Bristol Life – Issue 338

BS7: RHYMES WITH HEAVEN LIFE ON THE GLOUCESTER ROAD

RISE AND SHINE

BALLOON FIESTA HEROES

JAYDE SPEAKING

FROM STAND-UP TO SIT-COM:

THE RISE AND RISE OF BEDMINSTER’S FINEST

THE COOLEST OFFICE HUBS IN TOWN

MANOR OF MEANS THE EXTRAORDINARY ABBOTS SHARPHAM WORKING NINE TO FIVE (OR WHENEVER SUITS YOU…)

Wow, what a lovely lot of friendly-looking faces I’m sharing this page with! The photos on the left show just some of the folk waiting to make your day if you wander up the Gloucester Road in search of sustenance, art, a fresh interiors look, a great holiday read or perhaps a great new holiday cut; turn to page to find out more about the people of this thriving neighbourhood, and why they wouldn’t live or work anywhere else.

Speaking of friendly faces, if you’re not already watching Jayde Adams’ new sitcom Ruby Speaking on IT , you’re a fool to yourself, because as well as being dead funny it’s ristol on a stick. It’s been eight years since we ran an interview with Jayde, since when she’s become properly famous, so we were well overdue a catch-up. As well as getting the lowdown on her new ITVX sitcom Ruby Speaking, we cover important issues such as the power of serious black knitwear, dealing with social media trolls, channelling trauma into comedy, singing Bananarama as a political statement, how can change your life and why it’s best to avoid David Tennant. All this and more on page 28.

We’re heading into the final throes of festival season maybe someone should explain that to the weather with the Balloon Fiesta, Valley Fest and Forwards among the delights still to come. To those praying for a few weeks of hot, sunny days, we wish you the very best of ristol luck. To pluviophiles, we say nice and cool, innit See you in three weeks’ time, on the very cusp of autumn, when I’ll be trying to dial down my unpopular enthusiasm for all things misty,

We’ve already said... 12

Glo now; but we had so many nice pics by Jon Craig left over from our feature that we thought we’d pop a few more faces in here

DERI ROBINS

Bristol Life editor @BristolLifeMag

CLOCKWISE: Finola Kelly from Nola Interiors; George at El Colmado; The Prince of Wales pub; Nuala Morey outside her salon; Tom from Glos Road Books; Heidi, Amy and Femke at Fed; Tamlin Sinclair at The Prince of Wales; Don and Jack at Tincan; Zak D’Amelio at Grape & Grind

Issue 338 / August 2023

ON THE COVER

Jayde Adams in new ITVX show Ruby Speaking; feature page 28 STREET LIFE

12 GLOUCESTER ROAD They say in S , love comes first...

ARTS

23

first weekend in September

SHOPPING

52

56 CO-WORKING O ce hubs so cool you’ll be gagging to get to work

67 NETWORK It’s the city’s business

Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody, Stan Cullimore, Storysmith

Business development manager Craig Wallberg craig.wallberg@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Jake Horwood jake.horwood@mediaclash.co.uk Production/distribution

Books Commercial manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk

Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane. ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk

manager

BEATS, BOATS AND BACKFLIPS

The weekend of the Harbour Fest was a bit, well, drizzly, but did Bristol stay at home? It did not. It turned out in its thousands, resplendent in Pacamacs, to dance and play defiantly in the rain.

The sun shone between the showers, as did Bristol’s creativity. Emerging local talent took centre stage – literally, with students from Access Creative College and dbS Institute performing at Lloyds Amphitheatre.

Crowds lined the quayside to cheer on the cardboard boat races – loved the yellow submarines, guys! – and to watch high-octane etpack stunts from flyboard hero ames

Prestwood and wife Kasia – this year, naturally, dressed as Ken and Barbie. There were five areas filled with music and entertainment: in College Green, Cirque Bijou performed spectacular tricks and trapeze acts, The elli Shack took over illennium Square, providing chillout beach-bar vibes with an acoustic programme, while Queen S uare transformed into the usic uarter, curated by Harbour Festival programming legend Tony Benjamin. The closing set (in the sunshine!) came from Bristol’s Doreen Doreen with their party classics. Proper job. For more see www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk

Civic BRISTOL 650

What do you get a city for its 650th birthday?

It’s been 650 years since King Edward III granted important rights and privileges to Bristol by royal charter – and Bristol City Centre Bid has marked the anniversary in typically creative fashion.

Firstly, Queen Square, Castle Park and College Green have been transformed into giant playgrounds, with mega hopscotches sprayed onto the grass by Upfest. Each hopscotch has 650 individual tiles that form the shape of the numbers 650. Bean bags are provided for throwing, it’s all free, and you’re encouraged to invent your own games and rules; the trail will remain all through August.

Next – or to be strictly accurate, simultaneously – Upfest and BID invited top artists to take part in a mass paint jam on Park Street, The Triangle and Queens Road. The brief was to use techniques and styles from the Renaissance period, meaning that street art legends Inkie, heba, ody (below), Andrew Burns Colwill et al were forced to lay down the spray cans and stick to brushes. Head to the city centre asap to see how they got on . . . For details on both see: www.bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk

Come on Barbie, let’s go party!

BELOW: We all live in a – ohh...

BELOWRIGHT: Doreen Doreen: so good they named them twice

Bristol knows there’s no such thing as bad weather; just inappropriate clothing

OK, so you probably couldn’t see it from space, but you’d definitely spot it from a hot-air balloon…

THEY RISE AT DAWN

They inflated they didn’t take o , mind, the weather was having none of it, but at the ristol alloon iesta press launch on uly, eight tethered balloons made a fantastically pretty reflection in the Harbourside waters.

The full iesta returns to Ashton ourt between - August, and

weather permitting there’ll be an extra treat this year the first mass ascent, which usually takes place on riday morning, will now take o on Thursday at pm, followed by the nightglow which sees multiple balloons light up to a special soundtrack. yes on the skies, etc. For more: www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

Bristol mayor BRIDGING CITIES

A double set of accolades for ristol mayor arvin ees last month. In addition to receiving an honorary degree from Swansea niversity for outstanding accomplishments and contributions to society , he already holds a Sc con and A from the uni , arvin has been shortlisted for the World ayor rize, which honours some of the world’s most outstanding mayors; specifically, mayors who have served their fellow citizens with integrity, courage and imagination who are committed to form friendships and partnerships as well as cooperate with towns and cities at home and across borders.

The W says arvin has been selected not ust for his ability to work across all of the city’s communities, but for strengthening ristol’s partnerships with Africa, the SA and other parts of the world. arvin is among a shortlist of , with the list of finalists being published at the end of October, and the winner announced by the end of the year.

His tenure as mayor is due to end in , when the role will be abolished. any presumed that arvin would be a shoo-in as for the new ristol orth ast constituency, but the vote on uly went in favour of Damien gan; we wait with interest to see what arvin does next.

www.bristol.gov.uk

Charity SO SOUS ME . . .

. . . or at least, sign up me as a .

Stand by for a uni ue fundraising event at Ashton ate Stadium on October, when osh ggleton and Team ove’s I Team anteen curate a special fundraising event. Hosted by ayde Adams more about her on page and oe Sims, the Antian uet is designed to raise cash for ristol ocal ood und, a pro ect run entirely by volunteers who care about food, community, sustainability and making a di erence.

ristol businesses are invited to buy tables for local charities and worthy causes; chiefs from sponsoring companies will be invited to oin the kitchen team or serve the guests as a member of the front-of-house crew.

Around guests will be invited to the Anti- an uet, including emergency services, charity workers, and others who rarely have the opportunity to attend such gatherings.

eanwhile, shouting backs ’ in the kitchen will be ristol’s most exciting chefs, including

osh ggleton of the ony, eter Sanchez Iglesias of aco Tapas and asa, and en Harvey of ianchis. ude ereama of Great British Menu fame will oin the line-up, along with celeb chef Simon immer of hannel ’s Sunday Brunch; pastry chef Hannah ately, featured in hannel ’s Bake Off: The Professionals, will also be part of the team. To get involved, buy a table for your team or donate one to a charity of your choice, visit www.antibanquet.co.uk

Balloon Fiesta

There are legends, and then there’s this little lot: L-R: Ben Harvey, Simon Rimmer, Jude Kereama, Hannah Cately, Pete Sanchez and Josh Eggleton

IT’S RAINING THEM

Which festival is the most colourful and joyous: St Pauls Carnival (featured in our last Brizzogram) or Bristol Pride? No, we wouldn’t like to call it either. Anyway, here’s Pride

@andy.hartup @georgie.dixon9

@tammytrashbags

@Upfest

@matthewpriceartist

@fifi_powell

@keirgravil

@andy.hartup

@mineshpatelphoto

@fifi_powell

@colinraynerphotography

@otisredfox

WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GLO RO

Words by Deri Robins

Photos by @joncraig_photos

Not for the first time, and probably not the last, we’re here to celebrate the uni ue, eclectic, idiosyncratic loucester Road.

It’s often described as the longest stretch of independent shops in urope; uite the claim, when you think about it. It’s also changed enormously since we first launched this magazine in . ack then, it has to be said, it was looking a little bit down in the mouth, with lots of empty units and charity shops. Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with a charity shop, we’re massive fans; but you know what we mean.

Today, however, the los oad is very much on the up, and while such gentrification comes at a price the cost of houses and business premises have risen as the desirability of this ’hood grows it’s hard to un-wish the vibrancy and variety that now defines the street. est of all, it’s the independents who appear to be thriving here, not the chains vivre les locals ust like edminster’s orth Street, there are still enough old-school traders mixed in among the artisanal arrivistes to appease the hipsterresistant, but the road has ac uired a new confidence and buoyancy, thanks to a bunch of endlessly inventive local traders and residents who keep the area firmly on ristol’s radar by hosting seasonal events such as ack in the reen and hristmas fairs; other notable past e orts have included hanging banners painted by local artists up and down the street.

ommunity events Take your pick; from art trails to am-dram; there was even a Taylor Swift workshop last month. ou could go along and sing the Swiftie back catalogue to your heart’s content, in four-part harmony.

ood writer anthe lay once nicely summed up the vibe. Walking down loucester oad makes me proud to live in ristol, she wrote. The range of shops, from the proper family butchers to the greengrocer, the Italian deli, the independent ewellers and the proper bakers, is the ritish high street at its finest.

ou hear the same story from everyone who works and lives on the loucester oad. We couldn’t fit them all into this feature for more, we warmly recommend olin oody’s book The Great Bristol High Street , but over the next pages you’ll find a cross-section.

Down one shot every time someone says the word community’; you’ll be under the table by the time you reach the end of page .

BS7: is it a coincidence that it rhymes with heaven?

“There are still enoughtradersold-school mixed in among the artisanal arrivistes to appease the hipster-resistant”

WHAT MAKES THE GLO ROAD GLOW?

“The diversity, variety and sense of community” – everybody

“It has such a great buzz, with a community of independent and socially conscious businesses. We’ve loved becoming part of that scene, and the welcome has been fantastic” –

Tom Tainton, Burra

“It’s an amazing institution: a high street as long and as full of independent businesses as this is an absolute treasure. A big part of why it’s been able to remain this way is that it’s really well supported. There is a really strong understanding here about what’s precious about these businesses, and the role they play in sustaining the community” –

Tom Robinson, Gloucester Road Books

“Everyone in our mid-section of Gloucester Road, known as Glos Rd Central, is a business owner who lives locally and cares about our community. We all feel passionate about bringing well-designed, ethically sourced products directly to our customers. Our wide pavements are covered in planters full of flowers. We host the orth ristol Art Trail, and we have a free community Christmas street party” – Sarah

Thorp, Room 212 gallery

“The Gloucester Road is diverse and rich in di erent cultures, as represented by its food o erings from around the world. It feels more like being in a town than a suburb of a city, with many passionate people who take pride in what they do but with their own character and personality. For traders and residents alike, it has always been welcoming to all. You can find anything somewhere on the road if you know where to look, and if you don’t, just ask; if we can’t help we’ll be able to point you in the direction of someone who can” –

Michel Khan, Pearce’s Hardware Store

“There is such an eclectic mix of independent businesses along Gloucester Road. It has a distinct and big personality. It caters for every age range, with St Andrew’s Park and playground nearby, along with a great pub, restaurant and bar scene. There are so many charity shops and businesses where you can pick up trinkets, clothing, homeware, food and any other bits and bobs you’re searching for” –Emma

Massey. Raw Space

BEST THING ABOUT WORKING AND LIVING ON THE ROAD?

“The amazing range of independent shops and places to eat. There’s a real pride in having a business on such a prestigious independent high street that’s so well-known. We’ve done some great collaborations on the ‘Ours’ pizza, to feature some amazing local produce, which has always been really well supported” –Jack

Lander, Pizzarova

“I love how adventurous people are, and how readily they welcome recommendations for new writing. Selling books is a lovely business to be in, but when you can sell books that you really love, it’s even better” – Tom

Robinson, Gloucester Road Books

“The vibe about the place, and the way that the local businesses connect and work together. In the time that urra has been open on loucester Road, we’ve hosted a live music gig and a poetry festival, which shows the versatility of the space and the creative energy in the area,” –Tom

Tainton, Burra

“Room 212 has been my home for 10 years, so when I’m here it’s like opening up my living room as a social and creative hub. We sell such a wide range of paintings, jewellery, ceramics, cards and gifts; we have something for everyone, no matter how random the request, and all ristol-made. I’m friends with all my neighbouring traders, so not only can I buy everything I need locally, I’m supporting the local economy, too” – Sarah Thorp, Room 212

usinesses support each other and know each other on a first name basis. We love being part of that community spirit” – Iris Hable, Futureleap

eing a football-coaching business, we love seeing all the football fans walking up to the Mem on a Saturday!” – James Wilson, Soccer Shooters

“The Gloucester Road is the British high street at its finest”

CLOCKWISE: Welcome to the Glo Road; friendly faces: Tom at Gloucester Road Books; Heidi, Amy and Femke at Fed; George at El Comado, and Gem at Room 212. More faces on page 3!

In a Gloucester Road initiative a few years ago, tiny fairy doors were created at the base of trees along the street. Adorable! But if the Glo Ro fairies were real and could wave a magic wand, what would the local traders wish for?

“A dedicated cheesemonger! There are some lovely shops that sell cheeses as part of their range, but we don’t have anywhere that gives that seriously religious experience (maybe I just really like cheese a lot!)” –

Tom Robinson, Gloucester Road Books

“It would be lovely if more people walked, cycled or got the bus rather than drove” –Sarah

Thorp,

Room 212

“More collaboration, maybe some Christmas lights; something to attract and make it a real tourist destination during the festive period and beyond. We’d love to see Gloucester Road lit up, but with LED lights, of course, to keep it sustainable”

– Iris Hable, Futureleap

“A fun activity to do, like crazy golf or bowling” – Emma

Massey,

Raw Space

“More support for bar and restaurant businesses to open at the top end; there are some great spaces and lots of supportive locals. It’s a great place to run a business” – Jack Lander, Pizzarova

destination”shopping

CH-CH-CHANGES

“There’s noticeably been more investment and development coming further up loucester oad; there wasn’t much love past the petrol station at the cross roads back when we opened in 2015. There’s much more development in housing, with some great additions to service residents such as urra, ed , er or etc, which I think makes it a nicer place to live”

– Jack Lander, Pizzarova

“We’re seeing a greater number of established hospitality brands come to loucester oad because they see the value of the market here. It’s one of Bristol’s most exciting young up-and-coming areas, and there’s always something new to explore” –

Tom Tainton, Burra

“A few shops have changed hands over the years, so our section is now even more fun, arty and colourful, giving people even more reason to walk up the hill to los d entral. ot only do we have four galleries, all supporting di erent ristol artists, but we have zero-waste shop reserve, indie bookshop loucester oad ooks and Sidney den bar with fantastic local beers and cocktails and comedy. Luckily we still have our wonderful oe’s akery, fruit veg shop awsons and iles utchers; it’s so great to have established businesses serving high uality produce

Sarah Thorp, Room 212

COOL FOR OLD-SCHOOL

The Glo Road has an enviable number of long-established., family-owned, ‘proper’ shops and services.

Vincenzo & Sons Barbering

Emporium has been cutting hair at number 76 for 52 years, while Pearce’s Hardware has clocked up 135 years at number 295; it’s the kind of place you go in for a bag of nails and come out with a toaster and garden gnome you didn’t know you needed. There’s Joe’s Bakery (be prepared to queue around the block on Saturday mornings) at 240-242; meat from Dave Giles butchers at 170, fresh fish from Dan Stern at The Fish Shop, number 183 – and if Pawsons the greengrocer at number 186 closes for a few days, “everyone gets scurvy,” says Room 212’s Sarah Thorp.

“It has a growing reputation as an alternative shopping destination. The variety of o erings at Future Leap, from sustainable co-working to plants and great co ee is making us not ust a business, but a social hub” –

Iris Hable, Futureleap

“I moved to Bristol in 1996 and this area is now completely di erent; the loucester oad strip’ e ectively used to finish at Somerville oad back then, but now it stretches all the way to pper Horfield. The range of world food options has also increased massively, especially in recent years” –

James Wilson, Soccer Shooters

The acebook group Shop ocal loucester oad has been great for the area. usinesses can share what’s going on, and when people are looking to buy things, they can find out where to get it locally on loucester oad, rather than going to, say, a big chain store”

– Rachel Tan, Greenhouse Learning

“There are several street parties during the year which bring both the shops and local residents together. There has also been a noticeable shift away from corporate shopping to customers supporting their locals, helping them survive as well as reducing their carbon footprint. As consumers have become more environmentally aware, local businesses have embraced this from selling eco-friendly products to supporting local producers and

reducing plastic waste”

– Finola Kelly, Nola Interiors

“There are more pop-up shops making use of empty spaces, and a rise in the number of shops o ering more high-end products, similar to what you’d find in ondon. There are more spaces for parents with young children to meet up and socialise together, with cafés and restaurants able to better cater for their needs. The number of places to eat has grown, with a choice of di erent, great uality cuisines

Emma Massey, Raw Space

LOCALS ON LOCALS

“I got married last month, and used so many services on loucester oad local flowers from ambling ose, nails and facial at o o eauty, dress alterations at lo o fabric, booze from rape rind, artwork from oom 212, wedding ring by a local designer. It was such fun getting all my neighbouring traders involved, and lots of the artists came along to the big day” – Sarah

Thorp

“Our wonderful neighbour Pawsons the greengrocer has fantastic fruit veg; then there’s ed, which makes amazing co ee and cinnamon buns; rape rind, which always has brilliant wine recommendations; olmado for wonderful Spanish delicacies, ood Shop for deliciousness of many kinds, and I now have a fierce addiction to aura’s izza Tom Robinson, Gloucester Road Books

“It has a reputationgrowing as an alternative

Much like Gloucester Road, Pearce’s Stores is diverse and quirky...why not experience it for yourself?

Nuala Morey Hair Salon: A

Beacon of Excellence on Gloucester Road

Nestled in the heart of Gloucester Road, Bristol, is the Nuala Morey Hair Salon, a jewel of a business that has carved a niche as the go-to destination for curly hair enthusiasts. In a bustling city like Bristol, where businesses compete fiercely for attention, Nuala Morey stands out, not just for their exceptional service but also for their unique specialization in curly hair. It’s a salon that understands the beauty, intricacy, and challenges of curly hair, offering tailored services to those fortunate enough to possess such a crown.

The success of Nuala Morey Hair Salon is rooted in their relentless commitment to excellence and a profound understanding of their clientele. Curly hair isn’t just a style; it’s an identity, a personality, a statement. And Nuala Morey, with its team of 15 seasoned professionals, is adept at elevating this statement, transforming every strand into a work of art. Their mastery over the art and science of curly hair has earned them countless accolades and a loyal clientele that swears by their expertise.

But it’s not just their technical prowess that sets them apart. The ambiance of the salon, with its warm and welcoming interiors, ensures that every customer feels at home. It’s a sanctuary where clients can unwind and be pampered, confident in the knowledge that they’re in the hands of the best in the business.

We want clients to be able to relax and feel pampered, especially during longer services. Our delicious sourdough toasties are made from locally sourced ingredients from the bakery and deli on our road. We serve fresh fruit smoothies and have added healthy acai bowls to our menu. We cater to all dietary requirements - our receptionist was formerly a chef and she makes the bowls to order. We also serve an extensive complimentary drinks range including prosecco, wine and beer, and cocktails.

They only use Ammonia free, clean and kind, naturally derived products and are proud ambassadors for O&M and Aveda too.

As Bristol continues to grow and evolve as a business hub, SMEs play a pivotal role in shaping its economic and cultural landscape. In this dynamic ecosystem, Nuala Morey Hair Salon emerges as a shining beacon, exemplifying what it means to be a successful, customer-centric enterprise. Their journey is a testament to the potential that SMEs hold, and the profound impact they can have on the communities they serve.

In conclusion, the Nuala Morey Hair Salon isn’t just a business; it’s a Bristolian institution. For those who seek the best curly hair services in the region, the trail leads to Gloucester Road, right to the heart of this iconic salon. In the tapestry of Bristol’s vibrant business scene, Nuala Morey shines brilliantly, setting standards and inspiring countless others in its wake.

Initially we introduced color analysis to our consultation to help clients see whether they suit warm and cool colours - we do this as standard now for every client. However, it’s been so popular that we’ve now launched a 2- hour full colour analysis service in the private room, covering tones for hair colour, makeup and clothing.

DID YOU KNOW... Former dragons den CBE Kelly Hoppen is a regular client and will not have anyone else cut and style her curls.

COLOUR ANALYSIS

ORGANIC FOOD MENU

Client Kelly Hoppen CBE

Bristol Life Awards

British Hairdressing Awards

“The Prince of Wales, for always providing a great space for us to decompress” –Iris Hable, Futureleap

“We often pop into Bar Industry to watch football, have a local beer, and have a fantastic burger. Tincan serves brilliant co ee, too James Wilson, Soccer Shooters

“La Ruca, Vegan India, Food Shop and Joe’s Bakery. I also love the board games café hance and ounters; the sta are so friendly and helpful, and it’s been a brilliant place for bribing our little boy on school strike days” –Rachel Tan, Greenhouse Learning

“We love to eat at The Dough Kitchen for our weekly lunch club; The Grace, The Gallimaufry and Industry for afterwork drinks; and Tincan or arsons for pick-me-up co ees to get us through the workday” –Emma Massey, Raw Space

o o’s eauty Holistic Therapies o ers wonderful wellbeing and beauty treatments; David Giles, Pawsons and Joe’s Bakery are essential to the local community and bring footfall to the area; Fig and Room 212 support local artists and Rambling Rose sells amazing locally grown flowers Finola Kelly, Nola’s Interiors

“We’re big fans of the Golden Lion, El Comado and Food Shop; Kal Dosa and Chance & Counters which have both opened recently down at the bottom of the street are great additions” – Jack Lander, Pizzarova n

YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM..

Big thanks to the following for taking the time to talk to us:

Room 212

Sarah Thorp’s long-established gallery is also an bona fide community hub

212 Gloucester Road

www.room212.co.uk

Gloucester Road Books

Indie bookseller 184 Gloucester Road

www.gloucesteroadbooks.com

Burra

Antipodean vibes at this café run by a trio of Bristol Bears guys 401 Gloucester Road

www.burrabristol.co.uk

Futureleap

Co-working space

1-3 Gloucester Road www.futureleap.co.uk

Soccer Shooters

Soccer classes and holiday clubs

84 Gloucester Road www.soccershooters.com

Nola Interiors

Lovely interiors store; stockist of Little Greene 168 Gloucester Road www.nolainteriors-bristol.co.uk

Raw Space

Co-working space

111 Gloucester Road www.raw-space.co.uk

Pearce’s Hardware

Long-established hardware shop 295 Gloucester Road 0117 924 5787

Pizzarova

Pizzas of dreams

289 Gloucester Road

www.pizzarova.com

Greenhouse Learning

Tuition for all ages

84 Gloucester Road

www.greenhouselearning.co.uk

ABOVE: Thanks to the handy unicorn guide in our last issue, we know that this is Nova by Talora Welsh, outside popular local The Prince of Wales ; BELOW: Tincan, warmly recommended by many of our Glo Road experts

“If Pawsons the greengrocer closes for a few days we all get scurvy”

WE DO FAR MORE THAN JUST FILE YOUR ACCOUNTS...

THE ARTS

SNAPSHOTS OF BRISTOL’S CULTURAL LIFE

O WA DS THI I

Forwards festival is back for a second year next month, bringing another super-impressive line-up of music and though-provoking talks over two days at the Downs.

“Last year’s Forwards was just brilliant,” said co-organiser Tom Paine. “It was everything we wanted it to be, and the audience really got behind what we were trying to do. Some of the young upand-coming acts we booked last year, like Fred Again, have gone on to be massive; we’re really proud of getting that new, exciting talent to Bristol and playing for us before going o to con uer the world.

“Another highlight last year was having huge crowds for the information tent and the talks. We’re

really keen to show that festivals can be used as a space to educate, debate and champion social change.

“Music-wise we’re pretty eclectic. I don’t think there’s any genre that typifies us; that’s a decision we made on purpose. We want to book music we think is interesting and challenging; Aphex Twin, headlining this year, typifies that. He’s completely uni ue, and the music he’s made has inspired so many other electronic artists.”

Forwards Bristol, headlined by Aphex Twin, Erykah Badu, Bonobo, Primal Scream, Arlo Parks and others, with special guest Goldie, is at the Downs between 1- 2 September For more: www.forwardsbristol.co.uk

If it’s not interesting or challenging, Forwards don’t want to know: Sunday night headliner Aphex Twin

WHAT’S ON

4 August - 4 September 2023

EXHIBITIONS

Until 28 August SUMMER EXHIBITION

The Royal Photographic Society’s selection of work submitted by members of varying experience and skill levels; at RPS, rps.org

Until 30 August FOUND CITIES, LOST OBJECTS: WOMEN IN THE CITY

Curated by Turner Prize-winner Lubaina Himid, this Arts Council Collection exhibition explores modern city life from a female perspective, from safety and navigation to belonging and power. At RWA; rwa.org.uk

Until 8 September

RENE MATIC: A GIRL FOR THE LIVING ROOM

An intimate portrait of Bristol writer and performer Travis Alabanza; at MPF; martinparrfoundation.org

Until 10 September

MAKING THE CITY HOME

Exhibition of textiles showcasing the visual stories of women who have made Bristol their home; At RWA; rwa.org.uk

THE CAVE ART OF LASCAUX

Step back 21,000 years in time and visit the Stone Age cave art of Lascaux in

immersive 3D, at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery; bristolmuseums.org.uk

EXCEPT THIS TIME NOTHING RETURNS FROM THE ASHES

A new film commission by Asmaa Jama, developed in collaboration with artist and costume designer Gouled Ahmed. Shot in Addis Ababa, the film follows ghostly, glitchy presences haunting a city; at Spike Island; spikeisland.org.uk

HARMONYCRUMB

A new commission by Flo Brooks exploring trans and gendernonconforming histories through painting and assemblage; at Spike Island; spikeisland.org.uk

QUENTIN BLAKE: DRAWN TO WATER

Reimagine the wonder of wetlands and nature through the eyes of the UK’s best loved illustrator; at Slimbridge all summer; wwt.org.uk

Until 1 October THREADS: BREATHING STORIES INTO MATERIALS

Major new exhibition featuring 21 contemporary international artists and makers, who use textiles as their chosen medium, at Arnolfini; arn fini rg

Until 29 October STITCHING TOGETHER

Beautiful textile creations and stories of women across the city, celebrating the joy of making through the shared language of sewing; at Arnolfini, arn fini rg

Until 1 December BRISTOL 650 TRAIL

otta find them all a new trail to celebrate 650 years of Bristol history, through objects on display at M Shed; bristolmuseums.org.uk

SHOWS

Until 5 August

42ND STREET

Come and meet those dancing feet in this larger-than-life celebration of musicals and the spirit of Broadway, at Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

Until 12 August

MDH: PUPPETS DO A MOVIE

You know the drill by now. It’s Christmas Eve, and a German terrorist and his mob of terrifying furry accomplices have seized control of a 35-storey skyscraper and are holding everyone hostage The Wardrobe reprise their fast, smart, lo-fi action thriller parody bursting with big laughs, plastic machine-

guns and a glamorous talking pig; thewardrobetheatre.com

15-19 August

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE

The National Theatre’s major new stage adaptation of the Neil Gaiman book comes to Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

22-27 August

SHREK THE MUSICAL

The green guy with the horns returns to delight kids of all ages at Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

29 August-2 September

BLOOD BROTHERS

Willy Russell’s musical tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with, as they say, ‘fateful consequences’; at Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

31 August-2 September

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE

A cast of 100 take you on an epic journey into the underbelly of Bristol and beyond. With the fragility of the human heart at its core, expect stories of joy, pain and temptation, oh, and karaoke; at Bristol Old Vic; bristololdvic.org.uk

We see you baby (or we soon will): Groove Armada takes over the Afterburner at Valley Fest

FROMTOP: Travis and Mia doing breakfast right at MPF, in Rene Matics’ A Girl for the Living Room; Goldie shows us his metal; magic and memory in The Ocean at the End of the Lane

COMEDY

Ongoing

CLOSER EACH DAY

The world’s longest-running improvised comedy soap continues to bubble amusingly away at The Wardrobe; the ar r etheatre

23 August

GRACE PETRIE

Folk singer, lesbian and checkedshirt-collector Grace has been incorrectly called Sir every day of her adult life, and, having nally run out of things to write whiny songs about, she’s putting down the guitar to try and work out why. At The Hen and Chicken; henandchicken.com

3 September

FRANKIE BOYLE: LAP OF SHAME

The beardy controversial one is at Hippodrome. Buy a ticket, because by the time he arrives, the currency will be worthless and you and your neighbours part of a struggling militia that could probably use a few laughs. atgtickets.com

MUSIC

10-11 August

FREDDY MCGREGOR

The Jamaican singer is one of the

most durable and soulful on the reggae scene, with an incredible steady career that dates back to the 1960s. At Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk

18 August

KAREN JONAS

Americana/alt-Country songwriter Karen performs songs from her new album at The Hen and Chicken; henandchicken.com

FESTIVALS

Ongoing

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL

The year-round fest with the something-for-everyone remit; rist fi esti a

Until 3 September

UNICORN FEST

The public art trail sees a herd of unicorns prancing across the city, painted by Bristol artists. The full herd is in our previous issue; bet you wish you’d hung on to a copy now, hey? the ni rn est

10-14 August

BRISTOL BALLOON FIESTA

At dawn and dusk, weather permitting, over 100 hot-air balloons take o in the mass ascents; pray for fair winds. rist a nfiesta

1 September FORWARDS

Two days of music and discussion aimed at creating positive change; the line-up includes Erykah Badu, Aphex Twin, Bonoba, Ezra Collective, Primal Scream, Arlo Parks and Gabriels. Flick back to page 23; r ar s rist

2-3 September

DOGFEST

Four legs good, as the weekend of canine fun and games returns to Ashton Court; g est

OTHER

Until 16 September

BRISTOL’S SUMMER FILM TAKEOVER

xplore the city through a di erent lens with this ongoing takeover from Bristol’s UNESCO City of Film; rist it

Until 6 August

VALLEY FEST

The best-tasting, family-friendly, food and music fest in the West is back at Chew Valley Lake – go on, get on their land! a e est seeti ets n

OPPOSITEPAGE:

JAYDE IN BRISTOL

According to Dawn French, Jayde Adams is the third funniest woman in the world. One thing seems sure: with her new sitcom Ruby Speaking now screening on ITVX, Jayde’s days of working at ASDA Bedminster’s fish counter are firmly in the past . . .

Words by Deri Robins

Ruby Speaking, starring Jayde Adams and Totterdown

Don’t go thinking we’re jumping on the Jayde Adams bandwagon now that she’s famous. We’ve written loads about her in Bristol Life in the past. That said, when we ran our last actual interview with Jayde, back in 2015, she was still mostly known as a stand-up; specifically, as the MC of Bristol female comedy night What the Frock! – remember them? True, she had many other skills in her entertainment armoury – she sang, she danced, she acted – but these talents had yet to be unleashed on an unsuspecting nation.

It’s a very di erent story today. ecently we’ve seen edminster’s finest tangoing on Strictly, hosting panel shows, and co-starring in films and T including Alma’s Not Normal, the Take That musical Greatest Days, and ristol-filmed indie movie The Fence. She’s just come to the end of one stand-up tour and is writing another; she’s hosting an ongoing podcast, and her new series Ruby Speaking is showing on IT . And that’s ust the headline stu . There’s other things, too; ust ask Wikipedia.

My list of questions, then, is as long as the Gloucester oad seamless link, turn to page . ut as it soon transpires, you don’t really get to ‘ask’ Jayde Adams very much. You just say ‘hello!’, press ‘record’ and let her get on with it; she’ll cover all the stu you’d thought up, and some you hadn’t. It’s the easiest interview you’ll ever do.

She begins by telling me about her recent stay at a wellness retreat in Wales, where, she says, she’s been blissfully o -grid. She admits that she can be a bit obsessive when it comes to monitoring her social media stats. “I can sit and watch them all day. It’s a bit like a gig, you can see what people are into. You know; if you post a video, you can see where people have got bored.”

I hadn’t intended to kick o with the murky world of social, but since we’ve strayed into it, how does Jayde cope with the stickier side of the web? Haters are always gonna hate, especially if you’re a public figure who’s unafraid to speak their mind. Double that if you’re a woman. Make it a triple if you’re plus-sized.

After citing the hurtful case of one woman in her Facebook group, who helpfully advised her to have a gastric band, Jayde acknowledges that stand-up has taught her to be resilient in general. “You learn to deal with people not finding you funny, she says. There’s nothing that makes you more vulnerable than someone not laughing at you when you’ve made a joke.

“I’m also quite good at compartmentalising my fears. I know I can’t have a happy and full life being angry or upset for a long period of time. And after a while, you just sort of get used to it all. And this is a big statement, but the most preachy of people online, or who I know in comedy, or in any career, really, are only preaching because they’ve got a lot of their own stu they’re hiding.

“But I also get loads of praise. Absolutely tonnes of it; let’s put that in there. During Strictly, people got tattoos of me on their arm; I was very, very loved, but I did get a lot of people saying bad stu as well. The interesting thing is, people say, oh, it’s awful what men say to you on the internet; but it’s not the men that’s the problem, it’s the women. Women on acebook will have a kraine flag next to their name, because they love the whole of the Ukraine, but they will not support a fat person.

“I galvanise support with it, and use it against them; people don’t realise that every time they post, I get material from it. I think it also shows other people how to be resilient, by me being resilient as well.”

And after all, there are far more deserving candidates to have a pop at. Take one of Jayde’s favourite targets: a beauty industry that preys on women’s insecurity. Stop reading this for a sec, and check out ‘Jayde Adams: Kylie Jenner’s lip kit’ on You Tube. I promise your day will be the better for it. OK, now carry on reading.

The Kardashians, says Jayde, are easy pickings. “There’s nothing more privileged than people who have got money for absolutely no reason anyone can pinpoint; and these women are actually doing quite devastating things to the way women feel about themselves. When you have loads of wealth, and you flaunt it, and make everyone feel envious of you, know that the comedians are coming for you. And I think that’s okay. We’re living in a world in which punching down in comedy and in writing is not okay, but if we use millionaires as our targets, everyone can have quite a nice time.

“It’s one of the big conversations at the moment, about who can be the butt of the joke. I feel you need to know what you’re joking about in order to joke about it; if you’re ust sat on your throne saying stu about a group of people you know nothing about, I think you’re heading towards a cancelling. If in doubt, throw it out to a billionaire; they can take it.”

Maybe ‘knowing what you’re joking about’ is even more important when you’re writing a comedy drama –take the wonderful, BAFTA-winning Alma’s Not Normal, in which ayde plays eanne to best mate Alma Sophie Willan as she copes with her deeply dysfunctional family.

“We’re living in a world in which punching down in comedywritingand is not OK”

Smells like team spirit: hello.com’s motley crew of co-workers in Ruby Speaking

“It’s an experience of a life that Sophie has had; the best writing comes from personal experience. You can really feel it in the writing. A lot of comedy shows at the moment are firstperson experiences of people having mental health issues. I find the most en oyable stu to be about society, about communities and relationships between people. You put these two things together, and you create comedy.

“It comes from the knowledge of having got through something, as well. I’m at my funniest and saddest when it comes to stu to do with my sister [Jayde’s beloved older sister Jenna died at the age of 23 of a brain tumour] because there’s nothing else you can do when trauma happens. I don’t know who came up with the equation, but basically, it’s tragedy plus time equals comedy. I think as long as you’ve had a long enough period away from your traumatic event, you can always find something funny in it.”

There’s an autobiographical element to Jayde’s new comedy drama Ruby Speaking, too, but in a lighter vein; it draws not on devastating emotions, but on her experience of working at a call centre in Stokes Croft.

I’ve done loads of obs. We could ust as easily have done a show about me being a doorman. We could have done a show about me working on the fish counter at ASDA Bedminster, or managing the Star and Dove pub in Totterdown, or running the tantric azz caf on St Nicholas’s Street; we could have had a show about me working at the City Inn on the dual carriageway by ristol Temple eads. I’ve had obs all over, it’s ust that we happened to hit on this one.

“I visited another call centre with [Ruby co-creators Abby Wilson and ucy umsden, and met the people there; that’s where all the stories come from. We wanted to make a relatable sitcom that was really steeped in characters and the humour of the people you meet.

“You’ve got this team of people who normally wouldn’t be together, who wouldn’t choose that friendship group at all there are di erent age groups, di erent races, cultures and creeds but that’s what happens at a call centre. And that’s what I was talking about earlier; you put one thing that isn’t normally with another thing, and comedy happens.”

omedy can also happen, very e ectively, when you unite the politics with the personal.

“Yeah, we’ve really been able to hide loads of politics in the show. At the end of Episode Two, Ruby’s walking home alone at night singing a Bananarama song; it’s a comment on how di cult it is to walk home as a woman. ut instead of it being preachy, it’s hidden in a oke.

Context: singing warms up the vocal cords in case you need to scream. It’s a neat, dark oke smashing the patriarchy through smashing the karaoke – and one that gives Jayde a chance to display the vocal skills that once made her a cinch as an Adele impersonator on the drag circuit but that’s another story. et’s get back to uby.

Jayde admits that being a call centre operator was never her – well, calling. “I’ve always wanted to be an entertainer, since I was really, really small. I’m the youngest of three, so I had no rules.

When she was in the hospital, my sister said, can you start making everyone laugh?’ They were all looking at her like she was about to die, and it was doing her nut in, so

that became my ob. It’s always been about entertainment, and it ust got out of control, Deri, I’ll be honest I’m really good with terrible things. I ust love making people laugh when laughter is really hard to come by. ike the other day, I did ristol omedy arden. I’m ust about to bring hil Wang on when there’s a power cut. 1500 people, sitting in a pitch black tent. I’m really good in a crisis, so I ust lit up my face with my phone, and without a microphone – my voice carries – I explained to the audience that I was in charge, and if they needed to know what to do, they should come through me; this is currently a dictatorship and not a democracy. I got the whole audience to put on their phone lights. It was gorgeous out there, ust this really beautiful moment.

Which the home crowd predictably lapped up.

“Bristol is so proud of me,” she says. “And I feel all the love from the city; coming back home to live was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ll be honest, it’s quite hard to get about in Bristol without being stopped constantly, but I love it. I really value my privacy, but if I’m out and about, then come up; I bloody love a compliment, me.”

Anyone looking for a sign that success has spoiled Jayde Adams would be disappointed. In moving back to Bristol, as a bona fide star, has she relocated to an exclusive eyrie in Clifton? She has not. She’s moved back to the same unassuming South Bristol ’hood she grew up in. It’s also where the entire series of uby is set and filmed.

“You know, every time something is set in Bristol you see shots of Clifton Suspension Bridge or Harbourside. I grew up in South Bristol, I live here still and I don’t think it’s been recognised on TV much. It’s a dead vibrant area; I know we’ve got the colourful houses in Clifton, but it’s the houses of Totterdown that I grew up seeing.

“I knew it was important for me, with whatever’s going to happen with my career, to move back here, to be grounded, to remember who I am and never forget my accent. I do soften it a bit when I’m on Radio 4, so it’s not too much; if you want to change people’s opinion, you’ve got to be a bit of a Tro an horse, rather than coming in and going here’s something new Deal with it ’.

“If you want to change people’’s opinion, youtohave be a bit of a Trojan horse”

Jayde was in a turtleneck... “I changed people’s opinions with an outfit”

“On my show, putting on a black turtleneck to take the mick out of being posh has changed my career. I’m now on Woman’s Hour, I’ve got a Radio 4 podcast; these things happened because of this image that I put out there, which goes to show you that all the stu the politicians do is all manipulation. I changed people’s opinions with an outfit. It’s amazing.

That serious black jumper did a lot of heavy lifting. If clothes maketh the woman, what does Ruby’s colourful wardrobe say about her character?

“I wanted Ruby to be quintessentially Bristolian. We chose Lucy and Yak, because they’ve got a new shop at the bottom of Stokes Croft which stocks a really popular plus-size range. I see girls and non-binary people, and gays in my audience wearing ucy ak; it’s become the uniform for a ayde Adams fan. They’ve all got crazycoloured hair from the Schwarzkopf dye you can get in Boots, there’s always something funky going on; there’s a plastic earring here, a Tatty Devine necklace there. asically, uby would love ade Adams.

We’re nearly done. We’ve covered loads. We’ve even had to start a new Zoom call because the timer on the first one ran out. And then I can’t help myself I bring up the a ire a er, a show Jayde often refers to on social media. Why is so important to her?

“Oh, why is it not? We haven’t got enough time. I rewatch it every year. I’m having it as my special subject on aster in is the sole reason I believed I could be much more than a woman who gives birth and is beholden to a man. Because in the very last scene, what is she doing? She’s stood on a hill, surrounded by friends, and not beholden to a relationship; it was incredibly powerful, and I think it probably reverberated among women of a certain age.

“I just love it. Every time I watch it, it brings new meaning depending on how my life’s going. It’s quite hard to switch o as a performer, and that’s how I do it; rewatching . I know where I am with it; I’m safe.

I mention that star Tony Head practically lives up the road; has she ever met him?

“No. I don’t want to meet my heroes. I’ve done it before, and it’s been disappointing. I avoid David Tennant like the plague. It’s not about him disappointing me, I don’t want to disappoint him. I don’t at any point want to be dismissed by David Tennant in any way.

I really should let her get on; besides, these 11,000+ words aren’t going to transcribe themselves. Let’s wrap up on a ‘So, what’s next for Jayde Adams?’ note. a,

, reatest a s is an acting career the ultimate aim

“That’s where I’m heading, yeah. I’m getting better at it; it feels like when I started comedy, and began to nail it.

And while the live comedy tours are still very much of a thing, what with her burgeoning acting career, and the possibility of a second series of , Jayde’s a bit less available than she used to be.

“I’ve just turned down i e at the . It was too late in the game, Deri; they took too long, and they asked me when I was in the middle of tri t e an ing. I’m like, ‘Babes I’m too busy. Call me when you want me to host it’.

There’s lots of stu happening. I’m having exciting conversations with Hollywood, I’m auditioning all the time, and yeah, we’ll see. But you know; if I keep on earning what I’m earning now, and I live the way I live now, I’d probably die a happy lady.

At which point, we finally decide that I have enough material to be getting on with. As it turned out, I didn’t need my list of questions after all. n

si e is es ea ing are rrent n

n t thin th rist has een re gnise n h t s a ea i rant area”

Jayde with co-star Joe Sims. “I know we’ve got the colourful houses in Clifton but it’s the houses of Tottterdown that I grew up seeing”

EMILY & DAN ROSS STORYSMITH BOOKS

To the best of our knowledge, thefts from our bookshop have basically been nonexistent please understand this is not an invitation to test that knowledge . Of course, books are in our eyes extremely high-value items, but that value is more intangible than monetary, so we count ourselves as being very fortunate. This doesn’t stop us from having a fascination with crime itself, though especially the many ways in which it can be interpreted on the page – and it ust so happens that this really is an excellent summer for all things above the law.

Crook Manifesto

by Colson Whitehead

One of the hardest things to get right when it comes to great crime fiction is creating a central character you’d actually want to spend uality reading time with.

ot necessarily someone likeable, but someone who you sense may have longevity beyond a single volume. When we, like so many of our customers, devoured olson Whitehead’s magnificently hardboiled anti-detective yarn Harlem h e last year, we knew that ay arney was one such character.

arney returns, thank goodness, in the second volume of what we now know is a trilogy, and Crook Manifesto delivers ust the same irresistible dollops of plotty intrigue

and chewy dialogue that made its predecessor such a blast. It is pure oy to see one of our most respected capital- iterary’ writers essentially in end-of-term mode with these books; all the more reason to be excited for Whitehead’s upcoming visit to ristol on August We suspect fans will already have their tickets, but at the time of writing there are a mere handful left.

Penance by Eliza Clark

The proliferation of true crime’ in its various forms podcasts mainly, but now very much creeping into popular literature means that we are somewhat inured to material at the darker, more depraved end of the spectrum. It is that very numbness to horror that liza lark seeks to puncture with this riotously inventive not- uite novel.

A

Thread of Violence

by Mark O’Connell

In some ways, the most satisfying writing about crime comes from those with little experience of it. ark

O’ onnell’s previous books have seen him investigate the lives of and motives behind doomsday preppers and robot-obsessed transhumanists, but this ex uisitely written latest e ort sees him cast his humane and enquiring eye over the case of alcolm acArthur, the convicted murderer and obsession of the tabloids now living out his days as uietly as possible in Dublin.

O’ onnell is haunted by the crimes (as was the rest of Ireland , but knows so little of the incongruously dapper man who committed them, until a growing fascination and a chance proximity to his walking route during the early days of the ovid pandemic leads the writer to approach acArthur himself and ask some very pertinent uestions.

Told as truth, Penance opens with a shocking crime based on real events which takes place on the eve of rexit in a made-up but alltoo-believable town in the orth ast of ngland, and unspools as a faux-true-crime nightmare full of fauxresearch, faux-witness accounts and faux-correspondence with the faux-perpetrators. It is compelling enough as a fiction, but lark’s masterstroke is to ingeniously tease out wider themes that can apply only to us, the horrified reader back in the real world.

Hopefully this shows you ust what a rich time of crime-writing we’re living through, and assuming our entire stock hasn’t been nabbed by readers of this column emboldened by their reading habits and our low crime rate, we will back next time with some more law-abiding solutions to all your reading problems

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

It’s an excellent summer for crime fiction fanciers; just don’t let this column give you ideas

“The most satisfying canwritingcrime come from those with little experience of it”

THE ONLY WAY IS UP

It’s 4am, and destiny is calling you…

Words and pics by Colin Moody

Choose early starts.

Choose the sound of burners in that misty pre-dawn glow. Choose light at the opening of the day.

hoose a co ee that you taste before your body has even woken up.

Choose to rise, on fabric as thin as hope.

Choose shapes from peanuts to dark lords.

Choose destination unknown.

Choose the promise of return.

Choose the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

an you imagine that feeling, the first time anyone flew in a hot air balloon eleased from the burden of the earth, forever to be free, citizens of the air.

I mean, it must have been huge.

efore we flew at ach from ilton, before we set foot on the Sea of Tran uillity, we filled the canopy and decided to go there, ust because we could.

Welcome to View From The Basket Heroes.

1our alarm bell rings. ou instinctively reach over and turn it o . ou know it’s too early, you can sense that; however, deep down in your marrow there is another feeling. It feels like destiny. That feeling that tells you there’s a reason you are trying to get up at this ridiculous hour. So you rise. And in minutes you are up, dressed and a short while later, while it’s still dark, you are walking across grass wet from the night chill towards your destination.

2

And there it is; the morning has started. Pre-dawn, Lohengrin by Wagner plays inside your head, music that knows how to set the scene for this epic drama.

First there is that pre-dawn build up, when the sky starts to bruise into light, ever so slightly, at the edges. And for one magical moment, while we live on this earth, we do not have to wait until the sun rises because, tailed onto four-by-fours, the baskets and the canopy blow and fill and there, there at that moment we are the fire, the children dragged out of bed to sit around the field behind the barriers; we lean forwards and wonder, what is this magic? The day has not begun, and yet here comes that horizon light of orange and yellow; it pulses and ascends.

3A small army of crew moves about as the balloons fill with air, warmed by the fire, and we fill with hope. There seems no end to this feeling. What is it Why have we come here, to this dip in the land by Ashton ourt We are compelled. It smells like destiny. So fragile, those shapes look, and yet so absolute, that upturned teardrop shape.

In the crew that moves and unrolls canopy after canopy and lays it out on the grass in this ritual, someone’s daughter blows bubbles, and through it we see it. We live inside this thin veil of atmosphere, it is us, the life force of both ourselves and the planet. It is time. The flight of the canopies. It is time to renew our relationship with the air itself.

4 alloon after glorious balloon fills and rises; they bump alongside each other, behemoths, krakens of the sky, awoken from their ancient slumbers, some of them, to ride again, up, up, up one and all.

“Balloon after glorious balloon fi s an rises the a ngsi e ea h ther ehe ths ra ens the s ”

5It feels like history, and now, all at once. This is why we do this, because at this time and place we reconnect with who we are as a city. Someone new sees the first mega basket rise; it doesn’t look real. And so large; whole families ascend.

6And for the lucky few, who rise up in this armada of hope into the sky, their destiny, like life, is one tied to the wind. Skilled pilots from all over the world who know how to fly these aircraft must all of them take a moment up there to appreciate that none of us ever truly know where life will blow us.

7Impossible shapes, old friends, new ones, blimps, they all rise. And the numbers grow and grow. We seed the sky with this new species.

8Minutes, an hour?

How long were we up there, away from it all and yet connected to our journey in life like never before?

In no time the noise and busy business of the mass ascent is done, skies traversed, and it is time to land. Down, down, slowly at first, you have no escape from gravity in the end. The dream that you could rise forever is gone.

Time to land.

Over the roads, skimming over treetops, the pilot takes you skilfully ever lower to a field. Today’s turns out on this flight here to be a golden yellow field of recently harvested wheat. Down, touchdown, and don’t get out, not yet, or stay here you will and be forced to watch the others sail away once more, freed from the burden of your extra weight.

Time to pack the canopy away, and we all work together to do this, have some fizz and think already about doing the whole thing again next year, or even better than that, just a few hours later.

Weather-dependent of course, all this. That whole hope as fragile as the beauty of the whole thing itself.

Colin Moody;

creation, online

Twitter @moodycolin; Instagram @colinmoodyphotography colinmoodyphotography.wordpress.com

content

images

“This is why we do this, because at this time and place we reconnect with who we are as a city”

LOOKING FOR AN

Look

Located in the heart of the stunning Ashton Court Park, our course is perfect for thrill-seekers of all ages and abilities. With a range of obstacles and challenges to overcome, from swinging bridges to zip lines, you’ll test your resolve, balance, and coordination as you navigate your way through the treetops.

Whether you’re planning a fun family day out, a birthday party or a team-building event Tree Tops is the perfect adventure. With highly trained instructors on hand to guide you every step of the way, you can rest assured that your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities.

So what are you waiting for?

BANDOOK

The spice is right at this authentic Indian street food diner in Cargo 2

By Deri Robins

You could find andook with your eyes closed. ust set your internal sat nav in the direction of argo , follow your nose, and let the spicy aromas wafting down the stairs lead you unerringly up to your destination like the kids in the old isto advert. mm gobis.

ut we’re being disingenuous here. We know the way perfectly well, because this is our second visit. When we last ate here a few years ago, we found the food excellent, though the service a little chaotic; happily this all seems to be sorted now because the two guys serving us couldn’t have been more on it. The menu describes the service as a able’, which is a rather lovely word, and one that’s entirely appropriate here.

andook is the casual arm of the Indian fine-dining int oom group. When it first opened it was called Sholay after the classic ollywood crime flick , then changed its name to andook after the classic ollywood crime flick . or reasons we’ve never got to the bottom of, there was a copyright problem with the former, but not the latter.

ust as there’s a int oom in ath and ristol, there’s a andook in each city too. The ath one’s a lot larger and plusher, with proper cloakrooms, whereas of course in argo you have to gallop back down the stairs in all weathers to use the communal loos, chanting the entry code under your breath like a mantra. Despite this mild inconvenience, we far prefer ristol’s andook, finding it more characterful and fun than the posher ath one; which, thinking about it, neatly sums up our feelings about the two cities in general.

DINING DETAILS

pineapple, which you sip through a rim of masala salt. s A is e ually delighted with her ollywood Star artini vodka and passionfruit, sexed up still further with a shot of champagne. I don’t ever want to drink anything else, thanks, she says, nibbling daintily on her pani puris thin, crispy globes, as delicately crackable as eggshells, revealing an inner bounty of masala, onion and chickpeas.

With a choice of nine small plates, two of you could probably manage the lot; however, this might mean you’d need to swerve the tempting full-sized biryanis, hearty curry bows and kati rolls olkata street food’s most famed, and we’re rolling them out . There are lots of excited exclamation marks on the menu, which we find loveable.

Bandook, Cargo 2, Museum Street; 0117 336 2845; www.bandookkitchen.com

On my last visit, the signature randma’s hicken urry had been mysteriously unavailable; maybe randma had sunk too many ollywood artinis the night before. This time she’d rallied magnificently, cooking tender chicken in a mildly spicy, aromatic, skilfully layered dish; Indian food with a lightweight sari on, not the hefty overcoat it sometimes wears. Although I’ve visited a asthan, one doesn’t like to bore on about one’s culinary travels ah, the best dosas are made by a iv in Old Delhi; you can’t miss his cart, it’s on the second tra c island by the bus stop at handni howk market, etc so I will ust uietly say that this dish brought back memories in a way that curries at less authentic places never seem to do.

Opening hours Tues-Thurs midday-3pm, 6-10pm; Fri-Sat midday-11pm; Sunday midday-9pm

Prices Small plates £5.50-£12; mains £11-£15; puds £4.50-£5

Service Knowlegeable and friendly

andook is also the Hindi word for rifle. The restaurant takes its inspiration from the Hindustani caf s where ritish and Indian troops would eat together, a theme underlined by framed pictures of splendidly uniformed, guntoting Indian soldiers on the back wall of the tiny dining room. There’s room for about souls within, and a few tables without for when the weather plays ball.

Veggie Good choice

Drinks Fabulous cocktails, small wine list

Service Knowlegeable and friendly

Top tip Book in advance, it’s tiny

It most decidedly isn’t when we slosh our way up a sodden useum Street, so we dive indoors and dry out next to the open kitchen. ike most argo restaurants, it all feels chummy and cosy rather than cramped.

The short and succinct bill of fare o ers traditional Indian street food with a modern twist. o danger of spices being used to mask inferior produce here; the menu shouts out a proud a liation with local suppliers such as lifton ruit eg, eatbox and lifton Seafood ompany, the last two so close to andook they could probably deliver by pulley.

Whatever time of day you’re dining, you shouldn’t miss the cocktails. Working lunch It’s fine, I’ll write you a note. The drinks menu comes in a smart little blue book designed to resemble a passport; I instantly book myself a one-way ticket to the onkan oast via the ombay argarita, which does wonderful things to te uila with chilli li ueur, lime and

We also leaned heavily into the small plates. At the pricier end of the scale at , but fully ustified by their size, flavour and uiciness, were un abi cutlets of Welsh lamb set o by a delicate mint chutney. Our waiter’s recommendation of the gobi was another good one, being a world away from the sloppy cauliflower sides churned out by lesser Indian establishments. The spicy deep-fried florets, we read, are a vegan take on the infamous [sic] chicken at Hotel uhari in henni’. We’re not sure what the uhari chicken did to deserve its notoriety, perhaps it poisoned a luckless diner, but andook’s gobi was blameless, and one of our favourite dishes of the night.

Other dishes borrow good ideas from other cuisines, and why not Soft cubes of chilli paneer come in a sweet and sour sauce, while both tofu and baby s uid were stir-fried with adron peppers. We duly licked the plates.

There were two desserts We hope you have en oyed your experience so far , so we ordered both and shared nicely; a delicate rose petalflecked rice pudding, and a luscious pair of gulab amun an authentic classic, and if you don’t agree, well, we were once in Old Delhi, you know.

Sometimes you can have a perfectly good meal, served by perfectly nice people in a perfectly nice room, and you’ve forgotten all about it by the time you turn the key in the car door. ut andook left us thoroughly charmed. It won’t be another four years before we return to its welcoming space, and it won’t take a the barrel of a bandook to get us there. n

FOOD & DRINK

A TASTE OF BRISTOL’S FOOD SCENE

LAST ORDERS

Not so very long ago, if you wanted to secure a table at Pasta Loco you needed to book several weeks in advance. Saturday evening table for six? Make that months. The incredible quality of the food never wavered; neither did its famous spirit of hospitality. So why has this absolute titan on the local independent food scene been forced to close?

Cousins and co-founders Dom Borel and Ben Harvey lay it all out for us. “Pasta Loco was the realisation of a dream,” they say. “Growing up in a family of Italian heritage here in Bristol, we knew what authentic hospitality and good food was from the start.

“From those early foundations our aspirations grew and after decades of working for others we finally got the keys to our own restaurant. With monumental support from our family and despite our shoestring budget, we opened the doors and started serving fresh pasta within a couple of months. We hit the ground running, and our dream became a successful reality very quickly.

“So why then are we closing our doors? It’s well known the di culties that our industry is facing; energy costs are triple what they were, the rising cost of labour, huge increases of core ingredients and, regrettably, landlords hiking the rent to un ustifiably high levels, which, sadly, has been the case at Pasta Loco.’

However, the final nail in the co n, say en and Dom, has been the manner in which the Cotham Hill pedestrianisation scheme has been carried out.

“Initially, two years ago, we were all for the scheme. However, the entire process since then has been poorly managed, terribly communicated and littered with awful decision-making. Finally, to be notified that the scheme will complete over the summer, and that all retailers are to take down their external structures and remove seating at the busiest time of the year, is the death knell for us.

“While we understand the need to complete the project, the absence of any consultation and partnership working is glaring; we have been allocated enough space for two outside tables, as a cycle lane will run through the centre of the road. We know that the loss in covers would mean letting go of nearly half our sta . ltimately, this option was unacceptable to us, so we have taken the hard decision to close and take our business elsewhere.”

Thanking sta and customers Dom and en said that asta oco has been a oyous ride from the start and will always be our first love, it’s hard to walk away, but we know in our hearts that the time is right.”

The family still runs Pasta Ripiena, Bianchis and Cotto; we suggest you visit them as often as you can, not just to support them but because they serve some of the best food in the city,

And it’s not all gloom; a new opening is on the cards: “One door shuts and another will open. asta oco, our first restaurant, has laid a very special foundation; we will rise and build on we have learned, loved and created.” More news on this soon.

Big love to the team from us. For more www.bianchisrestaurant.co.uk

Ben (third from left) and Dom (fourth from left) in happier Loco days

AMUSES BOUCHES . . .

Upper Maudlin Street Indian restaurant Haveli

The Yard has launched a new brunch and lunch menu inspired by their family’s legacy and travels around India. The new menu introduces classic Indian dishes which may be new to Bristol’s diners, such as their signature dosa filled with lightly spiced Indian scrambled eggs and the Vada Sambur, a popular South Asian donut-shaped lentil fritter, served with coconut chutney and tomato chutney. www.havelitheyard.co.uk

Opened by former pastry chef Hannah Catley, following the success of her Lockdown Loaves in Winterbourne, new bakery Catley’s has now opened in Clifton Village; although the goods are currently just for take away there are plans for a café. @catleys_ on instagram

New café Poquito Coffee has opened on the Cheltenham Road, selling brews from Clifton Coffee and baked good from the likes of Pano Bakehouse and Bishopston Bagels pastries – oh, and plants from Mint Plants. @poquitocoffee

Meanwhile on Easton’s Chelsea Street, new French bistro The Baffled King has moved into the old Pipal Tree. Taking its enigmatic name from the Leonard Cohen lyrics, “The baffled king composing Hallelujah” (nope, still none the wiser), the restaurant serves coffee and croissants in the morning,

fine dining Monday to Saturday evening, brunch on Saturdays and Sunday lunch.

“Our menu, drawing inspiration from classic French cuisine, offers a precise selection of small plates in the evenings and on Sundays,” say owners Howard Brewer and Campbell Craig. “We take pride in serving excellent dishes that are approachable and free from pretension, complemented by a list of interesting and affordable European wines and Bristol beers.” www.thebaffledking.co.uk

The nice folk at Bristol Beer Factory have introduced a new community investment initiative. “We love this city so much that we’ve introduced a 2% community tax on our total brewery sales to invest in activities that uplift people or places across Bristol,” say BBF.

Over the next year, Brewed to Give will invest £80k through a mix of stock, space and direct support. “With a little assistance and use of our event equipment, we want to help our community turn this investment into £250k+ of unrestricted funds.” www.bristolbeerfactory.co.uk

THE HOT LIST

The Good Food Guide has included five ristol restaurants in its latest Top , which selects the winners from thousands of nominations from diners in order to celebrate the places that are the beating heart of communities around ritain, while o ering creative, memorable dishes based on high- uality seasonal produce.

In what the uide describes as the strongest field of contenders we’ve ever seen , the selected restaurants are ank in Totterdown, aper ure in Stokes roft, ittle rench in Westbury ark, ittle Hollows in edland and Sonny Stores in Southville. Which strikes us as a pleasingly democratic geographical spread. For more: www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk

ack in the culinary desert of the s, the former working Dutch barge on Welsh ack known as The Glass Boat o ered a rare beacon of fine dining. It closed in , reopened briefly during lockdown as an upmarket fish and chippy called iSH, went back up for sale in ay , and now a rather exciting

new next chapter has been revealed it’s been ac uired by local artisan spirit heroes 6 O’clock Gin, who plan to reopen it in late summer as a new retail, bar and events space, hosting the likes of gin tastings, cocktail masterclasses and gin-blending experiences.

www.6oclockgin.com

CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

ee t watch gulls by

I’ve always thought there was something a bit escapist about the life of a café lover. It’s not ust about the co ee. Or the cakes. Or even the vibe.

Stepping into the shade of a co ee house lets you leave the real world behind, if only for a few soft, sipping, moments.

ike taking o your shoes when you get home, it lets you step into a di erent zone, a di erent way of being. Lets you escape the harsh realities of life, softens the steel fist hiding within the velvet glove of everyday. Allows you to

spend time thinking of nothing much. Probably one of the most important things you can do with your thoughts, now I think of it.

If you are wondering what has got me going in this vein, allow me to explain. It all started when a couple of us were cycling back from Temple Meads. Made our way through a square, heading towards the S-shaped bridge that snakes over the Floating Harbour along Temple Quay.

Immediately after the bridge we espied a co ee house. The Double Puc café. Apparently it’s risen, Phoenix-like, from the ashes of Friska, whose owners retained two of the sites in the chain and gave them a reboot.

Since the sun was shining and our throats were dry, we decided to stop and whet our whistles. After locking up the bikes, ordering some drinks and parking ourselves on a shady bench, we got ready to watch the world go by. See what entertainment it would o er.

We didn’t have to wait long.

First up were a couple of cheeky seagulls, arguing noisily over the spoils of war. In this case, the remains of roadkill. Nice. Not sure what creature the scraps were from; either way, the seagulls were so busy fighting, they dropped the prize they were fighting over. Which was when a third seagull, who had been quietly watching from the wings, swooped down

and stole it away. Hmm. Reckon there’s a life lesson for us all there, somewhere.

Next up was that snaky bridge. Gave it a Google. Turns out it’s privately owned, it’s called the Valentine Bridge, and winds up the bridge loving community something rotten (who knew such a community even existed, btw?) Something to do with having too many non-stressed cables, whatever they are.

Lastly, we watched the boats chug by. A smorgasbord of watery wonders. Got me thinking. Always had this part of town down as a bit of a dead end. Blandsville. Full of glass buildings and dead space. The sort of place you pass through on your way to somewhere else. But after whiling away those pleasant few minutes, escaping the everyday, I reckon that might wrong. There’s more than meets the eye here. It’s worth a wander.

So, if you are in that neck of the woods, in the mood to explore a slightly unexpected part of town, I can definitely recommend this co ee shop. The waitress who served us was delightful, the iced Americano was perfect and the raisin cookie flap ack was ust what the doctor ordered. Double stars all round. n

Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer @stancullimore on instagram

In which Stan makes like an ice-hockey player and gets the Double Puc out of here

te ing int the sha e a ee house lets you leave the real world ehin s tening the stee fist hi ing within the velvet glove of everyday”

August & September Summer Parties

40 to 500 guests from £39.95 +VAT

CITY OF BRISTOL COASTER SET, £14.75

By Susan Taylor, depicting local landmarks. Somehow the fact that the Zoo’s not there any more makes us want these coasters all the more

From The Bristol Shop www.thebristolshop.co.uk

BRIGHT CONTROL

In honour of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, we’ve put tasteful neutrals back in their box this month and welcomed the dopamine hit of strong, feisty hues

ANNI LU NUANUA BEADED BRACELET, £45

Almost childlike in its sweetness, but made for grown-ups from glass beads and a 18kt gold-plated clasp

From Harvey Nichols

27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

BRISTOL SCROLL BALLOON FRIDGE MAGNET, £6

Balloons and Bristol go together like crackers and Wensleydale. Designer Dona B has created a brightly coloured graphic incorporating the Bristol scroll, to celebrate this perfect pairing

From The Bristol Shop www.thebristolshop.co.uk

CRESSIDA BEADED HOOPS, £8

By Big Metal London, who craft every piece with love and care for the environment

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

EMMELINE SIMPSON

CHINA MUG, £12.95

Mass ascents guaranteed every day, whatever the weather

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

BAG & BONES DEFLATED ORANGE

BALLOON SCULPTURE, £225

eeling deflated an’t think of anything better to spend on This uplifting resin sculpture could be ideal for you

From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

DEVOTION TWINS IASPIS MIDI DRESS, £270

Take care: if you’re wandering across the fields of the iesta in this bright, stripey number, someone may attempt to attach a hot-air burner to your hem

From Harvey Nichols

27 Philadelphia Street

www.harveynichols.com

HAND-PAINTED GLASS BAUBLE, £3

Bristol-based Other Lovely Things sells unique, handmade, hand-painted products that are beautiful and sustainable. Every bauble is individually hand painted from the inside, using a 200 year old tradition; how do they do that?

From Other Lovely Things www.otherlovelythings.co.uk

NALI SHOP LONG BEADED EARRINGS, £29

In glass and brass, in the summeriest of colours to lift any outfit or mood

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

GERT LUSH BRISTOL GICLÉE PRINT

BY JENNY URQUHART, £35-£45

Take your pick from a whole range of balloon-inspired pieces by Jenny –there’s even one with a Bristol Life balloon on… From Jenny Urquhart www.jennyurquhart.co.uk

CARLA JAMES LOVE BRISTOL PIN BADGE, £8.50 OK, no balloons per se; but it’s really not that hard to imagine a few sailing over the bridge now, is it?

From Upfest Gallery

198 North Street www.upfest.co.uk

RAINKISS RAINBOW ART X SMILEY BUCKET HAT, £37

The Smiley x Rainkiss collab stands for happiness; it’s simple, it’s powerful and it’s positive. If it rains, it rains; let’s celebrate with a Smile

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

LE CREUSET STONEWARE

BOWL SET, £79

Make every day a Fiesta day with these rainbow-coloured, hard-wearing cereal bowls

From Harvey Nichols

27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

L.F.MARKEY MICAH TOP, £105

In linen, with a cropped relaxed fit, keeping you feeling as cool as you look (ie, very)

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

LOOK GREAT, FEEL GREAT

Price Driscoll Hair is led by Ben Driscoll-Price, a five-times nominee for Wales and Southwest Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards, a Goldwell Colourzoom Creative Colourist Finalist in 2018 and most recently the 2022 Gold Winner for the Editorial Colourist of the Year at the Global Creative Awards, as well as working at London Fashion Week with Oribe and being a full-time hair stylist.

WHAT WE DO:

We provide client-focused, customised one-to-one hair sessions using high technical ability and creative flair, in which your individuality is embraced as part of a collaborative ongoing hair journey. We work with you to create a personalised, wearable style and bespoke colours which reflect who you, which you can recreate outside the salon too. We believe that great results come from combining our creativity and knowledge with your desires and lifestyle. We value integrity, so the health of your hair is a priority to us and we will always take this into consideration when we work with you. Visiting a hair salon isn’t just about leaving looking great, it’s about feeling great too. This all begins with a consultation so we can to listen to your needs, tune in to your wants and advise you on the best way forward.

We are offering a complimentary upgrade with a personalised Oribe hair treatment worth over £20 with every cut and finish: new client appointment. To take advantage of this offer, simply use the code BRISTOLLIFE when booking online or quote it over the phone.

WHERE WE ARE:

We are situated within the stunning redevelopment of The General. We proudly sit alongside some highly regarded restaurants and personal training establishments. The salon space is unlike any other hair salon in Bristol; located within the building itself, it has been created with a nod to heritage while customising a purpose-built interior to provide a considered salon experience featuring ergonomically designed furniture for your comfort and relaxation.

If you would like to know more, visit our website www.pricedriscoll.co.uk or give us a call on 01179299981 n

“A PLACE WITH NO JUDGEMENT, WHERE CREATIVITY AND PASSION EVOLVE AND THRIVE”

PRICE DRISCOLL HAIR strives to build you the best experience, whether slotted into a busy working day or during some prolonged pampering ‘me time’

WE LIKE THE WAY YOU WORK IT

Creative, adaptable, independent – with working hubs like these, is it any wonder that so many Bristolians have returned to the office?

Covid e ected a seismic change in working patterns, proving to even the most sceptical of bosses that for many employees, working from home could be at least as e cient as clocking into a physical o ce every day between nine-to-five.

So now, in with the postlockdown dust more or less settled, how does the o ce landscape look Are we all dead keen to return to a shared working space, or are we clinging fiercely to our home-based working mo o aybe something in between It really depends on the nature of your ob, the sector you work in, and, of course, your personality. If you’re a highly sociable member of a close-knit team which feeds o interaction, a shared working space is obviously ideal; at the other end of the spectrum are creatives who thrive on peace and uiet and who have absolutely no desire to turn back the clock.

or employers, savings made by not having to finance a full-time physical o ce mean that many are looking for more flexible deals o ering a hybrid working pattern for their sta . o wonder the demand for working hubs in the city has grown; below we take a look at some of the many interesting shared spaces in the city.

DESKLODGE BEACON TOWER

Beacon Tower, www.desklodge.com

et’s kick o with a tasty new arrival on the scene Desk odge recently named by The Times in their est laces to Work list, has opened a new space in eacon Tower.

We’re not a cookie-cutter, out-of-the-box workspace, they say. When you’re in a Desk odge you know you’re in a Desk odge; it’s like nothing else you’ve ever experienced. And that’s intentional. ristol is renowned for being one of urope’s creative hubs, and we think we o er some of the region’s most exciting start-ups and entrepreneurs an environment in which they can grow and thrive.

So what makes DeskLodge so special?

Our themed spaces are meticulously planned and thoughtfully designed with our members in mind, to inspire and motivate them to have their best working day, and have fun while they’re at it. We’ve gone one step further and created zones which reflect the most productive environment to suit the working style or task. or example, silent space for solo deep focus, oom areas for catch-ups, call booths for private chats, and breakout spaces for teamwork and collaboration. Set across three floors, with room for people, the spaces are suitable for anyone from solo-founder start-ups to established organisations of up to people, with themed areas such as gyptian ods, erlin’s ave, and an uet Hall. any will also be thrilled to see the return of the TA DIS embers have the option to personalise their private workspace with furniture, branded wall murals, bespoke door decals and even their own custom-built, dedicated meeting room. We’ve even designed and printed bespoke wallpaper to help one member make their mark. We challenge anyone not to feel inspired in our creative workspaces. In fact, we’re guaranteeing teams the best working month of their life or their money back

Does any particular sector work out of your offices?

Desk odge is the creative maverick of the co-working world. We’re a magnet for ambitious, high-tech, disruptive companies like urve and icocom who share our values of putting people first, prioritising team happiness and recognising and supporting the individual working style of every team member. Our members and growing span a wide variety of sectors including H , recruitment and property. Teams of - are the sweet spot.

DeskLodge; it must be a bit like going to work in Wake the Tiger . . .

“We’re not a cookiecutter, out-of-the- box whenworkspace; you’re in a DesklLodge, you know you’re in a DeskLodge”

OFFICES

How important is socialising among members?

We know that connection and community are everything. From breakfast socials to lunch and learns to evening get-togethers, there are always ample opportunities to mingle with other members and forge collaborations. Many a connection has been made and deals done over a barista- uality co ee or a bacon breakfast bap.

ORIGIN WORKSPACE

Berkeley Square; www.originworkspace.co.uk

A premium co-working, meeting and events space in Berkeley Square o ering a balance of full-time, part-time and hybrid working patterns and flexible membership packages.

What‘s the big deal?

A home for your business to thrive in, with private o ce membership and premium hospitality, community events and wellness activities, along with the privacy of one of our modern and sleek glass o ce spaces. eeting rooms are fitted with high-tech e uipment, with access to the best view in Bristol from our roof terraces. Our lounge membership is ideal for casual and informal meetings, remote workers and business travellers, as it’s a creative and relaxed environment to meet clients in, or just to catch up on some work.

Who is it ideal for?

Freelancers, small-business owners and remote workers – our hotdesk memberships are designed for those looking for a professional co-working environment with flexibility.

Which sectors choose to work at your office?

We have a strong culture of collaboration; many of our members use accountants, lawyers, writers and web agencies based in the space. We have attracted professional services, and seem to be particularly popular with companies in the property industry such as architects, engineering consultants and interior designers.

How important is socialising among members?

We consider ourselves to be a destination, which is why we have a solid timetable of wellness clubs and special events which welcome Bristol-based businesses onsite. At our monthly happy hour, members network over drinks while learning about other members and one of our five charities.

How closely do you work with the Bristol community?

We exclusively use businesses from ristol and the South West to put money back into the local area. Our solid membership base has allowed us to increase our volunteering days and monetary donations to a number of charities; in addition to financial support, Origin members o er advice and mentoring, to tie in with our culture to enable tomorrow’s business talent to succeed, today.

“Our resident writers are following in the footsteps of William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Robert Southey, who all once frequented the building”

THISPAGE: More corners of DeskLodge: “the creative maverick of the co-working world”

OFFICES

ETHICAL PROPERTY

Paintworks, Brunswick Court and St Pauls Learning Centre www.ethicalproperty.co.uk

Ethical Property offers a wide range of space, from single desks through to self-contained space for a head office.

What makes you special?

We’ve been a social enterprise since we started 25 years ago, and believe that people working alongside each other can make a massive difference. If you’re working on a campaign to improve society, what could be better than working alongside likeminded organisations?

Do any particular sectors work out of your offices?

All our tenants want to make a positive impact. We’ve a great mixture of charities, social-impact organisations and campaign groups, working alongside B-Corps and more commercial organisations.

How important is socialising among members?

Our centres have been designed so that those moments to chat while making a cuppa can lead to valuable partnerships. For after work, our centres are based in some of Bristol’s most vibrant hubs.

DISTIL CO-WORKING

All Saints Lane, www.distilcoworking.space

Distil offers six hot desks and eight dedicated desks in an open-plan space overlooking St Nicholas Market, as well as casual hot desking in the bar space on the ground floor. There’s a private room for meetings and confidential calls, and they’re working to convert the top floor into private offices next summer.

Yes, apparently this is called working . . . left: The Origin roof terrace below: Distil; we’ve seen less inviting bars

What makes you special?

Our location, in the heart of St Nicholas Market. Step outside our front door and you’re surrounded by some of the best street food in Bristol. We operate above a working bar, and all our pay-monthly tari s include a drinks allowance. We’re flexible with our tari s, including pay-as-you-go hot desking from just £10 per day.

Do any particular sectors work out of your offices?

We’re open to all sectors, and are more about community than professional networking. As a smaller, calmer space, our membership is mainly made up of individuals who want somewhere they can focus without being disrupted by large teams. As well as a considerable proportion of members working in software and tech, we have a number of writers who’ve described how they can focus here better than anywhere else; our resident writers are following in the footsteps of the likes of William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey, who once frequented the building.

How important is socialising among members?

Towards the end of every month, we encourage our members to use up their inclusive bar drinks allowance, inviting others to join them for drinks. Members also share lunch from St Nicks in the bar, and in the winter our members gather around the open fire. Once a uarter, we host organised socials; the next one is a cocktail-tasting event.

BRISTOL OFFICE CO

St Augustine’s Parade; www.bathoffice.co.uk

Three open plan private o ces, suitable for teams of - sta , full of listed features and facilities.

Tell us about the spaces

ach floor has its own private cloakrooms, shower, kitchen, meeting room and break spaces, o ering autonomy with the ease and security of a private o ce.

Do any particular sectors work out of your offices?

We welcome a broad array of sectors; however, we believe tech companies, developers, professional services, creative agencies, and consultancies are best suited to this location.

How important is socialising among members?

Hugely elationships are forged around the co ee machine, or outside of the main workspace. We cultivate partnerships with local businesses and encourage inter-company mingling via events to aid connections and collaboration .

FUTURE LEAP

Gloucester Road; Oakfield Road

oth hubs o er a mixture of open-plan shared o ce, private o ces, meeting rooms, booths for private phone calls, kitchen and breakout areas inside and outdoors. They also o er bike parking and shower facilities to enable co-workers to commute more sustainably.

What makes you special?

Our focus on sustainability; this means we attract a certain kind of co-worker, and that creates a special community of likeminded people. Our spaces are open and collaborative, within unique

The sustainable crew: RIGHT: Ethical; BELOW: Future Leap

“We’re more about community than professional networking”

properties – on Gloucester Road, within the Art Deco tram station by the Arches; in lifton, in The Old hapel on Oakfield oad both retrofit to embed sustainability into the building and operations.

The loucester oad frontage has an extensive living green wall to address pollution and biodiversity, and we are ust about to reduce our carbon impact further with the installation of 39 solar panels on the roof. Our hubs are operated to carbon-neutral standards, and we are working to reduce our carbon impact further each year.

Does any particular sector work out of your offices? of the people working from uture eap either work directly in sustainability and the third sector, or take a - orp approach.

How important is socialising among your members?

We run free weekly events on sustainability topics for our network and co-working members; the public are also welcome to book online. We invite experts on a variety of di erent topics to present at those events, so there’s a really strong culture of knowledge-sharing. We also host monthly dinner and drinks, yoga and netwalking.

WORKING NINE TO FIVE

Interaction has been designing and building best-in-class workspaces for over 30 years.

“Co-working has redefined the way people work,” they say. “With the industry growing 15-20% over the past decade, there are countless opportunities for networking and expansion, with members looking for inspiring spaces in which to spend their nineto-five and beyond.

“Our expertise lies in fostering vibrant communities, bringing together likeminded individuals in a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere through distinctive designs, with each space carefully curated to inspire innovation and creativity, providing an ideal backdrop for productivity and growth.”

For more: www.interaction.uk.com

What’s in store for the future?

ristol’s film production and media content sector is growing, and we are due to open a large new bookable media studio in the church basement of our lifton hub.

RAW SPACE

Gloucester Road; www.raw-space.co.uk

aw Space rent a couple of private o ces out on a medium- to long-term basis two large rooms of open-plan desks are used for hotdesking, and there are designated areas for private desks.

We’re always much bigger than people initially think, they say. We’re a really friendly space, and community is at the heart of everything we do and who we are.

What’s the deal?

All our hot-desks can be rented by the hour or day, along with our four-tiered membership packages. We aim to provide as much flexibility as possible to reflect people’s needs. We have space for bike storage and to sit outside, a shower room, a meeting room that holds eight to people, and we’re dog-friendly, which is really the best part.

Do any particular sectors work out of your offices?

We have a wonderful mixture of di erent sectors and styles of working. uite a few copywriters, local charities, health-tech startups, graphic designers, etc. We’re a permanent home for A I ristol , thica D, lue ountain are and vent Site Design.

How do you promote socialising among the members?

We go for weekly lunches and drinks, and hosted a couple of s on our terrace this summer along with monthly games nights. We’re open to creating any kind of new event if there is enough interest.

CLOCKWISE

Finzels Reach; www.work-clockwise.com

Well-designed, contemporary private o ces, shared workspaces and meeting rooms with flexible membership plans. We zero in on the details, so you can zoom out to the big picture, they say. We’ve made it our business to anticipate the needs of our members and their companies from day one. roviding permanent flexibility, ongoing support and proactive service, we make the time and e ort to get to know who you are, where you’re going and how you’re growing.

Do any particular sectors work out of your offices?

While we cater to various industries, law firms, financial services providers and technology companies are particularly well-represented in our o ces. We foster a diverse and inclusive community in which professionals from various industries can thrive and collaborate, encouraging cross-industry networking and knowledge exchange that benefits all our members.

How do you promote socialising among members?

We curate a monthly program of events that cater to members’ wellbeing, career development, networking, and skill-building. embers can also host educational events to share their expertise with the community.

Raising the bar: Clockwise, within the beautiful old Generator building in Finzels Reach

“Moments spent chatting while making a cuppa can lead to valuable partnerships”

Impact Working is a purpose-led coworking operator, driven by our core values (wellbeing, sustainability and social cohesion). Our locations are carefully chosen and operate in a way which is designed to make a positive impact on the world

CONTACT US

WE’RE READY WHEN YOU ARE

enquiries@impactworking.co.uk

www.impactworking.co.uk

Impact Working’s ultimate goal is to offer a safe and happy place from where to work from, with a variety of membership packages on offer and a range of facilities that are designed to satisfy the changing demands of the employer and the employee.

ENTER THE ENTRECONF

The first real-life, in-person incarnation of the fast-growing entrepreneurs’ conference EntreConf 2023 has taken place

By Matt Bielby

n a hot day in Bristol’s waterside Watershed, MediaClash hosted its first in-person EntreConf event – a day of keynote speeches, interviews, panels and interactive sessions aimed directly at entrepreneurs, following two virtual versions launched during the lockdowns of recent years. To say it was a triumph would actually be to undersell it, as unlike so many business conferences this was all thriller, no filler honestly, even the dullest of the sessions was not dull at all – and thankfully free both of marketing jargon and out-of-control egos.

Instead, a range of confident, capable people from local businesses of all sizes, and those outfits that seek to support them, talked about

Osuccesses earned, lessons learned, business philosophies and real-world disasters to a rapt, engaged audience of peers, hosted almost entirely by MediaClash chief exec Greg Ingham.

The event began with a new take on that hardy perennial: the experiences, challenges and successes of women in business. Sahar Hashemi OBE, founder of Buy Women Built – an initiative designed to get us all proactively supporting female created companies – certainly got many present thinking, not least through some telling stats: we have 30 per cent fewer female entrepreneurs than comparable economies like the United States and the Netherlands, which is costing our economy around £200BN a year.

Next up, a piece on Funding the Dream with Graham MacVoy of Wake the Tiger, the award-winning Bristol-based ‘amazement park’, was

full of intriguing visuals and some equally striking opinions: “I dress up for no-one any more,” he told us. His Saturday afternoon sartorial stylings haven’t stopped him attracting admirable levels of backing, however.

On a similar theme, Graham was followed by Alex Lloyd, a Partner at law firm urges Salmon, who gave us The Entrepreneur’s Playbook, subtitled Lessons Learned on the Path from Inception to Exit

THESE TALKS ALL took place in a large, airy, slightly greenhouse-like room called Waterside 3, but we now retired to the happily air-conditioned cinema for a talk from David aulkner- ryant of The isa O ce on helping start-ups get crucial staff into the country, before the first of the main events a keynote conversation between Greg and Nigel Toon, founder of Graphcore, the

Bristol-based international builder of the hardware needed to run AI programs, and now a genuine ‘unicorn’ business (a term describing private startups valued at over $1bn).

Graphcore sees itself as a feisty disruptor, albeit a giant one, and Nigel’s thoughts on AI and the future it will usher in were, perhaps inevitably, exciting, frightening and confusing all at once. Not bad for a business idea hatched over dinner at a gastropub a few years

ZILLAH BYNGTHORNE

“WHAT I THINK OF AS STRAIGHTTALKING CAN BE SEEN AS BLUNT”

ago. At least one fear was put to bed, though: there will be no Singularity any time soon. “That’s bollocks,” said Nigel, emphatically.

Next, a panel of four from Link Stone Advisory, British Business Bank, Growth Lending and Unividual talking about funding entrepreneurs in Seed to Scale

PHEW. TIME FOR LUNCH

– perhaps inevitably, somewhat rushed – and a little bit of networking before the afternoon sessions began. They did so with Ebba Lepage and Dylan Samuel from Lombard Odier talking B Corps: what they are, and whether it might be a good idea to become one. The consensus was ‘probably yes’, and though it’s highly rewarding, and not necessarily easy,

“it’s not as arduous as it may seem”.

Giving Greg a short rest, Elly Rowley of NatWest hosted a sister piece to the session that had kicked o the day, but this time looking at the barriers of entry to entrepreneurship for ethnic minorities rather than women.

Intriguing examples were given by Latoya Adlam of Kitchen Cosmetics, a beauty brand, and Poku Osei of Babbasa (a Bristol social enterprise designed to support underrepresented young people) in Meet the Trailblazers, where we learned of the need for broad shoulders, and the dangers of assuming too much: black-fronted, with a black workforce, and using ancient African remedies for inspiration, Latoya nevertheless found herself with a 72 per cent

white audience, and so in a quandary. Should she subtly reposition the brand accordingly?

NOW CAME THE CENTREPIECE

of the afternoon, Greg’s talk with Zillah Byng-Thorne, ex-CEO of international media giant Future –magazine specialists that had been su ering badly on her arrival, but which she grew from a market cap of around m, with no profit being made, into a £2bn company.

Honest about her failings – “what I think of as straight-talking can be seen as blunt,” she said, while one tale of a management bonding session gone dramatically wrong was eye-opening – and clear about her strategies, in which the power of a clear message repeated regularly

loomed large, Zillah cut both a more impressive and more vulnerable figure than many expected, with her insights and experiences truly a highlight of the day.

Following Zillah, David Kelly of Storm Consultancy hosted a panel with the likes of Meshii WiFi and Farleigh Performance, to talk about the power of collaboration, a free-wheeling chat that took in the di erent types of personality you get in businesses, and how they can complement each other: one risk-averse, the other a risk-taker, for example, is a good combo.

Finally, Stay Hungry by Dimo Dimov of the University of Bath –the professor being a star of previous virtual EntreConfs – rounded things o on a refreshingly di erent note – less in-the-trenches and more freethinking and intellectual.

The experiences of Ernest Shackleton, long a favourite of motivational speakers, made an appearance but then so did e Bezos and Marcel Proust.

A pleasantly unexpected end to a jam-packed day, one heaving with roadmaps and ideas, and sure to establish this event as a valued staple of the local business scene. For more: www.entreconf.com

THE FUTURE

IS

UNWRITTEN…

EntreConf: all talks are available for free at www.entreconf.com

EntreConf dinners: autumn and spring, details on website

EntreConf Awards: 28 September, Bristol Museum

Clockwise from top left: speakers Dimo Dimov; Dylan Samuel; Sahar Hashemi; Zilla Byng-Thorne; Latoya Adlam, Poku Osei and Elly Rowley; Graham MacVoy

Who’s up next? Looks like Zillah Byng-Thorne

MEETING OF MINDS

So, you’ve read all about it (on the previous pages, no less); now get something of the flavour of what the first ever I ntre onf conference was like on this page – and make your plans to go along next year

Photos by Jon Craig Instagram @joncraig_photos

David Kelly, Dom Beaven and Jane Ingham

Simon Vincent, Latoya Adams, Andrea Szell and Elly Rowley

Dimo Dimov and Greg Ingham

Lauren Couch

Greg Ingham gets the party started Dani Andres

Cherie-Anne Baxter

Chris Thompson, Sammy Butt, Chris May and David Kelly

Robert Nye

Nathan Baranowski and Helen Rich

The team behind ma or development plans for the ss Great Britain and the Albion Dockyard has described the scheme as a uni ue opportunity that will deliver significant heritage and public benefits for ristol and beyond .

The proposals include a recreation of the Great Western, the paddle steamer Brunel built in Bristol six years before ss Great Britain. Ship repair work would be continued in the front of the dry dock, allowing access to its floor for the first time. The scheme would mean moving runel’s other bridge’ to the dock where it was first constructed; the Albion dockyard clock tower from the 1800s would also be rebuilt, with exhibition space within and harbour views from the tower.

“The Albion Dockyard project is a unique opportunity, and will deliver significant heritage and public benefits for ristol and beyond, said erys Watts, the ss Great Britain Trust’s director of external a airs.

It will enhance the vibrancy of the local and regional economy, and support tourism, educational and skills development, specifically in ST areas. It will enable environmental improvements, and support for nature, with people at the very heart of it.

The Trust want to hear from you (yes you); to have your voice heard see www.ssgreatbritain.org/albion-dockyard-project-consultation

FUNNEL VISION IN BRIEF

Clarks Village is marking its th anniversary as the ’s first shopping outlet with a celebration weekend of activities and special o ers.

Since opening on 14 August 1993, the retail and leisure destination has become a key part of the region’s economy.

Between 12-14 August, its outdoor gardens will host a street party, with an artisan market of stalls, live roaming, ’ s music, family activities, store competitions and giveaways. www.clarksvillage.co.uk

Paragon Bank’s development finance division has provided a . m finance package to support the development of new apartments in Old arket, between edcross Street and Old arket Street.

The roup’s edcross ews development consists of one-, two- and three-bedroom flats, five of which will be shared ownership.

As part of aragon’s reen Homes Initiative, the firm aims to achieve an A rating across the pro ect by including solar panels on the roof, communal air source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation with a heat recovery system. www.paragonbank.co.uk

Specialist insurance firm DAS is set to be ac uired by rival ristol-based firm ARAG oth firms are owned by ma or erman financial groups.

DAS, which is part of the O roup one of urope’s largest insurance groups whose ma ority shareholder is insurance giant unich e employs around people in its ristol head o ce. A A , part of the global A A Group which employs more than 4,700 people in 19 countries around the world, launched in the from ristol in . www.das.co.uk

Wylde Jewellers based at Clifton’s The Mall celebrated the launch of its special July clearance event with a Wylde Summer arty at the Avon Gorge in Clifton, where champagne, Aperol Spritz and food platters all made the purchasing of bargain-priced jewellery that little bit more delicious...

www.nicholaswylde.com

BRIGHT SPARKS

Bristol’s tech sector smashed it at this year’s SPARKies awards, run by TechSPARK, which annually champions the best of the West’s tech and digital community.

Bristol talent won 14 of the 17 categories. Among the winners were Cajigo, who won the Totally Killing It Award for their recruitment app designed to help bridge the gender gap in the tech sector; Matter, whose product ulp, o ering an innovative solution to microplastics in the oceans, won the Hardware Award.

For the full gallery of winners go to www.sparkies.techspark.co

Plans include the recreation of the 19th-century clock tower

Hardware heroes Matter

Guest Alex Lovell with Nicholas Wylde

EntreConf Awards are coming

DATES FOR THE DIARY

24 August

BRISTOL CAREERS FAIR

Looking for a new career, or your next hire? Head to Bristol Beacon; www.eventbrite.co.uk

22 August THE TECH TRIBE BRISTOL MEETUP

The discussion will be about whatever topics the group brings to the floor, at Pax8 HQ; www.eventbrite.co.uk

28 September ENTRECONF AWARDS

Celebrating entrepreneurial success across the region, at Bristol Museum; www.entreconf.com

13 September PROPERTY LAW ROADSHOW

Hosted by St John’s Real Estate team at St John’s Chambers; www.eventbrite.co.uk

11-13 October:

BLUE EARTH SUMMIT

Connect, share and be inspired by a 5,000+ community who share the vision that there is a new way of doing business that’s better for people and planet, at The Wave; www.blueearthsummit.com

24 November:

BRISTOL PROPERTY AWARDS

See right; www. bristolpropertyawards.com

You too could be listed as a finalist in the shiny 2024 Awards brochure

CELEBRATING THE CITY

But why leave it until then to make a start? You may think you have plenty of time to work on your nomination, but it’ll soon be autumn, traditionally a busy time for many sectors. We advise you to make a start on your entry now, honing the details to ensure it catches the attention of our judges.

Anyone can win one of the hugely prestigious accolades –the Awards are for everyone, from the smallest, coolest indie business to the largest corporate. The Awards celebrate the whole of the city – all sectors, all types, from commercial to charity and civic; from new companies to long-established local treasures.

HOW TO ENTER THE AWARDS

It’s free to enter keep an eye on these pages to find out when

nominations open, choose the categories that fit your business, and fill out the A asking about your organisation. There’s a handy page on the website o ering top tips to make your nomination stand out.

SPONSOR THE AWARDS

With high interest in being closely associated with the most prestigious event in the Bristol business calendar, sponsorship opportunities are going fast. To find out more, please contact neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk.

GET TICKETS

The Bristol Life Awards takes place at Ashton Gate Stadium on 27 March 2024; dates for 2024 ticket release will be announced later this year. For more: www.bristollifeawards.co.uk

IF YOU BUILD IT...

Thanks to all who joined for the Bristol Property Awards 2023 Launch on 20 July at Clifton Observatory – photos in our next issue. Nominations are now open, with categories including Commercial and Residential Agent, Consultancy, Developer, Employer, Financial, Legal and Interior Designer and many more.

Contact liam.jones@mediaclash.co.uk for queries, or to send your nomination directly; entries can also be submitted via the website. Nominations should cover the period of July 2022 – June 2023.

The closing date will be announced in August.

Sponsorships are available – 13 sponsors are already on board, including Hampshire Trust Bank as headline sponsor and Lambert Smith Hampton as Winner of Winners sponsor.

Contact neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk for more details.

The Bristol Property Awards will be held on 24 November at Ashton Gate Stadium. www.bristolpropertyawards.co.uk

Nominations for the Bristol Life Awards 2024 open this December . . .

The Property Awards has lift-off

ROMANCE IN THE STONE

Better hall, Saul: the founder of heritage brand Mulberry is selling his extraordinary family home near Glastonbury

Words by Deri Robins

We didn’t have Pinterest or Instagram back in those carefree, social media-preceding days of the 1980s. If you needed a bit of home design inspo, you bought an interiors magazine. Spotted something you liked? There was no scrolling, no screengrabbing, no handy pin to tap; you had to tear out the pages and stick them into a file.

I’ve long since dumped my own archive of torn-out features – a girl has to move with the times – but some of the more outstanding homes remain stuck in my memory. One of them was a historic pile near Glastonbury called Abbots Sharpham; the family home of Roger Saul.

Appropriately, for the founder of English heritage brand Mulberry, Roger’s house dripped history, with many of the walls painted in bold, authentically period hues – emerald greens, rich ochres, deep madder rose. In an era when most people still bought ‘suites’, the living rooms featured thrillingly mismatched chairs and sofas, draped with richly patterned fabrics hinting at exotic travels. I vaguely recall wolfhounds being involved, slumbering next to a huge open fireplace, but don’t quote me on that as I may have embroidered the memory.

It was, and still is, one of the most extraordinary homes you could ever hope to see – and now, providing you have around eight mill in your pocket, the whole estate could be yours.

Let’s begin with the history; there’s plenty of it. Abbots Sharpham is so ancient it makes Royal York Crescent look like an upstart new-build; we’re harking back to a time when years were numbered in threes, not fours. The site dates back to 957, when King Edwig gave Sharpham to a landowner named Aethelwold. In 1191 King John bequeathed the park to the abbots of Glastonbury by placing his bejewelled gauntlet upon the abbey altar; property transactions were so much more colourful in those days.

It was owned by the abbots for over 300 years, at which point their fortunes came spectacularly unstuck. In 1539 – a dangerous time to be a man of the cloth, what with Henry VIII dissolving monasteries right, left and centre – Richard Whiting, the last abbot of Glastonbury, was arraigned in his favourite kitchen and tried for treason, after

The dining hall. If these walls could talk there’d be enough material for a BBC historical drama

which he was hung, drawn and quartered by Cromwell’s thugs on Glastonbury Tor. Sharpham was then granted to Sir Edward Seymour, ord rotector to Henry III’s son; a sickly boy who reigned briefly as Edward VI. The Elizabethan poet Sir Edward Seymour was born here in 1543; fast-forward a couple of centuries later to 1707, when the author Henry Fielding was born in the ‘Harlequin chamber’ – because at Sharpham, the bedrooms naturally have names.

oger Saul and his wife onty first bought part of Abbots Sharpham in 1977. They then proceeded to acquire the rest of the estate, gradually restoring its authentic glory over the following 46 years. The grounds received as much attention as the 15th-century manor house. In 1993, 4,000 English hardwood trees were planted; in 2003 the farmland was taken organic and restored, the deer park created, walnut and fruit tree orchards put in, along with miles of avenues and hedges. In 2007 a purpose-built spelt mill was created with o ces and a warehouse.Today, the estate features stocks of red deer and Shropshire sheep, as well as the spelt that gave birth to the Sharpham Park organic food brand.

erhaps unsurprisingly, oger says that Abbots Sharpham’s traditions, architecture and history all influenced the ulberry brand. In the 1990s he debuted his Mulberry Home interiors collection, with the house featured as a backdrop. It launched worldwide in Elle Decoration’s first edition; many of the features of the collection form the basis of the décor of the house today.

Over the years, Roger and Monty uncovered more and more of Abbots Sharpham’s history and heritage. oth house and park had been divided up over the generations by feuding siblings; as well as all the original features in the house, more historic gems were waiting to be discovered beneath the surface.

It’s a home that wears its history on its sleeve (or to keep with the mediaeval vibe, we guess that should be slevil), from the blue lias and Doulting stonework to architectural souvenirs from various periods. There are flagstones everywhere, polished by generations of footsteps,

ABOVE: The Sharpham red deer pose charmingly with the Tor in the background BELOW: Mediaeval beauty: gables, mullions and diamond-paned windows

with oak, elm and old pine timberwork in the beams, jousts and plank-and-muntin screens. There’s a minstrels’ gallery, and impossibly romantic old wooden doors. There are window seats set beneath diamond-paned glass within stone mullions, concealed entrances and secret passageways, ornate pillars, fireplaces you could roast a smallish pig in, and carved armorial freestone panels bearing heraldic devices that include the Prince of Wales three feathers, the Tudor portcullis and one of the few remaining Glastonbury coats of arms.

Beyond the hefty oak front door, with its elaborate scrolled mediaeval hinges, lies a rambling layout guaranteed to confound and beguile the first-time visitor. rom the entrance hall with its fine staircase, double doors open to a music room with an open stone fireplace and elm floorboards. Stone steps flanked by pillars lead up to the library; a quiet, peaceful room with diamond-paned windows, oak bookshelves, a concealed cupboard, a secret door leading to a study and a massive stone fireplace; ust add slumbering wolfhounds.

rom the library, another door leads you into the drawing room with more flagged floors, th-century oak beams and diamondpaned windows. Doors open to a sitting room; however, your eye is guaranteed to lead you in the other direction, beneath a timber archway which opens to a flagstoned hallway with th- and th-century panel screens, and on into the dining hall.

In a house where every corner holds fascination, this is the star attraction, with its high-vaulted, oak-braced ceiling, heraldic shields, stone flooring with underfloor heating, we’re not in any more and minstrel’s gallery, leading to a solar with a vaulted ceiling. If walls could talk, this room would supply enough gossip and information for a six-part BBC history drama.

A massive chimney breast above an inglenook fireplace is flanked by a staircase, with a door o a half-landing to a balcony in the doubleheight, oak-framed orangery.

In the kitchen, fitted cupboards have been created from a thcentury chemist s fittings, with marble and mahogany worktops set

ABOVE: Obviously, there’s a minstrel’s gallery

BELOW: Henry Fielding was born in one of the bedrooms

around a large central table. A hidden door in the panelling leads back into the dining hall.

Hopelessly lost? We did warn you. There’s even a whole ‘east wing’, for heaven’s sake, in the form of the The Long Hall – another large and splendid room with a stone fireplace, plank-and-muntin screen, high vaulted ceiling with beams and a splendid galleried bedroom with steps to a small window for viewing Glastonbury Tor. This wing has a separate oak entrance door, and with its kitchen and shower room could easily make a self-contained apartment. In a house as vast as this you could go for weeks without bumping into your guests or tenants. pstairs, on the first and second floors, reached via a staircase with Tudor balustrading, the marvels just keep on coming. Many of the bedrooms have en-suites; some have views to the Tor.

And naturally, with a home of this size and standing, there are a clatter of less glamorous but wildly useful rooms, such as a boot room, laundry and gun room. There’s also a very indulgent one in the form of the indoor pool; for more spiritual re uirements there’s even a chapel.

Your jaw suitably dropped, it’s time to wander, and wonder at, the gardens. With the ever-obliging Tor as a scenic backdrop try not to dwell on the fate of poor Richard Whiting), and open countryside stretching as far as the eye can see, these are predictably lovely, starting with the drive that leads over a private stone bridge, between the deer park and a meadow, along a 150m treelined drive to tall stone pillars, and beyond to the gravelled driveway to the house.

Here are outdoor rooms to lose yourself in, with terraces, wisteriaand rose-draped pergolas, a box-hedged parterre, a dovecote, cro uet lawn, high stone walls espaliered by cherry trees, and a sunken garden in the style of Gertrude Jekyll – Roger’s gardening heroine.

There’s a spectacular herbaceous border, manicured lawns, a pond, a wildflower garden and an organic raised vegetable garden; a stone grotto with dipping tank and a lion’s head feeding a shallow rill, and something rather charmingly called a stumpery’. There’s even yes a

Mulberry tree, and a ‘playing card’ garden – look out for the Joker. A th-century wagon house includes a pizza area and kitchen, shower room and large indoor swimming pool, with cloistered verandahs – the ideal place, we’re assured, to relax after tennis on the all-weather court – because yes, of course there’s one of those, too. There are two further three-bedroom cottages, a th-century stable with planning and plenty of other outbuildings.

Of course, a home like this can’t really be conveyed in a shortish feature and handful of photos, so head to the websites below for the full story. And feel free to tear out and keep these pages…

HOUSE DETAILS

The estate, including the 15th-century manor house, cottages, deer park, orchards, organic farm and a mill within around 270 acres is on the market for £8 million. It can also be purchased in lots.

Lot 1 has the mediaeval house, gardens, indoor swimming pool, tennis court, outbuildings, two cottages, stone stables with residential planning, deer park, cider orchard and meadows, set in parkland of about 44.4 acres. The second lot offers the mill, warehouse, office, agricultural buildings, solar plant and yards, along with a productive organic walnut orchard of over 250 trees, mixed fruit orchard and mirror carp pond; about 24.73 acres.

The third and fourth lots total 201.50 acres of arable and pasture, all classified fully organic for 20 years.

Contact Carter Jonas Rural on 01823 428590, www.carterjonas.co.uk or Roderick Thomas on 01749 670079, www.roderickthomas.co.uk

Estate of grace; the whole plot is around 270 acres, with a 150m treelined drive

CLAIRE LADKIN

Claire has long had a passion for the Bristol’s food scene. So much so, that a while ago she took on the role of chair for Bristol Food Connections; a festival shining a light on the city’s restaurants, projects and communities. She’s always been a huge supporter of real food, made in kitchens not factories, but the turning point came when she bought a pot of homemade lemon curd. Which, as she explains, led to All About the Cooks…

l’d been to the Square Food Foundation for a meeting, and bought a jar of curd made by fundraising volunteers. Every time I saw it in the fridge I realised that I felt di erently about it than if I’d bought it in a supermarket. It wasn’t just how it tasted, it was how it made me feel.

l wanted to capture that feeling you get when someone

cooks for you, or gives you a food gift. Or the pleasure of giving when you cook for someone else, of course.

All About The Cooks is an online marketplace which enables talented home cooks to sell their food to local people. If you go to the website and put in your postcode, you’ll find a list of cooks in order of proximity to you. You look at their menu, order and pay on the platform. All the food is pre-ordered, usually 24 hours in advance, and delivery or collection is arranged directly with the cook.

There are about 70 cooks working across Bristol and Bath at any one time, although this varies as people have holidays or take a break for whatever reason. There’s a huge range of cuisine, from Sudanese curries and Middle-Eastern shawarma to savoury bakes, celebration cakes and French patisserie.

This is good, home-cooked fare, often representing the diverse cultures and global influences of our cooks. When people live far from their home countries, cooking and sharing the food they grew up with is a way of telling their stories.

All About The Cooks is a commercial business, but I deliberately set out to leverage that commercial incentive to enable a potentially massive social impact. The biggest impact is to enable people to make money doing something they love in a way that fits in around their lives, often as a side-hustle or passion project. Sometimes they are people who find it di cult to work in more conventional ways, perhaps due to language issues or caring responsibilities. We keep our commissions low, so they keep nearly all the money.

There are other positive effects too, from healthier food choices to connecting people and moving money within and between communities.

We are hugely ambitious for All About The Cooks. Ten years ago, we all thought AirBnB was bonkers; now it’s part of our everyday lives. I envisage the day when it will be perfectly normal to order a curry or a birthday cake from a neighbour, pop round to collect and stop for a chat on the doorstep. Or perhaps you could do it on holiday and eat what the locals eat. I think that would be a nice world to live in.

Bristol has been the perfect place to launch All About the ooks. We ristolians are uite

up for trying new things, and have an independent spirit and buzzing curiosity about new things in food.

For a meal out I love Pasta Loco [just closed, sadly] along with the others in the Bianchis Group. I had a wonderful meal at Tare recently, so that has to be up there too. For a really special occasion though, I love to go for the whole experience, back story and so on, so The Ethicurean [also soon to close] scores highly.

I work long days, but always like to cook afterwards. It’s a kind of transition between the o ce and home. I read recipe books prolifically, but hardly ever follow a recipe, so things kind of evolve, depending on what’s in the fridge, needs using up or whatever.

If I have a signature style it would be big sharing platters and salads – currently quite Middle astern-influenced, tasty and plentiful but a bit scru y.

My most regrettable habit is saying ‘yes’ too often. It’s in my nature to want to do everything, but I can sometimes take on too much. It drives my husband potty.

My motto in life is very pertinent to All About The Cooks: “Eat real food made in kitchens by real people, not products made in factories.” There are so many theories about what to eat and when. If you just stick to that one thing, you can’t go far wrong.

For more www.allaboutthecooks.co.uk

Claire knows that the best food is made by real people, not factories – which is why she founded All About the Cooks

“Bristolians have an independent spirit and buzzing curiosity about new things in food”