Old Oak at Watershed

The Old Oak is showing at Watershed from today!

The film is the latest from Ken Loach, the director renowned for his critical directing style and socialist ideals.

This time Loach tackles immigration, and xenophobia. TJ Ballantyne is hanging on to his pub, The Old Oak, by his fingertips in a cash-strapped village in the North East. His predicament is further endangered when the pub becomes contested territory after the arrival of Syrian refugees who are placed in the village without any notice.

In an unlikely friendship TJ meets a curious young Syrian Yara (Ebla Mari) with her camera. Can they find a way for the two communities to understand each other?

Click here to read our exclusive interview with Director Ken Loach in the October issue of The Bristol Magazine.

For tickets to The Old Oak go to watershed.co.uk

ENJOY OUR OCTOBER ISSUE – OUT NOW

You'll love our fabulous October 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. 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

Roast cauliflower with Yoghurt Sauce and Muhammara

This recipe takes the humble cauliflower (trending right now on the UK seasonal food charts) on a Middle Eastern adventure.

The smoky, earthy essence of this dish relies heavily on Sumac: a combination of spices essential to Middle Eastern cookery, readily available in the spice section of most big supermarkets. We're using Sumac to both flavour the cauliflower while its roasting, and again in the Muhammara: a richly fruity red pepper dip that's also delicious with grilled meat or fish, or roasted vegetables. If you can't get your hands on pomegranate or date molasses for the Muhammara, thick, sweet balsamic glaze is a good substitute. 

Ingredients (serves 4)

1 large cauliflower, cut into big florets (you'll need around 800g of florets in total)
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp Sumac

For the yoghurt sauce:
300g Greek-style yoghurt
1 garlic clove (peeled and crushed)
2 tbsp lemon juice

For the Muhammara:
3 large roasted red peppers (from a jar)
50g fresh white breadcrumbs
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp pomegranate or date molasses (see note above)
2 tsp Sumac
1 garlic clove (peeled)
25g finely-chopped walnuts or toasted flaked almonds
1 tbsp olive oil

To serve: plenty of finely-chopped fresh parsley

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 5. In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with the olive oil and sumac. Season well and spread out on a large oven tray lined with greaseproof paper. Roast for 25-30 minutes or until the florets are lightly charred but still retain a bit of bite.

Meanwhile, mix all the ingredients for the yoghurt sauce together and set to one side while you get on with making the Muhammara:

Pat the roasted peppers dry and drop into the bowl of a food processor or blender. Add the breadcrumbs, lemon juice, pomegranate or date molasses and sumac and pulse until all the ingredients have combined but the peppers still retain a bit of texture. Tip the mixture into a bowl. Add the walnuts or almonds and olive oil, stir well and season to taste (you may want to add extra pomegranate or date molasses for yet more 'fruitiness').

To serve, spread the yoghurt sauce over the base of a shallow platter followed by the warm cauliflower. Top with the Muhammara and a generous sprinkling of finely-chopped fresh parsley.

Great Value Mixed Six

Time for a real bargain… this specially selected mixed case of 6 delicious wines was £57.30, it is now £37.50!

A mixed six bottle case from great winemakers from across the world. High quality wines, utterly delicious and reliable for everyday drinkings.

1 x 2022 Reserve Chardonnay, Tooma River
1 x 2022 Chenin Blanc, Stormy Cape
1 x 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Primera Luz
1 x NV Merlot del Veneto, Via Nova
1 x 2021 Artolas Red, Vidigal
1 x 2022 Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, Tarapaca

What's more, The Great Wine Co. offers free local delivery on orders over £50, so why not add a Picpoul or Prosecco or two to your basket.

Head to greatwine.co.uk to shop

October Birth Flower Necklace - Cosmos | £114

Celebrate her birth month with a dainty cosmos necklace. Cosmos is a birth flower for October and this pendant is made with recycled silver.

Free shipping and personalised note inside the gift box.

Shop at honeywillow.com

New Molton Brown Advent Calendar | £210

Classic scents include Orange & Bergamot, Re-charge Black Pepper and Heavenly Gingerlily with deluxe sizes of the NEW Marvellous Mandarin & Spice Collection. This new collection is reminiscent of dessert on Christmas Day surrounded by family with notes of tart mandarin zest, lively ginger, cinnamon, and earthy nutmeg. The range consists of a Fine Liquid Hand Wash, Hand Lotion, a Festive Bauble and Signature Scented Candle and is also available in full size (prices range from £15-£42).

The 2023 Advent Calendar is beautifully designed, using 100% recycled materials, including the drawers and base label and the ribbon is also made from 70% recycled plastic.

Shop now at moltonbrown.co.uk

Bird Call High Chelsea Boots | £140

Autumn is officially here and so is a dash of menswear for womenswear!

This season Seasalt Cornwall borrows from the boys and brings a collection of androgynous footwear, that harks back to the rugged days of 2010, to the fore as we head into autumn. With both function and aesthetics in mind the collection ranges from chunky Chelseas to lace-up fastenings, to rustic derbies mounted on thick, notched soles and are perfect wear-with-everything style solutions for colder months.

Visit seasaltcornwall.com to shop

Chopard Happy Hearts

The Happy Hearts bangles from luxury jewellery brand, Maison Chopard feature two hearts, each beautifully counter-balanced in harmony

One big heart is filled with a colourful, precious gemstone or even a diamond cluster; the other contains a freely floating diamond which is sealed in a crystal glass case.

The bangle is made from either 18ct yellow, white or rose gold.

Prices start from £2,890

To complement the look there are Chopard Happy Heart earrings, rings, necklaces and timepieces.

Click here to see the collection, as well as many other treasures from Chopard at Mallory.

SPECIAL MAGALLERIA EVENT – MEET GHISLAIN PASCAL

3 October, 7pm. 

The sixth issue of queer fine art photography magazine and Magalleria favourite BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! appeared in the summer.

To celebrate all six issues to date as well as the just-released BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! book we’ve invited the publisher, Ghislain Pascal, over from France to appear at Magalleria this coming week (Tuesday 3 October, 7pm).

He’s touring the UK, Europe and the US to talk about what be believes is the first international fine art photography magazine dedicated to the subject.

It promises to be a fascinating and unique event as well as an opportunity to get your BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! signed. More details on our website. | £20/£25

For more details, go to magalleria.co.uk

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Magalleria, 5 Upper Borough Walls, Bath  BA1 1RG.

Storytale Festival 2023

Chapter 5 of Storytale Festival will take place over the first weekend of October half term, and is jam-packed with events for all the family from a myths and magic inspired creative writing workshop, to a bat-tastic story time and draw-along with author-illustrator Emma Reynolds. 

Plus, there's a special, multi award-winning show, The Extraordinary Time-Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen, to kick everything off a whole week before on Sunday 15 October at the 1532 Performing Arts Centre with Oh So Funny Comedy.

Accessible and affordable with lots of free events including inspiring storytelling and interactive craft sessions, there'll be something for everything. 

For the full programme of events, more information and details about how to book, go to storytalefestival.com

TONIGHT: Bristol Bears vs Doncaster Knights

Bristol Bears are travelling to Doncaster tonight in their fourth pool stage game of the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Cup, following their first win of the new season last weekend.

Fitz Harding makes his return from injury when Bristol Bears take on Doncaster Knights at Castle Park (7.30pm Kick-Off).

The back-row forward captains the side from number eight for the Premiership Rugby Cup clash, as the Bears continue to build towards the Gallagher Premiership season opener against Leicester Tigers on Friday, October 13 at Ashton Gate.

Find out more at bristolbearsrugby.com

Symphonic Universe: The Music of the Avengers and Beyond

Experience the astounding, epic music of cinema’s most spine-tingling moments performed live on stage by an orchestra and choir, presented by BBC Radio 1’s Ali Plumb.

Escape to another realm with a show full of songs for superheroes, music fit for gods and the sounds of space brought to life – you’ll hear it all in Symphonic Universe!

Come dressed for the occasion and assemble for snap-worthy moments with props and pictures.

Sunday 29 October | 3pm
The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine's Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
Buy tickets at atgtickets.com

City of Bristol Choir at All Saints' Church, Clifton

In Balm for the Soul the 100 voices of City of Bristol Choir perform choral music rich in soaring lyricism and sumptuous harmonies.

With Richard Johnson on the Organ and the choir conducted by David Ogden, they will perform Requiem by Fauré and Cantus Missae in E Flat by Rheinberger.

Tickets are £15 for adults and £5 for students and under 18s, including a glass of wine or soft drink in the interval.

Saturday 14 October | 7.30pm | All Saints' Church, Pembroke Road, Clifton BS8 3ED
For tickets, go to cityofbristolchoir.org.uk

The Craft4Crafters Stitching4 All Show

The Craft4Crafters exhibition features a mass of crafting delights; packed full of crafting displays, demonstrations, lectures, workshops, make & takes, and a large selection of fantastic retailers. Stock up on craft & needlework supplies, including embroidery, card making, cross stitch and knitting. 

New this year is the Quilt Hall with over 100 quilts, the Daily Fashion Show and the Sewing Classrooms. 

12 - 14 October | 10am - 5pm Daily
The Bath & West Showground Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QN
Visit craft4crafters.co.uk for tickets and more informarion

Cabot Circus, Aardman and Upfest unveil new mural

Cabot Circus has partnered with animation studio Aardman and Europe’s largest street art festival, Upfest, to create a new iconic mural in Quakers Lane, celebrating the creativity of Bristol and featuring many of Aardman’s most enduring characters.

The 11.5m high mural by local artist Dave Bain interprets beloved characters from Aardman’s animated worlds, including Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit, Morph and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, and is based on an original artwork conceived by designer and illustrator Lorna Harrington, an emerging creative talent within Aardman. These characters are cleverly interspersed with famous Bristol landmarks including the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, and the hot air balloons that grace Bristol’s skies.

Dave Bain’s idiosyncratic illustrations are colourful, distinctive, wildly expressive and feature stylised characters. This brightly coloured artwork interprets Lorna’s original illustration of the famous Aardman characters, known the world over, but originally created in Bristol.

Find out more about Upfest at upfest.co.uk

Bristol Cider are featuring on ITV's James Martin's Saturday Morning!

On Saturday 30 September, the award-winning Bristol Cider Company will be on the primetime food & drink show James Martin's Saturday Morning.

Not only will James be cooking with their award-winning Steam 4.5% sparkling cloudy cider, but he will also be chatting with Bristol Cider Co co-owner Jonathan Kemp.

Bristol Cider Co, started in 207 by Marcus Chappell and Jonathan Kemp, no supplies over a hundred pubs, bars, restaurants, music venues and festivals in Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and the surrounding areas. This year it has gained global recognition for its gorgeous West Country Ciders by twinning the Silver Medal at the Global Cider Masters 2023 for its Steam 4.5% cloudy cider.

Shop Bristol Cider at bristolcidercompany.co.uk

One lamp, three wishes and infinite possibilities… Disney’s spectacular Broadway and West End musical Aladdin - The Musical comes to Bristol in Summer 2024!

By signing up (by 22 October) you'll get access to an exclusive pre-sale, giving you the chance to snap up the best seats before everyone else!

Hazelnut Community Farm to feature on BBC Songs of Praise

Diocese of Bristol is pleased that the award-winning Hazelnut Community Farm will be featured on BBC One’s Songs Of Praise this Sunday, 1 October at 1.15pm. The programme will celebrate harvest by discussing with Revd John White, the founder of Hazelnut Community Farm, how one can worship God through the practice of gardening.

Hazelnut Community Farm is based in Bristol at St Anne’s Church, Stapleton and involves the local community through sustainable growing techniques and bi-weekly gardening meets. More than half of the community are recent migrants from Hong Kong who have found the project helpful as they settle in the Bristol area.

Learn more at bristol.anglican.org

Lawrence House, Guinea Street, Bristol, BS1

Offered for sale by Rupert Oliver estate agents.

This is a modern three-bedroom duplex apartment situated on the first and second floor of a building of just four private dwellings.

The apartment is hugely versatile and offers generous accommodation with quiet surroundings, making it the perfect space to relax, and entertain and offers some great features for anyone who might wish to work from home.

From a communal door and stairway on Guinea Street, the apartment is accessed from the first floor of Lawrence House.

On entering there’s a welcoming hallway with a large storage cupboard and oak flooring that leads to the kitchen on the right and the reception room on the left.

The kitchen is well-appointed with a kitchen island and plenty of storage options and worktop space and equipped with a great selection of quality Neff appliances.

Two large floor-to-ceiling doors in the kitchen lead out to the private south-facing balcony which has ample room for a table and chairs and enjoys much of the day's sun - perfect for a morning coffee or enjoying an evening sundowner.

Next to the kitchen is a generously proportioned dual-aspect reception room which has four impressive glazed windows as well as a recessed alcove - perfect for a home office.

An oak staircase leads to the top floor, the spacious landing is illuminated by an electric domed skylight which can be opened and closed via a switch on the wall. 

For further images and details click here to see the apartment on the Rupert Oliver website