Words by Daisy Game

The English National Ballet: Raymonda, Bristol Hippodrome, until 26 November

Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker – and Raymonda. 

Although not so well known as its playmates, Raymonda – which premiered in 1898, St Petersburg, Russia – is one of the Great Classical Ballets. Rarely performed in its entirety (companies prefer to cherry pick) no UK company had danced the story from start to finish until January 2022, when the English National Ballet brought the show to London. 

The ENB's is, however, a subtly reimagined Raymonda: directed and choreographed by Tamara Rojo, the production takes place not during the Crusades – as the original does – but rather on the frontline of the Crimean War. Raymonda herself has been given a modern makeover also, and has become a spirited young woman who, in an act of familial defiance, runs away from home to nurse wounded soldiers. It’s on the battlefield that she meets the dashing Abdur who, considering Raymonda is already engaged to the former's English ally and friend John, proves to be a slight issue.

In terms of plot, there’s not a whole lot more to it: love is fallen in and out of, hearts are brought to breaking point and – ultimately – a choice is made. But this production of Raymonda is energized by the women who inspired it; Rojo’s retelling pays tribute to the pioneering nurses who supported the soldiers in Crimea (think Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole and Sister Mary Clare Moore) and it’s a lesson in female spirit as well as heart. 

Read the full review at thebristolmag.co.uk | Tickets for Raymonda (from £13) are available at atgtickets.com

Image: English National Ballet dancers in Raymonda | Credit: Johan Persson

THE DECEMBER ISSUE: OUT NEXT WEEK

Our December magazine features a collection of great 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. 

Slow-roasted Tuscan Pork with a Mint and Caper sauce

Festive Fact alert! There are only four Sunday Roasts to go between now and Christmas. And what with The Big Day itself falling on a Sunday, you might have even started thinking about that one already...

Often dismissed as being beef, lamb or even chicken's poor relative, pork is all-too-often overlooked in our search for Sunday satiation. But as food prices soar and poultry is beleaguered by the bird flu crisis, Italy's most popular meat is coming into its own as the Great British centrepiece it deserves to be. If you fancy a taste of Tuscany this weekend (or indeed, on Christmas Day), try this!

Ingredients (serves 6-8)

2.5kg pork leg joint (ethically reared, high welfare only, please!)
4 cloves garlic, peeled and cut into slivers
2 tbsp fennel seeds
2 tbsp dried oregano
2 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
2 tsp dried chilli flakes

For the Mint and Caper sauce

2 tbsp capers
2 shallots, peeled and finely-chopped
1 bunch of fresh mint (leaves only), finely-chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

To serve: creamy mash or parmesan polenta; steamed tenderstem broccoli.

Method

1. Allow the pork leg joint to come to room temperature for one hour before preparing.

2. Preheat the oven to 140°C/gas mark 1 (yes, really – this one's going low and slow). Using a very sharp knife, carefully cut small slits all over the pork leg and insert a sliver of sliced garlic into each slit. Drizzle the joint with 1 tbsp olive oil, season well and, in a very large frying pan over a high heat, sear the meat on all sides until browned.

3. Mix the fennel seeds, dried oregano, fresh rosemary and dried chilli flakes together and scatter across a large plate. Rub the seared pork with another tbsp olive oil and roll it in the herb mixture, to coat.

4. Put the prepared joint on a roasting rack over a suitably-sized roasting tin and roast for approximately 4-5 hours, by which time the meat will be sumptuously tender. Remove the pork from the oven, cover with foil and set it aside to rest for at least 20 minutes while you make the Caper and Mint Sauce: simply mix the capers, shallots, garlic, mint, balsamic vinegar and olive oil together in a small bowl. Add a pinch of caster sugar, season well and pour into a serving jug.

5. When you're ready to serve, removing the string from the joint (if necessary; not all pork leg joints are strung) and carve into thick slices. Serve accompanied by mashed potatoes or parmesan polenta and steamed tenderstem broccoli, drizzled with the Mint and Caper Sauce.

Sloe/Damson and Spiced Apple Cocktail recipe from Six O'clock Gin

Ingredients: 

60ml (2oz) Sloe or Damson Gin
200ml (7oz) Spiced Apple Juice*

Directions:

• Infuse the cloudy apple juice by gently heating with your favorite winter spices for around 20 minutes
• Decant infused apple juice into a heatproof glass or mug and top with 50ml Sloe or Damson gin
• Garnish with an orange wheel, cinnamon stick and star anise

*When making the Spiced Apple Juice, an easy option is to use 1x Pukka Vanilla Chai teabag per 500ml of Apple Juice.

Buy 6 O'Clock Gin at 6oclockgin.com, or at their Pop-Up Shop in Cabot Circus this Christmas. 

Why not try these sparkling wines for yourself on 1 December, at the Wine Party at Clifton Observatory

Enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz upon arrival, taste RedWhite's range of over thirty award-winning wines and take advantage of a handful of masterclasses hosted by their wine experts and winemakers. Delicious food by Little French will be served all night and you can enjoy an exclusive 20% discount and free local delivery, on all orders placed.

Buy a ticket here: redwhitewineparty.eventbrite.co.uk

Wool Blend Spark Sweater

Made in Italy, this sweater features a bold starry motif to brighten up the greyest of days. Featuring a relaxed fit with a slight turtleneck, rib detailing and small side-slits for movement, it's a universally flattering soft shape | £179 

saharalondon.com | Sahara Bristol, 16 The Mall, Bristol BS8 4DR

Havana Bracelets from JIYA

This super-delicate set of bracelets in a palette of subtle jewel colours are the perfect pieces for stacking or wearing individually, to add a ‘whisper’ of subtle colour. 

Featuring rows of 18ct gold plated and glass beads, Havana’s are hand-beaded in the Jiya Jewellery Bristol studio, and blend beautifully with everything. 

£25 each £98 for a set of five | jiyajewellery.co.uk

Ghost: Crossbody Bag Gift Set

What better Christmas gift than this bargain gift set from the iconic Ghost Fragrances?

The Crossbody Bag Gift Set, available exclusively at Boots, is perfect for any beauty obsessive. Presented in this stunning Ghost crossbody bag, the gift is filled with Ghost Fragrances’ best-selling scents, including Ghost Orb of Night (30ml), Ghost Sweetheart 30ml and Ghost The Fragrance (30ml) – it’s the go-to gift for any fragrance lover.

What makes this bundle event better is that it is now the Star Gift at Boots – live now till 30 November – meaning it has gone from £80 to £39 | boots.com

Blue Topaz by Pomellato at Mallory

Pomellato's Nudo collection is loved for its simple, minimalist styling and the kaleidoscopic effect of its beautifully faceted stones.

Each piece has been handcrafted by Italian artisans from 18-carat rose gold and features a sparkling range of gemstones and birthstones for all months, colours and moods. The Nudo collection comes in several sizes: petit, classic, maxi as well as Assoluto with rings, earrings and necklaces to match your birth month or to mix up as you please. The birthstone for December is Blue Topaz. 

Here we have Pomellato’s Nudo Maxi 18ct rose and white gold blue topaz ring, £2,900, there’s also a London blue topaz version priced at £3,400.

Visit Mallory Jewellers to discover the full Pomellato range and the other birthstones, colours and sizes: mallory-jewellers.com

Fine Art Dog Portraits

Commission a contemporary styled dog portrait painted by award winning artist: Tracey Bowes. Her works are personalised by using styles and colours to suit her clients. Tracey combines her design skills with her traditional fine art practice to create breathtaking pieces. 

Prices from £25 | thefineartistshop.com

Curated by Daniel McCabe

All of Magalleria's recent issues of photography magazine Hotshoe have sold out in record time, and it’s not just hot with us – nearly all recent issues have sold out at the publisher. So we expect the latest issue, Martin Parr, to last five minutes. Parr’s work documenting British society and social class makes him one of the most important and popular figures in British photography. With the help of the Martin Parr Foundation Hotshoe has fashioned a fascinating collection of portfolios from his vast body of work, together with an extended interview, personal essays from contemporaries and more. If you’re a Martin Parr fan, don’t miss this it. If you’re not, grab a copy for someone who is | £16

Harvey Nichols Bristol: Festive Beauty Social, 3 December (12–5pm)

Join Harvey Nichols for a day of complimentary skincare treatments, mini makeovers and beauty masterclasses. 

You will also be treated to a glass of prosecco, live music throughout the afternoon and a goody bag to take home.

Tickets £10, redeemable on beauty purchases made during the event; available at harveynichols.com

Celebrate the festive season with Klosterhaus

The team at Klosterhaus Bar & Restaurant are transforming their Grade 1 listed historical building into a Nutcracker inspired Christmas wonderland! From 29 November, the restaurant will be adorned with festive garlands, twinkling lights and giant nutcrackers.

After a cold day of Christmas shopping, warm up on the stunning outdoor terrace with roaring fire pits, heaters and blankets; and what festive occasion would be complete without Mulled Wine or a Hot Toddy? Klosterhaus has partnered with Botanist Gin and Laddie Whisky to bring you a taste of Christmas with 5 limited edition cocktails.

Plus, from 3 December, the Quakers Friars Square will be illuminated by ‘A Beacon in the Bleak Midwinter’ with over 12,000 individual LED lights which will respond to interactions with passers-by.

klosterhaus.co.uk

Bristol Beacon to hit the streets with electric music machine

A bright green electric music machine is soon to become a familiar sight in Bristol, when Bristol Beacon’s new electric van hits the streets in the next few weeks.

The new e-van, joyfully wrapped in Bristol Beacon’s new branding, is part of the music charity’s ambitious sustainability plans that encompass much more than just the measures being introduced as part of the concert venue’s transformation.

In addition to the e-van, Bristol Beacon has appointed ten staff green champions from across the organisation to look at every aspect of what the charity does. The champions will be involved in developing a range of activities to support delivery of the Beacon’s Roadmap to Net Zero. 

Read more about Bristol Beacon’s sustainability ambitions at bristolbeacon.org

Steven Luatua to make his 100th competitive appearance for Bristol Bears

Steven Luatua will make his 100th competitive appearance for Bristol Bears when he makes his long-awaited return from injury against Sale Sharks at the Salford City Stadium on Saturday (1pm KO).

The All Black captains the Bears in the North West and is joined in the starting XV by Charles Piutau, back from a broken nose sustained against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.

Luke Morahan and Gabriel Ibitoye complete a dynamic back three, with Piers O’Conor returning to the side at outside centre, alongside Sam Bedlow.

Chris Vui is back from Samoa duty to take his place in the second row, while Will Porter continues in the number nine shirt and partners Callum Sheedy at half-back.

Among the system players, Aristot Benz-Salomon could make his Gallagher Premiership debut and AJ MacGinty is another player back from international duty.

Bristol Bears team to face Sale Sharks at the Salford City Stadium on Saturday (1pm KO): bristolbearsrugby.com

Picton Street, Montpelier, Bristol BS6

Offered for sale by Ocean estate agents.

This is a truly authentic artist residence – complete with its own impressive and multi-functional work space/studio – and really does need to be viewed to fully appreciate the atmosphere and combination of sensitively restored features sitting alongside bespoke fixtures and fittings.

A thorough renovation by the current owner has been completed with a light touch – producing what is an engaging, stylish and flexible property.

The ability to see from the front reception room, through the house, the length of the garden, through the detached studio and into the completely private Japanese inspired Zen courtyard garden is a wonderful feature. 

The overall plot size, amount of outside space and studio are incredibly rare to find in the desirable area of Montpelier.

The Georgian town house used to be the original showroom, with workshop at the back, of the ornamental plasterwork master craftsmen Hayes and Howle – with accommodation above. Many examples remain of decorative cornicing, ceiling roses and columns. It is now a four storey home including a full depth and width basement level, ripe for further conversion or a further work space/storage as is.

In brief the hall floor has been opened up to create one full depth kitchen/dining/living space that opens via French doors to the rear garden. The front room and kitchen are lightly divided though by a solid oak wall with French doors giving the ability to divide if wished.

The bespoke kitchen is made from solid oak and leaves space for a range oven. Stairs rise to the first floor where currently the first space is used as an additional sitting room – complete with original working fireplace. To the front is the first of three bedrooms – original stripped floorboards add to the character of this room.

Stairs rise to the top floor where two further bedrooms are found, the master making up the full width to the front of the property. A tastefully completed bathroom sits in the middle: a Velux window floods this space with light and gives useful access to the roof.

This large bathroom has space for a generous shower enclosure tiled with Calacatta tumbled marble, a free standing antique roll top bath, high level WC and vanity unit. Guide price £730,000

To see more superb images, and read through the details click here to see the property on the Ocean Home website.