The brilliant new documentary I Am Martin Parr is showing at Watershed from today, exploring Parr's extraordinary life's work and taking a peek at the man behind the camera. 

Parr, who lives in Bristol and set up his Martin Parr Foundation in Paintworks in 2014, has been both revered and resented for his images, that while rarely flattering, are an unflinching and unabashed documentary of British working class leisure culture. 

Like his photos, I am Martin Parr is a love letter to his country, and clocking in at just 66 minutes, the documentary is a comedic, kitschy, heart-warming reminder of the good that can be found through art.

I Am Martin Parr is at Watershed until next Thursday, 27 February. 

Read our review of the documentary at thebristolmag.co.uk, and click here to book tickets on the Watershed website.

All images courtesy of Martin Parr and Magnum Photos

Our brand-new March issue is out next week!

Sliding cautiously into very early Spring thinking, we've got some vibrant looks from Oliver Bonas, a rip-roaring preview at the new third volume of The Women Who Built Bristol by its author Jane Duffus, a sneaky peek behind-the-scenes at a ballet-version of Cinderella coming to Hippodrome... plus reams of exclusive Spring/Summer Homes, Interiors & Gardens content to help you overhaul your space.

...But if all of that feels a bit too bright and breezy, or you're looking for somewhere to hide until the world feels a little less, well, hectic, then we've got a four-page special on an ancient cave hiding beneath our feet in Southmead. Pop on your helmet and descend into its depths with us. 

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 and John Lewis.

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 £35 for 12 issues, £20 for six issues or buy a copy for just £4.95. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – click here to subscribe on our website. 

Recipe by Melissa Blease

There may appear to be a lot of processes in this recipe, but each step is relatively fuss-free. And if you want to get ahead, go right ahead! Your sumptuous catch of the day will sit happily in the fridge for up to 24 hours before sliding into the oven.

Ingredients (serves 4)

For the filling:

4 large eggs
200g thick white fish fillets (eg. basa, cod or haddock)
200g thick salmon fillet
200g smoked haddock
400ml full fat milk
1 onion, peeled and sliced
2 bay leaves
75g butter
75g plain flour
140g spinach leaves
3 tbsp white wine or vermouth (optional)
1 tbsp capers (drained)
1 heaped tbsp fresh dill fronds, finely chopped
2 heaped tbsp fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped

For the topping

800kg potatoes (Maris Piper work well here), peeled and chopped
150ml crème fraîche
Butter, salt, pepper

Method

1. Put the potatoes and the eggs into a large pan of cold, salted water, bring to the boil and simmer for 6 minutes. Lift the eggs out of the pan with a slotted spoon and continue cooking the potatoes for around 10-15 minutes until soft but not falling apart. Drain the potatoes and allow to steam for at least 5 minutes before returning to the pan and mashing with the crème fraîche, adding butter/seasoning to taste. Set to one side.

2. Place the fish fillets in a large, wide saucepan with the milk, onion slices and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle simmer then cover and remove from the heat. Leave to stand and infuse for around 6 minutes then drain the fish in a colander over a large jug to reserve the infused milk. Put the fish onto a plate and, when cool enough to handle, peel the skin away and chop into evenly-sized chunks. Set both the poaching liquid and the fish to one side.

3. Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for a minute or so then gradually add the infused fish-poaching liquid. Stir over a medium heat for around 3 minutes or until the sauce is smooth and thick. Stir in the spinach and wine or vermouth (if using), cook for 2 more minutes, remove from the heat and add the herbs and capers. Season to taste and set to one side.

4. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 5. Scatter the fish chunks across the base of a large, shallow oven dish and top with the peeled, chopped, hard boiled eggs. Slowly pour the sauce across the top and jiggle the dish a bit to make sure the fish and eggs are evenly covered. Spoon the mashed potato over the top, swirl with a fork to create ripples, place the dish on a baking tray and bake in the centre of the oven for around 30-40 minutes or until the potato is golden and the filling is bubbling. 

5. Allow the pie to ‘settle down’ for 5 minutes before serving with, perhaps, a big bowl of buttered peas.

What have the Romans ever done for us?

Well, they've given us some great wine, for starters.

The Italians have been drinking wine since ancient times, so it’s no surprise that they’ve perfected the art. From Puglia to Piemonte, Tuscany to Trentino, Italy's topography is perfect for grape-growing, and is in fact home to the widest variety of indigenous grapevine in the world. While you could spend a lifetime exploring what the country has to offer, here's a small selection of Italian bottles to tickle your tastebuds.

Papale Oro Primitivo di Manduria – Varvaglione
Deep, dark, tempting and seriously seductive, Papale Oro has aromas of kirsch, plum and spicy oak, and flavours of rich dark chocolate, ripe cherries and spice. This is Puglian wine at its best, with great character and warmth, and ultra-plush, velvety texture. £35

Colline Novaresi DOC Vespolina Ronco al Maso – Rovellotti 
A quintessential northern Italian red, the Vespolina has deep ruby-purple colour. Macerated rose, redcurrant, spicy and peppery notes, and some woody, earthy liquorice root character. £24

Gavi di Gavi DOCG – Fontanafredda
One of Italy's most fashionable whites, this wine from Piemonte  is a bright straw-yellow with greenish highlights. It has a full, delicate, elegant bouquet which brings flowers and fresh fruit to mind - mostly lemons, lilies of the valley and green apples. £22

Lamaione – Frescobaldi
This Tuscan red's ruby colour with tinges of purple is intense and impenetrable. The bouquet offers a wonderful array of aromas, but fruit is the star of the show, with pervasive hints of blueberry balanced out by fresh balsamic and minty notes. £84

Soave Vintage – Bertani
From Veneto, this white has an intense aroma of elderflower, cherry blossom and gooseberry, with hints of sage and mint on the nose. It has a vibrant acidity on the palate with peach and apricot flavours. Long lasting and persistent aftertaste. £25

Discover all of these and more at greatwine.co.uk

Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date Oystersteel and yellow gold

Rolesor watches combine the strength and reliability of Rolex's Oystersteel with the beauty and lustre of 18ct gold - this two-tone pairing on the bezel and bracelet are a prominent feature of the Oyster collection and characteristic Rolex styling.

Shown here is the 41mm Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date in Oystersteel and yellow gold with a royal blue dial with large luminescent hour markers. The new hard and virtually scratchproof Cerachrom blue ceramic unidirectional bezel and the dial’s luminescent Chromalight display are innovations that improved visibility in dark environments, an essential feature for divers.

With hour markers in simple shapes and broad hour and minute hands are easy to read and prevent any risk of confusion underwater. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and Cyclops lens over the date window complete the Rolex look.
The movement is the self-winding Manufacture Rolex Calibre 3235 and like all Oyster Perpetual Submariners is waterproof to 300m.

While a rugged and reliable diving instrument, this Rolex surpasses it's original purpose and for most, on the wrist, it is a beautiful precision timepiece, highly desired and a globally recognised icon. £14,950

To find out more visit Mallory - an official Rolex Retailer or click here to see the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date on the Mallory website.

Curated by Daniel McCabe

The world of independent magazine publishing has delivered almost nothing on the subject of whisky for us so far. We have to rely almost solely on The Angels’ Share which, fortunately, is not only entertaining but also innovative, typified by this fifth issue, an English Whisky Special that consists of five separate 28-page journals packaged together for the same price as a regular issue (£10). Each journal focuses on one distillery, providing information on how it came about, what it makes, how and why – it’s basically a whisky tour around England, from the Lake District to the Yorkshire Coast and from the Peak District to Norfolk to the Cotswolds. They can be purchased separately, but why not become an instant expert? | £10

magalleria.co.uk

Bristol Film Festival presents 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Brazil' at The Planetarium, Friday 7 March

Bristol Film Festival is back with another brilliant film screening in The Planetarium at We the Curious. 

The next installation of their Sci-Fi series will see a double bill of two of the more eccentric entries into the sci-fi canon... Douglas Adam's The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Terry Gilliam’s dystopian dark comedy Brazil. 

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy follows Arthur Dent, who is having quite the morning. One minute, he was trying to stop bulldozers from destroying his home to construct a bypass. The next, he’d been whisked into space by his secretly alien friend, to avoid being obliterated along with Planet Earth (again, to construct a bypass). The day can’t possibly get any stranger - can it…?

Later, in the bureaucratic dystopia of Brazil, low-level worker Sam Lowry is haunted by dreams of a mysterious woman. When he is tasked with correcting an administrative error, he inadvertently finds himself on the trail of this woman in real life - but also gets on the wrong side of the repressive regime, and is forced into a surreal misadventure.

Make sure you explore the Planetarium’s space gallery before the screenings and see if you’re cut out for a life in space, then recline in the unique screening space. As the lights dim, your journey will begin with a tour of the Solar System in a Planetarium star show, the perfect way to set the scene for your films...

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, 6.30 – 8.50pm
Brazil, 9.15 – 11.59pm  

PopUp Painting is coming to Bristol with a Paint the Bristol Skyline sip and paint at Small Bar!

Inspired by Rosanna Verdon-Roe's (pictured) Bristol Skyline painting, the event is a chance to get creative - with a glass of wine or prosecco in hand, of course. 

Whether you're a budding artist or looking for a fun night out with friends, this is the perfect Wednesday evening activity for letting loose and getting your creative juices flowing. What's more, you'll take home your very own masterpiece!

Spaces are limited, so book early to avoid missing out. 

This Wednesday, 26 February, 7pm – 9pm
Small Bar, 31 King Street, Bristol BS1 4DZ; popuppainting.com

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.”– Buddha

Flowers, plants and botanical-inspired artworks fill the Kenny Gallery in this joyous exhibition curated by Malcolm Ashman RWA and Stephen Jacobson RWA. Alongside recent works by Academicians Cynthia Lear and Charlotte Price, discover rarely-seen pieces from the RWA Collection by celebrated artists including Derek Balmer, Mary Fedden, Alastair Michie and George Tute.

This exhibition is showing until 9 March, and complements the RWA major retrospective exhibition – Paule Vézelay: Living Lines – which also celebrates forms found in nature. 

RWA, Queen's Road, BS8 1PX; Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
rwa.org.uk

For one night only, What The Frock! Comedy returns to Bristol - to mark the launch of 'The Women Who Built Bristol: Volume Three' by author Jane Duffus.

Head to the beautiful Cooper's Hall at Bristol Old Vic, where multi award-winning comedian Ada Campe will be your host.

Author Jane Duffus will be in conversation with BBC Bristol's Laura Rawlings, talking about the new book and some of the fantastic stories inside.

Then see a mini return of Jane's award-winning comedy event What The Frock! Comedy, where Bristol's own Dani Johns and Frock! favourite Ada Campe will be your illustrious entertainers.

As you would expect, copies of Jane's new book will be on sale (along with copies of the previous two volumes), and Jane will be waving her pen around and will be happy to sign copies. Cards and cash will be welcome.

Monday 3 March, 7pm; Tickets £16 from headfirstbristol.co.uk

Charity bike ride Tour de Bristol, organised by St Peter's Hospice, is returning for 2025. Taking place on 5 April, participants can choose from three different routes - 40, 65, or 100km - all starting form the UWE Centre for Sport and heading into the Gloucestershire countryside. 

Take in the stunning local scenery and enjoy feed stations along the route, chip timing, and of course, a medal at the finish line.

Entry fees:
100km – £40
40km - £30
Your Ride (take part virtually at a time and place that suits you) - £20

Wave times vary, visit stpetershospice.org to find out more and sign up today!

Ashton Gate is getting ready to host England A and Ireland A this Sunday, in an exciting clash of some of Rugby's best talent.

Two Bristol Bears players will be playing for the England side this weekend: George Kloska (3) and Gabriel Oghre (16), will appear in the lineup, joining Joe Carpenter, Will Butt, Tobias Elliott, Max Ojomoh, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Charlie Atkinson, Jack van Poortvliet (who will captain the side), Phil Brantingham, Curtis Langdon, George Kloska, Hugh Tizard, Tom Lockett, Tom Pearson, Alfie Barbeary and Jack Kenningham.

3pm kick-off

The game will be streamed live for free on RugbyPass TV;
visit ashtongatestadium.co.uk to buy tickets

A timeless family home in Bishopston, BS7

Offered for sale by Ocean Agents

5 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 1 Reception | Guide Price: £850,000

Homes like this don't come along too often. This five-bedroom terraced home may have the qualities of the Edwardian period - the classic symmetry, elegant sash windows, and ornate cornicing, but it has been carried into the 21st Century with aplomb.

Entering the house you are greeted by a spectacular entrance hall that creates a sense of grandeur with it's traditional tiled floor and intricate stain glass detailing. Sunlight streams through the characterful sash windows in the principle living room.

The kitchen is a mix of modern comforts and original architectural detailing. It has been sensitively extended allowing a seamless flow to move around the kitchen/living area. This is a space created for entertaining which opens on to the sheltered garden via bi-folding doors.

The first floor is home to four bedrooms each with there own individual sense of character and charm, providing flexibility and comfort for family or friends. The overall sense of atmosphere is tranquil and considered. Extending into the loft, the owner has created a versatile and stylish bedroom, along with an ensuite shower room that pops with personality.

The large private rear garden is perfect for enjoying quality time with friends and family. Opening up the bi-folds, the space becomes an extension of the home during the Summer months.

Codrington Road sits within a pocket of Bishopston known for its sense of Strong community spirit and peaceful atmosphere. The vibrant Gloucester Road and open green space of St. Andrews park are all within easy walking distance of your front door.

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