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| Plus, a delicious chocolate mousse recipe and plenty of gift inspiration |
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A specially curated guide to help you enjoy the next 48 hours in Bristol
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GRAND REOPENING | SUPPORT LOCAL
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As Bristol moves into tier two from Saturday, restaurants and bars have been given the green light to reopen their doors for the festive period. Whether you’ve already booked your favourite spot to dine or are still deciding where to enjoy a quick cuppa, a classic cocktail or a warm glass of mulled wine, our city’s bars and restaurants need our support.
Harvey Nichols’ bar – one of our personal favourites – will be reopening from tomorrow, with their restaurant following suit on Tuesday (22 December).
In the meantime, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the team at The Bristol Magazine!
harveynichols.com
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CHRISTMAS DAY OUTFITS | GET THE LOOK
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Still unsure about what to wear on the big day? Don't let this year's unconventional festive format dissuade you from dressing up. Supplying us with an essential dose of festive cheer this week is Anthropologie's Christmas collection. Take these two sequinned ensembles, for example, elegant, easy-to-wear, statement dresses that perfectly fit the bill for a day of eating, drinking and being merry.
Shown here:
Lisabette Sequinned Mini Dress; £148.
Maeve Kara Sequinned Mini Dress; £140.
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WINE O' CLOCK | THE DINNER PARTY SELECTION
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Curated by the expert team at Harvey Nichols, The Dinner Party Selection includes many of their finest wines. Whatever your social calendar throws at you, there's a wine for that in this mixed case. £135.
Dine in Harvey Nichols style, with wines that will keep glasses topped up from aperitif to cheeseboard. A Very HN Dinner Party includes a Premier Cru to start the party with, or to sip alongside canapés or smoked salmon. Pair the starter with a perfect, crisp Chablis, made by Alain Geoffroy, one of the region’s true legends. Move on to a rich main course, accompanied by an incredible Bordeaux Supérieur selected for HN by none other than Jonathan Maltus, the cult Saint-Émilion garagiste behind Château Teyssier and Le Dôme. And as a postprandial snifter or an accompaniment to cheese, festive fare, treacle tart, apple pie or chocolate-based desserts, there’s a perennial bestseller, a 10-year-old tawny port.
Replenish the wine rack. Throw a dinner party. Repeat.
Contains:
• 1 x Harvey Nichols Premier Cru Brut Champagne NV, France - 750ml
• 2 x Harvey Nichols Chablis, France - 750ml
• 2 x Harvey Nichols Bordeaux Supérieur, France - 750ml
• 1 x 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal - 500ml
Order online at or in store at Harvey Nichols
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CHRISTMAS CHEER | SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
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Barcan+Kirby donates funds to Christmas cheer project
Bristol law firm, Barcan+Kirby, has donated funds to The Marmalade Trust for their Christmas Cheer project aimed at bringing companionship to people who are spending Christmas Day alone.
The funding comes after The Marmalade Trust were successful in their application to the Barcan+Kirby Community Fund. The Barcan+Kirby Community Fund is an initiative launched earlier this year to give groups and individuals working for the benefit of the communities in BS1, BS3, BS7, BS8, BS15 and BS35 a chance to be awarded monetary support from the firm.
The Christmas Cheer project has been running since 2013 across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset and encourages volunteers to support those who would be alone on Christmas Day.
This year, volunteers will phone the Trust's members once a week through December and January for a friendly chat, and will deliver a Marmalade Trust hamper bursting with gifts to their doorstep on Christmas Day. Members have also been given a Marmalade 'Connection Advent Calendar', with 24 days' worth of connection, activities and treats.
barcankirby.co.uk; marmaladetrust.org
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FOODIE DELIGHTS | TASTEBUD TANTILISERS
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Spiced Nuts (v; gf)
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 4. Toss 500g mixed, unsalted nuts (cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazils, pecans, unpeeled almonds – the choice is yours) in a large bowl and spread them out evenly on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for around 10 minutes, tossing occasionally until golden brown and fragrant. Meanwhile, stir 2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary, 2 tsp soft dark brown sugar, 2 tsp salt and ½ tsp cayenne pepper into 2 tbsp unsalted butter. Toss the toasted nuts in the spicy butter and serve warm.
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Fig and Goats' Cheese Puffs (v)
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 6. Cut 1 x 320g sheet of ready made puff pastry into 18 squares and place the squares onto a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper. Brush the edge of each square with beaten egg and place a slice of goat's cheese and ¼ of a fresh fig in the centre. In a small bowl, whisk 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary with 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp runny honey and a pinch of salt. Drizzle the dressing over each puff and bake for 15–20 minutes until puffy and golden.
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Next Level Halloumi Fries (v; gf)
Slice 2 x 225g packs of halloumi cheese into fat 'chips' and fry in olive oil in a hot frying pan until golden brown on all sides. Transfer the cooked halloumi to a preheated serving dish, tumble with 1 tsp each of sumac and Ras al Hanout (Middle Eastern spice staples, both available in supermarkets) and serve drizzled with around 100ml thick natural yogurt, 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses and a handful of chopped, fresh mint.
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Brown Sugar and Cinnamon-glazed Popcorn (v; gf)
Dissolve 50g soft light brown sugar in 2 tbsp water over a gentle heat in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil, but don't stir! As soon as the sugar has turned to a dark brown caramel, whisk in 10g butter, remove from the heat and add 3 tbsp double cream, taking care while doing so as the mixture may spit a bit. Add a pinch of ground cinnamon and stir vigorously. In a sturdy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, pop 25g popcorn kernels. Remove from the heat and toss the fresh popcorn in the sweet glaze until evenly coated.
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EXCLUSIVE FEATURE | LIFE ON MARS
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“No-one knows how humans will react being that far from Earth for the first time. The only way to begin to think about this is to start practicing here on Earth.”
Preparations for sending the first humans to Mars are happening as we speak, with scientists and engineers all over the world practicing for life on the Red Planet. Now, a house designed for just that has planning permission next door to Bristol’s M Shed.
The outcome of an ongoing public art project, ‘Building a Martian House’ has been conceived and led by local artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent. The full-scale Martian House is even set to comprise of a hydroponic living room and a waste water system.
We chat to Ella and Nicki to find out more about the two-storey space, their research and what we can expect in the new decade.
Enjoy a nine minute read here
Image: Concept sketch & visualisation © Hugh Broughton Architects/Pearce+
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BRISTOL PODCAST | ARTISTS SPEAK OUT
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| Creatives reflect on life in the arts |
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Bristol charity Bricks has launched a new series of podcasts that brings together people, communities and places, providing artists with a Covid-secure way to exhibit.
Supported by Arts Council England emergency response funding, Bricks has commissioned six artists to explore ideas through sound.
At a time when many artists have seen their income reduced and exhibitions cancelled, the Bricks Podcast supports artists in sharing their unique perspectives on the world with an online audience.
The six artists are part of Bricks Artist Programme, which was developed to meet the needs of artists affected by the Covid-19 crisis, but also by wider systemic issues that have made practice as a visual artist in Bristol increasingly precarious.
Each episode of the Bricks Podcast is an artist's reflection on matters connected to their practice, creativity and life in the South West.
Their research takes them to academics, artists, musicians, fans of the open road and more as they engage with a strange and increasingly isolating world. They bridge the gap between the social and the artistic, but most importantly: they place community at the forefront of the conversation.
bricksbristol.org
Image: Bo Lanyon, Gwenno, Hannah Murgatroyd and Lucy Stein
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STRICTLY COME DANCING | THE FINAL NIGHT
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Tomorrow night sees Bill Bailey, Maisie Smith, HRVY and Jamie Laing perform for the final time in the hope of securing the coveted Glitterball trophy.
We're rooting for our front cover star tomorrow night – go on, Bill! Watch it on on BBC One at 6pm.
And read Bill's full feature from our December issue here – a chapter all about dancing from his new and hilarious book, Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide To Happiness.
Main image credit: BBC/Guy Levy
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DECEMBER ISSUE | OUT AND ABOUT & LOOKING GOOD
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| IN PRINT & ONLINE |
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As always, there are so many great reads by our team of wonderful writers and contributors as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bristol's best businesses. We hope you'll enjoy the read.
Every month 15,000 copies are delivered door to door in selected residential areas, and you can pick up a copy at many places around town including our floor stands at John Lewis (Cribbs Causeway), House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols and at Waitrose stores where we top up regularly.
Alternatively, you can read it online here
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TAKE FOUR | COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Sparkle with Nicholas Wylde
From Nicholas Wylde's exclusive Dazzle Collection, this 18ct white gold, large snowflake diamond pendant is a dramatic and sparkling winter treasure. The brilliant cut, claw-set diamonds weigh in at a total of 0.30ct. The 18ct snowflake is suspended from an 18 inch, 18ct white gold trace chain. So many wonderful pices and gifts on show too. Visit the shop or browse Nicholas's new website for ideas.
£3,580; nicholaswylde.com
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Brighten up your homes
Working with the best seasonal produce, Bouquets For Days delivers beautiful arrangements straight to your door. If you're still on the hunt for a Christmas wreath or want to bring life into your home every month with a seasonal flower subscription, browse the collection at bouquetsfordays.co.uk.
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Colour-in Christmas pillowcase
A fabulous colouring in cotton pillowcase for Christmas filled with Christmas illustrations. A traditional craft activity for home entertainment, parties, travelling and holidays for young and old. A perfect creative gift for birthday or Christmas presents. Use with permanent or washout fabric pens.
£15; eggnogg.co.uk
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Harnessing the power of plants
Bristol’s Jones & Modha no. 1 is a 100% naturally derived, eco friendly, sustainable perfume, free from toxic chemicals. Expertly blended in Somerset using pure essential oils, it's good for you and good for the planet. Gender neutral; £69.
jonesandmodha.co.uk
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WEEKEND RECIPE | A SWEET TREAT
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| Recipe by Melissa Blease |
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| Classic chocolate mousse |
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Creamy, indulgent and somehow rather glamorous, this featherlight chocolate mousse, made with just three store cupboard ingredients, is pretty much ready when you are. And you're ready for it right now, right?
Ingredients
200g dark chocolate
3 large eggs, separated
50g caster sugar
To serve: whipped cream, grated chocolate, fresh mint (optional)
Method
- Break the chocolate into chunks in a large, heatproof bowl and add 120ml cold water. Set the bowl over a pan of just simmering water (but do NOT let the bowl touch the water) and heat gently, stirring occasionally with a metal spoon, until the chocolate has melted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Whisk the egg whites with the sugar until stiff peaks are formed. Beat the egg yolks into the melted chocolate before gently folding the egg whites into the mixture until fully combined.
- Spoon the mousse into individual bowls or glasses and chill for at least two hours (or overnight).
- To serve: top with a swirl of whipped cream, a dusting of grated chocolate and a sprig of fresh mint (optional).
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CITY ART | BRINGING SEASONAL SPARKLE
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| The Ken Stradling Collection presents: Fire and Ice |
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A kaleidoscope of dazzling colours and tinsel tones add a seasonal sparkle for Bristolians taking a walk to visit the latest exhibition at the Ken Stradling Collection.
Fire and Ice brings together the vivid coloured glass of Whitefriars, Britain's most daring glassworks of the 20th century, with the bold ice white forms of mid-century Scandinavian glassmaking.
The exhibition is designed to be viewed entirely from the street outside, using the facade of 48 Park Row. Running until 28 February, this simple but highly effective approach enables the public to continue to enjoy exhibitions at the Stradling despite the restrictions.
Fire and Ice showcases glass from the 1950s–1970s, a period of bold experiments which took glassmaking to new levels of sparkling originality. The Whitefriars factory became famous in the 19th century and its association with William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement. Its mastery in the field of colour saw the firm soar to new heights of success in the 1950s, making joy by feeding an insatiable appetite for bright, optimistic colours in post-war British homes. In contrast, the glassmakers of Scandinavia took a different path, seeking inspiration from the frozen landscapes of their homelands.
stradlingcollection.org; @StradlingColl; stradlingcollection
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OBJECT OF INTEREST | MONTBLANC AT MALLORY
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Montblanc Sartorial Calligraphy Wallet and Meisterstück fountain pen
This black wallet is part of Montblanc's new Sartorial Calligraphy Collection. Crafted from fine Italian calfskin with a Saffiano print finish with the calligraphy in white. With six credit card slots, it is perfect for holding essential cards and banknotes with two full-length banknote compartments and 2 additional slip pockets. £255.
Also shown here is the Meisterstück LeGrand yellow gold coated black resin fountain pen. This medium nibbed pen is a true classic from Montblanc and a treasured joy to anyone who loves to pen by hand. £510.
Explore Montblanc and so much more at Mallory.
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BEAUTY MUST-HAVES | GERT LASHES
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Marc Jacobs' Major Volume Mascara
Add some major drama to your look with Marc Jacobs' Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara, £25.
The lash maximising curvy brush places the most volume at the hard-to-reach centre lash line, ideal for completing your festive eye look.
Online at harveynichols.com
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ON THE BOOKSHELF | CHARITY BOOK RELEASE
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Rainbows During Lockdown
During the first lockdown, Portishead pupil Gracie Hemmings completed a six-week creative writing course hosted by children's author R.A. Powell, which was streamed live on Facebook. As part of the course, Gracie wrote a story entitled Reading A Book to enter the Rainbow Writing Competition run by Powell.
Alongside Powell and children from across England, Wales, Scotland and Australia, Gracie and her parents collated the stories from the competition into a book entitled Rainbows During Lockdown; a collection of 58 rainbow-inspired tales written during lockdown by children as young as four, all the way up to 15 years old.
100% of the author’s royalties are being donated to ICUsteps, the UK’s only intensive care patient support charity, and School-Home Support, a charity which helps families living in poverty to ensure their children are in school and ready to learn.
£7.95; published on 15 December via Blossom Spring.
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FESTIVE FAMILY FUN | CHRISTMAS ACTIVITES
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| DragonBird play sessions now on-demand |
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After eight years of performing to children and their parents around Bristol, DragonBird shows and theatre play sessions are now available on-demand every month through Patreon.
This Christmas, follow Little Mouse as she goes on an adventure to find Father Christmas and thank him for her socks! Then families can join DragonBird for a festive theatre play and prop-crafting session.
A perfect home-based activity for little ones and their families this Christmas.
dragonbirdtheatre.co.uk
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RECYCLING TREES | WITH ST PETER'S HOSPICE
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| St Peter’s Hospice's Christmas tree collection |
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A volunteering team from St Peter’s Hospice will be collecting and recycling real Christmas trees in the local community in return for a donation.
The Hospice is partnering with Just Helping to bring a Christmas tree collection service to the areas of BS4, BS5, BS9, BS16, BS20 and BS21 and a limited collection in BS41 and BS48.
They will also be offering an option to drop off your tree at St Aidan’s allotment, Nicholas Lane, St George on the 2, 3, 9 and 10 of January between 9am and 3pm with no booking necessary. Bristol East Allotments Association is one of the local businesses that are supporting the collection this year.
St Peter’s Hospice is a local charity that provides palliative care for adults with life limiting illnesses both at the Hospice’s Inpatient Unit and in people’s homes throughout our community. The Hospice has been devastated by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and is facing a funding gap of over £2million this year.
Every donation made from the Christmas tree collections will go towards helping the Hospice to continue caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our community when it matters most.
For more information and to book your slot, visit stpetershospice.org
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FRESH FOOD | GET THEM BEFORE THEY'RE GONE
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Get your orders in!
If you're planning your meals for the festive period this weekend, Bristol Oyster Co. pride themselves on delivering fresh seafood straight from their family oyster farm to your front door.
This year, 23 December is the final date for deliveries* before Christmas – get your order in before 12pm on 21 December to ensure you get your food in time for the big day! For New Year's Eve deliveries*, the cut off for orders is at 12pm on 29 December.
*Regular oyster/mussel deliveries.
bristoloysters.co.uk
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ON THE BOX | A BRITISH COMEDY-DRAMA
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Set during the 1970 Miss World pageant, a show that regularly pulled in 100 million viewers, this British film reveals why this particular year was such a history-defining contest.
Starring Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jessie Buckley.
Watch it on Sky Cinema on Sunday
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Virtual Christmas carol concert
A virtual Christmas carol concert being held at 6.30pm tonight (18 December), is hoping to raise money to support the Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children’s Appeal. While the concert is free, viewers will be asked to donate money, if they can, to support the city’s children and young people.
Each year money raised by the appeal provides more than 1,600 children and young people in the city. The Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal carol concert can be watched on the Lord Mayor’s YouTube channel Bristol-LMCA.
To make a donation to the appeal, visit lordmayorofbristolappeal.com
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PROPERTY OF THE WEEK | NEW ON THE MARKET
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| Coronation Road, Southville, Bristol, BS3 |
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This is a breathtaking, five-bedroom Victorian mid-terraced family home in Southville.
The owners have taken great care and thoughtfully introduced contemporary and stylish elements to every part the property. The result is there's ample family living arranged on 5 levels, with 5 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, 4 bathrooms and an incredible kitchen/diner extension that opens onto the rear patio area. The total internal living space is 271sqm.
This is a truly rare find in BS3 and home is a masterpiece of design, has great style, size, a large, south-facing garden and a double storey garage accessed via Park Road.
The front garden offers plenty space with a beautiful magnolia tree.
While the 22.5m rear garden is part laid with porcelain tiles, an area currently used by the family for al fresco dining - weather permitting! The remainder of garden is traditional lawn with flower beds. At the rear of the garden is a double storey garage with ample space providing off-street parking.
Situated on Coronation Road in BS3, this property has the benefit of being close to the amenities of North Street, Wapping Wharf and the city. It is also very close to the popular Southville Primary School & St Mary Redcliffe Secondary School. Offers in excess of £975,000
On sale with Ocean. To see more visit: oceanhome.co.uk
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