We love being a Bristol-based VFX company - from art, to culture, green space and foodie hotspots Bristol has it all! With many creatives now looking to move to the South West we wanted to shine a light on our city with recommendations from the people who know it best - our team!

Why did you choose Bristol?

“Bristol is such an amazing city to live and work in, it was a no brainer really. My brother moved here about 18 years ago, so I'd visited a lot over the years. After being in London for 10 years, my husband and I decided we wanted to bring up our kids in a smaller city, but somewhere big enough to have lots going on (we love music and arts), and really importantly it needed to have good job opportunities for us both working in the creative industries. Bristol definitely offers that! I wanted to work somewhere with creativity at the heart of the business, and I've definitely found that at Lux Aeterna. Along with a lovely bunch of people who make it fun to come into work every day.”

Laura, Operations and Studio Manager

Where is the Lux Aeterna office based and what’s the area like?

“The Lux Aeterna Office is situated in Finzels Reach, a pedestrianised development right by Bristol's Floating Harbour on the site of the old sugar refineries. When we first moved there, five years ago, it was still a bit of a building site but since then we’ve been followed to the area by organisations such as BBC Studios, Channel 4 and several other Post and VFX houses. It's a real little media community in its own right. There’s a lovely food market twice a week right in the centre, Castle Park is just a minute or twos walk over the Castle Bridge, there's multiple bars and eateries like the Bocabar and St. Nick's market nearby and Temple Meads Station is just five minutes away. There’s a real inspiring buzz to being in the centre of Bristol, with all the diversity that the inner city brings. It really is a great place to work.”

Paul Greer, Senior CG & VFX Artist

Best street food recommendations in Bristol?

“That's a tough one because there is so much choice! If you're central then St Nicholas Market is the place to be, walk in and let your nose decide, there's something for everyone. If you're lucky enough to be on the west side there is a hidden gem of a Cantonese restaurant called Nice Spice that serves the best Siu Yuk (crispy pork) you will ever eat and their other roast meats are equally incredible. LJ Hugs on Broadmead has infected Bristol after making waves in Bath with their jerk chicken. If you're on Gloucester Road to the north then keep an eye out for Shake, Wrap and Roll serving naan wraps with an amazing selection of locally sourced and freshly made fillings. For those south of the river you can't go wrong with a short walk along Wapping Wharf and Pizzarova delivering some of the freshest authentic pizza in Bristol.”

Mike Scholfield, IT Manager

Best option for vegan foodies?

“Oh my gosh, so many! There is such a variety to choose from, even from non-vegan places, but to name a few there are VeBurger and The Athenian at the Harbourside, Eat a Pitta at different locations around the city, The Coconut Tree, which offers amazing Sri Lankan food, The Tobacco Factory market every Sunday with the likes of Soy Ahoy and Moist Hummus (they also go to other markets which are spread all across Bristol). I would also recommend The Bristol Loaf - amazing cakes, breads and rolls!”

Alex Tsvetkov, Junior Motion Graphics Designer

Best place to watch a film?

“Watershed, an independent cinema on the harbourside that shows a selection of new releases and all time classics. For something a bit different there is also 20th Century Flicks on Christmas Steps, the specialist VHS rental shop has three themed cinema rooms available to hire where you can watch a film in an incredibly unique setting. Additionally Scott Cinemas in Westbury shows all the latest releases at very reasonable prices with Everyman in Clifton at the other end of the scale if you fancy treating yourself!

Emma Kolasinska, Executive Producer

Favourite after work 'watering hole’?

“My favourite pub near our office is The Cornubia, it's a tucked away little place with really cheap drinks. However, my favourite place in Bristol is The Victoria, it's definitely more of an 'occasion' pub but the views from the windows are gorgeous and the food is really good.”

Tish Marsh, Line Producer

Weekends are spent…

“Weekends in Bristol are a highlight, the harbourside is a great attraction for walking and food or drink and there is plenty of green space really close to the centre with Ashton Court and Leigh Woods. It's a great cycling city too and it's easy to get around using the cycle ways, making cycling to work a brilliant option. Combining the woodland and cycling is even better of course and cruising the trails on a mountain bike with friends or taking the kids out for a ride is a really enjoyable part of the lifestyle here. I am a long time resident of Bristol and I have seen it change a lot over the years, the most notable change has been the eating culture and I can't rave on enough about how many great places there are to eat and drink in and around the city, Gloucester Road, North Street and Wapping Wharf are all now great options. Finally and without doubt the best thing about Bristol is how easy it is to access the South West, you have both the beauty of the Cornish, Devon, Dorset and Welsh beaches right on your doorstep and if like me you like the adrenaline of downhill MTB then you have the best playground in the world in the Exmoor and the Welsh mountains! I love living and working in Bristol and couldn't recommend it enough to anyone thinking of pursuing a new life or career.”

Paul Silcox, VFX Director

Office gossip themes?

“Predictably we share a lot of tv and film recommendations. Music and local events are usually good conversation starters, as is Lottie (our office dog)!”

Tommy Reeday, Production Coordinator

Favourite lunchtime walk?

“The best walk from the office is going round the harbourside, a full lap of the water’s edge is around 6km and takes you past the SS Great Britain, a Banksy painting and lots of nice pubs/cafes. It’s a lovely route, especially when the sun is out!”

Steve Bell, Creative Lead

How do you get a job here?

“A passion for VFX and a creative spark is always a good place to start, in addition to that I would recommend making sure your CV or showreel is up to date with all your latest work. Then the next step is to follow our LinkedIn account for any updates and to regularly check our careers page for vacancies.”

Katie Hubbard, Studio and Marketing Assistant

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The best of Bristol with the Lux Aeterna team