My Bristol favourites: Darran McLaughlin

Darran McLaughlin is the manager of Bookhaus, a new independent book store opening imminently at Wapping Wharf.

Bookhaus will be a generalist bookshop with a focus on genres such as art and design, nature, works in translation, black and queer writing and radical politics, and will play host to lots of events. The intention is to turn it into a community hub and a cultural touchstone. Bookhaus will be opened on August 5 2021 by David Olusoga, the Bristol-based Historian.

In his spare time he helps to organise Bristol Transformed, a festival of politics and culture, takes part in climate activism and is part of the National Coordinating Group of Momentum, the Labour Party aligned organisation.

These are Darran’s top-five Bristol favourites:

Bristol Transformed

Audiences at Bristol Tranformed’s ‘No Human is Illegal’ event at Malcolm X Centre – photo: Jack Witek

“In October 2018 a group of people decided to try to put on a festival of radical politics and culture inspired by The World Transformed, with no prior experience and no money. Six months later we hosted a hugely successful event that attracted around 700 participants across three days in venues around St Pauls and Stokes Croft. A mixture of panel discussion, workshops, games and social events, Bristol Transformed presents concepts in an accessible and engaging way, to try to break down the barriers that exist between the world of politics and ideas and ordinary people. Since then we have hosted another major festival, a series of debates, book launches, a Theory for Dummies educational series and even a boat party.”

People’s Republic of Stokes Croft

“I love this space. PRSC is a great events space catering to radical and alternative communities, from exhibitions to comedy nights. It is one of the nodes that makes Stokes Croft what it is. Bristol would be bereft without it.”

National Food Service

National Food Service with Louise Demelge – photo: Courtesy of National Food Service

“Bristol Transformed hosted an event with one of the founders of NFS in September 2019 titled ‘What Would Decommodified Food Provision Look Like?’. The problem is hunger existing alongside food waste, unhealthy diets fostered by our systems of production and consumption, and loneliness and isolation encouraged by atomisation that is unnatural and unlike the way that people eat in other cultures around the world. The solution is decommodifying food, offering tasty, healthy free or cheap food to people in a social setting, which is good for people’s physical, mental and spiritual well being. About six months later they had to step up to the plate and turn the theory into action as the pandemic struck and left millions hungry, forcing mutual aid groups and charities to make up for the inadequate and shambolic government response. They delivered over 50,000 meals to people in Bristol during the pandemic, and today they have a regular slot on Monday’s at Lockleaze Sports Centre, where they provide healthy and tasty meals in a social setting on a pay what you can basis.”

Lost & Grounded Brewery

Lost & Grounded beers – photo: Courtesy of Lost and Grounded

“I worked in craft beer for years managing pubs, taprooms and events, as well as leading brewery tours and tastings. I love going to the Lost and Grounded brewery taproom in St Annes because it’s a great, open space with a big forecourt, a friendly and communal atmosphere and you can see some of the most advanced and beautiful brewing equipment in the UK in the background. In my experience the real beer snobs and cognoscenti eventually come back to appreciating classic styles like pilsners, bitters and saisons after getting excited about milkshake IPAs, fruit beers and pastry stouts. Keller Pils by Lost and Grounded is probably the best British pilsner, and it’s exactly what you want to drink in this heat.”

Fi Real Vegan Caribbean Restaurant

https://www.instagram.com/p/Byp17-6h17m/

“I’m not vegan, but the vegan Caribbean food at Fi Real on Old Market is so good that the most dedicated carnivores would love it. There has been a long standing tradition of veganism in the Caribbean that long predates the more recent trend towards veganism in the UK called Ital, emerging out of Rastafarian culture. The restaurant is closed on Friday’s and Saturday’s (which I assume is for religious reasons), so check before you try to head there.”

Main photo: Courtesy of Darran McLaughlin

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