People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Hannah Bone
The original Rockin’ Robin outside Ashton Gate Stadium sold for £16,000 after featuring in the Gromit Unleashed 2 sculpture trail in 2018.
Painted by Hannah Bone, who lives in Totterdown and works as an illustrator and designer at Defence Equipment & Support at MOD Abbey Wood, a figurine of the sculpture is now on sale from the Gromit Unleashed shop, once again helping to raise money for Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Hannah said that she feels “very lucky to have been part of something so special and now I’m able to relive it all again with this release”.
is needed now More than ever
Hannah also collaborated with Caring in Bristol and Bristol City Centre BID to design a poster to raise awareness of homelessness at Christmas and educate people on how they can help.
These are Hannah’s top-five Bristol favourites:
The Bakehouse
“My favourite bakery is The Bakehouse, a lovely independent on Oxford Street in Totterdown. The owners couldn’t be more helpful, kind and friendly. They make some of the nicest pastries I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried a fair few). You have to try the pain au chocolat! I can’t be without a loaf of their freshly baked bread in my kitchen.”
Victoria Park
Victoria Park – photo: Ellie Pipe
“Having recently moved nearby, I can’t believe I had lived in Bristol for so long without visiting this beautiful park. The hilly paths mean that you get some brilliant views by walking for just a few minutes from one side to the other. There is one point next to St Mary Redcliffe Primary School that looks right out over Bristol with views of the Suspension Bridge and Brandon Hill. It’s a brilliant spot at sunset!”
Arnos Vale Cemetery
“Peaceful and picturesque, Arnos Vale Cemetery is a quiet place to wander around with beautiful wooded paths to explore, leading through to Arnos Park if you want a longer walk. They often hold a variety of events in the chapel; I once watched a presentation by Aardman designer Gavin Strange. There is also a great café there, offering takeaway drinks and cakes currently and a lovely shop selling handmade gifts and ornaments.”
Mud Dock Cafe
Mud Dock celebrated its 25th birthday in 2019 – photo: Ellie Pipe
“Mud Dock Cafe is a firm favourite for myself and a lot of people I know. I find it to be a very versatile place to suit every mood, for example it’s great for a pancake breakfast, tapas dinner or even just a glass of wine on an evening! The cafe is situated upstairs and with an outdoor balcony there is a brilliant view out over the harbour. Not only that, they also have an excellent bike shop downstairs that I have to practically drag my boyfriend and dad away from.”
Chew Valley Lake
“When I’m out on a walk in nature, I love looking out for wildlife and Chew Valley is a great place for that! There are so many different types of bird you can see and designated nature trails that you can follow that tell you what to look out for. Salt & Malt is also an amazing fish and chip shop situated right next to the lake if you get hungry after your walk.”
Main photo: Hannah Bone
Read more: 10 practical ways to help Bristol’s homeless
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