NF01 November/December 2023
Issue one of nearfield celebrates new beginnings across the region. We get excited about the reopening of Bristol Beacon, meet the hardy dippers revelling in the cold waters of the restored Cleveland Pools, find out what the Bristol Old Vic's new artistic director has planned; and explore the vintage shops, upcycling workshops, and reclamation yards breathing fresh life into old. We also keep readers moving through winter with a guide to indoor and outdoor activities, and meet the Icebreakers in our first community takeover. Plus we round up all the best events, experiences, and food and drink in the southwest this winter.
Issue one of nearfield celebrates new beginnings across the region. We get excited about the reopening of Bristol Beacon, meet the hardy dippers revelling in the cold waters of the restored Cleveland Pools, find out what the Bristol Old Vic's new artistic director has planned; and explore the vintage shops, upcycling workshops, and reclamation yards breathing fresh life into old. We also keep readers moving through winter with a guide to indoor and outdoor activities, and meet the Icebreakers in our first community takeover. Plus we round up all the best events, experiences, and food and drink in the southwest this winter.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Cleveland Pools 53<br />
Peter Brown and his daughter Ellie, both from Bath, are<br />
at very different stages of their cold-water swimming<br />
journeys. Peter has been shivering in rivers and seas<br />
all his life, while Ellie is a complete newbie. Now they’re<br />
steeling themselves for a winter of icy dipping.<br />
Peter: “Whenever I get<br />
a chance, I go in. Rivers,<br />
seas, wherever. But this<br />
is just amazing. The<br />
stuff going into rivers<br />
isn’t nice, so this is<br />
transformational. There’s<br />
sunshine, trees, nature,<br />
all of that compared to<br />
being in an indoor pool. It<br />
is exercise, but for me it’s<br />
all about awakening your<br />
senses. I’ve got a hat and<br />
boots, I’ve got gloves, I’ve<br />
got a wetsuit, and as the<br />
winter comes along I’ll<br />
wear more of that.”<br />
“You can swim next to<br />
a complete stranger –<br />
like last week, when it<br />
was blowing a hoolie and<br />
pouring with rain – and<br />
you’re both grinning<br />
away because it’s so<br />
exhilarating. Other people<br />
are like, ‘What, they’re<br />
heating it in summer and<br />
not winter?’ You can see<br />
them thinking that makes<br />
no sense. My wife says to<br />
tell her when it’s switched<br />
on and she’ll join us; she’s<br />
not bothered by us saying<br />
how great it is.”<br />
Ellie: “This is only my<br />
second time here. Dad<br />
has been trying to get<br />
me to go cold-water<br />
swimming for years and<br />
now this is open I don’t<br />
have any excuse. When<br />
I put my head under for<br />
the first time I felt my<br />
body go into a kind of<br />
shock, but you get used<br />
to it and find a sense of<br />
calm. It’s about those<br />
happy hormones.”<br />
“It is exercise,<br />
but for me it’s all<br />
about awakening<br />
your senses”<br />
GET IN!<br />
A few other amazing<br />
places to dive in<br />
Portishead Open Air Pool<br />
Portishead, BS20 7HD<br />
With its striking mix of blue, white<br />
and orange, this iconic lido is open<br />
for cold-water swims all winter.<br />
portisheadopenairpool.org.uk<br />
Cromhall Quarry<br />
Cromhall, GL12 8AA<br />
A filled-in quarry just north of Bristol<br />
specialising in open-water swimming.<br />
You’ll need a wetsuit.<br />
cromhallquarry.com<br />
Weston Marine Lake<br />
Weston-Super-Mare, BS23 2BE<br />
A 200-metre-long infinity lake at the<br />
north end of town full of welcoming<br />
cold-water bobbers.<br />
westonmarinelake.co.uk<br />
Westbury Swimming Pool<br />
Westbury, BA13 3BY<br />
Prefer something warmer? Switch icy<br />
immersion for visual bedazzlement at<br />
Westbury’s incredible Victorian pool.<br />
wiltshire.gov.uk<br />
thenearfield.com<br />
<strong>NF01</strong>