People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Lorenzo Etherington
Lorenzo Etherington is a comic artist whose most recent book Von Doogan and the Curse of the Golden Monkey is one of the first ever comic books to have been selected for the Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge.
“All my Bristol favourites have one thing in common,” says Lorenzo.
“They’re the places where I sit with my sketchbooks and work on designs, scripts and concepts for my books. In fact, I’ve chosen to be super-specific, and actually name the seats and perches I like the best!”
For more information about Lorenzo and his brother Robin’s work, visit www.theetheringtonbrothers.blogspot.co.uk.
Here are Lorenzo’s top-five Bristol favourites:
The Thali cafe, Southville
“An epic expanse of colour and kitsch ephemera, the Thali Cafe on North Street is overflowing with character. I like to sit in the far corner, on the large double sofas surrounded by a wall for vintage radios, and take in the music and the atmosphere, a pencil in one hand and a bowl of Bombay Fries in the other.”
The Clifton
“The Clifton is wonderful, low-lit Bristol pub. Walk past the small front bar and through to the expanse of mismatched vintage furniture which populates the large rear L-shaped dining area. There’s a great curved seat set in the back wall, which has a table with a Cluedo board pasted onto it. I like to sit there and scribble away. If you go with friends, the bar has an excellent range of reassuringly tattered board games for you to play on a lazy Sunday.”
The Milk Thistle
“Like stepping into a warped version of a cocktail lounge which got lost somewhere between 1920 and 1940, The Milk Thistle is the ultimate destination when I’m looking for inspiration for my adventurer, Von Doogan. I like to imagine him tucked away in the secluded lounge on the top floor, pouring over weather-beaten treasure maps as he plans his next adventure, while the staff bring him exotic drinks on silver trays, and the babble of customers’ chatter drifts up from the bar below.”
Hotel Du Vin
“Reassuringly expensive. Hotel Du Vin’s thick, ancient floor boards creak comfortingly as you make your way past the sofas to the long bar, behind which subtly-lit bottles shake and spin in the hands of the bar staff as they mix drinks from a novel-sized cocktail menu. I recommend a hot chocolate on a crisp autumn afternoon, sitting at the small side table with the oversized table lamp. A fantastic position from which to take in atmosphere provided by the steady flow of diners and guests who pass through.”
The Olive Shed
“A Bristol classic. Book early at The Olive Shed to get a table by the window on the first floor. An unparalleled dining experience with the harbour laid out before you and exceptional food on the menu. I like to sit and sketch the surroundings, the boats drifting past, and the occasional appearance of the Mayflower steam tug, perfect Von Doogan inspiration!”
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