We visit a Bristol venue focusing on "creativity, movement and finding mindfulness."

Located on Westbury on Trym, Goldfinch Create and Play is an art café that has offered art classes and yoga for all ages since six months ago.

Nicole, the owner, explained to BristolWorld that the idea came after she found a lack of purposeful spaces for parents with young children around Bristol when she moved to the city four and a half years ago.

She found a lot of activities happening around community halls but not "a well-designed space where parents feel as comfortable as the children do, and kids can get creative, and adults can drink a good cup of coffee and have some healthy snacks. And it kind of evolved from there." 

Westbury on Trym felt like the perfect location for the venue since there were lots of families and schools in the area. A single-storey, dilapidated building became available and Nicole felt it was the best option especially since both her husband and herself came from an architectural background and it would be a sustainable journey in terms of building fabric.

The food menu started with simple breakfast options such as "a good quality yoghurt, coconut, vegan options and dairy options, topped with fruit and granolas" and pastries to include seasonal salad bowls and paninis since a few weeks ago. 

"And we're going to be providing a lot of really exciting sandwiches, toasted and to sit in and take away, and a salad bar...after making a few little changes to our kitchen layout," shared Nicole. 

No booking is needed to enjoy the cafe on the ground floor which is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday from 9am to 4pm and Sunday from 10am to 2pm. 

"What gets me excited really, is when I see people coming and meeting up and friendships being made," explained Nicole. "We wanted to keep it like that, that you don't need to book, that you can come in, anybody, any age, and enjoy the café."

Upstairs, the venue hosts art and yoga classes for all ages. The art classes are "forestry meets the art class" and there's always a learning aspect linked to seasons and sensory tough trays to explore.

"Goldfinch visitors can expect lots of art, messy play and fun. Every weekday morning, we have our Create and Play classes and those are for ages 1.5 to 5. The 3 to 5 is a drop off and the 1.5 to 5 you stay and create with your preschoolers. And those change every week, so there's a new activity every week and there's always a creation station. 

"And then at lunchtime is the prenatal and postnatal yoga: Mondays are prenatal, Tuesdays postnatal and Fridays postnatal."

Afternoons are for Mini Makers which are similar to the Create and Play classes but can be booked as single classes rather than a course. "And we're finding those work really well because it's become a bit of a destination as well at Goldfinch, so people coming from a bit further and that might be their activity that they decide to do, like visiting the museum or the library, or come and do a mindful Mini Makers class at Goldfinch.

"Tuesday evenings are for the adult art classes. We have a power vinyasa on a Monday and an energising Vinyasa yoga on a Wednesday at 7.30. And then on Thursday we have Pilates and art too. And then Friday we will be having our Sound Bar."

Goldfinch has also recently launched creative packages for celebrations where guests can choose from a selection of creative options and book an artist (or yoga instructor) as well as the space to give a class for your party group.

For more information on Goldfinch Create and Play and and their timetable visit https://www.goldfinchcreateandplay.com