Circus Journal Volume 13

An independent journal on style, creativity and community 

Volume 13 Late summer 2021 

Free 

THE 

PERFORMANCE 

ISSUE 

Laura Marling + Mike Wozniak 

+ Glorious glamping 

+ Woodsmith + Spotlight on Mells 

+ Iconic Bristol nightclubs 

+ Your guide to late summer events

Hello 

Life-affirming, spine-tingling or laugh-a-minute. 

In this issue we celebrate the thumping bass, 

whooping crowd and collective highs of 

live performance. 

Stars of dance, comedy and music, including 

Laura Marling and Mike Wozniak, talk pre-show 

nerves and favourite gigs ( p 17), and we reflect on 

Bristol nightlife in the 1990s ( p 26). 

Somerset’s Woodsmith wax lyrical on cooking 

over fire ( p 38) and MasterChef winner Ping Coombes 

serves up the kind of tasty burger no one 

looks good eating ( p 41). 

We spend the night in a spaceship at Marston Park, 

and round up glampsites going the extra mile ( p 47). 

Meanwhile, Mells is our day trip of choice – for lake 

swims and slap-up lunches ( p 54). 

Oh, and flick to the back for a cut-out-and-keep 

memento from super Bristol artist Annie Clay ( p 66). 

Until next time, happy reading. 

Emily Payne, editor 

circusjournal.com @circusjournal 3

Parkland 

opening 

Summer 

2021 

Contents 

Regulars 

The Edit 9 

Design, community and lifestyle 

The Guide 59 

Awesome things to do in August and September 

People 

Sound bites 17 

Actors, comedians and musicians on performance 

Photo essay 26 

A celebration of Bristol nightlife in the 1990s 

Food 

The Parkland Collection at Holburne Park offers a selection 

of new build Georgian-style houses and apartments with 

contemporary interiors. 

l 

l 

l 

l 

l 

Set in over 6 acres of landscaped parkland with 

country and waterside walks on your doorstep 

Within walking distance to Bath City Centre 

Ideal for working from home with provision 

for ultrafast broadband connectivity 

Easy commute to London by train from Bath Spa 

Selection of properties available 

for immediate occupation 

To register your interest or arrange a viewing, 

contact 

01225 302 888 

sales@holburnepark.co.uk 

holburnepark.co.uk 

The Marketing Pavilion, Holburne Park, 

Warminster Road, Bath BA2 6SF 

The List 37 

Booze, bakeries and restaurants with rooms 

Food heroes 38 

Cooking over fire with Somerset’s Woodsmith 

Recipe 41 

Dirty burgers from Ping Coombes 

Places 

Interiors 44 

Locally made treasures for your home 

Escape 47 

How glamping went stratospheric 

Spotlight on... 54 

Shopping and lunching in marvellous Mells 

2 bedroom apartments from £580,000 

3 bedroom houses from £680,000 

4 bedroom houses from £1,050,000 

5 bedroom villas from £1,700,000 

Rosemary McAndrew 

rmcandrew@savills.com 

01225 302 888 

* Price correct at time of going 

to press. Images show Coates 

exterior (L) and Finch show 

house interior (R). Coates 

houses from £1,000,000. 


Contributors 

We asked the Circus team for their first, best 

and next live performances 

Rich Pelley 

Writer, Sound bites (p17) 

FIRST The Stone Roses, 

Bristol Bierkeller, 1989 

BEST Underworld, Brixton 

Academy, 2002 

NEXT Richard Ashcroft, Royal 

Albert Hall, November 

Jenny Rowe 

Writer, Photo essay (p26) 

FIRST Example, 

V Festival, 2011 

BEST Congo Natty, The 

Bullingdon, Oxford, 2014 

NEXT Cory Wong, 

O2 Academy Bristol, October 

Sarah Baxter 

Writer, glamping (p47) 

FIRST Bon Jovi, Wembley, 1995 

BEST Radiohead, South Park, 

Oxford, 2001 

NEXT A play at the Rondo 

Theatre, Larkhall 

Camilla Cary-Elwes 

Sub editor 

FIRST Guns ‘n’ Roses, 

Wembley, 1991 

BEST PJ Harvey, 

Primavera, 2004 

NEXT Róisín Murphy, 

The Forum Bath, September 

Kate Monument 

Creative director 

FIRST Whitney Houston, 

Wembley, 1991 

BEST The Prodigy, 

Phoenix, 1996 

NEXT Stormzy, 

Reading, August 

Emily Payne 

Editor 

FIRST Leftfield, 

Anson Rooms, 1996 

BEST Radiohead, 

Glastonbury, 1997 

NEXT John Grant, The Forum 

Bath, October 

LET 

YOUR 

TROUBLES 

FLOAT 

AWAY... 

Floatation has been 

proven to reduce stress, 

anxiety and alleviate pain. 

The Pod is a new floatation 

experience in Bath, 

allowing you to relax, 

think or simply escape 

the stresses of the day. 

BOOK NOW 

On 01225 551202 or at 

resultsbodymind.co.uk 

Quote ‘Circus’ to receive 

a £10 discount. 

Offer closes 

December 1st, 

one discount 

per person. 

SPECIAL 

OFFER 

Vishaka Robinson 

Writer, Spotlight on... (p54) 

FIRST Chaka Demus & Pliers, 

Elstree Studios, 1993 

BEST Gil Scott-Heron, Brixton 

Academy, 2000 

NEXT Jarvis Cocker, Motion & the 

Marble Factory, November 

On the cover 

Laura Marling / LUMP 

Photography by Steph Wilson 

The team 

Creative director + founder 

Kate Monument 

kate@circusjournal.com 

Publisher + founder 

Simon Tapscott 

simon@circusjournal.com 

Editor 

Emily Payne 

emily@circusjournal.com 

Sub editor 

Camilla Cary-Elwes 

Instagram: @circusjournal 

Subscribe at circusjournal.com 

Advertising 

To advertise in Circus, please 

call Simon on 07816 322056 or 

email simon@circusjournal.com 

Stocking 

Circus is available to pick up for 

free at over 300 locations across 

Bath, Bristol and the south-west. 

To stock Circus please email 

stocking@circusjournal.com. 

This issue of Circus was first 

printed in July 2021 

by Zenith Print Group, in 

Pontypridd, Wales. 

Simon Tapscott 

Publisher 

FIRST Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, 

Gloucester Leisure Centre, 1989 

BEST Q-Tip, 

Glastonbury, 2009 

NEXT The Lottery Winners, 

Thekla, September 

Thank you to the advertisers, 

whose support and encouragement 

enables this project to happen. 

© Circus 2021. All information 

contained in this publication is 

for entertainment purposes only. 

Circus is published by Do Good 

Things Limited who do not accept 

any responsibility for errors or 

inaccuracies that occur in such 

information. While every reasonable 

care is taken with all material 

submitted to Circus, the publisher 

cannot accept any responsibility 

for loss or damage to such material. 

All rights reserved. This publication 

is copyrighted and no part of 

this publication may be used or 

reproduced without the written 

permission of Do Good Things 

Limited. 

at Results Body+Mind 


© Widline Cadet 

THE EDIT 

The Edit 

Updates on design, community + lifestyle 

IN PROGRESS 

Laia Abril 

Hoda Afshar 

Widline Cadet 

Adama Jalloh 

Alba Zari 

20 May – 24 October 2021 

Free admission 

Thu – Sun, 10am – 5pm 

RPS Gallery 

337 Paintworks, Bristol, BS4 3AR 

Book your visit: rps.org/InProgress 

#RPSInProgress #BRSPhotoFest 

CREATE SPACE 

The folk behind Gather 

Round workspaces open 

their newest venue this 

September, in a Grade IIlisted 

property on 

Brunswick Square in St 

Pauls. With private studios, 

cosy hang-outs, communal 

kitchen tables and an 

events area, they hope it 

will become a supportive 

community of creatives, 

including illustrators, 

filmmakers, writers and 

designers. Pictured here: 

Bath Time for Dunce by 

Gather Round member, 

illustrator Liam Callebout. 

gather-round.co 


THE EDIT 

KIDS 

Leosun 

We dig these hard-wearing pastel 

numbers from Bath mum and ex 

fashion buyer, Kirsten Hartley. She 

wanted to make kids’ sunglasses 

that were “beautiful, safe, practical 

and durable”. Done. leosun.co.uk 

Bath Arts Workshop 

CULTURE 

Propyard 

There’s a whiff of the free 

party about Bristol’s newest 

cultural destination, housed in 

a former torpedo testing site. 

Firstly, it’s in St Philip’s; among 

buddleia-addled side streets 

and industrial warehouses. “It’s 

not on Google Maps because 

it’s still MOD-owned,” says 

marketing director Sam Watts. 

When you do stumble across 

it, marvel at its size, original 

features (including an old 

crane by the bar) and decor 

upcycled from discarded TV 

props found in the area. Food 

comes in trucks from Loki Poké, 

Holy Cow burgers, Cyprus 

Kitchen and Paletas natural ice 

lollies, and there’s live music 

and events every weekend. It’s 

a slick production from a team 

of DJs and events pros who 

have worked on large-scale 

productions like Boomtown 

and Glastonbury. propyard.co.uk 

BOOKS 

Bath Arts Workshop 

B E A U T Y 

Annings of Dorset 

Every year, millions of seashells are discarded 

by the fishing industry. So this clever Dorset 

company upcycles them, and blends them with 

herbs and essential oils to form the basis of its 

restorative, skin-loving soap. 

anningsofdorset.co.uk 

Bath hasn’t always been this cool(!) A new book, 

Bath Arts Workshop: Counterculture in the 1970s, 

out September 9, takes the reader behind-thescenes 

of the organisation that changed the face 

of the city, introducing experimental performing 

arts and ground-breaking festivals. Pictured here: 

early morning yoga at the Sunshine Festival in 1976. 

bathartsworkshop.org 

Words: Emily Payne 

THREE OF THE BEST 

Bike kit 

1. Cycling helmet in Sky Blue, dashel.co.uk 

2. Bamboo bike multitool, templecycles.co.uk 

3. Gold leather saddle bag, hillandellis.com 

10 Circus Journal Late summer 2021 


THE EDIT 

STYLE 

Make Good 

Have less, do more, 

be more. That’s the 

philosophy held by Make 

Good Studio, the creators 

of these oh-so-simple (and 

incredibly useful) bags. 

Cut, sewn and stamped 

in the Bristol studio, there 

are three styles to choose 

from: the Shopper, the 

Everyday Bag and the 

Laptop Pouch. Each is 

lined with recycled cotton 

and is super roomy. 

makegoodstudio.co.uk 

COMMUNITY 

Library of Things 

“Whether it’s a drill for a DIY project, 

a tent for a family holiday or a pair 

of rollerskates, this makes things 

affordable and accessible to all,” 

says Judith Pope of Bristol’s first 

Library of Things, which opened in 

Kingswood in May. By donating stuff 

you no longer use and borrowing 

what you need, the planet’s 

resources are put to better use and 

a greater sense of community is 

restored. Win win. sharebristol.org.uk 

Find out more at gather-round.co 

A RT 

In Progress @ Royal Photographic Society 

There’s still time to catch this bold set of solo shows 

by five of today’s most powerful photographic artists, 

including Laia Abril and Adama Jalloh. With themes 

of identity and morality, the work illustrates photography’s 

capacity for investigation and self-expression. London-based 

Adama Jalloh’s work (pictured) captures scenes of intimacy, 

honesty and familiarity. rps.org 

STYLE 

John Lewis 

Get in the sea and look gorgeous 

while doing so. How about the natty 

floral prints currently starring in 

John Lewis’ Staycation range? 

johnlewis.com 

circusjournal.com @circusjournal 13

People 

Who we’re talking about right now 

For sale 

One and three-bedroom apartments for sale in the heart of Bath, 

part of the Tramshed restoration 

One Tram Yard is a development of seven apartments in an unbeatable location right in the 

heart of Bath’s conservation area, with some apartments benefi tting from views of the city. 

Surrounded by history and yet with a contemporary sense of style, just a few steps from 

vibrant and bustling streets and yet tucked away and secluded. 

Timeless Neptune kitchens and fi nishes 

Secure parking for the three-bedroom apartments 

Lift to the fi rst and second fl oors 

Penthouse apartment with terrace 

01225 325 999 

bath@knightfrank.com 

ONE 

TRAM 

YARD 

BATH 

IDLES 

Billy Nomates 

ON THE RECORD 

“I always have nice clobber on,” says Longwell Records owner Iain Aitchison 

on the cult-like popularity of his shop. “I don’t look like some greasy bloke. 

That’s what most record shop owners look like. They’re lovely people, but 

they look like pervs.” Since opening in 2016, the Keynsham store has hosted 

performances from Billy Nomates, Razorlight and Jade Bird, with Stephen 

Merchant, Daisy May Cooper and IDLES also dropping by. Its second branch, 

at Wapping Wharf, opened earlier this year. “I feel like I’m on holiday,” Iain 

says. “Keynsham is nice, but you can get a bit bored of Greggs.” 

@longwellrecords 

Razorlight Stephen Merchant 


PEOPLE 

Oceanides – Amy Magee Nine – Cat Croxford Autumn Charm – Angela Melkis 

Centre 

Sound bites 

stage 

Rising Sun – Mark Welland 

Gold Scurro – Russell Hatton 

Sardines – Giles Ward 

“Head and shoulders above anything else I’ve visited in 

Bristol. It’s not just the service that’s superior but the variation 

of fantastic art. Worth travelling to Bristol for” 

WILLIAM R 

“When I needed a print for a special Birthday, Rowan 

and the team delivered with perfection!” 

DAN B 

“Fantastic service, and fantastic range of interesting artwork to 

select from. Strongly recommended” 

ANDY W 

The hot sweat of a crowd; being squished into 

a theatre seat or going wild for live music 

– all nigh on absent from our recent lives. Here, 

performers across the arts take us right back there 

Words 

Rich Pelley 

www.cliftonfineart.com 12 Perry Road BS1 5BG 


PEOPLE 

The musicians 

Laura Marling and Mike 

Lindsay of dance folk duo 

LUMP on their eight-foot 

mascot, three-way snogs 

and putting their audience 

under mind control 

What performance inspired you? 

Mike: Cornelius in the New Bands Tent at 

Glastonbury in 2002. He’s a bit like a Japanese 

Beck. He had this massive inflatable baby that 

turned around and pointed at the audience. It 

was pretty surreal. 

Laura: I don’t go to a lot of gigs, but I’ve seen a 

lot of Leonard Cohen documentaries. So I’ll say 

Leonard Cohen. He’s so charming and witty. 

How do you differ on stage? 

M: Laura is very cool. I’m not cool at all. 

L: Our styles are polar opposite. Mike brings 

the kinetic energy. I more just stand there. 

universe wonk. We can spin people out into a 

trance to have them under our mind control. 

Do you have performance anxieties? 

M: I worry about things not working technically, 

but after 45 seconds I’m in the zone. 

L: I worry about falling on my face. 

Do you have happy south-west memories? 

M: There’s always a good crowd in Bristol. We 

once took some photos in the passport photo 

booth in Rough Trade. 

L: I remember that! 

M: When I think of Bristol, I think of Thekla. 

I hope we’ll be past 

the anxiety of being in 

rooms together and will 

be rubbing up against 

each other, licking each 

other and sweating on 

each other like we’ve 

all missed.” 

Do you have any superstitions or rituals? 

L: I used to smoke, but those days are over. 

M: I smoke Laura’s for her. I usually just leap 

around and nervously start doing star jumps. 

Are there any surprises on this tour? 

L: There’s an eight-foot puppet of LUMP – our 

mascot – on our new tour, if he can fit into the 

venues. It took me all of last summer to make. 

What are your expectations for the new tour? 

L: I hope we’ll be past the anxiety of being in 

rooms together and will be rubbing up against 

each other, licking each other and sweating on 

each other like we’ve all missed. 

M: We like to take the audience on a journey. 

There’s no ending or beginning to each song; the 

whole set blends into a cacophony of parallel 

What is your performance highlight? 

M: During a gig last tour, I could see this 

three-way snog going on in the crowd. They 

weren’t watching the show, yet they encapsulated 

the spirit of LUMP perfectly. 

LUMP play Bristol’s Trinity on September 3. 

Their new album, ‘Animal’, is out now 

Steph Wilson 



PEOPLE 

Actor and performer Mike Wozniak 

talks nerves, moustaches and cutting 

his teeth at Bath’s Comedy Cavern 


My parents frequently played Billy Connolly on 

long car journeys, even at an age when it was 

probably inappropriate to be playing Billy 

Connolly to their kids. I always knew I loved 

comedy but it never really occurred to me that 

comedy could be a job. 

How important is getting back out to perform? 

Immensely. I didn’t do any performing over 

lockdown, just an awful lot of podcasting. The 

Rode Comedy Festival is my first gig back, so I 

don’t know if I’m even going to be able to operate 

my arms and legs or remember which way round 

the mic stand goes. 


It boils down to a controlled dread. I’m not a 

particularly nervous performer, but it’s natural 

for a mixture of nerves, excitement and 

self-doubt to kick in, in one fell swoop. 

How important are moustaches in comedy? 

I first grew a moustache in my early twenties – 

clearly as a joke. There are very few reasons why 

you would grow a moustache in modern times. 

Then I discovered that I quite liked it. I’ve got a 

bit of a snouty mid-face, so it helps break it up. I 

used to do a joke about moustaches as a bit of an 

icebreaker. I have shaved it off to try to convince 

casting directors that I have an extraordinary 

range – clean-shaven and moustachioed – but 

they never seem to hire me without it. 

What can we look forward to at Rode 

Comedy Festival? 

I have a very messy notebook that I’m hoping 

to knock into shape. I expect I’ll arrive with a 

plan A, revert to plan B, and hope I don’t arrive 

at the panic stations of plan D. 

The comedians 


My first proper stand-up gig was at the Comedy 

Cavern in Bath. I specifically booked it in Bath 

because no one I knew lived in Bath. I can’t 

pretend for a moment that the entire seven 

minutes was a complete success. But even if one 

tiny little grain goes well, stand-up is very addictive 

– though I still can’t imagine anything I’d like to 

do less than perform to my friends and family. 

It’s natural for a mixture 

of nerves, excitement 

and self-doubt to kick in, 

in one fell swoop.” 

20 Circus Journal Midsummer 2021 


Nurturing wellness amongst nature 

PEOPLE 

When you become a Member of The Club at Combe Grove you are joining a community 

where your personal health and wellbeing is supported by a Team of qualified coaches, 

therapists and holistic practitioners. Set in a 64-acre woodland estate, the indoor and outdoor 

pools, covered and indoor tennis courts, nature-inspired gym, saunas and steam room are the 

perfect place to improve both body and mind. 

With opportunities to learn a heritage craft, understand more about healthful nutrition, 

buy fresh produce from the Combe Grove kitchen garden and enjoy events, the Team look 

forward to welcoming you to The Club at Combe Grove. 


It’s so important – for the sanity and mental 

health of the performers, audiences, background 

staff and crew – to release this pent-up energy 

and laugh with strangers. I’ve done around 20 

Zoom gigs and they’re not the same. The only 

benefit is that I can’t smell the audience and I 

can stop a heckle with a mute. 


I like to stand behind the curtain, find a little gap 

and listen to the buzz of the audience. Then I 

stick on some headphones, listen loudly to 

Beyoncé and channel my inner Sasha Fierce. 

Do you have performance anxieties? 

I can normally tell the general mood within a few 

minutes. I did a show in Lowestoft and there 

was a definite weirdness. I said: “Guys, is it me?” 

and somebody said: “The car park is closed for 

refurbishment. We’ve had to walk nearly a mile.” 

Call the Team to book a tour of The Estate and to see the Wellness Facilities. 

01225 834644 

theclubsecretary@combegrove.com 

combegrove.com/memberships 

Combe 

Grove 

HEALTH & WELLBEING 

Comedian Stephen 

K Amos looks ahead to 

a season of bellyaches 

and channelling his 

inner Beyoncé 


Growing up, I didn’t see any black comedians 

on TV. My parents didn’t have LPs from the big, 

black American stand-ups. And we didn’t go to 

the theatre. So the only person that genuinely 

inspired me was my nextdoor neighbour Femi 

Taylor – who appeared in the original London 

production of Cats, and got us tickets. She went 

on to play Oola – one of Jabba the Hutt’s slave 

dancers in Return of the Jedi, who falls through a 

trap door and gets eaten by his pet rancor. My 

poor neighbour! 

What is your career highlight? 

I performed for Prince Charles’ 60th birthday 

with Joan Rivers and Robin Williams. I had to 

pinch myself. 


I played Bristol Comedy Garden on The Downs 

over the summer – my first live gig since 

lockdown. There were 1,000 people sitting 

outside, socially distanced, and it was pure 

rock ’n’ roll. 

What can we look forward to at the Rode 

Comedy Festival? 

I had to cancel my tour last year twice, so I’ve 

written a brand new show. We all know what 

we’ve been through recently, so I’m not going to 

dwell. I’m just going to do jokes. So come if you 

like bellyaches. 

Mike Wozniak and Stephen K Amos perform at 

Rode Comedy Festival, which runs from 

September 9-12. popupcomedy.org 


PEOPLE 

Jane Austen in Bath 

It is a truth universally acknowledged 

that a Georgian House in Bath must 

have a Jane Austen story to tell… 

Jake Duncan 

Roseanna Anderson, 

co-founder of Bristol 

dance theatre company 

Impermanence, on OAP 

ballet and breaking a leg 


You don’t say “good luck”. It’s “break a leg” or 

“toi toi toi”. If I find a five pence piece, I think 

I’m going to have a really good show. I’ve started 

looking especially. 

Do you have any performance anxieties? 

We often have seven or eight costume changes in 

about 17 seconds. So I triple check I’ve got my 

costume on the right way round. 

The dancer 

A new Jane Austen experience places this lavish Georgian house in the context of her novels 

and writing. Austen’s time in Bath inspired some of her novels, and she recorded her experiences 

in the City, including promenading on the Royal Crescent. Extracts from her novels are brought 

to life throughout the house, revealing familiar domestic scenes and the life of servants. This is a 

new way to experience the writing of one of our most well-known British authors and enjoy 

No 1 Royal Crescent, the only Georgian historic house museum in Bath. 

Book your tickets for Jane Austen themed sessions now at www.no1royalcrescent.org.uk 


Pina Bausch’s classical ballet Kontakthof, at the 

Barbican in 2010. The first night, the cast were all 

over 65, the second, all under 20. I went to the 

65+ night. They were all in eveningwear, doing 

very simple movements. It felt incredibly free 

and made me realise that dance is not just for the 

super able-bodied. 


We managed to do a show last October between 

lockdowns in Bristol Old Vic’s foyer space. There 

was an amazing sense of urgency, celebration 

and connection. Also, you get rusty! You can’t 

practise in front of an audience at home. 

What is your career highlight? 

We did an adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s Baal in 

2019, with drapes and projections. It was the first 

time I performed on Bristol Old Vic’s main stage. 

You could feel the ghosts and the history. 

What can we look forward to from you next? 

I’m in Doctor Semmelweis at Bristol Old Vic 

next February with Mark Rylance. He said: 

“I’m really looking forward to working with you.” 

I thought: “I’m the one who’s supposed to be 

saying that!” 

‘Doctor Semmelweis’ is at Bristol Old Vic from 

January 20 to February 12, 2022. 

bristololdvic.org.uk 

impermanence.co.uk 

Thanks to National Lottery Heritage and Cultural Recovery grants, all of our Museums are now open to book. 


Photo essay 

NIGHT 

Photojournalist Mark Simmons spent the 1990s 

documenting Bristol’s exploding club scene. In time for his 

show at the Bristol Photo Festival in September, he recalls 

the energy, inclusivity and unity of the city at night 

MOVES 

Speaker Stack Sound 

System, St Pauls 

Carnival, 1991 

As told to 

Jenny Rowe 



PEOPLE 

During Bristol’s early days of clubbing, there 

was a sense of innocence and naivety; it was 

fresh. People were discovering this new form 

of entertainment – a way to socialise, party and 

express yourself. Everyone was welcome: old, 

young, black, white, female, male. There was no 

dress code and everyone went to everything – 

reggae one night, house or drum ’n’ bass the next. 

I think Bristol set itself apart because of 

its friendliness and gentleness. There was an 

unwritten rule: “Keep the vibes nice so we can 

all relax and have a good time.” It was also home 

to so many highly talented musicians, singers, 

songwriters, DJs, MCs and producers: Roni Size, 

the whole prolific Full Cycle stable of Krust, Die, 

Suv, Dynamite and Onallee, the Ruffneck Ting 

crew, Kosheen, Boca 45, Queen Bee... to name but 

a tiny few. 

Musical connections 

Music-making was very dynamic and collaborative 

back then. DJ crews went along to each other’s 

nights to listen and dance, and then they’d go 

away inspired, make a new tune and play it out 

Below: Body Heat, 

Trinity, 1994 

Right: Roni Size and 

Krust, Brigstocke 

Road, 1996 

the next week. It was so alive and I wanted to 

document this magical time. 

I wanted to capture the atmosphere of the 

events and venues in just one or two shots for 

magazine commissions. But it wasn’t always 

easy. Those were the days of film – you didn’t 

always know if you’d caught the moment, and 

you wouldn’t leave until you were sure, so I 

would often be there for several hours. 

Of course I liked the music anyway. I would 

dance and immerse myself in it, feeling part 

of that collective experience. And that gained 

me the tacit acceptance and sympathetic eye I 

needed to be able to record often quite intimate 

moments; portraits of people uninhibited and 

unguarded – simply enjoying themselves. 

A shared joy 

The atmosphere would build as the night went 

on; the room became more packed out and the 

music went deeper. When the last – and best – 

DJ came on, it was a happening. There was an 

electrifying sense of excitement and animation. 

The photograph titled Body Heat taken at a 

deep house night at Trinity in 1994 captures 

that climactic moment – the hot, sweaty revery 

at the height of the party. The woman on the 

stage in that shot subsequently thanked me for 

recording such an important part of her life. It 

was all about love and unity back then. 

My all-time favourite events were the 

festivals, which show us that the ideal of 

communal living is possible. Walking down 

Grosvenor Road during St Pauls Carnival, each 

sound system blended into the next. It was a 

heady potion of cultures mingling in a riot of 

colour, sound, food and clothing. 

Free Festival, taken at Ashton Court Festival 

in 2000, really summed up that event. In those 

days it was free to attend, and this crowd of 

different people, from hippies to families, all 

hung out together on a tree stump. It was an 

iconic tree stump that people used as a meeting 

place. It’s bonkers, but that’s what it was like! 

Music is so important. It is energy. And 

publicly performed music and dance immerses 

everyone in the same sea of sound, connecting 

people in the same loud, energetic field; a shared 

experience of joy. I think my photograph Bogle 

Competition says it all. There’s a real connection 

and intimacy there that speaks for itself.” 



PEOPLE 

ICONS 

MARK’S TOP 

BRISTOL 

CLUBS 

Lakota came out of 

the Moon Club. It 

became one of the 

most famous clubs 

in the country 

outside London, 

attracting the top 

DJs of the time: 

Paul Oakenfold, 

LTJ Bukem, Danny 

Rampling. During its 

end-of-millennium 

heyday it played 

mainly house music. 

Trinity. Along with 

club nights hosted 

by local promoters 

of house, garage, 

hardcore and drum 

‘n’ bass, Trinity 

has been a major 

venue for eclectic 

live music over the 

decades, including 

reggae, jazz, hip-hop 

and indie. 

Malcolm X Centre 

in St Pauls was 

created in response 

to the 1980s riots. 

A community facility 

by day, it transforms 

into a venue for dub, 

drum ‘n’ bass and 

reggae by night. It 

often started after 

midnight and went 

on into the early 

hours. 

The Blue Mountain 

is sadly now closed. 

It was a hugely 

important venue 

because it hosted 

many of the smaller 

local promoters, 

such as the popular 

and influential 

Blowpop and earlier 

Chocolate City. 

Some say Thekla 

but I’m going with 

St Nick’s – the 

cramped back room 

of the St Nicholas 

House pub in St 

Pauls that was the 

location of many a 

Friday and Saturday 

night session from 

the likes of La Boum 

and John Stapleton’s 

Gett Off. 

Sound System, 

St Pauls Carnival, 1998 



A glimpse of 

PLEASURE GARDENS PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS 

Top: Bogle Competition, 

Easton Community Centre, 1992 

Bottom: John Stapleton, 

AKA Dr Jam, Ashton Court 

Festival, 1987 

PEOPLE 

BATH’S AMERICANA FESTIVAL H 4TH SEPTEMBER 2021 

H H H 

BETH ROWLEY 

LOUIS BRENNAN / LADY NADE 

MICHELE STODART / MATT OWENS AND THE D.V.P. 

ALI GEORGE / BLUE VIOLET / ELLIE GOWERS / AVALON HIGHWAY 

ALEX LIPINSKI / JIMMY LEE / SAMUEL TAYLOR / BOB GALLIE 

H H H 

Tickets and further information 

www.the7hills.com 

@The7HillsFest 

WITH THANKS TO 

Bristol Photo Festival takes 

place in various venues across 

the city until January 3, 2022. 

Mark Simmons’ exhibition 

High Volume - Bristol Sounds 

runs from September 21 to 

October 31 at Strange Brew. 

bristolphotofestival.org 

Mark’s book, provisionally 

titled ‘Club Culture: A Bristol 

Perspective’ (RRB Photobooks) 

is released in summer 2022. 

marksimmonsphotography.com 


Food 

Eat it, cook it, love it 

OH YUUP! 

Cheese and wine tasting 

with North Street’s Kask 

Wine? A Sudanese supper 

club at Breaking Bread 

Bristol? Foraging in Combe 

Hay Vineyard’s private 

woodland? Whatever your 

flavour, Bristol’s new online 

experience marketplace, 

Yuup, will tick your boxes. 

You can book anything 

from swing dance classes 

to crochet, but it’s the 

tasty-looking foodie events 

we’ve got our eyes on. 

yuup.co 


FOOD 

The List 

Our pick of the best in the west this season 

DRINK 

Naughty or 0% – you decide 

RESTAURANTS + ROOMS 

Places to eat, drink and zzz 

BAKERIES 

Get a carb fix on the double 

Consol 

OFFER! 

Get 6 cans for £6 

using CIRCUSCANS 

code at checkout. 

FOR 

EVERY 

BODY 

STRYKK 

All the taste with none of the hangover. 

Now in handbag-friendly tins, too. 

strykk.com 

BISTRO LOTTE, Frome 

The signage of this bistro with rooms 

transports us to Paris. The food’s ace and 

there’s a new bar. bistrolottefrome.co.uk 

MARKET BAKERY, Somerton 

We’ll take a bag of your finest salted 

caramel doughnuts, please. 

@marketbakerysomerton 

KINGSMEAD STREET BOTTLE, Bath 

Brother to Palmer Street Bottle, this haven 

of beer, wine and cheese opened in May. 

@kingsmeadstbottle 

OSIP, Bruton 

Osip is partnered with Number One hotel. 

Check in and bag a farmhouse breakfast in 

the morning. osiprestaurant.com 

THE BRISTOL LOAF 

With stores in Redfield, Bedminster and a 

new café at Bristol Beacon, the Loaf team 

are flying. thebristolloaf.co.uk 

Your 

Tanning 

Experts 

VISIT OUR APP 

TO BEGIN 

59 The Horsefair, Bristol BS1 3JP 

294 Wells Road, Knowle Bristol, BS4 2QG 

Consol 

Words: Emily Payne 

LARKFIRE 

Ever tried whisky with tap water? Don’t. 

Drink it with Larkfire wild water instead. 

Available at The Hideout, Bath. larkfire.com 

MOLLIE’S MOTEL, Bristol 

Bristol’s answer to the American dream 

comes to Cribbs Causeway. Check in for 

classic 1950s diner vibes. mollies.com 

SALT BAKEHOUSE, Stroud 

Stroud’s most brilliant bakery does handy 

loaf drops across the town and valleys. 

saltbakehouse.co.uk 


FOOD 

ON THE MENU 

Food heroes 

All 

fired 

up 

Woodsmith embrace 

the joy of cooking over 

fire – using wood as an 

ingredient, not just a fuel 

Who? Fire lovers Martin Keane and 

Daniel Johnson. Fed up with using 

charcoal imported from abroad, 

they wanted to understand how 

wood could be responsibly 

harvested, and found some great 

producers along the way. 

Why? “It’s one of nature’s most 

ancient and instinctive ways of 

cooking food,” says Martin. “Once 

you begin to treat the wood you’re 

cooking with like a seasoning or 

ingredient in itself, you’re opened 

up to a whole new, nuanced 

and rich flavour profile. Many 

people find open-fire cooking 

intimidating. We’re keen to break 

that stereotype.” 

What? Woods like applewood, 

blackthorn and hazel; each made 

with a specific cooking style in 

mind, in the form of chips, chunks, 

logs or charcoal. Beginner? 

Try a starter bundle containing 

lumpwood charcoal, applewood 

chips and eco firelighters. 

Where? “We started Woodsmith 

in lockdown last year, having 

recently moved to Somerset,” 

says Martin. “Our locality 

completely informed the 

beginnings of what we do now. 

Since the start, all of our wood and 

charcoal has come from local 

orchards and woodland only a 

couple of miles from where I live.” 

How? “As with any ingredient, 

the more connected we are to 

where it has come from and how 

it was grown, the better we can 

understand how to maximise its 

potential,” says Martin. Woodsmith’s 

wood comes from responsibly 

managed local woodland, which 

allows wildlife to thrive and helps 

to minimise travel. 

woodsmithwood.com 

Smoked chicken 

wings 

Light charcoal 

and soak two handfuls of 

apple chips in water for 

20 minutes. Sprinkle chips 

over the coals and leave 

them to catch and smoke. 

Use The Smoky One rub 

on the wings and smoke 

for up to an hour with the 

lid on, hitting an internal 

temperature of 72°C. 

Perfectly burned salsa 

Cook tomatoes, peppers, 

onions, chillies, garlic and 

limes in their skins over 

embers. Once perfectly 

burned, skin, chop and 

squeeze over your dishes. 

Ember-roasted 

beetroot 

Slowly roast beetroots until 

they are super soft. Serve 

in their skins with goat’s 

cheese, fresh thyme, honey 

and olive oil. 



FOOD 

Recipe 

BURGER 

QUEEN 

In September, Bath-based MasterChef winner 

Ping Coombes appears at The Great Bath Feast – 

a celebration of food and drink in the south-west. 

Here’s her twist on a Malaysian Ramly burger 

Ramly burger special 

Burger 

● 

150g beef mince 

● 

100g pork mince 

● 

1 large knob of butter 

● 

2 medium eggs 

● 

Marinade 

● 

1 tsp onion granules 

● 

1 tsp garlic granules 

● 

1 tsp light soya sauce 

● 

1 tsp Malaysian or 

Madras curry powder 

● 

1 tsp cornflour 

● 

½ tsp salt 

● 

¼ tsp sugar 

Large pinch of ground 

white pepper 

Garnish 

● 

2 brioche burger buns, 

toasted 

● 

1 tomato, sliced 

● 

4 iceberg lettuce 

leaves 

● 

4 tbsp Japanese 

mayonnaise 

● 

3 tbsp Maggi SOS Chilli 

● 

2 slices of processed 

cheese 

Method 

1 Marinade the beef and pork for at least an 

hour. Divide into four balls and flatten with 

your palm. Thinner patties will cook faster. 

2 Heat the butter in a frying pan. Cook two 

patties first. They need about two minutes 

each side. Remove onto a tray lined with 

kitchen paper. 

3 Pour some fat into the pan and return to 

the heat. Lightly beat one egg, pour into 

the pan and spread thinly like a pancake. 

When the egg starts to cook through, wrap 

it around one of the cooked patties. Remove 

and set aside. Repeat with the other patty. 

Quality from concept to completion, with us it’s built in. 

We are specialists in providing high-end, residential design and build projects and architect 

designed large scale residential projects, Serving Bath and the surrounding areas.. 

Our team of highly skilled professionals deliver your vision to the highest standards of quality 

and finish. Always proud of what we do, we offer first-class end-to-end building services, 

from design and planning, effortlessly through to build completion. 

saltfordkitchens.com 

01225 874676 

info@sbsdesignandbuild.com 

@sbsdesignandbuild 

sbsdesignandbuild.com 

B 

orn and raised in 

Ipoh, Malaysia, Ping 

Coombes’ love of 

cooking began in 

her mother’s kitchen, where 

she learned to make dishes sing 

with east Asian flavour. 

Ping’s flair paved the way to 

a MasterChef win in 2014, then 

a successful cookery book, 

supper club, cookery school 

and most recently her own 

meal delivery service, Ping 

at Home. 

“We get Ramly burger street 

food stalls all over Malaysia,” 

she says. “Over time, chefs 

have developed this burger 

patty wrapped with egg called 

a Ramly burger special. 

“They remind me of good 

times with my family and 

friends. We would always get 

a dirty Ramly burger after a 

night out or when we felt really 

naughty in Malaysia. 

“This is my version and it is 

too good not to share. Enjoy 

with the knowledge that it will 

slide down your chin!” 

pingcoombes.com 

4 Add some reserve fat to the pan and fry 

the other two patties. Flip and place the 

cheese slices onto the cooked side and 

cook for two minutes. Turn the heat off and 

assemble the garnishes. 

5 Spread mayo onto one side of the buns, 

top with lettuce, then add the patty with 

egg. Spread with more mayo and the SOS 

Chilli, followed by the patty with cheese. 

Top with tomatoes and lettuce. Repeat. 

6 Tuck in with plenty of napkins! 

The Great Bath Feast kicks off on September 

24-26, with a market, chef demos, pop-ups and a 

food and drink trail. 

greatbathfeast.co.uk 


Legal advice 

that brings 

balance to life 

Award winning legal advice 

to help you navigate change 

and plan for the future. 

Places 

Staying in + going out 

EVERYDAY BEAUTY 

Object Story is a collection of 

affordable and ethical items that 

match form with function. “This 

isn’t about prescribing Instagram 

perfection, or making people feel 

bad about the lives they don’t have,” 

says Stroud-based founder Alice 

Paling. “Instead, I want to unearth 

the small, simple moments of beauty 

and enjoyment that can be found in 

everyday life.” objectstory.co.uk 

Let’s talk. 

Contact our team in Bristol 

and let’s get started. 

www.gl.law 0117 906 9400 

WINNER OF THE BEST LAW FIRM 


INTERIORS 

INTERIORS 

Decorate your home with locally made treasures 

1 3 

4 

6 

5 

2 

James Bannister 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

For the... 

BEDROOM 

Liam Rush 

For the... 

KITCHEN 

TOAST 

For the... 

DINING ROOM 

Folkhaus 

For the... 

BATHROOM 

FARM. 

For the... 

LIVING ROOM 

Whole Punching 

For the... 

HALLWAY 

Francli Craftwear 

With credits including The 

Ethicurean, Casamia and Midgley 

Green, this Bristol wood designer 

and joiner is one to watch. 

liamrushdesign.com 

Cool crockery from Bristol 

ceramicist Liz Vidal, made from 

weighty stoneware in shades of 

rust, toffee and cream. 

toa.st 

Tables, shelving and storage made 

from sustainable timber by Bath 

furniture makers. Finishes include 

oak, whisky and walnut. 

folkhaus.co 

Beautiful, minimal Somerset 

ceramics inspired by farming 

communities across the world 

(incense holder, pictured). 

youarefarm.com 

Love texture? Meet addictive craft, 

punch needle. Bristol-based Sara 

Moore runs workshops and sells 

kits to help you get started. 

wholepunching.co.uk 

This pretty Zapotec rug is a neat 

collab between Cornish brand 

Francli Craftwear and makers in 

Teotitlán del Valle, Mexico. 

francli.co.uk 



Words 

Emily Payne and Sarah Baxter 

22-24 October 2021 

Trade Preview 21 October 

Bath Decorative Antiques Fair 

The Pavilion, Bath BA2 4EU 

Complimentary tickets via website 

bathdecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk 

Image | Cunningham White’s 

STARRY 

NIGHTS 

03 July — 

26 September 

2021 

FRANK 

BOWLING 

— 

LAND 

OF 

MANY 

WATERS 

16 NARROW QUAY, BRISTOL BS1 4QA 

arnolfini.org.uk @arnolfiniarts 

Oriented Light Photo: Alex Delfanne © Frank Bowling. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2021. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth 

From festival vibes and copper forging to sleeping in a 

flying saucer – glamping has reached stratospheric heights 


ESCAPE 

Futuro house, the 

1960s space pod 

by Finnish architect 

Matti Suuronen 

which is currently 

residing at Marston 

Park in Frome 

fibreglass door slides open, releasing a staircase up to the 

bottle-green shuttle. Inside, it’s fresh out of The Jetsons; all 

smooth edges and elliptical portholes. But this particular 

spacecraft is not headed for intergalactic adventures. It’s 

plonked in a woodland outside Frome, welcoming Earthdwelling 

visitors before beaming up at the end of summer. 

One of 68 identical pods, Futuro house was designed 

in the 1960s by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. The 

eight-metre blob was originally marketed as a luxurious 

alternative to camping. “Adaptable to virtually any terrain, 

from flat ground to a 20-degree incline... ideal for beach, 

skiing and mountain,” read a review in Playboy. But the 

sheer size (and impracticality) of it meant the trend never 

quite made lift-off. Now though, thanks to a seven-year 

renovation by artist Craig Barnes, you can stay the night 

in it at luxury glampsite Marston Park. 

Craig first saw Futuro house when his family visited 

Port Alfred, South Africa, in 1980. Incredibly, at the time, 

a family of ten lived in it. Roll forward a few decades and 

Craig decided to buy and refurb the curious pod. His wife 

only agreed on the proviso that one day the door would 

open automatically with a puff of smoke. 

Circus can confirm that while no smoke appeared, it is a 

spectacular way to spend the night. The interior is about 

as 1960s-vision-of-the-future as it comes. Bubble lights, 

pouffy reclining seats – and two charmingly triangular 

beds (which the cleaner says are almost impossible to 

make up). Wacky, yes, but also damn easy to sleep in, 

and something truly unique in a world of staycationers 

wanting ever more wow. 

A creative playground 

Michael Fenna, director of Marston Park, is full of ideas. 

A DJ and producer with years on the road under his belt – 

performing everywhere from Glastonbury to the Queen’s 

90th birthday – Fenna knew exactly what he wanted 

to create at his lakeside ‘creative playground’, where 30 

furnished tents welcome a steady stream of campers. 

Already this summer, over 7,000 people have signed 

up to the free membership. Marston Park has hosted 

The Eden Room, Frome Festival, Pikes and Noirganics. 

There’s talk of rowing boats, a wild spa and a permanent 

art gallery in a converted shipping container. There 

are kids’ workshops, painting and calligraphy classes, 

and plans for a sculpture trail. Canvas suites come 

equipped with guitars and oil painting kits, and guests are 

encouraged to hold exhibitions or drop an impromptu 

gig. “Music without an audience is just noise,” says 

Fenna. “We want to explore the relationship between art 

and audience; to allow people to develop seeds of ideas 

into reality.” 

Festival vibes 

Under a stretch tent overlooking the lake, bands and DJs 

play, pub tables line the water and ducks plop and bob. 

Chef Gareth Oakes asks, “What do you feel like eating?” 

(we’ll take the vegan bao, please) and there’s a palpable 

excitement of people being together; a definite festivalcome-2000s-in-Ibiza 

vibe. 

Fenna and his business partner Charlie Bonham 

Christie (whose family have owned the parkland since 

1905) have set local tongues wagging with plans to build 

permanent structures and a main hub building at the site. 

But what they have right now, in the absence of so much 

live music this summer, is already pretty magical. 



ESCAPE 

Nesta 

The best glampsites with extras 

Music + movement 

Nesta, Somerset 

Quick! This fiesta-esque 

glampsite on the outskirts 

of Frome, is only open until 

August 31, but provides an 

ideal last-minute fix for those 

missing summer festivals. 

The Nesta team would usually 

be organising events for 

thousands of people, but this 

year have applied their skills 

to this more bijou retreat. 

Dotted across semi-wild 

meadows and woodlands, 

there are comfy yurts, plus 

wood-fired hot tubs, a 

massage tent and a cocktail 

lounge with a resident 

mixologist and Somerset 

cider on tap. There’s plenty 

of live music planned, from 

firepit serenades to acoustic 

sessions, while guest teachers 

will join the party to lead 

yoga, meditation and even 

workshops in ecstatic dance. 

nestacamping.co.uk 

Cooking + 

canoeing 

Campwell Woods, 

South Gloucestershire 

Less campsite, more entire 

eco village, Campwell is just a 

stone’s throw from Bath but 

a stay there transports you 

straight to the wilderness. 

Among ancient woodland, 

there’s a cluster of yurts, 

huts and cabins, a communal 

wood-fired sauna, outdoor 

kitchen and cob oven for 

pizzas, plus bathrooms that 

are reached via rope bridges. 

There’s also a secret lake, 

where you can wild swim, 

paddle in a dug-out canoe 

or try your luck at catching 

crayfish. Or join an expert to 

go foraging in the woods and 

then cook your finds on the 

campfire. If you really get the 

offgrid-living bug, courses like 

wood-carving and spoonwhittling 

can be arranged, too. 

campwell.co.uk 

Tom Hull 

Campwell 



fforest 

ESCAPE 

Woolley Grange 

Woodwork 

+ wild cooking 

Resilient Woodlands 

Retreat, Forest of Dean 

This isn’t just glamping, 

it’s a glimpse into a vital 

but vanishing way of life. 

Resilient Woodlands 

Retreat’s two hillside cabins 

are immersed in a swathe of 

coppice wood, on the edge 

of the Severn Estuary. They 

are built to the highest eco 

standards, with luxurious 

touches, including a hot 

tub for each cabin. The aim 

is to provide guests with 

a chance to recharge in 

nature but also learn about 

the biodiversity benefits 

of traditional woodsman 

skills. Tree talks and walks 

take guests into the forest 

to learn about coppicing 

and conservation. And 

additional experiences 

– including foraging, 

charcoal-making and wild 

cooking courses – are in the 

pipeline, too. 

resilientwoodlands.co.uk 

Copper forging 

+ kayaking 

The Original Hut 

Company, East Sussex 

The handsome shepherd’s 

huts dotted around 200- 

acre Quarry Farm are 

appealing in themselves: 

hand-built using reclaimed 

and locally sourced 

materials, and decked out 

with firepits, solar panels, 

scatter cushions and 

gingham curtains – they’re 

environmentally aware 

and oh-so cosy. But even 

better is the farm’s eclectic 

menu of activities. At The 

Hub café/communal space, 

you can sign up for yoga, 

kayaking, paddleboarding 

and all manner of creative 

workshops, including 

pewter casting (October 

16), a metal-working 

course held out in the 

woods, or copper forging 

(September 11), to 

upcycle old copper into 

nature-themed art. 

original-huts.co.uk 

Apple cocktails 

+ alpacas 

Drovers Rest, 

Herefordshire 

Near Hay-on-Wye, hidden 

in Herefordshire’s Golden 

Valley, Drovers Rest is the 

place to muck in, in style. 

The ‘camping’ couldn’t 

be posher: the African-style 

tents have woodburners, 

proper beds, plump sofas 

and private monsoon 

showers. But there are 

plenty of opportunities 

to get down and dirty 

too. Tours run daily (free 

for guests), showing you 

around the farm and into 

the animal enclosures; 

you can even help care for 

the chickens, goats, sheep 

and alpacas. In August, 

several falconry displays are 

planned, while in autumn 

(October 15-18) you can 

get involved with the apple 

harvest – help to pick and 

press the fruit, and whizz up 

apple cocktails, too. 

droversrest.co.uk 

Drovers Rest 

fforest 

Resilient 

Woodlands 

Retreat 

Feasting 

+ farmlife 

fforest, 

Ceredigion 

Food is at the heart of 

fforest. This farm-set 

campsite, just outside 

Cardigan, has a range of 

enchanting retreats, from 

treetop domes to the 

inside-outside Crog lofts. 

There’s also access to 

walks and wild swimming 

in the River Teifi Gorge. 

But it’s the focus on 

shared, sustainable and 

downright tasty eating 

that makes a stay here so 

mouthwatering. Amazing 

eight-course tasting menus 

– or feasts – featuring 

local produce, including 

Cardigan Bay fish and 

Caws Cenarth cheese, are 

hosted in the farm’s big 

barn. And when the feasts 

aren’t on, there’s great food 

to be found at Y Bwthyn 

(the site’s own pub), The 

Lodge, where breakfasts 

and suppers are served, and 

around the firepit. 

coldatnight.co.uk 

Breakfast hampers 

+ babysitting 

Woolley Grange, 

Bradford on Avon 

Opened this year as a ‘more 

adventurous’ alternative 

to a slap-up hotel stay, 

comes the Luxury Family 

Hotels Pop-Up Hotel – 

aka very posh glamping. 

Eight elegant familyfriendly 

suites complete 

with crisp linen, Bramley 

products, fresh flowers 

and a selection of classic 

children’s books, now sit 

in the meadow running 

parallel to the hotel. 

Glampers certainly won’t 

be slumming it, with VIP 

access to alfresco dining 

at The Hideout restaurant 

and bar, along with use 

of indoor and outdoor 

swimming pools, the 

spa and 90 minutes of 

complimentary childcare 

each day. Fun family 

activities include 

flower crown-making, 

treasure hunts, archery 

and star-gazing. 

woolleygrangehotel.co.uk 



Words 

Vishaka Robinson 

PLACES 

Spotlight on 

Mells 

& surrounds 

With a new micro art emporium, 

lake swims and top-class lunches, 

this Somerset gem punches above 

its weight in stylish diversions 

The Walled Garden at Mells 

Selwood Street 

Steeped in history, this magical and 

much-loved place – the setting for 

spectacularly good wood-fired pizza 

feasts – was once a 16th-century 

monastic garden, growing herbs 

and medicine for study. Its position 

within ancient stone walls, but looking 

out over meadows to the south, 

means it’s a reliable suntrap for those 

wanting to enjoy some late summer 

tranquilly. There are also tables in the 

greenhouse where a wood stove is lit 

during chillier days. The owners are 

passionate about using the space for 

therapeutic gardening and welcome 

community groups of all ages. There 

are drop-in sessions every Wednesday 

for anyone wishing to help out with 

the day’s chores. 

thewalledgardenatmells.co.uk 

Holcombe Farmshop 

& Kitchen 

Edford Hill 

Toby Brett and his team spent 

lockdown giving their pub, The Duke 

of Cumberland, a community-minded 

overhaul. It reopened in May as 

Holcombe Farmshop & Kitchen, 

and now houses a stylish farm shop, 

with its own butcher, Midway Farm 

milk refill station and shelves laden 

with everything from free-range 

eggs to wine to local apples. The 

wood-panelled restaurant, which 

opens out onto a riverside decked 

patio is open from 9am for preramble 

Somerset English breakfasts, 

through to ploughman’s lunches 

and sourdough pizzas in the evening. 

And – parents rejoice! – a shiny 

new kids’ play area. 

holcombefarmshop.co.uk 

General Store by 

8 Holland Street 


Tucked into a whitewashed, 

repurposed garage next to the 

Talbot Inn, the countryside outpost 

of London-based gallery 8 Holland 

Street opened this summer. Its 

founder, Tobias Vernon, has a 

cottage in Mells and has overseen 

every inch of the new space. Expect 

all of the gallery’s trademark 

flair, with woodcuts by Jean Arp, 

Formica plate racks by Cosmo Fry, 

archive Heal and Son furniture 

and lashings of bright, bold colour. 

Outside, a selection of covetable 

outdoor furniture is set among 

antique planters tended to by local 

florist, Flower and Land. Like what 

you see? Keep an eye out for the 

new 8 Holland Street Bath space 

opening on the corner of Brock 

Street in September. 

8hollandstreet.com 



PLACES 

The Talbot Inn 

Vobster Quay 

Upper Vobster 

The Talbot Inn 


Shop in store or online 

Commission and reworking service available 

33 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5NH 

T: +44(0)117 9090225 

www.dianaporter.co.uk 

Traditional Gentlemen's Barber 

U S - T E DAY FRIDAY 9 . 3 0 A P M M 

- 6 

9 SATURDAY 

. 0 0 A M - 3 P M 

S U N DAY - MONDAY 

C L O S E D 

A N D W A L K - I N S 

A P P O I N T M E N T S 

N G 

W I D C O M B E B A 2 4 

O K S Y A P P 

B O O K O N L I N E B O 

A N D Y B A R B E R S . C O M 

D D N A E N I F . W W W 

This 36-acre freshwater lake is a 

swimmers’ paradise, thanks to its 

famously clean water and peaceful 

tree-lined setting. Visitors can 

stretch out on a 750m swim course 

or don scuba gear and explore 

depths of up to 36 meters. The lake 

has a fascinating trove of oddities 

to explore, with a vast two-storeyhigh 

metallic structure (designed 

to crush boulders into rocks), Sea 

King helicopter and military airplane 

all lurking beneath its depths. It’s 

normally open to non-members, 

who can pre-book swims or dives, 

but for 2021 and the foreseeble 

future, it is members-only. Off-peak 

memberships are currently available, 

but check online for updates. 

vobster.com 

This atmospheric coaching inn has 

welcomed visitors for more than 500 

years, and manages to tread the fine 

line between unpretentious local 

and plush place to stay (there are 

eight bedrooms around the cobbled 

courtyard). The menu is packed with 

local producers, from Castlemead’s 

free-range chickens to Longman’s 

cheese, and a steady stream of 

produce from the pub’s verdant 

kitchen garden. If the weather’s fine, 

nab a table overlooking St Andrew’s 

Church and order something from 

the drinks menu – the pub is part 

of the same family as the Beckford 

Bottle Shop in Bath and borrows from 

their expertise, with over 250 wines, 

plus their own tasty Talbot Ale. 

talbotinn.com 

circusjournal.com @circusjournal 57 

Circus-Magazine_May_21.indd 1 12/07/2021 11:55:06

Words 

Velimir Ilic 

Interior Design Bath 

COLOUR WORKSHOPS 

The 

Guide 

25 awesome things to do in August + September 

The Curzon 

Cinema & Arts, Clevedon 

STEEPED IN HERITAGE 

IMMERSED IN CULTURE 

LIVING IN THE PRESENT 

FILMS - BAR - LIVE EVENTS 

@curzonclevedon 

www.curzon.org.uk 

New Dates 

Let me guide you to bring 

COLOUR 

& 

PERSONALITY 

into your home 

Book Now to Secure Your Place 

T: 0797 110 6546 

W: lolaswift.co.uk 

1 

MUSIC 

IDLES + special guests 

Clifton Downs, Bristol 

September 3 

This one-off homecoming 

gig is IDLES’ first headline 

outdoor show in Bristol. The 

band will play bangers from 

their number one album, 

Ultra Mono, ahead of 2022’s 

sellout tour. Organisers Team 

Love and Simple Things 

promise a day of excellent 

music, good vibes and 

great food and drink. 

idlesband.com 


GUIDE 

Lucy Stein at Spike Island, Bristol 

VERVE Festival, Wiltshire 

Mary Shelley’s House of 

Frankenstein, Bath 

4 

6 

8 

10 

2 

MUSIC 

Tinariwen 

Komedia, Bath 

August 30 

The return of the nomadic 

Tuareg desert band, made up 

of ‘poet guitarists and soul 

rebels’. They’ll be hitting the 

road in support of their current 

album, Amadjar, a typically 

beguiling and gloriously 

desolate collection of songs 

that echo their Malian roots. 

komedia.co.uk 

3 

COMEDY 

Rob Newman’s 

Philosophy Show 

Redgrave Theatre, Bristol 

September 7 

Another welcome outing 

for the revered comedian, 

author and activist. You can 

expect meandering but highly 

amusing philosophical riffs on 

Nietzsche’s sunglasses, James 

Bond in Toxteth, electric spiders 

and singing Neanderthals. 

redgravetheatre.com 

WELLBEING 

VERVE Festival 

Pythouse Kitchen Garden, Wiltshire 

September 25 

Set in a Victorian walled 

garden, this wellness festival 

features yoga, meditation, 

forest bathing, sound healing, 

instructive talks, massages, 

kids’ activities and more. Enjoy 

food cooked over fire by the 

Pythouse chefs, and music and 

cocktails until late. 

feeltheverve.com 

5 

WELLBEING 

Serenity Sessions 

Marston Park, Frome 

August 8, September 5 

And breathe… These healing 

two-hour sessions guide 

the body through gentle 

movements designed to ease 

tension and promote peace. 

Enjoy deep relaxation as 

healing vibrations are made by 

instruments including singing 

bowls, koshi and kalimba. 

marstonpark.co.uk 

Lucy Stein, Jung in PZ, 2020. Photograph by Steve Tanner. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Gregor Staiger, Zurich. 

ART 

I Didn’t Lick It 

Bruton Museum 

Until September 25 

There’s much excitement online 

about this inaugural group 

exhibition. Curated by mail 

art exchange project Bruton 

Correspondence School, and 

located across four sites, it 

showcases inventive collages 

made in collaboration with 

over 350 artists. 

@brutoncorrespondenceschool 

7 

DAY OUT 

Bristol Open Doors 

Various Bristol locations 

September 10-12 

Uncover Bristol’s hidden 

treasures, iconic landmarks and 

forgotten places via various 

events, workshops, talks and 

immersive audio walking tours. 

The Vibrant Bristol street art 

tour, taking in south Bristol’s 

Upfest murals, looks particularly 

good. Booking essential. 

bristolopendoors.org.uk 

MUSIC 

Tunng 

St George’s, Bristol 

September 22 

Mike Lindsay’s acclaimed 

folktronica collective are on 

tour to promote their epic 

Dead Club album, delving 

into uplifting, colourful and 

celebratory notions of death, 

and promising a quirky and 

refreshing take on a “nearuntouchable 

subject”. 

stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 

9 

FOOD + DRINK 

Autumnal Supper Club 

Roundhill Grange, Charlton 

Musgrove 

September 25 

Presented by Roth Bar & Grill, 

this seasonal supper club 

sounds well tasty. Prepared from 

ingredients grown in the walled 

garden at Roundhill Grange, 

sample delicious autumnal fare 

– from fireside nibbles to an 

indulgent three-course feast. 

rothbarandgrill.co.uk 

FAMILY 

Mary Shelley’s House 

of Frankenstein 

Gay Street, Bath 

Now open 

Discover the extraordinary life of 

the author behind Frankenstein. 

Bath’s new attraction will 

commemorate Mary Shelley’s life 

for the first time, over 205 years 

after she put pen to paper to 

write the now legendary novel. 

Four atmospheric floors provide 

an immersive experience. 

houseoffrankenstein.com 

11 

ART 

Lucy Stein: Wet Room 

Spike Island, Bristol 

September 25 – January 16, 2022 

Founded on ‘goddess culture 

and witchcraft’, this debut UK 

solo show by artist Lucy Stein 

is inspired by her research into 

west Cornwall’s ancient Neolithic 

passages. Think coffin-sized 

artwork, deities carved from soap 

and a fully working wet room. 

spikeisland.org.uk 



GUIDE 

Gustav Metzger at Hauser 

& Wirth Somerset, Bruton 

12 

THEATRE 

The Dresser 

Theatre Royal, Bath 


Set in 1942 and based on 

playwright Ronald Harwood’s 

experiences of being a dresser 

for esteemed actor Donald 

Wolfit. Julian Clary and Matthew 

Kelly star in this hilarious 

and affectionate tale of life 

backstage in a provincial theatre. 

theatreroyal.org.uk 

15 

Active Reality, Bath 

Nursery | Prep | Senior | Sixth Form 

To arrange an individual tour, visit www.stonarschool.com 

13 

MUSIC 

The 7 Hills 

Lyncombe Court, Bath 

September 4 

A brand new music festival 

inspired by the sounds and 

culture of Americana. This 

year’s lineup includes Beth 

Rowley and other well-known 

names from the world of folk, 

country, blues, rhythm and 

blues, rock and roll, and gospel, 

as well as local emerging talent. 

the7hills.com 

14 

FITNESS 

Bike Bath 

Bath, Devizes and Frome 

August 22 

A day of exhilarating short, 

medium and long rides 

around the glorious scenery 

of Somerset, Wiltshire and 

Gloucestershire. As well as 

fully waymarked routes, feed 

stations on the medium and 

long rides will showcase the 

best of local food and drink. 

bikebath.co.uk 

ART 

Gustav Metzger 

Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Bruton 

Until September 12 

Using a powerful blend of 

political activism and creativity, 

Gustav Metzger radically 

challenged our understanding 

of art. This exhibition explores 

the intersection between human 

intervention, nature and manmade 

environments – ideas 

Metzger continued to interrogate 

over his six-decade career. 

hauserwirth.com 

16 

DAY OUT 

Bath Preservation Trust 

walking tour 

Begins at No.1 Royal Crescent 

Throughout August and September 

The Royal Crescent, Circus, 

Assembly Rooms and related 

streets were the height of 

fashion in the late 18th century. 

This guided walk introduces the 

daily routines of the aristocracy, 

entertainments of the day and 

history of some of the world’s 

finest Palladian architecture. 

no1royalcrescent.org.uk 

17 

GAMING 

Active Reality 

Bath Leisure Centre 

Ongoing 

Using virtual reality and advanced 

motion-capture technology, 

gamers can walk, jump, duck and 

interact like they would in real 

life. In high-octane player versus 

player battles, the concept of 

reality is blurred and participants 

will be left with pounding hearts, 

eagerly awaiting the next round. 

active-reality.com 

All details correct at the time of going 

to press. Please check event websites 

and social media for updates. If you’d 

like to see your event listed, email 

listings@circusjournal.com 


Promoted events 

Promoted events 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE 

TO PROMOTE YOUR EVENT 

ON THESE PAGES, 

PLEASE EMAIL 

simon@circusjournal.com 

Sam Heath at 44AD 

artspace, Bath 

Rode Comedy Festival 

18 

ART 

Intimacy Stands a Chance 

44AD artspace, Bath 


A group exhibition by figurative 

artists Catherine Ade, Mel 

Pozniakow and Sam Heath. 

These three artists depict and 

celebrate ordinary life through 

intimate images of people, 

domestic interiors and events. 

44ad.net 

RWA Drawing School, 

Bristol 

Quercus Gallery, 

Bradford on Avon 

19 

ART 

Return to Form 

Quercus Gallery, Bradford on Avon 

September 10 – October 2 

This exhibition focuses on 

artists who reuse and recycle 

materials in their work. Pop 

along to see a pleasing array 

of jewellery, mixed media 

artworks, collage and ceramics 

by a collection of exciting 

contemporary makers 

quercusgallery.co.uk 

20 

WORKSHOP 

RWA Drawing School: 

Colour Intensive course 

Hamilton House, Bristol 

For three weeks from September 17 

Get to grips with colour mixing, 

colour charts and collaging 

swatches to build a permanent 

library, with Bristol artist Meg 

Buick. A lifetime resource for 

anyone working with colour. 

This three-week course is 

suitable for all levels. 

rwa.org.uk 

21 

COMEDY 

Rode Comedy Festival 

Pitchperfect Camping, Woolverton 


An impressive series of shows 

solidifying Rode Comedy 

Festival’s reputation, in its 

second year, as a small festival 

punching above its weight. The 

lineup includes Joel Dommett 

(pictured), Scummy Mummies 

and Mike Wozniak. All taking 

place open-air, beneath a 

stretch tent in a Somerset field. 

popupcomedy.org 

Julian House: Circuit of Bath Walk 

Results Body+Mind, Bath 

Drawing Out at De León, Bath 

22 

ART 

Drawing Out 

De León at 5 Margaret’s 

Buildings, Bath 

September 4-7 

A group show from 

international artists Anna 

Barriball, Heidi Bucher, 

Tom Chamberlain, Andreas 

Eriksson, Richard Forster 

(pictured), Jonathan Owen, 

Christine Rebet and Tomás 

Saraceno. See how artists 

approach drawing through 

collage, film and even the 

lines drawn by a spider’s web. 

bridgetdeleon.com 

23 

COMMUNITY 

Julian House: Circuit 

of Bath Walk 

Across Bath 

September 26 

By taking part in this charity 

walk (20-miles or a distance of 

your choice) you’ll see the city 

of Bath in a whole new light. 

Plus, by raising sponsorship 

you’ll help provide support to 

over 1,800 vulnerable people 

experiencing homelessness or 

escaping domestic abuse. 

circuitofbathwalk.co.uk 

24 

WELLBEING 

The Pod – floatation therapy 

Results Body+Mind, Bath 

Ongoing 

In today’s busy world it can 

be hard to find the time to just 

do nothing. Floating creates a 

peaceful, weightless and selfindulgent 

environment away 

from the outside world. Benefits 

include: decreasing stress and 

anxiety, relaxation, improved 

sleep, pain management and 

performance enhancement. 

resultsbodymind.co.uk 

25 

SHOPPING 

Artisan pop-up 

Cassia, Bath Riverside 

September 18 

Coworking and events space 

Cassia hosts a one-off artisan 

pop-up featuring local makers 

including Planty Kate, Green Door 

Chocolate, Selva Plants, Puppy 

Tales and House of Leopards. 

Drop in any time between 9am – 

4pm for a coffee and a browse. 

cassiacommunity.co.uk 



COLLAB 

Cut out + keep 

Finished reading? Here’s a keepsake from 

brilliant Bristol artist, Annie Clay 

Timeless natural beauty 

Engineered wood flooring 

• Plank, herringbone & distressed designs 

• Suits classic & modern décor 

• A host of plank widths, lengths & colours 

• Sustainable. Ethically sourced 

• Supports underfloor heating 

• Long life warranty. Easy to maintain 

• Domestic & commercial 

“I’m drawn to places and objects that go unseen and forgotten. Hidden places, 

buildings or objects that tell a story, have character and a bit of magic or humour. 

This painting is about championing the Great British caravan. I enjoy spotting 

the heroic and powerful-sounding names given to caravans that bumble along 

motorways, holiday-bound. They can seem neglected and run down, 

but I like to restore them in painting.” 

annieclay.co.uk 


Laminate • Luxury vinyl tile • Natural • Stain resistant • Tailor made • Vinyl • Wood • Wool

Circus Journal Volume 13

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?