The Bristol Magazine June 2023

£4.25 where sold

LEGENDARY COMEBACK

St Pauls Carnival returns to honour legends from the past, present and future

PURE IMAGINATION

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory The Musical prepares for Bristol stage

A CENTURY OF CINEMA

Watershed curator

Mark Cosgrove on how film transcends time and place

FEED THE BEES

Why the West of England is working hard to save the wild bees

MEET THE MAKER

Step into the world of HopeNeon where design meets craftsmanship

THE SELECTER

Pauline Black talks latest album and playing at the city’s much-loved harbourside festival, Bristol Sounds

Alexis

The

St

32 PURE IMAGINATION

As Charlie and The Chocolate Factory The Musical prepares to hit the Bristol stage, we catch up with Willy Wonka himself

36 ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

What’s showing at our local galleries

46 CELEBRATING INDEPENDENTS

Gloucester Road Bookspick five brilliant reads from the wonderful indie press Fitzcarraldo

52 LOCAL LEGENDS

Malcolm Ravenscroft sheds some light on the history of Bristol’s iconic blue plaques

64 GARDENING

Elly West explains the best ways to engage all five senses

66 REWILDING BRISTOL

Andrew Swift takes a closer look at the local campaigns fighting to create more wildflower meadows in the city

68 FEED THE BEES

We look at how our region is working hard to help save the wild bees that are so vital to our planet

The Selecter’s Pauline Black

Credit: Dean Chalkley

from the

EDITOR

It’s strange to think that Midsummer is nearly upon us. We’re storming through spring at breakneck speed and we’re opening our arms wide to the dog days of summer. As we edge ever closer to the warmer months, we welcome back a whole host of festivals and events to Bristol’s city streets – and the arts are certainly dominating this issue.

Publisher Steve Miklos

Email: steve@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Jane Miklos

Email: jane@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Editor Millie Bruce-Watt

Tel: 0117 974 2800

Email: millie@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Assistant Editor/Web Editor Alexis Herrington

Email: alexis@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Jeff Osborne

Email: production@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales Liz Grey liz@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

For advertising enquiries please contact us on: 0117 974 2800 Email: sales@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

The Bristol Magazine is published by MC Publishing Ltd. An independent publisher.

Every month The Bristol Magazine is hand delivered to more than 15,000 homes in selected areas. We also deliver direct to companies and businesses across the city. Additionally there are many places where we have floor-stands and units for free pick-up:

Millie Bruce-Watt

Most notably, on p.22, we look forward to the launch of Bristol Sounds, which will see legends take to the harbourside stage for five action-packed nights. On the Saturday night, ska band The Selecter will be entertaining the crowd. Ahead of their arrival, we were fortunate enough to sit down with their iconic frontwoman, Pauline Black, to talk about the heyday of 2-tone and how the band’s simple but powerful messages are still resonating with listeners today.

From music to film, we also hear from Watershed’s curator Mark Cosgrove about the enduring relevance of the classics (p.18). As founder of Cinema Rediscovered – which kicks off again next month – Mark talks to us about the city’s appetite for independent cinema and the importance of putting the finest digital restorations back on the big screen – exactly where they belong.

Elsewhere, we go behind the scenes of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory: The Musical – which is coming to the Bristol Hippodrome in September – and chat to the world-famous chocolatier Willy Wonka himself (p.32). Using impressive creative technologies, the production offers a truly magical escape from reality and we can’t wait for it to hit the Bristol stage.

On p. 26, we hail the return of St Pauls Carnival and on p. 21, we delve into Bristol’s Summer Film Takeover, looking at the free events aimed at celebrating “unique aspects of Bristol’s culture and identity”. We hope you enjoy – see you next month…

things to do in June 5

Enjoy

Explore

Festival of Nature returns to Bristol and Bath from 9 – 18 June for its 20th anniversary event. Join the celebration with this year’s unmissable 10-day programme of vibrant city-centre events, family nature parties, wildlife workshops, walks and talks, film screenings, spectacular performances, and digital activities across the week.

• bnhc.org.uk/festival-of-nature

Listen

Bristol Opera is celebrating its centenary with a spectacular concert under the wings of the iconic Concorde at the Aerospace Museum in Filton on 24 June at 7.30pm.

Doors open at 6.45pm, allowing the audience to walk through Concorde to their seats situated below the airliner. The concert is set to be packed with popular choruses, solos and fully orchestrated overtures from operas performed during Bristol Opera’s 100 years. Plus, concert-goers can enjoy an exciting world premiere of a specially commissioned short opera by Joel Baldwin, based on the life of local illustrator and cartoonist Anne Harriet Fish, born in Horfield (1809-1964).

International baritone Andrew Shore plays the role of Omar Khayyam, whom Anne Fish illustrated for ‘The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam’ in her inimitable Jazz Age style in the 1920s.

• Book your tickets at: tickets@bristolopera.co.uk

The Rockhampton Folk and World Music Festival is taking place on 17 June at Rockhampton, Gloucestershire GL13 9DX. Expect top-quality Gaelic folk from two of the best young musicians of their generation. Plus, music from the Balkans, traditional African harpist Bach and Bubbles and loads more. Free participation workshops for all ages.

The festival all happens in a small field by the church in Rockhampton and is simply about quality music and having fun in a safe, relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

• Book your tickets at rockhamptonfolkfest.org.uk

Celebrate

Running from 24 June –9 July, Bristol Pride is a unique and important event that celebrates the LGBT+ community offering the chance to connect people.

The countdown to Pride 2023 has begun and Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears is set to headline Pride Day on 8 July. Alongside Jake Shears, Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle, 90s dance sensation Alison Limerick, Sheffield-helmed band Sophie and the Giants and Brit award-nominee Ladyhawke will also be performing on the main stage. Meanwhile, international icon Natalie Imbruglia will take over the Afternoon Legends slot.

Bristol Pride has also announced over 35 performers on its star-studded Cabaret stage with headline performances from the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Ra’jah O’Hara alongside Drag Race UK fan favourite Tia Kofi and a special guest appearance from The Traitors UK star Amanda.

• For more information, visit: bristolpride.co.uk

Escape

Visit the communal gardens and squares hidden behind the elegant terraces of Clifton and Hotwells on 10 and 11 June, 10.30am –5pm and enjoy homemade refreshments, stalls and entertainment including singing by local choirs and a concert from the Fitzhardinge consort in All Saints church.

This is a rare opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of Clifton village and enjoy the beautiful formal gardens, woodlands and wild gardens, most of which are rarely open to the public. There will be a variety of activities including talks, conducted walks and a tree trail.

• For more information and to book tickets, visit: gssg-bristol.com

THE CITYist

BRISTOL

Can you tell us about your background, growing up in Kazakhstan, moving to the US and then to Bristol? What drew you to the city?

I associate Almaty (Kazakhstan) with my childhood, Boulder (Colorado) with my teenage years and see Bristol as the place where I grew into adulthood.

Because I grew up in Kazakhstan, I feel I was always destined to come to Bristol in the sense that one would not have happened without the other. In Kazakhstan, because of the environment in which I was raised –surrounded by people from all over the world, and encouraged to be expressive – I was very confident in my creativity.

St George’s Bristol celebrates its 200th birthday

St George’s Bristol turns 200 in 2023.

Samir Savant, Chief Executive of St George’s, said: “I am excited for our 200th birthday at St George’s, Bristol this year. Our calendar of anniversary events take the theme of ‘Past, Present and Future’, based on recognising our past, celebrating our present and looking forward to our future and the next 200 years. We hope you will join us.”

The 200th anniversary of St George’s Bristol coincides with the major Bristol 650 anniversary; 2023 marks the 650th year of Bristol being recognised as a city. Across 2023, St George’s Bristol is celebrating its 200th birthday with a series of major events:

In June, St George’s stakeholders, members, colleagues and friends, will take part in a unique invite-only fundraising event, Midsummer Magic, to celebrate St George’s past and present, and to ensure the future of the building and the organisation.

Across the weekend of 16-17 September 2023, St George’s is opening its doors for its Big Birthday Bash, a festival-style weekend of pop-up concerts, family events, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, outdoor music, and a few surprises.

• For more information, visit: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Moving to Boulder at a young age is where I think my interest in the social sciences comes from. All of a sudden, I wasn’t so sure of my capabilities in the things that I was passionate about, and this made me question the way that our environments influence our identity.

I came to Bristol to study. I’m currently in my final year of a BSc in Politics and International Relations at the University of Bristol. I chose to come here because I knew I wanted to study in a city where I could grow creatively.

What makes Bristol so special to you?

Bristol is absolutely where I came into my own. I love being surrounded by talented people from different parts of the world, and I take inspiration from the passionate attitudes of the Bristol community. A TedTalk by actor Ethan Hawke comes to mind in which he discusses the importance of letting yourself be creative. I think Bristol embodies this philosophy, making it a great place to live.

Where in Bristol do you go to be entertained/inspired?

My favourite thing about Bristol is its relationship with the rest of the world. Not only in terms of accessibility to travel, but also the diverse range of people who live here. I am inspired by others daily, without needing to go anywhere specific.

The city has also sparked my interest in street photography. Not too long ago I started taking photos of people any time I went somewhere new, and this is when I began to realise the beauty in the little things that make up daily life.

My passions are photography and film, and my background is in Politics and International Relations. I've been able to find an intersection for my interests through journalism. Photography, and the way that it is viewed and

distributed, is incredibly impacted by politics, and vice versa. In fact, I wrote my dissertation on the way that photography impacts political action.

What are you reading/watching/listening to at the moment?

I am currently on the third book of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels. I find that Elena Ferrante (a pseudonymous Italian author) beautifully describes coming of age from a female perspective. The main character’s lifelong friendships, and the way they evolve through time, remind me of the relationships in my own life.

In the third book, Elena is leaving her university years behind and establishing herself through engagement with politics and her writing. Elena’s experiences at the University of Pisa, and her time spent in Milan after graduating, remind me of my time in Bristol.

What is your philosophy in life?

My philosophy has recently changed. I used to struggle with anxiety, specifically socially. I was terrified of people’s opinions and being perceived in a negative way. Thanks to Bristol, though, and growing creatively, I'm no longer so afraid to take risks and express myself. I have been able to feel more appreciation for each interaction, and have been less afraid to make mistakes. As a result of growing up internationally, I now have friends in many different places and doing vastly different things. This has made me realize that the place is nothing without the people.

This change in mentality is what inspired me to write my article for this issue, ‘Century of Cinema’, about how film reminds us that we are never as alone as we think, and that what really matters in life are our relationships with one another.

Thatchers Cider partners with Aardman for new TV commercial

Thatchers Cider has unveiled a new TV commercial, which sees the Somerset cider maker collaborate with Bristol based, multi-Academy Award®winning studio Aardman.

The commercial uses Aardman’s stop motion animation technique to bring the viewer through the gates of Thatchers’ own Myrtle Farm home. We see how the family cider maker’s dedication along every step of the way achieves Pint-Sized Perfection.

Some familiar faces make an appearance throughout the commercial, including fourth generation cider maker Martin Thatcher making a big entrance for the weekly 12.30pm tasting. Viewers will also recognise the iconic Thatchers hot air balloon, a familiar sight over the skies of Bristol.

The commercial, conceptualised by creative communications agency, Bray Leino, has been directed by Will Studd from Aardman and produced by Danny Gallagher.

• thatcherscider.co.uk

New Bristol comedy starring Jayde Adams and Joe Sims set to hit the screen

Ruby Speaking –set and filmed in Bristol –is the latest comedy from Yellow Door Productions for ITVX/ITV2 and is set to hit our screens on 22 June. Starring Bedminster’s own Jayde Adams, Bristolian actor Joe Sims, Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly as well as young breakout Bristol stars, the show is almost as Bristol as you can get.

The comedy follows newly-single Ruby –a fun and irreverent member of the customer service team at the Bristol call centre of Hellocom. The life and soul of her workplace, Ruby struggles to read from the prepared script that work and life have foisted upon her, choosing instead to walk her own chaotic path. Ruby Speaking follows Ruby and her ragtag bunch of colleagues at the Hellocom call centre as they live, love, laugh, avoid hearing about Donna’s bloody air fryer and enter a choir competition they have no business being in.

• Watch Ruby Speaking on ITVX on 22 June.

SS Great Britain’s Summer Lates Series returns

Thursdays are set to be the biggest night of the week this summer as SS Great Britain’s Lates Series returns for 2023 with eight dockyard gigs scheduled from 15 June.

Following last year’s success, SSGB is hosting twice the number of events with even more exciting music to discover at Bristol’s most unique gig location. Watch the dockyard come to life with live bands, a summer BBQ, local beers and the SSGB’s special signature cocktail, the Steamship.

What’s more, SSGB is partnering with Coffee Club Bristol, who have been putting on some of the city’s best alternative gigs since 2013, to provide the best line up yet.

Dates: 15 June, 22 June, 29 June, 6 July, 13 July, 20 July, 3 August, 17 August

Times: 6-9pm

• For more information and to book tickets, visit: ssgreatbritain.org

Residents call for donations to republish Bristol author’s book

Residents in Bristol are raising £6,000 to republish the famous book Ladies’ Mile by Victoria Hughes. Profits from which will fund the refurbishment of the Victorian toilets on Durdham Downs.

The Just Giving page reads: “There is only one public convenience in this area of Bristol. The Victorian toilet building on Stoke Road is notable because of its Blue Plaque, one of the highest civic honours, awarded to Victoria Hughes, the attendant of this building for more than 30 years until the 1960s. Her book, Ladies’ Mile, published in 1977, relates the ‘remarkable and shocking’ story of twilight Bristol and is centred around these toilets. Based on diaries written during her employment there, she describes the comings and goings of various characters and how she befriended regular users who were mainly working girls. Her own story is only a little less remarkable, overcoming antipathy from in-laws, her husband’s disabilities and poverty of the post-war years. Despite the book’s popularity it has been out of print for many years.

“The exterior of the Stoke Road toilet is in a particularly rundown state. Money needs to be expended urgently to improve its appearance and halt further deterioration, making it more pleasant for users while bringing its historic and scandalous story back into circulation.

“With your help, the story of Ladies’ Mile will make a welcome return to the public’s awareness - and greater sales of the book means that more money will be available for the toilet’s upkeep. It’s a cycle in which you can play an important part so please donate to allow the story of Ladies’ Mile to be told once again.”

• For more information and to donate, visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ladiesmile

UWE Bristol and City to Sea raise a reusable cup to new plans to cut plastic pollution

The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and Students’ Union has confirmed that three of its coffee shops will be part of the Refill Return Cup scheme. City to Sea, who are behind the Refill Return Cup, is also announcing that it is due to go live across the city on World Refill Day (16 June). The innovative new returnable cup scheme will allow Bristolians to have their takeaway tea and coffee in a reusable cup which they can borrow from participating coffee shops for free and return to any participating outlet in the city.

Currently, more than 2.5 billion takeaway coffee cups are used and thrown away each year in the UK. That’s an astonishing 10,000 every two minutes. City to Sea estimates that if the Bristol Refill Return Cup was used by just one in ten residents just once a week then 46,000 single-use cups would be saved across the city every week – a massive 2.5 million single-use coffee cups a year.

• citytosea.org.uk

MEET THE MAKER

HopeNeon

Based in Abbots Leigh, Wendy Hope has been designing and handmaking original neon art for homes, restaurants, clubs and businesses since 2018, after leaving her role as a headteacher. This month, we sat down with Wendy to talk all about the inspiration behind HopeNeon

Tell us about your background and what first sparked your interest in creating neon artwork...

My first career was in education, teaching in local schools and eventually becoming a headteacher. I spent happy years working in Eastville and South Bristol and then became a head of a large primary school in Somerset. There, I set up ‘Arts Weeks’ to bring to Somerset my experience of Bristol’s multi-culture and was awarded the Arts Council’s Gold Award for ensuring a creative education for all children.

It was a great career but I made a change after many years, to work on projects I had no time for during that busy career – to paint, to write and to explore making art.

I moved house from Montpelier, where I had lived with my family for 35 years, to a very modern house in Abbots Leigh. For some time, I looked at the empty staircase wall, wondering what kind of artwork would look best on it. Finally, I decided I would design something myself to suit the high curving space. This was how HopeNeon was founded. But finding someone to make that first nine-feet-tall neon artwork called Paint Drips, wasn’t easy. Most makers were not able to take on the commission of such a large and delicate work… except for Rob Sprackman, director of Cabot Neon Signs. Rob confidently made that first piece from my design and I was encouraged by its success to create more and different pieces and be involved in the making myself. Rob is now Project Coordinator at HopeNeon.

Tell us about the products you make…

My artwork can be inspired by drawings I have made of dancing figures or based on universal themes such as ‘The Passing of Time’ or ‘Remembering Childhood’. I began to experiment with different backgrounds to suit each theme, so the neon can be mounted on reclaimed wood, steel or canvas. I sometimes add objects to these backgrounds –for example, toys from the past to invoke memories of playthings that adults may have forgotten.

I added keys, locks and bolts to a piece titled Unlock Your Mind, which reminds us that we can free ourselves from unconscious bias

and embrace new ways of thinking.

When creating a piece called The Right Time is Now, I added clock parts and dials to a natural wood background, alerting us that there is no time like the present and not to put off difficult decisions. These artworks are about six-feet tall and two-feet wide, which suit most walls in larger homes or businesses, but when commissioned, I can agree sizes to suit my clients. My artwork called Lalique Girl (pictured above) is rectangular, which looks amazing on a large wall. Colours and backgrounds will always differ from others as each piece is unique. I discuss the commission with my client to give them a personal and original artwork that adds a wow factor to their interior.

Describe the process of designing and making custom neon artwork...

For every piece, I use genuine hand-blown neon glass, sourced from Murano in Italy, which is famous for high-quality glass manufacturing. I don’t use inferior LEDs or acrylic.

I sometimes make charcoal sketches of dancing figures and the challenge for me is then to capture the essence of the form, constructing a neon that interprets the graceful lines. With all my designs, I draw my ideas in a vector-based art programme and then print the design to scale. The full-size drawing is then transferred to heat-proof cloth.

so that their preferences for colours and background material is taken into account, as well as objects they may wish to incorporate.

The artwork is delivered and installed free of charge by our expert technician. The neon does not get hot, uses very little power and is safe. It only requires a three-pin socket.

Tell us about your style and influences and where you find inspiration for your work...

Inspiration comes from many sources but I particularly love the Art Deco period, which lends itself to curves and simple lines. Lalique Girl is an homage to Rene’ Lalique, the master glassmaker and jeweller. The piece is an interpretation of his famous car mascot called Victoire, which adorned the bonnets of the finest luxury motorcars in 1928. I have given her a modern face and she shimmers in blue neon against a silver background.

I love the juxtaposition of old and new, old wood or rusty metal against modern neon glass and beautiful, clear colours. Different

themes work for different situations, for example an office foyer might want something that differs from a piece of art in a home. All is possible.

What have been some of your most favourite creations to date?

I loved creating the piece I call Remember…? Bygone toys were added to a rusty metal background, implying they were lost or discarded. The modern neon technology, which contrasted the toys, was shaped into a neon sun –representing one of the first symbols that children draw. A neon skipping rope was then threaded through the artwork, linking all the objects together.

Did you once have a favourite toy? Jacks? Lego? Star Wars figures?

I can source it and add it to your artwork to personalise your piece.

Where can customers see and buy your work?

My customers may have seen my work at the Cluster Art Fair when exhibited at the Oxo Tower Wharf on the South Bank. Or, they can visit my website, my Instagram page or email me for a brochure.

Why did you decide to set up in Bristol? What makes the city so special in your opinion?

Bristol is my city and I have lived here for 50 years. Everything is possible in Bristol and I need go nowhere else to set up a business. Many creative people have started in Bristol –I remember early Banksy stencils all over Montpelier from 25 years ago. Successful musicians such as Massive Attack and Roni Size come from Bristol as well as great architects, writers, teachers and community workers.

As far back as the 1970s, restaurants such as Keith Floyds and Bell’s Diner were the forerunners of today’s many Bristol restaurants. We have stunning buildings in Bristol, too, from the grand Georgian terraces of Clifton and Hotwells to Victorian villas and terraced cottages all over the city. Politically, Bristol is left-wing and green, which matters to me.

How can customers submit their commissions? How do you help people bring their visions to life?

Initial enquiries can be by email (enquiries@hopeneon.com) and I can

respond to questions, send a beautiful brochure and price list, and invite potential customers to view my work in situ in Abbots Leigh. Then, we can discuss their wishes and make a HopeNeon artwork specially for them, to suit their home or business. Clients can suggest colours and materials or I can design and make what they didn’t know they wanted.

• hopeneon.com

A century of cinema

Our world has become dominated by the worship of individuality. This shift has occurred at the expense of community. We often see ourselves as lone heroes, our egos making us forget that the walk of life isn’t meant to be a solo journey.

A friend once expressed to me that she couldn’t understand the societal praise for the hero archetype. In every film or TV series, isn’t the best friend the most beloved character, while the hero is forced to endure the greatest difficulties and make the largest sacrifices? The best friend supports the hero, provides perspective, and delivers comedic relief. Without them, there would often be no story. Ever since then I have been asking myself the question - why is individuality today’s greatest commodity?

From Buenos Aires to Cannes to Toronto to Berlin, film festivals scatter the globe, bringing people together through an appreciation for cinema. By uniting us through spectatorship, films show us that we are never as different from our neighbours as we may think, and remind us that the weight of the sky is not meant for our shoulders alone.

Film transcends not only place, but also time. Tales of heroes and villains, friendship, love and loss have been passed down through generations. Every battle has already been fought and there are no new tears to shed. Humanity’s repetitive nature is beautiful and unifying –to be human means to cry, laugh, and dream.

In the modern day, the process of storytelling has evolved onto the screen. Over a century of cinema allows us to reflect on those who existed before us, and also how we intend to play our part. By showing us the infinite possibilities of life, film teaches us about our world and how we each fit into it. Perhaps, you’re not the hero in this ultimate story. Maybe you are the best friend, the mentor, or the confidant. In the words of poet John Donne: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main”. By granting us this perspective, film serves as a reminder that we exist not to project but to experience and to learn. This is why not just films, but specifically old films, are so important to revisit.

In Bristol, this ode to the past exists in the form of the Cinema Rediscovered festival at the beloved Watershed cinema in the city’s Harbourside. Cinema Rediscovered, described by film magazine Sight & Sound as “the UK’s leading festival dedicated to classic cinema”, is an annual celebration of films reminding us of those in whose footsteps we are following.

The creative mind behind Cinema Rediscovered is Mark Cosgrove: Watershed’s film curator and the founder and cocurator of the festival. It is a given that to love film is to love humanity, and Mark has proven to be a great example of this. He has spent his life entranced by the power of film to evoke emotion. Through his own experiences as a viewer as well as a curator, Mark has witnessed the immediate impact that a quality film can have on the individual.

In time for this year’s festival, we caught up with Mark to gain some insight into the life of the man who continually reminds us all that we belong to a greater whole.

Tell us about where your love for film first began...

As a pre-teen youngster watching Saturday matinees in the late 1960/early 70s era of Jimmy Cagney/Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne films ironically on television. They were my early entry into the cinematic world of Hollywood. It was seeing Kaneto

Michael Curtiz’s Angels with Dirty Faces is a 1938 American crime drama film about friendship, identity and coming of age. The film follows childhood friends Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) and Jerry Connolly (Pat O’Brien) who part ways as Rocky becomes a criminal and Jerry a priest dedicated to influencing the youth of the neighbourhood. Their paths cross again when Rocky becomes idolised by some of the young boys under Jerry’s watch. This film is both retrospective and inspiring, as it explores the theme of the infinite possibilities of paths that can be taken in life.

Shindo’s atmospheric and haunting Onibaba late one night that switched me onto the wider world of film. Angels With Dirty Faces had one of the biggest impacts: Cagney’s performance as gangster Rocky Sullivan was spellbinding and the ending –his lonely walk to salvation – always brought a tear to the eye.

Tell us about your career so far and your involvement with the Cannes and Berlin film festivals...

I’ve worked in independent cinema exhibition since 1987 when I started programming the cinema at Plymouth Arts Centre. That was followed by some time at Cornerhouse – now HOME – in Manchester. The bulk of my time has been at Watershed though where I started in 1993 (I know, I can’t believe it either!) As a boy from Glasgow it took me a while to relax into the more laid back Bristol vibe. I’ve been fortunate to see Bristol really develop as a major cultural destination and with a rich and varied film exhibition scene with everything from pop-ups to multiplexes via indies. At Watershed, we try to bring the range of world cinema to

Bristol. There are so many interesting films from countries other than Hollywoodland, which can sadly get overlooked in the clamour and noise of the blockbuster. I see a lot of these films at festivals like Cannes and Berlin where the global film industry meets. Films from Chile, Tunisia, Iceland, Singapore, Senegal and many more. If we want to understand each other and the world we live in then I feel it is important we have access to the range of stories on film.

What led you to creating Cinema Rediscovered in 2016? How do you feel that watching films from the past can teach us about humanity in the present, and what is it about film that you feel can transcend time so effectively?

In the mid-noughties I became aware of the audience’s appetite to see older films in the cinema. I hate the word ‘older’ as it can somehow have negative, dismissive connotations when applied to film. Cinema now has a long illustrious history – well over 100 years – and seeing this history on the screen, for which they are made for, is a unique experience (especially given the growth of computer(s) and other more solitary viewing platforms). Back circa 2005 I remember putting on Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West and our main cinema was packed with older teens and twenty somethings who were seeing this masterpiece in the cinema for the first time. Around this time I was going to Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna which is the mecca for film restorations and presenting the past of cinema. Seeing restorations of films like Dennis Hopper’s EasyRider and Ousmane Sembene’s BlackGirl playing to packed cinemas and especially in their 5,000-seat open air piazza, you sense the power and impact film can have. I came back determined to recreate that impact in Bristol and, working with a great group of the city’s cinephiles, we set the festival up. That power and impact is to do with the collective experience of watching a film and also the power of film to communicate emotion and ideas.

Can you talk us through the curating process at Watershed? What qualities, themes or topics stand out to you as having the ability to create a potentially impactful film?

We primarily want to bring that broader range of world films to Bristol and remind people that there is more to cinema than Hollywood blockbusters but we also want to explore thematic connections across the history of cinema and take a deeper dive

Michael Haneke’s Amour depicts the life of elderly couple Anne and Georges. After Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) has a stroke that paralyzes half of her body, George (JeanLouis Trintignant) cares for her despite his own difficulties and frustrations. The film depicts the hardships of elderly life and the persistence of love through the passage of time.

Melvin Van Peebles’

The Story of a Three-Day Pass is a film about an African American soldier named Turner (Harry Baird) on leave in Paris for three days, during which time he experiences a romantic connection with a French woman named Miriam (Nicole Berger). Their relationship is under pressure due to French racial attitudes at the time and the couple's impending separation. The film explores these themes while delivering a romance nothing short of unforgettable.

into those themes so we curate monthly seasons. Also, we work in partnership with a variety of organisations and community groups to platform different aspects of film culture such as Afrika Eye, Hong Kong Film Festival on Tour and the Japan Foundation. As well as with, for example, UWE Philosophy and Politics Dept to create events which open up discussion about different aspects of what a film is saying about society, identity, politics.

The second question is difficult but I’d say first up a film has to draw you in, command your attention. Now this doesn’t mean to say it’s action packed. The reverse can be true. Two examples of this are Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles and Edward Yang’s YiYi. Both films are slow paced and around three hours long but you get absorbed into the characters’ rhythms and their lives to quite a profound emotional effect. I think taking you on an authentic journey is key. It can be a maze, it can be surprising, but the conviction of the filmmaker will come through and convince.

What drew you to Bristol in particular? In your view, how has Bristol’s UNESCO City of Film global status positively impacted its local community?

Because in 1993 Watershed was one of the leading independent cinemas in the UK (and I’d like to think I’ve maintained that status). The UNESCO status has been a brilliant recognition of the incredible depth of film and television making in the city from Aardman to the BBC and now Channel 4. The creative talent in Bristol is fantastically rich and increasingly diverse.

What are your top 3 favourite films that you've screened at Watershed so far, and why?

Melvin van Peebles’ The Story of a Three Day Pass: We screened this at Cinema Rediscovered. A very real discovery of the long lost film from Black American pioneer.

Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun: A beautiful filmic memory which emotionally connects with your own childhood memories.

Michael Haneke’s Amour: I’ve never experienced such an intense atmosphere in an auditorium after a film. The audience watched the credits roll and did not move, the house lights went up and they still didn’t move. They were transfixed by the film and wanted to stay with its emotion. n

• watershed.co.uk

Summer of film

Featuring nine free film events taking place across the city centre between June and September, Bristol’s Summer Film Takeover will celebrate unique aspects of Bristol’s culture and identity through a range of different screen experiences. The programme is being delivered as one of the activities under the City Centre and High Streets Recovery and Renewal programme, funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority’s Love our High Streets project.

Natalie Moore, Bristol UNESCO City of Film Manager says: “Our line-up of free events has something for everyone –from bicyclepowered screenings and family-friendly animation workshops to night-time projections onto our city’s walls, block parties and immersive film installations.

“We’ll be marking milestones including the 75th anniversary of Windrush, 100 years of 16mm film and 50 years of hip hop influence on Bristol’s culture, all through different screen experiences.”

The nine free events are:

Windrush 75: Stories Through Film (22 – 24 June)

Locations: Vintage Mobile Cinema Bus, Broadmead West BS1 3DS & Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queens Road BS8 1RL

Celebrate the contribution of Bristol’s Afrikan-Caribbean community to the city through films that mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush. From 22-24 June, jump on board the Vintage Mobile Cinema Bus at Broadmead to see a specially curated programme of films. Plus, on the evening of 22 June, join the team at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery for the premiere screening of award-winning filmmaker Clive Smith’s Bristol’s Afrikan-Caribbean Legends of Martial Arts

A Wall is a Screen: Secrets of the Old City (30 June)

Location: Bristol’s Old City, starting on Corn Street BS1 1HT Join Encounters Festival and Hamburg-based collective A Wall is a Screen for a film night like no other. The first of two guided evening walking tours (the second on 16 September) exploring hidden architectural gems of Bristol’s Old City streets and featuring a curated selection of short films projected onto nearby buildings to watch along the way.

Bristol Cycle Cinema (22 – 23 July)

Location: College Green BS1 5TR

Local expanded cinema curators Compass Presents will be programming a weekend of free outdoor cinema on College Green, with something to suit all ages. In addition to back-to-back cult classics, audiences will be invited to hop on one of 40 static bikes that will generate electricity to contribute to powering the screen.

Summer of Soul Expanded Screening & Afterparty (Sat 29th July)

Location: The Galleries Car Park Basement, Broadmead BS1 3DT

Join the team for an expanded cinema screening of Sundance award winner Summer of Soul, followed by an underground funk ‘n’ soul party. Far from being televised, and just a few months before Woodstock, a musical revolution was happening on the streets of NYC. Celebrate the music, artists and culture that sprang from 60s Harlem and landed under a glitterball in downtown Bristol. Presented by Compass Presents as part of the seventh edition of Cinema Rediscovered, the UK’s leading festival of classic cinema.

100 Years of 16mm (30 July)

Location: The Crypt of St John, St John on the Wall, Broad Street BS1 2EZ Lovers of analogue, immerse yourself in the sensory splendour of 16mm in its centenary year. Step inside the darkness of the Crypt, to the click and whirr of the projector. Workshops in splicing, dicing and projecting your own 16mm film will roll alongside a programme of short films. Plus, live score performance activations from a very special guest.

The 4 Pillars: 50 Years of Hip Hop (12 August)

Location: Sparks Bristol, 74-78 Broadmead BS1 3DS

Freestyle CIC and Bris-Story present a day of free screenings and activities to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th birthday, exploring its four pillars –breakdancing, graffiti, DJing and rap – and how it has helped influence Bristol’s culture, leaving a lasting legacy.

Aardman@Sparks (18 – 20 August)

Location: Sparks Bristol, 74-78 Broadmead BS1 3DS

An exciting weekend of free Aardman workshops and film screenings, taking place in Bristol’s new sustainability hub –fun for all the family.

Illusions of Movement (15 – 16 September)

Location: Waddelow Hall, Broadmead Baptist Church, 1 Whippington Court, Broadmead BS1 3HY

An innovative film installation. Experience how humans explore animation and film to bring imagination and storytelling to life. Created by Limbic Cinema, this immersive projection uses multi-screen visuals, light and sound to celebrate the power of moving image.

A Wall is a Screen: Secrets of the Old City (16 September)

Location: Bristol’s Old City, starting on Corn Street BS1 1HT

Another chance to catch this unique ‘film night’ meets ‘guided city tour’. Spend the evening touring lesser-known corners of the Old City’s streets, watching a curated selection of short films projected onto Bristol buildings as you go. Presented by Encounters Festival and Hamburgbased collective A Wall is a Screen. n

• See the full programme at: bristolcityoffilm.co.uk/summerfilmtakeover

Get ready to venture out and explore the city through a different lens with Bristol’s Summer Film Takeover, presented by Bristol UNESCO City of Film and partners...

Pauline Black: Queen of Ska

When I sit down with The Selecter’s frontwoman, Pauline Black, she and the band are on tour with Jools Holland after having just finished a UK run of their own, promoting their sixteenth studio album, Human Algebra, released on 21 April. Black is also in the midst of making a documentary based on her 2011 autobiography, Black by Design, and she’s days away from playing the first of many festivals that The Selecter are booked for this summer. Some 44 years after their inception, the sevenpiece two-tone band from Coventry, who gave us On My Radio and Three Minute Hero, are busy and showing no signs of slowing down. Pauline’s genuine warmth, however, made me feel as though we had all the time in the world.

debut album, Too Much Pressure, tackled the social issues of the time and found its way into the top 10 the year it was released.

“Through the power of music, we wanted to show that different cultures, people from different backgrounds and different classes could come together and find common ground,” Black tells me. “If you don't start conversations when there are problems – and obvious problems – they will never get solved. I feel very much that we started the conversation about racism, we started the conversation about sexism just by existing and in the way that we presented ourselves in the charts.”

More than four decades on, their messages are just as relevant and their music continues to move audiences. Their latest album focuses on knife crime, fake news, the environment, Brexit and war. Written largely during the pandemic, the band questions and challenges today’s politics. Most notably, the title track includes a particularly evocative chorus hook, “Mama’s so blue”.

“Everybody is now cognisant of the fact that a lot of our youth are stabbing each other on the streets but no one is coming up with any answers to solve it. It seems to me that we’re doing a tremendous disservice to the young people in this country – and in others as well – and that we’re more or less condoning that this is some way to settle an argument. We’re all horrified by it but completely powerless to do anything about it.

In May 1979, the same month that Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister, The Selecter first appeared with a self-titled track on a shared record with The Specials. With Black and Arthur “Gaps” Hendrickson on vocals, the release marked the birth of what would become one of the most prominent acts of the ska-punk movement, which was named after the independent record label that signed them – 2 Tone Records, set up by The Specials’ Jerry Dammers. Others on the label included Madness, The Beat and the Bodysnatchers.

Two-tone paired energetic Caribbean ska rhythms with conscious lyrics that reflected the struggles of workingclass Britain. The Selecter used their politically charged, hook-laden songs to spread their anti-racist, anti-sexist mantra and, in turn, unite youth tribes: skinheads, mods, punks, rude boys and rude girls. The Selecter’s 1980

“What I wanted to do in that particular song was highlight a mother’s grief and how that radiates out through an extended family. It’s not just the perpetrator and the victim, everybody becomes affected by it and then the community becomes affected by it. It seems like we’re in a state of paralysis at the moment without the necessary tools to figure it out.”

Human Algebra was finished in July 2022 – the day that Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned – “it was a wonderful arc,” laughs Black, always striving to be an antidote to the wave of conservatism – whether it be 1979 or 2023.

As one of very few women in the two-tone scene – and often referred to as “the Queen of Ska” – Black was awarded an OBE in the in the 2022 New Year Honours. Pushing the boundaries in music and fashion, the singer had to find where she fitted into the industry. Heavily

“I feel very much that we started the conversation about racism [and] sexism just by existing and in the way that we presented ourselves in the charts”

influenced by female musicians like Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, Black was always drawn to those that “had something to say, people like Bob Dylan” and, once she started making the journey towards two-tone, people like Bob Marley.

“The person who really made me think ‘maybe I could do that’ would have been Poly Styrene from X-Ray Spex,” says Black. “I remember seeing her on Top of the Pops when they had released Germfree Adolescents and thinking she was absolutely amazing. It was the first time that I'd seen a woman of colour, somebody who looked a bit like me in a band that I could relate to, telling her truth.

After the US tour and a few hiatuses during the nineties and noughties, The Selecter began to pump out new songs in 2011, their sound ever-evolving but their success standing the test of time. How do they account for their longevity?

“As young as we were back then – and possibly even unknown to us – we were channelling some kind of truth that needed to be said. I think all of the bands [from the two-tone movement], to my knowledge, are still in existence. There is still a version of The Specials, The Beat, Bad Manners, Madness, The Bodysnatchers. I think that speaks volumes about what we had to say.”

As for the artists of today, Black is championing those that are “carving a different path through”. “I went out on tour with Gorillaz back in 2018. I did a track for their album and Damon Albarn invited me out to South America, which was really joyous. Little Simz was there and no matter where she went, she bought the house down. I really like her work ethic. I really like what she has to say and I really respect what she’s doing. I also like Kendrick Lamar; I think he is extraordinary. His Glastonbury performance was second to none.”

“I liked the idea of punk; I liked that do-it-yourself culture, mixing up genres and coming up with something different and I feel very much that The Selecter achieved that.”

Black’s career to date is varied and venerable. After The Selecter split up in 1982, the singer went on to become a TV presenter before trying her hand at acting, winning Time Out’s best actress in 1991 for her stage portrayal of Billie Holiday. In 1992, however, a third wave of ska music began to sweep across America. Artists and bands, including the likes of No Doubt, were calling for the reformation of The Selecter.

“America’s young artists were saying, ‘Hey, come over and do a tour’ and so we reformed another version of band. My life has very much been like that and I’m grateful for it,” says Black. “Just when you’re coming to the end of one thing, a door suddenly pops open and it’s something new and different to do. It still seems to be happening even now at nearly 70.”

The Selecter will be gracing the stage at Bristol Sounds on 24 June, supporting chart-topping folk-rock band, Levellers. “We’re absolutely honoured to be asked by the Levellers to play. I love their way of working and it chimes completely with ours.”

Before we part ways, I’ve got to ask about The Selecter’s time in Bristol. Over four decades, there must be some stories to tell. “I’ve always had fond memories of playing at The Academy but also much smaller places, like The Fleece, too. We used to pack it out and it just used to be so funny. I actually fell off stage there once during Three Minute Hero – if you can recover from that you can recover from anything,” Black jokes.

“There is something about playing to an absolutely bursting-atthe-seams venue where your feet are sticking to the floor, the audience is practically on top of you and they’re all just going mad for the music. There is nothing better than that.” n

•The Selecter will be playing at Bristol Sounds on Saturday 24 June, supporting Levellers. For more information and to book tickets, visit: bristolsounds.seetickets.com

I’ve always had fond memories of playing at the Academy but also much smaller places, like The Fleece, too

Summer Show Portishead

Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 July 2023

The Flower Show Field, Clevedon Road, Portishead, BS20 7RA

Fusion Extreme Mountain Bike Display, The Mini Pony Show, M & M Gundogs, Happy Hooves Mobile Farm with a return visit from Shetland Performance Display Team Music from the Batala Bristol Samba Reggae Band, Barnacle Buoys and The Cat’s Pyjamas – and Punch and Judy, Fun Dog Show, S4k Fun Sports for children with lots more...Trade Stands, Refreshments, Horse Box Bar & Stone Baked Pizzas

Advance Tickets: Adults £8.00: Weekend Tickets £12.00

Children under 17 Free FREE CAR PARKING

www.portisheadsummershow.com

Legendary comeback

After a three-year hiatus, St Pauls Carnival is back, celebrating African and Carribean culture and honouring legends from the past, present and future. With a series of fringe events starting from 22 June, we take a closer look at what’s in store for the legendary comeback...

Bristol’s celebration of African and Caribbean culture, St Pauls Carnival, is returning to the city’s streets this summer after three long years away. With a theme of Learning from Legends, the 2023 celebration will commence with a series of fringe events from 22 June, marking the Windrush 75th Anniversary, and will culminate in the iconic day-long traditional Caribbean street carnival on 1 July.

This year will mark the first full carnival day since 2019, which will see over 100,000 people celebrate in the heart of Bristol’s St Pauls community. The Learning from Legends theme will be particularly poignant to Bristol’s African Caribbean community following the passing of Bristol Bus Boycott activist and Carnival forefather, Roy Hackett MBE on 3 August 2022. The theme was felt to be an important way to pay homage to Roy and to many other local legends who have been lost through the pandemic years.

This year marks 60 years since Bristol’s Bus Boycott when Roy spearheaded a months’ long boycott of the Bristol Omnibus Company, challenging its systemic racial discrimination in recruitment. His actions, and those of other fellow Bristolians, paved the way for the Race Relations Act 1965. The University of Bristol awarded Roy a doctorate in science at his funeral.

The year 2023 also sees the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrush arriving in Britain on 22 June 1948. This important historic event will be marked in the traditional fringe events in the run up to the 1 July and on the day itself.

Commenting on the Carnival 2023, executive director of St Pauls Carnival, LaToyah McAllister-Jones said: “We’re well underway with our planning for the return of Carnival after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. This year was always going to be a big one but is all the more important as we celebrate the lives and contributions so many people have made to carnival.

What’s more, St Pauls Carnival has teamed up with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club to present the first ever T20 Carnival Clash on 17 June. Hosted at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol, this one-off celebration will bring a Caribbean flavour to the Gloucestershire v Kent Spitfires Vitality Blast fixture. The event will feature special pre-match performances from Carnival artists and music will be provided by Carnival DJs blasting Reggae, Soca and Calypso sounds from the

islands. Food stalls will also offer flavours from the Caribbean, creating a truly authentic experience for fans.

In keeping with this year’s theme, Carnival Clash T20 will bring together cricketing legend and current Gloucestershire President, Syd Lawrence, with St Pauls Carnival’s current chair, Levi Roots. This year will be the first full St Pauls Carnival for Roots, who was appointed in 2021. Commenting on this year’s plans, he said: “I am really excited about seeing Carnival back in full technicolour on the streets of Bristol. While we have continued our work in the last few years through smaller scale events, I am looking forward to seeing Carnival come to life under the Learning from Legends theme to mark such an historic year in some many ways.”

Executive director of St Pauls Carnival, LaToyah McAllister-Jones, said: “This year was always going to be a big one but is all the more important as we celebrate the lives and contributions so many people have made to carnival.

“Since it began, Carnival has played a central and active role in challenging the status quo and this year’s celebration will be an important one for us all to acknowledge the challenges those who have gone before us have faced in blazing a trail to ensure African Caribbean culture is preserved and celebrated.” n

• For more information about St Pauls Carnival 2023, visit: stpaulscarnival.net. All images courtesy of St Pauls Carnival

WHAT’S ON

Farm to City Club

n 7 June, Harvey Nichols Bristol

Discover the culinary delights of Malaysia and South Asia at Harvey Nichols Bristol. Coming on Wednesday 7 June (7pm), explore the organic and seasonal delights of Castle Farm, Midford. Located near Bath and run by husband and wife – Pravin and Leah Nayar – Castle Farm specialises in farm-to-table cooking, inspired by the team’s mixed Asian and Scandinavian heritage and seasonal produce grown in the garden. For this exclusive event in collaboration with Harvey Nichols Bristol, the Castle Farm team will be bringing the flavours of Malaysia and South Asia to the city with a six-course tasting menu at the Second Floor Restaurant. Tickets cost £55 per person. harveynichols.com/store/bristol

Medusa Deluxe (15)

n Showing from 8 –15 June, Watershed

The audaciously original debut from writerdirector Thomas Hardiman, Medusa Deluxe is a bold, camp and unique take on the murder mystery. After a stylist is found dead at a hairdressing competition, the remaining competitors try to uncover the killer over the course of an evening, in this vivacious and absurdly comic ensemble drama. Rivalry and mistrust build as the remaining group of determined contestants suspect that someone may be trying to rig the competition, by gruesomely picking off its

entrants. Book your tickets at: watershed.co.uk

Bristol Film Festival: Withnail and I

n 9 & 10 June, Averys Wine Cellars

Vintage Screenings pair classic films with thematically linked wine tastings to create unique evenings in the stunning setting of Averys Wine Merchants’ historic wine cellar. This month, Bristol Film Festival is bringing Bruce Robinson’s cult comedy classic Withnail And I to Averys. Whether you know every line or have yet to discover the delights of this true highlight of British cinema, it’s sure to be a riotous evening. bristolfilmfestival.com

AfroFest

n 10 June, Trinity Centre

After a sold out second edition of AfroFest in 2022, the festival is returning to Trinity for another day of music, dance, fashion and more. Featuring headliners from Bristol and London, audiences can look forward to Dj sets, food stalls, a bouncy castle, face painting, an African fabric fashion exhibition, games and much more. Book tickets at: trinitybristol.org.uk

Jen Cloher

n 14 June, The Louisiana Jen Cloher (Ngāpuhi & Ngāti Kahu) is a songwriter and performer living on unceded Wurundjeri land in Naarm (Melbourne)

Australia. Cloher’s taut, terse brand of rock is charged with the static tension that comes with being an eternal misfit; they have spoken truth to power with the shrewd eye that only an outsider can possess. Admirers have naturally gravitated towards Cloher’s incisive, generous songwriting. Over the course of five albums, they have won a J Award and an AIR Award and been nominated for an ARIA and the Australian Music Prize. thelouisiana.net

Military Service of Remembrance

n 14 June, Bristol Memorial Woodlands

A service commemorating the men and women who have lost their lives while serving their country will take place at Bristol Memorial Woodlands on 14 June. The annual Military Service of Remembrance will be led by Padre Maj. Andy Latifa in the onsite chapel. This will be followed by a parade to the war memorial within the woodlands with military representatives marching to lay wreaths and pay their respects. memorialwoodlands.com

Bristol Bach Choir:

Celebrating British Music

n 17 June, St Mary Redcliffe, BS1 6RA

Bristol Bach Choir presents a celebration of British Choral Music on 17 June at 7.30pm in St Mary Redcliffe. The 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd is marked with

the masterpieces Infelix ego and Ad Dominumcumtribularer. These richly scored works occupy an extraordinary sound world and explore a huge range of textures and emotions. bristolbach.org.uk

Bristol Choral Society: A Memory of the Ocean

n 24 June, Bristol Cathedral

Bristol Choral Society and Hilary Campbell are proud to present the world premiere this summer of A Memory of the Ocean by Grace-Evangeline Mason. A prominent young musical star, Mason was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS), with the support of the RVW Trust to compose this collection of pieces. The result is simply breathtaking.

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams, this concert also showcases very contrasting pieces by Elizabeth Poston and Judith Weir. bristolchoral.co.uk

Then Sing We All: Choral Jazz

n 25 June, St George’s Bristol

The 100-strong City of Bristol Choir presents an uplifting celebration of singing featuring the cantata Then Sing We All by jazz virtuoso and composer Iain Farrington, staged as part of the St George’s Festival of Voice. Expressing the joy of singing together, this joyful piece sets 16th and 17th century texts fusing swing, funk, late-night blues and gospel styles.

stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Frank Water: Stand up for Safe Water

n 30 June, Bristol Harbourside

Bristol-based global charity, Frank Water alongside SUP Bristol, is hosting a paddleboarding competition on the beautiful and

historic harbourside from 1-6.30 pm. The inclusive event is open to anyone, and it’s a brilliant opportunity to get a group of friends, family, or colleagues together to have fun, but also support the charity’s water security work, enabling sustainable safe water, better sanitation, and good hygiene for those most in need.

Frank Water is asking teams of four to register for £180 and raise £199 in sponsorship. In return, each team that enters will receive a free team training session with SUP Bristol and the chance of winning the coveted Stand Up for Safe Water trophy. Register for your place today: frankwater.com

COMING SOON

The Flying Dutchman

n 4 & 5 July, SS Great Britain

The Flying Dutchman is a haunting political tale exploring the displacement of people and the psychology and realities of living on an island with hardening borders, bringing an urgent and contemporary relevance to the fable of the ships captain cursed to roam the sea forever. Award-winning OperaUpClose in partnership with recent RPS Award winning Manchester Camerata reinvigorate Wagner’s classic with an English libretto by poet and novelist Glyn Maxwell and an eight-piece chamber orchestration by Laura Bowler. operaupclose.com

H AM F ARM F ESTIVAL

28-30 July 2023

Emersons Green

3 double-bill evening concerts, 3 daytime concerts and 3 free workshops

Three day cross-genre music festival bringing world-class musicians to an informal and intimate stage surrounded by nature and birdsong.

Lady Nade and her band

Lauren Scott “Harp Haven”

Filkin's Drift

Rosanna Ter-Berg and her “supercharged flutes”

Miss Kiddy and the Cads

Lucas Saboya

Clube do Choro Bristol Bullerengue Circle

Full line up and tickets: www.hamfarmfestival.com

Tickets on Headfirst or in person from Cleve Chiropractic, Mangotsfield

Step into a world of pure imagination...

As the spectacular stage show of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory – with all new numbers from the multi awardwinning songwriters of Hairspray – prepares to arrive at the Bristol Hippodrome in September, we chat to Gareth Snook, who plays the marvellous chocolatier Willy Wonka, to hear all about the show-stopping creation…

Come in!” boomed the positively buoyant voice behind the dressing room door, that when opened, framed the welcoming arms of Gareth Snook. Snook is an electric presence on stage and his charm transcends the fictional world. We are here to talk about his star turn as Willy Wonka in the dazzling new production of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. When we sit down with Snook, just 50 minutes before showtime, the production has just arrived at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, which just so happens to be Roald Dahl’s hometown. “It’s funny coming to work and strolling down Roald Dahl Plass. We’re right in the territory”, he says.

As we settle in, I clock the Wonka paraphernalia surrounding us – the coat, the hat, the cane. “As soon as I put that costume on, it does it for me,” Snook says. “I look in the mirror and go, there he is.”

CharlieandTheChocolateFactory hit the West End stage for the first time in 2013. Over the course of its three and a half-year run, it broke the record for weekly ticket sales and scooped two Laurence

Olivier Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Lighting Design. The show was then reworked for Broadway, running for nine months before embarking on a US tour, an Australian tour and then back to the states for another visit.

Now, the brand new production by director James Brining is on its first ever year-long circuit of the UK and Ireland. Having started at the Leeds Playhouse in November, CharlieandTheChocolate Factory is set to arrive at the Bristol Hippodrome in September. A production seemingly of many firsts, audiences will also see the role of Charlie Bucket shared between four people throughout the year –including two actresses, Jessie-Lou Harvie and Amelia Minto – all of whom have received acclaim for their performances. What’s more, the creators have incorporated sign language into the production. Leonie Spilsbury, who plays Mrs Bucket and who is herself deaf, uses BSL alongside her dialogue, as do the other characters when speaking directly to her.

The 29-strong cast is brimming with talent and Snook is no stranger to the stage. His credits include LesMisérables, Phantomof theOpera, TheFullMonty, MadeinDagenham, BloodBrothers and Chicago, to name just a few. Bristolians may know him from director Emma Rice’s hit production of WiseChildren, which is also the name of her Bristol-based theatre company. But we’ve got to know, how does he feel about taking up the role of the world’s most famous chocolatier?

“I quickly discovered that you have to make it your own to bring him to life. You have to use a lot of yourself and I’ve certainly done that.

“Wonka can be a very misunderstood character. People describe him as sinister, but the kids bring it upon themselves. He warns them all but they don’t listen,” he laughs. “I’ve fallen in love with him a little bit, so I like protecting him. I think he deserves that.”

I wonder, has Snook taken any inspiration from Gene Wilder’s 1971 depiction or Johnny Depp’s 2005 portrayal? “I’m a huge fan of Gene Wilder – I think he’s extraordinary,” Snook tells us. “I watched both films but I didn’t revisit them as research because there’s such a difference between the musical theatre adaptation and the movies. But I do think Gene Wilder’s characterisation probably did have an effect on me.”

With music and lyrics by Grammy, Emmy and Tony Awardwinning composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman [Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can], the duo tip their hats and pay homage to Wilder’s original motion picture with the inclusion of Pure Imagination and TheCandyMan, while also injecting pop, techno and classical into the brilliant new score.

Simon Higlett’s set and costume design is also a masterpiece in itself. Harnessing the art of stagecraft, the set is transformed from the Bucket family’s gloomy dwelling to the chocolate-fuelled magical and mysterious world of Wonka’s factory using impressive creative technologies to deliver a fantastical visual experience.

“The set is ground-breaking,” Snook notes. “It’s a show of two halves. The first act is all about introducing the Bucket family and the children who win the golden tickets and then act two is all about the tour through the factory. It’s so colourful, there’s a video wall and floor – it’s incredible.”

By the time Wonka’s factory arrives in Bristol, the cast will have completed well over 250 shows. We ask Snook how he spends his free time in between the eight or nine shows he performs each week. “Lying down as much as possible,” he quips.

And what about when you’re in Bristol? “I know Bristol very well. I love the curry house next door to Bristol Old Vic. Is it the Raj? You will definitely see me in there at some point.”

As our time together comes to an end, I can’t help but marvel at Snook’s cool composure just 30 minutes before the show starts. As we stand to leave, he spins around on his chair and picks up a box of Lindt Lindor milk orange chocolate truffles. “Would you like a chocolate? I’m an orange and mint man,” he beams. From Willy Wonka himself? This must be pure imagination. n

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical is showing at Bristol Hippodrome from 20 September –8 October. Book your tickets at: atgtickets.com. Photography by Johan Persson

FAMILY DIARY

DISCOVER THE BEST THINGS TO SEE & DO WITH THE FAMILY THIS MONTH

Wake The Tiger Amazement Park

n Open now, Albert Road BS2 0YA

From the artistic team behind the groundbreaking festival, Boomtown Fair, journey to the world of Meridia. Having spent over a decade creating one of the most large scale immersive festival experiences in the world, the team wanted to expand and diversify their creative potential by establishing a year round arts and events venue where audiences can experience the work in a non-festival environment. wakethetiger.com

Scribble and Sketch

n Once a month, various locations

Join the RWA’s Scribble and Sketch artists at locations across the city on Saturdays once a month for free family workshops. These sessions are designed for children and grownups to take part in together –everyone is welcome. Admission is free. No pre-booking required. Suitable for all ages, children must be supervised. rwa.org.uk

Festival of Nature and Aardman present:

Meet Lloyd of the Flies at Watershed

n 10 June, Watershed

Join Watershed for this special event at Festival of Nature to hear from series creator and director, Matthew Walker, alongside world renowned fly expert Dr Erica McAlister, who helped advise on the show. Matt will share some of his favourite clips and funny moments making the series, and Erica will be on hand to look at some of the insect facts behind the show. Family event most suitable for kids aged 7-11 and their grown-ups. watershed.co.uk

The Marky Jay Monkey Magic Show

n 11 June, The Wardrobe Theatre

The Marky Jay Monkey Magic Show has been performed around the world from Adelaide to Swindon. Featuring world-class diabolo and juggling, banana-based magic and the standard bag and a half of silliness. As always Marky will be joined by his monkey sidekick Professor Steven Chimpington Bsc (hons), all building to his super crazy “dangerous finale”.

A one human circus theatre show designed for anybody with a sense of humour over four years old. thewardrobetheatre.com

We The Curious: Stories from the Soul

n 15 June –29 June, John Wesley's New Room Does the soul exist? Where might the soul be found? Can the soul be seen by science?

Settle back in the atmospheric setting of John Wesley’s New Room, as We The Curious

guide you through Stories from the Soul. Following the success of its recent Stories from the Stars events, We The Curious’s storytellers return for a brand new show packed full of stories. Experience tales from around the world based in science, history, and mythology... wethecurious.org

HartFest

n 17 June, Hartcliffe City Farm

Heart of BS13 and Windmill Hill City Farm are teaming up to launch Hart Fest – a day of family fun at Hartcliffe City Farm. Visitors can expect to see circus shows, a sheep shearing workshop, a dog show and best dressed dog competition, arts and crafts, live music and much more. heartofbs13.org.uk

Dinosaur Day

n 18 June, Berkeley Castle

This Father’s Day, Berkeley Castle is bringing dinosaurs back from extinction. Meet Raptor and Rexy as they roaringly entertain from the safety of their arena. A fantastic day out for the whole family. berkeley-castle.com

Disney's The Lion King

n Until 1 July, Bristol Hippodrome

Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, Disney’s multi award-winning musical is

showing at Bristol Hippodrome until 1 July and promises to be a theatrical experience that you will remember forever. atgtickets.com

Young Theatre Makers (3–5 yrs)

n Every Saturday until 15 July, Tobacco Factory Theatres

Designed to be a safe space of creative

exploration for 3-5 year olds, children will build their confidence by learning new skills, making new friends and most importantly having fun. Tobacco Factory’s workshops are not just about acting, they are about teamwork, social skills, imagination, and creative expression. For more information, visit: tobaccofactorytheatres.com n

STATE OF THE ART

Found Cities, Lost Objects: Women in the City, Royal West of England Academy (RWA), until 13 August

Found Cities, Lost Objects: Women in the City, is a national touring exhibition curated for the Arts Council Collection by Turner Prize-winning artist and cultural activist Lubaina Himid CBE. This exhibition of over 60 works, including some by Bristol-based artists, presents a wide array of modern and contemporary art, including painting, sculpture, photography and film from both the Arts Council Collection and artists’ studios.

The work in this exhibition can sometimes appear challenging and encourages visitors to view the city through a woman’s eyes, questioning our understanding of the urban city. Found Cities, Lost Objects addresses themes ranging from safety and navigation to concepts of belonging and power and fun, freedom and discovery.

RWA is excited to include work by Bristol artists Valda Jackson, Mellony Taper, Beth Carter RWA, Huma Mulji, and Veronica Vickery, amongst others.

• Royal West of England Academy, Queen’s Road, BS8 1PX

Mycelium Book by Rodrigo Arteaga, Arnolfini, until 18 June

Mycelium Book is a special display of Chilean artist Rodrigo Arteaga’s new artwork, presented in the Reading Room on Level Two at Arnolfini. Arteaga was in residence in Bristol in Summer 2022 to create a new commissioned sculpture, Fallen Tree, for their exhibition Forest: Wake this Ground. Fallen Tree was made from an ash tree found in Leigh Woods, with support from Forestry England. The work explored what it would look like if we could see underground as the tree begins to rot, decompose and become assimilated by mycelium. Mycelium is a network of fungal threads that connect the roots of plants and trees into a giant web able to communicate and share resources.

Following this commission, Arteaga undertook a residency with the Centre for Print Research (CFPR) at UWE Bristol. He worked in collaboration with researchers at the CFPR to use mycelium to produce non-human drawings, photographic images and sculptures. Arteaga experimented in ways to observe the underworld that exists beyond our senses.

• arnolfini.org.uk; 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA

In this series of abstract paintings Diné artist Randy Barton explores the Bauhaus Movement through the lens of graffiti art.

Barton is a neo-contemporary Native artist, designer, dancer, DJ and music producer from the Navajo Nation in Arizona. The foundation of his work derives from the unique combination of his background in graffiti art and the traditional Navajo teachings and ceremonies that began shaping his life at an early age. His paintings showcase the Navajo Beauty Way (divine feminine) and Protection Way (divine masculine) with hip hop undertones and are inspired by the colours and hues of heightened states of awareness. He transforms acrylic and aerosol paint into stimulating abstract landscapes of time travel, rainbow walking, reflection and soul remembrance manifested from the spirit realm. Each brushstroke is a prayer and a moving meditation from spirit to canvas. The artist’s intention is to utilise art as a vehicle to uplift the soul and promote healing and awareness.

• rainmakerart.co.uk; 140 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2RS

BS9 Arts Trail, 10 & 11 June

Where can you go to see the work of 40 painters, 15 potters, 10 textile artists and eight mixed-media artists, plus printers, glass artists, jewellery-makers, digital artists, illustrators, an enamel artist and a wood carver – and all for free? Answer – this year’s BS9 Arts Trail! The trail takes place on the weekend of 10 and 11 June and 87 artists will be showing their work in 15 venues in the Henleaze, Westbury-on-Trym and Stoke Bishop areas of the city. All venues are open from 11am-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The artists produce a vast array of high-quality work that is available to purchase directly from the person who made it. There is something to suit every budget, from greetings cards to original paintings. The BS9 Arts Trail is a community event that benefits enormously from the support of the BS9 community and local businesses, including the sponsor for this year’s trail, VWV. The trail is located in a really attractive part of the city and artists are based in interesting venues, such as the Stoke Lodge Centre and Trinity College. Several venues offer refreshments, which not only provide welcome breaks in your journey, but have helped to raise around £2,000 for local causes in previous years.

• For more detailed information about artists and venues, visit: bs9arts.co.uk

Graffiti Ice Cream, The Viewing Room at Sandra Higgins Art, throughout June

Sandra Higgins Art is pleased to exhibit Graffiti Ice Cream, a series of unique prints inspired by Bristol harbourside. Usher in the summer with this joyful series of unique monotype prints –all named after ice-cream flavours –by Maxine Foster. Foster’s work screams hot summer days: blue skies, twinkling water and melting ice-cream.

Sandra Higgins has worked in the art business for many years, first in her hometown of Chicago as an artist and art tutor, then in the UK as an art administrator, curator and gallery owner. Sandra is now based in Bath, where she has established her art advisory business, Sandra Higgins Art. The new series is currently available at ‘The Viewing Room’ in Bath.

• For more information, visit: sandrahiggins.art

Artwork by Maxine Foster

Moish Sokal: England to Savanna, Malthouse Gallery of East Lambrook Manor Gardens, 3 June – 22 July

Travelling artist Moish Sokal has recently returned from his painting adventure safari trips to the wildlife parks of Tanzania and Kenya. His newly inspired watercolours will go on show in the Malthouse Gallery of East Lambrook Manor Gardens from 3 June – 22 July.

After waiting three years to travel to the wildlife parks of the Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro due to the Covid pandemic, Moish (and his assistant Prue) were able to return to the African bush, taking in the extraordinary sights of Tarangire National Park, the extinct volcanoof Ngorongoro and the Tsavo wildlife parks.

Alongside the wildlife paintings that Sokal painted upon his return from Africa, there is a significant cache of paintings which Moish painted during last years’ Autumn season featured in the exhibition.

• moishsokal.co.uk; eastlambrook.com

Artwork by Moish Sokal

Horizon, Lime Tree Gallery, until 20 June

Lime Tree Gallery is broadening its horizons with work from two artists new to the galleries. French abstract painter, Alain du Pontavice, brings beautiful, subtle colours and textures, while Swedish artist Carina Prigmore, now resident in Scotland, paints lovely moody landscapes, often of the majestic Cairngorms.

A different kind of horizon has inspired West Cork-based Ian Humphreys for much of his career. The dramatic coast and islands of his locale form the background to his increasingly abstract work, which is almost obsessed with the horizontal.

• limetreegallery.com; 84 Hotwell Road, BS8 4UB

Image: Red Sun on Icy Waters by Alain du Pontavice

Expert opinion

Liquid Assets

Wine has always been a staple of the auction business, in the early 20th century no country house sale would be complete without a few pages of the clarets and ports from the cellar. Today wines and spirits are a multi-million pound auction business with premier sales taking place around the world. With what can appear a minefield to negotiate never has the auction adage of buying what you like been more true. The market is still recovering from the difficulties that come from Covid, the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis, which have made this a difficult few years for the wine trade. The buyers are also changing with the average age lowering year-on-year, today’s fine wines are more likely to be purchased by young Millennials. With the rise in online bidding collectors, dealers, restauranteurs and merchants can all fight at the same auction. Habits are changing too, and like the market, consumers are deciding to buy better quality rather than large volumes. France has always been the place to begin collecting, with the traditional regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone and Champagne leading the way. Most collectors start with Bordeaux and then move on

to the Burgundy with their amazing whites and reds from this region are increasingly strong.

We often find vintage Port, usually a gift marking a special year or occasion. The outstanding years of 1963, 1985, 1994 and 2007 often turn up at auction and offer exceptional value for money.

Spirits are of course led by whisky with great names, such as Macallan, Dalmore and Bowman attracting record-breaking prices around the world. A single bottle of The Macallan Fine and Rare 1926 whisky sold at auction for £1.2m. The strong Asian market also has a fondness for whisky, with a fifty four bottle set of Hanyu Ichiro’s Japanese whisky selling for £755,000. ■

• clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)

Voluminous Pleated

Detail Maxi Dress, £175

. Available from & Other Stories; stories.com

Shoe The Bear Dixie Brown Suede Clogs £139.95

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Stine Goya Lotta BagImpressionist Garden, £90 Available from Grace & Mabel; graceandmabel.co.uk

Polka Dot Corset Dress, £32.99 Available from Zara; zara.com

Elle Floral Print Tie Front Cropped Blouse in Coral/White, £138 Available from Reiss; reiss.com

Lily Checkered Panama Hat, The Panama Hat Company, £79 Available from Joules; joules.com

A taste of summer

It’s time to talk summer! We’re embracing bright, bold, dopamine-inducing colours this season...

Maia Fitted Halter Neck Midi Dress in Green, £198

. Available from Reiss; reiss.com

Hollie Wide Leg Linen Trousers in Orange, £178 . Available from Reiss; reiss.com Selected Femme Sara Orange Leather Heeled Sandals, £135 Available from Oliver Bonas; oliverbonas.com

Cropped Top with Tied Bow in Yellow, £29.99 Available from Zara; zara.com

Flared Trousers, £32.99

. Available from Zara; zara.com

Les Néréides Red Pansy & Faceted Crystal Stud Earrings, £100 . Available from Grace & Mabel; graceandmabel.co.uk

Les Néréides Siberian Iris & Glass Post Earrings, £100

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Broadwell Straw Bag, £150 . Available from Jigsaw; jigsaw-online.com

Gola Grandslam Quadrant Gold Trainers, £85 . Available from Oliver Bonas; oliverbonas.com

Maldon D-Frame Sunglasses, £99 Available from Jigsaw; jigsaw-online.com

Eclectic Patchwork Boho Dress, £189 Available from Sahara; saharalondon.com

FOOD & DRINK

TASTY TIDBITS FROM THE CITY’S BEST RESTAURANTS, CHEFS AND PRODUCERS

St Nick's Market announces summer of busking

Bristol’s favourite maze of stalls and pop-up restaurants has revealed a jam-packed schedule of summer busking events for 2023. St Nicks will have local musicians from the Bristol Institute of Music Management (BIMM) performing for visitors as part of a summer series that delightfully intertwines shopping, eating and music. The acoustic sessions will fill the market with covers and original material on Saturdays throughout summer, including 24 June, 29 July and 26 August. The event is free and no tickets or booking is required.

Much-anticipated neighbourhood pub opens in Fishponds

The All Inn is the latest opening from independent hospitality group Dodo Pub Co., who are known and loved for their quirky yet traditional style. The venue, situated on Staple Hill Road, occupies the space previously known as The Cross Hands, and the team are committed to retaining the venue’s history and legacy, whilst offering the group’s signature burgers, Neapolitan pizzas and and a range of both locally sourced and specially brewed Dodo beers.

The All Inn’s range of burgers, pizzas and sides is available on Deliveroo, with 30% off first orders for the first month (until 22 June). The All Inn will be open seven days a week from 12pm11pm, offering all day drinking and dining.

• dodopubs.com/locations/the-all-inn-pub/

In amongst the quirky stalls, street food and historic architecture in the heart of the Old City, visitors can listen to acoustic sessions from Bristol talent whilst exploring the abundance of independent traders in The Covered Market and The Exchange Hall of St Nick’s Market. Home to a variety of self-contained businesses, The Covered Market includes books, sweets, records and gifts whilst The Exchange Hall houses an eclectic array of stalls from handmade jewellery to hot (and we mean hot!) sauce.

• bristol.gov.uk/st-nicholas-markets

Bristol welcomes new seafood kitchen, Noah’s

Dan and Joie Rosser have officially opened Noah’s fish and chips and seafood kitchen. To be found next to the river on Brunel Lock Road, Noah’s looks out to some of the city’s most well-known landmarks, with the historic B bond tobacco warehouse on one side and Cumberland Basin and Clifton Suspension Bridge on the other. The iconic building, previously occupied by local cafe institution Lockside, which traded for 60 years and featured in several TV shows, including Only

Fools and Horses, spans one floor and has been completely transformed by its latest custodians.

Noah’s follows in the footsteps of thriving award-winning restaurant, The Scallop Shell in Bath, opened by Dan’s parents, Garry & Lisa Rosser in 2015, and shares their ethos for simple, beautifully cooked seafood delivered in a relaxed setting with the warmest hospitality. Dan has honed his chef skills working with Mitch Tonks in Devon, Marco Pierre White in Singapore and Nieves Barragán Mohacho in London while Joie fell in love with hospitality life working for the Ritz-Carlton and Jason Atherton in Singapore.

• noahsbristol.co.uk. Credit: Matt Inwood

Celebrating independents

As we prepare to celebrate Independent Bookshop Week from 17 –24 June, GloucesterRoadBooks pickfivebrilliantreads

Anote from the team: “Our primary aim is that the shop be a fascinating place to explore. Some of the subject sections are a little broader than they might be elsewhere –for instance our ‘Time and Place’ section encompasses books on History, Travel Literature, Geography and Reportage. We also have a significant focus on titles published by small independent presses. There are lots of really brilliant small publishers putting out incredibly exciting books, and we want to help get these out into the world. The stock is carefully chosen and constantly changing, so even if you pop in every week there will always be

To sign up, visit Gloucester Road Books’ website: gloucesterroadbooks.com. Follow them on Instagram: gloucester_rd_books and browse the collection in store: 184 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NU. Open Monday –Tuesday 9.30am –5pm; Wednesday –Saturday 9.30am –6pm

Mild Vertigo by

Pond is about a woman living alone in an Irish country cottage, but it is the enthralling and masterful handling of language by Bennett that gives this collection a wholly unique tone. The prose charges ahead in descriptions of people, objects, and memories, infusing the everyday with an urgency of embodied experience. Bennett’s writing is artfully selfconscious whilst still resonating with so much empathy and emotion.

This Is Not Miami

Translated by Polly

Mieko Kanai’s longestablished writing career has fixed her a cult-status in Japan with this newly-translated novel gaining comparisons with Clarice Lispector, Elena Ferrante and Lucy Ellmann. In gossipy and familiar prose, it follows the interior monologue of a housewife in Tokyo at risk of losing herself in the repetitions and frustrations of her domestic duties.

Counternarratives

This is a fabulously inventive collection of stories, each presenting a perspective askew from the mainstream. The writing is gloriously rich, allowing new detail to soak up toward the surface from the depths of history. This is a book to be savoured and reread. In fact, it’s probably time I revisited these extraordinary worlds.

“To live in a city is to live among stories,” reads the first line of the author’s note at the start of this brilliant collection of stories, or crónicas. It’s perfectly apt, as the stories here build up to form a mosaic image of life in Veracruz, Mexico. They contain drama, chaos, violence, as well as occasional moments of quiet in between.

Dark Neighbourhood

Set in an often surreal hinterland on the border of what seems familiar not only in their subject matter but also in the inventive way they are written, these are fresh and uncompromising short stories. Onwuemezi presents a world that readers will both recognise and feel like they are stepping into for the first time. Stark, troubling and absorbing, it’s clear to see why this brilliant collection was nominated for two prestigious prizes –Republic of Consciousness and the Edge Hill Short Story Prize –last year.

fromthe wonderful indie press Fitzcarraldo...

BRISTOL UPDATES

NEWS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

South West broadband provider’s growth skyrockets in year-to-date figures

Truespeed, the independent broadband provider, has reported a storming start to 2023. The Bath-based full-fibre broadband provider has extended its footprint by 25 per cent in the first five months of the year, now offering ultrafast broadband to 75,000 properties in the South West. The figures demonstrate a 364 per cent growth in Truespeed’s network rollout, in comparison to the same period last year. The provider has connected more than 15,000 customers across the region, an increase of 15 per cent and employing 270 local team members. This significant increase has been driven by the company’s investment in full-fibre infrastructure in the region. Truespeed has continued, at pace, to build and own its proprietary network across the region, offering an independent local alternative to the big household-name broadband providers.

The news of the network’s expansion in the early part of 2023 comes as Truespeed is ranked 53 in the ORESA Growth Index, which lists the top 100 fastest growing businesses in the UK. Hitting these considerable milestones so early in the year puts Truespeed’s rollout on target to meet the company’s ambitions to double its network footprint and customer numbers in 2023.

Truespeed offers broadband packages starting from 150 Mbps and guaranteed speeds as fast as 900 Mbps. The average home internet speed in the UK is less than 60 Mbps3. However, full-fibre broadband isn’t just about the speed; as every home has its own fibre connection, the service is more reliable, upload and download speeds are consistent and there’s greater capacity to handle the needs of multiple connected devices using the network simultaneously.

• For more information and to register your interest in receiving full-fibre broadband visit: truespeed.com or call the customer service team on 01225 300370

Use your savings as a force for good

If you’re seeking to be more environmentally friendly, it’s worth considering the impact your savings can have. One positive and impactful option is to invest in renewable, community-owned energy. With the launch of their new share offer, Bristol Energy Cooperative aims to bring people together to tackle the climate emergency and the energy crisis.

The not-for-profit organisation is seeking to raise £1 million to develop more green, clean energy projects across the region, at speed. It’s not only BEC’s members that gain from a return on investment. Over the past 10 years, the cooperative has channelled over £350,000 of community benefit payments into local sustainability initiatives, such as community gardens, education and biodiversity programmes. Also, community spaces such as Easton Community Centre and Knowle West Media Centre have benefitted from cheaper energy rates thanks to the solar installations by BEC, meaning they have more funds to spend on their vital services.

The cooperative currently has 1,500 members, and is looking to grow and diversify its membership to help create a just energy transition. Anyone can invest in BEC’s withdrawable shares, from as little as £100. Investors are projected to receive a 5% annual return. The share offer is open until 17 July 2023.

• For more information please see: bristolenergy.coop/share-offer-2023

Woodland walks to help cope with bereavement

Bristol Memorial Woodlands has partnered with Cruse, the UK’s leading bereavement charity, to organise regular bereavement walking groups. Cruse bereavement volunteers will guide people coping with grief around the woodlands, near Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, so they spend time in a therapeutic natural environment, enjoying nature and exercise.

Bristol Memorial Woodlands provides an alternative funeral venue where families have time and space to celebrate a loved ones passing with a half day or whole day funeral service. Burials and ashes interment is in an area that is being transformed into a natural woodland protected for the future by a charitable trust that will maintain it.

• Anyone wishing to take part should contact Cruse at: cruse.org.uk/postcode-lookup

BRISTOL UPDATES

NEWS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Room 212 celebrates 10th anniversary

Some 10 years ago, Sarah Thorp took over a little pop-up gallery on Gloucester Road with the idea of turning it into a permanent exhibition space and shop for local artists. As a participant in the popular North Bristol Art Trail, Sarah felt that her fellow artists could do with a space to show their artwork for more than just a weekend in November. This idea proved so popular that the shop rapidly expanded to offer a huge variety of paintings, prints, jewellery, lampshades, ceramics, gifts, cards and more, all by Bristol creatives.

Today, many of the first artists to join still sell their work at Room 212 and have become good friends. Popular artworks are Emma Catherine’s giant paintings of full moons in gold leaf, Jenny Urquhart’s floral paintings of the Bristol Suspension Bridge (both artists pictured in photo with Sarah) and Toni Burrow’s intricate mosaics.

Sarah loves being one of the long-time traders on this high street of independent shops and is the organiser of the Glos Rd Central Mayfest and Christmas Street Parties. Over the decade support for local businesses has grown and was especially evident during lockdown when customers showed their support by buying from Room 212 online.

• room212.co.uk

Business sales with no monkey business

Business Monkey strives to facilitate successful business transactions for its clients through its brokerage services. It believes in providing the highest quality of service, reliable advice, and a dedication to achieving mutually beneficial outcomes. Its goal is to provide its clients with the resources and guidance needed to make sound business decisions, and to ensure a smooth and successful transition through the business brokerage process.

Working in the Bristol, Gloucester and South Wales region, Kevin Hammon has over 30 years of business ownership experience in the sport, entertainment and construction industries. During this time, he managed, grew and sold six businesses in Johannesburg. These ventures have given him first hand entrepreneurial, management and marketing proficiency, which has enriched his understanding of these fields. Kevin believes this will facilitate him to identify and market various businesses accordingly.

He has a keen eye for business in general, and keeps up to date with current business trends. Kevin’s key asset is building good relationships with his clients.

He is an avid sports lover, a passionate golfer and enjoys travel. Attending major sporting events with friends is something that inspires and motivates him. Kevin and his family have recently made Bristol their home and are looking forward to many new adventures.

Bristol care home launches new dementia guide to support families

A care home in Bristol has launched a unique video guide to support people whose loved ones have been diagnosed with dementia. A poll of 2,000 adults carried out by Care UK, which operates Trymview Hall, on Southmead Road, found over two thirds of British adults (67%) admitted they felt they should know more about dementia.

Launched in response, the guide – One Step at a Time: a video guide to navigating dementia – is the first of its kind and is split into three sections: dealing with a dementia diagnosis, living well with dementia and supporting the carer. It is the eighth guide to be released by Care UK, following the success of its predecessors – but the first to be available in video format.

Tapping into more than 40 years of experience providing care for people living with dementia, the videos include detailed explanations and practical advice from Care UK’s experts, including Head of Nursing, Care and Dementia, Suzanne Mumford, Managers and team members from care homes across the country, plus residents’ families and carers.

Each section is designed to provide a lifeline for families whose loved one has been diagnosed with dementia by dispelling common myths and helping to shine a light on what it means to live with the condition.

It also includes practical tips from carers to help them understand how they can continue taking care of themselves, but also how their loved ones can go on to lead fulfilling lives after a diagnosis – from keeping active to continuing to enjoy old hobbies.

• To access the guide, visit: careuk.com/onestep-at-a-time

Local legends

While most people are vaguely aware of blue plaques, they remain something of a mystery. Where are they? What are they for? Why are they installed? Who puts them up? This month, Malcolm Ravenscroft, a member of the Bristol Civic Society’s blue plaque panel, sheds some light on these iconic features and outlines the history of three plaques installed in the last few years...

he Blue Plaques Scheme started in London in 1866, since then about 900 plaques have been installed in and around the city. Bristol started putting up plaques in the 1960s and the Civic Society has run the scheme since 2015. Blue plaques can be dedicated to an individual or an organisation that has made an important contribution to the life of Bristol. They can also be installed in a location where a major event took place. They can help to remind us of significant people and events that may otherwise be forgotten. They add character and a sense of pride to a neighbourhood.

Bristol has always adopted a flexible approach to applications for a plaque. While London tends to focus on the arts, we believe that Bristol should recognise a much more diverse community. Since

T2015, the Civic Society has supported the installation of 38 plaques. These have included those dedicated to a Bletchley Park code breaker, a conscientious objector, a folk music club and a narrowgauge railway.

The first blue plaque to be installed since the Civic Society took over was unveiled by the Lord Mayor on 17 October 2015 at 8 Cranbrook Road, Redland. It was to recognise the work of three sisters who lived there.

The sisters –Berta Sacof (1899-1989), Helen Bloom (1901-1987) and Jeannette Britton (1910-1991), born Berta, Helen and Jeannette Strimer –were from a comfortable middle-class background in Bristol and led completely conventional lives until they had a collective political awakening in the 1940s.

They went on to pursue tireless political and community activism. For a while, all three were simultaneously Bristol City Councillors; two became Aldermen and one became Lord Mayor. Sitting on various council committees and other local organisations they played a significant part in shaping modern Bristol in everything from health and education to criminal justice.

In 2016, a beauty clinic at 5 Waterloo Street, Clifton received a blue plaque to recognise both the Troubadour folk club, which was based there from 1966 to 1971, and the first enterprise to use the address ‘Clifton Village’.

In the 60s, Georgian Clifton was dilapidated and bohemian, providing cheap accommodation for students, artists, musicians and writers. Inspired by New York’s colourful and alternative neighbourhood, Greenwich Village, the folk club in 1970 gave its address as ‘Clifton Village’ on posters and publicity material. This was the first time such an address was used. Clifton Village is now firmly established in our vocabulary, especially amongst estate agents, restaurants, and coffee shops.

The club had a serious reputation as the leading contemporary folk venue outside London. Its tiny stage attracted performers of national standing. The Incredible String Band, Al Stewart, Bert Jansch, Tim Hart, Maddy Prior, and the Strawbs all performed there. Over 80 folk fans and past performers attended the unveiling.

The 31st blue plaque was installed in October 2021. It made history as the first blue plaque to be installed on a working prison in the UK. Placed on the Old Main Gate to Horfield Prison, HMP Bristol in Cambridge Road, BS7 8PS, it recognises Theresa Garnett. She was a suffragette who was imprisoned at Horfield in 1909.

Theresa Garnett’s most famous action in the campaign for women’s right to vote took place at Temple Meads Railway Station in November 1909. She assaulted Winston Churchill with a whip, calling out” “Take that in the name of the insulted women of England!”

She was arrested for assault even though contemporary reports, including Churchill’s, stated that she had not actually hit him. Even so, she was found guilty of disturbing the peace and sentenced to a month’s incarceration in Horfield Prison. She was later awarded the ‘Hunger Strike Medal for Valour’ by the WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union).

The plaque was unveiled on 1 October by the three most senior elected women on Bristol City Council: Deputy Mayor Asher Craig, and Cabinet members Helen Holland and Nicola Beech. n

• For more information about Bristol Civic Society, visit: bristolcivicsociety.org.uk

SCAN THE CODE TO FIND OUT MORE ON OUR 2023 MEDIA PACK

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Thinking

Our 2023 media pack can be viewed online

OR CONTACT US ON 0117 974 2800 or EMAIL: SALES @ THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Here To Help You Through This

Providing everything you need for the perfect funeral

‘When we lost mum back in July, we were at a loss of what we needed to do. We contacted Brunel, spoke to Louise who talked us through the process. Following our appointment where we discussed mum’s wishes, within a blink of an eye the funeral was arranged. We met Chris and he put us at ease assuring us that Mum would be very well looked after in their care. We had arranged a bagpiper to pipe mum into the chapel, Louise and Chris spoke with him and on the day of the funeral, everything went as we wanted, but more importantly how mum wanted it. I have already recommended Brunel to people and will continue to do so. Thank you.’

Award Winning

Most Trusted Independent Funeral Directors 2023 – South West England South West Prestige Award 2023

3 Best Rated Funeral Director Bristol

Our carefully chosen staff have many years of knowledge, experience and dedication to our families, so you can rest assured that you are in safe hands

A family-owned independent funeral home, covering all of Bristol and surrounding areas

We offer an affordable funeral for £2430 inclusive of crematorium and minister/celebrant fee, to a fully bespoke service fulfilling your loved ones wishes and requests

We have a modern, light and welcoming funeral home for you to visit, or we will visit you in your own home. Whichever you are more comfortable with

PATCHOLOGY Chill Mode Calming

Hydrogel Mask, £10

Bask in blissful relaxation while you soothe and deeply moisturise your skin with Patchology’s ultra-luxe hydrogel mask. A perfect balance of antioxidant Rhodiola, antiphotoaging Reishi Mushroom, and hydrating Snow Mushroom, aka “nature’s Hyaluronic Acid,” leaves your skin on a high note.

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NEOM Scent to Sleep Essential Oil

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SLIP

Pure Silk Queen Pillowcase in Pistachio, £89

These luxury cases are anti-ageing, anti-sleep crease and anti-bed head. Unlike cotton, which draws moisture from your face, hair and scalp, this luxury case breathes and is a natural temperature regulator while being gentle on your hair, allowing your hairstyle/blow-dry to last overnight.

Sleep easy

Here, the team at Harvey Nichols Bristol highlight their favourite sleep saviours –from pure silk pillows and deep-sleep sprays to nurturing skincare and calming masks. Celebrate the glory of a good night’s rest...

SKANDINAVISK

RO Scented Candle

200g, £35

Peace, calm and tranquillity from the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The RO Scented Candle by Skandinavisk unveils notes of cut grass and fallen leaves, cucumber and wild violets.

THIS WORKS Deep Sleep Pillow Spray 75ml, £21

The miracle solution to a good night’s sleep. With This Works signature relaxing fragrance, this pillow spray will become your must-have sleep solution. Infused with essential oils of Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Camomile to soothe the body and mind. A fragrant pillow spray, the best beauty secret there is.

NEOM Wellbeing Pod, £95

Whatever your wellbeing need, the NEOM Wellbeing Pod works at the touch of a button, helping you achieve better sleep, less stress, a mood boost or more energy through 100% natural Essential Oil Blends. The signature white ceramic cover now complements an upcycled light wood base, touch sensitive display, breathing mode and more.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

NEWS FROM SOME OF BRISTOL’S BRILLIANT HEALTH & WELLNESS BUSINESSES

Bluebird Care celebrate immediate availability

“It’s a brave new world... I’m still adjusting to operating without a waiting list,” muses Tim Rowland Jones, Director of Bluebird Care Bristol. As the owner of a CQC Outstanding home and live-in care company, he is accustomed to running at full capacity. “Bristolians are discerning –they won’t accept just any care company –so we’ve always held an orderly waiting list for our services. Two out of three new customers find us via word of mouth, recommended by a friend, neighbour, GP, or hospital discharge team.”

For the first time in a decade, the Bristol Bluebirds have immediate availability to start care thanks to herculean recruitment and training efforts.

Bristol Health Hub: Is it time that you had a health MOT?

Bristol Health Hub specialises in women and men’s health checks and is run by a group of nurse consultants who are passionate about health and wellbeing.

Life can be extremely busy and stressful, leading us to neglect our physical, emotional and mental health. Health checks can detect problems early, which can lead to earlier treatment options. They can also help identify any risk factors for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, raised blood pressure or heart disease and encourage lifestyle changes that can prevent them. If you have an existing health condition, health checks can help you better manage it by providing personalised lifestyle and medication advice. Just think, you can stop worrying about your health and continue your busy lifestyle knowing that you have had that important health check.

Are you feeling deaf at times? Did you know that using AirPods, ear defenders and headphones can lead to impacted ear wax? The Health Hub has the gold-standard Tympa equipment, which not only removes ear wax but can also take photographs and videos of your ear canal. If the team see any problems, they can refer you immediately to a specialist who can provide further help and guidance.

• For more information about Bristol Health Hub, please visit: bristolhealthhub.com

“From companionship, domestic assistance, and home-cooked meals to specialist rehabilitation, dementia, Parkinson’s, and palliative care, we can help you remain in the comfort of your own home for as long as you so desire.”

• bluebirdcare.co.uk/bristol

Bristol welcomes new Bodyset physiotherapy clinic

Bodyset is excited to open a new physiotherapy clinic at 27 Regent Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4HR this June – with plans to open more clinics countrywide this year. With a buzzing network of 26+ clinics across London and the UK, Bodyset believe that physiotherapy is so much more than pain relief and recovery. It’s about preventing injury, improving performance, and enhancing everyday lives too.

With six bright and airy treatment rooms and a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and sports performance studio, the new Bodyset Bristol clinic is the perfect place for you to kickstart your recovery and performance journey.

If you’re looking to recover from pain or injury, then pop in for a physiotherapy assessment. If you’re a committed runner, then book in for RunFit – an in-depth running assessment designed to help you run faster, for longer without injury. If you’re part of a sports team, then get set for your best season yet with BodyCheck MOT. If you’re a new mum, book in for a Women’s Health appointment. Or simply treat your body to some TLC with a Sports Massage.

Whatever your goals, the incredible team of experts are excited to bring you industryleading treatment, tools and knowledge to help you get the best out of your body and do more of what you love.

Bodyset is offering The Bristol Magazine readers 10% off with the code BMB10 (limited time only).

• To book, visit: bodyset.co.uk

Rachel Bragg

Rachel is a compassionate and experienced Rapid Transformational Therapist and Coach. For 20yrs she has coached clients to release limiting beliefs and transform their lives.

Rachel’s work is focused on the mind / body connection.Linking physical pain to emotions, Rachel's therapeutic process helps clients to go beyond the physical symptom and look at the emotional anchor. People live with their headaches, gut problems and more serious chronic conditions, not realizing that they can face these physical problems at an emotional level. Blocked, suppressed emotions don't just burden the mind, they weigh heavy in the body.

Using techniques that work on the conscious and subconscious layers of the mind, Rachel helps clients to shift unresolved, stuck feelings, enabling them to experience a new level of mind and body freedom. The approach is fast paced and empowering and can have life changing, positive results.

A free discovery call allows you to connect with Rachel and explore how her approach could be of help. Rachel will take you through an enquiry process and recommend a way of working together. Rachel has specific training to support clients with cancer. To book a discovery call, visit Rachel's website: www.rachelbraggcoaching.co.uk

Appointments are available at her Bath clinic or online.

TESTIMONIAL

“I have made genuine peace with unresolved grief, guilt, loss, all of which I’m certain has had an impact on my emotional body and my cancer. I’ve gone from having an inoperable tumour to surgery being an option which is incredible. Some conventional treatment has contributed but I know how much of an emotional burden I’ve been carrying too. Working with Rachel in her calm, compassionate, reassuring way has helped me on so many levels to release & resolve the pain. I’m hugely indebted to her for her part in my healing.”

www.rachelbraggcoaching.co.uk

Micro Suction Wax Removal in just a single 30 minute appointment

Micro suction is the gold standard of wax removal and is considered safer than other methods such as irrigation.

**Special Promotion** £60 for Both Ears

Here at Bristol Health Hub, our aim is to prioritise your health and wellbeing by providing patients with affordable access to excellent healthcare through a top team of expert clinicians who have gained extensive experience working within the NHS and in the private sector.

We are offering a private minor illness service with face to face and online appointments. Appointment fee:£65 for 20 minutes and £100 for 30 minutes.

Clinic address: Low Barn, Sheepway, Portbury, Bristol BS20 7TF. 0117 452 5580 hello@bristolhealthhub.com

Cura: we use innovation to heal your condition

Here at CURA, we use the latest technologies: MBST Cell Regeneration Therapy and

and

to ensure your body heals itself to its maximum potential.

Both Mike and Kevin came to me with knee and hip arthritic issues respectively. Mike’s knee was moderate heading towards severe and Kevin’s hip was gradually degrading. These are both ideal cases for the regenerative effect MBST triggers within damaged joint cells, so we applied the treatment last year to good effect. Mike has no pain and hasn’t for months so I discharged him recently and Kevin's symptoms are all but gone, a fraction of what they were. A strong swing in the right direction for both issues with no risk or invasion. Great results chaps.

INTERIORS NOTES

LATEST NEWS FROM SOME OF THE CITY’S BEST BUSINESSES

Studio 74 Contemporary Art launches new Interior Art Curation service

In the spotlight: Silk Road Rugs

The charming village of Bishop Sutton now hosts Silk Road Rugs. The emporium displays a gorgeous collection of handwoven rugs, tapestries, furniture and lanterns –one of the most extensive collections in the South West. Customers can browse traditional and contemporary designs from most regions in the Middle East.

‘On Approval’ is Silk Road Rugs’ criteria. These items will be part of your life, and the team want complete satisfaction with any purchase. Take a look around without obligation any day of the week.

• For more information, visit: silkroad-rugs.co.uk; 1 Westway Farm, Bishop Sutton, BS39 5XP

Have you ever wondered how to elevate your interior space without a complete redesign? Studio 74 launched its Interior Art Curation service last month, partnering with two outstanding interiors companies –BoConcept and Ivywell Interiors. The Interior Art Curation service helps guide you to finding the perfect artwork for your home or office. The service includes a one-to-one consultation with gallery director Ellena Norman, who will spend time understanding your style and ideas. Then the inhouse design team can superimpose art concepts directly onto your walls. Additionally, you can benefit from a home consultation where any chosen works can be viewed in the comfort of your own surroundings.

• studio74contemporaryart.com; boconcept.com; ivywellinteriors.com

Mandarin Stone announce lower prices

Due to improved buying and shipping costs, Mandarin Stone is pleased to lower prices on some of its most popular collections.

What’s more, beautiful tiles at discounted prices (available whilst stocks last) are making way for the latest tile designs to join the clearance sale, with up to 75 per cent off.

Perfect for all budgets and styles, explore the discounted tiles at the Bristol showroom on Regent Street or via the website. Mandarin Stone recommend viewing samples of its clearance tiles before ordering.

• mandarinstone.com

Soft, soft, soft...

Looking to refresh your interiors? Why not transform your living spaces by changing out your soft furnishings. Think fabulous fabrics and timeless tones...

Exploring the durability and longevity of timber windows

Nowadays, homeowners on the hunt for replacement windows have a long list of ‘must-have’ qualities. Not only do they want a window which is a fantastic insulator and delivers exceptional performance, they also want to make sure it looks great and complements the existing style of their home.

In the last few years, homeowners have become more environmentally conscious so they’re also after sustainable and energy efficient building products to use in their homes.

While it may seem like an impossible task to find a window that successfully fulfils these needs, there is one material in particular that ticks all of the right boxes as Managing Director of Bereco, Nicola Harrison explains.

“Used widely in construction for hundreds of years, timber is a fantastic replacement window material. It’s a fully sustainable resource and when carefully crafted its incredibly energy efficient and high performing.

“Plus, as an extremely versatile product, it can be designed to perfectly match the aesthetics of either a contemporary or more traditional property.”

“All timber windows must be coated with a specialist preservative treatment to protect the material against rot and fungal decay. This is an incredibly important step of the production process because it helps to stabilise the timber against twisting and warping and guarantees the finished product can withstand even the harshest weather conditions.

“At Bereco we are fully committed to delivering the best products and services to our customers so we’re part of a specialist scheme to guarantee our windows are built to the highest standard.”

Additionally, the type of timber used will also have a big impact on the durability and longevity of wooden windows.

“High-quality timber windows will often be constructed from redwood like Scots Pine,” adds Nicola.

“We only work with laminated engineered defect-free timber which is more dimensionally stable than solid timber, making it perfect for outside use.”

“We encourage all homeowners looking to invest in timber windows to do their research before making any final decisions. This will help to reassure them that they’re buying a quality product which has been made to the highest standards and can perform exceptionally well time and time again.”

Truly sustainable replacement windows

In a time of increasing environmental awareness, timber stands out as a sustainable and eco-friendly choice. The material itself is replenished naturally, it has the lowest embodied carbon rate and actually removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

“Since we started our business, we have supplied over 261,000 timber windows and doors which has helped to save over 66 million kgCO2e. This is the equivalent of removing more than 22,000 cars off UK roads,” comments Nicola.

“Ultimately timber ticks many boxes for homeowners on the hunt for a durable, long-lasting and sustainable window.

“When it’s properly made and maintained, timber is the perfect solution for those on the hunt for a high-performing window which lasts a lifetime.

Windows that last a lifetime

As a natural material there is an existing perception that timber may not be as durable as alternative window materials like uPVC or aluminium, but this isn’t the case. When properly preserved and maintained timber windows can last up to 60 years which is actually twice as long as other materials.

The secret behind the longevity of the timber comes down to the steps taken during the design and manufacture process as Nicola explains.

“What’s more the material is incredibly versatile so it can be customised into a number of different designs and styles. It also comes in a variety of paint stains and finishes so homeowners can create a truly unique set of windows for their home.

Originally launched in 2003, Bereco is a supplier of high-end timber windows and doors made from FSC 100% certified timber. To explore the full range of Bereco timber windows which includes flush casement, lipped casement, sliding sash and more visit: www.bereco.co.uk

Sensory experience

The experience of being outside and in the garden connects us to nature and is undoubtedly good for our wellbeing. One of the reasons may be because it is such a sensory experience, encouraging us to engage with ourselves and our immediate surroundings, rather than with the stresses of the outside world. Four of our five senses come to the fore when gardening, without any effort whatsoever. Sight, touch, scent and sound are there for the taking. The last, taste, is there as well, if we grow our own food or just want to nibble the end of a blade of grass as we go. Or maybe that’s just me.

All gardens are sensory, but some more so than others. The more senses we engage, the richer the experience. ‘Sensory gardens’ have become a thing, particularly in schools and other community spaces, such as care homes, hospitals, parks and retirement homes, where they can provide an educational, stimulating or calming experience to promote relaxation and good mental health. These gardens can also be used for therapeutic purposes, particularly for people with sensory impairments, such as blindness or deafness.

When designing a garden, it’s well worth thinking about how our senses will engage with the space, as this brings extra pleasure, sometimes on a subconscious level. Many of my clients will ask for scented plants, particularly near a seating area, but ones that cry out to be touched and stroked encourage a further interaction, allowing us to connect more fully with the space. When choosing plants, think about texture. Lamb’s ears, Stachys byzantina, are especially loved by children with their silk-fur leaves. I can’t walk past certain grasses without instinctively reaching out to touch their fluffy seedheads or rake my fingers through the leaves. Even a clipped box hedge calls me

to run a hand along the top and feel its springiness. Trees with shiny bark, such as Tibetan cherry, with its polished rings, or the gnarly-ness of a crab apple trunk can be experienced through our fingertips. Sometimes we need to wear gloves in the garden, to protect from thorns and brambles for example, but mostly I prefer to garden without gloves on so that I can feel as I go.

Sound comes to a garden without deliberate action, birdsong for example, bees buzzing, or leaves rustling in the wind. But we can think about how to bring in more of these natural sounds with the plants we choose. Some flowers are particularly attractive to bees, such as lavender, echinacea, rudbeckia, Liatris spicata and honeysuckle. Trees and hedges provide safe spots for birds to perch. Choose plants that rustle in the breeze such as tall grasses, and airy trees such as silver birch.

We can also bring in other chosen sounds to our garden, such as a water feature for the gentle and relaxing flow of running water, or wind chimes. Although keep in mind that the latter have been known to annoy neighbours, so careful positioning could be key as not everyone enjoys their musical tinkling. Scrunching along a gravel path can also be surprisingly satisfying, or the soft thud of feet on grass.

Scent is one of the most powerful stimulators of our senses, as it goes straight to the limbic system, the parts of the brain used for emotions and memory. The smell of tomato plants takes me straight back to my grandparents’ humid greenhouse, for example. Likewise the thick leaves of pelargoniums. Think about including plants that will provide year-round fragrance, not just summer flowers. Sarcococca, also known as Christmas box, is one of my favourites for winter fragrances, along with witch hazel and wintersweet.

“Now that summer is arriving, take the time to sit back and enjoy the sensory experience that a garden offers,” says Elly West, who, this month, lets us in on the best ways to engage all five senses...

Throughout summer there is plenty to choose from when it comes to fragrance. Roses, lavender, jasmine and honeysuckle spring immediately to mind, but also try Cosmos atrosanguineus for its chocolatey flowers, or the towering white Nicotiana sylvestris (tobacco plant) for late-summer evening scent. Indulge your passion for fragrance more fully by creating a herb garden, and be sure to include somewhere to sit where you can be surrounded by the leaves and flowers. A herb garden satisfies taste, another of our senses, and there’s nothing nicer than picking a few fresh leaves of basil, mint or a sprig of rosemary to add to a meal.

Sight is one of the most obvious senses that we use when assessing a garden, and is probably the most straightforward to analyse. How a garden looks is probably the first thing we notice. The colours, the sense of order, the design, the materials, and the mix of hard and soft landscaping, are all instantly processed when we take in the view, building a picture of the type of garden and how the space is used. Colours, like fragrance, can also affect our emotions.

Greens and whites evoke calm and tranquillity, while hot, vibrant reds and oranges are much more energising. Sight is also the sense that we use when we enjoy our gardens from indoors. Consider the view from the kitchen window or main living space for example, as this may be where you spend the most time looking at the garden, or perhaps from an office if you’re working from home. So, now that summer is arriving, take the time to sit back and enjoy the sensory experience that a garden offers, and surround yourself with scent, sound, texture and colour. n

Plant of the Month: Mexican Feather Grass (Stipa tenuissima)

Stipa tenuissima, commonly known as Mexican feather grass or ponytails, is a popular ornamental grass valued for its graceful appearance and soft texture. It has silvery-green leaves and feathery pale-blonde seedheads that sway in the breeze, and can be used in a variety of garden styles, from contemporary to cottage gardens. Dot it around the border for accents and breathing space between the flowers, and to help unify an existing scheme, or en masse to create flowing swathes. It also works well in gravel gardens or in a naturalistic or prairie-style border. This grass is easy to care for, drought-tolerant and unfussy about soil type, although it might struggle on very heavy clays as it doesn’t like wet roots in winter. It prefers a sunny spot, but will also grow in shade. Neat and compact, it’s good for smaller gardens and containers, and reaches around 60cm in height.

Rewilding Bristol

“No space is too small to make a difference or to provide another link in the green corridors opening up through the city,” says Andrew Swift, who, this month, takes a closer look at the local campaigns fighting to create more wildflower meadows in and around Bristol...

Although David Attenborough’s Wild Isles must rank as one of the most spectacular natural history series ever broadcast, our most abiding memories of it are likely to focus less on the majesty and wonder of our native wildlife than on the grave threats facing it. The doomladen statistics may have been doled out gently, but they were devastating none the less. How are we meant to respond, for example, to the news that 97 per cent of Britain’s hay meadows have been lost in the last 60 years, while 60 per cent of flying insects have vanished since the turn of the century?

To say that we are in trouble is putting it mildly, but, while such rates of decline may seem irreversible, there are plenty of people determined to turn them around. It is worth asking, though, why we should be concerned about insect armageddon. The uncomfortable truth is that insects are essential for life on earth – first, as a vital link in the food chain, and second, as pollinators, with many of the plants we rely upon for food dependent on them for their existence.

By safeguarding insects we are safeguarding ourselves – but over the last few years we’ve clearly made rather a hash of it. There are many reasons why so many insects have disappeared, but loss of habitat is among the main ones. Which is why getting rid of all those hay meadows wasn’t such a bright idea after all, even though many of them were destroyed with the best of intentions.

It all started with the ‘dig for victory’ campaign in the Second World War. A lot of new land was converted to food production, and, as most of it was nutrient deficient, there was an urgent need to improve it by applying chemical fertiliser. So it was that a new orthodoxy was born –the desirability of enriching nutrient-poor soil wherever possible.

The problem is that the easiest way to destroy a hay meadow is to apply fertiliser to it. As the campaigning biologist and ecologist Dave

Goulson explains: “Beautiful, diverse grassland that took centuries to develop can be reduced to a green sward of grass with barely a flower in sight within just a year or two, by the single act of adding chemical fertiliser. Ancient grasslands tend to have low soil fertility, so grasses grow slowly and there is lots of room for other plants.”

Hay meadows were once zealously managed, not for ecological reasons, but as an essential part of the rural economy. As their name indicates, they produced the hay which provided winter fodder for livestock. As spring turned to summer, grass and wildflowers grew unchecked, and the meadows buzzed with insects feeding on the rich array of nectar on offer. Only in late summer, after the flowers and grasses had set seed, did the mowers get to work. After the hay was gathered, the meadows were grazed until winter set in and the land lay dormant until the onset of spring saw the cycle start all over again.

Modern farming methods have seen such inefficient practices disappear, along with the flowers and insects that accompanied them. The meadows that glowed and buzzed with life are now nutrient-rich monocultural deserts, green as far as the eye can see.

The need to restore them and correct the ecological balance we have so heedlessly knocked out of kilter has never been more pressing, and Bristol is in the vanguard of a wildflower meadow revival. The council now manages 23 hay meadows across the city, at sites such as Ashton Court, Blaise Castle and Stoke Park, all of which are designated Sites of Nature Conservation Interest. Much of the hay harvested is sold as animal feed and the council is looking to extend the scheme to other parks and open spaces.

Many of today’s wildflower meadows, however, bear little relation to the hay meadows of old. In St Werburgh’s, an unproductive tract of land bisected by railway lines, one of which had long lain disused, was saved by the community from redevelopment in 1997, and after being

cared for by the Narroways Millennium Green Trust was finally declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2016. Its banks of wildflowers are a delight, showing how much can be achieved on the most marginal land.

Attempts to establish wildflower meadows can arouse strong feelings, however. In 2019, North Somerset Council announced a rewilding programme, including a commitment to let the grass grow on a quarter of its verges, parks and open spaces. It was met with strong opposition, with some residents taking matters into their own hands and cutting the grass themselves. Public engagement sessions and recruitment of volunteers to monitor the impact of the initiative saw the project achieve most of its objectives, however, with a burgeoning of biodiversity and a growing realisation of the benefits rather than the drawbacks of letting the grass grow.

On the Downs in Bristol, where two meadows have long been left unmown during the spring and summer, plans were announced earlier this year to establish a new wildflower meadow on land until recently used as a car park for the zoo. They also met with opposition from campaigners who argued that this would prevent the area being used for ball games, picnicking, walking and other recreational activities.

It isn’t just loss of amenity that raises hackles when rewilding is proposed. Insects attracted to wildflower meadows have an image problem, which goes beyond a mere failure to look cute or cuddly. Creepy-crawly is one thing; stingy-bitey is a lot more serious. And, while wasps, horseflies and mosquitoes may be conspicuous, more furtive hazards – such as ticks – may lurk in the long grass. And, when the grass sets seed, any hay-fever sufferers in the vicinity are going to have a rough old time of it as well.

So, when it comes to establishing wildflower meadows, it’s not just a question of restoring ecological balance; a balance also has to be struck accommodating all those who use the city’s open spaces. While closelyclipped grass may not be great for biodiversity, it is great for kicking a ball around, having a picnic, walking and jogging, or for children to romp around on. The love of a neatly manicured lawn is also embedded deep in our national psyche, especially among those unlucky enough never to have seen a wildflower meadow in its full glory.

For all these reasons, consultation and communication – along with compromise – are needed if attempts to address the ecological crisis are not to become a battleground over access and amenity. In east Bristol,

when the Friends of Eastville Park liaised with the council to reduce the frequency of grass-cutting in certain areas, they anticipated the complaints that would follow, and ensured that park users were made aware why they were doing this. They also encouraged feedback, which turned out to be overwhelmingly positive, and are now planning information panels which will outline what’s been achieved and what’s planned for the future. They – along with many similar groups – have also addressed the problem of grass growing rampant by sowing seeds of yellow rattle, a semi-parasitic native plant which taps into the roots of nearby grasses, sapping their strength and giving slower-growing plants the opportunity to become established.

Up at Hambrook, meanwhile, the Winterbourne & Frome Valley Environmental Group, after consultations with residents, agreed a plan in 2020 to defer the mowing of Whiteshill Small Common until late summer. A wildflower meadow has also been created on nearby Siston Common as part of the Grow Wilder Project, while a Neighbourhood Trust in Lockleaze has set up the Really Wild Project to create wildflower meadows and encourage residents to establish their own.

Perhaps Bristol’s most high profile wildflower meadow is that on College Green, established as part of the restoration of the site following the climate rally in February 2020. Not all projects have such a large or prominent canvas to work on. In 2021, West Bristol Climate Action Group established a wildflower meadow on a councilowned strip of land wedged between two roads opposite Goldney Hall. Down near Ashton Swing Bridge, meanwhile, alongside the Metrobus route, the Friends of the Avon New Cut have transformed a patch of wasteland into a natural haven for moths and butterflies, christening it – in deference to the railway that used to run through it – Butterfly Junction.

Places like this are inspirational precisely because they are so far removed from the traditional idea of wildflower meadows, demonstrating that no space is too small to make a difference or to provide another link in the green corridors opening up through the city.

These are just a few of the many initiatives being spearheaded by community groups and volunteers across Bristol and beyond. And, with the council committed to creating more wildflower meadows, perhaps it will not be too long before more of the green sward in the city’s larger parks is taken in hand. Bristol is justly proud of its green credentials, and as the region sets ambitious targets to become to become the Pollinator Capital of the UK, the relentless tide that swept away almost all of our wildflower meadows seems finally to be on the turn. n •

Feed the bees

Bee season is well underway. After many took part in Plantlife’s annual campaign ‘No Mow May’, which called for all garden owners and green space managers not to mow for a month, letting the grass, flowers and weeds grow wild for pollinators, we took a closer look at how our region is working hard to help save the wild bees that are so vital to our planet and how spectacular it can be to watch our green spaces burst with life...

The UK has lost nearly 97 per cent of flower-rich meadows since 1937 and as a result the story of wild bees (bumblebees and solitary bees) over the past century has been one of decline. Two species became extinct in the UK during the 20th century: Cullum’s bumblebee (Bombus cullumanus) last seen on the Berkshire Downs in 1941, and the Shorthaired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus), last seen at Dungeness in 1988 and officially declared extinct in 2000. A further eight species (a third of the remaining species) are currently listed on at least one of the English, Welsh and Scottish conservation priority species lists due to their large-scale declines in distribution.

According to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, these declines have occurred mainly because of large-scale changes to the way the countryside is managed. First the mechanisation of agriculture, then later the need for ever-greater quantities of food and crops have conspired to hugely reduce the nationwide density of the flowering plants that bumblebees feed on, as well as the sheltered corners that they nest in over spring and summer.

As bumblebees only feed on flowers, they need far more plants than equivalent species which are able to also eat leaves or roots. They also, because of their colony-based lifestyle, need to have enough flowers available to sustain 40-400 sterile worker bees for the lifespan of the colony (potentially several months March-October) in order to produce the new reproductive individuals – males and queens – at the

end of the colony lifecycle.

While it is true that changes to agricultural methods have been detrimental to bumblebees (particularly as agriculture accounts for around 70% of the UK’s land area), it should be remembered that farmers, as essentially small business owners supplying huge corporations, have little to no power in the current system. Pressure from supermarkets and ultimately from consumers – for perfect, unblemished crops, for ever-increasing yields, for the cheap food that pushes farm-gate prices significantly below the unit cost of production –is driving farmers towards agricultural intensification, towards increased chemical inputs (pesticides and fertilisers), and, increasingly, out of business.

Habitat loss is the main driver of bumblebee declines, but loss of bumblebee habitat is itself driven by many factors. Outright loss – for example building houses on a meadow – but also habitat degradation and loss of condition are both just as damaging overall. Meadows may still look green but lose proportions of their flowers – and thus their appeal to bumblebees – if treated with herbicides or even fertilisers, for instance, or if droughted. Other issues can interfere with bumblebees’ ability to use their environment. Neonicotinoid pesticides were banned, in part, because of the effect they had on bees’ brains, affecting their ability to forage efficiently. Increased temperatures (as are happening through climate change) are linked to developmental changes in some bumblebee species, and prevent foraging when it gets too hot.

What is Bristol doing to help?

The West of England Combined Authority and West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris are working to address the ecological emergency, helping nature recover from the impact of human behaviours and changes. They want the West of England to the be the UK Bee and Pollinator Capital, home to a range of habitats for our bees and wildlife to flourish.

Norris has introduced a £1 million Pollinator Fund, which is transforming over 312,000 square metres of land to better serve this region’s pollinators like bees, moths and butterflies. It does this by providing grants of between £1,000 and £100,000 to schools, community groups and other bee-loving organisations to expand and protect bee habitats – for example, through installing “bug hotels”, upgrading a local green space or by planting fruit trees or wildflower meadows. This scheme has so far funded 13 projects – including those led by Hotwells and District Allotments and other top Bristol organisations – with more grant recipients to be announced at the end of June.

The Metro Mayor also runs the annual Bee Bold Awards, which celebrates the businesses, community groups and other ‘bee buddy’ organisations that are going above and beyond to support pollinators. Those like the Redcatch Community Garden team in Knowle and NHS Trust North Bristol – two winners in last year’s awards. The Combined Authority will be announcing the winners of 2023’s awards at Hartcliffe’s Heart of BS13 (Pollinator Fund grant recipient) as part of its Nature Family Fun Day later this month.

Norris said: “I’ve made bees a priority for the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority I lead. Because bees are bee-rilliant –they’re absolutely vital to making sure our crops are pollinated and

My Garden of a Thousand Bees

Bristolians have food to eat year-round. My £1 million Pollinator Fund is already making such a huge difference and will be transforming over 312,000 square metres of land across the region to serve the West’s vital pollinator friends, and my annual Bee Bold Awards is showcasing the West’s best ‘bee buddy’ organisations. These are all really important steps as we look to make our amazing West of England region the best place in the whole country for our pollinators.”

Reaping the rewards

As local organisations and groups continue to work hard to help bees thrive, the region is already reaping the rewards of the initiatives put in place. In May, a rare species of bee was recorded in the West of England for the first time.

The Nomad Bee, also known as Nomada zonata, was discovered by a local volunteer on Troopers Hill in Bristol as part of a West of England Mayoral Combined Authority-funded project. The project sees residents taking part in bee surveys and other pollinator activities run by the Natural History Consortium thanks to a £100,000 grant from the Mayoral Combined Authority.

The bee, with a distinctive wasp-like appearance, is hairless and does not collect pollen for its young, but is nonetheless known as an important pollinator of plants, fruit trees and wildflowers. It was first recorded in England back in 2016, and there have been only 113 sightings of it in total –the closest one being in Stroud back in 2020. The identification has been confirmed by bee experts.

Norris said he was “thrilled” to have recorded the new species which, as a “cuckoo bee” –one that lays eggs in the nest of others –is a good sign of a “super healthy” bee population in general.

My Garden of a Thousand Bees follows acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Martin Dohrn [Attenborough’s Life That Glows] as he sets out to record all the bee species in his tiny urban garden in Bristol. Filming with one-ofa-kind lenses he forged at his kitchen table, he catalogued more than 60 different species, from Britain’s largest bumblebees to scissor bees the size of a mosquito. Over long months, Dohrn observed how differences in behavior set different species apart. He eventually got so close to the bees he could identify individuals by sight, documenting life at their level as we had never seen it before. The film received the most prestigious prize in the natural world film and television industry –the Plimsoll Golden Panda Award –and received a number of nominations at the 40th edition of the Wildscreen Panda Awards. Here, we sit down with Martin to learn more...

Tell us about what first inspired you to make My Garden of a Thousand Bees

About 10 years ago, I noticed that there were a few wild bees nesting in the garden. Not knowing much about them, I decided to try and take photos of them to identify them, to see how many species there were. I thought there maybe five or so species and that it wouldn’t take much effort, that I could complete the job over one summer when my normal work load was lighter. How wrong I was. The bees were far harder to photograph than I was expecting. Eight summers later, the species count had got to around sixty, which seemed incredible for a small inner city garden. I told

my friends, and they too were disbelieving. Many friends didn’t know there were such things as wild [solitary] bees. They only knew honey bees and bumble bees. And yet in my garden, the wild [solitary] bees outnumbered the honey bees and bumble bees many times over. I realised there was a large information gap about creatures on which the entire planet depends, were all around us and led fascinating lives, yet were barely noticed by most people.

So I spoke to a few broadcasters about a wild bee film, and met with a complete lack of interest. The idea was a non starter. Enter Covid. Just as the bee season was beginning, a lockdown of some sort seemed imminent, so I brought my macro filming gear home. Two days later, the first lockdown began, the clouds parted and a beautifully sunny spring began. Filming bees was even harder than trying to photograph them, and I found myself at the start of yet another huge learning curve. That’s at least one reason why nobody had made a wild bee film before.

What was the most surprising encounter or most interesting fact you learned about the bees along the way?

I think the most surprising thing for me was the realisation that bees have minds. Their behaviour isn’t really that different from birds. Which of course if you think about it, is obvious. Their lives are so complex and the challenges they have to deal with so variable that nature has given them the means to make decisions on the basis of what they find and what they can learn. The biggest surprise of all was the fact that many bees were so shy of my presence that I hardly saw them for the first weeks of their lives, until they became used to me and could see that I was no threat. This is completely different to honey bees and may explain partly why honey bees are so much more studied than wild bees. One thing I have found incredibly useful is a pair of Pentax Papilio binoculars. They allow you so see in close up what the bees are doing without having to move towards them (which they hate).

Tell us about how you created one-of-a-kind lenses in order to identify individual bees...

Over many years of wildlife filmmaking, I had accumulated quite an array of different lenses and had made combinations of them for different purposes. Interestingly, filming wild bees, in the wild, was different to anything I had done before. In which case, I had to build a lens system that was very light, quite long, and had extremely good resolution. This was the lens the bees eventually got used to as I moved it closer and closer to their nests.

How did this project compare to the films you’ve made around the world?

I really enjoyed the logistics of making this film; no 3am starts to get to the airport, no airports, no schlepping cases through customs, no dawn starts to film secretive animals (bees don’t normally wake until 9am or even 10am), no night filming, no mosquitos etc. But also, as we didn’t know what the bees were going to do, there was no script. I would go out in the morning perhaps hoping to film a particular piece of behaviour, and very soon get involved with filming something completely different that may even have not been observed or described before. This film could never have been made in the normal way, as without some kind of plan and some kind of script, no commissioner would risk their money.

The West of England Combined Authority is working to make our region the UK Bee & Pollinator Capital. In your experience, how

can people transform their urban gardens to allow bees and other pollinators to flourish?

Most bees that live in cities are pretty versatile. As long as they have nest sites, they will prosper. Bee hotels are good for a few species. Bits of old rotting wood are favoured by others – if it is kept dry. Most bees are ground nesters. Some like bare, hard dirt, others like sandy soil, while some prefer short grass.

Let the ‘weeds’ grow. Primroses, violets, hawksbeards, brambles, buttercups, lungwort, creeping bellflower, hedge woundwort, white deadnettle, knapweeds, speedwell, sage, rosemary, wild marjoram are all favourites. You need a sort of managed chaos. It’s important not to let it all become overgrown. Bees hate darkness. Cut the grass at dusk when all the ground nesting bees have gone to bed.

Most importantly, never use insecticides. Keep cut flowers and the peel of any non-organically produced vegetable produce out of the compost bin.

What advice would you give to people wanting to document the bees in their own outdoor spaces this year?

Getting good images of bees can be tricky, especially if they don’t want to be watched. Phone cameras can be useful, but usually you need to get very close. A small DSLR or digital camera can give fantastic images. At first you will find it hard, but in time you will learn how to get close, and perhaps the bees will even get so used to you, they will show you their most intimate secrets.

But if you are really interested, you should also get the Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland by Stephen Falk and Richard Lewington. It is beautifully concise yet complete. This will help you identify your bees and learn the basics of their lives.

• For more information and to watch My Garden of a Thousand Bees, visit: mygardenofathousandbees.com. The film is also available on Sky Nature and Sky Now TV

Top tips on helping bumblebees from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is the only charity wholly dedicated to saving the UK’s bumblebees. It aims to inspire and

enable a diverse range of people to take action to help bumblebees survive and thrive. The good news is that we can all do our bit to give these amazing insects a helping hand. As wild bees, bumblebees generally need two things to flourish: beefriendly flowers (food), and somewhere to nest. You can support your local bumblebees by:

Growing bee-friendly plants which flower at different times of year, to give bumblebees a constant supply of food throughout their nesting season (March-October).

Mow your lawn less often, so nectar-rich wildflowers like dandelions and clover can bloom.

Grow your own fruit, veg, and herbs. Bumblebees love the flowers and will help pollinate your food.

Provide potential nesting sites for bumblebees by letting a patch of grass grow long and tangled, putting up a bird box with some dry, natural nesting material inside, or leaving a shady corner of your garden to grow a bit wilder. n

• Find out more and discover over 40 free resources at: bumblebeeconservation.org/beethechange

Who are EthicaCBD?

EthicaCBD are very much a local south-west brand, who do everything they can to support the south-west, so it’s a delight to see these guys making a global impact, even earning a win at the World CBD Awards for their cosmetic products. Since officially cementing their position as world-leaders in cosmetic CBD products such as their CBD Sports Gel, they’ve received glowing endorsements from sporting icons such as:

Sir Ian Botham (‘England’s Best Ever All-Rounder’)

Nigel Owens (Rugby Union Refereeing Legend)

Matt Le Tissier (100 Premier League Goals)

As the name says, EthicaCBD have gone to great lengths to ensure that every aspect of their business is as ethical as possible. They’re known for creating “the highest quality ethical CBD for people & planet”, so every decision they make holds customer wellbeing and environmental protection as a priority.

If you’d like to learn more, please visit ethicacbd.com or pop in to see one of their Bristol Stockists:

Wild Oats - Redland

Jack The Falafel - Gloucester Road

Bristol’s cityscape

Like most British cities, Bristol has a mixture of architectural styles. For instance, in the historical city centre, parts of the fortified city date back to the medieval era. Further afield in Park Row, The Red Lodge Museum – a historic Elizabethan house built during the Tudor dynasty – boasts 455 years of history, and Portland Square in St Pauls is reputed to be Bristol’s most complete 18th century Georgian square.

Every street, whether filled with period properties or contemporary homes, has a story. Here, we take a look at the architecture of Bristol…

Tudor homes

The Tudor architectural period saw the development of large estates such as Ashton Court as well as several public houses including the Llandoger Trow on King Street and the Hatchet Inn on Frogmore Street. Hallmarks of properties built during the Tudor period include steeply pitched gable roofs, brick exteriors, hand-hewn half-timbering, masonry and stonework, and leaded glass windows. The Red Lodge is one of the best surviving examples of Tudor architecture in Bristol. Built in 1568, the Red Lodge was originally part of the larger Great House, where Queen Elizabeth I once stayed.

Georgian homes

During the period of Georgian architecture (around 1720–1840), James Bridges, John Wallis, and Thomas Paty with his sons John and William Paty were the main architects and builders working in Bristol. Their early work included the Royal Fort (in Tyndalls Park), Blaise Castle House (near Henbury) and Arno’s Court estate. They also put up hundreds of new buildings in the city, growing suburbs such as Hotwells and Clifton.

Properties built in this period can be identified by their very simple facades. A classic Georgian home is square or rectangular, made of brick with symmetrical windows, shutters and columns. Royal York Crescent (pictured above) and properties on Sion Hill are great examples of the Georgian style.

Regency

The term Regency architecture refers primarily to buildings of the early 19th century, when George IV was acting as Regent for his father. Many buildings in the Regency style have a white painted stucco facade and an entryway to the main front door framed by two columns. Ornate iron balconies, bow windows and decorative details on the exterior were fashionable. The Clifton and Cotham areas provide examples of the developments from the Georgian to the Regency style.

Victorian homes

Ranging from 1837–1901 under the rule of Queen Victoria I, Victorian houses are often identified by their high ceilings and large windows, often one-room wide with a narrow hallway leading off into the different rooms.

What’s more, Italianate and Grecian villas –made with Bath Stone and sitting in their own gardens –were built in areas such as Clifton Down during this time. Public service buildings and schools such as Clifton College were also constructed to support the growing population.

A notable feature of Bristol’s architecture is the Bristol Byzantine style, which is characterised by complicated polychrome brick and decorative arches. Surviving examples include the Granary on Welsh Back, and the Gloucester Road Carriage Works. Several of the warehouses around the harbour have also survived, including what is now the Arnolfini.

Edwardianhomes

The Edwardian period from 1901–1910 was heavily influenced by The Arts and Crafts Movement. Edwardian homes remain desirable today and tend to be taller and deeper, with gardens at the front and back. It’s common for an Edwardian property to be set back from the pavement and boast ornate floor tiles, stained glass and large rooms with high ceilings. Living rooms may also have windows at both ends.

Pre and post-war Bristol

One of the most common architectural styles in the UK is the 1930s semi. They are typically spacious with distinctive curved bay windows. As well as having large rooms, they also have sizeable gardens.

As a centre of aircraft manufacturing, Bristol was a target for bombing during the Bristol Blitz of World War II and the city centre was severely damaged. As the city was rebuilt after the war, thousands of new flats were built in Barton Hill and Redcliffe.

21st century

Today, new designs and styles are being built all the time. From the popular housing developments, to self-built homes with open-plan living spaces, to properties that have been designed with the environment in mind, the city’s architecture is eclectic –medieval and modern –and continuing to evolve year by year...

• rupertoliver.co.uk; 14 Waterloo Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4BT

• The main Holy Cross Church has an approximate GIA of 5,700 sq ft (530 sq m), and interlinks to an adjacent 1960’s purpose built dwelling which offers potential for a detached 4 bedroom property.

• The whole site extends to approximately 0.5 acres.

• The site is to be sold freehold on an unconditional basis, and may suit a range of various uses, subject to the necessary planning consents.

Further information can be obtained via the sole agent:

Burston Cook:

Tom Coyte

tom@burstoncook.co.uk

BRISTOL & CLIFTON’S PREMIER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS

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

Portland Square TO LET – POA

4,186 sq ft (388.88 sq m)

No 9 is a stunning heritage office building providing approx. 4,186 sq ft of refurbished office space with a large car park to the rear. Suitable for a range of different uses. Available to lease.

The Stables at Leigh Court TO LET – POA 510 – 1,023 sq ft (47.38 – 95.04 sq m)

A Grade II Listed business centre offering luxury workspaces in a peaceful setting outside the city. The site benefits ample parking, cycle storage, EV charging and sustainable energy solutions.

Coronation Road, BS3 FOR SALE – POA

10,713 sq ft (995.26 sq m)

An impressive, detached building prominently located, providing open plan office space with excellent on-site car parking. The property could be suitable for a range of uses STP.

7 Hill Street OFFICE TO LET – POA

5,621 sq ft (522.20 sq m)

Fantastic example of 1970’s brutalist architecture. The suite provides a modern open plan floor plate of 5,621 sq ft (522 sq m) with 6 car parking spaces & bike storage.

Buckingham Court, BS32 TO LET – £15.50 psf pax

3,089 sq ft (287 sq m)

A self-contained office building offering modern accommodation within an established business park with good road connections. Excellent parking ratio being 1,257 sq ft.

Grosvenor House TO LET – £19 PSF

3,400 sq ft

The available space is located on the second floor and provides an open plan office of 3,400 sq ft. There are also 2 car parking spaces, passenger lift, bike storage and shower. New lease available.

Mariner House, Prince St TO LET – £26 PSF

1,242 sq ft (115.38 sq m)

Loft style office accommodation located in the heart of the city centre close to Queen Square and The Waterfront. There is a passenger lift, shower facilities, and excellent bike storage with end of journey heated lockers.

Harbour Crescent, Portishead TO LET – POA

1,395 - 4,964 sq ft (130 - 461 sq m)

Two new-build commercial units forming part of the Harbour Crescent development to be fitted to a high standard. Use Class E –would suit a range of uses.

Paintworks OFFICES TO LET POA

2 brand new commercial units currently undergoing a refurbishment. C 1,162 and 1,572 sq ft with 2 car parking spaces per unit. Never been occupied!

Unity Street, Bristol TO LET Suites from 362 – 2,750 sq ft

A most attractive period office building refurbished to a good standard with attractive rear courtyard garden.

City & Country’s Historic Conversion & New Build Apartments in Bedminster stand out from the crowd

Located in the vibrant Bedminster district of Bristol, City & Country’s award-winning Factory No.1 development has proved popular since it launched in September 2019 and there is now a brand-new show home for prospective buyers to view.

Once the site of Imperial Tobacco Company’s headquarters, a new chapter has started on East Street with homes being meticulously crafted from the former factory’s historic buildings, alongside five new apartment buildings.

Originally designed by Sir Frank Wills, the Edwardian-Baroque style of the restored buildings is one of the most distinctive in Bristol. There are currently a range of one and two bedroom apartments available at Factory No.1, set around beautiful courtyard gardens –offering a private oasis for residents in the heart of the city.

The Directors’ Wing, set within Regent House, has recently launched a stunning 1600 square foot show home (plot R207) which boasts an abundance of restored heritage features including ornate Jacobean-style ceiling, French polished oak panelling and feature fireplaces with original carved timber mantelpieces.

Offering a fabulous introduction to the painstaking restoration of period detail that is the hallmark of City & Country developments, the show home is emblematic of the superior finish throughout Factory No.1, offering a careful synthesis of industrial homage, traditional architecture and the very best in contemporary living.

Simon Vernon-Harcourt, Design and Planning Director for City & Country, comments: “The Directors’ Wing was once the director’s opulent boardrooms and grand offices so we’ve striven to retain the distinct personality of the boardroom while creating a fabulous space in which to live, and the grand opulence of the show home is why it is one of my favourite homes at Factory No.1.”

For those who prefer a contemporary new build home, apartments in the Cutting Room have been released ahead of schedule due to incredible demand, comprising 42 stylish homes across nine storeys with a show home opening in the coming month.

Exclusivity is key at this gated development, where residents enjoy access to private landscaped terraces and an on-site concierge service. The homes benefit from ultrafast broadband and a high specification, including smart thermostats as well as integrated SMEG appliances in the kitchen.

Jennifer Rhodes-Finch, Head of Marketing for City & Country, said: “The restoration of this awe-inspiring landmark is having such a positive impact on the street scene. Around 100 of the 284 homes at Factory No.1 are newly completed and occupied. Almost all of our purchasers are owner-occupiers, so there is a brilliant community emerging within the development.”

“Factory No.1 is a truly unique offering, presenting a seamless blend of lovingly restored conversion apartments that pay homage to the former Imperial Tobacco Building, alongside our contemporary new build homes that complement the landmark development. Our diverse product range means there is something to appeal to all buyers who are looking to live within such an historic location.”

A total of 284 converted and newly built apartments are available at this landmark building which feature the sensitively restored, elegant facades of Consort and Regent House. Just a five-minute walk from Bedminster train station, the development fits well into Bedminster’s rich cultural setting, and North Street’s array of independent bars, shops and restaurants.

Factory No.1 won WhatHouse? 2022 Gold Award – Best Starter Home Scheme and UK Property Awards 2020 – Best Residential Renovation / Redevelopment Bristol Winner.

Prices start from £265,000* for a one-bedroom apartment and range up to £790,000* for the show home. Allocated parking and a 5% deposit contribution worth up to £22,750 is available on selected plots.**

The sales suite is open daily from 10am – 5pm, located at East Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4HH. For more information, call 01174 535 135 or visit www.cityandcountry.co.uk.

*Price correct at time of publication and subject to change. **Terms and conditions apply –see cityandcountry.co.uk for full details

Redland, Bristol | Guide Price £2,350,000

A superb five bedroom Victorian detached family house with circa 3500 sq ft of accommodation, generous off-street parking and one of Redland’s largest private gardens.

Superb circa 3500 sq. ft family house in superb condition throughout | Private driveway with generous off-street parking | Exceptional south-facing private rear garden | Three well-proportioned reception rooms | Family kitchen and conservatory | Lower ground floor cinema / games room | Five double bedrooms | Two bath / shower rooms | Two cloakrooms, a utility room and excellent storage |

EPC: F

In all circa 3468 sq. ft (322.1 sq. m)

An elegant detached four-bedroom family home. Situated in one of Bristol’s most desirable areas. Extensive and well-presented interior. South facing gardens incorporating woodland copse. Gated entrance and detached garage. Beautiful open outlook. The house is offered with no onward chain.

A beautifully presented detached family home. Two reception rooms and dining room. Large open plan kitchen. Five bedrooms. Single garage and off street car parking. Large rear garden and terrace.

A most desirable Bristol location. An exquisite home and beautiful gardens. A versatile interior with scope to extend. Secluded walled garden complete with swimming pool. Extensive driveway and detached garage. An abundance of original features and character displayed throughout. No onward chain.

Investors only, a super period property, currently arranged as four flats over five floors, excellent location just off Whiteladies Road, double garage, front and rear gardens, panoramic views over the city.