OUR AUGUST ISSUE IS OUT NOW!

The August mag is packed with plenty of things to do, see and enjoy this summer...

We hear from comedian Ed Byrne about how he's channelled grief and loss into his new show coming to the city soon (and we promise it's anything but depressing); we visit Distortion Studios, the new out-of-this-world home for virtual film production; we catch up fifth-generation cider maker hero Eleanor Thatcher now that she's sitting on the board of her family's company. Plus food reviews, city happenings, restaurant updates, holiday interiors and loads more!

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Words by Melissa Blease

Perfect Scones: a Masterclass

August 12-18 is Afternoon Tea Week; get your bake on with a batch of perfect scones.

For the perfect end result, handle your scone dough as little as possible (you are not – I repeat, not – kneading dough for a loaf). Don't use a rolling pin on your dough either; patting the dough is a much gentler method. Meanwhile, dipping the cutter in flour between each scone and gently easing the scone from the cutter rather than twisting it guarantees that the edges of the scone aren’t compressed and allows the greatest possible rise. The scones will keep in an airtight container for up to two days, but are at their very best eaten on the day of baking.

Now all you have to consider is The Big Scone Question: cream (clotted, please!) or jam on first? That's entirely up to you...

Ingredients (makes 8 scones)

350g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
100g fridge-cold butter
3 tbsp caster sugar
150ml whole milk
1 egg, beaten

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200c/gas mark 6 and line a baking tray with baking paper.

2. In a large bowl, stir the flour, baking powder and salt together with a fork, sifting and lifting the flour as you go.

3. Cut the cold butter into 1cm cubes and use your fingertips to rub it into the flour mixture with your fingertips until you've created 'breadcrumbs'. Stir the sugar and salt through the mixture, then add the milk. Use a knife to start combining the mixture and then, as it begins to come together, briefly use your hands to form a soft dough.

4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly-floured work surface. Sprinkle a little more flour and gingerly pat the dough into a layer around 4cm deep.

5. Use a 5cm scone or biscuit cutter to stamp rounds out of the dough, flouring the cutter between each scone and lifting it up and away from the dough rather than twisting it around after each cut. Transfer the cut scones to the lined baking tray and bring the remaining dough back together to a 4cm layer. Continue stamping scones until all the dough is used up.

6. Paint the top of each scone with the beaten egg, taking care that the egg wash doesn’t drip down the sides of the scones as this will inhibit the rise.

7. Bake for around 12 minutes or until the scones are well risen and golden on top before transferring to a cooling rack.

Australian red wines at The Great Wine Co.

Thanks to increasing interest in Australia's diversity as a tourist hotspot, vinophiles are really beginning to appreciate the variety, in terms of climate and terroir, that make the country's wines not generic expressions of warm climate classics, but unique expressions of a diverse topography. From the sun-baked, red clay rolling hills of the Barossa to the undulating, maritime coastal vineyards of the Mornington Peninsula, this country has so much to offer.

The Laughing Magpie, D’Arenberg | £22

Dark brooding fruit is apparent on the nose with earth, spice and dried herbs. The palate is round and luscious with an attractive black olive and sage character persistent throughout the palate. This wine has fantastic fruit weight, with great supporting tannin and balanced acidity. It still looks very youthful and should easily cellar for the next ten years.

"Butch" Merlot, Smokin' Barrels | £13.30

Ripe plum and mulberry, mocha and herbal spices combine with dark fruit flavours and soft rounded tannins on the palate providing a smooth finish to this fruit driven wine.

Luccio Novello, Pikes | £13.30

A vibrant showing of fresh red fruits, boiled lollies, red confectionary, pomegranate and crushed rose petals. Slight hints of dried herbs as the wine warms and opens in the glass. Following through from the aroma is a mouthful of delicious red fruits. Redcurrant, red cherries, pomegranate, and red plums. Light to medium bodied, the popping acid line keeps things lively until whispers of savoury tannins bring things to a close.

Are You Game? Pinot Noir, Fowles Wine | £18.50

Are You Game? is a fun and bright Pinot Noir with exciting, distinctive aromas of vibrant red cherry, clove and crushed mint leaf. These vivid aromas become more subtle and savoury in the mouth, with leather, rising bread dough and baking spices. Fresh, balanced and with gentle, nicely filled-out texture, this is a lovely wine with good sustain on the finish. Great with...um...duck. 

Visit greatwine.co.uk to explore more

By Marco Bicego

Every piece of Marco Bicego jewellery features a combination of fine Italian craftsmanship and creativity. The designs are based on three signature features: multi-coloured gemstones, the finest detailing and hand engraved 18ct gold.

The Paradise collection is a declaration of love for the infinite shades of natural gemstones such as amethyst, tourmaline, quartz and topaz interspersed with gold elements that have been hand-engraved with the ancient Florentine ‘millerighe’ burin technique and colour-matched by the designer himself.

Shown here: Marco Bicego Paradise 18ct Yellow Gold Multicoloured Gemstone Three Strand Necklace: £6,100

Find Paradise by Marco Bicego at Mallory | mallory-jewellers.com

Shard Outdoor Fireplace

Add a little Scandinavian design to your patio and garden area with the Shard. A sleek, modern garden fireplace that completely transforms, yet blends in with almost any garden space.

• Black painted steel construction 
  
• Optional Grill
• Integrated log store
• Timeless design
  
• Weight 26kg – easy to move around
• Dimensions (HxWxD) – 1480 x 450 x 400mm

R.W Knight & Son | £350 Click here to buy now.

Curated by Daniel McCabe

APOCALYPSE is a biannual magazine about motorcycle pop culture from France that travels around the world – particularly to the more dangerous or edgier borderlands as well as back in time – using the motorcycle as a cypher or motif to explore varied range of subjects and stories. We’ve seen this kind of material moving through a range of very different publications (music, sport, photography etc.) over the years and it’s great to see a publisher curating it like this where it all feels connected. There’s a lot in it and it’s very stylish to boot. | £20

magalleria.co.uk

Visit Britain's oldest horse rescue charity this weekend

HorseWorld, located at Keynes Farm BS14, will be opening its doors this Saturday 10 August, giving the public the opportunity to see its work in action, learn more about the charity and discover what’s involved in looking after the massive herd!

The charity rescues neglected, mistreated and abandoned horses, ponies and donkeys, caring for around 100 animals at its site in Whitchurch. It also supports local vulnerable and disadvantaged children through the Discovery programme, where children learn essential life skills by working with gentle rescued horses.

The open day will feature demonstrations, tours of the site and plenty of delicious refreshments. 

Tickets are £6 for adults (under-16s go free) and are available via the website. 

Beavertown Brewery's Collaboration Sessions

The newly launched Prospect Building on Feeder Road (BS2) will host Beavertown Brewery's Collaboration Sessions tomorrow (10 August), which will be a celebration of music performance and, of course, beer.

Local legends Bristol Hi-Fi, (featuring Queen Bee and Mr Benn, who have been DJing together as a collective alongside Massive Attack's Daddy G for over 15 years) will kick things off at 2pm, followed by performances from artists including, MC General Levy, Nubiyan Twist Soundsystem, back-to-back sets from BBC1's Essential Mix of the Year 2021 winner Elkka and chart-topping artist Eliza Rose, and Dan Shake with Bristol's own Laurence Guy. BBC 6 Music host DJ Jamz Supernova will round off the night, joined by boundary-pushing Zulu musician Toya Delazy. Revellers can also expect an ‘interstellar’ selection of Beavertown’s brews, including Neck Oil IPA, Gamma Ray APA and Lazer Crush AF IPA. 

There’s still time to grab some last-minute tickets here.

Bee & Pollination Festival: August 24 & 25

The Bee and Pollination Festival returns this year on the earlier weekend of the August bank holiday. This is a great place to learn about the vital role pollinators play in our lives, see demonstrations, exhibits, and talks, buy honey and see the Botanic Garden in all its late summer finery.

University of Bristol Botanic Garden, Stoke Park Rd, Stoke Bishop, BS9 1JG
Click here for more information.

Clarks Village Open-Air Cinema: 6-18 August at 12pm, 3.30pm and 7pm

Clarks Village launched its open-air cinema this week. With three screenings a day until August 18, the Somerset shopping outlet is welcoming guests to enjoy blockbuster hits, family favourites and 80s classics hosted on the lawn of the adjacent Alfred Gillet Trust. The summer cinema is the perfect way to round off a trip to Clarks Village with discount outlet prices, landscaped gardens, wide paved malls, restaurants and adventure play park plus new brands for 2024 including Wagamama, Slim Chickens, Rituals, French Connection, Moss and a new ice cream and hot chocolate bar at Lindt.

Tickets start from £8 for under 12s, £12 for adults and VIP tickets with a prime-positioned deckchair and treat box for £20. The daily 12pm movie is discounted to £5 per person or £18 for a family of four. Under ones are free.

Clarks Village shopping outlet, Farm Road, Street, BA16 0BB
Click here for more information and to book tickets. 

bePractical DIY

Feeling overwhelmed by that DIY to-do list?

Whether you're looking to boost your own skills or nudge someone else into action, bePractical DIY is here for you. Offering a variety of DIY courses suitable for all skill levels, the small, friendly classes are very hands-on. There are plenty of options for complete beginners and improvers, which will help you build your DIY confidence, provide ongoing support, and give your self-esteem a boost, as you check off those DIY projects one by one.

33 Brislington Hill, BS4 5BE
Click here for more information.

It’s just three months until the Bears welcome Australia XV to Ashton Gate

With the Wallabies touring the UK throughout November, Pat Lam’s men will host an Australia XV on November 8 (7.45pm KO), with adult prices starting from just £30 and Under-12s from £10 in the South Stand Family Area. The game is not included in the 2024/25 Season Ticket.

November’s blockbuster clash will be played for the Looseheadz Cup, as the club partners with the mental health charity for the second successive season.

LooseHeadz is rugby’s mental health charity on a mission to save lives by placing a mental health lead at every rugby club in the world. They provide a free toolkit of resources to rugby clubs to help them tackle the stigma around mental health.

Find out more info and buy tickets on the website.

Kenn, Clevedon, Somerset BS21

Offered for sale by Knight Frank estate agent

Walnut Tree Farm is believed to date from the early 1800’s and added to in the early 1900’s, making it then three cottages. The present owners purchased Walnut Tree Farm as one property in 2014 when it required complete modernisation which included new floors, wiring and plumbing.

The preparation kitchen, bath and shower rooms were all replaced within the last two years. The property is immaculately presented and careful thought has been given to blending the traditional with the contemporary whilst retaining the character of the cottage. The interior has a warm and charming atmosphere and is decorated in a classic style.

There are a combination of stone and wood floors. The sitting room is a particularly attractive room with an inglenook fireplace fitted with a log burning stove, a former bread oven, and cross beamed ceiling. The breakfast kitchen has an Aga and a second preparation kitchen is well fitted with integral appliances including double oven, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and hob.

The family room is open plan with the breakfast kitchen and the dining room opens into the conservatory, overlooking the garden. On the first floor the four bedrooms and excellent family bathroom are arranged off the attractive gallery landing.

The farm is approached through double timber gates leading to a large parking area in front of a substantial detached double garage with adjoining garden tractor and implement/workshop at the rear. The drive continues to a large parking area behind the garage.

The gardens are a delight - the formal garden has an expanse of lawn with well established beds, and the deep shaped borders are planted with a variety of flowering plants.

There are pergolas, a small orchard with apple, pear and plum. To the north is a large, buttressed stone wall against which are plum, grape and cherry. There are two areas of decking against an attractive tiled wood store which is ideal for entertaining. Beyond the formal garden is a paddock that leads down to the copse, which adjoins farmland.

Guide price £1,095,000

For more images and details click here to see Walnut Tree Farm on the Knight Frank website