Itchy Bristol Home Reviews and recommendations

You know you spend too much time on Facebook when...

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:37:10 GMT

We know when it’s time to dislike the social network and start socialising with real people…

You start liking your own status
Itchy loves a good status update, whether it’s a smiley face, what someone ate for dinner or a song lyric aimed at an ex you are sooo over. But there comes a point where giving two thumbs fresh to something you’ve typed with your very own digits teeters in to loser territory. And Itchy doesn’t associate with losers.

Your last check in was in bed, or on the toilet
Itchy sleeps, Itchy goes to the bog, Itchy also has a life and some self-respect... some. Checking in is a cool way of making you easily accessible to a stalker, but pinpointing your every move is something reserved for Russell Brand and the Twitterati. Heck, if Itchy checked in everywhere then Facebook would be face down with techno problems.

You're stalking the person who wrote on your ex's wall
Itchy has a heart, and that heart has been messed with, pushed, pulled and broken just like yours, so we get it when your innocent finger hovers over your ex's profile on a Columbo-style mission. Yet Itchy draws the line at excessive daily peeping on the poor mite who simply typed "LOL" on a status. Itchy advises you click the remove button pronto and head outside to mingle with real people with actual faces, that like, work and everything.

You're posting music videos to show how you feel
Itchy once posted Cheryl Cole’s Fight For This Love, and within minutes people were asking ‘who wants to fight?’ ‘what are you fighting for?’ and ‘don't you think your Cheryl obsession is going a tad too far?’
We get that music expresses how you feel, but tap your toe to it, not your finger on the upload button next to Blue’s Eurovision treat ‘I Can’ to show what a top day you had at work.

You're creating a relationship out of words, pokes and winks
Sounds quite poetic really, but Itchy knows better than to fall for someone who adds you, pokes you, winks at you and puts LOL at the end of every sentence. As in the real world LOL, Itchy bets you would pretty much be arrested LOL for going round poking strangers and giving them a sly old wink LOL. Itchy says the odd poke can be nice but can it really get you through a day as dull as dog poo? No, didn’t think so.

Kelly Holgate

Itchy's Weekend in Bristol

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:01:13 GMT

Bristol is so full of exciting things to see and do, so we've tried to round up some of the things we saw and did, just for you:

What we saw
We'd heard about Bristol being famous for graffiti and Brunel, so we decided to investigate further... SO, apparently Isambard Kingdom Brunel, one of the great engineers of the 19th Century, FYI, wasn't born in Bristol, but it is home to many of his famous projects - from the Clifton Suspension Bridge to the ss Great Britain. We visited the famous vessel and enjoyed an audio tour through the reconstructed cabins, as well as a close look at its revolutionary screw propeller. Mr Brunel has been a busy boy.

From one busy boy to another, Bristol is also full of works by the famous graffiti artist Banksy. We spotted a couple on our travels, but Itchy was more impressed with the non-Banksy works that Bristol has to offer. Nelson Street, in the Old City is home to the most ambitious permanent street art project ever to take place in the UK, See No Evil - basically, the street is covered in huge graffiti pieces. Launched in the summer of 2011, it has since evolved to include new art work from street artists across the world. A short walk from See No Evil, in Stokes Croft, the streets are covered in ever-changing art works, including giant skulls and crocodiles. Definitely worth a look.

What we did

A visit to The Lido, in Clifton, was the perfect Saturday morning activity. A very enthusiastic man explained the correct way to take on the spa - swim, steam, cold water, sauna, cold water and then, and ONLY then, you can reward yourself with a sit in the hot tub... We obeyed his instructions and felt invigorated for it (especially after the cold water bucket... brrr!). We took advantage of the Swim and Lunch package - the food has an eclectic range of influences, including Spain, France and Morocco, and a great range of fresh fish.

Itchy believes that you can't go to Bristol without a trip to Cabot Circus. Boasting every shop you can think of - seriously, they even have a Harvey Nichols - this beautifully designed retail area even has a cinema and restaurants to extend your day out. It's the ideal place to go if you're in need of some retail therapy.

We also checked out the nightlife in Bristol, enjoying casual yet classy cocktails at Goldbrick House on Park Street, as well as a good old dance at Mr Wolf's, known for their live music and excellent DJs.

Where we stayed
Brooks Guesthouse, in the centre of St Nicholas Market, was the ideal resting place for Itchy on our visit. We loved being right in the middle of the action - Park Street, Cabot Circus and a whole range of bars and clubs were within walking distance. We also loved the quirky rooms, comfy beds and DVD rentals from reception. Oh, and we haven't even STARTED on praising the breakfast: seriously, it was the most varied menu we've ever been offered at a hotel. On the first day, Itchy savoured some freshly made porridge with stewed apple, cinnamon and a blob of creme-fraiche - the best start to a day we've had in a while. We also sampled the Full English, Eggs Benedict and a Bacon Bagel during our stay... so yummy.

Where we ate
Itchy visited Glassboat for a romantic evening meal, where we were blown away by the inventive and exciting menu, as well as the fact that we were, in fact, floating. The view from the boat is an ideal accompaniment to their delicious cocktails and gorgeous dishes. Itchy recommends the Beef Wellington, which is a little Wellington and a lot of perfectly cooked Beef - dream come true. We also savoured the desserts, with the Honey Parfait leaving a perfectly sweet taste in our mouths. Yum.

The next night we were surprised by the underground delight that is Harvey's Cellars. Home to the famous Bristol Cream Sherry, Harvey's, this gem of a venue provides the ideal venue for a night of tapas and drinks. They offer not only a signature serve of the sherry, but also a range of cocktails which showcase the unique flavours of Harvey's. Our waitress was quick to advise us on both cocktails and tapas, so we ended up with just the right amount of food on our table - from Albondigas (yummy Spanish meatballs) to a selection of Croquetas, we were impressed by every dish.

What we think now - Bristol is probably our favourite city in the UK. (Shhhh - don't tell all the others, they'll get jealous!) We don't feel like one weekend can do it justice.

If you want to visit Bristol, we recommend you purchase cheap train tickets in advance, and check out the Visit Bristol website for events and information on your stay. Enjoy!

Tempting Failure at The Island, Bristol

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:13:51 GMT

Well, last weekend was quite an adventure. We trundled on down to The Island - formerly a police station, complete with cells - which now serves as something of a rent-a-space for exciting and varied artistic events. Order of the day was an evening of performance art called Tempting Failure, described as ‘an immersive event of Live Art, Aktion & Noise that challenges artist & audience alike to tempt failure’.

So what does that mean? We’re pretty new to the performance art lark but a fellow kindly explained – it’s not like theatre, where the artists are playing a role. It is more that the artists are expressing an aspect of themselves through their performance, and it turned out that the way they do it can be pretty remarkable, and occasionally terrifying.

Over 40 artists participated in the event and we caught only a few, but of what we did see, by far the most impressive was Tom Bresolin’s P.A.A.U (Psycho.Anarco.Arson.Unit). You would not think that a performance that began with a naked man and woman covering themselves in paraffin could get much more transgressive, but once the Molotov cocktails started getting smashed (yes really) we did begin to wonder if Health & Safety had approved this… It was strikingly brave, although we did worry about the performers’ cuts and bruises afterwards.

A brief interlude followed, where we spent three minutes slow-dancing in a police cell with a negligée-clad girl. We then really enjoyed Bioni Samp’s Hive Synthesis, which took inspiration from bee frequencies to try and recreate their symbiotic relationships. Although we wished we had taken up the offer of ear plugs on the way in, it really was very clever.

Readers we advise you - at least once - to experiment in the world of performance art and examine your own boundaries by watching others push theirs. Who know what you might find out?

Click here for further Tempting Failure updates.

Amelia Strawson

Photo credit: Tom Bresolin taken by Yiota Demetriou

Five Bands Itchy's Fallen in Love with this Spring

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:11:15 GMT

1. Bastille
We've been a fan of their mix tapes for what feels like years, but Bastille's debut album, Bad Blood, has had us hooked even more than we thought possible. We're humming Pompeii 24/7 and Sleepsong has us tapping things frantically, like a wannabe drummer. If you're already in the Bastille club*, bravo. If not, join it as soon as you can. You won't regret it.

*NB we aren't sure if there actually is a club, we are talking metaphorically. Obv.

2. London Grammar
Ethereal pop trio from, yup, you guessed it, London. We love Metal and Dust, but it's currently in heavy rotation on Radio One, so we've gone for another of their classic tracks, Hey Now, for your listening pleasure. We don't know much about them, but seeing as they don't even have an album out yet but they're getting all this attention, Itchy reckons they're gonna be massive.

3. The 1975
We have no idea what this Manchester-based alt-rock band are saying in Chocolate, but it's mighty catchy nevertheless. In fact, we quite enjoy making up our own soundalike lyrics. We're pretty certain they're singing about petticoats. Hmmm. Have a listen and let us know what you think they're singing in the comments box below...

4. Local Natives
With their second album, Hummingbird, the Natives have captured Itchy's heart once again. It's not hugely different from their debut, Gorilla Manor, but we really don't care. You can never have too much of a good thing, that's what we say. If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it... And all those other cliches. Yes. Here's our favourite from Hummingbird.

5. Haim
Music needs more women. Haim are three twenty-something girls from Los Angeles making some toe-tappingly-good songs. Itchy can't quite describe their sound... we're thinking 90s R&B meets 70s soft-rock with a touch of folky goodness. Have a listen and let us know what you think in the comments box below.

Itchy's Top May Bank Holiday Weekend Events in Bristol

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:48:21 GMT

Itchy's teamed up with CalendApp; the world's largest Events search engine, to bring you the top three events taking place in Bristol this Early May Bank Holiday 2013. Download CalendApp today from the App Store.

3. Hoochie Coochie Wonderland Ball II. Thursday 2nd May 2013. Rehab, Bristol

Get the weekend started in style with a Thursday night trip to the Hoochie Coochie Wonderland Ball. Admittedly, it's not strictly part of the bank holiday, but this one was too good to pass up!

Arrive at one of Bristol's best venues in full Alice in Wonderland themed fancy dress and enjoy the equally hilarious and talented gymnast Bongo Bolero, the haunting ballerina Sapphira and many more. Witness fire displays, drag dancers and wandering performers all in the same evening, then finish the evening with DJs LlyodiTron.

Find out more

2. Pensford to Stanton Drew Stone Circles Walk. Saturday 4th May 2013. Pensford Memorial Hall, Bristol

Join a short 2 mile walk to the English Heritage site of Stanton Drew Stone Circles (originally dating back to between 2600-2500BC) and meet new people who share similar interests whilst enjoying a remarkable part of England's history.

Then walk back to Pensford where a fantastic choice of local pubs will be waiting for you to enjoy a drink afterwards and to discuss the day.

Find out more

1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Saturday 4th May 2013. Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol

Witness one of the final performances of Shakespeare's comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona in Bristol before the show begins a National Tour.

With tickets available for between £12 and £22, be prepared for a fantastic evening watching one of the memorable pieces of Shakespearian comedy. To quote The Guardian (on The Comedy of Errors, 2011) "If you've never found Shakespeare's comedies funny, do try this." It truly does seem to get better and better with every passing year and continues to inspire audiences.

Find out more

CalendApp

All of the above events were found by using CalendApp, the world's largest events search engine. Download it today and see what you will discover.