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THE WEEKEND EDITION

A specially curated guide to help you enjoy the next 48 hours in Bristol

WEEKEND WINES  |   RED, WHITE, ROSÉ & FIZZ

A selection from great French domains

Especially chosen for this weekend's edition are four great French wines selected by Vina Loca:

RED: Domaine Fichet, Bourgogne Rouge AOC, Pinot Noir, Burgundy, France £13.49
A classy Burgundian-quality Pinot Noir at an affordable price. 12.5%

WHITE: Domaine Bouchié-Chatellier, 'La Renardière', Pouilly-Fumé AOC, Loire, France £17.99
A classic-style and aromatic Pouilly-Fumé from the home of great Sauvignon Blanc. Delicious with goat's cheese salad or grilled white fish. Silver medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019. 13.5%

ROSÉ: Domaine de L’Olibet, 'Les Pujols' Rosé, Pays d’Oc, France £4.99
A delicate French rosé wine; quite surprising how soft it is. Perfect with nibbles, charcuterie, or with a good book. And, currently discounted from £6.99 it is great value for money. 13.0%

FIZZ: Lelarge-Pugeot, 'Tradition', Brut, Premiere Cru, Champagne, France £29.99
A really lovely Brut Champagne, very elegant, and very satisfying. Perfect for a special occasion or with nibbles and seafood. 12.0%

For these and a full selection to order see vinaloca.co.uk

CURRENT ISSUE  |   READ ONLINE HERE

Our October issue is out and about

As always, there are many great reads by our team of wonderful writers and contributors as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bristol's best businesses. We hope you'll enjoy the read. 15,000 copies are delivered door to door, and you can pick up a copy at many places around town and from our stands at Waitrose, John Lewis, House of Fraser, and Harvey Nichols.

Alternatively click here for a flippable read

ONE TO VISIT  |  AN IDYLLIC SETTING

The Rising Sun

The people have spoken! The Rising Sun in Pensford has been crowned the best beer garden in Britain.

The winner was decided by a Union Jack Radio public vote, with more than 2,000 votes cast in less than a week. The Rising Sun received almost a fifth of the share.

A short drive from the city, the watering hole is loved for its idyllic setting, boasting a large riverside garden with views of Pensford Viaduct and the village's church. With a break in the wintery winds this weekend, take a trip down to The Rising Sun and enjoy a jar in one of the most lauded beer gardens in the land.

The Rising Sun

MOCKTAIL HOUR  |  HOW TO MAKE A MOCK-A-RITA

Tequila-inspired 0% tipples

Mockingbird Spirit is a brand new alcohol-free, tequila-inspired, agave-based spirit. This unique addition to the mocktail scene makes for a great gift (especially for anyone doing Sober October) and comes courtesy of a local Bristol company that believes in inclusivity for those off the booze. It's made using functional, versatile, authentic, vegan and gluten-free ingredients – expect ‘earthy blue Weber agave, sweet vanilla and cinnamon with a healthy hint of habanero', produced with the adaptogen ashwagandha to support health and happiness. The perfect pour: in a margarita – naturally! Available in 50cl and 5cl bottles.

mockingbirdspirit.com

BACK ON TRACK  |  THE STAGE IS SET

St George's reopens

Much-loved Park Street concert hall St George’s Bristol is re-opening its doors for indoor live music, after six months of closure due to Covid-19. St George’s is still fighting to secure its future, with most of its staff team still furloughed, and the venue is awaiting a decision on whether it will receive a portion of the government’s £1.57bn Arts Recovery Fund. But following a successful series of socially distanced outdoor concerts in St George’s gardens this summer, the team has now decided to reopen its indoor spaces for a series of autumn concerts. An impressive line-up includes two world-class concert pianists, Paul Lewis (14 October) and Eric Lu (17 October) who are among the first acts to return to the main auditorium.

For more information on these and other coming events, visit: St Georges Bristol

WEEKEND BAKE  |  TRADITIONAL ITALIAN ANTIPASTI 

Recipes by Melissa Blease
Rosemary focaccia

Crisp, chewy, rich, flavourful and massively moreish, focaccia is everybody's friend, perfect for sharing or keeping all to yourself. Once you're au fait with making one of the most fuss-free loaves in the home-baking gamut, focaccia is your flexible friend, too: you can bring in all kinds of variations on the theme, such as caramelised onions, sun-dried tomatoes, roast garlic, olives or mozzarella (or a combination of up to three of these) – just knead your optional extras in after the first rise, before you press the dough into the tin.

Top tip: don't stint on the olive oil or the salt – both are intrinsic to the flavour

Best enjoyed with: a selection of antipasti and a glass of light Chianti Classico

Ingredients

500g strong white bread flour
5g dried yeast
10g salt
325ml warm water
1 tbsp olive oil

To finish: flaky sea salt, a generous drizzle of olive oil and a handful of fresh rosemary sprigs

Method

  1. Mix the flour, yeast, salt, oil and water together in a bowl until it forms a sticky dough. Turn the dough out on to a clean, floured work surface and knead until smooth and silky (about 10 minutes), occasionally dusting your hands with flour if the mixture is too sticky to be pliable.

  2. Shape the dough into a ball, plop it into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with clingfilm or a clean tea towel and leave to rise (preferably in a warm place) for around one hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.

  3. Knock the risen dough back and tip it into a lightly oiled, shallow baking tray approximately 26 x 36cm. Using your fingertips, stretch and press the dough into the the edges and corners of the tin before leaving to rise again – covered, as before – for about 30 minutes.

  4. Towards the end of the second rise, preheat your oven to 250°C/gas mark 10 (or as high as it will go).

  5. Just before baking, use your fingertips to poke deep holes across the whole surface of the dough, almost to the base. Drizzle the dough generously with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and tuck the rosemary sprigs in the dimples. Bake for about 10 minutes, then turn the oven down to about 200°C/gas mark 6 and bake for a further 10-15 minutes until crisp and golden on top.

  6. Allow to cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before serving.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW  |   CREATIVE PROJECT

Cosy up, Bristol fashion

Featuring on our front cover this month, weaver, designer and colourist Angie Parker is launching her latest collection of handwoven designs and small-batch textiles. Angie's latest creations were inspired by lockdown walks among the city’s famously colourful houses.

As well as nimble new business models, lockdown prompted all sorts of creative projects in resourceful Bristol – from photography collections depicting different residents looking out from their front windows to these textiles inspired by the vibrant house facades that characterise certain stretches of the city. The latter struck Angie as a brilliant idea for a new collection as she wandered past them during daily walks – especially once she’d done some digging into their history.

10% of profits from sales of the 'Bristol blanket' will go to mental health charity MIND.

Enjoy our four-minute read here

ON THE BOOK SHELF  |  AUTUMN LEAVES

This season, more than ever, we envision ourselves escaping into book after book and devouring different perspectives to broaden our horizons from home. We asked three local bookshops what's on offer.

Take a sneak peak at two popular books this month and delve into more book recommendations here.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

It’s no surprise that Brit Bennett’s second novel has already been snapped up by HBO for a miniseries, because it is a uniquely and inherently engrossing story – an intersectional family saga that glides through issues of race, community and legacy, all through the lens of one fictional town in the American Deep South. The title refers to the disappearing act of one of the Vignes twins – two seemingly inextricable girls whose lives take shockingly different turns when one of them runs away.

storysmithbooks.com

The Silence by Don Delilo

The master of postmodern literature is back in one of our most anticipated novels of the year. It is Super Bowl Sunday in the year 2022. Five people are due to have dinner in an apartment on the east side of Manhattan. The hosts are a retired physics professor and her husband; they are joined by one of her former students and await the arrival of another couple, delayed by what becomes a dramatic flight from Paris. In the apartment, talk ranges widely. The opening kick-off is one commercial away. Then something happens and the digital connections that have transformed our lives are severed. What follows is a dazzling and profoundly moving conversation about what makes us human.

maxminervas.co.uk

OBJECT OF INTEREST  |  BREITLING 

Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition

Breitling's Superocean Heritage ’57 capsule collection is a tribute to the original 1957 SuperOcean watch and the cool, laid-back surfing lifestyle of the 1960s. This rainbow-inspired design variation comes in a limited edition of just 250 pieces. The 42mm stainless-steel case features two signature elements of the original SuperOcean: a concave bidirectional ceramic bezel and a dial featuring oversized indices. Paired with a mesh bracelet (or a black calfskin leather strap) that fits both a stainless-steel pin or folding buckle. The movement is automatic self-winding and is water-resistant to 100m.

For further details see the Mallory website: Mallory Jewellers

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THE SHOPPER  |  CASUAL BY DAY, COSY BY NIGHT

New looks at John Lewis

As the temperature drops, keeping cosy at home is top of the agenda. John Lewis has just added fashion brand Their Nibs to its autumn line-up of great names. As well as pieces from John Lewis’s own range there are lots of great collections all adding cosy clothing to make the most of daytime casual wear and keep us cosy and warm at night.

Image: left John Lewis & Partners Cleo velour hoodie £29 (matching lounge pants £29) Available in midnight, pink, blue grey or khaki. Right: Their Nibs pink lion pyjama set £30

JohnLewis.com

ON THE BOX   |   THE MERCURY SEVEN

The Right Stuff

Released on Disney Plus today, The Right Stuff  follows the incredible story of the early days of the US space program, based on the iconic bestseller by Tom Woolfe.

At the height of the Cold War, newly-formed NASA selects seven US fighter pilots to test experimental aircraft and rockets to become the first Mercury astronauts. 

Watch as astronauts and their families become instant celebrities, competing to be the first in space and inspiring the world to turn to a new horizon of ambition and hope.

Watch the full series on Disney Plus here

NEW RELEASE   |   LOCALLY FILMED

The Spanish Princess

The second and final season of the Starz Limited Series The Spanish Princess begins on STARZ and the STARZPLAY app this Sunday after filming at The Bottle Yard Studios and the surrounding region for six months in late 2019/early 2020.

The Spanish Princess season two concludes the story of Queen Catherine and Henry VIII. Catherine’s struggle to produce an heir places her marriage and position in the court at risk, and she is haunted by her choices from the past. Despite proving herself a politician, a diplomat, a national inspiration and even a military commander, Catherine must battle to save her love with the King, and to preserve the peace and prosperity of their reign.

Watch the full series here

WHAT'S ON   |  POPULAR EVENTS

ENJOY

Charlie Bigham’s is collaborating with Wells Food Festival to host a unique virtual food event on 10 and 11 October, giving local food producers a platform to sell their produce online. Explore over 150 artisan food producers, join talks and masterclasses and buy direct from the makers.

wellsfoodfestival.co.uk

IMAGINE

As thousands of imaginations were broadened during the Reading is Magic festival earlier this month, schools around the country are now tuning in to the talks and readings from an array of different authors. If you missed the festival, catch up on the events and escape into a story.

readingismagicfestival.com

JOIN

The Haunted and Hidden Bristol Walking Tour, as seen on Most Haunted, is taking place tonight. Join an 80-minute walk that combines haunted buildings and TV/film locations and prepare to be spooked.

hauntedandhiddenbristol.co.uk

COOK

At the heart of the Wells Food Festival’s food programme is the Bigham’s Banquet – a live streamed ‘cook-along’ where ticket-holders can cook alongside the country's top chefs. Hosted by food critic William Sitwell and Charlie Bigham himself. Limited to 1,000 places; £20, all proceeds go to Chefs in Schools.

bighams.com

Look out for...

Show of Strength Theatre Company's walking tours are back! Enjoy five walks around Bristol and discover the extraordinary people behind the elegant facades. Delve in to the fabulous scenery and stories and get lost in the adventure.

showofstrength.org.uk

In 2020, Bristol Choral Society conductor Hilary Campbell inspired the choir to produce its first ever recorded CD. Now, on 23 October the choir will take part in a formal virtual event where they will launch the CD and celebrate their first ever recording. Listen to their recording and grab a ticket and a copy.

eventbrite.co.uk

INTERIORS   |  HERE COMES MUGGINS

Perfectly imperfect ceramic mugs

New from Loaf is the Muggins range of ceramic mugs. Wonky in all the right places and with nine colours to choose from, they'll add a touch of arty class to your kitchen, or make the perfect gift for a loved one. Just arrived in the Loaf stores. The nearest is Cribbs Causeway or you can order online, £12 per Muggin

Loaf.com

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK  |  NEW ON THE MARKET

Thorndale Mews, Bristol, BS8

This is a generously spacious, architect-designed family home in an unusually secluded location in the heart of Clifton. Hidden away at the far end of a peaceful Clifton mews, this substantial 17-room family house offers an extensive, versatile and beautifully presented interior.

At present the house is configured as a roomy four-bedroom family home with an adjoining single-storey three-bedroom annex, but it has been designed to flex; it is intrinsically adaptable. The main house has an open-plan living space which enjoys plenty of natural light from the room-width skylight above the dining and kitchen areas. Three sets of patio doors lead out to the decked terrace and secluded garden. The entrance hall has a valuable walk-in cloakroom, and off the hall is a downstairs home office/guest bedroom with new en-suite shower room. There are solid oak floors throughout. Guide price: £1,500,000

On sale with Bristol estate agent Howard
howard-homes.co.uk

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