People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Simon Haines
Simon Haines is an actor and filmmaker who has appeared as Malendol in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Rod Reed in Murder Most Puzzling and Dr Benjamin Smith in Litvinenko.
He will next be seen on the big screen when Running Man directed by Edgar Wright is released in cinemas in November.
These are Simon’s top-five Bristol favourites:
is needed now More than ever
North Street
The North Somerset countryside can be glimpsed from North Street – photo: Martin Booth
“Great independent shops like Storysmith, Toyville and Zara’s Chocolates. Good food and vibes at the Lounge and Uncle Wah. My favourite takeaway in the world, Oowee Diner. But probably best of all: the view looking south down the hill across the countryside. Every time I see it, I say wow!”
ALDI’s car park
The ever-changing mural on the side of the Tobacco Factory can be best viewed from Aldi’s car park – photo: Martin Booth
“Not for the parking but for the massive glorious Upfest mural! Always amazing and always changing. Check out the current one by Inkie and Silent Hobo.”
Tobacco Factory
Simon says the Tobacco Factory is a “powerhouse theatre” as well as being part of a community hub – photo: Farrows Creative
“I love Bristol Old Vic and have amazing memories both of being taken there as a kid and of taking my niece there. But I have to pick the Tobacco Factory Theatres. Because it isn’t just a hidden-gem powerhouse theatre, it’s a community hub. The market on Sundays. The massive bar. The community groups (check out LGBT+ FAB coffee meet-ups for over 55s on Tuesday mornings). As a theatre, they support quirky, small-scale work and they nurture emerging talent, from local artists to future global stars. (Ten years ago, I saw my drama school peer Paapa Essiedu play Romeo here – he went on to play Hamlet at the RSC and now he’s Snape in the new Harry Potter series.) And then there’s just the pure joy of the TFT programming. We catch their Christmas show every year but my new favourite is the hilarious improvised murder mystery, Murder He Didn’t Write, as part of Bristol Pride.”
acta
acta aim to “bring together people from different cultures, experiences, and generations to make and share creative work” – photo: Martin Booth
“This gorgeous charity is centred around an 80-seat theatre in Bedminster. Powered by volunteers, acta in Bedminster do such awesome work empowering local people of all ages to express themselves. I’ve acted in Hollywood films and in London’s West End, but seeing community theatre like this is what’s truly meaningful: people stepping out of their life circumstances, experiencing themselves in a different way, growing, making new friends. Check them out.”
Bristol Temple Meads
Temple Meads opened in 1840 – photo: Martin Booth
“This has to be one of the most beautiful exteriors of any train station in England. I used to think it was a castle. And of course, every time I’m there now it means I’m coming home to Bristol and about to see my nieces. Or leaving them behind. Many memories of tearful goodbyes (them and me!) on the platform. And then the name. Temple Meads. So poetic. Softens the blow when you’re delayed again by signal failures.”
Main photo: ITVX / Tiger Aspect
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