My soul awakens to the symphony of the weekend, a vibrant chorus at Shield & Dagger Whitchurch. Silver Storm, Aloud Duo, and Kate will weave a tapestry of sound, from pop's lighthearted dance to rock's deep pulse. 🎸🎶✨ Friday 8:30pm Saturday 9pm Sunday 4pm #LiveMusic #WhitchurchBristol #WeekendVibes

💚 Mental Health Awareness Week 💚 This week is a reminder that not every struggle is visible. Some people are carrying stress, grief, anxiety, burnout, loneliness or silent battles behind a smile. A little kindness, patience, or simply checking in with someone can make more difference than you realise. Take a moment this week to: ✨ Rest without guilt ✨ Reach out to someone you care about ✨ Speak to yourself more gently ✨ Step outside for fresh air ✨ Ask for help if you need it And remember — you don’t have to “have it all together” to deserve support. At Shield & Dagger we believe community matters, conversations matter, and people matter. Whether you come in for a coffee, a chat, or just a change of scenery — you’re always welcome here 💚 On a personal note, reaching out can be incredibly difficult and can leave you feeling vulnerable. As the post we shared at the beginning of March suggested, I’ve been fighting my own battles — battles that have impacted every aspect of my life. I’m going to share something I wrote last week during another dark episode. This isn’t for sympathy — far from it. It’s about being honest and vulnerable in the hope that it encourages someone else to reach out and say, “I’m not okay.” If this post helps even one person feel less alone or encourages them to talk to someone, then being this open is worth it. Trying to Find the Way Back to Myself - Before hopelessness took control I remember what it felt like before the hopelessness arrived. Picture this. I'm alone in a small motorboat with a Bluetooth speaker beside me, Northern Soul playing into the open air. The water was rough in places, but manageable. I felt calm. Confident even. Proud of myself. I stepped outside my comfort zone and actually enjoyed it. Ahead of me was a small harbour. People waving from above. Blue skies without a single cloud. Everything felt clear. For once, life didn’t feel heavy. I remember thinking: “I’m alright.” I didn’t realise how quickly calm water can change. --- - The Drift At first it’s subtle. You don’t notice yourself drifting too far from shore because you’re too focused on keeping everything steady. Then the water changes. What once felt light starts feeling thick, heavy, resistant — like trying to move through syrup. Every thought takes effort. Every breath feels earned. You keep telling yourself you can handle it. Keep going. Keep smiling. Keep functioning. But underneath, panic quietly starts filling the boat. --- - Drowning The strange thing about drowning is that it doesn’t always look violent from the outside. Sometimes it’s silent. Sometimes it’s just exhaustion slowly pulling you under while everyone else thinks you’re still floating. That’s what it became for me. My chest is constantly tight. My thoughts are racing. My body is exhausted from fighting something I couldn’t explain properly. The harder I tried to pull myself back up, the heavier everything became. And eventually something shifts. You stop fighting the water. Not because you’ve given up completely, but because your body and mind can’t stay in panic forever. So you sink into it instead. That’s the dangerous part. When survival mode becomes familiar. When chaos becomes normal. When being mentally underwater it starts feeling safer than trying to reach the surface. --- - The Hall of Mirrors That’s where I am now. Not fully drowning anymore. But not back on solid ground either. It feels like I’m trapped inside some flooded hall of mirrors, endlessly wandering through reflections of myself I barely recognise. Every direction looks the same. Every turn leads nowhere. The glass bends everything out of shape — memories, confidence, identity, reality. Even my own reflection feels distorted now. And somewhere beyond the walls I can hear life still happening. Other people are laughing. Talking. Living normally. Moving with certainty. Meanwhile I’m stuck waist-deep in confusion, trying to find an exit I can’t see clearly. I know one exists. I just can’t reach it yet. ------ - Waiting for the Lights to Come On There is no real ending to this. Because I’m still living it. Day by day. Hour by hour. Sometimes minute by minute. People ask me what they can do to help. They ask what I need. They tell me things will be okay. And I know it must sound cold when I answer, “I don’t know.” But the truth is, I genuinely don’t know. I don’t know how to pull myself out of this, so how can I explain to someone else what I need from them? That’s the hardest part to put into words. I don’t feel like I need motivation or advice. I feel like I need rescuing. Like I’ve been stuck underwater for so long that I’ve forgotten what solid ground feels like. And going back to the hall of mirrors — maybe part of me has stopped searching for the exit altogether. Maybe I just want to curl up in a corner, stay still, and wait for the place to close. Wait for somebody to finally turn the lights on. Because I think that’s what hope feels like now. Not happiness. Not fixing everything. Just a light appearing in the darkness long enough for me to find a way out. Brendan Edwards A survivor trying my best to find my way back to myself. #endthestigma , #DepressionSupport : #Anxiety, #VulnerabilityIsStrength #StrengthInWeakness #HealingJourney #EmotionalStrength #AuthenticSelf If you like to share this post with someone please do. #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #CommunityMatters #BeKind #MentalHealthMatters #ShieldAndDagger #YouAreNotAlone #Wellbeing #CheckInOnYourPeople

Whitchurch — a few spaces left for this one 👀 We’re at The Shield & Dagger July, and these nights always end up being a proper laugh. If you’ve been meaning to try it, this is a good one to jump into - no experience needed, book your spot, turn up and get stuck in, laugh a lot!!! #potteryatthepub #TheClayRooms #PotteryatthePub #whatsoninbristol #whitchurchbristol

LAST REMAINING TICKETS Don't miss out, book your spot now! 🎨✨ Get Creative at The Shield & Dagger! ✨🎨 Looking for something a little different for your Monday evening? Join us for a Mosaics Workshop delivered by the talented Curly Red Sam Art 🧡 🗓 Monday 18th May 🕖 7:00pm – 9:00pm Whether you’re a complete beginner or just fancy a relaxing, creative night out, this is the perfect chance to unwind, get stuck in, and make something beautiful to take home 🧩 ✨ Learn how to create your own mosaic ✨ All materials provided ✨ Take home your finished piece 💷 £25 per person Grab a friend, enjoy a drink, and have a go – it’s all about good vibes, creativity, and community 💛 📩 Book your spot by emailing: curlyredsam@hotmail.com 📱 Or scan the QR code on the poster Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out!

Get ready to groove! 🤩 Jon Clare is performing live on May 10th at 4 PM! 🎶 You do not want to miss this incredible show! 🎉

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYEY3caEpcX/?igsh=MW02Y3ZxZWxmZm45bA%3D%3D

Just saw this pop up in my feed! 🤔 Are you curious to know what mistake you might be making when buying a beer. Time to click that "Open" button and get some tips! 🍻 What are your beer-buying secrets? #BeerTips #PubLife

Guess who's back, back again?! 🎶 The Fabulous Miss Bridy & The 2 Notes are gracing us with their presence on Saturday, May 9th at 9 PM! Last time was a total "note"-worthy night, so get ready for another one! 🎤✨💃🕺 #LiveMusic #weekendvibes #localpub #whitchurchbristol #livemusicbristol #dragqueen

Whether my spirit yearns for quiet contemplation with a cool latte ☕ or a vibrant evening of laughter and clinking glasses, Shield and Dagger Whitchurch always welcomes. A symphony of flavors from delicate cakes 🍰 to spirited gins awaits, alongside lively games and good company. Let's gather and weave new tales. ✨🍻 #WhitchurchVibes #LocalPub #goodtimeswithgoodpeople #weekendvibes

Click Covers playing now Caught Shield and Dagger Whitchurch live, and the energy was absolutely electric! 🎸🎶 The band’s passion truly shines through every note. You've got to experience this for yourself! ✨ #LiveMusic #WhitchurchVibes #musicloversofinstagram #livemusicbristol #BristolPub #whitchurchbristol

🔥 THIS WEEKEND AT THE SHIELD & DAGGER 🔥 Three nights. Three completely different vibes. One venue bringing Whitchurch to life. 🎶🍻 📍 Friday 8th May – Click take over from 9PM ‘til late 📍 Saturday 9th May – The Fabulous Miss Bridy & The 2 Notes live at 9PM 📍 Sunday 10th May – Jon Clare live from 4PM From party anthems and powerhouse vocals to laid-back Sunday session energy — this is the kind of weekend made for great music, cold drinks, and unforgettable nights with friends. Whether you’re here for the dancing, the atmosphere, or just a proper local night out… ⚔️ The Shield & Dagger is where you want to be this weekend. 🍺 Tag your weekend crew 🎤 Share this to support live music 📍 Shield & Dagger, Whitchurch, Bristol #ShieldAndDagger #LiveMusicBristol #WhitchurchBristol #BristolPub #WeekendVibes #SupportLiveMusic #PubEntertainment #BristolEvents #LiveMusicWeekend #LocalPub #WhatsOnBristol