People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Tannith Perry
Originally from Oregon, Tannith Perry has made Bristol her adopted home. She is an author, dance teacher and volunteers with Pride Without Borders, a support group for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers which helps members navigate the legal system, deal with trauma and begin to build a life in the UK.
She is currently offering couples about to get married a free 45-minute consultation to start working on their first dance. For more information, visit www.eastonsocialdancing.com.
Here are Tannith’s top-five Bristol favourites:
is needed now More than ever
Bristol & Bath Railway Path
The Bristol & Bath Railway Path is celebrating its 40th birthday in 2020 – photo by Martin Booth
“This is a great place to run or cycle and get away from it all. Plus with the added frisson of possibly being mugged by a group of adolescents.”
Easton Family Practice
“I come from a barbaric country called the United States where many, many people are unable to access healthcare and even those with insurance have to pay incredibly high upfront costs and deductibles. Living in the UK, where you are able to get good quality care without having to sell your bodily fluids (true story) is such a massive relief. I am grateful for every single person who works for the NHS and at my personal surgery.”
Salsa club nights
“Sadly, Bristol doesn’t have a dedicated salsa club; it moves around to various locations. But I’ll take it wherever I can get it. When I first moved here I wasn’t sure what the salsa scene would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised at the number of good dancers passionate about this style of dance. And just like the US, I’ve found a friendly mix of age, gender and nationality so no matter who you are, even if you don’t have a partner, you can rock up and dance the night away.”
East Bristol Bakery
“East Bristol Bakery on St Mark’s Road in Easton makes the best bread I’ve had in the UK. If they only did bagels, then my bread needs – which are significant – would be fully met.”
Queenshilling
Queenshilling on Frogmore Street is at the heart of Bristol’s LGBTQ+ community- photo by Martin Booth
“Queenshilling is the gay bar where our group tends to bring our LGBTQ asylum seekers to give them a taste of the joy that comes with being yourself openly in public. Many of our members are forced to flee from violence, fear of imprisonment and complete ostracisation. Most have never been to a place where people are openly queer. So it’s very fun to see them react to the beautiful drag queens, grow gradually confident and then bust out on the dance floor like their lovely gay souls are on fire.”
Read more: Have your say on the future on the Bristol & Bath Railway Path
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
