Bristol International Balloon Fiesta's first ever Thursday mass ascent

Returning to its home turf at Ashton Court Estate from Thursday 10 August to Sunday 13 August 2023, Bristol's most iconic free event is ready for lift-off as it announces a new Thursday mass ascent and family funday Friday for its 45th edition.

The first mass ascent is now set to take place Thursday evening at 6pm, and will be followed by the legendary Nightglow, which sees multiple balloons light up to a one-off soundtrack. Fiesta-fans can expect to watch in awe as up to 100 balloons take to the skies and witness breathtaking scenes as the balloons float across Bristol's landscape.

Visit bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk to find out more

OUR JULY ISSUE IS OUT!

Featuring pieces on Bristol's best artists and exhibitions, city news, and guides on all the best things to do this month, you're sure to find something to get your teeth into. 

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

Roast Tomato Risotto

This light, fresh, summery Italian classic moves from stove to table in less than 30 minutes; by the time the tomatoes have roasted in the oven, the rice is ready for them to join the party.

Ingredients (serves 4)

2 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
½ tsp dried red chilli flakes (or to taste)
Around 5-600g vine-ripened tomatoes, quartered
1 heaped tsp caster sugar
1 splash balsamic or red wine vinegar
300g arborio risotto rice
100ml white wine (optional)
1l vegetable stock
100g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), finely grated
1 handful fresh basil, finely chopped

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°c/gas mark 4. Tumble the quartered tomatoes onto a baking tray and top with 1 tbsp oil, the caster sugar and the vinegar. Season well and roast for 20-30 minutes until tender, jiggling them around a bit halfway through the cooking time.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and gently sauté the onion for 5 minutes or until soft and translucent, adding the garlic and chilli flakes for the last minute or so of cooking time. Add the rice to the pan and stir well to coat in the fragrant oil. Add the wine (if using) and allow to bubble down for 1 minute before slowly adding the stock one ladle at a time, stirring after each addition, until all the stock has been absorbed by the rice (this process will take about 20-25 minutes).

Add the roasted tomatoes, the cheese and most of the chopped basil and stir well. Season to taste before serving in warm bowls scattered with the reserved basil, more grated cheese and a smattering of freshly ground black pepper.

Spanish treasures

As temperatures soar in Southern Europe right now, we thought we'd pay tribute to our Mediterranean friends with a very Spanish wine list, from Catalonia to Galicia, well-established classics to hidden gems. 

Our first white of the week is an amalgam of well defined aromas of stone fruits, almonds and citrus peel. It's perfect for repelling the extreme heat with its superb structure and freshness | £7.77

Godello 'Mara Martin', Terras do Cigarrón - Bodegas Martin Codax
Winner of a platinum Decanter award, this wine is fantastically pure and precise, with delicate peach, greengage and pink grapefruit aromas, which are reflected on the superbly-refreshing palate | £10.95

Albarino DO Rias Baixas - Mar de Frades
This fruity Galician wine has hints of mango, pineapple and lychees on the nose. Bright, fresh and vivacious on the palate, the tropical fruit flavours are lifted by a streak of Atlantic-coast salinity | £17.70

Más Amor Rosado - Franck Massard
This vibrant rosé is light, elegantly complex, and dry with vibrant freshness in the glass and a powerful fruity, herby nose. In the mouth there is subtle minerality with a refreshing finish | £11.95

Crianza - Care
Our first red is clean and intense with aromas of ripe red and black fruits, and spicy notes from the Crianza. Rich and powerful on the palate, and long, persistent and fruit driven on the finish | £12.95

El Nogal - Pago de los Capellanes
This silver Decanter winner is a single-vineyard Tempranillo, lustrous with black fruit, leather, roasted coffee and seductively scented with spice, sandalwood, cacao and a lick of liquorice | £55.4

Spanish and Portuguese wines are currently 25% off at greatwine.co.uk

Replenishing Cream Cleanser

Simple Active Skin Barrier Care has announced the launch of its Replenishing Cream Cleanser- a new transformative step in your daily routine.

Working with over 60 years of skincare expertise, Simple has created a cleanser that is not only brilliant at cleansing your skin but is also infused with actives to improve the skin and support its protective barrier.

Simple Replenishing Cream Cleanser is available now, £8 at Boots and boots.com

Smeg x Veuve Clicquot

Known for its clever window displays - pop over to Coopers Home Appliances to get a glimpse of the Smeg x Veuve Clicquot special edition FAB 10 fridge.

Smeg is celebrating the Champagne maison's 250th anniversary, with commemorative editions in the Veuve Clicquot flagship yellow label colours of its iconic 50s inspired fridges - and you can see the FAB 10 on show and looking gorgeous.

Cooper’s have Premio Partner status with Smeg - so are just one of a very few retailers across the globe that have exclusive access to the full range of Smeg limited editions. Highly regarded, they have become collectable, statement pieces of art. £2499 for the Fab 10.

Coopers Home Appliances, 13/15 Walcot Street, Bath BA1
For more, visit coopershomeappliances.com

Not just for when the sun shines

It could be sunnier, but even on a dull day in July, nothing says statement style more than putting on a really great pair of shades. in fact whatever the weather, you’ll feel cool, glamorous, and be very much in your own Hollywood moment. Shown here are four great styles from Mallory.

Click here to see more great sunglasses at Mallory

Curated by Daniel McCabe

South Korean brand documentary guide Magazine B has reached Barbour in its survey of the world’s leading brands and labels. Fans of this bible swear by it and we know they – and waxed jacket anoraks – are going to be thrilled with issue No 94 which delivers an illuminating tale about a business that has remained in family management for five generations and has successfully transitioned from traditional outerwear to a lifestyle brand by adjusting to the needs and tastes of today and cleverly accessing a new generation through focused collaboration with a number of fashion brands. The centrepiece is an interview with Dame Margaret Barbour, current chairman of J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. | £23

store.magalleria.co.uk 

Michael Douglas at Harvey Nichols

On Friday 28 July, renowned hairdresser, Michael Douglas, will be in store at Harvey Nichols Bristol to share advice and answer questions to empower you with knowledge to get salon-perfect results.

Michael will also be showcasing his award-winning styling tools, BLOW and STRAIGHT.

Friday 28 July | 1pm – 3pm | Harvey Nichols Bristol, Ground Floor
For further information speak to the team in store or call 0117 916 8888

Journey behind the scenes of Thatchers' TV ad

Thatchers Cider has released a behind-the-scenes look at the making of its new TV ad, Pint-Sized Perfection.

The short film, available to view here, takes an exclusive look into Aardman's Bristol studios where the new stop-motion Thatchers advert was created.

Find out why hundreds of tiny apples needed to be made, how animators used the puppets to create a sense of organic chaos, and how the director forged a career in animation.

Director Will Studd from Aardman said, “We wanted to create the perfect representation of Thatchers’ Myrtle Farm. Knowing Thatchers and being from South Bristol, I was really excited to be part of this project.”

Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap arrives at The Hippodrome

As news spreads of a murder in London, a group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at a remote countryside guesthouse. When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover that a killer is in their midst! Which one is the murderer? Who will be their next victim? Can you solve this world-famous mystery for yourself?

Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap is the world’s longest-running play, and THE genre-defining murder mystery from the best-selling novelist of all time… case closed!

24 July - 29 July | Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine's Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
Head to atgtickets.com to book

Soul Circus Festival

Soul Circus is set to return to its beautiful home in the Cotswold hills of Elmore, Gloucestershire from 17 - 20 August.

The yoga and wellness festival is a well-being event where music, yoga, and holistic therapies meet glittery festival antics and DJ after parties. 

Groove Armada is headlining the music portion of Soul Circus this year with Michael James Wong and his Just Breath + Krama Yoga crew joining as well. Other notable headliners are Adam and Holly Husler, Radhika Das, Jambo Dragon, and Kirsty Gallagher. 

Day tickets start at £99. Weekend tickets are currently at £175 with full price being £225. Book your tickets at soulcircus.yoga

Penlan Crafts Mechanical Toy Making

Would you like to build a wooden mechanical toy from scratch? Welcome to the magical world of automata, the perfect synthesis between craftsmanship, engineering and artistic expression. 

On this one-day, face-to-face course, each student (maximum two participants) will design and build a one-shaft toy, drawing and cutting cams and cranks, using different types of wood and a vast range of tools available in Penlan Crafts’ workshop based near Temple Meads. 

Participants can expect to finish the day with a lovely, fully functioning one-shaft mechanical toy. Suitable for absolute beginners as well as those who are experienced wood workers. 

Freestone Road, Bristol BS2 0QN
Email penlancrafts@gmail.com for more information or go to craftcourses.com to book

Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym

Offered for sale by Ocean estate agents in Bristol

A beautiful contemporary modern townhouse in a fabulous location with lounge, kitchen/diner, utility room, five bedrooms, study & three bathrooms. There are also front and rear gardens with a garage and parking.

Nestled in a privileged and elevated position on the crest of Westbury Road with far-reaching views of Bristol and towards Blaise and North Somerset, this modern end-of-terrace townhouse has all the luxuries you could expect from this prestige build constructed circa 2010.

Situated just moments from the Durdham Downs, Westbury-on-Trym village, Henleaze and Clifton this fabulous sizeable family home is also just yards from some of Bristol's most sought-after schools.

To the ground floor, the heart of the house is a luxurious kitchen and dining room with a partial glass roof and 16-foot wide Bi-fold doors opening onto the garden, there is also a utility room/cloakroom & Lounge overlooking the front garden.

The five bedrooms are arranged over a further two floors and offer assorted sizes, best of all is the master bedroom with en-suite shower room, the third bedroom on the top floor has access to a roof terrace. There is also a study on the top floor.

Outside, there’s a well-maintained garden to the front, and an east-facing rear paved garden which has the option of an extra outdoor space or parking space. There is also a garage accessed from a rear access road | £875,000

For more information, images and floorpan click here to see the property on the OceanHome website