Bristol Life - Issue 301 by MediaClash

ISSUE 301 / SUMMER 2021 / £3

ISLAND LIFE

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MUSEUM

WHERE THERE’S A WILL

UPFEST ’21’S FESTIVAL ARTIST + OTHER STREET ART LEGENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR

COTHAM CITY

THE FOLK WHO LIVE ON THE HILL + WHITELADIES ROAD

BATH LIFE

(NO, WE MEAN THE KIND WITH TAPS)

ISSUE 301 / SUMMER 2021 / STREET-ART SUMMER

MAN AT THE TOP

SAMIR AT ST GEORGE’S

VIRTUAL ZOOLOGY

WHAT WE REALLY HOPE WILL HAPPEN TO THE BRISTOL ZOO GARDENS SITE

CULTURECLUB THE ART SCENE’S BACK. LET’S MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME…

EDITOR’S LETTER

Spray with me, baby

Upfest’s back, and this year Will Barras is our main man

don’t think I’m imagining it. Bristol – even in normal times, no slouch when it comes to embracing the new – is changing more rapidly than usual. Maybe it’s because the pandemic gave creative minds so much downtime to percolate fresh notions and concepts, which only now can be put into practice; either way, we’re seeing big new ideas arrive, slam bam, one after another. You can’t take your eye off the ball for a second. The next thing you know, people will be talking about moving into their new flat in Soapworks, or taking the kids to OurWorld after a spot of lunch at BoxHall, and you won’t have a clue what they’re on about. Admittedly you can’t do any of those things right now, but they’re all in the pipeline. Bristol isn’t just reopening; it’s undergoing a renaissance. Nobody wants the city’s character to change, least of all us, but as long as the new developments honour and further the independence and creativity of this city, we’re cautiously down with it (we’re not 100% sure about compound proper nouns with capital letters in the middle, mind). In this issue, we try to embrace the boxfresh while championing existing favourites. The return of Upfest, for example, and a much-postponed new exhibition at M Shed. We miss the days when you could pop into museums and galleries on a whim, but on the plus side, booking a slot means never having to battle the crowds. We’ve also taken a fresh look at Whiteladies Road and Cotham Hill, which also offer ideal examples of how an area can benefit from new energy and smart thinking. We love Bristol just the way it is; but you can always improve on perfection.

DERI ROBINS Follow us on Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram @BristolLifeMag

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Issue 301 / Summer 2021

ACROSS THE CITY

12 STREET LIFE Hello ‘Ladies 48 OURWORLD BRISTOL We really need to make

this happen... 63 BARK LIFE Walk the dog, learn new stuﬀ

COVER Will Barras is festival artist for Upfest 2021; if you want to see this oﬃcial piece IRL, head to the Bristol Beer Factory

ARTS

25 ART PAGE Digging the scene 26 WHAT’S ON Well, it’s correct at time of going to press 30 UPFEST 2021 It’s back, and we’ve nabbed the festival

artist for our cover feature

36 EXHIBITION Street art in a museum. How things

change

42 PHOTOGRAPHY This island life

FOOD & DRINK

54 RESTAURANT We should be so Lucknam 57 CAFÉ SOCIETY A nice bit of Columbian. We mean

the coﬀee

SHOPPING

58 EDITOR’S CHOICE There’s a rainbow in the month 61 WINDOW SHOPPING Pote’s for women. And kids

and guys. We know dogs who are fans

BUSINESS

69 BRISTOLWORKS Big names for EntreConf, start-up

support from BPEC and a gold award for Bristol food

PROPERTY

81 PROPERTY NEWS The return of the Property

Awards

83 OPINION NEW column! Welcome, Jack Head of

Boardwalk

84 INTERIORS It pays to splash out on bathrooms 90 SHOWCASE They had us at ‘St Andrews’

REGULARS

6 SPOTLIGHT 11 BRIZZOGRAM 98 BRISTOL LIVES Ben Smith

Fresh! Exciting! The pedestrianisation of Cotham Hill, proposals for OurWorld Bristol, and BoxHall’s coming to Welshback

Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody, Stan Cullimore, Milly Vaughan, Hannah Holmes, Elle Redman Advertising manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk New business manager Craig Wallberg craig.wallberg@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Jake Horwood jake.horwood@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 and Exeter. 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

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

SPOTLIGHT

Food & drink

THINKING INSIDE THE BOX

We guess it was only matter of time before Bristol got itself one of those big food hall thingies – and lo! BoxHall is now due to open next June. It’s the ﬁrst non-London venture from the Boxpark group, who have sites in Shoreditch, Croydon and Wembley; it’s also the début launch of their new BoxHall concept. The 20,000 sq ft hall, with a terrace overlooking the harbour, will be created within the O&M Sheds on Welshback, and will champion independent Bristol restaurants, street food traders and suppliers, with regular pop-ups and guest chefs creating an all-day social dining experience. There will also be community events, live music and events from art shows to ﬁlm screenings and gaming. It sounds ace. For more boxpark.co.uk

Big up the high street

WHERE’S IT TO?

What’s our newly re-elected mayor up to down Bedminster? Apart from checking out the greens at Hugo’s and stopping for a chat at the Sunshine Café, we mean? The meet-and-greet was part of Bristol Council’s new Where’s it To campaign, which aims to get people back out into the high streets and shopping locally. To launch the campaign, Marvin spent the morning of 24 May visiting various businesses on East Street, hearing people’s memories of when it was a thriving community hub. Bristol has some of the most diverse, original and independent high streets in the world. The campaign spotlights 15 main drags from right across the city, through short documentary videos made with residents and traders from retail and hospitality. In the clips, the locals give you a mini-tour of their manors, sharing their enthusiasm for their favourite haunts while capturing an unique moment in time as the city reopens after lockdown. A new high street is being added to the website on a weekly basis; at time of going to press, these included Church Road, East Street, Old City and Fishponds Road. For more: wheresittobristol.com

Street art

SPRAY SISTERS, GO SISTERS

Finito! The scaﬀolding in front of Alex Lucas’ cloud-hopping poodle mural came down on 21 May, revealing the ﬁnal part of the Six Sisters row on North Street. Inspired by San Francisco’s famous Painted Ladies, this is the largest female-led street art project in UK. From left to right, the murals are by Bex Glover, Lucas Antics, Zoe Power, Gemma Compton, Sophie Long and Ejits – although confusingly, the ladies shown standing proudly in front of them are in quite the wrong order, being left to right Ejits, Bex, Sophie and Alex. That’s the rebel nature of street artists, we guess. For more upfest.co.uk

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SPOTLIGHT Bristory

THE COLSTON FALL

What do you do with a sunken slaver? Well, that’s partly up to you. A temporary exhibition of the Edward Colston statue has opened at M Shed, and a survey created by the We Are Bristol History Commission wants to know what we think should happen to it next. Should it go into storage, like Citizen Kane’s Rosebud? Be part of a permanent exhibition (in which case, stood upright, or toppled?) Melt it down? Any other ideas? The statue, which was pulled down during the Black Lives Matter protest of 7 June 2020 before being unceremoniously dumped in the Avon, still has its splattering of blood-red paint, and is shown alongside a selection of placards from the day and a timeline of the key events. An online version of the display and survey is also available. For more bristolmuseums.org.uk

Lady Nade; Javeon; Grove; Kayla Painter;

Bristol Beacon

PRESS PLAY

Last November, Bristol Beacon launched A New Song For Bristol – a citywide project calling out to the Bristol public to submit their experiences of life in the city over the course of the past year, through words and music. As part of the project, the Beacon commissioned six Bristol-based artists to write original tracks, directly inspired or co-created with groups of Bristolians of all ages, developed through a number of special online workshops. The various tracks are being gradually released – listen to them at: bristolbeacon.org/anewsongforbristol

@JONCR AIG_ PHOTOS

Wapping Wharf

GAOL FORCE

clockwise:

Love and the city

#LOVEBRISTOL

The endlessly inventive Bristol BID team, who brought you the chalked and painted Upfest hearts, as well as those delightful projected Christmas lyrics, have been putting their latest spirit-lifting plan into action. To welcome shoppers and diners back into Bristol’s main thoroughfares, love songs written in bright pink letters on banners made of silver discs have been strung across King Street, Cabot Circus, Queens Road, Broadmead, Park Street and Corn Street. D’you want to know what love is? It’s this. #LoveBristol. bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk

Speaking of the Wharf, the restoration of the early-19th-century Gaol Gate is now complete, forming a new public entrance that takes you from Cumberland Road through into the Gateway – that’s the new pedestrian street running between Hope Quay and Abel Yard in Wapping Wharf 2. The Gate is lit up at night – both attractive and reassuring – while patterns illustrating the footprint of the original gaol, which had a central building with radiating wings, can be seen in the ground as you walk through. The site will also be the home of a new piece of artwork by Juliet Haysom, commissioned by Ginkgo, to be installed at some point. For more wappingwharf.co.uk

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Afternoon Tea

Available Monday to Sundays from 1.30pm to 4.00pm Book now from just £34.00 per person enjoy a traditional afternoon tea served in Restaurant Hywel Jones For Reservations: Call us 01225 742 777

SPOTLIGHT

EVERY WHICH SPRAY

From stride-bys to cool angles and puddlegrams, not to mention a well-positioned dog, great photos of street art are little masterpieces in themselves

@bristolpictures

@dylanchannon

@paris_mmx

@averycooldog_photos

@gertie.photography

@nagendralondon

@andy.hartup

@rogerturner6

@ten_realms_photography

@bogdan.mehedenuc85

@thehistoryb0yphotography

@torontoterrier

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

ON THE DOWNS -LO

STREET LIFE

Join us on a trip down The Strip, and up into Cotham City… Words by Hannah Holmes Pics @JonCraig_Photos

obody really calls Whiteladies Road ‘The Strip’ any more. It shook off its reputation as Bristol’s tawdry leisure-mile many moons ago, along with its lurid fleshpots and neon-lit bars. Today, Bristol’s lagered-up thrill-seekers tend to descend on the less exciting bits of Harbourside instead. It’s all far more genteel (and yet hip) these days, as befits a road of commerce serving elegant Clifton on one side and almost-as-elegant Redland on the other. Whiteladies has got down with the Bristol zeitgeist. Displays of organic produce beckon the source-conscious into Ruby & White, Wild Oats and Better Food. Walk up the Strip (sorry, old habits!) at 9am, and the aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries mingles seductively with seriously brewed coffee at cafés that worship the bean. Boutiquey interiors shops rub shoulders with award-winning restaurants. And then there are the side streets. Chandos Road, an epicurean enclave with an almost unfair cluster of fabulous foodie destinations. The Alma Quarter, a little indie destination all in itself. And of course, there’s the mighty Cotham Hill… Shall we take an alphabetical tour of the manor?

A IS FOR AL FRESCO

One of the biggest boosts to the area this summer has been the transformation of Cotham Hill into a pedestrianised café quarter, with tables spilling out onto the road from Falafel King up to Pasta Loco. It’s been an essential lifeline for hospitality. “It gives us extra bums on seats, bringing in much-needed cash after a testing seven months,” says Muiño owner Alex Miller. If you ignore the plastic bollards, the Hill currently resembles the lively cobbled side streets of European cities; an impression enhanced by the olfactory delights of the largely Mediterranean cuisine. Muiño, Bravas, Pasta Loco… close your eyes and breathe in… Mmm… Barcelona…or maybe Napoli…?

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B IS FOR BARS

Crying Wolf on Cotham Hill prides itself on making all its components on site, from syrups and shrubs to cordials, while Her Majesty’s Secret Service adds its own creative spin to a British-themed menu. You’ll have to find it first, though; it’s hidden away above Clifton Down Station, with a secret entrance through an old telephone box. Equally tucked away is sophisticated Kinkajou, on Upper Belgrave Road on the old Hausbar site.

C IS FOR CAFÉS

Durdham Downs has always offered an invaluable green expanse for runners, joggers and kite-flyers, but in recent times it’s grown a considerable foodie offering, too. Just reopened for the second year are the tipis of Breaking Bread, offering some of the best victuals in Bristol thanks to a collab between The Pony & Trap, Bianchis, Team Love, The Love Inn and The Pipe & Slippers. There’s also the regular Down’s Café for the Nordic and dog-walking fraternity.

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

The Art Deco building of the former Whiteladies Picture House remained empty following its closure in 2001, until reopening as the Everyman Cinema in 2016. Deluxe seating and food and drinks delivered to order make this a superior visit to the flicks. The Grade-II building is one of just a handful of Bristol’s original 61 cinemas to survive the Blitz. E is also for Education; you’ll find the talented kids of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School on nearby Downside Road, Chandos Atelier offers wonderful making classes, while independent recruitment specialists Education People are based on Whiteladies Road.

“Whiteladies Road has got on down with the Bristol zeitgeist”

There’s no secret why so many of Stan Cullimore’s Café Society reviews take place on and just off the Strip. There’s Tradewind and Colombian Coffee Company for your speciality beans, Spoke & Stringer for juices and sundry aspirational lifestyle products, Waylands Yard for instagrammable stacks, Coffee & Beer for, well, what it says on the tin, and the newly opened Burra on Lower Redland Road for acai bowls and Aussie brunches. One Whiteladies favourites has recently relocated to a bigger site, with Boston Tea Party moving to the former River Cottage; there’s also a second branch of Gloucester Road’s Fed, which has recently moved in on Abbotsford Road, just off of Cotham Hill.

D IS FOR THE DOWNS

E IS FOR EVERYMAN

F IS FOR FOOD

It’s easy to buy healthily and sustainably here, when you have Better Food and Scoop Wholefoods on Whiteladies, Wild Oats on Lower Redland Road and Earthbound on Abbotsford Road. Better Food have recently partnered with Heart of BS13, a social enterprise that works to reduce health inequalities, and will soon be selling their locally grown cut flowers and locally produced ready meals; each meal sold also feeds a family of four who suffer from food poverty. Scoop Wholefoods’ mission has always been to have as little impact on the planet as possible. The zero-waste store is 100% free of any single-use plastics – most items are sold through bulk bins, from which you can scoop as much or as little as you like. Ruby & White is a beautiful butchers’ shop with meat that’s literally a cut above. Fun fact: the name comes from two rare cattle breeds: the Ruby Red Devon and the British White, There’s a double delight of delis, too, from Papadeli with its amazing baked goods, to Divino on Worrall Road with its quality cured meats, cheeses, antipasti, olives etc, all imported from Italy.

STREET LIFE G IS FOR GALLERY

Right at the southern end of the Strip on Queen’s Road is the Royal West of England Academy. It’s one of the longest-running galleries in the UK – it’s just held its 168th Open Exhibition, for heaven’s sake – but it never rests on its venerable laurels, and has just embarked on a major refurbishment which will bring it roaring into the 2020s.

H IS FOR HAIR

There’s no excuse not to be immaculately groomed here. On Cotham Hill alone there’s Hair at 58, recently celebrating 12 years in business; Jon Hurst Hairdressing has been a big part of the neighbourhood since 2003, while unisex Shotgun Barbers’ affordable offering attracts a cool young set; prices are by length of hair, not gender.

I IS FOR INTERIORS

Be inspired by exceptional design for every corner of the house at Neptune, pick out a handmade armchair at Arlo & Jacob, be dazzled by new light fixtures at Olympus Lighting and head to Richer Sounds for the home cinema you’ve always wanted. New to the area, Sofa and Stuff is the place to go for bespoke, made-to-measure sofas and beds, while Raft Furniture is known for its ethical manufacturing.

J IS FOR JOGGING

… or indeed. trail running, camping, climbing, hiking, skiing – basically, any kind of outdoor activity – head to Ellis Brigham, who’ll be able to kit out the entire family.

K IS FOR KITCHENS

It’s easy to design your dream kitchen here, whether it’s Kutchenhaus’ high-quality German kitchen technology, cutting-edge design at Schmidt, or beautiful hand-crafted units at Tom Howley.

L IS FOR LOCAL

It’s a word you’ll hear a lot, around these parts; people are proud to live and work here, and all attest to a strong community vibe. The indie

traders love to support each other, and feed off each other’s success. The Cotham Hill Street Party is an ideal way to take the pulse of this vibrant little thoroughfare; this year’s is scheduled for 12 September.

M IS FOR MARKET

Whiteladies Road Farmers Market was started in 2006, offering shoppers the opportunity to buy locally produced products while providing an outlet for local producers, and creating a regular community event focused on sustainability. They’re still doing it 15 years later, selling organic vegetables and fruit from Leigh Court Farm, bread and croissants from Farro Bakery and homemade hummus from Moist. The market is held every Saturday on the corner of Whiteladies Road and Apsley Road from 8.30am-1pm, but you’ll have to get there early to nab one of Farro’s almond croissants.

N IS FOR NEWS

You can keep up to date on all things Whiteladies and Redland at the exceedingly useful sustainableredland.org.uk.

O IS FOR OFFICES

The Whiteladies Business Centre offers flexible spaces, with10 separate offices with garden views for hot-desking and meeting spaces. Architects Smith Maloney moved to Whiteladies Road in early 2019. “From a work perspective, it has much to offer,” says director Ashley Smith. “There’s a concentration of established creative businesses, design agencies and tech companies here, many at the forefront of their industries. From an architectural point of view, the Georgian buildings make excellent studio and office space; high ceilings and large vertical windows provide light-filled rooms that are particularly well-suited to design- focused businesses.”

P IS FOR PUBS

Wickwar have moved into The Kings Arms, an impressive building dating back to the late 1700s, and the Jersey Lily, relaunched in 2014 after extensive refurbishment, and known for its garden BBQs

Mid 2021 the Pasta Loco family is taking the venue up a notch, by introducing our new head chef Rino and the menu that he and Ben Harvey have been working on. On top of that there are exciting plans to give the venue a big face lift! Stay tuned and keep an eye on our socials. 37A Cotham Hill Bristol BS6 6JY hello@pastaloco.co.uk | 0117 973 3000

www.pastaloco.co.uk

OPENING HOURS MONDAY - FRIDAY, 5-10 SATURDAY, 12-2.30, 5-10

0117 9077112 32 COTHAM HILL, BS6 6LA WWW.MUINOBRISTOL.COM @MUINOBRISTOL

STREET LIFE accompanied by live music. Check out The Penny, too, for real ale served in a former bank, and micro-brewery Brewhouse, which brews its own beers. Not a million miles away is the Kensington Arms, probably the city’s best gastropub, as you’d expect from any venture co-owned by hospitality heroes Josh Eggleton and Guy Newell.

Q IS FOR QUESTION

Q: Do the names Whiteladies Road and Blackboy Hill have shameful associations with the slave trade? A: It’s a fair question, but no. It’s generally accepted that both street names were derived from pubs. The Black Boy tavern stood on the hill until 1874, its name reflected in the sign of a Moor’ head (admittedly not the pinnacle of political politeness). The name may also have referred to the tarred criminals who were hung on the Downs, or even to the famously swarthy King Charles II. There’s also a White Ladies Inn shown on 18th-century maps, though some think the name derived from a nearby priory where the nuns wore white habits.

R IS FOR RESTAURANTS

All our favourites are back open again for indoor eating, including Bosco Pizzeria after its recent refurbishment. Pizza Workshop continues to feed crowds inside and outside on their terrace, as does Soukitchen on Apsley Road. Speaking of pizza, the big news at time of going to press was that Hyde & Co were just about to launch a new restaurant, bringing back the much-loved Flour & Ash pizzeria with a fresh new look and feel, on a new site on the corner of Whiteladies Road and Alma Road. Spiny Lobster are back, offering the catch of the day; Urban Kohinoor serves some of our favourite Indian food in the city; longstanding Aqua is a failsafe choice for great food and service, while Cotham Hill is simply one of the city’s best dining destinations, from tapas (see T) to world-beating Italian cuisine (see below). Wilsons on Chandos Road is another Bristol great; “gorgeously uncomplicated,” is how Jay Rayner described Jan Ostle’s cooking. In March, Jan opened a shop within the old Redland Bakery a few doors down, and had queues round the block for his instantly famous bacon sandwiches. Michelin-starred Wilks are on Chandos Road, too, as is modern New Zealand-inspired Otira.

PASTA LOCO

When Italian restaurant Pasta Loco opened on Cotham Hill in 2016 it became an overnight, universally fêted success. Such is its reputation that if you want to book a table now, you’d better be organised; like, eight to twelve weeks-worth of organised. Dom Borel, who co-runs the Bianchis group that includes Loco, feels that the pedestrianisation of the Hill is “moving in the right direction, though it could look a little prettier”. Like many of the bars and restaurants, Loco built a covered terrace, which proved a godsend at a time when indoor spaces were closed. A limited menu will be running until the end of June, when the guys plan to relaunch with what Dom calls a “full, new and exciting Pasta Loco experience. We have a new chef, Rino di Donato from Napoli; he’s given Ben [Harvey, executive chef] some amazing new menu concepts. Ben has a really great plan for Loco; a full facelift, adding more class and taking it to the next level. We’re building a bigger bar, bringing the kitchen forward, keeping the terrace open to the restaurant.” “I moved to the UK because I was into music, and in love with Massive Attack,” says Rino.”Then restaurant life become more important than music production...” Rino’s signature dish is 36-hour slow-cooked pork belly, seared scallops, caramel and pancetta sauce with spring peas salad. Be still our beating hearts. Keep an eye on @pastaloco on social, and pastaloco.co.uk

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STREET LIFE S IS FOR SHOPPING

There’s no excuse for naff generic gifting or greetings-carding, when you have the likes of Paper Gangsta and Soukous, or Bristol Artisan, with its beautifully crafted homeware and accessories. There’s Neal’s Yard for organic skincare, and Amphora Aromatics for pure essential oils and aromatherapy, and Heartfelt Vintage for exquisite one-off pieces. Sam Bell of Hair at 58 recommends the preloved clothing at Ragtrade, while in our experience the Brandon Trust charity shop is second only to Clifton’s St Peter’s Hospice for top-high-street-label finds. There’s no shortage of old-school essential shops too, from Cotham Hill Fruit & Veg to Cotham Hardware – given the seal of approval by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall no less. “If there was a dustpan-and-brush equivalent to Ferraris, you’d find it here,” said Jan Ostle of Wilsons.

T IS FOR TAPAS

The Hill used to be tapas central until Bellita closed; even now, it’s still one of the best destinations for small plates in the city, from Muiño’s Mediterranean and Moorish inspired dishes to Bravas with its authentic Spanish-inspired menu. If you head up to Chandos Road, you’ll also find the Chandos Social, the informal little sister of Otira, both run by the charming Stephen Gilchrist and Kathryn Curtis.

U IS FOR UNDERGRADUATES

Cotham Hill was once an important market quarter. “Where I am now used to be a jewellers from Hatton Garden,” said Elisa at Soukous. “They told us wonderul stories about Cotham Hill being full of stalls once a week – it was the place to be!” W IS FOR WINE

Corks, of course. “If you’re looking for a wicked bottle of wine, they’ll have what you need; it’s a serious collection,” says Dom of Pasta Loco.

X IS FOR (PEDRO) XIMÉNEZ

If you’ve ever perused the Bravas dessert menu you’ll have come across this intensely sweet sherry. Bravas recommend pairing with their salted chocolate truffles. So do we.

Y IS FOR YORK STREET

Pretty much a permanent feature on Whiteladies Road. Generally spotted in little flocks migrating towards the Downs, carrying clinking Sainsburys’ bags.

This short but very steep road near the top of Whiteladies is home to the Port of Call pub, which dates back to the 1700s. Speaking of ports, we always think that when viewed from Whiteladies, the road looks as if the sea is just out of sight over the hill. Whimsical, much . . .

V IS FOR VOIS

Z IS FOR ZOO

Given the incline of the road it’s not really surprising that Whiteladies has become the unofficial HQ for scooters. Back in April, more than 100 were spotted on the corner of Elm Lane near Whiteladies alone.

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OK, it’s a bit of a push to include the Zoo here, but does anyone have any better ideas for Z? If you want to read about the exciting plans for this site once the Zoo moves out in 2022, turn to page 48 instantly . . . n

BATH & BRISTOL

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“From start to finish the experience has been very positive, everything that was promised from the fantastic graphics package and knowledge of showroom designer, to the completed kitchen has been delivered. The very professional and reliable fitting team made the whole experience trouble free and the quality of the kitchen is outstanding, but the fitting was always our priority and we are thrilled with the final result delivered and fitted in lockdown. Well done Kutchenhaus Bath” Amanda

Find us 5 Saracen Street, Bath BA1 5BR

Opening times Monday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm Sunday by appointment

Contact Email: Showroom@bath.kutchenhaus.co.uk Tel: 01225 634 025

Inside Clifton Down Shopping Centre, Whiteladies Road, Clifton BS8 2NN

Monday - Saturday: 9.30am - 5.30pm Sunday by appointment

Email: Showroom@bristol.kutchenhaus.co.uk Tel: 0117 213 0497

S T O R E S N AT I O N W I D E

0117 373 0044

J o n h u rs t H

www.jonhursthairdressing.co.uk

High quality, contemporary hairdressing for men and women since 2003.

18 cotham hill bs6 6lf

0117 373 0044

www.jonhursthairdressing.co.uk

VISIT TRADEWIND ESPRESSO FOR SPECIALITY COFFEE, A SEASONAL MENU AND LOCAL SPIRIT!

At Tradewind we pride ourselves on serving the perfect coffee every time, along with a fresh and seasonally changing menu using local ingredients.

FIND US: 118 WHITELADIES RD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL, BS8 2RP WWW.TRADEWINDESPRESSO.COM CALL US: 0117 974 3477 x @TRADEWINDESPRESSO

Bringing you the very best of Colombia! 121 Whiteladies Rd, Bristol, BS8 2PL 01174522072 Info@thecolombiancompany.com www.thecolombiancompany.com

Serviced and virtual oﬃce options all under one roof

Period building – in the heart of the prestigious Clifton – fully furnished or unfurnished oﬃces available with ﬂexible terms. For more information contact Mark Kennedy Telephone: 0117 325 0031 Email: info@whiteladiesbusinesscentre.co.uk

Online: www.whiteladiesbusinesscentre.co.uk

Whiteladies Business Centre comprises of 11 individual offices with external views, executive luxury furniture and all with state of the art IT & communications facilities including VOIP and exclusive high speed fibre broadband. Parking is available on site and the centre is close to major bus, rail and road networks, shops, bars, restaurants and the heart of Clifton. Whiteladies Business Centre offers a prestigious office solution for single person companies through to larger business, we also offer meeting facilities, virtual offices providing everything you need in one convenient location.

Clifton is the most prestigious part of Bristol and the building is set on Whiteladies Road, with ﬁrst class neighbours like the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and BBC Headquarters.

12 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PD

ELIA Cafe Bar

A taste of the Mediterranean on your doorstep

Our authentic, tasty Greek Meze dishes are perfect for sharing in the evenings whilst sipping a refreshing beverage. Elia Cafe Bar. 50 Cotham Hill, Cotham, Bristol, BS6 6JX bx 0117 973 6850 | www.eliacafebar.co.uk

THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F B R I S T O L’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

Lexi shields her eyes, by Chris Hoare

THE RAKE’S PROGRESS

Every other person you speak to seems to own an allotment, and if they don’t, they’re on a waiting list for one. Owning a fertile urban plot has become the holy grail for the economically and environmentally conscious, as an increasing number of Bristolians yearn to plant and harvest their own choice of produce, using their own farming methods. Since April 2020, Bristol photographer Chris Hoare has been methodically documenting the new breed of allotmenteer, in plots both official and unofficial across the city. Although Chris began the project before Covid, its timing coincided with an increased demand for green growing spaces, allowing him to capture the formation and energy of a growing movement. The photos, which have been commissioned by the Bristol Photo Festival, have been published in a new book called Growing Spaces, timed to coincide with an exhibition of the same name that’s just opened at Royal Fort Gardens. Growing Spaces costs RRP £28; see the pics at Royal Fort Gardens between 18 June-18 August For more: chrishoare.org; bristolphotofestival.org www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 25

Dates are quite likely to change – please check websites near the time of your visit

WHAT’S ON 18 June - 18 July 2021

ART

Until 29 August

CHLOE DEWE MATHEWS: THAMES LOG From the source of the river Thames to its mouth, Chloe has photographed people enacting a range of rituals and routines at the water’s edge; at Martin Parr Foundation, martinparrfoundation.org UPFEST Between now and August, over 75 days, 75 walls will be painted by artists, culminating in the festival weekend on 28- 29 August at Greville Smyth Park. See page 30 for all the deets. upfest.co.uk

Until 5 September

VERONICA RYAN: ALONG A SPECTRUM The largest solo exhibition to date by Veronica. spikeisland.org.uk JESSIE EDWARDS THOMAS: GREY AREAS A photographic dialogue with five individuals with complex needs, who have past or present experience of being homeless in Bristol. At arnolfini, as part of Bristol Photo Festival. arnolfini.org.uk

Until 31 October

SHOOTING STARS Rare candid snaps of the world’s most iconic stars, taken during the 1970s by Carinthia West. And yes, if you think we squeezed in an out-oftown show at the American Museum just so we could use one of the cool pics, you’d be goddamn right. americanmuseum.org

Until 3 January

CHRIS HOARE: GROWING SPACES Chris chronicles Bristol’s allotment community, both official and unofficial; see page 25. bristolphotofestival.org

26 June-31 October

VANGUARD Mega street art exhibition at M Shed; page 36. bristolmuseums.org.uk

ISLAND LIFE At Bristol Museum; see page 42. Also showing: James Barnor’s Ghanaian Modernist, and Lips Touched with Blood by Sarah Waiswa; bristolphotofestival.org

3-26 July

IN PROGRESS Solo exhibitions by five innovative photographers artists working today; Laia Abril, Hoda Afshar, Widline Cadet, Adama Jalloh and Alba Zari. Part of Bristol Photo Fest. At Royal Photographic Society, rps.org

SHOWS

From 18 June

JEM SOUTHAM: THE FLOATING HARBOUR A fascinating collection of blackand-white images captured the semi-derelict Harbourside in the late 1970s. At Underfall Yard; bristolphotofestival.org

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

FRANK BOWLING A major exhibition with one of Britain’s greatest living abstract painters. At Arnolfini, arnolfini.org.uk

Until 19 June

SEX EDUCATION One parent refuses to talk about sex. The other buys their child gay porn DVDs. Harry Clayton-Wright explores how sex shapes our lives, at TFT: tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Until 20 June

ABSOLUTE SCENES The world’s about to end, so naturally Bristol Old Vic Theatre School are throwing a party at the Marble Factory. bristololdvic.org.uk

Until 26 June

OUTLIER Is it a gig, or is it theatre? It’s gigtheatre...Poet Malaika Kegode, band Jakabol and a team of independent artists transform the BOV auditorium into a house party, bringing the audience into the heart of the action. bristololdvic.org.uk

20 June

DARE TO DRAG An all day extravaganza with some of the UK’s hottest drag performers, DJs, live music acts and more fabulousness than you could even imagine; at Dare to Club, daretoclub.co.uk

24 June

PIERRE NOVELLI A night of socially-distanced comedy from the Beacon foyer; Pierre is joined by Bella Hull and MC Travis Jay; bristolbeacon.org

24-26 June

DESTINY Florence Espeut-Nickless’ semiautobiographical monologue follows the story of a teenage girl growing up on a rural Wiltshire council estate; at the TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com

WHAT’S ON

opposite page: “Yes, but it’s not nearly as nice as Weston, Ron” – Shooting Stars at the American Museum this page, clockwise from left: Dale VNM Collins’ Wall Burner at Vanguard; Tom Wood at Island Life; Bristol Pride’s hopefully back in full for 2021 (photo Colin Rayner)

25 June

ALFIE BROWN “It’s tricky to write 350 sensible words when you come out of a show simply thinking ‘Wow! F*ck! Wow!’” wrote The Scotsman. Part of Chucklebusters, at Wardrobe; chucklebusters.com

1-9 July

SHIRLEY VALENTINE “Gone to Greece; back in two weeks” – we’re rooting for Willy Russell’s Shirl all over again, at Alma Tavern; tickettailor.com

2 July

AHIR SHAH “Rich emotional comedy with a sharp eye on global politics”: it’s Chucklebusters at Wardrobe; chucklebusters.com SAM AVERY: TODDLERGEDDON The time is 4.17pm. No one is dressed yet. Civilisation has collapsed. Law and order has broken down. The kids are high on sugar. The adults have lost control... Redgrave, redgravetheatre.com

2-10 July Until 20 June

THE THREE SEAGULLS Endurance. It’s not for the fainthearted. Chekhov understood that... Sally Cookson weaves together three seminal takes on The Seagull, and the BOVTS grads do the rest. At BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

5-10 July

RUSSELL HOWARD: RESPITE The home boy’s back at the

Hippodrome, and still trying to make sense of a world that’s spinning out of control. Good luck, Russell love. atgtickets.com

14-17 July

OUR HOUSE: A MADNESS MUSICAL Bristol School of Acting presents one of those shows that strings the plot around tunes from a band. It’s set in Camden 1984, so no prizes for guessing which band. redgravetheatre.com

15-16 July

THE STORY OF GUTS A dark fantasy tale, that plays by its own logic and tugs at the heart; from BOV’s newest cohort of young theatre-makers from Made In Bristol; bristololdvic.org.uk

MUSIC 19 June

LADY NADE The Bristolian singer-songwriter with the velveteen vocals launches her new album Willing at St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

26-27 June

LAKOTA’S SUMMER OF LOVE The club kicks off summer with a secret rave weekend of disco, house and techno headlined by Eats Everything and Wilkinson, in some yet-to-be-specified field or another; lakota.co.uk

6-7, 13 July

CANDLELIGHT Work by the world’s greatest

composers, performed by candlelight; at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. feverup.com

OTHER Ongoing

SHOW OF STRENGTH The theatre walks are back, from Crime & Crinolines in Clifton to Blood & Butchery in Bemmie, Bloody Blackbeard and Buccaneers in the centre and the new The Mansion Through Time: At Home With The Smyths at Ashton Court; check website for full list and times. Good fun. showofstrength.org.uk ROCK’N’ROLL WALKING TOUR On Sundays.Take a walk around Bristol’s iconic music venues, past and present, and hear tales of the famous bands that played them; facebook.com/ Bristolrockandrollwalkingtour

27 June

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SERIAL KILLERS Lockdown’s lifted! How shall we celebrate? We know! Hold our beers; we’re off to Filton to hear a talk about serial killers. BAWA; skiddle.com

1 July

ENTRECONF 2021 Inspirational, practical conference for entrepreneurs and advisors; online. See page 69. entreconf.com

3-16 July

BRISTOL PRIDE Two weeks of LGBT+ favourites from the festival’s usual programme of events in venues across the city, including the dog show, drag cabaret, comedy, circus, theatre and the Queer Vision Film Festival. The traditional Parade takes place on Pride Day, 10 July, followed by a big old party in Castle Park. Cue the rainbows; bristolpride.co.uk n

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

UPFEST 2021

WILL POWER

Introducing Upfest 2021’s festival artist . . .

f you’re au fait with the Bristol street art scene (and if you’re not, you will be after reading this issue), you’ll probably know quite a few things about Will Barras. You’ll undoubtedly recall, for example, that he collaborated with Xenz to create the epic She’s a Waterfall piece on the side of The Masonic during Upfest 2017. If you keep up to date with Upfest news, you’ll also know that he’s the official festival artist for 2021, and that you can see his recently created new piece, shown on our front cover, on the side of Bristol Beer Factory, right next to the Pony and Trap. Prints will also be on sale from the Upfest gallery. It was while studying graphic design in Bristol that Will became one

of a new crop of young artists working within the local street art scene. He was also a founding member of the Scrawl collective, which in 1999 published an influential book documenting a new movement in street art, graphics and illustration. “I used to go and ride my BMX at Dean Lane with Bash,” says Will. “I saw TCF painting there a lot. It’s was an eye-opener! Feek and Justin (Dicy) let me paint with them at Walls on Fire, so that was my first real attempt at a wall. Jo Hook was doing her first Temwa events at the Thekla, so we did some live drawing and doodling on the wall, and tried to sell them. Then Justin had his shop with Dave Smeaton, so we did our first canvases for him and put them in the shop. My friend Steff Plaetz was showing me all this cool stuff, like Futura and the skate graphics he was into. I also started doing flyers for nights like Shaft. This was how it started for me.” Will describes his style as “quite fluid. I often like to express movement. It’s figurative, but comes from abstracted beginnings. I often paint vehicles and bicycles; I like to draw them and express motion. I sell a few paintings but mostly make a living as an illustrator. I really enjoy illustration.” He says it’s an honour to be invited to be festival artist for Upfest this year. “I’m a big fan of what the festival dos; it feels a very inclusive event. There are so many great artists from Bristol. I’m a big fan of Anna Marrow, Pat Vale, Chris Gambrell, Michael Rea, Ben Oliver, Ian Francis and Russ Murphy. I also really like James Jean, Inke Essenhigh, Peter Doig and many others worldwide.” Will’s new festival piece on the side of the Bristol Beer Factory is called To North Street & Beyond. “While discussing the wall with Upfest, we decided to do something that had a famous landmark in it – the Suspension Bridge – and a kind of fantastic version of the landscape. An artist painting a wall, and a cyclist racing through the scene – two other popular activities in Bristol. “There are actually three versions of this image, a digital one and another canvas, all of them different. This one feels like a old etched illustration from a Sherlock Holmes book, like when Moriarty is trying to push Holmes off a cliff...” Will has collaborated with Xenz, O.Two, Mr. Jago... so who would be his dream artist to team up with? “Pierre Bonnard,” he says, unexpectedly. “I’d be interested to see how the masters created works from scratch. Toulouse Lautrec, too. Imagine if they were alive now, with paint and a lift…” For more willbarras.com “There is a fluidity and energy in Will’s work that, although constantly changing, has always existed in a world entirely of his own making. His figures appear to be in a state of perpetual metamorphosis – caught for a brief moment between one manifestation and the next, always at the mercy of the swirling forces that surround them. From his early scanned and reworked doodles through to his recent, rich, mixed-media work, Will has mastered every medium with a dynamism constant in all his work.” – Felix Braun, author of Children of the Can, a seminal book exploring the Bristol street art and graffiti scene

An alternative version of To North Street & Beyond

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

The mighty She’s a Waterfall was a Will Barras x Xenz collab for Upfest 2017

“I’d like to have collaborated with Bonnard and Lautrec. Imagine if they were alive now, with paint and a lift . . .”

UPFEST 2021

GET ON UP!

fter a year of running the event virtually, Bristol’s Urban Art Festival is back IRL for 2021 with a stellar line-up. However, this year there’s been a tweak to the usual format. Instead of being concentrated over one long weekend, this year’s festival will see 75 walls painted over 75 days, with new work gradually added to the streets of BS3. The summer of street art culminates with a bank holiday festival between 28 -29 August at Greville Smyth Park, where hundreds of artists will be painting live. We asked Upfest gaffer Steve Hayles to give us a steer: which artists should we be looking out for this year, and where can we find them? In case you can’t wait to see their new work, we’ve shown some previous pieces as a taster; the streets you’ll find them on are shown in brackets. ■

Ant Carver (Lime Road)

Caryn Koh (Exeter Road)

KoeOne (West Street)

Curtis Hilton (Chessel Street)

Dan Kitchener (North Street)

Emotional Waterfall (Smyth Road)

HazardOne (North Street)

Sian Storey (North Street)

Sophie Rae (North Street)

Snub23 (Ashton Road) www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33

SPONSORED CONTENT

A NEW ERA FOR NE APPLIANCES NE APPLIANCES is building on 36 years of success with its new state-of-the-art superstore

A demo kitchen

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

n 1985, Peter Gilks opened a small shop in Nailsea selling electricals and spare parts. The shop was called Nailsea Electrical. 19 years ago, Peter’s son Ben took over the business, and for the past 14 years Nailsea Electrical has been Bristol’s go-to place for appliances. Now, building on years of success, the business has become bigger and better, with a new name, NE Appliances, a new website, neappliances.com and a brandnew purpose-built appliance superstore in the Enterprise Trade Centre in Hengrove. The new NE Appliances store opened on 17 May, and promises to be the place to buy appliances in the South West. Upon entering the showroom customers are greeted by the history of NE Appliances via a timeline wall and a stateof-the-art smart home, with a host of mobile-

controlled appliances from ovens and coffee machines to washing machines. “Appliances have come a long way; nowadays you can tap an app on your phone from the pub and have the oven pre-heating for your Sunday lunch,” says Giles, the operations manager. “Our Gloucester Road store was great, but we just outgrew it; here, we can really show the full breadth of what is available, from the essentials to the newest innovations.” The showroom has the biggest display of built-in appliances, refrigeration, and range cookers in the South West, while the innovative curved displays mean that huge numbers of products can be displayed in a way that is convenient for the customer. “‘In most appliance stores you’ll find the products blocked by brand, with each stand looking different and the whole journey being

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confusing and complicated,” says managing director Ben Gilks. “In our store, you’ll find every brand you want, but arranged in price order, starting with entry level right up to top-of-theline, with prices matched online. Customers are better informed than they ever have been; they come in store to see the product and get expert advice, so we wanted to make that as easy as possible.” The store also continues the wide range of luxury products for which the company is known. The new larger showroom offers displays of such exclusive brands as Lacanche, Rangemaster and Ilve in range cooking, a working display of the Quooker boiling water tap, and displays of renowned brand Miele, of which NE Appliances is the only independent vendor in Bristol. One of the key features of the store is the floating mezzanine level which houses the built-in display, including a fully working kitchen. “Our demonstration area means we can bring in chefs from all over the country and really get our customers involved,“ says Ben “We are so excited to welcome in that excitement and activity to the new store. We’ve always been known for our in-store events and here we can make them bigger and better than ever.” NE Appliances have also enhanced their trade

Smart home appliances

offering. Trade customers can now click and collect from the store as early as 7am, and can sign up for an official NE Appliances trade card. They can also take advantage of the dedicated trade wall, where a hand-picked product range is on display, making trade purchases quick and easy, with exclusive offers. The new location is just one part of the improvements to the NE Appliances business, which has also launched a new website to offer customers a quick and easy shopping experience. With price-match guarantee, delivery within 24 hours and a huge range of products, neappliances.com offers the exceptional NE Appliances experience from the comfort of your home. “We are incredibly proud of the legacy of NE Appliances,” says Ben. “We are still a family business, from the Gilks family to the NE family

including our excellent staff and loyal customers. “It’s been a tough year for everyone, and especially for independent businesses, but we have invested in giving our customers the best experience they can possibly have, whether they choose to come into the store, call us or shop online. It’s been an amazing journey to this point and we hope to continue it for many more years to come.” ■

NE Appliances is now open at Unit 3, Enterprise Trade Centre, Roman Farm Road, Hengrove, BS4 1UN. Or shop online any time at neappliances.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 35

IMAGE CREDIT – JOHNNY GREEN

XXXXX

Bristol street art has become so legit that it now gets its own show in a museum. However, the spirit that drives it is as rebellious as ever... Words by Elle Redman

VAN

IMAGE CREDIT CONOR HARRINGTON

New works for the show include The Duchess’s Rouge by Inkie (page 36) and ) The Blind Exit by Conor Harrington

GUARD

n 26 June, a full year later than originally intended, Vanguard – Bristol Street Art: The Evolution of a Global Movement will open at M Shed. The title of the show’s admittedly a bit of a mouthful – but then this is a hugely ambitious exhibition that not only brings together one of the largest collections of original street art and memorabilia ever seen in the UK, but attempts to put it in a wider, global context.

So, Vanguard organisers Mary McCarthy and Charlotte Pyatt; what can we expect to see at the show? “The exhibition brings together new and original works, including sculptures and immersive installations by street artists such as Bristol’s Inkie, Nick Walker and Sickboy and then from further afield, Lucy McLauchlan, Conor Harrington and Antony Micallef, to name but a few,” they say. “We’ve also got great archive photographs by Beezer, Kineta Hill and Karen Dews, who were some of the first to document the burgeoning Bristol scene, as well as some unseen photographs by Henry Chalfant from his time in 1980s Bristol.” Some of the work is very rare, not having been seen or shown in public for over 20 years. “We’ve got some amazing works from early Bristol street artists, including Nick Walker, Inkie, Dicy and Paris; there will also be a couple of surprises, but you’ll have to go and see the exhibition to find out who and what! “Alongside the exhibition we’ll be running an extensive outreach programme featuring film screenings, citywide art activations, panel discussions and workshops, all aligned with the 17 United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). “The relationship between street art and shared community value is longstanding. Through our alignment of the SDGs with the exhibition and outreach activities, Vanguard have been able to amplify local histories and

WHO OR WHAT IS VANGUARD?

Vanguard is a collective of artists, specialists and collectors involved in the global street art movement. In this, their début exhibition, they attempt to offer a context to how street art has grown into an accepted an art form, from early Bristol pioneers to a new generation from around the world, and documenting how the scene evolved from graffiti culture, using creativity to advocate for social and environmental change

Spex handplant by Yan Saunders; Dean Lane, early 1980s,

stories in a mindful and considered way. Key examples of this are initiatives such as Splash and Burn, which use street art to raise awareness of the damaging effects of palm oil production on the wildlife of South East Asia; the 1UP crew, with their interventions in coral reefs, and the Pansy Project, planting pansies at the sites of homophobic or transphobic abuse.” There’s a short movie documentary connected to the exhibition, too, in partnership with Sky Arts.

IMAGE CREDIT JAMES HACKER

“Street art stands as a testament to Bristol’s ability to think differently about the world around it”

Mr Jago, Strategos,

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

“Spanning several decades, the street-art scene has a rich history in Bristol which has long been linked to rebel culture. While the art form is still very much used to raise awareness of social and political issues, it is now more widely celebrated and commemorated. Even today, though, street art is associated with independence, creativity, character and bold expression. “The community of Bristol is well known for its rebellious energy, and graffiti and street art has undeniably been a key part of that. Over the decades, spray paint, stencils and scrawlings have become a defining feature of the city, with new works appearing almost daily. “Street art captures the Bristol community’s independent, creative spirit, and reflects the frustrations, desires, and hopes of the city. It stands as a testament to Bristol’s ability to think differently about the world around it, and as a rallying call to fight for a more just and sustainable future.”

STREET ART

Bristol B-Boys by Beezer

One of the aims of the exhibition is to show how the Bristol street art scene has influenced other cities in the UK, and even globally. “Bristol’s creatives have had an undeniable influence on the development of both British and international street art. Inkie, Nick Walker and Sickboy are a few of the many artists that enabled Bristol street art and projected it to a global audience. One pioneer of the Bristol scene, Robert del Naja [ 3D] took inspiration from the street art coming out of the Bronx, and reworked it to create his own signature style which spoke to the disenchantment of Thatcherite Britain. The many artists that followed in his footsteps continued to break boundaries, resulting in the graffiti crackdowns that made wider headlines across the country, and some of the first television appearances that connected with the communities brewing in suburbs across the UK.

©BEEZERS PHOTOS

IMAGE CREDIT JOHNNY GREEN

Blue Surfer by Will Barras

LET’S GET TO THE IMPORTANT BIT. WHAT’S IN THE GIFT SHOP?

• An accompanying book featuring worldwide academics, film directors, writers, artists, creatives and specialists reflecting the evolving momentum of the movement • An exclusive album featuring some of the tracks which formed the roots of the world-famous Bristol Sound • Artist led merchandise from various artists featured in the exhibition

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS

• New and original works from Adam Neate, Andy Council, Antony Micallef, Bill Posters, China Mike, Conor Harrington, Dale VMN Collins (formerly Dale Marshall), Dicy, Eko, Feek, Filthy Luker, Inkie, Lucas Price, Lucy McLauchlan, Matt Small, Mau Mau, Mr Jago, Paris, Rowdy, Sickboy, Swoon, Will Barras and Xenz • A life-size bronze sculpture of an old favourite from Nick Walker • Kineta Hill and Karen Dew’s photographic projections, Watching Paint Dry, female documenters of Bristol’s scene • Iconic photographs of the 1980s by Beezer • A five-minute edit of the film Wild Style by Charlie Ahearn • A bespoke seven-minute film by Scottish filmmaker Doug Gillen of Fifth Wall TV, with an original score by drum-and-bass producer DJ Krust • Matthew Smith’s rare images of the 1990s – the time of rave and the Criminal Justice Bill • Carrie Hitchcock and Yan Saunders’ unseen photo archive • Legendary photographer Henry Chalfant’s unseen photographs of his time in Bristol for Spraycan Art

“Groundbreaking events such as See No Evil brought worldwide international attention to Bristol, and Upfest continues to host global artists. “Street art is now less an aesthetic and more an energy associated with the ephemeral, from paste-ups, stickers, muralism and intervention. Like so many industries, we find those speaking out to address social inequality or climate change, reclaiming their cities to advocate for freedom of expression. Artists like Swoon and Bill Posters embody this rebellious spirit, speaking truth to power with their provocative and poignant imagery.” To wrap up, what are Mary and Charlotte’s hopes for Vanguard as it rolls out over the coming months? “After having to postpone the exhibition last year due to the pandemic, we’re just looking forward to sharing this project with everyone. It’s been three years in the making, and we can’t wait to share some of the amazing unseen works and archive photography with the people of Bristol and beyond; it’s an incredible story, and ultimately an insight into the global phenomenon we know today. “We’re also really looking forward to launching our outreach programme, which aims to encourage locals and visiting tourists through our assembly of graffiti, street art, music and skateboarding memorabilia.” There are plans to tour the exhibition, too. “Admittedly, Covid has certainly stilted our efforts but for sure, Vanguard will at some point go international. The global interest in Bristol’s spirit, talent and history through culture demands it …” n Vanguard runs at M Shed 26 June—31 October 2021; book at bristolmuseums.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 39

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ISLAND LIFE Behind the scenes at the museum

Words and pictures by Colin Moody* (* Who also has a photo in this show, but was too modest to mention it)

PHOTOGRAPHY 2

udging by how hard it’s been to get a slot to see Island Life at the Bristol Museum – just one of the thirteeen or so venues that are totally involved with the new Bristol Photo Festival 2021 – we are bouncing back into art life in a strong dynamic way.

“Two of the most obvious things about photographs intrigue me, their stillness and silence; these are for me also their major strengths,” said Ian Macdonald. If you go with a partner or a mate to see this show, take time after to hit the café and talk it though. What have you seen? What is it about this island life that struck you the most? And be prepared to be shown your land like you never saw it so clearly before.

I’d love to show you some of the images inside, behind that amazing shot there on the wall by Elaine Constantine, but I will not. Because you need to see it. You need to have the experience I had, which was to scan in your QR code (after, of course, the NHS one) and watch the glass doors open for you as you enter. Because it will blow you away. For now, here is a shot of a man in a blue shirt having a break outside the show. Maybe he’s been in already. Maybe he’s about to. But if you only do one thing between now and the end of October, go and see it. Maybe you think you know this island. Think again. There are images carefully put alongside others here that will challenge you to appraise the country you thought you knew. Maybe you remember opening the Sunday papers, and those glossy magazines that showed you this country through a lens that reimagined for you who you were, who your neighbours were, and who we might be.

There are photographers here who have pushed the techniques, the approaches towards strangers, the whole way that photography can happen, to create such sublime moments that it made me very emotional to walk round them one by one. Not all these images are beautiful. At least, that’s how some of them were received at the time. One image in the show was included in a book, it tells us, but some of the people to whom it was given took it out and burned it. But look harder. Look deeper and you can see that these photographers didn’t give up. They kept looking. Kept sharing. Kept showing what was happening to this world. One mountainside, one kerbside, one dancehall at a time. One community up against it at a time. One back street, with linen on the line, blowing out the dampness at a time. The moments in this show are so powerful.

Hello. Are you trying to get in to see the show? Try the QR code again. It did work eventually. I watched this couple take in the show. They were really getting a lot out of it. Here they are just moments before they were able to see the works you will see if you book to go to Island Life. A show I am reviewing here without showing you the images themselves. Let’s turn to Tony-Ray-Jones who was a huge influence on Martin Parr, who along with the museum selected these works from the major photography collection at the Martin Parr Foundation. Tony said that “photography can be a mirror and reflect life as it is, but I also think that perhaps it is possible to walk, like Alice, through a looking glass, and find another kind of world with the camera”. Now consider the careful selection of so many great photographers who have this skill all on show at once. It’s intoxicating.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

“Maybe you think you know this island. Think again”

Read all the notes next to the photos, and hear more from each photographer as you skip from protest to backstreet football kickouts, from mining disaster to intimate family moments. It’s all here. Homer Sykes’s image of Burry Man 1977 stood out. Sykes himself speaks on the notes on the wall. “When I was younger, I looked up to Cartier-Bresson, Winogrand, Friedlander. I arrogantly set about to do that. And I’m still trying.”

Contd: You may need to make notes. I’m already planning to check out the work of some of the amazing photographers, whose work is not well known to me, that I have encountered here. There is so much detail in this show about who we are. And as we begin to emerge from the year we have had, it’s vital to have some cultural moments like this show to reconnect us to diverse ideas, collective memory and a sense of place. I got talking to the Bristol Museum guide in the room, and we both agreed that we could not stop looking at several of the pieces. They seemed to command such attention. Appropriately, photography is not allowed in the show. Put the camera down and look at the masterpieces of simple life perfectly captured through the frame and through history. If you are a photographer it will make you think harder. And that’s the main muscle you need – not the one on your trigger finger.

Bristol Photo Festival: Island Life – Photographs from the Martin Parr Foundation runs until 31 October. Book in advance and pay what you can. bristolmuseums.org.uk email mrcolinmoody@gmail.com Twitter @moodycolin Instagram @moodycolin391 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 45

THE BIG IDEA

Fun fact: while pterosaurs swooped through Triassic skies, Thecodontasurus, Bristol’s own dinosaur, was scuttling about roughly where you are right now. Theco was only the fourth dinosaur ever to be named; Bristol, ahead of the curve even back in the 1830s...

OUR WORLD This isn’t the poster from some fantasy blockbuster movie. It’s far more exciting than that. This is OurWorld Bristol . . .

Images by LDA Design

THE BIG IDEA

t could be another world-first for Bristol. Fingers crossed. Shown on these pages are the plans for OurWorld – an exciting and wildly original concept for the first-ever augmented reality zoo, dreamed up by some of the biggest names in the local and national media, education and creative sectors. The project has been designed to fit inside the old 12-acre Bristol Zoo Gardens after the animals leave the site next year. The alternative currently being considered? More private housing. One of the creatives behind the project is Stuart Wood of boomsatsuma. “Following Bristol Zoo’s announcement of its plans to relocate to South Gloucestershire, we started thinking of ideas for an alternative future for the gardens,” says Stuart. “Working with people who are leaders in their fields, we’re aiming to provide a fully immersive virtual experience by enabling visitors to experience animals in their natural habitat, going back millions of years. We want to combine this with an enriched and accessible city garden. “We’ve been working together since the beginning of last December to create this vision, and have found strong support from both the business and creative communities. The initiative for the project has been taken by director Stephen Daldry, architect George Ferguson, and boomsatsuma.” The rollcall of advisors reads like a who’s who from the creative and education sectors. There’s David Bull of Vision Institute; Kalpna Woolf of 91Ways; John Grimshaw, founder of Sustrans; Pip Rush Jansen of Arcadia; Lorna Knapman of Love Food Festival; Peter Lord and Dave Sproxton of Aardman; Laura Marshall of Icon Films; Tom Morris of Bristol Old Vic; Steve Tompkins of Haworth Tompkins Architects; Alastair Sawday of Sawday’s, and Sir Tim Smit of the Eden Project. Oh, and Clare Wilks of LDA Design, who created these CGIs. “We strongly believe there could be a bright future for this historic and hugely significant site,

“There is no better national or global destination more suited to this project than Bristol” – Sir Tim Smit 50 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

No, the killer bees aren’t coming: it’s the Bristol Zoo wall view, with the new tower

which builds on the Bristol Zoological Society’s heritage as a global pioneer and benefits the whole city,” says Stephen Daldry. “We want to create something that brings together the UK’s best qualities – creative, collaborative, spirited and environmentally conscious – to create a place for people to learn about the world around them, just as the Zoo has done for generations. We believe it is deliverable, if the support exists for it to happen. We hope the Zoo, and Bristolians, share our enthusiasm for it, and that people will come together to support our prospectus.”

Virtual time-travel

“OurWorld Bristol would be a new educational attraction which would capture the imagination through immersive experiences travelling in time, place and scale,” says Stuart. “We’ll do this by bringing visitors onto the same digital terrain as animals and places throughout history. This virtual world is being conceived alongside plans to create a more open garden at this historic site. “The project also aims to provide an exciting opportunity for Bristol to leap forward in its environmental and social credentials during our recovery from the Covid pandemic. A project like this will help us to view the world we live in differently.” It’s certainly a sexier option than the new housing plan. “We want to work with the Zoo to explore plans that we feel are much more

PLANS INCLUDE . . .

1 2

Wildlife-friendly gardens designed to attract a rich variety of pond life, bugs, bees, butterflies and birds.

Real and virtual walks around the gardens and perimeter structures, including the enclosure once occupied by Alfred the gorilla. Users will be immersed into the lives of extraordinary creatures from all around our eco-system, including those that lived around 850m or even 3bn years ago when life first appeared on Earth.

An exhibition provisionally titled Humanimal, which explores man’s relationship with animals, to be curated by the Eden Project working with Tom Morris.

An elegant viewing tower offering sights across Clifton Downs, where visitors can experience augmented reality, travelling in time to visualise the distant past and possible scenarios for the future. This will be supported by technology developed in partnership with Bristol’s ground-breaking MyWorld creative hub, led by University of Bristol professor Dave Bull

appropriate for the site and would be in line with the Zoo’s original founders’ mission,” says Stuart. “We believe this concept is the first of its kind. It has the backing of people and organisations with strong credentials and track records in delivery. It’s also a great fit for Bristol. Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project and a key advisor to OurWorld, says there is ‘no better national, or indeed global, destination more suited to this project’. The power of the ideas, breadth of support and the fact that it fits so well with Bristol’s strengths makes this a really special project, that makes the very most of the wonderful, historic Zoo Gardens.” And the plans don’t stop at an AR Zoo. “There are so many possibilities within this 12-acre site,” says Stuart. “The virtual zoo will sit alongside a biodiverse city garden teaming with the small creatures that make up the majority of the animal world. This also includes a Wild Island, where no humans can go, to allow nature to take its course. And what better way to look at all this than from a beautifully designed new viewing platform that links it to the surrounding city?” The team are still at an early stage, and want to know what the people of Bristol think of this idea. To find out more and read the preliminary prospectus, visit the website. n For more: OurWorldBristol.com

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LUCKNAM PARK Fire up the classic car, and dig out your best frock: we’re putting on the style Words by Deri Robins

“There aren’t many things you can’t get in central Bristol, but a grand Palladian mansion of a hotel is one of them”

RESTAURANT

ou can find almost anything in the centre of Along with the rest of the hotel, the brasserie attracts a well-heeled Bristol, but a grand Palladian mansion of set. I’d expected to be lunching among a sea of fluffy dressing gowns; a hotel, set in its own 500 acres of private in fact, most of the spa bunnies had changed back into mufti, though countryside, with tennis courts, an equestrian many of them padded in wearing those little white towelling slippers. centre, croquet lawn, Michelin-starred The room is done out in neutral, contemporary style. It’s pleasantly restaurant and super-spa isn’t one of them. light and airy, thanks to an outdoor wall made entirely of glass doors, If you want all that, you’ll need to get into the which on clement days are thrown open to the very pretty terrace. car and head to Lucknam Park. A vintage openService is deft, the waitstaff hitting the sweet spot between high topped car, for preference; although luckily for professionalism and friendliness; you felt that however outré a guest’s us, the staff are trained not to sneer if you roll up request, they would somehow accommodate, though we decided not to in a rusty Berlingo. put this to the test. Lucknam is only a half-hour drive away, but The menu reveals itself as a pleasefeels like another planet: Planet Luxe. After all-comers mix of brasserie classics; you DINING DETAILS bumbling along a series of lovely Wiltshire could bring the fussiest of elderly parents Lucknam Park Hotel, Colerne, Thickwood, lanes, currently all a-froth with cow parsley, here. There’s an excellent choice, with six Chippenham SN14 8AZ; 01225 742777 you turn into a long, straight, treelined drive starters and mains, with a very democratic lucknampark.co.uk – an idyllic approach, with the main house breakdown: two meat, two fish, two veggie. Opening hours Daily from 12 pm – last orders 9 pm framed at the end of the canopy. It’s at this Be prepared for enormous portions; chef Tom We visited Tuesday lunchtime point that you congratulate yourself for Westerland (a Bristol boy) likes to feed you. wearing your best frock (and, if you’re in for A vast bowl of fat Polkerris mussels came Prices Starters cost between: £8-£12, mains £16-£32, desserts £8.50 the spa, your best bra and knickers). bathed in a creamy broth, with fluffy wild This place does solid, old-school grandeur garlic focaccia for the dipping. The girl child Veggie choice Good; one third of starters and mains like nowhere else. There’s no rush to jump had opted for the happy combo of asparagus Atmosphere Refined but relaxed on the latest gimmick; no English-eccentric from the Wye Valley – the kitchen takes local Service Professional, friendly chandeliers made out of Coke bottles, or sourcing seriously – with a crispy hen’s egg, Disabled access All one level wittily themed suites. Lucknam arches a whose yellow yolk spilled seductively into a Children The hotel has childcare covered if guests single, perfect eyebrow at quirk. puddle of spring truffle butter. wish to dine without the little darlings The grounds are worth the trek in I was semi-defeated by my mains, carefully themselves; all stone arches and immaculate listed as Tim Johnson’s ribeye Wiltshire beef. herbaceous borders, with tunnels of pleached 8oz doesn’t sound a huge amount – maybe limes and what appears to be Wiltshire’s entire annual quota of I’ve just become accustomed to dainty lockdown portion sizes – but a lavender. As someone who struggles to impose even a minimal degree of third ended up being devoured by the bottomless pit sitting opposite me. order on my own small back-garden plot, I could only gaze in wonder. The steak came with an imaginative side of roasted gem Caesar salad The hotel has two restaurants; the aforementioned Michelin-starred and a large pile of fat, blocky chips. Hywel Jones, and a lunchtime brasserie. The latter, being next to the Pudding was excellent. I’d ordered the vegan panna cotta; I’m not spa, makes the ideal break if you’re putting in an arduous day on the vegan, but I am on an ongoing mission, thus far thwarted, to uncover a loungers. Coffee and pastries are served from early morning, with an à dairy alternative that might turn me. Chef, however, was unhappy with la carte from midday to 9pm. that day’s batch – insufficient wobble, perhaps – so both the kid and I We weren’t in for the spa, though a colleague had kindly spent a tucked into a pistachio pavlova. The meringue had a fabulous chewmorning wafting about the steam rooms so that we didn’t have to, and factor, enhanced by the soft crunch of the nuts, and the strawberry came back floating on a happy aromatic cloud. It was lunch at the sorbet was a densely berry delight. It singlehandedly knocked my postbrasserie for us. I’d brought the girl child along; she recalled visiting lockdown diet back several days, but on balance it was worth it. the hotel many moons ago, when a trip to the equestrian centre had Next time, perhaps we’ll try to fit in a few hours in the spa, once I’ve been organised by the local youth club. That club was, and remains, an worked out exactly how many lengths of a 10-metre pool are required excellent resource, though admittedly one lacking in street credibility. to work off a single chip the size of a baby’s arm. n

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 55

CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

Sun’s out, buns out … the sticky kind, we mean

ow that cafés are back in full-on indoor mode, meaning we can wander in, sit down and behave like normal people drinking hot beverages, it feels like we lucky Bristolians are completely spoiled for choice. Which is excellent news. Deserves an enormous, “huzzah!” all by itself. What a joyous firstworld problem to have, trying to work out which establishment to frequent first. Where to enjoy

“What a joyous first-world problem to have, trying to work out which establishment to visit first”

that indoor ambience all over again. However, to complicate the situation, the weather has been pretty scorchio recently. Meaning that what we really want to do, is sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. Luckily, we are still completely spoiled for choice. There are so many fab places to visit outside that even if you drank a big bucket of coffee a day for the next few months, you still wouldn’t run out of likely coffee shops. Makes you glad to be alive, that does. Or maybe that’s just me. Either way, The Colombian Company café on Whiteladies Road, at the bottom of Cotham Hill, is this week’s coffee venue of choice. There are so many things to recommend it that I almost don’t know where to begin. The coffee, the croissants, the toasties. The staff. They’re all top-notch. However, for the moment, I shall turn my metaphorical back on those obvious delights and shall concentrate instead on the view from the space outside. You see, once you have got your snacks and drinks sorted and sat down, you have the perfect opportunity to watch the world of Whiteladies Road as it wanders past your table. Better yet, you get to feast your eyes on the changes taking place on Cotham Hill, as the road turns into a full-on, sit-down, café society

promenade. A thing of beauty for those who love life in the slow lane. Regular readers might remember I was raving about the pedestrianisation of this road recently. Don’t know about you, but back in the old days, when we used to travel the globe rather than the byways of home, one of the things I really loved was going to places where cars didn’t roam free. The old town of Lisbon; the front along Venice Beach; the list is long and wondrous. When cars are taken out of the equation, there is no denying that fun and adventure fill the vacuum as if by magic. All of which makes watching the transformation of this quiet little backwater a rare treat. Apparently, at the moment, it’s a temporary measure, but I’m crossing my fingers, hoping it turns into a long-term thing. Permanent, even. Seems to me that if anyone is thinking of building back better after all this kerfuffle, then making a few roads car-free isn’t a bad place to begin. But enough of politics and deep thinking; back to the serious business of drinking coffee. n

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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 57

RAINBOW EYE MASK, £36 Jessica Russell Flint mask in 100% silk to rest your weary post-Pride eyes From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street harveynichols.com

PRIDE OF PLACE

There’s a rainbow in the month. We just couldn’t resist...

LOVE BRISTOL PIN BADGE, £7.50 By Carla James; a variation on the same design is also available in print form From Upfest 198 North Street upfest.co.uk

RAINBOW TASSEL EARRINGS, £12 Well-made and light, these earrings will do double-duty when festival season returns at full throttle From That Thing 45-47 Stokes Croft thatthing.co

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

KEEP BRISTOL FABULOUS T-SHIRT, £15.39 Designed and sold by LGBTQJunction From redbubble.com

SASS & BELL MUG, £9 Hand-painted stoneware mug, with a peach, orange and yellow rainbow From Fox + Feather 41 Gloucester Road foxandfeather.co.uk

MERI MERI PAPER STREAMERS, £9 Not especially LGBT+, admittedly, or even strictly ROYGBIV, but a fabulously multicoloured addition to festivities nonetheless From Mon Pote, 217 North Street monpote.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE ESTELLA BARTLETT JEWELLERY BOX, £26 With neat little compartments for rings, bracelets, earrings and what have you; ﬁnished with gold vegan leather From Pod Company 24 The Mall, Clifton thepodcompany.co.uk

POSCA PAINTS GLITTER PACK, £20 To create your own glittery rainbows. Look, we can’t be doing everything for you From Upfest, 198 North Street upfest.co.uk

RAINBOW BIOGLITTER SOAP, £5 Vegetable based, with biodegradable glitter and zesty grapefruit essential oils, from Bristol’s eco-friendly glitter shop From EcoStardust ecostardust.com

CHUNKY CHILLI LAMB, £13.95 This soft cotton lamb is proud to be wearing a rainbow-striped jersey combo From Fig 1 Unit 9, Gaol Ferry Steps ﬁg1.co.uk

RAINBOW WALL MIRROR, £23.50 Who’s the fairest of them all? Darling, as if there were any competition... From BAM Bristol 104-108 Belle Vue Road bambristol.co.uk SET OF SIX RAINBOW HOUSES, £36 Totterdown? Cliftonwood? Redcliﬀe? Wherever you want them to be. A moveable row of porcelain houses, glazed in bright, joyful rainbow colours on a little wooden plinth. Handmade by Hannah, using high-quality materials and traditional ceramic-making skills. From hannerysgaard.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 59

We buy for cash

SCRAP GOLD & PLATINUM Simply bring your old jewellery to our showroom in Bristol or send it in to us by special delivery. (Please give us a call for more details) On your behalf, we can also sell re-saleable, unwanted jewellery items in our windows on a sale or return basis. Photo ID required in all circumstances.

KEMPS OF BROADMEAD T: 0117 926 4888 | Email: kempsbroadmead@gmail.com | www.kempsltd.co.uk 33 Union St, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 2DJ

WINDOW SHOPPING MILLY VAUGHAN

Shell candle, £16

Earrings, £15

Ceramic pots, £21-£35

FROM MARTHA VAUGHAN, AGE 8 “Mon Pote brung joy to me the first time I walked into it. It is SO modern and SO beautiful. They do lovely candles, a couple of plants, pots and even TAPE HOLDERS!!!?! THEY ALSO HAVE A CHILDRENS SECTION, SO GO OUT THERE AND ENJOY IT GIVE JOY TO YOUR HOUSE AND BRISTOL!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Plant stand, £38 Miffy soft toy, £17

Friend zone

Mon Pote translates from the French as ‘my pal’, and Milly’s excited to say that she’s made a new pote south of the river

t’s just what the name suggests: a retail friend who provides gifts and wares, while excelling in service. The French name also nods to a cosmopolitan energy behind the shop’s façade, proudly stocking local suppliers (Pink Moon) side-by-side with European brands (Meri Meri). We may have lost our golden star amongst the EU circle, but here we are

still ﬁrmly surrounded by our European friends. Mon Pote has recently relocated from further up the road to a unit four times the size. And what a smart move it’s proved to be, albeit at a very diﬃcult time, with only three weeks of trading in December before they had to close their doors again. Maybe it was a symptom of hankering over postponed holidays,

“My daughter promptly stuck candles to her forehead, pretending to be a unicorn, and my son had a paddy when I wouldn’t buy him a sparkly ring”

Candle-holder, £10

but I felt like I had walked into to a Mediterranean market, complete with palm leaf baskets and plant life. The beautifully light space with its whitewashed alcoves immediately soothed my bumpy ride over, that had felt more tuk-tuk than bus. But you know you’re in a good place when the ﬂooring alone has you smitten. Terrazzo tiles aside, think of everything from popping in to get a birthday card, to upgrading your home décor, with a children’s section of dreams. When I visited, it was the Easter school holidays, and I was visiting with two small children in tow. Not ideal, but actually, maybe this is the best litmus test for a shop you could come up with. My daughter promptly stuck candles to her forehead, pretending to be a unicorn, and my son had a paddy when I wouldn’t buy him a sparkly ring. The staﬀ didn’t bat a judgemental eyelid, but calmly and quickly rang my sale through the till. How very refreshing, after a barrage of disapproving looks in the Covid climate of not always be able to shop alone – trust me, parents would if they could! Whereas here, there’s something about the friendly customer service that’s integral to the shop’s approach, that makes you

feel they are aiming to put the social face back into retail. Full disclosure: due to a current indoor plant weakness, I did buy the recycled green planter in the picture, which I never normally do while on the job. And I had that slightly embarrassing moment while paying when asked kindly, “Is it a gift?” – ie, would you like it wrapped? “Er no, it’s for me.” What a selﬁsh ‘pal’ I am! ■ @millyvaughan on instagram camillapettman@mac.com Anna Clements of Mon Pote

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

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Practically Purdown in every way From the button tower to the custard-coloured castle

ive and learn; that’s the way. Lifelong learning is supposed to be very good for the soul, and it’s not hard to see why. For instance, this Bark Life adventure was due to take place at Purdown. That long strip of green that runs along the left-hand side of the M32 as you head out of

town going north. However, it turns out, when I looked it up online, that most of this particular patch of loveliness is actually Stoke Park Estate. Most confusing. Either way, this particular adventure started off with a friend and myself parking up near Ashley Down. We then took the dogs for a stroll through the back streets and byways of St Werburgh’s, passing along Boiling Wells Lane, which somehow manages to convey all the thrills and spills of country living while being in the middle of the city. Most marvellously mysterious. Crossing Muller Road, we headed up into the green swards beyond. Apparently, this first bit of the wild side is indeed, Purdown. When we were there it was still in the time of lockdown-lite, so quite a few of the quiet corners were filled with folk doing strange stretching exercises and weird fitness workouts. Most of them in odd outfits. Either way, it was enjoyable to watch, and the dogs had a great time going up to people and being absolutely no help whatsoever.

“Most of the budget seems to have gone on wooden cages; it’s less of a woodland than an exercise in outdoor carpentry”

BARK LIFE STAN CULLIMORE

After a quick sniff through a couple of very pleasant meadows, the dogs led us all through a hole in the wall, coming out in the middle of some sort of forest in waiting. Don’t know when this was all planted, or how old it is. But to my simple mind, it seems like the majority of the budget went on robust wooden cages rather than the pitifully tiny trees they are supposed to protect, giving rise to something that is less of a woodland, more of an exercise in outdoor carpentry. After that, it’s just a few hops to the Purdown BT tower, which is a rather dreary name for such a splendid creation. I’ve always referred to it as Button Tower, as it looks like a bunch of enormous buttons shoved on a knitting needle stuck in the ground. Yet more whimsically, some people insist that it’s a refuelling station for UFOs. To add to the charm, there are rumours of some rufty-tufty goats living and grazing around the place. Much to the dogs’ regret, we didn’t see them on our visit. Nor did we spot the cows, which we hear have now been released into the park. Skirting the highly decorated WWII gun emplacements, we finally found ourselves staring down at the open greenery of Stoke Park, with the fishing pond off to one side, a wooded ridge to the other and at the head of it all, The Dower

House, a custard-coloured castle worthy of a piece all to itself. Before getting that far, we cleaved oﬀ to the left, heading into the mature woodland, climbing up bluebell-soaked paths, clambering round tree roots and stumbling across strange remains in the undergrowth. An old brick-lined pond, which may, or may not, have been used for skinny-dipping in days gone by. Either that, or washing horses, carriages and anything else that needed it. Beyond it, a stone-built tunnel seemed to lead precisely nowhere. Shortly after leaving all this senseless beauty behind, we found ourselves walking around the obelisk thing. I’d seen this monument countless times while driving up to the M4, but never had a clue what it was doing there. After translating the Latin inscription upon it, using our schoolboy Latin, we discovered that it was a memorial to Elizabeth Somerset. She died in 1760 from wounds received on that very spot, after being thrown from her horse. Pretty sad for all concerned at the time, no doubt, but a juicy bit of trivia for history buﬀs like myself. Always interesting to learn new facts and unlock old mysteries while enjoying days out with dogs. Lifelong learning; can’t beat it. ■ For more: stancullimore.com

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

MEET THE

ACCOUNTANT Need expert advice with your finances? Who you gonna call?

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TAX PARTNER, MILSTED LANGDON 0117 945 2500 rbrown@milstedlangdon.co.uk milstedlangdon.co.uk Tell us a little about your business Milsted Langdon is a leading independent firm of chartered accountants, tax specialists and business advisors. By thinking differently and challenging the ordinary, our team of experts have built a reputation in delivering trusted, business-boosting financial advice since 1988. The firm has 22 partners and around 230 staff across offices in Bristol, Bath, London, Taunton and Yeovil. As well as providing expert tax and accountancy advice, we also have a number of specialist teams including corporate finance, forensic accounting, insolvency and restructuring, and financial services. Do you specialise in a specific area? I have over 30 years’ experience in advising private clients, entrepreneurs, owner-managed businesses and professional partnerships, specifically on tax compliance requirements and helping to mitigate tax liabilities through tax planning. This includes advising on matters such as inheritance tax and capital gains tax, as well as corporation tax, share schemes, R&D tax

credits, patent box, property and transactions including succession planning for ownermanaged businesses and private companies. What’s a common issue your clients are facing? Despite the pandemic, many clients have done very well over the last year and as a result have had to consider further tax planning opportunities. On the other hand, there is still a level of uncertainty – caused by a shortage of people capital, supply and demand issues and we can’t forget the impact of Brexit. In addition to this, the pandemic has meant that individuals have not been able to spend as much money as they did previously, and in turn savings estimated at £180 billion have been built up. Many people may go on a post-lockdown spending spree, especially as travel abroad is still uncertain, so businesses could find they are not able to service the demand. This could be through either lack of goods themselves or the people required to supply and serve these goods. How have the last 12 months been for you? We were lucky in that we are very agile as a firm, so as soon as lockdown was confirmed all staff could instantly work from home with minimum disruption to client service and our commitment

DAMIAN EVANS EVANS ENTWISTLE CHARTERED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS 0117 301 8607 evansentwistle.co.uk What should be your clients’ priorities in terms of their finances? There is an old adage “turnover is vanity, profit is sanity, cash is king” – a sound statement that we stand by; so if a client is facing adversity in their business, we always advocate focusing on collecting cash first and foremost to keep the business going, and then working towards reducing costs to maximise the bottom line – only then should they think about strategies to increase revenues. That’s the difference with management accountants – it is our remit to look at our clients’ businesses holistically and advise on all areas of operations, not just the finances. What challenges do you predict businesses will face over the remainder of the year? Obviously, coronavirus has had a deep and profound effect on the economy, and the sobering reality is that it will probably take well into 2022 to get back to 2019 levels. The Government has spent in excess of £66 billion on supporting businesses via an unprecedented package of grants, loans, rates reliefs and other measures, and that fiscal deficit will need to be plugged, so given that immediate business tax hikes would be rather unpalatable, we expect to see a sharp rise in HMRC tax investigations this year instead. 66 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

to our clients’ needs. Our main focus has been supporting our clients and our people, keeping them up to date with as much information as possible, and despite the pandemic, most of our clients have adapted with the changing situation and we have been privileged to be appointed to assist some pre-eminent local businesses and charities. We’re looking forward to the future as we continue to help our clients thrive.

What’s a common issue your clients are facing? Cashflow has been a common topic of conversation with clients lately; when cash is tight, your customers may take longer to pay, meaning that you take longer to pay your suppliers – a domino effect on the whole economy. Added to that is that fact that many businesses took HMRC up on the opportunity to defer taxes such as VAT – but of course those dues are set to be repaid this year, despite the fact that we’re not quite out of the pandemic woods yet. On that front, we’ve been negotiating Time To Pay arrangements with HMRC to ease clients’ immediate cashflow woes and helping SMEs to secure various forms of finance to manage working capital. Do you specialise in a specific area? Corporate finance is one of our principal areas of specialist expertise. We’re CIMA Chartered Management Accountants, so we’ve all worked within organisations and sat on the commercial side of the fence, with our corporate finance team also including chartered marketers as well as accountants – no business operates in a vacuum and every business case needs to carefully consider the internal and external environment in which the company operates; so our marketing professionals tell the ‘story’ to investors of where the business is, where it is going, and how it’s going to get there. This is an essential element to successfully securing finance. What one piece of advice would you offer to businesses that are worried about this current financial year? We advise all of our clients to undertake a strategic review every year, and only in doing so can they ascertain what their priorities should be for the forthcoming financial year. The difference with management accountants is that we are qualified to look our clients’ businesses holistically and advise on all areas of operations, and not just the finances, so in this regard we seek to add value when it comes to setting objectives and outlining strategies to achieves their priorities in the next financial year. If clients are concerned and worried about their finances, what advice would you give? Talk to your accountant – a good accountant and tax advisor will be there all year round, not just at year end.

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LINE OF BEAUTY

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MEET THE BRISTOL UNI LECTURER MAKING LITERARY WAVES

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A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO LIVE FEAR-FREE THE BEST ONLINE THEATRE RIGHT NOW

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HOW BRISTOL RESTAURANTS ARE THINKING INSIDE THE BOX

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WILDE AT HEART

IT’S DORIAN GRAY, BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW HIM…

(AND NO, IT’S NOT MOWING THE LAWN) + OTHER OUTDOORSY STUFF TO BUY AND DO

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LAUGH OUT LOUD SLAPSTICK GOES DIGITAL

ART AND SOUL: THE COLLABORATIVE WORLD OF GEMMA COMPTON AND COPYRIGHT

ALL UNDER THE NIGHT SKY

BANDS DON’T PLAY NO MORE

WHEN YOU’RE LIVE MUSIC’S BIGGEST FAN, BUT THE MUSIC’S STOPPED…

EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD BE DOING IN THE GARDEN RIGHT NOW

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BE THE FAVOURITE CHILD THE REGENERATION OF THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

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CURVES IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES: A HOME IN THE PARAGON

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NIGHT MOVES

AFTER-DARK HEROES FLOORING: IT’S SEXIER THAN YOU THINK

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NE’S BACK.LOST TIME… E C S T R A E TH UP FOR LET’S MAKE

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It’s the city’s business

BRISTOLWORKS far left: Dale Vince of Ecotricity; left: Ann

Hiatt, former Google chief of staff; and below: Chris Anderson, owner of TED Conferences

Start me up

A trio of big-name speakers get the inaugural EntreConf off to an exciting start

ntreConf, the new conference for entrepreneurs, has unveiled a remarkable line-up of speakers, including the owner of TED Conferences and a former chief of staff for Google. EntreConf: The Future Is Unwritten on 1 July aims to give inspiration, practical advice and connections for entrepreneurs from any sector, whether new businesses, start-ups, scale-ups or those about to exit. Free registrations are available on the site. The conference is offering a wealth of valuable content. The three keynote speakers are the idiosyncratic founder of Ecotricity, Dale Vince – a former new-age traveller who is now a leading

green-energy entrepreneur and pioneer, who also owns the eco-friendly Forest Green Rovers and was the executive producer of Seaspiracy. Then Chris Anderson, who owns and runs the highly-influential TED Conferences, giving tips for entrepreneurs. The third is Ann Hiatt, former business partner of Jeff Bezos at Amazon and chief of staff at Google, talking about business strategies. Other sessions will be run by the University of Bath School of Management on kinetic thinking and how entrepreneurial development can be unlocked. Swiss private bank Lombard Odier will be unveiling exclusive research into entrepreneurs’ attitudes post-pandemic. Burges Salmon is hosting a session on investment

rounds, with practical advice on funding. Bath company Rocketmakers has a dynamic session on “What if..?”: the opportunities that innovative tech developments create for businesses. Bath Spa University will be analysing how lifelong learning can help entrepreneurs keep their thinking fresh. Bevan Brittan is presenting a new suite of offerings in a clinic to help start-up businesses from the earliest days: employment, corporate structure and commercial contracts. It takes place as a virtual conference this year with plans for a real-life event in 2022. A limited number of free tickets are available via a unique partnership with sponsors. For more claudia.butler@mediaclash.co.uk entreconf.com; @EntreConf

The executive team at BPEC: from left, Charles Cook, Jerry Barnes, Heather Frankham, Alan Rosengren, Mark Mason, Julian Telling, Denis Mullan

Anaphite, based in St Philips, was founded by Sam Burrow and Alexander Hewitt to look at ways to exploit the potential of graphene

OKKO Health mobile phone app, developed in Bristol to enable people to monitor the health of their eyes

Bristol-based Rovco is now a global provider of hydrographic services

A camera able to visualise and quantify methane leaks has been developed by QLM Technology Ltd, following investment from BPEC

SUPPORT ACT They say success breeds success, and more than 100 of Bristol’s top businesspeople are proving that to be true – by providing funds to help other businesses grow Formed five years ago, the Bristol Private Equity Club (BPEC) has invested £2.1 million in six months, despite the country being in lockdown. The group completed 12 funding deals in that timescale, making the last financial year the most successful in its history. Club members, all successful local entrepreneurs, invest spare funds and provide expertise to businesses that need backing to help them scale up. Many of the businesses are at the forefront of science and technology, and are mostly based in the greater Bristol area. “Bristol has always had an enterprising and individual spirit, and we have found that people who have been successful in Bristol are keen to support others with potential, who need financial help to reach their goals,” said Jerry Barnes, who founded the club, based on similar organisations in London. “We are filling that gap between start-up funding, where people get support from family and friends, and the venture capital funds, who won’t look at a business until it has grown to a certain level. To have grown from six members to over 100 in under five years shows what an appetite there is locally to get involved. “The fact that after a very short pause in March 2020, when Covid restrictions first hit, the deals quickly returned and started to flow again shows that this model of regional support on a human scale works well.”

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Bristol Private Equity Club has now invested in 26 diﬀerent companies, providing over £9 million through more than 50 deals, supporting some businesses up to four times to nurture and patiently support growth. Some members of the club are very active in supporting businesses, others are less so, but on average members have invested £40,000 each per annum. Some club members wanted to help start-up businesses, so BPEC Seed has now been launched, supporting start-ups with smaller amounts of funding. BPEC has also, in partnership with Newable Ventures, secured £10 million in new funding from British Business Investments, a commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank funding businesses through a regional angels programme. Many businesses supported are at the forefront of science and technology. They include Cytoseek, who are providing the next generation of cell therapies; QLM, who have developed cameras to detect and prevent leaks of greenhouse gases; Anaphite, who are supporting the development of Electric Vehicle batteries; Spaceforge, who are developing manufacturing in space and Azul Optics and Okko Health, supporting eye health through technology. Entrepreneurs who would like to join the club can ﬁnd out more at bristolprivateequityclub.com

CASE STUDY: ROVCO Fast-growing technology company Rovco is developing 3D vision and artificial intelligence techniques to carry out subsea inspections, after being backed by BPEC members since its launch in September 2016. Rovco, based close to Temple Meads, has created jobs developing its technologies for use in the offshore renewable industry and oil field decommissioning. Investment from Bristol Private Equity Club linked the business with 19 well-established, successful people from the Bristol area and enables them to plug into their network as they grow. “The club is absolutely brilliant to work with, and is extremely well-organised,” said Brian Allen, founder and CEO of Rovco. “We also like the idea that it is all Bristol business people involved. “I am proud that our team has been able to deliver forecast-beating results each year, and BPEC’s group of very successful entrepreneurs and business leaders have been steadfast in their support of our company. We are glad to have them on board, and have really been able to count on their support as we bring robotic technology into the European offshore wind industry.” For more: rovco.com

BRISTOLWORKS

SCIENCE CREATES

END OF AN ERA BBC Studios, the principal commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group, is leaving its Bristol site on Whiteladies Road and moving to a new home in the city centre. Staff from the world-renowned Natural History Unit and Factual Entertainment Bristol, which make some of the BBC’s most popular programmes, including Antiques Roadshow, Countryfile, Gardeners’ World and the BAFTAaward winning DIY SOS, will move to Bridgewater House in Finzels Reach. “Moving to a new production base in the centre of Bristol will enable us to continue to support and celebrate the creativity of the Natural History Unit and Factual Entertainment, build on our legacy and invest in our future,” said director of content Ralph Lee. “Bristol is the largest BBC Studios production base outside London, and its indisputable success and ambition has empowered us to make this commercial investment. We want to grow our production business significantly and retain our position at the pinnacle of programme-making in a highly competitive global market.” For more: bbc.co.uk

A new £6m science and engineering incubator in Old Market has now reached its final phase of construction and is set to open in November. Science Creates, a custom-designed deeptech ecosystem project founded by entrepreneur Dr Harry Destecroix, in partnership with the University of Bristol, aims to tackle the current 90 per cent failure rate for science-based startups. The project, which has received £1.5m funding from Research England, is expected to bring an estimated 250 high value jobs to the city centre. The new space will provide 15 laboratories, offices, a community outreach ‘learning lab’ and an events space in the former stationery warehouse on Midland Road. The new incubator ties in with the university’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus development, which is expected to deliver an estimated £626m of employment and financial benefit to the regional economy over the next decade.

Dr Harry Science Creates’ new space

For more: sciencecreates.co.uk

STAY GOLD

Bristol has been awarded the status of Gold Sustainable Food City, recognising the positive work relating to social, environmental, and economic issues. It’s only the second city in the UK to receive this accolade, which is awarded by the UK partnership programme, Sustainable Food Places.

The announcement follows the work of citywide initiative Bristol Going for Gold, led by Bristol Food Network, Bristol City Council, Bristol Green Capital Partnership, and Resource Futures. The winning application focused on themes of reducing food waste, community action and growing Bristol’s good food movement, buying better, urban growing, eating better and food equality. Examples of initiatives included in the successful bid were Grow Wilder, The Children’s Kitchen and FOOD Clubs, which are a partnership project between Family Action, Feeding Bristol and FareShare South West, with 16 clubs across the city providing nutritious food to families at a fraction of the normal cost. For more: sustainablefoodplaces.org

BRISTOLWORKS

Immersed in nature

CLOCKWISE: Lucy and

Hannah; Bombus lucorum & Bombus lapidarius by Nik Pollard; Yellow Rattle by Kim Atkinson Scattered bugs from work by Nik Pollard and Winona Legg!

At Trymwood Studios, a love of art and nature come together under the watchful curation of Hannah Athayde and Lucy Pedlar

annah and Lucy sum up their working relationship as “great friends who are passionate about inspiring a love of art and nature. “Lucy is an experienced artist and teacher; Hannah is an anthropologist by training, and very museum-keen. We are both mums – we have six children between us – and we want to work with all age groups to develop curiosity and creativity.” How did you come to establish Trymwood Studios?

A number of things came together to form the business. Our friend, the artist-naturalist Greg Poole, died suddenly in 2018, leaving a treasure-trove of beautiful artwork in his Redland studio. We were invited to catalogue his work and manage sales. We loved getting to know the work: learning more about the wild species Greg celebrated through his observations, and the printmaking processes he used. We

decided that we wanted to share this experience with others. Then a very special space at Trymwood became available as a gallery and printmaking studio, and Nik Pollard (Lucy’s husband, and a respected artist) became more involved as the limitations of the pandemic took eﬀect. What are the main aims of the studio?

We really want to inspire others to love the natural world around them and delight in the work of artists who immerse themselves in nature. We love welcoming people into our beautiful space to enjoy the amazing artwork, which is available to buy. We also run exciting artmaking workshops. Do you represent a particular type of artist?

Yes! We promote artists who celebrate the natural world. They spend a lot of time drawing in wild places and have knowledge built up over many hours of looking very closely at animals and plants. The artists have all worked alongside

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scientists and ecologists on projects that seek to understand and conserve nature, as well as having a love of working with diﬀerent materials and processes, to create inspiring artworks full of depth and poetry. Tell us about the exhibitions

To date we have had two exhibitions, showing the work of Greg Poole and Nik Pollard. They can be seen in digital form on our website, where there is still work available to buy. We cannot wait to open our gallery doors again on 7 July, to show new drawings and paintings by artists Wynona Legg and Kim Atkinson. This show is not to be missed – expect vibrant meadow ﬂowers, iridescent bluebottle ﬂies and beady-eyed meadow grasshoppers! How would you describe the creative community up at Westbury?

Westbury-on-Trym has a wonderful village feel, with a number of really special

independent shops and small businesses. There is a great online community linking residents together, and some fabulous initiatives such as the BS9 Window Wanderland and BS9 Art Trail, and the newly restored Westbury Wildlife Park, that receive huge support from the public. We have felt really encouraged by some very inspiring local creative people. How did lockdown affect you?

While our programme of exhibitions and workshops was put on hold, and we were thrown into the joys and challenges of homeschooling, we had time to reflect on the value of our work at Trymwood Studios. We noticed, more than ever, the power of the original artworks on our walls to connect us with other people and the natural world. We hope to inspire others to find these connections, too. Trymwood Studios is open at specific times for exhibitions, but you can also make an appointment to view work or book a workshop For more: trymwoodstudios.co.uk

BRISTOLWORKS 2

4 6

SPONSORSHIPS For remaining options, please contact harriette.dixon@ mediaclash.co.uk or neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk FINALISTS See our website for the full list TICKETS Please join the waiting list via the website for tickets to the Bristol Life Awards 2021. AWARDS The Bristol Life Awards ceremony will be held on 16 September 2021. Nothing beats being there… SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for all updates SPONSORS We thank our Sponsors so far on board for 2021, led from the front by our Headline Sponsor, Marsh Commercial. And then also our other Category Sponsors: Anderson Financial Management, British Corner Shop, Brunel Insurance Brokers, Burston Cook, Curo, Lexus Bristol, SLX, Spaces, Thatchers, Total Produce and VWV; and of course, Bristol Life itself. Also including our Feature Sponsors Bristol Sport and Triangle Networks and Silver Sponsors Clarke Willmott & Proctor + Stevenson.

Here comes the judge!

Meet this year’s Bristol Life Awards decision-makers

he nine people featured here have very different specialisms, but they do have one thing in common: together, they make up the highly discerning, blamelessly impartial, wholly incorruptible panel of judges who will choose the winners of this year’s Bristol Life Awards. In the run-up to judging day, the team will read through all the nominations put forward by the businesses on this year’s shortlist, before meeting to agree on the final winners. Please meet, then…

creative director of Razana Afrika; she’s also a trustee at both Arnolfini and the Tobacco Factory Theatres.

Dave Lees: CEO, Bristol Airport. Dave is driving forward the future of Bristol Airport as a national leader in sustainable aviation.

Glyn Blaise: Glyn founded tech start up Northstar.ai, and is now group COO for one of Bristol’s most exciting scale ups, Amdaris.

Amy Coppock: ED of Coutts. Amy has been in the industry for over 20 years; she’s currently responsible for the strategy and team in the South West and Wales.

Aine Morris: the ED of Bristol Food union – a new social enterprise born out of the Covid crisis to help keep Bristol fed.

Andrew Sperring: MD of JAS Building Services. Since joining the family firm in 2016, Andrew has become the company’s strategist and leader.

Christelle Pellecuer: multi-disciplinary artist and entrepreneur Christelle is the founder and

Mark Kelly: MD of Ashton Gate and Bristol Sport. Mark oversees the operation and management of the stadium and two élite training facilities. He is also responsible for commercial operations for Bristol Sport.

Natasha Volkk: Natasha is a business development manager at law firm TLT, supporting the clean energy and real estate sectors. Seb Loyn: the planning & development director of YTL is leading the team responsible for one of the most exciting regeneration projects in the country: transforming the historic former Filton Airfield into a thriving new neighbourhood for Bristol. For more: bristollifeawards.co.uk

Virtual one hour sessions, all free to attend Search Bristol Life on LinkedIn for upcoming dates and registration If you would like to get involved, please email events@mediaclash.co.uk

PROPERTY A PL ACE TO C ALL HOME

BACK THIS AUTUMN

The Bristol Property Awards return in November, and this year they’ll be held IRL... Bristol: outside London, the hottest of property spots in the UK. The Bristol Property Awards celebrate the whole of this dynamic sector, from residential to commercial, lettings to new builds, civic buildings to bold reimaginings. In 2020, for reasons too obvious to mention, the event took the form of an online Bristol Property Awards and Symposium. However, this year they’re roaring back in real life, on 12 November at Ashton Gate Stadium. As in pre-pandemic years, the Awards will be held over a Friday lunchtime, leaving plenty of opportunity for convivial business meetings that have a habit of extending into early evening. It’s a chance to meet friends and contacts you

haven’t seen in ages; clients who’ve lived a halflife via Zoom; a chance to put right any new business opportunities that have been missed – all those 'sliding doors' moments that can’t be recovered, but which can still be regenerated during a day which brings together all of the Bristol property sector in one room. The Awards launched on 8 June; this was also the day that nominations opened. During the online launch event, which you can still watch on YouTube, organisers MediaClash explained how the Awards worked, why they matter, and why you really should nominate your business; it’s free and easy to do so, and there are tips on the website.

We know it's been tough for many businesses over the past 15 months, so there’s a special part on this year’s nomination form where you can explain how you have responded to the pandemic – for your business, for your team and for your community. The judges know what challenges everyone has had to face, and will be looking for the smart ways that businesses have responded. Even in the toughest of times there have been great success stories. And the property sector has been more robust than most. It’s time to celebrate that in style… For more: bristolpropertyawards.co.uk

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PROPERTY JACK HEAD

House-buying hysteria ‘Best and final’ offers are here to stay . . .

ristol’s house buying frenzy has been playing out before our eyes since the end of lockdown in June last year. So, what causes a threebedroom end of terrace house in Fishponds to sell for £60,000, or nearly 20%, over the asking price? And I can assure you that we valued it correctly (cough). OK, so this particular property had a spectacular large garden that oﬀered something genuinely unique, but over the past 12 months, this scenario has not been uncommon. We

are regularly booking up two open days at a property before it has even been uploaded to Rightmove and Zoopla, so, demand is unusually strong. The signs are that ‘best and fi nal’ offers, where multiple buyers all make their best offer on a property they wish to purchase, are here to stay. We are predicting that demand for Bristol property will remain strong for long after that golden tan of the stamp duty holiday has faded away. Certainly, there is no argument from me that the Government’s stamp duty

“Demand will remain strong long after the golden tan of the stamp duty holiday has faded”

holiday didn’t encourage people who were considering a change in their home environment to pursue that change proactively. However, for most, this tax saving was a sweetener to their move, not the catalyst. So, what else is at play? To me, it feels like there has been a fundamental shift in many people’s thinking. Born out of the strains of the pandemic, that famous saying ‘life’s too short’ is no longer just a casual remark; it’s actually shaping people’s decision-making. Further to this, space, and in particular outside space, is now craved by those who don’t have it, and for those who do – well, of course, many now want more. Also, those working from home would love a space that allows them to work more effectively. So, for me, the main drivers underpinning demand in Bristol are the impact of home working and the trend towards deurbanisation, which is supported by office-based workers and their employers committing to a home-based working model permanently. Typically, we are seeing London-based workers who’ve have recently been told that they can now permanently work from home three or four days a week, selling up their £700,000 London flats and buying up Bristol’s housing stock, before many Bristolians can get a look in.

A friend of mine, who through years of hard work and dedication to his profession is fortunate to have a budget of £1 million, has been looking for his next family home for 10 months. He recently lost out (again) in the best-and-fi nal offer stage, even though his bid was more than £100,000 over the asking price. Rightly or wrongly so, he was quick to blame those exiting the big city in favour of this wonderful ‘little big’ city we call home. Then you have Roger, the fictional Cornish equivalent of my friend, who will be seething at the many Bristolians who are leaving our city in favour of the beautiful counties of Devon and Cornwall, pushing up prices there. However, people saying farewell to Bristol are also helping to create available housing stock here, in turn fuelling the property market. So, if you’re planning a move to buy your fi rst or your next Bristol property soon, we are advising all our purchasers to make sure they are as attractive a purchaser as possible and to get in a proceedable purchase position, to give yourself the very best chance of success. Jack Head is the founder of Bristol agency Boardwalk Property Co. and The Letting Game instagram: @thepropertypatron email: jack@boardwalkpropertyco.com

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A BIGGER SPLASH

The bathroom should be the spa of your home; a soothing sanctuary in which to soak away the cares of the day . . . Words by Ursula Cole

BATHROOMS

here’s a reason that most bathrooms have locks. Obviously, it’s partly a measure to avoid potential embarrassment – nobody wants their partner or kids barging in when they’re halfway through bleaching their moustache – but there’s also something pleasingly symbolic about closing the door on the rest of the household. It carries a clear message: “This is Me Time. Keep out”. The bathroom should be the spa of your home; a soothing retreat, filled with fluffy towels and gorgeously-scented unguents. Perhaps the odd trailing plant. Any care and investment that you put into its design and decoration will repay you a thousand times over, and to help you achieve this interiors nirvana, we’ve asked three local experts to talk us through the latest ideas, trends and colourways.

RIPPLES

“Our bathrooms are our sanctuaries; the place to unwind at the end of a long day, or to energise before the start of a new one,” says marketing manager Rachael McInnes. “It’s also a highly personal space, so it’s the perfect place to express your individual style and personality. “As bathrooms have become our at-home retreats, we’ve seen a trend towards the use of calming pastel colours in sinks, baths, tiles and accessories. Pastel-pink tones and sage-green hues work beautifully in bathrooms, creating a sense of serenity without compromising on personality. “Special finish brassware continues to be a very popular choice, too. Over the past few years, we’ve seen black, and then white, brassware explode in popularity, but this season’s take on the trend focuses on a spectrum of special finishes including dark bronze, brass and gunmetal. “We have a beautiful new bathroom range in a matt-white, stone-like finish. The collection of baths, basins and countertops is made from Dolotek; a non-porous continuous surface which can be moulded into incredible architectural shapes. Dolotek is also antibacterial, and so doesn’t require harsh chemicals when being cleaned. “We also have a very special collection of gold-edged shower screens, which our designers love. With more and more brassware finishes being included in our bathroom designs, it’s great to be able to extend the look into this kind of detail. This subtle element helps to create a luxe, hotel-inspired look.”

OK, so not all bathrooms can be as boutique-hotelgorgeous as this one by Ripples; but you could still consider springing for one of its Acquawhite freestanding baths; RIGHT: Fired Earth’s Escalas tiles are made by a small artisan producer in Spain; ‘escalas’ is Spanish for ‘scales’

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BATHROOMS

FIRED EARTH

“Today’s bathrooms are all about design detail, and you’re just as likely to find things like pot plants, framed pictures and soft furnishings in the bathroom as anywhere else in the home,” says creative director Colin Roby-Welford. “Beautiful tiles in eye-catching formats, finishes and layouts are a key element of a bathroom’s design, and here at Fired Earth we’re seeing a noticeable trend towards using more colour, too. Sophisticated, dusky pinks are a perfect choice, since they exude a sense of spa-like calm without being in any way cold. Pink tiles such as Forecast Lundy create a really fresh, uplifting backdrop to white baths and bowls in natural light, while they look warm and flattering in candlelight. Try pink tiles with metallic finishes such as brass and antiqued gold, combined with plenty of vibrant green plants, for a relaxed, modern scheme that’s perfect for bathrooms. “Think about using the same, or similar, tiles throughout the bathroom, so that walls and floors merge seamlessly to create a contemporary wet-room effect. This will help to create the illusion of more space in a smaller bathroom, too. Forecast Lundy wall tiles look fabulous with Luna Rose encaustic tiles from the Bert & May collection, the pretty star motif on the Luna tiles adding a subtle decorative touch which really lifts the scheme. “You could even use tiles across countertops and bath surrounds, creating inexpensive yet eye-catching surfaces and unique effects. It’s details like these that transform a bathroom from being a functional space into one that’s a joy to spend time in. “Our new Escalas fishscale-shaped tiles are suitable for use throughout the bathroom and come in a beautifully invigorating, ocean-inspired palette of soft greens and greys. They have a delicate crackle glaze, too. Tiles in unusual shapes like these are a perfect way to ensure that even the smallest bathroom has plenty of visual interest and a welcome sense of texture. “Mosaics are also a key trend, with unusual formats such as triangles, pickets (elongated hexagons) and Arabesque patterns being popular choices for bathrooms, since they’re a great way of introducing unexpected curves or lines to a scheme. These can be used to complement or contrast with other shapes within the bathroom to create visual interest and a real sense of character, even in a pared-back interiors scheme.”

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

top left: In collaboration with Fired Earth, Bert & May uses natural pigments to create faded, chalky colours for a look that’s both beautiful and enduring above: Gardiner Haskins: welcome to

the spa-throom . . .

left: Ripples embraces the

pastel trend with these fabulous contemporary basins

YOU HAVE BEEN READING Ripples ripplesbathrooms.com Fired Earth firedearth.com Gardiner Haskins gardinerhaskins.co.uk

“Soon we’ll have gorgeous shower trays in any colour you can imagine” GARDINER HASKINS

“I think that people should consider bathrooms as mini-spas or wellness centres. It is a place where you can completely focus on yourself,” says marketing officer Carine Butcher. “During the pandemic, while everything was closed during lockdowns, our bathrooms became a sanctuary to relax and forget about what was going on outside. I have even heard of spa-throoms . . . “In terms of colour, bathrooms are not invariably white anymore. They are becoming an extension of the colour trends seen in kitchens; at Gardiner Haskins we’ve noticed that bathroom trends follow just behind kitchen trends. “Dark kitchens have been popular over the last few years, and bathrooms have followed suit, though now they are becoming lighter again. Dark grey and navy have been overtaken by dark green. “Marbled wall panels are now trending. Sinks and worktops are integrated, flowing as one complete product instead of the sink fitted into the worktop. While marble with veins and black brassware are still popular, there are many exciting colour options right around the corner. Brass gold continues to make itself known this season alongside a new contender – pastel. And soon we’ll have gorgeous shower trays in any colour you can imagine . . .” n

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YOUR CHOICE YOUR DESIGN YOUR BUDGET YOUR BATHROOM YOUR VISION FREE Towel Rail with EVERY complete suite & install for under £5,000 Contact us for details

A PROFESSIONAL, FAMILY OWNED COMPANY COVERING THE SOUTH WEST OF THE UK. We offer a full in-house design service supplying you with many options and designs - just sit back and let us sort everything for you from the comfort of your home. However if you wish to view a bathroom showroom please call us and we will introduce you to a local bathroom showroom who retain our services. Email: bathroomvision@gmail.com | Tel: 0117 256 5008 | Online: www.bathroomvision.co.uk

BURGHLEY ROAD Call off the search; you’ll find the perfect Bristol family home on this quiet street in St Andrews By Ursula Cole

PROPERTY

hey had us at ‘St Andrews’. Who wouldn’t want to live in this most pleasant of north Bristol ’burbs? Particularly if it’s in one of those elegant brown-and-cream-stone terraces a few blocks away from St Andrew’s Park – eulogised recently in this very magazine by Stan Cullimore, in his Bark Life column – and just as handy for the eclectic, independent retail and dining delights of the Gloucester Road and Stokes Croft. (We’re thinking Fed for brunch and Bianchis for dinner, but we’re open to suggestions.) In short, if we were looking for the ultimate family home in Bristol, in a peaceful enclave that still had easy access to all the really cool stuff in the city, we’d be looking very closely at the streets here – and we’d definitely be checking out Burghley Road. Number 38 is the kind of house that reminds you that nobody built such liveable homes as the Victorians. Those tall, narrow Georgian houses are elegant, but the stairs can be punitive. I have friends who live in a beautiful 1820s town house who dress and pack for the whole day before coming down to breakfast. Late19th-century architects, on the other hand, defaulted to wider homes with gentler inclines. Houses spread left and right, rather than upwards. The larger ones, of course – and number 38 Burghley Road is very much of their ilk – still reach across several storeys; in this case, a ground, first and second floor, plus an undercroft, and even a couple of outbuildings in the form of a summer house and workshop. So, let’s head on in, starting with the vestibule with its original stained glass windows and Victorian tiled floor. This opens to a large hallway, still with its original cornice, which leads to all the main living rooms. There’s a large drawing room at the front, with more than a touch of Colonial chic thanks to plantation-style shutters fitted to the sashed windows, and the stripped wooden floor. There are cornices and picture rails, and an appealing cream enamelled wood-burning stove set into the marble fireplace surround. A cool, neutral colour scheme that’s continued throughout the house (apart from one concession to pink, in a bedroom) makes this a hugely restful space. The best is yet to come. Further down the hallway you’ll come to a Crittall door that frames a vast openplan space – part kitchen, part dining room, with a further sun room at the end. This, we predict, is the point of the house tour when you’ll meet the eye of your partner, and give a small, imperceptible nod while the agent’s back is turned. The kitchen is designed around a central island. A generous amount of natural light bounces off the pale wooden floor and the dove-grey Shaker-style units with their gleaming white quartz worktops.

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PROPERTY

The dining area and sun room beyond have an almost unfair amount of glazing, with a large side window, two large Velux windows and a Crittall door providing a seamless link to the back garden. Three bedrooms and a luxurious bathroom fill the first floor, but whoever pays the mortgage is likely to bag the top-floor master suite, with its vaulted ceiling and exposed timber beams, rooftop views and sophisticated en-suite shower room for their very own retreat And then there’s the good-sized garden, divided into three sections – a raised paved area just outside (we’re thinking al fresco breakfasts), with steps down to a lawn bordered by raised planted beds, with a sunny west-facing patio at the end for your BBQ and entertaining needs. There’s also a duo of pretty timber-framed buildings with full plumbing and mains power,; these might have been designed for working from home. One would be ideal as an office, the other (it’s current use) as a gym. Oh, and if schools are an issue, know this: number 38 is in the catchment for Brunel Field and Sefton Park primaries. Perfect family home? We rest our case. n

HOUSE NUMBERS Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms/ WCs 3 Reception rooms Drawing room and vast open plan kitchen/dining/sun room Outside Landscaped back garden and front garden

Price Where

£1.1m St Andrews

What else? Two garden buildings Elephant Estate Agents, 2 The Promenade, Bristol, BS7 8AL; 0117 3700556; elephantlovesbristol.co.uk

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kitchen, room for formal dining and relaxing and a private terrace, it’s a one-off contemporary home. West Villa reflects the Georgian splendour of the Manor House, and includes a breathtaking rooftop terrace with far-reaching views across the city; more private outdoor space at ground level makes this a must-see home. Set in three acres of private residents’ gardens, Redland Court is Bristol’s most prestigious landmark development. With so much thought, attention to detail and the exceptional specifications, and allocated parking, it’s a must-view; the sooner the better. n

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For further information please call Savills on 0117 910 0360 or Ocean on 0117 946 9838 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 95

BRISTOL LIVES

“I’d like to introduce cabaret, from the edgy jazz of the Weimar Republic up to contemporary drag queens slaying with their lip synching” for more diverse programming. One thing I’d like to introduce is cabaret, a relaxed vibe and flamboyant performers mingling among the tables – everything from the edgy jazz of the Weimar Republic right up to contemporary drag queens slaying with their lip synching. What I love about festivals is

SAMIR SAVANT

Give a big Bristol welcome to Samir, who’s about to join St George’s Bristol as its new chief executive

amir was originally born in Mumbai, but grew up in Manchester. He’s worked at venerable arts organisations for 20 years, from the ENO to the RSC, the Royal Academy, Royal College of Music and the London Handel Festival – and now he’s moving West to become the new CE of St George’s Bristol. “I’ll be leaving London after three decades,” he says. “I’m happy to be creating a new life in vibrant, exciting Bristol and to meet my new Bristol family; although the move is tinged with sadness, as my husband Michael, my partner of the last 26 years, died earlier this year.”

My parents recognised the importance of music,

and encouraged me, so I have loved music for as long as I can remember. While at Cambridge, I developed a deep love of English choral repertoire – Britten, Howells, Vaughan Williams.

I studied Russian and French, and this has also influenced my musical preferences, including Stravinsky, Ravel, Rachmaninov, Débussy…. I was very involved in the arts scene at university. I wanted to

creating a sense of community and place. St George’s has an attractive year-round programme of events, and I’d love to group these together with specific themes, and a particular focus to reach different communities.

I’m a musician myself, but my chief instrument is my larynx. I had lessons in both Indian and Western classical singing while growing up, and I was a tenor choral scholar at St John’s, Cambridge. I still sing semiprofessionally with a number of groups; I also play the piano, but definitely need more practice.

work in a creative environment, but it’s difficult to secure that first job, so I ended up in the travel industry for a few years. I completed the post-grad arts management course at City University, and started my first arts job at English National Opera . My subsequent roles have been mainly in fundraising and marketing in the cultural sector.

I have a passion for Baroque music, which I have been able to

St George’s is a beautiful, historic building, and the people

I am a passionate believer in the positive impact of culture on people’s lives, from community cohesion to personal wellbeing; the experience of lockdown has made us feel keenly the loss of the things we love the most, including the arts.

there are wonderful. I love the fact that classical music, which is where most of my experience lies, sits at the core, but that the eclectic programme is expanding in interesting directions.

The new extension with its café-

bar and studio spaces is perfect

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indulge during my five years at the London Handel Festival, but I have a wide range of musical tastes, from opera to Bollywood. Across all genres I love vocal music the most, and relish the talents of extraordinary divas, from Jessye Norman to Annie Lennox.

The piece of music I’d put on at the end of a trying day? There

are so many amazing artists to

choose from, but if I wanted to relax it would have to be Ella Fitzgerald; her voice is pure heaven. Secret skills? I have a good memory for faces and names,

which has served me well as a fundraiser and arts impresario. I have had some shoulder impingement in the past year, but until then I could do fairly passable cartwheels and handstands, which, for an unfit man aged 50, should not be possible! After answering these questions I’m heading out for

dinner with friends. It’s so nice that we can enjoy restaurants again as lockdown eases. I’ve become bored with my own rather mediocre cooking.

My name has two separate meanings in Arabic and Sanskrit,

but perhaps that’s a topic for another interview…

SAMIR’S DESERT ISLAND TUNES My list of favourites changes every week, but here are some pieces I’ve been listening to recently: • I ch bin der Welt abhanden gekommen from RückertLieder, Mahler • Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Britten • Doretta’s Dream from La Rondine, Puccini • As Steals the Morn from L’Allegro • Il Penseroso ed il Moderato, Handel • Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, Ella Fitzgerald • Har Ek Baat, MIDIval Punditz • 17 Again, Eurythmics.