Latest news with #TheAssemblyHouse
The Independent
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Artist draws Bristol's pubs to celebrate ‘one of the best things' about Britain
An artist has said he aspires to create a book featuring his drawings of pubs in Bristol to celebrate the quintessential British establishment which he said is 'one of the best things about this country'. Frank Morris, 30, moved to Easton, Bristol, roughly two years ago from Kentish Town in north-west London. During the Covid lockdown, he decided he needed some fresh air and wanted to draw outside. He was struck by the 'beautiful' Victorian architecture of The Assembly House, his local pub at the time in Kentish Town, and drew it in his sketchbook over three days. From there, he went on to draw around 19 further pubs in London before turning his attention to Bristol's watering holes. The Golden Guinea, The Old Bookshop and The Cornubia are just some of Bristol's pubs he has replicated in ink. 'What I loved after drawing the first pub was speaking to all the passers-by who were interested in the drawing and were telling me things about the pub and that gave me the buzz and motivation to find more pubs and continue drawing them,' Mr Morris told the PA news agency. 'I've drawn around 30, and counting, in Bristol and I have an ambition to one day get a book published on Bristol pubs featuring my art and local history. 'I've been in Bristol for just over two years now and you think you've found all your favourite pubs and then you realise around the corner, tucked away, there's another amazing pub you haven't discovered yet. 'It's also a fun way to discover the city.' Mr Morris can often be found walking around the city with a fisherman stool in tow so he can find an optimum spot to begin the drawing process, which he documents on Instagram via the account @frankspubdrawings. 'I sit in front of the pub, usually on the other side of the pavement, and try to get a good angle,' he said. 'I use a 0.1mm pen and do a quick thumbnail sketch, usually on an A4 paper, and then basically take my time and try to get the proportions by eye, freehand, and normally do it over two sittings.' Mr Morris said it can take anywhere between five and 10 hours to complete each drawing, but it can take longer if it rains or unexpected things happen, including a van parking in front of his subject of choice. He decides which pubs to draw through a mix of ways, including getting commissions from pub staff, asking for recommendations from Instagram or depicting establishments which take his fancy. Mr Morris tries to include personal touches to his art wherever possible. 'I've got to work on some really lovely commissions over the last few years,' he said. 'Quite a common one is first date spots and I offer to, if they want, in a subtle way, to add them in the drawing. 'They'll send me photos of them and then maybe hidden through a window I'll add their silhouette, which has been really sweet. 'Recently, I also drew The Cornubia and I met the landlord Jackie as she was leaving and she loved the drawing as I got her dog in it.' Mr Morris said he has noticed some differences between the pubs he has illustrated in London and Bristol. 'Bristol has a really big graffiti culture, so it's not uncommon for pubs to be covered in amazing murals, which I think is really special and adds to the character of this city,' he said. 'London has a lot of really old Victorian pubs or brickwork.' At a time when the pub industry is facing a lot of changes and upheaval, Mr Morris said he feels his project is even more paramount as a means of championing the significant impact they have on British society. 'When you're drawing the pubs and speaking with passers-by and bar staff, it really highlights how important pubs are to local communities,' he said. 'I think around 400 pubs in England and Wales closed in 2024 due to things like the cost-of-living crisis and Covid, and my project is all about celebrating pubs and how we should cherish them while they're here as I've drawn a few pubs which have now sadly closed. 'Like a lot of people, I love pubs – I think they're probably one of the best things about this country. 'They're like small microcosms with their own little quirks and there's so much history in each pub you go to.'
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Artist draws Bristol's pubs to celebrate ‘one of the best things' about Britain
An artist has said he aspires to create a book featuring his drawings of pubs in Bristol to celebrate the quintessential British establishment which he said is 'one of the best things about this country'. Frank Morris, 30, moved to Easton, Bristol, roughly two years ago from Kentish Town in north-west London. During the Covid lockdown, he decided he needed some fresh air and wanted to draw outside. He was struck by the 'beautiful' Victorian architecture of The Assembly House, his local pub at the time in Kentish Town, and drew it in his sketchbook over three days. From there, he went on to draw around 19 further pubs in London before turning his attention to Bristol's watering holes. The Golden Guinea, The Old Bookshop and The Cornubia are just some of Bristol's pubs he has replicated in ink. 'What I loved after drawing the first pub was speaking to all the passers-by who were interested in the drawing and were telling me things about the pub and that gave me the buzz and motivation to find more pubs and continue drawing them,' Mr Morris told the PA news agency. 'I've drawn around 30, and counting, in Bristol and I have an ambition to one day get a book published on Bristol pubs featuring my art and local history. 'I've been in Bristol for just over two years now and you think you've found all your favourite pubs and then you realise around the corner, tucked away, there's another amazing pub you haven't discovered yet. 'It's also a fun way to discover the city.' Mr Morris can often be found walking around the city with a fisherman stool in tow so he can find an optimum spot to begin the drawing process, which he documents on Instagram via the account @frankspubdrawings. 'I sit in front of the pub, usually on the other side of the pavement, and try to get a good angle,' he said. 'I use a 0.1mm pen and do a quick thumbnail sketch, usually on an A4 paper, and then basically take my time and try to get the proportions by eye, freehand, and normally do it over two sittings.' Mr Morris said it can take anywhere between five and 10 hours to complete each drawing, but it can take longer if it rains or unexpected things happen, including a van parking in front of his subject of choice. He decides which pubs to draw through a mix of ways, including getting commissions from pub staff, asking for recommendations from Instagram or depicting establishments which take his fancy. Mr Morris tries to include personal touches to his art wherever possible. 'I've got to work on some really lovely commissions over the last few years,' he said. 'Quite a common one is first date spots and I offer to, if they want, in a subtle way, to add them in the drawing. 'They'll send me photos of them and then maybe hidden through a window I'll add their silhouette, which has been really sweet. 'Recently, I also drew The Cornubia and I met the landlord Jackie as she was leaving and she loved the drawing as I got her dog in it.' Mr Morris said he has noticed some differences between the pubs he has illustrated in London and Bristol. 'Bristol has a really big graffiti culture, so it's not uncommon for pubs to be covered in amazing murals, which I think is really special and adds to the character of this city,' he said. 'London has a lot of really old Victorian pubs or brickwork.' At a time when the pub industry is facing a lot of changes and upheaval, Mr Morris said he feels his project is even more paramount as a means of championing the significant impact they have on British society. 'When you're drawing the pubs and speaking with passers-by and bar staff, it really highlights how important pubs are to local communities,' he said. 'I think around 400 pubs in England and Wales closed in 2024 due to things like the cost-of-living crisis and Covid, and my project is all about celebrating pubs and how we should cherish them while they're here as I've drawn a few pubs which have now sadly closed. 'Like a lot of people, I love pubs – I think they're probably one of the best things about this country. 'They're like small microcosms with their own little quirks and there's so much history in each pub you go to.' Mr Morris's work can be found on Etsy:
Telegraph
13-03-2025
- Telegraph
The underrated UK cities you must visit in 2025
Bath, Edinburgh, York – there are some cities in the United Kingdom that hog the limelight (and that's before even considering the tourist appeal of London). But there are 76 cities in total across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all of which are home to burgeoning arts scenes, curious local mythologies and remarkable places to stay. While they might not attract the crowds in the same way as the big names, our pick of the UK's most underrated cities – like historic Lincoln, or nature-filled Swansea – are perfect for a getaway, perhaps even more so because of how unsung appeal. Many of the places selected below have festivals or events happening in 2025, too, so this might just be the year to explore the UK's underrated cities. England Norwich There has been a surge of interest in Norwich this year: according to bookings site Expedia, search has increased by 95 per cent for the destination compared to 2024. For those looking to explore East Anglia more generally, it's a great base, allowing access to the flat expanses of the fens or the seal-filled beaches of North Norfolk. But the city itself is perfect for a getaway. In May, it will play host to a new jazz festival (May 15 to 24), while history fans will delight in visiting Norwich Castle 's keep, open to the public for the first time in its 1,000-year history. Where to stay The Assembly House, a Grade-I mansion in the centre of the city, is a popular choice. Rooms start at £244 per night. Discover more using our guide to the best hotels in Norwich. Lincoln Lincoln's Gothic cathedral dominates the skyline, and should be the first stop on any visit. The city's cobblestone streets are a charming alternative to busy Oxford – join a free walking tour to find out more about the medieval city's history, before securing a table at Reform, an award-winning restaurant which offers a popular afternoon tea. If cycling is your thing, visit during the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix and Sportive (May 11 to 12), a weekend-long extravaganza filled with races and competitions. It's one of the biggest events on the domestic cycling calendar (and it's as entertaining to watch as it is to participate). Where to stay The Rest is a chic B&B near the cathedral. Rooms start at £161 per night. Discover more using our guide to the best hotels in Lincoln. Ripon Quiet Ripon is one of our more forgotten cities, perhaps overshadowed by behemoths of the north east like Durham, Newcastle and York. Swerve further west, and explore its characterful high street. Its pretty pubs and twice-weekly market are rightfully lauded, while nearby Fountains Abbey is one of the country's most impressive ruins. If you fancy a flutter, visit the city in the summer, when Ripon Racecourse becomes the centre of attention. Where to stay For somewhere very grand, stay at Grantley Hall, situated in 30 acres of manicured parkland. Rooms start at £516 per night. For alternative options, read our guide to the best hotels in North Yorkshire. Hereford Herefordshire, on the border between England and Wales, pulls its literary punches, and the city of Hereford works as a fantastic base. There's the Hay Festival in May, and Ledbury Poetry Festival, its little sister, the following month. The area around the city is also fantastic for families: it's known for its dark skies, meaning a night under the stars can be particularly spectacular. Whether it's glamping in bell tents or perching in the treetops, the city – and its rural setting – offers some of the country's most memorable places to stay. Pack your walking boots, plus plenty of marshmallows for the campfire. Where to stay The Castle House Hotel, a Georgian townhouse, has an excellent restaurant and bar. Rooms start at £185 per night. Discover more using our guide to the best hotels in Herefordshire. Southend-on-Sea Southend, like many seaside settlements, has long had a reputation for being unlovable. But beneath the surface, it is secretly transforming into a modern coastal destination. The beachfront has all the charms of your traditional, Victorian resort – think arcades, fish and chips and the world's longest pleasure pier. Head into the city, though, and you'll find a more modern offering, like Sababa, a stylish coffee shop serving unbeatable falafel. Where to stay The Seven Hotel offers views across the water to the North Kent coast. Rooms start at £166 per night. Discover more using our guide to the best hotels in Essex. Scotland Dundee Plucky Dundee is, quietly, the place to visit in Scotland this year. Edinburgh and Glasgow might get all the attention, but this lively city is bursting with new activities. Take the V&A, where children can shimmy their way through 'Design, Play, Dance', an interactive exhibition for all ages. Thrillseekers should explore the River Tay via a high octane boat trip, or bounce along an inflatable assault course at Wild Shore. Those looking for something a little calmer might be pleased to know that Dundee is the UK's only Unesco City of Design – be sure to stop, look around, and admire its remarkable architecture. Where to stay Our expert gave a glowing review of Hotel Indigo Dundee, which was lauded as 'proof that chain hotels don't have to be boring'. Rooms start at £58 per night. Or find out more using our guide to the best hotels in Dundee. Perth Walter Scott called Perth the 'Fair City', and its picturesque setting makes it easy to see why. It's a place that happily celebrates its past, something especially evident at the Perth Museum. A £26.5 million upgrade has given prominence to the Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of Scottish royalty. Outside, the city is ideal for bracing walks. Wander through Quarrymill Woodland Park, explore the manicured grounds of Branklyn Garden, or find yourself getting lost in Scone Palace 's 'Tartan Maze.' Where to stay Head out into the countryside and spend the night at Ballintaggart Farm, a 'glorious gastronomic hideaway'. Prices start at £125 per night. Discover more using our guide to the best hotels in Perthshire. Wales Newport Swap Cardiff for Newport this year. The city, only around 13 miles from the capital, is home to a plethora of cultural spots, including Wales's National Roman Legion Museum. Younger children will delight in dressing up as foot soldiers, while teenagers will secretly adore planning their imperial enclave. For something quieter, there's the National Trust property Tredegar House, a 17th-century mansion surrounded by parkland. And Newport's Wetlands Reserve, along the Severn Estuary, is one of the most important places for wildlife in the country. Where to stay The Celtic Manor Resort is renowned for its spa and golf course. Rooms start at £159 per night. Discover more using our guide to the best hotels in Newport. Swansea Beach holidays in the UK are becoming contentious, especially as locals report unhappiness with overcrowding in popular destinations like Cornwall. Swerve the hotspots, and visit Swansea instead, where 20 beaches dot the coastline. It's a fantastic place for surfing – learn to catch a wave at Gower Surf School or Progress Surf School. Or take to the water in a kayak at Oxwich Bay, where the water is much less choppy. In the city itself, it's all about food – head to the market for lunch, then the Michelin-starred Beach House for dinner. Where to stay The Grand Hotel is an accessible budget option near the railway. Rooms from £86 per night. Or read more in our guide to the best hotels in Wales. Northern Ireland Armagh Armagh is 'the home of St Patrick', and as the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, acts as a sort of Vatican City for the island. To find out more, visit during the annual festival (March 9 to 17), which celebrates the connection with the country's patron saint and includes a series of talks, dance performances, and whiskey masterclasses. Away from its religious history, Armagh is known for its Georgian architecture, which is illuminated with a light show from November 27 to 30. It makes for a fascinating alternative to Bath: be sure to visit Robinson Library, built in 1771 for the Archbishop's collection of tomes. Where to stay Leave the city and stay at Killeavy Castle Estate, described as the 'most stylish hotel in Northern Ireland'. Rooms start at £205 per night. Read more in our guide to the best hotels in Northern Ireland.
