People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Esther Molyneux
Esther Molyneux and her partner Erik run second-hand bookshop Mother Works Hard, which specialises in thoughtfully curated pre-loved books.
With a background in publishing, Esther’s work is shaped by a commitment to sustainability and inclusive storytelling.
Trading online and in-person at Sparks Bristol, Esther focuses on connecting readers with vintage and modern classics, radical non-fiction, and literary titles that champion a wide range of voices.
These are Esther’s top-five Bristol favourites:
We The Curious
“We The Curious is where my nine-year-old son and I happily spend entire days exploring science and creativity. We recently loved the ‘Soul’ exhibition, part of Project What If, which uses questions submitted by Bristol residents to explore big ideas. It was thought-provoking, and I think that’s what We The Curious does best: it challenges big and small minds alike!”
Mercy in Action
Founded in Bath, Mercy in Action tackles poverty, injustice and inequality through housing, food, education and care in the UK and in the Philippines – photo: Mercy in Action
“I spend most weekends thrifting, and Mercy in Action in the Galleries is a standout and the store for second-hand gifts, books, clothes and toys. It offers sustainable shopping with real impact. Proceeds support the charity’s work tackling poverty, inequality and injustice through housing, food, education and care, and are aligned with my personal values.”
Kal Dosa
Be sure to arrive hungry at Kal Dosa – photo: Betty Woolerton
“Gloucester Road is one of my favourite places for food from across the world, and Kal Dosa is a recent favourite. As a vegetarian, I always recommend the bottomless thali platter. You can eat 12 vibrant dishes showcasing the depth of south Indian cuisine, with the onion pakora a particular highlight, which was ordered multiple times.”
Bristol Old Vic
Treasure Island is at Bristol Old Vic until January 10 – photo: Johan Persson
“Bristol Old Vic is our go-to for family theatre days, with shows that genuinely cater to all ages. For me, theatre is a welcome break from screens and a chance to experience stories in a shared, live setting. The Christmas production of Treasure Island is firmly on our list for the season.”
Sparks Bristol
Sparks is “a new kind of department store” with shops, installations, events, creative spaces and more – photo: Sparks Bristol
“This isn’t a plug because Sparks Bristol is also one of my favourite places in Bristol for shopping and I’m not sure if enough Bristolians know about the department store. Sparks, in the former M&S in Broadmead, brings together independent sellers and artisans. You can shop for vintage fashion, homeware, to intentionally made gifts all in one spot. It’s also a space that supports Bristol’s community, with artist studios and educational programmes focused on issues like climate justice and inequality.”
Main photo: Megan Gisborne
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