Circus Journal Vol 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

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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


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

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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

Selwood 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

Selwood Street

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


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

September 9-18

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

September 7-12

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

September 9-12

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 7 - October 2

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

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annieclay.co.uk


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