The Bath Magazine February by MC Publishing Limited

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ISSUE 137 • FEBRUARY 2014

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CITY OF BATH

£3.00 where sold

FACE THE MUSIC Rosemary Harden curator of the Fashion Museum

THE PORTER DELIVERS TBM reviews Clayton’s Kitchen

RETURNING IN STYLE Bath jeweller celebrates new store with glittering prizes

BATH HALF SPECIAL Supporting our runners for good causes

SIX OF THE BEST Restaurants for lovers

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CONTENTS

February

5 ‘MUST DOS’ FOR FEB

THE CITYIST The young duo who help the Bath Half happen talk about their favourite activities

LIT FEST HIGHLIGHTS Our pick of ten events from this year’s annual celebration of words

FACE THE MUSIC Rosemary Harden, curator of the Fashion Museum is interviewed by Mick Ringham

WHAT’S ON

MRS STOKES

68 70

MEET THE RUNNERS

Our Bath Half special asks: why are you running?

21 DIAMOND GEEZER

46 W IN

Nicholas Wylde launches a Valentine competition to win fabulous jewellery

72 THE WALK Andrew Swift takes an architectural stroll around Weston-Super-Mare

Ideas to make your Valentine smile

Neill Menneer’s portrait of the month is Martin Salter of the Jane Austen Centre

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FEBRUARY 2014

FOOD & DRINK

RESTAURANT REVIEW

INTERIORS INSPIRATION Why the blues are making us happy

KEEP CALM & GARDEN Jane Moore finds jobs to do even on the coldest days

HOT PROPERTY Find your next home in the city or country

THE WINE COLUMN Choosing for rugby fans and lovers

TABLE FOR TWO Melissa Blease picks restaurants to enjoy a Valentine’s Day romantic date

HE’S A NATURAL We talk to Bathonian Andy Burden, newly appointed theatre company director

Chef Rob Clayton is well and truly back in the hotseat and happy at the Porter

22 ALL LOVED UP 26 BATH AT WORK

BOOK REVIEWS The latest local publications plus the editor’s picks for a good read

The start of an eight page celebration of the Bath foodie scene

SPA REFRESHED New-look retreat at the Royal Crescent

This city is run on the white stuff (sugar)

FIT AND FAB Looking bright and beautiful

ART & EXHIBITIONS Pete the Street’s new show plus news from the city’s galleries

HALF TERM FUN Things to do with the kids this month

From theatre to a city festival, and comedy to folk music, Bath’s busy cultural scene

Key events in Bath this month

2014

CITY PEOPLE News from the movers and shakers

@ thebathmagazine

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EDITOR’Sletter

f you live in Bath you will have noticed them. Determined expressions on their faces, some making it look effortless and graceful, others clearly out of breath and struggling – all runners out pounding the streets of the city as they train for next month’s Bath Half marathon. They know they’ve got to put in hours and hours of hard work in order to do the distance on Sunday 2 March and their perseverance, to go out and train in all weathers, deserves our respect. The Bath Magazine is proud to be a media partner for the Bath Half because the race embodies so much that is good about our city. It’s about human beings endeavouring to do their best, of bringing mind and body in harmony to achieve their goal. And it’s about gathering together thousands of people in a human tide united by a common purpose. And unlike so many other crowds in other situations, there is no tribalism or animosity, only a little healthy competition among athletes. The Bath Half is also an occasion which brings money into the city – with all those runners and their supporters spending while they’re in town – and money raised for charity too. Last year around £2m was raised for charities, ranging from tiny community groups to national household names. Residents may have a little grumble about the traffic hold-ups and road closures on the day, but it is only for a few hours once a year. If you can, please go out on foot on the day and join the crowds lining the route to cheer the runners on their 13 mile challenge. And runners, spare a thought for the legions of volunteers who give up their time on the day to help out. A“thank you marshall” as you pass them is appreciated. Have a look at the faces in our Bath Half special this issue and if you see them on the day give them some encouragement. We’d like to thank everyone who came down to The Octagon and stayed to be interviewed for the magazine and our website. We’ve lots more besides in our February issue. Tickets have gone on sale for the Independent Bath Literature Festival, which opens on 28 February. There’s a great programme this year under new artistic director Viv Groskop. Have a look at our feature on Page 38 in which we’ve picked some of the varied events which don’t necessarily involve reading a novel. Andy Burden, a familiar face in Bath, talks, on Page 30, about his new role as head of the fabulously quirky Natural Theatre Company, as he steps in to the role vacated by Ralph Oswick, who has retired. Rachel Yi Yuan, curator at the Museum of East Asian Art shows us the museum’s new oral history project which includes interviews with people from Bath’s Chinese community – all with fascinating stories to tell (Page 28). Our Face the Music subject (Page 14) is Rosemary Harden, curator at the Fashion Museum, who knows more about the history of fashion than almost anyone else in the country. Her musical choices are a glorious patchwork of different sounds. Don’t forget, you can now listen to our interviewees’ top ten each month via our website: www.thebathmag.co.uk. There’s art, theatre, music, comedy, half-term activities and a few ideas for treating your loved one this Valentine’s Day. It maybe the shortest month of the year, but Bath’s cultural calendar is jam-packed. Get out there and enjoy it!

Georgette McCready Editor

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

FEBRUARY 2014

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Georgette McCready 01225 424592 georgette@thebathmagazine.co.uk

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Contact the Advertising Sales team tel: 01225 424499

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The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazine are published by MC Publishing Ltd. We are 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

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2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Telephone: 01225 424499. Fax: 01225 426677 www.thebathmagazine.co.uk © MC Publishing Ltd 2014 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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ZEITGEIST

Feed

things to do in February

OUR BATH: a new exhibition of Bath artist Peter Brown’s work opens at the Victoria Art Gallery on Saturday 8 February. Entrance is £2. See Page 40 for more details

We tend to think of deer as shy creatures who flee at the first sight of humans, but when they’re hungry enough they’ll come close enough for us to enjoy a good look at Britain’s largest native land mammal. The National Trust owned Dyrham Park estate is offering visitors to enjoy feeding time every day in February. Bring your cameras to get the chance to capture some photographs of the deer in their winter coats. Maximum two people (including children), £10 per person. To book your place and to find out about feeding times tel: 0117 9371331.

Discount If you’re a resident of Bath and North East Somerset Council you’re entitled to sign up for a free Resident’s Discovery Card, which gives you discounted or free tickets to many of Bath’s tourist attractions. Pick up your Discovery Card from the Roman Baths, the council’s One Stop Shop in Manvers Street, The Hollies in Midsomer Norton or Riverside in Keynsham. Take with you proof of residence and some identification, such as a passport. You’ll fill in an application form, staff will take your photo and within minutes you’ll be given your laminated card to use. If you’re aged 14 or over you can have your own card, or parents can add up to two children under 14 to their own card. You will be granted unlimited free entry to the Roman Baths and Fashion Museum for three years, while other local attractions and organisations offer various discounts to Discovery Card holders. It may be also worth buying a season ticket for the councilowned Victoria Art Gallery, which saves forking out to see their special one-off exhibitions. The cost of the card is £10 and it lasts for one year, giving you access to all the temporary shows – entrance to the rest of the city art gallery is free to all. 10 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Date Dear Reader, We cannot let this occasion pass without some reference to St Valentine, the patron saint of greetings cards, whose day is cause for an outbreak of romantic gestures. We understand that some of you may be cynical about the love fest that’s about to ensue, but you could look at Friday 14 February as simply an excuse to tell your significant other that you appreciate and love them. Alternatively, you could go the distance and book a table at your favourite restaurant, scatter the house with rose petals and spoil them by buying something so extravagent yet beautiful that you’ll earn brownie points to last another 364 days. Pictured is artist Jazmin Velasco’s linocut, Mr Knightley, from Jane Austen’s Emma, at the Rostra gallery, George Street.

Enjoy

A whole host of big names, including muchloved funnywoman Jennifer Saunders, pictured, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, philosopher Alain de Botton and mother of all feminists Germaine Greer, will be heading to Bath this month for the Independent Bath Literature Festival. The festival runs from Friday 28 February to Sunday 9 March – check out some of the highlights on Page 38 or visit the festivalʼs website: www.bathfestivals.org.uk.

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ist

THE CITY

One city . . . one month

The buzz

BATH

We ask Ben Taylor, 12, Bath Half director’s runner and James Taylor,10, charity and media director’s assistant, what they’re doing in February Ben and James Taylor by Marc Aitken

Listen If you’d like to be one of those people who catch a band before they make it big, and then afterwards claim you were in at the start of their success, you’ll want to catch The Bookshop Band before they head out to the States next year for a tour. The three-piece band has a unique approach, writing and playing songs inspired by books. They’re usually to be found at intimate literary gigs at Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath, but on Wednesday 26 February they’ll be marking their 100th song inspired by books and their third anniversary with a concert at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon. They’re teaming up with Rachel Joyce, author of best-selling novel The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, with readings from that book and her second novel Perfect, as well as songs inspired by the two books. Tickets are £12 from tel: 01225 860100.

Sponsored walk While the spotlight might be on the Bath Half, there is another challenge in the pipeline for people to take part in that doesn’t involve running. You could instead sign up to take part in May’s Walk for Life to help raise £8.5m towards for a new cancer centre for the Royal United Hospital in Bath. The Forever Friends Appeal is inviting people to walk 21, 12 or nine miles along the Kennet and Avon Canal on Saturday 17 May. The full 21 miles is from Devizes to Bath, or choose from 12 miles in the morning from Devizes to Bradford-On-Avon, or nine miles in the afternoon from BradfordOn-Avon to Bath. Open to men and women, entry to the Walk of Life costs £15 per person. This will be the seventh annual Walk of Life event, which was created with and in memory of Vanessa Kyte – a mum, daughter, sister, wife and friend who died from cancer in 2007. To sign up visit: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk or tel: 01225 821535. Marshals are also needed along the route to hand out refreshments and encourage the walkers.

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Bath Half Marathon race director, Andrew Taylor has worked as assistant to the London Marathon race director for the last seven years. His son Ben now performs a similar role alongside him at the Bath Half Marathon, while James acts as assistant to his mother Mel in her role as charity and media director. What brought you to Bath? Ben: My brother and I were both born at Bath RUH and have lived in the city all our lives. Mum’s family come from Westwood near Bradford-on-Avon, and Dad moved to Bath after he finished his training as a surveyor in London. What are you reading? Ben: I’m reading Michael McIntyre’s autobiography Life in Laughing – My Story. It’s the first autobiography I’ve read. He has had such an interesting life, and I wanted to find out why he makes Mum laugh so much. James: I’m reading Demon Dentist by David Walliams. I’ve read most of his books. Dad says the language isn’t suitable for children, but sometimes he uses much ruder words. What is on your MP3 player? Ben: We were lucky enough to see Jamie Cullum perform at Bath Forum before Christmas. He’s an amazing pianist and having seen him live I’m really enjoying his Momentum album. James: I’m listening to One Direction and Katy Perry. Which café or restaurant takes your fancy? Ben: I like walking into town at the weekend to share a hot chocolate and cookies at Starbucks with Mum, Dad and my brother, or with my friends. When it’s busy we go for a flatbread pizza at the Arts Café on Lower Borough Walls – that’s a secret place only a few know about. James: I love Italian food, we’ve been on holiday to Rome and Verona with my grandparents. My favourite restaurant is Carluccio’s in Milsom Place. At the weekends we often take our dog Poppy for hot chocolate and brownies at Ben’s in Walcot Street. For a treat we either go for a

milkshake at the Bridge Café on Pulteney Bridge, or a crepe at the café in Guildhall Market. Which museum or gallery will you be visiting? Ben: I’m afraid I’m not much of a museum or gallery person. Mum and Dad try their best, but I’d rather be outside playing sport. James: I really enjoy At-Bristol. In the holidays I like it when we take the train to London to visit places like the Science Museum and the National Gallery. Your passions? What hobbies or interests will you be pursuing? Ben: I persuaded my Dad and brother to come along to one of Bath Canoe Club’s courses in the summer and I’ve really got the kayaking bug now. The club is hidden away off Walcot Street. We do pool sessions at Kingswood School and river sessions in the Avon. There is only one way to see Pulteney Weir and that’s riding over it in a kayak! James: I enjoy kayaking and all sports. I’m sorry the rugby season is over, but I’m looking forward to winter training in the new indoor centre at Bath Cricket Club. What local outdoor activity or event will you be doing or visiting? Ben: Bath Canoe Club organise river, whitewater and sea kayaking trips throughout the year, so as soon as the Bath Half is over I’ll be dragging Dad out on to the first available trip. I’m also a qualified St John Ambulance cadet first aider, so I enjoy going on public duties with them. James: Ben’s planning another white water kayaking trip. I love taking our dog for long muddy walks on the Bath Skyline walk. Film or play? Ben: I’m enjoying catching up on Sherlock’s adventures on iPlayer. James: I saw The Hobbit over the Christmas holidays with my friends and Dad has promised to take us to see Gravity. ■ See our big feature on the runners in this year’s Bath Half marathon on Page XX. Visit: www.bathhalf.co.uk or follow on Twitter @bathhalf.

We’re following @BathFood which rates Bath’s cafés, restaurants and nursing homes on their latest Scores on the Doors hygiene rating. See who’s got 5/5 (Excellent) and who’s got 1/5 (Bad) before you go out to eat

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Dedicated curator of fashion Rosemary Harden, curator at Bath’s Fashion Museum, is as knowledgable about crinolines and bonnets as she is about bondage strides and mini skirts. She talks to Mike Ringham about her many years working with costumes through the ages and picks a patchwork quilt of her favourite, eclectic pieces of music

hatever we may like to think, fashion influences all our lives. Generations can be identified by styles of the period, by hemlines short or long, and from the purely frivolous to the military in uniform, all are designed by someone with knowledge of fabric and practical style. Given that we live in a society where a chart topper’s hair style or the length of a celebrity’s dress still guarantee tabloid headlines, the importance of fashion can never be under-estimated. Those who study the art and social significance of fashion and style regularly beat a path to Bath, which houses one of the world’s finest collections of clothing and accessories from the past. At the heart of the city’s Fashion Museum is curator Rosemary Harden, a highly knowledgable, enthusiastic and engaging guide to textiles and the history of the way we dress. The museum currently welcomes around 130,000 visitors each year, a mixture of serious students studying fashion, history and textiles, researchers working on novels or costumes for theatre, film or tv, and the curious tourist fascinated by the displays, which range from crinolines and bonnets to mini skirts and outfits by designers such as Vivienne Westwood. After leaving school in her home town of Salisbury the young Rosemary headed to Leeds where she studied English. On returning to Wiltshire from University in 1981 she became a volunteer at Salisbury museum, where, surrounded by artefacts and history, she soon developed a passion for bringing the past into perspective. She later moved back to Leeds and worked at the city’s industrial museum, making replica clothing and researching garments of the period, 14 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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before accepting a position as junior curator for textiles and dress at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. After eight years working in the capital Rosemary applied for a position as acting curator at Bath’s Museum of Costume, as it was known at that time. She describes her reaction on joining the museum, which is owned by Bath and North Somerset Council: “It was a dream come true. I had visited many times and had worked on joint projects with them in the past, but the thrill of being in the glorious Assembly Rooms and having the chance of running one the world’s great museums was truly amazing.” As curator she is responsible for the day-to-day running of the museum and for selecting objects from its vast collection to go on display and help illustrate a particular period in history. I asked her how she made that decision with over 100,000 costumes to choose from. “Well in fact it isn’t as difficult as it sounds. You start with a certain collection and a display concept or theme and then think of a good narrative, in short, a story to tell, at the same time remembering what is too fragile to put on display.” One of Rosemary’s favourite fashion periods is the 1940s and 50s when women created their own fashions and garments from the limited fabrics that were available during that time of austerity. As for her own personal influences, she admits: “I’m not a good dresser, I’m not the kind of person that needs to be in the spotlight.” Rosemary lives just outside Bath with her partner and her two step children and has a motley collection of CDs and records that she enjoys listening to when not organising exhibitions, workshops and lectures at the museum.

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ECLECTIC MIX: left to right, Bob Dylan’s Forever Young, featuring The Band, Bizet’s Carmen and The Only Ones, Miles From Nowhere Rosemary’s portrait by Dulcie Carey

Rosemary’s top ten: ● Paul Whiteman – You’re the Top This is from the 1934 film Anything Goes. The lyrics by Cole Porter are just brilliant. It’s what I call a list song, listing fantastic things: - a Shakespeare sonnet – a bendel bonnet. He also included the world’s great museums like The National Gallery and The Louvre. He was a genius songwriter and musically created a rich vein of cultural history. ● Ella Fitzgerald – A Foggy Day in London Town This is another museum song. There’s a line in this about the British Museum having lost its charm, but I don’t think that could ever happen. My mother wouldn’t let us watch Top of the Pops back in the 1970s, but my Dad always encouraged me to be open-minded about music, so this track is for him. He took me to see Ella Fitzgerald once, but by this time she was an old lady and her voice had lost some of its quality, but none of its charm. ● Bizet – Parle-moi de ma mere This most exquisite duet, sung by the hero Don Jose and Michaela (the girl he left behind), comes near the beginning of Bizet’s Carmen. I love the fiery Spanish stomping and swirling yet paradoxically it’s very tender and lovely to listen to. ● Bob Dylan – Forever Young A great artist singing a fabulous song. What makes it for me are The Band, Dylan’s backing band. I have admired them for absolutely ages. They are fantastic musicians, a tad dissolute perhaps, but so cool. ● Mozart – Soave sia ill vento I have been immersed in the Georgian period over the last couple of months as we prepared for the Georgian exhibition which opened on 25 January. This period spans right across Bath’s heyday and it was also the time of political and social upheaval. This particular aria for three voices is heartstoppingly beautiful and I could listen to it, or better still watch the opera, time and time again. ● Handel – Unto Us a Child is Born I enjoy choral singing and on a grey old day in winter this choice from the Messiah is rousing and lifts the spirit. It has been a Christmas fixture in our family for as long as I can

remember and I’ve listened to it in some extraordinary places at that time of year, including a tropical rainforest in Queensland Australia. ● Benjamin Britten – Now until the End of Time I’m a big fan of Benjamin Britten and I’ve chosen A Midsummer Night’s Dream partly for Shakespeare and also for some of the great theatre productions of the play that I’ve been lucky enough to have seen. I saw Peter Hall’s version in the early 1970s and also a school play recently where a particular young performer’s portrayal of Thisbe literally brought the house down. ● Fred Astaire – I love you Funny Face This is a song which was popular when I was growing up in Salisbury. In the film Funny Face, Astaire plays romantic lead opposite Audrey Hepburn; it is now one of my favourite films. His character is based on leading fashion photographer Richard Avedon. Little did I realise at that time that I would be involved in fashion and costume and working with inspirational people and wonderful colleagues, first of all at the V&A and now the brilliant team here in Bath. ● The Only Ones – Miles from Nowhere I found my closest friends early on in my life, one before I was ten and two others in my teens and 20s. All three are musical in different ways and have influenced my musical tastes. I came of age at the same time punk and new wave were in vogue; and that same ethos – that you don’t need a big budget, name or large production to be excellent, still strikes a chord with me today. In terms of dress history, this was something that we picked up on in an exhibition called 1977 at the museum back in 2007. It showed that fashion is not just about named designers; style relies on individuality and choice, putting the look together that is right for you. ● Andy Williams – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You This is a great song to sing at the top of your voice in the car, as I have done on many occasions. Once at a busy road junction where I was caught up in that big line ‘I love you baby’, the lights changed to green and I stalled the car – the other drivers were not amused. As far as I’m concerned this record sums up nicely what music is all about, creativity, artistry and emotion. ■ Georgians: 18th Century Dress for Polite Society runs at the Fashion Museum throughout this year.

Fashion blogger Susie Lau, pictured, has been invited to choose the Fashion Museum’s Dress of the Year 2013. She will announce the winner next month at the council owned museum. It is the first time that a fashion blogger has been asked to select a winning outfit in over 50 years of the awards. Susie Lau, also known as Susie Bubble, launched her fashion blog Style Bubble in 2006, with 35,000 visitors a day to her website; along with 214,000 followers on Twitter @susiebubble. Susie is a former editor of Dazed Digital, the website of Dazed &

Confused magazine. She now works full-time on her blog and other freelance projects for brands such as Prada, Loewe, Topshop and Nike, as well as writing for Pop Magazine, The Guardian, Elle UK and Vogue China. Susie said: “The Fashion Museum in Bath was one of the places where I really formulated my love of the history of fashion as I happened upon it on a school trip when I was 14. It’s therefore quite exciting to be involved in this key component of the museum.” The Dress of the Year collection consists of 50 era-defining outfits.

Now you can listen to the Face the Music tunes thanks to a link on : www.thebathmag.co.uk WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

FEBRUARY 2014

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Mrs Stokes

The devil lurks on the tea table

©www.robbiddulph.com

takes a sideways look at life in Bath

on’t you just love a lazy afternoon in Bath? It’s particularly enjoyable at this time of year, in the brief pause between the Christmas Market coachloads and the first throngs of foreign exchange students. Right now, the only visitors are Baby Boomers spending the kids’ inheritance or loved-up couples romancing on a Secret Escape. I’ve been taking advantage of this hiatus, whiling my time away in my favourite way – in the city’s cafés – and my, aren’t there plenty to choose from? Bea’s Vintage Tearoom in Saville Row is quaint (albeit the Welsh Rarebit’s a bit fiery), while The Society Café in Kingsmead Square serves rich, seductive coffee with satiny milk. Ever been to the sweet little Bridge Café on Pulteney Bridge whose steamed-up windows hide a pleasure palace of confectionary delights? And what about the Teahouse Emporium in Bond Street which turns the art of drinking Assam into a science, with its digital timers and extensive taste descriptions. Hiding from the wind and rain in one such establishment with only a gooey chocolate brownie for company, it struck me that Bath’s economy is thriving in part thanks to one grainy white substance – sugar. It’s not just the coffee shops that need it either, but the bakers too, such as the Bath Cake Company who sell cakes and cake-making supplies, riding the crest of the wave of the trend inspired by Bath’s beloved baking Queen, Mary Berry.

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And let’s not even start on the dentists . . . This revelation shouldn’t have surprised me, seeing as I spend every spring and summer running vintage tea parties. But I also mused that this money-making ingredient is under threat. For a start, I’m obsessed with weight loss and what’s one of the hottest diet plans right now? The Sugar Detox. The World Health Organisation recommend we cut our sugar consumption in half and David Cameron’s latest publicity campaign involves giving up the sweet stuff (for a day) thereby ending obesity (sort of). Still, it’s time we started to see sugar as the devil’s food. In addition to the health risks, it has a dark past. Our Georgian ancestors loved their dessert courses of layered French fancies, delicate meringues, flaky millefeuilles and madelines (appropriate then that Richard Bertinet should do so well here), but their 18th century appetite depended on slavery. As Chiwetel Ejiofor, the star of 12 Years A Slave pointed out: “We don’t really investigate what Bristol…or Bath would be without the slave trade and because we really like those cities and the people who live there it is easier to close the door on it.” William Beckford (1760-1844) who built Beckford’s Tower, inherited one of the greatest individual fortunes of all time when he was just ten, from his sugar-plantation-owning grandfather.

our city really is built on a ❝ foundation of shifting sugar ❞ Then I found this cheery fact on www.english-heritage.org.uk: “Memorials to slave traders, planters and West India merchants are in great abundance in the most prominent places of worship. St Mary Redcliffe . . . and Bath Abbey are probably the most significant sites in this regard.” So it seems our city really is built on a foundation of shifting sugar, past and present and the white stuff is an evil, albeit a necessary one for many small businesses. I’m going to have to consider the issue carefully before I can completely give up eating cake though, otherwise what will I do when I’m next in town? Not to mention how I’ll make my money. Think I’ll have a slice of Victoria sponge to cheer myself up. After all, it could become as frownedupon as texting during dinner anytime soon. ■ @mrsstokeschina

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GREAT LEVELLER: Radio2’s Dermot O’Leary and friends, running to support CoppaFeel! gives a cheery wave from the crowd as last year’s runners head for the starting line. PICTURE: Anna Barclay

AND THEY’RE OFF We talked to runners ahead of the 2014 Bath Half marathon to find out what’s motivating them to run 13.1 miles around the city’s streets

he countdown has begun to the 2014 Bath Half Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 2 March at 11am, when around 12,000 runners of all abilities will set off from Great Pulteney Street for the two-lap route, which the elite athletes will finish in just over an hour, while others may take around three hours before crossing the finish line. It is the biggest half marathon in the west country and one of the largest charity fundraising events in the region, supporting over 80 local and national charities each year. Last year, the event raised a record £2m for good causes, a total that is expected to grow again this year. We can all do our bit by lining the route to cheer on the runners. Some are experienced and regular runners, focussed on a good performance and with an eye on achirving that coveted PB (personal best) time. Others will be taking part in their first race since they were at school and will be nervous and excited. This latter group will be grateful for all the support they receive during what can feel like a hard slog, as many of them are running for a good cause that’s close to their hearts.

THE MAIN MAN: BathHalf race director Andrew Taylor, director of Running High Events is an experienced runner who has organised many half marathons in the UK PICTURE: Neill Menneer of Spirit Photographic

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A hair-raising experience

Hairdresser Sam Bellavia was a competitive runner in his younger days, but hasn’t run the Bath Half since he was, as he says, ‘a young man.’ Now 53, he has been inspired to take part in the 2014 race by the people he’s encountered at Dorothy House Hospice Care. “They are quite simply amazing people,” says Sam, who runs CNV Hairdressing salon in Seven Dials, Bath. “I’ve met volunteers, staff and cut hair for quite a few people there too. Many years ago a friend of mine was looked after by Dorothy House, so I know what fantastic work they do. They rely on funding to keep going.”

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Twin sisters whose mission is breast care awareness Maren Hallenga, who together with her identical twin sister Kristin, pictured, founded the CoppaFeel! charity to encourage young people to be more aware of breast cancer after Kristin was diagnosed with cancer five years ago. “This will be my fifth year taking part in the Bath Half marathon and as much as I am nervous about the impending 13.1 mile of sweat and pain, there is also an overwhelming feeling of excitement and pride. My twin sister Kristin was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2009 at the age of 23. The tumours that they later found on her spine make it dangerous for her to

take part in any impact sports – running is definitely off the cards. Kristin had that choice of whether she runs 13.1 miles taken away from her by a horrible disease. I am fortunate and can still make that choice. So, when it gets to 10 miles into the run and all you want to do is stop and put your feet up, it’s the thought of my sister and the pain and her never-ending determination that gets me to that finish line. My favourite part of the run is being surrounded by so many like-minded passionate (crazy) people. I love running with all of our CoppaFeel! runners, knowing that they all have their own personal reasons for taking on such a

big challenge. A lot of them will never have done it before and have decided to take themselves out of their comfort zone, in order to support the charity that we set up. It’s always such an enormously humbling experience seeing everyone complete the run. The sense of achievement and pride is so over-whelming that we all end the day feeling like we’re one big family, having been part of something very special that day. And the icing on the cake is obviously the fact it takes place in one of the most beautiful cities in England!” ● Look out for #TeamBoobs and the runners in costume on the day of the Bath Half.

An elite runner whoʼs far from elitist

Zina Marchant will be a familiar name to anyone who regularly runs races in Bath and indeed, nationwide, as for many years her name was always near the top of the finishers. The last record she broke was three years ago at the Bath Half when she became the second fastest woman runner over 60 on the 13.1 mile course, smashing the existing British record, in a time of 1hr: 29mins: 56seconds. Zina may be an elite runner but she’s by no means an elitist one. On the day of the Bath Half she will typically push herself to complete the route in the best time that she can and, at 63, still knocking spots off runners half her age. She’ll then pop into the camper van she owns with husband Dennis (who coaches and will be marshalling on the day), have a reviving cup of tea before jogging out to cheer on other runners still coming in – adding another three or four miles to the distance she’ll already have run that day. “I may have been doing this for a while,” she says, “But I still have to put in the training and yes, I still have to dig deep. My favourite part of the Bath Half experience is running down Great Pulteney Street, wearing the TeamBathAC vest and hearing the home crowd cheering you in. You can’t beat that.”

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Zina crossing the line at the London Marathon

■ Jo Grimes is a legal secretary at Withy King and a first-time runner, with a personal and very good cause close to her heart to motivate her training. After her mother and her father-in-law died last year within days of each other 37-yearold Jo nominated Forever Friends – which is fundraising to provide a new state-ofthe-art people-friendly cancer centre for the Royal United Hospital – to be her firm’s official charity. “I stupidly said that if Forever Friends was adopted then I would enter the Bath Half,” she said. She says she has found it particularly challenging as she is not a natural athlete and has done much of her training solo as she finds it hard to keep up with her fellow runners from Withy King. “I’ve never done anything like this before, but basically my aim is to finish. I am just looking forward on the day to getting across that finishing line.” ■ Alice Grieve is an 18-year-old Bath student whose dad, Rob – a veteran of many long distance races – dared her to run the Bath Half. Alice was already rising to the challenge of raising funds for another personal goal, as she intends to spend six weeks in a West Kenyan orphanage working for the charity Moving Mountains. “I’d already got one personal challenge for my gap year,” said Alice, “so I thought I’d run the half marathon to raise funds for Moving Mountains. And now I have told everyone I know that I’m doing it I’ll have to go through with it.” Alice says she’s found it hard to go out and train in the cold and rain, but that she always feels better for going for a run. She’s hoping that her father will overcome a current injury to be able to run the race alongside her, but failing that she’ll team up with a friend, Simon, for company and morale boosting over the long miles. Unlike most of the other runners we interviewed who have Just Giving accounts, Alice has a My Donate account set up for sponsorship. ■ Lindsay Browning may still be on maternity leave from her job as PE teacher at King Edward’s School, but she’s determined not to let a little thing like having a three month old baby hold her back. The 33-year-old mother of Isla, pictured, has been training by going running with her daughter tucked up in her stroller. She’s run a half marathon before, but this is her first Bath. “I’ve heard the crowds help get you round,” she said. “My favourite bits of a half are the first six miles and the last mile.”

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Catherine Helps is a 24-year-old part-time worker, pictured with full-time fundraiser Aimi Kuhlke, with Newton St Loe based charity Send a Cow, which transforms the lives of families in the developing world, not merely by giving money but by donating healthy cattle which they can then milk and breed from, providing an income. This is Catherine’s first half marathon and she sums up her feelings as: “Excited but it’s scary too!” Also running for Send A Cow are a group of runners who call themselves the Nice Moovers. They’re all from the Marshfield Ice Cream company, and since cows are an essential part of their business, they’ve chosen to take up this corporate challenge to train for the run, build their team skills and raise money for this very good cause.

Newcomer accepts challenge

Rob Lewis is the food and events manager for Jamie’s Farm, the Box-based charity which hosts groups of young people from innercity schools, from deprived areas and some with troubled lives, and gives them a taste of working on a farm. The teenagers are introduced to cooking, gardening, tending the hens and tackling outdoor jobs such as dry stone wall building, all the while receiving talk-based therapy to boost their self-esteem and help turn their lives around. Rob, 33, plays tennis and cycles but volunteered to tackle this, his first big run, over Christmas in an unguarded moment. “I’ve taken up running when I can, on the lanes around Box and Shockerwick,” he said, as he prepared to take part in the Corsham Court six mile challenge as a warm-up towards his big goal on Sunday 2 March. Money raised by Rob and the other runners for the Jamie’s Farm charity will help give other inner-city schoolchildren a chance to sample a different kind of life. One of the great achievements of the farm is to reduce the number of young people who go on to commit crime.

Running with old friends Jamie Luck is the director of Bath charity Mentoring Plus, which works with young people in Bath & North East Somerset. The 35-year-old, who plays Sunday league football, has never really done any running before but felt as director of the charity he ought to set a good example. “Luckily four of my oldest childhood friends, who go way back to my junior school days, are running it too and I am hoping their suppport and encouragement will help carry me round the 13 20 THEBATHMAGAZINE

miles.” Jamie will be joined on the day by 26 others running for Mentoring Plus, including Councillor Paul Crossley and University of Bath student Helen Roberton. Helen, 20, is also a newcomer to running and is training hard but says: “I admit, I am quite nervous about the day.” Money raised will go towards activities that teenagers can do with their adult mentors as part of the support they’re given to help them emerge as confident, happy and fulfilled young adults.

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Ian Hunneybell is an evangelist for Parkrun, and it was taking part in this weekly community based 5k run on Saturday mornings which re-kindled the interest in running he’d had as a young man. “I used to run half marathons as a teenager,” he said, “but at 49 now that was clearly a long time ago.” Ian was urged to take part in the Southwick Parkrun in Trowbridge by some friends, who ran the course alongside him. “I was just wearing some old shoes and shorts from the 80s – that’s how long it was since I’d run that distance,” he recalled. He got into the Parkrun habit (visit: www.parkrun.org.uk/southwickcountrypark/to find out more) and then was encouraged by two old friends to take it further and the three of them entered the Bath Half ‘out of male bravado’ as he puts it. “This is very much a personal goal,” said Ian, who is a project manager, “but I will be raising funds for the Children’s Hospice South West.” He said training for the Bath Half had made him more conscious about adopting healthy eating and walking into Bath rather than driving, both habits he intends to keep up.

Nigel Harris is a director of Bath engineering design charity Designability (Bath Institute of Medical Engineering), based at the Royal United Hospital, which created the lightweight, easily manoeuvred wheelchair design, Wizzibug, that can be used by children aged five and under to give them much-needed mobility. This is a national campaign devoted to raising £1m to fund 250 chairs for children across Britain. Nigel, who is 56, ran the Bath Half for the first time last year, when like many making their debut half marathon, he was merely intent on finishing and on raising money for his good cause. This year he says he’s upped his training and hopes to better his time. Nigel’s highlight: “My favourite bits were the start, with all the crowds and all those runners setting off together. And finishing, running the length of Great Pulteney Street. What a tremendous experience it was.”

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KEY TO MY HEART: Locked in Love designed by jeweller Nicholas Wylde. Collection consists of pendants, cufflinks and bracelets, available in silver and silver/ 9ct rose gold from £70. Nicholas Wylde, 12 Northumberland Place

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TICKLE ME PINK: Valentine’s Day cards, printed locally, £2.50, Prey Rennaisance, 2 Milsom Place

WIN HER HEART: Diamonfire heart studs, £94, Fabulous, 17 St Lawrence Street, SouthGate

SHINE ON: Mushroom ring, 18ct gold with small white diamonds, £2,350, by jeweller Tina Engell, 29 Belvedere

A TOAST TO LOVE: Alessi champagne glasses, £15.50 a pair, Quadri, 16 Milsom Street, Milsom Place

VALENTINE’S DAY

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GIFT GUIDE FILM STAR WARDROBE: Jenny Packham Valentine’s negligee in powder pink, £459, Carina Baverstock Couture, 11 Silver St, Bradford-on-Avon

SHOW OF AFFECTION: Zip Pouch in Valentine Red, £137 (was £195), Mulberry Factory shop, Kilver Street, Shepton Mallet

SET THE MOOD: Green & Spring Indulging Home Candle, £29, Bloomsbury, 15 New Bond Street

SMELL DIVINE: Cocoa Juvenate Bath Oil, £26, Hotel Chocolat, SouthGate

▲ SWEET INDULGENCE: The H-Bx Valentine selection, £13, Hotel Chocolat, SouthGate

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MAKE AN ENTRANCE: full-length romantic dress in Valentine red or black, £255, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Seven Dials, Saw Close (near the Theatre Royal)

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Like a phoenix from the ashes Bath jewellery designer Nicholas Wylde was devastated when his city centre showroom was destroyed by fire. Now. less than a year later, he and his team are back in the newly refurbished shop, marking the occasion with a fabulous Valentine’s competition

ne of Bath’s best known businessmen and leading UK jewellery designer Nicholas Wylde is re-opening his newly refurbished shop in Northumberland Place less than a year after it was gutted by a devastating fire. To mark the occasion, Nicholas invited British actor Robert Powell to cut the ribbon at the launch event on Saturday 1 February. Nicholas has been designing and hand-making jewellery in Bath for over 25 years and is regarded as one of the top 50 jewellery designers

in Britain, with his unique Wylde Flower Diamond putting him among the top diamond designers in the world. With the opening event just two weeks before Valentine’s Day, Nicholas has designed a stunning new Locked in Love jewellery collection, featuring a silver padlock pendant with inlaid rose gold heart, matching cufflinks and a mini heart padlock bracelet charm, with some designs also featuring a diamond. To celebrate the move back to the original Nicholas Wylde shop after the fire that destroyed the building last May, Nicholas is also launching the Wylde Valentine’s Day Competition. One lucky winner will receive a luxury prize package worth £1,500, including a his and hers Locked in Love pendant and cufflinks; a night in a luxurious suite at The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, with breakfast, use of the Spa at the Royal Crescent and lunch at the Dower House restaurant; a visit to the Fashion Museum and Roman Baths with Pump Room Champagne tea; a bouquet of two dozen red roses from Crescent Flowers; Champagne Jacquart Brut Rose from Great Western Wine and a Valentine’s chocolate selection from Charlotte Brunswick. To enter the Wylde Valentine’s Day competition, visit Nicholas Wylde Jewellers in Northumberland Place, off Bath High Street,

between 1 and 13 February to choose one of 14 keys to unlock the Valentine’s Vault. If the key fits and the vault opens, the lucky key holder’s name will be entered into the final draw, which will be held at 4pm on 13 February. The winner will be informed on Valentine’s Day and the prizes can be enjoyed over the coming months. Nicholas has made jewellery for TV and sports personalities and members of the Royal Family. Clients come from far and wide to discuss designs and browse his collections, with jewellery ranging from £50 to luxurious, multi-carat diamond engagement rings. Nicholas and his team were devastated when an electrical fault caused the fire. Nicholas says: “It’s been a very long journey but, with the support of staff, clients, business colleagues and friends, we have achieved what seemed to be an impossible task and kept Nicholas Wylde trading in the only style I know, which is moving forward and looking after my clients.” The refurbished shop has been renovated with new lighting and display systems, oak floors, client champagne bar, comfortable seating, wifi and phone charging facilities and new facade. For more information about the Wylde Valentine’s Day Competition or the shop, see his advertisement on the inside front cover or visit the website: www.nicholaswylde.com. ■

A Gift that

is Loved

Beautifully crafted engagement rings, wedding rings and fine jewellery designed and traditionally handmade on the premises. All types of jewellery remodelled. Efficient repair service. Shown here: Left: Palladium, Diamond solitaire ring, twist 4 claw mount, 0.36ct Diamond, G, in colour. VS2 in clarity. Cost £1,195 Right: Platinum, Mauve Sapphire & Diamond ring, Central oval Sapphire 2.25ct, flanked by two round brilliant diamonds 0.34ct total. £3,495

Gold & Platinum Studio 19 Northumberland Place, Bath BA1 5AR Tel: +44 (0)1225 462 300 www.goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk email: mike@goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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ON THE WEBSITE THIS MONTH SOUL2SOUL

ALISON SUTTON COACHING AND HYPNOTHERAPY

SAKYA BUDDHISM BATH Tuesday evenings. Hear teachings about Buddhism and learn simple meditation. Wednesday mornings. Take some space to drop-in, learn to practice an easy meditation technique to enhance the quality of life. Phone number: 0117 924 4424 Mobile: 07747 633577 www.dechen.org/bath Email: info@dechen.org

Using the ancient skill of Reflexology and with over 10 years of practise in Bath allow your inner balance to be restored with an intuitive and relaxing foot massage . Needing help to relax? Established reflexologist Julie Beale offers an intuitive and nurturing environment to help ease stress with Reflexology or Indian Head Massage. Sessions from £10 for trial tasters. Phone number: 01225 444117 Mobile: 07940 717698 www.juliebeale.com Email: julie@juliebeale.com

SELBY LANDSCAPES

Behind every action is a thought and sometimes those thoughts stop us from taking action and we get stuck in a self imposed limitation. Mastering your thoughts in order to change how you feel about yourself is the key to self esteem, peace and wellbeing. Using coaching and hypnosis learn to get from where you are now to where you want to be. Phone number: 07713 626673 www.alisonheathersutton.co.uk Email: alison@alisonheathersutton.co.uk

COLIN JOHNSON GUITAR LESSONS

Here at Selby landscapes, we are committed to enhancing your outdoor spaces. If it’s a new patio or fence you’re after, or perhaps a complete garden overhaul, you can be sure you’ll be getting some of the best service in Bath at a price you can afford. ‘Sam landscaped our whole garden with vision, hard work and a meticulous approach to the job. He is trustworthy, honest, organised, reliable and pleasant. We could not recommend him highly enough.’ Client reference, 2013 Phone number: 07535 122448 www.selbylandscapes.com Email: samselbygarden@gmail.com

MONKEY PUZZLE TRAINING & CONSULTANCY LTD Monkey Puzzle combine vast business experience with psychological expertise to offer professional, ethical training in NLP, coaching and hypnosis.

Colin Johnson is a Bath based guitar teacher with 15 years of teaching experience. Most beginners need to have a few lessons to get started which can ultimately save months or even years of trying to teach themselves. So be kind to yourself and take some lessons, I guarantee you will not regret it. Half hour & hour lessons Block bookings Electric & acoustic styles Fingerpicking styles Learn four basic chords in the first lesson Phone number: 01225 344046

NLP is an applied psychology, helping people to understand how they and others tick, achieve their goals, and solve complex problems easily. You can train to become a professional coach, develop your management and leadership skills for your own learning, knowledge and self improvement. Phone number: 01749 349 008 www.monkeypuzzletraining.co.uk Email: info@monkeypuzzletraining.co.uk

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VALENTINE’S GIFTS AT MILSOM PLACE SHARE OUR PASSION FOR GIFTS The sliced poetry necklace by Comfort Station, £195, Magpie and Bear

Hearts Stanley mug, £6.50, Cath Kidston

Kaj watch £83, Alessi

Curious Rose Absolute classic candle, £28, True Grace

Bigliettini milk chocolate hearts, £2.95, Carluccio’s

Because we Love you

To show our appreciation to our customers we have some Valentines gifts to give away. Our lucky winners will be chosen at random - all you have to do is visit Milsom Place during 7-14th February. Prizes will include a pair of designer sunglasses from the Milsom Eye Company; scented candles from True Grace, and many more.

Milsom Place, Milsom Street and Broad Street, Bath, BA1 1BZ

Telephone: 01225 789040 Email: infro@milsomplace.co.uk www.milsomplace.co.uk

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Bath@Work Our series of photographic portraits by Neill Menneer shows Bath people at work. View a gallery of our Bath@Work subjects at: www.thebathmag.co.uk

Martin Salter Doorman at the Jane Austen Centre ello everyone. My little story begins in the cold early hours of November 9, 1963. Mother, living at Fig Tree Cottage in Corston with my father, went into labour. A kind neighbour drove in a snow blizzard to the maternity unit of The Royal United Hospital here in Bath. The unit was then on the top floor of the older part of the hospital where the skin infection department is now. Ironically I suffered with eczema very badly as a child. In fact I was not a healthy child at all. The doctor looking after my skin ailment was the aptly named Dr Tan. My love of dressing up in costume started at an early age. I can’t remember how old I was exactly when my grandfather Bill Neate entered me into the fancy dress contest at The Newton and Corston Horse Show. It was the year that Lester Piggot won the Grand National so I went dressed as the jockey and sat on top of a white pony. Another year I went as Sir Francis Chichester and sat in a pull-along yacht called the Lively Lady. Of all the fancy dress escapades, the one I remember the most was when I went as The Man in the Moon just after Neil Armstrong had completed the lunar landing (1969). I was sandwiched tightly inside a papier mache crescent moon carrying a placard that read ‘No Moon Landings’. It was a few years later that I actually met Neil Armstrong in the Pump Rooms. I didn’t mention the ‘No Moon Landings’ placard though. On leaving Corston Primary school I went to Wellsway School in Keynsham. I hated sports as I suffered from asthma. In rugby I was always the one left face down in the mud, wheezing away. On leaving school I took a part-time job at Hepworths gentlemen’s tailors in Union Street. I was there a few months when a permanent job became available with a firm of beer and drink distributors at Brislington called Robert Cleary. Ill health meant I had to give up this job unfortunately, but I quickly found a vacancy at Milburns Restaurants operating from No 5 in Argyle Street and The Pump Rooms. I became the Bath Pumper, a position that had been created at the first Pump Room in 1704. My job was to serve the water and keep the fountain clean. I loved the job and was even there when the Queen visited in her Jubilee year. I was too busy bowing to notice the Queen herself but I had a few words with Philip. He asked whether people still actually drank the water. When I replied in the affirmative he seemed surprised but he didn’t try any. After 15 years I had to give up my role there due to bad health once again, but that’s how I found myself working as doorman at The Jane Austen Centre, so I’m still doing my bit for Bath. I have to work in all weathers and consequently have been given the accolade of the ‘most photographed man in Britain.’ I stand alongside the mannequin of Jane Austen outside the centre and some joker always asks which of us is the dummy. I’ve always wanted to be different so I’ve ended up in the right job. ■

LIGHTING SPECIALIST 8 BATH STREET, FROME. TEL: 01 373473555 WWW.FIATLUX.CO.UK

PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic www.capturethespirit.co.uk Tel: 01225 483151 WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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ENTERPRISING: twins Shane and Jake Xu, founders of Xcetra Media, and, right, as children at home in Beijing Below, inset, Christina Mei Yong Chow’s most treasured possessions include photos of her mother as a child and as an adult

Now we call Bath home Georgette McCready explores a new exhibition at the Museum of East Asian Art which traces the history of Chinese immigrants to Bath over the last century

ne scene in Bath life serves as a snapshot as to how we’ve changed as a society. In 1932 a young Bath woman, Miss Edith Rawlings, was due to marry a Chinese laundryman, Mr Chin Quong at the Bath Register Office. So great was curiosity over the union that a crowd gathered on the street on the day the wedding was due to take place – causing the couple to take fright and re-schedule their marriage to another day, when they managed to avoid a fuss. The marriage was considered sufficiently newsworthy to make the news pages of the Bath Chronicle and Herald. Flash forward to 1999 and an anxious mother in Beijing is packing her twin teenage sons to go and study thousands of miles away. Worried about keeping clean in an alien culture, the boys arrive in Britain carrying quantities of washing powder – their bags so heavy they were fined for excess baggage. Shane and Jake Xu, directors of Bath design business Xcetra Media, are just two of the immigrants of Chinese origin who have taken part in a fascinating oral history project for the Museum of East Asian Art in Bennett Street, Bath, led by museum curator Rachel Yi Yuan. They laughingly tell the story about the washing powder as part of a documentary film made for the exhibition. Museum curator Rachel is a new settler to the UK, having moved here four years ago with her husband, which is perhaps partly why the exhibition, Eastern Voices in the West Country is so rich with human stories and warmth. She researched the history of the Chinese community in Bath and used this as a starting point for the display. The earliest evidence Rachel found of settlers from the Far East was a Chinese laundry in Kingsmead Street, in 1916. That street was flattened in the 1942 air raids, but another Chinese laundry was established in nearby Kingsmead Square, which may have been run by the same family. Following the cuttings from newspapers and archive photos Rachel set out to interview people who had come to live and work in Bath. She also asked them about what treasured possessions they had brought from home. The results are absorbing and varied. Retired chef Mr Tong Lee arrived in Bath in 1963, in search of work. He left his home in Hong Kong New Territories with just the clothes he stood up in and took a 40-day boat

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journey to the South of France. From there he and his fellow immigrants took a series of long bus journeys to Liverpool, and eventually he ended up in Bath working first as a kitchen hand, then as a chef. His memories include tales of kitchen life, of Chinese dishes and of authentic ingredients, some no longer available. Christina Mei Yong Chow came from the warm climes of Southern China to study in the UK in 1984. She had never experienced cold weather before, let alone snow, so her first snowy winter in Britain was a revelation to her. She relished wearing gloves, a scarf and hat and confesses that she hadn’t realised that snow would be wet. She settled with her husband in Bath in 1990 and worked as an adult community learning development officer. Christina’s most treasured possessions are photographs of her supportive Chinese mother, who encouraged her to go out into the world and always said to her: “Do not stop because of me.” Snow was also a novelty for Mrs Mei-Ling Cho Furse, better known to Bathonians as the recent Mayoress of Bath when husband Andrew Furse was Mayor. Mei-Ling, who is from Taiwan, had never seen snow. She told her husband she was really looking forward to her first white Christmas in Bath, only for him to break the news that we hardly ever have snow at Christmas in the city. Mei-Ling said she prayed hard, and lo and behold, her first winter in Bath in 2009 saw a snowfall, which gave her great pleasure. Her most treasured possession, she says, is her bi-lingual Bible. For people who have moved countries and cultures, either for work or for love, there are key themes. We’ve already heard that adjusting to a different climate is a preoccupation, as is food. Three of the ten subjects in the exhibition worked in Chinese restaurants and one, Mr Yuk Ching Chan, was a chef in Hong Kong. When he came to Britain he was surprised to find one dish he’d never come across being widely served in the UK as traditional Chinese food – sweet and sour sauce – was not something he and his family recognised. Mr Chan’s mother brought two big Chinese food steamers with her when she and her children came to the UK, as she had always been able to make a living cooking street food at home.

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EAST MEETS WEST: left, Mrs Ling Roper sits in the window of her elegant Bath Georgian home, with her precious Pu’er tea caddy Right, Christina Mei Yong Chow with her family photographs

Mr Chan has now retrained and is proud to be Bath’s first Chinese bus driver. He keeps his mother’s steamer as a precious souvenir from home and uses it regularly. The 20-minute documentary film of the subjects is subtitled as some of the interviewees speak in their mother tongue and it makes thought provoking viewing. Just how would we feel moving to a very different culture, where the spoken and written language were hard for us to learn? How would we feel if we were the only child of our race in a school? It also makes us think about how we make new arrivals welcome in Bath and what they think of our city. Mrs Ling Roper met her British husband Simon while they

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were both working in the Far East. They both travelled the world for work but fell in love with Bath while visiting friends, and vowed that if ever they settled, the golden west country city would be the ideal destination. Ling and Simon brought their two children to Bath, and in answer to the question: ‘what treasured possessions did you bring from home?’ answered simply: “Everything. We had a 40 foot long container so we could bring it all.” But closest belonging to her heart, literally, is the jade she wears on a pendant round her neck. Jade is a traditional Chinese gift given to protect loved ones, and Ling has given her husband and children jade too, linking east and west for the future. ■

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A natural successor for theatre Georgette McCready talks to Bathonian Andy Burden, the new artistic director of the Natural Theatre Company about the future of one of the city’s most original institutions and its expanding youth theatre programme for young talent

t was always going to be a tough act to follow. Ralph Oswick, thespian, raconteur and artistic director of Bath-based Natural Theatre Company retired from the company before Christmas and someone with as big a creative heart was needed to fill his shoes. Fortunately for the Naturals, and for Bath, actor, director and a passionate advocate of theatre for all, Andy Burden has been appointed in his place. Fans of the Larkhall Rondo Theatre may recognise the name. Under Andy’s directorship that small theatre was transformed into a successful centre, which not only put bums on seats but also gave the city some fresh and innovative productions to be proud of. After leaving there in 2007 Andy has gone on to direct some more successful productions, including the five-star reviewed A Christmas Carol for the Tobacco Factory in Bristol, I Shot Dirty Den for the Edinburgh Festival and productions for the Everyman theatre in

Cheltenham. He’s also directed shows in London. His CV has also taken the Bathonian to the ARC in Trowbridge for a while and he is currently on the board of the Merlin Theatre in Frome. Now he is delighted to be at the helm of the Naturals, although acutely aware that it will take a steady hand to steer the theatre company through the choppy waters of the recession, which has already seen the Arts Council pull its once generous grants to the pioneering Bath outfit. “I am aware of the huge responsibility,” says Andy, “I really want to fly the flag for audiences and to make people feel that art is inclusive.” He’s rolled his sleeves up and formed a new business plan for the 30-year-old institution, which has led the world in street theatre and has been much imitated but rarely equalled. I guess those of us who’ve encountered the Coneheads or the Flowerpot Men and Woman and laughed at their antics have never

BATH EXPORT: the Coneheads are just one of the Natural Theatre Company’s classic character-based street theatre acts Top, Andy Burden, the new company artistic director

really thought about the economic reality of how this free entertainment is paid for. Andy’s a Bathonian through and through and he and his wife, Dawn, who runs the My Small World toyshop in Little SouthGate, live in the city with their two children. Andy and his team have already expanded the youth theatre arm of the Naturals, adding a second weekly session for the 11 to 15year-olds and a new Tuesday after school workshop for children in Years 5 and 6. They’re also hoping to add adult weekend drama workshops to the mix. “We’ve got a great building on Widcombe Hill – although we do need to fix the roof – and I’m hoping we can open it up to more

people. There’s space for amateur theatre groups to use for rehearsals and we’ve got a fantastic costume and props department. I’d like to see us holding events there. “We are one of the biggest employers of actors and creative people in the south west. We’ve got some really good professional performers working with us and around Easter we plan to audition for some new freelance performers to join us.” He says he sees his first year as stabilising the business, so that next year he and his colleagues will be free to experiment a bit more. Let outgoing director Ralph Oswick have the last word on Andy: “Cool, calm, collected and always gets the job done. A luvvie free zone!”

Naturals give young actors a chance to blossom

Have you got a young person in your house who does a mean impression of their teachers, someone who can always raise a smile with their antics? The Natural Theatre Company’s Youth Theatre is already a success, so much so that it’s expanding the workshops in its Widcombe Hill studios to allow more young actors to learn the art of performing.

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There are now two groups for young people aged between 11 and 14 and a new junior group for people aged eight to 11. Mark Bishop, participation coordinator with the Natural Theatre Company said: “We feel it is important to open up opportunities to younger age groups, because young children have such great imaginations and you find that pupils who might

not be at ease with reading and writing suddenly come to life with bags of fresh ideas.” The first sessions of the year have begun, but enrolment is now taking place for the next lot, which begin on 12 February and 25 February, running weekly after school until the week of 25 March. The fee is £75 for the course. There are four different groups, for 8 – 11s, two for 11 –

14s and one for 15 – 19-year-olds. Youth Theatre students will work with experienced leaders who have performed with the Naturals company and will pass on Naturals’ technique, from playing different characters to creating fresh ideas, and the art of being funny. To enrol or find out more, email: info@naturaltheatre.co.uk or tel: 01225 469131.

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WHAT’S ON in February Events are listed in chronological order To promote your event visit: www.thebathmag.co.uk

Jim Moray: live album recording Saturday 1 February, 7.30pm Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 463362 www.chapelarts.org Jim Moray, along with Seth Lakeman, has done much to make audiences realise that folk music is a force to be recognised in modern music. The winner of five BBC Radio 2 Folk awards, in 2013 Moray celebrated 10 years since his debut album Sweet England and the success of his 2012 Skulk. Now he brings material from throughout his career to Chapel Arts for an acoustic performance which will be recorded for an album to be released later in the year.

Also at Chapel Arts this month The Zen Hussies Friday 14 February, doors open 7.30pm Rather than take your date out for a quiet dinner for two, why not slip a rose between your teeth instead, put on your dancing shoes and enjoy The Zen Hussies mix of gypsy, jazz, ska and the blues. Tickets from £8.

★Editor’s pick

Gyles Brandreth: Looking for Happiness Monday 17 February, 8pm

JUST FOR FUN: The Full Monty brings laughs and pathos to the Theatre Royal Bath

Komedia, Westgate Street, Bath. Box Office: 0845 293 8480, visit: www.komedia.co.uk/bath Intelligent, erudite and engaging, fast-talking politician-turnedentertainer Gyles Brandreth learnt about the nature of happiness and exactly who gets to be happy and how from Freud, Frankie Howerd, and the Queen among others, to create a unique one-man show that should make you laugh and could change your life. Price: £17.

The Full Monty Monday 3 – Saturday 15 February Theatre Royal, Bath The much-loved British drama about unemployed men in Sheffield, which, as the posters say, ‘ticks all the right lunchboxes’ comes to the Theatre Royal before opening in the West End, so local audiences can expect a real belter of a show. For tickets call 01225 448844 or visit: www.theatreroyal.org.uk.

Also at the Theatre Royal this month Fallen Angels by Noel Coward Monday 17 February – Saturday 1 March

Bluebeard by Hattie Naylor

Actresses Sara Crowe and Jenny Seagrove star in this Coward comedy classic, which was a West End hit a few years ago. The pair play two golfing widows who while away their time chatting and getting steadily drunker – with the predictable result of laughter, followed by tears.

Bluebeard by Hattie Naylor Wednesday 5 – Friday 7 February, 8pm The Ustinov, Sawclose, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 448844. www.theatreroyal.org.uk Gallivant presents this darkly comic and provocative exploration of sexually motivated violence, brought to Bath in association with Bristol Old Vic Ferment. Tickets £13/£10.

Also at the Ustinov this month Jo Caulfield: Celebration in Anger Saturday 8 February, 8pm Award-winning comedian Jo Caulfield, a regular on Mock the Week, looks into the virtues and delights of being angry. Tickets: £13/£10.

Jo Caulfield

Gyles Brandreth

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Festival of the Spoken Nerd Thursday 6 February, 8pm Komedia, Westgate Street, Bath. Box Office: 0845 293 8480, visit: www.komedia.co.uk/bath Fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe, the sell-out comedy phenomenon is back with a show for the insatiably sci-curious, here to feed your brain, tickle

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Also at Komedia this month Lee Hurst: ‘Things That Make You Go Aaarggh!’ Friday 7 February, 8pm

Lee Hurst

your ribs and light your Bunsen burner. Tickets from £15.

Stand-up comic Lee Hurst is travelling throughout Britain to find out what really winds people up. Tickets from £16.

Xuefei Yang: classical guitarist Friday 7 February, 7.30pm Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-onAvon Xuefei Yang has established her place among the world’s finest instrumentalists. This programme comprises JS Bach’s Lute Suite in E Pagannini’s Sonata, Chen Yi’s Shuo Chang (2013) and Albeniz/Yang’sNG Chants d’Espagne. Tickets: £20 (£19) / £10 under 18s, tel: 01225 860100, visit: www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

Also at the Wiltshire Music Centre this month European Union Chamber Orchestra with Laura Van Der Heijden, cellist Sunday 9 February, 7.3pm This programme features Holst A Moorside Suite, Haydn Cello Concerto in C, Tim Watts Bridges of Sighs (new work) and Mozart Symphony No 29 in AK 201. Tickets: £28 / £14 under 18s, 6.30pm free pre-concert talk.

National Youth Jazz Orchestra Saturday 15 February, 7.30pm Featuring 23 musicians and vocalists from around the country, its alumni include Guy Barker, Gerard Presencer and Amy Winehouse. Tickets: £22 / £11 under 18s.

Pilot: dance Thursday 6 February, 6.30pm University Theatre, Bath Spa University, Newton St Loe Dancers from Bath Spa University, Bath Dance and Theatre Bristol will be performing new ideas. The evening will be chaired by a guest speaker who will create a dialogue between performers and the audience. Free. Book: www.bathspaalive.com

Also at Bath Spa University this month Indonesian Music and Dance Wednesday 19 February, 7.30pm A concert of traditional Javanese instrumental and vocal pieces with dancer Ni Madé Pujawati who is known internationally for her dancing. Tickets £5/£3 concessions, tel: 01225 463362 or visit: www.bathspaalive.com

A Handful of Singers Saturday 8 February, 7.30pm St John the Evangelist RC Church, South Parade, Bath This programme features the ever-popular Handel Dixit Dominus and Vivaldi Gloria, A Handful of Singers, Bath’s chamber choir, will be joined by Quorum, a newly formed group of experienced period-instrument players led by Alison Townley, leader of Bradford Baroque. Three Schütz motets for a cappella choir complete the programme. Tickets: Bath Box Office 01225 463362, visit: www.ahandfulofsingers.org.

West of England Wedding Show Saturday 8 – 9 February, 10am to 5pm University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY Over 120 wedding suppliers, from dress designers and cake makers to beauticians, photographers and venues, will be gathered under one roof for this wedding show. Organised by Ocean Media, this is one of six shows being held across the country aimed at grooms and brides. Visit: www.theukweddingshows.co.uk.

Gordie Mackeeman and His Rhythm Boys Thursday 13 February, 7.30pm The Pound Arts Centre, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire. Box office tel: 01249 701628 www.poundarts.org.uk Gordie and the boys serve up old time roots music with an energy level that practically yanks you out of your seat. £12 (£11 concs). Continued on page 34 WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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WHAT’Son Simon and Garfunkel: Through the Years Wednesday 12 February 7.30pm Chapel Arts Centre, Bath Take a chronological journey through the friendship and career of Simon and Garfunkel. Following a BBC Radio tour, the performers Bookends have been labelled as the most authentic sounding tribute to the music of the American duo. It features hits such as The Sound of Silence, Mrs Robinson, The Boxer and the unforgettable: Bridge Over Troubled Water. Tickets: £12 (£10 concs) Bath Box Office 01225 463362 or visit: www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

Bath Philharmonia with pianist Peter Donohoe Thursday 13 February, 7.30pm Bath Abbey One of the foremost pianists of our time, Peter Donohoe has appeared in the BBC Proms 18 times. He will be playing Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto. The orchestra rounds out the evening with the Symphony No. 9 of Schubert, one of Jason Thornton’s signature pieces. He comes fresh from conducting the work in a return performance with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets tel: 01225 463362 or visit: www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

Comedian John Robins

Saving Bath: 80 Years of Building Conservation Friday 14 February – 5 May No 1 Royal Crescent Museum, Bath What was saved, what was lost and what challenges are yet to come? Explore the history of building conservation in Bath as No 1 Royal Crescent marks the 80th anniversary of the creation of Bath Preservation Trust in 1934.

★ Editor’s pick

Keith James: The Songs of Leonard Cohen Friday 28 February, 8pm

Kathy Dalwood’s installation for the Holburne Museum

The Rondo Theatre, Larkhall The sublimely poetic Canadian singer-songwriter has enjoyed a long career, culminating in recent years in filling stadiums of adoring fans. Singer Keith James has worked for many years on perfecting his Cohen delivery and now brings the stripped back songs of Leonard Cohen to Bath. Put on your famous blue raincoat, bid farewell to Marianne and tell the sisters of Mercy that’s no way to say goodbye . . . Tickets: £14/£12 concessions, tel: 01225 463362

Valentine’s Charity Ball Friday February 14, 7pm – 1am The Pump Rooms, Bath Emergency UK, the charity which looks after civilians who are victims of war or poverty, is the good cause being helped by this black tie ball, which begins with bubbly by the historic Roman Baths, includes dinner and wine and entertainment, including music and dancing. Tickets: £65, tel: 01225 859834 or email: emergencyukbath@gmail.com.

Sporty Singles Valentine’s Soiree Friday February 14, 8.30pm – 10.30pm Pianist Peter Donohoe

The Snow Queen

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Circo Bar and Lounge, South Parade This event is aimed at young single professionals who have sport, activity, well-being and health as an important part of their lifestyle, so at least those attending know they have one or two things in common to kick start a conversation. The guests will have exclusive use of the bar, with a drink on arrival included in the price. Tickets £15 (£10 of the ticket price for Help For Heroes) from Feb 1 on EventBrite – search for Sporty Singles Valentine’s Soiree or follow @SportyDatesBath

John Robins: stand-up Saturday 15 February The Rondo, Saviour’s Road, Larkhall, Bath Box office tel: 01225 463362 www.rondotheatre.co.uk It would have been fun to have been a fly on the wall when Bristol based comics Russell Howard, Jon Richardson and John Robins all shared aflat together. The first two have gone on to become household names, forging TV careers, but their flat-mate John has been busy too, impressing live audiences at the Edinburgh Festival over five festivals with his solo shows. He visits Bath as part of a national tour.

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WHAT’Son On the Table: Kathy Dalwood A Ballroom Banquet Saturday 15 February – 21 April The Holburne Museum, Bath Artist and designer Kathy Dalwood is going to transform the ballroom table in the first floor gallery with her surreal all-white figurines and objects that make up an other-worldly feast for the eyes.

Also at the Holburne this month Joseph Wright of Derby: Bath and beyond Until Monday 5 May The museum is staging an exhibition of the 18th century painter, Joseph Wright, who lived and worked in Bath for 18 months.

Bath Cider Festival Saturday 15 February 11am-4pm Bath Pavilion, North Parade, Bath Tickets £7 in advance £8 on the door. More than 100 ciders and perries.Wurzels tribute band The Mangledwurzels will be playing. Tel: 01373 466626

The Snow Queen: the Bradfordians Wednesday 19 – Saturday 22 February, 7.30pm St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon Is the love of Gerda powerful enough to rescue her brother from the clutches of the wicked Snow Queen who has turned his heart to ice? With a large, youthful and enthusiastic cast. Tickets: £10/£8 concessions, visit: www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk, tel: 01225 860100 or in person from The Wiltshire Music Centre.

Jill Dawson Thursday 20 February, 7.45 for 8pm Topping & Co bookshop, The Paragon, Bath Jill Dawson’s previous novels have been shortlisted for the Orange and Whitbread prizes. The Tell-Tale Heart is a tale of a man who has a heart transplant and finds his feelings have mysteriously changed. Tickets: £6/£7 including £6/£7 off a copy of The Tell-Tale Heart. Tel: 01225 428111.

Street Scene by Bath Opera Thursday 20 – Sat 22 February, 7.30pm Wroughton Theatre, King Edward’s School North Road, Bath Bath opera is recreating a little corner of 1930s New York for its production of Kurt Weill’s rarely performed show. Tickets £20/£10 concessions, tel: 01225 463362 or 01935 475219.

Bath Bach Festival Thursday 20 – Saturday 22 February Various venues in Bath This is the third annual festival dedicated to Bach, under the leadership of director Amelia Freedman. The award-winning Cardinall’s Musick, cellist Colin Carr, the Academy of Ancient Music, violinist Christian Tetzlaff and the New London Consort will be bringing the sublime music of the 18th century composer to Bath audiences. For more details pick up a brochure from the Tourism Information Centre in Abbey Church Yard or visit: www.bathbachfest.org.uk. To book tel: 01225 463362.

Georgians: Dress for Polite Society Saturday 25 January – 1 January 2015 The Fashion Museum, Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath The exhibition will show more than 30 18th century outfits and ensembles, including a trio of court dresses from the 1750s and 1760s. Georgians will also include 18th century-inspired fashions by five designers: Anna Sui, Meadham Kirchhoff, Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Jones, and AlexanderMcQueen. Admission £8/free for residents with a Discovery card. Continued on page 36

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WHAT’Son Alexandra Wood – violin recital Wednesday 22 January, 7.30pm

Chef Mark Hix by Katie Watson

Michael Tippett Centre, Bath Spa University, Newton St Loe, Bath Alexandra has performed at international festivals including Brighton, Cheltenham and Edinburgh and has featured as soloist with the City of London Sinfonia and the Philharmonia. She’ll be playing Mozart, Prokofiev and Britten. Tickets: £10/£8 concessions. Tel: 01225 463362.

Christian Schulte-Loh: Attack Of The 50ft German Comedian Thursday 27 February, 7.30pm Ring O Bells pub, Widcombe Award-winning German stand-up comedian Christian Schulte-Loh, who has performed in clubs all over Europe, brings his latest hit Edinburgh show to Bath. Tickets: £9/£7 concessions, visit: www.bathcomedy.com.

The Independent Bath Literature Festival Friday 28 February – Sunday 9 March Various venues around Bath There are more than 180 events in this year’s festival. Guests include: Germaine Greer, Lionel Shriver, Hanif Kureishi, Gyles Brandreth (and daughter) comedian Mark Watson and top chef Mark Hix. For full programme details pick up a brochure from the Tourist Information Centre in Abbey Church Yard or visit: www.bathfestivals.org.uk.

Planning ahead Call to artists The Roundabout Art Trail 2014, working with Keynsham Music Festival, is looking for artists to join them on June 28/29th. Go to www.roundaboutarttrail.co.uk for more information and an application form.

The Big Bath Sleep-Out Friday 7 March Alice Park, Bath Bath based homeless charity Julian House is

inviting people to ditch the comfort of their warm beds for one night and spend a night in Alice Park. No tents allowed – just cardboard, plastic sheeting and as many warm clothes as possible. Alice Park Café will be open for paid snacks until 11pm and in the morning a hot drink and a bacon roll or muffin will be available for those taking part. Pre registration is essential. Visit: www.bigbathsleepout.co.uk or contact Cathy Adcock on 01225 354656 or cathya@julianhouse.org.uk

Emily Maguire: singer/songwriter Friday 7 March Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath Emily’s songs have been played regularly on Radio 2 and her latest album Bird Inside A Cage was released in July. Tickets £10, www.chapelarts.org or tel: 01225 461700, www.emilymaguire.com.

Bath Choral Society Concert: Bath Abbey Saturday 29 March, 7.30pm Will Dawes conducts, with music from Southern Sinfonia. Mozart’s C Minor Mass is a magnificent mixture of operatic arias and monumental choruses, and shows how much he was inspired by the music of Bach and Handel. In contrast, Bath Choral Society is offering Stravinsky’s neo-classical Mass. Tickets: £8 – £27 from the Bath Box Office from 31 January. Tel: 01225 463362. Visit: www.bathboxoffice.org.uk or www.bath-choral-society.org.uk.

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CITYofFESTIVALS

What a performance! Don’t worry if you’re not a great reader of novels, the Independent Bath Literature Festival – which opens on 28 February – offers a diverse range of entertainment and thought-provoking events. Georgette McCready picks some highlights t’s just a week long, but like a particularly good stock cube, this year’s Independent Bath Literature Festival is a tightly condensed package bursting with flavour. The new artistic director Viv Groskop has, I would hazard a guess, gone through her extensive contacts to lure a few top names to Bath. Illustrious names include former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the absolutely fabulous Jennifer Saunders, engaging wordsmith Michael Rosen, pioneering foodie Claudia Roden and Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark. If your notion of a literature festival is a lot of well-read types gathered together to reverentially hang on an author’s every word, then think again. Here are some festival titbits to whet your appetite.

❹ Social history Until recently the lives of those who worked below stairs has been largely overlooked. As we tour the stately homes of England, how many of us give a thought to the servants toiling away to keep the masters of the house in comfort? Lucy Lethbridge’s book Servants: A Downstairs View of 20th Century Britain, looks at the last century through the eyes of the domestic staff. If your Great Auntie Elsie was in service this will give an insight into her situation. (Tuesday 4 March, 1pm, The Guildhall).

Michael’s Church, Broad Street on Saturday 1 March and 8 March between 2-m and 5pm, a free event of poetry commissioned by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

❻ Cult TV George RR Martin’s fantasy novels and the ongoing television series Game of Thrones, have inspired a cult following, with the books selling 22 million copies worldwide and an average of 14 million viewers watching each episode. Putting cultural snobbery aside the lit fest is hosting a celebration of Game of Thrones with Guardian TV critic and superfan Stuart Jeffries in conversation with actress Gemma Whelan, who plays Yara Greyjoy in the TV series. (Saturday 8 March, 6.15pm).

❼ Drinking games

This is one for anyone who’s ever shouted at the radio or television about the news content or wondered why their partner can’t go to bed until they’ve checked on global happenings on social media. Eminent philosopher Alain de Botton is proposing the motion that news is ruining our lives. Veteran journalist Jon Snow will oppose the motion, while the BBC’s experienced ringmaster Jonathan Dimbleby will see fair play. (Saturday 1 March, 3pm, the Guildhall).

If you’ve been known to come over all hot and bothered in the wine aisles of Morrisons or Waitrose, you might benefit from paying a visit to the Knackered Mother’s Wine Club. Let Helen McGinn expand your drinking horizons by inspiring you to try different wine for different occasions. If beer’s more your thing join two of Bath’s most knowledgable guides, Andrew Swift and Kirsten Elliott on a Georgian pub crawl. It does start at 10am which may be a little early for a pint . . . but there’s time at the end to raise a toast to Bath’s lost pubs while supporting the current hostelries.

❷ Real life romance and crime

❽ Race issues

Stories about star-crossed lovers always go down well with audiences and gruesome tales of true life crime are especially popular. Director Marilyn Imrie has taken the story of 1920s wife Edith Thompson and her lover Frederick Bywaters who were hanged for the murder of her husband. Their story unfolds in their letters to each other, as read out in court at their trial. This courtroom drama will be bought to life by actors from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. (Hanged for Love, Saturday 8 March and Sunday 9 March at the Guildhall.)

Amy Chua, who wrote Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, and her husband, thriller writer Jed R Eubenfield join forces to debate racial stereotypes based on their book The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America, which has stirred up a storm of controversy about its claims.

❶ Let’s have a heated debate

❾ & ❿ It wouldn’t be a lit LIFE’S LITTLE PLEASURES: artistic director Viv Groskop has drawn up a programme to appeal to all kinds of people, with plenty of food for thought, along with an anti-austerity invitation to think about what causes us happiness

❸ Funny women

❺ Free street happenings

Comedians Jennifer Saunders, Lucy Porter, Jo Caulfield, Gemma Whelan and Mary Bourke will be raising smiles at various events during the festival. There’ll be stand-up and lots of talk about books. Catch artistic director Viv Groskop giving a reprise of her successful stand-up Edinburgh show, I Laughed, I Cried. (dates various, check www.bathfestivals.org.uk for details).

Look out for lots of free events under the umbrella Voices in the City. There’s the new Bath Poetry Café, an exploration of what makes us happy conducted by students from Bath Spa University on the streets of Bath, plus Random Acts of Shakespeare and other engaging performances. Not strictly street but very engaging will be the 1914: Poetry Remembers public readings in St

fest without . . .

Two key figures, Jane Austen and the Very Hungry Caterpillar, cater for most literary tastes between them. Ms Austen’s work will be celebrated by Joanna Trollope who has recently written a 21st century version of Sense and Sensibility, and will be sharing her lifelong passion for the writer. There’ll also be literary mischief from improv comedy troup Austentatious. The Very Hungry Caterpillar will be on tour, to Paulton and Radstock libraries, where his adventures will enchant the under fives and lead them gently into the wonderful world of books. ■ Visit: www.bathfestivals.org.uk

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS

On the street where you live RAIN, GREAT PULTENEY STREET by PETER BROWN

RED SPHERE by BARRINGTON TOBIN

Victoria Art Gallery By Pulteney Bridge, Bath Tel: 01225 477233 Closed Mondays and Sunday mornings

Peter Brown: Keeping the Home Fire Burning Saturday 8 February – 27 March Pete the Street, who earned his nickname for his habit of working outdoors in all weathers, will delight Bathonians and lovers of Bath with this collection of paintings and drawings celebrating Bath. Despite being in demand globally, undertaking projects in Udaipur, Paris and Barcelona, Peter never tires of painting his home city in all seasons. All works will be for sale. Exhibition supported by Knight Frank. Tickets £2; catalogue available.

Quest Gallery Margaret’s Buildings, Bath

Abstract Paintings and Prints 28 January – 1 March Featuring work by Sophie Layton, Sandra Porter and Barrington Tobin. Camden Road, milky sun

The Empire, November morning ALPINA by NIGEL ADAMS

Royal United Hospital Combe Park, Bath

Landscapes of the Imagination Nigel Adams Nigel has been painting for the five years he has lived in Bath. His working life was spent as an architect and he has always had an interest in the visual arts with the chief focus being the Art of East Asia. He began painting in watercolour and says he owes a great deal of gratitude to local artist Terry Brooks for suggesting that he swap to acrylics.

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Alexander Calder Untitled (Black/White Spiral Yellow/Blue Ball) IV Adam Gallery John Street, Bath, tel: 01225 480406

20th Century Print Makers Throughout February Featuring work by Joan Miró (1893-1983), Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Eduardo Chillida (19242002), Antoni Tàpies (1923-2012) and Alexander Calder (1898-1976).

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS NEW GROWTH by RICHARD WOODS ICIA ART SPACE The University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath

Richard Woods: New Growth No 3 Solsbury Court, free Woods was commissioned to make an artwork for the construction work hoardings which face Solsbury Court, a student accommodation block. The hoardings have been hand stencilled by the artist and a large team of assistants. FLINT by NATALIE WILLIAMS

AFTER CHURCH, BOLOGNA by VICTORIA GAMBERONI

44AD ARTSPACE 7b Lower Borough Walls, Bath, BA1 1QR. Tel: 07753 378325 Monday to Saturday 12 – 6pm, Sunday, 1pm – 5pm www.44ad.net. www.melissawraxall.com

Phases of Matter 5 – 9 February Contemporary painting, sculpture and print by Natalie Williams, Elaine Breen and Megan Scott.

Bath Contemporary 35 Gay Street, Bath Tel: 01225 461230 www.bathcontemporary.com

15 February – 8 March Victoria Gamberoni

Figures float suspended in a tapestry of soft brushstrokes; Victoria Gamberoni’s serene body of works rest beneath a dreamlike lens. She is a member of the Bath Society of Artists. The Gay Street gallery is also showing work by Moira Huntly PPS RI RWA RSMA and Norma Stephenson PS.

Lane House Arts Nelson Place East, Bath, BA1 5DA Tel: 07767 498403 www.lanehousearts.co.uk

Winter Colour Until 22 February

PULTENEY BRIDGE – MORNING GOLD by NICK CUDWORTH Nick Cudworth Gallery London St, top of Walcot Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 445221, visit: www.nickcudworth.com

Under the Bridges of Bath 1 – 28 February An exhibition of Nick Cudworth’s paintings and prints of bridges over the canal and river as they run through Bath. Also included is a painting of one of the bridges over the railway track in Bath that was designed by Brunel, who features in the painting.

Confluence by Trudy Montgomery New paintings and prints from Beryl Robinson, Trudy Montgomery, Susanna Lisle, Andrew Lansley and Julie Smith with exquisite ceramics from Andrew TempleSmith, Amanda Cornelius and Rachel Fixsen as well as work by new gallery artists. Lane House Arts’ support of emerging talent continues with work by recent graduates and continuing students.

Visit our website for more exhibitions and gallery information To promote your exhibition, log on and get it listed: www.thebathmag.co.uk 42 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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nick cudworth gallery

Deep Cut - Brunel in Bath - Oil on Canvas

UNDER THE BRIDGES OF BATH Exhibition from 1 – 28 February An exhibition of paintings and prints by Nick Cudworth of various bridges over Bath’s river, canal and railway

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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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS ELISE MENGHINI & MELANIE KEW

WHITE DRESS by ROSE HILTON

Bath Artists’ Studios The Old Malthouse, Comfortable Place, Upper Bristol Road, Bath

I Heart Bath: Elise Menghini Saturday 8 – Wednesday 12 February, 11am – 5pm Elise Menghini is Bath Artists’ Studios outgoing artist in residence. To help nurture new artistic talent in Bath and to add some fresh thinking to the artists’ community, there is a six month residency for a Bath Spa graduate. Elise makes playful and intriguing ceramic objects that capture the idea and sense of place. She is informed by everyday visual elements that are familiar but ignored, while inspiration comes from holiday signifiers and mementoes.

Melanie Kew 13 – 16 March, 11am – 5pm Artist in residence Melanie Kew will invite schools to take part in workshops to highlight our overuse of plastic and discuss alternatives, while marvelling at the diversity and beauty of the sea and its occupants, all the while providing a creative experience through clay. Melanie’s next emerging body of work is inspired by the cyclical motion of the sea and concerned with the vast quantities of plastic debris left in our oceans. She will be exploring these facts and the themes that arise from them.

LOVE AND LUST by TREVOR PRICE Rostra Gallery George Street, Bath

Love Art 1 February – 3 March Give your loved one an original present this Valentine. The gallery has a whole host of oneoff pieces, from delicate jewellery and ceramics to prints and paintings. Artists include: Theo Booth, Jazmin Velasco, Bev Milward, Emma Birts, Julia Parry-Jones, Natalie Salisbury and Kim Styles. With one of Trevor Price’s pieces, pictured, you’ll be able to invite the object of your desire to come up and see your etchings . . .

Right, Bev Milward Couple Under an Arch

Hilton Fine Art 5 Margarets Buildings, Bath Tel: 01225 311311

Signs of Colour: Derek Balmer, Rose Hilton and Paul Wadsworth 8 February – 1 March Three colourists – Derek Balmer, Rose Hilton and Paul Wadsworth celebrate the return of colour after the grey days of winter. What links these artists is their strong sense of design and delight in bold colour. This is a hard balancing act to achieve and one that many painters attempt but which all too often end up with a cacophony of colours fighting against each other.

Tangier by Paul Wadsworth Wine Street Gallery @ No 10 Unit 10, White Horse Business Centre, Hopton Road, Devizes. Visit: www.thewinestreetgallery.com for opening times

ATLANTIC CURRENTS by MIRANDA GOODE Quercus Gallery Queen Street, Bath. Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.30pm

Out of the Blue 8 February – 1 March An uplifting mixed show for February with a focus on landscape and seascape painting. Includes new work by Helen Booth, William Reardon and work by new artists. Also showing new ceramics, jewellery and textiles.The gallery now has a new website, visit: www.quercusgallery.co.uk. 44 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Jeremy Gardiner Until Saturday 22 February Bath artist, Jeremy Gardiner is exhibiting his Intaglio Monoprints. Gardiner is an award winning landscape artist whose work reflects the ever changing Dorset, Devon and Cornish coastline.

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GOODreads

We’ve been reading...

MODERN CLASSIC: Elizabeth Jane Howard, who died recently, shortly after releasing the fifth in her Cazalet family series, All Change

Georgette McCready reviews the latest crop of books and recommends some good reading for February

s soon as we’d swept the last of the Christmas wrapping paper away I seized my chance to catch up on some old dear friends, the Cazalet family, revisited by British writer Elizabeth Jane Howard. Howard, who died recently aged 90, had an uncanny eye for recording the ups and downs of human relationships and frailties. All Change finds the Cazalets, their partners and friends, reacting to the death of a much loved middle class matriach. The author used her own experiences, including a spell as a model and a series of disastrous relationships with men as a rich seam for her writing. More Howard recommendations from her long career: The Beautiful Visit, Something in Disguise, Odd Girl Out and Falling, which was based on her real life affair with a conman. If you like your writing to have an authentic ring about it – following that old adage ‘write about what you know’ – then French author Michel Deon’s recently translated novel The Foundling Boy, will strike a resonant note. Originally published in France in 1975, it follows the adventures of adopted boy Jean, from his abandonment on a doorstep in 1919 – the same year the author was born – until his enlistment in the French army at the outbreak of war against Germany. It’s been translated well, is a dense read, with a slightly old-fashioned tone, but nonetheless engaging appeal. Also published recently Nanny Knows Best by Katherine Holden (published by The History Press) The Norland Nannies in their brown uniforms are a familiar sight around Bath, and they merit a section in this in-depth study of the history of nannies in British societies. Bath historian Katherine Holden looks at the changes in child-rearing over generations – including some practices which seem shocking to modern readers – and charts the shifts in power in the nursery between parents and their employees. The Cherry Jumpers by Christopher Bird (published by Mercer Books) To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Somerset prep school All Hallows the school governors have commissioned former headmaster Christopher Bird to write a well researched and affectionate history of the school, pictured. This will appeal not only to former pupils and parents of the Cranmore school but to those with an interest in the changing face of education and the history of people and places over the decades. Brylcreem and Broken Biscuits by Stephanie Laslett (published by Ex Libris Press) A piece of social history which will appeal to readers with long memories and the curious too. It’s a street trail history of Bradford-on-Avon’s shops during the 1950s, taking in long lost garages, bakers and hairdressers and including first hand memories of local people. It includes photographs from the town at the time. ■ WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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FOODheroes

Spreading the foodie love Silvana Tann meets Lorna Knapman, whose aim to feed her son healthy, fresh produce has led to her running a series of award-winning family-friendly food festivals in the south west

n her own words, she’s a food loving mum on a mission – a mission to bring the best of British produce together and to create a sense of community and pleasure in food wherever she goes. Lorna Knapman, the woman behind the Love Food Festivals, has a growing following for her mission with the festivals rolling out from Bristol to Bath and beyond. She explained how the concept began: “The idea of the food festivals came about partly through my upbringing in rural Dorset and my exposure to urban life when I moved to Bristol in my teens. I am extremely passionate about food and nutrition. This became even more important to me as a single mum when I had my son nine years ago.” This drive initially led Lorna to set up her company Bitesize, a business that focused on healthy food for young children for which she received support from The Prince’s Trust. “It soon became clear to me through my exposure to food festivals with my business, that the high cost fees for the producers’ stand coupled with the high entrance fees for people who wanted to attend, made access to these events selective. The festivals also lacked activities for children. I was convinced that there was room for a festival with a family focus with good produce, delicious and nutritious food stalls and great family entertainment. This is what really sparked the idea for the first Love Food Festival.” The inaugural festival in 2008 at the Paintworks in Bristol was a resounding success. “I had 35 producers signed up for stalls and a whole host of events for children; a stilt walking garden; open farm Sunday where a local farmer came along with animals and information with the view to offering an educational element; music performances and much more. The fees for producers were kept low and entrance to the event was free. “I’d sent out thousands of fliers and contacted the press. I thought that we might attract around 400 visitors, in fact we had over a 1,000 and queues were snaking back from the entrance.” The success of this event spurred Lorna on to organise successive festivals. It also led to her being awarded The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Award and to be an ambassador for the Trust. She was also invited to Downing Street to meet then Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Since 2008 Lorna has organised more than 50 food festivals across the region. She takes up the story: “The festivals and their community began to grow in number. In 2011 we held our first Love Food Festival at Green Park Station in Bath. Soon after this we teamed up with the National Trust hosting regular events at Dyrham Park and Newark Park in the Cotswolds. My original idea was to bring the countryside to the city, however working 46 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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with the National Trust offers the opportunity to connect children in particular with fantastic rural environments.” Lorna is very keen for the festivals to be a positive experience for children. “At Love Food we run a range of events for children and adults. The aim is to have a fun day out, and have access to amazing food produce. We run cookery demonstrations and a number of creative events for children. Education and having fun are at the core of Love Food. As a single mum on benefits years ago I wanted to make sure that my son ate well. Financially it was tough, but it was possible. I believe that everyone can eat well and education is key.” At the heart of this campaign Lorna has an aspiration to take children from the inner city out to the countryside to what she calls Food Camps. “My aim is to take less privileged children to rural environments and allow them to see first hand how food is produced and understand the basics. It is something I want to do when Love Food generates enough profit.”

I was convinced that there was room ❝ for a festival with a family focus with good produce, delicious and nutritious food stalls and great family entertainment

❞

Supporting small food businesses is also important to her. “Love Food offers considerable exposure to small producers. We get around 4,000 visitors to events and the website has almost double that number of visitors each month. We want to offer food producers the opportunity to showcase their great produce so we make sure that our stall fees are modest. At the same time the majority of events continue to have no entrance fees, making them more inclusive to the public.” Love Food has become more than a full-time job for Lorna. It continues to evolve and is becoming an even bigger platform in the region to showcase the great products and producers in the south west. This year, from 1 –11 May Bristol will launch a city wide festival called Bristol Food Connections, which will be run in partnership between the BBC and Bristol City Council. Lorna has been asked to curate the event. This invitation has clearly come as a result of the success of Love Food. “I’m really excited to be involved with Bristol Food Connections. We are

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FOODheroes

FOOD TO GO: main picture, Lorna Knapman. Above, scenes from Love Food Festivals in Bath and Bristol

aiming to host a festival for people from every background. The idea is to connect all communities, to bring food back to basics while discussing all topics related to food. The launch will tie in with the BBC Food and Farming Awards. Food events will be showcased all over Bristol. We will have celebrity chefs involved, but the event is really about our communities, focusing on healthy and sustainable food. The BBC will broadcast live daily on the Radio 2 breakfast show, Radio 4 and go out live to the nation on BBC1. Our aim to is create the biggest food festival in

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the UK. It is incredibly exciting.” Nearer to Bath there’ll be Love Food Festivals at Dyrham Park just north of Bath on Sundays 18 May, 20 July and 28 September, held in the top car park for ease of access. There will also be a Love Food Festival at Westonbirt Arboretum in August as part of the family-friendly annual Tree Fest at the Forestry Commission site. Details of these events and other Love Food Festivals news can be found on the website www.lovefoodfestival.com. ■

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Tasty bites ■ The Allium Brasserie in central Bath is hosting a series of foodie events designed to lift the spirits while we wait for spring to come. The first is on Thursday 6 February, a Louis Roederer and Family Champagne and wine dinner with a four course menu created by head chef Chris Staines for £60 per person. On Valentine’s Day there’s a romantically inspired four course lunch or dinner menu with glass of Champagne or Valentine cocktails, lunch £38, dinner £50 (available for dinner on Saturday 15 February too). ■ The Olive Tree restaurant in Russell Street is celebrating its 25th birthday this year, and its head chef Chris Cleghorn is marking his first anniversary at the helm in the kitchen, having earned the Olive Tree three AA rosettes in his first year. There’ll be a programme of anniversary events throughout the year to be announced soon. ■ Lucknam Park country house hotel near Colerne is hosting a Curry Supper Club at its cookery school on Wednesday 12 February. Kesh, the cookery school head chef will create a variety of authentic Indian supper dishes from his Street Food of India course and regional Indian dishes. £35 per person. A Valentine foodie workshop on Tuesday 4 will teach participants to create foodie gift ideas to show affection for a loved. Places are £175. Children’s classes are being held at half-term on Monday 17 and Thursday 20 February, to encourage understanding and give an insight into cooking. Places are £75 per child. ■ The Great Western Wine School at the foot of the Wellsway in Bath under the tutelage of experienced wine educator Tristan Darby, founder of the Bristol Wine School, is running a series of themed courses this spring. The school runs oneday Saturday classes, and more in-depth six week, weekly classes. New subjects include Discovery of Italy, a Tour de France and one day food and wine matching sessions. Visit www.greatwesternwine.co.uk/wineschool or tel: 01225 322810.

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Sam’s new country venue fits like a glove Fans of Sam’s Kitchen in Walcot Street will be pleased to hear he – Sam Wylde – has opened a café at The Glove Factory in Holt. The café, which is open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, can sit 50 people inside and 50 in a sunny courtyard. Once the weather warms up he’ll be cooking outside, with dishes such as spit roasted lamb cooked over the fire pit, jerked pork shoulder and ribs of beef, to go alongside his original zesty salads. There are plans to open seven days a week later this year.

Chef comes home to open fish restaurant Martin Blunos, double Michelinstarred chef, and long-time Bath resident, is returning to his roots, to open a new fish and seafood restaurant at The County Hotel in Pulteney Road, Bath. The menu at the eponymously named Blunos will change almost daily, with the best fresh seafood, crustaceans and fish. A seafood counter will serve oysters, lobster, crab, freshly carved smoked salmon and caviar and main courses will centre on the freshest fish, cooked simply. The wine list and bar menu will be similarly short, but carefully

chosen. Martin earned his two Michelin stars at Bath’s Lettonie restaurant, before expanding his career to include TV

apppearances. He is currently culinary director of Seaham Hall and Spa in County Durham, but is looking forward to coming home to Bath. Martin said: “At the moment, there is no independent fish restaurant in Bath. Bath diners deserve the opportunity to have access to the very best fish and seafood available. This is an exciting new venture for me and I’m excited to be back in my home city.” Blunos opens from Wednesday 19 February. For bookings, tel: 01225 425003.

Come for supper, bookshop invites customers We’re all familiar with author visits to Bath, but next month, independent bookseller Topping & Co in the Paragon has taken the fresh step of inviting its customers to eat supper in the bookshop as a book launch for award-winning food writer Diana Henry, pictured. The evening, which is to launch the Telegraph food writer’s eighth book An Appetite for Change, will see dishes from Diana’s book prepared in-store, with tables and chairs gathered round for people to tuck in with

plates on their laps. The shop has seen cookery demos in the past but this will be a new departure. Diana’s previous titles include Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons and Sugar, Salt, Smoke. The new book charts her quest for healthier food, without losing any of the taste and colour. Tickets are now on sale for Supper with Diana Henry on Tuesday 11 March, 7.30 for 8pm at the shop in the Paragon. They’re priced £15 (to include supper, with £15 book voucher) Tel: 01225 428111.

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Sensational British food freshly prepared by supreme chef Douglas Bonar using high quality seasonal ingredients Set lunch, À la carte and Table D’Hôte menus available. To reserve a table please call 01225 466 688 or email reservations@thekiltedchef.com The Kilted Chef • 7a Kingsmead Square, Bath, BA1 2AB

www.thekiltedchef.com A Serial Award winning Restaurant with International reputation Recent Awards: November 2013 British Curry Awards November 2013 Asian Curry Awards

4 Argyle Steet, Bath BA2 4BA Tel. 01225 466833 / 464758 www. Rajpoot.com

Connoisseurs choice for 33 Years. Open Daily.

THEBATHMAGAZINE THEBESTOFBATH PERFECTLYCOVERED BATHSBIGGESTMAGAZINE PERFECTLYDELIVERED TOADVERTISETEL: 01225 424499 WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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Clayton’s Kitchen @ The Porter 15a George Street, Bath BA1 1QR Tel: 01225 585100

R E V I EW

Fine dining at the Kitchen table

must confess to being one of the fans of the old incarnation of The Porter in George Street, regularly popping in for a cheap lunch of a lentil burger or nachos while enjoying the soundtrack of music played in the bar. So, yes I was a little sad when it was sold and subsequently revamped as a rather beautiful, stylish new bar cum restaurant cum comedy/jazz basement. But I’ve happily adjusted to indulging my inner hippy at the convivial people’s republic of The Bell in Walcot Street, where the music is excellent, and have rather taken to the new-look Porter which seems to be offering something new to the Bath scene. It’s already popular with the laptop tribe, Bath’s own roving band of workers who don’t seem to have their own offices to go to but instead spend their days in cafés, usually in twos, fuelled on caffeine and croissants. Colleagues tell me if you arrange a meeting late enough in the morning at the Porter you can merge your mid-morning coffee with a sandwich lunch, and these substantial and tasty offerings (£6 – £8) are served with fries. There’s also a set lunch menu in the week priced at £15 for two courses, with a typical starter of beetroot cured salmon with pickled apple, beetroot and walnuts and a main of lemon sole with crushed new potatoes, squash and chive sauce. Which sound good. The restaurant at the Porter is presided over by one time head chef and Michelin star holder of the Bath Priory, Rob Clayton. After spending some time working for other people elsewhere it’s good to see him back in Bath, where he’s clearly happy running a small, talented brigade in the newly created Clayton’s Kitchen. We dined on a Thursday night, welcomed in to a largely candlelit interior by Will, an affable and very efficient front of house. The restaurant is uncluttered and simple but comfortable and 50 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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the music was a non-intrusive background beneath the chatter in the room. Clayton’s Kitchen offers a simple, easy to digest menu with none of that rambling nonsense about jus, quenelles and medallions. And the food, sourced by local suppliers including greengrocer Eades and Bartletts the butcher, is equally unfussy but delicious. My starter of three plump scallops with slivers of apple and crumbly, completely grease-free discs of Trealy Farm black pudding was perfectly executed. John’s crab and ginger raviolo (the singular of ravioli don’t you know?) was a moreish parcel served with a langoustine sauce.

of lemon curd ❝thatsplashes will take you back to summer picnics of childhood

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There’s not a great long list of dishes either, which is a good thing – five starters (priced between £6 and £9) and 13 mains (£12 – £24 for fillet steak with duck fat cooked chips). A word about the chips. They’re seriously good. John offered me one of his fat chips to try – it was golden, crispy and hot. It took a lot of willpower not to reach out and scoff more. His main course was a lovely light but filling portion of fresh grilled fillets of lemon sole in a dill sauce with baby carrots and leeks. I chose corn fed breast of chicken with roast slices of leek on truffle infused rissotto, again a winning combination, the umami of the risotto nicely judged with the chicken and velvety leeks.

All the dishes – I had a peek at what our neighbours had ordered – served on simple white china, are impeccably presented so the appetite is whetted by a good looking plate of food. There’s a fairly comprehensive wine list too, and heeding our wine critic Angela Mount’s wise words on matching food with wine, we opted for a bottle of Clarenne River Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, which was lightly flowery and not overpowering with our choice of chicken and fish. We found the service very good, efficent but not over attentive. We took a break between our main courses and puddings, so the pace of the evening flowed. The mood is relaxed and informal – you feel you could come and just have a glass of wine and cheese and biscuits and no-one would look askance. So, we came to the naughty but nice part of the meal. Aware of all the scare stories about sugar, puddings are very much for high days and holidays. If you’re going to indulge why not go for something beautifully and lovingly made by someone who’s passionate about puddings? I’d like to nominate Clayton’s Kitchen lemon meringue pie as my pudding of the month, if not year. If you have a Valentine with a sweet tooth, treat them to one. This is lemon meringue pie as you’ve never had it before. Crisp white sails of thin meringue float above creamy waves of soft meringue, with splashes of lemon curd that will take you back to summer picnics of childhood, then there’s lemon cream, and finally little pieces of sweetened but still sharp lemon. It has to be tasted to be properly appreciated. For those who like the very simple things, er like John, there’s ice cream or sorbet to choose from too. Clayton’s Kitchen will be doing a Valentine’s Day menu, but you could take a partner on any other date of the year and show them you love them. ■ GMc

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THE WINE COLUMN Angela Mount, wine and food critic, recommends wine for lovers – and for rugby fans too

his month is all about wines for the girls and wines for the boys. February encompasses the romance of Valentine’s Day, and the rugby fever of the Six Nations, so to the men reading this, I’ve picked a couple of silkily smooth wines for you to impress the lady of your life, so you can then enjoy a few glasses of rugby-themed wines on match days. And for couples who are both romantic and love their rugby, here’s a selection to see you through the next few weeks. Jacquart Brut Mosaique Rosé NV, £35 (GWW) Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without Rosé Champagne, and it doesn’t get much better than this one – with a Decanter Awards gold medal under its belt for this Rosé, the house of Jacquart Champagne is producing consistently superb, stylish Champagnes. Gloriously ripe, with gentle, but persistent aromas of strawberries and raspberries, teamed with succulent, yet delicate flavours of ripe red berries, this elegant, delicately pale pink fizz has a delightful edge of restraint. Poised and seductive, with a gentle creamy character, with an edge of uplifting citrus, and an elegant, polished, finish. Leyda Pinot Noir Las Brisas 2011, £13.50 (GWW) Duck seems to be a favourite for Valentine’s Day; the perfect wine match is Pinot Noir, to match its naturally sweet, juicy flavours, so here’s a silky, seductive option from vineyards overlooking the Pacific Ocean, on Chile’s north western coast. Pinot Noir is also a great choice if you’re looking for a lighter, softer, gentle style of red wine, and this can work equally well with steak, and spicy oriental dishes. Fresh, juicy, and breezy, this savoury, berry-packed red is soft and perfumed, with sweet raspberry, and red cherry flavours, a swirl of freshly cut herbs and a mellow, smile-inducing, warmth.

Chateau Sainte-Marie, Entre Deux Mers, 2012, £10.95 (GWW) Here’s a topical dry white to drink when England play France in the Six Nations. Bordeaux and its neighbouring town of Brive are great rugby cities, and this sport is like a religion in the south west of France. Ardent rugby fan Stephane Dupuch, bought the property in the early 90s, and is now producing whites and reds, crafted with care and passion. This one is a fresh, lively, dry white, made from the Sauvignon blanc and Semillon grapes, with roundness and verve. The style is light and subtle, with lots of green apple crispness, mingled with fresh grapefruit, and waxy lemon zest character. If you’re not a fan of intense New World Sauvignons, and prefer softer, gentler styles, this is a great one to try – perfect with steaming hot bowls of mussels in wine and cream, and hearty fish stews; great with baked goats cheese salad too. Biferno, Camillo de Lellis Riserva 2009, £7.95 (GWW) Affectionately known as the Biffer by the Great Western Wine team, this is a well-seasoned, mature, power-player from Italy. For a wine which has been aged with care over three years it offers terrific value. Made from a blend of Tuscan Montepulciano, and the Aglianico grape, with a little Trebbiano blended in, it’s an intriguing mix. It’s relatively light for a southern Italian power player, at 13% and softened by its maturity, with cherry and fig fruit on nose and palate, a dense, smoky, licorice edge and enhanced by aromas of cedar, rosemary and wild thyme. It’s honest, it’s unpretentious and great with all manner of tomato and meat based pasta dishes, or pizzas – perfect rugby and TV food. ■ All of the above, plus a mixed case can be ordered through our website. Enjoy a 10% Great Western Wine discount by entering the code on Angela’s wine column. Visit : www.thebathmag.co.uk

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Pickled beetroot, truffled goat’s cheese with hay ash Tony Casey, head chef at The Garrick’s Head – next to the Theatre Royal, Bath – shares his recipe for a colourful dinner party starter which can be prepared in advance and will earn admiration from your guests. Ingredients: Serves 4 Salt baked beetroot: 8-10 beetroots (mixture of red and golden) Rock salt (enough to cover) For the beetroot puree: 300g of the salt baked beetroot 200ml apple juice 75ml port 50g sugar Juice of 1 orange Salt For the goatʼs cheese mousse: 250g goatʼs cheese 1tsp truffle oil 75ml double cream Pickled beetroot: 200ml water 200ml white wine vinegar 200ml sugar 1-2 beetroots thinly sliced (candied or golden beetroots can also be used to add colour) Hay ash: 50g hay To garnish: 6 radishes Black onion seeds Feuilles de brick pastry Shoots or micro herbs Method: 1. For the salt baked beetroot Wash the beetroot to remove dirt, line a baking tray with foil and cover with a layer of rock salt. Place beetroot on top, wrap and cover with foil. Place in a preheated oven at 180 C for 75 minutes. Once the beetroot is cooked peel and set aside 300g for the puree, cut the remaining beetroot into shapes. 2. For the puree Take the 300g of the beetroot that has been set aside, cut into approximately 1cm chunks. Place in a pan along with the port, apple juice and sugar. Cook until the liquid has reduced by two thirds. Squeeze in the fresh orange juice and place in a blender, blitz until smooth. Season with salt and pass through a sieve. Leave to cool and store in the fridge until needed. 3. For the pickled beetroot Heat the liquids and sugar until the sugar has fully dissolved. Set aside to cool and divide into two containers. Meanwhile take the beetroot and slice thinly. Using a circular cutter cut out circles from the slices. Place these into one container of cold pickle. In the other container place the cooked beetroot that has been cut into shapes. (The pickling can be done in advance and stored in the fridge to add more flavour). 4. For the goat’s cheese mousse Blend the cheese in a processor with the truffle oil. Slowly add the cream until fully incorporated, be careful not to over whip the mixture. Roll into 2cm diameter balls and leave to set in the fridge. 5. For the hay ash Burn the hay to cinders, cool, sieve then store in a container. To Assemble: Start by placing the pickled beetroots on the plate and dot the puree in between. Lightly roll the goat’s cheese in the hay ash and add to the plate. Cut the radishes and place on the plate.To garnish, sprinkle with black onion seeds and a selection of shoots or micro cress.As an optional garnish using the feuilles de brick pastry. Melt some butter and brush the sheets of pastry, sprinkle with sesame seeds and bake in the oven between two baking trays lined with parchment to keep it flat. Bake until golden in colour.These can be broken into pieces and added to the plate before serving. When in season quince can be used to accompany this dish.Walnuts or hazelnuts could be used. Blue cheese can also be substituted for the goat’s cheese. ■

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NG TA I T

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FOOD&DRINK

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R ES TA U R A N T S F O R L O V E R S by foodie writer and blogger Melissa Blease

Casanis

❥

We’re kicking (or should that be kissing?) off our guide to the best romantic tables for two with a classic French experience. But that doesn’t mean we’re opting for a cliché. Casanis is one of Bath’s best romantic destination diners for several very good reasons, all of which make hearts go pitter-pat. For a start, the restaurant is located on a pretty traffic-free street, making your moonlit walk both to and from the restaurant a romantic experience in itself. Once inside this charming, intimate bistro, you’ll find canoodling opportunities a-plenty at the beautifully dressed tables, with unobtrusive service and a warm welcome, and that all-important, wholly authentic French menu. For Valentine’s Day, chef Laurent Couvrier has supplemented his a la carte offering with seductive dishes such as a cêpes tarte starter and a monkfish, seafood and Champagne risotto main course, while his way with anything chocolate-related at the grand finale of any given Laurent-style selection is legendary around these parts. Casanis, 4 Saville Row, Bath BA1 2QP Tel: 01225 780055; web: www.casanis.co.uk

❦ The Circus Smart, chic and cheerful: that just about sums up a trip to The Circus, Bathstyle. This smart, contemporary diner specialises in menus that adapt to the pace of the day in a very civilised fashion indeed, gently tripping from elevenses and light lunch through to afternoon tea and post-sunset menus that change on a regular basis and make the most of locally sourced, seasonal produce. All this conspires to create the perfect backdrop for newly-forged couples: morning coffee for a getting-to-know-you chat; a lazy lunch for those not quite ready to go all-out on the hearts and flowers; afternoon tea after a stroll in Royal Victoria Park; dinner against a subtly vibrant backdrop that offers intimacy without too much hush-hush overkill. The Circus Cafe and Restaurant, 34 Brock Street, Bath BA1 2LN Tel: 01225 466020; web: www.thecircuscafeandrestaurant.co.uk

The Olive Tree ❧ Understated glamour, staff that make you feel like an A-list superstar and a chef who’s hotly tipped to join the Michelin men: if subtle bling is your thing, confirm your date at the Olive Tree right now. The kitchen at this longestablished Bath foodie hotspot below the chic boutique Queensberry Hotel has been home to a number of acclaimed chefs, but since Chris Cleghorn took to the hob a year ago, tantalised tongues have gone into overdrive – think of Chris as the lovechild of Heston Blumenthal and Michael Caines, and you’ll get an idea of just how imaginative this rising star of the food scene is. But the Olive Tree experience isn’t all and only about the food. Start your adventure with a cocktail at the quirky but comfortable Old Q Bar before gliding down to your impeccably-dressed table in readiness for a cabaret of good taste, offering plenty to talk about at an elegant pace that also allows time to whisper sweet nothings. The Olive Tree at the Queensberry Hotel, Russel Street, Bath BA1 2QF Tel: 01225 447928; web: www.olivetreebath.co.uk

❤ Rustico Bistro Italiano It’s not flash, it doesn’t claim to be at the cutting edge of contemporary Italian dining and you won’t need to dust off the Manolos in order to fit in. But if you’re after relaxed intimacy, a warm welcome and food that one would expect a matchmaking mamma to make, you’ve come to the right place. The

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Art from Go Figurative gallery, Hampstead, visit: ww.gofigurative.com

menu may initially look straightforward (who doesn’t love real Italian food?) but there’s a strong pulse of rich authenticity pulsing away at the heart of the matter that elevates Italian classics such as calamari fritti, fettucini bolognese, fegato alla venezianna and even a simple rocket and parmesan salad to the kind of flavour-hit heights the like of which you’d expect to discover in similar bistros on the classier back streets of Rome. Prices most certainly won’t trouble your lovestruck heart; book now, or suffer withering looks from your Godfather for the rest of the year. Rustico Bistro Italiano, 2 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP Tel: 01225 310064; web: www.rusticobistroitaliano.co.uk

♥ Hudson Steakhouse Readers of a certain age will easily recall the days when Sex and the City first hit our TV screens . . . and the impact that those smart little Manhattan cocktail bar/restaurants frequented by Carrie, Samantha et al had on our collective imaginations (see, boys: it wasn’t the lust that piqued our interest; it was the dates on which those adventures began). Today, a younger generation are more likely to be inspired by the kind of places where Cara Delevingne might hang out with Karlie Kloss than where Mr Big chose to woo Ms Bradshaw. But whatever your vintage, the Hudson Steakhouse offers the kind of sophisticated, laid-back “playground for grown ups” vibe that several Bath merrymaking ventures attempt to replicate but few actually manage to wear well. The seductive street-level bar is all about classic cocktails (and low-lit, cushion-strewn corners to sup them in), while the first floor dining room is as contempo-elegant as the menus: smart, California-inspired takes on wellsourced steaks of a perfect pedigree (deemed by many to be the best in Bath) alongside fresh fish, superb salads, and a thoughtful array of those allimportant seductive puds, including chocolate fondue made for sharing. Hudson Steakhouse, 14 London Street, Bath BA1 5BU Tel: 01225 311232; web: www.hudsonsteakhouse.co.uk

♣ Koh Thai Tapas Okay, we hear you: not everybody has – or even wants to have – a Valentine’s Day date. So if the prevailing theme is a bit too sickly-sweet for you, buck the trend and arrange a mates’ date. Koh Thai Tapas is one of those restaurants where you might come across a girly get-together, a family outing, blokes taking a break from the pint’n’curry habit and a starry-eyed couple glad that the hustle and bustle is compensating for the gaps in the tongue-tied conversation, all on the same evening. The KTT menu is all about tapas, food is a made-for-sharing, sociable experience, bringing a mixture of flavours to your table. Whether you opt for speedy sustenance or choose to linger-long over your voyage of exotic discovery, be sure to sample one or two dishes away from the Thai curry comfort zone – remember, we’re breaking with tradition here, not playing safe. And if your eyes happen to meet the gaze of an attractive stranger as you tuck into your Jungle Curry, who knows where a nibble of their Boozy Duck might lead? Koh Thai Tapas, 36 Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LP Tel: 01225 311232; web: www.koh-thai.co.uk.

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News in brief

Award winner joins city lettings scene

■ Congratulations to writer Nathan Filer, pictured, winner of the 2013 Costa First Novel Book Award for The Shock of the Fall, which was published last May. Nathan is the latest success story from Bath Spa’s MA creative writing course in 2010 and he is now a part-time lecturer at the university. The Shock of the Fall is an extraordinary and very readable portrait of a man’s descent into mental illness.

Winners of the Sunday Times Letting Agent of the Year Award 2013 (South West) Intire, has joined the Bath lettings market. With its allinclusive approach to lettings the company was founded in 2009 by Atif Javid, who has over a decade of experience as a letting agent and landlord. Intire, which has opened its new office in Barton Street, helps landlords let property for an inclusive fee that covers all associated agents fees and costs. Founder Atif said:

■ Family brewers Fuller Smith and Turner, which has been busy transforming three city pubs, has selected Bath charities Julian House and the Mayor of Bath’s Relief fund as its good causes of the year. Each have received an initial cheque for £250. The company recently invested some £7.5m in The Crystal Palace, The Huntsman and The Boater city centre pubs. Cecil Weir, funding and public relations manager for Julian House said: “Raising funds is always a challenge and it is encouraging that a wellknown national company recognise the value of collaboration and the benefits to the community of working together to support our core work in the city.

“Agents’ fees are often unclear and difficult to compare, due to the hidden costs and addons, so Intire’s approach is designed with the landlord in mind. Landlords want

to know that they and their properties comply with complex lettings legislation and are fully protected, so we take care of everything for a single all-inclusive fee.” Intire has been

successfully servicing the area of Bristol for five years from its two Bristol offices. Now seemed an ideal time for Intire to focus on the Bath market in more depth and serve the local community through an office on their doorstep. To celebrate the launch of the Bath office Intire is offering a free let to the first 20 new landlords who instruct them to find a tenant for their property. Tel: 01225 478 778 or visit: intirelettingsbath.co.uk.

Independent financial giant has community links Novia, which is one of the largest financial companies in the UK, has its base in Bath. Dulcie Mae Carey of The Bath Magazine’s website www. thebathmag, visited its offices in Cambridge House, Henry Street to find out more about the financial giant, which offers intelligent wealth management to its clients. Novia employs more than 200 people, including some long-term contractors, making it one of

Bath’s largest private employers. Novia started up during the recession in 2008, and has since thrived. The company is at the forefront in terms of technology rivalling some of the biggest global competitors. The company has made its home in Bath and believes that the city and surrounding areas have a lot to offer. Now in its third year as the main sponsor for Bath Rugby, Novia regularly hosts networking

events for retiring players to help them develop their careers postrugby. The business itself enjoyed a turnover of £1bn last year and is hoping to build on that this year. Read more about Novia and chief executive Bill Vasilieff in the business section of our website, visit: www.thebathmag.co.uk. We also filmed behind the scenes, learning more about the company and the people who work there.

Queen of Shops shows Walcot St some love

PUPPY LOVE: vet, Philippa Ashman, teaches puppy care to young client, Olivia Faggetter ■ Pet owners in Widcombe were invited to take their pets in for a free post-Christmas weigh-in as Bath vets Ashman Jones opened a new surgery in Widcombe Parade. Independently owned by Philippa Ashman and Murray Jones, it opened its first branch on the London Road three years ago and quickly established a loyal clientele and an excellent reputation, winning Best in Bath and the third best in the country. Murray Jones said: “We are confident that the Widcombe branch will make life easier for pet owners and cut down their journey time when visiting us. There is nothing worse than being stuck in traffic with a poorly pet in the car.” Contact the new surgery, tel: 01225 807510.

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Mary Portas, Queen of Shops, has shown her support for the traders of Walcot Street as part of The Daily Telegraph’s campaign to support the High Street. Mary met Martin Tracy of The Framing Workshop, pictured, as one of four Champions of the High Street. Martin is the only retailer to have been selected as a Champion. He said: “I couldn’t be held up as a Champion

of the High Street without having a sublime street to

promote and work with in the first place. In the 25 years I have been

trading on Walcot Street our street has never been better – we are currently in a very good place.” “While it’s sometimes akin to herding cats, I am very fond of our disparate and eclectic band of traders – that is what makes Walcot Street such fun,” said Martin. “I would like to say thank you to all those who took the time to nominate me (and Walcot Street) for this national recognition.”

Law firm makes Sunday Times Top 100 league table Bath law firm Withy King has been named as one of The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Mid-Sized Companies to Work For and awarded the Best Companies Two Star Accreditation. Withy King has been recognised for its outstanding levels of staff engagement and its commitment to creating a positive

working environment for its people. The firm’s ranking will be revealed at aceremony in London on 27 February and in a league table in the Sunday Times on 2 March. Graham Street, managing partner at Withy King said: “For our staff to view Withy King as a great place to work and feel

motivated and valued is paramount to the success of the firm and is the most effective way to ensure our clients always receive the best possible service.” 896 organisations take part in the survey, with more than 240,000 employees surveyed. Withy King employs 270 people in the south of England.

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NEW YEAR - NEW YOU IN 2014 Leadership Skills for Tomorrowʼs World

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Todayʼs leaders are facing the most challenging operating circumstances for a generation. The necessary skills and competencies have shifted from the motivation of employees in a buoyant economy to change management and strategic leadership in this landscape of budget cuts, increased hours, more sophisticated technology and leaner workforces. Few organisations have escaped these changes whether they are in the private, public or not-for-profit sectors. The University of Bristol has recognised this and designed a bespoke Masters degree in Strategy, Change and Leadership aimed at providing senior managers with the tools and techniques they require in order to navigate their organisations through such demanding times.

Programme Director Helen Ballard says “I am delighted we have the funding available to offer free places on our parttime Masters programme. Excellent leadership is critical in this challenging climate, and high performing organisations are recognising the need to further develop their managers. This practical Masters degree will offer a return on investment from day one.” To find out more come along to an open evening at the University on Wednesday 5th March from 6pm – 7.30pm. Contact Cheralyn for details: efim-scl@bristol.ac.uk

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Come along to our Open Evening on Wednesday 5 March between 6-7.30pm To register, email Cheralyn Dark at efim-scl@bristol.ac.uk or tel: 0117 331 7908 for further details For further informa on or to apply online, please visit: www.bristol.ac.uk/efm/courses/postgraduate/new/degrees

For further information about the course please visit www.bristol.ac.uk/efm/courses/postgraduate/new/degrees/ WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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AUDIT – A NECESSARY EVIL – WE DON’T THINK SO! As accountants we are regularly asked why it is important for businesses to have their accounts audited. Not all businesses require an audit and therefore in many cases electing to have an audit is an optional issue. We believe that there are benefits from having an audit whether required by law, some other body or the shareholders.

n audit is the examination of an entity’s accounts and the underlying records to ensure that they show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of that entity for a period and at a certain date. Although there is a cost to the work involved there are a number of advantages of having an audit carried out. Company directors are required by law to know exactly where their business is at any point in time and the comfort that comes from an independent audit can provide them with a reassurance that the figures the directors are looking at are materially correct. Quite apart from the legal requirement directors need to know themselves that the

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figures are correct and also that their company has procedures in place to produce accurate data and safeguard the assets of the company. An auditor will review not only the figures but also that the internal controls in place will reduce the chance of misreporting or fraud. If the figures are right then the director has every chance of making correct business decisions. Apart from management’s benefit of the audit there will be other users of the company’s accounting information that will gain comfort from knowing that the company takes itself seriously enough to invest in the audit. The company and the accounts will gain credibility to the outside world that will help its business with suppliers, staff, banks, HMRC and potential purchasers. Indeed banks may require audited figures to support borrowing applications and some sectors governing bodies may require them for licence applications etc. A purchaser of a business will do its own due diligence but will gain a certain degree of comfort from the credibility offered by the audited company and its accounts. It will gain further comfort if there is a history of audited figures and systems hence it is often a good idea to think ahead and if planning a sale start the audit process to build up that track record. As Chartered Accountants we exert a duty of care whenever we prepare a client’s accounts but the audit takes matters much further and into the checking of the company systems. Indeed a full management report of internal control weaknesses will be produced after each audit assignment. There are techniques in modern day auditing that ensure the costs do not outweigh the potential benefits so that value for money can be achieved. Even if your company does not currently exceed two of the three criteria, ie turnover

Debbie Boulton £6.5m, net assets £3.26m and staff numbers of 50, we believe that a cost effective audit is well worth considering. Please contact Mike Richardson or Debbie Boulton if you would like to discuss audit options for your business.

www.richardsonswift.co.uk 11 Laura Place, Bath BA2 4BL 01225 325 580

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A DVERTOR IA L FEATURE

None of your business! By Sharon Giles, Sharp Family Law - Bath Divorce Solicitors. T: 01225 448955 www.sharpfamilylaw.com

Divorcing couples frequently come to blows when considering the settlement of any business interests.

ften a business interest is considered to be a personal attribute and certainly not something to be shared out upon divorce! In some situations, where the business produces little other than an income stream the protestor may be right. It can often make sense to abandon pursuit of a business interest and look to share out instead the resulting income stream… why shoot the goose that lays the golden eggs?

why shoot the goose ❝ that lays the golden eggs? ❞ In other situations, there will be an obvious business interest to address, for instance, where couples operate in business together in a Partnership or as Directors or Officers of a Limited Company. In such cases one party may have the option of buying the other party out or it may be possible to break up the business

into independent units with each taking their part forward. In some rare cases the couple may even decide to continue working together. Matters become complex where other business colleagues are involved and, more so, where there is acrimony between the divorcing couple…Whilst it is rarely appropriate, or even possible, for a business interest to be simply cashed in, a value needs to be attributed so that options for overall settlement of the family assets, (property, savings, investments, pensions etc) can be properly explored. Where it is agreed that a business valuation is needed the company’s own accountant should be the first port of call. It is also always worth checking the provisions of any Nuptial, Partnership or Shareholders Agreement in case provision has already been made for the method of valuation and even settlement arrangements in the event of a divorce. In the absence of prior written agreement, and continued dispute over valuation, the joint instruction at joint cost of an independent, forensic accountant may be necessary.

Any valuation will be subject to tax considerations and expert advice in this area can lead to huge savings particularly where parties are eligible for entrepreneurs relief or where a company is in a position to buy back its own shares.

it is rarely ❝ appropriate, or even possible, for a business interest to be simply cashed in

❞

Business interests come in all sorts of shapes, forms and sizes and the very nature of the interest should determine the time and money spent in establishing its relevance. For instance, a 51% shareholding in the family business will bear much more relevance than a 2% shareholding, though of course it depends what the family business is! At Sharp Family Law we are committed to bringing value to our clients in all we do by providing a customised solution for each client and their family’s unique situation. We look to address all aspects of a client’s life, including their business interests, and focus upon the long term perspective so they can move forward successfully after their divorce.

sharp F A M I LY L A W Sharp Family Law: Helping clients to reach solutions 5, Gay Street, Bath, BA1 2PH, UK email: sharon@sharpfamilylaw.com m: 07950 173992 t: 01225 448955 website: www.sharpfamilylaw.com 58 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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DON’T LOSE OUT TWICE! DON’T WASTE YOUR TRADING LOSSES We have recently handled tax returns for clients who have been filing their own returns BUT have failed to claim for losses that they had suffered in earlier trading periods – and also for the ‘capital’ expenditure that could have reduced their tax bills (such as vans, tools & office / workshop refurbishment costs). We are now re-filing the tax returns for those previous years and getting refunds – but it’s much better not to pay too much in the first place, an area where we can help… HAS YOUR BUSINESS GONE INTO LIQUIDATION? In another situation, we were able to relieve some of the misery for an owner/manager of a business that had gone into liquidation, by using the loss of the value of his investment to reduce his taxable income. As a result, he received a refund in excess of £15,000 You need to be aware that sometimes unhappy situations, such as trading losses (particularly in the early years of a business) or the liquidation of your company might have a few unexpected positives. At OCL we have been looking after SMEs (start ups to turnovers of £3 million) for more than twenty years; we would be pleased to meet you to discuss any tax, financial and accounting matters that would help you, including how we can help you save money. See our website for more – and download our FREE guides

“OCL Accountancy always provide an excellent level of support in an extremely straightforward and user friendly fashion. Advice is sensible and constructive. It is much more of a partnership than a traditional client relationship which is particularly helpful." Call Marie Maggs or Mike Wilcox on 01225 445507 to arrange a no-obligation meeting 141 Englishcombe Lane, Bath BA2 2EL

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www.oclaccountancy.com

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PROPERTY DILEMMAS FACING THE OLDEST AND YOUNGEST GENERATIONS Helping your child onto the property ladder or selling an elderly relative’s home to pay for their care, are among the issues which families ask Withy King to help them with. Here, partner Fiona McNulty answers your questions. Q: My daughter and her boyfriend want to buy a house. I would like to help them financially but I am worried about the long-term future of their relationship. If they split up, how will that affect my investment and, ultimately, my daughter’s inheritance? A: You could own the property jointly with your daughter and her boyfriend, but if they need a mortgage you would need to be a party to it and jointly liable for it. Also, you might have to pay capital gains tax on your share when the property is sold, though they wouldn’t because it would be their principal private residence. Alternatively, your daughter and her boyfriend could own the property but hold it on trust for the three of you. Confirm this arrangement in a "declaration of trust" covering the share you each get, responsibility for insurance and maintenance, and what happens if one of you wants to sell. Any mortgage lender will need to agree and capital gains tax could still be a problem. Would you be happy if your daughter’s boyfriend benefited from your assistance if they split up? Consider a cohabitation agreement, covering who brings what to the arrangement, who pays the bills and who gets what if the relationship ends. You should also consider a loan for your contribution and protecting it with a legal charge. All three of you should get independent legal and tax advice to ensure that you are comfortable with both the structure and the terms of the agreement. Q: A few years ago my mother gave me Lasting Power of Attorney over her affairs. She appointed me jointly and severally with my sister, who lives in Australia. It has now come to a time where she needs to move into residential care, and I need to sell her house to pay for her care fees as she has dementia. Can I do this, or do I need further authority? A: Those appointed under a Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA, can sell property on behalf of the donor (the person who appointed them) provided there are no restrictions contained in the LPA.

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You can sell your mother's house without involving your sister, as you were both appointed to act jointly and severally, which means that each of you as attorney can make decisions individually and independently of the other. The LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. If your mother is the sole owner of her house another person may need to be appointed as a trustee before you can sell it. The solicitor dealing with the sale should advise you in this regard. If your mother does not have a valid LPA or Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA), a deputy needs to be appointed before her house can be sold. Do note that if there is no valid LPA or EPA, unless the Court of Protection gives specific legal authority via a deputyship, no one can legally manage your mother's property or finances. If you have a dilemma which you would like to discuss, please contact Fiona McNulty on 01225 730100 or fiona.mcnulty@withyking.co.uk These answers should not be relied on as legal advice. No liability is accepted for such reliance. If you have similar issues, you should obtain advice from a solicitor

Fiona McNulty , Partner, Withy King

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FAMILYfun

Royal Victoria Park playground

Science workshops at BRLSI

Fun: come rain or shine With February’s half-term ahead of us, we’ve gathered up lots of things to do to keep the family happy indoors and out – and some of them are even FREE! Half term fun Flavian Fashion and Clothes by Claudius Monday 17 - Friday 21 February, 10am – 1pm and 2pm to 4pm The Roman Baths Free family drop-in sessions. Children can dress as a Roman and create a figure to take home. Admission to the Roman Baths is free to Discovery Card holders and children must be accompanied by an adult. Also get hands on with archeology with an afternoon handling session at the Roman Baths on Wednesday 19 February, from 3pm to 4pm. Keep Safe My Heart Tuesday 18 February, 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm The Fashion Museum Explore the museum’s Georgians exhibition and decorate a keepsake box for your loved one. Entry to the Fashion Museum is free for Discovery Card holders. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Who am I? Art and dressing up Thursday 20 February, 10.30am – 11.30am and 2pm - 3pm Victoria Art Gallery, Bath Look at people in the gallery, listen to a story, dress up and create a collage portrait. Suitable for 3 to 5 years. £4 per child, all children to be accompanied by an adult. Tel: 01225 477233. Weatherwise art workshop Friday 21 February, 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm - 3pm Try different techniques to create weather scenes in paint, collage and pastels. Suitable for 5 to 11 years. Booking required, tel: 01225 477233. Holiday Drop-in Puppet People Monday 17 – Friday 21 February, 10.30am – 1pm daily The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney St, Bath A free workshop in which young puppeteers can make their own puppets inspired by portraits in 62 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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the museum’s galleries and by the work of the Lacon family, 18th century Bath puppet makers. Also at the Holburne this month Create a portfolio in two days Monday 17 – Tuesday 18 February For young artists who want to develop their skills and techniques, creating 2D and 3D pieces. £35 per day. Tel: 01225 388568.

Free family workshops: wicked weapons Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Queen Square, Bath. £6 a session. To book, email: coolbookings@brlsi.org Tuesday 18 February, 10.30am and 11.30am Join Brian Godwin, weapons expert to find out more about guns, swords and armour in the BRLSI collection. Advance booking essential. Also at BRLSI this month Free half-term hands-on Bright Sparks science workshops at libraries across Mendip and B&NES for children aged seven and over. Join students from the University of Bath physics department for an hour of fun filled shocks – find out about electricity and magnets. Wednesday 19 February, 10.30am Keynsham and Midsomer Norton 2.30pm, Thursday 20, Frome 11am and 1.30pm, Friday 21, Saltford 10.30am and Sat 22, Shepton 10.30am and Wells 1.30pm. Booking required: either at the appropriate library or at coolbookings@brlsi.org. Alice in Wonderland Saturday 15 February Mission Theatre, Corn Street, Bath Box Tale Soup presents Lewis Carroll’s magical and surreal tale of Alice’s adventures and all the strange characters she meets along the way, using puppets and actors to bring the story vividly to life. Tickets £8/£6 concessions. Tel: 01225 428600. Also at the Mission Theatre this month Disney’s The Little Mermaid Junior Friday 21 – Saturday 22 February, 2.30pm & 7pm Journey under the sea with Ariel and her friends

in this adaption from the 2008 Broadway production brought to life by the young talent of the Curtain Up Theatre School. Tickets: £10/£8 concessions. Tel: 01225 428600 Wanted: Rabbit Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 February, 11.30am and 3pm The egg at the Theatre Royal, Bath Tel: 01225 823409 Rabbits, as you may know, don’t play by the rules, so when a bunny breaks out of jail the police go on his trail. Finger puppet mayhem ensues. Slapstick for children aged three and over Also at the egg this month Grandpa’s Railway Wednesday 19 – Saturday 22 February, 11.30am and 3pm M6’s original new production brings a working model railway and a lot of playful characters into an adventure centring around Grandpa’s railway. Suitable for children aged five and over. Half-term Dyrham Park trail Monday 17 – Sunday 23 February, 10am-4pm Dyrham Park, north of Bath on the A46 Take part in the half-term trail. Also at Dyrham this month Family bird conservation days Tuesday 18 – Thursday 20 February, 11am-3pm Help enhance Dyrham’s bird population by making bird boxes in the morning and then helping to put them up in the afternoon. To book your place tel: 0117 9371331. Tuesday Toddler trail Tues 25 February, 10.45-11.30am Join a garden trail designed for toddlers; learn about shape, colour and numbers while exploring nature. Meet outside the Orangery down by the house at 10.45am. Trails lasts approx. 30-45mins. Please arrive in the car park by 10.30am to catch the first shuttle. Normal admission applies. Thursday 6 February Book launch: Martin Brown continued Page 64

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Get close to dinosaurs (if you dare) at Bristolʼs Colston Hall & John McLay – The Dragon’s Dentist, 4.30pm – 6.30pm My Small World, Little Southgate, Bath Join the illustrator of Horrible Histories, Martin Brown, and local author John McLay as they celebrate the publishing of their The Dragon’s Dentist. Martin will be on hand to help young illustrators draw, scribble and colour. John takes children step by step through the creative writing process, and then he’ll be reading from this new book. Entry is by ticket only. These are free and can be booked at My Small World, tel: 01225 938338. Also at My Small World this month Friday 14 February, all day International Book Giving Day: The Big Book Swap Bring your book to the café for this free event, grab a Book Swap Label and send your book to a wonderful new loving home. And who knows…. you may well find your new favourite book too. Pirates and Princesses Week Monday 17 – Thursday 20 February, all day The café is being transformed into a home for all marauding pirates and playful princesses. Turn up to this free event suitably dressed for the occasion, and you’ll be treated accordingly. Pile in for dastardly piratical activities and riotously regal fun. Fairy Festival Saturday 15 – Sunday 23 February, 10am – 4.30pm Prior Park landscape garden, National Trust Bring the family to explore the garden and pick up a fairy trail guide or join in with the activities. Light and Sound Activity Day Wednesday 19 February, 10am – 4.30pm Bath Abbey Free hands-on workshops and behind-the-scenes activities focusing on the Abbey’s stained glass windows, bells, clock and organ. Discover the stories behind the restoration of the stained glass and learn how to create effects on jam jars. Or become a bell ringer for the day. Part of the Creating Voices oral history project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Friends of Bath 64 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Abbey. All activities free, no booking required. Some activities only for 5 years and upwards. The Secret Language of the Fan in performance and song Tuesday 18 February, 11.30am – 3.30pm No 1 Royal Crescent Museum, Bath Enjoy a musical encounter around the house with costumed artists Megan Clark-Bagnall, Jasmine Loveys and Verity Standen, then create your own fan and try out silhouette puppets. Free with normal admission ticket. Suitable for families. Also at No 1 Royal Crescent this month Give Yourself a Georgian Makeover and talks and demonstrations in 18th Century beauty and grooming Thursday 20 February, 10.30am – 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm) Try on wigs and design a face patch, examine an original wig scratcher and patch box. Also, the good, bad and downright ugly of Georgian Bath in the servants hall. Free with normal admission price. Freehand Theatre: Who’s been Sitting in My Chair? Saturday 22 February, 3pm The Pound Arts Centre, Corsham A delightful and playful version of children’s classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears – with porridge and bears and one-two-three chairs, a tale that’s not too big and not too small but just right. Tickets: £6.50/£5.50 concessions/ £20 family. Tel: 01249 701628 or visit: www.poundarts.org.uk Tea Time Tuesday 18 – Sunday 23 February The Tobacco Factory theatres, Southville, Bristol A wonderfully silly and colourful celebration of meal times through words, song, music and dance, with fun for all ages, including parents. Tea Time is for anyone who has ever had fun with food, made an island out of mash with a sea of gravy or pretended a spoon of yoghurt was a steam train. Suitable for children 2 – 6 years. Tickets £7, tel: 0117 902 0344 or visit: www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Meet childrenʼs author Fleur Hitchcock Dinosaur Zoo Wednesday 19 February, 11am and 2pm The Colston Hall, Bristol This live theatre event invites families to meet the Dryosaurus, Australovenator and Leaellynasaurus as these extraordinarily lifelike prehistoric beasts roam the stage. Direct from Australia, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo features detailed puppets, from cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants, including a carnivorous theropod known as the Australovenator, the most complete meateating dinosaur skeleton yet found in Australia. Children can watch wide-eyed from a safe distance or dare to get right up close to the creatures. Look out for Danger Zone seats. Tel: 0844 887 1500 or visit: www.colstonhall.org. At home Bath’s parks If the weather’s nice, get out and about in the city’s parks. Royal Victoria Park has an excellent playground with a skateboard park next door for older siblings. Alice Park also has a good playground with plenty of space in the rest of this level park for a runaround. Planning ahead Creating Stories Out of the Blue Wednesday 5 March, 4.15pm Keynsham Library Local children’s writer Fleur Hitchcock, author of Shrunk! and The Trouble With Mummies, talks to young writers about storytelling with tips and writing games. Free and suitable for ages eight to 11. Book a place tel: 01225 463362. Firestation Children’s Book Swap Saturday 8 March, 1 – 2pm Old Theatre Royal, Orchard Street,Bath As part of the Bath Literature Festival children aged seven and over are invited to meet authors Scott Pack, Andy Statton and Marianne Levy and to swap books. Described as a cross between a book group and a public reading this family event should see some frenzied book swapping. Take along something you really enjoyed so you can share it with other readers, Tickets £5 from tel: 01225 463362. ■

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Open day for prospective parents to come and see our beautiful newly refurbished nursery offering high quality childcare and education for children aged 3 months to five years also come and meet a V.I.P (Very Important Pig) Saturday 8th February 10am - 2pm at St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church Hall, Guinea Lane, BA1 5NB

01225 487858 www.thebathnurserycompany.co.uk Twitter- @GuineaLaneNurse

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&beauty

HEALTH

FIT & FAB Tips for a healthy and happy lifestyle Pucker up for Valentine’s Day with this season’s most stylish shade. We asked Lisa Piddington, from Harvey Nichols Bristol, how to wear red lipstick with confidence

Beat the winter blues with brights

rom Cleopatra’s beetle-stained lips to Marilyn Monroe’s iconic pout, red lipstick has for centuries been associated with pure glamour. Yet one false move with this most sexy of shades and it can be more harlot than starlet. Because red lipstick demands more care than your average day-to-day gloss many women tend to shy away, but there is no excuse for not having one waiting in the wings for special occasions. Five top tips that won’t leave you red faced: • Take the time to pick the right shade for your skin tone but don’t be afraid to experiment with something quite dramatic. For warm skin tones go for golden or more orange reds, while pale tones should opt for pinkier reds that will pick out the rose colour in your cheeks and stop you looking washed out. Deep, brick reds can work well whatever your natural colouring. If a solid block of colour isn’t for you, opt for a tinted gloss or balm. • Red tends to bleed more than other colours so apply a layer of foundation to your lips first as a base. A pencil line in a coordinating colour keeps the look focussed and classy. • A lip brush is a must to achieve the perfect pout. After applying your lipstick take another brush, dip it into some powder and gently pat along the outer edges of your lips to hold the colour place. • The trend for the season is statement lips combined with barely there eye make-up. Go for a bold lipstick and offset with black or dark brown mascara, a sweep of pale shadow and eyeliner on the top lid only to get the catwalk look. • For a fuller look, dab a lighter shade of red into the centre of your lips and a darker shade at the corners of your mouth. Above, Sisley Hydrating Long-Lasting Lipstick – Geisha Red, £32; and Butter London Lippy - Come to Bed, £14, available from Harvey Nichols Bristol

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Clockwise from top left: For glossy lips with a burst of colour, try Phyto Lip Twist in coral from Sisley, £28, available at Debenhams; get rid of dark circles and puffy eyes with the Mega bright dark circle minimizer from Origins, £32, available from Jolly’s; get a flirty flush from the Lollitint cheek and lip stain from Benefit, £24.50, available from Boots; introduce some zing into your life with the help of Crabtree & Evelyn tarocco orange, eucalyptus and sage Little Luxuries, £13; for a sense of wellbeing drink Get Happy Tea from Harvey Nichols; and relax and unwind with the Tender is the Night massage bar from Lush, £6.50

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Viv Kenchington Solution Focused Hypnotherapist & Reflexologist

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THEBATHMAGAZINE THEBESTOFBATH PERFECTLYCOVERED BATHSBIGGESTMAGAZINE PERFECTLYDELIVERED TOADVERTISETEL: 01225 424499 WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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Refreshed look for spa Bath’s famous Royal Crescent Hotel has given its spa a refurbishment as a retreat for hotel guests and city residents

he Royal Crescent Hotel’s refurbishment goes from strength to strength, with the new-look restaurant and bar already welcoming visitors – and now the hotel’s hidden gem of a spa has also re-opened, following a makeover. The unwinding process begins from the minute you cross the beautiful gardens from the main building to the Dower House and spa, where the newly refurbished reception room welcomes visitors. The shelves display products from the spa’s new product partner ESPA, which are made in Soil Association approved conditions in Frome, using 99 per cent natural ingredients. Typical take-home products include the Restorative Candle which burns with the scent of palmarosa, sweet orange and lavender. The changing rooms and gym have been given a complete overhaul, but regular visitors will be pleased to find that the monastic tranquility of the heated pool remains the same. Natural woods, bamboo and slate enhance this haven, with its hot and cool tubs, steam room and sauna. The secluded first floor treatment rooms offer

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the perfect space in which to enjoy your chosen therapy, from an ESPA personalised facial, to reflexology, an ESPA Detox Wrap or a CND Shellac manicure or pedicure. Treatment prices start from £15 for various waxing processes. There’s a small room set aside as a nail studio, where CND Shellac, known as the market leader, is used. Its innovative Power Polish delivers at least a fortnight’s flawless wear and superior colour with no nail damage. The spa offers Express and Luxury pedicure and manicure options. The newly extended gym is kitted out with state of the art TechnoGym cardiovascular

equipment, free weights, a Power Plate and personal trainers on request. To celebrate the launch of the hotel’s new facilities the spa is offering bespoke membership packages for people living and working in the Bath area wanting to experience every day luxury. The packages also include special discounts for use of the hotel and Montagu Restaurant’s facilities and an extensive members events calendar to enjoy throughout the year. Membership starts from £65 per month or £700 per year. To find out more contact the Club Manager, Pearl Ollerton. Email: spa@royalcrescent.co.uk or tel: 01225 823367. ■

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Specialists in Ellipse IPL Hair Reduction & Skin Rejuvenation Treatments The Orangery Laser & Beauty Clinic, a name you can trust has been established for over 21 years and is situated in the centre of Bath. We are now offering the latest in IPL technology, the Ellipse Light SPT Plus

This system treats: Sun Damaged Skin, Facial Thread Veins, Acne & Unwanted Hair To promote the new Ellipse system for a limited time only we are offering A course of 3 IPL Skin Rejuvenation Treatments for removal or reduction of age spots, visible blood vessels, reduced redness and uneven pigmentation whilst improving skin texture

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Tel: 01225 466851 www.theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

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OUT&ABOUT

A bracing trip to the seaside Andrew Swift’s recommends an out of season visit to Weston-Super-Mare for a walk which gives you the chance to admire the architecture and revel in its Victorian heritage

hink of Weston-Super-Mare, if you will, as a 19th century version of Bath. Bath’s 18th century building boom was echoed, a century later, in Weston. Not only was Bath stone used for many of its grander terraces and crescents; several of its earliest buildings were designed by James Wilson, one of Bath’s top architects. It was, however, the elaborate buildings designed later in the century by a local man – Hans Price – that give Weston its endearingly quirky architectural flavour. Weston’s rise was even more meteoric than Bath’s. In 1801 it had 138 inhabitants. By 1841, it had just over 2,000. Then the railway arrived and, within 20 years, the population had risen to almost 13,000. It continued to grow and today Weston is the largest urban space in Somerset after Bath. Our walk will look not only at the legacy of two centuries of growth, but also at the natural beauty which attracted people here in the first place. Unfortunately, the first view of Weston from the station is not promising. The best that can be said is that things soon improve. Head out of the station, cross a zebra crossing and bear left along the main road to a roundabout. The town hall you can see on the far side was built by Wilson in 1859 and enlarged by Price in 1897. Turn left along Walliscote Road, looking out for Price’s Board Schools of 1897 on the right. Take the third left into Ellenborough Park North and turn right into Ellenborough Crescent, built in 1855. Turn right along Ellenborough Park South and left into Walliscote Road. Look out for a green man on the corner of Albert Road and buxom caryatids on the corner of Severn Road. At St Paul’s church, cross diagonally to the right into Clarence Park. Bear right along the edge of the park and carry on along Clarence Road. At the end, cross and head for the sea front. Here there is a superb view ahead to Steep Holm, with Brean Down on the left. Turn right, carry on past the Tropicana (built as an Art Deco swimming pool in 1930s, but currently derelict), the Seaquarium and the newly-rebuilt Grand Pier. After passing the 1920s Winter Gardens on the right, cross at the lights 72 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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and carry on past the Royal Hotel. On the corner of Knightstone Road, look ahead to see a thatched cottage orné – Weston’s oldest building – before turning right. Turn left along Lower Church Road and left again – past Price’s School of Art and Science – into South Terrace. Carry on round into Royal Crescent, built in 1847, before turning left into Park Place and left again. Cross and turn right along the sea front, then turn left along the causeway to Knightstone Island, where an 1830s Bath House is wedged amid an eclectic mix of later buildings, recently refurbished as flats. After following the walkway round the back of the buildings, head down a flight of steps and along a causeway to Claremont Terrace. (If the sea is rough or the tide high, you may have to divert inland.) Climb the steps at the end and carry on along the sea front. The ruins of Birnbeck Pier, built in 1867 and closed in 1994, soon come into view. The lifeboat station remained in use until 2013 but has now been abandoned as unsafe. Carry on up steps and head up the road leading away from the pier, past the site of the Grand Pier Hotel, closed in 2008, burnt out in 2009 and demolished in 2013. At the road, cross and head up steps to a park. Head across it, turn right along South Road, right down Paragon Road and left up Atlantic Road, where the terraces flanking Holy Trinity church testify to Weston’s mid-Victorian prosperity. At the crossroads carry on into Shrubbery Avenue. Just past the gargoyle-encrusted water tower, turn right along a footpath through Shrubbery Park. At the road, cross and head down a road under an ornamental footbridge with a distinctly continental air, and a superb view of the bay ahead. Bear left at the T junction by the Methodist church – with more gargoyles – and carry on past the top of Royal Crescent. Follow the road as it swings right past St John’s church, built on the site of Weston’s medieval church by James Wilson in the 1840s. He also built Oriel Terrace, across the road, at the same time. Turn left into the Garden of Fragrance, carry on into Grove Park and turn right to Wadham Street, where the Blakehay occupies a Baptist church built by Price in 1862. Turn left into Old Post Office Lane, where a

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SEASIDE SHUFFLE: main picture, the ruined Birnbeck Pier, inset, Claremont Crescent Above, left to right, the ornamental footbridge, newspaper offices and the newly rebuilt Grand Pier

derelict single-storey building with elaborate, crumbling embellishments awaits your inspection – and speculation as to what it was. Turn right and right again into West Street, where an old butcher’s shop sports carvings of Taurus and Aries. Turn left and follow the road as it swings left along South Parade. After crossing High Street, carry on along Waterloo Street, looking out on the right for an imposing row of shops, culminating in the offices of the local newspaper. It was, naturally, built by Price, as was the medieval-style Lodge of St Kew on the opposite corner. Carry on along the Boulevard and after 200 metres cross and turn right along Alfred Street – although it is worth continuing on a little way first to see the former library, built by Price in brick rather than stone, but with all his characteristic exuberance.

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Take the second right into Burlington Street, where Price’s last building, designed for the gas-light company in 1912, now houses an excellent local museum. Turn left along Orchard Street, cross the dual carriageway, carry on past the Odeon of 1935 and take the next left to return to the station. ■

FURTHER INFORMATION ■ ■ ■

Length of walk: 6 miles Approximate time: 3 – 4 hours Trains run regularly from Bath Spa station to Weston-Super-Mare

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▲

CITYinteriors Art Deco gets a modern twist with this new Diamond Cut design by Annette TaylorAnderson for her 2014 range, using Dazzle Me blue. £160 for ten metres.Visit: www.atadesigns.com Right, traditional blue and white ceramics from India Jane of Milsom Street

50 Shades of

Blue

From navy to sky, blue has a shade for every room. Darker shades can be masculine and clean, for studies and libraries, while nautical blue and white works well in bathrooms. Newer shades of vibrant cobalt bring a fresh, jazzy look to walls, sofas and accessories

▲ Beat the winter blues, says Peter Higgins of Eton Design interiors of Walcot Street, with a stunning array of Designers Guild deep cobalt blue fabrics and wall-coverings (left). Blues can be difficult to work with and generally they can be quite cold – but, carefully selected they can bring warmth and richness into a room-scheme especially when mixed with strong accent tones of peacock, orange and fuchsia

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Here blue is classic and equally at home in a period or contemporary setting. Browning large sofa in Passion Ocean with cushions in Desire Aqua, at Sofa Workshop, Milsom Street, Bath French designer Christian Lacroix has brought a splash of colour to Sofa Workshop with his Butterfly Parade Lagoon fabric, on the Grande Dame sofa, from £2,799

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CITYinteriors

Wallpaper designer Annette TaylorAnderson has created this Heavenly Cocktails print for a range using 2014 Dazzle Me blue. £160 for ten metres.Visit: www.atadesigns.com

To boldly go: clockwise, from left, Stiffkey blue by Farrow & Ball for emulating that period Whitechapel air, above F&B blue gives this bathroom a crisp, clean feel, and this shade (right) is St Giles’ blue, fresh and springlike. Below Sanderson’s classic Toile du Juoy and below left, Charming Charles sofa in Urban Denim from Sofa Workshop

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CITYgardening

WINTER CHORES: main picture, Jane tackling pruning the coloured dogwood. Right, the delicate hues of hellebores are a delight at this time of year

Keep warm and carry on Everything in the garden may be calm and quiet but that’s no excuse to slacken off, says Jane Moore

eople always wonder what professional gardeners do in the winter months. They can see that summer keeps us busy with frenzied mowing, edging and weeding, while autumn is full of cutting back, tidying up and raking leaves for what seems like forever. Even in the run up to Christmas you’ll find us fully occupied with twinkly lights, holly and mistletoe procurement among various seasonally random jobs. “But what do you do in January and February?” is the question I face at every Christmas party. Now the keen gardeners among you will be shaking your heads, knowing that we will in fact be very busy. Okay the days are nowhere near as pressured or as frantic as in spring and summer – time and bindweed are not running amok as they do then – but this is when we get Creative (oh yes, with a capital C). This is when we can make big, bold changes to the garden with all the time in the world to bring things to completion. We set to cutting new borders, planting trees and moving shrubs about. We make a new path or build a wall, re-position pots and statues and re-shape entire beds. We also scarify the lawns, re-gravel the paths and clean out the ponds. It’s basically the best time to spring clean and re-arrange the garden much like you would the living room at home. Bigger and muddier but just as much fun.

Make a wish list

Don’t knock it until you’ve given it a try. Make a wish list of everything you’d like to do then halve or quarter it depending on your temperament. Digging out a new border always takes longer than you think but it is a great project to see you through into spring. Scarifying the lawn usually takes less time than you imagine – especially if you hire a machine – and it’s a good workout for these sedentary weeks post Christmas.

Think big

Digging out a new border or re-shaping an old one is the stuff that gets us gardeners really excited. It’s all about putting your stamp on the garden and making it your own. Remember that gardens are just like your living room really. You can always take plants out and put turf back in if a plan doesn’t work just as you can re-paper or paint if your chocolate brown and pink 72 78 THEBATHMAGAZINE THEBATHMAGAZINE

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colour scheme turns out badly. Obviously try your best to get it right first time by marking out the shape of the border first and looking at it for a week or so to make sure you like it. Look at areas of the garden that don’t work for you – the lawn never grows because it’s too shaded by a big tree, the plants always get windblown on that corner – and think through solutions. Maybe you could make a shade border of ferns and tree stumps under that tree, plant a windbreak hedge on that corner to provide shelter or pick lower growing more wind tolerant plants.

Routine maintenance

Alongside all the fun creative stuff you need to keep a grip on the routine matters too. Getting ahead of things now will pay you huge dividends when it all kicks off in the spring. Prune things like wisteria, apples and pears, fruit bushes and any overgrown and out-of-hand deciduous shrubs such as Philadelphus, Cotinus and Deutzia. These and the coloured stem dogwoods can be hit hard every now and then to keep them in order although you won’t get many flowers for a year or two. You can also get on top of pruning clematis and start cutting back any perennials and grasses you left for winter interest. In this mild region it’s also a great time to get on with lifting and dividing herbaceous perennials. Not only will this give you more plants for that new border you’ve created but it also does wonders for reviving tired or poorly flowering clumps. This is one of those jobs that stays permanently on my wish list as there is always more to divide than I can possibly achieve. But we chip away and do a bit each year.

Pretty little things

Reward your hard work with a couple of pretty jobs to lift your spirits and remind yourself that spring is on its way. One of my favourite winter jobs is to de-leaf the oriental hellebores, cutting off all the old leaves at ground level to expose the flowers. It’s a job I hoard and then savour on a sunny day as it’s so rewarding to rid the plants of coarse, spotted old leaves revealing the delicacy of the flowers. ■ Jane Moore is the award winning gardener at the Bath Priory Hotel, you can follow her on Twitter @janethegardener.

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the directory

to advertise in this section call 01225 424 499

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Health, Beauty & Wellbeing Advertise your Business in this space for as little as £55 per month and get 2 FREE.

Baby Equipment Hire in and around Bath www.babyquip-bath.co.uk

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PROPERTYin FOCUS

he Garden Apartment forms part of an elegant Grade II listed townhouse in one of the city’s most envied situations, being within walking distance of the centre yet tucked away and with easy access to the canal and the National Trust land around Prior Park. At garden level, the large sitting room has a Bath stone fireplace, an arched sash window and French windows into the garden. There is also a bedroom a bathroom and plenty of storage including a wine vault with original stone bins. At lower ground level, the kitchen/breakfast is traditional in style with lots of interesting features, a flagstone floor and space for a range oven. The very flexible space continues with another bedroom, dining room/bedroom three, shower room, utility room, study area and further storage. Outside, the charming south west facing walled garden is a delight and offers fabulous views across the city. There are two terraces and a lawn from which to enjoy the scene and again, plenty of storage. This is a very versatile home in a highly sought after area and viewing is recommended by appointment with agents Pritchards

Pritchards, 11 Quiet Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 466225

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THE GARDEN APARTMENT 10A WIDCOMBE CRESCENT • Garden level maisonette • Charming garden with views • Two/three bedrooms • Bathroom & shower room • Features galore

Guide price: £625,000

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We are interested in purchasing a property letting agency or taking on a portfolio of properties in Bath or the surrounding area. Complete discretion assured. Cash buyer.

Please email : jane@sonicstate.com

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pritchard-partners.co.uk

Marshfield An impressive double fronted G II Listed Village house with an attractive level garden and a large detached workshop and double garage with room above, retaining a great deal of character & wonderful room proportions. Int area hs 3178 sq ft/295 sq m. Master bedroom en suite & 4 further bedrooms, en suite & family bathroom, 2 receptions, superb kitchen/dining rm. Upper floor reception area/playroom. Cellar.

Guide Price ÂŁ850,000

Eveleigh Avenue An immaculately presented & very well proportioned 3 double bed terraced house set in most pleasant location. Int. area 1067 sq ft/99.2 sq m. Full depth sitting rm, cloakrm, good sized kitchen/diner, 3 double bedrms - 1 en suite & bathrm. Beautiful landscaped gdns. Garage with utility.

Price ÂŁ415,000 Scan to access our Website Homepage

PRITCHARDS FEB.indd 1

11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB

Tel: 01225 466 225

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THINKINGproperty

Understanding your buyer…

Peter Greatorex, Managing Director of The Apartment Company gives his insight into how a great floor plan will help sell or let your apartment… Peter Greatorex

uying a new property is pretty scary really. With all the hype over the last few years about negative equity, dodgy surveys and double and treble-dip recessions, it’s understandable if buyers have mixed emotions when they find a property they love. When you’re selling, it’s really important to appreciate your buyer’s motivations and issues in order to be better placed to negotiate with them successfully, and end up with a committed buyer and a good deal. We at The Apartment Company have brainstormed and come up with five ‘rules of thumb’ to follow, so that the outcome is a happy one for both of you:

Every month The Bath Magazine brings you a selection of properties from Bath's most commercially active estate agents. These agents advertise with us as part of their broad selection of print and online media to ensure your property is marketed to the highest standards and the greatest audience. If you are thinking of selling your property this year, then consider using one of our featured estate agencies to give you the best possible service.

1. Don’t rush them – if your buyer is a little jittery and seem to be taking ages to make up their minds, be patient and give them space 2. Compete well – investigate your competition – your buyer may well be considering other apartments before deciding to make an offer, so make sure you’re the best on show. The more enquiries your agent can generate will result in more viewings, more offers and ultimately the best price.

Justify your choice of estate agent and get the exposure you’ve been promised...

3. Give a little away – property buying and selling is a very fraught time, with many obstacles to be overcome before completion. If you have the foundations of a good relationship with your buyers, they will feel more willing to make compromises and be flexible over say, included fixtures and fittings or completion dates. 4. Communication – The Apartment Company have dedicated sales progression team who liaise with buyers/sellers/solicitors/surveyors and mortgage brokers to keep our sales on track. If things start getting a little tense, it might be an idea to ask your agent to facilitate a ‘round table meeting’. By discussing matters face-to-face with your buyers, there is less chance of misunderstanding occurring. This is optional but it can help to strengthen a deal.and fittings or completion dates.

5. Expect the unexpected – there is a chance that your buyer may get cold feet, may lose their buyer, have their mortgage offer withdrawn or may try to gazunder you so it’s vital you have a backup plan. Sales do occasionally fall through so it is important your agent has back buyers for that event. Being an apartment specialist, 100% of buyers are looking for apartments and we have re-sold apartments within hours of a sale falling through. Keeping your buyer ‘onside’ means that the inevitable obstacles and challenges you meet along the way won’t seem so insurmountable, and the outcome will be a genuine win-win. The Apartment Company: 01225 471144.

Bath’s biggest monthly magazine Also online at www.thebathmag.co.uk 84 THEBATHMAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2014

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Lansdown Place West This beautiful period apartment offers wonderfully light and airy accommodation having just had new carpets and a fresh coat of paint. The apartment offers very flexible living space so could suit a couple or family alike, depending on how you arrange the rooms. The accommodation briefly comprises; principle reception room with lovely views thanks to the elevated position, dining room/family room with vaulted skylight, kitchen/breakfast room, four decent bedrooms and two bath/shower rooms.

£1,850 pcm • • • • •

Spacious rooms Two bathrooms Wonderful views Kitchen/dining room Four bedrooms

Bath Office

Lettings 01225 458546 | Sales. 01225 459817

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Bewley Barn, Lacock A stunning barn conversion forming a spectacular five bedroom single storey house wrapped around a private open courtyard, this property has been newly renovated and redecorated to the highest possible standard throughout.

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Newtown, Bradford-on-Avon, £865,000 The Old Seven Stars is very well located. Newtown lies on the northern slopes only short walk to the beautiful town centre & to countryside walks by the river & canal. Bradford-on-Avon is rich in shops, restaurants & cafes. It is well served by amenities & rail links to Bath & Bristol for high street shopping & entertainment. The accommodation is very attractive & comfortably proportioned throughout. The two main receptions are at the front of the house; the sitting room in particular has an impressive fire place. The recently fitted & fashionably large kitchen is at the rear joining the house to the garden. This is surely the heart of the home; ideal for cooking, chatting, eating & drinking. Upstairs are five double bedrooms with increasingly fine views the higher you go! There are two ensuites & family bathroom. We find a cellar with workshop, utility & storage room plus various vaults. The garden is well designed & landscaped offering lots of space to sit out in the sunshine. Of particular interest is the lofty roof terrace over the double garage – the perfect spot to take in the views with friends or family. An exceptional home – well located.

☎ 01225 866747 27 Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1LL email: info@jeremyjenkins.co.uk • website: www.jeremyjenkins.co.uk

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Experience the difference

here will be a new face on Corsham High Street from next week. Well, not so new as it turns out. HF Lettings has actually been based on the High Street since 2006, but you could be forgiven if you hadn’t noticed them. Until now the team has been tucked away in a first floor office. On 20th January 2014 however, the business moved to spacious offices in a prime position at the top of the High Street, opposite their sister company, Hunter French estate agents. “It’s exciting times for us,” says director Laura Larkin. “Business is thriving. We have smart new offices, and a new team member Gareth Collin.” Not that being out of the public eye has done HF Lettings any harm to date. Statistics show that even out of the public gaze, Laura has built a business that has been the market leader for rental houses in SN13* for at least the last four years, with over 40% of the market share. And it’s professional interest stretches far wider, to Larkhall on the outskirts of Bath in the west, and to villages above the A420 and below the A4 as far flung as Burton and Broughton Gifford. “The fact that we haven’t had a huge visible presence up until now doesn’t seem to have had any impact at all,” Laura explains. “The majority of our landlords come to us through personal recommendation.” And these are landlords who come back year after year. Laura puts their success down to experience, but most importantly, high professional standards. “I don’t come from an estate agent background, but from the corporate world, where integrity and a high standard of professionalism are expected. So that’s what I expect from my team. The relationships we build with our landlords may go on for years and years. You won’t keep a client for that long without providing an efficient and carefully tailored service. Perhaps that is what makes us such a popular choice.”

Although HF Lettings offers a simple introduction service, the majority of it’s landlords prefer them to manage the let on a continuing basis, removing the time and stress that may be involved. The service begins with finding the ideal tenant, and then managing the relationship between them and the landlord, so that the business of letting or renting is virtually invisible. There is a rigorous vetting process for tenants, which starts from the initial consultation, to ensure that the best person is living in, and taking care of, your home, and three-monthly house checks ensure all is well. One unique benefit HF Lettings offers is a member of staff, Matthew Bowden whose sole charge is to deal with property maintenance and inspections. This ensures that once a problem is identified, both landlord and tenant can be reassured that it will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately. The assumption might be that HF Lettings is a subsection of Hunter French estate agents, but in fact they are two separate limited companies, who work in partnership to provide a full range of housing services, without any conflict of interests. “The fact that we are a separate entity from Hunter French works in our clients’ favour,” explains Sally-Anne Gardener-Wollen, Branch Manager “Estate agents make most of their money through sales, so landlords tend to get put to the back of the queue. Our landlords and tenants are our first consideration, and our whole team is dedicated to meeting their needs. And then if we find someone requires the services of an estate agent, we can point them across the road to Hunter French. And they do the same for us.” So is this move a step towards bigger things? “We don’t want to become a big corporate lettings agent,” Laura says. “We prefer to be local experts. Nobody knows this area better than we do. Our landlords and tenants trust us to do the best by them. And that is what we will continue to do.” *Taken from www.vizzihome.co.uk – an independent market analysis company

Corsham Office: 01249 716333 • Bath Office: 01225 444488 16 High Street, Corsham, SN13 0HB |

www.hflettings.co.uk |

e: info@hflettings.co.uk

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hunter french

town and country specialists

CHAPEL PLAISTER, BOX, NR BATH - £425,000 A charming four bedroom character cottage with private front and rear gardens surrounded by open countryside set amidst this pretty hamlet close to the World Heritage City of Bath. The cottage was built in the 1920's in a Cotswold style with random stone, and Cotswold stone tiled roof with attractive dorma windows to the front that match the pretty porch. The house has been extended over the years making it an ideal family home. No Onward Chain.

RAINBOW COTTAGE, SHAW - £795,000 Rainbow Cottage is a beautiful four bedroom detached family house set in lovely gardens in the sought after village of Shaw. Built in c. 19th century, the cottage has an imposing yet charming façade. This delightful home has undergone refurbishment and improvement over the years including a superb balcony to the rear with far reaching views over farmland. There is also a triple garage along with ample parking.

Corsham Office: 01249 715775 www.hunterfrench.co.uk |

e: info@hunterfrench.co.uk

Fidelis

Residential Sales & Lettings

01225 421000 wwww.fidelisproperties.co.uk

Moravian Place

ÂŁ172,500

Beckhampton Road

ÂŁ269,950

Fidelis Estate Agents 134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH

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Fidelis

Residential Sales & Lettings

Wellsway

01225 421000 wwww.fidelisproperties.co.uk

ÂŁ425,000

Midford Road

ÂŁ479,950

Fidelis Estate Agents 134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH

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ENTRY HILL

ÂŁ595,000

This beautifully appointed, family sized, detached home is one of four similar properties, situated in a sought after family location, along a private drive off Entry Hill. Close to excellent schools and enjoying a fantastic outlook overlooking Entry Hill Golf Course. Hall, sitting room, dining room, study, cloakroom, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, master bedroom (with en-suite shower room), 3 further double bedrooms and family bathroom. Detached double garage and separate garden room with cloakroom under. Gardens. Approximate gross internal floor area house: 1,570 square feet / 146 square metres. Approximate gross internal floor area annexe: 180 square feet / 17 square metres. EPC = D.

1 Hayes Place, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 4QW

01225 422 224

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BEAR FLAT

ÂŁ499,950

This gorgeous and very spacious Edwardian family home has been thoroughly and lovingly modernised and now offers sparkling, crisp accommodation on the cusp of the City centre and Bear Flat. Open vestibule, hallway, sitting room, family room, large kitchen/dining room, split-level landing, 3 double bedrooms, bathroom and shower room. Small front and rear gardens. Gas central heating and double glazing. Approximate gross internal floor area: 1,520square feet / 141 square metres. EPC = D.

www.mark-naylor.com

email: homes@mark-naylor.com

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

LE ED A S RE AG

St Andrews Terrace Guide Price £795,000 Situated on a pedestrian street in the heart of Bath, this elegant 21st Century three storey townhouse offers city centre living and stylish accommodation over three floors. With 3/4 bedrooms, en-suite and family bathroom, impressive drawing room and dining room with integrated kitchen and garden. EPC:C.

Lansdown Crescent

Guide Price £615,000

A well presented three bedroom city apartment self-contained on the upper two floors of this Grade I Listed Georgian townhouse situated within one of Bath’s elegant crescents enjoying far reaching views. Lansdown Crescent is amongst the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the country and these prestigious homes are amongst the most sought after in the City.

Bath Office

Sales. 01225 459817 | Lettings 01225 458546

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Miles’s Buildings Guide Price £795,000 This imposing Grade II listed Georgian townhouse is located in a central pedestrian area in the heart of Bath city. With an enclosed garden and many period features including box sash bay windows with working shutters overlooking the walled garden, complementing a John Wood The Younger facade.

Perrymead Guide Price £520,000 A pretty two bedroom period cottage situated in the most sought after address of Perrymead, just south of the city centre. The house is well presented with an attractive walled garden with wonderful views of the city and surrounding countryside. EPC:E

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Box Fashioned in the distinctive Bath stone, Lamb House is a unique home and one of the most prominent properties in Box, standing in an elevated position with views across this pretty village and Box Hill.With its contemporary style and yet warm and homely feel, Lamb House has graced the pages of interior design magazines in recent years. Built in the mid-1700s it was once a popular country inn with its very own skittle team. Local folklore has it the inn was at one time run by the grandfather of legendry singer,Tom Jones. It was sometime in the 1960s it ceased to be an inn though the skittle alley remains and is ripe for conversion into an apartment, granny flat or holiday let.

“I lived and worked in London, but an opportunity arose to work from home too, hence the move. Being so close to Bath (just six miles away) with all its cultural connections and with a 1hr and 15 minute commute to Paddington (from nearby Chippenham station) made Box an ideal location. The quaint town of Corsham - with its boutiques, bookshops, delicatessens and eateries – is also just a short drive away. ”

“We set about refurbishing the kitchen and dining area with the help of a kitchen designer, and updating the décor throughout. I especially love the study.”

LAMB HOUSE DESIRABLE LOCATION * GRADE II LISTED * 5 BEDROOMS * 2 BATHROOMS * STUDY * GARDEN * OUTBUILDING * PARKING

Contact: 01225 320032

£775,000

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Bath This historic Georgian coach house has been fastidiously converted into a stunning family home. Set close to the renowned Lansdown Crescent, in a quiet and peaceful location, the property is just over a mile from the centre of the fabulous city of Bath. The owners were delighted to purchase this charming house eight years ago, especially as the previous owner had undertaken such a tasteful and professional refurbishment of the house. The modern contemporary design offers accommodation that is both spacious and flexible: perfect for busy family life.The lower ground floor is very much the hub of the house, particularly the state of the art kitchen/family area. Steps lead to another reception room which has been

utilised for formal dining, play and a family library. The house is ideal for entertaining, and the owners enjoy welcoming friends and family whatever the occasion. The private, terraced, garden which is of Italianate style, is an area of beauty, peace and tranquillity, but also perfect for friendly BBQs. One of the terraces has an enchanting water feature which offers its own magic.

“This is a home which has provided an outstanding quality of life and happiness for the owners; memories of which will stay with them forever”

UPPER LANSDOWN, MEWS 3 BEDROOMS * 2 RECEPTIONS ROOMS * KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM * 2 BATHROOMS * GARDEN *GARAGE * EPC RATING = E

Contact: 01225 320032

£1,100,000

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Northanger Court

Offers in Excess of ÂŁ450,000

Riverside apartment | Spacious accommodation | Three double bedrooms | Lift access | Communal garden | Secure parking space | Investment opportunity Northanger Court is situated within the heart of the City Centre and enjoys a beautiful riverside location. The bright and well-proportioned accommodation comprises: spacious sitting room with four large windows overlooking the river, well-appointed kitchen with space for a table and chairs, master bedroom with en-suite shower room and two further double bedrooms. The apartment benefits from lift access, a private parking space and well maintained communal lawns. Situated within a short level walk of the World Heritage City of Bath this apartment would make an ideal home or city pad.

Brock Street

Offers in Excess of ÂŁ375,000

Grade II listed | Georgian apartment | Lateral conversion | Two double bedrooms | Bespoke kitchen | Sought after location in the heart of the City Centre A beautifully presented and recently refurbished two bedroom Georgian apartment situated in the highly sought after location of Brock Street. This laterally converted apartment affords well-proportioned accommodation consisting of a very spacious sitting room, stylish kitchen/breakfast room with integrated appliances, two double bedrooms and a newly fitted luxury bathroom. The apartment has wonderful views of Royal Victoria Park to the rear and Brock Street and The Circus to the front.

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Holbourne Place

Offers in Excess of ÂŁ360,000

Georgian apartment | Grade II listed | Beautifully presented | Bright and spacious | Two double bedrooms | Sought after location | EPC rating: C A beautifully presented first floor apartment set within an elegant Georgian style building. The immaculate and well-presented accommodation comprises: open plan kitchen/sitting room with views towards Henrietta Park, two bright and spacious double bedrooms and a luxury bathroom. The apartment benefits from Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware, lift access, underfloor heating throughout and secure, gated parking. Located moments away from Henrietta Park and the World Heritage City of Bath, this apartment would make a perfect home or city pad.

Park Lane

Offers in Excess of ÂŁ315,000

Georgian apartment | Grade II listed | Beautifully presented | Bright and spacious | Modern interior | Communal gardens | Garage and visitor parking A stylish and contemporary second floor apartment in a prime residential location opposite the Royal Victoria Park which covers 57 acres and offers facilities such as tennis courts, botanical gardens and a playground. The well-proportioned and beautifully presented accommodation comprises: hallway, large sitting room with space for a dining table and fabulous views towards the park, modern kitchen with fully integrated appliances, two spacious double bedrooms with ample storage space and a luxury bathroom. The apartment benefits from a private garage and communal garden.

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The Grange

£1300 pcm Rivers Street

£1200 pcm

A spacious two bedroom garden apartment close to the City Centre. Centrally located two bedroom second floor apartment offering spacious The luxury apartment enjoys a peaceful setting and is presented in good accommodation including a bright and spacious sitting room, well equipped decorative order with attractive sash windows and solid oak wood flooring. fitted kitchen/breakfast room, two double bedrooms and luxury bathroom.

Cavendish Place

£1150 pcm Grosvenor Place

£950 pcm

Fabulous one bedroom Grade I listed immaculately presented apartment This stunning grade I listed Georgian apartment is located within walking within an impressive Georgian house close to the City Centre. Comprising: distance of the City Centre. The apartment is well presented throughout. fabulous sitting room, kitchen, double bedroom and a bathroom. Unfurnished. Available immediately.

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