Bristol Life - Issue 311

ISSUE 311 / JANUARY 2022 / £3

ISSUE 311 / JANUARY 2022 / BRISTOL 2022 – BRING IT ON!

MARK

RYLANCE IS DOCTOR

SEMMELWEIS IN A MAJOR NEW PREMIÈRE FOR BRISTOL OLD VIC

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2022 (AND STUFF WE REALLY LIKED IN 2021)

SMILE TIME

STEPHEN MANGAN AT SLAPSTICK

MOVE OR IMPROVE? ASK THE EXPERTS

EDITOR’S LETTER

L

24

Germ of an idea

Reclaiming the reputation of a forgotten pioneer: Sir Mark Rylance brings Dr Semmelweis to Bristol Old Vic

ook, the way I see it, there are two very different ways of doing January, and neither of them is wrong.

In one corner you have the brighteyed, bushy-tailed, new-year, new-you set, hellbent on self-improvement after the Christmas excess. And sure; if you want to cut out meat and dairy for a month, go alcoholfree and hit the icy, rainstreaked streets at 8am every morning with a Stryd clipped to your shoe, more power to your beautifully toned elbow.

You’ll definitely be in better shape than I will by February.

Then there’s the so-wrong-it’s-right approach, which involves putting all that praiseworthy personal growth on hold until, oh, maybe spring? Choose, instead, to embrace the slow, lovely flow of the short winter days. We’re thinking lazy, hunkering-down, candlelit evenings, toasting your toes in front of a logburner, ideally accompanied by something delicious in a glass. We’re contemplating hearty, warming food – whatever the fancy takes you.

We’re definitely not ruling out hot chocolate.

The Danes call this kind of thing hygge; to me, it just seems like basic winter self-care.

If you do venture out this January, make sure it’s to Bristol Old Vic, where Sir Mark Rylance makes his debut in a new play he’s devised about Ignaz Semmelweis. We had the huge pleasure of an early-morning chat with this titan of the stage – at least, Mal did the chatting, while I lurked in the background, eavesdropping, marvelling and a little awed.

We’d have been quite content to rest on our laurels right there, but we (OK, Mal again) also had a bit of time with Stephen Mangan, host of Slapstick Gala. We even managed a quickie, so to speak, with Madness frontman Suggs.

How are we going to top all this in our February issue? Seriously, we need to know; we’re worried we may have peaked too early.

Feel free to write in with suggestions.

DERI ROBINS Follow us on Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram @BristolLifeMag

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Issue 311 / January 2022 COVER Original photo of Mark Rylance by Nadav Kander Photoshopping by Ben Robins

2022 9

28

PREVIEW Get the 2022 diary out

ARTS

18 WHAT’S ON Shows, gigs, art, the usual 24 THE BIG INTERVIEW And they really don’t come

much bigger than Sir Mark Rylance

28 COMEDY The very nice Stephen Mangan at Slapstick 34 BRISTOL HEROES Remember when we did Part I of

2021 Heroes back in December? Well, here’s part II

39 MUSIC Completing our triumverate of genuinely big

names in this issue, it’s the one and only Suggs

39

FOOD & DRINK

42 RESTAURANT The best tastes of 2021 45 PHIL HAUGHTON A clean, fresh salad for your new-

year detoxing

47 CAFÉ SOCIETY Years come, years go, but Stan’s still

on the coffee and cake. ever change, Stan

SHOPPING

50 FASHION City of sustainable clobber 55 MILLY VAUGHAN Velvet overground

LIFESTYLE

58 HEALTH & BEAUTY Top fitness trends to kickstart

your good intentions

BUSINESS

67 BRISTOLWORKS It’s the city’s business

PROPERTY

81 MOVE OR IMPROVE Fit-out, or flit?

92 HOUSE STYLE Snapping the best homes in the city

2021

98

98 THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS 2021: it really

wasn’t all bad

Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Mal Rogers, Colin Moody, Stan Cullimore, Milly Vaughan, Phil Haughton, 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, Carriage Court, 22 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 West Country-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

WET WET WET

Our Instagram feed contains plentiful puddlegrams – Bristol’s not exactly short of rainy days, after all. However, these images really stood out for us, because Tim Fish has a knack of making everyday reflections look like painterly pieces of art. Follow Tim @gingerslimphoto

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2022 PREVIEW

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

Brandon gazes meaningfully in the direction of 2022.

Or maybe wistfully back at 2021. It’s hard to say

It’s a new year, a new dawn, a new life – and here are just some of the things Bristol has lined up for your delectation and delight in 2022

G

oodbye Yellow Brick Road and Mr Brightside ringing out over BS3.

The return of Bristol Sounds, the Balloon Fiesta and Harbourfest. The long June bank holiday: 2022 is looking not just normal, but totally immense...

EXHIBITIONS BRISTOL MUSEUM Grayson’s Art Club

Until 4 September

Eclectic show of artwork created during Season Two of Grayson Perry’s popular TV series, during which well-known artists and celebs responded to lockdown though everything from paintings to photography, ceramics and textiles. There’s work by Grayson, too, and a whole little room made from felt… bristolmuseums.org.uk

Positioning is key: Irony x Boe for Upfest in 2017

ARNOLFINI Paula Rego: Subversive Stories

5 February-29 May

Surely it’s a bit too early for Harbourfest?

Paula Rego comes to Arnolfini

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One of the most important figurative artists of her generation, Rego returns to Arnolfini after almost 40 years.

Arnolfini says Through over 70 prints, the exhibition ventures inside the artist’s disquieting imagination, in which she casts herself as storyteller and master puppeteer, interweaving her wit and dark humour to reimagine stories old and new.

In Rego’s world, women loom monstrously large as she reinterprets classic tales, imbuing innocence with a darker sexuality, and instilling issues of gender, power and politics with both light and shade.”

We say: apart from all that, the prints are simply fascinating and lovely to gaze at, and we can’t wait. arnolfini.org.uk

RWA Me, Myself, I

9 April-19 June

It’s a big year for the RWA. With the completion of its £4.1m Light and Inspiration renovation project, a big reopening is planned, kicking off with Me, Myself, I: Artists’ SelfPortraits, including over 70 works that examine how artists have imagined and seen themselves.

Those featured include Grayson Perry (he’s everywhere!), Tracy Emin, Sonia Boyce, Antony Gormley, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lucien Freud, Patrick Heron, etc. rwa.org.uk UPFEST

28-29 May

Bristol’s beloved, and Europe’s largest, street-art festival returns for its 15th year, transforming the walls of BS3 with a weekend of live painting. Hubs include Greville Smyth Park, Tobacco Factory and Ashton Gate. upfest.co.uk

2022 PREVIEW ANNIVERSARIES Well, there’s the Queen’s Jubilee, for starters, giving us two extra bank holidays in. June. Doubtless many events will take place – we’d be amazed if Clifton Wood didn’t throw at least one street party – but you could do worse than kick off the long weekend at Love Saves the Day (see page 12).

2022 also marks 100 years of the BBC Bristol studios, home to the Natural History nit that’s the envy of the world.

Bristol Harbour Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary event in 2022. It should have been , but you know, pandemic, yadda yadda.

It’s also the 75th anniversary of Bristol twinning with Hannover and Bordeaux Finally, two movie-related milestones, as both Watershed and 20th Century Flicks’ celebrate their 40th birthdays.

LSTD – this year, saving the day from Ashton Court

M SHED Think Global, Act Bristol

25 June-October

Following the success of Vanguard last summer (see page 98), and the Colston statue display, M Shed are showing Think Global, Act Bristol, an exhibition and public engagement programme addressing Bristol’s role in the climate and ecological crises. ntil then, the wonderful Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition continues until 5 June. bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed

LOVE SAVES THE DAY

2-3 June

Bristol’s biggest homegrown music festival is back at new site Ashton Court for its 10th year, taking place over the Jubilee weekend with a stellar line-up of international artists. lovesavestheday.seetickets.com

ELTON JOHN Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour

22 & 26 June

When is he gonna come down?( June). Where is he going to land? (Ashton Gate). And yes, we know lton’s had farewell’ tours before, but he claims this really is the last one. Catch him over two dates in Bristol, at the only venue in the South West where he’s performing. ashtongatestadium.co.uk

BRISTOL SOUNDS

22-26 June

The perfectly-formed series of concerts – big enough for a festival vibe, small enough to offer great views even from the back, all with a unique Harbourside setting – returns to Lloyd’s Amphitheatre.

Headliners named so far are Noel Gallagher’s High-Flying Birds, British electronic duo Jungle, and sweet-sounding Swedish siblings First Aid Kit. seetickets.com

THE WORLD REIMAGINED

NILE ROGERS & CHIC

This ground-breaking national art education project aims to transform how we understand Transatlantic Slavery. A trail of large globe sculptures created by artists will bring to life the reality and impact of transatlantic slavery; they’ll begin to appear in August, in cities including Bristol, ending during Black History Month. theworldreimagined.org

Bristol Beacon brings one of music’s greatest living legends and the ultimate party band to Lloyd’s. Too young to remember when Everybody Dance, Le Freak and Good Times fi rst came out?

Prepare to have your disco socks knocked off. bristolbeacon.org

August-October

MUSIC THE KILLERS

26 May

It’s the biggest-ever tour for Brandon and the lads, who’ll bring their astonishing back and current catalogue of tunes to Ashton Gate. ashtongatestadium.co.uk

13-14 July

Le freak, c’est chic! Nile is coming to Lloyd’s, and we are here for him...

BELLE & SEBASTIAN

15 July

Following a sold-out show at the then-named Colston Hall in , the Scottish indie-poppers play loyd’s in their biggest show in the city to date. bristolbeacon.org THE UNFOLDING Album Digital recording from February, CD out in April.

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2022 PREVIEW

Double lift off: raise a glass at Craft Beer, and watch the balloons rise over the city at the Fiesta

and 2021, Bristol’s biggest celebration of craft beer returns to Harbourside with a heady selection from the best breweries in Bristol, the K and further afield, with indie street food and live music. bristolcraftbeerfestival.co.uk

A major new work from Mercury-nominated artist Hannah Peel, commissioned by and performed with the Paraorchestra conducted by Charles Hazlewood.

The recording, they say, was “made over three years in precious morsels of time around a global pandemic. These circumstances – unexpected when the collaboration began – add weight to its explorations in sound about who we are, where we came from, and who we could all be.”

Available in either black or (ooh!) blue sparkle. vinyl.store.realworld.co.uk

FESTIVALS SLAPSTICK FESTIVAL

26-30 January

Last year, like many other events, Bristol’s Silent Film & Visual Comedy Festival took the whole shebang online, but for 2022 it’s back as a five-day hybrid, with around a third of the events also being streamed online, making for the most accessible Slapstick ever.

Stephen Mangan hosts this year’s Gala event; more about this very nice dude on p 28. slapstick.org.uk BRISTOL LIGHT FESTIVAL

Date tbc

After launching in 2020, the fest is set to return at the end of February or early March.

The first festival saw a trail of interactive art installations across the city centre, including illuminated musical see-saws in Queen Square, a multi-coloured mist enveloping Castle Bridge and Banksy’s Well Hung Lover piece brought to life with projected animations – so expectations are sky-high for the follow-up event. bristollightfestival.org

all we can say is that we’ve never seen a Mayfest show that we didn’t enjoy, or that failed to stick in the memory, from Dead Centre’s Chekhov’s First Play to Lulu by The Tiger Lillies. mayfestbristol.co.uk.

BRISTOL CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL;

10-11 June

One of the few festivals to have taken place in both 2020

MAYFEST

May (obviously)

Bristol’s biennial festival of contemporary theatre is set to return for 2022. More details when we have them; for now,

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He’s been carrying that kit since 1928: Buster Keaton in The Cameraman at Slapstick

BRISTOL HARBOUR FESTIVAL

15-17 July

Back for its 50th anniversary, would you believe. Bristol’s big summertime extravaganza brings the usual crowd-pleasing mix of family activities, dance, circus performers, food stalls, and live music across the waterfront. Oh, and did we mention the boats? bristolharbourfestival.co.uk

PREPARE TO BE AMAZED… Coming soon...

First plans have been revealed to transform a derelict paint factory into a venue for an all-year round version of Boomtown Festival: part-art gallery, part-theme park, part-fi lm set, and wholly Boomtown.

“We’re calling it an ‘amazement park’ and we’ll be revealing the actual name when the time is right, they say. The project plays into, and expands on, everything we have spent our lives building up, giving support to Boomtown and massively complementing the UK’s underground arts and creative festival scene. boomtownfair.co.uk

What Bristol phrase will the Light Festival choose this year?

Our money’s on Proper Job

2022 PREVIEW SPORT Cricket: England vs South Africa 27 July England take on South Africa in the a floodlit match at County Ground, in the opener of the three-match series against South Africa. glo ri k . o.uk

BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA

11-14 August

We loved the small, secretive launches that made up the 2021 festival, but for sheer spectacle you can’t beat the full-on, mega balloon fest – the largest in Europe – which returns to its usual home at Ashton Court Estate this year, with hundreds of hot air balloons taking off at dawn and dusk as well as the much-loved nightglows, special shapes, entertainment and other attractions, in case, unthinkably, the weather doesn’t play ball. ri ol alloonfi a. o.uk

Rugby - Bristol Bears Women vs Harlequins Women 7 May Currently riding high, Bristol Bears Women play the uins at Ashton Gate in the fi nal home fi xture of the Allianz 15s regular season. More in our next issue. ri ol ar rug . o The Crusty Demons June In the K for the fi rst time in years, in a show that’s been five years in the making, this international bunch of daredevil freestyle motorcyclists descend on Ashton Gate for the greatest extreme sport spectacular of the decade”. ri ol or . o.uk

THEATRE AND SHOWS Courtesy of our theatre correspondent JAMIE REES: BRISTOL OLD VIC The fabulous BOV kicks off the new year with the People’s Tour, a unique opportunity for anyone wanting to learn about the rich history of this world-famous theatre.

Look out for several new home-produced shows, too. Sir Mark Rylance makes his Bristol

Old Vic debut in r l i (20 Jan - 12 Feb), Sally Cookson directs on r o (5 -26 March) followed by aning o ong (2 April - 7 May).

For me, the pick of the crop is ion (3-19 Feb), a new production about the

Jamie’s going to see Anything Goes for the umpteenth time...

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“What use is a boy who can’t say his own name?”

Wonder Boy at BOV

murky world of non-league football, when winning means everything and loyalty means nothing. Starring Bristol’s own Joe Sims ( roa ur ) and introducing Thomas McGee in his professional stage debut. ri olol i .org.uk

BRISTOL HIPPODROME With 16 musicals in 2022 the West End is truly coming to Bristol.

For me, the standout is the Barbican’s production of n ing o (11-16 April). It played to sold-out audiences in London in 2021, receiving two standing ovations uring the show when I saw it, and is worth seeing for the title number at the end of the fi rst half alone.

Disney’s new musical kno an roo i k (26 to 29 January) is guaranteed to be a spectacle, followed by ai r u i al in its fi rst visit to Bristol from 8 February. a g i k . o THE WARDROBE THEATRE From trademark mash-up i l o n in la k (until 16 January) to online interactive murder mystery rlo k in o ur r a a , inspired by crimes of Olympic proportions, it’s a unique, funny and joyously escapist start to the year at The Wardrobe.

It’s di cult to pick a must-see among such a brilliantly packed spring programme but Chatback Theatre’s high energy, comingof-age play about the sexploits of young people in the modern world, i i or al (13 & 14 April), leaps out as a must-see. ar ro ar.o

CLAYTON HOTEL

Opening March

Old City is rapidly becoming Bristol’s uno cial hotel quarter. The Art Nouveau Edward Everard printworks on Broad Street is one of Bristol’s most distinctive and best-loved buildings. Now the listed façade and the former at West o ces behind it are poised to become the four-star Clayton Hotel, offering rooms, a bar, restaurant, dry gym and conference facilities. claytonhotelbristolcity.com BRISTOL GUILDHALL And what of the much-vaunted transformation of Bristol’s Guildhall into a luxury five-star hotel with 92 rooms, swimming pool and a rooftop bar? Well, plans are still in progress, despite the major setback of a fi re at the historic Grade-II building Boho boutiquery at Artist Residence and (top) the sleek new Clayton

COMEDY

BELLY LAUGHS

BRISTOL COMEDY FESTIVAL

The Mark Olver-curated gigs have returned, raising smiles and money for good causes at a variety of small venues. Tickets at Yuup, but you need to be quick to bag them. yuup.co

15 May

Not to be confused with Bristol Comedy Garden, the new Bristol Comedy Festival will bring the lols to three Old Market venues: The Exchange, Stag & Hounds and To the Moon, with a lineup including Rosie Jones, Stuart Goldsmith and Abi Clarke. ticketsource.co.uk/bristol BRISTOL COMEDY GARDEN

June

We’re told that this excellent fest of big stand-up names will be back on the Downs in June – no idea who’s on the programme yet, though. bristolcomedygarden.co.uk

Various dates and venues

NEW HOTELS ARTIST RESIDENCE

Rooms booking now

With this group’s usual eclectic, boho style, mixing quirky art and vintage pieces, the newest Artist Residence has transformed a former boot factory in Portland Square into 23 individual rooms; the restaurant and bar is set to open any time soon; artistresidence.co.uk

HELLO, GOODBYE Farewell (for now) to Bristol Zoo Sometime this year, the animals at Clifton’s historic Bristol Zoo Gardens site will move to Wild Place, which will eventually reopen as a major new zoo fit for 21st-century purpose. Better plan your farewell visit sooner than later. bristolzoo.org.uk

Some Bristol Zoo animals should be easier to move than others

Bristol Arena We now know where it’s to – it’s up at Filton – but when is it occurring?

It does sound as if building is fi nally set to begin, but don’t hold your breath; the current estimation for its opening is 2024. More on p 69. ytlarenabristol.co.uk

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2022 PREVIEW in 2020, which caused extensive damage. To be continued…

FOOD & DRINK COW & SOW

January

Opening on the site recently occupied by Graze, just in time for Veganuary (lol), this all-day bar, restaurant and chophouse focuses on – you guessed it – steak and pork. thecowandsow.co.uk BOXHALL

June

Bristol’s first food hall is due to open within the O&M Sheds on Welsh Back in June, promising a ‘premium, unique food and beverage offer not experienced elsewhere in the city’. Expect independent restaurants, streetfood traders and pop-ups, all-day dining, live music and events, including art shows, fi lm screenings and gaming. Josh Eggleton is keeping an eye on everything in an advisory capacity. boxhall.co.uk FOUR QUARTERS A new bar with retro arcade machines and consoles opens on Park Street in early 2022, in the group’s first launch outside London. Expect around 20 rare and genuine games from the ’80s to mid-noughties, including Sega Rally, Ms Pac-man, Time Crisis 2 and Mortal Kombat 2. Lost & Grounded are their partner brewery, there are cocktails, and a full food menu to sustain you as you show off your wrist action. fourquarters.bar

Come summer, you’ll find us on the Boxhall terrace

YET MORE STUFF TO SEE (AND PONDER OVER) The Guangzhou Garden Summer Crowned the best show garden at the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show, where it was described by the RHS as “a calming space that cleverly blurs the boundaries between aquatic and perennial plants,” the Guangzhou Garden is being gifted by Bristol’s twin city Guangzhou to the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, where it will be rebuilt this year.

Clean Air Zone Summer Due to be introduced this summer, Bristol’s Clean Air Zone, stretching from Bridge Valley Road to Three amps Junction, is designed to offer a balance between improving air quality and the need to support businesses as much as possible.

Private petrol and diesel cars will incur a daily charge of £9 to enter the zone.

Mayoral referendum May Ten years ago, Bristol voted in favour of reintroducing a mayor for the city; now it’s being given the choice of retaining the current model or replacing it with a committee.

Hong Kong Garden (oh oh, oh oh): Guangzhou style comes to Bristol

Marvin. He’s been elected twice, but will Bristol vote in favour of keeping the mayoral role?

ON THE BOX If 2021 is anything to go by, you won’t be able to move in Bristol in 2022 without bumping into a dolly grip. Thanks to the likes of Stephen Merchant’s The Outlaws and drama series Before We Die, The Girl Before, The Long Call and Showtrial, Bristol Film O ce reported annual figures of . million generated by fi lming in 2020-21; admittedly a dip in spend from 2019-20’s £17m, but we all know the reason for that.

Obviously the show we’re most excited to see in 2022 is the second series of The Outlaws. Here’s the blurb: “If The Outlaws thought the criminal underworld or the local police were done with them, they are sorely mistaken. The Outlaws must depend on one another while working with unlikely allies to atone for their sins – but can they save themselves without sacrificing their souls?” Bring it on . . .

ABOVE: Showtrial made excellent use of the city’s locations, while (BELOW) The Outlaws is Bristol on a stick

“The Outlaws is quite simply Bristol on a stick” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 17

WHAT’S O anuar ruar

Correct at time of going to press, but shows may be cancelled: check nearer the time

Hot diggerty Police Dogs: Tim and the lads are back at St George’s

EXHIBITIONS Until 16 January

STEPHEN GILL: COMING UP FOR AIR Hurry, finishing soon the Bristol photographer gets a major retrospective at Arnolfini, leading us from the flea markets of Hackney Wick to his home in the Swedish countryside. arnolfini.org.uk

Until 13 February

SUTAPA BISWAS The British-Indian artist engages with questions of identity, race and gender in relation to time, space and history; Arnolfini, arnolfini.org.uk

Until 5 June

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Back at M Shed with a new set of extraordinary images. ri ol u u .org.uk

Until 4 September

GRAYSON’S ART CLUB Artworks chosen by Grayson and guest celebs during his TV series of the same name; at Bristol Museum; see page 8. ri ol u u .org.uk

5-8 May

CANDICE LIN: PIGS AND POISON A major new commission and solo exhibition by the A artist, comprising a virtual reality animation, flesh-like sculptures and a large-scale medieval trebuchet. Spike Island, of course; ik i lan .org.uk ERIC BAUDELAIRE AND ALVIN CURRAN: WHEN THERE IS NO MORE MUSIC TO WRITE A two-person exhibition by artist and filmmaker Baudelaire and composer Alvin Curran, including a new film commission exploring how Curran’s life and work intersects with the radical political movements emerging in Italy, and around the world, during the . Spike Island, ik i lan .org.uk

SHOWS

Until 22 January

DREAMGIRLS The story of the rise to fame of The Dreams – e, orrell and Deena – three talented young singers in the turbulent s. They’re not the Supremes, but they may as well be.

At Hippodrome; a g i k . o

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18-29 January

THE LATE-IVITY There’s late, and then there’s a fortnight late – but after all, this is iving Spit at The Wardrobe. The mistletoe may be manky and the tinsel tired, but Howard and Stu will be delivering the same cornucopia of comic Christmassy crudeness that they did in December. Only this time it’s got a slightly different title. And it’s in January. ar ro ar. o

20 January-12 February

DR SEMMELWEIS The much-postponed and almost certainly unmissable new drama, devised by and starring Mark Rylance and directed by Tom Morris, comes to BOV; see page , ri olol i .org.uk

22 January

SUGGS: A LIFE IN THE REALM OF MADNESS Vertigo on the roof of Buckingham alace, nearly blowing the closing ceremony of the Olympics, the embarrassing stuff that happened at Glastonbury Things have gone a smidge surreal since the Madness frontman was a -year-old on the tough streets of orth ondon... see page . r gra ar. o

23 January

THE SNOW QUEEN Ballet Theatre K dance their beautiful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale; at Redgrave; r gra ar. o

24 January

THE GHOSTING OF RABBIE BURNS As heartbroken author mily Winters celebrates Burns night alone (wishing that the right man would show up), she gets a slightly different visitation than she’d hoped for the ghost of Rabbie Burns appears to give her some dating advice and he knows what he’s talking about... Redgrave, r gra a r . o

26-29 January

BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS nter a world of magic and fantasy as Disney’s classic movie kno an roo i k makes its world premiere as an exciting new musical; agi k . o BIG BOYS DON’T CRY Dik and Adam have made a new show about themselves, about being men. After gleefully digging beneath

WHAT’S ON

THE STREETS Dry your eyes, mate; Mike Skinner and the lads are headed to O2; academymusicgroup.com

6 February

RONAN KEATING: TWENTY TWENTY 20 years after the release of his debut solo album, Ronan returns with “a greatest hits of brand new music”. At the Hippodrome, atgtickets.com

10 February

POLICE DOG HOGAN Tim Dowling and co are back at St G’s with their excellent mash-up of country, bluegrass and very British songwriting. Good times guaranteed; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

COMEDY Until 27 January CLOCKWISE: Mark Watson ponders the meaning of life; impossible to overestimate the number of f*cks not being given here; well spotted, that’s Broadchurch’s Joe Sims in The Red Lion; Candicee Lin’s splendidly titled A Robot Spoke what my Father Wrote

the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness. Matt Willis plays the hot doctor. Hippodrome, atgtickets.com

MUSIC the surface, they soon realised that things can get very messy. In a riot of colour, dance, clowns and puppets, the latest production from the makers of Coulrophobia comes to TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

1-5 February

MATTHEW BOURNE’S NUTCRACKER Christmas isn’t over yet! The sweetest of all Matthew Bourne’s treats, filled with his trademark wit, pathos and magical fantasy, comes to the Hippodrome. atgtickets.com

3-12 February

WHAT REMAINS OF US Acclaimed actor Kwong Loke features in this raw, moving and at times absurdly funny new play featuring arresting visuals and sound. BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk

3-19 February THE RED LION

In a world removed from the wealth and television cameras, a non-league team are struggling to make ends meet. So, when a gifted young player arrives out of nowhere, it’s the opportunity everyone’s been waiting for, BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk

12-13 February

WOMEN WHO GAVE NO F*UCKS Brace yourselves for no-holds-barred tales to make you want to rip up the rule book and riot, as Story Jam brings you glittering pound-shop prizes, a human clap-o-meter and total power.

Who will you crown Supreme Giver of Absolutely None? Stand-up taletellers slam down the stories, with an MC to keep things clean; at TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

8-12 February

WAITRESS With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes

18 January

TOM ROSENTHAL Since being hailed as ‘Britain’s best unknown songwriter’, Tom’s made significant movements to becoming better known; despite having five albums to his name, he only started playing live last year. Now he’s at Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk

22 January

SOUL II SOUL The double Grammy-winners take their acclaimed Club Classics tour back on the road, and into O2. academymusicgroup.com

24 January

VAN MORRISON Don’t expect cosy anecdotes or crowd-surfing. He probably won’t even smile. Do expect one of the greatest pros in the business and his ace band for a night of flawlessly great blues, r&b, jazz and soul; at Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

BELLY LAUGHS Buckle up for a month of live gigs and excellent food and drink across the city, all in the name of raising money for good causes. See website for who’s playing where. yuup.co

23 January

JIMMY CARR: TERRIBLY FUNNY The king of the one-liner warns the gloves are off for his new show.

Having political correctness at a comedy gig is like having health and safety at a rodeo. Now you’ve been warned, buy a ticket for the Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

26-30 January

SLAPSTICK FESTIVAL Start the new year with one of the UK’s highest concentrations of comedy talent: live guests include Ronni Ancona, Barry Cryer, Jon Culshaw, Andy Day, Richard Herring, Armando Iannucci, Robin Ince, Peter Lord, Stephen Mangan, Paul McGann, Bill Oddie, Sally Phillips, Lucy Porter, Arthur Smith and Tim Vine. p 28; slapstick.org.uk

5 February

MARK WATSON: THIS CAN’T BE IT We’ve all had some pondering to do about the fragility of life recently, but don’t worry; Mark has it covered. Spiritual enquiry meets high-octane observational comedy as the multi-award-winning stand-up tries to cram a couple of years of pathological overthinking into an evening at TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com n

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 19

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REAL KITCHEN STORIES A case study by GARDINER HASKINS showcases Alison and John’s Modern Crown Imperial Handle-less Kitchen in their Portishead home

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hen Alison and John decided to add a twostorey extension to their home in Portishead, they rebuilt the garage in line with the front of the house. This laid the foundations for a large new kitchen at the rear of the property.

It is an unusual layout but worked beautifully with the open plan space – and you can tell from the way Alison and John talk about the design that they couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

The layout hugs the back of the house in a rectangular shape, resulting in a long but quite narrow kitchen – an unusual configuration that pushed Alec the kitchen designer to think outside the box.

Alison and John were open minded with no clear vision as to what they wanted. They approached Gardiner Haskins on recommendation from a friend, along with another company. Both companies came up with completely different ideas for the space, but Alison and John warmed to Alec straight away. He thought about the practicalities and functions of how they were going to use the kitchen day-to-day – he didn’t just design a standard layout, but a fit appropriate to their space and needs.

“Alec was inspirational in his design approach,” Alison says. “He communicated clearly and his expertise also came across.”

Entertaining and chatting whilst cooking was important to the pair, so Alec could see straight 22 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

away it would be pointless designing a kitchen with the hob and sink positioned against the back wall away from family, guests, and the view of the garden. The magnificent kitchen island cleverly houses the induction hob and sink so that whichever of the couple takes the role of chef for the night can still be centre stage for entertaining. It also contains the recycling, the dishwasher and deep drawers for plenty of pan storage, with a hidden socket that pops up when required. The dining table is incorporated at the end of the kitchen island in front of the bifold doors and fits seamlessly into the design, enhancing the kitchen’s social atmosphere. The tabletop is made from the same material as the cabinet doors, so it ties in perfectly with the minimal palette, and features a hidden storage cupboard underneath, large enough for a decent amount of storage whilst still able to sit the family comfortably.

Alison says her favourite feature is the worktop surface. A textured matt quartz, you can see why it’s so loved – the tactile surface is crying out to be touched. John loves the unusual downlight feature highlighting the open shelves at the end of the kitchen, which give the space a cosy feel. In the evenings when the couple are relaxing, the ambient lighting creates gorgeous pools of light with additional pendant lighting over the island if needed.

Small appliances such as the kettle and toaster are tucked away in one of the many storage cupboards in the kitchen island when not in use,

and even the sockets are cleverly concealed and can be pulled up straight from the worktop, keeping the sleek, stylish feel and reducing the clutter so it’s easy on the eye. n Kitchen Designer: Alec Yull Kitchen Fitter: Paul Kelly Photography: Carine Butcher

Dreaming of transforming your kitchen? Pop into Gardiner Haskins or call today and begin your own journey. Book your free planning and design consultation at Gardiner Haskins Interiors Kitchen Showroom today by calling 01179 292288; www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk

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

THE BIG INTERVIEW

DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE

What does the most illustrious figure in st-century theatre have to do with a little-known th-century Viennese medical pioneer? Find out this month, when Sir Mark Rylance premieres his new work Dr Semmelweis at Bristol Old Vic Words by Mal Rogers

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ristotle, Father of Biology. Galileo, Father of Modern hysics. You’re probably nodding in recognition at these pioneering names from the world of science. You may even have a hazy idea of what they actually did.

But Ignaz Semmelweis?

o? othing?

Well, that’s all about to change, thanks to a new play devised by and starring Mark Rylance, directed by Tom Morris, which premi res at Bristol Old Vic this month. nlike Semmelweis, the Rylance name is unlikely to have you scratching your head. The greatest Shakespearean actor of his generation – and probably several other generations, come to that – he’s barely out

of hair and make-up before someone presents him with a new award. A BAFTA here; an Olivier there. Three Tonys, an Oscar and a Golden Globe. A knighthood. In , he was named by the Time 100 list as one the most influential people in the world. I suppose it’s possible that some fellow thespian might be sitting on an equally glittering pile of statuary and accolades, but I’d struggle to name one.

Along with his much-f ted acting talent – to randomly choose a quote from Al acino, Rylance speaks Shakespeare as if it was written for him the night before , he’s a distinguished playwright and director, with the distinction of having been the first AD of Shakespeare’s Globe. And now, this month, he’s coming to Bristol, throwing the weight of all that considerable skill, stagecraft and experience behind a new play he’s written about an obscure th-century medic.

Here’s the history. Semmelweis, a th-century Hungarian-born gynaecologist living in Vienna, was a pioneer of antiseptic procedures who discovered that the death of thousands of women during childbirth could be

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

PHOTO BY GARETH WATSON

drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics.

Basically, he was the Father of Washing Your Hands.

This may sound like a fine example of bathos. After all, can giving your hands a bit of a rinse be compared to working out that the Earth revolves round its sun?

The short answer is yes; it can.

Mark feels strongly that the name of Semmelweis deserves to be as well-known as any scientific researcher from any era, from Newton through to Marie Curie, Hippocrates to Christian Barnard.

And when Mark Rylance feels strongly about something, it makes for an impassioned conversation.

I can talk a dog off a meat truck if I have to,” he tells me.

“If people are asking me about things I know about, or things I’m passionate about, I’m away.”

We’re Zooming, as you do these days, early one morning before Christmas. It’s breakfast time, we’re both still in our dressing gowns drinking coffee, but Mark is loquacious, courteous and charming.

“I’m not very good in conversation,” he adds, somewhat surprisingly, “My voice is quite gentle, and I find it quite di cult to know when to say things. I think it might be something you learn instinctively up to the age of six; you learn things about conversation that I didn’t.”

In fact, he was cripplingly shy as a child, barely speaking until the age of six. “I spent those years just listening and watching, and I’m still doing that. I think it’s important for an actor to do that; to be listening as much as possible.”

Listening, and also reading. And the more Mark read about Ignaz Semmelweis, the more he felt he had quite the story. In a biography by Louis-Ferdinand Céline, La Vie et l’Œuvre de Philippe Ignace Semmelweis, he learned of the struggle the doctor had in trying to persuade the medical profession, at a time when ‘childbed fever’ was rampant, that infections could be avoided by the practice of simple hygiene.

“The book was published by a small company called Atlas Press. It’s run by a friend of mine, and I saw this little book in his shop. It’s an angry book, but beautifully written.”

The story intrigued him. “When we think of good health practice, we think of Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister. Why not Semmelweis? Some doctors know about him, just about, but the public doesn’t. I wondered why on earth that would be. He saved thousands of women from dying needlessly in childbirth. At the time, the knock-on effects of infections in general medicine were horrendous. Nine out of ten people were dying in operations.”

“My question was, why were Lister and Pasteur listened to, and Semmelweis wasn’t?”

Semmelweis worked out why this was happening, and alerted the medical authorities. His work in preventing the spread of bacteria, viruses, fungi, or germs of any sort, foreshadowed the work of Pasteur and Lister, who would later acknowledge his inspirational efforts.

So, job done.

You’d think.

In fact, while Semmelweis was key in the spread of good medical practice throughout the world, it was despite fierce opposition from the Viennese medical authorities.

To us, in the 21st century – particularly in the age of Covid – the act of hand-washing seems a basic tenet of hygiene. However, until the mid-1800s, doctors quite simply thought that it was a gigantic waste of time. If you were hurrying from dissecting a cadaver in the morgue to the maternity ward to deliver a baby, surely the last thing you needed was to be messing about with soap and water.

Consequently, maternity wards in the mid-1800s resembled charnel houses. Mortality rates were worst among (you guessed it) poorer women, who were largely operated on by student doctors, who would learn their craft cutting up dead bodies, then go straight to the maternity ward to pick up a little more knowledge.

THE BIG INTERVIEW Dirty hands, dirty instruments, infected wounds: nobody made the connection until Semmelweis came along. Even though microscopy was unavailable to him, he concluded that invisible particles, what we might collectively call germs, transmitted the deadly condition of sepsis. But for promoting this medical heresy, as it was then seen, Semmelweis was ostracised and vilified.

The story resonated with Mark, and in 2020 he sat down with Tom Morris, artistic director of the Bristol Old Vic. “Tom’s an old friend of mine, and since he’s been in Bristol I’ve come down regularly. I adore old theatres, what with my work at the Globe and so on.

I particularly love the Bristol Old Vic, especially the auditorium. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to play, really, ever since I first saw it.

Mark was also in Bristol while filming Wolf Hall, in which he played the lead, and need we say BAFTAwinning, role of Thomas Cromwell . “We stayed there quite a bit, and I fell in love with the city then.

The first workshop lasted two weeks, during which time writer Stephen Brown was co-opted to help get the Semmelweis story onto the stage.

My starting question was, says Mark, why were Lister and Pasteur listened to, and Semmelweis wasn’t? He came to the early conclusion that to accept Semmelweis’s findings, the entire medical profession in Vienna, and beyond, would have to admit they’d been murdering women on an industrial scale, albeit unwittingly.

Haunted by the ghosts of women that he’d inadvertently killed before the penny dropped, Semmelweis was already angry with himself and his fellow doctors. But he was now incandescent with fury that the unhygienic practices continued despite his warnings.

The play, Mark’s debut at the Bristol Old Vic, addresses the tragic situation head-on. But it also points up that the character of the Hungarian doctor didn’t really help affairs. A highly emotional person to the point of instability, Semmelweis had di culty in expressing himself – something that was exacerbated by his struggle with the local language.

To some degree, Semmelweis was right, of course, says Mark. “The doctors were unconscious killers. But he made it very di cult for them to accept what he’s Bring up the BAFTAs: Mark’s award-winning portrayal of Cromwell in Wolf Hall

MARK RYLANCE

Full name & title: Sir David Mark Rylance Waters Born: Ashford, Kent Age: 62 Mark’s parents moved to the US in 1962, first to Connecticut and then Wisconsin in 1969, where his father taught English at the University School of Milwaukee. Mark returned to England in 1978, training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Career highlights THEATRE - 1995-2005 Artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe - Actor with Glasgow Citizens’ Theatre - Actor with Royal Shakespeare Company FILMS Intimacy, Dunkirk, Bridge of Spies, Don’t Look Up TV Wolf Hall, The Government Inspector MAJOR AWARDS Academy Award: Bridge of Spies BAFTAs: The Government Inspector, Wolf Hall, Bridge of Spies Laurence Olivier Awards: Much Ado About Nothing, Jerusalem Screen Actors Guild Awards: The Trial of the Chicago 7 Tony Awards: BoeingBoeing, Jerusalem, Twelfth Night AACTA International Awards: Bridge of Spies

saying, mainly because of his anger and his language.

He was hard to understand. Semmelweis could never speak the Austrian language completely competently.

He had di culty even speaking Hungarian, apparently. . . I think he was very sensitive about speaking in public, and he became the butt of all those jokes . . . all the stuff that goes on between an imperial power and a nation that has been dominated. That affected him, of course, both negatively and positively. He was always made to feel inferior. But on the positive side, it gave him a higher need to prove himself.

So how do you set about getting that across onstage?

Mark Rylance is quiet for a moment. Then laughs, saying, I don’t know how I do anything .

He gives us an inkling, though. We know that the thoughts that haunted Semmelweis, the ghosts of the women who died, are brought onstage with the help of music and dance, with the four members of the female classical Salomé Quartet playing Schubert’s string piece, Death and the Maiden.

“The musicians are voiceless too, like the ghosts of the women who perished. But they express themselves through music.

And a corps de ballet, six dancers, remain on stage throughout the play. “All contribute to a ghostly presence onstage, representing the women who needlessly died.

So you’re going to get not only a new play but a Schubert quartet and some beautiful dancing – all as you pause to consider a forgotten man from an extraordinary chapter in medical history.

What Semmelweis and his contemporaries were facing was nothing less than a pandemic. It’s hard to imagine a more apposite theme for a production poised at the cusp of theatre’s gradual re-emergence from lockdown.

“One of the main reasons I came into the theatre was for a sense of community, says Mark. I was a bit too shy to go to parties, things like that. But I love making things together with people. And making a play together with people – God, there’s nothing like it.

The first day of rehearsal of Semmelweis just blew my mind. I’d made six films during lockdown; I love making films, but there’s nothing like the sense of community you get in the theatre. The sense of community with other actors, and with the audience. Being in the same room together with people, imagining the story; nothing else comes anywhere near that feeling.

“In a theatre production, everyone is working on one thing, which is to be here now. As deeply and joyfully and as fully as you can. Tragically too, at times, with grief. Try to be here now. And that’s what the theatre is; that’s what everyone on stage is going to be trying to do. And that’s what the audience have come to do too: to be here now.

In the theatre, when it kicks off, and you’ve got the majority of the cast managing to be here now, and not being distracted, and the audience being pulled into being here now, then you get thoughts in your head that you never get on your own. I don’t, certainly. All kinds of things come to me, above what the story is about; what’s funny, what’s tragic. I do think humanity is capable of greater thinking together in a group than individually.

Fancy sharing a unique theatrical experience with Sir Mark Rylance? Grab a ticket and turn up when the world première of Dr Semmelweis opens at Bristol Old Vic this month. Wash your hands before you come. n Dr Semmelweis plays Bristol Old Vic between 20 January-12 February; tickets at bristololdvic.org.uk

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

STEPHEN MANGAN Born: Enfield, 1968 Education: Law degree at Cambridge, then RADA Notable roles: TV Postman Pat Adrian Mole Guy Secretan (Green Wing) Dan Moody (I’m Alan Partridge) Seán Lincoln (Episodes) Nathan (The Split) STAGE Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)

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COMEDY

SLAPSTICK MEN AND SLAPSTICK CATS AND DOGS

Slapstick returns in all its livescreened glory this month, with comedian, actor, presenter and thoroughly nice guy Steven Mangan as the host of the Gala event

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Words by Mal Rogers

t’s the sort of comedy I’m into.

Physical, not cerebral,” says Stephen Mangan. He’s hosting the Bristol Silent Comedy Gala at the Slapstick Festival at the end of January, and is probably as qualified as anybody to speak about this niche area of international cinema.

This is my first time at Slapstick, and I’m really delighted to be involved.

Especially with the Gala evening; I couldn’t have asked for a better one.

Those guys are my heroes – Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, the Marx Brothers, Norman Wisdom. Peter Sellers, too. My kind of comedy, my kind of films.

As a kid growing up in Ponders End in London, Stephen was fired up by the work of these knockabout stars, who inspired his first acting ambitions.

“I’d be glued to the telly if any of them were on. And the thing is, they’re timeless. Their comedy hasn’t dated.

In fact, it’s the opposite: my enjoyment of those early comedians on the screen has grown over the years.”

All in all, Bristol’s annual celebration of silent comedy is totally his cup of tea, although he confesses he’s not

actually sure what he’ll be doing on the night, or what hosting a silent comedy gala consists of.

Who know; maybe after he’s introduced the film clips he’ll attempt to leave the stage but end up going into the broom cupboard by mistake. Probably standing on a rake, as well; perhaps narrowly missing a stagehand who’s carrying a ladder. This is an unlikely scenario, but you never know – which is, of course, the basis of so much comedy: the unexpected. If Stephen does opt for the comedic route, you may be sure he’ll will carry it off with aplomb and laser-sharp timing.

Laurel and Hardy, who feature in the Gala night, are particular favourites of Stephen’s.

“These guys were extraordinarily good at what they did. The sheer inventiveness of their act, their splitsecond timing. And remember, their film work was done without the help of multiple cameras, technical wizardry and so on. So at Bristol I’ll probably point out some of the skills these guys had – as seen from an insider’s point of view. Not that I’m an expert, but I’m a long-time practitioner.”

Stephen doesn’t even believe you can classify these early actors’ expertise as ‘tricks of the trade’; he believes it goes way beyond that. “It’s sheer skill; genius, in fact”.

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COMEDY once you have success on screen, you generally get put in a little area, and people find it hard to think of you in any other way.

“The other reason I avoided telly is that the camera can be very intrusive. I wasn’t really very happy with my looks, and the camera puts you under such a lot of scrutiny. I was very uneasy about how I looked from two feet away.”

A Christmas Carol seems to have served a dual purpose: reuniting Stephen with his original love of live acting, while further distancing him from the kind of typecasting created by say, the TV role of Guy in Green Wing, or Nathan in The Split. But while he may be back in his comfort zone, doubts still seep in.

“You have a lot to do onstage, you’re pretty busy, and you sometimes think, will I remember it all? What am I going to do if I forget? In a long run, like A Christmas Carol, you have to do it again and again.

So you’re well practised, certainly. But there’s always something that can go wrong. And regularly does. So when you come offstage; when the performance is finished and nothing terrible has happened, no disasters, you’re relieved. That’s the first thought. But the main emotion is dissatisfaction; most of the time when you come offstage you’re dissatisfied. I can only remember about five or six times when things have come together in a production and it’s been genuinely good.

It’s very hard to hit the heights. very night was different, every night I was learning something, trying out something new. And of course, audiences have good and bad nights too. That makes a huge difference.

Chatting to a roomful of fellow Slapstick enthusiasts is likely to be a walk in the park by comparison. He just needs to look out for that pesky rake... n slapstick.org.uk

LEFT: Stephen chanelling his inner curmudgeon as Scrooge

BELOW: Buster wishes someone would hurry up and invent the smartphone

He speaks from long experience, both onstage, and still most famously, in TV. “Most of the parts I’ve played have had some element of slapstick, from Green Wing, acting a like a buffoon, to Dan Moody, the kitchen salesman in I’m Alan Partridge.”

And now, he’s just finished playing Scrooge, literature’s favourite miser, in a run in A Christmas Carol at London’s Old Vic. While he enjoyed the role immensely, he says he found it slightly unnerving to discover how effortlessly he was able to channel his inner curmudgeon.

“It was frighteningly easy to get into character,” he says. “I’m actually quite a good-humoured type of guy, but to play Scrooge I had to be as nasty as possible. Still, it was great fun; I was given licence to be as grumpy, as horrible, as ghastly as I possibly could be. I just had to make sure I didn’t stay in character offstage.

This run of Christmas bah-humbugging has been a critical and commercial success, with Stephen’s portrayal of crotchety impatience tinged with middle-aged regret seeming in total harmony with these less than joyous times. Music was also a huge part of the production; Stephen, almost unfairly gifted, also happens to be a noted musician.

Maybe that’s not so surprising. As in music, as in comedy – as indeed life – timing is everything Stephen’s career has taken something of a circuitous route. Bright boy that he was, he’d bagged a scholarship to an independent school, and from there qualified for Cambridge. Although graduating with Bachelor of Arts in law at Gonville and Caius College was a virtual shoo-in for a top, secure position in any prestigious law firm, he decided that acting was his true vocation, and enrolled at RADA. “I didn’t leave drama school until I was 26,” he says. When he did, he deliberately avoided TV and film work for five years in favour of treading the boards, initially joining the Cheek by Jowl international touring company.

“I just liked being on stage, and I wanted to be a good actor. I knew I wasn’t going to get typecast on stage. And in a way I was right, because

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SILENT COMEDY GALA

Friday, January 28; Venue: Bristol Cathedral The Silent Comedy Night is a triple bill of silent comedy classics accompanied by live music. The Cameraman (1928) is one of Buster Keaton’s masterpieces, and is accompanied by an improvised score from The European Silent Screen virtuosi featuring Günter A. Buchwald, Frank Bockius and Romano Todesco. Other highlights include short comedies from Laurel & Hardy and Harold Lloyd.

This year’s Slapstick Festival runs 26-30 January, in a ‘hybrid’ form, with online as well as live events. For full programme see website. slapstick.org.uk

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BRISTOL STEPS UP From the return of live gigs and theatre to the Where’s it To? project, 2021 held many reasons to be cheerful Words and pictures by Colin Moody 34 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

BRISTOL HEROES

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I

n , local heroes kept the fires of hope burning. As this feature goes to press, we’re still not entirely sure what 2022 has in store, but one thing’s certain Bristol will step up, if and when stepping up is called for.

1

ook, I don’t know much about the Dusk Brothers, but it’s a good name to rep what kind of year we had sort of. It sounded good, anyway, the music drifting out into the street when I walked by. So many bands I know struggled during lockdown, so to be able to have live music again, just there, so close you could almost touch it, was just a big wow. oom rehearsals may have broken the spirit of many, but it also freed up a lot of people. ew venues planned during the lockdowns shifted their business model, and some even were thought of and created during that whole heated mess. So in fact, there are already new roots growing.

2

was the year I worked with St auls Carnival on this photo I took of Colston going into the water. It has been so humbling to listen to the young school students’ responses, and to see, read and think about their definitive statements.

Hats off to Jen Reid, Michael Jenkins, Cleo ake, atoyah and everyone who got involved in what has been what feels like a journey in the right direction.

“Bristol doesn’t just la ig u to others; we feel the energy and take the fir our l

3

3 4

saw many protests. Kill The Bill divided the city almost as quickly as some national media divided the story into two sides full to breaking with hyperbole rights and wrongs.

For me, the way Bristol reacts has a historical factor that is deep and powerful. We don’t just leave the big stuff to others; we feel the energy and take the first steps ourselves.

History is full of moments when tides turned, and as a port city we know all about tides. ittle ideas of change and revolution mix here with solid dependable democracy, and of all the places I have lived this is the city where voices can be heard. It is a true testimony to our strength as a city that we feel so much, and are always ready to stand up to injustices big and small.

4

Show of Strength, that band of brothers and sisters, took over the Ashton Court Manor in for a show titled The Mansion Through Time. And to have live theatre happenings again, to be able to wander around grounds like that, felt like we are quite literally climbing the steps back to reality when it comes to art and performance in this darnedwe-can-do-it place named Bristol. et’s give these players some credit for lifting us through fiction back to reality. From left to right Rachael Fagan, Sheila Hannon, Kirsty Cox, Gerard Cooke and John omas.

Applause, please.

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BRISTOL HEROES

“History is full of moments when tides turned, and as a port city we know all about tides” 6

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I thought it was a damaged sensor on my camera on the right for a moment; then I zoomed in, and saw it was the first butterfly of 2021. A shot from the Where’s It To? campaign that I have had so much joy in shooting all year, showcasing all those indie businesses that grow your veg, clothe you ethically, heal your aches under infusions of incense and hope. Etc. Thank you to the creative team behind this, and all the independent traders who make up our diverse and creative business landscape.

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Just a reality check. The great unlocking of 2021 went hand in hand with a lot of anxiety and stress. Many businesses have been landed with huge debts, and for many people it doesn’t feel right to just come down and carry on. It’s complex, right? It may only be our relationship with each other and ourselves that has now been transformed in the most profound way. So this hero here – this could be anyone who used to go clubbing, but for many reasons doesn’t feel that’s the way to proceed right now; it could be those now hooked on home delivery, to those who feel the pause switch might be a bit sticky. Take it easy on yourself, OK?

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When we started the year, we were in a bit of a mess, weren’t we? Some of us tuned into

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7 static, as it were, for a bit; kind of enjoyed the white noise of it all. I certainly did. But others saw things that needed sorting out, like these two who took it upon themselves to empty the harbour of two bags-for-life worth of recycling that just happened to fall in the waters there.

What have you done today to make you feel proud? I’m giving these two some gold stars to go on their fridge door.

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You know who you are. The local who picks up the broom and swept the floor where no one had danced or dropped their pint in blooming ages; the one who unlocks the door chain and dusts down the chairs. The one who checks the stock and keeps it ready for when we can; the one sending the emails to keep everyone informed. Some real heroes out there, keeping the fire burning. very pub, club and restaurant probably has one; that special person who, even during the storm, gets out on deck to trim the sails. You are the heroes we need right now. Thank you.

Colin is available as a ‘mini-mobile PR/marketing/ social media unit’, to shoot striking street-style photographs at live events. Fees start at £100 for a two-hour package. email: mrcolinmoody@gmail.com Twitter: @moodycolin; Instagram @moodycolin319

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MUSIC

Welcome to the house of fun Suggs is in Bristol this month with his new show, A Life in the Realms of Madness. And it appears that the nutty boy of Brit Pop turned national treasure has had quite the time of it...

Words by Ursula Cole

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hen you start researching your life story, you’re liable to dig up a few long-buried secrets. Sure enough, when Suggs began to put his first show together ten years ago, he discovered some uncomfortable truths about his dad.

Mac had been a keen photographer and jazz fan – but also a drug addict. “My mum told me she’d come home and find him with needles sticking out of his hands,” says Suggs. “Heroin was his drug of choice; a one-way street

that takes you further and further away from real life. In the end, it did for the marriage.”

Suggs has come a long way since his early days on the tough streets of orth ondon. The first show, My Life Story, was all about how he got from being Graham McPherson, working for a butcher in Chapel Market, to fronting Madness. Ever wondered how he got his stage name? He chose it by randomly sticking a pin in an encyclopaedia of jazz musicians, Now, his follow up show, A Life in the Realm of Madness, deals with the surprises that awaited

him when he became famous.

Again, the show was fuelled by a skeleton emerging from the family cupboard.

“I kind of knew my mother had had a daughter she’d put up for adoption as a baby. Then, completely out of the blue, Mum got a message on Facebook saying: “I think you might be my mother”.

It turned out this woman, Julie, had seen a repeat of my This Is Your Life, during which my mother was introduced by her maiden name.

“Julie recognised the name, saw the physical resemblance and got in touch. Mum flew to Dublin to meet her, and, when she came back, she was different.

Her shoulders had dropped. It was as if she’d carried a tension inside her every day of her life since she’d been forced to part with her daughter.” Edith died in 2018.

Suggs’s success with Madness has always been balanced by a rock-steady family life. “Fame doesn’t really interest me,” he says.

But it does open some pretty enticing doors. “A couple of weeks before the Diamond Jubilee, I’d said something disparaging on the radio about Brian May’s hair.

It triggered a tsunami of angry tweets from Queen fans.

“A few days later, my wife told me I’d been sent a letter from the Queen. I said: ‘What? They’ve

“Who’d have thought it would have gone on this long? I know how lucky I’ve been” got their lawyers on me?’ ‘No,’ she said, ‘not Queen. It’s from the Queen’. It turned out to be an invitation for Madness to perform at the Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace.”

The former artful dodgers of Brit pop were now rock royalty, their songs alternative national anthems. However, it seems that some

stars are more royal than others.

On the day of the concert, both Elton John and Paul McCartney insisted on their own pianos being tuned on the spot, leaving no room on stage for Madness.

“Then some bright spark shouted out, ‘Why don’t you put them on the roof?’ So that’s what happened. Of course, as someone pointed out, the first man to play on the roof of Buckingham Palace was, yes, Brian May...

I suffer from vertigo, but I just about managed to hold it together.

And I couldn’t believe the reaction.

Next day, we sold out every single ticket on our upcoming tour.”

Madness were soon to represent their country again, this time at the Olympic closing ceremony.

“There I was, on the back of a truck, somewhere in the East End. In front were The Who, on the right were some spotty herberts named One Direction. On the left, the Pet Shop Boys were riding bikes with tra c cones on their head.

Behind us, the Spice Girls were doing vocal warm-ups until Pete Townshend called out: ‘Someone throw them a f cking fish ’ Then our truck pulls off, and we’re in a stadium with 70,000 people and two billion watching worldwide. The bass, the brass, the strings of Our House strike up, then it’s my turn – and I forget the first line of the song. Fortunately, the crowd were singing the words, so I pointed the microphone at them.”

And then there was the time David Bowie invited them to his home at Gstaad.

“I’m expecting dwarves with cocaine on their heads, snake charmers, dancing girls. As we pull up, there’s Bowie waving us into his garage. We’d forgotten our cases were on the roof, and they all got knocked to the ground.

What followed was the unedifying spectacle of one of the coolest men on earth scrabbling around picking up my smalls.”

And there are plenty more anecdotes where those came from. Even now, Suggs gives the impression that he’s constantly pinching himself. “Who’d have thought it would go on this long? I know how lucky I’ve been.” n Suggs: A Life in the Realm of Madness

Redgrave, 22 Jan; redgravetheatre.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 39

SPONSORED CONTENT

DEVON’S SOUTH COAST SECRET Perched on a secluded clifftop across the water from Salcombe, GARA ROCK is a boutique hotel like no other

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ucked away at the end of winding rural lanes and with a far away quality, you will feel as if you’ve stepped into another world when you arrive. Greeted by panoramic views of the spectacular coastline, we like to think of it as our gorgeous little secret on the South Devon Coast.

Step out of the car and breathe in the fresh sea air. Listen to the waves crashing below. Blow the cobwebs away on the scenic South West Coast Path. Or head to the sandy beach below and enjoy a picnic when the sun shines.

The hotel itself provides an easygoing and down to earth atmosphere and welcomes families, couples, good friends and dogs too.

The interiors feature lots of soft, earthy, natural colours and textures, which are inspired by Gara Rock’s rugged surroundings.

Every area of the hotel has been created to feel soft, comfortable, informal, and inviting, day or night, whatever the season. It’s obtainable luxury that’s made up of sumptuous comfort and warmth, which can be seen in all the hotel accommodation.

“YOU WILL FEEL AS IF YOU’VE STEPPED INTO ANOTHER WORLD WHEN YOU ARRIVE” STAY...

From Gara Rock rooms and luxury suites boasting sea views through to self-catering apartments, you’ll find something for you… a dreamy getaway for two, a family escape with your fourlegged friend or a break with friends.

If you’re looking for something extra special, take a peek at the Out of the Ordinary collection. Get comfy in the master bedroom of the Penthouse with wow-factor sea views and freestanding roll top bath or put your feet up in the sumptuous open plan living area.

Feel instantly relaxed in the living space of the Signal House or unwind in the bubbling hot tub.

The Secret Suite is hidden from the main hotel. Nestled on the clifftop with glorious sea views, an inviting hot tub and luxurious styling, it’s a place to snuggle up and shut out the world.

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EAT & DRINK...

Food is something delighted in at Gara Rock.

Enjoy a real taste of Devon in our award-winning restaurant, offering seasonal dishes prepared by our talented chefs.

In summertime, the terrace will be your new favourite spot. Incredible views, sea breeze, all the glorious weather and the enticing aroma of the ‘over the coals’ menu. Alfresco dining on sun-kissed days never looked so good.

PLAY… When you are not taking in your surroundings or catching the ferry to Salcombe, the hotel has an indoor pool with jacuzzi overlooking the sea… bliss!

And when it’s sunny, there’s no better place to be than the outdoor pool, with amazing views.

The spa is where you can take time out for you. Using local, organic products choose from a range of treatments including reflexology, body massages and facials.

On rainy days, order a drink and some popcorn and sink into the large comfy chairs in our cinema room. n

Forget it all for a few nights (or more!) by the coast, come stay at Gara Rock.

Contact us on 0330 134 2809 or see Gararock.com

RESTAURANT

A TASTE OF 2021

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Some of the restaurants we reviewed in 2021 were new.

Others were pop-ups; one reinvented the Michelin wheel.

All pushed the Bristol dining scene up a further notch . . .

here was no soft launch for Josh and Holly Eggleton’s hotly anticipated PONY BISTRO in May; rather, it was straight into full service for a hugely confident opening.

Down a side street, through an unassuming door, we find an -shaped space with a tent-like roof and fairy lights twirling up pillars like ivy . In the larger part of the , there’s a more industrial feel, while a huge oak branch sculpture creates a canopy, half-art installation, half-enchanted forest, above your head.

Head chef Hugo Harvey’s set menu is seasonal, unfussy yet inventive . We start with a punchy steak tartare cut with fermented chilli, anchovy and picked onion – as complex as it sounds, and somehow even more exciting than the sum of its parts . A mushroom parfait is silkysmooth and bosky; prettily strewn with leaves and hazelnuts, it’s instagram fame is surely assured.

A chicken breast in lemon sauce is exactly the kind of dish that, when in aris, you pray you’ll stumble across in a little bistro just off the Boul Mich, but never do, while the soft pillowy peaks of a walnut whip Alaska look like something the architect of St Basil’s cathedral might have dreamt up during his meringue period.

Summary: Creative cooking from a team with hospitality running though its veins, in classy yet relaxed surroundings, with a dash of festival elan.

Being fiercely supportive of our local indies, we’d arrived with a bag of prejudices you could say we’d turned up fearing the wurst . However, the Art-Deco inspired decor is a show stopper; the serene 8th-century meeting house brings the lofty ceilings and pillars, while Klosterhaus ladles on the glamour. The service has a polish and attention to detail that recalls a more refined era .

The extensive menu, promises comfort food of the highest order; you don’t come to Klosterhaus to toy with a spring leaf salad, and if such Germanic delights as shinkenknacker and schnitzel aren’t for you though they’re such fun to pronounce that you’ll be tempted to order them anyway, there are plenty of other options; this

Breaking Bread was one of the big successes during the benighted summer of , and the tipis returned for . This time, the ony Trap and Bianchis groups joined forces to bring us HOMEGROWN, a fresh concept focusing on the best local produce from the South West.

On a sunny day, with sweet reggae music in the air and the amber glow within the tents, you feel as if you were at a cool little foodie festival.

An exquisitely pretty little trio of snacks is followed by arancini and the five-a-day rainbow of the Bristol green belt . Spaghetti verde was an effulgently pretty dish of leaf green pasta and asparagus, topped with a golden egg yolk and bumped up a crunchy notch by hazelnut butter .

Summary: “This isn’t just a menu, but a culinary love-letter to the South West. ating ethically has never felt so effortless or enjoyable .

is the kind of place where you can order a prawn cocktail without arching a post-ironic eyebrow.

Summary: “ ot the cheapest joint in town, but if you’re looking for somewhere special to meet your mucks after a long break, treat yourself.

The D&D Group breezed into Quakers Friars with KLOSTERHAUS, an opulent all-day restaurant headed up by a German chef, with a vibe designed to evoke the grand Mitteluropean caf s of yore.

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“This isn’t just a menu, but a culinary loveletter to the South West” By the time we visited SONNY STORES, word was out that egs uinn and Mary Glynn’s bijou, unpretentious little bistro was quietly serving some of the best food in Bristol.

Sonny is the name of their son. They could have called it after their surnames, but that might have raised false expectations of colcannon and Guinness among a misty-eyed Irish diaspora .

We found it one of the brightest and most uplifting dining spots in the city, permeated by a rare atmosphere of happiness and tranquillity . ach course offered dishes of maximum taste, served with no unnecessary faff. egs, we decided, is not a chef who shies from punchy flavours , while a bowl of silky tagliarini tangled with meaty chunks of lobster reveals an open-handedness with portions that verges on the philanthropic .

Summary: A thoroughly lovely meal, cooked by thoroughly lovely people at one of those small,

superb, independent, family-run restaurants that Bristol does so exceedingly well.

With young turk Zak Hitchman now running the kitchen, CASAMIA reopened with a new menu running into 20 courses, a dining room as dark as a World War II blackout, graf on the walls and a huge sound system, all in a concept that ak describes as a weird gig with food .

It’s too lowlit to read a menu, but that’s OK, because there isn’t one. Think of it as a Michelinstarred magical mystery tour, and surrender to the adventure. Although the meal takes four hours, the time flies by like a successful first date . very dish is flashed over a wood-fired oven; each one is thumping with flavour, but kept light... not a single morsel we popped into our mouths was less than spectacular. Highlights included a terrific dish of ion’s Mane mushroom, glossily coated with teriyaki sauce .

Summary: In a rule-breaking, two-fingers-upto-convention of a meal that has Bristol running through it like a stick of rock, Casamia serves up sublimely refined cuisine without a shred of stu ness.

In November, Japanese restaurant KIBOU opened on King’s Road, right next door to Dirty Bird, turning this quiet Clifton backwater into a riot of fuchsia neon and floral excess; a cross between downtown Tokyo, Kew Gardens and an influencer’s boudoir. Inside we discovered sexy lighting, intimate velvet booths and mural projections of a giant geisha, the effect so evocative and futuristic that you half-expect her to wink at you, Bladerunner-style .

The extensive menu offers sushi, sashimi, baos, tempura and more, including ramen A humble dish that currently attracts levels of geeky devotion rarely seen outside a ComicCon; if you thought humankind hit peak nerd arguing whether or not Cobb was awake at the end of Inception, just wait until you hear the true ramen believer comparing broths. Ours came with tender pork belly and an initially weird-tasting but ultimately moreish tea-stained boiled egg .

A Volcano sushi roll offered ocean-fish seafood wrapped in fabulously sticky rice . Another standout was the nasu dengaku, charred and miso-glazed, the aubergine flesh reduced almost to a souplike texture; far nicer than that sounds.

Summary: Is Kibou the most authentic restaurant in the K? We doubt it it may not even be the most authentic in Bristol. But we can’t think of anywhere that serves up more enjoyable, higher-quality grub in prettier surroundings. n

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Pony Bistro, Homegrown, Sonny Stores, Kibou, Casamia, Klosterhaus

RECIPES PHIL HAUGHTON

Looking for a seasonal, freshtasting dish that practically screams ‘January detox’ and ‘five-a-day rainbow’?

You’ll feel healthier just reading the recipe. . .

BLOOD ORANGE SALAD WITH CHICORY The blood orange season is December to May, and I find they taste best from February to April. It’s the Tarcocco orange that has a beautiful deep colour, but you can also use Moro, or Sanguinello. The prime season for buying chicory is January to March, which makes this the perfect time for this dish.

It’s a very simple salad, but you need to cut the orange the right way.

Ingredients, serves 4 4 organic blood oranges 4 chicory heads Handful of loosely chopped walnuts Olive oil or walnut oil A good fruit vinegar Pepper Method • Using a sharp knife on a wooden board, cut the top off an orange, and then cut round top to nearly bottom, and carry on doing this all the way round the fruit until you have a sort

of flower of orange peel still attached at the bottom, then cut the bottom off. Do all this over a large bowl to catch the juices.

• Now hold the orange cradled in one hand and cut between the membranes of each segment towards the centre and leave the segment in place for now.

• Carry on doing this all the way around so you get lovely segments with zero pith.

Once all the segments have been prised away from the main fruit, you can squeeze the remaining juice into the bowl. se as many oranges as the number of people you are feeding. Take one average chicory head to each orange and cut across the head in slices. When you get close to the bottom, if you like, you could turn the head and slice it very thinly.

• Toss in some walnuts and add walnut oil, or olive oil if you prefer, and finally a small amount of good fruit vinegar. A grind of pepper is a nice addition.

You will have a wonderfully seasonal and delicious salad.

Phil Haughton is the founder of Better Food, a group of award-winning stores and cafés in Bristol that specialise in organic, local and ethical food and products. Better Food won Best UK Independent Retailer at the 2021 Soil Association BOOM awards. Phil is also a speaker on the subject of organic farming, and author of the book Food For Thought, from which this recipe is taken.

Food for Thought is Phil’s first book. Through a colourful mix of inspiring personal stories, tempting recipes, helpful tips and insightful contributions from 12 thought-leaders and change-makers, Phil shares his passion for organic farming and his mission to create a world where food, nature, business and community can all thrive together in harmony.

For more: betterfood.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 45

CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

Papa’s got a brand new bag

. . . and it’s full of delicious, freshly roasted coffee . . .

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t’s that time again, when we’re prone to spend our days looking both forwards to the new year and back at the old. Like some kind of two-faced Roman god dude with flexineck. Janus; that was his name. Hence January.

A time when we remember where we’ve been, while planning ahead for where we’re going.

No matter how crazy, mad and mucked-up it may get. Like

“I felt we had wandered into a very happy place. A pleasant mix of the bar from Cheers and the café from Friends”

a squirrel in a sauna with a nutcracker.

It was while in looking-back (and yet looking-forward) mode that I directed my feet to the pedestrianised side of the street.

Heading down to Coffee and Beer on Cotham Hill. A mighty fine establishment in anyone’s book.

A place I used to visit way back when, a place I look forward to visiting more often in the future.

This charming coffee shop is an old favourite of mine. A place that does exactly what it says on the tin, or shopfront. Sells very good coffee and very good beer. Been doing it for years.

When it first opened, I used to go in, buy some beer by the can, or freshly poured by the bottleful, then get myself a coffee and enjoy the peace and quiet. Because back then, it was often a quiet place to be. There were times when it was only me and the owner in the whole place. Happily getting on with life. Most relaxing.

But that was then. This is now.

Times have changed. In a good way. When I visited recently, the place was jumping. Full of life.

The decking outside was dotted with drinkers braving the cold, while the tables and comfy chairs inside were filled with shiny happy people, chatting, typing and slurping away. A most wonderful

sight it was, too. What cafés were made for.

Luckily, there were a couple of vacant chairs tucked away by the entrance. So we ordered our drinks, along with a tasty savoury bready thing, then sat ourselves down.

At which point, a steady stream of friendly souls started coming in and out. Everyone seemed to know someone, and everyone seemed willing to make time for a friendly chat. Made me feel as if we had wandered into a very happy place. A pleasant mix of the bar from Cheers and the café from Friends.

As if all that wasn’t enough, we then found a flyer announcing that they have a coffee club. You pay some money, then get a bag of freshly roasted coffee delivered through your door every month.

By now, I was in such a good mood with life that I signed us up for six months. Deciding to treat ourselves to a bit of happiness at home. Very nice.

If you’re down that neck of the woods, I can thoroughly recommend popping in for a coffee, a beer or a just a bit of good cheer. n Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer stancullimore.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 47

A CITY OF THOUGHTFUL FASHION Is living more sustainably on your list of new year resolutions? If so, a great place to start is with your shopping cart…

By Elle Redman

Yes Friends

FASHION ristol is a city with green issues at its core, and home to a rich variety of eco-conscious clothing brands and shops who are leading the charge for slow, thoughtful fashion. From thrifty vintage stores to an upshoot of fresh, stylish labels springing up in the independent scene, you won’t struggle to shop sustainably.

“There are more independent fashion stores than ever before,” said Joh Rindom, founder of Stokes Croft shop That Thing. “We’re seeing an increase in sustainable creativity, and a surge in vintage, too.”

Last autumn, following a successful crowdfunding campaign, and with support from Block B, Solarscene and FSC UK, Bristol hosted the K’s first Sustainable Fashion Week. With a focus on changing the narrative of sustainable fashion, and demanding change in the fastfashion industry, the event hosted a series of workshops, clothes swaps, panel discussions, skills learning, a marketplace, a repair café and more.

While green thinking and slow living have gained momentum and popularity over the last few years, the streets of Bristol have long been lined with more sustainable brands than we could possibly count, and we love to sing their praises. So, in celebration, we’ve assembled a list of just a few of the local retailers, both high street and online, selling both vintage and new clothing, for you to visit. Happy sustainable shopping!

ANTIFORM

Antiform is a reclaimed-materials fashion brand set up in 2007 by fashion designer and creative director, Lizzie Harrison. The materials involved in the production of the clothing are sourced within the UK and are often found local to the studio on Barton Road.

ABOVE: Found Hea; BELOW: Ottowin

ASHWELL & CO

Formerly Heartfelt Vintage, this treasure trove of vintage clothing on Alma Vale Road includes one of the largest collections of vintage bridal gowns in the UK; many fashion-conscious brides travel miles to visit it.

BEYOND RETRO

Based in the heart of Bristol’s Shopping Quarter, Beyond Retro is a popular vintage clothes store packed with thousands of one-off wonders.

Known for its handpicked sustainable range, the shop opened in Bristol in 2019 and has been a welcome addition to the city’s thriving creative scene ever since.

CARNY VALLEY

Creating waterproof capes to make you positively yearn for the rain, Carny Valley stands with consumers on the war on waste. Known for sustainable, waxed cotton rainwear, the business has eco-values at its heart. Supporting the textile industry and manufacturing products in the UK, there’s so much to love about this conscious online brand.

CHAOS AND COLOUR

Pariss Cozier founded her clothing collection out of a desire for handcrafted items, and a smaller wardrobe of truly loved, hard won, curated pieces.

As a black woman into really bright and outlandish clothing, she struggled to find pieces that celebrated colour, worn by colourful people. She saw a lot of brands ‘celebrating diversity’ with their models, while still exploiting their garment makers who themselves were women of colour.

“Today, slavery looks like a £10 T-shirt made by a woman of colour, from a ‘developing’ country, who didn’t get paid”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 51

FASHION “Current fashion supply chains are almost identical to the trade routes of years ago, she told us. Back then, it was sugar, coffee and chocolate. Today, slavery looks like a £10 T-shirt made by a woman of colour, from a ‘developing’ country who didn’t get paid.”

When Pariss turned to the ‘sustainable’ fashion industry, she found plenty of room for growth there too. “Currently it is very heavily dominated by one kind of aesthetic (neutral, earthy hued). And I believe that something can’t truly be sustainable unless everyone is included and embraced.”

Pariss’s colourful clothing is made in partnership with a collective of female artisans in a village in northern India, often using ancient methods of printing and dyeing across silk dresses to cotton trousers.

FOUND HEA

Located in Quakers Friars, Found Hea is an ethical clothing store founded by Sam Mabley. The brand is built on the core value that every garment has a story, and is established on the principle of creating good. The store hosts a curated collection of menswear and womenswear from sustainable brands across the globe, aiming to make ethical clothing more accessible to customers who hadn’t considered it before.

FRANKLY

After 16 years working in mainstream retail, Helen Symonds has brought her vision for a fairer, more sustainable approach to shopping to Bristol. Opened at Cargo since 2020, Frankly houses independent brands from around the world, all chosen for their ethical and charitable credentials. From candles made by a Bristol charity to jewellery empowering women in Uganda, and tea that helps to protect wildlife, every product tells a story and makes a difference.

MACK VINTAGE

Brimming with reimagined treasures, from vintage clothing to quirky jewellery pieces, Lou Mack’s vintage boutique can now be found at the East Street Emporium in Bedminster, where an eclectic collection of indie traders sell from an indoor market with a cool, warehouse vibe.

OTTOWIN

Ottowin was born in 2016 out of a love for contemporary design and a respect for natural materials. Situated on Gloucester Road, the brand specialises in handmade footwear and ethical clothing. Actively championing slow fashion, founders Lucy Lloyd and Oliver Cross use their knowledge of materials to carefully inform their decisions, from design and selection to craftsmanship.

PRIOR

Beck rior’s not-for-profit independent shop, workshop and online store is committed to creating a conscious and mindful shopping experience by only stocking sustainably made products: homeware, accessories, clothes, jewellery and skincare. The key focus is challenging the perception of eco products, proving they can be contemporary, on trend and design-led. Prior supports 150 brands, and is a hub of information for local makers. “Everything we do creates positive impact for our local and wider communities, and of course, the planet,” says Beck. of the profits made is fed back into community workshop provision, local creative projects, charity donations and more.

RAG TRADE BOUTIQUE

Featuring designer labels from Vivienne Westwood to Ralph Lauren, Rag Trade Boutique on Cotham Hill offers an immensely browsable collection of preloved designer and high-street clothing. With women in the UK tending to wear only 10% of their wardrobes, Rag Trade celebrates the simple joy of clothes-swapping and sustainable fashion.

SOMETHING ELSIE VINTAGE

Something lsie offers a fun and affordable shopping experience, as well as a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. Well-known for stocking

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colourful patterns and bold prints, Kate Seymour’s tiny shop at Cargo includes plenty of high-quality ’80s and ’90s vintage.

THAT THING

Selling goods by 50 independent local designers, as well as the store’s own in-house line, That Thing is a much-loved fashion hotspot run by a small, dedicated team in Stokes Croft. Established in 2015, the shop stocks handpicked vintage garments, inspired by the team’s natural love of reusing, recycling and appreciating eras gone by.

WEAR MY WARDROBE OUT

A source of timeless, glamorous outfits for hire, without the high price tag, and with a truly sustainable twist. Founder Maria Loria handpicks, repairs and reinvents outfits sourced from vintage, pre-loved and custom-made items ready for rental. Maria offers a modern-day take on couture alterations, fitting each customer with a made to measure outfit.

All outfits can be booked for a fixed four-day period at a flat rate up to 90 days in advance, online or via a wardrobe appointment. From French couture faux fur coats to vintage boots, custom-made lavish dresses and headscarves, everyone leaves with their dream outfit.

YES FRIENDS

With a mission to make sustainable and ethical fashion more affordable, Yes Friends produces classic tees made from Fairtrade organic cotton for £7.99. Focusing on increasing wages for garment workers throughout the supply chain, the brand was founded by Bristol-based entrepreneur and owner of Found Hea, Sam Mabley. Launched in April, the new brand pre-sold over , t-shirts within the first days of its launch.

CLOCKWISE, OPPOSITE PAGE: Beck Prior; Wear My Wardrobe Out; Pariss Cozier of Chaos & Colour; Lou Mack; BELOW: Helen Symonds of Frankly

MKT Studio Olina Jumpsuit, £99 (down from £205) Maze Clothing

WINDOW SHOPPING MILLY VAUGHAN Velvet leopard print joggers, £50, That Thing

Max Mara cotton velvet trousers, Harvey Nichols, £455

Weekend Max Mara cotton velvet dress, £280, Harvey Nichols Burberry velvet and satin blazer, £490, Harvey Nichols HUMS, Iris velvet slippers, £110, Harvey Nichols

Velvet on-the-ground

Handmade black velvet and grey tee, £48, That Thing

Velvet’s everywhere. They’re bringing sexy back...

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othing confirms the return of velvet quite like Daniel Craig wearing a pink velvet tuxedo to the première of No Time To Die. Only to be followed a week later by Prince William wearing a green velvet jacket – looking not so much Bond, as earthy – to the Earthshot Prize awards.

If there’s such a thing as a drama queen in the world of fabric, it’s velvet. It’s such a diva that it can be worn only two out of the four seasons, then it has to rest its lush pile in the heat of summer/spring before reappearing as the autumn leaves

start to fall again. Even its name sounds slightly erotic; it’s often used, for example, to seductively describe the texture of food.

Velvet lives its best life in deep hues of greens, clarets, navy, browns, mustard yellows and blacks. I don’t think I’ve ever seen white ‘proper’ velvet, as opposed to crushed velvet, which admittedly has its place.

Since I inherited a bottlegreen velvet trouser suit from my mother, I’ve had a sentimental weakness for this delicious fabric.

Over the years I’ve had it refitted, relined, and 50 years after its purchase it gets better and better in its timeless bubble. So in the spirit of upcycling as well as well as for wintry parties, it’s well

“If there’s such a thing as a drama queen in the world of fabric, it’s velvet”

Juicy Couture velvet pyjama bottoms, £50, Grace and Mabel

Weekend Max Mara cotton velvet blazer, £325, Harvey Nichols

Arizona Love, velvet-trimmed sandals, £125, Harvey Nichols

worth going on a velvet treasure hunt in your local preloved shops for some original gems.

Historically, velvet was a sign of wealth and status; now we all get the chance to dress like a queen as it filters more and more into our high- street shops. This, coupled with its warmth, means that it’s perfect for occasion wear and glamorous partying.

Indeed, shops are currently bursting at the seams with this velvety goodness; as well as the

Black velvet midi dress, £149, Mint Velvet

staple suits and jackets, we have dresses, trousers, t-shirts, capes, headpieces and even shoes.

And just as you wouldn’t wear velvet in summer, it also has a time and place; for instance, you wouldn’t wear it to rake the leaves, or catch double agents falling out of a moving planes. So best stick to dry land and the dry martinis while wearing this number. n @millyvaughan on instagram camillapettman@mac.com

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SPONSORED CONTENT

WEIGHING IN FOR THE NEW YEAR NUFFIELD HEALTH offers outstanding care in weight management across the South West

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eight management is a topic on which everyone has an opinion, but these opinions can be overgeneralised and actually detrimental rather than helpful. Stereotypical views of weight as a reflection of laziness and greediness, combined with diets that have been unsuccessful in the longer-term compound a personal sense of failure and shame. And the more times a person goes around the cycle of weight loss, the harder it is to believe that anything can change.

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The tide is changing, however, from old messages of ‘you just have to eat less and move more’ to recognising the complexity of factors that influence weight. Sleep, stress, endocrine disturbance, gut hormones, nutrition and physical activity levels all have a part to play, as well as genetic factors which can be activated under certain physical and environmental conditions.

WHAT WE OFFER At Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, we provide a range of different interventions to meet an individual’s needs. Our specialist weight loss team is made up of consultant bariatric surgeons James Hewes and Alan Osborne, dietician Dafydd Wilson-Evans, and consultant clinical psychologist Vanessa Snowdon-Carr. Between them, they offer a multidisciplinary

approach which begins with a comprehensive assessment to understand when difficulties with weight developed, eating habits, physical and emotional health and wellbeing, before suggesting the options for treatment.

Wellness interventions Because many people want to refocus on weight management, we offer a number of different options, including individually tailored support from dietitians, group interventions for dietary change, and a focus on habits and behaviour change with a clinical psychologist.

We offer more specialised psychological help if needed for disordered eating and mental health difficulties, as these issues are likely to have an impact on how food is used.

Gastric balloons A gastric (stomach) balloon is an inflatable medical device that is temporarily placed into the stomach to reduce weight. It is helpful for

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Pictured right: Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital’s team of weight loss specialists; consultant bariatric surgeon Mr Alan Osborne, consultant clinical psychologist Dr Vanessa Snowdon-Carr, dietician Dafydd Wilson-Evans, and consultant bariatric surgeon Mr James Hewes.

weight loss when other dietary approaches have not been helpful and surgery is not wanted or recommended. At the Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, we use the Allurion Balloon, which does not require any surgery, endoscopy or anaesthesia and is placed in a brief 20-minute appointment. The balloon is filled with saline and remains for approximately four months before passing naturally.

On average, people lose between 13-15kg in weight. With this package you will be offered nutritional advice and guidance, as well as psychological support. We are the only service within the UK that offers psychological support as a standard part of the balloon package.

Bariatric surgery While interventions that focus on altering nutrition and activity in combination with behaviour change have been found to result in weight loss of approximately 10%, bariatric surgery has demonstrated significantly more weight loss, as well as weight maintenance over the longer-term. Our team meets the highest standards of recommended practice by offering a multidisciplinary approach from surgeons, dietitians and psychologists as a standard.

This is rare within private practice, and we are proud of our approach at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, providing comprehensive support with specialists in their field.

We provide the following surgeries, all performed laparoscopically using keyhole surgery: • Gastric bypass – this procedure involves creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach which is then connected to the small intestine. As a result, the rest of the stomach is bypassed. By doing so, it not only reduces the amount that a person is able to eat but it also changes the gut hormones which are linked to hunger and feeling of fullness. It results in rapid weight loss in the first six months before stabilising over time.

• Sleeve gastrectomy – this procedure removes a large section of the stomach, leaving a ‘banana-shaped’ section that is closed with staples. As with the bypass, it reduces appetite in the short-term, reduces the amount of food able to be eaten at any one time, and affects the gut hormones.

• Gastric banding – this uses a device that

is placed around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch. It is connected to a port placed under the skin so that fluid can be added to the band to adjust the pressure.

It helps to make changes to the way a person eats, as well as enabling an earlier sensation of fullness.

• Revision surgery – sometimes people need to have their gastric band or sleeve revised to a gastric bypass.

Help after bariatric surgery Bariatric surgery is a very powerful tool for weight management, but long-term success requires a person to make changes to how, what and why they eat. We provide support for 18 months following surgery as standard, and also offer support to individuals who have had their surgery elsewhere. n

FREE ONLINE EVENTS If you would like to find out more about the options available, Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital is holding a series of free online events, at which the weight loss specialists will share insights about the treatments they offer and answer your questions: • TUESDAY 8 FEBRUARY, 18:30-19:30 ‘Understanding your eating habits’ • WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY, 18:30-19:30 ‘Weight loss and habit change with the Allurion gastric balloon’ • THURSDAY 10 FEBRUARY, 18:30-19:30 ‘What you need to know about bariatric surgery’

For more information about what we offer, please contact the enquiries team at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital by calling 0117 911 6062, or visit our website: nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol

To book your place on any of these events, please contact the enquiries team at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital by calling 0117 911 6062, or visit our website: nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol.

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

HEALTH

WITNESS THE FITNESS

Christmas is back in its box, and we can repent at leisure at how much damage it’s done to our waistlines and energy levels. Gary Teagle, contract manager at veryone Active, takes a look at the fitness trends that took Bristol by storm in 2021, and what we can expect for 2022

T

he past 20 months have been challenging, especially when it comes to fitness, and we’ve been forced to find new ways to keep moving and reaching our goals. Whether that meant investing in a Peloton bike, fitness apps or spending more time exercising outdoors, one thing’s for sure: it opened our eyes to a whole new world of fitness.

After reopening in April 2021, gyms urged us to come back to experience what they had to offer. Bristol is lucky to have a wide variety of fitness facilities, from boxing and MMA gyms to leisure centres, spas and women-only gyms.

But after spending so long exploring the local walking spots, and the fact we’re probably still paying off all those at-home fitness purchases we made through lockdown, what was it that made us decide to get back into the gym?

Figures from one local leisure operator revealed that between April and September last year, attendance levels at one of its flagship Bristol sites rose by 78 per cent, showcasing how the local community have firmly put the pandemic behind them and risen to the challenge of getting back into a regular workout routine. But what were the most popular activities across the city?

Fitness classes have made a comeback during 2021. Group workouts were a no-go during lockdown but it’s no surprise they have bounced back. The likes of body pump, zumba and group cycling – in a virtual, immersive environment – are here to stay.

With mindfulness now viewed as important as fitness, we’ve seen a huge appetite for holistic wellness such as yoga and Pilates, including the hot kind, where doing a downward dog in 37-degree heat has become the norm.

In addition, functional training has become a preferred workout option. The rise in popularity of these forms of exercise has paved the way for a number of smaller gyms opening

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

in the area, although they are often higherend, premium facilities, created to deliver specifically what the client le are after.

Functional classes using Omnia frames, a versatile training rig that suits group training activities, is a growing trend. Perhaps it’s because we’ve become more accustomed to this style of training after our lockdown workouts. Local leisure operator, Everyone Active, for example, has reintroduced its EA30 classes, using Omnia frames to deliver workouts three or four times a day in some of its centres. These high-intensity, high-calorie burn, 30-minute classes are specialised for core, boot camp and HIIT.

“The past 20 months opened our eyes to a whole new orl o fi n In addition, boxing-style classes have risen in popularity. Box-R-Circuit, a non-contact, martial arts-style fitness session, provides a great workout for all fitness levels and is one of many boxing-style classes available across the city.

So, as we kick off a new year, maybe literally, what fitness trends will we be seeing in Bristol?

First off, technology will be driving fitness, with wearable fitness tech becoming increasingly popular. For example, we’ll see the introduction of heart-rate monitors to check the heart rates and training zones for customers, showing the instructor and the person training exactly where their output is or needs to be. Working out just became a whole lot smarter.

The same goes for cycling, with gyms introducing ways to hook up bikes to apps to monitor the output of users during training.

This will give instructors live data to work with,

OPPOSITE: With a wide variety of ways to help you get

moving, from dance to high-intensity burn classes, can 2022 tempt you back into the gym?

so they can ensure customers get the most from their session.

Virtual training will continue to be popular. Last year, events such as the Virtual Virgin London Marathon, which saw tens of thousands of people take on the world’s greatest marathon on a course of their choice, wherever they were on the planet, opened the door to a new way of competing. We’re already seeing a number of Bristol-based virtual running events planned for next year, with the niversity of Bristol Run Series offering four virtual events.

The desire to inject fun into fitness after a turbulent two years of mostly running, walking and at-home HIIT workouts with Joe Wicks, has resulted in a recent increase in interest for dance fitness. Targeting the slightly older age group, its following is growing steadily and looks set to continue this year. Move over zumba, there’s a new dance workout in town!

With so many options for working out available in Bristol, competition is fierce, so 2022 will no doubt see gyms investing in new space which will be adaptable for classes and courses to satisfy the needs of customers, whether that be for small-group training, highintensity workouts or holistic classes.

Whatever workout you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it in Bristol – now there’s only one thing left to do. Get motivated, and get moving . . .

Everyone Active manages leisure centres across Bristol, in partnership with Bristol City Council. These include: Bristol South Swimming Pool, Easton Leisure Centre, n ur i ur n r orfi l i ur n r Everyone Active Stadium, Kingsdown Leisure Centre, St Paul’s Community Sports Academy everyoneactive.com

MONEY MATTERS Get advice from the experts, who will help to organise your finances and achieve your financial and lifestyle objectives ELITE FINANCIAL CONSULTING LTD

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DUNKLEY’S CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS WOODLANDS GRANGE, WOODLANDS LANE, BRADLEY STOKE, BRISTOL, BS32 4JY TEL: 01454 619900; DUNKLEYS.ACCOUNTANTS

The demand for property in Bristol is increasing with more and more individuals looking to purchase property for development and rental purposes. At Dunkley’s, we have seen this demand and support our property clients by providing the best planning strategies and tax-saving advice. Moving property into a limited company comes with many benefits including full relief on mortgage interest, control over personal income and remuneration, favourable tax rates, asset security and a range of tax planning opportunities. Over the last year, we have helped a number of property entrepreneurs incorporate their portfolios to allow them to take complete control.

If you would like to do the same, please contact us today for an initial consultation. We are here to help you fully maximise the return on your property investments!

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Award-winning local business that provides jargon-free financial advice, and has been running since 2010. We help people with planning around mortgages, pensions, investments and protection to find a solution for you and your family. We are an independent financial advisory firm, who work with you to help you achieve your goals. Our advisers sit down with you and discuss your needs, and from our experience will work out a plan for you and ensure that the process is as smooth as possible, and will be there every step of the way.

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IFAMAX WEALTH MANAGEMENT ONE REDCLIFF STREET, BRISTOL, BS1 6NP TEL: 0117 33 22 626 IFAMAX.COM

At Ifamax, we have a team of dedicated, dependable financial advisers, expertly experienced in providing the best financial advice and support to business owners and other self-made individuals like you. Planning and preparing for your retirement is what we specialise in. So you can hand that job over to us, allowing you to kick back and relax during those rare but vital moments away from work. We are different from many firms as we do not charge any initial or implementation fees. We provide a free second opinion service and would welcome a meeting with anyone who is approaching retirement, thinking ahead, or is already there. It’s what we do best.

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AVELING OFFICE,LOWER LEDGE FARM, DOYNTON LANE, DYRHAM, SN14 8EY TEL: 0117 450 1300; INTEGRITY365.CO.UK At Integrity365 we pride ourselves on the personalised service we offer and the traditional values that our clients and colleagues cherish. As a directly authorised business, we maintain our independence as financial advisers, with no prior arrangements in place with service providers or products. This enables us to find the best solution for every client, who each receive their own bespoke financial advice. From the early days of pensions and ISAs to investments and lump sum decisions, through to retirement and later life planning, we are here to support you through the key stages of your life.

ANDERSON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SAVILLE COURT, 10-11 SAVILLE PLACE, BRISTOL, BS8 4EJ TEL: 0117 332 1570 ANDERSONFINANCIAL@SJPP.CO.UK

We nurture and nourish the wealth of our clients. Giving you confidence and optimism for the future. You might be a business leader, partner or aspiring partner in a firm, an individual or a family. At Anderson we put your – plans, schemes, dreams, hopes, family, community, values, passions, loves – first. Let’s make a difference to your financial future, together.

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ST BRANDON’S HOUSE, GREAT GEORGE STREET, BRISTOL BS1 5QT TEL: 07872 601662; OTIUMPARTNERS.COM Our Lending Consultancy service, led by our Managing Director, Jeff Durant, is designed to assist businesses and families with all their borrowing requirements; whether raising finance to support growth or asset acquisition, refinancing existing debt facilities, realising value by releasing equity tied up in assets or restructuring debt in situations involving financial stress.

With over 30 years’ experience in senior banking roles, Jeff is well placed to deal with all types of client needs, whether for property investment, development, commercial mortgages, bridging or working capital business finance. Our independence and expertise assures you a great outcome for your requirement.

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

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RETIREMENT RULE 1:

DON’T RUN OUT OF MONEY It’s never too early to get your retirement finances in order.

IFAMAX WEALTH MANAGEMENT is here to help . . .

O

f all the financial challenges and concerns that we face over our lifetimes, avoiding running out of money in retirement probably sits at the top of the list. No-one wants to end up relying on meagre state benefits and eating own-brand baked beans every day.

Retirement Rule 1 is crucial but not guaranteed.

As Warren Buffett might say, Retirement Rule 2 is not to forget Retirement Rule 1!

In the good old days, retirees could rely on defined benefit pensions and/or annuities to provide lifelong retirement income. Today, many retirees rely, to a varying degree, on taking money from accumulated pension pots for their retirement income. That makes outcomes less certain and decisions far tougher.

The figure below provides an overview of just how tricky this process is and how it must be an on going, dynamic process, not a one-off decision at retirement. Knowing what you cannot control and understanding what you can, provides some insight into the complexity of – and solutions to – retirement planning.

What you cannot control • How long you live • Your health • Life events (divorce, death of a partner etc.)

• Financial market returns • Government policy and tax What you can control • How much you will spend and when • Understanding your income flexibility • Your investment portfolio structure • Tax efficiency in accumulation/drawdown • How you respond to certain events • Making informed decisions • Avoiding poor value costs and fees Retirement is meant to be a time of financial freedom, allowing you to do the things you want to do, when you want to do them and who you want to do them with. It is a great shame that many peoplein the UK will fail to achieve even a modicum of financial freedom and lifestyle choice.

As a broad rule of thumb, today, £1 million will buy an inflation-linked annuity income of around £27,500 a year. Yet the median UK pension pot is around £91,000 (for those 55-64 years old), which on the same basis will deliver only £2,500 a year. Taking an income from an investment portfolio may allow a withdrawal rate that is

potentially a little higher but needs a lot of care and attention to reduce the risk of running out of money.

Making sure that you optimise the decisions that need to be made – and control all the things you can control – will allow you to maximise the stability, level and longevity of retirement income you need. That is what a good adviser will help their clients do and where they earn their fees.

The best way to achieve Retirement Rule 1 is to take proper financial planning advice.

If you feel like you, your family or your friends would benefit from a second opinion on their finances, or would like to discover a high-quality financial planning process, please feel free to get in touch with one of our advisers on the details below. We would love to have an initial chat with anyone to discuss our services, and of course if we feel like we are not suitable for you we will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

One Redcliff Street, Bristol, BS1 6NP 0117 33 22 626; info@ifamax.com ifamax.com

AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY FRN:526599

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

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FIT FOR THE FUTURE ANDERSON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT offers support for coping with change in 2022

W

ith an increase in cases of anxiety because of the pandemic, Bristol-based financial adviser Anderson Financial Management has launched a free Curious Investor’s Guide to… Coping with Change.

The guide aims to help people cope with the uncertainty of the past two years and share best practice advice on preparing for the future.

The guide contains information and guidance

from the Anderson team on preparing for some of life’s personal and professional challenges – including the death of a loved one or business partner, marital separation and divorce, children leaving home, and business or career change. All supported by personal stories and top tips from professionals – not only about the financial and practical preparations, but also the emotional aspect of unexpected life events.

The Curious Investor’s Guide to… Coping with Change is available to download from the Anderson Financial Management website, along with additional resources, case studies, blogs and podcasts. The guide is the third in the Curious Investor’s series, which also includes Scaling-up a business, and Partnership.

The Curious Investor’s Guide to… Partnership recognises that while there’s plenty of advice available about jobs and careers, there’s less about business Partnerships. Being a Partner in a business is complex. It can be financially and mentally challenging but with the right preparations and a sound plan in place it can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

The guide provides guidance not only about making Partner, but also being a Partner or moving on from a Partnership. This includes: • The pros and cons of being a Partner and forming a Partnership.

• Financial implications such as remuneration, tax and benefits.

• Leaving a Partnership, entering retirement and options post-Partnership.

Tony Anderson, Chartered Financial Planner and Managing Director of Anderson Financial Management, says, “We noticed that while there’s a lot of information available for more positive and predictable events, there is less information to get you through the more testing

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

times. The times when you might be dealing with difficulties on your own and need the most support.

“That’s why we decided to put these guides together: to provide much needed support for people going through a challenging time, either personally or professionally, and to pass on the experience of others. As well as share some of the advice we regularly give our clients.” n

READ MORE...

To download the series of Curious Investor’s Guides, go to www.anderson financial.co.uk/newsand-events/guides

Address: Saville Court, 10-11 Saville Place, Bristol, BS8 4EJ Telephone: 0117 332 1570 mail andersonfinancial s pp.co.u

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It’s the city’s business

BRISTOLWORKS How Bristol will save the planet

We the Curious was the first science centre in the world to declare a climate emergency

Bristol has been revealed as one of the top UK cities closest to becoming net zero

I

n July 2019, Mayor Marvin Rees adopted the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, six months after Bristol City Council declared a climate emergency.

Already, the city’s CO2 levels are below 3.5t (3.2), which is in line with the UN’s net zero sitemap. The comparison data is based on carbon emissions per capita, and means the city joins Norwich and Reading in third place, on the list of the top 10 areas that are closest to becoming net zero; Bristol was beaten only by Southampton (2.9t) and Brighton & Hove (2.8t).

Findings revealed that, in line with the government’s mission to ban the use of petrol and diesel cars by 2030, there has been a spike in Google search volumes (by 26.81%) for electric cars, with people in Bristol starting to research, consider or make the transition to a greener form of transport. In September 2020, people in the city searched for electric cars 138,400 times, while in September that figure shot up to , .

Bristol has the seventh best air quality rating, which improved during 2020 with 46.6% of the UK’s workforce working from home and fewer people using cars, taxis and public transport.

Figures released by the ONS now show that during October 2021, with hybrid working in place, 30% of the UK’s population were working from home, which means the new Covid rules set by the government are also helping to combat pollution.

Are friends electric?

Electric leasing car companies are giving businesses the opportunity to be part of a salary-

sacrifice scheme that allows them to save money on leasing electric company cars via budgetfriendly monthly repayment plans. EV bikes have also seen a rise in popularity in 2020, with many people having invested in electric bikes in order to keep fit and healthy during the pandemic. Similar to EV car leasing companies, business owners who sell eBikes are also offering affordable payment methods and cycle to work schemes, in order to encourage people to reduce pollution, improve their health and save money.

“Not only is choosing an eBike over a car or other means of public transport better for the environment, it allows cyclists to bypass a lot of the tra c many cities suffer with, especially during peak times,” said founder of Avaris eBikes, Richard Heys. “Fewer cars on our roads means less toxic carbon emissions are polluting the environment. “eBikes aren’t just for young people or those living in city centre apartments. Due to their massively improved battery power and range, it’s now possible for people living outside the city to use them to commute to and from as well. This is more cost-effective, environmentally friendly and good for physical and mental wellbeing.”

House rules Sustainability has been gaining traction in the property sector for some time, given the effects of climate change, the current focus on rising energy costs and pressure on both the demand and supply side to drive the property sector towards net zero. Buyers and tenants are demanding greener properties whether it’s a new-build or retrofitted

older property. From a developer perspective, there’ll be a requirement for real change. Greener property will be a more valuable asset, more attractive to investors and will make a significant contribution as the UK moves towards net zero.

Speaking of things domestic, when it comes to recycling, Bristol occupies a slightly less impressive 18th on the list, with 9.05% of waste recycled during 2019-20.

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BRISTOLWORKS LEFT: The Arena: it’s going to be massive; TOP: designs

for the public park; BOTTOM: Going up: YTL plan to build 1000 further houses

HANGAR MANAGEMENT Another month; another fresh batch of updates from YTL, the developers behind the mega transformation of Filton Airfield into the new Brabazon district

I

n addition to thousands of new homes, the new Brabazon area will include a public park, employment space and community facilities including three new schools, a library, doctor’s surgery and sports facilities.

The most recent images show proposals for a new park roughly the size of Castle ark, with lakes and play areas. They’ve been drawn up by landscape architects Grant Associates, known for such prestigious projects as the Gardens by the Bay park in Singapore; the firm has also been appointed as lead designers for the new Bristol oo at Cribbs.

Developers YTL have also announced plans to increase the number of homes from , to

, to meet increasing demand, along with more green space and employment opportunities. It’s thought that the number of homes could rise to as many as , in future, delivered in stages, under a flexible framework YT is aiming to establish.

For more: ytldevelopments.co.uk/ developments/brabazon Arguably of most interest to those Bristolians not actually planning to locate to South Gloucestershire are the ongoing plans for the new Bristol Arena, the next-generation entertainment venue’ due to open inside the old Brabazon Hangars where Concorde was once built.

It’s the world’s first arena to be built inside aircraft hangars, and it will be the fourth largest in the K.

Here’s the latest information in handy bullet points...

Andrew Billingham, C of YT Arena Bristol, has confirmed in a blog post that following the demolition stage, construction will start in .The arena is set to open in .

At 8, m , the floor space of the Arena will be over twice the size of a large football pitch.

The Central Hangar will house the , 8 capacity, multi-purpose auditorium for live music, sporting events, family entertainment and comedy shows. On the ground floor, the full-width Runway Bar will have capacity for , people.

The ast Hangar will become The Festival Hall, with space for trade shows, exhibitions, conventions and fairs.

The West Hangar is destined to be known as The Hub, where people will

be able to eat, drink, work and play 365 days a year.

The venue will offer premium memberships, to be launched this spring, offering exciting perks such as pre-sale tickets, discounts on food, drinks and hospitality experiences, and the chance to win free backstage VI experiences’.

A new train station being built on the site will have -minute links to Temple Meads.

A new service yard will be the biggest in urope, offering , m of space to accommodate all backstage needs.

As a condition of the planning consent, YT will invest . m into the local community through monies given to the council and other authorities to improve community facilities The Arena is expected to create over jobs.

For more: ytlarenabristol.co.uk

Offices in: Henleaze, Whiteladies Road Clifton Village, Shirehampton 0117 962 1205 www.amdsolicitors.com

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BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS

Close the deal

Nominations for the 2022 Bristol Life Awards close on 10 March, but don’t panic; we’re here to help...

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The Bristol Life Awards celebrates the best of Bristol’s businesses, from professional services to cafés, retail to charity

N

ominations for this year’s Bristol Life Awards close on 10 March.

As we begin a new year, it’s the perfect time to use your nomination as a chance to reflect on everything you’ve achieved during 2021, the ways you’ve creatively tackled Covid uncertainty, how your work has helped the community.

Reflect on it for a moment what were you most proud of, in the last year? What were your greatest successes? How did you achieve them?

Our judges want to know, and the deadline for submitting your nomination for the 2022 Bristol Life Awards is only a couple of weeks away.

Stuck regarding where to start? No worries; on the Bristol Life Awards website you’ll find a helpful 10-step guide for putting your best foot forward.

There’s even a video, with our very best advice, on Bristol Life’s YouTube channel.

Our number one tip? Take your time.

Competition for our prestigious Awards is fierce, so make sure you give your nomination enough time and thought to show your business in its best, most flattering, sparkliest light.

Other than nominating yourself, another great way to get involved in the Bristol Life Awards is through sponsorship. There are lots of different levels and perks, from Platinum through to Silver, all offering an invaluable opportunity to be associated with one of Bristol’s biggest business networking opportunities of the year.

If you want to learn more about sponsorship get in touch – neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk and harriette.dixon@mediaclash.co.uk are here to tell you more.

2022 is upon us, and March not much further away. Get those nominations in ASAP. For more: bristollifeawards.co.uk

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SPONSORED CONTENT

MEET THE

FAMILY LAWYER Life is too short to stay in an unhappy marriage.

However, taking the next step is often difficult, confusing and stressful. Here we ask for the trusted legal advice from a number of local family lawyers...

SPONSORED CONTENT KERRY GRAHAM

ELIZABETH BRUCE

What is your favourite part of the job?

I strive to see a client walk away happy to begin a new chapter in their life. A lot of my work comes from previous client recommendations, so I must be doing something right!

How has family law changed in the last few years?

The pandemic means I do not meet with my clients in person as much as I used to, and many court hearings are now conducted virtually. The use of Teams and Zoom however mean that I can still have meetings with clients which feel face to face, while doing so in a safe and convenient way for them. If clients do wish to visit the office for an in-person meeting though, I am happy to accommodate this as I realise how important this is for some people.

INCE 0117 911 2955; incegd.com

THE FAMILY LAW PRACTICE 07769 224502; thefamilylawpractice.co.uk

What professional accomplishment has made you most proud?

Becoming head of the team and a partner was a huge accomplishment, along with building a great team of lawyers with the right firm to back me.

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Whether you are 24 or 64, life is too short to stay in an unhappy marriage. However, taking the next step is always difficult. Seek early, trusted legal advice on a confidential basis to consider the pros and cons. It may well be that after seeking legal advice, that step would be just too difficult emotionally and financially – but at least you will have explored your options fully.

Kerry Graham

What is your favourite part of the job?

Knowing that I have assisted my clients through what is no doubt one of the most difficult periods of their lives, to achieve the right outcome for them and their children. My preference is always to assist them in doing this as amicably as possible with their former partner, with a view to resolving matters by agreement, outside of the court process.

What advice would you give to anyone considering family law as a career?

Try and gain as much work experience as possible in family law as you will know whether it is the right area of law for you very quickly once you have experienced it in practice.

What are your goals for 2022?

As Ince continues to grow in the UK and internationally, and we develop our new integrated Private Wealth offering, an exciting 2022 awaits our dedicated family teams in Bristol, Cardiff and London. The key goal for me is maintaining our excellent service to clients – whether they are in Hong Kong, Singapore or Bristol – and having many happy clients walking out the door.

Elizabeth Bruce

SHARON MAHMOOD

BRIGSTOW FAMILY LAW 07955 782229; sharon@brigstowfamilylaw.co.uk

BESSIE HANSON

BRIGSTOW FAMILY LAW 07787 060999; bessie@brigstowfamilylaw.co.uk What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Take your time and give yourself space to make the right decisions for you and your family. At an early stage, take advice from a specialist family law solicitor, who will guide you through your options; this will be invaluable in helping you make an informed decision about next steps. Consider additional support, such as counselling and/or a divorce coach to help you process the emotional complexities involved in a separation.

How has family law changed in the last few years?

The rise of the niche firm; at Brigstow Family Law we practice family law and nothing else so offer a very high level of expertise. However, we have connections with other firms and industries so can always find clients the right person to help with any aspect of their matter.

Bessie Hanson

What should you look for in a family solicitor?

My view is that there are five key qualities that a family solicitor must have: tenacity, empathy, an ability to really listen, meticulous attention to detail and be straight talking.

How has Covid-19 improved the way you work?

The ability to offer clients flexibility in terms of when and how we can meet; in person, or remotely, around their (and my) work and home commitments.

If you weren’t working in the legal world what would you be doing?

Lawyer was really the only job that ever appealed to me, but if I could avoid working, I like to think I would still be backpacking around the world.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Finding the right solution that works for my clients, considering their unique circumstances and objectives.

Working closely with my clients and being on the journey with them.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Co-founding Brigstow Family Law – we are a femaleled law firm and our clients are truly at the heart of our firm.

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

What is your favourite part of the job?

I value forming personal connections with each of my clients. Family law issues are deeply personal; everyone has their own particular concerns. I believe it is essential in each case to seek the best possible outcome for that individual family.

Sharon Mahmood

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody trying to choose a family lawyer?

I think it is important you find someone you can trust, who listens to you and what you are most worried about or feel is most important, but who is also willing to be honest with you in their advice and about what is achievable.

SPONSORED CONTENT MARK SAGE

CHARLOTTE KING

What is your favourite part of the job?

Being able to reach an agreement on behalf of a client either in respect of arrangements for their children or resolving financial matters ensuring that the ultimate decision-making process is theirs as opposed to the court imposing a decision upon them.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Being able to support clients from the beginning to the end of their case and doing my utmost to secure the best possible outcome so that they are able to positively move forwards from potentially one of the most difficult times in their lives; whether that be in respect of divorce and finances or the arrangements for their children.

THE FAMILY LAW PRACTICE 07748 810354; thefamilylawpractice.co.uk

If you weren’t working in the legal world what would you be doing?

If I was fortunate enough not to be working, then I anticipate I would be travelling the world watching cricket and football.

THE FAMILY LAW PRACTICE 07767 790485; thefamilylawpractice.co.uk

What professional accomplishment has made you most proud?

The process to qualify as a solicitor is lengthy and challenging which is recognised as an accomplishment in itself. However, I feel proud to have qualified as a family lawyer at the earliest possible stage in my career, having obtained both an undergraduate and a Master’s degree in law as well as having completed my legal training in consecutive years. The prospect of a long career ahead in family law excites me.

Mark Sage

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Do your own initial research online. Knowledge is power.

Find out the basics as much as you can but then seek an appointment with a specialist family lawyer who will be able to provide overall advice and guidance as to what different services you may need and where to access them, e.g. emotional support from counsellors, independent financial advice etc. While your friends may have had a divorce your situation is probably different.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things, but what tool have you found most useful that you didn’t use before?

Zoom/Teams – While I feel that face to face meetings are important for clients, I recognise it can be extremely stressful having to attend offices talking and meeting with a stranger to discuss often sensitive issues. Zoom/Teams enable individuals to remain in the comfort of their own homes and have the confidence of when they wish to put the camera on and discuss matters.

What advice would you give to anyone considering family law as a career?

Get as much experience as you can! Whether that be volunteering with the family courts, securing work experience with firms or choosing family law as a seat in your training contract. Family law in practice is very different to studying it, and the nature of the same is certainly not for everyone.

Charlotte King

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Pick up the phone and speak to a professional on a confidential basis. Sometimes it is best to simply understand all of the possible options before making decisions.

CINDY ERVINE

PARTNER AND HEAD OF FAMILY LAW AWDRY BAILEY & DOUGLAS SOLICITORS 01380 732924; awdrys.co.uk What is your favourite part of the job?

A key part of my job is to make sure that clients feel comfortable with me and feel that they can trust me. People are seeking my help and support at key stages in their life, whether by moving in with a partner or having to seek advice when a relationship has ended. I enjoy meeting and helping people and I have missed seeing clients in the office due to the pandemic. The use of technology however, has enabled me to maintain contact and also realise that although I work in a high street firm, the use of social media has meant that clients are contacting me from all over the UK and abroad.

What was your very first job?

I am from the local area and used to work at a pub/hotel in Chippenham. I still

say that having to deal with customers in crisis set me up for my role today, as clients can go through a number of emotions during family matters. My job is to support and enable them to make fair, informed decisions.

What is the biggest misconception surrounding family law?

That solicitors are just in it for the money.

Most solicitors that I know genuinely care about their clients and want to ensure they are supported and helped.

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Take your time. Ensure that you have a clear picture of your position and work with someone that you trust.

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SPONSORED CONTENT ELIZABETH DOWLER

ALISON HAWES

MOGERS DREWETT 01225 750 000; mogersdrewett.com

BURGES SALMON 0117 902 7754 burges-salmon.com/our-people/alison-hawes

What key bit of advice would you give to someone considering a divorce?

Divorce can be an emotionally challenging time; friends and family around you will all have different opinions and experiences. It is important to inform yourself of the facts and understand the legal position. Taking advice from a legal specialist at an early stage can help you to protect yourself and understand what your future could look like.

How has family law changed in the last few years?

The pandemic has meant that lots of processes have been moved online; court hearings are regularly conducted on video platforms. Further, for us at Mogers Drewett, we have also adapted our services to be able to help our clients in a more holistic way.

Our in-house financial planning team is a valuable resource for our clients, particularly when considering financial settlements.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Meeting clients for the first time is a privilege and definitely a favourite part of the job.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

It was an honour to be invited to speak to the Western Circuit Women’s Forum on International Women’s Day with Mrs Justice May DBE, Thangam Debbonaire MP and Professor Jo Delahunty QC among others, about ‘How to support, retain and progress women in the legal profession’.

Elizabeth Dowler

How has Covid-19 altered the way you work?

There is a much more flexible hybrid working model – we have face to face meetings when we need to, especially with clients, but can also work efficiently and effectively remotely.

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be doing?

I’d like to run an art gallery, but I fear that I wouldn’t want to sell any of the pictures…

What is your favourite part of the job?

I love working through a knotty legal issue (whether that be in relation to children or financial matters) and finding solutions for my clients. It is a great feeling to be able to help people and know you have made a difference when they have been through a difficult time.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things, but what tool have you found most useful that you didn’t use before?

Microsoft Teams is invaluable for a quick chat with colleagues (like popping your head round their office door) and for networking catch-ups and remote client meetings. xxxxxxxxxx

Alison Hawes

JO MORRIS

AMD SOLICITORS 0117 962 1205; amdsolicitors.com What is your favourite part of the job?

Quite simply, making a difference to people at what is often one of the worst periods of their lives. I am very proud to regularly get positive feedback at the end of a case.

REBECCA EELS

STONE KING 01225 324470; stoneking.co.uk

How has Covid-19 altered the way you work?

We have had to adapt to a new style of working, and after the (hopefully never to be repeated) challenge of working from home while home schooling, some benefits have come out of it, such as the increased use of technology to offer video appointments.

If you weren’t working in the legal world what would you be doing?

I would love to run a bookshop. We have a wonderful bookshop near us where the man that runs it always looks so serene!

What do you specialise in?

I’m a solicitor and family mediator and specialise in complex cases involving finances and also children.

I am also trained to speak to children within the mediation process. I help couples resolve their issues in a non-confrontational way. Where court is required, I guide clients through in a way that is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Jo Morris

What key advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Explore all options on how to move forward. Think about how you want your relationship with your partner to be post-divorce, it is far better for your children if you can co-parent and remain on good terms post separation. Think about whether other professionals may also able to assist your family.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things, but what tool have you found most useful that you didn’t use before?

Being able to offer clients the option of video calls to those who want it. It saves on travel time, particularly for those from further afield. We are now able to offer a range of options for meetings to suit individual needs.

What are your goals for 2022?

Getting to grips with the new divorce legislation! I am pleased that we are finally moving towards a no-fault divorce system that family lawyers have been campaigning for for years. I believe that this will assist in resolving divorces and financial matters in a constructive manner.

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

What are your goals for 2022?

I am looking forward to no-fault divorce being introduced in April – I have spent much of my career lobbying for a change in the law and it will make divorce less stressful and expensive.

Rebecca Eels

What’s the biggest mistake you see clients doing?

Too often I see clients make rushed decisions in anger or frustration. It’s important to take time to process what’s happening as these are life-changing decisions.

The manner of separation will likely affect the future relationship, which is particularly important where children are involved.

SPONSORED CONTENT CHARLOTTE PRIDEAUX

NICKY HOWARTH

What is your favourite part of the job?

It is a privilege to assist clients with some of the most important and challenging decisions they might face.

It is a joy to see clients come out the other side of a very difficult time and move on to a new chapter in their lives.

How has family law changed in the last few years?

There have been real advances in technology – a few years ago it was very much a paper-based profession whereas now it is so much more online. A video hearing is now normal and while the move has been accelerated as a result of covid many of the changes made by the court and fellow professionals are no doubt here to stay. From a legal point of view it is harder to secure a joint lives maintenance and shared care arrangements are definitely more common than they used to be.

HARBOUR FAMILY LAW 0117 275 1780; harbourfamilylaw.co.uk

HARBOUR FAMILY LAW 0117 275 1780; harbourfamilylaw.co.uk

What advice would you give to anyone considering family law as a career?

Family law is incredibly broad so it is worth speaking to professionals practicing in the area you might be interested in to get a full understanding about what the work entails. Better still, if you can obtain a work placement at a firm that offers specialist Family Law services, it will give you a much better insight about the day to day life of a Family lawyer. You could also ask someone to be your mentor. Over the years I have been lucky enough to make contacts within the profession that have helped to guide me through my career.

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Do your research at the beginning to ensure you instruct a specialist Family lawyer that exclusively practices Family Law and ideally is a member of Resolution (a specialist organisation that promotes a constructive approach to family issues and which all the lawyers at Harbour Family Law are members of). There are general practitioners out there who specialise in a variety of areas of law, who may not have the in-depth knowledge needed for this highly complex area of law.

EMILY ROSKILLY

VWV 0117 314 5298; vwv.co.uk What is your favourite part of the job?

My job is unique and varied because I work across two disciplines, advising unmarried couples in respect of separation and also advising in respect of contentious probate disputes. Both areas are governed by the Civil Procedure Rules.

The rights of unmarried couples differ significantly to the rights of those who are married so it often comes as quite a surprise to clients to be advised that there is no such thing as a ‘common law wife/husband.’

My favourite part is helping clients at what can be a really difficult time, to achieve their objectives and then to see them at the end of the matter – often in a much better place from our initial meeting.

What professional accomplishment has made you most proud?

Being adaptable, spotting a niche area and being given the opportunity to move this

Charlotte Prideaux

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Make sure you connect with the lawyer you choose. It is very personal, and you need to trust whoever you instruct. It is important to have the right support team around you. And you will need to be prepared to compromise. The outcome might not be exactly what you would want in an ideal world but it might be what is “fair” or right for the children.

What is your favourite part of the job?

No two days are the same. One day you might be in court with all the excitement that that entails, another drafting a technically difficult and detailed document. Furthermore, no two clients are the same - tailoring your approach to meet their specific and different needs is all part of the skill of being a successful family lawyer. It is a highly varied and enjoyable profession.

Nicky Howarth

What professional accomplishment has made you most proud?

Joining Harbour Family Law as a director in 2020 and establishing, heading up, growing the Clifton office.

forward. I work in a great team who have been very supportive. It is an accomplishment to be able to work across both areas of law – advising unmarried couples and advising in respect of contentious probate disputes.

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering separation?

I recently recorded a Vodcast with a break-up coach where we discussed top tips for those who are separating. We talked about ensuring you have the right professionals in place, giving you the right support. For instance, a break-up coach can help you to gain clarity and work with you on strategies, which will assist you when you do have to make important decisions.

The Vodcast will be available soon via vwv.co.uk/unmarried-couples Making sure you have a lawyer who listens to you and who works with you to achieve your objectives is really important.

What are your goals for 2022?

To focus on wellbeing, happiness and hopefully some more travel and adventure!

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SPONSORED CONTENT

THE NO-FAULT DIVORCE A major shake-up of divorce laws takes place in April 2022.

THE FAMILY LAW PRACTICE tells us what we can expect from the new changes

T

he law relating to how a married couple are to divorce will be changing from 6 April 2022.

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill received royal assent in June 2020 which provides for a ‘no-fault’ divorce. Family lawyers have finally been rewarded for their campaign over many years for this change of approach.

Why is the law changing?

Currently, the law relating to the divorce procedure was made in the early 1970s and is contained within the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. While this provides for one ground, namely that the marriage must have irretrievably broken down, there is a requirement to prove that by one of the following facts: Adultery Unreasonable behaviour Two years desertion Two years separation with consent Five years separation

This currently means that one party must make the application against the other and that it cannot be made through mutual agreement until the parties have been separated for at least two years, which many individuals consider is too long to wait when they may have resolved financial matters and wish to move on with their lives.

When a marriage breaks down, there will often be tensions between the parties, and the need to ‘blame’ the other often heightens those tensions which have been shown to have damaging consequences for children of the parties where not managed appropriately.

As family lawyers, and members of Resolution (an organisation committed to promoting a nonadversarial approach to family law) we do our best to manage the divorce process sensibly to minimise any detrimental effect on the children, and we have campaigned for many years to allow couples the choice to divorce together if they wish to do so and to remove the need to ‘blame’ the other.

So, what is changing?

As with any new act, there is the introduction of new language, so the decree nisi and decree absolute will be replaced by a conditional order and a final order respectively.

From 6 April 2022 married couples and those within a civil partnership can obtain a divorce or dissolution without having to ‘blame’ the

“WE BELIEVE THE NEW PROCESS WILL MAKE IT LESS ADVERSARIAL AND PROMOTE A MORE POSITIVE AND EFFICIENT PROCESS.” other party. The couple can either sign a joint statement that the marriage or civil partnership has irretrievably broken down, or one party can file a sole statement.

The statement will be considered as conclusive proof that the marriage is over. The filing of the statement will also prevent a spouse from contesting the divorce.

Once the statement has been filed there will be a 20-week ‘cooling off’ period, after which a conditional order will be granted by the courts, and six weeks later a final order can be applied for which will end the marriage or civil partnership.

These periods of time have been included as safeguards to ensure that time is given

for consideration of proper arrangements for children and finances. While this may require separate proceedings to resolve, it is hoped and expected that by removing the ‘fault’ aspect of the divorce it will promote better communication between the parties.

No divorce is easy, but we believe the new process will make it less adversarial and promote a more positive and efficient process. It is hoped that it will encourage couples to be more collaborative and less confrontational.

Individuals can now manage the existing process online themselves through the government gateway, however before doing so we would recommend that you contact The Family Law Practice, whose experienced and specialist team will guide you safely through the separation process, ensuring that all matters relating to the family can be addressed. n

Please contact us on 0117 925 9539 or through our website thefamilylawpractice.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 79

FLIT, OR REFIT?

PROPERTY

Given the current uncertainty about, well, just about everything, we asked a bunch of local property experts whether now is a good time to move house, or whether it’s better to sit tight and add value to your home by making improvements. And if so, which ones?

By Ursual Cole

F

SO, SHOULD WE MOVE.... ?

rancine Watson, partner at Knight Frank, is a strong advocate of the move option. “Now is a good time, particularly if you require a mortgage.

Interest rates are still relatively low but are likely to rise again. So, as a general view, a fixed-rate mortgage is a good option to explore.

Richard Brooks, head of residential sales for Savills Bristol, is in general agreement: “It’s very much a sellers’ market, and the current climate is good in terms of getting the most value from your home.

“If you’re buying, that’s more challenging, due to the shortage of stock coupled with the competition associated with the high demand for homes in Bristol.

George Cardale, head of residential development sales for Savills Bristol concurs that conditions are optimum for buying a new-build home, especially for first time buyers. The government’s Help to Buy scheme will only run for another 12 months, and to qualify the property has to be built and the sale agreed by December . The popular scheme means that you’re able to buy a new-build property with a deposit, and you get an interest-free loan from the government for five years for .

Alex Jupp of lephant takes a pragmatic approach. The best time to move should be governed by your own needs and desires, rather than worrying about external factors. However, While moving home is

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ABOVE AND PREVIOUS PAGE: Wapping Wharf, one the most

popular new-build communities in the city

costly, the Bristol property market has proven its resilience; Bristol is a highly sought-after city to live in, the job market is strong and interest rates are still very low.

BUYING AND SELLING, 2022 STYLE

If you haven’t moved house for many years, be prepared for some new aspects to the process. According to Francine Watson, you can expect more due-diligence checks. Solicitors will make a granular examination of everything from local by-laws to topographical anomalies – in other words they’ll find out, for instance, if you’ve an obligation to pay for local church repairs, along with servicing the vicar’s Morris Minor, or whether there might be a disused molybdenum mine under your property (both unlikely, to be fair).

Richard Brooks concurs that property transactions are more laborious than in previous times, with the legal side being especially drawn out. Richard confirms something you probably already knew identifying a surveyor and sourcing and sorting a mortgage can take time, so the sooner that’s underway the better.

Unsurprisingly, the process of marketing and/or searching for a new home is now much more of a digital experience, according to George Cardale at Savills. This will probably make it easier for most people.

Although the process of property transaction may be lengthier, the market itself moves much more swiftly. “With websites like Rightmove and oopla powering a tech-savvy market, popular properties can attract - viewings in the first hours of being listed. Be prepared, be vigilant and be quick says Alex Jupp.

PROPERTY BUYING A SECOND HOME

Buying a second home is an attractive proposition, but there are some important factors to be considered. “Unfortunately the higher stamp duty on second homes is back in place but if you are fortunate enough to be in a position to buy a little pied-a-terre, then why not? Take advantage of lowerrate borrowing while you can,” says Francine Watson.

Alex Jupp agrees that a second home can be an excellent investment: “If you take a longer term view, then yes. There are particular costs to consider, such as the 3% stamp duty surcharge; mortgage interest relief is now capped at 20%, and if you’re renting it out, lenders will want at least a deposit. With these additional hurdles, the pay-off whether personal or financial has to be worth it.

George Cardale believes that Bristol’s desirability makes it an ideal place for a second home: “Around 5% of our sales in Bristol are to people looking for a second home – mostly because Bristol is such a high-quality place to live.”

TOP TIPS FOR BUYING AND SELLING INCLUDE: “Go for excellent photos of your property, or top-quality computer-generated image” – Francine Watson, Knight Frank, knightfrank.co.uk “If you’re renting, you’re already in a strong position. It’s better to sell your own property ahead of entering the market, so that when the dream property emerges you’re an especially attractive proposition as a buyer” – Richard Brooks, Savills “Buying new-build removes a lot of the challenge in the current market. There is no onward chain, and also a generally good availability of different property types. You can choose what suits you best, without having to compete with dozens of other people for the same property” – George Cardale, Savills, savills.co.uk “Get yourself in the strongest position possible to compete – if you need to sell a home, find a buyer first; if you need a mortgage, get an agreement in principle from a lender. Oh, and there’s not a bit of harm lining up a good solicitor and surveyor in advance just to be super-prepared” – Alex Jupp, Elephant , elephantlovesbristol.co.uk

“It’s very much a seller’s market; buying is more challenging, due to the shortage of stock coupled with the high demand for homes in Bristol” ABOVE: Clifton Village penthouse living at Grange Road, marketed by Knight Frank BELOW:

Central and sought-after: City & Country transformed the old General Hospital into desirable city-centre apartments

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

PROPERTY

I

... OR IMPROVE? f you’ve decided to stay home-sweet-home, how do you make your home even sweeter?

According to Alison Bracey of Bracey interiors, kitchens are a winner. “There’s always a way of incorporating a dining/seating area with the kitchen; this makes the area multi-functional.”

Natasha Townshend of Hobson’s Choice also believes kitchen regrouping is key to improving your home. “The desire to create a more open, sociable space that incorporates cooking, dining and living remains as popular as ever.” But Natasha has words of warning: “Simply refreshing an existing layout won’t always yield the best results. This is where professional expertise is recommended.” So if you don’t want to be stuck with a souped-up scullery, get top advice.

Zoe Wilkins, kitchen designer at Gardiner Haskins, naturally enough opts for the kitchen as the fulcrum for improving your home. “Goodquality, well-designed kitchens and bathrooms will always add value, because they’re perceived to be the most expensive rooms to renovate by house-buyers.”

Architect Harry Clover from Clover Studios believes that the spare room or box room is a place to re-purpose. “It’s an ideal way of increasing value on a property,” he says.

Because of Covid, working from home has now become an accepted part of life, so it’s sensible to turn that box room into a work station.

“Creating a study can increase the value of your property, never mind it helping to make a more amenable atmosphere, a more conducive to work ambience, at home.”

Also related to the pandemic, Harry pinpoints a trend towards better linking inside/outside by turning a window/doorway into spacious bi-fold doors. “It’s a quick win, and relatively cheap and easy thing to do,” he says.

Richard Kocerhan of Future Rooms say that increasing the amount of living space will add the most value of all the improvements you can make to your home. “A garden room can enhance your outdoor space while creating a dedicated, separate workspace for use during the day, a TV room that can be enjoyed in the evening and a room for hobbies, exercise or entertaining.”

ABOVE: A bathroom from a home Elephant are marketing at St Helena’s Road; BELOW: a studio shell kit from Future Rooms

MOVERS (BUT NOT SHAKERS)

Jay Newton of Painless Removals has expert tips to make your move as – well, painless – as possible 1) Label it all Rather than putting everything in a box without any sorting, try to create a labelling and inventory system. Have separate coloured markers for each box: this will save huge amounts of time at the new house. Confusion, of which there will be huge reserves awaiting, will at least in this aspect be minimised.

2) Don’t put your back into it Moving house is not a DIY job. OK, you can hire a van, and you might be able to unload the furniture and luggage at your new home, but your back may not comply. When you carry heavy boxes and equipment, you take the risk of seriously harming yourself.

Professional movers are trained at lifting heavy weights and know how to complete the load and unload – seamlessly.

3) Use minimalism principles, and declutter!

Minimalist thinking ensures that you only keep what you absolutely need and get rid of everything else. Something that you haven’t ever made use of but think you may in the future (but sort of know you won’t) – give it away. A way of decluttering, applying minimalistic principles when making the shift is bound to make the move easier.

4) Pack early Don’t leave it all for the eleventh hour. A frantic move may also result in you leaving a few things behind, or worse, accidentally getting rid of things you cherish. Instead, as soon as you find your new home, begin packing up – slow and steady wins the race.

For more painlessremovals.com

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Kitchens by Gardiner Haskins (LEFT) and Hobsons Choice (ABOVE): all our interiors experts suggested investing in this particular room in the house

HOME IMPROVEMENT HACKS

THINKING LONG TERM

Natasha Townshend believes that contemporary and traditional Shaker kitchen styles are the way to go. “Given the expectation that a Hobson’s Choice kitchen is expected to last for 20 years or more, we often recommend that our clients choose more neutral colour combinations.

White and natural rough-sawn oak are popular examples. The subtle pairing allows the room to be regularly refreshed through the use of wall paint, wallpaper, lighting, artwork, and furniture.”

Shaker-style doors are also recommended by Carine Butcher at Gardiner Haskins. “They have been, and always will be, popular. There are many ways to create a Shaker-style door, and some will be more detailed than others. Painted wooden doors are a good option, as they could potentially be repainted a different colour in future years.

Richard Kocerhan advises that spacious, light spaces with clean lines and a neutral décor will create a timeless style. “Think neutral tones and colours such as beige, white and black, and darker shades of green and navy blue, which never go out of fashion. Natural materials rarely age, so consider incorporating stone, wood, baskets and plants.” n

“Update tired kitchen cabinets with a lick of durable paint; this can help achieve a different look. Remove tired/grubby carpet and re-utilise the floor boards with floor paint for a clean, fresh look.

Change the look and feel of a room by introducing dark tonal colours to add warmth and character. De-clutter by using clever storage units for a cleaner, fresher and less congested feel.

Invest in fabric-covered ottomans, which can double up as extra seating in the lounge” – Alison Bracey, braceyinteriors.co.uk “Brighten up your home with better lighting and lighter finishes; it will feel refreshing and create more of a blank canvas to add to for years to come” – Natasha Townshend, Hobsons Choice, hobsonschoice.uk.com “Consider storage options carefully. One larder unit could store as much as several wall units, and may cost less” – Carine Butcher, Gardiner Haskins, gardinerhaskins.co.uk “Make the most of the space you have, and put your underutilised areas to use to create additional square footage. For example, there’s often space in gardens that we don’t use much, and these are ideal for a cost-effective multi-functional room that can be used by all the family and offer additional storage” – Richard Kocerhan, Future Rooms and Future SIPs, futurerooms. co.uk; futuresips.co.uk

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t: 0117 279 0980 | m: 07956 846307 e: simon@bristolcityroofing.co.uk

www. bristolcityroofing.co.uk

SPONSORED CONTENT

MADE TO MEASURE As an independent, familyoperated company, SHUTTERFY know the importance of putting the customer first

W

e are a family-owned and operated importer, supplier and installer of made-to-measure interior shutters. We’re proud to operate independently without the constraints of being a franchise or a large national retailer.

We put our customers first by offering an industry-leading product at a highly competitive price point without the need for pushy sales tactics or inflated pricing to offer superficial discounts.

We offer a range of hardwood timber shutters and accompanying blinds for rooms in spaces where shutters are not required or not suitable.

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OUR SHUTTERS We use genuine hardwood for our shutters and offer either Japanese Paulownia or New Zealand Douglas Fir as timbers of choice.

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All of our shutters are manufactured by hand using traditional mortise and tenon joints, and are available in a range of colours ranging from traditional white to a range of natural-looking stains such as oak, mahogany and more.

We offer our shutters in any style, including full-height, tier-on-tier and café-style, and we also have the capacity to offer shaped shutters for architectural windows and tracked shutters for bi-fold doors and sliding doors.

WHY BUY SHUTTERS FOR YOUR HOME? Shutters are the fastest growing window-

covering style in the UK right now; they have increased in popularity in homes across the country for their versatility and curb appeal, as well as their ability to minimise heat loss in the colder months; compared to an uncovered window, shutters can reduce the heat loss in a room by up to 60% when installed correctly.

Shutters can be viewed as in investment into your home, when the time comes to move on to a new house; they will certainly add value to your home through aforementioned curb appeal and the insulation benefits they bring. n

For more information, please get in touch on: Tel: 01934 330301 Email: sales@shutterfy.co.uk shutterfy.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 87

Bristol Removals, National Removals

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PROPERTY

HOUSE STYLE Photographing properties is a skilled art, which is why more and more of Bristol’s estate agents are seeking the services of Leighton James...

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eighton is the founder of The Property Photographer Ltd, a small, independent company which works with property professionals such as estate agents, architects and developers to help showcase architecture and interiors at their best.

I first got into photography when my mum bought me a camera for my 11th birthday,” says Leighton. “I’ll be forever grateful to her for that gift, as it defined what is now a muchloved part of life for me.

“It was a total obsession from that day. I would take photos of anything and everything.

I travelled to Australia when I was 18, and while living in Surfers Paradise I noticed a local photographer selling his prints in a shop. One day I popped in with an idea: selling our work to all corners of the globe. He agreed, and I spent the following few months selling my prints to travellers from all around the world.

We had a surfboard in store; tourists posed on it, ready to be photoshopped onto gigantic waves. This went down a storm and we had queues stretching down the street.

“At this point I had a lightbulb moment: I realised that not only was photography the best thing ever, but that there was commercial viability in it as well. When I came back to Bristol, I had a lot more confidence, and began to earn money from my shoots. My main focus back then was supercars and weddings – a weird mix, I know.”

When did you begin to specialise as a property photographer?

It all started seven years ago, when my close friend ick, the co-founder of Boardwalk Property Co, asked me if I wanted to take

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“Having the creative freedom to show a property at its best became addictive”

1

Leighton photographed this beautiful Georgian home in Dowry Square for Richard Harding

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2 3 some photos for his new estate agency.

I jumped at the opportunity, and immediately discovered a love for all things property.

I particularly enjoyed the challenging nature of only having a limited time in each while capturing its style and individuality in the most creative way possible. Each property was so unique. Having the creative freedom to show a property at its best was addictive; that passion has grown with time, and I am now lucky enough to work with many of the best agents and developers in the city.

What do you bring to property photography that may have been lacking?

A property is often our most valuable asset, and I believe it should be marketed in the same way that someone might expect to see it in a magazine. By using a refined, editorial style, the end result is a glossy and beautiful set of images that don’t just support a sales advert; they go one step further and help the viewer to imagine themselves living in a particular space.

My aim has always been to tell a story with my images, and that applies to all subjects. It’s also not just about taking pictures – but we’ll come to that later on.

It’s not just about turning up and taking snaps, is it? Talk us through the process

It all starts with the prep. To make it as stressfree as possible for clients, I created a page on

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4 my website that outlines some key tips and tricks on preparing the space ahead of my arrival. These are small changes that make a big difference, such as decluttering, plumping cushions, hiding bins and popping beautiful house plants in a place where they can be seen – oh, and readying the pets for their feature shot. The pets always want to make an appearance!

When I arrive at the property, I then advise them on any further changes or tweaks that will provide the best possible images. I always go with an eyes-first’ approach, and carefully study each shot before looking through the lens. It’s then a case of carefully selecting the right lens and positioning myself at the optimum angle for each room.

I also use a Matterport 3D camera and scanner that creates virtual tours. This is particularly cool as it allows those viewing the tour to interact with a home as if it were a doll house, zooming in and out of rooms.

These are really useful, as they allow those interested in a property to spend as much time as they like looking around. In-person viewings are obviously super-important, but they always seem a bit rushed.

With the pandemic, the virtual tours have really come into their own. Now that a lot of people are no longer tied by their jobs with regards to their living situation, they’re looking all across the UK, and virtual tours make this a much easier process to manage.

I also provide videography to my clients.

PROPERTY

WE ASKED LEIGHTON TO CHOOSE A FEW FAVOURITE PROPERTY PROJECTS . . .

1

Dowry Square, photographed for Richard Harding. A special home with an interesting past. Once occupied

by Sir Humphry Davy who studied science in Bristol, discovered nitrous oxide’s potential as a practical means of anaesthesia, and invented the Davy Lamp. I adored the blue room in this one.

Vibrant colours are a favourite of mine!

Video walkthroughs have been immensely popular in the rental market throughout the pandemic and continue to make life easier for those searching for a rental property, especially in Bristol where the market is so fast-paced.

I’m enjoying using video in lots of creative ways across Instagram and TikTok – these are fantastic for client’s social channels.

Finally, I have just started working with Alana, our master of CGI. I’m really excited about this and we have a few ongoing projects.

Whether it’s to help a client visualise their new extension, or to work with an architect or developer in helping them bring a concept to life, photorealistic CGI is an amazing visual information tool with powerful potential.

What makes Bristol homes so special?

I may be biased, having been born in

Southmead Hospital, but Bristol is the absolute best – the neatly stitched colourful terraces of Ambrose Road in Clifton Down to the wonderfully creative gra ti-adorned homes in East Street, Bedminster. Throw in a handful of super-unique eco houses in St. Werburgh’s and you’ve got yourself a vibrant city full of properties as diverse as the people who live and work in them. I can often be found capturing Bristol’s incredible architecture in between shoots or on weekends.

I feel so incredibly lucky to live here and call it my home. For me, it’s the people that make Bristol homes so special. I meet so many amazing people every day, and I love hearing their stories where they’ve been, where they’re going, and of course, meeting their friendly, fluffy pets . . .

For more: thepropertyphotographer.co

2

Maple Road, photographed for Elephant. I loved the bright front door and eclectic décor in this Bishopston home. The stained-glass sun room was a visual delight!

3

Clifton House, photographed for Your Apartment. This was a recent project and is another glowing example of how well bold colours can work in a space. I didn’t want to leave this green haven.

4

The Cloisters, photographed for Elephant. This bathroom is one of the most special rooms I have had the pleasure of capturing. Set in The Cloisters, a converted church in Redland, this room really talks for itself.

5

5

Burghley Road, photographed for Elephant. It’s said that the kitchen is the most important room in the home and this amazing property featured an incredible, open-plan design. The Crittall doors and high-quality materials throughout really caught our attention.

6

Hope House, Bath, photographed for Acorn Property Group. This fine selection of homes really had the wow factor. Like many of our properties, the interior designers touch made this a really special place to capture. The huge windows in the rooms had amazing views across Bath and let in a ton of natural light – a photographer’s dream!

Follow The Property Photographer on Instagram @thepropertyphotographerLtd

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2021

HUH! WHAT WAS IT GOOD FOR?

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Actually, quite a bit, as it goes . . . ook, we’re not saying that last year was perfect. But it did represent a step back to normality; businesses gradually reopened, there was plenty to make us smile, and a lot of the city’s most loved events were back, back, back . . .

Well, sort of.

ART

Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon: a 1:500,000 model using NASA photography printed onto a balloon.

Grayson Perry returned to Bristol in December with Grayson’s Art Club, an exhibition of work created in response to lockdown from the second series of his eponymous TV show.

New Banksy mural, Aachoo!, appeared right at the end of 2020 on Vale Street, offering months of amusement until it was carted off by a crane in March.

Upfest returned with a spacedout programme that saw the UK’s street-art big-hitters painting ‘75 walls in 75 days’. Greek artist Insane51 came over to create his incredible 3-D work Nyx on the side of the Tobacco Factory, and the all-female Six Sisters row on North Street was completed by Ejits.

Vanguard opened in June at M Shed, offering not only one of the most impressive collections of street art ever assembled in the UK, including Nick Walker’s cheeky Moona Lisa, but a serious attempt to put it all into a global context .

inadvertently, that of the crew’s wardrobe lorry stuck in the harbour in an accident worthy of Slapstick. Especially given its proximity to a certain sign from Bristol City Centre Bid (left).

Music-wise, Valley Fest, Love Saves the Day, Toyko World and Chase & Status all took place, and it was a red-letter year for Idles fans when the lads headlined a one-day music event to the Downs.

THEATRE

CIVIC

By Christmas, things were back to normal-ish, with family and adult shows at BOV, Tobacco Factory Theatres, The Wardrobe, Hippodrome and more.

Continuing the 2020 #LoveBristol campaign that brought us painted Upfest hearts and the inaugural Christmas lyrics trail, Bristol City Centre BID’s great ideas just kept on coming.

To welcome us back into the centre, bright pink love-song lyrics on banners made of silver discs were strung across main streets, with giant glittery hearts and disco balls appearing in late summer to mark the final stage of businesses reopening.

The Christmas lyrics were back in December, along with movie quotes, in an extended project in collaboration with Redcliffe and Temple BID.

We had to wait well into the second half of the year before live theatre returned. In November, Wise Children premièred their epic Wuthering Heights at Bristol Old Vic, with a sublimely feral Cathy in Lucy McCormick and a score that’s still stuck in our heads.

Arnolfini celebrated its 60th anniversary by revisiting its archives, followed by two striking exhibitions: the abstract canvases of Sir Frank Bowling and the extraordinary photography of Bristol-born Stephen Gill .

The first Bristol Photography Festival took place, with free exhibitions over the city. Our favourite was the astonishing Martin Parr-curated Island Life, a fascinating snapshot of life in postwar Britain and Ireland.

Bristol saw 2021 out in typically restrained style: photo Ben Robins

And neatly bookending the year, Banksy was back on 13 December with 2000 specially made T-shirts in aid of the Colston Four, sold exclusively at five Bristol shops.

Hours late, they began to appear on eBay for up to £9k. Crazy!

FILM AND TV

Another busy year for Bristol Film O ce, with several major new dramas including Showtrial, The Girl Before, Chloe and The Long Call all shooting in the city. In October, Stephen Merchant’s The Outlaws received a red-carpet première at M Shed. Season Two was already underway, offering yet more chances to enjoy the surreal sight of Christopher Walken filming in the city – and

In August, Bristol Cathedral showed

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FESTIVALS & MUSIC

Pride was welcomed back in July, with a crossing on Wine Street painted in LGBT+ colours, while Upfest and Bristol City Centre BID created rainbow hearts on College Green and Castle Park.

In August the Balloon Fiesta returned with smaller launches from different sites. Rising from Queen Square at 6.30am, Bristol Life – and let’s not be modest here – somehow managed to take one of the Bristol photos of the year.

What do you do with a sunken slaver? After it was unceremoniously dumped in the harbour in 2020, M Shed put the toppled Colston Statue on show and invited visitors to suggest what should be done with it in the future. A decision has yet to be announced.

Bristol Council launched its Where’s it To? campaign, aiming to inspire people to start shopping locally again, with short films celebrating the city’s amazingly diverse and independent high streets.

And us? Well, we published our 300th issue in June, and held our first live Bristol Life Awards in two years in September.

2022, baby – let’s be having you…

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