I literally can't wait for this years' Harbour Festival, I only managed to catch bits and pieces of…read moreit last year as I had only just moved to Bristol. This year, 2010, it'll be going down 30th July - 01st August, and do you want to know the best thing about it? It's freeeeeeeee! Amazingly, it's been going for 39 years, and while I wouldn't want to bore you with trivial statistics and facts, what it means is, this weekend has been running for enough years for them to have worked out what works and what doesn't! There will be not one, not two, not three, but eight, yes eight stages with a variety of music for all tastes. It's generally a great weekend, don't miss it!

This much-loved summer festival sees literally hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Bristol…read morefor a weekend of eating, drinking and wishing we owned a boat. Many of my friends come down specifically for this weekend, usually around the end of July, beginning of August. All the boats in the harbour tart themselves up with bunting and the like and there are plenty of food stalls where you can buy everything from candy floss to wheels of cheese! There are plenty of market type stalls if shopping is your thing and all the bars and pubs around the waterfront are jam-packed with people making the most of drinks promotions and the outside seating. A fantastic weekend of entertainment, and it's all for free! Last year I spent it drinking cider and watching VV Brown play on the main stage in a packed Lloyds Amphitheatre and can't wait to do the same this year.

If you want a festival which is a bit rough around the edges but packed full of passion you'll love…read moreThe Bristol Festival. It's only been going for a couple of years, so it's still trying to find its feet a little bit, but it's got a lot going for it. There's live music, a cabaret tent, face painting, market stalls, a drum workshop and charcoal drawing to be done. It isn't quite as slick as other festivals: there's a long wait between bands on the Mr Wolf's music stage and there's not a great deal of choice of food and drinks. But there's loads to take part in, all covered by the ticket price, a fantastic party atmosphere and an interesting mix of people. Among the many highlights, my favourite thing at the Bristol Festival was learning how to graffiti. I loved the paint dripping down my arm, breathing in the toxins while recklessly defacing a wall (all very controlled and legal, you understand!) I can't wait for the next festival, as I'm sure it's going to get bigger and better every year. If you want to help out or perform check out the website and get stuck in!

Despite it's own independent stance, Bristol Festival is undoubtedly a reaction to the unfortunate…read morelost of the annual Ashton Court Festival a few years go. Taking place each September around the waterfront, Lloyds Amphitheatre and Queens Square, Bristol comes alive with food, music and plenty of cider. Spread over two days, the evening portion of events sees several clubs come together for Rave on Avon - a wrist band will get you in to places like Blue Mountain, Lakota and Mr Wolfs. Speaking of wristbands, although there are stalls and stages around Bristol, the main stages require a wristband, that can either be bought for one day, both days or both nights. It's a shame that this festival usually falls around the same weekend that first year uni students move into halls as it means they miss out on the opportunity to experience what is fast becoming a classic Bristol event. The festival is all about volunteering and the organisers hold regular consultations and fundraiser club nights throughout the year so that the festival can go ahead.

This is a slightly belated review - the shitstorm surrounding ATP's Jabberwocky is currently going…read moredown which makes me even more impressed with how Temples handled everything, given they're a brand new festival catering to a pretty small market. Temples is a 3-day festival in May with a bill full of sludge, doom, death, and black metallers as well as a healthy infusion of hardcore and crust punk - similar in scope to Leeds' Damnation Festival. A happy lineup then. 2014 saw the festival headlined by Electric Wizard, Neurosis, and Clutch - I went for the first two days which contained a near-ideal lineup of bands I like. Firstly, where do you put a bunch of metalheads? The simple answer to that is in a skate park in the industrial area of the city where no-one really goes at the weekend. I can tell that Motion is probably a pretty filthy, Skins-esque club. Just a inkling. Pros: - actually a pretty good venue all-in-all. Decent sized, big sound system. - incredible lineup - 1 hour of Amenra + 2 hours of Neurosis was pretty much the ultimate cathartic experience. - awesome artwork - one of the main pieces was worked on in the main foyer throughout the weekend. - very responsive organisation: some logistical things were tried, failed, and promptly removed. Other concerns were addressed quickly. - helpful on-site staff (one of them told my friend how they were initially expecting trouble from the crowd but were shocked by how nice they are...especially compared to the raves which take place at the venue). Cons: - problems with food vendors who didn't show up so the queues for very mediocre chips was huuuge. - not great beer. Beer geeks and music geeks are often one and the same. Red Stripe and Guinness doesn't quite cut it with this crowd. - The venue is a bit awkward in that the only way to the second stage is via the main stage. Stage times were generally alternated between the two stages, so you got a bit of a logjam in the adjoining area which was not ideal. For a first time event, I was really impressed. Teething problems were on the whole addressed pretty swiftly and you can tell the management are passionate about what they're doing. Next year (2015) has acts such as Converge, Pig Destroyer, Nails, and Celeste. The lineup's looking rather more uptempo than this year, sounds like it'll be a great one. They're expecting you...

A wonderful place to go for Sunday lunch, but get there early as lunches are served on a first come…read morefirst served basis. Choices are usually Beef, Cheken, Lamb (thoroughly recommend), or Vegetarian. Wonderful outside area that can be used all year round. Very friendly, family and dog oriented.

The food was amazing The service was incredible…read moreThe atmosphere was great My child really enjoyed it

Fantastic event, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is by far the best day out of the year in…read moreBristol (One of my top 5 events in the world) They have night glows on the Thursday and Saturday witch is superb. I highly recommend that this be on your to do list.

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is one the major world events in the ballooning calendar. Each summer…read morethe skies of Bristol are dotted with balloons as people come to celebrate being able to float around without any motor propelling you. A little commercialised, this event is not quite as quaint as one would imagine. It is magical to watch the ballons getting heated up (I'm sure that's not the technical term) and into the air, though. Go there in the evening when the 'Night Glows' will be taking place for the best experience. It's a pretty big event and this year the roads were jammed around Ashton Court, where it's held. I recommend trying to park in nearby Clifton and walking over the Suspension bridge if you must drive at all (check that the bridge is open). Don't worry too much if you can't make at all, the sight of balloons sailing through the sky can be seen from all over Bristol and is an event enough itself.

The first pub you get to from the bear pit going to Stokes Croft. This looks generally like a good…read morepub for groups of people (which it is) but it has a surprising secret in also having great food and well-looked after beer. Their food is organic and very tasty. They aren't mean on their portion size either. They have six beers on at a time, often Gem, Doom Bar and Deuchers IPA and last time I went they had Golden Hare and Butcombe. They have a full bar, interestingly some vegan wine, and live jazz on a Monday (8-10pm) which means they get a mixed crowd of friendly crusties, backpackers staying upstairs and those who like food and beer which is not a bad thing. Vibe is always friendly and chatty. I have felt comfortable here as a couple and with a group of about 20 of us trying to organise a new year party whilst eating lunch and having a beer - the staff handled our comings and goings with ease. Pub is open til 11-ish (12-ish on the weekends) and they have the next door Attic Bar for later nights.

The Full Moon's rising over Stoke's Croft - a backpacker hotel, a bar, a club, a party venue, and a…read moredamned fine attempt at a gastro-menu - this place has got it all. For banging tunes - hot new DJs in the Attic Bar - fluro lights and fancy cocktails. For chilled largers and perfectly cooked organic steaks head for the Full Moon pub on the opposite side of the courtyard. Fancy a kip in a comfy (if basic) room for less than forty quid a night? Head upstairs to the hostel. To top it all - they play host to the Bristol festival, Drum 'n' Bass nights and great gigs - officially the hottest venue in the 'up and coming' Stokes Croft area right now, and deservedly so, methinks.

The Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre is the largest of its kind in Europe. Each year they expand in ever…read morediversifying directions, making it a centrally located, multi-faceted event that has something for everyone, especially families. It's essentially an inner city festival, that spans a weekend. These days The Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre concentrates a lot of its efforts in keeping people entertained as well as educated and informed of the new developments in all things green and edible. The entrance fee is justified for the bands alone, especially considering that 3 Daft Monkeys are putting in an appearance this year. It also features an eco cinema and eco art exhibition this year too. Always well attended, this event is a lot of fun, always buzzing, always refreshing. With more stalls this year than ever before, there will be plenty of delicious food to sample and innovative gadgets and devices to see. Let's hope the weather will be kind to them again this year.

Never a dull moment in Bristol, particularly in the summer months, there seems to be almost…read moresomething going on every weekend. This year, on 29th-30th May is the Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre, which as the name suggests is geared towards all things green. You will be hard pushed to find much meat around, but you will find over 140 stalls with some tasty vegeterian options. There are lots of things going on; cookery classes, veggie awards, live music, presentations... all of which are expected to be seen by around 8000 people over the weekend! A great day out for all the family, here's hoping the weather will be nice. If you've been wanting to become a bit more eco friendly then this is the perfect place to pick up some hints and tips about what you can practically do to make a difference.

Roast Dinner - Didn't expect it to be this good !! As its a night music venue aswell i kind of…read moreexpected the food to be abit slack but how wrong was I.... They only had a sunday lunch small menu as i assume they change the menu often. But we both had a 'Turbo Island Chicken' meal. Which came out with sharing platters of the vegetables, roast pots, homemade yorkshire pudding slices, and a jug of gravy to share. The chicken was cooked just perfect. I like that you can help yourself to veggie etc from the platters. We had extra cauliflower cheese dish aswell. The bar has a large selection ciders, ales & wines! Has a smoking area out the back. At night the tables are moved to clear way for the dance floor. I haven't been here since it was 'The Bank' but i like what they have done with it. I will be back again to try the mid week menu

Love love love The Love Inn!…read more A group of us went on Sunday for roast dinner, having seen another review on Yelp we decided to give it a go! The decors great, it's got loads of disco balls, cool art work and funky lights. The tables are rustic wooden benches, and there's 4-5 booths along the wall. We had the big booth which looks out on to stokes croft so perfect for people watching. It was a bit snug for the 11 of us but it worked. We ordered at the bar and paid separately which was good with a large group of us. The food came out with in about 10-15 minutes. I had the Turbo Island Chicken (Turbo Island is an infamous landmark of Stokes Croft), served with roast potatoes and a fat Yorkshire pudding, yum!! The chicken was really tender and the roasters really crispy. The veg is served on big sharing trays, we had mashed carrots, red and white cabbage, And a jar of gravy, it looked great I loved that everyone could just tuck in and help them selves. The food was great and there were 11 very clear plates which days it all really! On a Sunday they have 'back at ours' after dinner the lights are dimmed, decks out and the DJ plays some tunage. I really liked it here on a Sunday night, it had a really nice vibe. I haven't enjoyed it so much when I have visited on Friday and Saturday night. I can see us spending many Sundays back at theirs and will definitely be bringing the gang again!