People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Harshinder Sirah
Harshinder Sirah is an artist and teacher with a background in fashion and textiles who is exhibiting her work at the Clifton Club during the West Bristol Arts Trail on October 12 and 13.
She also advocates for autism after her son was diagnosed as a toddler, and is on a mission “to explore and define what it really means today to be a British-Ugandan-Asian-Bristolian”.
These are Harshinder’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party on Gloucester Road used to be a Conservative Club – photo: Rosa Hawkey Gilder
“I love the boho vibe, the energy of the young people and the creative community at Boston Tea Party on Gloucester Road, as well as gossiping with my girlfriends. I like their smoked salmon hollandaise bagel washed down with a nice pot of tea. I’m Ugandan-Asian so I love a good tea but I’m also quite happy with a traditional English breakfast tea.”
Bristol Fine Art
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“I love going to Bristol Fine Art on Park Row for an in-depth chat with Nick the owner to discuss canvases, brushes, paints and all things art. If time allows and my car is parked up nearby, I may pop into the RWA for a brief look around.”
David Lloyd
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in Europe – photo: David Lloyd Bristol Westbury
“When I’m bursting with energy and need to burn it off, I’ll head to David Lloyd in Westbury-on-Trym for a game of padel followed by a swim steam and sauna, and if I’m feeling brave enough a plunge in their cold pool. Character building!”
Kings Weston House
Kings Weston House is a popular spot for friends to meet – photo: Martin Booth
“My son Arun has profound autism and ADHD and at present, we have no support nor education from the Bristol authorities so I’m completely reliant on my mum for the few days off I can have. Arun and I love to wander around Kings Weston House near our home. It’s calm there and he knows all the paths around the grounds. John Barby, the new owner, is a great friend of ours (as is Norman Routledge, the previous owner). He allowed me to showcase my art and involvement in the Uganda 50 commemorations which I was an active member of having been expelled from Uganda as a young girl in 1972. I was invited by King Charles to Buckingham Palace to commemorate our journey.”
Nutmeg
Nutmeg’s menu celebrates the diversity of India’s 29 states – photo: Nutmeg
“My friend Raja is the owner of Nutmeg in Clifton Village where you can go for a proper Indian curry in opulent surrounds. Many of my large paintings grace the walls in here. I’m a style artist so I love making art for bespoke spaces. Raja asked me to create paintings from his brief encompassing his childhood memories and his visions and dreams. As I eat my aloo gobi, I’ll fondly remember my recently late father, family and friends who are still in Uganda.”
Main photo: Harshinder Sirah
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