Window display at Room 212

Head out and have a look at Room 212's Day of the Dead window display. 

The display features 1.2m high Mexican inspired skulls by Interior Sabotage, Day of the Dead collage prints and light boxes by Jennie Cave, upcycled skeleton Barbies, mugs, coasters and more. 

From 1 November, there will also be a pre North Bristol Art Trail exhibition with Room 212 artists: Emma Catherine and Monica Cuellar. This is part of the Room 212 and Niche Frames collaboration to promote Bristol artists and to help people find original artwork and have it framed by local Gloucester Road businesses. 

Window display until 3 November | 212 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NU
For more info visit room212.co.uk

OUR NOVEMBER ISSUE IS OUT NEXT WEEK!

You'll love our fabulous November magazine which features a collection of great reading by our team of wonderful writers as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bath's best businesses. 

This month, we learn all about Evolution, the incredible drone display coming to Bristol, we check out Josh Dury's amazing astro-photography, and get to know Alexandra Pickford, the globe-trotting ballet dancer. Elsewhere, we chat with journalist Polly Toynbee about her new book and get ready for the long-awaited re-opening of the Bristol Beacon. We really 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 – 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

Carnitas, AKA Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos

Carnitas – basically, slow-cooked pulled pork – is a Mexican Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) feasting staple; why not put the scream into your own Halloween by taking a trip down Mexico way? Having said that, Carnitas makes a cool alternative to the traditional hot dog/jacket potato Bonfire Night supper too – but really, any excuse to go Carnitas crazy is worth celebrating.

You need to cook your pork the day before you plan to tuck in to your Carnitas Tacos, but there's very little fuss involved on either day – and, when it comes to serving up, your guests do all the 'hard' work for themselves.

Ingredients (serves 6)
1.6k boneless, higher-welfare pork shoulder, thick skin removed

For the rub:
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp olive oil

For the stock:
1 large onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1 tbsp jalapeños (from a jar)
4 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 tbsp soft brown sugar
1 heaped tsp cinnamon
The juice from 2 large oranges
500ml chicken stock

To serve: tacos (or taco shells); guacamole; salsa; shredded iceberg lettuce, grated cheese; soured cream.

Method:
Preheat the oven to 160°c/gas mark 3. Dry the pork shoulder thoroughly. Combine all the ingredients for the rub together in a small bowl and massage into the pork, making sure you get the rub into all the nooks and crannies.

Mix all the ingredients for the stock together in a jug. Place the pork into a sturdy roasting pan and pour the stock over the top. Cover tightly with foil, roast for 2 hours then remove the pork from the oven. Take the foil off, baste well and return to the oven for a further 2 hours, or until the pork is really, really tender.

Remove the pork from the roasting pan and place it in a large, deep, lidded container. Strain the stock over the pork and allow to cool. Put the lid on the container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Around an hour before you want to serve your Carnitas, preheat the oven to 180°c/gas mark 5 and remove the pork from the fridge. Using a large spoon, skim the fat off the surface and put the pork joint onto a large plate or chopping board. Pour the strained stock into a saucepan, bring to the boil and simmer until reduced by half. Meanwhile, shred the pork using two forks. Muddle the crispy bits with the softer slivers, spread across a roasting pan and pour the thickened stock across the top. Cover with foil and reheat in the oven for around 30 minutes.

Serve accompanied by piles of tacos, guacamole, salsa, shredded iceberg lettuce, grated cheese, soured cream and more jalapeños, for party people to combine to their Halloween heart's content.

Family Festive Fun at De Vere Tortworth Court

On Saturday 9 December set sail with a Pantomime “Treasure Island” and Festive Afternoon Tea. 

Join the adventure and cheer the hero Jenny Jiggles or boo the evil pirate Long John Silver. 

Tortworth Court’s ever popular Santa Sunday Lunches are available on Sunday 10 and 17 December. Enjoy a festive outing for all ages, with a magician and of course a visit from Santa with a gift for each child.

Tickets from £19.50
For more information and to book please visit the “What’s on” website: www.devere.co.uk/tortworth-court/whats/#!/

Get ready for festivities with 25% off all wine at Great Wine Co.

We've got some big weekends lined up... Halloween and Bonfire Night, with December and all its Christmas festivities just around the corner. So now's the time to start stocking up on fantastic wines, and The Great Wine Co. is just the place to do it!

They're offering 25% off all wine when you mix any 12 bottles until 30 October – so get shopping! But if you're stuck on where to start, we've put together a wine list to suit any celebration, so you'll be well and truly party-prepped:

Albarino DO Rias Baixas – Mar de Frades

Mango, pineapple and lychees on the nose together with wild flowers and notes of eucalyptus. Bright, fresh and vivacious on the palate with tropical fruit flavours | £22

Vin de France Rosé – Anciens Temps

An attractive, easy-drinking rosé from sunny Languedoc, this Cinsault glows pale pink and tastes unassumingly of red fruit | £9.95

Papale Oro, Primitivo di Manduria – Varvaglione

Aromas of kirsch, plum and spicy oak, and flavours of rich dark chocolate, ripe cherries and spice. Great character, with complexity and ultra-plush, velvety texture | £33.00

Carménère Gran Reserva – Viña Falernia

An intense nose with aromas of brambly black fruit, espresso, spice and sweet pepper. Robust and dense on the palate, super-velvety tannins and a fine oak nuance | £19.50

Classic Reserve Brut – Hattingley Valley

Pale gold in colour with an abundance of fine bubbles, the wine has baked apple, creamy nougat and brioche on the nose. With notes of soft lemon sherbet on the palate, it has beautiful roundness of texture and a lovely finish | £35

Shop for these wines and more at greatwine.co.uk

Lush shops give away 10,000 prizes worth £150,000

This week, in the lead up to Halloween, all UK and Ireland Lush shops will give away Treats (10,000 prizes) or Tricks (gifted samples) for every paying customer - from Halloween products to Lush Spa vouchers and customisable Parties.

After shopping, every customer who purchases something will receive a note on their receipt with ‘Trick’ or ‘Treat’, which is randomly selected on the till system. If customers win a ‘Treat’, they get a prize to be claim straightaway.

If the customer receives a ‘Trick’ on their receipt, they can redeem it for an extra product sample of their choice, recommended just for them.

Customers without a Lush shop nearby can receive a treat, or two free samples when they make a purchase online.

Valid from 24 – 31 October 2023. One receipt to be redeemed per customer per day. Only valid at the time of purchase.
Terms and conditions apply. For more information visit lush.com

Farne Beanie in autumn orange | £40

Crafted to keep your head and ears warm on cold winter days, the Farne Beanie is woven from super-soft pure Merino Wool and is a newcomer to Finisterre's winter collection.

Lightweight yet wonderfully warm, it is naturally breathable and temperature regulating. Keeping the heat in and the cold out, from intrepid treks to coastal camps.

Shop now at finisterre.com

Cosy up with TOAST for National Sleep Day

On Sunday 29 October, daylight saving conveniently lands on National Sleep Day, making for an extra reason to stay in bed.

And you can never go wrong with TOAST's nightwear, with neutral tones as well as more colourful prints, it never fails to impress!

Pictured: Tulip Cotton Flannel Pyjamas, £130
Shop more TOAST nightwear at toa.st

Montblanc Writers Edition – Brothers Grimm

Embrace your darker side this Halloween weekend with Montblanc's Writers Edition Brothers Grimm fountain pen and notebook.

The fountain pen is made from black precious resin, beautifully designed with twisting lines resembling roots. The roots are in homage to the way in which the Brothers Grimm viewed their linguistic work as 'research into roots'. The platinum-coated clip, reminiscent of a knobby piece of wood, turns to reveal the silhouette of the profile of the Brothers Grimm. £1,065.

Pair this with the Homage to Brothers Grimm Lined Notebook in green leather. The elegant design is inspired by the forest, a recurring setting of the fairytales. With 192 pages, it's the perfect companion to any writing endeavours. £75.

Click here to discover these and more of Montblanc's Writers Edition at Mallory

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Fashion legend Giorgio Armani graces the cover of Fantastic Man #37. Photographed by Alasdair McLellan at his home in Milan, we haven’t seen a lot of the Italian designer of late but he is now 89 years old and this issue features a substantial interview that looks over a long career and the implications of a forthcoming handover of the Armani empire to his two most trusted insiders. Of more importance to us, Fantastic Man has been redesigned yet again, ditching the recent unconventional square, LP-sized format just as we were getting used to it and returning to a regular A4 appearance. Still, however it comes, this Netherlands-based men’s style and culture journal is always one of the must-reads in this category | £10

magalleria.co.uk 

All Souls Service at Bristol Memorial Woodlands

A popular service which marks All Souls Day is returning to Bristol Memorial Woodlands on Sunday 29 October.

The outdoor candlelit service dedicated to remembering loved ones who have departed, will be led this year by celebrant Clare Bennett, and will feature songs led by the Edge Choir (from Wotton), poems and a short secular service.

The event is open to everyone and last year attracted over 200 people. Those attending are given a commemorative candle to hold throughout the service which is then placed to form a circle of light around a commemorative tree.

29 October | 6.30pm | Bristol Memorial Woodlands, Earthcott Rd, Bristol BS35 3TA
Find out more at memorialwoodlands.com

Bristol Fireworks Fiesta at Canford Park

Round Table and Clifton Rotary Club present Bristol’s largest charity event this year. 

Following the fantastic success of last year, Canford Park are happy to announce the return of Fireworks Fiesta with another spectacular pyrotechnics display provided by the 2023 British Firework championship, Skyburst.

There will also be a number of excellent official food and non-alcoholic drink stalls that can be found on-site. Children under the age of 3 go free!

For more information click here.

Tomorrow: Bears v Harlequins Family Day!

After a big win on the weekend away at Northampton, attention turns to Ashton Gate this Saturday as the Bristol Bears host Harlequins in their Family Day fixture.

Having won both opening league games and sitting second place in the league, don't miss out on all the action with Under-12's just £1.

Buy tickets now at tickets.bristol-sport.co.uk and head down for a 2.30pm kick-off to get in on the action! 

Also Artists: A Staff Exhibition at the RWA

The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) is about to open its latest exhibition, "Also Artists," a vibrant and diverse showcase of the hidden talents within the RWA. This exceptional exhibition features over 80 unique works by 43 members of the RWA team, including office staff, front-of-house personnel, freelancers, and Drawing School Tutors.

This exhibition is a unique opportunity to witness the diverse talents and creative expressions of the individuals who make the RWA a thriving cultural institution. Most of the artworks on display will be available for purchase, providing a chance for art enthusiasts to acquire pieces created by the talented members of our team.

07 November - 07 January | Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm
Royal West of England Academy, Lower Galleries, Queen's Road, Clifton BS8 1PX
For more information visit rwa.org.uk

Selborne Road, Ashley Down, Bristol BS7 8BG

Offered for sale by Bristol estate agents, Ocean Home

A stylish and thoughtfully extended Victorian home found on sought after road in Ashley Down. A short walk to Gloucester Road, highly regarded primary schools and local transport links means this property is sure to be popular with young couples and families alike. The current owners have opened up and extended to the rear - creating a fantastic, well designed living space. This arraignment maximises space and light, whilst connecting seamlessly to the decked section of the landscaped rear garden.

The First floor has two double bedrooms and a spacious bathroom. The larger of the two bedrooms makes up with the full width at the front of the property.

Practicality has not been forgotten with a utility / water closet neatly tucked away beneath the stairs. A cosy separate reception is found at the front and benefits from a bay window inset with sliding sash windows and a working fireplace.

Stairs rise from the landing up into a dormer loft conversion. The well-designed space incorporates a smart en suite shower room and plenty of additional storage. | Guide Price, £595,000

For more images and details click here to see the property on the Ocean Home website.