People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Lucy Middleweek
Lucy Middleweek is the newly appointed centre manager of the Stradling Collection, a unique collection of 20th and 21st century design objects ranging from furniture to glass and ceramics.
History of art graduate Lucy grew up in Brislington and first joined the gallery on Park Row as a volunteer in 2024.
The Stradling Collection is open on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, displaying objects gathered over his lifetime by Ken Stradling, who was buyer for and managing director of the former Guild on Park Street.
is needed now More than ever
These are Lucy’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Lost & Grounded
Founded in Bristol in 2016, Lost & Grounded are brewers of fine specialty lagers and Belgian-style ales – photo: Lost & Grounded
“The best beer in Bristol! Lost & Grounded is tucked away in St Anne’s, and has become a regular haunt for me and my family to catch up. Not only are their lagers and Belgian-style ales consistently amazing, but the taproom is also cosy and welcoming. It also seems to be a magnet for lovely dogs, which only adds to the charm.”
The Stradling Collection
The Stradling Collection on Park Row features 2,000 pieces of ceramics, glass, furniture, and decorative objects designed for the home – photo: Stradling Collection
“Before I even started volunteering at the Stradling Collection, I fell in love with it as a hub for stories about post-war design in Bristol, Britain and wider Europe. I’ve always been a bit of a nerd about applied arts, but it’s rare to find opportunities to get hands-on or to make space to appreciate craft as a true art form. The Stradling Collection holds over 2,000 pieces of craft, design, and fine art, all collected by its founder, Ken Stradling. He was the head buyer for the Guild – a now-closed shop that I, like many Bristolians, have fond memories of visiting with my mum when I was growing up.”
Watershed
Watershed is much more than just a cinema – photo: Martin Booth
“Watershed has a fantastic programme of films from all over the world, and ever since I was a teenager, it’s been the place where I’ve discovered and watched all sorts of screenings. It’s perfect for uncovering hidden gems or just hanging out with friends in the cafe-bar. The staff are some of the friendliest people around, which makes the whole experience even more lovely.”
Renato’s
Renato’s has long been a favourite watering hole on King Street – photo: Sam Beasor
“When the sun is shining, Renato’s outdoor seating lets you soak up the buzz of King Street without feeling packed in like a sardine. The beer is great, the cocktails are well made and they serve the best pizza by the slice in the city courtesy of Pizza Is Lovely – especially with their ranch dip, which is nothing short of revolutionary. Downstairs, the walls are covered floor to ceiling with old theatre posters and framed aperitif advertisements. The place is steeped in history and has long been a favourite spot for artists, theatregoers, musicians and creatives. Upstairs is also a fantastic date spot if you fancy levelling up your pizza night.”
Eastwood Farm
Enjoy the feel of the countryside at Eastwood Farm nature reserve in Brislington – photo: Daniel Garrod
“Sitting by the river in Eastwood Farm instantly makes you forget you’re just a 30-minute bus ride from the city centre. It’s a perfect spot for a summer stroll or picnic, and when the sun starts to set, you can always pop over to Beese’s for great live music on the weekends and some seriously good burgers.”
Main photo: The Stradling Collection
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