Bristol Life – Issue 361 by MediaClash

IT’S BRISTMAS, GROMIT!

FEAST YOUR MINCE PIES ON THIS LITTLE LOT:

+ ALL THE BRISTMAS STUFF: THE BRISTOL LIFE FESTIVE 20 + OUR FAMOUS BRISTMAS QUIZ* +BRISTMAS COCKTAILS + COLUMNISTS FORCED TO WEAR SANTA HATS + BRISTMAS SHOWS +THE MEGA BRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE + A NEW AARDMAN FILM FOR BRISTMAS

The bells

are

ringing out for Christmas Clay

They have a feature ﬁlm just out. They’ve opened a new Cracking Experience at Cabot’s. Their new Grand Appeal trail will be unleashed in 2025: how have Wallace & Gromit found time to send Christmas cards? Hope one’s for us . . .

I’m a sucker for Christmas. Or at least, for theoretical Christmas. A Christmas when it could still, if it cares to put in the effort, conceivably snow. Christmas as viewed down the optimistic telescope of mid-November, before I inevitably succumb to the ’flu that’s been lying in wait until the moment I clock off work, remaining loyally with me until my first day back in 2025.

It’s the first intimations of Christmas I love, when the songs of the season still sound festive and fresh; not the fag-end of December when you’d rather claw your eyes out than listen to Fairytale one more time. When the needles still adhere to the tree you put up too early instead of pooling in a prickly carpet at the bottom of a six-foot potted twig. Before you remember there’s absolutely nothing you can do to a sprout which will render it palatable.

But hey, Christmas doesn’t have to go partridge-in-a-pear-tree-shaped! We are here to get you through, with gift ideas to inspire the most jaded of shoppers, and shows guaranteed to turn the Grinchiest of frowns upside down. There’s Wallace & Gromit’s new movie on the box, and their new Cracking Experience at Cabot’s. We have our famous (OK, not really) Bristmas Quiz, which you’re bound to ace as long as you’ve been reading the pages of this magazine forensically for the past 20 years.

However, the feature that’s calling to me most strongly at this very moment is a fivepage recipe section on Bristmas cocktails. Is it too early for a Bomba Tapas Coconut and Cranberry Margarita? Not too early in the season, I mean, but the time of day? Is 11.30 am pushing it? ’Tis the damn season after all, ’tisn’t it?

DERI ROBINS

Bristol Life editor

@BristolLifeMag

Issue 361 / Bristmas 2024

ON THE COVER

Have yourself an Aardman little Christmas: see feature page 20

BRISTMAS

10 THE BRISTOL LIFE FESTIVE 20 Dickens via drone: it’s what he would have wanted. Plus 19 more ideas to help you get your Bristmas on

20 WALLACE & GROMIT The evil penguin’s back for a brand new feature film, and there’s a cracking new experience down Cabot’s

24 BRISTMAS SHOWS From he’s-behind-you panto to gentler stuff for the tinies, cheekier stuff for grown-ups and everything in between

30 WHAT’S ON If it’s not covered in the above pages, you might ust find it here

38 BRISTOL HEROES nsurprisingly, the festive edit

43 BOOKS It’s no coincidence that books are the ideal size for Christmas stockings

90 THE FAMOUS BRISTOL QUIZ Admittedly not as legendary as we like to make out

FOOD & DRINK

46 RESTAURANT A bit of the Other

51 CAFÉ SOCIETY Gloria in Eggselcis

53 WINE Charlie Taylor has Christmas down to a fine art

54 BRISTMAS COCKTAILS Cooler shakers

SHOPPING

62 BRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE Colour-coded, not for your convenience but because it makes the pages look pretty

75 NETWORK Inside insights from Cameron Balloons

80 SHOWCASE Spacious? Let’s say you won’t struggle for somewhere to put the Christmas tree

Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Tony Robinson tony.robinson@mediaclash.co.uk Production/ operations manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@ mediaclash.co.uk Bristol Life MediaClash, Unit 9a, Greenway Farm, Bath Road, Wick, Bristol BS30 5RL 01225 475800; www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash. We’re a West Country-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath and Bristol. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

Art SOME ENCHANTÉ EVENING

At a launch event at Harvey Nichols earlier this month, legendary Bristol street artist Inkie unveiled his new collection Enchanté – original art and handfinished prints, along with some classic Ink ouveau pieces.

The new prints cost around £350, the classics start at £150, rising to £3000 for new original mosaics; more information in our next issue, but for now view the collection at the following (l)Ink: www.theinkporium.bigcartel.com/category/enchante-exhibition

Music

IDLES SPECULATION

ou’ve probably heard the rumours now it’s been confirmed. or their only two UK gigs of 2025, homeboys Idles will play Queen Square on the nights of 1 and 2 August, creating the ultimate Bristol block party with special guests, DJs and the best of Bristol’s street food and drink scene. Again, more in our next issue when we’ve got most of the Christmas stuff out of the way. On sale now at www.idles.seetickets.com/tour/idles

Books NIGHT MOVES

Struggling to come up with an original Christmas gift? Or just want to complete your own must-have Bristol library?

How about contributing to a kickstarter campaign aimed at launching a book celebrating Bristol’s nightlife, created by two leading local creatives?

In collaboration with The History Press, Up All Night: a Bristol Nightlife Story has been designed and produced by photographer Colin Moody and writer/musician Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley.

“The book is our personal love letter to everything we adore about Bristol – the nightlife, the people, the places,” says Jaz. “They create an exciting smorgasbord of adventures to be had, and we want everyone to talk about it.

“With Colin’s photography and my words, we’ll show you what nights out in Bristol look like and the struggles our beloved venues and pubs have gone through. Colin’s collection spans five years of photo ournalism, and the writing is a combination of loving prose and history.

“But the book is not just a standalone physical thing. We passionately want it to birth some important conversations around how we should nurture, protect and grow the city’s artists, venues and nighttime economy, so it becomes a shining example of what things should look like across the UK.

“We’re at a point where people are having to bend and almost break to keep things in the sector afloat and make ends meet. Our musicians and artists have had to constantly pivot to make their biggest love work for them in a world that is constantly screaming at them to give up. Our venues are always on the brink of closure or having to widen their offering and water themselves down to keep a flow of cash coming in.

To keep this project going, Colin and Jaz need to raise funds before the end of December. If they meet their target, The History Press will then provide publishing and distribution next year.

And while you could, of course, wait to buy the book when it comes out, if you support it now you’ll get all kind of benefits, ranging from having your name printed at the back to an invite to the launch party,. That, and the warm fuzzy feels from knowing that you’ll have contributed directly to the cultural wellbeing of this city. There are enticing deals for businesses, too.

Please support this book and, if you choose to do so, join in the wider conversation on social media and at the launch party. Scan the QR code to join the campaign, or find it at www.kickstarter.com

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

@ﬁﬁ_powell

@petegrifﬁths_photos

@tjphillips76

@rogerturner6

THE CLUE’S IN THE NAME*

Could anything be Christmassier than the Christmas Steps at Christmas time?

(* Admittedly, the name is thought to have come from‘Knifesmith Street’ originally, but let’s not kill the festive vibe)

@theperkspective

@lz.bristol

@gertie.photography

@chrshill

@tuamigalaturista

@lz.bristol

@chrshill

ST N P O E T I BR M S S I A T B

There’s loads of festive stuff going on –we don’t want you to miss a thing

Words by the Bristmas Life elves

We have Santas on boats; we have Santas on trains. We have them at zoos, country parks and up at Ashton Court. We have shows in the theatres, and drones in the air. We have wacky nostalgic stuff at ake the Tiger, markets and pop-ups, and a cracking new Wallace & Gromit experience. Here’s our 20-snowflake guide to s ueezing the very last festive drop from the season if it doesn’t turn out to be the most wonderful time of the year, it won’t be our fault.

1

BRISTMAS, GROMIT! CRACKING CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE

Until 24 December

New! Exciting! Neatly tying in with Vengeance Most Fowl, ardman’s first allace romit film in 1 years, comes their new immersive experience at the Friary Building at Cabot Circus. Step into Wallace’s workshop to help him save Christmas with his latest gadget, then visit the Cracking Christmas Caf open to all, including dogs) where cheese sandwiches, cake, tea and puppuccinos will be served. See also page 20. www.cabotcircus.com/events

2DASHING THROUGH THE SHOWS BRISTOL THEATRES

Various dates

Bristol punches well above its weight when it comes to festive shows. So, what’s it to be? Brian Conley at the Hippodrome? Something artier at BOV? A cheeky adults-only mash-up at The ardrobe? family cockle-warmer at T T? There’s too much to get through here, so head over to page 24.

3DECK THE STALLS BRISTOL

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Until 23 December

The big Christmas market at Broadmead is now open, so don’t shilly-chalet: there are 35 uni ue stalls full of gifts, a new Christmas Express kids’ train ride the return of the Candy Factory Escape Room; the Ski Gondolas, which can be hired for drinks packages, and new festive tipples from the Jäger barn bar to pair with Yorkshire pudding wraps, churros and many other treats. www.bristolchristmas market.com

4THE LITTLE ST NICK AND OTHER GREAT MARKETS

Other, perhaps, than Christmas Steps, nowhere is more festively atmospheric than St Nick’s Market, where you’ll find a ristmas twist on regular market days.

There are plenty other small Christmas markets, too. indmill ill’s showcases goods by local creatives, food producers and other independent businesses on ecember. n the same day at Trinity, you’ll find estus arket, celebrating frican Caribbean and lack ritish culture with hot sorrel. food from the amaican ideaway, and a banging soundtrack.

n every riday in ecember inzels each arket becomes inzels estive ridays, with producers and traders cooking up street food to sustain you during Christmas shopping, while the arbourside arket on ednesday, Thursday, aturday and unday is bound to put a festive spin on proceedings. www.visitbristol.co.uk

5INDIES ROCK AND ROLL FAIRS, SHOPS AND POP-UPS (SHOP-UPS?)

When is a market not a market? hen it’s indoors, we reckon. t the top of the ristmas tree is the ade in ristol ift air at ristol eacon on and 1 ecember (www. madeinbristolshop.co.uk), while the ristol op- p hop is back at

4 5

the alleries until 2 ecember (www.bristolpopupshop.co.uk). The latter is not to be confused with hop ristol, a new indie pop-up shop at Cabot Circus with over 35 stalls selling ristol-themed gifts. It runs until at least 2 December (www.shopbristol.co.uk).

6WHEEL MEET AGAIN VINTAGE WINTER WONDERLAND

Until early January, except Christmas Day ver since the wallet-emptying disappointment of the ilton eynes inter onderland’ of 2013 it’s hard to read those two words without smirking. owever, rest assured ristol’s is more dodgems than dodgy, and there’ll be no bad antas, mutinous elves or lsations with strap-on antlers when the intage onderland sets up in at illennium uare again. Instead there’ll be old-school fairground rides, the big wheel, decent food and drink, and the pr s ki bar ust the apr s bit, no skiing, unless ark treet is looking unusually snowy. www.facebook.com/ vintagewinterwonderland

7THEY SAID THERE’D BE SNOW AT BRISTMAS VICTORIAN WEEKEND AT SS GREAT BRITAIN

7-8 December

big family favourite, and one of the most pleasingly tinsel-free attractions in town. The dockyard gets a seasonal

makeover with greenery, falling snow and traditional carols from local bands and choirs you can meet ld ather Christmas , mingle with the great unwashed in the form of the agged Victorians, play Victorian party games and take part in craft activities. www.ssgreatbritain.org

8A GAME OF DRONES A CHRISTMAS CAROL DRONE LIGHT SHOW 19-21 December 2024

A reimagining of Dickens’s tale, brought to life by the futuristic magic of drones at Seat Unique Stadium. Food stalls and DJs. www.yuup.co/experiences

9RING

OUT, RING SOLSTIC BELLS

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

There’s a rich offering of traditional, classical and practically every other genre of music you care to name.

Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band at St George’s on 4 December makes folk festive, the Bootleg Beatles at Beacon on 1 ecember offers ab Four fun, while Jethro Tull are at Bristol Cathedral on 11 December, performing their own Christmas-themed tracks, along with classical and liturgical pieces. If you fancy all the feels of a church Christmas but aren’t a

believer, this sounds ideal. If you are, of course, that’s even idealler. www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk

10COME

DASHER, COME CONCORDE CHRISTMAS AT AEROSPACE

Until 23 Dec

If only Santa had Concorde at his disposal he’d do the Christmas run in no time! Well, he doesn’t, he’s stuck with eight reindeer. However, you can admire the supersonic marvel while you immerse yourself in the magic of the cosmos at the Dome Club Planetarium, featuring the Christmas Star show, explore the Christmas Workshop and on 15 December, sing carols under Concorde’s elegant wingspan. www.aerospacebristol.org

11FLOCK TACTICS

SHAUN THE SHEEP

Until 12 January

Good ewes for Grand Appeal fans: Shaun has arrived at the Bristol Zoo project with a special supersized festive trail. Gotta catch them all! Shouldn’t be too hard, to be honest, there’s only 12 of them and they’re massive. lenty more festive stuff on, too. www.bristolzoo.org.uk

12STEP

(BACK) INTO CHRISTMAS RETRO-MEGA-MAS

Until 6 January

Once upon a time, kids didn’t e pect to find an i ad under the tree; they were content with roller skates, an annual and a selection box. Head to Wake the Tiger for an exploration of the toys and traditions of Christmases past – but as this is Wake the Tiger, expect these retro delights to be tempered with mind-bending surrealism and unexpected reimaginings. Retro-bots perform acapella holiday classics, there are floating uality treet sweets, and a shopping trolley filled to the brim with teddy bears; sounds mildly disturbing as well as nostalgic. www.wakethetiger.com/ retro-mega-mas

BRISTMAS

13LIFE IS A CABARET CHRISTMAS AT SPIEGELTENT

Until 21 December

The Spiegel has landed! These gorgeous mirrored wooden pavilions have been used as travelling dance halls since the late 19th century, and their 8 7 10 11

unique beauty and romance make them ideal for Christmas shindigs of all kinds. As well as the legendary masquerade balls, there’s family-friendly cabaret, baby discos, and a film screening of Cary Grant movie To Cath a Thief, accompanied by live circus performances. Kid Carpet’s back with an Extra Super Rokin’ Rock Show on 7-8 December; there are candlelit orchestral evenings playing everything from Handel to Harry Styles; The Allergies Funky Festive Throwdown ft. The Cuban Brothers on 21 December, and lots more. You will be mesmerised. Go. www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

On selected dates until 23 December you can also Sail with Santa on a Bristol Ferry, as the elves take you on a Santa hunt; let’s hope they find him, because we hear he has all the presents. Not too fussed about seeing Santa? Don’t even like kids? OK Scrooge, how about hiring a ferry for a grown-up evening party cruise, sailing past, you know, the cranes mentioned in our header? www.bristolferry.com

14ELF SERVICE CHRISTMAS MOVIES

Until 23 December

Die Hard, The Muppet Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, The Snowman, Love Actually, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone – Bristol Film Festival is showing the lot, and since nothing says Christmas quite like a dropped atomic bomb or gangland violence, they’ve added Oppenheimer and The Godfather too. Somehow slipping past the cancel-culture police is the hilariously problematic Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a musical romp about abduction. Should songs about kidknapping women really be that catchy? www. risto fi m esti a .com

15TRAINS

AND BOATS AND CRANES

SANTA SPECIALS & SAIL

WITH SANTA

Obviously, Santa’s ubiquitous,

but one of the nicest ways to hang with him is on one of Avon Valley Railway’s festive steamtrain jaunts. This year’s gift is a bespoke Avon Valley Railway reindeer toy: want!! (until 24 December; www.quaytickets.com).

16THE MAN IN RED (ALSO IN GREEN) YET MORE SANTA SPOTTING

Santa’s everywhere. We don’t know how he does it. He’s up at Cribbs, he’s at Ashton Court, and if you’re in the city centre on 7 December you may see hundreds of him on motorbikes as Santas on a Bike does its annual ride in aid of Children’s Hospice South West – support them at www.santasonabike.org.uk

Of course, he didn’t always dress in red. The English Father Christmas dates back long before America transformed the Dutch St Nicholas into a jolly red gift giver and imported him back to Europe as a commercial stooge. Head to the ss Great Britain (see

15 14

number 7) to see him dressed in his Victorian fur-lined green robes (www.ssgreatbritain.org).

17WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 60

Fancy an antidote to the yuletide madness? Bristol Museum is currently showing 100 of the best nature shots in the world at the 60th edit of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

18WORTH GETTING IN THE CAR FOR OUT OF TOWN ATTRACTIONS

utside ristol you’ll find many more festive trails and fun, from anta at ld own Country ark to a grotto at ookey ole and outdoor trails at Tyntesfield. ost spectacular of all is The Festival of Light: Journey Through Time at ongleat a winter

safari with giant interactive lanterns showing scenes from the age of the dinosaurs to the present day there’s also the 15-metre nchanted Christmas Tree show and anta Train. www.longleat.co.uk

19HANDS-ON CHRISTMAS

CRAFTS

uup have a wide range of crafty Christmas activities, from wreath making to card printing, Christmas tru e workshops and anta hat knitting it’s also an ideal place to buy gift e periences as presents. www.yuup.co

20FINALLY:

DON’T FORGET THE ACTUAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

ook, we get it. It’s so easy to get caught up in the commercial side of Christmas that you forget about the more spiritual stuff. ou don’t need to be religious to en oy the peace, sanctuary and atmosphere of a beautiful, ancient church, of which ristol has a rich collection. There’s ristol Cathedral, originally a 12th-century ugustine bbey

t ames riory, the city’s oldest church, which dates back to 1135 the othic 00-year-old t ary edcliffe t ohn on the all, built into the original city walls The ord ayor’s Chapel on College reen and ohn esley’s Chapel, the oldest ethodist building in the world. ou can find out more about them by listening to the the

ristol Churches Trail 3 tour at www.visitbristol.co.uk; maybe visit the lot, it’s so much better for you than a pub crawl.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY BRISTMAS

Everyone’s welcome at our place this festive season! Why not give the gift of Christmas with the LOVE BRISTOL GIFT CARD?

Bristol sparkles all year round, but there’s something extra special in the air at Christmas. The city glows brighter than ever, with its winter lights and array of festive offerings.

Whether you’re shopping, dining, or simply revelling in the magic, Bristol is the place to be this December. So, gather your loved ones, join the festivities, and even share a piece of Bristmas with the Love Bristol Gift Card – a gift that keeps the spirit alive.

TREATING YOUR LOVED ONES

For a gift haul to rival Santa’s, Bristol is the go-to shopping destination. Whether you’re looking for stylish vintage fashion from Loot Vintage or Flamingos Vintage Store, that perfect cosy read from Stanfords, unique jewellery at Diana Porter or the year’s hottest records at Rough Trade, you’ll be the family favourite with the selection of gifts you can find this winter.

FESTIVE FOOD

Word on the street is that a giant Elf on the Shelf® is returning to Bristol this year at various buildings throughout the city. So, why not stop for a bite to eat while you’re out elf-spotting?

Bristol’s foodies know we’re spoilt for choice, with so many diverse cuisines on every corner to suit your fancy, from a classic festive brunch at Mud Dock to food from further shores like Rosa’s Thai, or a classic burger at No 1 Harbourside, there’s plenty to fill your boots with this December.

CHEERS TO THE SEASON

‘Tis the season to be merry and Bristol has no shortage of perfect venues for a sociable Christmas tipple.

Whether you’re looking for Christmas party atmosphere at The Granary, a classy celebration at Clayton Hotel, or a full-blown night out at one of Hyde & Co Group’s bars and restaurants, there’s so much to enjoy in Bristol. If no-lo alcohol is more your vibe, the city serves up some of the tastiest zero % cocktails so you can join the fun without the hangover on those early morning Christmas shopping trips.

FESTIVE FAMILY NIGHTS

If there’s one thing you can be certain to find in Bristol it’s world-class events, and this year there’s a huge amount for families to enjoy.

The city’s leading musical institution, Bristol Beacon, has a whole new host of Christmas events, including special showings of The

Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child and The Snowman, accompanied by the Mozart Symphony Orchestra. It wouldn’t be the Christmas season without a pantomime so head to Bristol Hippodrome to see Goldilocks and the Three Bears like never before, in a special circus twist on the classic tale. Or, for a magical underwater experience, head to Bristol Old Vic to catch a fresh take on The Little Mermaid, with original new songs and lyrics. n

For more information on the above events, places to visit and more, search Visit Bristol today: www.visitbristol.co.uk and join in by using #MerryBristmas across social media.

In partnership with:

FOWL PLAY

PLAY

A new Wallace & Gromit movie, a third Gromit Unleashed trail for 2025, and a Cracking Christmas Experience? You’re spoiling us, Aardman!

“Gromit is one of the most characterschallenging to animate, as his expressions are achieved entirely through tiny movements in his clay brow and ears”

If you live in Bristol, every day is Aardman Day. Wherever you look, there’s the jolly reminder that the world’s premier plasticene-botherers are based right here; they are one of the city’s chief glories, and you can’t go very far without spotting a mural or statue of Gromit, Wallace, Shaun, Feathers or Morph. Speaking of which, the third Gromit Unleashed Trail has just launched, with a new pack of hounds coming our way next summer.

But this Christmas, we’re feeling even more Aardmany than usual. First, there’s the breathless excitement of Vengeance Most Fowl –the first allace romit movie to be released in 16 years. It’s having a short theatrical release before coming to BBC One over Christmas and etfli in anuary.

But there’s more. Running at Cabot Circus until 24 December is A Cracking Christmas Experience – a new family attraction which invites you to immerse yourself in Wallace’s workshop as he tries to save Christmas with the help of his latest invention, the Christmas-O-Matic.

Spoiled for choice, we didn’t know whether to speak to one of the top animators on the movie, or the boss of attractions and live experiences at Aardman who oversaw the creation of the Cracking Experience.

So naturally we did both.

WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL

Director and animator Will Becher began his career as a student, building clay wings for Chicken Run in the model-making department. On graduation he was invited by Nick Park to join the animation team on Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, where he became one of Aardman’s youngest-ever featurefilm animators. The film went on to win an Academy Award and BAFTA.

Will, what can we hardcore fans expect from the new movie?

WB: A new Wallace and Gromit adventure with everything you love about the duo, plus

HE’S DONE DOING BIRD . . .

It’s well-known that all penguins have criminal tendencies, but some are more criminal than others. Only marginally less dastardly than Batman’s nemesis Oz Cobb is Aardman’s arch-villain Feathers McGraw – the inscrutable, dead-eyed felon who commandeered Wallace’s automatic slacks in The Wrong Trousers in order to commit a jewel robbery.

Thanks to Gromit, he was captured and, appropriately, forced to do bird. But now, 16 years later, a vengeful Feathers is plotting to escape; meanwhile, Wallace has come up with a new gizmo: a perma-smiling robotic garden gnome called Norbot programmed to help Gromit with his chores. What could possibly go wrong?

We’re ﬁrmly back in Wallaby Street territory then, with all the familiar ingredients in place for the ultimate cosy Christmas cracker. There’s plenty of cheese to go around, the jokes are puntastic, and despite past disasters Wallace is still in thrall to the siren call of tech advancement.

Once again, he fails to prioritise the faithful Gromit over a new interloper; once again, man and dog ﬁnd themselves accused of crimes they didn’t commit,

Ben Whitehead takes over the voice of Wallace from the late Peter Sallis, backed by the cream of British comic talent; such is the national-treasure status of W&G that Aardman has had no problem at all recruiting the likes of Reese Shearsmith (Norbot), Peter Kay and Diane Morgan.

Visually, Vengeance Most Fowl looks reassuringly similar to all previous W&G features, with practically every scene having been hand-modelled and stop-motion animated, with minimum help from CGI – if only Wallace would learn that sometimes, analogue is better. Whether you choose to plumb the ﬁlm for meaningful comment on the over-reliance on technology, of course, is up to you.

Vengeance Most Fowl shows on BBC One over Christmas and Netﬂix from 3 January

“Bristol and its creative community have been central to Aardman’s success for almost 50 years”

some familiar faces from the past including the return of the world’s most villainous chicken I mean penguin. This film is full of comedy charm and made with a lot of love from the team at Aardman; it also introduces us to Wallace’s latest invention: an adorable ‘Smart Gnome’ called Norbot.

What were the main joys of working on the ﬁlm?

WB: I’ve been lucky enough to work with Wallace and Gromit on several projects over the years. I love returning to them they hold a special place in my heart.

Gromit is one of the most challenging characters to animate, as his expressions are so subtle and are achieved entirely through tiny movements in his clay brow and ears, which conveys so much story and emotion.

Aardman directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham are very specific about romit’s performance, so being trusted to animate key shots with him is a great honour. We feel the pressure to do justice to these iconic characters and I’m proud to say the animation team on this new film absolutely nailed it.

How did the process begin?

WB: I started working on Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl about two years ago with the other department creative leads. We met with the directors to discuss the story and look the approach in detail.

very film throws up new challenges, but we love to solve creative puzzles as a team. A good amount of time pre-production is spent in discussing the look and style of the animation, working closely with the puppet team to fabricate models that we can use throughout the 16-month shoot.

In this film the animatable figures have been designed from scratch and contain the latest technical advancements, including 3D printing and silicone. allace has a s uashy tank-top for the first time in history making him more fle ible than ever nce the filming was underway, I worked closely with ick to ensure the animators he briefed understood the animation style and performance needed. The animators work very hard to create around five seconds of animation each per week and I’m there to make sure they have all the things they need sometimes that’s ust a fresh pair of eyes or some words of encouragement.

WALLACE & GROMIT: A CRACKING CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE

The creation of the experience has been overseen by gaio arding- ill, ardman’ s head of attractions and live experiences.

“In an exciting period for Wallace & Gromit, with the new film releasing at Christmas, we wanted to give Bristolians and visitors an original and new live experience which allows them to have great fun helping the duo save Christmas, she says.

How did the experience evolve?

NG: It started with the story, which we created in partnership with akehouse actory a rislington-based company who create bespoke interactive events]. Once we had this in shape, we gave them the freedom to come up with ideas for the festive inventions Wallace & Gromit would create to make the best Christmas ever. ut there always has to be a bit of eopardy in the world of allace romit, so we worked closely with the akehouse team to make sure there was a lot of characterful fun and plenty of surprises.

What was the best part of reimagining Wallace & Gromit’s world in a live, interactive Christmas setting?

NG: Creating a physical space where families can feel and touch and interact with the world of the characters is really e citing. The experience includes lots of gadgets, machines and puzzles with the classic look and feel of allace romit, so you feel like you’re really spending time in the world of the characters.

What have been the challenges translating Aardman into a real-life experience?

NG: The Wallace & Gromit world and characters are so well loved, and have been for over 30 years, so it’s important to make sure the e perience stays true to this world, which can be challenging at times. For example, allowing the characters to steer the narrative while maintaining their beloved charm along with Aardman’s humour and attention to detail. Using Wallace’s well-known voice to achieve this, at ust the right moments, has been key to this experience.

The Aardman team have a knack of hiding Easter eggs in their animations. Can visitors expect any special nods or hidden gems in the Cracking Christmas Experience?

NG: f course ut we’re not going to give any spoilers here

Aardman’s work is famous for its rich details and handcrafted quality. Are there any special things hardcore fans should look out for?

NG: The Bakehouse team have done an amazing job of translating the handcrafted uality of our shows into a real-life e perience,

and this includes lots of lovely second look’ details for visitors of all ages to discover in the experience and café.

What does it mean to you to bring this unique experience to Bristol?

NG: ristol and its creative community have been central to the studio’s success and creative output for almost 50 years, so being able to offer this e perience at such an e citing time for allace romit, ahead of the new film’s release, is really special.

Can you tell us your best Christmas cracker joke?

NG: What do you call a blind reindeer? o-eye deer.

What do you call a blind reindeer with no legs?

till no-eye deer.

WB: Two snowmen in a field. One turns to the other and says, “Can you smell carrots? n

Wallace & Gromit: A Cracking Christmas Experience runs up until 24 December; tickets from £8.74, free admission to café. www.cabotcircus.com/events/ wallace-and-gromit-a-cracking-christmas-experience

SHOW PATROL

Swashbuckling, Scrooge and a tail as old as time: it’s the amazing Bristmas show round-up!

“A feast of festive foolery that’ll have you splitting your sprouts with laughter, or your money back”

Did you know – and bear with me here, this is hopefully going somewhere – that Scotland has over 400 expressions for snow? ‘Feeﬂe’ for example, meaning to swirl; that’s a good one. ‘Flindrirkin’, a slight snow shower; ‘swaw-poother’, referring to ﬁne driving snow. And so on, Bristol doesn’t have quite the same call for such a nuanced vocabulary when it comes to snow – either the stuff pitches (in March, generally) or it doesn’t. However, when it comes to shows that’s a different kettle, because we’ll wager you that outside London, no other city in all the land has such a wide choice of Christmas plays, pantos and concerts to bedazzle its denizens.

You probably know what to expect by now. Bristol Old Vic and the Tobacco Factory Theatres will take a classic tale and inject the right amount of creativity and contemporary resonance to engage both grown-ups and kids, instilling a love of theatre in the latter for life. There’ll be something hilarious and cheeky at The Wardrobe. At the Hippodrome it’ll be sequins, innuendos and pop-culture references starring a famous face off the box, in a panto tradition that’s barely changed for hundreds of years.

Meanwhile, at Bristol Beacon and St George’s, along with all the non-Christmas-speciﬁc gigs, there’ll be carols, concerts and atmospheric folk songs to get even the most dyed-in-the-wool Grinch into the festive spirit; you’ll ﬁnd those in our What’s On listings on page 30.

Now turn the page, and prepare to enter a magical festive wonderland . . .

Miserly miserabilism: Living Spit do

A Christmas Carol INSET: Christmas on a stick: Hansel and Gretel

BRISTMAS SHOWS

Best for… DISCERNING FAMILIES

Bristol Old Vic’s biggie this year is a tail as old as time (technically, 187 years old, if you’re harking back to Hans Christian Andersen’s original). For Oliver Award-winning director Miranda Cromwell The Little Mermaid is a passion project: a story she’s always loved and has been dreaming of putting on the stage ever since she worked at Bristol Old Vic over 10 years ago.

“I felt if the Little Mermaid was here with us now, she would be wanting to save the ocean and the planet – our home – from climate change, and she would be asking for our help,” says Miranda. “In this version that is exactly what she’s doing, and we get to join her and her friends on an epic adventure full of danger, fun and love.” For kids aged 7+.

Meanwhile, it’s Grimm down Tobacco Factory Theatres this year. Following their record-breaking 2023 Oliver Twist, the main Theatre will be transformed into a magical and mythical land for classic fairytale Hansel & Gretel. You know the drill; lost kids, tempting-looking house made of sweeties, someone far less sweet lurking inside. By the award-winning New International Encounter; for kids aged 5+.

Best for… TINY

THEATREGOERS

In the TFT’s Spielman theatre, Me… is a touching story about a parent and their love for their child by Emma Dodd.

The world, we ﬁnd, is a very big place, especially for a tiny baby penguin who’s just ﬁnding his feet. The stars and snow spin around him, while the mountains tower high and the wind rushes to and fro, and although baby penguin may be

TOP: What could be more Bristmassy than a piratical adventure starring the kids from BOVTS? MIDDLE: Little Red, who never learns, jauntily takes to the deep dark woods; BOTTOM: Love is hell at the Wardrobe

small his family know he’s the biggest thing

of all. For kids aged 2+. , The Red Shoes and too

Tiny theatregoers can also join a familiarlooking little girl in a red-hooded cape at BOV’s Weston Studio, aka the deep, dark woods, in Little Red (& other winter tales) – a friendly mash-up of Little Red Riding Hood The Little Match Girl

A story about ﬁnding the heart of Christmas, with music, adventure and (presumably not scary) monsters, for kids aged 3+.

In stark contrast to The Wardrobe’s adult offering, Soap Soup Theatre’s The Snow Baby is a magical children’s show ﬁlled with beautiful puppetry, enchanting storytelling and original music. The story follows Doris as she searches for her beloved Bear Man through snowy forests, facing storms and hungry crows. A heartwarming tale of love, family, and resilience for ages 3-8.

Best for…

STAUNCH TRADITIONALISTS

As ever, holiday season at Bristol Hippodrome is dominated by the traditional panto. This year it’s Goldilocks and The Three Bears; it’s set in a circus, which is hardly canon, but then that’s panto for you. This year’s big name off the telly is Brian Conley, who, nepotistically enough, has brought daughter Lucy along to play Goldilocks; there’s the usual comedy Dame and boo-able villain, with genderblind casting for the bears. For all ages.

If the he’s-behind-you larkiness of panto isn’t for you, but you still want a full-scale, West-End-standard, all-singing-and-dancing family show this month, you still have a couple more days to catch Mary Poppins; spit-spot! Best for 7+; under 5s banned. Yes, banned!.

Meanwhile at Redgrave there’ll be a lot of ﬁ-ﬁ-fo-fumming going on when Polka Dot brings the panto you’ve all, ahem, bean waiting Jack & the Beanstalk.

THE FESTIVE SHOWS

BRISTOL OLD VIC

The Little Mermaid 5 December-12 January

Little Red (& other winter tales) 6 December-12 January www.bristololdvic.org.uk

TOBACCO FACTORY THEATRES

Hansel and Gretel Until 19 January

Me… 5 December-5 January

A Christmas Carol 9 December-5 January www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com

BRISTOL HIPPODROME

Mary Poppins Until 30 November

Goldilocks and the Three Bears 7 December-5 January www.atgtickets.com

THE WARDROBE THEATRE

Notting Hell Until 18 January

The Snow Baby 20-30 December www.thewardrobetheatre.com

THE REDGRAVE

Treasure Island Until 30 November

Jack and the Beanstalk 13 December-5 January www.redgravetheatre.com

TFT are missing a trick if they’re not ﬂogging penguin puppets in the interval; INSET: Mary’s still in town for a few more days

Best for…

CATCHING THE STARS OF THE FUTURE

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School students have a habit of becoming award-winning A-list actors, so it’s always worth checking out the current crop; always hang on to the theatre programmes to sell on eBay in case they hit the big time. This year the talented kids take on epic swashbuckler Treasure Island, for ages 6+.

Best for…

SARDONIC GROWN-UPS

It was surely only a matter of time before The Wardrobe took the piss out of Richard Curtis – but it’s not the one you might imagine. Notting Hell: The Greatest Love Story in the Underworld is their latest festive mash-up: a tale of eternal pain and suffering, neverending torment, ceaseless misery – because falling in love isn’t always easy. When the foppishly handsome owner of a quaint bookshop falls for a gorgeous international celeb, little did he think he’d soon find himself deep in the fiery pits of the underworld, surrounded by horses and hounds and facing off the cursed spawn of Satan himself! Oh, bloody hell! This Christmas, finding true love is going to take a lot of sacrifice; human sacrifice. . . For 16+.

Best for..

ANYONE NEEDING FOR A FESTIVE CHUCKLE

Back at the TFT, hard-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge hates the season of goodwill. Until a visit from three spirits one Christmas Eve makes him rethink his… blah blah blah.

We all know how A Christmas Carol goes. We’ve all seen the ﬁlm(s). But who’s the best Scrooge of all time? Albert Finney? Alistair Sim? Patrick Stewart? Michael Caine? Well, just hold your horses there, because you’ve yet to witness Craig Edwards from Living Spit take on Dickens’s miserly miserabilist. He waits, like a coiled spring, ready to bring his unique brand of Midlands malcontentment to the role, and he’s brought Clevedon’s ﬁnest, Stu Mcloughlin, along for the ride to play all the other parts.

“A feast of festive foolery that’ll have you splitting your sprouts with laughter, or your money back!”* they say. For 12+.

(*They’re only joking about the ‘money back’ bit.)

Until 5 January 2025

WHAT’S ON

28 November-20 December 2024

EXHIBITIONS

Until 7 December

70 YEARS ON: THE EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY OF MATISSE

Original lithographs and etchings, including prints from the famous cutouts series, by the master of colour. At Hidden, hiddengallery.co.uk

Until 22 December

SING THE BODY ELECTRIC

The first exhibition at Watershed’s new gallery space Undershed is all about the body. How do we get out of our heads, into our senses, and meet the world in a new way? watershed.co.uk

Until 5 January

RWA OPEN

The annual Open returns for its 171st edit, with over 600 artworks along with work by this year’s invited artist, Rana Begum; rwa.org.uk

Until 19 January

SOPHIA AL-MARIA AND LYDIA OURAHMANE: GREY UNPLEASANT LAND

Migrants to the UK, Sophie and Lydia examine the myth of England

and the stories that have been told about origins and belonging; at Spike Island; spikeisland.org.uk

Until 16 February

RINKO KAWAUCHI: AT THE EDGE OF THE EVERYDAY WORLD

The Japanese photographer’s poetic, dreamlike work often focuses on finding beauty in ordinary moments, imbuing mundane scenes and objects with a sense of wonder. At Arnolfini; arnolfini.org.uk

Until 27 April WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

The NHM’s touring exhibition of award-winning, thought-provoking images from the natural world is celebrating its 60th anniversary. At Bristol Museum and Art Gallery; bristolmuseums.org.uk

SHOWS

Until 29 November

QUENTIN CRISP: NAKED HOPE

Fresh from its off-Broadway debut and100th performance, Mark Farrelly’s acclaimed solo play comes

LEFTTORIGHT: Just a couple more days to catch Luxmuralis; only [insert number] sleeps ‘til Muppet Christmas; it’s a brand new experience at Cabot’s, Gromit!

to the Alma Tavern. Openly gay as early as the 1930s, Quentin spent decades being beaten up for his refusal to be anything less than himself. His courage still inspires today; come and celebrate him. almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

Until 30 November TREASURE ISLAND

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School reimagines the epic swashbuckling yarn; it’s Redgrave’s family Chrimbo show; redgravetheatre.com

MARY POPPINS

Not into panto? The ideal alternative large-scale family show has just a few days to run at the Hippodrome; spit spot! atgtickets.com

PANTO OF THE OPERA

Applause for the show title! CADS puts a comedy spin on the Lloyd Webber musical at The Old Fire Station. There’ll be a live band, missing stagehands, buckets on heads and general silliness; bristolcads.org.uk

PAINTING BY NUMBERS

A comedy theatre show about what it means to be an artist, and the struggle to be taken seriously. At TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Until 6 December THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

Enter the decrepit mansion of the Ushers in Edgar Allen Poe’s macabre tale of dark obsession and crumbling sanity: Red Rope Theatre

are back at Arnos Vale Cemetery with a performance that’s not for the faint of heart; headfirstbristol.co.uk

Until 18 January NOTTING HELL

Bloody Hell! It’s the Wardrobe’s 2024 festive mash-up! thewardrobetheatre.com

Until 19 January HANSEL AND GRETEL

It’s Grimm at the TFT this year, as the Factory Theatre transforms into a magical and mythical land for this classic fairytale; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

30 November STABLE

Not, as you might reasonably assume given the time of year, a Nativity show; instead, a modern cautionary tale about the slow and dangerous collapse of a therapist’s internal compass. At Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

3 December LACE & LASHES

Drag and burlesque, courtsey of Ana Toxin, Latina Ballroom and Ivy Malice; at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

4 December TERROR IN TURTLENECKS aka The Christmas Jumper Edition. An evening of macabre delight, malevolent dread and comfy knitwear from Boogie Nachts Theatre as they perform live

Christmas readings of short stories that expose the horror of comedy and the comedy of horror; at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

THE NUTCRACKER

Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece brought to life with lavish costumes and glittering sets by Ballet Theatre UK; at Redgrave, redgravetheatre.com

5 December-12 January

THE LITTLE MERMAID

You know the story, now see what BOV do with it. Expect a gentle eco message among the original songs, circus and dance; bristololdvic.org.uk

7 December-5 January

GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS

It’s the Hippodrome panto, and this year’s face off the telly is Brian Conley; atgtickets.com.

9-11 December

MOTHER CHRISTMAS

It’s Christmas Eve. Santa’s hooked on video games and hasn’t delivered a present in person for 13 years. Can Claudia Claus, his 149th wife, along with her semi-competent elves, restore the balance? Girl power in a fur-trimmed hat in Stepping Out’s festive romp at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

13 December-5 January

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

Polka Dot brings the panto we’ve all bean waiting for to Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

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 amusingly at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com

30 November

KATHERINE RYAN: BATTLEAXE

Katherine’s on tour. There’s none of the usual helpful wacky blurb in the show’s description, so you’ll have to head to Beacon to see what it’s all about; bristolbeacon.org

7 December

RHOD GILBERT: & THE GIANT GRAPEFRUIT

Dark, passionate and way too personal, this is classic Gilbert, squeezing every last drop out of

life’s latest curveballs. Oh and the grapefruit? It’s not what you might think. Hands-down our favourite stand-up on the planet. At Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

12 December

MIKE WOZNIAK

Mike presents a work-in-progress end of the spectrum bit of stuff that may include a story about a bench. Brace yourselves. Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

13 December

JULIETTE BURTON: HOPEPUNK

In a world where everything seems negative, hope can be a rebellion. But is the punk-rocking power of positivity passé? Or is despair a luxury we can’t afford? Juliette Burton finds the funny both in the darkness of desolation and being blinded by the light, at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

14 December CAMP AS CHRISTMAS

A seasonal special of the LGBTQ+ showcase night Out of The Wardrobe, headlined by Jen Brister; at 1532.1532bristol.co.uk

GIGS

Ongoing

BRISTOL BEACON

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

28 November

SHED SEVEN

The magnificent Seven (well, five) are on a 30th-anniversary tour and delivering a career-spanning set to O2; academymusicgroup.com

29 November 45s

“A covers act for people who don’t like covers”, they say. And presumably even more for those who do. Classic soul, Motown and rock performed by well-dressed men – free gig at BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk

30 November BARE JAMS

The six-piece band combines feelgood, summer-vibe pop with soul, funk, jazz, rock, and a myriad other elements ideal for any winter refusenik missing festival season. At SWX; swxbristol.com

TOP: Oh yeah, baby! The Bootleg Beatles – all still alive! – are back at Beacon MIDDLE: Rhod Gildert and the Giant Grapefruit: no, not a panto, but we’d deﬁnitely go to see it if it was ; BOTTOM: The smirk is back: Bruce is having the world’s worst Christmas Eve again in Die Hard (Bristol Film Fest)

4 December

MADDY PRIOR & THE CARNIVAL BAND

A fixture on St George’s festive calendar, but maybe not for long, as it’s their 40th anniversary and farewell tour. Possibly your last chance to hear Gaudete, then. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

7 December

LADY NADE SINGS NINA SIMONE

One supremely classy singer celebrates the legacy of another at the Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

11 December

JETHRO TULL

Folk does rather lend itself to Christmas, no? The Tull are at Bristol Cathedral performing their own Christmas-themed tracks, along with reworked classical pieces and traditional liturgy of the Church of England. If you want all the feels of a churchy Christmas but aren’t a believer this sounds ideal; if you are of course, that’s even idealler. bristol-cathedral.co.uk

– possibly not the name given to him by his mum and dad – with a new tour marking the first time the line-up has played together since 1989. Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

15 December TRAVIS

The last time we saw them around these here parts was Valley Fest; now Fran and the lads bring all the hits as a pre-Christmas treat at Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

OUR LAST NIGHT

With no label but a massive fan base, the trio delivers a dynamic fusion of melodic post-hardcore; catch them at SWX; swxbristol.com

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

The 100 voices of City of Bristol Choir along with Bristol Ensemble orchestra bring Christmas cheer to St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

17 December THE WANDERING HEARTS

Scottish punk and new-wave at Christmas? If you’re nodding in enthusiastic agreement, head to Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk

18 December

THE BOOTLEG BEATLES

Oh yeah baby! Christmas should be about fun, and nothing is more fun than the OG Fab Four tribute band. They’ve been together far longer than the actual Beatles ever were, and George once commented that they knew his guitar licks better than he did. bristolbeacon.org

19 December

THE UNTHANKS

The base is folk, but infiltrated with jazz, classical, ambient and postrock; come and hear the wild NorthEasterners’ unique sound at Beacon; bristolbeacon.org

MALA & JOE ARMON JONES

Keyboard player Joe and dubstep pioneer Mala come to Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk

12 December THE DAMNED

The punk veterans are celebrating the return of drummer Rat Scabies

The London-based alt-country/ folk Americana trio come to Trinity with their world-class harmonies; trinitybristol.org.uk

THE SKIDS

Why doesn’t like a nice bit of

BRISTMAS

OTHER

Ongoing

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL

The year-round fest with the something-for-everyone remit, often at site-specific venues. Plenty festive favourites lined up, of course. bristolfilmfestival.com

Until 30 November

SOUTH BRISTOL HISTORY FESTIVAL

There’s plenty to cover, all courtesy of the Bristol Radical History Group. Talks, walks and panels, all free; brh.org.uk

Until 1 December CARY COMES HOME

The biennial festival dedicated to the greatest star ever to have come out of Bristol; dig out our previous issue for more, it’s all online. carycomeshome.co.uk

30 Nov-8 December

BRISTOL PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL

The best in contemporary Palestinian culture, with live music, a club night, films, documentaries, shorts, director Q&As, panel discussions telling urgent and necessary stories for, and by Palestinians. bristolpff.org.uk

1 December

BRISTOL: 100 YEARS IN MUSIC AND FILM

Bristol Youth Orchestra perform alongside cinematic footage chronicling Bristol’s transformation over the decades. At Bristol Beacon, bristolbeacon.org

10 December

5X15 BRISTOL

Not five speakers this time, but renowned designer Wayne Hemingway in convo with broadcaster, artist, and campaigner Karen Arthur, as part of the Spiegeltent’s eclectic offering. christmasspiegeltent.co.uk n

TOP: Oh do cheer up, The Damned, it’s Christmas!; MIDDLE: Let’s hope the Avon Valley train doesn’t leave without Santa; BOTTOM: Lady Nade sings the blues

NEW YEAR’S CLAY!

When did you last make time for yourself and try something new?

Here we are again – hurtling towards end-of-year festivities and the hive of activity and excitement they bring. Soon enough, December’s decorations will be safely packed into the attic for their year-long hibernation as the quiet of the new year settles in. The lingering warmth of bustling family living rooms ﬁlled with sticky, sugary treats and hot toddies spilling over excitable hands will begin to seep away, drawing back in routine lives lived through dark morning commutes, screens, fewer drinks, and a new resolve to resist all that we crave. With familiar reticence, we’ll welcome January into the city for another long month. Perhaps the new year is a time to be kind to ourselves, take the edge off the sombre cold, pause the nagging resolutions, and brighten our bleak midwinter with the simple pleasures that come from sculpting clay.

POTTERY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE POPULAR

Working with clay is messy and forgiving, allowing you to experiment freely and become completely absorbed in the process. The feel of the clay between your fingers, the rhythmic motions of your hands on the wheel, and the gradual transformation of a lump of earth into a piece of art is an unusual and delightful experience. It is a mindful escape, and with patience, it will reward you with useful and beautiful ceramics.

MAKING WITH CLAY –SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

One of the most appealing aspects of making pottery is how versatile it is. You can explore new techniques and choose what works for you to bring your ideas to life.

Hand-building is perfect for creating simple or complex forms from small pots to larger or more sculptural pieces. It gives people who enjoy working slowly and experimenting with texture complete freedom to realise their visions

“ I LOVED HOW I COULD JUST FOCUS ON THE CLAY AND WHAT I WAS DOING FOR A FEW HOURS AND JUST FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING OUT IN THE REAL WORLD ” – STUDENT (OCT 2024)

for unusual shapes. Wheel-throwing instils a deep tactile connection to the clay as it spins and is shaped into smooth, symmetrical vessels, with endless possibilities for what each might become. Glazing these pieces and exploring the effects of colour, ﬁnish, and texture is another

rewarding and interesting part of the whole creative process.

Whether you create a beautiful bowl, a quirky sculpture, or a functional mug, there’s a deep sense of satisfaction in seeing your work come to life. Each piece you make will surprise and delight you.

A PLACE FOR YOU TO MAKE POTTERY

Zed Alley Clayhouse is a brand-new pottery school and studio tucked away in central Bristol between the Beacon and the Christmas Steps. Housed in a newly refurbished Georgian building, it welcomes total beginners and offers anything from a taster session to shorter and longer courses.

All the classes are taught by local, expert potters and everything is provided - all you need to bring is enthusiasm and an open mind. If you find you get hooked, or already have some experience, there is also a members’ studio you can join, making it easy to schedule a weekly slot of creative time for just you. n

www.zedalleyclayhouse.com

@zed.alley.clayhouse

AND SO THIS IS BRISTMAS

Don’t peak too early, Support your locals. See the sights. And so on Words and pics by Colin Moody

1

BRISTOL HEROES

These days, you can flood the shops with their Christmas collections, the party food packs with the ribbons in little wicker baskets in the chiller cabinet appearing as early as ctober. I saw them

ou won’t be convincing me it’s Christmas earlier and earlier each year with these shenanigans, but you know it’s Christmas when the little shops up ark treet get those festive window displays in. ho cares what’s under the tree when those ello anda chocolate things are hanging from the branches?

ocal pub one minute. Christmas local pub the ne t. ee tree over far right, ordering from the bar? Time to get your red tops, those special umpers, and before you know it it’s only gone and awoken your Christmas spirit.

’Tis the season to be olly

Tra la la la laaaaaa.

3 2 4

ometimes, things close down near to the big day and even the sashcorded thingys used as baubles and that lovely star are not making s and s anne uin feel very festive.

een a tough few years since Covid, especially for a lot of our beautiful indie shops, from record emporiums to delis, from caf s to delis. There are lot of delis out there now. ounds odd if you say that word over and over. elis delis delis.

oint is, go support your locals, ’cos you gonna need them ne t year and the year after as we grow together again.

ice bunch of lads making those cut-glass mirrors so festive you won’t be able to stop feeling Christmassy. ven when you’re brushing your teeth you’ll be spitting ingle bells in white foam seasonal through those clenched teeth.

et it oo? as that it? efore the other s fell off? Come on guys, you can do better than that. I mean, fair play on the wide generous bo es arranged with, I would say, twice the care of the ring the doorbell, chuck your package in the hedge’ delivery drivers, but I’m worried about those two on the left. re you making them stand there? aiting until the big day? Is this a anta escape room? hat am I missing here?

“Is this a Santa escape room? What am I missing here?”

The winner of best attention to detail on a Christmas tree must surely go to this one at the BBC. The way that purple decoration has been placed with such care. From one angle it could be said it’s just been chucked on there, but at another it’s like a stylish neck detail on a model on a catwalk.

So many questions. Who’s getting the big present? And is the little one on top maybe the better prize? Maybe the window is supposed to look like a giant mouth, a statement on the excesses to come.

Star and Garter tree here, in the amazing grotto that looks like more fun than any I remember going to. Still get the fear when I remember standing in as an elf once, and some kid who was late pulls back the curtain as Santa is getting out of his trousers (Santa often had to change into fresh trousers after all those kids-on-the-knees thing all day).

Never gonna forget that kid’s face. This scene is nicer.

Running out of things to do with your Christmas tree at the end of the holiday season? Take it out for a spin on the Bristol Ferry boats. Show it the sights.

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

EMILY & DAN ROSS STORYSMITH BOOKS

Simple, seasonal magical books for the kids: minimum tinsel

So much is made at this time of year of which books in the adult market are going to hit biggest. Which humdinger of a celebrity biography will top the charts? Will the omnipresent bespectacled cosy crime fella have another belter of a festive season? Valid questions, but we can’t help but feeling a major demographic gets omitted from all this industrial chatter.

We’re always fascinated to see which evergreen children’s classics are snapped up every single year, from Raymond Briggs’ ethereal Snowman/Father Christmas books to deep cuts like Diana Hendry’s Christmas in Exeter Street, and equally as intrigued to see which

new books will be ushered into circulation and stand repeated reading every year. Naturally, we have our favourites, and are only too happy to share them…

For those who are perhaps just becoming aware of the man in the red suit and his associated customs, there are two especially lovely new picture books starring the big fella this year. Firstly, Mr Santa by Jarvis (that’s his full name btw) is perfect for inquisitive minds who wonder what the deal is with Saint Nick himself. And then for those worried that Santa might not have time to celebrate the season himself, we suggest Santa’s First Christmas, by Mac Barnett & Sydney Smith, which sees the North Pole’s residents come together to give Santa a

thoroughly lovely day; it also features a polar bear in a Santa suit, which is always a bonus. Rob Biddulph’s new picture book I Follow The Fox, however, is an ethereal and gently involving story of a lost teddy bear and the vulpine visitor who might just know where it is – simple, seasonal magic without too much tinsel.

Alex T. Smith’s How Winston Came Home For Christmas should sort out those who are just venturing into chapter book territory but are still in need of some capersome illustrations to keep them engaged. The follow-up to the equally riotous How Winston Delivered Christmas gives us everything we love about Smith’s work: cheekiness, heart, angular and kinetic scribbles, and characters to savour right through until you see them next December. or more confident readers in need of adventure and atmosphere, we’re recommending The Ice Children, which sees the ever-dependable M.G. Leonard taking her uniquely fantastical approach to a reindeer-led romp that will delight anyone looking for a arnia-es ue fi . nd we’ve also been delighted by the wit and invention of The Snowman Code by Simon Stephenson, who has previously found success as a screenwriter for Pixar movies, but now turns his hand to a delightful

“The book also features a polar bear in a Santa suit, which is always a bonus ”

adventure starring a 600-year-old snowman bound by the titular code to help any child in need. We are also hearing nothing but warm reports of Some Like it Cold, the young adult debut from Elle McNicol, whose awardwinning books for younger readers (including A Kind Of Spark, which spawned a BAFTA-winning TV adaptation) have garnered an obsessive following. This first foray into young adult will pummel you in the feels as you warm to the characters in the same way you might ease into a weekend-long Gilmore Girls binge, which in our estimation makes it an excellent recommendation for one of the most notoriously di cult-to-buy-for ages.

Our shelves and tables are at maximum groaning point as we load them up with the year’s finest reads, ready to be gifted, but despite the increased foot tra c in the shop we hope we’re always able to provide the same personal recommendation service we do all year round. So if this exhaustiveyet-condensed column hasn’t solved the mystery of what book to buy for an especially fussy uncle/ cousin/gardener/dog-groomer/ whoever, pop in and see us.

Visit Storysmith at 36 North Street, Bedminster; 0117 953 7961 www.storysmithbooks.com

Unit 2D, Fairseat Workshops, Stoke Hill, Chew Stoke BS40 8XF

MEET THE HEADS

An exclusive Q&A with CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL’S Head, Mr Will Phelan and Head of Infant and Junior School, Mrs Alice Taylor

Mr Phelan joined Clifton High School as its 13th Head in September 2024 and shares his confidence in guiding the School towards a future of continued progress and success:

What inspires you most about joining and leading Clifton High School?

Having worked in a number of state and independent schools during my career, joining Clifton High School’s happy, optimistic and energised environment felt perfect. I wished to return to a role that brings me closer to the children and places me at the forefront of witnessing their learning and growth firsthand.

As Head, how do you foresee cultivating a positive and supportive learning environment for both pupils and staff members?

The positive and supportive culture is already clearly evident at Clifton High School and I only hope to build upon and enhance it further. I believe in children being happy and engaged. If we are able to achieve this for as many of our community as possible, then our pupils will thrive and succeed.

Amongst Clifton High School’s core values of Curiosity, Empathy,

Love and Direction, which one resonates the most with you, and why?

Empathy – in a world that is increasingly driven by Artificial Intelligence, it is our human qualities that will make a difference and complement technology. At Clifton High School, the fundamental word of Empathy stands at the heart of our core values which cultivates this quality, helping guide and strengthen all our community members.

In your opinion, what qualities are essential for Clifton High School pupils to thrive and accomplish achievements on the Sports ﬁeld?

Having taught at and been Head at some very strong sporting schools, the most important thing for me is not the victories or the silverware, it is ensuring that as many children as possible are instilled with a lifelong love of physical activity. Having the chance to represent their School, alongside friends, helps them engage emotively and learn the skills which come with that. The opportunities here are strong but are also burgeoning. n

Taylor has led Clifton High School Infant and Junior School since September 2021 and with her extensive experience in the early years of a child’s education, she believes in providing an engaging and enriched experience for all children:

How does Clifton High School’s holistic approach to learning support the growth and wellbeing of its pupils, both academically and personally? Without happiness, confidence and self-belief there are often barriers to learning. Our carefully curated curriculum combined with our strong pastoral care provides pathways for children to be deeply engaged in their learning.

Our teaching empowers children and allows them to develop academically while taking risks; teachers focus on inspiring and encouraging all pupils to ensure each child realises their ‘individual brilliance’.

How do you prepare pupils for the transition from the Infant and Junior School environment to the changes of Senior School? Sharing the School site is an advantage that provides our children with the opportunity to experience lessons in specialist classrooms with specialist Senior

School teachers, boosting their confidence and familiarisation ahead of their transition into Year 7. Additionally, our mentoring programme integrates with the transition process, allowing younger pupils to become familiar with older year groups and build relationships with each other prior to the start of term.

How do you cultivate a positive and supportive learning environment for both pupils and staff members?

By not forgetting the childcentred approach. Everything we do is for the children, and it is essential to ensure this is at the core. We want children to make mistakes, knowing they are supported along the way and that they will have opportunities to try again. It is building resilience that is key to lifelong learning. Staff at Clifton High School are passionate about knowing each child; knowing how to develop their individual brilliance further, while scaffolding and helping build other areas of development. n Visit www.cliftonhigh.co.uk to apply or arrange a visit

Mrs

OTHER

Small plates, big ideas, laidback vibe: it’s Bedminster’s latest must-check-out restaurant

Words by Deri Robins

There was no way Other wasn’t going to be interesting. This, after all, was the first restaurant to be opened by ak itchman, and if we’d learned anything at all from his head-che ng stint at Casamia it was that a he can really, really cook and b he was always going to do things his own way.

et’s track back briefly to Casamia. I don’t mean pre-2020 Casamia, when owner eter anchez Iglesias was still hands-on the kitchen, but its postlockdown era when he’d handed the keys over to ak. The latter had recently sous’d at two- ichelin-starred nyshir, and brought much of that elsh restaurant’s fun-dine not fine-dine’ ethos to the table. ut went the soothing taupe walls and the zen-like vibe in came a blackpainted, lowlit room too dark to read a menu in, though there wasn’t one anyway, each meal being a culinary magical mystery tour and banging music pumped through club-level speakers. intage etty oop cartoons played on a screen. inner was around 2 teeny-tiny courses, cooked over fire, with a strong sian influence each one was e uisite.

restaurant game doesn’t pan out, ak and mma could probably make a killing in graphic design.

The menu is the kind that makes you want to try everything, and short enough that you probably can. s and I, on typically unrestrained form, decide to give two of the mains a whirl along with a handful of smaller plates to share. It’s not called greed, it’s called investigative ournalism.

DINING DETAILS

Other, 32 Cannon Street, Bedminster www.otherrestaurant.co.uk

It was bold and lots of fun, but doomed to fail for two reasons. irstly, the tasting menu with wine flight cost an eye-watering 300 per head. econdly, the publicity surrounding the change was virtually non-e istent, meaning that many returning Casamia faithfuls were distressed to find themselves dining in what appeared to be a weird gig with food. ut at least it wasn’t boring, and Casamia retained its ichelin star. e loved our meal and were amused by ak’s punky attitude Carmy of The Bear would simply have sulked in the store room, but this chef took to Trip dvisor to post his own negative reviews, to take the piss out of the whingers.

It’s hard to resist something which calls itself popcorn chicken, so we don’t even try. The dish was originally dreamed up by C in the ’ 0s, though you’d never know it ak seasons the thigh mince and forms it into balls after cooking they’re crisped up in hot oil and presented tsukune-style on skewers along with crunchy chicken scratchings. They are tender little mouthfuls of sheer pleasure, and come with a sweet miyagawa mustard for the dipping. Clearly sian fusion still holds a lure for chef, and there’s a further taste of the ast in a succulent dish of pork in umaboshi plum sauce, and a tempura sea bass with raw scallop, which carries a punchy warmth. ll are presented on aunty little blackand-white napkins resembling mini- rand ri flags on upcycled, nana’s-kitchen-style china, which complements the retro feel of the decor while softening the brand-newness of it all.

Opening hours Wed-Fri 6-9pm; Sat 12.302.30, 6-9pm

Price Menu changes frequently, but on our visit plates ranged from £4.50-£25

Veggie Can tweak and offer alternatives Service Invested and friendly Atmosphere Intimate, casual, buzzy

iven all the above, we were keen as wasabi to learn what he’d do ne t, and after a lengthy wait and a scattering of Instagram teasers all was revealed ak and his partner mma yons would open a casual neighbourhood restaurant called ther, on Cannon treet.

hereas Casamia was moodily black, ther is sunnily orange. hile Casamia fed you dozens of morsels in e change for a week’s salary, ther’s menu’s is brief and affordable. There’s no sign of etty oop. nd yet there are similarities. Casamia may have been pricey and its food elaborate, but the vibe was informal and fun you were encouraged to wipe the plates with your fingers, and nobody apart from one couple, who clearly hadn’t received the non-e istent memo tutted if you got up to dance. nd while ther’s food is described as casual, it’s far from plain it may be simply presented, but the flavours are deceptively comple .

The room is tiny, with half a dozen small tables, an open kitchen and a blackboard announcing the specials of the day. uch love and attention has been lavished on the decor the guiding aesthetic is retro, with framed posters setting out ther’s mission statements haring lates is sic Caring lates ocally ourced Ingredients eally ice ine. If the

s you’d e pect from small plates, the above are on the dinky side, and a mains of barbecued mackerel and crab is, though wonderful in its rich, sweet hot crab sauce, hardly robdingnagian but ust as we begin to wonder whether we’ve under-ordered along comes a massive plate of miso-glazed aubergine with spicy harissa baba ganoush and puffy, garlicky, buttery bazlama flatbreads. It’s converted me to aubergine , remarks s . I had needed no such converting.

If I said that the triple-cooked spuds weare among the best things I’d eaten in ristol this year, it’s less a reflection of the local food scene than an indication of how e ceptionally good these are. I grab a passing ak and entreat him to reveal the recipe. o, they’re seasoned with roasted garlic salt, he says, and there’s a little touch of sugar and ancho chilli flakes, and the dip is black garlic mayo . ou’re welcome.

There are ust two puds pumpkin-spiced doughnuts fried in sheep fat if you’re going to have a cardiac arrest, this is probably the most en oyable way to go and a honey cr me br l e with a citrussy marmalade which nicely undercuts the creaminess. The suggestion is to dunk the former in the latter we don’t need to be told twice.

hile there will always be a place for fine dining, there’s a sense that ichelin-chasing has become a bit, well, naff. The zeitgeist has swung more towards embracing affordable yet high- uality food, skilfully cooked in a responsible and sustainable fashion and served without stu ness in a place it’s fun to hang out in. ther perfectly e emplifies this trend. It may look and feel like a particularly smart caf , but the flavour-pairing is as subtle and e citing as anything you’d hope to find in a far more formal establishment. pparently you can take a chef out of nyshir, but you can’t completely take the nyshir out of a chef or something like that.

CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

Gloria in Eggselcis

A third branch for the Croft favourite

This issue’s coffee shop of choice is the lovely Crafty gg. ot the one you may already know down at tokes Croft, or even the second branch in ishponds. h no this one is all the way over on the other side of the 32.

n Church oad. If you’re heading out of town, you’ll find it ust before you get to t eorge ark. efinitely worth taking a trip out there, by the way.

eason we went was threefold. irstly, regular readers of these columns hello, rian and ary may remember that some few issues ago, the C crew paid a visit to the rather delightful ot late on tokes Croft. ost marvellous it was,

“A bacon and egg brioche arrived looking like an octo-bap, with crispy bacon strips hanging out like tasty, smoky tentacles”

too. hile we were there, I looked out of the window and realised that the original Crafty gg caf was pretty much opposite. I also noticed it was inside a really lovely looking building. ever noticed it before. ut the architecture struck me as being most charming.

hich brings me neatly to the second reason we popped over t eorge way. fter I spent some time surfing the net looking for details about the original Crafty gg, the socials algos got to work, doing what they do best. ending me details of a brand spanking new branch that had ust opened up.

Third, final, and probably most important reason we visited Church oad was because I really like t eorge ark. The whole area reminds me of bits of ondon I used to hang around while visiting mates.

ver the years I got to know these uiet backwaters, they all evolved first some nice caf s would appear, then a bakery or two would pop up, and finally a micro-brewery would land. fter that, my mates usually had to move elsewhere because they could no longer afford the rent, which meant the whole process started all over again. I’m wondering if that is happening to t eorge now.

ither way, this caf is a topnotch place, with lots of airy and

welcoming spaces to sit in, with everything from comfy fireside chairs to a wide open atrium filled with lots of lovely light.

The menu is pretty lovely too, with a whole host of crafty breakfast and brunch goodies on offer. e went for a bacon and egg brioche, which arrived looking like an octo-bap, with crispy, crunchy bacon strips hanging out all over the place, like tasty, smoky tentacles. e could have pushed the boat out, gone for such e otic delights as fghan eggs, kimchi braised mushrooms or smoked salmon potato hash, but those particular titbits will have to wait till ne t time. ood news there most definitely will be a ne t time.

This place is perfectly placed for a visit after a nice rela ing stroll around the park with the pooch. ecause, naturally, being lovely, they’re dog friendly too. ll in all, I can thoroughly recommend a crafty little trip out to sample their egg-cellent wares. ee what I did there, d? ill only allow because it’s Christmas d 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

CHARLIE TAYLOR KASK WINE

The ofﬁcial advice is to drink responsibly. Charlie would like to add to that, ‘drink better’

If you’re anything like us, Christmas Day is about eating and drinking, from the first chocolate that comes out of the stocking, to the last tired spoon of brandy butter your fatigued mouth sneaks in during a late-night trip to the fridge. Throughout the day your tongue is abused with a sm rg sbord of flavours, and your stomach becomes a whirligig of consumption.

All of these competing tastes make it impossible to pick ‘the perfect wine for Christmas’. But that doesn’t stop every food and drink columnist at this time of year from having that as their headline (inside scoop: it’s good for SEO). And as this is only my third column for Bristol Life, it’s too early for me to be a contrarian. So here

we go with a selection of perfect wines for Christmas.

Let’s start with the night before. Everyone has their own Christmas Eve traditions. Ours is to get a beef bourguignon into the oven early doors so it slow-cooks over eight hours. When it’s ready, we spoon it over chip shop chips (who needs the hassle of mashing a load of potatoes on Christmas Eve?)

To pair with this, we’ll have two glasses. One will be a sparkling wine fizz chips is a food-pairing winner) and the other will be a red wine to go with the beef.

The ‘perfect pairing’ with beef bourguignon is Pinot Noir (we use two bottles in the casserole itself) but this year we’ll be pouring Pia Strehn’s Wunderland.

And now for the big day. After a cup of tea and opening our

stockings, it’s time for breakfast. If we have a long-enough lie in (we don’t have kids) we can time breakfast late enough that there’s no shame in having scrambled eggs and smoked salmon with a glass of fizz. ou don’t want to go too big too early, which is where Pét-nats come in.

Short for the French term ‘Pétillant Natural’, this is a sparkling wine made by bottling it before fermentation is complete. This usually results in a softly sparkling wine (carbon dioxide is a by-product of fermentation, and is trapped in the bottle), often slightly sweet (not all the sugar converts to alcohol), and usually lower alcohol (usually anything from 8.5% to 11%). This is the reason we call it breakfast wine.

Now, the main event. Turkey can be pretty bland, but a good wine can help with that. A classic pairing would be a Chenin Blanc, ideally one that’s been aged in old oak creating a hint of butteriness, or a light-bodied red with notes including cranberry (for obvious reasons). But I’d say to forget trying to pair with turkey because your plate is going a hodgepodge of veg, sides and sauces that bring loads more flavours. To work with all those competing touches, many of which have sweet notes, we go for an off-dry white this is wine talk for ‘slightly sweet’ where a couple of grams of sugar haven’t converted to alcohol.

We normally take a break after the main course, get the washing-up sorted, then move on to the dessert it means we can flop or crawl straight to the couch after). Do yourself a favour this year and swap out the bottle of Christmas Baileys for bottle of PX. hort for edro imenez’ the name of a soldier who returned to Andalucia in Spain and planted

a vine from which the wine was made), this is a sticky, sweet, syrupy glass of raisiny deliciousness. Now it’s time for the sofa, a movie, and a nap. For this we love a big red to keep us company, A Primitivo from Puglia (the heel of the Italy boot) is ideal: rich, intense packed full of boozy fruit. So those are my tips for your perfect Christmas wine. But my number one tip would be this if you’re hosting this year and the whole family is round, don’t spend too much on the wine for Christmas lunch. Nobody’s going to be properly tasting it while they stuff themselves silly. Instead, splash out on a treat for yourself for when you’ve waved them off and can finally rela .

Three bottles to try right now

Ancre Hill’s Blanc de Noirs Wales’s alternative to Champagne, this is nutty and biscuity with fresh notes of apple and citrus. Why is it called ‘Blanc de Noirs’? Because it’s a white sparkling wine made from red grapes in this case, Pinot Noir.

Testalonga’s I Wish I Was A Ninja

Time to get the party started with this Pet Nat from Swartland in South Africa. Fairly low in alcohol, it’s slightly sweet (think Appletiser for grown ups) and has one hell of an eye-catching label.

Pia Strehn’s Wunderland

Made with rare Austrian grape Roesler, this has a similar light to medium-bodied profile as inot Noir, and also shares Pinot’s notes of violet, red fruits and hints of spice. mazing value for the quality of wine...

Visit KASK Wine at 51 North Street, Bedminster BS3 1EN; 07522 198081 www.kaskwine.co.uk/christmas-wine

It’s Christmas. We can’t promise peace on Earth or joy to all men. We can’t even guarantee snow. But we can tell you that with the help of these recipes from Bristol’s best bar staff, you’ll be serving up the very best festive drinks in town – and that's not nothing . . .

THE OLD MARKET ASSEMBLY

Jade Sour

Created by Iggy Cuthbert

"A festive cocktail with green-tea-infused gin, pear syrup, lemon, and aquafaba for a creamy, frothy ﬁnish. Its pale green hue and wintry pear sweetness evoke the cozy, botanical warmth of the holidays, making it a refreshing yet nostalgic choice for the season."

What do I need?:

50ml green-tea-infused gin (you can make this at home with ordinary green tea)

10ml lemon

25ml pear syrup

25ml aquafaba (or egg white)

What do I do?

Pour all the ingredients into a shaker and dry shake it without ice. Add ice and shake again. Double-strain into a tumbler ﬁlled with ice.

Where they at?

25 West Street, Old Market www.oldmarketassembly.co.uk

LET IT SNOWBALL

CARGO CANTINA

Cinnamon, Chilli & Chocolate Cocktail

Created by Hamish JD Tequila. Chocolate. Job done

What do I need?

35ml cinnamon and morita chilli infused tequila (see method)

8ml cointreau

50ml Mozart dark chocolate liqueur

Dash of agave syrup

Chilli salt for rim

Slice of orange for garnish

BAMBALAN

The Nutcracker

Created by: Guillermo Fernandez

What do I do?

To infuse tequila, leave for ﬁve days with three cinnamon sticks in, and then add the dried morita chilli 15 minutes before you want to make your cocktail. Shake all ingredients, serve on ice and garnish.

Where they at?

Cargo 2; www.cargocantina.co.uk

"A punchy little festive number, combining all the classic ﬂavours of Christmas, The Nutcracker can be shaken up in seconds – and is easily drunk in even less . . . "

What do I need?

25ml peanut butter whiskey (or use any whiskey)

15ml Amaretto

15ml Cointreau

50ml English tea

BOMBA TAPAS

White Christmas Margarita

Created by Ali Damion

What do I need?

35ml tequila

15ml Cointreau

15ml coconut rum

15ml lime juice

50ml coconut milk

10ml agave

To garnish: rosemary sprig and cranberries

What do I do?

Shake all ingredients then strain with ice; then double strained into a coupe, or serve over ice if preferred

Where they at?

225 Gloucester Road; www.bombatapas.com

What do I do?

Stir all ingredients with plenty of ice. Strain into a coupe or rocks glass, and garnish with a slice of orange

Where they at?

Beacon Tower, www.bambalan.co.uk

CANTEEN

Vegan White Russian

Created by Liam Stock "Perfect for the Christmas season; decadent ﬂavours, rich and creamy, but 100% vegan. One too many is encouraged!"

What do I need?

25ml vodka

25ml Psychopomp singleorigin coffee liquer Irish cream liqueur Chocolate sprinkles

What do I do?

Stir vodka and coffee liqueur, and ﬂoat a generous amount of Irish cream on top. If you come in between now and Christmas we’ll let you know our secret homemade vegan Irish cream recipe. Top with chocolate sprinkles.

Where they at?

Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft; www.canteenbristol.co.uk

BANK BRISTOL

BANK Boulevardier

Created by Chloe Conibear-Donaghy

"Replacing the Campari with Amaro brings a deep, herbaceous quality to this Boulevardier twist – already a brilliant, winter forward twist on the classic Negroni. Paired with a warming bourbon and chocolate-like notes from the Creme de Cacao, this drink is perfect for the festive holidays. Bitter, sweet, boozy, and very easy to make in batches to enjoy when hosting over Christmas."

What do I need?

30ml bourbon

20ml Amaro Lucano

20ml Martini Rossi

5ml creme de cacao

2 dashes Angostura bitters

What do I do?

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with plenty of ice.

Stir well until chilled.

Strain into a tumbler over ice.Garnish with orange peel.

Where they at?

107 Wells Road, www.bankbristol.com

THE FARSIDE

Pear Noël

Created by the dynamic duo of Ella Lewis and Julia Spahle

"This riff on a classic sour has cozy spiced elements that’ll wrap your tastebuds in a festive hug. Pear cognac keeps in line with what’s seasonally available and provides a unique alternative to the classic December offerings of eggnog and grog."

What do I need?

50ml Xanté Cognac & Pear Liqueur

30ml lemon juice

25ml Bristol Syrup Co

Mulled Spice Syrup

3-4 drops of Ms.

Better’s Foamer (or use 1 egg white)

What do I do?

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake hard for 10 seconds. Add ice to shaker and shake for ﬁve seconds. Double strain over one big ice cube, or serve neat in a coup. Garnish with a fancy cut-up pear if it pleases you.

Where they at?

106 Stokes Croft www.lefthandedgiant. com

THE METROPOLITAN

Gingerbread Old Fashioned

Created by Nick Williams

"Perfect for Christmas – whisky, gingerbread and orange provide all those warming comforting Christmas ﬂavours, and its simplicity means even Grandma could make it after ﬁve glasses of sherry!"

What do I need?

60ml Maker's Mark Bourbon Whisky

10ml Giffard

Gingerbread syrup (or more to taste)

2 dash Angostura orange bitters

What do I do?

Stir all ingredients with ice. Strain into whisky glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with orange peel twist.

Where they at?

72 Whiteladies Road; www. metropolitanbristol.com

DRINKS KITCHEN

Zest Intentions

Created by Alli Briaris

"This is a super zesty non-alcoholic cocktail for the winter season; the Orange Cinchona adds a bitter and complex ﬁnish."

What do I need?

50ml Orange Cinchona NonAlcoholic Aperitif ( from Drinks Kitchen)

1 heaped teaspoon Seville marmalade

50ml clementine Juice Juice of ½ lemon

100ml ginger beer 4 ice cubes

What do I do?

Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake really well to combine in the marmalade. Strain into a glass and decorate with a clementine wedge or peel from the marmalade.

Where they at? www.drinkskitchen.online

GAMBAS BRISTOL

Canela de Naranja

Created by Annie Bennet

"Very festive, with all the spices coming through from the infused tequila. Have before or after your Christmas roast."

What do I need?

50ml infused tequila

(add to a bottle of tequila cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, cloves and apple)

10 ml manzanilla sherry

Half a fresh lime

Quarter freshly squeezed orange

25ml simple syrup

What do I do?

Mix all the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Doublestrain, and serve it over ice with orange peel

Where they at? Cargo 2 www.gambasbristol.co.uk

BAR 44

Mulled Sangria

Created by Nadine Margetts

“This is our Bar 44 Bristol Christmas classic! A Spanish twist on mulled wine, it’s boozy, festive and delicious.”

What you need:

25ml cranberry juice

25ml orange juice

12.5ml spiced rum

12.5ml spice orange

Caballero

100ml red wine

What do I do?

Heat up all ingredients until the liquid bubbles. Serve with a cinnamon sugar rim, an orange wheel slice and a sprig of thyme

Where they at?

18-20 Regent Street

www.grupo44.co.uk/ bar44/bristol

PASTURE

The Festive Spritz

Created by: Tomas Johanna

"A perfect Christmas cocktail which captures the season’s spirit with bright, warming ﬂavors and a sparkling touch. The bitter-sweetness of Campari and the zesty, refreshing grapefruit juice balance beautifully with the hints of cloves and spice from the falernum syrup and rosemary, giving it a wintry twist. The Prosecco and soda water add a festive sparkle, making each sip feel like a celebration. Its vibrant red colour also reﬂects classic holiday colours! This cocktail brings together the best of seasonal ingredients in a light, refreshing, and elegant drink that’s easy, and perfect for holiday gatherings."

What do I need?

20ml Campari

20ml grapefruit juice

15ml falernum syrup (available from Bristol Syrup Company)

15ml Simple rosemary syrup

50ml Soda water

100ml Prosecco

What do I do?

Shake together and pour

Where they at?

2 Portwall Lane; www.pasturerestaurant.com

THE RAVEN

The Risen

Created by David

Penson

"This toasty little number is perfect for a ﬁreside wind-down after a day of roasts and gift-giving. The double hit of bourbon presents itself ﬁrst, warming up the palate, which is followed by the soothing sensation of apple and cinnamon.

The Risen is a great choice for anyone who likes their Old Fashioneds, yet desires an applestrudelesque ﬁnish. We’ve included the team’s favourite drinks brands, but you can substitute if needed."

What do I need?

40ml (Maker’s Mark) Bourbon

10ml (Horse With No Name) Habanero Bourbon

5ml 2:1 demerara syrup

5ml cinnamon syrup

10ml apple juice

2 dashes (Jerry Thomas) aromatic bitters

What do I do?

Stir with ice then strain into an Old Fashioned glass ﬁlled with cubed ice. Garnish with a dried apple slice and a burned cinnamon stick.

Where they at?

30 Clare Street www.theravenbristol.com

THE GRANARY

Christmas Breakfast Martini

Created by Josh Bishop

" While not originating as a breakfast cocktail, the Breakfast Martini (gin, Cointreau, lemon and marmalade) took a British breakfast staple and turned it into a gorgeously light and zesty drink.

"Our Christmas Breakfast Martini looks to do the same with a Christmas dinner table staple: cranberry sauce. In swapping the gin for vodka, and the marmalade for cranberry, as well as adding a splash of blackcurrant, we hope to bring a subtle, Christmas twist to a true modern classic."

What do I need?

50ml vodka

25ml Cointreau

20ml lemon Juice

10ml creme de cassis

1 tsp cranberry sauce

What do I do?

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain and garnish with orange peel.

Where they at?

32 Welsh Back; www. granarybristol.com

NO.1 HARBOURSIDE

Gingerbread Espresso Martino

Created by Kieran Day

"In this season of excess, ex-less and shake up some of these delicious mocktails. Making Christmas memorable and the next day bearable!"

What do I need?

50ml fresh espresso

25ml Lyres Coffee Original liquer

25ml Lyres White Cane spirit

15ml gingerbread syrup (easy to make at home)

Coffee beans and] chocolate powder for garnish

What do I do?

Shake hard and double strain into a coupe. Garnish with coffee beans and chocolate powder

Where they at?

1 Canon’s Road www.no1harbourside. co.uk

HARBOUR HOUSE

Whisk Your Cinns away

Created by Kate Maguire Buck

"An indulgent winter warmer with all the spicy hits of the season"

What do I need?

50ml Toki (Japanese whisky)

25 cinnamon syrup

25 lemon

5ml maple syrup garnished with orange ice cube and cinnamon

What do I do?

Prepare your cocktail shaker by ﬁlling it halfway with ice. Add ingredients: pour in the Toki whisky, cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Shake well for 10-15 seconds until thoroughly mixed and chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Optional garnish: Add a slice or twist of orange on top of the ice cube and a cinnamon stick for extra aroma.

Where they at?

The Grove; www.hhbristol.com

Beauty & Holistic Therapies

Services

Angelic Reiki | Mikao Usui Reik

Angel and Tarot Readings

Book

Anxiety | Emotions

Pains and lumps in the body

Sleep patterns | Addictions

Depression | Weight loss / gain Inner confidence

Jo:

hachidorihealing@outlook.com www.hachidori.co.uk

GOODWILL GIFTING

Could you help support Bristol’s stroke community? BRISTOL AFTER STROKE tells us more

One in four of us will have a stroke during our lives. Bristol is unique (and fortunate) in having its own locally-dedicated stroke community supporting 1400 people every year in their recovery journeys –as well as their carers.

Bristol After Stroke (BAS) is on a mission to support as many stroke-affected people as possible to get back on their feet in the months or years afterwards. We are building a community of support, and we need your help, according to CEO Rebecca Sheehy.

“We all assume that stroke only impacts older people. But nearly one third of the 800 people referred to us last year from Bristol and South Gloucestershire were of working age. We have clients in their 20s, 30s and 40s; some with young families.

“A stroke comes out of the blue, turning people’s lives upside down. Many struggle returning to work. Many more encounter mental health challenges as they try to come to terms with their new lives, and ongoing symptoms such as aphasia, which affects their ability to speak, read or write.

“Recovery can take months or years. Some people never fully recover. The NHS can only go so far in supporting that journey. But for some 40 years now BAS has helped those in Bristol and South Gloucestershire by providing counselling, exercise groups and physiotherapy classes, peer-mentoring, support-chat groups and (most recently) fun activities such as sculpture, walking football and walking netball.

“We have a small team of part-time staff and key workers, but much of our work is undertaken by volunteers, ensuring every pound we raise goes a very long way. We know

the difference we make. But we know we could do so much more.

“If you, as a business or individual, would like to make a real difference to local people’s lives, there are many ways to do so. Why not make us your charity of the year, or the ‘good cause’ to benefit from a fund-raising event?

“In return we’d be delighted to help your business become ‘stroke-friendly’ – to help you understand how the condition can affect your staff or customers and how to accommodate that; making sure, for example, that customers with aphasia feel included, that staff have the best chance to avoid a stroke and can get back into work if they do have one.

“If you’re planning a marathon or other sponsored activity, why not do it to remember

a loved one affected by stroke? Maybe you’d like to support our Christmas appeal?

“You can find out more about our amazing work here: www.bristolafterstroke.org.uk, and if you’d like to chat about playing your part in supporting Bristol’s stroke community, email office@bristolafterstroke.org.uk.” n

Other ways to support us:

Donate / be a regular giver, volunteer or nominate us to be charity of the year at your workplace. Bristol After Stroke: Charity number 1182124

CLAUS ENCOUNTERS OF THE FESTIVE KIND

SNOW GROMIT FIGURINE BY RAYMOND BRIGGS, £45

Don’t tell the other Gromits, but this one’s our festive favourite. As ever, all proﬁts go towards Bristol Children’s Hospital. From the Gromit Unleashed Shop, The Mall, Cribbs Causeway www.gromitunleashedshop.org,uk

Our big Bristmas gift guide is brought to you by all the very best colours of the season: snowy white, holly-green, sparking gold and silver and rich, berry red

WINTER FOXES SNOW GLOBE, £14.99

A wintry Bristol delight: a two-sided snow globe by Jenny Urquhart featuring two of her prints, A Walk Home in the Snow and Together in the Snow From www.jennyurquhart.co.uk

COSTA NOVA PORTUGAL PEARL WHITE CENTREPIECE SERVING BOWL, £69.99

From Mon Pote 217a North Street wwwmonpote.co.uk

HERNO QUILTED SHELL COAT, £850

SELETTI LOP LYING WHITE MOUSE USB LAMP, £76

From U Studio 115 Gloucester Road www.ustudio.shop

From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www. harveynichols.com

MAGNOLIA SCULPTURE, £179

From Bo Concept 76-78 Whiteladies Road www.boconcept.com

WHITE HURRICANE LANTERN, £42

From Graham & Green, 92 Walcot Street, Bath www. grahamandgreen. co.uk

FOSCARINI TUAREG LIGHT, £POA

From Oskar Furniture 47 Whiteladies Road www.oskarfurniture.co.uk

KÜHN KERAMIK ‘GLASSES’ SMALL COFFEE CUP

£22.50 (FROM £45) From Maze 26-28 The Mall www.mazeclothing.co.uk

OPJET PARIS EVE CHAIR IN IN WHITE BOUCLETTE, £295

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

HANAM ZIP SHACKET, £98 (FROM £245)

Shades of Paul Mescal style, no? But in Bristol. Peregrine’s Hanam wool zip shirt is made from premium tweed, making it one of the most luxurious pieces in their range. From www.peregrineclothing.co.uk

BRISTMAS GIFTS

TROUSSEAU BY MELLONY TAPER, LIMITED EDITION PHOTOGRAPH: FRAMED £550, UNFRAMED £350

“Embodying both mother and child, Trousseau means ‘little bundle’ – a composite of memories, hopes and dreams,” says Mellony. “Ethereal and tender, she is all the lives we might have lived, all the babies we might have born, and how the two might be connected.” From RWA, Queen’s Road; www.rwa.org.uk

GOLD SILVER

When asked, 90 out of 100 Emma Thompsons said they’d rather ﬁnd something sparkly under the tree than a recording of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now

CLARE CHANDLER MINI YELLOW DIAMOND CUSHION

MODERN HALO RING, £2,514

From Clifton Rocks 31 The Mall www.cliftonrocks.co.uk

LARGE SILVER ORGANIC HOOP EARRINGS, £96

From Diana Porter 33 Park Street www.dianaporter.co.uk

ROCKMOUNT GOLD-PLATED ‘ARNIE’ NECKLACE, £250

NOELLA KALI DRESS ASPHALT SILVER, £85

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

As worn by Eleanor Tomlinson in The Outlaws! From Jane Kenney www.janekenney.co.uk

GOLD LEATHER WOVEN KNOT HANDLE BAG, £119

From Mint Velvet 44 Regent Street www.mintvelvet.com

ROSIE FORTESCUE CRYSTALEMBELLISHED WHITE RHODIUMPLATED RING, £95

From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

LULU COPENHAGEN WILD HORSE SILVER EARRING, £25

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

EMERALD GREEN BAR LINK CHIN BRACELET, £25

From Pod Company 24 The Mall www.thepodcompany.co.uk

BONCOEURS GRAND ROYAL HEART IN SILVER, £11.97 (FROM £23.95) From Maze 26-28 The Mall www.mazeclothing.co.uk

Come and join our friendly and inclusive woodwork and furniture making classes –midweek daytime, evening and weekend options available!

BEAR IN AGNELLE MOOR LOVE LEATHER GLOVES, £125 From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com KÜHN KERAMIK RED HEART STAND, £72.50 (FROM £145)

WINTER PJS, £39.95 From Pod Company 24 The Mall www.thepodcompany.co.uk From Maze 26-28 The Mall www.mazeclothing.co.uk

STOKES CROFT WILD STYLE PLATE, £25 From Stokes Croft China

Jamaica

www.prscshop.co.uk

MINI NISSE FESTIVE FIGURINE, £19 From UStudio 115 Gloucester Road www.ustudio.shop LARGE SORUKA RECYCLED SUEDE ‘OLIVIA’ BAG, £55 From Frankly Store Cargo 2 www.frankly.store

ROW ROUND 90’S LEATHER TOP HANDLE BAG, £1,110

From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

From Diana Porter 33 Park Street

www.mintvelvet.com

The freshest colour in the Christmas palette

RICE THERMO, £32

From Fig 1

Gaol Ferry Steps www.ﬁg1.co.uk

TRUDON GABRIEL LUCEM CANDLE, £103

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

KIND BAG CROSSBODY BAG, £39

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

KHAKI FAUX FUR CROPPED JACKET, £180

From Mint Velvet 44 Regent Street www.mintvelvet.com

HOUSE DOCTOR COFFEE TABLE, £154

From Fig 1

Gaol Ferry Steps www.ﬁg1.co.uk

MUNTHE JAKETTA BLAZER, £146.70 (FROM £489)

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

WIKHOLMFORM NEA LEAF CERAMIC CANDLE HOLDER, £9.50 EACH

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

FOUR OLIVE WINE GLASSES, £55

From Cox & Cox www.coxandcox.co.uk

DESMOND & DEMPSEY

HOWIE COTTON PJS, £155

From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

To arrange a quote or discuss holiday requirements please contact Scott Bryant on 07773 326322 or call our shop on 01749 705830 Everbuds Travel Ltd Burlington House, 18 High St, Shepton Mallet BA4 5AN www.everbudstravel.co.uk

New Style Hair Salon

Your Style, Our Expertise A Salon Experience Like No Other Specialists in Low-Maintenance

Colours & Short Pixie Cuts

Discover natural, long-lasting colours and styles that grow out beautifully, giving you con dence between visits. Whether it’s a bold pixie cut, a sophisticated new shade, we’ll craft a look that ts your lifestyle and enhances your best features. We are Nashi argan salon partner. New Style, 443 Gloucester Road, BS7 8TZ 01173294190 / 07564024299

CITY’S BUSINESS

THE ONLY WAY IS UP

MEET DON AND DAVID CAMERON, THE FATHER AND SON BEHIND BRISTOL’S MOST ICONIC BUSINESS

FLIGHT CONTROL

Past speakers at the Bristol Life Network Lunches have included titans of industry, heroes of hospitality and eminent university chancellors. However, it could fairly be said that the father and son we recently welcomed to the stage represented the most iconic Bristol business of all…

Don Cameron founded Cameron alloons in 1 1 today, the business occupies a 42,00 sq ft factory in edminster and employs around 0 people. t our recent etwork Lunch, founder and director Don along with his son, now technical director and uality manager David, took us behind the scenes.

Cameron alloons has been in Bristol for 53 years,” says David, lthough there’s a difference between when the company was

incorporated and when we actually started making balloons.

In fact, on had already made a number of balloons as early as 1 in his basement flat in ristol, which he ran as a hobby alongside the day job for a while.

I originally came to ristol to work as an aeronautical engineer for the ristol eroplane Company, and then got a little bit distracted,” he says. “I put it down to drink; I was at Bristol Gliding Club, in the bar in the evening with a few friends, and we started to discuss

the possibility of making the first modern hot-air balloon in urope

The result was the Bristol Belle, which first flew in 1 . on’s hobby was transformed into a commercial concern which has become the world’s largest manufacturer of people-carrying hot-air balloons, making ristol the ballooning capital of the world.

And while Bristol Balloon Fiesta isn’t run by them, the idea was partly on’s, too. The first ever iesta took place in eptember 1 after on and others came up with

the idea over a pint. Just 27 balloons took off.

e built the first modern hot air balloon on this side of the Atlantic”, said Don. “But the basic idea was started by a guy in merica called Ed Yost, and we still use his basic idea today. e make an envelope out of polyester or nylon, and we have a burner, which produces enough heat to heat the air inside the envelope. And we have a basket to stand in. o it’s that simple.

“Bristol is a very good place for balloons. Many cities have an airport with a control zone extending over the whole area. We’re fortunate to have good relationships with Bristol Airport,

“WE’VE SEVERAL TIMES BUILT THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOT-AIR BALLOON”

who even carve a

And in return, what has Cameron done for Bristol? “It does give us great pride when we see something symbolising Bristol, which shows the Suspension Bridge but also a balloons flying above it, says on.

There’s a strong connection with the city, says avid, for ristolians who’ve grown up here, and through their families. “We like to resist the kind of creeping corporate formality at every turn; we try to stay informed and human. I think the obvious connection around Bristol is that there are times where people from the factory leave work and walk outside and see something they’ve made in the sky.

“Today we have about 60 people working for the company; we haven’t changed very much, and we pride ourselves not having a big staff turnover.”

As well as hot-air balloons, Cameron makes fabric used for many purposes. It’s also developed the technology needed to produce its world-famous special shapes: a antasia castle for isney a bust of Beethoven; a train, trucks, shoes, motorcycle, cars, fruit, bottles, cans, golf balls, and numerous animals, and comic characters.

The designs of early special shapes were all completed by on using a drawing board and slide-rule technique. He later wrote purpose-designed software for the design of special shape balloons, which made possible the present wide range of achievable shapes.

“We try not to turn down anything; if somebody asked us to make a balloon shaped like a bicycle, that would be tricky, because it hasn’t got much volume to it,” he says. “But we have made a balloon shaped like a motorbike. I think my own favourite was the

Tyrannosaurus Rex. It had great amusement value, but for me, the exciting thing about it was that it was just at the time when we were beginning to develop our computer design facilities, which made it more possible to do general shapes. Until that time, we were using all the oldfashioned methods that nobody uses at all any more.”

Obviously, it’s a tightly regulated world in which safety tests for the special shapes are paramount.

“Of course, it is an engineering ob, says avid, and all the materials have to have the right strengths and to be tested and proven. We do stress calculations, and these are looked at by the Civil Aviation Authority before the certificate’s issued o it’s all reasonably technical, although the balloon-making concept is simple.

“There aren’t any other aircraft like ours, and we tend to be quite over-regulated as a result. Every

OPPOSITE: Don Cameron, still ﬂying after all these years LEFT: David and Don at the Bristol Life Network Lunch at Harbour Hotel

time we made a special shape, we’re designing and building a customised, brand-new aircraft.”

Given the diverse nature of the business, what does on most en oy? I started off by en oying the ballooning, and still do I still fly, says on. That’s an important part. But we’re also diversifying into other products. We make quite a strange collection of products; things for artists, such as building fabric structures of different kinds.

uring Covid, too, they made hospital gowns – and body bags.

“We do things for government bodies, scientific and technical things, so we’re building a diversified product range.

Today, Cameron makes more than 75% of the world’s special-shaped balloons, builds approximately a balloon every day, of which 85% are exported. Is it a competitive area, in which their share might be eroded?

“We’ve always had competitors, and we certainly do today in the Czech Republic and Spain,” says on. nd it’s di cult, because they can underprice us to some extent, so we have to keep the quality and the standard of the product up.

“Sometimes the special shapes come into fashion, and we get a lot of orders, and sometimes it goes down – but it’s such a good idea I don’t think it will ever stop.

“We have also several times built the world’s largest hot-air balloon. We still possibly hold the record, depending how you measure it – by the number of people who fly. The biggest one we’ve flown carried 50 people, but my ambition is to build one that will carry 100 people. But we haven’t done that yet . . .” For more www.cameronballoons.co.uk

little bit out of the control zone to allow us to operate in Ashton Court.”

EXITING A COMMERCIAL LEASE

Your tenant has requested an early exit from their commercial lease: what can you do? Tom Halliday , commercial property solicitor at AMD SOLICITORS explains

It is not uncommon for commercial tenants to ask to exit their leases early, either because their business has failed, or they no longer need the premises, or they are looking to reduce overheads by of oading underperforming locations his article covers a few common requests from tenants to e it their lease

1. SURRENDER

This is where the lease is ended by entering into a deed of surrender, terminating all past and future obligations under the lease. However, agreeing to a surrender is at the landlord’s discretion. The parties are not required to agree and the landlord will likely want some recompense for loss of rent, and professional costs for a new lease. There is also the issue of dilapidations to be considered for any existing repairs to enable re-letting of the premises.

2. BREAK CLAUSE

It is fairly commonplace for a break clause to be included in a lease. If the lease includes a break clause and it is exercised by the tenant, it would be advisable to speak to us at the earliest opportunity so we can ensure the break notice has been validly served. The rules relating to break clauses can be quite tricky and there are often conditions which must be complied with in order for the break notice to be effective. Early termination of the lease via a break clause gives rise to an early dilapidation claim, and therefore landlords will need to consider the condition of the premises and the repairing covenant in the lease.

3. ASSIGNMENT

This is where the tenant transfers their lease to another person or company (the assignee). Most leases contains an alienation clause which requires the tenant to obtain the landlord’s consent before an assignment occurs. This is so the landlord can assess the financial viability of the assignee, and can stipulate reasonable conditions to the assignment. Often the landlord will require the outgoing tenant to enter into an authorised guarantee agreement, guaranteeing the obligations of the assignee under the lease; the outgoing tenant will remain prospectively liable until a new lease or further assignment occurs. The outgoing tenant and assignee will each have their own legal costs to pay and the landlord’s legal costs are often split between them too.

4. UNDERLETTING

Underletting may be a viable option to the tenant if permitted under the lease. Underletting will also need the consent of the landlord and there will be costs to pay for this. The tenant will remain liable to the landlord for payment of the rent under its lease, so, even if the undertenant were to default, they still have to pay the rent. If the tenant’s business is struggling, then a full surrender or lease assignment may be a more suitable option than underletting.

If you need advice on your lease, or on commercial property matters in general, then please contact Tom Halliday on 0117 973 3989 or tomhalliday@amdsolicitors.com who will be delighted to assist. n

100 Henleaze Road, Henleaze, BS9 4JZ

15 The Mall, Clifton, BS8 4DS 139 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, BS8 2PL

2 Station Road, Shirehampton, BS11 9TT 0117 962 1205; info@amdsolicitors.com www.amdsolicitors.com

SELWOOD MANOR

We always like to bring you something special for our Christmas-issue showcase. We think we’ve outdone ourselves this year

Words by Ursula Cole

Of course, we can’t take any credit for the exceptional Grade-II manor house featured on these pages. Or its trio of ancillary buildings, or the beautifully landscaped grounds. It’s taken nearly three centuries, dozens of caretakers and a fair few architects and gardeners to create the haven of weathered serenity shown on the left.

Set along a quiet country lane, in a peaceful and rural setting with no direct neighbours, Selwood Manor dates back to 1 0. Today the main house offers a stately 5,600 sq ft of living space, with a separate cottage and barn adding a further 2,260 sq ft for guests, each with its own private outdoor space. There’s also a brilliantly versatile and contemporary architect-designed leisure and entertainment complex called Cooper Hall, with a cinema and a gym.

All the buildings have been thoroughly overhauled in recent years, restoring both the exteriors and original interior features, while Cooper Hall has been built from scratch. The current owners have also sought to make the heating and cooling systems as eco-friendly as possible.

But so much for the bigger picture; let’s head on in. From Jack’s Lane there are two sets of gates set into low stone walls: one leads to Cooper Hall, the other to the main house along a long driveway that, we’re told, is festooned with daffodils in springtime. t the end lies the18th-century manor house, built in the Jacobean style from honey-coloured stone with a Roman tile roof, gabled dormers crowned with tall chimney stacks, and mullion windows with leaded panes.

Behind the solid wooden front door a porch opens to a spacious hall pressed into service as a drawing room, with an oak staircase, exposed beams and wood burner set into an open hearth beneath a bressumer beam. Its oak floorboards continue into another reception room off

to the right with similar features; this in turn opens to an intimate TV den from which stairs lead up to a study.

ff to the left of the hall lies a dining room with a big expansive inglenook, which leads to a good-sized kitchen with underheated limestone floors and bespoke oak cabinetry. very kind of appliance is neatly integrated, and there’s a separate utility room and pantry to absorb any aesthetically displeasing clutter.

pstairs, two of the five first-floor bedrooms have their own en suites, the master’s being particularly spacious with a freestanding bath, double sink and stone-clad shower; it also has a dressing room. Right at the top of the house, two bedrooms are set among the eaves, each with en suites – an ideal lair for kids of all ages,.

Hate the look of radiators? The manor house’s are neatly hidden behind skirting boards. There’s also an integrated speaker system, while hotel-grade plumbing offers high pressure to pummel you into wakefulness at the start of every day.

utside, the charming double-fronted guest cottage with its pantile roof and painted bo sash windows would satisfy most of us alone it’s been fitted out with the same no-expense-spared care as the main house, and is wonderfully cosy. It has its own private lawned garden, screened from the main house garden by firs.

In the single-bedroomed, -shaped barn, underheated slate flagstones run through the spacious, bright, contemporary rooms. Folding glass doors open to a large raised deck with wonderful views over to the fields, meadows and river beyond.

ince it was built 12 years ago, Cooper all has offered a creative space for a wide variety of activities and

performances. The beautifully appointed building could also be used as an art studio, rehearsal rooms or event space; it currently includes a professional-grade cinema and screening room, a gym, kitchen, plant room, heated contemporary glass loggia and private garden.

The manor house grounds are made up of formal gardens, grasslands and woodland that slope down to the iver rome. flagstone seating terrace facing a beautiful magnolia tree looks down to the water meadows beyond; a play area for children is set not far below.

Near to Cooper Hall, a long pergola strewn with climbing roses leads to the hall’s parking area – a tennis court in a previous life, and it could easily be so again.

Next to the Cooper Hall loggia, within a walled garden, is an outdoor heated swimming pool with a stone terrace, changing rooms with showers and seating areas.

Need yet more outdoor space? Two further parcels of land are separately available. The first is ust under seven acres, with a paddock, woodland and orchard, kitchen garden with greenhouse, gardener’s restroom, log store and machinery storage; the second is made up of over 2 .2 acres of fields.

Selwood Manor lies 24 miles south-east of Bristol, near Frome – though it could be argued that the buildings within this highly private enclave form an entire, very private hamlet of their own.

Could 2025 be the year you move to the country?

HOUSE NUMBERS

Where? Near Frome

Guide price £4m

Receptions 4 in main house, plus study

Bedrooms 7 in main house

Bath and shower rooms 5 in main house

Ancilliary Two-bed cottage, one-bed barn, architectdesigned leisure complex

Grounds 4.5 acres, with gardens, grasslands, woodland and heated pool

Anything else? Extra land separately available

Call my agent: Inigo Homes; www.inigo.com

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FRESH THINKING OVER A FINE LUNCH

Unique social business occasion: live interview, plus leading business people, superb venue and lunch Next lunch Spring 2025, details TBC

PROVIDING AN EXQUISITE FAMILY HOME IN c13 ACRES

BACKWELL HOUSE – JUST 15 MINUTES DRIVE FROM CLIFTON, BRISTOL

The main living accommodation is principally arranged over two ﬂoors and would ideally suit a growing family.

The ground floor provides 4 beautiful reception rooms plus conservatory and kitchen/utility around a stunning central staircase leading to the first floor which provides 7 ensuite bedrooms, each with beautiful views over the grounds.

The second ﬂoor currently provides a further 2 ensuite bedrooms, which could be readily adapted for other uses within this family home. The property

Burston Cook: Julian@burstoncook.co.uk

Tom@burstoncook.co.uk

0117 934 9977

Knight Frank

also beneﬁts from a good sized basement, partially ﬁtted out and ideal for a variety of ancillary uses.

The house is approached via a sweeping driveway and sits within approximately 13 acres, comprising front lawn, a rear private garden and surrounding paddocks. There is an outdoor swimming pool which can be readily recommissioned along with a former tennis court.

In addition, further outbuildings and three estate cottages can be purchased subject to separate negotiation.

Robert.engley@knightfrank.com

sarah.ka.brown@knightfrank.com 0117 317 1996 / 0207 590 2451 Guide Price £2,995,000

BRISTOL & CLIFTON’S PREMIER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS

Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk

Colston Street, BS1 TO LET – £18.95 PSF

2,620 sq ft (243.4 sq m)

A modern, open plan floor plate which is due to be refurbished throughout to provide contemporary space. 2 parking spaces, passenger lift and bike storage are also available. There is also a large dry basement store available by separate negotiation.

Whiteladies Road, Clifton TO LET – POA

1,322 sq ft (123.09 sq m)

A self contained light and airy suite with up to 5 car parking spaces located directly on Whiteladies Road. New lease terms available.

Paintworks, BS4 FOR SALE – POA

7,929 sq ft (736.6 sq m)

An iconic, landmark building in the heart of the Paintworks development, providing accommodation over ground and three upper floors. Finished to a very high specification, to include auditorium, lift, high quality M & E and 8 car parking spaces.

Dean Street Works, BS2 TO LET – POA

Approx 700 sq ft (65 sq m)

A ground floor commercial premises centrally located and available to let in the city centre. Due to be refurbished. Use Class E, therefore suitable for a variety of uses.

Etloe Road, BS6 TO LET – POA

1,273 sq ft (118.27 sq m)

A ground floor, self-contained “Class E” premises available to let in the popular suburb of Westbury Park. May suit a range of uses.

St Mary Street Thornbury TO LET – quoting £15,000 pa 905 sq ft (84.07)

Open plan ground floor retail premises in a prime position at the St Mary's Centre. One allocated parking space to the rear and further benefiting from an external seating area to the front.

Oxford Street, BS3 TO LET – £15,500 pa 893 sq ft (82.96 sq m)

Positioned on a popular retail parade in Totterdown the premises is next to national retailers such as Tesco. This Use Class E premises offers space over ground floor with ample customer parking.

Griffin House, Clevedon TO LET / FOR SALE

5,176 – 10,351 sq ft (480.85 – 961.61 sq m)

A substantial, modern office providing accommodation over ground and first floors due to be refurbished. New lease available. Alternatively, the freehold is available to purchase with Vacant Possession.

Whiteladies Road, Clifton FOR SALE – POA

4,300 sq ft (399.47 sq m)

A rare freehold opportunity comprising high-quality office accommodation but with excellent potential for alternative commercial uses or residential conversion. Benefiting from a large forecourt to the front and courtyard garden to the rear.

St.Thomas Street, BS1 TO LET – POA

10,907 – 26,945 sq ft (1,013 – 2,503 sq m)

HQ office building with secure parking for 21 cars. To lease as a whole or floor by floor. Would suit other commercial uses. Highly competitive quoting rent.

IN 2024, BURSTON COOK DISPOSED OF MORE OFFICE AND RETAIL PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT BRISTOL THAN ANY OF OUR COMPETITORS! THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CLIENTS!

Jayne Rixon MRICS

Julian Cook FRICS

Finola Ingham FRICS

Charlie Kershaw MRICS

Tom Coyte MRICS

Charlotte Bjoroy BArch

Luke Dodge MRICS

THE BRISTOL LIFE FESTIVE QUIZ!

and Bristol Books, publishers of Manson’s Bristol Miscellany, A Dictionary Of Bristle and many more. Stick one of them in your loved one’s

FOR THIS YEAR’S QUIZ, we’re taking you on location. Fingers on buzzers, then:

In the final episode of series one of The Outlaws, Christopher Walken paints over a real-life Banksy. Where was it?

a) Sea Mills Community Centre b) Lockleaze Community Centre c) Barton Hill Community Centre

2The Westbury Park Tavern (formerly the Cock Of The North) featured in the anarchic 1980s sitcom The Young Ones. But what was it called in the TV series?

a) The Doner and Domestos b) The Kebab And Calculator c) The Open Arms

Where is the real-life Sid’s Café from Only Fools and Horses?

a) George’s, East Street, Bedminster b) Noah’s Seafood Restaurant, Brunel Lock Road

c) The Rendezvous Fish Bar, Denmark Street

4Which TV series moved its base from ristol to Cardiff in 2011?

a) Casualty b) Upstairs Downstairs c) Being Human Our Bristmas quiz is brought to you once again by Richard Jones of Tangent

5A number of Bristol locations were used in recent TV show The Rivals. In which square (see pic) does David Tennant place Corinium’s TV award?

a) Queen Square b) Victoria Square c) The Square Club

6 hich cult 1 2 film was shot on location in Bristol?

a) Normal People b) Some People c) Summer People

What stood in for Nelson Mandela House in Only Fools And Horses?

a) Whitmead House, Ashton b) Barton House, arton ill c aring ouse, edcliffe

Which Totterdown pub was a location in Being Human?

a) New Found Out: b) Shakespeare c) The Oxford

Where was Noel Edmonds’ Deal or No Deal recorded?

a) Bottle Yard Studios b) Paintworks c) Motion

In the very first episode of Skins, Tony crosses which bridge on his way to college? (See pic.)

a) Vauxhall Bridge b) Clifton Suspension Bridge

c) Langton Street Bridge

Which of the following was not filmed at Bottle Yard Studios: Sanditon, Bridgerton or Poldark?

a) Sanditon b) Bridgerton c) Poldark

Which of the following is the name of an album by Tricky?

a) Knowle West Boy b) Bedminster Boy c) Clifton Boy

13Which neighbourhood is the ‘ends’ in Moses McKenzie’s acclaimed debut novel An Olive Grove in Ends?

a) Stokes Croft b) Clifton Village c) Stapleton Road

14In Wolf Hall, the nave of which church stood in for Westminster Abbey for the coronation scene of Anne Boleyn?

a t ary edcliffe b ristol Cathedral c) Clifton Cathedral

In the recent TV series Boarders, a bunch of talented black London kids win a scholarship to which private Bristol school?

a) Clifton High b) QEH c) Clifton College

In the movie version of David Nicholls’s novel Starter for Ten, where does Brian Jackson lodge?

a) Royal York Crescent b) Park Street

c) Cotham Hill

Bristol Harbourside featured in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society –but which historic ship was featured?

a) The Matthew b) The Balmoral c) The ss Great Britain

Which Bristol pub is said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write about the Admiral Benbow Inn in Treasure Island ?

a)The Llandoger Trow b) The Hatchet Inn

c)The Rummer

Which well-known British comedian and actor featured in the earliest series of Skins?

a arry nfield b arry Corbett c arry ill

20In Jayde Adams comedy series Ruby Speaking, what Bristol neighbourhood features prominently in the show?

a) Totterdown b) Bishopston c) Cliftonwood