Our award-winning creative event series turns 10 this year, double figures! We can’t quite believe it.
When we started Gather Round Presents back in June 2024, we knew we had something good but it’s evolved into something truly special and that’s all down to you, the creative community, our followers and fans. Extending a heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s been involved over the past two years; to our speakers, audience, sponsors and team – you’re the bees.
So, with all that being said, it’s safe to say that we are extremely excited to announce our speaker line up for our tenth edition on Thursday 4th June: “Taste – How to Harness Your Creative Superpower”. Over the course of a couple of hours, our speakers will explore how, in a world saturated with content and repetition, having a distinct point of view is what cuts through the noise – and how learning to trust your own taste is what turns individuality into your greatest creative advantage. Coming from nine different viewpoints across the spectrum of the creative industries, our speakers are poised and ready with gems of knowledge that, hopefully, will inspire you far beyond the walls of our beloved Brunswick Square.
Sponsored by the wonderful people at Boardwalk – a lifestyle focused estate agency selling some of the most beautiful homes in Bristol. With an eye for thoughtful interiors and genuinely great design taste, they’re the go-to people for homes with character, style, and soul.
You can of course expect the usual, delicious free pizza from our good friends Pizzucci, a free raffle with some top notch prizes and this time there’s even a free beer from Boardwalk for the first 20 x people that get through the door.
Tim Gresham aka Penfold
Tim is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans painting, print, and visual experimentation. Check out the amazing paint job on this VW Baja Bug!
When it comes to a truly distinctive visual identity, Penfold stands apart. From the streets of Bristol and Cambridge to cities across Europe and beyond, his work is instantly recognisable. One glimpse of a mural is enough – it’s unmistakably his. Defined by a bold, intuitive use of colour and an interest in layered compositions, Tim’s work strikes the balance between spontaneity and a deep understanding of material and process.
We can’t to hear him speak about his creative journey – how he’s developed his taste, refined his voice, and built such a striking identity over the past 20 years as a working artist.
TJA
Beyond her life as a singer-songwriter, TJA brings her signature blend of soulful storytelling and quiet confidence to her role as co-host of The Library Podcast. Known for her genre-fluid approach to music, she carries that same curiosity into every episode, viewing each guest’s story as a unique composition.
For TJA, every conversation is an exploration of the human experience; introspective, experimental, and always deeply personal. Her professional life is a harmony of creative and strategic pursuits; balancing her own artistry with a career in sync music which has given her a grounded understanding of how a song moves from an intimate idea out into the world.
Driven by a commitment to her community, TJA is exploring her voice in new ways, expanding into presenting and industry panel talks, a new platform to share her journey and insights on ‘becoming’ in the creative arts. And the exploration doesn’t stop there – alongside her presenting exploits, TJA leads music production workshops for women, demystifying the technical side of the craft to empower female creators to take full ownership of their sound. Whether she’s behind the desk at The Library, navigating the publishing landscape or mentoring in the studio – her work is defined by the belief that every story deserves to be told with intention and soul.
Helen Liang
As a Gather Round Presents supporter since day one, we’re incredibly excited to finally welcome Helen Liang onto the stage. A familiar face within Bristol’s creative community, Helen has spent years championing thoughtful collaboration, creative experimentation and meaningful innovation across a wide range of industries. Known for her ability to bring people together around complex ideas, she has built a reputation as both a strategic thinker and an energising facilitator – so naturally, expectations are high.
Helen works as a creative consultant specialising in insight and innovation, helping organisations and teams test, learn and grow through structured creativity. Her work sits at the intersection of strategy, research and facilitation, supporting people to navigate uncertainty, unlock new thinking and turn ambitious ideas into practical action. Whether she’s leading workshops, shaping innovation programmes or helping teams reframe difficult challenges, Helen thrives in what she describes as the “deep-middle”. The messy, often uncomfortable space where the most meaningful breakthroughs tend to happen.
For Helen, taste isn’t a fixed identity or polished endpoint – it’s something that develops through action, curiosity and a willingness to sit with discomfort. In her talk, she’ll explore the idea that building taste means embracing tension: between intuition and logic, confidence and uncertainty, structure and play. She sees taste as an evolving “state of doing” rather than something static. Expect insights into creative growth, collaborative thinking and why staying curious is so important.
Jess Knights
Jess is a Bristol-based illustrator and creative facilitator working across mixed media to create textured, playful and engaging visual work. Her practice combines paints, pens, pastels, collage and digital design to produce illustrations and murals that help organisations communicate ideas in a warm, accessible way. Much of Jess’s client work focuses on the health, social and environmental sectors, where she collaborates with charities, public organisations and community-focused brands to create visuals that connect people and ideas. Her clients and collaborators have included organisations such as Forestry England, Coeliac UK and community groups across Bristol.
Alongside her illustration practice, Jess runs creative workshops across Bristol designed to help people feel more confident, playful and expressive in their approach to making. Her workshops, including Drink & Draw sessions and seasonal illustration clubs, encourage people of all abilities to experiment. Jess regularly hosts workshops in independent venues across the city as well as facilitating private sessions for teams, community groups and organisations.
In her talk, Jess will explore the idea that taste isn’t something you suddenly “discover”, but something that develops gradually through curiosity, repetition and attention. Drawing from her own creative journey, she’ll discuss how personal taste is shaped by lived experience, visual references, experimentation and the things we instinctively keep coming back to.
Neil Fox
Fox has spent decades building brands across agencies, startups and global businesses. After launching his first ad agency at 27 and later founding a brand consultancy, he went on to spend 10 years helping grow Pukka into the globally recognised brand it is today, before joining Unilever as Global Creative and Digital Director across its tea brands! Big stuff!
Today, Fox runsArtichoke – a bespoke furniture and interiors company providing some of the most gorgeous hand-crafted pieces we’ve ever seen. On top of this, Fox also works as CMO forSt Eval. Across both roles, his work focuses on creativity, brand strategy and building meaningful connections between brands and people.
In his talk, Neil will reflect on how taste develops through experience, instinct and perspective – shaped by years of making creative decisions across very different environments. Expect thoughts on branding, creative growth and why, ultimately, the only currency that really matters is time.
Rene Katiisa
Rene Karen Katiisa is a Ugandan-born British actor, theatre-maker, creative director and cultural producer based in Bristol. A trained performer with a background spanning theatre, education and community work, Rene’s creative practice is rooted in storytelling, accessibility and lived experience. After studying at the BRIT School and graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama, she performed with the National Youth Theatre and worked with organisations including Battersea Arts Centre, Frantic Assembly and Complicite collaborators, contributing to award-winning productions and large-scale creative projects.
Alongside her creative work, Rene spent 25 years working in the public sector, leading education and advocacy projects supporting children in care across Bristol. In recent years, she has returned fully to her artistic practice, developing theatre and interdisciplinary work exploring identity, disability, displacement, motherhood and belonging. Her recent projects include performances with Bristol Old Vic, contributions to the Decolonising Disability in the Arts residency, and presenting autobiographical work through the Culture Biz Incubator Programme and Diverse Artists Network Mini Diaspora Festival.
Seb Alexander
Seb is a photographer, director and filmmaker specialising in real human stories across music, food and fashion. Working across atmospheric portraiture, lifestyle campaigns and documentary projects, his work is rooted in storytelling – creating images and films that feel natural, thoughtful and emotionally grounded.
With a style that balances honesty and atmosphere, Seb’s projects often focus on capturing people, places and moments in a way that feels enduring rather than over-produced. Whether working on commercial campaigns or longer-form documentary work, his approach is shaped by curiosity, observation and a strong visual sensitivity to mood, connection and character.
Sarah O’Connell
Sarah is Head of Copy at Mr B & Friends where she helps shape distinctive brands through strategy, language and creative thinking. A self-described “oddball”, she’s drawn to ideas that feel slightly unexpected, with a particular interest in the details, instincts and cultural references that make creative work feel memorable and human.
Over the course of her career, Sarah has become increasingly interested in the idea of cultivating taste – and how intuition, gut feeling and personal obsessions often play a bigger role in creativity than we like to admit. Her work explores how following curiosity, leaning into niche interests and trusting instinct can help create ideas that genuinely cut through.
Ross Hawkins
Ross spent a decade helping transform a small London bike manufacturer into an internationally recognised lifestyle brand, working at the intersection of culture, design and brand growth. Now consulting with startups and businesses in transition, he brings experience shaped by working alongside brands and individuals who have each influenced taste in their own distinct way – including Palace, Freitag, Kenzo, LCD Soundsystem, David Millar and Tom Dixon.
In his talk, Ross will explore how taste shapes the way brands grow, the directions they take, and the cultural signals they choose to follow. Expect reflections on branding, influence and the strange ways our own tastes can evolve – or occasionally lead us completely astray.
Well, if that lineup hasn’t got you excited we don’t know what will.
Tickets will be released this week, so keep an eye out for an email from us inviting you to come along, for FREE. If you aren’t signed up to our newsletter yet, what are you waiting for? Sign up here to be the first to get your hands on a ticket.
Want to run your own event in our space? You’re in luck, as we have five amazing spaces for hire across Bristol and Bath. Get in touch with Hannah, our Events Manager, to find out more on pricing and availability.
You can also keep up to date with Gather Round by following us on instagram!
Becoming a member of Bristol Creative Industries brings many benefits. We regularly add new opportunities so here is a guide to the latest benefits you can enjoy by signing up. This post is regularly updated.
Join Bristol Creative Industries here.
Appear in the member directory
Showcase your best work and attract new clients with a company profile in the Bristol Creative Industries member directory. The directory receives lots of visits every month from people looking for services from creative businesses.
Self-publish content
Got some business advice or news to share? As a Bristol Creative Industries member you can self-publish content on our website and it will automatically appear on your member profile. We upgrade great content to the newsfeed and homepage, while four posts by members are included in our monthly email newsletter.
To get an idea of the content topics that do well, here are the top 30 most popular posts by members in 2025.
Bristol Creative Industries member Jessica Morgan from Carnsight Communications discussed the benefits of posting content in this interview.
Advertise jobs on the BCI jobs board
The Bristol Creative Industries jobs board attracts thousands of job hunters every month. Business members can post unlimited free job adverts, saving you on average £3,500 per candidate.
Piers Tincknell, co-founder of Atomic Smash, is one of BCI’s longest serving members and he told us in a member profile interview how he regularly uses the jobs board to recruit new employees.
Attend members’ lunches
BCI’s monthly members’ lunches are a perfect opportunity for members to catch up with fellow members and the BCI team.
Everyone has a slot of up to three minutes to tell the others a little about who they are and what they do and share any news and/or challenges. You don’t need to fill the full three minutes. We usually find some common themes emerge to discuss over the course of the session. It’s all very informal with no need to stand up and present slides.
The events are free to attend for members, take place at The Square Club in Bristol and include a free buffet lunch.
Check the events section of details of the next lunches.
Discounts for keynotes, workshops and other events
Our flagship keynote events and workshops feature world class speakers sharing their expertise. It’s a unique opportunity to access valuable insights for growing your business. Bristol Creative Industries members receive a ticket discount.
An example of a keynote event is the brilliant annual presentation on social media trends delivered by Drew Benvie, founder of global social media consultancy Battenhall.
Our regular freelancer networking drinks events in Bristol are free with a free drink for members. It takes place several times during the year. Freelancer drinks still to come this year are on 23 June, 8 September and 10 November. Book for 23 June here and 8 September here. Registation for 10 November will open later in the year.
Keen an eye on the events section for the latest events. You can also sign up to the monthly BCI Bulletin to be notified of events.
Attend and host Wake Up Call
Wake Up Call is a member exclusive live webinar that takes place every other Friday at 8.30-9am. The content is delivered by members for members.
Attending the free event gives you access to valuable insights from your fellow members and if you host a Wake Up Call, you can share your expertise and attract potential new clients.
See details for upcoming Wake Up Call events in our events section.
If you’re a BCI member and you’d like to deliver a presentation on a topic of your choice during a Wake Up Call, email Dan Martin.
Join our LinkedIn group with over 11,000 members
The Bristol Creative Industries LinkedIn group has more than 11,000 members and is one of the biggest creative sector focused groups on the platform.
Anyone can join the group but posting promotional content, events, jobs (that appear on the BCI site) etc is for BCI members only. See the group rules in the group description for more details.
Join the group here.
Equity, diversity and inclusion training
Research shows that diverse teams are more creative problem solvers, bringing fresh perspectives to solutions, against the echo-chamber effect that results when people in a business come from too-similar backgrounds. With a strong focus on diversity and inclusion, employees feel valued and that they belong.
To help Bristol Creative Industries members achieve this, we have partnered with The Hobbs Consultancy to provide on demand equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) e-learning.
The CPD certified online course consists of modules to help you bring about positive change in your business, understand the key challenges in the way for different groups, and explore your own biases and how to overcome them.
The training modules take an in-depth look at different diversity and inclusion topics: race, disability, LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, gender (split into female leadership, masculinity, gender identity), age and social mobility in the workplace.
The price of the training for BCI members is £120+VAT. All profits will be ploughed back into our youth engagement activity.
To access this brilliant training opportunity, log into your Bristol Creative Industries account and click on the ‘members’ training’ section.
Attend exclusive roundtables
We host regular roundtables for agency leaders to discuss strategic challenges. These events are vital for us to hear from the member community about the key issues you are facing and how we can help. A roundtable on funding led to us creating this popular and regularly updated guide to the latest finance on offer to creative businesses.
If you are interested in getting involved with future roundtables, email Alli Nicholas.
Other benefits
We regularly deliver other special member benefits. A people strategy surgery on 15 May with HR expert Richard Roberts is currently available.
To stay updated on the latest benefits, sign up to the monthly BCI Bulletin.
Discounts on workspace, hotels and more
Reductions on co-working spaces, meeting rooms, hotel accommodation, a recruitment strategy review and a coffee subscription are just some of the many discounts and offers we’ve negotiated for members.
Join Bristol Creative Industries here.
If you have any questions about membership, email Alli Nicholas
At The Square Club, we’re more than just a members’ club – we’re a hub for Bristol’s creative community. In partnership with Bristol Creative Industries, we’re delighted to offer BCI members discounted membership at just £30 a month.
Members join a unique community of creative professionals, with The Square being a space for fresh ideas, discussion, and collaboration. Alongside a vibrant events programme and dining scene, it’s a dynamic environment for working, socialising, and networking.
Our spaces include a boutique lounge, the Square Kitchen restaurant, the Lower Deck Cocktail Bar, and a hidden city-centre terrace – perfect for focusing, hosting meetings, or catching up with fellow creatives.
You may already know us from BCI’s monthly Members Lunch or Freelancers Networking Evening, where Bristol’s creative community gathers to connect and collaborate.
But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what BCI member, Mark Beavan of That Little Agency, had to say:
“I became a member of the Square Club as it offered an alternative working environment to home or the office. The warm, casual and welcoming environment is perfect to facilitate a number of different approaches to work – whether that is the need for focus, collaboration, or creative thinking. It is quickly becoming a meeting post for creative, media and agency professionals, with a weekly, monthly and annual calendar of interesting and engaging events aimed at this audience. The team are fantastic and always looking at ways to add more value to this community. In particular, Sophie plays a central role in fantastically managing this demanding group of professionals.”
Membership also includes reciprocal access to over forty clubs worldwide (including six in London), two complimentary hotel nights, access to over twenty events a month, and a network of like-minded creatives. Whether you need a space to focus, meet clients, or spark new ideas, The Square has you covered.
See it for yourself. Book a tour or apply for membership today by emailing [email protected], and discover why Bristol’s creatives are choosing The Square Club.
Bulletproof – The Event Every Agency Owner Can’t Afford to Miss
2026 marks the third post-COVID edition of the Bulletproof Agency Network conference, and this year, we’re raising the bar.
We’re heading back to the stylish surroundings of VOCO Manchester for a day designed to challenge your thinking, sharpen your strategy, and reconnect you with what makes agency life exciting in the first place. Expect bigger conversations, deeper insights, and more meaningful connections than ever before.
The theme for 2026 is “Pitch to Partnership.”
Because winning work is only the beginning. The agencies that truly thrive are the ones that know how to turn a single opportunity into a long-term, high-value relationship. This year is about mastering that transition – from proposal to partnership, from project to profit, from client to collaborator.
Let’s be honest: running an agency can feel relentless.
You’re balancing delivery and growth. Managing people and expectations. Navigating uncertainty while trying to stay commercially sharp and creatively relevant.
Bulletproof exists for that reality.
Imagine spending a day surrounded by people who genuinely understand the pressures you’re facing, leaders who’ve made the mistakes, solved the problems, and discovered what actually works. Not theory. Not fluff. Real-world strategies, honest conversations, and practical ideas you can take back and apply immediately.
That’s the difference.
Bulletproof isn’t just another conference.
It’s a reset button for ambitious agency owners who want more. More clarity, more confidence, and more control over where their business is heading next.
Meet this year’s lineup of industry experts
This year’s conference features an outstanding lineup of speakers who’ve mastered the art of scaling businesses, leading teams, thriving through challenges and building resilient agencies.
Keynote speakers include:
Trenton Moss
Founder of Team Sterka, he puts his agency’s success down to one thing, making everyone a leader.
Katie Bolas
Ex-agency leader turned Fractional Operations Director, who helps agencies succeed by fixing the operational issues that drain profit and frustrate teams.
Claire Richardson-Critcher & Steve Byrne
Co-Founders of As The Crow Flies, they are renowned for their ability to cultivate powerful, sticky habits that create proper confidence when forecasting New Business.
Hosting the event is Dan Archer of Suprpwr Consulting, he’s all about helping businesses make marketing their Superpower.
And it’s not just the keynote talks. Attendees will dive into specialist-led sessions packed with legal, financial and insurance insights designed for the unique challenges of creative and digital agencies.
Experts such as Steve Kuncewicz (Glaisyers), Paul Barnes (MAP) and Michael Henderson (Riskbox) will be sharing their insights to help future-proof your agency.
Bulletproof isn’t just a conference, it’s a community.
This isn’t just a day of learning, it’s your chance to meet other agency owners who truly get what you do, swap stories, celebrate wins and lessons and walk away with connections that last long after the conference ends.
Grow Your Agency, Support Your Community
Bulletproof 2026 isn’t just about learning and growing your agency, it’s about making a real impact while you do it. 100% of ticket proceeds will be donated to 2 incredible local charities: Forever Manchester & Barnabus , so you can level up your agency while giving back to the community.
Join the Leaders Shaping the Agency World
After last year’s amazing day, demand is already high for Bulletproof 2026, so don’t miss your chance to be part of a day that will leave you inspired, connected and ready to take your agency to the next level.
Grab your ticket here & join us on the 7th May for an unforgettable day.
Web developers, digital innovators and tech professionals are gearing up for the sixth annual Umbraco Spark innovation conference, returning to Bristol this spring at We The Curious on Friday 20 March 2026. Organised by Bristol digital agency Gibe Digital, the event has become a fixture for developers from across the UK and Europe to share insights, ideas and practical knowledge around the open‑source Umbraco CMS and broader .NET ecosystem
Speaking about the conference, Steve Temple, Technical Director and Co‑founder of Gibe Digital, describes Spark as “a calendar highlight” that brings together “so many talented developers from the amazing Umbraco community.” Steve adds that the event leaves attendees “feeling inspired, armed with fresh knowledge to take your Umbraco projects to the next level.”
This year’s programme features a single main track of deep‑dive technical talks, practical demos and forward‑thinking sessions on topics such as load‑balancing for scalable apps, Umbraco Search, next‑generation back‑office features, and experimenting with AI‑driven accessibility tools.
Schedule Highlights:
Thursday, 19 March – The day before the main conference kicks off with a full-day Hackathon & Package Jam for the community, followed by a pre-party at a local game bar with ping pong, bowling, karaoke, food and drinks.
Friday, 20 March – A Harbour Run at 7 AM starts the day, followed by registration with coffee and pastries. The main track runs 9 AM–5:30PM, featuring technical talks, lightning sessions and demos. The Package Awards celebrate standout contributions, and the day wraps up with an after-party. Attendees also benefit from lunch, refreshments, a free cloakroom, and quiet/multi-faith rooms to support wellbeing.
Tickets & Pricing: Standard tickets cost £150 + VAT, available until the end of February or until sold out. Grab your ticket here.
Umbraco Spark continues to cement Bristol’s status as a hub for creative tech events — combining local community energy with the global expertise of the Umbraco ecosystem.
Last week, the Gather Round at Brunswick Square was buzzing. A packed room, a hum of anticipation, and a palpable sense that something meaningful was about to unfold as we kicked off the third year of our award-winning series, Gather Round Presents.
From the very first moment, the evening invited us into stories that stretched beyond words on a page. Our panellists didn’t just tell stories: they cracked them open. Stories of human understanding, our relationship with the world around us, and the narratives we carry about ourselves and others. Together, they explored how the past can be re-examined, reshaped, and used to imagine new futures and how powerful it feels when those stories land.
Sara Joyner, Senior Podcast Producer, opened the evening and wasted no time pulling us in. What began with a slightly shocking story instantly had the room leaning forward, unsure where it might lead. But that uncertainty quickly turned into delight as Sara revealed her craft with warmth, humour, and total ease.
With sticky notes representing three characters in an upcoming podcast, Sara physically rearranged the facts in front of us, showing, in real time, how a story can be subtly shaped. Laughter rippled through the audience as she explained, with playful honesty, how she “manipulates” the listener.
As the audience was invited to guess where the story was heading, there was a collective realisation: context is everything. By withholding or revealing certain details, a story and a person can be perceived in entirely different ways. Sara’s delivery was disarming and deeply engaging, leaving us entertained, slightly unsettled, and newly aware of how easily we’re led… often without noticing.
Connect with Sara on LinkedIn or check out her web page for more info on her work.
Dan Caulfield, Film Director and Storyteller at Enviral, followed and had us hooked within seconds. He began with what felt like a deeply emotional story: a grieving father, a lost child, and an epic journey born of love and loss. The room softened.
And then, laughter erupted.
The characters were revealed to be Marlin and Nemo. Pixar, of course. A collective groan, smile, and appreciation washed across the room.
He wasn’t done yet. The second story, a tender, hilarious retelling of a tale once told to him by his Irish grandad in a pub, had us in stitches. Dan described piecing together meaning from thick accents, facial expressions, and half-heard words, transporting us back to a time when storytelling was something you felt as much as heard.
Behind the humour was something deeper. Dan spoke passionately about the ancient tradition of oral storytelling and the responsibility of keeping it alive. Though he works in marketing, this wasn’t a sales pitch. It was human.
Stories, he reminded us, exist everywhere across cultures, languages, and generations. They shape who we believe we are. They can fuel fear… or they can bring us together. As the laughter settled, the room grew reflective. Dan invited us to consider the stories we tell ourselves about identity, worth, and belonging. Food for thought that lingered long after he left the stage.
Follow Dan on Instagram or connect with him on LinkedIn to see more of his work.
Ghostwriter and part-time stand-up comedian Nick Anderson Vines carried us into the first break and promptly had the room roaring. Sharp, self-aware, and genuinely funny, Nick brought a different energy while still keeping storytelling firmly at the centre.
He spoke about how he works LinkedIn with refreshing honesty, unpacking how to attract clients while still telling meaningful stories. When ChatGPT entered the scene in 2023, Nick admitted it shook the writing world fear, uncertainty, and the sense that everything might change overnight.
But then came the shift. Opportunity. A return to craft. Writing more. Writing better.
Nick’s passion was contagious. In a fast-moving digital landscape, he argued, stories are what stops the scroll. They’re what make us care. Using the pull of before and after, and reframing narratives with intention, Nick left us laughing — and quietly fired up to rethink how we tell stories online.
Connect with Nick on LinkedIn to hear more about his work.
Rosa ter Kuile, known as RTiiiKA, gently reset the room as the only visual artist on the panel. Her presence felt grounding, inviting us to slow down and see stories differently.
Rosa spoke about storytelling beyond words: through murals, characters, and playful alter egos. From the giant foyer mural at Bristol Beacon to the personas she created and played in videos to tell her story – ‘Grinder Guy’ and her ‘own agent’. She showed how storytelling can be both strategic and deeply personal and sometimes with a touch of humour. These characters, she explained, often became the most compelling part of her work — a way to narrate process, vulnerability, and creativity in real time.
As Rosa shared the recurring themes that shape her art: sexuality, falling in love, road signs, bikes (and more) the message became clear: stories exist everywhere. Some shout. Others whisper. It’s up to us to notice them.
Follow Rosa on Instagram to see more of her creations or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Mark DeLisser stepped onto the stage and immediately stilled the room opening with a poem from his new book, Ashes to the Breeze.
Mark spoke about his deep relationship with the natural world, and the idea that while he writes stories, often as poems, he is also being storied. By landscapes. By relationships. By life itself. There was a quiet reverence in his words as he described knowing he is part of something far bigger, a story that began before him and will continue long after.
He spoke of listening to the body while writing, noticing moments of tightening, softening, longing — and allowing those sensations to guide the words. Poetry, he said, comes from slowing down and noticing, not forcing meaning into existence.
Sharing two poems: Your Name and The Stories We Tell. Mark echoed something Dan had said earlier: the importance of telling stories about what we want to be true. Stories that interrupt the constant stream of horror and remind us of other ways of living. In that moment, it felt like the room was breathing together inspired, hopeful, and deeply moved.
You can buy Mark’s book Ashes to the breeze in Waterstones.
And follow him on Instagram to hear more of his beautiful words.
With just 24 hours’ notice, Kendra Futcher OG Cigar Factory member closed the evening, and what a closing it was. Ever-eloquent, deeply present, and emotionally generous, Kendra held the room with quiet power.
A self-described writer, thinker, and noticer, she spoke about paying attention to the smallest details: the inflection of a voice, a texture, a sound, the scrunch of a nose. This practice of noticing, she shared, became vital during Covid a way to stay alive to the world and to herself.
Kendra spoke about vulnerability as the beating heart of storytelling. Emotional honesty, she reminded us, is what truly connects people. Words can divide but they can also unite.
She spoke of her collection of photographs from protests placards filled with raw, urgent language that has so inspired her. She shared two poems with us – the first, Monobrow, about her daughter, silenced the room completely. It was her first time reading the poem aloud, and the moment felt sacred. You could feel the tears, the tenderness, the shared humanity.
For Kendra, truth is freedom. And that, she believes, is the essence of storytelling.
Follow Kendra on Instagram or connect with her on LinkedIn or have a look at her website to read more about her many skills.
Our beautiful event space at Brunswick Square is available for hire, email Hannah on [email protected] for more info and come and host your event at our place!
Follow us on Instagram for more stories from our creative community and if you want to come and join us, we’re currently offering 30% off for 3 x months if you join before 28th February 2026,more info on our offer page.
As proud members of Bristol Creative Industries, Bristol24/7 would like to extend an invite to fellow BCI members to their upcoming Bristol Legends event at Ashton Gate on 6th March. This is a new initiative to celebrate the city and raise vital funds for independent journalism, social impact projects as well as for AntiBanquet and the work they do to tackle food insecurity in the city.
Bristol Legends will be an incredible celebration of Bristol’s culture, creativity, innovation, positivity and its many incredible communities. It will feature a three-course dinner from Josh Eggleton, the AntiBanquet team and other top Bristol chefs; a very special award show hosted by Jayde Adams; some amazing Bristol performers; and quite a few surprises along the way. The room will be full of 750 people from Bristol businesses and beyond, including some of the city’s leaders in culture, innovation, sustainability, community and beyond.
Bristol24/7 are now looking to engage individuals and businesses who are in a position to take tickets or a table at the event or to donate tickets or table to those who can’t afford to attend. We’re delighted to be able to offer a discount on full tables for BCI members. Please get in touch will [email protected] if you’d be interested in joining us. In the true spirit of collaboration, members may like to come together and purchase a combined BCI table or two…
The awards show will be followed by a party in a transformed concourse which will include some truly legendary Bristol bands and djs, a full spectacular show from the Invisible Circus set to a live musical score, holograms of local heroes of the past and a very special guest. Separate tickets for the Bristol Legends Party can be purchased here.
A legendary evening awaits…
Introducing Gather Round’s New Year Offer*
Are you a freelancer working from home craving some connection? Or are you a small creative business already at a co-working space but in need of a change? Become a member at Gather Round in Bristol or Bath before Feb 28th and you’ll get 30% off your membership for 3 x months. Interested? Get in touch with one of our community managers to book a tour.
More than a co-working space, Gather Round is a thriving creative community. Our members are frequent collaborators – it’s what happens when you bring people in the same industry together. Creativity at Gather Round takes many forms, from designers, copywriters, and illustrators to developers, tech innovators, and even a cartographer. Together, they inspire, challenge, and support each other, making every day at Gather Round a spark for new ideas. It’s a place where connections turn into projects, and ideas turn into reality.
*Offer available until 28th February 2026.
‘We want you to see firsthand the positive impact a creative community can have, not just professionally but beyond work too.’
Jason Smith
Gather Round Co-Founder
Packed member events calendar
We’ll be continuing our monthly member events into 2026, including family breakfasts, campfire talks, group coaching, and yoga. This month, we’re also launching two new members only events: Community Sessions and Member Mics!
Community Sessions are relaxed, monthly get-togethers with other members in your space. Think drink-and-draws, board games, picnics, or maybe a trip to the pub. It’s a chance to get to know your fellow members and connect over some snacks and a few drinks (if you fancy). This month to kick it off we’re taking all our members to the pub, first round is on us!
Next week, we’ll be hosting our first ‘Member Mic’ event. Member Mic gives our members the chance to share what they’re working on with fellow creatives – showcasing wins, getting feedback on tricky projects, or help others with theirs in a relaxed, supportive session. It’s in moments like these when collaborations are born.
Our buzzing events are free for all members, included in all membership packages. Alongside the extra-curricular fun, members also enjoy a wide range of discounts with local independent partners such as Pizzucci, Bosco, Soul Spa, and British Blankets. It’s just one more way Gather Round sets itself apart from other coworking spaces.
Whether you’re a freelancer or a small creative business looking for an inspiring place to work, we offer a range of membership packages – including part-time and full-time options, fixed desks, and private studios. Get in touch with our community managers to book a tour. We’d love to meet you.
Terms and conditions apply to the 30% offer, see full details on this page.
- This offer is for new membership sign-ups and applicable on the following membership packages across all locations: Part-time Flexi, Full-time Flexi, Flexi Plus, and Resident. The offer does not apply to Virtual and Virtual Plus memberships.
- New Part-time Flexi, Full-time Flexi, Flexi Plus and Resident members need to sign up for a 3 month minimum term and they’ll receive 30% off their first 3 months. After the first three months, the contract will switch to a standard 30 day rolling contract at full price.
- For members starting mid-month, the first invoice will be charged pro-rata.
- Contracts have to be signed between the 10th January to 28th February 2026 and start dates specified between 12th January and 31st March accordingly.
- The offer is issued only once the contract is signed and deposit received.
- Flexi Plus and Resident members only: includes 4 x hours of free access to our Production Spaces each month as part of the offer. Please note that our production spaces are located in Brunswick Square, Bristol only. Bookings need to be made in advance via our Events Manager.
- This offer cannot be used retrospectively. The dates specified above apply.
- Gather Round Limited reserves the right to revoke the offer and/or to update the terms and conditions at any time. Final qualification for the offer is at the Community Manager’s discretion.
- This offer cannot be applied to previous memberships or contracts, is non-transferrable, has no cash value and cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other offer.
Thanks to all the love and support from our amazing community, we have been named the 8th best workspace in the UK by the 2025 Tallys, and the highest ranked workspace in the South West.
All there is to say is thank you. To our members, our supporters, our incredible team, and to everyone who makes Square Works what it is.
When we started Square Works way back in 2019, we could never have imagined the amazing community we would build over the years – to be ranked so highly amongst many other incredible workspaces across the country is a privilege, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
To find out more about The Tallys and why Square Works has been ranked #8 in the UK, click the link below.
FIND OUT MORE
Here are 10 things you might not (but definitely should) know about Square Works…
1. Square Works is housed in a Grade II Listed Georgian townhouse
Square Works is tucked inside a beautifully preserved Georgian building on Berkeley Square – one of Clifton’s most iconic addresses. From the outside, it’s all Bristolian charm; inside, it’s a thoughtfully designed, modern workspace filled with art, natural light, and sleek interiors that blend heritage with contemporary flair.
2. It’s the only co-working space in Bristol with a private members’ club
Square Works is part of The Square Club, a private members’ club for creatives and professionals. This unique connection gives you access to exclusive events, industry talks, and a stylish bar and restaurant. Even better? You can order restaurant-quality food and have it delivered right to your desk.
3. You can work from a ‘Secret Garden’
Hidden behind The Square Club is a tranquil terrace that’s the perfect spot for a quiet call, an al fresco meeting, or just soaking up the sun with your laptop and a coffee in hand.
4. The events calendar is packed – and many are free for members
From creative breakfasts to pitch nights and Friday Pilates, Square Works hosts regular events to help members connect, grow, and get inspired. It’s networking without the awkwardness – and you never know who you’ll meet over coffee.
5. Members get 24/7 access — yes, even on Sundays
If you have an office or a Dedicated Desk at Square Works, you’re not limited to the standard 9 – 5. Whether you prefer early mornings or late nights, you gain access 24/7 so you can work when it suits you – even on weekends and Bank Holidays.
6. There’s a curated art collection
Art is part of the Square Works experience. You’ll find pieces from local and UK-based artists throughout the space – creating an inspiring, gallery-like atmosphere. Plus, head next door to The Square Club for the latest seasonal installations.
7. Memberships are built for flexibility
Whether you’re a freelancer, founder, or part of a growing team, Square Works has an option for you – from hot desking to private offices. You can scale up, scale down, or shift between spaces as your needs change, without being locked into a long-term lease.
8. Unlimited refreshments and weekly ‘Square Works Nibbles’
Members enjoy unlimited, high-quality coffee, tea, hot chocolate and more. But the real treat? Every Wednesday, the in-house chef surprises members with freshly made sweet or savoury bites. It’s the perfect midweek pick-me-up.
9. Dog-friendly work space
Square Works welcomes well-behaved dogs – because work is better with a furry friend nearby. It adds to the relaxed, homely atmosphere and means you don’t have to leave your pup behind when you’re working long hours.
10. It’s a true community – not just a desk
What sets Square Works apart is the atmosphere. Whether you’re chatting in the kitchen, attending an event, or collaborating on a project, you’re not just renting a desk – you’re joining a supportive, inspiring community of creatives, professionals, and entrepreneurs.
To book a tour of Bristol’s Best Workspace, get in touch with us today via:
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 0117 322 6635
Enquiry Form: Contact Us
Or, if you’re in the area, feel free to pop in and chat with our friendly team!
