Bristol Life - Issue 350

FRIEND OR FOE?

AI: IT ONLY WANTS TO HELP US (HONEST!)

ESTUARY ACCENTS A VISIT TO DYLAN COUNTRY ONCE AND FLORAL BLOOMS WE LOVE

Beyond the pale

Have neutrals had their day? Are pastels an entry-level colour? What’s with all the bright yellows and reds? The SS24 interiors forecast, unpacked ....

This is the 350th edition of Bristol Life! We’ll allow that statement a single exclamation mark and move swiftly on.

We might have made more of a song and dance about it if we weren’t still recovering from our 20th anniversary last month. I’m all special-issue’d out, to be honest, and while landmark magazines are brilliant fun to put together, there’s only a finite number of one-o ideas you an ome up with. Or at least, I can. Especially when you’ve already done a 100th issue, a 10th anniversary issue, a 200th issue, a 250th issue, a 15th anniversary issue, a 300th issue –you get my drift. I’ve counted up the months until the next one that requires us to get out the bunting, and am relieved to dis over that ’m o the hoo for a good long while.

So, it’s back to business as usual, and ‘usual’ in April translates to a spring interiors issue. There’s one overriding message coming out of the design houses this year – bold colours and patterns are comprehensively back. That said, the choice is still wildly eclectic, and whatever your tastes and preferences there’s a supplier to cater for your every whim – unlike back in, say, the 1970s, when if you didn’t like macramé plant holders you were foundered.

Not that macramé was a major concern for the post-industrial North East communities during that era; people were a bit too preoccupied with surviving a politically forced change to their way of life. The time and place was perfectly captured by photojournalists Chris Killip and Graham Smith, whose stark blackand-white photos are now on show at Martin Parr Foundation; turn to page 44.

Speaking of threats to our way of life – I’m all about the seamless links in this column! – how about AI? Will it steal our jobs? Go rogue and hijack our spacecraft? Annihilate human life as we know it? Well, not quite yet, says expert Nigel Toon on page 78, though he does admit it’ll probably end up running the government (insert weak joke about the bar being low).

It’s always best to be on the safe side, so I’d like to go on record here as saying that I, for one, warmly welcome our AI overlords...

12 DO THE BRIGHT THING There’s nothing shy or retiring about the new SS24 trends

24 HUE GOES THERE? The trick to successful colour combinations ARTS

33 ART PAGE The play’s the Kings

34 WHAT’S ON Four pages of Bristol brilliance

44 PHOTOGRAPHY Our friends in the north

52 BRISTOL HEROES The craic was ninety

59 BOOKS resh o the shelves FOOD & DRINK

60 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS Openings, closures, everything in between

65 CAFÉ SOCIETY Doing it for the kids

66 ED’S CHOICE Bloom in love

70 GREAT ESCAPES Return to Milk Wood

77 NETWORK AI: friend or foe? Plus: fresh new propertysearch thinking from Jitty, and news from across the city

90 SHOWCASE Tiny café included in price

6 SPOTLIGHT

8 BRIZZOGRAM

73 SNAPPED! Starry nights at BOV and an Anti-Banquet at the Gate

NOT SO MUCH AN ERRATA…

... as an omission. In our interview with Inkie in our last issue we were a little gung-ho with the copy editing tool, meaning that some key people involved in the 2011 See No Evil festival were left out.

Here’s the full uncut description as written by Inkie:

“See No Evil came about from a meeting of minds between myself, Mike Bennett, Tom and Dave from Team Love, and the late Vic Ecclestone. There was a whole team who worked on this people, such as Upfest on production, Weapon of Choice on the gallery side and all the artists, musicians, club promoters who help made it the best event this city has ever seen”.

Huge respect to all.

Science

CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER

e’ll soon be able to y through spa e on e again, and twiddle the nobs on all our favourite intera tive twiddly things with repairs now ompleted following the fire of , ristol’s s ien e entre e The urious is set to reopen on uly. There’s a new programme of a tivities themed around ‘ mpossible ossible’, and a fresh han e to revisit ro e t hat f, based on uestions as ed by the people of ristol. So ome along, and find the answers to everything from the s ien e of happiness to the nature of time; ma e yourself invisible, peer into the T S and explore all of the olours of the rainbow et , et , et ... www.wethecurious.org

Animation THINGS WE LOVE

The short film Creature Comforts was many people’s first experien e of ardman. The five-minute stop-motion mo umentary, whi h mat hed laymation oo animals with a vox pop of ordinary people tal ing about their living onditions, won i ar the s ar for est nimated Short ilm in , and went on to spawn a fran hise.

The latest in the series omes in the form of six -se ond lips reated in ollaboration with the surely ardman’s spiritual home, both of them being as ritish as fish hips washed down with a ni e up of tea. n e again, the films use the uns ripted voi es of people from a ross the , this time hatting about the things they love on the telly.

The first-released films featured a age of ort Talbot hamsters who absolutely love

Fiesta (forever)

Casualty; a family of foxes from irmingham who an’t get enough of MasterChef, and a father-and-son anine duo from aisley who want to Race Across the World together. s ever, the voi es ome first, with the hoi e of animal being inspired by the voi es.

The films are being shown on ne, in inemas and on YouTube. www.aardman.com

LOW-FLYING CRAFT

You may have heard that the ristol nternational alloon iesta will be redu ed to three days this year, but did you now that for the first time in its history it will be hosting the ritish ational ot ir alloon hampionship

The ationals, whi h have been going sin e the s, will run fromugust, with around teams ompleting tas s whi h in lude dropping physi al mar ers into the shton ourt event site, o ering visitors a han e to see balloons ying unusually low. ther hallenges in lude ompleting a ‘donut’, where the pilot has to y the greatest distan e

staying within a predefined airspa e, or an ‘elbow’, where they attempt to ma e a -degree turn using the winds.

nli e the traditional iesta balloons, ompetition balloons are smaller, slimmer and nippier, bringing an ex iting new style of ying to the event.

The ompetition is open to teams from a ross the world, with the ritish winner of the ationals pi ed to y for Team allooning in the orld hampionships, meaning that some of the planet’s best balloonists ould well be putting on a show for the ristol rowd. eather permitting, needless to say. .bristolballoo fiesta.co.

A previous Championship event; note the slim shape of the balloons; BL feels that Massive Attack’s Teardrop should probably play as they ascend

SPOTLIGHT

Beat the alogorithms: follow us on instagram and tag us with your pics!

SAP RISING

Eliot reckoned that “April is the cruellest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land”. Cheer up, TS – just take a look at all those lush magnolias!

@zoe.fj

@tammytrashbags

@tammytrashbags

@madam_shark

@tammytrashbags

@madam_shark

@pshamek

@joshtakesphotos_

@ellydeakin

@cj.sceaphierde

@richimal_roams

@biankaoana

As vibrant as a Clifton Wood terrace: Farrow & Ball are embracing all things bright and beautiful this season

BEYOND THE PALE

It’s spring 2024, and colour is back, baby...

A) PATTERN UP: WHAT’S WITH ALL THE CHINTZ?

B) BRIGHT UP, BRIGHT UP: OR DO WE HAVE A CHOICE?

C) THE FEELING IS NEUTRAL: IS GREIGE EVEN STILL LEGAL?

D) COLOUR-DRENCHING: DOES MY ROOM LOOK BIG IN THIS?

For the answers to the above, and so much more, turn the page...

Words by Deri Robins

Interiors never used to be this complicated. Furnishing a living room in the 1950s? Buy a matching Ercol suite; job done. Looking for a lightshade in the 1970s? If you weren’t a fan of globe-shaped paper lanterns, you might have struggled.

Today, of course, the field is wide open. There is choice overload. We live in the most eclectic of times, and whatever your preferred vibe, whether calm, muted Scandi, cool, rigorous minimalism or exuberant, blowsy florals, sourcing piecs for the look you love is a doddle.

This, of course, is ideal for anyone with a confident design eye, who can pick and mix their way with impunity through the endless possibilities; the world is their oystercoloured damask. But how about those who feel overwhelmed when faced with so much choice? Venture timidly onto Pinterest, and you’ll fall down the rabbit hole quicker than Alice.

To help (we hope) we’ve asked a bunch of people who do this kind of thing for a living to steer us through some of the hottest trends coming through this spring and summer.

PS: You can still buy paper lantern lightshades. And Ercol.

PASTEL LA VISTA

So, you fancy taking baby steps towards colour, but not sure that a room painted in full-on primaries is for you? One word: pastels. These can be as a subtle as a barely-there brownish pink, or as full-on sugary sweet as Neopolitan ice-cream.

“Pastels come in and out of style,” admits Patrick O’Donnell of Farrow & Ball. “However, one colour that is consistently popular is gentle, earthy pink – much more fleshy in tone than the common perception of pink. This colour is most definitely your friendly

neutral, and will add warmth where needed but soften to the palest blush if drenched in full sun.”

“The trend for using pastel tones, such as dusky pinks and frosted blues continues, with these subtle hues effectively becoming new neutrals,” says Hayley McAfee of Romo. “They are now being paired with a variety of colours, from bold jewel tones to softer, classic shades. Pastels create a calm and tranquil interior while still injecting personality into the room. With such busy lives, people are looking for their spaces to be a retreat, and are choosing softer colours to reflect this.”

“With Pantone announcing Peach Fuzz as its colour of the year for 2024, soft pastels certainly aren’t going anywhere,” says Abby Fowler of Angel Interiors. “They create a calm ambience in the home, and a neutral palette to complement with bolder choices in furnishing and statement pieces.”

“A pastel palette brings a relaxing energy to a cluttered space” says Jade Farthing of Haskins Furniture. “Pastels are very versatile, so often blend with existing décor, meaning you can add different colours and create new looks with the addition of scatter cushions or a different rug. You can make pastel colours fresh in the spring and summer with neutral accessories, but use darker shades through the autumn and winter to make your home cosy.”

Finally, flooring experts Chaunceys says they’ve also noticed the rise in popularity of pastel pinks. “Playful yet subtle, these tones are a great way to brighten and gently warm up a space,” says Tim Huffadine, confirming that “they work equally well with both dark wood flooring and lighter, more neutral choices.”

Farrow & Ball (below) and Fired Earth (opposite, inset) work the ‘so subtle it’s almost a neutral’ pink, while Romo (main photo opposite) takes things up a notch

“Pastels can be as subtle as a brownishbarely-there pink, or as full-on sugary-sweet as Neopolitan ice-cream”

DO THE BRIGHT THING

So far, so subtle. Now let’s dial up the spectrum.

“We all need some joy in our life, and what better way to achieve this than injecting some colour into our interiors?”, says Patrick O’Donnell of Farrow & Ball.

“While committing to decorating a whole room in brights might feel too much, a judicious splash here and there will induce a smile but not overwhelm a space. One idea is to paint your floor; or for something more discreet, a cunning ‘home office’ neatly tucked away in a cupboard on which you can close the door makes a great backdrop for the creative in us all.”

“2024 has brought in a fresh attitude towards interiors which encourages more confidence in using bright and bold colour in our homes,” says interior designer Grace King of Studio Rey.

“Bold colours have been a feature across all areas of design, including the 2024 fashion catwalks, with the likes of Alexander McQueen and Issey Miyake embracing cobalt blue colour-blocking and Gucci featuring pops of acid green in their collections.”

“We’ve seen a noticeable shift towards using brighter and bolder colour palettes, which has been referred to as ‘dopamine decor’” says Jamie Watkins of Divine Savages. “We’re drawn to deep, bold colours, mainly nature-based shades – so it’s greens, purple and oranges currently, unique but with a hint of heritage.”

PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS

While for the past few years, ‘colour’ has mostly meant green and blue, for SS24 two rarely used primary hues are set to properly wake us up before we go-go.

“Over the past few years, red and yellow have somewhat been put out to pasture,” says Patrick O’Donnell. “It’s time to rethink how to use these colours in a more contemporary and fresh way.

“Yellow, with its energising and optimistic credentials, makes for a wonderful choice for kitchens. To prevent it becoming overwhelming, temper with a complementary neutral or off-white on your walls and other woodwork. Or, bring in a touch of sunshine by painting your window reveals in a bright yellow. This will bring a little hint of summer even on the gloomiest of days.

“Reds can also make a vibrant addition to a room, especially in shades of paprika. Experiment with a bookcase in your living room or a splash of contrast in your bathroom – for example, a claw-foot bath exterior.”

“So far, so subtle. Now let’s dial up the spectrum”

Farow & Ball’s new yellow: sunshine in a paint pot

“Lean in to the darkness with moody, rich colours to create a cosy cocooningandspace”

EMBRACE THE DARK SIDE

For drama without brightness, think dark and stormy.

Discussing her love of dark colours with Farrow & Ball recently, singer-songwriter Cerys Matthew described deep green as a ‘neutraliser’ colour evoking forests and canopies which “allows you to hide from the frantic, human-made world.” Combatting any criticisms that dark shades could appear gloomy and depressing, Cerys noted how their deepness contains a peaceful quality.

And here’s Grace King: “Colour has the ability to evoke strong emotion, and its appearance can vary dramatically depending on light levels and other colours used in the space. When working with smaller, darker spaces such as snugs there can be a temptation to use light and bright tones, but I would suggest leaning in to the darkness with moody, rich colours, combined with warm, textural textiles to create a cosy and cocooning space.”

Divine Savages Sunset Faunication wallpaper. For dramatic effect use similar colours for the woodwork – the closer the match, the stronger the impact

FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BOLD

Colour-drenching, in which the same paint colour is taken all over the space – skirting boards, architraves, even ceilings – can create a sense of depth and atmosphere

“Just as soft palettes are taking over, the same can be said for bold, colour-drenched statement rooms, particularly in smaller areas such as cloakrooms,” says Abby Fowler of Angel Interiors. “By painting the walls, ceilings and woodwork the same colour you’re creating a seamless space with no harsh lines for the eye to focus on, resulting in a deceptively larger, softerlooking room.”

And whereas once a gloss or satin effect would have been used to pick out trims, Farrow & Ball recommends using a dead flat finish on walls, metal and woodwork to create a seamless flow of colour in the same sheen level for a fully immersive experience.

But a word of caution if you happen to own a tallceilinged period home.

“Painting the walls, ceilings and woodwork all the same colour can give a lovely cocooning feel, especially in living rooms or small cloakrooms,” says Megane Leeding of Ivywell Interiors. “But in the big rooms of Bristol period homes, painting high ceilings can create an uncomfortable cavernous effect. Instead, we’re visually bringing the ceilings down, working through complementary tones – or for the more daring, wallpaper!”

Because you don’t have to stick to flat colour: “Colour drenching continues to expand into the use of wallpaper, with subtle tonal schemes rising in popularity alongside all-encompassing rich midtone spaces to create immersive and inviting interiors,” confirms Ruth Mottershead of Little Greene.

“For a pared-back approach, consider painting your woodwork in the base or background colour of your wallpaper; this will give a considered flow of colour throughout your space. For a more dynamic and contemporary approach, frame your wallpaper in the deepest or darkest colour from within the design; this will feel bolder but still deliver a cohesive and calming scheme.

“For a truly dramatic feel, paint woodwork in a contrasting colour; this is a great way of incorporating a particular colour which may feel a little overwhelming when used in a large expanse but works brilliantly as a highlight.”

“Wallpaper is a great starting point when planning a colourdrenching scheme,” agrees Jamie of Divine Savages. “Covering the walls in a bold design creates a really striking focal point. Then, as closely as you can, match the colour from the wallpaper to paint for the woodwork, floors, fireplace, ceiling or even furniture, or upholstery and soft furnishings if you’re not feeling quite brave enough to do everything. The closer the colour match, the stronger the impact.”

The cocooning effect of colourdrenching (left) and a beautiful bold blue scheme (below); Farrow & Ball

Neutrals ain’t going anywhere fast if Cox & Cox have anything to do with it

SLIP INTO NEUTRAL

So, with all the buzz around strong colours and patterns, has pale and interesting had its day?

That’s a hard no from our experts.

“There will always be a place for calming, neutral schemes, even if it no longer spans the whole home,” says Danielle Le Vaillant of Cox & Cox. ”A neutral background and classic pieces will stand the test of time, and adapt well to injections of more vivid colours, which are more trend-orientated and therefore likely to have more fleeting appeal. The real joy of neutral tones and pieces is their chameleon-like ability to sit in any setting. These neutrals can be rich with texture and encompass a breadth of tones and luxurious fabrics which are far from dull.”

use them; we are being encouraged to ‘layer’ fabrics and to be aware of creating texture and dimension.”

Of course, ‘neutral’ often goes hand-in-hand with ‘minimalism’ – “which has evolved from the perceived cold, sleek fabrics and angular shapes to beautifully organic shapes with a real focus on provenance and sustainability,” says Megane of Ivywell Interiors.

“Neutrals will always have their place,” agrees Alison Bracey of Bracey Interiors, “but I think we are more considered in how we

“The key is to invest in that one quality piece, whether a sofa with a bespoke fabric, detailed joinery, artwork or even a beautiful floor, to give a room its special quality.”

At Angel Interiors, says Abby Fowler, “We’re noticing more and more clients opting for the [Japanese-Scandinavian fusion] ‘Japandi’ style in their homes, with light natural woods and earthy hues to bring a sense of grounding and tranquillity, connecting us to nature as we spend more time online in the ever-evolving digital world.”

WALLPAPER: “I’M BACK, BABY!”

Let’s talk about the biggest, runaway trend of recent years: the triumphant revival of wallpaper.

“Summer 2024 sees the return of bold colour and pattern,” says Stefan Ormenisan of Mind the Gap. “Embracing joyful patterns and layers of colour and texture, combining florals, botanical motifs and abstract geometric patterns which work wonderfully well layered together in maximalist interiors.

“Wallpaper will deliver the greatest impact in an interior. Using a favourite wallpaper as the base for your design scheme, layer in more pattern and colour, as well as pairing with other floral or botanical prints in fabrics and accessories; the joy in maximalist interiors often lies in the combination of patterns, such as animal prints, geometrics and stripes mixed with florals and botanical designs.

“To avoid a space looking overly busy, refine your colour palette by limiting it to a level of saturation, choosing mid-

tones, brights or pastels but not mixing across these colour tones, to ensure that your maximalist interior remains stylish and cohesive.”

And while everyone has been looking back to the ’80s in recent years, according to Lust Home the ’90s were a defining time for fashion, characterised by bold experimentation and a wide range of eclectic prints from leopard to checks – a style that also translated into interiors, with people trying to emulate the same vibrancy and energy in their homes.

Even heritage brands are breaking bold – just take a look at Morris & Co’s new Bedford Park collection, says Alison Bracey. “In their words, their new collection ‘is recoloured in shades of punk and flower power. Combining the whimsical with the untamed, this is a colour-rich Morris & Co as you’ve never seen it before. Patterns and motifs leap free from their two-dimensional confines, filling homes with a dancer’s delight and dark charm.’”

Our cover star! Divine Savages’ Wild Wild Woods paper, in situ

THE MAX FACTOR

“Maximalism represents a bold and expressive approach to design which is not for the faint-hearted,” says Jamie of Divine Savages.

“It celebrates creativity and individuality, encouraging people to create spaces which are as bold and unique as they are. Maximalism to us means an eclectic mix of furniture styles, bold patterns on walls, floors and soft furnishings, and an array of decorative objects displayed on top of our vintage and upcycled furniture.”

“Creating a maximalist statement has evolved to become much more considered, moving away from the pattern clash of the past,” says Emily Mould of Romo. “Choose a hero pattern and introduce colour, print and texture around it, allowing the design to take centre stage while layers of print and colour add depth, and textural touches make a harmonious interior.”

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT CHINTZ

“We are children of the 1980s,” says Jamie Watkins, “a time when chintz saw its biggest revival to date, and so we grew up with kitsch patterned walls and bold floral carpets all around us. These floral memories now instil a heavy does of what we affectionately call ‘Nana Nostalgia’ (we even named a wallpaper collection after it).

“We like vibrant and blousy blooms which emblazon velvet cushions piled on our sofa; we illuminate darker corners with statement lampshades boasting luscious leaves and flamboyant flowers. Accessorising with florals is a simple way of brightening up any home and is inspired by Mother Nature herself.” n

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

“50 shades of grey has had its day,” says Zoe Waller of Gardiner Haskins. “Green has been popular for a while, from a classic sage to bright acid green – the rich colours of nature. Terracottas, brick reds and yellows are showing popularity, too. Peachy pinks and coastal blues are also on trend; paired with rustic woods they create a relaxed calm atmosphere –perfect for lightening a dark space.

“Navy blue is a smart choice, and pairs well with a hint of sand, or earthy brown, and I think we can expect to see the revival of buttermilk! The greige colours will still be popular for a while as they are a safe option, but maybe the use of brightly coloured accessories, wallcoverings and paint colours will bring a room to life.”

Adam and Joe of The Kitchen Den find that “Clay neutrals are starting to come through, for their warm earthy appeal and calming properties.” That said, “Stunning new primary colours are popping up to elevate spaces; antique reds add a vintage charm, with a rich and sophisticated hue that’s perfect for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

“Black exudes elegance and modernity, adding a touch of sleek sophistication, while willow green embraces tranquillity and serenity, making your kitchen a peaceful retreat.”

BATHROOMS

“After green has dominated bathrooms for the last few seasons, we’re seeing the re-emergence of pink,” says Chris Payne of Ripples. “Pink tiles are gaining in popularity, particularly on feature walls, while pink panelling is becoming very sought-after.”

And on the subject of tiles: “We’re seeing an emerging trend which adds interest through shape rather than pattern. We’re seeing the trend move to neutral tones in pentagonal, hexagonal and even triangular formats.”

Are you brave enough to enter the Divine Savages showroom?

The Kitchen Den Ripples

TAKE A WALK ON THE MILD SIDE

Sometimes it seems like colour schemes for interiors fall into two distinct camps: those which revel in punchy shades, and those which avoid them like the plague. But you can combine the two successfully, and I speak from experience – it’s what I did in my own home…

By Kirsty Lake

In this room by West Country paint specialist Atelier Ellis, just a very few small patches of bright colour – in the pictures and the flowers, the most immediately swappable elements of the room – add punch to a palate of dark, earthy neutrals. Paints here are from their Beginnings selection, a range of nine colours designed to work together, but actually, almost all of their rich, muted offerings do this to some extent; www.atelierellis.co.uk

THE BIG TIP

Always buy a small sample of the colours you’re keen on, then paint a segment of your wall – and live with it for a bit. It’s just too risky buying paint for a whole room based on a colour card alone. COAT makes it supersimple: they’ll send you a sample on a sticker, so you can just slap it in place.

INTERIORS

THE RIGHT HUE

People will tell you, quite definitively, that a particular colour does this or that to our moods, but then you come across someone who simply doesn’t feel that way. All I can offer, then, are some paints that currently make me feel good…

Sanderson’s Artichoke

P“A great heritage colour, perfect for Georgian homes, harmonious but a little bit vibrant too; it flatters almost any room.”

Farrow & Ball’s Dix Blue No.82

“Another great heritage choice, warm and greenish and with a lovely neutrality that works so nicely with blacks, greys and natural wood colours.”

Zoffany’s Aubusson

“You and I might call it a grey, they call it a bluegreen; what I know is that this colour really is a bit of me.”

Morris & Co’s Farringdon Grey

“This is another great all-rounder, the perfect base neutral, soft and cool like a pile of cashmere jumpers. It really is visual peace, always soothing but never dull.”

Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow No.66

“Really more of a mustard, definitely boasting the weirdest back story in paint (it’s named for a pigment collected from the urine of cows fed on mango leaves!), and almost guaranteed to lift your mood. Some yellows pop too much, but this has a sophistication that the eye never tires of; it works wonders in a sunny living room.”

Farrow & Ball’s Savage Ground No.213

“This goes brilliantly with the yellow just above – it’s really a stone colour, but one with a lot of yellow in it too, and I’ve used it on woodwork paired with India Yellow walls more than once.”

icking a paint colour – for your living room, for your garden gate, for your toes – can involve hours of deliberation and the occasional panic attack. Are the greenish undertones of the matte white I ordered too sickly? Will my soft grey seem overly warm in situ? And is that red the right shade for my skin? Just in time for summer renovation projects, I thought we’d look at colour – what it is, how we use it, and when to stay well away. We all have our preferred whites, we all think we know which greens are most calming, which blues most Ti anys-ad a ent. ut do we really Choice of colour goes beyond mere aesthetics. It’s subjective and divisive, a mood changer and a re e tion of both you and the way a spa e is meant to be used. Personally, I love almost all colours – in theory. ut loo at my own home and you’d doubt it. After all, it revolves around a neutral base, livened up by just a few colourful accents – because I’ve learned that I thrive best in a light, bright environment. Where I’m at my most playful is withjoinery, where I almost always use colour – in my case, a dark, grubby red (COAT’s Old Corset Factory) and what I’d call a grey-green ( o any’s ors lue . also tend to get a little more experimental with textured wall coverings, which come in just about any shade you can think of; their stripes or linen e e ts mute large slabs of olour, while giving a more interesting depth of tone. Sele ting olours is a personal a air, but never something to leave late in the project: in fact, deciding which ones make you tick from the outset is crucial. What natural materials are you using? They’ll have to work with your palate. Ditto the carpets – which often have to be ordered early, as lead times can be long. n e a olour palette is identified, you also need to think about saturation, shades and hues – which may sound a little technical, but doesn’t really mean much more than how loud you want it to be. A bold sky blue, for instance, will be too much in many situations, but makes a striking maximalist statement that some large spaces can carry. On the other hand, a more muted blue with lots of grey tones – think, perhaps, Farrow & all’s arma rey o. wor s happily anywhere.

A great starting point for many schemes is picking a ‘hero’ fabric you love that includes three or more

colours: this piece will now be available to reference throughout the process, equal parts inspiration, reassurance and warning, becoming the glue that ties a room together. If it works with your hero, it will work in the room, becomes the mantra. Voila: you almost guarantee a handsome, unified and urated composition of shades, colours and patterns.

If all this sounds a little scary, neutral wall coverings overed in subtle oloured patterns are an e e tive way to introduce colour while maintaining a simple palette as a base; this an then ow into other rooms, in ea h paired with di erent highlight olours.

The great thing about neutral interiors, with their palettes of soft, natural tones, is that they’re timeless and versatile, an aesthetic that says, “I’m above eeting trends but says it uietly. These are spaces that evoke feelings of serenity, harmony and sophisti ation all that good stu often revolving around shades of fawn, taupe or grey, though muted pastels may also serve. (They’re sometimes considered the opposite of colour, though that’s something I’d quibble with: a soft colour is still a colour, after all.)

eutral interiors adapt endlessly to in oming design styles, from the minimalist to the classic or the ontemporary, with very little e ort. They provide an elegant backdrop that allows furnishings, textures and a ents to ta e entre stage, these easy-to-swap items infusing what might otherwise be a somewhat characterless space with personality and warmth. eutrals serve as a unifying for e, e ortlessly in orporating any material and finish you an thin of; much of the fun now comes from texture and material, rather than contrasting shades. aint and wallpaper spe ialists li e ittle reene or o any o er tonal shade ranges, a great way to add variety to a neutral palette that runs through the home. Each room might share a summery green, but in the living room it’s paired with whites, in the study with browns, and in the kitchen with beiges. All read as distinct wholes, while together the house has a cohesive feel.

Kirsty Lake is Creative Director at The Curator’s House 01225 696996 www.thecuratorshouse.co.uk

CAUGHT MY EYE

Kirsty’s interiors edit for April

1. Tiles by Bert & May, £157.70 per sq metre; www.bertandmay.com

2. Cavendish table lamp by Pooky, £198 (shade an additional £78); www.pooky.com

3. Orange cup by Jessica Torne, £50; www.jessicathorne.co.uk

INTERIORS

THE LIST

Essential local suppliers and services

for your ideal home

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS

Ripples 88 Whiteladies Road www.ripplesbathrooms.com

Saltford Kitchens

439 Bath Road, Saltford www.saltfordkitchens.com

Schmidt 170-172 Whiteladies Road www.home-design.schmidt

The Kitchen Den Unit 11 & 12 Podville, Great Park Road www.thekitchenden.co.uk

BUILDING CONTRACTORS

Airsat Construction 336 Gloucester Road www.airsat.co.uk

Astra Design and Build

Unit 7&8

Northavon Business Park www.astradesignandbuild.com

Build Bristol Group www.thebuildbristolgroup.com

JAS Building www.jasbuildingservices.co.uk

Missiato Design and Build 369-373 Gloucester Road www.missiatodesignandbuild.com

Urbane Eco 15 Avon Valley Business Park www.urbane-eco.co.uk

CARPETS & FLOORING

Bristol Carpet & Flooring Various showrooms .bristolcar et oori .co.

The Carpet Barn

The Old Coachworks Unit 1A, Bath Road www.thecarpetbarn.co.uk

Chauncey’s Timber Flooring Unit 1

St Philips Trade Park, Albert Rd www.chauncey.co.uk

Silk Road Rugs

Westway Farm www.silkroad-rugs.co.uk

FURNITURE

Bo Concept

51-53 Merchant Street www.boconcept.com

Cox and Cox www.coxandcox.co.uk

Foxon & Foxon Unit 111, Central Park Trading Estate www.foxonandfoxon.co.uk

Haskins Furniture 64 High Street, Shepton Mallet www.haskinsfurniture.co.uk

HUSK

Unit D, St Vincents Trading Estate www.madebyhusk.com

Sofas and Stuff

80-82 Whiteladies Road .sofasa st .com

HOME INTERIORS

Angel Interiors

211-213 North Street www.angelinteriors.co.uk

Antichi Decori

61a High Street, Hanham www.antichidecori.co.uk

Cinema Works 33 Zetland Road www.cinemaworks.co.uk

Divine Savages

5 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath www.divinesavages.com

Farrow & Ball

16 Princess Victoria Street www.farrow-ball.com

Gardiner Haskins

Brunel Rooms, Straight Street www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk

Holloways

Lower Court, Suckley www.holloways.co.uk

IKEA

Eastgate Shopping Centre www.ikea.com

Just Shutters www.justshutters.co.uk

Neptune Whiteladies Road www.neptune.com

INTERIOR DESIGNERS

BraceyInteriors

15 Waterloo Street www.braceyinteriors.co.uk

Gemma Wright Design www.gemmawrightdesign.co.uk

Hannah Redden 3 Albion Dockside Estate www.hannahredden.co.uk

Honeycomb Interiors

BV Studio, 37 Philip Street www.honeycombinteriors.co.uk

Ivywell Interiors

www.ivywellinteriors.com

MartaRossatoInteriors www.martarossato.net

Main Interiors

384 Gloucester Road www.maininteriorshome.com

Nola Interiors

168 Gloucester Road www.nolainteriors-bristol.co.uk

Refine Property

51 Fernbank Road .refi e ro ert .com

Studio Rey Hanover Place

www.studiorey.co.uk

Stylemongers of Bristol

Spike Island

www.stylemongersofbristol.co.uk

Westworks Interiors

Beacon Tower

www.westworksinteriors.com

WINDOWS AND DOORS

RH Windows

Unit 5, Farrington Fields www.rhwindowsltd.co.uk

The Traditional Timber Window Company

Unit 4, Midsomer Enterprise Park www.sashwindowsbristol.com

Timber Windows

29 The Mall, Clifton www.timberwindows.com

Vyoo

439a Bath Road

www.vyoowindows.com

Haskins Furniture

Providing a range of window services in Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas. We supply and install Hardwood Windows and doors and specialise in transforming single glazed sash windows into double glazed heat efficient ones while retaining all traditional features. Proudly serving Bristol and Bath for more than 35 years. Our products are lovingly handmade in the UK.

Harriet Sandys

Oriental Carpets and Decorative Items from Central Asia and India

MAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND 2024

Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th & Monday 6th May 2pm to 5pm

Oriental carpets | Kilims | Rugs | Runners

Cushions | Indian cotton nightwear | Ka ans

Kantha jackets | Silver and gold jewellery

Lamps | Block print bedcovers

Carved wood chests from the North-West Frontier.

Do bring friends and family • Parking in the yard. 10% of proceeds will be donated to the charity Medical Life Lines Ukraine.

The Barn at The Manor House, West Compton, Shepton Mallet BA4 4PB

Tel: 01749 890 582 | harrietsandys@freeolamail.com

www.sandysorientalcarpets.co.uk

The

At

abelmosaics

Raising awareness of critically endangered wildlife through mosaics

Support endangered wildlife by purchasing a bespoke fine art mosaic. Emma Abel of Abelmosaics focuses on critically endangered species to highlight their struggle in life. Each feather or tuft of fur is cut with precision. Each sale generates a 10% donation to conservation charities and 10 trees will be planted through edengreenspace.co.uk

Commissions welcomed or join a workshop.

www.abelmosaics.com | eebabel@hotmail.com | 074 111 07916

THE ARTS

SNAPSHOTS OF BRISTOL’S CULTURAL LIFE

A KNIGHT AT T T T

Sir Ian McKellen could recite a Bristol Council report on pedestrianisation and make it sound riveting, so it’s always a red letter day for theatre-lovers when he rolls into town.

Ian’s spent his entire career supporting regional theatre, firmly believing that great drama should not be the sole provin e of spoiled ondoners, so it would be rude not to buy a ticket for Player Kings at Bristol Hippdodrome this July.

The play, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, is set in a divided ountry in whi h leadership is rumbling and corruption is rife. It’s not looking great for England: the heirapparent is wasting his days in the taverns of Eastcheap under the dissipated in uen e of ohn alsta , and war is on the hori on; will Prince Hal ever get his act together and acquire kingly qualities?

Sir an, of ourse, plays alsta . e ould easily dominate the stage, but this most generous of a tors always ma es room for supporting players here, Toheeb imoh and i hard oyle . e’s this year; herish him while he’s still performing live. Player Kings is at Bristol Hippodrome 3-6 July; www.atgtickets.com

WHAT’S

EXHIBITIONS

Until 30 June

CHRIS GOLLON: STUDIES FOR STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Fan of 20th- and 21st-century European art? Hop over to IAP in Monmouth, for work nor just from Chris Gollon but David Hockney, Maggi Hambling, Graham Sutherland, Terry Frost, Barbara Rae and more. ia fi eart.com

Until 21 April

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Mere days left to catch the very best nature photography in the world, at Bristol Museum. bristolm se ms.or .

Until 5 May

OLU OGUNNAIKE:

FIX YOUR FACE

site-spe ifi ommission by lu, centred on a monumental, curved wall, combining handmade board, charcoal screenprints and silt from the Avon with charred objects re overed from the fire at nderfall Yard. Typically intriguing Spike Island fare, then; s i eisla .or .

Until 12 May

THESE MAD HYBRIDS:

JOHN HOYLAND AND CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE

Ceramic sculptures by abstract painter John Hoyland RA in dialogue with a spectacular

international assembly of contemporary sculpture by other artists; at RWA, r a.or .

Until 2 June

IPE 165

r the nternational hotography Exhibition 165, to give it its full name; the world’s longest-running photography show, with a diverse range of contemporary global images; at RPS, r s.or

WE ARE WARRIORS

In Between Time revive their soundand-light installation in ed li e aves, with thousands of tiny i ering lights and the voices of 130 women and girls from Bristol aged 8-80; as you enter, add your own light to the powerful onstellation of fire ies and join the whispers, murmurs and sighs; a magnifi ent roar for a fairer, safer and more equal world. i bet ee time.co.

Until 30 June 20/20

Chris Killip and Graham Smith’s extraordinary late 20th-century photodocumentation of the post-industrial North East; at Martin Parr Foundation (see page 44); marti arrfo atio .or

SHOWS

Until 13 April

THE PASSION OF LIVING SPIT

Sadly missing the late Howard Coggins, but very much still with

Armed with previous experience of First Bus, Spiers and Boden decide to walk to Bristol

comedy partner Stu Mcloughlin and mates, the Spit takes us on a cheerfully tasteless life and the unfortunate death of the bearded, ethni ally ambiguous o spring of God, Jesus H Christ. At TFT; tobaccofactor t eatres.com

12-20 April POLLY: THE HEARTBREAK OPERA

Sharp Teeth brings us a raucous, radical adaptation of oll , John Gay’s banned sequel to e e ar s era with techno, tracksuits and palm trees as befits a show at The Wardrobe. t e ar robet eatre.com

14 April ADORABLE DORA

“Tarts and barmaids. I just took whatever came along.” It’s Rosemary Ashe’s one-woman show about national treasure Dora Bryan, whose eight-decade career took in everything from panto to Shakespeare, arr films to winning a BAFTA for aste of o e in 1961, and no, we didn’t realise those Awards were that old, either. Alma Tavern; almataver a t eatre.co.

16 April DOES HE REALLY DO MORE OF THAT...?!

Well, he does, he’s called Philip Douch, and he’s back with another set of stories, introducing us to a

man who makes matchstick models of rea o t, the surprising sexiness of cricket, and a takedown of chick-lit; Alma Tavern, almataver a t eatre.co.

16-27 April

THE LAST SHOW BEFORE WE DIE

Ell and Mary have been dead for three years, but now they’ve come back to life with one question on their minds: how do you know when it’s the end? Inspired by zombies, heartbreak and the humble cockroach, is an existential cabaret about the big things in life. nd death. t ; bristolol vic.or .

17-20 April

HEDDA

Here to There productions brings freshness to the Ibsen classic about the woman who wanted more than turn-of-the-century middle-class slo had to o er and then proceeded to lose it all. At TFT, tobaccofactor t eatres.com

18-21 April

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Birmingham Royal Ballet performs the Sir Peter Wright version; pretty traditional, then, with classic tunes and tutus and plenty of sprinkled magic, ie the kind of thing that makes small girls dream of becoming a ballerina. Bristol Hippodrome; at tic ets.com

Folk Fest

23-25 April

NASTY: BIG GIRLS BEING GROSS, MEAN & SEXY

Feminist, queer Succulent Theatre explores what it was like for two chubby girls growing up in the thigh gap-worshipping, skinnytea-peddling, cellulite-mocking dumpster fire that was the s. At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

23-27 April

COMMUNITY SERVICE

e’re ba in the s again. ne of the idland’s first la poli e o ers, and an a laimed gospel guitarist, Trevor Prince faces on i t on the streets, at wor and in church. To bring harmony to all this dis ord he must find the spirit behind the letter of the law. An emotional, uplifting theatre show full of live music and wit, set against a backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain, the Handsworth Riots, miner’s strikes and casual racism; At TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com

24 April

THE KING OF REGGAE

From a government yard in Trenchtown to Rastafarian icon: it’s the life and times of Bob Marley with lots of his hits performed live on stage at BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

24-26 April

COSI FAN TUTTE

Welsh National Opera are back at Hippodrome, dragging Mozart out of the s to the s, when four sixth formers discover that falling in love can be incredible, awkward, and complicated; atgtickets.com

27 April

DEATH IN VENICE

You’ve seen the film (probably ,

WHAT’S ON

read the book (yeah, if you say so): now hear the WNO wizards take on Britten’s opera about Mahleresque composer Gustav von Aschenbach’s doomed obsession with young Tadzio, his spiral into madness and (spoiler alert) eventual demise at the Lido; Hippodrome, atgtickets.com

HOM PRESENTS: BLACK

EXCELLENCE CABARET

A cabaret show celebrating Black and POC drag performers, blessing you with Black excellence and melination. Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk

29-30 April

THE PONDS

A black (lower-case) comedy exploring female spaces and what happens when they are threatened by the outside world, from new Bristol University theatre company Daily Bread; at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

30 April-22 June

HAMILTON

It’s here! Lin-Manuel Miranda’s award-sweeping tale of US founding father Alexander Hamilton, told through hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, arrives at the Hippodrome. atgtickets.com

COMEDY

Ongoing CLOSER EACH DAY

The drama of Succession. The grit of EastEnders. The rumpy-pumpy of Sex Education. Not remotely like The Wire; the world’s longest-running improvised comedy soap continues to bubble away amusingly at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

15-19 April

JAMES ACASTER: HECKLERS WELCOME

One of comedy’s brightest talents has written a new show. He’s very proud of it. That being said, you are allowed to ruin it. Fill your boots. At BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

19 April

SOPHIE MCCARTNEY: TIRED AND TESTED

Already guessed from the show title that Sophie’s ri ng about parenthood? Correct: from tits to nits, she charts her evolution from Noughties wild child to being with child; head to the Beacon and see if your own pelvi oor an support the LOLs. bristolbeacon.org

TOPTOBOTTOM: Iain Stirling, being Relevant at BOV; He’s not throwin’ away his shot: Hamilton at Hippodrome; Paloma’s had it with domesticity at Beacon

MC HAMMERSMITH: STRAIGHT OUTTA BROMPTON

The world’s leading freestyle rapper to emerge from the ghetto of middle-class West London can’t wait to hear your suggestions and turn them into freestyle comedy gold; Hen & Chicken; henandchicken.com

20 April INSTANT WIT

Improvised LOLs from the OGs; Alma Tav, almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

RACHEL PARRIS

The classy, clever comic is at Bristol Old Vic with new jokes and new songs; bristololdvic.org.uk

21 April

ROSIE HOLT: THAT’S POLITAINMENT

The worse the political career, the richer the comedic pickings, and Rosie’s the girl to pick; she’s at Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

24 April

ALASDAIR BECKETT-KING: NEVERMORE

A true Renaissance man, Alasdair is 500 years old. Out of the swirling maelstrom he steps, his sword of jokes, his shield of whimsy and his armour made of a third amusing thing. Cursed to return on tour, and visiting Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

25 April

TOMMY TIERNAN: TOMMEDIAN

A fun-fuelled trip through the comic imagination of one of the best comedians in the world. A madcap parade of characters, memories and ridi ulous ights of fancy. Theatrical, poetical and yes, slightly unhinged: at Bristol Beacon, bristolbeacon.org

WHAT’S ON

DANIEL O’REILLY: OUT OF CHARACTER

From losing it all and battling addiction to becoming a dad (yes, yet another male stand-up mining parenthood for LOLs) Daniel’s been on a rollercoaster and wants you to ride it; Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

27 April

SIKISA: HEAR ME OUT

Sikisa’s on her second stand-up tour; this time it’s personal, as she asks: why is it so hard to say the right things? Alma Tavern, almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

1 May

IAIN STIRLING: RELEVANT

He’s won a BAFTA, been the iconic voice of Love Island, he wrote sitcom eri , and now he’s at Bristol Old Vic; bristololdvic.org.uk

GIGS

Ongoing

BRISTOL BEACON

With daily gigs, encompassing orchestral, folk, world, indie, jazz and less easily lassifiable genres; for full shizzle see bristolbeacon.org

ST GEORGE’S BRISTOL

Classical, world, folk, talks and more, at St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

12 April

HALINA RICE

No, not a tasty snack, but the London electronic musician and AV artist renowned for her vivid, eclectic style; at Trinity. trinitybristol.org.uk

13 April

OUTER TOWN

One road (Old Market Street,to be precise). Eight venues; 50 acts: it’s Bristol’s latest independent. multivenue DJ extravaganza, showcasing garden-fresh, unprocessed up-andcoming talent; outertownfest.com

15 April

PALOMA FAITH

Are you really a female pop singer if you’re not mining your disastrous past relationships for material?

Paloma’s revealing How You Leave a Man at Beacon – a zero-tolerance barn-burner about not sticking with the monotony of domesticity.

Paloma suggests “packing your bags and driving o into the sunset, ideally accompanied by violins and a distorted guitar solo”– also ideally, one presumes, with a hefty, superstar-sized number of ps in the bank. bristolbeacon.org

TOPTOBOTTOM: Tokky Horror’s proud claim is “not making electronic music any better, just making punk music worse”; they’re at Outerverse; This time it’s personal for Sikisa at the Tavern; Tadzio down at the Lido (Venice, not Clifton), in WNO’s Death in Venice

17 April

JETHRO TULL

How long have Ian Anderson and the lads been bringing us their songs from the wood? The clue’s in the Seven Decades Tour name. At Bristol Beacon, bristolbeacon.org

JALEN NGONDA

The US East Coast singersongwriter (based in Liverpool) is one of the most captivating performers on today’s soul scene, ‘they’ say; find out if ‘they’ are right at Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk

19 April

JANE WEAVER

An English singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Jane moves from one genre to another; catch her at Trinity to find out whether it’s stomping glamrock, spaced-out funk soft R&B or all three that are currently lighting her fire; trinitybristol.org.uk

20-21 April

HAVEN’T STOPPED DANCING

Dance like nobody’s watching to your favourite soul, funk and disco tunes (with a bit of pop): “Abba collides with Saturday Night Fever in a glorious mash-up,” apparently. Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk

23 April

PORIJ

This Manc four-piece got together while studying at Royal Northern College of Music, so presumably

they can read music and everything, which is a bit like knowing that an abstract artists could draw hands if they really wanted to. Anyway, expect rave-infused highs through to delicate songwriting as they patch together club tropes and indie pop elements at Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk

25-28 April

BRISTOL NEW MUSIC

An adventurous, contemporary exploration of the city through sound, with artists visiting various venues with newly commissioned works, sonic responses to rarely used spaces, landmark concert hall programmes, club nights, gallery exhibitions and film programmes. bristolnewmusic.org

3-5 May

BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL

The Breath, Ríoghnach, Spiers and Boden, Lady Nade, Sheelanagig and other names to make folkies’ hearts beat faster; various venues, bristolfolkfestival.org

OTHER

Ongoing

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL

The year-round fest with the something-for-everyone remit continues into its 2024 season. bristolfilmfestival.com

12-21 April

LYRA

The Bristol Poetry Festival returns with ‘Futures’ and ‘Technology’ themes; readings, performances, writing workshops, slam competitions, etc etc, you know the drill. lyrafest.com

23 April

5 X 15 BRISTOL

The eclectic line-up of speakers is back, this time covering everything from mental health to birth behind bars. You’ll find them at The Station; eventbrite.co.uk

27 April

BRISTOL WINE FEST

New food and drink event alert! See page 60, eventbrite.co.uk

1-31 May

BRISTOL WALKFEST

No, don’t scroll past and pretend you haven’t seen this, because the walk fest has something to suit all ages,

interests and fitness levels (yes, even yours). bristolwalkfest.com

3-6 May

DIASPORA!

A decent way to spend the bank holiday weekend, this new arts festival aims to showcase the variety of talent within the region’s cultural communities, platforming artists from under-represented backgrounds. diverseartistsnetwork.com

16, 30 April

RAISING CARY GRANT: THE BRISTOL FOOTSTEPS OF ARCHIE LEACH

They’ve done Blackbeard, they’ve done Blood & Butchery in Bedminster and a lot more, and now Show of Strength invite you to walk the streets and visit the places that helped to form one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and style icons. showofstrength.org.uk n

LEFT: Chantel King, synthesising beauty at RPS

TOPRIGHT: Allegorical figurative masterpieces: Studies for Stations of the Cross by Chris Gollon at IAP

HASSLE-FREE LATER-LIVING IN THE HEART OF BATH

This opulent collection of 68 one and two bedroom age-exclusive apartments at BATH LEAT offer the peacefulness of a riverside community, with the perks of the city on your doorstep.

Whether downsizing, moving closer to family and friends, or simply seeking something new, at Pegasus we believe retirement signifies a new beginning. However, we understand that the process of moving home at any age can be a big undertaking, with many of our customers moving on from the large, family homes that they have lived in for many years.

We want to make that transition a little easier, which is why our age-exclusive communities provide a breadth of choice and flexibility that helps make your next chapter as hassle-free as possible.

Set on the banks of the River Avon, Pegasus Bath Leat is a stylish collection of one and two-bedroom apartments available for private purchase or rent. Designed by Claude Hooper, one of the UK’s leading interior design firms the space takes inspiration from the community’s riverside location, with tones of navy and eau di nil to make the communal areas calm and welcoming.

We feel strongly that making Bath Leat your home should be a stress-free experience, which is why we’re offering customers three exclusive options to either have stamp duty paid*, save 5 per cent off the asking price, or 50 per cent off the service charge for 10 years**.

RE-WRITING PERCEPTIONS

We want to turn perceptions of retirement on their head, and with fresh and contemporary interiors, Bath Leat embodies the aspirations of those who wish to enjoy an active and independent later-life. The homes offer both comfort and luxury, with high-quality features seamlessly set into modern kitchens and bathrooms; and balconies and terraces available on selected homes.

Like all Pegasus communities, Bath Leat is designed with wellbeing and social connection in mind, and the community offers the perfect balance of relaxing and active spaces, with a hobby room, stretch studio, sauna, foot spa, treatment room and two communal lounges. A snug provides the perfect spot to unwind and catch up with new neighbours, while the guest suites provide a welcoming place for friends and family to stay. Between the buildings, a series of beautiful, landscaped gardens bring people together to enjoy wildlife, open space and greenery.

NOT JUST A PLACE TO LIVE, BUT A LIFESTYLE

Home is more than just bricks and mortar, and it is the personal touch paired with discretion that sets our communities apart. Bath Leat has a dedicated Lifehost charged with making life a little easier, bringing residents together

“ BATH LEAT ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO ENJOY RICH AMENITIES AND EXCELLENT TRANSPORT LINKS…”

for social events and acting as a first port of call for queries and local knowledge.

Location is everything, and like each of our communities, Bath Leat allows residents to enjoy rich amenities and excellent transport links, pairing the peacefulness of a riverside community with all the perks of the spa town’s unique heritage and thriving cultural scene on their doorstep.

BOOK YOUR VISIT TODAY

With more than 50 per cent of homes already sold or reserved, now is the perfect opportunity to see what Bath Leat has to offer.

Terms and conditions apply. Offers are available on selected apartments only and will be paid on completion.*The Stamp Duty offer does not include any additional or incremental Stamp Duty payments payable by investors or those who will result in owning more than one home as a result of this purchase or any additional Stamp Duty payable by overseas purchasers. **50 per cent service charge will be discounted at the rate applicable at the point

of reservation and deducted from the completion statement. Purchasers must complete by 30 June 2024. We reserve the right to extend, reintroduce or amend any such offer as we see fit at any time.

Homes at Bath Leat start from £400,000. Rental from £2,450 pcm.

For more information or to book an appointment contact Pegasus at 01255 600 461 or email bathleat@lifestory.group www.pegasushomes.co.uk

LIFE IN BLACK

AND WHITE

During the 1970s and 1980s, two remarkable photographers captured a unique era in British history

I Thought I Saw Liz Taylor and Bob Mitchum in the Back Room of the Commercial, South Bank, Middlesbrough; 1984© Graham Smith. All photos courtesy Augusta Edwards Fine Art

IARTS

f you visited the Martin Parr-curated Island Life exhibition at Bristol Museum in 2021, some of the photos on these pages may look familiar to you. Whether you did or you didn’t, you’re in for a treat, because they’re now on show again, this time at the Martin Parr Foundation.

20/20 brings together a set of images taken in the North East of England during the late 20th century by photojournalists Chris Killip and Graham Smith. A revival of their landmark 1980s show Another Country, the exhibition assembles 20 works by each photographer, along with snapshots and ephemera, as a tribute to their enduring work and lifelong friendship.

The photographs, all in black-and-white, document areas of the North East between 1975 and 1987, a period when heavy industry was still thriving, followed by the devastation of its unforeseen collapse. Chris and Graham documented the communities whose lives had depended on the industry for centuries, whose people were facing a politically forced change to the landscape and a way of life that had been settled for generations.

The two photographers first met in the summer of at a film and photography collective in Newcastle upon Tyne. A close and lifelong friendship followed, and in 1985 they created Another Country at the Serpentine in London. In 1991, their works were shown alongside three other photographers at MoMA in New York, under the title British Photography from the Thatcher Years.

20/20, first shown in ondon in , o ers a revised uration of Another Country, which Martin Parr attended. “I can easily say it was the best photo show I had ever seen,” he says. “How great it is to have 20/20 here at the Foundation, where the magic can be experienced again.”

For Another Country, Graham and Chris opted to display their 20 images anonymously on the walls, making it unclear who had taken each photograph. In the same powerful way, their work is shown anonymously together on the walls in 20/20 – though not, you will note, on these pages. n

20/20 runs at Martin Parr Foundation until 30 June, and is free to visit; www.martinparrfoundation.org

Bennett’s Corner (‘Giro Corner’), South Bank, Middlesbrough; 1982 © Graham Smith

Who She Wanted and What She Got, Kids at the In-laws, Boxing Day, South Bank, Middlesbrough; 1982 © Graham Smith

Bever Taking in the Early Morning Sun, Skinningrove, North Yorkshire; 1982 © Chris Killip Trust / Magnum Photos

ARTS

Thirty Eight Bastard Years on the Furnace Front; Furnace Keeper, Mess Room for Number 4 and Number 5 Furnaces, Clay Lane Ironworks, South Bank, Middlesbrough; 1983© Graham Smith

Clay Lane Furnaces, South Bank, Middlesbrough; 1981 © Graham Smith

Cookie in the Snow, Lynemouth, Northumberland; 1984 © Chris Killip Trust / Magnum Photos

Crabs and People, Skinningrove, North Yorkshire; 1981 © Chris Killip Trust / Magnum Photos

ARTS

Sunday Lunchtime, Whitley Bay, Tyneside; 1977 © Chris Killip Trust / Magnum Photos

Graham (left) and Chris, Wallsend, North Tyneside; 1976 © Markéta Luskacová

A very social springtime with BLUEBIRD CARE

“S

pring is such a beautiful time of year in Bristol,” says Claire Nolan, registered manager of Bluebird Care. “But for many people, it’s a lonely time. They can see the weather changing, the sun breaking through grey skies and daffodils emerging, but they struggle to go for a stroll and enjoy it. This is why our craft sessions hold a special place in my heart.”

For over a decade, Bluebird Care has empowered Bristolians to live life on their own terms. For many people, this includes support to access the community.

“Our Easter Craft Day is a day of conversation, craft creation, delicious food, and lots of smiles. Having a special craft you’ve made yourself to take away and display in your home as a

“ WHETHER YOU’RE 18 OR 108, OUR BLUEBIRDS ARE HERE TO EMPOWER YOUR EVERY DAY ”

memory of the outing is important. It signals to our customers that they can do it; they can get out and about, they can make new friends and have new experiences. Sometimes it’s just a little bit of support that makes all the difference.”

Mrs Smith, who has regular visits from Bluebird Care, says she loves these gatherings. “I look forward to these events, as without them I wouldn’t go out much. Claire and her Bluebirds are so full of kindness.”

“For many people, their main aim is accessing the community,” says Claire. “One gentleman has been on a tour of the South West over the past several months, on outings with his carer to see the sights of our beautiful part of the country. I can assure you he is better travelled than me at this point. Whether it’s a day trip to Bath or a visit to Brighton Beach, we are proud to help Bristol residents live life to the fullest. If you can dream it, our Bluebirds can help make it happen.”

Claire is also keen to dispel the myth that they only support older members of the community. “Some young adults need kindness, compassion, encouragement, and professional support to fully access their community and their workplace. We are here to help them

EMPOWERING BRISTOLIANS

take big steps towards realising their dreams.

“One young woman we assist recently went swimming for the first time in 10 years; this has been a dream for Sally and her parents, for her to enjoy the water again. Finding the right pool and the best time to visit took some doing, but Sally’s experience was a great success. We are so proud to play a part in her growth and development.”

“Having Sally’s carer Olivia to support her is like having a professional friend,” said Sally’s parents. “Without Olivia’s help, Sally can be a prisoner in her own home. We are grateful that Bluebird Care matched Sally to her perfect person. It’s helped her achieve several fantastic milestones.”

“Our care extends far beyond what you’d expect of a CQC Outstanding provider,” says Claire. “We are here to help you live beyond your perceived limits.” Whether you’re 18 or 108, our Bluebirds are here to empower your every day.”n

IT’S EASY BEING GREEN

It was St Paddy’s Day – and in Bristol, the craic was ninety

Words and pics by Colin Moody

“This parade alone lifted the city’s happiness rating to 9.5/10 at least”

W1

hen I was asked to photograph Bristol’s largest-ever St Patrick’s Day parade, I was really keen. The West of England’s Irish community group had extended the procession this year, travelling from M Shed through to St Nick’s Market, stopping at Revolution on Baldwin Street where we find our first hero . . .

. . . that’ll be the dancers. Families sat at tables and crowded round the oor as they were treated to displays from four s hools as well as Irish musicians and folk singers.

If life in our city has a heartbeat, then come and hear these dancers as they beat out that lifeforce step by step; young kids at the edge of the dan e oor, hearing and feeling it through their bones.

Deputy Lord Mayor Paula O’Rourke said the whole thing brought “Everyone, Irish or not, together for a big celebration of what Irish people past and present have contributed to the West of England”.

2

“Excuse me, would you mind taking a photograph of us?” he asked.

To be fair, I’d been looking for a shot of people enjoying a pint of the best drink in the world, but when I saw his hair I said yes right away. Besides, he’d asked in such a pleasant way.

“You’ve got the best looking hair I’ve seen all day” I told him. I’ve always had trouble keeping my inner monologue down, and it actually helps in street photography if you can engage in a meaningful way.

“Thanks; I just really need a banging photo of me and my mum.”

I saw them later at a bar, and went over.

“I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate you letting me take this photo,” I said, showing it to him on my phone. “Turn your Bluetooth on to airdrop everyone, and you can have your own copy.”

He has that now, and I’m glad he does. He seemed to think I’d made a spe ial e ort to find him again, but told him that the ui made him easy to find. e had a laugh, and he shoo my hand and wished me well in all my photographic endeavours. Nicest bloke you could ever hope to meet.

3

Ireland has been ranked the 14th happiest country in the world. It fell one place from 13th in 2022. It’s currently cruising at 6.9 out of a possible 10.

Ah, forget that; all I know is the people here, from the young right through to the old ones, all had su h a fine appre iation for the awesome thing of being Irish by heritage, and I would go as far as to say they were able to lift, through this one parade alone, through their collective happiness, our own city’s rating to a 9.5/10 at least.

4

I know other drinks are available, but getting to the front of the bar and getting that first pint in hand before the dan ing began was ust su h good rai . rai , for those who don’t now the word, means a whole load of fun. The dan ing was good rai . The ompany was good rai . The drag ueen wiping that first reamy drop o the ’tash was definitely good rai . Sl inte.

5 ust he out the young girl in pin on the left. She’s so totally with the dan er. nd as they li ed the oor and seemed to levitate two feet lear of the hipboard, doesn’t it feel li e anything absolutely anything is possible

6 f you have to ta e o your green shamro glasses to see what you’re doing when you unfold your nation’s ag from on top of your da’s shoulders, is this not one fine moment to be had in your day e owe the rish so mu h. So many ame here and built our roads and sta ed our hospitals. e grew as a ity with their heart and sweat. nd it warms my heart ompletely so see that so many diverse rish families and friends ould all ome together and wal together li e this. There are powers in the world who would see to divide us and ma e us wea er; we all felt strong and united this St atri ’s ay.

7You stand there and heer and wave. ’ve got this whistle, and ’m gonna ma e the most of it.

This was the se ond the parade began, and you ust new it was gonna be fun all the way.

8Young fella in a hat rushes past, noti es the amera. Young fella You want to ta e my pi ture e Yes, of ourse.

Young fella That’s a big amera. here is this photo going e an put it in a maga ine, if you li e. Young fella lright then. et’s do it. This was his that moment. nd then o he went. promise is a promise.

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

“The second the parade began you knew it was gonna be fun all the way”

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EMILY & DAN ROSS STORYSMITH BOOKS

It’s April – brace yourself for a palatecleanse of a spring reading diet

In this season of freshness and renewal, we’d love to say we’re exclusively reading books about roots shooting through the thawing ground and the lengthening days, but to be honest we’ve only read one book about the garden for this issue’s olumn. n the literary world, though, freshness comes in many forms, and that’s where we really ex el. So this time around you an expe t a bra ing palatecleanse of a reading diet, packed with invigorating, forward-fa ing tomes that will gradually fill up your in reasing daylight hours. nd yes, one about gardening.

James by Percival Everett

By the time you’re reading this column we will (hopefully) already have been graced by the presence of Percival Everett in Bristol for his first-ever event. ssuming it all went well, we can heartily recommend to anyone who missed out his new novel James, an ingenious and rip-roaring re-telling of Huckleberry Finn from the perspe tive of im.

If you’re not familiar with the oeuvre of the enigmatic Everett, you might have recently heard him mentioned at the ademy wards; his novel Erasure was adapted into the s ar-winning screenplay for American Fiction t’s a long-overdue re ognition

for an author who has remained stubbornly on the fringes of mainstream acclaim, despite a deliciously eclectic series of novels (over 20, in fact) which are by turns hilarious and outrageous and strident in their dismantling of meri an ulture and so iety. Basically he’s a genius, and now everyone knows about it: just remember that we told you first.

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

We have to shout out to our bookseller Callum for relentlessly championing this extraordinary little novel ever since we had an advance copy late last year and – as usual – he was completely correct in his assessment

favourite. livia aing is one of the most relentlessly on-the-money non-fi tion writers out there, and our bookseller Holly has already torn through our copy of her new book, which explores the strangely paradoxical concept of gardens – at once wild and manicured, natural and man-made.

In The Garden Against Time, she explores the narrative histories of gardens that range from the colonial and aristocratic to the ommunal and experimental.

“In the literary world, freshness comes in forms”many

This whirlwind a ount of a fi tional boxing tournament for teenage girls is incredibly smart and dizzyingly fast-pa ed, but also somehow poignant and profound. u h like all the best novels about a sport, Headshot is simultaneously all about boxing and also not about boxing at all. You need no former knowledge or even interest in the sport to enjoy it, because the world of the novel is so fully realised that you can only imagine the writer had firsthand experien e a true snapshot into a mi ro osm.

The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing nd finally, the return of a shop

By no means a solely intellectual or heavy book, but one which gently interweaves these histories with her own gardening stories, the self- des ribed ‘tapestry’ she’s creating with di erent owers, plants, and trees; gardeners of all stripes will be gently enlightened.

We hope that, like green shoots clawing upwards for the sunlight, you are enriched by the possibilities of the season, ready to be broadened, prepared for growth and – maybe unlike the green shoots, this analogy is falling apart – encouraged to visit your local bookseller in search of further material. Visit

www.storysmithbooks.com

FOOD & DRINK

A TASTE OF BRISTOL’S FOOD SCENE

We briefly pressed pause on this section in our 20th anniversary issue. There’s a lot of catching up to do. Let’s get stuck in

¡ABIERTA!

Say ¡hola! to Condesa – Season + Taste’s new Mexican restaurant on Whiteladies Road. It’s the hottest opening of the year so far, and we don’t just mean the chilli salt in the margaritas.

Bringing the flavour and energy of Mexico City to Bristol is head chef Sean Martin, formerly of Cantina, who has, he says, developed a menu of “food which gives you dopamine”. The menu pays homage to the classics while being inspired by modern Mexican cooking; a perfect example being the queso fresco, a homemade cheese served with hot agave and preserved lime.

“Condesa has been a long-term passion project, and the menu is designed to work for both a quick bar snack and a special celebration,” says Sean.

And you know how chefs like to bang on (and on) about cool kit? “We’re all very excited to have a custom grill from Tom at Firemade,” says Sean, explaining that fire and smoke is a big focus of the cooking. Décor wise, it’s all very intimate, with candlelit booths and an open kitchen. Mezcal and tequila are naturally a major part of the offering, with a hidden den housing a range of artisan spirits. www.condesabristol.co.uk

ALL RIGHT ON THE NIGHT

Congratulations to all the organisers, chefs, artists and volunteers involved in the Anti-Banquet at Ashton Gate Stadium last month, for raising an astonishing £100,00 for the Bristol Food Fund.

The event turned the concept of a charity dinner on its head, with CEOs across the city buying tables for either local charities or team members who rarely attend such events, while the bosses helped out in the kitchen or front of house.

Working alongside the amateur volunteers (distinguishable from the black-aproned pros by their Ribena-pink pinnies) was a line-up of Bristol and national hospitality heroes headlined by Josh Eggleton and Dom Borel. Compères Jayde Adams and Joe Sims brought the LOLs, Bristol reggae singer Eva Lazarus the tunes, James Morton the jazz, while the inimitable Invisible Circus pirouetted from the ceiling and stalked around on stilts.

More pics on page 75.

www.antibanquet.co.uk

TARE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

It’s recommended in the Michelin Guide, its unshowy excellence has been valued by Bristol foodies-in-the-know since 2017 – but now Matt Hampshire’s Modern English restaurant Tare has announced it will be closing its original Cargo site this June. But it’s not all bad news; his second restaurant, Tare Bistro, occupying the desirable rooftop site in Cargo, will now receive the team’s full focus. Head over and show it some love; use it or lose it.

www.tarerestaurant.co.uk

Josh (far right) and Dom (second from right) brief staff and volunteers; (inset) Rob Stark of Kelston Sparkes

YOU’VE GOT GAIL

There’s a saying, in London, that it’s a reliable sign that a postcode is on the up-and-up when it gets a branch of Gail’s. As the bakery bread-rolls its way into Bristol, however, it’s not taking any chances; it’s heading to Regent Street, in the heart of the already, omprehensively, gentrified lifton.

Originally a small chef-led craft bakery, Gail’s is known for its sourdough bread, sweet and savoury bakes, freshly made sandwiches and house-blend spe iality o ee. The good news is that the ompany has vowed its allegiance to such South West producers as Shipton Mill, Quicke’s and biodiversity champions Wildpress. On the other hand, Bristol does like to champion independents, and it remains to be seen how welcome a 100-branch chain will be.

www.gailsbread.co.uk

Next, not just one, but two new food and drink festivals on the horizon

Feast On organiser James Haggart

Oenophiles of Bristol, rejoice, for there’s a new wine festival headed to town, hosted by experts lar e and Tom Surgey.

“For centuries, Bristol was Britain’s main wine port, so it’s a fitting pla e for The reat ristol ine est, says .

“If you’re new to wine and you have never been to a tasting, we want you there, says event manager lare ale persuasively. “Oz and Tom will point you in the direction of some top tipples to start you on the road to vinous pleasure. If you are passionate about wine, and can’t wait to share the next drop with friends, they want you to ome and find something new and ex iting. f wine is important to you, they want to show you the stu you never knew existed. It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert or an enthusiast ust grab a glass and oin in. At Paintworks on 27 April; book at www.eventbrite.co.uk

FEAST IS ON GOOD LIBATIONS

Pitching up on the Downs between 26-28 July, new foodie fest Feast On is designed to showcase the best independent chefs, producers and street-food traders from across the city, with an eclectic mix of local restaurants, cuisines and producers, family-friendly entertainment a banqueting area, artisan produce market, live music stage, cooking demos, open-fire oo ing, tal s on food sustainability, wine tastings, and a cookery school . . .

Hang on a sec; haven’t we essentially just described Valley Fest? www.feaston.co.uk

SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT

BL favourites Bank and Root are collaborating this month on a menu of veggie sharing plates which blends the cooking styles of head chefs Jack Briggs-Horan and Joe Fowler. Building on a shared enthusiasm for communal dining, quality seasonal produce and local sourcing, the menu takes its influence both from Root’s veg-led approach and Bank’s eclectic live fire cooking. It’s designed to honour the original visions of the restaurants’ founders, Josh Eggleton and Luke Hasell of Root and Dan O’Regan of Bank, while creating something entirely fresh.

The first event is at Root in Cargo on 17 April (ticketswww.rootbristol.co.uk). The second event will be at Bank in Totterdown on 1 May (tickets www.bankbristol.com).

Oz and Tom: setting you on the road to vinous pleasure

HOT PLATES

AMUSES BOUCHES

Coming soon – a trio of cafés, and a taste of the Middle East

Dareshack, the “creative studio powered by o ee is opening a se ond af on Christmas Steps. Expect a very serious attitude to the bean. @dareshack

eed a a eine fix even closer to the city centre? Also on its way is Gather is on Park Street. Apart from a tantalising instagram glimpse of the central bar, “made from walnut with a green marble countertop,” all we know is that they’ll be serving ama ing o ee, pastries and Scandinavian-inspired food in a bright, airy and beautiful space.”

@gatherbristol

Emzi on Worrall Road is poised to o er a heady mix of ‘ o ee, boo s and eats’. According to the website, “Emzi is where we combine the simple pleasures of good o ee and healthy eating with a side of fi tion whi h all sounds very lovely, as long as you don’t get raspberry am stu between the pages of your first-edition. @emzilimited

LIFE ON THE EDGIE

Hannah Egerton – Edgie to almost everybody – launched her cake and baked goods company Edgie Eats in April 2022, running local market stalls as well as online and local deliveries. Now she’s opened her first dgie ats a e Shop & Café, on North View in Westbury Park.

Hannah was a 19-year-old student when Covid struck; with university and life disrupted, she went back to her parent’s house and started to bake lockdown brownies. Birthday cake orders followed, which she fulfilled while still studying and volunteering with the NHS.

After graduating in 2022, Hannah decided to defer her place to study a masters in paramedic medicine to give her baking business a proper go.

“I’m very proud that I had the onfiden e to ta e a han e on my baking business dream,” she says. “And it’s evolved again with the opening of the café. I would encourage people to put more belief in themselves. It’s scary, but if you want it badly enough and are happy to work hard, you really can achieve anything.”

has plans for a local widowers’ club and mums’ group.

It’s been a huge success in Bath, and now Turkish restaurant Cappadocia is set to open in a big old two-storey space on Baldwin Street, serving authentic Turkish cuisine.

t’s a ulinary ourney you won’t want to miss!” they say, promising to “revolutionise your dining experience with a fusion of tantalising avours and ultural richness.”

t’s a fine line between enthusiasm and hubris, but the family restaurant’s claim to be TripAdvisor’s best restaurant in Bath does seem to be borne out by around 2,000 mostly positive reviews, so you’re allowed to feel cautiously excited.

@cappadocia_bristol

A welcoming and inclusive community hub as well as a af , dgie ats o ers a free exhibition space to local artists, hosts meet-ups for the local running club, and

“I’m thrilled that this seems to be a place in which the community already feels at home. That’s what gets me out of bed every morning,” she says.

Oh, and she’s still only 23. www.edgieeats.com

THERE’D BETTER BE A MIRROR BALL

Well, there is, as it happens.

As you’ll probably recall, the original Goldbrick House opened on Park Street in 2006. We loved its Georgian architectural bones, the warren of sexy little rooms, the opulent décor and top cocktails; the food was decent if not memorable. However, it was a challenge to keep the multi-storey venue going, and 10 years later it closed.

n ame a bran h of The lorist, who filled it to the rafters with instagrammable fake blooms – all very pretty, but clearly not enough to win over Bristol, because that too closed, back last April.

And now a new team have moved in, reviving the Goldbrick name and promising “a fun space providing a great experience at a reasonable price”. n the ground oor, The oldie drop-in bar serves continental beers; head upstairs and it gets posher. lfred’s on the first oor is a table-servi e bar with a lengthy list of Champagne and wines, along with small plates. n the se ond oor you’ll find ou ie Wonderland, a disco room with a giant glitter ball and DJs playing soul and Motown, which will also host brunches. The Coach House is available for private hire, and at the very top, new members’ club Kingsman will open in September. www.goldbrick.house

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CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

Family favourites

to relax, and a taste for excellent o ee a ompanied by tasty cakes.

Part café, part art space, Goldfinch offers a welcome to kids and wellbehaved grown-ups alike

This issue’s o ee shop of choice is oldfin h an ‘art café’, no less, perched in the heart of Westburyon-Trym, just downhill from the roundabout. It’s a bit of a family favourite. And I mean that quite literally. The Café Society crew went down one Saturday lunchtime, with three grandchildren in tow, aged from nine to 14. The place was bustling with grown-ups chilling out, and small people of all sizes and ages playing happily. All of them having a whale of a time. Don’t blame them. This place is tailor-made for families, or indeed, anyone with small children with a need

“The kids were very taken with the lipsmacking baychinos, which arrived with assorted sprinkles”

Mind, they also do a fine line in brea fast granolas, toasties, paninis and falafel bowls along with a host of healthy snacks. You get the idea. The food is healthy, nutritious, delicious and obviously appeals to kids of all ages.

ur three s o ed toasties and were particularly taken with the lipsmacking hot chocolates and babychinos, all of which arrived with assorted sprinkles in separate bowls. Great idea. Kept them busy, happily placing their decorative bits and bobs in just the right places, before drinking their masterpieces to the last drop.

No surprise, then, that the arty ui es were owing. This café prides itself on being a creative art space for kids and adults alike, and there’s a bright and airy room upstairs filled with art supplies, sunlight and, no doubt, lots of inspiration. It’s a great space, just perfect for crafty classes aimed at preschoolers, primary schoolers and teenagers. There are even candlelit yoga sessions for those who need a little bit of loosening up and calming down.

Must admit, we had a great time, grown-ups and kids alike. Stayed far longer than we

would normally be able to in a café, especially when we had so many children to keep amused. It helped that there’s a sort of wooden play area at one end of the café, obviously aimed at really little ones, but also of some interest to older ones. Our two older granddaughters spent some time inventing games to keep their younger sister happy.

If you have some kids to keep content, and fancy giving yourself a break while giving them a treat, or two, I can thoroughly recommend this place. The owners are really nice, too.

They also do birthday parties and the like in the upstairs room. When we were there, one of the owners was just setting up for a printing party. Think our grandkids would have rather stayed on for that than come back home with us, if we’d given them the option, which is probably the highest recommendation I can think of.

s it turns out, goldfin hes aren’t just beautiful birds; they also make really rather charming cafés. n

Former The Housemartins guitarist

Stan is now a journalist and travel writer; @stancullimore on instagram Google up Stan’s daily substack blog: Diary of an Urban Grandad

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BLOOMMONGERING

Spring finds us in a distin tly oral state of mind

PINK MOON CLAY EARRINGS, £22.50

Handmade by Bristol-based jeweller Alice, who has a unique, abstract style. Lightweight and comfy, too

From Mon Pote, 217a North Street; www.monpote.co.uk

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN FLORAL-INTARSIA

KNITTED MIDI DRESS, £2,390 art of Sarah urton’s final olle tion for the ueen house, with a nitted style, fitted o -theshoulder bodice and A-line midi skirt spun entirely with dar , dramati orals

From Harvey Nichols, 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

WATER BOTTLE, £16.50

Lovely limited-edition water bottle by Sass & Belle in soft peach, pink, yellow and orange, with a charmingly nostalgic ’70s-inspired design

From That Thing 45-47 Stokes Croft www.thatthing.co

YMC VEGAS SHIRT, £165 n otton seersu er with a boxy fit; we li e the fa t that the graded oral design loo s a bit like leopard print

From Maze Clothing 26-28 The Mall www.mazeclothing.co.uk

RICE MELAMIME CUPS, £6 EACH

Thought melamime is not indestructible you’d have to work really hard to break it; ideal for even the klutziest member of the family, especially when al frescoing

From Fig 1, Gaol Ferry Steps .fi .co.

STELLA MCCARTNEY FAUX LEATHER CROSS-BODY BAG, £116

Well, it says it’s for kids. But, you know…

From Harvey Nichols, 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

LARGE GLASS VASE, £72

Ideal for both an elegant display of leaves or the new spring owers

From Pod Company, 24 The Mall www.thepodcopmpany.co.uk

STINE GOYA KIANA JACKET, £270

From Grace & Mabel, 32 The Mall www.graceandmabel.co.uk

We love the semi-cropped cut and wide sleeves; we adore the metallic Impressionist wild rose pattern, and we applaud the ecoconscious recycled polyester attitude

RED CUCKOO SCARF, £24

Available both in springlike green leaves and autumnal orange. Best get both?

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SELECTED FEMME MIDI DRESS, £34 (FROM £85)

Too early for bare legs and sandals?

This is equally lovely styled with ankle boots and cosy socks

From Fox + Feather, 41 Gloucester Road www.foxandfeather.co.uk

MAYA SELWAY DIAMOND EARRINGS, £510

Set in 18ct yellow gold. “The formation of the six claw settings that run throughout this collection takes its inspiration from six petalled spring owers, su h as da odil, ro us and bluebell, says aya From Diana Porter, 33 Park Street; www.dianaporter.co.uk

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RETURN TO MILK WOOD

Travels in Dylan Thomas country

Words by Deri Robins

GREAT ESCAPES

When I was eight years old, I developed a brief but intense obsession with Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood, to the extent that I would refuse to go to sleep unless the small greenjacketed book was tucked safely under my pillow.

I almost certainly understood very little of it – as that other Welsh wizard, Richard Burton, said, “the entire thing is about religion, the idea of death and sex” – but as a child, its sing-song dialogue and surreal cast of characters opened the door to a dreamlike world that has stayed with me ever since.

It was therefore in the spirit of a pilgrimage crossed with a particularly crazed episode of Dogs Behaving Very Badly that we bundled my copy of Dylan’s Complete Works into the car, along with two rabid hounds and enough warm/cold/wet weather clothing to cope with whatever the Welsh spring decided to throw at us, and headed for the Dylan Resort near the poet’s former home in Laugharne. That’s ‘near’ as in ‘literally a stone’s throw away’; we could probably have pinged a smallish rock from our li -side lodge onto the roof of the whitewashed boat house in which Dylan lived for the last four years with his wife Caitlin. It was tempting to try, but we didn’t put it to the test.

You can rent out a lodge, or even buy one if you’re feeling ush. ugby legend lun yn ones is an owner, but don’t worry: the resort is dotted with bushes and trees to hide behind if you don’t want to get involved in a barney about Wales coming last in this year’s Six Nations.

In order to release your inner and thinner self, the spa o ers a herbal steam room, treatment rooms, themed showers, a tepidarium and infinity pools overloo ing the estuarine seas ape. all me shallow, but an infinity pool can make or break a weekend for me. There’s also a fullye uipped fitness studio. This isn’t really my sort of thing, so I’ll probably leave that one with you. I imagine you’d meet up with lun if you go early enough.

The Milk Wood Bar & Kitchen’s menu runs from fast to fancy – that is, from pizzas to the likes of pan-fried hake in a o le broth and there’s a very fine o tail menu, too.

ll the lodges ome with huge panorami windows to make the most of the sea views; some even come with hot tubs, so that you can keep a watch on the Taf estuary as the tide ebbs and ows while luxuriating in the bubbles. It’s tempting to stay put all weekend, but you really shouldn’t, because there’s so much else to see and do.

The heron-priested shore (etc)

onspira y between nature and the ational Trust has ensured that this corner of South Wales remains as unspoilt and beautiful as anywhere in the world. The former reated a awlessly beautiful oastline, in whi h mountains shelve down to grassy dunes and golden beaches, and then, as a master stroke, threw into the mix an unpredictable climate which means that the Club 18-30 hordes tend to swerve it. The Trust, meanwhile, throwing a protective arm across much of the south coast, does a fine ob of preventing too many holiday- amp carbuncles from erupting along its hilltops.

s a result, when the sun does deign to shine and this phenomenon has been known – South Wales is transformed into retro holiday heaven – pretty seaside

TRAVEL DETAILS

A stay at a Dylan Coastal Resort lodge begins at £389

Dylan Coastal Resort, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire 01994 426006 www.luxurylodges. com/dylan-coastalresort

towns, bu et-and-spade bea hes and aunty fish-andchip harbours – and you’re never more than a few miles away from the next crumbling castle. ising early on the first morning, we sipped our first cup of tea while gazing over Dylan’s ‘heron-priested shore’. We did, in fact, spot a heron, and curlews, while outside the lodge window, gorging itself on thistledown, was a bullfin h. ts beautiful red plumage was set o ni ely by a jet-black head and dainty grey waistcoat of plumules; OK, it’s basically just a sparrow in drag, but impressive nonetheless. nd hadn’t seen one for years.

We bookmarked an exploration of the town for later in the day, but first there were dogs to be wal ed at nearby lanste an ea h. eleased from the ar, they sped li e bullets across the cockle-strewn sands to the edge of the sea, where a handful of fishermen and great wheeling o s of terns were silhouetted against the silvery s y. By mid-morning, the mist had burned away to reveal a heaven of orn ower blue, and we headed ba to Laugharne.

The strangest town in Wales

Dylan described it as a strange, chaotic place, an eccentric, English-speaking outpost in the heart of Welsh Wales which formed much of the inspiration for the town of Llaregyb in Under Milk Wood; you need to read the name in reverse for the joke. It’s no less quirky today; visit during the annual Laugharne Weekend in March if you need proof. It’s lively and borderline bonkers.

The high street is a colour-washed charmer of mostly Georgian terraces, whose surprising sophistication reveals itself in a very good deli-café in the form of The Ferryman, and charming boutique hotel Browns – once Dylan’s local, where the poet guzzled, gargled and gossiped, and gave out the bar’s phone number as his own. fter a stroll up and down (it won’t ta e long , head back down to the small beach, where you can walk around the gaunt walls of the 12th century castle – because of course there’s a castle – and up to a wooded path which takes you to Dylan’s old home. Today it’s a museum, its rooms o ering a strangely tou hing, voyeuristi timecapsule of the poet’s domestic life with Caitlin.

Close by is his wooden writing hut – his ‘study, atelier, or bard’s bothy’, overlooking the view that inspired some of his most lilting poetry; as you gaze across the water to the low green hills, it’s easy to match the landscape to the verse. The oor is littered with s rewed-up paper the most painstaking of wordsmiths, Dylan often wrote over a hundred drafts of his poems. There are pencil pots on the table, a coat slung over the back of the chair, and empty beer bottles scattered about; it’s easy to fancy that he’d just popped out to Browns for a lunchtime pint.

Break for the border

If you head west you’ll soon cross the county border into Pembrokeshire. There’s Saundersfoot; a bit like St Ives, but far less rammed. Beautiful Tenby, its pastel-coloured Georgian terraces raised high above immaculate town beaches. But to really get away from it all, press on further, to Broadhaven or Barafundle Bay, where on a sunny day the sea is a startling turquoise fringed with dazzling white surf; it could pass for a remote corner of the Caribbean. Not sunny enough for basking? Pull on the wet-weather gear and head for the Wales Coast Path. It’s 870 miles long, so if that’s a bit of a push, feel free to call it a day after a few hours, after which it’s back to the Dylan Resort. Last one into the hot tub has to mix the cocktails. n

FROMTOP: Dylan called Laugharne the ‘strangest town in Wales’; Browns. his former drinking haunt; Tenby again; Barafundle Bay

CURA: TREATING SPINAL INJURY AND ARTHRITIS WITH MBST

Due to the severity and complexity of many conditions that come to my clinic, MBST isn’t always the miracle curem but in nearly every case, it improves the patients symptoms and quality of life.

WE CAN HELP.

Here at CURA, we use the latest technologies: MBST Cell Regeneration Therapy and Deep Tissue Laser Therapy to heal and repair the damaged tissues. We combine these technologies with hands-on Chiropractic and Physiotherapy to ensure your body heals itself to its maximum potential.

Regenerative treatment for:

Osteoarthritis | Back & disc problems

Bone conditions & fractures | Cartilage damage

Ligament, tendon & muscle damage | Sports & accident injuries

To talk about your treatment, contact Cura Clinical’s Director, James Scrimshaw, and be one of over 270,000* people worldwide who have been treated successfully with MBST.

I began my MBST journey having suffered years of back pain. My sister (a chiropractor) would treat me regularly to manage the symptoms, but then it got to the point where the treatment wasn’t having any lasting effect. I had a scan and was diagnosed with facet joint arthrosis in my spine. I had the treatment and it took several months for the healing to occur. By 6 months my pain had switched off, and that has been the case for the last 6 years, which is one of the many reasons why I endorse MBST to my patients.

Talk to us today

0117

959 6531

www.curaclinical.com

Angela on the other hand came to me with a very painful neck as a result of a long term whiplash leading to arthritis…

6 months following MBST treatment for cartilage and bone, she’s got full range of motion and is virtually pain free.

SNAPPED

ACROSS BRISTOL, ONE SHINDIG AT A TIME

A PERFECT 10

The musical version of David Nicholl’s novel Starter for Ten held its world première at Bristol Old Vic last month. The presence of Mel Giedroyc in the cast atttracted quite a few well-known fa es from o the box...

Charlie Parham and Emma Hall

Dawn French Author David Nicholls

Toby Marlow and Travis Alabanza

The company celebrating opening night

Photos by Paul Gillis

Cast members Natasha O’Brien, Gemma Knight Jones, Emily Lane, Miracle Chance, Eubha Akilade

Tom Rasmussen and Hatty Carman

Mary Berry and Sue Perkins

Mary Berry and Mel Giedroyc

FOOD OF LOVE

Hosted by Jayde Adams and Joe Sims, the Anti-Banquet took place at Ashton Gate on 29 February. Some of the best restauraturs in the city, supported by members of their own sta , nationally nown hefs and an army of amateur volunteers served around 700 guests, with entertainment from Invisible Circus and reggae singer Eve Lazarus. The night raised £100,000 for the Bristol Food Fund. More on page 60. www.antibanquet.co.uk

Chef Jude Kereama Chefs, hosts, waitstaff and volunteers assemble

The Bristol Beer Factory crew

Bristol singer/ songwriter Eva Lazarus Co-host Jo Sims

Jayde Adams and Josh Eggleton Team Billy Chip

Dom Borel and Deri Robins

Doug Francisco (bewigged) of Invisible Circus

FRIEND OR FOE?

Artificial Intelligence: poised to make our lives better or worse?

There’s nobody better equipped to break it down than NIGEL TOON, CEO of Graphcore, author of the new book How AI Thinks and the guest speaker at our recent EntreConf dinner at Avon Gorge Hotel

Photos by Jon Craig

There were always going to be big questions at this talk, and host Greg Ingham kicked it o with one of the biggest: so, Nigel: how does AI think?

The answer, unsurprisingly, is very complicated.

“Even with the word ‘think’ we would all ome up with di erent definitions, said igel. doesn’t ‘think’ in the way that we think; our thinking is more complex – it’s beyond what we would even describe as thin ing.

ne of the examples igel ites in his book is the complexity involved in playing tennis, which demands intelligence, the need to predict ball trajectory and assess spin in order to choose optimal shots. Interestingly, research indicates that amateurs and professionals have similar rea tion

times but professionals are better at understanding that ow, that ight of the ball, this the e e ts of the spin, what the balance is; they have better algorithms loaded to be able to return the shots to be more accurate. And the big thing is, is they do that all completely subconsciously.

lot of what your brain is doing isn’t actual conscious thought; ons ious thought is a tiny pie e of it. ost of the de isions we ma e are sub ons ious, and most of what we do is guessing. You know, we’re thinking, but we don’t have all the information and that’s the di eren e from a deterministi computer programme, where you’re learning from information.

And it’s in this subconscious realm that AI excels, leveraging vast data to make predictions akin to guessing. Current AI models such as ChatGPT predict sequences by analysing extensive linguistic and semantic data.

However, despite these capabilities, AI is still in a phase where it primarily regurgitates information rather than truly comprehending it.

Nigel compared the limited e ien y of urrent methods to the human brain. “Your brain probably has about 100 trillion parameters; the best AI is about 1.7 trillion, so we’re still quite a bit better ddressing fears of ’s future dominance, Nigel stresses its potential to augment human abilities rather than replace them. He advocates for understanding ’s limitations and leveraging it to enhance human skills, ultimately emphasising the importan e of widespread litera y to maximise its benefits for individuals and society.

In essence, AI’s role is not to supplant but empower us, fostering skill development and increasing human value through augmentation.

ts potential lies in fa ilitating better probabilistic judgments by enriching human understanding. This nuanced perspective underscores the need to harness ’s apabilities for the olle tive benefit while navigating its transformative impa t on humanity.

“When you think about how AI gets applied to problems that we can understand, we can keep it within some bounds of doing the things

“MOST OF THE DECISIONS WE MAKE ARE SUBCONSCIOUS, AND MOST OF WHAT WE DO IS GUESSING”

Greg Ingham in conversation with Nigel Toon

NIGEL TOON

that we want it to do, he says, that we an a tually then verify, be ause otherwise it will be extrapolating, and it will probably ome up with the wrong answers. So this is all to do with how we might be able to ontrol and eep it under our ontrol. ut it’s not the ma hine that’s at fault. t’s the humans.

So, why are we so fearful There’s a stri ing di eren e, after all, between the hysteria over for example, the re ent ase of the apparently photoshopped image of the rin ess of ales with the optimism felt in the s, during the spa e ra e, when new te hnology felt ex iting.

This has been happening forever, says igel. ertainly, sin e the ndustrial evolution the era of the uddites, when people were worried about ma hines repla ing them. is artifi ial. e ontrol it, we’ve made it. t’s not outside of our ontrol. ut it also goes ba , years, to

Nigel is the CEO and chairman of Graphcore, a technology business leader, entrepreneur and engineer. He sits as a non-executive director on the board of UK Research and Innovation council and has sat on the UK Prime Minister’s Business Council. He has been recognised with numerous industry awards, being ranked #1 on Business Insider’s UK Tech 100 and named as one of the ‘Top 100 entrepreneurs in the UK’ by the Financial Times

How AI Thinks is his first book. For more: www.graphcore.ai

the first person who ame ba to the ave with a wolf, and said, ’m going to tea h this wolf to help me hunt. nd somebody said, no, it’s going to ta e my ob. nd somebody else said, it’s going to eat me. They were s ared of the idea of this, but that’s where domesti ated dogs ame from.

ut if isn’t here to repla e us, but here to help us, the uestion is, how do we get our head around it and thin about how we an use it for good

ften, automation will ill obs, or partially repla e them, but in some ases it ma es our obs easier and better. eople are being retrained.

friend of mine ended up running T T, one of the big S tele om ompanies. They employed , people all a ross meri a, and they realised that a lot of those obs were going to go as they automated and hanged the way the networ s were run. ut rather than thin ing, , we’re going to get rid of all those people, and hire new people with new s ills, they said, we’re going to retrain these people. They reated their next talent for e from the people that they already had.

igel reveals that this year about new, intelligent ma hines will be finding their way to ompanies.

They’ll end up in governments, these intelligent ma hines, and eventually they will run government and be ome as intelligent as you; more intelligent than you. ver the next few years these intelligent ma hines will be in ontrol, so you better hope that you will loo after you.

e all them hildren. These hildren are intelligent ma hines.

e’re now learning how to build omputers to be more li e intelligen e, but they’re here to ma e us more intelligent.

For more about future EntreConf events and EntreConf Awards, see www.entreconf.com

Guests also heard from Dylan Samuel of private wealth managers Banque Lombard Odier & Cie SA

Pre-dinner mingling (followed by postmingling dining)

GRAHAM PATERSON

Graham is the co-founder and CEO of JITTY, an innovative app designed for browsing the property market. But in the age of Rightmove, etc, what sets Jitty apart from the pack?

First things first when, where and why was itty founded, and by whom, and what was the big idea

bout two years ago, the inspiration for itty ame from me moving home, and being frustrated with having to he ea h portal every day, says raham. too that ernel of an idea to my o-founders ames Storer and aniel ooper, and we turned that into the app we have today. e’re fully remote as a ompany, so we’re spread out a ross the south of the .

How did you finance the start-up? e wor ed on evenings and wee ends to get the idea o the ground at the very start, then went to early-stage te h investors to let us hire a team and go full-time.

And why the brand name ‘Jitty’? t ame from ames e’s from ei ester, where people refer to alleyways as ‘ itties’. e loved the idea of that, and it ame up in a session when we were thin ing about names.

We’ve read that Jitty is AI-powered, but how does this work in practice, and what advantages does it give you over conventional property search engines? reat uestion ur reads oorplans and des riptions, and loo s through photos to

understand homes. This means we an tell if a home has a garage, or an open-plan it hen or downstairs bathroom, and we an tell how big the garden is. eople an then sear h for their exa t dream homes, whi h they an’t do anywhere else.

You are clearly very design-conscious, and your home page dwells on the fresh imagery used on the site. Why is this important? e thin people deserve a sli app for browsing the property mar et. Spotify, nstagram, Ti To are all smooth and beautiful experien es, but property is still lun y. e want to reate something that ma es browsing fun.

We also learn that you make properties more ‘searchable’ than, eg, Rightmove –how does this work?

ith other property websites, you an only really sear h by bedroom ount, pri e, and lo ation. e let people sear h very spe ifi ally if you only want to see freehold homes with a large ba garden, or o -road par ing, a downstairs loo, a home o e, or at least three loos, and minimum rating of ‘ ’, then we’ll show you those homes.

Is Jitty designed for both commercial and domestic property?

ust for homes to live in for now. ’m sure we’ll get to ommer ial at some point.

“WE’VE GONE FROM THREE CO-FOUNDERS ONLY, TO A TEAM OF SIX. WE’VE HIRED SOME EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED AND FUN PEOPLE”

You don’t charge agent’s fees upfront – is this unusual in this market?

t’s very unusual for property, but it’s very normal for the internet. t the end of the day, a home listing is ust pixels on a s reen. YouTube doesn’t harge ontent reators, nor does Twitter, Ti To , or Spotify. So we don’t want to either.

How do you help agents reach new buyers?

e’re helping them to rea h what they all ‘preferential buyers and sellers’. These are people who haven’t de ided to move yet, but would do it for the right home. y helping people to find their perfe t homes, we’ll help estate agents attra t them.

Which cities have you launched in to date, and why have you chosen Bristol as your latest location?

e’re urrently live in ath and ristol. ristol is full of beautiful homes, and there’s so mu h variety a ross the ity that it was a natural next step for us. love browsing ristol properties my personal favourite is liftonwood res ent.

What’s the five-year plan – where would you like to see Jitty in 2029?

thin itty will be live in every ontinent, whi h means you an sear h for holiday homes and explore the world without leaving your sofa. e’ll also over rentals by then, and maybe some ommer ial, too.

How has the company grown since the earliest days?

e’ve gone from three o-founders only, to a team of six. e’ve hired some ex eptionally talented and fun people, whi h ma es wor ing entirely on oom a lot more fun.

How do you market the company?

e a tually don’t do mu h mar eting, and ’m not sure we will. e’ve been growing through word of mouth, and by people sharing homes with their friends. e’re really fo using on building the best app we an, so that our users an be ome our mar eting team

Jitty is now live across Bristol and Bath, and is available to download from the app stores. For more information visit www.jitty.com.

GRAHAM PATERSON, Jitty

IT’S EASIER BEING GREEN

Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership has launched a new partnership with Bristol City Centre BID to deliver free climate support to organisations in the area, helping businesses to achieve their sustainability goals.

Since 2021, the Climate Action rogramme has been helping lo al firms and organisations to design and implement responses to the climate and nature crises. The initiative is supported by at est Group and Bristol City Council to help organisations across Bristol and the wider region to reduce their carbon emissions .

Sin e ed li e Temple oined the programme a year ago, a tailored programme of events and resources has enabled many businesses to access expertise in tackling issues relating to climate and nature, to better their chances of reaching their goals.

Building on this success, Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership is now looking to engage more businesses in the Bristol City Centre BID area, which is already home to several members of the Climate Leaders Group –organisations with a stated aim and plan in place to achieve net zero by 2030 – including Bristol Beacon, Bristol City Council, Bristol Old Vic, JLL, Triodos, University Hospitals ristol and eston S oundation Trust, University of Bristol, University of est of ngland, atershed and e The Curious.

“The Climate Action Programme o ers free pra ti al support to help businesses realise their climate ambitions, no matter the stage of their journey,” said Bex Shreeve, engagement o er at the Partnership.

“Through our collaboration, a programme of events and resources will be tailored to meet the needs of organisations in the Bristol City Centre BID area.” For more: www.bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk

CREATIVE CITY

Taking place in Bristol on 23-24 April, The Creative Cities Convention has unveiled its speakers and panels, including keynote Thangam Debbonaire, for ristol est Shadow Se retary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Thangam will give insights into her plans for the screen sector outside London at a challenging time for the industry.

Among many other talks, Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, and Bristol’s mayor Marvin Rees will o er valuable perspe tives on the opportunities and challenges of spearheading production growth beyond London, as well as discussing Channel 4’s ast orward strategy.

“The Creative Cities Convention in Bristol this year is a testament to the thriving creative landscape here and I am excited to see the industry leaders and innovators who will gather here to shape the future of our creative sector,” said Marvin.

BRIGHT SPARKS

Nominations are currently open for this year’s SPARKies, the pioneering awards rewarding the most talented individuals, produ ts and firms in the est of England’s tech sector.

The 17 categories range from the best start-ups to designs, hardware, company culture and more. The ceremony, which alternates annually between Bristol and Bath, returns to Bristol on 11 July, and will be held at new cultural and community venue entral arehouse in St ude’s.

“As we delve into discussions on driving production growth beyond London, exploring the collaborative spirit shaping the digital landscape and navigating the challenges and opportunities in the evolving industry, ristol rea rms its position as a hub for innovation and creativity.”

The cast of BBC comedy-drama The Outlaws will join Kenton Allen, CEO of Big Talk Productions, in an exclusive behind-the-scenes session, providing insights into the filming of Season Three in and around Bristol, while some of the country’s biggest specialist factual producers will debate the future of landmark TV.

y orld, a million resear h pro e t in the est of ngland, is a partner at this year’s event and will help delegates explore the potential impact of AI and creative technologies on the creative industries. For more www.creativecitiesconvention.com

recruitment app Cajigo

In 2023 Bristol’s tech talent bagged 14 of the 17 gongs, with wins for the likes of mentoring and

won the Totally Killing It award, and Bristol Braille Technology CIC, which won the simply named ‘Good’ category. For more www.sparkies.techspark.co

(above), who

Thangam Debbonaire: keynote speaker at The Creative Cities Convention this month

Bex Shreve

CITY TO SEA

City to Sea, a campaigning organisation which aims to stop plastic pollution, has received new lending from sustainable ban Triodos. The finan e, in ollaboration with grant and donation funding, will allow the organisation to continue to expand its campaigning and education work.

The two Bristol-based organisations were both founded with the aim of tackling social and environmental issues. City to Sea, which was established as a community interest company in 2016, works with communities, businesses, and activists to provide practical solutions to the problem of single-use plastic. It has campaigned across areas including water refills and disposable o ee ups, and has brought about signifi ant legislative bans on items su h as otton buds, cutlery and polystyrene.

Triodos Bank UK has a 25-year history of lending to organisations working for positive social and environmental change. It was named Charities’ Bank of the Year at the Charity Times Awards 2023. For more www.citytosea.org.uk

SAVING JACOBS WELLS

Originally built in 1889 to serve the working poor, and the site of a dance studio in the 1990s, the Grade-II Jacobs Wells Baths in Hotwells will receive a grant of £56,895 from Historic England for emergency repairs.

The Baths faced an uncertain future until Trinity Community Arts and Hotwells & Harbourside Community Association launched a joint campaign to save the space and reinstate it as an arts hub, which was listed as ‘at risk’ by SAVE Britain’s Heritage in June 2023. The vision is to bring the building back into use by 2025 as a home for dance and community activity and to continue renovation plans.

Trinity has already secured £1m from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Community Ownership Fund, and £400,000 in match funding from local trusts including Nisbet Trust, the John James Foundation and other funders keen to support re overy e orts.

To donate: www.fundsurfer.com/crowdfund/jacobs-wells-baths

BRISTOL’S GEM

Much-loved Park Street jeweller Diana Porter has recently become an employee-owned business – and to celebrate the transition, everyone from front of house to the marketing team has been given the opportunity to create a design for the collection.

The collection is called ‘Collaboration’, and each ring cultivates Diana’s signature textures and shapes, honouring the brand’s heritage while adding a contemporary ourish. ull of one-of-akind treasures, all made from Fairtrade gold, the collection showcases a diverse array diamonds and gemstones, perfectly suited for alternative brides and jewellery collectors alike. For more www.dianaporter.co.uk

City to Sea team day

(L-R) Project architect Corinne Fitzpatrick with Juliette Butler of Historic England INSET: The City to Sea refill cup scheme is designed to prevent the waste of 250,000 single-use cups

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE

NEW APPOINTMENTS

ristol law firm AMD Solicitors has announ ed the appointment of aura il inson and ebe a saa as new dire tors to its expanding board. The promotions re e t ’s ambitious growth strategy and reinfor es the firm’s ontinued emphasis on delivering ex eptional servi e for lients. aura and ebe a are both spe ialist residential property soli itors who bring a wealth of property experien e to the board. www.amdsolicitors.com

St George’s Bristol is to appoint rofessor Sue igby as its new hair. Sue ta es over from en eald who has held the post sin e pril , and has been a trustee sin e . en is founder of ristol-based digital media ompany Sift, and previously haired ristol ound.

want to pay personal tribute to en and his ama ing leadership as hair, said Samir Savant, of St eorge’s ristol. Sin e oining St eorge’s in late , have valued en’s vital guidan e and insights, and the expert support he gave the organisation through the hallenges of the pandemi . e have a reinvigorated board of trustees, and loo to the future with onfiden e.

am ex ited that Sue igby will be our new hair, bringing experien e from many di erent roles, parti ularly in the field of higher edu ation, where we are een to develop our wor with existing and new partners in the region. www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Aerospace Bristol has announ ed the appointment of four new trustees to its harity board, plus a new hair of the ristol ero olle tion Trading oard. The four new trustees oining the ristol ero olle tion Trust board are eter hivers, a hael orver, a illiams and obert Yeandle; the new hair of the ristol ero olle tion Trading oard is loyd ughes. www.aerospacebristol.org

Loungers, the rapidly expanding ristol af bar group, has appointed Stephen arshall as its new . Stephen has extensive experien e as a hief finan ial o er and in all aspe ts of finan e, T, pro urement and pro e t management. www.loungers.co.uk

HOORAY, HOORAY: IT’S FINALLY UNDERWAY

Good news for Bristol’s gig-fans; preparatory work has finally begun on ristol’s long-awaited, mu h vaunted, , - apa ity YT arena.

The transformation of the raba on angars into the ’s fourth-largest indoor arena (also the only indoor one of its ind has been delayed due to ovid- and onstru tion industry-related problems, and the revised date for a potential opening is now late .

The initial phase has been the de ontamination of the site by mega nvironmental Servi es; next up will be the demolition of non-essential stru tures before the main onstru tion an begin. YT onstru tion , a ompany with experien e in a wide range of se tors from energy to water, rail and property development, is in harge of the build.

e’re pleased with the progress and are pushing forward, albeit slower than originally planned, says YT rena ristol’s ndrew illingham. anding over the hangars to mega represents a pivotal milestone. e have ta led hallenges

DATES FOR THE DIARY

Property Symposium 16 April; www.bristolproperty awards.co.uk

head-on, ma ing ru ial de isions to expedite the opening while ensuring we deliver one of the premier arenas in urope. n e main onstru tion has started, we estimate it being a two-and-a-halfyear build programme.

t is well-do umented that onstru tion ompanies are fa ing di ulties, and with the international experien e the YT roup has in onstru tion and pro e t-management, it’s a logi al step for us to ontrol the whole pro ess through to operation.

The arena will be ele tri , ma ing it one of the first venues in the to operate without the use of fossil fuels. or involved in reating the arena is estimated to provide obs and boost the region’s tourism e onomy by m a year.

YT rena will be operated predominantly as a musi venue, with approximately of programming being on erts.

For more www.ytlarenabristol.co.uk

Network lunch with Sean Clarke of Aardman Animations; 29 April www.tickets.matterpay.com

EntreConf 19-20 June www.entreconf.com

EntreConf Awards 26 September www.entreconf.com

Bristol Property Awards 29 November; www. bristolpropertyawards.co.uk

FRESH THINKING OVER A FINE LUNCH

Unique social business occasion: live interview with Sean Clarke, from world famous, Academy award winning, Aardman Animations.

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

JOIN US Monday

29 April from 12pm

Sponsored by:

If you would like to get involved, email holly.glover@mediaclash.co.uk

THRINGS MEETS… TALK CLUB

THRINGS recruitment lead Dan St Quintin meets Ben Akers and Gavin Thorpe, CEOs of men’s mental fitness charity TALK CLUB

Dan St Quintin: What is Talk Club and what is its story?

Ben Akers: We are a charity founded in Bristol in 2019 to support men with their mental fitness through our clubs that provide a safe space for them to talk and to listen.

Gavin and I first met in 2017 when he provided music for a film I’d created in honour of my childhood best friend Steve, whose unseen mental health issues tragically caused him to take his own life. We talked about what else we could be doing to help and, having taken inspiration from some of the great things going on across the country, we created Talk Club.

Gavin Thorpe: Not long after we set up Talk Club, Miles, the brother of a very close friend of mine, died by suicide, which brought the issue home for me. Since then, we have been doing everything we can to help raise the profile of men’s mental fitness in Steve and Miles’ memory and to tackle the stigma of being too harsh to talk in whatever way we can. We are truly grateful to have had the support of Miles’ family in this quest. Our mantra is to ask: “How are you? Out of 10?”. Just asking someone how they are alone can elicit a passive response but putting it into a scale gives people pause to think and evaluate their state of mind.

DSQ: Men’s mental health has come to the fore in recent years. What, in your view, makes charities like Talk Club so important?

BA: It is a terrible statistic, but statistically, suicide is the most likely thing to kill men under the age of 50. A man takes his own life every 90 minutes in the UK – people who seem fine on the outside but are suffering on the inside and don’t feel comfortable or strong enough to share their pain. Raising the profile of mental health services and giving men the environment to allow themselves to share their vulnerability is a vital first step to helping men. Another tragic statistic is that 40% of men will not talk to anyone about their mental health. We aim to provide preventative support to help men stay mentally fit and give them a place in a supportive community.

The tools charities like Talk Club provide are also important because, while the community approach can give support, the “out of 10” mindset gives individuals the awareness to monitor themselves and take responsibility. If someone is aware that they are having a bad day, they can be truthful about that with themselves and be mindful about what they can do to help themselves.

DSQ: How has the charity grown over the past five years?

GT: There has been a real awakening to the importance of mental fitness in men in recent years, and this realisation has helped us have a positive impact on a broader scale. We now have over 100 Talk Clubs worldwide, mainly in the UK and affiliated clubs in Australia, Dubai and Singapore. We have also branched out to provide

additional services to the clubs. This includes Talk Club Therapy, in which groups are supported by a fully qualified therapist over an eight-week course; Talk and Exercise, where groups engage in volunteer-run physical activity – anything from running and football to yoga – and most recently, Talk Club Business Support, which offers tailored mental health training for businesses.

DSQ: How have you expanded the reach of Talk Club?

BA: We are delighted to have worked with several local businesses in Bristol to help spread our message, including Wogan Coffee, who support us through their “Talk Club Ten” coffee and Bristol Beer Factory, where we held our very first Talk Club, and with whom we partnered to create their non-alcoholic IPA Clear Head. We are also privileged to have earned the support of a wide range of ambassadors since we started, all through wildly different and remarkable circumstances. Among these are

the rock star Liam Gallagher and world heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, who have recorded songs to raise funds for Talk Club.

DSQ: What’s next?

GT: We continue to train more people to start more clubs nationwide and see where we can add value to what we already do. Our focus is to help other Steves and Mileses in whatever way we can and help anyone we can to improve their mental fitness, however many or few, which will be a victory.

To find out more about Talk Club, visit talkclub.org and follow @TalkClubcharity n

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

LANCASTER ROAD

So much more than a lovely home, this edfield end-of-terrace comes with its own adjacent café

Words by Ursula Cole

Having crushed at length over the fresh new spring colours and patterns emerging in interiors (see page 12, we absolutely had to choose this vibrant home for our Showcase this issue.

Not that the owners of an aster Street in edfield needed an invitation from the SS24 style gurus. They’re way ahead of the pa , with an interiors ethos that o ers a masterclass in how to mix bold colours with eclectic furniture, blending them into a coherent whole. Their charming redbrick terrace house is now for sale, and while few home-buyers will base their purchasing decisions on whether or not a living room is painted in Farrow & ball’s Arsenic Green, or has an abundance of trailing ferns, there’s an unusual USP which sets this one apart: included in the asking price is a small café.

Proudly proclaiming its bijou size in its name, ‘3ft6’ has made waves both in the local community and nationwide (worldwide, even) with many customers to Bristol wishing to check out what’s thought to be the smallest bricks-and mortar café in the country.

Obviously, the tiny space could be out to a myriad uses – it’s been a garage and art studio in its time, and could easily become one again – but if the idea of running a café appeals, it’s worth

mentioning that from a finan ial perspe tive ft has a impressive turnover even on a trading wee of ust hours; it’s fully li en ed, with re ent planning onsent and lots of potential for expansion to ma e this mi ro af not so mi ro. nd, needless to say, there are no punitive rents to for out for.

an aster Street is found in a favourite orner of edfield, on the borders of hitehall, and St eorge an area that’s be ome hugely popular with young professionals in re ent years due to its proximity to green spa es su h as St eorge’s ar , and etham ar at the end of the road, whi h allows you to easily es ape to the ountryside; indeed, you an wal along the river all the way to ath. t feels remar ably uiet for a post ode so lose to the ity entre.

ot that you need to venture into entral ristol for your daily needs; hur h oad is full of independent shops, af s, pubs and restaurants, among whi h tiny ft is a mu h-loved staple in the ommunity.

The house itself has been beautifully renovated. n the ground oor, the living room is set up as a home inema with a built in spea er system, while towards the ba of the house the it hen dining room is warmed by a log burner and sun that streams in through bifold glass doors whi h open onto the south-westerly fa ing garden a mature oasis with its own mi ro- limate. The fa t that

“Even though the café is tinysuperit’s had such a positive impact”

the house is an end-of-terra e also ma es the garden feel unusually private.

The first oor has painted wooden ooring throughout. There’s a double bedroom at the ba and a sunny sitting room bedroom at the front; there’s a harming bathroom on this oor too. The master bedroom is up in the loft-li e se ond oor, whi h has masses of storage; two s ylights ood the room with natural sunlight.

This house has been my home for nearly years, says the urrent owner. Staying in the one pla e spea s volumes about a pla e. veryone is always made to feel wel ome here, but without being in ea h other’s business. uring lo down built ft , and we opened in . ven though it’s tiny, it’s had su h a positive impa t on the neighbourhood and be ome an essential so ial spa e.

Your own af , right next door t ta es wor ing from home to a whole new level.

HOUSE NUMBERS

Guide price

£475k

Receptions 1/2, plus spacious kitchen/diner Bedrooms 2/3

What else?

Utility room; south-westfacing garden; commercially operating café

Call my agent: Boardwalk, Henleaze House, 13 Harbury Road; 0117 989 8222; www. boardwalkpropertyco.com

BRISTOL LIVES

ELLY DEAKIN

Meet the photographer and content creator lighting up Instagram with her wonderful images of Bristol interiors

Elly is a commercial interior designer and co-creator of Instagram account Inside Bristol. If a particularly lovely restaurant or café shot catches your eye, it’s a good chance it will have been shot by Elly…

Who or what first inspired you to pick up a camera?

I grew a love for photography when my dad bought a digital SLR camera in 2007. I would always borrow it for taking photos, which led to me eventually buying my own.

What first sparked your interest in capturing beautiful interiors?

I studied A-Level photography and fine art, and a lot of my course work was based on architecture and interiors. It became a passion of mine, and I would always seek out these sorts of shots on my travels.

What is it about Bristol shops, cafés and restaurants that inspires you?

There are so many independents in Bristol, so every interior is unique with its own personality, which I love to capture through my photography.

How did this lead to you setting up Inside Bristol?

I started to accumulate a lot of interior shots of all the di erent shops, cafés and restaurants I visited in Bristol, and I wanted to make a page to feature them all in one place. The name ‘Inside Bristol’ was a bit of a eureka moment when I was trying to fall asleep one night! I set up the page in 2017 and it grew rapidly over lockdown.

y friend oe Sutton ( oe.f co-runs the page with me and it’s lovely collaborating with someone who shares the same passion for taking photos of interiors, as well as enjoying the press events together.

“Creativity in Bristol forms a tight community spirit which we thrive on”

What does Inside Bristol set out to do?

Inside Bristol showcases all the wonderful interiors in Bristol, from o ee shops to athedrals, giving people a curated guide to our beautiful city.

In a piece on Bristol for CN Traveller you wrote “the locals worship the city” – why do you think Bristol inspires such fierce love?

I think our love for Bristol stems from our ama ing independent businesses, as well as the music scene here. I feel like a lot of people are proud to be Bristolian because of what has come out of our city and what it continues to create. This creativity forms such a tight community spirit, which we thrive on.

Share a few favourite corners of the city

Areas I frequently snap are Clifton Village, Clifton Wood, Kingsdown and Montpelier. I love the Georgian and Victorian architecture in these areas as well as the ample choice of places to eat and drink.

…and some favourite interiors

A slightly biased response, but probably some of the interiors that the agency I work for –Simple Simon Creative Spaces –has designed. These include Kal Dosa, Nutmeg Street Kitchen, The Metropolitan and Mokoko in Box Maker’s Yard. I’m also a big fan of Mercy Mercy Mercy in Clifton Village and The Bristol Loaf in Bedminster. I’m a sucker for a plant-filled interior

Where did you grow up?

I’m a born-and-bred Bristolian and grew up in enlea e and

Westbury-on-Trym. I went to uni in Brighton, but Bristol’s unrivalled creative scene brought me back. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

Where do you live now, and what’s great about it?

I now live in Kingsdown, which is a really stunning spot for shops, cafés and restaurants. My closest high streets are Cotham Hill and Whiteladies Road, which is full of nice foodie places such as , ne o ee ouse, o ee eer, ravas, a o, Bosco, and The Metropolitan, to name just a few.

What’s your favourite Bristol annual event?

Forwards Festival on the Downs – a fairly new music festival in Bristol but such a great vibe –we’re lucky to have the Downs to host these kind of events.

Do you have any secret skills?

I’m quite good at playing pool and bowling – I love a pub sport!

Guilty pleasure?

I’ve got a real sweet tooth – I’m a sucker for anything with chocolate in. I also love watching the reality TV show Selling Sunset, mainly to have a nosey look at all the LA pads.

Describe yourself in three words

Creative, friendly and passionate

What would your superpower be?

I think it would be teleportation, so I could travel to wherever I wanted to take all the photos I dreamed possible.

Check out Elly’s work at @ellydeakin @insidebristol