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ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE at Averys Wine Cellars

  • Averys Wine Merchants 9 Culver Street Bristol, England, BS1 5LD United Kingdom (map)

COVID: BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE

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While nobody can say for sure what will happen regarding Covid, Bristol Film Festival is committed to hosting our events in a safe way and have invested in equipment to achieve this goal.

All our screenings at Averys will have air purifiers, as approved by Bristol City Council.

Bristol City Council guidelines will be followed, and where appropriate we will notify all guests prior to any event of any additional measures may be required.

If you test positive for Covid and cannot attend the event, let us know with evidence of the test results and you will receive a credit for future festival events.

One of the most watchable of all movie classics, Capra’s celebration of the power of community and defiant optimism is orchestrated with consummate mastery […] The kind of experience movies were invented for
— Ian Freer (Empire)

DOORS: 18:45 | FILM STARTS 19:00

Vintage Screenings pair classic films with thematically linked wine tastings to create unique evenings in the stunning setting of Averys Wine Merchants’ historic wine cellar. Following a sparkling wine reception, the film will be accompanied by a tasting of four carefully selected wines courtesy of Averys’ resident experts.

We’re delighted to be showing It’s A Wonderful Life at Averys for its debut screening at the Festival. Wind down for the festive period with this timeless classic, as we pair it with some winter-ready wines that are ideal for accompanying a Christmas dinner – or a Christmas film screening!

Take your evening further with our add-on options:

• Enjoy a pre-screening wine tasting session as you learn more about wine tasting over a glass

• Indulge with a delicious deli box from Two Belly, with cheeses, chutney and crackers to enjoy alongside your film and wine

• Attending in a group of six or more? Take a look at our new Group Bookings option below

Please note that Vintage Screenings are strictly for over-18s only

About The Film

1946 | U | 129 mins 

On Christmas Eve in the New York town of Bedford Falls, struggling businessman George Bailey contemplates suicide. However, he is joined by Clarence, who purports to be his guardian angel, and shows him how different the world would have been without him in a bid to change his mind.

About The Location

Averys began in 1793 and over the years, the family has built its reputation as one of the UK’s most pioneering wine merchants. Their historic wine cellar can be found beneath their shop on Culver street, and is an atmospheric and intimate setting for our Vintage Screenings.

Watch The Official Trailer

See This Venue

Pre-Screening Tasting

Before your screening, we are now offering the opportunity for a pre-screening tasting session with Averys expert, and Vintage Screening co-host Frank Mason.

For £6.50 per person, enjoy a brief introduction to wine tasting hosted by Frank, sampling a white and a red as he talks you through the key steps to understanding the aromas, flavours and characteristics of wine.

Frank has been working with Averys since 2010 and heads up the Events team, delivering over 120 events a year both virtually and in Averys historic vaulted cellar in the centre of Bristol. Frank completed the WSET Diploma in wine – a two year course on wine drinking, back in 2014! And now teaches those wine courses to both customers and staff. In his spare time he loves listening to death metal and is a professional crocodile wrestler (his words!).

Two Belly Deli Box

Indulge during your screening with a delicious deli box from Two Belly cheese and beer shop. Enjoy 3 different cheeses, along with an artisan chutney and crackers, as a perfect complement to your wine tasting.

 
 
Group Bookings


Our Group Bookings option has been introduced in response to the larger parties of six or more people who attend our events and are looking to add something extra to their evening to enhance the experience.

Before the screening, you will enjoy a tutored wine tasting with an Averys expert, sampling two different wines and discovering more about the world of wine tasting. Each group member will receive a Two Belly Deli Box to enjoy during the film, which includes a selection of premium cheeses with crackers and chutney. Your group’s reserved seating will mean you can enjoy the film from the best seats in the house!


Tickets from £50pp | Enquire Today

Red Carpet Club


Bristol Film Festival’s Red Carpet Club is an opportunity for film-lovers to make the most of our events throughout the year.


Take advantage of advanced booking facilities, discounts on tickets and a range of benefits from our partners and supporters.



Find Out More

Getting Here

  • Averys Wine Merchants is located at 9 Culver Street, Bristol, BS1 5LD. The screening room can be accessed via the street-level entrance on Frogmore Street.

  • The nearest bus stop is College Green. The closest train station is Bristol Temple Meads.

  • Wherever possible, we encourage walking the use of public transport when travelling to our events.

Accessibility

  • There is level access to the venue via the entrance on Frogmore Street.

  • There is an accessible toilet at the venue.

  • Please contact us if you require a wheelchair space, or require seating in a particular area (e.g. closer to the exit, at the end of a row).

  • If you require subtitles, please contact us in advance of making your booking.

  • We want to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information about this venue’s accessibility.

Venue & Event Information

  • Doors for this event will open at 6:45PM (18:45). You will not be able to access the screening room before this time, so we recommend arriving as close to this time as possible.

  • If you have booked a Pre-Screening tasting, please arrive at 6:15PM via Averys Shop.

  • This event is strictly for over-18s. As alcohol is included in your ticket price, you may be asked to show ID upon entry to the venue. If you fail to provide valid ID when asked, you will not be able to attend this event. In this instance we would be unable to offer event credit.

  • Please do not consume hot food in the Screening Room.

  • We strongly encourage all guests to take a lateral flow test before attending this event, for the safety of other guests and event staff.

FAQs

I don’t drink white/red wine - can I have an alternative? Yes! We can offer all white/all red wine tastings, but strongly advise you to let us know in advance via the contact form.

Can I buy food at the venue? Currently we only offer Two Belly Deli Boxes on a pre-order basis. These can be ordered up to 48 hours before your event.

I have a BuyAGift/Red Letter Days/other voucher. How do I redeem this for this event? Head to this page for more information about redeeming Gift Vouchers.

Is my ticket refundable? We operate a no-refunds policy; tickets may be exchanged for event credit to the same value of your ticket up to 48 hours before the start of an event. To request an event credit, please complete our event credit application.

 
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