The Bristol Magazine November 2025

Meet Fiona Finn Teo: multidisciplinary creative who shares some of their best kept city secrets

What’s occuring, who’s who and what’s what?

Pop your goggles on, zip up your jacket and grab your skiis –it’s time to peruse new mountain moda from Ellis Brigham

Our interview with electro music and synth pioneer Gary Numan, who’s performing in town

Things to do in the area this month. We have plenty of early festive options for all interests and budgets...

An immersive dance show is coming to town that’s been created with visual accessibility needs in mind

Our friends at Gloucester Road Books have a selection of cracking new reads to share with you 38

Essential activities for the whole family to help brighten up the darker days, and yes, Christmas is creeping in...

42 BRIONY MAY’S BESTIES

The Great British Bake Off star has a new, refreshingly honest parenting podcast with her best pals

46 SPECIAL EXHIBITION

Emma Talbot’s show Everything is Energy at Arnolfini

52 MARCH OF THE PENGUINS

Simon Horsford explores a very special collection of rare and historic Penguin Books kept safe in the city

66 BACK TO SCHOOL FOR JIMMY CHOO

Fashion icon Jimmy Choo is helping students at one school with his industry insight

78 DESIGNED BY DAVID

Interior designer David Carter shows us around his pad

84 A TALE OF 200 YEARS

Home specialist Gardiner Haskins’ major milestone

86 WINTERING WELL

There’s no frosty reception here for these wonderful wintry plants from Elly West

The one and only David Carter (designer of some of the world’s most exlusive home interiors) is pictured here in his new home, right in the heart of Bedminster. Find out more about his big move to Bristol on page 78

Publisher Steve Miklos

Email: steve@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Jane Miklos

Email: jane@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

EDITOR from the

Well, it’s official. Most of us had a sneaking suspicion already, but now the whole world knows that our city is one of the best destinations to visit on the globe. If Lonely Planet – which named Bristol as the only UK location in its recent ‘Best in Travel 2026’ list – says so, then it has to be true… right?

There are plenty of these types of lists floating about, some carrying more weight than others, but whether you love or loathe them I think it’s fair to say we can all expect lots more people flocking to our locale in the coming year as a result of this particular announcement. I also spotted some data published recently that said our little metropolis has become the fastest growing regional city (there’s more info on page 64, if you’re into stats and such). Bristol’s about to get a whole lot busier.

Lonely Planet cited the city’s street art culture as one of the main draws for people planning trips here. Our news desk is never short of mural-based stories, and it can become easy to take our countless colourful walls for granted. But they really are spectacular, aren’t they? It’s a quintessentially Bristol aesthetic that an unassuming corner of the city – perhaps a little fume-stained, strewn with litter blown around by the wind and home to a few pigeons pecking at crumbs – can transform into a canvas for some truly breath-taking art. The next time you’re wandering along North Street, heading past Stokes Croft, or walking around any of our neighbourhoods, I guess, I urge you to slow down and lap up the art enveloping you as though you’re seeing it all again for the very first time.

And how fantastic that so many of these artists live among us? In fact, you can meet one of them this very moment, if you turn to page 10, where you’ll find Fiona Finn Teo, who’s been adorning walls around the city for a few years. There’s someone else we’d like to introduce you to, as well. The gentleman donning the fantastic headgear on our front cover is the wonderful David Carter (page 78) – a world-class interior designer who’s chosen Bristol as his ‘forever home’, enticed here by the same intoxicating artistic creativity and community spirit that has Lonely Planet convinced.

Rosanna Spence

Editor Rosanna Spence

Tel: 0117 974 2800

Email: rosanna@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Digital Editor India Farnham

Email: india@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Jeff Osborne

Email: production@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales Liz Grey Email: liz@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

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

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

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

5 things to do

Tick off your gift list

Discover unique, handmade gifts from more than 200 of the South West’s finest artists and makers as Bristol Gift Fair returns with three dates this winter: 22 and 29 November, as well as 14 December, at the Bristol Beacon (10am to 4pm). Slow down and enjoy a truly connected gifting experience, meeting the passionate makers behind the products, learning the stories behind their craft, and finding something truly unique for everyone on your list.

bristolbeacon.org

See Dom Joly and Ian Stone run ‘Riot’

Bristol’s madcap DIY cabaret club night RIOT ACT returns to The Loco Klub with a bang on Monday 24 November. At the top of the bill are two heavyweight legends of UK comedy: multi award-winning, international smash-hit prankster, and creator of the legendary Trigger Happy TV Dom Joly (pictured left); and topical comedy hero lan Stone (right), whose accolades across four decades in stand up have cemented his status as one of the top comedians on the scene today. They'll be joined by Bristolian dancefloor legend DJ Queen Bee (centre), who will close the night with with an exclusive DJ set; Welsh comedian Mel Owen, punk poet Georgia Griffiths, local clown-tech blending hero Alistair Aitcheson, and Riot Act instigators Sam Riot and Stephen Bisland will host a fast-growing crowd favourite open mic, with three-minute slots available to performers of all styles on the door.

Tickets from £15, available on headfirstbristol.co.uk

Head to the theatre

The news that a government inspector is due to arrive in a small Russian town sends its bureaucrats into a panicked frenzy. When a scheming stranger rolls into town, a simple case of mistaken identity exposes the hypocrisy and corruption at the heart of the community in Nikolai Gogol’s biting satire... Bristol Old Vic Theatre School brings The Government Inspector to Tobacco Factory Theatres from 8-15 November, which has been adapted for the stage by David Harrower. tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Want to get into the festive spirit? Then take your friends, family or colleagues along to SS Great Britain, which is hosting two wreath workshops on 30 Nov and 7 December (2pm to 4pm), led by an expert florist from Heart of BS13 Flower Farm. Choose from a wide selection of dried flowers, foliage and ribbons, all locally sourced and grown to make your creation both unique and sustainable. Entry to the ship, museum and dockyard is included. ssgreatbritain.org

Set your sights on the slopes

Outdoor specialist Ellis Brigham (160 Whiteladies Road) is hosting two informative sessions this month aimed at adventure seekers. On 6 November (6.45pm), Charlie from Beyond Ultra’s talk ‘Training for a Mountain Ultra’ will share the lessons, tools, and experiences that have shaped his journey, including training strategies; nutrition approaches; mental resilience; tackling specific courses, and gear, footcare and recovery essentials. Then on 13 November (8.30pm) Louise Pode will deliver a ski presentation: ‘Knowledge Nights: How to Build Your Skiing Confidence’, for anyone experiencing nerves or anxiety around skiing. She’ll help you understand the ‘why’ behind your anxiety, change your mindset and take control and build a toolkit of coping strategies. There will be time for questions at both events.

Tickets for both talks can be found on eventbrite.co.uk | ellis-brigham.com

The City is t

The City is t

MyBristol

Meet Fiona Finn Teo, a multidisciplinary creative, lettering

artivist & sonic storyteller

I am deeply enamoured by the collectivistic nature of our city, its eclectic arts scene, and the sheer easy access to nature for a non-driver! These things are so important to me, and are so scarce in Singapore (where I grew up) and London (where I lived for five years), so imagine my big sigh of relief when I finally landed here.

I work at Elevator Sound, and we were responsible for Machina Bristronica 2025 that took place in September at Document. It’s is an annual music tech festival that celebrates the love of synths, electronic music and audio visual technology. The main hall hosts exhibitors from around the world, where makers of groove boxes, drum machines, Eurorack modular synths, sensory musical toys and a variety of innovative musical instruments put their latest wares on display for attendees to play with. On the programme, we have discussion panels, talks, workshops, and live music that’s accompanied by live visuals. It’s one of my favourite times of the year because it’s where my art and music worlds collide, and the people who gather at this festival are of a certain ilk; with wonderfully curious minds and engaging spirits that fuel my own.

I feel truly inspired at the bi-monthly Letter Luvvers meet-up. Picture a demographic of signwriters, type/graphic designers, letterpress printers, calligraphers, engravers, lettering artists and other type enthusiasts gathering for a mid-week evening of a couple of short talks, followed by drinks and a mingle. I haven’t left a meet-up without my mind being expanded or massaged. Letter Luvvers is usually held at the Stag & Hounds in Old Market, and you can follow updates on Instagram (@letterluvvers).

A hidden gem I don’t mind telling you about is Basement Beer; it’s a micro pub on the corner of Upper York Street opposite Lakota. Ben (the owner) brews some of the most delicious beers I’ve ever had, and his team are lush. It’s a cosy space that’s perfect for an after work pint, and Ben’s monthly pub quiz is a hoot! It’s usually about a two-to-three-month turnaround on their menu, so there’s almost always something new to try whenever you pop in.

My favourite places to eat out include Ramen Ya – for no-nonsense Japanese comfort food – and Pasture, which is the best steak house in Bristol in my opinion, because you can taste the care and attention they put into their food. Also, it’s so easy to get stuffy around wines, but Charlie and his team at Kask make it so accessible for you to explore organic wine and their catalogue is gorgeous. Special shoutout to Wizzy Chung of Sky Kong Kong (RIP to that eatery) and Tiger Mum – I will eat anything she puts in front of me because she makes her food with the love of a mother and her warmth makes me homesick.

I’ve been invited to contribute to the RWA Secret Postcard Auction. The auction runs until 6 November (with postcards on display in the Kenny Gallery now), and the RWA will only reveal the respective artists to their work on 24 November. How exciting is that? I feel honoured and humbled to be involved alongside a long list of amazing artists from across the UK. I’ve also been brewing ideas and plans for some lettering workshops, which I hope to start running over the winter.

Follow Fiona on Instagram: @ffinniff for their music/life, @fyonafinn__ for their art and @fyonafinn.jpg for photography

Countdown to new M&S begins

M&S will open its new flagship store at Cabot Circus this month, 13 November. The 80,000 sq ft full-line store will be home to multiple departments including M&S Food, Fashion, and Home & Beauty across three floors. Customers can look forward to a 17,000 sq ft fresh marketstyle foodhall, with in-store bakery, market specials from M&S Select Farms (more than 1,200 of which are based in the South West) and a wide range of M&S sandwiches, salads and wraps.

A 200-seater M&S Coffee Shop will deliver a range of freshly cooked breakfast rolls, toasties, wraps and sandwiches, alongside barista-made coffee, using M&S’s Roast & Ritual Fairtrade house blend, and iced drinks. Customers will find one of M&S’ biggest beauty sections in the UK, with a wide selection of M&S ranges and third-party brands, including Clinique and Estée Lauder. Customers can also browse the latest Autumn/Winter Autograph collections, alongside a Kidswear collection. It’s expected that the new Cabot Circus store will create more than 100 new local jobs. marksandspencer.com

Essential viewing in store at Bristol Palestine Film Festival

Bristol Palestine Film Festival returns on 28 November, until 7 December, screening powerful new fiction, crucial investigative documentaries, rare archival works, and hosting communal events (such as a dakba dance workshop and a set by Palestinian stand-up comedian Alaa Shehada) across Watershed, The Cube, Arnolfini and the Bristol Palestine Museum. This year’s theme is ‘resisting the censorship of Palestinian voices’, as discussed in vital documentaries Censoring Palestine, The Palestine Laboratory, and beyond – and the festival includes the UK’s debut screening of The Voice of Hind Rajab, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. bristolpff.org.uk Image: All That’s Left of You

We live in one of Lonely Planet’s top 50 travel destinations

It’s thanks to our city’s unmatched street art culture that Bristol was the only UK city to be named by Lonely Planet’s prestigious ‘Planet Best in Travel 2026’ destinations.

As the guide says: “No city in Britain uses its urban landscape as a canvas quite like Bristol” with “some of the best street art anywhere in Europe.”

We all know how lucky we are to walk past walls every day adorned with murals from Banksy and hundreds of other internationally-acclaimed artists (many of whom are local), and this draws visitors from the world over to our patch, too. With street art tours, self-guided trails, the biennial Upfest street art festival, spray art workshop experiences and street art themed hotels, there are also many businesses contributing to the draw for visitors.

“Bristol is renowned for its progressive spirit, creative energy, and strong sense of independence, so it’s only fitting that its streets are alive with vibrant colour and powerful street art,” says Kathryn Davis, CEO of Visit West. “Our ever-evolving outdoor gallery draws thousands of visitors from around the world each year, contributing millions of pounds to the local visitor economy.”

lonelyplanet.com | visitbristol.co.uk

Images: Top, Oshii, Our Common Ground, credit Under the Wing 3; bottom, Bex Glover, Lucas Antics, Zoe Power, Gemma Compton, Sophie Long and Ejit, Six Sisters, credit Hannah Judah

New festival SISTALAND gearing up for launch

British survival expert Megan Hine, AAA game writer Kim MacAskill and disability inclusion leader Abbie Hills (pictured) are among the speakers appearing at SISTALAND – a new creative festival taking place 11-12 November at The Prospect Building, which will welcome 700 creatives from across film, art and the wider cultural landscape.

Designed by and for women, trans women and non-binary creatives, SISTALAND is described by its founder Nikita Dare as “a rally, a creative reset and an act of resistance”. As the UK creative sector celebrates a £380 million funding boost, SISTALAND is asking an urgent question: who is that money really reaching?

The festival programme features provocative talks, hands-on workshops, peerled sessions and “radically inclusive” networking.

Founded in Bristol in 2024, SISTALAND has grown from 50 to over 500 members in little more than a year – a fast-rising community of creatives navigating layered realities, from motherhood and menopause to neurodivergence, chronic illness and burnout. Alongside talks and workshops, the festival will also include emotional check-ins, peer-to-peer resource sharing and a co-created ‘dreams wall’ developed with a national women’s organisation – a reflective space to speak honestly about the pressures of staying creatively active in 2025.

This pilot marks the beginning of a longer-term vision: to evolve SISTALAND into a three-day annual festival and create new, self-sustaining infrastructure for underrepresented creatives across the UK. sistalandfestival.uk

Walking football project improves health of players

An accessible walking football project from Portishead Town FC has, in just a few short months. gone from a small number of volunteers to a growing community of players with a shared goal of living well with Parkinson's.

Since its launch in May this year, the community club has grown from a handful of Parkinson's footballers to more than 14 club regulars playing every week, with up to 20 local people attending training and matches at the Portishead ground.

Organisers are now looking to host their first walking football tournament in 2026 to help raise more awareness of the benefits of being active with Parkinson's – which include better balance and coordination, reduced risk of freezing and falls, better cardiovascular health, better energy levels and improved sleep patterns, improved strength, more social interactions, and improved wellbeing and mental health.

The club has been supported by the Walking Football Association and members of their local Parkinson's branch, and they are now hoping to attract even more people living nearby who want to be active in a new way. ptfcwf.uk | parkinsons.org.uk

Afrika Eye celebrates 20 years

The city’s Afrika Eye festival of African cinema and culture will mark its 20th birthday this month (14-16 November) at Arnolfini, Easton Community Centre and The Cube Microplex, where film screenings will be backed up with discussions, director Q&As and chats with academic, cinema and subject experts. The programme will include half a dozen features cherry-picked from previous festivals, the regional premiere of a detective story from Mozambique and a short film programme, curated by Michael Jenkins, an early winner of the festival’s ‘Eyeful’ mentoring scheme, who has gone on to establish a successful career in film/ TV production and is co-founder of Blak Wave production company.

Bristol to host major art show

British Art Show 10, the UK’s largest recurring exhibition of contemporary art, will visit Bristol in June 2027 as part of a national tour of five cities.

Over the past four decades, the exhibition has reached more than 2.3 million people and explored new trends in contemporary art that reflect a changing Britain. This will be only the third time that Bristol has hosted the British Art Show, the first was in 1980.

In 2027, the show in Bristol will be on display across a variety of different cultural institutions in the city, including Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Arnolfini, Spike Island, and RWA Bristol. The venues will collaborate to develop a complementary programme of activities and events designed to engage audiences of all ages, ensuring the entire city can participate in this landmark exhibition.

British Art Show 10 will be curated by Ekow Eshun (Fourth Plinth, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London).

City to get two new padel venues

Social Sports Society has submitted a planning application for a new sports and social hub at Brabazon, in partnership with YTL Developments, while also preparing to open its first Bristol padel courts at nearby Filton Retail Park.

Ticket prices are £10 / £7 and can be booked via Headfirst Bristol or via afrikaeye.org.uk, where you can also view the full programme of events

S3 Bristol at Brabazon will feature nine pro-standard padel courts, three pickleball courts, community sauna and ice baths, social games, immersive golf pods and a curated food and drink offer – creating a destination for sport, socialising and wellbeing within Brabazon’s 400-acre masterplan.

Meanwhile, S3 Bristol Filton Retail Park is launching with six top-of-the-line padel courts, premium facilities, and a wide range of coaching, leagues and playing opportunities for everyone – from first-time beginners to seasoned players – to get active and connect. Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, with participation more than tripling in the past two years and over 1,000 courts now open nationwide. Its appeal lies in its accessibility – easy to learn, low-impact, and suitable for all ages and abilities – making it an inclusive sport. brabazon.co.uk | socialsportssociety.com

The gift of a glow

Glass skin is out; dewy satin skin is in. Whether you’re treating yourself, or buying your loved ones their festive gifts nice and early, here’s a truly luxurious selection of the finest potions and lotions to transform your winter complexion

Dr. Barbara Sturm, Exclusive Winter Kit | £225

Clear away impurities and replenish skin with this Winter Kit, featuring seven skincare products designed for use during the colder weather. This lipid and antioxidant‐rich collection hydrates, protects and comforts the complexion when temperatures drop. spacenk.com

CHANEL, Baume Essentiel | £38

A moisturising highlighting balm that imparts subtle radiance to the face. Its texture melts onto the skin and reflects the light, creating a glimmering effect that sculpts the face. chanel.com

Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Spotlight Lip and Cheek Kit | £29

Bring lips to life with this kit. Three iconic products in this Charlotte Tilbury lip and cheeks set redefine lips, add juicy plumpness and provide shimmering highlights. spacenk.com

REOME Skin Ceremony Set | £98

Reveal healthier skin with the REOME Skin Ceremony Set, a limited‐edition collection featuring Active Recovery Broth 15ml, Three Suns Balm Revitalising Cleanser 30ml, Firming Eye Treatment with DHK‐3™ 5ml, and Biogenic Melting Cream 15ml. spacenk.com

CHANEL, Sublimage L’extrait De Nuit | £620

A serum that concentrates all the active fractions of Vanilla Planifolia, combined with Swertia extract and a powerful, naturally derived chronopeptide. Its formula rejuvenates skin at night and helps accelerate its natural reviving mechanisms chanel.com

Lancôme,Renergie Nano

Resurfacer 400‐Booster | £250

This skin resurfacing device with 400+ ultra‐precise nano‐tips helps renew skin surface and boost the formula penetration in the outermost layer of the skin. boots.com

ICONIC London Super Smoother Blurring Skin Tint | £28

A lightweight, hydrating skin tint with light to medium, buildable coverage and a soft‐focus, semi‐ satin, second‐ skin finish. Enriched with plant derived Amino Acids, Peach Flower and Pea extracts, plus a clever Blurring‐ Complex boots.com

Tatchua, The Dewy Skin Cream | £67

Plump and cushion the complexion with this rich cream designed to provide deep hydration and improve skin suppleness. Developed with hyaluronic acid, it works to bind moisture to the skin, instantly replenishing and visibly softening fine lines. spacenk.com

If you wish to buy Diamond or Gold items for Christmas. We will Part Exchange your 9ct Gold items at £48 per gram (current market value £35 per gram - at time of going to press)

Maria Kabakova-Upfold pictured at Shy Mimosa

Smoke, spice and all things nice

Fragrance expert Maria Kabakova‐Upfold, who is the founder and creative director of Shy Mimosa Perfumery in Clifton, reveals how this winter’s scent trends are re‐writing the rulebook...

Winter fragrances usually retreat into shadows – deep and intense. But this season, the rules are rewritten: smoke and spice collide with reimagined florals, reborn in this season’s alchemy. No longer just tender or sweet, they emerge with dual faces –at times masculine with a cool, sculpted glamour, at others feather-soft. Imagine rose drenched in smoke, jasmine dusted with pepper, violet veiled in leather.

While glowing amber, smoke and spice still wrap us in comfort, this winter’s invitation is the provocative allure of natural skin scents, and it steals the stage. Skin fragrances whisper rather than shout – their allure lies in intimacy, a secret warmth that draws you nearer. Creamy, musky, and beautifully elusive, they blur the edge between presence and disappearance, like a breath fading into skin.

Whether you crave a bold spark this season or are seeking a gift that provokes curiosity, Shy Mimosa Perfumery will guide you through this olfactory quest. n

Get in touch and book a private sensory consultation experience via the website: shymimosa.co.uk/services/sensory-experience, or visit Maria at 42B The Mall, Clifton, BS8 4JG

Shy Mimosa recommends three exceptional fragrances based around natural skin, resinous-fruity amber and an incredible reinvented floral:

Une Île Pluvieuse by Senyoko Paris evokes damp forest shores with earthy notes – patchouli, vetiver, cedar, softened by lilac, mimosa and peony – a misty, earthy and atmospheric floral that redefines night-blooming elegance. A complex fragrance for those nature-inspired looking for a scent that tells a story.

Rituale by Mendittorosa feels like a ceremony in scent that cocoons you in warmth by blending golden amber, fruity notes – pomegranate, blackberry, raspberry – and the balance of the resinous notes for a luminous, sophisticated touch. Suitable for someone wanting nuance.

Peau d’Âne by Jardins D’Ecrivains embodies the essence of skin scents – creamy, musky, elusive, whispering a secret warmth that lingers. This scent unfolds with the freshness of lime and the powdery elegance of iris, leading into a warm, earthy heart of carrot seed and labdanum. The base reveals a soft, leathery depth with suede, balanced by the earthy richness of patchouli. Suitable for those drawn to intimate allure.

“

The Numan League

Ahead of his show at Bristol Beacon this month, electronic music pioneer Gary Numan speaks to Melissa Blease about celebrating 45 years of his ground‐breaking album Telekon, a dream of warp‐speed intergalactic travel, and the eternal quest to make music no one’s ever heard before

When you’re young and you read about how influential your heroes are, you dream that one day you might be like that too. But that’s a bit like wanting to become an astronaut: it’s not really a realistic ambition, is it?”

Not for most people, no. But Gary Numan (ne Gary Anthony James Webb, born in Hammersmith, West London, in 1958) has, for almost half a century, lived half of the childhood dreams he’s citing here: the iconic synth/electronic music pioneer may not be an astronaut (yet), but he’s a hero to many people – and an influence on many, many more.

Gary is talking to me from Portland, Oregon, on the fourth date of 35 on his current US tour. When he’s done with the US this time around, he’ll be flying straight to London to begin rehearsals for his Telekon tour, celebrating the 45th anniversary of his ground-breaking 1980 album of the same name and landing at the Bristol Beacon in a sold-out show on Sunday 16 November.

“It made good sense to celebrate the album’s 45-year milestone by touring it again,” Gary says. “Also, the new album I was intending to have out by now – which the November tour dates were originally intended for – still isn’t finished, so it made good sense to repurpose the tour dates too!” Which means, of course, that plans to tour the new album, when completed, are already in the pipeline. Gary: do you ever tire of touring?

“I get a bit tired physically, especially towards the end of a long tour like this. But I never tire of the process of touring: I enjoy the touring life, I like living on a bus, I like all the traveling. The only downside is that it takes me away from my home and my family, and I miss them when I’m on the road.”

The synth that changed it all

Since 2012, home for Gary, his wife Gemma (who was a member of his fan club before they met – how romantic is that?) and their three daughters is Santa Monica, California where, in his own words, “the sun always shines, the sky is always blue, it’s always warm. The ocean is on your doorstep, the mountains are nearby – it’s just an amazing place to live.” Indeed! And far, far removed from his formative years spent biding his time at Brooklands Technical College in Weybridge (from which he was expelled with no qualifications) prior to a stint in the Air Training Corps and various jobs including a Heathrow Airport bus driver, an air conditioning ventilator fitter and an accounts clerk. By that time, though, Gary’s dad Tony had already bought Gary the Gibson Les Paul guitar which became his most treasured possession; the rest is, as they say, history... which, in a very tiny nutshell, runs like this:

“My debut album [Tubeway Army, 1978] was supposed to be a punk album,” Gary recalls. “We were in the recording studio, and a synth had been left in the control room. While everybody else was loading the gear in, I tried the synth out and it changed everything for me; I thought it

was the most powerful, exciting thing I’d ever heard. It suited me totally because my interest in music isn’t really music at all; it’s all about sound and noises, the weirder the better. Over the next few days I converted all of my guitar-based songs into synth songs and we ended up recording a very basic – and rather crude – electronic album. That’s how it all started.” Tubeway Army’s Replicas album was released the following year (spawning the no. 1 hit Are ‘Friends’ Electric) before Gary, as a solo artist, gifted us with The Pleasure Principle album in 1979. Cars, the first single released from the album, dominated the charts around the world and is as enduringly popular today as it was when it was first released; the boy who grew up under the Heathrow Airport flightpath had rocketed to stardom, hailed as a cutting edge musical pioneer.

“ What drives me is what comes next, what new things can we create, what new sounds can we build and turn into music no-one has ever heard before? ”

“I was aware that electronic music had the potential to significantly change the sound of music and I wanted to make sure I was a part of that,” says Gary. “I had no idea I’d end up being considered a pioneer, though! I’m always moving forward, musically; the celebration tours are just a rare chance to briefly indulge in happy memories while the new stuff is still underway.”

Numan on nostalgia

Those memories may be nostalgic for those of us who grew up with Gary, but ‘kids’ down the decades are as au fait with his oeuvre as the original fans are. This year, he headlined at the Glastonbury Festival (for, surprisingly, the very first time in his career) and collaborations with contemporary chart acts as diverse as Basement Jaxx, Nine Inch Nails and the Sugababes have maintained Gary’s relevance with whole new generations of fans, all of whom plunder his original releases and buy tickets for live shows within minutes of them going on sale. Gary: why does 80s music refuse to die?

“I couldn’t tell you!” he laughs. “And I don’t care one way or the other, to be honest. I don’t care about anything from the past that much! What drives me is all about what comes next, what new things can we create, what new sounds can we build and turn into music no-one has ever heard

before? My career has been very up and down over the years, and not without a never-ending stream of challenges. The biggest challenge though – and the one I wanted to overcome the most – was to be able to headline at Wembley Arena once again, having first done it in 1981. I finally managed that in 2022 and it was without a doubt the proudest moment of my career so far; it proved that I’m still here, still able to move things forward.”

Moving forward – and moving on up?

Before pop stardom beckoned, Gary’s earliest ambition was to become an airline pilot – a dream that was thwarted by a careers advisor in Ashford Grammar School. Still, he went on to earn his pilot’s license in 1980 and established his charter flight company Numanair in 1981, which he dissolved in 2013 when he emigrated to the US. To the fans who know him best, Gary’s fascination with flying fits in naturally with the almost other-worldly, scientific sounds he creates – and his detached, ultra-icy, android/humanoid stage show persona. Might he have an interest in space travel?

“Very much so,” he says. “But more the Star Trek version than the Jeff Bezos plan! No disrespect intended to the various ‘commercial seats into space’ projects that are underway at the moment, but if it doesn’t go at warp speed it doesn’t feel quite like the space travel I was hoping for!”

But if Gary’s daydream ever did turn into reality, how would he describe himself to an alien? “I’m a fairly quiet person who turns noises into music and adds a tune and some words to it for people to listen to and hopefully enjoy,” he muses. “I turn a lack of confidence into a driving force to aim for things I have no right even dreaming of.”

But Gary of all people should know that dreams can be realistic ambitions: he has every right to be the influential hero that he is today. n

Gary Numan is performing at Bristol Beacon on Sunday 16 November, 7pm. For more information, visit bristolbeacon.org

garynuman.com

What’s On...?

Our guide to the best things to see and do this month

The Talented Mr. Ripley

n 3-8 November

Bristol Old Vic, BS1 4ED

This electrifying new stage adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley brings Patricia Highsmith’s iconic psychological thriller, which inspired the acclaimed movie and Netflix series of the same name, to life like never before. With razor-sharp dialogue, simmering tension, and a dangerously charismatic antihero, this gripping production will pull you into Ripley’s intoxicating world – where nothing is quite as it seems. The 10strong ensemble cast is led by Ed McVey as Tom Ripley. bristololdvic.org.uk

WWII 80 – An Evening of Remembrance n 8 November, 7pm

Bristol Cathedral, BS1 5TJ

A moving evening of music and reflection that will see the City of Bristol Brass Band present a special concert to commemorate 80 years since the events of World War II. Featuring stirring wartime classics, poignant hymns, and uplifting pieces of hope and peace, this concert offers a heartfelt tribute to those who served, sacrificed, and endured during the war. This event is a chance to honour the past, reflect on peace, and experience the powerful sound of a leading, local brass band. bristol-cathedral.co.uk

City of Bristol Choir presents Brahms:

A German Requiem n 9 November, 6pm

St George's Bristol, BS1 5RR

This Remembrance Sunday, join City of Bristol Choir, Bristol Youth Choir and Bristol Ensemble for Brahms’ German Requiem – music of power, tenderness and hope. The programme also features Bob Chilcott’s moving Move Him Into the Sun and Vaughan Williams’ beloved Fantasia on Greensleeves and Prelude to the 49th Parallel Tickets £16 to £30 (plus fees) from St George's box office on 0117 929 4929. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Mamma Mia!

n 11-22 November

Bristol Hippodrome, BS1 4UZ

Set on a Greek island paradise, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget. This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world and now there’s never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical. Whatever age you are, you can’t help but have the time of your life at Mamma Mia! atgtickets.com/bristol

Copland 125 Anniversary Concert

n 14 November, 7.30pm

All Saints Clifton, BS8 3ED

The Copland 125 Anniversary Concert will be a celebration of the music of Aaron

Copland (taking place on the date of his 125th birthday) through works for organ, piano and chorus and covers his earliest works to his final composition: Proclamation for piano from 1982. Every decade of his composing career will be represented in a whirlwind review of his remarkable life in music. Performers include Jonathan Price, Allan Schiller, The University of Bristol Singers, Elinor Cooper, Liz Britton and Kevin Lindegaard. allsaintsclifton.org

Angus Buchanan Memorial Lecture n 15 November, 10.30am

SS Great Britain, BS1 6TY

Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society presents this year’s Angus Buchanan Memorial Lecture, which sees Dr Victoria Owens providing an insight into L.T.C Rolt’s contribution to railway history based on research conducted when penning her well-received 2024 biography of the prolific writer and biographer of major civil engineering figures (including Brunel and Telford). b-i-a-s.org.uk/bias-events

Jim Jefferies: Son of a Carpenter n 17 November, 8PM

Bristol Beacon, BS1 5AR

Comedian/Actor/Writer Jim Jefferies brings his sharp, beliefchallenging, and deeply personal brand of comedy to audiences in his latest tour. Born in Australia but forged in the UK’s vibrant comedy scene, Jefferies’ return feels like a homecoming. Now an international comedy titan, he has earned a reputation for entertaining audiences across the globe with his provocative and thought-provoking shows. bristolbeacon.org

James Lisney: A Musical Offering n 18 November, 7.30pm St George's Bristol, BS1 5RR Pianist James Lisney’s programme is centred around Beethoven’s last three sonatas, one of music’s great spiritual journeys, written when the composer was turning 50 years old and occupied with the Missa Solemnis. This transcendent, dramatic, lyrical and ultimately communicative music is interspersed with complementary preludes by Chopin and Shostakovich, together with music by Bach, including Myra Hess’s radiant transcription of Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, the perfect way to mark her passing 60 years ago on 25 November. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Bristol Choral Society presents Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle n 21 November, 7.30pm Bristol Cathedral, BS1 5TJ Gioachino Rossini composed his Petite Messe Solennelle in 1863, more than three decades after completing his final opera –William Tell. Under the direction of acclaimed conductor Hilary Campbell, Bristol Choral Society brings this late-life masterpiece to life with a stellar cast of soloists and instrumentalists. Expect soaring vocal lines, playful harmonies, and moments of profound beauty – all delivered with Rossini’s signature sparkle. bristolchoral.co.uk

Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra

n 22 November, 7.30pm

St George’s Bristol, BS1 5RR

Join Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra for a dazzling evening with Russian flair.

Shostakovich’s very familiar Jazz Suite No 2 is great dancing fun, while Glazunov’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone brings warmth and lyricism. The evening will end with a journey through Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet scores –a showcase of great melodies and lush orchestration. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Christmas Craft Fair

n 23 November, 10am-3.30pm Ashton Court Mansion, BS41 9JN

Bristol Crafters and local artisans will be selling unique handmade Christmas gifts for everyone. There will be more than 40 stalls inside mansion house rooms, and the café will be serving teas coffees, cakes and mince pies £2.50 entry – under-16s go free.

Craft4Crafters & Stitching 4 All Show

n 27–29 November, 9.30am-4pm

Bath & West Showground, BA4 6QN

The Craft4Crafters & Stitching 4 All Show will see more than 100 exhibitors of craft and sewing suppliers come together to inspire visitors to learn new skills and make gifts in

time for Christmas. There are also more than 80 workshops to take part in. Adults £11, concession £10, under-16s go free. craft4crafters.co.uk

Club Spiegel, Symphonica Orchestra:

Ibiza Classics & Feel the Real Soundsystem n 28 November, 8pm

Spiegeltent, BS1 5LL

Get ready for a night where symphony meets the dancefloor! Symphonica Orchestra is taking over the harbourside Spiegeltent for an unforgettable fusion of orchestral power and iconic club anthems.

Expect Ibiza’s greatest hits in full symphonic glory – soaring strings, thundering brass, and euphoric drops to lift the roof off the tent. Then Bristol favourites Feel the Real Soundsystem take over, expect deep grooves, disco fire, and pure Bristol energy to keep you moving late into the night. christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

Christmas at Stourhead

n From 28 November to 31 December Stourton, Warminster, BA12 6QD

Explore the majestic grounds of Stourhead as they are transformed into a glowing winter wonderland. Created by award-winning light

trail producers, this breathtaking illuminated trail features the very best in twinkling lights and immersive seasonal sounds. Marvel at new awe-inspiring installations including the Star Tunnel that leads to a playful Field of Stars filled with colour-changing stars more than 5m high and Neon Spiral Trees, where a cluster of contemporary Christmas trees create a dynamic light show with lots of guaranteed sparkle. Seasonal refreshments will also be available to purchase. You might even catch a glimpse of Father Christmas... nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead

Book ahead...

Bristol Cabot Choir: Misatango meets Christmas Carols n 1 December, 7.30pm Clifton Cathedral, BS8 3BX

An unforgettable festive evening with the Bristol premiere of Misatango by Argentinian composer Martin Palmeri. This stunning piece blends exquisite choral writing with irresistible Latin dance rhythms, featuring string orchestra, solo soprano and the captivating sound of a bandoneon. Expect toe-tapping grooves, incredibly catchy melodies, and a dazzling fusion of choral beauty and dance energy that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. The concert also offers a joyful mix of traditional Christmas carols for choir and audience, alongside contemporary favourites by Eric Whitacre and Bob Chilcott. bristolcabotchoir.org

40 Winks – An Eye for Design n 4 December Clevedon Salerooms, BS21 6TT

Step into the world of designer David Carter’s boutique micro-hotel 40 Winks and take a little piece of its magic home from Clevedon Salerooms’ winter specialist sale. Furniture, artworks, and objects that defined Carter’s singular aesthetic are coming to auction, and 40 Winks – An Eye for Design offers a glimpse into his world: a curated selection of the curious, the beautiful, and the unexpected. The catalogue will be available online from mid-November. To register your interest, or to receive sale updates, visit clevedonsalerooms.com

Trip the light fantastic

Flipping the script on the audience experience, immersive dance performance Half Light, is on its autumn tour before visiting Arnolfini later this month. Florence Grieve caught up with artistic director and performer Holly Thomas to learn what it means to make dance accessible to blind and visually‐impaired audiences, and what we can expect from the production

Even in the meeting room where we are conducting our interview, Holly Thomas’ hands are moving expressively to the melody of our conversation. A dancer, choreographer and performer of 25 years, it is clear that this affinity for movement is integral to who Holly is as a person. Her most recent project, Half Light, is testament to her passion for dance, her lived experience and dedication to accessibility.

Half Light draws upon Holly’s lived experience of visual impairment and the journey of parenting a child with additional needs; it is partbiographical and part-imagined. The performance invites audiences to “unmask a multi-generational story about the courage it takes to send your child into a world that may not always understand.”

Alongside co-director Katy Noakes and a cast of talented performers, the Bristol-based team spent time developing the production and designing it with Blind and visually-impaired audiences in mind. As one audience member expressed, Half Light is, “poetic, intriguing, unique and beautiful.” Holly and I start our conversation by discussing where the idea for this boundary-redefining dance piece came from.

A feast for all the senses

Half Light, at its core, is about bringing dance to new audiences, and igniting a passion for movement in those who may not have had the opportunity to experience dance in this way before. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, it was at a time where movement was restricted on a global scale, that the seed for Half Light was planted. Holly tells me how lockdown encouraged her to more actively tune into the world around her. Many of us will relate to how the slower pace of life allowed creativity to flourish, our sourdoughs to rise and new hobbies to take shape. For Holly, it was an opportunity to pause and reflect; she would sit in her garden or by the river, often at twilight, and listen to the sounds around her.

It was this time of day, when dark gives way to light, or vice versa, that captured Holly’s imagination. As a visually-impaired person, twilight, a changing sensory landscape where there is movement between light and dark, was the source of inspiration. It led to the creation of a dance piece that draws on Holly’s lived experience – but also puts audience experience at the heart of the show’s development. It is often said that twilight is a

bridge between day and night, and it is this sense of intentionally curating a space for blind, visually-impaired and sighted audiences alike, that makes Half Light unique.

The production is presented in soft lighting, both an artistic choice and an accessibility consideration for audience members with light sensitivity. The seating is also arranged with the audience experience in mind, shaped in an ellipse; the performers move within and outside of this elongated circle, immersing the audience in the narrative.

Welcoming audiences

Traditionally, access to dance, whether as a performer or an audience member, puts heavy emphasis on sight. Audiences are expected to watch dance performances at a distance from the stage, and dancers are expected to observe and copy the dance teacher. But this reliance, and assumption, of sight as the default sense with which to engage with dance, excludes more than two million people living with sight loss in the UK.

“ Dance is notoriously difficult to describe… you’re describing an activity that is probably quite alien to many viewers, with or without sight ”

Audio Description, where a practitioner describes what can be seen on stage live, often via a headset, can be offered for performances and shows, and the availability of this vital access provision is on the up. According to the 2023 report State of Theatre Access (from access organisations VocalEyes, Stagetext and the Centre for Accessible Environments), 84% of the 465 surveyed theatres offered performances with Audio Description. Also, the number of theatres providing Audio Description had increased by 57% from 2019. This is not to say progress has been linear – while the number of theatres offering Audio Description increased, the number of performances offering it decreased. Furthermore, barriers persist, such as the number of Audio Description headsets available and the availability of information and listings for audio described performances.

However, when it comes to dance, additional challenges exist. As Bridget Crowley, retired audio describer for national charity VocalEyes, writes, “Dance is notoriously difficult to describe… you’re describing an activity that is probably quite alien to many viewers, with or without sight.” She goes on to explain how it can be executed well, citing examples of theatres and dance companies leading the way. It is worrying however to read how progress in this area is slowing, not due to the skill of audio describers, but the lack of investment from venues and theatres. She concludes: “Dance is back to being treated as the Cinderella of AudioDescription and it’s not fair for our audience.”

Shedding light on the issue

It is no surprise then when Holly tells me how the inaccessibility of traditional dance spaces led to her engaging with them less and less. She charts the highs and lows of accessibility, and inaccessibility, throughout her career, and the positive experience of attending dance classes that prioritise accessibility for blind and visually-impaired dancers.

As well as working as a performer and choreographer, Holly is an educator and facilitator, teaching others about the importance, and practicalities, of inclusive dance. It is clear that this experience has culminated in the creation of a show

that dares to push the boundaries of what true accessibility means. As one visually-impaired audience member fed back at a preview show, “I believe you are doing something truly unique here with Audio Description and dance, helping us, the audience, re-conceptualise dance as something that is heard and felt, rather than viewed from a distance.”

As well as achieving this through the use of sound-design, soft lighting and a seating arrangement that immerses the audience, what is distinctive about Half Light is that the Audio Description is integrated, and therefore part of the performance.

Another way that Half Light puts accessibility at the heart of its performance is by offering touch tours at all venues. A touch tour is where blind and visually-impaired audiences are given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the stage, set and costumes before a performance starts.

The focus of Half Light’s touch tours is to allow audiences to experience moments of choreography from the show, meet the cast, handle the costumes and have them audio described, and to choose a seat that suits their access needs best.

While this provision is offered elsewhere, the

report mentioned above found that only 5% of the

It’s clear from our conversation that the production’s promise to audiences has been thoughtfully and skilfully achieved. With Half Light, this autumn really is the perfect time to “immerse yourself in a world where sight is not assumed.” n

Half Light visits Bournemouth and London on its Autumn tour before stopping at Arnolfini on 14 November 2025. For tickets and more information visit arnolfini.org.uk

Book shelf

This month, our friends at Gloucester Road Books share new titles that are perfect for cosy winter evenings...

Our primary aim is that the shop be a fascinating place to explore. We have a significant focus on titles published by small independent presses. There are lots of really brilliant small publishers putting out incredibly exciting books, and we want to help get these out into the world.”

Visit the website for more details on book launches, talks and other events at the shop. gloucesterroadbooks.com @gloucester_rd_books | 184 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NU | Open Monday and Tuesday 9.30am-5pm; and Wednesday to Saturday 9.30am-6pm

Always Home, Always Homesick: A Love Letter to Iceland by Hannah Kent, Picador

The best-selling novelist recounts the pivotal role Iceland has played in her writing career. Kent revisits notebooks and diaries to recount her first visit to the country as a teenage exchange student and goes on to describe her fascination with Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the inspiration behind her mega-selling debut novel, Burial Rites

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by

Margaret Atwood, Vintage Publishing

The first memoir (of sorts) from acclaimed author Margaret Atwood. Fans of Atwood’s writing can expect fascinating insight into her writing career and bestselling series The Handmaid’s Tale, along with recollections of an unconventional childhood spent in the forests of northern Quebec.

Silver Book

A new work of fiction from Olivia Laing centred on the real-life figure, Danilo Donati, the costume designer behind the visions of filmmakers Pasolini and Feillini. Described as ‘a queer love story and noirish thriller’, Laing follows a young English artist who travels with Donati to realise his designs. Their love blooms against a world of cinematic illusion in events leading up to Pasolini’s brutal murder.

We couldn’t help but take note that this centres around the murder of a bookseller… in Bristol… in his shop. DS George Cross is on the case again, but distracted by a family matter. There’s plenty of human interest and intrigue promised in this eighth installment of the George Cross Mystery series – just don’t be getting any ideas!

The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, Penguin Books

A beautiful, new, clothbound edition of Anderson’s most classic and beloved Christmas stories, perfect for gifting or enjoying yourself. There’s plenty to recognise from your childhood here, or to enchant a new generation.

From the Lord Mayor’s Parlour...

Exclusive insight from The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Henry Michallat

Over the past few weeks, I have had the privilege of attending several events that truly capture the rich history, culture, and community spirit of Bristol. Each occasion has reminded me of the deep connections our city holds to its past, to its people, and to the wider international community.

A recent engagement was the 45th annual commemoration of Rajah Rammohun Roy at Arnos Vale Cemetery. It was an honour to lay flowers in tribute to this remarkable reformer, philosopher, and advocate for social progress, whose legacy continues to inspire both here in Bristol and far beyond. The commemoration brought together people from diverse backgrounds to reflect on Rajah Rammohan Roy’s enduring message of equality, education and understanding between cultures. My heartfelt thanks go to the organisers for continuing this important tradition and ensuring his story remains part of our city’s collective memory.

Next, I had the pleasure of attending the rededication of the Bristol Cathedral Organ, following its remarkable 19-month restoration. This was a historic moment in the life of the Cathedral, a space that has long served as a centre of worship, music and community. The rededication service was marked by a beautiful Choral Evensong, where the restored organ filled the Cathedral with glorious sound once again. It was deeply moving to witness such dedication and craftsmanship being celebrated, and I extend my congratulations to everyone involved in this extraordinary project.

Finally, I visited the Bristol Archaeology Festival at Blaise Museum, a fantastic celebration of discovery and local heritage. From learning about medieval and Viking history to trying my hand at making a hammered coin, and even winning a 3D-printed arrowhead the festival offered an engaging experience for all ages. Events like this remind us how history comes alive through creativity, curiosity, and community participation, and it is no surprise that this continues to be such a popular annual event.

Each of these engagements has highlighted Bristol’s vibrant spirit and a city proud of its history, yet always looking forward with energy and imagination. n

As ever, if you wish to invite me for a tour or to a community event, please get in touch with the Lord Mayor’s office via: lordmayor@bristol.gov.uk

Family Diary

Our pick of the best things to see and do with the little ones this month

Autumn Season arrives at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

n Throughout November

Redgrave Theatre & Tobacco Factory Theatres

BOVTS’ autumn season is packed with goodies for the whole family to watch. First up is Wonderland at Tobacco Factory Theatres (12 Nov, 11am), when Alice tumbles down a rabbit hole during a computer lesson, sbe discovers a magical Wonderland filled with curious characters who seem strangely familiar. then A Christmas Carol comes to Redgrave Theatre (24-29 Nov), when on one bitter night, Mr Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who take him on a journey through past, present and future. Will Scrooge change his ways by sunrise? Then Once Upon a Winter arrives at Redgrave Theatre (29 Nov, 10am): Robin feels different from his classmates – they’re loud and rebellious, while he prefers to spend time in his own world. But one day, Robin discovers a portal to a magical place called Winterland, which looks an awful lot like his drawings...! oldvic.ac.uk

There are plenty of family-friendly events on at the Spiegeltent

Richter and Beatcleaver. There will be bubbles, sparklers and audience interaction making this a truly unique and unforgettable alternative to fireworks. Tickets are available via Eventbrite and for more info, visit windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk

Clifton Village Christmas light switch-on n 12 November, 6pm-9pm

The Mall Gardens, BS8 4BH

Weston-super-Mare Carnival

n 7 November, 5.30pm

Weston Town Centre, BS23 1NA

It is the biggest night of the year in the Weston-super-Mare calendar, with people coming from all over the country to see it. The two-hour long procession is the West Country’s answer to the Rio Carnival. It features huge and extravagantly-decorated carts with thousands of bright lights on, putting on an exciting must-see free procession for thousands of spectators. westoncarnival.co.uk

The Dancing Fountain presents a Musical Journey 7-8 November, 5pm

Feel festive with carol singing from 6pm, with the big light switch-on at 6.30pm. After the switch-on, continue the festive fun at The Arcade! Enjoy late-night shopping, sip on warming mulled wine, and be enchanted by the Royal York Singers performing Christmas carols at 7.30pm. The Arcade stays open until 9pm, making it the perfect night to shop, celebrate, and soak up the holiday spirit. discoverclifton.co.uk/whats-on

Circus City presents: Well Done, Mummy Penguin

n 15-16 November

Circomedia, BS2 8SJ

Windmill Hill City Farm, BS3 4EA

The Dancing Fountain experience is an alternative for fireworks night, and it promises a mesmerising and magical time. Music, dance, poetry and the water magic will uplift your soul and fill your evening with delight and wonder. The night will include performances by Layla Pea, Lydia Daisy, Alexis

Amidst the snowy Antarctic landscape, Mummy Penguin is off to find a fishy dinner for her family. Daddy and Little Penguin watch in suspense as Mummy swims through the icy waters, climbs the perilous cliffs and tiptoes past some grumpy, just-awakened seals. Can she do it? Well done, Mummy Penguin! Brought to you by the team behind the award-nominated Oh No, George!, Well Done, Mummy Penguin features daring acrobatics, integrated sign language and heart-warming humour. A perfect wintry treat for everyone aged 3 and up. circomedia.com

Rapunzel: A Hairy Tale

n 27 November until 17 January Tobacco Factory Theatres, BS3 1TF

In a secluded tower deep within the forest, Rapunzel charts stars and planets and dreams of a world beyond her walls. When an unexpected →

visitor climbs through her window and into her strange little world, he brings color, chaos, and the thrill of the unknown. Soon, Rapunzel must make a choice between keeping herself safe or exploring freedom. This heartwarming production tells a story about growing up, venturing out, and discovering your own voice – all wrapped up in an unforgettable adventure (with plenty of extraordinary hair). tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Christmas at Westonbirt n 28 November until 31 December

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS

Explore the breathtaking trees of Westonbirt in an entirely new light as twinkling illuminations and innovative displays bring the forest to life. Stand in awe of installations such as Laser Garden, Mycelium Network, Fireworks Trees, and Wicker Animals, and you might even catch a glimpse of Father Christmas along the way. For those seeking an extra dose of excitement, festive fairground rides will be available (separate charges apply). christmasatwestonbirt.co.uk

Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers with live brass band n 30 November, 10.30am & 1.30pm

Spiegeltent, BS1 5LL

Round up the family for a cracking day out at the Spiegeltent and experience the Oscar-winning classic The Wrong Trousers on the big screen – brought to life with a live soundtrack from the City of Bristol Brass Band. Expect laughs, live music, and absolutely no wrong trousers – just a glorious celebration of Wallace & Gromit, with a side of serious brass! christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

Book ahead...

A Festive Voyage: Christmas at SS Great Britain n 6-23 December

Brunel’s SS Great Britain, BS1 6TY

Wander through a shimmering sound and light installation in the historic dry dock, step on board to discover how passengers and crew marked the season at sea, before cosying up in the Promenade Deck for story time with Old Father Christmas (11am, 1pm and 3pm). Meanwhile in the dockyard, warm your cockles with hot chocolates and mince pies as roving musicians perform carols, shanties and familiar tunes. ssgreatbritain.org

Mum’s the word

Our very own The Great British Bake Off breakout star Briony May Williams has joined forces with two of her best friends, Charlie Fuge and Vix Willshire – all proudly born and bred Bristolian – for a new podcast that lifts the lid on the riotous reality of daily life as a millennial mum

Words: Rosanna Spence

It’s not often you hear accents like ours on things like podcasts.”

Briony May Williams is beaming with pride, sat between her two best friends Charlie Fuge and Vix Willshire, talking about the trio’s new podcast I’m Not Judging, But…, which promises listeners ‘a front-row seat to the chaos, laughter and questionable decisions that come with full-family life’.

The show, which launched in September, is a truly Bristol creation –from its hosts to local production company Fin. “When we recorded the pilot, Jojo [Strous, the show’s executive producer] said, ‘You guys are actually really funny’,” Briony recalls. “Even though we’re laughing all the time with our besties and having a great time, we wondered if that would translate into other people finding us funny.”

Between them, mums Briony, Charlie and Vix have five children, and wanted to host a podcast that embraces the messiness of motherhood and refuses to sugar-coat the challenges parents face. Instead, they revel in the imperfections and quirks of family life, offering laughter as a tonic. Their hope is that the episodes can become a space where parents who might be feeling lonely or isolated can feel like they’re listening to three of their own friends.

“The subjects we talk about when we record each week are really relevant,” says Vix. “We follow what’s going on in the news, and there’s also a segment ‘Overheard in the Playground’, where we go through little things we’ve heard between us.”

Topics are wide-ranging – from the absolute horror of discovering one parent sending their child into school with nits (“to ‘set them free’!” the trio exclaim) without alerting anyone, to parenting hacks like FAFO. What’s FAFO, we hear you ask? “The f*ck around and find out approach to parenting,” explains Briony. “We apply this to our lives in general sometimes, but, for example, if your kids won't go outside wearing their coat, you just think, ‘FAFO’. Let's see what happens, my friends. You're going to get wet. But you know what, as parents we have to choose our battles.”

There are plenty of top tips crammed into each show, too Charlotte adds. “We try to help people avoid absolute disasters. We’re ‘people pleasers’, so help others from making some terrible life decisions. Though as we’re ageing, we’re getting more reluctant to people please. I’ve accidentally agreed on many-a-thing I would say as a parent. Once upon a time, I had to take another person’s child to school for an entire year because I agreed to it. I had to take a job to get myself out of that one… Just don’t say yes to anything. Say, ‘That sounds great, I’ll let you know.”

“In three-to-five business working days,” Vix interjects, laughing. “It’s TBC,” Charlotte chuckles back to her. “That is really good advice,” agrees Briony. “Charlotte's the wise one. She is like the Yoda of the group. These guys are both great storytellers, too, and I think it's definitely coming across in the show. And I think the more we do it, the more that will become even more natural. I just love listening to them.”

The popularity of podcasts is refusing to wane, with listeners keen to fill their downtime, commutes, quiet moments, exercise or working and leisure time with storytelling in all forms.

“That's why I listen to or watch podcasts – it’s for that connection we're all craving,” notes Vix. “These days, there's nothing better than watching somebody be really authentic in themselves, when you feel like you're listening to a mate. And that's what we hope that people are getting from us.”

You’ve got a friend in me

Friendship and parenting are at the core of I’m Not Judging, But… (which it should be noted, is so-called after something the trio tend to say a lot in conversation, though they promise that don’t actually judge anyone “that much” in reality).

Briony, who is mum to Nora, aged 10, made it to the semi-finals of The Great British Bake Off in 2018, and has since become a household name as a TV presenter. Briony met Charlie (now mum to two girls, 12-year-old

“I think it depends who you’re talking to,” says Briony. “With these guys, there’s zero pressure to show them that I’m holding it together, or not. There’s no judgment.” She notes that there might be other groups of mums where the situation might feel different: “I think it depends on the circle you’re in. We’re hopefully showing people that there are groups out there that will support you, whether you’re on your knees or you’re flying high; that it’s okay to come undone as a mum.”

Darcey and 10-year-old Megs) in primary school when she was four-yearsold, but didn’t secure ‘bestie’ status until they went to different secondary schools. Apparently, Charlie is privy to all the gossip from Briony’s years moving from teenager to adulthood, and their connection has evolved further now they are each other’s support system as parents.

The third mum-musketeer is Vix, who’s mum to two more girls –Daisy (13) and Primrose (8). Vix met Briony on the way to a hen do, when they found themselves both sitting in the back of a car for an hour and got on so well that they decided to share a room at the hotel. Vix, Charlie and Briony became a trio of friends five years ago, and their respect and adoration for each other is immediately apparent. As Briony puts it: “It’s a bit nuts and a bit chaotic, but we love each other dearly. Please come and join us!”

Vix adds, “But Jojo also said the other day how lovely it is that we’ve also got such different opinions on the things we discuss. Yet we’re always really supportive – to be honest, we’re not the harshest judges.”

Imperfect parenting

While we’re on the topic of judging, is parenting culture becoming less comparative? Do they feel that there’s less pressure to appear like you’re holding everything together?

Vix agrees, acknowledging how parents – who have obviously never been parents until they are one – are “forced” into lots of different relationships with other parents at different stages of their kids’ lives, from breastfeeding to playgroups, school and beyond: “It’s so important to make sure that you’re surrounding yourself with nice and supportive people, because it can make it or break you,” she says. “It can make all the difference to your parenting journey.”

The trio are pleased that even though the show is new, they’ve already been able to create a supportive community, and are keen for people to get in touch with them to share stories and connect. “We want the show to be relatable, real and fun,” Briony says. “People can listen and have a good time, but they will also get good advice from Charlotte… and questionable advice from me and Vix.”

It’s not just Briony, Charlie and Vix taking to the microphones, though. Listeners can expect plenty of special guests joining them, including CBeebies’ presenter Andy Day, influencer Brummy Mummy Of 2 aka Emma Conway, comedian Jessica Fosterkew and more (though their dream parent guest Chris Hemsworth has so far proven to be, ahem, somewhat unavailable to record). And Stacey Solomon, if you’re reading, give the girls a shout. →

New episodes of I’m Not Judging, But… are released every Thursday during school term time, because when it comes to out-of-term time, “we don’t think anybody has any time, parents are in survival mode.”

The trio are clearly having a ball right now, and when asked about what plans are brewing for the future (even though the show is still in its relevant infancy), Briony, Charlie and Vix have hopes to evolve the concept – perhaps even recording an episode in front of a live audience in a Bristol venue next year.

“We just really want to keep doing this,” Briony says. “We love it and we’re having such a great time. We love working with Jojo, she’s so lovely and is so good at what she does – as is the whole production team at Fin.”

“Charlotte and I have never done anything like this before,” adds Vix. “When I turned up, I thought we were just going to be on a similar set-up to a Zoom call, having a laugh, you know? But then it was all so professional, being filmed for YouTube, too. Now, I can't even imagine not doing the show.”

Even if you’re not a parent, it’s not out of the question that you won’t enjoy their conversations, as they tell me they’ve even had a 21-yearold childless man get in touch to say how much he loves the podcast. And if you do have kids, then you’re about to find three new friends to comfort you whether you’re on the school run, or stealing sacred minutes of alone time by hiding in the bathroom from the unrelenting demands of modern parenting. n

I’m Not Judging, But… is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. It’s also a visual podcast on YouTube @Imnotjudgingbut. You can follow Briony, Charlie and Vix on Instagram @imnotjudgingbutpod and TikTok @imnotjudgingbutpod

Expert opinion

From Chris Yeo, of Clevedon Salerooms and a regular expert on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow

The Magic of the “Single Owner Sale”

This month, I’d like to talk about a very particular, and particularly popular, sort of auction: the single owner sale. Lest you think I’m talking about someone’s marital status, allow me to elucidate. A single-owner sale is one where the collection on offer is being sold by one vendor. The person might be living or deceased, and the collection itself can comprise well, really, anything – paintings, porcelain, the entire contents of a house. Sales of this type are always a treat but stardust positively sparkles in the auction room air when that person is a connoisseur of note or someone in the public eye (or both).

What is the ‘X’ factor that makes these sales such a perennial auction house favourite? It may be Impressionist paintings and famous jewels that make headlines, but single collector sales often have the best tales to tell. We Homo sapiens are naturally drawn to a compelling back story. Who owned that painting? What circles did they mix in? Objects from a single hand feel like chapters of a story: the curtain fabric that was selected for a sitting room, the painting chosen to hang above a mantelpiece, the curios and knickknacks that speak volumes about the personality of the owner. Entering such a collection is, in many ways, an invitation to someone’s home; an invitation we would probably never otherwise have enjoyed.

It’s all the more alluring when a public figure is invloved. You may never have met Freddie Mercury, but you could always be the proud owner of his Cartier moustache brush, if you have a moustache (and £28,000 burning a hole in your pocket). Some collections are chaotic, where no item speaks to another – and that in itself becomes the theme, while others can be very cerebral indeed. The magic is in the mix.

This month’s cover and magazine feature introduces designer David Carter, whose legendary 40 Winks home captured that same magic of personality and provenance. His theatrical pieces go under the hammer at Clevedon Salerooms on 4 December, with further highlights offered in our Interiors Sale on 8 January. ■ clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)

Everything is energy

Emma Talbot’s exhibition Everything is Energy at Arnolfini (until 8 February 2026) has created immersive environments that explore our relationship with nature, technology and one another through silk painting installations, intimate drawings, sculptural forms and animation

In her major exhibition currently on show at Arnolfini, Stourbridgeborn artist Emma Talbot asks, “What is life?” Then suggests through her work that it can be: “A container for magic. A conductor for nameless frissons and frictions. Electricities and energies that sustain endless expansion.”

Talbot’s latest body of work captures the pulsating force of the exhibition’s title Everything is Energy, as it gathers and grows, scooping up myths, objects and provocations and creating a container and ‘tool that brings energy home’.

Steeped in folklore and mythology, her work playfully beckons people both back and forth in time, embracing ancient civilisations and a future dictated by scientific and technological developments. Building like a ball of energy, Talbot’s existential enquiries pull at the frayed edges of our consciousness, encircling both deeply personal concerns and universal anxieties that address how we live in the world today.

“There isn’t an action that doesn’t have some kind of impact on another thing, because that’s what we’re experiencing,” states Talbot. “Life is an accumulation of actions, and in that sense, energy moves through us. We’re full of energy in order to live… It’s a really good way of explaining and of thinking about what life is.”

Monumental paintings

At the heart of the exhibition stand two major works co-commissioned by Arnolfini and Copenhagen Contemporary, the eponymous Everything is Energy and Are You a Living Thing That Is Dying or a Dying Thing That Is Living? These monumental paintings on silk transform the gallery space

into a living ecosystem, in which visitors can wander freely, making connections and creating their own non-linear journeys through the work.

These installations – as with many of Talbot’s work across the years –are richly populated with unanswered questions. Handwritten text bubbles float across jewel-like images, asking: ‘What is life?’ and ‘Are you part of an illusion or are you the dreamer?’, and ‘What can you gather before you retreat?’, queries that Talbot is posing to herself and, by extension, to us all.

An urgent vein that runs throughout these questions (and works in the exhibition), is Talbot’s growing response to the current moment of climate emergency, ecological collapse and technological disruption. In the work Everything is Energy, Talbot imagines a future where humans live isolated in sterile pods, surrounded by artificial intelligence, gaming consoles and surveillance cameras, completely cut off from the dying natural world outside. It’s a vision that feels uncomfortably close to our present reality.

But Talbot doesn’t offer only despair. In Are You a Living Thing That Is Dying or a Dying Thing That Is Living?, she presents both sides of existence – death and rebirth, darkness and growth.

One panel shows the nocturnal world of endings, while the other bursts with life and possibility. The work suggests that even in destruction, there’s potential for renewal.

Tellingly, after receiving the Max Mara Art Prize for Women in 2020, Talbot reassessed the sustainability implications of her practice, integrating her environmental awareness directly into her creative process by considering both transportation emissions and material sustainability when making new work.

Drawing inspiration

At the heart of this increasingly environmentally concerned practice, which combines word and image with seamless ease, lies a dedication to the intimate practice of drawing. Examples of which can be seen sitting alongside her monumental installations throughout the exhibition, providing quieter moments of reflection. Following profound personal loss in 2006, Talbot was left reconsidering her artistic career, yet she found herself compelled to keep on drawing, seeking to capture the emotions that words could not reach. These initial sketches gradually developed into the elaborate installations she now creates.

Appearing throughout these, often immersive, works is a female form which, serves as an autobiographical presence that journeys through alternately sublime and troubled environments. Talbot describes this figure as an internal self-portrait rather than a physical likeness, representing her inner emotional landscape: “It’s how I feel from inside.”

This figure also weaves its way throughout her increasingly ambitious animations, including her newest work You Are Not the Centre (Inside the Animal Mind), in which Talbot reconsiders our relationship to the animal kingdom, disappearing inside the body of both domesticated and wild creatures.

For all its provocations and cumulative force, Everything is Energy also invites visitors to slow down, to question and to reconnect. In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and digital mediation, her work offers a reminder of our fundamental connection to the natural world – and to each other.

Everything is Energy is complemented by a new publication including texts by Emma Talbot, Aukje Ravn Lepoutre, Gemma Brace, Jennifer Higgie and Gina Buenfeld-Murley exploring Talbot’s unique approach to making, as both personal exploration and urgent social commentary. n

Emma Talbot: Everything is Energy runs at Arnolfini until 8 February 2026, open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm. For the full accompanying workshop and events programme, visit arnolfini.org.uk

ART and the galleries

Emma Talbot: Everything is Energy, Arnolfini, until 8 February

Through vast silk painting installations, intimate drawings, sculptural forms (which the artist refers to as ‘intangible beings’) and animation, Emma Talbot creates immersive environments that explore our relationship with nature, technology and one another.

Talbot’s latest body of work captures the pulsating force of the exhibition’s title Everything is Energy, as it gathers and grows, scooping up myths, objects and provocations and creating a container and ‘tool that brings energy home’. Steeped in folklore and mythology her work playfully takes audiences both back and forth in time, embracing ancient civilisations and a future dictated by scientific and technological developments. arnolfini.org.uk | 16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA

EMOTIONAL LANDSCAPES: A New Collection by Elaine Jones, Clifton Contemporary Art, 8 November until 9 December

Elaine Jones is fascinated by the underlying structures of nature and the silent, elusive spaces that radiate tension and meaning. She is continually drawn to her local, familiar wild places that are charged with memory and provide a kind of visual, emotional core to her work. In contrast, recent travels to the mountains of Portugal and Spain have provided more remote source material, where the isolation, sheer scale and raw elemental energy add further dimensions; new emotive force.

Here, Elaine is using a fresh palette of colours that embraces both autumnal warmth and the deep earthy tones of recently fire-scorched Mediterranean woodlands and mountains. There is a subtle balance between destruction and regeneration and ultimately a palpable sense of renewal – of nature’s cycle turning.

cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk

25 Portland Street, Clifton, BS8 4JB

HOMELANDS by Rick Grimster, Rainmaker Gallery, until 31 December

This solo exhibition celebrates Rick Grimster’s 80th year. Born to an English mother and a Native American father, war baby Rick was lovingly raised by adoptive parents in the UK. In this series of acrylic paintings, Grimster playfully merges impressions of both countries through a masterful use of colour, pattern and texture. Together these autobiographical landscapes chart his lifelong journey of transformation from adoptee to Indigenous elder. HOMELANDS is a love letter to the people and places that gave life to this extraordinary artist.

rainmakerart.co.uk | 140 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, BS8 2RS

Image: RED COPSE 2024, acrylic on canvas, 96cm x 122cm, by Rick Grimster

Christmas Exhibition, Lime Tree Gallery, 8 November until 8 January

A mixed exhibition of fine paintings bursting with colour and light. Ranging from the traditional to the modern, the figurative to the abstract, the exhibition is complemented by a selection of individual glass pieces, ceramics, sculpture and jewellery.

limetreegallery.com

84 Hotwell Road, BS8 4UB

Royal West of England Academy’s 172 Annual Open Exhibition, until 28 December

The RWA Annual Open Exhibition is one of the UK’s most prestigious open-submission exhibitions, welcoming artists at all stages of their careers. Now in its 172nd year, this highly anticipated event provides a platform for emerging and established artists to exhibit their work in the RWA’s stunning Grade II-listed galleries. This year, the RWA is welcoming Maria Lalić as the 172 Annual Open Invited artist. Each year, the RWA presents awards to featured artists in the annual open. Awards include The Academy Award, The Steele Art Prize, Watercolour Award 1st Prize, Niche Print Makers Award and many more.

rwa.org.uk | Queen’s Road, Clifton, BS8 1PX

Image credit: Chelsea Cut (2025), Khana Evans

North Bristol Arts Trail, 29–30 November

North Bristol Artists collective has announced the return of the free, annual North Bristol Arts Trail. This highlight of the cultural calendar invites art lovers into artists’ homes, studios, and community venues across Redland, Bishopston, Henleaze, St Andrews, Ashley, and Horfield. Featuring 110 artists and makers in more than 50 venues, the trail showcases a stunning array of works, including paintings, original prints, photography, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, glassware, with refreshments and helpful facilities along the route. The trail is carefully mapped out into smaller neighbourhood clusters to help you plan your route whether you're on foot or on wheels. Collect stamps along the way and be in with a chance of winning original artworks in the Art Collectors’ Trail!

Beyond the weekend, North Bristol Artists remain active year-round, hosting exhibitions, workshops, and classes that nurture creativity across the community.

northbristolartists.org.uk

Clifton LitFest returns 14-16 November

Clifton LitFest returns this month with its most expansive programme to date, drawing together major names from politics, literature, photography and journalism for a weekend devoted to the power of story. From Friday 14 to Sunday 16 November, Clifton Village will host more than 70 speakers across 50 events, including headline appearances from Caroline Lucas, Martin Parr, Peter Frankopan, Polly Toynbee and Kate Humble. Now in its sixth year, the festival has evolved from a local celebration into a fixture on the UK’s literary calendar, known for its intelligent curation and welcoming atmosphere. Entirely volunteer-run and produced by Friends of Clifton Centre and Library (FoCCaL), the festival continues to pair national calibre with community spirit –offering a cultural gathering that is both wide-reaching and rooted in place.

Some highlights from this year’s festival include...

MARTIN PARR | 14 NOV, 4.30PM

n Christ Church

Opening speaker Martin Parr has captured everything from British seaside holidays to the quirks of everyday life, publishing over 130 photobooks along the way. Now, for the first time, he’s turned the camera on himself for his latest book Utterly Lazy and Inattentive. He will be in conversation with Professor Shawn Sobers.

CAROLINE LUCAS | 14 NOV, 7PM

n Christ Church

Writer, campaigner, former Green Party MP and keynote speaker Caroline Lucas, will be joined by acclaimed author and academic Michael Malay to explore the politics of nature and climate change, the future of protest, and the rise of populism.

JASBINDER BILAN | 14 NOV, 10.30AM

n Christ Church, Crypt

Come into the world of spellbinding storytelling with award-winning author, Jasbinder Bilan. Popular author of ten books, Jasbinder will share her wonderful secrets, inspirations and writing journey with you.

SHAHED EZAYDI | 15 NOV, 12.30PM

n Clifton Library, Meeting Room

This Young Adult Non-Fiction Writing Workshop is aimed at young people who are considering a career in journalism or who want to better understand how to make their voices heard through various platforms.

DOMINIC HINDE | 15 NOV, 1.30PM

n Clifton Library

In Drifting North: Looking for the Story of Climate Change, Dominic Hinde takes readers – and audiences – on a powerful journey through the Scottish landscape and beyond, shaped by the aftermath of his lifechanging road accident.

TRIG POINT | 15 NOV, 3PM

n Christ Church, Crypt

Three brilliant poets – Rosie Jackson, Bethany Handley and Vanessa Lampert –arrive in Clifton from different geographic and poetic directions.

RORY CARROLL | 15 NOV, 6PM

n Clifton High School, Rose Theatre

The Guardian’s Ireland correspondent and author of Killing Thatcher writes thrillingly about the hunt for the Brighton Bomber. He will be in conversation with Dr Erika Hannah; also featuring Steve Ramsey.

DEBORAH MOGGACH |

16 NOV, 1.30PM

n Clifton High School, Main School Hall

The joys and indignities of love at a later age are the subjects of several recent books by Deborah Moggach, herself a veteran in the field, who will be talking to Paula O’Rourke.

JONATHAN DIMBLEBY |

16 NOV, 3PM

n Clifton High School, Main School Hall

Jonathan will discuss the re-issue of the original 1979 edition of The Palestinians this autumn, which is timed to coincide with the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza.

AMY JEFFS | 16 NOV, 4.30PM

n Clifton High School, Main School Hall

Amy Jeffs’ newest work Old Songs sees her joined by illustrator Gwen Burns to deliver a spellbinding portal into British history and culture through 10 traditional folk ballads. A mesmerising experience for lovers of legend, folklore and lyrical history.

Visit foccal.com/litfest for more details and to download the full event brochure.

One for the history books

Simon Horsford explores a little‐known‐about, yet extremely special, collection of texts kept in the city from one of the world’s most recognisable publishers, Penguin Books, which is marking its 90th anniversary this year

Penguin, which is celebrating its 90th year, surely boasts the most famous book emblem in the world. Finding the novels dotted around bookshops, or seeing them lined up in rows in secondhand shops with their distinctive triband colour themes, gives a sense of something familiar, reassuring and, perhaps even, nostalgic for a brand that still adheres to its original message of offering quality literature at an (nowadays, still relatively) affordable price.

Less well known, maybe, is Penguin’s connection with Bristol. For tucked away in the Arts and Social Sciences Library of Bristol University –off St Michael’s Hill – lies the Penguin archive (around a kilometre of books lining row after row of metal storage shelves) and dating from 1935 (when the books first arrived on the market) to 2014 (following Penguin’s merger with Random House; those subsequent books are now kept in another archive elsewhere).

It all forms part of the library’s Special Collections section, which also holds the Wildfilm archive (charting more than 100 years of wildlife film-making) and the Feminist Archive South.

And that’s not all, as Nicky Sugar, the head of special collections, explains: “People often assume our collections will only be of interest to people studying things like history or English, but we pretty much have something for everyone – we have amazing geological, medical and musical collections for example.”

too are more likely to avoid reading. Looking at those cabinets filled with lines of neatly filed Penguins going back decades, those non-readers really are missing out.

When Allen met Agatha

The material ranges from the 12th to the 21st Centuries.

However, it’s the Penguin collection that is the most pertinent, partly for its anniversary year, but also because a recent survey by charity The Reading Agency suggested we are falling out of love with books. Its research revealed that 47% of adults in the UK (around 27 million) do not regularly read by choice; 16- to 24-yearolds are the least engaged, with 61% saying they are lapsed or non-readers; men

For now, though, let’s begin at the beginning. The idea for Penguin famously came to a young publisher, Allen Lane, in late August 1934, while he was waiting for a train back to London at Exeter station after meeting a friend, Agatha Christie. Finding nothing suitable to read at the platform bookshop, he vowed to publish a series of quality paperback books that could be “bought as easily and casually as a packet of cigarettes.”

The notion came to fruition the following year and by October 1936, Penguin had sold a staggering three million books at sixpence a piece, as Lane said at the time: “I determined to give the public an opportunity of buying the best works at nominal prices.” You can see a memorial plaque at the station marking his vision. The first 10 books included Ariel by the French author André Maurois, about the life of Percy Bysshe Shelley (the very first Penguin book), Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, Dorothy L Sayers’ The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (a Lord Peter Wimsey novel) and Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles (although that book was quickly withdrawn over contractual issue and was replaced by the author’s The Murder on the Links; now known as book 7a).

The clever thing, adds Senior Archivist Emma Howgill, is that the earliest incarnation “was all about the reprint so they could make the books as cheap as possible. Penguin didn’t have to bear the cost of the initial editorial process as all the editing work had already been done.”

All this is documented by Special Collections at the library, which holds not only Penguin books but also its early editorial archive. Lane chose Bristol University to store the archive as his childhood home was a short walk away in Cotham Vale (where you’ll find a blue plaque denoting the fact) and he also went to nearby Bristol Grammar School, “I think he felt a connection with the place,” says Sugar. The first donation came from Lane’s private collection on the announcement of his impending retirement in 1965 (he died in 1970 aged 67 following a long illness) – “works which weren’t signed by the authors he snipped out signatures from contracts and pasted them in the front so he technically had a signed copy,” Sugar adds. Penguin added to Lane’s donation to make the number up to 5,000 in the early years and from 1975 the company regularly sent a selection to the library of their recently published books (until 2014).

Penguins, pelicans and puffins

Looking through the archive material, photos and newspaper cuttings from back in the day, the fascination comes not only from the range of authors (E.M.Forster, Salman Rushdie, Charles Dickens and Truman Capote to Zadie Smith, Virginia Woolf, HG Wells, V.S. Naipaul and Philip Pullman), but also the timelines of sister companies, such Pelican and Puffin. Howgill says “Pelican came about because Lane had the idea for non-fiction, information books and [initially] went to George Bernard Shaw and said: “We want your The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism [which had first appeared as a pamphlet in 1927] and Shaw said ‘absolutely, and you can have another two chapters on Sovietism and Fascism’, and Lane thought, ‘if I don’t do it then someone else will’. Hence the publication of The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism, Capitalism, Sovietism and Fascism in 1937, the first Pelican book. An acclaimed series on Shakespeare’s plays followed in 1956.

Puffin followed in 1941 aimed at younger readers (Worzel Gummidge was an early offering, as were books by Robert Louis Stevenson) and later came the Puffin Post magazine (there are copies in the archive) aimed at building a community of child subscribers.

In 1967, the Penguin founder also started an imprint under his own name comprising serious non-fiction, initially in hardback and then as orange-spine paperbacks. And there were further variations too as Howgill tells me about the short lived Peacock series, aimed at “young adults”, which ran from 1962-1979 producing about 150 titles; for a

Pictured top: Chart showing the evolution of the Penguin family colophons from DM1294, Penguin Archive. Image supplied by University of Bristol Collections and used by permission from Penguin Books Limited; bottom left: Ariel, SC008513. Image supplied by University of Bristol Collections and used by permission from Penguin Books Limited; bottom right: Lady Chattlerley’s Lover, designed by Stephen Russ, DM2752. Image supplied by University of Bristol Collections and used by permission from Penguin Books Limited.

time too a series of academic books with stiffer covers were published under the Peregrine Books banner. Among all the ephemera laid out in from of me there are large ‘advertising cards’ (originally sent to shops in the 1950s) denoting various versions of the “penguin” “puffin” and “pelican” designs over the years. Initially, Lane wanted a symbol that was “dignified but flippant” and the bird was suggested by his secretary Joan Coles with an artist despatched to London Zoo to make sketches. There are also cuttings referring to the various colour codes for the books which denoted the various topics (Lane wanted each to be instantly recognisable): blue for literature, green for crime, orange was fiction and cerise for travel, red for drama; brown was for the classics.

Call to arms

After the initial impact of the books, another impetus came during the Second World War, not only through the public, but also via Penguin’s decision to establish a Forces Book Club further enhancing the brand. The various armed units could club together and subscribe and they’d be sent six books every month, Howgill tells me, as she shows me a list of what was on offer early on in the scheme – there’s a Graham Greene, Tarka the Otter, and a host of crime fiction; other popular books included an aircraft definition guide. But the biggest boost came with Lane’s decision to publish an unexpurgated edition of DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover. The subsequent victory in the high-profile 1960 obscenity trial that followed saw two million books sold by Penguin. I’m shown, not the judge’s copy of the book, (currently on display in the state room at No.10 Downing Street as part of a Penguin exhibition) but the one taken to court by Hans Schmoller, Lane’s right-hand man and graphic designer.

On another floor, it’s a thrill to see the regimented lines of Penguins in huge filing cabinets – little wonder then that this collection, together with the others at the university, attracts huge interest from school and student groups and independent researchers.

“We did a lot of work for the 90th anniversary,” says Sugar, “helping with original material that informed a lot of what they did,” adding, “Many people don’t know what treasures lie within the special collections”, which in Penguin’s case is because all visits have to be sanctioned be the publishers. “It’s not like people can walk in off the street, it’s not a museum where things are on display.”

And Sugar jokes, “People have to request what they want from a catalogue like Argos. There’s no reason why it has to be academic research, it might be someone studying

local history, or a graphic designer, or someone doing translation studies or wider sociological issues, like the penguin African writers' series.” Their job is essentially to manage the material and support researchers; they had 1,300 inquiries last year across their remit.

Golden age of books

With the apparent downturn in interest in reading, I wonder if there was a golden age of buying books? “These things come in waves,” says Sugar, “if you think of how long we’ve had Kindles, if they had really taken off, then books wouldn’t be published any more, but they are. Often the death of something is predicted because something has been invented but then that gets boring and influences start going back.”

“There is a market too for the designs of books,” adds Howgill, “and it’s about owning something too”. Think about the rise in popularity again of LPs and now CDs.

However, there were peaks, reasons Sugar, “like during the Second World War, a time intense fear and discomfort so reading becomes a comfort.” And Howgill adds, “I’m sure I’ve seen an advertising picture of a penguin running towards an air raid shelter clutching a Penguin book.”

Maybe one way to encourage reading habits is via initiatives such as the Little Book Stops whereby Penguin, to further mark its anniversary, is installing “book sharing boxes” at 90 locations around the UK. In Bristol one is set to open at the University of Bristol’s micro-campus at the Wellspring Settlement on Barton Hill (aimed at fostering closer ties

between the university and the local community); the box will be frequently replenished to keep the collection fresh.

Meanwhile, as I take one last look at the rows of Penguin books before walking past Sir Allen Lane’s former home, I’d like to imagine he’d be rather chuffed with his legacy and that this wonderful archive lies so close to where he spent his childhood. n

bristol.ac.uk | penguin.co.uk

Image of Allen Lane licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. (Author: Thepublicskye)

The right side of the tracks

Andrew Swift reflects on 200 years since the birth of the modern railway, and explores why Bristol was a little late to the party

Twenty-twenty-five has been the year of Railway 200, a nationwide celebration marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway. It’s fair to say, though, that while there have been some spectacular events elsewhere, around these parts the festivities have been somewhat muted.

This is not altogether surprising. The year 1825 may have been when steam-hauled trains first carried passengers between Stockton and Darlington, but it would be another decade before the Great Western Railway was granted parliamentary approval, and not until 1840 did the first train steam out of Temple Meads.

But if Bristol was late at the party, it wasn’t for want of trying. Back in 1825, railway mania was as frenetic in Bristol as anywhere else, although, in retrospect, it seems difficult to understand what all the hoo-ha was about. Railways were, after all, nothing new. They had been around for over a century, hauling coal, stone and heavy minerals over short distances. They were admittedly pretty rudimentary, with rails and carriage wheels usually made of wood, and with power provided either by horses or gravity, but they were nevertheless railways.

A force of nature

The first railway in the Bristol area was a gravity-powered affair which opened in Bath in 1731. It carried stone from quarries at Combe Down to a wharf on the River Avon, from where it was shipped downstream to

build the grand houses of Georgian Bristol. One of 18th-century Bath’s biggest tourist attractions, it was also one of the first railways whose carriages were fitted with iron wheels.

Although there were plenty of other horse- and gravity-powered railways in the Midlands and the North, there were no more in this part of the world until the early 19th Century, when a network of horsedrawn lines was built in the Forest of Dean to carry coal. Others soon followed. In 1811, the Gloucester & Cheltenham Tramroad opened, linking Cheltenham with the docks at Gloucester and quarries on Leckhampton Hill. Three years later, after the Radstock arm of the Somerset Coal Canal ran dry, a railway – the first in Somerset – was laid along its trackbed.

Although all these lines relied on horse power, across the country ingenious engineers were working furiously to harness the power of steam and create a safe, reliable and infinitely superior alternative to horses. It was George Stephenson who made the breakthrough. In 1821, he told Edward Pease, who was promoting a horse-drawn line from Stockton to Darlington, that he could not only build a steam engine which could do the work of 50 horses, but also supply rails strong enough to bear its load.

Even before the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened, word spread that it was going to be a total game changer, and in the closing months of 1824, railway mania gripped the nation, as investors subscribed to projects to build ever more ambitious new lines.

In December 1824, the Bath & Bristol Railway Company was formed. Its promoters promised that by taking advantage of ‘that Grand Improvement, the LOCOMOTIVE STEAM-ENGINE, passengers and merchandise’ could be conveyed ‘with certainty and security, by day and night, at all times of the year – in periods of frost or of drought, at the rate of at least eight miles an hour, and passengers at a rate of twelve’.

That same month, eager investors pledged £350,000 (equivalent to around £28million today) to build a railway from Bristol to Birmingham. Other companies were formed to build lines from Bristol to Exeter, from Bristol to Birmingham and from Bristol to London. The route to London was surveyed by the great road engineer John Loudon McAdam, who bizarrely suggested building a turnpike road alongside the line from end to end.

Schemes grew ever bolder. In January 1825, the newly-formed Grand Western Railroad Company proposed a line from London to Falmouth, with branches to Bath, Barnstaple, Plymouth, Lyme Regis and Bridgwater. This, along with similarly ambitious projects, found willing backers, even though the chances of even a fraction of them being built were negligible.

The Stockton & Darlington opened, to great acclaim, on 27 September, but by then the bubble had burst. A stock market crash – for which railway mania was partly responsible – led to two London banks stopping payment and scores of provincial banks, including half the private banks in Bristol, going under.

Wild hopes were followed by sober reflection, and it was another two years before the next proposal for a railway serving Bristol came along. Its name – the Bristol & Gloucestershire Railway – may have been impressive, but its ambitions were not, for this was a horse-drawn tramway carrying coal from pits in South Gloucestershire to a wharf on

the floating harbour in Bristol. It also had a branch line – the Avon & Gloucestershire Railway – which ran to two riverside wharves near Keynsham. Rather than use the official names, most people referred to both lines as the Dramway.

Bristol, Bath and Brunel

The two lines opened in stages, with the first trains running in November 1830. By then, proposals for more ambitious schemes had once more come and gone. Among them was another attempt to build a line from Bristol to Bath, with the promise of trains now travelling at 20mph. For a time, it looked as though it might go ahead – until a phalanx of vested interests decreed ‘that land and water communications now existing between the cities of Bristol and Bath are fully sufficient for all purposes of conveyance and that the proposed railway is uncalled for upon public grounds which would alone justify the inroad it will make upon private property and the rights and comforts of individuals.’

And that, for the moment, was that. By then, though, Brunel was in Bristol, making influential friends, winning the commission to build the Clifton Suspension Bridge and carrying out improvements to the floating harbour. So when, in 1833, a group of Bristol businessmen decided that a railway to London was needed as a matter of urgency to stem the city’s decline, it was Brunel they turned to. And by the time it opened, such strides had been made in steam locomotive design that speeds not of twelve or twenty miles an hour, but of sixty, were commonplace.

The railway Brunel built is still very much with us, and, although the rudimentary railways that preceded it are long closed, their routes can still be traced, at least in part. Most of the course of the tramway which carried stone down to the River Avon in Bath has been converted to a road called Ralph Allen Drive. As for the Dramway, although its course through Bristol has largely disappeared, a nine-mile Dramway Path follows the old tracks through South Gloucestershire, where bridges, tunnels, cuttings and two wharves on the River Avon still survive.

As far as celebrating the birth of the modern railway goes, given the reverence accorded to Brunel in Bristol, it seems safe to say that lack of enthusiasm is unlikely to mark the Great Western Railway’s bicentenary when that comes around in 10 years’ time. n

Discover more of Andrew Swift’s work at akemanpress.com. All images courtesy of Andrew Swift

Wine for a rainy day

Words by Tom Bleathman from The Great Wine Co.

As the dark, colder nights begin to settle in, there’s something comforting about having a couple of special bottles of wine tucked away for those cosy evenings.

Throughout November, The Great Wine Co. is running up to 30% off a selection of fine wines, making this the perfect time to treat yourself to a few special bottles for the wine rack that will hit the spot and, dare I say it, these would also be perfect for those with one eye on 25 December… | greatwine.co.uk

Chateau de Villegeorge Haut Medoc 2014: This is a classic example of Left Bank Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon-led, with lovely, intense blackberry fruit tinged with nuances of tobacco and just a hint of Médoc gravelliness. On the palate, it’s deliciously soft, with ripe, rounded tannins and subtle notes of caramel and toasted oak. Château de Villegeorge benefits from the expertise of head winemaker Marie-Laure Lurton, who has been refining her skills since 1986. Located on the border of Margaux, next to the legendary (and more expensive) Château Cantenac-Brown, Château de Villegeorge is a relative bargain. £28.50 to £22

Bristol

Book onto a festive spirits tasting session

Katy Kennedy, owner and manager of Spirited Bristol is inviting all lovers of spirits to prepare early to get in the Christmas spirit with the first edition of The Great Big Festive Spirits Tasting at the cocktail bar and whisky shop on North Street, Bedminster.

Two sessions will take place on Saturday 22 November (2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm). All of Spirited’s suppliers are invited to the shop for the day to share some of their favourite drams and tell guests their stories.

Varvaglione, Papale Oro Primitivo 2021: A firm favourite for many is our fantastic Primitivo, Papale. Deep, dark, with aromas of kirsch, plum and spicy oak, and flavours of rich dark chocolate, ripe cherries and spice. This is Puglian wine at its best, with great character, warmth, and ‘friendliness’, yet no shortage of delicious spiciness, complexity and pure fruit intensity, and ultra-plush, velvety texture. There are layers of ripe black cherry and blueberry fruit, and everything is balanced by beautiful freshness right through to the finish. From the highly praised 2021 vintage too, this is a real gem. £35 to £29.50

Qunita Do Crasto LBV Port 2017: Quinta Do Crasto is a winery that can do no wrong. At one end of the spectrum, its entry level wines are always outstanding value for money, and at the other end, it produces some of Portugal’s most prestigious wines. The LBV is a fantastic example of Ruby Port. The nose is packed full of dark fruit, baking spices and a slight nuttiness. This profile continues the palate, with real intensity combined with a wonderfully silky texture. A glass of this and some Gorgonzola and you’re on to a winner. £25 to £19.95

“This is a rare opportunity to meet the great teams behind the distilleries all at once,” says Katy, “and sample a huge range of tasty whisky, rum, gin, liqueurs, cocktails and more to whet the appetite and get ideas for Christmas, both for what to drink over the festive period and to perhaps find the perfect gifts from bottles to vouchers for events.”

Tickets for this walk around tasting event are £15 per person and include all samples, as well as a £5 voucher to use in the shop.

Use discount code BMXMAS01 for 10% off, which can be redeemed online for either session

Tickets available through the website spiritedbristol.com or in person at Spirited, 196 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1 JF

Did you spot this local restaurant on TV recently?

Farm-to-table restaurant Wilsons was recently one of a handful of restaurants followed in Apple TV+’s new eight-part documentary series, Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, which premiered last month.

The series is produced by Studio Gordon Ramsay Global, the eponymous production company from the world-famous chef, restaurateur, author and executive producer, and is hosted by food expert, and co-founder and presenter of TOPJAW, Jesse Burgess. Wilsons, which is led by partners Jan Ostle and Mary Wilson, features in the UK episodes of the series.

Knife Edge: Chasing

can be watched exclusively on Apple TV+

Harvey Nichols to host Middle Eastern supper club

Ayesha Kalaji, the executive chef and founder of Queen of Cups, will serve an exclusive Middle Eastern Supper Club at the Second Floor Restaurant, Harvey Nichols Bristol, on 13 November. Supported by the Second Floor team, the evening will showcase Ayesha’s contemporary approach to Middle Eastern cuisine, which is blended with heritage, French flourish and a commitment to Somerset’s local and sustainable produce. The menu will include an array of flavour filled plates made for sharing, including a silky hummus with baharat chilli oil, charred Nabulsi cheese drizzled with QOC Persian black lime honey and Makmoura, a chicken dish from Irbid, Jordan. To complete the experience, guests will be welcomed with a bespoke Silent Pool Gin cocktail, crafted to complement the menu. Tickets can be purchased at Second Floor Restaurant reception or via the website harveynichols.com

Christmas party season at The Grand is about to begin

The Bristol Grand hotel on Broad Street is now taking bookings for its Christmas parties (running from 29 November to 20 December), with tickets including an arrival glass of prosecco, a set three-course festive menu with coffee and mince pie, half a bottle of wine per person, plus a DJ and disco. The party menu includes a starter of roast tomato and red pepper soup with pesto; mains is a choice of butter roast turkey, sage and cranberry stuffing, chipolata, roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, sprouts and pan gravy, or a beetroot wellington, roast squash and shallot purée with herb oil; and dessert is a chocolate cheesecake with orange compote. Drinks packages are also available to book, featuring mixed beer selections; bottles of prosecco; red, white and rose wines; buckets of beer and cider; and mineral water. bristolgrand.fango.co.uk | Grab a 5% discount on any pre-booked tickets through the website before 30 November. This promotion is applicable only once per order. Use code EARLYELF.

Swanning around...

Book your next break away in a playful wonderland that’s made itself home in the heart of the Mendips: Mad Swans is the new countryside hangout you should know about that’s dismantling traditional, sometimes stuffy, clubhouse attitudes

Imagine this. You wake up in an eco-cabin tucked into the gentle folds of the Mendips, looking out across sprawling greenery. Your dog is still snoring away on the end of your queen-sized bed. How are you going to start your day? Perhaps a quick session in a nearby gym – kitted out with the latest Matrix equipment – then maybe choose one of two eateries to eat a lazy brunch at on the veranda overlooking people playing Putt Patch minigolf or pickleball. The afternoon could see you and your mates tackle a flexible 12-hole golf course, leaving you all enough time to pop back to your cabins and shower, ready for an evening of wining and dining experiences sparking real human connection, away from the humdrum of your everyday life...

Well, this dream has become a reality at Mad Swans, which has opened a short drive from the city. The new countryside hangout – which includes multiple sports, overnight stays, and plenty of food and drink – wants to reimagine social spaces as inclusive hubs where ‘play transcends age and experience, constructed by the most formidable names in the hospitality and leisure industry’.

So, what does that look like in practice? With creative guidance from chef Ollie Dabbous (who’s no stranger to Michelin stars), there are two restaurants on site; and the surrounding land has been renovated by golf architects Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert, the team behind work at legendary venues such as Royal Portrush and Turnberry.

Mad Swans originates from hospitality entrepreneurs Joel Cadbury and Ollie Vigors, who have brought on a strong leadership team including Steve Rooney, group head chef, to oversee and guide their latest venture, which promises to ‘ transform golf clubhouses into lively neighbourhood spaces with fresh design, great food and an open-armed welcome’.

As the team behind it tells The Bristol Magazine: “At Mad Swans, we’ve created two distinct dining experiences that let guests choose their own balance between indulgence and wellbeing.”

The Potting Shed is pure countryside comfort that’s been reimagined for modern appetites. “It serves hearty countryside classics, with a menu designed so you can go either way; something light or something indulgent, depending on your mood,” says Steve. It’s a relaxed celebration of flavour and craftsmanship: dishes like Eat the Rainbow (a vivid plate of grilled seasonal vegetables with romesco and green herb dressing) sit alongside slow-cooked beef short rib, sustainable fish pie, and the showstopping suckling pig that’s guaranteed become a local legend.

“Our Sunday Roasts at The Potting Shed are already becoming something of a signature, too, tables book up fast!” Steve continues. “It’s all about honest, well-made food using quality ingredients, without the fuss.”

Next door, The Hangout has a different energy. “The Hangout, our second restaurant, celebrates wood-fired pizzas, indulgent desserts, and relaxed, sociable dining,” explains Freddie Speed, The Hangout and hospitality manager. With its sunny terrace overlooking the Putt Patch and a cocktail list that tempts you to stay all afternoon, it’s the kind of spot where the day melts seamlessly into the evening.

Such ease and generosity extend to the bar, where signature serves are already standing out, with Freddie adding: “At The Potting Shed bar,

favourites are emerging too: the Mad Swans Afters (El Rayo tequila, Sarti Rosa, coconut, sparkling wine) and our alcohol-free Freshly Cut Grass (gooseberry, chervil, soda) are both proving popular.”

Local producers underpin the menu, with collaborations happening wherever possible. “It’s a big part of what we stand for at Mad Swans,” Steve notes. The focus, he says, is on “fresh, seasonal ingredients and suppliers who share our values around quality and sustainability.”

Mad Swans’ ethos is all about connection, whether that’s with friends, with family or the beautiful countryside that surrounds the spaces. The Hangout’s mood is deliberately convivial: “Groups gather to share woodfired pizzas, colourful cocktails and some friendly competition, the conversation flowing as easily as the music,” Freddie tells us.

Carefully curated playlists, long tables, and that soft Mendip light combine to create an atmosphere that’s as social as it is serene. “It’s a place made for togetherness: for laughter, for stories, for those unhurried moments that turn into memories,” he adds.

A playful philosophy infuses the landscape beyond the dining rooms. “Connection is really at the heart of it,” says Joel. “The whole place is built around ‘play’ in every sense of the word, getting people outdoors, moving, and having fun together.” Whether it’s golf, padel, pickleball or shuffleboard, competition is nowhere near as important camaraderie. “It’s less about perfecting your swing and more about sharing the experience,” he notes. Guests can take drinks and snacks onto the course in one of the Mad Swans buggies (complete with Bluetooth speakers) and curate their own soundtrack to the day. “If that joy happens to be a cocktail, with or without alcohol, on the driving range, surrounded by the majesty of the Mendip Hills to the soundtrack of your choice, then that’s exactly the kind of experience Mad Swans delivers.”

This inclusivity is a deliberate intention from the team, who say, “We’ve made it as relaxed and inclusive as possible. There are drop-in and abilitymatched sessions, and you can borrow equipment if you don’t have your own – we don’t have dress codes, and players are welcome to come and play as they are, no fancy kit is required.” It’s the kind of unpretentious approach that makes you feel instantly at ease, whether you’re a pro or simply curious to try.

Even the golf itself has been thoughtfully reimagined. The team explains: “When it comes to golf at Mad Swans, we’re returning to golf’s roots while embracing the future.” The course revisits the original 12-hole format of the 1860 Open Championship. “The Mad Swans golf course, recently transformed by internationally renowned architects Mackenzie & Ebert, blends heritage and innovation in a layout that’s quicker, more flexible, and rooted in the principles of pure golf.”

Mad Swans also brings pickleball and padel to the Mendips with highspec courts designed for all abilities, plus mini golf on the lively Putt Patch, darts with augmented reality technology, and gamified shuffleboard for relaxed, sociable fun. Everything here is built to be inclusive, energising and just plain joyful. n

madswans.com/mendips

Bristol at work

LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATION UPDATES

Want to run a harbourside business?

The deadline to express interest is fast approaching for businesses and organisations looking to set up shop at one of Bristol Harbour’s unique waterfront locations.

Bristol Harbour Authority has been welcoming expressions of interest both from businesses and potential ventures since the launch of their commercial prospectus, Bristol Harbour Activated, in early September. They are now encouraging anyone who may have a business idea to submit their application form by the 17 November.

Eighteen commercial spaces in and around Bristol Harbour are now available for lease, offering opportunities for new businesses and activities.

From busy waterside spots to distinctive dockside locations, the sites are suitable for a variety of uses, including cafés, wellness services, leisure activities, and visitor accommodation.

To view the commercial sites visit bristolharbouractivated.com

State-of-the-art gym studio now open at Welcome Building

reFIT has completed its fit-out and opened the doors to a state-of-the-art gym and studio at the 207,000 sq ft Welcome Building in the growing Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, delivered in a joint venture between EPISO 5, a fund managed by Tristan Capital Partners, and Trammell Crow Company.

reFIT has transformed 3,000 sq ft on the Mezzanine level into a free-to-use, fitness and gym space serving the workplaces within the building, offering an array of wellbeing facilities, packed with hi-tech equipment, studio space and a schedule of activity throughout the week, all bookable on the building’s app. It sits above the unique, internal ‘Street’, which brings together building users with hotel-style furnishings and a local, independent café, Restore, providing healthy food and beverage options, as well as an auditorium, breakout seating areas, and public art.

welcomebuilding.co

Spike Island get green investment

Social impact investor Resonance has invested £127,000 in Bristol arts charity Spike Island to fund its green energy efforts. The investment, which is part grant and part loan, funded the installation of solar panels on the roofs of art studios in the city.

Spike Island operates a creative hub and 70 art studios, offering a diverse artistic programme, including free contemporary art exhibitions and activities.

“Working with Resonance to secure mixed grant loan finance was critical to the delivery of the first major step of Spike’s decarbonisation strategy. It would not have been possible without it,” says Kate Ward, deputy director of Spike Island.

“This pilot project has evidenced the impact that these interventions can have on cost saving and carbon reduction. Fom April to June this year, we saved 9000kg of CO2 and halved our electricity bill.”

The investment is funded by the Energy Resilience Fund, though a collaboration between Resonance and social purpose investment charity Social Investment Business. spikeisland.org.uk | resonance.ltd.uk

Bristol at work

LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATION UPDATES

Bike charity recognised at awards ceremony

John Russell, Life Cycle’s Prison Learning & Skills Manager, has been named BikeBiz’s Unsung Hero of the Year 2025, for his outstanding dedication to transforming lives through cycling.

John leads Bikes Beyond Bars, an award-winning project from Bristol-based charity, Life Cycle, which trains people in custody to refurbish donated bikes. Participants gain hands-on experience in a fully equipped workshop and work towards Cytech, the internationally-recognised qualification for cycle mechanics. The training helps them build practical skills, confidence, and job prospects for life after prison. John has worked alongside prisoners for over 30 years. In that time, he’s supported countless individuals to rebuild their lives – improving wellbeing, boosting confidence, and helping people to create a brighter future.

He now manages an incredible team of Cytech tutors across HMP Bristol, HMP Fosse Way and HMP Bullingdon. Learners who pass their assessments achieve a Cytech Technical One qualification. lifecycle.org.uk

Bristol now the fastest-growing regional city

New data show that Bristol is leading the charge in regional footfall growth, recording a 4.5% increase in visitor numbers over the past year, against an average of 1.9% across 10 of the UK’s major cities.

The data from global commercial real estate advisor Avison Young, collected by Visitor Insights from January-August 2025 and compared to the same period in 2024, covers footfall in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London’s West End, Manchester and Newcastle.

As workers, shoppers and tourists continue to return to city centres, Bristol has recorded the highest percentage increase in footfall year to date, and is also performing strongly compared to H1 2019, with footfall just 9.6% below pre-pandemic levels.

M&S is about to return to the city centre following a twoyear absence, occupying the 80,000 sq ft, former House of Fraser unit in Cabot Circus, a move expected to further boost visitor numbers in Bristol. Alongside this, iconic music venue Motion has announced plans to open a brand-new site in the city, boosting the night-time visitor economy.

avisonyoung.co.uk

Work begins to fully restore historic Kingswood Tabernacle

South Gloucestershire Council has started the next major phase of restoration work on the historic Whitfield Tabernacle in Kingswood (pictured, left)

The Grade I-listed building, located in the centre of Kingswood, is being transformed into an exciting new community facility. Following the successful completion of initial work to secure the structure and install a new roof, full restoration is now underway. More than £1 million is now being invested to revitalise the Tabernacle, which dates back to 1741. Historically, it served as a vital community space where local miners learned to read, and the building is now being brought back into use for the benefit of the community. The council is working alongside contractor Carrek Ltd to restore the Tabernacle into a modern facility that will serve the people of Kingswood and the wider area. Once work is completed at the end of next year, the building will play a central role in Kingswood’s emerging cultural quarter, providing a hub for arts, heritage and education. thetabernaclekingswood.org

SPECIALIST FAMILY MEDIATION

PRACTICE

Should I attend a MIAM?

MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) is designed to help you understand: - mediation - other non-court dispute resolution avenues - family court processes and make an informed decision about entering into mediation.

5 of the simplest ways to save tax

Read on to discover five of the simplest ways to save tax.

1. Use your ISA allowances

In the 2025/26 tax year, you can save or invest up to £20,000 across your ISAs, and any withdrawals are completely tax-free.

2. Contribute to your pension

Pensions also grow tax-free and have the additional benefit of receiving tax relief at your marginal rate on contributions up to the Annual Allowance.

MIAM and mediation are two distinct processes, so attending a MIAM does not mean that your case will proceed to mediation.

In most cases, before you can apply to the family court to resolve issues related to children or finances, you must attend a MIAM. This is because courts should only be used in situations where legal protection is necessary or where you have tried alternative methods to resolve issues and were unsuccessful.

Also, when your (ex) partner makes a court application, the judge will expect you to attend MIAM, so that you understand available options.

In summary, yes, you should attend MIAM. Not just because the law requires it, but because a well-structured MIAM will help you to decide on the best choice for you

Learn more: www.startafresh-mediation.co.uk/miam/ or reserve your free consultation today.

Let’s talk

Start Afresh Mediation

Call: 01179 200 170 or 0747 477 5110

Email: joanna@startafresh-mediation.co.uk

Visit: 29 Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5QT

Learn more: startafresh-mediation.co.uk

Moreover, for business owners, pension contributions can offer further tax advantages.

3. Make use of your spousal allowances

If you’re married or in a civil partnership, several additional allowances can help reduce your tax liability and preserve your wealth:

· The Marriage Allowance Investment transfers before encashment The Inheritance Tax (IHT) spousal exemption

4. Explore estate planning strategies

Several other estate planning strategies – such as gifting, trusts, and Business Relief schemes – can help reduce the tax liability on the legacy you leave behind.

5. Speak to a financial planner

A financial planner can help you create a strategy that keeps your income and wealth tax-efficient both now and in the future.

To speak to a financial planner, get in touch.

We are Independent Financial Advisers who specialise in retirement planning and estate planning Get in touch

If you would like a review of your pensions and investments and whether you are on track to achieve your financial goals, please contact us for a free consultation.

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Trym Lodge, 1 Henbury Road, Bristol, UK, BS9 3HQ

Jimmy Choo: Icon, Patron, Mentor

Fashion legend Professor Jimmy Choo OBE has a very special connection to Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, delivering bespoke workshops for students as Patron and imparting invaluable careers advice that has the potential to define the pupils’ pathways and future successes

Professor Jimmy Choo OBE needs no introduction. The Malaysian fashion designer has been an icon of the industry for decades, but despite stepping out of the limelight in recent years, he has by no means walked away from the catwalk. Instead, he’s been dedicating time and effort into mentoring future generations of designers at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School in his role as Patron of the Design, Fashion and Textiles Department.

Professor Choo’s relationship to Haberdashers’ Monmouth School is deeply rooted in his family. His great-nephews currently attend the school, following in the footsteps of their father, Jonathan Gaylard, an alumnus who attended as both a day student and a boarder.

The legendary designer’s involvement with Haberdashers’ Monmouth began a few years ago, when he led a workshop for younger students, including his great-nephew’s class in Prep. The creativity and enthusiasm of the students left a lasting impression, sparking his desire to return in a more formal capacity.

“I was captivated by the energy and creativity of the children and the inspiring atmosphere at Haberdashers’ Monmouth,” he said when reflecting on that visit. “This is a special place, and I’m excited to support these talented young people. Being associated with a school that boasts a 400-year history is truly humbling and inspiring.”

Now, as Patron of Design, Fashion and Textiles, he brings his expertise, industry knowledge, and passion for education to the school. Inspiring and educating the next generation of fashion designers is important to Professor Choo, who says, “I strongly believe in providing young talents with early exposure to fashion shows and the industry as a whole.”

Providing access to such knowledge and skills to people of school age could be key to igniting a life-long passion, much like Professor Choo’s own experience: “At the tender age of 11, I crafted my first pair of shoes for my mother,” he remembers. “Growing up in a family deeply immersed in the art of shoemaking, my fascination with footwear began as early as I can remember. This exposure from childhood instilled in me a profound understanding of shoes and the intricate craftsmanship required to create them, knowledge passed down to me by my parents.

“Although, at 11, the path ahead was unclear, it wasn’t until I was 17 and discovered the opportunity to study in London that I understood the calling I felt as a child was leading me towards a career in fashion design.”

Delivering practical workshops is a key element in Professor Choo’s Patronage at Haberdashers’ Monmouth. From his own experience, being able to see the design process through from start to finish is essential for people to discover their talent, unleash their passion into the industry and see a career pathway ahead.

“The sense of accomplishment and the buzz feeling I experienced upon completing the first pair of shoes I designed was indescribable; a feeling that still resonates with me today whenever I achieve something significant,” he recalls. “This sensation serves as a guiding light, indicating when I’m on the right path and expressing my inner creativity.

Most recently, Professor Choo visited Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for a day of inspiring workshops with Sixth Form and GCSE Textiles students. He was joined by Silija Manninen, Programme Leader at the JCA | London Fashion Academy, delivering two sketching

workshops under the theme ‘From Concept to Production with Professor Jimmy Choo’. The sessions explored the journey from inspiration through to finished product, with students challenged to think creatively about design, audience and branding.

Students were encouraged to experiment with unconventional sources of inspiration, including architecture, machinery and fine art. Silija Manninen provided a live sketching demonstration, showing how textures and shapes can be layered into bold, imaginative designs.

During the workshops, Professor Choo reflected on his own journey in fashion, from learning the craft with his uncle to studying in London: “I am always learning. I learnt from my uncle, and now these Haberdashers' Monmouth students can learn from me.

“Collaboration is the best way forward – it helps us build strong fashion and strong relationships. The students here learn very quickly. They see me sketch and then try for themselves. They are talented, intelligent and full of enthusiasm – qualities that will take them far.”

To ensure the experience resonates beyond the workshop, the sessions were filmed and will be developed into a teaching resource for the school.

This engagement has spread beyond the classroom, too. Earlier this summer, Textiles students went all the way to Haberdashers’ Hall in London for the prestigious JCA (Jimmy Choo Academy) Fashion Show – an occasion usually reserved for industry insiders.

The day began with a dynamic workshop, ‘Showtime – From Sketch to Catwalk’, delivered by JCA tutors. Thirty students from Haberdashers’ schools across the country, including 15 Year 10 Textiles students from Haberdashers’ Monmouth, participated in this interactive masterclass. With sketchpads, scissors and creativity in hand, they explored the journey from textile inspiration to finished fashion design. Guided by industry experts, the students learned to express their ideas with professional flair – developing confidence and a deeper understanding of design thinking.

What followed was a rare and thrilling look behind the velvet curtain. Students witnessed the meticulous backstage preparation of more than 80 models by makeup artists, stylists and designers. They observed a live runway rehearsal, gaining tips directly from the JCA team on posture, poise and presence.

Previous sessions delivered by Professor Choo have also included two workshops at the end of last year, which were open to students in Years 9, 10, 11, and 12, offering the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from the celebrated designer in an hour-long, hands-on experience.

The workshops began with an inspiring talk from Professor Choo, who shared stories from his childhood, recalling how he would watch his uncle and father, both skilled craftsmen, at work before demonstrating his sketching process, guiding the students in using specially commissioned sketchbooks created for the event. As the students began their own designs, he moved through the rows, offering personalised advice and encouragement.

The workshops progressed to focus on colour, fabric, and textile choices, mirroring industry practices. Participants eagerly chose from an array of materials, from denim and leather to Liberty fabrics, bringing their sketches to life.

The sessions concluded with a showcase of the students’ work, where Professor Choo selected a winner and runner-up from each group, sharing his thoughts on their designs. The atmosphere was electric as students beamed with pride, and Professor Choo expressed his admiration for the talent on display.

The day culminated with a chance to mingle with guests at the preshow reception, rubbing shoulders with another fashion legend Karen Millen OBE. Millen, a long-time supporter of emerging talent, was full of encouragement for the students and praised the Academy’s commitment to mentoring future leaders in fashion.

With Professor Choo as Patron of Design, Fashion and Textiles, and a continuing programme of world-class workshops and events, the school hopes it will become a leader in cultivating talent and inspiring students who will shape the future of the global fashion industry. n

habsmonmouth.org | jca.ac.uk

Education matters

NEWS FROM THE CITY’S LEARNERS AND LEADERS

Rugby Legend Alun Wyn Jones visits Haberdashers’ Monmouth

Rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones inspired Haberdashers’ Monmouth students with lessons on discipline, resilience and leadership during a recent visit.

With 170 international test caps, 269 regional appearances, and an OBE for services to rugby, Jones is celebrated not only for his sporting achievements but also for his exceptional leadership and character. In an engaging and honest discussion, Jones explored the qualities that define excellence both on and off the field.

Speaking about the importance of self-discipline, he challenged students to reflect on their own ambition and work ethic. Jones also spoke openly about the importance of resilience, urging students to see setbacks as opportunities for growth.

Students were reminded that real leadership begins with setting an example, staying true to your values and understanding the influence you have on others.

Jones concluded with an inspiring message about perspective and progress, saying: “Nothing is ever as good, nor as bad, as you think it is – celebrate the small wins.”

habsmonmouth.org

Green light for plans to secure more SEND places in two schools

Proposals to approve a significant council investment in two schools in Bristol to create 54 new places for children with special educational needs have been approved by councillors.

The plans, approved by the council’s Children and Young People Policy Committee, set out an investment in Henbury Court Academy and St Annes Infant School and Nursery to create 54 new specialist provision places for neurodivergent children in Bristol.

These new places will ensure support is available for more children in Bristol that need a specialist educational environment to work as part of a mainstream school with their friends and peers to promote inclusion. The £1.4 million Henbury Court Academy project aims to refurbish a building to create 30 new places, with the aim of securing these spaces by summer 2026. Plans for St Annes Infant School and Nursery aim to finalise a refurbishment project on one of two buildings which began in December 2024. Councillors have approved a £1.9 million investment to secure 24 new places for neurodivergent children.

bristol.gov.uk

Tockington Manor School raises thousands for literacy charity

Pupils at Tockington Manor School have raised just under £3,500 for the literacy charity Teach Us Too. The funds will go towards the organisation’s Transformational Tales: Literacy for Life research project, which collects and shares powerful first-hand stories about the power of literacy for children with complex needs in their own words and via their own communication devices.

The school community raised the money through a variety of events, from bake sales to runs and challenges, special activity days at school and the annual Danceathon. For the academic year ahead, they have announced Young Bristol as their new charity partner. Founded in 1928, Young Bristol is a city-wide youth charity providing clubs, outdoor activities and employment programmes to support young people aged 8–25. tockingtonmanorschool.com

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MBST in BRISTOL: Helping patients heal through challenging conditions

Dianne kindly shares her experience with MBST at CURA.

INCLUSIVE BODY MYOSITIS:

It is a condition which means my muscles continue to waste and despite my best efforts through exercise, it is having a big impact.

Technically there is no medical management for this condition as there is no medication to slow the progression of the disease or ease it symptoms.

It was beginning to really slow me down and made walking more difficult. I had less energy and therefore it restricted my outings making me more homebound.

How has MBST changed things for you?

it has been a game changer. Almost immediately during the first treatment I felt some improvement. In the first week, it felt as if I was dreaming my legs were lighter but then I realised that MBST relieved the inflammation in my muscles and the feeling was real. A further full body treatment for muscles and nerves resulted in my being able to walk further distances, increasing strength in legs helped with exercise and walking up inclines as well as rising from chairs etc.

Ankle fracture:

I then had a fall in the kitchen at home causing fractures just above my ankle on both sides. The fracture knocked me back which was frustrating.

I was in a cast for 5 weeks then recommended to use the boot for 2-3 weeks which was not good for posture and movement.

What was the outcome of the MBST for bone healing?

After three treatments my ankle was feeling so much better and stronger I only used the splint when going out. After the first week of treatment I discarded the splint and have been walking in normal footwear ever since It speeded up the healing process giving me confidence to walk on my foot normally and to get back to normal life.

Friends have also commented how well I have recovered in what they deem as record time.

We’re excited to announce we now have the breakthrough REMS technology at CURA. It measures bone density, bone strength and fragility using reflection/scatter Ultrasound.

It’s radiation free so you can track bone health more closely : if you’re unsure of your DEXA results or feel they might be incorrect we can help.

We can also guide you to a solution should the findings show Osteopenia/Osteoporosis.

Drama by design

Bedminster’s been keeping a secret under its hat: one of the world’s most celebrated interior designers and whimsical world maker – David Carter – has made this bustling, creative Bristol hub his ‘forever home’. Rosanna Spence meets the man for an exclusive tour of his apartment inside the Grade II‐listed Factory No.1

From East London to East Street… may we present to you, the fine folk of Bristol, David Carter: interior designer, gentleman, dandy, fashionista, dreamer, creative, socialite, former hotelier and now, Bedminster neighbour. Some of the world’s finest residences (owned by Russian oligarchs, sheikhs, Middle Eastern royalty and celebrities) have been entrusted into David’s hands; he’s been designing bold, romantic interiors for over a quarter of a century with his business A La Carter.

The haunting theatrics he creates have long caught the attention of top interiors titles (gracing at least 13 front covers, our very own now included).

“ From an early age I always had this dream of living in a ballroom in Belgravia, and I’ve ended up in a boardroom in Bedminster… but I’m very happy ”

The World of Interiors once described his work as a ‘masterly invention… at once grandiose, ephemeral and unreal, a carefree, unholy mixture of styles for which taste is the only reference’, and David as ‘an illusionist and conjurer’; Sunday Times Style has extolled ‘the sheer luxury of his vision’; and ELLE Decoration called him ‘the enfant terrible of British design’, and ‘one of the finest princes of British décor’.

“From an early age I always had this dream of living in a ballroom in Belgravia,” David tells me, “and I’ve ended up in a boardroom in Bedminster… but I’m very happy.”

There aren’t that many tell-tale signs that the grand room we’re standing in was once full of suited men sitting around a large table, cigar smoke hanging in the air discussing tobacco – save for the original wood panelling and ornate baroque ceiling plasterwork four metres overhead – but that’s exactly where we are. David has recently been renovating, redecorating and furnishing his apartment, which is part of City & Country’s Factory No.1 development, inside the historic first tobacco factory of W.D. and H.O. Wills. The original boardroom is now home to David’s expansive, open-plan kitchen and living area, bathed in light from the soaring windows overlooking the communal courtyard garden below, and he now sleeps in what was once Mr Wills’ private office.

Russian doll

Much like David’s labyrinthine apartment, which has been refitted to playfully conceal surprises (such as a hallway wall heavily adorned with deliciously dark artwork – I spotted a favourite of mine, a piece by the late, great Dan Hillier – secretly opening into a dressing room, “much like a Russian doll”, as he puts it, which in turn then hides a golden freestanding bathtub behind mirrored doors), David himself is a gent of many layers; gracefully defying any expectations you might have upon meeting someone who was once described as ‘London’s most prodigious dandy’ (Le cool).

“You might not be able to tell by my accent, but I grew up in Belfast,” he tells me when we first meet, “which wasn’t a particularly happy place at the time.”

But this all changed when he first arrived in our city as a young student to read law at the University of Bristol, and the petals of his partying personality began to unfurl in a rather theatrical manner. “An average week for me would probably include 15-20 parties. At the time, Bristol was one of the top universities for law in the country… but I was interested in becoming something else. I did lots of theatre while I was here, so I loved the idea of becoming a barrister – dressing up in a wig and gown and shouting ‘M’Lord!’ in court – and entertaining the jury.”

It was in part his flamboyant experience here as a student (“we’d head to opera at the Hippodrome dressed in top hats, white tie and tails”) that drew David back to Bristol for this period of his life. “I had really happy memories here”, he recalls.

East is east, but west is best

You could be forgiven for assuming David might have chosen Clifton to relocate to, so why Bedminster?

“Bedminster reminds me of East London when I first moved there in the 1990s,” he explains. “I like the noise and bustle of life among creative people. There are really good cafés and restaurants, and plenty of little independent shops. East London was still quite

Dickensian when I moved there – an invisible part of London – but I really loved it. It was also a magnet for creative types like Gilbert & George and Tracey Emin. We couldn’t afford the posh bits of London.”

While David is careful not to equate Bedminster’s unique character to East London too much, our thriving neighbourhood offers him a similar community spirit: one bustling with friendly faces housing creative minds – while walking to his apartment he’s warmly greeted by everyone we pass, and he jokes that there’s a waiting list for people wanting to see inside his transformed home – and an excellent choice of eateries for him to frequent (Cor on North Street being a current favourite hotspot).

And it’s no wonder there’s a queue of locals eager to explore what lies behind David’s unassuming front door. His home is somehow simultaneously understated and opulent. The sleek, minimalist kitchen island that cleverly conceals fridges, plugs and cupboards also has a multi-layered cake stand sitting atop, smartly adorned with hundreds of spiney shells; the shape of their fragile tendrils mirrored by, well, the mirrors – white and dripping with stalactite-like forms. Walls and windowsills are dotted with plenty of artefacts and curiosities, but interestingly, it doesn’t feel claustrophobic.

“My work is often described as ‘eclectic’, but ‘playful’ is a much better description,” David explains. “Opening secret doors and discovering layers behind each space is the sort of design game I like playing because it’s a bit like a piece of theatre; it’s a jigsaw, a puzzle that people have to navigate their way through. Or like a Dita Von Teese burlesque show, where there’s a whole process of teasing with the fan, then removing the

gloves. There’s a slow removal of layers in these rooms; I like the fact that no matter how many times people visit, you’ll always discover something you haven’t noticed before because your senses are drawn to different things.”

Get your forty winks

Many items now proudly and thoughtfully on display around David’s apartment have been brought from his famous 40 Winks micro boutique hotel (which was the very first of its kind on the planet) located at his former East London home.

This world of whimsy transported guests from the mundanity of their everyday lives, in what German Vogue once called ‘The most beautiful small hotel in the world’, and Condé Nast Traveller coined as: ‘An ode to poetry and playfulness... its magical atmosphere [was] likely to refresh mind, body and soul considerably more than a hotel five times the price.’

David closed the doors to 40 Winks for the final time in 2021 with the travel industry having fallen victim to the pandemic – specially-selected pieces that made the property so magical will be sold exclusively by auction on 4 December by Clevedon Salerooms – yet he looks back on the experience fondly.

“We’d regularly have people writing to us after coming to stay, describing it as a life changing experience,” he remembers, smiling. “They'd come as an accountant, then after two or three days of staying with us, they'd leave determined become a yoga guru or something they were genuinely passionate about. The house was special in that it had an emotional resonance which touched people on a subliminal level.”

This was likely due to David’s approach to design, incorporating smells, music and sounds “like an amazing piece of theatre or a movie” – not just

the visual delights. It was designed to be an immersive experience.

“Often, if I’m asked, ‘David, what do you think makes a successful interior design for a good home?’ I always say that ultimately, it should be a bit like an autobiography,” he notes. “It should reflect the passions, interests, loves, and memories of the people who live there, because that's what makes it real, that gives it meaning and authenticity.”

As well as this, David believes that great art impacts the way people view the world, their responses to it and their connections to other people. “And so, I create these portals for people coming to a home, a hotel or an event to have an experience that’s different. The world is a playground.”

One such playground curated in this way was the literary pyjama parties known as Bedtime Stories – which saw the doors of 40 Winks open, inviting people inside to gather by candlelight and listen to great storytellers recount tales from authors such as Ian McEwan and Angela Carter (of no relation to David, it’s important to note). Pyjamas were compulsory. Cocktails were copious.

Childlike wonder

Now settled in Bristol, David’s keen to “start enjoying myself”, and has grand plans to revive his literary pyjama party events in a suitably idiosyncratic venue in the city (no, sadly he won’t be opening his home up to the masses this time around), as well as offering his A La Carter interior design services to more local projects in the south west. Plus, there’s that special sale of his carefully curated mementos and trinkets called ‘40 Winks: An Eye For Design’ by Clevedon Salerooms to look forward to later this year.

Despite living a life guided by good design, ethereal aesthetics and flirtations with flamboyancy, David’s authentic interest in how humans connect to the world and people around them, and the impact our environments can have on emotions, means he swerves superficiality.

Even though he wants to “champion even more style, individuality, self-expression and quirkiness and eccentricity here… then Bristol would become a Mecca for people all over the world to come and dress up and be silly…”, he is sincere (well, sort of) when he says, “This is my forever home. I am going to be buried in a box under the floor when I pop my clogs, or have my ashes scattered in the courtyard.”

The world may be David’s playground, but there’s a genuinely warm invitation for us too to shake off the shackles of our everyday stresses, and to invite a childlike wonder into the spaces where we spend time, so we can let our imaginations run rife.

Will you be coming out to play? n

For more information on David’s interior design services, visit alacarter.com. Follow David on Instagram @40winkslondon. To learn more about 40 Winks, head to 40winks.org. And to bid on David’s exclusive auction on 4 December, contact clevedonsalerooms.com

Celebrate good times!

Commemorating an impressing 200 years of history, Gardiner Haskins Interiors reflects on its remarkable journey of craftsmanship, innovation and a cherished relationship with the heart of the city...

As Gardiner Haskins Interiors marks an extraordinary 200 years in business, this Bristol icon is reflecting on two centuries of craftsmanship, creativity and connection with the city it is proud to call home. Few companies can trace such a long and continuous story, and fewer still have managed to evolve so gracefully with the changing face of design.

Founded in 1825 as a small ironmongery, Gardiner Haskins has grown into one of the South West’s most respected names in home interiors. Its journey from hardware to high design mirrors Bristol’s own transformation – from industrial hub to a city celebrated for innovation, individuality, and style. Through it all, Gardiner Haskins has remained rooted in the same principles that have guided it since the beginning: quality products, expert advice and a deep understanding of how people want to live in their homes.

Today, the expansive Interiors Showroom on Straight Street is a destination in its own right. Spread across beautifully styled spaces, the showroom offers a wealth of inspiration for every room in the home.

Visitors can explore fully designed kitchen displays featuring the latest in contemporary cabinetry and intelligent storage, as well as luxurious bathroom suites that combine elegant design with cutting-edge technology. There are also serene bedroom sets and a curated collection of furniture pieces – each display thoughtfully created to spark ideas and show how great design can elevate everyday living.

“Reaching 200 years is something we’re incredibly proud of,” says Ben Allen, Managing Director at Gardiner Haskins Interiors. “Our story has always been about helping people create homes that feel special. We’ve adapted through the decades, but our commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and service remains at the heart of everything we do. Now we’re focused on the next chapter – combining our heritage with smart design, beautiful products, and a passion for interiors that stand the test of time.”

What truly sets Gardiner Haskins apart is its personal, peoplefirst approach. Every project begins with a complimentary design consultation, where customers can sit down with an experienced designer to discuss their ideas, needs and lifestyle.

These sessions often go beyond colours and layouts – they’re conversations about how a home should feel. Whether it’s a sleek, handleless kitchen for a modern townhouse, a calming bathroom retreat with spa-like touches, or a classic shaker-style kitchen to suit a period home, the design team takes the time to craft spaces that are both beautiful and functional.

It’s this combination of expertise and empathy that has made Gardiner Haskins a trusted name for generations of Bristol homeowners. Many clients return time and again as their needs change – first furnishing a new home, later redesigning family spaces or upgrading to dream kitchens. Each project is guided by the same care and attention to detail that has defined the brand for two centuries.

Looking ahead, sustainability and innovation are central to the Gardiner Haskins ethos. The team continues to source responsibly, champion long-lasting materials, and embrace smart technologies that make living more efficient and environmentally conscious.

For those who love interiors, a visit to the Gardiner Haskins showroom is an experience in itself – an opportunity to see, touch, and imagine what’s possible in your own space. n

Discover more at gardinerhaskins.co.uk or visit the showroom on Straight Street (BS2 0FQ) to book your free design consultation and start your own home transformation story

Winter is coming...

As we inch closer to the coldest months it’s a time of quiet and reflection in the garden, writes Elly West. It’s also a time when we can really appreciate the plants that earn their space outside of the fanfare of summer, whether it’s for their scent, colour, texture or form – or in some fortunate cases, all of the above

Year-round interest is on the wish-list for most of my clients when I’m designing a garden or border, and a well-planned garden shouldn’t be bleak and bare in winter. Flowers may be few and far between, but this is the time when berries, seed-heads, evergreens, interesting bark and colourful stems bring their own special beauty, especially when dusted with frost and sparkling in the winter sunshine.

A good rule-of-thumb when choosing plants for your garden is to make sure at least 25% of them are looking good in each season. Invariably spring and summer will dominate, with new bulbs popping up, fresh leaves unfurling and flowers blooming, but when you’re deciding what to plant, consider what will be happening in autumn and winter as well. Evergreen plants will provide structure all year round. Topiary yew, clipped hedges and variegated shrubs such as euonymus, hebe and pittosporum are all solid backbone plants for a winter garden. However, too many evergreens can feel static and lacking in seasonal variation. Add to these by choosing summer-flowering plants with a long season of interest, as many will continue to look attractive once the flowers have faded.

Hydrangeas, echinacea, phlomis, honesty, globe thistles, sea hollies and poppies all have attractive seed heads, so don’t be in a rush to cut them back at the end of the summer, as they will provide structure and interest through the colder months as well. Wildlife will also benefit from this lower-maintenance approach, which provides much needed food and

shelter for birds and small mammals in the colder months. The more you leave, the greater the variety you’ll provide to cater for different creatures. Birds will enjoy the seeds of many different plants including sunflowers, honeysuckle, asters and cardoons; and beneficial insects and their larvae will find homes in old stems and seed heads.

Autumn and winter are also the months to enjoy colourful berries, and among the most striking are those of Callicarpa bodinieri. It’s jewel-like berries are an unusual vivid mauve-purple with a metallic lustre, and hang in clusters on the bare branches after the leaves have fallen. Pyracantha, holly, cotoneaster and sorbus are all good choices for winter berries. Don’t forget roses too, as many will produce beautifully coloured hips that attract birds to the garden, and can be cut and used in flower arrangements.

Trees with interesting bark and shrubs with colourful stems are another highlight of the winter garden. During summer they may fade into the background, but when the show is over they’ll provide muchneeded colour and interest. Dogwoods (Cornus) are easy to grow and look great in drifts or dotted around the garden at regular intervals. There are varieties with red, green, yellow, black and purple stems – or look out for ‘Midwinter Fire’, with multi-coloured red, yellow and orange stems. Among my favourite trees for their bark are Himalayan birch (Betulis utilis subsp. jacquemontii), with silver-white bark that almost glows on a winter’s day, and paperbark maple (Acer griseum), which has cinnamoncoloured bark that peels in thin, paper-like layers.

Flowers may be thin on the ground as we move towards winter, but there are still plenty of plants to choose from that will bring cheery blooms, whether it’s in a container or in the border. Primulas, pansies and violas are readily available in trays from the garden centre or supermarket, and are perfect for a splash of colour in a pot by the front door. Hellebores, winter jasmine, witch hazel, wintersweet, flowering quince, mahonia, viburnum, forsythia, skimmia and daphne are all gearing up to shine in winter. Many winter flowers are superstrongly scented as well, in order to attract the few pollinators that are around. I have a lot of sweet box (Sarcococca confusa) in my garden, which largely goes ignored in the summer, but in winter its glossy green leaves and starry white flowers that fill the air with sweet fragrance give me a reason to go outside whatever the weather.

I love using ornamental grasses in borders, mixed with perennials and shrubs, to add movement and also for their long season of interest. If you have the space, go tall, as the fronded plumes are more likely to catch the low winter light. Miscanthus sinensis has airy plumed seed heads from August right through until January or even longer, fading from gold to a silver-grey and reaching 2m or more in height. There are some attractive variegated and dwarf forms as well.

A smaller grass that cries out to be touched is Stipa tenuissima, or Mexican feather grass, which has particularly soft, feathery fronds. At around 60cm tall, it can be squeezed into just about any space and is also happy in containers. n

Elly West is a professional garden designer, working in and around the Bristol area | ellyswellies.co.uk

Plant of the month: Skimmia

Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ is a tough and easy-to-grow shrub with year-round appeal. It has a compact rounded form and glossy evergreen leaves, adding structure all year, but it is in late autumn and winter that it comes into its own, when the vibrant deep-red flower buds appear. These open to white, long-lasting, fragrant flowers in spring.

Both ‘Rubella’ (male) and the berried female forms are readily found in the seasonal displays in garden centres right now. While small, it makes a great centrepiece for a winter container display, perhaps accompanied by some trailing small-leaved ivies and dainty cyclamen. Grown in a border, it forms a compact and slow-growing shrub, eventually reaching around a metre or more in height and spread. Skimmia grows best in shade or partial shade, as full sun can cause the leaves to go yellow. Make sure it doesn’t dry out, particularly in the first year or so after planting, as it prefers moist soil. It can also be grown as an informal hedge. ‘Kew Green’ is another attractive version with lime-green buds opening to creamy yellow flowers.

PROPERTY NEWS

DISCOVER THE LATEST NEWS FROM BRISTOL’S PROPERTY EXPERTS

Countdown to Christmas –is this the time to buy a home?

ith the imminent turning on of the Christmas Tree lights most buyers pause their house hunt for the holiday season with great expectations of the flurry of new stock come the Spring. This pause is more pronounced this year from both buyers and sellers with the sense of caution around the upcoming Budget and rumoured tax changes. However, for the well-prepared buyer, December may offer that sweet spot timing to negotiate favourably.

More Motivated Sellers

For those sellers listing in early Autumn, yet to sell, the vast majority will have taken their agents advice to come off the open market, with a relaunch in the New Year/early spring. For those properties that remain on the open market, or have freshly hit the portals, all indications would suggest a highly motivated seller be it due to relocation, having found their onward move, or other personal changes of circumstances that are perhaps more time critical. As a buyer, you are in a far better position to negotiate with a motivated seller, and the post budget/lead up to Christmas is likely to be a constructive time to negotiate well.

As well as having motivated sellers, as a buyer you are also likely to face less competition from other buyers: those with a property to sell are likely to themselves have adopted the approach of parking matters until the New Year.

Track a property

A recent Rightmove report states that homes that receive an enquiry on their first day of marketing are 22% more likely to secure a buyer than those that take over two weeks to get their first enquiry. Whether a property receives an enquiry is largely driven by realistic pricing. As a buyer, keep an eye on price reductions and if still on the market in November/December – be strategic about your approach to an offer.

Price Reductions – concerns around the bigger picture

For buyers looking to negotiate good deals before the end of the year, many then have concerns that a property that has come down in price, is reflective of concerns around a wider fall in house prices. Bristol’s property market has shown resilience, and the market remains competitive. My advice to clients is to be cautious around the nuances of the original valuation: some agents are ‘overvaluing’ to gain stock and then reducing quickly when the property doesn’t sell. This doesn’t reflect the market falling, but instead the value being wrong in the first place.

As a buyer, it’s about making the most of motivated sellers, and reduced prices, and approaching every house on its own merits.

Be prepared for delays

If you are fortunate enough to secure a good deal at the end of November/December, you will need to be realistic in terms of inevitable delays with lawyers, lenders, surveyors etc all working on a reduced level over the holiday season, and lawyers in particular needing to prioritise those pre-Christmas Completions.

In answer to ‘should I wait?’….. there is expected to be a flurry of both new stock and refreshed older stock coming on in 2026 (or depending on how the budget goes, a mad dash at the end of 2025) but there will also be a greater amount of competition too. Very few sellers are forced at present to sell. But, by being on the market it must be assumed they are at least keen to or committed to selling which is good for negotiating a sensible bid and seeing through any hurdles along the way.

Those more ‘speculative’ sellers waiting might be less flexible and/or less agreeable to overcoming any hurdles that might crop up further down the line.

Whatever stage you are at in the search for your new home, I’d love to chat.

Lili Oliver Oliver Roth Property Consultants

T: 0117 9877 828 | E: home@oliverroth.co.uk

Hyacinth House, Brockley, Bristol, BS48 3AT | £1,295,000

Hyacinth House is an elegant Brand New Country Home with exceptional space and style, just 9 miles from the centre of Bristol. A beautifully finished, energy-efficient 5 bedroom home offering over 3,600 sq ft, large garden, gated driveway and double garage.

Wisteria House, Brockley, Bristol, BS48 3AT | £1,395,000

A handsome, new-build residence in a tranquil country setting. Consisting of 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 3 reception rooms. Built to an exacting standard and offering in excess of 3,000 sq ft of thoughtfully arranged accommodation. Bridge House,

STUNNING PERIOD HOUSE (STP) OR OFFICE

situated just off Park Street between Clifton and city centre FOR SALE (MAY LET)

A most attractive property comprising 3,270 sq ft GIA which has been recently refurbished as offices, yet would readily suit conversion to a period home, subject to planning consents.

An impressive entrance hall and carefully retained period features, the property also has a good sized rear courtyard garden.

Walking distance from both Clifton and the city centre, the property offers great potential as either a home or office in a key desirable location.

Only £585,000

LOOKING FOR PROPERTY TO RENT IN BRISTOL?

TO LET 2 Horseshoe Lane, Thornbury, Bristol

1,032 sq ft (95.87 sq m)

A bright and airy ground floor retail premise positioned in St Mary’s shopping centre with ample customer and staff car parking on site.

Quoting Rent £17,500 per annum, exclusive.

Flexible lease terms available!

TO LET 8 St Mary’s Way, Thornbury, Bristol

1,186 sq ft (110.18 sq m)

An exceptional commercial unit positioned at The St Mary’s Centre in Thornbury comprising a ground floor premises with additional first floor office/storage space.

Quoting Rent £16,000 per annum, exclusive.

Flexible lease terms available!

BRISTOL & CLIFTON’S PREMIER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS

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

Waterside Offices, BS8 TO LET – £22 psf

2,375 sq ft (220.64 sq m)

Modern and contemporary offices, providing open plan space with stunning views overlooking the harbourside. 4 car parking spaces and fitted meeting rooms.

King Square, BS1 FOR SALE - £1.25M

5,910 sq ft (549 sq m)

A substantial commercial building available to purchase, with potential for residential redevelopment or other commercial uses (STP). Freehold for sale with vacant possession.

Queen Charlotte Street, BS1

TO LET – POA. 667 – 2,556 sq ft (61.96 – 237.45 sq m)

A fine example of a period property that has been refurbished to the highest standard providing high quality accommodation. Available to rent as a whole, or consideration may be given to a floor by floor letting.

Unity Street, Bristol, BS1 FOR SALE (MAY LET) – POA 362 –2,750 sq ft (33.60 – 255.5 sq m)

A self contained building off Park Street. Potential for development /investment/owner occupation. Suitable for a variety of different uses - office, medical, or residential (to include a single dwelling house, flats or a non student HMO).

Falfield Garage TO LET – POA

0.23 acres (0.09 Hectares)

An excellent roadside covered forecourt with a purpose-built sales office. There is also a car valet area to the rear of the garage. The forecourt can hold between 30–50 cars/vans dependent upon size.

Old Street, Clevedon, BS21 TO LET - £13,000

1,068 sq ft (99.22 sq m)

A ground and first floor retail unit within a mid-terraced building situated on Old Street, Clevedon. Available now, may suit various uses under Class E.

Hampton Road, BS6 TO LET – POA

5,382 sq ft (500 sq m)

Located at ground floor level the property has potential to suit a variety of different occupiers. E Class use - therefore suitable for a wide range of different uses. Could be split to offer two individual commercial units of c 2.600 sq ft.

Whiteladies Road, BS8 FOR SALE – POA

1,500 – 9,000 sq ft (139 – 839 sq m)

Two substantial semi detached period buildings interconnecting on each floor. Currently as offices, the property readily suits other employment uses such as consulting rooms, post production facilities, day nursery, medical uses etc.

Fourth Way, Avonmouth FOR SALE – POA

6,119 sq ft (568.46 sq ft)

A well presented hybrid commercial unit comprising high quality office and workshop accommodation. Landscaped site with parking for circa 24 vehicles to the front of the buildings.

Etloe Road, BS6 TO LET – POA

1,273 sq ft (118.27 sq m)

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

Almondsbury, Bristol | Guide Price £1,250,000

A turnkey, architecturally remodelled and extended, family home with a high specification throughout, landscaped gardens of circa half an acre, a home office/gym and integral double garage in the highly popular village of Almondsbury.

Detached, modern, family home with a generous footprint totalling 3176 square feet and a high specification throughout | Architecturally remodelled, refurbished and extended by the current owners with further annex conversion potential for multi-generational living or income generation | High spec, open plan kitchen dining room with Neff/SMEG appliances, breakfast bar and separate utility | Sun terrace with far reaching, west facing views and two further al fresco dining terraces | Light, dual aspect sitting room with gas burner, formal dining room and a study | Five double bedrooms and five bath/shower rooms, three of which are en suite | Stunning entrance hall with high vaulted ceilings and abundant natural light | Integral, double garage, driveway and ample parking for multiple cars | Private and secure, landscaped and lawned, wrap around gardens of circa half an acre with a garden gym / home office pod and cat 6 broadband | No onward chain

In all circa 3176 sq. ft (295.1.5 sq. m) @rupertoliverproperty