My Bristol Favourites: Tasha Ebbs

Tasha Ebbs is the manager of Small Street Espresso, which celebrates its tenth birthday later this year.

Before she took up residence in Bristol’s first specialty coffee shop, Tasha was a well paid but unhappy statistics nerd who, on a whim, jacked it all in to pursue her dream of being as sassy as she liked while making coffee and wearing Doc Martens without being reprimanded daily.

She has not once regretted her decision.

These are Tasha’s top-five Bristol favourites:

Underfall Yard

Underfall Yard is always a sought-after spot – photo: Martin Booth

“One of my favourite things to do on a Sunday morning is to wander to Underfall Yard with a coffee and perch on one of the huge old timber sleepers outside. The sun warms your face while you can watch all manner of people and dogs enjoying their weekend. You can hear a steady calming lapping of water against the harbour wall, daydream about which boat you want to commandeer to go pirating for the day and share the joy of endless birds floating carelessly by.”

Stationery World

If you can’t find Tash at Small Street Espresso, she’ll probably be at Stationery World – photo: Martin Booth

“I sometimes spend so long in Stationery World, a mecca of paper and pens and paper mache deer on Park Street, that I start getting suspicious glances from the staff. The dazzlingly tempting rainbow of lovingly displayed notebooks and pick and mix selection of Post-Its makes me believe I can achieve almost anything as long as I am equipped with the right stationery.”

Bristol Museum

A pliosaurus swims over the heads of visitors to Bristol Museum – photo: Martin Booth

“Right after spending my rent money on three notebooks and a pen I have utterly no need for, I head to Bristol Museum, one of the most charming and quirky museums in existence. After being greeted by a great hall that, for me, rivals the Natural History Museum, you can escape into endless corridors and rooms and floors, and stumble upon the most amazing discoveries. From maps and renaissance paintings, to rocks and dinosaur fossils, to Pokemon cards, Tammy tops and celebrity gorillas, Bristol Museum is an adventurer’s delight. I particularly love eating bourbon biscuits in the cafe under the extremely unsettling stare of a pliosaurus.”

Goram the giant

Goram the giant is one of the two mythical of Bristol – photo: Martin Booth

“If you walk over the Suspension Bridge and follow the big old road straight into Ashton Court, then keep meandering along under the boughs of a tree grove and on through the rolling hill part, you will arrive at the top of a slope that offers one of the most stunning views of Bristol. Here you will also find a statue of Goram the giant. His ancient old stone eyes seem to gaze out as if watching silent and steadfast over the city. On a quiet day, it is the most peaceful place to sit and wonder.”

Bristol Cathedral garden

Bristol Cathedral garden is a calm oasis in the heart of the city centre – photo: Martin Booth

“I only recently and accidentally discovered the garden at Bristol Cathedral. Despite being smack bang in the middle of the busy city centre there is a beautiful calm to this place; the outside world muted by the trees and greenery. It feels almost like nature and the resident gardener have conspired to create a maze of discoveries for you; there are little paths and corners to explore, a surprising amount of benches to sit on and tombstones to traverse around. And then you can sit in a charming little courtyard and drink tea from the Cathedral Cafe. They have bourbon biscuits too.”

Main photo: Josh Clowes

Read more: Bristol’s smallest cafe opens in a garage

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