The Bristol Light Festival will collaborate with BBC Studios Natural History Unit next week, bringing festival goers up close and personal with some of the planet’s most majestic animals, which will escape our televisions into the streets of Bristol.

The WILDLIGHT installation will use archived clips from BBC Studios wildlife shows, such as Frozen Planet II and Blue Planet II, cut in a new way to transform them into incredible light projections. The Left Handed Giant pub will be recreated into a giant TV set, with animals then escaping the screen to the area around; visitors will be delighted by dolphins leaping out of the river Avon, penguins peeking around corners, meerkats playing on the wall of Boca Bar, and monkeys hanging around too.

The installation has been created as the result of a collaboration between Bristol Light Festival’s Creative Director Katherine Jewkes, BBC Studios Series Producer Tuppence Stone and editor Ryan Patterson and Joe Cusack of Stage Sound Services. The event runs from 2-11 February, with installations lit each evening between 5-10pm.

bristollightfestival.org

OUR FEBRUARY ISSUE IS OUT NEXT WEEK

You'll love our fabulous February 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. 

As well as a slightly new feel and format, we give you a fantastic line-up of editorial features, wonderful articles, an exclusive interview with Robert Lindsay as well as our pick of the best things to see and do across the city. 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 – click here to subscribe on our website. 

Words by Melissa Blease

4 Winter Puddings

Real Rice Pudding (serves 4-6)
Heat the oven to 160c°C/gas mark 3 and liberally butter a 1.5-litre baking dish. Tip 130g pudding rice (and yes, it must be pudding rice!) into a large bowl along with 70g caster sugar, 800ml whole milk, 170ml double cream and 1 tsp vanilla extract and stir well to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish and top with a generous layer of grated nutmeg. Bake for 1.5 hours or until a brown skin has formed on top of the pudding and the rice is tender. Allow the rice pudding to cool slightly before serving in bowls, preferably topped with a dollop of strawberry or raspberry jam.

Apple Crumble (serves 4)
Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 5. Chop 1kg peeled Bramley apples into quarters then remove the cores and slice each piece into two. Put the apple slices into a pan with 1-2 tbsp water or apple juice and a sprinkling of sugar to taste and cook over a medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the apples have started to soften. Transfer the mixture to a shallow ovenproof dish. Blend 100g flour with 75g butter in a food processor until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs (or rub the butter into the flour using your fingertips to achieve the same effect). Add 100g demerara sugar and 50g rolled oats, stir to combine and sprinkle over the cooked apples. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden-brown on top and serve hot, with plenty of custard.

Bread and Butter Pudding (serves 6)
Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 5 and generously butter a medium-sized baking dish. Butter 10 slices of day-old sliced white bread and cut each slice into quarters. Arrange half the bread quarters, buttered sides up, over the base of the baking dish and scatter with 30g sultanas. Repeat to use up the remaining buttered bread and scatter with another 30g sultanas. Whisk 3 whole eggs with 50g golden caster sugar until pale and thick. Heat the 350ml whole milk and 100ml double cream together in a small saucepan until just starting to simmer. Slowly pour the hot milk mixture onto the eggs, whisking constantly. Add 1 tsp vanilla extract, stir well, then slowly pour the custard over the bread pudding, making sure that all the bread is thoroughly coated in the custard. Scatter the surface with more caster sugar and bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown. Allow the pudding to settle for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Saucy Chocolate Pudding, aka Microwave Magic (serves 4-6)
Melt 60g butter in the microwave in a deep, 20cm round dish. Remove from the microwave and sift in 225g self-raising flour, 200g caster sugar and 25g cocoa powder. Add 180ml milk and 2 tsp vanilla extract and stir well. Sprinkle 175g soft brown sugar and another 35g cocoa powder over the top and slowly add 300ml boiling water – but do not stir! Microwave on High for 8 minutes and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving hot, with plenty of thick cream.

Goodbye, Dry January!

Dry January is coming to an end, so it's time to stock up. The Great Wine Company is having its biggest ever January sale, boasting hundreds of offers. Here are the team's top five deals:

Red Art Shiraz (Cellar Release) - Rojomoma
A full and flavoursome shiraz with rich plum and dark fruit flavours and peppery spice, balanced with savoury notes and earthy aged complexity. | £22 (was £35)

Albarino DO Rias Baixas - Mar de Frades
Mango, pineapple and lychees on the nose together with wild flowers and notes of eucalyptus. Bright, fresh and vivacious on the palate, the tropical fruit flavours are lifted by a streak of Atlantic-coast salinity. | £16.65 (was £22)

Gavi di Gavi, La Minaia - Bergaglio
White peach and acacia aromatics, with soft honeyed richness, a cool mineral streak, beautifully balanced and fresh through to long finish. | £12.20 (was £15.95)

Sutherland Pinot Noir - Thelema Mountain Vineyards
Burgundy-style Pinot Noir, packed with cranberry, walnut, leather anise and root beer aromas. This herby, spicy, woody, nuanced wine is an absolute delight. | £13 (was £22)

Aglianico del Vulture Titolo - Titolo
Dark and intense ruby red with an ample and complex nose yielding ethereal spices, cherry and blackberry preserves, rosemary, tobacco and cinnamon with light hints of vanilla. | £29 (was £47.50)

Visit greatwine.co.uk for more.

Winter Warmers Menu at Harvey Nichols Bristol

Masterfully crafted with wellness and self-love in mind, Harvey Nichols Winter Dining menu is best enjoyed with a cocktail in hand – in partnership with Absolut Elyx and Fever-Tree.

Enjoy three courses for £30, including Roasted Cauliflower Satay, Seabass Ceviche and Jasmine Tea Smoked Creedy Carver Duck Breast, served with an Apple Pie Cocktail.

Available at the Second Floor Restaurant:
Monday – Saturday, midday – 3pm and Thursday – Saturday, 6pm – 10pm.

Click here to book.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Winter Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette | £53

This winter, the iconic natural eyeshadow palette is available in a new harmony of fresh, radiant shades.

Designed to stand alone or be combined, these eyeshadows can be used to create a luminous, long-lasting eye makeup look with its rosy, mauve tones.

Its renowned Les Beiges case includes a large mirror and two applicators: a foam tip to apply and a brush with extremely soft synthetic bristles to blend.

chanel.com

Fine Vintage Pieces

Give a new life to beautiful, unique pieces from a bygone era by exploring the antique, vintage and pre-loved jewellery collection at Mallory. 

With original hand-made designs spanning centuries of styles and creative influences there’s not only a historical interest, but a celebration of lives lived and new memories to be discovered. 

Above are just a small selection of really beautiful pieces currently available:

Antique, Victorian yellow gold and silver grain-set old-cut diamond and rose-cut diamond star brooch. Total diamond weight: 3.00ct (Estimated weight) Circa 1880. £9,500. 

Antique, French yellow gold and platinum halo cluster, semi-rub set Cabochon-cut opal and calibre-cut ruby diamond ring with split shoulders. Total opal weight: 3.00ct (Estimated weight), Total diamond weight: 0.40ct (Estimated weight). Circa 1925. £8,250

Antique, Art-Deco platinum Mmilgrain edge, grain-set mixed cut diamond and Trilliant-Cut sapphire necklace. Total diamond weight: 1.55 - 1.65ct (Estimated weight). Chain length: 15 inches. Circa 1925. £5,250

Antique, Victorian yellow gold and silver grain-set old cut diamond and ruby lizard brooch. Total diamond weight:2.50 - 3.00ct. Circa 1890. £3,680

Click here to find more inspiration from the Antique Jewellery Collection at Mallory.

Whistles Dia Tote Bag | £225

Designed in a timeless tote silhouette that still manages to feel relevant for today. 

This luxurious leather style comes with a triple compartment and has been crafted from tumbled leather.

Click here for more information and to purchase. 

Curated by Daniel McCabe

A Magazine Curated By is published annually to enable a leading fashion designer, fashion group or house to guest edit exclusive content for the magazine in a way that expresses their cultural and aesthetic vision and values. Past curators have included the likes of Thom Brown, Martine Sitbon, Yohji Yamamoto, Alessandro Michele, Kim Jones and many others.

For the latest issue, the invitation is extended to the Vietnamese/US designer Peter Đỗ, founder of his eponymous label and – and this is what will make issue #26 fly off the shelves – creative director of Helmut Lang. | £35

magalleria.co.uk

Beginners Bridge Classes with Bristol Bridge Club

Bristol Bridge Club is launching its 10-week Beginners Bridge course soon, starting on 14 February at 7pm and running on Wednesdays. 

Players can either pay £8 per lesson or make one payment of £70 for the full duration. A shorter Introduction to Bridge course is available, also on Wednesdays, with a new intake of participants every three months. The next start date is 3 April at 7.30pm (remaining dates for 2024 are 3 July and 2 October), and each class costs £8.

Not sure you want to sign up to a course just yet? Bristol Bridge Club holds a weekly informal bridge session every Thursday at 10.30am, with the opportunity for people to take part in a Q&A with Ralph (£6 for members and £8 for guests). ‘Friendly Thursdays’ also take place each week for members and guests, with a relaxed pairs handicapped session at 7pm. Food is available to order from 6.30pm.

For more information please email teaching@bristolbridgeclub.co.uk
bristolbridgeclub.co.uk

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School presents 'A Very Expensive Poison'

The students of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School are thrilled to return to the evocative setting of St Paul’s Church for their latest show A Very Expensive Poison (17-24 February). 

Its tells the story of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian intelligence officer turned vocal Putin critic, granted asylum in Britain – but his outspoken opposition would prove fatal. 

Seen profoundly through the eyes of Litvinenko’s grieving wife Marina, award-winning playwright Lucy Prebble untangles the events of a shocking assassination on British soil, based on Luke Harding’s gripping novel.

Click here to book tickets. 

Finally, the Brahms: under Beethoven’s shadow, Brahms laboured for 20 years to produce his 1st Symphony, a perfect masterpiece, and a fusion of Romantic passion and Classical structure that set a new level for sophistication and excitement.

Saturday 3 February | 7.30pm
Click here to buy tickets
St George's Bristol, Great George Street, BS1 5RR

Bristol Bears vs Bath Rugby

The highly-anticipated West Country Derby unfolds tomorrow at 3.05pm as the Bears host Bath Rugby in round 12 of the Gallagher Premiership at Ashton Gate Stadium. 

With the crowd nearly at full capacity, only a handful of individual seats remain unclaimed. Act fast if you want to secure your seat today. 

You can also watch the game on TNT Sports so don't miss out!

Click here to buy tickets. 

Apsley Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8

Offered for sale by Rupert Oliver estate agents in Bristol.

The Garden Flat, 16 Apsley Road is a charming and versatile flat situated in a sought-after period semi-detached Clifton townhouse. 

The property enjoys independent access at the side of the building with a driveway leading to a private garage with off-street parking space to the rear. Stepping through the glazed front door is a wonderful wide entrance hall which provides access to each of the principal rooms and the utility room/bathroom. 

The flat has been comprehensively refurbished to a high specification throughout and features solid oak flooring (complete with underfloor heating) in the hallway, kitchen, and reception room. 

The reception room is situated at the front of the property and is of generous proportions, offering ample room for several sofas and chairs as well as a desk or large dining table. This space is well served by a large triple bay window (with shutters) which allow light to pour into the room whilst also offering a pleasant leafy green aspect of the grass and shrubbery toward the front of the property. 

Adjacent to the sitting room is a well-appointed south-facing dual-aspect kitchen that features a selection of sash windows and a pair of French doors which provide access out to the garden beyond. 

The kitchen is equipped with an array of worktop space, a generous island with a breakfast bar, and a selection of wall and floor-mounted storage options and integrated ‘Neff' appliances. 

To the rear of the property lie two excellent double bedrooms both of which are a good size and feature built-in wardrobes. The master bedroom has an en-suite shower room with a heated towel rail, sink, vanity mirror, and w.c. 

The second bedroom is very spacious and offers further access via a glazed door to the south-facing garden beyond. Separating the two bedrooms and situated at the end of the hallway is a very useful utility room that leads through to a large fully-tiled family bathroom. | Guide Price £625,000

For more images and details click here to view this property on the Rupert Oliver website.