Festival of the Future City

The biennial Festival of the Future City returns this year, with a range of experts and panellists discussing the challenges facing cities today, including the housing crisis, rising inequality, conflict and war, climate change and the failings of democracy. They will pose radical ideas about how we can build better, fairer, happier cities for all.

This year’s Festival of the Future City will take place from 17-19 October, with a line-up of thinkers and change-makers discussing the challenges facing cities today – and what we need to do to help build better cities of the future. 

17 - 19 October
To find out more, go to bristolideas.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

Croque Monsieur

When is a toasted sandwich not just a toasted sandwich? When it's a Croque Monsieur: toasty, crunchy and oozing with Béchamel Sauce, France's enduringly popular hot cheese and ham buttie (popularised by legendary Michel Lunarca in the early 1900s) is the ultimate treatsome snack.

Serve it with a simple green salad and a glass of good wine, and it turns it into a sophisticated, speedy, extravagantly indulgent supper. Plonk a fried egg on top, and you've got yourself a Croque Madame. Replace the ham with smoked salmon et voila! A Croque Norvégien. But pay heed: any recipe relying on just three main ingredients for success means that you can't cut corners; a toasted sarnie made with slices of white sandwich loaf, plastic cheese squares and thin, limp ham will most definitely not pass muster as a Croque Monsieur.

Ingredients (serves 2)

4 slices from a crusty white loaf (ideally a Pain de Campagne, a Boule de Pain, or white sourdough)
100g Gruyère (plus a little extra for sprinkling), grated
4 slices of really good French ham, smoked or unsmoked
20g melted butter

For the Béchamel Sauce:

20g butter
20g plain flour
125ml semi-skimmed milk, warmed
125ml single cream
1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard
Fresh nutmeg, grated

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 7. Meanwhile, make the Béchamel Sauce: melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan, add the flour and cook (stirring continuously) over a gentle heat until it smells biscuity. Gradually whisk in the warm milk followed by the cream and bring to a gentle boil, whisking as you go, until you've created a smooth, thick creamy sauce. Remove from the heat, add 1 tsp Dijon mustard and a smattering of freshly-grated nutmeg and set to one side.

Brush one side of all 4 slices of bread with the melted butter. Place them buttered-side up on a baking tray and toast under a hot grill until golden. Remove from the grill, turn the slices over on the tray and spread the untoasted sides of two slices with a thin layer of Dijon followed by a layer of the Béchamel (keeping some of the sauce back for topping), the ham and half of the grated Gruyère. Top with the remaining two slices of bread (untoasted sides facing down). Spread the remaining Béchamel over the top of each sandwich and sprinkle with more Gruyère.

Put the Croques into the oven and bake for around 10 mins or until the Béchamel is oozy and the Gruyère topping is a rich, golden-brown. Serve with extra Dijon and mayonnaise to hand and a simple, well-dressed green salad on the side.

Match-day wines

The Rugby World Cup is dominating the airwaves these days, with so many of us buoyed up by the anticipation and excitement of a match followed by either celebrations or commiserations…

The Great Wine Co. has a wonderful line-up of wines perfect for Rugby World Cup enjoyment, ones that will earn you bonus points with your friends and family.

Try their French Odyssey wines and save 25% on a selection of classic French wine. Make sure you avoid the scrum and get your match day wine delivered straight to your door! Here are some of our top picks:

Pinot Blanc – Trimbach
Capturing the style of Trimbach, this classic Pinot Blanc is full of lemony elegance with a firm structure | £18.33

Viognier – Leduc
Peach, apricot and almond aromas lead into a refreshing yet fruity palate with a smooth finish | £9.25

Eugénie, Minervois – Aubert & Mathieu
A silky, fluid blend that is full of blackberry, violet and black pepper - absolutely beautiful | £14.79

Pigmentum Malbec –  Georges Vigouroux - Pigmentum

Beneath a bouquet of summer flowers, a rich red Malbec emits flavours of raspberry, blackcurrant and blackberry, held together by firm, defined tannins | £12.91

Crémant de Bourgogne – Veuve Ambal
Very complex and well-structured on the palate with hints of butter and flowers | £14.79

Explore more French Odyssey wines at greatwine.co.uk

Ania Sikorska Silver & Nylon Tangerine Studs | £75

Creating jewellery is an art form for Ania Sikorska. They think of jewellery as an art closely related to the human body, and inspired by the randomness and organicity of nature. Shapes and patterns associated with the process of growth and movement – lamellas, spirals and waves – are the axis of this entire collection. 

Diana Porter's New Designers 2023 exhibition champions the work of graduate designers. Showcasing design ideas that dip into realms of fine art, sculpture or metal-smithing to create unique and thought-provoking bodies of work.

Shop now at dianaporter.co.uk

31 LE ROUGE Lipstick | £140

31 LE ROUGE is the new collection from Chanel, encapsulating the spirit of 31 Rue Cambon.

The faceted square case is inspired by the mirrors that line the legendary Art Deco staircase in Gabrielle Chanel's apartment, 31 Rue Cambon in Paris. The 12 satin shades, ranging from garnet to fuchsia and brown to crimson, each tell a story and are reminiscent of a Chanel fashion element.

31 LE ROUGE is a lipstick for life: refillable and combining recycled glass packaging with an all-metal mechanism.

Shop now at chanel.com

Chopard Happy Hearts

The Panerai Radiomir Tre Giorni 45mm watch beautifully encapsulates Panerai's rich heritage and unparalleled expertise.

With its enduring design - based on the 1935 original, superb precision, and masterful craftsmanship, this timepiece represents the ultimate choice for those who seek the perfect mix of classic allure and modern technology. Sporting a substantial 45mm stainless steel case and bezel, it has a commanding presence on the wrist.

The case's distinctive cushion shape, and the brown leather calfskin strap with contrasting stitching pays homage to Panerai's iconic vintage models, and has a delightful touch of retro elegance. The faded beige dial, enhanced by luminescent hour markers and hands, and big Arabic numeral markers ensures effortless readability in all lighting conditions.

The movement is a manual wind with a 72 hour power reserve (Tre Giorni) and the watch is water resistant to 100 metres | £6,100

Click here to this and many more Panerai watches at Mallory

Curated by Daniel McCabe

LE MILE is a Berlin-based fashion magazine that aims to celebrate ‘emerging and established creatives in fashion, arts, culture and entertainment’, a generic mission statement which masks how innovative it actually is. Originally a digital release, it moved to print within three years and recently converted to a dual landscape/portrait format which provides a fascinating framework for creative expression. The 35th issue is out this week and is themed ISSUE as ‘a testament to our collective human spirit that seeks to understand, address and innovate in the face of challenges’ – a bit vague again, so you’ll be surprised at how boundary-pushing it all is | £16

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!

Bristol Bach Choir presents: A Celebration of Bristol and Bach

Bristol Bach Choir presents a double musical celebration on the 4 November 2023 in St Alban’s Church, Westbury Park, in a way perfectly matched to its name: the music of J.S. Bach, and music by contemporary Bristol Composers to mark the 650^th anniversary of the city’s Royal Charter. 

The choir will perform Bach’s glorious Magnificat in D major and Cantata 129 which both alternate stunning solo arias with stirring choruses, and the brief double-choir Cantata 50.  

Bristol Ensemble: Leader – Roger Huckle
Soloists: Soprano – Emily Vine, Alto – Natalie Manning,
Tenor – Iain MacLeod-Jones, Bass – Christopher Sheldrake

Bristol Bach Choir, St Albans Church, Westbury Park, 7.30pm
Tickets: £24, £18 (reserved), £10 (unreserved), students and under 18s, £5
Phone: Bristol Bach Choir Box Office 0117 214 0721 or visit the website at bristolbach.org.uk

West Bristol Arts Trail

The West Bristol Arts Trail will be taking place over the weekend of 14 and 15 October 2023 when over 50 homes, studios and large venues will be open to the public.

It’s the biggest event they’ve put together with over 175 artist and creatives living and working in the Clifton, Clifton Wood, Redland and Hotwells areas.

Taking part in the Trail are fine artists, photographers, ceramicists, printmakers, textile artists, jewellers and sculptors. The trail offers you the chance to meet artists in their studios, talk to them about their work and buy directly from them.

Make sure you pick up an Arts Trail map from many venues around the city or check out the website below.

14 - 15 October
westbristolarts.com

Healing King Herod

Healing King Herod returns to Bristol after a smash-hit run at the Edinburgh Fringe. 

Famed for his Massacre of the Innocents, the reformed King now leads a self-development pyramid scheme. Audiences transform from ancient soldiers into modern clients in a group therapy session. Through drag-clown political parody, breathing exercises and cult-like rituals, Herod asks one thing: forgive…yourself. Within the show’s chaotic absurdity lurks male accountability, self-reckoning and cancel culture. Join Herod for a personal-development workshop like no other.

10 - 14 October
The Wardrobe Theatre, The Old Market Assembly, 25 West Street, Bristol BS2 0DF
Go to thewardrobetheatre.com for tickets

Tonight: Bristol Bears vs Cambridge

Bristol Bears is hosting Championship side Cambridge Rugby Club tonight at Ashton Gate!

The match is their final pool stage game of the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Cup and last 'warm-up' match ahead of the Gallagher Premiership that starts next weekend.

Newly appointed Club Captain Fitz Harding starts at number eight and is joined in the back row by Magnus Bradbury and Dan Thomas, with James Dun and Josh Caulfield named in the second row. 

Find out more at bristolbearsrugby.com

Frank Water launches competition to inspire Bristol children to learn about water conservation

Charity and social enterprise Frank Water, in partnership with global sustainable development consultancy Arup, is excited to launch a writing competition for primary schools and libraries in Bristol to win a half-day workshop with renowned author Catherine Barr.

They’ve also provided a complimentary copy of the book - 'WATER: Protect Freshwater to Save Life on Earth' by Catherine Barr and illustrated by Christiane Engel – to all primary schools and libraries in Bristol.

To enter the competition, students need to submit a story around a character or scene in the book, between 200-500 words by Friday 3 November 2023. The winning entry will be judged by a panel, including author Catherine and illustrator Christiane Engel.

The winning submission will be awarded the prize of a half-day workshop with Catherine, and she will visit the school (or library) and conduct an interactive session asking children to get involved and explore the issues inspiring her book. This session will further deepen children’s knowledge about water-related issues and inspire them to take action within their communities.

To find out more, go to frankwater.com

Ivywell Interiors

Bridging the gap between architecture and interior design, Ivywell Interiors has established itself in Bristol as an independent interior design studio with a creative and flexible approach to suit every stage of a home transformation. 

Working hand in hand with residential clients, Ivywell Interiors provides full-room design and design implementation, product sourcing and supply, and many additional bespoke services required to bring interior design dreams to life. The Ivywell team puts value and collaboration at the heart of what they do to create beautifully designed rooms with a network of local trusted trade partners that take the hassle out of renovating to deliver a picture-perfect finish.

Showroom by appointment, Sneyd Park, Bristol
07904040276 / 0117 984 5314
Discover more at ivywellinteriors.com

Worrall Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8

Offered for sale by Bristol estate agent Rupert Oliver.

This is a meticulously renovated 6 bedroom, 3 bathroom, family residence spanning four floors, with off-street parking and a sun-drenched southeast-facing garden. It has undergone extensive refurbishments, including updated electrics, heating, and plumbing, while preserving and enhancing its period features. The property is impeccably presented, with plantation-style shutters, cast iron radiators, period fireplaces, and restored wooden flooring throughout most of the house. An added feature is the potential to create a fully self-contained flat on the lower ground floor.

The main floor showcases an exquisite kitchen with a central island, integrated appliances, and a large range cooker. Adjacent to the kitchen is a spacious living room, bathed in light from four large sash windows, with beautiful stained glass detailing above.

The first floor offers a generous master suite with a walk-in wardrobe and a private ensuite shower room, along with a sizeable guest bedroom. Separating these rooms is a spacious family bathroom. 

Ascending to the top floor, you'll find two more double bedrooms, currently used as a gym and home office, along with a smaller bedroom with potential for conversion.

The lower ground level serves as a self-contained one-bedroom flat with private garden access, making it ideal for generating income or hosting long-term guests.

The landscaped garden enjoys a southeast orientation and provides a private outdoor space for cooking, dining, and basking in the sun. The property also offers ample off-street parking at the front.

In conclusion, this home seamlessly blends modern amenities with period charm, offering versatile living spaces for family life and entertaining. Guide Price, £1,250,000

For more details and photos click here to see the property on the Rupert Oliver website