Bristol Harbour Hotel welcomes its very first guests in October, opening its Jetty Restaurant and 20 contemporary bedrooms behind an ornate façade, with city views and roll-top baths. The property fuses together two former bank buildings on Corn Street in the Old City.The former bank vaults will become an indulgent Harbour Spa - scheduled to open in spring 2017 along with an additional 22 rooms.
Bristol Cider Shop,an established feature of The Christmas Steps, is moving to a new home in the Cargo development at Wapping Wharf. The new shop will open to customers on Friday 14 October and will allow for a whole new program of events, including after-work tastings on Friday nights, cider and food matching, cider dinners and ‘Meet the Producer’ sessions, as well as private tastings and events. It continues to be a champion of local produce - all of its ciders and perries are produced within 50 miles of the shop.
Eat Walk Talk Bristol Food Tours are a newly-launched gastronomical stroll around Bristol Old City and Harbourside. Led by enthusiastic local foodie Brian Iles, the tours reveal the history, heritage and cultural highlights of Bristol, punctuated by tasting breaks at some of Bristol’s finest eateries, including Hart’s Bakery at Temple Meads and Source café and deli in St Nicholas Market.
New arrival at Bristol Zoo Gardens. Visitors to Bristol Zoo Gardens this month will be able to see the zoo’s newest arrival, a baby pygmy hippo born in late August. The calf can be observed in the hippo house along with its parents Sirana and Nato.
New season at Westonbirt Arboretum. The new season brings every shade of vivid russets and reds to the trees. The Forestry Commission has predicted that, if the weather stays reasonably dry, the autumn leaf colours at the national tree collection near Tetbury in Gloucestershire should be at their best from mid-to late-October. The Acer Glade is a particular hotspot for buttery golds, striking reds and sunny yellows, and don’t miss the ancient woodland of Silk Wood and the chance to sniff out the toffee apple-scented Katsura tree. Westonbirt is just 40 minutes by road from Bristol centre.
October event highlights
The annual Bristol Cocktail Week is back to mix things up for a sixth year (Monday 17 to Sunday 23 October). It includes 11 boozy and unmissable events, with participation from 20 fabulous Bristol bars. Learn the art of blending at the speakeasy-style Milk Thistle bar in the Old City (Tuesday 18 Oct), enjoy a five-course dinner with gin cocktail pairing at The Pumphouse (Thursday 20 October) and round things off with music, food and drinks at the sensational closing party at The Old Bookshop, North Street (Saturday 22 October).
The Simple Things Festival (Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October) has revealed an exciting line-up this year spread across venues like Colston Hall, O2 Academy, The Island, and Lakota and Coroners Court. Headliners include LA indie rockers Warpaint, Ben UFO and a special live set at Colston Hall from legendary horror composer and director John Carpenter.
After Hours: FUTURE, At-Bristol Science Centre (Thursday 6 October)
At-Bristol’s adults-only After Hours nights have been sell-out events in the past and this one promises to be just as popular. Grab a drink and make friends while getting hands-on with the centre’s interactive exhibits exploring the science of the future. Don’t miss being propelled into space during the Autumn Stargazing show in the UK’s only 3D planetarium.
St Nicholas Night Market (Friday 7 October). The night market at St Nicks has become a must-do in the monthly calendar since it launched last year. Local street food traders like Pizza Bike, Eatchu, which serves handmade Japanese dumplings, and For Mice and Men with its artisan toasties of local cheeses are some of the highlights of the night. Market favourites like Pieminister and Grillstockare open within the glass arcade and live music and performance adds a carnival atmosphere.
Brunel’s ss Great Britain Murder Mystery Dinner (Friday 7 October)
Bristol’s magnificent time machine – Brunel’s Great Britain – plays host to a foul murder for one night only. Warm up with a stroll along the promenade deck while sipping winter punch, then head below deck for a sumptuous three-course dinner and a puzzling plot that would challenge Sherlock Holmes himself.
Wildscreen Festival (10 to 14 October). This biennial, international festival is back for the 18th time celebrating storytelling in the natural world. Events range from a light-hearted look at the world of animated silent comedy with the co-director and writer of the Shaun the Sheep Movie, to on-the-ground documentary The Ivory Game, which explores the battle to save Africa’s elephants. A highlight of the festival is the glamorous Panda Awards ceremony – dubbed the ‘Green Oscars’ – hosted by Steve Backshall and Liz Bonnin at Colston Hall on Thursday 13 October.
Candlelit film screening at Bristol Cathedral (Saturday 29 October). Recently a filming location for the BBC’s Wolf Hall and The White Princess, Bristol Cathedral has a much longer relationship with film. In 1978, it was used in the finale of paranormal thriller The Medusa Touch starring Richard Burton, and now the Cathedral plans an atmospheric candlelit screening of the film as part of Bristol Film Festival. Live music before the show, a wine reception, self-guided cathedral tours and a short documentary featuring local extras that worked on The Medusa Touch will all be part of this special evening.
Family funduring October gets underway from Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 October with the Docks Heritage Weekend – a celebration of Bristol’s maritime past - at M Shed and Underfall Yard, as well as the month-long Bristol Family Arts Festival, a celebration of family creativity led by Arnolfini.October half term (Friday 21 October to Monday 31 October) will see a host of family events taking place at attractions across the city. For more ideas and inspiration, visitwww.visitbristol.co.uk