The Rogue Guide to Bristol
Posted on: 29 Mar 2017A collection of our favourite places at which to eat, drink, gaze, relax and dance in the city, assembled in reply to The Vogue Guide to Bristol which was released this week.
In response to a guide to Bristol published by a certain fashion magazine this week, composed after the city was named the best place to live in the country, we compiled our own alternative highlights of our home.
Without further ado, 365Bristol proudly presents, The Rogue Guide to Bristol.
The Brunch Spot: Spoke & Stringer
Nestled down on the harbourside with a splendid view out over the SS Great Britain is Spoke and Stringer, a multifaceted establishment which combines a ride-culture, skate and surf shop with a tip-top café. It is the latter aspect that has really piqued our interest and appetites of late, with their brunch offerings quickly growing in renown on account of their quality.
The Art: Luke Jerram
Though the name Banksy is inseparably synonymous with Bristol thanks to his previous sterling work for the region, other artists are beginning to step out from under his distinguished shadow. One such artist is local lad Luke Jerram, whose recent projects include staging a waterslide on Park Street, hanging a Moon inside the Wills Memorial Building and placing public pianos throughout the city (which he is repeating this summer). As well as looking extraordinarily beautiful, his work perfectly captures the sense of fun perpetuated by his hometown.
The Market: Harbourside
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Every Saturday and Sunday, protected from the Brizzle drizzle by the sheds overhead, a horde of independent vendors set up shop to peddle their wares, with products ranging from hand-crafted jewellery to marvellous foodstuffs.
The Bar: Flipside Cocktail Club
Halfway up Whiteladies Road you’ll find Flipside, your one-stop-shop for drinks that are amongst the best cocktails in the city. Whilst offering these as standard, the bar is also the regular host of the hottest industry events in Bristol, which are always designed with a twist in order to infuse the alcoholic education on offer with a dash of fun. Flippin’ marvellous.
The Architecture: Colourful Houses
The quirkiness for which Bristol is so widely famed finds architectural manifestation in the rows of coloured houses that pigment its skyline. No Bristolian vista (or, Brista?) feels complete without a Balamory-esque terrace, of which those in Hotwells (pictured, above) are the most iconic.
The Community Space: The Island
A cornerstone of Bristol’s creative hub is The Island; a complex of studios, arts facilities and event spaces that is versatile enough to host both life-drawing classes and sets of nosebleed techno. The upstairs of the Broadmead building established originally as a police station is now home to over 100 resident artists, while, beneath the tarmac, the refurbished jail cells frequently reverberate with the high frequencies of the city’s thriving underground music scene.
The Spa: The Harbour Spa
Hidden beneath the hubbub of central Bristol is The Harbour Spa, an underground oasis and urban relaxation centre offering peaceful restoration to its clients through the various treatments and facilities on offer. Set within the former vaults of a 16th Century building on Corn Street, the subterranean network incorporates a mood-lit pool, an accompanying hydro-therapy pool, a sauna, a steam room, seven treatment rooms and a fully-equipped gym.
The Pub: The Gloucester Old Spot
Boasting a stunning beer garden and some top-quality nosh, The Gloucester Old Spot wins our pick for Bristol’s best boozer, fending off a great deal of competition in the process. Independent and family-run, both of these qualities pervade every aspect of the pub’s persona. Find it on Kellaway Avenue up in Horfield.
The Club: The Love Inn
In Bristol, love, actually, is all around; and the key proponents of this are Team Love, the folk behind festivals Love Saves The Day and Love International, who need a place to unwind after a day of diligent party-planning. Their headquarters is The Love Inn, a bar which transforms into a nightclub of choice come nightfall and has seen sets from disk jockeys of serious renown during its brief history. Representing a middle-ground between sweaty, underground joints and big-name boasting nightclubs that the city has become famous for, The Love Inn is just about the best club in Bristol.
The Independents: The Arcade
In a city which contains the longest consecutive street of independent shops in Europe, the desire to challenge the mainstream outlets runs deep. A fine example of this sentiment is The Arcade in Broadmead, which conveniently collates a collection of the finest unattached establishments under one roof.
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Article by:
An ardent Geordie minus the accent, Sam seemingly strove to get as far away from the Toon as possible, as soon as university beckoned. Three undergraduate years at UoB were more than ample time for Bristol (as it inevitably does) to get under his skin, and so here he remains: reporting, as Assistant Editor, on the cultural happenings which so infatuated him with the city. Catch him at sam@365bristol.com.
