Each week Bristol Business News gives a prominent member of the city’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin. This week Suzy Barnes, director of creative agency Studio Diva, answers our 10 questions:
What was the LAST: 
Film you watched? Rogue One. Although I loved the Star Wars reboot last year, I was a bit disappointed by Rogue One. It had quite a linear plot and you basically knew where it was going from the beginning, so there was very little in the way of real suspense or the element of surprise. The cinematography was good though, and watching it in the Everyman Theatre made it about as enjoyable as it could be. I adore that theatre!
Book you read? The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. I first heard about this book when it became a film and I started seeing bus sides advertising it. I’m a stickler for reading books before watching the film, so I took The Girl on the Train away with me over Christmas this year. It kept me up late into the night and I couldn’t stop reading it, even when the jet lag had the rest of the family heading to bed before tea time. A brilliant book. At once addictive, nauseating and satisfying. I need a detox before I see the film.
Music you bought/downloaded? Communion by Years & Years. I bought this album last year to add to my running play list. I like positive, uplifting music to run to and this album struck a chord with me. I can always run further when I’m lost in music. It used to keep me dancing till dawn, these days it keeps me company on long runs.
Concert or play you went to? Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. I’m one of a, seemingly, few individuals who isn’t a massive Roald Dahl fan. Saying that out loud even feels like some sort of national betrayal! So, when my husband booked tickets for the West End version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I was relatively indifferent about it. Boy, was I wrong! It was, without doubt, one of the most thrilling theatre experiences of my entire life. A visual extravaganza, it was nothing short of extraordinary. At points, I could hardly believe what my eyes were telling me. What a joy. I left with a grin from ear-to-ear. If you haven’t seen it yet – book your tickets now.
Sporting event you attended? 2016 Sydney Hobart Yacht race. While on holiday visiting family in Sydney this Christmas we went to see the start of the iconic Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. My uncle is a lifelong yachting fan and he took us to see Wild Oats XI, the Bob Oatley-owned favourite, as it headed out to the start line from its dock in Hunters Hill. The sleek super maxi was forced to retire part way through the race, leaving fellow Sydney super maxi, Perpetual Loyal, owned by Sydney business Anthony Bell, to take the title, braking the race record set by Wild Oats in 2012 in the process.
Holiday you went on? Phuket, Thailand. En route to Sydney for Christmas, we spent a week in Thailand on the island of Phuket. It was interesting to find ourselves almost alone as Western tourists in the resort we stayed in. According to the locals, tourism from the West has plummeted since the 2004 tsunami and remains pretty low, but our experience was amazing. Stunning landscapes, rich in culture, wonderful food and warm and welcoming people. We’ll definitely return.
Restaurant you ate in? Riverstation. I’ve been a big fan ever since it opened in 1997. I’ve never had a bad meal there and I often choose the downstairs informal restaurant as a place for lunchtime business meetings, or for catching up with friends. Twenty years this year and still going strong! How many other independent restaurants in Bristol can lay claim to that?
Thing that annoyed you? Trump becoming President of the United States of America. Followed closely by Brexit and generally the rise of a post-truth society. Although I don’t think “annoyed” quite sums it up strongly enough. There are so many subcategories to this one, so it’s hard to conclude in a paragraph, but as an ex-journalist who feels very strongly about the importance of journalistic integrity, Trump’s implication that any journalist that dares challenge him must be dishonest, is worrying. (Well said, Suzy. Ed)
Thing that made you laugh out loud? The show at our work Christmas party at the Speigeltent. Ping pong-tastic hilarity. We laughed until our sides hurt.
Piece of good advice you were given? “Better late than never”. Some people might disagree with the logic behind this one! Ever since my mother told me this as an impressionable teenager, I felt I had been given permission to run permanently late. But in an age where everything happens at warp speed, it’s genuinely good for the soul to stop for a moment and remind yourself of what matters in life. Hugging your child goodbye is definitely worth being a few minutes late for.
Suzy Barnes is owner, co-founder and director Studio Diva, a Bristol-based lifestyle-centric creative agency working in the entertainment, leisure, sport, videogames and fast-moving consumer goods markets. Prior to launching the business more than eight years ago she worked at Bristol PR agency JBP and as a journalist.
