Bristol Life - Issue 344

It ’s Bri stm a a a s !

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ISSUE 344 / BRISTMAS 2023 / BRISTMAS TIME, BRISTLETOE AND WINE

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IS S UE 3 4 4 / BRIS T M AS 2 02 3 / £ 3

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BRISTMAS STUFF TO DO AND SEE + BRISTMAS GIFTS + BRISTMAS BOOZE + COLUMNISTS WEARING SANTA HATS

EDITOR’S LETTER

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And so this is Bristmas

‘Tis the damn season! We wish it could be Bristmas every day!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-tingle-tingling too! Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall? Let’s hope it’s a good one! Baby please come home! You promised me Broadmead was waiting for me!

(Etc etc. You catch our festive drift.)

o, here we are. Again. Somehow we’ve gone, apparently overnight, from “It’s still waaay too early to talk about Christmas!” to being right in the middle of the thing.

Because it’s now early December, and a dangerous time to be a magazine editor.

There you are one moment, altruistically selecting lovely gifts for your fabulously local, independent, 10-page gift guide, and before you know it you’re clicking ‘add to cart’. It would be a bit of an own goal, after all, to suggest to the larger Bristol public that they should go out and buy such and such an item, only to discover it’s completely sold out when you try to grab one for yourself. Thanks, you know, to said lovingly compiled gift guide.

I’ve also been busily editing a Christmas cocktail recipe feature, which naturally means that yet another esoteric liqueur bottle will soon be gathering dust in the Robins family drinks cabinet.

It’s cheaper to visit the bars and let the mixologists make them for you, if I’m honest.

And so it goes on. Possibly in a triumph of optimism over experience, I’m a hopeless sucker for the festive season and all it promises to bring, and this, our Christmas issue, is always my favourite of the year.

That said, things can get a bit confusing. As soon as we send this issue to press it’ll be straight into the 29 December one, a new-year mindset will replace the festive frenzy, and by the time we break up for the holidays it’ll come as a not entirely pleasant shock to realise that while magazine Christmas is done and dusted, IRL Christmas has yet to take place, meaning we have to rewind the VCR tape that lives in our head and replay it all over again in order to get back in the zone.

However early or late you choose to do Bristmas, or if you don’t do it at all, we wish you all a very merry holiday. Bless us, every one.

DERI ROBINS Bristol Life editor @BristolLifeMag

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 3

ALPINE EXPOSURE BY LUCA MELCARNE : WILDLIFE PHOTOGR APHER OF THE YEAR

Issue 344 / Bristmas 2023

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ON THE COVER Well-hung Santa by Jim Robins, with apologies, respect, love and gratitude to Banksy

BRISTMAS 8

THE BRISTMAS LIFE FESTIVE 20 Yes, we know Festive

50 would have sounded cooler, but we were limited for space

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90 BRISTMAS QUIZ How well do you know the local cultural

scene?

ARTS

6 ART PAGE A winter’s tale 16 WHAT’S ON It’s not all festive, though it mostly is 26 CIRCUS hey’ve played their final gig at nit what’s ne t

for Bristol’s Invisibles?

34 PHOTOGRAPHY Not just the best nature photos in the

world, but the snowiest you’re welcome

40 BRISTOL HEROES he ays of Bristmas. ( ish.)

44 BOOKS ur literary pair finally embrace the season

FOOD & DRINK

46 RESTAURANT Met Met Met 50 COCKTAILS All we want for Bristmas is booze 57 CAFÉ SOCIETY io’s delightful deli

SHOPPING

61 CHRISTMAS GIFTS Ten pages of present ideas, including a

coat modelled by Maisie for Mazi

BUSINESS

PROPERTY

83 SHOWCASE he one with the barrel vaulted ballroom

6 Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond 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 Production/distribution manager 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 and Bristol. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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

SLEEPING CIT Y BY SAM BINDING

75 NETWORK The reinvention of an icon

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ARTS

A WINTER’S TALE

Novels have been inspired by less than this wintry, atmospheric shot by Sam Binding; if your imagination doesn’t immediately add in three Christmas ghosts, or at the very least a sleigh pulled by eight reindeers, you may be suffering from romance deficiency.

Sam sells this print at four sizes, at the bargainous price of £20-£75; there’s another of his images on page 61, and you can see the full set at www.sambinding.co.uk

BRISTMAS

THE BRISTOL LIFE FESTIVE 20

A friend in the city recently confessed that she loathed the word ‘festive’.

This feature is just for you, Amanda

© PHOTO BY JULIAN PREECE

How to get your Bristmas on in 20 easy steps

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ARCHITECTS

ehold our pick of the 2023 Bristmas pops! Whether you prefer your festive feels to be traditional or cutting-edge, family-friendly or adultsonly, there’s a yule with bells on just for you.

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’STALL GOOD, MAN THE BRISTOL CHRISTMAS MARKET Until 23 December According to a survey by Christmas Tree World, who should know, Bristol’s market is the 10th best in the UK. It doesn’t make the ‘most instagrammable’ list though; that honour goes to those cities which place their huts in the lee of ancient buildings rather than mid-century shopping centres.

Maybe we should stick it on College Green. Anyway, expect 40-ish stalls selling seasonal treats and gifts, the Jäger Barn Bar and the cosy, private igloo

pods and ski gondolas. New for this year is a 15-metre tall Big Wheel, decorated with festive lights and ornaments. www.bristolchristmasmarket.com For alternative Bristmas shopping delights, head over to the Beacon on 9-10 December where hundreds of talented crafty folk will be vying for your Christmas gifting budget at the Made in Bristol festive fair (madeinbristolshop.co.uk).

And don’t forget the indoor and outdoor markets at St Nick’s – always fabulously atmospheric at this time of year, with or without snow (www.bristol.gov.uk).

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GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS MASTS VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS 9-10 December The only guaranteed snowfall in the larger Bristol area can be found at the festive weekends at ss Great Britain, where Father Christmas in his old-style green robes shares dockyard space with Mr Brunel and carol-singing urchins. Put a farthing in the hat, guv; www.ssgreatbritain.org www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 9

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JUST HEAR THOSE SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING CHRISTMAS AT TYNTESFIELD Until 7 January Make like a well-to-do Victorian with a reindeer trail, horse-and-carriage ride, Christmas card lino-printing workshops and wreath-making workshops at the National Trust’s spectacular Gothic Revival house. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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THE WILD BUNCH FESTIVE WOODLAND Until 7 January Sure, reindeer are great and all that, but at Bristol Zoo Project you can step into a charmingly decorated festive woodland surrounded by wolves, lynxes, wolverines, ebras, giraffes, cheetahs, geladas and meerkats.

Do they know it’s hristmas Almost definitely not; www.bristolzoo.org.uk

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TRAIL OF THE UNEXPECTED THE LUMOSPHERE 9-10, 16-17 December Nobody expected a new winter illumination at The Stables at Leigh Court by Bristol creates Pytch...

Technology and art combine to create an immersive walkthrough in which

perception and reality is changed by the interactive light installations; each has a different theme, such as ife, iscovery, Journey, Connection, Growth and Rebirth, with an unfolding narrative.

Or just admire the pretty lights and don’t think too deeply about it. www.lumosphere.co.uk

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BRANCH MANAGERS TREEFEST Until 10 December Too sweet not to include, this annual community-focused tree-decorating event at St Mary is billed as ‘Bristol’s favourite Christmas Tree Festival’, which may sound amusingly niche, but go anyway, because it’s lovely. www tmar re cliffe co uk

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BRISTMAS

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D.I.S.C.O WINTERLAND AT PROPYARD Until 23 December This year with a nostalgic ’80s twist. There’s a winter roller disco beneath a disco ball, the Ski Lodge ’86 with moving mountains (!), hotdogs and sweet treats in the lodge; a new interactive gaming experience in which boules meets crazy golf in an arcade style setting, and a vast array of retro arcade games from Pac an to treet ighter. akes you wonder what a ‘nostalgic 2020s’ experience might look like in 40 years time. ots of folk staring at their phones, possibly. www.propyard.co.uk

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BIG WHEEL KEEPS ON TURNING VINTAGE WINTER WONDERLAND Until 2 January Along with the market, this is the big one, with the Après Bar ( ust apr s no ski, not unless Park Street is unusually snowy), DJs and food stalls courtesy of family run Pepe ero, with pi as, bratwurst, Yorkshire pudding wraps and crêpes. There’s Santa’s grotto and fairground rides, from the big ferris wheel to dodgems at illennium q www.facebook. com/vintagewinterwonderland

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DASHING THROUGH THE SHOWS Various dates For uber-trad panto it has to be Peter Pan at Hippodrome (until 30 Dec, atgtickets.com) in which Hook is played with moustachio-twirling relish by David Suchet. At Bristol Old Vic there’s a daring heroine, songs and, inevitably, puppets, in Arabian Nights (below; until 6 Jan, www.bristololdvic.org.uk) while TFT reimagines Oliver Twist (until 21 Jan, www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com). ust a hunch, but the first is likely to be the blingiest, the second full of arty, original creativity, and the third a masterclass in heart warming unshowy, low fi charm. ell us later if we’re wrong.

DRONE RANGERS EVOLUTION DRONE LIGHT SHOW 20 and 21 December ust off the loucester oad, at eat nique tadium, elestial the firm behind the urovision and ondon ew ear’s ve drone shows uses drones to bring a cinematic light show telling the story of time, space and evolution to an original soundtrack.

A funfair and food village brings further festive feels. www.yuup.co

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TOO POSH FOR PANTO? ANIMATION WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA Cultured kiddies with a taste for orchestral music, or even those who just like the movies, will adore seeing their favourite animated characters at St George’s and Beacon.

At the former on December it’s Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman with the Bristol Brass Band, while on 21-22 December it’s Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep: the Flight before Christmas, with Bristol Ensemble (www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk).

Over at the Beacon on 8 December, The Snowman and Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers is brought by Carrot

11 Productions, while on December it’s Briggs’s Father Christmas with o art ymphony Orchestra (www.bristolbeacon.org). www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 11

BRISTMAS

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BAD HABITS CHRISTMAS AT MUM’S Until 30 December Returning to TFT this year without Shesus, who has transcended and left this pair of off beat twins all alone. o where do the Sisters go for Christmas now? Back to Mum’s, the original matriarch, of course.

Expect karaoke, a prawn ring and Sister Mary Berry’s festive bangers at ’s alternative show for grown ups. www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com

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THE WILD, WILD WEST (ie BS2) THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE COYOTE UGLY Until 20 January he Wardrobe’s festive mash up brings you the smell of fresh gunpowder, the thunder of horses and the taste of cheap beer in an untamed, lawless frontier; a parched landscape of bloody violence, passionate romance and line-dancing, where the heroes are good, the villains are bad and the guy you slept with last night is so ugly you’d rather gnaw your own arm off than wake him. augh ou’ll even buy your own beer in the ld arket Assembly saloon afterwards. www.thewardrobetheatre.com

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THE SMIRK IS BACK BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL 23 December Never say Die (Hard’s not a hristmas movie). creening at Avery’s, the movie is accompanied by a erman v American wine tasting, so all your inhibitions will be long gone when it’s time to shout out “Yippee-kay-yay!” r maybe you’d prefer A Wonderful Life, The Grinch, Narnia, Muppet Christmas Carol, Gremlins, Elf or Princess Bride? All festive tastes are catered for in the hristmas edit of the B . www ri tol lm e ti al com

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DON’T LET THE BELLS END THE DARKNESS: PERMISSION TO LAND 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 14 December aking it into our estive by dint of the above named tune alone, but also ustifying their place by the camp as hristmas anthems sung in spandex-clad relish at Bristol Beacon. www.bristolbeacon.org

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BRISTMAS

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LIFE IS A CABARET CHRISTMAS SPIEGELTENT Until 23 December The nearest thing modern science allows to a time machine. Mirrored European wooden pavilions such as these have been used as travelling dance halls since the late 19th century; famous for their wild and decadent ambience and bohemian entertainment, with an intricate beauty and romance, they’re ideal for Christmas parties, masquerade balls, live music and soirées, all of which are laid on, as ever, at its Christmas Harbourside pitch. www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

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NOW YOU SEE THEM FAIRYTALE OF BRISTOL Until 16 December The ultimate Prohibition-meetsBristol-underworld immersive party as Invisible Circus (see page 26) turns Loco Klub into

19 Santarini’s – a subterranean speakeasy where the booze is chilled and the entertainment exceptional; www.locoklub.com

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where kids and their wellbehaved grown-ups can share the carriage with Father Christmas.

Imagine if it snowed. It probably won’t, but just imagine. www.avonvalleyrailway.org

IT’S BETTER

BY RAIL SANTA SPECIALS Until 17 December While this claim may no longer be true of, say, the 7.15 Great Western Temple Meads to Paddington, ample nostalgic travel delights can be found on the Avon Valley steam train,

THE FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AEROSPACE BRISTOL Until 23 December The venue’s conservation workshop will become Santa’s Workshop, with plenty of busy elf activity; you’ll also have the chance to visit the North Pole on a presumably stationary Bristol Freighter. If it’s not stationary, we’re coming with. www.aerospacebristol.org

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FERRY CROSS THE HARBOUR SAIL WITH SANTA 9-10 December, 16-23 December What could be more Bristol than

Big Elf is watching you

a festive trip around the harbour as the ferry elves take you on a hunt for Santa? Let’s hope they find him, because he’s got all the presents.

Not too fussed about seeing Santa? Don’t even much like kids? OK Scrooge, how about a cruise on a more adult-orientated party boat with afterwork drinks? www.bristolferry.com Finally, there’s this fella...

A giant, judgemental 15ft Spy Elf is currently lurking about the city, observing children and reporting back to St Nick with its naughty or nice scores. Better watch out; better take care. www re cliffean tem le i co uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 15

LEFT TO RIGHT: Schere delight: Arabian Nights; Go baaa if you dare: The Flight Before Christmas; We’re not letting The Darkness leave the Beacon until they’ve sung Don’t Let the Bells End

WHAT’S ON

8-29 December 2023

For all the Bristmas markets, wonderlands and grottoes, flick back to page 8

EXHIBITIONS Until 7 December

OFELIA RODGRIGUEZ A major exhibition by Colombian artist Ofelia; at Spike Island, spikeisland.org.uk

Until 10 December

ELIAS SIME: EREGATA The first major solo European museum exhibition for Elias, one of Ethiopia’s leading contemporary artists, at Arnolfini; arnolfini.org.uk

ALSO ARTISTS A diverse exhibition showing over 80 pieces created by 43 members of the RWA admin team; rwa.org.uk BIG JEFF JOHN ART: STARE The indomitable Jeff is back, with a new exhibition of self-portraits at the Glass Room in the shiny new Beacon; bigjeffjohnsart.com

Until 22 December

ABANDONED Photographers Jill Quigley and Adrian Tyler explore abandoned homes in Scotland and Ireland, and the household objects which lie within them; at MPF; martinparrfoundation.org

Until 14 January

ANNUAL OPEN The South West’s biggest annual open exhibition is back for its 170th outing, at RWA; rwa.org.uk

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Until 18 February

Until 21 April

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR The very best nature photography in the world returns to town. This time it’s at Bristol Museum, not M Shed; see page 34. bristolmuseums.org.uk

SHOWS Until 16 December

FAIRYTALE OF BRISTOL The ultimate Prohibition-meetsBristol-underworld immersive party as Invisible Circus turns Loco Klub

into Santarini’s – a subterranean speakeasy where the booze is chilled, food fabulous and the entertainment exceptional; locoklub.com

Until 30 December

PETER PAN Hippodrome’s big panto for 2023 features a moustachio-twirling David Suchet in the role of Hook.

Maybe also Mr Darling, if they’re sticking to canon. atgtickets.com CHRISTMAS AT MUM’S Returning to TFT without Shesus, who has transcended and left this pair of offbeat twins all alone. So where do the Sisters go for Crimbo now? Back to Mum’s, the original matriarch, of course. Expect karaoke, a prawn ring and Sister Mary Berry’s festive bangers, at TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Until 6 January

ARABIAN NIGHTS A daring heroine (didn’t see that one coming) captivating songs and a timeless story of wonder and hope, for Nancy Medina’s first Christmas show for BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

Until 7 December

INTO THE WOODS “Bring me these before the chime of midnight in three days’ time...”

Kickstart your festive celebrations at Redgrave with Sondheim’s musical masterpiece; redgravetheatre.com

FOUR SEASONS It’s the BOV Christmas show for discerning tinies, from the Olivieraward winning Little Bulb theatre company. Expect, we’re told, a “theatrical love letter to nature for children and their families”. bristololdvic.org.uk

Until 20 January

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE COYOTE UGLY It can only be The Wardrobe’s festive mash-up,. Laugh? You’ll even buy your own beer in the Old Market Assembly saloon afterwards; thewardrobetheatre.com

Until 21 January

OLIVER TWIST The Dickensian classic, reimagined for TFT by its new AD, Heidi Vaughan; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

10 December

JON UDRY’S VARIETY BUNGALOW A cabaret night of circus, comedy and all things unusual at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

10-11 December

BS2 SANTA A very Bristol show for 2+ as comic actor Stewart Wright returns after three sold-out years to bring Father Christmas to life at the Wardrobe.

“The most authentic Santa I’ve seen in 40 years,” said one audience member. thewardrobetheatre.com.

WHAT’S ON 12-17 December

A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Christmassiest tale of all time; here a moving, funny and fast-paced one-man theatrical spectacular

by Steve Woolley. Will skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge finally rejoin the human race and learn to embrace the spirit of Christmas? We’d be astonished if he didn’t. At Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

14-18 December

NOEL WEST Immersive theatrical production shining a light on the way Knowle West residents transform BS4 into Noel West each year; a real-life tale of human generosity. It’s staged against the backdrop of the cost of living and environmental crisis, so it’s not all sleighbells and giggles tobaccofactorytheatres.com

15-19 December

NOISY NATIVITY You’d have to be brave/naive/insane to take young kids to the Wardrobe’s adult theatre show, but you’re in safe hands with Kid Carpet and his animal friends as they give the traditional Christmas story a radical remix with big-beat songs, wonky carols, live special effects, puppetry and animation; thewardrobetheatre.com

15-31 December

RAPUNZEL Polka Dot Pantomime bring a tangled tale to Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

16-23 December

SANTA ON STAGE As BS2 Santa, page 16, but this time at The Hen; henandchicken.com

8 December

ROBIN MORGAN: SNIP SNIP, BITCH He’s quite the rising star, so they say. The snip? Yes, that would be his vasectomy. For(eskin) more, head to Alma Tav; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

9 December

INSTANT WIT The OG improv ninjas return to the Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

11-12 December

RICKY GERVAIS: ARMAGEDDON The biggest of the new big names to appear so far at the newly opened Beacon. Ricky’s on a world tour, and he’s highly unlikely to be pulling any punches; bristolbeacon.org

15 December

JOHN ROBINS: HOWL The Bristol boy’s back. If you’ve seen him before you know what to expect; rage, anxiety and a lot of laughs. If you haven’t seen him before, strap the f**k in. At Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

MUSIC

9 December

ANNIE MAC: BEFORE MIDNIGHT The legendary Annie Macmanus becomes the first DJ to play the transformed Beacon; bristolbeacon.org Ricckkyyy! The one and only Gervais plays two nights at Beacon

17 December

DRAGPROV REVUE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Christian Adore and Eaton Messe are a drag double-act performed by Francesca Forristal and Ed Scrivens.

Using your suggestions, this soft boy and sassy queen will create dazzling songs, sketches, and raps; think RuPaul’s glamour meets Whose Line Is It Anyway improv; improvtheatre.co.uk

COMEDY Ongoing

TOP: Oh yeah baby, it’s the Bootlegs Beatles; MIDDLE: You’re never alone with a drone; BOTTOM: Nothing says Christmas like Deborah Kerr dressed as a nun: it’s Powell & Pressburger season

CLOSER EACH DAY All the drama of Succession.. The grit of EastEnders.. The rumpy-pumpy of Sex Education... ... the world’s longestrunning improvised comedy soap continues to bubble away amusingly at Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

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WHAT’S ON UJIMA RADIO ... meanwhile, in the new Lantern space, Ujima Radio celebrates 15 years of broadcasting with some of the stellar DJs & MCs featured on the station; bristolbeacon.org

10 December

BRUTUS Belgian trio Brutus bring their ultradynamic, post-hardcore sound to Trinity; expect shoegaze-style guitar riffs, with ethereal vocals and a heavy-hitting rhythm section; trinitybristol.org.uk

12 December

A WINTER UNION Five leading lights of the British roots scene join forces to create a festive folk band like no other; at St George’s, stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

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SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR’S CHRISTMAS KITCHEN DISCO The lockdowns that inspired Sophie’s original discos may be over but the fun continues, with a night of reimagined pop classics and highlights from Sophie’s discography; bristolbeacon.org

16 December

THE DARKNESS It all went a bit pear-shaped for the Lowestoft lads for a while, but like a phoenix rising from the ashes of despair, they reformed in 2011, went on tour with Lady Gaga and are back in all their cheeky, spandex-clad glory, at Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

heart-cockle-warming Christmas movie of them all: It’s a Wonderful Life;

THE BOOTLEG BEATLES They’ve been together far longer than the actual Beatles; George once commented they knew the chords better than he did. The Bootlegs return to Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

19 December

13 December

BOTTOM: Joy to the world, especially Know-el

18 December

FACTORY SINGERS’ CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA Winter songs with a twist – we’re talking Justin Timberlake, Nina Simone, Florence & The Machine – along with Christmas classics, at TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS It’s the 25th anniversary of their second album, 100% Colombian, and the Crims are playing the record in its entirety as well as fan favourites.

No Huey these days, he’s left. At O2, academymusicgroup.com

TOP: Sophie’s out of the kitchen and into the Beacon; MIDDLE: Still the most

THE CRAIG CHARLES FUNK AND SOUL HOUSE PARTY An all-new DJ show invites fans to enter Craig’s living room (ie, O2) as he delves into his extensive record collection to bring you straight-up groove bangers, exclusive funk and soul cuts, etc. academymusicgroup.com

AFRIQUOI The UK afro supergroup, with members ranging in age across three decades and heritage from Africa, the Carribbean and the UK, bring Gambian kora, Congolese guitar and Mandinka percussion styles, with electronic music drawing on house, garage, disco, soul and jungle, to Trinity, trinitybristol.org.uk

FESTIVE FIESTA In which David Ogden with City of Bristol Choir and the Bristol Ensemble do their damndest to put you in the Christmas mood; at St George’s, stgeorgesbristol.co.uk BRISTOL BEACON ORCHESTRAL SEASON As you may have noticed, Beacon is back and the new orchestral season is fully underway; see website for full details, bristolbeacon.org

20 December

HANDEL’S MESSIAH Bristol Ensemble and the Choir of Royal Holloway perform a semistaged performance by candlelight.

There’s atmospheric. At St George’s, stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

21 December

FATHER CHRISTMAS The Briggs classic, up on the big screen at Beacon, with live music by Mozart Symphony Orchestra; bristolbeacon.org

CHRISTMAS See also page 8

Until 10 December

TREEFEST Very sweet annual event at St Mary Redcliffe, in which a cross-section of Bristol communities each decorate a tree. stmaryredcliffe.co.uk

Until 17 December

SANTA SPECIALS It’s all aboard the Avon Valley steam train with the big man in red for kids and their well-behaved parents. avonvalleyrailway.org

Until 23 December

BRISTOL CHRISTMAS MARKET The chalets are already up at Broadmead and waiting for you, with the glühwein and mince pies; bristolchristmasmarket.com

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WHAT’S ON CHRISTMAS SPIEGELTENT The usual eclectic festive programme of parties, music, circus and cabaret, within the extraordinary timemachine that is the Spiegeltent.

Festive magic guaranteed; christmasspiegeltent.co.uk FATHER CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE “Much more than a usual grotto,” they say; FC at Ashton Court has professional actors bringing a touch of theatrical magic; facebook.com/ WonderMansion

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL The year-round fest with the something-for-everyone remit; expect a sleighful of Christmas classics. bristolfilmfestival.com

BRISTOL POP-UP SHOP AT THE GALLERIES Now in its fifth year, The Bristol PopUp Shop returns to the first floor of The Galleries; bristolpopupshop.co.uk VINTAGE WINTER WONDERLAND Back on Millennium Square with all the fairground rides, the après-ski bar, the Yorkshire pudding wraps, etc; facebook.com/vintagewinterwonderland

Until 7 January

FESTIVE WOODLAND Never mind reindeer: at Bristol Zoo Project you can step into a charmingly-decorated festive woodland, surrounded by wolves, lynxes, wolverines, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, geladas and meerkats. Do they know it’s Christmas? Probably not, but never mind; bristolzoo.org.uk

9-10 December

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS The festive weekends are back at ss Great Britain, with chaps in period clothing, carols, mince pies and the only guaranteed snowfall this Christmas in the larger Bristol area; ssgreatbritain.org

16 December TOP: It’s either St Moritz, or the Bristol Vintage Winter Wonderland

MIDDLE: He’s ubiquitous, but this time he’s appearing as BS2 Santa at Wardrobe BOTTOM: Welcome to Santarini’s: Fairytale of Bristol at Loco Klub

CHRISTMAS FOOD AND WINE TOUR Accompany Bristol Food Tour to

EVOLUTION DRONE LIGHT SHOW An epic theatrical journey through time and space starting with the Big Bang, as the sky comes alive with the light of a 500-drone swarm in a 3D cinematic aerial show. At Seat Unique Stadium, yuup.co

Ongoing

Until 24 December

BRAILSFORD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Once again the fabulously OTT Brailsfords light up their Brentry home to raise money for The Grand Appeal. brailsfordlights.co.uk

20-21 December

OTHER

AEROSPACE BRISTOL The venue’s conservation workshop will become Santa’s Workshop, with busy elf activity; you’ll also have the chance to visit the North Pole on a Bristol Freighter; aerospacebristol.org

Until 2 January

some of the best indie local foodie joints, and sink your teeth into their Christmas specials. yuup.co

Until 10 December

BRISTOL PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL Never has this annual film fest felt more poignant; with film, spoken word and poetry at various venues; bristolpff.org.uk

Until 20 December

POWELL & PRESSBURGER The BFI celebration of the outstanding filmmaking duo has several screenings in the Bristol area. Dig out our previous issue to read our loving hagiography. powellandpressburger.co.uk

9-10 December

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FAIR Jewellery, ceramics, skincare and slow-fashion from local makers at Prior Shop; priorshop.uk MADE IN BRISTOL GIFT FAIR Local creativity spills all over the Beacon as local crafty types sell their wares; madeinbristolshop.co.uk

9-10, 16-17, 21-23 December

SUSTAINABLE POP-UP MARKET With local art and crafts, beauty and skincare products, and everything in between, the market provides a green alternative to high street shopping. futureleap.co.uk

16-17 December

LUMOSPHERE This new winter illumination at Leigh Court Stables invites you to enter a world in which technology and art combine to create an immersive walkthrough art experience; yuup.co n

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 21

SPONSORED CONTENT

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE BRISTMAS Come along and join the festive fun in the city that has it all... you can even give the gift of Christmas with the LOVE BRISTOL GIFT CARD.

B

ristol is magical in every season (biased, us?) but Christmas is where it really shines bright – especially with more Christmas lights than ever illuminating the streets this year!

Whether you’re Christmas shopping, Christmas eating, or Christmas partying, it’s the place for every kind of Christmassing...

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

Save Santa a job and head to Park Street where you’ll find all the shops you need to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Whether you’re looking for delicious teas and treats at Bird & Blend Tea Co, contemporary bespoke jewellery at Diana Porter, wardrobe staples at Fred Perry, sustainable garms at Thrift or the ideal art set at Cass Art, you can find it all under the glow of the street’s signature festoon lighting illuminating the winter nights.

FULL BELLIES AND FULLER HEARTS

Word on the street is that a giant Elf on the Shelf® is arriving in Bristol in December at various buildings throughout the city. So, why not stop for a bite to eat while you’re out elf-spotting? The Old City is a hotspot for Bristol’s foodies, with its huge array of diverse cuisines in its enviable restaurants, where you’re sure to find somewhere for the whole family to eat well, even by December standards. From classics like sourdough pizza at Franco Manca, to food from further shores like Vietnamese at Pho or Pan-Asian at Four Wise Monkeys, there’s no lack of eateries in the area to fuel up the family on a December evening out.

A CHRISTMAS CHEERS

Looking for a Christmas tipple? ‘Tis the season to be merry after all…Bristol is known for its eclectic night out hotspots. Whether you’re looking to dance the day away at a Christmas brunch at Aluna or Blame Gloria, enjoy a classy cocktail or two at Milk Thistle, or a full-blown night out in Mr Wolf’s, celebrate the season in style in one of Bristol’s many iconic venues. If no-lo alcohol is more your vibe, the city serves up some of the tastiest zero % cocktails so you can join the fun without risking a sore head when wrapping duty calls.

A XMASSY DATE

If there’s one thing Bristol has no shortage of, it’s world-class events – and even more so over the Christmas period! The city’s leading cultural institution, Bristol Beacon, has reopened its doors with a new name and a whole host 24 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

of Christmas events, including family-friendly showings of The Snowman accompanied by a live orchestra to bring the film’s beloved soundtrack to life. It wouldn’t be the Christmas season without a pantomime so head to Bristol Hippodrome to see all your Neverland favourites in Peter Pan. Finally, for a beautiful exploration of nature that’s perfect for children and parents alike, head to Bristol Old Vic to catch Four Seasons, a theatrical love letter to nature. n For more information on these events, places to visit and more, search Visit Bristol today www.visitbristol.co.uk In partnership with:

Everyone’s welcome to our place this

CHristmas

What could be more magical at Bristmas than a visit to the circus?

Especially an invisible one?

Words by Deri Robins Photos by Andre Pattendon

CIRCUS

“Our motto used to be, if it’s not impossible we’re not interested, but we nearly broke ourselves with that one a few times”

O All photos from Welcome to the Future, the Invisibles’ final show at Unit 15

bviously, they’re not really invisible. That would defeat the point. They’d never sell tickets if we couldn’t see them. So who, or what, are the Invisible Circus, and what do they want?

Well, they describe themselves as a “mythical band of troubadours and artist clowns, out to save the world by bringing circus and theatre to communities across the globe”. Not originally formed in Bristol, yet somehow quintessentially Bristolian, they have a thing for transforming disused spaces into artistic melting pots, producing site-specific wonders and acts of creative revolution in response to societal and environmental happenings.

The Invisibles recently held their final show at Unit 15 Creation Space, their home for a decade and now yet another creative space being chewed up in city development plans. But it’s not all bad news; the future, they say, is still unwritten, there’s everything to play for, the fun never stops, and they will find a new home.

In the meantime, you can catch them this month at Loco Klub, where they’ll be reprising their Fairytale of Bristol at a decadent dinner dance… But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s have a chat with creative director Doug Francisco – he’s the cat in the hat on the next page – and ask: so, Doug, how did it all begin?

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

CIRCUS “I first formed the troupe as a street theatre project travelling in Europe in 1994,” says Doug. “I met Wim Penhaul in Portugal in 1996, who brought more circus elements to the mix and became co-director.”

Us: Many people who associate you with Bristol may be surprised to learn it all began in southern Europe. Why did you return to the UK, and how did the move affect the Invisibles’ style?

Doug: I chose to return to the UK as a base in 2000, shortly followed by Wim a couple of years later, when the opportunity to host a stage at the legendary Lost Vagueness fields at Glastonbury came around. This was the drive to return to the homeland, to create bigger shows and establish a larger scale producing company.

Us: How has the company grown since the first beginnings, and what kind of performer is typically attracted to the company?

Doug: We started out as street performers, and carry that ethos of openness and sharing with us as a company. We believe in accessibility and equal opportunities, so it’s not an exclusive process in any way. We used to attract less traditionally trained performers, who came at it from different approaches maybe, but these days there is no specific criteria or requirements beyond a willingness to believe in what you do, and put all of yourself into the work.

Us: Is there an underlying philosophy behind the work created by the Invisibles, and if so has this changed down the years?

Doug: There is always a message in our core work and bigger company productions. We don’t shy away from the issues we all face as a society, but some projects are more suited to this than

others. Sometimes it’s also more about celebration and connection than the bigger questions; there’s always a balance to be struck.

Us: What era or style inspires your performances?

Doug: We are as inspired by the future and where it can go, as we are the past and where it has come from. The old days of travelling shows and circus trains, street clowns in ancient carnival traditions etc, are fascinating and mythical; but how we find our place, carve out our space and make our mark in modern times equally inspire. It’s all the same thing really; reinventing and reimagining itself down the ages.

Us: How did you come to be based at Unti15, and what does moving out mean for you?

Doug: We discovered Unit 15 after many years working on more transitory and temporary spaces. It’s been amazing to have a secure HQ for the past decade; losing it obviously presents a lot of challenges, but perhaps what it means for the city and the broader community is more poignant a question: what does your cultural offering look like with no room for culture?

Us: A lot of people now describe The Invisible Circus as being quintessentially Bristolian. Do you think that’s true?

Doug: We came here at a time when there was a lot of opportunity for alternative culture to blossom, kind of bubbling under the surface, and by being proactive we helped explode that into a more visible and vibrant scene, very accessible and dynamic. So it was a bit of a golden era in that sense, and very participatory; people remember that fondly as do we.

Us: You’re bringing Fairytale of Bristol back this Christmas. What makes Loco Klub such a perfect space for your shows?

The Red Rebels became an iconic image of the XR; INSET: Evicted from Unit 15, creative directors Doug and Wim

Doug’s checking his list; he’s checking it twice...

“What does your cultural offering look like, with no room for culture?” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 29

CIRCUS Doug: It’s so atmospheric, hidden and surprising. When you walk in you don’t expect what you find. We are really proud to have established such a unique and diverse venue for the city.

Us: There must be many standout memories from down the years.

Can you pick out a few highlights?

Doug: The old Audi garages on Stokes Croft, when we did our first big site specific show in 2006, and huge crowds came. Filling Bristol Old Vic to the rafters with our show Under the Dark Moon; Carny-Ville at The Island of course, bringing that magic into the city centre and inspiring so many people in the process. Welcome to the Future, our most recent show, was such a heartwarming reunion and coming together of the old and the new, it felt like a new beginning as much, or more, than it did an ending.

Us: Regarding the circus feats, have there been any perilous moments?

Doug: I mean we are a circus, it’s all about the perilous moments. We have really highly skilled and dedicated people who train hard to maintain the level they display. My pulley jammed while I was being flown over the yard three storeys up once, which felt a bit hairy, especially as I had only been joking when I suggested they could fly me. I hate heights, and I learnt my lesson: never joke with the rigging crew.

Us: We know there’s more to The Invisible Circus than the shows – can you tell us a bit about Art Space and the Red Rebels?

Doug: We founded Artspace to facilitate opening up more spaces for artists aside from our own needs initially; it has since grown to

become a charity, and manages a variety of historic sites as well as being a key partner in Sparks Bristol, the new sustainability centre in Broadmead. The Red Rebels came about quite casually, as I wanted to create something performance-based to respond to the climate crisis for the initial Extinction Rebellion spring uprising in 2019. It quickly became the iconic image to represent that whole era of protest, in a way, and expanded to become a global phenomenon with troupes forming all over the world.

Us: There’s a lot of you, and ticket prices are never steep, so we presume you don’t do it for the money – why do you do what you do?

Doug: Because the world needs more art and creativity, more things to inspire and provoke, not only driven by commercial demands and desires; more community, which we are more so than a company really. It’s also the role of the artist to be provocative and question the status quo, to show other worlds and ways are possible, that we are bigger than the limitations we have put upon us. Also, if you can do what you love and make a living doing so, while other people love it too, why would you do anything else?

Us: What is the company motto?

Doug: It used to be, if it’s not impossible we are not interested, but we nearly broke ourselves with that one a few times. Now we use something I learned at the very beginning of my journey as a travelling artist going on the road: we share what we have. ■ For more www.invisiblecircus.co.uk

“It’s the role of the artist to be provocative and question the status quo, to show other worlds and ways are possible, that we are bigger than the limitations we have put upon us”

FAIRYTALE OF BRISTOL

This Christmas, The Invisible Circus is throwing a speakeasy spectacular at Loco Klub: a series of extraordinary nights of mobster-infused, immersive theatre-dinner-dance with a circussoaked finale.

“We wanted it to be festive, but without piling on the Christmas schtick,” says creative producer Dave Knox, “so we made a tongue-in-cheek mashup of a prohibition-era New York gangster story with a West Country twist.”

Set over a three-course dinner, Fairytale brings partygoers into a classic whodunnit story. “From the moment you arrive, you’re a part of the story,” says Dave. “The show happens all around you rather than on a stage; if you’re feeling playful you can get involved, or you can sit back and watch – it’s a choose-yourown-adventure kind of party...”

Fairytale of Bristol runs until 16 December; bookings for 6 to 200 people www.unit15bristol.com/ftob23

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 31

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A LEGACY IN THE MAKING

CLIFTON RUGBY: a time-honoured club shaping the future of Bristol sport

I A NOTE FROM MARCUS NEL

My name is Marcus Nel, current club captain at Clifton RFC. This is my 4th season at the club, and in my time we have seen the club accomplish various achievements such as the highest-ever league finish in the 21/22 season. I have also had personal achievements which include representing my country of birth (Zimbabwe) at the recent rugby world cup qualifiers in France. This was largely facilitated by the support and opportunities received from the club.

The club has been a place that not only provides a top quality standard of rugby in Bristol, but has been the source of much support for myself and various players on and off the pitch. This is testament to the people that not only have the hands-on work that we see, but also what goes on behind the scenes.

These are hugely promising foundations, which will enable the club to embark on its new journey with the development of a mutli-faceted facility on the same site.

In closing I would also like to thank Bristol Life magazine and all of those involved for the player sponsorship that they have provided me with this season.

n the heart of north Bristol, adjacent to Cribbs Causeway retail park, lies a rugby club whose roots delve deep into the fabric of the city. Established in 1872 at the Kings Arms on Blackboy Hill, Clifton Rugby Club stands as a testament to time, transcending the mere realm of sports to become an integral part of the city’s narrative.

Beyond the mere pursuit of excellence on the rugby field, Clifton Rugby has become a nexus for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Academics, industrialists, entrepreneurs, legal and finance professionals, medical practitioners, builders, public servants – generations of families have donned the iconic lavender and black kit, weaving an intricate tapestry of tradition.

Rugby, at its core, symbolises more than just victories and accolades. While Clifton Rugby can list an impressive list of players who have ascended to professional, international, and Lions-level playing careers, the club takes pride not only in their achievements but also in nurturing their development.

Yet the essence of Clifton Rugby extends beyond the playing field. Embracing inclusivity in all its forms, the club has long recognised that rugby’s unique ability to welcome individuals of all shapes, sizes, abilities and characters fosters a sense of camaraderie that contributes meaningfully to local communities.

This was poignantly evident on Remembrance Sunday, as young players gathered at the club’s cenotaph to pay homage to over 55 players who sacrificed their lives during World War I. Clifton Rugby imparts more than just athletic prowess; it shapes characters and, in turn, influences the success of the city it calls home.

Woven into the very fabric of Bristol, Clifton Rugby has thrived by establishing symbiotic relationships with businesses, academic institutions, schools, sports organisations, and local government. From direct player sponsorships to advertising on shirts and ground screens, these partnerships are not merely transactions but vital collaborations paving the way for Clifton RFC’s continued success.

Looking ahead to the next 150 years, Clifton

Rugby envisions growth on multiple fronts – facility and ground developments, a centre for rugby excellence, a community hub, and sustainable high-level rugby.

The invitation is extended to all: whether you wish to witness the journey, play a part in it, or simply find out more, Clifton Rugby welcomes you with open arms. After all, in the next chapter of Bristol’s history, Clifton Rugby is not just a team; it’s a legacy in the making. ■

Station Road, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS10 7TT Tel: 0117 950 0445 www.cliftonrugby.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33

BEST IN SNOW

Once again, the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition returns to Bristol just in time for our Christmas issue. Obviously not all the images in the show are snowy and wintry – but you know, ‘tis the season . . .

A

Words by Deri Robins visit to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at Bristol useum offers the ideal break from all the hristmas tinsel and e cess .

As ever, the images are arrestingly beautiful, technically brilliant, awe inspiring and thought provoking a testament not only to the talent of the photographers, but their preternatural patience and endurance in getting the money shot. ome of the photos are Pi ar level cute, while others are more disturbing, showing nature red in tooth and claw along with the damage wreaked by human activity on animals and the planet.

Well, we’re not showing you any of the latter. t’s hristmas, after all. ■ Developed and produced by the Natural History Museum in London, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is at Bristol Museum until 21 April 2024 www.bristolmuseums.org.uk Also lavishly provided in this issue)

ALPINE EXPOSURE by Luca Melcarne

Location: Vercors Regional Natural Park, Rhône-Alpes, France Photographer Luca makes the most of his mountain-guide skills to reveal the fascinating lives of Alpine animals. To enable an early ascent into ibex territory, he spent a bitterly cold night in a temporary shelter in the French Alps, having skied for six hours across the natural park. Luca thawed his camera with his breath and took the ibex’s portrait. Snap.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

“The hare’s large feet prevent it from sinking into the snow, acting like snowshoes”

SNOWSHOES by Deena Sveinsson

Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, USA Deena was snowshoeing deep in the forests when she noticed a hare sleeping on a small snow mound. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she positioned herself in front of it. Hours later the hare woke and hopped off the snow mound in Deena’s direction. Using a high frame rate, she captured the exact moment in its hop where the hare pulled its large back feet up next to its head. Its large feet prevent it from sinking into the deep, soft snow, acting like snowshoes.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 35

TENDER TOUCH by Andy Parkinson

Location: Monadhliath Mountains, Scotland Andy’s been photographing the hares of the Monadhliath Mountains for 15 years, but had never witnessed a moment like this. He was expecting the female to repel the male’s advances with the usual explosive boxing behaviour, so included lots of space around them. Unexpectedly, the two courting hares came together and touched noses. Acting quickly, Andy caught their special moment on camera. For him, this was yet more evidence of the highly complex social relationships that animals have with one another.

“Adélie penguins are opportunists, and can be a nuisance for emperor penguins”

TROUBLEMAKER

by Stefan Christmann

Location: Atka Bay, Antartica An Adélie penguin approaches an emperor penguin and its chick during feeding time.

Stefan watched intently to see how the interactions between these three penguins would play out. Adélie penguins are opportunists, and can be a nuisance for emperor penguins and their chicks.

If the chance arises, Adélie penguins will try to cause the adult or the chick to drop its food while the chick is being fed, snatching any that falls to the ground.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

ICE BED by Nima Sarikhani

Location: Off Norway’s Svalbard archipelago Having spent three days searching for polar bears through thick fog, the expedition vessel Nima was on decided to change course. It turned and headed south east, where there was still some sea ice. Here they encountered a younger and an older male and watched the pair over the following eight hours. Just before midnight, the young male clambered onto a small iceberg and, using his strong paws, clawed away at it to carve out a bed for himself before drifting off to sleep.

THE ART OF COURTSHIP by Rachel Bigsby

Location: Noss National Nature Reserve, Shetland Rachel framed a gannet pair against the guano-painted curves of sandstone cliffs. From her boat in a turbulent sea swell, she realised that achieving her vision of showcasing gannets set against the towering cliffs would be tricky. But as the boat aligned with the rocks, she spotted this pair isolated on a lower ledge, intertwining their necks.

DUCKLING HUDDLE by Charles Davis

Location: Smiggin Holes, New South Wales It would normally be warm and sunny when these duckling hatch from their nest high up in a tree hollow, but things were a bit different this year. Warmer waters in the western Pacific meant more rain than normal in eastern Australia and cooler and wetter springs and summers.

Despite the conditions, the ducklings chose to drop down into a frozen world, from which their mother had to lead them to open water.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 37

1

THE 12 (ISH) DAYS OF BRISTMAS There’s more to the Bristmas spirit than four weeks of Bacchanalian excess. Be like the reformed Ebenezer Scrooge, when he promised to “honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year…”

Words and pics by Colin Moody

BRISTOL HEROES

2

B

ehold the 12 Days of Bristmas. Admittedly there are nine entries instead of 12. And they aren’t remotely in the expected order. They’re not even all that festive-looking.

Look, this is Bristol, OK? We only stick to canon when it suits us.

1

3

That doesn’t look very Christmassy, I hear you saying, maybe quite loudly. Perhaps you have put down your soya latte quite firmly and gone off in a huff.

Bear with. Because if you… yes, I know the trees are all in leaf, and it was taken in the summer, but as I keep saying, bear with me… because look closer, and that appears to be 12 drummers drumming . . . Are you with me now?

‘Cos this festive season I want to give praise to a city that loves the 12 days of Christmas all year round.

2

Seven (ish) swans a-swimming…. In the harbour. Generations of Bristolians come down to share some leftover Greggs Christmas slices with these majestic birds. Christmas can be a stressful time of the year, and it can be good to take some time out from all that tense last-minute petrolstation shopping, and chill by the water. Too much, all that pressure? You know what to do.

I’m not sure when there were last seven (ish) swans like this all together at once – 2015, the photo was taken. Been a lot of Christmases since then.

3

Ten lords a-leaping.

Well, more specifically, ten (ish) Bristolians who are lords of their dance routine at the sessions at Hamilton House, back in the day. When you could walk into the canteen and a dozen art projects were being born and the smell of charcoal and hope was in the air.

4

Eight cows a-drinking.

Hang on a minute, I hear you cry. That’s six cows, and anyway it’s supposed to be eight maids a-milking.

Well, that’s definitely another cow there, behind the one near the bank in the water. Aaaaaand that’s deffo another hoof in shot behind our star, the one on the right. Also why does it have to be maids amilking? Those darker days when women were kept in their place by seemingly harmless Christmas rhyme. That’s not the Bristol way.

Shot just outside Bristol in North Somerset, from which we get a lot of our goodness.

4

5

Nine ladies dancing And lots of blokes. Some kids.

Pretty much all of us. We are a city of dance.

90 per cent of communication is body language, so says a bloke in a pub I once met, so put on Wham! and shake your thang.

“This festive season I want to give praise to a city that loves the 12 days of Christmas all year round” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 41

BRISTOL HEROES

5 6

9

6 7

This one is niche. ‘Four abandoned Christmas sofas.’

Believe it or not, it is a tradition in many parts of this city, on realising how many relatives will soon descend to eat and sit in our homes, for the urgent ordering of a new suite or two to take place.

Which leaves the untidy dealings of what to do with the old ones up in the air or more specifically, all over the park.

It ain’t pretty, but it is Christmas.

Now, anyone else thinking like me that one by the tree looks half-decent?

All this talk of new sofas when it might the season to get a slightly bruised suite dead cheap.

7

“And a sign-writer in a shop windoooooow.”

Noice.

Bookshop here, and the work is on to get those windows ready for the big season.

Hands up for those shops with the little scenes all made from the things no one wants.

8 8

n the first day of hristmas, my true love gave to me a letter .

Taken from the charity shop window.

Been a spike in shoplifting this year, with the cost-of-living crisis, and it’s getting worse. Even shop window displays?!

In a charity shop?!!

At Christmas, at all times, be good to each other.

9

Bonus hero.

I know you wanted something Christmassy for the end. I have had the pleasure in following this (big) little elf around the city for a few days. Can I just say, good luck using candy canes to catch harbour fish, mate. erry Bristmas see you ne t year for a whole host of heroes in unusual places.

Colin Moody; content creation, online images Twitter @moodycolin; Instagram @colinmoodyphotography colinmoodyphotography.wordpress.com

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

EMILY & DAN ROSS STORYSMITH BOOKS

many yuletide romances, this is a yearning and irresistibly involving slice of romantic and political history you’ll be digging out again this time next year.

We’re into the final stretch, and it’s OK to start reading books about Christmas. Let’s get seasonal . . .

W

e’ve been putting it off long enough, and can now confirm that it’s OK to start reading books about Christmas. This is distinct from the act of browsing for (and even buying) books as gifts: we’re referring specifically to the intentional purchasing of books that deal with the arrival of Christmas or wintry warmth of feeling, and it’s something we’re very much behind.

With that in mind, for our final column before the big day, we present to you a smattering of books which are perfect for the magical and revolutionary act of

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

carving out some time across the holidays for the sole purpose of reading something indulgently, aggressively seasonal.

Winter Love by Han Suyin When we unpacked our copies of this soon-to-be festive staple, a collective ‘ooooh’ could be heard lilting through North Street, such was the sumptuousness of its cover design. Originally published in 1962, and painstakingly reissued in time for Christmas by Bathbased publishers Fox, Finch & Tepper, this quietly revolutionary story of the agonised love between two women in Blitz-era London is as addictive as it is stylish.

Eschewing the gooiness of so

A Christmas Bestiary

by John Kenn Mortensen & Benni Bødker Deep from darkest Denmark comes the alternative graphic novel/advent countdown you’ll be gifting to the most morbid person in your life. To quote the introduction directly: “Our ancestors… knew that Christmastime was a season of joy, as well as terror.” John Kenn Mortensen and Benni Bødker have catalogued the innumerable eldritch horrors of European (but mostly Scandinavian) folklore, ranked on a 1-5 pine cone scale of sheer dread.

All the classics are here, disturbingly illustrated in Gothic pen and ink drawings: the rampus (five pine cones) and Baba Yaga (two pine cones) and Iceland’s famous Yule Lads.

Santa get down the chimney? In their trademark comical, quirky (and very slightly sinister) picture book style, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen shed some light on the quandary; perhaps he folds himself like paper, or gets a handy push from his reindeers, or drips himself through the taps? If you’re looking for something to harness the excitement of any younger readers this Christmas Eve, this is the perfect book to pass the slow, anticipatory hours before bedtime.

It might be that we always sign off our hristmas column with the same imploring wish, but even if that’s the case we’re more than happy to reiterate: please lean into that sacred hour you have to steal for yourself on Christmas Day, the hour in which you begin to devour the new book that someone so thoughtfully bought for you (or you bought for yourself in anticipation, either is valid).

As booksellers we spend so much of the Christmas rush recommending books with this hallowed timeslot in mind, so don’t blow it. Whether it’s a seasonal read or something you’ve been itching to dig into for months, just make sure you do it. And then come and tell us about in January; we’ve got just the thing for you to tackle next.

“The eldritch horrors of European folklore are ranked on a 1-5 pine cone scale of sheer dread”

How Does Santa Go Down The Chimney? by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen One of our favourite authorillustrator combos is back for a festive special. This time around, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen are tackling one of the real humdingers, an age-old question, troubling generations of Christmas advocates: how does

Visit Storysmith at 36 North Street, Bedminster BS3 1JD 0117 953 7961 www.storysmithbooks.com

THE METROPOLITAN A cool yet cosy interior, relaxed vibe and an all-day, Asian-influenced menu: little wonder that The Met has become a major go-to for the Whiteladies dining set Words by Deri Robins

T

RESTAURANT

his may sound like a backhanded compliment, but I liked wouldn’t you, in which the sweetness of blackcurrant vodka, triple sec and The Metropolitan a lot more than I’d expected to. cassis has manners put on it by the tarter cranberry and lime.

I’d previously given it the once-over, of course, en passant.

Another dish fondly recalled by the daughter, and duly ordered up, was I’d admired the sophisticated black frontage, the name a wonderful confit potato, deeply indulgent with creamy layers of ld picked out in a nice white retro font. I’d even peered through Winchester cheese, black garlic and salty sweet nori if the Asian in uences the windows, startling the diners as I pressed my face against haven’t yet dawned on you, now they will – under a snowfall of parmesan. the glass to glimpse the black, taupe and woody interior, the exposed A white Christmas in Bristol guaranteed, if only on your plate at The Met. brick walls and polished surfaces. It all looked very sleek, contemporary, A generous portion of cured trout in buttermilk is silky and fresh-tasting, and, well, metropolitan. Not, in fact, unlike the similarly monikered and subtly enhanced by ginger. An equally unstinting serving of fried Metropolitan hotel on Park Lane (no relation), where the elegant reception chicken has possibly too high a batter-to-bird ratio for perfection, but is staff dress in and look a bit sniffy when you turn up in . delightfully crunchy and set off nicely with sharp kimchi and a satay style wondered whether The Met might be a bit too cool for school, especially peanut dressing. The slow-roasted pork belly has all the melting pull-apartfor a review in our Christmas issue. Perhaps we’d have been safer choosing ability you could wish for, and I would very much like to lay my hands on a a olly rural gastropub, awash with festive kitsch, staff wearing elf ears and bottle of the accompanying crab apple ketchup to use at home.

Wizzard on repeat.

There’s a fair amount of cooking over coal going on at The Met, and As it turns out, it’s lovely. he service is unaffectedly warm and a very good dish of roasted heritage carrots comes with smoky tofu and a friendly; not the intrusive kind of fake-friendly, in crunchy hazelnut dukkah. The grilled bream is the which the staff interrupt your every anecdote with biggest and priciest dish on the menu, and arrives DINING DETAILS an s everything , guys ust as you reach the at the table in its entire butter ied glory, the skin The Metropolitan, 72 Whiteladies Road; punchline; no, at the Met, there’s more of a laidback, nicely toasty, the esh beautifully aky. A mildly spicy 0117 985 6769; metropolitanbristol.com “We’re here for you, and will promptly notice if you prawn massaman and smoky tuna dressing make for Opening hours Mon-Fri midday-3pm, need us, but please take your time, vibe. his, to interesting accompaniments, but it’s our final mains 5-10pm; Sat 9am-3pm, 5-10pm; Sun me, represents the zenith of restaurant service. Just of the night, and through no fault of its own – blame 9am-4pm as pleasingly, despite all that tasteful minimalism, the bread if you want to blame anything – it defeats Price Sharing plates £8-£26; puds £5-£7 the dining room feels inviting and cosy. It’s hard to us. I’m not sure this is a particularly useful comment, Drinks Cocktails, short but meaningful wine put your finger on what makes you feel immediately unless the message is portions are big here. o not list, local beers and ciders content when you enter a restaurant, but whatever over-order’. All dishes are unfussily, prettily garnished.

Veggie? Good choice that elusive quality is, The Met possesses it.

At this point in the proceedings, our table is invaded Service Delightful ere’s the need to knows. he et was opened by the aforementioned Charlie James, who’s popped a year ago by owner-chef Adam Armstrong, who in with a Australian mate, because that’s the kind formerly worked for Charlie James at Jamaica Street Stores. It’s an all-day of thing that occurs when you eat out in central Bristol. ilarity ensues, affair, currently offering brunch, a winter la carte, and a feasting menu etc, and our pudding order somehow merges with theirs. This is actually which offers small dishes to share followed by a mains and pud. he la very good news for us, as we’d assumed we wouldn’t have room for the carte, which we end up going for, is made up of small plates too, some of chocolate delice until theirs arrives at the table, at which point we discover them bigger and incrementally pricier than others. we do after all. We all have a go at it. It’s fabulous, the delice denser than I have the rare privilege of dining with the daughter, whose availability, ather ougal c uire, the topping an e cellent miso ice cream is to me at least, decreases with every year. It transpires that she’s already anything not made better by miso and a crumbly honeycomb stopping visited The Met on three previous occasions. And millennials wonder why the dish getting too sweet for its own good is a puddle of mixed-berry jus. they can’t afford to buy a house. hat’s a oke, by the way don’t write in.

Pair with o’clock in, suggests the menu, and left alone to our I usually swerve the pre-meal breads, knowing that if you fall on them devices we may well have done so, but somehow under the in uence like a fo on a dustbin you’ll be stuffed before you even get to the starters. of Charlie and his friend we end up, umm, pairing, it with a tiramisu The daughter, however, insists that The Met’s is unmissable, and so a huge, cocktail, and yet another one of lemon meringue, and thinking about it I warm, bouncy slab of focaccia arrives with a umami-tastic querelle of should probably be forced to go home at this stage in every meal, because furikake butter. h, , say. aybe ust a tiny nibble. We demolish the lot something like this always seems to happen. in seconds; bread and butter has no business being so delicious.

I’m not sure whether the Met plans to decorate for Christmas, but it The oysters have almost sold out, but the lovely waiter bags us the last turns out you don’t need a shedload of tinsel or elfin earred waitstaff to two, which slip down a treat with their chilli granita. We slug these back create a snug, celebratory welcome during the chilliest month of the year. with the help of an eponymous Metropolitan cocktail, because why Warm service and a tiramisu you can drink will do ust fine.

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

Formerly known as Clifton Wine School

Tel: 07854239926 | bristol@localwineschool.com We are your friendly local wine school on a mission to teach wine to anyone who’ll listen. Choose from our Cheese and Wine Matching night, a Fine Wine tasting, Wines of the World evening courses, WSET qualifications Levels 1 to 3, 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

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COCKTAILS

SPIRITED AWAY There are very few things you can count on in life, but a round-up of festive cocktais in the Christmas issue of Bristol Life is happily among them Words by: Bristol’s best mixologists

A

glass of Buck’s Fizz while everyone opens the presents. A sherry or two as you stir the gravy. A few shots during Doctor Who: Christmas isn’t Christmas without a few special drinks. Depending on your family dynamics, they may even be crucial to surviving the day.

If you’re looking for some fresh ideas, this is the cut-out-and-keep section you need, although frankly we’d rather you kept the whole issue intact because it’s a beauty. Either way, get stirring, muddling, and shaking like a polaroid feature as you give these recipes from Bristol's bartenders a whirl.

If you don’t have the identical ingredients, improvise; cocktail-making needn't be an exact science. Better still, just pop into the bars and let the experts make them for you.

THE COCONUT TREE Toasted Marshmallow Shot

“Ceylon arrack will add a touch of exotic flair to your celebration,” says TCT co-founder Rashintha Rodrigo. "Its unique flavour profile, with subtle notes of coconut and spices, creates a distinct and memorable base for our festive concoction.”

What you’ll need: 10ml cinnamon-infused Ceylon arrack (easily found online) 10ml bourbon 5ml toasted marshmallow syrup Drop of chocolate bitters Mini-marshmallow What you’ll do Stir the first four ingredients together, and garnish with a burnt mini-marshmallow. www.thecoconut-tree.com

THE MILK THISTLE

BOMBA TAPAS

“The cocktail takes inspiration from an old classic called the Porto Flip," says drinks manager Sebastiano Fileccia. "It includes some of our favourite rye whiskey from Heaven Hill Distillery, which provides some spice to the backbone of the drink and works beautifully with the mulled spice syrup from Bristol Syrup Co. and LBV port. It's a real winter warmer!

"The drink uses oxidised wine that would be left over from cooking winter stews, and the garnish is a chocolate soil that can be made from grinding up any chocolate you may have lying around in the house over the Christmas season."

Originally created by Difford's Guide, here adapted by mixologist Phelan Fryer with the very fitting Mince Pie Edition Gin from Bristol Dry Gin. “This delightful concoction blends the warmth of the gin with the rich notes of kahlua, complemented by the sweet and spicy kick of gingerbread syrup," says Phelan.

"Double cream adds a luxurious creaminess, while the unexpected touch of mincemeat brings a festive twist that will transport your taste buds to a snowy, seasonal paradise.”

Oh, and it's served at the bar with a mince pie.

COCKTAILS

White Christmas

Scrooge’s Revenge

What you’ll need: 30ml Rittenhouse (or any rye) 30ml LBV port 15ml oxidised red wine 20ml Mulled Spice Bristol Syrup Co. 1 pinch of ground nutmeg 1 pinch salt 1 whole egg Chocolate What you’ll do: Shake everything but the chocolate for 20 seconds without ice. Add ice to shaker, taste, and add some sugar if you like. Hard-shake for 20 seconds more, double strain into any glass and sprinkle some ground chocolate on top. www.milkthistlebristol.com

What you’ll need: 50ml Bristol Dry Mince Pie Gin 12.5ml kahlua 10ml gingerbread syrup 25ml double cream I bar spoon mincemeat What you’ll do: Put all ingredients in a shaker, shake and fine strain into a glass. www.bombatapas.com

BAR 44

THE METROPOLITAN

“This cocktail is all about fun and nostalgia,” say Tom and Owen Morgan. “We originally put it on the menu as a bit of a laugh, and were surprised by how many we sold”.

Dreamed up by Emma Mitchell, who, incidentally, wins our coveted if totally unofficial award for the best cocktail name of the feature.

Sherry Trifle

What you’ll need: 3 raspberries 25ml Larios 12 gin 12.5ml Licor 43 25ml cream sherry 5ml vanilla gomme 12.5ml freshly squeezed lemon juice 50ml double cream 1 tsp grated chocolate

Sloe Ho! Ho!

What you’ll do: Muddle the raspberries until pulped. Add remaining ingredients except cream and chocolate; fill with ice and shake well. Double- strain into a glass.

Whisk the cream lightly and pour on top over the back of a bar spoon. Sprinkle with chocolate. www.grupo44.co.uk/bar44/ bristol

What you’ll need: 60ml sloe gin 200ml spiced apple juice (apple juice infused with winter spices) Orange slice Star anise What you’ll do: Warm the apple juice with winter spices for 15 minutes and pour into a heatproof glass. Top with sloe gin.

Garnish with star anise and the orange slice. www.metropolitanbristol.com

CARGO CANTINA Hot Buttered Mezcal

“This drink is worth the prep, especially if you make a large batch,” says senior supervisor Ellie Cummings. "Perfect for the season, buttered mezcal is spiced, sweet and indulgent. A delicious treat for the cold weather."

What you’ll need: 35ml buttered mezcal (just butter and mezcal, see below) 75ml milk 30ml spice mix (cinnamon, all spice, cloves, cardamom, star anise) 20ml demerara syrup 1 teaspoon buttered mezcal What you’ll do: To make the buttered mezcal, melt butter and combine with mezcal in a 2:1 ratio. Shake this mixture and then leave it to let it infuse. Put this mixture in the freezer overnight to separate, then strain the mezcal using a cheese cloth, keeping both parts. The liquid is your buttered mezcal, and the solid your mezcal butter.

To make the spice mix, simmer the spices in water for 20 minutes until infused, then strain and keep the liquid.

To make the demerara syrup, combine the sugar and hot water at a 1:1 ratio and stir until all of the sugar is dissolved.

To assemble the drink, combine all of the liquid ingredients (mezcal, milk, spice mix and demerara syrup) and heat gently ensuring not to boil. In a mug, add a teaspoon of mezcal butter and pour your hot mixture over the top.

Optionally garnish with some powered mixed spice. www.cargocantina.co.uk

Bristol Life would like to propose a cocktail of Guinness, Bushmills and smoky tequila named The Paul Mezcal. Would 100% drink

GAMBAS

SPIRITED

“Spicy, fruity and easy to make, this refreshing cocktail is perfect for enjoying with a festive meal,” says bar manager Georgie Russon.

“There’s a lot of rich food and drink around at this time of year, so our bar manager Francesca Marino has created a refreshing little sour with a bit less booze, plenty of zingy citrus, festive spice and Tio Pepe – because who doesn’t love sherry at Christmas?”

Canela Navidad

What you’ll need: 25ml of spiced syrup (fennel seeds, cloves, star anise and cinnamon) 50ml gin (we use Bravas Gin Navidad, made by Psychopomp brewery) Juice of ½ a lemon Juice of ¼ an orange

Spiced Orange Sour

What you’ll do: Shake the ingredients over ice, pour, and garnish with a wedge of orange. www.gambasbristol.co.uk

What you’ll need: 50ml Tio Pepe fino sherry 20ml The Aperitivo Co. orange triple sec 40ml fresh orange juice 15ml lemon juice 20ml cinnamon-infused honey 2 drops Fee Bros Fee Foam Cinnamon sugar rim What you’ll do: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake for 15-20 seconds. Strain back into the shaker and dryshake (without ice). Pour inot a glass that has previously had its rim dipped into cinnamon and sugar. www.spiritedbristol.com

COCKTAILS BRAVAS

Andalucian Manhattan Blanco “A twist on a classic Manhattan, this is a lovely warming drink that hits the soul,” says bar manager Silas Doye. “An ideal palate-cleanser after a hearty winter meal.”

What you’ll need: 40ml bourbon (we use Woodford Reserve) 20ml white vermouth preferably Spanish (we use Padro & Co Blanco Reserve) 15ml cream sherry (we use Cruz del Mar) Dash angostura bitters Lemon twist What you’ll do: Pour the ingredients over ice in the glass, and garnish with a lemon twist. www.bravas.co.uk

RICK’S BAR

Two recipes from the Bristol Hotel’s new bar Bah Humbug! (left)

Lasso The Moon (above)

Concocted by Ollie Slade, and guaranteed to put a smile on the face of the most die-hard Christmas curmudgeon.

By Jamie Jones, and not, as you might first assume, a tribute to everyone’s favourite fictional soccer manager, but a reference to It’s a Wonderful Life. “You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.”

What you’ll need: 25ml Eminente Reserva 7-year rum 10ml Giffard menthe pastille 15ml crème de cacao – 15ml Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee liqueur 50ml double cream Sprig of mint What you’ll do: Add all ingredients except the double cream to a shaker, and shake over ice. Doublestrain into a rocks glass over cubed ice.

Add double cream to a shaker and dry-shake (without ice). Layer the double cream on top of the cocktail and garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

What you’ll need: 125ml Rioja Crianza 25ml cinnamon syrup 20ml lemon juice 25ml orange juice 20ml pink grapefruit juice Cinnamon stick What you’ll do: Add all ingredients to a shaker, and shake over ice. Doublestrain and serve over ice in a red wine glass. Garnish with fresh orange and a smoking cinnamon stick www.doylecollection.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 53

COCKTAILS THE GOLD BAR AT HARBOUR HOTEL The Gold Negroni

“A Christmas take on the classic negroni; festive in colour and an excellent drink to warm the soul over Christmas,” says Alex Mayson.

What you’ll need: 25ml DOM Benedictine 25ml Cotswolds Dry Gin 25ml Martini Ambratto vermouth Lemon twist

What you’ll do: Stir together with ice for 5-10 seconds in a mixing glass, and strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Serve with a lemon twist. www.harbourhotels.co.uk

COAL KITCHEN Christmas Bauble

A fruity and refreshing number by bartender Erik Nagy. Don’t have a fillable bauble? Just go ahead and pour over ice in a glass.

What you’ll need: 1 shot vodka ½ shot orange liqueur (cointreau or triple sec) ½ shot lime juice 75ml cranberry juice What you’ll do: Add all ingredients to a fillable bauble and chill. Serve on ice alongside a sugared rosemary sprig. Pour over. www.coalkitchen.co.uk

THE GRANARY

HARBOUR HOUSE

A spicy little number from bartender Phoebe Long.

Kuba Szuster has come up with this wonderfully indulgent, nutty creamy little number.

Spicy Margarita

What you’ll need: 1½ shots tequila ½ shot orange liqueur (cointreau or triple sec) Juice of half a lime 1 shot chilli syrup (see recipe) Tajin seasoning for the glass What you’ll do: To make the chilli syrup, add

Ferrero Rocher

150g sugar, 350ml hot water and 4 sliced chillies and allow to infuse.

To make the margarita, rim a martini glass with a wedge of lime and dip into Tajin seasoning. Add ice, tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur and chilli syrup to a shaker, and shake. Strain into the glass. www.granarybristol.com

What you’ll need: 25ml 6 o’clock London Dry Gin 25ml kahlua 25ml frangelico 40ml single cream

What you’ll do: Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir for 30 seconds.

Cover the rim of a whisky tumbler with chocolate powder, then strain the ingredients into the glass over ice. www.hhbristol.com

Whisky Shop | Bar | Spirits Specialists Cocktails | Tastings | Events

Spirited 196 North Street, BS3 1JF spiritedbristol.com @spirited.bristol | 0117 3017179

SCAN ME

to get AS23 at checkout XM BL de co o om pr Use oked in December £5 off events bo

CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

It’s a wonderful life Especially when you’re lucky enough to live south of the Avon

T

his week’s coffee shop of choice is Dio’s Deli on North Street.

It’s a bijou space, more takeaway than café, but it’s easy to find, as it’s right next door to Hugo’s. A bright green, friendly greengrocers.

Well, actually, part greengrocers, part delicatessen, part Christmas tree shop at this time of year. Hugo is the name of the bloke that owns the shop, and Dio is his son.

Which is a delightful nugget of knowledge. But before we get too deep with such specifics, first we need to talk about location.

“It’s easy to get blasé about Bristol, the people, the vibe and the cornucopia of good tuff that ow all aroun u

You see, when you have lived in Bristol for years and years, it’s very easy to forget how really rather marvellous it is to, well, live in Bristol. Very easy to get blasé about the place, the people, the vibe and the cornucopia of good stuff that ows all around us. Especially at this fine and festive time of year. ot thinking about this when one of my nieces moved here recently. She grew up elsewhere, poor sausage. But then moved on and met her partner, who also grew up elsewhere, poor lamb chop. They then mooched around together for a while. ooking for somewhere to settle and put down roots. Naturally, being young and full of beans, they followed jobs and opportunities wherever they were to be found.

Which is why, long story short, they have ended up here in Bristol. ust off orth treet. ust say, they are smitten with the place. Loving it and loving life. know this because when we met up with them recently, they were full of the joys of south Bristol, which is why my coffee companion and I decided to pop along that way, see how the world of North Street was getting on with itself. Turns out, it’s getting on really rather well. There are caf s and coffee shops aplenty.

We chose Dio’s purely because it had been recommended to us. A friend mentioned they do legendary sandwiches. Must say, from what I saw, my friend was telling the truth; the sarnies on offer looked monstrously fine.

Also, they seemed to come in various combos, veggie, vegan and regular. Which is always nice. owever, our eyes were taken with a rather magnificent spinach and feta pie. So we ordered a slice, along with some coffees, taking the lot over to a side shelf where there are a few stools.

As the friendly young lady serving behind the counter told us, most of their custom comes from takeaways, so sitting inside while sipping and nibbling is not common. But it is fun. Gives you a great chance to chat to the really rather lovely staff while watching the world go by and taking time to be grateful that we live in such a wonderful town. o, if you are looking for a bright and friendly destination for a sip of two, maybe even with a bite of sandwich heaven, I can thoroughly recommend this place.

Dio’s delightful deli. Oh, and merry Christmas, one and all. ■ Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer @stancullimore on instagram

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

BRISTMAS GIFTS

DEER SANTA 17 shopping days to go: let’s get cracking. We’ve colourcoded the selection of gifts – not for your convenience but because we really like how they look on the page

GUARDIAN OF THE CITY

BY SAM BINDING, £20-£50 “Up close and personal with a stag at Ashton Court, Bristol during a very nice misty sunrise” Sam is one of our all-time favourite photographers. He sells his prints and greetings cards at a very affordable price – see also page 6. www.sambinding.co.uk

ZIP POCKET WOOL OVERSHIRT, £195 There’s only one thing we like more than a 100% woollen shirt from Bristol’s premier heritage clothing brand, made at one of the UK’s last remaining vertical woollen mills, and that’s a shirt photographed in a recognisable Bristol location. www.peregrineclothing.co.uk

BRISTMAS GIFTS

WHITE

FAUX FUR SLIPPERS, £49 When you can’t bear to put your Birks away but still want a bit of cosy.

From mintvelvet.com

SLEEPER PARTY WHITE FEATHERTRIMMED PYJAMA SET, £275 Outlined with plumes of detachable ostrich feathers for a bit of classic glamour.

From www.harveynichols.com

WINTER FOXES SNOW GLOBE, £14.99 A wintry Bristol delight: a two-sided snow globe by Jenny Urquhart featuring two of her prints, A Walk Home in the Snow, and Together in the Snow.

From www.jennyurquhart.co.uk

PRESENT TIME MINI BONNET TABLE LAMP, £50 With a round shape and slender stand, with a nod to classic mid-century lighting design.

From www.monpote. co.uk

DONNA WILSON DIGBY DOG, £65 A super-soft cuddly mutt from Donna Wilson’s brilliant creatures collection.

Digby, we hear, likes chorizo sausages.

From www.ustudio.shop

DONNA WILSON OWL HOT WATER BOTTLE, £60 Cute, quirky and made from the softest lambswool.

From www.ustudio.shop

CANADA GOOSE SALIDA SHELL JACKET, £625 Made from the label’s innovative three-layer Tri-Durance® fabric, designed to protect against harsh and unpredictable weather.

From www. harveynichols.com

HOUSE DOCTOR STARRY WHITE MUGS, PAIR, £19.90 Charming stoneware mugs with a twisted handle, tiny stars and a minimal design that quietly says ‘winter’.

From www.monpote.co.uk

CARMARTHENSHIRE BEAKER, PAIR, £45 We can’t get enough of Tim Lake’s tactile, earthy, orientalmeets-Welsh pottery.

From www. midgleygreen.com

URBANISTA ATLANTA EAR EARPHONES, £115 Eight hours of playtime off a single charge. You get up to 34 hours total listening time with the wireless charging case, all with hybrid active noise cancelling.

From www.ustudio.shop

KÜHN KERAMIK JESTER COFFEE CUP, £75 Kühn uses a treasure trove of historical documents, typographies and images to make their unique ceramics.

From www.mazeclothing.co.uk

WHITE OCTOPUS WINE BOTTLE HOLDER, £21 (REDUCED FROM £35) Dress your table in the finest of eccentric tableware. The design of the white washed octopus is specifically crafted with a bottle of wine in mind, ensuring your bottle is in safe tentacles.

From www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

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

BRISTMAS GIFTS

GOLD SILVER

SILVER BEADED JACKET, £349 Silver cropped jacket with hand- beaded tassels.

From www.mintvelvet.com

TRUDON CANDLE, £90 Very special candles from Trudon; this one has a heady rich fragrance inspired, they say, by the Dadaists. So, we guess, think Dali with a wick.

From www. mazeclothing.co.uk

NORDAL PASTA SPOON IN MATT GOLD, £10 From a Danish brand which believes in combining flair with functionality. www. monpote.co.uk

SILVER ‘EMERGE’ EARRINGS, £121 Etched multi-bud stud earrings with a delicate chain drop.

From www. dianaporter.co.uk

GOLD HAND NECKLACE, £289

By Welsh jewellery brand Duxford Studios, designed as part of the Memento Mori collection inspired by the human body.

From www. cliftonrocks.co.uk

‘DAZZLE’ SNOWFLAKE GOLD AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, £1,200 Dazzle indeed; you may have to pick the recipient up off the floor.

From www. nicholaswylde.com

WALTHER & CO WILD FLOWER HURRICANE, £40 Presumably intended for Christmas, but we’re seeing this tealight holder doing sterling service on special occasions all year round.

From www.mazeclothing.co.uk

BRISTOL IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA BY DAVE BUONAGUIDI, £320 Framed screenprint with 23 carat gold letters on a vintage postcard.

From www.smithsonprojects.com

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

AMOVE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER BY KREAFUNK, £57 (FROM £95) As beautiful as it’s useful, with a built-in battery that lasts up to 20 hours.

From www.fig1.co.uk

USB SILVER DESK FAN, £15.95 Admittedly not a winter must-have, but come next summer they’ll thank you for its combination of retro style and USB practicality.

From www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

ALEX MONROE FEATHER STUD EARRINGS: GOLD £126, SILVER £108 Ethereal feathers captured in all their beautiful detail by the masterly Monroe.

From www. ustudio.shop

AMANDA COLEMAN FERN AND STAG NECKLACE, £50 Delicate little woodland scene on a necklace, in silver and gold plating with an iolite bead.

From www.fig1.co.uk

VEJA RECIFE LEATHER TRAINERS, £150 Metallic trainers in platine white to add the subtlest bit of bling to your casual wardrobe.

From www.graceandmabel.co.uk

MAZI COAT X MAISIE WILLIAMS, £995 Shoreditch Ski Club have worked with Maisie to create an exclusive coat called The Mazi.

The unique cocooning silhouette is crafted in a specially developed ballgown satin shell in steelgreen satin, with a cosy shearling lining: warmth and protection with superstar attitude. The oversized cut and dipped back hem make for a silhouette that looks as cool with slick tailoring or leather trousers as your favourite denim.

Best of all, the profits from the sale of the coat go to The Mazi Project, the Bristol-based organisation of which Maisie is an ambassador, empowering disadvantaged 16-25 year olds through food, while supporting care leavers, young asylum seekers and those recovering from homelessness and escaping domestic violence.

C’mon, Santa. Been an awful good girl.

From www.shoreditchskiclub.com.

FRESH MOUNTAIN AIR, £225 Limited-edition hand-pulled screen print

by Anna Marrow, a printmaker, illustrator and image-maker based in Bristol. www.somagallery.co.uk

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

BRISTMAS GIFTS

GREEN

BRISTOL BLUE WINE GLASS, £49 From the Harlequin Emerald set; because as anyone who’s anyone knows, Bristol Blue Glass don’t just do blue.

From www.bristolglass.co.uk

BLOOMINGVILLE ANNOR COTTON CUSHION, £37.90 In the softest, most restful forest shades.

From www.foxandfeather.co.uk

MISSOMA 18KT NECKLACE, £140 Gold-plated, with the prettiest beads.

From www. harveynichols. com

VICTORIA BECKHAM SUNGLASSES, £299 Since the Becks doccie aired, everyone loves VB. (We always liked her.)

From www.harveynichols.com

CORSAGE HALTER NECK TOP, £99 Emerald satin top with an oversized ruffle to draw the eye up to the face, and a halter-neck to elegantly show off your shoulders.

From www.mintvelvet.com

GREEN GLASS PALM TREE CANDLESTICK, £10.95 A tropical (yet festively green) addition to your Christmas table; style as a pair, maybe, with candles in fluorescent colours?

From www. grahamandgreen. co.uk RABANNE PIXEL CHAINMAIL TOTE, £1,170 At Christmas, one must dazzle... From www.harveynichols. com

MAGIC ORGANIC APOTHECARY GREEN BALM, £18 Organic, multipurpose calming balm to soothe, nourish and renew dry, itchy skin. All kinds of miraculous.

From www. monpote.co.uk HKLIVING THE EMERALDS CANDLE HOLDER, £35.65 Whimsical, sculptural, and reminiscent of a cactus From www. monpote.co.uk

BRADY WESTERN BOOTS, £179.95 Daisy Jones would have killed for a pair of these.

From www. foxandfeather. co.uk

NALI SHOP IRINA BERET, £38 To bring a little Parisian chic into someone’s Bristol life.

From www.foxandfeather.co.uk

HK LIVING: FOUR TWISTED GLASS SPOONS, £18.95 The jewel-toned glass blends with a hand-finished smooth shape, adding a fresh Mediterranean vibe to any setting.

From www.foxandfeather.co.uk

HOUSE DOCTOR 4 HOLI GLASS TUMBLERS, £32 The colour is as classic as it gets, while the intricate pattern gives the Holi glasses a vintage feel.

From www. monpote.co.uk

STOLEN FORM BRISTOL BRICK VASE, £38 Watertight enough for favourite flowers, handy for stationery and kitchen utensils or lovely just as it is.

From www.fig1. co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 67

BRISTMAS GIFTS

RED

ARCHIE TEAPOT, £65; PLATTER, £55.

“I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me,” said Bristol-born actor Cary Grant. Bet he never guessed he’d end up on a Stokes Croft China teapot, though.

From www.carycomeshome.co.uk

URBAN BRISTOL MUG BY SUSAN TAYLOR, £10 Celebrating the concrete architecture of the city . Spot all the brutalist beauties, from the Lloyd’s building to Carriageworks in Stokes Croft and the Cheese Lane Shot Tower From www.thebristolshop.co.uk AARDMAN CHRISTMAS OVEN GLOVES, £15.95 Add an extra bit of Bristol cheer to your Christmas cooking, knowing that profits go straight to the Grand Appeal children’s hospital charity.

From www. gromitunleashedshop. org.uk

TOYO STEEL CANTILEVER TOOLBOX, £113 Isn’t it iconic? The classic Japanese Toyo boxes have as many uses as you can think up for them.

Tool box? Sewing kit?

Picnic hamper? Etc etc.

From www.fig1.co.uk

HOPTIMIST BUMBLE, £17-85 A classic piece of Scandi design, these funky little dudes are the essence of happiness in your home.

From www.fig1. co.uk

VELVET GOLD PRAWN MAKE-UP BAG, £29.95 Ever-so-slightly vintagey beaded design made with gems and glass, from the charming My Doris range.

From www.thepodcompany. co.uk

CRYSTAL HAZE NOSTALGIA BEAR 18KT GOLD-PLATED NECKLACE, £70 Playful, charming little necklace with a resin pendant, pavé crystal-embellished connector.

From www. harveynichols.com

ROBYN LEATHER HANDBAG, £25.99 In the perfect colour for this season, but obviously all the others, too.

From www.makestyle.co.uk

POSTIE MCGRAW FIGURINE, £35 This evil little dude wants to become your family’s Christmas heirloom.

We’d definitely give him house-room, but with misgivings; we’ve seen the film.

From www. gromitunleashedshop. org.uk

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

GANNI EMBROIDERED LEATHER COWBOY BOOTS, £625 Whether line-dancing, cattlerustling or out on the razzle, cowboy boots are always a good idea. May as well go allout and choose a striking colour.

From www.harveynichols.com

RED FLOWER CORSAGE, £19 Elevate your evening wear; the flash of red will take an LBD to a whole new level.

From www.mintvelvet. com

NON-FLYING CARPET, £POA Inspired by Persian carpets, reinvented by Fatboy. For use in or out; just don’t expect to be able to fly it.

From www. oskarfurniture.co.uk

SORUKA RECYCLED LEATHER AIKO BAG, £65 Handmade from recycled materials that would have otherwise ended up in landfill.

A reversible bag; flip the flap over and it changes from vibrant pink and red to a blue spotted print design.

From www.frankly.store

PLISSÉ ELECTRIC KETTLE, £90 Michele De Lucchi’s plastic fantastic design reveals his architectural background, as well as his passion for handicraft and sculpture.

From www.bristolguild.com

ROKA CANFIELD B BAG, £64.95 Made from a weather-resistant material, using recycled bottles, with lots of handy pockets and a rolltop design enabling a widemouth opening. They’ll wonder how they ever managed without it. www.shop.bristolmuseums.org.uk

A SENSATION IMAGINED 02, £1,450 How about an original piece of art from RWA – maybe this outstanding, tactile one by Timothy Charles Holloway, in acrylic resin, valchromat and paint?

From www.rwa.org.uk

TOYS AND GAMES MOULIN ROTY TOUT AUTOUR DU MONDE OCTOPUS, £37 We know that octopii are surprisingly playful; this guy with the ludicrously selfimportant long name also happens to be incredibly cuddly.

From www.fig1.co.uk

BRISTMAS GIFTS If it bleeps, has flashing lights or involves a handset, look elsewhere.

If you’re after Christmassy nostalgia you’ve come to the right place.

AREAWARE CUBEBOT MICRO ROBOT PUZZLE, £15.00 The wooden toy robot folds out of a perfect cube shape.

Part- puzzle, part-poseable toy, it’s inspired by Japanese shinto kumi-ki puzzles, and can be positioned in many ways.

From www.ustudio.shop

BRISTOL MONOPOLY, £34.99 If you land on the Chance square with our name on, kindly send us fifty quid.

From www.shop.bristolmuseums.org.uk

BLOOMINGVILLE BEECH WOOD ANIMALS, £2.95 EACH They’ll be wanting garish Fisher Price soon enough; for now though, you can get away with a little wooden zoo that won’t mess with your carefully curated home aesthetic.

From www.fig1.co.uk

BRISTOL PLAYING CARDS BY JENNY URQUHART, £12.99 54 playing cards, each featuring a different Bristol painting by the wonderful Jenny.

From www. jennyurquhart.co.uk

PEBBLE TOYS HAND-KNITTED MERMAID RATTLE, £13 We love her determined expression and maternal demeanour.

Handmade and Fairtrade from Bangladesh.

From www. frankly.store

YELLOW SUBMARINE LAMP, £59 Ideal either in an office or on a bedside table. Affection for The Beatles not obligatory, but a love for colourful kitsch helps.

From www.grahamand green.co.uk

MICROWAVABLE SLOTH WARMERS, £9.95-£26 Get toasty with this huggable sloth infused with natural buckwheat grains and lavender.

Pop him into the popty-ping for instant warmth; the big size is a hottie; the small, a handwarmer.

From www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

LEGO® STAR WARS™ 75363 THE MANDALORIAN N-1 STARFIGHTER™, £12.99 Just look at the tiny baby Yoda! For 6+.

From www. toyvilleshop.co.uk

PETIT MONKEY PRINCESS NESTING DOLLS, £25 Dutch company Petit Monkey collaborates with famous illustrators and makers of kids’ home accessories to create toys to inspire their imagination.

From www.monpote. co.uk

BENJAMIN POLLOCK’S CINDERELLA PANTOMIME THEATRE, £24 As nostalgic as toys come.

From www.monpote.co.uk

JELLYCAT STEGOSAURUS, £35 Suitable for babies upwards with its supersoft foldy spines and chunky little paws www.thepodcompany. co.uk

IKB GROMIT, £12.50 The ss Great Britain and Aardman worked together to create this plush Isambard Gromit, complete with his own stovepipe hat.

Show us a more Bristolian cuddly toy.

We’ll wait…

From www.shop. ssgreatbritain.org

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 71

CLIFTON CERAMICS & FINE JEWELLERY

FINE DIAMOND JEWELLERY – NEW MOORCROFT POTTERY

For more information visit www.cliftonceramics.co.uk 0117 373 0256 • 58 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4JG Open Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat 11-4

Reach the best in the west Affluent, active and influential and just a call away

Bristol Life team 01225 475800

NETWORK

THE CITY’S HOTTEST BUSINESS NEWS

REINVENTING AN ICON BRISTOL BEACON: THE STORY OF A NEW NAME

THE STORY OF A NEW NAME

As Bristol Beacon prepared to reopen its doors on 30 November, LOUISE MITCHELL CBE, chief executive of the venue, talked us through the transformation of an icon

L

ouise first became chief e ecutive of the then named olston all, and the independent charity Bristol usic rust, in . owever, the past five years have arguably been the most challenging in the ob, as she oversaw the multi million transformation of the hall along with its highly publicised name change to

Bristol Beacon. et’s begin by defining how ouise sees her role at the venue, and what it means to her. ur mission in Bristol Beacon is to promote unity and oy through live music, she says. y personal eal is to share that as widely as we can.

At the Beacon, we’re very eclectic all kinds of music are equally valued.

We’re in the entertainment business sometimes at work, when things are a bit tense, say that actually, we

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

need to en oy this as well. t’s not ust you en oying it as an audience it’s us en oying it as a workforce. We try to engender that within what everything that we do.

As the figurehead of the organisation, ouise has had to oversee the work of hundreds of disparate people and groups, from music teachers to plasterers someone once described me as being a shock absorber’’ she says although not everything is under her control. he building is owned by the city council, who are managing the pro ect, so there are some things that we can control and some things that we can’t. he only way you can do that is by having a really good relationship with everybody involved, trying to understand what they do and, crucially, trying to understand the world from their perspective. y training is in languages, and to a certain e tent, have to try to interpret it from their point of view. t’s not a different language, but it is sometimes communicating the

difference between building speak and stage production speak. t’s the same basic nglish language, but people see it in very different ways. o conversation about the reopening of hall is possible without touching on the name change, from olston, with its unpalatable slavery connotations, to Bristol Beacon. t’s a conversation that’s been rattling on for decades When came to interview for this ob in , was asked what thought about the name olston it was clear it was a big issue. Because the impetus came from the staff, the trustees were happy to endorse it.

We’d made a decision to work towards that even before the pandemic, with the plan of announcing it in ay , but then something happened that was more important than a new name or concept for a building. o we had it ready, and we parked it.

We worked with some brilliant consultants to find a new name we felt re ected our values, that didn’t sound too silly and wasn’t replicated anywhere else.

NETWORK

OPPOSITE: Louise in conversation with Greg, post-lunch at the Harbour Hotel THIS PAGE: After five years, the venue has reopened, with a new name and a

squiggly bronze art installation snaking around the side

ouise reveals they had a shortlist of around si names, including he antern, but we knew we had a better solution. We made the announcement, and got on with it. We then did something that no brand person would really like we announced the name without any of the brand collateral. We didn’t have any we were like every other company at that time, focusing on survival during the pandemic. But it seemed important to us, at that time, to nail our colours to the mast and say look, this is what we’re going to do. We made a whole load of transformation promises which showed that we would actually follow through on all the ideology that sat behind it. n the meantime, costs were rising for the refurbishment the original budget of million eventually

turned into million. Why did the costs accelerate as much as they did irstly, says ouise, people should understand that the building is owned

by Bristol ity ouncil. hey have freeholders who have been running the pro ect, and they also have been responsible for maintaining the building for the last years, which you could argue, perhaps, wasn’t done to the highest standard. he building was incredibly fragile. make a oke that it was literally held together with crisp packets. olumns we thought were going to be load bearing were actually hollow. We found three li abethan wells on the site. here was an awful lot more asbestos than we had imagined.

And not to denigrate anybody who was involved at the time, but it’s a real problem, when you’re running

a working building you cannot investigate to the e tent that you normally would, so we had to shut in order for that to happen. n top of that, you had a global pandemic, which nobody had anticipated. ou had the effects of Bre it rising costs, the threat of a recession it doesn’t e cuse everything, but it does begin to e plain why it’s been a much longer, much more complicated and significantly more e pensive ourney than we had anticipated. have to say that the council has come good on that you know, it wasn’t their choice to spend all that money on an arts building. should also point out that our team have raised million pounds towards it, which for an arts charity is quite a hard thing to do. ome of the money raised by ouise’s team came from statutory sources such as the Arts ouncil eritage ottery and things that we as a charity were able to access which the city council couldn’t. ome of it has come from corporate support and naming rights families have paid to endow various bits of the building, from five pounds per month to endow a seat in memory of a loved one, to a family trust which has given us over a million pounds. n anchester, during a ma or refurb of he actory useum, the naming rights was sold to Aviva and it’s now known as the Aviva tudios. Would the Beacon ever have countenanced a sponsored name We would have. We did have discussions along the process with firms if anyone’s got any source of great money, why would you not have a conversation ur attitude is, let’s have a talk about it. o yes, we did countenance it, and think, probably, we still would.

“THE BUILDING WAS INCREDIBLY FRAGILE. I MAKE A JOKE THAT IT WAS LITERALLY HELD TOGETHER WITH CRISP PACKETS” LOUISE MITCHELL

Moving on to the bigger picture: now it’s open again, what does the Beacon benefit from Bristol, and what does it conversely contribute o arts organisation is anything without an audience, so we’re here to enlighten, entertain and inspire everybody who comes through our doors but we also have an arm of our organisation that people know less about, which we call creative learning and engagement with schools.

We are the music education hub for Bristol, so we organise all the instrumental teaching in Bristol schools, from special educational needs to schools for the deaf, and we try and bring our oy and e pertise in music to accent it. here are around different ensembles across the city. We also work with people with dementia, children in care, babies anybody who needs some of the oy of music can get it through us.

We live in utilitarian times. here are many other calls on funding, from housing to infrastructure, to obs, to health to social care so why are the arts so essential, in that conte t hey matter because everybody interacts with arts in some way and personally believe that arts attendance is about belonging. ou go in as an individual, and come out as a group, because you’ve had that common e perience. hat’s what makes it different from listening to a high quality recording at home. here’s so much different music everybody has a bit of music in them. ur ob is to make sure that we give people inspiration through whatever music it is that they’re interested in. ou can’t solve everything with music, but it helps. t lifts your spirits it makes you think about things it gives you a soundtrack in your head. t makes life a little bit richer, a little bit more technicolour. ometimes you need something to push you out of the black and white into the colour.

And think music does that.

Louise Mitchell was talking to Greg Ingham at a Network Lunch event at Harbour Hotel.

Coming soon: Josh Eggleton of the Pony group in conversation.

For more: www.bristolbeacon.org

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 77

NETWORK

© ICE SOUTH WEST

I.C.E, I.C.E, BABY ultiple award winning firm Balfour Beatty’s team at Avonmouth ocks has won a prestigious ollaboration Award at the outh West ivil ngineering Awards for their engineering scheme on the bottom of the Bristol hannel. he Awards, which were held at a ceremony in Bristol, recognise and celebrate the achievement of regional engineers and pro ect teams. he engineering scheme involved using some of the world’s largest heavy lifting vessels. Part of the construction of the inkley Point nuclear power station in omerset, it required the final , tonne concrete structure to be towed out into the hannel, where it worked

CASH FLOAT

Future Space at UWE; RIGHT: Team Kelpi

BEST IN THE WEST everal Bristol businesses were honoured at the ech outh West Awards last month, with big wins and several commendations. elpi, which has developed technology to replace single use plastic packaging with bioplastics derived from seaweed, won five category awards the first organisation ever to do so with eil orris also winning the ech eadership Award. elpi won Best tartup, nnovation, and ustainability, along with ech ompany of the ear for companies with revenues up to m, and the ech outh West Award, which celebrates one individual or organisation from all the category winners. or me this has been an opportunity not ust to network and talk to other brilliant companies which are ourishing in the outh West, said eil orris. t’s such a fantastic place to be doing business. t’s also the embodiment of how you can bring innovation, technology and creative

with two oating heavy lift cranes the si e of football pitches to place the cooling water head structure onto the seabed a tandem sea lift which was the first operation of its kind anywhere in the world. he level of teamwork, coordination and planning was praised by the udges, who felt the pro ect e emplified the collaborative nature of modern engineering. he team behind the pro ect described the achievement of placing the heads within millimetre precision, while working in the world’s second highest tidal range, as nothing less than mind boggling .

For more: www.ice.org.uk; www.balfourbeatty.com

thinking together to address some of the world’s largest problems. And what we’ve done here in the outh West is create this ecosystem, this ability to bring these different disciplines into one place, and thereby really start to transform the world through entrepreneurship, innovation and new businesses.

Winning the upporting the ector Award was W based workspace uture pace, which provides o ces, workshops and lab space for science and tech based businesses. he hub is designed to encourage innovation, collaboration and inspiration, and supports those working in high tech areas such as robotics, digital and creative technologies, health tech and biosciences ideal for tech entrepreneurs or anyone seeking an environment in which creativity, ingenuity and collective advancement is nurtured.

Bristol based software firm hyston won the Workplace ulture Award.

For more: www.techsouthwest.co.uk

Bristol small business at loat has won , funding thanks to the ero Beautiful Business und. he company, which works to help households reduce waste by bringing packaging free groceries to their street, hopes to use the funding to e pand its reach by upgrading the oat to deliver to more customers, and by investing in technology to offer a delivery subscription. aunched earlier this year, the ero Beautiful Business und seeks to help ero’s small business customers boost their growth plans and drive future success. or more www oat oat com

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THRINGS MEETS… OPEN BIONICS THRINGS senior associate Joe Watkins meets Helder Goncalves, UK prosthetist for medical technology developers OPEN BIONICS Joe Watkins: What is the story behind Open Bionics?

Helder Goncalves: We are a Bristol-based robotics company on a mission to make 3Dprinted prosthetics beautiful, functional and more accessible.

The company was founded

by Samantha Payne MBE and Joel Gibbard MBE in 2014 and has grown with its community over the years to provide prosthetics for people born without hands, or who lose hands to accident, injury, or illness.

We are proud to have won more than 30 engineering and innovation awards, including two British Engineering Excellence awards and the global Robotics for Good Award.

The idea came from Joel’s time at university when he set out on a project to design a prosthetic arm that was accessible to everyone. This was the first step in the process that led to the creation of Open Bionics and the subsequent development of what has now become our flagship project – the Hero Arm. JW: What is the Hero Arm? HG: The Hero Arm is the world’s first medically approved 3D-printed bionic arm, and has completely changed the template for what prosthetics can do and how they are perceived since it was launched in 2018.

Made from tough nylon PA12, the Hero Arm is robust while remaining lightweight; this is really important, because an amputee has to wear the Hero Arm all day and every day. Each Hero Arm is custom-built and uses myoelectric sensors which detect underlying muscular contractions generated from specific muscle groups in the forearm. These are

then amplified and converted to intuitive and proportional bionic hand movements.

The socket that fits in the arm is 3D-printed in soft and flexible material to fit the wearer with the rest of the arm being manufactured in a matter of months.

As of this year, we are now able to provide Hero Arms to people through the NHS, which has been a massive deal for us and for our wearers as it means even more people on the waiting list can have access to this life-changing technology.

JW: Do you provide arms for all ages?

HG: We have provided arms for hundreds of adults in the UK and across the world, as well as to children as young as eight.

We have partnered with Disney and Marvel through their Techstars Accelerator, a scheme they launched to help grow small tech companies. Not only did this give us access to their knowledge and their network, but we hold the royalty-free licence that has enabled us to create covers for the Hero Arm inspired by children’s favourite movie characters.

For a young person, there’s still a stigma attached to being limb-different, but if you are a child who has an arm like Iron Man, R2-D2 or Elsa, it reframes conversations, turning their disability into a superpower!

JW: Is every arm made in Bristol?

HG: Yes, they are. We started in Bristol and we are very proud to still call it home, with every Hero Arm being designed and produced in our headquarters before being shipped out

across the world. From here we have produced arms for customers in the USA, where we have four clinics, and we are also starting to provide more for people in European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

We have also been working in Ukraine over recent months and have provided a number of Hero Arms to veterans as part of work we have been doing with their rehabilitation centres. I myself have been over there three or four times in the past year, which has been a really rewarding experience.

for amputees with over 50 terminal devices, whatever your activity – whether it’s kayaking, mountain biking, golf or going to the gym, it’s all possible.

Outside of that, our main goal is to keep a close relationship with our community as it continues to grow. We want to continue delivering products which are accessible and functional, which make a positive difference to the user.

To find out more about Open Bionics and the Hero Arm, visit www.openbionics.com. n

JW: What’s next for Open Bionics?

HG: Our mission is to provide individuals with limb differences technology which helps them reach their goals, makes daily tasks easier, and allows them to do more; but we are not stopping there. Our latest product, the Hero Flex, is an activity arm

The Paragon, Counterslip, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6BX; tel: 01225 340000; solicitors@thrings.com www.thrings.com

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

PROPERTY

WINGFIELD HOUSE Obviously, a new house isn’t just for Christmas; but just imagine this classic, historic beauty decked to the festive nines...

Words by Ursula Cole

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

PROPERTY

I

t’s impossible to view any house in December without asking the question: where would we put the Christmas tree? At Wingfield ouse you wouldn’t be short of options, although the curved bow window in the ballroom has to be a contender.

Because yes, it has a ballroom a fine, barrel vaulted one, home to a vast inglenook fireplace with an engraved rench motto over the hearth. earts have been loss, and money eagerly changed hands, over less enticing architectural riches. et’s begin, as you always should with homes of this distinction, with the history. Wingfield ouse was built as a country residence in the early th century and e panded even further during the late th.

This was a period during which the landed gentry craved not merely e tra entertaining rooms, but separate wings for children a notion likely to raise sighs of envy among Bristol parents during the hristmas holidays. n the process, what with othic revival being all the rage, Wingfield ouse acquired many later architectural features which blend in rather gorgeously with the original eorgian building. ecords from an bill of sale refer to the manor as Winkfield ouse’ quirkier, but less elegant, than its current moniker, which it probably took before World War . here were shades of Brideshead during the war, with the manor being used as a military hospital. n the s the estate was divided into four separate homes, with Wingfield ouse occupying the oldest, original section of the building. nterest piqued by the phrase othic revival’ ou’ll love the main entrance, then, with its double wooden doors set within an arch beneath tall mullioned windows, which open to an equally magnificent double height hallway paved with ork stone ags. here’s much to e plore, starting with the ft ballroom listen carefully, and you may hear the ghostly echo of string quartets and the swish of muslin frocks from Austenesque balls. Above an inglenook vast

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

PROPERTY enough to roast a hog are the arms of the 19th-century Caillard family. ff to the left of the main hallway, the ft library hall is the oldest part of the house, with oor to ceiling oak bookshelves you’ll need one of those wheely wooden steps, like Belle in Beauty and the Beast, to reach the tomes at the top. rom here you’ll step into the drawing room with its marble fireplace, cornicing, panelling and shutters. he room overlooks a terrace and gardens, from which you can step directly, anyone for tennis style, through rench windows. pstairs in the master suite, the many bespoke fi tures include othic inspired doors and a stained glass oriel window bringing Pre aphaelite vibes. Wardrobe doors open, not to arnia, but a modern shower room. here’s another bedroom, and family bathroom, on this oor, with two more bedrooms and a bathroom above. he private garden is a horticulturalist’s dream, with specimen trees and avid Austen roses ne t to a quiet terrace, a pond makes an oasis for wildlife, as does a rewilded meadow with walking paths.

Wingfield ouse offers all the charm and elegance you could wish from a classic eorgian home, yet without the upkeep of a vast rambling pile. Wonderfully rural, it’s still an easy trip to the towns of omerset and Wiltshire. f elitist HOUSE NUMBERS country club hotels are your bag, Babington ouse (which, in Guide price £1.25m fact, resembles a larger version of Receptions 2 plus large kitchen diner Wingfield ouse) is minutes Bedrooms 4 up the road, though frankly if we 3 lived here we’d probably ust stay Bath/shower rooms Grounds Beautiful landscaped home and en oy our own golden lawns, terrace, pond and greenhouse eorgian manor without all the Contact www.inigo.com visiting ondon crowds.

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

BRISTOL & CLIFTON’S PREMIER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk Canford Lane, Westbury on Trym TO LET – POA 2,508 sq ft (232.99 sq m)

Clifton Plot with planning for 3/4 bed house Fantastic ‘self build’ opportunity or to suit a developer. Sought after location in the affluent suburb of Clifton. Freehold for sale — Price Upon Application

Substantial ground floor “Class E” premises and could suit a range of uses to include gym, restaurant, office, or retail.

Eden Office Park, Pill FOR SALE – POA 1,841 – 6,110 sq ft (171 – 567 sq m)

Development Site, High Street, Westbury on Trym FOR SALE – POA Planning granted for a twostorey commercial unit. Excellent location in the centre of Westbury on Trym. A rare and unique opportunity!

3 office buildings currently occupied as one, but can be available separately or combined.

Excellent parking provision.

Westfield Park, Redland BS6 TO LET - £31,500 pax 1,110 sq ft (103 sq m)

Springfield House, BS1 TO LET - POA From 1,445 – 8,444 sq ft (134 – 784 sq m)

An attractive, self contained office which is due to be refurbished throughout. Benefitting from 6 car parking spaces.

A modern office providing bright accommodation with dual aspect outlook over Welsh Back. Secure on site car parking and bike storage.

Due to be refurbished throughout.

Portwall Lane, BS1 TO LET – 1,366 - 9,500 sq ft

Coronation Road, BS3 FOR SALE – POA 10,713 sq ft (995.26 sq m)

A Grade A office building which is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment to the highest standard, in sympathy with the historic nature of the building and with strong ESG credentials.

An impressive, detached building prominently located, providing open plan office space with excellent on-site car parking. The property could be suitable for a range of uses STP.

53 Queen Square, BS1 TO LET – POA 480 – 1,730 sq ft (44.5 – 160.7 sq m)

Whiteladies Road, Clifton TO LET – POA 772 sq ft (71.72 sq m) Fantastic ground floor unit fronting onto a busy stretch of Whiteladies Road. Fitted to a high specification and suitable for a wide range of uses (Use Class E).

An impressive office which is due to be extensively refurbished throughout and could suit a range of uses (STC).

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QUIZ

23

THE BRISTMAS LIFE FESTIVE QUIZ!

So, how well do you know the local cultural scene? This year’s quiz is brought to you, as ever, by our friends at Tangent Books; the questions have mainly been derived from Manson’s Bristol Miscellany Volume 2, with a few from other titles

1

n a new ta was introduced for the first time in Bristol. t was dubbed a ta on knowledge’ what was it really a ta on

3

2 3

ark tewart (vocals) and ohn Waddington (guitar) died in . hey were members of which seminal Bristol band formed in What famous movie star lived in halks oad, t eorge, before becoming famous

Which two members of Bananarama are from the ownend area Goldilocks and the Three Bears was written by a Bristol author. What was his name

A street in peedwell had a name first suggested as a oke, but adopted in .

What is the road’s name

8

Who was the landlord of the fictional Bristol tavern The Spyglass, and what is the name of the book he featured in

9

n

, queues formed outside Bristol useum for an e hibition by which artist

12

Who is the current artistic director of Bristol ld ic

What Bristol cultural role has been held by iles hambers, anessa isuule (pictured below) and aleb Parkin, and is currently held by at yons

n what street was Bristol’s first ever public library opened in

4 5 6 7

19 20 21

The acclaimed novels Shadow Dance ( ), Several Perceptions ( ) and Love ( ) are known as The Bristol Trilog y. Who wrote them

10 11 12

The former home of which poet still stands near t ary edcliffe hurch

Which arts academy will celebrate its th anniversary in

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Adge (King of The Wur els) utler. n which pub did Adge write the Bristol anthem, Drink Up Thy Cider?

Was it in the oronation ap in lifton, the Nova Scotia in Hotwells, the Black Horse in lapton in ordano or the oyal ak in ailsea

13

Rebecca Bond from Frampton otterell was the singer in which band that formed in Bristol in 1979 – and what was her stage name

22 in

Which Bristol poet died in the World War Battle of Arras on April

23 24 25

What is the real name of addy assive Attack

Which monarch sits astride a horse in the centre of ueen quare

he ethereal piece of music The Lark Ascending was completed at ings Weston ouse, Bristol in by which composer

20

14 15

Which Bristol artist released the 2008 album Knowle West Boy

A Bristol sea captain named Woodes ogers rescued Ale ander elkirk from a Pacific sland in . What book did it inspire

16

n ay , Apollo 10 astronaut ene ernan included a song by which local artist on a cassette tape he took into space

17

From which Bristol school was Archibald each e pelled in Who was Archibald each better known as

18

What was the name of the theatre at the back of what is now Bristol Beacon

ANSWERS 1 Newspapers 2 King Street 3 The Pop Group 4 Bob Hope 5 Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward 6 Robert Southey 7 Cheers Drive 8 Long John Silver, Treasure Island 9 Banksy 10 Thomas Chatterton 11 RWA 12 Black Horse in Clapton-inGordano 13 Vice Squad, Beki Bondage 14 Tricky 15 Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe 16 Acker Bilk, Stranger on the Shore 17 Fairfield Grammar, Cary Grant 18 Little Theatre 19 Nancy Medina 20 City Poet 21 Angela Carter 22 Isaac Rosenberg 23 Grant Marshall 24 William III 25 Ralph Vaughan Williams

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

from

Find Manson’s Bristol Miscellany 2 and many more local titles at www.bristolbooks.org and www.tangentbooks.co.uk

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