The Places of Bristol: Boston Tea Party, Park Street

Image: Trip Advisor

Although this may not seem like an original choice, the reason I have chosen this dainty little coffee shop is for its garden. Already loved for its ethically-sourced products and family owned atmosphere, the Park Street branch of BTP was in fact its flagship location set up in 1995. The café boasts a large collection of teas and if you’re lucky, the baristas even put a nice leaf pattern on your coffee. 

The secret of this place, however, is only to be found when heading towards the toilets in a ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ style-moment. Heading through the tattered door, you come out the other side to a beautiful tiered garden. With lovely rock tables and heaters for cold mornings, the garden really does charm its customers. 

This picture doesn't do it justice!

So next time you fancy some Red Berry and Hibiscus Tea or a Get your goat, you’ve pulled! toasted sandwich, why not head to Boston Tea Party on Park Street? Find the old door that takes you through to your own peaceful garden, stealing you away from the hustle and bustle of city life just for a little while.

Creative CVs

With the necessity of work experience, top grades and extra-curricular activities required in abundance on your CV, we are constantly being told what we need in order to stand out. However, what if we don’t have all those extra bits and bobs that the careers advisors go on about? I stumbled across Charlotte Olsen, from Norway, and her inspiring CV and I think she might have just struck gold. 

Image: Behance/Charlotte Olsen

Although only a self-promotion task at university, I don’t think many employers would throw this CV straight in the bin. If it’s a creative job you’re looking for, then why not offer something more original to employers? A hedge fund manager or a high court judge might not appreciate such a wacky idea, but in an ever-modernising world, showing your ability to think outside the box will definitely get you noticed.

Want to work in fashion? Maybe try this one...

Image: Bored Panda

A bit of a tech genius? Try this one... 

Although sending a chocolate bar, t shirt or QR code/video might be a little far-fetched in reality, the idea of spicing up your CV to make it more attractive does sound like a good idea, provided you are sure you have the right audience. 

The Places of Bristol: Vincenzo's

TripAdvisor

For those who like Italian food, not the Anglo-Italian of Pizza Express or ASK, but the authentic, messy, ‘no cutlery allowed’ style of real Italian pizza, then Vincenzo’s is for you. With 44 years’ worth of postcards covering the walls from across the globe and bottles hanging from the ceiling, it’s the kind of place you go when in want of something a bit heart-warming. 

I have to be honest, from outside the restaurant I was a little worried about what to expect. They have clearly turned their attention to the indoor décor and left a little to be desired outside. However, despite the unwelcoming front door (which on our visit was accompanied by a chef having a cheeky cigarette) the restaurant is adorably welcoming. The food is fairly cheap for large portions and incredibly tasty and the service is quick and friendly. Although it seems more a haunt for the regular customer, we were made to feel very at home as well. What’s more, if you’re so inclined, it even has a view over Park Street! 

Vincenzo’s manages to take you away from the Café Rouge/Jamie’s Italian repetitive nature of Park Street and welcomes you into a tiny bit of Italia only a few yards away. Don’t expect Michelin stars, but do expect a smiling waitress with an Italian accent and a lot of (2006) Italian footballers pinned on the walls.   

Image: VirtualTourist

How much? £7-£15

Where? 71a Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5PB

The Places of Bristol: The Wardrobe Theatre

One of my big loves is theatre; and where’s a better place to be as a theatre-lover than Bristol? This arty (and studenty) city has much to boast of; there are so many quirky and exciting theatres and one of my favourites is The Wardrobe located above the White Bear on St Michael’s Hill. 

This intimate and endearing theatre can only seat about 50 but manages to charm its audiences through a good mix of comedy and independent shows on their way up (The fantastically promising Tap Tap Theatre production company are finding their first successes at the Wardrobe). I was lucky enough to meet one of its directors, Matthew Whittle to discuss the incredible success of the toddler-aged Wardrobe Theatre and how it got such a strong reputation. Learning about its journey from humble beginnings was fascinating, and I was charmed by its simple ethos; to create accessible and affordable theatre that supports new and local talent. 

The theatre has regular shows in the style of soap operas and plays host to the University of Bristol Drama societies fortnightly. However, it seems to me that their growing reputation is spreading even further, having staged Russell Howard recently and they even have Ed Rapley on the programme for this season. 

If you fancy a break from the usual cinema trip and you don’t want to stretch to Hippodrome prices, why not head down to the Wardrobe Theatre where every show promises to be less than £5 and the after party is just down a few stairs. 

Where? 133 St Michael's Hill, High Kingsdown, BS2 8BS

How Much? All shows under £5