cucumber.

www.theponyandtrap.co.uk

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Culinary wizardry comes as standard at the Sanchez Brothers’ Michelin-starred Casamia

PETER SANCHEZ IGLESIAS Heading up the extraordinary Sanchez Brothers team, Pete can mostly be found in the kitchen at Casamia while his excellent staff oversee Pi Shop and Paco’s next door

What made you want to be a chef?

When I was a kid I loved making cakes and I also spent quite some time trying to perfect a BLT. I just loved eating food. As soon as mum and dad opened a restaurant, I fell in love with the whole environment and just wanted to be involved with what they were cooking. This was when I was 15, and by then I just knew I wanted to be a chef.

Favourite meals as a child?

Knickerbocker glory, or in fact anything with ice-cream.

What kind of vibe can we expect at your restaurants this Christmas?

We’re going to be running a special Christmas menu at Pi Shop, and it’ll be business as usual at Casamia, with our tasting menu using ingredients of the season, and also at Paco Tapas where the sherry is always flowing!

Tip for remaining chilled during cooking at Christmas?

Remember, it’s the cook’s prerogative to have wine while they are cooking. And if there’s one timer you set, make sure it’s for the turkey.

Favourite ingredient at the moment?

Longan fruit is an absolute treat of a flavour. It looks like a lychee and has a lovely sweetness.

Top three bits of kitchen kit?

Thermomix, pestle and mortar, and there’s nothing like my favourite pan at home. Everyone has a favourite pan – right?

EVERYONE HAS A FAVOURITE PAN – RIGHT?

Does your family always expect you to cook at Christmas?

They wish I would cook, but they know how busy things can get in December, so they are happy to see me relax for a change.

What are you having as the main family Christmas meal?

We always have a traditional turkey roast dinner – it’s one of the 54 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

times where you can go for it on all the traditions. I’m straight in for a turkey leg.

Who are your food heroes?

Shaun Hill – he was the typical example of a chef who did something special when he set up Merchant House, and he’s now cooking at The Walnut Tree just outside Abergavenny.

What famous person would you most love to cook for?

I’d love to cook for Banksy. Although maybe I have, I wouldn’t know!

Favourite cookery book?

El Bulli 1998-2002. The first time I ever read it and looked at the photos it was like, WOW that cannot be edible, and it made me question everything.

What do you eat when you get home at the end of a shift?

Depends what my wife has made, but I’ll usually stick it on chips and add beef chilli. www.sanchez-brothers.co.uk

C O O K I N ’ AT CHRISTMAS ELLIOTT LIDSTONE

Elliott’s inspired cooking, combined with wife Tess’s charming FoH, made an instant impact when they opened Box-E in Cargo.

Sounds like we might have Elliott’s scoutmaster to thank for it all . . .

What made you want to be a chef?

Scout camp! I did a load of cooking and people seemed to actually quite like it.

Favourite meals as a child?

A real treat was minute steak with a splash of whiskey in the pan. That and pasties – I’m a Plymouth boy.

What kind of vibe can we expect at your restaurant this Xmas?

The Box gets cosy over winter, so expect dishes that will make you feel warm, and plenty of good wine – it is Christmas after all.

pickled onions – into the world’s best sandwich on Boxing Day. Tip for remaining chilled during Christmas cooking?

Aim to eat in the afternoon rather than at lunchtime, and then you can have a nice breakfast with some fizz and take your time over preparing ‘lunch’.

Favourite ingredient at the moment?

Turnips!

I DID A LOT OF COOKING AT SCOUT CAMP. PEOPLE

SEEMED

Top three bits of kitchen kit?

A great knife, a blowtorch and a Kitchen Aid. Oh, and a squeezy bottle . . .

Food heroes?

Marco Pierre White. And Gordon Ramsay, back in the day. Also my first real boss, the head chef of a place I used to wash up in when I was 16.

Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever cooked for?

Dawn French and Lenny Henry. They ate on our chef’s table when I worked at L’Ortolan.

And Paul Daniels! Beverley Knight, Suggs, Florence Welch, Tinie Tempah, Michael Fassbender all ate at the Empress (not together) and Gizzi Erskine was a regular. We’ve had Alexandra Roach in the Box a few times, and Jay Rayner, he’s pretty famous.

TO LIKE IT. . .

Does your family always expect you to cook at Christmas?

No! Thankfully my father-in-law does much of the cooking in our home, so I get to have a day off from cooking.

He does a great roast.

What are you having as the main family Xmas meal?

We’ve often done quail in the past, but with absolutely ALL the trimmings, but we always have to get some turkey in for the big Boxing Day spread. My wife and I have this thing where we have to put all the Christmas lunch, bread sauce, EVERYTHING – plus

Favourite cookery book?

Richard Bertinet’s Bread.

What do you eat when you get home at the end of a shift?

Crisps and kabanos. What?!

www.boxebristol.com

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Once you’ve tasted Box-E’s roasted, pickled and puréed cauliflower with autumn truffle and toasted hazelnuts, you may never boil it again...

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C O O K I N ’ AT CHRISTMAS ROB HOWELL

What do you mean, you haven’t been to Root yet? We’re so taken with the place that we get FOMO whenever we see a photo of the food on Instagram. Head chef Rob earned his sabatiers at both The Pony and Ondine in Edinburgh; we think he’s great.

What made you want to be a chef?

I didn’t grow up wanting to be a chef, but once I got into the kitchen I found a passion for it. And the people I’ve met along the way have always kept me pushing on.

Favourite meals as a child?

It’s got to be a roast; we would have one every Sunday lunch growing up.

What do you love most about the job?

The people in it, especially in Bristol. The amount of talent is outstanding, and the mutual respect for each other –you couldn’t create a nicer environment to be in.

What kind of vibe and food can we expect at Root this Christmas?

Nice seasonal menu, and it’ll be festive for sure.

We’ve already got mulled cider, sprouts and a mincemeat tart on the menu.

Onglet tartare: the Root philosophy is to eat less meat, but when you do, it has to be top quality

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Does your family always expect you to cook at Christmas?

They never expect me to, but I always muck in and help, especially on Christmas Day. What are you having as the Christmas family meal?

Last year was a rib of beef; maybe this year we’ll have a nice bit of pork.

But with the usual trimmings.

Tip for remaining chilled when cooking at Xmas?

Try to enjoy it, have a glass of Snowball. It doesn’t need to be stressful.

Favourite ingredient at the moment?

Always love getting some amazing fish in from Flying Fish.

HAVE A GLASS OF SNOWBALL –

CHRISTMAS DOESN’T HAVE TO BE STRESSFUL

Top three bits of kitchen kit?

Decent chef’s knife. We get plenty of use out of our Thermomix. The chargrill.

Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever cooked for?

I cooked for Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recently, which was really enjoyable.

Favourite cookbook?

I refer to Jeremy Fox’s On Vegetables often, and Nathan Outlaw’s books are always a go-to.

What do you eat when you get home at the end of a shift?

Usually a bit of Marmite on toast. www.eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk/root

WHAT WE’RE HAVING . . .

We asked our chefs to recommend something a bit tasty on the current menu Josh – Sea buckthorn with cultured cream and mint. This is a dessert we’ve been working on in the run-up to the festive season, and it’s pretty special.

Pete – Apples of the season will feature in our dessert at Casamia shortly. Russets will be particularly delicious for us to use in December.

Elliott – We’re going to be making our own Box-E gin with Psychopomp, and I’m looking forward to curing some salmon in the botanicals from that.

Rob – Potato gnocchi with sprouts and a chestnut purée.

Oscar – We’ve got a cracking cream of salsify soup with butternut squash agrodolce on the menu, which is essentially an Italian sweet and sour with sage, vinegar and sugar, chilli, honey all in the mix.

The Yurt. It won’t look this quiet when all the Christmas parties roll in . . .

OSCAR DAVIS

Overseeing one of the most distinctive of all Bristol’s restaurants is Oscar at Yurt Lush What made you want to be a chef?

As a kid, my first job was in the kitchen washing dishes and doing general jobs. I loved the buzz of the kitchen and the spirit. As I enjoyed cooking at home and being busy, becoming a chef was a natural choice.

Top tip for remaining chilled while cooking at Christmas?

The key is to do as much in advance as possible. Get your veg sorted. You really only want to have to roast meat and veg on the day, so prep is key.

Favourite ingredient at the moment?

Definitely cauliflower. It’s so versatile. At present it’s on our lunch, salad bar and small-plate menus in a variety of dishes.

YOU REALLY ONLY WANT TO Favourite meal as a child?

Roast dinner. I loved it then and still do. You can’t HAVE TO ROAST go wrong.

MEAT AND VEG ON What kind of vibe and food can we expect at the Yurt this Xmas?

CHRISTMAS DAY, A warm and fun atmosphere. The Yurt is cosy all year round but at Christmas it’s especially lovely, with the SO PREP IS KEY fire going, great food and lots of parties.

Does your family expect you to cook at Christmas?

Yes! And this year I’m doing it again, cooking for 30 or so.

What are you having as the main Christmas meal this year?

Multiple ducks.

Top three bits of kitchen kit A sharp chef’s knife, a Thermomix and a bit of chef nous is crucial!

Food heroes?

If pushed, then I’d probably say Marcus Wareing.

Who’s the most famous person you’ve cooked for?

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall.

[Hugh gets around . . .]

Favourite cookbook?

The Larousse Gastronomique: Fish & Seafood is a good read.

What do you eat at home after a shift?

Love a bit of pasta and pesto. Class.

NB for more Yurt Lushness, see our review, page 44. www.eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk/yurtlush www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 57

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

A MAN’S WORLD

WAS THE SINGING THAT BROKE ME

IT

SEB BARRETT

NEVERMIND . . .

In which Baz discovers that, contrary to expectations raised by a certain classic album cover, baby swimming classes are a very long way from Nirvana

B

eing a new parent – and, more importantly, a man (see picture, above) – there are many things that come at me from left field.

As such, it hadn’t occurred to me that babies go to

swimming classes.

How I learnt to swim is a distant memory, but it must have been the mediaeval method of being hurled in at the deep end in some grotty leisure centre, from which I emerged with all the grace of a swan on ecstasy – but a swan nonetheless.

So these ‘Splashy Tots’-type classes, in which a parent actually gets into the pool with their child, rather than

vacantly observing their flailing efforts over a copy of a newspaper in the second-floor café, are completely new to me.

The novelty of being in the water with seven other parents and their babies was a bit too much for my son as well. His little lower lip quivered, before the floodgates opened and he started wailing for a good 28 minutes of the class’s half-hour slot. I know this because I frequently snuck a glance at the pool clock to see when this fresh hell would end.

I looked around for a knowing smile from a fellow parent, but found no such countenance. My baby and I were the only first-timers in this class (or ‘fresh fish’, if this was Shawshank and not a hydrotherapy pool), so already we were on the back foot. These parents were tough cookies, giving nothing away of any previous

agonies they’d endured on début. No, maybe the experience of their babies’ tears turning the pool into a lake of lachrymosity had hardened them, made them cold. This was something I was going to have to go through myself.

It was the singing that broke me. Out of nowhere, the teacher, whose infinite jollity would make them a cinch for kids’ TV, broke into a medley of nursery rhymes, with which everybody else joined in. To my regret, not a single one of the tunes was recognisable to me apart from Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, which I still managed to get wrong.

On the drive home, my ears still ringing from our baby’s cries, I casually suggested to my partner that I could “just find a pool nearby to take the baby swimming when it suits us”, free of the shackles of a draconian schedule (this class is on Sundays, for god’s sake!). “We’ve already paid for ten classes and it’s non-refundable,” she snapped. I didn’t ask how much the classes had cost because, when it comes to baby things, the word ‘reasonable’ is a non-entity.

Tempted as I was to throw the towel in, this wasn’t an exercise for my betterment, so we determined that we’d be better prepared for the following session. To wit: we filled the baby’s bath higher to replicate the feel of being in a pool, and put on a nursery rhyme playlist. Real Dave Brailsford stuff.

And you know what? It worked. He made hardly a whimper in his second session, even when he was dunked underwater (not in an ‘enhanced interrogation’ kind of way). He even seemed to enjoy it. My heart swelled with pride. Maybe I had grown as a person too, in that short space of time, because when another first-timer’s baby started wailing, I offered him a patriarchal smile. “Don’t worry, mate. That was us last week.”

What a smug git.

Seb Barrett works in sports communications.

Follow him on Twitter @bazzbarrett

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

CHRISTMAS CRAFTS

OOH BABY, IT'S A WILD * WREATH Front doors in December look naked without a wreath. Here, THE MIGHTY QUINNS FLOWER EMPORIUM demonstrate how to make a wild wreath that'll earn the respect of your postie and inspire envy in the heart of your neighbours (* You now have Sid from Skins singing this in your head, don't you . . .)

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

T

o make your wild wreath really stand out, add in some unusual ingredients. Pick and mix from the following: • Use wild grasses, Old Man’s Beard, heather, seed heads, moss and lichen-covered twigs foraged from local woodlands • Add metallic charm with pine cones, acorns, twigs sprayed with gold or silver spray paint. For a natural frosty look, apply a light coat of white spray paint to sticks, acorns and pine cones • Use some wooden letters from a local craft store to spell out a festive message • Use desert plants such as succulents from local florists to give a contemporary look • Deer antlers (or even taxidermy!) can add drama – try the guys at Dig Haüshizzle (dig-haushizzle. co.uk). Or use peacock or pheasant feathers from a local craft store • Light up your wreath with tiny lights on copper strings.

Equipment: Scissors, secateurs, wire, moss pins, ribbon Greenery: Fern, bay leaf, thyme, rosemary, twigs, moss, berries, seed heads, pine base. You’ll also need a pine base from a

3

florist or garden centre (or make your own from a metal floral ring and pine branches/offcuts).

Trim down all the herbs and foliage that you are using, and have your decorations laid out, as this makes it easier to work with

1

Make up little bunches of foliage (don’t hold back, as you want the wreath to be lovely and full).

Take the wire and wrap it round the stems of your individual bunches, repeating a couple of times so that the wire feels nice and snug around the stems.

2

Leave enough wire either side so that you can wrap around and then underneath the wreath, twisting tightly at the back so that the foliage and decorations are well secured. Be sure to follow one direction and layer the decorations under the pine so that you cannot see the stems.

1

2

3

Repeat the above with all the foliage and decorations. We recommend grouping the foliage and decorations rather than scattering them as we think it creates more impact. To attach your decorations cut two pieces of wire, push them through the base to make an X shape and then bend to attach to the wreath. Any jagged wire bits can then be pushed into the back of the wreath.

4 4

Finally, take a piece of wire and make a loop round the top of the wreath and cut a long piece of your chosen ribbon, thread through and tie a big generous bow.

Find The Mighty Quinns Flower Emporium at Unit 8, Cargo 1, Gaol Ferry Steps Wapping Wharf, Bristol www.themightyquinnsfloweremporium.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 63

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

CAN COOK, WILL COOK A new foodie initiative from Josh and Adrian . . .

Josh Eggleton and Adrian Kirikmaa launched their new School For Food initiative with a party at Ashton Gate stadium. The chefs are working with Weston College, St Katherine’s School and Ashton Gate Stadium to address the ever growing issue of attracting recruitment into the hospitality industry; with this in mind they have created the South West’s newest vocational programme for chefs. www.facebook.com/theschooloffood

Christina Robino, Carolyn Milfod, Sherrie Eugene-Hart and Colin Moody

John Watson, Ben Harvey, Jan Wilson and Dominic Borel Claire Wogan, Adrian Wogan, Matt Beynon, James Wogan and Laura Wogan. Lots of Wogans!

Josephine Brock and Simon MacDonnell Anne Nisbet, Dave Crew, Weston College and Zoe Joyner

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

SOCIETY

IMAGE CONSCIOUS The Image Consulting Company, organised a fundraising event at Pata Negra on 23 November in aid of A Life for a Cure, the local charity that works in partnership with Meningitis Now. The style-swap event offered an evening of fashion and style advice, with talks and workshops from professional stylists, and makeovers by EstĂŠe Lauder, and was attended by a large number of stylists and bloggers.

Anna Jackson, Michelle Lee, Brigitte Ward, Emmeline Stevens, Karen Lowe, Amy Bebbington, Karen Goodbrand and Hannah Davis

Photos Dan Pearce www.dp-photography.co.uk www.theimageconsultingcompany.co.uk

Karen Goodbrand and Emmeline Stevens

Louise Clifford

Stylist Anna Jackson

Stylist Karen Lowe receives a makeover from the team at EstĂŠe Lauder

Stylists Michelle Lee and Karen Lowe

Michelle Bresnahan

Natalie Dowe and Simone Lemon

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

Shake-ups/launches/intel/promotions

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

INDIE INITIATIVE

NOT JUST A GIFT A new Christmas campaign from local creative agency Konichiwa puts the spotlight on Bristol’s independents You’ll have heard of Good Sixty. Launched last year, the business was set up to make it easier than ever to ‘shop local’; its vision is to help create wealthier, better-connected communities by making independent food stores more accessible. Good Sixty connects consumers with hidden gems, micro-producers and the best high street independent retailers near where they live, or where they choose to visit.

Creative agency Konichiwa has partnered with Good Sixty to create a new series of short films that highlight the story behind the gifts available from local independents this Christmas; businesses include Paper Plane, That Thing, Zara’s Chocolates, Psychopomp, Sad Ghost Club, Temple Cycles, Idle Hands, Bristol Cheesemonger and Source.

The aim of the campaign is to highlight the story behind each gift, from how it’s sourced and made, to how buying the gift might help fund something beyond just profit. The guys want to demonstrate what it really means when you buy a gift from a local, independent business at Christmas, and how the people behind the businesses help bring diversity and interest to the Bristol community. Watch the trailer at www.bit.ly/2hXcYOE www.konichiwa-pr.co.uk www.goodsixty.co.uk

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE

“WE ARE NOT JUST A BRAND, BUT A LIFESTYLE CHOICE” Whose products are more than skin deep?

See page 75

4

THE BIG NUMBER

Four Bristol firms have been named among the happiest places to work in the South West, with staff enjoying benefits ranging from flexible working and training to meditation and ping-pong.

For more: www.bristol-business.net

BUSINESS INSIDER

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS So, 2017 – how was it for you? It was pretty good for us, to be honest – we launched our new Business Club, offering a chance for people from a wide range of Bristol’s sectors to meet, socialise and network, and we held out first Bristol Life Awards. But hey, enough about us! We asked a cross-section of Bristol businesses to share some of their highlights.

SHAW & CO (& PUKKA HERBS) – The big deal “The best and most interesting thing this year has been advising on the sale of Bristol-based tea business Pukka Herbs to Unilever, which completed in September,” says Jim Shaw of Shaw & Co, who acted as lead financial advisor on the sale.

Pukka Herbs was founded in 2001 by Tim Westwell and Sebastian Pole. With 100% certified, organic and ethically sourced ingredients, Pukka’s health and wellness philosophy centres around benefitting people, plants and the planet. This represents a clear synergy with Unilever’s own sustainable living plan, and the deal marks a springboard into Pukka’s exciting future.

“Having worked with Tim and Sebastian for several years in the build-up to their sale, it’s very rewarding to have helped this ambitious duo achieve such a fantastic result,” says Jim. “Unilever opens doors for the future of Pukka Herbs, and I look forward to their continued success.” www.shawllp.co.uk www.pukkaherbs.com

Pukka’s Tim and Sebastian celebrate with (what else?) a nice cup of tea

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

OTIUM PARTNERS – The new opening Following the demise of Duncan Lawrie Private Bank, former head Jeff Durant, along with private banker colleague Katie Moss, have formed Otium Partners – a financial and lifestyle management business helping busy people manage all aspects of their lives, from straightforward daily needs to the more complex financial organising and planning.

Their unique service is already helping many people balance the challenges of daily

life with longer-term planning, be that lifestyle needs, property matters, business services or managing their financial affairs.

“We meet so many people with busy lives, who literally do not have the time, nor often the inclination, to sort the things that are really important. With our many years’ experience and contacts, we are able to bring a wealth of expertise into our clients’ lives,” says Jeff. www.otiumpartners.com

Jeff and Katie – poised to handle those financial matters you just don’t have time to sort

VEALE WASBROUGH VIZARDS – The triple award-winners “2017 has been a busy year for *** Stop press! VWV’s specialist VWV and we were delighted team of healthcare lawyers that our success was recognised have also just won the General in two awards,” says Simon Practice ‘Legal Team of the Heald, managing partner.

Year’ for outstanding legal “We were very proud to advice provided to the primary win the legal category of the care sector across the UK*** inaugural Bristol Life Awards, www.vwv.co.uk which was great recognition for all of the work carried out by our Simon reflects on a stellar year Bristol office.

“We followed this up by winning the prestigious Bristol Law Society Law Firm of the Year 2017. The award recognises both excellence in the provision of legal services and continued investment to regional and national development.”

BUSINESS INSIDER

Andrew – promoting opportunity

KPMG – The Queen’s Award winner In April, pro service provider KPMG was announced as winner of this year’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise, in the inaugural category of ‘Promoting Opportunity’, for its work on social mobility.

“This award was recognition of the work our colleagues do, often quietly and behind the scenes, to ensure our profession is more open and accessible to everyone,” said senior partner for KPMG in Bristol, Andrew Hodgson.

“Improving social mobility has never been more important than it is today. If Bristol, and the UK as a whole, is to remain competitive on the global stage, then we need to ensure that talented people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, no matter what their background.

It was an honour to see the work we do with the Government, our fellow business leaders and most importantly, the communities we operate in acknowledged in this way.” www.home.kpmg.com

MILSTED LANGDON – The 12 deals of Christmas “One of the highlights of the year is also seasonal – the 12 sales pre-Christmas,” says corporate finance partner Susannah Adams.

“We are very proud of our achievement in providing expert guidance to entrepreneurs and business-owners selling their businesses, and have successfully completed 12 deals, across a broad spectrum of sectors.

“In the case of our two largest transactions we have had the double satisfaction of facilitating a well-funded, as well as a welldeserved retirement for the founders from their life’s work.

“These transactions could not have been more different in terms of sector (special educational needs and chemical manufacture), location

Susannah – a collaborative approach

(Somerset and Yorkshire) and structure (sale to a business in the same sector, and private equity-backed acquisition by new management). However, the common theme in these, and the other transactions, was the efficient and collaborative approach we adopt, working closely with other accountants and lawyers to get the right outcome for our mutual clients.” www.milsted-langdon.co.uk

You’ve got to be in it to win it. . . Why not give it a go?

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS

BLUEFIN SWOOPS FOR PLATINUM! Momentum gathers . . .

The Bristol Life Awards has a Platinum Sponsor for the first time: insurance company Bluefin.

The news comes as momentum builds ahead of next year’s event: nominations are now open and tickets are on sale.

The huge success of last year’s inaugural Awards means that expectations are set high for Bristol’s biggest business event. With sponsorships tracking some way ahead of the equivalent time, organisers are planning an even bigger capacity for 2018.

The Platinum Award is chosen by the judges from the individual category winners.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Bluefin Insurance as Platinum Sponsor. It’s superb to have their endorsement of the Awards,” said Steph Dodd, events manager at MediaClash, which publishes Bristol Life.

Any company can nominate themselves for a Bristol Life Award. It’s free to submit a nomination, and businesses can enter multiple categories. All details are on the Awards site, including our 12 Top Tips.

All decisions are made by a

panel of independent judges, newly selected each year.

Finalists will be announced on Grand Reveal Day, 27 February.

“After the huge success of our inaugural Awards in 2017, we’re fully on course to create an even bigger and better celebration for the entire Bristol business community in 2018,” Steph said.

The Awards will take place on 26 April in a grand marquee located in front of Lloyds Amphitheatre.

The current list of sponsors is led by longterm headliners Bristol Airport. Joining the new Platinum Sponsor Bluefin Insurance are the category sponsors CityFibre, The Alternative Board, Burston Cook, Juice Recruitment, Clear River, Triangle Networks, Dribuild, Clifton College, VWV, Amarelle, SAM FM, Clifton Marquee Company, Enlightened Lighting, Arthur J Gallagher and Nicholas Wylde.

To get involved in the Awards through sponsorship, contact Lily Dalzell: lily. dalzell@mediaclash.co.uk For more: www.bristollifeawards.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 73

ALL INFERTILITY TREATMENTS OFFERED INCLUDING IUI, IVF and ICSI

Bristol Open Evening Wednesday 17th January 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

BUSINESS INSIDER

SKIN LAUNDRY OFFERS SAFE, QUICK AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS,WITH NO DOWNTIME NECESSARY HEALTHY AND BEAUTY

LASER MISSION

Y

We meet YEN REIS, who’s just opened her new beauty concession Skin Laundry in Bristol’s Harvey Nichols

en Reis is a driven, passionate and relatable businesswoman – with flawless skin. It wasn’t always that way. When Yen was young she suffered with severe skin issues that became more problematic with age. While living in Asia, she treated her skin issues by sourcing a safe, mild and accessible laser treatment, which simultaneously benefited her appearance, confidence and health.

After moving to LA, Yen struggled to locate the treatment to keep her skin flawless. She sought medical advice and experts, and founded Skin Laundry, whose ethos is natural, clean beauty.

This is no average skin care brand – it’s innovative and highly sought-after; a safe, quick and effective treatment with no downtime necessary.

Yen, what is the mission statement of Skin Laundry?

Making mild lasers affordable and accessible to the market. The beauty business can be somewhat confusing, so keeping an ethos of one service for everyone is of the upmost importance. We offer a 15minute laser and light treatment.

Please describe Skin Laundry in five words.

It’s hard to describe the brand in five words, as we are not just a lifestyle brand but a lifestyle choice.

But of the top of my head I would say safe, affordable, natural, trusted, and, above all, unique.

How would you describe the overall Skin Laundry experience?

Experience is key for us and very important. We are very proud of our distinctive treatment rooms – for example, we play relaxing beach-house music so that our clients have some downtime and can experience a form of escapism while having our treatment.

What makes your skin products different?

It’s a simplified branding ethos. The products are simply daily essentials – they are informal, big-sized and cheap.

What is Skin Laundry’s bestseller?

Our 15-minute light and laser treatment is in incredible demand.

We have clients travel for this treatment. There is also no gender difference in our skin care products, thus the daily essentials are

popular, from eye care to night serum and toners. However, our face masks are our latest product, sourced with ingredients from Korea and people are really loving these.

What is your tips for that perfect beauty regime?

Lasers, lasers and lasers. With people living longer lives and the desire to look younger, I really recommend treating your skin with our treatments. I originally thought Skin Laundry would be most popular with middle-aged women. However, it really has no age limits. We even have celebs and high-end fashion influencers visiting the salon and religiously using our products.

What is the most common mistake women make when it comes to skincare?

You have to be cautious of your skin – not cleansing, and wearing too much makeup, can really damage it. Wearing too much foundation/makeup can really dehydrate the skin and pores.

I would recommend all of our products including the laser treatment to solve this. Some women stop feeling the need to have Botox after trying Skin Laundry, as a mild laser really shows natural, effective results!

What is the future looking like for Skin Laundry? Are you planning to open more branches in the UK? I would like to see Skin Laundry in every town – consistent, affordable, predicable and comfortable. We are also expanding in emerging markets; I receive many email requests asking me to open in various locations. Working with Harvey Nichols has opened up lots of opportunities. Above everything, it is my vision to be more and more accessible throughout the world, especially as we are such a new and unique concept, which I would love to educate people about.

What do you regard as your career highlight so far?

Having people recognise my brand is always a recurring highlight for me – when people identify with the brand it gives me such career satisfaction. Also every location I open is a highlight – creating new landmarks. Exciting times!

For more www.skinlaundry.com

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

BUSINESS INSIDER

What sets you part from other FAs? The financial services market in the South West is particularly crowded, and while client service is, of course, important, it can sometimes be difficult for firms to differentiate themselves from their peers. Earlier this year, WHIreland Wealth Management were named Best Domestic Clients Team at the prestigious Wealth Adviser Awards 2017, and that in part was due to the team here in Bristol having worked hard over the past few years to establish and develop excellent and long-standing relationships with clients and their advisers.

What in particular do you enjoy about being in Bristol?

Bristol is a vibrant and varied city with so much to offer, but also benefits from being quite small and very easily accessible. I thoroughly enjoy being able to walk to work (which is excellent thinking time!) and also fortunate enough to take advantage of the festivals, music, and wonderful food on offer across the city.

FINANCE

MONEY MATTERS NICK LAMB of WHIreland talks investments, pensions, charity – and playing the drums . . .

N

ick Lamb is an investment manager at WHIreland Wealth Management, managing discretionary investment portfolios for a broad range of clients, from institutional, trusts to charities and private individuals.

He’s also the head of office for WHIreland’s Bristol office on Colston Avenue. Nick’s had a 20-year career in the investment management industry; he’s also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, and a chartered wealth manager.

Tell us a little about WHIreland.

WHIreland is a long-established financial services business which was founded by William Henry Ireland, and was family-run until the 1970s. Today, we have a regional presence across the UK and internationally in the Isle of Man. Our core group services are corporate and institutional broking, and wealth management services.

Are there any financial trends emerging that worry you?

Complacency is my biggest worry. Since the general financial crisis, we have enjoyed one of the longest ‘bull markets’ in history, the lowest interest rates seen for a generation and government intervention in the form of quantitative easing. What concerns me now is rising consumer debt, and a generation of homeowners and investors who will need to negotiate rising interest rates and a normalised economy.

Nowadays people switch jobs more often than they did ten years ago, and so are likely to have multiple pension pots.

What is the best way to consolidate them?

Everyone’s individual financial situation is different, so there isn’t a onesize-fits-all approach to this. There are many complexities around this area, which is perhaps one of the reasons why so many shy away from making decisions around what to do with multiple pension pots.

However, making adequate pension provisions and reviewing your current pension structure(s) is important given the pension freedoms. Retirement savings are often neglected, and whether you have a defined contribution, or a defined benefit scheme, the change in pension freedoms and increased options available to individuals make it more important than ever to give yourself the widest possible choice of solutions in your retirement to achieve your financial goals. One of the most valuable things we can do is draw out a clearer vision of people’s financial future by helping them to understand what options they have.

EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS OR INTENTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR WEALTH

Who are your clients?

We manage wealth for a diverse range of clients including individuals, trusts, pension funds, charities and corporates, both as direct clients and indirectly through introductions.

What are your favourite aspects of the job?

I particularly enjoy dealing with clients and building a relationship with them – many of these relationships can last for decades. I firmly believe that financial services are driven by people both internally and externally.

It is critical to me to deepen the relationships I have with my clients, my colleagues and introducers to ensure that they all get the best out of me.

If you have clients that are risk-averse, but still want to build a portfolio, how do you help them?

Our investment managers take the time to fully understand each client’s individual requirements and objectives. Everyone has different needs or intentions when it comes to their wealth; no two are the same, which is why we tailor our service to the individual and invest our clients’ wealth as if it were our own. We are fully aware that for some people, investments can be a daunting prospect. With our significant experience and proven track record, we do everything we can to generate the best returns possible.

What was the proudest moment of the year for you in 2017?

This year, we continued our support of the Bristol-based special needs charity for young people, PROPS, by taking part for the second year, in their Bristol2Bordeaux cycle challenge. My colleague Tom Williams and I successfully completed the four-day 500-mile bike ride from Bristol to its twin city, Bordeaux, in the South West of France and raised over £1000 for the charity. We’re taking part again in 2018!

What does 2018 hold for WHIreland?

We’re very much looking forward to continuing to grow our presence in Bristol and the South West, and expanding our team, and so we are always on the lookout for talented and qualified investment people.

Tell us something that might surprise us I have taken up a hobby that has been on my bucket list for years, which is learning to play the drums . . .

For more www.whirelandplc.com/our-offices/bristol-wm

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

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

DEALING WITH THE LEGAL FALL-OUT OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN

By NICOLA WALKER, family law partner at IRWIN MITCHELL PRIVATE WEALTH.

S

eparation and divorce is going to represent a significant change to you and your family. Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth has experience and expertise in all forms of family dispute resolution, we offer unrivalled guidance to help you plan appropriately and make the right decisions at the right time. Here are our top tips:

1

Look after yourself from the inside out – if there are legal relations to be severed then the chances are you’re in this for the long haul. Explore options such as mindfulness, counselling and other types of therapy. Some people choose to vent their emotions on their lawyers, but lawyers charge you for their time. Friends can be great, but they are not professional therapists.

2

Don’t get drawn into the playground chat of “I had a friend who got divorced and in her case she ended up with...”.

Every case is different: the assets are different, the personalities are different and, even if all the facts were exactly the same, a different judge (or even the same one on a different day) could reach a different decision.

As long as you’re confident in your lawyer’s abilities, trust them for the legal advice, not your friends, however well-meaning.

3

Be organised. Your case is likely to be quicker and cheaper for you (and perhaps even reach a better outcome) if you stay on top of tasks set by your lawyer.

For example, if you are asked to provide them with reams of copy bank statements, do so in a timely fashion and collate them in chronological order, separated by dividers labelled with each account. This will take the lawyers less time to work through, saving you money.

4

If you’re struggling, consider using the services of a divorce consultant who can help you get your head around the legal processes and terminology and collate the forms and statements needed from you. Your lawyer will probably be able to do this for you, BUT is likely to charge a higher hourly rate for doing so.

7

Don’t get sucked into direct negotiations with your former partner unless you are absolutely confident that you have had and understood all the relevant legal advice and you trust your former partner to ‘play fair’. Sometimes there is a temptation to try and short-cut a process when the going gets tough but this could mean selling yourself short.

8

Avoid retaliating against your former partner – in any way. It won’t help, even if it feels good at the time to send that cutting text message. Be the bigger person no matter how hard that is. You can’t control the behaviour of another but you can control your own reaction to that behaviour.

9 10

ALWAYS get legal advice if you are married or in a civil partnership AND/OR have any joint assets AND/OR there is a dispute about the ownership of an asset.

Remember: there will be a light at the end of the tunnel; this process may be long and it may be harder than you ever could have imagined, but it will come to an end.

5

If you absolutely need a break from it all, communicate this to your solicitor, rather than just going to ground. It may be that they ask you to obtain a letter from your GP to support your position;

6

Do your best to avoid allowing your own stress and heartbreak to cloud your judgement when it comes to any children you may have: their long-term well-being is directly related to how they are treated and what they see and hear during the separation process. Put them first wherever possible and remember that despite the fact that your relationship with your partner has broken down, you will both remain parents to your children for the foreseeable future.

Contact Nicola on 0117 926 1584 Nicola.Walker@IrwinMitchell.com a @IMFamilyLaw www.irwinmitchell.com One Castlepark, Tower Hill, Bristol, BS2 0JA. For a full list of our offices visit our website. Irwin Mitchell LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

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

MEET THE LAWYER Bristol has hundreds of law firms, all offering conflicting statements and slightly different services.

Our guide helps you to find the right firm for your legal needs

KERRY GRAHAM

JACKIE ROE

Tell us about your role I’m a senior family solicitor with particular expertise in dealing with the financial matters arising from divorce. My experience includes dealing with cases with an international element, companies, trusts, pensions, UK and foreign property portfolios and prenuptial agreements.

What’s the best bit of your job?

We speak to clients frequently over a relatively short period of their lifetime, but it is amazing how much we get to know them during that time. Having clients come back to you the next time that they move is extremely satisfying. We get to find out how their lives have moved on, and hopefully we get to act for their children and grandchildren in the future.

Burroughs Day Solicitors Tel 0117 930 7553 www.burroughsday.com

Why do you enjoy being a family solicitor?

I enjoy meeting a lot of people from all walks of life. We offer free family law advice clinics at our Bristol and Portishead offices to ensure that everyone has the opportunity, at no initial cost or obligation, to have confidential legal advice. I like to see clients walk away from a case happy, knowing that I did the best job possible for them. I often see clients who are upset and going through a difficult time; if I can play any part in making the process that bit easier, it means a lot. When I get a great result for a client with the minimum of legal cost, it makes my job worthwhile.

What advice would you give someone coming to see a family lawyer?

Bring as much information as you can to the first meeting and try not to be nervous – I’m here to help every step of the way.

Head of Residential Conveyancing at VWV Tel 0117 314 5261 www.vwv.co.uk

What advice would you give someone coming to see a lawyer to buy/sell a house?

Be prepared for the paperwork!

There is an awful lot of information we need to gather at the outset of the transaction and that is given to the client during the transaction.

What is the biggest misconception about what you do?

That ‘it is easy to do conveyancing’. Most people think that conveyancing is just a paper process. It is not. It can be incredibly technical and there are countless issues you can encounter on the way. You are juggling the needs of your clients against the regulations of lenders, and it often needs hard work and cooperation from both sets of solicitors to make it work.

GARETH SCHOFIELD

SHARON GILES Sharp Family Law Tel 0117 9055 055 www.sharpfamilylaw.com

Clarke Willmott Tel 0345 209 1125 www.clarkewillmott.com What misconceptions do people have about family law?

That matters have to end up in court, at huge expense.

Most cases should and can settle early on with common sense. There is also a view that unmarried couples have the same rights as the married. They don’t.

What part of the work do you particularly enjoy?

Solving problems, whether for married couples or cohabiting ones.

What advice would you give someone coming to see a family lawyer?

Give them as much detail as you can before your first meeting by email. It makes for a much more constructive meeting. Bring a friend, too, they can sit in on the meeting.

Best bit of your job?

Helping people through a difficult time.

Tell us something about yourself and why people should contact you I am a proud Bristolian and long-suffering Gloucestershire Cricket fan (as are my sons) and am star rated in Chambers Guide 2017/18 for family law, and top ranked in Legal 500.

What advice would you give someone coming to see a family lawyer?

Be prepared to tell your story and don’t worry if it’s a long and complicated one – they usually are. Your solicitor will filter out the information that they need to hear and encourage you to focus on the more relevant parts. I usually invite clients to provide me with some background information ahead a first appointment to save time in the meeting and help me to identify the real issues at an early stage.

What misconceptions do people have about family law?

People generally expect to be prepared for battle but courtroom drama is actually a very last resort. Most of the work I do involves keeping clients away from the court doors and most people are capable of reaching even the most important and life changing decisions themselves. My role is to ensure that such decisions are informed, sensible and fair.

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

ALISON HAWES Burges Salmon LLP Tel 0117 902 7743 www.burges-salmon.com

What misconceptions do people have about family law?

That if a couple live together they acquire the status of common law spouses and have rights to each other¹s property. That hasn’t been true since the mid-1700s.

What changes have you seen in family law?

A significant shift towards equality. It used to be the case that the breadwinner (usually male) would provide for the other spouse’s ‘reasonable needs’.

Now, the starting point is equality and there needs to be a good reason to depart from that.

What law would you most like to see introduced?

No-fault divorce. Most people assume that they can get divorced on the basis that their marriage has broken down irretrievably, not realising that they need to allege a fault on top of that which can often raise emotions unnecessarily.

What part of the work do you particularly enjoy?

Meeting people for the first time. Some people are upset, some angry and some just very scared. I enjoy being able to reassure and support people.

What advice would you give someone coming to see a family lawyer?

Think about bringing a friend or relative who is neutral and supportive. If you are upset and worried you won¹t hear all the advice you are given, so having a second pair of ears to discuss the issues with later is sensible.

JIM GRIDLEY Barcan+Kirby Tel 0117 325 2929 www.barcankirby.co.uk

What misconceptions do people have about family law?

One I frequently hear is that the solution is straightforward but in reality, resolving family issues can be complicated. I strongly advise getting legal advice at the outset as that can make a real difference to the outcome.

What part of the work do you particularly enjoy?

I was one of the first family lawyers to train as a mediator and collaborative lawyer, and I’m a huge supporter of both processes. I particularly enjoy working with couples, helping them mediate and find solutions, often without conflict.

What advice would you give someone coming to see a family lawyer?

Getting good initial advice is essential. I suggest choosing someone who has been recommended and/ or is accredited by the Law Society or Resolution.

Best bit of your job?

Without a doubt it’s being trusted by clients to help, advise and support them at what is often a difficult and emotionally draining time in their lives.

Tell us something about yourself and why people should contact you Many clients are fearful of legal costs, and I understand that. But please don’t be put off speaking to us. I will always do my best to accommodate your worries by offering free initial interviews and fixed-fee packages.

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JESSICA PITT Foot Anstey LLP Tel 0117 9154939 www.footanstey.com

How did you come to specialise in family law?

I always knew I wanted to act for individuals and was interested in an area of law that crosses over with others. Many of my cases involve colleagues from other practice areas as diverse as corporate, employment, reputation management, mental capacity and property to name a few. It is rewarding to bring those specialisms together to add value to our clients.

What changes have you seen in family law?

The introduction of collaborative practice to resolve family disputes. This is a hugely positive step forward and encompasses other disciplines such as family therapy and counselling to support divorcing couples.

What advice would you give someone coming to see a family lawyer?

Don’t be nervous! Family lawyers are, on the whole, a very nice group of people who are genuinely invested in helping deliver solutions. The other tip is: do your research first, take recommendations on who to see and make sure you instruct a solicitor who understands what you want to achieve and who you feel you can work well with.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

I was promoted to partner and head of the family team in May 2017. It is a really exciting time to be part of a young and dynamic firm in a period of growth.

ALISON BRADLEY

Wards Solicitors Tel 0117 9292811 www.wards.uk.com What does a good family lawyer provide?

Technical but practical advice tailored specifically to the individual, delivered in a clear and accessible way, taking into account that this is often a difficult and emotional time for all involved.

Tell us something about yourself. Why should people contact you?

I have been a family and divorce lawyer for more than 20 years. I’m approachable and have particular expertise in financial provision following relationship breakdown. I genuinely want to know about you and understand you, your family’s situation and what is needed to enable you to move forward. I have an extensive legal knowledge and can apply this specifically to your situation.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

I find it very satisfying, and a great privilege, to advise and assist people at a difficult time in their lives.

In my experience, even in the midst of the whirlwind of emotions that separation and divorce can bring, most people show good sense and it is especially heartening to see how the vast majority behave with great dignity and fairness, particularly where children are involved.

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

ZOE PORTER

Partner and Head of Family at Ashfords LLP Tel 01392 333686 www.ashfords.co.uk What misconceptions do people have about family law?

There are a number of common misconceptions!

The most common for me is I’ll regularly see a new client who will tell me what their assets are and say “its 50/50 right?” It comes as a bit of a shock when I say “not necessarily”.

What advice would you give someone coming to see a family lawyer?

Honestly is the best policy.

Regardless of whether it is a situation concerning your marriage, children, or money - if we know what the problem is we can help resolve it for you.

What types of cases do you deal with?

As a Partner, and a matrimonial finance specialist, I tend to handle the difficult cases and those which have the most wealth including business, farms, pensions and offshore assets. As a team we cover a broad spectrum of clients though and all sorts of family matters from children disputes to injunctions.

What is your proudest most recent accomplishment?

The last few years have been amazing working on some incredible cases, and joining Ashfords as department head is definitely one of my highlights!

JAYNE TURNER

ALISON DUKES

What misconceptions do people have about divorce?

A common assumption is that if one spouse has an affair, the other spouse will receive an enhanced financial settlement. However, the reason for the breakdown of the marriage is rarely taken into account in settlements.

The court’s overriding objective is ensuring a fair outcome which meets the financial needs of both parties and those of any children of the family under 18.

How did you come to specialise in family law?

I was fortunate that when I finished my training, a family solicitor left the firm where I was working and I was able to take her place.

Partner at Ashfords LLP Tel 01823 232370 www.ashfords.co.uk

What area do you specialise in?

I am a Resolution Accredited Specialist in complex financial remedies and pensions on divorce. I am also a Member of the Law Society’s Advanced Accreditation Scheme due to my expertise in complex asset cases. I deal with situations involving businesses, farms, inheritances, substantial pensions and investments.

What is your proudest most recent accomplishment?

Being one of a handful of South West lawyers who are Resolution Accredited as specialists in the complexities of pensions on divorce.

Conducting cases through collaborative law with issues resolved in meetings in a non-confrontational way.

This positive process helps to minimise the long-term emotional damage of marriage breakdown.

AMD Solicitors Tel 0117 9621205 www.amdsolicitors.com

What changes have you seen in family law?

There is much more emphasis on alternative dispute resolution than when I qualified over 30 years ago.

I am a trained collaborative family lawyer and I also refer a number of my clients to mediation.

Best bit of your job?

I enjoy working with clients and being able to support them through a difficult process.

What misconceptions do people have about Family Law? Many people who are in long term cohabiting relationships assume that they will have rights similar to those of a married couple. It can be a real shock to them if the relationship breaks down and they discover that their position is vulnerable.

What is your proudest most recent accomplishment?

Being part of the board of directors that steered AMD to winning the Bristol Law Society’s Law Firm of the Year (under 15 partners) in October 2017, especially as it coincides with the firm’s 20th anniversary.

JAMES MYATT Director, Gregg Latchams Limited Tel 0117 906 9251 www.gregglatchams.com

What part of the work do you particularly enjoy?

Helping my clients to separate with dignity, and to find creative solutions that are fair to both of them.

Whenever possible, ensuring they can continue to work together as parents for their children.

What advice would you give someone coming to see a family lawyer?

Be prepared. Make a note of important dates and of your respective incomes, assets and debts. Bring a list of questions you want to ask. Do consider bringing a friend or family member you can discuss things with afterwards. Make sure you feel comfortable with your choice of solicitor. You will be working closely with them on issues that will affect the rest of your life, and the lives of your children.

Tell us something about yourself and why people should contact you?

I have been described as a family law specialist ‘who know his stuff’, and a ‘tough negotiator’. I like to take the time to understand my clients and their needs. As a collaborative family lawyer and supporter of mediation I always look for ways to resolve disputes without contested proceedings.

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

THE FAMILY HOME ALLOWANCE PHILIP BARRY, partner at Hollingdale Pooley Chartered Accountants looks at the new family home IHT allowance and its implications.

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ising property prices have left more families being elevated to millionaire status and dealing with the inheritance tax (IHT) implications that come with it.

The Treasury collected £4.6 billion from IHT in 2015/16, compared to £2.69 billion in 2010/11, to reflect a rising year-on-year trend. And that shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

In attempt to ease the growing burden on families by making it easier to pass on the family home to direct descendants without incurring a tax charge, former chancellor George Osborne revealed plans to introduce the residence nil-rate band in his Summer Budget 2015. The family home allowance, as it’s also known, came into force in April 2017 – but the rules are far from straightforward.

HOW IT WORKS

The family home allowance enables people to pass on one property to family members and save on death duties, in theory at least.

It permits the further reduction of IHT due on passing their interest on death in the family home and works on top of the £325,000 basic nil-rate band.

As of 6 April 2017, when an individual dies their estate will qualify for the family home allowance if the deceased owned a home, or a share of one, that is included in their estate and left to their ‘direct descendants’. These exclusively include children, grandchildren, stepchildren, foster children, adopted children and their lineal descendants.

Much like the basic nil-rate band, the family home allowance is transferable between spouses and civil partners. The following thresholds for individuals and couples are being phased in over the next four financial years.

From 2021/22 onwards, the residence nil-rate band will increase in line with the consumer prices index.

EXCLUSIONS

Childless couples – Controversially, the family home allowance is not available to couples without children.

Siblings – Siblings are not classed as direct descendants and, as such, are excluded from the residence nil-rate band.

Wealthy estates – Estates worth more than £2 million will be penalised in the form of tapered relief by losing £1 for every £2 above the threshold.

Buy-to-let properties – A property owned by the deceased but never lived in by them is not eligible for the additional threshold, ruling out owners of buy-to-let properties,

TAX YEAR

FAMILY HOME ALLOWANCE

INDIVIDUALS MAX IHT EXEMPTION

COUPLES MAX IHT EXEMPTION

2017/18

£100,000

£425,000

£850,000

2018/19

£125,000

£450,000

£900,000

2019/20

£150,000

£475,000

£950,000

2020/21

£175,000

£500,000

£1 million

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handing out a potential blow to the direct descendants of landlords.

Tax reliefs – Certain tax breaks, such as the business property relief and agricultural property relief, are also ignored when calculating the value of the deceased’s estate.

Trusts and wills – Until recently, discretionary trusts have been commonly used to pass on property to children or grandchildren. Now, families who used these as a way of limiting tax liabilities on their estates risk missing out on the family home allowance. BL

If you would like to discuss how we could help you and your company, please contact us at our office.

If you would like further advice or assistance, please call us on 0117 973 3377 or visit www.hollingdalepooley.co.uk.

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

From left to right: Katie Hughes, Grant McCall, Alison Dukes, Marian Davies Duncan Edler (Lloyds Bank), Tony Moore and Becky Moyce, President of Bristol Law Society.

LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR 2017 AMD SOLICITORS were delighted to be named ‘Law Firm of the Year for 2017’ (up to 15 partners) at the Bristol Law Society’s Annual Awards Dinner in October.

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he Bristol Law Society Annual Awards recognise the best of the Bristol legal profession so we are extremely proud to receive this award from the independent judging panel. This award recognises excellence in the provision of legal services and a firm that has seen significant development during the year.

This honour coincides with our celebrating 20 years as AMD Solicitors (from 1 September 2017) so, this has become an extra special birthday for AMD. We are positioned today between a small high street practice and a medium-sized commercial law firm with four offices and over 45 staff. This balance enables us to comprehensively meet our clients’ needs, which could range from meeting a client’s first need for a solicitor for legal support, such as a will or first house purchase, right through to acting for the commercially sophisticated client looking to appoint a legal team competent to handle a larger company

and commercial transaction, such as an acquisition or merger.

Our structure also means that we are able to ensure that almost all of our services are provided one-to-one by a solicitor or feeearner (or by a small team of solicitors for commercial services).

In October 2016 we were pleased to be able to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire and develop easily accessible and prominent premises at 139 Whiteladies Road. Our new office replaces Thomas Cook on the corner of Imperial Road in the heart of the Bristol restaurant/new cinema quarter. We are proud to remain active and provide work opportunities in the more traditional heart and residential parts of the city.

Our new office marks our 4th office at ground floor level, providing convenience for our clients together with ease of roadside parking or access from Clifton Down train station just opposite.

We would like to thank all of our clients, associates and friends for their continued

support and for the kind feedback we have received since receiving the award. BL

For legal advice please call our team on 0117 962 1205, or drop into one of our four Bristol offices: 100 Henleaze Road, Henleaze BS9 4JZ 15 The Mall, Clifton BS8 4DS 139 Whiteladies Road, Clifton BS8 2PL 2 Station Road, Shirehampton BS11 9TT

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

SO WHAT’S THE ISSUE WITH THE GIG ECONOMY?

by Tony Forster Consultant at Metcalfes Solicitors

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t sounds like it is a new concept of working - Gig workers do not work fixed shifts and, in theory , they can work as little or as often as they choose .They carry out tasks – ‘’gigs’’ . They work whenever they want , often from wherever they want . It is not new though - think ‘’freelancing’’ and you will not go too far wrong. It has just been brought up to date by the use of technology (in particular the use of the Internet; Apps and Smartphones). Some experts say almost 15% of the UK workforce are involved in the Gig Economy. The number of people in ‘jobs for life’ is decreasing and as the usage of this technology by businesses to determine their day to day workforce needs becomes the norm this figure will only increase .

The Gig Economy has flexibility as its core proposition. People can earn money without compromising or limiting their family life; social life or any other priority they may have .But this potentially ideal situation is now causing stress, confusion and disadvantage amongst some of those in the workplace.

There are concerns about how the Gig Economy is affecting certain aspects of employment law. Essentially at the root of it are two questions lawyers ( and many accountants ) have had to look at often when considering businesses - Who is employed and Who is self- employed ? The differences are stark. An employee is entitled to a full range of benefits and protections including the right to receive at least the National Minimum Wage; a right to pension provision

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and an entitlement to paid holiday pay .In addition they can claim for unfair dismissal and redundancy where appropriate. If a person is self- employed they have few such benefits as an employee does.

Recently there has been publicity surrounding claims by drivers at Uber not to be classed as self – employed, which is the title Uber gave to their drivers. The drivers who brought the claim were successful and were granted entitlement to benefits such as National Minimum Wage and holiday pay (although Uber are, I believe, appealing against this success). Also Deliveroo found the need to change the contract documents they use with their riders. The concerns are growing and they are real. You must always take legal advice immediately any concern arises. Establishing the status of any particular working relationship in the Gig Economy is one where you should look at what actually happens in reality. Often titles and even documents used may be of little help. It is the practical position which is where you need to look .Someone is more than likely employed if they are under the control of some person or business. Thus a business which tells an individual not just what they should do but how they should do it ; when they do it and where they do it more than likely employ that person . Employment status is further strengthened if that person is not free to work for other organisations; has to accept the work given and has to use the tools and facilities of that business.

For a person to have a greater chance to be classed as self- employed they must be in a position where they have no obligation to accept work that is offered. Further that individual must have the ability to determine when and how they work. They do not have to work exclusively for one organisation.

They may be on a finite project with specific parameters – but it will be a project they have chosen to be part of.

In the light of the development of the Gig Economy and some of the concerns that are arising changes in the terms of engagement in many workforce situations will need to be made. Maybe the pointers given above will assist you in how you consider you particular circumstances, if relevant. However do always take proper legal advice at the earliest opportunity. Do feel free to contact Metcalfes. BL

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

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CHANGE for a

QUARTER Keynsham’s new ‘Chocolate Quarter’ is challenging conventional conceptions of the retirement village 86 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

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raditional views of retirement should be questioned; uniform retirement communities that roll out the same facilities, layouts, standards of living and ‘edge of town’ positioning are not living up to the demand of a new generation of retirees.

That’s the view of Bristol-based St Monica Trust, who are challenging the whole retirement village concept on behalf of a new generation of ‘baby boomers,’ who have very different expectations from their predecessors.

We now spend potentially 20 to 30 per cent of our lives in a reduced environment. The term ‘downsizing’ has negative overtones, whereas the members of the new generation of retirees still have an aspirational standard of living.

They want good design, that works with technological advances, and a social life that embraces interaction across different generations so they can stay active and independent.

Following a £60-million development, the former Somerdale Factory in Keynsham that

FOCUS

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Tall windows = light and airy rooms

B-Block – now open for business

Somer Dining – opening soon

was previously home to Fry’s and Cadbury has been transformed by St Monica Trust into The Chocolate Quarter, welcoming in a new era of retirement villages.

The Quarter offers a luxury retirement village which is fully integrated into the local community. The development is entirely built around facilities which are open to the public, ensuring the site isn’t just seen as a care village, but a community hub where people of all ages can come together, and isolation is reduced.

The site offers retail outlets, spa, gym, swimming pool, cinema, arts studio, pottery workshops, woodcraft rooms, a hairdresser, barber, nail salon and two restaurants, including well-reviewed new pizzeria, B-Block. All of these facilities are open for public use, and are complemented by visiting traders such as florists and greengrocers.

As for the residential elements, the 136 oneand two-bedroom luxury apartments perfectly blend the past with modern, contemporary design. Housed within the refurbished 1920s w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 87

FOCUS

PROPERTY

Halfway between Bath and Bristol, the Quarter has easy access to both cities, as well as country living

The spa: the Quarter is streets ahead of most conventional care homes

buildings – once home to the factory making the nation’s favourite sweet treats – each apartment has been laid out to make the most of the unique space available.

The attentive focus on detail means that while at first look the apartments offer luxury living, on closer inspection you can see that everything is in place to be adapted when old age demands it.

The sizeable apartments include laundry rooms, en-suite showers and plenty of storage.

The kitchens feature integrated Neff appliances and the bathrooms offer walk-in showers and underfloor heating.

Next to the River Avon, and within a fiveminute walk to the centre of Keynsham, The Chocolate Quarter offers both town and country living. The apartments have country views, balconies, gardens and terraces as well as access to communal roof gardens.

The new development also features a 93-bed care home, offering closer care if and when this is needed. Each resident has their own personal suite, specified to a high standard, with full-height windows and generous proportions.

Each suite is completed with furnishings which can be adapted to suit every resident’s taste; innovative design features include motion sensors which turn on low-level lighting in the en-suite if you need to get up in the night.

Even the mattresses can be tuned for a perfect personal fit. All the suites are en-suite and have air conditioning, wi-fi and the facility for in-room dining.

The Chocolate Quarter offers both a new destination for Keynsham, and an entirely fresh approach to retirement living which is bound to be emulated elsewhere, to serve the demands of a discerning new generation.

The Chocolate Quarter’s show home and marketing suite is open on weekdays from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and 11.00 am to 2.00 pm at the weekend.

The artists’ studio

0117 949 4004 www.thechocolatequarter.org.uk

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ROOM WITH A VIEW And not just any old view, either. THIS view . . .

By L I SA WA R R E N

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t’s become such a cliché, but that’s only because it’s true: when it comes to buying a home, the most important thing of all is the location.

At the risk of stating the obvious, not only is a house or apartment in a sought-after area far easier to sell if and when you decide to move on, but while you’re actually living in it you get to enjoy all those things that make it so damn sought-after in the first place. And in the case of this two-bedroomed apartment in Sion Spring House, happily located on Sion Hill, the sought-afterness is off the scale.

Firstly, there’s the view. Just look at it. One of the greatest wonders of Victorian engineering, IKR Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge is the pride of the city; throw in the Gorge it spans, and you have one of the most desirable outlooks in the whole of Bristol.

Then there’s Clifton Village. You’re not ‘near’ it, or ‘on the fringes’ of it – you’re in it. You’re a Village person.

You’re probably having lunch at the Ivy at this very minute. Walk across the Bridge, and you’re in deeply wooded National Trust country, in the form of Leigh Woods; talk about having it all.

Sion Spring House itself absolutely radiates Georgian charm; it’s Grade-II listed, and used to be the reading room of St Vincent Rocks Hotel, where distinguished visitors would flock in search of the healing waters of the natural thermal spring that was discovered in 1796.

In 2002, the hotel was renovated to provide luxury apartments within a gated community, of which this rather spectacular balcony apartment is one.

Located on the first floor, the living space is centred on an open-plan, L-shaped 23.5ft sitting/dining room, with a kitchen tucked into the smaller arm of the ‘L’, with a gas

The front of the house exudes a peaceful, almost rural Georgian charm that belies the contemporary, urban luxury inside the flat

HOUSE NUMBERS

2

bedrooms

23.5FT living room

OIEO £550K price

2002

the year this Georgian hotel was converted into luxury flats

hob, electric oven, refrigerator and integrated dishwasher, dryer and units.

The floors are wooden, and tall sash windows along the full length of the room open to the decorative castiron balcony. From this room, steps lead up to a large mezzanine area, ideal both as a sleeping area or a study; there are two double-sized bedrooms and a bathroom.

In addition to having full possession of the most enviable balcony in Clifton, you’ll have the use of a communal garden area with a barbecue area, and private covered off-street parking – need we explain what an inestimable bonus that will be to your Bristol life?

Roderick Thomas, 69 Princess Victoria Street, Bristol 0117 973 4464; www.roderickthomas.co.uk

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Formerly The Lighting Warehouse

Lighting the way it should be...

Ashworth Lighting Range & Occasional Furniture.

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

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no80 Alma road CLIFTON BS8 2DJ

0117 973 3393

www.tailoredflooring.co.uk

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P R O P E R T Y A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

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 DHV Architects 0117 914 8317 www.dhva.co.uk Graham Rivers 0117 942 8373 www.riversarchitect.co.uk Jonathon Lees 0117 379 0079 www.jonathanleesarchitects.co.uk 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

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

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

Prime Properties 0117 369 0060 www.primepropertiesbristol.co.uk

ESTATE AGENTS

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

FIREPLACES

Bristol Woodstoves 01934 611385 www.bristolwoodstoves.com 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rupert Oliver 0117 428 6464 www.rupertoliver.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

Core and Ore 0117 904 2408 www.coreandore.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

Park Interiors 0117 239 3872 contact@parkinteriorsdesign.co.uk

Oriental Rugs Bath 01761 451764 www.orientalrugsofbath.com

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

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

Whittaker Wells 0117 983 8485 www.whittakerwells.com

The Kitchen Man 0117 973 1062 www.thekitchenman.co.uk

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

Tailored Flooring 0117 973 3393 www.tailoredflooring.co.uk

KITCHENS

Wren Kitchens 0117 244 3168 www.wrenkitchens.com

Handelsbanken 0117 973 0026 www.handelsbanken.co.uk

UPHOLSTERY

LIGHTING

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

Ben Argent Design www.benargentdesign.com KutchenHaus 0117 213 0680 www.kutchenhaus.co.uk Neptune 0117 246 4200 www.neptune.com Schmidt Kitchens 0117 301 8888 www.schmidt-kitchens.com Stephen Graver 01380 871746 www.stephengraver.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

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

TILES AND FLOORING

WINDOWS, BLINDS AND SHUTTERS

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

Timber Windows of Clifton 0845 652 7300 www.timberwindowsclifton.com

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

Shutter Craft Bristol 0117 322 4900 www.shuttercraft-bristol.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 105

BRISTOL LIVES

Q&A

I

f you follow Kneehigh Theatre round the country like some kind of slavish theatrical groupie (hello there!) you’ll recognise Katy Owen. Whether she’s stealing the show as the little Welsh maid in Rebecca, or playing Lily Tregenza in 946, you can’t take your eyes off her. She’s also worked with former Kneehigh luminary Emma Rice during Emma’s tenure as AD of The Globe, playing Puck (of course!) in the Dream, and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. She’s back in town for the big Bristol Old Vic Christmas show The Little Matchgirl and Other Happier Tales, and we just knew she’d be fabulous fun to interview…

Hello Katy, how do you do? And what do you do?

Hello, my name is Katy Owen, and I am an actress from Cardiff. I am 5ft and no inches tall.

My feet are webbed. I have a passion for longdistance running, ales, the animal kingdom and world cheeses.

When did you first know that you wanted to be an actor?

I can remember very clearly my first drama class at secondary school. I thought it was some kind of joke; I didn’t think for a second you could make a career out of it. I was quite naughty at school, and found it difficult to apply myself to most subjects, but this suited me perfectly. At school the lady in the careers office told me I’d be better suited to a role in animal husbandry or zoology; sometimes I think she had a point.

Who inspired and encouraged you?

We rarely went to the theatre when I was a child, but my parents showed a great appreciation for my devised one-woman shows, involving swimming bathers for a costume with a tea towel sellotaped to my face for a beard. They told me I was special, and I believed them. Sometimes, I still think I am, but mostly… I don’t.

I loved listening to Joyce Grenfell cassettes and watching Victoria Wood in all forms, but especially in Acorn Antiques. Later, French and Saunders had a huge impact on me, too. Funny women who could also move you to tears.

How has working with Kneehigh affected your career?

When I first joined Kneehigh I had to pinch myself. I had been out of drama school and working for 10 years, but this was the first time I felt my work had really found a home, and a place to get better in the way I wanted to. We shared the same values: anarchy, irreverence, a lack of vanity and a relish in not knowing what

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

KATY OWEN

There’ll always be a warm Bristol welcome for this charming Welsh actress, who once again lights up the BOV stage – this year in the Christmas show The Little Matchgirl was going to happen next. They are also kind.

We laughed lots, and I remember thinking, I don’t want this to end. So far, it hasn’t.

Do you think you have a certain quality that leads directors to cast you in gender-neutral or childlike roles?

I do tend to get cast as elves, small children or tiny men. To be honest, I love it. Apart from the children. I think I’m pushing that a bit at 35.

Calling time on that one. When I got offered the part of Malvolio in Twelfth Night at The Globe this year, I remember thinking “How the hell am I going to do that?” I know that if I go into rehearsals without too much anxiety and remain open, playful and bold, the answers will reveal themselves and the character will come. It’s exciting. I am drawn to unusual and eccentric roles. If I was classically beautiful, taller and had bigger boobs, then I think I’d be offered a less interesting range of characters to play.

Are there any big roles you’d love to play?

I’d like to play Hamlet next.

You’ve worked with Emma Rice at The Globe as well as with Kneehigh; is she a director you love to work with, and if so, what makes her special?

Emma is the sort of director who watches what you bring to the table, celebrates it and then makes it better. She is brave, and a rehearsal room led by her is full of laughter, huge skill, love and surprise.

Tell us a bit about The Little Matchgirl, and your role in it.

The show is basically a montage of fairytales, told through the eyes of its title character, the Little Matchgirl. There’s puppetry, live music, comedy and dance, but somehow it also manages to be deeply moving and topical. I play Thumbelina, and a strange Germanic con artist.

You’ve spent a fair bit of time in Bristol – any favourite hangouts?

The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer and St Nicholas Market.

Apart from acting, what else are you really good at?

Running and cleaning. No one can disinfect a surface as thoroughly as me.

How would your nearest and dearest describe you?

My best friend Francois says: “A bundle of kindness, fun and love, with a fair amount of neurosis mixed in and an unhealthy fixation on death.”

What would you like for Christmas?

For Christmas this year, I’d like to touch a lion or help a sheep to give birth.

The Little Matchgirl and Other Happier Tales shows at Bristol Old Vic until 14 January Tickets £7.50-£35.50 0117 987 7877; www.bristololdvic.org.uk