My Bristol Favourites: Sarah Robertson

Sarah Robertson is communications and special projects director at the Colston Hall, which on Sunday is hosting a day-long immersive installation, Sensory Symphony, to celebrate its history and its future as the main auditorium and The Lantern prepare to close until 2020 for a major restoration.

Here are Sarah’s top-five Bristol favourites:

Fabulous food and drink scene

“You could copy and paste this into everyone’s Bristol favourites list, but we are truly lucky to have such a thriving and high quality independent food scene in this city. Here I’ll name check the consistently awesome Root, serving the best cods roe in Bristol; Pasta Loco for relaxed but attentive service and stupendous food; Box-E for their perfect seasonal cooking; and my pre-show go-to Bar Buvette for beautiful wine and the best cheese toastie in town. I’m trying Pasta Ripiena for the first time this month and I’m also dropping hints to my husband about going to Paco Tapas. If you’re reading this, John: get it booked!”

Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory

“Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory are a true Bristol success story – they are one of the country’s most admired interpreters of Shakespeare and tour their work nationally and internationally. They concentrate on the language, so no elaborate sets here, just actors (many from Bristol) and directors at the top of their game responding intelligently and with passion to the Shakespearean texts. What’s more remarkable is they don’t receive any public funding so every time you buy a ticket to see one of their shows you are helping them to continue their incredible work. I’m a trustee so I’m biased, but we should be so proud of this tight-knit homegrown powerhouse of a company, whose Henry V directed by Elizabeth Freestone comes to the Tobacco Factory in September.”

Arnos Vale Cemetery

https://www.facebook.com/bristol247/videos/10155748976159807/

“Arnos Vale Cemetery is very close to my home, and it’s the perfect place for a Sunday afternoon stroll and a slice of cake at their lovely cafe Kate’s Kitchen. It’s a calm and historic oasis right next to the noisy A4, and instead of having a sombre atmosphere it celebrates life and lives well lived.”

Bristol’s ambitious SEND organisations

“It’s not too well known outside the arts and education worlds, but Bristol is leading the country (and even the world) on the development of music making opportunities for people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). From the artistically ambitious British Paraorchestra and Friends led by the conductor Charles Hazlewood, to OpenUp who have developed special technologies to help young disabled musicians play music in orchestras and ensembles, Bristol organisations are really thinking cleverly about ensuring everyone has the opportunity to play music, whatever their ability. And when the transformed Colston Hall reopens in 2020 and becomes the National Centre for Inclusive Excellence, the city will have the world class facilities to match these ambitions.”

Viandas

“Proximity is dangerous – this Spanish deli on Park Row is really close to my work and just popping in means that I end up parting with more money than I intended. Viandas have a wide range of delicious olives, cheeses, huge hams ready to slice and loads of wines, oils, fresh vegetables and high quality staples. In my house we are currently adding their sobrasada to most of our meals.”

My garden

“I’m really grateful to have a garden which, through luck rather than any gardening skill, has turned out to feel lush, secluded and sunny. When the weather is nice it’s a relaxing place to be, and with my friendly neighbours I’ve always got someone to chat to. As a non-Bristolian, I feel really lucky that the city has provided me with a happy, sociable and generally easy-going life and a challenging job where I can really make a difference, and my garden embodies this sense of contentment for me.”