Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget will receive its world premiere at the 67th BFI London Film Festival this weekend. The gala screening will be hosted at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, with simultaneous screenings around the UK including a (sadly) sold out programme of screenings at Watershed.

The film, from Bristol's multi award-winning animation studio Aardman, and Academy Award® and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell, is the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time.

Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete.

But back on the mainland the entirety of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat, which means, Ginger and her flock must put their own hard-won freedom at risk...

The film will drop on Netflix in the UK on 15 December.

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

Fish Stew with Celeriac, Fennel and Cannellini Beans

The word 'stew' doesn't really do this elegant dish enough justice. Swimming with nuggets of sweet, fresh fish and laden with complex, seasonal flavours, it's the perfect sophisticated supper dish... that doesn't require any sophisticated techniques.

Slowly sautéing the fennel with the shallots in the initial stages of this recipe brings out the seductively sweet, subtly aromatic undertones in a 'vegetable' that's actually a hardy perennial herb. The distinctively earthy celeriac, meanwhile, brings a hint of celery-like freshness to the whole dish while absorbing the flavours of all the other ingredients during the relatively slow braising process.

On the fish front, sturdy cod loin works well here, but you could use chunky haddock – or, if you really want to push the boat out, monkfish; whatever your choice, make sure it has Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainable certification.

Ingredients (serves 4)

2 tsp fennel seeds
8 shallots, peeled and sliced
2 tsp finely-grated zest from an unwaxed lemon
2 bay leaves
4 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 red chilli, finely chopped (deseeded if preferred)
1 large fennel bulb, peeled and thinly sliced (fronds reserved)
1 large celeriac (approx. 600g), peeled and cut into rough 1cm cubes
175ml dry white wine
600ml fish stock
400g chunky, skinless MSC-certified cod loin
2 x 400g cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

To serve: finely-grated Pecorino cheese; freshly-chopped parsley

Method

Heat a slick of olive oil in a heavy-based, medium-sized saucepan over a medium heat. Add the fennel seeds, shallots, lemon zest, bay leaves, garlic and chilli and sauté slowly (stirring occasionally) for around 10 minutes or until the shallots have softened without colouring.

Add the fennel and celeriac to the pan and cook for a further 2 minutes. Turn the heat up slightly, add the white wine and allow it to bubble down for a couple of minutes before adding the stock. Bring to a gentle simmer, turn the heat back down to low, partially cover the pan and cook for 30 minutes (stirring every 10 minutes or so) or until the celeriac is completely tender.

Add the cannellini beans and the fish and allow both to poach in the broth for around 5-8 minutes or until the fish has thoroughly cooked through and is just starting to flake.

Serve in warm bowls topped with the reserved fennel fronds and plenty of freshly-chopped parsley.

Rieslings done right

The Reisling is Germany's secret wine-weapon, and for good reason. It's adored for its versatility and vibrant acidity, and there are options to suit all taste buds. 

Explore German wine regions and get to know the full breadth of Riesling flavours. Turn your attention to Pfalz region, for example, for drier, stylish and complex wines, or Mosel, where bottles are light and crisp with flowery aromas. Here are some of our favourite Rieslings to try out:

Kapellchen Riesling Trocken – Knipser
Lemon and crushed stone aromas. Firm palate on the right side of steely, with lemon pulp and a hint of residual sugar, moderate alcohol and very refreshing finish | £21

Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spätlese – Paulinshof
This has a fantastic bouquet of minerals, lemons, honey and a hint of classic Riesling beeswax aroma on the nose. Beautiful balance of medium sweetness, playful but structured acidity, low alcohol and fabulously satisfying richness.  | £27.50

Riesling Unplugged – Weingut Tesch
A classic, well-defined Riesling with wonderful minerality. A real expression of the vineyard. | £19.95

Dragonstone Riesling (Off-Dry), Rheingau – Weingut Leitz
This is a beautifully-balanced wine, with lovely freshness while not being too dry. It has a wonderful flavour of peaches, cream, clover honey, pineapple and lime. | £15.50

Discover more German Rieslings at greatwine.co.uk

6 O'clock Gin reopens iconic Bristol Harbourside venue, The Glassboat

Leading artisan spirits brand, 6 O'clock Gin, is delighted to announce the grand reopening of the iconic Bristol harbourside venue, The Glassboat. After meticulous renovations, The Glassboat is set to emerge as Bristol's ultimate gin destination, featuring a chic gin bar, a curated retail shop, and a versatile events space.

The Glassboat is also poised to become a hub of entertainment and exploration. Guests can look forward to engaging events such as gin blending experiences, live music evenings, and pop-up dining events featuring collaborations with local culinary talents.

For more information, visit 6oclockgin.com

Yeti Roadie 24 Cool Box Camp Green | £200

The Yeti Roadie 24 Cool Box is tall enough to chill most bottles of wine and keep the essentials fresh while you take the scenic route.

Made for the road and ready to go – The Yeti Roadie® 24 Cool Box packs more while taking up less space.

It’s built tall to accommodate critical bottles of wine and slim enough to squeeze behind the driver’s or passenger’s seat of a car. Now that’s what we call a road trip buddy.

Shop now at wadswick.co.uk

Rains Waterproof Micro Box Bag | £65

Made from the brand's signature waterproof PU fabric, the Micro Box Bag by Rains is a versatile and functional accessory that can be worn over the shoulder, across the body, or as a miniature handbag.

Shop now at anthropologie.com

Pink Ribbon Advanced Night Repair Serum | £89

Support the cause: Experience the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum in a limited-edition bottle, honouring and supporting breast cancer awareness.

With its exclusive, multi-dimensional technology, this formula harnesses the restorative power of night to deliver accelerated visible renewal. This fast penetrating serum reduces the look of multiple signs of ageing caused by the environmental assaults of modern life. Skin looks smoother and less lined, younger, more radiant and even toned. Reveal beautiful, healthy-looking skin today.

Shop now at esteelauder.co.uk

Tudor Black Bay GMT Steel 41mm

Tudor’s famous Black Bay divers’ watch is also available with a GMT function that allows the wearer to see their local time without losing sight of the time in two other time zones. The Black Bay GMT line has now been extended with a new opaline dial to match the distinctive burgundy and blue 24 hour bi-directional bezel. It is fitted with the excellent Manufacture Calibre MT5652 automatic movement and is water resistant to 200m.

Shown here is the 41mm steel case with the rivet steel bracelet priced at £3,660 but there’s also Nato fabric strap option (£3,400). 

To find out more about the Tudor Black Bay GMT range, click here to visit the Mallory website.

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Altered States is a fashion and beauty magazine about ‘cultural innovation and authenticity’. It examines how we define what is beautiful, aligning itself with Beauty Papers, the standout journal working around this idea, and has noticeably moved from an initial street photography vibe to lean into more studio-based and conceptual art stylings. The magazine’s intriguing collage of editorial, photo essays and archive imagery has really caught fire at the fine art end of the fashion photography spectrum of late and issue 6 is already sold out – the inclusion of K-Pop sensations ATEEZ can’t have hurt. But don’t worry, we have plenty and it’s being reprinted. | £25

magalleria.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!

Special Screening and Q&A with Paul McGann!

On Tuesday 17 October, Watershed is hosting a special screening of gothic gangster thriller 'The Undertaker' followed by a Q&A with Paul McGann, Michael Wright (writer-director) and Roger Barclay (producer-actor).

In The Undertaker, a mild-mannered funeral director Arthur Morel finds himself at moral crossroads, caught up in a power-grab by a local gangster Finlay Unsworth. Morel is pressured into burying Unsworth's victims off-the-record, but as things spiral out of control, he realises he must make a stand or be the murderous gangster's next victim...

This will be the film's first-ever public screening and is taking place in Bristol to celebrate the fact that it was made in the city, at The Bottle Yard Studios.

17 October | 6pm
Watershed, 1 Canons Road, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TX
Tickets cost £11 / £8.50 concessions (plus 12% booking fees) from watershed.co.uk

Bristol Choral Society performs Duruflé

On 18 November the Bristol Choral Society will be performing Duruflé's Requiem and Messe cum Jubilo.

 The Requiem is one of the most beloved choral compositions of the 20th century. Reminiscent of Faure’s Requiem, which the choir presented a year ago in the same venue, Durufle’s text intentionally focuses on inner peace and eternal rest. 

Messe cum Jubilo is a work for lower voice parts only, and audiences will have a chance to hear the great organ in Clifton Cathedral, with the solo ‘Prelude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain’.

General admission: £15; Under 25’s admission: £5
18 November | 7pm | Clifton Cathedral, Clifton, BS8 3BX
Tickets available from bristolchoral.co.uk

Francisco Correa performs classical guitar

On Saturday 18 November, Francisco Correa is playing his classical guitar at the Performing Arts Centre, Redmaids' High School. 

Classical Guitar magazine described Correa as 'Equally comfortable gliding through brisk virtuosic numbers, heartfelt songs, Correa is one of Colombia’s top classical guitarists. Highly recommended'.

Tickets cost £18 on the door and £20 on Eventbrite, with a programme including music by Stephen Goss, Barrios, Tarrega and Albeniz. 

18 November | 7.30pm | The Performing Arts Centre, Redmaids School, Westbury-on -Trym, BS93AN
For tickets, go to eventbrite.co.uk

Bears are back in Premiership action!

The Bristol Bears are back in Premiership action as they take on Leicester Tigers tonight at 7.45pm!

Vrimi Vakatawa gets set for his Bears debut from the bench with Fitz Harding captaining the side for the curtain raiser, broadcast live on TNT Sports.

Tickets for the match are still available with Adults from £30 and Under-12s from £10. 

Head to bristolbearsrugby.com to find out more

Tobacco Factory Theatres announce new Chair of the Board

Tobacco Factory Theatres has announced that Bertel Martin will become their new Chair of the Board. Bertel takes over from Sarah Smith MBE who is standing down after 13 years.

Bertel Martin has been involved in Bristol’s voluntary sector and arts scene for over 30 years, as a director, producer, manager and freelance writer. He has worked for the Black Voluntary Sector Development Unit, Bristol Old Vic and Kuumba and sat on the board of Circomedia, Albany Centre, Bristol Broadside, Theatre Bristol, Come the Revolution, Nilaari and Bristol Short Story Prize. 

A founding member and coordinator of Bristol Black Writers Group that helped change the perception of Black arts in Bristol, his national work has included being director of Plymouth International Book Festival. He has sat on Arts Council England advisory boards for developing Black theatre in England and he currently works as Finance & Operations Manager for acta Community Theatre.

Speaking of his appointment, Bertel Martin said: “I am thrilled to be joining Tobacco Factory Theatres at such an exciting time in the organisation’s journey. I must take this opportunity to thank the outgoing chair, Sarah Smith, for her incredible work over the last 13 years and for her support as I begin my journey as Chair of the Board for this special organisation.”

You can follow Tobacco Factory Theatres’ journey and book tickets for forthcoming productions, including the Christmas production of Oliver Twist (1 December 2023 to 21 January 2024), at tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Bennett Builders

Wayne Bennett of Bennett Builders is a trusted local tradesman who has been working locally, mainly in the Clifton and Redland areas for the last 40 years. Works undertaken include renovations, new-build and general maintenance for both commercial and domestic customers. Working with an established network of other local trades and contractors, your project will be completed on time and on budget to a high standard and you will be kept informed of progress from start to finish. Contact Wayne for a no obligation quotation or to discuss your plans.

Contact Wayne via telephone: 07586 459565, or via email: waynebennett@hotmail.com 

Charles Place, Hotwells, Bristol, BS8

Offered for sale by Ocean Estate agents in Bristol

This is a stylish two bedroom end of terrace mews house with single garage and off-street parking!

Tucked away in a quiet side road, this former Doctor's surgery was converted into a high quality end of terrace house in 2018.

The stylish 19'11 x 17'8 open plan living area has engineered oak floor, part galleried ceiling with 2 Velux windows and tri-fold doors opening onto the flagstone sun terrace.

There is a contemporary light grey kitchen with integral appliances, a central island and a large separate utility room. There is also a ground floor W/C off the entrance hall.

Upstairs there are two good sized double bedrooms, an attractive bathroom with rain shower and a storage cupboard on the landing which also houses a gas combination boiler.

There are solar panels on the roof which contribute to the electricity supply for the house.To the rear of the property there is a single garage with off-street parking spaces.

With the tri fold doors opening fully onto the delightful sun terrace this is the perfect place to entertain or enjoy al-fresco meals. Offers in excess of £475,000

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