Circus Journal Vol 22

Style, creativity and community

in the south-west

Volume 22 Early spring 2023 Rituals

8 ways to improve your day

+ The art of bookbinding

+ Joyful seasonal events

Spring hikes + Retail rebels

+ 48 hours in Cheltenham

+ Win a spa treatment & stay

Hello

Welcome to the first issue of 2023. This time,

we turn to rituals – the seasonal customs and

everyday habits that shape our existence.

We shrug off winter with four exhilarating

hikes, taking in sweeping valleys, proper pubs

and a forgotten stone circle. And suggest

simple ways to bring lightness to your days.

A bookbinder in Bath basks in the craft’s rich

history, relishing in centuries-old methods.

Plus, we nip over to Cheltenham for a buzzy

weekend of shopping, food and culture.

Meet the retailers bringing joy back to the high

street – offering everything from homeware

swaps to rug-tufting courses. Then check out

the best local events in early spring.

Finally, head to the back page for your chance

to win a night for two (including dinner,

cocktails and a spa treatment) at No.15 by

GuestHouse, Bath. Happy reading.

Emily Payne, editor

AN EMPORIUM OF TREASURES FOR YOUR HOME

FIND US ON 92 WALCOT STREET, BATH, BA1 5BG

WWW.GRAHAMANDGREEN.CO.UK

circusjournal.com @circusjournal 3

Contents

Regulars

The Edit 9

Design, community + lifestyle

Directory 57

Indie businesses we love

The Guide 63

Events in February + March

People

Win a night

for two at No.15

by GuestHouse, Bath,

including dinner

and a spa treatment.

See p74.

Page turner 17

Meet the bookbinder

Ideas

8 spring rituals 23

Dust away the cobwebs

Retail rebels 31

Shops shaking it up

Places

Best foot forward 39

Hikes in the west

48 hours in... 49

Culture hub, Cheltenham


Contributors

Meet some of the talented people who

helped to create this issue

Show Home Open Day

Saturday 4th February 10:00am—3:00pm

Please call 01225 302 888 to make your appointment to view

View our

brand new

show home

CGI

Writer Tola Fisher lives in

Cheltenham. Her book,

Still Standing: 100 Lessons

From An ‘Unsuccessful’

Life is out now.

Spring ritual: Wishfully

digging out summer clothes.

James Beck is a

Bristol photographer

contributing to the New York

Times and Channel 4.

Spring ritual: Finding

outdoor pursuits to turn into

photographic projects.

Sarah Baxter is a

Bath-based travel writer,

editor and hiker.

Spring ritual: Attempting

to walk every inch of

footpath on my local

OS Map.

All our stockist deliveries are

made using zero-emission

electric cargo bikes

CBP016816

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

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 395 locations across

Bath, Bristol and the south-west.

To find your nearest stockist

please visit circusjournal.com.

Thank you to the advertisers,

whose support and encouragement

enables this project to happen.

This issue of Circus was printed

in January 2023 by Zenith Print

Group, in Pontypridd, Wales.

© Circus Journal 2023. 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.

Reflecting Bath’s Georgian architecture, Bridgetower Drive comprises

four and five bedroom townhouses and villas featuring Bath Stone

facades that add a traditional feel to these contemporary houses.

Northside Townhouses from £1,725,000, ready for occupation Autumn 2023

Southside Townhouses from £1,325,000, ready for occupation Winter 2023

The Marketing Pavilion: Holburne Park, Warminster Road, Bath BA2 6SF

Rosemary McAndrew: rmcandrew@savills.com | 01225 302 888 | bridgetowerdrive.co.uk

6

Circus Journal Early spring 2023

Disclaimer: This CGI was prepared from preliminary plans and specifications before the completion of the development. It is intended only as a guide. Details may have changed during construction

and final finishes could vary. Prospective purchasers should not rely on this information but must get their solicitor to check the plans and specification attached to their contract. January 2023.

THE

Edit

Design, community + lifestyle

Colour me beautiful

Welcome spring daylight

into your home with walls

from Anthropologie’s collab

with Morris & Co. The Arts

and Crafts paint brand has

40 colours, available in

chalky matt and eggshell

finishes. We love rich

Madox Madder, pictured,

named after Pre-Raphaelite

artist Ford Madox Brown.

anthropologie.com

BATH BESPOKE

Handmade Interiors

Cabinetry Architectural Joinery Kitchens Flooring

enquiries@bathbespoke.co.uk 01225 920 900 @bathbespoke

Hartley Farm, Winsley, Nr Bath, BA15 2JB


The Edit

Morning

Words: Natalie Paris

Boat life

Imagine waking up on a narrow

boat decked out like this. The

Bath family behind Marwood

Makes refits boats and vans,

turning them into clean, dreamy

spaces with strong Scandi vibes,

pastel-tiled nooks, genius

shelving and retro-style fridges

tucked between purpose-built

birch ply cabinets.

@marwood_makes

Wild breakfast

Try freshly baked treats

made with ingredients foraged

from the Jurassic Coast at

chef Harriet Mansell’s new

wild food bakery in her Lyme

Regis restaurant, Robin Wylde.

Specialities include woodruff

palmiers, nettle and wildflower

pinwheels, and gorse and

winter citrus Danishes.

@robinwyldedining

One-step beauty

Liha Okunniwa, co-founder of

LIHA Beauty, draws inspiration

from her Nigerian heritage and a

love of aromatherapy. The brand’s

multi-use lotions are designed

to simplify your skin routine. The

Oju Omi Cleansing Mud unclogs

pores, exfoliates and can reduce

breakouts. Products come in

100% recyclable packaging.

@lihabeauty

10 Circus Journal Early spring 2023


The Edit

Cosy days in our Restaurant,

Bar and Spa in the centre of Bath

There’s a lot more to love than great stays here. Our kitchen and bar

team serve up the essence of great British escapes, their dishes and

drinks feel familiar and original all at once.

Down in the quiet calm of our spa, skilled therapists listen carefully

to needs before tailoring treatments to address them. All in a gorgeous,

Georgian-townhouse setting on one of the city’s very best streets.

No.15 Bath, 15 Great Pulteney Street, Bath, BA2 4BS

www.guesthousehotels.co.uk

@guesthousehotels

Booming ‘shrooms

The Flushrooms began in a shed

in Montpelier last year. Its

founder Antony Potts now grows

posh funghi for restaurants,

shops and markets at St Anne’s

House – a community centre

run by social enterprise Bricks.

Find its lion’s mane, shiitake and

oyster mushrooms at Poco Tapas

Bar and Hugo’s Greengrocer Deli.

@theflushrooms

Noon

Chocolate fix

Sip a mug of vegan hot chocolate

at Cacao Circle, a tasty pop-up

that opened in December on

Bedford Street in Stroud. The

venue hosts exhibitions and

meditation workshops, and is

run by Coco Caravan – chocolate

makers who blend ethically

sourced cacao beans with

coconut blossom sugar.

cococaravan.co.uk

Frame it

Great art deserves to be framed

and shared, say the people at

Somerset-based frame-makers,

MOUNT. The company’s first

collection is a set of architectural

drawings dating as far back as

the 16th century, carefully

displayed in handmade frames.

Composition I by Iakov Chernikhov

c.1920-40, pictured.

mountcollective.co.uk



The Edit

Sustainable

Night

Garden Rooms

Handmade in Bristol

www.littlegreenrooms.co.uk

Out out

Bristol Beacon has a banging

line-up of live music throughout

the city in 2023. We’re looking

forward to catching Brightonbased

psych-folk duo Native

Harrow, at Crofters Rights on

February 25. The band’s new

album Old Kind of Magic is a

gorgeous set of songs with an

off-kilter 1960s vibe.

bristolbeacon.org

Cuddle up

Wool from smallholdings across

Wales and the south-west was

going to waste until Gather’s

co-operative began making

100% British wool blankets.

Native-breed wool is spun by

British mills and the natural

colour is preserved. Blankets are

numbered, so can be traced back

to individual flocks.

gatherwool.co.uk

Hit refresh

Bed down at the Royal Crescent

Hotel, where the suites have

been given a lick of paint and the

restaurant is about to follow suit.

Visitors to the hotel during Bath’s

reBalance festival (February

7-25) can learn Indonesian Satria

yoga with WE.DNTPLAY, who

teach flowing sequences rooted

in martial arts.

royalcrescent.co.uk



People

3 MONTHS AT BOXWORKS

APPLICATIONS CLOSE FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY

MY DESK

By the book

boxworks.co.uk/startup

The dexterous acts of old-world craft

are steeped in ritual. At a Bath bookbindery,

Sim Orme preserves the historic practice

Words Amanda Nicholls

Photography James Beck


People

This trade might not be

around forever, and with

that comes lost skills. I hope

to one day pass them on

through teaching.”

The age-old processes in

bookbinding can involve

around 100 elements

ost people walk past the Victorian gables of George

Bayntun Fine Bindings and Rare Books without

paying too much attention. But behind the stone

archways and mullioned windows is a wonderfully

antiquarian shop and bindery barely altered since

the 1930s. It’s a singular specimen still crafting the

way it did a century ago, with an old library out

back that looks like the opening setting of an

adventure film.

Surrounded by hefty, ancient Bibles and

Shakespearean tomes stacked in gilt-edged profile;

among brass finishing blocks from early publications

of Winnie the Pooh; and beloved children’s classics sent

in for careful restoration from as far as Hong Kong and

Hawaii, Sim Orme works as a forwarder.

Having studied at the Royal Bindery at Windsor

Castle, and spent time in Europe learning from

bookbinding maestros, Sim receives the text block (the

body of the book) after its pages have been cleaned,

treated, repaired, folded and sewn. Trimming, rounding

and backing the book, they gild the edges, prepare and

attach the boards, sew the end bands, adhere the spine

linings and cover the book in leather. It is then passed

on to the finisher, on the next workbench, for elaborate

gold tooling or decorative debossing.

Sim has recently finished a protective slipcase for an

Art Deco-styled copy of Dickens’ Bleak House, and

is about to bind a prized first edition of Lord of the Rings

for a young Texan collector.

Old habits

It takes at least two months to bind a book at Bayntun’s

– awarded the Royal Warrant in 1950 by Queen Mary

by way of payment for her visits during the wartime

years. The processes often involve around 100 elements

before a book is put into the press.

Over the years it takes to internalise these elements

and their order, the binder will often develop their own

daily customs and idiosyncrasies that get them into the

focused mindset for such painstaking precision work.

In the old days, founder George Bayntun would take

snuff after selling a certain number of books, believing

his subsequent sneezes would release ‘fresh energies’.

Meanwhile, all the binders would stop, like clockwork,

for elevenses, then again at 3.30pm for tea.



People

Libraries

I love

● Birmingham Library

It’s amazing for

working, hanging out

and learning. I took

British Sign Language,

Arabic and French

courses there.

● The National Library

of Malta

For the feels. It’s a big

space; a dark, cool

room lined with a lot of

vellum bindings.

● My personal library

A collection of book

art, fine bindings,

friends’ books and

charity shop finds.

Top: Ancient volumes in

various states of repair

Below: After Sim has

bound the book, it is

passed on to a finisher

for gold tooling or

decorative debossing

For Sim, a creature of habit, mornings

involve black coffee and yoga before

cycling to the bindery, laying out their

go-to tools (bonefolder, scalpel, Japanese

square ruler) and tuning into some

French electro and techno, or maybe

some drill or drone music to get into the

zone. “It touches my body in a totally different way,

although it’s quite intense and gets inside your brain so

can get emotional,” says Sim. “I listen to a lot of music,

pop too. I’ve just recently got back into 50 Cent… Candy

Shop – so good!”

Connection to the past

There are days when it’s easier to bind a book because

the atmosphere is right, and days when the gold just

won’t stick, and procrastination comes with its own set

of practices. “I’m still a bit uncomfortable with buffing

leather so will naturally gravitate towards trimming

books, fraying their cords or making end papers to

avoid it,” says Sim, who shakes off the studiousness by

running and bell-ringing a couple of evenings a week.

Or heading out to favourite haunts Beckford Bottle

Shop, The Bell Inn and Bristol’s Strange Brew.

While there’s access to over 15,000 unique, hand-cut

instruments for carrying out intricate manual work, it’s

not the done thing to borrow another binder’s tools.

“You get attached to them, and they become incredibly

personal. All my weights have personalities,” says Sim.

“Most binders will insist you can’t use their paring knife

because it’s moulded to their hand. And they do change

shape through the way you use them.”

It’s a satisfying craft. “When I started, I couldn’t get

over the fact I’d taken a piece of board, covered it with

cloth, completed all these little steps and ended up with

this object that I was utterly amazed I’d made. There’s a

sense of connection – in the same way that if I took a walk

in a field I’d probably feel better than I would watching a

bit of TV. It’s really nice just to touch all the materials.

“With no bookbinding schools left in England, this

trade might not be around forever, and with that comes

lost skills. I hope to one day pass them on through

teaching. It’s incredible to be doing something so

historic and I do take pride in that.”

georgebayntun.com

Reading list

Local booksellers suggest

books on rituals

The Practice

of Not Thinking

by Ryunosuke Koike

Bookhaus, Bristol

“A simple guide to mindful

living by a Japanese

former Buddhist monk.

This is one of our

bestsellers and it’s a book

that could alter your life.

bookhausbristol.com

Daily Rituals by

Mason Currey

Topping & Company

Booksellers of Bath

“The routines of the

world’s great minds, from

philosophers to artists.

This collection details how

their differing routines

aided their success (vices

and all!).”

toppingbooks.co.uk

Rituals for Life

by Isla Macleod

Hunting Raven Books,

Frome

“A beautifully presented

manifesto on how we can

use everyday rituals to

help connect us to find

peace, joy and intention in

our everyday living.”

huntingravenbooks.co.uk

The Almanac

by Lia Leendertz

Max Minerva’s Marvellous

Books, Bristol

“A month-by-month guide

to the night sky, tides and

gardening tasks, with songs

and recipes. A wonderful

way to reconnect with the

natural world.”

maxminervas.co.uk


circusjournal.com @circusjournal

21

Ideas

INTERNATIONAL

PHOTOGRAPHY

EXHIBITION 164

The world’s longest running

photography exhibition

Discover over 100 contemporary

images by 46 photographers

28 JAN - 7 MAY 2023

Free

Entry

Mon - Sun, 10am - 5pm

RPS Gallery

337 Paintworks

Bristol

BS4 3AR

rps.org/IPE164

#IPE164

© Frederic Aranda, Vogue House

Spring

rituals

Simple tricks to break

the daily grind



Words

Sonia Zhuravlyova

Ideas

No. 1

Learn

Dry January is over. Here comes Try February (and March,

April, May…). Trying a new skill helps to keep you sharp

and can boost confidence. For something a little different,

Stroud-based School of Larks (schooloflarks.com) offers

classes in everything from handstands to trapeze. Or

go practical with carpentry skills or DIY plumbing at

TouchWood (touchwoodsouthwest.com), a female-led

not-for-profit carpentry and joinery company in Devon.

Want to up your food game? Learn how to make your

own cheese at Bristol’s Coexist Community Kitchen

(coexistcommunitykitchen.org).

No. 2

Mend

The perfect antidote to throw-away culture

is repairing your own clothes. “I love the

ritual of mending and the meditative

process of darning by hand,” says Lizzie

David, who runs darning workshops across

the south-west (@little_moth_mends). “It’s

rewarding to bring clothes back to life.

Darning requires only a few basic stitches

and you don’t need much: a needle,

some yarn and a darning mushroom.” Got

something larger to fix? Try one of the

south-west’s growing collection of repair

cafés – one recently opened in Sea Mills,

Bristol – where you can get things fixed

and learn how to mend things in future.

No. 3

Doodle

Artist Lisa Stickley hosts

online doodle workshops

from her kitchen in London

(lisastickleystudio.com).

Participants are sent a

kit packed with covetable

stationery, including crayons,

neon paint, vintage papers and

a Tunnocks chocolate caramel

wafer for good measure. She

says: “Life has its ups and

downs. Losing my mum two

years ago made me realise

that drawing is my go-to. It

stretches the creative strings,

unblocks the flow. Guided

drawing takes away all the

thinking and allowing you to

just create. It’s then that the

magic happens.”

No. 4

The healing power of singing is well known. A

recent article in the New York Times reported

benefits ranging from the release of endorphins

to beating stress and increasing lung capacity. It

can also help with memory and concentration, as

it involves focusing on multiple things at once.

Luckily, having a ‘good’ voice isn’t a prerequisite

– the Big Noise Chorus (bignoisechorus.co.uk),

which is active from Exeter to Torquay, and the

Birch Tree Folk Choir (birchtreechoir.com) in Bath

and Bristol, are community-based groups that

encourage everyone to join in.



Ideas

No. 5

Breakfast stretches are a thing. “Waking up the vertebrae and

switching on your core releases endorphins and gets oxygen

into your muscles,” Bath-based Olympic skeleton racer and gold

medallist Amy Williams tells us. “If you’re pushed for time, just

stretch your hands up, then bring them down, placing your chin

to your chest and rolling down through the whole vertebrae along

your spine, with a soft bend in your knees. Then slowly come

back up again,” she says. “You can do it while boiling the kettle!”

No. 7

Grow

Tending to plants – whether on an allotment,

in your garden or a window box – can reap great

rewards. You’ll end up with a tasty crop or some

beautiful shrubs, and feel stronger, both physically

and mentally, for nurturing something. Plus, gardening

gets you outside, upping your vitamin D. Roots

Allotments in Bath (rootsallotments.com) has recently

opened in Bristol, and its no-waiting-list patches

are perfect for newbies. Down to Earth Stroud

(downtoearthstroud.co.uk) holds seed exchange

events at Stroud Farmers Market in early spring.

No. 6

Read

2023 is set to be a corker for book releases. The

people at Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath

suggest: Old Babes in the Wood, a collection of stories

by Margaret Atwood; Small Worlds, an exploration of

family relationships by Caleb Azumah Nelson, and The

Late Americans by Brandon Taylor, who is a masterful

chronicler of contemporary life. A good book, whether

a thriller, romantic novel or self-help manual, can be

a tonic. Read Around Bath (readaroundbath.org.uk)

runs Better with a Book sessions at Keynsham Library

for people suffering from bereavement, depression

or chronic pain. Meanwhile, Bristol Central Library

(bristol.gov.uk) holds a range of free events, from

lunchtime lectures to pop culture discussion groups.



Ideas

No. 8

SWITCH

Doom-scrolling, especially first thing

in the morning, can be overwhelming,

leaving us feeling gloomy and

depleted. How many hours have we

lost to Twitter and Instagram et al? A

recent study from the University of

Bath suggests that even a week-long

break is enough to reduce anxiety and

improve overall wellbeing. “We’re still

trying to understand whether taking a

longer break has longer-term benefits

for people,” says Jeffrey Lambert,

lecturer in health and exercise

psychology at the University of Bath,

who carried out the research.

OFF



Ideas

Bringing joy to our high streets,

these new openings have kinship and

creativity at their core. Make way for

the retail revolutionaries

Words

Vishaka Robinson

Mark Welland Harriet Whyatt Amy Magee

Tom White

Angela Melkis

Giles Ward

“I recently purchased a fabulous painting from Clifton Fine Art.

The service was impeccable. The communication throughout was first rate.”

STEVE S

“I’m so pleased we have found Clifton Fine Art. It has a great

selection of quality artwork for all tastes. We’re very pleased

with my purchases from them.”

TINA B

“We recently bought Our Walk by Cat Croxford from Clifton Fine Art and I have

to say, the whole experience was very good indeed.”

ROBIN T

Soul

stores

www.cliftonfineart.com 12 Perry Road BS1 5BG


Ideas

This page and previous page:

East of Home in Bath, where

you’ll find ethical lifestyle brands

and a host of workshops

For bookworms and

fashion lovers

TwoSixFour, Bristol

From keen bibliophile Cat Dickie and

fashion designer Carla Diogo, St George

newcomer TwoSixFour is the result of

the pals’ overlapping passions. They’ve

filled it with objects they covet, like

Carla Llanos prints, vintage glassware,

Our Lovely Goods candles and Florence

Ceramics. “We didn’t want it to look like

a traditional shop, and wanted everything

we sell to work in harmony,” explains Cat,

who has put together their bookshelves

to focus on under-represented authors.

She started up an in-store book club in

January and book swaps are in the pipeline.

Carla has cultivated her talents, selling

her handmade clothing in-store, where

samples, such as her scallop-necked Ronnie

blouse, are on show. “I only make what has

been ordered so there’s no waste, and no

excess buying or making,” explains Carla,

who also runs popular sewing classes.

@twosixfourbristol

For style seekers

East of Home, Bath

Stylist Felicity Lynch has devised this new

shop, perched at the top of Walcot Street, to

be more than just retail, giving prominence

to a long farm table to use for super clubs,

talks and events. “In our window I have

a quote that encapsulates our ethos: ‘In

community we teach each other.’ I want it to

be somewhere people can feel comfortable

and learn something new among friends.”

Workshops are all based around a slower

lifestyle (e.g. make do and mend with Little

Moth Mends and natural dyeing with Tuck It

In Quilts). And the place is laden with quality

ethical brands like Nadinoo, Jaggery London

and Runaway Bicycle, candles from Wiltshirebased

Sinceris, and dried flowers from Bristol

florist Lunaria.

eastofhome.com



Ideas

APPRENTICESHIPS

& CAREERS FAIR

THURSDAY

9 TH MARCH

10AM-3PM

in the Guildhall, Bath

Meet 80+ national

& local employers

offering jobs &

apprenticeships

REGISTER

TODAY

SCAN ME

bathcollege.ac.uk/apprenticeships

FIND THE RIGHT FIT

If you are a business and

would like to exhibit,

please get in touch

For meeting the makers

The Iron Gates, Frome

Set in a Grade II-listed 17th-century pile (which

was once a pet shop – you can see the old sign

framed in the entrance), the Iron Gates opened

last summer after a six-month renovation. Now,

Forest Symphony green paint by Valspar and

flagstone floors make for stylish digs for a family

of talented craftspeople. “I wanted to create

somewhere people can make and sell in the

same space, so you can see the process behind

the products and engage with it,” explains

co-founder Alfie Lay. Residents include textile

guru Laura Holden (known for her pear-shaped

cushions), upholsterer Electra Danielle and

jewellery maker Emma Aitchison. Workshops

are planned in everything from ring carving to

still-life drawing and plant medicine.

theirongates.com

For home renovations

Atelier Ellis, Bath

Paint maven Cassandra Ellis has

quietly overseen the transformation

of a townhouse in Bath’s Walcot

area. Set to open this spring, this

concept store will be spread over

the building’s four floors. Cassandra

is creating a set of colours to

celebrate Bath – and each room

will display these. Customers will

be able to shop the collection of

90 paints, all hand-mixed in a

manufactory a short cycle from the

store. “My husband and I love Bath,

and have been visiting for many

years,” says Cassandra. “The paint

is natural and breathable, so perfect

for listed buildings too.” The team

has an allotment nearby, so staff can

lunch together on seasonal produce.

And there are plans to host regular

exhibitions and events which

share stories of the home through

photography and hand-making.

atelierellis.co.uk


Ideas

AMERICA

IN CRISIS

ORGANISED BY SAATCHI GALLERY

ORGANISED BY SAATCHI GALLERY

A major American

photography exhibition

exploring social change in

the US through the lens of

a diverse group of artists

American Museum & Gardens

Bath BA2 7BD

americanmuseum.org

Matt Bigwood

For surprising

finds

Hidden, Bath

The brainchild of eventsplanner-turned-shopkeeper

Natty Whiting, Hidden is

tucked down a side street of

Georgian houses in the centre

of Bath. Inside it’s split in two:

a shop at the front, laden with

Natty’s cherry-picked finds

(scalloped straw pendants

from Hastshilp, Lola’s Leads

extension cords and Wild

Rising Skincare); then behind is

a high-ceilinged events space,

earmarked for an ever-changing

mix of experiences. “I want to

deliver thoughtful workshops

and experiences,” explains

Natty (who has devised

interactive events for the likes

of Sony Music). A pre-loved

homeware exchange, handpainting

your own candles, and

an Easter table display how-to

are all on the cards. This spring,

it’s set to become a chic toddler

hang-out with kit from Little

Squishy Soft Play Co.

@hiddenstorebath

For timeless crafts

Weven, Stroud

Weven is a hub of craft, community

and creativity. Its frontage is

adorned with medieval emblems

(painted by local artist Alex Merry)

and the whole place – part-shop,

part-workshop space – operates

as a not-for-profit. Founder Rhia

Davenport says: “I wanted to find

a way to support makers who

celebrate folklore alongside ancient

and traditional country crafts, folk

skills and techniques.” The idea

is that you can find out who made

your object and how, often with

the opportunity for you to learn

how to make it yourself at one of

Weven’s workshops. Expect a litany

of interesting events planned for the

coming year, from gansey knitting

and wallpaper-making to rug-tufting

and smocking.

weven.co.uk


Places

Walk

this way

Putting one foot in front of the

other is often the answer. Try these

energising hikes in the south-west

Words

Photography

Sarah Baxter

Felix Russell-Saw


Places

Marshfield +

St Catherine’s Valley

Where? South Gloucestershire

What? Hidden-feeling hiking on the

city’s edge

Distance: 8 miles

Time: 3.5-4.5 hours

St Catherine’s is a beautiful valley.

Especially in spring, when the

hawthorns are in brilliant white

bloom. The wildflowers can be

outrageous, sprinkling slopes that rise

and plummet in great green pleats.

Admittedly it can be muddy, so wait

for a dry spell or prepare to squelch –

it’s worth it either way.

The village of Marshfield, with its

grand Cotswold high street, two pubs,

tea room and shop, is a good starting

point for a fairly testing eight-mile

loop. From the church, head south

across the fields towards Ashwicke

Grange, then around Clift Wood – just

beyond are jaw-dropping views. Then

descend steeply to the valley bottom,

with St Catherine’s Court visible

opposite. This striking 16th-century

pile was originally a grange for Bath

Abbey; more latterly it’s been used as

a recording studio (Radiohead made

OK Computer here).

Follow the waymarked Limestone

Link along the brook, eventually

climbing, dipping and climbing again

to reach Cold Ashton’s Jacobean

manor. The Cotswold Way passes

here, but ignore it to traverse a hillside

and return to Marshfield instead.

Pit stop: Order a well-deserved real

ale at the charming 17th-century

Catherine Wheel in Marshfield

(thecatherinewheel.co.uk).

Stand-out views: The whole loop has

the wow factor, but linger on a bench

in front of Cold Ashton Manor and

admire the valley’s dramatic folds.

Info: Use OS Explorer Map 155.



Places

Bradford on Avon Walking Wheel

Where? Wiltshire and Somerset

What? Superb signed network for bespoke

walking adventures

Distance: 46 miles

Time: 3-6 days

Bradford on Avon is an official Walkers are

Welcome hub – which is no surprise. This

handsome Wiltshire wool town is cradled

in cracking terrain, all plunging valleys and

rolling hills, speckled with golden limestone

houses and good country pubs.

Bradford on Avon’s star offering is its

wonderful Walking Wheel. This wellwaymarked

set of trails comprises a 6.5-

mile inner circuit, a 25-mile outer loop and

eight spokes linking the two, which can be

walked in multiple combinations – there’s

something for everyone. There’s so much

scenic variety too, from easy stretches along

the river and canal (look out for spring

ducklings) to yomps via lush fields and

woodland pungent with wild garlic. Also en

route lies 15th-century Great Chalfield Manor,

the impressive aqueducts of Avoncliff and

Dundas, and pretty villages such as Monkton

Combe and Holt.

Pit stops: For good food and stylish rooms

try Timbrell’s Yard (timbrellsyard.com). Also

make a beeline for the New Inn at Westwood

(thenewinnwestwood.co.uk), No.10 Tea Garden

(avonclifftea.com) for cake overlooking

Avoncliff Aqueduct, the fancier Longs Arms

(thelongsarms.com) in South Wraxall, and

Hartley Farm (hartley-farm.co.uk) for locally

grown goodies.

Stand-out views: There are sweeping

southward vistas from Monkton Farleigh,

and lovely valley views from the bench in

Monkton Combe churchyard (last resting

place of Great War veteran Harry Patch).

Info: Buy the Walking Wheel map

(walkbradfordonavon.org).



People Places

Chew Magna +

Stanton Drew

Where? Chew Valley, Somerset

What? Intimate encounters

with a forgotten stone circle

Distance: 8 miles

Time: 3-4 hours

The spring equinox will likely see

1,000-plus revellers descend on

Stonehenge. But 40 miles west lies

another stone circle – England’s

third-biggest complex of prehistoric

standing stones – that most people

have never heard of. Erected

4,500 years ago, the 26 remaining

megaliths of Stanton Drew’s Great

Circle loiter quietly in a farmer’s

field; you might meet a druid or two

on March 20, but usually there’s no

one else about.

See the site on a gentle loop

through the rolling Mendips, from

the village of Chew Magna. Pick

up the Three Peaks Walk and head

northeast over flowery fields to

the villages of Norton Hawkfield

and Norton Malreward, then on

to Pensford, passing beneath the

mighty arches of the abandoned

19th-century viaduct. From here,

return west, following the Two

Rivers Way along the wiggly River

Chew and through Stanton Drew.

Pit stops: The Druid’s Arms

(thedruidsarms.co.uk) sits next to

the stone circle, with a cluster of

three large stones called The Cove

in its beer garden. Find sustainable

seafood and Chew Valley Gin at the

Lazy Lobster (lazylobsterltd.com) in

Chew Magna.

Stand-out views: Gaze at Maes

Knoll Iron Age hill fort from Norton

Hawkfield. See the viaduct loom on

the approach to Pensford.

Info: It costs £1 to see the stones

(english-heritage.org.uk). Use OS

Explorer Map 155.



Places

UPCOMING SHOWS IN 2023

DRIVE YOUR PLOW MOG THE

YOU BURY ME

OVER THE BONES FORGETFUL CAT

OF THE DEAD

Now On Until 11 Feb 14 – 18 Feb | Half Term 24 Feb – 4 Mar

Olga Tokarczuk’s criticallyacclaimed

whodunnit is adapted

for the stage, presented by

international touring company

Complicité.

The Wardrobe Ensemble presents

an enchanting adaptation of the

Judith Kerr classic, with songs,

live music and a menagerie of

creatures little and large. Ages 3+.

Coming of age in the aftermath

of the Arab Spring, six young

Egyptians navigate friendship,

loss and secret Grindr dates in the

city that made them.

WALDO’S CIRCUS OF

MAGIC & TERROR

VENUS

PRIDE & PREJUDICE*

(*SORT OF)

11 Mar – 1 Apr 3 & 4 May 8 – 20 May

A dazzling and uplifting new

circus theatre musical about a

story of forbidden love which

balances on the tightwire.

Feb – May 23

Tickets from £8

A quadruple bill of new work

from IMPERMANENCE following

a decade of creating cutting-edge

dance for stage and screen.

bristololdvic.org.uk

A unique and audacious retelling

of Jane Austen’s most iconic love

story, direct from its triumph in

the West End.

0117 987 7877

Charity No. 228235

Dan Booth Round

Where? Bath

What? Terrific trig point tour

offering a full 360 of city highs

Distance: 26 miles (ish)

Time: One long day, or up to

10 day trips

Dan Booth was a local ultra

runner who died suddenly in

2011, aged just 42. This brilliant

memorial challenge, linking

the ten Ordnance Survey

trigonometry points around Bath,

was one of his training runs. You

don’t have to do it in one brutal

dash. Base yourself in Bath and

tick off the stone pillars at a more

sedate pace.

For instance, try a northerly

route, tracing a section of the

Cotswold Way via the trigs on

Penn Hill, panoramic Kelston

Roundhill and Hanging Hill (also

home to a Civil War monument).

From here, you could peel off,

walking via the Norman church at

Langridge and wildflower-strewn

Woolley Valley, to climb to the trig

on Little Solsbury Hill. Drop down

to the Avon and follow the canal

back into Bath.

Or continue clockwise. The other

six markers are at Bannerdown (a

steep haul), Bathampton Down

(lovely open strolling), Widcombe

(the actual marker is inaccessible),

Englishcombe Knoll (big views),

Southdown (more urban) and

Newton St Loe (near the

charming village).

Pit stops: The Yard

(theyardinbath.co.uk) is a smart

Bath base. The Packhorse

(packhorsebath.co.uk) in South

Stoke is a splendid communityowned

inn, and Newton Farm

(newtonfarmfoods.co.uk) has a

brilliant café and deli.

Stand-out views: So many!

But from the top of Little

Solsbury Hill you can see great

green valleys spidering off in all

directions. Listen for skylarks too.

Info: Buy OS Explorer Map 155;

see fastestknowntime.com.


IN...

lordarchitecture

b e s p o k e a r c h i t e c t u r e & i n t e r i o r s

lordarchitecture

bespoke architecture & interiors

Lord Architecture is an award-winning Bath based architectural practice with a passion for design,

contemporary architecture and the re-imagining of historic buildings. We offer a bespoke service working

across a range of scales, budgets and at all RIBA stages. Our services include design consultation, feasibility,

pre-application, planning and listed building applications, through to implementation and construction.

Places

No38 The Park

S48 HOUR

Cheltenham

Thanks to its prized food, shopping and art scene,

this grand spa town is a Cotswolds must-visit.

We plan the perfect weekend break

Words

Tola Fisher

lordarchitecture

7-9 NORTH PARADE BUILDINGS

BATH BA1 1NS

E e : info@lordarchitecture.co.uk

: info@lordarchitecture.co.uk

W w :

:

www.lordarchitecture.co.uk

:

@lord_architecture


S AT U R D AY

Places

Ritual Brew Bar is open Friday

to Sunday each week for

coffee, cake and brunch

Ritual Brew Bar

No38 The Park’s rooms are

beautifully designed and

several come with opulent

antique claw-foot tubs

F R I D AY

8pm

Sing for your supper

Head for drinks, nibbles and

karaoke at Filipino haunt Pyesta

(pyesta.uk) on Clarence Street. Its

name means fiesta – and that’s

exactly the atmosphere owners

Rose and Portia bring to this cute

restaurant. Get your song list ready

and sample traditional flavours from

the Philippines while you wait your

turn. Try the delicious ukoy crispy

vegetable fritters served with spiced

white vinegar, or the lechon kawali

– deep-fried pork belly – along with

lashings of local beer.

11pm

Hunker down

No38 The Park (no38thepark.com) is

a beautifully remodelled Georgian

townhouse in leafy Pittville, on

the outskirts of town. This dogfriendly

hotel has members’ club

vibes thanks to its tastefully deckedout

bedrooms and unique art.

Downstairs, there’s an open kitchen

and bright dining room leading out

onto a private courtyard. If all you

want is a bed for the night, check

out the newly opened Crescent

Place (crescentplace.co.uk) with

apartments in the centre of town.

9am

Coffee injection

The Scandinavian Coffee Pod

(thescandinaviancoffeepod.com)

is a sleek glass and yellow steel

container on Royal Well Place.

Sit outside with a flat white and

a tasty ginger and date friand,

baked by Cheltenham local Lara

Bryce-Morris. Or try The Artisan

Baker (theartisanbaker.co.uk) next

to the Town Hall, which does

excellent coffee, croissants and

perfect loaves for lunch. Ritual

Coffee Roasters (ritualcoffee.org)

on Lansdown Industrial Estate

is home to a community-focused

roaster and brew bar. Its new all-day

brunch menu is full of flavour – see

berry-soaked brioches, spicy steak

sandwiches and fried cornbread.



Places

0%

finance

now available

Terms apply.

Expert media and IP advice...

without the London lawyer costs

Bringing

www.battens.co.uk

We offer a complete service, from

design effortlessly through to

build completion.

Delivering your vision to the highest

standards of quality and finish.

Call: 01225 874 676

Email: info@saltfordkitchens.com

Showroom: 439 Bath Rd, Saltford, Bristol BS31 3AZ

saltfordkitchens.com

Scan to find out

more about us

“A highly responsive and knowledgeable lawyer with a wide

range of experience internationally, Brian Levine is usually

available and efficient in providing necessary guidance when

needed urgently.”

Legal 500

0800 652 8373 | enquiries@battens.co.uk

Offices in Castle Cary and Bath

to Bath

INTERIOR DESIGNER

OF THE YEAR

11am

Hit the shops

Cheltenham Literature

Festival has welcomed

the likes of Joan

Collins, Jamie Oliver

and Stephen King. For

full literary immersion,

pop into Hatchards

(hatchards.co.uk) on The

Promenade, an 18thcentury

bookseller with rare books and first

editions. Towards Montpellier, MIMMO

Studios (mimmostudios.com) is a womenswear

and homeware concept store. Ambitious

founders Lil Gardiner and Katie Brown are

on a mission to reinvent retail, and excellent

local brands – like Stroud-based Mussi

knitwear and LIHA Beauty – take precedent.

Brands like Carhartt, Ganni and Patagonia

find their home at lifestyle store The Union

Project (theunionproject.com) on nearby

Queens Circus.

1pm

Cotswold views

Have lunch with a view at the town’s new

rooftop bar and restaurant, The Nook

(thenookcheltenham.co.uk). Since opening

in November 2022, this fifth-floor eatery

has wowed diners with dishes like venison,

wild mushrooms and pickled blackberries,

and vista onto the impeccably kept

Imperial Gardens, nearby Cleeve Hill and

Leckhampton Hill. The seasonal menu is

centred around produce from the Cotswolds,

Herefordshire, Worcestershire and

Oxfordshire. Ask the sommelier to take you

through the wine list – one zingy highlight is

the Pulenta Estate Naranjo orange wine.

4pm

Feast the eyes

The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum

(cheltenhammuseum.org.uk) reopened in

2022, following huge renovations. It is now

home to resident artists and a changing

rota of exhibitions, including displays from

Clockwise from top:

Rooftop bar and restaurant

The Nook; lifestyle store The

Union Project; Lil Gardiner and

Katie Brown at their beautiful

womenswear and homeware

shop, MIMMO Studios

Grayson Perry and designer

Milligan Beaumont, who

has made clothes for Helena

Bonham Carter. The gallery

also contains fascinating

collections, including

watercolours made by Edward

Wilson, an explorer who

accompanied Captain Scott to

Antarctica, and 43 Dutch and

Belgian paintings given by the

Baron de Ferrières in 1898.

8pm

Dinner time

Awesome diner Smokey Joe’s

(smokeyjoescheltenham.co.uk) hosts live music,

comedy and jazz. A fourth-generation family

business, the burgers, fries and milkshake may

feel like a throwback to Grease, but there

are no sticky tables or cracked linoleum to be

seen. Food is made ‘fresh not fast’, and artists

from across the UK perform here. You’ll find

Japanese and Korean food with your own

table grill at Nagomi (nagomi.uk) and tasty

falafels at Habibah (habibahcafe.co.uk). Or head

to Muse Brasserie (musebrasserie.com), where

Mumbai street tapas meet confit duck, okra

and caviar; thanks to the pairing of Parisien

Chef Grillet and Indian Chef Pramod.


S U N D AY

Places

VISIT OUR TAPROOM

ON THE EDGE oF BATH

JOIN US FOR

CRAFT BEER

STREET FOOD

LIVE MUSIC

INTL. SPORTS

OPENING HOURS

THU 5-10

FRI 5-10

SAT 2-10

SUN 2-6

ELECTRIC BEAR BREWING CO.

UNIT 12, THE MALTINGS. BRASSMILL LANE, BATH BA1 3JL

DESIGN | SUSTAINABILITY | COMMUNITY

"RETAIL IS BROKEN, LET'S MEND IT"

@MIMMOSTUDIOS

MIMMOSTUDIOS.COM

6 & 7 MONTPELLIER WALK, CHELTENHAM

7am

Get your hike on

Grab your hiking boots, bike or dog and

head to nearby Leckhampton, a Cotswolds

Area of Outstanding Beauty. Here, you can

follow a three-mile circular trail starting

at Old Bath Road, which takes around an

hour and 40 minutes to complete. You’ll

amble alongside Lilley Brook golf course,

Leckhampton Hill and up towards Pilley

Bridge Nature Reserve. Expect livestock!

For a warming coffee and some wholesome

breakfast, stop off at The Sober Parrot

(recoveryhub.co.uk) on St James’ Square, a

not-for-profit café owned and operated by

The Nelson Trust, a charity that works with

people who are affected by addiction.

12pm

Vintage joy

The Suffolks Market takes place on the

last Sunday of every month and hosts

independent traders selling handmade

crafts, candles, one-off pieces of jewellery

and art. This area of town is full of

interesting vintage boutiques, including

Willow Hilson (willowhilson.com), which

famously dressed Kate Middleton. Round

the corner in Tivoli is the wonderfully

named Department of Joy, Hope & Wonder

(thedepartmentofhopejoywonder.com). Owner

Catherine Colebrook stocks an array of

uplifting trinkets, and there’s a secret coffee

shed in the pretty pebbled courtyard.

2pm

One for the road

DEYA Brewery (deyabrewing.com) has two

taprooms on Lansdown Industrial Estate.

The on-site taproom serves up 25 beers on

draft and in cans, and around the corner

is the mixed fermentation taproom, which

also offers natural cider and wine. Think

informal bench seating, food trucks varying

from Thai food to falafels, and a general

hipster vibe.

Above: Rainbow-coloured

candles at The Department of

Joy, Hope & Wonder in Tivoli

Left: DEYA Brewery, home to

a huge range of draft beers,

natural wines and cider


Directory

Showcasing independent

businesses in the south-west

WOULD YOU LIKE

TO BE INCLUDED IN THE

CIRCUS DIRECTORY? EMAIL


REVOLUTION,

PROPAGANDA,

ART:

Printmaking

in Modern China

12 October 2022 - 3 June 2023

In Partnership with The Muban Educational Trust

Photography: Felix Russell-Saw

SERVICES

Float Projects

A contemporary picture-framing studio in Bristol that combines

conservation methods with experimental design. They also offer

framing services that can be carried out at your home or gallery,

and consultation and management for large-scale projects.

floatprojects.co.uk


Promoted content

Hot Property and Cold Storage by Richard Walker

SHOPPING

BAM Store + Space

A non-profit, independent shop

in Easton selling art, cards, gifts,

books, vinyl, toys, games and

other treats designed to provide

a mood boost. Shop in-store or

online, and check out the creative

workshops with local makers

in this happy, colourful place.

bambristol.co.uk

ART

Sandra Higgins Art

A tailored art advisory service,

helping clients build art collections

in their homes and commercial

spaces, with work sourced from

a diverse range of established

artists. Artworks can be viewed

in person (by appointment), via

visits to artists’ studios and online.

sandrahiggins.art

WELLBEING

Yoga for Beginners with Eliana

Eliana offers accessible yoga

for beginners in and around

Bristol, with the intention of

growing confidence in a studio

environment. She breaks down

key yogic teachings in a playful

way to build the foundation of

a rounded yoga practice.

yogawitheliana.co.uk

FOOD + DRINK

Corkage

An award-winning restaurant, bar

and bottle shop in Bath, serving

seasonal dishes using local

produce. Wine comes from across

the globe and is served by the

bottle or glass. Open for dinner,

Monday to Saturday, and lunch on

Fridays and Saturdays.

corkagebath.com

INTERIORS

Bath Bespoke

Bath Bespoke designs, makes

and installs handmade interiors.

Offering a single point of contact

for clients with large-scale

projects. Services include dressing

rooms, libraries, kitchens, boot

rooms, hardwood flooring, and

interior and exterior joinery.

bathbespoke.co.uk

WORKSPACE

House of St John’s

The perfect place to work, connect

and grow. The elegant building at

1 Queen Square, Bath, offers coworking,

dedicated desks, offices,

meeting rooms and an events

space. Premium fittings and ultrafast

broadband are complemented

by a relaxing lounge and bar.

hosj.co.uk

FOOD + DRINK

Lo Rapitenc

This Frome deli and tapas bar sells

a range of Spanish specialities

in-store and online. Serving small

plates and daily specials, it’s the

perfect cosy venue for a special

Valentine’s lunch or dinner. Check

their website and socials for

seasonal food events.

lorapitencspanishfood.com

SERVICES

Obladee

A graphic design partnership

aiming to bring your projects to

life while positively impacting the

world we live in. With over 25 years

of collective experience, the team

at Obladee combine great ideas

and good values with a unique

purpose-led design process.

obladee.co.uk

SERVICES

McKenzie & Co Financial

Consultants

Financial adviser Jonathan Knee

DipPFS specialises in providing

high-quality, face-to-face financial

planning advice for individuals,

families and businesses. A

vouched for ‘Top Rated’ adviser

in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

linktr.ee/jonathanknee

SHOPPING

Julia Davey

An independent lifestyle shop in

Bath with a focus on locally made

gifts and homeware, including

Julia’s handmade lampshades and

upholstered furniture. Curation is

based on colour, form and natural

materials. Use the code CIRCUS

for 10% off online.

juliadavey.com

SERVICES

Noughts & Ones

The people at Bristol-based

agency Noughts & Ones are

champions of sustainable

commerce. The all-round lovely

bunch partner with planetconscious

ecommerce brands

to help them sell their products

the right way on Shopify.

noughtsandones.com

SHOPPING

Sprouts of Bristol

So much more than a plant

shop, Sprouts stocks botanically

themed gifts and homeware

from over 50 indie brands, artists,

designers and craftspeople.

Plus, there’s a diverse range of

plants and the best plant care

brands in UK.

sproutsofbristol.co.uk



Promoted content

FOOD + DRINK

Retribution Distilling Co

Whisky, rum and gin distillery

based in Frome. Retribution is

the first distillery to start whisky

production in Somerset, and uses

local ingredients to produce a

truly local spirit. The rums and

gins have won awards, both

regionally and internationally.

retributiondistilling.co.uk

SERVICES

Customer IQ

Are you the founder of a new

business, or are you planning

on leading a start-up? If so, then

validation of your business idea

with market research could

be a game-changer for you.

Get in touch with Gideon at

Customer IQ for free advice.

customer-iq.com

SERVICES

Manage My Website

A friendly Bath-based team of

experts who can build great

websites, train people to use

Squarespace, and advise on SEO

and online marketing. Get in

touch if you need a new website,

a refresh or would like to learn

to build your own.

managemywebsite.com

WELLBEING

Hybrid Health Physiotherapy

Bath-based Hybrid provides

physiotherapy and specialised

services for pain, injury or muscle

tension. Treatments include

exercise plans, sports massage,

dry cupping and running analysis.

Book online for 10% off with code

CIRCUS10 in February and March.

hybridhealthphysio.com

SHOPPING

The Bristol Artisan

A curated space for design and

craft, supporting independent

makers from Bristol and beyond.

Stock up on ceramics, jewellery,

clothing, cards, candles, prints,

vegan products and dried flowers.

Get 10% off online by using the

code CIRCUSTBA.

thebristolartisan.com

SERVICES

2A1M Studio

Adriana, Lauren and Josh form this

young architectural practice based

in Bath, Bristol and across the

south-west. They are passionate

about thoughtful design and

believe that understanding a

client’s brief is key to finding

imaginative architectural solutions.

2a1m.co.uk

WORKSPACE

Rengen House

A home-from-home community

to co-work, host meetings and

events, and relax with clients

or colleagues. With a high-end

finish and cool, laid-back vibe,

Rengen House offers a refreshing

change to the traditional

office environment.

rengenhouse.com

PROPERTY

The Curated Property Company

A bespoke high-tech property

management company in Bath and

London. Using cutting-edge data

analytics, international marketing

platforms, guest vetting and

dynamic pricing, the team brings

a more profitable perspective to

the world of short-term letting.

curated-property.com

SERVICES

Plural Studio

An architectural design studio

born in Berlin and based in

Bristol. Whether in the cultural,

commercial, educational or

residential sector, Plural offers

architectural, interior and furniture

design, delivering sustainable

material choices to fit your needs.

plural-studio.net

SERVICES

Second Mountain Comms

Ben Veal is an award-winning

comms consultant specialising

in copywriting, media relations

and marketing support. Based

at Holt’s Glove Factory Studios,

Ben is passionate about working

with charities, not-for-profits and

ambitious company founders.

secondmountaincomms.co.uk

SHOPPING

Luca & Fig

A home, gift and clothing shop in

Widcombe, Bath, just over the river

behind the station. Find a mix of

beautiful, unusual and affordable

gifts for everyone. Luca & Fig

sources everything from ethical

suppliers around the world, as

well as supporting local makers.

lucaandfig.com

SHOPPING

May Hofman Jewellery

Timeless, ethical jewellery infusing

intricate, bold and minimal design,

inspired by the mechanics of

nature. May Hofman crafts all

commissions using consciously

sourced metals, including recycled

and Fairmined gold that supports

small-scale miners.

mayhofman.com

60 Circus Journal Early spring 2023 circusjournal.com @circusjournal 61

9 . 3 0 A M - 6 P M

THE EDIT

The

Guide

Early spring events in the south-west

Words

Clemmie Millbank

IF YOU WOULD LIKE

TO PROMOTE YOUR EVENTS

ON THESE PAGES,

PLEASE EMAIL


Traditional Gentlemen's Barber

Claw cups collection designed by Clare Chandler

31 THE MALL BRISTOL BS8 4JG

0117 973 1342

CLIFTONROCKS.CO.UK

INFO@CLIFTONROCKS.CO.UK

T U E S DAY - FRIDAY

SATURDAY

9 . 0 0 A M - 3 P M

D

S U N DAY - MONDAY

C L O S E

S A N D W A L K - I N S

A P P O I N T M E N T

4 N G

W I D C O M B E B A 2

O O K S Y A P P

B E N I L N O K O O B

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

Photography Kym Grimshaw

Women in Wine at KASK Wine


The THE Guide EDIT

Wellbeing

Restore Day Retreat at

Campwell Woods

reBalance Festival

Eating for Resilience with

Sarah Bayliss

Cooking It, Bristol

February 5

Kick-start your metabolism with this

useful workshop and practical cookalong,

which includes essential tools

for becoming a well-balanced eater.

sarahbaylissnutrition.co.uk

reBalance Festival

Bath

February 7-25

Bringing together various venues,

hotels, therapists and practitioners,

Bath’s first ever wellbeing festival

promises a diverse programme of

events to rejuvenate and refocus.

welcometobath.co.uk

PS, I Love You – Writing,

Reflection and Meditation for

Self-Love on Valentine’s Day

Persephone Books, Bath

February 14

Led by local author Sarah Robinson,

this relaxed mini writing workshop

features enchanting tales and a

guided visualisation on love. Don’t

forget to bring a pen and paper to

jot down your own reflections.

persephonebooks.co.uk

Mindfulness for Stress and

Anxiety

Rengen House, Bath

February 16

Nicola MacDonald, founder of

Bath Mindfulness, is hosting this

free event which will introduce

you to the incredible power of

mindfulness as an antidote to

stress and anxiety. The session also

includes a seated body scan.

bathmindfulness.co.uk

All details correct at the time of going to press. Please check event websites and social media for updates.

Photography Felix Russell-Saw

Aromatherapy and Herbs

for Wellbeing

Prior Shop, Bristol

February 16

Follow your nose to this sweetsmelling

workshop. Learn about

the science of blending, and

make two of your own bespoke

products to take away with you.

priorshop.uk

Restore Day Retreat

Campwell Woods, near

Chippenham

February 18

Set in magical woodland, this

one-day retreat is a holistic

experience, with yoga, breathwork,

meditation, reviving cold water

dips, comforting saunas and

healing gong baths.

campwell.co.uk

Metabolic Health Retreat

Combe Grove, Bath

February 20-27 + March 27–April 2

Combining medical science with

a tailored wellbeing programme,

this brand new retreat takes place

in 70 acres of mature woodland

and meadow in Bath. It features

acupuncture, kinesiology, shiatsu,

counselling and more.

combegrove.com

Trika Yoga North Devon

Retreat by the Sea

Watermouth, Devon

March 2-6

Bristol’s North Street Trika Yoga

studio is on tour. This extended

weekend break will be filled with

good food, sea views, lovely

company and dynamic yoga.

trikayoga.co.uk

Spring Equinox Retreat

Somercecil, Badminton

March 17-19

Awaken from your winter

hibernation and embark on a

weekend of foraging, stretching,

meditating, feasting on plantbased

deliciousness and, finally,

taking part in Somercecil’s

memorable cacao ceremony.

somercecil.com

Bright Blue Yoga Mini

Relaxation Retreat

Upper Swainswick, near Bath

March 18

Can’t manage a whole weekend

away? Book yourself in for an

afternoon escape to a countryside

yurt, complete with woodburner,

gentle yoga stretches, guided

relaxation and hot herbal teas.

brightblueyoga.co.uk

Icebreakers

Women’s Wellness Summit

Stoke Bishop Village Hall, Bristol

March 25

Time to talk all things womanhood

and hear from some of the

south-west’s leading experts

on pregnancy, menopause and

mental health. Plus, you’ll pick up

an amazing goodie bag too.

stokebishopvillagehall.co.uk

Icebreakers

Warleigh Weir or Dundas

Aqueduct, Bath

Sunday and Wednesday mornings

Take the plunge with a group

of friendly fellas braving the icy

water each Sunday (at 8am)

and Wednesday (for a spicy

6.30am start!). Message the guys

on Instagram if you fancy an

invigorating start to your day.

@icebreakers.uk



The THE Guide EDIT

Let the power

of a full symphony

orchestra sweep

you away this

spring!

Standard tickets start from £15 incl. bf

Plus £10 tickets available for U26s

Bristol Beacon presents

London Symphony Orchestra

with Barbara Hannigan

7pm, Mon 13 March 2023

Bath Forum

Olivier Messiaen – L’Ascension

Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 4

bristolbeacon.org / 0117 203 4040

bathboxoffi ce.org.uk / 01225 463 362

Art

Wake the Tiger

Bristol

Throughout February + March

Have you been to the Meridia

Luxury Homes marketing suite

yet? No? Well, you’re in for a

treat. Step into Bristol’s own

amazement park, where

everything is something, and

nothing is what it seems.

wakethetiger.com

Photo Open Exhibition

RWA, Bristol

Until May 1

An open-call exhibition which

invites artists at any stage of

their career to submit their best

photographic works. Prepare to

be astounded by the quality,

talent and range on offer.

rwa.org.uk

Rodney Graham: Getting it

Together in the Country

Hauser & Wirth, Bruton

Until May 8

Into photography, painting,

sculpture, film, video and

music? Luckily, polymath Graham

brings all these art forms and more

to his latest exhibition.

hauserwirth.com

Bristol Light Festival

Across Bristol

February 3-12

This ten-day event will light up the

centre with commissioned works

from a variety of artists. Don’t miss

the bright halos in Broadmead

or the mesmerising holographic

Ophelia in St Mary Redcliffe Church.

bristollightfestival.org

The Printed Line

The Wilson Art Gallery and

Museum, Cheltenham

February 18 – May 14

Explore how artists use

printmaking, through works by

Matisse and Picasso, Bridget Riley

and David Hockney, and Rachel

Whiteread’s LOndOn 2012.

cheltenhammuseum.org.uk

Howardena Pindell: A New

Language

Spike Island, Bristol


Absorb Pindell’s six-decade career

with this exhibition, featuring early

abstract paintings and later political

works tackling slavery, violence

against black and indigenous

people, and the AIDS pandemic.

spikeisland.org.uk

Garry Fabian Miller: ADORE

Arnolfini, Bristol


In his third show at the Arnolfini,

Fabian Miller presents an

expansive look at his work and the

recurring themes and characters

that have inspired decades of

no-camera photography and

darkroom experiments.

arnolfini.org.uk

Bath Art Fair

Bath Pavilion

February 24-26

Discover over 80 of the UK’s best

artists at this mega weekend for art

lovers. From original paintings to

hand-finished prints, and unique

jewellery to figurative sculptures,

you can find it all under one roof.

bathartfair.co.uk

Thiébaut Chagué

Messums Wiltshire

March 4 – April 30

Witness the act of making

becoming part of the exhibition, as

Chagué creates an on-site woodfired

kiln, and fires a series of new

pieces to be displayed alongside

existing works.

messumswiltshire.com

Physiotherapy & Wellbeing

Specialising in arthritis pain relief & musculoskeletal conditions

Physiotherapy • MBST ® Therapy • Soft Tissue Therapy

At The Core, Unit 3, Beehive Yard, Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BT info@thecore.health | 01225 46 1205

Wildlife Photographer

of the Year

M Shed, Bristol

Until May 29

With entries from over 90

countries across the world, this

treat of an annual exhibition

showcases the beauty and

brutality of nature in 100

powerful images.

bristolmuseums.org.uk

The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum


The THE Guide EDIT

Women in Wine at KASK

In partnership with

CASTLE FARM

Bath

Bistronomie

February 4

This February, for one day only,

enjoy an indulgent, lazy bistrostyle

lunch in the barn. Guests

will be treated to an Italian feast

where homemade pasta is the

star of the show.

Food + drink

Wellness Cookery and Yoga –

Three-day Course

Natural Cookery School,

Nailsworth

February 17-19

A nurturing course stuffed with

restoring yoga sessions and cookery

classes. Rebalance your body and

mind, and master the skills of baking

and seed sprouting along the way.

naturalcookeryschool.com

Feast Night

Yard Space, Cirencester

February 21 + March 24

Need a little more banqueting in

your life (don’t we all)? Book in for

a feast at Old Gore Barn and wait for

a plethora of delicacies and delights

to come your way.

yardspace.co.uk

A Fermentation Deep Dive by

Get Pickled

Redford House, Frome

February 25

Give your gut some love by learning

how to make your own ferments,

including milk kefir and fermented

vegetables (which are a lot tastier

than they sound). Includes a

nutritious fermented lunch.

getpickledsomerset.com

Curing and Smoking Day

Empire Farm, Templecombe

February 26

Learn about hot and cold smoking

processes, salt curing and more.

Plus, you’ll produce plenty of

appetizing preserved treats to take

home with you.

empirefarm.co.uk

Photography Kym Grimshaw and Leah Morrison

Wassail Prune

The Newt, Bruton

March 3

Combine the ancient pagan

custom of chasing off evil winter

spirits and welcoming in good

spirits, and the practical tradition

of giving the apple trees a final

prune before spring arrives.

thenewtinsomerset.com

Women in Wine

KASK, Bristol

March 8

Celebrate International Women’s

Day – with wine! KASK will pop

the cork on bottles crafted by

some of the bar’s favourite female

winemakers, and offer a selection

of cheeses to pair with each.

kaskwine.co.uk

Spring Feast at fforest

Spring Feast

fforest, Cardigan

March 31 – April 2

Featuring plenty of smoked

stuff, cured stuff, stuff roasted

over fires, sharing plates piled

high with fish, meat and cheese

– and even some vegetables.

A bountiful celebration of the

greenest season.

coldatnight.co.uk

Bristol Cider & Cheese Festival

Cider Box, Bristol

April 1

Indulge in a day of cider and

cheese from the finest indie

suppliers, while participating in

talks and workshops, and jiving

along to live music.

theciderbox.com

That’s Amore

February 11, 18 + 25

Exploring the theme of

romance in Italian culture and

history, the Castle Farm supper

clubs for February will share a

love for Italian food.

Indian Road Trip

March 4, 11, 18, 25

Inspired by a road trip around

India, exploring Kerala, Delhi,

Agra and Jaipur, Chef Pravin

returns with the dishes he

experienced on his travels. A

journey through Indian food,

not to be missed.

castlefarmcafemidford@gmail.com

castlefarmmidford.co.uk

All supper clubs are

booked through

the website



The THE Guide EDIT

Beautiful Design, Wholly Considered

Architecture & Interior Design Studio

room-studio.co.uk

info@room-studio.co.uk

01225 311528

Workshops

Moonrise Face Oil Workshop

Weven, Stroud

February 5

Learn how to blend your own

skincare potion and welcome in the

Snow Moon with an afternoon of

plantlore, plus a gentle introduction

to the wonder of folk magic.

weven.co.uk

Sew Your Love Embroidery

Workshop

Hidden Store, Bath

February 9

Personalise a favourite shirt with

details, emblems or initials, guided

by fabric fanatic Clemency Calkin.

Bring a shirt or choose from a

selection in store. Hot drinks and

snacks provided.

@hiddenstorebath

Weave a Cushion Cover

Creative Space, Bristol

February 10 + 11

Weaver and textile designer Angie

Parker will thread up the loom with

your desired colours (there’s loads

to choose from) and guide you on

technique and weave structures, until

you have your own cushion cover.

creativespacebristol.co.uk

Robots Stay & Play

Children’s Scrapstore,

Bristol

February 17

Scissors and glue sticks at the

ready! The Scrapstore is inviting

children and their parents in to

design and build their very own

scraptastic robots.

childrensscrapstore.co.uk

My Wild City: Winter Bird

Survey Walk

Lawrence Weston Moor,

Bristol

February 19

Take a walk in the low winter sun

and be wowed by the local wildlife.

Your guide will explain where and

how to record what you see, and

help conservation action.

avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Papermaking & Sculptural Forms

Hole & Corner, Bruton

February 25

Follow artist Jane Ponsford as she

demonstrates how to make paper

sheets, then explore this medium

creatively by making a vessel or

sculptural organic paper form.

holeandcorner.com

Casting with Plaster

East Quay, Watchet

February 25

Sculptor Melanie Deegan goes

through the process of casting with

plaster to create simple tiles and

ornaments. Design a mould, cast a

plaster object and decorate it.

eastquaywatchet.co.uk

Embroidery Workshop at

Hidden Store

Paint by Wine Workshop – Lupins

Studio LX, Bath

March 10

Enjoy a leisurely afternoon painting

pretty lupins in this fun instructorled

boozy art workshop with all of

the kit supplied.

paintbywine.com


The THE Guide EDIT

Performance

Generously supported by:

The Quantum Horse

The Cube Cinema, Bristol

February 4

Take an adventurous canter

through time and space with this

21st-century re-imagining of the

classic panto. It’s behind you,

it’s in front of you... it’s all over

the place!

cubecinema.com

Lissie at Komedia

Until 8 May 2023

finance

now available.

Terms apply.

INSPIRATIONAL GLAZING

ASPIRATIONAL LIVING

Stuart and Bianca Roden

HS339 – HM_Alberta Whittle_Circus half_150mm W x 103.5 mm H_AW.indd 1 12/01/2023 10:58

Ready to make the most of your Vyoo?

To arrange a visit to our Saltford showroom call 01225 874 676 or email info@vyoowindows.com

vyoowindows.com

Sophie Duker: Hag

Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol

February 9

The Taskmaster favourite is back

on tour and taking us on a chaotic

journey into her thirties, complete

with travels across Ghana with her

badass fedora-clad grandmother.

thewardrobetheatre.com

The Shawshank Redemption

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

February 13-18

Based on the Stephen King novella

and following in the footsteps

of the acclaimed movie, this

stage show charts the life of

Andy Dufresne as he is handed a

double life sentence for the brutal

murders of his wife and her lover.

everymantheatre.org.uk

Slapstick Festival

Various Bristol

February 14-19

Get ready for belly laughs at this

multi-venue celebration of silent

and visual on-screen comedy.

This year, to celebrate patron Sir

Michael Palin’s 80th birthday, you’ll

be treated to his hand-picked

comedy film favourites, plus

introductions from him and his

Monty Python pals.

slapstick.org.uk

Lissie

Komedia, Bath

February 16

Taking her fifth, and most personal

album, Carving Canyons, on tour,

be dazzled by Lissie’s indelible

melodies and honest vocals.

komedia.co.uk

Spark

Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol

February 18

An antidote to all the sickly

sweet Valentine’s messages,

this show is a celebration and

exploration of unconventional

love in all its surprising and

wonderful forms.

tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Noughts and Crosses

Theatre Royal, Bath

February 28 – March 4

Malorie Blackman’s Romeo and

Juliet-inspired story of racial

and social divides comes to

the stage in this adaptation by

Sabrina Mahfouz. A captivating

tale of love and revolution.

theatreroyal.org.uk

Gordon Buchanan: 30 Years

in the Wild

Cheese & Grain, Frome

March 23

Having produced some of the most

popular wildlife programmes on the

BBC, Buchanan draws on stories

from 30 years of working both

behind and in front of the camera.

cheeseandgrain.com

Ritual Union

Dareshack, Bristol

March 23

Taking place across four Bristol

music venues, this one-day festival

features headliners such as Porridge

Radio and Bristol fave Rozi Plain,

plus plenty of undiscovered gems.

dareshack.com

Orbital

O2 Academy, Bristol

March 31

The electronic music duo are back

with their tenth album, Optical

Delusion. Partly written during

lockdown, there’s a darker edge

to the infectious beats.

academymusicgroup.com


Competition

Win a stay

Fancy a night at No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath with

dinner for two and a spa treatment? We thought so…

EOH

How to enter

For your chance to win,

head to Instagram

on February 14.

@circusjournal

A sustainable lifestyle store,led by the changing seasons.

EAST OF HOME


Competition time

The lovely people at No.15 by

GuestHouse, Bath are offering one

lucky Circus reader the chance to

win dinner, bed and breakfast for

two, plus a Time Together spa

treatment worth £230. The

indulgent 60-minute treatment

features a side-by-side massage and

tailored-to-you mini facial with

relaxing face, neck and shoulder

massage. The winner and their

guest will sleep in one of the hotel’s

elegant high-ceilinged Pulteney

rooms, which come with dreamy

super-king four-poster beds and

marble-topped washstands.

guesthousehotels.co.uk

7 LONDON STREET BATH

Follow our programme of forthcoming

seasonal workshops @eastofhomelondonst

www.eastofhome.com

THE CURATOR’S

APARTMENT

THE FAIRYTALE

WRITER

THE ASPIRING

COOK

MODERN HERITAGE

STAYS IN THE

HEART OF BATH

THECURATEDCOLLECTION.CO.UK

@THECURATEDCOLLECTIONUK

Circus Journal Vol 22

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