Bristol Light Festival returns today!

Bristol's iconic Light Festival will start brightening up the city today, with ten days of dazzling illuminated artworks in various locations. 

Local artists are leading the way this year, with UWE alumnus Bruce Monroe painting College Green pink with his installation Ramadu's Table (pictured above). 

At St Mary Redcliffe Gardens, Air Giants' Bristol Based Team will be revealing the world premier of The Whilers: pneumatically-controlled robotic creations (pictured below).

Illumaphonium is returning to Bristol Light Festival this year with its new installation: Somnius. As participation in the installation grows, so does its soundscape and reactive illuminations, immersing crowds in a playful environment that puts them in control of their experience.

There's so much more to see, so head over to their website to view the full programme: bristollightfestival.org

Our February issue is out!

Slapstick Festival is gearing up to deliver a programme of events crammed with side-splitting laughs, and we managed to snag some of comedy legend Ben Elton’s time ahead of his appearance collecting his, well, Comedy Legend Award. He tells us who his own comedy legends are, and what it means for his lifetime’s work to be recognised.

For anyone chasing love, prioritising self love, cherishing their friends and adoring their pets, we have a packed gift guide to make sure your Valentine feels thoroughly spoilt this year.

Elsewhere, writer Florence Grieve meets with Ad Infinitum to learn about the theatre company’s efforts to put Deaf artists centre stage; journalist Simon Horsford heads to the studio of graffiti artist Tommy (known as Vandalist) for a masterclass in all things street art; we hear from the stars of Dear Evan Hansen ahead of its run at Bristol Hippodrome; and we reflect on some of the best ways to make the most of mirrors in your home. All that, and so much more!

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. 

4 winning vegetarian ways with winter vegetables

Recipe by Melissa Blease

Speedy Winter Broth (serves 4)

Tip 2 x 400g cans of chopped tomatoes into a large pan with 2l vegetable stock. Add 2 peeled, chopped carrots, 2 peeled, chopped parsnips and 1 peeled, chopped potato. Bring to the boil then simmer for 20-30 minutes until the vegetables have softened. Add 2 x 400g cans of mixed or cannellini beans and simmer until the beans have heated through. Serve with swirls of pesto on top, accompanied by crusty bread.

Red Lentil and Root Veg Curry (serves 4)

Heat a little oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and sauté 1 large onion (peeled and chopped) with 2 peeled, crushed garlic cloves for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add 600g peeled, chopped potatoes, 4 peeled, chopped carrots and 2 peeled, chopped parsnips and continue to sauté until the vegetables are soft and golden, adding 2 tbsp medium curry powder for the last minute or so of cooking time. Add 1l vegetable stock and 100g red lentils. Stir well, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer (partially covered) for 15-20 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened. Season to taste and serve in warm bowls topped with dollops of yoghurt, sprinkled with freshly-chopped coriander and accompanied by rice or naan bread (or both!)

Winter Greens Puff Pie (serves 4)

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 5. In a large frying pan over a medium-high heat, sauté 1 peeled, chopped onion with a little salt until translucent, adding 2 peeled, crushed garlic cloves and a smattering of grated nutmeg for the last minute or so. Add around 400g shredded winter greens (eg. cavolo nero, savoy cabbage, kale) to the pan with a splash of water and gently simmer until wilted (around 3-4 minutes). Add 200g mascarpone, 40g parmesan and a squeeze of lemon juice and stir to combine. Season well and tip the mixture into the base of a 20cm pie dish. Top with 1 x 320g sheet of ready-made, all butter puff pastry, trim the edges and crimp to create a seal. Brush the top with beaten egg, make a hole in the centre to allow the steam to escape, bake for around 35 minutes or until golden-brown on top and serve with buttery mash.

Roasted onions with Ricotta (serves 4)

Preheat the oven to 160ºC/gas mark 4. Cut 4 medium-sized, unpeeled red onions in half and place cut-side up on a large baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil, dot with butter, sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves, and season well, then turn the onions over and add 80ml water to the tray. Roast for 1 hour then turn the onions over again and roast for another 30 minutes until soft and ‘jammy’. Meanwhile, melt 50g butter in a small saucepan over a medium heat until it starts to turn brown. Add a little more fresh thyme, 3 cloves of peeled, crushed garlic, season well, simmer until fragrant and keep warm. Arrange the roast onions on a warm serving platter, top with dollops of ricotta, drizzle the garlic-buttery sauce across the top and serve with crusty bread.

Greek Whites

With over 6,500 years of winemaking history under its belt, it's somewhat surprising that Greek is only recently emerging as an industry trend within the UK. In recent years, this often-overlooked country has stepped into the spotlight, with quality, value-for-money wines that express the rich terroir of Greece's rugged landscape, sunlit days and oceanic climate.

With a huge number of indigenous varietals lending themselves to new wines emerging onto the market, Greece is fast becoming one of the most exciting players in the UK industry today. Here are a few available to buy from Great Wine Co.

Assyrtiko by Kir-Yianni | £16.65

The great white of Santorini, transplanted to Amyndeon in northern Greece. Aromas of lemon zest, white peach and honeysuckle.

Tarsanas Single Vineyard Assyrtiko by Kir-Yianni | £29.50

Aromas of apple, pear and citrus fruits, with a refreshing character and salty minerality.

Santorini Assyrtiko by Sigalas | £39.50

The Sigalas Santorini Assyrtiko has a fabulous scent of preserved lemons, rockpools and crushed oyster shells, opening up to pineapple, peach, honeysuckle and buttery toffee.

Paranga White by Kir-Yianni | £14.40

Intense but refined aromas of jasmine, white peach and apricot, typical of Malagousia, balanced by the freshness of a high-altitiude Roditis adding crisp acidity and zest.

Kavalieros Single Vineyard Assyrtiko by Sigalas | £69.50

Complex metallic nose, with intense aromas of citrus fruit (ripe lemon), accompanied by hints of herbs and citrus flowers. Rich body, refreshing acidity and long aftertaste.

Customisation by Inkie at Harvey Nichols Bristol
8 February, 1-4pm

Renowned street artist Inkie will be offering complimentary customisation at Harvey Nichols Bristol on Saturday 8 February from 1pm - 4pm on ground floor*.

With a style that draws on art nouveau influences with an urban twist, customers can get gifts including wine, spirits, Prosecco, and fragrances personalised just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Inkie’s Enchante Exhibition is also available to view at the Second-Floor restaurant.

*Customisation is complimentary for Rewards Customers who spend over £50.

The Appeal of Yellow Diamonds

Yellow diamonds, often called "canary diamonds," are among the most sought-after fancy-coloured diamonds due to their rich, golden hue.

Unlike colourless diamonds, where a yellowish tint can lower value, fancy yellow diamonds derive their beauty and worth from the presence of nitrogen, which absorbs blue light, giving the stone a yellow tint, enhancing the vibrancy and colour.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades yellow diamonds based on intensity, ranging from 'Fancy Light' to 'Fancy Vivid', with the purest and most intense shades—especially canary yellow—commanding the highest prices. These diamonds can also exhibit secondary hues, such as orange or brown, influencing their value.

Yellow diamonds provide a striking and luxurious alternative to traditional colourless diamonds. Their rarity, particularly in larger carat sizes, makes them highly desirable for collectors and investors alike. Prices vary widely, from around £2000 to over £20,000 per carat, depending on factors like intensity, clarity, and carat weight.

Whether as a statement piece or an investment, fancy yellow diamonds offer timeless elegance and unique brilliance. And, more than anything, they are simply beautiful.

The bespoke jewellery collection at Mallory features some of the most covetable fancy stones available and the in-house goldsmiths create unique pieces [also made to order] to the highest standards of craftsmanship. 

Click here to find out more on the Mallory website.

Main image: Platinum solitaire, three claw set, pear shaped yellow diamond ring with diamond grain-set shoulders. Certificate GIA 2225468428 VS2. 

Centre Stone Weight: 3.02ct. 
Total Diamond Weight: 3.10ct
£ Price on application.

Silver Pebble Being Pendant by Diana Porter | £199

A silver pebble pendant from Diana Porter with an organic finish, hand-etched with words including ‘growing, learning, loving, knowing, accepting, laughing, dreaming’ highlighted in 22ct yellow gold on a silver chain extendable chain. 

The etching can be chosen in all silver, black oxidised finish or highlighted in 22ct yellow gold, as shown.

Shop online at dianaporter.co.uk, or visit the Bristol store at 33 Park Street, Bristol BS1 5NH

Bag charms from Anthropologie

Jazz up any outfit with funky bag charms from Anthropologie. This charming new trend lets your personality and style shine, no matter the occasion.

Pictured, clockwise from top left: Bubble Letter Monogram Bag Charm, £20; Beaded Fruit Bag Charm, orange, £22; Antique Fish Bag Charm, £26; Beaded Vegetable Bag Charm, green, £22

Visit the Anthropologie store at 1-4 New Bond St, Bath BA1 1BE

New Launch: Sisley Sensitive Soothing Care

Sisley's new Sensitive Skin Soothing Care Cream is launching exclusively on 5 February with SpaceNK.

This is their first cream created purely for sensitive skin, to soothe any discomfort, stinging itching, tightness, burning sensations and redness. 

Sensitive Skin Soothing Care raises the skin's tolerance threshold by compensating for predisposition to lipid deficiencies. Clinical tests have shown instant and long term improvement to the skin's barrier function which helps to raise sensitive skin's tolerance. 

RRP £165 | sisley-paris.com | spacenk.com

Curated by Daniel McCabe

We rate Carcy as one of the most impressive magazines in our range. Tracing a sophisticated but accessible, narrative-driven pathway through high end art, photography and fashion, the Paris-based Carcy somehow manages to hit new heights with every release. There have only been twelve issues so far, with latest exploring the idea of chimeras. ‘Once symbols of rupture, disorder and moral deviance, chimeras are today's emblem of the fluid, multifaceted nature of 21st century discussions surrounding embodiment and human experience’ goes the slightly lofty introduction, and what follows is both eye-popping, intellectually provocative and wholly original. | £25

magalleria.co.uk

Bristol Film Festival presents The Lost World

On 12 February, Bristol Film Festival is hosting a very special 100th anniversary screening of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World at St Mary Redcliffe.

100 years on from its original release, The Lost World is roaring back onto the big screen for this one-off showing of the restored cut, including one of the first ever movie cameos...

The remarkable film will be accompanied by a live, entirely improvised organ recital by the award-winning composer Dr. David Bednall, blending silent cinema with live music to create a unique performance that promises to add another dimension to the experience. 

Visit bristolfilmfestival.com to book your space

The Six Nations begins this evening!

Six Nations returns with a bang today, with the competition's first match seeing Wales take on France in Paris for an 8.15pm kick-off. 

So where to watch the match in Bristol?

To fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere, head down to Ashton Gate Stadium's Independence Sports Bar. Tables of four, six and eight as well as standing space are available to book. ashtongatestadium.co.uk

Aqua Restaurants will be at Shaftesbury Park, Frenchay, for every Six Nations game, serving bar food and pizzas, so you can enjoy watching the games with friends and family at the park whilst they serve you some incredible food. aqua-restaurant.com

Also showing the game tonight is Allstars Sports Bar on Park Street; Bambalan on Colston Street; Racks Bar and Kitchen in Clifton, King Street Brew House on King Street; to name a few!

Get down early to avoid missing out, and happy watching!

Abbotts Leigh, BS8

Offered for sale by Knight Frank Estate Agents

This home has been designed and recently extended by the current owners, creating a contemporary style family home with far-reaching, rural views of the neighbouring fields. The clever design allows plenty of natural light in each room- with various windows and roof lanterns making the most of the south-westerly aspect. The home is built of sustainable materials, has an air source heat pump and an electric vehicle charging point installed and benefits of under floor heating on the ground floor.

The entrance hall opens through to the main living space which is an open plan lounge and dining room with full-length, sliding doors opening to the rear garden and roof lanterns allowing a great natural light. There are exposed beams throughout this space with solid oak and tiled flooring distinguishing the areas. 

The kitchen space is separated by a cleverly designed half wall and breakfast bar which creates a flow between the spaces. There is a separate utility room beyond the kitchen and a downstairs cloakroom on this floor.

On the first floor are two of the bedrooms, including the principle suite with an ensuite shower and bathroom, a dressing area and plenty of storage. All of the bedrooms have engineered oak flooring and windows overlooking the rear garden and beyond. There is also a well appointed family bathroom.

The second floor was an extension by the current owners, creating two further bedrooms which are currently well designed as children’s bedrooms, including contemporary style sunken beds.

At the front of the property is undercover, off street parking for two cars and a electric charging point. The rear garden is laid to lawn, south-west facing and with views over neighbouring fields | Offers in excess of £895,000

For more details and images click here to visit the Knight Frank website