People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Jon Chamberlain
Jon is the marketing manager at Visit Bristol and also one of the organisers of Brizzlewood – a Make Sunday Special event in Brislington happening on September 4 from midday until 5pm on Hollywood Road and Brookside Road. Jon promises that Brizzlewood will be a celebration of everything that is great about Brislington, with a Hollywood theme running through the event. Expect bands, dancing, street art, stalls, crafts and cream teas.
Here are Jon’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Make Sunday Special
is needed now More than ever
“I would say that, wouldn’t I?! The Make Sunday Special street celebrations from the Old City and now around the suburbs are great events that bring people and communities together in a fun and positive way. So many of the ‘old town’ areas of European cities are fantastic traffic-free spaces and it is great to see little bits of Bristol like that, even if it is only every now and again. I had no idea six months ago that I would become an honorary member of the Brislington WI, who I am partnered with to organise Brizzlewood, and I am not sure I knew what I was getting myself in for when I had the idea for the event and then partnered up to make it happen! Our event in Brislington on Sunday combines a stage with local talent, stalls from local people, street art, a garden party, giant games, a raffle in aid of Bristol Young Carers and so much more.”
Arnos Vale
“I love this place! Arnos Vale has much Bristol history in one place and such a unique cemetery holding great events. I went to a comedy night there this summer, which was probably a world-first for a cemetery. My favourite time is in the early morning in December where you can walk through the trees with a mist around, all wrapped up in coat, scarf and hat, before grabbing a hot chocolate and browsing a Christmas market. It also benefits from being really close to Bocabar in the Paintworks, where I have the inability not to order the Somerset Picante pizza every time I go in there, and is opposite the iconic Bristol Blue Glass where you can pop in and see them making it in the factory at the back of the shop.”
Food & drink
“Food and drink has been a bit of a theme at Visit Bristol this year, and for good reason. The city and region have some fantastic producers, markets and restaurants. Personal favourites are the Street Food Thursdays market on Broad Quay, Slow Food Market on Corn Street on the first Sunday of the month, The Lido in Clifton and Bramley & Gage’s Six O’Clock gin made in Thornbury. Also, most nights out I have in the city centre feature King Street for a great beer at some stage.”
The water
“I didn’t grow up in Bristol, but I did grow up close to a river and I love being near water. The combination of the Harbourside and the rivers in Bristol gives me a calming vibe. From where I live there is a great walk following Brislington Brook through the woods along to the River Avon and then to Beese’s Tea Gardens, which is a firm family favourite. The Harbourside is, unsurprisingly, where most tourists end up at some stage and with good reason. One of my top tips when arriving at Bristol Temple Meads is to grab the ferry into the centre, it’s a great way to get an alternative introduction to the city.”
Events and festivals
“We are so lucky to have such an amazing calendar of events in Bristol, from the huge Balloon Fiesta and Harbour Festival to the smaller and quirkier events that are happening all the time. Upfest was amazing this year and I have always been a big fan of street art (we’ve got an artist coming to Brizzlewood too!) and Bristol really does have an international reputation for it now. Bristol Beer Week, Bristol Cocktail Week, Cary Grant Festival, St Paul’s Carnival coming back next year – I could go on and on.”