People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Emily Ross
Emily Ross is the co-owner of Storysmith bookshop on North Street, which earlier this year was shortlisted for The Bookseller magazine’s prestigious Independent Bookshop of the Year award.
Storysmith is among the Bedminster businesses who are part of the new WeAreBS3 website, offering online shopping and delivery from a wide variety of local shops.
Here are Emily’s top-five Bristol favourites:
is needed now More than ever
Our end of North Street
“There’s so much to love about our little community, and you can easily spend a day on our side of North Street. Browsing books with us, thumbing through the racks at Friendly Records, shopping for vintage gems at Rhubarb Jumble and enjoying delicious natural wines in the peachy cellar-like surroundings of our neighbours at Kask. And no visit to North Street is complete without a stop at Ebeneezer Pocket Park; the cutest postage-stamp of a park, complete with community herb garden and a pocket library.”
Paradise Bottom
Paradise Bottom was designed by 18th century landscape designer, Humphry Repton – photo by Bristol Barkers
“We go walking in Ashton Court or Leigh Woods most days with our loyal shop dog, Roy. His (and our) favourite spot in the city is Paradise Bottom. A magical pine tree-lined walkway leads to tranquil pools and streams that Roy can’t resist disturbing. It also connects to beautiful trails that take you right through the Avon Gorge and on into the woods.”
Gambas
Gambas is the sister restaurant to Bravas, Bakers & Co, Cargo Cantina and Masa & Mezcal – photo by Martin Booth
“On a sunny day, there’s nowhere better than Wapping Wharf for drinks and tasty food. Gambas in Cargo 2 is particularly lovely. It always feels like we get the last two seats at the bar, so the atmosphere is always amazing (as are the fried aubergines with molasses).”
Tobacco Factory
“The Tobacco Factory is a North Street institution with so much to offer: great shows, concerts and theatre performances, as well as a brilliant weekly market with stalls from amazing and inventive local traders and craftspeople. When Pete from the record stall cranks up Roberta Flack first thing on a Sunday morning, you know it’s going to be a good day. We’ve hosted some of our larger events here too, and have a stall at the market once a month. It’s such a lively and sociable space.”
Underfall Yard
Underfall Yard remains a working shipyard – photo by Martin Booth
“I pass through here all the time on a run or a walk around the harbour, and I love how it holds so much of the city’s history, and its future. The yards feel like they have been the same for hundreds of years and the air is thick with the smell of machinery and industry, but you can also have a delicious lunch at the cafe on your way through.”
Main photo: Plaster
Read more: Online version of Bedminster high streets launched
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