People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Fred Russell-Pavier
Fred Russell-Pavier is the CTO and co-founder of Supersmith, a company behind the innovative 3Scooter designed to give its users a stable and enjoyable ride.
Fred has a background in robotics and a PhD in physics, with his focus on user-centred design described as “the heartbeat” of Supersmith.
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These are Fred’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Two-Day Coffee Roasters
None of the coffees sold in TwoDay Coffee Roasters on St Michael’s Hill are older than two days after roasting – photo: Martin Booth
“Today, many friends would know me as a coffee fanatic. This has been a journey that started in TwoDay Coffee Roasters while I was in my final year of my undergraduate studies at the University of Bristol over ten years ago. Being just round the corner from the building I studied in, having freshly roasted coffee certainly helped give the much-needed caffeine boosts but also offered a welcome break to chat and breeze with Frank and Petra. I’ve not yet run out of conversations with them, including anything from lending hiking maps to ringing up with crossword answers later after a visit. They offer a selection of freshly roasted beans that they have a great knowledge of and will demonstrate the differences between them.”
The Ten O’Clock Shop
The Ten O’Clock Shop sells (almost) everything; just remember it’s a £2 minimum payment on card – photo: Martin Booth
“This part-underground corner shop in Clifton is simply like no other. During lockdown when I was still in student digs, the Ten O’Clock shop on Richmond Terrace became my local where your nearest corner shop in effect became more like a pub and the owner more like a landlord. As such, I got to know Gary fairly well! I remember him getting his first sample of a Bristol craft beer, Arbor Ales, before going on to being one of their biggest sellers of their beers in Bristol at one point. Aside from craft ales, I am always amazed at what is stocked there. I think the biggest surprise was finding hiking boot crampons in there one time. I would recommend a visit.”
Ashton Court parkrun
Ashton Court parkrun takes place every Saturday morning at 9am – photo: Martin Booth
“For me, doing Ashton Court parkrun has always been a decent challenge. At just over 90 metres in elevation, it is one of the steepest parkruns in the UK and attracts several hundred people to it each week with a great atmosphere. I also have a habit of celebrating my parkrun milestones on this course. For my 50th parkrun, I did ten laps of this course one morning, totalling 50km, as I had previously done 25km for my 25th and felt I had to keep up the pattern. I’m not looking forward to my 100th milestone.”
Ferry from Bristol Temple Meads to the Pump House
Bristol Ferry Boats are a much-loved sight in the docks – photo: Martin Booth
“When people visit Bristol, one great thing to do is to take a ferry from Temple Meads across town right to the end of the Floating Harbour at the Pump House in Hotwells. The perspective of the city from the water is really interesting. Even when you think you know the city; this gives a very different view!”
University Enterprise Zone
UWE’s University Enterprise Zone “provides opportunities and outstanding spaces for a thriving community of start ups, fast-growth businesses, graduate entrepreneurs and cooperative research in the high-tech, robotics, digital and health-tech sectors” – photo: UWE
“The Bristol Robotics Lab and its neighbours Launch Space, Future Space and a host of great small companies make the University Enterprise Zone at UWE a great place to work and feel the pace of innovation and change. The community here provides anything from education, through work experience and internships to jobs and an ecosystem to build a company. More places like this should exist both in Bristol and across the UK. If you’ve got a new idea, I’d consider having this on your radar, as somewhere to develop it.”
Main photo: Clear Cut Social
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