Words by Jenny Hayes

Tobacco Factory Theatres presents' Oliver Twist

On a rainy night in December, a twinkle of Christmas magic was afoot at Tobacco Factory Theatres (TFT). Oliver Twist, written by Adam Peck and directed by TFT’s artistic director Heidi Vaughan, is a charming contemporary take on a well-loved classic.

Set in modern-day Bristol, this production is packed full of local flavour and big-hearted, feel good performances. Defender Nyanhete brings a beautiful naivety to the title role, and Beverly Rudd’s female Fagan is the festive treat we all needed. These are but two of an unvaryingly strong cast who bring depth, humour and warmth to each and every one of Dickens' well-known characters.

Oliver, with a Bristol twist? This show is genius. With sparkling performances, rousing songs and a sprinkle of audience participation, we were riveted from start to finish.

Showing until 21 January
For more information and tickets click here. 

OUR DECEMBER ISSUE IS OUT!

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

In the December issue, we meet Kate Rusby ahead of her appearance at Bristol Beacon, learn how to create the perfect tablescape to enhance your festive feast, go behind the scenes of Aardman's 'Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget', and discover the Clifton Arcade, the perfect Christmas retail gem. 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

Duck à l’Orange

Duck is a uniquely flavoursome alternative to traditional festive faves such as turkey, beef or goose – and, due to the relatively small size of a typical duck (particularly in comparison to a turkey), it's perfect for smaller celebratory get-togethers, too.

This classic French recipe was a dinner party and restaurant staple across the UK in the 1970/80s. But why did we let it swim off the radar? The tantalising combination of rich roast meat offset by a semi-sweet citrus sauce results in irresistible, ooh la la allure.

A side order of potatoes roasted in the luxurious fat that collects as your duck cooks, meanwhile, is de rigueur (top tip: keep leftover fat in a sealed pot in the fridge for future use).

Ingredients (serves 4)

1 whole, ready-to-roast duck (around 1.8kg), giblets removed
1 orange, halved
2 bay leaves
1 large onion, peeled and halved

For the orange sauce

½ large onion, peeled and thinly sliced
4 tbsp orange liqueur (eg. Cointreau)
75ml red wine
150ml freshly-squeezed orange juice
3 tbsp orange marmalade
2 tsp cornflour

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°c/gas mark 5.

2. Prick the duck skin all over with the tip of a sharp skewer. Push the halved orange inside the cavity, followed by the bay leaves and half of the onion (reserving the other half for the sauce). Season generously and roast for 45 minutes.

3. Remove the duck from the oven and, using sturdy oven gloves, carefully pour the hot fat that has collected in the roasting tin into a heatproof bowl (if you're roasting potatoes in the duck fat, now's the time to add the spuds to the tin.)

4. Return the duck to the oven for a further 35-45 minutes, or until the skin is golden-brown and crisp; you'll know the duck is thoroughly cooked when a leg, if wiggled a bit, is fairly loose. Transfer the duck (and potatoes, if you've taken the recommended route) to a board or warm serving platter, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 15 minutes while you make the orange sauce.

5. Pour all but one tablespoon of the hot fat from the roasting tin into the heatproof bowl with the rest of the reserved fat. Place the roasting tin on the hob over a medium heat, slice the reserved half onion and sauté it in the duck fat, stirring regularly until softened. Add the orange liqueur and wine to the pan and allow to bubble for a few seconds before adding the orange juice (remember you've got half an orange in reserve for this) and 150ml of cold water. Allow to simmer for 2 minutes, then strain the liquid through a fine sieve into a medium-sized saucepan and return to the hob.

6. Stir the marmalade into the sauce and bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, mix the cornflour with one tablespoon of cold water until smooth and stir it into the sauce. Simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring regularly until the sauce is thick and glossy, adding any juices that have collected from the resting duck to the pan as you go.

7. Serve with those roast potatoes, braised red cabbage, seasonal greens and lashings of that sauce. Sprinkle a few cranberries for a dash of sharpness some extra colour and sheer opulence.

Feel the festive fizz

Why not get ready for Christmas with some of The Great Wine Company's fizziest, festive drinks? Here are some of the team's top Sparkling Wines:

Prosecco - Stelle d'Italia
Great Wine's best-selling Prosecco, this is lovely, lively, crisp and vivacious, with a delicate lemon and peach character, and an aromatic, dry, refreshing finish. | £11.10

Brut Metodo Classico - Planeta
Pale yellow in colour with shades of sea green. Shows distinct aromas of "muscaredda", a variety of white prickly pear, white flowers and green grass. Vibrant and lean on the palate. Mt. Etna in full eruption. | £24.40

Quartese Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG - Ruggeri
This is a seriously classy, Brut Prosecco, that comes exclusively from some of Valdobbiadene's finest vineyards, giving it fabulously concentrated nectarine and apricot fruit character, which lingers on the palate far longer. With its creamy mousse of miniscule bubbles, this is an absolute joy to drink. | £16.50

Franciacorta Brut - Mosnel
A refined aromatic medley of elderflower and hawthorn blossom with nuances of crisp Mediterranean citrus, apricot and melon, along with subtle impressions of wild herbs and almonds. | £33

Prosecco Rose DOC, Millesimato Brut - Stelle d'Italia

One of the first Rosé Proseccos in the UK. A beautiful fresh and light sparkling rosé with an intense red berry character. The fragrant, inviting nose follows through the palate, which offers hints of strawberries alongside a creamy mousse and a crisp finish. | £13.30

To explore more, visit greatwine.co.uk

The Whisky Fight Club 2023

Prepare your taste buds for an epic battle of flavours as The Clockwork Rose pits England against Australia in a blind tasting of exquisite whiskies.

Join the team for the 5th Annual Whisky Fight Club where they host their own "Ashes" with English Whisky Masthouse vs the Australian Starward Whisky. Hosted by Masthouse Head Distiller Abhi Banik and Starward European Brand Ambassador Turtle Higgins, enjoy some delicious whiskies and choose who should take home the title this year!

Throughout the evening, you'll have the opportunity to sample 6 whiskies (3 from each distillery) each with its own unique characteristics and tasting notes. 

Monday 11 December, 7.30pm
Tickets available now at theclockworkrose.com

Chanel Sublimage L'Extrait de Nuit serum | £620

Sublimage L'Extrait de Nuit is an exceptional serum that concentrates all the active fractions of Vanilla Planifolia combined with swertia extract and a powerful, naturally derived chronopeptide.

These powerful active ingredients are delivered throughout the night, maintaining the skin's rhythms. Upon awakening, as if after 8 hours of sleep, skin is visibly rested, fresh and radiant.

Shop now at chanel.com

Susan Taylor's vibrant tea towel

Susan Taylor's vibrant tea towel featuring some of the best pubs in Bristol is the perfect gift for your boozer-loving friend.

There are 75 drinking dens to discover – look to see if their favourite is included! Tea towels are priced at £12 – large posters of the design are also available on her website.

For more information visit susantaylordesign.co.uk

SS Great Britain x Stokes Croft China Hand-Painted Teapot | £55

These dainty teapots are limited edition and are designed in a collaboration between Stokes Croft China and the SS Great Britain. 

They combine archival images from the Illustrated London News with beautiful hand painted copper lustre. Each teapot features an image of the SS Great Britain on one side and the Clifton Suspension Bridge on the other. 

shop.ssgreatbritain.org

Anthropologie Sequin Cut-Out Halter Wide-Leg Jumpsuit | £108

Primed for party season, this sequin-strewn jumpsuit features a slinky halter neckline and strut-worthy hems.

The jumpsuit's name "Maeve" references a purple flower, a Greek goddess, and a famously beautiful Irish warrior queen. In light of these inspirations, it's no surprise that their collection is structured yet delicate, a representation of beauty and strength at once. Each Maeve design is refined and flattering.

Shop now at anthropologie.com

Christmas Collectibles by Georg Jensen

With candles and votives iconic Danish design house Georg Jensen has added Christmas tree ornaments to this years spectacular line up of festive collectibles. 

Treat yourself and those you love to something beautiful to help you celebrate Christmas in style with this striking collection of seasonal decorations, available in plated 18ct gold or palladium.

Each Georg Jensen design is a memorable collector’s item that will add the much-loved holiday cheer to any corner of the home.

Shown here, from left to right, are Georg Jensen Christmas Collectibles: bow decoration £20, 2023 bell decoration £29, three point star decoration £20, Christmas tree table decoration £50 and bauble decoration £29.

Click here, to see the decorations as well as Christmas candles and a collection of Georg Jensen designer homeware at Mallory. Celebrate in style.

Mayor brings 150 cultural leaders together for wonder of West's arts

Every child in the West of England will enjoy a cultural experience thanks to ‘Culture West’, launched by regional Mayor Dan Norris. 

The two-year, £3million scheme will enable schools to organise trips to the West of England’s fantastic theatres, galleries and museums. Plus, musicians, painters and poets will head to the classroom for a series of artists' residencies with local school pupils.

Determined to change this, Dan Norris’ West of England Combined Authority and the Arts Council UK have brought together 150 regional creative and cultural organisations.

Delivery partners include Aardman Animations, West of England Music and Arts, St Pauls Carnival, Trinity Community Arts, Boomsatsuma, Noods Radio, the West of England Cultural Compact, and so much more. 

Culture West will also set up of two new arts and music festivals and create new opportunities for young people to enter the creative sector.

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Slanted is a bookish-looking magazine about typography. Its 42nd issue is actually about books, more specifically about the place of the printed book in modern in media and society. It ponders whether its future might be tied to its tactile, sensual quality or is the manufacturing and design quality of modern book, in addition to its functionality, merely a gimmick or empty marketing exercise to keep it relevant? 

This issue examines those books that are pushing boundaries, moving beyond traditional norms and rediscovering their essence, driven by the belief is that genuine reading encompasses more than mere skimming – it involves and encourages understanding and engaging in creative thinking. We couldn’t agree more, and the same goes for magazines. £25

magalleria.co.uk

Artist Huw Richards Evans opens his own gallery in Clifton Arcade

For the first time in his career, acclaimed landscape artist Huw Richards Evans has brought his life-long dream to fruition by opening his own gallery in the renowned Clifton Arcade. 

Huw’s paintings are known for capturing dramatic Welsh seascapes, textual landscapes of Bristol’s iconic vistas, and exploring the exciting energy of London and New York. 

As a well-known Bristol artist, Huw’s had a range of interesting clients, from ITV's Broadchurch to Bristol University; his paintings have attracted collectors from as far as the USA, Japan and Dubai.

Instagram: @hrevansgallery
14 Clifton Arcade, Boyce’s Ave, BS8 4AA.
huwrichardsevans.com

Grab a piece of Ethicurean history

Following the closure of its restaurant in October, The Ethicurean team has taken time sorting and clearing its site, planning for the business' next venture. 

On Saturday 9 December, The Ethicurean is having a small sale between 10am-2pm, where the team will be selling carefully selected items, mementos and memorabilia from the restaurant. 

The bar and kitchen teams have also made up some of their favourite creations in an ‘Ethicurean Pantry’. This will feature infused spirits, bottled cocktails, ferments, jams, handpicked organic and biodynamic wine, miso pouches and homemade vinegars. These are perfect for a Christmas gift, or as a treat to enjoy while reminiscing on your visits to the restaurant over the past 13 years. Fresh, organic vegetables will also be available to buy from Barley Wood garden, grown around the restaurant building.

Have a look at the restaurant's Instagram page for a sneak peek of what will be on sale: @theethicurean

The MAZI Project's Give-A-Box is back!

The MAZI Project, Bristol’s food inequality charity for people aged 18-25, partners with Bristol icons, including actor Maisie Williams and Bristol City Football Club, to launch second Give-A-Box drop just in time for Christmas gifting. 

Each Bristol icon will join forces with an incredible Bristol-based chef to create their take on tasty vegetarian recipes, which will be available once a month, from January to April 2024, and are available to purchase for yourself, or as a gift.

With every purchase another will be donated by The MAZI Project to young victims of domestic abuse, asylum seekers, care leavers and youth recovering from homelessness, in Bristol. So get involved and help young people by gifting them skills for life!

For more information visit themaziproject.com

Cadbury Camp Lane, Clapton in Gordano, North Somerset, BS20

Offered for sale by Knight Frank estate agents in Bristol

Lime Breach is a stunning contemporary house where emphasis has been given to the size of rooms and its south facing aspect. All principal rooms face south over its garden and woodland towards the Mendips Hills.

The interior design is striking with vaulted ceilings, wood and marble floors and a superb reception hall and the drawing room has an impressive central stone staircase rising to the first floor and gallery landing with glazed balustrade.

The kitchen/breakfast room with Aga is extensively fitted and is open plan with a superb sitting/dining room facing east, south and west. A staircase leads down to the indoor swimming pool complex which in turn leads to the gardens.

The family room with a separate study area interconnect with the kitchen/breakfast room, reception hall and the drawing room. This room has a staircase leads to a mezzanine/gallery area ideal for use as a music room or library. All three rooms lead out to the terraces which wrap around the house.

Further ground floor accommodation includes the utility room, laundry room, cloakroom and shower room.

On the first floor the enormous principal bedroom has three walk-in wardrobes and an en suite bath/shower room. There are three further bedrooms, one with en suite bath/shower room, one with a balcony and a further family bath/shower room.

Lime Breach has an in and out drive and is approached between two pairs of solid timber electrically operated gates. Shaped lawns and mature trees with a bespoke tree house and zip line provide a very attractive approach. There is a detached double garage block with adjoining stores and parking for a number of cars. Adjacent to the garage is a timber built home office/gym. At a slightly lower level to the west of the house is an enclosed kitchen garden with a green house. | Guide price £2,850,000

Visit knightfrank.com for more information