Bristol Life – Issue 356 by MediaClash

BRAVE ART

This issue picks up in mid-August and flings us into early September. I should probably interject something here about the end of summer and the advent of autumn, maybe adding a wry observation about the lack of sun this year, etc, but there’s a fine line between being topical and stating the obvious, so let’s just take the change in the seasons as expected and move on.

Specifically, let’s move on to Bristol pride; pride in a city, and its people. National pride has always seemed a bit strange to me – I’m not even sure what it means to be ‘proud to be British’. But when thousands of Bristolians decide to leave their homes, with little thought for their own safety, to defend their fellow citizens against the threatened violence of a mob; when their voices carry the day, and their peaceful counter-protest turns into a jubilant street party, then I think, yes, it’s permissible to feel a little bit proud. Incidentally, I don’t happen to think it’s a coincidence that Bristol has just been voted the kindest city in the UK in the Movement for Good Awards.

Of course, it wasn’t just Bristol that said no to racism that night; there were similar scenes in London and Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle, Brighton and Belfast. Maybe a bit of national pride is permissible after all? Either way, what took place in Old Market on 7 August felt like a good deed in a naughty world, so let’s celebrate it. Having strayed wildly off message, I now, rather guiltily, have to cram the précis of our new issue into the bottom third of this column. We’ve got art in galleries, and Forwards on the Downs – the last outdoor festival of the Bristol summer. We’ve got Harbourfest Heroes. We have sexy office hubs, sleek interiors, lovely things to shop and eat, and a proper Grand Design of a home to gawp at. We have the return of the Pasta Loco linguini carbonara, people!

Best of all, we’ve got Bristol – a city for all people, and all seasons. Sure, less of the wet stuff might have been nice this summer, but on the whole, would you rather be anywhere else?

Are live gigs bad for the planet? Not necessarily, according to Massive Attack – and they’re proving the point on the Downs this month

DERI ROBINS

Bristol Life editor

@BristolLifeMag

Issue 356 / Late summer 2024

ON THE COVER

The House that Jack Built by Donald Rodney at Spike Island; see Art feature page 12

ARTS

11 ARTS INTRO Trip the hop fantastic up on the Downs

12 ART It’s the ideal time of year to visit a gallery

20 MUSIC Forwards thinking

24 BRISTOL HEROES Moments from the Harbourfest

28 WHAT’S ON The dog days of summer

44 BOOKS The little guide to Bristol you never knew you wanted

FOOD & DRINK

34 RESTAURANT Pazzo Loco (well, kind of)

40 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Tasty bites

43 CAFÉ SOCIETY Don’t judge a book by its cover SHOPPING

50 ED’S CHOICE Simply Med 52 INTERIORS The joy of bespoke

56 OFFICES Co-working is sexy 66 BUSINESS ADVICE Round table ponderings

74 SHOWCASE All the fun of a Grand Design without the mud, sweat and tears

REGULARS

6 SPOTLIGHT Zombies down Cheddar 9

RESTORATION DRAMA

Is there a more romantic cause than fighting to restore and reopen a hidden, historic cinema? Not according to the Save edfield inema group, which hopes to bring the Art Deco venue back to life. he cinema first opened in as St George’s Hall Electric Palace; years later it was renamed St George’s Picture House, then he Granada in 1935. In the 1960s, like many other cinemas, it became a bingo hall. In a final ignominious fall from grace, the foyer became a Wetherspoons in 1998.

Before the launch of the Save edfield Cinema campaign in 2021, few people realised it was even there, tucked away at the top of St George’s Hall on hurch Road. It was reported to be largely intact.

The original Art Deco frieze still ran over the ceiling, the balcony seating remained, and there was a large open space in front of the screen for the former organist and stalls.

Despite enthusiastic support, the campaign hasn’t met with huge success, but there’s been a fresh glimmer of hope – The Crafty Egg café group have just acquired part of the building and have pledged support for the project. And why wouldn’t they? After all, having an arts venue at the back of a hospitality space has worked a treat for The Wardrobe Theatre and Old Market Assembly.

According to campaigner Paul Burke, requests by the local community to lease the building from owner Landrose have fallen on deaf ears, Landrose citing “health and safety concerns over the auditorium. here again, they want to build bedsits.

Over 10,000 people have signed the petition; former mayor Marvin ees and local MPs have expressed support, as have Stephen Merchant (and his dad).

There’s a feelgood Ealing-style movie plot in here somewhere about a plucky bunch of locals fighting the corporate odds to save a local treasure. How delightful if such a film could be made, and then screened at the cinema on opening night. www.saveredfieldcinema.com

Fashion STITCH, PLEASE

Sustainable Fashion Week is back next month, with, they tell us, its largest and most ambitious programme to date. (Thinking about it, we’ve yet to hear of any event laying claim to being ‘smaller and less ambitious’.)

Born in eco-savvy Bristol, the Fashion Week now has hubs throughout England, Northern Ireland, Canada, America and Portugal, with an expanding programme of workshops, popups, panels and exhibitions designed to showcase the best of sustainable fashion and collective action. This year’s theme is ‘The Power of Repair’, emphasising the importance of mending and reimagining fashion to foster sustainability. The programme runs 20-29 September, with a community fringe until 12 October. www.sustainablefashionweek.uk

DEAD ANNOYING

If the prospect of Danny Boyle’s up-andcoming zombie flick 28 Years Later – a sequel to cult classics 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later – wasn’t exciting enough, we learn that key scenes have been shot near Bristol in Cheddar Gorge. It’s not the first time the Gorge has hosted film crews; you can also spot it in the 2013 movie Jack the Giant Slayer, starring Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy and Ian McShane. Some Cheddar residents were less than star-struck when they realised they’d have to navigate a 21-mile detour thanks to the main B3135 drag being closed. “Locals cheesed off! chortled the headline of a certain national paper – a pun so hackneyed it makes Bristol Life’s blood Boyle.

Always try to avoid stitching your sample into your identically patterned dress

Beat the evil algorithms! Follow us on instagram and tag us with your pics: @bristollifemag

@craigderrick40

@walkinbristol

@matthewpriceartist

@these_are_rachelsphotos

@joshtakesphotos_

WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID THIS SUMMER

. . . dodged the rain, mostly; but when the sun did shine, it hit right

@tammytrashbags

@richimal_roams

@bristol_streets

@helenisbell

@richimal_roams

@bristol_streets

THE ARTS

SNAPSHOTS OF BRISTOL’S CULTURAL LIFE

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN DOWN

Massive Attack have always been ahead of the pack; and not merely in a musical sense. Obviously they were huge pioneers of the Bristol sound during the late 1980s and early 1990s, incorporating influences from jazz, soul, funk, dub, and rap music into their unique trip-hop style, but their forward-thinking goes deeper than that.

They’ve long been eco-warriors, and in 2021 they commissioned and shared a new study aiming to reduce the carbon emissions of the music industry. In 2023 they unveiled plans for Act 1.5 – an all-day gig on Clifton Down that represents both their first UK show in five years and a marker of their commitment to climate activism. Measures in place for the event include(d) localised pre-sale and rail travel incentives to limit car

travel; a site powered by 100% renewable energy; a meat-free arena; a commitment to zero landfill waste, and the post-show creation of a woodland plantation in the South West region.

We’re chuffed to play our home city again, and to be able do it in the right way,” say Grant and Rob. “In terms of climate-change action there are no excuses left; offsetting, endless seminars and diluted declarations have all been found out. Working with pioneering partners on this project means we can seriously move the dial for major live music events and help create precedents that are immediately available.”

he all-day gig also features Killer Mike, Lankum and a project from actor and director Sam Morton.

At Clifton Down, 25 August; www.massiveattackbristol.com

“Late summer is the ideal time to

Bristol’senjoy

galleries in relative peace”

TAKE ART

We’re off to discover what’s showing right now at Bristol’s best art galleries. Fancy coming with?

Words by Deri Robins

We’re heading into the dog days of summer in the city now; traditionally still a time of outdoor pursuits. Gigs on the Downs. Stuff involving tents and fields. Al-frescoing and OutsideFini-ing. Swoon Gelato-ing on ollege Green. But the rain doesn’t shine all the time in Bristol –understatement of the year – while on super-hot days the only sane thing to do is to find a cool indoor sanctuary. We have a suggestion. All Bristol’s arts venues and galleries are currently curating their big new autumn shows, but why wait until then? Plenty of great exhibitions are currently in their last few weeks, and midto-late August is the ideal time to enjoy them in relative peace and uiet. Best of all, unless specified see Bristol Museum), all the exhibitions and galleries are free to visit – isn’t Bristol brilliant?

Here are just some you’d be mad to miss.

DONALD RODNEY: VISCERAL CANKER

Where? Spike Island, umberland oad www.spikeisland.org.uk How long do we have? Until 8 September What? Born in , died in , mixed-media artist Donald odney had a brief but impactful life and career. For Visceral Canker, Spike Island has assembled all his surviving works large-scale oil pastels on -rays; kinetic and animatronic sculptures; restaged installations, sketchbooks and rare archive materials. Also on display is Autoicon, an interactive digital artwork initiated by Donald and finalised by a group of his close friends after he died from sickle cell anaemia in 1998.

Donald’s work was incisive, acerbic and evocative in its analysis of the prejudices and injustices surrounding racial identity, Black masculinity, chronic illness and Britain’s colonial past. A lifelong sufferer from sickle cell, he often incorporated this into his work as a metaphor for the illnesses and injustices of society at large. Why come? To rediscover Donald’s life and work, cementing his place as a vital figure in British art. Ask the art expert: “This show reveals a young artist who had already composed a distinctive aesthetic language – photofit images, -rays, iconography of the house – to explore powerful and interrelated themes,” said Hettie Judah in The Guardian.

OPPOSITE: Courtesan Enters Istanbul by Stanislaw Frenkeil at RWA; BELOW: Visceral Canker at Spike Island

A HOME FOR ART

Where? Royal West of England Academy, Queen’s Road; www.rwa.org.uk

How long do we have? Until 29 September

What? Opened in as Bristol’s first public art gallery, the elegant RWA has a fascinating history of growth and renewal. This exhibition shows how the gallery has developed as a ‘home for art’ over more than 100 years, revealing some of the secrets of the building and telling the little-known stories of refugee artists who exhibited at the RWA from the 1940s to the present day.

Why come? Along with its sister exhibition Academy until September the exhibition offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes peek into the history of the RWA. Oh, and if you have yet to visit the gallery since its major £4.8m refurbishment, you need to come to check out the new spaces. Right now.

Fun fact The RWA was founded by a woman. Yes, Bristol was trailblazing even back then.

ELAINE CONSTANTINE:

I’M COM’UN HOME IN THE MORN’UN

Where? Martin Parr foundation, Paintworks www.martinparrfoundation.org

How long do we have? Until 22 September

What? Elaine Constantine’s dynamic, full-colour images capture the Northern Soul scene of the 1990s, depicting the extreme aerobics and the unstoppable energy of its young disciples.

In the early 1990s, Elaine moved from Manchester to London for her photography career. She’d been commissioned to photograph nightclubs for The Face magazine, including the 100 Club where they played rare American ’60s and ’70s soul music through the night.

Elaine had recently been on the Northern Soul scene herself, and was curious to see how it had evolved. She soon became a regular again, travelling to venues around the country and photographing many all-nighters, including those at Manchester’s Ritz.

“I remember going down those stairs into that dark basement and seeing shadowy figures moving energetically in sync with each other,” she says. “It all came back to me in an instant and made me slightly hesitant… It was obvious the scene had gone further underground, the crowd older, little new blood, the records more obscure and the attitude on the dancefloor as fierce as ever. ould I really take pictures in this place?

As I suspected it would, the blast from my first flash altered the atmosphere. I braved it to shoot a few more

“There’s never a dull moment at Martin Parr; good luck with leaving without buying at least a couple of books from the gift shop”

from different angles, but things felt worse with each blinding shot. The relief I felt when I heard the familiar opening bars of This Won’t Change by Lester Tipton, a fast, raw, jerky yet tender sound. I pushed the camera bag under a chair and got lost dancing in the shadows until morning. The feeling of being some kind of culture vulture left me gradually with each record.”

Good to know: There’s never a dull moment at Martin Parr Foundation; if you’re fan of photojournalism, good luck with leaving without buying at least a couple of books from the gift shop.

OPPOSITE: Steve’s Kitchen © Elaine Constantine, at Martin Parr Foundation

ABOVE: Adébayo Bolaji’s No Beauty Without Struggle

“Adébayo’s work explores beauty in an accessible way for audiences to consider however they choose”

ADÉBAYO

BOLAJI:

IN PRAISE OF BEAUTY

Where? Arnolfini; Narrow uay

www.arnolfini.or .

How long do we have? Until 29 September

What? Welcome to the kaleidoscopic and multidisciplinary world of Adébayo, whose solo show explores and uestions notions of beauty through painting, sculpture, film and writing.

In the artist’s words: “Beauty, in one sense, is a narrative, an experience, and a value so powerful that it can transform even the most powerful among us into the weakest in a moment. In Praise of Beauty is creative uestioning, a deliberate act of bringing beauty into focus, and an opportunity to explore, discover, and rediscover its essence.”

Come to admire: Adébayo’s monumental works in acrylic and oil pastel; his mixed work is big, bright and bold, exploring the notions of beauty in an accessible way for audiences of all ages to consider, in whatever way they choose.

ALSO RUNNING AT ARNOLFINI: NENGI OMUKU: THE DANCE OF PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL WORLD

Featuring Nengi’s monumental work Eden, along with new additions such as Quorum and Rumours of War, the show brings together pieces first shown at Hastings Contemporary in 2023. Nengi’s rich, dreamlike colour palette is heavily influenced by the muted tones of Sanyan, a pre-colonial Nigerian textile woven from moth silk and cotton, blending Western oil painting traditions with Nigeria’s textile craftsmanship.

Tell us more: Hung from the ceiling, away from the walls, Nengi’s paintings can be viewed on both sides to discover the intricate patterns and symbolic motifs artistry and patterns woven within. Until 29 September.

OPPOSITE: Birth by Adébayo Bolaji

BELOW: Nengi Omuko at The Dance of People and the Natural World –both at Arnolﬁni

TOPRIGHT: No prizes for identifying this as a Matisse, but props if you know it’s Nu Bleu III; at Hidden Gallery

BOTTOM: Often imitated but never really equalled, some of British artist Harland Miller wryly reimagines classic Vintage Penguin Book covers are at Studio 74

ROMANCING THE LINE: VARIOUS ARTISTS

Where? Hidden Gallery, 6-8 Clifton Arcade

www.hiddengallery.co.uk

How long do we have?Until 15 September

What? A celebration of figurative art on paper, featuring works by racey Emin, Gustav Klimt, Henry Moore, Henri Matisse and many others.

Know that: his tiny gallery in lifton Arcade has an astonishing array of original work and prints, not just by the above-named but huge fin-de-si cle and th-century masters – they even have a enoir – along with some of the biggest names in Modern British, contemporary and emerging art. It’s the obvious port of call when you win the lottery and want to bag yourself a Banksy, but there’s plenty of affordable art for sale, too.

“Studio74’s welcoming space is guaranteed to knock imposter syndrome out of the most nervous of novice art collectors”

ALSO…

BRISTOL MUSEUM & ART GALLERY Queen’s Road; www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

As well as the permanent museum collection (delightfully old-school) there’s always some interesting exhibition on. You have until 1 September to see Constable’s The Hay Wain, the centrepiece of an exhibition that explores landscape in art. NB there’s an admission price.

CLIFTON FINE ART

12 Perry Road; www.cliftonﬁneart.com

Independent gallery specialising in modern and contemporary artwork, with a great reputation for customer service.

LATE

SUMMER AND EARLY AUTUMN: VARIOUS ARTISTS

Where? lifton ontemporary Art, Portland Street www.cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk

When? he name of the exhibition’s a clue – it runs over late summer and early autumn

What? A carefully curated mix of diverse work, including the restless ambient paintings of Elaine ones, shaped by the power of nature; Andrew Hood’s energypacked oils that conjure the movement, life and spirit of the scenes he observes; anette Kerr’s protean seascapes where the raw primal forces of the far north seem to heave and shift perpetually before you; arl Melegari’s mesmerising, deeply textured portraits and figure studies, and the gallery’s new collection of emotive and evocative meadow paintings by Sally Stafford, filled with the colours and textures of growth and life.

Come for he sheer variety of styles and media. n

STUDIO 74

74 Whiteladies Road; www.studio74contemporaryart.com

A welcoming, creatively decorated gallery guaranteed to knock imposter syndrome out of the most nervous of novice art collectors.

THAT ART GALLERY

2 Upper Maudlin Street; www.thatartgallery.com

Currently closed for its summer break; otherwise check out its always intriguing exhibitions.

CENTRESPACE

6 Leonard Lane; www.centrespace.org.uk

A thriving independent and sustainable

community of artists and craftspeople at which studios and workshops share space with an events and gallery space.

LIME TREE

84 Hotwell Road; www.limetreegallery.com

Contemporary ﬁne art and glass gallery, with a particular love of Scottish artists.

JAMAICA STREET ARTISTS

39 Jamaica Street; www.jamaicastreetstudios.co.uk

For most days of the year this is simply a warren of private studios, but they hold regular open days; the next, on 22-24 September, coincides with the launch of their new ground ﬂoor artist-led space.

FORWARD THINKING

Don’t pack away the festival gear just yet: there’s one more to go before we yield to autumn

Words by Ursula Cole

Just as Love Saves the Day kicks off the Bristol musical festival season every May, Forwards –which is also produced by Team Love – represents its last hurrah. We decided to find out what festival director Tom Paine has in store for us this year; if you like the sound of it, snap up some tickets and head over to the Downs on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September. OK, let’s get into it.

CHAMPIONS OF LOCAL TALENT

“Ever since we kicked off Forwards, our goal has been to curate a line-up which shines a light on both big names and local talent. Honestly, it’s one of the most rewarding parts of what we do - building a programme around the incredible talent right here in our city.

“This year, keep an eye out for local standouts such as producer and rapper Danny Chaska, lo-fi rapper Kwazi and the jazz-fuelled band Laimu. Sunday’s line-up is stacked too, featuring psychedelic soul group Cousin Kula, post-punk band Knives, and indie rockers LICE.”

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM

“We want high energy to bring Forwards to a close, and LCD Soundsystem is the perfect choice. Their shows are legendary and fans totally lose themselves in the music.

Growing up listening to their tunes, it’s a bit surreal to have them on our stage, and whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their music, it’s deﬁnitely going to be unforgettable.”

LOYLE CARNER

“Loyle is headlining on Saturday, and honestly, I can’t wait to be in the crowd for this one. His live shows are special and he creates a real connection with the audience. He’s superrelatable with his lyrics, which are not just entertaining, but sometimes quite moving. Deﬁnitely memorable!”

CAPTURE FORWARDS WITH SONY

“Forwards isn’t just about showcasing music talent, it’s about giving a platform to young, emerging creatives.

Capture Forwards has been with us since the start, and this year we’re partnering with Sony, which is brilliant.

“What Capture Forwards does is to offer young photographers real experience in capturing live music events in a professional environment, giving them a foot in the door. Last year’s cohort will see their work exhibited at this year’s festival, and their work is all over the city’s billboards.”

TOPRIGHT: Loyle Carner; BELOW: LCD Soundsystem; OTHERPICS: Scenes from previous years

NEXT LEVEL

KIDS’ AREA

“Forwards is a family festival, and we want our family area to be just as inspiring as the main festival. Last year we had skateboarding sessions, musicmaking and drag storytelling to engage with and even learn some new skills, and this year is going to be no different.

“The best thing about the family area? Once you’ve taken the kids home and installed the babysitter, you can return to the festival!”

Whether you’re ticking off all of Bristol’s festivals this year, or heading to Forwards for the ﬁrst time, it’s a space to feel welcome, inspired and just have one ﬁnal summer party. n

Forwards, Clifton Downs 31 August & 1 September www.forwardsbristol.co.uk

“Next Level is a music mentorship program in collaboration with Big Team CIC and Bristol Beacon. It’s all about supporting the next generation of talented musicians and artists and giving them a platform to perform on big stages to huge crowds. Working with the artists to develop their talent and skills, we also take them on a festival tour, starting with Love Saves the Day and ending with Forwards.

“If there’s one bit of advice I can give you, it’s to keep an eye out for Sambee, Ava Zarate, Rellz & YB Micz, Ssadcharlie, Laura Dia and Marns. Deﬁnitely ones to watch.”

PLATFORM FOR CHANGE

“This year, our Information Stage is in partnership with Channel 4, which is amazing. We’re hosting some of the most interesting and creative minds at the stage, and you can expect discussions, debates, and insights on current affairs from an impressive line-up of experts, artists, writers, and thinkers.

“We’ve got drag artists Ginny Lemon and Victoria Scone, art activists Led By Donkeys, writer and performer Travis Alabanza… There’s so much going on across the two days. Get involved!”

That’s Ginny Lemon!

DOCK AND ROLL

Harbour Fest. It ﬂoats Colin’s boat

Words and pics by Colin Moody

ll right, you beautiful crazy diamonds, let’s have it! Harbour Festival rolled around again in a high tide of culture and craft, and the curious people who ventured into it to partake.

Let’s take a stroll around – and what better place to start than the pit in Lloyd’s Amphitheatre, where the players come to play? So many great acts; more on them later. It’s always such a fun time to be dropped as a photographer into the pit, that space between the performer, stagelit and strutting, and the people at the front of the pit wall who want to take it to eleven every darned second of the show. These two don’t know each other, but they know they both wanted to be at the front rail, with a cheeky little cider drink at smile time when I poked my wide lens right in their general direction.

3 2 4

As the sailboats and craft of numerous capacities began to gather for the finale display, I thought to myself, looking through the camera viewfinder, that the overall vibe was in fact pure analetto. But not enice, and not paint, but instead Bristol vessels and light. hey call the harbour the lungs of the city, and do views like this not take your breath away for just a moment?

Grove; main stage at Harbour View.

Feeling the energy of the audience, taking them higher. Here by the harbour wall, artists like this bring their fire, spitting out bars and power, where once sailors with fire in their eyes held out the truths of battles against a hard foe and perils barely overcome. And here, in the same blessed dry hard dock, Grove gets us to face these contemporary problems and conquests rising and falling in the spotlight on our collective journey. Music, movement, we all rise, we fall, we are in this together. hat’s our city. And we reaffirm our relationship with city and self every year by the hard wall to the dock.

RENDER CLEANING & EXTERIOR CLEANING SPECIALISTS

Render

Cladding

Pressure

Window

Thermatech

Brick

Building

Conservatory

Gutter

Commercial

Roof

Graffiti

Chewing

Driveway

High

Stone

Fascia/uPVC

Patio

Woodwork

BRISTOL HEROES

James Prestwood puts on his jet boots and soars a hundred feet into the air. It’s impressive, I’ve shared images of him before, but the moment from his show I’m showing you this year is when it’s over and he’s coming back to the pontoon, and for a moment there it’s like he’s walking on water.

So if he can do that, I can do… just about anything, then. Isn’t this the we-can-do-it city?

Eva Lazarus looks out at the huge crowd for her set, and connects. Click! When our acts play here it’s a home gig, it’s special, we all know it. And it all just flows right. Double-O yes!

Whole darn world seems to be going to hell in a handcart, right? And then a little girl in a red hat starts waving at all the boats that row past her and her mum. And the world seems just a little bit nicer.

So, the cardboard boat race. I’m thinking it takes a very specialminded group of people to all collectively agree it’s gonna be fine to try and make and paddle a boat, made from leftover cardboard, from the pontoon out to the buoy and back. Cardboard’s not famous for its ability to stay firm in water, or indeed, stay afloat. And yet here, on a bananasplit boat that’s just out of shot, one of the crew, with his wafer, sauce and sprinkles topping, takes a look at our famous harbour and decides, “Yeah, we are so gonna do this, this is happening…”

Sure, 39 seconds later the boat’s sunk from view, and they are all bobbing about and laughing, with the several thousand onlookers loving it. But this bloke is loving it just a tad more.

Legends are not born here, they sort of spawn, in front of a loving crowd, one wafer fella at a time.

The last shot for this harbourside collection is by Kaden, our account executive at Plaster, who worked so hard getting content all over the festival – you’ll probably have seen the images on the social channels –who checked out the dance tent at Queen Square and got this banger of a shot there of the Booty Bass takeover.

I asked Kaden about the shot; here’s what he said.

“Even though it was just past 7pm on a July afternoon, as soon as

you entered the Dance Tent in Queen Square it was like a bustling club late into the night, but still packed with energy. What’s missing in the facial details of the DJ, the purple backlight catches in their smile. An expression that fully captures the feeling of the moment.”

Over the coming months I’m gonna be highlighting some of the new creative talent coming up in our city. It floats my boat.

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

WHAT’S ON

6 August6 September 2024

EXHIBITIONS

Until 1 September

NATIONAL TREASURES: CONSTABLE IN BRISTOL

The Constable masterpiece at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery is the centrepiece of an exhibition exploring landscape through art; bristolmuseums.org.uk

WE ARE WARRIORS

Sound and light installation in the atmospheric edcliffe aves, with thousands of tiny flickering lights and the voices of women and girls from Bristol aged - ; inbetweentime.co.uk

LOOK UP!

The story of hot air ballooning continues at Aerospace Bristol; discover how the sport took off in Bristol, take a behind-the-scenes look at how the balloons are made, and get involved with a basketful of ballooning events and activities; aerospacebristol.org

Until 8 September

DONALD RODNEY: VISCERAL CANKER

Major exhibition of the late British artist, whose work is known for being incisive, acerbic and evocative in its analysis of the prejudices and injustices surrounding racial identity. Spike Island; spikeisland.org.uk

Until 28 September I’M COM’UN HOME IN THE MORN’UN

Elaine Constantine presents her dynamic, full-colour photos of the Northern Soul scene of the s at Martin Parr Foundation; martinparrfoundation.org

Until 29 September

ADÉBAYO BOLAJI: IN PRAISE OF BEAUTY

Enter the kaleidoscopic and multidisciplinary world of Adébayo, whose solo exhibition explores and questions notions of beauty through painting, sculpture, film and writing. At Arnolfini; arnolfini.or .

NENGI OMUKU: THE DANCE OF PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL WORLD

Journey into the lush landscapes of Nigerian artist Nengi Omuku, whose human figures blend seamlessly with nature, exploring the relationship between individual and collective thought, belonging, and psychological spaces which transcend traditional Western landscape painting. At Arnolfini; arnolfini.or .

Until 17 October POLLY LUCE

The North Somerset contemporary artist’s work is a response to experiencing a landscape, focusing

on how it feels to be within a landscape rather than depicting a realistic representation; at Square Club; thesquareclub.com

SHOWS

20-21 August

DORMOUSE

Two things (says the press release). here is always a duo in a trio. he problem with dinner parties is that sometimes, just sometimes, everything goes exactly according to plan... Set in a single room over a single hour, the Lighthouse Ensemble’s second show promises a strange yet satisfying mix of Fleabag and Friday Night Dinner; a tea party in Wonderland that just about remains tethered to tangible reality”. With wine. At Alma avern; atgtickets.com

20-31 August

COME FROM AWAY

Winner of four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, this hit West End show tells the real-life story of the 7, air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of , and the small Newfoundland community which invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives with open hearts. At Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

22 August

TERROR IN TURTLENECKS

Nice and early for Halloween is Boogie Nachts heatre’s evening of macabre delight, malevolent dread and comfy knitwear. Let us tantalise, tickle and terrify you with live performances of stories that will truly expose you to the comedy of horror and the horror of comedy , they say. Alma avern; atgtickets.com

30-31 August

CAN’T WAIT TO LEAVE

When the one person he thought he could rely on ups and leaves, yan finds himself adrift in a city he still hasn’t yet learned to like, looking for direction. No money, no rules... surely this is the worst possible time to be alone? Alma avern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

30 August-1 September

CAT THE PLAY

Back at he Wardrobe after a sellout run last year the darkly comic tale of Dave he at’s backstage journey from esus’s Donkey to his shock dismissal minutes before the opening night of the original production of Cats. Expect neverbefore-heard songs and far too much lycra; thewardrobetheatre.com.org

2-7 September

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN

Dancing robots at Forwards Festival in 2022 – for this year’s lowdown, see page 20

Stage musical based on the Richard Gere Oscar-winner, full of ’80s-tastic anthems; get ready to sing along with Up Where We Belong etc at Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com.

3 September

RED PLANET: REVOLUTION

The award-nominated game-theatre show returns. It’s the year 2224, and the human settlement on Mars has finally declared its independence from Earth. You have been chosen to lead the people of Mars into a new and brighter future; the decisions you make now will shape your planet’s history for generations to come. No pressure. At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com.org

3-7 September

SCAFFOLDING

Sheridan is having a bad day. Her church is closing, social care are on her case and she can’t work out what ingredients she needs from Homebase to make a bomb. With no one else to turn to, she climbs the scaffolding around the leaking church steeple with a few questions for Whoever Is In Charge. A show about strength, love and community from the multi award-winning Documental Theatre, at Bristol Old ic; bristololdvic.org.uk

5 September

BODY 115

Escaping the rain, a journey on the London Underground becomes a descent into the underworld as you follow the poet-hero down and out through the sewers and tubes of Kings Cross Station to the heart of Italy. Written and performed by Jan Noble at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

6 September

PROCREATE

“Remember: your life is over when

WHAT’S ON

you become a parent. You’ll never achieve your artistic dreams or have fun again. Especially if you’re a mum”, says society. Procreate pokes fun at the motherhood penalty, pesky prescriptive gender roles and expectations that pile on the pressure when you bang out a kid. A show for ’90s babies, people who are thinking about having children, people who don’t want kids, mothers or anyone who is a former baby. It’s is the debut solo show from Bethan Screen, and probably the last one because, you know, combining parenthood and performing sounds too hard; Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

6-21 September WONDER BOY

Ooh, we loved this one when we first saw it at BO ; unsurprisingly, given that is was directed by Sally Cookson. Now there’s another chance to see Bristol playwright Ross Willis’s funny and heartwarming play about communication: Sonny is 12, struggling with a stammer and crippling grief, and now he’s been cast in the lad of the school production of Hamlet. Captain Chatter, a comic book hero of his own creation, helps him soar above his grim reality, but words are power and Sonny needs to find his way in a world full of them. More in our next issue; Bristol Old ic; bristololdvic.org.uk

COMEDY

Ongoing

CLOSER EACH DAY

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

16-17 August

I’M SEXY AND I KNOW IT

Anna Friend is sexy and she knows it. Or is she? What she does know is that she’s had enough of trying to live up to the world’s standards. She’s ready to break free and take back control of her life, and she’s inviting you to join her., with the help of heartfelt comedy, ’80’s nostalgia and a banging soundtrack, at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

29 August

HELI LAUGHS

Nabil Abdulrashid headlines and Stuart Goldsmith hosts the annual fundraiser for Great Western Air Ambulance, at BO ; bristololdvic.org.uk

TOPTOBOTTOM: see art at the seaside: Weston Wallz; acting her shoe size instead of her age: Sally-Anne Hayward; emotionally shattered, but still laughing: Ed Byrne

1 September

KIRI PRITCHARD-MCLEAN: PEACOCK

As well as hosting Live at the Apollo and fronting Radio 4 panel show Best Medicine, Kiri’s found time to become a foster parent. Until now she hasn’t been able to talk about it on stage; she hasn’t even told the kids in her care that she’s a comedian. Oh, and she uses a different name in the show. Come and join ‘Louise’ as she lifts the lid on social workers, first-aid training and what not to do when a vicar searches for you on YouTube; BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

5 September

ED BYRNE: TRAGEDY EQUALS TIME

... equals humour. Ed tests the formula famously, or at least allegedly, coined by Mark Twain by mining the most tragic event in his life for laughs. Much more our previous issue, if you can track it down; at Bristol Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

6 September

SALLY-ANNE HAYWARD: EGG SHORTAGE

Sally’s approaching a certain age when getting sweaty at night no longer involves someone else having to be there. But if she’s worried about being over the hill, it’s not enough to stop her rolling playfully down the other side. At Bristol Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

GIGS

Ongoing

BRISTOL BEACON

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

ST GEORGE’S BRISTOL

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

25 August

MASSIVE ATTACK

Playing their home turf for the first time in five years in an all-day show featuring special guests; the event aims to be as sustainable as possible, setting new standards for the decarbonisation of live gigs; massiveattackbristol.com

FESTIVALS

Ongoing

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL

he year-round fest with the something-for-everyone remit; various venues; ris olfilm es ival.com

16-18 August

HAND IN HAND

This biannual celebration at Bristol Beacon offers a chance for singers from all corners of the UK and Ireland to unite in their love for music and their pride in being part of the LGBTQ+ community; andin and es ival.or

24 August

BRISTOL VEGAN FAYRE

“Making veganism fun since 2003,” they say; a lively community-based event with vegan food on offer along with independent traders, live music, talks and comedy; at new(ish) venue Document in St Jude’s; ve es .co.

30-31 August

BRISTOL CRAFT BREW FESTIVAL

Not to be confused with the Bristol Craft Beer Fest, that’s already been and gone, but similar shizzle. A souvenir glass, festival programme, chance to meet the brewers and five hours of unlimited yes, unlimited) craft beer; at Document, cra rew es ival.co.

31 August-1 September FORWARDS

he now well-established inner city music festival drawing the biggest names in international music to Bristol Downs. The festival aims to present high- uality, diverse and heritage music acts alongside emerging artists from Bristol and beyond; see also page 20; orwards ris ol.co.

31 August-15 September WESTON WALLZ

Upfest goes to WSM, with plenty of Bristol faves along with Upfest Artist 2024, Mister Samo; es .co.

DOGFEST

Displays from athletic canines, free expert advice and workshops, breed meet-ups, big dog walks, dog shows where the focus is fun, fastest dog competitions, shopping, food and drink, and hopefully a few tasty dog treats. Ashton Court; do es .co.

2-7 September WINGFEST

More fowl play at Lloyd;s as the world’s most popular chicken wing festival rolls back into town with fairground rides, live music, competitions, masterclasses, cooking demonstrations and games. Oh, and if you’ve always longed for a trucker hat, know that this is included in the ticket price; swin es .co. n

TOPTOBOTTOM: Sonny’s back: Wonder Boy at BOV; hey there, Wall-E!: Bristol Film Festival; he fancies chicken tonight: Wingfest

Afternoon Tea with the Alpacas | Simple meet & greet

Children’s parties – 3 options | Adult celebrations

Alpaca walks | Meet the Alpacas with a crafting session

Hen parties | Bespoke experiences

Cleeve, North Somerset, BS49 4PQ 07860449072 | info@chapelgroundalpacas.co.uk www.chapelgroundalpacas.co.uk

Weston Lodge Shooting Ground

Stag & Hen Party?

Looking for an exciting action packed corporate activity day out with colleagues or an exciting Stag and Hen day for friends?

Just 20 minutes from the centre of Bristol, we are totally dedicated to making your party a memorable oneall at a great price!

We offer karting on our purpose built track with jumps, and also a Quad trail on our 300cc quads which is open all year round. Why not give clay pigeon shooting a go? Whether you are a sure shot or couldn’t hit a barn door, you’ll be expertly taught on our 5 shooting stand layout.

Contact us

Call 01275 842225 or 07770 688918 or e-mail info@westonlodgeshootingground.co.uk www.westonlodgeshootingground.co.uk

A uent, active and inﬂuential and just a call away

PAZZO

Same place. Same team. New, yet oddly familiar-sounding, menu...

Words by Deri Robins; main photo Ben Robins

Pazzo’s neutral paint scheme and simple furniture are softened by pretty paper lampshades and cascading greenery; walls are lined with black-and-white photos of friendly faces from the Bristol food scene

Hang out the bunting, Bristol, because Pasta Loco’s back – if not in bricks-and-mortar form then at least in spirit.

Let’s rewind. For four years, the Bianchis group’s Cotham Hill pasta emporium was so popular you needed to book several weeks ahead to secure a table. Then Covid hit. Loco just about managed to navigate the lockdowns and their aftermath, but in July last year it shut for good. The reasons for the closure are still up on the home page; if you’re a member of Bristol Council you may need a stiff grappa before reading.

Still, we took solace in the fact that we could still get our pasta fix at Bianchis’ three other restaurants: their classy trat in Montpelier, little Pasta ipiena on St Stephen’s Street, and cosy cantina otto next door. And then, last autumn, they opened Pazzo on Whiteladies Road, just a breadstick’s throw (albeit one requiring Olympic-level hurling skills) from Pasta Loco.

Pazzo was ambitious. With 60 covers inside and 20 out, the former Bar Humbug site was a big old space to fill, and the menu upped the aspirational ante still further. The cooking was still rooted in the family’s Italian heritage, but there were sophisticated nods to other cuisines too, with the likes of sea bass ceviche with Japanese yuzu, Calabrian chilli and coastal samphire ticking several continents in one dish. It was exciting, but not especially cheap. Diners had become more budgetconscious since Covid, and Pazzo failed to thrive.

sociable buzz; of all the Bianchis restaurants, we’d choose this one for a big bash. Much of the conviviality is created by exceptional staff who manifest cheerily at your elbow half a millisecond before you realise you need them, never interrupt your punchlines with a robotic is-everything-OK-guys and refrain from reeling off unasked-for nuggets about the food sourcing.

My starter of mussels is marvellous: great big plump juicy things in a creamy broth that carries a salty hit of anchovy, sweetness of cider and pungency of rosemary. Soft, bouncy chunks of focaccia, supplied for the mopping, are magically replenished without us needing to ask.

Seated at the opposite end of the table, safely out of my bullying orbit, our Man gets to order what he wants for once a simple grilled flatbread and lardo, which he is allowed to keep to himself. The daughter is more adventurous with her dish of girolles, cooked with the extra depth of coppa and sherry. After a bit of sweet-talking the second son grudgingly allows me a forkful of his ox cheek fritti, in which the intensely flavoursome beef is braised down to a state of total surrender.

DINING DETAILS

Pazzo, 89 Whiteladies Road; 0117 973 3000 www.pazzobristol.co.uk

Kitchen hours Mon 5.30-9.30 pm; Wed-Sat midday-2.30 pm, 5.30-9.30 pm; Sunday 1pm-4 pm

Price Starters £4-9; pastas £8.50-£16 + optional add-ons £6-£10; puds £3.50-£7

With their usual likeable transparency, Bianchis’ owners Ben Harvey and Dom Borel took to Instagram to discuss the situation. Bristol’s lukewarm response to Pazzo, said Ben, felt like A bit of a stab. Why aren’t we busy? We’re good at this, what are we missing? And so they recalibrated, concluding that they’d forgotten the special sauce that had made Pasta Loco so well loved. “You knew what you were getting when you went to Pasta Loco. You didn’t get that at Pazzo.”

Veggie Good choice

Service Impeccable, engaging Atmosphere Buzzing

hey scrapped the menu and went back to the Italian classics that first made their name, “cooked in the truest manner, that all nonnas would like to see”. From spaghetti to orecchiette, risotto to tortellini, each dish would be available in its simplest, most inexpensive form, but with the option of pimping it up; you can have spaghetti with garlic and chilli for £8.50, for example, or splash out by adding chicken breast Milanese for an extra tenner. he final, genius touch was bringing back the recipe that had defined Loco in its heyday. Ben Harvey’s linguine carbonara was more than just a dish, it was a destination. A bucket-list-ticker. Practically a cult. omfort food of the highest order, made with the finest ingredients and cooked with generosity, and when news of its return got out, Instagram went, well, loco

We’re among the vanguard on relaunch night, breaking down the doors to trial the new menu. We’ve turned up mob-handed because the more there are of you, the greater the variety of dishes you can nick bits from. Also, it was a family birthday, and the Pazzo space lends itself to a

Much dithering accompanies the ordering of the pasta course. To succumb to the nostalgic siren call of the carbonara, or try something new? At a nearby table we overhear one party completely losing the run of itself by ordering a carbonara ‘to share’ as well as a mains apiece; tempting, but a gluttonous step too far even for me. Instead I go for the fettuccine puttanesca, partly because it’s hard to resist anything which translates into ‘the style of the whore’, and partly because it comes with the seductive option of adding scallops in Café de Paris butter; not a combination I’d have thought up, but one which works an absolute treat. Drawing on the punchiest ingredients in the Pazzo larder – chilli, garlic, olives, anchovies – the sauce is warmingly spicy, the scallops meaty: just the thing to sustain a lady of the night.

Despite his best efforts to gatekeep, I wangle a bit of the second son’s carbonara, purely to check on its wellbeing. Don’t even think of omitting the extra pork belly, which is the dish’s main point; Ben brines it for hours, braises for five more then presses overnight, before slow-cooking and serving with salsica linguine and soft-poached egg wrapped in pancetta.

From a dolce menu of three panna cottas, the one I’d order again (and again is the coffee and grappa version, wobbling seductively under its chocolate crumb. Speaking of seductive wobbling, this will also describe your gait as you stagger back out into the night. No worries; you’ll easily work off the calories on the walk home, as long as you live in, say, Wells. It’s always good when a restaurant tries something new, but even more laudable when it’s agile and brave enough to pivot – I’m also thinking of Josh Eggleton’s Root, which promptly replaced the unsuccessful Chicken Shed. With the return to the classic Loco menu, there’s nowhere in Bristol I’d now recommend more unequivocally than Pazzo – though if advance bookings return to Loco levels, I may live to regret my words.

YOUR GO-TO VENUE

From Parties to Product launches and everything in between. We’ve got you covered, with five unique spaces on five levels. Come take the tour. Visit us at www.goldbrick.house 69 PARK ST, BRISTOL BS1 5PB HELLO@GOLDBRICK.HOUSE

EAT. DRINK. REPEAT.

Ask any local chef: the South West is the larder of the UK, with a huge variety of food and drink producers supplying our tables and kitchens with everything that’s needed to excite those taste buds. Here are some of the best...

JAMU WILD WATER

THE MOUNT, 72 PARIS STREET, EXETER, EX1 2JY

TEL: 01392 984311

WWW.JAMUWILDWATER.CO.UK

Harnessing the benefits of prebiotic fibre and British botanicals, natural drinks company Jamu Wild Water is on a mission to rewild from the inside-out. Launched in 2022, this Devon based brand is putting gut health at the forefront of each delicious creation. They’ve even won an award for it! Their focus –natural, sparkling water bursting with homegrown botanicals and gut-loving ingredients. And if that’s not enticing enough, consumers will surely agree with their all-natural, no-nasties approach, including no sugar, or artificial sweeteners. With every can containing 100% of your daily prebiotic requirement, your gut-microbes will surely thank you for it.

PIEMINISTER

BROAD QUAY, ST NICHOLAS MARKET, STOKES CROFT

TEL: 0117 942 3300

WWW.PIEMINISTER.CO.UK

It’s 20 years since Jon and Tristan started making pies on Stokes Croft. Nowadays, the bakery’s up the road in Brentry, but you can still tuck into pies on the original site, and on Broad Quay and in St Nick’s Market. For Jon and Tristan, sustainability and ethics are just as important as quality and taste, so when you eat at Pieminister, it’s going to be good in every way. What has changed is the breadth of pies they bake beyond their original classics, from ﬁlo to gluten free to heaps more plant-based recipes than in the early days. There really is a Pieminister pie for everyone.

THE REAL OLIVE CO

CHARLTON RD, BRENTRY, BRISTOL BS10 6NF

TEL: 0117 950 1058; WWW.THEREALOLIVECOMPANY.CO.UK

Since The Real Olive Company’s humble beginnings in Bristol’s historic St Nicholas Market in 1998, a lot has changed, but their values have remained the same; to source and supply the best quality olives and Mediterranean foods. Their purpose is to make life taste better by connecting people to the natural vitality of real food. This is why they strive to make a healthy choice taste great, by creating natural and sustainable food that can be enjoyed together, while nourishing mind, body and soil.

They are offering Bristol Life readers a discount of 25% across a range of their products until 30 Sept. Have a browse on the website adding code BRIS25 at checkout for your offer!

LOST AND GROUNDED BREWERS

91 WHITBY ROAD, BRISTOL, BS4 4AR

TEL: 0117 332 7690

WWW.LOSTANDGROUNDED.CO.UK

Lost and Grounded Brewers is an independent brewery, established in July 2016. The team operates from their state-of-the-art brewhouse in Bristol, specialising in brewing traditional German-style lagers and Belgian-inspired ales that are unﬁltered, unpasteurised and vegan friendly. Known for their award-winning beers, their ﬂagship lager Keller Pils was awarded Gold at the 2023 World Beer Cup® in the Kellerbier/ Zwickelbier category and they also won ‘Beer of the Year’ with Helles and ‘Brewery of the Year’ at the 2022 Brewers Choice Awards. Their beers are available from their taproom and webstore, as well as at a variety of venues across Bristol.

FOOD & DRINK

TASTY TIDBITS FROM THE BRISTOL FOOD SCENE

Yet another boost for the ever-improving St George food scene, as THE CRAFTY EGG begins to develop its third site, this time on Church Road.

The “warm and modern café/bar experience” ﬁrst opened in Stokes Croft in 2016 before eggspanding into Fishponds; now they’ve acquired the former Wetherspoons pub within St George’s Hall, which has been closed since 2021.

“Our agreement covers the front half of the pub, excluding the old cinema section, beer cellars, kitchens, utilities, bathrooms, and rear customer areas,” they say. “We adore the space and are conﬁdent the Church Road community will, too. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring new life to this space after searching for a suitable location on Church Road for many years.”

Oh and there’s another possible bonus for locals – the guys have thrown themselves behind the campaign to restore St George’s Hall cinema at the top, saying they would “support that vision and pledge our assistance”. More about the cinema on page 8. @thecraftyegg

Many congratulations to all the Bristol restaurants in the running for the BRITISH RESTAURANT AWARDS 2024.DHAMAKA is up for best British takeaway, while up for Best Restaurant in Bristol are BULRUSH, WILSONS, SONNY STORES, BRAVAS, THE LIDO, COTTO, FLOW, COR, THE SAIGON KITCHEN, SNOBBY’S and NAMAK

And not long to wait now: the awards ceremony takes place on 28 August in London, and you can vote for your favourite up until two days beforehand: head to www.britishrestaurantawards.org/voting

And yet more congrats to the four places (if you include Wells, which we are) named in the Best Local Restaurants in the South West list compiled by THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE, which celebrates those restaurants at the heart of communities around the UK. We’re talking Tare (which BL would also vote for a ‘Most Underrated Restaurant in Bristol’ Award’ if anyone asked us), Caper + Cure, Root Wells and Noah’s. What an absolutely awesome spread of Bristol excellence. www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk

The Fishponds branch INSET: An eponymous egg

Caper & Cure

Dhamarka just might be the best takeaway in the UK

Root Wells

No surprise to ﬁnd Wilsons on the list

AMUSES BOUCHES

Many swear down that Wilson’s Bread Shop serves the best bacon butty in the wider Bristol area; you can make your own mind up, because it’s just reopened on Sundays. Prepare to queue.

Look out Mrs Potts and Ruby Hue, here comes Knoops – the hot chocolate chain that’s opened a branch on Queen’s Road, on the old Body Shop site. The deeply geeky angle is that you choose a percentage of single origin milk, dark or white chocolate, sourced from countries such as Tanzania and Peru, which can be mixed with your choice of milk in hot or iced chocolate or a milkshake. Unsure what percentage to go for? There’s a quiz you can take (told you it was geeky). They call this process ‘Knoopology’. www.knoops.co.uk

It’s not every day we get excited about a new opening in Sandy Park Road, but Dhayalan Paul and Saritha Thomas’s new Indian restaurant The Pukka Peacock sounds, well, pukka. It had a pop-up tryout at Totterdown’s Sundial Kitchen on 7 June, and the food pics from the event have piqued BL’s interest; we’re told to expect home-style, flavourful Indian food, with added inspiration from Dhayalan’s cooking experiences across the world in India, UAE and the UK. Go Brislington. Keep an eye on @thepukkapeacock on instagram

Having sent Bristol into a caffeinated high last year, BRISTOL COFFEE FESTIVAL, the biggest celebration of speciality coffee in the South West, is back on 14 September with even more beans for your buck. It’ll be held at Bristol Beacon once again, and in addition to all the exhibitor stalls across the foyers they’ll be taking over the Beacon and Lantern Halls for panel talks, workshops and competitions.

It was founded by Joana Vieiralves Wood, head of coffee at Bristol Loaf; Joana comes from Brazil, so presumably has coffee metaphorically in her blood. The festival will be supporting Caring In Bristol as its ofﬁcial charity. www.bristolcoffeefestival.co.uk

Since opening their first Lounge within a former opticians on North Street in 2002, followed by branches on Fishponds Road, Gloucester Road and Westbury-on- Trym and a Cosy Club on Corn Street, the LOUNGERS group has grown so enormous that it’s easy to forget that it started right here in this city.

Their latest venture brings the group’s founders Dave Reid, Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop back to Bristol with the opening of Ritorno Lounge, within the former Pitcher & Piano on Harbourside. The café/bar has around 350 covers, a 10.5m bar, a mural paying homage to Lounges across the UK, an outside terrace and the group’s first private dining room; otherwise it’s Loungers business as normal, with quirky décor, oversized vintage sofas, eclectic things on the wall and a generally laidback vibe appealing to an eclectic customer base – one of the key aims of the company, and a major reason for its success.

Loungers currently has 600-plus nationwide venues in their portfolio, made up of the Lounges, Cosy Cubs and Brightside roadside diners; for their next opening they plan to conquer Nailsea. www.loungers.co.uk

It feels so long since Gaol Ferry Bridge reopened (though in fact it was just a year) that we’ve almost forgotten what a curse it was when it was closed. Nobody was more relieved than the traders of WAPPING WHARF, who’d long been cut off from their south-of-the-river customer base; to mark the occasion of the bridge reopening they threw a party.

It went down so well that they’re doing it again this year, with a huge free evening of entertainment on Harbourside from 5pm on 6 September, with live music, kids’ activities, food and drink and late-night shopping. Local drumming troupe Batida Bristol will start off the celebrations, with further tunes coming from The Ambling Band later on.

@wappingwharf on Instagram for the full shizzle.

There is no justice in this world. Those who live on or near Chandos Road already have their pick of some of Bristol’s best restaurants, and now look! Korean restaurant BOKMAN, long a beloved fixture on Nine ree Hill and once listed as a Michelin Plate (the category no longer exists), is opening a second restaurant, DONGNAE, at Number 5 in early September.

Dongnae (# in Korean) means ‘neighbourhood’, and husband-and-wife owners Duncan Robertson and Kyu Jeong Jeon say they’re honoured to be part of the vibrant culinary scene on the street.

“Just like Bokman, the menu will be inspired by Kyu’s upbringing in Seoul and our time living there, so expect more authentic Korean fare,” says Duncan. “We’re keeping the focus on fire cooking, this time in the form of traditional Korean BBQ from our custom charcoal grill. With our amazing new kitchen, we’ll be able to bring you dishes we could never realise at Bokman”. www.dongnae.co.uk

CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

Love ’Shack

Who dares, drinks coffee. Or something like that

Regular readers (particularly you, my very favourite person, you) may remember that a while back, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this here lovely magazine, the Café Society crew and I made a solemn vow. To spend the rest of the year visiting some old haunts and searching up new hangouts. And so far, that’s exactly what we’ve been doing. Most marvellous it has been, too. Fabulous fun. A cornucopia of café-tastic delights, one cup at a time. his issue’s coffee shop of choice is new to us, but obviously

“You can’t judge a café by its outward appearance, especially when you’re wearing sunnies”

not to others. Dareshack sits slap, bang, wallop in the middle of town, somewhere between Castle Park and St Nick’s market. o find it, just start in the park, cross the rainbow road crossing and head towards St Nick’s; you can’t miss it.

Or at least, you can’t miss the sign on the pavement, the one that proudly proclaims, “When you buy our coffee, cakes, sandwiches (and so on, the list was quite comprehensive), you are funding creative projects.”

I saw the sign, had no idea what that meant, but was intrigued enough to poke a nostril inside the doorway. Which was when I got a bit of a surprise. Because it was absolutely massive in there. Enormous.

Now, we all know the golden rule when it comes to books, covers and not being Mr. Judgy McJudgy face about them. But this place takes things to a whole new level.

From the outside the look is all doom, gloom and dystopian artwork. Mind, could have been my sunglasses, now I think about it. Made me think that whatever was inside there would be equally dark, dingy and doomladen. Again, sunglasses. Note to self. Not a good idea. Take them off next time. But it was far from all that. Worlds away, in fact.

Tsk, tsk. That’s what you get for being all judgy, dear reader. You get to be wrong, wrong, WRONG.

Since my companion and I were by now in desperate need of some coffee, cake and sandwich solutions, we went on in and had a proper look around. Very nice it was too. Really warm and welcoming feel. Turns out, they also did a mighty fine line in tasty sandwich treats. So we went for a pair of pastrami and ciabatta beauties, washed down by a couple of colourful juice smoothies. One red, one green. All were top-notch.

After several minutes of café contentment, we decided to keep our comfortable corner vibe going, so stayed on for a spot of dessert in the form of a brace of very pleasing, burnt Basque cheesecakes with coffee.

All in all, a timely reminder that you can’t judge a book by its cover, and you can’t judge a café by its outward appearance, especially when you’re wearing sunnies. So it’s time to ask yourself – do you dare shack? ‘Cos we did, and mighty glad we were, too. 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

THE BRISTOL BUZZ

Even if you’re familiar with all 60 venues celebrated in The Opinionated Guide to Bristol, you’ll want a copy anyway

We’re suckers for a Bristol guidebook. Sometimes they teach us things we didn’t know – rarely, obviously! – but mostly we just love seeing our favourite places being bigged up. It reminds us how outstanding this city is, leaving us with a smug little glow.

Enter the recently published An Opinionated Guide to Bristol, a very pretty, very neat little pocket-sized book from Hoxton Mini-Press. Yes, Hoxton; admittedly most of their city titles are London-centric, but they’ve gone on to produce guides to a few other towns which can rival the capital’s cool Brighton, Margate, and now Bristol.

Of course, any Bristolian perusing a book about Bristol is just primed to pick holes, especially when it’s been published out of town, but Hoxton Mini-Press are wise to this and they’ve headed us off at the pass with a charm offensive.

Author Florence Filose, we read, “Is a writer and editor born and raised in the West Country” (good). She “moved to London in her twenties” (huh!) “before remembering all the reasons that Bristol is better” (oh, OK then). “She now lives and works back in Bristol, where she splits her time between sampling local ciders and pushing her bike up hills’. We expect Florence also likes to fly in hot-air balloons in her spare time, is partial to a boogie at Love Saves the Day and only ever drinks tea from a Stokes Croft China mug; however, we’ll forgive the mild sin of stereotyping, because the book is charming.

Introductory chapter The Bristol Buzz is spot-on in describing the unique vibe of the city, and we’re not quibbling with Florence’s recommendations for a perfect Bristol weekend. The main central areas are neatly delineated, and the information is up-to-date. The main body of the book consists of succinct, nicely written profiles on well-worth-a-visits, from local landmarks to arts venues, cafés, bars and restaurants; the pics, many by local photographers, are beautiful, it’s printed on sexy matt paper stock and has a cool minimal cover.

It’s really an entry-level guide to the city, but you may well discover a few places that were previously under your radar. Best of all, all the entries have been honestly selected – it truly is an opinionated, as opposed to sneakily sponsored, guide Here are a few extracts.

1KASK WINE

Joyfully unpretentious wine bar and shop

Whether you’re a wine buff or just wish you were, KASK will make you feel welcome – then inspire you to try something new. Championing organic producers and interesting terroirs, their menu of wines available by the glass or on tap changes weekly (but always features a cheese plate specially selected to complement what’s being poured).

3STOKES

CROFT CHINA (pictured overleaf)

Homeware that resists convention.

Prefer your political statements printed on bone china? Run by the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, a community organization dedicated to keeping the Stokes Croft spirit of creative dissent alive and kicking, here you’ll find a potted history of Bristolian activism fired onto ceramics of all sorts. heir defiant designs span witty criti ues of the government to impassioned advocacy for nature and the NHS (with some pissed-off cats thrown in for good measure .

2FULL COURT PRESS

A speciality coffee shop for everyone Is good coffee a science or an art? At Full ourt Press, it’s both. Behind the stripped-back wooden counters, baristas attend to funnels and flasks that wouldn’t look out of place in a lab, while the walls are adorned with framed packets from an array of roasters in place of pictures. ou might think that all sounds offputtingly hipster, but fear not – no one here will sneer if you prefer a milky latte to a fashionable filter.

BRISTOL BOOK

4UNDER THE STARS

Hidden gem on the hectic harbourside

Under the Stars isn’t misnamed: this boat bar is the perfect place to sit beneath a twinkling sky and put the world to rights while working your way through their cocktail menu. But don’t get so carried away by the top deck that you forget to venture down below to the rather lovely hidden restaurant. The menu is mainly Mediterranean tapas: plates of spiced tiger prawns, padron peppers and patatas bravas add to the warm atmosphere.

5THE GARDEN OF EASTON

Neighbourhood restaurant for global cuisine

This spot in Easton is full to the rafters with hanging plants and curling vines. Brunch options range from Turkish eggs to Japanese pancakes, while at night they serve small plates and switch on fairy lights among the leaves.

6BOKMAN

Sensational Korean food in spare surroundings

here’s a supper club atmosphere to this snug Korean joint just off Stokes Croft: the star of the show is the succulent, crispy skinned tongdak a whole rotisserie chicken stuffed with sticky rice, but don’t miss out on the other authentic flavours husband-and-wife team Duncan Robertson and Kyu Jeong Jeon are showcasing here, from a bimibap bowl so piping hot that you can see the rice caramelising before your eyes, to the indisputably best kimchi in Bristol.

“A bimibap bowl so piping hot that you can see the rice caramelising before your eyes”

7MARTIN PARR FOUNDATION

Iconic photographer’s photo book archive

Beloved Bristol-based photographer Martin Parr has long been a champion of the photobook, having published around 40 of his own. It’s no surprise therefore, that the Martin Parr Foundation is a veritable treasure trove of them. The library, which holds over 5,000 photobooks, is primarily available to members (you can sign up online) but the gallery is free for all – and its gift shop is a collection in itself. n

Want to see the full text (and remaining 53 entries)?

The Opinionated Guide to Bristol costs £10.94 from www.hoxtonminipress.com

STEVE TAYLOR

WEEKEND MAXMARA AGRO GLASS AND RESIN NECKLACE, £60 (WAS £120)

Sitting close to the neck, this statement necklace will instantly elevate the simplest dress, shirt or tee

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

From aqua seas to azure skies, the blue hues of Southern Europe are just an ‘add to cart’ away

OTTOLENGHI FEAST PLATES, £16.50-£56.25 (REDUCED)

Summer, quite literally, on a plate, in lapis lazuli blue with a white swirl dot pattern rom i ni aol err e s www.fi .co.

SIMPLY MED

DURALEX BLUE COFFEE MUG, £4

The ideal mug needs to be the perfect mix of style, practicality and durability, and nobody does it better than French glassware brand Duralex – we love the bright blue colour and timeless silhouette of this Versaille design

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

IB LAURSEN QUILTED EVERYDAY BAG, £23

he capacious, light design offers enormous versatility and practicality; the charming stripe does the rest. We’re using ours as a beach bag, but it’s an absolute multi-tasker

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

INDI & COLD POSITANA DRESS, £143.50 (WAS £205)

Leave loose and relaxed, or belt in for a more fitted shape; either way, the blue pattern is the Med on a stick From Maze, 26-28 The Mall www.mazeclothing.co.uk

RICE MELAMIME CUPS, £6 EACH

Obviously you can have any letter, and spell whatever you like, but you have to admit our choice looks like fun

From Fig1, Unit 9 Gaol Ferry e s www.fi .co.

CASTAÑER BILINIA 60 ESPADRILLES, £120

Elevate your sandal game with these denim-blue and neutral canvas wedges

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

BLOOMINGVILLE PETUNIA BUTTER BOX, £32.90

Made of stoneware, with a romantic vintage pattern

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

WEEKEND MAXMARA RAVELLO

NECKLACE, £26

With Greek eyes for luck; equally ideal worn on its own, or layered

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

Wear them at the beach, pool or lido – or if you’re feeling emboldened by

Pedal pushers, cigarette trousers, capri pants: if they hit anywhere between mid-calf and just below the knee, we Paul Mescal’s trendsetting shortshorts style, take them to the streets

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

NKUKU SMALL COFFEE MUG, £12.50

Don’t know about you, but there's never not room for another small coffee mug on our kitchen shelves

From Fig1, Unit 9 Gaol Ferry Steps www.fi .co.

BLUE CONTRAST BIKINI BOTTOMS, £25 (WAS £32); TOP, £25 (WAS £35)

Anything with a bit of white trim looks retro-cool in our book, and if there’s a bit of gold bling, even better

From Mint Velvet, 44 Regent Street www.mintvelvet.com

PAUL SMITH SWIM SHORTS,

YOU’VE GOT IT MADE

From made-to-measure storage to one-off designs, custombuilt furniture can do more than just improve the look of your home – it can also transform how you use it. Contrary to popular belief, it needn’t cost a small fortune, either…

By Kirsty Lake

When going custom, you want to talk, talk and talk some more. “The more clients understand about the process, the more satisﬁed they’ll be,” a joiner once told me, and I’ve never found reason to disagree. The better I understand my client’s requirements, the more smoothly the process will generally go

THE BIG TIP

The utility room in this Victorian villa was such an awkward size and shape, bespoke was without doubt the way to go to squeeze everything in. We put in a Shaker-style kitchen with Belfast sink, tongue-and-groove detailing and such essentials as space to store a massive bottle and jug collection, while retaining room for the dogs to snooze below the units

INTERIORS

FUTURE CLASSICS

Ensure your custom piece is one you’ll adore forever

Consider the exact use, not just generalities. If you want a piece to house audio equipment in your living room, say, you need to know exactly what it is you want to hide, what you want on show, and the correct depth for everything. Mesh-fronted cabinets are on trend, and offer air circulation that’s ideal.

Make the most of unusual spaces. Consider the eaves of a vaulted ceiling, say. These can be beautifully maximised by madeto-measure joinery.

Embrace small spaces too. Sure, they’re tiny – but sometimes you’re only wanting to store small things. In my experience, the more bijoux the space, the more innovative the solutions can be.

Think carefully about the type of timber and ﬁnish (gloss or matt, wax or lacquer) required – and remember, you don’t have to stick to wood. Inlays in wallpaper, leather or marble can be incorporated, as can metal trims.

Speaking of wood, you can specify the type you use. Want to highlight your eco-credentials? Reclaimed timber is a possibility. Storing clothes? Cedar is a good option, as it has natural moth-battling properties. And remember, no two trees are exactly the same, so embrace their natural ‘imperfections’.

Be open to new ideas –especially once you have a good, ongoing relationship with a designer or joiner. Think you want a drinks trolly in a particular space, but they come up with a sideboard design? Roll with it –the brief has been fulﬁlled, just in a different way.

From Narnia-like wardrobes, housing more fur coats, fir trees and lonely lampposts that you could possibly imagine, to hidden libraries and fold-out home bars, bespoke joinery pieces can transform even the most unpromising corners, turning dismal spaces into tactile, practical playrooms. As an interior designer, I love the way bespoke makes the most of every available inch of space, helping your home feel bigger, function better and look sleeker – but it’s not always an easy sell. lients can feel intimidated by the whole process – the sheer range of options, how long it might take, and, yes, the potential cost.

And I get it; I do. But the thing is, the benefits often outweigh the potential issues so significantly that you’d be a tad blinkered not to at least consider it for your next project. Here, I hope to persuade you why.

ommissioning furniture may sound indulgent, but can be practical too. What you create should perfectly suit your tastes and needs, but it’s also a chance to support a maker you believe in, while the creative process becomes a joy in itself; you become part of the story, the piece part of your life as well as your home.

Why do I like bespoke joinery so much? I’ve many answers, but they all come down to one thing the level of customisation it allows. lients can specify every detail, from the obvious – how big it is, and what it’s made of – to such finicky minutiae as finishes and hidden functional features.

As designers, we get incredibly excited by all this, and love exploring the options – from integrating textured wall coverings and mirrors to playing with exotic veneers and all the incredible ironmongery on offer. Our clients love to get involved with this too. Where budget allows, a lot of the fun comes from exploring textures and materials, so while a straight painted finish is certainly timeless, more playful details can really make a design sing. he end result should do more than just maximise storage potential, but perfectly fit, or even define, the style of the room. Bespoke joinery can also add value to a property, making it more attractive when the time comes to sell.

Bespoke is often associated with superior uality and craftsmanship too – and that’s certainly been my experience, as I’ve been lucky enough to work with the

sort of skilled joiners and carpenters who constantly impress with their high- uality materials and meticulous attention to detail. he results durable and handsome pieces offering far better longevity than most mass-produced alternatives.

LITTLE BLACK BOOKS

es, yes, I hear you cry. But what about the main drawback of bespoke joinery the cost, surely?

And you’re right, custom pieces are generally more expensive, there’s no getting around it. But it’s not difficult to see why they demand skilled craftspeople and high- uality materials, while the process is nothing if not labour intensive. When you’re on a tight budget, it can’t help but feel an impractical option.

And there are other downsides, too. he whole process is time-consuming, built of certain unavoidable steps – the initial consultation, the design phase, the material selection, then the actual crafting of the piece – which are a real disadvantage when working to tight deadlines. hat said, seeking professional advice as early as possible gives you at least a fighting chance.

Finally, the success of bespoke joinery relies heavily on the skill and experience of those making it. Finding the right joiner can be challenging, but luckily designers and architects have little black books full of wonderful possibilities, and can help navigate the entire process, not least handling the most tedious and technical of the hundreds of – sometimes tiny – design decisions you’ll need to make along the way.

One last warning though the possibilities are endless, that too can be a trap, so proceed with caution. Get too out-there with your design, finish it in the most unlikely surfaces or go too stylised read wacky in terms of the design, and you risk creating a piece that speaks only to you. he worst bespoke joinery is not something with rough edges, or sticky drawers, but rather a piece that adversely impacts the resale value of your home – and which the new owner will simply rip right out again.

Kirsty Lake is creative director at The Curator’s House; 01225 696996; www.thecuratorshouse.co.uk

CAUGHT MY EYE

Kirsty’s interiors edit for September: this time it’s all custom-made or tailorable details, prices on application

1. Bespoke library ladders by Library Ladder Company; llcompany.co.uk

2. Bespoke doorknobs, handles and hardware (this is one called Benjamin CH II) by Oliver Knights; oliverknights.com

3. Regency diamond grilles by Armac Martin; armacmartin.co.uk

4. Assorted veneers by Capital Crispin; capitalcrispin.com

5. Ironbridge shot blast brass shelf brackets by YesterHome; yesterhome.com 4

THAT WORKS!

Show us a quirkier, more imaginative ofﬁce space: we’ll wait . . . the original Bristol DeskLodge, at Redcliffe

Creative, versatile, adaptable and independent – these Bristol co-working hubs are guaranteed to lure you back into the ofﬁce

Words by Ursula Cole

The pandemic revolutionised the traditional model for the working environment, proving to even the most sceptical of employers that for many people, working from home could be as efficient as clocking into a physical office –maybe even more.

So now, in 2024 how does the office landscape look? Is everyone mad keen to rush back to a shared working space, or are we clinging fiercely to our working-from-home mojo? Or maybe something in between? It really depends on the nature of your job, the sector you work in, and your personality.

Many employers have also come to appreciate the savings involved through abandoning the full-time physical office, pivoting instead to a more flexible leasing model which offers a hybrid working pattern for their staff.

No wonder the demand for office hubs has grown; below, we take a look at a few of the best shared working spaces in the city.

DESKLODGE

Redcliffe Way, Beacon Tower www.desklodge.com

After capturing everyone’s imagination with its wildly creative first Bristol branch on edcliffe Way, the hub has opened a second space within Beacon Tower.

What kind of space do you offer? With two locations in Bristol, we’re proud to offer lots of flexible options for today’s way of working: customisable private offices on a full or part-time basis, day offices, dedicated desks, hot-desking (on a huge and vibrant scale), meeting rooms, event space, and virtual office services.

What’s the USP?

Our recently opened 5,000 sq ft roof terrace at Beacon Tower is probably the largest workspace roof terrace in the city: perfect for hosting clients, company gettogethers, working lunches, and a home for our monthly members socials. Our services and USP don’t necessarily vary from others, but it’s the way we deliver them that makes us the happiest workspace around. We have lots of awards to back that up, which keep us tweaking

the workspace offering and always evolving and improving.

Does any particular sector work out of your ofﬁces?

We’re here for all teams and freelancers who wants a happy, productive community to work from. Recently we’ve attracted lots of cutting-edge tech companies –one team called us ‘the new hub for tech in Bristol’ – and recruitment. But you’ll find a mix of industries who call us home, and we’re happy not to be a one-size-fits-all space.

How important is socialising between members?

Bringing people together is at the heart of what we do. Monthly socials to suit everyone, at breakfast and evening; pop-up events during the workday – regular bakeries and cake stands, anyone?, and getting members together outside of the workspace for lunch walks and fitness classes. hese events bring together members who might never cross paths in the building, but find they have something in common outside their business life.

Anything else we should know?

In the last two years we’ve won eight national and local awards, been shortlisted for numerous others, been listed on the Sunday Times Best Places to Work List , certified as a B Corp and amassed over 200 5* Google reviews. We’re incredibly proud of our team and the services we provide; it’s clear that where you work matters. So if you’re near a DeskLodge, pop on in for a tour and see what all the fuss is about.

ORIGIN WORKSPACE

40 Berkeley Square

www.originworkspace.co.uk

A premium co-working, meeting and events space in Berkeley Square offering a balance of full-time, parttime and hybrid working patterns, with a strong wellness ethic. “At Origin Workspace, we are here to redefine your workday, they say.

What do your ofﬁces offer in terms of space?

Our inviting ground-floor lounge is perfect for relaxed meetings or work sessions. Throughout the building you’ll find open-plan co-

working areas, with dedicated and hot-desking options, kitchens, and breakout spaces. Need privacy? We have soundproof telephone booths and solo working pods. Our pristine glass office spaces offer a professional and stylish environment. he th floor elevates the experience with private offices and not just one, but two, roof terraces with far-reaching views across the city.

What’s the USP?

Alongside our sleek office and desk spaces, open seven days a week, we offer a dedicated onsite wellbeing centre for workouts throughout the day, and a variety of wellness

“WE ARE THE ONLY FLEXIBLE WORKSPACE WITH A PRIVATE MEMBERS’ CLUB IN BRISTOL”

Colour and creativity with bells on at DeskLodge in Beacon Tower (previous page: their Redcliffe hub)

classes, from physio-led pilates to HIIT sessions. We’re also experts in running park run events, paddle tournaments and barre workshops.

Does any particular sector work out of your ofﬁces?

We host over businesses; most of our members belong to the creative, media, and digital marketing industries, with a significant presence of property agents and recruitment organisations as well.

How important is socialising between members?

At Origin Workspace, our community is key. We host numerous events to keep our community engaged and wellconnected, such as outings to Queen’s Club and Cheltenham Races. Our charity volunteering days are always so well attended by

members, and we’ve hosted two golf days to raise funds for one of our chosen charities, Access Sport. We run business seminars, movie nights and board game nights to facilitate new relationships and encourage face-to-face interactions; we time our monthly free breakfasts and lunches for maximum engagement.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

We invite Bristol professionals to visit Origin Workspace for a taster day to see all we have to offer. Our hot-desk membership includes five to 10 days of access to our space, and we currently have a limited number of office spaces available.

BRISTOL OFFICE CO

St Augustine’s Parade;Gilbert House, 37 Corn Street www.bathofﬁce.co.uk Highly-central open-plan offices.

Tell us about the spaces

We offer a mix of dedicated desks within open-plan spaces, private offices for one to people, all complemented by free-to-use meeting rooms, call booths and breakout spaces.

What’s the main USP?

We’re proud to be locally owned and operated. From the coffee in our cups to the art on our walls, we’re passionate about partnering with our local community, and try to bridge the gap and add value to customers between Bristol and Bath.

Does any particular sector work out of your ofﬁces?

We’re non-exclusive and open to all. From one-person-band therapists and consultants to larger tech and creative businesses, to professional and financial services brands, we have spaces to suit a variety of sectors, and usually find ways to configure spaces or security systems to match the requirements of any particular business.

How important is socialising among members?

Massive! Communication, collaboration and smiles in the corridor are what create the atmosphere. Gilbert House on Corn Street has a communal breakout space and terrace on the fifth floor, and St Augustine’s Parade has a large space on the third floor with a pool table and room for up to for networking or presentations. We organise breakfasts, lunches and evening events, also opening these

ABOVE: How does anyone ever get any work done at Origin?; BELOW: Ditto Square Works . . .

spaces up for external partners to host masterclasses.

Anything else we should know?

We’re a non-corporate alternative flex space provider for businesses which want to provide a hypercentral, in-town workplace for their teams, that comes with atmosphere, character and loads of partner privileges – all at the right price.

SQUARE WORKS

17-19 Berkeley Square www.squareworksbristol.com

Handsome town-house offices in an elegant Clifton square. “At Square Works, we listen to our members and regularly welcome feedback from them. From the coffee to the lighting, every detail is designed with our members in mind , says head of community Kevin owles.

What does your space offer?

A wide range of spaces, from large serviced offices to dedicated desk areas and open-plan hot-desking. Whether seeking a quiet space to power through your to-do lists, or a lively and collaborative area to inspire ideas and encourage connections, we’ve got you covered. We have a number of lounges and breakout spaces that are ideal for casual working or catch-ups, and our range of meeting rooms and presentation spaces available to both members and non-members ,

“ONE TEAM CALLED US ‘THE NEW HUB FOR TECH IN BRISTOL’ ”

FARLEFT: We feel immediately more cool and collected looking at Bristol Ofﬁce’s space INSET: Origin are ‘here to redeﬁne your workday’

phone booths and presentation spaces means there is something to suit everyone.

Our meeting rooms are all e uipped with video conferencing systems, Panasonic HD s and complimentary refreshments, with the option to order food from the award-winning S uare Kitchen restaurant delivered to your desk. Last year, we expanded into an additional Georgian town house on Berkeley S uare, introducing five new floors of luxurious offices, meeting rooms, and a state-of-theart fitness suite to our portfolio.

What’s the USP?

We are the only flexible workspace with a private members’ club in Bristol. Established in as Bristol’s first private members’ club for creatives, he S uare lub has a network of over , members,

CREATE REAL ESTATE

New kid on the Bristol block Create specialises in renovating heritage spaces. At 1-2 Portwall Lane, its new Bristol project Portwall Lofts is a boutique workspace ﬁlled with natural light, character and historic charm within an impressive Victorian red brick warehouse; the 5,671 sq ft of ultra-sustainable space is now available to lease in its entirety, including showers, lockers and bike storage. You’ll even get to use the energy generated from the rooftop solar panel. www.portwalllofts.co.uk

with a bouti ue lounge, awardwinning restaurant, lower-deck cocktail bar and the heated and covered outdoor secret garden, to which all our members receive unrestricted access.

he S uare lub is also part of the Sonato Alliance, which means members can access the highest uality members’ clubs across the globe at no extra cost.

How important is socialising?

Our strong sense of community is what sets us apart; from the friendly welcome our members enjoy every morning to the lively parties that continue into the night, we encourage connections beyond the traditional work environment.

We have an extensive events calendar, offering everything from seasonal soirées to business development seminars. Our regular

Prosecco hursday event brings together members from all around the building, and our uarterly members’ parties offer the chance to unwind and socialise over signature cocktails and food from the S uare Kitchen.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

Square Works is part of Quarter, an independent hospitality group with over years of experience in Bristol. his expertise has allowed us to pioneer a co-working space that feels like a home for individuals and businesses of all sizes, with five-star hotel-like service integrated into the everyday.

Members can take advantage of a wide range of partner benefits and discounts, including exclusive rates at our hotels and restaurants close to Square Works.

GATHER ROUND

A creative space, created by creatives for creatives: this quintessentially Bristol hub is now expanding into Bath

Words by Ursula Cole

Co-founders Jason Smith and Ben Steers launched the first branch of Gather Round at Southville’s Cigar Factory in 2019, with the dream of building a co-working space built by creatives, for creatives. The hub was a success, and its original members are still friends today.

However, Jason and Ben knew that Gather Round would only continue to work if the community grew, and opportunities for their members grew alongside it. Now, with two locations in Bristol and one launching this autumn in Bath, each co-working space is ideally placed at the heart of a busy urban centre.

“What makes Gather Round truly unique is the members’ community,” Jason said at the beginning of the Gather Round journey. “Our spaces are created only for people who work in creative industries. From designers to illustrators, copywriters, marketers, photographers and video producers and more, the spectrum of skills is diverse, but they all have one thing in common – every member works in a creative role.

“The community began to grow at our first location, and connections were being made organically. The flow of space was working with our approach to the design and the feedback we received was incredibly supportive. And importantly, our own creative team really enjoyed the space.

“After only six months we had

to close: Covid had struck. This didn’t seem to stop our community, though; even when we weren’t physically together, there was such a feeling of solidarity. Through the good times and the bad, people were there for one another, with genuine friendships and connections shining through.

“It was partly due to this positivity that we decided to launch Brunswick Square, our second location in central Bristol. At the time, people told us we were mad, and that remote working would become the new norm, but we had an unerring sense of belief in the basic need for human interaction.

“Our approach to Brunswick S uare was all about the flexibility to accommodate a completely new approach to working, as well as expanding our community: a community of creatives who had all been through their own struggles. Making sure people had a safe space which welcomed them back after lockdown was absolutely crucial.

“This autumn, plans are underway for the launch of Gather Round at Trinity Church in Bath, and we couldn’t be more excited about this next chapter in the story.”

As marketing director Dani Stinchcombe explains, all the Gather Round buildings are rich in heritage. “These are spaces in which communities of the past once gathered. They have been respectfully restored and brought back to life with standout interior design; local artworks and designer furniture sit alongside original features to create an inspiring

Gather Round has been speciﬁcally designed for those working in the creative industries (and judging by the pic below, that includes Good Boys)

aesthetic. Members can make the most of cosy corners, beautiful meeting rooms, vibrant communal areas and production spaces.”

But what makes them truly unique, she says, is the community which inhabits them. “Gather Round is more than a co-working space. It’s a growing network of likeminded creative professionals who go to work every day and sit, write, design, consult and hang out, soaking up the energy, passion and positivity from the ideas and expertise of others.

“Our Brunswick Square location also has an inspiring event space available for hire which comfortably accommodates up to 100 guests for screenings, networking events, workshops and gigs, while our two production spaces offer a blank canvas for film and photography, yoga, classes and rehearsals.”

Gather Round currently has 220 members across its two Bristol locations, and the new branch at Trinity Church in Bath will have space for another 120 across studios, resident desks and fleximemberships.

Members are passionate about

“MEMBERS ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON – EVERY MEMBER WORKS IN A CREATIVE ROLE”

their community, meaning that Gather Round frequently gets new enquiries through word of mouth.

“Our free events also draw people into the space,” says Dani, “aided by our marketing efforts on social media and through Bristol Creative Industries – we’re soon to be working with Creative Bath.

“We regularly consult our members, off the record and through surveys, to ensure we get to know them well. From this we’ve created a packed schedule of free events including many socials and parties, wine-and-cheese nights, creative collaboration workshops, networking events, free monthly breakfasts, fitness clubs and yoga at lunch time.

“We’ve recently launched a series of free events called Gather Round Presents, to celebrate our fifth birthday and give something back to the creative community. he first event, Building Creative Resilience, saw our event space packed to the rafters with creatives from all backgrounds joining to hear an incredibly informative presentation from Spencer Buck of Taxi Studio.

“Look out for the next event, coming on 26 September, featuring Miranda Roundstone from Grace & Green, who’ll be doing an inspiring talk on Breaking the Taboo.

“We will be ramping up our free events schedule over the next few months, so for more information and to be the first to get your name on the guest list, sign up to our newsletter at the website below.”

For more: www.gather-round.co

SCALING TO SUCCESS

Bristol Life’s illuminating round table with Rathbones reveal secrets to growth

Arecent report from the ScaleUp Institute showed that there are 33,955 ScaleUp companies in the UK contributing £1.2 trillion to the UK economy. his represents over of the value of the UK SME community, despite these companies making up less than . of the SME population.

Many of them are based in the South West, and together with Rathbones, MediaClash hosted a round table discussion at Bristol

Harbour Hotel – bringing together 15 leaders – to try to dig into what are the familiar traits that distinguish a ScaleUp business.

For the record, the OE D defines a ScaleUp business as a company that already has a profitable and scalable business model and grows above in either turnover or number of employees over a three-year period.

SO, WHAT DOES SET THEM APART?

Through working for Bristol Life publishers MediaClash, Annie Kelly

meets lots of ScaleUp companies. She says that one clear trait that sets them apart is how they build strong and enduring culture:

“You do see one common thread that comes through when you talk to successful ScaleUps, and that is the ability – alongside financial prudence and finding product market fit –to build and keep strong culture as the company grows exponentially,” she said.

James Kingston, the founder and managing director of Kingston Barnes spoke about growing the business from zero to £10m. “How the role you play as a leader is always changing. You often need to step back and look at what you are doing and whether you are being effective and you have the right people around you.

“I started as a fee-earner in the business, and played a role in every part, but you eventually need to become the leader with a helicopter view or the business, and you need to learn to delegate and not spread yourself too thin, because you will become ineffective.

THE HAYES PARSONS STORY ames Wollam took over Hayes Parsons Insurance Brokers via a management buyout (MBO) and agrees that building a clear vision and culture is the foundation to success.

“We’ll be at 60 people at the end of the year and there is no manual that tells you how things will change on your growth journey. However, there are natural points in your businesses cycle where you will need to adapt to change if you want to scale. For example, when you employ around 20 people it is easier to build a culture, as you pick the people, but when you are at 50 people you can’t speak to your team every day.

“THE ROLE OF MARKETING AND BRANDING BOTH PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE WHEN SCALING A BUSINESS”

However, if you have built a strong culture and the team understand the vision, it makes it easier as your span of control decreases as the business grows.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUST

Richard Freke, managing director of H2R Selection, spoke about the challenges faced as you scale. “What has been said regarding building culture is correct and if you want to scale, trust is also important because you need to be able to let people deliver on what they are paid to do and let them do it. ”This is more acute now too because of remote and hybrid working.”

The subject of work culture was also tackled by Peter Hucker, CEO of XLedger.

“When you move through the gears from six to 60 people, internal communication doesn’t come as naturally, and you can have teams that work in silos which is where

being intentional about culture and communication becomes vital. It is not enough to tell people what the strategy is; you need to show people why this is the strategy and how they will play a part in it.”

A DIFFERENT MINDSET

One of the interesting considerations when scaling a business is whether the founder is the best person to go on the growth journey.

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, was brought in to accelerate the company’s growth: “At Neighbourly, the founder isn’t in the business anymore, but the story will be different for every company. It depends on who the founder is, as to whether they are the right person to scale the business. I love the scaling stage but beyond 150 people, it becomes less personal and requires a different mindset to where my strengths and experience lie.

“When I joined the business,

the founder was playing a brand ambassador role, and my role was to break even and raise capital within eighteen months.”

Steve also says that it’s harder to scale business now than it was in 2021 and the conversation from investors has shifted from growth at all costs to focusing on profitability and product market fit.

ORGANIC GROWTH V FUNDING

Achieving scale – and quickly – can often require external funding, typically through raising debt or giving away equity: “You can grow organically but many businesses will be restrained by how quickly they can. For us, we would have missed our market opportunity, if we hadn’t taken investment at the time we did,” says Steve Butterworth.

Victoria Nabahani, a director at Thought Quarter, says that the business has been bootstrapped by its founder Sam Armondi but aided by

acquiring other agencies along the way.

John Lau, managing director of FPOV, has also seen how acquisition can be a lever to achieve scale. “We have scaled by merger because in our market we didn’t feel like we had all the collateral needed to win projects and the mergers have allowed us to have a bigger platform and increase our brand,” he said. “We are international too, and being so requires strong communication skills and establishing a clear culture.”

While James Kingston has grown Kingston Barnes organically, he does say that taking on investment makes a leader accountable, especially if you have given away equity.

THE ROLE OF MARKETING

The discussion concluded with the subject of marketing, and how this is also a key ingredient which separates businesses which scale with ones which don’t.

Paul Mill is the founder of VCMO. “The role of marketing and branding both play a significant role when scaling a business, but many scaleups confuse the two,” he says. “The strategic role of marketing is to create demand for an unmet need in the market, nurture and retain customers, and generate value for the business.

“On the other hand, brand strategy is focused on establishing a distinctive position in the market, influencing the perception of customers (and business partners) about the value on offer and consistently delivering on the functional, emotional, and ethical promises. When scaleups do marketing and branding well, they can create a sustainable competitive advantage that attracts more customers, better talent and increases enterprise value, making the business more attractive to investors or potential buyers.”

For more: www.mediaclash.co.uk

James Woollam of Hayes Parsons takes the ﬂoor

ELEVATE YOUR BUSINESS

Imagine offering your team a workspace that combines historic elegance with modern luxury while greeting your clients in an environment that reflects the prestige of your business. That’s the reality at Portwall Lofts, Bristol’s most exclusive boutique office space. Housed in a meticulously restored Victorian red brick warehouse, Portwall Lofts is a space that will lift productivity, inspire creativity, and mirror the high standards of your company.

AN ENTRANCE THAT IMPRESSES

First impressions matter. Portwall Lofts makes a statement from the moment you walk through the private entrance. The lobby’s sumptuous velvet banquette, authentic Crittall windows and terrazzo floor tiles exude sophistication. Antique bronze finishes add a timeless charm, impressing clients and visitors alike.

AN INSPIRING WORK ENVIRONMENT

Inside, the workspace fosters productivity and collaboration. The grand vaulted timber frame ceiling and natural wood floors create a bright, airy atmosphere with natural light flooding through lofty windows. The flexible layout lends itself naturally to breakout areas, meeting spaces, and workstations, allowing the environment to be tailored to suit your team’s needs. Every detail is designed to enhance wellbeing and inspire.

FLEXIBLE LEASING OPTIONS

Portwall Lofts offers flexibility to suit your business’s unique needs. The two expansive

floors, totalling 5,671 square feet, can be let independently or together. Leasing both floors provides a self-contained environment with a private entrance, and the opportunity of your business branding on the high profile and elegant Victorian elevation fronting Portwall Lane, as well as amenities such as showers, lockers and secure bike storage, that would be exclusively yours.

A PRIME LOCATION FOR BUSINESS

Perfectly located at One Portwall Lane in Redcliffe, Portwall Lofts places your business at the heart of Bristol’s vibrant commercial district. Just a five-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads railway station, it offers unparalleled convenience for travel. Secure indoor bike storage caters to green commuting. During breaks, you can explore the green space of Queen Square, lunch at the independent restaurants of Wapping Wharf, or just enjoy the bustle of Bristol Harbourside. The location presents endless temptations for team bonding and client entertainment.

COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is paramount at Portwall Lofts, which holds an EPC A rating and BREEAM Excellent accreditation. The workspace features solar panels, low-flow water appliances, and energy-efficient LED lighting. High-end heating, cooling, and ventilation systems ensure a comfortable environment year-round while reducing your company’s carbon footprint and energy costs.

EXCLUSIVE AND AUTONOMOUS

Portwall Lofts offers complete autonomy with a private entrance and branded signage if both floors are let together. This self-contained space includes all necessary amenities, from showers and lockers to secure bike storage. The flexible workspace layout can be customized to meet your business’s unique requirements. If the floors are let separately, each business will enjoy an exclusive, inspiring workspace designed to enhance productivity.

YOUR NEW BUSINESS HOME

Choosing Portwall Lofts means positioning your business in a prestigious, inspiring, and sustainable environment. The blend of historic charm, modern luxury, and eco-friendly design makes Portwall Lofts the ideal choice for forwardthinking busineses. n

Discover Portwall Lofts Today

Ready to elevate your business to new heights?

Visit www.portwalllofts.co.uk or contact our letting agents, Hannah Waterhouse at 07855 414570, and Roxine Foster at 07834 626024, to book your tour. See firsthand how Portwall Lofts can become the new home for your business in the heart of Bristol.

HOW O OWN A G AND DESIGN

. . . without all the mud, sweat and tears

Words by Ursula Cole

Ever been enthralled by the rollercoaster dramas of the TV show Grand Designs? Succumbed to green-eyed envy over the successful self-builds? Guilty of schadenfreude when the whole thing goes pear-shaped? (Don’t deny it, you’re not fooling anyone.)

Of course, to own a magnificent, uni ue new home similar to those featured on the show, you don’t have to go through all the mud, sweat and tears. Just let somebody else do all the hard work, and take all the risks, then simply buy it from them when the builders have left.

Take Belle Vista (if you’re lucky); an extraordinary one-off house on West Hill in Wraxhall, created with design flair and an eye on sustainability. While the house is fully built – you won’t find any abandoned diggers sitting dolefully about in muddy puddles – it’s not entirely a done deal; it’s being sold with an ‘immersive design package’, which means you can put your own stamp on your dazzling new home.

With a name like Belle ista you’d hope for a decent view, and in fact the position of the house is one of its biggest USPs. Eric Davis of architects Ercle, who worked with local developer Alex Tryfonos to build the home, fills us in.

We saw the hillside location as an opportunity, says Eric. We found that by cutting into, and stepping away from, the slope of the site, we were able to provide direct access to the outside on all three levels, which is uite special. We also used the level change as a privacy screen, so from the roadside Belle Vista looks like an unassuming single-storey property. Only those who are invited in get to appreciate and experience all that it is.”

‘All that it is’ translates into a home set over three floors, with high ceilings and huge expanses of glass

“Only those who are invited into the house get to appreciate and experience all that it is”

that jealously harnesses every beam of sunlight – and there’s plenty to go around, given the house’s southerly orientation. There are large terraces and balconies at every level, allowing you to spill outdoors from every principal room at the merest threat of good weather.

The house is set back from the road behind a smart new boundary wall, in which an electric-gated driveway provides plenty of parking for your visitors – and I’d better warn you, you’re likely to attract quite a few –along with a four-car garage. Beneath the garage is a large gym, though this could be equally be used as a suite for guests, older kids, ancient relatives or staff.

The main hallway sets out the intentions for the house, with huge windows spanning two floor, beautifully framing the eponymous belle vista beyond.

Vast rooms sit on either side of the hall. At over 30ft, the kitchen/family room has full wiring and plumbing, but the appliances are units are left to you. This makes for a significant saving after all, not all expensive fitted kitchens might be to your taste, and here you’ll never need to rip out something you effectively paid for.

Bifold doors open from the kitchen to the full-width balcony, but an even wider one awaits you at the end of the 28ft sitting room on the other side of the hallway.

Stairs lead down to a lower hallway; you can use the four rooms here as en-suite bedrooms, or stick to the developer’s vision and use one as a home cinema.

You’ll probably be keen to see the master bedroom; it’s unlikely to disappoint. There’s a freestanding bath in the bedroom, perfectly positioned for taking in the country views while relaxing in drinking both bubbles,

The Traditional Timber Window Co.

SPECIALISTS IN SASH WINDOWS

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.

Unit 4 Midsomer Enterprise Park, Midsomer Norton, Bath BA3 2BB 01179 000 061 | www.sashwindowsbristol.com

Rated 5 on Google

“Haydn and his team

a private en- suite with a shower and a walk-in wardrobe. If the latter’s not big enough for your designer collection, you could knock through to the room next door to create the kind of enormous dressing room Carrie Bradshaw would kill for. Both lead out to the full-width balcony.

We haven’t mentioned the largest and most impressive terrace yet. At 30ft, and covered, it’s the outdoor kitchen/ dining room of dreams, linking directly to the garden and with washroom facilities at the back.

ust like the house, the large grounds offer a blank canvas ready for you to add your own personality, though they’ve been landscaped to allow for a large swimming pool, seating and firepit area, with a lawn for pets and kids. From the bottom part of the garden you can walk straight into the surrounding countryside.

Last words to Savills, who are marketing the house.

“A quiet and unassuming front façade conceals a hugely impressive home of incredible distinction. With the highest possible energyefficiency credentials to match its exemplar contemporary design, and the option to work with the developer to customise key areas, Belle Vista is a true one-off, unlike any other home on the market in Somerset today.”

HOUSE NUMBERS

Where Wraxhall

Guide price £3.75m

Receptions 3

Bedrooms 5

Bathrooms 5

Outside Large grounds landscaped with pool and seating area

Call my agent: Savills Clifton, 0117 933 5800 www.savills.co.uk

JODI TAYLOR

It’s never too late to write your ﬁrst book! Bristol-born Jodi had her debut novel published at the age of 60, and is now a bestselling author who has sold over one million copies

Best known for her Chronicles of St. Mary’s novels, in which the fictional historians of the St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research explore major events back in contemporary time, Jodi’s success is an inspirational story of determination, a passion for history and storytelling.

“I daydream for a living,” she says. “My publisher likes me to refer to it as writing books.”

When did you ﬁrst decide to be an author?

Actually, I didn’t. I used to enjoy writing stories at school, but my efforts were fre uently marked down because of my use of slang. When I entered the workplace I always tried to enliven my memos with little jokes and puns. In the end I gave it up because writing got me into so much trouble.

What were your favourite books as a child?

The Chronicles of Narnia, although I found it a little unrealistic.

What drew you to the historical-fantasy genre?

I’ve always loved history. Sadly I got lumbered with the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions at school, and rather lost interest at that point. As fantasy was a favourite genre for me, it made sense to combine the two.

It says in your website about the collection, “Do not call it time travel!” – so what would you call it? Well, I’d call it time travel. It’s only St Mary’s who refer to it as ‘observing major historical events in contemporary time’.

“I’m pleased and proud to say that I was rejected by nearly every agent in the land”

You went on to write the Time Police series – what’s that about, then?

In the beginning, the Time Police were only going to be generic villains, but one day I thought, “How irritating must St Mary’s be to the Time Police? Suppose I looked at events from their point of view?” I thought about it for a couple of books, deliberately making the Time Police as unpleasant as I could, and then set myself the challenge of getting my readers to like them.

Why did you wait so long to write your ﬁrst novel?

I had a job, and there were bills to pay, and families to raise, and I never really thought about it. Then I retired to Turkey. I thought I’d see if I had the mental discipline to write a book. I’m pleased and proud to say I was rejected by nearly every agent in the land. Eventually – and we should all be very clear about this – I was plied with alcohol and agreed to self-publish.

Where were you born, and what are your happiest early memories?

I was born up on the Downs in, so family legend says, St Brenda’s Nursing Home. I lived with my nan and grandad for a while. Every afternoon my nan would take me up to the Downs by steam train on the little local railway, I remember it cost tuppence, and I can recall the smell – steam, smoke, burning coal, smuts everywhere – and the chuff chuff chuff as we pulled out of the stations. We’d walk across the Suspension Bridge. I remember asking her if it would break, and she said no, they’d tested it by marching soldiers across it until they were sure it was safe. Bristol Zoo. The smell

of tar. This was the mid-’50s and Bristol was being rebuilt after the war. There were building sites and men swarming everywhere. The smell of tar always brings that back to me.

We believe Clifton Suspension Bridge features in one of your books?

It does. In What Could Possibly Go Wrong? my heroine, Max, takes a group of trainees to witness the opening. Spoiler alert uite a lot of things could go wrong, and do. For a start, they end up at the Battle of Bosworth wearing Victorian gear.

What is your most regrettable habit?

I’m lazy. Very, very lazy. I recently had a strong talk with myself about this work/life balance thing everyone’s always banging on about, and decided that, instead of writing all hours of the day and night, I would write only in the mornings. I would break off at midday, eat a healthy and nutritious lunch and then go for a beneficial walk for at least an hour, because exercise is supposed to be A Good Thing.

Who would play you in a ﬁlm of your life?

Well, hopefully, someone taller, thinner, younger, more intelligent and with proper hair. Lassie, probably.

We’d better let you get on. What are you doing immediately after answering these questions?

he first thing is a stonking great mug of tea while I read through my answers. The second – a nutritious lunch and a healthy walk – obviously.

For more: www.joditaylor.online