Stand up for safe water

Bristol-based global charity, Frank Water alongside SUP Bristol, is hosting a paddle-boarding competition on the beautiful and historic harbourside from 1 – 6.30pm on 30 June. 

The inclusive event is open to anyone, and it's a brilliant opportunity to get a group of friends, family, or colleagues together to have fun, but also support the charity's water security work, enabling sustainable safe water, better sanitation, and good hygiene for those most in need.

Frank Water is asking teams of four to register for £180 and raise £199 in sponsorship. In return, each team that enters will receive a free team training session with SUP Bristol and the chance of winning the coveted Stand Up for Safe Water trophy.

The event is sponsored by Aquaplanet, who are giving away a stand-up paddle board kit worth up to £600 for the paddler of the day.

Register for your place at: frankwater.com

OUR MAY ISSUE: OUT NOW

You'll love our fabulous May magazine which features a great collection of 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. 

Get ready for BS5 Art Trail this weekend

Over 120 artists and makers will exhibit their work at venues across BS5 from 11am-5pm on 20 and 21 May.

Celebrating creativity in the city the BS5 Art Trail will cover the communities of St George, Greenbank, Easton, Whitehall and Redfield giving visitors the chance to view talented artists and explore the area and its venues.

The trail is the third annual event of its kind, with this year set to be even bigger and better than previous years.

Appearing at The Chocolate Factory will be DesignJo, Extempore Art, Ingsu Jewellery, Jo Peake Creates, Jonny Verrell, Laboratory of Things, Laura Calvert, Lisa Travers, Ruth Frost and Veri Beri Art.

The Chocolate Factory resident Val Stephenson is also opening up her door to showcase her own colourful and expressive oil paintings of landscapes, people and still life.

Elsewhere on the trail exhibits will be shown at The Greenbank Pub, BAM Store + Space, St Anne’s Church, The Beehive Centre and St George Community Centre.

Details and maps can be found online at: bs5arttrail.co.uk

Words by Melissa Blease

Asparagus x 4

Brunch: Pancetta-wrapped Asparagus with Dippy Eggs (serves 2)

Snap off and discard the woody ends from a generous bunch of asparagus. Wrap each spear in a slice of Pancetta, leaving the tips peeping out at the top. Bring a medium-sized saucepan of water to the boil, reduce to a simmer, gently lower 4 medium-sized free-range eggs into the water and cook for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a knob of butter in a frying pan over a medium heat and sauté the pancetta-wrapped asparagus for around 4-5 minutes, or until the asparagus is just tender and the pancetta is turning crisp and golden. Serve the soft-boiled eggs in egg cups, with the asparagus 'soldiers' on the side, for dipping.

Simple Supper: Creamy Asparagus Pasta (serves 2)

Snap off and discard the woody ends from a generous bunch of asparagus and cut the tips away from the stalks. Put the tips to one side and chop the stalks into 2cm chunks. Pour 150ml double cream into a small saucepan and add 2 peeled, whole garlic cloves. Bring the cream to boiling point then immediately take the pan off the heat. Remove and discard the garlic cloves and set to one side. Simmer the chopped asparagus stalks in boiling, salted water for around 4-5 mins (or until tender), drain, then tip into the infused cream with around 50g grated parmesan. Blitz with a hand blender (or in a food processor) until smooth. Cook 250g tagliatelli according to the instructions on the packet, adding the asparagus tips for the last 2 minutes of cooking time. Meanwhile, gently reheat the cream sauce. Tip the warm sauce over the drained pasta and toss well. Divide between two warm bowls and serve topped with parmesan shavings, a smattering of capers and plenty of black pepper.

Chic Canapés: Asparagus and Parmesan Cigars (makes 12)

Preheat the oven to 200c/gas mark 6 and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Snap off and discard the woody ends from 12 chunky asparagus spears and blanch in boiling water for 1 minute before immediately plunging into a bowl of iced water. Layer two large sheets of filo pastry with melted butter. Place the asparagus in rows on top of the pastry, scatter with grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese (approx. 3-4 heaped tbsp of grated cheese should be enough in total) and top with another sheet of filo pastry. Slice the filo accordingly around each spear of asparagus and loosely roll the pastry around each one, leaving the tips showing. Brush with more melted butter and bake in the pre-heated oven for 10-12 minutes until the pastry is golden. Serve warm, with a little pot of mayonnaise for dipping.

Singular Sensations

It should be no surprise that the term ‘Single Vineyard’ refers to wine that comes exclusively from grapes grown in a single vineyard site and the combination of unique elements that are perfect for grape cultivation, including soil, topography, water quality, sunlight, and temperature.

The balance and harmony of the elements in the vineyard create optimal growing conditions, which ultimately leads to the production of premium grapes and, in turn, higher quality wine.

Because a Single Vineyard wine is sourced solely from one location, it is considered superior in quality. Isolating the vineyard allows winemakers to focus their attention on delivering the very best product from the grapes grown there, resulting in a more meticulous and attentive winemaking process.

Here’s four sensational singles to try. Search for more at The Great Wine Co.
greatwine.co.uk

Sahara Tranquil Garden Print Dress, £185

A refreshing and refined take on floral, the Tranquil Garden print embodies Spring. This soft feminine dress features a smock neck with gathered pleats, front button placket, gently ruched bishop sleeves and a flowy flattering silhouette which can be dressed up or down.

Go to saharalondon.com to shop this dress
Click here for the Jasmine Hemsley Edit and click here for Sahara Bristol shop info

Sparks Bristol opens – putting the art back in department stores

A new creative sustainability and education hub has opened in Broadmead, welcoming over 8,000 visitors in its first weekend.

Sparks Bristol, the groundbreaking project that merges art, education, shopping, and sustainability, opened its doors at midday on 13 May, revitalising one of Bristol's most iconic former department stores in the heart of Broadmead. 

Part art installation, part retail space, and part educational centre, Sparks Bristol is an eclectic pilot project that reimagines the purpose of empty department stores on the high street, with a strong emphasis on community and sustainability.

To find out more about Sparks Bristol, visit: sparksbristol.co.uk

Introducing the new face of Bleu de Chanel fragrance

BLEU DE CHANEL marks Timothée Chalamet's first collaboration with CHANEL and as the official ambassador of any fashion or beauty label.

With a dynamic energy as raw as it is refined, the French-American 27-year-old actor has gained a distinguished worldwide reputation, while still at the dawn of his career. Apart from his audacious style and unapologetic charm, Timothée Chalamet personifies the visionary and edgy spirit of the next chapter of BLEU DE CHANEL.

The fragrance makes a perfect gift for Father's Day. Click here to shop at chanel.com

FOPE's Flex'it Bracelets

Founded back in 1929 by Umberto Cazzola as a goldsmith’s workshop in Vicenza, the company specialised in making watch straps from gold and other metals, becoming suppliers to Switzerland’s biggest watchmaking brands. 

Over the generations the family firm used its expertise to create its own gold jewellery collections. Today FOPE is recognised as one of the finest luxury jewellery brands in the world, famous for creating the iconic Novecento mesh and the Flex’it collection – a superbly flexible and intricate gold weave that allows jewellery to be shaped into beautiful designs, which is FOPE’s unmistakable, signature style. Adored by the glitterati since the early 80s, the flexible rope like pieces are never out of vogue and its timeless appeal is elegant and highly desirable.

Want one? Prices start at £1,950 for a Prima Flex'it 18ct yellow gold bracelet with diamond set rondel.

As well as these gorgeous bracelets, see the full, covetable range of FOPE jewellery at Mallory.

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Griffé is a French magazine exploring fashion by literally looking at the label – or what’s behind it. Followers of fashion are often glued on the industry’s stellar designers, but here the focus is on brand profiles and archive that reveal hidden stories about the actual fashion houses themselves. If you collect fashion, Griffé enables you to date your vintage pieces by providing the chronologies for garment labels collected from archives, museums and collectors from all around the world. The first in the series kicks off with the commercial biography of Maison Margiela | £30

store.magalleria.co.uk

Bath Racecourse Ladies Day Saturday 17 June

Come to one of the stand-out days in the Bath social calendar and join fellow race-goers for a show of style and beauty in the ever-popular Ladies Day at Bath Racecourse.

Stylish outfits, ornate hats, fantastic food and drink and, of course, exciting racing combine to ensure you and your friends have a day out to remember at one of the country’s best small racecourses.

Soak up the atmosphere in the Grandstand and feel the thunder of the horses as they race by, or take the opportunity to celebrate a day in the sun with one of our hospitality packages for something a little more special.

Go to bath-racecourse.co.uk for tickets and more information

Woodland walks to help cope with bereavement

Bristol Memorial Woodlands has partnered with Cruse, the UK’s leading bereavement charity, to organise regular bereavement walking groups.

Cruse bereavement volunteers will guide people coping with grief around the woodlands, near Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, so they spend time in a therapeutic natural environment, enjoying nature and exercise. The first walk is planned for 24 May.

The link-up follows successful walking with grief sessions at the woodlands by Health Psychologist Mireille Hayden of Gentle Dusk.

Bristol Memorial Woodlands has now set out a recommended walking route. People wishing to take part must register with Cruse in advance.

Anyone wishing to take part should contact CRUSE with details on this webform cruse.org.uk to be contacted about their nearest walk.

Rockhampton Folk Festival

The Rockhampton Folk & World Music Festival is taking place on 17 June at Rockhampton, Gloucestershire GL13 9DX.

Expect top-quality Gaelic folk from two of the best young musicians of their generation. Plus, music from the Balkans, traditional African harpist Bach and Bubbles and loads more. Free participation workshops for all ages.

The festival all happens in a small field by the church in Rockhampton and is simply about quality music and having fun in a safe, relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Early bird tickets (until 4 June): Adult, £16; Child (3–18yrs), £5; Family (up to 2 adults and 4 children), £40. From 5 June: Adult, £21; Child, £6; Family, £50. Book your tickets at rockhamptonfolkfest.org.uk

Benville Avenue, Coombe Dingle, Bristol BS9

Offered for sale by Ocean estate agents.

This is a brand new four-bedroom art-deco styled detached family home on the highly sought after Benville Avenue in Coombe Dingle. It is offered with no onward chain, a 10-year AHCI warranty & high energy efficiency and includes solar panels.

This recently constructed home features high specification accommodation, which in brief consists of: entrance hallway with under stairs storage and a WC, a lounge with French doors leading to the rear garden, a superb kitchen/diner with white marble style Quartz worktops, integrated appliances and a Bosch induction hob. The landing leads to four generous bedrooms with en-suite to master and there’s a main family bathroom. The rear aspect enjoys far reaching views.

As well as excellent energy efficiency the ground floor is entirely heated underfloor which can be controlled separately in each room/area.

Outside, to the rear is an enclosed south east facing garden that has been laid to patio and lawn and benefits from side access.

To the front there is a pleasant garden with a young hedgerow to nurture and grow. There are two spacious parking spaces and a electric car charging point. £699,950

For more images and details, click here