My Bristol Favourites: Joe Sims

Born and raised in Bristol, Joe Sims is best known for his role in ITV drama Broadchurch where he played plumber Nigel Carter.

Joe is a big Bristol City fan and during the coronavirus pandemic he has been helping the club and the Robins Foundation deliver hundreds of meals to those who need it most in south Bristol.

Before lockdown suspended its run, Joe was starring in The Red Lion at Bristol Old Vic.

These are Joe’s top-five Bristol favourites:

Arnos Vale Cemetery

Miniature doorways can be spotted in trees throughout Arnos Vale Cemetery – photo by Kate Dawson

“I just did a podcast with my friend who’s a natural history producer about the beauty of Arnos Vale Cemetery. It’s this beautiful, labyrinthine oasis of calm in the middle of a big bustling city and I’ve used it my whole working life to come and ruminate or just switch off and enjoy the wildlife. The people who run it keep it absolutely beautiful and run lots of fun classes and pop-up cinema, theatre and other special events; all huge reasons for me wanting to live right by it when I moved back to Bristol. My son has fun finding all the fairy doors on the trees too. A truly magical place.”

Bristol Old Vic

“Bristol Old Vic has always loomed really large for me and feel like it’s truly our building. I host a thing called Open Stage every year and anyone with a talent they’d like to share with the city can come and perform. It’s totally free to get in and we have a real laugh. There are loads of young creative minds doing really interesting work in the Young Company too so it’s well worth keeping on top of all the diverse programming in the building, not just the main house. Plus the cracking new bar and restaurant has all beers and food indigenous to our fair city.”

Dyrham Park

Dyrham Park is a Ancient deer park, 17th-century house and garden – photo: National Trust

“Dyrham Park is a National Trust place, whose membership is worth its weight in gold for me for loads of brilliant West Country days out. Stourbridge is one of my favourite places in the world but closer to home, Dyrham has an amazing building and grounds and always lays on interesting things for the kids. You can often see herds of deer gambling about up close and personal and you can see all out across Bristol, right out to the Severn Bridge. Bloody glorious.”

Mendip Disc Golf Course

“Winston Churchill said golf was the best way to spoil a good walk but Mendip Disc Golf Course is wonderful family fun from a vantage point that again offers a great view. It’s also a cool game that offers enough competition to be interesting without sitting in silence on the drive home, and I’m bloody competitive! Not far from the Railway Inn and Thatchers brewery to stop off for a cracking meal and stock up on the good stuff!”

Knowle Constitutional Club

Knowle Constitutional Club is a a volunteer-run cooperative bar – photo by Ellie Pipe

“Knowle Constitutional Club is a secret place hardly anyone knows about! Ran entirely by gorgeous volunteers bang in the middle of Totterdown on the Wells Road. This place guarantees a warm welcome and even a couple of snooker tables if that’s your thing. It’s cheap as chips and cosier than your front room. Get in there on one of there special nights and the Totterdown legend Fanny Tingle might do you one of her famous pies. You won’t regret it!”

Main photo by Colin Rayner

Read more: Bristol Old Vic opens doors to new digital theatre