5 THINGS

5

things to do this December

Get quizzing

Well-known doctor, broadcaster and comedian, Dr Phil Hammond will host Julian House’s Big Virtual Christmas Quiz on Thursday 17 December at 7pm to help raise vital funds to support people experiencing homelessness this winter. Members of the public, families, friends and colleagues are all invited to join, get in the festive mood and help raise money to support vulnerable men and women who don’t have a home this Christmas. The live, interactive quiz will be packed with festive questions, as well as round favourites. Sign up to join and donate an amount of your choosing. julianhouse.org.uk

Get in the swing

HO HO HO, it’s the Christmas show, at Chapel Arts on Sunday 19 December at 7.30pm. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year sees Bath’s cult cabaret crooners swing their sleigh ride into town to kick-start the festive season as only they can. Their unusual and uplifting blend of stylish swing is a heady Yuletide tonic flavoured with the spirit of Christmases past, sprinkled with knockabout shennanigans and served warm and smooth. Tickets £20. chapelarts.org

Discover festive magic

Every year at Christmas Bath sparkles with glittering lights and the streets are filled with festive spirit. This year there’s a new addition with The Elves’ Swapshop, which has seen Father Christmas and his elves joining the upcycling revolution! This year, they invite children to visit the Elves’ Swapshop at the bottom of Milsom Street, where they are training the Share and Repair volunteers to mend toys and give them a new, loving home. You can also enjoy the Bath Christmas Light Trail, where some of Bath’s most iconic streets and buildings will be brought to life with magical illuminations. There will be extra sparkle in spots such as Abbey Churchyard, Milsom Street, Stall Street and Kingsmead Square. welcometobath.co.uk/ christmas-light-trail welcometobath.co.uk/ elves-swapshop

Revel in books

...by visiting Topping & Company’s impressive new bookshop in York Street. Now housing 75,000 titles (think both gifts and self gifts), and with a grandfather clock, no less, this independent bookshop next to the Abbey –also offering a sneaky view of Ralph Allen’s Townhouse –is open from 8.30am –9pm every day. Events this month include Rugby Laid Bare with David Flatman and Mark Durden Smith on 6 December at 7.30pm, and An Evening with Dire Straits’ John Illsley on 8 December at 7.30pm. toppingbooks.co.uk

Go Mediterranean

Try out a new city restaurant with a Mediterranean vibe –La Terra at 2 St John Street in Bath, which was previously the home of Firehouse Rotisserie. Co-owner Vito Scaduto has over 30 years’ experience managing some of the most renowned restaurants and hotels, including The Bath Priory, the Three Gables in Bradford on Avon and most recently Clayton’s Kitchen in George Street. At Claytons he met Alex –now head chef at La Terra –where they forged a close relationship. The restaurant has been refurbished, and has an impressive food offering of reasonably priced, high-quality food and wine. The menu includesfresh tagliatelle and red mullet ragu, 10oz rib-eye steak with greens and truffle chips along with vegan options of fresh fig salad with picked pear and nuts and polenta and vegetable mille feuille with red pepper purée. laterra.co.uk ■