Somerset astrophotographer Josh Dury starred in headlines around the world this week after producing a historic image of the night sky, which is thought to be the first ever photo to capture all of the planets aligned in our solar system (including Earth).

He shared the image on his Instagram page, saying: "On Saturday evening [23 Feb], I attempted to photograph the latest edition to the planetary parade; the planet Mercury. Now that it has passed our side of the Sun, it could now be visible low on the western horizon. The eagle-eyed amongst you will observe that it is not possible to observe all the planets at the same time, which you would be correct. Multiple exposures were documented, to capture Mercury, Saturn and Neptune low to the west. But do not let this image fool you; these planets are extremely difficult to observe, let alone photograph. Careful research and analysis of multiple images was needed to confirm their location."

Josh's monumental memento has been picked up by news outlets around the world, from Somerset Live, to The Telegraph and New York Post.

We previously spoke with Josh Dury for an interview in the magazine, which you can still read on our website.

Image credit: Josh Dury 

Our March issue is out NOW!

Sliding cautiously into very early Spring thinking, we've got some vibrant looks from Oliver Bonas, a rip-roaring preview at the new third volume of The Women Who Built Bristol by its author Jane Duffus, a sneaky peek behind-the-scenes at a ballet-version of Cinderella coming to Hippodrome... plus reams of exclusive Spring/Summer Homes, Interiors & Gardens content to help you overhaul your space.

...But if all of that feels a bit too bright and breezy, or you're looking for somewhere to hide until the world feels a little less, well, hectic, then we've got a four-page special on an ancient cave hiding beneath our feet in Southmead. Pop on your helmet and descend into its depths with us. 

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 and John Lewis.

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 £35 for 12 issues, £20 for six issues or buy a copy for just £4.95. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – click here to subscribe on our website. 

Recipe by Melissa Blease

Saturday 1 March is St David’s Day. What better excuse do you need to rustle up a batch of Pice ar y Maen, the classic Welsh teatime treat that nobody can refuse? But these delicious little hob-cooked cookies aren’t just a sweet teatime treat; they’re absolutely delicious served with cheese (Caerphilly, of course) and rich, fruity pickle. 

Welsh Cakes will happily stay fresh in a tin for up to 1 week - but you probably won’t need to know that. 

Ingredients (makes 16 Welsh Cakes)

225g plain flour
85g caster sugar
1 level tsp mixed spice
½ tsp baking powder
100g very cold butter, cubed
50g currants
1 beaten egg
Splash of milk

Method

1. Tip the flour, sugar, mixed spice, baking powder and a pinch of salt into a bowl and rub the cold, cubed butter in with your fingertips until you’ve created a mixture that resembles breadcrumbs. 

2. Add the currants, stir to combine then work the beaten egg into the mixture until you have soft dough with a similar consistency to shortcrust pastry, adding a splash of milk if the dough seems a little bit too dry.

3. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to around the thickness of your little finger and stamp out around 16 rounds, re-rolling the trimmings as you go. 

4. Grease a heavy frying or flat griddle pan with butter and place over a medium heat. Cook the Welsh Cakes in batches for around 3 minutes each side until golden brown. 

Serve warm sprinkled with caster sugar, accompanied with butter and jam or with cheese.

Recommendations by Tom Bleathman from The Great Wine Co.

The rugged natural beauty of Sicily has long made for a fantastic holiday destination. Recently, however, its wine scene has also been booming. Home to over 65 indigenous grape varieties, Sicily produces some exceptional wines that often go unnoticed in the broader tapestry of Italian winemaking. This means they frequently offer great value for money. The cherry on top? Throughout March, these wines are also on offer as part of The Great Wine Co.'s Italian promotion. greatwine.co.uk

Fiano 2024, Molino Vento
Made by the fantastic Tenute Orestiadi, this Fiano is outstanding value for money. Grown on the western coastline in Trapini, these vines are situated in rich black, mineral heavy soils helping to keep the wine delightfully fresh. Fiano is classically aromatic and this is no exception, packed full of tropical fruit and white flowers. On the palate it is fresh with a lovely level of acidity. £13.30 to £11.10.

Terebinto Grillo 2023, Planeta
Planeta are one of the icon produces of Sicily and played a huge part in creating the renowned reputation Sicilian winemaking now holds. Grown on the west of the Island in Memfi, this Grillo is a fantastic example of how good these indigenous grapes can be. On the nose, it’s lively, full of pineapple, melon and green apple. The palate is wonderfully weighty and textured. £22 to £18.33.

Etna Rosso 2022, Planeta
I couldn’t write a Sicilian article without including a wine grown on the slopes of Mount Etna. The vineyards are situated between 510-610 metres above sea-level in rich black and lava sands where all the grapes are hand-picked to ensure quality. Planeta’s Etna Rosso is made using the indigenous Nerello Mascalese grape which produces a soft red wine with notes of plums, raspberries and tomato leaf. The minerality from the soil and acidity running through the wine keeps it delightfully fresh inviting you to take another sip. A wine which provides a true taste of its unique location. £29.50 to £24.40.

Click here to browse more fantastic bottles on The Great Wine Co. website

The Tudor Royal collection

With the first watch created by Tudor in 1926, Royal is a name introduced by Tudor in the 1950s to underline the superior quality and reputation of its watches.

With this heritage in mind, the Tudor Royal range offers self-winding sporty-chic watches with notched or diamond-set bezels, day date or just date windows and integrated five-link bracelets that are affordable, versatile and an uncompromising quality.

Combining excellent watch craftsmanship and a refined aesthetic, the Royal line sits between classic dress and sports watches. The range comes in steel or yellow gold and steel and is offered in four case sizes: 28mm, 34mm, 38mm and 41mm, accommodating all tastes and wrist sizes, with thirteen possible dials and perfect for all occasions.

Tudor has recently expanded the dial options from the original range of black, silver, champagne-colour, blue, to now include radial-brushed salmon and chocolate brown dials that offer a new and exquisite look.

For a final touch of chic, Tudor has added applied Roman numeral hour markers to its Royal watches. All dials offer these applied numerals or a combination of applied numerals and eight diamond-set hour markers. All Royal watches have an in-house The Tudor automatic movement with a 38 hour power reserve and are water resistant to 100m. The range starts at £2,070.

To see and find out more about the range of Tudor Royal watch options click here to visit the Mallory website.

Pack your bags for a summer escape. On the idyllic palm-fringed beaches of the Seychelles, encounter the rare coco de mer. Basking in tropical sunlight, the sea coconut’s sculptural form inspires the fresh solar scent of Beach Blossom Cologne.

A refreshing twist of coconut water carried on the breeze, meeting the sparkling clarity of lime and mint, wrapped in the allure of tonka bean.

In either 100ml (£124) or 50ml (86), available online now and in Jo Malone London stores from tomorrow, Saturday 1 March.

jomalone.co.uk

 Bristol's Formula 1 racing driver Lando Norris has unveiled a new collection of T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and mini helmets, titled LANDO.EXE.

A digital iteration of LN4, LANDO.EXE is encoded with history yet hardwired for perpetual evolution — forever a work in progress.

All of the Mini Helmets are created for you in a made-to-order production process, and clothing is available to pre-order today.

Click here to read our 2021 interview with Lando Norris on thebristolmag.co.uk

landonorris.store

Curated by Daniel McCabe

alvento is an established cycling magazine (37 issues) from Italy that’s just arrived over here and which we do very much like the look of. But what sort of cycling? Well, the publisher says ‘We often say that for us cycling is a pretext to talk about people and their stories. So it doesn't matter whether you use a road bike, a gravel bike or a mountain bike, or whether you are a professional, an amateur or a person who uses a bicycle to go to work. We look for the meaning of things, the deeper meaning behind all experiences.’ The name of the magazine means literally ‘in the wind’ but is also a term derived from cycle racing – the alvento is the one who stays in front of the group and catches the wind in their face.
£14.95

magalleria.co.uk

Pamela Anderson dazzles in The Last Showgirl, in cinemas today

When the glittering Las Vegas revue she has headlined for decades announces it will soon close, showgirl Shelly (Pamela Anderson) sets out to plan her next act. Reconciling the decisions she’s made and the life she's built, she decides to repair her complicated relationship with her daughter (Billie Lourd).

With an outstanding ensemble cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka, The Last Showgirl is a joyous tribute to a long-gone Las Vegas – and all the women who made it glitter.

Directed by Gia Coppola and featuring a Golden Globe-nominated performance from Pamela Anderson, who dazzles in the role of a lifetime, this poignant film of resilience, rhinestones and feathers is simply unmissable.

Click here for more information and to book tickets at Watershed

Pieces of Yate 2

Bath Textile Artists have once more been inspired by the history, buildings and environs of Yate to produce some exciting and varied new work.

Group members use a wide range of different techniques in their work – weaving, felting, appliqué, piecing, fabric painting, machine and hand stitching, to name but a few.

Opening hours: Tuesday – Thursday 10am-4pm and Saturday 10am-3pm
Yate Heritage Centre, Church Lane, Yate, BS37 5BG

bathtextileartists.com

The RWA's first After Hours of the year is an unforgettable evening of live music, performance and hands-on creativity, set against the stunning backdrops and extraordinary acoustics of its historic galleries.

Genre-defying musical collective The Fantasy Orchestra is headlining the night, and there will also be a live art performance from the brilliant Dr Carali McCall.

Thursday 6 March, 7.30pm
rwa.org.uk

Want more of the outdoors? Then head to retailer Ellis Brigham for two special Knowledge Nights events this month. 

First is Fastpacking 101 with Pure Trails (13 March 6.30pm, tickets £10). Fastpacking can be a combination of running, hiking and backpacking, with the goal of travelling quickly and efficiently by carrying only the essentials. Learn more about the concept and how to successfully do it from the expert founder of Pure Trails. 

Then it’s Running 100 Miles with long distance runners Naomi Benson and Charlie Gay from Beyond Ultra (27 March 6.30pm, tickets £5). Hear about their training strategies, mental resilience, equipment and nutrition. Naomi recently came fourth in the UTMB Arc of Attrition while Charlie – an endurance coach and search and rescue volunteer – is heading off for his first 200-mile ultra this year. 

Ellis Brigham, 160 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2XZ.
Ticket price includes a welcome drink, available via eventbrite.co.uk

Human Givens College’s clear, evidence-based training gives you the essential psychological knowledge and practical skills you need to help people overcome a wide range of difficulties.

There’s lots to choose from: including a Diploma in psychotherapy and counselling, guided imagery, therapeutic language and storytelling skills, treating trauma, addictions, depression, anxiety, phobias and self-harm, conflict resolution, solution focused techniques, the rewind technique and more…

Suitable for all – each course is jam-packed with information and skills you can use immediately.

Courses in Bristol: humangivens.com/college/bristol

Venue: Engineers’ House, Bristol, BS8 3NB

Online courses: humangivens.com/college/online

Special Offer – SAVE 10% when you book 5 or more full price courses together.

Step into the magical world of Cinderella, where Fairy Godmothers triumph over cruel stepmothers, pumpkins turn into sparkling carriages and a jewelled slipper changes one young woman’s life forever. This timeless story of love, courage and kindness reminds us all to have faith in our wildest dreams; one day they might just come true.

Praised by audiences and critics alike, former Company Director David Bintley’s Cinderella is a sure-fire mix of wonderful dance, spectacular scenery, and a cast of characters that include mice, lizards and even a dancing frog – something to capture every imagination.

Read more about Cinderella at thebristolmag.co.uk, or visit atgtickets.com to book tickets

27 – 29 March | Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine's Parade, BS1 4UZ

Bristol Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society proudly presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s final and rarely performed operetta.  In a whirlwind of romantic entanglements, outrageous misunderstandings and laugh-out-loud moments, The Grand Duke is a captivating mix of hilarity and farce.

In the whimsical Grand Duchy of Pfennig-Halbpfennig, a spirited theatrical troupe hatches a daring plot to overthrow the miserly Grand Duke Rudolph.  With their scheme discovered, the actors must save their skin with a “statutory duel”.  But when the hapless Ludwig suddenly finds himself wearing the crown, nothing goes as planned.

27 – 29 March | The Redgrave Theatre, Percival Road, Clifton, BS8 3LE
Book tickets at bristolgsos.co.uk

Bristol Choral Society presents Dixtit Dominus

Join Bristol Choral Society for two settings of Dixit Dominus, a setting of Psalm 110, both from early 18th Rome. The choir and soloists will also perform Beatus Vir by the great Italian Renaissance composer Claudio Monteverdi.

Programme:
Handel: Dixit Dominus; Scarlatti: Dixit Dominus; Monteverdi: Beatus Vir

The concert will be performed by Bristol Choral Society and Bristol Ensemble, and conducted by Hilary Campbell.

Organ: Liam Dunachie; Soprano: Katie Trethewey; Soprano: Gwen Martin; Alto: Nancy Cole; Tenor: Alex Haigh; Bass: Thomas Lowen

29 March, 7.30pm; Bristol Cathedral; College Green, BS1 5TJ
Visit bristolchoral.co.uk to buy tickets

Much-loved local charity St Peter’s Hospice has launched its second retail ‘Superstore’ with the opening of a new unit in Portishead.

Officially opened at a launch event by local Bristol resident and Married at First Sight UK star, Emma Barnes, the new Superstore will specialise in furniture – both preloved and new, as well as stocking homeware, electricals, white goods and preloved clothing.

Located at the retail park on Wyndham Way and following the success of the first new-concept Superstore, which opened on Jacob’s Wells Road in March 2024, the Portishead setting will offer free furniture collection and a handy delivery service for large items, as well as an easy to use donation station.

The Superstore is the second St Peter’s Hospice shop in Portishead, with the boutique on the high street specialising in clothing, vintage items and children’s clothes and toys.

St Peter’s Hospice cares for adults with life-limiting conditions in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. All care is provided free of charge, but the charity relies on gifts in wills, donations, fundraising and money raised through its retail shops to deliver its services.

For more information visit Superstore - St Peter's Hospice

Bears Women will take on reigning PWR champions, Gloucester-Hartpury in a play-off semi-final away this Sunday.

Jasmine Joyce-Butchers (14) returns to action for the clash with at Queensholm (3pm KO).

The Wales and GB Sevens star is named on the wing for the re-run of last season’s final, as Dave Ward makes just one change for the West Country derby.

Courtney Keight continues at full back after another impressive display against Harlequins in Round 17, while Player of the Match Christiana Balogun keeps her place on the openside flank.

Find out more at bristolbearsrugby.com!

Minted in the City: a gorgeous Broad Street apartment

2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathrooms | 1 Reception | Guide Price: £580,000

Offered for sale by Knight Frank Estate Agents

Introducing The Royal Mint; this luxurious & remarkable central Bristol apartment, occupies the majestic former Bank of England building in the heart of Bristol Old City. It's as deluxe as its regal name suggests with a street view into the old quarter of historic Bristol.

Hedonistic and plush, this 2 bedroom, private apartment is on the first floor, and with 1076 sq. ft. of floorspace the spacious living, dining and kitchen areas are finished to high decorative order with luxurious fittings, beautiful touches and high-quality fixtures as are the two double bedrooms and splendid bathroom design. This is a stylish and sophisticated apartment perfectly located to explore, recline and love the vibe in central Bristol.

To enjoy a full range of images, a floorpan and more information, click here to see the property on the Knight Frank website.

Landpoint Custom Garden Rooms

Landpoint Custom Garden Rooms was founded on the values established over the past decade of high quality, bespoke garden design and landscaping provided by Landpoint Gardens in and around Bristol and the surrounding areas. 

Projects range from professional work spaces and home offices, children’s playrooms, annexe bedrooms, fully-equipped and functional home gyms, man caves, personal home cinemas, art studio, drum and band practice rooms and more. 

By avoiding templated construction, you have full control over all elements of the design and construction to deliver the ultimate custom spaces that provide value to the people and the house that it serves while being uniquely personal.

custom.garden