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THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CITY OF BATH
£3.00 where sold
THEBATHMAGAZINE www.thebathmagazine.co.uk
ISSUE 112 • JANUARY 2012
2012
INSPIRATION MIKE BULLEN The Cold Feet writer picks his favourite tunes
ZEITGEIST
Capture the mood of the month with our five things to experience
WEEKEND ESCAPE Great getaways for grown ups
INDIAN STAR
TBM reviews The Mint Room
TOWN&COUNTRY PROPERTY The finest homes in and around Bath
The very best of local writing, what’s on, arts, lifestyle, property and so much more in your guide to life and living in Bath
Fencing by Sue Freeborough. Completed bronze maquette. From the Art at The Edge project: www.artattheedge.org
The Bathonians with a goal in mind
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contents
2012
20
6
ZEITGEIST
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Five things you’ll want do to in January
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BIGWIG Our columnist has a moral tale about the perils of bargain hunting
10
TALK OF THE TOWN What’s up in Bath
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16
20
28
36
40 52
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RESTAURANT REVIEW HEALTHY EATING A NEW CHAPTER
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54
MOTORING TBM test drives the new Audi Quattro 3
62
GARDENING Jane Moore has some sound advice for making the most of a small garden
68
PROPERTY A round-up of some of Bath’s finest homes, to sell or to rent
EDUCATION News and views from Bath’s schools
ON THE COVER
LEAP INTO 2012
Fencing by Sue Freeborough. Image courtesy of the Art at The Edge public art project. www.artattheedge.org
We try out a personal trainer who’s worked out in some of Europe’s top gyms
HEALTH & BEAUTY The latest products for beating the winter beauty blues
52
FAMILY FUN Keep your children entertained this month
GETAWAY TIME Our travel section aims to tempt you away from the hum-drum and take a break for a few days
62
We preview this year’s Bath Literature Festival, which promises to be bigger and better than ever
ARTS & EXHIBITIONS Bath’s galleries open our eyes to some of the finest artists in the south west
32 Yo! Sushi’s workshop teaches how to make works of art for the table
WHAT’S ON Today’s show has been brought to you by the letter F – Avenue Q makes a welcome return to Bath
24
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BE INSPIRED Tales from people who’ve set themselves goals and done something different
36
We visit The Mint Room for a delicious new approach to Indian cuisine
FACE THE MUSIC The writer who created TV series Cold Feet talks about music and what’s next
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TBM can be viewed with the online edition on our website: www.thebathmagazine.co.uk
THE WALK Start the new year with a riverside stroll from Batheaston JANUARY 2012
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EDITOR’Sletter
I
know some of you hate January because it’s a long, cold month and all the bills from Christmas are still coming in, but I welcome in the new year because it gives us all the chance to sweep the slate clean and make exciting plans for the coming year. A friend and I always get together at the close of the old year and over a glass or two of wine we make our own wish-lists of things we’d like to achieve in the next 12 months. This usually entails things such as ‘learn to samba,’ ‘go to the theatre more often’ or ‘do the Three Peaks Challenge’ – some of them we manage to tick off as time goes by, others remain on the wish-list. To inspire your own list of good intentions for 2012 we’ve talked to some people who’ve got out there and done something different (Page 16). We hope their stories will move others to set their own goals and go for it too! This issue we’re looking ahead, as we always try to do, to bring you information about what’s going on in this vibrant, eccentric, wonderful city of ours. We’ve introduced a new feature (Page 6) which picks out five highlights of what’s on this month in Bath just so you won’t miss out. Kathy Williams has interviewed a personal hero of mine, Mike Bullen, the writer who created the wonderfully engaging TV series Cold Feet, who is now living in Bath and creating new characters and stories. Read about the musical tracks of his years on Page 14. There’s also our comprehensive round-up of cultural events (Page 20) and current art exhibitions (Page 24), a travel section (Page 28) designed to tempt you away from the hum-drum for a few days and all our usual classic regular features, including gardening, a fine walk for the month and news from the city’s foodie scene. Beginning at Number 1 on my wish-list, I’m off to join a new running club and – with my running partner chum – set ourselves the goal of ‘less chat, more exercise’ so we move a little faster in 2012.
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.
THEBATHMAGAZINE Editor Email: Tel:
Georgette McCready georgette@thebathmagazine.co.uk 01225 424499
Deputy Editor Email:
Samantha Ewart sam@thebathmagazine.co.uk
Contributors
Jane Moore, Andrew Swift, Kathy Williams, Catriona Stirling, Lauren O’Donoghue
Production Manager Jeff Osborne Email: production@thebathmagazine.co.uk Publisher Email:
Steve Miklos stevem@thebathmagazine.co.uk
Contact the Advertising Sales team on tel: 01225 424499 Advertising Sales Liz Grey Email: liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk Advertising Sales Email:
Kathy Williams kathy@thebathmagazine.co.uk
Advertising Sales Email:
Jodi Monelle jodi@thebathmagazine.co.uk
The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazine are published by MC Publishing Ltd and are completely independent of all other local publications.
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ZEITGEIST
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things to do in January
Enjoy Bath is going all-out to beat the winter darkness, with the second free art light show arriving in the city this month, following hard on the heels of the Bruce Munro Field of Light spectacular at the Holburne Museum. The festival of light, Illuminate Bath, runs from Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 January and will banish the gloom in public spaces around the city. Artists’ collective, Clockwork City, is creating an installation called Clockwork City, in which large keys are attached to street furniture, and when turned, will trigger lights, images and sounds. Other pieces have involved work on projects with children from St Saviour’s Junior School and students from Bath Spa University.
Visit
Laugh
It’s cold outside and, to be frank, Bath’s not looking its sparkling best this month. So now’s a good time to seek out free things to do in the city. If it’s fine a brisk walk along the towpath admiring the canal boat dwellers’ hardiness is one option, and if it’s rainy why not duck into one of the free art galleries? The council owned Victoria Art Gallery has two free exhibitions in addition to its perennial very fine collection of paintings and decorative objects. Above is a detail from one of the pieces by Peter Burke. Earthworks have all been made from soil taken from within a 20-mile radius of Bath. Peter will be giving a personal tour of his work on Saturday 7 January at 1pm. The other show, by Kate Flood, brings vibrant colour into a drab, grey January.
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January always feels like the longest month, so we could all do with a giggle to get us through to spring. Comedian Simon Munnery, who has been hailed as the Peter Cook of his generation, may be just the tonic we need, with his new show, Hats Off to the 101ers And Other Material. Catch Simon’s over-ambitious one-man punk musical about the R101 airship of the 1930s, great jokes, bad guitar riffs and monologues at The Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, on Wednesday 25 January from 8pm.
Out of town. . . Bristol’s M Shed Museum on the Harbourside is hosting a sumptuous photographic exhibition featuring the work of iconic and ground-breaking photographer Norman Parkinson. Of interest to anyone who loves the clothes and style of the late 50s and early 60s, An Eye for Fashion runs from Saturday 21 January until 15 April.
Book Tickets go on general release this month for the Bath Literature Festival in March. There are some really big names lined up to visit the city, including former MI5 boss the real-life Spook, Stella Rimington, journalist and writers Jeremy Paxman and Mariella Frostrup and charismatic philosopher Alain de Botton. Make a note in your diary, too, to check out the programme of free events at this year’s festival. Voices in the City will include informal writers’ workshops, storytelling and a pub crawl with a difference, mixing poetry and pints. See www.bathlitfest.org.uk for the full programme and turn to Page 36 for some highlights of the upcoming festival of reading, writing and talking about books.
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Canal Towpath : Late Afternoon Sun - Oil on canvas 14 x 10 inches
About Bath An exhibition of new paintings by Nick Cudworth. Throughout January and February. Prints also available. 5 London Street (top end of Walcot Street) • tel 01225 445221 • www.nickcudworth.com
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NOTES ON A SMALL CITY By Bigwig
ODD WAYS TO FIND A BARGAIN
WINTER STYLE FOR LESS £s
T
he way some people behave at the sales beggars belief. All that bonhomie and shared Cuppa Soup in the overnight pavement queue suddenly turns to animalistic frenzy when the doors open. New friends become sworn enemies as they fight to the death over the discounts. I used to co-manage a charity shop raising funds for community arts projects. One day a nearby sports shoe importer donated a whole van load of trainers. The company’s policy was to send out single shoes to the retailers as samples. These were what they were left with. So really they had given us several hundred odd shoes. The possibility of finding any pairs was remote. Nevertheless, my mum, dear soul, spent many hours in a freezing cold shed sorting out the smattering of pairs that did exist, plus a whole load that matched as near as dammit. These we sold in our shop for a few quid each and everyone thought they’d got a real bargain.
on opening the doors an OAP riot ❝ broke out. The heap of shoes became a heap of old ladies, their legs flailing ... ❞ We stored the remainder, not really knowing what to do with them. Until, that is, the council lent us an empty shop in town for a one-off jumble sale. The night before the event we set everything up and I had the idea of piling the shoes, all of which were brand new, in the middle of the room with a sign saying ‘Only fifty pence a pair…if you can find one!’ It was meant to be a joke, but unfortunately my sign could be read from out in the street and when we came to open up in the morning, the queue stretched down the road and round the corner. On opening the doors an OAP riot broke out. The heap of shoes became a heap of old ladies, their legs flailing in the air as they fought tooth and nail to scrabble for anything that looked vaguely pairish. Some managed to get in through a side-door which was clearly marked No Entry. There was a reason for this because, as the council had pointed out, the floor in the corridor was rotten. Sure enough, there was a cracking noise and one lady went through the floorboards up to her ankles. Luckily, she didn’t fall down into the cellar, but was stuck there like a skittle until someone pulled her out. Meanwhile the mountain of odd shoes was diminishing rapidly, a bit like one of those freeze-frame film sequences, and ladies were grabbing armfuls and laying siege to the till where my mum was coping bravely. Some of the shoes had two stripes, some had three. Some had no stripes at all. But they nearly all sold. I imagined that all over the city husbands were looking aghast at the ‘pair’ of odd shoes their wives had proudly presented to them, or teenagers were being mocked at sports days for the non-matching footwear that mum had sent them along in. For weeks after that if I saw any lady over 50 in the bus station wearing trainers (and they are legion, it’s not only the yoof what like the Nike) I would study their footwear very closely and count the stripes thereon. But despite our profitably disposing of hundreds, I never spotted anyone sporting a mismatched pair. And nobody rang to complain either, apart from the lady who fell through the floor. But I think her main beef was that she didn’t actually manage to get her hands on any shoes. ■ WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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TALKofthe TOWN
My Cultural Life
Light a beacon to mark Queen’s jubilee year
I
n all the excitement of looking forward to this summer’s Olympic Games in London, let’s not forget the country has another reason to celebrate this year when HRH Queen Elizabeth II becomes only the second monarch, after Queen Victoria, in British history to celebrate 60 years on the throne. In time honoured style the nation is to light a series of beacons to celebrate the occasion. On the evening of Monday 4 June, over 2,000 beacons are expected to be lit simultaneously across the British Isles and the Commonwealth. Individuals and groups interested in holding a beacon celebratory event are asked to register their interest now to ensure they don’t miss the opportunity to be involved. Beacon lighting and associated events will offer a great way to raise money for a local or national charity of choice, or simply to celebrate this historic event with family and friends. An added bonus is that all official beacon events will be listed in a special commemorative book that will be given to the Queen after the event. To get involved visit: www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk.
A facelift for Mr Dickens Bath aims to be one of the first places to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of writer Charles Dickens, putting on a show and readings from his work in the Pump Room. Actor Doc Watson will play the author and may feel a little intimidated as a bust of the great man will preside over proceedings. The bronze bust, pictured, was created by Percy Fitzgerald in 1900 and is usually kept on display in a corridor to the left of the main entrance to the Roman Baths. In honour of Mr Dickens’ 200th birthday, Bath & North East Somerset Council has had his bust treated by expert conservationists. Tickets for the show, on 7 February, are available from the Bath Box Office on tel: 01225 463362. If you want to go on the Dickens trail in Bath you could start at The Saracen’s Head in Broad Street where he was a regular visitor. There is a picture of him and a small corner dedicated to his work.
THEBATHMAGAZINE 2 Princes Buildings George Street Bath BA1 2ED Telephone: 01225 424499 Fax: 01225 426677 www.thebathmagazine.co.uk © MC Publishing Ltd 2012 Every month The Bath Magazine is circulated free to over 20,000 selected homes and businesses in Bath and the surrounding areas. A certificate of print and publisher’s statement are available on request. Published by MC Publishing Limited 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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NEWS IN BRIEF Festival season in Bath Bath certainly deserves the title, City of Festivals, with at least one being staged almost every month of the year. And there’s a new one being added to the calendar for 2012. Organisers of the hugely successful and long-running Mozartfest are bringing the Bach Fest to the city in February. The inaugural festival will consist of three concerts over a weekend, including one from violinist Alina Ibragimova, Young Artist of the year in the 2011 Royal Philharmonic Society awards. Tickets are now on sale and the full programme is ready to view. Visit: www.bathbachfest.org.uk.
Fashion celebrated in Bath Anyone interested in fashion is excited at the prospect of show designer, and Bath resident, Manolo Blahnik, agreeing to talk about the art of shoe design and his long, successful career as part of the 2012 Bath in Fashion festival in March. The festival, which runs from 25 – 31 March, includes a day dedicated to vintage fashion, catwalk shows staged by London Fashion Week’s own John Walford and a retrospective show by designer Amanda Wakeley. Fashion expert Rosemary Harden from Bath’s Fashion Museum will also be among the speakers lined up and the Dress of the Year will be unveiled during the festival. Visit: wwwbathinfashion.co.uk.
Text support for kittens Bath Cats and Dogs Home has launched a new way of giving for animal lovers, who can now text their donations to the Claverton based rescue centre as part of its Winter Warmer Appeal. To donate £3 towards keeping the hundreds of pets at the centre warm and fed this winter simply text the word PAW to 70007.
This month we ask Melanie Heath, PA to Andrew Cooper of Bath Business Improvement District What are you reading? Eleni by Nicholas Gage for book club and a fascinating book about entrepreneur and philanthropist – Ralph Allen Builder of Bath by Diana Winsor.
What’s on your MP3 player? Caro Emerald, Scenes From the Cutting Room Floor. I defy anyone to remain in their seat.
Which café or restaurant takes your fancy? Raphael’s for when we go to The Little and Café Lucca in delightful Bartlett Street.
Which museum or gallery will you be visiting? The Sue Macpherson exhibition at the Royal Photographic Society and perhaps a peek at the Fashion Museum to whet my appetite. The Bath In Fashion 2012 team are busily preparing for March’s festival.
Your passions? What hobbies or interests will you be pursuing? Brush up on my photography in readiness for the final leg of the Beacons Way. A breathtaking two-day journey with my delightful friends who keep me sane.
What local outdoor activity/location will you be going to do or visit this month? Looking forward to seeing Illuminate Bath, as well as fitting in a little new season shopping in my lunch hour.
Film or play? What will you be going to see this month? It will have to be The Iron Lady. Meryl Streep is a true Hollywood star and it will take me back to the era of my youth; sans wrinkles. Bath BID is a collective voice within the business community. Funding is raised through annual levy payer contributions which allows businesses to have a greater impact. Bath BID tel: 01225 396458 Visit: www.bathbid.co.uk
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CITY FACEgardens theMUSIC
THE WRITE STUFF Kathy Williams talks to west country writer Mike Bullen about the award-winning television series Cold Feet, why he came back to the UK after moving to Australia and his favourite music
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OLD FRIENDS: the cast of Cold Feet; Robert Bathurst, Hermione Norris, James Nesbit, Helen Baxendale, John Thomson and Fay Ripley in the drama written by Mike Bullen and which made the actors household names
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FACEtheMUSIC
MIKE’S MUSICAL HEROES: left to right, Leonard Cohen’s Chelsea Hotel #2, Thom Yorke lead singer of Radiohead and Creep, and Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel, Death Trip
MAIN PICTURE: portrait of writer Mike Bullen by Benjamin Shelmerdine
Y
ou probably wouldn’t recognise Mike Bullen if you passed him in the street, but there’s a fair chance you’ll know his work. He’s the creator of the award-winning TV comedy drama, Cold Feet, which followed the trials and tribulations of three Manchester-based couples in their early thirties as they struggled with life, love, and parenthood. The show was phenomenally successful, running for five series on ITV and twice being nominated for the BAFTA for Best Drama Series (winning once); the programme was sold to more than 30 countries worldwide and was remade in the United States, Italy, the Czech Republic and Poland. In 2002 Mike emigrated with his family to Australia, but now they’re back, relocating to Bath in April 2011. But why leave their comfortable home on Sydney’s northern beaches? “The weather. You have no idea how monotonous one sunny day after another can become. No, I’m joking. It was work. We moved to Australia as Cold Feet was ending. I continued to work for British TV, writing three series of a show called Life Begins, starring Caroline Quentin, but after that it became increasingly difficult to overcome the tyranny of distance. I’m not getting any younger but TV execs are and I decided that if I was going to make another go of this writing lark, I’d have to be UK-based.” It’s a move that has paid off. Mike currently has three TV series in development, one or more of which he hopes will make it on to our screens later this year. Mike, his wife and two daughters, previously lived in Bristol but on their return to these shores opted instead for Bath. “After eight years in Australian suburbia, Bristol felt like this teeming metropolis. Bath is much more manageable. We live in Widcombe; I love the fact that we’re within walking distance of the centre and all it has to offer.” So the monotonous sunny days aside, what does he miss most about Australia? “Rugby league. It’s so exciting – a perfect blend of athleticism and controlled violence. I’ve tried watching Bath rugby, but it sends me to sleep, though I like the way they get the crowd involved, kicking the ball into the stands every few minutes.” Mike’s active participation in sport is limited to running, another habit he developed in Sydney, where he was a member of a mixed-ability running club that met once a week to pound the beaches and coastline near where he lived. And now he’s forming a similar group here. “There are two running clubs in Bath that I’m aware of: Team Bath, at the university, and a women’s group operating out of Sweaty Betty. I didn’t feel dedicated enough for the former, and failed the qualifying test for the latter. I’ve made a couple of running friends here and, like me, they find it easier to motivate themselves running with others. So we’ve started a group for people like us, who, if they didn’t have others to run with, would probably stay on the sofa.” Bath Social Runners meets twice a week, Wednesdays at 6pm and Saturdays at 9am. There’s no cost to join, and no commitment – if you fancy a run, just turn up. And, with the
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emphasis on social as much as running, there’s an opportunity for a coffee or beer afterwards. Further information can be found on the group’s website www.bathsocialrunners.co.uk
Mike’s top ten: ● Supertramp – Bloody Well Right From my all time fave album, Crime of the Century. The extent of my teenage rebellion was to sing this very loud about the house, the word ‘bloody’ upsetting my mother. Pathetic really. ● Harry Chapin – Taxi Most people have never heard of this singer-songwriter from the 1970s but on an early date with my wife I discovered she was a fan too, which was a definite tick. His songs were stories set to music; Taxi is a moving tale of unfulfilled ambition. ● Cockney Rebel – Death Trip At university I was obsessed with a Goethe novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther about a youth who kills himself for love, and adapted it for the stage, using this orchestral rock piece about suicide as soundtrack. It’s a fabulously baroque, epic piece of music. ● Radiohead – Creep My favourite song of all time, with one of my favourite lines: “I want you to notice, when I’m not around.” When my kids were young I’d sing them to sleep with this. I want it played at my funeral, cranked up to 11. ● Patsy Cline – Crazy This one’s for my Dad, who died nine months ago. He loved this song, and I do too. The vocals are so pure. They don’t write ‘em like this anymore, and music’s the poorer for it. On ya, Pops! ● Antony and the Johnsons – Cripple and the Starfish Antony has the most angelic voice but sings of pain, heartache and worse. Sumptuous, haunting and heart-breaking. ● Linda Ronstadt – Blue Bayou I remember as a kid my Mum singing along to this track and being pitch-perfect on the ridiculously high note at the end. I was shocked. My mother could sing! That day I realised my Mum was a fully-formed person in her own right, not merely a supporting character in my life story. ● Leonard Cohen – Chelsea Hotel #2 I was in the front row (prime blagging) for a concert the great man gave in a vineyard outside Sydney. The sun set over the stage. It was a sublime moment, almost spiritual. I love all his work but particularly this song which contains another of my favourite lines, too rude to quote here. ● Philip Glass – Violin Concerto I don’t like opera and I can take or leave most classical music, but I find Philip Glass hypnotic. His work seems effortless, but that’s just because he’s so clever at hiding its complexity. I can’t generally write to music, but Philip Glass provides a great backing track. ● Frank Sinatra – That’s Life Sinatra at his best, belting out a showstopper with a big band behind him. I love his phrasing, and the way he punches each line. Whenever I get drunk enough to sing karaoke, this is the song I want to do (badly, but in my mind I’m Old Blue Eyes!). ■
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LIFEgoals
BE INSPIRED FOR 2012 Setting ourselves a personal challenge can be just the kick-start we need to take our lives in a new direction. We talked to four people who have achieved very different personal goals
H
ow would it be if this new year, instead of making a resolution to lose weight or get fitter, we instead challenged our energies into trying something completely different? We may never become Olympic athletes – for most of us it’s far too late – but we can achieve goals that will make us quietly proud of ourselves. Those goals could be as straightforward as taking up a new project or volunteering for something so you can make a difference. Bath’s charity shops are always glad to take on new volunteers, and you can always tell your friends you’ve gone into vintage fashion. Or perhaps you’d like to be involved with one of Bath’s many tourist attractions, making yourself an ambassador for our beautiful city. On Saturday 14 January, the National Trust at Prior Park landscape gardens is hosting a volunteer open day. Anyone who feels they may have something to offer is invited to go along and talk about the different roles on offer, from catering assistants to garden guides. Another way to get out of the ‘same old, same old’ rut is to sign up for a physical challenge which also raises money for charity.
The long walk Bath based writer Joceline Bury describes her own personal goal – walking the 102-mile Cotswold Way National Trail. “I’ve never had a ‘bucket list’ – of things to do before I kick the proverbial – but there was something about the approach of my 60th birthday that made me want to chalk up a few achievements, tick off a challenge or two. And so it was that I signed up, one mild autumn day, to walk the Cotswold Way for Julian House, Bath’s charity for homeless people. It all looked marvellous: the website showed photos of cheery walkers, glorious views over the heart of England, encouraging advice and enthusiastic quotes from successful walkers. 16 THEBATHMAGAZINE
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Here was the deal: take five days to cover 102 miles, starting in Chipping Campden and finishing in Bath city centre; accommodation would be provided in pubs or B&Bs along the route, with all luggage transfers handled by the lovely people at Julian House, and, best of all, you could walk at your own pace: as long as you reach the overnight stop by nightfall, you can amble or stride out – it’s not a race.
❝
there was something about the approach of my 60th birthday that made me want to chalk up a few achievements
❞
I’d originally intended to go it alone – but was more than happy when a dear and entertaining friend volunteered to come along too. We trained enthusiastically – she was already a seasoned walker, but I’d never covered more than about five miles in one go. We walked from Bradford on Avon to Bath, or to Devizes, one way at first, then there and back, finally managing to do a 20-mile tramp two days running. For, as the walk website warned, “anyone reasonably fit can walk 20 miles in a day – the challenge is to do it five days running”. Came the hour (the crack of dawn on a sunny Wednesday morning in August), came the women. Bussed from Bath to the start point, we probably didn’t look like typical long-distance walkers – apart from our old faithful walking boots, we wore ordinary summer clothes, and carried a little umbrella in case it rained and a lightweight backpack loaded with our daily essentials: packed lunch, lipstick, map and a bottle of water. We started as we meant to go on – as soon as the official photo had been snapped, we breakfasted on coffee and croissants. The first day was glorious – from Chipping Campden to
THE FINISH LINE: Joceline and Mary, joyful at the end of their 102-mile walk along the Cotswold Way
Homeless charity Julian House is organising Cotswold Way Challenges for May and August. Transport, daily transfer of luggage, accommodation and packed lunches provided – the rest is up to you . . . For more information about the challenge, visit: www.julianhouse.org. uk or call Cathy Adcock, tel: 01225 354656
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LIFEgoals The doctor who wrote a musical
RUN FOR IT: Bath Cats and Dogs Home has 21 charity places to offer runners for the Bath Half Marathon, which takes place on 11 March. There is no charge for the place itself, but runners need to raise a minimum of £250 in sponsorship. Contact Katie Love at BCDH on tel: 01225 787334 or email: katielove@bcdh.org.uk
Winchcombe, with glorious views across the surrounding countryside, finally descending into Winchcombe and the White Hart, pints of cider, a hearty plate of sausage and mash – and a blissfully comfortable bed. Our fellow walkers were one couple, and three women and two men walking singly. Pace and personality dictated alliances, and by the end of that first day we’d settled into a pattern that had Linda yomping home in no time at all, and Mary and I bringing up the rear (entirely down to my plodding). Day two took us through the ancient limestone grassland landscape of Cleeve Common, past Belas Knapp long barrow and through beautiful nature reserves and protected wildlife areas to Leckhampton Hill. It was just about here that Cheltenham hove into view. That evening, we strolled through beech woods, lit by the amber glow of a late summer sun, to arrive at Birdlip. By the third day, we were into our stride – just as well, as the day included an ascent of Cooper’s Hill, near Painswick. This is the cheese-rolling hill, where Gloucestershire lads regularly break bones as they chase wheels of cheese down its precipitous slopes. We crept up the long way – and it was still hard work. Day four brought my nemesis – driving rain, punishingly steep ascents, and probably sheer weariness had me weeping by the bus stop in North Nibley, while Mary ran (yes, literally) to catch up with the others on the path to Wotton-under-Edge. I cut my losses at this point – bussed into Wotton, bought a map and a guidebook, and booked a taxi to Hawkesbury. I missed a superb section of the walk – although I went back and re-did it a couple of months later – but saved my sanity. By the time I’d completed the last three or four miles from Hawkesbury to our last night’s lodgings at Old Sodbury I’d dried out, explored some stunning countryside and recovered my good humour. The following morning, I left at 6am, determined not to be left behind again. Walking alone on a misty morning, as the sun came up and a barn owl almost brushed my face with its ghostly wings, was probably one of the highlights of the whole five days. I waited at the battle monument for the others and together we walked into Bath, in glorious sunshine, to finish at the Abbey. People often speak of life-changing events: this was one of mine. Not because it was so much of a physical achievement – thousands of people do much more, every day – but because it gave us all time to just be part of the landscape, living at a natural pace, in one of the most beautiful areas of our lovely country. Also, it’s given me a taste for long-distance walking. And yes, we raised quite a bit of money for Julian House too.” I’m now planning some walks for the coming year. One is the North Downs Way, which starts at Farnham, goes through to Canterbury and then Dover. I’d also love to do the coast-to-coast – Robin Hood’s Bay to St Bee’s. The long-term goal is to do the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage.” ■ WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK
You’d think that being a doctor would be enough of a challenge but GP Dan Lashbrook of the Fairfield Park Health Centre has found time to treat his patients and co-write a musical. The Decent Rogues is being staged at the Mission Theatre in Bath next month. Following a sell-out first run, the show, based in the Edwardian period and packed full of original tunes, was written in Bath by Dan and Rob Pratt. Dan first tasted success when he took his student revue show to the Edinburgh festival. He came to the RUH Bath where, as a junior doctor he continued to write and direct. He said “Generally shows adapt an existing work – most musicals are always the same and predictable. So we created a show that is brand new. We chose the Edwardian period because they had social grace and a lovely innocence. They built the Titanic, the Olympics were held in London, the Suffragettes began, it was before the first world war; it was a great decade of decadence. It is a story that tells of two great friends and their journey.” The Decent Rogues opens on 15 February at The Mission Theatre, Corn Street. Tickets from Bath Festival Box Office, tel: 01225 463362 or online at www.thedecentrogues.com.
Friends take to the open road Bath businesswoman Julia Marshman and a friend, also called Julia, decided to take a different kind of holiday to the usual sightseeing and lolling on the beach. The two 50somethings had recently started cycling and decided to try a cycling holday. “We picked a Headwater Cycling Holiday, called The Backroads of Mallorca, one of many from their tailor made trips. Feeling a little nervous as first timers, we decided on a single centre option which was perfect for us. We were met at the airport by Ken, the representative from Headwater, and driven to our hotel where our bikes awaited us. After a briefing and enough information, maps, and an itinerary to feel confident, we were ready to set off into the stunning surroundings on our adventure. The great thing about this holiday is that we could travel at our own pace and the roads were so quiet compared to the UK. We passed through sleepy villages, stopping to pick fresh figs and pomegranates for our picnics. We were lucky enough to find exquisite little courtyards for lunch and secret coves of turquoise sea for a swim. Our daily phrase was a lyric from a Phil Collins song. Just another day in Paradise and it really was. We both felt fitter and healthier, more confident with every pedal of the way. Reading maps and following the itinerary was very rewarding and empowering. You don’t need to be a keen cyclist or that fit. I came home inspired and ready to plan the next adventure. ” Visit: www.headwater.com or tel: 01606 720 199.
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LIFEgoals
A running gardener in New York
F
ather of four Tim Matcham found himself lining up with around 47,000 other runners at the start of the New York Marathon – an adventure he hadn’t exactly planned on. Tim, who runs his own garden design business from his home near Corsham, had got back into running in his 40s, in a bid to get fitter. He trained and ran for the Abingdon and London Marathons, and nearing his 50th birthday entered for London 2011. But plagued by injury he was forced to pull out. Then his chosen charity, Asthma UK, suggested he might like to try the New York Marathon 2011 instead. Tim wrote of his experience: “At the start – ‘Boom!’ a great thunder-crack sounded, which must have been audible back in Manhatten. A big cheer went up, followed by Frank Sinatra belting out New York New York from the PA – party time had started! The city became a 26.2 mile linear street party and boy what a party – 130 bands, two million spectators and 47,500 runners. Everything was going well until mile 10 when a call of nature stopped me – restarting I realised that my legs – in particular my quads, had partially seized up. 16 miles to run when your legs are working is hard enough, when they don’t you know that it can only be painful. I was in tears, should I stop or carry on? I must have asked myself the question more than 20 times. Could I look myself in the mirror if I stopped? Will the crowd continue to lift me?” Tim’s inspiration was written right there on his running vest. He was raising money for Asthma UK in memory of ten-yearold Antonia Thomas from Corsham. “Simple. The power that gives you is immense, unimaginable and overwhelming. It brought me to tears every time, but I
SIGN UP: Asthma UK is currently signing runners up to take part in the BUPA Great North Run in Newcastle on 16 September Runners in this half marathon who run for the charity pay a £42 registration fee and are expected to raise a minimum of £300 in sponsorship For more information visit: www.asthma.org.uk
carried on. When I reached the finish I barely had the energy to move, but I raised a half smile and my hands barely above my shoulders. Elation, exhaustion, excruciating pain – I am the winner! Yes, I have won – not the race obviously, but I have just won. There is no feeling like it. Ever.” Tim finished in five hours, ten minutes and 15 seconds and raised in excess of £2,000 for Asthma UK. His goal for 2012 is to work on his personal best times for a 10k race. ■ Tim Matchem Garden Design, visit: www.timmatchamgardendesign.co.uk
“She walks in beauty, like the night” (Lord Byron)
Make Valentines special at Studio Marko Call Marko on 01225 428881
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Curtain Up Theatre Schools
Sing, Dance and Act each week during term time ‘Lifting the curtain to confidence’ Children 6 to 18 years Schools in Bath & Melksham Contact us now for details of a free trial session www.curtainup.biz 01761 239185
01761 239185 • admin@curtainup.biz • www.curtainup.biz
WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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WHAT’Son THEATRE, COM EDY & DANCE – listed by venue
NAUGHTY BUT NICE
Avenue Q, Tuesday 31 January – Sunday 5 February, Tuesday – Thursday, 8pm; Friday, 5.30pm & 8.30pm; Saturday, 4pm & 8pm; Sunday, 3pm When Avenue Q visited Bath last year, its combination of mischief, bad behaviour and political incorrectness caused a sensation. This was the first date of a national tour following five years in the West End and the show continued to sell-out all over the country. Now the irresistibly charming Tony Award‑winning musical is back. Meet the lovably hopeless characters on a downtown New York Street who are trying to make sense of life’s burning issues: love, work, relationships and, above all, just how are you supposed to pay the bills with a BA in English? Hilarious and entertaining, with a terrific batch of songs performed by a cast of hugely talented performers and puppets, Avenue Q is the musical like no other. Book your tickets quick.
T h e U s t in o v S t u d i o Monmouth Street, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 448844. www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Belleville Rendez-vous, Thursday 5 – Saturday 7 January, 8pm Avenue Q at the Theatre Royal
T he atr e R oya l Sawclose, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 448844. www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Dick Whittington, Until Sunday 22 January, please contact theatre for times A traditional family pantomime with a fantastic cast and the much-loved story of a poor boy who sets off to make his fortune in London and all the adventures he encounters along the way. Starring children’s television presenter Naomi Wilkinson as Dick, Chris Harris who returns to play the role of Sarah the Cook, Holby City’s Mark Moraghan as King Rat, Jon Monie plays Idle Jack and the delightful dancers from Bath’s Dorothy Coleborn School join the cast.
being pursued by an old flame of the newly‑wedded groom... Then tragedy strikes, a body is discovered and all fingers point to Simon’s ex-fiancée. But everything is not what it seems, and holidaying cleric Canon Pennefather is drawn into a web of intrigue and deceit as he finds himself on the trail of a ruthless murderer. Starring Kate O’Mara, Denis Lill, Susie Amy, Chloe Newsome, Ben Nealon and Mark Wynter. Following on from successful previous visits with And Then There Were None, Verdict and Spider’s Web, the latest instalment from the Agatha Christie Theatre Company promises all the twists and turns of a classic Christie to keep you guessing to the final shattering climax.
Murder on the Nile, Monday 23 – Saturday 28 January, Monday – Wednesday, 7.30pm; Thursday – Saturday, 8pm; matinees: Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday, 2.30pm Now in its seventh year, the Agatha Christie Theatre Company presents a stylish new production of the queen of crime’s classic thriller, Murder on the Nile. On board a steamer, cruising under the scorching Egyptian sun, honeymooners Simon Mostyn and his wealthy socialite wife Kay, find themselves
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Inspired by the film of the same name, this is the charming tale of Madame Souza’s fight to rescue her only grandson, a cyclist who has been kidnapped during the Tour de France. Joining forces with an aging jazz trio and followed faithfully by Bruno the dog, they hatch an ambitious plan to rescue him from his mysterious captors. Fellswoop’s original stage adaptation uses puppetry, physical theatre, live jazz and bespoke sound effects to create a touching comedy which has enthralled audiences around the world. Winner of the NSDF Emerging Artists Competition 2011.
Call Mr Robeson, Thursday 12 & Friday 13 January, 8pm One of the 20th century’s most impressive but overlooked figures is brought to life in this multi-award-winning tour-de-force performance, coming to Bath prior to New York’s Carnegie Hall. This roller-coaster journey through the remarkable life of Paul Robeson, the great and famous singer, actor and civil rights campaigner, includes a dramatic rendition of Ol’ Man River, and a defiant testimony to the Senate House UnAmerican Activities Committee.
Shutterland, Friday 27 & Saturday 28 January, 8pm
Chloe Newsome in Murder on the Nile
Shutterland: a landscape of recorded voices and lost stories. When a secret is discovered, it reveals a hidden past. Through a strange and unexpected turn of events, one man finds himself running from the system he spent his life serving. Surveillance agents prowl the streets. Every move is monitored. Every sound is recorded. This is Shutterland, where futures are decided and pasts are forgotten. With a
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WILTSHIRE MUSIC CENTRE: blend of absurdist humour and innovative physical theatre, Lecoq-trained Rhum and Clay present their Edinburgh smash hit.
T h e R o n d o T h e a t re Saint Saviour’s Road, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 463362 www.rondotheatre.co.uk
Jack and the Beanstalk, Wednesday 11 – Sunday 15 January, Wednesday – Saturday, 7.30pm; Saturday & Sunday, 2.30pm The kingdom is in trouble. Giant Blunderbore and his partner in crime, the evil witch Poison Ivy are blackmailing the royal family, forcing them to pay protection money or else the giant will gobble them up. All that stands between the royals and the giant’s dinner plate is a collection of unreliable misfits. Bath Drama presents a tale of love and adventure with all the usual suspects – a fabulous Fairy, a brave hero, the village idiot, a daft dame and, of course, a cow. Jack and the Beanstalk
Dancer and the Devil, Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 January, 8pm Set in a secret bar, a nightclub hidden in the forest, The Dancer and The Devil presents the story of those displaced, those who have had to hide, to run away from their past lives scarred by war time secrets. Bright sparkling and full of comic mischief, the play invites you to lose yourself in a world of entertainment, the smell of wood smoke and perfume, the taste of danger and the wild thrill of the forest. Rogue Theatre brings a blend of showmanship, poetry, narrative and dance with enthralling live music and a wild spirit.
T h e M i s s io n T h e a t r e 32 Corn Street, Bath. For all ticket information contact the theatre on tel: 01225 428600 or visit: www.missiontheatre.co.uk
Jerusalem, Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 January, 7.30pm
The Blue Room, Wednesday 18 & Thursday 19 January, 8pm France, 1948. Young lovers, Leo and Sophie, just want to spend the night together. Sophie’s outwitted her parents. Leo’s lied to his boss. Now here they are at the train station, in disguise. What could go wrong? Everything it seems, as they face one frustrating obstacle after another. Then, when it can’t get any worse, they meet their biggest obstacle of all – murder. The play, loosely based on a short story by Prosper Merimee, combines physical comedy, absurd jokes, elements of the thriller genre, and French music from the period.
Mrs Gerrish’s Rear Window, Saturday 21 January, 8pm The indomitable and waspish Mrs Gerrish may have met her match in the guise of the creepy Dr Winkle. Or perhaps her best friend Muriel will help her? Possibly PC Dixon might save her? Expect a mixture of British Film Noire and Carry On characters all mixed with ingenious theatricality and marvellous songs of the era. Where else would you see an artist’s impression of Mrs G. in the style of Picasso and a striptease in reverse? WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Jez Butterworth’s award-winning smash hit arrives in Bath for the first time following sellout runs at London’s Royal Court Theatre, on Broadway and in the West End. It’s St George’s Day, the morning of the local county fair: Johnny “Rooster” Byron, local waster and modern-day Pied Piper, is a wanted man embattled in the Wessex woodland. Facing eviction from his dilapidated mobile home, plying his friends with drink and drugs, ducking and weaving to avoid outraged neighbours, Rooster has little time to enjoy the annual pageant. Next Stage presents a comic, contemporary vision of life that makes compelling theatre and is one of Next Stage’s most ambitious productions yet.
Wro ught on The at re King Edward’s School, Bath. Tickets from Bath Box Office on tel: 01225 463362
Bath Opera presents Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades, Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 February, 7.30pm In Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece the drama of love and madness played out by three main characters contrasts with the many upbeat chorus numbers. Bath Opera’s principles and chorus are supported by a large orchestra under the baton of Peter Blackwood.
New season The Bradford-on-Avon concert hall, seven miles from Bath, starts its next series of concerts from international musicians this month. The programme will feature top notch classical, folk, jazz and world concerts as well as some interactive introductions to music for families. Highlights include: Xufei Yang, Wednesday 18 January, 8pm Xufei Yang is acclaimed as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists and studied under John Williams. She was selected as one of Classic FM's 100 Best Artists in 2009. London Community Gospel Choir, Friday 10 February, 8pm One of the UK’s longest standing winning gospel choirs, known for its vocal gymnastics. Its multitude of awards includes Best Choir at the BBC Gospel Music Awards. Breabach, Wednesday 22 February, 8pm Scottish folk band Breabach’s fast growing popularity and international recognition has an edge and energy not to be missed. Pasadena Roof Orchestra Saturday 10 March, 8pm Said to be a favourite of the Queen, this big band has been playing swing music for 40 years, from the 20s and 30s and has collaborated with Bryan Ferry and Robbie Williams. Talvin Singh and Niladri Kumar, Friday 16 March, 7.30pm Mercury Prize-winner Talvin Singh collaborates with fifth-generation sitarist Niladri Kumar for a special concert. Britten Sinfonia, Saturday 12 May, 7.30pm One of Europe’s most dynamic chamber orchestras is joined by renowned tenor Mark Padmore. Box office tel: 01225 860100 or visit: www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk
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WHAT’Son M USI C – listed by date Swinging into Space, Saturday 7 January, 7.30pm The Mission Theatre, 32 Corn Street, Bath. Tickets £10 from tel: 01225 428600 The Amazing Street Cred Band return to The Mission Theatre for one night only to bring the new year in with a bang and raise the roof for the theatre’s Space-Mission appeal to create new backstage facilities. The group never fail to please with their foot-tapping renditions of blues, folk and rock’n’roll classics – and dancing in the aisles is encouraged. All ticket proceeds will go towards the appeal.
Sainsbury’s Royal Academy of Music Soloists with Clio Gould (violin), Saturday 21 January, 7.30pm Bath Abbey. Tickets from Bath Festivals Box Office on tel: 01225 463362 Enjoy an English serenade with this wonderful string ensemble of fourteen of the academy’s top students. This is a great chance to catch the rising stars of the orchestral music world who will be performing music for strings by Elgar, Britten and Vaughan Williams.
Wiltshire Music Centre, Ashley Road, Bradford-on-Avon. Box office tel: 01225 860100 or visit: www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk Masters of the ancient musical traditions of Hungarian folk bands, Muzsikás bring wedding and round dance music, long-flute melodies and slow and fast Csardas, evoking the captivating rhythms, beautiful melodies and exciting atmosphere of remote Hungarian villages.
Helena Blackman, Saturday 4 February, 8pm
Walsh & Pound, Friday 20 January The Ustinov Theatre, Monmouth Street, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 448844. www.theatreroyal.org.uk Will Pound and Dan Walsh are two of the most exciting and unique young musicians on today’s music scene – one plays the harmonica and the other, the clawhammer banjo. Will and Dan have joined forces to create a highly entertaining and astonishing live set which has received a rapturous reception and critical acclaim across the UK. Prepare to be astonished by stunning vocals, banjo wizardry and sounds you didn't think were possible on a harmonica.
Muzsikás, Sunday 22 January, 7.30pm
Clio Gould
Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath. Tel: 01225 461700 www.chapelarts.org Following the success of her debut album The Sound of Rodgers & Hammerstein, BBC’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria star Helena Blackman returns with her new solo show, Journey to the Past, a celebration of songs from the world of classic animated movie music. Performing songs from films such as Anastasia, Thumbelina, and An American Tail, as well as Disney classics including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Mulan, Helena takes her audience on a nostalgic journey.
STUDY LANGUAGES IN BATH Evening classes in the New Year
• JAPANESE • ITALIAN • • GERMAN • FRENCH • • SPANISH • CHINESE • St Gregory’s Catholic College Odd Down Bath BA2 8PA We have 3 new classes starting for Beginners
For further information about our courses please visit www.languagesinbath.co.uk or contact us on 07894 913322
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WHAT’Son OTH ER EVENTS – listed by date Photography for Beginners, Saturday 14 January, 10am – 4pm Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire. Cost: £60 per person, including refreshments and lunch. To book contact tel: 01453 891223 Photography for beginners with Iain Green. Starting with an illustrated introductory session looking at composition, technique and equipment, you will then head outside for a practical session of nature photography. Throughout the day Iain will guide you through key camera techniques and photographic skills such as: using shutter speeds to capture action and movement, understanding apertures and how to control the depth of field in close-up or landscapes, achieving correct exposure in different lighting or settings, and effective composition to add impact to your images.
Tudor Twelfth Night, Sunday 15 January, 11am – 3pm The National Trust’s Laycock Abbey, Laycock, Wiltshire. Tel: 01249 730459 Normal admission charges apply. Celebrate this day of mayhem and joy in the abbey cloisters and grounds in true Tudor style. The cloisters will be decorated and candlelit and you can enjoy yuletide performances.
WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK
BBC Stargazing Live, Thursday 19, Friday 20 & Saturday 21 January, Thursday & Friday, 47pm; Saturday, noon – 4pm Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath. Practicing astronomers will be able to answer all your questions from setting up your telescope for the best results to helping you identify your sightings and other topical issues in astronomy.
Bath Wedding Exhibition, Sunday 22 January, 11am – 3pm Assembly Rooms, Bennet Street, Bath. On show will be delicious wedding cakes, cascading chocolate fountains, flowers, photography, stationary and stunning jewellery with an array of wedding attire including bridal gowns, mother of the bride outfits, hats, bridesmaids’ dresses and men’s formal wear as well as a host of other services required to plan the perfect wedding. There will also be a fashion show at noon and at 2pm.
Teatime Talk: The Witcombe Cabinet, Monday 23 January, 3.30pm The Holburne Museum, Sydney Place, Bath. Tickets cost £5. To book, or for further information tel: 01225 388569 Matthew Winterbottom, the Holburne Museum’s Curator of Decorative Art, will talk about the magnificent japanned cabinet-onstand that was acquired by the museum in 2005. Originally from Witcombe Park in South Gloucestershire, the cabinet was made in London during the 1690s to imitate imported Japanese lacquer. In this talk you will find out how remarkable the piece is, both for the quality of its painted decoration and for its exceptional state of preservation.
Brian May of Queen: Book Signing, Thursday 26 January, 4pm The Royal West of England Academy, Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol. To book or for further information, contact tel: 0117 973 3171. To celebrate his pioneering 3D photography exhibition, A Village Lost and Found, Brian May will visit the RWA. Don’t miss this chance to meet the artist and have your copy of the accompanying book signed by the man himself. Books are available from the RWA shop, priced £35.
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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS EXHIBITION: GALLERY ARTISTS Beaux Arts 12 – 13 York Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 464850 www.beauxartsbath.co.uk
Until 29 January A selection of work from gallery artists including Nathan Ford, Akash Bhatt, Naomi Frears, Andrew Crocker, Joy Wolfenden Brown, Michael Wisner, Rob Whelpton, John Maltby and Sarah Dunstan.
Edward Beale, Evening Snow Over Lambeth
▲ EXHIBITION: KATHARINE MORLING
EXHIBITION: EDWARD BEALE LeFort Fine Art London Road East, Batheaston, Bath. Tel: 01225 851161
Edgar Modern Bartlett Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 443746 www.edgarmodern.com
Until 20 January As many may already know, Gallery LeFort Fine Art is relocating to Devon, but over the next few months, owner Heather LeFort will be holding elite exhibitions at her home in Batheaston. Throughout January an exclusive collection of recent paintings by Edward Beale will be on show. Viewing by appointment only. WINTER EXHIBITIONS AT THE RUH Art at the Heart of the RUH Main corridor gallery, Royal United Hospital, Bath. www.ruh.nhs.uk/art
Throughout January Edgar Modern introduces internationally acclaimed ceramicist Katharine Morling. Katharine received an MA at the Royal College of Art, and was awarded first prize in the World’s Craft Council, Glass and Ceramics awards in 2010. She has received numerous awards from the UK and International Crafts and Arts Councils, and has been invited to exhibit her work at the V&A, Royal College of Art, and at worldwide exhibitions and art fairs.
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Until 1 February Local group the Old Bakery Artists will be presenting their New Beginnings exhibition – a 10week show that promises to be full of colour with abstract, contemporary, figurative and traditional works. Alongside this, Reed Contemporary Books present a series of contemporary Chinese woodcuts from the small town of PuErh in China and includes prints by He Kun who has works in the collections of the British Museum and British Library. EXHIBITION: KATHLEEN CADDICK AND JUSTIN COOKE Rostra & Rooksmoor Galleries 5 George Street, Bath. www.rostragallery.co.uk
6 – 31 January Sweeping landscapes and atmospheric mists features in the work of both Kathleen Caddick and Justin Cooke, the two artists exhibiting in this show.
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Katharine Morling, Poison Pen
Andrew Crocker, This Changes Everything
EXHIBITION: MIXED SHOW Hilton Fine Art 5 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath. Tel: 01225 311311 www.hiltonfineart.com
Until 18 February A mixed show of paintings, etchings, sculptures and ceramics from artists including Alice Mumford, Simon Carter, Simon Casson, Bo Hilton, Rose Hilton, Rachael Kantaris, Henry Kondracki, Michael Sheppard, sculpture by Reece Ingram and Sutton Taylor.
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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS EXHIBITION: COLIN KENT
Colin Kent, Evening Harbour
Adam Gallery 13 John Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 480406
Throughout January New mixed media paintings by popular gallery artist, Colin Kent. EXHIBITION: EARTHWORKS – PETER BURKE
Nick Cudworth, Around the Circus
▲ EXHIBITION: NICK CUDWORTH Nick Cudworth Gallery 5 London Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 445221 www.nickcudworth.com
Victoria Art Gallery By Pulteney Bridge, Bath. Tel: 01225 477233 www.victoriagal.org.uk
Until the end of February
Kate Flood’s radiant landscape paintings convey transient moments and a sense of stillness, all exploring the shifting patterns of foliage, light and shade.
Bath-based artist Nick Cudworth will be showing a new series of Bath and its surrounding countryside in his studio and gallery on Walcot Street. The work, which is also available as giclee prints, features a view into the Circus from Bennett Street and the late afternoon sun on the towpath at Widcombe. EXHIBITION: WENDY MCMURDO – CHILDHOOD, FANTASY & PLAY ICIA Art Spaces University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath.
Until 27 January
Peter Burke, Seated Earths
Victoria Art Gallery By Pulteney Bridge, Bath. Tel: 01225 477233 www.victoriagal.org.uk
Until 5 February The amazing sculptures in this exhibition were made from soils found within a 20 mile radius of Bath. These materials have a rich association with underlying geology, history and society. The sculptures explore the relationship between people, place and the earth, using for subjects people who are connected with the area.
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EXHIBITION: KATE FLOOD – THE LIGHT WITHIN
Wendy McMurdo’s photographs explore the psychological world of the child, expressed through play. Specially selected from her past 15 years of work, this comprehensive exhibition includes many pieces never before exhibited in the UK.
Until 5 February
MIXED EXHIBITION FROM BATH-BASED ARTISTS The White Room Gallery 31 Brock Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 331500 www.thewhiteroomgallery.com
Until 31 January A mixed exhibition featuring work by two contrasting popular Bath-based artists, Rosalind Freeman and John Eaves.
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FILM INSTALLATION: LOUIS GHOST CHAIR Holburne Museum Sydney Place, Bath. www.holburne.org
21 January – 15 April This ambitious new work by acclaimed artist Simon Martin has been jointly commissioned by the Holburne Museum and Film and Video Umbrella. The film continues a line of engaging works by Simon which reflect on particular moments and directions in art and design history. The iconic object at the heart of this short film is the classic design of the Louis XV armchair.
John Eaves, Criss Cross
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THE VERY BIG SALE INCREDIBLE SAVINGS ON QUALITY BRAND APPLIANCES
COOPERS Range Cookers • Ovens • Hobs • Dish Washers • Washing Machines Tumble Dryers • Vacuum Cleaners • Fridge Freezers • Wine Chillers
13/15 Walcot Street, Bath (Opposite Waitrose) 01225 311811
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CORNISHgetaway
COASTAL RETREAT, CITY CHIC Samantha Ewart enjoys a break at one of Cornwall’s beautiful coastal spots and discovers a mix of fresh air, style and relaxation staying in a new boutique hotel
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aking a break on the Cornish coast doesn’t necessarily mean staying in a run-down holiday let or a crowded b&b; in Gorran Haven, a peaceful fishing village on the south coast near St Austell, lies the stylish Llawnroc Hotel where you can enjoy luxury, comfort and a warm welcome. Here you’ll find a chic adult retreat perfect for relaxing, unwinding and enjoying the very best that Cornwall has to offer. With its spacious rooms, sophisticated gold, purple and black decor, bespoke furnishings and stunning sea views, The Llawnroc boutique hotel is dressed to impress. We arrived at the hotel on a chilly Thursday afternoon for check-in at 4pm and were greeted by warmth, contemporary design and attention to detail. You immediately know that you’re in good hands. Each of the 18 individually designed rooms at the recently opened hotel has been created as an exclusive space for guests to relax and soak up the splendour of the lavish interiors. Our room had a balcony and sea view and just screamed luxury with a super king size bed, fluffy towels and robes and a Champagne bucket with two glasses at the ready. Every effort is made to make guests feel comfortable, even down to the small touches – a selection of tea, coffee and hot chocolate was available in the room, top quality organic products were provided in the bathroom and you can even choose what kind of pillow you’d like to sleep on from a range available on request. We were particularly impressed by the state-of-the-art gadgets installed in the room, including the wall-mounted widescreen TV, Sony iPod dock, digital radio, air conditioning, LED lights in the bathroom and the Playstation 3 for which you can borrow games and DVDs. Nothing has been left out; every detail has been designed to cater for everyone’s needs. Tucked away in an unspoilt and relatively undiscovered corner of Cornwall, the hotel is just a five minute walk from the coast where we discovered a magical setting of sea, beach and cliff backed by green rolling countryside. The village itself is a quaint collection of cottages, narrow country lanes and a small fishing 28 THEBATHMAGAZINE
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harbour. It is a charming and quintessentially Cornish location, where the slow pace of life makes it an ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Sail, surf, walk and explore the local beaches and at the end of the day head back to your room for an indulgent bath followed by drinks in the lounge bar and dinner in the hotel’s Gorrans fine dining restaurant. Elegant and sophisticated, Gorrans boasts sea views and local, masterly-prepared fresh food. Changing with the season, the menu offers two courses for £25 per person or three courses for £35, and does not disappoint with its choice of mouth-watering dishes. We ordered a bottle Sauvignon Blanc and were each presented with a selection of canapés and an amuse-bouche of brussel sprout and bacon soup with crusty bread straight from the oven. I was in heaven with my starter of scallops and pork belly and Nick raved about his choice of succulent pigeon breast. For the main course I enjoyed a beautifully rich venison loin and faggot with mushroom puree and hazelnut gnocchi, while Nick had trio of duck with confit mash and spinach and cherry jus – a perfect winter warmer. Unfortunately we couldn’t manage a dessert, but the chef gave us a little taster of the lemon mousse and it was utterly divine. Next time I’ll make sure I go for a longer walk to work up more of an appetite so as not to miss out on the tasty treats. Breakfast followed suit in the morning with a wonderful continental buffet alongside a choice of a full English, porridge and Cornish griddle cakes with fruit to set you up for the day. And if it’s raining? No fear, as the hotel’s comfortable lounge room holds a selection of books, daily newspapers and board games and the bar and bistro makes for a great place to stop for lunch, light bites or a Cornish cream tea. Although a small and intimate hotel, its character is bold and it has certainly made a big impression on us. A getaway as perfect as this always makes for an unforgettable stay. ■ Room rates start from £120. For further information or to book, visit: www.thellawnrochotel.co.uk or tel: 01726 843461
RICH DECOR: the contemporary and stylish Llawnroc Hotel at Gorran Haven is designed to inspire and impress Main picture: one of the 18 luxurious and spacious bedrooms Above: the hallway is a masterclass of contemporary interior chic
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Small Ship Cruise Expeditions
A bespoke portfolio of fascinating itineraries aboard comfortable, fine quality small ships. Unique travel experiences for the curious and discerning. SOUTH SEAS ODYSSEY - Celebrate Christmas on Pitcairn Island during an epic voyage from Easter Island to Fiji via the Gambier Islands, the Tuamotus, Tahiti, the Society Islands, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga and Wallis & Futuna Group. Depart 16 December 2012 ex London via Santiago to Easter Island return 21 January 2013. The portfolio has an enticing array of options from around coastal Britain, circumnavigation of Iceland, Norwegian Fjords to Murmansk and the White Sea, the intimate Mediterranean, the Levant and Black Sea, West to South Africa, South America and coastal New Zealand. Explore in depth at :
www.johnkennedy-noblecaledonia.com or call John Kennedy on: 0117 946 6000
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WEEKENDaway
MOOR PLEASURE You don’t need to be a rugged outdoors type to enjoy a winter weekend on Dartmoor. Georgette McCready samples the twin delights of walking with a stay in Mill End, a comfortable country house hotel
S
ometimes it can feel as if we’re living on a very overcrowded island with everyone jostling for room. I’ve got just the cure for that. Head down to Dartmoor, armed with boots, map and a compass, and simply walk. Sooner or later you’ll find yourself alone with just the big skies, the moorland and maybe a few birds wheeling overhead. Bliss. Because the weather is so unpredictable on the moors – you’re just as likely to find driving rain and mist in July and sunshine in November – Dartmoor is a great place to visit at any time of year. If you want shelter there are any number of walks along wooded valleys where you’re protected from the winds, while on a clear day the open, rolling moors are the most beautiful wide open spaces imaginable. Dedicated walkers may trek for a dozen or so miles at a time, but it’s perfectly possible to explore the moors by walking far fewer miles. I usually take a well-thumbed old copy of Pub Walks on Dartmoor with me to remind me of some of our favourite walks. One such walk has to be the riverside path through the wooded valley from Fingle Bridge to the last castle to be built in England, the National Trust owned Castle Drogo. I’d also recommend taking the short walk from the Two Bridges Hotel across open moorland to stand among the dwarf oaks of Wistman’s Wood. The trees’ twisted branches are festooned with lichens and the wood is littered with huge furry green boulders covered in moss. There is a magical other-wordly atmosphere to this place. It’s no surprise to learn that there are strange stories associated with the wood. Legend has it that Wistman’s Wood is where the Devil kept his huge black Wisht Hounds and they range the moor on dark and misty nights looking for unwary travellers, led by the Devil or by the spirit of Old Crockern who lives on the nearby Crockern Tor. Not a place to be when night falls I reckon . . . When it comes to where to lay your weary head on Dartmoor you’re spoiled for choice. If you’re a very hardy type there are camping barns dotted about on the moors which can be booked for groups. But for those who would prefer to combine their walking break with the sybaritic extras of hot baths, comfortable beds and restaurant food, Dartmoor also has a wide range of country hotels.
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The last time we visited Dartmoor we stayed at the family-run Mill End Hotel just outside Chagford. If you’re just here for a couple of nights it’s worth noting that there are some good walks right on the doorstep – including the walk up to Castle Drogo. This comfortable country house has been beautifully decorated and the rooms, rather than impersonal numbers, are named after the rivers which cross the moors. Ours was the Meavy, a stylish room with a luxury bathroom that overlooked the slowly spinning waterwheel below. Mill End specialises in attention to detail. If you want fresh milk, rather than little sachets, to make tea in your room, you only have to ask. The mugs are a decent size and the chunky shortbread biscuits are homemade. Dog owners will be delighted to hear that their pets are positively welcomed. Ground floor rooms open into the gardens for early morning outings, while a boot room is well equipped with towels and a sink for washing down wet, post-walk muddy pooches. Non doggie people can be reassured that the towels are washed separately to the human laundry. So, walking boots abandoned, muscles relaxed in a big, foamy bubble bath (thanks to The White Company products) and its downstairs to the lounge for drinks before dinner. I have to say, chef Wayne Pearson is a bit of a genius. Using largely local, seasonal produce, he delivers the goods every time. An oven baked goats cheese comes with caramelised walnuts, beetroot jam and a pea sprout salad – a perfect taste combination. His saddle of venison with dauphinoise potato is a delight. Even if you weren’t eating, you’d only have to listen to the appreciative comments of the other diners to learn how good the food is. We would also recommend the cheeseboard, a well kept selection of west country cheeses and a great way to finish a meal. After a perfectly cooked English breakfast, prepared individually, the next morning, we were given a warm send-off by owner Sue Davies and headed back to those big skies. ■ Mill End Hotel rates are; bed and breakfast from £75 - £200, dinner, bed and breakfast from £145 - £270 per night per room. Dinner for non residents is £36 for two courses and £39.50 for three courses.
COUNTRY LIFE: main picture, one of the rooms at Mill End Hotel near Chagford. Top, burn off calories and soothe the troubled mind with a walk on Dartmoor Bottom, executive chef Wayne Pearson is a Master Chef of Great Britain Contact Mill End Hotel, tel: 01647 432282 or visit: www.millendhotel.com
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®
Highly recommended by food Guides and critics Recipient of
for four consecutive years as the best in South West and one of the 10 best in Britain OPEN DAILY including Holidays 12-2.30pm and 6pm to 11pm • Friday and Saturday till 11.30pm SPECIAL LUNCH £8.25 - (Monday to Friday)
4 Argyle Street, Bath BA2 4BA www.rajpoot.com Tel: 01225 466833 / 464758 • www.rajpoot.com
THEBATHMAGAZINE THEBESTOFBATH PERFECTLYCOVERED BATHSBIGGESTMAGAZINE PERFECTLYDELIVERED TOADVERTISETEL: 01225 424499
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The Mint Room Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3EB. Tel: 01225 446656
REVIEW
A FRESH APPROACH TO CURRY T he Mint Room – Bath’s new kid on the curry block – is the sort of place you would bring a date you wanted to impress rather than a crowd of rowdy mates on a stag night. This is an Indian restaurant like no other in Bath and if you take a look at the photographs on The Mint Room’s website you can see that a great deal of attention is paid to how the dishes look when they leave the kitchen. In short, each plateful is a feast to the eyes just as it is for the palate. If all you want from your curry house is a standard menu that’s a mixture of Number 32 and chicken tikka masala then you’re in for a surprise at The Mint Room. The dishes on offer invite you to go off piste as it were and give your tastebuds a fresh adventure. While we waited for our starters our appetites were whetted with a bowl of tiny, delicate poppadoms served with homemade chutneys. And when our starters arrived, they looked as pretty as a picture. My two pieces of ajwani salmon were cooked in a tandoor to keep them moist and served with a tasty mustard and honey sauce, while my dining companion’s tiger prawns in tempura came with an artistic splash of salsa.
dishes on offer invite you to ❝go offthe piste as it were and give your tastebuds a fresh adventure ❞ We have a friend who in all other respects is a perfectly nice bloke but he’ll never come for a curry because he says he can’t eat anything spicy. We should take him to The Mint Room, because although it does serve plenty of spicy dishes, it also has many which are simply tasty, using ingredients such as honey, onion, coriander and smoked beetroot to enhance flavours. There is a lively buzz in the restaurant, where lone diners are thoughtfully catered for with tables just right for one, but
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integrated into the bustling body of the room. The waiting staff are a cheerful crew and happy to chat about the dishes, if, like us you want to try something new but aren’t sure what to order. We took a while to choose our main courses, simply because there was so much that appealed. I could have tried any number of unknown (to me) goodies, including lal maal, palak kofta, or chicken lababdar, but for the simple reason that I have always wanted to visit Goa, I ordered king prawn balchao, served with Goan jaggery. This turned out to consist of the hugest prawns I have ever seen in a very spicy, chilli and tomato sauce. Absolutely delicious. John’s vegetarian choice of a South Indian style rice pancake, a masala dosa, stuffed with potato and served with chutney would have been enough for two men of hearty appetite, but we found room for some light lemon rice and seriously good tarka dahl too, plus some naan to mop up the sauces. The Mint Room’s light and fluffy naan bread is the best I have ever had and joint owner Moe Rahman told me that this is because they are charcoal oven-baked to give them this distinction. He also told me that he and his kitchen crew have their sights firmly set on winning a coveted Michelin star for The Mint Room. Moe is clearly a man on a quiet mission to politely persuade us to take a fresh approach to modern Indian cuisine. As we politely refused to have any pudding, on the grounds that we’d eaten plenty, he brought out another work of art on a plate, in the form of a single scoop of vanilla ice cream surrounded by slices of poached pear and the teeniest little meringues you’ve ever seen. Starters are between £3.95 and £5.95, while main courses range from £9.95 to £14.95. And, yes The Mint Room does a takeaway service, although you’ll have to handle the dishes carefully to make them look as pretty as they do in the restaurant. ■ GMc
CONTEMPORARY CUISINE: The Mint Room’s food looks as modern as the interior of the refurbished restaurant
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FOOD&DRINK
Fine dining at home – and the washing up’s done too Three friends who are passionate about good food, have got together to launch a new foodie business which brings restaurant quality food, drink and service to people’s homes. Artisan Kitchen Bath has been set up by chef Nick Horwood, sommelier Simon LloydWilliams and Carley Hughes, the business’s coordinator, to bring the people of Bath a new and refreshing experience. Catering for up to 15 people at a time the trio will prepare and serve freshly cooked and locally sourced good food in the host’s kitchen and dining room. Simon and Nick, who have day jobs at the Bath Fine Cheese Company, and Carley, have already built up a network of local suppliers and artisans to ensure they use the best quality, seasonal produce. They have, for example, sourced meat from Larkhall butchers, tableware from Shannon and vegetables from Eades. Simon said: “We can do the whole spread for people, meeting them beforehand to talk about menus and food preferences. We tailor our service exactly to what they want – some may want to watch Nick cooking and pick up some techniques, while others may just want to be a guest in their own home and enjoy the experience
of other people waiting on them.” Prices start from £40 a head and wine is included in the price package. Nick, who enjoys creating recipes and bases his repertoire largely on Italian and Spanish cuisine, says: “I will prepare everything the same day and cook it in the host’s kitchen – I can cook on any kind of oven. We have done some test
Deli masterclass The Darling Deli of Combe Down is launching the first of four cookery masterclasses, for home cooks. Led by awardwinning chef Sarah Britton, of the Darling Deli, these innovative, informal classes are in response to increased public demand and primarily aimed at those with a basic knowledge of cookery, or those who are culinary challenged or clueless when trying to create delicious attractive nutritious meals. Classes begin on 22 January will last two and a half hours and cost £70 each, with discounts if more booked. For more information and bookings tel: 01225 835118.
FOOD
& DRINK Morsels from Bath’s food & drink scene
evenings with family and friends and they’ve all enjoyed it. Some said we even left the kitchen cleaner than we found it.” So there’s no shopping, no cooking, no washing up – and Artisan’s small friendly team will even put the rubbish out. They pride themselves on restaurant standard service too and will arrange with the host or hostess beforehand what level of formality is required. Carley said: “We think this is a service that people in Bath will enjoy. All the host has to provide is the table, we can do the rest. We can even provide the candles if required.” Typical menus might include such dishes as game in season, with some tasters artfully arranged to tempt guests and give them a talking point. There will always be a vegetarian option and Artisan Kitchen can cater for dietary needs, such as nut allergy or gluten or dairy intolerance. And with Nick and Simon’s knowledge of good cheese, the cheeseboards are certain to be worth tasting. Artisan Kitchen Bath can be contacted on, tel: 0755 755 1792. A new website: www.artisankitchenbath.co.uk features some of the signature dishes.
McCloud visit Channel 4’s Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud officially opened the new White Row Farm shop development at Beckington. The TV presenter, who lives locally, has been a big supporter of the farm shop and found time to be on hand to welcome the new development at the event. Owners Steve and Heather Tucker were delighted with their celebrity guest. The White Row Farm shop expansion has allowed the café to open to customers for evenings, events and parties and added a new fresh fish and chip take-away service, headed by their resident fishmonger Garry Rosser of the Scallop Shell.
Top city chef works with students to see in 2012 Award-winning Bath chef Sam Moody, pictured, of the Bath Priory Hotel will join the City of Bath College’s budding masterchefs as they prepare a seven-course gourmet meal in the city this month. The menu will showcase the best in local produce, including a diverse selection of ingredients, from fresh scallops and local game, to braised beef and the world’s finest chocolate. Sam, who has worked in several Michelinstarred restaurants and last year received the Best Chef accolade in the Bath Good Food Awards, said: “For a seven course tasting menu like this, each dish must be a perfect balance of flavour and proportion, so it will be a challenging experience for both the students and myself.” Using some state-of-the-art equipment and modern cooking methods, Sam will expect each dish to be prepared with the same level of care, detail and passion he demands at the Bath
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Priory’s restaurant. Sam added: “It’s great to have the chance to pass on some of my skills to the students and I’m looking forward to working with them and their fantastic tutors. I’m truly excited and can’t wait to get them cooking.” Hospitality students will take on front of house duties, ensuring a first class dining
experience. The evening will be run by restaurant managers Vicky Cole and Tom Pierce, two NVQ Level 3 Catering and Hospitality students, both of whom are looking forward to the challenge. Tom said: “We have to make sure everything runs smoothly, that the customers are getting their meals on time and that everyone knows what they are doing and working as a team.” Sam is the second star chef that the college’s catering students have had the privilege to work with. In September, Michelin starred chef, Andre Garrett, who trained at the college, worked with students on a successful gourmet meal. The New Year gourmet dinner takes place on Thursday 19 January, at the College’s Shrubbery Restaurant from 6.30pm. The meal costs £40 a head and a vegetarian option is available. For more information or to book tel: 01225328502.
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FOOD&DRINK
FANCY MAKING A ROLL FOR LUNCH? New Year resolutions to make healthier choices with our food inspired Lauren O’Donoghue to attend a sushi making workshop at Bath’s Yo! Sushi restaurant ANCIENT ART: main picture, Henry demonstrates how the experts make sushi, while top, Lauren finds it harder than it looks
Bottom pic, ‘here’s one I prepared earlier’ PICTURES: Charlotte Stone
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fter a season of over indulging and hiding behind thick woolly jumpers it’s time to head into the new year with my annual list of resolutions, most of which will inevitably be broken by the end of day one. So when I was given the opportunity to attend a sushi-making course with the head chef at Bath’s Yo! Sushi I jumped at the chance; this seemed like the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill (resolution four) while also eating the healthy, fresh food my body craved after weeks of mince pies and mulled wine. And so on a quiet Thursday I arrived at the Yo! Sushi restaurant in Milsom Place to begin my tuition. Before donning an apron, photographer Charlotte and I were ushered into a booth and offered green tea, miso soup and the choice of any five dishes out of the dozens that were tantalisingly making their way past us on the conveyor belt. As the sushi chain is the very definition of fast food (without the negative health implications) the kitchen is open plan, and situated right in the centre of the restaurant. Perhaps as a result of this the chefs are fanatical about hygiene and cleanliness, the kitchen is organised with military precision and every 20 minutes an alarm sounds signalling that all staff must stop what they’re doing and wash their hands. Our course started with a short fish cutting demonstration from head chef Henry. Whilst expertly slicing and dishing us up salmon he showed us how each fish is cut to minimise wastage and how important it is to source sustainable fish. (For example eel was taken off the menu when it became an endangered species.) Henry then illustrated how to prepare the sushi we would be making; cucumber maki, California ISO and duck rolls. His skills were evident as he made the whole process seem effortless and consequently I entered the kitchen instilled with an
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unsubstantiated amount of confidence. After being dressed up like two old-fashioned dinner ladies complete with hairnets and gloves we were ready to begin. Henry was quick to reassure us that if any of the ingredients were too avant-garde for our taste, or if we had special dietary requirements then they would endeavour to find a substitute. We began with the cucumber makis which may look easy to assemble but are much harder to actually make presentable. Ditto the California ISO and duck handmade rolls. Let’s just say even after a demonstration and careful guidance from Henry only two of my sushi attempts were deemed good enough to be placed on the belt, (fortunately for the innocent afternoon diners all the sushi we made was ours to keep). However Henry’s good humour and patience made the experience enjoyable. The dedicated team at Bath’s Yo! Sushi have set up the course as a means of educating people about everything from sushi preparation to Japanese culture. They have also been visiting local primary schools where they encourage children to get involved with sushi preparation, try new foods and learn how to write in Japanese. Courses cost £55 which includes: five dishes from the restaurant, a two hour lesson, all food made in the lesson and a goody bag which amongst other things includes a bamboo mat so you can keep practicing at home. Whether you’re game to try some sushi making or just fancy a bite to eat Bath’s Yo! Sushi is worth a visit. After all it’s not often you find a restaurant where the lower prices of a franchise are combined with the friendly personal atmosphere of an independent. So despite not being a natural in the kitchen I came away with a smile on my face and the smug feeling of someone on the path to sticking with those new year’s resolutions. Yo!Sushi has a January sale of up to 40 per cent off, visit: www.yosushi.com/offers/jan-sale-2012 for details. ■ JANUARY 2012
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LITfest2012
As tickets for this spring’s Bath Literature Festival go on general sale Catriona Stirling previews what promises to be the biggest programme ever – packed with workshops, readings, guest writers and the chance for all to get involved in lively debate on the big topics of our time
Festival director James Runcie
A LITERARY SALON T
his spring’s Bath Literature Festival, which runs from Friday 2 to Sunday 11 March, is seeking to celebrate the vibrancy of literature in the company of some of the best writers, living and dead. Organisers of the biggest programme of events in the festival’s history believe that reading should not be a passive pastime, but one that encourages debate, discussion and enquiry. Participation is a key theme, with workshops, readings and debates. Independent Voices, scheduled throughout the ten days, shines the spotlight on political issues such as social crisis and the emerging forms of collective action, the loss of childhood innocence and the future of global finance. Be prepared to go along, listen and join in the discussions. With 2012 marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, there will be a celebration of his life and works. These include a complete reading of Dickens’s own favourite work, David Copperfield at St Michael’s Without Church, led by Alan Titchmarsh. The novel will be broken down into 15-minute sections for volunteers to read. We’ve picked a few highlights from the programme: The Opening Night Gala Event is sure to get people talking, with a screening of Buster Keaton’s classic silent film College, with a live accompaniment by Philip Sheppard and a group of brave musicians who having never seen the film, will be reacting musically. Friday 2 March, 8.30pm, Guildhall, £15 (£14 conc). The UK’s 20th Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, will be presenting poems from her new collection The Bees, accompanied by musician John Sampson on recorders and crumhorns. Friday 9 March, 6.15pm, Guildhall The festival will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of Angela Carter, novelist, journalist, and Bath resident during the 1970s. Strongly influenced by surrealism, Carter has been recognised as one of the most original and radical writers in English of the 20th century. Three events will celebrate the life and work of this inspiring writer. The first is Angela Carter: The Life in which Carter’s friend and literary executor, Susannah Clapp will be joined by Carmen Callil, Deborah Rogers and Dr. Sarah Gamble. Saturday 10 March, 11.15am, Guildhall. The former Director General of the Security Service, turned writer of spy fiction, Dame Stella Rimington is welcomed to Bath to discuss her life and her new novel, Rip Tide. Thursday 8 March, 8pm, Guildhall £9 (£8 conc). Award-winning biographer Claire Tomalin is a recognised
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authority when it comes to Charles Dickens. Her book, The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens, won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for biography, the NCR Book Award for Non-Fiction and the Hawthornden Prize. She also recently published Charles Dickens: A Life and will talk to the Independent’s John Walsh. Saturday 3 March, 2.45pm, Guildhall £9 (£8 conc). Hisham Matar’s tale of dissidents and betrayal, In the Country of Men, set in the Tripoli of 1979, has resonance for today. It has received rave reviews and is this year’s Big Bath Read. This is a prime opportunity to explore the recent history of Libya and discuss life under the Gaddafi regime. Sunday 4 March, 8pm, Guildhall £9 (£8 conc). In this year’s debates, Independent Voices, some of the most controversial issues of current politics are explored with specialists in their respective fields. Festival director James Runcie, chairs a debate looking at the role of the printed word in an increasingly technological world, while David Aaronovitch is joined by Colin Leys and Allyson Pollock to discuss the NHS. Is the NHS Sacred? Mon 5 March, 1pm, Guildhall £8 (£7 conc) Are Books Doomed? Wed 7 March, 1pm, Guildhall £8 (£7 conc). Let the kids try their hands at a bit of poetry writing, under the guidance of prize-winning poet Mandy Coe in The Poetry Tree workshop. Taking inspiration from objects in the Holburne Museum collection, you have the opportunity to produce a piece of original writing, which will form part of a poetry tree. Sunday 4 March, 10.30am-12.30pm, Holburne Museum Age 811, £8. Television producer and author, Franny Moyle, tells the story of Mrs Oscar Wilde, as her life was changed following her husband’s conviction, taking a fresh look at a woman who suffered one of the greatest betrayals. Wednesday 7 March, 8pm, Guildhall £9 (£8 conc). To mark the centenary of the death of social reformer and co-founder of the National Trust, Octavia Hill, experts including Dame Fiona Reynolds, Gillian Darley and Tristram Hunt, will be examining how the National Trust came into being, and what it stands for today. Sunday 11 March, 4.30pm, Guildhall £9 (conc £8) ■ Tickets go on general sale from Monday 9 January from the Bath Box Office, tel: 01225 463362. For more information visit: www.bathlitfest.org.uk
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The Life of the Company Car If your business is thinking of acquiring a new company car, you need to consider more than just the immediate tax and National Insurance cost.
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s the basis for valuing the company car benefit has been announced for all tax years up to and including 2013/14, it is advisable to start planning now and to determine what the “whole life” tax cost will be. As the company will also pay national insurance on the benefit, it is vitally important that the company as well as the directors/employees take the changes into consideration and it may be that alternatives to the company car are more beneficial. From 6th April 2011, we saw the 15% threshold CO2 emission figure being reduced by 5g/km to 125g/km. In addition to this, the £80,000 list price cap was abolished. There was a lower charge of 10% of the list price where the CO2 emissions were between 76g/km and 120g/km. However all of this is changing from 6th April 2012. Although the emissions scale starting point for 10% remains at emissions of 76g/km the upper limit for this band has been reduced to 99g/km. From 100g/km, it then rises by 1% per 5g/km to the same maximum of 35%. In 2013, the upper limit of 99g/km is being reduced again to 94g/km, with the 1% increase per 5g/km starting from 95g/km. So where as before, if the car had CO2 emissions of 120g/km, 10% of the list price WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK
would have been chargeable, this will now be increased to a charge of 15% in 2012/13 and 16% on 2013/14. On a car with a list price of say £25,000 and emissions of 120g/km, this means that in a “typical life” of 3 tax years from 2011/12 to 2013/14, the taxable benefit will have increased The table highlights the changes from 2011/12 to 2013/14. CO2 emissions 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 g/km 1-75
5%
5%
5%
76-94
10%
10%
10%
95-99
10%
10%
11%
100-104
10%
11%
12%
105-109
10%
12%
13%
110-114
10%
13%
14%
115-119
10%
14%
15%
120-124
10%
15%
16%
125-129
15%
16%
17%
130-134
16%
17%
18%
1% increase per 5g/km to maximum of 35%.
from £2,500 to £3,750 per annum in 2012/13 to £4,000 per annum in 2013/14. The CO2 emissions are used for calculating for the fuel benefit if the company pays for fuel. Until we know what the future holds, it seems the best way to reduce the tax burden of the company car might be to seek out as low an emission car as possible. Going green should save the environment and your pocket! Self Assessment reminder As a brief reminder, where you are required to prepare a Self Assessment Tax Return this must be filed by 31 January 2012 otherwise an automatic penalty of £100 will be charged. Note this penalty is now payable even if you have no tax to pay. For more information please contact Jon Miles on 01225 325580.
www.richardsonswift.co.uk 11 Laura Place, Bath BA2 4BL 01225 325 580 JANUARY 2012
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BUSINESSnews
City art lovers boost charity coffers by £47,000 An art auction in Bath with work from more than 35 top artists raised £74,000 for youth charity The Prince’s Trust, which works with 13 to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. Two watercolour illustrations from Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park, pictured, went up for auction alongside work from household names such as Sir Peter Blake, Rob Ryan, Quentin Blake and Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint. The auction, at the Assembly Rooms, was conducted by Dreweatts Bloomsbury Auctions and www.the-saleroom.com. Proceeds will go directly towards supporting disadvantaged young
Princess opens factory
people through The Prince’s Trust schemes, giving them the skills and confidence to find a job. Last year, more than three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust moved into work or training. Michelle Moran, head of fundraising for The Prince’s Trust in the south west, said: “We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support we have received from prestigious artists across the UK to make our first art auction a success.” Prince’s Trust supporters Coutts & Co, Smith & Williamson, Withy King, Reside Bath and Knight Frank all sponsored the auction, ensuring that proceeds go directly to helping young people, at a time when they really need support.
LATEST BUZZ
Top awards for local law firm
Mowbray Woodwards, one of Bath’s leading law firms has been awarded two marks of excellence by the Law Society. The firm has secured the Lexcel accreditation, which sets out practice management standards and high levels of client service for law firms, and the Conveyancing Quality Scheme, recognising law firms as meeting high standards in the home buying process. Managing partner, Tracey Smith, said the firm is proud of its achievements. Mowbray underwent rigorous assessments to gain accreditation status, and will continue to be audited to maintain performance standards.
Workers at one of the country’s most successful manufacturing businesses welcomed HRH The Princess Royal to formally open a new £4m factory complex in Warminster. British leather glove makers, Dents, has been in business since 1777 and has adapted to the modern global market, expanding exports and seeing sales up by 48 per cent over the past year. Dents has won numerous export awards including the Queen’s Award for Export and the Gold Export Award Cup. The princess unveiled a plaque and was presented with a donation to the Princess Anne’s Charities Trust and a pair of Dents leather gloves.
Tomorrow’s future Tomorrow’s People, a Bath-based charity working to help disadvantaged members of the community to find long-term employment, is looking forward to a bright future having signed a lease with HPH Commerical Property for office space in Monmouth Place. Professional experts in recruitment, training opportunities and government initiaitives, dedicate time to one-on-one contact with clients, providing targeted advice, mentoring, confidence-building and practical help to find jobs and training. The offices will be the base for five staff who expect to welcome around 40 clients a week.
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BATH BUSINESS news & views
A round up of achievements and events from the city’s business community
E-business expands
Award-winning international e-business consultants, Web-Translations has chosen Bath as its new southern base. Sales manager, Andrew Carter, is heading up the satellite sales office with latest recruit, Jonathon Power, pictured. Jonathon has already won several new clients who need support launching into new international target markets. Already working with Future Publishing and The Eden Project, the Bath office will strengthen the Leeds agency’s position to service clients nationally. Managing director, Daniel Rajkumar, said: “Web-Translations has just entered its tenth year of trading and it’s a really optimistic time for us as a business, as clients across all industries are looking at cost effective ways of broadening their reach into wider markets.” The firm provides translation, localisation and global e-marketing services to a range of clients.
A boost for Ben Bath-based runner Ben Rushgrove has been given a helping hand for his Paralympic training, having won sponsorship from developer Crest Nicholson. Ben, who has cerebral palsy and won a bronze medal in the 100m at the 2008 Beijing Games, said: “I would like to thank Crest Nicholson for sponsoring me. 2012 will be an exceptional year with the Olympic and Paralympic games, as well as other events such as the European Championships also next year. Training is hard and gruelling, especially during the winter months and it is a great boost to have this sponsorship in place.”
MEDALLIST: Debbie Aplin, MD of Crest Nicholson with runner Ben Rushgrove
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LEGALmatters
ADV ERT OR I AL FEATURE
Relocation, Relocation, Relocation W
ith a significant chance of a doubledip recession, the UK is perhaps not the most appealing place to be at the moment. With this in mind, should an opportunity arise to relocate abroad or to return to a country of origin, then many may be sorely tempted. If a family is united in its desire to relocate, then it is purely a matter of making the necessary practical arrangements before starting their new life, but what if the family is divided? Where parents are separated and one wishes to move abroad with the children but the other does not, how is the conflict resolved? As with many family issues involving the exercise of Parental Responsibility, if no agreement can be reached between the parents, either through negotiation or mediation, then it will fall to the courts to decide. The only principle applied by the courts is that the welfare of the children is paramount, but how do they decide what is in the children’s best interests? The facts of every case are so individual that the courts cannot make hard and fast rules but they can and have set out guidelines listing some of the factors that should be considered when making the decision. Where the applicant parent is clearly the primary carer and the non-resident parent only has limited contact, then for the last 10 years the courts’ general approach has been to grant permission to leave the country provided certain factors were addressed, most importantly:
onto the non-resident parent to prove that reduced contact with them would have a significant negative impact on the children’s welfare. Such arguments were often countered by stressing the greater variety of contact now available, including Skype and instant messaging, meaning that although direct contact would have to be reduced, the children’s relationship with the parent staying behind could be maintained. Two factors have led to increasing concern with this approach; firstly research undertaken in 2009 indicated that in many relocation cases, there were significant problems in maintaining contact internationally resulting in many children losing their relationship with the non-resident parent. Secondly there has been a significant increase in parents sharing care of their children far more equally so that the situation of one parent being the clear primary carer is far less common. As a result there has been a renewed effort by the courts to dismiss the idea of there being a presumption in the applicants’ favour. The courts acknowledged that too much consideration had been given to the impact any refusal may have on the applicant parent, and too little to the risks to the children of the inevitable reduced contact with the nonresident parent. The courts have now reiterated that, particularly where parents share care of the children, their only concern is the welfare of the children and, as with all other decisions relating to children, they must weigh up what is in their best interests taking into account:
• there was a genuine reason for relocating and it was not an excuse to remove the nonresident parent from the children’s lives,
• their physical, educational and emotional needs,
stressed that the children's welfare is paramount, that they must consider every aspect of a move both in respect of the shortand long-term consequences, and that they must safeguard the children’s relationship with the parent that would be staying behind. By focusing the parents’ minds in this way, it is hoped that they can reach agreement about what is in the children’s best interests which is always infinitely more preferable than having a decision imposed on them by the court. For further information regarding family relocation or any other family law issue, please contact Jo Davies, Family Law Solicitor at Mowbray Woodwards Solicitors on 01225 485700 or via email at jld@mowbraywoodwards.co.uk.
• their wishes and feelings,
• each parents’ ability to meet those needs and • there were clear and thorough plans as to an intended place of residence, financial arrangements, educational needs, language issues, and full details (including funding) of contact with the non-resident parent, • a refusal of permission would have a significant negative effect on the applicant parent. With many cases being decided in favour of the parent wishing to leave, it began to seem as if there was a presumption, particularly where applicants sought a return to a country of birth, that permission would be granted unless the non-resident parent could raise sufficient concerns regarding the welfare of the children. The burden appeared to have shifted WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK
• the risk of harm to them of the proposed changes in their lives. On that basis an increased number of applications have been refused. The courts have also allowed an appeal against a decision made in the applicant’s favour where there was insufficient consideration of the potential negative impact upon the children at the original hearing. In that case, the parties, after prolonged and expensive litigation, found themselves back at square one! With relocation cases there is no magic formula to get to the right answer. The courts have provided guidance encouraging parents to think very carefully before making significant changes to their children’s lives. They have
Jo Davies, Family Law Solicitor at Mowbray Woodwards Solicitors
Mowbray Woodwards Solicitors, 3 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HG www.mowbraywoodwards.co.uk JANUARY 2012
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EDUCATIONnews
Loving literature
T
he Royal High School, Bath, is in illustrious company, having joined The Independent newspaper as a sponsor of this spring’s Bath Literature Festival. Head teacher Rebecca Dougall, pictured, said: “Our involvement in the festival puts our girls at the centre of local, national and international debate featuring some of the most intelligent, creative and cutting edge thinkers alive today. The festival inspires, challenges and entertains, delivering a world-class artistic programme. “We are delighted that our girls will be playing a big part in the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day which takes place during the festival on Thursday 8 March.” ● To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first International Women’s Day, the literature festival organisers are looking for 100 women of all ages to join a day of readings. Simply choose your favourite poem or passage of prose written by a woman and which would take three minutes to read, and email your suggestion and name to: onehundredwomen@bathfestivals.org.uk. The readings will take place throughout Thursday 8 March, from 10am at St Michael’s Church, Bath.
A holistic approach
All Hallows School at East Cranmore is going from strength to strength, having launched a new Saturday Enrichment Programme for its pupils. The programme encourages the pupils’ all round personal development and includes a range of activities to inspire and engage. Ian Murphy, All Hallows’ headmaster, explained the approach behind the programme: “We passionately believe in and promote an individualised and holistic approach to learning that seeks to inspire each child to lift their gaze to the horizon, as well as awaken the child spiritually and emotionally.” With a 95 per cent take up for the new programme, the feedback from children, parents and staff has been positive for the ‘new feel’ Saturdays. For more information email: info@allhallowsschool.co.uk or tel: 01749 881600.
The West Wing is a hit with all
CURTAIN UP: Erica Draisey, head teacher at Hayesfield, and Ross Purcell, centre manager of the West Wing, in the new Hayesfield Theatre, to be named the Roper Theatre
Clubs, schools and theatre groups in Bath will be able to enjoy the news state-of-theart West Wing at Hayesfield Girls’ School, thanks to a new booking system which allows the building to be hired out. The new building, which was opened by former pupil and gold medal athlete, Amy Williams MBE, includes a 330-seat concert theatre with raked seating. Thanks to support from Brian and Margaret Roper and the Roper Family
Trust, the theatre will now be made available at a competitive rate to local artbased music groups, choirs and schools. Groups can use the Amy Williams fitness sports centre, outside pitches, the Roper Theatre, music rooms and recording studios. Ross Purcell, former centre events manager at the Bath City Church, has been appointed centre manager for the West Wing. Visit: www.westwingathayesfield.org.uk
NURSERY GIVES CHILDREN ROOM TO GROW The Paragon School in Lyncombe, Bath has opened Squirrels, its newly refurbished nursery and invited MP Don Foster, pictured, to perform the official honours, with Paragon parents, friends and pupils on hand to help with the celebrations. The nursery, which takes children from three until they are old enough to start in a reception class, benefits from a team of specialist teachers. Squirrels’ facilities include a library, IT suite, gym and a messy room. Head of the nursery, Sarah James, said: “It’s a bright, happy and extremely caring nursery, offering a gentle introduction to school life.” The children are encouraged to enjoy outdoor life, with regular sessions exploring woodland around the school to develop curiosity and confidence. For information contact Charlotte Thursz, on tel: 01225 466810.
Sixth formers aim for all-round achievements Choosing a sixth form is an undertaking not to be treated lightly by parents and students. At St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, Brislington, the staff endeavour to make sure students stand out from the crowd, through their qualifications and their skills, experience, hobbies and volunteering, gained outside and inside the classroom. The college is holding an open evening on 9 February from 6pm, so prospective students can look at the diverse range of achievements by the college. Two students, Adam and Brett Williams, have just completed a trek in Nepal climbing over 4,000 metres to deliver school books, uniforms 40 THEBATHMAGAZINE
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and playground equipment to a primary school. Golf enthusiast Will Mullins is combining his AS business studies and BTEC sport at St Brendan’s with an England Future Regional Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE), while drama and art students have been chosen to take part in the National Theatre’s Connections project, working on a new play with directors from the Old Vic and the National Theatre. During the autumn term students at St Brendan’s raised more than £2,000 for charities including breast cancer research, prostate cancer research, Children in Need, and World Aids Day,
through events they organised themselves. In the run-up to Christmas, presents were bought for children, and contributions made to hampers for families coping with difficult circumstances. At a Tea and Tinsel party more than 100 senior citizens were entertained by a mix of students from across the college. Visit the website: www.stbrn.ac.uk or on www.facebook.com/stbrendanssixthformcollege to sign up for a digital newsletter. Students can apply now for a place for September or visit the open evening, on 9 February, from 6-9pm.
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NEW YEAR – NEW YOU IN 2012 • YOU WILL GET NEW SKILLS • YOU WILL GET THIS PROMOTION
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On-line study via distance learning February, June and October entry points Individual units also available Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) as well as the University of Bath
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Bybrook House
Avon Care Homes Ltd
Middle Hill, Box Near Bath, Wiltshire
Residential, Nursing & Respite
Care is offered in this elegant country house with 7 acres of gardens, in the beautiful Bybrook Valley.
Tel: 01225 743672 www.bybrookhouse.co.uk
Avon Care Homes Ltd
Residential, Nursing & Respite Catering for older people seeking residential nursing care in their retirement in a relaxed, friendly and warm environment.
Sutton Veny House Sutton Veny Warminster, Wiltshire
Sutton Veny House is set in a wonderfully rural location, with outstanding beauty and breathtaking surroundings.
Tel: 01985 840224
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FAMILY FUN JANUARY BATH:Layout 1
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FAMILYfun
hila Enjoy egg at the
s
per cal ca
musi rious
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on your w oo l l i e Cribbs s and Caus head t eway o The for s a win Mall ome o try s at ett utd ing
oor ice s kating
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WINTER WONDERFUL There are plenty of family events on offer to beat the winter blues this month, from ice skating in a winter wonderland to musical capers at the egg theatre. Here’s a round-up of the fun and games the city has to offer in January
Winter Wonderland The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. Book tickets at www.mallcribbs.com
Ice Skating, until Sunday 8 January Skate and soak up the winter wonderland atmosphere on the south west’s largest outdoor rink. There’s plenty of room to show off your skating skills and with ‘seal’ skating aids available to help the youngsters, it’s a fun activity for the whole family.
Family-friendly theatre The egg, Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 448844 www.theatreroyal.org.uk
The French Detective and the Blue Dog, Until Sunday 8 January, please contact theatre for times From Olivier-award nominee Hattie Naylor is a brand new musical comedy for the whole family. As a mysterious crime wave strikes a small village in France, meet the love struck French Detective and his sparky niece, Le Chat. He’s a hopeless romantic and she is a petite Poirot, but who is the real detective? As strange things start to happen and people disappear overnight, the only suspect is a small blue dog. Will the mismatched duo uncover the village’s secret before it’s too late?
WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Just So, Thursday 12 – Saturday 14 January, 1.30pm & 7.30pm Based on the short stories of Rudyard Kipling, Just So takes you on a journey along the banks of Africa’s great, grey-green, greasy Limpopo River to meet an amazing collection of strange and wonderful creatures. How did the elephant get his trunk? How did the leopard get his spots? And how did the rhinoceros get his skin?
Pluck – Musical Arson, Saturday 28 January, 11.30am & 3pm Pluck is the group of three hilarious musicians who compete, ridicule and argue their way through Bach to the Beatles. Since winning the prestigious Tap Water Award at the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, these crazy characters have delighted audiences the world over with their unique combination of comedy and superb musicianship. Suitable for children aged 3 and over.
Get close to nature Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire. Tel: 01453 891900 www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/slimbridge
Floodlit Swan Feeds, 1 January – 26 February, Saturdays & Sundays, 6.30pm See Slimbridge’s beautiful Bewick swans in a
whole new light with a floodlit bird feed. Enjoy the warmth of the heated Peng Observatory as you learn about the amazing journey these swans make to reach us. Cost: £5 adults, £3 children.
Music and movement Sessions held in Bathford Parish Hall, Bathford. Tel: 01225 852889 www.toddlerworkshop.co.uk or
Toddler Workshop, Tuesdays 9.30am – 10.30am or 10.45am – 11.45am; Thursdays 9.30am – 10.30am A lively medley of dance, drama, music and movement for toddlers and pre-school children aged 18 months+. The imaginative sessions are designed to encourage and develop children’s creativity, language and expression.
Meet the artist The Holburne Museum, Bath. Cost: £2. Tel: 01225 466 669.
I’m a Ceramicist… with Emma Finch, Sunday 29 January, 2.30-3.30pm A new series of talks and workshops led by professional artists for the whole family to discover contemporary arts. Artist, educator and expert in casting domestic wear, Emma Finch demonstrates the technique of sprigging as you make your own plate to take home.
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THEBATHMAGAZINE 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 £25.00 Euro zone; £30.00 (12 issues) or £50.00 Euro zone World Zone 1 £95.00 World Zone 2 £120.00 To subscribe just send a cheque payable to MC Publishing Ltd 2 Princes Buildings, Bath BA1 2ED or Telephone 01225 424 499 for card payment
Subscription Form Mr/Mrs/Ms ................Forename .............................................. Surname................................................................................ Address.............................................................................. ..........................................Postcode ............................ Daytime telephone No ..............................................................
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Beneath Seeing
the surface is essen al
....to the health of your
eyes
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FIT&FABULOUS
RADIANT YOU Even when we stick religiously to our skincare routine, skin can sometimes still feel dry and look tired and we may feel the need to wear makeup before we leave the house. But according to local holistic beauty therapist, Grace Emmerson, it doesn’t have to be that way. “Our skin wants to be healthy – it is after all a living, breathing organ – and it can look radiant at any age,” she says. Grace suggests using the Dr.Hauschka Radiant You cleansing routine, which has been designed to restore a healthy vibrancy. The unique press and roll movements work with the skin’s natural functions, removing surface dirt and congestion without damaging the outer, protective skin, leaving you with a healthy radiant complexion. Grace favours the natural yet luxurious approach to health and beauty that is achieved with Dr.Hauschka skin care. “Our skin really does look and feel better when the natural rhythms are followed,” says Grace. “The skin care range doesn’t overpromise yet it only takes 30 days for the skin to adjust and the benefits to be obvious and newfound confidence is one of the first things people notice.” Dr.Hauschka Radiant You kits are available from www.graceemmerson-online.co.uk. Grace is holding a Radiant skin masterclass on Saturday 21 January. For further information contact tel: 0117 904 2296.
SKIN DEEP
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Skin cells have the natural ability to repair themselves and they do this best when we sleep. So bareMinerals skincare has developed a skin-revitalising serum to aid the skin’s replenishment during its crucial renewal phase. The Active Cell Renewal Night Serum (£38 from Jollys) is a clinically proven formula that helps to accelerate cell turnover and boost moisture levels in the skin. You’ll wake up to remarkably firmer, beautifully radiant, younger looking skin that’s more resilient and supercharged. It’s one of the best night products on the market at the moment and you’ll certainly notice the results
Whether it’s full or phenomenal that you’re after, you can now build lash drama with weightless volume thanks to Estée Lauder’s new Double Wear Zero-smudge Volume & Lift Mascara (£19.50 from Jollys and Boots). The latest addition to the Double Wear line of products, this innovative mascara is specifically designed to maximise and lift lashes for a striking look that lasts all day without flaking. The nutrient-rich ingredients condition lashes and the formula resists heat, humidity and sweat during use. Ladies, it’s a handbag essential this season
▲
January is the time of year for detoxing and making yourself feel good again. And what better way to help you feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the year than with some beautiful products full of fresh ingredients from Lush? It’s so easy to create your own unique home spa with the help of Lush; so light some candles, relax and enjoy a pamper – you deserve it. Lush’s Steamer Tabs (£2.50), pictured above, are a brand new invention designed to benefit the skin as well as the mind. Drop into a bowl of hot water, watch the tab fizz as it infuses a blend of aromatherapy essential oils into the steam and inhale the vapour to clear the mind and cleanse pores. When the water cools, it can also be used as a toning water. And no spa experience is complete without soothing music... try the Lush Validation CD (£10) to recreate an oasis of tranquility with folk music and birdsong.
▲
Samantha Ewart tests the latest health and beauty products on the high street and discovers winter skin care secrets
Protect your lips from the harsh, cold winter winds with Eve Lom’s Kiss Mix (£14 from www.evelom.com): a super rich moisturising lip balm that relieves and softens lips whilst at the same time leaving a kissable sheen and a unique cooling sensation. A great long-lasting hydration fix for lips that keeps them in tip-top condition day and night
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CREATE A HOME SPA
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New Year New You ÂŁ10.00 off any facial in January or a free add on eye treatment or nail tidy.
Tel: 01225 462 462 The Old Post Office, High St, Bathampton, BA2 6SY
Visit www.handsonhealthbath.co.uk for a full list of treatments.
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REVIEW
FOOD & FITNESS STRAIGHT TO YOUR DOOR Samantha Ewart kick starts the new year with exercise sessions and a nutrition plan from Bath-based personal trainer, Paul Isaacs, in an effort to tone up and slim down
I
t’s so difficult to have the will power to exercise on a cold, miserable day after work or resist that big box of chocolates. Sometimes we need a bit of encouragement and help with our fitness and health goals, and that’s where personal trainer Paul Isaacs comes in. Perfect for all those wanting to detox, get fit and shape up after the Christmas binge, Paul offers individually tailored personal training programmes and – something brand new to Bath – healthy food packages. Paul has spent the last 11 years working with a variety of clients in Marbella and is now offering his services in and around Bath, at home or your place of work. Whether you want to lose weight, tone up or simply feel healthier, Paul can help you with his excellent knowledge, experience and motivation. Wanting to shape up and get fitter for the new year, I decided to sign up for a taster of Paul’s intensive programme which includes personal training sessions and home delivered healthy meals. I felt at ease straight away with Paul – his experience is secondto-none and he understands that everyone has busy lives. Paul gave me an initial consultation to assess my general fitness, abilities and goals and then preceeded to establish a personal exercise and nutrition plan that could be incorporated into my daily routine. The home-delivered healthy food plans come from Paul’s UK nutrition partners who work with chefs to put together a bespoke healthy and balanced eating plan, individually tailored for each client, based on the goals they are striving to achieve. I was worried that I’d be on a diet of rice cakes, smoothies and soups, but in reality, the food was really tasty and filling – not at all what I expected. They even exclude foods you don’t like. Breakfasts included fruit crunch and yoghurt; sweet potato pancakes with bacon and scrambled eggs; coconut pancakes with pomegranate; and a breakfast bar with beetroot and apple juice. Morning snacks included diet lemonade cake; a layered houmous pot; dried fruit and nuts and mulled berry mousse. Lunches consisted of celeriac and pear soup; tofu, feta and radish Quinoa salad; lamb stew; and Levi Roots style jerk chicken and jalapeno bread. The afternoon snacks were all delicious and I enjoyed the traditional trifle, Thai sweet potato bites, maple popcorn and carrot, apple and ginger juice. Dinners included salmon en papillote, chicken fajitas, beef chilli and rice and coley korma. The idea behind the food packages is that you can exercise as 52 THEBATHMAGAZINE
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much as you like, but if you’re not eating the right blend of foods and nutrients, all your hard work is likely to be wasted. The key is knowing how, what and when to eat. Of course, it means skipping the ice-cream and fast food, and it certainly requires commitment, but, complementing Paul’s exercise programme, you will begin to see results within a few weeks. Not only did I benefit from a health and wellbeing point of view, it was also really convenient to have the food delivered to my door – it meant I didn’t have to go food shopping or whip something up for dinner after work; I had more time to do other things – mainly, exercise. Paul bought all equipment with him to the personal training sessions and used the space available in my small flat. He utilised the patio area for the warm-ups, exercises with the fitness ball and boxing. Inside I used bands for strength exercises, weights for toning and a floor mat to work on my core area. Paul also took me on a short jog around the area and outside the building for sprints. Paul was great at keeping me motivated and knew when I could be pushed further. The exercises were varied and invigorating and Paul’s positive attitude and encouragement really helped me put 100 per cent into the sessions, enabling me to ultimately get the results I wanted. As well as providing all the technical know-how and tips, Paul was happy to answer questions and give feedback on my strengths and weaknesses. He left me with nutritional advice and a training plan so I could continue the routine of healthy eating and frequent exercising. The healthy practices I’ve been taught by Paul will stick with me for life, so it’s certainly worth the money. ■ Paul is offering readers a special offer: if you book a personal training package in January, you will receive a free two-day sample of the home-delivered healthy food. For further information about prices and programmes, visit: www.paulisaacspt.com. Personal training and home-delivered meal programmes cost from £249 per week.
HEALTH KICK: the food programmes and personal training from Paul Isaacs will help you lose weight and achieve your health and fitness goals
Not only did I benefit from a ❝ health and wellbeing point of view, it was also really convenient to have the food delivered to my door
❞
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The Results will be written all over your face A course of 6 IPL Permanent Hair Reduction treatments on upper lip £149 lip and chin £249 Other areas available • prices upon consultation
A course of 3 Beauté Neuve skin peeling treatments with a deep cleansing, hydrating and anti-ageing Hydradermie Plus Facial £149
the orangery l a s e r
&
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c l i n i c
Tel: 01225 466851 No.2 Kingsmead St. Bath.
www.theorangerylaserclinicbath.co.uk
This offer is only available until the 31st January 2012
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HEALTH&BEAUTY
ALTERNATIVE CHOICES January is always a busy time for the therapists at The Centre for Integrated Therapies in Pierrepont Street. Whether you have made firm New Year’s resolutions or not, many people view the start of the year as the best time to make changes to health and lifestyle, or face up to issues which have been holding you back, and the staff at this complementary health centre have helped countless clients through that process. The clinic itself is ringing the changes this new year by welcoming a new practitioner to the team – nutritional therapist Daniel Fraser, who views food as a form of medicine in much the same way as illustrated by the recent TV series The Food Hospital. “Dan has a degree in Nutritional Medicine and is passionate about the role of food in health,” says clinic director Rebecca Haisma, pictured left. “He has extensive knowledge of the impact of nutrition on health and draws upon current nutrition research to apply a science based approach to his practice. His specialism also complements the expertise of our existing therapists particularly Holly Woodward, our acupuncturist who does so much work with women experiencing difficulties conceiving.” Rebecca is unashamedly vocal about her belief in the need for high standards to be enforced in the complementary healthcare sector and The Centre for Integrated Therapies has built its reputation on only employing those therapists who are properly qualified and regulated. “It’s so important that clients, particularly when they are feeling low or vulnerable, are able to have confidence in the therapist delivering their treatment,” says Rebecca. As well as nutritional therapy, The Centre for Integrated Therapies offers acupuncture, CBT psychotherapy and clinical hypnotherapy, and its practitioners are particularly well known for their work with clients experiencing stress related conditions and infertility. For further information visit: www.centreforintegratedtherapies.com or tel: 01225 316670.
NEWS IN BRIEF ■ The College of Naturopathic
Medicine is holding an open evening on Tuesday 24 January at Trinity College, Stoke Bishop, Bristol, from 6.30pm – 8.30pm. The evening is free to attend and will provide an opportunity to learn about the basics of naturopathic nutrition and find out how to turn your passion for nutrition into a career. To reserve your place contact tel: 01342 410505 or email: info@naturopathy-uk.com ■ Get fit this year with Zest Bootcamp (formerly Bath Bootcamp) – it runs invigorating but fun outdoor exercise classes at Bear Flat at 6.30am, 9.15am and 6.15pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in 4-week courses. Full nutritional support is also included for weight loss and improved well-being. Zest Bootcamp is also launching a new online Shape Up programme this month. After 14 years as a personal trainer, Zest Bootcamp owner, Zita Alves has created a 3-week programme that involves a full diet and exercise programme that will get excellent results. It starts on 9 January and places are limited. Email fitnesszita@gmail.com to find out more. For further information about Zest Bootcamp visit: www.zestbootcamp.co.uk
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NEW YOU The latest health and beauty news to help you kick start 2012 looking and feeling good Gastric band without surgery Professional hypnotherapist Danny Nuttall has the licence as the fully trained and registered Hypno-Band practitioner in the Bath area. The system was recently highlighted on the TV show Embarrassing Bodies following National media publicity highlighting people who had used the Hypno-Band system and lost significant amounts weight without the need for surgery. This breakthrough system offers those who are clinically obese, the opportunity of gaining all the benefits of a gastric band operation, but without the need for a costly and anxiety-laden operation. The new revised five session programme, which utilises hypnosis, not only mimics a real gastric band operation, but also focuses on and addresses emotional and behavioral issues that often lie at the heart of those with serious weight issues with cognitive behavioural techniques ensuring the client has an understanding of their triggers and the technique to deal with them. For further information visit: www.bathhypnotherapist.co.uk or tel: 01225 580557.
BODY MOT Following the successful opening of the city centre clinic at Shearstep in Union Passage, Bath, Physioimpulse, a local firm of chartered physiotherapists is offering a 10% discount on full body MOTs in January and February. The 30-minute MOT session will either be tailored towards any specific highlighted areas of need or involve treatment of persistent problems you may have had in the past. The expert physiotherapists will also teach you home exercises to help maintain the benefit of the treatment undertaken in the session. To book an appointment contact Physioimpulse on tel: 01225 464361
LOSE WEIGHT FOR THE LAST TIME Many people start a diet or exercise programme in January. It is a time of resolutions and determination to get things right this year. And The New Start programme offered by The Bariatric Group is just that – a chance to embrace a fresh beginning. It is a concentrated personalised package of advice, activity and support to help you achieve your weight goals. It combines personal fitness programmes, training, dietary supplements and simple yet effective tools to allow to make a lasting difference. Managing director Mark Gorton says: “We wanted to offer a medical solution to obesity, to give the people coming to us for help a choice. So we introduced New Start: our 12-week intensive medical weight loss programme designed to get weight loss off to a quick start when people’s motivation and will to succeed are at their highest.” Patients on the programme have one to one support at weekly sessions led by an experienced health educator and follow a food plan and an exercise programme. For more information contact The Bariatric Group on tel: 0808 128 00 22
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dance dance movement
voice
therapy centre
BRISTOL B ASED MASTERS PROGRAMME IN DANCE MOVEMENT PSYCHOTHE RAPY Validated by Canterbury Christ Church University INTERVIEWING NOW for October 2012 intake and NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN DANCE MOVEMENT and the THERAPEUTIC PROCESS (BTEC) 1 year programme starts September
Ffi: Dance Voice, Quaker Meeting House, Wedmore Vale, Bedminster, Bristol. BS3 5HX tel: 0117 953 2055 e-mail: admin@dancevoice.org.uk www.dancevoice.org.uk
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JANUARY 2012
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Lose Weight Effectively With Hypnotherapy
‘Being guided to think about things in a new, different way was unexpected but delightful... thank you for all your wonderful help.’ - Weight Control Client, Weston Bath
For your free consultation call
01225 484938
Phil Mattingly LHA E.Hyp Registered Hypnotherapist www.philmattingly.com
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Clinics are held at Fairfield Park Health Centre, Camden Road, Bath BA1 6EA
BathFacial A E S T H E T I C S
Lyndhurst Upper Rooms 16a Upper Oldfield Park, Bath BA2 3JZ
Specialising in non surgical facial treatments Including • Wrinkle reducing injections • Restylane and Juvederm dermal fillers • Skin peels • Medical Microdermabrasion • Cosmeceutical skin care products • Treatments to reduce excessive sweating • Sculptra • Genuine Dermaroller
Lindsay Rogers, trained dentist and hypnotherapist
SET YOURSELF FREE Are you planning to do something different this year? Lindsay Rogers of Mind Balance Hypnotherapy has treatments which can help deal with stress and fear
A
s January gets underway what would you like to achieve this year? Perhaps it’s going on an exotic holiday but . . . you have a fear of flying, passing your driving test but . . . you go to pieces each time in front of the examiner, meeting new people but . . . you feel shy and uncomfortable socially, want to have your teeth checked but . . . you are frightened, or getting that all important job but . . . you suffer from panic attacks. Alternately it may be that you just want to feel calmer and more in control of your worries on a daily basis to enable you to enjoy life more, to find the self belief and confidence within yourself to reach your true potential and feel more positive, more energetic and more motivated. The good news is that often with the right type of professional help this can all be possible allowing you to feel in control of your specific type of anxiety. I use hypnotherapy combined with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT) and Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) to provide an effective programme that gives a person the tools and strategies to enable them to successfully manage their anxiety and/or overcome their fears and phobias. In the initial sessions I teach people how to become calmer and more relaxed using relaxation techniques so they can take time out of their busy lives to relax and get things into a clearer perspective and worry less. Visualisation techniques are also used to promote more positive feelings within what previously would have been an anxious situation. For specific fears and phobias or for the management of anxiety I also use some Neurolinguistic Programming techniques which use our senses to develop helpful thoughts, emotions and behaviour. Where there are unresolved emotional issues these are addressed using various techniques depending on the individual client. For example, Hypnoanalytic therapy, Parts Therapy or EDMR which allows a person to gain the necessary insight and understanding to let go of troublesome emotions and move forwards. I can, where appropriate, combine some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy within hypnosis if a person’s style of thinking is causing them emotional upset or anxiety. By identifying these unhelpful thinking patterns within therapy a person can learn to change the way they are thinking, feeling and reacting to situations to feel more comfortable. By combining different types of interventions and therapies within hypnotherapy this gives me the ability to personalise my treatment sessions for the individual needs of each client which I believe gets the best results. ■ To book a free initial 20 minute appointment with Lindsay, who sees clients at The Apthorp Centre, Weston Road, Bath and at Green Tree Health, 11 Margaret’s St, Bradford On Avon, call her on tel: 07977416885 or email: lindsay@mindbalance.co.uk WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK
All treatments are with Dr Marie-Claire Hamling MBBS (Guys) MRCGP an approved Restylane & Juvederm Practitioner with advanced training in the medical & cosmetic use of Botox For more information visit www.bathbotox.co.uk phone 01225 335033 or email info@bathfacialaesthetics.co.uk to book a free consultation
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30 Charlton Park, Keynsham, Bristol 0117 9862627 • info@charltonparkdental.co.uk www.charltonparkdental.co.uk JANUARY 2012
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OUT&ABOUT
BY STILL WATERS Start the new year by exploring a much-loved riverside path that’s recently been re-opened. Andrew Swift sets out from Batheaston for a walk with the option of a ten-mile circular route
T
he footpath alongside the River Avon at Batheaston is a delight. In 2006, it was closed after part of the bank collapsed. Late last year, after a long campaign to have it reinstated, it was finally repaired and reopened. It is an impressive achievement – a footpath that for years had been slowly crumbling into the river is now magnificently shored up and a joy to walk along. If you knew it before it closed, you will certainly want to reacquaint yourself with it; if you’ve never walked along it, you’re missing a treat. Running from the car park opposite the George & Dragon in Batheaston to the toll bridge, it is ideal for a short Sunday morning or afternoon walk. However, if you’re feeling more adventurous, it can be incorporated into a ten-mile circular walk from Bath which skirts the skyline above Bathampton and Batheaston, taking in an abandoned tramway, packhorse trails, sunken lanes, a Roman road and a succession of superb views along the Avon valley.
Directions: Head east from Bath along the Kennet & Avon Canal, then, 600 metres after the Warminster Road tunnel, cross a wooden footbridge over the canal, go over a stile and head up the field. (If you are coming from the London Road area, you can reach the footbridge by going along Grosvenor Bridge Road, crossing the river, going under the railway and walking up to the canal.) Go through a kissing gate at the top and turn left along the Warminster Road. After 500 metres, just past Tasburgh House, cross the road and turn right up St George’s Hill. Carry straight on uphill through a kissing gate. Go through a gate at the top and continue uphill, ignoring footpaths branching to left and right. 58 THEBATHMAGAZINE
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When you reach open downland, carry on in roughly the same direction, keeping away from the golf course but also taking care not to follow a sunken path down into the woods. Look for a post higher up at the corner of a barbed-wire fence where a waymark points to a kissing gate (ST775655). Go through the gate and carry on for 250 metres until you meet a path heading steeply downhill. This follows the course of a tramway which carried stone down to a wharf on the canal. As you head down it, look out for old stone sleepers with holes where rails were once secured. After passing some modern buildings, the footpath diverges to the left, away from the tramway. As you continue down, look to the right where an old packhorse road is crossed by an impressive 200-year-old tramway bridge (ST780657). Continue down the footpath as it curves left to reach the main road. The tramway crossed this road on another arch – known as the Dry Arch – which was demolished in 1958. To carry on down the tramway, cross over and turn right along the pavement. When the pavement ends, turn left, following a high-hedged footpath through a gate to rejoin the tramway. When you reach the canal wharf, cross the swing bridge and turn left along the towpath for 700 metres. Just after passing a recently modernised white house, leave the towpath and turn right along a lane. At the end, cross a stile over the railway, go down a flight of steps and follow a path across the field, heading to the left of the pylon. Go through a kissing gate (ST784670) and follow a path up the railway embankment and over the bridge. When you reach the road, cross with care, turn right over a footbridge and follow the road as it bears left uphill to Bathford. Ignore the turning down to Portals Mill, but take the next left
RIVERSIDE ROUTE: willow trees alongside the River Avon at Batheaston, where the footpath has been restored
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OUT&ABOUT
WALKING THE PAST: left to right, an old tramway bridge, climbing up Bannerdown, and the view from below Bannerdown
(by Whitehaven). After 75 metres turn left down a footpath. Follow it straight downhill past the mill and under the railway. Cross the road and turn right. After 50 metres turn left up a footpath, crossing two stiles across a drive and continuing uphill with the hedge on your left. Cross a stile, go through a gate, all the time keeping the hedge on your left, and at the top cross a stone stile onto a lane (ST793677). Turn right for 200 metres before turning left up a footpath. Carry on uphill with the hedge on your right. Cross a lane and carry on up an old packhorse route with stone walls on either side. When the path forks, bear right, keeping the stone wall on your right. After 200 metres you will come to an old quarry (ST793685). Bear left across Bannerdown Common and, when you reach a clearly-defined path, turn left along it. Follow it across the common and then downhill through woodland. Don’t worry when you are faced with a choice of paths – as long as you carry on heading roughly south-west, they should all lead to a
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broad track, flanked by houses, leading down to Batheaston. Known as Fosse Lane, it was once part of the Roman Fosse Way. At the bottom of the lane, turn right along the main road, cross at the pedestrian lights, go into the car park and turn right alongside the riverside path for 750 metres. Cross the toll bridge, continue along the pavement to the George Inn and turn right along the canal to head back to Bath. ■
FURTHER INFORMATION ■
Length of walk: 10 miles
■
Approximate time: four to five hours
■
Map: OS Explorer 155
■
Facilities: public toilets in car park at Batheaston
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MOTORINGcity
NOBODY PUTS THIS BABY IN THE CORNER TBM puts the nimble Audi Quattro3 through its paces and finds it sure-footed and light but with great road holding and an eye to effective and fuel-saving performance
D
riving the latest Quattro brought back memories of 1980 and haring back to London through the mountain roads in Wales with my foot to the floor and being overtaken with ease by a Quattro and thinking I’d just love to drive one of those. So it was with great joy that I greeted the chance to try one recently. After the flying success of the Q5 and Q7, another new Audi Q-badged family member is about to explode onto the scene: the baby 2012 Audi Q3. Audi says the Q3 is a premium SUV in compact form, a “coupé like five-door SUV with seat positions, wheel size and ground clearance characteristic of a typical SUV…a versatile companion for everyday life.” It is essentially a crossover based on the VW Tiguan, but with a sportier, more luxurious, stylish, upmarket positioning. This nimbler baby brother of the Audi Q5 and Q7, is set to compete with the likes of BMW’s upcoming X1, Range Rover Evoque and Mini Countryman. On appearance the single-frame grille with its tapered upper corners dominates the front; its outline is extended by the dynamic curve of the engine hood. By using aluminum for the engine hood and tailgate, the Q3 weighs just 1,500 kg and yet the passenger compartment is sturdy, made with ultra-highstrength steels. The wedge-shaped headlights are available as a xenon plus version including LED daytime running lights. Large air inlets hint at the potential of the engines.. The Q3’s exterior styling is nothing rebellious, its appearance fits right in with the Q family. Once in the car and after a good guide on the extras available, I tentatively drove off. Immediately I felt the comfort of the sports seats and enjoyed the visibility. I took the car on to the motorway and noticed with glee the power the Q3 produced when putting my foot to the floor. Although I drove the 2.0TSI petrol Quattro with 168bhp with 170PS, rather than the more powerful 208bhp version, there was more than enough instant response to these actions. With a top speed of 134mph and 0-60 in 8.2 seconds you will never find yourself 60 THEBATHMAGAZINE
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struggling to keep up on the motorway. The next task was to see how well the Q3 could handle the narrow country roads, and I wasn’t disappointed. Despite the height, the Q3 held firmly to the road and there was no danger of sliding or losing control when the vehicle was pushed to the limits. Here’s the science bit . . . The 2.0 TFSI petrol engine also features the Audi Q3 valvelift system. This innovation varies the valve lift between two levels which provides the car with better low-end torque and a more effective dynamic torque build-up. The effect is a significant increase in engine efficiency, so you can get greater power and improved response from less fuel. Inside the Q3 the passenger room for adults is very impressive and as usual Audi cars are built to high quality with the leather touches and trimming. Its instrumentation is a picture of clarity, its switchgear operates with confidenceinspiring solidity and the layout is simple and uncluttered. The leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel makes driving the Q3 even more of a pleasure – and safer too. Frequently used controls can be operated while your hands are still in a normal driving position. You can switch channels on the radio and change tracks on the CD, and with optional mobile phone preparation, you’ll experience true hands-free mobile operation. The Q3 is available with two engines: a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol developing either 168bhp or 208bhp, or a 2.0-litre TDI diesel unit developing either 138bhp or 175bhp. For insurance: groups 18E to 25E. Running costs are estimated at 34.73p per mile. Priced from £24,560 to £31,360. The car is now on sale and I can imagine, after driving one over the course of a weekend, that it is going to be a great success. ■ To arrange a test drive contact: Bristol Audi, Lysander Road, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol BS10 7FF. Tel: 0117 314 9308
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Audi’s latest offering, the Q3 is billed as a premium SUV in compact form. Pictured on location in Bath Street, Bristol. Architectural Sculpture; ‘Frozen Anima’ by John Packer.
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CITYgardens
OUR OUTDOOR ROOMS Gardening writer and head gardener at The Bath Priory, Jane Moore is starting the new year with some fresh ideas for all-year round interest and colour in her small garden at home
I
t’s all very well having several acres to develop a garden, but the toughest design challenge is really the smaller garden. For one thing a big space like The Bath Priory can be home to several different gardens of differing styles and sensibilities – I can take my pick of woodland borders and shady glades to work in during the height of the summer sun or tinker about on the south facing sub-tropical terrace on a chilly morning. But a small garden just can’t accommodate all that. Before you start suffering from garden envy I feel I should put the record straight, as there are drawbacks to a big garden. One, it takes a lot of care and maintenance. Weeding the Priory is a lot like painting the Forth Bridge – once you get round all the beds and borders, you start all over again. Two, it’s hard to change things around. Replanting an entire border is a marathon task and it all looks horribly small and under-developed for a few years afterwards. Three, it’s not easy to create an intimate scale. Everything tends towards the large scale, lots of planting and wide grassy spaces and it’s tricky to make smaller, more engaging areas within a big garden. That’s why places that do it well, such as Sissinghurst in Kent, are world famous. Small gardens can be wonderfully cosy and intimate, lending themselves to personal expression. They are very much extensions of your home and speak volumes about the sensibilities and tastes of the gardener. And if those tastes and sensibilities should change, it’s much easier to rework a small garden. My own garden at home is rather less of the sweeping acres and more of the intimate feet and inches. And every now and then it needs a bit of a shake-up as things take over, get too big or just plain don’t work. If, like me, you’re starting the new year with a mission to put right all that’s wrong about your garden then bear in mind a few things borne of my tinkering about in a succession of small gardens over the past decade or so.
Big ideas, small spaces ● As a general rule, when it’s small the entire garden can be viewed as a whole. Some small garden spaces will have room for a hidden turn around a path or even space to be divided into garden rooms, but for the most part, small gardens can be taken in whole, in one look. This means that the garden will be viewed as a composition and it needs to hang together well.
Stick to colours in a similar tonal ❝ range for the best effect & consider that cooler colours will make the garden appear larger
❞
Perfectly formed
● Limited space means you are going to have to make choices. You won’t be able to grow every plant you love, as I have to constantly remind myself. I have to curb my inclination to buy a plant on impulse, assuming I’ll find a place for it. ● Ideally, colour should also be limited, to give the small garden cohesion. Less is more. Stick to colours in a similar tonal range for the best effect and consider that cooler colours will make the 62 THEBATHMAGAZINE
garden appear larger. Use texture and leaf shape to add interest and to help blend the plant material and allow the garden to flow. ● It’s essential that every plant or feature serves a purpose, whether that’s masses of flowers in summer or architectural interest in winter – preferably both! Be ruthless; there is no room for wasted space or underperforming plants. ● Plants should offer at least two seasons of interest. As well as flowers, think about autumn colour, berries, evergreen leaves and whether a plant looks interesting even when it’s absolutely bare in the winter. Some plants look great simply sending up their new shoots in the spring.
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Small gardens lend themselves to being enclosed. Plant climbers, roses and even a small tree, if there’s room, to make your garden feel sheltered and private. I’m lucky in having mid-height stone walls topped with trellis which is invisible in summer under climbing vines and a fan trained fig tree, but lets in plenty of light during the winter when the plants are bare. But an evergreen or flowering hedge will give a similar feeling of secrecy and seclusion.
TRIED AND TESTED: the gardens at Sissinghurst in Kent have been created like a series of outdoor rooms running on from each other PICTURE: courtesy of Visit Britain
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CITYgardens
IMPACT: small gardens make it easier to have visual impact. Above, a box hedge frames a seating area, and a bed of bright pansies
It takes far fewer plants to make a dramatic effect in a small space than in a big garden. Also the plants are seen far more closely and individually which makes each one a star in its own right. It also means that if a plant isn’t up to the mark you’ll really notice it. I’ve got to know every space and plant in my small garden and any plant that is out of place or not thriving is soon consigned to history.
Ring the changes
The
But the thing I really love about my little garden is that I can change it about in no time at all to go with the different seasons. In winter I often plant a few dainty violas in a cluster of
mismatched pots as they’ll look lovely on the garden table in springtime. And around about now I sometimes throw a red stemmed dogwood into a black pot for a winter centrepiece on the patio, replacing it with a handful of rustic terracotta pots filled with scented geraniums for a more subtle summer look. I’ve even grown peppers, lettuces and rocket in some of my summer pots to have them handy for picking. It all makes for a welcome change of scenery and makes me look at my garden with fresh eyes and renewed enthusiasm. For more seasonal gardening ideas sign up to my free blog on: https://janethegardener.wordpress.com. ■
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PETcorner
ANOTHER YEAR OLDER...
A
s 2012 dawns we’re faced with the reality that we’re getting another year older and that’s even more pertinent for our pets. The old adage of ‘seven dog years to one human year’ has some truth to it although certain breeds will age faster than others. With ageing, problems like arthritis arise which can be a serious crippling ailment affecting not only their quality of life but ultimately ours too. Arthritis is common among older animals, dogs and cats alike, and can be caused by injury, infection, abnormal stresses or chronic wear and tear of articulating joints such as the hips, knees and elbows. Joints are normally covered with a smooth layer of cartilage to protect hard boney surfaces from rubbing against each other. Very much like a well-oiled machine, the body also makes synovial fluid that creates a slippery surface for the cartilage ends to glide over. Problems arise when cartilage wears away either from injury, infection, or aging, thereby exposingone bone surface to another. Bones have nerve endings that cause pain when movement occurs, leading to stiffness and a decrease in flexibility as well. Early changes manifest as a slower clumsier gait, sitting in an awkward position, and intermittent lameness especially after intense periods of exercise. Later stages include hesitation to jump into the car or climb stairs, a decrease in muscle mass, and pain when carrying out certain movements. If you have a pet with these clinical signs there are a few guidelines that you could follow that may help improve their quality of life: • First of all try to keep their weight down. This is an important consideration since our pets are not likely to be exercising enough due to the potential pain of arthritis. This can turn into a vicious cycle – the less they exercise the heavier they get. Ideally short but more frequent walks on flat grassy areas are best. • Install non-slip surfaces such as carpets or rubber mats in the house for easier manoeuverability. • Hydrotherapy such as swimming may also be helpful to keep joints flexible and maintain fitness without excessive weight bearing. • Massage and physiotherapy can also aid in keeping muscles supple while maintaining flexibility. You may want discuss these various options with your vet. One of the mainstays of treatment for arthritis is anti-inflammatory drugs given daily to alleviate pain and inflammation. Depending on the health status of your pet many of these drugs can give immediate favorable results. Your vet may do blood tests and xrays to ascertain the extent of arthritis and whether your pet can take these drugs safely. Other types of treatment include joint protectants, regular injections or tablets, that can provide substances to enhance joint repair, maintain synovial fluid within joint spaces and decrease further damage to cartilage. Food supplements may also help in the long term although these treatments take time to work and can have variable results between individual animals. Glucosamine and fatty acid supplements fall into this last category. It is advisable to see your vet before using any of these treatments. It is true that arthritis will invariably lead to reduced mobility. We can now however increase the likelihood that veterinary treatment for this crippling disease will allow our pets to be able to enjoy a relatively good quality of life. So don’t despair if you find yourself with an elderly pet in the new year! If you have any questions, local vet Jenny Keen will be pleased to help and can be contacted on 01225 428921. All Bath Vet Group surgery contact details and further information are available at www.bathvetgroup.co.uk. 64 THEBATHMAGAZINE
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to advertise in the directory call Jodi on 01225 424 499
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Health, Beauty & Wellbeing
Space to Stretch
House & Home
Tense shoulders? Tight muscles? Stretch Out! Feel more Flexible Monthly Classes: New Oriel Hall, Bath To join a class please contact David:
07815 60 60 51
Email: david.james230@yahoo.com
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lighten your load with
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Hellie Mulvaney MSTAT Oldfield Park
01225 353397 helliemulvaney@blueyonder.co.uk www.helliemulvaney.co.uk
Lindsay Rogers BDS, HPD, DipCAH, DipCBT, PNLP
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Dental Surgeon Bath & Bradford On Avon
Specialises in Anxiety Management For more information please contact me on
07977416885
lindsay@mindbalance.co.uk www.mindbalance.co.uk www.dutchbartondental.co.uk
SWIM+SMILE Strain–free swimming with the Shaw Method – based on the Alexander Technique. Individual lessons for adults in peaceful pools. Improve your stroke or learn another.
www.swimandsmile.co.uk trisha@swimandsmile.co.uk Trisha 01225 480970
to advertise in the directory call Jodi on 01225 424 499
Home Security
to advertise in the directory call Jodi on 01225 424 499
Advertise your Business or Service in this space for as little as £80 per month. Every month, we reach more readers than any other magazine in Bath. TEL: 01225 424499 Advertising that keeps working
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House & Home
House & Home
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PROPERTYin FOCUS
THE CROFT, BATH ROAD,WICK Entrance hall
Sitting room
Four bedrooms
S
Dining room
Guide Price: ÂŁ795,000 Single garage
ituated in the popular village of Wick, just four miles north of Bath, The Croft is an impressive detached family home, set in good sized grounds. The property comprises three reception rooms and four bedrooms, but also boasts a self-contained coach house. The Croft is approached through electric gates, with plenty of off-road parking, a mature private garden and patio and a second, level garden, currently used as a child’s play area. The main house is entered via a lobby leading into the entrance hall, off which lies the sitting room, dining room and cloakroom. The bright kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with shaker style units and solid wood work tops, off which double doors provide access to a spacious dining room, with sash windows overlooking the front aspect. Upstairs, there are four light and airy bedrooms, one with en-suite. The family bathroom has a tiled corner shower, panelled bath and bidet along with all the usual fittings. The separate coach house is an additional selling point of real value. Split over two floors the coach house has access to a single garage, its own kitchen, living room, bathroom and double bedroom. For an early viewing, contact agents Pritchards. Pritchards, 11 Quiet Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 466225
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Self contained coach house
pritchard-partners.co.uk
Bathwick Hill
Freshford, near Bath
A stunning, detached two storey Italianate villa constructed in 2005, combining contemporary finishes with classical charm and elegance. Total floor area approx - 224 sq m/2626 sq ft.
An impressive double fronted detached family home situated in this thriving village, within easy walking distance of the well regarded primary school & superb village café, shop & station. Good sized gardens to the front and rear with pleasant views.
Four bedrooms, three bathrooms and three reception rooms. Landscaped plot (approx 1/4 acre). Driveway. Double garage and views. Excellent access to City Centre and University.
En suite shower room, study, sitting room, cloakroom, snug/bedroom 5, kitchen/breakfast room, utility/laundry, 4 bedrooms, bathroom. Off road parking.Total floor area: 1595 sq ft/148.2 sq m.
Price: £1.15 million
Price: £650,000
Limpley Stoke, near Bath
Camden, Bath
An attractive former coach house, converted into a comfortable home, pleasantly situated close to woodland in this popular village.
A superior quality two double bedroom Grade II Listed Georgian cottage offering immaculate décor throughout. Approx floor area: 904 sq ft/84 sq m.
Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom & cloakroom. Off-street parking. Lovely garden. SUPERb DETAChED OFFICE.Total approx. floor area: 1243 sq ft / 115.5 sq m.
Fabulous kitchen diner, superb bathroom & en suite to master bedroom, lawned gardens and OFF STREET PARKING for 2 cars. Convenient location.No onward chain. Useful outbuildings/ workshop (home office potential - subj to nec consents).
Price: £625,000
Price: £359,950 11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB
PRITCHARDS January.indd 1
Tel: 01225 466 225
19/12/2011 15:01
Bath Office Sales. 01225 312244 bath@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
ld o S
Charlcombe, Bath
Guide Price £850,000
Originally converted from stone farm buildings to provide a family home in the picturesque setting of Charlcombe Valley, just two miles north of Bath, this property provides a wonderful opportunity to create a most stunning home in this idyllic location with gardens and orchard of one acre enjoying glorious far reaching views. Approximate gross sq.ft. 2605.
ld o S
Sion Hill, Bath
Guide Price £1.3m
An attractive Georgian Grade II Listed terraced townhouse with a wonderful south facing walled garden. This charming home is beautifully presented creating s stunning residence in one of Bath’s most exclusive addresses. The accommodation is arranged across five floors providing a versatile home offering space and style. Approximate gross sq.ft. 3056.
Reassuringly Professional. Surprisingly Dynamic. Hamptons International won the Best for Innovation award at the 2010 Estate Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, recognising its innovative marketing approach and launch of the Hamptons International app for iPhone and iPad. Call us to find out how we can use our market-leading approach to help you.
Hamptons Sales January.indd 1
19/12/2011 12:08
Bath Office Sales. 01225 312244 bath@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
ld o S
Corsham, Wiltshire
Guide Price £825,000
A substantial Grade II Listed family home offering spacious and well presented accommodation arranged across three floors, situated in the heart of this picturesque Wiltshire market town. This historic residence is steeped with history and is brimming with features. Approximate gross sq.ft. 3495.
ld o S
Rode, Somerset
Guide Price £1.3m
A wonderful Grade II* Listed home, situated in the village of Rode, with a handsome Georgian façade and central stone portico, plus a gracious Regency elevation to the rear. In addition to the wonderful garden, the property benefits from a delightful two bedroom cottage attached to the main house, with a private walled garden. Approximate gross sq.ft. 5878.
Reassuringly Professional. Surprisingly Dynamic. Hamptons International won the Best for Innovation award at the 2010 Estate Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, recognising its innovative marketing approach and launch of the Hamptons International app for iPhone and iPad. Call us to find out how we can use our market-leading approach to help you.
Hamptons Sales January.indd 2
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52 Purlewent Drive, Bath On the market for the first time in 27 years, this family home is in a quiet culde-sac, just two miles from Bath city centre. With the majority of the principal rooms taking full advantage of the sunny, southerly aspect, and overlooking the delightful garden, it is a property full of light. The garden is well stocked, with a productive grapevine, mature apple tree, sun terrace, and a wide selection of shrubs, bushes and trees. The kitchen and sitting room lie off the main entrance hall and the dining room is accessed through double doors from the sitting room, overlooking the garden. The five bedrooms, with lovely open views, are on the first floor, along with the two fully equipped bathrooms. The house boasts features such as the attractive working Minster stone fireplace and deep picture bay window in the sitting room. Price: £650,000 Contact: Pritchards, tel: 01225466225
Casa Mimosa, Bathwick Hill This is a house of contrasts. It looks mature and is built in the traditional Bath manner, but appearances are deceptive, as the villa is in fact only a few years old. Casa Mimosa, as its name implies, has a hint of the Mediterranean about it. Combining the most classic of features, the sash windows, oak finished floors, and a sweeping oak staircase, with the modern luxury of under floor heating and a bright modern kitchen. Despite having been built in 2005, the property has a certain classical charm. The house, with its four double bedrooms and three reception rooms is surrounded by a quarter acre plot, with views across the city and towards Smallcombe. Price: £1.15m Contact: Pritchards, tel: 01225466225
A HOUSE in
TOWN It’s the new year and time to get the family moving on up to somewhere bigger
■ 12 Dunsford Place, Bath With its wealth of architectural detail, it comes as no surprise that this terraced home has been attributed to famous Georgian architect, John Pinch. The classical elegance and grandeur of the property is enhanced by the decorative ceiling cornices, architraves, working shutters and fine cantilevered staircase. Situated above the Kennet and Avon Canal, the views over Bath are enviable. In keeping with the style of the house itself is the landscaped, walled garden, with its vine-clad pergola and variety of fruit trees. The accommodation is no less impressive, with five bedrooms, three reception rooms and the potential for a garden floor flat with two rooms. The impressive drawing room is flooded with light from the two large sash windows. And throughout this four storey house the big windows allow the sunshine to stream in. Price: £1.25m Contact: Crisp Cowley, tel: 01225 789333
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The Circus
£1200pcm
The Grange
£1100pcm
Georgian apartment | Large living room | Two double bedrooms | Highly recommended | FURNISHED | AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 2012
Two bedrooms | Two bathrooms | Updated accommodation | Parking | UNFURNISHED | AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 2012
A superb two bedroom third floor Grade I Listed Georgian apartment located in one of Bath’s most historic locations
A refurbished ground floor period apartment in a lovely countryside setting
Portland Place
The Moorlands
Large double bedroom | Wet room | Great views | FURNISHED | AVAILABLE DECEMBER
£825pcm
| Close to City Centre
A super one bedroom Georgian apartment is located in a great location a short walk to the City Centre
The Apartment Company January_LET.indd 1
£725pcm
Gated property | Secure parking | One bedroom | South side of the City | UNFURNISHED | AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY A well presented one bedroom apartment located in the highly popular Moorlands development
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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
Fine & Country win at top industry awards for third year running
F
ine & Country is pleased to announce it has won the 5 star gold award for ‘Best Marketing UK’ for the third year running at the International Property Awards, in association with Bloomberg Television 2011. Fine & Country fought off competition from some of the leading estate agencies in the UK with its innovative use of tailored marketing tools and approach to lifestyle marketing. Following this, Fine & Country went on to scoop a double win, picking-up a ‘Highly Commended’ award for ‘Best Use of Online and Technology.’ Commenting on Fine & Country’s impressive double win, Fine & Country Managing Director Malcolm Lindley says: “We would like to thank all our clients - both buyers and vendors, and our teams of dedicated Fine & Country estate agents all over the world for their fantastic support that has lead to this magnificent achievement. Can you imagine how pleased and proud we were, surrounded by all our competitors, Harrods, Knight Frank, Jackson Stopps, Fine and Foxtons when they announced the overall winner of the five star gold award for ‘Best Estate Agency Marketing’ as being Fine & Country. The whole team leapt to their feet, cheering and hollering, delighted at the achievement.” The International Property Awards is now in its 17th year and billed as being the property industry's most prestigious awards programme, in association with Bloomberg and sponsored by Google. The two marketing awards recognise Fine & Country’s state-of-the-art estate agency marketing which breaks the normal industry mould. The company believes an exclusive property requires a more sophisticated and intelligent form of promotion and takes a refreshing approach to bringing together people, places and property.
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Matthew Blower, Partner of Bath office added: “I am delighted that we have retained our world title of The World's Best Estate Agency Marketing Award for the third year running as well.” Fine & Country specialise in marketing and selling homes in the upper quartile of the Bath market. If you are thinking of buying or selling in 2012, please contact Fine & Country Bath: - 01225 320032
Bath Office Lettings. 01225 445646 bath@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
W TIO N E UC R ST IN
N
Lamberts Marsh, Southwick
AG LET RE ED
ÂŁ2250 pcm
A lovingly restored Grade II listed detached farmhouse in a semi rural location and yet convenient for Bath, Bradford upon Avon and Trowbridge. Five bedrooms, two ensuite and one further bathroom. Breakfast kitchen, sitting room and dining room with inglenooks and log burners, parking, garden, acreage and store. Available in January.
I
W TIO N E UC TR NS
N
Swainswick/Woolley valley, Bath
ÂŁ2500 pcm
A lovely attached Grade II listed house in a rural valley on the outskirts of Bath with stunning views and a lovely garden. Four bedrooms, one ensuite and one further bathroom. Sitting room, breakfast room, dining room, garden room, study and studio room. Available in March.
Hamptons Office 01225 445646 bathlettings@hamptons-int.com
Reassuringly Professional. Surprisingly Dynamic. Hamptons International won the Best for Innovation award at the 2010 Estate Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, recognising its innovative marketing approach and launch of the Hamptons International app for iPhone and iPad. Call us to find out how we can use our market-leading approach to help you.
Hamptons Letting January.indd 1
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■ Straddling Barn, Combe Hay Straddling Barn is certain to make a lasting first impression, with the bordered stone steps leading up to an impressive front entrance. The accommodation comprises four bedrooms, four reception rooms and a separate study, all of which benefit from large windows, overlooking the attractive gardens. This 1980s barn conversion benefits from an interesting mix of traditional comforts and modern design, the combination of which make this the perfect property for a growing family. Price: £1.15m Contact: Whiteley Helyar. tel: 01225 447544
■ Church Farm, Marksbury
■ Woodland Cottage, Kingsdown Enjoy views of the rolling hillsides, just four miles from Bath is this detached country house. Built in the 1990s, the use of reclaimed material gives the property an air of maturity. Its four reception rooms, five bedrooms and two bathrooms, are surrounded by private gardens. Price: £945,000 Contact: Pritchards, tel: 01225 466225
This rental property could provide the perfect solution for anyone looking to sample country life, just six miles from Bath city centre. Get lost in the 7.5 acre plot, and explore the stable block, paddock, and the private woods. The main house has five bedrooms, four reception rooms, and an additional two story annexe, with kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom. Although dating back to the 1600s the property has been lovingly renovated with a real eye for design and modern comforts. Price: £3,750 pcm Contact: Carter Jonas, tel: 01225 747250
A HOUSE in the
COUNTRY These country homes all have plenty of room for the family – and a pet or two as well
■ Malthouse Barn, Castle Combe There is something very calming about Malthouse Barn, whether its the neutral interior design, or private gardens and terraces, which enjoy stunning village views from its elevated position. The barn’s own Shepherd’s Cottage provides additional accomodation, with a fitted kitchen, reception room and en-suite bedroom. The main house comprises four bedrooms, two receptions and a kitchen with separate utility. The stone built barn is situated in the picturesque village of Castle Combe, one of the prettiest in England and boasting a Michelin starred restaurant, two pubs and some great country walks. The exposed beams and woodburning fires are complimented by modern fittings, to provide a very comfortable, easy to maintain home. The sunny private patio, off the dining room, is perfect for entertaining in summer, while the woodburning stoves make it equally cosy during the cold winter months. Price: £895,000 Contact: Fine & Country, tel: 01225 320032
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Belvedere, Lansdown spacious sitting room with oak flooring | superb modern kitchen with granite worktops | dining area | study area | 2 good sized bedrooms | stunning bathroom with freestanding clawfoot bath | private south facing garden | period features and charms
Rent ÂŁ1,600 pcm A stunning two bedroom garden apartment situated in a Grade II Listed former Georgian Townhouse located on the lower slopes of Lansdown, a short walk from the many shops and restaurants that Bath city centre has to offer.
Reside Bath | 24 Barton Street Bath BA1 1HG | T 01225 445 777 | E info@residebath.co.uk | W www.residebath.co.uk
RESIDE January.indd 1
19/12/2011 12:15
Fidelis
Selling? Thinking of
Premium and Professional Marketing Experience Without the Premium Fees
www.fidelisproperties.co.uk
01225 421000
134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH Fidelis January.indd 1
19/12/2011 11:40
Fidelis
Upper Oldfield Park
LD SO
LD
www.fidelisproperties.co.uk
SO LD
Lower Oldfield Park
LD
Cleveland Place East
SO
LD Vernon Terrace
Devonshire Place
Holly Drive
SO
LD
Wells Road
SO
SO
LD
Caledonian Road
Kipling Avenue
SO LD
Rossiter Road
SO LD
SO LD
Bathwick Street
SO
LD SO
SO
LD
Instruct Fidelis to market your property in 2012
Henrietta Street
01225 421000
134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH Fidelis January.indd 2
19/12/2011 11:44
The Property People Offices throughout the UK including 5 in London
NR. BATH
Kelston
Guide Price ÂŁ900,000
A four bedroom detached property in a quiet setting with a beautiful garden, ample parking and with delightful rural views across parkland to the rear. Approximately 2662 sq ft / 247.29 sq m
Bath 01225 747250 david.mackenzie@carterjonas.co.uk London Country Department 020 7493 0676 jasper.feilding@carterjonas.co.uk
Carter Jonas January.indd 1
19/12/2011 11:35
carterjonas.co.uk
Nr. BATH
Marksbury
ÂŁ3,750 pcm Furnished or Unfurnished
Handsome Grade II Listed 5 bedroom farmhouse six miles to the south west of Bath. One bedroom self contained holiday cottage. Gardens, parking and 7.5 acres including woodland, stables and paddocks.
Bath 01225 747250 sharon.hunter@carterjonas.co.uk
Carter Jonas January.indd 2
22/12/2011 13:26
Mullti award winning specialist luxury estate agents in 300 locations worldwide
Grade II Listed House A Georgian Grade II listed, four storey, semi-detached Bath stone property retaining many notable original features to include sash windows with functional shutters, fine corniced ceilings, centre roses, alcove wardrobes and cupboards, fireplaces and panelled do ors. Arguably one of the best positions on Lyncombe Hill for Views, the property enjoys wooded views at the front over Lyncombe Vale towards Crowe Hall. The accommodation is arranged over 4 floors with mezzanine level for bedrooms 2&3. The property provides up to 5 bedrooms and 3 reception rooms. The superb
drawing room still retains wedding doors giving access into the ante/TV room. The front garden level on which are the connecting dining room and kitchen, maximises use of the side and rear vaults with utility area, wine cellar, cold shelf and walk-in shower room. A gas fired Aga is the centre piece of this floor along with the original bread oven and wall safe. The front garden provides an array of colour with far reaching views beyond. A large flagstone terrace immediately adjoins the house and with direct access from the dining room, this makes it ideal for entertaining.
Call 01225 320032 bath@fineandcountry.com Fine & Country Homes January.indd 1
Lyncombe Hill, Bath GRADE II LISTED * 4/5 BEDROOMS * 3 RECEPTIONS * 2 BATHROOMS * FRONT & REAR GARDENS * CLOAKROOM * COVERED UTILITY VAULT * 2 X GARAGES
Contact: Bath: 01225 320032
OIEO ÂŁ1,000,000
Fine & Country 36 Gay Street, Bath BA1 2NT 19/12/2011 12:10
GRAD BEDR RECEP BATH FRON GARD CLOA COVE VAULT GARA
Mullti award winning specialist luxury estate agents in 300 locations worldwide
Woodwick Hall, Bath Arts and Crafts style, 2004 completed detached 5/6 bedroom, 5545 sqft ,stone built house, set in private and mature grounds of approximately 2 acres. Finished to exacting specifications by the current owners and presented to a show home standard. Baronial galleried reception hall, wide functional inglenook fireplace, French pillowed limestone floors and exposed timbers. Made energy efficient through Pilkington K double glazing and a combination of under floor heating and radiators. All principal rooms enjoy views over the landscaped grounds
with a duck pond, floodlit trees and sweeping lawns. The basement includes an air conditioned cinema room, alternatively suitable for a variety of uses and a separate office/gym area. A filtration room and services are in place in preparation for the construction of a swimming pool at garden level. Approached through electronic double gates, giving access to a large double garage and adequate parking. This location is well placed for those needing access to the private schools of Monkton, Prior Park and King Edwards.Within a short drive are the Kennett and Avon Canal and a village rail station.
Call 01225 320032 bath@fineandcountry.com Fine & Country Homes January.indd 2
Limpley Stoke, Bath 5545sqft * 5 BEDROOMS * 4 BATHROOMS (2 EN-SUITE) * 4 RECEPTION ROOMS * CINEMA/MULTI FUNCATIONAL ROOM * DOUBLE GARAGE * AMPLE PARKING
Contact: Bath: 01225 320032
OIEO ÂŁ1,600,000
Fine & Country 36 Gay Street, Bath BA1 2NT 19/12/2011 12:11
Marlborough Buildings
Offers in Excess of ÂŁ675,000
Georgian garden apartment | Spacious living | Large living room | Superb kitchen | Three bedrooms | West facing garden A stunning three bedroom Georgian garden apartment located in the highly sought after Marlborough Buildings. A lovely apartment that will generate a huge amount of interest - early viewing is highly recommended.
Kensington Chapel
Offers in Excess of ÂŁ369,000
Georgian Chapel Conversion | Two double bedrooms | Two luxury bathrooms | Quality fitted kitchen | Allocated parking space | Highly recommended No 5 Kensington Chapel - a Georgian duplex apartment with a contemporary feel. With its space and style this apartment truly offers a rare opportunity and early viewing is highly recommended.
The Apartment Company January.indd 1
20/12/2011 16:29
The Grange
Offers in Excess of ÂŁ360,000
Luxury period apartment | Sought after location | Large living room | Two bedrooms | Private courtyards | Allocated parking Currently run as a successful holiday let this delightful garden apartment enjoys a peaceful setting whilst being within easy reach of the City Centre.
The Elms
Offers in Excess of ÂŁ295,000
Period tower apartment | Sought after location | Beautifully presented | Quality kitchen | Luxury shower room | Mature grounds | Allocated parking A beautifully presented and most unique two bedroom period apartment set in mature grounds in a highly sought after location on the West side of the City
The Apartment Company January.indd 2
20/12/2011 16:29
Combe Hay Striking mid 18th Century listed detached house in splendid position above protected valley | impressive hall | 2 receptions | kitchen | 3 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | garage and parking | lovely garden | Guide Price ÂŁ600,000
Crisp Cowley Ralph Allen’s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333
www.crispcowley.co.uk
Crisp Cowley January.indd 1
19/12/2011 11:38
Lyncombe Hill A very impressive Grade II listed Georgian town house lovingly restored over recent years and commanding stunning panoramic views of Bath | hall | kitchen/breakfast | dining room | drawing room | withdrawing room | master bedroom | en suite | 4 further bedrooms | bathroom | wet room | utility | cloakroom | rear courtyard garden | s/c 1 bed apartment | Guide Price: ÂŁ1,000,000
Crisp Cowley Ralph Allen’s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333
www.crispcowley.co.uk
Crisp Cowley January.indd 2
19/12/2011 11:38
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