My Bristol favourites: Amy Mason

Amy Mason is a writer and performer. Her new solo show Mass deals with her relationship with faith and is currently in development with Bristol Old Vic Ferment, playing in the Old Vic studio from March 30 to April 2. Hear her talk about her award-winning debut novel The Other Ida at Novel Writers at Spike Island on February 26 and at the Bristol Women’s Literature Festival on March 15.

Here are Amy’s top-five Bristol favourites:

Crusties
“Bristol is full of different breeds of hippy: deli mums in Clifton, vegan punks in Easton and in Stokes Croft – where I lived for ages – there are still proper 90s crusties. White people with dreadlocks aren’t universally loved, but I grew to be quite fond of them. Being fashionable is just really cowardly isn’t it? I like people who dress how they want even if they look idiotic. I suppose what I’m saying is that Bristol is the best place in the world to be uncool. If you want to wear a bindi or get into steam punk, then move to Bristol. It’s extremely unlikely you’ll get beaten up.”

Buses
“The day after I moved to Bristol from London I was getting a bus from Bedminster into town. At the stop everyone was talking to each other and I thought they were all both related and mad. Then the bus driver called me ‘babber’ and an old man in front of me offered a crying woman  – who he didn’t seem to know – some valium from a pack in his pocket. That actually happened. Bristol is a kind and hilarious place, and buses are a great way to experience it first hand. I’ve developed a theory that the way a town queues for buses shows you the kind of town it is, and I’ve never met politer queuers than in Bristol.”

That crepe stall outside the Watershed
“Everyone’s all about Falafel King – which is brilliant – but for committed fatsos/the truly hungover, nothing beats an enormous crepe filled with cheese. That crepe stall doesn’t get the attention it deserves. I don’t even know its name!” [Editor’s note: it’s called Quick Crepes]

The Star & Garter
“The Star & Garter in St Paul’s kind-of defies description. It is the most Bristol of all Bristol places – like the city’s power source. It’s brilliant for lots of reasons. The fact that is so diverse, it’s so friendly, and the fact it seems like it never shuts. I can’t even mind that they charge you to use to loo during St Paul’s Carnival. If you haven’t been there, please just go. Tonight if at all possible.”

Drinking outside
“In lots of cities drinking outside is a sort of illicit pleasure. Not in Bristol. When it’s sunny everyone sits drinking cans on the waterfront or in Queen Square or whatever. Everyone’s so nice and happy even crusties can chuck their poi around the park with only a few grumpy glances here and there. I’ve basically sorted a full day for you haven’t I? Bus into town, drinking cans of cider outside Arnolfini while staring at some crusties, massive crepe then Star & Garter. The best day of all time!”