Image credit: Soul Media

Pick your own pumpkins... by day or night

Grab a wheelbarrow and roam through the massive home grown pumpkin patch at Avon Valley to pick your perfect pumpkin this weekend (and until 31 October) . 

Don’t want to get muddy? Choose a pumpkin from the event area, as there's a huge selection of gourd-geous gourds and super squashes for you to choose from.

There's a whole host of entertainment on offer too, with theatrical performances, fire shows, photo opportunities, seasonal games, funfair rides, and food and drink options.

If you'd rather spice up your October evening, Avon Valley has a second patch for night time excursions... As the sun goes down the patch lights up! And for those among you feeling really brave, Avon Valley's infamous and award-winning FEAR Scream Park is back open for business (click here to find out what tricks are in store for visitors this year).

Find out how to pick your own pumpkins here. For Pumpkin Patch Nights, visit the event page for more information and to book tickets. 

OUR OCTOBER ISSUE IS OUT!

It's spooky season, so join us on a haunted journey around Bristol...

Have you seen the dark creations that have taken hold of Tyntesfield House? Artist Nicola Turner has certainly been turning heads with her latest installations, which have unfurled their dark tendrils around the National Trust property. The excellently named and utterly lovely Monika Killer has opened the doors to her magical Stokes Croft-based business The Haunted Bookshop for the very first time. We spoke to her a few days ahead of its launch. And of course, we couldn’t explore the eerie areas of our city without the help of Mr Weird Bristol himself. Charlie Revelle-Smith, the man behind one of the most intriguing local social media accounts – and not to mention plenty of gripping books – shares his all-time top local legendary figures and dark curiosities. Grab your broomsticks, this issue's one hell of ride.

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 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 £4.95. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – click here to subscribe on our website. 

Roasted Harissa Aubergines with Tomatoes, Red Peppers and Chickpeas

Recipe by Melissa Blease

Spice up your autumn menu with this Middle Eastern-inspired traybake, packed with fragrance and flavour.

Both Ras el Hanout and harissa paste are readily available in all big supermarkets and both make a wonderful addition to your store cupboard, on hand to bring intense, vibrant flavour to all manner of stews, roasts, marinades soups and salad dressings.

Ingredients (serves 4)

4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp Ras el Hanout
1 tbsp harissa paste (plus a little extra, to serve)
2 large aubergines
2 red onions, cut into wedges
3 red peppers, deseeded and cut into chunky strips
2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
2 x 400g tins chickpeas, rinsed and drained
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
200g thick Greek yogurt
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

To serve: freshly-chopped parsley

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200c/gas mark 6. Mix 3 tablespoons of the olive oil with the Ras el Hanout and the harissa paste. Slice the aubergines in half lengthways and score the flesh with a crosshatch pattern taking care not to cut through the skin.

2. Put the onions and peppers in a large roasting tray. Brush the cut side of the aubergines with most of the spiced oil, and drizzle the rest over the onions and peppers. Stir well, season with salt and sit the aubergine halves on top. Put the tray in the oven and roast for 30 minutes.

3. Remove the tray from the oven and carefully transfer the aubergines to a chopping board. Add the chopped tomatoes, chickpeas and lemon zest to the tray and stir well to combine. Nestle the aubergine halves on top of the mixture (cut-side up) and return to the oven for a further 25-30 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with the lemon juice, crushed garlic, salt, pepper and a little more harissa paste (to taste).

5. Remove the traybake from the oven and leave to rest for around 10 minutes to allow the flavours to fully develop. Scatter with freshly chopped parsley and serve accompanied by the yogurt dressing and warmed flatbread for mopping up the sauces.

Red wines of Italy at The Great Wine Co.

From the Dolomites to the bays of Sicily, Italy's topographic makeup lends itself perfectly to wine production. As a result of her physique Italy boasts a myriad of different soils and climates. Adding to the equation a plethora of indigenous grape varieties, each harvest yields an abundance of diverse and fascinating wine styles. Italy is further blessed with many dedicated and passionate winemakers and vine growers.

• Chianti- Cantine Leonardo Da Vinci 2021 | £14.40
• Barbera - Amonte 2020 | £11.10
• Cerasuolo di Vittoria- PLaneta 2022 | £19.95
• Briccotondo Barbera Piemonte DOC - Fontanafredda 2022 | £15.95

Click here to see this and many more wonderful wines at The Great Wine Co.

The IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph

For more than twenty years, Marco Bicego has been the creative director of his namesake brand, which is characterised by extremely distinctive product designs, the highest quality and production standards, and excellent craftsmanship of every single piece.

Driven by Marco's deep passion for precious gemstones and the inspiration he finds in the beauty of nature.One of his most distinctive collections, Lunaria is inspired by the beauty and irregular shapes of nature to offer clean, simple and charming designs.

The star of the collection is the 18-carat yellow gold: delicately hand-engraved and sculpted to form fine leaves framed by a fine strand of contrasting polished gold, reminiscent of the Balkan plant which gives the collection its name.
Shown here: The Lunaria diamond band ring. Featuring an irregular surface and linear design, this 18ct yellow gold diamond band ring has been finely hand-engraved using an ancient Florentine technique and is embellished by elegant side profiles featuring a brilliant-cut diamond pavé. | £2,650

To see this and more pieces from the gorgeous Lunaria collection click here to visit the Mallory website.

New Icons from Jimmy Fairly

Jimmy Fairly's new styles for autumn are sure to catch your eye.

With frames made of cellulose acetate and having a 7-point hinge, Jimmy Fairly glasses hold up great to handling. 

Jimmy Fairly works with the NGO RestoringVision, an international charity that fights blindness. For every pair of glasses purchased, they finance the cost of a pair of reading glasses for the 2.5 billion people who do not have corrective eyesight. 

Pictured: The Rumi (£135)

Jimmy Fairly Opticians | 90 Park Street, BS1 5LA

Click here to see Jimmy Fairly's new arrivals. 

October Birthstone Circle Necklace

Celebrate her October birthday with a dainty pink opal circle necklace. Pink opal is the birthstone for October.

Handmade to order with either sterling silver or 14k gold-fill. The circle is 10mm in diameter. The chain length is 16 inches plus a two inch extender.

Designed and handmade in Bath, England. Honey Willow is a family business, founded in 2010.

Honey Willow | £110

Click here to buy now. 

Khaki Funnel Neck Aviator Jacket from Mint Velvet

Ideal for the change of season, this Khaki aviator jacket features a funnel neckline, long sleeves, buckle waistband detail with a zip and button fastening through the front.

Mint Velvet | £199

Click here to buy now  or visit the store at 44 Regent St, Clifton, BS8 4HU

Curated by Daniel McCabe

We’ve had a few magazines over the years that are technically gardening magazines but tend to riff on the subject to explore wider artistic and cultural avenues. Pleasant Place is a Dutch gardening magazine that is very alternative but more rooted (sorry) in practical matters with a growing (sorry again) library of self-explanatory titles: enclosures, nasturtiums, artichoke, compost etc. What lifts PP out of the ordinary is what it calls its ‘unexpected approaches' to everyday garden tasks and garden design via collaborations with non-conventional experts. It’s a very fresh approach that appeals to both gardeners and people who simply like the idea of gardens. Issue 6 explores topiary with host of fascinating examples – epic, artistic, historical and so on, while accepting that many of us simply hate it.  | £12

magalleria.co.uk

The story of Britain’s first reggae band comes to cinemas around the UK

Harder Than The Rock chronicles the incredible journey, impact and influence of Britain's first reggae band, Cimarons, as they follow their dream of playing to live audiences one final time.

Formed by teenage Jamaican immigrants in a London bus shelter in 1967, the band were at the forefront of the reggae explosion in the 1970s. Thousands of miles from Jamaica, they brought excitement, experimentation, and sheer anticipation to Black British youth, connecting them to their roots and identity through their powerful music.

Cimarons collaborated with industry legends such as Bob Marley, Toots & the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, and even Paul McCartney, and are credited for shaping British reggae as we know it.

Harder Than The Rock is being show at cinemas across the UK now; click here for more info.

'City to Coast' by Andrew Hood at the Kit Form Gallery, 10-27 October

City to Coast is an exhibition of contemporary painting by one of Bristol’s best-known artists, Andrew Hood. This latest body of work is set to captivate audiences at Kit Form, the city’s newest and most exciting gallery, located in the vibrant heart of Stokes Croft.

This is Andrew’s first major solo show in his hometown.

Featured image: Gloucester Road in Spring by Andrew Hood

Click here to learn more.
Kit Form Gallery, 39 Jamaica St, Bristol BS2 8JP

Image: Pam Grier in 'Foxy Brown' (1974)

Afrika Eye festival, 12-13 October

The new-style Afrika Eye festival of cinema and culture rooted in Africa and its diaspora opens on October 12 and 13 with a weekend of outdoor women in action films in the garden at Trinity Centre. Watch The Woman King on Saturday at 7pm, while Sunday’s line-up will offer a choice of two Blaxploitation classics (Foxy Brown, pictured right, and Coffy) featuring the African-American actor Pam Grier, widely credited with being cinema’s first female action star.

For full festival details and listings beyond those mentioned here, visit afrikaeye.org.uk

6 O'clock Gin Glassboat First Birthday Bash! Friday 11 October 6pm-9pm

Join the Glassboat in raising a glass to celebrate the first anniversary of 6 O'clock Gin Glassboat at an exclusive onboard party. Everyone is invited to toast this milestone with live music, enticing drink discounts and an evening of merriment surrounded by the picturesque Bristol harbourside. 

Revel in the festivities as the team marks a year of success since the grand reopening of The Glassboat, establishing itself as Bristol's premier gin destination. Following meticulous renovations, The Glassboat has evolved into a chic gin bar, a captivating retail shop, and a versatile events space, offering guests an unparalleled experience on the idyllic Welshback waterfront.

Click here to reserve your space.

6 O'clock Gin at The Glassboat, Welsh Back Bristol BS1 4SB

BBC interiors star opens new studio

Zoë Hewett, founder of award-winning studio Stylemongers Of Bristol, and interior designer on rural retreat makeover show My Unique B&B on BBC, has opened a brand new studio, shop and workshop space all under one roof at 196 Gloucester Road.
“The shop space allows me to combine all my offers in one place, which is obviously super exciting,” Zoë said. “I was fed up of carting all my heavy workshop kit to and from another hired venue. I was working part time at home and the other half all the way across town at Spike Island, so it was a bit bananas. Since then, doors have just kept opening for me and I’m so delighted with the unit that came up just at the right time for me. It’s been a labour of love to transform it into a colourful space where I can work at my desk and hold client meetings and host workshops with the benefit of high street visibility.” stylemongersofbristol.co.uk

196 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NU

Leigh Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8

Offered for sale by Knight Frank estate agents.

• 6 Bedrooms
• 3 Bathrooms
• Private walled garden

On the ground floor, the entrance vestibule leads to a reception hall with tessellated floor and a large central staircase. At the front of the house are two large reception rooms: a bay-fronted sitting room and adjacent dining room, both feature a period fireplace, large sash windows with shutters and stripped wooden floor.

The kitchen features extensive storage, a bespoke central island with prep sink, a gas-fired AGA, matte black granite worktop, integrated appliances and a bay window overlooking the rear garden. There is versatile library room, currently used as a home office with custom cabinetry, ample storage, and a fold-away desk.

At the rear is an oak-framed, garden room with a green roof and French doors leading to the garden. There is a guest cloakroom with ample storage which completes this level.
The first floor hosts three double bedrooms, with two additional double bedrooms on the half-landings. The master bedroom includes a walk-in wardrobe and en-suite shower room. The remaining bedrooms share a well-appointed family bath and shower room. The top bedroom provides access to additional walk-in wardrobe and a generous loft space.

On the lower ground floor there is a double bedroom, cinema/family room, bathroom, and utility space with sink, dishwasher, integrated fridge, washing machine, and dryer. There is a cellar/workshop at the rear which is great for additional storage and potential to create external access from the rear garden.

The landscaped rear garden includes a lawn, covered pergola, dining terrace, a pond and a side path to the entrance porch. At the front of the house, there is generous off-street parking for several cars. | £2,000,000

To see more images and review the details click here to visit the property on the Knight Frank website