Both The BBC's Can You Keep a Secret?, which is out now on iPlayer, and Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, which Netflix has confirmed will be premiering on 15 January, were filmed with The Bottle Yard Studios on location in Bristol and the South West.

Filmed and set in the West Country, Can You Keep a Secret? is the story of an odd little family you haven’t met yet, but that you already know – a sitcom that places comedy icon Dawn French in the middle of some mischief we can all relate to.

Can Debbie Fendon and her family keep their secret? Or will one of them spill the beans?

Confirming the premiere date and releasing first images and trailer, Netflix teases that Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials promises a witty, fast-paced, and stylish take on one of Christie’s most intriguing mysteries — where secrets, scandal, and murder lurk behind every corner of a grand English estate.

Along with this, The Small City Bookshop in Redfield, Bristol is one of just seven bookshops across the UK that has partnered with Netflix to mark the release by offering a Seven Dials goody bag. 

Watch The BBC's Can You Keep a Secret? here

Get ready for Agatha Christie's Seven Dials here

thebottleyard.com

Rich, tasty and on the table in less than the time it takes to steam the accompanying rice, this satisfying, meat-free, wallet-friendly dish is the perfect cosy January supper.

Read online

Discover more of Melissa's recipes on our website

Christmas is over and we're stepping into a new year; it's the perfect time to pick up some new healthy habits. The Great Wine Company has a brilliant selection of alcohol free drinks for you to try if you fancy challenging yourself with dry January.

Here's a few of our favourite no-alcohol spirits:

Spice 94, Seedlip | £23.50

Lyre's Non Alcoholic Italian Spritz | £24.50

Dandy Smoke, Crossip | £22

Explore more non-alcoholic options on the Great Wine Co. website

Back to its original 42 mm size, the OMEGA Planet Ocean is now flatter than before, thanks to the flat sapphire crystal on the front, and an overall refinement across the entire brushed case and bezel. Discover the new dimensions…

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M | £7,200

mallory-jewellers.com

This season, Whistles redefine one of their much-loved styles. Introducing the Gabriella Overcoat, reworked in a rich camel tone, accentuated with a brown corduroy collar
for a sophisticated look.

Neutral Gabriella Waxed Overcoat | £215

Whistles, The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, BS34 5DG

Bask in the warmth of the golden hour with Amber Labdanum Cologne Intense.

Ascend the sun-drenched hills of Andalusia where wild cistus fields warm the breeze with the ambery notes of labdanum. Enhanced by vanilla and roasted oak, this smooth scent leaves a rich, sensual trail. Powerful and evocative.

Amber Labdanum Cologne Intense | 50ml RRP £116 & 100ml RRP £164

jomalone.co.uk

Rakesprogress

Indie garden magazines are pretty thin on the ground at the moment (sorry) but among the few we have, Rakesprogress would be a standout in any field (apologies again). Each volume offers a mix of extraordinary photography and storytelling based around gardens, plants and flowers. The latest 300+ page issue features abandoned barns and farmyards that have found new lives as homes and gardens, the botanical clues woven into in mysterious medieval tapestries, the extraordinary creations of the floral artist Emily Thompson, the therapeutic power of an Ikebana drawing club, a fashion designer who left the industry to become a popular painter of trees, the ‘Rhodo craze’ project of Anglo-Chinese artist Yan Wang Preston and gravity-defying topiary in south west France.

£22 | magalleria.co.uk

Are you separating from your partner and need to make arrangements for your children, but struggle to communicate effectively? You don’t necessarily have to go to court; you can work with a family mediator to make these arrangements.

Family mediation vouchers, provided by the government, help couples resolve parenting disputes without going to court. Each voucher covers up to £500 of mediation costs. All families are eligible for a voucher for child arrangements, regardless of income. Your mediator can apply for the voucher on your behalf.

Discover insights and support for family matters at the Start Afresh Mediation website.

Prepare yourself for a night of cider-fuelled, nearly-traditional music and performance as the Bristol Urban Wassail returns to Exchange on Old Market.

Live music comes from cult Scrumpy and Western band Skimmity Hitchers with support from The Shinkickers (featuring members of legendary Bristol cider-punk outfit The Surfin' Turnips) and one-man agricultural-hip-hop supremo Corky. The night will also feature an (almost) traditional Wassail play, written and performed by members of the audience in true DIY spirit. Expect to encounter home-made costumes, questionable accents and the gaffa taping of toast to Apple Tree Man. Real cider will be available on the bar, to help proceedings flow merrily along.

7.30pm - 11.30pm | exchangebristol.com | Exchange Bristol, BS2 0EJ

Bored of the usual night out? Want to do something different for your mates or a date?

After Hours is the perfect solution. An 18+ night with no kids allowed. Explore more than 40 spaces with wild and surreal art installations, full 360-degree sets with interactive elements, state-of-the-art theming, robots and even a slide, across two out-of-this-world levels. Follow it up with delicious pizzas and drinks at the fully-licenced Junktion Bar. With access from 7pm and finishing up at 11pm, what's not to like?!

wakethetiger.com | Wake The Tiger, BS2 0YA

There is an astonishing amount of musical talent in the schools In the Greater Bristol area. For more than twenty years the local Rotary Clubs have organised a Young Musician competition to give the most skilled students the chance to show what they can do, and to compete in front of an audience.

This year the Final of the event will again be held in the Lantern Hall at the Bristol Beacon. The level of performance that has been reached by these young people is really extraordinary, and a joy to see and hear.

After three heats featuring entrants from as far afield as Wells, Cheltenham and Bath, six finalists have been selected and will each play 15 minutes of classical music in front of professional adjudicators. Come and listen to a really outstanding concert, with performances of a standard which is hard to believe. And see if you agree with the judges!

7.30pm | Bristol Beacon, Lantern Hall

Further information is available from the competition’s website.

Tickets for the Final are available from the Beacon Box Office in
person or from the website.

Hailing from Western Canada, critically-acclaimed folk artists, Mallory Chipman & Maddisun, are embarking on a double header tour of Ireland & the UK in January 2026, stopping in Bristol for a show on Friday, January 23. Fresh on the heels of their new albums, Songs to a Wild God and The Pages, respectively, and a collective 200+ shows under their belts in the last year alone, these troubadours are ready to bring their distinctly “Canadiana” sound across the pond, and will be joined by fellow Canadian, Cassidy Zahar, now Bristol-based, for one night only at To The Moon.

For fans of Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Allison Krauss, and Carole King.

7.30pm - 10.30pm | To The Moon, 27-29 Midland Road, Old Market, St Philips, BS2 0JT

Tickets available here.

Tiah Mai Ayton, a young boxer from Bristol, has made history after becoming the first woman fighter ever to be named as the UK Prospect of the Year by
boxing publication Boxing News.

Tiah was named as the hottest prospect in the ring in Britain even before her demolition of Brazilian fighter Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes last week. This is her fourth knockout in her first four professional fights.

Boxing News is the oldest boxing magazine still in publication, and it is the first time in the magazine’s 116-year history that it has named a woman boxer
as Britain’s hottest prospect.

We caught up with Tiah in our September issue. Read our
interview with the rising star here

Image: Tiah at Warrior Gym in Weston-super-Mare. Photo taken by Mark Robinson Photography Ltd and provided courtesy of Matchroom Boxing.

 Former Fairfield High School student Serena Wiebe, now aged 20, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year’s Honours List 2025 for her outstanding work supporting young people.

Serena, who grew up in East Bristol, is an anti-knife crime campaigner, boxing coach and mentor with the charity Empire Fighting Chance, where she also works as a Youth Voice Ambassador. Through her work, Serena helps young people build confidence, find their voice and create positive change in their communities.

Serena’s achievements have been recognised nationally. She contributed to the Government’s first National Youth Strategy in 15 years and taken part in important events such as the Youth Opportunity Summit at St James’ Palace, where she sat alongside King Charles and Sir Keir Starmer to share young people’s perspectives. She has also attended the first annual Knife Crime Summit at 10 Downing Street.

Image of Serena and Sir Keir Starmer courtesy of Empire Fighting Chance

fairfield.excalibur.org.uk

George Kloska returns to the starting XV for Bristol Bears’ Investec Champions Cup round three clash with Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (1pm KO GMT, live on Premier Sports).

The Bristolian is named at tighthead for the clash with the South Africans, as Pat Lam’s side go in search of a third successive Investec Champions Cup win at the altitude and heat of Pretoria. Max Lahiff packs down at loosehead with Joe Batley returning from suspension to partner Argentina’s Pedro Rubiolo in the second row.

Louis Rees-Zammit is unavailable as he continues through the GRTP process, so Rich Lane comes in at full-back to make his first start of the season, having returned from injury off the bench against Newcastle Falcons a fortnight ago.

Kieran Marmion starts at scrum half, with international trio Ellis Genge, Harry Randall and Matias Moroni set to make an impact off the bench in Pretoria.

Joe Owen could make his 50th appearance for the club from the bench, while Academy duo Jimmy Halliwell and Sam Worsley are also selected in the matchday 23.

Vodacom Bulls vs Bristol Bears | Saturday, 1pm KO GMT, live on Premier Sports

bristolbearsrugby.com

Offered for sale by auction by Hollis Morgan Property Agents

10 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms | 5 Receptions

Auction Guide Price: £1,250,000 +

Redland Hill House is a Grade II Listed Mansion House built in circa 1761 in a Georgian architectural style occupying an elevated position on the Clifton and Redland borders with exceptional urban views over the City and excellent access to
both Whiteladies Road, and Durdham Downs.

The property has operated as a school for many years but is now offered with vacant possession and scope for a wide range of possible uses.

The property has potential to create one of the largest private family homes in the City with gardens and parking in this most sought after of locations.

The property has gated vehicular access from Redland Hill with a large car parking area and grand accommodation ( 10,946 Sq Ft ) arranged primarily over 4 floors with a large side extension plus basements and various outbuildings. Many of the original period features have been retained and there is also a raised patio area and enclosed gardens to the rear.

Historical photographs show that the south-west wing of the house was destroyed during the Second World War (1939–1945).

Redland Hill House would suit being split into multiple residential dwellings with options for luxurious lateral apartments, individual townhouses or similar schemes.
Interested parties will note the air space and associated development potential on the East wing.

There may be scope for additional development in the gardens.

The Live Online Auction is on Wednesday 11 March 2026 @ 12 Noon

Registration Deadline is on Friday 6 March 2026 @ 4pm

To view more details, images and a floor plan, and to register to bid in the auction, visit the Hollis Morgan website