THE VOW FACTOR BRIDE-AND-TESTED NUPTIAL TIPS
25 FOR ’25 LOTS OF GOOD STUFF COMING YOUR WAY
AIN’T NO STOPPING US NOW THE BRISTOL HEROES GIVING IT THEIR ALL
BRIONY’S BRISTOL THE BAKE-OFF QUEEN’S GUIDE TO THE CITY
SHACK ATTACK A GOOD HOUSE AT BRISTOL OLD VIC
ALRITE MY LUVVER?
V DAY LOOMETH, IF THAT’S YOUR KIND OF THING
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If there’s an F in the month, it’s going to be a love issue. This doesn’t mean we’ve cobbled together a ten-page pullout* on Valentine’s Day gifts** and meals out; we used to do these back in the day, mostly to give a boost to our local hospitality and retail heroes during an otherwise quiet time for business, but over the past few years we’ve reined them in.
Why? Well, we now live in more sensitive/ tactful/call-it-what-you-will times, making us more mindful of single and, umm, consciously uncoupled folk, who might find the festival an irrelevance at best, mildly annoying at middling, and salt-in-the-woundpainful at worst.
However, love comes in many shapes and forms, and hopefully you’ll find plenty of other stuff to adore in the following pages. You’d have to be very hard to please not to fall for something in our round-up of the ‘best 25 things happening in ’25’ feature; our wine columnist Charlie picks food and drink matches that are so sexy they really need to get a room, and as for our review of Fish Tales –well, that’s a-moray. And to prove we’re not whatever the Valentine’s equivalent of The Grinch is, we’ve slipped in the first of our 2025 wedding features.
Still can’t find anything to love in this issue? OK, here’s a picture of Maliit, Bristol Zoo Project’s latest baby – an endangered Philippine spotted deer fawn, currently measuring just 30cm tall – about the size of this magazine.
Still no?
Fine; I give up.
*Actually we don’t do those
** Although in fact we have done you a small gift guide
DERI ROBINS
Bristol Life editor @BristolLifeMag
ON THE COVER Richmond Terrace; our property showcase, see page 78
9 25 FOR ’25 Look, it had to be done
21 ART PAGE Clifton’s abstract pioneer
22 WHAT’S ON The cultural scene is busting out all over
30 THEATRE Nancy Medina in the House
34 BRISTOL HEROES The Unstoppables
39 BOOKS Seeking a bit of literary escapism in warmer climes? You’ve come to the wrong page
42 RESTAURANT t’s a fish restaurant. pect puns
44 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Tasty bites across the city
46 BRIONY’S BRISTOL Sometimes, the ideal weekend itinerary is starting you in the face
49 CAFÉ SOCIETY It’s high time Stan went to Wogan’s
51 WINE A food-and-wine love-in? Get a room!
54 ED’S CHOICE Valentine’s Day, for those who celebrate
56 99 PROBLEMS? Getting hitched ain’t one BUSINESS
67 NETWORK LUNCH The rise and rise of the Loungers group
71 JOURNEY TO THE JOB Cat Ransome
73 BUSINESS NEWS Stories that caught our eye
78 SHOWCASE Our
Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art
Andrew Richmond Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody, Stan Cullimore, Storysmith Books, Charlie Taylor Commercial manager Neil 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, Media House, 1 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT. tel: 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
WE’RE A QUARTER OF A WAY THROUGH THE 21st CENTURY! (YOU DON’T GET MUCH PAST US)
2025: the date sounds kind of auspicious, doesn’t it? There again, so did 2020, and look what happened then. But assuming nothing untoward happens to spoil the fun, here are 25 top things to look forward to in the Bristol area this year
Words by Deri Robins
“Say ‘hi !’ to returning favourites, such as the musical swings, and ‘wow!’ to the new, including Air Giants’ charismatic Whilers”
Of course, we’re compiling this during the first week of anuary, so these are merely the things we know a out so far. f we know ristol and it’s fair to say that after nearly 21 years of Bristol Life, we do – there’ll be plenty more new and e citing stuff yet to be announced, which we’ll be all over as and when we discover them. But for now, though, starting chronologically ut spiralling into a kind of coming some time soon’ shrug, here are just 25 things for your 2025 diary.
The literally brilliant Bristol Light Festival installations return to the city centre as this magazine hits the street. Say “hi!” to returning favourites, such as the musical swings, and “wow!” to the new, including ruce unro’s ock of colour changing amingos, and Air Giants’ charismatic Whilers (shown left).
31 January-9 February www.bristollightfestival.org
Happy 20th anniversary, Slapstick ristol’s cherished annual celebration of silent-screen comedy, classic TV sitcoms and everything in etween rolls ack into Beacon, Bristol Old Vic, Watershed etc; at the Gala we have Martin Freeman hosting, ick akeman on key oards and Paul McGann on vocals. Nice. ever knew aul was in a and
They’re called The Matinee Idles and they first performed at the very first Slapstick estival. – pipping those other Idles to the post name wise y five years. 12-16 February; www.slapstick.org.uk
Hang on, isn’t the Hay estival in, you know, ay That is indeed its spiritual home, ut it’s taken its fter ours programme on the road in recent years, and now its oodstock of the mind’ will be live at the eacon for a one off night of “readings, performances and provocations to celebrate a world of different . f you can overlook and forgive the nouning in that last sentence, come along for a “surprise line-up of emerging and esta lished artists offering new work and old perspectives as art forms collide and great minds meet”, in the atmospheric surroundings of the Lantern Hall. 27 March; www.hayfestival.com
2
No, not a Stranger Things happening – though obviously we’d be totally down (and up) with one if anyone fancies putting one on. Instead, this is the Upside Down House, and building will begin next to We The Curious very soon.
First built in the UK in 2018, the Upside Down Houses are a museum of illusions: the topsy-turvy interior has an open-plan layout, allowing you to fully immerse yourself and capture unique images.
The bold magenta exterior of the new house has been specifically chosen to reflect and complement Bristol’s vibrant culture, we read. From February, www.upsidedownhouse.co.uk
ristol’s hospitality legends keep the compassion owing all year round, helping to feed the homeless and people suffering from food poverty however, this event’s the iggie. aking over shton Gate for the second year, the nti an uet turns the concept of a charity dinner on its head usinesses are invited to purchase a ta le for local charities or team mem ers who rarely get a chance to attend posh dos, while the osses, s and directors get usy ehind the scenes, helping the chefs in the kitchen and serving ta les. he entertainment’s always great too, with hosts eyond comp re ayde dams and oe Sims ringing the ristol funnies and oreen oreen among those performing at the after party. an they eat last year’s total of 00k hey just might, with your help. 27 March; www.antibanquet.co.uk
Revered Bristol-based historian, writer and broadcaster David Olusoga OBE has a couple of talks lined up for us. On 19 May he’s at St George’s, examining what history reveals about contemporary society; later on in the year, on 2 November, he’s at Bristol Beacon with A Gun Through Time, uncovering the story of three firearms that changed the world. Sounds niche, but intriguing. www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk; www.bristolbeacon.org
Bristol’s festival dedicated to fictional criminality where the pen is loodier than the sword has een running since 200 . Sadly this year’s is due to e its last. hy are they shutting up shop after all this time ppropriately, it’s a mystery. his year’s ghost of honour’ is legendary spy author ohn le arr , represented y his sons. 15-18 May; www.crimefest.com
op powerhouse o ie illiams is playing just five cities during his 2025 tour, and one of them, surprisingly enough, happens to e ath’s oyal rescent. his tour is going to e my oldest yet, promises the o ster. here will e songs from the movie Better Man, and new music too. ut more on that soon... 13-14 June, www.ticketmaster.co.uk
“We’re all gonna die. May as well have a laugh about it”, says Ricky Gervais. In his new show Mortality, he looks at “the absurdities of life. And death. ring it on. he first date sold out in a ash, so a second has een added; that’ll sell out, too. 16-17 June; www.bristolbeacon.org
: The bumper weekend of lurrrve and cool beats returns to Ashton Court Estate with its usual mix of headline electronic, dance and emerging artists. And yes, that means we don’t have a clue who’s up just yet, but if dancing your little heart out in the sun (tbc) with likeminded groovers is your bag, then book anyway: you can’t go wrong. 24-25 May; www.lovesavestheday.org
Everyone apparently had a blast at Ashton Gate’s inaugural one-day music festival last year, featuring Craig David, DJ Spoony, Dizzee Rascal et al; we’d have hoped that an event named BS3 Live might have focused on more home-grown talent, but what do we know? Maybe it will this year. 21 June: www.bs3live.com
Pride tends to follow the same triedand-tested formula, so expect the usual rainbowcoloured array of theatre, music, boat tours, circus, comedy, talks, dog shows and cinema, culminating in the Pride Day march leading to a big old party on the Downs on 12 July. The team have something
So many anniversaries seem to fall this year. Playing at Bristol Sounds are Supergrass, celebrating 30 years in the biz, and slightly younger guns Kaiser Chiefs, who’ve clocked up 20. Also up are Texas, who’ve also been around a few blocks since forming in 1986, and relative baby Olly Murs, all playing against the idyllic backdrop of Harbourside as the sun sets over the cranes. 25-29 June; www.bristolsounds.co.uk
From the same team as Sounds and Love Saves, Forwards Festival also returns to The Downs on 23-24 August to round off festival season; no names announced as yet, though. www.forwardsbristol.co.uk
13
11
general. here are four different characters this year: Gromit, the dog with the world’s most expressive eyebrows; his inventor-owner Wallace; new character Norbot the ‘smart gnome’, and Feathers McGraw – described by the BBC as a “mischievous penguin” although BL feels “stone-cold deadeyed villain” is closer to the mark. Either way, it’s going
to be cracking.
30 June-31 August; www.grandappeal.org.uk
extra special to celebrate this year: they won the award for Best Non-Music Festival in the 2024 UK Festival Awards. 28 June-13 July www.bristolpride.co.uk
Release the hounds! And the gnomes! Grand Appeal are launching their third Gromit Unleashed trail, raising funds as ever for Bristol’s Children’s Hospital. Not only does the trail tie in neatly with the release of Aardman’s new feature film Vengeance Most Fowl but it’s inspired by the movies in
While it’s true that SPC is always with us, holding its education programme and community engagement events celebrating African Caribbean arts and culture throughout the year, Carnival Day is now biennial – and this year it’s back in all its feathers-and-sequins, jerk-chickenand-sound-systems glory. You have six months to cultivate a friend in BS2 who handily owns a stoop, portico or wall on which to perch along the procession route. 5 July; www.stpaulscarnival.net
As the Chamoletchannelling dude shown left can a rm, there’s much more to ar our est than the on the water programme the weekend rings the est of ristol’s emerging artists in music, dance and circus along
with esta lished and international performers across all genres. f you don’t manage to eat the other 500,000 visitors to a well placed outdoor ta le, just dangle your legs over the har our walls, utside ini style health and safety permitting. 18-20 July; www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk
hose mourning the a sence of alley est in its fallow year can find solace in this new festival, com ining music, food, comedy and camping, at ernhill arm. t promises an intimate
weekend for ,500 festival goers aged over 25 the S is its all inclusive ticket, which includes reakfast and loody arys, camping, all entertainment, talks and workshops.
ust like alley est, the festival has a ig focus on food and the role it plays in ringing people together. t the itchen a le, a cosy arn space with plenty of comfy seating, you can tuck into a special Sunday oast feast, and there’ll e a wide range of food demos from e pert chefs availa le all weekend.
18-20 July
www.homesteadfestival.co.uk
et more anniversaries etween 23 2 uly, inema ediscovered marks 0 years of the festival dedicated to the rediscovery and revival of classic films, while ncounters the ’s leading short film, animation and virtual reality festival is cele rating 30 years of championing fresh and e citing new creators in movie making etween 2 2 Septem er. www.watershed.co.uk www.encounters.film
fter a successful launch event last summer, east n returns with a taste of the est of ristol’s indie restaurants and chefs as well as the food and drink stalls and an ueting area, there’ll e cooking demos, panel discussions and entertainment. any of the chefs we spoke to last year were intrigued ut didn’t commit e interesting to see who turns up this year.
24-27 July; www.feaston.co.uk
ristol’s own post punk heroes dles are throwing a lock party as opposed to a loc arty, they’re over at Siren, turn the page with special guests, s and the est of ristol’s street food and drink scene.
hat makes it e tra special is that these are their only gigs planned for 2025. e’re coming home , says frontman oe al ot.
e’re putting on a couple of parties in ueen S uare with music we love for the people we love. ll is love .
1-2 August www.idles.seetickets.com
Bristol’s summertime gig series Siren has announced its first headliner and it’s yet another anniversary celebration, as indie-electronic legends Bloc Party (above) mark 20 years of Silent Alarm, the album that wowed a generation. They’re promising to bring us all the genre-blurring, dance-rockoundary pushing hits Banquet, Helicopter Blue Light, you name it in a mi of nostalgia and high energy. They can give us life, they can take it away, 25 July; www.sirenbristol.com
Not an anniversary for a change, unless you regard 47 years as a landmark. Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will continue with the three-day formula it introduced last year; if the weather plays all, e pect over 00 hot air alloons take off and y at dawn and dusk, along with the Night Glows on Friday and Saturday nights, daytime aerial displays, fairground rides,
entertainment, music, and food stalls. If you can’t make it to the Ashton Court site just head somewhere high up randon Hill and Clifton Observatory are top choices and wait for the gas bags to soar overhead.
Do: be aware that this is a free event, and consider donating a few quid on the website.
Don’t: take to social media to complain when pilots decline to y in a orce 0 gale.
8-10 August www. r stol lloonfiest .co.u
Two biggies for Bristol Bears
Women this year: not only has S superstar lona aher the world’s most followed rugby union player on social media joined the team, but their Ashton Gate home will host oth semi finals and two uarter finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup as the biggest-ever celebration of women’s rugby comes to the UK. he uarter finals will take place on the weekend of Septem er 3 and the semi finals on the weekend of September 19, with the Red Roses guaranteed to play their uarter final match at Ashton Gate, should they get to
In addition to the anniversaries already mentioned, Bristol’s interactive science centre We the Curious, which first launched under the name of @Bristol as part of the city’s millennial celebrations – is celebrating its 25th anniversary. www.wethecurious.org Events are also being planned around Old City on 2 November, as an 85-year commemoration of the Bristol Blitz.
The building site on Welsh Back hasn’t seen a huge amount of action over the past couple of years, but the creators of new food hall BOXHALL are hopeful of a 2025 opening. When it does open, expect high-quality street food stalls from local, independent traders; should be good, given that it’s set to be curated by food ambassador Josh Eggleton. Opening sometime, hopefully; www.boxhall.co.uk
he e cellent ristol ilm ce and ottle ard Studios will continue to offer sterling support to films and , meaning that you’re likely to spot even more of your fave locations and stars on the o in 2025.
that happy point. 13-20 September www.bristolbearsrugby.com Saga
Bristol and the region will feature in Danny Boyle’s hotlyanticipated 28 Years Later, along with the new adaptation of John Galsworthy’s The Forsyte and Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery. There’s also Guy Ritchie’s oun erloc , and the return of Jilly Cooper’s delightful The Rivals Bristol Film o ce has put together lots of self-guided
filming locations, so whether your fave shows are ns, The Outlaws, Doctor Who or erloc , you’ll be able to revisit all your favourite memories in situ. www.film r stol.co.u bristol-movie-maps
… but without that pesky Oz Cobb. otel Gotham the highly anticipated five star renovation of the historic Guildhall will finally open its doors in late 2025, with 5 edrooms, a restaurant, spa and a even a rumoured rooftop terrace bar.
ther ranches of the lu ury chain have been described by The Guardian as ‘glitzy, ambitious, unapologetically opulent’, offering pi a and pampering’. We can’t wait; though obviously we’ll have to.
utumn www. otel ot m.co.u
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There are three main reasons why Clifton-born artist Marjorie WatsonWilliams isn’t a household name.
Firstly, she painted professionally as Paule Vézelay. Secondly, she built her reputation in Paris, where she moved in the same circles as Braque, Picasso and Matisse; however, instead of being able to consolidate her reputation in France she was forced to leave when World War II broke out. Thirdly, of course, she suffered from eing a woman in what was still very much a man’s world.
Vézelay’s Bristol upbringing inspired much of her art, from the rolling hills of Somerset to the cultural life of the city; she was fascinated by the newly opened Hippodrome, for example,
whose interior she painted in watercolours. Later, her sketches of the bombed-out buildings and twisted metal of the Blitz captured the devastation and resilience of her home town.
Vézelay continued to push artistic boundaries throughout her long career. Somewhat forgotten and left out of the art history books, today, she is increasingly recognised as an important trail la er, and one of the very first a stract artists to come out of the UK.
Her contribution is fully acknowledged at RWA this month, where a major retrospective features 60 works from her seven-decade career.
Paule Vezelay: Living Lines runs at RWA until 27 April 2024; www.rwa.org.u
21 February 2025
Until 16 February
RINKO KAWAUCHI: AT THE EDGE OF THE EVERYDAY WORLD
The Japanese photographer’s poetic, dreamlike work often focuses on finding eauty in ordinary moments, imbuing mundane scene with a sense of wonder. rnolfini rnolfin .or .u
Until 23 March
SIAN DAVEY: THE CREATIVE BODY
Coming to photography after a career in psychotherapy, Siân’s work explores themes of human connection and the complexities of everyday life. At MPF; m rt n rr oun t on.or
Until 27 April
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
The NHM’s touring exhibition of award-winning, thought-provoking images, at ristol useum and rt Gallery; r stolmuseums.or .u
PAPER WORKS
RWA’s biennial exhibition is all about – you guessed it – paper, celebrating
the medium as a surface for drawing and printmaking and as a sculptural material; rw .or .u
PAULE VÉZELAY: LIVING LINES
Clifton’s forgotten art pioneer, at RWA; see page 21; rw .or .u
8 February-11 May
DANIELLE DEAN
Danielle draws on archival records, film and advertising, to interrogate how individuals are shaped by commercial narratives.At Spike Island; s e sl n .or .u
DAN GUTHRIE: EMPTY
ALCOVE / ROTTING FIGURE
Dan works primarily with moving image to explore presentations and misrepresentations of lack ritishness, particularly in rural areas. Spike Island; s e sl n .or .u
Until 8 February
ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES: THE MUSICAL
The Trotters are back in this critically acclaimed musical featuring cherished material
from the TV series and music from Chas & Dave “One Del of a show!”chortled e un, but then it would, wouldn’t it t ristol Hippodrome; t t c ets.com
3-7 February
DIARY OF A UKRAINIAN MADMAN
Lonely pharmacist Vasyl Petrovych works long night shifts in the dingy shop that is almost his home. Harassed by his dreadful boss, he retreats into a rich fantasy life believing he is on the verge of discoveries that will change the world... at Alma Tavern; lm t ern n t e tre.co.u
4-6 February
IVO GRAHAM: CAROUSEL
Ivo, who’s watched the en ‘carousel’ clip approximately 100 times, steps away from his usual stand-up frivolity and invites you onto his own carousel: around and around, backwards and forwards, to the places he aches to go to again. t r stolol c.or .u
6-7 February
TWELFTH NIGHT
ristol’s ueer a rming theatre
company His & Hers bring the kitsch and camp to Shakespeare’s cross-dressing comedy to the TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com
6-8 February
BUFFY REVAMPED
70 minutes. Seven seasons. One Spike. A satirical take on ’90s TV phenomenon u t e m re l er with all 144 episodes rattled through with the help of everyone;s favourite peroxide vamp. Depending on your level of devotion to James asters you’ll either find it hilarious or firmly swerve at thewardrobetheatre.com
11 February
THREE KINGS
Solo play y Stephen eresford a out fathers and sons, the gifts and burdens of inheritance, and the unfathomable puzzle of human relationships. At Alma Tavern; lm t ern n t e tre.co.u
11-12 February
BULL
ike artlett’s hit savage play a out workplace ullying offers ringside seats as three employees fight to keep their jo s. t tobaccofactorytheatres.com
11-15 February
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Evan is an anxious high-school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. he thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth and now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. This won more awards than you can shake a Tony at. Hippodrome; atgtickets.com
12-13 February
LUKE WRIGHT: JOY!
Edinburgh Fringe’s favourite poet returns with big-hearted poems that get to grips with joy in mulchy middle-age. Can a 42- year-old-feel pure unbridled joy, and what does it look like? Find out at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
13-14 February
A PLEASING TERROR: TWO GHOST STORIES
A retelling of two of the eeriest and most entertaining tales by M R James, master of the English ghost story. At Alma Tavern Theatre; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
14 February-8 March
A GOOD HOUSE
Bristol Old Vic’s AD Nancy Medina’s biggie for spring; more on page 30; bristololdvic.org.uk
17-18 February
LADY’S FINGERS
Stepping into the corporate world as a young woman can require a carefully crafted performance. Via clowning, choreography and off the wall dialogue, enny rop roductions capture the feeling of faking it til you make it, at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
20 February-29 March
THE WINTER’S TALE
Shakespeare’s back at the TFT! Heidi Vaughan directs the Bard’s story of jealousy, redemption and the enduring power of love; tobaccofactorytheatres.com
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
BRISTOL IMPROV
For the full programme see improvtheatre.co.uk
31 January COUNT BINFACE
The universe’s favourite novelty politician brings his special brand of sci fi satire and un eata le manifesto to Wardrobe. Cheaper croissants? The nationalisation of Adele? The return of Ceefax? All those, and more; thewardrobetheatre.com
ALEXANDER BENNETT: EMOTIONAL DAREDEVIL
A comedy show about risk, for people unsatisfied with how things are going; at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
Until 1 February SHOWSTOPPER
A new musical comedy created from scratch at each performance of this award-winning show from Bristol Improv. At BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk
FURIOZO: MAN LOOKING FOR TROUBLE
A punk-rock comedy clown show about toxic masculinity, starring an aggressive hooligan with a giant heart, You will love him. You will hate him. You will experience the presence of the beast. As Furiozo would say: Live fast; die. At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
SAM LAKE: ESMÉRALDA
A heartfelt romp through ludicrous anecdotes from Sam’s Cornish childhood, and the di culties caused by not speaking the same language as half of his family. Alma Tavern Theatre; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
Until 8 February
MICKY OVERMAN: HOLD ON Micky’s life is suddenly going in
the direction she’s always wanted; so why is she finding it so hard show a out change, it and letting go of your old self. tobaccofactorytheatres.com
2 February
ADAM KAY: UNDOCTORED
he nation’s 2th favourite doctor rings his new show to , with new tales of life on and off the wards. e’ll also tell the degloving’ story ecause people ask for refunds if he doesn’t; bristololdvic.org.uk
THE LOST CABARET
ristol’s clown colla oration ig ideas, ig e periments and ig laughs to ardro e thewardrobetheatre.com
4 February
JON UDRY’S HAVING A BALL
e’s the juggler that other jugglers state as the gold standard, and he’s funny enough that comics don’t mind the and comedian’ on his posters, said a fellow comedian. t ardro e thewardrobetheatre.com
6 February
LUCY HOPKINS: QUING perimental e ploration of power and all round silly time from the high priestess of clowning turned a solute monarch, ucy opkins, and their merry and of idiots. t ardro e thewardrobetheatre.com
7 February
JACK & JORDAN: COSMIC TWEGHEADS he eston super are pals are
going to space a oard their patented ying ironing oard. ’s their last show on arth, and they’re not going to let something like childhood trauma relating to the iconic 20th century sketch comedy duo The Two Ronnies ruin it all. t ardro e thewardrobetheatre.com
7-8 February
ABI CLARKE: ROLE MODEL
i posted a video online, went to bed a nobody then woke up to thousands of followers. our years later, after a sold out run at din urgh, this is the de ut show they’ve all een waiting for, though it may not e e actly what they want from her at bristololdvic.org.uk
8 February
INSTANT WIT
he G improvvers return to their ristol spiritual home, the lma avern almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
9 February
AHIR SHAH: ENDS
hir’s show spans si decades, three generations, and two continents, synthesising past and present in search of hope for the future. t’s funnier than it sounds, honestly. tobaccofactorytheatres.com
12 February
ZIGZAG
ll local ristol comedy weirdos om utchinson and Greg ur on want is to work out new gags with you in a lovely theatre with some wine. pect jokes, whimsy, drawings, facial movements and pathos, at lma avern heatre almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
12-16 February
SLAPSTICK FESTIVAL
ristol’s mighty cele ration of s, from silent movies to classic sitcoms, returns to its usual venues this year’s gala event is hosted y artin reeman at ristol eacon on the th slapstick.org.uk
14-15 February
AMY MASON: FREE MASON fter an encounter with a wildlife enthusiast, my e plores what it means to e a human animal a nightmare, t h . ristol ld ic bristololdvic.org.uk
15-17 February
CHRIS MCCAUSLAND: YONKS!
hris has een called an overnight success, even though he’s een doing this for, well, yonks. ead to eacon to catch up; bristolbeacon.org
18-19 February
SOPHIE DUKER: BUT DADDY I LOVE HER
The Taskmaster champ is dealing with her (sugar) daddy issues in a new show, arguing that we should all choose silliness over common sense and fantasies over cold, bleak reality. In this intentionally unhinged hour, delulu is the solulu. At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
20 February
HANNAH PLATT: DEFENCE MECHANISM
Hannah unravels her frank and acerbic world view – and, after a diagnosis of body dysmorphia, how the world looks back at her. Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
21 February
EDDIE KADI: LET ME LAND
The debut tour from one of comedy’s fastest rising stars. At Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com
RHOD GILBERT & THE GIANT GRAPEFRUIT
Dark, passionate and way too personal, this is vintage Gilbert, squeezing every last drop from life’s curveballs. At Bristol Beacon; bristolbeacon.org
21-22 February
THE VINYL COUNTDOWN
Meet the music legends you never knew you knew, as award-winning comedian Dan Lees brings to life bizarre record covers he’s found in charity shops. At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
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
5 February
KAWALA
While the harmonic tenderness of folk is central to this North London five-piece’s sound, it’s their instinct for pop, nourished by hooks, highs and a sun-blush glow of optimism, which defines them. At Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk
HENRIK JENSEN TRIO
A new constellation of three
remarkable musicians who are exploring the compositions by bassist Henrik Jensen, blurring the lines between the composed and improvised material. At Bristol Music Hall; fringejazz.co.uk
6 February
SPIERS AND BODEN
Considered the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene, the Bellowhead founders now purvey their brand of high-octane, nononsense acoustic folk as a dynamic duo. Bristol Beacon; bristolbeacon.org
7 February
THE OLLAM
Instrumental virtuosity meets Irish tradition and Detroit’s post-rock psych-sensibility: think Radiohead crossed with Planxty, with the ambient emotionalism of Nick Drake, if you can. At Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk
8 February
GBSR DUO + ANGHARAD DAVIES
Percussion and piano duo GBSR (George Barton and Siwan Rhys) present work by, and with, one of Europe’s leading free improvisers and experimental violinists, Angharad. Arnolfini; arnolfini.org.uk
8-9 February
NO_ONE 6TH BIRTHDAY
From what grew from a cute way of DJing to friends to a staple underground identity on the Bristol scene and beyond, it’s a celebration of the end of an era at Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk
12 February
AL SWAINGER’S POINTLESS BEAUTY
The quartet invites you to experience a world where sound knows no limits, with a genrefluid approach that blends spacey atmospheres, head-bobbing grooves, and immersive soundscapes, At Bristol Music Hall; fringejazz.co.uk
14 February
THE BIG CHRIS BARBER BAND
The legendary combo who kicked off the trad jazz revival = is still going strong, albeit without founder Chris. At Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com
19 February
DAN NEWBERRY QUARTET
Sax player Dan has become one of Bristol’s most sought-after musicians; hear his powerhouse quartet at Bristol Music Hall; fringejazz.co.uk
20 February
URIAH HEEP: THE MAGICIAN’S FAREWELL
The Heep are calling it a day – but not until they’ve finished their farewell tour. Bristol Beacon; bristolbeacon.org
BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL
The year-round fest with the something-for-everyone remit, often at site-specific venues, gets into its new-year stride with a fresh bunch of crowd-pleasers; bristolfilmfestival.com
Until 2 February
A PLACE IN THE SUN
Had enough of UK house prices? Or absolutely loaded and fancy a second home abroad? Fast-track
your vision at this live property showcase at Ashton Gate; aplaceinthesunevents.com
Until 5 February
BRISTOL LIGHT FESTIVAL
The lovely illuminations are back, with 10 days of dazzling light-based artworks to brighten the night; check out our full feature in the last issue, still online. bristollightfestival.org
THE TRUTH ABOUT JACK THE RIPPER
The story of the Ripper is well known: five prostitutes were killed in 1888 by an unknown killer who slipped away into the fog before taunting the police with letters. However, almost none of the above is true. Let crime historian Adam Wood explain at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk n
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Fresh from its London run, Nancy Medina’s production of A Good House is making its way to Bristol
– trailing rave reviews in its wake
It’s fairly common for a homegrown Bristol Old Vic production to transfer to the West End, but the reverse can happen, too – and so it is with
A Good House. This biting new social satire by South African writer Amy Jephta has been directed by BOV’s AD Nancy Medina, and after a four-week run at the Royal Court it’s heading to Bristol.
A collaboration between the two theatres mentioned above, along with Johannesburg’s Market Theatre, the play is set in the suburban SA community of Stillwater. A mysterious shack has sprung up from the dust, its inhabitants nowhere to be seen; as speculation about its owners grows, two local residents are recruited by their neighbourhood to be the face of a campaign to demolish it. In the process, they discover the limits of good neighbourliness, and what it takes to fit in.
The London run has received excellent reviews across the board. “A superb social satire”, said the Guardian; “Excruciatingly funny”, enthused the Financial Times. The Telegraph found it “An utter joy to watch”; the Times, “Mischievous and unpredictable”.
Royal Court have been leaders of supporting new writing for decades, and here we are, also on the path making sure the value to new writing is back on our stages. So I was excited when David Byrne, the artistic director of the Royal Court, brought this play to me; not only was it an amazing new play but again, all the themes sung to me as an artist. It’s been such a wonderful collaboration.
“I believe laughter creates a space with an audience that is very close to vulnerability”
“Market Theatre in Johannesburg came in because they’ve been fans of Amy’s work for a long time and were very interested in the play. Greg Homann, the artistic director of the theatre, came out for previews – he was incredibly supportive and loved the sense of authenticity the show possessed in being able to bring to life South African lives. That authenticity came from close collaboration and discussion with Amy on everything to do with the production: design, accent and so on. We were also very lucky to have a majority South African cast who also brought in much of their lived experience and truthfulness to these characters.”
A Good House is Nancy’s second production for BOV, following Choir Boy last year. ow does the new play fit into her vision for BOV, and what made her choose it?
“I chose A Good House because it was incredibly funny, but at the same time layered, sharp and thoughtprovoking, she says. t fits the ill for the type of plays I want to work on, and also the type of work I want to bring to Bristol, in the sense of creating real complexity and nuance when exploring society today; especially on centring the three-dimensional world of Black lives.”
The play is a collaboration between Bristol Old Vic, the Royal Court Theatre, and The Market Theatre in Johannesburg.
“Market Theatre came on board later, but the collaboration between Bristol Old Vic and Royal Court Theatre is just a match made in the perfect universe. The
Nancy tells us that the most rewarding part of working with an international team is “not so much what it says about the present but what it could say to our future in the theatre industry. It feels harder and harder to do international work in this country, and there’s less and less money to be able to colla orate internationally. t confirmed for me that it’s a necessary thing for our art form, and we must find ways to do it. It expands us and our practice and our artistry in unimaginable ways.”
The collaboration, she says, could not have worked etter. ne specific e ample was watching our two heads of production in constant communication; the mutual respect and just getting things done between Marius at the Court and Dave Harraway here in Bristol. We built the set in the BOV workshop, so the constant communication between that and the London rehearsal room was so important, as the design was so integral to the story.”
A Good House tells an intimate suburban story while setting to out to address larger societal themes – how did
she balance these two elements? “You get more intimate!” (Big Nancy laugh). “Literally. You get into these homes and find out their dirty secrets unveiling the masks of politeness; and then we get into the bigger issues that underlie everything we do.
All done, it seems, with bitingly sharp humour. “The humour is sooo important. f it wasn’t funny to the audience wouldn’t have done my jo well. know my specifically challenged herself to write a comedy can’t speak a out her reasons for that, ut can really speak a out why ’m grateful she did.
elieve laughter creates a space with an audience that is very close to vulnera ility it’s vulnera le to find something funny and laugh out loud. ou open up your heart and mind, you relax your body, and that means some of the deeper themes can also now have access for you to connect with at a deeper level.
t the heart of the story is the mysterious shack can she tell us a out this, and what it sym olises for her he shack appears in this pristine gated community some of the lines say it seemed to appear out of the dust. ut of nowhere. o one has seen any of the invisi le people living there. t just seems to grow on its own.
t could e a literal shack it could have een put up y activists to make a point a out dispossession in South frica, which is a very active issue. r you can chose to lean into that it might e a it of magic realism it ecomes a sym ol of an issue that is so deeply rooted in the soil and history of this county that it must force people to have this conversation .
s much as we want to think we’ve moved to a post apartheid post racial society, we’re still living under a huge colonial legacy, and ignore individuals’ ways of having to navigate that. t’s what the shack represents for me in this story especially as it pops up in this su ur an
“We’re still living under a huge colonial andlegacy, ignore individuals’ ways of having to navigate that”
gated community. No matter how much you want to protect or lock up the things you say are yours, there’s always going to be a question: is it truly yours, and should it belong to anybody?
n another sense the shack is a sym ol not of just one person, one dwelling or one family, ut of the masses of people living in poverty ecause of this colonial legacy and the legacy of enslavement in South frica.
he play addresses the issue of race in so many ways. my teases out, in the cleverest ways, every character’s relationship with anti lackness and what lackness e uates for them, and she does it through humour, through poking, and through love in the relationship etween the main couple Sihle and onolo who are having to investigate their own lack identities, the differences in their up ringings and who they are as a couple, confronting not only the circumstance in their neighbourhood but also who they are going to be as partners in the future. hey’re constantly seeking to understand each other it’s real couple goals.
ecause this is the lived e perience of many of these actors, and it’s a painful one, some really good rituals of checking in and checking out were put in place at the eginning and end of each day of rehearsals. felt privileged to e on that journey with them and to see how important is was to tell that story, and tell it now. hope audiences feel like they’ve had a great night, ut also feel a it uneasy and have lots of crazy thoughts buzzing around their heads. I hope they don’t distance themselves, as in this is just a South frican story, but also see how this is playing out all over the UK as well.” n
A Good House, Bristol Old Vic, 14 February-8 March www.bristololdvic.org.uk
. . . We’ve got the groove
Words and pics by Colin Moody
A1
t this time of the year it can feel like there’s not a lot left in the tank. Big push through the winter now, to get to that golden sunrise on a fine spring morning we can kind of see it in our minds. Feels like the smell of warm bread.
This collection is dedicated to the Heroes who gave it all, and may still be giving it all.
Let’s take a moment to feel it for Spidey here, taking a well- deserved five minute reak from saving the city, soaking up that early spring sunshine ready for whatever the bulk of 2025 wants to throw their way.
2
To the punks. Not the new punks, the ones who saw the poster and wanted to be part of it; the real punks. The ones who tell you where to go, ’cos you don’t know what they are about; you just see them as something cool. t’s not a style choice it’s a reaction. hat energy that doesn’t wait for permission to activate in the right social situations. Seems the energy is moving that way again now, the oligarchy rush s uee es culture, the arts cuts, the et i and chill evenings that take away the sting of e isting for the masses.
Don’t know where it’s all going, but if we can safety pin some of it back together then maybe that’s a start.
3
Beware the elder generation in positions of power, telling you how things need to e in order, regular, defined.
They too were once ‘happy’ at a festival, and perhaps a little bit lost in the moment; maybe they had had a little too much and weren’t regulating things very well. ot very defined.
In fact, it’s usually the people who never cut loose fading out with that last half a pint of cider by the crash fence who tell you how to live when
ou c n turn o ll t e m s. You can pull the plugs on all the speakers. But you can never stop the music”
they didn’t bother living. Heck, I’m not saying go mental, but if we live a little it brings a package deal, there being a lot of love and growth that happens in there. Don’t see red, see life.
4
To all the Heroes who know where all the good food comes from, and how to mix it all together with the right positive attitude to grow something new.
People come to Bristol for the music, art and food culture. Maybe a blend of the above. I think food in the mix is a welcome addition to the palate of tasting what life is here. Think about it. Areas gentrify but good food supply can come from inner city farms, those majestic hills in Somerset, surrounding our city with the source of its food culture. It might even be a revolution on your table top.
5
Dance like no one is watching; dance like you did when you held your mum’s hair brush jumping up and down on the bed to Wham!
Dance as if a pure expression of your untamed pure spirit found a way out of your body, in that crazy jive that makes everyone love you, or keep out of your way, or both.
Dance, and when the time is right make a costume that expresses that emoji style and keep on dancing.
6
Vatican City has the Sistine chapel ceiling: an example of art of the highest order.
There is art on the wall by Keith Haring in New York that feels like it takes you to a higher place.
Picasso’s Guernica stands as testimony to man’s inhumanity to man in sublime strokes.
I submit to you a random slice through one festival photograph of people in the moment on a hot summer’s day, and submit that as art. Art that shows us we cannot be stopped.
7
ou can turn off all the amps.
You can pull the plugs on all the speakers.
You can remove the aux cable from the mixer desk.
ou can confiscate all the ass ins
You can halt access to the place where we all want to be.
But you can never stop the music.
8Not everyone likes paddleboarders.
There, I said it.
That’s out now.
Maybe they take up too many letters, maybe it’s just that? I don’t know what it is, it’s completely irrational but it turns out not everyone likes them walking down to the harbour and pushing their fully stood-up selves around at sub-gondola speed.
I have no explanation where this came from, but it’s clearly there, so I’m over-sharing to get it out of my system, perhaps.
I tried it once; it was OK, it didn’t rock my world. It’s not a sport, it looks like a sport, you have to, it seems, get the gear on, spandex-tastic, with the obligatory dry robe waiting for you at the wall side for after.
I think that’s it, folks. It’s not a sport, nope; it looks like one but one where you just seems to ponce about for an hour or two before returning to exactly where you started. Could it be turned into an orienteering exercise for hipsters to spot places where we haven’t quite got enough café coverage for potential openings around the basin? Maybe.
But I just have no explanation for why I dislike them so much.
If you know why paddleboarders are losers, please drop me a line so I can align it with my own thinking and perhaps we can work this out… together.
Colin Moody: content creation, online images Twitter @moodycolin; Instagram @colinmoodyphotography www.colinmoodyphotography.wordpress.com
Craving reading material that’ll transport you to balmier climes? You’ve come to the wrong place
In this time of snapping cold weather, you might think we’d be reading books that transport the reader to warmer climes and gentler times, but we simply cannot stop reading bitter little books about things going incredibly wrong in frosty conditions.
Regular readers may be all too familiar with our penchant for books that deal in life’s bleaker episodes, so please forgive us for playing to type. We are merely attempting to – in all senses of the phrase – keep cool. So for this issue, please enjoy three recent and similarly fractious, chilly tomes that are very February in tone…
Universality by Natasha Brown
If you read Natasha Brown’s beloved debut novel Assembly a few years ago, you’ll know that it only took her 99 pages to get her point across. So you may be alarmed to know that with her much-anticipated follow-up she’s abandoned all sense of selfcontrol and has penned an epic, clocking in at – steady yourselves – 150 pages.
Joking aside, Brown’s impossibly precise writing style is thrilling and weapon-like as she turns her focus to a story of gold ingots wielded as weapons, of deluded columnists attempting
to dismantle woke culture, and how strident class warriors morph into inert class worriers. Brown has spoken in the past of wanting to secrete her messages, Trojanstyle, in her work, and we are feeling very fortunate that she’ll be coming to join us in the shop on 20 March to tell us those secrets (we hope) in person.
The Position of Spoons and Other Intimacies by Deborah Levy
It’s utterly shameful that we’ve left it until the new year to discuss Her Majesty Deborah Levy’s newest collection of literary odds and ends, but nevertheless it’s something we devoured hungrily over Christmas like a stollen approaching its sell-by.
Anyone familiar with Levy’s exquisitely angst plagued fiction writing will be thrilled to note that the seeds for that work are on display across these micro-essays, thought experiments and dissections of her cultural heroines. For all the frost that covers her work, Levy’s key calculation is to periodically allow us a glimpse of warmth, of human oddness and tenderness. It all feels so effortless and pleasura le, ut it sacrifices nothing in the way of complexity or spikiness; the type of indulgence that doesn’t feel at all sickly and, therefore, can be consumed guilt-free.
Eurotrash by Christian Kracht (trans. Daniel Bowles)
Translated from the original German, Eurotrash follows the misadventures of a middle-aged writer and his elderly mother, and begins with the promising prospect of the duo travelling in the back of a taxi through the Swiss Alps with wads of cash in their pockets while surviving on a diet of vodka and phenobarbitals.
“We simply cannot stop reading bitter little books about things going incredibly wrong in conditions”frosty
Kracht explores the emotional impact of caring for an ageing parent, and the strong connections between them (that go deeper than their shared love of cashmere). If you’re willing to go with a few delightfully convoluted historical jags, the reward is that Kracht always makes sure to plunge you right back into the madcap action, making Eurotrash a thrilling whirlwind of a novel a cleverly written re ection on ageing, wealth and privilege which, despite some savagery, still manages to be oddly poignant. Surely the next time you hear from us we’ll have broken through this cold spell and will be looking ahead to spring’s bounteous literary offerings, ut for now, if you can bear it, the real action is outside in the cold. Join us – and wrap up warm.
Visit Storysmith at 36 North Street, Bedminster; 0117 953 7961 www.storysmithbooks.com
Fancy fish tonight? We know just the plaice . . .
Words by Deri Robins
The clue’s in the name: Fish Tales serves seafood. If you miss the USP and turn up expecting meat and veggie dishes you can have those too, but it’s really difficult to see how that confusion would arise.
Quite apart from FISH TALES being spelled out in large capitals on the front window, the deep-sea-blue walls inside are painted with oceanic murals. Mirrors are shaped like portholes; there are nets and a giant golden crab. You fully expect Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Wild Unchartered Waters to pop up on the music track at any moment. If I were chef, and someone came in asking for a non-fish alternative, instead of nicely offering them steak and chips, I’d roll my eyes and silently jerk my thumb in the direction of Côte just up the road.
Fish Tales opened on The Mall last summer; excellent timing given that neighbouring Fishers was planning to close. It also benefitted from the reassuring element of familiarity; chef Takvor Terlemezyan was already well-known locally for his New Moon Tapas restaurant, which had operated on the same spot since 2016. Last June, TK decided to pivot; instead of offering a changing monthly menu of global flavours, he’d train his full concentration on the bounty of the ocean.
Before visiting New Moon we’d been sceptical; could one chef excel in so many different cuisines? Apparently he could; the small plates zinged with fine-dining élan and creativity. We were optimistic about Fish Tales; in TK’s cod, we felt, we could trust.
confusing Your Man no end because he’s never watched series seven of Buffy. I resolve to dedicate more of my life to making this butter at home. Ordering takes us ages, partly because everything sounds wonderful and partly because my decision-making capacity has already been stretched to breaking point by a trip to the loo, which for some reason contains seven different brands of hand wash. To add to the dilemma, Your Man insists that I decide on starters for both of us, pointing out that I always complain his choices are boring. Well, they are, he’s far too fond of lentils; however, even he would struggle to pick a dull dish here.
Fish Tales, 9 The Mall; 0117 239 3858 www.fishtalesbristol.co.uk
Opening hours Mon-Tues 5.30-10pm; Wed-Thurs midday-2.30, 5.30-10pm; Friday 12.30-2.30, 5.30-11pm; Sat midday-11pm
Price Starters £3.5-£13.5; mains £17-£37; dessers £2.7-£7
Veggie A couple of dishes, ditto meat Service Friendly and on-it
Bucking the usual trend for a mid-January, midweek evening, we find the restaurant filling up with diners. Presumably, instead of tightening their belts after Christmas, the affluent BS8 set are in the fortunate position of being able to loosen them still further.
We are furnished with a drinks menu by the delightful Jude as we appraise our surroundings. The under-the-sea decor is inviting, the seats comfy, and we feel as if we’re dining in an unusually cosy aquarium. Glancing past the mocktails with unseeing eyes, I settle on a Mamacita; literally, ‘little mother’ but used colloquially for ‘hottie’ or ‘babe’; wishful thinking these days, I know, but I order one anyway It’s a heady mix of mezcal, tequila and curaçao with a hint of chilli. Channelling Goldilocks (a hot one, obviously) I judge it not too smoky, not too spicy, just right. “It’s very strong”, I inform Your Man. I order another one immediately.
The food menu is surprisingly long, with eight seafood starters and mains. There’s no polite way of asking whether the ingredients are fresh, but I ask anyway, and am assured that they are indeed, sourced daily, from Brixham. But it’s a smallish place; how on earth does TK know how much to order? He just does, says Jude. Oddly, I believe him.
Before we get stuck into our starters we’re brought a toasty slice of foccaccia with anchovy butter. “Anchovies, anchovies, you’re so delicious; I love you more than all the other fishes”, I fondly inform my plate,
We settle on a ceviche of sea bass, prawns and octopus, and a monkfish tempura. There’s no hiding place when it comes to ceviche, and any remaining cynicism over provenance evaporates with the first bite: it’s unmistakably fresh, set off by a fruity mango salad with peppery rocket. The delicate flavour of the monkfish, snow-white and juicy within its crisp tempura shell, holds its own easily against a well-judged chilli salsa. Your Man is rarely greedy, and I have become accustomed to him yielding me the lion’s share of our meals out. This being the case, I am less than delighted when he practically gatekeeps the ceviche. He is also surprisingly possessive of his pan-fried black sea bream, of which I am afforded a mere sliver. I just about manage to sneak a little of his flavourpacked pea, sundried tomato and pancetta risotto; I could happily have scoffed a bowlful. To my astonishment, he clears his plate; most meal reviews end with me hissing, “Eat a bit more, for god’s sake; they’ll think you hate it”.
Miffed at his uncharacteristic lack of generosity, I do not offer him any of my lobster thermidor. At this point I’m coming round to thinking that TK may be an actual sorcerer, because the spiny beast confronting me is far meatier than any half-lobster has any business to be. The forkfuls just keep coming; it’s the crustacean equivalent of the Magic Porridge Pot. It’s also wonderfully sweet, without a trace of rubberiness; the sauce is rich and buttery beneath a crisp cheesy crust. In case I faint from calorie deficiency TK adds a hefty side portion of creamy prawn linguine, flecked with citrussy tarragon and topped with parmesan crisps.
The dessert list includes a variety of ice-creams which chef has somehow found time to make himself. Suppressing the very real temptation to ask Jude to bring us one of each flavour, we restrict ourselves to a scoop of whiskey and coffee, which we treated as a kind of ready-mixed affogato-come-nightcap, and – obviously we had to give this a whirl – the goat’s cheese and lemon. The cheese brought a barely-there tang; it was beautifully balanced, as was the meal as a whole.
It seems that TK excels in anything he turns his hand to; I bet even those steak and chips are top-notch. We left feeling extremely well-fed, a tiny bit tipsy, extremely content and in wholehearted agreement that fish was our favourite dish – or as Dean Martin so nearly sang, “When the world seems to shine, like you’ve had too much wine – that’s a-moray”.
They may have been with us since 2009, but the MARK’S BREAD guys have no intention of being left behind by the latest wave of arriviste artisan bakeries.
“Mark’s is celebrating over 15 years of trading by moving to bigger and better premises just yards up North Street,” they tell us. “In the spring we’ll join forces with the 5 Acre Farm shop, and strengthen our existing links with the thriving Tobacco Factory cafébar and Sunday market.
“The move is partly triggered by the planned redevelopment of the adjacent Bristol Beer Factory site following the brewery’s planned move nearby, happening this year. It’s a natural progression designed to enhance and improve customer experience, while continuing to provide you with your absolute favourites.” www.marksbread.co.uk
As energetically plugged by our columnist Charlie on page 51, KASK wine bar offshoot KITCHEN BY KASK has opened its new permanent site at 36 North Street.
Running the culinary show is Bristol’s former Masterchef contestant Adam Ball, whose pop-up chicken-and-waffles restaurant Frankie’s, named after his three-year old daughter, held two sold-out residencies at KASK last year along with a series of smash-hit appearances around the city. Frankie’s will run for two weeks every month at Kitchen by KASK; for the other weeks the space remains a venue for private hire and special events hosted by the KASK team and friends.
As any Frankie’s aficionado will tell you, these are not your basic chicken waffles; the dish will be tweaked, bringing creative twists and new flavours, including Thai curries, along with some very special potato dishes.
We’d tell you more but don’t want to spoil the surprise. Besides, we’re worried about drooling on our keyboard. www.kaskwine.co.uk/kitchen; @frankies___
The affable CHARLIE JAMES, best known for his much-missed former restaurant Jamaica Street Stores in Stokes Croft and his recent stint headcheffing at The Granary, is heading out of town to host a pair of Long Table Dinners at Hill Farm near Cheltenham – the first of a series of dining events he’s hosting around the country this year.
The sustainable menus will feature standout dishes drawing on hyperlocal, estate-reared game, trout, Fir Farm dairy, artisan cheeses and the best seasonal fruit and vegetables from the area, in a banquet-style experience designed to encourage sharing and connection with family and friends –hey, you may even make a few new ones. £65.71 pp at www.eventbrite.com
Inkie has been a busy boy; not only has he created a mural for the latest branch of Six by Nico (see right), but he’s painted a new sign for muchloved Bristol pub THE PIPE AND SLIPPERS.
“Earlier this year we had to swiftly bring down the old boy which has sat above the pub for years, as he was in danger of keeling over and seriously injuring someone on the way down,” say the P&S team. “He’s now got a new lease of life chilling on the front of the pub, watching the world go by at street level.
“To the rescue came our good pal Inkie, who knocked us up an absolute beauty of a new sign! It’s been put into a frame, weather-proofed, and finally went up into its new home. And it looks wicked. We feel very privileged to have an Inkie adorning the front of our pub.” As you would. www.thepipeandslippers.com
Annually foiled by the Glastonbury ticket scrum? Defeated by the Oasis tour website? Both pale into insignificance next to bagging a Sunday lunch at THE BANK TAVERN. In the most predictable news of the issue, Bank opened bookings on 1 January and sold out within 13 minutes.
Maybe 2026, hey? www.banktavern.com
You’ve probably heard of SIX BY NICO and its afforda le tasting menus with their wacky themes. Well, you can now try one for yourself, because Bristol is getting its own branch of the chain this February at Quakers Friars.
Nico’s ever-evolving menu is brought to you by the number six: there’s a six-course tasting menu concept, which changes every six weeks. Each theme is inspired by a place, a memory or creative storytelling; previous menus have included The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Guilty Pleasures, Land of Oz, Neverland and Crime Scene. he chain was first opened by Nico Simeone in his home town of Glasgow, where his passion for food and family came together with the launch of his first menu concept he Chippie, inspired both by his
Scottish heritage and that of his Italian grandparents, who owned a chip shop. The menu rought witty riffs on fish, steak pie and sausage dishes, culminating in a playful twist on that most dubious of Scottish delicacies: the deepfried Mars Bar, served with Irn Bru sorbet. Good news: The Chippie will also be the launch menu in Bristol.
“We’re thrilled to be opening our first Si y ico restaurant in Bristol,” says Nico. “This vibrant city has a unique energy that we believe will challenge our creativity and inspire us to push new boundaries.”
ike any ristol infiltrating chain with an iota of sense, Si y ico promises to offer a dining experience which embraces and celebrates local produce. “Forming strong
Korean restaurant DONGNAE has only een open five minutes, but it’s already been shortlisted for the Good Food Guide Awards 2025 – one of just two to make the cut, along with their Chandos Road neighbour WILSONS.
The only Bristol restaurant to hold a Michelin green star, Wilsons is widely regarded as one of the best in the city, with a menu drawing heavily on Jan Ostle and Mary Wilson’s own extensive kitchen gardens; it also has a popular bread shop on the road. Wilsons is shortlisted for the best-value set menu – one of the city’s best-kept secrets, though no longer.
Co-owned by Kyu Jeong Jeon and Duncan Robertson, who also run Bokman on Nine Tree Hill, Dongnae is nominated in the ‘chef to watch’ category. www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk
relationships with local suppliers is a key priority for us, as we aim to bring people together to create unforgettable culinary experiences”, he says. Also, as we mentioned opposite, there’s an Inkie mural on the wall. Set menus start at £44, with wine pairing at £30 and a new cocktail pairing (alcohol and non-alcohol), for £35pp.
More at www.sixbynico.co.uk
Bristol’s history, creativity and vibrant culinary scene charm all who visit. But why let all the tourists have all the fun? If you’re looking for inspiration this weekend, allow BRIONY MAY WILLIAMS to be your guide...
When was the last time you put your weekend to good use? Like, really good use; not just a big shop at ASDA followed by an afternoon of efore nodding off in front of et i an you really say you s uee ed every last drop of Bristol potential out of your two-day escape from the coal face?
Sometimes you need a reminder of the riches on your doorstep, which is where chef and TV presenter Briony May Williams comes in. Briony has collaborated with The Bristol Hotel to craft the ultimate itinerary, and while there’s nothing startlingly new here it makes us want to explore the city all over again.
SATURDAY
Briony’s perfect weekend starts at The Bristol itself, an elegantly refurbished Art Deco hotel on Harbourside. Even if you’re not staying over, few dining destinations have more direct Harbourside views: Briony highly recommends its classic afternoon teas.
From here it’s a short walk to Old City and the delights of St Nick’s Market, a humming hub of indoor and outdoor stalls selling vintage finds and crafts along with a range of street food to rival any international food scene. The rest of the day is spent basking in the elegance of Clifton Village. First, to Clifton Arcade: a boujie alternative to St Nick’s, in which every corner houses a tiny independent shop: niche little food and drink outlets, antiques and boutiques, books and barbers, and the extraordinary Hidden Gallery where you’ll find original work and signed prints y everyone from Banksy to Blake, Magritte to Matisse, Dufy to Degas.
A big fan of vintage shopping, Briony knows that Mary’s Living and Giving charity store on Regent Street always has an excellent
collection of curated pieces, and with profits going to Save the Children you know you’re supporting a great cause. an’t find the piece you’re looking for? Head around the corner to Boyce’s Avenue to the St Peter’s Hospice shop – apologies to locals for giving away one of Clifton’s best-kept secrets.
As all bargain-hunters know, all shopping trips need to e followed immediately y coffee and cake, and nobody is more discerning on the subject than former e contestant Briony. Clifton favourite The Primrose Café is just across the road from St Peter’s; it has a day-long bistro menu, and when the weather plays ball, one of the biggest and nicest outside spaces in the city.
hus fortified, all you need to do is cross the road to stock up on fresh ingredients at Bristol institution Reg the Veg; the shop provided produce for e and so holds a special connection for Briony.
After an afternoon moseying around the boutiques and gift shops on The Mall, including r stol e favourites Pod and Maze, end the afternoon with an early meal at tapas restaurant Bar 44 on Regent Street. Briony, who should know, says it has the est olive oil.
If you have energy to spare and are steady on your pins, book a session at roller disco Bump! on Harbourside. Sessions run midday-5pm on Sunday, though if you fancy a later skate it’s open until 11pm on Saturdays.
Providing your ankles are still in decent shape, hop or hobble up the south bank of Harbourside to M Shed, Bristol’s museum of the people. From rooms devoted to the
city’s maritime heritage to its richly diverse culture, it’s Bristol on a stick. Consider yourself an expert on local history? We defy you to come away without learning at least one new fact. There’s also a changing programme of exhibitions; showing until 20 April is r stol oto est l re ml nes, in which 14 local photographers reveal a portrait of contemporary Bristol in all its rich diversity
Next to M Shed, the tiny businesses of Cargo are laid out for your retail and edible pleasure with a food offering ranging from Indian to Mexican, Spanish to Japanese, it’s almost impossible not to succumb to the wafting aromas, so let your nose guide you, like the isto kids, to your glo al avours of choice.
Alternatively, if you fancy going down the gastro pub route – and who doesn’t, on a wintry Sunday? – The Gloucester Old Spot is a family pub with an excellent beer garden. It’s ideally situated for a pre- or post-prandial amble up the Gloucester Road with its seemingly endless indie shops, cafés and bars.
Briony’s top evening pick – equally good for Saturday, needless to say – is Rick’s at The Bristol for the best mocktail in town; her current favourite is the Marti-no. The bar has a kind of colonial-meets-Casablanca vibe – a sea of rattan and greenery by day, candlelit glamour by night, and is open until 8pm on Sundays, 11 on Saturdays.
So there you go; nothing especially revelatory, perhaps, but a damn site more fun than doing the big shop at ASDA. n
n out more out r on s cur te c es nclu n r on s r stol tes n r on s n ture t t e r stol o er t www. o lecollect on.com
Serious about coffee? There’s one place you really need to go . . .
Apparently, in these caf obsessed columns, we have never once shone a coffee coloured spotlight on the su ject of this issue’s esta lishment. ot once. hich is an outrage. colossal one. nd cannot stand. So, without any further ado, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to direct you to ogan offee oastery Shop rew ar hen first arrived in ristol many years ago, uickly realised when the wind was blowing in the right direction; when atmospheric conditions were just so, you would occasionally e lessed with a tantalising and magnificent
“The café itself is a cool-edged c t e r l to ll t n s co ee cakey and nice”
reath of freshly roasting coffee eans. afting past on wings of smoky delight efore vanishing on the ree e. t was always short lived, fading like a rain ow, just as you were getting your hopes up. ut was definitely one of the e tra added joys of living here.
idn’t take long to discover the source of those tasty smells. ogans have een roasting coffee here, in industrial uantities, for donkeys’ years. seem to remem er we used to pop down to uy ags of eans, ground or whole, some while ago. ut that might just have een wishful thinking.
ither way, these days they have taken things to a whole new level of loveliness. hen the S crew including ufus the dog dropped in to visit their caf , just at the bottom of the M32 before it meets a ot ircus, we were once again reminded just how lucky we are to have these folks around.
he caf itself is a cool edged cathedral to all things coffee, cakey and nice, with a choice of eans and lends from around the glo e on offer at all times. s the friendly arista ehind the ar talked us through the tasting notes of the various options availa le, it made me realise how little know a out the whole ackstory of coffee eans. just don’t have the voca ulary to
describe what I’m looking for in terms of avour.
knew what liked. hought could descri e the specific taste profile was after, too. ark roasted, rich avour, not too much fruit on the palate. ut it uickly ecame apparent that this wasn’t much use.
or folk who want to find out more a out the wonderful world of coffee roasts, there is a sort of lab-stroke-kitchen classroom area off to one side, where presuma ly they hold tasting sessions. ote to self, must find our more and may e even treat myself to one in the future.
uckily for us, the helpful arista worked out what we would like, so we got to enjoy a pair of super and tasty coffees while also sharing a generous slice of chocolate stout cake that was a taste sensation all on its own. star in the world of cake akery.
fter which we ought ourselves an enormous ag of freshly roasted eans from the pick’n’mi style ean counter and set off for home with grins a mile wide and some very contented taste uds. 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
Appropriately for an issue covering Valentine’s Day, this column is a bit of a food-and-wine love-in…
Shameless plug – by the time you read this, we’ll have reopened our second venue in Bedminster, Kitchen by KASK: transforming it into Frankie’s, collaborating with Bristol’s brickie-turnedMasterChef Adam Ball to pair his fried chicken and wa es with wine, beer and American whiskey.
Why is Bristol Life allowing me to use up 44 words for an advertisement? Because this article is all about the misty-eyed magic that occurs when the right food meets their perfect wine.
We’ll get onto fried chicken later. Let’s start, as every meal should finish with a little it of wine and cheese. The ultimate couple. The Anthony & Cleopatra, Morecambe & Wise, Ant & Dec, of food and drink.
The relationship started years ago. Both were staples of rural communities across Europe. Local wines naturally found their BFFs in the cheeses made from nearby farms. For example, it’s thought that goats were brought over the Pyrenees from Spain into
France by the Moors, eventually migrating north to the Loire valley where they found hectares of green pastures to chew down on. What grows together goes together – one of the most common and greatest cheese and wine pairings is Chevre (goat’s cheese) and a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc.
But it’s not just geographical and cultural symbiosis – at the heart of wine and cheese true love is science. Fireworks explode when te tures, avours and structures of both interact in a way that creates balance and harmony. Here’s the lowdown on the science of love…
Fat *hearts* acidity: Cheese is essentially a big slice of creaminess and fat with a big hit of salt. One bite of goat’s cheese, and your palate is coated in that delicious creaminess.
A wine with bright acidity cuts through that richness, cleansing the mouth and preparing it for the next bite. The added X-factor, that the Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc brings to the date, is notes of citrus and herbs, which add extra avours to the cheese.
Tannins love protein: Tannins are bitter, astringent compounds that naturally occur in grape skins, seeds and stems and give structure to wine (they’re also found in oak; wines that are aged in oak barrels absorb tannins from the wood).
The hottest date night? Steak and a big oak-aged red such as a Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat or Chianti. Why are they getting a room together? Because the tannins cut through the fattiness and richness of the steak and soften the fat, releasing more of the meat’s avour. eanwhile, the fat reduces the astringency of the wine, making it taste smooth and silky.
Sweet digs salt: Stilton and port are so loved up because the saltiness in the blue cheese intensifies the port’s fruity notes, amplifying the perception of sweetness in the wine.
Spice only has eyes for sweet: Ever had a glass of red with a curry and found the heat burning your tongue? The more alcohol and tannin in the wine, the more it emphasises spice – so a ‘big’ red is a no-no. With curry, I’d always go for beer, but if I were to have wine it would be something high in acid and with a touch of sweetness: acidity creates freshness while sugar acts as a barrier to the heat, calming down the fire in your mouth. n off dry iesling, Chenin Blanc or Gewurztraminer is ideal.
But sweet gives acid the ick: Swipe left on dry white wine with dessert – the sugar will make the wine bitter. This also goes for savoury dishes that have sweet sauces, such as a sweet barbecue pork. nstead go for an off dry
wine or a fruity red with some sweetness.
So what about fried chicken?
For me, there is only one Stacey to fried chicken’s Gavin. The salty, crispy coating of the chicken goes wild for the vibrant acidity and fi of a sparkling wine. he bubbles cut through the richness of the fried batter, while the wine’s brightness refreshes your palate after every bite. Chef Adam all has some great avours for Frankie’s: from Maple, Chilli Jam acon, to hai Green uffalo lue to ot oney anch, so we we’re going to have to be on our pairing game to find different fi to pair with the avours ut with a little it of playing the field, we’ll find the perfect marriage.
Three we’ll be pouring at Frankie’s Salad Days, Field Recordings
A blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Colombard, this Californian Pet Nat is light, bright and super fresh with notes of crisp pear, green apple, lemon and herbs.
MuAu Pet Nat, Valka Winery rom the ech epu lic, this is fresh, fruity, aromatic and packed full of citrus + apple. A big lick of sweetness will temper the heat in rankie’s ot oney anch.
Roc Ambulle, Chateau Le Roc
This lightly sparkling French rosé tastes of sweet cherries and raspberries, kissing you right at the end with a hint of sweetness. t should e great with the uffalo Blue.
Visit KASK Wine at 51 North Street, Bedminster BS3 1EN; 07522 198081 www.kaskwine.co.uk
STELLA MCCARTNEY
FALABELLA HEART
PATENT CROSS-BODY BAG, £850
The fact that it’s Stella means you know it’s going to be vegan – ideal for a giftee with a conscience
From Harvey Nichols, 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com
BABYDOLL SLIP, £14
one off vintage item, so when it’s gone, it’s gone From Beyond Retro, 20 Broadmead www.beyondretro.com
Oh look; here comes Valentine’s Day again, warming the cockles at the chilliest time of year
I BRISTOL WILD STYLE MUG, £17
Who loves Bristol? They loves Bristol! And if they don’t, they may not be the one for you
From Stokes Croft China, 35 Jamaica Street www.prscshop.co.uk
HAND-EMBROIDERED LOVE HEART BROOCH, £20
Made by Parisian fashion accessory brand Macon et Lesquoy, using a Cannetilla jewellery-making techni ue in which metal ullion thread is finely wound in a spiral and embroidered with beads From U Studio, 115 Gloucester Road; www.ustudio.shop
RUBY AND 9CT FAIRTRADE GOLD RING, £985
To avoid any awkward misunderstandings, it’s probably safest to give this to someone to whom you are already betrothed
From Diana Porter, 33 Park Street www.dianaporter.co.uk
IB LAURSEN CANDLE HOLDER, £5.52 (FROM £6.70)
Handily doubles as a Christmas decoration, because bobody says you can’t be romantic and economical at the same time
From Mon Pote, 217 North Street www.monpote.co.uk
PINK GRAPHIC T-SHIRT, £45
If you’re not in it for the good times, what’s the point?
ANNA + NINA LOVE CHAMPAGNE GLASS
(SET OF TWO), £29.95
A classic coupe with a fun, ever-so-slightly kitsch twist
From Fox + Feather, 41 Gloucester Road www.foxandfeather.co.uk
From Mint Velvet, 44 Regent Street www.mintvelvet.com
LE CREUSET 1.9L CASSEROLE, £215
Name us a more romantic gift for a food-obsessed Valentine
LULU COPENHAGEN HAPPY HEART ENAMEL EARRING, £29
From Harvey Nichols, 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com
THE SUZIE SUNGLASSES, £135
Lolita, but for non-creepy grown-ups
From Jimmy Fairly, 90 Park Street www.jimmyfairly.com
Simple and elegant, yet at 12mm, statement-making
From Grace & Mabel, 32 The Mall; www.graceandmabel.co.uk
TOYO STEEL TRUNK, £30
Fill it with pastries from *insert name of favourite artisan bakery*. You will be SO popular
From Fig 1, Unit 9, Gaol err te s www.fi .co.u
We won’t tell them you found it half-price in the sale if you don’t From Maze, 26-28 The Mall www.mazeclothing.co.uk
That’s right! When it comes to tying the knot, getting married is a doddle! Honestly; a total cinch. You just turn up, murmur a few words, exchange the rings and that’s it. Shackled for life.
Of course, the months leading up to this joyful moment can be slightly trickier to navigate. There are decisions to make and budgets to balance; there may be awkward relatives to placate, and nerves to calm.
As all successful campaigns, whether military or marital, begin with a list, we’ve helpfully done one for you.
If you decide, right from the start, on the ambience you want to achieve at your wedding, it makes choosing the next step (V for Venue) so much easier. The good news is that the sky’s the limit: literally so, if you get married at M Shed, where you can hire one of the cranes to hoik you up to the top oor events space while your guests arrive by boat.
Choose the vibe that’s right for you as a couple, whether casual, boho and relaxed, or sharp, super-stylish and urban, then choose a venue to match. See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
Ignore those ‘the average Brit spends £20k on a UK wedding’ stats. If you happen to be minted, and are hellbent on packing as much glamour and glitz as humanly possible into 24 hours, go full-on swank by all means, but if you can only afford to splash a month’s salary, prioritise what you really want, ruthlessly prune the guest list and jettison any unnecessary elements. We’re looking at you, wedding favours; no grown-up needs a goody bag.
You’re from Bristol, yeah, so no surprise to hear from local wedding planners that they’re increasingly hearing requests for food that’s local, seasonal, sustainable and sociable, along with lots of family platter food, food trucks and biodynamic wines.
Food vans and other ‘pop-up’-style streetfood offerings are original and fun good
options include pie and mash from Pieminister, pi a or posh fish and chip vans. f you ask guests to ring cakes, you have a truly espoke pudding with no cost to you.
ry not to e seduced y passing fads. s ryan afanelli once wrote in Vogue. onuts are not the new cupcakes. void this trend unless your father owns a donut shop.
No, not the father of the bride’s interminable speech; we’re afraid there’s not much we can do a out that. e’re talking those cool overhead shots we’re seeing from local photographers such as rad akefield, a commercial drone pilot you need to have a f licence to do this kind of work, so check all the legals efore ooking.
rone photography adds an unparalleled dimension, capturing truly spectacular aerial shots, says rad, whether you’d like to remember the amazing location, the grandeur of your wedding venue or have a ird’s eye view couple photo to rival all wedding shots.
ocal orists tell us that more and more couples are wanting natural, wild framing for their day. iving walls, suspended oral installations and growing meadow
arrangements all literally ring a venue to life. ‘Graceful’, ‘unstructured’ and ‘whimsical’ are the key words du jour. any rides also prefer to wear’ their owers rather than lug around ou uets crowns and wrist corsages also leave your hands free for prosecco and hugs. rend wise, a lot of pampas grass is eing used in wedding owers it adds a great te ture. Gypsophila is having a it of a come ack
Tired wedding singers crooning corny covers have had their day, and it’s easy to find top-notch musicians in every genre. Frankly if it was our ‘do’ we’d hire Mr Wilson’s Second Liners – “New Orleans jazz meets ’90’s club classics” – whom we once heard at a Bristol cocktail bar launch party.
There are, of course, many other options, from casinos to karaoke, magicians, photobooths, silent discos, fairground rides and marryoke.
Oh and if you thought the wedding scene in Love Actually was the most romantic thing you’ve ever seen in your life, Bravo Singing Waiters will recreate it, complete with gospel choir, or indeed spring any other kind of musical surprise on your partner and guests.
however, this time, instead of eing added here and there, rides are choosing to have it as the main attraction. t creates great impact and is also ideal if you’re on a udget.
Gis for... gender stereotypes as in, you really don’t need to follow them. rides are no longer a chattel to e passed from father to hus and no ody actually needs to give you away, and if you do fancy eing walked down the aisle y a parent, why not oth lso, why should the guys make all the speeches ual roles are a given at same se weddings there’s no reason why heterose ual couples shouldn’t rewrite the rule ook, too.
Sam Bell of Hair at 58 has some fabulous looks to suggest. he rela ed wedding un, low set in the nape of the neck, is soft and effortless, yet intricate and detailed a stylish modern take on the typical ridal up do. hic ponytails are either positioned at the crown with lustrous waves and fullness, or low set at the nape for a more understated and stylish look.
inally, there’s the part half up do, part side sweep, with loose waves falling down the ack romantic and glamorous. nother style growing in popularity is the half up do knot,
u n o t e s el r n w en ou c n o es o e
Ois for o
Even the most excitable bride will calm down a bit when her dress is safely hanging in the wardrobe.
The fashion for a big white dress, of course, is relatively new – until late Victorian times, brides simply wore their best frock. These days, it tends to be the other way round, with many brides choosing a dress with the view of reusing it for future occasions.
Upcycling is popular; some brides rework their mother’s, or even
grandmother’s, dresses. If that’s not an option, check out Bristol Bridal Boutique and Ashwell & Co, where you’ll find designer gowns for a fraction of their original cost.
But it’s not all about the frocks.
“Your wedding day deserves an ensemble as extraordinary as the occasion itself”, say the guys at Zebel, who craft custom wedding suits for both genders using luxurious fabrics and expert tailoring to create an outfit that reflects your style.
“Even the most excitable bride will calm down a bit when her dress is safely hanging in the wardrobe”
It’s A-OK not to invite other people’s kids, even if you’re bringing your own
kept neat for the glam look, or messy for a more boho look.”
on’t go drastically off piste when it comes to your usual style, though. The reaction you want to see when your betrothed turns to greet you at the altar is one of adoring recognition, not a ed terror at the sight of a total stranger bearing down in full bridal regalia.
Send them out at least eight weeks in advance. That way, if anyone can’t attend, you can ask someone else without them ever realising they’ve merely been promoted from the subs bench.
. . . or indeed ceroc, or samba, or any other kind of dance music which oats your ridal oat the options for the first dance are wide open. If you and your new spouse are hellbent on smooching to Take My Breath Away, far be it for us to dissuade you; on the other hand, if you and the girls have polished your Single Ladies routine to perfection in a hundred clubs, now is the ideal opportunity to unleash it on an appreciative public.
Planning some elegant, sophisticated do that’s not compatible with children? It’s A-OK to make it politely clear that kids aren’t
included. If they are welcome it’s easy to set up a pop-up bell tent, lay on pizza and pop and hire a bit of help – local company Pitch Up and Play are ideal for minding the little ankle-biters.
As in wedding list, as in gifts. They make good sense; in all likelihood you’ve been sharing a home for a while anyway, and are absolutely fine for toasters. Some couples now even ask for cash; it’s become sort-of acceptable, though many guests feel it smacks of selling a ticket. “Do we need a wristband to get in?” was one snarky reaction we’ve heard.
If you’re OK for the basics, Hidden Gallery has an elegant solution: “Couples can select a particular piece of art, and their friends and family contribute towards that; or guests simply contribute to a fund for a voucher to be spent in the gallery.”
We’re seriously thinking of renewing our vows so that we can demand a Banksy.
As with hair, as with hemlines, the less outré you go, the greater the likelihood that you won’t have to hide your wedding photos in 30 years’ time. Soft and subtle is always pretty. If, despite a lifetime of practice, you’re still rubbish with a mascara wand, consider using a MUA; photographer Becky Male recommends Grace Kingsley (www.gracekingsley.co.uk).
A word in your shellac-like ear. If you only book for one semi-permanent nail polish in your life, this is the time for it. Your ring hand is going to be on show all day (and you may as well have the other hand done, too. . .) Maybe make it part of a spa day? Many places do full packages for a bridal party.
You can make your own bunting, you can bake your own cake, but however talented your best mate, however tasty his new Canon EOS RI, photos should always be entrusted to a pro. any photographers offer an engagement shoot, either as part of the package or as a separate job – it’s the ideal way for them to get to know you, and the photos may well feel more genuinely ‘you’ than the wedding shots; you can also bring the dog.
“I always feel like a guest with a backstage pass”, says Bristol photographer Ben Robins (www.benrobinsphoto.com), who began by photographing friends’ weddings and grew his client list through enthusiastic word-of-mouth recommendations.
“You can’t not get caught up in the joy of people at weddings, and it’s a great feeling to be a part of that. One of my objectives for the day is to be as unobtrusive and non-interfering as I can, so I love hearing a couple’s surprise that a key (and sometimes ludicrous) moment was
captured without them realising, or feeling like they have to strike a pose.
“Every wedding has its own original style –’ve seen pyrotechnics and wrestling matches and a few gun salutes, and enough people dancing in rainstorms to reassure me that the weather genuinely doesn’t affect the day. ocation wise, there’s no finer ackdrop for outdoor photos than ristol. he lifton Suspension Bridge is an obvious classic but there are so many other amazing settings: Harbourside, Brandon Hill, Nelson Street with its gra ti, Stokes roft the list goes on.
hile you may take a full year planning your wedding, the actual day will ash past like the Millennium Falcon negotiating light speed. Grab a few minutes with your new spouse, away from the m l e, to enjoy the moment.
Some couples encourage candid snaps, and set up hashtags for social posting. thers dislike having phones waved in their face, and prefer
guests to be present in the moment Discover, and rigorously honour, their preferences.
Tis for... transport
f you want a proper chauffeured jo in a shiny Merc, driven by a true gentleman of the road, we’d highly recommend ewis at Sy aris.
Uis for... ushers
he groom’s s uad unch of likely lads who can e entrusted to a turn up look smart and (b) seat everyone correctly at the ceremony. hese duties completed, they can head for the free bar with impunity and fail to get off with the ridesmaids.
Vis for... venues
he ristol area has every type of wedding venue, from slick ur an clu s to country house hotels – you can even get married at ristol ld ic, and hold the reception in the opulent Coopers Hall. aintworks is also a popular choice think an industrial space adorned with glamorous vintage sofas, chandeliers, mirror balls and lots
Ris for... rings and things
With so many creative jewellers in Bristol, why buy off-the-shelf when you could go bespoke?
“More couples are picking unique wedding bands with coloured gemstones, textures, and unique shapes like wishbones and chucky curved bands,” says Jess at Diana Porter. “We love helping our customers create their one-of-a-kind wedding set.”
Rebecca at Clifton Rocks tells us they’re seeing a real trend for classic oval solitaire engagement rings at the moment – “Very simple designs, letting the stone do all the talking.
“There’s also still a big trend for more unusual gems for engagement rings; yellow, blue and pink sapphires are very popular, as is mixing different colours of sapphires together to give a highly personalised look.”
Proper lush! The only problem is, how do you settle on just one ring style? Bigamy?
of hanging foliage. Hardyesque barn weddings are also still strong, with the romance of wild owers against stone walls, naked’ cakes and brides wearing wedding dresses in pastel shades. We could go on; so we will.
Right here in town, Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa has fused two grand former anks in ld ity and fitted them out with eautiful interiors, from the intimate Vaults to the grand Sansovino Hall to the chic, opulent Gold Bar, and so can cater for weddings of all sizes.
Within its beautiful Grade-II Byzantium red rick uilding, he Granary offers e i le spaces, catering from intimate receptions for 20 to lavish cele rations for up to 50. he food is a real draw, with e ceptional seasonal menus crafted with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. he restaurant is ideal for wedding feasts, the Granary lu for drinks and dancing until late
Set on the riverside, with room for up to 200 guests, Harbour House is a former 19th-century transit shed, thought to have been runel’s private oathouse it’s also here that anksy held his first e hi ition. he ar is ideal for celebratory toasts, while the harbourside alcony and terrace offer a pictures ue setting for drinks, canap s and s in summer. he seasonal menus feature the finest South est
“Hardyesque barn weddings are still strong; t n w l owers against stone walls, ‘naked’ cakes’ and brides in pastel dresses”
“You can’t fail to get caught up in the joy of weddings; it’s a great feeling to be a part of that”
produce, with uild your own uffets and canap options.
eople have gathered at the site of he ount ithout for 00 years, ever since the original orman church was uilt, meaning it must have witnessed more than its fair share of weddings. oday, its strikingly lovely, meticulously refur ished spaces, from the rypt to the e anine, ain all, gardens and 5th century tower, can accommodate everything from walking down the aisle to last drinks at the ar, whatever the si e of your guest list. hey can also offer a choice of catering from local chefs, including swoon ianchis.
ut of town, hatley anor is lu urious to a fault, with its super spa, eautiful nglish country gardens and e uisite dining. t can e hired for e clusive use, and it’s so secluded that even your list chums will run no danger of eing papped.
Similarly elegant, ucknam ark offers wedding packages ranging from the super intimate to mid range eautiful outside ceremonies can take place in the alled Garden, while he Sanctuary is ideal for intimate weddings up to 0. or a ove 0 guests you can hire it for e clusive use dining is y ichelin Star chef ywel ones.
tec otel and Spa in lmonds ury leaves no stone unturned when it comes to realising the wedding of your dreams, whether you’re after something traditional or contemporary. nd check out delightful new venue verard’s arm, a eautiful country estate with gorgeously outi uey rooms to stay in, hot tu s and a pool they’ve only just started doing weddings, and the est way to check them out is at the upcoming event elow.
Wis for... wedding fairs
r fayres, as some folk call them. n 3 pril, verard’s arm is displaying a full wedding set up with mar uees and mem ers from their catering partners you can take a tour of the five star accommodation and discuss your nuptial hopes and dreams with the team.
Xis for... exes
Should you invite them f you’re on good terms with them, and your partner is 00 down with it, then certainly, especially if you share children. ut if you can’t e in a room with them for more than five minutes efore it’s all kicking off, then est not, eh
Yis for... yurts and marquees on’t et on good weather the climate is so wacky these days that you can’t guarantee a dry day in i a in ugust, let alone Somerset in une. f you want an outdoor wedding you’ll really need shelter of some kind, whether an out uilding or tent. Spaceintense are pros in the field, their latest developments eing a ig op and a ictorian style mar uee.
Zis for...zoo ancy adding ears and wolves to the
Jewellery Diana Porter, 33 Park Street www.dianaporter.co.uk
Clifton Rocks, 31 The Mall www.cliftonrocks.co.uk
Hair Hair at 58, 58 Cotham Hill www.hairat58.co.uk
Photography Ben Robins www.benrobinsphoto.com
guest list ho doesn’t Sadly there are currently no options for getting married at ristol oo roject, as there were at the former lifton site however, this might well change in the future.
eddings were certainly very popular at ristol oo Gardens, so we would never say never however our current focus is on uilding an ama ing new onservation oo at ristol oo roject , says usiness development manager elen uertas. n
Suits Zebel, 12 Philadelphia Street www.zebel.co.uk
Venues Aztec Hotel, Almondsbury www.aztechotelbristol.co.uk
Harbour Hotel, 53-55 Corn Street ww.harbourhotels.co.uk
Harbour House, The Grove www.hhbristol.com
Everard’s Farm, near Radstock www.everardsfarm.com
The Granary, 32 Welsh Back www.granarybristol.com
Lucknam Park, near Chippenham www.lucknampark.co.uk
Whatley Manor, near Malmesbury www.whatleymanor.com
How did a small café in Bedminster develop into a multi-million chain with branches all across the country?
Co-founder ALEX REILLY, the guest speaker at our November Network Lunch, took us back to the beginning…
Words by Ursula Cole Photos Jon Craig
THE LOUNGERS GROUP, whose Lounges, Cosy Clubs and Brightside diners now occupy an astonishing 280 sites across the UK, is a major Bristol success story. As is so often the case, as co-founder Alex Reilly explains, it began with a conversation between friends in a bar…
le was living just off orth Street. Dodging university in favour of hospitality, he ended up deciding that this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.
“I worked for Bristol institutions such as the former Hullabaloos and Glass Boat; I was general manager at Byzantium, and helped to setup Spyglass, so I was very much in the Bristol hospitality scene.
“My two co-founders and I had always talked about opening something for ourselves, normally while propping up a late-night bar somewhere. Dave had spent a lot of time in ustralia and ew ealand, and seen the café-bar culture that existed there, with the same all-day menu and a rolling customer base. hat, in essence, was how the first Lounge came about.
“We never thought we were
opening something so huge; we may have optimistically discussed how we could open another two or three branches in Bristol, but we never sat down with a plan to be one of the largest hospitality companies in the UK. We were in our late 20s, willing to take a chance, had no contingency for failure. Sometimes that kind of ignorance is bliss; just going into it and rolling with it.”
But the Lounge was busy from day one. “We’d pitched it at the young, professional crowd who were moving into the area, but discovered that people whose families had lived in Bedminster for generations also came in. It was a real mix, with a genuine sense of community. What we’d built was actually quite democratic, which gave us a really broad customer base.”
The second branch came very quickly, when the team agreed to take over the existing Blue Goose on Gloucester Road. As the business grew bigger, says Alex, they had to start doing things differently.
one of us had done it efore, so it’s been a voyage of discovery. e’ve had to figure out a lot for
ourselves.” One thing they worked out was that when boardrooms started to talk about making changes, and when it was impossible to follow the same model due to size, “a lot of the things that originally made a business really good when it was smaller can just get diluted away. ll the special stuff that made people love a business or a rand in the first place can gradually get eroded, and we were resolutely focused on never allowing that to happen.”
Over the years, the Lounges did evolve – “but it’s been a very gradual evolution”, says Alex. “If you try to reinvent the wheel, the change tends to be a lot more abrupt, and it can jar people.”
Much of the original vision still dictates the Lounges’ vibe. “There was this bar that we loved in Barcelona. The walls were heavily tobacco stained, and we wanted ours to have that lived in feel, too. ll of our furniture, oorings and lights were reclaimed. We wanted to create an environment that felt cool but not intimidating, not as if it was
very heavily designed.” The walls of the original lounge have never been redecorated: “We’ve kept them as almost like a conservation project”.
Another thing that hasn’t changed is that the co founders have remained close friends. “The three of us had different skill sets, and we naturally reverted to those within the organisation; there’s never been any major toe treading. e uilt a massive business, with mates, and it’s been really good fun.”
Dave has since left the business, but on happy terms. “It was exactly the right call for Dave. We recruited our first finance director at a very similar time, who’s now the CE. It’s a bit like Sugababes; there’s a constantly changing line up of people. That’s the other thing: three is a good number. Two is hard ecause if you have a difference of opinion, it’s stalemate. But we very rarely disagree on anything. We stay in our lanes.”
As the Lounges spread across the country, the group had another good idea. It was called the Cosy Club.
“Our background was more
TOP: Ritorno on Harbourside, is the latest Bristol Lounge opening BOTTOM: Cosy Club vibes
Loungers has recently agreed a sale to US private equity firm Fortress, subject to the approval of shareholders
“We are more ambitious than ever, and we see Fortress as being an ideal partner to help us take Loungers into the next phase of its growth journey," says Alex.
The deal values the entire share capital of Loungers at about £338.3m
and train stations are evolving, how much our shopping centres have changed, hospitality is now playing a much bigger role in those arenas, where part of the experience is going for a meal or a drink.
restaurant orientated, and we had an itch to scratch. We also started wondering about how our informality would work in more a uent towns and locations where we didn’t think a ounge would fit. So we dreamt up the Cosy Club; we launched in Taunton, and then in 2011 we opened our second one in ath, which really defined what we were looking to achieve.
“A lot of people ask, why bother when you’ve got something that clearly works? But we’ve always had the view that if you only do one thing, you become a bit blinkered. You can become too comfortable. We now have three brands, we have to constantly focus on a much wider consumer, and think a lot more broadly about what we’re doing.
“And we learn things. What we might learn from something with a Lounge might be transferable to a Cosy Club, and vice versa. That really keeps us very nimble and challenged. From that point, we went from nine to 12 to 15 to 20 to 25 sites. and now we’re opening 35 a year, and that’s been our rhythm for the last three years.”
Then along came the Brightside roadside diners, launched in 2023.
“I’m from an era during which stopping at a Little Chef was part of the joy of road travel. I think the romance of car travel has gone. If you think about how much airports
“IT’S A BITLIKE SUGABABES; THERE’S A CONSTANTLY CHANGING LINE-UP”
“We felt that people wanted to do that in the UK on the roads too, but they just didn’t necessarily realise it, because there was no alternative. So we launched three Brightsides in Devon and Cornwall, then our first purpose uilt site, in utland on the A1. Someone described it as Little Chef meets Stranger Things; it’s got very much an 0s revival feel about it.”
Alex and the team are now opening a new site about every 10 days. “We build all of our own sites. e fit out all of our own sites, we obviously acquire our own sites. We operate our own sites. t’s a start to finish e perience, which is uite unique for our sector.
“The geographical spread has massively increased. We’ve got this huge army of people, and most of them are based in Bristol.
“There are still areas we haven’t touched; we’re not in Scotland yet, we’ve only recently launched in the North East. There’s a huge amount still to go after. It’s lovely pushing the boundaries of geography, but it’s also lovely opening here ,on Harbourside and in Nailsea, where we opened fairly recently.”
The dream number of sites, says Alex, is around 600 – “though in all honesty, we think that number’s conservative.
“It’s lovely when you go into a town and there’s a building that people are curious about because it’s been closed, and to reopen that to the public. People appreciate that, and the pride it gives them in their town, in their high street: our opportunity of playing a part in that is such a privilege.”
For more: www.loungers.co.uk
Cat is the marketing director at Healix, which provides corporate healthcare and risk management solutions around the world
I’ve been with Healix for two years”, says Cat. “I started as a consultant, focusing on developing our social media channels. The role quickly grew into a full marketing position, and about six months ago, I stepped into the role of marketing director. I now lead the marketing efforts for our corporate healthcare trust business here in Bristol and beyond.”
With nearly 18 years of marketing experience, I’ve been lucky to call Bristol home since I was young. y first step into healthcare marketing was with National Friendly, a Bristol-based healthcare insurance company. Becoming a parent to two boys inspired a new perspective, which led to the creation of Backwards Brain – a brand my son and I founded to bridge the gap between children’s and adult clothing. e design age neutral si ing with five distinct colourways to make it easier for kids and adults to find what fits.
After maternity leave, I returned to National Friendly part-time and expanded my marketing expertise
further y launching a ooring business, Ransome Flooring, with my husband. These entrepreneurial experiences shaped my skills in creativity and adaptability, leading me to join Healix.
Healix is a pioneer of corporate healthcare services, offering tailored health and wellbeing solutions for employees and their families. We empower employers to create customised plans, covering areas like neurodiversity, menopause support and cancer care.
Backed by clinical expertise, Healix operates a health trust model, which means that employers can place money in a fund used for the treatment of employees. Any remaining balance can be used to reduce future healthcare costs, making it a popular choice for companies looking for a sustainable way to provide healthcare enefits.
Becoming director has been a major milestone. When I joined Healix, there wasn’t much of a marketing presence. This gave me
an exciting opportunity to build something from the ground up. One of my proudest achievements is creating a fantastic team alongside Katie Morton, our marketing manager. We’ve brought in people who share our passions and fit seamlessly into our culture. Watching the team grow and thrive has been incredibly rewarding.
Healix feels like a family. Our CEO, Ian Talbot, is approachable and fosters an incredible open-door policy. The culture is inclusive, and it’s common to see people from all levels of the business collaborating in the same room. It’s not just about work here; it’s about life, too.
There’s a real buzz and enthusiasm in our ristol o ce. The space has only been open for about a year, and everyone’s enthusiastic and excited about coming into the o ce and working together. We’re right in the hub of Bristol too, with strong connections to London, which means we attract great talent not only from within ristol ut further afield.
“AT HEALIX, WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO PUSH BOUNDARIES”
Over the next 12 to 18 months, medical inflation is set to drive up the cost of employee healthcare. In areas such as cancer care for example, employers are increasingly facing more complex claims, due to NHS waiting lists. This shift means we are pushing for preventative measures to help businesses support their people to have regular health checks, and get support early, ensuring the wellbeing of employees and in turn the business.
A priority of ours for 2025 is to work closely with our partners such as Perci Health, to create clear pathways for people to manage their health proactively. This will not only improve wellbeing but also reduce the time people spend out of work.
My dad ran a marketing agency in Bristol and Bath, and although he comes from the old-school advertising world, his advice remains invaluable. One piece of wisdom I’ve always carried with me is ‘never play it safe’. That philosophy drives me to think outside of the box. At Healix, we’re always looking to push boundaries, whether it’s through bespoke healthcare plans inviting businesses to design a healthcare plan to suit their specific workforce, or innovative marketing approaches.
Bristol’s professional community is wonderfully eclectic. You can see the diversity in the people, the workplaces, and the industries here. It’s a city that thrives on creativity and collaboration, and that spirit is re ected in our ristol o ce. t’s a real melting pot of talent and ideas.
My advice for someone looking to move to the city, from a career perspective, is not to settle for the first jo offer. plore opportunities that might surprise you, and make sure to meet the team. You spend so much time at work, so it’s crucial to find a workplace where you feel comfortable and valued. Challenge your interviewers – ask the unexpected questions. It’s just as important for you to assess them as it is for them to assess you.
For more www.healix.com
ell, may e not if you live in ong shton.
S healthcare technology firm pic is planning to uild its uropean head uarters in no, not alifornia, we’re talking ong shton. he council has approved plans despite strong o jections, meaning the firm now has the green light to build their 90-acre technology campus between Long Ashton and Bristol.
pic said uilding its uropean head uarters in orth Somerset would ring 2, 50 high uality jo s in life sciences and 0m in gross value added to the economy per year, making them the largest private employer in orth Somerset.
owever, the plans have een controversial, given that the fields etween the ong shton ypass and South ristol ink oad, where the company wants to uild o ce uildings, a 3,000 seater
auditorium, and solar field, are considered to e the most valua le stretch of green elt in orth Somerset.
lanning o cers at orth Somerset ouncil agreed the plans were an inappropriate development for the green elt, ut recommended it should e approved anyway due to the major investment in the local economy.
ocal councillor for ong shton, sh artman, remained unimpressed. o they need this site to deliver those economic enefits he asked.
t’s clear to me from this application that ristol gets the jo s, eston gets the money, and ong shton gets the hassle.
he ong shton arish ouncil also e pressed its profound disappointment at the decision.
he development will transform ong shton from a distinct rural community into what will effectively ecome a conur ation of ristol, causing significant and irreparable harm to local heritage assets and valua le agricultural land, it said.
For more www.longashtonparishcouncil.gov.uk
hatchers ider, has won a significant trademark infringement case against supermarket giant Aldi.
he family owned cider maker from Somerset, represented y Stephens Scown, challenged ldi over a product that appeared on shelves nearly two years after hatchers had achieved su stantial market success with its loudy emon ider.
he ourt of ppeal, led y ord ustice rnold, overturned a previous igh ourt decision, concluding that ldi had e ploited hatchers’ trademark. he verdict was unanimous among the three appeal judges.
e are thrilled with this decision, a rming that ldi unfairly capitalised on our hard work, said artin hatcher pictured left . his victory is not just for our family usiness, ut for all innovators hindered y imitators.
n ldi spokesperson e pressed disappointment, emphasising ldi’s commitment to offering afforda le e clusive rands.
For more www.thatcherscider.co.uk
Bristol Bears players seem to be quite the entrepreneurs. Following Jake Heenan and Luke Morahan’s success with their Antipodeanavoured caf chain urra, teammates arry hacker and ake oolmore unveiled their permanent wellness garden’ in ristol on anuary, marking the culmination of over a year’s effort in esta lishing their wellness rand, Sivo.
ocated at he Sta les in eigh ourt, the initiative aims to democratise access to contrast therapy, as arry e plained on his nstagram page harrythacker2, e pressing pride in creating a rand focused on leaving visitors in an improved mental and physical state.
Sivo ellness promotes inclusivity, rejecting the notion that peak health re uires e clusive mem erships or e pensive supplements. It emphasises a balanced approach, tailored to individual needs, shunning fad diets and superficial trends.
In addition to the wellness garden, arry and ake have introduced Sivo randed leisure apparel – modelled here on the right y the lads featuring t shirts and hoodies to enhance the brand presence.
For more www.sivowellness.com
Property developer and architect StudioHIVE celebrated its tenth anniversary with a party at the Royal West of England Academy. Family, colleagues, clients and contacts joined founder directors Jason and Natalie Collard at the event, which coincided with the RWA’s prestigious annual open exhibition.
External, internal or hybrid wall insulation
Energy e cient windows and doors
Warm roof insulation systems
Whole house retro t
Passive House new build
Breathable insulation systems for sale
With expert advice and training
We believe your house should be a healthy place to live too – and our approach takes into account important issues such as indoor air quality, humidity, and the wider impact on the environment.
“We’re really pleased with the end result. You have a great team of people…“ “Damp is no longer a problem and condensation has dramatically reduced.” “E cient and professional… fantastic job.” “The men have all been courteous, interested, helpful and adaptable.” “…it’s really cosy now” “We wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.”
Kerry Graham, Partner and Head of Family Team
at BUCKLES LAW tells us more...
he end of a relationship is never easy. Whether it’s a divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership, the personal toll is significant, with one of the most challenging aspects often being the division of finances.
Amid the upheaval, couples must re-evaluate personal and shared assets, frequently leading to disputes over what is fair. The process is clouded by myths and misconceptions, which can exacerbate frustration. But with understanding and the right support, it’s possible to navigate these challenges and emerge with clarity and security.
The introduction of no-fault divorce in 2022 simplified the legal process, removing the need to assign blame for a marriage’s breakdown, encouraging separating couples to focus on practical issues, such as finances and child arrangements, rather than the reasons behind their split.
Divorce begins with an application stating that the marriage has irretrievably broken down, followed by a 20-week reflection period where couples are encouraged to negotiate financial and childcare arrangements. Afterwards, a conditional order is issued, and six weeks later, the final order (formerly the decree absolute) is granted, legally ending the marriage.
While this framework provides clarity, financial negotiations often require more time, attention, and expertise to resolve effectively.
A common misconception is that assets are automatically divided equally. While equality is often the starting point, settlements aim to achieve fairness rather than strict parity. Factors such as housing needs, financial and non-financial contributions (like raising children), and the length of the marriage all play a role in determining a fair outcome.
Transparency is essential. Both parties must fully disclose their assets, including property, savings, investments, and pensions. Failing to disclose assets can lead to significant legal and financial repercussions.
“ DIVIDING FINANCES DURING DIVORCE CAN BE COMPLEX, BUT IT NEEDN’T BE A BATTLE.”
Pensions are one of the most misunderstood assets in divorce. Contrary to popular belief, pensions are not automatically retained by the person who earned them. Instead, they are part of the marital pot and divided alongside other assets.
There are three primary ways pensions are handled:
• Pension Sharing Orders, where a percentage of one party’s pension is transferred to the other’s scheme.
• Pension Offsetting, where one party retains their pension in exchange for other assets, such as a larger share of the family home.
• Pension Attachment Orders, where a portion of the pension income is paid to the other party upon retirement.
Proper valuation of pensions is essential, as their worth depends on the type of scheme and expected benefits, so seeking expert advice is crucial.
Dividing finances during divorce can be complex, but it needn’t be a battle. Mediation offers a constructive alternative to court proceedings, fostering communication and allowing couples to retain control over their agreements. While court intervention is an option, it’s often more timeconsuming and costly.
The key to achieving a fair settlement is prioritising open, honest discussion. By focusing on practicalities and seeking expert guidance, it’s possible to navigate this difficult time with confidence, and ensure financial security for life’s next chapter. n
Kerry Graham, Partner, Family Law 01173 329 548; Kerry.Graham@buckles-law.co.uk Queen Square House 18-21 Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4NH www.buckles-law.co.uk
Small is beautiful in this cool and collected twobedroom apartment in the heart of Clifton Village
You could argue until the cows come home over which Bristol street has the best location.
Could it be Downleaze, its handsome Victorian piles sandwiched between the peaceful streets of Stoke Bishop and the 400 green acres of the Downs?
Cool little Wapping Wharf, with its maritime wharves and lavish choice of cafés and restaurants? Sion Hill, with the Suspension Bridge framed by every front window? The terraces of Southville, with the vibrant food and shopping delights of North Street a stroll away? Ditto the streets abutting the indie-tastic Gloucester Road?
There are other strong candidates too, but for many Bristolians the golden ticket is an address that enjoys –cliché incoming – ‘the best of both worlds’. Somewhere that makes it easy to access the urban delights of the centre, ut su ciently tucked away to ensure relative peace and privacy. Somewhere like Richmond Terrace, perhaps; a pretty row whose Georgian houses more than live up to the promise of its elegant name. Not only is it nicely hidden away, halfway between the centre of Clifton Village and the city centre, but the homes here are beautifully
screened from the casual gaze – rather like its famous neighbour Royal York Crescent – by being elevated above street level. As the icing on the cake, it also has access to private communal gardens.
Our showcase this issue is the especially bright and lovely first oor apartment at num er , which is reached via a well kept communal entrance and stairwell which re ects the uilding’s historic character.
he at ijou, admittedly, ut you don’t get a huge amount for half a mill in Clifton – has been renovated with huge love and attention to detail by its architect owners, drawing on a bright, white interior palette which enhances the wonderful southerly light and atters the charming period features.
he main living space is a 20ft open plan room which spans the front of the building. High ceilings and a trio of original shuttered sash windows frame leafy treetop views eautiful oak par uet ooring runs underfoot, enhancing the sense of character, quality, luxury and sophistication.
A cleverly designed contemporary kitchen – white, of course – with marble worktops integrates seamlessly within the space, offering sleek ca inetry and high uality finishes. he room allows for a e i le layout, and easily accommodates discrete dining and living areas.
he arterial rear hallway with its tiled ooring leads to two bedrooms overlooking the tranquil communal gardens; they share a thoroughly modern bathroom and shower room.
The private communal garden is beautifully maintained, secretively enclosed on three sides and
reached through doorways set into the individual back garden walls. This peaceful space is planted with a variety of fruit trees, vegetables and herbaceous plants; open grassy areas, mature trees, and a pond attract local wildlife, creating a serene retreat in the heart of the city.
Needless to say, Clifton Village itself is a complete joy for shopping, eating and drinking or merely moseying about among its Georgian, Regency, and Victorian architecture. You won’t struggle for great restaurants, but we see you gravitating especially to Freddy Bird’s excellent 1 York Place. Why wouldn’t you? It’s literally just one street away.
Nearby, over Clifton Suspension Bridge lie the green expanses of Ashton Court and Leigh Woods, while on the Clifton side the Downs provides 400 acres of green space for walking, running, or simply soaking up the lovely vista.
New year, new home?
Where Clifton
Guide price
£525k
Receptions 20ft open-plan
reception room
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 1
Outside Communal garden
Call my agent: Elephant; elephantlovesbristol.co.uk
Whether you’re buying or selling, renovating or home-staging, or just need some sound advice, these are the people you need on speed-dial
ALKO MORTGAGES
0117 2444441 / 07515 560972; www.alkomortgages.co.uk
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I’ve been in the property industry for 27 years and love helping people realise their dream home through finance or supporting investors/landlords to achieve their goals.
What is the best project you have worked on in the last 12 months?
I’ve been supporting a new landlord/investor to purchase five new properties for his portfolio. It’s been a great journey so far!
What makes your business different from others?
I’m available seven days a week and I never switch off (much to my partner’s despair!) If you call/WhatsApp, you’ll always get an answer/reply. Customers love this level of service.
What new plans do you have for next year?
We’re launching a new system that will enable customers to have more control over their mortgage and further product options on other funding and property related sources.
What are the key values of your business?
Adaptability, honesty, passion and trust.
What do you anticipate for the Bristol property market for the next 12 months?
Bristol has seen great growth and interest from further afield and I expect this to continue.
Any thoughts on what might happen to interest rates?
We should see at least three reductions this year with rates heading towards 4% for 2026.
HAYLEY BLACKER INTERACTION
01225 485 600; www.interaction.uk.com
What do you like most about your role?
Having been part of Interaction for over 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the company’s evolution and growth first hand. One of the most rewarding aspects has been working alongside such a talented and dedicated team. Our ability to adapt to the ever-changing role of the office and how occupiers use these spaces has been key to our success.
This adaptability keeps my role dynamic and fulfilling. I’m constantly learning, whether it’s through conversations with occupiers, landlords, or my network, as we explore the current trends and future possibilities of the workplace. Helping the company stay ahead in this everevolving industry is both a challenge and a joy.
What are the key values of your business?
At Interaction, our core values are creativity, collaboration, and commitment. We’re passionate about designing spaces that inspire and empower people while meeting the unique needs of our clients. Collaboration is at the heart of our approach, whether it’s partnering
07767 211707; www.craigfullerproperty.co.uk
Tell us something about your business and why readers should contact you?
Diligence, track record, local inside knowledge, transparency and drive! That’s what’s vital - going one step further than others to find and most importantly secure your new home.
What key bit of advice would you give to a client?
Time; the ability to work around time scales for all parties is vitally important and very often overlooked. Timing can often be the difference between having an offer accepted for not. Ensuring you give yourself enough time to understand what you really want and where.
What kind of property buyers are you currently seeing coming into Bath?
Since last year there has been a steady increase in overseas buyers looking to move to Bath as a principal residence, in particular from the USA.
What makes Bath such a special place to live?
Bath has such much that appeals to so many – great schools, culture, architecture, and excellent places to eat; for me, the ease of access to some of the most beautiful valleys and countryside, in a matter of minutes, is wonderful.
with clients, landlords, or our internal team to deliver exceptional results.
Creativity is also key, enabling us to stay ahead of industry trends and ensure the spaces we create are future-proof and sustainable. These values not only guide our work but also shape our commitment to supporting Bristol and Bath’s thriving business community.
What do you love about Bristol?
Bristol is a fantastic city to work in, with a huge range of companies ranging from law to tech and professional services – all at various stages of their business journey. There are so many ways in which the businesses come together to network, share ideas and support each other. The buildings in Bristol provide such a diverse range of spaces (we love spaces!) and it has been great to see the transformation of some of these into cutting-edge offices.
Tell us something about your business and why readers should contact you
In short, we’re here to banish boring offices. The role of the workplace has evolved significantly, and we pride ourselves on creating unique, sustainable spaces that inspire community and collaboration while reflecting each client’s
unique culture, values, and goals.
We love partnering with businesses and landlords to develop workspaces that really set them apart – spaces that meet their specific needs rather than following generic trends. No two businesses or buildings are the same, and we embrace this diversity in every project we take on.
With over 30 years of experience, we’ve built a robust, trusted business and have a genuine passion for designing exceptional workplaces that people love.
SHAHIN ESLAMI FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
AIRSAT CONSTRUCTION
0117 352 2233; shahin@airsat.co.uk www.airsat.co.uk
What do you love about Bristol?
As the CEO and founder of Airsat Construction, I have a deep appreciation for Bristol. Its rich history and vibrant culture inspire our projects, reminding us of the community we’re building for. The city’s commitment to innovation aligns with our approach to sustainable construction practices. I admire the blend of historic and modern architecture, which resonates with our vision of creating spaces that honour the past while embracing the future. Bristol’s strong sense of community drives us to deliver quality and craftsmanship, ensuring we contribute positively to the city we call home.
What are the key value of your business ?
1. Quality craftsmanship: delivering high standards in all projects.
2. Safety: prioritising the safety of workers and the public.
3. Sustainability: committing to environmentally-friendly practices and materials.
4. Integrity: building trust through transparency and ethical practices.
5. Collaboration: fostering strong relationships with clients and partners.
6. Innovation: embracing new technologies for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
7. Community engagement: contributing to local initiatives and considering project impacts.
8. Client-centric approach: tailoring solutions to meet unique client needs and visions.
DR TINA RADKA | MARLA CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
AIRSAT REAL ESTATE
0117 352 2288; tina@airsatrealestate.co.uk
www.airsatrealestate.co.uk
What makes your business different from others in the city?
We are estate agents who also own and operate across the construction industry, and this gives us and our clients a unique leverage compared to traditional estate agents. Having the in-house expertise in property development helps us provide an integrated service where we are able to offer a tailored package to our clients including design, build and renovations.
Clients generally view estate agents with construction expertise as more reliable, since they can back their promises with in-house resources and practical knowledge.
Tell us something about your business and why readers should contact you?
Choosing the right estate agent is vital in Bristol’s competitive property market. Airsat Real Estate combines local expertise with personalised service, ensuring clients make informed decisions.
URBANE ECO LTD 0117 9098090; www.urbane-eco.co.uk
What do you like most about your role?
Our team understands market trends and the unique character of each area, tailoring solutions to meet diverse needs. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, investor or a landlord, we prioritise transparent communication, integrity, and client success. Offering end-to-end services, from appraisals to closing, we collaborate with trusted professionals to streamline the process. Committed to Bristol’s growth, Airsat actively supports the community through sustainable practices and local partnerships. Trust Airsat Real Estate for a seamless, reliable experience.
I think it’s very important to pass skills and knowledge down to younger generations and I have been interviewed more than once by Bristol or UWE University students who are keen to use my experience to inform their thesis or dissertation on various aspects of sustainable building. I feel privileged to be able to do this.
What makes your business different from others in the city?
We are pioneers in using natural home insulation materials, as they are a great choice for those looking to create a healthier and more energy-efficient living environment.
Natural insulation materials such as hemp and wood fibre are more sustainable and have a lower environmental footprint. They are biodegradable and can be sourced from renewable resources. These materials are typically free from harmful chemicals and toxins, making them safer for indoor air quality. They provide excellent thermal performance, helping to keep buildings warm in winter and cool in
summer. They also regulate humidity, reducing the risk of damp and mould, which we think makes them a better choice for the health of your home and your family.
What are the key values of your business?
We are committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our beautiful city using natural, breathable insulation materials wherever possible, as we consider these to be healthier for the building fabric, the environment and the occupants.
Tell us something about your business and why readers should contact you?
Continuing our quest to make homes healthier, we are very excited to announce that we are now stocking IndiTherm, a flexible hemp insulation product grown and manufactured in the UK. Hemp is a highly sustainable, breathable and effective insulating material that has the added advantage of been grown in the U.K. Amazingly, Hemp captures 1520 tonnes of carbon per hectare every year, making IndiTherm a carbon-negative product! We consider IndiTherm to be an extremely important addition to our natural insulation family. Contact us to find out more!
SARAH BAILEY
SJP INTERIOR DESIGN 01179 730880 www.sjpinteriordesign.co.uk
What makes your business different from others in the city?
At SJP Interior Design we are proud to be well-established in both the property and interior design sectors. With a strong background in property development, we are able to offer all of our clients quality advice on, of course, aesthetic choices for their homes, but also important financial, practical and
technical advice from the knowledge that we have gained through years of experience. This really sets us apart.
Having that experience and knowledge in interior design and property development also greatly benefits our home staging clients. With access to hundreds of high-end suppliers, and strong working relationships with numerous quality contractors, we have the ability to truly transform each of our clients’ homes in a bespoke, tailored fashion, allowing each property’s best-selling features to really stand out.
What bit of advice would you give to someone looking to sell their property this year?
We may sound biased, but definitely look into home staging! We work with a number of great estate agents across the UK and they often put us in contact with customers who have never thought of/heard of staging, or perhaps looked past it. It is, of course, a small upfront investment, but our results and rewards are proven time and time again.
Adding quality furniture that complements a property and its character makes a huge difference to first impressions. Viewers aren’t just looking at an empty, cold room that is easy to pick apart and maybe hard to
furniture-plan; they are looking at a warm, cosy and homely space that looks inviting and is designed in the most effective way. We create spaces that are aspirational, on-trend and perfect to market.
What is your favourite part of the job?
There are lots of great parts to working in interior design and home staging. From visiting some brilliant properties across the UK, meeting and working with amazing clients and developers who often become friends, having access to amazing furniture, wallpaper, fabric and lighting companies, helping our clients to sell their houses quicker than they ever expected and often for more money, working on inspiring and sometimes challenging projects as a team to creating some really exciting and aspirational schemes for our clients.
The best part, though, is getting to see each property we work on transform from your average house that may lack personality and that cosy feel to a really high-end, quality home that our clients are excited by and really proud to show off. We pride ourselves in spending lots of time with each of our clients to ensure that the schemes and spaces that we create exceed expectations and maximise the potential of each property.
MIKE JESSOP
QUANTUM DEVELOPMENT FINANCE
07538 156237; www.quantumdf.com
What do you, personally, specialise in?
I specialise in providing senior debt development finance solutions to a range of SME housebuilders across England and Wales.
What are the key values of your business?
We are fully committed to supporting SME housebuilders as a relationship-driven, transparent lender with efficiency and pragmatism at the heart of what we do, while helping to address the long-standing shortage of quality housing across the UK. In particular we are keen to encourage the development of regional hubs such as Bristol that are such a key part of the wider economy.
What do you like most about your role?
I’m fortunate enough to meet and work with a wide range of people from all different backgrounds, all across the country. It’s always a pleasure to hear clients’ stories and how we can help them achieve their long-term business goals.
What do you love about Bristol?
There’s such a depth of successful, local businesses run by people who genuinely care about the future of the region. It’s no surprise that Bristol is such a desirable place to live and work, and we are proud to enable that.
What can the government do to address the housing crisis?
The government needs to reduce the barriers to entry for smaller housebuilders who provide a nimble, more creative alternative solution to the lack of housing supply. A key part of this is the planning process – this needs to be streamlined to encourage well-designed schemes to be delivered in a timely manner.
JEROME LARTAUD
DOMUS HOLMES PROPERTY FINDER 0117 973 3683; www.domusholmes.co.uk
What makes your business different from others in the city?
As fully independent buying agents we exclusively represent buyers and can help by providing early access to discreet listings, full representation and guidance throughout their search and acquisition –all while reducing stress and demands on their time.
Nearly 70% of the properties we buy for our clients are purchased before they even appeared on the open market. We are the best at making sure you are first through the door and get exclusive preview access to the best properties.
Tell us something about your business and why readers should contact you Buying a property is a major life decision; the most expensive life decision you are likely to make. It is also stressful and timeconsuming. So, it is quite remarkable that some buyers are prepared to gamble such large sums of money without professional help, guidance and advice, while the seller has access to the guidance and advice of their estate agent.
For buyers, the best way to level the playing field is for them to have their own representatives on their team.
Property buyers: don’t make a costly mistake. Use a buying agent!
HOST360
0117 923 7947;
www.hostthreesixty.co.uk
Tell us something about your business and why readers should contact you
Host360 is a Bristol-based Airbnb and short-term let management company offering expert customer service. We are part of the independent hospitality group Quarter, backed by 60 years of experience in the industry. Whether you’re heading away for a few months, or have an additional property, our small, local team are dedicated to taking the hassle out of short-term lets. Since 2016 we have helped hundreds of properties achieve their maximum earning potential, welcoming thousands of guests to Bristol for their perfect stay. If you’re wanting to maximise revenue from your rental property, get in touch and see if we can help you.
What are some recent achievements you want to share?
In November I had the honour of attending the 2024 Bristol Property Awards, where Host360 were nominated in the Residential Agent
IVYWELL INTERIORS
07904040276; www.ivywellinteriors.com
Ivywell Interiors recently won at the Bristol Property Awards. How does this recognition reflect the company’s ethos and approach to interior design?
Winning the Bristol Property Award was an unexpected but deeply appreciated recognition of the hard work and dedication of our small team over the past four years. It’s a testament to the incredible relationships we’ve built with local partners who share our commitment to excellence and the trust our clients place in us to transform their homes.
This award reflects how we’ve grown, taking on more ambitious projects while staying true to our values: helping clients create and achieve their personal interior dreams.
While we’re proud of this achievement, it doesn’t change our approach. We treat every project, big or small, with the same care as if it were our own homes. For us, it’s about designing cohesive, unique spaces that reflect our clients’
category; I was also a finalist in the Rising Star category. Being recognised for our work is flattering, and these achievements have set us up to have our best year yet in 2025.
styles and needs, while building lasting relationships. Awards are a bonus, but the real reward is seeing our clients delighted with their homes and knowing we’ve made a meaningful impact on their lives.
Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk
Canford Lane, Bristol TO LET – £16,500 pax
506 sq ft (47 sq m)
An exceptional opportunity to let a ground floor commercial unit on the popular and busy Canford Lane. Available Summer 2025.
The Courtyard, Almondsbury SUITES TO LET - POA
403 – 1,895 sq ft
(37.44– 176.05 sq m)
Open plan self contained office suites refurbished to provide contemporary office space. Larger suites with a rent of only £10 per sq ft, providing excellent rental value.
Whiteladies Road, BS8 TO LET – POA
693 - 1,010 – 1,703 sq ft
(64.4 – 93.7 - 158.10 sq m)
Attractive offices, refurbished to a contemporary standard. Car parking also available by separate negotiation. New flexible lease terms available.
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.
Durdham Park, BS6 TO LET – POA
1,042 – 2,948 sq ft (274 - 97 sq m)
Two self-contained buildings located within close proximity to Whiteladies Road and Clifton and Durdham Downs. The properties can be available as a pair or separately. Currently benefitting from educational use although would suit other uses (STP).
Queen Square, BS1 TO LET – POA
1,909 – 4,192 sq ft (177.35 – 389.44 sq m)
An impressive pair of period buildings available to lease individually, or as a pair and undergoing a striking transformation to provide superb office accommodation.
East Street, Bedminster TO LET - POA
4,025 sq ft (373.93 sq m)
Large retail unit to let, with strong passing footfall on East Street. Class E-suitable for a variety of commercial uses.
Berkeley Square, BS8 FOR SALE – POA
4,015 sq ft (372.99 sq m)
A fabulous opportunity to create a magnificent family home in the upper terrace of Clifton’s renowned Berkeley Square, with ample parking. The property also suits investors seeking to benefit from high levels of income currently produced within the property.
Springfield House, BS1 TO LET - POA
From 1,445 – 8,444 sq ft (134 – 784 sq m)
A modern office providing bright accommodation with dual aspect outlook over Welsh Back. Secure on site car parking and bike storage. Due to be refurbished throughout.
Unity Street, Bristol TO LET 362 – 2,750 sq ft (33.6 – 255.5 sq m)
A most attractive period office building refurbished to a good standard with attractive rear courtyard garden. E Class use therefore suitable for a range of different occupiers.
Springfield House is located on the Welshback just off Queen Square, only a 5 minute drive / 14 minute walk away from Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station and a short distance walk to many local amenities, shops and restaurants to include Coffee#1, Spicer C Cole, Cow C Sow, The Riverstation, 6 O’Clock Gin’s new floating bar and the new BOXHALL development, which when complete, will provide a new food hall offering premium food, beer and music.
Springfield House provides a self contained office of approx. 8,444 sq ft (784 sq m) over ground and 3 upper floors, together with secure car parking for 6 cars and bike storage in the basement.
The property benefits from Use Class E, therefore could be suitable for a wide range of uses to include office, medical, professional services etc.
Very competitive rent – only £29.50 per sq ft!
Further information can be obtained via the sole agent Burston Cook
finola@burstoncook.co.uk
• Modern open plan floor plate
• Passenger lift / DDA access
• Secure car parking C bike storage
• Self contained
• Due to be refurbished throughout
• Walking distance to Temple Meads
• No service charge
You are what you eat: just ask nutritional therapist Sarah…
Sarah’s mission is to help people with their metabolic health, stress levels and energy, showing how to build resilience and wellbeing through nutrition. She runs her own registered practice, and has just published her first book.
I was originally working in marketing and just running myself into the ground. I was jumping from one fad diet to another, barely sleeping, and ignoring all the warning signs my body was giving me.
Moving to Bristol was a turning point. finally had the space to step back and realise just how exhausted I was. Making some simple changes to my food, sleep, and work-life boundaries, I felt like a different person within months.
It really got me thinking –everyone needs to know how to
“The city gave me permission to rebuild my life in a healthier way”
I started by establishing three proper meals a day, and creating routines around them. When I got into this rhythm, I didn’t really crave the ad stuff’ anymore because I was focusing my energy on what I could eat rather than what I couldn’t.
It’s so important to be realistic. I eat out with friends, and enjoy those occasions where my meals aren’t 100% ‘to plan’– that’s okay. These occasions are about community and relationships, which are also important pillars of health.
There are four simple things you can do to improve resilience.
My husband and I moved to Bristol in 2011, and our daughter was born here. We live in Redland – it’s easy to get into town, and we can walk our dog on the Downs every morning. My daughter can walk to school with her friends. It’s exactly the kind of life we were hoping to build.
Chandos Road is a real highlight of living here, with such a great selection of independent shops and restaurants.
truly look after themselves and understand what being healthy really means. What started as my own journey to understand how my body works led to a passion for sharing this knowledge with other people.
Food was really where my whole journey began. When I changed how I was eating and what I was eating, it was like opening a door to understanding health in a new way.
Bristol was such a crucial part of my transformation. t offered me this ama ing opportunity to reset everything. I could create new routines which supported my wellbeing, from how I started my day to spending more time outdoors in natural light. I found myself moving more, getting involved in different activities, connecting with a new community, and developing a completely different way of working. The city gave me permission to rebuild my life in a healthier way.
irst, when you first wake up, step outside and expose your eyes to natural light. This powerful biological trigger calibrates your entire internal system.
Second, eat a well-balanced breakfast. It sets you up for the whole day.
Third, properly prepare for sleep by setting an evening routine that allows you to wind down. Good sleep is fundamental to resilience.
Fourth, hydrate well! It’s so basic, but so crucial.
I’ve just written a book called Do Nourish: How to Eat For Resilience Its main philosophy is quite straightforward –prioritise feeding your body the nutrients it needs and cannot make for itself.
The best way to approach the ook is to first identify your area of weakness and start there. The book is divided into a six-week plan, with each week focusing on one core pillar of nourishment. Rather than trying to change everything at once, I’d recommend focusing on the area where you feel you need the most support.
A few of my favourite local spots are Burra, a fantastic coffee shop ild ats health food shop, which is just rilliant and Wilson’s on Chandos Road is definitely a favourite. an stle and ary ilson have created something really special there – they even cultivate their own two-acre market garden where they grow most of their vegeta les, her s, and owers for the menu. I also love Condesa, a Mexican-inspired restaurant –the food is e cellent and different, while still maintaining that commitment to local ingredients that I value so much.
Secret skills? I can whistle really loudly! Like, properly loudly.
My most regrettable habit is that I’m a worrier. Despite everything I know about stress management and building resilience, I try hard to not let it impact me.
Immediately after answering these questions I’m heading out for a dog walk before settling down to write a presentation on circadian biology and the link between light, mood and brain function.
Do Nourish by Sarah Bayliss is published by Do Books at £9.99 www.sarahbaylissnutrition.co.uk
