Bristol: Behind The Headlines

Ian Downs and Martin Booth are at Casamia to speak to head chef Zak Hitchman about how he has transformed the Michelin-starred restaurant and still has many big plans ahead.

We also hear from staff and students at Square Food Foundation in Knowle West; we meet the founder of Better Food, Phil Haughton, as he opens a fourth shop in Bristol on Gloucester Road; and Bertha's Pizza co-owner Graham Faragher talks us through the new menu at his restaurant in Wapping Wharf.

A broadcasting legend joins Ian Downs and Martin Booth for the latest episode of the podcast. Jonathan Dimbleby talks about his life in journalism, his love for Bristol and his upcoming appearance at the Clifton Literary Festival.

Staying in Clifton, this week we hear from JP Van Hoover, the owner of About Face on Princess Victoria Street, who is campaigning for cars to be able to return to a newly pedestrianised section of the road.

Also on this week's episode, Babbasa founder and CEO Poku Osei tells Ellie Pipe about his ambitious vision for Bristol to break the cycle of inequality; and Tom Hodgson from Alfresco Disco tells Safiya Bashir about how it has evolved from free forest party to one of Bristol's most established club nights.

In this special episode of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast, Dark Cloud tells us his amazing life story.

Believed to be the only person of First Nation ancestry living in Bristol, Dark Cloud was taken from his family in Canada in the infamous 'Sixties Scoop'.

His journey to Bristol comes after travelling across Europe, becoming homeless, and spending time in Horfield Prison, 

Dark Cloud talks to Martin Booth following the release of a documentary on his life. A short drama, 'Split Feather', is due to be released in 2022.

On this week's episode, Bristol sea shanty sensations The Longest Johns talk about their new album, Smoke & Oakum, and their rise to global viral fame.

Working Class Writers Festival founder Natasha Carthew speaks to Bristol24/7 Culture Editor Sarski Anderson about this year's festival; and Black History Month Magazine's Sibusiso Tshabalala and Kat Garoës-Hill tell us how they are celebrating Bristol's Black culture.

Also, don't miss Meg Houghton-Gilmour, Bristol24/7 Community & Memberships Manager, on all the latest member perks and why everyone should sign up for the Bristol24/7 daily newsletter.

This week's episode is recorded at Bristol Old Vic, where Freddy and Nessa Bird - of Little French, Little Shop & Pantry and Buxton & Bird - talk to Ian Downs and Martin Booth about their new pop-up at the theatre, Little Vic.

Also on this week's episode is artist RTiiiKA, who is behind 'Mural Alleyway' in Brislington, which has seen a former drab thoroughfare transformed into an explosion of colour.

And Olivia Tripp introduces us to her new new guidebook, In Bristol, which features more than 100 of our city's best independent businesses, inviting visitors and locals alike to eat, drink, shop, dance, do and stay.

It's not often that Bristol hosts a world premiere. The Outlaws most definitely deserves it though having been filmed in our city during the coronavirus pandemic. Join us from the red carpet at Watershed where Stephen Merchant, Jayde Adams, Gamba Cole and Rhianne Barreto talk to Martin Booth.

Also in this week's episode hosted by Ian Downs and Ellie Pipe, we visit Bristol's new 'doughnut quarter', chatting to John Drysdale from Small Goods and Kerry Beesley from Future Doughnuts; and we're in Trinity with Rhiannon Jones and Paul Hassan to talk about the unique value of community arts and community arts organisations.

This week's episode features Lady Nade, who recently performed at the launch event of the Bristol Beacon's new visual identity, having been a graduate of the Bristol Beacon education programme, and who is now a music leader herself as well as a successful artist.

Bristol24/7 Student Guide Editor Robin Connolly pays a whistle-stop tour to some of the top student spots in Clifton Village including Reg the Veg, East Village Cafe and Foliage; and Rob Bryher speaks to Martin Booth at a pop-up parklet in Southville. 

Ian Downs and Robin Connolly present this week's episode from outside Full Court Press cafe on Broad Street, which now has a roastery just a couple of doors down where Martin Booth talked to the team: Mat, Jonny, Laurence and Chris.

Also featured this week are Jacob Fisher from Weston-super-Mare, who is currently performing in Grease at Bristol Hippodrome; and Cat O'Shea, the leads singer of punk band Kiss Me, Killer, whose new album 2020 Vision is released next month.

Finally, Robin talks about her time at Bristol24/7 before she moves to Oxford.

Ian Downs and Martin Booth present this week's podcast from the foyer of the Bristol Beacon, where they are joined by chief exec Louise Mitchell.

Maria Connolly from TLT Solicitors talks to Bristol24/7 reporter Safiya Bashir ahead of the Bristol24/7 Presents event: How Bristol can become the first net-zero city. Maria will be on the panel alongside experts from Future Leap, Global Goals Centre and Black & Green ambassadors.

Also on this episode are Montpelier High School principal Kerry McCullough and three students to talk about the school's new name, and Bristol Rovers Women's players Poppy Warren and Annys Turner look forward to their new season.

In this week's episode, Ian Downs meets some of the Bristol24/7 team at our office in the Paintworks.

We also hear from Nick Thursby, the architect behind Castle Park View, the city's tallest residential building; Jayne Grocock, who has helped open the new Vaulted Chambers Cafe; Mayfest's Matthew Austin asks the city for love songs as part of Action Hero's Oh Europa; and a group of former Year Six pupils talk about their new photography exhibition in The Mount Without.