Contemporary Arts in Bristol

Advantages: Good variety of events, many of which are free
Disadvantages: Hard to say

...My second visit to Bristol was on a decidedly damp Saturday afternoon, so we were looking for places to spend some time inside. Having walked down the steep slope of Park Street and not being in any hurry to go back up, I suggested that the Arnolfini arts centre might not be too much further to walk. Situated on Bristol's Harbourside, it is easily reached by walking along the quayside from The Centre. From the south you can get there by crossing the swing bridge on Prince Street. Admission is free, so it is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in the arts. The Arnolfini has no permanent collection of artworks, so exhibitions change from time to time. There is currently (August 2008) a display described as an 'interactive shopping experience' entitled 'Far West'. Although not exactly my cup of tea, there was a degree...

denella 20.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Arnolfini, Bristol

BRISTOLS AHOY

Advantages: Big enough to be good
Disadvantages: Small enough to be friendly

...So people, this will be my last op for a couple of weeks after I move on Sunday and have to wait for a new phone line, etc, I've decided to write an op on my native city. This will be my 10th move and I wouldn't dream of living anywhere else, so heres the low-down on the South West's funkiest city. Bristol is the 7th biggest city in the UK and has around 400,000 people living in it. Due to the two universities in it, they being Bristol University and the University of the West of England (my own beloved uni!), the population can move around about, UWE has 24,000 students alone. That's not to say that Bristol is just a student city, there's definitely much more to it than that. I could concentrate on the bad things, like the rising crime rate, one of the highest council taxes in the country, highest homelessness population outside...

Emma1973 18.05.2002 · Read review
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Review of Bristol (England)

Quality Hotel at Bristol

Advantages: Well located and pretty cost effective
Disadvantages: Busy in the Summer

...has 1,708 hotels and 145,872 rooms. EXPRESS by HOLIDAY INN (commonly called Holiday Inn Express) at BRISTOL NORTH The full address is: Express By Holiday Inn BRISTOL-NORTH BRISTOL PARKWAY BUSINESS PARK BRISTOL, BS34 8SJ The Express by Holiday Inn at Bristol North is situated close to the M4, M5 & M32 motorways and it provides the ideal base to visit Bristol & the West Country. It?s location also makes it a good stopover point for those heading on holiday to destinations further afield. In addition to the good road connections, Bristol Parkway Railway station (with regular connections to London, the Midlands, South Wales and the South West) is only half a mile from the hotel. Bristol Airport is 18 miles away. The hotel has over 130 fully equipped en-suite rooms over four floors. Each room features an en...

MumCC 09.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Holiday Inn Express Bristol - North, Bristol

  Bristol Museum: Much More Than Boring Old Plates

Advantages: Educational, fun and free.
Disadvantages: Long, long queues until the end of August 2009.

...I was about four years old when I paid my first visit to Bristol Museum. Sadly, it turned out to be a major disappointment. My grandmother took me, having told me that we were going to see Alfred the gorilla, who had retired to the museum after gaining national fame as the star attraction at Bristol Zoo. She had been lucky enough to see Alfred at the zoo, where he would be paraded amongst the public on a collar and chain and delight them with his tricks, such as making and throwing snowballs in the winter. He would sometimes be dressed in human clothes, she told me, and he hated men with beards. I believe that much was probably true but my grandmother couldn?t resist embellishing the story: Alfred would sit down to lunch with a knife and fork; Alfred would put on a pair of glasses to read the newspaper, that sort of thing. She may...

Mitsudan 23.08.2009 (31.08.2009) · Read review
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Review of Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery

le cercle rouge

Advantages: Read Opp
Disadvantages: Read Opp

...le cercle rouge Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, this film is similar to his previous film Le Samourai, in that there are good guys and bad, and there are the cops and robbers. The translation of the title meaning the Red Circle was based upon a Buddhist motto about those people who are destined to meet, eventually will. In this film the types of scenes included are an escaping prisoner, murder scene, police man-hunt, mob battles and an armed robbery to steal diamonds. The film starts off showing a German named train running through I would guess Paris. Though scene by scene the actors performances and directions really smartly executed and cool to watch. Corey, who has just been released from prison on good behaviour notice from the police, is given a job to do by a Prison Guard. Inspector Bourvil is escorting...

costas1234 28.06.2008 (31.05.2009) · Read review
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Review of Le Cercle Rouge (DVD)

Le Samourai

Advantages: Great Film
Disadvantages: Viewing Aspect ratio is Low

...Le Samourai There is a small bird in a cage in a dull looking apartment room, a man wearing a trench coat and a felt hat, and he goes out of the room and adjusts his hat. Jeff Costello (Alain Delone) then jumps into a car, with a set of master keys. He starts the car, and smokes a cigarette. Eventually he finds the right key by good luck and drives off. He then meets a criminal mechanic. The mechanic gives Jeff some cash, later goes to his pocket and gives him a gun. Here during this scene not a word is spoken. This film is low on dialogue though maintains a great sense of direction, pace and focus throughout. The suspense of each scene and the plot is amazing to watch. He then goes to a flat and meets a young woman who is named Jane (Anthoine Delone). She is a woman who is there to provide an alibi for Jeff. It does not...

costas1234 20.06.2008 (29.05.2009) · Read review
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Review of Le Samourai DVD

Good Hotel for exploring Bristol

Advantages: Clean, comfy, modern
Disadvantages: Very expensive restarant and bar, rather sad swimming pool and gym

...This hotel in in the centre of Bristol within waling distance of Temple Meads Station. If you know Bristol then you will know that this location then might mean convenience but it's not gorgeous - a lot of Bristol was bombed in the war and rebuilt in the 50s and 60s and it shows! The hotel itself is newer than that though, but when you arrive it does look a bit tired and in need of a facelift. Parking is available and not difficult, though like most city centre budget hotels you have to pay extra for it, but I thought the £3.50 a night quite a good rate. It seemed a secure car park. . I checked in swiftly and the receptionist was helpful and friendly. I paid £104 a night for two people for an executive double (i.e. one grade up from the standard one) over the internet before we went. The hotel has a lot of floors (we were...

sadoldbag 27.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Ramada Plaza Hotel, Bristol

Bristol Zoo - It's missing the larger animals

Advantages: Great bug/reptile/aquarium/twilight zones
Disadvantages: None of the larger animals

...I visited many attractions this summer holidays with my two sons aged 3 and 1. Bristol Zoo was one of the most expensive, but I am not convinced that it was the one which held best value for money. How to get there ----------------------- The zoo is a short bus or taxi trip from the very centre of Bristol where all the shops are. For more information on how to get there visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk. Opening times and Prices ------------------------------------ It opens every day except Christmas day from 9am to 5.30am, with last admittance 1 hour before closing. Adult £12 Child 3 -14 years £7.50 (under 3's are free) Senior/Student £10.50 Disabled visitors £5.85 Family ticket £35 (2 adults and 2 children) (These prices include a voluntary donation of about 10% which you can ask not to pay if you wish, this does seem...

mum2boys82 05.09.2008 (04.09.2008) · Read review
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Review of Bristol Zoo and Gardens

'Ackee' restaurant for Bristol?

Advantages: Apparently the first Caribbean restaurant in Bristol
Disadvantages: Lack of atmosphere, paying extra for side dishes

...Regular readers will know or realise that I like my food a lot! And not only do I love it, I love it even more when someone else cooks it for me! Oh I can cook, very well in fact but I do all the cooking because my partner cant, so sometimes I like sitting back with a drink and getting it delivered to me on a plate. I'm sure I've mentioned before that our local paper does a deal whereby you collect 4 tokens and two of you get lunch for a fiver or dinner for 8 quid. Theres a set list of restaurants and a set menu. This way we get to try some of the best and unusual restaurants in Bristol without forking out a fortune if its crap! I'm a winner whatever! This is how we ended up at Plantation on the Gloucester Rd in Bristol, in this spot have been several restaurants that have been rated fantastic but have all gone under in months...

Emma1973 23.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Plantation Restaurant, Bristol

Excellent Exhibits in Bristol

Advantages: World-class collections; great displays for children; free of charge
Disadvantages: Needs easier access to upper floors

...Having recently visited Portsmouth City Museum and Art Gallery, I was interested to see how its counterpart in Bristol compared. I expected that perhaps it would be a grander affair, and I was right. Whereas Portsmouth concentrates mainly on local history and art, Bristol, whilst giving prominence to local artists and exhibits, has world-class displays in its galleries. The museum is housed in an imposing three-storey Edwardian building; the stairs are not steep and there is a lift to certain areas on the upper floors, but you do have to call an attendant to operate the lift. How easy it is to do this I do not know. However, if you are at all interested in Ancient Egypt you are in for a treat, as there is a new display on the ground floor. This is where we started our visit. The Egyptian exhibits here are based on the themes...

denella 30.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery