Shipshape 22 - Summer 2015 by Dan Pudsey

shipshape @shipshapemag

A GUIDE TO BRISTOL IN SUMMER

ARTS / EVENTS / HISTORY / CITY MAP / DINING / SHOPPING / PEOPLE pp01_Cover.indd 1

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FROM LEFT: BRISTOL SHAKESPEARE FEST/JOHN CRAIG; DOLPHINS SPY IN THE POD/ JOHN DOWNER PRODUCTIONS; POLAR POPS

SUMMER follow us on twitter @shipshapemag

18 Shipshape 22 summer 2015 Published by thegroupofseven.co.uk Advertising enquiries: info@shipshapebristol.co.uk Past issues & galleries: shipshapebristol.co.uk @shipshapemag Cover illustration: Gill Chantler / gillchantler.com Disclaimer The information contained in this publication is provided as a general guide only. While every care is taken to ensure that the details are as accurate as possible, we make no warranty or representation, express or implied, about the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication. The views or opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the authors. The publishers and/or any of its associated companies or business partners accept no responsibility for damage or loss, howsoever caused, arising directly or indirectly from reliance upon any information obtained from this publication. © The Group of Seven Ltd 2015 Archive images Shipshape regularly features photographs from Bristol Record Office, which is based at B Bond Warehouse on the Floating Harbour. For more information, visit www.bristol.gov.uk/recordoffice

15 We love a little outdoor knees-up in Bristol. Nowadays, it's all about barbecued dude food and ear-piercingly loud tunes, but it wasn't always that way. In the not-too-distant past, our Bristolian brothers and sisters liked nothing more than a bit of public hanging and outdoor preaching of a weekend – and that's not the half of it. Turn to page 26 for more… then use our jolly useful guide to find a festival to tickle your fancy this summer. Elsewhere, we take a pleasant booze cruise around the harbour (page 4), meet the brains behind Watershed's Rife Magazine (page 12) and get Shaun the Sheep's vital statistics ahead of the launch of the fundraising Shaun in the City trail (page 17). We hope you enjoy the magazine. 04 Cruising for a boozing Jump on a Bristol Ferry, jump off and go to the pub – c'est magnifique! 06 Tickets The best music, comedy, theatre and art events to attend this summer 10 Details People, performers and points of view, including details about the Bristol Old Vic/Wapping Wharf collaboration 24 City map Make your way around the city by foot, ferry, bike or open-top bus

26 Bristol's grizzly past From bear-baiting to bare-knuckle fighting, we look at some of the ways our ancestors liked to have fun outside 36 Shopping Some of our favourite things to buy at the Harbourside Market 38 Eating & drinking A guide to the best restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs around 46 Summer reads The folks at Arnolfini bookshop choose five of their favourite tomes

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FEATURE

CRUISING FOR A BOOZING We worship at the shrine of Bristol Beer Factory, Bath Ales et al this issue as we snaffle a hop on, hop off ticket with Bristol Ferry Boats and embark on a booze cruise with a difference*

The Pump House Merchants Road Nova Scotia 1 Nova Scotia Place

*THIS ONE’S ENJOYABLE

Getting around Bristol Ferry Boats’ hop on, hop off ticket lets you explore the whole of the harbour for just £6 (£5 concessions). Hop on and off the ferry as many times as you like as you take in the sights and delights of the Harbourside, from the Nova Scotia to Temple Quay. Bristol Ferry Boat stops 1: Pump House 2: The Cottage 3: Brunel’s ss Great Britain 4: Harbour Inlet 5: Canons Marsh 6: City Centre 7: Prince St. Bridge 8: Welsh Back 9: Castle Park 10: Temple Quay MORE

bristolferry.com

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Unpretentious local institution in an enviable location. Great waterside beer garden, rustic interior, guest ales and reliably stodgy pub grub.

Fabulous food served in swanky surroundings with a selection of local ales, award-winning wine list, lots and lots of gin, cider and more.

Grain Barge Mardyke Wharf Floating venue with breathtaking panoramic views, great food, live music, quiz nights and craft beers to be enjoyed on the outdoor deck.

Bag of Nails 141 St George’s Road Home of the Kitten Quiz, Bon Jovi singalongs, cask ales, farmhouse ciders, vinyl records, world beers and fizzy lager (we’re lying about the last one).

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FEATURE

King William 20 King Street Samuel Smith pub with a delicious line of the brewery’s beers, no TV, lovely period features, pool tables and a juke box.

Small Bar 31 King Street Artisanal beer, bloody marys, mac ’n’ cheese in a mug… whatever you do, don’t order a pint or ask them if they’re showing the Arsenal game.

Three Brothers Burgers Welsh Back No.1 Harbourside 1 Canon’s Road

A lovely spot to enjoy stacked burgers al fresco, craft beers and ciders, great wines, shakes and floats.

Wonderful restaurant, bar, music venue and birthplace of the Harbourside market serving small plates, local craft beers and ciders and English wine.

Seven Stars Thomas Lane

Shakespeare’s Tavern 68 Prince Street

Bristol’s longest serving alehouse offers good-value food, seven cask ales and 15 types of wine. CAMRA members receive a discount.

CAMRA award-winning 17thcentury pub famed for its bourbon and Beeriodicals, a fest featuring 20 cask ales from small indie breweries.

8 10

The Apple Welsh Back Ciders and perries galore aboard this converted Dutch barge with quayside terrace, beautiful views and delicious wholesome food.

The Three Tuns 78 St George’s Road

The Barley Mow 39 Barton Road Bristol Beer Factory’s flagship pub boasts a brilliant menu, cask and keg craft brews, community atmosphere, lovely décor and courtyard garden.

The Golden Guinea 19 Guinea Street A simple menu, live music, comedy, quizzes, cosy terrace, comfy chairs, artwork, original features, real ales and ciders.

Award-winning pub tempts us in with real ales and ciders, street food, open mic nights, magic shows, Irish music and beer festivals.

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TICKETS TICKETS Arts, culture and family trips around the city

ARNOLFINI

AT-BRISTOL

BRISTOL FERRY BOATS

Planetarium ongoing. The UK’s first digital 3D Planetarium is now open. Brand new presenter-led shows include Seasonal Stargazing (in a choice of 2D or 3D), Space Explorers (2D) show for under 6s and Blue Marvel (choice of 2D or 3D).

Private Trips Works do, birthday, hen party… Catering and packages for all seasons available, on Bristol Ferries’ comfortable heated boats.

Renowned, all-ages science exploratory

Scheduled ferry services and special interest trips

PIC: LEE PULLEN

Contemporary arts centre

Do Ho Suh: New York City Apartment/Corridor/Bristol to 27.09.15. The artist recreates a corridor from her own home using fabric. At Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. A Floating Ballast Seed Garden Family Day 06.06.15. Includes an activity tent for all ages. 1-4pm, free. Young Arnolfini: And then we pulled the words apart 02-05.07.15. Collaborative exhibition. Edge and Shore: Acts of Doing 08-13.07.15. Visual artist Helen Carnac and dance artist Laïla Diallo collaborate. Richard Long: Time and Space 31.07.15-15.11.15 (above). See p20. Family Storytelling Tuesdays for ages 2-4, 10.30am, free. Family Film Screenings 27.06.15/ 25.07.15/29.08.15. 11am-1pm, free. We Are Family workshops 27.06.15/25.07.15/29.08.15. For ages 5+. 1-5pm, free.

Summer Kitchen from 11.06.15. Cook produce from the sunny season. Drop-in. Summer in the Greenhouse from 11.06.15. Cultivate your own kitchen garden. Drop-in. Alien Tours 13-21.06.15. Dress up as aliens, follow At-Bristol’s expert robot tour guide and learn about the bizarre species ‘humanity’. Wild Weather Forecast to 31.08.15. Blow your socks off exploring the Beaufort Scale of wind strength and feel the pressure from highs and lows in our atmosphere. Weekends and school holidays. un Lab from 09.07.15. Investigate how At-Bristol makes energy from the sun and more.

Sunday Riverside Roast 07.06.15/ 21.06.15/12.07.15/26.07.15/every Sunday in Aug. Head upriver for Sunday lunch at Beese’s Tea Gardens, with its lawns stretching down to the water. 11am-2pm, £21/£15 concs (includes roast dinner). Grand Tour 13.06.15/28.07.15/ 07.08.15. Head down the Gorge to Sea Mills and then back up the New Cut – the tidal course of the river Avon. 3.5 hrs. £16/£13 concs/£50 family. Various times – check website. Riverside Wildlife 14.06.15/18.08.15. See page 14. Classic Gorge 27.06.15/23.07.15/ 10.08.15/24.08.15. Cruise down the magnificent Avon Gorge, under the Suspension Bridge and beyond. 2.5 hrs, with commentary. £12/£10 concs/£30 family. Departs ss Great Britain.

16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA 0117 917 2300

Anchor Rd, BS1 5DB 0845 345 1235

Harbourside 0117 927 3416

arnolfini.org.uk

at-bristol.org.uk

bristolferry.com

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TICKETS

BRISTOL INSIGHT

Absorbing, informative open-top bus tours

BRISTOL OLD VIC

COLSTON HALL

Love for Love 15-27.06.15 (above). Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (BOVTS) present this dark and raucous restoration comedy.

Will Gregory Moog Ensemble 12.06.15. Stretching the possibilities of the Moog synthesiser.

Premier live performance venue

PIC: DONALD COOPER

Beautiful, historic producing theatre

Entertaining, informative opentop bus tours around our historic city. Local guides provide a unique tour with informed, personal and interactive commentary. The tour takes you around the Harbourside stopping at the ss Great Britain, then out under Clifton Suspension Bridge and onto the Downs. You can also enjoy a variety of shopping experiences: elegant Clifton Village, eclectic Park Street, the bustling Bristol Shopping Quarter (which includes Cabot Circus) with its high-end department stores, and St Nicholas Market with its independent stalls. Explorer Ticket £14/£12 concs/£7 child/£38 family/under 5s free. Bus/Boat Combo £20/£10 child/£55 family. All tickets are valid for two days and allow you to hop on/hop off at any one of 20 stops. Use your ticket for a huge array of discounts.

Peter O’Toole Night 21.06.15. Graduating students and famous alumni from BOVTS pay tribute to the late actor and friend of the theatre. The Ted Bundy Project 23-27.06.15. Greg Wohead’s acclaimed performance, inspired by the confession tapes of the serial killer. Pink Mist 01-11.07.15. World premiere of Owen Sheers’ powerful drama about three young Bristol men deployed to Afghanistan. Hetty Feather 17-19.07.15. Jacqueline Wilson’s bestselling adventure is brought to life on stage. Ferment Fortnight 15-25.07.15. Works in progress by regional artists, writers, dancers and directors. Bristol Proms 2015 27.07.1501.08.15. World-class artists return to explore the classical music repertoire.

The Cadbury Sisters 17.06.15 (above). Alt-pop trio blending traditional English folk with contemporary influences. Fast Forward Festival 02-03.07.15. Featuring the British Paraorchestra and the Inner Vision Orchestra. Soil and Pimp Sessions 04.07.15. Japanese alt. jazz sextet with a genre-smashing style and live show, which they describe as “death jazz”. Femi Kuti & The Positive Force 15.07.15 African music legend serves up Afrobeat in its purest form. Ray Davies 21.07.15. The Kinks’ septuagenarian songwriter performs. Goldie and the Heritage Orchestra 25.07.15. Drum’n’bass icon performs his seminal album, Timeless. The Tiger Who Came to Tea 25-30.08.15. Live adaptation.

0117 403 1994

King St, BS1 4ED 0117 987 7877

Colston St, BS1 5AR 0844 887 1500

bristolinsight.co.uk

bristololdvic.org.uk

colstonhall.org

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TICKETS

NO. 1 HARBOURSIDE

RWA

ST NICHOLAS MARKET

Schmoozenbergs 03.06.15. Twin guitars, a double bass and a violin capture the soul of gypsy jazz.

Secret Postcard Auction 04.06.15 (above). Purchase postcard-sized works of art. 7pm, £5.

Will Edmunds 04.06.15. Hard-grooving blues and funk singer/guitarist.

Open Submissions: Call for Entry 05.06.15. Deadline for submissions.

The Exchange was originally built in 1741 and a market has been held on this site since 1831. Today, the streets are filled with independent traders, selling everything from vintage clothing to artisan cakes.

Free live music venue

Harry Harding 10.06.15. Multi-instrumentalist and in-demand session drummer plays classic country-folk with a modern edge. Len Aruliah Duo 11.06.15. Hear a world of influences in Canadian saxophonist Aruliah’s work, thanks to his ongoing explorations of calypso and Nigerian music. Brass Junkies 12.06.15 (above). Dynamic eight-piece brass band inspired by the funky Mardi Gras sounds of New Orleans street bands. Soul Ingredients 13.06.15. All-star line-up of seasoned players play original soul and R’n’B with slick grooves and big brass flourishes.

Nationally renowned gallery and academy

Drawn to 07.06.15. Exhibition raising the profile of drawing. Drawing On… The Ingram Collection to 07.06.15. Drawings by Mary Fedden, Henry Moore & more. Costume, Scenic Art, Theatre Design 23-30.06.15. Works by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School graduates. Into the Fields 20.06.15-06.09.15. Major exhibition of rural realist paintings by the Newlyn School artists (1880-1930) and contemporaries. Peter Randall-Page RWA/Kate MccGwire 20.06.15-10.09.15. British artists explore natural phenomena, patterns and repetition.

Historical independent trading hub

St Nicholas Market is open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm. Bristol Farmers’ Market every Wed, 9.30am-2.30pm, Corn St & Wine St. Award-winning weekly food market. Friday Food Market every Fri, 10am-4pm, Wine St. Delicious street food and local ingredients on offer from a wealth of regional suppliers. Nails Market every Fri and Sat, 10am-5pm, Corn St. Independent traders sell original artwork, jewellery and more.

James Ravilious 20.06.15-06.09.15. Photographs of North Devon in the 1970s and 1980s. See page 16.

1 Canons Rd, BS1 5UH 0117 929 1100

Queen’s Rd, BS8 1PX 0117 973 5129

The Exchange, Corn St, BS1 1JQ 0117 922 4014

no1harbourside.co.uk

www.rwa.org.uk

bristol.gov.uk/stnicks @stnicksmarket

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TICKETS

ST GEORGE’S BRISTOL

World-class music, just off Park Street

TOBACCO FACTORY THEATRES

WATERSHED

Gloriator 16-27.06.15. Inventive, physical and silly comedy. A glamorous French actress and her hapless assistant stage Gladiator.

Screen Icons: Dean + Monroe 07/14/21/28.06.15. Watershed celebrates two enduring icons of American cinema, who exuded rebellious attitude and sex appeal. Sunday screenings of Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, Giant and Some Like It Hot (above).

PIC: VANESSA HEINS

Nationally renowned theatres

World-renowned arts and new media centre

Heritage Blues Orchestra 03.06.15. Juke-joint country blues meets voodoo music and urban R&B. Bridget St John & Michael Chapman 10.06.15. A double bill of freaky folk from two of acoustic music’s most acclaimed acts. BBC Young Musician of the Year: 2014 Finalists Showcase 27.06.15. The three finalists from last year’s competition reunite. Ron Sexsmith 29.06.15 (above). Bristol leg of the enchanting Canadian singer-songwriter’s UK tour. Bristol Americana Weekend 10-12.07.15. See page 23. Badly Drawn Boy 24.07.15. Fifteenth anniversary tour for Damon Gough’s breakthrough album, The Hour of Bewilderbeast. St George’s Green Garden Party 23.08.15. Enjoy a day of music and storytelling in the gardens – don’t forget to bring a picnic!

That Is All You Need To Know 2427.06.15 (above). Idle Motion take us to Bletchley Park, home of some of Britain’s greatest minds during WW2. Around the World in 80 Days 01-18.07.15. See page 22. Infinity Pool 09-11.07.15. A tender comedy inspired by Flaubert’s Madame Bovary. The Very Thought Of You 14.07.1501.08.15. Songs and souvenirs of the 1930s heart-throb crooner Al Bowlly. Double Deckers Comedy Week 21-24.07.14. Edinburgh Fest preview show from comics like John Robins. Mice on Skates 06-09.08.15. Physical theatre, songs and puppetry, aimed at ages 2 and above.

International Festival of Ethnographic Film 16-19.06.15. Screenings of three films that demonstrate the diversity and impact of an anthropological approach to film-making: Salt of the Earth, The Look of Silence and Boyhood. Cyclescreen: Bristol Bike Film Festival 20-23.08.15. Programme of distinctive documentaries and engaging speakers from cycling culture, with plenty to enthuse about in regard to the social, health and environmental benefits that can be derived from this simple machine.

Bristol Festival of Puppetry 26.08.15-06.09.15. Featuring shows, films and workshops for all ages.

Great George St, BS1 5RR 0845 402 4001

Raleigh Rd, BS3 1TF 0117 902 0344

1 Canons Rd, BS1 5TX 0117 927 5100

stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

tobaccofactorytheatres.com

watershed.co.uk

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DETAILS News and views from across the city

film The Floating Cinema An extraordinary mobile arts venue, The Floating Cinema is currently travelling the Kennet & Avon Canal from London to Bristol and back, bringing a brand new free programme of open-air and on-board film screenings, performances, talks and events The Floating Cinema will arrive in Bristol’s Floating Harbour on Tuesday 7 July and stay for a week, presenting a celebration of home-grown talent in collaboration with Bristol-based partners including the Arnolfini, Cube Microplex and Bristol Record Office. During its eight-week journey, the Floating Cinema is stopping at 11 locations, offering an action-packed event programme including rarely seen film from local archives, historic canal classics, artist talks and hands-on activities for all ages. Here are five highlights from its week-long Bristol residency, as chosen by curator Laura Harford. Making Music From Noise (Tue 7 Jul) “Come aboard and meet artist in residence Yann Seznec, who has collected a library of sounds gathered throughout The Floating Cinema’s journey from London to Bristol. You’ll learn how to create new sound scores

from ambient and everyday sounds during this afternoon workshop, suitable for graduates or students.” Somewhere on the Ballast Seed Garden (Thu 9 Jul) “Film-makers Somewhere will be offering an afternoon of special tours to Arnolfini’s Floating Ballast Seed Garden next to Castle Park. Somewhere will discuss their own practice in creating gardens and will screen related short films on board the cinema.”

that Buys the Cinema (Fri 10 Jul) “Take an evening journey through Bristol and see familiar sites in a new ways – either from the deck of The Floating Cinema (tours at 5.30pm, 7pm and 8.30pm) or by watching one of the 70 artists’ works that all contribute to this unique film made to raise funds for the one and only Cube cinema.”

Cube Cola Lab (Fri 10 Jul) “We’re working with the team at the Cube Microplex to teach visitors how to make cola from scratch! The Cube is the only volunteer-run cinema in the UK to manufacture its own cola, so we’re offering the opportunity to visitors to learn how, using techniques siphoned from the worlds of laboratory science – and cake-making.”

Swansong at Sunset (Sat 11 Jul) “To celebrate our last night, this evening will include the premiere of our sound installations Neither Here or There by artist-in-residence Yann Seznec. This work is a cumulative composition of collected sounds gathered and donated along our journey from London. This will be followed by an al fresco screening of Somewhere’s new short film, From the Sea to the Land Beyond, which explores a century of life on Britain’s coastline – with a soundtrack by British Sea Power.”

70 Films in 70 Minutes: The Film

floatingcinema.info

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DETAILS

events

WHAT THE FROCK?

Rife Magazine Produced by Watershed, Rife Magazine is Bristol’s online platform for young people created by young people. Here are five Bristol summer highlights as chosen by Rife content creators Jack Edwards, Yero Timi-Biu and Leo Jay Shire Bristol SkyRide (Sun 21 Jun) “This traffic-free cycle ride will see thousands of cyclists taking to Bristol’s streets, passing landmarks and new places. Perks of the SkyRide include a free bike check worth £14.99 and a chance to rest up at the Bike Café.”

(pictured, bottom), plus Goldie Lookin’ Chain, DJ Yoda and Bath funksters The Heavy.” MORE

Hitting the shelves this June, the What The Frock! Book of Funny Women finally puts to bed the tired idea that women aren’t funny. Written by ace local comedy promoter Jane Duffus (above), and with a foreword by Lucy Porter, the book outlines the history of women in comedy on both sides of the Atlantic, before profiling over 70 top comedians from Caroline Aherne to Victoria Wood. For more on the book – and on WTF!’s hugely successful monthly comedy nights in Bristol – visit the website.

grillstock.co.uk/bristol-festival

Bristol Shakespeare Festival (Thu 9-Fri 31 Jul: see also page 18) “The Bristol Shakespeare Festival MORE goskyride.com/bristol is upon us again! Throughout July, Bristol will come alive with Rife’s First Birthday & Rife Guide Bardic performances, from new Launch/Rife Awards (Jul) and returning companies, hosted in “Bristol’s best young people’s some of Bristol’s most beautiful and magazine turns one this summer and historic locations. 2015 sees both Rife will be celebrating by launching local and national touring theatre its own awards. A £300 cash prize companies bring a whole host is up for grabs in three categories: of sparkling performances, from feature writing, documentary filmfamily-friendly to wickedly quirky, making and photojournalism. Rife so something to suit everyone.” will also be launching Rife Guide – a directory for young people about MORE bristolshakespearefestival.org.uk what’s happening in the city, which St Paul’s Carnival organisations can help you with (Sep, date tbc) what and where to hang out during the summer.” “Normally programmed for July, the carnival moves MORE rifemagazine.co.uk/rife-awards this year to a September slot. Prepare for a glorious Grillstock (Sat 11 & Sun 12 Jul) end to the Bristol summer “Meat, music and mayhem across with music, food, Bristol’s Harbourside. Grillstock block parties and first popped on to the Bristol scene live performances back in 2010 before expanding to all weekend.” other cities such as Manchester and London. Acts this year MORE stpauls carnival.co.uk include the venerable De La Soul

whatthefrockcomedy.co.uk

GET GROWING GARDEN The fifth annual Get Growing Garden Trail returns to Bristol over the weekend of 6 & 7 June, with 30 city gardening and produce groups showing off 36 gardens over the weekend. Venues range from pocket growing sites on high streets or in parks, via miniature orchards tucked behind shops to historic gardens and working farms. MORE

bristolfoodnetwork.org

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DETAILS

theatre Wapping Wharf This summer, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery, Young Roots and Umberslade, Bristol Old Vic Young Company and Travelling Light are working in collaboration with Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives to create a piece of theatre focusing on the heritage of the Wapping Wharf site as it approaches a new phase of its life The theatre production Wapping Wharf will be performed in a new, specially created open-air auditorium on M Shed’s Museum Square and will feature young people from Bristol Old Vic Young Company and Travelling Light Youth Theatre. With a cast of up to 60 young people, the performance will look at the site’s grisly history from the New Bristol Gaol to the Bristol Riots. Information used in the performance has been researched by the young people themselves, during explorations through the Bristol archives. The performance will focus on some of the stories and characters associated with the site – in particular the unfortunate Hanham teenager John Horwood, the first person to be hanged at the Gaol. Says Georgina Trevor, Travelling Light’s Participation Director: “The Wapping Wharf project has been a fantastic opportunity for both Bristol Old Vic and ourselves to

bring together young people from all corners of the city.” For Travelling Light’s young people, the project offers a particularly special experience. “Travelling Light operates from Barton Hill which is an area of multiple deprivation, and all our youth theatre places are subsidised by at least 70% to make them accessible. We have never produced a youth theatre show on this scale before, and for many of the young people this is the first chance to shine on a bigger platform.” Sian Henderson, Bristol Old Vic Young Company Producer, adds: “The opportunity to learn from each other, to work with a team of theatre and heritage professionals, and to perform in a specially created theatre near the Wapping Wharf site is a fantastic experience for the young people. What’s more, the material they have been uncovering so far is surprising, exciting and unexpected. “Discovering that the first person

to be hanged at Bristol Gaol was just 18, and the last was a 17-year-old girl, Sarah Harriet Thomas – this struck a chord with the young people researching the stories of the site. “We’ve also learned that, during the Bristol Riots, half of the prisoners were never recaptured and just went back to their old lives. And we’ve discovered the extent of the hardships suffered by the Hanham and Kingswood mining communities that John Horwood came from. We’re seeing the area in a whole new light.” Last word from Stuart Hatton, director of Wapping Wharf developers Umberslade, which has co-funded the Wapping Wharf Project: “Wapping Wharf is a new quarter of Bristol being created in an area which is rich in history, so it is fitting that this public art commission will use culture to engage young people with the site’s past. “Our aim is to create a new area of the city, connected to Bristol and the local community – and this project explores the pivotal role that Wapping Wharf played in the city’s history.” bristololdvic.org.uk, wappingwharf.co.uk

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DETAILS

families Stories about slugs, intergalactic theatre, very special Sundays, riverside cruises and more for your little ones this summer

Event Make Sunday Special In the wake of its successful series of city-centre Sundays, Make Sunday Special moves out into the suburbs this summer, with Bedminster hosting the first neighbourhood MSS event. BS3’s own Make Sunday Special, on 14 June, will see the lower end of North Street closed to traffic, making room for street games, crafts, street art, picnic benches, theatre, frog racing, comedians and soap-box racing. The second neighbourhood MSS will take place in Easton, Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road on 23 August.

MAIN PIC: CHANDRA PRASAD/SUSTRANS

ride through quiet residential streets at children’s bedtime. MORE

sustrans.org.uk

Storytelling Interactive stories At-Bristol’s interactive stories take place on Mondays, at weekends and during the school holidays. Topics for these science-themed tales include slugs, magical forests, puddles and bathtubs: each session lasts 15 minutes, and there are opportunities for your little ones to get involved. Ongoing: times vary. Suitable for under-8s, free with standard At-Bristol admission.

bedminster.org.uk

Cycling Fair in the Square Join Sustrans at Fair in the Square (22 Aug, pictured above), celebrating 20 years of the National Cycle Network – which all began right here with the creation of the Bristol to Bath Railway Path. Running from 12-8pm, the free family fun day in Queen Square will feature pedal-powered entertainment and displays including a cycle cinema and art bike, Sustrans-led walks and rides around the Shaun in the City sculpture trail and more. It all wraps up with a magical illuminated Lullaby Ride by Sustrans and artist Luke Jerram – an entourage of bikes decorated with twinkling LED lighting and kitted out with audio equipment, playing gentle lullaby music that will

the space adventurer back on her way? The Snot Rocket, Sun 28 Jun & 5 Jul, Kelvin Studios, Bishopston.

at-bristol.org.uk

Theatre The Snot Rocket Monkey Trousers Theatre return this summer for more high-octane antics for ages three to nine (pictured below). Aided by his ever-eager shop boy Sidney, there is nothing the puppet shopkeeper Mr Gotalot cannot find. But the conniving landlady Ms Barnet is determined to shut them down. So when Captain Andromeda, professional space explorer, crash-lands her shuttle in the shop, the race is on. Can they help

tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Theatre Hop Nevski Prospekt and MOKO Dance’s Hop (Circomedia, 20 Jun) is a poetic dance-theatre production aimed at ages 4 and above. Mr Dedalus and his son Icarus are trapped on an island. Luckily Mr D, a clever inventor, creates an ingenious plan to fly away – and hop high above the sea. Cue an enchanting show that explores dreams of flying, of never giving up – and the special relationship between a father and a son. MORE

circomedia.com

Outdoors Riverside Wildlife Bristol Ferries’ new Riverside Wildlife trip explores wildlife on the Avon. At Castle Park look for urban gulls, moorhens and peregrines; then, sailing towards Hanham, look out for swans, kingfishers or grey wagtails. Brislington’s peaceful Eastwood Farm is the place for birdsong, dragonflies and nesting grey herons. Sun 14 Jun, 3-6pm / Tue 18 Aug, 9am-12pm. MORE

bristolferry.com

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DETAILS

WARDROBE THEATRE CROSSES TOWN

exhibit

MAIN PIC: PENGUINS SPY IN THE HUDDLE/JOHN DOWNES PRODUCTIONS

Nature, Camera, Action! The deepest oceans, the coldest continents, the most fearsome animals – wildlife film-makers and photographers have faced it all in pursuit of the perfect shot A new exhibition at M Shed invites visitors to explore the many challenges faced by these fearless folk and the amazing kit they use in their quest to capture the perfect wildlife images. Through films, objects used in the field and a range of of handson exhibits, Nature, Camera, Action! The Secrets of Making Incredible Wildlife Films (18 Jul-1 Nov) will give us all a chance to see why Bristol is building a reputation as being the Hollywood of wildlife film-making. A programme of accompanying events includes a riveting-looking weekend spent reconstructing an

orang-utan skeleton. On Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August, the award-winning Bristolbased TV presenter Ben Garrod will be bringing to life the skeleton of the creature, which was acquired by the museum in the 1800s. Working with M Shed conservators, Ben will slowly drill into the bones and re-pose the orang-utan for future long-term display. MORE

Kingsdown’s thriving fringe theatre, the Wardrobe Theatre (whose Muppits Die Hard production is pictured below), is collaborating with the team behind The Canteen and No. 1 Harbourside to create a new space for theatre, comedy, food, drink, music and much more in Old Market – with roughly twice the Wardrobe’s current capacity. The Wardrobe plans to move to its new home – a former bank on West Street – later this year, and to open to punters in December. As well as doubling in capacity, having full creative ownership of the space means that co-directors Jesse Meadows, Matthew Whittle and Chris Collier can programme shows seven days a week – as well as programming more daytime shows and workshops. To get there the Wardrobe team are asking for help in fundraising £70,000. The new building needs structural work to make it suitable for use, including new interior walls, plumbing and electrics, plus new lighting and sound equipment, staging and seating. For full details of the project and information on how to get involved and/or donate, visit www. helpbuildthe newwardrobetheatre.com

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DETAILS

Meet the maker Gill Chantler is the clever clogs behind this issue’s beautiful cover. We speak to her about the inspiration behind her work and what makes her happy Hello Gill. Can you tell me how you became an illustrator. Hello! Ever since I was small I was constantly drawing and creating things. There’s a fantastic family photo I have of me in an ’80s kitchen in head-to-toe overalls with a paintbrush in my hand, looking like I couldn’t be happier. I think it from the studio – observing, cycling, started from there. Years later I went listening to new music. This all on to study Illustration in my home goes into the melting pot back at my town at Edinburgh College of Art. drawing desk. Who or what most inspires you? What’s the best thing about your This changes all the time! I always job? Getting to work creatively, day return to Scandinavian designers to day, getting to work on all sorts like Marimekko, a Finnish company of different projects. It allows you to known for their refreshing patterns be aware of the world around you, to and bright blocks of colour. I’m also a great fan of the master, Matisse, for observe all the colours and seasons, his beautiful colourful paper cut-outs. in the hope that you can pull this into your work. Talk us through a typical day. I load up my bike with things I need Tell us a secret. I get a bit restless if I stay in once place for a while. for the day and head straight to my studio. With freelance work it’s nice I love to travel when I can. When I first graduated from Edinburgh to have a bit of a routine, so I try to College of Art, I lived and worked be disciplined with my day. in Bosnia for six months. Where or when are you happiest? I love to get outside and take a break MORE gillchantler.com

INTO THE FIELDS This deliciously bucolic exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy (20 Jun-6 Sep) focuses primarily on the artists of the Newlyn School, a colony of artists based in the Cornish fishing village during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The RWA’s history includes a rich relationship with Newlyn, and the show includes RWA Academicians with ties to the area such as Dame Laura Knight, Stanhope Forbes and Thomas Cooper Gotch. Pictured here is The Clay Pit by Harold Harvey, who was well known for his depictions of Cornish working life. A companion exhibition, meanwhile, crosses the Tamar (and a few decades) to look at late 20th-century Devon life. James Ravilious: Rural Life (20 Jun-6 Sep) features over 30 photographic images, capturing subtle qualities of light to reflect the rural life and landscapes of North Devon in the 1970s and 1980s. MORE

rwa.org.uk

CLIFTON ARTS CLUB

A t t C A K o

Clifton Arts Club hosts its 107th exhibition this year with a show at the Colston Hall Vaults – the first time in 100 years that the vaults have been open to the public. The exhibition runs from 10-25 July and features paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculptures and digital art. MORE cliftonartsclub.co.uk

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V I TA L S TAT I S T I C S

Counting sheep From 6 July to 31 August Bristol will host Shaun in the City, a sculpture trail that will see 70 Shaun the Sheep sculptures dotted around our streets to help raise money for the Grand Appeal. In honour of the flock’s arrival, we take a look at Shaun’s vital statistics The London trail included designs from model David Gandy, fashion designers Zandra Rhodes and Roksanda Ilincic, and British brands Tatty Devine and Cath Kidston.

120

Number of days Shaun is in the city – that’s 10 weeks!

Total number of sheep in event – that’s 70 in Bristol and 50 in London

£31m Amount raised by Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal for Bristol Children’s Hospital to date

Shaun is

1.5 metres high

Distance in miles the London trail covers

Artists from countries all over the world have helped create the designs, including the Czech Republic, Mexico, America, Germany, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, Chile – and, of course right, here in Bristol! MORE

Shaun weighs

1995

The year Shaun the Sheep made his first appearance – it was in Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave

kilograms

shauninthecity.org.uk

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DETAILS

shakespeare Bristol Shakespeare Festival This July Bristol offers up a Shakespearean smorgasbord of performances from new and returning companies, in some of the city’s most beautiful and historic locations. Here are some picks from BSF15, as chosen by festival Producer, Jacqui Ham Mrs Shakespeare (30 Jun-2 Jul, Alma Tavern Theatre) Let the reincarnated Mrs Shakespeare entertain you, as she attempts to reformulate Hamlet from the confines of a mental institution. Wild Productions’ daring one-woman show will astound and amuse. Twelfth Night/Much Ado About Nothing (11-12 Jul, Brandon Hill Bowling Green) Experienced tourers GB Theatre Company presents two of Will’s most delightful and captivating comedies in these open-air performances at Brandon Hill. Bristol’s Ed Viney directs.

PIC: JON CRAIG

The Tempest (11-17 Jul, Leigh Woods) 2014 festival successes Butterfly return with a site-responsive performance of Shakespeare’s magical world of Prospero and Caliban, set among the ghostly fishing boats of Luke Jerram’s installation, Withdrawn. Macbeth (11-27 Jul, Redcliffe Caves) Bristol’s Insane Root brings this dark, atmospheric play to life in its eerie portrayal – fittingly staged in

the atmospheric Redcliffe Caves. Promenade production: bring sturdy shoes and warm clothes. Richard III (14-17 Jul, The Rope Walk, Bedminster) Icelanders Brite Theater reimagine the great history play as a one-woman performance, pushing the boundaries of Shakespearean performance. Let Richard entertain you – unless he’s too busy plotting to gain the throne… Much Ado About Nothing (19-20 Jul, Bath Road Studios) Watch the battle of the sexes unfold in a prestigious 1930s school, where women are still struggling to make their way in a man’s world. See teachers Beatrice and Benedick clash in ITV WEST Workshop’s bold production of one of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies. Hamlet (24-25 Jul, Boiling Wells Amphitheatre) Using a mixture of live ensemble music, multimedia and puppetry, Folksy Theatre promises an exciting and accessible Hamlet for all ages.

The Winter’s Tale (25-26 Jul, Blaise Castle) With accessibility at the heart of its performances, Taking Flight Theatre provides a lively, jazzy production – with integrated BSL, SSE and audio description. Death by Shakespeare (27-29 Jul, Sidcot School, Winscombe, North Somerset) An absolute must-see for Shakespeare fans, Hurly Burly’s Death by Shakespeare combines some of the Bard’s finest death scenes, to give a fresh and distinctive look at Will’s immortal words. Twelfth Night (31 Jul, Brandon Hill Bowling Green) The hugely respected Lord Chamberlain’s Men, named after Shakespeare’s original troupe and committed to his performance practices, returns with a bold and bright Twelfth Night. MORE

bristolshakespearefestival.org.uk

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DETAILS

shop

SPIKE ISLAND

FROM TOP: MAX MCCLURE, LILJA JÓNSDÓTTIR, CLAES GELLERBRINK

Harbourside Market Bristol’s hugely popular weekend Harbourside Market has now doubled in size along Narrow and Broad Quays, introducing a fresh produce and farmers’ market plus a packed programme of live music, DJs, workshops, and kids’ entertainment The bustling market runs every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm under the covered walkway outside the Watershed and, now, around the waterside to the other side, with new zones including street food, fresh produce and farmers’ market, makers and creators, vintage and flea, and suitcase sellers. Market Manager James Coomber says: “With the number of people living in the city centre on the rise, it’s great to be able to provide an independent alternative to the high street on their doorsteps. The Harbourside Market is now bigger and better than ever – a place to get quality, fresh and local produce somewhere affordable and fun.” Visitors can enjoy delicious

smells from the street food sellers, a colourful decor designed by the market’s artist in residence and music from live bands, Bristol’s buskers and a resident DJ. The market is also introducing The Landing Stage, which will see takeovers from a diverse range of Bristol-based creatives. MORE

theharboursidemarket.co.uk

Visitors to Spike Island this summer can expect a typically intriguing and thought-provoking double-header of exhibitions. For his first solo exhibition in a British institution, Berlin-based artist Reto Pulfer presents the sitespecific installation MMMS Reticulum (4 Jul-20 Sep). MMMS stands for Method, Maps, Mnemonics, Spiele (German for ‘games’) while Reticulum is Latin for ‘net’. This immersive work consists of a hand-knotted net, from which the artist will hang Raku ceramics fired during a live performance. Shown alongside this piece are hand-drawn maps which recall places he has lived, travelled to or imagined. Alongside Pulfer’s show, Patrick Staff’s film installation The Foundation (same dates, above) explores “queer intergenerational relationships negotiated through historical materials”. The film combines footage shot at the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles – home to the archive of the erotic artist and gay icon and the community of people who now care for it – with choreographed sequences shot within a specially constructed set. MORE

spikeisland.org.uk

BRISTOL COMEDY GARDEN Bristol Comedy Garden returns to Queen Square from 8-12 July. Enjoy five nights of top comics performing in a big top in Queen Square, with bars and live music providing the backdrop. This year’s line-up includes the brilliant Stewart Lee and comic, musophile and 6 Music presenter Adam Buxton, plus Mark Watson, Nina Conti (right), Tim Key and many more. New for this year is a pop-up restaurant, plus live music every evening in the bandstand. Best of all, the festival itself is free to enter, with comedy shows individually priced. MORE bristolcomedygarden.co.uk 19 @SHIPSHAPEMAG

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DETAILS

Richard Long: Time and Space Later this summer, Arnolfini hosts a major new exhibition of work by world-renowned Bristol artist Richard Long, who has lived and worked in the city all his life

Part of the programme celebrating Bristol’s year as European Green Capital, Time and Space (31 Jul-15 Nov) includes several new works and recreations of previous works. Mixing sculpture, drawing, photography and text works from 1967 to the present day, the exhibition will include two major new works: a large sculpture made from Cornish slate and a wall work made with mud collected from the River Avon. Long will also create a new work on The Downs in Clifton: Boyhood Line (from 20 Jun), centred on a footpath close to Ladies’ Mile. Lucy Badrocke, Arnolfini’s Curator of Exhibitions, answers some questions about the exhibition.

Long documents his experience within nature. Does he rejoice in nature, or mourn our diminishing connection to it? Probably both of those, and more, at different times. Long has had a lifelong engagement with landscape, but rather than wishing to draw our attention to it or mourn its changes, What is the significance of he just seeks to recognise a particular Bristol and the South West in moment – his being there at that Long’s work? time. He clearly takes joy in nature, Richard Long has a very personal but there is also a thoughtfulness and connection to the landscapes of the intelligence in his approach. South West – he has talked about exploring the Downs and Avon Tell us more about Boyhood Line, Gorge as a child, and walking on his new piece for The Downs. Dartmoor with his father. Many Commissioned by Simplyhealth, of his key early works were made it will take the form of a long here, such as 1966’s Turf Circle, for line made from pieces of white which he dug a circular indent in limestone. Richard was particularly his neighbour’s garden, or England (1968), which he made on the Clifton interested to make a work on the Downs as it was one of the places Downs by picking daisies to mark he sought out as a child. It was a out the shape of a cross. very different landscape then, with no football pitches or festivals What is the enduring appeal of – quite wild with tall unkempt Long’s work? grasses and plenty of places to Long has often emphasised the simplicity of his work, describing his explore. He has chosen to focus the work on a path that has been sculptures as a “simple celebration made by people walking across of place” – a way of marking a the Downs over many months. It particular moment of being in a is not an official footpath, rather a place. That is not to say that the works don’t speak of larger ideas, of mark that has been made as people instinctively walk the same route time passing and our relationship to across the area. the world – but their clarity of vision does give them an MORE arnolfini.org.uk enduring appeal.

TOP: RIVER AVON MUD CRESCENT, NEW YORK, 2011, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST. PORTRAIT: COURTESY OF LISSON GALLERY

art

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DETAILS

art

TOP: RIVER AVON MUD CRESCENT, NEW YORK, 2011, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST. PORTRAIT: COURTESY OF LISSON GALLERY

Jamaica Street Open Studios The 40-odd resident artists at Jamaica Street Studios, just off Stokes Croft, are preparing for their annual Open Studios weekend (19-21 June)

A highlight of Bristol’s annual arts calendar, Jamaica Street Open Studios sees the JSS residents open the doors of their creative spaces to the public, inviting art lovers, families and weekend strollers to peruse the artworks and chat to their creators. “Open Studios is a very special occasion,” says resident Lucy Ward. “It’s a chance to venture into our historic and beautiful building, and to meet all the artists working here. Whatever your reason for visiting, whether it’s to

network with local creatives, talk to artists about how they work, to build your art collection, or to see inside this unique and wonderful working space, Open Studios is an unmissable event.” Jamaica Street Studios has a renewed momentum this year, as the resident artists have just signed a new five-year lease, securing the collective’s place in the rapidlychanging Stokes Croft area. New faces have joined the studios too, including sculptor Dorcas Casey, who creates uncanny life-size sculptures of

animals, and Max Malone, a collage artist working with billboard posters and other found materials. It all kicks off on the Friday evening, with an opening party from 7-10pm featuring live music and DJs alongside all the art. And the weekend concludes with the studios’ annual mini-canvas auction, for which each studio artist contributes a piece of work, with the funds raised going into the studios’ ongoing upkeep costs. MORE

jamaicastreetartists.co.uk

STAND UP 4 SLAPSTICK Comedian Al Murray, aka The Pub Landlord, hosts this all-star night of stand-up comedy also featuring Harry Hill, Omid Djalili, Holly Walsh and our own local star, NHS doctor/writer/broadcaster/comedian Dr Phil Hammond (pictured). The event – a fundraiser for Slapstick, Bristol’s much-loved annual festival of silent and vintage screen comedy – takes place on Thursday 11 June, and prompt booking is advised. MORE www.colstonhall.org 21 @SHIPSHAPEMAG

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DETAILS

performance Around the World in 80 Days Audiences at Tobacco Factory Theatres this July can prepare to be whisked around the world on a highoctane mix of clowning, live music and storytelling New International Encounter’s adaptation of Jules Verne’s great globe-trotting epic Around the World in 80 Days (1-18 July) promises a high-speed, madcap, transcontinental race against the clock. An international ensemble of six swap roles and instruments, with a piano becoming an elephant and suitcases making a steam ship, as Phileas Fogg and his faithful servant Passepartout aim to circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. Director Alex Byrne talks about the show. You must need some colourful, flexible staging to evoke a journey across several continents… We have tried to keep the staging simple, using one big piece of scenery in lots of different ways and sometimes changing scale and asking the audience to do some imaginative work. We have also used a host of different musical styles to evoke the different stops on Fogg’s itinerary.

The show’s aimed at ages six and above. How do you communicate the joys of travel to younger audiences? The story is a big adventure – a race against time – but also a hymn to the machinations of timetables, the weather and the wonders of the age of steam. Verne’s main joke is, of course, that Fogg travels by all of these wonderful means of transport to so many wonderful places but appears (in a particularly British way) uninterested in what he sees. His servant, Passepartout, is fascinated and enchanted – and this contrast is part of the fun. I think younger audiences will love the drama of the chase, as well as Fogg’s sense of adventure and desire to do the right thing. How recognisable (or not) does Jules Verne’s world appear to us now? Verne wrote the book just as

the world was opening up to independent travel. Of course you can now make his round-theworld trip in less than 80 hours, and see so much of the world in a moment on a computer or TV. But I love the romance of slow travel, and the passion and ambition of those late-19th-century pioneers of steam and rail. Fogg is much more fascinated by the technology of travel than by the places he visits. This show must be well suited to NIE, with all your international connections... We have gone on a bit of a musical journey in the show, learning to play the bazouki and the harmonium, a bit of banjo – and a strange two-tone Chinese flute whose name we don’t even know! www.tobaccofactory theatres.com

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DETAILS

Bristol Americana Weekend St George’s Bristol and Bristol Music Trust, the organisation behind Colston Hall, are continuing to work in partnership to bring world-class performing artists to the city. 2014 saw composer Phillip Glass play both venues: this summer, Americana takes centre stage

The Shires and Striking Matches (Fri 10 Jul, The Lantern) “The Shires have been dubbed the next generation of country – although they hail not from Tennessee or Texas, but Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Recent favourites on the Radio 2 A list, they’re definitely ones to watch. Striking Matches hits that sweet spot at the intersection of country, rock and blues – forming an authentic and rootsy sound.” Larkin Poe and Police Dog Hogan (Sat 11 Jul, St George’s Bristol) “Voted Best Discovery of Glastonbury last year, Larkin Poe are a kicking Americana roots-rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, who have worked with the likes of Elvis Costello, Conor Oberst and T Bone Burnett. Joining them is the enormously entertaining American folk and bluegrass band, Police Dog Hogan. Combining fiddle, banjo, mandolin, accordion, brass, and drums alongside knock-out harmonies, they’re a proper goodtime band.” Mud Morganfield and The Coal Porters (Sun 12 Jul, St George’s Bristol) “When legendary bluesman

Muddy Waters died in 1983, his eldest son Mud – a truck driver – had a recurring dream about his father playing on stage, which convinced him to take up music professionally. Mud will be mixing his own songs with classics from the traditional urban blues repertoire associated with his father. British-American band The Coal Porters will be bringing their unique brand of alt-bluegrass to the table.” Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham (Sun 12 Jul, The Lantern) Spooner Oldham was part of the original house band that played on hundreds of hits that came out of the revered Muscle Shoals and the famous FAME studios, shaping the unique sound of hits like When A Man Loves a Woman and Mustang Sally. His collaborator, singersongwriter Dan Penn, wrote many of the best soul songs of the ’60s including Dark End of the Street and Cry Like a Baby with Spooner. This rare live appearance by the pair will be truly special. Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell (pictured left, Sun 12 Jul, Colston Hall) Sharing 15 Grammy Awards between them, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell make a triumphant return to Colston Hall, performing cherry-picked tracks from their long association together, as well as new material from their forthcoming album. Having both worked with legendary country singers such as Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Vince Gill and Roseanne Cash, an evening with these two legends is one not to be missed.” colstonhall.org/bristolamericana-weekend

PIC: DAVID MCCLISTER

music

The line-up for the jointly-run Bristol Americana Weekend (Fri 10 – Sun 12 Jul) features some of the best roots artists currently performing. Here are five picks from Bristol Americana, chosen by Todd Wills, Colston Hall’s Head of Programme. Visit the website for details of the other gigs, free foyer performances and film screenings taking place throughout the weekend.

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WHITELADIES RO

Hop on a bus, ferry or bike – or use your own two feet – for a different view of the city

Explore Bristol Lido Restaurant, Spa & Pool, p43 •

QUEENS ROAD

• RWA, p8

CLIFTON

O JAC

CLIFTON VILLAGE

• St George’s Bristol, p8

R PA

• Clifton Suspension Bridge

B’S WELLS

RO AD

• Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

• Cabot Tower

PO A4

Y( WA RT

CLIFTONWOOD

)

HOTWELL

ROAD Cross-harbour ferry • Spoke & Stringer, p44 •

HOTWELLS

• Grain Barge, p41

• Nova Scotia

ILLUSTRATION: DAWN COOPER

ASHTON COURT PARK

No.1 Harbourside, p

• Brunel’s ss Great Britain

SPIKE ISLAND • Spike Island

• Create Centre & Bristol Record Office

L RA

200m

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400m

SOUTHVILLE

• Tobacco Factory, p9, p45

29/05/2015 12:46

CYCLE THE CITY

FERRIES

BRISTOL INSIGHT

Cycle the City aims to get you saddled up and ready to see the sights around Bristol on two wheels. Choose from a range of beautiful, traditional steeds, with wicker baskets, ding-dong bells and a comfy upright riding position. Cycle the City offers bicycle hire, harbour tours, vintage picnics and more. Tours and trips start at No.1 Harbourside and booking is essential. Visit the website for times, tariffs and further details.

Bristol Ferry Boats operate regular ferry services around the Harbourside, as well as public trips and excursions. The ferry stops are illustrated on the map or visit the website for timetable information. A cross-harbour ferry also operates from Brunel’s ss Great Britain to the Harbourside (Hotwells).

Formerly known as City Sightseeing Bristol, Bristol Insight runs open-top bus tours around the city with interactive commentary. The tour takes you around the Harbourside stopping at the ss Great Britain, out under Clifton Suspension Bridge and on to the Downs. You can also visit the shopping districts of Clifton Village, Park Street, Bristol Shopping Quarter and St Nicholas Market.

bristolferry.com or turn to page 6

bristolinsight.co.uk or turn to page 7

M AU

RE ET

cyclethecity.org, @_cyclethecity, 07973 387167

Ape About Coffee, p40 •

BRISTOL SHOPPING QUARTER

• Museum t Gallery

R PA Colston Hall, p7, p41 • St Nicholas Market, p8, p44 •

• St George’s Bristol, p8

CASTLE PARK

• Tourist Information • Watershed, p9, p45 • At-Bristol, p6

• T hree Brothers Burgers, p44

Bristol Old Vic, p5 •

QUEEN SQUARE

TEMPL

No.1 Harbourside, p7, p43 •

E WAY

• Glassboat, p41

REDCLIFFE

•

The Barley Mow, p40

TEMPLE QUAY

• Shakespeare Tavern, p44 • Myristica, p43

& Stringer, p44 Arnolfini, p6, p40 •

REDCL IFFE W AY

• Bristol Temple Meads

RED

CLIF

FE H ILL

• St Mary Redcliffe • M Shed, p8

OAD

BATH R

CORONATION ROAD

KEY Ferry Boat stops

Bristol Insight pick up points

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FEATURE

Bristol’s Grizzly Past

Bristol loves a bit of an outdoor knees-up. Nowadays it’s all about music and food and performers and water slides, but Bristolians have been gathering in the great outdoors for centuries. And often, says Eugene Byrne, their idea of fun wouldn’t always be the same as yours

Outdoor preaching College Green was, and remains, the property of Bristol Cathedral, and of the Abbey before that. It was often used for religious events, and a popular or entertaining preacher could attract a large crowd. In the 1530s, for instance, many people came to hear sermons both for and against the new Protestant religion coming over from Europe. One especially passionate speaker was William Hubberdyne, a staunch defender of Catholicism who got so animated that he jumped up and down in the wooden pulpit on the green and it collapsed under him and he died. Outdoor preaching (2) Kingswood in the 18th century was notoriously godless place. Men, women and children all worked in the mines in brutal conditions, and when they weren’t mining they were getting drunk and having fights. Radical priest George Whitefield, reckoned one of the greatest preachers in English history, regularly held huge open-air meetings here, and then invited his friend John Wesley to do likewise. His first ever sermon attracted about 1,000 people. Another the same afternoon pulled 15,000. And that’s how the Methodist church came into being.

Public hangings Bristol loved a public hanging. From medieval times, they were usually held on St Michaels Hill, roughly on the site of the little roundabout near the Homoeopathic Hospital. This was a fun day out for all the family; people would pack food and drink and walk up the hill to see the show. The last public hangings in Bristol, though, were carried out on the roof of the gatehouse of the ‘New Gaol’ on Cumberland Road. Since it was positioned right next to the New Cut, though, the press of the crowd often meant that people were pushed into the water. Durdham Down races Horse races were a popular fixture on the Downs from the 1700s and well into the 1800s, and large sums of money would be wagered on the outcomes. These events were more or less annual in spring or early summer and often included other contests. In 1749, for instance, two men ran naked to compete for a prize of three guineas, while a (non-naked, we assume) women’s race was won by a Kingswood girl, whose prize was one guinea and a smock. Later races would often be followed by bare-knuckle fighting matches too. Happy days.

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FEATURE

Bear--baiting Bear-baiting usually involved tethering a bear to a post and setting dogs on it. As the bear was a valuable commodity, it was rarely killed, though the dogs often were if it could get its paws on them. The records are sparse, but ‘Harry the bear-ward’, Queen Elizabeth I’s personal bearbaiter, certainly came to Bristol to put on a few shows. Later in the 1600s bear-baiting took place on what’s now Queen Square and later Canons Marsh. If a bear wasn’t available, a bull would do. Nice people, your ancestors. 27 @SHIPSHAPEMAG

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FEATURE BRISTOL'S GRIZZLY PAST

Clockwise from left: bare-knuckle fighting; James Sadler takes flight; the Powerboat Grand Prix; Bristol 600; a poster for the hanging of Sarah Harriet Thomas; Goram Fair

Prize fighting In the 1700s and early 1800s Bristol was famous for producing bare-knuckle fighters. The greatest pugilists of the age were almost all Bristolians and included John Gully, Jem Belcher, Hen Pearce and Tom Cribb. Before Queensbury Rules, prize fighting was the ultimate English blood sport, in which men beat one another senseless using only their bare fists until one or the other gave up. Many Bristol fighters came from Kingswood, where a big match could attract thousands. While fights between men drew the biggest crowds, bouts between semi-professional women fighters were popular too.

Goram Fair An annual event during the 1950s at Blaise Castle, with a fairground, marching bands and displays of everything from motorcycling to sheepdogs, and fondly recalled by older Bristolians. There are plans to revive it.

Before the Balloon Fiesta … Newfangled balloons could really pack ‘em in in the late 1700s and early 1800s. For example, a vast throng turned up at Stokes Croft in 1810 to watch pioneering aeronaut James Sadler, accompanied by Bristol chemist William Clayfield, take off in a huge purple and green silk balloon filled with hydrogen, produced by three tonnes of iron filings and a great deal of sulphuric acid. To complete the spectacle, Bristol’s first ever parachute descent was made by a cat (who didn’t have any say in the matter) dropped from the balloon by Sadler. The hapless moggy landed safely and was adopted by a local who christened it Balloon.

Bristol 600 One of the most disastrous outdoor events in living memory was a celebration in 1973 of the 600th anniversary of the granting of a charter to Bristol by Edward III. The centrepiece was a showground on the Downs, which featured displays of falconry and jousting (there was obviously a strong medieval flavour), motorcycle and military displays, an ‘It’s a Knockout’ contest and even a tapestry of Bristol history. The weather was poor and over its three weeks only half of the anticipated 500,000 visitors came. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited on 8 August in driving rain. It was later found that one of the directors of the company organising the event had legged it with nearly all of the money.

The Harbour Regatta The forerunner of Bristol’s annual Harbour Festival, the Harbour Regatta first took place in 1972 and intermittently in the following years. The early ones featured attractions such as sea shanties and demonstrations of fish gutting. It would be fair to say that the modern Harbour Festival is more popular.

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FEATURE BRISTOL'S GRIZZLY PAST

The Powerboat Grand Prix Extremely popular with the public in the 1970s and 1980s, the Bristol Powerboat Grand Prix was so monumentally dangerous that contestants allegedly dubbed it “the widow-maker”. Which, from the viewpoint of the spectators, was part of the attraction. The Festival of the Sea Held in 1996 in Bristol’s docks to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Cabot’s voyage of discovery. Although it was criticised for failing to include any acknowledgement of Bristol’s part in the slave trade, it was otherwise a great success, with extensive national TV coverage. The climax was the departure of the replica of the Matthew, and as she passed under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Concorde flew overhead. This perfect Bristolian moment was only slightly spoiled by the failure of a boatload of hippies protesting Cabot’s oppression of Native Americans* to sink with all hands.

and Simple Minds to Bristol, though most acts were local bands. In its later years it was dogged by money problems, which were exacerbated by increasingly heavy health & safety and policing bills. This, coupled with the refusal of many who wanted what had been a “free festival” to make donations or pay admission charges, finally killed it. Shame on you, Bristol. The Banksy queue An exhibition of works by esteemed artist Banksy at Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery in 2009 proved even more popular than expected (some museum staff were originally told that all the secrecy when his works were being installed were because some of the new Harry Potter movies were being filmed there). The queue stretched for several hundred yards around the block through the summer. Well, it’s a sort of outdoor event, isn’t it?

*Cabot never met any Native Americans. Bristol Community Festival Bristol’s biggest and best outdoor party from 1974 to 2007. It didn’t really get going until the early 1980s and, with a few exceptions, took place on the Ashton Court Estate. In its time it brought such musical stars as Steve Hillage, the Stereo MCs, Robert Plant, The Stranglers

Now turn the page for our pick of the festivals taking place in Bristol this summer (no public hangings, mercifully)…

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FEATURE

ALL FESTIVALS GREAT & SMALL Pack your Natch, break out your fairy wings and head feet-first into festival season with our fairly useful guide Festival of Nature Sat 13 – Sun 14 Jun, free To nature lovers what Glastonbury is to fans of music and mud, the Festival of Nature is the UK’s biggest free celebration of the natural world. Find interactive exhibits and activities from the giants of the natural history world, including the BBC Natural History Unit and the National Trust. BNHC.ORG.UK/FESTIVAL-OF-NATURE

Big Green Week Sat 13 – Sun 21 Jun, prices vary The whole city’s taken on a Kermitcoloured tinge as Bristol beds into its

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role as European Green Capital, so what better time to celebrate all things ecological, ethical and sustainable? The week-long event features music, debates, family events, a live link-up to Live Earth: Road to Paris (featuring Mr Happy himself, Pharrell Williams) and more. BIGGREENWEEK.COM

Sky Ride Bristol Sun 21 Jun, free (register in advance) “Getting more people on their bikes is the key to making Britain a cleaner, greener nation,” says Sky Ride. It’s also quite fun to take to two wheels

and amble around the city, non? Enjoy traffic-free rides around the city, free bike checks, BMX demos, skills sessions for under 16s, coffees, cakes and more. GOSKYRIDE.COM/BRISTOLSKYRIDE

Bristol Summer Series (pictured) Wed 24 – Sat 27 Jun, prices vary BSS returns for its big old series of concerts taking place at Lloyd’s Amphitheatre. Jessie J, Seasick Steve, George Ezra and Kaiser Chiefs perform (although the latter two have sold out). BRISTOLSUMMERSERIES.COM

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FEATURE BRISTOL FESTIVAL GUIDE

Foodies Festival Fri 26 – Sun 28 Jun, prices vary Setting up shop on beautiful Durdham Downs, Foodies Festival will feature a veritable smorgasbord of epicurean activities including food and drink masterclasses, 3D cake modelling, beer matching, chilli food market and (our particular fave) a feasting tent. FOODIESFESTIVAL.COM/BRISTOL

Bristol Shakespeare Festival July, prices vary A month-long celebration of the Bard featuring performances of Richard III, As You Like It, Hamlet, Macbeth, Twelfth Night and more in spaces as varied as Redcliffe Caves, The Rope Walk and Boiling Wells Amphitheatre. BRISTOLSHAKESPEAREFESTIVAL.ORG.UK

Fast Forward Thu 2 – Fri 3 Jul, prices vary “A revolutionary series of shows that puts accessible music making on centre stage,” says Colston Hall. The British Paraorchestra, the world’s first ensemble of virtuoso musicians with disability, performs alongside

Southbank Sinfonia. In addition, the UK’s only blind ensemble, Inner Vision Orchestra, takes to the stage. Includes seminars, workshops and more. COLSTONHALL.ORG/FAST-FORWARD

Pride Sat 4 – Sun 12 Jul, donation of £3 or (better still) buy a supporter wristband for £5-£35 – see website for the perks A week-long celebration of the city’s vibrant LGBT community featuring art, music, film, performance and more culminating in the wonderful Pride Parade and festival taking place on Sat 11 Jul. PRIDEBRISTOL.CO.UK

Bristol Comedy Garden Wed 8 – Sun 12 Jul, prices vary Doc Brown, Katherine Ryan, Stewart Lee, Shappi Khorsandi, Adam Buxton, Sean Lock, Paul Foot, Arthur Smith and others do their best to make us laugh for five straight days in Queen Square. BRISTOLCOMEDYGARDEN.CO.UK

BEATS Street Food Festival Fri 10 Jul, free

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Arrive hungry at this British seasidethemed street food festival curated by the BEATS collective. Taking place in the Tobacco Factory courtyard, the event will feature a fine selection of street food traders serving up a variety of dishes as the Ice ’n’ Slice DJs play feel-good beats. BRISTOLEATS.CO.UK

Bristol Americana Weekend Fri 10 – Sun 12 Jul, prices vary “Venture into America’s heartland for a weekend of irresistible roots and country music.” Legendary country stars Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, soul hit-makers Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn, and others. COLSTONHALL.ORG / STGEORGESBRISTOL.CO.UK

Grillstock Sat 11 – Sun 12 Jul, from £25 Beef and beats collide at Grillstock’s gut-busting music ‘n’ meat mash-up. Saturday night sees hip-hop behemoths De La Soul perform alongside DJ Yoda and Goldie Lookin’ Chain while on Sunday The Heavy take centre stage. GRILLSTOCK.CO.UK

Pictured clockwise from left: Grillstock; Foodies Festival; Fast Forward; The Shires appear at Bristol Americana Weekend

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FEATURE BRISTOL FESTIVAL GUIDE

Bristol Harbour Festival Fri 17 – Sun 19 Jul, free The Harbourside’s exceedingly popular family friendly festival returns with live music, maritime merriment, circus performers, a dance village, family activities, a dedicated happy city and more. BRISTOLHARBOURFESTIVAL.CO.UK

Bristol Thai Festival Fri 24 – Sun 26 Jul, £5/u13s free Head to Queen Square to celebrate Thai culture with food stalls, dancing, live music, boxing, beauty pageants and costume parades. DESYTHAI.COM

Upfest, free Sat 25 – Mon 27 Jul, free Europe’s largest free street art and graffiti festival featuring over 150 artists painting at 28 venues across Bedminster and Southville. In addition, you’ll find an affordable art sale, music stages and art workshops. UPFEST.CO.UK

Redfest Sat 1 Aug, free St George’s Park hosts this lovely community festival featuring music, arts, cabaret, children’s activities, food and drink. The theme this year is (no surprise) Redfest Goes Green in honour of the city’s role as European Green Capital. REDFESTBRISTOL.CO.UK

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Thu 6 – Sun 9 Aug, free Ballooon ascents, night glows, live music and more is on offer at Europe’s largest ballooning event. An estimated half a million visitors will visit the Ashton Court Estate over the four-day event to watch balloons of various shapes and sizes take to the skies. BRISTOLBALLOONFIESTA.CO.UK

Fair in the Square Sat 22 Aug, free Sustrans-curated event celebrating 20 years of the National Cycle Network. Running from 12-8pm,

enjoy a pedal-powered cycle cinema, live music, demos, workshops, bike check-ups, face painting and food stalls. SUSTRANS.ORG.UK/EVENTS/ FAIR-SQUARE-BRISTOL

Bristol Kite Festival Sat 22 – Sun 23 Aug, free Following last year’s hiatus, BKF returns to Durdham Downs with another airborne spectacular featuring the world’s top kite fliers and designers. See swirling giant octopuses, flying fish, Asterix, the Cat in the Hat and Angry Birds. KITE-FESTIVAL.ORG.UK

Bristol Festival of Puppetry Thu 27 Aug – Sun 6 Sep Puppets here, there and everywhere as the festival spreads its wings and puts on shows “on land and on water”. Details a little thin on the ground at time of going to press but previous years have included puppetry masterclasses, workshops and trails. PUPPETPLACE.ORG

Pictured clockwise from right: Upfest; Bristol Harbour Festival; Bristol Kite Festival; Bristol Thai Festival

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SHOPPING Celebrating the very best of Bristol’s thriving markets

shops

From the newly expanded Harbourside Market to St Nicks’ bustling corridors, Bristol’s bustling markets are filled with brilliant bits and bobs to eat, wear and enjoy 1 The Taste Fool serves up a mouthwatering range of proper Scotch eggs made from locally sourced and freerange meat and eggs. Choose from caramelised onion, chorizo, black pudding and vegetarian options. MORE www.tastefool.co.uk

2 Brown Cow Organics’ whole milk organic yoghurts are made by “nice people from happy cows”. Spoon it into your smoothie, layer it over berries or enjoy it straight up. MORE www.browncoworganics.co.uk

3 Spread Source Food Hall and Café’s delicious rhubarb and ginger jam over your morning bagel for a sweet start to the day. MORE www.source-food.co.uk

4 5

4 Make a beeline for The Little Taqueria’s little orange 1978 Renault Estafette, ‘Emilio’, and sample authentic Mexican and Central American street food. Being a ‘taqueria’ they specialise in fresh and flavoursome tacos. MORE www.thelittletaqueria.co.uk 5 Away from the edible goodies, Elsie Belle‘s delightful jewellery has been featured in the pages of Grazia and Sunday Times Style. We’re head over heels for this Fallen For You bracelet and Sacred Scarab necklace – gold and brass tones were seen all over the runways from Tom Ford to Dries Van Noten. MORE www.elsiebelle.com

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7 Polar Pops is Bristols own artisan, 100% fruit and vegetable ice lolly company. They blend, squeeze then freeze the freshest, ripest produce they can find to create beautiful lollies packed with goodness.

8 Richard and Rebecca Walsh’s Firewater Gallery specialises in modern map art and stylish cityscapes. Choose from their extensive gallery of goods or commission a bespoke piece. MORE www.firewatergallery.com

market forces Keep it local and treat yourself to something fancy at one of these thriving markets

PIC: LILJA JÓNSDÓTTIR

The GrEAT market takes place on the second Sunday of each month, 1-6pm, at the Greenbank pub, Easton. Find prints, paintings, photography and more by local artists and creatives. The Harbourside Market (pictured) takes place every Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. Local produce and creativity is at the fore with books, music, art, food, children’s toys and more. Look out for live music from local musicians too. See page 19 for more. Retroville takes place at the Tobacco Factory every first Sunday of the month, 10am-2.30pm, in conjunction with the regular market (see below).

A range of vintage and retro clothing, records, furniture and more on offer. St Nicholas Market is open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5pm, with independent traders selling everything from sandwiches to second-hand clothes. The bustling Farmers’ Market joins the fray every Wednesday (9.30am2.30pm, Corn St & Wine St). The Food Market (10am-4pm, Wine St) rolls in every Friday, serving up a delicious platter of street food and local ingredients. The Nails Market takes place at every Friday and Saturday (10am-5pm, Corn St) selling artwork, jewellery and more.

Temple Quay Market runs every Thursday, 11.30am-2.30pm. Hot and speciality foods available on the first, third and fifth Thursday and the BEATS street food market takes place every second and fourth (turn to page 34 to read about the BEATS Street Food Fest). Tobacco Factory Market takes place every Sunday, 10am-2.30pm, with 40 food and craft stalls selling ethical, fair trade, organic and local produce. Live music too. MORE bristol.gov.uk/stnicks, facebook. com/greenbankeastonartisttraders, theharboursidemarket.co.uk, facebook.com/tobaccofactorymarket, @TempleQMarket

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EATING & DRINKING A guide to our favourite restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs

bread

I launched Lynda’s Loaf 25 years ago. I had a go at making my own organic bread at home and took a loaf to the whole food store on the high street. They loved it and immediately ordered 10 every day and 30 on the weekend. I had such a small oven that I could only bake four at a time. I do work long hours, especially when I do events and festivals like Glastonbury, but it’s so rewarding knowing people are eating good wholesome bread. I wish everyone could find the time to bake at home. It’s so enjoyable and relaxing. Life moves at such a fast pace these days, and it’s a struggle to find the time, but it really

PIC: LILJA JÓNSDÓTTIR

Lynda’s Loaf Harbourside Market regular and baker Lynda Dixon tells us the secret to making the perfect loaf (secret: it’s something to do with TLC)

does not take long so come to the market and ask me how to do it – I would love to share the knowledge!

and sometimes feta filo spinach pie. My best-selling bread is the focaccia. I mix up the dough by hand using flour, sea salt and lots of olive oil.

The secret of creating the perfect loaf is what you put into it. Try to imagine while you’re kneading what If I was not a baker I would be it is going to taste like and it will taste a gardener, growing organic vegetables and edible flowers. delicious… it’s called TLC. I’m happiest when I’m feeding I often teach in schools. It’s such everyone. Come to the Harbourside a wonderful thing to see children Market any Saturday or Sunday work with dough. They become so absorbed, then happy (that’s when the and let me feed you – and ask any noise level goes goes up) – and they questions about baking bread! I do like to give small bags of dough to are so creative. children to take home and bake. On my market stall I also sell lots of organic cakes and slices. Also gluten MORE lyndasloaf.co.uk / theharboursidemarket.co.uk free and vegan goodies, spelt quiche

SPOKE AND STRINGER Kristian Crews’ multi-faceted venture Spoke & Stringer occupies an enviable spot next-door to the old gasworks opposite the ss Great Britain. Lunch is served from 12pm (Wed-Sun) and dinner from 6pm (Wed-Sat) with brunch offered from 10am-2pm at the weekend. Tuck into salads, wraps and toasted sandwiches during the day with hot and cold pinxtos on offer in the evening (Manchego and membrillo on bread; garlic and chilli prawns; seared beef, roasted pepper, salsa verde). MORE spokeandstringer.com 38 SHIPSHAPEBRISTOL.CO.UK

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E AT I N G & D R I N K I N G

PIC: LILJA JÓNSDÓTTIR

four beers

Clockwise from above: Lido Ale, Lido, £3.95; Siren White Tips, The Barley Mow, £5.30; Beavertown Gamma Ray, Small Bar, around £4.50; the Berliner Weisse, Zerodegrees, £4.25

Q&A Amit Lakhani The owner of awardwinning Indian restaurant Myristica speaks to us following their big move to Park Street

How are you finding life on Park Street? We’re really enjoying the daily hustle and bustle. Although there was good footfall at Welsh Back, Park Street is something else – always something going on. What prompted the move? It was due mainly to shortage of space, especially in the kitchen. Also we are creating another dining room on the first floor – this will help with private parties and functions. Will you be doing anything differently? No! ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ has always been our attitude. We’ll have the same front of house team along with same brigade of chefs and same menu to begin with, but we will revisit this once we have settled in.

You’ve won prizes at the British Curry Awards in 2013 and 2014: does this put pressure on you to achieve the same standards this year? Certainly does and in part that was the reason for the move too, as we now have a much larger kitchen to work from so we can create more varied dishes. What’s your favourite dish? Currently enjoying the Black Dal: warming and packed with garlic, ginger and ground spices – delicious! Tell us a secret. Ask for a delicious glass of pinot gris with our fabulous starters – it’s not on the wine list, but it’s part of my stock. MORE

myristica.co.uk

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E AT I N G & D R I N K I N G

APE ABOUT COFFEE

ARNOLFINI

THE BARLEY MOW

Launched in April following a successful pop-up event at Easter, Ape About Coffee is the brand new venture from Nick Ashton, well known in the city for his former Piaggio Ape tuk-tuk mobile coffee bar. Ashton has ditched life on the road and settled down to set up shop within PAPER Arts’ exhibition space on Merchant Street (so you can take in the latest works by local artists while you sup on your caffeinated drink of choice). The speciality espresso bar serves up a full selection of espresso-based drinks using James Gourmet Coffee beans, organic teas, hot chocolate, Henny & Joe’s chai and soft drinks by Lovely Drinks alongside locally sourced cakes, paninis and coffee beans to buy for home.

This stylish, buzzing eatery serves up an inspired menu using locally sourced ingredients: find vegan, veggie and traditional breakfasts, pizzas sandwiches, daily specials, a children’s menu as well as delicious home-made cakes and pastries. To drink, try expertly made coffee from Extract Coffee Roasters or choose from a small but perfectly balanced global wine list, made by small, independent producers. Beers and ciders come from Somerset and beyond. Find outdoor seating right on the Harbourside.

One of Bristol’s best craft beer pubs, blending traditional with modern with its cosy interior, open fire and courtyard garden. Nestled between Temple Meads and Old Market, the Barley Mow’s location away from the hubbub of the centre makes it a pub that’s worth seeking out. The menu changes monthly with plenty of different styles of beer to suit the style of food. Celebrate American Independence Day with us or have a thigh-slapping September with our Reinheitsgebot German beer festival. Wonderful, tasty Sunday roasts.

Speciality coffee bar

Times: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm

51-53 Merchant Street, BS1 3EE facebook.com/ ApeAboutCoffee @ApeAboutCoffee apeaboutcoffee.com

Bright, buzzing café-bar

Dishes: Catch of the day pizza: brown shrimp, anchovies, tuna & smoked salmon topped with fresh dill & mozzarella (£9.95); marinated feta, asparagus and cherry vine tomato salad (£6.95); home-made cakes. Food served every day 10am-8pm Times: from 10am daily Book: cafebar@arnolfini.org.uk 0117 917 2305

16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA 0117 917 2305 @ArnolfiniCafe arnolfini.org.uk

Bristol Beer Factory’s beer paradise

Dishes: Beef chilli cheese fries, jalapenos (£5); cheeseburger, fries, cornichons (£9); beer-battered fish and chips (£9); buffalo wings, blue cheese dip (£4.50) Times: Mon-Thu 12-11pm, Fri-Sat 1211.30pm, Sun 12-10pm. Food served: Mon-Sat 12-3pm and 5-9pm, Sun roasts from 12pm Book: hello@barleymowbristol.com, 0117 930 4709

39 Barton Road, St Philips, BS2 0LF 0117 930 4709 facebook.com/ barleymowbristol barleymowbristol.com

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COLSTON ST BAR & KITCHEN

GLASSBOAT

GRAIN BARGE

Fantastic café-bar from local independent brewer Bath Ales, located in the bright and airy surroundings of Colston Hall. Known and loved for their flagship beer Gem, Bath Ales runs 10 pubs, bars and restaurants in the South West – including Graze and The Hare On The Hill in Bristol – and has forged a reputation for the high quality of its venues. Colston St. Bar and Kitchen is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Choose from an American and Europeaninspired menu alongside a range of Bath Ales beers, wine list and hot and cold drinks.

Located on the Floating Harbour in the heart of Bristol, Glassboat affords spectacular views of the city and Harbourside. Head chef Charlie Hurrell has created a menu that has wide appeal – a mix of sophisticated bistro classics inspired by the very best of British and French dishes. Glassboat is a restaurant to suit any occasion – whether it’s for lunch or dinner with friends, a business breakfast or lunch, or to celebrate a special occasion, Glassboat is a unique and versatile choice.

With panoramic views, great food, extensive range of craft beers and live performances, the Grain Barge is one of the harbour’s top floating venues. The refurbished Hold Bar hosts an open mic on Tuesdays, pop-up events on Wednesdays, and live music moves to Thursdays, making the space available to hire between Friday and Sunday. There’s an outdoor stage for the Harbour Festival on 18 & 19 July. The daily specials menu uses fresh local produce and there’s a topnotch Sunday roast.

Sophisticated bistro classics

Hearty meals and craft beers

From Bath Ales

Times: Mon-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm, food served all day, every day Book: colstonbar@bathales.co.uk

Colston Hall, Colston St, BS1 5AR 0117 204 7131 @colstonstbar

Dishes: Crispy frog’s legs, parsley risotto, Bayonne ham (£7); lemon sole, shrimp butter, vegetable garniture (£20); chocolate parfait, candied orange, macaron Times: breakfast: Mon-Sun 8-11.30am; lunch: Mon-Sat 12-3pm & Sun 12-4pm; dinner: Mon-Sat 5.30-10pm Book: restaurant@glassboat.co.uk Offer: Early Bird Dinner, available Mon-Sat 5.30-7pm, two-courses for £15 or three courses for £20

Dishes: Grilled goat’s cheese, spinach, tomato, piquillo pepper jam, sourdough, walnuts (£6.80); pan-fried duck breast on roasted balsamic and chilli beetroot (£12.50); black cherry tarte tartin with mint semifreddo and dark chocolate sauce (£4) Times: Mon-Thu 12-11pm, Fri-Sat 12-11.30pm, Sun 12-11pm Book: hello@grainbarge.co.uk Offer: Lunch specials – two courses for £10, three for £12

Welsh Back, BS1 4SB 0117 332 3971

Mardyke Wharf, BS8 4RU 0117 929 9347

glassboat.co.uk

grainbarge.co.uk

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LIDO RESTAURANT, SPA & POOL

MYRISTICA

NO.1 HARBOURSIDE

The Lido is an oasis of calm in the heart of Bristol, where chef Freddy Bird presides over two floors of poolside dining. It’s the only choice for great food and relaxation. As well as lunch and dinner the poolside bar serves breakfast from 8am-11.30am and tapas from noon until 10pm.

Voted the Best Curry House at the British Curry Awards 2013 and named one of the top 20 Indian restaurants in Britain by The Telegraph, Myristica is one of the highlights of Bristol’s impressive dining landscape. The menu features a range of beautifully crafted dishes from across the Indian subcontinent. Kick off with baby squid deep-fried and tossed with bell peppers, chilli flakes and honey, and move on to pista murgh (breast of chicken in a mild cream sauce with ground pistachios and saffron). Then round things off with a luxuriant chocolate samosa dessert and ice cream.

Rather wonderful restaurant, bar, music venue and birthplace of The Harbourside Market. The restaurant offers delicious seasonal menus and holds the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s highest rating of three stars. The bar serves a wide range of local craft beers, Somerset ciders, specialist spirits and a sustainable European wine list featuring some great organic and vegan choices. If live music is your thing, catch the best of Bristol’s musical talent on the little stage on Wednesday to Saturday nights – visit no1harbourside.co.uk for listings and current menu.

Dishes: Rabbit varuval (£6.95); achari venison (£12.95); okra stir fry (£4.95); chocolate samosas (£3.45) Times: lunch: Mon-Fri 12-2pm; dinner: Mon-Sat 5.30-11.30pm, Sun 5.30-10.30pm (last orders at 10pm) Book: myristica.co.uk

Dishes: Rump & bone marrow burger, cheddar, ale smoked chutney, summer slaw & fries (£9); flatbread pizza, roast pepper ragout, spiced potato, hummus & tahini sauce (vg) (£7.50) Times: Mon-Thu 12-3pm & 5-10pm, Fri & Sat 12-3pm & 5-9pm, Sun 12-3pm Book: ahoy@no1harbourside.co.uk, 0117 929 1100

Oakfield Place, BS8 2BJ 0117 933 9530

51 Park Street, BS1 5NT 0117 930 0806

1 Canons Road, BS1 5UH 0117 929 1100

lidobristol.com

myristica.co.uk

no1harbourside.co.uk

Fine Indian dining

Colourful and friendly dockside venue

European-inspired dishes

Dishes: Crab, apple, tarragon & paprika on toast (£8); Iberico pig’s cheeks, cooked in Asturian cider, parsnip and vanilla purée, watercress, apple (£17.50); amaretto cherry and pistachio tart; freshly churned Lido ice cream Times: restaurant: 12-3pm and 6-10pm, closed Sun evening; spa: 7am-10pm; poolside bar: Mon-Sat from 8am, Sun from 9am Book: spa@lidobristol.com

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SPOKE AND STRINGER Café, restaurant, bar and shop

ST NICHOLAS MARKET

Global flavours, local ingredients

SHAKESPEARE TAVERN

Traditional Harbourside pub

Occupying an enviable spot on the Harbour Inlet across the water from the ss Great Britain, Spoke and Stringer is the new multi-faceted venture from Kristian Crews. Find motorcycles, surfboards, push bikes, clothing and, of course, a vibrant café, restaurant and bar serving up freshly made and locally sourced brunches, lunches and dinners. Pinxtos are a speciality and are served Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm. At other times, take your pick from salads, wraps, toasted sandwiches and a rather fine-looking brunch menu. Dishes: Poached eggs & avocado; fig-stuffed serrano ham, feta, pine nuts, lemon & honey dressing; seared beef, roasted peppers, salsa verde Times: brunch: Sat & Sun 10am-2pm; lunch: Wed-Sun from 12pm; dinner: Wed-Sat from 6pm Book: info@spokeandstringer.com, 07950 196954

“To walk the 18th-century corridors of Bristol’s St Nicholas Market is to witness how British food can be successfully redefined,” says The Telegraph of this much-loved hub in the heart of the Old City. Originally built in 1741, a market has been held on this site since 1831 and The Exchange even doubled up as a live music venue, hosting everyone from the Rolling Stones to Cream, Spencer Davis and The Yardbirds. Today, the streets are filled with independent traders, selling everything from health-boosting juices to belly-filling baps, pies, pittas, curries, cakes and more. Every Wednesday the awardwinning Farmers’ Market gives shoppers the chance to buy local delicacies directly from producers and on Friday the Food Market rolls in, giving you the chance to sample the very best in street food.

Lime Kiln Road, BS1 5AD

The Exchange, Corn Street, BS1 1JQ 0117 922 4014

@SpkandStrngr spokeandstringer.com/

@stnicksmarket bristol.gov.uk/stnicks

The longest-serving ale house in Bristol serves up an appetising mix of good-value food and quality beers for Harbourside regulars. Great deals include a sandwich, side and drink for £6.99, burger, fries and a drink for £8.49 and a sharing platter plus a bottle of wine for £15.49. Behind the bar, choose from seven cask ales (including the pub’s very own Shakespeare ale), draught cider and lager and more than 15 types of wine. CAMRA members receive a discount on cask ales. Dishes: Hand-battered fish and seasoned chips (£8.99); gourmet burger (£9.49); Sunday roast (£9.49) Times: Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 11am-11pm Book: @shakespearestav, facebook.com/theshakespearetavern

68 Prince Street, BS1 4QD 0117 929 7695

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THREE BROTHERS BURGERS

TOBACCO FACTORY

WATERSHED CAFÉ/BAR

After opening last summer, Three Brothers Burgers is now fully established in its picturesque Harbourside spot, the former site of Spyglass. Sister venue The Lido’s chef Freddy Bird and head chef Joey MacGibbon (who cut his teeth at acclaimed London restaurants Moro and Trullo) have worked together to create a lipsmacking menu of hand-pressed burgers (using 28-day aged prime Herefordshire beef), subs, dogs, wings and achingly-good sides (chilli cheese fries, pickles).

Large café bar with a great atmosphere, art exhibitions, live music, life drawing, quiz nights and many events. The kitchen serves a British/Mediterranean-inspired menu with seasonal evening and weekend specials and many glutenfree options, and the bar has a wide range of local craft beers. The Sunday market has locally produced food and crafts, and extends into Raleigh Road on the first Sunday of the month, alongside the monthly vintage market. Special events take place throughout the year, including the BEATS Street Food event on Friday 10 July and Europe’s largest free street art and graffiti festival UPFEST on Saturday 25-Mon 27 July.

Open every day from early in the morning to late at night, Watershed Café/Bar offers breakfast, lunch and evening meals all following a simple policy: stay fresh, local and seasonal. The ‘plot to plate’ policy means all ingredients are sourced from local suppliers, so you can eat a healthy, balanced menu while supporting the local economy. The bar stocks local favourites like Cotswold Lager and Cider, Arbor Ales and Bath Ales alongside a range of bottled drinks (which can be taken into the cinema), spirits, wines and hot and cold drinks. Free Wi-Fi is available to use throughout the café/bar.

Floating diner

Menu highlights: Burgers, deepfried pickles, hot dogs grilled to order and Philly cheese steak. Drinks: a range of craft beers, cocktails, picklebacks (a shot of bourbon followed by a shot of pickle brine), milkshakes Times: Mon-Fri 12pm-late, open from 11am Sat & Sun

Contemporary café-bar

Social space serving seasonal food

Menu highlights: Pan-fried sea bass, ratatouille and dill olive oil (£11.50); halloumi salad with fresh pomegranate and mint dressing (£7); tapas (from £5.50) Times: Mon-Thu 12-11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 10am-11pm Book: 0117 902 0060

Menu highlights: Charcuterie board (£8); seasonal vegetable tart (£5); slow-roasted belly of pork baguette (£7); Watershed fish and chips (£11); hot chocolate brownie (£3.50) Times: Mon 10am-11pm, Tue-Fri 9.30am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm Book: cafebar@watershed.co.uk

Welsh Back, BS1 4SB

Raleigh Road, BS3 1TF 0117 902 0060

1 Canons Road, BS1 5TX 0117 927 5101

threebrothers.co

tobaccofactory.com

watershed.co.uk

45 @SHIPSHAPEMAG

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A GOOD READ

Summer books

The team at Arnolfini’s splendiferous bookshop choose their five favourite books of the season, including poetry, Banksy and Moomins Welcome the Day by Emma Giuliani (£10.99) A beautifully illustrated visual poem by graphic designer Emma Giuliani. It is also wonderfully crafted with flowers that blossom with a turn of a wheel and a sun that rises behind a cloud. Book About Signs by Russell Weekes (£7.95) A brilliant and novel book. Book About Signs is a bold and graphic book that takes a playful look at how everyday signs communicate to us and our interpretation of this. Printed on heavy stock paper, limited to only three colours and thoughtfully laid out, this book is a wonderful piece of design and a joy to open.

Drawing Projects for Children by Paula Briggs (£14.95) A wonderfully stimulating book with over 25 projects that aim to expand the creativity and mark-making skills of children. Each activity has been carefully thought through with material lists and illustrated examples to enable the development of skills, confidence and understanding. Moomin on the Riviera by Tove Jansson (£6.99) The Moomin family venture to the glamourous and grand Riviera but little do they know that their trip would be so eventful.

Banksy – You Are An Acceptable Level of Threat (£19.95) One of its most outspoken yet mysterious residents, Banksy has become a cultural icon of Bristol. This book presents a collection of photographs of his street work from around the world, punctuated with text that outlines the artist’s personal politics. This comprehensive survey will ignite, provoke and inspire you. MORE

arnolfini.org.uk, @ArnolfiniShop

46 SHIPSHAPEBRISTOL.CO.UK

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