Image Credits: Alex Brenner

Bristol Old Vic Theatre presents 'Dear Young Monster'

Bristol writer and actor Pete MacHale (Doctor Who, Choose or Die) has created a sensational, hour-long piece exploring otherness and queer identity through the gruesome, soil-splattered lens of Frankenstein’s monster. Like the line “blood on tea”, MacHale’s performance stirs confronting scenes of transphobia into his comforting humour – causing ripples of laughter with the slightest of side glances.

This one-man show has been in the making since 2018, and you can tell MacHale has studied every cell of his performance, much like Victor Frankenstein of his creature, electrifying it into something otherworldly. The 60 minutes are at times deliberately disjointed, with MacHale stitching dismembered gothic horror-inspired daydreams together with life-changing conversations in strip-lit consultation rooms. MacHale’s tale of his experiences as a trans person is a must-see.

Dear Young Monster is being performed at Bristol Old Vic’s Weston Studio until Saturday 9 March. Buy tickets here.

OUR MARCH ISSUE IS OUT NOW!

You'll love our marvellous March magazine, which has a slightly new feel and format, and features a collection of great reading by our team of wonderful writers as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bristol's best businesses. 

Features include expert advice to help hone your home office design; a local fashion brand's journey to making an appearance on BBC show Gladiators; we feel funky with trombonist Dennis Rollins as he recalls his journey to jazz; tuck into BANK's roast dinner in Totterdown, plus 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, 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

Cheese and Onion Pie

Seasonal leeks, oozy, tangy cheese and no-fuss, melt-in-the-mouth pastry: the Cheese and Onion Pie is a British comfort food classic for very good reason!

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

1 x 375g pack ready-made shortcrust pastry
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 brown or white onion, finely chopped
2 leeks, trimmed and finely chopped
The leaves from 4 thyme sprigs (or 1 level tbsp dried thyme)
175g Cheddar cheese, grated
175g Red Leicester cheese, grated
English or Dijon mustard, to taste (optional)
1 egg

Method

1. Use 2/3 of the pastry to line a 20cm round, 4cm deep loose-bottomed tart/pie tin. Roll the remaining 1/3 pastry into a ball and place both the tin and the pastry in the fridge.

2. Heat around 1 tbsp olive oil in a large, heavy-based pan. Add the red onion and a pinch of salt and saute for 1-2 minutes. Add the spring onions, leeks and thyme, stir well and saute for a further 2-3 mins. Add 200ml water and continue to cook for 6-8 mins, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has almost evaporated and the onions and leeks are silky-soft.

3. Remove the pan from the heat and use a slotted spoon to transfer the onion mixture to a large bowl, discarding any liquid in the pan. Allow to cool completely. Meanwhile, Preheat the oven to 190°C/gas mark 5 and put a baking sheet on the middle shelf.

4. When the onion mixture has cooled, add the cheeses, half the beaten egg and the mustard (if using) to the bowl and gently stir to thoroughly combine. Spoon the pie filling into the pastry case and spread evenly. On a lightly floured surface, roll the remaining 1/3 of pastry out to make a lid for the pie. Lightly wet the rim of the pie with a little bit of water and cover with the lid. Press around the edge to seal the pie and trim off any overhanging pastry (if you have any pastry left, re-roll it and use it to make decorations for the top of the pie).

5. Brush the top of the pie with most of the remaining egg and use a sharp knife tp make 2-3 small slashes or holes in the top to allow steam to escape during baking. Place the pie on the hot baking sheet in the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until golden.

6. Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool and settle for 15 minutes before removing from the tin and serving with a dollop of pickle.

Spanish Wines

Due to Spain's arid climate and low rainfall, the land simply cannot support such a concentrated volume of trellised vines as you might find in a country like France. Spain's vineyards are therefore dotted with low-lying, ancient bush vines better adapted to compete for the scarce resources. Here at The Bristol Magazine we have chosen our top 5:

With raspberry and rose petal aromas, this wine has fabulous freshness and delicacy. Superb juicy fruit character on the palate, with refreshing acidity and deliciously sustained flavour on the finish. | £15.50

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. | £22

Godello 'Mara Martin,' Terras do Cigarrón - Bodegas Martin Codax
Fantastically pure and precise, with delicate peach, greengage and pink grapefruit aromas, which are reflected on the superbly-refreshing palate. | £15.50

Blanco Sobre Lías - Care
Fresh and intense aromas of greengage, pineapple and amalfi lemon, with a hint of asian spice. There is a coolness and fragrance that is very enticing. | £11.10

Gallaecia Albariño - Bodegas Martin Codax
With a bright golden yellow colour, this wine has intense perfume of raisins, dried fruits, hints of honey and bitter orange marmalade with a subtle aroma of botrytis. The main aromas of the Albariño variety can also be sensed. It is lively on the palate, with just a touch of sweetness in what is essentially a dry - albeit rich - wine. | £53

Visit greatwine.co.uk for more.

Mother's Day Dining Experience at Harvey Nichols

Treat your loved one to an indulgent two-course dining experience at Harvey Nichols Bristol this Mother's Day on 10 March. 

The dinner consists of canapés and a complimentary glass of Prosecco for your mother, with the offer of a goodie bag and complimentary voucher for a counter experience with Sisley. This dining experience is £40 per person.

12pm–4pm | Second Floor Restaurant 
Click here for more information and to book. 

Automatic Watch Winders by Scatola del Tempo

Do you have a fine watch collection, and like to rotate wrist time between wearing your watches? Then you need to keep self-winding timepieces moving with a quality winder while they are resting. This is a not only a good idea to maintain the date and time – it’s also a lovely piece of luxury kit, and a beautiful, hypnotic instrument to behold.

Scatola del Tempo - the inventor and specialist maker of finest watch winders – is the go-to solution for haute-horologistes and enthusiasts. And with a range of winders available – from a single watch-winding box to a 9-watch case, or even a full, bespoke cabinet made to order – this is a beautiful way to display, enjoy and preserve a collection.

Main image is the Scatola Rotor One Sport in red and green. Its exterior cover has a soft touch finish, pleasant to the touch, integrating a Swiss Made mechanism. This model functions solely on batteries and offers a minimum autonomy of 3 years. £530.

For more details on fine watch winders visit Mallory. 

NEW Fresh Lotus AHA Gentle Resurfacing Serum | £60 at Space NK

Awake to a renewed complexion with Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Resurfacing Dream Serum. This exfoliating Fresh Dream Serum with prickly pear extract gently resurfaces the skin during sleep, evening out skin tone, reducing the appearance of imperfections, and boosting skin radiance.

Apply this Fresh Resurfacing Serum to cleansed skin before moisturising. Let citric and glycolic acids help to gently buff away dull skin to reveal a brighter, more even complexion.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Serum is gentle enough for all skin types and can be incorporated into a bedtime routine to prompt a refreshed and glowing complexion.

Dr. Anne-Laure Bulteau, Skin Biologist at Fresh explains:

“The simplest explanation is the serum resurfaces the skin for smooth, even texture and tone. The AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) in this serum consists of two different acids – glycolic and citric...Those acids bring resurfacing properties that supports skin renewal activity, enhancing the overall exfoliation process. In addition to these exfoliating ingredients, Super Lotus helps to smooth the look of lines and boost radiance".

Click here to purchase.

Tommy Hilfiger 1985 collection zip-thru jumper | £120

Inspired by the year that Tommy Hilfiger first designed his namesake label, the 1985 collection reimagines archival icons with more sustainable materials.

Discover your new favourite layering piece with this pure organic cotton jumper in a zip-thru, mock turtleneck design.

Click here to purchase. 

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Summit Journal is a venerable mountain climbing magazine that underwent a second change of ownership in 2023. Originally founded in California in 1955, the magazine was initially focused on skiing before broadening out to embrace all mountain sports. Rebooted and reformatted, Summit is released again this month in a bold A3 biannual edition ‘devoted to capturing the soul of climbing through long-form tales of daring, dirtbaggery, connection and commitment’. We know this is great news for climbing aficionados because there’s precious little to buy in this department and Summit looks a cracker. | £24

magalleria.co.uk

Performance by Bristol Bach Choir

Bristol Bach Choir will perform two highly contrasting and beautiful works on 23 March at All Saints Church. 

Scarlatti’s setting of the Stabat Mater is one of the pinnacles of the Baroque repertoire. The contemporary composer Gabriel Jackson’s Requiem provides a stunning contrast to this, sharing the many-voiced textures of the Scarlatti, but suffused with light, warmth and peace.

They all share a common belief in death being not the end, but rather something filled with hope for a new life ahead.

Tickets: £22 (reserved), £15 (unreserved). 

Click here to book your tickets. 
7.30pm | 23 March | All Saints Church, Pembroke Road, Clifton, BS8 3ED

Meet the artist Mark Curryer at Fizz Gallery

Join leading cityscape artist Mark Curryer on 9 March as he launches an exciting new collection of mixed media originals depicting cities from around the world at Fizz Gallery. 

This is a relaxed afternoon, where you can enjoy a drink, chat with Mark and learn more about his work and inspiration. Be the first to see his new Bristol paintings – exclusive to Fizz. 

Signings and dedication opportunities will be available on the day. The exhibition runs between 9–16 March. 

2–4pm | 26 Hill Road, Clevedon BS21 7PH
For more information about the event click here.

The Bristol Jazz Festival is back

The Bristol Jazz Festival, synonymous with world-class jazz and community spirit, announce that they are relocating to Tobacco Factory Theatres for its eleventh edition on 22–24 March.

The ticketed performances will be held across Tobacco Factory Theatres, both in the Factory Theatre and the wonderful Spielman Theatre, offering listeners an intimate and close-up experience with globally recognised artists, one of which features in The Bristol Magazine's March edition... 

The skilful and passionate trombonist Dennis Rollins chats to us ahead of the festival and tells us about his journey to jazz. He also discloses his past experiences playing with the world's top jazz and pop personalities such as Prince and Courtney Pine. To read more about Dennis Rollins and his jazz trajectory click here. 

To buy tickets for the Bristol Jazz Festival visit bristoljazzfestival.co.uk

Floral masterclass and brunch at Harvey Nichols

Treat your loved one to a floral masterclass hosted by @edwardallenflowers, followed by a two-course brunch and cocktail at Harvey Nichols on 9 March.

In this class you can make your own hand tied, fresh floral box bouquet. 

Masterclasses are available at 1pm. Tickets are £75 per person and include a Spring flower box to take home.

9 March | The Second Floor Restaurant
Click here for more information and to book. 

City of Bristol Choir present 'That Friday Feeling'

Join City of Bristol Choir as they present That Friday Feeling at All Saints' Church on 22 March, the perfect way to wind down the working week with sumptuous and uplifting choral music. 

This inspiring choral music will invigorate, refresh and soothe the soul. It includes pieces by Bruckner, Stanford, Lauridsen, Eleanor Daley and a new setting of psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd, by Amy Summers.

Tickets £15 for adults, £5 for students/under 18s including a drink on arrival and light refreshments, available from from Opus 13 music shop on 0117 923 0164 and online. 

7.45pm | Pembroke Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3ED
Click here to book tickets. 

Bristol Hippodrome presents 'Everybody's Talking about Jamie'

Following a record-breaking three-year West End residency, sold-out UK and Ireland Tour and Amazon Studios award-winning film, the smash-hit and critically acclaimed musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie returns to Bristol due to huge demand.

Funny, fabulous and feel good, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie features an all-star cast including West End sensation Ivano Turco, musical theatre star Rebecca McKinnis, X-Factor winner and legend Sam Bailey and Strictly Come Dancing royalty Kevin Clifton.

Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.

Click here to purchase tickets.
25–30 March | 2 hours 40 minutes including interval
Bristol Hippodrome St Augustine’s Parade Bristol BS1 4UZ

The Glen Redland, Bristol, BS6

Offered for sale by Ocean estate agents

A substantial (152 sq metres) hall and lower ground floor maisonette with private front garden and large private rear garden set within a fine period building. This wonderful property has an abundance of charm, with ornate period features, high ceilings, stripped wooden flooring and large windows with bays to the front and rear.

The current owner occupiers have recently added acoustic soundproofing to the front two bedrooms, a secure covered area to the side of the building suitable for bikes and outdoor equipment and have rehung sashes and draft proofed windows of the living room and larger front bedroom bay windows.

The accommodation offers: large communal entrance hall leading to the flat entrance, 2 very large front facing double bedrooms, bathroom with stained glass window, country cottage style family kitchen/diner, large utility room with new timber back door.

Steps lead up to a beautiful rear facing living room which directly overlooks the private rear garden. Steps lead down from the inner hallway to a very spacious (19'11 x15') third bedroom with underfloor heating, built in storage and UPVC door providing direct access to the rear garden. There is also a useful adjoining 9'1 x 8'3 study/occasional bedroom with UPVC window to bedroom 3 and second bathroom. | Guide Price £700,000

For more details and images click here to see the property on the Ocean website.