My Bristol Favourites: Daryn Carter

Daryn Carter is programming & partnerships director for Bristol Pride.

Due to step down in 2019 after ten years curating the festival, Daryn stayed on to help the organisation through the pandemic and to ensure that the Pride festival was able to keep the LGBTQ+ community connected.

He was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to the LGBTQ+ community as well as the freedom of the city of Bristol.

These are Daryn’s top-five Bristol favourites:

Squeezed

Squeezed currently operates from a pair of converted shipping containers on Gaol Ferry Steps – photo: Martin Booth

“Bristol has a wonderful burger scene and it is hard to choose but I just love Squeezed. Their burgers are amazing and it has become that place I take every friend that visits me in Bristol. Sharp homemade lemonades and make mine the St Werburger! Of course you’ve got to try the Gochujang burger sauce with your fries! Nestled in the Cargo containers at Wapping Wharf, it’s also just a great spot to enjoy.”

St Andrew’s Park

The Tea Garden in St Andrew’s Park serves food including sandwiches, toasties and cakes – photo: Martin Booth

“I’m really lucky to live close to St Andrew’s Park and during the pandemic it was a lifeline. I got to know the park very well just meandering about. It’s just a really lovely park with amazing trees, plants and lots of green space to chill out. I’m even on a nighttime bat walk organised by a local group there soon. The cafe serves Paletas ice lollies too, which are Mexican real fruit lollies and are wonderful and refreshing on a sunny day.”

Watershed

The Watershed has marked Pride by painting their stairs – photo: Martin Booth

“Watershed is such a lovely venue and space. Recently celebrating their 40th birthday, it has such a rich cultural heritage, lovely views of the harbourside and even hosted Pride events back in the 80s too! It is so much more than just a cinema. It’s got a great bar too, great food and is a place you can grab a coffee and catch up on work between meetings if you are in town too. It’s always buzzing and is a place I know I’ll see people I know no matter what time of day I go.”

Pasta Ripiena

Pasta Ripiena is the sister restaurant of Pasta Loco, Bianchis, Pizza Bianchi and Cotto – photo: Martin Booth

“Introduced to me by one of my total foodie friends, Pasta Ripiena on St Stephen’s Street is a must-go-to place for special occasions, friends visiting or, well, whenever you need your pasta hit! The food is incredible, the service so warm and friendly and the focaccia is to die for. It’s where my partner Freddie and I have celebrated our anniversary for the last few years.”

Bristol Gaymers at Kongs

Kongs has a bar on King Street in Bristol and St Mary Street in Cardiff – photo: Martin Booth

“The Gaymers are a fully LGBT+ inclusive social group who host monthly board and video game events at Kongs on King Street, and their Sunday afternoons are always worth the trip into town. I’m a gamer myself, and expanding from Pokemon over the last few years have been getting into board gaming. The group helps everyone get involved and play new games with new people, and Kongs have a great selection of drinks on tap (I’m always excited for a rhubarb cider!). They also host regular board game nights at OMG which are great for a weekday outing.”

Main photo: Matt Whiteley

Read more: Bristol’s rainbow crossing revamped ahead of Pride 2022

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