The Bath Magazine May 2017 by MC Publishing Limited

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thebathmag.co.uk

JUMP 19-28 INMAY ISSUE 176 | MAY 2017 £3.95 where sold

Mary Berry. Salman Rushdie. Ali Smith. Colm Toibin. Victoria Hislop. Sebastian Barry. India Knight. Madeleine Peyroux. Brad Mehldau Trio. Georgie Fame. Martin Carthy. Steven Isserlis. Tenebrae. Jeremy Denk. Richard Goode. Ann Murray.

THE CITY’S BIGGEST MONTHLY GUIDE TO LIFE AND LIVING IN BATH

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Contents May 2017 5 THINGS

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Your essential events in Bath in May

MY BATH

BATH@WORK

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FOOD AND DRINK

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Nici Jones, B&B owner shares a few of her favourite things

Locally blended tea, rare gins and a café in the countryside

GUEST COLUMN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

TOP DOWN

Professor of chemical engineering Semali Perera on the campaign to get more young women pursuing careers in science and technology

Chris Lilly puts the new Mini Convertible through its paces

LANDMARK BIRTHDAY

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Celebrating the Royal Crescent’s 250th anniversary

FACE THE MUSIC

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Fun days out for the family

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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THE WALK

Strong women themed events and other highlights

Historic and natural beauty near Kilmersdon

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A diverse and delightful alt fest programme

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ICONIC PROPERTY

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GARDENING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Jane Moore’s planning visits to horticultural fairs and festivals

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What’s hanging in the city’s galleries and open studios

A GOOD READ

Inside the magnificent Georgian Cleveland House

Theatre, comedy, music, talks and exhibitions

ART FOR MAY

FAMILY DIARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

THE BATH FESTIVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

FRINGE BENEFITS

The Gainsborough spa plus the latest products and treatments

Samba musician and teacher Robbie Verrecchia

WHAT’S ON

Neill Menneer’s professional portrait of the month

MEET THE AGENT

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Alex Bowater of Andrews Estate Agents

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Books by authors visiting The Bath Festival

LOST IN AUSTEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

ON THE COVER

Jump In: The Bath Festival 2017, which opens on Friday 19 May

A literary pilgrimage to Winchester and Chawton in Hampshire

Even more great content online: thebathmag.co.uk

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EDITOR’S PICKS CREATIVE CITY: we love the fact that there are so many people in Bath with the ideas and the energy to carry out some brilliant, original projects. Innovative fashion and music photographer Marc Aitken left his city home for the wild woods of Wiltshire where he shot a series of images called Two Worlds and In Between. Credits: styling and head-dresses by Felicity Keefe: felicitykeefe.com Set dressing by Bath garden designer Capability Charlotte, capabilitycharlotte.com, location Chris Liversidge, The Garden Business Ltd, MUA Claire Louise Bender at House of Bendy. The full shoot and credits can be found at: marcaitken.com.

from the

EDITOR

e’ve been talking about it for months and sharing highlights with you, and now it’s finally here – The Bath Festival, embracing for the first year in its history both music and literature. The festivities begin with a ta-dah! on Friday 19 May, with the free Party in the City and continue for ten days, featuring a wealth of visiting talent and stars. Big names including Sir Salman Rushdie, Ed Balls, Fay Weldon, Georgie Fame, Mary Berry and Madeleine Peyroux will be coming to Bath. It’s all very exciting and The Bath Magazine is proud to be a media partner for this cultural jewel in the city’s festival crown. So our May issue is necessarily reflective of what we’ve got to look forward to. Be inspired to attend a concert or talk at The Bath Festival, but also check out the Bath Fringe Festival programme, packed with original events both indoors and out. There’s also the FaB17, an art-themed festival which encourages all kinds of unique creative projects. They say you can’t throw a paint brush in this city without hitting an artist, and there’s proof of this as dozens of artists take part in the monthlong Bath Open Studios project. Each weekend for the next few weeks artists in Larkhall, Newbridge, Widcombe and Bear Flat will throw open their ateliers to visitors, who are free to call in and chat. Given that Bath is such a good city for walking about, with so many nice places to stop for coffee or lunch, this sounds like a delightful way to spend a weekend. And as we throw open the pages of The Bath Magazine in an equally welcomingly manner, there’s lots to see. Jessica Hope tells the stories of some of the famous people who’ve lived in the Royal Crescent (see Page 18) as this remarkable city landmark prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its foundation. There’s a programme of events to mark this birthday, so be sure to be part of this historic occasion. Our What’s On pages, which begin on Page 26, are a smorgasbord of things to do and see in the city, while the Family Diary (Page 68) has lots of ideas for entertaining the children. Bath is famed for its architecture and I was privileged to be one of the first journalists to get a show-round of the beautifully, refurbished Cleveland House. This magnificent Georgian property, which stands astride the Kennet and Avon Canal, has been converted from offices into a private house – take a look for yourself on Page 84. I’m sure you think that an editor’s life is all swanning about, living on a diet of prosecco and canapés – but I promise you that’s far from the truth. But I did get to indulge in a day in the Gainsborough’s spa village (Page 70). And yes, it is absolutely fabulous, dahlings . . . Georgette McCready Editor

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

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DESIGNERS OF THE FUTURE: students from Bath Spa University are putting the final touches to their creations for this year’s Graduate Fashion Week, which takes place in London from Sunday 4 to Tuesday 7 June. The university has seen many winners from its collections in previous years and we wish them continued success. To buy tickets: graduatefashionweek.com.

EATING ADVENTURES: there are some exciting pop-ups happening in Bath this month. Former MasterChef winner Ping Coombes is holding a Malaysian themed evening at Searcys’ The Roman Baths Kitchen, while Cook with Jaq is holding one of her regular series of suppers at The Wild Café. Both are on Thursday 25 May. For Ping’s event visit: designmynight.com and to book for CookwithJaq see Facebook.

be it gentleman or lady, who has ❝ Thenotperson, pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid ❞ JANE AUSTEN: NORTHANGER ABBEY

English novelist, 1775 – 1817

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ZEITGEIST Enter

things to do in

May

Enjoy Lucky us, living or working in a city that has such an amazing cultural happening as The Bath Festival to look forward to – with the opening night of live music all absolutely free. Party in the City takes place in venues across the city on Friday 19 May, kicking off this year’s new-look festival which celebrates both music and literature. The Bath Festival runs from 19 to Sunday 28 May, while the Bath Fringe runs from Friday 26 May until Sunday 11 June, as does Bath’s own art festival, FaB17. Look out for free street theatre and popexhibitions throughout both festivals. Find out more about The Bath Festival on Pages 24 and 25, and the Fringe and FaB17 on Pages 34 and 35.

DANCING IN THE STREET: free music for Party in the City which opens The Bath Festival on Friday 19 May

PREVIOUSLY: The Fox Went Out on a Moonlit Night by Rosie Mack

Visit

Artists compete for hanging space in the annual Bath Society of Artists Summer Exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery. This year’s entries need to be taken to the gallery on Saturday 13 May between 10am and 3.30pm. For terms and conditions visit: bsartists.co.uk. More on Page 36.

Celebrate Join in the celebrations this month for the 250th anniversary of the foundations being laid for one of Bath’s greatest landmarks, the Royal Crescent. On Friday 19 May between 8pm and 10pm a light show will be played dramatically across the front of No1. There’ll be more fun and games throughout the weekend of 19 – 21 May. Find out more about the crescent and some of its famous past residents on Page 18.

AT 44AD: Abbey Yellow by Heidi Laughton

Every weekend until the end of May, dozens of artists are throwing open their studio doors across the city to invite visitors in to see their original artwork, watch demonstrations or join workshops. Bath Open Studios is a great opportunity to meet professional and amateur artists, talk about their work and ideas or just enjoy browsing. There is painting, printmaking, photography and sculpture on show as well as glass, jewellery, ceramics and textile art. You might even buy a piece of original art at an affordable price, or feel inspired to take up a new creative activity. See Page 42.

See Bath’s tourist attractions have teamed up with destinations in Bristol to run a Bristol and Bath Residents Weekend from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 May. This gives everyone who lives in a BS or BA postcode the chance to apply online for free entry to attractions including The Roman Baths and Fashion Museum in Bath and to join tours of venues including the Bristol Old Vic and SS Great Britain. To encourage us all to behave like tourists on our own doorsteps First Bus is also offering a day ticket with unlimited travel in the First West of England area for £10 for up to five people. You will need to register with: firstgroup.com for the bus deal but be quick to apply for the free admission offers at: bbresweekend.co.uk as free places are limited in number.

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PLAY THE TOURIST: free tours of SS Great Britain are up for grabs

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ist

THE CITY THE BUZZ

Appointed

The new director at the Holburne Museum will be Dr Chris Stephens, who is currently head of displays and lead curator for modern British art at Tate Britain, where he curated the record-breaking David Hockney retrospective. Dr Stephens is a distinguished expert on 20th century British art and has curated successful shows at Tate St Ives, including Barbara Hepworth’s Centenary. He has done much research into artists in Cornwall in the 1940s and 50s. He will be replacing Holburne director Jennifer Scott, who has taken up a directorship at Dulwich Picture Gallery, following a successful Bruegel exhibition at the Holburne, which runs until June.

Enlighten

In April’s issue we inadvertantly moved one of the Bath Decorative and Fine Arts Society’s lectures to an evening slot, instead of its correct lunchtime hour of 1.30pm. Visitors are invited to attend the next lecture at the Guildhall, on Monday 8 May, which is on the theme of 18th century cabinet maker Hepplewhite. Lecturer J Karczewski-Slowikowski’s subject is Uniting Elegance with Utility: George (and Alice) Hepplewhite. Visitors are also welcome at another lecture at the Guildhall, on Monday 5 June at 1.30pm, in which Toby Faber will speak on the subject, The Imperial Eggs of Carl Fabergé Before the Revolution. Carl Fabergé made 50 fabulous and unique jewelled eggs – Easter presents from Russia’s last two emperors to their wives. These lectures provide us with an opportunity to expand our knowledge of a wide range of subjects. No booking is required, with £8 payable for each lecture on the door.

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My BATH

We ask Nici Jones co-owner of family-run B&B Three Abbey Green what she’s doing this month What brought you to Bath? I grew up in Frome, Chantry and Wells. My sister and I always had our hearts set on living in Bath. I was lucky enough to move here in 2001 with my husband Alan. This led me from teaching biology and chemistry at asecondary school to running a B&B – an obvious career path? What are you reading? I love to read and was voracious in my earlier life, especially sci-fi. A friend has recommended Roboteer by Alex Lamb. My son Finlay is finally getting the reading bug and was lent the graphic novel of Guards! Guards! This has drawn me back to re-reading Terry Pratchett, novels that are like putting on comfortable slippers. And make me snigger too . . . Mr B’s Reading Emporium is always a source of inspiration – Ink by Alice Broadway is on my list. What music are you listening to? I have been compiling a playlist with the help of friends of ‘must listen to’ tracks for my son. It is eclectic and spans several decades – although a strong theme is alternative 80s music. Consequently, I have been secretly revisiting the music of my youth and enjoying the nostalgia. Which café or restaurant takes your fancy? I try to find excuses to visit The Circus Restaurant, a favourite from the first time I ate there. We now have a dog, so going out takes a little more preparation than it used to if we want to take Bear. The Boston Tea Party on Alfred Street is a regular, dog friendly haunt, as is Café Lucca. I steal away to Olé Tapas with girlfriends for great plates of food, espresso martinis and gossip. Your passions? What hobbies or interests will you be pursuing? May holds excitement for me as it is the start of the outside world producing goodies. I shall be starting to make jam with rhubarb from the allotment, and making cordial, with hedgerow foraged elderflower. There will also be our annual camping trip – last year it was –5C on the second night and I had to remove myself to somewhere cosier. Fingers crossed it is a tad warmer this year.

What local outdoor activity or event will you be doing or visiting? I am really looking forward to the start of two weeks of the Bath Festival, which kicks off with the musical/artistic playground of Party in the City on Friday 19 May – a fantastic free annual event. Then, on Sunday 21 May, Abbey Green will be hosting the Independent Bath Market for the first time, an initiative brought to reality by the hard work of a new neighbour in Abbey Green, Silvana at The Foodie Bugle. I cannot wait to find out who will be there – all traders will be local to Bath. What a weekend this will be! Film or play? What will you be going to see this month? My son and I have been desperately waiting for Guardians of the Galaxy 2 – we will be at The Little Theatre Cinema watching that at half term. Finlay and I are also hoping his father has remembered to get tickets for Fantastic Mr Fox at the Theatre Royal. There will be trouble if he hasn’t . . . What else are you up to? My family have been in the B&B business (threeabbeygreen.com) for 15 years in June. My parents Sue and Derek are using this opportunity to have a party to thank the local businesses we work with, celebrate and raise awareness of the fantastic work of the Children’s Hospice South West (chsw.org.uk). We have supported this charity for a long time through selling jam and marmalade at our bed and breakfast. All the money raised goes to the charity. We have always had a place in our hearts for children’s charities. Sue worked in the Ronald MacDonald House at Alderhey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool after leaving teaching, a charity that provides free home away from home accommodation to families while their child is in hospital. She then worked in an adult hospice in Bristol. We both worked closely with children in our previous careers and wanted to be involved with a children’s charity in the south west – CHSW was absolutely everything that we wanted to support. n

We’re following @VisitBathBiz. If you run a business in Bath you’d be advised to use Twitter to help raise your profile. It may not have 14,400 plus followers like @TheBathMagazine but it’s there to help promote the city to tourists and boost the local economy.

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See more online www.thebathmag.co.uk

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Editor Tel: Email:

Georgette McCready 01225 424592 georgette@thebathmagazine.co.uk

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Jane Miklos jane@thebathmagazine.co.uk

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

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

2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Telephone: 01225 424499. Fax: 01225 426677 www.thebathmag.co.uk ÂŠ MC Publishing Ltd 2017 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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Different from flowers : A gift box for any occasion Nablus Soap Â£9.95

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GUEST | COLUMNIST

WE NEED TO INSPIRE NEXT GENERATION

Semali Perera, professor of chemical engineering at the University of Bath, on the gender gap in engineering

hile the number of women in high-up industry positions is lacking, the number of women I meet every day who are building companies, in charge of multimillion pound technology projects and helping communities is immense. In the UK, only 13% (693,000) of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce are women. According to the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) statistics, 15.8% of engineering and technology undergraduates are female. However, women account for only 5.5 percent of the engineering workforce in the UK and less than four percent of engineering technicians (IET 2015). It is also reported that STEM women earn on average £140,000 less than men over their working careers. Once in work, many female engineers report high job satisfaction, although there are still problems within the industry regarding the retention of women. For example, two-thirds of female engineers do not resume their engineering jobs after taking maternity leave [IPPR: September 2014]. Women working in science are less likely to take career breaks than women in other occupations. Among many reasons cited by critics of the disparity of women in STEM, like the lack of female role models and encouragement, alongside childcare, stereotype threat is the most prominent. As boys are still stereotypically seen as better scientists and mathematicians, they are encouraged to embrace the topics from a young age and inevitably become more confident in their abilities. It’s been recorded that 70% of women feel anxious about taking a career break. Finding a mentor can be an invaluable career asset for women, especially in industries not renowned for their gender diversity. Mentors can help open up networks, set and achieve goals, and give a sense that someone is looking out for them. Encouraging men to sit on women-focused panels at tech events is one of the easiest ways to encourage better gender relations. The IET believes that the difficulty in attracting women into engineering is not just a diversity issue, but an economic one – as the UK needs to find 1.82 million new engineers by 2022. In April the Commons Science and Technology Committee report drew attention to the significant lack of

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women with advanced skills in STEM fields. The age of 16 is the most critical point at which women are lost to a potential career in engineering. For far more women than men, A Level and vocational subject choices made at this age close the pathway into careers in engineering. By the time students are deciding what to study at university, for STEM subjects, they need to have already been doing science and especially maths. As engineers, we can apply our knowledge to improve the nation’s health, create a better environment by designing energy efficient cleaner processes and equipment, improve the quality of food that we eat, build energy efficient houses, and transport, etc. It is clear teachers, lectures and professional organisations such as the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and IET across the country are encouraging both sexes to pursue careers in science and technology industries – girls perform as well as, and often even better than, boys do in STEM at school, also in engineering degrees at universities. The main question is why do girls and women let their talent fall by the wayside? It’s at university where the difference is even more stark: six times as many men study engineering and technology at undergraduate level compared to women. In our chemical engineering degree course we have around 30% females; I know this number is much lower in other engineering disciplines. The University of Bath staff are undertaking a great deal of outreach activities to promote STEM subjects. We believe that the crucial decision is made with A Level choices. We promote visiting universities, speaking to professionals, going on taster courses, and getting direct experience through Headstart courses. At the University of Bath, we celebrate National Women in Engineering Day (NWED) every year by hosting a day-long event on campus for more than 80 to 100 local secondary school female students. The students have the opportunity to listen to female engineering students and staff and take part in workshop activities such as building water purification processes, making cosmetics and tower building which demonstrates engineering’s wide range of applications across chemical engineering to civil engineering.

ROLE MODEL: Semali Perera, Professor of chemical engineering at the University of Bath, winner of the Academic Award in the UK’s biggest programme championing women in technology, the 2017 FDM Everywoman in Technology Awards We all need encouragement, support and guidance of role models and mentors. In the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Bath, the Women in Engineering academic group and Student Women’s Engineering Society (WESBath) provides aspiring female engineers with information and support and showcases the achievements of our female staff, students and alumni. The two groups have developed a teachers’ toolkit and have created webpages containing news, funding information, employment opportunities and events that may be of interest to female school pupils. Even in occupations where women have a long history of access, they remain underrepresented at the top; in higher education, women account for a quarter of full-time lecturers, but just ten per cent are professors. In the Department of Chemical Engineering, we have two female professors (33%), and it is greater than the sector average. Our percentage of female staff has also grown from around 26% to 33%. A greater number of organisations are promoting and celebrating the achievement of female engineers and businesswomen. An excellent example of this is Women’s Network, FDM Everywoman, which runs the awards to celebrate the achievements of women in the STEM industries. I was proud to win 2017 FDM Everywoman in Technology award and delighted that this is the second consecutive year a University of Bath member of staff has been recognised, with head of physics Professor Carole Mundell winning last year’s awards. As a chemical engineer I enjoy working closely with industry and I believe that regardless of gender, if you have the ambition and drive you can create your own success in engineering. n

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THE PERFECT CURVE Jessica Hope discovers the stories of some of the Royal Crescent’s most fascinating residents in celebration of the 250th anniversary of its construction

ELIZABETH MONTAGU Wealthy hostess and socialite Elizabeth Montagu moved into No 16 Royal Crescent in 1779. She was well known in intellectual circles in London, mixing with the likes of Samuel Johnson, Edmund Burke and Horace

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Walpole, and became noted for establishing the Bluestockings Society which hosted informal meetings for women to discuss academic topics such as literature and art. Elizabeth wanted to create a space where women could freely discuss and learn about such subjects in an educational, yet relaxed setting. These were meetings for conversation and intellect, not alcohol and gambling as found in other societies or drinking houses around Bath, and they fundamentally gave women an active voice. Many prominent names of the time visited Elizabeth’s meetings, including social reformer and philanthropist Hannah More who attended while living on Great Pulteney Street.

❝

The beautiful situation of the Crescent cannot be understood by any comparison with anything in any town whatsoever…

❝

ith its 114 Ionic columns, honey-coloured stone and perfect curved symmetry, the Royal Crescent is a prime example of 18th century Georgian architecture at its most majestic. This month Bath is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the first stone of this classical building being laid. Between 1767 and 1775, architect John Wood the Younger designed and oversaw the construction of this magnificent row of buildings. Wood employed various builders to erect each of the 30 houses, and while he was incredibly particular about the dimensions and design of the front of the building, he allowed the builders the freedom to produce the back and the interiors in whatever style they liked – this is why if you look at the Royal Crescent from behind, the depth of the buildings differ and the windows are not all aligned. On completion, the Royal Crescent became one of the most sought after addresses in the city. With the Assembly Rooms and the thermal waters open to the public, by the late 18th century Bath had become a centre for the leisured classes to take the waters, socialise, gamble and scout the marriage market. And many people used Bath’s open spaces, such as the Royal Crescent and Queen Square, to promenade, meet their friends and gossip. To mark the 250th anniversary, we have explored the lives of some of the colourful characters and notable names who were once residents of the Royal Crescent during its social heyday . . .

Elizabeth Montagu While Elizabeth certainly played an important part in promoting women’s education at the time, she also very much enjoyed living in the Royal Crescent and made the most of her time there. She once commented: “The beautiful situation of the Crescent cannot be understood by any comparison with anything in any town whatsoever.”

PRINCESS MARIE LOUISE OF SAVOY The Bath Chronicle noted the arrival of lady-in-waiting and close confidante of

Queen Marie Antoinette, Princess Marie Louise of Savoy, to No 1 Royal Crescent with a large party of servants and a personal physician in September 1786. She was recognised for her fair hair and pale complexion, and known for being overtly sensitive, often fainting and suffering from a nervous deposition. According to William Lowndes, Marie returned to England in 1791 with the mission to persuade the British royal family to help Louis VXI and Marie Antoinette to escape revolutionary France. Despite her efforts to help the French royals, Marie later became one of around 1,400 prisoners, aristocrats, politicians and priests who were beaten and murdered by revolutionaries during what came to be known as the September Massacres of 1792 at the height of the French Revolution.

JEAN BAPTISTE, VICOMTE DU BARRE ‘Here rest the remains of Jean Baptiste du Barre. Obiit 18th November, 1778’ – This brief inscription adorns a tombstone in the churchyard of St Nicholas at Bathampton. Passersby probably wouldn’t take much notice of the understated grave and never learn about the life of Jean Baptiste or discover why this Frenchman ended up being buried in a quiet corner near Bath. Jean Baptiste, brother-in-law of Madame Du Barre, mistress of Louis VX, visited Bath in the summer of 1778 with wife, sister and friend Captain Rice, an Irish Jacobite. Taking up residence in No 8 Royal Crescent, they took full advantage of the gambling culture that was prominent in Bath at the time by hosting plenty of extravagant parties. While his wife and sister would ply their guests with refreshments, music and conversation, Jean Baptiste and Rice would tempt wealthy visitors into card games for huge stakes, pocketing a great deal of money in the process.

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Image courtesy of Bath Preservation Trust

One evening in November 1778, Jean Baptiste and Rice had an almighty quarrel over splitting the £600 winnings from a game against Colonel Champion, the resident of No 29 Royal Crescent. The two men became so enraged that this led to a duel, and the men quickly made their way to Claverton Down. Jean Baptiste shot first, injuring Rice in the thigh. Rice’s aim was better however, his shot hitting his friend in the chest, resulting in almost instant death. While Jean Baptiste had a quick burial in the Bathampton churchyard, Rice was tried at Taunton courts for the death of his friend, before being acquitted and moving to Spain.

SIR ISAAC PITMAN Sir Isaac Pitman, known for establishing the shorthand system still used by many writers and journalists, moved to No 12 Royal Crescent in 1889 at the age of 76, before moving up the road to No 17 in 1896 – a memorial plaque dedicated to him can be found outside this address. Earlier in his life, Pitman gained an attachment to Bath, describing it in 1839 as “unquestionably the most beautiful” city in the country. Known by his contemporaries for his profound dedication to his work, a newspaper described Pitman in the last months of his life: “At 84 he was still

working hard at his desk at 6.30 every morning, summer and winter.” The day before he died, Pitman wrote a note to Reverend Gordon Drummond, minister of the New Church, Bath, stating: “To those who ask how Isaac Pitman died, say, peacefully, and with no more concern than in passing from one room to another, to take up some further employment.” Pitman died at No 17 on 22 January 1897.

ELIZABETH LINLEY One of the biggest scandals associated with the Royal Crescent rocked Georgian Bath so much that it is commemorated with a plaque on the outside of No 11. One evening in March 1772, the renowned soprano Elizabeth Linley crept out of her home on the Crescent and into a carriage headed for London. Elizabeth had become tired of her numerous suitors pestering her in the hope she would agree to marry them. And so she decided to make an escape to a French convent with the help of her family friend, Richard Sheridan. Upon their journey abroad, Sheridan confessed his love for Eliza and he persuaded her to elope with him to Calais where they married in secret. After Eliza’s father discovered her whereabouts, he quickly travelled to France to bring her back to Bath. One of Eliza’s

bereft suitors, Captain Mathews, challenged Sheridan to a duel on his return in London, which Sheridan won. With both Eliza and Sheridan being underage, Sheridan continued to petition Eliza’s father, asking him for permission to marry her. Despite losing the duel, Captain Mathews challenged Sheridan once again. This time Sheridan lost and was injured, and reports of the duel travelled across the country, sparking the spread of gossip. Eliza and Sheridan finally married in 1773 after Sheridan came of age and Eliza threatened her family that she would rather take her life than live without him. While Eliza stopped public performances, Sheridan went on to become a successful playwright, penning the likes of The Rivals (1775) and School for Scandal (1777). Unfortunately this young couple’s story didn’t have happy ending. Sheridan was unfaithful to his wife on numerous occasions, and Eliza gave birth to a daughter as a result of an affair. Eliza suffered from numerous illnesses throughout her life and died at just 38 from tuberculosis.

PHILIP THICKNESSE Nicknamed Dr Viper by contemporaries, Philip Thicknesse was known for his outspoken nature and offensive attacks on people throughout Bath. While in residence

Princess Marie Louise of Savoy by Rioult

The Crescent by John Claude Nattes, 1804, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath and North East Somerset Council

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of No 28 Royal Crescent, Thicknesse boasted that it was he that had persuaded acclaimed artist Thomas Gainsborough to come to Bath and make his fortune painting Bath’s most prominent families, including Thicknesse’s third wife, Ann Ford. However, their friendship soon turned sour, supposedly when Gainsborough never completed a painting of Thicknesse, which propelled him into an abusive attack towards the artist, berating him in public at any opportunity and slandering his work. Unlucky for Thicknesse, it doesn’t seem his quarrelsome comments did Gainsborough’s reputation much damage as he went on to become one of the most celebrated portraitists of the late 18th century.

Watts’ illustration of The Crescent, 1794, courtesy of Bath Preservation Trust

WILLIAM WILBERFORCE Independent MP and politician William Wilberforce stayed at No 2 Royal Crescent while Parliament was in recess in 1798, soon after his bill for the abolition of slavery had been defeated for the fourth time. Wilberforce was familiar with Bath; the previous year he had married Barbara Ann Spooner in St Swithin’s Church, Walcot, after knowing her for a month – the couple were apparently smitten from the offset. After years of leading the movement to eradicate the slave trade, Wilberforce’s bill finally passed in the House of Commons in 1804 and the House of Lords in 1807. Plaques recording Wilberforce’s visits to Bath can be found outside 36 Great Pulteney Street and 9 North Parade.

PRINCE FREDERICK, DUKE OF YORK AND ALBANY George III’s son Frederick came to Bath in 1795 where he presided over the opening of the new Pump Room at the baths. It was

EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS SUMMER To mark the 250th anniversary, the Bath Preservation Trust has planned a series of events and exhibitions for people to get involved with over the coming months . . .

during this visit that he also received the Freedom of the City. Bath seems to have made a lasting impact on the prince, returning to Bath a year later with his wife, Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia, to stay at No 16 Royal Crescent. Despite taking part in Bath’s prolific gambling scene at the time, the prince’s presence in the city was apparently very well received by society. Hannah More wrote that the prince and his wife were “almost inhabitants, and very sober and proper their behaviour.” Prior to the prince’s visits to Bath, the Royal Crescent was only referred to as The Crescent. It has been suggested that the term ‘Royal’ was added to the name following the prince’s visits. The Royal Crescent Hotel that presides over numbers 15 – 17 has consequently named a hotel suite after the prince’s associations with Bath. n

Crescent first began. Discover how it was built through live demonstrations, plus Bath Spa University students will be giving walking tours throughout the day. There will also be plenty of family activities happening inside No 1 Royal Crescent.

PARTY IN THE CITY n Friday 19 May, 7 – 10pm, No 1 Royal Crescent Coinciding with Bath Festival’s Party in the City, the front of No 1 Royal Crescent will be illuminated with poetry. There will also be a free performance by poets and musicians in the Servants’ Hall.

FROM ROME TO THE ROYAL CRESCENT n On until 4 June at No 1 Royal Crescent This exhibition traces the evolution of classical architecture from ancient Rome, up to the modern designs of 18th century British buildings through the beautiful work of model maker Timothy Richards. Visit: no1royalcrescent.org.uk.

FOUNDATION STONE FAMILY DAY n Sunday 21 May, 11am – 3pm, on the Royal Crescent Witness the procession of the foundation stone as it is paraded up through the city centre from Widcombe at 11am by the Natural Theatre Company, before being laid near to where the building of the Royal

THE ROYAL CRESCENT DECONSTRUCTED/RECONSTRUCTED n On until 4 June at the Museum of Bath Architecture In this enlightening installation, visitors can explore the design and craftsmanship of No 1 Royal Crescent through a replica of the building that has been broken into pieces.

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William Wilberforce by John Rising, 1790

Included in admission to the museum. Visit: museumofbatharchitecture.org.uk. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE ROYAL CRESCENT n Saturday 29 July, 11am – 3pm, on the Royal Crescent Bring along a picnic and join in the events designed for the whole family to enjoy on the Royal Crescent – plus there won’t be any cars around. The Natural Theatre Company will be retelling the stories of previous residents and live music will take place throughout the day. Free for all.

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RHYTHM IS IN HIS BLOOD

Georgette McCready talks to Bath drummer Robbie Verrecchia of Bath School of Samba and Jamma de Samba about the power of music and his favourite tracks

he sound of samba has the power to grab your attention from several streets away, its insistent beat catching you somewhere between your heart, your ribcage and your soul. Once heard or felt as a small child, its spirit will never really leave you. That is certainly true for Bathonian Robbie Verrecchia, whose mum Trish is passionate about drumming and music and used to take her five children to hear live music whenever she could. Robbie recalls a vivid memory as a boy of going into Bath city centre from the family home in Larkhall. He says: “I think it was a car free day, so everyone was out on their bikes. And there was this samba band. Its music absolutely grabbed me as soon as I heard it I had to rush to get closer. It’s a very primitive thing, it pulls you in.” Luckily for Robbie his mother put together a buckets and brooms based percussion band, inspired by the Stomp style of bashing out a rhythm. Its impact was infectious and the band grew to include more members, adopting the name Samba Brothers and Sisters. But soon, band member Andy Reid suggested that Samba Sulis might fit better with its home city – with the slogan ‘hot rhythms, hot springs.’ Throughout his teenage years Robbie drummed with the community band, playing Glastonbury Festival and numerous community events. He says it was haphazardly funded by bits and pieces here and there, it was very much an amateur band. But Robbie wanted to make a career from playing the music he loved. “I left school – St Gregory’s and then St Brendan’s – knowing I didn’t want to go to university, but looking all the time for a job where I could drum and teach drumming to others.” He eventually made that ambition a reality with the launch of Jamma de Samba, a feelgood band but with a professional approach. But it was a trip to Brazil and Rio, the home of the spirit of carnival, that changed Robbie’s life. He said: “I was so blown away by what I saw and 22 TheBATHMagazine

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heard I wanted to come home and dismantle the band. I felt that a community band could never achieve that level of skill and I would be better off focusing on a professional outfit to perform and run workshops.” But his friend and travelling companion persuaded Robbie that he do both – persevere with the community band, continuing to provide positive opportunities to people in Bath alongside running workshops and performances at festivals, weddings, schools and corporate events across the country. And so the Bath School of Samba was forged, running workshops for

children as young as eight. There’s an open class for all ages every Tuesday evening at Ralph Allen School, from 7.30pm until 9.30pm. There is also a new series of classes beginning in Frome. The community band, which can number some 50 people, has evolved out of Samba Sulis into Jamma Community. You may have seen and heard them play at community events including the Bath Rugby match at Twickenham and spurring the runners on as part of the Bath Half Marathon entertainment. Meanwhile Rob and his core of six main drummers are Jamma de Samba, going into a studio to rehearse and

TO THE BEAT: main picture, Robbie Verrecchia, credit: Soul Media Opposite, Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics, Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz and Bob Marley

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regularly heading out for professional bookings. Robbie is looking forward to taking part in this July’s Bath Carnival. After last year’s procession the band headed off to London where they played at the GB Olympics awards ceremony. The guys who make up Jamma de Samba are planning a tour of Sweden and the Netherlands later in the summer. Robbie says of that: “It’ll be six guys in a van on the road. It’ll be great fun and it will give us time to re-charge our creative batteries.” Meanwhile Bathonians can enjoy the joy of samba on the streets on Friday 19 May for Party in the City, the opening night of The Bath Festival. There’ll be a carnival costume and head-dress making station on Milsom Street, along with live performances. Plans are already underway for the 2017 Bath Carnival. Robbie was instrumental in its organisation for several years but has this year decided to step back and to support organiser Stuart Matson. He says he finds it frustrating that there isn’t more funding from Bath and North Somerset Council for this community led group. “I have seen all my life the difference that drumming and music can make to people’s lives. I often see the benefits that children and adults experience when they take part in arts workshops. They get a sense of belonging, they feel achievement and this in turn grows their confidence. “And, as a guy in one of the poorest parts of Rio said to me, on carnival day it feels like everyone has come together – like all the worries have gone away leaving only the celebration of happiness. And that’s the spirit we’d like to see on the streets of Bath for carnival time.” Bath Carnival is on Saturday 15 July. If you’d like to be part of the procession you can make your own head-dress or costume and join the crowd at Bath Recreation Ground from noon. Sign up as a volunteer, a sponsor in the 100-4-100 corporate fundraiser, or as a participant at: bathcarnival.co.uk. As for Robbie’s favourite tracks, hip hop and drum and bass feature heavily, elements of which he weaves into his drumming workshops.

some jamming with Snoop Dog.

ROBBIE’S TOP TEN SONGS Bob Marley and the Wailers – No Woman No Cry This has to be my number one song. I’ve been listening to Bob Marley all my life. I enjoy most of his music, but I have chosen this song because I remember it being the first Marley song to catch my attention. To me, this song is sunshine, smiles, summer BBQs and happy days. Mirrim – And I Wish A very talented producer from Bristol released this track on Bear Fresh Records. This is a nice chilled track which is a good counteract after a loud day of drumming. I’ve been a Mirrim fan for several years and I think he’s is going to go far in the music industry. Music is used to put people in a good mood and forget about the stresses in life, Mirrim’s work does that for me.

M-Beat General Levy – Incredible Jungle is massive. This track must have somehow found its way from my big bro’s music collection and onto my mum’s car tapes. I’ll never forget the embarrassment of being collected from school by my mother playing this track on full volume out of her car speakers. All the the other school kids turned their heads to watch this crazy mobile rave unit swing into the car park to pick me up. Mr Oizo – Flat Beat What better way to have been introduced to the house music movement than by a funky little yellow puppet character from a Levi’s commercial. Anyone who grew up in the noughties will know who I’m talking about. This tune is a banger.

Shy FX – Gold Dust Originally produced by DJ Fresh, this is one of my favourite drum ‘n’ bass tracks. I do prefer the Shy FX edit, simply because it includes reggae sections. Any song that switches between reggae and D&B is a winner. I have had great fun on stage covering this track with other musicians collaborating with the Jamma de Samba crew.

Eminem – My Name Is I received my first ever cassette tape as a present for my 13th birthday. The tape featured two songs, this single track and an instrumental version. Eminem was the first artist I began to follow as a fan. I guess he was as popular with the teenagers as Ed Sheeran is now. But I would describe the difference in rap music as being a lot less polished.

Shy FX – Shake Ur Body Over the years drum ‘n’ bass has become my favourite type of party music. Shy FX produced this awesome track of Latin inspired D&B, which is right up my street. I associate this song with years of dancing around a club and living in the nightlife scene.

Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise This was another family influence. My big bro was well into his 90s hip hop. I used to hear deep bass lines and thumping hip hop beats pounding through the house from his bedroom. He had an attic bedroom which was above my room, so I got to get a taster of all his rap music.

Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood I remember being on the school bus and my mate asked me what type of music I listen to. At that time this was my favourite song. It had only just been released and it was the first time I had heard reggae mixed with hip hop. I am still a big fan of Gorillaz. One of my favourite Glastonbury Festival moments was seeing them perform this song live in 2010 with a surprise appearance and

The Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams My guilty pleasure. This song reminds me of my childhood. My mum has always been a big fan of the Eurythmics, so I guess my first impression of music was hearing this 80s dance track being played on full volume while my mum would vacuum the house and sing so loud that I couldn’t hear my cartoons anymore. Somehow this turned me into an Annie Lennox fan. n

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HOW TO BE A SURVIVOR

Megan Hine is the woman who makes sure an environment is safe for Bear Grylls and his companions. She talks to Georgette McCready about the fascinating business of honing survival skills in the wild – and in the office

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Megan leads outdoor workshops for all kinds of people, teaching them survival skills. “We then send them out for 24 hours to build a shelter, find and purify water. Yes, they find it tough but they’re so elated once they’ve succeeded. There is a childish delight in overcoming the challenge.” But not all of us are going to find ourselves miles from the nearest Waitrose with only our wits and the wilderness. Which is why Megan has written a book, Mind of A Survivor. “I’m very excited about it. I wanted to explore the notion that in extreme cases only a minority of people actually survive. What makes those people different? I believe they all have similar traits that enable them to make it through. These include creativity, intuition, adaptability and acceptance of the situation.” “I believe people can learn to take these skills and adapt them to dealing with modern life, to that day when someone piles an impossible stack of papers on your desk at work or you have the worry of a big presentation. I think it’s a very British trait to be hard on ourselves, we need to be able to

give ourselves a pat on the back, to celebrate our achievements. “It’s very easy to get into a negative state of mind. But, imagine you’re standing at the top of a cliff and someone tells you that you have to jump into the water below. It’s natural to be afraid, but you can face that fear.” Megan takes people out of their comfort zone into the great outdoors, where they face fears and phobias, from spiders to heights. “You show them how strong they actually are. Resilience training is a great transferrable skill to coping with everyday life.” The woman Bear Grylls has described as ‘stronger than 99 per cent of the men I know’ states simply that gender is not an issue when it comes to survival. She’s direct but also warm and funny when she talks: “In fact it’s been shown that in distances of over 100 miles women do better than men. “Don’t forget, when you’re out there, the outdoors doesn’t care what gender you are. It can’t see you or judge you. Only society and our own inhibitions get in our way.

MIND OF A SURVIVOR: Megan Hine talks about what it take to survive extreme challenges in the wild and apply those skills to deal with every day life

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e managed to track down adventurer Megan Hine between her sorties to test wild places for Bear Grylls’ new series of Running Wild, in which he takes A-list celebrities such as Kate Winslet and Ben Stiller on real-life adventures, for a phone interview. The signal is terrible. Through crackles I ask her where she is: “London,” she replies laughing. I was talking to Megan ahead of her appearance this month at The Bath Festival. The 32-year-old British survival consultant has built up an event-filled career from her lifelong love of the outdoors. As a six-year-old she climbed Snowdon with her father. She says: “I was lucky. When we were kids we used to get home from school, climb over the fence and explore. Our mother didn’t mind if we came home muddy, or with a few tears in our clothes. And I was just as able as my brother.” Megan has endured all kinds of physical challenges, from eating tree ants and tree frogs to staving off hungry lions by maintaining an allnight vigil to keep a camp fire alight. She’s slept without a tent in the Arctic Circle, fled on the run from armed opium dealers and spent six months after university living in a leaf shelter she built herself in the Lake District. She’s a real inspiration for other adventurous spirits, who may have thought that a career taking calculated risks in the great outdoors could only be had by joining the army. We may be familiar with contestants on reality shows such as The Island – for which Megan and her partner carry out risk asessments – foraging and fishing for food on exotic islands. But, I asked her, is it really possible for someone in the countryside of the UK to survive on foraged food? “Yes, of course it is,” she says, but then explains why it’s important to research which berries and funghi are edible and which poisonous. “If you were ever stranded and weren’t sure which plants were edible I would advise you not to risk it. You can live without food for three weeks, so it’s safer not to eat something that might be poisonous. “When we’re researching abroad I always ask the locals, whose backyard it is, what they eat.”

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IN TOWN: from left, gardener Dan Pearson, food writer Xanthe Clay, politician turned dancer Ed Balls, jazz star Georgie Fame and motorcyclist and adventurer Charley Boorman

BE THERE: OUR FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS Politics, heated debates, sublime music and some of the world’s leading writers – just some of the reasons to get involved with The Bath Festival 2017

e’ve all got a view on Trump, but few of us are as articulate as Man Booker prize winner Howard Jacobson. On hearing that Donald Trump had been elected President of the United States, Jacobson found himself in “a fury of disbelief.” He turned his rage into creative energy and in six weeks flat had written Pussy, a dark fairytale about a gilded prince raised on a diet of reality TV shows who rises to power. Jacobson will be bringing both his rage and his eloquence to Bath on Wednesday 24 May, 7pm at the Assembly Rooms, when he’ll be in conversation with festival literary director Alex Clark. Another famously creative fury, Bob Dylan, is the subject of what promises to be a lively discussion and an enjoyable evening of music at the Forum on Saturday 20 May, running from 7.30pm to 10pm. There’ll be a panel of experts, hosted by music journalist Danny Kelly who is the former editor of the

NME and Q magazine. And legendary jazz musician Georgie Fame will be in town, bringing his own brand of cool to the Forum on Tuesday 23 May, 7.30pm. The peaceful world of plants is explored by garden writer and landscape designer Dan Pearson. In his latest book, Natural Selection, Dan draws on ten years of his gardening column in The Observer. He describes a garden as an oasis for creation and manages to combine sharing practical tips with elegaic prose. Hear him on Friday 26 May, 11.45am at the Assembly Rooms. There’s the opportunity to hear the voices of other newspaper columnists. India Knight will eulogise about the joys of dogs, while Bryony Gordon uses humour and humanity to talk about mental health and life’s difficult patches. Both women will be appearing on Saturday 27 May. Sit in one of Europe’s most beautiful rooms, under priceless chandeliers and listen

to one of the world’s finest pianists. The charismatic Jeremy Denk visits the Assembly Rooms, on Sunday 21 May, 11am for a two hour performance, with a mixed programme that includes Bach’s English Suite, the Piano Sonata in B Flat by Schubert and some joyful piano rags by Joplin, Stravinsky and others. British folk giant Martin Carthy is playing with Sam Sweeeney, one-time fiddler with the legendary Bellowhead. Their combined strings will be raising the roof at the Masonic Hall in Old Orchard Street on Wednesday 24 May, 8pm. Be quick though as some events, including a visit from Ed Balls, are already sold out. Motorcycle fans will enjoy the camaraderie of adventurer Charley Boorman, talking about biking, his serious accident and the road to recovery, at the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 23 May, 7.30pm. There’s much more besides to enjoy at The Bath Festival – as the poster says, Jump in! n

CELEBRATION OF STRONG WOMEN ▲

“Actually,” she adds, “women are very capable because we’ve grown up multitasking.” Is there anything she craves while she’s surviving in the wilds? Most of us would probably have a long list – comfy bed, hot shower, clean clothes, tea, chocolate – but Megan says it’s Cheddar cheese she longs for most. But she says she has to be careful not to eat too much on her return as her body has become unused to rich food. Hear Megan Hine talk about her life and career and her new book, Mind of a Survivor on Sunday 21 May 12.45pm at the Assembly Rooms, Bath. Tickets are £9, £8 concessions. Visit her website: meganhine.com. n There are more strong women in The Bath Festival programme. Writer Sarah Churchwell will explore the world of actresses such as Katherine Hepburn and

Bette Davies, the movie stars of the 1930s who influenced and inspired so many women and who had what’s known as ‘moxie’ – sass or attitude. Moxie: Silver Screen Goddesses is on Saturday 21 May, 5pm, Assembly Rooms. On Sunday 21 May, fans of crime fiction will enjoy a collective talk about Killer Women, focussing on female crime writers. Featuring writers Sarah Hilary, Erin Kelly and Mel McGrath and Guardian crime reviewer Laura Wilson, they’ll explore the female appetite for crime fiction. There’s a musical show which celebrates the life and career of pioneering black American singer and actress Lena Horne, born 100 years ago. She forged a career despite challenges, including the ban which meant as a black woman she couldn’t stay in the same hotels as her white band, having to sleep in the tour bus. And when she appeared for the first time on film for MGM the bosses

STAR QUALITY: Katherine Hepburn

insisted her skin be lightened with make-up. This show, with a five-piece band, includes her most famous song, Stormy Weather. She also sang on Porgy and Bess with Paul Robeson. Stormy: the Life of Lena Horne is at Komedia on Wednesday 24 May, 7.30pm. n

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WHAT’S ON in May EVENTS ARE LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER BATH ARTISAN MARKET Sunday 30 April, 10am – 4pm and on Sunday 28 May n Queen Square, Bath Sample the creative genius of Bath’s independent makers, food producers, artists and street food sellers in leafy Queen Square. Established in 2012 and formerly at Green Park Station, The Bath Artisan Market is the ideal place to pick up original gifts, eat or sit and enjoy the atmosphere SWEET CHARITY Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 May, times vary n Theatre Royal, Saw Close, Bath Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society is bringing the much loved Broadway musical Sweet Charity to life, with big numbers including (Hey) Big Spender, Rhythm of Life and If They Could See Me Now. Tickets, tel: 01225 448844 or online: theatreroyal.org.uk. Also at the Theatre Royal this month FRACKED! Tuesday 15 – Saturday 20 May, times vary Two favourite comic actors, James Bolam and Anne Reid star in a new black comedy that went down a storm when it opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre. The set-up may be familiar to many Bathonians. Anne plays a retired academic who turns her energy to protest – in this case against fracking. Her grumpy husband, meanwhile yearns for a quiet life . . . WAITING FOR GOD Monday 22 – Saturday 27 May, times vary And here’s another comedy drama that may have resonance with Bath audiences. They may recall Waiting for God as a TV series starring Stephanie Cole and Graham Crowden. This new script sees Nichola McAuliffe and Jeffrey Holland playing a pair of rebellious residents in a retirement home.

An evening with Noel Coward courtesy of the Argyle Players Lydia Marsh plays Charity at the Theatre Royal

F Murray Abraham is at the Ustinov The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon

THE MENTOR Until Saturday 6 May, 7.45pm n The Ustinov Studio, off Sawclose, Bath Hollywood actor F Murray Abraham stars as Benjamin, a cantankerous old writer. Sparks fly when he comes up against another mighty ego, in the shape of rising literary star Martin. Tickets: £19.50 / £14.50 discounts. Vist: theatreroyal.org.uk. AN EVENING WITH NOEL COWARD Wednesday 3 – Saturday 6 May, 7pm n Tovey Hall, Central United Reformed Church, Grove Street, Bath The Argyle Players present three short comedies from the master of wit, taking us from a well-to-do drawing room, to the backstage banter of a washed-up music hall act, and the Côte d’Azur, where a couple are desperate to resolve their gambling debts. Tickets: £10, bathboxoffice.org.uk or tel: 01225 463362. James Bolan and Anne Reid in Fracked! at the Theatre Royal

CITYSOUND VOICES: FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Saturday 6 May, 7.30pm n St Stephen’s Church, Lansdown, Bath CitySound Voices fifth anniversary concert featuring the choir’s top ten favourite songs and the world premiere of Mark Boden’s That Music Always Round Us. Tickets: £10 / £5 from Bath Box Office, tel: 01225 463362 or visit: bathboxoffice.org.uk. ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT Saturday 6 May, 7.30pm n Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon The OAE is a great favourite of Wiltshire Music Centre audiences and so it is fitting that the ensemble is the orchestra in residence. This

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visit includes a reed workshop, followed by an evening of Bach, preceeded by a talk at 6.30pm. Tickets: £32 / £16 under 18s. Tel: 01225 860200 or visit: wiltshiremusic.org.uk. Also at Wiltshire Music Centre this month BRODSKY QUARTET Friday 12 May, 7.30pm Highly acclaimed Brodsky Quartet, which specialises in playing Shostakovich, presents a stirring programme of Bach, Mendelssohn and Beethoven, as well as Shostakovich’s String Quartet No8, Op 110. Tickets: £20, under 25s free. Pre-concert talk, 6.30pm. LUCIS Saturday 13 May, 7.30pm Musical director Francis Faux leads this local choir for a evening of contemporary choral music, joined by jazz trio Adam’s Apple and the Arcosanti String Quartet. Tickets: £17 / £10 u18s and students. SOME LIKE IT HOT Monday 8 May, 6pm n The Little Theatre cinema, St Michael’s Place, Bath To coincide with the Jazz Age exhibition at the American Museum in Bath this summer there will be a screening of this classic 1959 comedy caper, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon, pictured. Tickets: £7, concessions £6. Visit: picturehouses.com. RIVERSIDE WALK Monday 8 May, 6pm n Meet at Pulteney Bridge, Bath Join the History of Bath Research Group and Mike Chapman on a guided walk based on the history of the River Avon between Pulteney Bridge and Widcombe. A donation of £2 is suggested. AND SO TO BED Monday 8 May, 7.15pm n BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath Bath Evening Decorative and Fine Arts Society hosts a talk by Janus Karczewski-Slowikowski, which traces the significance and use of beds from the medieval period to the 18th century. Visitors £8, students free, tel: 01225 742989 or 742819, visit: bedfas.co.uk. THE DREADFUL PENNY Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 May, 7.30pm n The Mission Theatre, Corn Street, Bath Playing Up Theatre Company’s rip-roaring show set in the 1880s, surrounding the development of the penny farthing bicycle. Tickets: £12 (£10 concs), tel: 01225 428600, visit: missiontheatre.co.uk. Also at the Mission this month OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD Monday 22 – Wednesday 24 May, 7.30pm An army officer decides that putting on a play will bring civilisation to an 18th century convict settlement. This production is by Bath Spa University students. Tickets: £10 / £7. FAIRPORT CONVENTION Wednesday 10 May, 7pm n Komedia, Westgate Street, Bath Giants of the British folk scene Fairport Convention mark their 50th anniversary with a new album and a tour, which also features many of their hits. Tickets: £25, tel: 0845 293 8480 or visit: komedia.co.uk/bath. Continued page 28

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WHAT’S | ON

Three Daft Monkeys (now a four piece) at Chapel Arts Centre The Dolly Sisters (detail, James Abbe archive), photographs and fashion from the 1920s at the American Museum

THREE DAFT MONKEYS Saturday 13 May, 7.30pm n Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath One of the highlights of last year’s Glastonbury, according to Radio2 DJ Mark Radcliffe, Three Daft Monkeys have been delighting audiences for years with their brand of energetic, joyful folk that gets people up on their feet. This gig will be half seated half standing, to allow dancing. Tickets: £10 (£12 on the door), visit: chapelarts.org or tel: 01225 461700. Also at Chapel Arts this month LADY MAISERY PLUS SUPPORT, JIMMY ALDRIDGE AND SID GOLDSMITH Thursday 18 May, 7.30pm With their unique approach to harmony singing and thoughtful and striking arrangements of traditional repertoire and original compositions, Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans harness and celebrate their united voice. Over the last five years, the trio have performed sell-out shows across the UK and Europe. Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith are a highly acclaimed folk duo who play traditional and original music of the British Isles. “Every now and then an act jumps out at you and knocks you back. You’re in for a treat,” said folk veteran Mike Harding. Tickets: £13 (£15 on the door).

EDITOR’S PICK 1920S JAZZ AGE: FASHION AND PHOTOGRAPHS Until 29 October, open Tuesdays – Sundays from 10.30am (also open Bank Holiday Mondays) n The American Museum, Claverton Manor, Claverton, Bath Beautiful dresses from the glamorous era that brought us the Great Gatsby, flappers, Prohibition and Rudolph Valentino. This is a sumptuous show, a delight to the eye as the clothes are mostly on display without the restrictions of glass cases and the exhibition evokes the Roaring Twenties through music, film and photographs. Admission to museum, exhibition and gardens, £12 / £10.50 concessions, £6.50 children. Tel: 01225 460503, visit: americanmuseum.org.

Swinging sextet The Jive Aces at Chapel Arts

Francis Faux directs Lucis choir at the Wiltshire Music Centre

CHRIS WOOD Wednesday 24 May, 7.30pm Chris Wood is singer-songwriter whose music reveals his love for the un-official history of the English speaking people. His new album So Much to Defend was previewed at Cambridge Folk Festival last summer and includes reflections on minor league football, empty nest syndrome, learning to swim, Cook-in Sauce and the gecko as a metaphor for contemporary society. Tickets: £12 (£14 on the door). THE JIVE ACES Thursday 25 May, 7.30pm The swinging sextext, The Jive Aces, are renowned for their highenergy music and spectacular stage show. They were the first live band to reach the final rounds of Britain’s Got Talent and their award-winning viral video, Bring Me Sunshine, has three million views online. Tickets: £16 (£17.50 on the door). MARTIN TURNER EX WISHBONE ASH, UNPLUGGED Wednesday 31 May, 7.30pm An evening of classic Wishbone Ash music from one of the founding members of the band, including a 45th anniversary performance of complete Argus album. Martin Turner continues to perform the band’s best loved works with his current line-up, which features guitarists Danny Willson and Misha Nikolic, and drummer Tim Brown. Tickets: £16 (£18 on the door). WORKSHOP: COUTURE BEADING AND EMBELLISHMENT FOR BEGINNERS Saturday 13 May, 9.30am – 4.30pm n The American Museum, Claverton, Bath Inspired by the clothes in the Jazz Age exhibition, learn the art of tambour beading with Hand and Lock award-winning designer Charlotte Appleby. During this workshop participants will learn how Continued Page 30

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Bath Royal Literary and Scientiﬁc Institution Forthcoming Events:

Philosophy of Climate Change 2nd May @ 7.30pm

The Legacy of The Six Day War

16th May @ 7.30pm

Symbolist Moments in Larkin’s Poetry 24th May @ 7.30pm

France’s Mai ‘68

PARTY IN THE CITY

30th May @ 7.30pm

Free Music From: Now and Then & Prospect Style Between 6 – 8pm

FRIDAY 19th MAY 2017

www.brlsi.org 16 - 18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN 01225 312 084

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WHAT’S | ON to create a solid framework for beading using silk organza. Places: £95, materials included, booking essential. Tel: 01225 460503. Also at the American Museum this month MUSIC SERIES: THE LOWEST PAIR Sunday 21 May, 2 – 3pm Enjoy an afternoon concert in the museum’s stables. The Lowest Pair studied traditional three-finger and clawhammer banjo techniques Learn beading techniques and combine this musical heritage with a contemporary indie influence. Tickets included with gardens admission. BATH MINERVA CHOIR BENEFIT CONCERT Saturday 13 May, 7.30pm n Kingswood School theatre, Lansdown Road, Bath The Bath choir presents A Night at the Opera, a fabulous collection of popular arias and songs, from Handel to Strauss, performed by Gavin Carr, Iúnó Connolly, Marie Elliott, Florian Thomas and George Bevan. The concert is in aid of Bath Minerva Choir, a registered charity. Tickets: £15 (disabled concessions available) from Bath Box Office, tel: 01225 463362 or visit: bathboxoffice.org.uk. PINT OF SCIENCE FESTIVAL Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 May, various times n Organised by the University of Bath at The Edge, university campus, The Huntsman, Bath Function Rooms at Green Park Station and The Bath Brew House The Pint of Science festival takes place across the country, giving people the chance to explore, in an entertaining manner, what scientists have been discovering. Talks in Bath include dancing robots, cars that run on water for fuel and how to erase unwanted memories. Find out more and get tickets at: pintofscience.co.uk/city/bath. JUBILATE: THE MUSICAL SCENE IN 18TH CENTURY BATH Until 10 December, daily 1 – 5pm and 11am – 5pm at weekends and bank holidays n The Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street, Bath This year marks the 250th anniversary of William Herschel taking up the post of director of music in Bath. Herschel later went on to make major astronomical discoveries, but he was also a composer, musician and teacher, while his sister Caroline, also an astronomer, was a fine singer. The exhibition focuses on the development of music in Bath during the 18th century Age of Enlightenment. ORGANIC SKINCARE PRODUCTS WORKSHOP Sunday 14 May, 9.45am – 4.30pm n BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath Make organic skincare products in a workshop led by senior international trainer Anna Christensen. Create personalised skincare products which suit you. Be natural, feel good, and look radiant and healthy. Places, to include recipes, ingredients, products to take home and lunch, are £145. To book, visit: annachristensen.eu/workshops or tel: 07811956685. BATH BRUNCH MARKET Sunday 14 May, 9.30am – 3.30pm (every second Sunday of the month) n Green Park Station, Green Park, Bath Wake up with a delicious brunch from street food traders, cooking everything from Caribbean to clean eating, Indian to a full English breakfast. There are a range of artisan, vintage, art and craft stalls, brought to us by the team behind the Bath Artisan Market. Continued Page 32 30 TheBATHMagazine

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Bath Royal Literary and Scientiﬁc Institution Forthcoming Events:

Philosophy of Climate Change 2nd May @ 7.30pm

The Legacy of The Six Day War

16th May @ 7.30pm

Symbolist Moments in Larkin’s Poetry 24th May @ 7.30pm

France’s Mai ‘68

PARTY IN THE CITY

30th May @ 7.30pm

Free Music From: Now and Then & Prospect Style Between 6 – 8pm

FRIDAY 19th MAY 2017

www.brlsi.org 16 - 18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN 01225 312 084

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WHAT’S | ON CYCLING: THE TOUR SERIES Saturday 20 May, time tbc n Great Pulteney Street, Bath Bath will host the first ever Saturday night stage of The Tour Series 2017 and the Matrix Fitness Women’s Grand Prix, with a new city centre route, starting and finishing on Great Pulteney Street. During the morning there’ll be the chance to take part in the Love 2 Cycle Bath and North East Somerset Sportive, a non-competitive event offering cyclists of all levels the opportunity to cycle Get cycling: all ages and abilities welcome either 53km or 116km. For more details visit: bathnes.gov.uk/tourseries. MARSHFIELD OPEN GARDENS Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May, 1pm – 5pm n Various gardens in Marshfield, Gloucestershire Nine gardens of different sizes and styles will be open to visitors over the two afternoons, under the National Gardens Scheme. Enjoy a walk round this historic village, where lunches and teas will be available. Admission to all nine gardens, £6, children free. For more open garden dates and addresses visit: ngs.org.uk. BOX REVELS Monday 29 May, noon until 4.30pm n The Rec, Box, Wiltshire This year’s theme for the village annual celebrations is Superheroes and Villains. Fancy dress is encouraged, with prizes for the best costume. There’ll be stalls, games to play, food and a family friendly dog show as well as the un-PC sport of wife carrying – in which contestants can choose how to carry their partners round the course.

PLANNING AHEAD . . . LANSDOWN OPEN GARDENS Sunday 4 June, 2pm – 5.30pm n Various venues, including the Millennium Green, Richmond Road, Lansdown A fundraising event for the upkeep of St Stephen’s Millennium Green in Richmond Road. As well as open gardens, there is a plant and bric-a-brac sale, and teas and cakes in the St Stephen’s Centre. Tickets £5 (children free) available on the day from the Millennium Green, St Stephen’s Centre and the gardens. Visit: millenniumgreen.org.uk. PROFESSOR LORD ROBERT WINSTON Wednesday 21 June, 7.30pm n The Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire One of the country’s most influential doctors and medical scientists, Professor Winston poses some fascinating questions about genetics. Modifying humans: where does genetics stop? He’ll be discussing these and other issues. Tickets: £17, £8.50 under 18s. Tel: 01225 860100, visit: wiltshiremusic.org.uk. THE BRIAN ROPER MEMORIAL CONCERT Friday 30 June, 7.30pm n The Forum, Southgate, Bath Bath Philharmonia presents a concert dedicated to the memory of local philanthropist Brian Roper. Internationally renowned pianist Peter Donohoe performs Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto in a programme that includes Stravinsky’s Firebird and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Tickets: £25 – £35 (plus booking fees), under 16s £5, tel: 0844 888 9991. n

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CITY | OF | FESTIVALS

FAB-ULOUS FRINGE BENEFITS

CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER: clockwise from top left, HURyCan from Spain will be part of the free street theatre for Bedlam Sunday, the Miraculous Theatre’s roving drama Romantic Botanics, the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band will be at Green Park, Super Hamlet 64 at the Rondo theatre, the annual FAB Photomarathon, wrestling for freedom of speech are comedians Rick Molland and Sully O’ Sullivan, leading the quizzical pub tour is the Kilter Theatre Company and work by Ellie Preston is part of FABs citywide art offering Opposite page, Bath Spa Live has a whole programme of events for the Fringe Festival

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This year’s Bath Fringe Festival and FAB17 art festival offer as much variety as a pic’n’mix counter. Ahead of the official programmes hitting the streets our intrepid reporters went to investigate what’s in store

urprise us, we said. Well, they said, how about exploring the secret love life of plants through an immersive outdoor piece of theatre? Or a show where Hamlet meets videogames and Ophelia is faced with the zombie hordes? Or perhaps, you’d like to explore the until now hidden history of Bath’s links with the slave trade, with a series of walks and talks? Or loads of free exhibitions which ask as many questions as they answer? Those inventive folk at the Bath Fringe and the team of volunteers behind Bath Fringe Arts Festival, have come up with two programmes which run parallel in the city from Friday 26 May until Sunday 11 June, taking in dozens of venues. This year’s Fringe has reached out to the city’s many theatre companies and venues, so look out for events at Burdall’s Yard, the Old Theatre Royal, the Mission theatre and the Rondo, to name just a few. There’ll be a mix of visiting professional companies and performers and home-grown talent from theatre groups and Bath Spa University students, among others. Out on the streets of Bath there’ll be various events – many of them free. On the afternoon of Bank Holiday Monday, 29 May, join the Natural Theatre Company and others as they lead the assembled crowd in a piece called Looking After No 1 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Crescent. There’s a chance to mark the 70th anniversary since India gained independence, as the Rajasthan Brass Band raise the roof at the Green Park Station to kick off Bedlam – The Night Out on Saturday 3 June, from 7pm until late. It’s part of the weekend-long Bedlam fair which will take place in Saw Close and Kingmead Square, with free happenings taking place, thanks to a grant from the Arts Council. Those who remember the old Walcot Nation Days will be heartened to hear that there’ll be celebrations over the weekend of 10/11 June at The Bell to mark the 20th anniversary of the first community party. They may not be closing the street this year – Walcot Nation Day was very much a victim of its own popularity – but there will be a child-friendly Walcot Village Fair on Sunday 11 June in the gardens of St Swithin’s Church, which includes a performance of Dr Seuss’s The Lorax. There will also be a children’s cabaret, giving the young stars the opportunity to wow the crowds. On and off the streets is a new incredibly quizzical Bath pub tour, dreamt up by the innovative Bath based Kilter Theatre Company. The participants meet outside The Crystal Palace Pub at 7pm to embark on a local’s guide to the best secret and extinct drinking holes in Bath, constructed as round after round of light-hearted pub quiz questions. Every answer is a revelation and

the 90-minute tour ends with prizes for the winning team in the cosy confines of one of Bath’s best loved pubs. The tour takes place on 26 and 27 May, 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 June and therafter every Friday evening until the end of September. A few lucky people will be able to catch Goldfrapp star Will Gregory playing with his other band, The Gas Giants, on Saturday 20 May when they play the Old Barn at Kelston. This unusual venue is a restored Victorian threshing barn just 300 metres below Kelston Roundhill. The gig will be recorded for future release on Kelston Records. Tickets are available from Bath Box Office and Brown Paper Tickets. A top secret venue – only to be revealed when people buy a ticket – has been chosen for this year’s innovative and immersive theatre performances, The Apocalypse and A Bright Room Called Day. Also immersive and perambulatory is Miraculous Theatre’s Romantic Botanics which explores the secret love lives of plants and comes to Bath for several performances ahead of the theatre company’s appearance at Glastonbury Festival. Other highlights of the fringe include an evening’s professional wrestling at Komedia – which we’re told is popular with families – and musical tributes to Ella Fitzgerald and Fats Waller. There will also be a performance of the entire Sgt Pepper and His Lonely Hearts’ Club Band album by All You Need is The Beatles at the Chapel Arts Centre on Thursday 1 June, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of the album. There are also a series of Krowd Keepers magic shows for adults at the Ale House pub on Terrace Walk. Not for the faint-hearted is the thought of Presidents Putin and Trump going eyeball to eyeball, but comedians Rick Molland and Sully O’Sullivan will be going head to head in a stand-up comedy show

that tackles the issue of the freedom of speech. Also tackling a serious subject are a series of walks, co-inciding with June’s Festival of Nature. Sweet Waters will delve into the links between Bath and slavery. Find out where Brass Mill got its name and where the slave owners had houses in the city. FaB17 – that’s the arts-for-all festival – launches its programme of delights and surprises, kicking off with the Opening Night Arty Party on Friday 26 May when all FaB venues will be open from 6pm until late, offering an exciting variety of exhibitions along with drinks from a series of pop-up bars. Based at Walcot Chapel, Embodied Cartographies explores walking as creative practice with 17 days of events offering visitors the opportunity to participate and leave a footprint by joining the walks, poetry, music, projects and a symposium celebrating walking inspired art. Bath’s FaB Photomarathon returns, as does the Gardener’s Lodge Art Group from the Holburne Museum with Reveal or Conceal. Vote for the Bath Open Arts Prize winner and discover the new Three Room Cinema Club at 44AD Artspace. There’ll also be a fascinating exhibition of illustrations for children’s books, From Artist’s Hand to Child’s Hand, curated by Bath artist Rita Lazaro, which will run for the duration of the festival at a venue which had not been announced at the time of going to press. n Keep up to date via: fringeartsbath.co.uk, on social media, via the Bath Fringe Festival programme or bathfringe.co.uk, and the free FaB17 magazine, which will be available from all FaB venues, cafés and galleries. We’ll bring you more news of events next month in our June issue.

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

MAY SEES THE BIGGER PICTURE Bath’s public and private galleries are in full bloom this month

VICTORIA ART GALLERY By Pulteney Bridge Open daily, 10.30am – 5pm Tel: 01225 477233 Visit: victoriagal.org.uk HISTORY THROUGH A LENS: ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS Until Wednesday 10 May The publicly owned gallery runs an eclectic mix of shows, aimed at a variety of audiences. This exhibition of news photographs from significant moments in history has proved very popular, giving us food for thought about world events and the role of professional photo-journalists. BATH SOCIETY OF ARTISTS ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITION Saturday 20 May –Saturday 15 July This annual exhibition is a treat for art lovers, as we enjoy a wide range of styles – including sculptures, drawings and paintings – shown alongside each other. It’s also a great opportunity for artists to submit their work in the hope of being chosen for the Bath Society of Artists’ show. The 2017 show will fill the large gallery on the ground floor where big names, such as Matisse, Picasso and Grayson Perry have been shown. The Bath Society of Artists was founded in 1904 with 26 members and now has around 120 members. Its exhibition now attracts around 1,000 entries, some of them well known artists, others emerging talents. All the pieces will be for sale and, with around 13,000 visitors, this is a great opportunity to reach a wider audience. Visitors can pick their favourite piece and vote for it to win the people’s choice award. On Saturday 13 May enjoy the spectacle of artists arriving at the gallery carrying their works for submission.

Widcombe Evening by Nick Cudworth

Caryatids by Tim Carroll

MODERN ART BUYER Open house, Limpley Stoke, near Bath, BA2 7FY Open: Saturday and Sunday, all day Visit: modernartbuyer.com

NICK CUDWORTH GALLERY London Street, top of Walcot Street, Bath Closed on Mondays. Tel: 01225 445221 Visit: nickcudworth.com WIDCOMBE Throughout May Over many years Nick has enjoyed painting aspects of Widcombe.

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POP UP GALLERY Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May Online art gallery and consultancy Modern ArtBuyer, run by Jessica LloydSmith, is hosting its third pop-up gallery to show a collection of contemporary works by British artists, with a number from Bath and the south west. Local artists include Mark Stopforth, Rebecca King, Paul Minott and Jess Townsend. Artworks on show include original paintings and hand produced limited edition prints, hanging in situ and ready to take away. There will also be a small selection of beautiful hand made jewellery and some exquisite lamps cast in bronze. Visitors to previous Modern ArtBuyer open houses enjoyed seeing art in a home setting. It helps them to visualise how a work of art may look in their own home.

Amelia by Maria Rivans

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‘the land and the sea’ Sunday May 2017 11am – 5pm ‘the 7th land andfrom the sea’ an exhibition of paintings by darren gordon at the barn, middle twinhoe cottage, midford nr bath, ba2 8qx thelandandthesea.com | 07803 724474

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

DAVID SIMON CONTEMPORARY A Cockchafer by Jan van Kessel the Elder

THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM Great Pulteney Street, Bath Tel: 01225 388569 Open: Daily, 10am – 5pm (11am Sundays) BRUEGEL: DEFINING A DYNASTY Until Sunday 4 June This is the UK’s first exhibition exploring the work of the Bruegel dynasty. Follow the artistic dynasty across four generations through 35 works, including masterpieces lent from the National Gallery, Royal Collection Trust, the National Trust, the Fitzwilliam Museum and the Ashmolean Museum.

EMMA ROSE Upstairs at 78 Walcot Street, Bath Visitors welcome Open: Mon – Sat, 10am – 5pm Tel: 07885235915 or 01225 424 424 Visit: emmaroseartworks.com CORAL DREAMS Throughout May A glorious Coral Dreams prelude to by Emma Rose summer – Emma Rose shows her original paintings, limited edition prints and cards. The work sits intriguingly between figurative and abstraction. Her choice of colours and how they interact with each other being the driving force in creating visions of the sea, sky and land.

3 – 4 Bartlett Street, Bath Tel: 01225 460189 Visit: davidsimoncontemporary.com Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm, and Wednesday, 2 – 6pm LYNNE CARTLIDGE AND ANDY WAITE Friday 5 – Monday 29 May Two painters shown together for the first time, whose approach to painting shares a number of common elements. Lynne Cartlidge, whose main focus is on the still life, experiments with light and shadow. Andy Waite’s paintings of remembered landscapes, drawing upon the tradition of the Romanticists, uses the handling of the subject to reflect his own wandering moods. There is a softness and a warmth to both of these painters’ work and this collection is best appreciated at first hand.

Pomegranate With Cyclamen and Mussels by Lynne Cartlidge

DARREN GORDON The Barn, Middle Twinhoe Cottages, Midford BA2 8QX THE LAND AND THE SEA Sunday 7 May, 11am – 5pm

Darren Gordon is a teacher and an experienced landscape and seascape artist, inspired by the local landscape near his Midford home and the seascapes of his wife’s native Anglesey in north Wales. A percentage of sales will go to either The Marine Conservation Society or The Woodland Trust. He has extended an invitation for his pupils and their parents to call in to see the exhibition.

Early Frost Wellow by Darren Gordon

THE EDGE University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath Open: Tuesday – Thursday, 11am – 8pm, Friday and Saturday, 11am – 5pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Free admission Tel: 01225 386777 Visit: edgearts.org.uk

Frozen Fireflies by Daniel Scott of the department of chemistry

IMAGES OF RESEARCH Tuesday 9 – Saturday 20 May See this year’s entries to the annual University of Bath’s annual competition in which the research community is invited to visualise their work through the creative use of images including photography and images produced via collaboration with artists.

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

FRESH: ART FAIR

GALLERY NINE 9b Margarets Buildings, Bath Tel: 01225 319197 Visit: gallerynine.co.uk Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5.30pm SPRING SHOW Until 9 June Ceramics, prints and jewellery by different artists. Justine Allison works with hand built porcelain creating semi functional pieces. Jane Seymour makes coilbuilt vessels, burnished with pebbles, and smoke- Pendant by Katherin Campbell-Legg fired in wood shavings and seaweed, colouring the surface with abstract smoke patterns. Gail Brodholt is a leading painter and linocut print maker. Much of her work depicts journeys made on tubes and trains. Melvyn Evans has been a professional artist, printmaker and illustrator since 1992. Key features of Katherine Campbell-Legg’s jewellery are the use of pattern, fine texture, finish and surface quality. Jeweller Steven Jamieson is self-taught, he exhibits regularly in Cornwall.

ONE TWO FIVE GALLERY 4 Abbey Green, Bath Open: Wednesday to Sunday, 11am – 5pm Tel: 07803 033 629 Visit: onetwofivegallery.co.uk PASSION Until 14 May Painted clothes and scarves full of colour by Carole Waller and new cool ceramics by Gary Wood, plus work by jewellers: Annie Beardsley, Still life by Gary Wood Kaz Robertson, Amy Keeper, Shelby Fitzpatrick, Fionna Hesketh and Polly Horwich.

THE MUSEUM OF EAST ASIAN ART 12 Bennett Street, Bath Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm, Sunday, noon – 5pm Visit: meaa.org.uk HONG LING: SELECTED Until 2 July The Bath museum is one of only three UK venues to show paintings by the celebrated Chinese painter from different stages of his career.

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Cheltenham Racecourse Visit: freshartfair.net Tickets: £6 on the door, or £6 for two online Friday 12 – Sunday 14 May Anthony Wardle is the Bath based founder of a new art fair, which encompasses many styles and will appeal to different budgets. He’s chosen to gather work from 45 galleries across the country to show some 5,000 original pieces all on one site. Cheltenham Racecourse is easily accessible, being a ten minute drive off the M5 and there will be plenty of parking plus refreshments on site. Pall Mall gallery Panter and Hall will be showing work by well-established PJ Crook, while Camburn Fine Art, based in France, will show work by Alan Halliday. Bath gallery David Simon Contemporary will be showing work by Lydia Corbett, a watercolourist who began her art career on

Cosmopolitans by PJ Crook

the other side of the easel as one of Picasso’s muses. New Blood Art will be one of the galleries bringing fresh talent, giving visitors the chance to see emerging talent fresh out of art college. Ten artists will be in situ painting or sculpting at the fair. Bonhams will also be on

site to give people free valuations on their existing old or early 20th century paintings. So, if you fancy a change of view on your walls, why not take a picture from home, submit it to Bonhams then enjoy the delightful process of picking a new piece to fill its place.

Turning at Hay Tor by Paul Newman

KIT GLAISYER Garden Flat Gallery, 48 Great Pulteney Street, Bath. Open 27 May to 11 June, 12 – 4pm. Email: kitglaisyer@gmail.com or tel: 07983 465789 to arrange an appointment at another time Visit: kitglaisyer.com FRINGE ARTS BATH: ALTERNATIVE REALITIES Saturday 27 May – Sunday 11 June A group exhibition inspired by memory, popular media, classical art, history and imagination evoking utopian or mystical visions of alternative realities. Artists included are: Kit Glaisyer, Ellie Preston, Jon Adam, Paul Newman, Kate Genevieve and Dan Bendel.

BATH CONTEMPORARY 35 Gay Street, Bath Email: gallery@bathcontemporary.com Visit: bathcontemporary.com Twitter: @BathContemp Tel: 01225 461230 Open: Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm IAN FRASER Friday 5 – Monday 29 May Through pattern and structure, Ian Fraser ARCA sought tranquility in a world of hectic modernisation. His politically charged work

House on Corner, Charlton Road, Shepperton by Ian Fraser

explores themes of urbanisation, suburbia and our relationship to the natural world.

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nick cudworth gallery

Down Widcombe Hill. Oil on canvas

WIDCOMBE 2 – 31 May

An exhibition of paintings and prints of the many interesting and attractive aspects of Widcombe

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

The Art Gallery home of

ArtGallery.co.uk Love Me : Hate Me By Martin Leighton

W 22” x H 42”, Oil on Canvas, £950 (or 10 interest free payments of £95 with the Own Art Scheme)

Spencer House, 34 Long Street, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8AQ Tues-Sat. 9.15-4.45pm. Tel: 01666 505152 help@artgallery.co.uk art_gallery_uk

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

FOLLOW THE ART TRAIL

Bath Open Studios runs every weekend throughout May. It gives us free access to the studios of more than 180 artists LARKHALL OPEN STUDIOS Saturday 29, Sunday 30 April and Monday 1 May, times vary, see leaflet for details or visit: larkhallopenstudios.co.uk

More than 30 artists will be showing work in venues across Larkhall and the surrounding area, with much of the work for sale. There will be a mix of painting, printmaking, sculpture, automata, ceramics, photography, and much more. Ione Parkin RWA is currently working on a collaborative project with two other artists and the University of Leicester, which explores connections between art and astronomy. The resulting art will form an exhibition as part of the Cambridge Science Festival. Sculptor Susan Green has recently had a successful show at the new ICE artspace in Bath. Ceramic artist Clare Day has been commissioned by the Holburne Museum to make an artwork reflecting the thoughts of a group of young people as part of a project centred around a new acquisition in the Holburne. Deborah Clair has recently shown in a group exhibition in Bradford on Avon, and sold work to clients in London. David Ringsell’s paintings, including landscapes of Bath, will be shown in a one-man show at the Beaufort Restaurant on London Road. Simon Hodges, also a painter of Bath landscapes, will be exhibiting art in his working studios filled with sketchbooks and work in progress. Bath Artist Printmakers will be demonstrating how to make a print, with a chance to have a go yourself. Finally, some of the venues will have tea and cake, as an added incentive. Maps are available in local cafés and shops and may be arriving through your door.

Mixed media by Deborah Keiller

Bust with blue turban with yellow stripe by Sally MacDonell, Purple Pussycat hooked rug by Veronica Bolton and The Chanteuse Tree by Paulo Baigent

NEWBRIDGE ARTS TRAIL Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May, 11am – 6pm Visit: newbridgeartstrail.com for full details and to contact individual venues

Around 40 artists in the Newbridge area will open their doors to visitors for the eighth annual trail. Meet artists in their own environments, talk about their work and processes and appreciate the diversity of original art created in Bath. Visitors may even be inspired to start or resume a creative activity themselves. Artists can showcase their work and gain feedback on new directions they may be taking. There is a wide variety of original art, from painting and printmaking to

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photography and digital art; from jewellery and ceramics to sculpture and stonemasonry. Much of the work is offered for sale at affordable prices. The self-guided trail comprises 23 venues in the Newbridge area, many within walking distance of each other. While most are private homes and studios, there are also group locations where several people exhibit together. These include the Roper Gallery at Bath Artists’ Studios in Comfortable Place, the Weston Methodist Church Hall in Kennington Road, Frontier Picture Frames in Locksbrook Road and Fairfield House off Kelston Road. At some venues, visitors can also watch demonstrations and join drop-in

workshops. There will be an exhibition at Newbridge Primary School of work by the schoolchildren and their art teacher as well as demonstrations by ceramicists Jan Card and Liz Stallabrass. Demos at other venues include: rug hooking with a difference by Glenna Gillingham for Bath Mats; nontoxic printmaking by Polly Gough and Tim Edwardes; pottery by Peter Merchant; acrylic painting by Janice King and jewellery-making by Janette Massey. A full list of venues can be found online at: newbridgeartstrail.com, with artist profiles and examples of their work. A printed trail guide, with map showing all locations, is available from local shops, businesses and Bath Central Library.

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

Victorian Pier Clevedon by Beryl Desmond

44AD ART SPACE Abbey Street, Bath Visit: 44ad.net OPEN STUDIOS Friday 19 May, evening and Saturday 20 May, 11am – 6pm The artists at 44AD invite visitors to come up the stairs and explore what goes on above the public spaces on the ground floor. There are 13 artists on the upper three floors and, hiding behind the respectable frontage of this Georgian townhouse, there is an exciting and eclectic range of works. Beryl Desmond’s expressive depictions of structures in the landscape and Dragomir Misna’s exploratory, dynamic abstracts are on the first floor; Donna Marie-Scrase’s designs, Anna Kot’s bold geometric compositions and Jess Pigott’s inventive landscapes using paint and collage on the floor above. Finally, at the top are Will Rounce’s perspective drawings and site specific works, Jim Edmiston’s paintings and constructions and the assorted media in the Broose Museum. As well as seeing work in progress, there will be the chance to buy cards, prints and some works and to talk with the artists and share with them their motivations, interests and concerns. 44AD was established in 2012 and has occupied its present premises since 2015. It provides workshop spaces for artists and an exhibition gallery on the ground floor for an ever-changing array of artists and makers. It holds workshops, talks and other events in the basement and provides a lively forum for associate members to share their works and explore ideas.

Stop Frame (detail) by William Rounce

WIDCOMBE ART TRAIL Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May, 10.30am – 5.30pm Visit: widcombearttrail.com

Still Life with Red Cloth by Mary Liddell

This is Widcombe Art Trail’s 11th year and it is bigger and better than ever. Lovers of painting will find several new artists to choose from, as Widcombe discovers links with New Zealand and the Netherlands. New exhibitors also include jewellers whose work in precious metals demonstrates the versatility of this exciting medium, and a sculptor who has worked in Bath for many years. For many of its hundreds of visitors, the trail is an annual pilgrimage, a chance to support local artists and makers, as well as to explore hidden corners of Widcombe. Wherever you visit, you will have a warm welcome, and an opportunity to discuss the works on offer with the artists, who may well turn out to be familiar faces. With the city centre and station just over Halfpenny Bridge, access to Widcombe is easy. For those coming by car, the nearest large car parks are at Southgate, Avon Street and the Cricket Ground. Widcombe has various possibilities for street parking, which is unrestricted on

Sundays. Perrymead and Widcombe Hill (above Tyning End) offer unrestricted parking at all times. Please note that, as many venues are private houses, there may be uneven surfaces and stairs, making them unsuitable for wheelchair and disabled visitors. Please phone individual venues for more information. Workshops are available at some venues and should be pre-booked. Some artists will be offering demonstrations. Pick up a brochure with a helpful map.

BEAR FLAT ARTISTS’ OPEN STUDIOS Saturday 27 – Monday 29 May, 11am – 5pm Visit: bearflatartists.co.uk With around 40 artists and makers showing at more than 20 venues, the Bear Flat Artists’ annual open studios trail promises to be an exciting opportunity to explore a wide variety of quality and interesting works. As well as old friends, there are an exciting number of new exhibitors. There is sculpture in Elm Place by Zoe Wooley and art books created by Peter Please, showing alongside Anna Kot’s bold abstracts in Milton Avenue. In Shelley Road, as well as ceramics of Kate Marshall, Esther Norman and Andy Rhodes, you will find drawings by Naomi Johns, textiles by Stella Tooley and felt work by Jo Willis. Ben Hughes will again welcome visitors to his garage in Chaucer Road and, further along, you will find Tim Williams’s drawings as he continues to master the art of drawing with his left hand after a stroke. In Bloomfield Road enjoy the glass work of Sally Pollitzer with Wendy Batt’s explorations of new techniques in print as collage. There will be prints and paintings on show at the Bear Hotel and the Devonshire Arms and at the Bear Pad, where Lorelei Hunt shows mosaics, and at the Methodist Church Hall where the Fine Line Art Group will be exhibiting. As in the last few

Untitled by Jon Leahy

years, photography is a feature, for instance: Jon Leahy’s ironic observations of city living and Pey Pey Oh’s digital abstracts (both in Shelley Road); Jackie Albrow’s reflections at the Devonshire Arms and Josefa Torres’s evocative long exposures in Bloomfield Park. As well as the children’s workshop in Devonshire Place, there are demonstrations and workshops elsewhere, including 31 Bloomfield Road, the Bear Hotel and (weather permitting) raku firing in Shelley Road.

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CITY | READING

A FESTIVAL GOOD READ

Six of the best books by some of the brilliant writers coming to speak at The Bath Festival this month

VICTORIANS UNDONE

MAD GIRL

Why did novelist George Eliot feel so self-conscious that her right hand was larger than her left? And what made Darwin grow his iconic beard in the 1860s? Historian Kathryn Hughes reveals an in-depth analysis of the Victorian mindset and its relationship with the human body. Kathryn will be giving an enlightening talk about her book at the festival on Monday 22 May, 2.30pm, at the Assembly Rooms.

Bryony Gordon has hit the news recently for being the person who got Prince Harry to speak openly in an interview about his mental health issues surrounding the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, 20 years ago. Columnist Bryony is frank about her own experiences of mental illness in her bestselling book Mad Girl, which reveals her struggle with OCD, bulimia, and drug dependency since her teens. With remarkable honesty, Bryony highlights the importance of speaking about and understanding mental health problems. Bryony will be joining Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love, about how to negotiate life’s tricky travails on Saturday 27 May, 11.45am, at the Forum.

By Kathryn Hughes, Fourth Estate, hardback, rrp £20

By Bryony Gordon, Headline Publishing Group, paperback, rrp £7.99

DAYS WITHOUT END

By Sebastian Barry, Faber & Faber, paperback, rrp £8.99 The winner of this year’s Costa Novel Award follows the life of young Thomas McNulty who flees the potato famine in Ireland to North America, where he is conscripted into the army. Fighting in both the Indian Wars and the American Civil War, Thomas witnesses both the horrors of conflict and moments of kindness and humanity during some of the most dramatic periods of the 19th century. Two-time Man Booker Prize finalist Barry takes the reader on a vivid journey from the plains of Wyoming to humid Tennessee. Barry will be talking at the festival on Saturday 27 May, 7.30pm, at St Michael’s Without.

ANATOMY OF A SOLDIER By Harry Parker, Faber & Faber, paperback, rrp £7.99

Having served in the British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, Harry Parker has used his first hand experiences to create this novel following the life of Captain Tom Barnes who is gravely injured by an exploding IED in a war zone. This small moment has a cataclysmic effect on his life. Harry will be speaking with author Emily Mayhew about the impact of lifealtering injuries sustained in war on Sunday 21 May, 4.45pm, at the Assembly Rooms.

A WOMAN'S WORK

By Harriet Harman, Allen Lane, hardback, £20 How has politics changed for women over the past five decades? Former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman has been at the forefront of changing British politics for women since the early 1980s. In this candid account, Harman reveals how she has championed for more women in parliament, taken on the Labour Party to highlight women’s issues, and been driven to change public perceptions of women in political life. Harman’s personal account is set against a narrative exploring how politics has changed for women since the 1970s. Harriet will be exploring the theme of women in politics at her talk on Sunday 28 May, 11am, at the Assembly Rooms.

THE ESSEX SERPENT

By Sarah Perry, Serpent's Tail, paperback, rrp £8.99 The year is 1893. Cora Seaborne’s controlling husband has just died, leaving her relieved yet saddened. Cora leaves London with her son in tow for Essex in the hope of starting a new life. She becomes enthralled in the rumours that the mythical Essex Serpent has returned, known for taking people’s lives while roaming the marshes. She embarks on finding it with the local vicar,

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who she finds herself increasingly drawn to. The Essex Serpent was named the Waterstones Book of the Year 2016 and shortlisted for the 2016 Costa Novel Award. Sarah will be talking to festival artistic director Alex Clark alongside fellow authors Gwendoline Riley and Sarah Moss about the formation of the novel and their diﬀerent styles of writing at The Breakfast Club, taking place on Thursday 25 May, 10am, at the Assembly Rooms, with croissants and coﬀee for all.

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Anniversary Weekend Fri 19 May Party in the City at No. 1 Royal Crescent – FREE 8 – 10pm: Words on Stone To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the laying of the Foundation Stone of the Royal Crescent on 19 May 1767 the elevation of No. 1 Royal Crescent will be illuminated with poetry as part of Party in the City, the opening night of Bath Festival. 7 – 9.30pm: Echoes and Edges – Free performance in the Servants’ Hall Echoes and Edges is a collective of poets and musicians, working together on ideas that incorporate and merge spoken word with improvised and composed pieces of music. Sun 21 May Royal Crescent Foundation Stone Family Day – Free outdoor event 11am: Natural Theatre Company actors embark on the Foundation Stone Procession to No. 1 from Widcombe. 11am – 3pm: How the Royal Crescent was built. Demonstrations of the crafts used to build the Royal Crescent including joinery, stonemasonry and ironwork. 11am, 11:45am, 1.30pm (Dementia Friendly tour) and 2:30pm (includes British Sign Language): If Walls Could Talk Walking Tours of the Royal Crescent with students from Bath Spa University exploring the stories behind the façade. 12.30 – 1.15pm: Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony – The foundation stone arrives with the Natural Theatre Company at the Royal Crescent. Throughout the day there will be family activities and costumed interpretation inside No. 1 Royal Crescent. No 1 Royal Crescent, Bath, Avon BA1 2LR. Web: no1royalcrescent.org.uk, phone: 01225 428126

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LOST IN | AUSTEN

WALKING IN AUSTEN’S FOOTSTEPS

Jessica Hope goes in search of acclaimed novelist Jane Austen in Winchester ahead of this summer’s bicentenary commemorations of her death

ne would think that a grand cathedral would be a fitting place for the body of one of Britain’s most celebrated authors to be buried. However, when Jane Austen died nearly 200 years ago, it wasn’t that she was so famous that people thought that she should be buried in Winchester Cathedral – it was because of it being conveniently close to where she died just a few streets away. It was only in the decades after her death that she became well-known for her novels and was transformed into a household name. To mark the bicentenary, we went to explore the city where she was laid to rest and discover just some of the Austen-related events that are happening over the coming months. Plus, we uncovered spots where you can rest, eat and refresh along the way . . .

JANE AUSTEN’S HOUSE MUSEUM First stop before reaching Winchester is Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton, Hampshire – less than 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of Winchester. This is where Austen lived from 1809 – 1817, and where she wrote and edited her much-loved novels. The museum has retained much of its early 19th century character, so you can wander around the house just as Austen would have once known it. In each room you will find artefacts that were owned by Jane, her sister and mother, who continued to live in the cottage after Austen’s death. Explore the Jane Austen in 41 Objects 46 TheBATHMagazine

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exhibition, which reflects on Austen’s life and legacy through 41 items – one for every year of her life – and see a writing table that she may have once used to write her renowned novels. The exhibition is on until December 2017. Visit: jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk.

WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL In 1817 Austen travelled to Winchester with her sister Cassandra in the hope of seeing a local doctor who could cure her of a mystery illness that continues to puzzle people to this day. The sisters moved to a house on College Street where Austen lived for the last six weeks of her life, before dying on 18 July 1817. She was then buried under the floor of Winchester Cathedral six days later at a funeral attended by just four people. Austen’s gravestone inscription is simple and makes no mention of her novels. However, as the popularity around her books grew after her death, in order to reflect her status Austen’s nephew published a memoir of his late aunt in 1870 and used the proceeds to

erect a brass plaque near to her gravestone to highlight her impact on the literary world. Nowadays people travel from across the world to see the writer’s resting place. Over the coming months the cathedral will be hosting a variety of events to mark the anniversary of Austen’s death. On the first Saturday of each month from June to November there will be tours followed by refreshments, exploring Austen’s life and her connections with Winchester and the cathedral. The tour will also include a short walk to the house where she died. Illyria Open Air Theatre will be entertaining audiences with its take on Pride and Prejudice from Wednesday 28 – Friday 30 June, 7.30pm, in the Cloisters Garth. Pack a picnic, camp chairs and a bottle of fizz, and then sit back and enjoy this witty, fast-paced performance of Austen’s most popular novel. There will be a lunchtime concert held to mark the 200th anniversary of Austen’s death on Tuesday 18 July. The performance will include music from her lifetime, including a recital by The Austen Trio, featuring a soprano, harp and piano. Pay your respects and join the procession on the anniversary of Austen’s funeral on the morning of Monday 24 July. Members of the public can follow guides from the place of her death to her grave in the cathedral. The walk will include readings from Austen’s novels, excerpts from letters and moments of reflection. At 9am – the time of Austen’s funeral – the cathedral bell

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LOST IN | AUSTEN

DISCOVERING JANE’S WINCHESTER: Opposite page, a woodcut of the novelist and Jane Austen's House Museum, and inset, first editions of Pride and Prejudice, © Jane Austen’s House Museum, photograph by Peter Smith This page, top left, a letter written by Austen © Jane Austen’s House Museum, right, The Chesil Rectory serves seasonal British cuisine, and below, the view overlooking Winchester Cathedral from our room at the Mercure Winchester Wessex Hotel

will ring 41 times, one for each year of her life. This is a ticketed event, numbers are limited. Visit: winchester-cathedral.org.uk to book tickets to all the events mentioned, plus more.

THE MYSTERIOUS MISS AUSTEN This exhibition will look closely at Jane Austen’s work, life and relationship with Hampshire, and includes items linked with the acclaimed writer, including her silk pelisse coat, a purse and a sewing materials case. For the first time, five portraits of Austen will be on show together, including one from a private collection that hasn’t been on show to the public in more than four decades. Plus, there will be a manuscript of an alternative ending to Persuasion on show – maybe Anne

Elliot and Captain Wentworth were never meant to have their happy ever after after all . . . Mysterious Miss Austen is on from 13 May – 24 July at The Gallery at Winchester Discovery Centre. Visit: janeausten200.co.uk.

MERCURE WINCHESTER WESSEX HOTEL A great place to rest your head after a long day of sightseeing is the Mercure Winchester Wessex Hotel. This contemporary four star hotel is just a stone’s throw from the high street and attractions, making it the perfect base for your stay. We were treated to a stay in one of the newly refurbished rooms which have been decorated with Austen in mind. The rooms have been furnished in a neutral style with Scandi inspired furniture, while an enlarged motif of Austen’s handwriting and quill adorn the wall over the bed. Our room also included a spectacular view overlooking Winchester Cathedral. Mercure Winchester Wessex Hotel, Paternoster Row, Winchester. Visit: mercure.com or call: 01962 312800.

CABINET ROOMS All of this exploring can leave you parched, so if you need to quench your thirst with something a little stronger than H2O then the newly opened Cabinet Rooms can certainly cater to your drinking needs. Serving up a variety of local gins (try the Twisted Nose – it’s made with local watercress and served with a twist of pink grapefruit), artisan coffee and delicious cocktails, owners Gary and Marcus champion using local produce and high quality products. In keeping with the bicentenary of Austen’s death, they have created a Lost In Austen cocktail for their

menu, using cherry liqueur, egg white, amaretto and lemon juice, topped with glossy drunken cherries. This cocktail is based on a recipe from Austen’s lifetime called cherries en chemise – a dish which was believed to be able to heal a broken heart. If you visit Winchester in June, Cabinet Rooms will be hosting the Ginchester Fête on Saturday 10 June in the historic location of the Great Hall. To celebrate World Gin Day there will be 20 exhibitors with plenty of local gins to try, plus gin jam, cakes and chocolate, among other produce on sale. Tickets are £10, available via: eventbrite.co.uk. Cabinet Rooms, 2 De Lunn Buildings, Jewry Street, Winchester. Visit: cabinetrooms.com.

THE CHESIL RECTORY In need of sustenance with a dash of history during your trip? With its wooden beamed ceilings, cosy fireplaces and creaky floorboards, The Chesil Rectory is the oldest restaurant in Winchester, having been built in the early 15th century. Serving delicious British dishes using local, high quality produce, this independent eatery continues to bring in locals and tourists time and time again – unsurprising as it has two AA Rosettes and was named the third most romantic restaurant in the UK by The Times. It also serves Hattingley Valley sparkling wine made just down the road in Hampshire. The Chesil Rectory, 1 Chesil Street, Winchester. Visit: chesilrectory.co.uk or call: 01962 851555. n Visit: visitwinchester.co.uk for further information about what to see and do in Winchester.

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

Dave Bond

Lollipop man

lthough I went to a good school in Winchester called the Peter Symonds Grammar School for Boys I didn’t want to stay there for A levels as many of my mates were working and I’d had enough of school. It was at a time when schools were going comprehensive, increasingly left wing and lax. I got a job at MacMarkets and went from assistant to grocery manager in a few years. The progress pleased me, but the pay was pretty rubbish so I applied for a trainee civil service job. My pay doubled and I learnt a lot about computer programming which I really took to. I ended up working at Worthy Down as an audit clerk and stayed there for ten years. From there I successfully applied for a similar role with the Admiralty in Gosport. I used my IT skills to manage ships’ stores. It was a fun time in my life and friends and colleagues enjoyed the coastal environment. We used to take the ferry back and forth to Portsmouth for our R&R. When the work moved to Bath I ended up at Ensleigh. But when the unit transferred to Abbey Wood our work was outsourced to Boeing. I’m public service through and through and didn’t fancy working for a private American company so essentially I retired myself at 54. I was financially sorted enough and had no burning ambition to start all over again. I needed something to do though. Years ago I had met a man on a coach who was a lollipop man. He told us how much he enjoyed the community role and the connection with the public. This random conversation must have played a part in my decision to apply for a similar role in Bath. I had told myself I wanted no early mornings, no outdoor weather jobs but found myself applying for a position that definitely didn’t meet these criteria. Despite the early start and frequent rain I love lollipopping. I’ve always liked to make people laugh and I have a great rapport with the kids and parents while calming the traffic on Lansdown. I’ve been in Bath 20 years now and there are so many things I enjoy about it. I also love The Volunteer Rifleman’s Arms and the friendly banter in this tiny Bath pub. Paul is the perfect landlord but don’t tell him that. Since retirement I’ve been working on my bucket list. First year: grow pony tail (not successful), second year: buy scooter (tick!), third year: learn guitar (realised I was not very musical). I’ve always enjoyed Greece and think I imagined myself whizzing round the islands adorned with a guitar and flowing locks. Many years ago I taught myself Greek. Firstly learning the pronunciation of the alphabet from football fixtures, then taking it further at Trowbridge College. We all live in the past to a certain extent and I still have my wonderful collection of prog rock albums – Genesis, Yes, ELP, Barclay James Harvest, Wishbone Ash all created the soundtrack to my life. You can hear the music in mind when I stop you on Lansdown to help the children cross. There’s always a Bright side of the Moon!

PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic. Visit: capturethespirit.co.uk, tel: 01225 483151. THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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WIN return flights to the Isles of Scilly Discover the destination on your doorstep and make your escape to the idyllic islands that feel like a world apart from anywhere else in the UK. The Bath Magazine has teamed up with Isles of Scilly Travel to fly two lucky readers to the Isles of Scilly so they can experience this must-visit destination. Soar into the skies on a Skybus flight from your choice of Exeter, Newquay or Land’s End Airport and you’ll arrive in Cornwall’s Caribbean in under an hour, after soaking up breath-taking aerial views of this magical island paradise from the air. #FlyScilly today with Isles of Scilly Travel Visit www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk or call 01736 334220 to find out more. Follow @IOSTravel on Twitter or Isles of Scilly Travel on Facebook for live updates, giveaways and news.

To enter the competition, simply email your name and address to competitions@thebathmagazine.co.uk before the closing date of 30/5/2017 By entering, you agree to receiving occasional emails with news, offers and events from Isles of Scilly Travel.

Terms and Conditions TheThe prize includes return travel for two adults on board a Skybus flight from either Exeter Airport, Newquay Airport or Land’s End Airport to the Isles of Scilly. Travel to and from the point of departure and airport car parking is not included. Flights are subject to availability on requested dates, and are available on any route, on dates excluding the peak months of June, July, August, Bank Holiday weekends or during periods when major events are being held on the Isles of Scilly. Only one entry per household. The closing date is 305/2017 and any entries received after this date will not be considered. The winner will be selected at random and this prize is non-transferable. No cash alternative is available.

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FOOD | NEWS

TITBITS

■ He may be a two-Michelin starred chef

but Nathan Outlaw is also a father of two and knows the time pressures that modern families are under. His new cookbook, Nathan Outlaw Home Kitchen contains 100 recipes for people to cook at home for family and friends. The chef will be coming to St Michael’s Church, Broad Street, Bath on Monday 15 May, 7:30pm, when he’ll be cooking dishes from the new book, which includes lunches such as crab and chilli omelette and satay quail salad, Sunday roasts and everyday dinners. Tickets are £10 from Topping & Co bookshop, tel: 01225 428111, redeemable against the book. ■ Voting has begun online and with voting

cards for the Bath Good Food Awards 2017, which are now under new management. The final ceremony will be held at the new Apex City of Bath Hotel on Sunday 24 September, to coincide with the Great Bath Feast. The last Bristol Good Food Awards attracted 14,000 votes and 600 guests to its award dinner. To vote online visit: bathgoodfood.co.uk/vote or visit your favourite eaterie and fill in a card. Only one vote per person for each category is allowed. Look out too for the opportunity to nominate your favourite local food or drink producer. The judges will then visit the shortlist to determine the finalists.

SUNDAY MARKET FOR HISTORIC SQUARE

Historic Abbey Green square in the heart of Bath is to become home to a new monthly Sunday market, beginning on 21 May. The Independent Bath Market is partly inspired by the thriving street market that takes place in Frome. There will be a couple of dozen stalls selling everything from fresh flowers, baked goods and charcuterie to stationery and home wares. Trading will be from 10am until 4pm. Market organiser is Silvana de Soissons, who runs The Foodie Bugle café and shop overlooking the square and who hopes the event will bring more locals and visitors to businesses in Abbey Green.

WEEKEND BROWSE: The Foodie Bugle Shop overlooks Abbey Green

FOOD ON THE TABLE AT FESTIVAL

Cooks, foodies and anyone concerned with the politics of global food production will find plenty of interest at this month’s Bath Festival, which sees the doyenne of British baking, Mary Berry returning to the city where she grew up. The former head judge for the BBC’s Great British Bake Off will be talking about her life in the kitchen, keeping her cool and her latest bestselling home cookbook, Everyday, at the Forum, 11am on Saturday 20 May. Followers of healthy eating champion Madeleine Shaw will welcome the chance to hear her talk about her ethos at Komedia from 11am on Saturday 27 May. She makes a good case for not following a restrictive diet, but instead opting for wholesome, seasonal food. She’s followed her first book Get the Glow with A Year of Beautiful Eating and she’ll be talking about the recipes in that. Turning to the bigger picture, of why we eat what we eat and whether we should worry about where it came from is The Big Bath Debate on Food, which takes place on Friday 26 May, from 10am at the Assembly

RAW FOOD FAN: healthy eating champion Madeleine Shaw

Rooms. The debate will be in the very capable hands of Bristol based national food writer Xanthe Clay, joined by fellow food writer Joanna Blythman and Philip Lymbery, writer and chief executive of Compassion in World Farming.

RATTLING TEA CUPS IS A NEW FUNDRAISER FOR CHARITY

Supporters of Dorothy House Hospice have been given a gentler way to raise money for the charity than running a half marathon or jumping from a plane – instead they’re being invited to hold a Dorothy’s Tea Party. There’s no set date to hold a tea party, just when it’s convenient for the organiser to invite family, friends or colleagues to enjoy tea, coffee and cake together, with either a bowl offering donations or a suggested amount per slice. At the end of the party the host might like to stage a cake sale for people to take home. To order a Dorothy’s Tea Party pack and get tips on how to arrange a party, register at: dorothyhouse.org.uk or tel: 01225 721 480. With the rise in people choosing a vegan diet and eschewing dairy products and eggs,

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offering them cake may seem a bit daunting. But Demuths vegetarian cookery school in Bath runs regular workshops on vegan and gluten free baking. The next vegan baking workshop at the cookery school on Bog Island is a day-long exploration of making pastries, doughs, sticking puddings and cakes, on Sunday 7 May from 10am. The workshop is suitable for beginners and includes a sociable vegan lunch together at the cookery school. Recipe sheets are also given to take home and secrets shared include how to use aquafabs and how to make meringues without using egg. To find out more about this and other meat-free themed courses at Demuths, visit: demuths.co.uk.

DOROTHY’S FRIENDS: Demuths staged a bake oﬀ to launch the Dorothy’s Tea Party fundraising campaign

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BEHIND | THE | MENU

A RURAL SHANGRI-LA

Melissa Blease goes behind the menu at Castle Farm Café near Midford

astle Farm Café – a charming little oasis of pastoral perfection nestling in the Midford hills – may only be a short hop from Bath city centre (around ten minutes by car) but, once you’ve arrived, it’s difficult not to believe that you’ve entered another time zone altogether, yet alone another place far removed from the cut and thrust of city life. Having left the car at the top of the gently sloping pathway, we ambled past the vegetable and flower plots, pausing to take in the views across acres of lush, rolling countryside, before finding ourselves outside a large barn, its doors flung open to reveal an inviting café and kitchen within, with a quirky little shop in a shed by the entrance. On my most recent visit to what’s swiftly become one of my favourite staycation spots, the tantalising scents of freshly-ground coffee, wild garlic and fresh tomatoes were in the air, followed by the unmistakable aroma of pizza straight from the oven, the cheese topping still bubbling away. I may be waxing lyrical but Castle Farm is the sort of place that works a kind of magic. One minute you’re bemoaning traffic, work woes and everyday stresses; the next, you’re on holiday, with not a care in the world, apart from wondering how soon you might be able to indulge in a slice of pizza. Owner Sarah Kelloway explains how it all began: “Castle Farm Café came to life almost a year ago, when my partner Rob Eldon and I came to meet Jo and Mark Edwards, who run the organic farm here. I’d always wanted to own a vegetarian café. When I was young I used to write business plans, draw pictures of food and table layouts, and design menus filled with yummy veggie treats. “So when Mark offered the barn to Rob as a new business, it was all systems go. We initially took our inspiration from the incredible views, the edible garden and the peace and tranquility of the surroundings, and aimed to create a little sanctuary – an all-round wonderful experience serving good, fresh, tasty food in a relaxed, chilled out setting with a massively friendly, fun and rustic vibe; 54 TheBATHMagazine

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we want customers to feel at home from the moment they arrive.” Sarah and Rob have totally fulfilled their ambition. But let us tear our eyes away from those amazing views to study the menu of delights at this bucolic Shangri-La. Chef Victoria Mason’s roll call of suppliers reads like a guide to the leading lights of Bath’s local producers scene: coffee from Roundhill Roastery, tea from Comins Tea House, beer from Albion Brewery, cider from Honey’s Midford and Iford, fermented drinks from the Bath Culture House, wine from Wolf Wine. And when it comes to food Vic’s inspirations are locally sourced too. “I truly enjoy cooking the most when I’m working with ingredients that are in season,” she says. “This could be humble chervil whizzed up in a soup or bright, orange-fleshed pumpkin that won’t be seen again for another year. I’m very lucky to work beside Castle Farm Organics and I liaise with Jo pretty much every day regarding what’s growing right now, or what to get excited about over the coming weeks. I get to taste and sample a wide variety of herbs and edible flowers. “As for paying attention to food fashions – certain ingredients or dishes may be exciting for a period, but trends change. We prefer to keep true to our main aims and keep the food honest and unpretentious, just

UP ON THE FARM: above, a seasonal dish at Castle Farm Café and, inset, some of the happy team Opposite, pizza baked in a traditional pizza oven to order, centre, chef Vic’s favourite sharing mezze platter and far left, the stylish interior of the café like our surroundings. Having said that, our pizzas are by far the most popular items on the menu. We use a rye-based sourdough for our bases, which I top with a few carefully selected ingredients – organic if possible – so the flavours sing.” But as perfect as her pizzas are, Vic selects the mezze platter as her favourite. “The mezze showcases many tasty morsels simply prepared, so the true essence of seasonality shines through. I’d recommend that you order the mezze for two accompanied by a couple of local beers to wash it down with.” Summer on a plate? We think so. Life on the farm sounds idyllic, but is it as perfect as it seems? “In so many ways, it really is,” says Sarah. “We have nature as our backdrop. We spend each day with inspirational people, eating incredible fresh, delicious food from the land, making

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BEHIND | THE | MENU

new and lovely friends. But of course, there are challenges too. It hasn’t been easy letting people know we’re here, let alone persuading people to come all the way out of Bath for a coffee or lunch. “Because we started with such a low budget we didn’t have money for marketing or even proper signage, so we relied pretty much solely on word-of-mouth. But we’ve just managed to fully rebrand the café and we’ve had some fantastic new signs made for us by Front Left, the Bristol-based company. They’re also the team behind Boomtown (boomtownfair.co.uk), so we’re really excited to be heading into summer with some fresh new energy.” Talking of which, Castle Farm Café also doubles-up as a unique venue in which Sarah

and Rob host events, with workshops from fermented food fairy Lucie Cousins of Bath Culture House (see our February issue, or online, for Lucy’s in the Food Hero spotlight), wine tastings with Wolf Wine, nutrition workshops, health coaching, movie nights and yoga classes all in the pipeline. “We’re hoping to expand these events to a couple of other venues too, so we can offer a wider variety of exciting goings-on in different settings around the beautiful countryside,” says Sarah. “We’re also planning our first birthday celebrations, which we’re aiming to present as a collaborative event with four other local independent businesses who are also celebrating their first year of trade this summer – we haven’t confirmed the date yet,

but we’re planning an all-day party, with outdoor stalls run by friends and fellow independent businesses, including our suppliers.” Now that sounds like a party that nobody of a tasteful persuasion would want to miss, so keep an eye on the Castle Farm Café website and twitter feed. But you don’t need to wait for a party invitation to make your next trip to Midford; personally, I’m happy to raise a glass with the Castle Farm folk every time I get the opportunity to escape to the country. n Castle Farm Café, Midford Road, Midford, Bath BA2 7BU. Email: info@castlefarmcafe.co.uk; web: castlefarmcafe.co.uk; twitter @castlefarmcafe.

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Tristan May.qxp_Layout 1 21/04/2017 14:59 Page 1

TRISTAN DARBY Vegetarian

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www.indiantemptation.com Opposite Bath Abbey

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nyone who’s visited a bar or spirits retailer over the last few years will be aware of the gin boom. Last year saw record UK sales of more than 40m bottles, with 2016 being dubbed ‘the year of gin’. This meteoric rise is far from over (with more than 40 new distilleries opened in the UK last year alone), and with an increasingly dynamic and diverse range of quality-led gins on offer – who’s to complain? Gin has a fascinating history from its likely beginnings as a medicine, through the whisky-like Dutch Genever, Mother’s ruin and Victorian gin palaces to the present day. I’ll be hosting a gin and tonic tasting on Wednesday 31 May at Great Western Wine where you can learn lots more about the history and world of gin in a fun, hands-on way (tickets from: greatwineschool.co.uk). But for now, here are a few labels I recommend adding to your collection: Jensen’s Bermondsey London Dry Gin (£26, Great Western Wine) After tasting vintage gin from a longlost London distillery, Christian Jensen set out to create an uber-traditional London Dry using only botanicals available in the 1800s (no cucumber or seaweed here). Made at a small distillery located in railway arches near London Bridge this is a gloriously traditional juniper-led gin with a strong pine note from the Italian juniper berries, and a touch of violets, spice and herbs. Rich and complex yet subtle and smooth. Delicious in a dry Martini, or a classic G&T with premium Indian tonic water and lemon or lime. Martin Miller’s Gin (£25, GWW) was a trailblazer for the gin renaissance, launched in 1999 at a time when gin was a business few in their right mind would go into. It was made with Martin’s uncompromising vision to create the perfect gin. The lighter botanicals are distilled separately to the earthier ones, then blended together for balance, along with distilled cucumber. The resulting strong spirit is then sent on a 3,000-mile round-trip to Iceland, where it is ‘cut’ to bottling strength of 40% abv with the purest water source available; mountainfiltered glacial melt water. Why shipped to Iceland? Back in the 90s import laws meant water had to be ‘demineralised’ to transport across the EU (negating the whole point of using it). Does the effort make a difference? Yes. Awesomely fresh, pure, crisp and balanced. This is my go-to end of a long day gin served neat over ice. Also great in a Martini or G&T. Try it with Dr Polidori’s Cucumber Tonic or with Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic as a relaxing spring/summer sipper. Brilliantly berry-infused Brockman’s Gin (£32, GWW) uses ten botanicals including blueberries and blackberries. Flavoursome and fruity, but beautifully balanced, I love to sip this neat. Warner Edwards Victoria’s Rhubarb Gin (£35.50, GWW) is cleverly made using the pressed pink juice of a rhubarb crop originally grown in Queen Victoria’s garden. Full flavoured, tangy and a little sweet, but again a beautifully balanced gin that’s a huge treat on its own served over ice or in a G&T. n

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FOOD | HEROES

BLENDING IN BEAUTIFULLY Melissa Blease meets Esther Thompson, the food hero behind Tea Huggers

hill Out or Magic Breakfast? Skinny Fit or Hangover Help? Detox or Guilt Free Choccy? Or perhaps you’d simply like an elegant Earl of Bath with your crumpet? Whatever your tea-total preference, it’s likely that Esther Thompson – founder of the awardwinning Bath-based company Tea Huggers – can offer you the perfect hug-in-a-mug to match your mood, satisfy current cravings or even alleviate health niggles. “Tea is similar to wine, in that there are so many different blends from different regions that can really impact on the taste,” says Esther. “It is, quite simply, a wonderful world to explore. Tea is also a fantastic accompaniment to fine food, and I’m increasingly noticing high quality teas offered with high quality restaurant menus – I love that! So of course, I’d encourage everybody to take the plunge, buy some real tea and enjoy the journey.” Esther is keen to embrace us all with her passion for the leafy brew. But her own personal voyage into tea waters began a very long time ago when she was swimming on a tide of a very different kind altogether. “After leaving university, I went straight to London to work as a political lobbyist,” she says. “But the long hours and late nights started impacting my health – one year, I had four bouts of tonsillitis on the trot. “Then my doctor suggested that I cut out coffee and allow my body to sleep when I was tired instead of fuelling it with caffeine. I took the suggestion on board, and I’ve never had tonsillitis since.” So, Esther became a herbal tea devotee instead. But her adventure didn’t end there. “I always found that herbal teas smelt good, but often the taste didn’t deliver. After a decade of searching for the perfect herbal tea, I eventually launched my own range; three years on, and Tea Huggers is stocked in high-end food halls such as Selfridges, some of the UK’s loveliest cafés, in shops across the country and, on my website. “I started the business in London, but thanks to the internet I have the luxury of basing my business anywhere, so my husband and I chose beautiful Bath to live in and grow my 58 TheBATHMagazine

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business and our family.” But while the city has become known nationally as caffeine central as business in multiple specialist coffee bars, retail outlets and even coffee-making masterclasses is booming, Esther, believes the rise in the popularity of real coffee has been beneficial to the increased interest in real tea. “Because people are used to paying more for a cup of really good coffee these days and are far more educated about how and where their favourite beans are sourced, tea has naturally begun to share the same spotlight,” she says. “As a result, the good tea market is becoming crowded too, so my main challenge is to keep awareness of the Tea Huggers brand buoyant, which I try to do by connecting with our fans through social media and keeping my word-ofmouth reputation positive – it really is all about awareness, because consumers aren’t so passive about their choices anymore. I’ve noticed that many folk have become very savvy about how the different types of tea, where the leaves are grown, the processing and the blending of the ingredients that can really affect the taste. Also, lots of people are sensitive to high amounts of caffeine, or may

THE CUP THAT CHEERS: this page, the Hangover Help blend by Tea Huggers and, inset, founder Esther Thompson Opposite page, unadulterated natural ingredients are used in Tea Huggers blends

be intolerant to milk. But even if they’re not cutting out coffee altogether, a lot of people now limit themselves to one cup of coffee to get them going in the morning, but look to tea to revitalise themselves throughout the day. “I’ve got a wonderful range of both caffeine-free and naturally caffeinated teas, so there’s something for everybody!” What, er-hum, even a self-confessed big brand/big deal shopper who sloshes milk on to a one-cup tea bag before adding boiling water? “Oh please, ditch the paper tea bags and buy high quality, whole leaf tea instead,” Esther urges me “There’s

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simply no comparison in terms of taste. I sell a handy taster pack on our website which offers new or dubious tea converts an opportunity to try a selection of our bestselling teas for every moment of the day.” So how does that particular magic happen? “All our teas are blends of lots of different ingredients including fruit and herbs, and we’ve used ingredients which have been used for hundreds of years for different health benefits, too; lavender and lemon balm in our fruity Good Night tea, for example, which helps to relax your mind before you drift off to sleep, or calming chamomile and basil with lots of fruit pieces in our Chill Out blend. My teas can help you feel good at any stage of the day – personally speaking, I literally couldn’t live without my specific morning and evening brews. I particularly love the ceremony of having a bedtime tea and taking time to unwind and be grateful for what I’ve achieved throughout the day.” When she’s out and about Esther enjoys taking tea somewhere really special, recommending Comins Tea House in Monmouth Street in particular for its selection and lovely service from the friendly owners, who are as fanatical as Esther is about their brews. “They also serve awesome dumplings too, which are a great alternative to the traditional afternoon tea selection,” says Esther. As for the notion of ditching that

horrendous one-cup habit (not that it was me I was referring to earlier, of course) and taking all of Esther’s advice – well, I can honestly say that, having chatted in depth to the goddess of leaf-related brews, I’m henceforth on the path of real tea righteousness. Esther may be pleased to learn that the writing of this very feature was fuelled by a refreshing pot of Tea Hugger’s Ever Green blend. “Our fans are what makes me most proud of the whole Tea Huggers venture,” says Esther. “We’ve found and connected with so many like-minded people who

literally love our teas as much as we do, and I’m blown away by the feedback we receive every week to say how our teas have really helped people sleep, or feel better if they’ve been under the weather. It’s those people who have spread the word, and now our teas are sold all over the country and across the world in locations from Japan to Canada.” From Bath, with love to the world: that’s one great big hug-in-a mug indeed. n Tea Huggers, PO Box 5219, Bath BA1 0UQ. Tel: 07967 822719; email hello@teahuggers.co.uk; web: teahuggers.co.uk; twitter @Teahuggers

Nestled within the beautiful rolling hills of Midford, our lovely little café is situated on a beautiful Organic Farm amongst fresh herbs, sweet smelling flowers and bountiful veggie patches. We serve rustic, tasty food from the heart, using an abundance of wonderful local suppliers, growers and makers. Why not take a breather from the busy city, and come join us for a brew. Opening hours: Wed – Sun, 10am – 4pm Breakfast - Lunch - Tea & Coffee Cake - Licensed - Events - Dogs welcome Castle Farm Café, Midford Road, Midford, Bath, BA2 7BU info@castlefarmcafe.co.uk www.castlefarmcafe.co.uk

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CITY | PEOPLE

CITYNEWS News in brief n Taste of Bath, which launched the concept

of bringing local food and drink producers together to create a hamper delivery service, has just launched the Bath Box – a new, smaller package of gifted west country produce. Packaged in elegant black branded boxes, each can be themed for the recipient and prices start at £40. There’s a Foodies Box, a Luxury Bath Box or a Booze Box, each one filled with treats, from local ales and Bath Oliver biscuits to Wiltshire made fudge and Somerset chocolates. They make a practical alternative to flowers as a thank you, or welcome gesture. Visit: taste-of.co.uk for more products and to order. n Independent television and hi-fi retailer and installer Moss of Bath has won three national industry awards at the 2017 IER Awards (Innovative Electrical Retailer). The IER Awards took place at a glamorous ceremony at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel, London. The awards recognise excellence and outstanding achievement in the world of electrical retailing and manufacturing. Moss of Bath was named Best Independent Consumer Electronics Retailer 2017, Best Website 2017 and Highly Commended for Outstanding Customer Service. Tim and Annie Moss said they were thrilled to pick up three awards and particularly proud on behalf of the city of Bath. Tim added: “This award would not be possible without the fantastic team of hard working and knowledgeable staﬀ at Moss of Bath.” Visit award-winning: mossofbath.co.uk.

ENTREPRENEUR’S LOW SUGAR JUICES Bath born entrepreneur Tom Tigwell has lauched Mission Juice, a new brand of cold pressed fruit and vegetable juices which are lower in sugar than leading names in the market. Tom, 23, a former Ralph Allen student who went to unversity in America, set up Mission Juice in response to a market saturated in sugarheavy juices. Instead he uses an 80:20 ratio of vegetable to fruit, keeping nutrient levels and taste high and sugar low. There are three drinks to choose from; the green juice is a vitamin and

Anyone who’s visited the Royal United Hospital in Bath, either as a patient or a visitor, will have seen the work done by an army of unpaid volunteers, who serve in the hospital shop, guide visitors to wards and offer a warm, friendly welcome. This year the Friends of the RUH celebrates its 60th anniversary and as part of a thank you to its legions of volunteers will be holding a party at Walcot Rugby’s ground on Thursday 18 May. The Bath Cake Company is also giving away cakes in the hospital as part of the 60th birthday celebrations. There are currently around 350 volunteers at the hospital, working in 20 teams, taking on tasks including gardening in the grounds, greeting visitors and handing out emergency toiletries to patients who need them. More

provided for

n “Footfall rose by +1.2% across all retail destinations in March, breaking six consecutive months of decline in what has been a challenging environment industry-wide. Most of the increase was driven by high streets and retail parks where footfall rose by +1.7% and +1.4% respectively, whilst it rose by just +0.2% in shopping centres. The growth in leisure and hospitality trips continues, with footfall on high streets being much stronger than during trading hours; indicating the influence of retail as the key driver of footfall is lessening. In part this is due to the worsening of the key drivers of consumer spending – inflation and consumer confidence – which is likely to be constraining shoppers' willingness to spend on retail goods” – Springboard Research Ltd.

MaY 2017

potassium-rich combination of leafy greens with lemon and ginger; the red juice, contains sweet root vegetables including beetroot

THREE CHEERS FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS

BATH BUSINESS BAROMETER

60 TheBATHMagazine

HEALTHY: Tom Tigwell of Mission Juice

and carrot, with apple and cucumber; and the orange juice with a boost of vitamins A and C from carrots, red pepper, turmeric and a squeeze of lemon. Tom is currently selling Mission Juice direct to customers by subscription and via Combe Grove Hotel in Bath for £2.99 a 250ml bottle. His slogan is: ‘Tastes good, feels good, does good.’ A percentage of sales from each bottle is shared between charities fighting hunger, cancer and climate change. Visit: missionjuice.co.uk.

WELCOMING: some of the volunteers in the RUH shop

volunteers are always welcome. If you’re fit, friendly and would like to join the team for a minimum of two hours a week, tel: 01225 824046 to find out more.

March 2017

High Street Footfall

Figures for Bath will be available from June

Mowbray Woodwards fp.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2017 11:38 Page 1

monahans FP 1.qxp_Layout 1 21/04/2017 09:26 Page 1

Specialist advice across a range of financial services Call Monahans Financial Services now on 01225 472800 Lennox House, 3 Pierrepont Street, Bath BA1 1LB

www.monahans-fsl.co.uk Planning for retirement? Worried about Inheritance Tax? Our financial planning advice delivers solutions tailored to your needs.

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Louise Prynne Chief executive, Bath Business improvement District

elcome to my new quarterly column, part of a new partnership between the Bath BID and The Bath Magazine. This column gives me the opportunity to keep you up to date with key projects being delivered by the BID on behalf of over 600 businesses in Bath which fund the Bath Business Improvement District (Bath BID Businesses). Ever mindful of the Bath BID purpose – ‘enabling businesses in Bath to succeed’ – my team delivers projects and services in three key areas: Managing and Saving, Welcoming and Promoting, and Developing and Innovating. The BID is probably best known for keeping the city safe and clean, including the award-winning work of our Bath BID Rangers. Working with our Nightwatch partners, the BID taxi marshals, together with FAST Ambulance and Radio service, the team as a whole have prevented more than 900 night-time incidents being referred to emergency services. The BID’s award winning nil-to-landfill trade waste service with SUEZ has saved businesses in Bath more than £300,000 per annum since the BID was established. When it comes to welcoming and promoting the city, the BID’s priority is to continue supporting existing businesses, as well as giving a warm welcome to new businesses setting up in Bath and helping managers and owners navigate the city’s support network, enabling them to get the best out of the BID and business opportunities in the city. May is festival month in Bath, with The Bath Festival set to attract more than 20,000 participants to the opening night Party in the City on Friday 19 May, and generating more than 40,000 ticket sales for its programme of 140+ events that run from 19 - 28 May. The BID is a strategic corporate partner of The Bath Festival in 2017. All Bath BID Businesses have had the opportunity to get involved and to build the party atmosphere by hosting entertainment in their venues and encouraging their customers and staff to rise to the festival call. This month also sees the start of a new economic dimension for Bath as the city becomes part of a new West of England Combined Authority. I have been working on behalf of Bath BID Businesses with B&NES Council and the Bath Chamber of Commerce to raise awareness of the business opportunities devolution will provide. The move will enable regional decision making and funding to deliver across a number of key projects with particular focus on skills, infrastructure and transport. Once established, the BID is committed to continuing to influence the emerging strategy, ensuring Bath develops as a key investment and business destination within the wider West of England region. n

To keep up to date with all of our news please sign up for our weekly newsletter: www.bathbid.co.uk/subscribe

A.L.F.A. LANGUAGE SCHOOL FRANCE

HOST FAMILIES REQUIRED Would you like to host French students? Ages 11-17 Saturday 8th July – Friday 28th July One Student – £505 Two Students in Room Share – £960 Two Students in 2 Rooms – £1010

Wishing you all a great festival month. I look forward to soaking up the festival atmosphere as it builds profile and drives footfall in the city.

For further information please contact Susie Houston on 0777 379 2866 or email: susie.houston.alfa@gmail.com

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May 2017

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MOTORING | TEST DRIVE

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MOTORING | TEST DRIVE

NEW MINI, MORE FUN

Despite the vagaries of the British weather, UK drivers remain romantically optimistic when it comes to open air motoring. On a sunny, spring day, Chris Lilly drops the top and enjoys the many pleasures of the new Mini Convertible

or some delightfully British reason, residents of these often rainy isles love a convertible car – and there are few models more suited to UK buyers than the latest Mini Convertible. The popular drop-top has a reputation for being stylish and fun-to-drive, so the newest model has a lot to live up to. Thankfully for potential buyers, there are some very strong foundations beneath that fashionable exterior. Mirroring much of the Mini Hatch’s engine range, the Convertible is available in Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works specifications, with power figures ranging from 116hp for the dieselpowered Cooper D, to 231hp for the full-bodied JCW Convertible. Tested is the entry-level Cooper Convertible which comes with the BMW Group’s excellent 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine producing 136hp. It’s well suited to the Mini Convertible and, when matched to the slick six-speed manual gearbox, is a joy to drive enthusiastically. The rev-needle flies around the dial when you put your foot down, and although it lacks the outright punch of the 2.0 litre Cooper S, the Mini Cooper Convertible is a really enjoyable car to drive down your favourite country road. The 0 – 62mph sprint is completed in 8.8 seconds which is sprightly enough for most, before topping out at 129mph. It’s not just the engine though that provides all of the driving thrills. Almost more importantly for a Mini is how good the handling is. Despite the loss of chassis stiffness due to losing the roof, Mini’s engineers have done a very good job of strengthening the underside and sills to compensate. The upshot is that you get a convertible that only shakes and shudders when you hit the most uneven of surfaces. This was inadvertently put to the test by taking a wrong turning and ending up on

The Ridgeway in the Wiltshire countryside during part of the test drive, but at least the car’s strength has been fully reviewed. On more conventional roads, the Mini Convertible handles very well for a drop-top. The grip and handling available aren’t going to worry hot-hatch drivers. Instead, the dynamics offer a far more usable experience, allowing drivers to have a laugh in the Mini Convertible while at sensible speeds. It’s nimble, supple, and nippy – despite carrying a couple of small adults’ worth of extra weight thanks to the stiffening measures required. Of greater interest to many though is how the Mini Convertible drives around town. Thankfully, those previously listed attributes suit tight car parks, small junctions, bumpy roads, and traffic light getaways just as well as a sweeping B-road. The Convertible works well in urban environments, and it is only the relatively limited rear visibility that means the Mini isn’t ideally suited to life as a citycar. There’s either a large rear pillar limiting the over-the-shoulder visibility, or the folded roof sitting on top of the boot lid gives something else to look over. It’s all part of the Mini Convertible’s look and charm though, and with the roof folding back as it does, it does mean the boot space is larger than it would otherwise be if stowed away. Don’t buy the Mini Convertible as a load-lugger though as you will be disappointed. The boot could hardly be described as capacious. Mini has increased the boot space by around 25% over the previous version though so there is now much more usable space available for a few suitcases, and more than enough for good weekly supermarket shop. The cabin benefits from increased dimensions too. Mini has given the Convertible a longer wheelbase and wider track, which not only helps its driving dynamics, but also passenger space. Again, don’t buy a Mini Convertible as a family

workhorse, but there are two seats in the rear which would be usable for children – or adults at a squeeze. The Mini Convertible is effectively a two-seater with occasional rear space, and those front seats are comfortable, with more than enough space for occupants. Equipment levels are extremely good too. Kit available includes rear-parking camera and sensors – which help circumnavigate the rear visibility limitations – satellite navigation, DAB radio with Bluetooth/USB connectivity, a Union Jack decorated roof, alloy wheels, and electrically operated roof which opens and closes in 18 seconds at speeds up to 18mph. There is also a connected infotainment option that features a rain warning app. This will send a warning to your smartphone if rain is forecast where the Convertible is parked and the roof is open. With prices starting at £19,265, the Mini Convertible could be seen as a little pricy, but it offers good value for money for those looking for a fun drop-top with summer around the corner. It’s not expensive to run considering the Mini Convertible isn’t pitched as a practical car either, with fuel economy figures 57.6mpg quoted as being possible. There are few rivals that can match its blend of pace, handling, and practicality either. The likes of Fiat’s 500c and the DS 3 Cabrio are both smaller, while VW’s Beetle Cabriolet isn’t as fun to drive and costs more to buy and run. So with warmer weather now here, the Mini Convertible is a great choice to have as a summer runabout. As anyone who has driven a convertible car will tell you, there are few better experiences you can have on the open road than with the top down and blue skies up above. There’s the added bonus that you can easily use the Mini Convertible the rest of the year too, for the majority of the days when it’s raining here in the UK ■ Visit: mini.co.uk.

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Call Marie Maggs, Mike Wilcox or Hannah Bratten on 01225 445507 to arrange a no-obligation meeting 66 TheBATHMagazine

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

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FAMILY | EVENTS

FAMILY DIARY IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO WITH THE CHILDREN THIS MONTH MAY DAY COUNTRY MARKET Monday 1 May, 11am – 4pm n Newton St Loe, Nr Bath Families can enjoy a wide range of attractions at various venues in the picturesque village near Bath. There will be 31 stalls selling all types of items and produce. Plus, Newton Farm Shop and café will be open throughout the day, serving up a delicious hog roast. There will also be music from a jazz band, morris dancers, bell ringers, and Chuffy the train and a bouncy castle will be there. Ample car parking can be found in the large field near the farm shop. £2 per car, includes a full programme. Contact Roz Golding for more information, call: 07522827163 or email: roz@newtonfarmshop.co.uk. POP-UP WORLDS Thursday 4 May – Thursday 15 June, 10am – 1pm and 2 – 5pm n The egg The acclaimed Galway-based theatre company, Moonfish Theatre, present its new interactive show for young people. Pop-Up Worlds is a secret, magical experience for two people at a time. Using immersive audio soundscapes, lovingly crafted pop-up books, and collected mementos, the show invites you to explore the world of each character, guiding you on an evocative journey through time. Pre-booking not required. Tickets: £5. Suitable for ages seven and above. Visit: theatreroyal.org.uk or call: 01225 823409. Also at The egg this month THE GIRL AND THE GIRAFFE Friday 12 – Sunday 14 May, times vary One day a girl is playing in her garden when she spots something unusual on the other side of the fence . . . climbing as high as she can she discovers it’s a giraffe. The girl finds that the giraffe isn’t very well and tries to help him feel better, supplying him with bandages and cups of tea. But she soon realises that the giraffe doesn’t need a first aid box, he’s sad. Using puppetry and beautiful storytelling, this is a tale of friendship and wellbeing. Suitable for ages three and above. HAPPILY EVER AFTER Wednesday 24 – Sunday 28 May, times vary The queen is growing impatient with her lazy son who doesn’t seem to take his royal duties seriously. She invites hundreds of princesses from across the land, hoping to find the perfect bride for the prince, but he isn’t impressed by any of them. Then one day a

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Fantastic Mr Fox at the Theatre Royal – credit: Manuel Harlan

Fridays, 10.30am – noon and 1 – 2.30pm Parents and children can take part in creative activities together in the cosy environment of the Gardener’s Lodge. There is a new museum-related theme every week. £50 for five weeks. Block bookings only. CREATE: ART

n Fine Art Studio, The Edge,

University of Bath Saturday 20 May, 10.30am – 12.30pm Hands on creative workshop led by artist educator Dorcas Casey. Children can try their hands at sticking, drawing and making collages, as well as printmaking and using textiles. Plus pick up some useful tips about making art at home. £5 per child, £3 per adult. Suitable for five – 11 year olds. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-booking advised. Call: 01225 386777 or visit: edgearts.org.

princess arrives accompanied by her brother, which changes everything. Action Transport Theatre’s highly visual, wordless storytelling and comedy clowning will delight audiences of all ages. Suitable for ages five and above. OAE TOTS Sunday 7 May, 11am n Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1DZ Join musicians from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on an interactive journey around Baroque Europe. Get ready to clap, sing and bounce your way through the 17th century with one of the world’s greatest orchestras in this playful concert for the youngest of music lovers. Suitable for two – five year olds. Tickets: £8, under 14s £4. Visit: wiltshiremusic.org.uk or call: 01225 860100. MONDAY AND TUESDAY YEARLINGS Mondays and Tuesdays, 10.30am – noon n The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street In these weekly workshops, led by Chrissie Weltike, parents and pre-school children can play and learn together through songs, stories and creative activities inspired by the museum’s collection. Suitable for 12 – 24 months. £40 for four weeks. Block bookings only. Visit: holburne.org or call: 01225 388568. Also at The Holburne Museum this month TODDLEALONGS

FOX AND RABBIT’S IDIOT’S GUIDE TO THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT Saturday 20 May, 2pm n Pound Arts Centre, Pound Pill, Corsham Join the wayward Reynard H Fox and his sidekick Rabbit as they meander around the world of the Owl and the Pussycat in their beautiful pea-green boat. Visit: poundarts.org.uk or call: 01249 701628 / 01249 712618. ROYAL CRESCENT FOUNDATION STONE FAMILY DAY Sunday 21 May, 11am – 3pm n The Royal Crescent Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the building of the Royal Crescent with this free family fun day, hosted by Bath Preservation Trust. The Natural Theatre Company will be parading the foundation stone from Widcombe up to the Royal Crescent from 11am, before the foundation stone laying ceremony from 12.30pm. There will be family activities and costumed interpretation inside No 1 Royal Crescent throughout the day. Visit: no1royalcrescent.org.uk. TRACTOR TED BIG MACHINES WEEKEND Saturday 27 – Monday 29 May, 11am – 5pm n Bowood House & Gardens, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0LZ Join Tractor Ted for this much loved event for the whole family this bank holiday weekend. Climb onboard the combine harvester and discover what it’s really like to be in the driver’s seat. There will also be tractor and trailer rides, plus a Tractor Ted

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FAMILY | EVENTS bouncy castle and entry to the adventure playground. Visit: bowood.org or call: 01249 812102.

Family fun at the American Museum in Britain

DRAGON BOAT AND CARP KITE MAKING Monday 29 May, 2.30 – 4pm n The Museum of East Asian Art, 12 Bennett Street, Bath, BA1 2QJ Learn about the traditions of the Carp Kite Festival from Japan and the Dragon Boat Festival from China at this crafty afternoon workshop. No booking required. £3 per child, accompanying adults free. Visit: meaa.org.uk or call: 01225 464640. FANTASTIC MR FOX 30 May – 3 June, times vary n Theatre Royal Boggis, Bunce and Bean, three greedy, smelly, horrid farmers hate the cunning Mr Fox. Mr Fox is smart, clever and rather fantastic, but he doesn’t realise how determined the farmers are to get revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save his family and friends? Adapted for the stage by Sam Holcroft. Suitable for ages five and above. Visit: theatreroyal.org.uk or call: 01225 448844. ROOTS AND SHOOTS n Bath City Farm, Kelston View, Bath, BA2 1NW Tuesdays, 10 – 11.30am

SATURDAY CLUB Saturdays all year around, 10 – 11.45am Children can get covered in mud, make a bonfire and learn how to cook on it at this weekend workshop. Plus, they can go on treasure hunts, make candles, look after the farm’s wildlife, feed the animals and get crafty. Blocks of seven sessions must be booked in advance, there is a small charge. DOG DAYS Wednesday 31 May, 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30 – 3.30pm n Victoria Art Gallery Children can locate dogs in the gallery’s paintings and create some paw-tastic art to take home. Suitable for ages three – six. Visit: victoriagal.org.uk.

Toddlers can explore the farm, learn how to feed the animals and discover how to garden. No booking needed, small admission charge. Suitable for children under five. Visit: bathcityfarm.org.uk or call: 01225 481269. Also at Bath City Farm this month AFTER SCHOOL CLUB ON THE FARM Mondays in term time, 4 – 5.30pm Local children can let off steam after the school day by feeding the farm animals and enjoying some outdoor activities, including campfire making, den building and cooking.

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS WITH WILTSHIRE SCRAPSTORE Thursday 1 June, noon – 3pm n The American Museum in Britain, Claverton Manor, Bath, BA2 7BD The 1920s saw various technological advances. Children will be inspired to come up with their own ideas for new gadgets. Drop in workshop, no need to book. Suitable for ages three and above. There is a free shuttle bus that runs between Terrace Walk (Bog Island) in Bath city centre and the museum. Visit: americanmuseum.org or call: 01225 460503. n

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CITY | SPA

A SYBARITE’S DREAM

There are two spas in Bath where people can enjoy bathing in the healing water of the city’s famous natural hot springs. Georgette McCready takes the waters at the Spa Village in the Gainsborough Hotel

hen it first opened, the five-star Gainsborough Hotel only allowed its guests the use of its spa facilities, but more recently day visitors and Spa Village club members are also now able to enjoy the only hotel spa in the country with direct access to natural thermal waters. It’s clearly a first world problem, but as we were about to begin our mother-daughter spa day at the Gainsborough I fretted that there might not be a clock so we’d know when it was time to go for our treatments. I needn’t have worried about this – or anything else for that matter, as the spa and hotel staff have every thoughtful detail sorted for you. This begins by encouraging you to arrive a good hour before your booked treatment, giving you time to begin unwinding as soon as you change out of your street clothes, leave your phone and watch in a locker, and slip gratefully into the soothing warm, naturally healing waters of the baths. But even before that, our sensory journey began at the Aroma bar, where given a series of aromatherapy oils by Neal’s Yard Remedies to sniff and choose from, our bespoke aroma pouches were made up. Would we intuitively choose the essential essences our bodies and mood instinctively need? We were then each handed a little sachet of scented Cornish natural salt which we were encouraged to inhale throughout our day. The answer, it seems, was yes. Our noses led us to the essences that lifted our mood and spirits. This spa truly is a sybarite’s dream. Float your troubles away in one of the small, warm baths filled with Bath’s natural thermal waters or make like a Roman emporer in the large pool under the glass atrium. Sit as long as you can in a steam room, followed by a cold shower – there’s also a less intense infra-red sauna. We had plenty of space and peace and quiet as there are only a handful of people using the spa at any given time. We enjoyed the cool of the ice alcove where a lion’s head in the wall patiently continuously erupts ice cubes from its mouth. While we were wallowing in the large pool a tray was brought to us bearing bottles of chilled water, scented cold hand towels and two shots of Georgian style hot chocolate with just a hint of a kick of chilli – delicious and made to an 18th century recipe. It’s a nice touch, referencing Bath’s 18th century bathing rituals along with those of Roman times and the 21st century. One of the nice touches of the spa is there are no nagging signs telling you not to do this or that. There are eye make up remover

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A SENSUAL JOURNEY: above, the main pool at the Spa Village and, inset, the Aroma bar where bespoke scents are mixed

and pads in the changing rooms, another considerate gesture. We were given a good ten minute notice period to prepare ourselves for our treatments. Introduced to our therapists we were gently led away, Becki for a ginger renewal wrap that boosted her circulation, and me for a magnesium wrap. This is a 90 minute treatment, which includes a salt scrub and a warming wrap at the end. But, in the middle of the session my therapist Adam gave my office-tense back, neck, arms and shoulder a thorough and deep massage. You know how you think smugly that there’ll always be some bit of tension that you’re not going to let go? Using Swedish professional massage techniques Adam patiently and persistently worked away at every niggle of tension, right down through my elbows, fingertips and toes. By the time I floated from the room I wasn’t in any fit state to operate heavy machinery, such was my state of blissful maxed-out relaxation. I was gently warned not to try to race back into my lifestyle, but to try to take things easy, so we lay back on a pair of loungers with a herbal tea and a macaroon before slowly dressing and ambling up to the restaurant for lunch. A two course lunch in the hotel’s smart restaurant is included in the spa day package. And this is no snack and run, but rather a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds. The style here is the big reveal, with waiting staff lifting domes before your expectant eyes. We thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle of the glass domes over our smoked

salmon starters lifted to reveal gentle clouds of grey smoke dissipate, after subtly infusing the fish with delicate flavours. Every dish is as pretty as a picture, garnished with flowers or arranged with the main ingredient presented three ways, as was our poussin. The dishes tick the boxes between satisfying but not over filling us. After a very leisurely lunch a happy mum and daughter drifted back to the Spa Village for a further hour’s indulgence before easing our way back into the outside world. We both enjoyed the sensation of wonderfully smooth, soft skin and I am pleased to report that we both slept exceedingly well that night and the benefits of our massages on muscle and tension lasted for days afterwards. n Spa days start at £150 and include a treatment and two course lunch or afternoon tea. There is also a new Beautiful Brides spa day experience, visit: thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk.

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HEALTH | BEAUTY

OFF the COUNTER

Pixi is a beauty brand championed by Marks & Spencer and with a worldwide following, as Georgette McCready discovers

BRAND BUILDER: Petra Strand, creator of the Pixi beauty range, which she founded in 1999

many of us will only want to spend a couple of minutes on our morning make-up routine as we’re in a hurry to get out of the house. Most of her customers are over 30. The Pixi range is mid-price and simply packaged, for example a mascara is £16 and a palate of six Strobe and Sculpt eye and cheek shades is £24. Fans of the brand include British beauty blogger Caroline Hirons, who has more than four million blog readers. Caroline – who doesn’t believe in Botox – is a big advocate of double cleansing. A single face wipe is simply not sufficient to lift the day’s makeup, sun screen and grime from your skin, she argues. For a quick and effective double cleanse, try Pixi’s Double Cleanse, £24 for two x

50ml. It’s a clever single pot (so you only unscrew one lid) with two compartments. Start with a little solid cleansing oil and cleanse with a damp cotton pad, follow this with the cleaning cream, wiping that off afterwards. It’s refreshing and fragrance free, leaving the face brilliantly clean. I’m a convert. Other highlights in the Pixi range include the Endless Silky Eye Pen, £12, in matt khaki or mulberry. Super soft, waterproof and gentle on the sensitive eye area, it’s easy to apply and the colours are great. And for anyone suffering the drying effects of air conditioning or heading for a long haul flight, Pixi’s Vitamin WakeUp Mist, £16 for 80ml, is the ideal spritzing pick-me-up. It contains soothing orange blossom water, grapefruit peel oil to tackle excessive oiliness and arginine to help boost plumping collagen production. All Pixi’s products are paraben free and not tested on animals. They can be found at Marks & Spencer in Stall Street, Bath or at: pixibeauty.co.uk. n

ne in four British women buys her underwear at Marks & Spencer. And while she’s looking for new knickers, she may be tempted to pop a new eyeshadow or moisturiser in her basket too. I think I am late to the party, having just discovered one of M&S’s best-selling beauty brands Pixi, which was created with the modern busy woman in mind. The Pixi brand was created by Swedish mother of four Petra Strand, who takes a very Scandinavian pragmatic approach to skin care and looking good. She wants women to ‘look themselves, only better’ and understands that

SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE: Pixi products, clockwise from Endless Silky Eye Pen in matt khaki, Vitamin WakeUpMist and, ideal for summer, the Strobe and Bronze palette of highlight and bronze shades to create that elusive natural sunkissed warmth

LOOKING GOOD COMES FROM INSIDE

WELLBEING EXPERT: British writer and broadcaster Liz Earle

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Successful beauty and nutrition author of more than 30 books, founder of her own beauty brand and mother of five children, not to mention running an active website and blog, Liz Earle MBE appears serene, full of energy and with the flawless skin of a woman half her age. The 53-year-old writer and broadcaster is coming to Bath to share some of her secrets as she releases her new book The Good Gut Guide, which harnesses her knowledge of nutrition and the science of food to give a six-week recipe guide to smoother skin, increased energy and weight loss. And she believes at the heart of a

healthy regime is looking after your gut and digestion. The Good Gut Guide, published by Orion books on 4 May, recommends ingredients including fermented food such as the Korean pickle kimchi and the Japanese miso (also fermented), alongside staples such as onions, leeks and bananas. Liz will be at Topping & Co bookshop, Bath, on Thursday 11 May, from 7.30pm, demonstrating a selection of recipes from the book – all with her hallmark style of nutrition packed, well-balanced foods. Tickets for the event are from £10 from Topping & Co, tel: 01225 428111 or call into the shop in the Paragon.

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HEALTH | & | BEAUTY

R E V I EW Georgette McCready enjoys a rejuvenating CACI booster facial at FrontlineStyle hair salon and beauty spa in Monmouth Street, Bath

TIME TO PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD

here are some things a woman just doesn’t want to face in life – like wrinkles, frown lines and, dare I say it, jowls? Of living in fear of looking in the mirror and seeing the Churchill dog staring back at you. Fortunately we needn’t suffer in silence. Science and technology have been busy working on treatments that can help stave off the ravages of time. FrontlineStyle hair salon and beauty spa in Monmouth Street, is well equipped to help women – and men too – put a brighter, fresher looking face on the world. I was lucky enough to enjoy a CACI booster facial, a four step treatment that includes a dermabrasion deep cleanse, light therapy to boost collagen and elasticity in the skin, facial toning and deep, deep hydrating. In short a thorough cleanse, lymph drainage and CACI mechanical facial toning that tackles puffiness, high colour, fine lines and dull skin. Jessica is my therapist, thoroughly trained and fluent in all the science bits about the different stages of the treatment. Calming and professional she talked me through what was going to happen and reassured me that the tiny pulses of electricity from the CACI system, would cause no pain. A red and a blue light are used during the dermabrasion – a deep cleanse you could not acheive by regular cleansers. For those who need it – and years of frowning and squinting mean I have furrowed deep lines – the wrinkle comb sends wake-up pulses into key areas. Use of the award-winning Amino Lift Peptide Complex also helps to smooth out those pesky wrinkles. Jessica tactfully didn’t mention the word ‘jowls’ but she does quite a lot of work along my jaw line and afterwards I swear she has managed to create more definition. This simply isn’t a treatment you could replicate at home and, after a delightfully refreshing hydrating mask and facial massage with microcurrent rollers, I feel sleeker, soothed and ready to face myself in the dreaded mirror. I do look rested and my skin tone is brighter and fresher. But, after a stylish blow dry by Ellie in the hair salon I tweet a photo of myself sans make up. A colleague I haven’t worked with for 17 years comments ‘you haven’t changed a bit’. It may not be cast iron evidence, but I’ll take that as a sign that I don’t look as weary and careworn as I did when I walked in off the street. Caci booster facial is £50 and you can have this treatment as a one off. It is popular with brides, weddings, parties or for special occasions. A booster course of six treatments is £250. The Caci non surgical, which works on wrinkles, lines, jowls, is £59. A course of ten is recommended, with a monthly maintenance facial thereafter. A Caci non surgical course of ten is £513. A blow dry styling at FrontlineStyle is from £23. FrontlineStyle is at Monmouth Street, Bath, tel: 01225 478478 or book online: frontlinestyle.co.uk. n

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THE | WALK

ECHOES OF THE PAST

Andrew Swift takes us to the quiet countryside around Kilmersdon for a walk with many historic sites of interest along the route

ilmersdon lies in a deep hollow amid some of the most unspoilt countryside in Mendip, a landscape characterised by hedgerows, small fields, coppices and green lanes. To the east lies Ammerdown House, surrounded by 18th century parkland, rising to a high escarpment topped by a towering Victorian folly. To the south lies Babington House, at the head of a valley whose springs were dammed to create ornamental lakes and cascades. It stands in lordly isolation, for the medieval village which stood here was cleared away so as not to spoil the view. Even the old church was demolished, although the one that replaced it is among the best-preserved Georgian churches in the country. Echoes of the past also come in the form of the weedchoked track of the North Somerset Railway, along which trains once trundled. On one of the remotest stretches lies the rusting shell of an old brake van which no one thought to tow away before nature began the process of reclamation. It is this timeless, little-known area which is explored in this month’s walk. Mostly flat or with gentle climbs, it offers no serious obstacles, apart from a few stiles, and you are unlikely to encounter any livestock. It lies almost entirely in countryside, and certain stretches are far enough from roads to seem almost uncannily quiet. Unfortunately there are also two short stretches along moderately busy roads, where you will need to watch your step and keep control of any dogs or children accompanying you.

DIRECTIONS

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❝

The medieval village which stood here was cleared away so as not to spoil the view

❝

From Bath, head to Radstock along the A367, take the A362 towards Frome and after two miles turn right along the B3139. Park in the car park at Kilmersdon village hall, signposted on the left (ST696523). Cross the main road and turn right along the pavement. Follow the road as it curves left, and, 50m after passing Hoares Lane, cross and follow a footpath sign through a kissing gate (KG). After 100m, just after the hedge curves right, go through another KG and follow a track across a field. Continue through another KG and follow a track leading across a footbridge into Babington Wood. Follow a broad path beside the brook, which was dammed in the 18th century to create a series of picturesque cascades. After climbing away from the brook, the path leaves the wood through a pair of gateposts, reminders of the time when this was a carriage drive to Babington House. Carry straight on and, after going through a gateway, follow a path past ornamental ponds (ST704512). To your right is Babington House, designed around 1705 by an unknown architect, and altered around 1790, possibly by the Bath architect John Pinch. Today it is a country hotel and members’ club. The path leads past the Grade I listedchurch, built in the 1740s, probably by John Strahan or William Halfpenny, and owned by a charitable trust since being declared redundant in 1993. Just past the church, turn left along a drive. After 250m, look for a waymark on the left, go through a gateway and carry on with the hedge on your right. At the end of the field, turn left and after 180m go through a gap in the hedge to carry on along the road (ST709511). As this can be busy, you may want to keep to the left-hand side so that

oncoming traffic can see you. After 300m, when you come to the crossroads at Cornish’s Grave, carry straight on. After crossing a railway bridge, turn right along a lane for 350m to the site of Mells Road station. As the village of Mells is more than two miles away, it probably saw few passengers. Freight traffic was heavy, however, as a line serving collieries and quarries branched south from here. The station closed to passengers in 1959 and to goods four years later, and today there is little sign of it. Head along the shared-use path – the Colliers Way – which now runs alongside the abandoned line. After 450m you come to Jericho Bridge, named after a nearby farm. After another 1,000m, as you approach the next bridge, climb a ramp and turn left across it (ST730506). After a few metres, turn left to follow a bridleway sign along a green

TRIBUTE TO FATHER: main image, the Jolliffe Column on the Ammerdown Estate, built as a monument to Colonel Jolliffe’s father Opposite page, the old North Somerset Railway is currently disused Far right, Babington House is now a members’ club

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THE | WALK

lane, which climbs uphill beside a dry stone wall. After 500m, when you come to a crosspath leading into the fields on either side, carry on along the green lane. Follow it as it curves left (ST730515), and, after passing a timber yard, turn right along a lane. When the lane forks, bear left and, just past Buckland Lodge, turn left through a gateway (ST723520). Although it has a ‘private’ sign, this is a permissive path through the Ammerdown estate. Follow a track heading to the left of the Jolliffe Column, commissioned by Colonel Jolliffe in honour of his father, who built Ammerdown House. It was completed in 1855 and originally had a glass observatory at the top, which was dismantled in the 1970s after being declared unsafe. Follow the track as it curves right after passing the column and cross a stile into

Coldbath Plantation (ST717523). Carry straight on, and cross another stile to follow a path through parkland. Ammerdown House, which you can see below, was built in 1788 and is still owned by the Jolliffe family. Carry on, crossing another stile to follow a path past a high wall, and continue along a drive. Go through the gates at the end and turn left along a busy road, keeping to the lefthand verge (ST708529). After 150m, when the road swings left, cross and carry straight on along a lane – which, despite the ‘private road’ sign, is a bridleway. This lane leads past Home Farm, before dwindling to a green lane and dropping down to cross the old railway line. Once across the bridge, go through a gap in the hedge and follow a track across a field towards buildings. Continue along a lane and turn left at the end past Kilmersdon church to return to the car park.

For more information about the North Somerset Railway, along which a group hopes to reintroduce services, see: northsomersetrailway.com. n Andrew Swift is the author of On Foot in Bath: Fifteen Walks Around a World Heritage City and co-author, with Kirsten Elliot, of Ghost Signs of Bath.

FACT FILE ■ Length of walk: 7½ miles ■ Approximate time: 3 – 4 hours ■ Map: OS Explorer 142 ■ Refreshment stops: Jolliffe Arms Kilmersdon, tel: 01761 436699.

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AN EYE FOR EVERY DETAIL We talk to top interior designer Helen Bush of Sunninghill Interiors, who has recently settled in Bath

ith clients ranging from high society to hip-hop superstars, highend interior designer Helen Bush – owner of Surrey-based Sunninghill Interiors, who has recently arrived in Bath – is surprisingly modest and unassuming. She says: “Regardless of who the client is, I just throw myself into the job. The trick in this business is never to take yourself too seriously.” A qualified curtain-maker, Helen discovered her talent for interior design when she realised she could walk into rooms and instantly envisage them re-designed. “Something just clicked and I realised I had found my vocation. Every project excites me, whether it’s a rural cottage or a luxury apartment in Mayfair. I love the idea of creating something spectacular out of a blank space.” Which is exactly what Helen does, tackling each project with the same sense of purpose that gets the job done. She manages her team of multitalented staff – whose skills range from forging unique pieces of furniture from 400-year-old trees, to the most delicate, hand-applied special paint effects on anything, from floors to walls, furniture or wood – with her trademark matter-of-fact approach. And if you thought the days of murals were gone, you’d be wrong. Helen’s talented team produce all manner of wall imagery, with designs that range from subtle to dramatic, sophisticated to stylish – but invariably spectacular. Bound by confidentiality, Helen

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cannot share some of her most impressive work but, thanks to her eagle eye and propensity for tackling the tiniest to toughest jobs, she has an impressive portfolio of work. “I would honestly love to photograph everything. Sadly, privacy is paramount for many clients, so I’m unable to share all the images I would like.” Helen admits that the immense level of planning and skill involved renders interior design a considerable challenge. “But that’s half the fun. Inevitably, every project has its ups and downs and there are moments when you wonder if it will ever come together, but my guys are just so fantastic it always does.” The words interior design sound incredibly glamorous; but what attributes does an interior designer need? “Vision, an eye for detail and hard work – all three are crucial to get the job done. As anyone in the business will tell you, glamour is the last thing on your mind when you’re stomping around a renovation site wearing a hard hat and muddy boots.” But even working alongside architects and building contractors on long projects, renovations, restorations and refurbishments, Helen admits, “no matter how precisely you plan, anything can go wrong at any time.” So, are there any tips she can share to help ensure a project runs smoothly? “It all comes down to planning. On the face of it, my role appears quite simple: all I have to do is satisfy the

client. But clients invariably have exacting requirements. If they decide overnight they want gold, handpainted pillars or a Carrara marble kitchen worktop, this is what I have to deliver. “It’s easy to assume that interior design means simply choosing paint, curtains and a few cushions, but clearly it’s far more than that. Colour, materials, textures and light all come into play: getting the balance right is key to achieving the final effect.” It seems a great eye, an ability to decide what will and what won’t work, plus stamina and staying power are essential to see a project through to completion, regardless of what clients or circumstances may do to disrupt its development? “Absolutely,” Helen nods. “A dedicated team is also crucial – your success is often reliant on the skills and loyalty of others. Fortunately, my guys (and ladies) share a range of superb skills and craftsmanship that encompass an amazing vast range of talents so my clients know that, whatever they want, we can do it. “Larger projects, such as country estates, often include garden design too. Restructuring works may include the installation of bespoke hand-built kitchens or bathrooms, or handpainted special effects, such as limed oak furniture, or marbling on materials that are anything but. “Re-upholstery is a great way to revitalise tired furniture. You’d be amazed at how simply recovering a sofa or chair can transform a piece of furniture you love, or the look of an entire room. “Some clients have unusual

PLANNING IS KEY: this page, creating a versatile family kitchen Opposite page, showing some of Sunninghill Interiors’ skills Left to right, a dramatic bathroom, making the most of space by the stairs with classic furniture and period features, and brilliant bespoke furniture

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CITY | INTERIORS

requests, such as coordinating furnishings to match the colours in a particular painting, or wanting a newer home to look characteristically old. Thankfully, my loyal team of specialist painters, joiners, carpenters and upholsterers have years of experience.” So,what qualities does one need to succeed in the competitive world of interior design? “Confidence, determination, self-belief and guts. You need these to transform a vision from a mere concept to reality. Oh, and a hefty dose of patience,” she adds.

“Few projects complete overnight – some take weeks, several months or even years.” “Most importantly, you have to love what you do and put passion, heart and soul into your work. These essential qualities determine the ultimate success of any design project – without them, you can never truly bring a space to life.” And what brings Helen to Bath? “Love,” she confesses. “They say you never know where you’ll find it but I found it in Bath. I think I’ve found both the right man and the right home here in Bath,

although my number one love and passion is still interior design.” How does Surrey compare with Bath? “I love it,” Helen smiles. “I love the architecture, the atmosphere and especially the people, who are so warm and friendly. Bath properties have a wonderfully unique character that makes the prospect of working here very appealing. I’m so glad my life’s journey has brought me here. Bath is a beautiful place and so welcoming. Now I’ve arrived, I don’t ever want to leave.” n Visit: sunninghillinteriors.co.uk.

Furniture – Art – Styling – Accessories

ver veliving.uk 15 Walcot Buildings. London Rd. BA1 6AD 07785 332536 07712 467347

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HOMES | INTERIORS

DESIGNING THE PERFECT BATHROOM Hugo Tugman, from leading home design experts Architect Your Home, offers some words of wisdom on how to plan the perfect bathroom

very home has one, but with the trend leaning towards stylish ensuites, it’s easy to overlook the ‘family’ bathroom. If the main bathroom in your home has become a wasteland for discarded cosmetics or a throughfare to reach the laundry basket, it’s time to have a rethink.

Who and how? The first step to designing any room is to define who will use the space and how. If you do have an ensuite, chances are your family bathroom will be used most often by guests or the kids, meaning your suite and design choices want to be stylish enough to impress visitors yet practical enough for family bath time. Also consider how the space could offer something different from your ensuite – perhaps your ensuite only has a shower but you prefer a long, relaxing soak or it has bright yellow tiles which wake you up in the morning but aren’t very soothing in the evening. Set a purpose (or purposes) for the room and design around them.

Make a plan Bathrooms are usually the smallest room in the house with some of the bulkiest ‘mandatory’ items of furniture and the space is often further restricted by plumbing. As well as your suite, your family bathroom will need plenty of storage for everything from shampoo to beach towels, and you’ll need to make sure you factor in enough

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room to dry off comfortably. All of this means that the layout of your bathroom needs to be thought out more carefully than other rooms consider drafting in design help to avoid costly mistakes.

Are you sprucing up for a resale? If you’re updating your home before selling, consider what potential buyers may look for in the main bathroom of the house. Try to choose a suite which will appeal to as many people as possible – young professionals may not mind a standalone power shower instead of a bath, but families might be put off. Even if the house has two beautiful ensuites, potential buyers will still knock pound signs off the asking price to redo a shabby family bathroom.

Work with flat planes Corner baths or toilets may seem ideal if space is at a premium, but their 45° angle may compromise the sleek look you envisioned, and feel dated quickly. Instead, think of the room as a series of ‘flat planes’. Rather than creating a small patch of tiles on a wall behind a basin as a splashback, tile the whole wall. If you do a glass shower screen, don’t stop it a little way down from the ceiling, take it all the way up. Thinking of the space as a series of complete rectangles in this way is a simple but effective design trick to maximise the sense of space.

Think about the ‘hero factor’

Lastly, think about the ‘hero factor’ in your bathroom. This could be anything from a quirky light fitting to a brightly tiled wall; an ornate mirror to a standalone, clawfoot Victorian bath. Having a focal point is a great idea – it draws the eye and puts your own design mark on what can be a fairly standardised space creating a room that’s truly your own. ■ • architect-yourhome.com

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CITY | PROPERTY

A RARE GEM

One of Bath’s rare detached Georgian buildings has undergone a dramatic restoration. Georgette McCready takes a tour of Cleveland House

aterside homes are sought after, but to find a house that’s actually built over water is very unusual indeed. But Cleveland House, which boldly straddles the Kennet and Avon Canal, is unique in many other ways, not least as it was one of the earliest purpose-built office blocks ever built in Europe. Not that there’s anything in this splendidly grand Georgian mansion that smacks of anything as prosaic as an office. Its imposing classic facade is best enjoyed on foot, approached via the historic pleasure gardens, Sydney Gardens, where the house appears to rise majestically above the Kennet and Avon Canal. Cross Sydney Road and we find ourselves outside the railed lawns, where a young yew hedge has been planted. The house has been designed to stand over the water, the Cleveland Tunnel running 173 feet under its length. There are a choice of two front doors, but take the left hand door for the grandest entrance. Cleveland House was originally called Canal House, designed and built in 1817 by Georgian architect John Pinch the Elder, commissioned by the Duke of Cleveland’s Bathwick Estate and leased to the Kennet and Avon Canal Company. Its scale reflects the confidence that the pioneers of the burgeoning canal system had in this revolutionary new transport network. No longer would coal, wood and other heavy goods all have to be carried by horse-drawn carts – the canal boats could be loaded to the gunwales and their cargo smoothly delivered from city to city by water instead. One can imagine the pride felt by the Kennet and Avon Canal Company board members when they arrived in the imposing entrance hall of Canal House, before ascending the main staircase – now fittingly with a red carpet – to reach the double height boardroom on the first floor. As we now know, that early confidence in the canals’ economic success was swiftly dashed as, within 30 years, the steam railway usurped it both in novelty and speed. But, fortunately for posterity Cleveland House has been lovingly and painstakingly restored and converted from a former workplace into a near stately home, all to a vision by the Trevor Osborne Property Group, working with architect Ted Brewster of Brewster Architectural Deisgn Ltd. Trevor Osborne, in a career spanning more than 40 years, has developed landmark buildings including Oxford Castle and the Malmaison Hotel project in Oxford, and is currently working on the Buxton Crescent Hotel and thermae spa in Derbyshire. Cleveland House is a Grade II* listed building with much fine architectural detail, but has been renovated to incorporate all the facilities a contemporary family might need, from the large kitchen-breakfast room, complete with Aga, to five bedrooms, five bathrooms and shower rooms, a home cinema and a new roof terrace. Thoughtfully and untypically of many Georgian homes in Bath, the kitchen is next to the dining room, which makes serving meals a lot more convenient. The latter is a grand room painted in 84 TheBATHMagazine

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traditional dining room red, its architectural details picked out in gold. This is just one of many ‘wow’ features throughout the house. The former 20 foot barrelled ceiling boardroom on the first floor, almost 30 feet in length and with three large windows overlooking Sydney Gardens, is now a palatial drawing room with a tall marble fireplace and a flamboyant painted ceiling in the classical style, by artist Michael Dillon. Also on this floor is a study cum library and access to the second staircase. The grand staircase only rises to the first floor, while the second staircase – originally for staff members – rises up all the way through the house. While the rooms to the front of the house look out towards Sydney Gardens, those at the back enjoy a sylvan, rural view over the canal and the gentle traffic of boats pootling past. One can imagine that this would be a lovely spot to start the day, leaving the house for a run along the towpath, or to walk a dog. Two opulent bedroom suites have been created on the ground floor, both with large marble bathrooms with stand-alone baths, walk through showers and double basin vanity units. As through the rest of the house these rooms are filled with natural light through large windows. Also on the ground floor is a new family room, with lots of windows. This could be used for any number of activities, as a music room, a home office or a party room as it’s ideal

IMPOSING: main picture, the facade of Cleveland House in Sydney Road, Bath – built 200 years ago Right, the former boardroom is now a magnificent drawing room with a 20 foot high barrelled ceiling Far right, one of the palatial marble bathrooms

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A CLASSIC REVIVAL: top, the dining room and, right, views of Cleveland House from Sydney Gardens Above, the oak fitted kitchen with marble worktops, an Aga and a breakfast bar, in the grander of the two entrance halls visitors are welcomed beneath a baroque mirror adorned with a pair of cherubs

for dancing, with its sprung floor. From this room there’s a lobby which leads outside. There’s a small lawned area and stone steps which lead up to the large terrace over the family room. This is a fabulous outdoor space, large enough to take steamer chairs, some large containers filled with trees or climbing plants, along with room for a banqueting size table and chairs for al fresco entertaining. The terrace also enjoys fantastic views over the city centre rooftops, with Bath Abbey’s tower clearly in view. When a house has in excess of 6,400 square feet, you can imagine it’s capable of being used in any number of ways. There are two bedrooms and two very desirable designer bathrooms on the second floor, while the lower ground floor provides scope for different uses, whether that be as a self-contained annexe for a family member or for guests. There’s the fifth bedroom down here, plus a shower room and a kitchen cum utility room. The home cinema is a vaulted room, cleverly lit, plus there’s a big wine vault which will excite any oenophile looking round the house. It’s easy to imagine this floor being busy with caterers as Cleveland House feels like a sociable space, ideal for entertaining for dinners and parties. The cellars are interesting to explore too. Down here you get a sense of the original building’s past and literally its

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links with the Kennet and Avon Canal. You can make out the barrelled shape of the tunnel in the floor of the cellars. Down here there is a chute which leads out into the tunnel. Historian Kirsten Elliott, in her book about the history of the canal, Queen of Waters, explores the theories of what this tunnel’s purpose was. She dismisses the idea that it was used for waste – no self-respecting employee of a canal company would dump stuff into the water. There’s a bend in it too, which makes it unlikely that paper messages were thrown down it. Rather, Kirsten suggests, it lends itself to being used as a kind of speaking trumpet for messages to be bellowed up and down the shaft. Lighting effects installers Enlightened, who have worked with the nearby Holburne Museum and Bath Abbey on lighting projects, have installed lighting effects inside Cleveland Tunnel. We like the theory that the great civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel worked out of Canal House for a time during the 1830s. This can’t be verified, but records show that from 1833 Brunel was involved in every level of design for the Great Western Railway, including the section that runs through Sydney Gardens and his dealings with the Kennet and Avon Canal Company are well documented, including plans for the diversion of the

canal at Darlington Wharf to make way for the railway line. The car – that mode of transport which largely usurped the railways just as they did the canals – may be kept in a large garage to the side of the house, where there’s enough room for four vehicles, in addition to off street parking for more vehicles. Key figures and businesses in the renovation project include main contractors Emery Bros Ltd of Bath, Bath based consultanting engineers E3. bathroom suppliers Roper Rhodes of Bath, joinery specialists Bath Bespoke and consulting structural and civil engineers Mann Williams. Trevor Osborne is known in his adopted home city of Bath for his commitment to the cultural, charitable and educational life of the city. He was a trustee of the Holburne Museum during its extension, is currently supporting the Bath Abbey Footprint project, is a governor of Bath Spa University and on the board of Bath Mozartfest and Bachfest. He is also one of the founders of the Bath Percent Club, which encourages charitable giving by local businesses, and is pleased to have worked with members of this group during the refurbishment of Cleveland House. Cleveland House is being marketed through Carter Jonas for offers in the region of £3.5m. For an appointment to view tel: 01225 747250. n

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IT’S SHOWTIME

With everything in the garden looking lovely after months of hard work Jane Moore takes some well earned time out

he last few weeks have been a frenzy in the garden. Everything was surging into growth, weeds especially, and there was planting to do before the season gets fully underway. Now May is an entirely different proposition. This month usually finds me serenely resting on my laurels a little – the weeds in abeyance, the grass mown into submission and myself resigned to the bits of planting I haven’t quite finished and planning to fill the gaps with annuals. It also finds me planning a few outings over the summer – inspirational days to other gardens; a nursery visit or two and perhaps even a show. Oh yes, I can feel the creative impulses are going to be well fuelled this year – it’s just a matter of planning ahead.

SHOWTIME I had to start with the shows as they are the biggies for many of us and you need to get booked in for the sought after days at Chelsea and Hampton Court. A day at Chelsea Flower Show requires fitness, a stalwart attitude and no fear of crowds. It’s utter madness, often freezing or wet or windy or all three and you can’t even buy plants. But oh the gardens are simply beautiful – that’s why it’s the best. If you decide you’re going then get there early as you can – or go late like the Londoners do and come back on an evening train. 88 TheBATHMagazine

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However, if you’re at all faint hearted then opt for Hampton Court Flower Show instead. I love this show – you can park, buy plants, have a nice picnic and see some rather good gardens in the usually rather balmier temperatures of July. Hampton Court is a joy in itself and the whole vibe is so much more relaxed than Chelsea. Even more chilled out and friendly is the lovely Malvern show, nestling charmingly beneath the Malvern Hills and boasting some lovely plants. It may not be quite Chelsea, darling, but it is a good day out nonetheless. Key dates: RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Thursday 11 – Sunday 14 May, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 May, and RHS Hampton Court Flower Show Tuesday 4 – Sunday 9 July. Website: rhs.org.uk. Closer to home is the English Country Garden Festival at The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens in Wells, Somerset which runs from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 June, 10am – 5pm. It makes a great day out as not only can you hear great speakers, including yours truly wittering on about something summery, but also you get to stroll around the award winning gardens, which recently featured on BBC Gardeners’ World. As well as the talks there are plant stalls, hands-on demonstrations, refreshment and entertainment. On Friday 9 June, Matthew Biggs,

a regular panellist on BBC Gardeners’ Question Time, will open the festival before giving a talk entitled Lessons from Great Gardeners. Gardening writer and much loved broadcaster Anne Swithinbank will speak in the afternoon on My Life with Plants. On Saturday 10 Tamsin Westhorpe, former editor of The Country Garden and director of Stockton Bury Gardens will begin the day on a theme of Summer in the Country Garden and Alan Power, the garden and estate manager at Stourhead will be speaking in the afternoon about the estate and its management. I’m speaking on the morning of Sunday 11 June and the festival will finish with a lecture entitled From Spuds to Chelsea by superstar garden designer Cleve West, who has won Best Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show multiple times. Tickets: £6.99 in advance and £7.99 on the door (concessions £5.90 and £6.90), available from the Palace shop, tel: 01749 988 111, or visit: bishopspalace.org.uk.

RARE PLANT FAIRS These are always a treat and take place in some lovely locations. They’re fab for a bit of indulgent plant shopping from delectable little nurseries and make a great day out with a gardening friend. Check the website or the information phone line as some dates are provisional. Dates so far: Sunday 14

SEEK INSPIRATION: main picture, Paul Martin’s outdoor living space show garden created for Vista Wealth at Hampton Court Flower Show, 2014 Opposite left, Malvern Spring Festival also has some inspiring show gardens, this is The Garden of Romance for Villagio Verde Centre, Jane Moore gives a talk at Countryfile Live Right, Cleve West, pictured at Chelsea, who will give at talk at the English Country Garden Festival in Wells

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May,Winterbourne House and Gardens, Birmingham – Sunday 28 May, Kingston Bagpuize House, Nr. Abingdon, Oxfordshire – Sunday 4 June, High Glanau Manor, Monmouthshire – Sunday 11 June, a new fair at Hanham Court Gardens, near Keynsham – Sunday 25 June, Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire – Sunday 2 July, The Walled Gardens at Cannington, near Bridgwater – Sunday 23 July, Highnam Court, near Gloucester – Sunday 30 July, Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens, Birmingham and Sunday 20 August The Bishops’ Palace, Wells, Somerset. Rare Plant Fair information tel: 0845 4681368, visit: rareplantfair.co.uk.

COUNTRYFILE LIVE The popular shows has its second outing at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, from

Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 August. Last year’s show really started with a bang. There is literally something for everyone. Don’t expect show gardens and spectacular planting – it’s more a family day out about all things countryside; although you can always get your gardening fix by listening to me at the Stihl arena where I shall be doing a turn. Do expect vintage tractors and threshing machines, seven minute polo matches, hedge laying and farm animals galore. Lots of organic and artisan foods, a funfair, performing sheepdogs in the dog arena and chicks and rabbits you can pet to your hearts content. Not a show for the trueblood gardener perhaps but a fun day out and, let’s face it, who can resist a vintage tractor while eating a farm-made ice cream? Ticket hotline: 0844 249 1000, NB Calls

cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge, visit: countryfilelive.com. And finally you might like to visit, the SIT Select Arts Festival, Tuesday 25 April – Saturday 28 May in Stroud, Cirencester and other Cotswold venues. An arts festival with a little gardening thrown in for good measure in the form of a sculpture trail at the up-and-coming and charming Miserden Nursery near Stroud. I’ll also be hosting a late afternoon talk on Wednesday 10 May. For more information, tel: 01453 751056, email: info@sitselect.org, or visit: sitselect.org. n Jane Moore is the award-winning gardening columnist and head gardener at The Bath Priory Hotel. Follow her on Twitter @janethegardener.

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We deliver to over 20,000 addresses every month. But if you live outside our distribution area or would like us to send a copy to friends or family then we are able to offer a mailing service for only £15.00 (6 issues) or £40.00 Euro zone; £30.00 (12 issues) or £70.00 Euro zone World Zone 1 £95.00 World Zone 2 £120.00 To subscribe to receiving the magazine go to our website; www.thebathmag.co.uk and scroll to the bottom of the page where you can click to an instant link Alternatively send a cheque payable to MC Publishing Ltd 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED or Telephone 01225 424 499 for card payment

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PROPERTY | HOMEPAGE

he Byre is situated at the heart of Claverton village in a tucked away location with far reaching views. With an approximate gross internal floor area of 4431 sq. ft plus outbuildings, the accommodation is over two floors with an interesting and carefully considered layout which makes the most of the property’s traditional features. These include beams, fireplaces and exposed brickwork. In brief the accommodation comprises: Five bedrooms, one currently used as a study, one en suite shower room and dressing room, two shower rooms (one en suite and one family bathroom. Reception rooms include a sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, sun room and garden from which to enjoy the outside space and views. As well as the main house, the landscaped garden boasts a summer house and spa building with hot tub and there is a decked area, pond and raised vegetable beds. There need be no worries about parking as there is space for several vehicles at front and rear. This beautifully converted and lovingly maintained property is on the market with agent Pritchards.

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

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THE BYRE, CLAVERTON • Delightful, sought-after village location • Five bedrooms, one en-suite shower room and dressing room. • Sun room, garden room, summer house and spa outbuilding with hot tub • Landscaped gardens with far-reaching countryside views

Guide price: £995,000

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pritchards-bath.co.uk

Bloomfield Grove An impressive beautifully presented 4 bed semi detached 1920s house in a peaceful & sought after road. Comprehensive extension & almost complete refurbishment to exacting standards. Spacious versatile garden level offering self contained apartment/home office if required. Attractive landscaped gardens. Extensive city views. Double garage & extensive parking. EPC D. 2869 sq ft/266 sq m. Garage 281 sq ft/26 sq m.

Guide Price: £1,250,000

Midford A charming 4 bed detached period property overlooking Wellow Brook set in approximately 2 acres. In need of some modernisation. 2 garages, out buildings, approximately 2 acres including paddock. Large landscaped gardens. EPC F. Total internal area: 6385 sq ft/593 sq m (excl garage).

Price: £925,000 11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB

Tel: 01225 466 225

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MEET | THE AGENT

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MEET | THE AGENT

PASSIONATE ABOUT MY JOB Alex Bowater, branch manager with Andrews Estate Agents, talks to The Bath Magazine about his years in the property business and why he finds the job so satisfying

ow and when did you get into the property business? I started at Andrews as a trainee in April 2004. I needed a job after returning from living and travelling in China and went to a recruitment evening at the Hilton. Living in China made me realise how massive the world is and that you need make your own path without worrying too much. Since then I have been in several of Andrews’ Bath offices and worked in the Land and New Homes department. It’s given me a fast moving career and I’m passionate about the job and the company.

What significant changes – for better or worse – have you seen in that time? The internet has significantly changed the way things work for the better. We live in this digital world, which means things are happening outside of traditional office hours and geographies which is exciting. But it’s having an impact cutting people and traditional agency skills out of the equation a bit too much for me. We still try to understand customers, build value through relationships and negotiation to make their experience a good one.

POSITIVE OUTLOOK: Alex Bowater, branch manager at Andrews Estate Agents, Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath Tel: 01225 466182 Picture by TBM Below: Cecil Jackson Cole, founder of Andrews Estate Agents. Image courtesy of Andrews

And what changes in Bath have you welcomed, or regretted, over the years? The continued development alongside the River Avon is really positive. However, I am less in favour of the idea of a park and ride on the meadows. I’m concerned that I can see a rise and increase of homelessness on the streets. I have been working with a great charity in Bristol called 16 – 25 Independent People which has opened my eyes to the challenges some young people face.

due to its beautiful architecture, transport and schools. We are very lucky to live in this environment. I have seen big ups and downs in a reasonably short time span during my time in agency so I don’t like to predict too much. Tell us a bit about what makes your team special? There is a great culture at the offices in Bath at Andrews which has resulted in great success. The other two managers in the Bath offices and a fair few other colleagues and I have all worked for Andrews for more than ten years, so the experience and knowledge is unbelievable. The people I work with have such a dynamic role. One minute they are analysing the market, then problem solving, then they’re counsellors offering a sympathetic ear, which is all part of helping people on the journey to their new home. And my colleagues are on a journey too and I like sharing in that. What has been your proudest moment? At Andrews there have been some notable successes at company award ceremonies. Personally, I am coming up to finishing an MBA in my spare time which has been a hard slog but will be excellent when it’s done. But most importantly I have a great family life. Is there anything that you can look back at and laugh about now? Just the usual tales, of falling down grass banks, of ripping trousers while moving furniture.

Do you have a favourite street? It’s too hard to choose but I like a view so anywhere on the wide range of hills overlooking the city. There are so many different great views from homes in Bath and I reckon I have almost seen them all.

How is the Andrews office refurbishment in Princes Buildings working? It’s fantastic to have the new-look office which is superb. Lots of people have commented what a positive difference it makes to this busy and prominent corner of George Street and Lansdown, right in the heart of Bath city centre. Customers have more space when they come in to discuss all their property needs.

What do you think is going to happen in the property market in the next 12 months? Like share prices, something will happen as it never stands still . . . it’s dull to repeat, but Bath is such a robust place

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? Ideally, I’d hop on a plane and you would find me beside a nice lake in Canada enjoying the summer lifestyle over there. n

ANDREWS: BUILT ON CHARITABLE PRINCIPLES Andrews Estate Agents was founded in 1946 by Cecil Jackson Cole, the man behind the foundation of Oxfam, among other charities. He was a forerunner of running a business with a conscience. Andrews is owned by three charitable trusts and each year makes donations and grants to good causes that tackle shelter, education or business challenges. The idea that becoming a commercial success should benefit society was close to Cecil Jackson Cole’s heart – and it remains central to the business to this day. The business currently has more than 80 offices across the south of England, employing over 500 staff. To find out more about Andrews Estate Agents, visit: andrewsonline.co.uk.

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SPRING PROPERTY MARKET UPDATE Duncan Nash, of Bath estate agents Nash & Co

have written previously about how last year was unusual, with Stamp Duty tax reforms, Brexit and let’s not forget Donald Trump being elected as President of the United States, an unusual mixture to say the least! So how is this year shaping up? Is it the right time to buy or sell? Is it the time to dip our toe into the property market? Can we put a line under everything that has happened in 2016 and look to a normal progressive property market in 2017? Well, generally the signs are encouraging. At Nash & Co. we have got off to a flying start, especially in terms of new instructions, with a 13% increase on 2016. Likewise, market appraisals (valuations) have been encouraging as well with a 21% increase over the same period. Full steam ahead I hear you say, especially with property prices still increasing year on year, up by 6.2% in the year to January 2017. However, a word of caution, it seems that the number of applicants registering and overall enquiries seem to be down. This may be temporary of course. As an example, Open Houses, of which we do many, seem to have generated fewer viewings so far this year. We are fortunate to be trusted to sell some lovely properties at present, so this was a surprise. The lower number of viewings is in my opinion partly down to an early spring blues, especially with the very changeable weather we’ve had. Another reason may be the average buyers’ perception of what constitutes “good value” is not in line with that of the estate agent, or the vendor. Could it be that the vendor needs to lower their expectations on sale price while being equally realistic on what they pay for their onward purchase? The good news is that there are still among the applicants looking a good number of highly motivated buyers. We must also remember there may still be some carry-over from Brexit, especially as the UK has now triggered Article 50. Likewise, what of the snap election that takes place on June 8th? Modern times are certainly not dull. Homeowners to a degree will need to second guess when will be the right time to sell. Realistically, circumstances in the future may mean that some may be forced to sell, let’s hope not. What is worth remembering is that if you are buying a property for the long term, then there will be fluctuations both up and down over the years, and generally most homeowners ride the storm. Is it still worth investing in property? Well an interesting fact I read recently, was that according to the Halifax, the proportion of areas in the UK where house prices have outpaced earnings over the last two years has edged up from 28% in 2015 to 31%. It’s incredible to think that by just owning a house, you could be earning more through house price increases than the salary you are paid. If you are thinking of buying or selling this year, then please do not hesitate to give me a call on 01225 444800 for property related advice or drop me an email to enquiries@nashandcobath.co.uk. Wishing you all well.

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Devonshire Buildings An elegant five bedroom Georgian townhouse, arranged over five floors and finished to a high specification throughout, tastefully combining modern comforts with period features and charm. Situated in a highly sought-after residential area on the southern outskirts of Bath, the house is within easy reach of several excellent schools.

*An administration fee of ÂŁ420.00 inc. VAT applies.

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ROYAL VIEW CROWNS LAUNCH WITH FLURRY OF SALES A stunning edition to Bath’s skyline has captured the imagination of house hunters looking for a new property close to the city centre.

ncluding a unique collection of luxurious apartments, Royal View is the exciting new phase at Crest Nicholson’s Bath Riverside. Launched in early March, the sales team has already released additional properties to cope with the high levels of interest from those keen to get the pick of the plots. Located next to the historic Victoria Bridge, Royal View comprises 45 apartments including eight one-bedroom, 34 two-bedroom and three stunning penthouse apartments. A stunning demonstration on the shape of things to come in terms of living in the heart of the city, the building incorporates a series of soft curves, which helps it blend effortlessly with its landscape and waterside setting. Providing spectacular views out across the city, residents will be able to take in and enjoy renowned settings such as the Royal Crescent and Royal Victoria Park. A number of special design features, both inside and out, have also impressed, adding to the unique nature of what is already becoming a stunning addition to the development and city. Alongside the curved nature of the building another special feature includes a central atrium. Acting as the communal heart, it connects residents with the outside elements, provides a direct link with the sky above and draws in natural light. Christine Hamilton, sales advisor at the development said: “There

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was a lot of interest when we released Royal View and that has remained ever since. “The curved nature of the design has been a real talking point and is unlike anything that has ever been seen in the Bath skyline before. “To help house hunters visualise what they can expect we now have a show apartment in the marketing suite which provides a fantastic idea of what the interiors will be like.” An abundance of green space in the design will create opportunities for biodiversity and local wildlife, as will the green walls living on the building. Linking to the riverside walkways, they will also create fantastic spaces for people to socialise outdoors. Christine added: “Royal View is a superb addition to both Bath Riverside and the city of Bath. With the building work progressing well we are hoping to start moving people into their new apartments this Autumn. “Those who want to be part of this iconic and unique new building should get in touch now so they don’t miss out on what is a significant addition to the Bath city scene.” To register interest for Royal View please contact the sales and marketing team on 01225 463517 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/bathriverside The marketing suite on Victoria Bridge Road is open daily from 10 am to 5pm.

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Belvedere, Bath • • • • • •

£1,100,000 Leighton Road, Bath

A fine Grade II Listed Georgian property Accommodation over 5 levels City centre location 4/5 double bedrooms Self-contained apartment to the lower ground floor Westerly facing rear garden

Ivy Cottage, Southstoke • • • • • •

2 Bedroom period cottage over three floors Newly renovated Stunning countryside views and walks Lovely kitchen/dining room with views Sun terrace in the rear garden Period charm and character

• • • • • •

3 Bedroom detached family house Upper Weston Corner plot, with wide attached single garage Lounge with separate dining room Potential for a loft conversion Very well presented

£450,000 Vellore Lane, Bath • • • • • •

£525,000

£695,000

Semi-detached period home Wonderful views Tucked away location very close to the city centre 3/4 bedrooms Off-street parking Chain free

enquiries@nashandcobath.co.uk www.nashandcobath.co.uk Tel: 01225 444 800

NASH & CO

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Bear Flat Springfield, Norton St. Philip, Bath, BA2 ÂŁ420,000

Newbridge Penn Lea Road, Bath, BA1 ÂŁ550,000

Detached family home set in this historic village. Three reception rooms, kitchen and utility, bath and shower rooms, four bedrooms, driveway, garage and car port. Gardens to the front side and rear. Energy Efficiency Rating: F

This fantastic semi detached family home will make you walk in and smile. Accommodation includes sitting room, dining room, 18'5 x 8'7 kitchen/ breakfast room with bi fold doors opening onto a fantastic level rear garden. Upstairs the accommodation consists of three bedrooms and bathroom. Energy Efficiency Rating: TBC

Bear Flat sales 01225 805680 Newbridge sales 01225 809685

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Camden Upper Camden Place, Bath, BA1 OIEO ÂŁ899,950

Central Forester Avenue, Bath, BA1 ÂŁ650,000

Perched with stunning views over the beautiful city and surrounding countryside, a unique terrace of listed Georgian town houses. Set over three floors with four bedrooms and elevated sitting room that spans the width of the property. UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath is only half a mile away. Energy Efficiency Rating: E

This road of family homes was named after Captain Forester and part of the leafy suburb of Bathwick which has developed into a vibrant and thriving area of the city popular for access to the city centre, beautiful parks and local schooling. This lovely period house offers three bedrooms and 95ft garden. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Camden Road sales 01225 809868 Bath Central sales 01225 809571

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THINKING PROPERTY Peter Greatorex, managing director of The apartment Company

Why apartment owners are selling ‘quietly’

hirty per cent of our sales so far this year have been sold via ‘quiet marketing.’ Often referred to as ‘off-market,’ these properties are not listed on high-street windows or portals, they’re not advertised in the press and open viewings don’t take place. Instead, we make quiet phone calls to our large database of specific registered buyers.

Crafting beautiful homes in stunning locations Bath | Somerset | Wiltshire | Cotswold | Dorset

Generally, our sellers sell this way because they don’t want their sale carried out in the public eye. ‘Quiet marketing’ is less stressful, discreet and low-key. Sellers can also make a good profit, being in a stronger negotiating position because buyers will pay a premium if they feel they have found something special and exclusive to them. It is also an excellent strategy to avoid over exposure when marketing publicly. After a month of advertising online, buyers start to assume there are ‘issues’ with the property which can de-value the apartment in their minds. Therefore, if selling when the market is traditionally quieter for example, we advise our clients sell quietly. If we don’t find a buyer this way, we can at least test the market and have a good understanding of buyer expectations. We can then launch onto the market afresh when activity picks up, and set a price that we know is likely to attract interest. Furthermore, quiet marketing usually results in a quicker sale. We rely on our database, so we don’t need to show an apartment to no more than twelve people before finding a buyer.

01225 791155 ashford-homes.co.uk

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However, this approach is not for everybody and there are other strategies you can adopt. Whichever method you choose, make sure your estate agent has a good database of buyers specific to your property. If you are selling an apartment for example, 100% of our buyers are looking for a property, just like yours… The Apartment Company Tel: 01225 471144.

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Bradford Road Combe Down • Semi-detached house • Three double bedrooms • South facing garden • Separate dining and sitting rooms • Walking distance to shops • Driveway parking and garage • Handy ground floor cloakroom • Price guide: £530,000

ath is a series of villages and, of those, Combe Down is a pretty good one to settle in, particularly if you have children. It’s got a sense of community, its own shops, doctors’ surgeries etc, but it’s also on the edge of both city and countryside, giving you easy access to either. Currently on the market is this solid 20th century family semi on Bradford Road, up on Combe Down’s high ridge. It’s got good sized rooms and a light, airy feel – what’s more the new owners need only move their own furniture in to feel instantly settled and comfortable. The front garden has been given over to parking, with space for family and visiting cars, while a drive leads down the side of the house to a big garage at the foot – ideal for bikes, lawn mowers and possibly a spare freezer too as it has electricity. The gardens are level, well maintained and face south, which will give you space to sit and enjoy the summer sun. Inside, the wide hall leads to a sitting room at the front of the house, with a nice multi-fuel stove in the fireplace. The dining room at the back opens via French windows on to the patio and is a nice space for entertaining in. Also at the back of the house is the long kitchen with built-in electric oven and gas hob. There’s also a space by the window at the end for a small breakfast table and chairs. Handily on the ground floor a modern cloakroom has been cleverly tucked in under the stairs. There are three double bedrooms on the first floor, the largest, at the front, having built-in wardrobes and chests of drawers. The second bedroom has nice views over neighbouring gardens and also has fitted wardrobes. You could get a double bed in the third bedroom and the bathroom has a smart, white suite.

Mark Naylor, 1 Hayes Place, Bear Flat, Bath. Tel: 01225 422224

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k Mar r o l y a N

local • trusted • independent

Elliston Drive, Bath

Price £500,000

This house is a beautifully appointed and luxurious 1980s detached house, extended over recent years. • Modern 1980s detached house • De-luxe kitchen and utility room

☎ 01225 422 224

• Extended, family sized, accommodation • Integral single garage

• 4 double bedrooms • Highly recommended

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ASHLEY FARM HOUSE, Ashley

Â£1,750,000

An imposing five bedroom Cotswold stone farmhouse with five reception rooms, a range of outbuildings and around six acres of gardens and fields. The property enjoys a superb location within the delightful village of Ashley on the outskirts of Box. Main House 4,651 sq.ft. with a further 2,906 sq.ft. of outbuildings. EPC Rating: Exempt Grade II listed

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HORSE BARN, Burnett

ÂŁ750,000

Converted period barn with accommodation arranged over one level in quiet enclave of six barns surrounded by farmland. Comprises stunning open plan kitchen/dining room/ sitting room, three bedrooms (master en-suite), bathroom, utility, garage, double carport, garden, garden store and gated driveway. EPC Rating: C

Ladymead House

offers in excess of

£210,000

A smart and contemporary studio apartment with stunning views and elegant high ceilings. This Grade II listed building has been recently refurbished to the highest possible standard throughout. Crafted from Bath Stone, the building wraps around stunning communal gardens which back on to the River Avon. Grade II listed · Contemporary living · Central location · Studio apartment Communal gardens · 282.7 Sq ft

Walcot Buildings

offers in excess of

£230,000

Situated in central Bath this delightful one bedroom top floor apartment forms part of a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse. The apartment offers cleverly balanced living space with contemporary charm. Beautifully presented and with easy access to the city and M4. Grade II listed · Georgian · Far reaching views · One bedroom apartment · Central location · 436 Sq ft SALES

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LETTINGS

01225 303 870

sales@theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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Rivers Street

Offers in access of

£350,000

This delightful south facing two bedroom top floor apartment is situated in the ever popular Rivers Street, offering some of the most stunning views over Bath. With a good size living space and share of the freehold, this apartment is sure to generate a great deal of interest! Georgian Apartment · Period features · Great location · Southerly Aspect · Two double bedrooms · 699 Sq ft

Brock Street

Offers in access of

£420,000

We are delighted to bring to the market this beautifully presented second floor apartment. Set in one of Bath’s most prestigious locations, Brock Street links the Circus with the Royal Crescent. If you are looking for centre living in a premium location, look no further. Grade II listed · Georgian · Prestigious address · Period features · Large bright living space · 603 Sq ft

www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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A stylish contemporary garden apartment that offers modern city living. A unique and beautifully appointed three bedroomed apartment set within charming mature gardens with south facing private terrace and own garage. Built in 2014 and sitting on the edge of the sought after village of Combe Down with easy access to the City. This is a property not to miss.

Attwood Apartment

Offers in access of

£550,000

This fabulous apartment is set within stunning mature gardens and woodland paths for exclusive use of the residents. The Apartment is one of six bespoke properties built to an exceptionally high spec in 2014. The living areas are beautifully positioned to be south facing whilst the bedrooms benefit from the morning sun. To enhance the attraction of this property there is a single garage and further parking on site. Situated in walking distance to Prior Park College, Monkton and Ralph Allen schools and easy access by public and private transport to the City. The heart of Combe Down village is a 5 minute level walk and there you will find local amenities including a GP, cafés, convenience shops and more. Modern build · Ground floor · Three bedrooms · Open plan living · Private terrace · Garage · Lift access · Approx 1063 Sq ft

SALES

01225 471 14 4 The Apartment Company May.indd 28

LETTINGS

01225 303 870

sales@theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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Leopold House

offers in excess of

£425,000

We are delighted to bring to the market this exceptional two bedroom apartment offering riverside living. The apartment offers sophisticated contemporary living at its best. Boasting a modern fully fitted kitchen, balcony with far reaching views and private parking space. Contemporary living · First floor · Two bedroom · Open plan sitting room · Secure private parking · Central location · Approx. 783 Sq ft

Highgate, Longmead Terrace

offers in excess of

£300,000

A superb opportunity to purchase a stunning penthouse apartment in the highly regarded new Riverside developments. Offering open plan living, incorporating a high spec kitchen, dining area and sitting room area, double bedroom and balcony. New development · Penthouse apartment · One bedroom · High specification Private balcony · No chain · Approx 585 Sq ft

www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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Alexandra House

per calendar month

£1,450

Brand new luxury third floor, 2 bedroom apartment set on the banks of the River Avon. This apartment boasts a beautifully maintained communal gardens and a private underground parking space. Unfurnished · Bathroom and Shower Room · Private Balcony with River and City Views · Secure Allocated Parking Space · Short level Walk to City Centre · Tenant fees £420 inc VAT

Highgate, Longmead Terrace

per calendar month

£975

A superb opportunity to rent a stunning penthouse apartment in the highly regarded new Riverside development. Offering open plan living, incorporating a high spec kitchen, dining area and sitting room area, double bedroom and balcony. In a central location this apartment won’t disappoint! New development · Penthouse apartment · One bedroom · High specification · Furnished · Tenant fees £420 inc VAT SALES

01225 471 14 4 The Apartment Company May.indd 30

LETTINGS

01225 303 870

sales@theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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Royal Crescent

per calendar month

£1,350

Spectacular spacious one bedroom first floor apartment in the much sought after Royal Crescent. The property benefits from having a lift in the building. Close to Royal Victoria Park and just a short walk to local amenities and City Centre. Part furnished · One bedroom · Beautifully presented · Wonderful views · Superb central location · Tenant fees £420 inc VAT

Combe Park

per calendar month

£1,350

Accessed via the ground floor of this stunning Victorian house is a spacious and wellpresented three bedroom apartment. Superbly located with easy access into the city centre. Two double bedrooms one with en-suite · Upper Maisonette · Unfurnished · Kitchen/ diner · Tenant fees £420 inc VAT

www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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