The Bath Magazine November 2020

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ISSUE 215 | NOVEMBER 2020 | thebathmag.co.uk | £3.95 where sold

CITY SPECIAL

Pioneers | Designers Innovators | Titans Instigators | Creators

Bath Unlimited A city with world-class businesses

PLUS...

BILL BAILEY ON DANCING As he steps out with sparkle on Strictly

ADELARD OF BATH

The story of a medieval man of science

ROOMS WITH ATTITUDE How to use focal points in interior design

ART PRIZE PREVIEW

The Bath Society of Artists' exhibition goes virtual

A N D S O M U C H M O R E I N T H E C I T Y ’ S B I G G E S T G U I D E T O L I V I N G I N B AT H

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Coopers November FP.qxp_Layout 2 21/10/2020 12:53 Page 1

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COOPERS Shop local and shop safely ✓

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coopers-stores.com Range Cookers • Ovens • Hobs • Fridge Freezers • Washing Machines Tumble Dryers • Vacuum Cleaners • Dishwashers • Wine Storage & Coolers

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54 Contents November 2020 5 THINGS

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SEASONS GREETINGS

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48

Essential events to look forward to this month

Emma Clegg visits DoubleTree by Hilton to sample their autumn menu

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

THE DANCE CARETAKER

Take a sneak peak into 007’s latest wardrobe with our Bond-inspired gift guide

We find out why our very own Bill Bailey loves dancing, with an excerpt from his new book, just as he hits the Strictly dance floor

HANDMADE AND LOCAL GIFTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

AN AUTUMNAL HIKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Keep it local this Christmas and browse some of our city’s talented makers and creators

Andrew Swift takes us for a country walk through the golden leaves and evergreens

UNLIMITED THINKING

ALL QUAYED UP

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Emma Clegg chats to the energy behind the Bath Unlimited project and discovers a momentous wave of potential for Bath and beyond

An update on the Bath Quays development and a breakdown of what’s to come

WHAT’S ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

FOCAL ENERGY

Check out this month’s top virtual and socially distanced events

CITY ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Find out what our city’s much-loved art spaces have to offer

ARTS MARVELS

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44

Ruby Bosanquet investigates the history of a man who came to be known as the first English scientist – our very own Adelard of Bath

FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Emma Clegg takes a trip to The Elder and tries out coffee-baked carrots

Follow us on Twitter @thebathmagazine

More content and updates discover: thebathmag.co.uk

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Emma Clegg asks our local interior experts about interior focal points, and how to use them to maximum effect

WHEN OLD MEETS NEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

For the first time ever, the Bath Society of Artists has gone digital – we find out what’s in store

A LEGENDARY CITIZEN

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Millie Bruce-Watt chats to interior designer Joanne Jones, who transformed St Mary’s Catholic Church into the spectacle it is today

DREAMY GARDEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Landscape designer Dan Pearson has helped create a garden in Japan’s Tokachi Millenium Forest – an excerpt from his recently published book makes us wish the concept will be shared

ON THE COVER

A selection of the 17 Bath-based groundbreaking companies who are part of the Bath Unlimited project

Follow us on Instagram @thebathmagazine

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FROM THE EDITOR

❝

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE

Bath is not just a leisure and retail economy – it’s a city with five major sectors.

These companies account for about £1.7 billion of revenue. And they provide around 7,000 jobs

❞

KEVIN PEAKE

Editor photograph by TBM

W

hile we like to shine a light on everything connected to Bath, we also love to think globally, to be inspired and uplifted by big projects and ideas elsewhere. “No man is an island, entire of itself”, said John Donne. He was actually talking about countries, and in the same vein no city is an island either. The character of our home in the south west does not have tight perameters, because we’re part of a whole. Recent months have taught us that. We are connected, to Bristol and Birmingham, and to Bonn, Boston and Beijing.

Embracing this concept we’ve gone international this month, while staying firmly in Bath. How have we done that? Well, the B&NES Economic Recovery Board got together a group of people to come up with a project called Bath Unlimited. It’s a recognition of the amazing achievements of companies based in Bath whose turnover is more than £2 million and who are operating at the very top of their game. These businesses have sway and they have achieved this with vision, focus and expertise. So far there are 17 companies in Bath Unlimited, but more will follow. You may not have heard of them all, because much of their business is national and international rather than local. These companies have connections to cities including Amsterdam, Bergen, Dallas, Singapore, Tianjin, Toronto, Adelaide and Mumbai. It’s all feel-good. And we need some feel-good, yes? Then turn to page 28.

While we’re flying worldwide, we wanted to share with you a book by landscape designer Dan Pearson called The Tokachi Millennium Forest. The forest in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is a visionary environmental conservation project designed to halt the loss of natural habitat and to cultivate a deeper appreciation of nature in Japan’s mainly urban population. We’ve chosen it because we think it’s a golden template for the future. And Topping and Co. have signed copies of this beautiful book – see page 82.

We discover more international strands in Ruby Bosanquet’s feature on Adelard of Bath on page 44. His name may be less familiar to us than our city’s other historic achievers, but this 12th-century natural philosopher travelled to the Middle East from Bath in the Dark Ages and translated many important Arabic and Greek scientific works into Latin from Arabic, which were then introduced to Western Europe.

We also get an insight into Bill Bailey’s new book, Bill Bailey’s Guide to Happiness on page 54. This Bath boy is currently jiving and quickstepping in a certain BBC dance competition and we are so following him through his sparkling Strictly journey. You’ll also find a preview of the Bath Society of Artists annual exhibition on page 42, which has gone virtual this year and we’ve treated you to images of some of the prizewinning work. And if that isn’t enough, our interiors feature on page 70 ponders the power of focal points.

Let’s aim high this month; let’s be Unlimited.

Emma Clegg Editor

A WINNING DESIGN

Over lockdown Wylde Jewellers came up with the idea to launch a Kids Jewellery Design Competition.

Approximately 50 children aged 6 to 16 entered with the theme to draw something based on ‘nature’. Many beautiful designs were entered, but 8 year old Matilda won the competition with her colourful floral circular pendant design which clearly had to be turned into the real thing. Matilda was overjoyed with the result, commenting that it was “awesome!” and “so shiny!” We may have a future jewellery designer on our hands, and Nicholas Wylde says he will be only too happy to accept her for an interview should the day come; nicholaswylde.com

All paper used to make this magazine is taken from good sustainable sources and we encourage our suppliers to join an accredited green scheme. Magazines are now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help to reduce waste and contribute to the six million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Please recycle this magazine, but if you are not able to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine on to a friend or colleague.

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PROMOTED CONTENT

Rediscover the Magic of Bath at Christmas Every year at Christmas, Bath sparkles with glittering lights and the streets are filled with festive spirit. Although this year’s festive season will look slightly different than usual, there is plenty of opportunity to soak up the seasonal atmosphere and get your Christmas shopping all wrapped up in a safe and socially distanced way.

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ith a fantastic programme of festive lighting, events and entertainment, the city is uniting across arts and culture, retail and hospitality, meaning you can still enjoy a magical Christmas in Bath.

Here at the Bath BID, we urge you to remember that Bath’s businesses need your support this year more than ever – not too challenging a request, given the city has such an impressive array of wonderful places to do your Christmas shopping, from one of-akind independent boutiques to major high street names.

To help you plan your present-buying in advance, the Bath BID will begin the festivities with two Early Bird Christmas Shopping days, on Thursday 12th and Thursday 19th November. Entertainment 10 TheBATHMagazine

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around the city centre, and a range of promotions and deals, will help you get into the seasonal spirit. Watch out for our actual ‘early bird’, who will be offering some festive surprises on those days.

People with dementia and other invisible illnesses and their carers will be given an extra welcome on the Bath BID’s Compassionate Christmas Shopping days.

From 10am to 12pm on Tuesday 10th and Tuesday 17th November, those in need of a little more time and quiet will be able to shop at their leisure.

This year, we are all in need of a bit of festive cheer, and Bath BID has sponsored lighting around the city to ensure that Bath is more magical than ever. Some of Bath’s most iconic streets and buildings will be brought to life with magical illuminations. Follow the digital map to find magical lighting in Abbey

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Green, Kingston Parade, Kingsmead Square, Old Bond Street, Northumberland Place, SouthGate Bath, outside Bath Abbey and in lots of other areas around the city centre.

Throughout the year, the Bath BID’s friendly team of volunteer Welcome Ambassadors are on hand to answer questions and offer advice to people visiting the city centre. This festive season, they will be stationed in their very own Welcome to Bath chalet outside Bath Spa Train Station, to provide the warmest of welcomes to visitors and residents alike.

Perfect for the young and the young at heart, every day between 1st and 24th December, Father Christmas will be visiting a different business around the city with his festive post box. The Bath BID will be posting clues online to help you find where Father Christmas will be stationed each day,

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and visitors are invited to give him a wave and post their Christmas wishes through his socially distanced post box.

While the award-winning Bath Christmas Market will not be taking place in its usual festive form due to COVID-19, its spirit will still be celebrated with 12 chalets – the same number that came together to form the very first Christmas market in Bath 20 years ago – selling locally made gifts and treats. The chalets will be dotted around the city streets from Friday 27th November to Sunday 20th December.

Each weekend from Friday 27th November to Sunday 20th December, different arts organisations in the city will run events in Bath's unique buildings and beautiful open spaces.

Kicking things off, on Saturday 28th November, Bath Festivals, in partnership with The Holburne Museum, will welcome

artist, writer and broadcaster Grayson Perry for an ‘In Conversation’ event at The Forum Bath, and Iford Arts will be holding an opera gala at The Assembly Rooms.

The Forum will host Bath Philharmonia on the weekend of 19th to 20th December, as they perform The Snowman to accompany Raymond Briggs' animated masterpiece, for a moment of charm and beauty in the run-up to the holiday season.

To really bring Bath's streets to life, Bath Carnival and ArtSeen will be creating lanterns with community groups and schools, animating the city in a glittering and glowing celebration of colour. A cycle promenade will also take place around the streets, with illuminated lanterns attached to rickshaws sharing the festive spirit.

Keep an eye and an ear out too for local musicians, students, storytellers and poets taking to open-air stages on the streets to

provide some wonderful Christmas entertainment.

After a long day spent rediscovering the city’s festive spirit, refuel with a bite to eat at one of the city’s wonderful eateries. Take your pick from pioneering Michelin star or AA Rosette-winning restaurants, welcoming gastropubs, cosy cafés, chilled out bars, thriving local producers and passionate artisans, and toast to a magical Christmas in Bath! n Find out more at welcometobath.co.uk/christmas All events are subject to the latest government advice and restrictions and may be subject to change.

Brought to you by:

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ZEITGEIST

things to do this

November Listen

Miss Juneteenth will be showing on 14 November

Watch The oldest and biggest film festival in the south west returns for its 30th annual edition, showcasing the best new and classic features, shorts and documentaries from around the world.

Running from 13–17 November, the FilmBath Festival will be screened in the historic Green Park Station. The popular venue is covered but open on one side, allowing for plenty of fresh air and room for social distancing. It’s promising to create a cinema experience, with a top-end projector and the 23-foot inflatable screen. filmbath.org.uk

Pianist Steven Osborne will be appearing in concert on 20 November

Not quite the wonderfully celebratory 30th anniversary festival that had been planned for this autumn, nevertheless Bath Mozartfest is thrilled to bring back live classical music with a delightful ‘minifest’ of 12 concerts over four days. Running from 18–21 November at the Assembly Rooms, the Mozartfest presents the finest chamber music from renowned artists, including the Doric String Quartet and Nash Ensemble and soloists Melvyn Tan and pianist Steven Osborne, with Mozart’s music as always at its heart but ranging widely from Beethoven to Rachmaninov. bathmozartfest.org.uk

Admire

Running from 17–19 November

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour is splashing into the UK and Ireland with its first ever virtual events on 17–19 November. Featuring evenings of mesmerising ocean-themed films, viewers can witness astonishing marine life and incredible seafaring adventures from the comfort of the sofa. From intrepid ocean rowers to scientists living alongside majestic polar bears, this brand-new collection of short films stars intriguing characters who have dedicated their lives to the big blue. The virtual events feature exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and a live prize draw for lots of ocean goodies. oceanfilmfestival.co.uk

Returning on 27 November

Join

Enjoy Stourhead’s hugely popular Christmas trail returns from 27 November for its second year with a host of new installations. Visitors are invited to enter a world of seasonal cheer, complete with glittering trees, giant baubles and snowflakes. Stourhead’s magical, after-dark, illuminated tunnel of light is set to be better than the last, offering a moment of quiet reflection at the fire garden, aglow with hundreds of flickering flames. Set in the world-famous landscape garden, this is not an experience to miss this festive season.

On 30 November historian, journalist and broadcaster Charles, 9th Earl Spencer will be appearing at Topping & Co. to speak about his latest novel, Charles, 9th Earl The White Ship. This event was Spencer rescheduled from September.

The White Ship sank near the Normandy coast on 25 November 1120; there was a single survivor. Amongst the dead was William Adelin, the only legitimate son and heir of Henry I, and his death led to a period of bloody civil war know as The Anarchy.

An inspirational speaker, his voice is known to many, and Topping & Co. guarantees that he will bring this little known, but fascinating, piece of British history to life. n

nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead

toppingbooks.co.uk

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The British Shoe Company is a family run business with the aim to supply high end ladies and gents shoes with brands including: Barker, Trickers, Sanders, Berwick and RM Williams.

We offer a full shoe repair service, specialising in leather work, completely in house for all shoes not just the brands we supply.

We are happy to officially announce the opening of our new store in Bath city centre. Come and pay us a visit at 14 Green Street, Bath BA1 2JZ.

www.britishshoecompany.co.uk

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Our shelves are half empty

Follow us on Twitter @thebathmagazine

See more online www.thebathmag.co.uk

Contact us: Publisher Email:

Steve Miklos steve@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Editor Tel: Email:

Emma Clegg 01225 424592 emma@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Email:

Jane Miklos jane@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Assistant Editor/Web Editor Millie Bruce-Watt Email: millie@thebathmagazine.co.uk Production Manager Email:

Jeff Osborne production@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Contact the Advertising Sales team tel: 01225 424499 Advertising Sales Email:

We need silver can you help?

Liz Grey liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk

The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazine are published by MC Publishing Ltd. We are an independent of all other local publications

The Bath Magazine is distributed free every month to more than 20,000 homes and businesses throughout Bath and the surrounding area. We also have special distribution units in the following city centre stores and coffee shops

2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Telephone: 01225 424499. Fax: 01225 426677 www.thebathmag.co.uk Š MC Publishing Ltd 2020 Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bath Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers.

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Pre Christmas sale Up to 50% off

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The city

ist My BATH

THE BUZZ

THE BUZZ

Green flags for five Bath parks

Historical writer Rebecca Lipkin shares her inspiration behind her latest novel and talks aspirations, philosophies and what’s in the pipeline for her

Five parks in B&NES have been recognised in this year’s Green Flag awards. Alexandra Park, Bloomfield Green, Hedgemead Park, Henrietta Park and Royal Victoria Park have all won the international mark of quality. The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by Keep Britain Tidy, recognises well-managed parks and green spaces.

Alexandra Park has undergone major improvements to the viewpoint and play area and new planting has been carried out at Hedgemead Park and Bloomfield Park. The Friends of Henrietta Park has also been helping the council’s parks team to renovate the pond at the park and planning improvements for 2021. greenflagaward.org

Local nostalgia The latest publication from Bristol Books covers the post-war history of Keynsham and Saltford, taking readers on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

The story of Keynsham and Saltford spanning just one lifetime records a host of well-known places and familiar faces from the period between 1945 and 2020. From the famous Fry’s factory at Somerdale to the changing face of Keynsham’s shops; from the great flood of 1968 to the construction of the by-pass; from the Pascoe family – of pet food and opera fame – to some famous faces of today, such as Bill Bailey and Judd Trump – it’s all preserved in print.

Keynsham & Saltford 1945–2020, £15, has been researched and written by members of the Keynsham & Saltford Local History Society. books can be ordered from books@keysalthist.org.uk

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My husband and I moved to the city four years ago, but we fell in love with Bath many years before that – so much so that we got married at the Royal Crescent Hotel.

Who could fail to be inspired living in Bath?!

The glorious architecture never ceases to fill me with wonder, and as an historical writer it’s very easy to imagine living in a different era.

There is such a sense of romance and sweeping beauty about the city, which is also filled with exquisite green spaces like the Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Park where I often go to reflect or think out a scene.

My perfect day in Bath would be afternoon tea at the Royal Crescent Hotel, a book haul browse in Mr B's Emporium and an evening at Theatre Royal Bath.

Unto This Last is my recently published novel, and the first dedicated to one of the most esteemed figures of the Victorian age, John Ruskin, a polymath ahead of his time who championed Turner and The Pre-Raphaelites, education and social equality. Ruskin also recognised the destruction of nature in the wake of the industrial revolution long before the term ‘climate change’ was coined. The novel touches upon Ruskin’s vast achievements, but above all it is a portrait of his complex psyche and the personal relationships that shaped him, from his stern Scottish merchant father to his young student, Rose La Touche, who had the most profound impact of all.

After reading many biographies focusing on Ruskin’s work, I was compelled to get to the heart of the man through reading his letters and diaries. As a literary character he offers compassion, humour and melodrama in abundance. I wanted to write a book for everyone, whether you are familiar with Ruskin or not, and all the scenes I chose were ones that I personally found moving, profound or entertaining. Ruskin’s turbulent personal history has the power to make us assess the world we live in, our own relationships and the very meaning of unconditional love – hence the title Unto This Last.

Ruskin has inspired me for over 20 years, so it’s overwhelming to see my book, and to receive such incredible praise. I wrote it to

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revive this remarkable man’s legacy and set the record straight about who he really was. The most rewarding thing is hearing that so many people feel as if they know him personally now. They have also fallen in love with Rose La Touche, something that I know would have delighted Ruskin.

I immersed myself in 19th-century English literature from my mid-teens when I knew that I wanted to be a writer, and while I have adopted some of the period style, it was always my intention to present true-life Victorian figures as they were and not the upright, moralistic beings they often chose to portray themselves as. I hope that lovers of Victorian novels will appreciate the novel for capturing the literary tone they enjoy, while offering challenging and thought-provoking realities.

I was previously a culture journalist and magazine editor, a role that allowed me to pursue my passion for the arts. It’s a strange experience being on the receiving end of reviewers, although fortunately the feedback has been very favourable so far!

There are so many books I admire, but I feel that Unto This Last was the novel I was always meant to write, having been a home-schooled only child (as in the case of Ruskin) and very unwell as an adolescent (as in the case of Rose). I would be more than satisfied if I never wrote another book, although I fully intend to!

My next novel will revel in the colourful world of the Victorian theatre, where the players lived as theatrically off-stage as on. It's a romp through the decades which saw the theatre go from being shunned by the middle and upper classes, to being patronised by royalty, and I can't wait to share this explosion of British culture. It’s important to celebrate the contribution theatre makes to society, and in light of the enormous struggles theatres have suffered this year it seems apt that this is my next subject.

Ruskin’s famous pronouncement “There is no wealth but life” seems more poignant than ever right now. rebeccalipkin.com ■

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CITY | NOTEBOOK

Richard Wyatt: Notes on a small city

Columnist Richard Wyatt takes a trip back to 1980s Moscow and remembers his Soviet hero, while not moving from his own living room. Illustration by Brian Duggan

O

urs is a modest end-of-terrace home on the outskirts of Bath and yet the reaction we get from some of our friends is one of incredulity when they pass through our front door.

Visitors stand and gaze open-mouthed while they take in all that lines the walls and shelves of our living quarters. “It’s an Aladdin’s Cave” is popular among those trying not to hurt our feelings. While “You could offer this as a location for Bargain Hunt or as a stopover for the Antiques Road Trip” tends to fall below the well-mannered line. Such comments do make you stop and think about what you have casually put on display over the years and what might happen to it once we are gone... How many, like us, need to ponder on how much of what we value as keepsakes might eventually end up in a skip.

❝ Remember the days when heroes were for real and not just characters in a comic?

❝

Every object has meaning to us. It is an external way of prodding our internal memories, offering trigger points for journeys made and people met through the years. There are photographs showing us posing in front of the Pyramids of Giza or the Peruvian mountain top citadel of Machu Picchu and these are self-explanatory. We’ve sat on what has become ‘Diana’s Seat’ in front of the Taj Mahal too – but it’s the stranger, more exotic objects that draw the most attention. I have selfishly chosen three that are special to me alone, acquired before l met my partner and while working for HTV West Television.

Eagles are a popular subject with Ukrainian wood carvers, it seems, and l have one such object on my mantlepiece. It was given to me while we were filming a very emotional reunion in that country. We’d brought a wartime refugee, who had fled the Ukraine and was living in Swindon, to meet his long lost brother and to visit their mother’s grave together. She had still been alive when our home-bound fellow traveller last saw her all those years ago. What stuck in my mind is how the villagers came together to contribute from their own food cupboards the best fare they could afford to put in front of this film crew from the West. The carved eagles that we brought back were a solid reminder of their charity and humility.

Another wood carving takes me to a different part of our often troubled planet. This time to Ethiopia and the terrible famine of the mid-1980s that left more than a million dead. We flew out there with the Royal Airforce from what was their Transport Command base at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. I was able to follow through what happened to some of those emergency supplies that events like Live Aid had helped pay for. I helped push sacks of grain out of the back of a Hercules aircraft and also sat on an African hillside with people who

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had walked hundreds of miles to where they were told food would drop from the skies. Ethiopia was a communist state then.

We could gaze down from our hotel to the National Palace in which the former Emperor (and one-time Bath resident) Haile Selassie had been imprisoned and then murdered. My wooden Lion of Judah was picked up in an Addis Ababa shanty town market and is as proud and sublimely beautiful as the people of that now democratic country.

The third object has to rate as the most weird. It’s a vacuum-packed example of space food that was given to me when we filmed some lucky school kids from Chippenham on a visit to Star City, Moscow.

It’s where cosmonauts are trained and has since been renamed the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, after the first man to journey into outer space, Yuri Gagarin. Remember the days when heroes were for real and not just characters in a comic? While filming l was able to sit at the desk of this hero of mine, that Soviet Air Force pilot who had first looked down from ‘far above the world’ to see that ‘planet Earth was blue’.

These are three objects among many. Maybe during these dark days, as we slip into winter, we might find the time to engage once again with our household treasures, and relive their value to us. n Richard Wyatt runs the Bath Newseum: bathnewseum.com

ABOVE: Vaccuum packed space food, one of the treasures in Richard Wyatt’s home LEFT: Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human to travel into space, shown in 1961

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No time like the present...

While we’ve been waiting for 007, Moneypenny and co to return from furlough, we’ve been putting together a wishlist of inspired gift ideas, and guess what?

...We’ve been inspecting them, Mr Bond.

LEATHER SAY LEATHER AGAIN In a collaboration between Michael Kors and the Bond franchise, the character Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) will carry the MKC x 007 Bond Bancroft satchel in No Time To Die. It’s mini style with maximum impact, crafted in luxe calf leather with a roomy interior and it exudes an elegant casual daytime look. £720; harveynichols.com

...When it crumbles...

Okay, not the original lyrics as sung by Adele but we had to weave it in somewhere.

Posh chocolatiers Charbonnel et Walker have created a delicious drum of James Bond truffles – inspired by 007’s cocktail of choice and elegantly boxed in their iconic signature hat-box style drum. The dark chocolate martini truffles are filled with a luxurious infusion of vodka, gin and rich chocolate, with a twist of lemon. Nice. A treat for 007 enthusiasts. £15, available to order from 007store.com

And stick an olive in it. In No Time To Die, in a bar where James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Paloma (Ana de Armas) enjoy a drink, we can spot a pair of vintage martini glasses. We think these are possibly Paşabahçe Utopia which can be sourced on amazon.co.uk. However these LSA International bar glasses are a a little more classic, hold 180ml, and a box of four are £40; harveynichols.com

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) wears David Deyong DiamonDust sterling silver drop earrings in movie Spectre. The earrings are worn in the Morocco scenes; first when Swann and Bond have dinner together in the dining car of the train, then later on in with Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz) at his secret desert villain facility. You can get the look at daviddeyong.co.uk for £199. However if you’re in the market for some real ice, then we spotted these belters... 18ct white gold threeclaw set of round brilliant cut diamond drop earrings from Mallory. Total diamond weight 1.6ct, £5,360; mallory-jewellers.com

ONE BOTTLE IS NOT ENOUGH...

Dom Pérignon Champagne has appeared in many James Bond movies and is mentioned in Ian Fleming novel Moonraker when it’s recommended by the sommelier at Blades club in Mayfair while 007 is dining with M. They get through two bottles of the ‘46 vintage.

Occasionally, though, a drop may be spilled; as in The Spy Who Loved Me, where Bond (Roger Moore) has a bottle of Dom Pérignon chilling in his train cabin but ends up smashing it on Jaws' (Curd Jürgens) head. The scene is reworked by Daniel Craig as 007 and henchman Mr Hinx (Dave Bautista) in Spectre. We think it’s best not to waste any and enjoy a celebration of only good times. Pick up a good 2008 vintage at Harvey Nichols, £175, 12% ABV, 75cl; harveynichols.com

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Breaking tradition, and strongly tipped to be the next 007, Nomi (Lashana Lynch) wears an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra in No Time To Die. The exact watch is a Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Co-Axial Master Chronometer with black dial and 38mm case. The case is stainless steel, with a wave-edged design featured on the back. The black dial has a horizontal ‘teak’ pattern which is inspired by the wooden decks of luxury sailboats. The dial shows a date window at six o'clock and rhodium-plated hands and indexes filled with white Super-LumiNova. The watch is powered by the OmegaMaster Chronometer calibre 8800 automatic movement. In the film, Nomi has replaced the standard steel bracelet in preference for the Omega black nylon Nato strap. Cool. For details on the model and similar versions visit mallory-jewellers.com

MOUTHFUL

SHAKEN NOT STIRRED

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TICK-TOCK, MR BOND

A VIEW TO A THRILL Italian actress and fashion model Monica Bellucci is considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. She’d just turned 50 when playing Bond girl Lucia Sciarra in Spectre, commanding the eye and looking ab-fab in Dior and Louboutins. However when asked about landing the role, she said she thought she was replacing Judi Dench as M rather than starring as the oldest of 007’s love interests. Christian Louboutin, So Kate heels, £525; harveynichols.com

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WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD

THE LIVING NIGHTLIGHTS The first Anglepoise was invented by George Carwardine at his home in Macaulay Buildings in Bath in the 1930s. With the help of steel spring-makers Herbert Terry & Sons of Redditch, the Anglepoise became a household must-have. The original 1208 and the smaller 1227 are highly coveted design icons.

Bond’s home furnishing is... let’s say minimal, but as seen in Skyfall, he does have a 1227 on the floor of his apartment and Q has the much later ‘model 75’ on his desk in No Time To Die. Available from Fiat Lux; fiatlux.co.uk

A SCENT FOR A GENT

Since GoldenEye in 1995, the Omega Seamaster has been James Bond's watch of choice. Omega first introduced the Seamaster 300 in 1957 – it was a watch designed especially for underwater divers. More than half a century later, the timepiece makes a welcome return, upgraded and ready for a new generation of adventurers. This Seamaster 300 has a sand-blasted black dial with rhodium-plated hands coated with ‘vintage’ Super-LumiNova. The 41mm brushed and polished stainless steel case is presented on a matching bracelet. A transparent caseback makes it possible to see the anti-magnetic movement.

For further details on this model and the Omega range, visit Mallory; mallory-jewellers.com

Floris No.89 fragrance was a personal favourite of Ian Fleming and featured in many of the early Bond movies. No.89 takes its name from the number of the Floris shop on Jermyn Street.

With orange and bergamot blended with lavender and neroli and undertones of vetiver this is the quintessential English gentleman's fragrance. Comes in two sizes, 100ml (£80) and 50ml (£60) – if you are a secret agent, then a handy travel size is perfect for those missions abroad. Available online at florislondon.com or in Bath at Rossiters.

PAY ATTENTION 007 Quartermaster Q has another mug!

We’ll never know what happened to Q’s famous Scrabble mug (probably a deleted blooper) but in No Time To Die you’ll spot a McLaggan Smith educational periodic table mug on his desk. Although, interestingly Q (like J) does not appear as an element in the table but is reserved for a future discovery. Pick one up at John Lewis.

THE SPY WHO GLOVED ME Made by Dents in England: a pair of Fleming unlined hairsheep leather driving gloves as worn by Daniel Craig in Spectre. They make the perfect winter accessory... No more coldfingers... (apologies). Available from dents.co.uk or at find them at Jollys of Bath.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY If you are planning on enjoying a white Christmas – perhaps taking to the mountains for a snow break will be a possibility – then these Tom Ford Eric Wayfarer-style sunglasses are as cool on the powder as they are hot in the sun. A true classic and Daniel Craig wears Tom Ford in Spectre. £266, available from Harvey Nichols.

HE’S ONLY LIVED THRICE After surviving a traumatic explosion in his cameo role in Skyfall, he’s patched up and bequeathed to 007 by ‘M’, in Spectre.

Royal Doulton’s Jack the Bulldog is still up to the job. He makes a welcome third return in No Time to Die, where he is enjoying his retirement on Bond’s coffee table. Good to see you back, Jack.

Available from royaldoulton.co.uk or from House of Fraser.

ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SANTA LIST Prestige luggage brand Globe-Trotter has launched a No Time To Die vulcanised fibreboard luggage collection. The new trolley cases are gorgeous and this fully branded luggage tag, £110, goes very nicely with them; globe-trotter.com

LICENCE TO CHILL

QUANTUM OF SHOELACE

Macallan was one of the first of Scotland’s distilleries to be issued a legal licence. Connoisseurs believe it to produce one of the best single malts too. In Skyfall, the villain Silva (Javier Bardem) claims to know Bond’s favourite whisky, and the Macallan1962 was served regularly...

Sadly Sévérine (Bérénice Marlohe) spilled her glass. Chill out like 007, and enjoy a Christmas tipple.

Macallan single malt whisky, available at Harvey Nichols; also find out more at themacallan.com

James Bond (Daniel Craig) wears a pair of Sanders & Sanders Hi-Top chukka boots during the last action scenes of Spectre.

He follows in the footsteps of Steve McQueen who popularised the style in several of his greatest movies. Daniel Craig has worn several colours, in all of his 007 appearances to date. Now we know what we’re looking for, shout ‘Sanders and Sanders’ to the (hopefully) packed cinema when you spot a pair in No Time to Die, don’t worry the audience won’t mind...seriously, they won’t. £205.

Find them at the British Shoe Company in Bath. britishshoecompany.co.uk

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ARTISAN & ATELIER GIFTS

Handmade & local gifting PRIORMADE Priormade Geo Vessels can be used as a little planter or a range of potential uses like desk tidies or herb containers.

The collection is made from layers of sustainable and responsibly sourced birch plywood, produced with minimal waste and natural finishes. There are 17 colours to choose from in a range of tones from brights to neutrals, and if you want to complete the package, they provide free gift wrap too. Mini Geo Vessels start from £12.50; www.priormade.store

BLANKETS FROM BATH The Natural Blanket Company was born of a deep love for Bath and the local British countryside, the wild places found on our coastline and inspired by long evenings in. The blankets are impeccably stylish, luxurious and made from 100% natural Merino and pure wool. the company believes in the environmental sustainability of our products, longevity and preserving the heritage of the values we all cherish.

The Natural Blanket Company’s products are sourced and woven in the British Isles with a strong belief in supporting British manufacturers and artisan producers and with a commitment to quality and value. Prices from £40.00; Tel: 01225 312060; www.thenaturalblanket.co.uk Instagram # the_natural_blanket

NATURAL GLASS FROM THE SEA Theresa McIntyre makes jewellery using natural sea glass. She loves the idea that the glass has a secret provenance, a hidden history in another time, and that it has been tumbled and shaped by the waves and currents of the ocean over decades, and then washed up on a seashore. At first she made things for her family, but soon colleagues began to ask if she could make jewellery for for them, and eventually after having great success at craft fairs she opened her Etsy shop. For Theresa, the joy of working with sea glass is that it beautiful, unique and has its own story. The cost of the bracelet shown is £26. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SeaglassandSilverGB

LUXURIOUS RELAXATION AROMAS BY ESPOIR Espoir Aromas was founded by Amelia. The products are handmade, labelled and packaged by Amelia in her studio using ingredients sourced from the highest quality suppliers and only the finest oils are combined with 100% organic soy wax. Driven by demand the range has expanded to include luxury Relaxation Gift Sets and Christmas Gift Sets. The candles and Wax Melts help create an ambiance and feel in a room, whether it be relaxing and calming, vibrant and energising, or mood-enhancing and uplifting.

Prices Range from £3.95 - £30.00; www.espoiraromas.com Instagram: @espoiraromas

SLUG RINGS Slug Rings is a family business based in Bath. Having trained and worked as engineers the founders are passionate about creating a functional yet beautiful product. In a disposable world, this gift set from Slug Rings is designed to last a lifetime. A set of handmade copper rings to protect your seedlings and tender plants from slugs and snails, a friendly porcelain slug to decorate your home or garden and a seed selection from a local nursery to start your spring planting. Use code BATHXMAS for a 10% discount. www.slugrings.co.uk

HANDMADE PORCELAIN BY EMILY Emily is a Ceramic Artist, working from her home studio in Nightingale Valley, making porcelain vases, lamps and wall pieces.

Surrounded by woods and fascinated by the natural world, she captures in relief form, the fine details of seed heads, flowers, ferns, buds, leaves and grasses, in each handmade and unique piece. Vases and wall pieces in crisp white sit beautifully among those enhanced by the addition of pleasing blue and green hues. Lamps and candle covers come to life when light is added, highlighting the fragile and delicate nature of the fauna and the translucent properties of the porcelain. Lamp shown, £220. www.emilydennysceramics.com

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Original Art . Prints . Cards . Booklets

The Perfe Chris ct tmas Gifts

Buy online: www.emmaroseartworks.com | In Person: The Art Studio . Knight’s Barn . Wellow . Bath BA2 8QE . By Appointment . 07885235915

Shows: Bath Contemporary Artists Fair | Green Park Market . Bath BA1 1JB | 8.11.20 + 13.12.20 . 10am-5pm

Jewellery After 23 years it’s the end of an Era! Beginning with a gentle wind down in November

Discounts of up to 50% off

October opening hours: Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays 11am - 4pm Monday, Tuesdays & Thursdays by appointment only To book a “Jewellery Lock-in” appointment with Alexandra please call 07500 868 535

23 BROCK STREET BATH BA1 2LW • WWW.ALEXANDRAMAY.COM • 01225 465 094 THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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Prior creates high quality contemporary homewares, lighting and accessories using sustainable materials and responsible processes.

Priormade’s range of bold & eye-catching lighting sits comfortable and confident in any space, and ticks both the luxury design and eco-conscious boxes. www.priormade.store

Online at www.Etsy.co.uk

SeaglassandSilverGB Beautiful and original jewellery Tumbled

by the ocean for decades and washed up on English and Scottish shores Who knows where it came from or what it once was?

A Champagne bottle from a lovers’ tryst -

Or the spoils from a Pirate’s Shipwreck?

A hidden history from another time

Sea glass has secrets!

Handcrafted with Sterling Silver SeaglassandSilverGB@outlook.com

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Perfectly fitted bespoke eyewear

Tom Davies is an esteemed eyewear company built on the principles of fit, form and function. Established as one of Britain's leading bespoke spectacle brands, this prestigious handmade eyewear company offers a fully bespoke service using the highest quality materials.

TOM DAVIES

16 Pierrepont St, Bath BA1 1LA | Tel: 01225 464433 www.kathrynanthony.co.uk

BESPOKE MADE TO MEASURE EYEWEAR

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Unlimited thinking

Do you feel battered and bruised by recent months? And are you concerned about how Bath is coping? Emma Clegg talks to Kevin Peake, director of marketing and business development at Royds Withy King, and the brains behind the Bath Unlimited project, and discovers that the city is firing on all cylinders – 17 of them, in fact

T

hings have been tough. In Bath, in Britain and in the world. It’s not surprising that we’ve been feeling downcast over the past few months, swept up in a situation over which we have little control.

We – as individuals, business owners and employees – are still looking forward, but our buoyancy is weighed down by uncertainty.

We are waiting for some good news, angling to find a chink of light, and the hope of a future that’s positive and full of potential.

So what would you say if we told you that Bath is a superpower, a strong and resilient centre of energy, way up there with the big cities in Europe and beyond? That this a city that we should be proud of and grateful to live in, full of enterprise, talent, business acumen, character and vision? That there are powerful forces behind the headlines that give the city strength and permanence? Would you guffaw, and point at the empty retail units, the closed galleries, the empty theatres, the football and rugby matches playing to empty stands, and the organisations in funding crises?

Bear with us. Being a superpower is all about vision. And nobody knows that better than Kevin Peake, director of marketing and business development at Royds Withy King.

At the start of lockdown, he was asked to join the Economic Recovery Board, led by B&NES Council. Including tech, culture, manufacturing, services, tourism and education representatives, they put their heads together to come up with ideas to activate the renewal of our economy, to rebuild confidence in our area as a safe, sustainable and green place in which to visit, study and work.

BELOW: Truespeed deliver some of the fastest broadband speeds in the world. They also provide free ultrafast broadband to local schools (as well as local community hubs) in south west communities

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Avon Rubber manufacture the world’s most advanced underwater life-support capability for global military divers, capable of supporting an individual for 4-6 hours at extreme work depths

“We had a Zoom meeting at the beginning of March,” explains Kevin, “to develop ideas for a future big vision. I said, ‘I think one of the problems with Bath is that people don’t know about the great companies here, and so when we market ourselves outside to attract other companies, people don’t come’. People come driven by a herd mentality – they go where there are lots of businesses. So that was the genesis of the idea.

“We needed to create a brand. The name ‘Bath Unlimited’ was the idea of Chris Stephens, director of the Holburne, because he had been thinking about an exhibition with that title to do with Bath’s amazing talent. As soon as we said the name, it seemed to be the glue that brought some of these amazing firms together, those that think in a very imaginative, creative way.”

“Earlier in the year I’d gone to a presentation of design agency Mytton Williams’ Made in Bath book attended by a number of Bath businesses. While I was there I asked people questions about the different firms in Bath to see how well all the amazing companies we have are known. As I did this I became more and more convinced that they are not all well known, because nobody I spoke to knew that the aircraft carriers that the country had just invested billions in were designed by BMT.”

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Kevin Peake is open about his own learning curve on the stature of businesses in Bath.

“Buro Happold put out on social media that they had just designed a new stadium for Everton Football Club, an eco portside development on the edge of the Mersey. I said ‘Wow, I didn’t know you did sports stadiums’, and they said ‘Well we did the Tottenham Stadium’. I said ‘Wow, how did you get the Tottenham Stadium?’, and they said, ‘Well we did the Olympic Park’. I then said in a meeting with the Council, ‘Did you know that the Olympic Park was designed in Bath?’ and they said ‘No’. And someone there from Buro Happold said, ‘Well, we also designed the Millennium Stadium’. Every brilliant new stadium is designed in Bath.”

Let’s take another example – eyewear company Inspecs supplies over 100 countries, and are stocked in some of the world’s biggest retail chains. Their head office building in Bath used to be the heart of energy supply to the city during Victorian times. And the company handmade all the frames worn by Daniel Radcliffe in the Harry Potter movies, as well as supplying John Lennon’s iconic round eye gold wire specs – the pair were recently sold at auction for £137,000.

These are not just individual success stories within our city, says Kevin: “I wanted to talk about the sectors as much as the companies.”

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CITY | PRIDE

“What if we told you that Bath is a superpower, a strong and resilient centre of energy, way up there with the big cities in Europe and beyond?”

Bob Mytton, partner and creative director at Mytton Williams and Keven Peake, director of marketing and business development at Royds Withy King, are the driving energy behind Bath Unlimited THEBATHMAG.CO.UK THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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RIGHT: Format Engineers are engineering designers who devote a defined proportion of their income every year to pure research and to growing links with academia to constantly challenge the norms in the construction industry. They designed this Centrepiece for the Burning Man Festival, Nevada, USA LEFT: The University of Bath are ranked as a top 10 UK university in all three national league tables with a reputation for research and teaching excellence. They were listed third for graduate prospects by The Times/Sunday Times’ Good University Guide 2021 OPPOSITE: Integrated consulting engineers Buro Happold has delivered some of the most challenging and highly regarded projects in the world, including the Olympic Stadium in London, the British Museum’s incredible roof, the 62,000 capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, shown here, and Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore

BELOW: Grant Associates is a pioneering international landscape architecture practice. Their work reconnects people with nature in insightful, delightful and distinctive ways while addressing the global challenges of urbanisation, the climate crisis and biodiversity extinction Photograph by Patrick Bingham Hall

In the BBC’s hit series Planet Earth 2, Sir David Attenborough hailed Singapore’s Supertrees, designed by Grant Associates, as ‘perhaps the most spectacular example of city greening in the world ’

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BMT’s earliest founder was the inventor of the steam turbine and they are now involved in cyber security

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There are five sectors I’ve created which are built and natural environments, meaning architecture; defence and engineering; dynamic consumer businesses; financial services; and tech and innovation. I didn’t include the creative sector in Bath, because this is well known.”

The Bath Unlimited project features 17 businesses that fit the brand. They are Avon Rubber (respiratory and ballistic protection); BMT (aircraft tankers); Buro Happold (engineering); FCBStudios (architecture); Format Engineers (structural engineering); Future Publishing; Grant Associates (landscape architecture); Horstman Group (military suspension); Inspecs (fashion eyewear); L&C Mortgages; Novia (investment technology); Pure Planet (digital energy supplier); Rocketmakers (software development); Rotork (electric, hydraulic and pneumatic valve actuators and gearboxes); Truespeed (broadband provider); The University of Bath; and Zynstra (retail software).

“The idea was not only to profile the individual companies but to get over that Bath is not just a leisure and retail economy, it’s a city with five major sectors. All these companies account for about £1.7 billion of revenue. And they provide around 7,000 jobs.

There are around 40,000 jobs in Bath in total.

If you take out NHS, council, public service and retail jobs, employment from these standout companies accounts for most of our region’s jobs. Knowing that we’re really strong in all these sectors, the people of Bath can feel confident about the economy.”

Why is there such innovative industry going on here that’s not common knowledge?

“Because their market isn’t Bath. We have lots of successful small local businesses who

appear everywhere locally. But with a company like Rotork, their business is based in the US, so they only have a limited amount of time and money to develop a presence here.

L&C Mortgages, too, need to win new customers from all around the country so their resources are not spent on local advertising.

“I also think that some of these companies haven’t got their head round the fact that they are absolute global leaders and are a little humble in talking about their amazing stories.

Individually all the CEOs knew that each of their companies were best in breed, but I don’t think any of them appreciated that they are part of this community of really inspiring and forward-thinking Bath-based companies.”

To fulfill the criteria for being ‘Unlimited’ companies have to have a minimum turnover of £2 million and at least 25 employees. They can have offices elsewhere in the world, but the main office has to be in Bath. They all also need to have something about them that supports the Unlimited story. “The project has to be curated so that these firms are global leaders or they are doing something different,” says Kevin. “We want to get more companies over time but we are not prepared

to compromise.”

So where does the value of Bath Unlimited lie? It’s simple, really. The vision, industry and achievements of these big local companies give a strong backbone to our city; as a business group they sing of our versatility and our influence. They also reflect the assets we hold – not, for a change, historical ones, but present, active and demonstrable skills, innovative problem solving, mastery of a brand and specialist knowledge that is valued and sought after all over the world. These businesses support regional employment and attract new visitors to the city through employees and their friends and family. The average spend of foreign visitors and day trippers to the city is limited. It makes a difference, but it has nowhere near the impact of VFRs (visitors, friends and relatives), the high spenders in retail and leisure, which is a market that is constantly stimulated by the Bath Unlimited group.

“These businesses provide 7,000 jobs in the city and there is an economy spinning out of that. Zynstra, who specialise in intelligent infrastructure in retail, was sold for £100 million last year to an American Tech company and before Covid they were bringing people from all around the world to Bath to see their centre and to learn about how their powerful software optimises store technology and enables digital transformation.”

It’s all a bit overwhelming, to be honest.

Surely some of these companies have been slowed down by the pandemic and a less vibrant economy? Or maybe we have become so used to negative news that we’ve stopped seeking out what is working and thriving?

“I talked to Claire Smith from Buro Happold and asked how her business model

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TOP: Rotork is a market-leading global provider of mission critical flow control and instrumentation solutions for oil and gas, water and wastewater, power, chemical process and industrial applications ABOVE: Novia delivers market leading investment technology and service, offering investments from over 350 fund managers and model portfolios. The business currently administers over £7bn of assets

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has been affected by the lack of offices and the increased number of employees working from home,” says Kevin. “She told me that their market has not suffered, but rather changed – it is now getting lots of briefs in for the redesign of offices of the future. And that even once Covid is controlled, the company is never going to go back to the level of office use that they had before. People are interested in the space in front of buildings now, she told me, so they are receiving lots of briefs about how to make those spaces attractive and useful for people to congregate in.”

Many thought that digital experiences would sound the death knoll for publishing.

But Future seems to have adapted well: “Future Publishing is the best share performing company in the UK in the last four years. But nobody in Bath would ever talk about it in that way. Magazines were dying off in terms of retail sales, but Future have wellloved and respected brands so they reinstate them and make them more digital. They define themselves as a global platform for specialist media and their offering is broadening and diversifying all the time.” In April this year Future bought TI Media, acquiring magazines such as Country Life, Homes & Gardens and Woman & Home. They have just bought CinemaBlend, a US company, a high-growth digital brand focused on the TV, film and entertainment market that generated revenue of $3.1m in the year to 31 December 2019.

Warming to his theme, Kevin explains that “FCBStudios – who have won more RIBA awards in the UK than any other architectural practice – are working with clients in Rwanda, a country that they identified as part

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of a strategy to target the huge growth potential of commonwealth countries. That is Unlimited Thinking.”

This is a personal project for Kevin and for Bob Mytton of Mytton Williams, the design agency who have been closely involved with the idea and creating the brand and website.

“There is no cost for companies to join and we have no plan to commercialise it – we’re just doing it for the benefit of Bath.

“My primary reason for doing this was to help the people of Bath understand what was on their doorstep as a confidence and pride thing. Particularly as we were going into recession – we wanted to show that things are not as bad as you might think. We also want to encourage more companies to come here.”

So with collective spirits raised, let’s stand tall and remember that post Covid we will bounce back and our city will become animated and active again. In the meantime, recognise that there is a sustained driving energy here, a collection of big-thinking companies that provide significant jobs, a magnet for visitors and massive global influence.

“BMT, who design warships (and are based on Lower Bristol Road), are also focused on the technologies of today and tomorrow,” says Kevin. “Their earliest founder was the inventor of the steam turbine – and they are now involved in cyber security, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and digital transformation. That’s Unlimited in a nutshell.” n Discover more about Bath Unlimited: bathunlimited.org

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“My primary reason for doing this was to help the people of Bath understand what was on their doorstep as a confidence and pride booster”

ABOVE: BMT provides independent technical expertise and consultancy. The company offers design solutions, asset management, programme delivery and technology services to customers in the defence and security sectors.

They designed the Queen Elizabeth Class carrier, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Tide class tankers and help to maintain the Royal Navy’s in-service nuclear submarines RIGHT: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios), who designed The South Bank Centre, is an architectural and urban design practice with an international reputation for design quality, for pioneering environmental expertise and a progressive architectural approach

Image © Morley von Sternberg

OPPOSITE PAGE, bottom: Future is a global multi-platform media company and leading digital publisher, with scalable brands and diversified revenue streams. They connect over 300 million people worldwide with their passions through expert content, world-class events and cutting-edge proprietary technology. They have a market-leading portfolio of over 220 brands spanning across technology, gaming, TV & entertainment, women’s lifestyle, music, sport, creative and photography, home interest and B2B

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DON’T MISS. ENDS 3 JANUARY 2021

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WHAT’S ON in November Join Tanya’s Home Clearing Club

A Week in Tokyo Exhibition

BATH THEATRE SCHOOL n Throughout November, term time Saturdays, Oldfield Baptist Church Bath Theatre School is inviting drama enthusiasts aged 6–18 years to join the multi-award winning Bath Theatre School for a free taster with action-packed lessons in singing, dance and drama. Participants will learn a range of performing skills while working towards nationally recognised exams in musical theatre. baththeatreschool.com CHOIRSHOW 2 n 1 November, via website A brilliant live broadcast of virtual choir videos recorded by 14 different choirs from across the UK will be released this month.

More than 250 singers from various choirs have brought their voices together in support of Keynsham charity, The Music Man Project. eventbrite.co.uk/e/choirshowtickets COPENHAGEN n 4–21 November, Theatre Royal Bath Michael Frayn’s multi award-winning Copenhagen stars one of our most popular stage and screen actors, Haydn Gwynne (Billy Elliot The Musical) and Michael Gould (RSC, National Theatre, The Globe Theatre). This totally absorbing historical detective story, conjured from a smattering of scientific facts, is a daring, fascinating and stimulating drama. theatreroyal.org.uk A WEEK IN TOKYO n 10–25 November, BRLSI During Rugby World Cup in October 2019, photographer Andrew Polson, armed with his Nikon D810, hit the streets of Tokyo to capture the life of a city that offers such 36 TheBATHMagazine

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contrast. This month, 60 of Andrew’s photographs will be on display, raising money for Dorothy House Hospice. Curated

by Jason Dorley-Brown, visitors can follow Andrew’s 30 years of working in New York City and London. brlsi.org COMPASSIONATE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING n 10 and 17 November, Bath This festive season, Bath BID has organised times dedicated to those people in need of a little more time and quiet to feel welcome in the city centre shops. Running from 10am–12pm, shoppers can feel more comfortable buying their Christmas presents. bathbid.co.uk EARLY BIRD CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DAYS n 12 and 19 November, Bath Bath BID will begin the festive activities with two Early Bird Christmas Shopping days on 12 and 19 November, with entertainment around the city centre, and a range of promotions available to shoppers. bathbid.co.uk THE FAST AND THE FOODIES n 14 November, 10am–2pm, Trowbridge A brand new car exhibition is coming to Trowbridge. The event is set to feature everything from the newest Lamborghinis, Porches and Ferraris to classic British and American cars such as the Capri, Mustang, an American Hot Rod and a 1933 Austin Supercar. The event includes a variety of street food stalls. innoxmills.co.uk INNOX MILLS MARKET n 15 November, 10am–4pm, Trowbridge Held on the third Sunday of each month, the

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Copenhagen at the Theatre Royal Bath

Innox Market in Trowbridge offers a range of products, from handmade arts and crafts and vintage clothing to street food, fresh produce and west country ale and cider, all against the backdrop of live music. Social distancing measures will be in place. innoxmills.co.uk VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES n 27 November, Bath The cultural and festive programme begins on the weekend of 27 November. Each weekend will involve different arts organisations in the city, running events in Bath’s unique buildings. Bath Festivals will open the programme in partnership with the Holburne Museum, in conversation with Grayson Perry at the Forum talking about his remarkable artistic career. bathbid.co.uk TANYA’S HOME CLEARING CLUB n 26 November, via website Tanya’s Home Clearing Club, run by The Girl Who Simplified, consists of 49 days of gentle guided support as part of a group of ambitious women ready to clear the excess ‘stuff’ in their homes to create more space within themselves. The programme costs £250; thegirlwhosimplified.com THE ARTS SOCIETY BATH LECTURES n Until 30 November After the suspension of activities due to Covid, The Arts Society Bath Lectures are back with a series of six monthly online lectures starting on 4 January 2021. This month, there’s a special offer for new members who sign up by 30 November, who will be able to access the 14 December lecture for free. Memberships cost £40. theartssocietybath.com n

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The Arts Society Bath Lectures Are Back! with a series of 6 exciting Zoom lectures on a variety of fascinating Arts topics.

For £40 membership fee you will have access to the Arts Society Bath 6 on-line monthly lectures and more….

Lectures begin 4th January 2021

“Special offer” New Members joining before 30th November 2020 will receive free access to our December 14th Zoom lecture “Jane Austen’s Christmas-The Festive Season in the Georgian Era” So Join up today - you can access the lecture details and Application form at www.theartssocietybath.com or contact us on bath@theartssociety.org

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

STATE OF THE ART

This month, we look forward to welcoming back some of the city’s much-loved annual exhibitions as they return with just as much excitement and vigour online; as well as festive displays with plenty of gift inspiration...

Image: ‘Street’ handpainted black and pink silk blouse Carole Waller; £345

Ceramics by Clare Conrad

WALLER & WOOD One Two Five Box Road, Bath BA17LR Open: 10am–7pm daily Tel: 07803 033629 Web: wallerandwood.co.uk

GALLERY NINE

CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION 12–15 November Waller & Wood is open for a Christmas Exhibition at One Two Five Box Road. Find Gary Wood’s stoneware ceramics, colourful aluminium jewellery by Annie Beardsley and Carole Waller’s new collection of painted clothes and scarves – alongside handpainted face coverings in velvet.

Carole’s inspiration for her latest collection – called The Woman Who Knew Too Much: Part 2 – came from a painting in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Visit Waller & Wood’s website or email or call Waller & Wood to make an appointment for two people or a household.

WINTER EXHIBITION From 6 November This month, Gallery Nine will be showcasing Adam Frew’s porcelain one-off ceramics, Wallace Sewell’s vibrant hand-woven textiles, and Clare Conrad’s hand thrown ceramics. The exhibition, which starts on 6 November, will also be displaying brilliant new paintings by Andrew Pavitt and the latest jewellery collection from Disa Allsopp. Visitors will also be able to browse Anita Reynold’s work. Anita has been revisiting locations at different times of the year, reflecting on total immersion in the landscape.

9B Margaret's Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP Tel: 01225 319197 Web: galleryninebath.com

EMMA ROSE The Art Studio, Knight’s Barn, Wellow, Bath BA2 8QE Visit by appointment Tel: 07885 235915 Web: emmaroseartworks.com BATH CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS’ FAIR Green Park Market, Bath BA1 1JB 8 – 13 December, 10am–5pm Emma Rose’s unique artwork features Indian and French inks with acrylics, some with gold/silver leaf. She will be exhibiting at the Bath Contemporary Artists Fair (along with 40 other artists) on 8 November to 13 December. You can buy online or visit her delightful Art Studio in Wellow. Come and see her original paintings, limited edition giclée prints, cards and booklets. Emma also creates many commissions.

Opal by Emma Rose

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM Great Pulteney Street, Bath Tel: 01225 388569 Web: holburne.org GRAYSON PERRY: THE PRE-THERAPY YEARS Until January 2021 One of the Holburne’s most eagerly anticipated shows of the year, this follows a successful public appeal to source Perry’s early ceramic pieces, made between 1982 and the mid-1990s. Here are a broad range of Perry’s early works, including pieces from the artist’s own collection and works not seen publicly before. For his legions of fans, The PreTherapy Years will bring a new perspective to the 2003 Turner Prize-winner’s influential and inspiring outlook.

Essex Plate by Grayson Perry

NICK CUDWORTH 5 London Street, Bath BA1 5BU Tel: 01225 445221 Web: nickcudworth.co.uk NOVEMBER EXHIBITION Throughout November The show for this month features works of Widcombe painted over the last few years, which are all available as prints and cards. The main focus of the show is Nick’s new work in his Long Exposure Series combining an old sepia print from 1850 and placing it in its contemporary environment around the White Hart.

Image: Big Pink Poppies by Exhibitor Nancy Chambers

Image: Vanishing Points by Nick Cudworth as part of his Long Exposure Series. Oil on linen; 30x24in

BATH CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS’ FAIR Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath BA1 1JB Open: 10am–5pm Web: bcaf.co.uk NOVEMBER FAIR Sunday 8 November Bath Contemporary Artists Fair is committed to bringing the best of contemporary art from the city and beyond right to the heart of Bath. Following on from the successful and popular inaugural October fair, the next event is on 8 November, where visitors can browse the brilliant works of local artists and admire fine art, photography, sculpture and textiles, all under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station.

BATH SOCIETY OF ARTISTS Tel: 07976 380147 Web: bsaorg.uk ANNUAL EXHIBITION The Bath Society of Artists has been running its annual exhibition for 115 years. The exhibition is usually held in the Victoria Art Gallery and is open to both members and nonmembers. This year, however, for the first time the exhibition is going online. Art-lovers can marvel at the online gallery from 2 November. A total of 294 artworks have been selected for the online show and 189 are by non-members (see also page 42). n Image: The Lighthouse Path by Florence Grieve. This linocut piece is Florence’s first time entry in the Young Artists Category 18–25.

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Book tokens of the Past DUNCAN CAMPBELL HAS BEEN DEALING IN ANTIQUE SILVER SINCE 1986

The Silver Cup

H

ave you ever wondered why so many sporting and other prizes take the form of a silver cup?

Perhaps passing around a two handled vessel makes sense to toast a great victory and it is certainly true that a glass trophy wouldn’t have survived the Scottish Rugby squad dropping the Calcutta Cup (made not in Calcutta but in Srinagar - just sayin’) while passing it around at 2 am in Princes street.

Dents can easily be removed from silver cups, but that is not why they have become the default award for victory.

The tradition for giving large trophy cups goes back centuries and many of these ancient cups have now taken on a ceremonial function that has overtaken the real reason for their existence.

Can you imagine the cries of horror if next year the Wimbledon Men’s Singles trophy cup were to be weighed in for scrap and the cash paid out to it’s winner instead?

This may sound like the worst kind of vandalism but to our ancestors it would have been perfectly normal.

The reason silver was chosen as a gift or a prize is because it was literally made of money. In the past, as now, it may be seen as a little vulgar to hand over cash where somehow giving a book token or gift voucher isn’t. Silver cups and trophies were the book tokens of their day, always intended to be converted into something more useful once the celebrations were done.

Despite the often skillful hand work applied to trophy cups, the value was all in the weight, generally 6s. an ounce for the metal and another 1s./oz. for the manufacture. There are any number of old news reports covering some horse race or other which describe the prize cup simply by its mass, without any discussion of what it might have looked like.

Old inventories of house contents rarely give any detail for silver, “a cup” or “a dish” is about all you get, but the weight is always specified to the nearest pennyweight to allow for a very quick and accurate valuation.

In the days before eBay only by giving silver could you be sure that, if the receiver didn’t want their carefully chosen gift, they could get the money back. n

Pet P traits Beautiful bespoke hand-drawn portraits of your much-loved pets in pastel.

Prices range from £80-250.

Telephone 01275 853258 Email info@thepetportraits.com

instagram.com/the_petportraits beaunashbath.com; 01225 334234

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David Ringsell

Art Prints

nick cudworth gallery

A contemporary take on classic Bath architecture A2 - £120, A3 - £90, A4 - £75

ey at the Abb Exhibition 13/12/20 hotel until

Art Prints of Bath for Sale Get an original take on the striking classic architecture of the city.

Order an unframed Giclée custom prints of original paintings in various sizes: A2 - £120, A3 - £90, A4 - £75.

Come with narrow white border. Buy direct from www.real-images.com/shop/ Affordable custom Giclée prints of original paintings

Email: david@real-images.com • Call 01225 469127 Prints, originals & exhibitions.

Art prints for sale on https://real-images.com/shop www.real-images.com

Widcombe - Evening Oil on canvas-prints available

NOVEMBER EXHIBITION 1 – 30 November

5 London Street (top end of Walcot Street), Bath BA1 5BU tel 01225 445221 / 07968 047639 gallery@nickcudworth.com www.nickcudworth.com

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ART EXHIBITIONS

Bath Society of Artists’ open exhibition

“

Founded in 1904, the Bath Society of Artists is well known for its annual exhibition which is open to members and non-members and held in the Victoria Art Gallery. This year the exhibition has gone digital – so you can visit their online gallery from 2 November and marvel at your leisure – there are some big treats in store

F

or the first time in its history of 115 consecutive shows, the Bath Society of Artists’ Open Exhibition is happening online” says Andrew Lansley, BSA Chairman. “This is the biggest annual event in the society’s calendar as well as for the Victoria Art Gallery and the city of Bath. Applicants have clearly not been deterred by this change as we have received 700 entries from over 400 artists.”

Works selected for the online exhibition were chosen by members of the society, guests, president David Inshaw and Jon Bennington of Victoria Art Gallery. The judges – David Simon of David Simon Contemporary and Jessica Lloyd-Smith of Modern Art Buyer – agreed “that the standard of this year’s submissions have been very high and we just wished that there had been more awards to bestow, because we had some really tough choices to make before coming up with the final list.”

Nine of the 11 prizes were awarded to non-members. A total of 294 artworks have been selected for the online show and 189 are by non-members. Of the seven young artists selected from ages 18 to 25, Constance Regardsoe has not only won the BSA Young Artist prize but has also been awarded the top BSA prize. This is an incredible achievement for a young artist and the Society are looking forward to seeing more of her exciting work in future exhibitions.

London-based artist, Constance Regardsoe says, “It means so much for me to have been selected as an exhibitor for the BSA Open, let alone to win two awards! I’ve always been drawn to water and I am an enthusiastic wild swimmer. I like how the experience of being in water reminds us of our smallness, and I try to express this in my paintings by examining how the water distorts and shifts the body of the swimmer.

My work is also about time; I paint from photographs with a short exposure, and the brief split section that is captured is then painstakingly transferred onto canvas over many, many, hours.” n The Bath Society of Artists 115th Open Exhibition, showing online in association with the Victoria Art Gallery, is open from 2 November 2020 – 3 January 2021; bsaorg.uk

BELOW: Social Distance (Hearing or Listening), ceramic pieces by Philippa MacArthur; Minerva Art Supplies Prize

ABOVE RIGHT: Walk on Marlborough Common, pastel by Beertje Vonk; Bath Society of Artists Drawing Prize

BELOW RIGHT: Clementines on Linen, oil painting by Helen Davison (BSA member) Bath Society of Artists Painting Prize

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“I like how the experience of being in water reminds us of our smallness” CONSTANCE REGARDSOE

ABOVE: Altered Surface, oil painting by Constance Regardsoe; Bath Society of Artists Prize BELOW: Ranunculas and Lilacs from the Garden, oil painting by Haidee-Jo Summers; Bath Society of Artists runner up prize BELOW RIGHT: Kristian, watercolour and ink by Martha Zmpounou; St Cuthbert's Mill Watercolour Prize

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HISTORY

Adelard of Bath

You might not yet know his name, but the intellectual and scientific accomplishments of Adelard of Bath make him one of our city’s great citizens. Ruby Bosanquet investigates the history and legacy of the man known as the first English scientist

J

ane Austen, John Wood the elder and the Wife of Bath are just a few of the names associated with great Bathonians. But there is a new (and much older) contender, the mathematician and scientist Adelard of Bath. Regarded as the first English scientist and one of the great minds of the Middle Ages, Adelard was born in Bath in 1080 and died in the city after 1152.

You’ll be forgiven for not having heard of Adelard – while his work was highly significant in the development of modern science and there are extensive records of his writing, little is known about Adelard himself. It is through the diligent research of writer Louise Cochrane, who wrote Adelard of Bath; the First English Scientist, that light has been spread on this incredible Bathonian. The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) has recently republished Cochrane’s work and helped build more awareness of Adelard through a self-guided trail and a proposal for a new monument to reflect his achievements.

When Adelard was born, Bath was very different to the city we now know. It was a small community of just over a thousand people, most of whom lived in primitive dwellings. The Norman Conquest was still very recent (1066), and Bath was a site of destruction following a rebellion against William II. It was only when John of Tours, the Bishop of Wells, moved the seat of diocese from Wells to Bath in 1090, that the city met a turning point. John of Tours put plans in place to build a new cathedral, a school and a hospital.

Unfortunately little remains of this great redevelopment, but it led to Bath becoming a centre of learning. As a student in Bath at this time, Adelard benefitted greatly from John of Tours’ influence. It was under John of Tours that the Benedictine monks in Bath became known for their scholarship, and ran a monastery where Adelard was educated.

Adelard’s family was closely connected to John of Tours and once Adelard had finished his education in Bath he was sent to Tours in France, where the Bishop received his own education. It was after this that Adelard published his first piece of work De eodem et diverso (‘On Sameness and Diversity’). Here, Adelard explored the differences between Plato and Aristotle’s work on human existence before producing his own explanation to reconcile the two theories.

Adelard’s work in De eodem et diverso was a highly advanced piece of writing, and demonstrates his capabilities from a young age.

Not content with his work in philosophy, Adelard wished to increase his knowledge and did so by travelling extensively in the Islamic world. While Europe ABOVE: A library in Baghdad in the Golden Islamic Age, from a 13th-century manuscript, drawn by Al-Wasiti in the celebrated book The Assemblies

by Hariri LEFT: The map shows the Islamic view of how the universe is structured. The sky is held by Allah so that it does not fall on earth; the earth is considered flat and is surrounded by the mountains of Qaf, supported by an ox that stands on a fish in a cosmic ocean; and the ocean is inside a bowl that sits on top of an angel/devil. This surprising (to our eyes) physical concept of the world makes Adelard’s scientific endeavours even more noteworthy OPPOSITE: Illustration at the beginning of Euclid’s Elements, translated by Adelard of Bath. This shows a detail of a scene in the bowl of the letter ‘P’ with a woman with a set square and dividers, using a compass to measure distances on a diagram. She is most likely the personification of geometry 44 TheBATHMagazine

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was experiencing the Dark Ages, the Islamic world was having its Golden Age; a period of flourishing cultural, economic and scientific growth. It is through his travelling that Adelard made some of his most significant contributions to modern science. It allowed him to gain access to Arabic knowledge and lost texts that were no longer available in the Western world. There he led the way in translating important Arabic and Ancient Greek theory and mathematics into Latin, making them available to Western scholars.

One of Adelard’s most influential translations was Euclid’s Elements. This was written in Greek in 300 BC, and by the time Adelard discovered Euclid, the work had already been translated into Arabic and had had a substantial effect on Arabic mathematics.

Still considered one of the most successful and influential textbooks ever written, Elements is a vast compendium of classical mathematical knowledge and without Adelard would not have been available to the Western audience. His translation brought the use of theorems and proof to develop mathematical arguments to the attention of Western scholars for the first time, and proved instrumental in the development of logic and modern science.

Adelard’s introduction of Euclid to Western scholars led to an expansion in geometry knowledge and collided with the beginnings of medieval Gothic architecture, which was highly influenced by geometry.

Another significant discovery Adelard introduced to Europe was the astronomical tables of al-Khwarizmi, also known as the Zij. The complex collection of tables and detailed calculations is far from easy to understand so Adelard’s translation was a remarkable intellectual achievement. His translation of the Zij contributed substantially to Western scientific development, and was actively used until as late as the 19th century. The original Zij no longer exists, so Adelard’s translation remains incredibly important to understanding the development of astronomy.

Although much of Adelard’s fame historically derived from his translations, his own work is still highly advanced and significant.

On his return to England, Adelard wrote Quaestiones naturales (“Questions on Natural Science”). Unlike De eodem et diverso, this

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was not a work of theology but a natural science. It marked a transition of Adelard’s work in philosophy in De eodem to the application of reason to scientific method. Here, Adelard argued for the use of the powers of reason and suggested the study of natural causes could be justified in its own right as separate from theology.

This marked the first explicit assertion in the Middle Ages that faith does not exclude the existence of natural causes. Interestingly, Adelard looked at the difference between man and animal and argued that it is essential for humans to use the powers of reason they have been endowed with.

It was in this work that Adelard became a leading figure in the rationalisation movement of the 12th century, providing yet another step in the development of modern science. Together with William of Conches and Thierry and Chartres, Adelard precipitated a conceptual revolution a century before the new ideas became absorbed into those of Grosseteste, Roger Bacon and Albertus Magnus.

Despite his extensive travelling Adelard remained a proud Bathonian, mentioning the city in Quaestiones naturales. Once settled back in England, Adelard served both King Henry I and King Stephen, utilising the astronomical tables and astrological texts he had translated to cast royal horoscopes. He also served as a tutor for the future King Henry II.

Adelard’s achievements didn’t stop there; he was also an expert on falconry. His book De cura accipitrum (‘On the Care of Falcons’) highlights his noble connections and demonstrated his medical knowledge.

Adelard’s accomplishments are vast and varied, and it is this exceptional career that BRSLI plans to celebrate through the creation of a public monument. The Stellarum sculpture will be a giant dodecahedron, which will have a unique arrangement of mirrors inside, using the geometry of the dodecahedron to create the illusion of looking into an immersive, infinite universe. The external surface will be etched with an abstract Moorish tile pattern, a reminder of Adelard’s travels in the Islamic world. BRLSI is currently looking for a city centre site to host this unique sculpture, so everyone can enjoy the immersive experience and learn more about Adelard.

If you are interested to see the city through Adelard’s eyes, Walk With Adelard is available from the BRLSI reception and provides a self-guided tour of Medieval Bath. n Adelard of Bath; the First English Scientist, by Louise Cochrane, £13, is available from BRLSI. The Stellarum project needs to raise £40,000; to contribute visit the BRLSI local giving page at localgiving.org/appeal/stellarum THEBATHMAG.CO.UK 2020 || TheBATHmagazine TheBATHmagazine 51 45 THEBATHMAG.CO.UK| |novemBeR januaRy 2010

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RESTAURANT | REVIEW

The Elder 2–8 South Parade, Bath BA2 4AB; Tel: 01225 530616; theelder.co.uk

Review

Emma Clegg visits The Elder – ensconced in a sage green interior, she finds a menu taking fresh ingredients to new heights

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Guernsey cow milk from the Chew Valley Estate and a beef and venison broth served in a glass with a spring of rosemary, served on a wooden platter. Traditionally served with vodka before a hunting trip, the grainy meaty flavours of the broth made their mark as a refreshing mini-punch to the appetite.

❝

Coffee-baked carrots?

Bring them on...

❝

T

he wine list was lengthy. There were 10 pages – sparkling, red, white, rosé, sweet and fortified, and pudding wines. Surrounding us at our table as we perused the options, in one of a series of friendly interlinked rooms, were chalky sage green walls, lights with a golden glow, a dark wooden floor and furnishings, gentlemen’s hunting scenes, mounted deer heads with antlers, framed images of the head of a hoary boar, distinguished hunting horses. This makes stylistic reference to a gentleman’s club, but it’s so not just for old boys – it’s intimate, cosy, cool, confidently relaxed and, perhaps most of all, it offers a rich escape from sharpedged reality, always a boon nowadays.

We were at The Elder, the newly opened restaurant on South Parade, sitting within the Hotel Indigo Bath. The Georgian Bath Stone terrace where the hotel and the restaurant are located has been the subject of a multi-million pound restoration, with restaurateur Mike Robinson, owner of The Woodsman in Stratford on Avon and part owner of Michelin-starred The Harwood Arms gastro pub in Fulham, the brains behind The Elder.

The restaurant menu, devised and curated

by Robinson and group head chef Gavin Edney, is characterised by ‘authentic, timeless British cooking’. This is an understatement.

The menu focuses on game and local fish and owner Mike – a leading authority on wild food and game – manages the land and the game on the local Parkhurst Estate.

Provenance is therefore assured, with carcasses delivered to the restaurant’s downstairs butchery.

We were presented with a pre-appetiser of freshly baked granary bread, butter made from

Starters brought a choice of dishes such as Baked Fowey River Mussels with a Falmouth Bay seaweed loaf; artichoke soup with Cornish duck ham and agnolotti; and Berkshire hare faggot with slow-cooked mushrooms and heritage carrot. We opted for the warm Dorset crab tart with lemon mayonnaise and chimichurri, which arrived as a neat, gleaming circular mass of parsley green hovering on pastry and mayonnaise, and coffee baked carrots with slow-cooked mushrooms and wild carrot seed Dukkah from the vegan menu. The latter was not a combination I’d encountered before, but it really, really was magnificent.

Our waiter Josh recommended the Givry Heritage, a Cote d’Or Burgundy – in sommelier speak, ‘a restrained use of oak to create a fresh red with hints of blackcurrant, raspberry and cherry’; to us it was divine.

This wine is recommended for white meat, but we went gastro rogue with fish and red meat, the Bathurst Estate fallow deer with red

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cabbage purée, heritage beetroot, dirty mash and sauce grand veneur; and grilled fillet of red mullet – landed by day boats in Newlyn – with autumn squash, cavatelli and Somerset cider broth. Going rogue has no effect here, mind you, because both were thrilling, flavoursome journeys, alongside the wine.

Also on the meat menu was Wiltshire redlegged partridge with stuffed cabbage, black pudding, sweetcorn tart and woodland mushroom; and 40 days aged sirloin and ale braised shin of heritage breed beef (Longhorn and Hereford beef, grass-fed in the West Country) with beef fat hash brown, brassicas and Chianti sauce.

Don’t avoid coming if you are vegetarian or vegan because there are separate menus for each, including sweetcorn tart with autumnal squash and mushrooms; and pumpkin gnocchi with roasted autumnal vegetables, garden sage and Fosse Way Fleece (sheep’s cheese).

Our dining journey concluded with wild damson soufflé with shortbread and bay leaf ice cream, and lime meringue pie with coconut and rum sorbet. We thought it was all over, as we saw our polished-clean dessert vessels disappear and then, courtesy of Josh, two mini Bath buns with caraway seeds arrived – so the best way to wind down the taste buds after a gastro treat.

Great food and wine in a chic cosy joint – get out your leather bound diary. n Two courses: £37.50; three courses £45; Givry Heritage Burgundy, £58 a bottle. The Elder is open for lunch from Wednesday – Saturday 12.15pm - 2.30pm and for dinner from Wednesday – Sunday 6pm–8pm

City News 2 – nov.qxp_Layout 1 23/10/2020 21:07 Page 1

CITY | NEWS

CITYNEWS DREAM ON Dream Space is an exciting new community-led project created by generosity network, Good for Nothing, which is inviting Bath residents (15 years+) to share their personal stories of the defining issues of our time – the social inequalities revealed through Covid-19, the climate crisis and racism. Until 15 November, with support from the National Lottery’s Emerging Futures Fund, the Dream Space team is giving Bath locals a platform to speak openly on these important issues. Film it, write it or speak it - it’s up to you. These stories will be brought together in a number of vibrant and inspiring ways to connect and empower Bath’s communities and inspire change. thedreamspace.co.uk

CODING CHAMPS Bath-based coding bootcamp Mayden Academy has been placed as the 6th best coding bootcamp in the world, according to the 2021 Best Coding Bootcamp Rankings from independent trainer ratings website SwitchUp. The rankings are based on over 20,000 student and alumni reviews of more than 500 technology bootcamps in operation around the world. To be considered for the rankings, bootcamps are assessed across criteria including quality of curriculum, career support, and an overall experience score. mayden.academy

BIGHAM’S GO B CORP Bigham’s, the Wells-based premium food brand, has secured B Corp® certification. This recognises companies that positively impact both people and planet to build a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

The company becomes one of a select number of UK food and drink B Corps within a global community that are using their businesses as a force for good, by balancing purpose with profit.

Certification brings even greater transparency to the operational and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) measures Bigham’s has upheld since its launch, evolving processes that are monitored continuously to ensure further and future improvements. The process highlighted that Bigham’s delivered more than 3,000 hours of team training in 2020; that they actively contribute to organisations and events within its London and Somerset communities via the Charlie Bigham’s Charitable Foundation; and that they are committed long-term to environmental responsibility.

Bigham’s signature wooden trays, made from FSC certified wood, divert 170,000kg of plastic from landfill every year. bighams.com

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RESTAURANT | REVIEW

DoubleTree by Hilton Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BJ; Tel: 01225 463411; hilton.com

Review

Emma Clegg heads to the DoubleTree by Hilton and discovers raspberries, Jane Austen and a new friend called Luis

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t started with a kiss. From a raspberry daiquiri. We were visiting the recently refurbished Hilton Doubletree on Walcot Street to sample their new restaurant menu. The façade of the edifice that was once voted Bath’s ugliest building is still lacking – although plans are afoot to revamp the exterior – but the hotel backs on to the River Avon and weir, which ups the natural drama and romance considerably for hotel guests or diners with a river view.

The hotel closed in January to undergo a major refurb following its acquisition by Starwood Capital. Its reopening £10.1 million later – originally scheduled for April and foiled by the obvious – welcomes it as one of the biggest hotels in the city with 176 Scandi-style rooms, a private gym and a meetings and events space that houses up to 200. Inside sees a transformed interior with a clean, Middle Eastern vibe, a spacious, glamorous entrance foyer that’s perfect for social distancing. It is cool, spacious, uncluttered, utilitarian but poised, with open views to the interconnecting spaces on the ground floor.

Beyond the reception area there is a bar and restaurant and a separate ‘grab and go’ café area (where the kiss took place, while my accomplice in dining was courted by an Old-Fashioned), designed to cater for guests wanting a quick coffee and a pastry before shooting off to start their business day.

There’s also an intimate Secret Garden, an ‘orangerie’ overlooking the river, which is where we ate. Not all the cascading foliage here needs watering, but more live plants, a garden sound track and a water feature are following soon, designed to stimulate all the 48 TheBATHMagazine

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senses just as a Georgian orangerie would have done.

In the restaurant – called Emma’s in homage to Jane Austen’s fourth novel – head chef Simon Stevens serves cuisine with a strong Asian influence (with no homage to JA, who would have liked the river view, but I imagine would have preferred English tea and sandwiches). Times have changed however and Simon, who has travelled widely in South East Asia, pulls in culinary references from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, which appeal to the hotel’s significant number of customers from China and the US, along with all those with a meandering global palate.

Starter options included mini pork ramen and a boa bun, Asian style crab cakes with spiced mango chutney (my choice, and an excellent one – no appetite-saving measures took place here), cauliflower pakora with Makhani sauce, smoked BBQ chicken wings and soup of the day cater for most preferences. The main dishes offer a wide selection of sharing platters, from a bread themed one including tomato and rosemary focaccia and pumpkin seed bread served with olives and hummus, to a charcuterie platter including salami, chorizo and baked camembert with pickles and breads, and others sporting a gastro theme of beef brisket, croquettes or chicken.

We selected chicken tikka masala served with basmati and naan (one of the top three most popular dishes, the flavour of which I can wholeheartedly attest to) and sirloin steak with vine tomatoes and grilled Portobello mushrooms – all served on distinctive dishes with wide, copper coloured

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surrounds. Demonstrating the range, we could also have embraced burgers or haddock and chips, or gone further afield with a Tandoori chicken wrap, Korean rainbow kimchi and glass noodles or nasi goreng with satay skewers and Malaysian sambal.

Secret garden aside, we were totally enchanted by Luis Romaguera from Venezuela who took very good care of us and chatted at length. As restaurant manager, he was a trained sommelier, and recommended the South African Cullinan View Pinotage to match our meal duet.

White would have been the natural choice, he explained, but we are assiduous red winers, and so this was a good red match, with a fruity, smoky character and soft rounded tannins.

Dessert brought us pineapple and mango sorbet and chocolate chip cookie cheesecake (choc chip cookie is a defining theme at the Hilton where a DoubleTree cookie cocktail is also on offer), which were satisfying albeit unessential finales to our meal, especially so when accompanied by Luis’ recommended dessert wine, which I agreed to impulsively and made us feel louche but gay, in the archaic sense of the word.

“The Sweetness Lies Within” sang British indie rock band Hefner; so too with the DoubleTree by Hilton. n Crab cakes: £6.50; cauliflower pakora: £5.95; sirloin steak: £21.95; chicken tikka masala: £15.95; cheesecake: £6.50; sorbet: £4.95; Cullinan View Pinotage: £26. The DoubleTree Hilton restaurant is open from Monday to Saturday from 4pm–10pm

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The new cookie in town finally opens its doors located within the DoubleTree by Hilton Bath

Quote ‘cookie’ for a 20% discount on your first reservation

Located on Walcot Street, the hotel boasts unparalleled riverside views Whether you fancy a pre-dinner ‘cookie martini’ in the bar or some fusion cuisine in the restaurant, the newly refurbished hotel will certainly whet the appetite To book a table email bathn_fb@hilton.com

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FOOD & DRINK

Le chef privé

Some of us have upped our game when dining at home over the past few months. But what if you really, really don’t want to cook and going out isn’t an option? Just call in a world class chef like Laurent Couvreur, says Melissa Blease

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or around a decade, Casanis – the super-pretty, authentically French Saville Row bistro owned and run by chef Laurent Couvreur and his wife (aka front-of-house goddess) Jill – enjoyed pole position on Bath’s BestLoved Restaurant chart, garnering local and national acclaim and earning a clutch of prestigious awards for all-round joie de vivre. But of course, for a restaurant to thrive and survive for so many years, there has to be more on the menu than a laid-back atmosphere, a good-times vibe and a sparkle of je ne sais quoi (which Casanis had, in spades); if the food isn’t fabulous, the flurry will be short-lived... and Laurent’s food lived on in the memory long after the dessert had been digested.

Little wonder, then, that when Casanis closed its doors four years ago, a palpable cloud of gloom cast a shadow over Bath.

But in this instance, that cloud had a silver

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lining: Laurent’s menus can still be the focus of an event to look forward to... in the comfort of our own homes, and in the company of our own bubble.

Laurent’s unique private dining experience Le Chef Privé is not, however, a covidrelated initiative; he established the service back in 2016, long before the dreaded C-word – let alone lockdown restrictions or social distancing – dominated our consciousness. But given the strange times we’re living in, surely the services of a private chef cooking and serving dinner in our own, controlled environment is a welcome addition to the menu of ‘new’ ways to eat out?

“Le Chef Privé definitely offers broad appeal right now, when eating out isn’t anything like it used to be,” says Laurent.

“I visit the customer’s home in advance of any event to discuss not only practicalities such as what, where and how I’ll be cooking and what equipment I can provide, but also to reassure people about social distancing and PPE. Of course, I can’t cook for parties larger than six guests as the moment. But I can still recreate a restaurant experience in a domestic environment, and a special occasion atmosphere as required.”

And Laurent is no stranger to creating that environment; prior to Casanis, he cooked at some of the best-known Michelinstarred restaurants along the glamorous Cote d’Azur (including the Le Royal Gray in Cannes), cheffed at both Le Beaujolais (ah, fond memories!) and The Manor House in Castle Combe, and enjoyed a six-year head chef residency at London’s Ritz Club. Does he ever miss the thrum of day-to-day (and night!) restaurant kitchen life? “Well yes, sometimes,” he says. “But only sometimes – and right now, running a restaurant is more difficult than ever. But doing what I’m doing now isn’t necessarily easier than cooking in a restaurant kitchen – there are exactly the same processes to manage, and in some ways, the preparation period is more intense, because I do as much in advance as I can then take everything with me, to the site.

But I’m still doing what I love – inventing and developing dishes, serving people, and making people happy, with my food.”

And indeed, Laurent – whose cooking style and influence could very much be described as rooted in southern France, using locally sourced, seasonal produce as much as possible – is making many people very happy, as myriad glowing reviews published on the Le Chef Privé website attest to. What kind of dishes are most often requested, right now? “Classics such as my Beef Wellington and Monkfish wrapped in Parma Ham are always popular,” says

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Laurent. “But I can adapt the menu to the occasion, and of course the likes and dislikes of my customer and their guests. I serve hot and cold canapés too, and I’m happy to include recommended wines as part of the service.”

While we’re on the subject of service, it’s worth noting that Le Chef Privé does an excellent job of cleaning up after himself and your guests when the party's over, too (“I often leave a kitchen cleaner and tidier than it was when I arrived!” Laurent laughs) while, if you're lucky, he’ll even bring a little flask filled with orange liqueur home made to his grandmother's recipe – a large decanter of which used to sit on the bar at Casanis – to share at dessert time, the perfect accompaniment to, say, Crème Brûlée, or Tarte aux Pommes... oh là là indeed.

Away from the hob, Laurent and Jill like to eat and drink at Corkage on Chapel Row (“chef Richard is doing great things there,” he says) and the enduringly popular modern brasserie Clayton’s Kitchen. But right here, right now, home – for all the obvious reasons – has to be where the heart is for all of us. And if you want to bring food with heart, passion and bon temps into your home, Le Chef Privé is at your service. lechefprive.co.uk

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Image by Rob Vanderplank

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Image by Siân Mariah Keady

matcha and adzuki bean gateau in an enticing chilled display cabinet.

Located at the start of Grove Street, the shop is a charming place where you can enjoy a coffee or choose from the array of Asian teas while you browse the selection of handmade homeware. Sugarcane Studio strongly believe in the dedication to craft that is shared with chefs and designer/makers alike, and alongside desserts, the company also stocks Taiwanese designed products of the highest craftsmanship.

Sugarcane Studio 1 Grove Street, Bath BA2 6PJ info@sugarcanestudio.co.uk +447415 311461 www.sugarcanestudio.co.uk

Image by Fangyu Cho

fter a successful couple of years trading at Bath Farmers’ Market, Sugarcane Studio have opened their first shop on Grove Street, just round the corner from the picturesque Pulteney Bridge, bringing Bath a taste of fine patisserie with a subtle Asian twist – a fabulously fresh and exciting combination.

Sugarcane Studio is run by pastry chef Fang-Yu Lin, a Cordon Bleu trained chef with years of experience in London and Taipei, and her husband Neil Edwards, a glass artist and the brand image designer.

They began creating their own signature style of patisserie in 2018, fusing classic French desserts with the flavours of East Asia. Using only the freshest, quality ingredients, they balance delicate flavours and textures in all their products. With a regularly evolving menu, you will encounter delights such as yuzu and genmaicha tea macarons, mango and passionfruit choux buns, milk tea and blueberry mille-feuille, or Image by Rob Vanderplank

Image by Fangyu Cho

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FOOD & DRINK

Finding the city merry

While this Christmas may be more social bubbles than champagne bubbles, we’ve been putting a little aside to spend on treats from local suppliers to make the holiday special. Here’s some of what we’ve got our eye on...

IT’S SIX O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING RUM

...Always. Romy’s Edition is a deliciously moreish limited edition gin packed with flavour. The lovely distillers at 6 O’Clock worked closely with celebrated chef Romy Gill MBE to craft a gin that portrays the unique flavours of India, using herbs and spices commonly found in Indian cooking, and infuses juice from the native mango. The recipe is inspired by the Romy’s memoirs and strikes the perfect balance between rich, fruity sweetness and reserved spice. Enjoy in a G&T over plenty of ice and garnished with a slice of fresh mango.

Hailing from the Bristol and Bath Rum Distillery on Park Street in Bristol, renegade spiced rum brand Dead Man’s Fingers has 10 flavours on offer, including spiced, coconut, hazelnut, raspberry and passionfruit – it’s the perfect gift for those looking for a taste to challenge to the conventional Christmas tipples. The raspberry rum, shown here, comprises original Dead Man’s Fingers spiced rum with added notes of sweet, ripe raspberries balanced with a hint of citrus. Try serving over ice with lemonade and a wedge of lime or make yourself an awesome raspberry daiquiri. Delicious and different.

Romy’s Edition – Mango, Ginger & Lime, 40% ABV, 70cl, £38. Widely available at stockists across Bath or order online at 6oclockgin.com

0% FREE SPIRIT Mockingbird Spirit is a brand new alcohol-free, tequila-inspired, agave-based spirit.

This unique addition to the mocktail scene makes a great gift and is from a Bristol company setting out to bring inclusivity to anyone who’s off the booze. Made using functional, versatile, authentic, vegan and gluten-free ingredients, the vibe is evocative and moreish earthy blue Weber agave, sweet vanilla and cinnamon with a healthy hint of habanero. It’s passionately produced with the adaptogen ashwagandha to support health and happiness.

The perfect pour: in a margarita – naturally!

Available in 50cl (£22.99) & 5cl (£3.99) bottles, order online at mockingbirdspirit.com

Dead Man’s Fingers flavoured spiced rum, 37.5% ABV, 70cl, RRP £22. Available to buy from the Bristol and Bath Rum Distillery, most major supermarkets or order online at thedropstore.com

APPLE CIDER CELEBRATION Looking for something new and refreshing this Christmas? Try the latest limited edition cider from the Thatchers Cider Barn range – Grenadier. Harvested in September, the freshly pressed juice of the Grenadier apple is beautifully blended to create an elegant and light 7.4% ABV, wine-like sparkling cider. RRP £2.10 for 500ml. For more than 100 years the Thatcher family has been quietly perfecting the magic that turns apples into cider, and a visit to the Thatchers Cider Shop at Myrtle Farm is a special West Country treat at any time of the year; thatcherscider.co.uk

ONE GIN EMBRACES THE APPLE One Sage & Apple Gin is uniquely distilled with fresh English sage and russet apple. It is also vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and certified kosher and was awarded Silver at The Gin Masters 2019 and Bronze at the IWSC 2019. One Sage & Apple Gin has an overall aromatic nose of fresh and candied apple, freshly cut wood and juniper, with hints of gooseberry and orange marmalade. This leads to a palate of fresh apple, orange peel and soft juniper, mixed spice and Turkish delight. The gin uses the oil from the pip of the russet apple to deliver apple freshness without creating an overly sweet gin. One Gin is available from Tesco stores or for more information visit: www.thespiritofone.com

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FOOD& DRINK NEWS MOORFIELDS REFURB

The Moorfields in Oldfield Park has reopened following a £500,000 joint investment from Stonegate Pub Company and The Bath Pub Company. The Bath Pub Company took over the Moorfields in March this year – the spend has brought a new lease of life to the building, which has kept its traditional pub feel, while making way for contemporary features and a modern kitchen designed with day-to-day operations and staff comfort in mind. Taking the helm of the pub is general manager Paul Newson, who joins from Circo Cellar Bar, alongside Jack Scarterfield, the long-standing head chef from sister pub The Marlborough Tavern. The pub offers great quality, classic, homecooked pub favourites with a contemporary twist. Find The Moorfields Inn at 73 Third Avenue, Oldfield Park. themoorfields.com

TAKE A BIRD; ADD A PLATE

The Bird, Bath has opened a stylish, neighbourhood restaurant called ‘plate by Leon Smith’, which will bring the ‘Best of Bath and beyond’ to diners. The produce-led, honest British dishes encapsulate a taste of the west country using fresh, seasonal ingredients. It aims to become one of the city’s favourite restaurants, where a relaxed, informal experience of everyday dining awaits. Head chef Leon Smith is an exciting talent returning to the west country having established his reputation at some of the UK’s finest establishments. The colourful, playful interior complements the flavourful menu that is presented with flair and executed with skill.

New menu items will be added weekly to reflect true seasonality. thebirdbath.co.uk

FINE PATISSERIE

Sugarcane Studio have opened their first shop on Grove Street, just round the corner from the Pulteney Bridge, bringing Bath fine patisserie with a subtle Asian twist, a fabulously fresh and exciting combination.

Run by Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef Fang-Yu Lin and her husband Neil Edwards, glass artist and the brand image designer, the patisserie fuses classic French desserts with the flavours of East Asia. Using the freshest, quality ingredients, the products showcase a balance of delicate flavours and textures. Imagine yuzu and genmaicha tea macarons, and feel the edible thrill. olivetreebath.co.uk n THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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BOOKS

The caretaker of the dance

This West Country boy might have settled down amid the bright lights of London, but comedian, musician and actor Bill Bailey still belongs to Bath. He’s hitting the headlines at the moment, part of the Strictly Come Dancing cast for 2020, and he has a new book out, Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to Happiness. Don’t worry, there’s no ‘this is how to be a better person’ advice here. From paddle-boarding down the Thames in a Santa hat, to wild swimming in a glacial river, Bill ruminates on the exhilaration of the outdoors, as well as the quieter pleasures of clearing out your moth-eaten grey t-shirts. We’ve managed to get our hands on the chapter on Dancing – and what better way to embrace that feeling of happy? Bill has even drawn some pictures specially

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ometimes you just need to cut loose, cut a rug, let yourself go a little, and whether it’s throwing shapes at the wedding/club/campsite, or just having a quiet boogie on your own, dancing is an excellent way of doing that.

‘Alexa, play “Get Up Offa that Thing”.’

Just for the avoidance of doubt, I am no lord of the dance, not even baronet of the dance, more caretaker of the dance. My signature move is a kind of elegant sideshuffle, a manoeuvre as deft as it is ancient, a shimmy such as a crab might make as it rears up on its hind legs. This is enhanced by flailing alternate arms and, on occasion, legs.

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the Tango Nebula. Whether it follows any sort of pattern I have no idea, but I always feel better after I’ve executed it.

My most recent outing as a dance floor maven was at a birthday party in a little town in the south of France, where we ate en plein air in a courtyard restaurant. After dinner, the tables were cleared and moved back to make space for the dancing. The familiarity of the music and the company of friends uncorked a rare vintage of a night where songs were sung with full-throated intensity and lyrics were interpreted with a literal precision not seen since the days of Pan’s People. The Nebula was given a full workout on the dance floor.

Well, in this case, not so much a floor, more a kind of fine white gravel popular in France for

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the game of boules. In fact, I would say with hindsight that this space should have been exclusively used for boules.

I wouldn’t be surprised if, after that evening, the patron had put up a sign, prominently displayed with a stern warning: Interdit de Danser! Seulement pour les Boules.

Instead the gravel-kicking, arm-flailing hoedown morphed into an inevitable and illadvised conga line, with much cheering and whistling as the reluctant patron was coerced into the fray.

By the end of the night, my shirt, trousers and blue suede shoes were coated in that fine white powder, a flashback to Elvis’s later years. They resembled prop shoes used in a film drama where the protagonist has been kidnapped in city clothes, kept hostage in a remote shack out in the desert, but has then somehow escaped and is now being pursued down a rocky gulch, and, acting his socks off throughout a hellish montage of dry riverbed/ sun beating down/circling vultures, has finally stumbled into a flyblown town near the Mexican border, his face all cracked lips and sunburn, croaking, ‘Agua, agua.’ Exactly like that.

I came second in a limbo-dancing competition once. Yes, I know you’re sceptical, but it’s true. It was during a charity fundraiser for a children’s hospital, and I was a bit younger then and more bendy, but still. Each round saw the field whittled down as various denizens of the great and good fell away, until it was only

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me, Lionel Blair and Sinitta. After a close call I just scraped under the bar. Next up was Sinitta, but she tipped the bar off at the last second, so it was down to me and Lionel. His superior technique, honed by years of tap-dancing and charades eventually prevailed, and he took the honours, but I ran him very close.

As you know by now, I like finding out about the mental and physical benefits of my chosen routes to happiness. There are the obvious health benefits to The Dance, like improved heart and lungs, increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness, and increased aerobic fitness, if you’re into that. Not to mention greater attractiveness to others, less embarrassment at family gatherings and generally a greater awareness of your place in the universe. OK, I started to make them up there, but you get the gist. It’s an ancient thing, dance, it bonds us together, it lets us forget our daily troubles for a short while.

When I was a teenager, I had ballroom dancing lessons. There was a dance school across the road from our house and I learned the waltz, the foxtrot and the quickstep. The teacher was a tiny, petite woman with huge passion for The Dance. It was a marvellous and quite surreal experience to whirl around a dance hall with this ball of terpsichorean energy. Bless her and all those she must have enlightened to her world. I can see the appeal of the foxtrot, the tango and the rhumba, the formal nature of it all, the practised moves, the precision, but it’s not really me.

I am more of a free-form mischief dancer, a Loki of the Lindy Hop. I remember one night in Madrid, it was just the three of us – me, the wife and the teenage son – pogo-ing, headbanging and generally arsing about at a Foo Fighters concert. It remains one of my most cherished memories. It’s the best fun to dance like no one’s looking among a crowd full of people. ■ THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to Happiness, published by Quercus Publishing, £20

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An autumnal hike Lookng across the Severn Plain

November is far from being the best of months for country walking, but, given a dry and sunny day when it’s not too wet underfoot, this seven mile hike has much to recommend it, says Andrew Swift

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his hike is largely flat – although it does have one steep and potentially slippery downhill section where care is needed – it takes in a varied swathe of rural south Gloucestershire, replete with ancient churches and country houses, a grand estate built on the proceeds of slavery and a couple of village pubs.

It starts at Tormarton, a quarter of a mile north of the M4. Head north from Bath along the A46, and, just past the M4 roundabout, take a right turn. After threequarters of a mile, just beyond Chestnut Farm, take the third right and park on the left by Tormarton church (ST769788).

The church of St Mary Magdalene contains a good deal of Norman work, although the south aisle was added in the mid-14th century when Sir John de la Rivere founded a chantry and college of priests here.

Manor Farmhouse, south of the church, is said to have been Sir John’s manor house.

As you head north along the road, you pass Tormarton Court behind a high wall on the left. Originally the rectory, it was enlarged around 1812 for Lord William Somerset, brother of the Duke of Beaufort, when he became rector.

At the crossroads, carry straight on along a lane heading north. After 750m, turn right to follow a bridleway alongside a wall (ST769798). When the wall ends, carry 56 THeBATHMagazine

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straight on across a field. The copse to your right marks the site of Brookman’s Quarry, a large underground stone quarry opened in the 18th century. At the end of the field, continue straight on through a gap in the wall across another field. Carry on with a wall on your right, then with a hedge on your left, and finally with a wall on your right. When you come to a lane, turn left along it and at a T junction, bear left again – using the verge as the road can be busy. After 250m, when the road swings left, cross and head up the lane straight ahead (ST786812).

A little further on, you should be able to glimpse Badminton House, home of the Duke of Beaufort, over a mile away to the north-east. After 400m, when the lane swings right, bear left along a bridleway signposted to Old Sodbury. Over to your left, you will see a castellated ventilation shaft, one of six which mark the course of Sodbury Tunnel, 2½ miles long, and built between 1897 and 1903 for the GWR line from London to South Wales.

After 900m, go through a gate and continue through Lyegrove Farm. Carry straight on following a bridleway sign through a gate. After passing the gates of Lyegrove House go through a gate into a large field (ST776815). The OS map shows the bridleway heading straight on, but when the field has been ploughed walkers and riders tend to bear right to follow a grassy

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strip around the edge.

At the end of the field, with another ventilation shaft to your left, go through a gateway to carry on along the remnants of a green lane – marked as Tyning Lane on the map.

At the next gate, carry on alongside a wall, but, after going through another gate, follow a waymark through a gate on the left. After heading across two fields, a handgate leads onto the busy A46. Cross and go through another handgate to the right of a drive.

Carry straight on alongside a wall. After 350m, just past the second gate on the left, take a track curving into woodland and turn right to follow rickety steps down into a holloway (ST758816). Long disused, this deep and ancient track is strewn with fallen trees and has become impassable, so you have to climb more steps to continue along the edge of the field before a slippery scramble down through woods, with the land shelving away to the holloway far below.

After crossing a stile, where you are greeted by a view northward over the Severn plain, head diagonally down to a handgate (ST757818). Turn left down a path and right at the bottom to go through the lychgate of Old Sodbury churchyard. The church of St John the Baptist is late Norman, with an endearingly low 15th-century tower. The view across the Vale of Sodbury from here is magnificent, and after going through a

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THE | WALK

kissing gate (KG) on the far side of the churchyard, it is worth pausing by a toposcope which indicates selected landmarks.

Head down to the bottom left-hand corner of the field and go through a KG. Carry on towards a barn and through a farmyard to the main road. Cross to the Dog Inn and head along Chapel Lane to the right of it.

After 1,000m, just before the end of the lane, Coombsend Farmhouse on the right is a late medieval hall house altered in 1654.

Turn right along Catchpot Lane and after 75m turn left to follow a CW sign into the Dodington estate (ST753805). Carry on through another gate, cross a drive and follow the path as it bears right between fences. As you head uphill beside a fence, Dodington House, built by the Codringtons, whose wealth came from sugar plantations in the West Indies, lies out of sight to the west.

After passing a CW waymark, go through a KG as the ground levels out, and carry on with a fence on your left. After 600m, as the fence bears left, follow the track straight ahead.

After crossing a footbridge, head uphill beside the headwaters of the River Frome, which flows south west from here to Bristol.

Go through a gate at the top, cross a slab stile onto a busy road, cross with care and negotiate a squeeze stile by the milepost straight ahead (ST763790).

Fact file n Starts and ends at: Tormarton Church (ST769788; GL9 1HT) n Distance: 7 miles. n Level of challenge: Straightforward, although with one steep downhill section, three busy road crossings and one short stretch along a less busy road where you need to keep to a rough verge. Cattle, horses and sheep are likely to be encountered.

Woods on Cotswold Edge

After 200m, cross a road and carry on across a slab stile. After another 75m, two more slab stiles with broken-down steps take you across a lane. Continue through a gate and at a KG carry straight on along a lane.

After passing the Major’s Retreat, turn left to return to Tormarton church. n

n Pubs: Dog Inn, Old Sodbury; 01454 312006; the-dog-inn.co.uk Major’s Retreat, Tormarton; 01454 218263; majorsretreat.co.uk n Map: OS Explorer 155

Andrew Swift’s books include Country Walks from Bath and On Foot in Bath, a new and revised edition of which has just been published by akemanpress.com

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CITY | DEVELOPMENT

All quayed up There’s work afoot on the structural development of Bath, and the Bath Quays development has long been dominating the conversation. The grand plan involves a complex series of intersecting projects so if you’re unclear about what’s happening, where we’re at and what’s to come, here’s an overview

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ath Quays is the Council’s 4.5 acre flagship regeneration project to create a vibrant commercial quarter for Bath’s flourishing businesses in the heart of the Bath City Enterprise Zone.

It was conceived to address the gap in provision of grade A office space in the city and to allow existing businesses to expand and new businesses to relocate to the city. In addition to creating economic growth and new high-wage jobs for Bath, it will offer new homes and more attractive, useable public space alongside the river. The site is located on the north and south side of the river between Churchill Bridge and Green Park.

BATH QUAYS SOUTH Prominently positioned on the riverfront, Bath Quays South is a game-changing development that will provide the city with a dramatic new riverside space for business, recreation and culture.

A blend of historic buildings with contemporary architecture, it will

BELOW: Newark Works in Bath Quays South has been redeveloped for the business community – here is an external view and a visualisation of the interior

offer a total of circa 90,000 sq ft of office accommodation alongside 70 apartments. The principal building will be No 1 Bath Quays, flanked by the historic industrial Newark Works to the south and a new residential apartment block to the east.

Development of the site has been enabled by a collaboration between the Council as landowner and regeneration specialist TCN. Project status All aspects are under construction and the opening of Bath Quays South is scheduled for autumn 2021.

No. 1 Bath Quays No.1 Bath Quays is the flagship building within the Bath Quays South development. The building will provide 46,000 sq ft of grade A office accommodation, an opportunity for scale-up companies to take a leap forward in their growth journey. The energy-efficient office building has been designed to a target ‘A’ EPC rating and will include 100 dedicated cycle spaces, shower facilities and changing rooms. The building will be suitable for single occupation or can be adapted to a number of occupiers.

Project status No1 Bath Quays is under construction and on programme to complete in July 2021 with earliest occupations after fit-out expected September 2021.

Newark Works Redevelopment of the historic Newark Works building will provide a 40,000 sq ft vibrant creative campus, where the business community can meet, collaborate and grow. This former industrial building will offer a range of characterful studio and office units from 122 sq ft to 5,020 sq ft. The units are specifically aimed at the burgeoning creative industries sector and will be a great location for start-ups and micro-businesses. Newark Works will also benefit from an on-site café bar, breakout and meeting spaces. There are opportunities for other uses in the building, such as health, fitness and the arts.

Project status TCN and Bath and North East Somerset have worked together to bring forward this regeneration. TCN began the refurbishment and fit out works in September 2020 and the scheme will be ready for occupation in December 2021.

BATH QUAYS NORTH Bath Quays North is set to be an inspiring, contemporary central business district. Set opposite the Bath Quays South site, Bath Quays North is designed to inject life into an underused area, and reconnect Bath to its riverside.

This 2.2 hectare site, a five-minute walk from Bath Spa train station, covers the current car and coach park on Avon Street. The site will deliver 250,000 sq ft of modern office space, creating a new business district for the city. The development will also incorporate new pedestrian and cycling routes to promote active methods of transport.

The main focus of Bath Quays North will be the creation of spaces for local companies to move and expand within Bath. It will offer a range of large, open-plan units alongside leisure, retail residential and a business hotel.

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CITY | DEVELOPMENT

ABOVE: Bath Quays South will be connected to the Bath Quays North development by a new bridge – Bath Quays Bridge will provide a new crossing point over the River Avon for pedestrians and cyclists; an alternative crossing point to Midland Bridge and Churchill Bridge to the west and east respectively LEFT: An architectural visualisation of No. 1 Bath Quays, the flagship building within the Bath Quays South development, which will be within easy walking distance of Bath Station, Southgate Shopping centre and all the city’s amenities. Neighbouring No 1 Bath Quays to the south will be Newark Works (see opposite), offering small serviced office suites and co-working opportunities

In 2019, Legal & General, in partnership with Bell Hammer, was selected by Bath and North East Somerset Council as their development partner for Bath Quays North.

Project status A new road layout and south-facing riverside park is complete.

The addition of cycling and walking routes, as well as areas for performances and events, will transform the area into a vibrant public space and will give residents and visitors a place to enjoy Bath’s riverside.

The outline plans for the Bath Quays North development have been approved and detailed designs are currently being progressed.

The Avon Street coach park will be deconstructed in spring 2021, after which the car park will be demolished. The café and toilet block in the coach park will relocate to Charlotte Street car park.

Pedestrian bridge Bath Quays South will be connected to the Bath Quays North development by a new pedestrian and cyclist bridge, The bridge will allow workers and residents of Bath Quays South to access the city centre via a new public park, with the city's retail offer and main bus and rail stations around five minutes walk away.

Project status The Bath Quays bridge is due to be installed in November (this month) and is planned to open in June 2021.

Enabling works including flood defences, river walls, and a new public park have all been completed.

For more information about the Bath Quays development visit: investinbath.co.uk/space/bath-developments; and newarkworks.co.uk

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CITY | NEWS

CITYNEWS FINE FOUR

TOP RANKING FOR STONE KING

Four of Mogers Drewett’s lawyers have been featured in the new Chambers UK 2021 Guide for their standout contribution in their respective practices. Tom Webb, Rebecca Silcock, Victoria Cobham and Jonathan Cheal have all been ‘ranked’ in the new guide. The firm has also been recommended for two practice areas; Agriculture and Estates, and Family. Chambers states that “Mogers Drewett are ‘very strong in the market’ and adds that ‘their lawyers are all fantastic’. Employment Partner, Sean McDonough said “We are delighted to be recognised by Chambers and are very proud of everyone recognised this year.” md-solicitors.co.uk

SPARKLING SPECIAL OFFERS Alexandra May’s designer jewellery shop at 23 Brock Street has got some very special discount offers available as the shop gently winds down before it closes its doors next year, after more than 21 years of trading. Discounts of up to 50% off are available for sterling silver, and brands including Marcasite Jewellery, Konplott, Ayala Bar, Angela Caputi, and Annie Mundy. The shop is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11am – 4 pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment, between 11am and 4pm.

You can also book an exclusive appointment with Alexandra for a jewellery ‘lock in’. alexandramay.com

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION WITH FUTUREPROOF With Government initiatives such as the Green Homes Grants scheme, creating an energy efficient home is now a priority for homeowners in the UK, who are looking for builders who can carry out high-quality home improvements and energy saving retrofit work. Futureproof, provided by Bristol-based charity Centre for Sustainable Energy, is an initiative helping builders in the west of England respond to the demand for sustainable construction.

Training courses and skills development opportunities are available, offering certification in sustainable building practices. Futureproof also helps builders access schemes like the Green Homes Grants as well as connecting builders with customers who want this work done. To find out more register your interest on the website. futureproof.uk.net/builders 60 TheBATHMagazine

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Stone King has been recognised as a top-ranked law firm by the legal journal Chambers UK 2021 Guide.

The firm has been top Band 1 ranked for both its charity and social enterprise and education sectors, and its crime team has achieved the coveted top Band 1 status. The work of Stone King’s charity and social enterprise sector has also seen the firm named as one of the top three law firms in the country, while its education sector is recognised as one of the top four in England. The firm’s work in transport and real estate have also been ranked, as have 14 of its lawyers. Stone King’s managing partner, Steven Greenwood, pictured here, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the firm, our people and, above all, the clients we are proud to serve.” stoneking.co.uk

BRITISH CBD IN MILSOM STREET The British CBD Company has opened its doors in Bath’s independent retail area around Milsom Street this month, providing customers with an oasis for finding out how CBD (Cannabidiol) can be used for many common ailments.

The shop is the brainchild of local businesswoman Justine Goldstraw who has extensively researched the natural health remedy. The use of CBD is growing in popularity for those looking for relief from pain and other symptoms without the mind-altering effects of marijuana or the long-term effects of certain pharmaceutical drugs.

Justine says: “CBD is becoming a very popular natural remedy for helping people cope with a whole range of ailments and conditions such as anxiety, sleep disorder, chronic pain and acne. It is gaining lots of scientific attention and really gaining momentum in the health and wellness world now. Products include oils, edibles, books and gifts. The British CBD Company can be found in Queen’s Street or order online. thebritishcbdcompany.co.uk

GET WELL HEELED The British Shoe Company has opened a new store at 14 Green Street, Bath. This familyrun business supplies high-end ladies and gentlemen’s shoes with brands including Barker, Trickers, Sanders, Berwick and RM Williams. britishshoecompany.co.uk

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ocl A C C O U N TA N C Y

141 Englishcombe Lane, Bath BA2 2EL Tel: 01225 445507

www.oclaccountancy.com

Extended time and new limit for Time to Pay of self assessment taxes

As announced by the Chancellor, Self Assessment taxpayers can now apply online to spread the cost of their tax bill into monthly payments without the need to call HMRC. The online self-serve 'Time to Pay' service, has been increased to £30,000 for Self Assessment taxpayers, to help ease any potential financial burden they may be experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Once you've completed your tax return for the 201920 tax year, you can use the online self-serve 'Time to Pay' service through GOV.UK to set up a direct debit and pay any tax that is owed in monthly instalments, up to a 12-month period.

If you wish to set up your own self-serve 'Time to Pay', you must meet the following requirements: • no outstanding tax returns • no other tax debts • no other HMRC payments set up • your Self Assessment tax bill is between £32 and £30,000 • it is no more than 60 days since the tax was due for payment.

If you do not meet these requirements, you might still qualify for Time to Pay, but you will need to call HMRC to set this up.

If you set up a 'Time to Pay' arrangement, you will have to pay interest on the tax paid late. Interest will be applied to any outstanding balance from 1 February 2021.

For tax saving tips contact us – call Marie Sheldrake, Tom Hulett or Mike Wilcox on 01225 445507

Call Marie Sheldrake, Tom Hulett or Mike Wilcox on 01225 445507 to arrange a no-obligation meeting

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Contact with grandchildren following divorce or separation request permission from the court to make an application for a Child Arrangements Order.

Stage 1 – Requesting permission When reaching the decision as to whether to grant permission to apply for a Child Arrangements Order, the court will consider, amongst other factors, the following:• the applicant’s (in this case grandparents) connection with the children; • any risk that the application will adversely disrupt the child’s life

F

or most, memories of spending time with their grandparents are special but when a couple separates the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is often forgotten.

Family Solicitor, Victoria Cobham explores the options available to grandparents wanting to establish or maintain a relationship with their grandchildren.

Unlike the children’s parents, grandparents have no automatic legal right to see their grandchildren. Grandparents have two options.

• Agreement with parents • A Child Arrangements Order Agreement The first step should always be to try and reach an agreement with the parents, whilst not binding, this can be recorded and form part of a parenting plan.

Child Arrangements Order If an agreement can’t be reached, a Child Arrangements Order may be needed.

For grandparents this is often a 2-stage process, as they will usually need to

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Stage 2 – Applying for a Child Arrangements Order If permission to apply is granted, the court will set a date for a hearing and may appoint a CAFCASS officer (court appointed social worker) to speak/meet with all the parties and the grandchildren and report back to the court.

In making a decision, the most important consideration is the welfare of any child(ren). The court has a checklist of things which includes:• The wishes of the child • The child’s physical, emotional and educational needs; • The child’s age, sex, background and any relevant characteristics; • Any harm or risk of harm to the child; If you are a grandparent wanting to maintain a relationship with your grandchildren, please contact Victoria Cobham on 01749 342323 or email victoria.cobham@mogersdrewett.com. We can consider your individual circumstances and advise you appropriately

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EDUCATION

EDUCATION NEWS POST COVID SUPPORT

Lima Online Learning is set to bring private tutoring into the Covid era, starting with tailored Catch-Up courses targeted at those areas of the curriculum hit hardest by lockdown. “The decision to launch with a poetry course,” explained Samantha Bensted, founder and lead tutor, “was guided by the fact that in many schools poetry is delivered in the summer term of Year 10, when teachers were grappling with the limitations of Teams or Zoom.” Further Catch-Up courses are to follow, and the offer includes the option of attending with 1–2 friends at no extra cost limaonlinelearning@gmail.com

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TOP GUN GRADES

PUPILS OF MERIT

Stonar has been placed among the top 1.5% of 400 schools in a nationwide assessment of GCSE grades in 2020. Schools collect baseline data from their pupils which can be used to measure their progress as they advance through the senior school. The assessments help teachers understand what pupils know and highlight where they need support. In their 2020 results Stonar’s GCSE pupils gained an average value-added score of +1.5 grades per subject, per pupil, while its A level pupils gained 0.8 above predictions (equating to the top 2.5% nationally of CEM schools). stonarschool.com

Two King Edward’s School CCF Colour Sergeants, CSgt Alexandra CardashCrowsley and CSgt Amhar Shazuli, have been awarded the highly prestigious honour of becoming Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset Cadets for 2021. These awards for Meritorious Service are awarded annually to only six cadets throughout Somerset; which comprises over 6,000 cadets. The awards are made for exceptional meritorious service rendered to the Reserves and Cadet forces in the county.

This year, for the first time in its 120-year history, King Edward’s CCF has had two of its cadets recognised. kesbath.com

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Lima Online Learning offers

Covid Catch-Up Courses for GCSE English Language & Literature Lima Online Learning is launching with an online Covid Catch-Up Course for the AQA Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology.

Students are encouraged to attend with one or two friends to promote the development of their ideas and will additionally be given fully editable mind maps with activities for each poem between sessions.

Sarah Wringer Kaplan International Languages Bath, 5 Trim Street, Bath, BA1 1HB Direct Line (01225) 473502 Email: sarah.wringer@kaplan.com

Sessions are: £30 an hour for individual students £15 an hour for students attending as a pair £10 an hour for students attending as a trio Bespoke 1:1 Tuition also available on request Full course is 15 hours First trial lesson free* 10% discount for payment in advance for the remainder of the course *subject to availability

For more information, contact:

Samantha Bensted • Qualified Teacher • Experienced Tutor • Revision Guide Author • Project Manager for Online Group Tutoring Research Project “The Classroom of the Future”

07526 134 535 • info@limaonlinelearning.com

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Discover our new-look website

Stay well informed. Stay well entertained. Stay well read... thebathmag.co.uk and why not sign up to receive... Our twice-weekly newsletter.

Our What’s On calendar is a great place find things to do And if you have an event to promote - why not take a ‘tile’ and listing - From £35 (ex VAT) Sign up to receive our specially curated, twice-weekly Newsletter. With great ideas, smart reading and so much more delivered free to your inbox...

It's like a mini Bath Magazine!

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION Are you a homeowner aged 70+, currently living in Bath?

Did you know only 5% of the properties in the UK are specifically designed for people living longer?

Would you like to take an active role in online forums discussing key topics around the future of later living?

WELCOME TO GUILD LIVING

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Not happy with your dentures?

Are your dentures loose or painful?

We can help regain your confidence and your smile

WE OFFER • FREE Consultation • New Dentures direct • Flexible dentures • • Denture repairs • Saturday appointments •

We’re a group of people that look at longevity in a whole new way, improving the way we age and ensuring that the focus is on HEALTHSPAN as well as LIFESPAN.

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION ON

CONTACT: zoe.collings@guildliving.com

27 Walcot Buildings (Weymouth Street), Bath, BA1 6AD

01225 311 681 www.jbdentureclinic.co.uk

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

CNM has completely changed my life The lecturers were extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of nutrition and wellbeing.

Emma Gould, CNM Naturopathic Nutrition Graduate

W

hat attracted me to CNM was its flexibility around lectures, its proximity to where I live and the fact that my uncle used to be a lecturer. I especially loved the people I met at CNM. I made so many great, similar-minded friends and the lecturers were extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of nutrition and wellbeing.

If I had to use three words to describe CNM they would be educational, flexible and fun. CNM has completely changed my life; I feel like I’m now fulfilling my purpose in life.

I was medically diagnosed with psoriasis after the birth of my first child in 2011.

At first, the recommended steroid creams seemed to work but soon my skin got used

to these and I needed more to get any relief.

Eventually their effect stopped working altogether and I was just getting worse and worse. I was variously recommended light therapy, oat baths and other mainstream creams but nothing about nutrition. Seeing no improvement and increasingly disheartened, I decided to change my diet and lifestyle, to see if these changes helped.

I had always been brought up to look at the body holistically as my grandmother was a homeopath, so it made sense to try a whole lifestyle approach.

In 2015 I discovered a book called “Healing Psoriasis” by Dr Pagano. In it he explains his techniques in using diet and lifestyle interventions to heal psoriasis. I strictly followed his protocol from June to October 2015. My skin completely cleared after four months! Prior to this I was around 50% covered. I still get some spots if I’ve not been taking care of myself, but as soon as I implement nutrition and lifestyle measures, it’s fairly instant, I clear up again. Now I support my psoriasis using only natural therapies.

I have a degree in Human Biology and Psychology and an inquisitive nature so I wanted to learn why my body had responded like this, which is why I studied Nutrition at CNM. Now I have qualified, I hope to be able to help others in similar situations. I am still working as a secretary part-time whilst I am building up my own business, Nutrition by Emma, specialising in helping people with psoriasis and skin conditions. I love sharing the knowledge of everything I have learnt with others and, even better, watching them improve with my help.

To anyone who is thinking of studying at CNM, relish every minute of the studying, I miss it now it’s gone.

CNM Online Open Events Discover how natural therapies promote true health and vitality. Our events are packed with inspiring tips on how to nurture yourself in natural, sustainable ways.

And if you are thinking of turning your passion into a career, an Online Open Event will also Geoff Don cover what you need to know about studying at CNM.

Visit cnmcourses.com

or call 01342

777 747 to find out more

CNM has an exceptional 22-year track record training successful natural health practitioners online and in class.

Over 80% of graduates are practising.

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Welcome to the world baby Isabella In the August edition of The Bath Magazine, we told the story of Karen Marks from Taunton and her joy at expecting a longed-for second baby after undergoing IVF at the Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine.

The wait is now over with the birth of her beautiful daughter Isabella Grace

S

he may have felt a long time coming, but baby Isabella Grace has most certainly arrived.

The 7lb 4.5oz cutie was born on September 15 to proud parents Karen and James Marks, and sister to a ‘smitten’ two-year-old brother Cameron.

Karen, who was diagnosed with fertility issues in 2015, was given funding for one round of IVF on the NHS in September 2017.

During minimally invasive egg retrieval procedure surgeons collected 15 of her eggs which were fertilised with James’s sperm in BCRM’s labs in September 2017.

The process created five viable embryos and their son Cameron was born the following year.

“We are delighted to have a boy and a girl,” said Karen, who was under the care of BCRM’s Dr Alex Price. “It means the world to us.

“Some days I think after all the years of trying that I must be dreaming – this can’t be my reality – that not only do I have one beautiful baby, but two!

“We have our wonderful son but I’ve never wanted him to be an only child.

“There is a bond between siblings you can’t always find with anyone else, you can talk about literally anything and everything and have your entire lives full of memories together.

“Cameron absolutely adores her. He’s a super proud big brother and is always asking for cuddles.”

Karen says she never hesitates to tell people that her children are IVF babies and says she never forgets how lucky they are to have them.

“Infertility never leaves you. Pregnancy announcements can still be painful, especially when someone has seemingly conceived easily.

“It’s a battle and a journey, and while part of me believes there’s a reason we had to go through it, we’ve met so many wonderful people along the way.”

Karen urges couples who may be struggling with fertility issues to think about IVF. “If you’ve exhausted all other options, then crack on and go for it,” she added. “IVF is fine. Don’t put it off or avoid it. It’s the most likely fertility treatment to work, and it did for us.

“I can’t speak for every clinic, but at BCRM I always felt the nurses and doctors REALLY care about you. They want what you want and they go through that journey and the ups and downs with you.

“They support you, give you advice, a caring and listening ear, a hug whenever you need. It’s like being part of an extended family.”

And Karen and James’ journey may not end with baby Isabella as they have two remaining frozen embryos at BCRM. “Hopefully we will have more children,” said Karen. “I’ve always wanted four!”

The Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine has world class facilities and technology that treats both private and NHS patients.

BCRM is involved in innovative research and have one of the best success rates with IVF and other fertility treatments in the UK. Anyone wishing to register for a Virtual Open Evening webinar or book an initial consultation appointment can email BCRM at info@BCRM.org.uk or call 0117 3018605 or visit: https://www.fertilitybristol.com/.

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INTERIORS

Interior eye-catchers

An interior needs some defining focal points, to capture the viewer’s attention and take them on a visual journey around the room. They don’t have to be big, but they do need to zing - here are some products that do just that...

Dandolo Cushion Cover, £65, from OKA; oka.com

Lacanche Chagny ‘Modern’ range cooker, handmade bespoke models from £3,720, from Coopers Stores; coopers-stores.com

Seed Heads Blue Cushion, £49, from India Jane, indiajane.co.uk

Zebra Vase, £79.49, from Homefront Interiors; homefrontinteriors.co.uk

Khatia Daybed, 595, from Graham & Greene; grahamandgreen.co.uk

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INTERIORS Tom Schneider Swoop Floor Light with hanging shade, £ 2,499, from TR Hayes; trhayes.co.uk

Paintbox Canary Gloss ceramic tiles, from £36/m2, from Mandarin Stone; mandarinstone.com

Reader armchair in green brushed cotton, £895, Loaf; loaf.com

Lotus wallpaper, £125 per 10m roll, from Farrow and Ball; farrow-ball.com

Totem glass piece by Neil Edwards, 204cm high; neiledwardsglass.com

Eichholtz Coffee Table Bonheur, £1,530, from India Jane; indiajane.co.uk

A3 Exotic Elephant print, £45, from Homefront Interiors; homefrontinteriors.co.uk THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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CITY | INTERIORS

Bathrooms are often neutral aairs, but the creative use of tiling, here from Mandarin Stone, can make the most utilitarian room sing with its use of colour contrasts

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CITY | INTERIORS

Interiors: focal energy Focal points are the main ingredient in an interior designer’s armoury, say our local interior experts. Let’s embrace them, says Emma Clegg, both in terms of main architectural features and decorative detailing Creating a visual journey The eye is constantly searching for stimulation, and focal points – often points of light or areas of colour and pattern – so the designer’s role is to provide areas or objects of interest for the eye to settle on and explore.

An interior design uses these focal points as the main energy lines in a room. Focal points are effective when placed at the central points of a wall, on a square central axis. They provide ways of guiding the eye away from less attractive features and towards important elements that divert attention or give the room interest and character.

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We don’t have to be blessed with a fabulous architectural feature or breath-taking view from a window to create something wonderful

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T

he focal point is the star of the room. It’s the first place viewers’ eyes should land when they enter, and it’s the emphasis point around which you build the rest of your design. But focal points can also be used in layers: a period mantlepiece or central table might be the big visual draw, but there can also be points playing a more minor role.

The main architectural features in an interior offer one of the most crucial dynamics of a space, and yet their impact is often not consciously registered. Such areas of interest often revolve around light: windows, internal doors, French doors, and the fireplace. It’s wise to make the most of these light sources when designing a room, dress windows to draw the eye and avoid blocking or subduing these points of light.

This is because we love looking at light.

Windows also invariably offer views of the natural world and if not that, at least a prospect beyond the limitations of the manmade environment.

Some of the most common structural focal points apart from sources of light are fireplaces, built-in shelving, vaulted ceilings and walls. They all offer the opportunity for accentuating a visual feature with colour, paint or wallpaper or textural elements. If you’re working with a room in a modern interior with less architectural elements, you can create one of your own with accent walls using a bold wallpaper or paint colour; add interesting pieces of artwork or mirrors, possibly with accent lighting; include backsplashes in kitchens and bathrooms either in the shower or behind the stove; or using pieces of statement furniture (see page 70 for ideas).

Louisa Morgan from Mandarin Stone advises on the use of tiles to create drama: “With walls and floors taking up such a large expanse of space, this is where the eye is naturally drawn, so selecting tiles that will make a focal point and using this as a starting point for the design of the rest of the room is often a good idea.

“With such an array of beautiful tile designs now available, there are many options to choose as a focal point. Going bold with colour or pattern seems the most obvious and eye-catching option, yet there are other ways too. Try perhaps ‘textured tiles’ which will automatically add character and depth to a space. Playing with the size of tiles to create a focal point, either by using super large format tiles, or alternatively small formats, or contrasting the two. Mix sleek with matt surfaces or patterned with plain to really create drama and style to an interior.”

John Law of Woodhouse & Law explains their approach: “We will often start a project looking to accentuate existing features within a space. A period fireplace will, for instance, have a huge influence on the design of the space around it. It may, for example, include tiles with colours that we would look to reflect elsewhere in the scheme. Equally its

dimensions and detailing may dictate the design of adjoining cabinetry, so that shelving and storage sit comfortably both proportionally and aesthetically next to it.

And naturally, the fireplace will influence how seating is arranged around both itself and often the TV too; another focal point but one that customers prefer to be less obvious when not in use.”

Interior designer Catriona Archer says, “Providing a clear focal point as a person enters a room is a crucial element to creating a well-considered, comfortable space. We often feel unsettled in a space if our eye doesn’t know where it should focus. It is a subconscious tool we naturally look for when entering a space in order to quickly determine the room’s function and guide a person through it.”

Sarah Latham of Etons of Bath comments, “A balance is achieved by distributing the visual weight of objects within a space to achieve a feeling of equilibrium. The size, colour, texture, shape of an element can change this. For example, larger, darker, brighter, highly textured, complex shaped objects typically feel heavier and require balance through the placement; equally ‘heavy’ items or multiple less heavy items.”

If you have a built-in focal point, you need to give it some help and make the most of it, adding more details to ensure eyes always fall where they’re supposed to. You can also

➲

This living room design by Woodhouse & Law is based on a symmetrical approach – the alcoves with feature wallpaper behind the shelves, the central pendant light and the substantial low footstool in the centre all work to achieve this

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CITY | INTERIORS LEFT: This small dual-purpose dressing room/ guestroom designed by Catriona Archer used a mural wallpaper as its focal point, framed by a plush velvet sofa-bed and simple wardrobes add extra design elements around your chosen point to draw attention. It can also be effective to accentuate focal points with an individual light source.

“We often use the room’s best asset as its focal point,” says Catriona Archer, “but we don’t have to be blessed with a fabulous architectural feature or breath-taking view from a window to create something wonderful. A room can be given personality and a clear purpose by using a favourite piece of furniture, a contrast in colour and through lighting. Less is often more, and even the smallest of rooms can make a big impression!”

“It is often helpful (though not always crucial) to position a ‘hero piece’ on the opposite wall of the room’s main entrance,”continues Catriona. “We unconsciously look for symmetry and harmony within a space in order to feel more relaxed, so you may wish to consider arranging the layout of other furniture and accessories accordingly, to help balance this focal-point within the space.”

Different rooms

A stand-out feature such as this Achetes Pendant from Dar Lighting combined with a dark, resonant paint colour creates a show-stopping focal point

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The majority of rooms have automatically positioned focal points with structural architectural features such as fireplaces and windows. Some rooms, especially small ones, give little flexibility in terms of furniture arrangement. In a main bedroom, for example, there is generally only one viable position for a double bed, usually opposite the window, and as a substantial and defining element of the room it’s the perfect contender for a focal point treatment – a statement headboard, a handmade quilt, and cushions and throws to dress.

If the building is an older one, there may be an original fireplace along one of the walls, an automatic focal point providing another point of interest. In a bathroom your architectural structure may be less interesting but the creative use of colour with tiles and bathroom furniture can create a real wow dynamic.

Living rooms can be trickier. By their nature, they are more complex, designed to encompass different sorts of activity: relaxation, watching television, listening to music, children’s play area, study area. So focal points may be harder to interpret. They can be established through contrast as much as through visual stimulation. Using a soft chair in a room full of hard edges, having a statement table in the middle of a room with an eye-catching sculpture, creating a feature wall with pattern or colour or an eye-catching gallery wall creating automatic visual conversations.

John Law says, “We are always keen to reflect a client’s personality and lifestyle within any space, and every so often look to introduce a gallery wall as a focal point, perhaps set against a dark wall as a dramatic backdrop. Here we would look to mix the old and the new, using the client’s own artwork

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CITY | INTERIORS

ABOVE: A gallery wall creates a statement around a principal feature such as a bed, and allows the use of very personal images to give character RIGHT: This design by Etons of Bath shows how a classic Georgian interior is based on symmetry and balance and the interior treatment here maximises its impact

A symphony of interest points Focal points, however, need to keep a sense of balance and shouldn’t dominate and distract attention from other points of interest. But they should give stimulation to our visual system and the space a comfortable dynamic.

It’s effective to have one eye-catching element, but smaller visual statements also have their role. Catriona Archer picks up on this theme, “Some simpler, more toned-down ‘secondary’ focal points are also important within the room; for added interest and comfort. This could be created by using calmer textures, a more subtle colour palette, smaller furniture elements or simplified styling elements. Equally important to consider, however, is the need for much calmer ‘negative spaces’ that give these focal points the breathing space they deserve in order to shine.”

The use of focal points also gives a technique for downplaying the less attractive elements in a room. A large mirror can hide a multitude of sins and bold wallpaper can give energy to a room that is devoid of interest or take the eye away from an angled wall.

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“If you have a built-in focal point, you need to give it some help, adding more details to ensure eyes always fall where they’re supposed to”

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and family photos and then perhaps adding additional pieces that offer that further contrast; more abstract counterparts that pick up colours from elsewhere in the scheme for instance. We love mixing up the frames when doing this and often pick a wall that can be glimpsed from other rooms such as the hallway. ”

Working with symmetry There is an argument that the individual proportions of all good design are drawn from those of the human body. The symmetry of classical architecture was inspired by the symmetry of the human form. We find symmetry attractive and use it intuitively when arranging our environment.

Psychologists interpret this as a recreation of our own personal symmetry. Because nature is rarely symmetrical, imposing symmetry is a statement of control over the disarray of nature, a civilising influence on the unruly.

Originally valued by the Greeks and the Romans, symmetry was revived in the 18th century during the Georgian era. Houses built

in this period formed part of a new prosperity in Britain and strictly observed the classical rules of symmetry each side of a central entranceway. The symmetry of Georgian rooms creates its own pleasing focal points as part of the architecture and allows more flexibility with other elements because fewer visual tricks are required to make the energy of the space work.

“Many of us are drawn to balanced images and find them more aesthetically pleasing than their off-kilter counterparts,” says Sarah Latham, founder of Georgian interiors specialist Etons of Bath. “Symmetrical Georgian interiors are often viewed as more restful and peaceful than their opposites because we don’t have to work as hard to figure out the use and flow of the room or space.”

Sarah continues, “Symmetry is used in Georgian interior design on the interior architecture as well as the interior design of individual building elements such as doors, windows, floors, frieze work, and ornamentation. In the space planning of a room, it’s furniture layout and the placement or art and mirrors that’s essential in achieving a sense of symmetry and balance.” n woodhouseandlaw.co.uk; etonsofbath.com; catrionaarcher.com; mandarinstone.com

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INTERIORS | KITCHENS

Raising the kitchen game

“

Imagine a versatile, freestanding kitchen system based around elegant furniture design for the modern home.

We chatted to Ben Argent about his new 20/20 collection, where it’s all about the legs

M

aking furniture has always been a part of who I am”, says Ben Argent, who started making commissioned furniture pieces from the age of 13. “After setting up a kitchen company and years of producing bespoke kitchens, I really wanted to be able to combine these two passions. So to celebrate 10 years of Ben Argent Kitchens, we decided to launch our new 20 | 20 Collection. The aim was to distil all that we had learned in this process into one beautiful, elegant and highly functional product – a concept which we call kitchen furniture.”

The aim for the new range was to create a highly customisable kitchen system that works across a wide array of spaces and is not defined by the parameters of the room. Kitchens have long been fitted firmly between walls, so the idea was to escape this rigidity and create a more free-flowing statement with individual, free-standing furniture that carries more identity and personality.

“We started by breaking down the kitchen into its three fundamental components – wall, tower and island. These are the building blocks that form the foundation of every kitchen,” Ben explains. “Every element and module has been meticulously designed so it is highly functional, and yet has a common language with every other unit.” What’s more, it’s easy to combine and layer these components to suit a particular environment.

Elevated Design “All the designed elements were elevated off the floor on an elegant leg structure, with subtle curves and long spans that make it easy to clean underneath,” explains Ben. This approach changes the whole kitchen environment to one that feels more spacious and dynamic, where you can see the floor under the units and the walls either side.

“A kitchen made up of these raised elements is reminiscent of the humble roots of the traditional kitchen,” says Ben, “which was based on individual freestanding elements, but we’ve done this using a fresh and contemporary vision. We love the collection’s timeless elegance, which is designed to last and won’t fade with passing trends.”

The collection is highly customisable with cabinets to suit every space and purpose – and individual elements can also be tailored to specific requirements.

Materials Materials for the new collection have been selected for their sustainability and innovation. The tactility and texture of the materials are a crucial feature because this gives added depth and quality to the designs.

• Nanotec matt resin décor fronts are available in eight beautiful muted tones • Highly durable sintered stone worktops are available in nine textured finishes, which are extremely resistant to scratches, stains and heat.

• Handles are diamond-milled from solid metals, with a signature, linear knurl pattern.

• Hand selected natural wood veneers.

Appliances The cabinets in the collection have been designed to be compatible with premium appliances, which include Miele Generation 7000 ovens and coffee machines, Fisher and Paykel DishDrawers, Bora hobs with built in extraction and Quooker boiling water taps.

Moreover all furniture components, worktops and appliances can be fitted with minimal disruption, and with more efficiency and speed than a typical kitchen installation.

It’s clear that Ben Argent Kitchens like to focus on the detail, exploring the subtle elements and the technicalities that allow them to push boundaries to achieve sophisticated kitchens.

Ben Argent Kitchens, Dunsdon Barn, Dunsdon Lane, West Littleton SN14 8JA; tel: 01225 892270; benargentkitchens.co.uk

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INTERIORS | KITCHENS

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Tower unit modules combining appliances, closed cupboards and a highly functional open pantry cupboard; Wall unit modules in a striking rust red colour scheme, with black worktops and brass handles to create a sophisticated look; High quality kitchen components and storage systems are the perfect way to maximise capacity and ease of use – pantry units and wall units can be open display, or closed away behind doors

PREVIOUS PAGE: The 20|20 collection within a characterful Silk Mill conversion. The dark grey-blue tower units provide a lovely contrast to the clean, white island and wall units. Rustic oak elements in the breakfast bar and wall hung cupboards add warmth and depth.

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www.reclaimedradiators.co.uk THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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Hidden treasures

St Mary’s Catholic Church on Julian Road

When a fire broke out at St Mary’s Catholic Church in 2015, Stuart Jones Interior Design and Restoration had just begun restoring the 140-year-old building. It took three years to complete. Millie Bruce-Watt caught up with the brains behind the project, Joanne Jones, who shared the unexpected discoveries along the way and explained why St Mary’s means so much to her

W

ith a client portfolio that spans some of the most wellregarded brands in the local area and around the globe, Bath-based interior designer Joanne Jones of Stuart Jones Interior Design and Restoration is pushing the boundaries in the interiors world. Joanne’s bespoke approach to every project, not to mention her ability to create impressive 3D virtual reconstructions of a space, has made her a stand-out name in her field.

In 2015, Joanne was appointed to restore St Mary’s Catholic Church in Bath, a 19th-century building cherished in the community and packed full of small reminders of the city’s history. It was a grand project and, as it transpired, one of discovery. We sat down with Joanne to learn more about her life, her work and how her expansive archaeological background made her the natural match for the restoration of St Mary’s.

On 24 July 2015, just a few months after work began on refurbishing the 140-year-old church on Julian Road, a fire broke out in the early evening, badly damaging the building and halting the restoration for several months. More than 40 fire fighters tackled the blaze that started in the porch and work was put on pause until investigators deemed the fire an arson attack.

“It was very sad. We’d been working on the church for a few months before the fire broke out,” says Joanne, “and this put everything on hold for a while. The roof needed work but luckily the stained glass window wasn’t damaged. We just wanted to bring it back to its former glory and how it would have been when it was first built.”

After the church was deemed fit to enter and worked restarted on the ancient stone, Joanne and her team uncovered an array of original features, exposing the age of the structure and the events it must have witnessed over the last century. “One of the amazing things we uncovered was under the carpet. We found tiles that had been cracked during the Blitz and we had to do what we could to match them to the 80 TheBATHMagazine

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new tiles and restore it as closely to its original form as possible.

“The fire also gave us an opportunity to take out awful things that were added in the eighties, for example. One of the biggest things we did was remove the carpet surrounding the altar. We took it back to the original flooring and this had a massive effect on the acoustics in the church. It now sounds completely different but similar to what it must have sounded like when the church was first built. It’s an incredible sound.”

The work on St Mary’s Church was completed nearly three years after work began. With the roof reconstructed – a feat that saw Joanne and her team working several hundred feet in the air for months – and the interiors of the church brought back to life with such delicacy as to not disturb the integrity of the building, the church is now a stunning cornerstone in the community.

“I am proud – it gave me a lot of confidence. If it weren’t for St Mary’s, I wouldn’t have the confidence that I have as a designer now.

I’m a lot more organic in the way I work now, which I love.”

Throughout her prolific career, working around the globe in France, Germany, Canada and Alaska before settling in Bath almost 11 years ago, Joanne has built a portfolio filled with eclectic developments.

Stuart Jones has formed an exceptional reputation priding itself in transforming interior spaces, from renovating Georgian townhouses to assisting with new build projects.

One of Stuart Jones’ unique selling points is Joanne’s ability to create 3D virtual reconstructions of a space. Using interactive design software, known as Virtual Worlds, Joanne brings the design process to life, making projects a reality for residential and commercial clients, architects and designers, which helps inspire and encourage their clients to visualise the finished space.

“Virtual Worlds allows our clients to see the space exactly how it is going to be – you can even open drawers and get a feel for what it’s

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URBAN SPACES

Main alta Stuart Jones Interior Design Restoration spent three years restoring the church

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We took it back to the original flooring and this had a massive effect on the acoustics in the church

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going to be like living there or working there. In this current climate, the software has cut down visiting times too – everything’s been able to happen online and it’s going really well.”

Prior to becoming an interior designer, Joanne joined the RAF as part of the General Engineering Flight for seven years before working as a volunteer with renowned archaeologist Francis Pryor prior to becoming qualified. Since then, Joanne’s background has hugely benefited her as a designer. “Our restoration work always comes back to using the experience we gained in archaeology. I think being an archaeologist has helped me picture structures that aren’t there. There are many technical aspects to consider alongside the various issues that come with working on historical sites, including churches and long-established estates.

Working on these restoration projects has its challenges. They are often hugely technical, but they also have many rewards – old can meet new!

I love how both ends of my career have matched up.”

Having been involved in many commercial projects from holiday lets, residential, churches and offices in Bath and beyond, Joanne has experience in working on period property, which can mean restoring old

properties or integrating contemporary with traditional. Whether she is designing a workspace or a home environment, she takes entering her clients’ personal spaces very seriously. “They are letting you into their homes,” she says. “That’s a personal space for them and they are trusting you to do the right thing. You are bringing joy to people and if people want a new cushion or their living rooms redoing, they should do it. It’s the little things that are making us happy now.”

Stuart Jones collaborates with other design-led professionals, including architects and contractors, to assist with room designs, layouts and product sourcing while sharing their knowledge and expertise to ensure a project is finished to the highest standard. Earlier this year, Joanne was awarded ‘Accredited Designer’ status by The Society of British International Interior Design (SBID).

“It was an honour to be recognised by SBID,” says Joanne. I think this will be a job that I always do. I can’t see myself stopping any time soon – I love it.” n sjrestoration.co.uk THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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“ ‘The earthworms rise’, the plums turn yellow’, ‘white dew on the grass’ – this ancient Japanese calendar lets us realise that we live for just a moment” 82 TheBATHMagazine

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BOOKS

The Tokachi Millennium Forest project Twenty years ago, Dan Pearson was invited to make a garden at the 240-hectare Tokachi Millennium Forest in Hokkaido, Japan. Tuning into the physical and cultural essence of the place, the world-class designer created somewhere with its heart in Japan’s long-held respect for nature and its head in contemporary ecological planting. These excerpts from the recently published book focus on the Meadow Garden, and its creative mixture of garden and native plants Finding your own wild, by Midori Shintani, head gardener of Tokachi Millennium Forest

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s can be seen in the expression ‘plants and trees all have something to say’, the ancient Japanese revered nature and had a deep affinity with plants. In the oldest Japanese poems composed in the 8th century, we can meet our ancestors and sense that in their appreciation of plants they found the beauty of evanescence. Finding a brilliance and grace to look on flowers in full bloom, at the same time embracing a sense of transience and mutability, we find a beauty in flowers destined to fall soon. Tiny, delicate changes in sky, wind, light and every element of nature occur around us through the year. Responding sensitively to such natural phenomena, the ancient Japanese calendar of 72 seasons developed. In literature, paintings, ikebana and gardens, all Japanese art culture springs from aesthetics based on the appreciation of plants and the view of nature.

In the Millennium Forest, we cherish this traditional Japanese view of nature in nurturing our modern garden. Celebrating every stage of a plant’s growth enhances the bountiful natural beauty in the garden. From

Midori cuts back Valeriana officinalis in the Meadow Garden before it sets seed

shooting to flowering and then fruiting, plants show us various expressions and individualities. Our hands convey the characteristics of the plants and represent the underlying aesthetics of the garden. How to draw seasonal changes from the plant

combinations has a great influence on the atmosphere of the garden. We regard the ‘rustic beauty’ drifting in the air of the garden.

This idea is united in all our works of plant selection, plant setting, timing of seasonal maintenance, plant displays and so on.

Nurturing an eye for delicate change in plants and the season is something that I have learned from the 72 seasons. ‘The earthworms rise’, ‘the plums turn yellow’, ‘white dew on the grass’ – this ancient Japanese calendar lets us realize that we live for just a moment. The eye for the season extends to our arrangement table. We collect pieces of what we are moved by or discover in the garden and arrange flowers, foliage, fruits and vegetables to share with other people. For us, the act of arranging flowers is a dialogue with nature. In the Meadow Garden, designed with a naturalistic planting style, the setting and quantity of each plant and the timing of maintenance are carefully determined. Especially we place emphasis on taking the balance of the planting mixes through thinning, replanting and replacing with new plants.

Plants in the Meadow Garden, by Dan Pearson, landscape designer

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he richness of the forest floor on Hokkaido is almost overwhelming when you encounter it for the first time. Plants that you have treasured as ‘exotics’ back in the West grow wild there in the way they were meant to – not as solitary specimens, but happily in company.

Arisaema and anemone, palest pink meadowsweet and the finest thalictrum; hostas standing tall and muscling for their position and lofty daylilies hovering on wiry stems in the shadows.

Although, as a Westerner, it is unlikely that I will ever take this floral diversity for granted, I wanted to make sure that the familiarity of the local vegetation was also thrown into a new light for Japanese visitors. The Meadow Garden was to provide this opportunity. By juxtaposing the best of the native plant material with plants

selected in the West for their garden worthiness I hoped to reframe the native plants. The wild hostas would sit alongside new partners to show them to best

advantage and the hemerocallis that had nodded quietly in the Entrance Forest would reappear centrestage in the new light of a garden setting.

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OPPOSITE: In the upper reaches of the Meadow Garden, the variegated form of Miscanthus sinensis (susuki), M. s. ‘Zebrinus’, marks the season with late flower and makes a link to the landscape that lies beyond; RIGHT: Hakonechloa macra along the paths in the woodland glade – In autumn, it passes through a grove of colouring Stewartia pseudocamellia THEBATHMAG.CO.UK THEBATHMAG.CO.UK 2010 | November | jaNuary 2020

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BOOKS When selecting non-natives, we looked to areas of the world that share a similar hardiness rating to Hokkaido’s Zone 4, which is equivalent to USDA Zone 5 and equates to an average minimum winter temperature of -29 to -23°C (-20 to -10°F).

Areas of Northern Europe, Eurasia and Northern America provide similar conditions, with four distinct seasons and an extended period of winter dormancy. We were also careful to choose plants that were not known to be invasive and had a proven track record in terms of garden performance. The majority were selected for long-term stability with the aim of building reliable and long-lived partnerships between plants to once again emulate the systems in the plant communities that have evolved over decades on the forest floor. Short-lived self-seeding perennials such as Knautia macedonica were included for their pioneering habits and ability to respond quickly to change.

“The garden was intended to be an echo of a natural environment” In terms of ethos and aesthetics, it was important that all the plants we introduced were in the spirit of the vegetation that already existed on site. Everything was selected to have a natural appearance that would not look out of place alongside the natives. The choices were limited to either straight species or named forms that were close to the species.

Flowers remained small or uncomplicated, with no doubles that felt highly bred or made pollination difficult. The planting was carefully selected so that it was tonally right, taking the lead from the foliage shapes and colouration of plants in the forest and often looking to equivalent plants that occur both in Japan and North America. Though I was deliberately heightening the intensity of the aesthetic in the Meadow Garden, I wanted the

plants from overseas to feel as if they were meant to be in each other’s company when combined with the Japanese natives...

Steering the plant mixes

The garden was planted, as planned, in the spring of 2008, so one of my key tasks when I first met Midori was to explain that the garden was intended to be an echo of a natural environment. We walked into the forest and looked at the natural plant associations, the succession and the layering from the ground up to the tallest emergents.

It was summer and already the first layers of trillium and anemone were going into dormancy beneath the mid-storey plants.

Carex and filipendula were filling out to cover for the first ephemerals and rising up tall were stands of cardiocrinum and angelica. We discussed the importance of the Entrance Forest and the Meadow Garden being in easy dialogue and the influence of the native plant communities upon the workings and the aesthetic of the Meadow Garden.

We also touched on the realities of maintaining something that was designed to evolve and would not, by definition, be something we could entirely plan for. Our yearly meetings and email communications help in steering the direction and we have responded to the planting as gardeners, since we are not ecologists, but always with an eye to letting the planting lead the way. Of course, there have been challenges, because in truth the complexity of a real meadow is far more dynamic. Just 1sq m (11sq ft) might contain 20–30 species and the competitive nature of the ecosystem is consequently self-monitoring. ...As the garden has evolved in its first ten years, we have been able to see what is working and what is struggling. Having reached a point where the original mixes had generally achieved an equilibrium, we have since been adjusting and augmenting the plantings to make them work harder...

The mixes respond differently from year to year to climatic changes that favour or discourage a particular species. Natural life cycles also assert their peaks and troughs and

ABOVE, FROM TOP: Potentilla nepalensis ‘Miss Willmott’ with Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’; Spent flowers of Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) ‘Black Negligee’ with Symphyotrichum turbinellum; BELOW LEFT: Assistant head gardener, Shintaro Sasagawa, Dan Pearson and Midori Shintani

our annual walks in the garden help us to decide how to steer the garden in the coming year. The climate also encourages a fast turnaround. Plants such as Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, though perfectly hardy, need adding to every year since their natural life cycle on Hokkaido is around three years rather than the five we can expect in the UK before they need replacement or division.

The short-lived plants such as Knautia macedonica are treated like biennials and allowed to seed into gaps, with the oldest plants removed as they start to splay. They are worth this effort for their summer-long display of flower. A small number of Echinacea ‘Hot Summer’ have also been added to add drama as you enter the garden from the bridge.

Though the red echinaceas tend not to be reliable perennials, they prove their worth with ornamental impact, and so are replaced year on year. Such additions to the mixes and responsiveness to the ebb and flow keep the mixes feeling vital and yearly change prevents the garden from ever feeling static. ■

Tokachi Millennium Forest, by Dan Pearson and Midori Shintani, published by Filbert Press, £40, is available from Topping & Company – who have signed copies – and all good bookshops; toppingbooks.co.uk

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GARDENS

Autumn garden jobs

As temperatures fall and daylight levels decrease this month, things start to shut down in the garden. There are still some planting activities and plenty of maintenance jobs to do to prepare the way for next year’s planting and growth cycle.

Here are 10 constructive jobs, from cutting down perennials and adding humus to vegetable beds, to leaving protected hideaways for hedgehogs and planting bare root plants for new structural garden statements

 PLANT BARE ROOT PLANTS AND HEDGING

 CUT DOWN FADED HERBACIOUS PERENNIALS

Plant bare-root hedging, roses, trees and shrubs before the weather turns really cold. Bare root plants can be planted any time during the November to March dormancy period providing you've not got icy or snowy conditions, the ground is not waterlogged and it’s not excessively windy.

Cut down faded perennials and mulch the surrounding soil with garden compost. The crown (base of the plant) will remain dormant over winter and will produce fresh shoots the following spring.

Leave evergreen perennials, such as epimediums, euphorbias and hellebores.

 LEAVE COVER FOR WILDLIFE Do a final tidy up of your garden, but do leave overwintering nooks and crannies for hedgehogs, toads and ladybirds, such as tufty grasses, small log heaps and piles of leaves. They’ll make it worth your while by controlling early pests.

 PLANT RASPBERRIES Raspberries do best in a cool climate such as ours in the UK. Choose a position which is in part shade and avoids the sun in the hottest part of the day during the height of summer.

They prefer a well-drained soil, and one that holds a good amount of water. It’s a good idea to dig in lots of well composted organic matter prior to planting them.

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 PLANT TULIP BULBS Plant tulip bulbs in pots and borders, covering them with at least twice their depth of soil or compost. Tulips prefer to be in a position with full sun. They like a humus-rich soil, add lots of bulky organic matter to your soil, such as compost, which is well drained, and won’t become waterlogged in winter. For colourful displays, avoid planting bulbs individually, but rather in bold clumps with bulbs 10–20cm apart, depending on their final height.

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GARDENS

 ADD MANURE TO VEG PATCHES Soil needs to be fed to replace nutrients, so spread fresh manure across your vegetable beds to rot down over winter.

 RAKE UP LEAVES ON THE LAWN

 COLLECT HOLLY Cut away stems of holly with berries for seasonal decorations.

Do it now before the birds eat all the berries. Stand them in a bucket of water in a sheltered spot where birds can’t take them.

 BRING OUT BIRD FEEDERS

Clear fallen leaves off the lawn to keep it healthy. Collect leaves for making leaf mould as a soil conditioner. Oak, alder and hornbeam will rot down in a year but beech, sycamore, horse chestnut and sweet chestnut will take longer to compost. n

Encourage hungry birds into your garden by stocking up on bird baths and bird feeders. Our feathered garden companions will keep pest numbers down and raise your spirits on a cold winter’s day.

 EDGE YOUR LAWN This is easy to do in the winter months once beds are clear.

Lawn edging creates a neat and tidy appearance and makes maintenance easier throughout the year.

Create space with a garden room GARDEN OFFICES • LOG CABINS • STUDIOS • SUMMERHOUSES POSH SHEDS • TIMBER GARAGES • OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES

01225 774566 • www.gardenaffairs.co.uk Visit our Display Centre at Trowbridge Garden Centre 288 Frome Road, BA14 0DT THEBATHMAG.CO.UK THEBATHMAG.CO.UK| NOVEMbEr 2010 | jaNuary 2020

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the directory

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Home Care

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Holiday Rental

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Trowbridge & Neal’s Yard Bath 88 TheBATHMagazine

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House & Home

Email: annadesign@btinternet.com

Cobb Farr PIF.qxp_PIF Full Page 23/10/2020 21:24 Page 1

PROPERTY | HOMEPAGE

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most attractive Grade II listed townhouse with accommodation laid out over four floors. It is presented beautifully throughout and features a wonderful master bedroom and drawing room, both of which have superb views over the city of Bath. In addition, there is a wonderful living space at garden level with a kitchen and garden room, all of which lead out onto an atractive enclosed west facing garden. The whole garden is well enclosed with Bath stone walling and mature shrubs.

Having been fully modernised with quality craftmanship, including a handmade kitchen with underfloor heading, wardrobes and cabinets, the property has retained many of its original Period features to include fireplaces and cornicing together with high quality door furnishings, bathroom and kitchen fitments.

There are three good sized bedrooms.

In addition to the lovely garden the property has the benefit of a singly parking space to the from.

This is a quite a splendid property and a viewing is strongly recommended by the sole agents Cobb Farr.

Cambridge Terrace, Widcombe • Beautifully presented Grade II listed town house • Wonderful master bedroom and drawing room • Handmade kitchen • Attractive west facing garden • Easy walking distance to City Centre • Parking OIEO £1.2M

Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, The Circus, Bath. Tel: 01225 333332

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St Margarets Street, Bradford-on-Avon £1,000,000

A stunning example of an early Victorian, Grade II listed property set close to the heart of the town with fine vistas, ample proportions, gardens and parking

• Grade II listed period property

• 4 storey, immaculate townhouse • Generous garden

• 4 bedroom adnd 3 reception rooms

01225 333332 | 01225 866111

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Woolverton, Bath £895,000

A stunning converted detached farmhouse with 4 double bedrooms set within this select development of just six properties in Woolverton. The property has been renovated to an exceptional specification by Ashford Homes who have been building luxury homes for over 25 years.

• 3014 st ft

• Picturesque village close to Bath • 4 double bedrooms

• Luxury bathrooms with Villeroy and Boch sanitary ware

01225 333332 | 01225 866111

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T H E TOW N H O U S E ,

T H E LO F T

& T H E A PA R T M E N T S

• AN ELEGANT, NEW DEVELOPEMENT OF CONTEMPORARY HOMES ON BEAR FLAT, BATH •

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Bloomfield Park is a rare development of contemporary, elegant and understated homes.

Located in popular Bear Flat, voted one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live in the UK 2020, this is one of Bath’s most highly sought after areas, with dramatic views over the city and across to Lansdown racecourse beyond.

Built from honey-coloured Bath stone, the exterior of this bespoke development looks traditionally and distinctively Bathonian. Inside, its unique characteristics tell a different story: clean, fresh and contemporary, with modern sash windows, engineered oak flooring and underfloor heating throughout.

The high level specifications have been carefully considered, to include hand crafted kitchens, Bosch appliances and Lusso Stone bathrooms throughout.

Hidden behind a mature tree line, each individually-designed home benefits from two private undercover parking spaces, a lift to the upper floors and private secure basement storage. The communal gardens have been designed by an award-winning landscape designer with the ground level apartment and townhouse both benefitting from private paved terraces.

40 Bloomfield Park combines the old and new, the traditional and modern, to create a unique home in a delightful setting.

Register your interest with Hawkfield Homes, email: sales@hawkfieldhomes.co.uk, Tel: 0330 123 9391

Southwinds Farm, Woolverton A superb development of six beautifully crafted, individual homes in an eclectic mix of designs, located within easy reach of Bath.

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6 ways your apartment can make you happy Peter Greatorex managing director of The apartment Company

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n this crazy year our homes have been more than where we live; they have become offices, and may well still be, our gyms, classrooms, playgrounds, pubs and whole social life. That’s a lot of pressure to put on your property and, although many of us have gone DIY crazy, you may not have had time or could just feel completely uninspired and fed up with your property. But don’t despair, we have some inexpensive and simple ideas to make your home feel fresh and even stimulating; here are 6 ways your home can make you happy.

Zoning : With all the conflicting responsibilities your apartment has, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. As we don’t know what may happen in future months, with regional lockdowns happening in some areas, it is essential to start thinking about zoning your apartment for different activities. For example, if you’re working from home, is there a corner you can now completely designate as an office rather than working from the kitchen table? We have heard of some very clever and creative ideas, not only will having a study space help productivity, it will also be a blessing that you have one place for all your work things. You can ‘split’ rooms and spaces with curtains and screens and even a storage unit can separate spaces.

Add some colour: When was the last time you decorated? This is one of the easiest ways to reinvigorate your apartment, and also help your mood – nothing feels better than a freshly decorated room. Neutrals will also create a classic look, whereas pops of colour add a more dramatic look. Greens and blues are very popular at the moment, and apparently are associated with well-being, calm and health. If you don’t want to add colour to your walls, you can bring in your chosen accent shades into the room through accessories, such as cushions, rugs and even artwork.

The big clear out: Now the charity shops are open and online selling sites are become highly active again, it is the ideal time to have that big clear out. We all have stuff we don’t need, whether that’s on bookshelves, a cupboard, or that scary space under the bed! Decluttering feels so rewarding, not only will it transform your apartment, mentally it is completely freeing – it may even give you a few pennies in your pocket.

Just don’t try to do it all at once, unless you know you have the time to do so. Our advice would be to just do a little at a time, or a room at a time, this makes the whole process far less stressful.

Scent-sory: One of the most powerful senses we have is smell, so it will be of no surprise that beautiful scents can help lift your mood. Think about choosing different scents to work with each room, you may decide that natural aromas such as flowers and citrus fruits are best for the kitchen, whereas lavender in your bedroom will help you relax. You may prefer more artificial scents – just choose whatever works for you.

Bringing the outside in: Houseplants are one of the most popular

MARDAN, BATH’S BESPOKE REMOVALS AND STORAGE COMPANY, DEVELOPS NEW TALENT

Mardan have a wealth of experience within the removals and storage industry, spanning over 30 years, ensuring customers have a stress-free and seamless move. Mardan are family run and bespoke with the experience, knowledge, skills, equipment and capacity to complete removals of any size; locally, nationally for domestic or commercial customers.

Marcus, Mardan’s founder, has always held fast, with confidence, to his belief that he can deliver a high standard of removals, exceeding that of his competitors.

Marcus knows to do this he must have trust and confidence in the skills of his staff, which he does. So when a new office position was required within Mardan instead of recruiting externally Marcus looked to develop a team member which he already had extreme confidence in and who he knew would develop into the role seamlessly, Nik. The role would include; liaising with customers, completing quotes, emailing quotes, planning the removals diary, logistics and managing the storage yard. Nik, had worked with Marcus within removals for over 10 years having a strong knowledge of all aspects of removals and with the skills necessary to lead a team from Mardan on removals. Nik has risen to the challenge and is thriving. Marcus and Nik work extremely well as a team thus ensuring all customers have a personalised service and a positive move experience. Both Marcus and Nik enjoy completing the physical removal and Marcus truly believes that to do the ‘office’ role well it’s important to continue to complete removals, thus maintaining the in depth knowledge developed throughout their earlier careers. Marcus and Nik are able to be flexible with their roles and keep their ‘hand in’ the hard physical work of removals.

Mardan continue to grow their self-storage facility, offering safe, secure and reasonable storage to upward of 100 domestic and commercial customers.

“We used Mardan following a recommendation from a friend. They moved us in and out of storage and then into our renovated house. I would highly recommend them. The service was super efficient and the guys were quick, polite and courteous. Nothing was too much trouble and all of our possessions arrived safe and sound” Emma Webster, Moon Client

interior accessories and help purify the air, aid productivity, and enhance any space. Each plant has its own benefits, so do some research to choose the right plant or plants for each part of your apartment.

Bright light: A home filled with light is one that brings joy with its warmth and hidden smile, rather than arriving home to restricted natural light. We know that there may be times when you will be considering supressing the light flooding through your windows, such as when you desire a bit of privacy or if the bright beams are shining in your eyes. It’s worth considering where the light falls in each room when deciding where to place your furniture, this way you can enjoy as much of that delicious sunlight as possible without it impacting on your life or work.

The Apartment Company. theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL MOVERS • PACKERS • STORERS • SHIPPERS

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Central

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Pierrepont Street, BA1 £495,000

This beautiful city centre apartment is awash with period charm. Recently updated by the current owners and presented in excellent order. The apartment has a private entrance and also allows holiday/short term lets should you wish.

Offering over 1400 square feet with entrance hall, entrance lobby, kitchen dining room, reception room, study, two double bedrooms and two shower rooms. Offered with vacant possession. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

01225 809 571 central@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

Camden

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Eastbourne Ave, BA1 OIEO £500,000

A spacious, refurbished, end terrace period home within reach of the city centre and Larkhall. This well-proportioned period home offers three bedrooms, two reception rooms, high ceilings, original period features and a good size south facing garden.

Energy Efficiency Rating: TBC

01225 809 868 camden@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

Newbridge Andrewsonline.co.uk

Westfield Park South, BA1 ÂŁ540,000

A beautifully presented family home with five bedrooms offering flexible accommodation. Westfield Park South is located in a quiet residential area, approximately 2 miles outside of the City Centre plus local shops on Chelsea Road and highly rated primary and secondary schools.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

01225 809 685 newbridge@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

Bear Flat

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Englishcombe Lane, BA2 ÂŁ1,400,000

Offering in excess of 3,800 sq. ft. of accommodation between the main house and the annex set at the top of the garden this home offers wonderful space for a large family, potential to operate as a B&B business or simply just some additional income from using the annex as holiday accommodation.

Energy Efficiency Rating: B

01225 805 680 bearflat@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

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Portland Place

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£2,400 pcm

Set in a quiet and peaceful neighbourhood with scant passing traffic and ample parking for visitors, only minutes from the centre of town. Local shops in St James and Julian Road include a pharmacy, Co-op, newsagent and greengrocer. EPC TBC

£1,200 pcm

An individually designed modern contemporary two bedroom apartment boasting fabulous far reaching views across the Georgian City.

Moravian Place is a select development of eleven one and two bedroom apartments. EPC B

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Sydney Place

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£1,200 pcm

This fabulous one bedroom apartment is just a stone’s throw away from the city centre. The property offers well balanced accommodation.

EPC E

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The Lodge

£1,800 pcm

A DETACHED HOUSE situated on the west side of the city centre. The property comprises: sitting room/kitchen area, master bedroom, ensuite and study, second bedroom with ensuite, third bedroom with ensuite and cloakroom. EPC C

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Caxton Court

The Apartment Company are delighted to bring to the market this Stunning one bedroom Ground floor apartment in the prestigious Marlborough Buildings benefitting from over 800 sq ft of Georgian Splendour. EPC D

We are delighted to be able to bring to the market this stylish and spacious two bedroom apartment in a converted brewery. This apartment has everything to offer. EPC C

01225 471 14 4

Victoria Bridge Court

£1,200 pcm

This spacious, stylish and beautifully presented two bedroom apartment offers contemporary living accommodation with a short walk to the City Centre and amenities. EPC C

Brock Street

£1,150 pcm

£1,200 pcm

The Apartment Company is delighted to bring to the market this stunning apartment situated in popular Brock street, between The Circus and Royal Crescent. Comprising Living room, Kitchen, Bathroom and two bedrooms. EPC E

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Marlborough Buildings £1,175 pcm

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Moravian Place

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Connaught Mansions

£900 pcm

The Apartment Company is delighted to market this super one bedroom apartment located in the city centre. The property comprises: contemporary styled sitting room with space for dining, modern fitted kitchen, double bedroom and a bathroom. EPC D

LETTINGS

01225 303 870

sales@theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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Cavendish Place

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£695,000

Settled amongst one of Bath’s ever-popular Georgian terraces and occupying the first floor of this fabulous, Grade I listed townhouse, lies this beautiful two bedroom apartment which is sure to impress.

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Abbey Street

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£575,000

Set within one of Bath’s ever-popular Georgian streets and occupying the ground and lower floor of this fabulous Grade II listed townhouse, lies this beautiful three bedroom maisonette.

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Northanger Court

An exquisite Georgian apartment boasting two double bedrooms and a magnificent drawing room with stunning West facing views over Bath and the countryside beyond.

This unique city centre apartment is located in the highly sought after Northanger Court. The property boasts an allocated parking space in a secured garage and immaculately maintained communal gardens.

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Suffolk House

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£335,000

We are delighted to bring to the market this superb two bedroom apartment. Situated in Suffolk House, a well maintained and beautifully presented building, in the sought after location of Weston.

O.I.E.O

£530,000

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Chatham Row

Alfred Street

£300,000

A beautiful, first floor two bedroom Georgian apartment that retains much of its original character. Being first floor it offers enormous amounts of light and coupled with high ceilings it has a fabulous spacious feel.

£385,000

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Alfred Street

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£295,000

This beautiful, Grade II listed, two bedroom apartment is ideally situated in the heart of Georgian Bath. Benefitting from private outside space in the city centre is a huge advantage and a stones throw from all Baths attractions.

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Situated in the heart of Bath, moments away from its famous historic attractions including The Assembly Rooms and the Royal Crescent. NO CHAIN

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Lansdown Crescent O.I.E.O £725,000

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Orchard Lodge

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£235,000

The Apartment Company are delighted to bring to market this well presented ground floor apartment located in the attractive area of Bathampton.

www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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