SY catches up with Bristol’s favourite, liveliest and hairiest son, Justin Lee Collins – host of The Saturday Night Project on da telly – to talk everything Brizzle!

What are three things you love about Bristol?
Well there’s an awful lot to love! I’ll give you a whole list of things and you can pick out three:
First Bristol is a beautiful city; I love the architecture, we’re surrounded by stunning countryside and we’re close to the coast.
It’s an incredibly friendly city, it’s officially the happiest city in Britain and it’s very laid back. It’s very, very easy to make friends here.
It’s a very individual and independent city, we’re not trying to be anything else; Manchester has referred to itself as the London of the North but we don’t call ourselves the London of the South West.
It’s easy to get around; you don’t need a car cos you can walk everywhere, or cycle, or skate. Everything’s on your doorstep, everything you could possibly want: bars, pubs, restaurants, coffee shops – oh, and it’s more cosmopolitan than a lot of people realise!

How do you view students as a part of the city?
Oh well, they are an integral, essential part of Bristol city life because if it wasn’t for the student population, if it wasn’t for the popularity of our two universities, then that whole wonderful scene – the great coffee shops that spring up, the bars, restaurants, eateries, boutiques and funky shops – just would not be there, and that’s the truth.

What are some of your favourite areas and landmarks of Bristol?
Well, you’ve got Gloucester Road which is fantastic.
We’ve got the longest Georgian crescent in Europe – Royal York in Clifton of course – and the largest Georgian square in Queen’s Square which is where I proposed to my wife. I just love that whole King Street area.
We’ve got one of the most magnificent bridges in the world, the Suspension Bridge of course. I absolutely adore the Downs; I spent as much time up there in the summer as possible.
Brandon Hill is great too and I love the Harbourside: the Arnolfini side of the harbour is great, I love to sit outside there with a drink.
I’ve got lots of favourite spots!

What are your top 5 pubs in Bristol?
I’ve got a few favourites!
I love the White Lion pub by the Avon Gorge cos that’s just got the best terrace; it’s wonderful there on a summer’s day.
I love the Clyde Arms in Redland cos that’s where I play my darts.
There’s a big student population in Frenchay so the White Lion pub there, right on the common, that’s a great place to sit and have a drink.
I like The Mall in Clifton Village, I go in there quite a bit for a drink.
I frequent lots of places; a great spot to sit is just on the steps at Browns and watch the world go by. That’s probably one of the best places in the city.

What advice would you give to a new student starting out in the city?
You’ve got it all on your doorstep so get yourself out there; you’re gonna love it! Bristol’s my home, I’ve never lived anywhere else and I will never leave; I absolutely love it and there’s nowhere else in the world I would rather be. Good times.

Matthew Whittle www.matthewwhittleblog.blogspot.com