Bristol Life - Issue 266 by MediaClash

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 266 / JULY 2019 / £3

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

LITTLE TOKYO?

TURNING JAPANESE IN CARGO 2 ISSUE 266 / JULY 2019 / THE REBEL BRIDE

WHY DON’T YOU COME ON OVER, AMÉLIE?

ONE MORE DRINK, BARTENDER

COOL COCKTAILS FOR THE LONG HOT SUMMER (IT’S ON ITS WAY!)

CABINET RESHUFFLE?

LET’S START WITH THE KITCHEN… JOHN D’OH’S THE NAME. STREET ART’S THE GAME

WED OR DEAD GIRL POWER MIDNIGHT FEASTS AND HOCKEY STICKS; IT’S MALORY TOWERS!

BRIDAL STYLE INSPIRED BY SYMBOLS OF LOVE, SIN, SEX AND DEATH (Oh, and Russian prison tattoos ...)

Editor’s letter We think that the makers of Killing Eve 3 should contact Mishi May at their earliest convenience

xcuse me while I slip into something more comfortable. A magical creation of tulle and lace, perhaps, inspired by Russian prison tattoos – and no, I’m not cosplaying Villanelle, but referencing the unlikely sounding inspiration for a beautiful bridal shoot we’re featuring in this issue. I’m writing this in a summery frame of mind. Bristol Sounds is currently in full swing, Harbourfest is still to come, and we have not one but two full festival days to look forward to on The Downs. And we think we’ve found the perfect terrace for you to dine, drink and sun yourself silly for the coming months; turn to page 48 to find out more. While tumbleweed may blow through the arts centres of lesser cities during July and August, there’s no let-up in the liveliness around these parts. Bristol Old Vic has a pair of total crowd-pleasers lined up this month, and – unfazed by anything as trivial as an out-of-operation auditorium – Colston Hall has gone ahead and programmed the best River Town to date. Don’t miss out; turn to our arts section, page 34. See you again in late July. Until then, slap on the SPF 50, yeah?

deri robins Follow us on Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram @BristolLifeMag

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Issue 266/July 2019

Weddings

11 wed or dead From Russian prison tattoos to rock

chicks, our double wedding shoot feature takes its inspiration from less than predictable sources. Plus: our handy wedding directory of top local suppliers and services.

the arts

27 art page It’s not just a show, it’s not just a studio;

it’s a shu-shu-shudio

28 WHAT’S ON Indoor and outdoor delights 34 theatre A right pair of crowd-pleasers from Bristol

Old Vic (though one’s on at Passenger Shed)

40 art Jason Lilley: the golden years 43 music River Town moseys into Bristol

food & DRINK

48 RESTAURANT By the Seven... 51 Food and drink news Edible announcements 54 cocktails Cooler shakers 63 stan CBD oil; nice, but not exactly rock’n’roll... 64 recipes You’re Charred, mate...

travel

Windrush Boat, St Pauls © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos

68 great escapes The wizard Lizard

Business

77 business insights Boules, Bristol Old Vic and a

Bristol Life business lunch: this issue’s business section is brought to you by the letter B

Property

95 k itchens Cabinet reshuffle? 102 showcase Last chance to buy at Brandon Yard

Regulars 7 spotlight 9 instas 106 bristol lives John D’Oh’s the name. Street art’s

the game

Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Contributors Stan Cullimore Advertising manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Craig Wallberg @craig.wallberg@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Samantha Roach samantha.roach@mediaclash.co.uk Sales Executive Gabriella Cronchey gabriella.cronchey@mediaclash.co.uk Production/distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah. kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager/production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@ mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bristol Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash. 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. 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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 5

BRISTOL

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spotlight

Festivals

ship shapes Exhibition

Feat of clay

M Shed are just about to open their big summer exhibition, celebrating the claymation genius of the mighty Aardman. On show between 6 July-3 November, Aardman: Animating Early Man does precisely what the name implies, taking you behind the scenes to discover just how Bristol’s world-famous studio created their hit Stone Age satire. You’ll be able to see original models, exquisitely crafted sets, teeny-tiny props and tons of behind-the-scenes footage through all stages of production, to understand exactly how an Aardman film gets from sketchbook to screen. More in our late July issue. www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed You don’t have to have the patience of an ascetic stylite saint to work for Aardman, but – actually, you do

It’s the biggest Bristol event of the year; it’s a multi-generational, boxticking crowd-pleaser – and, as ever, it’s completely free. Between 19-21 July, around 250,000 people will head down to the waterfront for Bristol Harbour Festival, from Underfall Yard to the city centre and Queen Square, to celebrate the city’s maritime history, chow down on some of its best street food, and boogie to its liveliest beats. Headlined by New Order and The Specials, the Bristol Music Stage at Lloyds will host an eclectic mix of tunes, while over on the Centre Stage and the Dockside Stage at The Grove, Jelli Records will be programming some of the best up-and-coming indie talent. Things will sound a bit more trad over at ss Great Britain, with shanty bands and ceilidh filling the Brunel Stage. Queen Square is poised to do its usual daredevil stunts, street theatre and family stuff thing, along with circus from Cirque Bijou; if you want to throw some shapes then head to Millennium Square, where Trinity’s Bristol Dances stage showcases everything from street dance to swing. Have we forgotten anything? Oh yeah! Boats! Bristol’s maritime heritage is still very much at the heart of the Festival, with its history celebrated on the Floating Harbour and Bathurst Basin; joining beloved resident craft The Matthew, ss Great Britain and the yellow ferries will be yachts, skiffs, ribs and visiting tall ships, filling the waters with colour and activity. And we want to see those decks comprehensively swabbed, please; 2019 sees the return of the Shipshape and Best Dressed Boat Competition, and all vessels will be asked to attend in their very best finery. Bristol Harbour Festival runs 19-21 July; for map and full programme see www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk It’s not all about the boats; it’s also about the food, circus and dance, and great music from bands such as New Order. But yeah – it’s mostly about the boats

Aardman’s answer to the House of Black and White www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 7

SPOTLIGHT

HARBOUR MASTERS

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most Instagrammable corner of the city, and beautiful in all seasons, but Harbourside really comes into its own during the summer. Here are just a few of the best captures weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen over the last few months

@ssgreatbritain

@pod16

@averycooldog

@marksowden

@richimal_bristol

@sambinding

@carolyn.eaton

@kruggy01

@chill1983

@gertie.photography

@kruggy01

@loveforbristol

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weddings

wed or dead

Love, sin, sex and death. Mermaids and stormy seas. Russian prison tattoos. Rock-chick babes who were born to run. Villanellesque tulle for days. Our rebel brides couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a further cry from Disney princesses...

ARCHITECTS WEDDINGS

STORMY WEATHER Bridal designer Molly Lewis Smith, aka Mishi May; MUA Morgan Defre, and photographer Magic Owen created this otherworldly bridal shoot at Blaise Castle. Given their mystical-sounding names, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the results are so enchanting …

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The dream team

Bridal wear: Mishi May www.mishimay.com MUA: Magic Owen www.morgandefre.com Photos: Morgan Defre www.magicowen.co.uk Hair: Jodie Austen www.jodieausten.co.uk Models: Ceci Zhang, Victoria Lindsey Coutts and Grace Cairns Venue: Blaise Castle www.bristolmuseums. org.uk

he inspiration for the shoot all started with a book about Russian prison tattoos,” begins Molly, promisingly. “A captivating little book filled with old photographs of the most depraved, violent and disturbing tattoos I’ve ever seen – it was enough to get stuck in my head, and I wanted to apply the idea to a wedding dress. “My favourite kind of tattoos are the ones on a true salty sea dog, so I started to think of the dress as a whole body covered in stories and symbols of love, sin, sex and death, and from there the concept for the collection grew to include all my most loved briney things – stormy waves, thunderclouds, anemones, sea birds and, of course, mermaids. The collection is called The Tempest. “To sum up the look of the collection, as with most Mishi May work, I would say it’s a balance between the hard and the soft. I’ve used soft colours and delicate silks, but also big shoulders and a femme fatale silhouette. Although much of it is undeniably feminine, I like to think of my clothes as power dressing, too; I definitely imagine the wearer to be elegant and fun, but also fierce. “We did the shoot in one of the outbuildings of Blaise Castle. I took photographer Magic Owen there on a recce; on our way into the beautiful old greenhouse we passed through the old laundry shed. She took one look at the walls and said ‘let’s do it here’ – we barely bothered to look at the greenhouse.“ Molly’s currently very excited to be launching her first made-to-order collection. “Creating only bespoke gowns limits us to a very small number of dresses each year; we’ll still offer bespoke, though, and everything will still be made here in the Mishi May studio in Bristol. “I’m lucky enough to know some highly skilled pattern-cutters, seamstresses and finishers who have given up their work for larger labels to move to Bristol and start families. Our big step of launching a collection will hopefully mean I can grow the team, make the most of the awesome skills available, and will hopefully enable Mishi May to do more and more of what we love.”

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The rebel bride In the age of rock’n’roll, there were no limits…

“Our babe never does what’s expected of her. She’s a free spirit; emancipated; bold – a poster child for every rock song”

weddings

his season’s babe never does what’s expected of her,” says one of the designers behind The Mews Bridal’s latest shoot. “She’s a free spirit; emancipated, careless, bold. A poster child for every rock song.” OK, we get it: like Bruce Springsteen’s Wendy, she’s born to run. But how does this translate to bridal fashion? “Patterned florals drawn from intricate tattoos. Crepe as light as a feather, and lace coats floating behind her motorbike. Statement sleeves, oversized frills: that’s our femme, escaping with her rockstar. A rebel drunk on passion; only with him. ’Til death do them part….”

MUA Annabella Brayne breaks the style and inspiration down a little bit more practically for us. “With freedom to explore the dresses on our models, we were able to showcase the vibe and rawness of the modern bride in this fun and edgy bridal shoot,” she says. “The images are cool, free, trendy and wildly confident. “The dresses available at the Mews are formed of beautiful materials, with astute cuts and angles. From French lace and silk crepe to mousseline, every inch embodies a powerful femininity, offering a dreamy romantic view into a bride’s ideal. “When looking for a venue to capture and communicate these delicately perfect French gowns, we were inspired by the mood and feel of the location at Court House Farm, with its colourwashed walls, vintage lamps, abstract art and mirrored tiles.”

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weddings

The dream team

Photographer: Jamie Dodd www.jamiedoddphotography.co.uk Models: Gingersnap model Dora B; Rhed model Jessica Webley www.gingersnap.co.uk www.rhedmodelmanagement.co.uk Bridal Boutique: The Mews Bridal www.themewsclifton.co.uk Venue: Court House Farm www.courthousefarm.com Hair: Louise Alway & Chris Allen www.louisealway.com Headwear: Hermione Harbutt www.hermioneharbutt.com MUA: By Annabella www.byannabella.co.uk

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FROM BRISTOL WITH LOVE Â© ED NORTON

Get these favourite local wedding suppliers and services into your Little White Book pronto

Duchess Weddings organised the nuptials of Idles lead singer Joe Talbot and his bride Beth in February. The ceremony and reception were at Hotel du Vin, the afterparty was at the Southville Centre and the after afterparty was at Milk Thistle

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weddings

ook, we could fill a whole magazine with the truly excellent local services poised to make your wedding as utterly brilliant as you deserve it to be; but here are just a few tried, tested and personally recommended folk we feel you should know about.

THE ORGANISERS

“Weddings – everyone’s got an opinion, right?” say newly-launched Duchess Weddings, who believe that the only opinion that matters when it comes to your big day is yours – funnily enough! If you need help planning an unique, alternative and truly personal wedding, civil partnership, or whatever label you’d like to put on it, the Duchess ladies have years of events-planning experience; they know a wedding isn’t a one-size-fits-all affair, and are passionate about helping you to throw a celebration which reflects you and everything that you care about, from a bohemian, festival-style knees-up to a one-of-a-kind themed celebration. www.duchessweddings.com

THE CATERERS

Ahh Toots Famed and loved across the city for their extraordinary confections, this independent art-focused bakers steps away from the traditional perception of cakes. All are handmade by Tam, who’s always up for creating something a little bit different. www.ahhtoots.co.uk Fosters Catering This South-West caterers sources high-quality produce from local and regional suppliers – “We see ourselves as the foodies choice,” they say. “We pride ourselves on taking the stress

above: Albert Palmer’s shots make you feel you’re starring in your own movie; below: The look of luvvie? Marry on stage at Bristol Old Vic

out of weddings with our experienced and dedicated events team. “With couples telling us that the food ‘was like dining at a top restaurant’, we’re confident we can deliver exceptional dining, whatever the set up, location or demands.” We share that confidence; they’ve served up the hands-down best food we’ve ever had at a large event, which is why we invited them back to cater for our Bristol Life Awards. Twice. www.fostersevents.co.uk Occasion Cakes Beautiful home-made wedding cakes (one to four tiers) at competitive prices. They also do cupcake towers and buffet catering. www.occasioncakesandcatering.co.uk Travelling Bistro A small, family-run mobile kitchen, who

can offer a bespoke menu to fit in with your wedding theme and budget. www.travellingbistro.co.uk Pieminister Pies of all flavours for all dietary requirements, for a wonderful, ethical, West Country wedding feast. Whether you just want pie and mash for a festival-style party or need a bar, canapés or wait staff, they’ll cover it; they can even lay on a West Country midnight feast with hams, cheeses, breads and pickles, all sourced from Bristol’s best independents on the Gloucester Road. www.pieminister.co.uk

THE VENUES

Thanks to recent laws, the places in which you can now legally marry are wide open: choose from elegant country homes to historic theatres, museums and ships… Berwick Lodge Set in 18 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland on the outskirts of Bristol, this privately owned country house offers wedding parties exclusive use, allowing you to create a truly unique and intimate celebration. Great, personal joy is put in to helping plan every kind of wedding – from small weddings of 20 to large family parties of 150. www.berwicklodge.co.uk Bristol Museum and Art Gallery New venue alert! From this summer, you’ll be able to say ‘I do’ in the august surroundings of Bristol Museum, with Bansky’s paint-pot angel as a witness. Evening ceremonies can be held in the grand hall or in an intimate art gallery; beneath glass vaulted ceilings, posing on romantic balconies and sweeping staircases, you’ll celebrate surrounded by thousands of years of history. www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

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weddings Bristol Old Vic Following its staggeringly stylish multi-million pound transformation, the oldest continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world offers a unique space for civil ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and receptions, with dining options for all requirements. You can even say ‘I do’ on stage, dates permitting. www.bristololdvic.org.uk Clifton College A picture-perfect venue combining a city location with estate-style space, with Clifton Suspension Bridge nearby for photo opps. The College offers an exclusive-use wedding venue, hosting only a limited number of receptions each year; for an intimate day event there’s the Cricket Pavilion, while larger wedding parties can dine in the Grand Hall after a drinks reception in the East Cloister. www.cliftoncollege.com M Shed Spectacular harbour backdrops come as standard for M Shed’s weddings and civil ceremonies. Wedding parties can arrive by boat, while couples can be delivered to their reception by crane – an entrance that won’t be easily forgotten. www.bristolmuseums.org.uk ss Great Britain Tie the knot in first-class style on board one of Bristol most romantic venues. It’s available for wedding ceremonies, receptions and evening parties, when the ship is offered for exclusive use, making the ultimate setting for photos. www.ssgreatbritain.org

THE HAIR STYLIST

Hair at 58 Not only will you emerge with the hair of dreams from Sam Bell’s friendly salon, but she’ll make sure you have a damn good time while you’re there! The Aveda Concept Salon can cater to all types of weddings, both in the salon or off site. www.hairat58.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHERS

There is no shortage of talented snappers out there, but we’d entrust our wedding to this lot any day. Check out their galleries online (like you wouldn’t do that anyway). Albert Palmer Photography Beautiful, natural, striking images that capture every aspect of your visual story. Albert’s talent is spotting all the tiny details and emotions of the day; he’s got all the big moments covered (but forget cheesy poses). This is your day, and Albert will blend into the background to get fun and relaxed photos. He’s quietly been gaining recognition for his craft, winning the Regional Wedding Industry Awards in 2017 and 2019. www.albertpalmerphotography.com

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top: Bristol Museum – now licensed to thrill

above: Ruth Garner captures beautifully natural shots

Becky Male Becky specialises in photography for laidback couples who don’t want to spend their wedding day doing corny poses in hundreds of group shots. With over ten years experience, Becky specialises in honest, natural wedding photography. www.beckymalephotography.com Brad Wakefield Brad loves shooting artistic and flattering photos, using the best natural light, injecting lots of fun and punchy colours into his work, creating unique shots. “If you’re looking for something a little bit different, let’s shoot it – it’s your day!” is his mantra. www.bradwakefield.com Ruth Garner “My style is very relaxed,” says Ruth. “While working hard in the background to capture the day as it happens and all

those important moments, my hope is that the couple and guests will hardly notice I’m there.” www.ruthgarnerphotography.com Sam Gibson A documentary photographer focused on emotion, humour and creativity; Sam’s approaching his 10th year in business, and the testimonials from happy couples tells you all you need to know. www.samgibsonweddings.co.uk

FOR THE RINGS

Diana Porter Unique, contemporary jewellery and engagement rings hand-crafted in Fairtrade gold and recycled platinum. As well as Diana’s own extensive collection, there are over 80 renowned British and international designers to draw on. www.dianaporter.co.uk

free wedding consultation when you quote “Bristol Life”

getting married in or around bristol? get the perfect look with moda hairdressing’s wedding hair styling service hair by moda hairdressing. book your appointment today. call 01179421006. www.modahairdressing.co.uk 205 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol bs7 8nn

CAKES. CATERING. SHOP. We supply catering and cakes for weddings, parties, christenings and wakes. Everything is freshly made in our Bedminster shop.

WE CATER FOR OFFICE LUNCHES AND PARTIES

For wedding cakes and catering we offer a local delivery/set up service. We also have a well stocked shop ideal for hobby bakers, home-run businesses or just baking for fun!

Hand made contemporary and classical wedding cakes, celebration cakes and cupcakes for every occasion A wedding is never complete without a wedding cake on show, its one of the highlights of the wedding reception - our cakes are one off original designs, created and made by us.

Please contact me with any questions either by email: sarah@carefreecakes.co.uk or by telephone on 07768 165792

www.carefreecakes.co.uk

We are very happy to cater for specific dietary requirements, feel free to give us a ring to discuss your requirements - 0117 963 5063

www.occasioncakesandcatering.co.uk

A BLOSSOMING ROMANCE Flourish in unique splendor, where sophistication romances relaxation to create the ultimate home from home for family and friends on your wedding day. Take comfort in our warm ambiance as we help you to begin your story here at Berwick Lodge. Call us now to start your story.

Berwick Lodge, Berwick Drive, Bristol BS10 7TD Tel: 0117 958 1590 www.berwicklodge.co.uk

Weston Lodge Shooting Ground

Est. 1992

Stag & Hen Party? Looking for an exciting action packed corporate activity day out with colleagues or an exciting Stag and Hen day for friends? Just 20 minutes from the centre of Bristol, we are totally dedicated to making your party a memorable one all at a great price! We offer karting on our purpose built track with jumps, and also a Quad trail on our 300cc quads which is open all year round. Why not give clay pigeon shooting a go? Whether you are a sure shot or couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hit a barn door, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be expertly taught on our 5 shooting stand layout.

www.westonlodgeshootingground.co.uk

The Travelling Bistro We can be hired for any event, and can tailor to your needs. We oďŹ&#x20AC;er a selection of menus to choose from or create your own bespoke menu!

Available for wedding hirE

Either single day or weekend - we make your wedding our priority travellingbistro@hotmail.com | www.travellingbistro.co.uk Find us on: Facebook & Instagram

WESSEX SCHOOL OF NEEDLEWORK Bespoke Teen and Tweenies Sewing, Embroidery and Art Classes to help inspire your teen and get them off their phones. Classes run through July and August.

http://wessexschoolofneedlework.eventbrite.com

THE ARTS

ST PAULS CARNIVAL, BRISTOL 20 09. © MARTIN PARR / MAGNUM PHOTOS

S N A P S H O T S O F T H E C I T Y ’ S C U LT U R E

PARR AND THE MADDING CROWD How does a collab between Martin Parr Foundation, Arnolfini and St Pauls Carnival sound to you? Thought so! And it’s even more fun than it sounds, because Carnival Pop-Up is both an exhibition and a pop-up studio. After photographing Carnival on 6 July, Martin and fellow street snappers Matt Stuart and Lua Ribeira will process and print their best shots in the studio, which will be open to the public. As well as having a chance to spot yourself in the photos (that’s if you actually went to Carnival, obviously; not much point looking otherwise), you can witness the process of turning digital files into photos and seeing them installed on the walls. The exhibition will continue to evolve each day, before the final selection is unveiled at the opening party on 12 July, with live music, costumes and dancing, Carnival-style. Carnivalgoers have the chance to be part of the exhibition, too – tag any images you take at the event with #CarnivalPopUp19 on Instagram. The Carnival Pop-Up studio is open 9-12 July; the final exhibition runs 12 July-11 August, both at Arnolfini For more see www.martinparrfoundation.org

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Pride, St Pauls, Valleyfest – it’s the most colourful time of the year. Pass the eco-glitter . . .

What’s on 5 July-5 August 2019

Making excellent use of the ‘you can get married on the Bristol Old Vic stage’ rule, Mac and Polly tie the knot in Dead Dog

exhibitions Until 4 August

Banksy’s Devolved Parliament Back to mark 10 years since the Banksy v Bristol Museum exhibition; take it as a comment on our times, if you will. bristolmuseums.org.uk

Until 10 August

i am not a wedding photographer The UK’s first exhibition of wedding photography within an art photography context. martinparrfoundation.org

Until 1 September

natural selection An ornithological journey, from the building of nests to the collecting of eggs; more marvellous and moving than this sounds. bristolmuseums.org.uk

Exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing; at RPS; rps.org/spacesteps

Parr Foundation, Arnolfini and St.Pauls Carnival; see page 27. martinparrfoundation.org

6 July-8 September

11-13 July

James N. Kienitz Wilkins: This Action Lies The Brooklyn-based artist’s moving image work combines documentary sources with original scriptwriting to investigate the role that narrative plays in the construction of truth; spikeisland.org.uk

6 July-15 September

Libita Clayton: Quantum Ghost Immersive sound installation, large-scale photograms and live performance by Spike studio artist Libita. spikeisland.org.uk

6 July-29 September

fire: flashes to ashes It’s the gallery’s third elementthemed exhibition, and given the subject matter, we’re guessing it’ll be the most dramatic. rwa.org.uk

On Set with Aardman: Making Early Man See behind the scenes of Aardman’s recent hit movie Early Man; from drawings to the sets and tiny characters to the latest VR tech. M Shed; bristolmuseums.org.uk

Until 29 September

9 July-12 August

Space Steps: The Moon and Beyond

carnival pop-up A collaboration between Martin

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Marine & Natural History Photography Graduate Exhibition 2019 The next generation of wildlife filmmakers and photographers showcase amazing images at We The Curious; mnhpgraduateexhibition.com

SHOWs 5 July

Madama Butterfly East meets West with tragic consequences, as Opera à la Carte take on Puccini’s heartbreaker at St George’s. Picnic boxes and an opera supper available during the interval, to make you feel you’re at Glyndebourne. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Until 6 July

dirty dancing Where don’t we put Baby? That’s right! Every girl’s* favourite guilty pleasure comes to Hippodrome; atgtickets.com (*OK, not just girls. And OK, maybe not all girls).

sweet like chocolate BOY A storytelling epic, melting timelines, lives, fantasy, garage and jungle, in a critique of black British protest in the broiling estates of London. TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Until 13 July

dead dog in a suitcase Kneehigh bring their enjoyable take on The Beggar’s Opera to Bristol for the third time. It’s funny and dark, the tunes are great, and at some point our girl-crush Patrycja Kujawska will pick up her fiddle again. At Kneehigh’s Bristol spiritual home, Bristol Old Vic; bristololdvic.org.uk

Until 14 July

oedipuss in boots As lightning cracks at the summit of Mount Olympus, the royal kitten Oedipuss is cursed with the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. The original mother-loving Greek tragedy was one of Wardrobe’s greatest, comic hits, and now plays at TFT: tobaccofactorytheatres.com

9 July

the marriage of figaro Never been to a ballet? Watch the

what’s on Royal Ballet perform live from Royal Opera House in London for free! Already a ballet fan? You’ve probably already reserved a deckchair ... bigscreenbristol.com

9-13 July

COMEDY

Parlour Song Kelvin Players Company takes on Jez Butterworth’s blackly hilarious exploration of deceit, paranoia and murderous desire; at Kelvin Studios. ticketsource.co.uk

29 June-4 July

9-20 July

6 July

calendar girls: the musical Matrons in the buff; the WI go full Monty once again, in the stage musical version by by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth. At Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

11-12 July

top: Russell’s back for six Bristol dates; bump fist, homeboy! middle: Hooray! A chance to see behind the scenes of Early Man at M Shed bottom: No fighting on the dance floor, please; Terry and the lads head to Harbourside

examines the Nguyen family’s life in Britain, and daughter Mai’s voyage of personal discovery. BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk

Drink Rum With Expats Finally! That work-in-progress of an experimental fringe theatre show about Malta you’ve all been waiting for! At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

16-20 July

amÉlie the musical Everyone’s favourite Parisienne comes to Bristol Old Vic in a new musical version, with gamine Audrey Brisson in the role she was born to play. Feature page 34. bristololdvic.org.uk

19 July-18 August

malory towers In the hands of Wise Children’s Emma Rice, the Blyton schoolgirl romp becomes an anthem of postwar girl power, with high jinks, high drama and high spirits, live music and breathtaking animation. At Passenger Shed; more on page 38. bristololdvic.org.uk

20 July

luna 50 years to the day since two men first walked on the moon, new Bristol theatre company Roustabout celebrate we Earthling’s ongoing fascination with this mysterious lump of dead grey rock, through storytelling, puppetry, music, history and science, suitable for 7+. At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

24-27 July

summer rolls The first British Vietnamese play to be staged in the UK; a sweeping family saga that

russell howard: respite Homeboy Russell has added six Bristol dates to his upcoming world tour; at Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com The NOISE NEXT DOOR The UK’s premier improv comedy troupe head to Anson rooms; bristolsu.org.uk

7 July

russell kane: the book of john Packing more energy than a Duracell factory into his new show, Russell’s RS Turbo laugh engine motors through love, family and life; Hippodrome, atgtickets.com

8 July

closer each day The world’s longest-running improv comedy soap continues to bubble amusingly away at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

MUSIc 10-12 July

billy bragg The foremost punk-folkster of the ’80s is still agit-propping away, and now involving the younger generation in activist causes. At Fiddlers. fiddlers.co.uk

13 July

tom jones The biggest voice on the circuit belts out the hits at Bristol County Ground; ticketmaster.co.uk martin kemp ...while the bluest eyes in the biz come to Trinity. The betterlooking Spandau Ballet twin and former ’Stenders bad boy hits the decks to spin the best hits from the ’80s. 3ca.org.uk

18 July

new order Speaking of British ’80s musical legends, New Order will take centre stage on the Lloyds Amphitheatre with their unique

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THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 18 - 21 JULY

what’s on post-punk/electronic dance sound, launching Harbourfest weekend. colstonhall.org

19 July

the specials Snapping at New Order’s heels are these equally legendary ska pioneers, bringing their rocksteady beats and rude boys style to Bristol Harbourside, as part of their 40th anniversary tour. colstonhall.org

FESTIVALs and events Until 14 July

above: He’s funny, he has truly great facial hair, and watch out, Rob Delaney, because we think we might fancy you... left: Oh, if only it still was... forget about the state of the nation, and come party at Pride . . . below: But save plenty of glitter for St Pauls . . .

bristol pride A fortnight of fun, colour, craziness and glitter from Bristol’s welcoming LGBT+ community, from the Pride dog show to Circus Night, comedy, film festival and theatre. Pride Day on 13 July starts with the Parade at the city centre and ends with a massive party on the Downs, for an expected 70k or so revellers; bristolpride.co.uk

Until 7 July

Bristol comedy garden An unfeasibly high number of comedy circuit A-listers crowd into Queen Square with designs on your funny bones; bristolcomedygarden.co.uk

Until 28 July

Rivertown The annual celebration of roots and Americana; see feature page 43. colstonhall.org

Until 31 July

bristol shakespeare festival Bard on the sward, anyone? The mostly, but not exclusively, outdoors fest returns, performing Will’s plays along with work inspired by him in unusual spaces. bristolshakespearefestival.org.uk

5-8 July

Bristol book fair The biggest book fair in the SouthWest returns to the Passenger Shed for its fifth year. pbfa.org

6 July

st paul’s carnival The celebration of African Caribbean culture is firmly back on the summer calendar; this year the theme is ‘our journey’, in honour of the Windrush generation; stpaulscarnival.net

AStral festival The music festival previously known as Bristol Psych Fest returns to SWX, The Lanes and Rough Trade. astralfestival.com

7 July

firebird festival After two years off, Firebird Studios is putting on a new music festival to celebrate its 5th birthday, and to showcase some of the local bands that rehearse with them; firebirdstudios.co.uk

14 July

Great Weston Ride It’s not a race, it’s a ride, from Long Ashton to Weston super Mare (57m) for everyone to enjoy and take at their own pace, rewarded by a nice day at the seaside. We won’t judge you if you take the train back. greatwestonride.com

19-21 July

harbour festival The annual free dance, music and arts extravaganza returns to the Harbourside from 19-21 July 2019, for a weekend of family activities, music, circus, food markets and visiting vessels. bristolharbourfestival.co.uk

25-28 July

cinema rediscovered Mega treat for film buffs; see fine digital restorations, contemporary classics and film print rarities, up where they belong: the big screen. This year, revered filmmakers Nic Roeg, Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Bresson and Bristol-born Mike Hodges are all celebrated alongside lesser known cinematic voices including Maureen Blackwood, Márta Mészáros and Věra Chytilová. watershed.co.uk

2-4 August

valleyfest Yurts; top local food; good-time beats, and a laidback familyfriendly vibe at Chew Magna. Basement Jaxx, Razorlight, Magic Numbers, Stealing Sheep and Tom Odell headline, while three feasts run by top chefs ramp up the edible offering. valleyfest.co.uk

3 August

redfest Vibrant community festival drawing artists and performers of all kinds from across the local area and further afield; redfestbristol.co.uk

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

THEATRE

Girl on film

Released in 2001, Amélie was fawned over by critics, passionately loved by cinemagoers, won umpteen awards and is still one of the biggest international successes for a French movie. No pressure in adapting it for the stage then, hey, director Michael Fentiman? Photos by Pamela Raith

A “The first rule of script-writing is that your protagonist is actively pursuing a change in the world; Amélie is largely trying to avoid it”

mélie – or to give the movie the name it likes to be called on formal occasions, Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain – is a whimsical rom-com set in a vie en rose Paris, depicted as a magical paradise for lovers. Based in Montmartre, it centres on the story of a shy waitress who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better, while struggling with her own isolation. A lively, fanciful charmer, with a beguiling performance from Audrey Tautou as the heroine, Amélie is funny but full of heart, sweet without tipping into the saccharine, set to a tender, uplifting score by Yann Tiersen. It was also unconventional enough to straddle both the mainstream and the art house. “The film refused to behave like any film we may have recognised at the time,’ agrees director Michael Fentiman. “The approach to the narrative is episodic, favouring small vignettes; tiny films within a film, that group together to create a collage; a poetic mural that conjures a sense of loneliness and isolation in the bustling metropolis of ’90s Paris. “The central character is largely passive. The first rule of script-writing is usually that your protagonist is actively pursuing a change in the world they inhabit; Amélie is largely trying to avoid it. “The film favours philosophical thought and ambiguity over conflict, sentimentality or explicit didact – usually the staple diet of your blockbuster filmmaker. And yet somehow, by ignoring the rules of what constitutes enjoyable art, Amélie managed to appear in the late ’90s as a hugely enjoyable antidote to all the art that had started to feel formulaic.

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THEATRE “So, if the film refused to behave like a film, in some respects Amélie must resist the pressure to behave like a traditional musical. It can’t be loud and brash – that would crush its fragile frame. It can’t always yearn to please – that would fight the spirit of its aloof, Parisian routes. It can’t resort to slapstick laughs, or lean on personal tragedy to elicit tears in ballads. “It can’t open Act Two with a kick line, or close Act One with a burst of pyro or a tense cliffhanger. But what it can do is invite the audience into a simple, gentle, moving exploration of human loneliness and isolation, and the earnest attempts to avoid it. “Our music is hugely influenced by the tone and feel of Yann Tiersen’s original score. How could it not be? We have an amazing company of actor musicians, so we have incorporated into the score multiple violins, cellos, accordions, pianos and flutes to create a very unique and moving sound.” Perhaps the most essential ingredient – even more than the score – is the perfect Amélie. It’s hard to imagine that a perfect successor to the

movie’s perfect Audrey Tautou could exist – until you’re introduced to another Audrey, the French-Canadian actress Audrey Brisson. Regular Bristol Old Vic theatregoers will recognise her at once. You might have seen her enchanting turn as Bella Chagall in Kneehigh’s The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk; she may have broken your heart as Dea in The Grinning Man, and Gelsomina in La Strada. She’s become UK theatre’s go-to gamine; indeed, if you’re the prescient sort, you may well have already murmured to yourself, ‘Wow; if they ever made a musical of the film, that kid would make the perfect Amélie…’ “As soon as I was asked to direct this production, Audrey was the first name I mentioned for the part,” says Michael. “We’ve worked together before, and she’s an extraordinary performer. A rare thing: a classically trained singer, who once toured the world with Cirque de Soleil; a superbly charismatic comic and clown and a sensitive and intelligent actress. She is also a fluent French speaker.”

“Amélie is a musical that seeks connections. Kind connections, that close down distances and make us feel we are able to look up, smile and reach out to the strange and the stranger”

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

Once he had his Amélie, the next major challenge was creating Paris on stage. “It was impossible to fully realise the city on a stage,” says Michael, “so we have tried to capture a sense of Paris, so that the audience can fill in the gaps. “One location for the set is one of the Metro stations featured in the film, but from there we are whisked all around the city with simple props, beautiful music, brilliant acting… and a bit of imagination.” Finally, Michael, why should we make sure not to miss this show? “At a time where we are increasingly feeling at a distance from each other, and to some degree, from the world we inhabit, Amélie is a musical that seeks connections. Kind connections, that close down distances and make us feel we are able to look up, smile and reach out to the strange and the stranger.” n Amélie The Musical plays Bristol Old Vic from 16-20 July www.bristololdvic.org.uk

THEATRE

Girl power

That Difficult Second Production? This is Emma Rice we’re talking about here! Just pass the tuck box, and head for Malory Towers . . .

f we’ve learned anything from ten years of chatting with director Emma Rice – from her Kneehigh years, to the postGlobe days, to her current role as AD of Bristol’s new theatre company Wise Children – it’s that she often lets an idea percolate for a good long while before turning it into a show. And while a lesser woman might have quailed at the prospect of following her company’s triumphant début, Wise Children – yes, the show has the same name as the company, both referencing the 1991 Angela Carter novel, do keep up – Emma knew precisely what she wanted to do next. “It was always going to be Malory Towers,” she says. “It was a dream to bring these thrilling books to the stage, and I’ve been quietly working on the adaptation for over six years.” Like Wise Children, it’s a very female-led show – was this a deliberate decision?

Yes! I am keen for all my work to look through a female lens and, on a far more practical level, I want to see brilliant female performers get the parts, the opportunities and the exposure that have historically gone largely to men. Malory Towers are the original Girl Power stories, and I love seeing these vivid characters fizz together on stage and off. You call it your ‘happy Lord of the Flies’...

Like Lord of the Flies, The Cement Garden and Harry Potter, fiction loves to get children away from adult influence. In Malory Towers our girls are living away from their parents and are forced to create their own rules, belief system and code of conduct. I call it my ‘happy’ Lord of the Flies because these young people choose to be good. They decide to be kind and they resolve to be fair.

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

“I want to see brilliant female performers get the parts, the opportunities and the exposure that have historically gone largely to men”

Growing up, did you wish you could have gone to Malory Towers?

I would have hated to go to boarding school! I had a pretty grim time at school and the only thing that got me through was going home, closing the door, curling up with the cat and a biscuit and watching Blue Peter. Which character from the books did you most identify with, and who would you have wanted for your best friend?

I think I was probably most like Sally at school. I kept my head down and tried not to draw too much attention to myself. I would have loved Alicia. I always looked up to the more mature girls and still love a joker.

What is it about that post-war era that you find so special?

My grandad fought in the Second World War, and my mum was a war baby. Hearing how they survived, both practically and emotionally, had a huge effect on me as a child and I still feel the weight of my grandad’s kind and sad silence. I am painfully aware of the horrors that generation witnessed, and I will be forever grateful that fascism was conquered and that my own life has been one fi lled with freedom and possibility. I feel that the wartime generation looked evil in the eye, and chose what was good and what was right; we can still learn from the lessons of that time. Malory Towers was written in the aftermath of the war and reflects the collective resolve to build a better, safer and more tolerant world. We know you’ve drawn on your own mum’s school experiences – can you tell us a bit about that?

My mum went to Lord Digby’s Grammar School for Girls in Sherborne. She was taught by women who were unmarried, due to two world wars. These women devoted their lives to the nurture and education of girls, and my mum blossomed in their care. In spite of coming from a very poor family she developed a love of culture which stays with her to this day, and which was passed on to me. I feel that I have Lord Digby’s, my mum and those women to thank for my own wonderful life.

How did you go about casting the girls?

I’ve chosen a young company of actors who are supremely talented. All under 30, they manage to capture what it is to be a schoolgirl but without trying to put on a voice or being small. They are just brilliant, fresh and totally believable. Why are you staging Malory Towers at Passenger Shed, not in a theatre?

We wanted it to be an event, for the entirety of the summer holidays, that would appeal to all the family. And Passenger Shed is a breathtakingly handsome venue with some real star quality. Tell us about the tunes…

The music mixes songs from the period with specially composed numbers by Bristol composer Ian Ross; this mash-up makes the production move eﬀortlessly between times. We also have lots of animation, which makes the show an impressive multi-media event. It’s going to be a feast for all the senses…

Malory Towers plays Passenger Shed 19 July-12 August; www.bristololdvic.org.uk

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ARt

For the love of Bristol Jayson Lilley’s new exhibition From London to Bristol is a celebration of two relationships: his love affair with a city (guess which one!), and ten years of working with Anna Smithson of Smithson Gallery

crolling through Jayson Lilley’s website, you’re struck by a number of recurring themes. First, it’s obvious that he’s strongly drawn to urban icons: in his London pieces he’s featured the Oxo Tower, Battersea Power Station and the GPO Tower; in Bristol, it’s often the Suspension Bridge, M Shed, and panoramic harbourside views. Secondly, Jayson clearly loves a sunburst, and a lot of gold leaf, which he often combines with nostalgic tinted collages. Also evident is his love of early20th-century architectural styles, from Art Deco and Bauhaus to post-war Brutalism. There’s often a strong compositional structure and a limited palette in his work; there’s a lot of highly contrasted light and shadow; form and silhouette are defined by clean lines and large areas of flat colour. There are frequent touches of wit, too; in Single Handed Sailor, for example, a giant Lord Nelson pops up from the skyline next to Tower Bridge. West Country born and bred, Jayson worked as a book cover designer before becoming a professional artist. Today, his paintings are represented by galleries worldwide, and his screen prints have been reproduced and published extensively. While many of his prints show classic London views, one other city holds a place in his heart. Over the years, Jayson’s relationship with Bristol, and with Smithson Gallery, has provided a natural inspiration – though, since his first collection, much has changed both in his own style and the city itself. “This new collection of works is really trying to communicate the vibrancy of Bristol,” he

says. “When I come back, I always get a sense of excitement; it feels cosmopolitan and youthful, and I’m trying to capture an element of that in the bright colours and loose pen work that I have introduced into this new collection.” Jayson’s cityscapes have a heightened sense of reality, often with gold leaf skies; yet somehow the views seem utterly familiar, thanks to meticulous prep work.

scale of important buildings by about 20%. It’s about finding the detail of a cityscape, finding the interesting things in a skyline.” Reducing iconic buildings to their simplest forms, while still remaining fully recognisable, is a distinctive technique of Jayson’s; and it’s all in the detail. “It’s about finding what parts of an image symbolise what it is,” he explains. “The details in the buildings are what makes that building; what lines, what windows, what shadow makes that building. It’s simplifying, while picking out exactly what makes it that building.” Today, Jayson says he’s working in a more painterly way. “I have bought some new paint pens to hand-finish my prints, and I am getting looser and freer with the application of the ink. I want my prints to be a bit more like original paintings; they are still editions, but the prints within the edition will be more varied. “The painterly aspect also helps with perspective, and giving the pieces a more 3D feel. The thicker, painted lines are in the foreground and the thinner printed lines are further away. I am screen printing but trying to do everything a screen print isn’t!” His favourite part of the whole process, he says, is the design. “Designing on computers is what I trained for and I still love it. I’m a perfectionist, and the printing is a real challenge; there are so many variables and things that can go wrong beyond the computer. I’m not a printmaker, I’m an artist – printing is just the way of achieving the aesthetic I want.”

“Bristol feels cosmopolitan and youthful, and I’m trying to capture an element of that in this collection”

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“I take a panoramic photo of the cityscape or scene, and then recreate that photo by redrawing it in high definition multiple times, so everything is detailed,” he explains. “My panoramas are made up of about 100 shots in order to ensure everything is in focus, and I also increase the

For more, visit www.smithsongallery.co.uk

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: From Brunel Way; Clifton Sunshine; Somewhere over the Avon; Clifton Bridge; Bristol Sunrise

MUSIC

DON’T say “Ooh, isn’t Kiefer starting to look like his dad?” DO say “Love those edgy vocals, bittersweet love songs and toe-tapping hooks”

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER

River Town moseys into Bristol this month with a six-week celebration of the sounds and stories of the American South. Turn the page for six jazz, blues and roots acts you just can’t afford to miss... Words by Lisa Warren www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 43

MUSIC THE SHIRES

The first UK country act to be signed by a major Nashville record label, The Shires have taken America by storm. Hailing from the not remotely yee-hah neighbourhoods of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes head back home this summer to bring their Southern country pop to St George’s. The Shires are the perfect kind of music for long summer nights and countryside driving with the windows down. Telling stories of love and life in a way that everyone can relate to, their songs will remind you of the simple things, and leave you with a silly-looking smile on your face. This show will be all about the summer anthems, putting your hands up and tapping to the beat; if you’re a fan of Lady Antebellum and Carrie Underwood, this is the River Town show for you.

HOT SARDINES

The Hot Sardines channel the smoky speakeasies of 1930s Paris, New York and New Orleans. Blustery brass, a lively rhythm section, a sultry frontwoman and even a tap dancer combine to create swinging jazz from an earlier era. This eight-piece outfit masters the storytelling aspect of live jazz, as the musicians share their experiences in an intimate performance that’s guaranteed to stir up the feelings and emotions of the audience. Jazz and blues are making a comeback, and the Hot Sardines are leading the charge, selling out some of the world’s most renowned concert halls and bringing this movement to Bristol, taking us back to pre-war era glamour and snappy, wonderful music.

kd lang

Fancy an away-day? Head to Bath, where Canadian roots and alternative country legend kd lang plays the Forum, as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of her groundbreaking album Ingénue. A truly amazing live performer, kd perfectly captivates the audience with her soft and haunting voice. Stepping more to the contemporary end of the Americana spectrum, the songs on this album explore its softer side, with jazz influences from the likes of Tony Bennett and Patsy Cline.

ROOSEVELT COLLIER

Taking us into Deep South territory is the hypnotic pedal and steel guitar mastery of Roosevelt Collier. Each song blends into the next, and the band members are so in tune

top: Pre-war glamour and sultry beats:

the Hot Sardines; middle: kd lang plays The Forum (or, we guess, ‘the forum’); bottom: They don’t come Deeper South than bluesman Roosevelt Collier

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

MUSIC

“Hailing from the not remotely yee-hah neighbourhoods of Herts and Beds, The Shires have taken America by storm” Let the heartache continue: Lucinda sings Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

with one other that you hardly know when one ends and the next begins. Roosevelt released his début solo album Exit 16 in 2018 after spending his career collaborating with some of the blues’ greatest artists. The album is a direct representation of his upbringing, with jazz, blues, gospel and rock influences.

KIEFER SUTHERLAND

You might know him as an action movie and TV star, notably in 24, but Kiefer’s made quite the name for himself on the country music scene. His edgy vocals are ideal for telling tales of whiskey-filled nights; sweet love songs, with an incredible piano and steel guitar accompaniment. Kiefer’s live performances are always very personal; starting each song with the story behind it, he welcomes audiences to share his thoughts and feelings. This is your classic country show of the series; Kiefer’s sound has hints of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Tim McGraw, and offers a whole lot of fun hooks to tap your feet to.

LUCINDA WILLIAMS

Quite simply, country royalty. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of classic album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Lucinda will perform the full tracks at O2 Academy to close out River Town. Lucinda’s songwriting is flawless; her music is dark and gritty. The album tells the story of a relationship breakdown, and surviving the experience – classic country heartbreak territory, then. A multi-award winner with a cult following, Lucinda should be on everybody’s radar. Her music spans three decades and truly has something for everyone; the perfect end to this boot stompin’ series. n River Town runs until 28 July; see website for venues and details; www.colstonhall.org

The ideal music for long summer nights and countryside driving with the windows down: The Shires www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 45

Kitchen installations

Alterations

General Building Works

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23 Chandos Road, BS6 6PG

seven lucky gods

If you need us this summer, we’ll be on the terrace outside this new izakaya-style bar on Cargo 2, says Deri Robins

h, how failing/lesser/wannabe food entrepreneurs must seethe with envy when contemplating the Hyde & Co group’s expanding universe! What’s more, there’s no single fix-all template to emulate; Hyde’s venues range from glamorous subterranean bars to top-drawer steak restaurants, as-authentic-as-theycome Spanish tapas bars, and party-loving all-day diners with happy hour cocktails. But maybe therein lies a clue, for the wannabes: just like the owners of other thriving Bristol chains – we’re thinking Josh Eggleton, and Kieran and Imogen Waites – perhaps their very strength lies in diversity. Both Josh and the Waites are well established at Wapping Wharf – Root and Salt and Malt are run by the former, Gambas and Cantina by the latter – so it was probably just a matter of time before Hyde & Co moved in too. And lo! (or should that be konnichiwa?) they’ve just opened new izakaya-style bar, Seven Lucky Gods, on the first floor of Cargo 2. Appropriately, it’s the group’s seventh venture; and if that wasn’t auspicious enough, it’s named after Japan’s seven gods, each one representing a different type of luck. Walking past Cargo, on the first proper hot evening of June, we’re hit with an olfactory overload – garlic, pizza cheese, you name it. When we ascend the steps to Seven

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

Lucky Gods the aroma of Asian cooking hits us like a karate kick on plywood. We could dine outside on the terrace, but this time we’re lured inside by the exciting-looking indoor space, which is far larger than the average Cargo gaff. The décor is strikingly cool, done out in red, white and black, with a Japanese street-art wall at the back, and colourful strip lighting reflecting festively on the hundreds of bottles that line the bar. It’s definitely not quiet – soul and reggae throb from speakers, but that just adds to the urban vibe. We opt for seats at the long table running under the bar, which makes us feel we’ve just ducked into a neon-lit alley in downtown Kabukicho. While drinking is a big part of izakayas, they differ from normal bars in that (a) diners are always seated and (b) there’s also a constant stream of shared dishes. The food can vary, but the main criteria is ‘must go well with alcohol’. At 7LG, along with Japanese beer, whisky and sake, there are seven cocktails to choose from, each named after a god: Honesty, Fortune, Dignity, Joy, Longevity, Happiness and Wisdom. If none of these appeal, however, the staff will make you an alternative without so much as an eyeroll. Don’t think for one second that chef Todd Francis’ menu is an afterthought, though; we’re still drooling unattractively at the memory of the Iberico katsu sando. Flavours are Asian fusion, served tapas-style, from snacks to robata grill, sushi and sashimi, a ‘crispy and crunchy’ menu, and salads.

restaurant

Cheekily taking on the Italians at their own game and winning are 7LG’s chicken katsu curry arancini. Katsu is a Japanese method of breadcrumbing chicken, and here a curried version is formed into breaded golden balls, sprinkled with Parmesan (yes, really) and served with kewpie – a densely flavoured, almost custard-like Japanese mayo. It so works. From the sushi menu we choose tempura soft shell crab, bundled into futomaki rolls with avo and cucumber; we’ll never eat bland supermarket sushi again. Next up is a spicy Korean fried chicken that even the daughter, recently returned from visiting a brother in Gwanju, can’t fault; the boneless chicken pieces come in a sesame-dotted sweet and sticky (but not remotely sickly) sauce with a spicy kick. The squid karaage (that’s deep-fried to you) is blamelessly crisp and ungreasy, and a plate of skinny fries in a schichimi mayo sauce could give even Squeezed’s chips a run for their money. Mindful of our five-a-day, we also order a tofu tonkatsu salad, which mixes crisp-on-the-outside, soft-onthe-inside breaded chunks of tofu with good old Somerset tomatoes, tossed in miso mayo. We now need to devote a whole separate paragraph to the Iberico katsu sando. No, really; we do. Could we live on this dish alone? Probably not, but it would be fun trying. It’s the best sarnie you’ll ever have in your life: meltingly tender, rich minced pork, panko-crusted and sandwiched between lightly toasted bread, with umami-rich cabbage and tonkatsu sauce (a kind of ketchup/soy hybrid). All the dishes arrive in quick order, despite being freshly made by what we reckon have to be the hardest-working staff in Bristol; despite being run off their feet they are unfailingly can-do, efficient and helpful. With Kaiju right next door, the arrival of Seven Lucky Gods has turned this corner of the Wharf into a veritable Little Tokyo; we expect the opening of a karaoke bar any time now. It feels appropriate that a joint inspired by the Land of the Rising Sun should have opened to coincide with the tardy appearance of the Bristol sun – but then those Hyde & Co dudes have always been a lucky bunch. n

“The aroma of Asian cooking hits you like a karate kick on plywood” Dining details Seven Lucky Gods, Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf; 0117 929 1310 www.7luckygods.com

Opening hours Monday to Saturday midday-11pm, Sunday midday-9pm We visited Wednesday evening Prices snacks and tapas from £3.50£11.50 Drinks Japanese beer, whisky, sake and cocktails Atmosphere Urban, buzzy; Bristol meets Lost in Translation Service Efficient and friendly, despite the staff being super-busy Disabled access Lift to Cargo 2 Veggie Quite a few interesting options

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FOOD & DRINK

TASTY BITES… As ever – too much to cover, too little space …

LEFT HANDED GIANT has opened its new Brewpub within the vast premises of the old Compressor Building at Finzels Reach. Successfully crowdfunded, with around 1500 people investing in the venture, Brewpub serves a 21-strong beer menu that will be familiar to visitors to the brewery’s St Philips tap room or its Small Bar on King Street; most brews are made on site by LHG (it’s a brew pub, see), but look out for guest beers and collaborations, too. www.lefthandedgiant.com

littlefrench Top of the ‘oh, that’s exciting’ list this month is the first solo opening from Bristol chef Freddy Bird – arch-forager and wood-fire-cooking ninja, whose unique take on Moorish and Mediterranean cooking put The Lido on the map. littlefrench will open in Freddy’s own ’hood, Westbury Park, on 5 July, serving classic, unpretentious and regional French food. It’s open Mon-Sat for breakfast, lunch and dinner; on Sunday there’s brunch and a littlefrench take on the Sunday roast. There’s a wine bar and bottle shop, too. Follow them on instagram @ littlefrench_bristol

THE SECRET CAFÉ has opened in the gardens of St Stephen’s Church. It’s run by husband and wife Antonio Perez and Alicia Amish, who moved to Bristol from Seville, and there’s a pronounced Spanish ﬂavour to proceedings – there’ll even be Spanish supper clubs later in the summer. www.facebook.com/secretcafebristol

New venture LUNCH CLUB is poised to deliver a super-tasty and healthy lunch to your desk. “While we’re lucky to have such a strong street-food culture here in Bristol, the food can be quite heavy, and the alternatives either super healthy rabbit food or supermarket salads,” says founder Vanessa In. “Our ethos is to oﬀer food that makes you feel good, is enticing and good value for money.” The Lunch Club uses pedal power to deliver, recyclable packaging and a pre-order system which means zero food waste. www.lunchclub.co

DON’T FORGET…

HARVEY NICKS’ DJ brunch returns on 14 July and 25 August,

oﬀering seriously exciting two- or three-course menus, a mini cocktail ﬂight and chilled summer beats from guest DJ Josh Tucker. We’ll be at that table over there. £20-30. www.harveynichols.com

Delightful dementia champion Hugh Bonneville stopped by for a meal at TRTMM

…to watch The Restaurant that Makes Mistakes, now screening on C4. The restaurant, guided by Josh Eggleton, opened for a few weeks last December, and was the ﬁrst in its kind in the UK to be staﬀed by people living with dementia. Eye-opening and heartwarming; watch the clip on YouTube.

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Cooler shakers Hold the Pimm’s; we’re here to make you smile like you’ve got a straw in something tropical, with some cool concoctions devised by some of Bristol’s best bartenders. “Please restrict yourself to store-cupboard ingredients,” we begged them. Well, they almost did . . . 54 I bristol LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

cocktails

CRYING WOLF

At this new(ish) Cotham Hill favourite, all the juices are fresh-pressed, and the syrups, shrubs and cordials made on site – here, the guys have shown us how we can do this, too. • Make the honey syrup by combining 100g of local honey with 70ml of boiling water and mixing until the two ingredients are combined. • The cucumber juice is made by running a fresh cucumber (skin included) through a hard-press juicer; Crying Wolf recommend preparing this just before making the cocktails.

Epona

20ml Havana 3yr old white rum 25ml honey syrup 20ml fresh lime juice

15ml fresh cucumber juice 15ml Seedlip No.94 5ml Trois Rivières Rhum Agricole Shake and double strain into a stemmed glass – such as the Nick & Nora glass shown in the photo. www.cryingwolf.co.uk

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THE BARTENDER

“Created for Hayman’s Gin in 2007, this is a modern classic, offering the quintessentially English combo of gin, elderflower, mint and apple,” says Lewis Spinlove.

The Garden of Eden 45ml quality gin 10ml elderflower cordial Juice of quarter a lime 60ml cloudy apple juice

Shake hard with ice and strain into a long glass. Finish with a mint sprig. www.thebartender.co.uk

THE COCONUT TREE

Well, this is exciting! For the very first time, our pals at TCT have given up the secret recipe to the ‘Ruby’ – their ‘curious elephant’ and the ‘keeper of The Drunken Sri Lankan’. Ruby is named for a real orphaned elephant in Sri Lanka; every time you buy a TCT Cocotail with Ceylon Arrack it contributes towards her care and support in the orphanage. Awww….

The Drunken Sri Lankan

40ml Ceylon Arrack (whiskey style syrup made from coconut flower nectar, easily available online) 20 ml Cointreau 20 ml turmeric and ginger syrup (add turmeric to a ginger syrup, to taste) A squeeze of fresh lime juice Shake well in a shaker; pour into a vessel with cubed ice and top with a top-of-the-range ginger beer. www.thecoconut-tree.com

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COCKTAILS COSY CLUB

What’s better than an Eton Mess? An Eton Mess you can drink, obviously...

Eton Mess

KINKAJOU

37.5ml Smirnoff red vodka 12.5ml raspberry liquer, eg Cartron Framboise 37.5ml Funkin sour mix (can buy easily online) 12.5ml vanilla syrup 25ml Funkin strawberry purée (or make your own) 1 drop tonka bean

Optional garnish: Raspberry powder 3 mini-meringues Hard shake, double strain in a Boston shaker and pour into a coupe glass. Cut a heart template, dust with raspberry powder and top with mini-meringues. www.cosyclub.co.uk

Take your partners for the floral dance…

Floral Fizz

25ml London dry gin 10ml elderflower 15ml Cointreau 10ml fresh lemon juice. Shake the ingredients together and strain into a tumbler over crushed ice (if you don’t have a shaker, simply blend on the lowest setting and pour straight into your tumbler). Top with Prosecco. www.kinkajoubar.co.uk

FLIPSIDE COCKTAIL CLUB

They had us at “the cocktail name has ‘Bristol’ in it…”

Bristol Sling MILK THISTLE

Taken from Alex Godfrey’s current menu Meet George

The Wicker Man

Glenmorangie whisky Cocchi Rosa (dry vermouth) Juice of lemon Lavender Shake the first three ingredients to taste, add crushed lavender and pour over ice. Stick in a sprig of lavender and, err, set fire to it… www.milkthistlebristol.com

Bristol dry gin Cherry brandy Benedictine Grand Marnier Pineapple juice Fresh lime juice Grenadine Bitters

Shake, and serve over cubed ice with a pineapple garnish. www.fccbristol.com

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cocktails HMSS HYDE &CO

Inspired by famous Bristol drinking spots past and present, Hyde’s new menu ‘Dens’ takes you on a cocktail trip to such venues as The Old Duke, The Hatchet and the Dugout, accompanied by fascinating historical facts and hand-drawn illustrations. As you may guess, this one is in honour of The Corrie.

The Coronation Tap Hennessey VS Pomegranate juice Granny Smith apple soda Slice dried apple

Mix to taste, and pour over ice; add the slice of dried apple www.hydeand.co

Founder Ben Alcock tells us that this is his personal favourite. “I made this recipe with the aim of taking out most of the perishable ingredients and keeping unnecessary costs down,” he adds. “Pina Coladas are the perfect party starter, and this drink lets you make a large quantity with ease.

Pina Colada

For each serve, multiply as required 40ml white rum eg Bacardi Carta Blanca 20ml BSC Pineapple and Coconut syrup (from Bristol Syrup Company) 20ml condensed milk Juice of one lime One whole pineapple ring 5 ice cubes (roughly) Put in a blender and blend until smooth. Give it a little taste test and pour into your most flamboyant vessel: top tip is to go into the Flying Tiger store and stock up on a couple of fun pieces. www.hmssbristol.com

6 O’CLOCK GIN

Local distillers 6 O’Clock Gin have recently launched their latest Jekka’s Edition. The aromatic ‘Bouquet Garni’ has been distilled with freshly picked herbs from Jekka’s Farm, just up the road from their Thornbury distillery. The resulting gin is perfect for sipping in a long and refreshing G&T in the garden on a hot summer’s day. Or work it like this:

Jekka’s Edition Ginjito

50ml Jekka’s Edition – Bouquet Garni Fresh lime 5 sprigs of tarragon 2 tsp caster sugar Soda water Cut the lime in half, then divide one half into 8 small pieces. Muddle in the bottom of a tall glass with the sugar. Strip the leaves from four of the sprigs of tarragon, add them to the glass and muddle gently. Add 50ml of Jekka’s Edition and fill the glass half full with crushed ice. Churn through with a spoon, then top with soda and more crushed ice. Garnish with the remaining sprig of tarragon and a wedge of lime. www.6oclockgin.com

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NEW MENU

Find a little sunshine on Gloucester Road at The Blue Lagoon! - Cocktail of the week : Painkiller - two for Â£7.95 everyday - Half price Pizza: Monday to Friday, between 2pm and 5pm - Live music all week

LOCAL PRODUCE

The Promenade, 18/20 Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8AE 0117 942 7471 | www.thebluelagooncafebar.com

cafÉ society Stan Cullimore

Everything’s dope

This ain’t rock ’n ’roll, but Stan likes it

hen I was a headstrong teenager, I noticed that a lot of musicians had a thing for some girl called Mary Jane. Took me a while to twig that they were being coy; in fact they were talking about marijuana. D’oh! Those naughty, rebellious musos! Fast-forward a couple of decades and we’re still being coy. So when a café calling itself Mary Jane opened on the Whiteladies Road, just up from the Everyman cinema, I clearly

“CBD oil is an approved variant on cannabis, where lawyers take out all the fun, add oil and hope that no-one notices the difference”

had to investigate. Obviously, since it is all above board and legal, their USP isn’t cannabis. It’s CBD oil. You know the stuff, I’m sure. An approved variant, where lawyers take out all the fun, add oil and hope that no-one notices the difference. Or the price tag. None of this foolishness is the fault of the café owners. It’s all down to government. Again. Sigh. However, I wasn’t going there to get giggly. I was going for scientific reasons. Having tried this oil before, as a painkiller, it always tasted like something the cat dragged in and I wanted to see if the café folk had worked out a way round this problem. First impressions were good; the place looks inviting, the tables outside are in a lovely spot and the menu is crammed with the usual coffee shop standards, along with the option to add a shot or two of CBD oil should you so wish. I went for my usual Americano, plus a double shot of the good stuff. My companion went for a latte with a single shot. The food on offer is a happy mix of the usual suspects, along with one or two oddballs. Some of which contain more CBD. Because why not? While my companion went for a humble cheese toastie, I opted for the vegan flatbread. Very

good it was, too. Oozing flavour, falafeliness and roasted peppery goodness. Flawless. But it wasn’t the star of the show. Oh, no. That would be the CBD-laced coffees. When mine arrived, I could see traces of oil on the surface, but they soon disappeared when I took a sip. Truth is, I couldn’t even detect a hint of the CBD. What I could taste was a pretty fine coffee. Definitely worth a return visit for that alone. After finishing up and wandering off, I found myself back near the Whiteladies Road with one of my sons a few hours later. So we had a round of CBD laced drinks together. Meaning I had consumed four shots in quite short order. Which is scientific rigour, in anyone’s books. Sadly, can’t say I felt any particular side effects. In fairness, I did have a really nice snooze on the sofa later that evening. Though, whether that was the CBD or the sunshine, who knows? Either way, if you’re in the mood for a spot of Mary Jane time, you know where to go. Just don’t tell any musicians. They might get over excited. n Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer www.stancullimore.com

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YOU’RE CHARRED, MATE…

ove the idea of a barbie, but always a bit worried that the bangers and chicken wings may not be properly cooked through? Simple: keep it veggie. Genevieve Taylor’s new book Charred is looking like our go-to for the summer: the recipes are so much more than mere alternatives to meat, being simply some of the most alluring and exciting we’ve seen in any book this year. Gen and publisher Quadrille have kindly sent us a couple of recipes – and the least we could do was share nicely.

MINTED PEA AND PANEER FRITTERS Makes 12, serving about 4 as a snack

Paneer is a mild Indian cheese that is great for cooking, as it doesn’t melt on heating. Here it is combined with peas in a colourful, vibrant fritter that can happily be fried up in just a few minutes. Ingredients 350g (3 cups) frozen peas 225g (8oz) paneer, crumbled A small bunch of mint, leaves thinly sliced 3 large eggs 100g (¾ cup) self-raising ﬂour (self-rising ﬂour) salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp vegetable oil, for shallow frying To serve Mango chutney Long green chillies, thinly sliced A little coriander (cilantro), chopped

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

Method 1. Blanch the peas in boiling water for 3–4 minutes, until tender, then drain well. Tip two-thirds of them into a food processor and pulse until coarsely crushed. Alternatively, tip them on to a board and ﬁnely chop with a large knife. Scoop into a mixing bowl and add the rest of the peas, along with the paneer, the mint and a generous seasoning of salt and pepper. Crack in the eggs and add the ﬂour, beating well with a wooden spoon until combined.

2. When you are ready to cook, drizzle a little oil into a large frying pan or plancha and set on the barbecue over the ﬁre, or over a mediumhigh heat on the hob. Once hot, add a few tablespoons of batter, spacing them out well as they will puﬀ up a little. 3. Cook for around 3 minutes on each side, until golden and crisp. 4. Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper and keep hot while you cook the rest. 5. Serve hot, with a dollop of mango chutney and sprinkled with a little chilli and coriander.

recipe

Watermelon, halloumi, lime-pickled red onions Serves 6–8

Ingredients 1 small red onion, very thinly sliced Zest and juice of 2 limes 2 tsp caster sugar 1kg (2lb 3oz) watermelon, about ½ mediumsized one 4 tbsp olive oil 3 x 250g (9oz) blocks of halloumi, cut into 1cm (½ inch) thick slices A small bunch of coriander (cilantro), leaves roughly chopped A small bunch of mint, leaves roughly chopped 50g (½ cup) pistachios, toasted and roughly chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper OK, I’ll admit that no actual vegetables were grilled in the making of this salad but

I hope you agree it is worthy of inclusion. And, after all, grilled halloumi with almost anything is very much worth eating. You can grill watermelon (useful to know if your melon is a little underripe), but I do prefer its texture when eaten raw. Method 1. Put the onion into a small bowl with the lime zest and juice and the sugar, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Set aside for about 30 minutes while you prepare the rest of the salad. Cut the watermelon into 1cm (½ inch) thick wedges, trimming off the rind as you go. Spread over a large platter. 2. Fire up your barbecue ready for direct grilling, or heat up a griddle pan on the hob.

3. Drizzle a little of the oil over the halloumi (save the rest for the salad), then place directly over the heat on the grill bars. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until seared, then turn over with a fish slice and cook the other side. Once the halloumi is cooked, cut each slice in half on the diagonal and scatter over the watermelon. 4. Sprinkle over the coriander, mint and pickled onion slices, drizzling over the lime juice from the bowl too. Scatter the chopped pistachios over the salad Finish with a generous drizzle of olive oil and a grind of salt and pepper and serve immediately, while the halloumi is still warm. For more: Charred by Genevieve Taylor (Quadrille, £16.99) Photography © Jason Ingram

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet our challenge by challenging yourself... Popping up near you very soon is inclusive leisure centre GYMPANZEES – and they need your help . . .

here are 58,00 children and young people with a disability (0-25) in the Bristol area. Gympanzees plans to open the first UK’s first fully inclusive leisure centre in the city in 2021 so they can enjoy access to play, friendship and exercise. It’s going to be a challenge, so in the meantime, we are holding Pop-Up Gympanzees centres every Easter and summer – and we need your help! Summer 2019 is the highlight of our Year of the Inclusive challenge. We want to encourage people of all abilities to join in and help us fundraise to run the Pop-Ups in Bristol.

8 SEPTEMBER: MOVE IT MY WAY FUN DAY, CHALLENGES AND CYCLE SPORTIVE

There will be something for the whole family at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, BS37 7LB on 8 September; soft play, trampolines, games, stalls, face painting, food and music. All fully accessible and inclusive.

a bicycle or adapted bike. Just £20 per challenge includes t-shirt and medal and a sponsorship pack with fundraising ideas. Love to run? If you’d like to run the Bristol Half Marathon on 15 September and support us simply register a place then let us know. We will send you our sponsorship package. Details and registration for all events www.gympanzees.org/events. The Fun Day is the starting point for our inclusive challenge events: Cycle Sportive – For keen cyclists there is the chance to choose from 68km (£30) or 100km (£35) route with the start and end at Yate, through beautiful Cotswold countryside. Book your place today to start training and find sponsors to support you. Sports Challenges – For any age and ability. From 10m using a walking aid up to 10km using

Start your fundraising now at Just Giving – search Gympanzees. ■

Email: info@gympanzees.org *Gympanzees is a collective fund under the auspices of Prism the Gift Fund registered charity no.1099682 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 67

one in a mullion

We were staying in a cottage called ‘Morwenna’ – and if that doesn’t give you a clue that we were knee-deep in Poldark country, I don’t know what would… By Mal Rogers

great escapes

The Harbour View Apartments have views across to Mullion Cove; yes, of course you can come in – dog visitors are even more fussed over than their owners; many local beaches were used for Poldark locations

idan Turner pillowcases outsell all other souvenirs throughout the region.” That was what the BBC press release said. It continued: “Poldark’s scenic shots of Cornwall have helped propel the county into the international limelight, with tourists travelling from all over the world to see it in the flesh.” We’d quibble with the word ‘flesh’ in this context – unless, of course, they’re referring to Ross’s predilection for topless scything. Locations that fans are keen to visit include the quaint harbour at Charlestown, the fishing village of Penberth, and Bodmin Moor. The tin mines are also a big draw, including Levant and Botallack, as are the beaches, stretching from Holywell Bay to Kynance Cove. The latter is easily reached from Mullion Cove Hotel and its cottages, many of which bear Poldarkian names. (True story: last time we visited, we missed Aidan Turner by a week; he’d been staying, as you’d hope, in Demelza.) Other familiar locations close by include Gunwalloe Cove, scene of many a smugglery episode; and Church Cove’s Instagram-ready St Winwalloe Church, where Dwight wed Caroline. Note to aspiring authors who fancy writing the next bestselling saga – you need only wander around the graveyard for a ready-made cast of Cornish characters; a Samuel Oats here, a Grace Hendy Lugg there. Of course, Cornwall had celebrity visitors long before Aidan and co. D H Lawrence described the Duchy as having “that flicker of Celtic consciousness before it was swamped under Norman and Teutonic waves”. Well, not entirely swamped, DH, because Cornwall has a unique feel of being English, yet Celtic and rugged. It’s famously independent, as evinced by the number of Cornish flags you’ll see – mind, if our flag was a cool piratical black cross, we’d fly it all the time, too. Postcard-grade villages and narrow-laned fishing harbours abound, with cosy pubs and teahouses in which to linger and ponder the obvious merits of slathering the jam on scones before the cream, as opposed to the frankly insane cream-before-jam method. Everything, but everything, is more dramatic in Cornwall. It’s like Devon on steroids. Even getting to the sandy beach adjacent to Mullion Cove is a Grade-I Famous Five-style adventure, the entrance being via a stygian cave which threads some fifty feet through the dark, damp bedrock before opening out onto the sand. You can’t help speculating on the value of the contraband transported through here over the centuries, or admiring the agility of the locals, who skip through this pitch-black slippery hole as if it was a tarmac road in full daylight. Amazingly, once you get to the other side, there are families kitted out with windbreaks, collapsible chairs and picnics – you clearly just need a bit of practice, or possibly to be born with a surname prefixed ‘Tre-’.

To explore the tail end of Cornwall known as the Lizard – not as far west as Land’s End, but the Duchy’s most southerly tip – there are few more welcoming places to stay than Mullion Cove Hotel. It sits in glorious isolation above the old fishing harbour, a clifftop eyrie with views along the snarling coastline and down to the harbour; there’d be an uninterrupted view to the Statue of Liberty, if only the world was flat. The hotel is currently in the process of being strenuously boutiqued – the building of a huge spa is underway – but despite being updated the place maintains an air of relaxed, friendly gentility. It’s branched out in recent years into cool, contemporary self-catering apartments, some right down in the harbour, and others, such as the newly opened, Harbour View Apartments where we stayed, perched even higher than the hotel. Despite the tasteful pale décor and soft carpets, they don’t just let you bring the dogs, but pamper them with little bags of biscuits, and a handy guide to the beaches that permit them in high season. The four apartments are named for female Cornish icons: Morwenna, Verity, Rowena and Daphne (we’re guessing that the Minack’s Rowena Cade and author Daphne du Maurier are referenced by the latter two – unless, of course, they’re distant cousins of Caroline Penvenen that we haven’t met yet). Each has a private balcony or terrace, ideal for sundowners or storm-watching; some even have hot tubs. If you’re unlucky enough to be in Cornwall when the sun is splitting the skies, you’ll have no excuse but to head along the South West Coast Path, which passes, handily enough, right in front of the Mullion Cove Hotel. The path is enclosed by banks of hawthorn, sloe, blackberry and gorse bushes. On one side the ocean thunders a hundred feet below; on the other a wild heathland dotted with wild flowers, prehistoric ruins, and the old workings of tin mines stretches towards the moors. Out to sea, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, porpoises, whales and sharks; if none obligingly pop up, console yourself by admiring some surprisingly subtropical plants, which flourish here due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. Having said that, I dipped my toes into the water down at Mullion Harbour only to realise that terms like ‘warming effect’ are really only relative. But any walk on the Lizard – clifftop, lonely beach, or rough moorland – will provide you with everything you might want. It’s really not difficult to see why the Lizard has inspired painters, writers, poets, sculptors — and, of course, TV producers.

Travel details The Apartments

The Harbour View apartments are the latest selfcatering apartments for the Mullion Cove Hotel, and sleep between 4-6 people. Prices start at £799 for a week. Visit www.mullion-cove.co.uk or call 01326 240328

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Skin Saturday at Simon Lee Clinic

Receive our Endocare Growth Factor Facial only ÂŁ89 instead of ÂŁ140! Leaves skin looking luminous and restores radiance. *on Saturdays only, pre-booking required*

www.simonleeclinic.co.uk Simon Lee, Aesthetic Medical Clinic 3 Whiteladies Gate, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2PH Telephone 01173 292027

Would you like to work in Media Sales? We are always looking to hear from talented individuals who would like to work for MediaClash, presenting advertising opportunities and marketing solutions across our portfolio of fantastic magazines and events. We are a growing business and anticipate there being various opportunities over the next few months. If you would like to join our continuing success story please email your CV to steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk or give us a call anytime on 01225 475827 for a chat about the company, our magazines and available positions.

www.mediaclash.co.uk

advertising feature

Meet the IT specialist Our local experts are ready to improve your digital workplace

Gildas Jones

Graham Simmonds

Dial A Geek 0117 369 4335; www.dialageek.co.uk

goto iT 0117 969 8767; www.goto-it.co.uk

What sets you apart from other IT companies? We believe you shouldn’t have to ‘get’ technology to get the benefits of technology.

What sets you apart from other IT companies? We are proud to be celebrating our 20th year in 2019. We believe IT is a partnership between us and our customers and they know how best to grow their company.

What misconceptions are there about IT aupport? That it’s a cost and not an investment in your business’s security and your staff’s productivity. If you could give one bit of advice what would it be? Take security seriously and don’t assume you are doing it correctly.

What services do you offer? We offer everything you need to develop and keep your IT network running. Our experienced team is always on hand to give you a personal, jargon-free, expert service. Moving IT to the Cloud is a big shift at the moment. We have helped many of our clients reap the benefits of this move. We carry out most of the work behind the scenes, and often our clients tell us they are surprised that the process was so straightforward.

Gildas Jones

What will be the biggest future IT challenges for businesses? Cyber security is still the number one issue for the foreseeable future; Cyber Essentials is a good start to ensuring your business is adhering to the best practice. What services do you offer? We are a managed service provider; we supply everything from Gigabit fibre broadband to Sharepoint consulting. What are the most rewarding aspects of the job? Seeing the difference a good IT setup can make to staff morale.

Graham Simmonds

Tom Cannon

Managing Director, Moore Stephens IT Solutions

Ben Payne

Bristol PC Doctor 0117 422 4117; www.bristolpcdoctor.com

0117 923 9352; tom.cannon@moorestephensit.co.uk www.msbit.co.uk What are the top three tips to help prevent a cyber-attack? 1. Change your passwords as regularly as possible and do not use the same password for everything you do. 2. Keep your antivirus software up to date. 3. Make sure that your backup is working correctly on a daily basis.

What sets you apart from other IT companies? We are a small, appointments-only service offering home visits as well as providing services at our office. How long have you been established for? 15+ years Tom Cannon

What services do you offer? All types of PC/Mac repairs and upgrades, as well as tuition. No problem too big or small.

What are the most rewarding aspects of the job? Making clients feel happy and comfortable with their IT. We often spend a lot of time initially with a new client, improving their overall IT support experience. We like to make them feel more positive about their own setup by resolving any long-standing issues. How can you help improve the IT for a business? We are able to provide a free IT audit/review to any businesses looking for advice on their network. This provides the business with a report on key points such as cyber security, backup and antivirus. Please contact me to arrange a free audit.

If you could give one bit of advice what would it be? Be aware of links and attachments in emails. Keep staff up to date with the latest email scams. We have seen phishing and ransomware threats become more sophisticated recently and these can grind a business to a halt. We can help with several rules and tools to keep these risks to a minimum.

What areas of IT do you specialise in? PC and Mac optimisation - making your computer run faster, smoother and much more reliable. A popular job for us is a solid state drive (SSD) upgrade, which basically turns your computer into a new one. How can businesses save money on their IT? Regular maintenance rather than waiting till something goes spectacularly wrong! Ben Payne

What do you think is the next tech breakthrough? Artificial intelligence, which is exciting as well as a little scary.

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businessinsights B R IS T O L g e t s s e r i o u s

Team DMC Canotec v DAS Law

fine young canon boules Blue skies, silver balls and loads of lovely dosh raised for charity

ook at all that happy beaming and cheering! Look at all that sun!! Under cerulean Bristol skies on 20 and 21 June, Bristol’s business community pitched up on Queen Square for the second year of Canon Boules. The game – once the sole province of pastis-sipping retirees in tranquil Provençal squares – is being increasingly adopted in the UK. It’s the ideal summertime city event, for many reasons: it offers local businesses a chance to network, drink Pimm’s, make terrible puns, and raise a shedload of cash for local charities – all the while demonstrating their superior boules of steel. The 2019 event, sponsor-headlined by Canon, raised cash for One25 and The Grand Appeal, who jointly won the Bristol Life Charity Award this April. Both will soon be receiving generous donations; we don’t have the full figures yet, but fully anticipate that by the time our next issue rolls around, we’ll have

a photo of somebody holding up two of those giant cheques. Sponsors and players at this year’s event included Ambitious PR, BNP Paribas, Blackstar Solutions, Bristol Life, DMC Canotec, Regus, The Strawberry Thief and Blue Gecko. The Strawberry Thief also ran a storming BBQ , while Jimmy’s iced coffees ensured that caffeine levels never dipped. All the teams on Thursday and Friday conducted themselves in fine, friendly, sporting spirit: congratulations to Saragossa and DAS Legal, tournament winners on Thursday and Friday respectively. A nod, too, to the generosity of those who took part in the raffle draw. Pétanque for the memories, everyone; this summer’s event was a blast, and 2020’s Canon Boules already has plans to be even bigger and better. www.canonboules.co.uk

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SNAPPED H E R E’S H OW I T A LL W E N T D OW N O N QU E E N SQUA R E O N 20 A N D 21 J U N E PICS BY @JONCRAIG_PHOTOS

Boules of steel were required

Strawberry Thief nourrit les masses

Team Blue Gecko

Jimmy’s Iced Coffee crew Wars have broken out over less

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Teams Regus and Canon

SOCIETY

Team Canon

Ref Chris Garratt

Proper sunshine and everything

Xxx

In the pretty shirts, it’s Team Revolución de Cuba

It’s not all about chucking lumps of metal around

The clues are on the T-shirts Team Sargossa

The Build Bristol team

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SOCIETY

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Accuracy is all

You can always tell when Jon’s getting bored with conventional shots

Friday winners DAS Law Black Star Solutions

Richard Vinall with Thursday winners Sarogossa Looking like you know what you’re doing is half the battle

Team Triangle

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

‘No fault’ divorce In April 2019, the government set out its proposals for reforming our 50-year-old divorce law which has been shown to exacerbate conflict. Josephine Tasker, of AMD SOLICITORS, explains...

he current legal basis is that in order to obtain a divorce, a petitioner has to prove that their marriage has irretrievably broken down by reference to one of five statutory factors.

These are: • Adultery (fault-based). • Unreasonable behaviour (fault-based) • Two years desertion (fault-based) • Two years separation with the other spouse’s consent (separation-based) • Five years separation, no consent required (separation-based).

OWENS V OWENS In 2016, a judge in the Central Family Court refused to grant Mrs Owens a decree nisi of divorce, even though the judge had ruled her marriage to her husband had broken down. Mr Owens defended the divorce (a rare occurrence in practice) and the judge found that Mrs Owens had failed to prove that her husband had behaved in such a way that she could not reasonably be expected to live with him. Mrs Owens appealed first to the Court of Appeal, who dismissed the appeal, and then to the Supreme Court. In 2018, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed that appeal and the outcome left Mrs Owens trapped in her marriage. This made headline news and reinvigorated the calls for ‘no-fault’ divorce to end the blame game.

Parallel changes will be made to the law governing the dissolution of a civil partnership which broadly mirrors the legal process for obtaining a divorce.

Should I wait for no-fault divorce to become law? You may be waiting some time – the legislation is expected to be introduced “as soon as parliamentary time allows”. For advice on divorce in this interim period contact our team of specialist family solicitors by email at info@amdsolicitors.com or by calling 0117 962 1205. ■

Call 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

‘No-fault’ divorce – proposed reforms to help reduce family conflict Following the reform, the five ‘facts’ would be removed – a couple or one party will only have to state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. It will also remove the ability for one person to contest a divorce and introduces a minimum time frame of six months from petition to divorce. Among others, advocates of ‘no-fault’ divorce include some senior members of the judiciary, the Family Mediation Taskforce, Resolution (the national organisation of family lawyers) and the Law Society.

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

BUSINESS INSIGHTS

BRISTOL LIFE BUSINESS CLUB

STEPHEN LANSDOWN Stephen has enjoyed two great careers in Bristol: as co-founder of white-collar behemoth Hargreaves Lansdown, and as boss of the more grass-stained Bristol Sport. But Bristol itself can frustrate him: “It’s a bit too comfortable, and can’t always be bothered to put the extra effort in…”

tephen Lansdown co-founded Bristolbased ﬁnancial services giant Hargreaves Lansdown – a company that manages nearly $120 billion in assets for over a million clients – but since he stepped down in 2012, he’s enjoyed a remarkable second career too: as owner of Bristol Sport, the people behind Bristol City FC, Bristol Bears Rugby, Ashton Gate Stadium and more, he’s been instrumental in not only the regeneration of vast swathes of South Bristol, but the creation of an all-round sporting powerhouse to perhaps one day rival Barcelona, his great inspiration. Big dreams, certainly, but Stephen’s a hard man to bet against. He’s also, by all accounts, the wealthiest individual we’ve ever had at Bristol Life Business Club. (Check out his listing on forbes. com if you don’t believe us.) “Though the remarkable thing isn’t so much that I got wealthy,” he says, “but that I’ve remained as wealthy as I am, considering that I’ve invested in sport.” It all started back in 1979, when Stephen met Peter Hargreaves at a failing ﬁrm on Cheltenham Road. “We were the last men standing,” he says, “but decided to carry on, just working for ourselves.” What began with just the two of them, borrowed desks and a part-time secretary in Peter’s Clifton Village front bedroom, soon started bringing the money in. “I had enough in the building society to last six months,”

he says, “so I’d told my wife that if it wasn’t working by then, I’d go back to being an accountant; fortunately for the accountancy profession, it worked.” The plan was simple: go to Bristol’s accountants and solicitors – already contacts – and oﬀer to look after their clients from an investment point of view, sharing the commission. “Soon, though, we didn’t want to share,” he laughs, “so put adverts in The Times and Telegraph, and started building up a great database of clients of our own.”

money right away, so we never had bad debts and always got paid. But, at the same time, we made sure we didn’t spend anything until we had it. Having two of us in the same boat gave a comfort factor, and someone to bounce ideas oﬀ. If he came up with an idea I’d try to shoot it down, and vice versa. But if it survived it was probably good – and we’d both back it to the hilt.” Back when they started there was no regulation to speak of – “you could sell cars one day and investments the next,”

“THE REMARKABLE THING ISN’T THAT I GOT WEALTHY, BUT THAT I’VE REMAINED AS WEALTHY AS I AM, CONSIDERING THAT I’VE INVESTED IN SPORT” Though the two have very diﬀerent characters – “Peter and I are like magnets that could have repelled each other, but actually stuck together” – neither could have done it on their own. “It helped that we share the same core beliefs,” Stephen says, “including that we should never take on debt, and we didn’t – I’m very proud of that. Of course, we were lucky with the way we started, taking the initial commission

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

Stephen says – but from the arrival of the Financial Services Act in 1986, things became more complicated. Technology changed everything too, of course, and the modern Hargreaves Lansdown is as much a dot com company as anything else. “I think Peter had a real sense we were achieving something,” Stephen says, “but I never did. I was always thinking we could do better, and still think that now.” Still, Hargreaves

Lansdown continues to be an incredible success story, and made many concerned extremely wealthy. Not least, of course, when it floated on the stock market in 2007. “Peter and I never set budgets. Our philosophy was that if you tell someone they’ve £5m to spend, they’ll spend £5m and no more, when perhaps the market is saying you’d be better off spending £7m – or £3m. I prefer the private environment every time – where you’re not accountable to anyone but your clients, your staff and yourself – but we went for an IPO because you have to make sure the people coming up behind you have financial incentives, too.” STEPHEN HAD BEEN running Hargreaves Lansdown for 30 years when he stepped down from the board to pursue other interests – sport chief amongst them. “I physically moved away from Bristol so I wouldn’t be tempted to keep going into the HL offices,” he says – but, at the same time, he became closer to the city through the creation of Bristol Sport. One difference between this and financial services, of course, is that it’s notoriously difficult to make money out of sport – unless you manage to sell the entire concern to someone even richer than you are, of course – and breaking even is about as much as you can hope for. “Yes, some of the very biggest football clubs are profitable,” Stephen

Ashton Gate: don’t call it an Arena

Stephen Lansdown’s Big Numbers 1981 – the year Hargreaves Lansdown was founded £50 million – the amount recently invested in Ashton Gate Stadium 27,000 – the new seated capacity at Ashton Gate 5,000 – the maximum potential capacity at the upcoming Aston Gate Sports and Convention Centre

says, “and we’ve had years when we’ve almost been profitable – especially when we’ve been able to sell a player for a lot of money – but the reality is that to do well in this country you have to get to the promised land of the Premiership. If Bristol City had been promoted to the Premiership this year, our turnover would immediately have gone up by £100m a year.” Though Stephen had actually grown up a Bristol Rovers fan, the Bristol City chairman at the time – Des Williams – was an early client of Hargreaves

Lansdown, and one day got Stephen tickets to take his six year old son. “He loved it, and we started going regularly. But though that initial ticket was free, it’s certainly cost me long term!” Indeed, running Bristol Sport he soon found he’d entered a world where it’s almost impossible not to let the heart rule the head. In 2007 Bristol City was promoted, and the business was floated, and the next year they got to the Premiership playoffs. They were one game away from going up – but didn’t, and ended up in a bit of a spiral, paying high wages and chasing players to ensure a promotion that never came. “There’s a gambler’s mentality to it,” Stephen says, “and it doesn’t help that all the so-called experts keep encouraging you to invest just that little bit more.” Stephen’s new plan was to invest in younger players, and develop the academy – a strategy not a million miles away, in fact, from early Hargreaves Lansdown, where people grew with the firm, and few established experts were hired. Later, when rugby came into the fold, the same principle applied. Losing a game remains gutwrenching – “you just have to keep

believing in what you’re doing and carry on” – but overall things have been on the up. “People like [City head coach] Lee Johnson will quite rightly push me to spend more money, but you have to be prepared to say no – and, if you get it wrong, be prepared to take the flak. “You just have to make sure the basics are right and stay consistent. You can’t run and hide, or rely on the guys around you – you need to seize opportunities and take responsibility yourself.” Bristol Sport hasn’t just been a rollercoaster ride emotionally, but a humbling experience – and a reminder of how hard other people have it in business. “Hargreaves Lansdown was always fast-growing and cashgenerative, and we never had any trouble with the banks,” he says, “but in football you’re often wondering where the wages are coming from. It’s been good for me to have to think – and work – a bit harder.” What’s next? A big part of the Bristol Sport project has been Ashton Gate itself, where they’ve invested £50m in the stadium to rebuild three stands and increase capacity from, says

Stephen, “about 18,000 with some poor viewing to 27,000 seated”, plus offer much better hospitality, a conference centre, exhibition centre and so on. The next phase will develop the land around it to create a 4,000-5,000 seat sports and convention centre – “I’m not allowed to call it an arena,” he laughs – which will host the Bristol Flyers basketball team and other indoor sports like netball – alongside a four-star hotel. “Dealing with the council has been like walking through treacle,” he says, “but we’re on our way. The idea is to create an amazing destination in South Bristol, an area badly in need of one.” The whole project was inspired by Camp Nou in Barcelona, where the museum holds football trophies, yes, but those for water polo and other sports, too. “I thought, wouldn’t something like that be good for Bristol? After all, we’ve been called a sporting backwater many times – but what if we pulled everything together, and promoted the city as well as the individual sports? Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia just as Bristol is the capital of the West Country, but I’ve always felt Bristol’s a city that’s successful in spite of itself. Yes, it’s a great place to live, but to me it’s an 80%er – and to get really, really successful you need to put in that extra 20% too. Bristol’s too comfortable for that, but it’s the extra 20% that kills you – and which gives you real success.”

For more: www.bristol-sport.co.uk

business insiGHTS

left: AD Tom Morris and former ED Emma

Stenning declare the new foyer open;

above: head of comms Amanda Adams

Arts WINNER and Platinum Award WINNER

Bristol life awards 2019 Bristol Old Vic

It’s been quite the year for Bristol Old Vic – they’ve just picked up FOUR Riba Awards, for heaven’s sake – but Bristol Life got in there first, presenting the theatre with the Arts and Platinum Awards Bristol Old Vic has been open for business for 253 years. Head of comms Amanda Adams hasn’t been there for quite that many; just for 19 of them. “I get a lot of stick about how long I've been here,” she says. “I came here for a three-month contract, fell in love with the place and stayed. This happens a lot in Bristol – people just can’t bring themselves to leave. “It’s humbling to know I’m one small part of a 253-year story – I like feeling part of something so epic." Why do you think Bristol Old Vic won the Arts and – the biggie! – the Platinum Award? 2018/19 has arguably been Bristol Old Vic’s biggest year to date. To transform a space that has been entertaining audiences for 253 years is an enormous challenge. “We’ve also spent the year doing some soul-searching about the job of a regional theatre, and how it should serve its community in the 21st century. Yes, we are here to entertain, but also to be a place where all people can come together, feel at home and hear stories that matter. “Finally we’re in a building that can help us do that, a place that

genuinely feels more welcoming, whether you’re a fan of theatre or not. The Bristol Life Awards was a wonderful acknowledgement that we’re going in the right direction.” What was your reaction when your name was called out? Winning the Arts Award was a huge honour, and a genuine surprise given all of our fantastic fellow finalists who have done so much to contribute to Bristol’s cultural ecology over the last year. But then the Platinum Award was announced and – still on a high from the Arts Award– it felt like the ultimate “Wait, what?!” moment, where people around us registered the win before any of us did! The generous reception we received, followed by an even more enthusiastic response to Tom [Morris]’s speech about the importance of arts education, was incredibly touching, and an absolute highlight of the evening.

currently displayed proudly in our Box Office, greeting everyone who comes in. How has the theatre changed since you first joined? One area I’m really proud of is the way in which our audiences have changed over time. The ‘traditional’ theatre plays are still a big part of what we do, but we also must provide space for new voices and stories to come to the fore. The aim is for anyone to be able to look at our programme and say, “that’s about my experiences,” or to watch a play and say “they look like me” – if we can open up theatre as a real option for the next generation, then it can only go from strength to strength.

“It was a really ballsyy idea to put the andes on the stage . . .”

Where is the Award displayed? Our two (!) lovely awards are

Tom’s Awards acceptance speech was a clarion call for access to creative education in the city . . . Bristol has one of the most creative economies in the country, while our education system is facing a huge collapse of funding for every

creative subject in our state schools. To support organisations that allow children and young people to discover their creativity is to support the UK’s entire economy. Our Engagement department has done incomparable work in engaging Bristol’s untapped communities through our education and participatory programmes, from our 350-strong Young Company to our school residencies. It is vital for us as a theatre to show what the world can look like when our young people are actively encouraged to be creative, to take risks and to harness their imagination. Can you pick a recent standout production? Touching The Void was the cornerstone play that marked our new era. I will never forget the look on our audience’s faces as they experienced both the stunning new foyer and this awe-inspiring production for the first time. Plus, it was a really ballsy idea to put the Andes on the stage . . . Tell about an unmissable production you have coming up It’s so exciting to have Bristol favourite Tristan Sturrock back, in Tom Morris’ brand-new production of Cyrano. This theatrical classic will charm the pants off audiences with its tale of unrequited love. If we’ve still never been to Bristol Old Vic, why we should do so at once? You’re welcome any time for a look around. Do what it says above the door – come on in; the Bristol Life Awards can’t be wrong! For more: www.bristololdvic.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 87

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advertising feature

Hi, NRG . . . Cook and Co Solicitors relaunched – in both the business and nautical sense of the word – as Neath Raisbeck Golding Law at a special event at Underfall Yard

n 19 June, Vicki Neath, Gareth Raisbeck and Peter Golding joined their colleagues and clients to celebrate the relaunch of Cook and Co Solicitors as Neath Raisbeck Golding Law. Organised by the firm’s new marketing and

client development manager, Natasha Poole, the event was held at the Underfall Yard on Harbourside, where the firm was joined by many clients and colleagues to mark the special occasion of the firm’s rebrand. Bristol charity All Aboard Watersports, who promote participation in water sports for the wider community, supported the event with sampling gig rowing on the docks. Vicki Neath, the co-founder of Cook and Co Solicitors and the firm’s managing partner, has begun the process of growing the professional team by recruiting three new trainees and pioneering the involvement of the firm in developing legal apprenticeships. Recent recruits also include Michael Ridgwell, a corporate litigator, Tracey Merrett, a highly experienced planning solicitor, and Jo Hitchins, a commercial property secretary. This enthusiastic expansion reflects Vicki, Gareth and Peter’s commitment to the long-term

development of the firm as a continuing centre for the provision of high-quality legal services. Neath Raisbeck Golding Law will also continue to provide the same wide, full service legal practice based from their offices in Clifton, focusing on company and commercial, dispute resolution, private client (wills, trusts and probate), property (commercial and residential) and family services. n

E: hello@nrglaw.co.uk T: +44 (0)117 317 9719 W: www.nrglaw.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 89

advertising feature

10 tips for a dream kitchen Don’t let your dream become a kitchen nightmare: mobius home shares some of the dos and don’ts you need to know

hey say that a kitchen is the heart of any home, and nothing adds the wow-factor more than a beautifully fitted new kitchen. Recent studies suggest that adding a new kitchen will increase your overall house value by an average of around 6%, making it also a wise investment. But let’s put this into perspective: it’s important that the type, quality and design of kitchen you install matches the price bracket of your home. For example, there seems little point investing £20,000 plus in a swanky new kitchen if your property is worth say £200,000 – you simply won’t get your money back. Equally, if your house is worth £750,000 or more and you scrimp on a low-quality, poorly installed kitchen you could risk bringing the value of your property down. So, when thinking about a significant investment such as a new kitchen, how can you be sure to get it right? Our ten tips will help you ensure that your dream kitchen doesn’t end up being the stuff of nightmares: 1. Assess your needs Look around your current kitchen. What works for you and what doesn’t? Are your cupboards filled with things you don’t need? You might like to consider a cull. Think carefully how you want to use this space.

2. Be inspired It can be helpful to create a scrapbook of things you like. Images from magazines, colour swatches, things you find online, fabrics and even items such as a quirky teapot will all help you to choose an overall theme, colour palette and style. 3. Set a budget Set yourself a realistic budget, ideally one that is commensurate with the value of the property you own, and the extent of the work involved. A little design creativity combined with the skills of a great fitter will go a long way to obtaining a high-end finish without the huge price tag. There are many elements that you can save on, but we’d always suggest going for the best worktops, lighting and finishing touches you can afford, as these often make all the difference to the end result. 4. Talk to a kitchen designer The advice of an experienced kitchen designer, as opposed to a salesperson, can often be invaluable. They’ll listen to your needs, take a look at your scrapbook and translate them into design ideas. Often these will include suggestions and innovations that you would not have even

considered, and similarly they can help you stay on track with your budget. 5. Don’t limit your choice Some kitchen suppliers, especially the smaller outfits, will work with a small selection of suppliers and may have a very limited choice. Be careful; they will be keen to sell you what they have rather than what will work best. This is relevant not only in terms of the kitchen units but other essentials such as worktops, tiles and accessories. The best kitchens usually comprise components from a range of different suppliers. 6. Financial stability When making a big purchase such as a kitchen, always check that your supplier is financially stable. The units, appliances and workmanship may carry a guarantee, but if your supplier is no longer trading your guarantee could be worthless and any future issues will be difficult and costly to rectify. You can check out the company and its associated companies to ensure its worthiness on a free check website, eg www.endole.co.uk. 7. Consider plumbing, heating and lighting Many kitchen designers won’t address these things as part of an initial design, and it is crucial to consider them early, as they may affect your approach and budget. Water, electrics, drainage and building alterations will need to be in place before the kitchen is fitted; particularly if you wish to move the position of taps and electrical appliances 8. Engage the right professionals The way your kitchen is installed will make all the difference to the end result. A great fitter can make even inexpensive kitchen units look amazing. If it’s a big project there will be builders, electricians, plumbers, joiners and even planning permission and building regulations to consider too. Many kitchen companies will not undertake electrics or plumbing and so you may risk having to coordinate these yourself. What’s more, if you find a kitchen company that does, you’ll often pay a premium. A well-respected building company with its own team of professional tradesmen is often the best place to look. 9. Check credentials It always pays to check that your kitchen supplier uses contractors that have the appropriate registrations, accreditation, qualifications, experience and insurance. This is especially crucial when the project involves any electrical or gas work.

10. Finishing touches The finishing touches, such as handles, tiles, lighting and bar stools will all add individuality, personality and character to your new kitchen. Interior magazines can provide a great hit of inspiration. Mobius provides a full kitchen design and installation service that spans from the initial design consultation right through to completion. Unlike most kitchen showrooms, we are not tied to rigid supplier alliances and will source the elements that are right for you including the creation of bespoke kitchens. Our in-house team of tradesmen are appropriately certified and will provide a quality of finish that is second to none. Why not contact us today for a consultation, and take the first step to making your dream kitchen a reality. www.mobiushome.co.uk. n

Mobius Home Tel: 0117 403 8560 Email: hello@mobiushome.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 91

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PROPERTY A PL ACE TO C ALL HOME

CABINET RESHUFFLE It’s a well-worn truism that the kitchen is the heart of the home. But then that’s the thing about truisms – they have a habit of being true . . . By Lisa Warren www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 95

kitchens

et’s kick off with a fun fact. According to a recent home renovation report, UK homeowners will spend an average of £42k renovating their homes – and most of this money is likely to be spent on the kitchen. It’s not something you want to rush, then. In fact, you simply can’t ask too many questions, gaze at too many Pinterest boards or consult too many experts – and because we like to be helpful, with this in mind, we asked local kitchen suppliers and builders to tell us about kitchens they’ve recently created, how they created them, and the most popular trends they’re currently seeing.

Schmidt installed this cool and collected kitchen for a customer in BS9

“We really believe in the freestanding concept, as a way to reduce the waste of renewing a kitchen from home to home” 96 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

kitchens Olive & Barr

Olive & Barr may be just a year old, but the company is already turning heads with kitchens such as the Povey (right), which they recently designed for an elegant Regency home in the Cotswolds. Clean lines, simplicity and painted natural materials are the order of the day, as was complementing existing details, as founder Al Bruce explains. “The larder was created to fit the width of the alcoves exactly,” says Al. “We designed it to be the same height as the original picture rail, and to make it fit seamlessly into the contours of the house; we matched the picture rail moulding and used it across the cabinets, forming the cornice. “The resulting kitchen perfectly fits the Regency room, with high-end appliances such as a Quooker Fusion boiling water tap, a brushed-steel fridge freezer by Fisher & Paykell, and sublime worktops, all in polished Carrera marble.” www.oliveandbarr.com

Murray & Ball

JAS Building Services Project director Andrew Sperring tells us about JAS’ recent Wild Olive kitchen (above). “We were approached by our client to create a lighter, more usable space and to include more kitchen storage,” says Andrew. “The old kitchen was within the existing lean-to and between the far end wall, to a chimney breast. We altered the layout by increasing the opening into the lean-to and removing the chimney breast entirely; to create more light we raised the lean-to roof to accommodate new bifolding sliding doors into the garden and two Velux roof lights. Now we are ready to design the kitchen… “The new footprint had so much potential, and we were a bit spoiled for choice between breakfast bars and

tall cabinetry. We met with the client and our kitchen supplier Howdens joinery to design the room to include the necessary appliances and as much storage space as possible. “Our client was keen to make the kitchen totally unique, so we sprayed Burford doors with Fired Earth’s Wild Olive paint, and finished with brass handles. We used oak to create custom-made shelving, which tied in nicely with the oak worktop and return end panel. We also fitted an undercounter sink with honed Zimbabwe granite. “The walls are finished in Farrow and Ball’s Skimming Stone, and the woodwork in Railings. The floor tiles are Cemento, which came from Mandarin Stone.” www.JASbuildingservices.co.uk

“Our freestanding kitchen concept was born from a desire for more sustainability,” says creative director Frank Murray, who designed the kitchen shown on page 95, for no less discerning a client than George Ferguson. “We designed a kitchen that had the flexibility to adapt to our clients’ changing needs, and injected some integrity back into kitchen design so it could, with the right care, last a lifetime. “You can add to or reduce your kitchen as your needs change; maybe repurpose a unit in another area of the home. You could even, conceivably, move your kitchen with you to a new home; all our freestanding units are designed to stand alone as individual pieces. “After an initial free design consultation, we were able to draw concepts for a simple, oak freestanding kitchen with grain-matched doors and hefty 5mm stainless-steel worktops. “The kitchen is packed with beautifully considered bespoke features, from an Italianinspired draining cupboard to a one-off central light fitting. “It’s testament to the way we work that we can pack so many features into a neat package; everything we make is completely handcrafted in our Bristol workshop and designed specifically for each customer. “We really believe in the freestanding concept for kitchens as a way to reduce the waste of renewing a kitchen from home to home, and building a greater level of connection between the user and the furniture.” www.murray-ball.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 97

Schmidt

“No two projects are the same,” says Schmidt Bristol’s Simon Douglas. “While this fabulous kitchen (left and page 96), which we installed for a customer in BS9, might at first glance look like a standard contemporary white gloss kitchen, what’s different is the way the unit colours and finishes have been combined to create something truly bespoke and on-trend. “The doors are a mix of gloss white combined with a soothing ‘green tea’ colour scheme on the island. The contrasting cupboard unit cabinets are all in a wood finish – and it’s this combination of colours and materials that give a super-stylish yet timeless look that many customers are looking for, and which has been a clear trend this year. “More and more clients are injecting colour into the kitchen, and with our unique ‘Colour Mix’ solution, the possibilities of a dream designer kitchen really are endless. Other current popular colours include Madras, Vertigo and Oxide Bronze.” www.home-design.schmidt

Sustainable Kitchens

“The bespoke Eco Extension Shaker kitchen in this Georgian farmhouse was designed to meticulous environmental standards, using only natural and ethically sourced materials,” says Sustainable’s design director Jeremy Price. “Our clients are always environmentally-minded. Replacing a flatpack-style kitchen every ten years isn’t an option. We provide longlasting, quality design using sustainable materials, with bespoke details that cater not just to the space, but the way it’s used. “The space epitomises Sustainable Kitchens’ vision of creating exquisite spaces with unique, personal touches – right down to the built-in bed for Ember, the dog. “Every detail was designed with sustainability and the client’s ‘buy for life’ ethos in mind. The island worktop is made from a reclaimed school science lab (which came complete with graffiti) while drawer fronts in British yew, walnut and sycamore provide a wonderful contrast. The sink is made from recycled steel and a minicomposting and recycling centre is artfully hidden from the eye.” www.sustainablekitchens.co.uk

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

“For environmentally minded homeowners, replacing a flatpack-style kitchen every ten years isn’t an option”

kitchens

Wren

“Oozing style and drama, this Milano Elements Contour kitchen by Wren brings together the latest trends in interior design,” says showroom and design director, Darren Watts. “This ultra-modern, true handleless kitchen with uninterrupted lines, showcases unique metallic effect units mixed with solid colour and a sleek gold profile – a minimalistic, ultramodern design which continues to be our customer’s favourite. “Whether you want a contemporary style kitchen or a more industrial kitchen style, going heavy on metallics will give you a stylish, warm finish with an urban edge. “This particular kitchen features a stand-out island in Midnight Metallic with beautiful yet practical Xena Quartz worktops with an overhang to create a great seating area.” Wren’s Elements collection also includes metallic ambers alongside coppers, bronze and concretes to offer a unique aesthetic which is proving exceptionally popular for a glamorous, industrial look. n For more inspirational designs and ideas, visit www.wrenkitchens.com

Trends we’ve been seeing… “We are seeing more clients wishing to customise their kitchens, to make the finish unique to them. There is such a range of worktop surfaces, you can really go to town to create something different. Custom paint spraying is a great way to make your kitchen bespoke without breaking the bank.” Andrew, JAS “We’re seeing not only a trend towards deep, rich colours for cabinets (think plum and grey) but for high-end appliances, too. Quooker boil taps are proving to be a must-have, and NEFF now has built-in WiFi, meaning people can access their oven controls remotely.” Al, Olive and Barr “Coupled with a trend for integrated storage – including

‘tucked away’ breakfast and coffee-making areas, pull-out corner units and larder storage with full extension pull-out drawers – home owners are wanting to ensure that space is maximised and the spaces become more and more multipurpose. “Customers’ requests for open- and broken-plan living also shows no sign of abating – and our design, with an integrated vertical bookcase next to the desk, is a perfect example.” Simon, Schmidt “Nothing says gastronomic grandeur more succinctly than a library ladder in your kitchen. The perfect remedy for high cupboards (and hoarders), a rail-hung ladder provides stylish access to otherwise inaccessible

storage locations. “A green palette gives customers endless possibilities. Dark and dramatic shades of green give opulence to contemporary spaces, while pops of mint or lime can provide playful accents. “No longer relegated to a practical necessity, splashbacks are now being used to create striking focal points in the kitchen. Taking cues from the feature wall movement, we’re seeing increased demand for dramatic, single-slab splashbacks as opposed to traditional tiling. “Plywood has more than good looks on its side when it comes to kitchen design. The exposed layers of the birch plywood we use will always be a crowdpleaser, and the sustainability and durability of ply makes it great for

people and the planet. Just make sure you choose FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified plywood to ensure that it doesn’t come from endangered tropical rainforests or illegal sources, and that it’s been ethically manufactured. “ Jeremy, Sustainable Kitchens “One trend on the rise is smart technology and a connected home experience, making life that little bit easier. You can connect your appliances to smart technology such as Alexa or Google Home for a hands-free option; through voice commands you can control almost anything in your kitchen from your appliances, to your lights to playing your favourite kitchen party playlist.” Darren, Wren

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by the gasworks wall Fancy joining the Brandon Yard community? Need a little visual inspiration? A new show home has just been unveiled at New Retort House... By Lisa Warren 102 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

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House numbers Bedrooms 1-3 Open-plan kitchen/living areas Price The remaining twobedroom apartments are from £395,000, and three-bedroom apartments are available from £825,000 Where Lime Kiln Road – just across the water from the ss Great Britain What else? Only 12 apartments left!

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he development of Brandon Yard has been quite the eye-catching attentiongrabber; how could it not be, with all that handsome industrial heritage architecture, in a waterfront location directly opposite the ss GB? The Yard is situated on the former Canon’s Marsh gasworks. The first building to be converted was Engine House, which became a pair of two bedroom houses that are both now sold. The second, Oculus House – an absurdly good-looking building, considering its original purpose as a gasworks purifier – has been converted into 15 one- and twobedroom loft-style apartments; all but four are sold. Complementing this heritage pair is contemporary new build, New Retort House, which currently has just eight homes left for sale. Consisting of 41 one-, two- and three-bedroomed apartments, the modern building is the largest in the scheme, with glazing and brickwork designed to harmonise with its Victorian neighbours. Many of the apartments have balconies or terraces overlooking the central courtyard and gardens, which have been created

by award-winning landscape artist Matthew Wigan. If you need a little inspiration to imagine yourself setting up home here, head to the new two-bedroomed show apartment that’s just been unveiled. Inspired by the blend of new-build and historic architecture, the show home balances modern furniture with vintage pieces, sourced locally in Bristol, set off by evocative paintings by artist Ben Lowe. A spacious kitchen, combining Bosch appliances with pewter grey tiling and polished white cabinetry, is open-plan to the living space, which leads onto a private balcony. Timber engineered flooring and soft carpeting means that it’s really not a bother to kick off outdoor shoes at the door. Brandon Yard occupies the last available position on the northern section of Bristol’s Harbourside, and represents the conclusion of the massive regeneration programme that has been transforming Bristol’s historic docks over the last 40 years; homes here have been designed to appeal to a variety of buyers, from firsttimers to investors and downsizers. To become part of this choice community you’d better move sharpish, as only 12 homes remain.

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“I hope the talks will inspire a new generation of artists – if they can stay off their mobile phones long enough” impress a girl in my class, but the less said about that, the better. How has street art in Bristol changed since you began?

John D’oh John D’oh’s the name. Street art’s the game . . . ‘John Doe’ is often used as a placeholder for a person whose identity is unknown or withheld – the perfect pseudonym for a street artist, no? “My borrowing of this title is a reflection of the anonymity necessitated by the illegality of street art, and the facelessness of the crowded urban environment,” says John. “’D’oh!’ is also a catchphrase used by Homer Simpson, especially when he realises that he’s done an idiotic act. One should always appreciate a good pun…” Something tells us that we’re not in for a ‘who is your celebrity crush?’ kind of Q&A this time around, Toto . . . So John, what do you do?

What do I do? Get into trouble, mostly. I am a street artist and author from Bristol who has painted at many different locations and has been exhibited all around the world. Because my art is often political and controversial, it has often been featured in newspapers and jetwashed from walls. It has also caused a mild fuss upon being mistaken for

a Banksy, protected by Perspex and given a ridiculous value. Growing up in Filton, was your early talent spotted and nurtured?

I always enjoyed art and had a fantastic arts teacher. I remember covering propaganda posters and the use of stencils in art class, so it’s possible that my educational influences assert themselves whenever I use art to satirise a public figure or politician who wants to be portrayed in a positive way. Apparently, my final exam piece hung in the corridor at the school for a couple of years. I’m not sure if that was because it was genuinely good, or if they just couldn’t be bothered to change them all the time. I used to love drawing on the wooden desks, and had to spend quite a few hours in detention sanding them clean of images. So you could say my talent was spotted, but definitely not nurtured. My friends at school did encourage me, paying me money to draw on their canvas rucksacks with biro and Tippex. I even did my first stencil in 1983 in order to

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You see too many artists now trying to cash in. It’s a kind of rabid commercialism that would make Warhol blush. Companies contact you the minute they see something they like or think they can sell. Recent legal cases between street artists and advertisers who have used their images without permission demonstrate a newfound hypocrisy: urban artists who violated another person’s property rights in order to paint an image illegally on a building are suddenly concerned about their own rights of ownership. Even when you see artists painting something on a wall it’s sometimes now just done for marketing purposes, as within hours a new print is available to purchase. It acts as an advertisement; the very thing that a lot of street artists were meant to be subverting and criticising. Almost everyone wants to be the next Banksy, and purchasers want to invest in something that may increase in value over time. Has street art sold out, though?

That’s perhaps not entirely correct. Street art has often been seen as a left-wing art form that criticises commercialism and oppressive authority in order to facilitate social change, but its modern origins are in the punk movement and, as such, perhaps its instincts have always been radically individualistic and libertarian. How would you sum up your own style?

I am often prompted to

create artworks in response to newsworthy events and mainstream causes. My work also addresses other issues close to my heart, such as homelessness or environmental degradation. If I see something that I feel would benefit from the attention and dialogue my street art can inspire then I intuitively start thinking about the logistics of creating and installing a piece in the local surroundings. I am constantly scanning the newspapers and social media for stories. Often you have to react very quickly, because like the articles themselves, there’s no point in putting the art out two weeks after the story. Tell us why you decided to write your new book, and what we can expect from it

As street art is slowly becoming part of the curriculum, I have been receiving requests for interviews and written responses from students in order to help with their dissertations and online platforms. I wanted to produce something that was thought-provoking and would cover topics that I regularly encounter. I have also given a few talks now in schools, which hopefully will inspire the next generation of artists – if they can stay off of their mobile phones long enough. I think that younger generations could potentially become more involved in politics and social issues if they are subjected to political street art. Dissertation literally means ‘discussion’, and encouraging debate is what all good art should inspire us to do.

Street Art and Graffiti by John D’oh is available from Tangent Books at £14 www.tangentbooks.co.uk