Yoma Smith is marketing manager at University of Bristol Students’ Union and corporate strategy consultant supporting this year’s Yardstick Literature Festival, which takes place between June 27 and 30.
Here are Yoma’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Mayfest
“Bristol is the arts and culture capital of the world. Fact! And a top-five current cultural event for me is Mayfest. It’s like the annual precursor to Bristol’s concentration of summertime events. More importantly, it delivers a fabulous variety of contemporary and alternative theatre.”
Paper Cinema at Mayfest 2013 – photo by Paul Blakemore
Gloucester Road
“The most vibrant, diversely-resourced, physically and culturally connected thoroughfare I’ve ever had the pleasure of living near. Some days I walk from the Wellington pub to Stokes Croft, popping in and out of every other shop to buy food, clothes, accessories and ornaments; generally inhaling the vibes of such a cool hub of culture.”
Bristol Central Library
“I love words, the use of words and the compilation of words. So the Central Library (below) is much to me like Hogwarts is to the Harry Potter enthusiast. Firstly, for its fundamental purpose. And secondly, for its architecture; modern with medieval accents, grand yet not imposing. It’s the perfect home to store tonnes and tonnes of compilations of words, written and spoken, to learn, entertain or simply pass the time. Speaking of passing the time, the library will play host to excited gatherings of word enthusiasts when the Yardstick Literature Festival comes to town.”
St Nicholas Market
“A vibrant market in which to shop for all manner of standard and or quirky goods; then settle down to enjoy scrumptious fresh cuisine from all corners of the globe. I love the buzz, the variety, the alert and smiling faces, the building, the history, the location at the heart of the city. It’s one of the most purposeful places and experiences in Bristol.”
Green credentials
“Two in one if I may, starting with green spaces. A main attraction for me when I moved to Bristol were the number and accessibility of beautiful green spaces. I love how they are maintained and put to such great use for everyone from Queen Square to St Andrew’s Park, the Downs to Ashton Court, Canford Park, Blaise Castle, Castle Park, Mina Road Park (below) and dozens more. And onto green principles, with Bristol being at the forefront of most green initiatives in the UK. We have a thriving green economy with a multitude of organisations driving the agendas for ethical and sustainable food, clothing, energy, travel tourism, planning and much more. Bristol is truly deserving of the European Green Capital award. Come on 2015!”
