
Art / Documentary Photography
Niall McDiarmid: Town to Town
Arresting portraits of our nation’s town and city life
: Wednesday, Jan 31 2018 - Saturday, May 12 2018
Theatre
Preview: Blood and Butchery in Bedminster
Show of Strength lead us around Bedminster's dark past (and several pubs)
Spring is just around the corner in this month for lovers, but if you’re single or just avoiding all things Valentine’s like the plague, there’s plenty else for you to fall head-over-heels for.
It’s a bumper month for theatre, with several notable productions coming our way. On the biggest end of the scale is Wicked, arriving by juggernaut to the Hippodrome for their latest UK tour, while in the intimate confines of the Wardrobe Theatre comes one-man-show Labels. Shunning an auditorium altogether, Blood and Butchery in Bedminster is the lovechild of promenade theatre and a walking tour, taking in sights, smells and stories south of the river.
If it’s food that truly has your heart, don’t miss Tsukemono cooking up modern Japanese food that goes far beyond ramen at the Robin Hood on St Michael’s hill. There are celebrations for Chinese New Year at Yi Zeng’s one-off supper club, where she’ll cook the dishes that taste of her home. And, if January has been a long dry month, make sure to join East London Liquor Company for the latest round of Gin Club.
Finally, if you are someone who celebrates V-Day in style, or just fancies a novel new date night (you can take yourself on a date, don’t forget), check out the Valentine’s Supper Club at West Street Kitchen, new exhibition 24H Our City at Hamilton House, showcasing photographs taken in a 24-hour period on Stokes Croft, and storytelling night Let Me Tell You A Story, Jack. Although the theme for that one is ‘bad romance’, so it may not be quite right for a first date.
Art / Documentary Photography
Arresting portraits of our nation’s town and city life
: Wednesday, Jan 31 2018 - Saturday, May 12 2018
Art / Bristol
Cityscapes by local artist Susie Ramsay
: Tuesday, Jan 30 2018 - Sunday, Feb 11 2018
Art / Painting
Bristol-born artist explores origin and identity
: Tuesday, Jan 23 2018 - Friday, Mar 2 2018
Art / Documentary Photography
Photographic portraits of Stokes Croft's uniquely diverse community
: Thursday, Feb 1 2018 - Wednesday, Feb 7 2018
Art / Drawing activities
Fun drawing activities for all ages
: Saturday, Jan 6 2018 - Saturday, Mar 3 2018
Art / Drawing activities
Drawing activities for all ages
: Saturday, Jan 13 2018 - Saturday, Mar 10 2018
Art / Photography
UWE group photography exhibition
: Friday, Feb 9 2018 - Wednesday, Feb 14 2018
Art / Bristol cityscapes
Distinctive Bristol cityscapes
: Saturday, Feb 17 2018 - Saturday, Mar 3 2018
Art / Conceptual Art
Exploring the relationship between history, memory, language and objects
: Saturday, Feb 17 2018 - Sunday, Apr 15 2018
Art / Printmaking
Experimental show from Bristol's Terra Cotta Prints
: Thursday, Feb 22 2018 - Wednesday, Feb 28 2018
Art / Contemporary Abstraction
RWA President's paintings mix naturalism and artifice
: Friday, Feb 23 2018 - Saturday, Mar 17 2018
Books & Spoken Word / Non-Fiction
Comedian, writer and performer discusses her new book
Watershed: Thursday, Feb 1 2018 12:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Quiz
The ultimate test for HP officiandos
Bristol Central Library: Thursday, Feb 1 2018 7:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Spoken Word
spoken word Valentine's special
The Wardrobe Theatre: Monday, Feb 5 2018 8pm
Books & Spoken Word / Poetry
Poetry and spoken word
The Greenbank: Wednesday, Feb 14 2018 8:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Fiction
Bestselling writers discuss their latest novels
Waterstones Bristol Galleries: Thursday, Feb 15 2018 7pm
Books & Spoken Word / Spoken Word
Valentine's Day special open mic
The Crofters Rights: Thursday, Feb 15 2018 6:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Journalism
Books on journalism
Redland Library: Tuesday, Feb 20 2018 7pm
Books & Spoken Word / Science Fiction
New novel from award winning Bristol writer
Forbidden Planet: Thursday, Feb 22 2018 6pm
Books & Spoken Word / Fiction
Acclaimed debut novel
Spike Island: Thursday, Feb 22 2018 6:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Politics
Combating stereotypes through arts and comedy
Waterstones Bristol Galleries: Monday, Feb 26 2018 7pm
Books & Spoken Word / Poetry
New show from award winning performance poet Jemima Foxtrot
The Room Above: Tuesday, Feb 27 2018 7pm
Books & Spoken Word / Poetry
Top spoken word and poetry
Watershed: Wednesday, Feb 28 2018 7:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Creative Writing
Celebrated writer discusses autobiographical writing
The Square Club: Wednesday, Feb 28 2018 7:30pm
Music / Drum and Bass
Bristol's DNB powerhouse returns to Motion for their first show of 2018.
Motion: Friday, Feb 2 2018 10pm
Music / Dub
Lakota will be turned into a carnival paradise
Lakota: Friday, Feb 2 2018 10pm
Music / House
Celebrating their 12th birthday with a mammoth lineup
Motion: Saturday, Feb 3 2018 10pm
Music / Electronic
Hot ticket electronic producer from Holland
Marble Factory: Wednesday, Feb 7 2018 7:30pm
Music / Electronic
Electronic music pioneer
The Lantern: Saturday, Feb 10 2018 8pm
Music / Drum and Bass
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the legendary album
Motion: Thursday, Feb 22 2018 7:30pm
Music / Electronica
Electronica’s Wizard of Oz
The Lantern: Friday, Feb 23 2018 8pm
Music / Soul
An uplifting journey filled with funk, soul, disco and motown classics
Thekla: Friday, Feb 23 2018 10pm
Music / Techno
Heavyweights of techno, dubstep and dub
The Black Swan: Friday, Feb 23 2018 11pm
Comedy / Sketch comedy
Splendid double-bill of dark-hued sketch comedy
The Lazy Dog: Thursday, Feb 1 2018 8pm
Comedy / Observational comedy
Excellent, weekly mix of big names and handpicked local talent
Multiple venues: Friday, Sep 1 2017 - Friday, Mar 23 2018
Comedy / Stand-Up
Animated, acerbic, articulate... a fine comic
The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Saturday, Feb 3 2018 8:45pm
Comedy / Character comedy
Idiosyncratic and much-praised comic and writer
The Wardrobe Theatre: Sunday, Feb 4 2018 8pm
Comedy / Observational comedy
Weekly stand-up/open mic: newbies and old pros look in
: Monday, Oct 2 2017 - Monday, Mar 19 2018
Comedy / Stand-Up
Confident, captivating and fast-rising performer
The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Saturday, Feb 10 2018 8:45pm
Comedy / Emma Hamilton
Comic introduces us to the unsung Emma Hamilton, aka Nelson's mistress
Bristol Old Vic: Sunday, Feb 11 2018 8pm
Comedy / Social Commentary
Mark Thomas and friends on bringing comedy to Palestine
Comedy / Observational comedy
Nicely surreal and off-the-wall stand-up
: Saturday, Sep 30 2017 7:45pm & Saturday, Feb 17 2018 7:45pm
Comedy / Comedy and Food
Stand-up and live cooking
The Wardrobe Theatre: Sunday, Feb 18 2018 7:30pm
Comedy / Stand-Up
More madcap punning and brilliantly surreal one-liners
: Monday, Feb 19 2018 - Wednesday, Feb 21 2018
Comedy / Political comedy
Incisive political comedy
The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Friday, Feb 23 2018 7:45pm
Comedy / Improvised comedy
Inimitably dark sketch duo headline Cafe Kino night
Cafe Kino: Saturday, Feb 24 2018 7pm
Comedy / Open Mic
Busy open-mic sessions at the Crofters Rights
: Sunday, Sep 24 2017 - Sunday, May 20 2018
Film / Animation
Nick's Park's great prehistoric romp, back on screen to complement the M Shed exhibition
Film / Drama
Silent anti-war classic with live musical accompaniment
Film / Documentary
The return of Loraine Blumenthal's crowd-funded documentary about Bristol mayor Marvin Rees
Film / Art House
Touring programme opens with bittersweet comedy about a lonely office worker
Film / Drama
Dirk Diggler struts his stuff, followed by an actual disco
Film / Ballet
John Neumeier's Dumas-inspired ballet with Chopin score
Film / Art House
An unlikely acting troupe provokes outrage with its Passion Play
Film / Event Cinema
Puccini's melodramatic opera of passion, jealousy, terror, torture and ropy plot contrivance
Film / Comedy
Peter Bogdanovich's enjoyable homage to classic screwball comedies
Film / Thriller
Rare screening of this legendary graphic silent vengeance thriller from 1919
Film / Event Cinema
Bartlett's Sher's production of Donizetti's ever-popular comic opera
Film / Documentary
Veteran film-maker Frederick Wiseman's latest award-winning documentary
Film / Comedy
The most stylish and romantic prostitution movie ever made
Film / Action
The UK premiere of Spain's first (and only) martial arts movie
Film / Comedy
Valentine's screening of classic Cary Grant romcom at the Cathedral
Film / Comedy
Bill Murray does it again. And again. D'ya see what they did there?
Film / Horror
Annual batch of terrifying short films by women from around the world
Film / Event Cinema
Sienna Miller and Jack O'Connell star in the steamy Tennessee Williams classic
Film / Event Cinema
Return of Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Puccini's romantic opera
Film / Fantasy
Aardman's co-founder introduces the latest restoration of the 1925 stop-motion classic
Film / Ballet
Christopher Wheeldon's acclaimed adaptation of the Bard's romantic classic returns to the ROH
Film / Drama
Ron Howard's Formula 1 drama, screened in the Porsche showroom
Film / Comedy
Welcome return of the remastered British comedy classic with endlessly quotable dialogue
Food & Drink / Box-E
The Box-E team cook at Harvey Nics for one night only
Harvey Nichols Second Floor Bar & Restaurant: Thursday, Feb 1 2018 7pm
Food & Drink / Bedminster
Wriggle are organising a weekend-long food trail
: Friday, Feb 2 2018 - Sunday, Feb 4 2018
Food & Drink / Pop-Up
Featuring a tap takeover from Moor Beer
The Robin Hood: Friday, Feb 2 2018 6pm
Food & Drink / Beer
Get a peek behind the scenes and enjoy some exclusive brewery-only beers
: Saturday, Jan 13 2018 - Saturday, Mar 31 2018
Food & Drink / Beer
Tour the Stokes Croft brewery and then taste their beer
: Saturday, Jan 20 2018 2pm & Saturday, Feb 3 2018 2pm
Food & Drink / gin
The monthly special event at Psychopomp
Psychopomp Microdistillery: Saturday, Feb 3 2018 6pm
Food & Drink / Burns Night
In support of refugee charity Aid Box Community
Westbury-on-Trym Village Hall: Saturday, Feb 3 2018 6:30pm
Food & Drink / Pop-Up
A Turkish beach-side restaurant is coming to Bristol
: Saturday, Feb 3 2018 7pm & Saturday, Feb 17 2018 7pm
Food & Drink / 91 Ways
The latest 91 Ways Peace Cafe event
The Station: Thursday, Feb 8 2018 7pm
Food & Drink / Festival
Featuring more than 100 stalls at the Passenger Shed
: Saturday, Feb 10 2018 10:30am
Food & Drink / Supper Club
The first supper club of 2018 at West Street Kitchen
West Street Kitchen: Wednesday, Feb 14 2018 7pm
Food & Drink / Foozie
Prepare mini mains and dainty desserts
: Wednesday, Feb 14 2018 - Thursday, Mar 22 2018
Food & Drink / Beer
Two of the oldest and most intriguing styles of beer in the world
Bristol Brewery School: Thursday, Feb 15 2018 6:30pm
Food & Drink / gin
With Dry January safely out of the way, it’s time to get back on the wagon
The Milk Thistle: Thursday, Feb 22 2018 7pm
Food & Drink / Seafood
The Pony & Trap's first fish and shellfish tasting menu of 2018
The Pony & Trap: Thursday, Feb 22 2018 7pm
Food & Drink / Ravioli
The much-anticipated new restaurant is opening soon
Pasta Loco: Sunday, Feb 25 2018 1pm
Food & Drink / Supper Club
Roast dinner served family style with all the trimmings, pudding & coffee or tea.
Secret Location: Sunday, Feb 25 2018 2:30pm
Food & Drink / Burgers
The Wapping Wharf neighbours join forces
Bristol Cider Shop: Saturday, Feb 17 2018 7:30pm
Music / Acoustic
Bristol solo artist channeling Elliott Smith
Cafe Kino: Friday, Feb 2 2018 7pm
Music / Alternative
Fast rising Bristol artist
The Louisiana: Saturday, Feb 3 2018 7pm
Music / Punk
Sub Pop punk band
Thekla: Saturday, Feb 3 2018 7pm
Music / Noise
Launching their new album at Rough Trade
Rough Trade: Saturday, Feb 10 2018 6:30pm
Music / Reggae
A vibrant brand of lovers rock littered with tropical vibes.
Thekla: Tuesday, Feb 13 2018 7:30pm
Music / Metal
A catastrophic co-headline show for the first day of a European tour.
Thekla: Thursday, Feb 15 2018 7pm
Music / Alternative
Polarising opinion and disrupting the norm
The Station: Saturday, Feb 17 2018 7pm
Music / Country
Two great Bristol linked artists
St George’s: Saturday, Feb 24 2018 9pm
Music / Acoustic
Vivid storytelling and raw vocals
Colston Hall: Saturday, Feb 24 2018 7pm
Music / Classical
Experimental composer and pianist
Colston Hall: Sunday, Feb 25 2018 7:30pm
Theatre / Social Commentary
Comedy, storytelling, spoken word: a human story from multicultural Brit
: Tuesday, Jan 30 2018 - Saturday, Feb 3 2018
Theatre / EM Forster
Multi-award-winning simple8 stage Forster's Raj masterpiece
: Tuesday, Jan 30 2018 - Saturday, Feb 3 2018
Theatre / Musical
Return for the hugely popular 'Wizard of Oz'-inspired musical
: Wednesday, Jan 31 2018 - Saturday, Mar 3 2018
Theatre / Immersive theatre
A new immersive show for libraries
: Monday, Feb 5 2018 - Thursday, Feb 8 2018
Theatre / New Writing
Frantic Assembly's lauded study of family dynamics
: Tuesday, Feb 6 2018 - Saturday, Feb 10 2018
Theatre / New Writing
Smoke & Oakum expose the inner workings of the boxing industry
: Wednesday, Feb 7 2018 - Friday, Feb 9 2018
Theatre / Children's Theatre
The brilliant Pickled Image conjure a lifetime's adventures
: Saturday, Feb 10 2018 - Saturday, Feb 17 2018
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Meet this crafty bird with a talon for comedy
: Sunday, Feb 11 2018 11am & Sunday, Feb 11 2018 2pm
Theatre / Performance poetry
Vanessa Kisuule explores this enigmatic concept
: Tuesday, Feb 13 2018 - Saturday, Feb 17 2018
Theatre / Axel Scheffler
Staging four of the hugely popular Donaldson/Scheffler books
: Thursday, Feb 15 2018 - Sunday, Feb 18 2018
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Brave Bold Drama spin a richly imaginative tale for ages 4+
: Thursday, Dec 28 2017 - Friday, Dec 29 2017
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Brave Bold Drama spin a richly imaginative tale for ages 4+
Creative Workspace, Withywood: Friday, Feb 16 2018 2pm
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Brave Bold Drama spin a richly imaginative tale for ages 4+
The Space Keynsham: Saturday, Dec 30 2017 2pm
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Brave Bold Drama spin a richly imaginative tale for ages 4+
: Saturday, Jan 13 2018 2:30pm & Sunday, Jan 14 2018 2:30pm
Theatre / New Writing
New play examines depression, ambition, definitions of 'success'
: Tuesday, Feb 20 2018 8pm & Wednesday, Feb 21 2018 8pm
Theatre / Anthony Neilson
Bristol Uni students tackle Anthony Neilson's colourful evocation of the Victorian freak show
: Tuesday, Feb 20 2018 - Saturday, Feb 24 2018
Theatre / Shakespeare
Fresh take on the Scottish Tragedy
: Wednesday, Nov 15 2017 - Saturday, Nov 18 2017
Theatre / Factory Company
Kicking off debut season from the theatre's own Factory Company
: Thursday, Feb 22 2018 - Saturday, Apr 7 2018
Theatre / Comedy
Touching, humorous and joyous show about asking for help
: Thursday, Feb 22 2018 - Saturday, Feb 24 2018
Theatre / Children's Theatre
High-octane interactive storytelling for ages 3-8
: Sunday, Jan 28 2018 2pm & Sunday, Feb 25 2018 12am
Theatre / Comedy
Dark comedy explores our relationship with death and dying
Arnos Vale Cemetery: Sunday, Feb 25 2018 7:30pm
Theatre / Social Commentary
Kieran Hurley evokes a city on the brink of destruction
: Tuesday, Feb 27 2018 8pm & Wednesday, Feb 28 2018 8pm