12 minute read
STAN Surf ’s up
CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE
Water world
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there is now a massive great surfing lagoon called <he Wave. Admittedly, it’s not your actual seaside; but when you¼re lying on a surfboard, having Rust caught a wave, and the sun comes out over your shoulder, it comes close enough for me.
6ow, before you ask what all this has to do on a +afu ;ociety page, let me explain. I was there for a surf lesson. A try-out session for all ages; in this case, my In which Stan catches more than a perfect wave at Bristol’s newest attraction. Akaw! D on¼t know about you, but 1 do like to be beside the seaside. What I’m less keen on is having to drive for hours and hours to get there.
0owever, these days it¼s hardly any distance at all. In fact, it only took me about ten minutes, door to door. Aou can¼t miss it; slightly north of Bristol, just past Wild Place, in Easter Compton, where
granddaughter, my son-in-law, and me.
We went, we surfed (sort of, we¼re only beginners and we had a pretty amazing time. Refreshing, exciting and soul-boosting, all in one glorious hit.
After which, we naturally needed a spot of refuelling; the sort that only hot food and coffee can provide. 7ne of the Roys of wave-hopping is the hunger that builds up inside you afterwards, so 1 expected there to be a cafu on site; and there it was, right next to the water.
What I was not expecting was to find a gorgeous little eatery, halfway between surf shack and ski lodge. Not only did it look good, it also had a menu to match. Although they had a tempting range of cakes, pastries and sweet surprises on offer, someone whispered in my ear that they did a fine line in burgers and pies. Now, if there is one thing guaranteed to fill the heart with gladness, it is a hot meal on a cool day; especially if it comes with chips. So we went ahead and ordered enough burgers to blast away the biggest wave.
While we were waiting for them to arrive, we did the only decent thing to do on a day when the afternoon air is almost as fresh as the waves" we ordered a round of hot chocolate, which arrived, as advertised, with all the
marshmallowy toppings that you could wish for.
My companions, dad and daughter, were content to cuddle up, watch the world go surfing by while slurping their way through cups of chocolatey perfection, and just when we thought things couldn¼t get any better, the burgers arrived; including a spicy Rackfruit burger that was worth the entire Rourney all by itself.
So, whether you fancy a go on a surfboard, or Rust a pleasant snack
with a view to a wavy wet world, I can thoroughly recommend taking a trip to the wild side of Bristol. You know what the surf set say" surfing is life; the rest is burgers. 7r something like that. n
Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer www.stancullimore.com
LEARN SOMETHING NEW FOR 2020 ADVERTISING FEATURE
If you want this year to be all about expanding your world, skilling up, getting creative or simply having a bit of fun, take a peek and get inspired by these Bristol-based courses and workshops...
BRISTOL COOKERY SCHOOL VARIOUS LOCATIONS TEL: 0117 330 8439 WWW.BRISTOLCOOKERYSCHOOL.COM
Providing bespoke cookery solutions for all your culinary needs. Whether you are a complete beginner or a competent cook we pride ourselves on structuring a program that will best suit your ability whilst providing comprehensive support along the way. If you are looking for a one-off cookery class in the comfort of your own home, arranging an event or party, corporate team building days or something more specialised, BCS is able to tailor classes to individual requirements and expertise. Please get in touch for your free initial consultation.
THE MAKERSHED ST. PAULS LEARNING CENTRE, 94 GROSVENOR ROAD, ST PAULS, BRISTOL BS2 8XJ TEL: 07599 670365 WWW.THEMAKERSHEDBRISTOL.CO.UK
The Makershed is a creative space for doing, making and learning new skills. The workshop is situated within the St Pauls Learning Centre in the city centre and whatever your level of experience, you’re assured a friendly welcome within a supportive learning and making environment. Go take part in workshops and courses in traditional hand-tool woodworking, furniture making, tool maintenance, pallet wood workshops, upholstery or DIY. The Makershed welcomes complete beginners and more seasoned makers alike. There are courses on weekdays, evenings and weekends, with concession rates available for weekday classes if you are in receipt of income-related benefits. Course dates for 2020 are available now for booking through their website.
THE PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT UNDERFALL YARD, BALTIC WHARF, BRISTOL, BS1 6XG TEL: 01275 394558 WWW.THEPHOTOGRAPHYPROJECT.CO.UK
The Photography Project offers a range of exciting, inspiring and fun photography workshops and projects for all abilities. Based from our Bristol Harbourside studio we run both classroom and on-location tuition. Workshops include; introduction and improvers, low light & night, travel and landscape photography and our unique ‘Splashes & Flashes’ high speed flash photography workshop. Our small group workshops are led by an experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic instructor. Whatever your level, we’ll teach you the skills and techniques necessary to help you improve and develop your photography, enabling you to create inspiring images of your own.
BRISTOL SWING RIOT CLASSES IN CLIFTON & EASTON EMAIL: INFO@BRISTOLSWINGRIOT.COM WWW.BRISTOLSWINGRIOT.CO.UK
Are you looking for a fun and sociable way to get active this year? Try swing dancing! Learning to swing dance is much more than just being taught steps - here at Bristol Swing Riot we’re passionate about sharing the fun and joy that lies at the heart of the dance and makes it so addictive. You can either try our Clifton beginners class on Thursdays at 8.40pm, or a beginners weekend course in Easton (see website for details). The classes are suitable for anyone and you don’t need to bring a partner, just comfy shoes!
CLIFTON WINE SCHOOL CLASSES IN BATH AND BRISTOL TEL: 0117 3706576 WWW.CLIFTONWINESCHOOL.COM
Clifton Wine School is run by Ruth Wiles (DipWSET) who has over a decade of experience teaching about wine. With courses running in Bristol and Bath, Clifton Wine School is the perfect destination for anyone with an interest in the world’s best drink. Ruth runs everything from one off ‘just for fun’ events to internationally recognised professional qualifications. Wine education is endlessly fascinating; incorporating tasting skills, history, biology, geography, tradition, food and wine matching, and everything in between. It’s also great fun! We especially love the cheese and wine evenings.
SEW EASY BRISTOL – BRA MAKING WEEKEND WORKSHOP 138 CLOUDS HILL ROAD, BRISTOL, BS5 7LQ TEL: 07946 176982 WWW.SEWEASYBRISTOL.COM
Come along on Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th April 2020 and learn how to make a beautiful bra for yourself using delicate fabrics and laces, stretch powernet and elastics. On this course you will learn how to use a bra pattern and adapt your pattern (if necessary) to fit your shape. You will work with specialist bra-making components and learn to identify suitable fabrics and trims. I will provide you with one of my Bra Kits and a pair of underwires, which are all included in the course cost of £135. Suitable for those with some sewing experience, our small classes ensure you will always receive plenty of tuition.
DANCE FACTORY BRISTOL VARIOUS LOCATIONS TEL: 077111 97288 WWW.DANCEFACTORYBRISTOL.COM
If you or your family are a fan of Strictly Come Dancing then here is your chance to learn the moves! There is a wide choice of fun informal ballroom and Latin classes for adults, a strictly kids class for 7-12 yr olds, Strictly Corporate team building workshops for organisations/charities and fi rst dance private tuition for Wedding couples. Same-sex dancing couples can also attend the Strictly Pink classes. “My wife and I absolutely love our dance classes! We’ve learnt loads of different dances already and we laugh our way through the class each week!” Robert, Horfi eld
BRISTOL GUITAR MAKING SCHOOL UNIT 11, CIRCUIT 32, EASTON ROAD, BRISTOL, BS5 0DB TEL: 07515440071 WWW.GUITARMAKINGSCHOOL.CO.UK
At the Bristol Guitar Making school we guide students through hand-building their own steel string guitar in just 12 days, with direction from master luthier Alex Bishop. Focusing predominantly on the use of hand tools and simple jigs, students will choose from a variety of timbers and select one of three different guitar shapes to build. We cover every aspect of guitar making including bending the sides, hand planing the top, carving braces, cutting the sound hole, fretting, set ups and much more. Courses are running May 5th-21st and September 7th-24th. New weekly Wednesday evening class starts 26th February.
BRISTOL ADULT LEARNING STOKE LODGE, SHIREHAMPTON RD, BRISTOL BS9 1BN TEL: 0117 903 8844 WWW.BRISTOLCOURSES.COM
If you are looking for a wide range of courses all under one roof you will fi nd plenty of choice at Bristol Adult Learning. Part of Bristol City Council, Adult Learning offers courses from its base, Stoke Lodge. The grade 2 listed building has been home to Adult Learning for 50 years and has classrooms, art and craft rooms, an IT suite and teaching kitchen.
Driving into the centre with its free car park, surrounding gardens and greenery is like stepping into a calming space where you can take a deep breath, relax and enjoy some ‘you time’. The staff and tutors are welcoming, friendly and the classes seem to contain almost as much laughter as they do learning. There are hundreds of courses, from one day workshops to term long programmes. You can learn history, philosophy, fi lm studies, gardening and fi ve different languages. There are practical courses in computers, cookery, as well as health and wellbeing activities. They also offer a huge range of creative courses in painting, drawing, fl oristry, sewing and upholstery, stained glass and creative writing. do learning. There are hundreds of courses, from one day
If you are looking to get creative, learn something new and make some new friends along the way, Adult Learning certainly has lots to offer.
It’s time for wild balance in Bristol
Only a stone’s throw away from Clifton, THE BELMONT ESTATE is Bristol’s newest venue for all things wild and wonderful...
Belmont is opening her doors to the public for the fi rst time this spring with an array of away days and courses designed to get you and your team out of the offi ce for a range of experiences - all guaranteed to recharge and reinspire.
WANT TO VISIT? A sample of courses on offer at The Belmont Estate this spring:
Butchery & Beer with Darren Broom 10am – 4pm. Tuesday 21st April 2020
Foraging & Fire with Darren Broom 10am – 4pm. Thursday 23rd April 2020
Wellbeing X Belmont with Rebecca Hiscutt 10am – 4pm. Friday 1st May 2020
Art of the Land with Gil Martin & Jayne Morris 10am – 4pm. Tuesday 5th May 2020 Comprising of hundreds of acres of historic parkland and heritage woodland, the Estate is peppered with snowdrops at the start of the year and bluebells in the spring. Simply stunning scenery, rare breed animals and wildlife can be experienced from the very fi rst moment you enter the Estate. Once through the gates you are welcomed along an impressive tree-lined drive where owls, buzzards, kestrels and sparrow hawks can frequently be spotted swooping down from the trees. The drive continues up through the woods, revealing a magnifi cent manor house, next to which stand a selection of beautiful buildings, creatively converted into spaces for cookery classes, butchery, craft beer tasting, biodynamic wine sampling, art and music.
Activities at Belmont are however, far from confi ned to the indoors. Although the Carriage House boasts three beautifully decorated seminar rooms, the Belmont team are passionate about taking guests outside to reconnect with nature, improve their wellbeing and learn more about environmental sustainability.
Whether you fancy foraging, historienteering (a term they have newly coined for their guided walks to places where poet Hannah More wrote some of her famous verses) or a spot of forest bathing, your desires will be well catered for. Up in the forest, the Belmont team are developing incredible provisions for outdoor feasting, meetings, yoga, meditation and other bespoke gatherings.
Perhaps one of the most endearing features of the estate is the elliptical walled garden amphitheatre, which offers an incredible setting for shared experiences. It is south west facing, looking out down to the Bristol channel. The 18th century garden has several graceful grass tiers built into the slope of the hill, with a multitude of growing boxes situated at the bottom. It was originally created to grow fresh vegetables for the estate kitchen and continues to be used in this way today, in addition to providing an amazing space for live open-air musical and theatrical entertainment. The team will be announcing some magical events taking place in the garden very soon. ■
