John Constable, 'The Hay Wain' © The National Gallery, London

It's International Museum Day on 18 May

To mark National Museum Day tomorrow, head to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, where John Constable’s masterpiece The Hay Wain is the centrepiece of new exhibition National Treasures: Constable in Bristol, ‘Truth to Nature’.

The Hay Wain (1821) is being loaned to Bristol from the National Gallery in London to celebrate its 200th anniversary as part of its National Treasures programme. It's an English landscape painting that has been widely reproduced, copied, satirised and politicised. Bristol audiences will be able to see it up close and in the context of other landscape paintings, including 11 oil sketches by Constable, on loan from the Victoria & Albert Museum.

The exhibition, on until September, explores the meaning of landscape, how artists historically have considered our relationship to nature, and how landscape art today is responding to the climate crisis, class, LGBTQIA+ identity, colonialism and migration.  

Plan your visit and find more info on the website.

HAVE YOU READ OUR MAY ISSUE?

You'll love our marvellous May magazine, which features a collection of great reading from our team of wonderful writers, as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bristol's best businesses. 

Features include an exclusive interview with crime-writing legend Lynda La Plante, who we spoke to ahead of her appearance at CrimeFest, a review of the newly refurbished Browns Brasserie & Bar, a look ahead to a choral performance at Bristol Cathedral, our special festival guide for 2024 and so much more!

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 – click here to subscribe on our website. 

Words by Melissa Blease

Lamb Koftas with Harissa Aubergines

An authentic taste of the Middle East, delicious as a stand-alone supper or as part of a mezze feast alongside hummus, tzatziki, salad, pickles and flatbreads.

Harissa is a spicy aromatic paste widely used in North African and Middle Eastern cuisines. The inherent spiciness varies from brand to brand, so taste yours before using and adapt your recipe according to personal taste.

If you're using bamboo skewers for your koftas, soak them in cold water for 15 minutes before use.

Ingredients (serves 4 as a stand-alone supper; 8 as part of a mezze)

For the aubergines:
3 large aubergines
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp ground cumin
75g butter
2 tbsp harissa (see note above)

For the koftas:
3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
2 shallots, peeled and roughly chopped
½ bunch of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
4 bushy mint sprigs, leaves picked and roughly chopped
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp tomato purée
Scant tsp caster sugar
500g lamb mince
1 tbsp freshly-chopped coriander
2 tbsp pomegranate seeds

Method

1. First, make the aubergines. Heat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Combine the oil and cumin in a small bowl and season well. Slice the aubergines into long, lengthways strips and arrange in a roasting tin. Brush with the fragrant oil and roast for 45 minutes, or until soft. Melt the butter in a small pan, sauté the harissa with a pinch of salt for 3 minutes and drizzle over the cooked aubergines. Cover with foil and keep warm.

2. To make the koftas, put the garlic, shallots, parsley, half the mint, the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, tomato purée and caster sugar into a blender or food processor. Season well and blitz for around 1 minute, to create a paste.

3. Tip the lamb into a large bowl, add the spice mix and stir well to thoroughly combine. Using clean, damp hands, form the lamb mixture into evenly-sized meatballs and thread onto the skewers, slightly flattening the meatballs as you go.

4. Heat a griddle pan to high and griddle the koftas for around 6 minutes on each side, or until the koftas are chargrilled and 'gnarly' on the outside and the meat is cooked through but still juicy.

5. Divide the warm aubergines between 4 plates and top with the koftas (or, if serving as part of a mezze spread, serve on one big platter). Scatter with the remaining mint, coriander and pomegranate seeds – and tuck in!

Deals on New Zealand wines at Great Wine Co.

This May, you can enjoy discounts on a superb selection of New Zealand wines. Renowned for its crisp, aromatic Sauvignons and delicate yet richly textured Pinot Noirs, the land of the long white cloud has something for everyone. 

Summerhouse, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc | £13.29 (save £2.66)
Nestled in windy Blind River, the vineyard faces Marlborough's harshest conditions, cultivating unique character. Bathed in sunshine and cooled by ocean breezes, the family-owned grapes undergo gentle pressing and diverse yeast fermentation.

Peregrine Wines, Organic Reisling | £24 (save £4.85)
Flavours of elderflower, lime and lemon peel are balanced by wonderful mineral acidity. It has just enough maturity to show some sumptuous roundness of texture, while still possessing an edge of vibrant, primary fruit character.

Seresin Estate, Organic Chardonnay | £20.83 (save £4.17)
Presenting a gorgeous delicate golden hue, this Chardonnay evokes elegance and texture. The nose is lifted with notes of fleshy stone fruits laced with brioche. The palate is refined, layered, creamy and complex, all brought into sharp focus by the bright acidity.

Frost Pocket, Sauvignon Blanc | £9.86 (multi-buy deal save £1.09) 
This bottle is Great Wine Co.'s best-selling Sauvignon Blanc. The wine has classic gooseberry aromas, with hints of refreshingly cool cucumber, as well as dill and home-grown tomato.

Visit greatwine.co.uk to explore more

By Lalique, the Champs-Elysées Vase - Large

Inspired by spectacular rows of plane trees lining “the most beautiful Avenue of the World” is the design of the finely engraved crystal leaves that adorn Lalique’s Champs-Elysées range of vases and bowls. Created by Marc Lalique in 1951, his sublime crystal sculptures capture light like no other.

This is a fabulous work of clear crystal art, handmade in France and weighing in at a hefty 20.5 lbs (9.2kg). Dimensions 33cm high x 28.5cm diameter. £5,190

See this and many more Lalique objets d’art at Mallory. 

Cream Cornwall's Aqua & Greens Multi Vase Pooley | £41

Cream Cornwall's unique ceramic vase set, in coordinated colours, is a simple addition that can bring a big change to your space. Pop in a few flowers, and these vases instantly brighten up any room, turning an ordinary setting into an extraordinary one.

Click here to purchase. 

Reformation and Jimmy Fairly join forces for an ultra-limited collection

The Californian way of life meets French savoir-faire to create an ultra-trendy collection using responsible materials.

Incredibly trendy, the Flore is the even more responsible silhouette, designed from bio acetate and bio nylon glass. Available in two variations, they are handmade in France.

The Flore | £165
Click here to shop the collection. 

All ambassador shots are courtesy of Jo Malone London

Tom Hardy is Jo Malone's London ambassador for Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense

Bonded by British roots, a playful creative demeanour and a shared dedication to social impact and mental health – Hardy was an obvious choice of ambassador for the brand. A born and bred Londoner, he is known for cerebral performances that showcase his depth, complexity and versatility as an actor.

Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense:
The aromatic notes of cypress trees unite with the warmth of grapevine and the sensuality of amber. A fresh and woody scent that leaves a lasting impression. Refined, distinctive and bold. | £160

Click here to purchase.

Chanel Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadow Palettes | £36

The CHANEL Ombre Essentielle has an ultra-soft, lightweight powder texture with sensory appeal. A formula enriched with sage oil, to ensure comfort and provide long-lasting wear, up to eight hours.

It accentuates the brows with a hint of bold colour. CHANEL has designed eyeshadow palettes that can be applied in three different ways and worn on its own or layered, to create a multitude of make-up looks.

A new range of 14 modern shades combine some of the House's most iconic colours. Reimagined by Cécile Paravina, you will discover bold new hues in matte, satin and metallic finishes.

Click here to purchase.

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Sociotype Journal has just released it’s third annual issue, this time on the theme of ‘Home’ and asks us: ‘What makes a home?’ We’ve encountered quite a few magazines asking and exploring the same idea of late, but the Sociotype approach is rather different. It’s published by London design studio Socio and named after their own offshoot foundry Sociotype. Its typeset in a very clean mid-century-inspired grotesk typeface formulated just for this job. Issue 3 promises a ‘top-down and bottom-up investigation’ of domesticity, from masterplanned utopias and Potemkin villages, McMansions and sham castles, to cube farms, spite fences, coffin homes and more. | £25

magalleria.co.uk

Natural Academy unveils inspiration behind this year's Chelsea Flower Show

A Bristol-based not-for-profit has unveiled the inspiration behind its latest Royal Horticulture Society Chelsea Flower Show entry, between 21–25 May, after taking home a silver medal at last year’s event.

The Chelsea Flower Show, renowned worldwide for its prestigious garden designs, provides the perfect setting for Natural Academy to showcase its ethos of people and nature flourishing together. This year’s exhibit aims to engage, educate, and inspire the public about the benefits of adopting a deepened connectedness to the natural world.

In partnership with one of their students, Emilie Griffin, Natural Academy co-founders Michéal Connors and Rhonda Brandrick have designed ‘Nature Kinship’ which will be on display during the show at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Click here for more information. 

Gruffudd Glyn, Tom Felton and Bebe Sanders in rehearsals (photo by Helen Murray)

Show that tells story of first IVF babies opens at Bristol Old Vic next month

In 1978, Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards, and Jean Purdy changed the world as we know it – and most people don’t even know their names.

Bruntwood Prize-winning writer Gareth Farr’s brilliant new play tells their pioneering story, and those of the army of women from all over the UK whose immense bravery helped them achieve the impossible – to create human life in vitro.

Faced with fierce criticism and hostility, and hounded by the media for 'playing God', trials were kept largely under wraps. But their determination to give hope to the thousands of families struggling to conceive eventually led to one of the most remarkable medical breakthroughs of our time: the birth of a baby girl and the creation of IVF.

Sonoya Mizuno, Adelle Leonce and Meg Bellamy rehearsing (photo by Helen Murray)

Directed by the highly acclaimed West End director Matthew Dunster (Hangmen, 2:22 A Ghost Story, Shirley Valentine) and starring Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Jamie Glover (Waterloo Road, Casualty), Meg Bellamy (The Crown), Adelle Leonce (Fool Me Once, Black Mirror), Sonoya Mizuno (House of the Dragon), and more, A Child of Science is about determination, dreams, hope, and courage. It’s a celebration of life.

A Child of Science is playing at Bristol Old Vic from 5 June until 6 July, tickets are available via the website. 

Bears Women return to Ashton Gate

Join the Summer Social at Ashton Gate as Bristol Bears Women take on Leicester Tigers on 19 May.

This one is set to be a big day, so don't miss out and purchase your tickets now, as there are a limited number left. Kick off starts at 3.30pm.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Sixty-two female veterans taking part in AJ Bell Great Bristol Run

On Sunday 19 May, 62 Women’s Royal Army Corps Association (WRAC) members will take part in the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run. 

The team call themselves the ‘WRAC Lionesses’ and it will be their 12th year running a 10K, made even more special with the WRAC’s 75th anniversary looming this coming August.

Wendy Hooten, female veteran and WRAC Association’s coordinator, has organised their running event every year, to raise funds for WRAC and continue to support female veterans who may experience difficult times. Her fundraising efforts have already raised more than £100,000.

More than 20,000 runners will be taking part in this year’s run, tackling routes through the historic harbourside, past Castle Park and through Queen Square, with views along the Avon Gorge on the way. Entertainment includes a live finish-line DJ, on-course music and dedicated cheering zones, carrying participants all the way through to the celebratory après-run space in Millennium Square.

Anyone looking for a limited number of last-minute charity places can sign up here.

Binocular and Telescope Fair at Chew Valley Lake

Join the Bristol London Camera Exchange team on the Lawn at Chew Valley Lake (opposite Salt & Malt) on 25 May for its annual Optics fair.

Looking out over the beautiful Chew Valley Lake you can inspect, try and buy the latest Optics in a superb Wildlife environment.

Meet representatives from Swarovski, Opticron and Vortex who you can quiz on all their superb optics. Plus Sam from Sigma will also be delighted to show Sigma's superb lenses, including telephoto models ideal for the Chew Valley Lake wildlife.

The show will offer a great opportunity to 'Try & Buy' the latest binoculars and telescopes (plus Sigma lenses) and of course we will be offering some 'Show-Only Deals' available on the day.

Chew Valley Lake is a reservoir in Chew Stoke, Chew Valley, Somerset, England. It is the fifth-largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom, with an area of 1,200 acres. The lake, created in the early 1950s, was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956. It boasts lovely walks, car parking (chargeable) and a huge range of wildlife.

The show is completely free to attend and will run from 10am until 4pm.

Find out more at the LCE website or contact the Bristol LCE showroom on Park Street.

Concerts at Ashton Gate Stadium

Two huge music events featuring world-class artists are taking place back-to-back at Ashton Gate across one weekend in June. 

Saturday 22 June will see BS3 take over the stadium for the day for a festival hosted by Fatman Scoop. Ten artists will perform across two stages, featuring headliner Ne-Yo, Dizzee Rascal (who popped to town for an exclusive surprise show in Cabot Circus earlier this year to launch his new album Don’t Take it Personal), Bristol drum ‘n’ bass and jungle legend Roni Size, Craig David’s T5 show (based on his exclusive penthouse parties in Miami) and Jess Glynne among other international music icons.

The following day (23 June) Kings of Leon will return to Bristol 21 years and eight albums since their last visit, bringing their Can We Please Have Fun world tour to the city. Supporting the multi Grammy award-winning rock band are The Vaccines and Holly Humberstone. Three hospitality packages are available to book, one of which includes a three-course meal, fully stocked drinks fridge and private balcony.

ashtongatestadium.co.uk

Bestselling cookery author and food charity campaigner appearing at Gloucester Road Books

Gloucester Road Books is teaming up with neighbours Boston Tea Party to host an event with former chef to the stars, bestselling cookbook author and food charity campaigner Melissa Hemsley on 15 July at 7pm.

Hemsley will be introducing her latest book, Real Healthy, in conversation with renowned author and entrepreneur Pauline Cox.

With 90 recipes, such as 'one-pot lazy lasagne', 'cherry almond granola' and 'take-to-work white bean chicken chilli', as well as ‘build-your-own’ recipes for UPF-free soups, sandwiches and smoothies, Real Healthy is a cookbook aiming to provide solutions for those looking to redress the balance of what’s on their plates with easy and practical ideas.

Boston Tea Party 293 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8PE 
For tickets and more information, visit gloucesterroadbooks.com

Valley Fest

Valley Fest takes place alongside the glittering Chew Valley Lake with the rolling Mendip hills in the background on the 1–4 August. 

With music from Sophie Ellis Bextor, Tinie Tempah, Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge, The Feeling and The Skids, you're advised to arrive hungry and ready to dance. 

Thomasina Miers OBE and Romy Gill MBE are heading the culinary line-up. From feasts, cooking demonstrations and masterclasses, the Valley Fest programme has everything a food lover could want. 

It caters for all tastes and budgets, with added theatre and fire, and has quality and regeneration at its heart. In Arcadia's Alchemist's Playground expect flares, flames and heart-in-your-mouth performances, plus so much more!

To find out more, visit the website at valleyfest.co.uk

Nominate your Teacher of the Year

People are being encouraged to nominate a teacher in a newly launched Teacher of the Year competition, with £1,250 in Bristol Gift Cards as a possible prize.

All types of teachers are eligible to be nominated for the Teacher of the Year award, including primary school teachers, secondary school teachers, special educational needs teachers, early years teachers, teaching assistants and headteachers. To nominate a teacher, people simply give the teacher's name and a reason that they deserve to be the Teacher of the Year.

The teacher who receives the most votes will be crowned as Teacher of the Year and will receive a massive £500 Town and City Gift Card of their choice, such as the Love Bristol Gift Card. One person who nominated the Teacher of the Year will also win a £250 Town and City Gift Card, and there will be a £500 Town and City Gift Card for the school that the winning teacher works at. 

The closing date for entries is the 31 August at midnight. The Teacher of the Year will be announced in September 2024. 

Nominate a teacher in the Teacher of the Year competition at teacheroftheyear.co.uk

Win free office space for three months at Boxworks

A competition has been launched giving people the chance to win three months’ office space free of charge at Boxworks. 

Startup at Boxworks 2024 – set up by Forward, YTL Developments and Aerospace Bristol – is aimed at new businesses, start-ups and freelancers (all with a turnover of £150,000 or less), providing much-needed support by giving a fledgling enterprise the space to grow and explore ideas without the pressure of workspace costs.

The 20 Boxworks shipping containers were originally housed next to Temple Meads train station, but are now part of Bristol’s new neighbourhood at Brabazon (the former Filton Airfield). The studios are well insulated, come with superfast fibre and have access to everything needed for a productive working environment, including facilities at the nearby Aerospace Bristol museum.

For more information on how to enter, visit the website. Entries close midnight 31 May.

Alexandra Park Redland, Bristol, BS6

Offered for sale by Ocean estate agents

A charming semi-detached house, located on a quiet tree-lined road in sought-after Redland. This is an ideal family home with spacious rooms and well-balanced accommodation. 

The principal reception room has the feel of grandeur with high ceilings, beautiful ornate cornicing, a marble fire place, and a large bay window that floods the room with light. An additional reception room lends itself perfectly as a play room, home office, or simply an adult retreat to sit and relax with a good book. 

The rear of the property is the heart of the home, dedicated to a large, full-width kitchen and dining space where all the family can gather for family meals and entertainment. The kitchen is fitted with an array of stylish units and there is an attractive tiled period fireplace as the focal point of the room. In addition, a lovely sun room leading off the kitchen is the perfect spot to enjoy a morning coffee while admiring the well-cared-for private garden. From here, steps lead you down to the garden.

Upstairs are four good-sized bedrooms, all doubles and perfect for a growing family. There is also a basement, which is currently used for storage. However, it was previously used as a nursery and has power, light and heating. The headroom is sufficient enough to make more of this space. A home cinema perhaps? Alternatively, the kids would love it as a play area. Let your imagination run wild!

Location

Located in Redland, this property is ideally situated for families looking for a tranquil area with convenient access to all the amenities of Bristol. Redland is known for its tree-lined streets, beautiful parks and excellent schools, making it an ideal location for families. Within a short walk of this property are numerous restaurants (including one with a Michelin Star), cafes and independent shops, including Whiteladies Road and Chandos Road. For outdoor enthusiasts, Redland is close to the scenic Durdham Downs and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, perfect for leisurely walks or picnics with the family. Additionally, the nearby Cotham Gardens offers open green spaces and a playground for children to enjoy.

This semi-detached house in Redland is an ideal family home that offers a perfect blend of space, comfort, and convenience in a charming and vibrant area. | Guide Price £950,000

For more information and images click here.