The Spiegeltent Christmas Show, 19 – 20 December

This spectacular show is a heady concoction of thrilling circus, quirky comedy, live musical performance and awe-inspiring cabaret. From your warm welcome to fond farewell, all your senses will be treated to a night of pure delight.

Tickets from £15, available at christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

THE DECEMBER ISSUE: CURRENTLY BEING ENJOYED

Our December magazine features a collection of great reading by our team of wonderful writers as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bristol's best businesses. We hope you enjoy the read!

15,000 copies are delivered door to door, and you can pick up a copy at many places around town – including our stands at Waitrose, John Lewis, House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols.

Read the digital version of our current issue here!

And if you would like to have a copy sent in the post every month, then we offer a postal subscription for just £33 for 12 issues, £18 for six issues or buy a copy for just £4.25. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – see our website. 

Words by Melissa Blease

Cranberry Sauce

Please, don't buy cranberry sauce in a jar! It's nothing like the sticky, sweet/sharp, jewel-coloured, fresh-tasting seasonal treat that takes 10 minutes to make at home and keeps for up to a week.

To make enough cranberry sauce to accompany Christmas Dinner for 8 people, simply tip 100g light muscovado sugar and 100ml orange juice (or, for a Cranberry and Port Sauce, 70ml orange juice and 30ml of port) into a pan. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously to dissolve the sugar, and add 250g fresh cranberries. Stir well and simmer for around 5 minutes until some of the cranberries have popped and the rest are tender but still retain their shape. Take off the heat and allow the sauce to cool in the pan (the sauce will thicken as it cools) before transferring to a suitably-sized, sealable container and keeping in the fridge for up to 1 week, remembering to allow time for the sauce to return to room temperature before serving.

Leftover sauce? Let's hope so! Warm it up and drizzle it over ice cream or mince pies. Add it to porridge or smoothies... or spread it on hot toast. Or, treat yourself to the indulgent, Christmas/Boxing Day midnight treat that is the Brie, Cranberry and Leftover Stuffing pan-fried toastie: butter two slices of thick white bread. Put the first slice butter-side down on a board and top with slices of brie, lashings of cranberry sauce, a thick layer of leftover stuffing, a splash of balsamic vinegar and a final layer of brie. Top with the second slice of buttered bread (buttered side up) and transfer to a hot frying pan. Fry for a couple of minutes on each side until the bread has turned golden-brown and the brie has melted. Eat straight away (out of the pan, if there's nobody around?), preferably accompanied by a large glass of sherry. 

Chin Chin at Christmas

Christmas is fast approaching and it's time to start thinking about the all-important drinks for the big day. To give you some ideas, here are some delicious spirits, bubbles, whites and reds, and non-alcoholic selections recommended by Tom Bleathman of The Great Wine Co.

If you'd like advice, inspiration, or fancy a browse, please pop into The Great Wine Co. Bath shop. Whatever you're drinking this Christmas enjoy your choices on the big day! 

thegreatwine.co.uk

Finisterre: Hegen Full Zip Wool Fleece

Fleece has always been an outdoor staple.

In fact, Finisterre started with an innovative fleece over 17 years ago. But with their new recycled wool and recycled polyester fabric (GRS certified), the Hegen brings that traditional outdoor aesthetic together with serious sustainable credentials. A hardy adventure staple you'll be wearing for years to come | £130

finisterre.com | Finisterre Bristol, 70 Park St, Bristol BS1 5JY

Small 'Dazzle' Present Necklace from Nicholas Wylde

Small present pendant with grain set brilliant cut diamonds and channel set baguette cut diamonds, suspended from an 18ct white gold 18″ trace chain.

The diamonds weigh 0.20ct in total and are assessed as clarity SI, colour G/H. Exclusive to Nicholas Wylde.

18ct white, 0.20ct diamonds | £995

nicholaswylde.com

Everyday bangles: the perfect gifts

We often covet the cool home decor pieces by Georg Jensen, but it's the contemporary design jewellery that make the perfect Christmas gifts – and with collections in Sterling silver, yellow gold and 18ct white gold, there are beautiful and inspired treasures to be picked up across all budgets.

We love the bangles; many of the Georg Jensen range are complemented with rings, necklaces and earrings, and with small, medium to large sizes,  they just look good on everyone. Shown here (left to right) are Mobius Sterling silver bangle (£625), and Reflect Sterling silver bangle (£435). 

See more great gift ideas by at the Mallory Christmas gift collection. 

Enjoy a plastic-free Christmas with Refillable

Good for your family. Good for your community. Good for the planet.

Stocking plastic-free, everyday products that are kinder to the planet, sustainable, local, organic and ethically produced, Refillable are on a journey to create a sustainable, immersive shopping experience. 

Above: The Ben & Anna gift box has a fresh design and sustainable packaging. Not only does it look great, but the combination of selected products also ensures that care is as natural as it is effective. What better gift for family, friends, and acquaintances? The Gift Set includes an Elmswood 2in1 Love Soap, Pink Grapefruit Deodorant Cream, White Toothpaste with fluoride, Toothbrush, Persian Lime Deodorant and a Shower Flake Sachet that makes 200ml of Shower gel. 

Available from refillable.shop

Curated by Daniel McCabe

For a long time The Far Ride was the only fully fledged bike packing magazine around, and a well-built, beautifully illustrated and satisfying read it was. When the mighty Bikepacking Journal appeared, followed by Covid, TFR was gone. Out of the ashes we have Other Means, a biannual magazine, digital space and new hub for the cycling and bike packing community. As with its predecessor, the magazine's mission is to tell stories and report rides that share the human side of cycling. As the publisher says, 'every journey is personal, and we choose to enjoy ours by bike’. It’s quite sumptuous – let’s hope it goes a lot further | £23

magalleria.co.uk

'For Winter', Clifton Contemporary Art, until 10 January

Throughout midwinter, Clifton Contemporary Art will be filled with an inspiring variety of original paintings, printwork and sculpture, fine ceramics and handcrafted jewellery.

The mixed show will encompass 100 million-year-old stone carved into new life, timeless limited edition bronzes, cutting edge digital prints, deeply atmospheric landscapes, light filled still life compositions, elegantly simple porcelain bowls and vases, silver, gold and semi-precious stones, crafted and combined with freshness and ingenuity.

For winter, the gallery is celebrating creative individuality and its ability to move and surprise you.

cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk | 25 Portland Street, Clifton, BS8 4JB

Image: Dahlias with Lace Tablecloth by Lynne Cartlidge

Badminton student wins artwork competition

Every year, Badminton School invites its art students to design the Badminton School Christmas Card and this year Angel's (Upper Sixth) artwork was chosen. 

Angel's artwork was also submitted to the UK Boarding School's Association Christmas Artwork Competition and she won! Her fabulous illustration of a Badminton squirrel clutching an acorn on a snowy tree branch will be seen by many more people beyond the Badminton School community. 

badmintonschool.co.uk

Bristol artist Grove transforms Bristol Beacon site into mesmerising video set

Bristol Beacon has come together with Bristol vocalist and producer Grove to create a captivating tour of the Beacon with new behind-the-scenes footage capturing the venue mid-transformation.

Filmed in September by Bristol-based TV production company Plimsoll Productions, the video features Grove strutting through the scaffolding and dancing on a forklift, whilst offering tantalising glimpses of key spaces currently under development in the venue including the Cellars, the main Beacon Hall, and the smaller Lantern Hall. Grove’s explosive sound, which combines energetic dance-infused punk with hints of jungle and garage, provides the perfect soundtrack to a tour of the spaces in their current state. 

You can watch the ‘Bristol Beacon x Grove’ film at bristolbeacon.org/transformation. 

Image credit: Khali Ackford

Luke Morahan to make final appearance at Ashton Gate

Luke Morahan will make his final appearance at Ashton Gate when Bristol Bears take on Zebre in round two of the European Challenge Cup on Sunday (1pm KO).

The Wallaby, who departs the club to join Bayonne on January 1^st, is named at full back to take on the Italians, with Deago Bailey and Gabriel Ibitoye completing the back three.

Ioan Lloyd earns a start at inside centre alongside Semi Radradra, with AJ MacGinty and Will Porter continuing at half back.

Jay Tyack and Jake Woolmore come into the front row, while among the system players, Piers O’Conor returns to the squad.

Bristol Bears team to take Zebre at Ashton Gate on Sunday (1pm KO). 

bristolbearsrugby.com

Arundel House, Portland Square, Bristol BS2

Offered for sale by Ocean estate agents

A beautifully presented penthouse apartment forming the entire top floor of this impressive Grade I listed Georgian building.

The communal hall is a perfect first impression as you step inside this grand hallway. A galleried staircase rises to the third and top floor where apartment is found.

Inside, it has a very spacious and light feel with sliding sash windows found on three sides of the property. The views from here are splendid too, with a very green outlook over Portland Square and Cabot Circus from the living space, and City Centre/chimney pot views out of the landing and bedrooms.

The layout works really well with a 6m x 6m open plan kitchen, dining, living space occupying the full width of the front of the building. The kitchen has plenty of space, with an island linking it to the living space. A dining area is clearly zoned as is the comfortable seating area.

A well-appointed shower room is accessed from the hall as is a good sized storage cupboard and the two double bedrooms. The master bedroom is a fantastic size and benefits from a smart en-suite shower room. 

Portland Square is reputed to be Bristol's most complete 18th Century Georgian Square, the combination of historical elegance and superb location making this one of Bristol's most attractive places to live and work. Cabot Circus shopping centre with its wide range of bars, restaurants and retail provision is just a three minute walk. With c1000sq.ft of accommodation and off street allocated parking this spacious and graceful apartment offers an elegant quality to city centre living | £385,000

For more details and images click here to see the property on the Ocean Homes website.