INSIDE: THE FINALISTS OF THE 2022 BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS!
ISSUE 315 / APRIL 2022 / ESTUARY ACCENTS
COAST TAKE IT OUTSIDE THE KIND OF GARDEN WE WANT RIGHT NOW
+
AND WHAT THE BEST PATIOS ARE WEARING
EMPIRE AND MURDER
THE STORY OF ZONG
MARKET TRADERS THERE’S SO MUCH TO SEE, BUY AND DO IN BS2
ISSUE 315 / APRIL 2022 / £3
DEF PORTISHEAD: IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT BOATS . . .
EDITOR’S LETTER
S
10
Estuary accents
Portishead looks lush in the spring...
pring has come to the city, completely and unreservedly. Our instagram feeds are saturated with magnolia blossom and daffodils. Coatless people are sitting at outside tables at the Wharf, saying things like, “You could almost be on the Med!” It seemed the perfect time of year to reacquaint ourselves with Portishead, whose yacht-filled marina brings a year-round European vibe. This is a town which could easily have been left to languish in a post-industrial stupor following the closure of the docklands in the 1990s; instead it’s reinvented itself, with a vital, glittering waterfront lined with buzzing restaurants and coffee houses, its new colour-washed town houses and sleek apartment blocks complementing the traditional charms of the high street, Lake Grounds and Lido. In our own home, the warmer weather has reminded us that we own a thing called a garden. While the genuinely green-fingered tend their plots assiduously throughout all four seasons – deadheading dead things at the end of summer, planting bulbs in October, turning over clods of frost-covered earth in November – this discovery comes as a shock to us every spring. It also got us wondering: have the lockdowns, hybrid working and the rise of the staycation affected what we now want from our gardens? You bet your bottom Allium tuberosum they have; find out more on page 74, then flick to page 82 to learn how accessorise your outer space. Hot tip: shopping for egg chairs is far less strenuous than hoeing. Whatever hoeing is. Our last big feature took us to Old Market. To us, shop owner Beck Prior fairly epitomises the Bristol spirit: independent, creative, and deeply supportive of her fellow businesses. Find out how Beck has combined these fine qualities to create a photographic portrait of her vibrant, diverse BS2 ’hood on page 61. It’s another packed issue, then, and one we think pairs particularly well with an egg chair and something cold in a glass. Perhaps after a little light digging. Perhaps. Cue the late April snows...
DERI ROBINS Bristol Life editor Follow us on
@BristolLifeMag;
@BristolLifeMag
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 3
Issue 315 / April 2022
10
COVER Portishead photos by Ben Robins; benrobinsphoto.com
DAY TRIPPER
10 PORTISHEAD There’s more to it than boats
ARTS
20 WHAT’S ON Upcoming delights at Bristol’s pleasure
palaces
32 THEATRE The man who changed the world 41 BOOKS Are you a sunshine stacker? 45 VERDICT The play’s the thing
FOOD & DRINK
46 FOOD & DRINK NEWS A new opening, a new festival
and the return of an old favourite
51 CAFÉ SOCIETY Paradise, BS8 52 RECIPES Ben Woolf ’s mum’s butter chicken, and the
return of Phil Haughton
SHOPPING
58 DID BRISTOL INVENT THE BLANKET? Well?
and do in BS2
32
GARDENING
74 TAKE IT OUTSIDE What we want from our gardens
right now
80 OUTER SPACE . . . and what we want on our patios
BUSINESS
87 BRISTOLWORKS It’s the city’s business
PROPERTY
97 PROPERTY NEWS Ever thought of living across the
Severn?
100 SHOWCASE . . . or indeed, in Portishead?
REGULARS
6 SPOTLIGHT 9 BRIZZOGRAM 106 BRISTOL LIVES Alex Rotas
46 Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody, Stan Cullimore, Storysmith Books Commercial manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Craig Wallberg craig.wallberg@mediaclash. co.uk Business development 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
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© CURTIS RICHARD
Did it?
61 MARKET TRADERS There’s so much to see, buy, eat
SPOTLIGHT Civic
RECLAIM THE NIGHT
PHOTOS BY PAUL BOX
On 24 March, people from across the city joined together to shine a light on the harassment of women, signalling Bristol as a zero-tolerance city. Starting from Castle Park and the Victoria Rooms, night-time economy workers and supporters held illuminated batons and dressed in light to parade through the streets, ending at Lloyd’s Amphitheatre to hear a speech from councillor Nicola Beech. MC and poet Inja read his poem, She Just Wanna Dance, while female DJ collective Booty Bass brought the tunes. The parade coincided with the unveiling of It’s Not OK by Emily Joy Rich; the first of two murals at Castle Park curated collaboratively by three Bristol artists. A huge three-wall mural is currently being painted by HazardOne and Oli T, supported by Upfest. “A beacon of light and music shone through the streets of Bristol this evening, as groups from all sectors of the night-time economy came together to spread a simple message: harassment is not tolerated in our city,” said Carly Heath, the council’s night-time economy advisor. For more bristolnights.co.uk
Street art
TV
WILD THINGS
“A group of mismatched students become unlikely heroes when a robot apocalypse zaps away the rest of humanity.” Don’t you just hate it when that happens? Anyway, that’s the premise of new Netflix series The Last Bus, which launched on 1 April. Yes, it’s a sci-fi romp for older kids and their families; but it’s also an eco-fable about how the younger generation need to be empowered to tackle the two big issues of our time: the environment, and emerging technology. Starring Robert Sheehan and Tom Basden, supported by a cast of young actors, The Last Bus is produced by Bristol’s Wildseed Studios, who shot the series in the city. Wildseed, which has won many awards for its work with rising young talent, uses an innovative submissions portal which provides a level playing field for would-be creators, offering a way into the TV industry for anyone struggling to get a look in. The Last Bus’s creator was discovered making YouTube videos in his bedroom; one of the directors is only 25, and the cast is predominately made up of emerging young talent. The Skins tradition of youthful creative brilliance lives on... For more wildseedstudios.com
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THE SPRAY’S THE THING
It’s celebrating its 15th anniversary this year – and to make sure it all goes to plan, Upfest has launched a crowdfunding campaign. The live street-art festival returns to the streets of south Bristol between 28-29 May, with wall painting taking place between 5-25 May. Over 400 artists from 50 countries are expected to attend, making it Upfest’s biggest-ever line-up. This year’s lead artists are Aches, JDL, Kashink, L7m, Rosie Woods, Sabek and Sophie Mess, along with Bristol’s HazardOne and FLX. This year’s festival artists is Squirl, who works in unique and varied styles that bridge the gaps between illustration, fine art, installation and street art. His work featured in Upfest’s 75 Walls artist line up in 2021, when he created the bold, abstract piece inspired by nature at The Nursery in Bedminster, shown above. Get involved at fundsurfer.com/upfest
SPOTLIGHT
HEAVY PETAL
Yes, we know we say exactly the same thing about summer, autumn and winter – but don’t you think Bristol does spring exceptionally well?
@the_real_monksification
@porthjess
@aishling_jana
@andy.hartup
@aishling_jana
@zoe.fj
@wimtilkey
@nik_y_lens
@aishling_jana
@wwwendywu
@porthjess
@zoe.fj
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 9
DAY TRIPPER
Boats. They’re big in Portishead
PORT It could have been left to languish as a post-industrial wasteland, or a soulless dormitory satellite to Bristol. Instead, Portishead is one of the fastest-growing towns in the UK, with a vital new character of its own Words by Deri Robins Photos by Ben Robins; benrobinsphoto.com 10 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Public art – you’ll see it all over the shop. Jon Buck’s sculpture Ship to Shore depicts a large figure with faces looking in opposite directions
“A renowned trip-hop band famously named themselves after the town, but equally famously claimed to dislike it”
H
ere are a few things you probably knew about Portishead. It’s a seaside town, at the Bristol Channel end of the north Somerset coast, and while it’s not exactly bucket-and space worthy it has its own pebbly beach. A renowned trip-hop band famously named themselves after it, but equally famously claimed to dislike it. It was once a busy port, but the dockyards closed in 1992 after its power stations were hit by the oil crises of the 1970s. With its railway station having fallen prey to the Beeching Axe, the town was in danger of becoming little more than a dormitory satellite to Bristol, as the industrial boom of the 20th century limped to a close. And yet today, Portishead – once in danger of becoming a clapped-out industrial area dominated by a retired population – is now vital and booming. So what’s happened? One word: regeneration. Portishead hasn’t been tweaked, gentrified or smartened up; we’re not talking a bit of a facelift here. It’s as if some celestial town planner has reached down, crumpled up what remained of the abandoned docks, and thrown back down a
DAY TRIPPER glittering, brave new world of colour-washed cuboid town houses and a marina bristling with sail masts. The only industrial rumblings you’re likely to hear today come from gurgling cappuccino machines in one of the many cafés that have sprung up in the area, and as for the local Waitrose – ever a reliable gauge of an area’s swankiness – well, it’s bigger than Bristol’s. The town is upwardly mobile – quite literally, stretching into posh skyline apartments; if a yuppie (remember them?) was a town, it would be Portishead. Notable efforts have been made to avoid soullessness. The Mirage apartment block at the foot of the marina has been designed to look like a cruise liner in dock; a little further up near the pier there’s been a largely successful attempt to capture the feel of a Cornish fishing village, with small pedestrianised passageways winding between pastel-coloured houses. New developments have aspirational names that promise not merely a new home, but a lifestyle. Azure. Mariner’s Reach. No wonder the population has jumped from 17,000 to 25,000 in the last 20 years. And it’s not all about the shock of the new. Up on the hill, enclaves of leafy Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian terraces are all designed to maximise those estuary views, with the Severn bridges and the mountains of South Wales a hazy backdrop. There’s the old Victorian high street, too,
packed with independent specialist shops, from life’s essentials to luxuries, and a great tapas bar in Venga. There’s a nature reserve, one of the UK’s last surviving lidos at Battery Point; and the picturesque Lake Grounds with its marine lake and tennis courts. Spring is the perfect time for a visit – and it’s only half-an hour’s drive away. COME FOR…. The Marina You’ll be unamazed to hear this, but a whole range of pubs, cafés and restaurants are conveniently arranged round the marina, so that you can sit back, sweep the horizon with your binoculars and watch nautical matters unfold, or merely gaze into a jug of grog while the luggers and ketches come and go. The food and drink The Marina is now a focal point for people living in Portishead; it’s perfect for dining out, with lots of restaurants including Aqua and Botellino’s. The Lockhouse, eponymously positioned by the lock gates, as you’d imagine, offers lovely contemporary food, while at the mouth of the Marina, The Royal Inn gives wonderful views up the estuary towards Avonmouth and beyond. One of the most popular gathering places is Hall and Woodhouse. This rather remarkable family company of brewers have upped their offering to serve ‘modern pub dining’ in a quirky, please-all-comers building More public art! Rick Kirby’s steel sculpture Arc of Angels
The marina lifestyle that most folk come here for...
made from huge old shipping containers (they were Cargo-ing before Cargo was a glint in Umberslade’s eye), that echoes the town’s industrial heritage; it’s won all kinds of awards. The bar-restaurant-café-breakfast venue – yes, you could conceivably live fulltime here – is a hive of activity, and the perfect waterside setting for a meal and a Badger Beer. Many locals recommend Impero Lounge, The Port is great for pizza, while we’d add tapas restaurant Venga to our list of favourites; for yet more recommendations, see page 14. The Lido Portishead is home to one of the last open-air swimming pools in the country. OASPs, once so common in the UK, are a vanishing breed, which makes this one rather special. The pool is unheated, but it’s still a lot warmer than the waters of the Severn Estuary, so you can have a dip without the nip – although (spoilsport alert) not in the nip. This is Portishead, not Stockholm or Helsinki, you know. An affordable little tuck shop provides all the necessities of life: cones, wafers, crisps, sarnies, etc. The traditional high street Said to be one of the best-preserved Victorian high streets in the country, Portishead’s main
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OUT OF TOWN shopping artery has developed nicely for local and visiting gastronauts, too. It was previously known as Mill Street and Duck Street, as the water once came up as far as the old mill. The Summer Show . . . The annual show isn’t just about flowers; in addition to 24,000 sq ft under canvas for horticultural and floral delights, there are plenty of non-botanical treats throughout the weekend too, including a mobile farm, the ‘fabulous Aldabra Tortoises’, the Shetland performance display team, a companion dog show, food and music. The event takes place this year on 30-31 July, lending the town a real summertime vibrancy. The Lake Grounds Admittedly, the name isn’t going to win any awards for originality, but it certainly does what it says on the tin. Built around an artificial lake, it’s the town’s main conservation area, with a playground, tennis courts and plenty of green space. Rowing boats, greedy ducks, a lakeside café serving ices – how’s that for old-school? There are palm trees to provide shade, too, should the weather take an unexpected turn for the sunny. The Black Horse pub Thought Portishead was all about shiny 21st-century condos? There are plenty of venerable, ancient buildings here, too. Just off Nash Hill, this 14th-century pub comes complete with open fireplaces, snug bar,
“The Cornish fishing village has small pedestrianised passageways winding between pastelcoloured houses”
If you live in Portishead, you’d better like gulls
family room — and a popular beer garden for all this lovely weather we’re probably having. The ‘Cornish fishing village’ OK, it’s a cluster of new-builds, and it’ll only take you ten minutes to walk around the whole thing, but among all the other towers of stone and glass, this attempt to recreate the low-level charm of Cornish fishing village Polperro, with its twisting narrow streets and pastelcoloured houses, is a really interesting success story for the local developers. The public art Public art has been widely and skilfully incorporated in the design of Portishead, with sculptures throughout the town reflecting its maritime, technological and industrial heritage. For instance, in Central Park you’ll see the Arc of Angels, shown above left, standing on the spot where radio towers once controlled shipping movements all over the world. At the Marina you’ll see all manner of street furniture designed by a select group of artists. The coastal walk The scenic six-mile path from Portishead down to Clevedon is stuffed with epic views, and comes with idyllic little beaches to linger at along the way. Its musical connections The eponymous trip-hop band put Portishead on the musical map; it was instrumentalist Geoff Barrow’s home town. Admittedly, it was a fairly sarcastic accolade, with Geoff having grown up here at precisely the wrong time – after the town’s industrial decline but before it’s reinvention as a leisure destination.
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 13
More boats. (We’re all captioned out...)
ASK A RESIDENT . .
How has Portishead changed over the past decade?
“There are a lot of new independent businesses, which has made the high street more diverse, from Mexican and wood-fired pizzerias to ethical and environmentallyfocused businesses like Simply Green and Earth Fare. It shows that people are wanting to move away from the big corporates. Being close to the sea as well, the focus is changing to be much more environmentally friendly – for example, Turn The Tide promotes beach/ community litter picks and lots of other green activities, and many of our customers choose to cycle now.” Bethan, Simply Green “I think there has been relatively little physical change over the last ten years in terms of housing expansion; that happened before, when Portishead changed hugely and went from a very small town to a very significant one. The Marina was developed really during the first decade of the millennium. However, that said, there are plenty of new restaurants and bars that have popped up over the last ten years, and that has seen increased footfall around the Marina area.” Amanda, Muse
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“Residential housing has continued to grow, which has had a positive impact on the high street footfall, which has also made Portishead a very desirable place to live.” Catherine, Robert John “Like almost every high street in the country, footfall is declining, however we are incredibly lucky that there seems to be a real and growing passion for shopping locally here.” Ivan, Flagship Boutique What’s the best thing about living here?
“I like the sense of community we have; seeing familiar faces all the time in the shop is lovely. There’s a lot of outdoor space, and many activities, which means a lot of people have similar interests.” Bethan, Simply Green “I live on the Marina, and in the good weather you could be in the south of France, with numerous places to eat and drink.” Catherine, Robert John Shoutout to a few local favourites….
“I love going to The Port – pizza and beer brewed on site, what more could you want? I also spend half my time in Careys hardware shop. I’m always popping in for a bit of wood,
ABOUT THAT RAIL LINK… Plans have been ‘ongoing’ for as long as we can remember. The MetroWest Phase 1 project is currently proposing to re-open the Portishead rail line, with a new station at Portishead and the reopening of the former station at Pill
DAY TRIPPER a few nails or a colander (don’t ask). . .” Bethan, Simply Green “La Marina has an excellent menu and atmosphere for a lovely meal at the end of the working week. The Port is a really cool place for catching up with friends and trying different local gins and beers, not to mention their incredible waffles, a guilty pleasure of mine! It’s great to see Salsa, a new independent Mexican growing a steady following, offering a good alternative to the run-of-the-mill takeaways. Antonio’s has been a fixture for 30 years, and never fails to serve the biggest, tastiest pizza in town.” Catherine, Robert John “Although it’s a fairly small high street, we do have a great range of different shops. There are also quite a lot of independents compared to most towns. We’re really lucky to have quite a selection of restaurants and cafés, but the
“The town is upwardly mobile – quite literally, stretching into posh skyline apartments”
one we probably visit the most would be the Impero Lounge. There are a couple of new ones though, in The Graze Bar and Salsa, which we haven’t had a chance to try yet; but I’ve heard good things about them.” Ivan, Flagship Boutique We know about the marina. What are the other big attractions?
“The Lido is an amazing resource – outdoor swimming without having to navigate the Bristol Channel. It’s got a lovely café, and so much space to lounge around by the pool. I also love the beach; you can swim there if you’re brave, which is really invigorating. The lake grounds are great to walk around, too.” Bethan, Simply Green “There are some great walks, around the Marina and the Ashlands Nature Reserve area, but also at older locations: the Lake Grounds, Coastal Path and Weston Big Wood Nature Reserve.” Amanda, Muse “The open air pool. The fact it has such a great story of being saved by volunteers, and is still run by volunteers now, is testament to the fantastic community spirit we have here in Portishead.” Ivan, Flagship Boutique Tell us about some gems that day trippers might miss…
“Simply Green! We are off the high street so sometimes get missed if you don’t know your
Full Fathom Five by Michael Dan Archer; a forest of 108 granite columns
way around. We don’t just sell food, we have lots of gift ideas and locally sourced products. I think Shanicatti shakes and their neighbour Ebb and Flow are sometimes missed, as they’re located in a little courtyard set back from the high street. They also do lovely coffee, and shakes of course, while Ebb and Flow have some gorgeous home wares and gifts.” Bethan, Simply Green “Walking to Black Nore along the coast is lovely, and little done.” Amanda, Muse “The Sugar Loaf beach is definitely one of Portishead’s best kept secrets; our childhood summers were spent there with my sisters. We’re lucky to have the RNLI station at the end of the marina, making Sunday mornings interesting watching the crew train.” Catherine, Robert John What would make Portishead even better?
Everyone mentioned the long overdue re-opening of the train line … But also… “Better public transport connections between the top end of Portishead and the high street end would be great, as it’s an uphill trek to get back; this would encourage more people to shop on the high street rather than driving to the big supermarkets.” Bethan, Simply Green “It would be good to try to integrate the Marina/Vale area and the high street area more. Portishead at the moment is very much a town of two halves. I think many people who live in the new part rarely, if ever, venture to the high street. Improving the walk between the two may help. Better parking and certainly retaining free parking. Definitely improved transport – the train needs to come back to allow much better links to Bristol and beyond.” Amanda, Muse n
FOLK WE SPOKE TO Bethan Walker, Simply Green Zero Waste Zero-waste shopping 26 Victoria Square; simplygreenzerowaste.co.uk
Amanda Johnston, Muse Clothing Ladies’ fashion boutique 13 High Street; museportishead.co.uk Catherine Evans, Robert John Hair and beauty salon 4 Cabstand; robertjohnhair.co.uk Ivan Hargrave, Flagship Boutique Ladies’ fashion 52 High Street; flagshipboutique.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 15
Stockists of: Seasalt, Weird Fish, Robell, Cath Kidston, Mistral, Lily & Me, Ipanema, Joules
52 HIGH STREET, PORTISHEAD, BS20 6EL 01275 843061 | www.flagshipboutique.co.uk | b Free UK delivery
Fabulous Clothes - Fabulous Gifts Stockists of: Part Two, Great Plains, Foil, Soya Concept, Masai, ICHI, Alice Collins, Robell, Treaty Jewellery, My Doris, Hot Tomato, Nour London, Big Metal London, Red Cuckoo Bags, Kris Ana, Powder and many more...
13 High Street, Portishead, Bristol BS20 6AB Tel: 01275 818 584 • www.museportishead.co.uk
Neat Kitchens, The Piazza, 2 Harbour Road, Portishead, BS20 7EL neat-kitchens.co.uk | office@neat-kitchens.co.uk | 01275 244225
Your new local kitchen showroom is now open! Come and visit our stunning showroom in Portishead, showcasing the very best Masterclass Kitchens. ......
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Email your cv to catherine@robertjohn.co.uk 4 Cabstand, Portishead, BS20 7HW
SPONSORED CONTENT Bathroom designed by David Rodgers Photography by Carine Butcher
TRUE BLUE BATHROOM RENOVATION Rod Mitchell creates a striking deep blue modern bathroom renovation in a gorgeous chocolate-box cottage, with the help of David Rodgers of GARDINER HASKINS
R
od was already a fond customer of Gardiner Haskins Interiors so was familiar with the brand. A visit to a friend’s house to view their new bathroom renovation also convinced him to go to Gardiner Haskins. Having a clear idea of the colour scheme for the bathroom, even down to the flooring, tiles and bathroom cabinets, Rod required assistance
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with putting all his ideas down into a bathroom plan. David, one of our bathroom designers helped Rod decide on the brassware, furniture and other important details that shaped the bathroom design. Rod included on his wish list a tall cabinet, which he wanted somewhere in the room but couldn’t work out how this would fit. Slimline bathroom cabinet units made all the difference to the bathroom space, enabling Rod to have his tall bathroom unit behind the repositioned bath. The bathroom taps were also moved so that the bath now sits with perfect views of the countryside beyond. With David’s assistance, beautiful brass tap and shower fittings along with WC and towel holder fittings now adorn the bathroom, complementing the deep blue cabinetry beautifully. There is also plenty of other storage in the bathroom cabinet underneath the sink unit. Rod’s favourite feature of the bathroom? He loves the shower, although the bath comes a close second where it has been repositioned to make the most of the magnificent countryside
views of the fields and farmhouse beyond. He speaks very highly of our bathroom designer David, who was very positive when it came to Rod’s ideas – a complete contrast to his experience with another company. He was also very complimentary about the fitters, who have been installing Gardiner Haskins projects for over 10 years. They installed the bathroom in just over a week, saying that nothing was too much trouble. The beauty of coming to Gardiner Haskins Interiors is that everything can be sourced by our bathroom designers and project-managed for you from start to finish – which was another reason Rod chose GHI. n Thinking of renovating your bathroom? Start your bathroom journey today. Visit us at Gardiner Haskins Interiors in Bristol or call 01179 292288. gardinerhaskins.co.uk.
WHAT’S ON 8 -30 April 2022
EXHIBITIONS Until 1 May
SAM FRANCIS: LET THE IDEA TRAVEL New film work In Here Dreaming, with text pieces and a handmade book, created during a residency at UWE’s Bower Ashton campus. At Arnolfini; arnolfini.org.uk
Until 8 May
CANDICE LIN: PIGS AND POISON Major new commission and solo exhibition at Spike Island by the LA artist, comprising virtual reality animation, flesh-like sculptures and a large-scale mediaeval trebuchet. While you’re there, check out Nosferasta by Brooklyn-based filmmakers Adam Khalil and Bayley Sweitzer – a rasta vampire flick, no less; spikeisland.org.uk
Until 29 May
PAULA REGO: SUBVERSIVE STORIES The world-famous BritishPortuguese artist shows at Arnolfini with her gallery of disturbing, provoking images; arnolfini.org.uk
DONNA HUANCA: CUEVA DE COPAL Site-specific interdisciplinary installation by a rising star of the art world, focusing on the human body. Arnolfini, arnolfini.org.uk
Until 5 June
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Still at M Shed, with this year’s set of extraordinary images from the natural world; bristolmuseums.org.uk
Until 12 June
HOLDING THE BABY Photographic work by Polly Braden, creating a portrait of the strength and resilience of single-parent families facing austerity. At Arnolfini; arnolfini.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, bristolmuseums.org.uk
9 April- 4 September
VAN GOGH IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE Step into over 300 of Vincent’s
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drawings, and paintings via floorto-ceiling digital projections, VR headsets and more; at Propyard, vangoghexpo.com
16 April-21 August
Edinburgh Fringe; Aidan Sadler is hailed as the future of queer comedy cabaret, and the most engaging LGBTQIA+ act of the year. At Alma Tavern. tickettailor.com
IPE 163 It’s the 163rd outing for the International Photography Exhibition. 8,000 photos were submitted, 57 photographers chosen, and now you can see their work at the RPS; rps.org
11-16 April
SHOWS
MY SOULMATE’S HUSBAND’S SOULMATE An upbeat but bittersweet black comedy about fate, romance, empathy and the ways we’re taught to think about love; Alma Tavern. tickettailor.com
Until 24 April
THE REVEL PUCKS CIRCUS, No animals, no ringmasters, no scary clowns; just big-impact circus including the Cyr wheel, juggling, acrobatics and trapeze, in a pop-up big top on Dove Lane in St Paul’s; revelpuckcircus.com
ANYTHING GOES Tap-dancing sailors! The sold-out, multi-Tony-award-winning musical sensation, shimmers and sparkles into Hippodrome; atgtickets.com
12-13 April
13-14 April
THE MEANING OF ZONG Major new play from Giles Terrera; see page 32. BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk
IF THIS IS NORMAL Chatback Theatre’s play about the sexual experiences of young adults in a world of information overload and weaponised language; at Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com
9 April
13-16 April
Until 7 May
TROPICANA Sold-out and award-garlanded at
VIXEN 11-year-old Saffi lives on an estate
WHAT’S ON
with her dad. After being scratched by a vixen, she begins to transform and dreams of running away to live with her fox family. Soon she will have to choose who her pack really is... family show by Travelling Light, BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk
13-23 April
A MONSTER CALLS Sally Cookson’s Olivier-winner is back to break your heart at BOV. Loved Wonder Boy? Now see one she made earlier. bristololdvic.org.uk
15-16,27-28 April
SERENA FLYNN: LIZARD KING Surreal, irreverent drag king comedy exploring how men take advantage of positions of power. For anyone who has ever seen a lizard, owned a lizard, or been to Pizza Express in Woking with a lizard. Do not attend if you do not wish to develop inappropriate feelings towards a lizard. At Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com TESTAMENT OF YOOTHA Caroline Burns Cooke comes to Alma Tavern with her warts-andall portrayal of ’70s sitcom legend Yootha Joyce. tickettailor.com
18-23 April
21 April-2 May
20 April
25-30 April
EUGENE In the not too distant future, millionaire and inventor Hugh (think Elon Musk with a further attitude problem) from Hu-Bris industries is launching the first superhuman AI at a press
27-28 April
THE ENDLING Referencing climate justice and designed to play in intimate spaces, Strange Futures creates a bond with its audiences through intimacy, quirky humour and physical ingenuity. Alma Tavern, tickettailor.com
Vincent’s coming at you; clockwise from top left: Hannah Moss enjoys a watercooler moment; make like a hockey player and get the (Revel) Puck over here; Tropicana at the Tav (drinks aren’t free); Jon Boden apparently has strings for wings
21-22 April
EVERYTHING I DIDN’T SAY On The Run presents a powerful show about coercive control, written and performed by Hannah Moss; at Wardrobe. thewardrobetheatre.com WE WILL ROCK YOU The jukebox musical hung on the songs of Queen with a book by Ben Elton comes to Hippodrome; don’t expect a Bohemian Rhapsody-style bio, though. atgtickets.com
opposite page:
conference. And you’re invited. Wardrobe. thewardrobetheatre.com
CIRCUS VEGAS Within a huge Stars & Stripes big top, merging all the elements of circus with all the glitz you’d expect when you think of Vegas. But at Elm Park. circusvegasuk.com CHICAGO “Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery… all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts.” Fosse’s sexy, sassy masterpiece is doing the rounds again, and coming to Hippodrome; atgtickets.com YOURS SINCERELY Will Jackson has accidentally stolen 300 second-class stamps from the Post Office. But he’s making them count. He’s writing letters; and from reconnecting with old friends
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 21
WHAT’S ON and ex-boyfriends to run-ins with the marketing department at John Lewis, stamp collecting has never looked so sexy. Queer coming-of-age comedy about the complications of 21st-century communication, at TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com
MUSIC 9 April
PORTICO QUARTET The Mercury Prize-nominated ones send out echoes of jazz, electronica, ambient music and minimalism, creating their own singular, cinematic sound, at Trinity, trinitybristol.org.uk
10-11 April
ALDOUS HARDING Aldous first turned heads with the gothic indie-folk emotion of her first album; latterly she’s adopted a more off-kilter, indie-pop approach. At Trinity, trinitybristol.org.uk
12 April
STANLÆY Bristol singer, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Bethany Stenning brings her fairytale chamber pop for the 21st century to Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
13 April
BRIAN JACKSON Multi-instrumentalist Brian is revered among musicians and DJs for his role in the development of contemporary jazz, jazz-funk, and neo-soul; an inspiration for generations of hip-hop and EDM producers. Trinity, trinitybristol.org.uk THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS The influence of the Furs on the post-punk landscape four decades ago continues to reverberate; catch them at O2 as they tour new album Made of Rain. academymusicgroup.com
14 April
MYSTERY JETS The indie rockers head to Trinity, as part of their UK tour to celebrate the release of new album A Billion Heartbeats; trinitybristol.org.uk
17 April
THE SHOWHAWK DUO Mik Asanovic and Jake Wright have dazzled audiences worldwide with their spectacular approach to playing the guitar; discover whyfor at Trinity, trinitybristol.org.uk
19 April
ALEX CAMERON The Aussie indie-popper initially
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adopted the persona of a failed entertainer; he has a new one now, though; Trinity, trinitybristol.org.uk PATTERN PUSHER This energetic retro-pop three piece are on a mission to uplift and inspire with feelgood music that hits all the right notes in a world crying out for positivity; Louisiana, thelouisiana.net
21 April
WET LEG Post-punk guitar duo Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers write songs like jokes scribbled onto napkins: short, punchy, and firmly tongue-in-cheek. Hear them at Trinity, trinitybristol.org.uk ILLUMINATE BRISTOL Music by women composers, from the 17th century to the present day, for flute and guitar; at The Mount Without, eventbrite.com
26 April
CHARM OF FINCHES Aussie sisters Mabel and Ivy bring their intricate, dreamy indie folk with many stringed things, awash with seamless blood harmonies traversing melancholy and wonder, to Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
29 April
THE ALABAMA THREE There’s at least five of them and they’re definitely not from Alabama, but they are bringing their rootsfuturist sound to O2, and yes, they probably will play Woke up this Morning, if they know what’s good for them. academymusicgroup.com BRODSKY QUARTET The St George’s favourites are back for their 50th anniversary concert with a nice bit of Britten, Haydn and Ravel. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk
29 April-1 May
BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL An exceptional bill of artists, headlined by Kate Rusby, O’Hooley & Tidow, Jon Boden and Kitty Macfarlane; various venues; bristolfolkfestival.org
30 April
GARY NUMAN Not just acceptable in the ’80s; Gary’s impact on electronic and alternative music was hailed by the likes of Prince and Bowie, and remains impactful today, with Kanye West and Lady Gaga both crediting him as an influence. academymusicgroup.com
top:
Fairytale chamber pop from Stanlaey; middle: Nightmare on Numan street; We’d happily wake up EVERY morning to the Alabama Three
bottom:
WHAT’S ON
COMEDY Ongoing
CLOSER EACH DAY The improvised comedy soap continues to bubble away twice a month at Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
8 April
TOMMY TIERNAN: TOMFOOLERY Revered Irish comic and Derry Girls star brings his no-holds barred approach to 1532; chucklebusters.com
top: We want to hear Ralph Fiennes saying “To f**king Lutz?” again in The Grand Budapest Hotel (Bristol Film Fest); middle: Opinionated Adam Rowe; bottom: Posh Josh Berry
8-9 April
23 April
UNSCRIPTED PLAYERS’ BIG APRIL SHOW Two original improvised production, one big show, presented, directed and performed by Bristol Improv Theatre company; improvtheatre.co.uk
9 April
JOSH BERRY Josh likes to mock people who went to slightly posher private schools than him, and whinge about his career, for the best part of 40 minutes. He will also do some impressions, although he pretends to be artistically above all that stuff now. Oh, and he’ll be bringing along his alter ego, Tory party advisor Rafe Hubris. At 1532; chucklebusters.com
10 April
CLIVE ANDERSON: ME, MYSELF AND MACBETH Clive’s at Redgrave with his first one-man show, which should contain a lot more laughs than the Scottish play; redgravetheatre.com
15 April
JONNY PELHAM: OFF LIMITS Jonny has things to say that are usually unsuitable for dating, family gatherings, hanging out with mates and most social situations, really. So what better place to talk about it than at a comedy show at The Wardrobe? thewardrobetheatre.com
16 April
TISWAS: THE REUNION Nostalgia klaxon! TV comedy legends Bob Carolgees, John Gorman, Sally James and Chris Tarrant re-unite at St George’s to discuss their much-loved show, and receive Slapstick’s Comedy Legacy Medal; slapstick.org.uk
ADAM ROWE: PINNACLE The world has become extremely polarised, and everybody thinks they’re right on every single subject. Including Adam. Although he also accepts that he’s probably wrong, because he hasn’t really looked into it, and let’s be honest, neither have you. But as long as we all have a laugh, let’s call it a win; at 1532; chucklebusters.com CATHERINE BOHART: THIS ISN’T FOR YOU Catherine loves control, hates change and is a serial planner. It’s been an interesting couple of years… A blistering new stand-up show filled with horrendous life advice, cheery nihilism and reluctant self-discovery, at Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
24 April
MATT FORDE: CLOWNS TO THE LEFT OF ME, JOKERS TO THE RIGHT ... here he is, stuck in the TFT with you, as he casts an unimpressed eye over those who are ruling the country. tobaccofactorytheatres.com
OTHER
From 18 March
BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL It’s back, with its usual somethingfor-everyone remit, and screenings at a wide variety of Bristol locations; basically, anywhere other than a multiplex. bristolfilmfestival.com
14-15 April
HOPYARD Propyard has teamed up with some of the best brewers in Bristol for a right old knees-up to celebrate springing back into life; more on page 46; skiddle.com n
24 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
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TIME OUT Stuck for things to do in the holidays? Here are just two great suggestions . . . WE THE CURIOUS TEL: 0117 915 1000 WETHECURIOUS.ORG
Spring at We The Curious. This month sees the start of a new theme for activities and events at Bristol’s science centre around what it means to be human. Visitors can discover the wonders of our sense of taste in a colourful new activity in the Kitchen, conduct their own taste experiment in the Greenhouse and chat about what the future might look like in Open City Lab. Head up to the Planetarium for the captivating ‘EverChanging Sky 3D’, a trip to the hostile surface of Venus, and a glimpse of the spring night sky one million years in the future. Booking essential.
VIRGIN BALLOON FLIGHTS TEL: 01952 212750 VIRGINBALLOONFLIGHTS.CO.UK
Take life higher on the airborne adventure of a lifetime with Virgin Balloon Flights. With their iconic, big red balloons a regular fixture in the Bristol skies for more than 25 years, Virgin’s local pilots and crew are ready to take you up, up and away on an unforgettable family flying experience. Launching from the famous Ashton Court Estate, if there is anything pilots Nobby Simmons, Allie Dunnington and Colin Hodges can’t tell you about the beautiful Bristol landscape, it isn’t worth knowing. Flying March to October every year, nothing else compares to a magical hot air balloon ride.
28 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
THEATRE
EMPIRE, WEALTH AND MURDER
Apalled by a horrific crime committed by British slavers, Olaudah Equiano set out to change the world . . . By Mal Rogers Photos by Curtis Richard
T
wo hundred years ago, a writer named Olaudah Equiano embarked on a mission. Today, writer and actor Giles Terera is on one of his own... In 1781, Equiano’s resolve to abolish the heinous practice of slavery was crystallised when he read about a massacre aboard the British slave ship Zong, in which 132 enslaved Africans had been thrown overboard en route from Africa to the Caribbean. The ship was owned by the Liverpool-based William Gregson slave-trading syndicate. The mass murder began when the crew, running short of water due to navigational mistakes, threw their captives overboard and left them to drown. Representatives from the company believed they would be able to claim insurance for this ‘lost cargo’ when they arrived back in port. In fact, the insurers refused to pay up, resulting in a legal dispute in court. Equiano, a freedman originally from Benin, was working as a barber in Britain when he read about this latest atrocity committed by British slavers. Horrified, he was galvanised into action, joining forces with anti-slavery campaigner Granville Sharp, a white man from Durham. Together they publicly condemned the incident, and the iniquity of slavery in general. Aided by their secretary Annie Greenwood, they helped to kindle support for the abolition movement in the UK. This powerful story is told in The Meaning of Zong, which has just opened at Bristol Old Vic. The play is co-directed and written by Giles Terera, winner of the 2018 Best Actor in a Musical Olivier Award for Hamilton, who also plays the role of Equiano.
above: The poster of Zong; below: Keira Lester (left) with fellow cast members
The script, which dramatically interleaves the many lives affected by the events, was first written in 2017; the gestation period of five years has seen many events unfold which have resonance with the play. “Actually, the story is even more relevant now than if we’d told it three or four years ago,” says Giles. “It’s a very timely backdrop to recent events, in which Britain’s colonial history has been forced into stark perspective.”
Since the play was written, those events have included the Black Lives Matter movement, the toppling of the Colston statue, the pandemic, and now events in Ukraine. All have changed our landscape, both in cultural and societal terms. Nonetheless, Giles feels that The Meaning of Zong, a story set in the 1780s, is more relevant than ever. “Strangely enough, we didn’t have to do a lot of rewriting, despite everything that has happened. It’s because the original story is still there, is still very relevant – whether it’s about the idea of identity and race, or whether it’s the idea of fundamental human rights and what the individual is able to do. “The focus is on the individual’s responsibility in the face of atrocities and injustices. Because, unfortunately, there are many, many similarities in the story to the injustices of today.”
THE POWER OF STORYTELLING
Giles is passionate about storytelling. It informs his work as a writer, as a dramatist, and also as a musician. He muses on the fact that he heard about the Zong massacre through word of mouth. “Pure chance,” he says. “The actor Anni Domingo was telling someone about Zong, and as I passed by I just heard a fragment ‘they threw the Africans off the ship into the sea. . .’, then something about insurance. “But that was enough. I was intrigued. I hadn’t been aware of the atrocity at all, or the subsequent trial. I felt I should have known about it. So I was off on a mission to learn what this thing was all about.” As Giles dug deeper, he began to build a
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33
THEATRE picture of the interwoven lives of the key players in the event. “The story just sort of rippled outwards. The timeline of the Zong story, in the 1780s, is jammed between the American Revolution and the French Revolution. It’s an extraordinarily pivotal moment in history.” Giles proceeded to do some six to eight months research, sifting through court reports, poring over ships’ records in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, tracking down accounts related to British slavery voyages. He then began piecing it all together. “I thought, what’s the best way to tell this story in the theatre? Because, of course there are many ways you can tell a story.” It was at this point that Tom Morris, artistic director at Bristol Old Vic, became involved. “I hadn’t known Tom before, but he’d heard about what I was doing at the National Theatre studio,” Giles says. “We started a conversation and he was very interested; I expect because of the connection Bristol has with colonialism and slavery. So we found ourselves on this path of trying to find out how best we could tell this story. “I started out by saying that I didn’t specifically want to write a play about this thing, but more that I wanted to create a piece of theatre. That meant bringing together a really interesting, exciting group of storytellers.” Giles has the ethos of telling stories “that you believe in”. This is important to him as he firmly adheres to the organic method of storytelling. It’s almost as if you have to step aside and allow the story to unfold on its own. “The Meaning of Zong is a story about an event that actually happened, people who actually lived, so I wanted to honour that as much as I could. That was an important part of the writing process.”
“If Equiano was strong enough to get through it, I’m also strong enough to get through it ” clockwise from top: In rehearsal: Giles; co-director Tom Morris; Sidiki Dembele and Eliza Smith
LESSONS FROM THE PAST
When playing Aaron Burr in Hamilton – The Musical, Giles said, “Not only was I playing this character, I was being taught by him”. He feels to some extent the same thing has happened with Zong. “Yeah, I’m learning a lot from Equiano. It has been a challenging process – emotionally, spiritually. In trying to get the play put on, I’ve come up against a brick wall. Quite simply, people do not want this story told. “I’ve been to different theatres, different artistic directors, television producers and so on, but people do not want this story to be told. Because it means exploring parts of our society and the legacy of this period. It means exploring a lot about ourselves, which people are not rushing to do. That’s because we’re still living with the legacy “But, in the sense I’m learning from Equiano. This brick wall is exactly what he went through when he was trying to get this story told in 1783. He was going round the country writing to everyone, right up to the Queen. But, along with Sharp, he met absolute resistance all the way. “So in a way it was quite encouraging for me. I’ve always allowed myself to say, this is exactly what Equiano went through, and if he was strong enough to get through it, then I’m also strong enough to get through it.” The Meaning of Zong plays Bristol Old Vic, 2 April-7 May; bristololdvic.org.uk
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WHO HE?
GILES TERERA is an actor, writer, musician, composer, dramatist and filmmaker. He starred as Aaron Burr in the UK production of Hamilton – The Musical, the story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda. For this, he won the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical Born Hackney, London Age 45 Family His father came from Zimbabwe; mother (a nurse) came to Britain as part of the Windrush generation Training Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
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COFFEE WITHOUT THE JITTERS
BRISTOL CBD and Wogan Coffee launch the ultimate CBD coffee
W
e speak to Anand Mavani and James Wogan, Directors of Bristol CBD and Wogan Coffee respectively, about their new Bristol CBD coffee which launched this month. Why have you created Bristol CBD coffee? Anand: A cup of coffee is an important daily routine for many of us but too much coffee can leave people feeling a bit edgy. So we started thinking, what if the jittery side-effects of coffee could be mitigated using cannabidiol (CBD), as CBD is known to be calming. We spent many months working with the team at Wogan to get the recipe just right. James: We wanted to make a new coffee that could amplify the alertness that coffee gives you while eradicating any unsettled feelings. As CBD is known to relieve stress, it combines perfectly with caffeine to even you out. What are the benefits of drinking CBD coffee? James: CBD coffee is the ultimate combination – you feel focused yet calm, even after that naughty third cup! The CBD in the coffee
also supports the endocannabinoid system to promote better general health. Anand: Caffeine and CBD both act to elevate your mood. So, if these two are combined, you feel much more energised than after a normal cup of coffee. Caffeine gives you the kick you need to boost your energy levels and focus, and CBD helps you to stay relaxed and balanced. Why did you choose to partner up? James: To us, partnering with Bristol CBD was a no-brainer; they have incredible values, and are making a significant contribution ecologically through their reforestation partnership with local charity Tree Sisters. Not only that but their passion for CBD and its health-giving benefits is incredible. Partnering with the UK’s most trusted CBD brand (honestly, take a minute to read their Trustpilot reviews) means that we know we’re in very safe hands. Anand: Wogan Coffee is our ‘go to’ coffee brand. With three generations of experience behind them, they stand head and shoulders above other coffee roasters in Bristol. In addition we love that their coffee comes from Fairtrade sources - working with other ethical businesses is important to us.
Where can I buy Bristol CBD Coffee? Anand: Anyone looking for our CBD coffee should head over to the Bristol CBD website. You can order online for home delivery or find a list of stockists. Any advice for people thinking of trying CBD for the first time? Anand: This coffee is a wonderful way for newbies to experience the benefits of CBD but we also sell a wide range of oral CBD oils, supplements, chocolates, gummies, balms and other skin care products so there is literally something for everyone. What’s more, we have a dedicated customer care team on hand to help with any questions. Simply give us a call or send us an email and we can help to get you started. Remember, you can receive 20% off your first pack of CBD coffee with the code ‘Life20’. Simply head to the Bristol CBD website and redeem your discount at the checkout. ■
For more information visit: bristolcbd.co.uk. Tel: 0117 941 5356 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 37
EMILY & DAN ROSS STORYSMITH BOOKS
weighty importance, form familial connections and resonate through the generations.
The sun’s shining! Quick; grab the SPF, something cold in a glass – and a stack of paperbacks, obviously . . .
W
e can’t with any certainty say what the weather is likely to be doing by the time this column is published, but at the time of writing we’re noticing one of our favourite types of customer coming back into the shop: the sunshine stacker. Sunshine stackers feel the sun on their backs for literally a second and are overtaken by the need to buy a stack of paperbacks and sit outside until they’re finished. Even if this current patch of clement weather doesn’t last, these are the four books we’d be putting in our stack the moment the sun peeks out from behind the clouds:
Crying In H Mart – Michelle Zauner It’s a rare book that encourages the reader to both cry and salivate simultaneously, but Michelle Zauner’s memoir of grief and Korean cuisine does exactly that. Zauner is best-known as the head honcho behind dreamy rock band Japanese Breakfast, but her indie stardom is very much second in this book to the story of her relationship with her mother, who when the book begins is in the early stages of a cancer journey. By turns warm and emotionally searing, the big surprise from this book is just how much food is prepared and consumed, and the detail with which it is rendered – stews, broths and dumplings take on
Gentleman Overboard – Herbert Clyde Lewis The story behind this novel is almost as good as the novel itself. Herbert Clyde Lewis was a lessthan-prominent screenwriter with the occasional hit to his name, but spent most of his professional life skipping through bankruptcy, bad tempers and bad luck – the pinnacle of which was that this beautifully concise and melancholic novel was only fully appreciated after his death in 1950. Gentleman Overboard sees the main character escaping his domestic life by taking a long and languorous trip on a steamer to Panama, only to slip and fall into the sea and be left bobbing, waiting for a rescue that may or not be on its way… When Women Kill – Alia Trabucco Zeran (translated by Sophie Hughes) This Chilean curio deals with the central theme of its title in a brilliantly invigorating way, turning the tropes of ‘true crime’ into something rather more profound
“Sunshine stackers feel the sun on their backs for literally a second and are overtaken by the need to buy a stack of paperbacks”
than merely glamourising the four women it profiles. Detailing their shocking crimes and their repercussions with commentary on the research process itself, Zeran’s methods are exhaustive but eminently readable. Using reimagined and fictionalised accounts of key moments in these stories, she explores how the criminals are judged and punished differently purely because they’re women, and some of the surprising reactions in society. Paradais – Fernanda Melchor (translated by Sophie Hughes) It is such a joy when your day job allows you to follow your passions; for us, that means reading adventurous novels, and then inviting the author to our shop to tell us all about it. That’s exactly what happened with Fernanda Melchor, one of Mexico’s finest novelists. We were absorbed by her first novel, Hurricane Season, so we made sure that when the follow-up arrived we booked her in to visit us in May (the event’s sold out, sorry about that). Paradais is transgressive, immersive and strangely tender in its depiction of two teenagers who manifest a deeply troubling escape route from their stunted lives. Not for the faint of heart but necessarily so, it’s a big recommend from us. So there you have it: a perfectly balanced stack, suitable for a spot of fairweather reading. What we don’t tell the sunshine stackers is that a book’s quality is not directly dependent on the sun shining, but we’re not about to disillusion anyone… Storysmith, 236 North Street storysmithbooks.com
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 41
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THE VERDICT JAMIE REES
The Last Days of Judas Escariot
It’s a wonderful life
Our man in the stalls reports back on three March bangers
W
e kick off this Verdict with something quite wonderful: Wonder Boy at Bristol Old Vic, a beautiful new play by Ross Willis, and the latest in-house production from this theatre, who seem to be enjoying an extraordinary run of new shows just now. Although we’re still reeling from Mark Rylance’s masterclass in Dr Semmelweis at the same venue, what we have here is something very different indeed. This is a play about the pains of adolescence, and one 12-yearold’s journey to overcome his overwhelming stammer. Raphel Famotibe makes a triumphant debut in the role
of young Sonny, who creates a super-hero called Mr Chatter to help him manage his challenges with speech. This role is realised brilliantly by Ramesh Meyyappan, who delivers a striking physical comedy performance as he shadows and guides his young creator through a difficult school day. Along the way, Sonny befriends school rebel Soshi, ( Juliet Agnes) who has perhaps the funniest lines, including a memorable take-down of Hamlet. No such issues for Soshi in saying what she wants when she wants; a clever and brilliant contrast which hammers home this piece’s core message about the power of words and communication. It’s in his relationship with
Wonder Boy
his teacher Miss Wainwright (Amanda Lawrence) that the heart of this story resides, as she encourages Sonny to take on a small role in the school production of Hamlet. She, too, has overcome her own demons, and the journey these two go on is heartwarming, poignant and expertly told by a creative team lead by director Sally Cookson. The show was also beamed live online – a trick Bristol Old Vic mastered brilliantly during lockdown, and which remains a hugely useful asset for the theatre. Like Semmelweis, the show seems a shoo-in for a West End transfer.
like Nokwanda Khuzwayo delivering such a poignant version of Shadowland. Movement and vocals combine seamlessly, almost meditatively, in what is a very moving number. Some great shows to come in the next few weeks at the Hippodrome include the jawdropping West End production of Anything Goes starring Kerry Ellis and Bonnie Langford and that old Fosse favourite, dripping with femme-fatales, Chicago. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, raised the bar again with the high quality of their training for actors with The Last Days of Judas Escariot. A bold choice for a young cast in their final year of training, but my goodness they rise to the challenge. There are too many outstanding performances to single out, but I have to mention Alex Crooke as Satan. This production exploded each time he entered the arena, a courthouse in purgatory, as he smouldered and slithered around the stage, drawing the audience in with his razor-sharp comic timing and searing diction. I can’t wait to see this talented performer’s career develop, and what comes next from this outstanding drama school.
“Their journey is heartwarming, poignant and expertly told”
Apropos, the West End came to Bristol with perhaps the biggest touring musical of them all, Disney’s The Lion King. We all know the story of lion cub Simba, who grows up with only a hapless meerkat and warthog as his friends. We know the big songs, too; Elton John’s Hakuna Matata, Circle of Life and I Just Can’t Wait to Be King. For me, on this occasion, it was in the lesser-known songs and roles that I most enjoyed during this production at the Hippodrome. In the second half, the heart of this story really comes into its own. For me, songs like Shadowland, Endless Night, Can You Feel the Love Tonight and He Lives in You make this a great musical; not least when you’ve got performers
Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram @theatre_ jam
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 45
FOOD & DRINK S N A P S H O T S O F B R I S T O L’ S F O O D S C E N E
TOP OF THE HOPS
It’s called Hopyard, because it’s a craft brew event, and it’s taking place at Propyard – geddit? Oh, just drink your beer...
H
opyard is coming at you over the Easter bank holiday, brought by the crew at Propyard. Honouring Bristol’s modern independent beer movement, Hopyard is inviting 12 of the city’s all-stars to bring the gold standard of brews to Feeder Road. The selection features a huge array of craft beers from legends such as Wiper & True, Fierce & Noble, Lost & Grounded, Newtown Park Brewing Co, Left Handed Giant, Moor Beer and many others. To pair with the pints there’s a stellar musical line-up. On 14 April it’s the floorfilling Norman Jay, one of the most respected and popular DJs in the world; on 15 April it’s the turn of globally-renowned hip-hop turntablist and producer, DJ Yoda, bringing his
“Wiper and True is bringing a mega list of pours that pack a punch” 46 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
boundary-pushing and uniquely British take on hip-hop music and culture. Revered selector DJ Format will also be on hand on Friday, with his record bag full of the rarest in funk, Latin soul, heavy psych and Brazilian Tropicália. TELL US ABOUT THE BEER… Wiper and True is all about refined, carefully considered beer. Prior to the launch of its new brewery and taproom in Old Market this summer, the team are bringing a mega list of pours that pack a punch. Get ready to sample the big coconut- and citrus-flavoured DIPA Peaches and Cream, and the three-hop (as opposed to trip hop?) pale ale, Kaleidoscope. Looking for something different? Milk Shake is a chocolate malt laced with vanilla and cacao. Bristol born-and-based Left Handed Giant will be serving up a stellar selection of its best brews, including Dream House – a pale ale with sublime drinkability, due to a beautifully balanced hop character. Also on tap will be Cheeseburger Cavalry, a hazy American-style IPA featuring citra and mosaic hops. The citra brings notes of peach and citrus while the
mosaic adds blueberry, papaya and a subtle savoury character. Good Chemistry Brewing has been working on a ton of new pours for spring and summer, including a hopped wheat beer and a new IPA, before reopening its much-loved taproom in mid-April. They also have a few collaborations up their sleeves, including one with Brighton’s UnBarred Brewery.
FOOD & DRINK
clockwise: Deli treats you don’t want to miss (pics by benrobinsphoto.com) below: Head chef
Jason McNeilly
Brewing since early 2007 in Easton, Arbor Ales produces more than one-and-a-half million pints a year. Never shying away from trying out something new, the team has an extensive back catalogue of recipes covering a vast array of styles and ABVs. They’ll be bringing along some brand-new beers to the festivities, including a fresh New England DIPA, a collab or two, as well as a host of festival favourites and gluten-free options. Moor Beer, which is all about naturally hazy, unfined and vegan-friendly pints, will be pouring a selection from its current range including Illumination, a bitter that’s more welcoming than a pub fire after a long walk. Hopyard-goers will also get to sample its citra golden pale, Resonance, and session IPA, Distortion, which offers passion fruit, mango, tropical fruits and a balancing light caramel from the malt to keep the hops in check. As well as all the hops, The Cider Box will be serving modern craft and traditional heritage cider from indie producers along with its own creations. Must-tries include the collabs, as well as the single variety, Brown’s Apple, from Ganley & Naish Cider – a crisp and tart local cider. They’ll also be pouring Truth is Light, a session cider that’s a firm festival favourite. Food comes from some of the city’s best-loved street food vendors, including sourdough maestros Pizzarova, Palestinian-inspired Jafra Kitchen and poké bowl restaurant Loki Poké. Daytime and evening tickets are available at skiddle. com, £45-£78 plus booking fee; propyard.co.uk
‘TIS THE SEASONAL After two years of being closed,
Bocabar Paintworks has reopened its deli. “We’re thrilled to bring the deli counter back, with a selection of dailymade savoury delights such as frittata, spanakopita, Scotch eggs, tarts and more,” says head chef Jason McNeilly. “The team and I have been delighted to get our creative palates working on a great range of fresh seasonal additions to this much-missed part of Paintworks. “Our philosophy is to be fresh and seasonal, and spring brings a fantastic choice of new produce for us to sink our teeth into. With the Bristol fruit and veg market just round the corner we’re blessed with plenty to get us started; asparagus, purple-sprouting broccoli, radish salad with fresh mint, toasted almonds and sherry vinaigrette will all be on the menu over the coming months. “Root Connections in Stratton-onthe-Fosse supplies us with beautiful salad leaves and fresh vegetables. Wild garlic is now in season, so expect some dishes and pestos with this amazing spring ingredient. Buxton butchers supply us
with a great selection of local meat, for sausage rolls and Scotch eggs.” Obviously, the deli wouldn’t be the same without a range of cakes and desserts. “Our cheesecakes are a regular favourite, with ever-changing flavours; try the floral and light lemon, ginger and camomile, or indulgent Baileys and chocolate liqueur with vanilla and almond topped with a chocolate ganache. And – coming soon! – malted cream and raspberry topped with hibiscus jelly and a oat biscuit base . . . ‘ Yes chef ! For more: bristol.bocabar.co.uk
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DESIGNED WITH CONSIDERATION, INSTALLED WITH CARE
Our Showroom 36: Woodborough Road, Winscombe, Somerset, BS25 1AG Contact us: www.idesigninteriors.co.uk | 01934 844144
FOOD & DRINK LEFT: Cousins Ben Harvey and Dom Borel, plotting BELOW: Sample menu
A CANTINA FOR ALL What have our favourite cookin’ cousins been up to on St Stephen’s Street?
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nyone with the slightest interest in the Bristol food scene will be keen to know what’s occurring on St Stephen’s Street, given that the Bianchis’ instagram feed is currently divided between pics of walls being knocked down at Ripiena, and shots of cousins Dom Borel and Ben Harvey looking thoughtful. The answer is: Cotto Kitchen and Wine Bar. It’s due to open in mid-April, and here’s what co-owner Dom has to say: “Cotto is inspired by our love of simple home cooking, and the joy of a hearty meal, straight from the oven, shared with friends and family. The word cotto simply means ‘cooked’, in Italian. Our small, daily-changing menu will be led by what’s in season, inspired by classic Italian cooking, created in a kitchen that’s dedicated to our ethos that good food and wine doesn’t have to be complicated. “Our cosy little cantina will be a place for everyone, whether catching up with a friend over a full-bodied red from Piedmont in the bar, or celebrating your birthday with wild boar gnocchi al forno in the restaurant area.
“Opening a new venue, in such strange times, has given the Bianchis team a new perspective on what’s important, and Cotto reflects this. We’re retracing our love for food to the place where it all began; growing up here in Bristol with big family gatherings, or sitting at Uncle Arnaldo’s table being fed his famous lasagne during our annual holiday to Lago di Como. “We want to create a space that makes our customers feel as if they’re sitting in the living room of the Bianchis family home. As well as unforgettable food, music will be central to the experience and the wine will take you on a
“We wanted to create a space that makes customers feel as if they’re sitting in the living room of the Bianchis family home”
journey as far as you wish to go… “We want Cotto to be accessible to as many people as possible, which we believe our prices demonstrate. We also commit to helping to feed those significantly less fortunate than the majority of us. The Bianchis Group has been working with multiple charities in Bristol for some time now, but Cotto will be our first establishment to really build on those foundations. You’ll see the letters CCC on the menu – this stands for Cotto Community Contribution, and where this is stated, £1 from each sale will go to our assigned charities – the MAZI project, Caring in Bristol, Pride Without Borders and Family Action. “We want to build a sustainable model of support that reflects our ethos that good healthy food is central to our community and therefore should be available to all.” The guys have also recently reopened Pasta Loco on Cotham Hill after a refurb, are planning to create a garden outside Cotto, and requested planning permission for a rooftop dining area on top of Pizza Bianchi in the Triangle. For more: bianchisgroup.co.uk
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CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE
Afternoon delight Would you Adam and Eve it? Stan’s in Eden, taking vegan afternoon tea
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f you stroll around the pedestrianised heart of Clifton, down Princess Victoria Street, heading towards the Gorge, then take a turn into the quiet, cobbled space of Waterloo Street, you might just be in for a rather pleasant surprise. The surprise being Eden Café, this week’s coffee shop of choice. It’s a modestly sized place; if you blink, you’ll miss it. Which
would be a shame, because it lives up to the name. It really is a tiny bit of unspoilt paradise. An oasis of calm. A perfect place to relax, unwind and tuck into tempting treats. I know all this because a friend and I booked ourselves an afternoon tea there recently, and it was a total taste sensation. The menu is all plant-based. That’s correct; we went for a vegan afternoon tea. Now, before you stop reading right here, turn
the page and decide the rest of this piece is only for carrot crunchers, steady up, there! Whoah! Hear me out . . . Afternoon tea is an ancient and marvellous English institution, stretching all the way back from Queen Victoria. Maybe even to the Vikings. Maybe. Prove I’m wrong. Either way, down the centuries, its basic format remains the same. A joyful selection of dainty sandwiches, cute cakes and tasty whatnots, all presented on a multi-layered cake stand thingy. Washed down by buckets of scalding hot tea served in bone china cups. Which is more or less what we had, only better. We started by choosing drinks, and for no particular reason, both went for Earl Grey Creme, which like most of the stuff on the menu, is sourced from a local supplier and really rather splendid. Though there are plenty of different tea types to choose from, coffees too. All of them in bottomless cups. The food arrived on a contemporary-looking tea stand. The savoury section consisted of a vegan prawn salad each,
along with a coronation chickpea toasted sarnie to share. If I hadn’t known they were vegan, I probably wouldn’t have noticed. The prawn salad was genuinely fab. Best I have had for a long time. Same for the chickpea sarnie. Better than most of the meaty versions out there. Just goes to show how much of the tastebudtickling in life is done by sauces, salads and texture. Talking of which, next thing out of the tea stand was a scone with jam, along with clotted cream that was somehow partially constructed out of cashews. No idea how they do it, but it tastes mighty fine, as did the rest of the cakes. So, if you are in the mood for a spot of afternoon delight, pampering yourself with some excellent plant-based bits of paradise, you know where to go. And if all of that isn’t enough to charm you, it turns out the owners are childhood sweethearts. Would you Adam and Eve it? n
“It just goes to show how much tastebudtickling is done by sauces”
Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer stancullimore.com
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EAT SHARE LOVE
In our last issue, we ran a feature on Kalpna Woolf’s new book, Eat Share Love – a unique collection of recipes contributed by a wide range of Bristolians, from wellknown chefs to home cooks. We promised to follow this up with a recipe in this issue, and although it’s a little late for Mother’s Day, we couldn’t think of a better example than this one by Kalpna’s son, Ben Woolf. Let Ben tell you a story . . .
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ow can I put this into a few words? Nothing reminds me more of my childhood than coming home to the aromas and scents of my amazing mum preparing her famous butter chicken. The exact moment I smelled the sautéed onions, ginger and garlic alongside the creamy, buttery gravy, I knew right then and there exactly what we were having for dinner. The first thought that would spring to mind would be to sneak into the kitchen and pour myself a quick bowl when Mum wasn’t looking. The majority of the time I would get caught red-handed! But it was always followed by a smile and this response from Mum: “Here, my darling, have as much as you want.” She would remind me that Maharajas loved eating this too, and how it is part of our Indian history. As easy as it sounds to savour all the different flavours, it’s near impossible not to eat the whole bowl in a matter of minutes. Whenever we would have guests, family or friends over, butter chicken would be the star of the show. A huge cauldron-sized serving dish in the middle of the table had people fighting over who got to it first. Sitting around the table together as a family, enjoying the food and company, laughing and joking together, all bonding over our love for the food and each other are memories that I will hold close to my heart forever. The preparation, commitment, love and planning that is involved in making such a simple yet mouthwatering dish never failed to amaze me. Although I have tried to learn many cooking tips and tricks from my mum, I can never seem to create something that comes close to the perfection of her cooking. Tender chicken pieces, with a perfectly balanced spicy yet creamy sauce accompanied by perfect, fluffy, fragrant rice: this complete meal warms your stomach and your heart with nothing but joy and great memories.
RECIPE
“Nothing reminds me more of childhood than coming home to my mum’s butter chicken” large bowl and whisk so there are no lumps and it is a smooth pouring consistency. This will help the yoghurt not to separate when cooking. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and whisk again, then coat the cubed chicken in the marinade. Cover and leave in the fridge to marinate for at least 1 hour, but overnight is best for all the spices to meld. 2. When the chicken is marinated, heat up the grill as hot as it will go. Shake the excess marinade off each piece of chicken (keep the marinade for the sauce) and grill for 5 minutes on each side. The chicken should be partcooked and should have a slightly charred colour. Set aside. For the sauce
1. Heat up a wok or large pan with the butter and olive oil in. When hot, add the sliced onion and fry until soft and light brown. Stir in the spices and cook for another two minutes, then quickly add the passata and tomato purée. Cook the sauce on a medium heat for a further 3 to 4 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
MY MUM’S FAMOUS BUTTER CHICKEN BY BEN WOOLF Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus 12 hours marinating • Cooking time: 1 hour • Serves 4 This is best made by marinating the chicken overnight. Thigh meat is best, or you can use a mixture of breast and thigh if preferred, as here Ingredients For the marinated chicken • 2 large pieces of skinned chicken breast • 3 large boneless chicken thighs • 115ml full-fat Greek or unstrained yoghurt • 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped • 2 Kashmiri chilies, roughly chopped • 2 green chillies, finely chopped, or 1 tsp chilli powder • 2.5cm (1 inch) fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped • 1 lemon, juiced • 2 tbsp tandoori masala • 1 tbsp each ground turmeric and coriander • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp salt
For the sauce • 85g butter • 5 tbsp olive oil • 1 medium onion, sliced • 2 tbsp tandoori masala • 1 tsp ground coriander • 1⁄2 tsp each ground turmeric and red chilli powder • 200g tomato passata • 2 tbsp tomato purée • 4 tbsp double cream • 150ml soured cream • 100ml hot water • 100g baby spinach leaves • Small bunch of coriander leaves, roughly chopped For the marinated chicken 1. Score the chicken breast and thighs deeply without cutting right through, then cut them into 2 or 3 inch chunks. Put the yoghurt in a
2. Whisk the leftover marinade until smooth. When the sauce is cool, put the pan back on a very low heat and slowly pour in the marinade. Cook on this heat for five minutes, then pour in the soured and double cream. 3. After three to four minutes, fold in the grilled chicken pieces. Turn a few times to coat them in the sauce and then add the hot water. Bring to a slow boil and then turn down the heat to a simmer and semi-cover the pan with a lid. Continue cooking until you have a fairly thick sauce (this should take around 10 minutes). Add a little more water if you want a bit more sauce. 4. Stir in the spinach leaves and then, as they wilt, scatter over the fresh coriander. Serve your butter chicken with plain basmati rice. Eat, Share, Love by Kalpna Woolf, with food photography by Paul Gregory, is published by Meze Publishing, hardback £22 from 91ways.org/shop. All profits go to the charity 91 Ways
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Tel: 07854239926 info@cliftonwineschool.com
A very warm welcome to Clifton Wine School! We are a local wine school hosting events in Bristol at the Hotel du Vin. Choose from our Cheese and Wine Matching night, a Fine Wine tasting, Wines of the World evening courses, Steak and Red Wine night, and so much more. We also do unforgettable hen parties and corporate events.
We don’t sell wine, we give you confidence to choose the best wines for yourself.
You can purchase any course or tasting as a Wine School Gift Voucher starting from £30 the perfect present for any wine lovers!
Tastings, courses and events now also available online. www.localwineschool.com/bristol
RECIPES PHIL HAUGHTON
Phil’s back, with a suitably springtime recipe packed with crunch and flavour, and a bit of a kick . . .
KOHLRABI SALAD WITH LENTILS AND KIMCHI I love simple assemblies of seasonal veg with a few punchy ‘sprinkles’ to add zest. Here, the thin but crunchy kohlrabi contrasts with the nutty, yielding lentils, and the kimchi gives a kick. You could easily swap in celeriac, cannellini beans and capers; or carrots, chick peas and harissa… you get the idea! Serves 2 as a starter Ingredients 100g puy lentils 1 medium head of kohlrabi or 2 small ones About 2 tablespoons of live kimchi A handful of raisins A few mint leaves, chopped A trickle of olive oil A squeeze of lemon Salt and pepper
Method • Rinse the lentils well and put in a pan of unsalted cold water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 12–15 minutes until tender but still with a bit of bite. Drain well. Season with a little salt and pepper and dress with olive oil and lemon juice while still warm. Leave to cool. • Peel the kohlrabi and slice very thinly. Arrange over a serving dish. • Mix the lentils with the kimchi and raisins, and spoon on top of the kohlrabi (leaving the edges so you can see the slices). • Finish with another trickle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of chopped mint. 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
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SPONSORED CONTENT
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The colourful world of Angie Parker
BLANKET STATEMENT Did a 14th-century British wool merchant invent the blanket, or is it just an urban myth?
SHOPPING
The Winter Blanket
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ngie Parker is a weaver, designer and colourist, based at BV Studios in Bedminster. She trained in rug weaving in the 1990s, and started her textile practice in 2014. Her latest collection of handwoven designs and small-batch-produced textiles is available in her online shop, but she’s perhaps best known for her beautiful Bristol Blanket, which she designed in 2020 and which has recently been acquired by Bristol Museum for its modern history collection. While working on the blanket, Angie came across an intriguing story. “The colourful throw was inspired by the painted houses of Totterdown and Cliftonwood, and woven by the team at Bristol Weaving Mill – a micro-mill in the heart of the city,” she says. “It was very much a Bristol thing. “I’d created the blankets in response to the pandemic, and it was local customers who brought my attention to the role Bristol is said to have played in the origin of blankets. True story, or myth? Channelling my
WHO INVENTED THE BLANKET?
Weaving was mediaeval Bristol’s main industry, underpinning most of the town’s seaborne trade. It was tightly regulated by the guilds and the corporation, to maintain the quality of the finished cloth and protect the interests of the weavers and associated trades. King Edward III (1327-1377) started to change all that. He wanted the vast English cloth industry to be more profitable, all the better to tax it to pay for his wars. He restricted the wearing and importation of
foreign cloth and the export from England of raw wool. He encouraged Flemish weavers to settle in England to build up the cloth industry. Some of them came to Bristol; the Blanket family may have been Flemish themselves, or brought in some of these foreign weavers. In the late 1330s, Thomas Blanket set up several looms at his property in Tucker Street, just south of the Bristol Bridge. He was effectively setting up a factory, employing weavers rather than working as a selfemployed artisan. Presumably, his weavers hadn’t had to serve long
inner Lisbeth Salander, I headed to Bristol Central Library archives to investigate. En route, I nipped into St Stephens Church, to take a closer look at the tomb of Edmund Blanket and his second wife, Margaret. However, the tomb gave up little information. “Next stop; Central Library. The facts here were more revealing, and I need to give a shoutout to the librarians and archivists, Howard, Jane, and Nicky, who helped with this task. After reading all the available information, I found enough evidence to conclude that there is a real possibility that blankets were invented in Bristol. “In a nutshell, Thomas Blanket reduced the cost of weaving woollen blankets by setting up several looms in his Bristol home. He sidestepped the lengthy apprenticeships required by the Guilds, and made woven textile bedcoverings more affordable to the masses. Five centuries later, the Oxfordshire town of Witney became the epicentre of the British blanket industry and two separate histories there also credited Thomas Blanket from Bristol as the inventor. “The final document I came across was an article by local historian Eugene Byrne, who had researched the same story and created a perfectly succinct summary of all the findings. He has kindly agreed to let me share this. [See panel below]. “I’m delighted that, quite by accident, the 2020 version of The Bristol Blanket has been aptly named for more than one reason. I’m also happy that the success of the original design has enabled me to bring more warmth and uplifting colour to homes in a new collection. The rug-weaving technique that inspired the colour blocks in the blanket is called Summer and Winter, and this subsequently inspired a summer version of the blanket with a joyful yellow, and winter with a classic slate grey.” Angie is offering an special discount: simply select SUMMER or WINTER from the online shop and use the code EARLYBIRD22 to receive 20% off your blanket. 10% of the profits from sales of The Bristol Blanket go to mental health charity Mind.
“I’m delighted that, quite by accident, the 2020 version of the Bristol Blanket has been aptly named for more than one reason”
For more: angieparkertextiles.com
apprenticeships in the traditional manner. The guilds and the Corporation didn’t like this and tried to put a stop to it. Immediately, however, word came back from the King saying that Thomas Blanket was not to be impeded in any way. The direct personal support of the king meant that Blanket was no mere clothier, but a very significant figure. We don’t know how people slept in the 14th century. Most poor people probably slept on the floor, fully or partially clothed. The more prosperous classes owned beds and may have slept in linen sheets under animal
skins. Woollen cloth, meanwhile, was expensive stuff, produced by artisans … until entrepreneurs like Thomas Blanket came along. Blanket’s industrial production methods, however small they were by modern standards, may well have gone some way towards making woollen bedcoverings more affordable and fashionable. It’s possible that they became known by the name of the family who was making them. So while we can’t yet definitively prove a Bristolian named Blanket invented woollen bedclothes, there’s no definitive proof that he didn’t, either. By Eugene Byrne (excerpt)
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STREET LIFE
MARKET TRADERS A new photographic exhibition celebrates the many diverse businesses of Old Market. Welcome to the neighbourhood... Photos by Jo Hounsome Captions by Beck Prior
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STREET LIFE
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ld Market is a fascinating, often unfairly overlooked part of the city. Footfall along Old Market Street and West Street tends to decline the further you get from Broadmead; while it’s true that destination venues such as Trinity and Old Market Assembly are less dependent on passing trade, for other local traders life can be tough. And yet in a city known for its many vibrant, eclectic shopping areas, Old Market is unparalleled for the diversity of trade it offers, being home to over 80 independent businesses. As author Edson Burton told us a few years back, when he published his book Old Market, “It’s rare to have so many niche and not-so-niche businesses, charities, cafés, luxury apartments and LGBT-friendly venues along the same strip. Old Market shows that very different lives can co-exist – perhaps that’s a lesson for the rest of the city.” The area is rich in history. If you’d been sauntering around Old Market in the 1920s, you’d have found many thriving, upmarket shops and theatres, with pavements thronging with crowds. Just look at those grand old buildings; they may look a bit scruffy now, but their facades hint tantalisingly at former glories. And today? Right here, right now? “We’ve suffered with a severe lack of footfall since the pandemic struck,” says Beck Prior, who opened her Prior Shop and workshop in Old Market in 2019, before bringing a larger branch to Cabot Circus last autumn. “Also, due to large roundabouts severing it at either end, and a road formation that has turned it into a fast cut-through route into the city centre, Old Market has become an area to pass through, rather than a place to visit.” Beck came up with the idea of a photographic exhibition to champion the many resilient and eclectic business owners that are keeping Old Market alive today, offering a glimpse into their world, and showing the friendly, hardworking faces behind each door. The exhibition runs until 1 May, at Prior Shop, 23 Philadelphia Street in Quakers Friars. Pop in to see the full collection – as a taster, we’ve featured 40 of the traders over the following pages. ■ For more priorshop.uk/blogs
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25A OLD MARKET Beautiful independent café and deli. Their speciality coffee is provided by Yallah, and pastries, sandwiches and other treats are baked to perfection by their friends at Pinkmans Bakery. They also offer a deli, packed full of high-quality, tasty products along with store-cupboard essentials.
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ALDO’S BARBERSHOP Aldo looks after his clients and the community, providing a friendly atmosphere and quality haircut where everyone can forget their day-to-day troubles. It’s all about the customer being relaxed and listened to while having a drink, emerging feeling fresh and able to take on the world again.
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THE ASSEMBLY BAKERY Small, independent, artisan bakery known for its award-winning sourdough bread and responsibly sourced ingredients. They’re proud to work with some of Bristol’s best suppliers, including Shipton Mill and Origin Butchers. All their gas and electricity comes from renewable energy sources.
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AZZTA COMPUTERS IT-servicing company that started in 1999. They service PCs, LED TVs and printers, and are an authorised Epson centre.
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BAGELICIOUS Independent, family-owned, and one of the finest bagel shops in Bristol, who use only top quality ingredients; all bagels are freshly baked and filled.
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BANGS BRISTOL Art director Padge has been working in the hairdressing industry for over 30 years. He’s been a creative for session work at London and New York Fashion Weeks, and worked on many campaigns. His session work has been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, L’Officiel, Glamour, Vogue Italia and Wonderland.
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BODKIN BAKES Fantastic bakes for anyone and everyone. Most days you can find Daisy in the kitchen. She’s a researcher, recipe developer, and artist who firmly believes that homemade is best.
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BRISTOL VINTAGE A vintage treasure trove stocking antiques, collectibles and some weird and wonderful stuff too, from homewares to garden accessories.
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CHIDO WHEY Bristol’s newest Mexican joint, serving Cali-Mex realness since October 2020. Their corn tortillas, fruit juices and salads are all freshly made. They pride themselves on making Bristol’s fieriest and most delicious Mexican food and cocktails, and use locally sourced free-range meat and organic fruit and vegetables, fused with selectively imported Central American produce.
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COUNTRY STUDIO FRAMING Custom picture frames for your artwork, collectibles and family memorabilia. A one-stop-shop for all your framing needs.
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DEOCRAFT CAKES The very highest quality of cakes and decorating supplies. Their cakes are made using only the purest of ingredients and each one is individually crafted from innovative designs.
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ELECTRIC LADYLAND Founded by Steve Baker in 1976 – when the rent was just £5 a week! Multiple floors with restored vintage guitars, amps, mixers etc. People who know and love the shop go there as much for Steve’s knowledge and chat as they do for the instruments he sells.
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ELMERS ARMS Real-ale bar with a ’60s juke box, regular live music and DJs. With a community, party atmosphere, it’s a testament to the Bristol music scene as much as a favourite with regulars.
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EXCHANGE Community-owned, not-forprofit, independent music venue. Home to Gig Buddies Bristol, a befriending project that enables people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people to enjoy all the great events going on in Bristol by pairing them up with new friends with similar interests.
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FRANK’S VINTAGE Vintage and second-hand shop specialising in pottery and mid-century furniture and accessories, with a strong love for all things ’60s and ’70s.
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GLITCH STUDIO Multi-functional space in which a hair salon, café, nail bar, tattoo studio, and event space coexist under the same roof.
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GOOD STORE A collaborative lifestyle store and creative space formed by three local independent business women in 2019, as an umbrella brand for their own companies: The DIY Supermarket (Beth), Palace Flophouse (Josie) and Duvet Days (Emma) – a fusion of all things beautiful and joyous. They also champion the work of over 60 independent makers.
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THE GOSSIP NAIL BAR The first nail salon in Bristol to focus on nail art. A fun and friendly, cruelty-free vegan salon just a few minutes walk from Cabot Circus.
STREET LIFE
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ILL REPUTE The Ill Repute pub helps you to maintain your fermental health, serving the best craft beers, spirits and cocktails. They are also Bristol’s premier destination for homemade Mexican food such as top-shelf tacos and banging burritos. They support local and touring bands, solo artists and DJs on the main bar stage and Subterranean Social Club.
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JOKOTO TAILORING Created by Eloise Atwell and Hannah Bartlett in 2018. Old Market was an ideal place to bring their fashion and tailoring craftwomanship to the public. With a team of six, their workshop caters to small mends, refitting of garments, bespoke tailoring and small production runs.
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LAWA The best Middle Eastern grilled kebabs in Bristol, with a bar serving freshly squeezed juices.
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LIFE OF SI Simon was born in a bookshop in Yorkshire, and studied publishing. Since then, he’s always dealt in books and prints; he now specialises in selling 19th-century and early 20th-century maps and natural history prints.
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LIVE INK AND CO T-shirt and garment-printing shop with a strong focus on eco-friendly screen printing. As well as in-house production, Live Ink is a crew of print experts who travel across the UK and Europe bringing screen printing live to festivals and events, for a unique hands-on, zero-waste merchandise experience.
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OLD MARKET ASSEMBLY A venue like no other, set over two floors in a beautiful building that was once home to a bank. A safe space for all to feel welcome, with inclusivity running through its core. The musical offerings are an eclectic mix of styles, from hip-hop to Afrobeat, via house, Latin and more.
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STREET LIFE
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OLD MARKET BARBERS The newest barbers on the block, and already so popular! In a mere two months, Alex has had an amazing 150 five-star reviews. He has 13 years of experience and loves to serve the diverse customer base that Old Market is famed for.
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OLD MARKET CAFÉ A locals’ favourite, the friendly staff at this traditional café serve the best breakfast in Bristol, along with hot and cold sandwiches and jacket potatoes.
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OLD MARKET DISTILLERY Opened in January 2021, the pub represents the next evolution in craft distilling and was set up to produce a distinctive style of gin which has been largely forgotten. Based in the newly renovated and welcoming Old Castle Green pub, the distillery currently makes two gins that recreate the famous Old Tom style.
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OLD MARKET EXPRESS Family-run convenience store; a treasure trove of variety, stocking everything from chocolate bars to cleaning products. The best staff, and a wide selection of stock.
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OLD MARKET PLANTS Curated by professional horticulturalists Kathryn Braithwaite and Jamie Innes, Old Market Plants is a houseplant hub for greening any space or home, with practical solutions and care advice along with a wide range of plants from small to tall. Tucked alongside the plants are luxury gifts complementing a selfcare ethos; a refill point for local good karma and convenience.
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OLD MARKET TAVERN The Old Market Tavern has been around since the mid-17th century; since then it’s had many fronts, and has even knocked through to next door. A beautiful pub with a great decor.
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PRIOR SHOP A not-for-profit shop committed to providing customers with modern homeware and accessories that will last a long time and are sustainably created. Everything they do has
minimal negative impact on the environment, while creating positive impact for the wider community.
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PUZZLAIR ESCAPE ROOMS The first escape room in Bristol, and still going strong nine years after opening. With two venues in Old Market, Puzzlair offers a variety of themed games suitable for a range of ages and abilities.
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SKIN DEEP This world-renowned tattoo
shop has been open since the 1980s. With links to Bristol’s tattoo history of the ’50s and ’60s, the shop continues the city’s tradition of tattooing its residents with port-town style designs of ships, pin-ups and swallows.
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SPECIALIST RECORDS Independent record label and record shop based inside the Exchange music venue. Focused primarily on new punk, indie, metal vinyl records, the team are a font of musical knowledge.
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STREET LIFE
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STAG AND HOUNDS Full of history, this traditional 15th-century pub continues to serve great food and refreshments, such as stone-baked pizzas, real ale and craft beer. Good-quality live music, a friendly atmosphere, a bookable function room and a roof terrace.
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TE STONE An engineer’s merchant, established in Old Market in 1941. A supplier of industrial fixings, fastings and general engineering supplies, as well as a fountain of knowledge of everything engineering. Open to the
public and happy to help members of the public with their DIY projects.
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TO THE MOON Established in 2016 by husband and wife Chris and Gemma, a bar concentrating on top-quality drinks at reasonable prices. With DJs, live music, community socials, drawing classes and rum tastings, in a cosy interior, it is a unique setting which embraces Old Market’s diverse community and welcomes all.
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TOMO NO RAMEN Founded by Bristol chef
40 James Stuart, this ramen restaurant is familiar and open while pushing you towards flavours unfamiliar and new. Seasonal ingredients are turned into an exciting and everchanging menu that uses traditional techniques and forward-thinking flavours, accompanied by local beers, Japanese whiskeys and great wine.
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TRINITY CENTRE Trinity’s vision is for everyone to have the opportunity to access and shape arts and culture. The team believe art improves individual well-being, empowers communities
and enhances society, which they do by providing a diverse programme of arts, heritage and cultural projects, activities and events.
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THE WARDROBE THEATRE Fringe studio venue and thriving arts hub in the heart of Bristol that’s showcased the best theatremakers, companies and artists from around the UK since 2011. Every year they welcome audiences of 35,000 people through their doors, and stage more than 500 performances; their adult, irreverent Christmas mash-ups are a highlight of the festive season.
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JAS Building Services
Quality First
Residential & Commercial Extensions – Renovations – Refurbishments
Call us today on: 01454 877520
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DE-STRESS ON A SHARPHAM RETREAT Feeling stressed? Burnt out? Need a break? A new retreat has opened in Devon offering ‘burn-out breaks’ that promise to tackle the effects of stress through a deeper connection with nature
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lready tipped as one of the year’s best UK and European meditation retreats by The Times, The Sharpham Trust offers mindfulness retreats using nature’s ability to comfort and heal. The ‘burn-out breaks’ take place on The Sharpham Estate, an area of outstanding natural beauty just two hours drive from Bristol. Participants stay in The Coach House, a newly-converted quadrangle at the rear of Sharpham House – a Georgian mansion on the banks of the River Dart. The Coach House has been given a striking, contemporary timber-and-glass meditation and dining space, and a peaceful library. The building is set beside the south lawn, where meditations and nature practices take place with a breathtaking view of the River Dart. Participants will be encouraged to discover the restorative power of getting their ‘hands in the land’. Part of the estate is being rewilded and Coach House retreatants will be invited to uniquely experience and explore the fields being restored to nature, performing mindful tasks, meditation and nature practices that will deeply connect them to the land. The Sharpham Estate has produced high-
quality cheeses and wine, and fresh natural food is a key ingredient of a Sharpham retreat. Coach House retreatants will practice mindful gardening, helping to grow organic food in the 18th-century walled garden – and they’ll be tasting it, too. Lots of the vegetables served to retreatants are grown at Sharpham by head gardener Bryony Middleton, with the help of previous guests, so participants undertaking mindful gardening tasks will be joining in a cycle of abundance! The retreats are run by The Sharpham Trust, a charity which has been connecting people with nature and themselves since 1982. “It’s long been known that re-connecting with nature has the power to heal and help us come back to ourselves, and these retreats take this a step further – offering participants the opportunity to rest, rejuvenate and get their hands in the soil,” said Ben Ballard, programme manager at the Trust. “The benefits of mindfulness practice and of connecting with nature are well-proven,” said Coach House manager Patti Summerville. “These new retreats give participants time out on the stunning Sharpham Estate to discover nature as our true home.” The new Coach House offers affordable
six-night nature-based retreats, in which participants stay full-board in single, mostlyensuite rooms at a standard rate of £495. The Coach House’s Sustaining Ourselves retreats, designed to support sufferers of stress and burnout, cost £570. Supported and sponsor rates are available on all Coach House retreats. The Coach House joins a portfolio of Sharpham Trust retreat venues that are helping people discover mindfulness in an incredible natural setting including The Barn, Sharpham House and Woodland Retreats. So if you need a mindful break and want to escape the stresses of city life, come and experience the healing power of nature at Sharpham. ■
Sharpham House, Ashprington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 7UT sharphamtrust.org; tel: 01803 731803 email: coachhouse@sharphamtrust.org @SharphamTrust www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 71
BRISTOL’S LEADING INDEPENDENT BATHROOM AND TILE SPECIALIST Within our large showroom we showcase the industry’s leading brands and more importantly we have an experienced, warm and friendly team to help you choose your dream bathroom. With over 30 Five Star Google and Facebook reviews come see what the fuss is about!
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TAKE IT OUTSIDE
What makes the perfect garden? The answer you give today may be very different from the one you gave before lockdown…
Garden rooms range from inexpensive off-the-peg huts to the exquisite and bespoke. This page, design by Artisan; inset: classic summerhouse style, Tabitha Tarling
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GARDENS
e are a nation of gardeners; that’s always been the case. But over the past few years, new priorities have crept in; lockdown, the rise of staycations and hybrid working have all had a lasting effect on what we want from our outer space. Additionally, there’s a growing wish for gardens that increase and protect biodiversity and which have respect for the environment, while more and more people are keen to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Before you head to the local garden centre to fill a wheelbarrow full of perennials, hear what three local experts have to say.
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“Your environment is a significant contributor to your wellbeing – especially when working from home”
Lockdown has left a lasting effect on what we want from our gardens “The pandemic has forced people to live and work differently, and the relationship we have with our domestic environment has gone through a seismic shift,” says Sheldon of Eden Garden Design. “With the increase in home and hybrid working, more and more people are seeking the installation of a garden office, a place in which they can create a clear separation between work and home life, without the commute. “Also, we have sought more from our outdoor spaces, whether it’s a balcony, small courtyard garden or larger open space. As a garden and landscape designer, I’ve seen the trend move from a traditional garden to the creation of an ‘outdoor room’, including everything from plants that attract wildlife to outdoor kitchens, jacuzzi spas, a place to grow herbs and vegetables, sunken lounges, outdoor cinemas and firepits. “Basically, we appear to want to spend more time outside, and why not? Time spent in our gardens has long been associated with better wellbeing, contributing positively to our mental health.” We hear a similar story from Will of Artisan.“Your environment is a significant contributor to a productive work output and mental wellbeing; this is especially the case when working from home. “The outside space available to you ideally provides escapism from the daily grind. Whether it’s a beautiful view from inside the house, or an immersive oasis or a beautiful balcony, that space can be beneficial. “Having that separation between work and home is a challenge a lot of us have felt; a direct result is the garden office. A stroll down to the bottom of the garden is sometimes enough of a journey to mentally separate the two.” “The obvious effect is the need for a space to work in,” says Tabitha Tarling. “Garden studios and offices have been steadily increasing in popularity, offering a means to a quiet space; one you’re not having to share with the rest of the family. “Over the years, I’ve had requests for gyms, yoga spaces, music studios – all of which have differing requirements, such as sprung floors or soundproofing, as well as things like heating and lighting. Clients are increasingly asking for garden buildings with loos, showers and kitchenettes, so they’re doubling up as little homes from home. “There’s a huge array of off-the-peg garden rooms, as well as some really beautiful bespoke ones. I recommend looking at your budget and
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above: “You could be dining at your favourite holiday restaurant”; Artisan; below: Save the bees; Tabitha Tarling
going for the best you can get for your money, as it’s a big piece of kit to put into a space, and needs to look good from the house as well.” And like Will, Tabitha says “in terms of the actual garden, I think more than ever having your own green space has become such a boon, especially if you’re working from home, as it’s a different space to inhabit. We are not commuting, we are not getting out of the house as much, so being able to open the back door and sit outside for an hour at lunch time suddenly becomes really important mentally. Even a balcony or a front garden with a chair can be a good spot to take you away from work calls and emails.”
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We’re staycationing in our own back yards “Alfresco dining is one of my favourite things to do when holidaying in warmer climes – all cooked outside if possible!” says Will. “This seems to be a hit with a lot of clients, too. “An outdoor cooking space can be considerately fitted into a compact courtyard as much as a larger garden space. Combined with a beautiful table and chairs, verdant planting and ambient lighting, you could be dining at your favourite holiday restaurant.” “Having a holiday is about recuperation and recharging, and this is definitely something you can do in your own garden,” says Tabitha. “We may not always have the hot weather a holiday abroad can offer, but with good planting and careful zoning, a peaceful haven can be totally achievable, whatever size garden you have. A tranquil terrace or
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deck, surrounded with tall grasses and architectural plants to screen out neighbours, can be a great place to relax with a book. “Water is also very soothing; I’m a big fan of a water bowl with water lilies. Money saved on vacations can perhaps be put towards a really lovely one from Urbis. A hot tub can feel quite luxurious, and, with a glass of fizz, will definitely impart a holiday feeling, if you have the space. “I often like to use herbs and aromatic shrubs as part of my planting plans, and these are great for al fresco dining at home. I recommend throws, rugs and fire pits for colder evenings. Most, if not all my clients want outdoor dining areas, often combined with lighting and power. I’ve just installed an outdoor kitchen for one client who hails from Canada and, unperturbed by the English weather, is looking forward to entertaining at home this summer.” “When I think of a holiday, I think of time away from work, other demands and a change in routine,” says Sheldon. “Prior to the pandemic I was a keen traveller, and most memories that elicit strong emotional responses, or feelings of calm, can usually be associated with nature and the outdoors. “Way before the pandemic, I always asked my clients at their initial consultation; ‘is there a special place in the world you are drawn to, and might want to recreate at home?’ As I ask that question, I’m imaging a small courtyard garden in Thailand that I visited once. It was in the middle of Bangkok, though it was an oasis of calm. It was simple, tropical, and infinitely inviting.”
GARDENS
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above: Contemporary style by Eden; left: a small pond offers a habitat for a wide range of wildlife (Tabitha Tarling), as does insect-friendly planting (inset: Eden Garden Design)
6 TOP TIPS FOR A BIODIOVERSE GARDEN, BY SHELDON WRESSELL OF EDEN DESIGNS
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Plants! The more plant species in your garden, more biodiverse it will be. Subsequently, this will attract a greater variety of insects and wildlife. Choose a range of species of all shapes, colours, sizes and fragrances. Plants that flower throughout the year attract different species of wildlife from spring to winter. Choose fragrant flowers, as most butterflies and some insects find their way from garden to garden by smell, rather than sight. Trees, hedges and shrubs are brilliant for encouraging biodiversity, as they offer shelter and nesting areas for wildlife. Large and mature trees are a vital wildlife habitat and support an incredible diversity of plants, fungi, lichens and animals, especially insects.
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Recycle and reuse materials (and choose local and or eco) Using recycled materials is a great way to go green. Visit reclamation yards, or see what people are offering locally on the net. Choose materials, furniture and structures that have been sourced or built locally, as this will help reduce a garden’s carbon footprint and support nearby businesses. For timber products look for a Forest Stewardship
We want our gardens to be stylish, but also to be kind to the environment and increase bio-diversity “‘Stylish’ and ‘biodiverse’ are not necessarily good bedfellows when it comes to a garden, as it’s often wilder, messier spaces which provide more opportunities for diversity,” says Tabitha. “That said, a beautiful border with a good range of flowering perennials and shrubs can provide nectar and pollen for insects and butterflies. Make it seasonally diverse, as different insects are on the wing at different times of the year. Seed heads, grasses and fruit also provide food for birds, so consider leaving seed heads on plants as they die back, or planting a fruiting tree such as mountain ash, if you have enough room. “A small pond or pool can be done stylishly, and provide water and a habitat for a lot of insect life, as well as birds, frogs, toads and newts. Make sure you have varying water levels within your pond for planting, as well as access in and out for wildlife. “I’m also gently encouraging clients to think more about where materials come from these days. A lot of cheaper stone will be coming from places as far-flung as China and India, even though we have a lot of very attractive homegrown stone here in the UK. Perhaps think about reusing reclaimed flagstones and cobbles. Scaffolding boards also make great decks or beds, with a bit of sanding and oiling.” “Think plants, plants, plants!” says Will. “A common brief we get is ‘low-maintenance’. This doesn’t have to mean your space is void of life, covered in hard surfaces and artificial grass. You can have a planting palette that is hardworking and provides an amazing habitat for bees and insects without having to tend to it every week. “Upcycling and repurposing materials is a great way of reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and trying to avoid materials that have had to come a long way; there are some incredible natural stones quarried in the UK, with a much smaller carbon footprint.” “Every garden is unique, each with its own micro-habitat and microclimate,” says Sheldon. “But with the right plants, a variety of species, and wildlife-friendly elements, every garden can boost biodiversity.” More tips from Sheldon in the panel below.
Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) logo, for wood originating from certified plantations.
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Conserve water Water conservation is essential, so install a water butt on a downpipe where you can. If you have the space, consider an underground rain tank. Larger ones can easily collect enough water for the average garden. Clever cost-cutting irrigation helps, too. Don’t use a sprinkler on the garden – water the roots of plants without wasting it on the leaves. Repair leaky pond liners.
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Avoid using chemicals Employ plenty of natural methods to combat pests in your garden, including companion planting and natural pest control, such as using garlic, elder and rhubarb leaf sprays to control garden pests. Erecting bird boxes to attract nesting birds can help with caterpillar control. Build bug hotels; even a small wildlife pond will attract all sorts of beneficial insects. Encouraging wildlife makes your garden far more entertaining, as well as helping with pest control.
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Make your own compost Recycling green waste is essential, to stop
it going into landfill. Homemade compost costs nothing to make, and will save money on bagged compost and soil conditioner from garden centres. Do add: lawn clippings, wood ash (in moderation), hedge trimmings, veg peelings, tea bags, egg boxes, leaves, shredded newspaper and cardboard, vacuum cleaner contents Don’t add: cooked food, meat, pet faeces, glossy magazines.
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Invest in a ‘green roof’ Green roofs are becoming increasingly popular as they help increase biodiversity, provide good insulation, improve air quality, control water run-off, and also look very attractive. There are plenty of products available using different construction techniques, you can even retrofit an existing shed and garage if they are able to take the weight.
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GARDENS
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We want a garden for all seasons “As with home interiors, people are experimenting with different styles, colours and materials in their garden,’ says Sheldon. “In seeing the garden as an extension to their living space, the ‘outdoor room’ has become much more personalised and unique. “In New Zealand, there is a greater emphasis on the outdoors and time spent there with family and friends. With New Zealand having a similar climate to the UK, there can be a lot of rain, even in the warmer weather, so New Zealanders facilitate extended uses of their outdoor spaces by adding verandahs or other covered areas, such as a gazebo, pergola, or even a sail-shade. A fire pit will stave off the cold and create a focal point as the light changes, along with lighting effects installed in the garden. “The lockdowns have made us appreciate and value time together with friends and family. I’ve seen a shift towards employing such methods as above, to facilitate the best and prolonged use of our outdoor spaces, not matter the time of day, the weather or the season.” “There has been a general shift towards the importance of a garden to our wellbeing,” says Will. “The garden was once an afterthought for a lot of homeowners; now, it’s a priority. We don’t get a lot of blue sky and sunny days in the UK but when we do we want a space to really make the most of it.” this page: A relaxed yet super-stylish garden,
with an annexe and holiday vibe, by Tabitha; basically every essential 2022 box ticked
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We’re increasingly growing our own “With the cost of living dramatically rising, particularly the cost of food, a lot of people are looking to grow their own fruit and veg,” says Tabitha. “I’m often asked for raised beds for the sole purpose of growing food. Espalier fruit trees which don’t take up too much room, and can be grown on a warm south-facing wall, are also popular, and kitchen beds for culinary herbs which are so easy to grow and add instant flavour as well as looking pretty are useful. A favourite of mine is Allium tuberosum, or garlic chives; you can use the whole flower head in salads, as well as the leaves. “Community gardens are also a great way of growing food. I love the idea of more of these – they provide fresh produce and flowers, and bring people together. I worked with a brilliant company in London called the Edible Bus Stop, the brainchild of Mak Gilchrist. Together with neighbours and local volunteers, they took a disused piece of waste land by a bus stop and turned it into something magical. It is now cared for exclusively by volunteers and OUR TRIO OF EXPERTS has featured Sheldon Wressell, Eden Garden Design many times in edengardendesignbristol.co.uk the press and on TV. I’d love Tabitha Tarling, Tabitha Tarling Garden Design to be involved tabithatarling.co.uk in a community garden here in Will Cooke, Artisan Lansdcapes Bristol - give me artisanlandscapes.co.uk a call!” n
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Telephone: 07850655913 Email: enquiries@edengardendesignbristol.co.uk www.edengardendesignbristol.co.uk
“A garden should make you feel you’ve entered privileged space — a place not just set apart but reverberant — and it seems to me that, to achieve this, the gardener must put some kind of twist on the existing landscape, turn its prose into something nearer poetry.” Michael Pollan – Second Nature: A Gardeners Education
OUTER SPACE
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Can’t garden, won’t garden? Maybe just load up the patio with lush stuff, then? 3 2
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GARDEN SHOPPING 8
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SHOPPING LIST
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1. Four solar mesh pendants, £75; coxandcox.co.uk 2. Concrete bench planter, £695; grahamandgreen.co.uk 3. Weber Smokey Joe garden grill, £85.49; whitehallgardencentre.co.uk 4. Bologna egg chair, £249; whitehallgardencentre.co.uk 5. Fatboy parasol, price on request; oskarfurniture.co.uk 6. Nolita chaise longue, price on request; oskarfurniture.co.uk 7. Pizza oven, £495; coxandcox.co.uk 8. Industrial-style water feature, £220; coxandcox.co.uk 9. Cosenza Lantern, £18.99; vinegarhill.co.uk 10. Galvanised milk churn, £45; coxandcox.co.uk 11. Ostuni bench, £1250 (two for £2,300); sffurniture.co.uk 12. Iron brazier, £125; coxandcox.co.uk 13. Deckchair, £69; grahamandgreen.co.uk 14. Elba chair, £289, table £569; boconcept.com
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BUILDING EXCELLENCE REFURBISHMENT | EXTENSIONS KITCHENS | BATHROOMS T: 0117 2 591 591 E: info@halgroup.co.uk
WANTED We buy for cash
SCRAP GOLD & PLATINUM Simply bring your old jewellery to our showroom in Bristol or send it in to us by special delivery. (Please give us a call for more details) On your behalf, we can also sell re-saleable, unwanted jewellery items in our windows on a sale or return basis. Photo ID required in all circumstances.
KEMPS OF BROADMEAD 33 Union St, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 2DJ T: 0117 926 4888 | www.kempsltd.co.uk Email: kempsbroadmead@gmail.com
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CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT James Scrimshaw of CURA CLINICAL explains how new technologies are providing effective answers to people’s pain and suffering
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t CURA we’re always striving to find new ways of effectively treating people’s injuries. After working for 26 years with people in pain, I identified a significant lack of options for many people for whom hands-on care/rehab was ineffective, yet who weren’t ready for, or suited to surgery or other invasive procedures. In my search to solve this problem, my practice has adopted several cutting-edge non-invasive technologies that initiate healing, improve function and manage pain in the most chronic of conditions, be it arthritic, old injury or post- surgical pain. We use a combination of MBST cell regeneration from Germany, Class IV Laser from the States, and new to market pain-management device Biowave to provide a multilayered approach to healing and painmanagement. ■
CASE STUDY 1 Injections didn’t hit the spot for David’s ankle, but MBST did for his chronic ligament damage
CASE STUDY 2
CASE STUDY 3
Paul kindly allowed me to mention how MBST has had a profound effect on him, both physically and mentally. Moderate knee arthritis in both knees was really getting him down. Following MBST last October things are very different, and I’m delighted to see this lovely chap smiling at being able to walk without pain again.
Jose was also suffering from more severe OA of her right knee, yet couldn’t have an operation as she is a full time carer for her husband and couldn’t afford the recovery time. Three months after treatment, her pain is 90% better. She even broke into a short jog to get the door without thinking about it. What a result!
It’s the city’s business
BRISTOLWORKS ONLINE CONNECTIONS
The social network
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im Edwards, co-founder of Network N, gave an in-depth, revelatory live interview at the latest EntreConf dinner – a networking event with leading business figures, sponsored by Rocketmakers. Network N is the largest independent games media business in the world, with a network of more than 150 websites reaching over 60 million users every month – all built in 10 years with no external financing. It’s comprised of three businesses: publishing, an advertising network and an advertising agency, all naturally emerging in the early days, and now in the process of ‘de-merging’ through a corporate restructure that will allow the three businesses to stand independently. Network N’s growth has made restructuring essential, but as Tim told us, it wasn’t always so successful. It took three years to hit a million users, and the early days were filled with doubt. He recounted one experience following a press trip to the E3 Expo trade event. “The Sunday morning following the show, we looked at analytics and there were three people looking at our website,” says Tim. “One of them was me, one of them was my co-founder James Binns, and then I realised I had my laptop on in the other room…” It was a stressful time, but Tim says it was those hard moments and mistakes that ultimately made the business a success.“Teams might spend five years making a game – they start from scratch with the
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The Property Symposium is back on 29 April with a virtual conference on sustainability. The morning event, which is sponsored by GA Energy, Interaction and Futureground, runs from 9am to 1pm and brings together industry experts for panel sessions and networking opportunities. The Thought Leadership segment offers dynamic insights via exclusive research into residential and commercial property with Lucian Cook, the head of residential research for Savills, and Jennet Siebrits, the head of research at CBRE. Panellists include senior players from JLL, Principality, Interaction, CBRE, Futureground, GA Energy, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Sero, Socius, Coutts and BDP – with more to follow. The Property Symposium is powered by a multi-channel regional marketing campaign, building on the success of the Property Awards in Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and Exeter. For more: bristolpropertyawards.co.uk
Tim Edwards with Greg Ingham
pieces of understanding what makes it fun, what makes it exciting, how to make it successful. They spend five years learning that, and then they put out the product. The sequel is always so much better, because they’ve got all these lessons already. I think that’s true for the business in general.” Some lessons Tim has learned? Sometimes it is worth going to the professionals for help – chartered accountants Bishop Fleming and independent law firm Burges Salmon are both advising on the restructuring process; a leadership structure based around pairs allows everyone to play to their strengths; and, if you’re going to set up an employee shares scheme – get your ducks in a row first. It all leads to one, final question: is all this in preparation to exit? According to Tim, not right now – and maybe not ever. “I take a lot of meaning from managing the business,” he shared. “If I wasn’t doing this, I would want to be doing another business – and I have a couple of things that I want to do. I can’t imagine not working.” The event took place at the Avon Gorge by Hotel Du Vin on 21 March. EntreConf is a virtual conference for entrepreneurs in the South West, featuring thought leaders, practical insights, knowledge sharing and the opportunity to showcase exciting businesses. The next (online) event is on 30 June. The full video of this interview is on the site. For more: entreconf.com
BRISTOLWORKS
and Finsbury ranges. In sofas, we are seeing more soft fabrics such as velvets increasing in popularity, particularly in brights and in rich, opulent shades, as shown in our Viscount range.
FROM LEFT:
Ian Thompson with MD Emma Leeke and buying director Joanna Littlejohn
Q&A
A family affair
Ian Thompson, sales manager at Park Furnishers, explains how family values and the personal touch have ensured the ongoing success of this Bristol firm
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ark Furnishers was first established in 1967, as a small, family-run business that soon developed a great reputation for providing quality furniture to the local community. The store moved location a few times, settling at Willway Street in Bedminster in 1981, where it continued to trade for 20 years. More recently, it relocated to Eastgate Retail Park in April last year. Despite the changes and expansion, Park Furnishers has retained its original values, continuing to focus on providing the best brands and exceptional service. Sales manager Ian Thomson brings us up to speed… How has Park Furnishers changed over the past 55 years? The business has evolved as the retail landscape has changed. We offer a full range of furniture for every room in the home, including kitchens and fitted bedrooms. Our store is full of inspiration and style ideas, and we pride
ourselves on offering great advice and expertise to our customers. We became part of the Leekes Retail and Leisure Group, one of the most highly regarded independent retail businesses with over 125 years of retail experience, in April 2016. Joining forces with another family-owned and run business has been transformational, enabling us to leverage the benefits of being part of a larger business. Most importantly, the Leekes team understand the essence of the Park Furnishers brand, and have ensured that we continue to offer the highest level of service and ranges. To what do you attribute the company’s success? It has to be the personal level of service, which means we have many longstanding customers who have furnished their entire homes from us and are happy to recommend us to friends and family. Our customers have reviewed us online, and helped us to retain our ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot.
Can you give us an idea of the range you offer? Sofas and chairs, beds and dining furniture, a fitted kitchen studio – and our concession partner Hammonds have a fitted bedroom studio in store. We also have a collection of lighting and accessories, and during the summer we also have some beautiful garden furniture in our range. We have our own-brand Casa collection as well as the best brands such as Rest Assured, Sleepeezee, La-Z-Boy, Alexander & James, Parker Knoll and G Plan Upholstery. What are your most popular current lines? Casa Blaise, Viscount and Henry sofas; Casa Brixton and Finsbury dining furniture. What trends in interiors are you seeing at the moment? The soft-industrial look is continuing to be popular; we see this particularly in cabinet furniture, with the Brixton
You’re about to celebrate your first anniversary at Eastgate – why did you make the move, and what has this meant for the company? The redevelopment of Bedminster had caused some issue with access to our old store, which would have continued for some time. The opportunity to move to a busy and established retail park presented itself, and seemed too good to miss. Many of our existing customers have visited our new store and complimented us on our new look, and we are pleased to be welcoming new customers too in our new location. We also have something very exciting planned to celebrate our firstyear anniversary; updates will be posted on our social media channels very soon. How many people are currently employed at the store? We have a tight team of 10 in store. Are you currently running any special offers or promotions? We have our spring sale running throughout April, in which customers can enjoy half-price savings across the range. We also have up to half RRP savings in our kitchen studio and offers across our appliance brands. How do you mostly market the company? Social media is becoming increasingly important to us as a brand, and we love seeing customers sharing pictures of their homes with us using our hashtag #myparklife. Covid has made the switch to digital marketing channels more important and it’s vital for us as a brand that we embrace those changes. We continue to run radio campaigns too, but you’ll be seeing us pop up a lot more online. For more parkfurnishers.co.uk
Offices in: Henleaze, Whiteladies Road Clifton Village, Shirehampton 0117 962 1205 www.amdsolicitors.com
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BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS
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THE DETAILS WHAT?: The Bristol Life Awards 2022 WHERE?: Ashton Gate Stadium WHEN?: 18 May WHY?: To celebrate the very best local businesses and organisations in Bristol and the surrounding area THE STATS: This year we had over 340 nominations, and chose 75 finalists
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The Bristol Life Awards 2022 are coming up on 18 May, but you’ll have to be quick if you want to bag tickets – we’ve sold out every year!
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he finalists have been chosen! Did you tune into our Grand Reveal on 23 March? If not, no worries – you can find the shortlist on our website, or simply turn to page 92. It’s now over to our impeccably impartial panel of judges, drawn from many sectors across the city, to choose the outright winners – it’s a new panel every year, and we’ll be announcing the 2022 ones shortly.
All that remains is to snap up those tickets. The Bristol Life Awards have sold out every year, and this year looks to be no exception. Next up is our finalists and sponsors reception on 12 April at The Mount Without; after that, it’ll be all guns blazing as we get ready to bring you the glitz, glamour, music and top-quality food of the Awards ceremony itself, when hundreds of guests come together on 18 May at Ashton Gate for a huge celebration of the best businesses, people and initiatives in the city. See you there? For more bristollifeawards.co.uk
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PROPERTY BUILDING THE CIT Y
BIRCH COTTAGE Fancy the rural life? This charming home is is less than an hour away across the River Severn
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n recent years, since the abolishment of the Severn Bridge toll, houses across the estuary have become increasingly appealing to Bristol buyers. Take Birch Cottage, a beautifully presented three-bedroom home on the edge of the popular village of Brockweir, seven miles from Chepstow and the M48. Built in around 1850, it has masses of character, stands in mature gardens and ancient
woodland overlooking the Wye Valley, and has been lovingly restored and modernised with an ecological approach, using natural, locally sourced and recycled materials. On the ground floor there’s a cosy living room, spacious kitchen/dining room, two bedrooms and a bathroom; up on the first floor there’s is a further double bedroom with en-suite shower room. Floors are made from cob, using traditional and modern earthen flooring techniques and clay dug from the garden to create a hardwearing and beautiful surface; in the kitchen, downstairs bedrooms and bathroom there’s the added luxury of underfloor heating. The kitchen is made from locally sourced ash slab worktops and recycled wood, combining rustic charm with modern appliances. The heating system runs off renewable sources and is powered by two large solar thermal panels on the roof, and a woodburning stove; a secondary electric heating system can be controlled remotely by WiFi. Next to the cottage, an old barn recently re-roofed with reclaimed Welsh slate is full of potential, with planning secured for either an annexe or holiday let. There’s also a woodland
sauna cabin, decked area and a patio/seating area with a rustic pergola. The owner acquired Birch Cottage in a dilapidated condition in 2014 and spent the next five years living in a yurt in the garden, growing vegetables on the land, as the cottage was stripped back to the bare stone walls and lovingly restored. He undertook the restoration alongside local builders and travelling volunteers who stayed to learn more about the natural building process. While living at Birch Cottage he fell in love with yurt living and continued living there, letting out the cottage as an eco-retreat. He hopes that the next owners can find the same potential and beauty that he found in this unique and lovely home. What? Charming 200-year-old threebedroomed cottage with woodland sauna cabin and barn, and grounds of over an acre Where? Brockweir, near Chepstow, Gloucestershire Guide price £700,000 Contact Fine and Country, 01291 629 799 fineandcountry.com
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SPONSORED CONTENT
MEET THE ARCHITECT John Everett of NASH PARTNERSHIP handles everything from large mixeduse urban regeneration projects to individual homes - always bringing the same care, attention, knowledge and motivation to every project
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“
’ve always been fascinated by how buildings are constructed, while questioning ‘why do they look like they do?’ “, says John. “I qualified as an architect 15 years ago. Since then, I’ve done some work in London and the South East, but I have a real passion for Bristol and many of my projects are in and around the city. It’s where I call home, and it’s always buzzing with activity here – architectural, social, cultural, and economic.” What services do you offer? Across the practice, we offer care, attention, knowledge and motivation – and we love what we do. We can blend our services in architecture, heritage, planning and placemaking to suit the project’s scale or sensitivity, from large urban regeneration projects to individual homes. What are you working on at the moment? There’s lots going on, and we’ve got a range of projects currently on site for clients across the city. It’s great to see our projects progressing through the construction phase in such prominent Bristol locations. These include a mixed use scheme on Cumberland Road, which
CGI of Old Brewery in Southville, now on site
is next to Aardman, and residential projects in Hotwells, Whitehall and Keynsham. We’re also involved in projects further afield, including work on a major, high-profile scheme for Lovell Homes in Wiltshire, for which we secured planning permission recently. How do you reduce environmental impact within your projects? We have an extensive internal CPD programme which focuses on upskilling in this potentially overwhelming subject. We embed the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals within our project work and our business, centring on wellbeing, clean/renewable energy and creating communities with reduced inequality. We focus on the areas we feel we can change and influence for the benefit of all stakeholders. How has Bristol’s skyline changed since Covid? New developments have changed the skyline in terms of height, scale and character. Other new developments are beginning to emerge, such as McArthurs Yard on the harbourside and Old Brewery in Southville, both of which we designed and secured planning permission for. As the skyline evolves, new placemaking and community spirit is creating optimism and positive transition in Bristol. How has the pandemic affected the way you work? Technology has brought many opportunities in terms of the work/life balance and creating flexibility. However, the importance of interaction and ‘coming together’ as a team is still important, not only for our wellbeing but also in delivering our specialist skillsets effectively,
Aerial CGI of McArthurs Yard (on Bristol’s harbourside), which is currently under construction
professionally and efficiently. As architects and planners, we play a key role in shaping the future vision of where and how we live and reflecting the changing attitudes and needs of people and local communities. The future of our cities, town centres and high streets – the ‘backbone’ of our daily lives – remains fundamental, with such places now entering a transitional stage towards their new future selves. ■
For more information Tel: 0117 332 7560; nashpartnership.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 99
PROPERTY
PORT AUTHORTY
Sure, living in Bristol is great; but have you ever yearned for a home by the sea? All those ions are good for you; and after all, if you move to Portishead, the big city is still only 10 miles away . . .
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nspired by our Portishead feature on page 10? Considering upping sticks and moving to the coast? We’ve found everything from marina blocks of dreams to cosy country cottages.
THE VAULTS, FEDDEN VILLAGE
NEWFOUNDLAND WAY
Two-bedroom penthouse flat, £535,000 If sea views are the dream, this penthouse flat in a handsome contemporary block sandwiched between the marina and the coast should tick all the boxes. Sixty8 at the Marina, we’re told, is the most iconic water-fronting building in town, and homes are always in demand. There are only a limited number of penthouse apartments, and this one offers a generous amount of space, with two large double
bedrooms and an 18ft living/dining and kitchen area. Crucially, there’s a large sun terrace with fabulous views. Call my agent: Westcoast Properties 01275 849362; westcoast-properties.co.uk
WATER’S EDGE, LOWER BURLINGTON ROAD Two-bedroomed flat, £475,000
100 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Another classic marina block is Water’s Edge. A huge 37ft living room with floor-to-ceiling windows opens to a wide, sun-soaked curved balcony with panoramic views up and down the marina; the perfect space for people and boat watching without being seen yourself. Double doors lead to a separate kitchen. There are two bedrooms, one en-suite, and a family bathroom. Call my agent: Woods, The Piazza, Harbour Road, Portishead; 01275 317958
End-of terrace two-bedroomed house, guide price £395,000 The renowned Fedden Village complex is found on Portishead’s hillside, meaning predictably fabulous views. Dating back to the early 1900s, the village was originally built as a nautical school. In the late 1980s it was renovated into luxurious one-, two- and threebedroom properties with exceptional on-site facilities such as a gym/sauna, heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, library and a games room. There are also communal gardens, and private access to Black Nore Lighthouse beach. This home is a particular gem, being found at the very edge of the development with a private position; to the front there’s a walled garden terrace with views across the Bristol Channel. Call my agent: Edison Ford Property; 01454 316718; edisonfordproperty.co.uk
DRAKES WAY
WEST HILL
Detached six-bedroomed house, offers over £850,000 For those preferring an older property, how about an extensive period home with six bedrooms, four bathrooms, and three receptions that include a 27ft split-level cinema lounge? This characterful former Georgian farmhouse offers a real sense of privacy and seclusion, in a rural setting that’s just a ten-minute walk away from Portishead beach and the marina. The big gardens are secluded and have beautiful views. There’s a patio with a cabin bar, a welcoming chill-out area next to a waterfall, a sunken pond, and a secluded woodland play area for the kids. There’s a workshop, outbuildings including a log store, an aviary and an annexe with courtyard garden. An external staircase gives private access to the garden and a separate entrance gate, suggesting potential as an Airbnb rental or independent living for family members. Call my agent: Purplebricks; 020 8012 6955; purplebricks.co.uk
Detached four-bedroomed house, guide price £750,000 In a quiet, sought-after cul-de-sac, this elevated family-friendly home has wonderful coastal views and a versatile main living space linked by double doors, with a woodburning stove in a traditional red-brick hearth; there’s a recently upgraded kitchen/ breakfast room and utility room, a private solar panel system, and a private lawned garden and – an intriguing feature we’re enjoying – a spiral staircase leading from the entrance level directly down into the garden. Call my agent: Westcoast Properties; 01275 849362; westcoast-properties.co.uk
HIGHLANDS ROAD
Detached four-bedroomed cottage, £599,950 Very individual detached period cottage located at the end of a small, secluded lane. It was built at the end of the 19th century, and has been much improved by the family who have lived here for over 40 years. There are four large bedrooms, two separate reception rooms and a fabulous kitchen with a curved island breakfast bar; the cottage is surrounded by lush lawns and has wonderful views of the Channel and far beyond. Call my agent: Westcoast Properties; 01275 849362; westcoast-properties.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 101
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BRISTOL LIVES
“Older sportspeople don’t seem to give a toss what others think ” celebrate that there are just as many ways for people over 50 to stay alert, engaged and hopeful as for younger age groups. We live in a much more visual world than when I was
a youngster, and many are hurt or put off by the online trolling that’s so prevalent today. That said, one of the joys of working with older sportspeople is that they seem not to give a toss what others think – one of the greatest perks of getting older!
ALEX ROTAS
Alex is on a mission to challenge stereotypes about ageing, through photography, speaking, broadcasting, writing, links with health organisations – and getting old herself
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lex came late to photography after an eclectic career. She originally qualified as a doctor, set up a centre for preschool deaf and hearing-impaired children in Greece, worked for a Somerset hospice, went back to university to study visual culture, and completed a PhD at 56. Sport has always been important to her; she played professional tennis for Greece, and competed at Junior Wimbledon in 1968. She eventually bought her first camera at the age of 60 – but this was far from being on a whim . . .
I needed images of older sportspeople for an academic
project, but when I keyed ‘older’ into Google the results were depressing – lots of sad souls slumped in care home chairs. I was shocked. Who’d want to get
old if this was what lay ahead? I knew there was an entirely different reality out there, a joyful and empowered one. And that’s when I thought if the photographs weren’t there already, then someone should take them. And maybe that someone could be me. I was 60 when I bought my first proper camera, and well
aware there were plenty of other photographers around. Very few, however, seemed interested in capturing positive images of active people of my age or older so that’s where I’ve focused. Ageism is everywhere and
needs tackling. Human life spans are increasing all the time, but what’s the point if the positive aspects of ageing are ignored, hidden and invisible? We can’t all become the sporting champions I portray, but we should accept and
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I also give talks, write articles, take part in media interviews, blog and post on social media, and am currently working on a film as well as exhibiting here and abroad. The message I share is one reinforced time and again by the elite older athletes I photograph: that taking on fresh challenges and developing new friendships is just as important to their wellbeing as training, competing and winning medals. This is true at any level, and for any activity. My pictures show the ageing body is capable of so much
more than many of us think. But I try to use words and images to show there are broader and lifelong benefits of finding an activity you can enjoy with others. It’s one thing to add more years to our lifespan. But there’s no point unless we make those extra years happy and healthy.
My No Limits exhibition is taking place in Sweden. In Swedish it’s called Snabb, Stark, Årsrik, which means fast, strong and rich in years. It’s taking place outdoors in Gothenburg from 5 April to 29 September, as part of the city’s 400th anniversary celebrations. At first glance, the 42 frames may look like conventional sports shots. But then viewers step closer and realise the athletes are fit, healthy, joyous and OLD!
My Bristol exhibition is on College Green from 29
April. It’s called No Limits #2 and is a follow-up to one on the same spot in 2018. It’s another collaboration with Active Ageing Bristol, and is timed to coincide with Bristol Walk Fest in May. It mixes shots of older elite international athletes with images I’ve taken locally of grassroots activities of the type Walk Fest offers. The aim is to showcase the range of possibilities before us and to encourage more people to become active. I live in Hotwells; I love it because it’s central yet quiet, and possesses a lovely community. My happy places include
the café at Spike Island, the Watershed bar and restaurant, and the coffee shops around Stokes Croft.
Are there advantages to being over 50? Absolutely. I’ve
stopped worrying what others think of me. I find it easier to talk to strangers. I’m freer to travel and do whatever makes me happy. And, thanks in part to my photography work, I’ve widened my friendship circle to include people of many different ages and nationalities.
I love being a beginner and
learning new things. I always have. Put me at the bottom of a steep learning curve and I’m in heaven. This does mean I’m never going to be a world-class expert at anything, but I do feel it’s important to wake up with a sense of purpose. Purpose can be found at any age, through a job, hobby, new skill, setting a goal. For me, at 72, it’s about getting my camera out and taking photos which challenge ageist stereotypes, and championing those who defy them.
For more: alexrotasphotography.co.uk