‘Eating is a nice thing to do naked’

Will Bryson says he has always had positive reactions when people learn that his hobby is to take off his clothes in public, whether that be organising the annual World Naked Bike Ride in Bristol or the city’s first ever naked dining event – which sold out in less than three days earlier this month.

Sat fully clothed in the University of Bristol students’ union building where he works on the student advice team, the 40-year-old from Eastville admits he was surprised when tickets for the event at Flour & Ash sold out so quickly.

Due to the unexpected high demand for eating in the buff, Will is already organising the second Dine Naked evening which will be taking place in The Greenbank pub in March followed by a third event in April.

“Naked dining is about body positivity, people feeling comfortable about themselves,” says Will, who does not describe himself as a naturist (“That term is definitely related to older people playing petanque”).

“A lot of things you can do naked work better in the summer, but eating in a restaurant with the heating on and hot food, it’s a nice thing to do naked.”

Bristol’s first ever naked dining evening will take place in Flour & Ash

Will wanted Dine Naked to take place in a normal restaurant at a normal time; the only difference in February when 35 naked people eat in Flour & Ash on Cheltenham Road will be that the curtains are drawn tightly shut.

Flour & Ash owner Steve Gale said: “Bristol is such a fabulously diverse place and it is events like the naked bike ride that make it one of the most fun and exciting cities in the UK.

“Flour & Ash has always been a little ‘off the wall and a big supporter of the Bristol indie scene. When Will approached us to host the first Dine Naked event in Bristol to promote positive body image, we were more than happy to help.”

Will had never stripped off in public before taking part in his first Naked Bike Ride and expects that people taking part in an event like Dine Naked for the first time will have the same sort of emotions, with a sense of fear soon disappearing.

2017’s World Naked Bike Ride in Bristol

“I was scared,” Will remembers. “I had never been naked in public before and a I was worried whether a colleague would see me. But often people say that within about 30 seconds of taking part their whole view of it has switched.

“It’s a safe, friendly event, with young and old and all of sorts of different body shapes taking part. Nobody cares because they are surrounded by other naked people.

“It gives people a boost in their body confidence and self-image. A lot of people describe it as a sense of elation.”

Will grew up in Lancashire near Carnforth, studying computer science at Edinburgh University and working in IT in the Scottish capital before volunteering for a year in Tanzania with VSO and then completing a masters in international development at the University of Bristol.

He moved briefly to Wales to work for the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth before returning to Bristol where he is currently an information and advice coordinator at the students’ union, and will soon become a wellbeing adviser employed by the university.

“The students’ union and the university are fairly liberal entities,” Will says with a smile. “People recognise that there is a purpose to an event like the World Naked Bike Ride, which is about cyclists’ rights. In the same way, the naked dining is about body positivity, people feeling comfortable about themselves.”

Follow Dine Naked on Twitter, @dinenaked, for details of upcoming events