The Bath Magazine November 2013 by MC Publishing Limited

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ISSUE 134 • NOVEMBER 2013 £3.00 where sold

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CITY OF BATH

DR FUNNYBONE

PHIL HAMMOND faces the music RESTAURANT REVIEW

PICTURE THIS MOVIE MAGIC AT THE BATH FILM FESTIVAL

FINEat DINING The Three Gables ON THE

RIGHT TRACKS the art of the GWR

O N T H E M A R K E T: B AT H ’ S F I N E S T P R O P E R T I E S O N S H O W

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CONTENTS

November 2013 24

34 82 10

NOVEMBER DIARY

From the Christmas lights switch-on by Mary Berry to the dates of the Bath Christmas market: essential dates to note

THE CITYIST

FACE THE MUSIC

WIN

Identify the film titles on our cover to win dinner at the Allium Brasserie and cinema tickets

26 30

4 THEBATHMAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2013

A GOOD READ

THE BATH HALF Annual fundraiser tops £2m for charity

76 78

FACE THE WINTER

BEAUTIFUL RETREAT Unashamed luxury at Lucknam Park spa

COUNTRY INTERIORS Nichola Owen, location scout, explores the delightfully named Pudding Cottage

CLASSICAL GOOD LOOKS Distinctive Interiors’ design tips

GARDENING Pruning advice from Jane Moore

RESTAURANT REVIEW 93

PROPERTY Find your next home in the city or country

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME Bath Foodbank: helping in a crisis

BATH@WORK Neill Menneer’s portrait of the month is of landscape artist Andrew Grant

GWR IN ART

Superb service and great food at The Three Gables, Bradford-on-Avon

PRESENT & CORRECT Inspiration for Christmas gift shopping

ART & EXHIBITIONS

Topping & Co’s booksellers recommend books for Christmas

Dr Phil Hammond, campaigner and comedian picks his top ten tunes

24 BATH FILM FEST

FAMILY FUN Bath on Ice and other child-friendly events

Victoria Art Gallery’s transports of delight

A canalside bench is unveiled in fond memory of writer Miles Kington

WHAT’S ON

A comprehensive look at what the galleries are showing this month

BATH PEOPLE

Jennifer Luckham salon: beauty review

So you thought running a market stall looked like fun?

OFFER

Your indispensable monthly guide to Bath’s rich and diverse cultural scene

MRS STOKES

MOZARTFEST A two-for-one ticket deal for readers

Esther McMorris, MD of Nine Feet Tall shares her favourite Bath activities

CITY PEOPLE

ON THE COVER For Bath Film Festival 2013 by Adam Wyatt of Flipside

News from the movers and shakers

@ thebathmagazine

THE WALK Andrew Swift in the summits of Somerset

www.thebathmag.co.uk

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EDITOR’Sletter

try not to think of November as a gloomy month, but once the wind has whipped the leaves off the trees, when it’s dark by the time we get home from work and spring seems an awfully long way off, it can be a challenge to be cheerful. What we need is a bit of escapism and diversion – which makes this an ideal time for Bath to host its film festival. If you find yourself silently groaning in disgust during the trailers for blockbuster movies, you owe it to yourself to have a look at the alternative offering being screened for this year’s Bath Film Festival and go along and enjoy something different from the bog standard visual popcorn. The organisers have picked out some of their favourites from this year’s programme on Page 24. If you can identify all the film titles from Bath designer Adam Wyatt’s specially commissioned funky artwork on our cover you’re in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the film of your choice and a preshow dinner for two at the fabulous Allium Brasserie. What else have we got? I hear you ask. There’s the frankly indispensable What’s On guide to the city’s cultural calendar, along with a preview of an exhibition focusing on art inspired by the Great Western Railway that’s coming to the Victoria Art Gallery. If you’ve never considered what Bath would have been like without the vision of IK Brunel, check out this show. Other reasons to be cheerful this month include the good news that we’ve been chosen as media magazine partners for 2014’s Bath Half Marathon. If you’re thinking of running it for your favourite charity, have a look at Page 70 and find two million reasons why you should. 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: Deputy editor Email:

Georgette McCready georgette@thebathmagazine.co.uk 01225 424499 Samantha Coleman sam@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Web content editor Email:

Dulcie Carey dulcie@thebathmag.co.uk

Production manager Email:

Jeff Osborne production@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Commercial production Lorna Harrington Email: lorna@thebathmagazine.co.uk Publisher Email:

Steve Miklos steve@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Contact the advertising sales team, tel: 01225 424499 Advertising sales Liz Grey Email: liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk Advertising sales Email:

Kathy Williams kathy@thebathmagazine.co.uk

The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazine are published by MC Publishing Ltd, 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED, and are independent of all other local publications.

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

NOVEMBER 2013

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Mrs Stokes

takes a sideways look at life in Bath . . . ©www.robbiddulph.com

The siege of the little wooden chalets

f there’s one thing we like to do early in Bath, it’s Christmas shopping. And this year you’d better have it all done by November 12th, because that’s the day the city’s new favourite celeb Mary Berry switches on those lights down Milsom Street. It’s a bit like the Hunger Games with tinsel – as soon as the Queen of Cakes has formally opened proceedings, the competition begins to see who can steal in and out of the city in the cover of night (well before 10am anyway) without losing the will to live in the traffic. No wonder Amazon.com is 20 next year. The reason for the subterfuge? The Bath Christmas Market of course, that annual 17-day gathering of little wooden huts and enormous 49-seater coaches that set up camp in and around the abbey – and that make a quick trip to M&S the equivalent to an eight hour siege, with groups of Welsh tourists as your captors. This isn’t the only market in Bath either. All across the city various fairs, pamper evenings, church bazaars and hotel events spring up, all staffed by people who suddenly and seasonally contract Market Traderitus; the condition whereby a normally sane person becomes deluded that market selling is a) fun and b) profitable (I blame Sir Alan Sugar for that particular urban myth). I speak from experience. Just before I left London a few years ago, I was possessed by the notion that selling vintage china would be a charming way to earn a living. So I took myself off to Portobello market in Notting Hill to join the hoardes of other middle-class women who fell in love with the idea of vintage. But far from it being a soft-focus experience whereby I earned my month’s rent talking to boho people and sunning myself on the pavement, it felt like the equivalent to a day in a Siberian labour camp. My first time was a crisp Saturday in December, so I was obviously layered up with thermals, but after I’d heaved my boxes out of the car, I felt like a giant sausage roll that had just pinged out of the microwave, my black eyeliner smudged under in a way that kinder people might call ‘smoky’.

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NOVEMBER 2013

Market Traderitus, the condition ❝ whereby a normally sane person becomes deluded that market selling is a) fun and b) profitable

❞

Then there was the Battle For The Pitch, whereby you petition the market organiser repeatedly that you should have the best space and when you get it, you defend it as if the world were ending because that piece of 2m x 3m ground becomes your island, onto which no man or woman shall edge their baskets of Christmas baubles or let their novelty jumpers block the view to your wares. I realised that only after I had a face-off with another trader who tried to replace my stuff with theirs while I went to get a coffee (note to stallholders on their own: bring a flask). When I moved to Bath I thought I’d escaped that visceral street fighting – but actually found the struggle for space just as competitive – when I had a pitch on Stall Street for a few months I clashed with the well-to-do couple next to me who continually told me to move my stall an inch this way, an inch this way and who liked putting their big banners up in the middle of the pavement to block the view of any other trader. It’s trading I tell you, it turns even the most mild-mannered of people into bare-knuckle festive fighters. So if you do manage to make it to one of the Bath Christmas markets this year, spare a thought for all those sellers. They may look jolly, but underneath the Santa hats those people are ill. Don’t worry though, they’ll have recovered by January. ■

@mrsstokeschina

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ZEITGEIST

things to do in November

Remember

Shop, tarry or avoid

Stop all the clocks. . . At the 11th hour on the 11th day, in the 11th month the guns ceased firing on the Western Front but the First World War still casts a shadow as we pause each Remembrance Day to pay our respects to the dead of all wars. This year’s Mayor of Bath wreath laying takes place at the city war memorial in Royal Victoria Park at 11am on Sunday 10 November. Bathonians are welcome to gather outside the Guildhall at 2.30pm that day for the annual Royal British Legion Remembrance Sunday parade which will process to the Abbey for a service at 3pm. At war memorials across Bath and the surrounding towns and villages people will gather and offer up two minutes’ silence as a tiny gesture for those who died.

We know that Bath is divided when it comes to the annual Christmas Market – it’s a Marmite thing that you either love because it’s packed with gorgeous festive treats, or loathe because it clogs up the city centre with crowds of visiting shoppers – but whatever your view, you’ll want to know that this year it runs from Thursday 28 November to Sunday 15 December. There’ll be more than 150 little wooden huts for you to browse among. Our recommendation is that you start your shopping trip with a cup of warming mulled wine and a relaxed attitude. For your diary: The City of Bath Bach Choir is hosting three nights of traditional and modern carols by candlelight in the Pump Room, from Wednesday 18 – Friday 20 December and there will be shoppers’ carol services at Bath Abbey to lift the spirits of weary shoppers every Saturday from 30 November to 14 December.

Light up Celebrate light at the darkest time of the year and watch a procession of more than 400 children take part in the Holburne Museum’s annual lantern procession on Thursday 28 November. The parade will make its way through the city with the children carrying their hand decorated lanterns, making it a wonderful spectacle. A note for your diary: There’ll be performance of colour, light and sound with the Light to Light display at the Holburne Museum, from 4 December – 5 January. Lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe, who has produced lighting displays for The Rolling Stones, Take That and the London Olympic Games ceremonies and brings his display of LED lights to the Holburne Museum garden. 10 THEBATHMAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2013

Enjoy If, like us, you were somewhere wedged in the crowds that filled Milsom Street for the switch-on of the Christmas lights last year, you’ll know this is a hugely popular event attracting thousands of people. Expect a massive cheer to go out on Tuesday 12 November when Bath born Queen of Cakes, Mary Berry returns to her home city to switch on the lights. The fun starts at 5.30pm with some community entertainment, before the official switching on ceremony at 6.15 – 6.30pm. The chief judge of the hugely successful BBC series The Great British Bake Off recently released her autobiography Recipe for Life, which we reckon will find its way under many a Bath Christmas tree this year.

Watch

For anyone who has ever sat in a mainstream cinema with the words asanine and banal going round in their heads, this monthʼs Bath Film Festival will be a blessed relief. Opening on Monday 25 November with a screening of the 1928 classic The Passion of Joan of Arc, the festival brings us films that are thought provoking, entertaining, subversive, funny, intelligent and above all different from the run of the mill. Pictured is Gemma Arterton in Byzantium – turn to Page 24 for some film fest highlights.

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THE CITY

One city . . . one month

The buzz

BATH

We ask Esther McMorris, founder and managing director of Nine Feet Tall what she’s doing this month What brought you to Bath? I moved from Holland to Bath in 1993 to study at Bath University. Work takes me to many places, but nothing beats coming back to this beautiful, compact city.

Book If you’re plannning a Christmas family treat, probably trying to involve three generations, why not book tickets for the screening of Howard Blake’s magical film The Snowman, which is being shown at The Forum in Bath on Monday 23 December? The four o’clock afternoon show is ideally timed for little ones and granny too and will be accompanied by live music from the Bath Philharmonia orchestra. There’ll be a Christmas fancy dress parade for children to take part in and the promise of a visit from Santa. Tickets are £15 for adults, £8 for children from tel: 01225 463362.

Run Big Ted, is looking for people to join Ted’s Team in the 2014 Bath Half Marathon to raise funds for The Forever Friends Appeal’s RUH Cancer Care Campaign – to help build a new cancer centre for the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Silver Bond places for The Forever Friends Appeal are available for £35 initial donation, with a pledge to raise a minimum sponsorship of £175. Events and community officer for the appeal, Jo Hones, said: “As a member of Ted’s Team you will get a free team running vest, as well as lots of support and encouragement on the day itself, and during your fundraising and training.” The 2014 race takes place on Sunday 2 March. Print and mail company CFH Docmail is sponsoring Ted’s Team in 2014. Visit: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk or call the events team tel: 01225 821535.

Consider

A conference, Taking Control of Later Life, to discuss different aspects of life experienced by older people is being hosted by Age UK in Bath on Thursday 7 November at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution in Queen Square. Anyone with an interest is welcome to attend but is asked to register with Jane Kemp first, tel: 01225 466135.

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What are you reading? The Jelly Effect: How to Make Your Communication Stick by Andy Bounds. To some extent it’s dedicated to Andy’s mother who was blind, which meant from a young age Andy had to think about how to describe and communicate in a way his audience would understand. It held him in good stead through his own career and gives us another approach on communicating with people from all walks of life. I’ve also just bought The Potato Pirates by Matt Jenkins, one of Nine Feet Tall’s own people. All this talent under one roof – how lucky I am! What is on your MP3 player? A lot of what you might hear on BBC 6 music – certainly an eclectic mix. Recent plays of Bob Dylan, interspersed with Elephant by Tame Impala and most recently downloaded, Middle Sea by Yuck. No seriously – it sounds a lot better than the name suggests. Good old fashioned indie rock. Which café or restaurant takes your fancy? Always coffee at Colonna & Small’s. They’ve cracked it. Food wise, I’ve got to say The Marlborough Tavern. We went there one Saturday evening recently for dinner without booking and both the service and food were awesome. Your passions? What hobbies or interests will you be pursuing? After a break from hockey I have just picked my stick up again, playing for the City of Bath. I’m thoroughly enjoying the exercise, competition and company. Which museum or gallery will you be visiting? I’m planning to go to the Brutal Bath exhibition in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel before it finishes. It timelines the

change of Bath from provincial town to the city it is today, particularly focusing on the change in the architecture along the way to what we see around us today. What local outdoor activity or event will you be doing or visiting? I know it’s getting late in the month, but it’s got to be the Bath Christmas Market. It’s just got that special feel and smell of Christmas. And, of course joining my kids on the carousel/merry-go-round – guilty pleasure! Film or play? What will you be going to see this month? We’re going to pop along to the Rondo Theatre to see The Dreadful Penny. It’s a comedy by a local Bath theatre company Playing Up. It’s a comedy about a chap who is kidnapped by pirates, acquires a talking camel and attempts to outrun a hot air balloon on a penny farthing. What’s not to like? It runs from Wednesday 6 to Saturday 9 November (tickets, tel: 01225 463362) About Nine Feet Tall Busy times at the moment. One of our most exciting projects is working with the British Computer Society to provide accredited training courses in consultancy skills. There is always room for consultants and I intend to make this available to a wider audience including NEETS (those not in education, employment or training), school leavers and those wanting to return to employment. Follow the latest news via our website: www.NineFeetTall.com or on Twitter @NineFeetTall.

We’re following @TheatreBath (not to be confused with the Theatre Royal) which represents all theatre in Bath. It offers previews, links to reviews and reminders of the diverse offerings from the city’s vibrant theatre scene

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£2m raised by runners The 2013 Bath Half Marathon raised a record £2m for charity. As people prepare to enter the 2014 race, The Bath Magazine is proud to announce that, once again, we are magazine partners for this fantastic event, and encourage runners of all abilities to start training for the big day in March, and to get friends and family to dig deep for their favourite good cause

ocal and national charities have benefited from a share of £2m, the record amount of money raised by runners taking part in the Bath Half Marathon 2013. Mel Taylor, charity director at organisers Running High said: “We are delighted to have reached the £2m mark in 2013, and to see funds raised through the half marathon increase year on year since we took over the organisation of the race. We are completely overwhelmed by the generosity of those who donate to BATHALF entrants each year and the passion instilled into our runners to continue fundraising. The BATHALF remains the biggest single day fundraising event in the south west, which is testament to the determination and dedication of our runners.” The money raised benefits more than 50 carefully selected charities each year, evolving from just one when Running High first took over the event. Around 15% of the half marathon entries each year are reserved for Golden Bond charities, allowing runners to choose a cause close to their hearts and to offer their fundraising commitment in return for a place. Send a Cow will be the official Fun Run charity, the National Osteoporosis Society will be local charity of the year and Teenage Cancer Trust is the featured appeal. They will join CoppaFeel, already announced as the lead charity for the event. You don’t have to be a runner now to take part – if you start training soon, you will be able to call yourself a runner by the time you join the thousands on the start-line on the big day. ■ To enter the 2014 race, which is on Sunday 2 March, visit: www.bathhalf.co.uk

Your money makes a difference

ast year 100 runners raised £32,000 for Jamie’s Farm. The money raised through the Bath Half is used to transform the lives of vulnerable children from inner city schools, through a unique combination of farming, family and therapy during an intensive week of living on a farm in Wiltshire. Children receive masses of support and are engaged in farm life; from delivering lambs to gardening, log chopping and cooking. A follow-up programme is organised with the charity’s partner schools. As a result, 82% have fewer behavioural incidents and 68% of children are no longer at risk of exclusion a year after a visit. Jamie’s Farm provides a preventative, measurable approach to a national problem – the number of children permanently excluded from education and the long term cost to society. Visit www.jamiesfarm.org.uk. Runners are being recruited for the 2014 race, for a £50 registration fee and £250 minimum sponsorship. Contact: katie@jamiesfarm.org.uk or call 0871 237 7991.

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CITYlife

BATH people

In fond memory of Miles

Joanna Lumley and Terry Jones, pictured, caused a stir on the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal near Dundas Aqueduct when they formally unveiled a bench in fond memory of their friend writer Miles Kington who died in 2008. The pair were joined by Miles’ widow Caroline and other friends. The spot was chosen as Miles used to cycle along this stretch and watch steam trains. In his early writing career Miles used to write with Terry Jones, before the latter went to help form the Monty Python team, he was later instrumental in Joanna Lumley starting her own writing career. A prolific and humorous writer, Miles wrote for Punch, The Times and The Independent as well as writing books and making regular appearances on radio and television. Passers-by will continue to enjoy his sense of humour with the inscription on the bench which he composed before his untimely death: ‘In fond memory of Miles Kington, who hated this spot because there was never anywhere to sit down and enjoy it from.’ The website: www.mileskington.com has more fresh material.

Happy families

Proud grandmother writer Bel Mooney cut the ribbon to open the new premises of the Bath Fertility Clinic, which has moved from the Royal United Hospital to a purpose-built HQ at Bath Business Park, Peasedown St John. She is pictured with senior medical director, Mr Nick Sharp, her daughter Kitty Dimbleby grand-daughter Chloe and medical director, Mr David Walker. Kitty was a patient at the centre and gave a speech of thanks.

Guests enjoyed a Champagne and canapé reception to mark the official handover of the newly refurbished Bailbrook House Hotel to Hand Picked Hotels. Pictured at the party are: Jonathan Squire, hotel manager; Julia Hands, chairman and chief executive of Hand Picked Hotels and Nick Brooks-Sykes, chief executive of Bath Tourism Plus.

Two cancer survivors, Val Simpson and Anne Pilay, are selling tickets for a grand Venetian Charity Ball to be held at the Bath Assembly Rooms on Saturday 1 February, as their way of saying thank you for their treatment. Funds will go to The Forever Friends’s RUH Cancer Care appeal and the Friends of Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre’s Campaign for a world-class radiotherapy machine. Tickets are available from: https://bath-venetian-charityball.eventbrite.co.uk, email: valerie.simpson@cara-online.com, or tel: 07872 583266. It promises to be a night of glamour and fun. Masks are optional.

The Send a Cow charity, founded by farmers in the Bath area, has teamed up with Cheeky Cow cheese and Blackacre Farm eggs to help raise funds to send cows to families in Africa to provide them with a living. A share from the sales of these products will go to Send a Cow. Pictured: Greg Parsons of Cheeky Cow, Sarah Parsons of Send a Cow, Radio 2’s Nigel Barden, and Bryony and Dan Wood of Blackacre Farm.

Friends say thank you with masked ball

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Historic hotelʼs new lease of life

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Tickling your funny bone By day Dr Phil Hammond is a GP listening to people’s ills and treating them – but by night he’s a stand-up comedian and campaigning journalist. The Somerset based doctor talks to Mick Ringham about why he takes his humour seriously and picks his top ten favourite tunes

hen did you last see your doctor? For some lucky people it may be just a distant memory. However, you would indeed be missing out on a visit to one particular GP who also enjoys the reputation as being one of the country’s most unusual broadcasters and comedians. Phil Hammond was brought up in Australia but has lived most of his life in the south west, the last 17 years in the Chew Valley with his wife Jo (also a GP) and their children Will and Ellie. He qualified as a doctor in 1991 and currently works in a specialist NHS centre in Bath as well being a presenter for BBC Radio Bristol on Saturday 20 THEBATHMAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2013

mornings. But when he’s not making people better, Phil’s making them laugh. Over the past 20 years Phil has regularly appeared on television and radio shows including The News Quiz, Have I Got News for You and The Now Show. Through his column in Private Eye he has campaigned for more transparency and honesty in the NHS. As part of this crusade he broke the story of the Bristol heart scandal in the 1990s and gave evidence to a public inquiry – and this is perhaps why he has been named as one of the top 100 clinical leaders in the NHS for for his campaigns to support patients and whistleblowers in the health service.

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FAVOURITES: left to right, Jimi Hendrix, All Along the Watchtower, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Free Bird and Kirsty MacColl, Free World

Dr Phil has written numerous books, released two DVDs and is an active member of the Stowey Sutton Group, which is fighting to stop the dumping of asbestos in the Chew Valley, with proceeds of his recent gig at Komedia going to the cause’s fighting fund. As one would expect the majority of his stage material is observational and is based on a medical theme, however, there are a few obligatory one-liners thrown in – let’s be honest who doesn’t like a good ‘Doctor, doctor’ joke? He’s almost certainly the only GP to star in his own show 59 Minutes to Save the NHS at the Edinburgh Fringe which received rave reviews and helped firmly establish him on the comedy circuit. Phil is in the middle of a nationwide tour with his show Games to Play with your Doctor, where he uses his own brand of original humour to address his audience’s perception of the medical profession. To stay happy himself he says: “I walk the dogs, read, sleep, laugh, play football badly and am very grateful to be surrounded by family and friends.” He tries to do what the doctor orders, enjoying sensible amounts of lubricants and avoiding fast food, sugar and politics. So if you’re a little under the weather and feel the need to visit a doctor try and make an appointment to see Phil Hammond on stage, he will have you in stitches – ouch!

Phil’s top ten: ● The Seekers – I’ll Never Find Another You One of my earliest memories is dancing round our family home in Perth, Western Australia to Bert Kaempferts Swingin’ Safari and also The Seekers. This music still gets me twitching and I love Judith Durham’s voice and the harmonies around it. I also like to be reminded of my Australian roots.

I became a keen student of air guitar . . . a ❝ necessity for anyone with red hair and glasses because no-one would ever kiss you ❞ ● Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird I moved back to England when my Dad died in 1969 and grew up in Marlborough where I became a keen student of air guitar at village hall discos. This is a necessity for anyone with red hair and glasses because no-one would ever kiss you, so you just stood in the middle of the room, plucking, fretting and shaking wildly until your glasses flew off. But hand on heart; this is the best air guitar track ever. ● The Clash – Guns of Brixton My mid 1970s are a bit of a blur; however there were some amazing bands around and also female singer-songwriters, such as Joni Mitchell, Carol King and for something a little more dangerous, Patti Smith. So when Miss Whitehead got up in assembly one morning and announced that today’s record, as chosen by the sixth form was White Riot by The Clash, no one went back to Cat Stevens after that. I listened to them right through medical school during the 80s while living in student digs in Brixton. WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

● Ian Dury and the Blockheads – Wake Up and Make Love with Me Ian is a hero of mine. Some of his lyrics are a tad explicit, but he was also able to write and perform gentler songs wrapped up in Chaz Jankel’s superb jazz funk. I saw him a couple of times and he always used to open on Wake Up with the piano introduction extended as he made a huge entrance. ● Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower In 1979 I switched from comprehensive to public school in Marlborough, a traumatic time because of the animosity between ‘town and gown’. The music was different too – the students were into Dylan, Bowie, the Doors and Lou Reed. I’ve opted for the Hendrix dramatic version of this song; I listened to it a lot during my gap year in Australia and it reminds me of one of my favourite films Withnail and I. I would have loved to have been a 60s child. ● Louis Armstrong – Give Me a Kiss to Build a Dream On From the day I started playing the trumpet, aged 11, I wanted to be Mr Armstrong. OK, I’d skip growing up in the mean streets of New Orleans, but the sheer unadulterated joy that he brings to his music is inspirational. His voice and playing style are both unique and combine brilliantly in this Hammerstein song. ● Ben Folds Five – One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces My favourite 90s bands were Nirvana and Manic Street Preachers but the Ben Folds Five get my vote with this coruscating rant about a bullied student who makes it big and goes back to taunt his former oppressors at a school reunion. I played this as my warm-up track at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002. ● Kirsty MacColl – Free World I’ve had a soft spot for protest songs since I first discovered Tom Lehrer and I nearly chose Nina Simone’s legendary Mississippi Goddamm – ‘you don’t have to live next to me, just give me equality’. I came close to choosing Tom Robinson’s War Baby and the Clash’s version of Police and Thieves but there’s something about her voice that’s always got under my skin. ● Van Morrison – Brown-Eyed Girl My wife Jo, who incidentally has introduced me to some really great music, has beautiful brown eyes, so our song couldn’t be anything else. Apparently, most men can’t correctly guess the colour of their partner’s eyes, even if they’ve been married to them for 20 years. Try it now but be warned – it’ll end in tears (green are particularly hard to spot). ● Steve Hammond – Is This Enough? I realise I only have just one record left and I haven’t even mentioned the hundreds that I would have also liked to have picked, from Elgar’s Cello Concerto to Loudon Wainwright III. However, I will choose my brother Steve singing a track from his latest album Naked Heart. It’s only available in Western Australia, although there’s the odd copy doing the rounds in the Chew Valley. Please sir, can I have some more? ■

Now you can listen to the Face the Music tunes thanks to a link on : wwwthebathmag.co.uk NOVEMBER 2013

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Something to shout about Philip Raby director of the Bath Film Festival 2013 introduces some of the highlights of this year’s screenings – ably demonstrating that this is an art form that rises above the mass consumption of popcorn and the American industry’s pandering to the lowest common denominator

ath Abbey is the setting for a spectacular screening of a 1928 masterpiece, The Passion of Joan of Arc, with live music composed by Will Gregory from Goldfrapp and Adrian Utley of Portishead and conducted by Charles Hazelwood. This show, which includes 24 musicians playing along, is on Monday 25 November is a suitably impressive opener for the 2013 Bath Film Festival. Then, from Thursday 28 November for 10 days, film lovers will able to luxuriate in a lake of great movies, which will appeal to every taste, whatever your age or size. The 23rd Bath Film Festival will be the best yet. With so many fantastic films to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start, so let’s just jump in the deep end with Robert Redford. All Is Lost is a phenomenon of a film. Set on board a yacht, crewed by Redford, it is the story of what happens when floating debris from a passing tanker holes his boat. From then on, it’s one man against the elements. The Best of Men – originally shown on television – is an appropriate title for a film about Dr Ludwig Guttman, who in 1943 turned the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries unit from a dumping ground for crippled men into an inspiration for disabled people, and ultimately the starting point for the Paralympics. The Crash Reel is another tale of heroism and dedication, telling the story of Kevin Pearce, an Olympic standard snowboarder whose massive head injury forced him to come to terms with the loss of his passion in life. On a lighter note, Kauwboy features the greatest ever performance by a bird in cinema history. A young jackdaw is rescued by a young Dutch boy who rears it alone, in a film that

is like Kes, only less tragic. And for sheer magic, you can’t beat La Belle et La Bete, a film of sublime beauty and romance, made in 1946 and still better than any other version of Beauty and the Beast. You can see Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela, Ralph Fiennes as Charles Dickens, and Daniel Radcliffe as Allen Ginsberg. Documentary subjects include fracking, the attempt to climb Everest in 1924, two Scots rappers pretending to be American, and a powerful film about the legendary/notorious Pussy Riot. We have several films from Latin America, currently the hotbed of creativity in world cinema – After Lucia deals with bullying, White Elephant is a tale of integrity fighting against corruption, while Wakolda is an exquisitely chilling tale of Josef Mengele in Argentina. The Patience Stone is a moving story set in Afghanistan, while Sixteen was made locally by a new young director. And no festival would be complete without a quota of wonderful French films, including Marius and Fanny, with and by Daniel Auteuil, set in Marseilles in the 1920s. Add to this the IMDb Awards, in which the best five short films by new film makers compete to win £1,000, plus the premiere of the short film made by the winner of the 2013 Bath Film Festival IMDb Award who has used the £5,000 prize money to make the film. Throw in the special appearances by a large number of film makers, and you can see why it would be a bad idea to leave town.

Visit our website to enjoy clips from the Bath Film Festival’s films: www.thebathmag.co.uk

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DARE TO BE DIFFERENT: main picture, Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer is a documentary made by director Mike Lerner, who will be attending the Bath screening for a Q&A session Inset, Philip Raby, director of the Bath Film Festival

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SUPER 8 GOOD REASONS TO LEAVE THE HOUSE Bath Film Festival’s programming committee pick their Super 8 – films to watch at this year’s Bath Film Festival 1 Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer. Thursday 28 November, 9.15pm, Chapel Arts 2013’s hit documentary at Sheffield Doc fest. An eye-opening documentary looking at the lives of the young women who rose to fame for punk stunts and then for the punitive two year sentence Putin’s Russia imposed on them. A considerate film which includes both sides of the story. Made all the more fascinating by the presence of Mike Lerner, the film’s director. 2 Channeling. Saturday 30 November, 9pm, Masonic Hall. Massively popular on the sci-fi circuit. High octane thriller/sci-fi set in the future, where people broadcast their lives live online via contact lens cameras – the more dangerous your life, the higher your ratings. Harking back to film noir, it beautifully portrays a world of exhibition and voyeurism. 3 Kawboy. Sunday 1 December, 2pm, Little Theatre. This Dutch entry for Best Foreign Film at the 2014 Oscars will become a family favourite. “Fast-paced, impulsive and immersive,” says Jennie Kermode. 4 Young & Beautiful/Jeune et Jolie. Sunday 1 December, 6.20pm, Little Theatre. Nominated for the Palme D’Or, this mesmerising film spends a year in the life of a beautiful 17year old girl who sells her body to rich older men. “François Ozon’s new film is a luxurious fantasy of a young girl’s flowering,” Peter Bradshaw.

INTERNATIONAL HERO: Idris Elba plays Nelson Mandela in A Long Walk to Freedom

We are thrilled to be screening this film from local Director, Rob Brown. Jumah was a child soldier in the Congo, now living in London he is turning 16 and wrestling with his past and his present. Rob Brown will be joining us for Q&As at the end of the screening. 6 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Sunday 8 December, 8pm, Little Theatre. The wonderful Idris Elba (star of The Wire) stars as Nelson Mandela in this epic film about his life, from activist to national leader and international inspiration. 7 For Those In Peril. Saturday 7 December, 6pm, Little Theatre. Set on a remote Scottish the film follows the story of a boy who as sole survivor of a ship

5 Sixteen. Monday 2 December, 6.30pm, Chapel Arts. Stunning debut feature from a local director. Anyone can become a Friend of Bath Film Festival FREE by signing up to the newsletter on: www.bathfilmfestival.org.uk and receive priority booking, special offers and competitions.

WIN

GRIPPING: Robert Redford in All is Lost

wreck, becomes the Jonah of his village. “A striking film form a valuable new talent,” said The Guardian. “A beautiful, affecting film, part fable, part poem: A full week after first viewing, I find myself still sifting through montage images that linger in the mind like a half-remembered dream,” wrote Mark Kermode. 8 We Are The Best/ Vi är bäst! Sunday 8 December, 3.30pm, Little Theatre. 13-year-old punks rock in 1980s Stokholm. Winner of the Audience Award at the Reykjavik International Film Festival, this is a film for everyone who has ever been 13, and is already being widely hailed as a future classic. “Punk may well be dead, but in the insubordination of adolescence it will remain alive forever, as Moodysson’s delightful crowdpleaser so enjoyably proves,” said Cinevue. ■ For a full programme of screenings for the Bath Film Festival 2013 visit: www.bathfilmfestival.org.

dinner for two and tickets to your choice of film

Our fabulous cover was created by Adam Wyatt of Bath based design house Flipside, which has been been delivering illustration, graphic design and motion graphics for nearly five years. International clients include the Affordable Art Fair, Coors Brewery and Orange, and south west clients such as Jacob's Coffee House,NRK Music, Elusive Surf, Soundguard and Bath Film Festival. Holly Tarquini of Bath Film Festival said: “Bath Film Festival was looking for creative designers, and wanted a beautiful promotional piece which made reference to both film and Bath. Adam from Flipside has done a superb job, and met the brief brilliantly.” Adam has deftly woven a number of well-known WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

TweetChat with Bath Film Festival’s director every Thursday from 31 October. Tweet your favourite 2 films to @BathFilm and Philip will personally recommend two films from the 2013 Bath Film Festival line-up for you. #BFFChat.

films into the picture – but just how many can you spot? Email your answers to: hello@bathfilmfestival.org.uk by noon on Monday 19 November and the first correct answer drawn from the director’s baseball cap will win an early pre-film dinner for two at the fabulous Allium Brasserie, followed by a pair of tickets to the film of their choice. Don’t forget to include your contact details on your competition entry, which should carry the subject line: The Bath Magazine competition. ■ To discuss a project, arrange a meeting or just find out more about Flipside, contact Adam Wyatt at Flipside, email: adam@flipsidestudio.co.uk, or visit: www.flipsidestudio.co.uk NOVEMBER 2013

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SANTA STREET Stylish, snuggly, sparkly . . .The Bath Magazine has started your Christmas shopping list early. Or why not circle the gift youʼd most like and simply leave this page open in a hintful sort of way?

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1. Enamel Pheasant cufflinks, £65, Cotswold Country, 28 Milsom Street, www.cotswoldcountry.co.uk 2. Gift boxed cutlery items from £10, Robert Welch, 6 Broad Street, www.robertwelch.com 3. Hand-made crystal necklace, £373, Carina Baverstock Couture, 24 Silver St Bradford-on-Avon, www.carinabcouture.com 4. Women’s leather gloves with three points and contrasting fine lambswool lining, £90, Dents, www.dents.co.uk 5. Snowy soft toy, £17.95, Bloomsbury, 15 New Bond Street, www.bloomsburystore.com 6. Burberry Brit Colour Coated London Leather i-pad Mini Case, £175, John Anthony, 26-28 High Street, www.john-anthony.com 7. Veho Muvi Atom Camera, NPNG bundle, Cotswold Outdoor, £80, 2 Abbeygate Street, www.cotswoldoutdoor.com 8. Ruby and Ed women’s snuggle boots, £39, Green Street House, 14 Green Street, www.greenstreethouse.co.uk 9. Soundlink Mini bluetooth Speaker, Paul Green Hi-Fi, £169, Brassmill Lane, Brassmill Enterprise Centre, www.paulgreenhifi.co.uk Continued on page 28 26 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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GRASSE

Luxury Items for Home and Garden | Truly Tempting Skincare A unique shopping experience with fresh style and approach 3 Argyle Street, Bath BA2 4BA 01225 444260 | www.grasse.me.uk

Gold & Platinum Studio

Loved forever... Beautifully crafted engagement rings, wedding rings and fine jewellery designed and traditionally handmade on the premises. All types of jewellery remodelled. Efficient repair service.

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WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

NOVEMBER 2013

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For more gift ideas visit our website... 10. Amphora’s Winter Rescue gift box is perfect for the colder months and is one of a range of beautiful gift boxes newly created for Christmas 2013, £10.95 including P&P, www.amphora-retail.com 11. Barbour Melrose Fairisle scarf and beanie hat in grey £90 (also sold separately), John Anthony, 26-28 High Street, www.john-anthony.com 12. Newgate Putney Wall Clock in chrome, £85, Bloomsbury, 15 New Bond Street, www.bloomsburystore.com 13. Decora Chant waterproof boot, £145, Cotswold Outdoor, 2 Abbeygate Street, www.cotswoldoutdoor.com 14. Mandu Peak waterproof coat, £280, Jack Wolfskin, 36-37 Westgate Street, www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk 15. Washable non irritant Alpaca blankets, variety of sizes, start at £24.99 - £95, Grasse, 3 Argyle Street, www.grasse.me.uk 16. Farrington’s hamper includes home-made jams, chutneys, cakes and Christmas puds, gift packs from £8.50, Farrington's Hampers, Home Farm Main Street, Farrington Gurney, www.farringtons.co.uk 17. Littala Taika Expresso boxed set, 2 x cup and saucers, £34, Shannon, 68 Walcot Street, www.shannon-uk.com 18. Handmade Turkish Kilim bag (genuine leather and wool), £125, Oriental Rugs of Bath, Hallatrow Business Park, Wells Road, Bristol, www.orientalrugsofbath.com

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engell

bespoke jewellery shop

tina engell 29 belvedere, bath ba1 5hr 01225 443334

www.tinaengell.com

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

NOVEMBER 2013

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Magnificent Mozart To herald the start of this year’s Mozartfest The Bath Magazine’s readers are being offered a ticket deal

ow in its 23rd year, the annual Bath Mozartfest has the work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at its heart but ventures well beyond, taking in those who influenced the great composer and those he inspired. This year’s festival takes place from Friday 8 to Saturday 16 November. The Mozartfest is now the The Takacs Quartet premier classical music festival in the south west, with several concerts already sold out. Its secret weapon appears to be its artistic director, Amelia Freedman. This modest woman – whose plaudits include a CBE; no fewer than three decorations from the French Government; and a medal for services to Czech music – has been a force to be reckoned with in the music industry for many years. She was the artistic director of Bath International Festival in the 1980s and early 1990s, but other roles have included head of music at the Royal Festival Hall and at the South Bank Centre. Amelia’s peerless programming, and her ability to twist the arms of international musicians and lure them to Bath, is legendary. An outstanding event at Bath Abbey on Saturday 9 November is a great example of this. A starry cast of soloists will join the choir and orchestra of The Sixteen to present Handel’s oratorio, Jephtha, based on the Old Testament story of the returning warrior who promises God that he will sacrifice the first creature he lays eyes upon following his victory – only for that to be his own daughter. There will be just two performances of Jephtha, first in Bath and then in the new year in London. The festival will open with the music of Mozart, played at the opening concert at the Assembly Rooms at 8pm on Friday 8 November, by the Takács Quartet. This concert will also introduce the Czech strand which runs through the programme with Janáček’s Intimate Letters. The Nash Ensemble will present a chamber arrangement of the Overture to Mozart’s Don Giovanni and also perform Schubert’s Octet. Amelia Freedman founded the Nash Ensemble in 1964, was the clarinetist in the original line-up and is their artistic director almost 50 years later. Other highlights include the Schubert Ensemble, formed to play the composer’s repertoire for piano and strings, and specifically Schubert’s Trout Quintet and will do so on Wednesday 13 November. The acclaimed French ensemble, Trio Wanderer, will be making its first Mozartfest appearance with a programme ranging from Mozart to Ravel and Schubert; the pianist András Schiff will be presenting an all-Beethoven programme; and The Cardinall’s Musick will give a candlelit concert in St Mary’s Church, Bathwick, on Thursday 14 November. The grand finale will be Manchester’s famous Hallé orchestra. Jamie Phillips will conduct Mozart’s Prague symphony, then Sir Mark Elder will conduct the thrilling young violinist Alina Ibragimova in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, and close with Elgar’s Enigma Variations. Full details at www.bathmozartfest.org.uk, or Bath Box Office on 01225 46336, tickets, £10 to £36.

The Bath Magazine Reader Offer

We are delighted to be able to offer two tickets for the price of one for either of two concerts: Trio Wanderer at the Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm on Tuesday 12 November. Outstanding French piano trio, playing Mozart, Ravel and Schubert. Tickets, £28, £23, £17, £10. The Cardinall’s Musick directed by Andrew Carwood at St Mary’s Bathwick at 7.30pm on Thursday 14 November. Concert by candlelight, entitled English Genius and featuring works from Tallis, Byrd and Britten. Tickets, £28, £23, £19, £14, £10. To book, call Bath Box Office on 01225 463362 and quote ref: BMO1.Conditions apply: only one pair of tickets per person; subject to availability; the free ticket offered will be of the same value as the one purchased; offer available in person or by telephone from Bath Box Office only (not available online).

WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

NOVEMBER 2013

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Magnificent Mozart To herald the start of this year’s Mozartfest The Bath Magazine’s readers are being offered a ticket deal

ow in its 23rd year, the annual Bath Mozartfest has the work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at its heart but ventures well beyond, taking in those who influenced the great composer and those he inspired. This year’s festival takes place from Friday 8 to Saturday 16 November. The Takacs Quartet The Mozartfest is now the premier classical music festival in the south west, with several concerts already sold out. Its secret weapon appears to be its artistic director, Amelia Freedman. This modest woman – whose plaudits include a CBE; no fewer than three decorations from the French Government; and a medal for services to Czech music – has been a force to be reckoned with in the music industry for many years. She was the artistic director of Bath International Festival in the 1980s and early 1990s, but other roles have included head of music at the Royal Festival Hall and at the South Bank Centre. Amelia’s peerless programming, and her ability to twist the arms of international musicians and lure them to Bath, is legendary. An outstanding event at Bath Abbey on Saturday 9 November is a great example of this. A starry cast of soloists will join the choir and orchestra of The Sixteen to present Handel’s oratorio, Jephtha, based on the Old Testament story of the returning warrior who promises God that he will sacrifice the first creature he lays eyes upon following his victory – only for that to be his own daughter. There will be just two performances of Jephtha, first in Bath and then in the new year in London. The festival will open with the music of Mozart, played at the opening concert at the Assembly Rooms at 8pm on Friday 8 November, by the Takács Quartet. This concert will also introduce the Czech strand which runs through the programme with Janáček’s Intimate Letters. The Nash Ensemble will present a chamber arrangement of the Overture to Mozart’s Don Giovanni and also perform Schubert’s Octet. Amelia Freedman founded the Nash Ensemble in 1964, was the clarinetist in the original line-up and is their artistic director almost 50 years later. Other highlights include the Schubert Ensemble, formed to play the composer’s repertoire for piano and strings, and specifically Schubert’s Trout Quintet and will do so on Wednesday 13 November. The acclaimed French ensemble, Trio Wanderer, will be making its first Mozartfest appearance with a programme ranging from Mozart to Ravel and Schubert; the pianist András Schiff will be presenting an all-Beethoven programme; and The Cardinall’s Musick will give a candlelit concert in St Mary’s Church, Bathwick, on Thursday 14 November. The grand finale will be Manchester’s famous Hallé orchestra. Jamie Phillips will conduct Mozart’s Prague symphony, then Sir Mark Elder will conduct the thrilling young violinist Alina Ibragimova in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, and close with Elgar’s Enigma Variations. Full details at www.bathmozartfest.org.uk, or Bath Box Office on 01225 46336, tickets, £10 to £36.

The Bath Magazine Reader Offer

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LIN’S LEISURE TRIPS

Lin’s Leisure Trips is a Community Interest Company offering leisure outings for both able bodied and disabled adults. A wheelchair accessible coach will be provided if required and will pick people up from central locations in or around Bath and Bristol as requested. For details of any of the listed trips please contact us on 0117 9372364. Sat 2nd Nov

Clark’s Village

£15 (£12 conc)

Sat 9th Nov

Swindon Outlet Centre

£15 (£12 conc)

Fri 15th Nov

Cadbury Garden Centre

£15 (£12 conc)

Fri 22nd Nov

Slimbridge

£28 (£24 conc)

Sat 30th Nov

Bicester Outlet Centre

£24 (£19 conc)

Thurs 12th Dec

Christmas Meal at Prince of Wales Hotel, Berkeley, Gloucester. Cost of meal £16.95 for 2 courses or £19.95 for 3 courses. Cost of transport £14.50 (£12.50 conc).

If you cancel once a coach or minibus has been booked your money can only be returned if your ticket is resold. Coach may be cancelled if less than half full.

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

North and South, an exhibition of paintings from New Zealand and England by Mary Liddell at The Norfolk Room, The Bath and County Club, Queens Parade, Bath BA1 2NJ. Exhibition is open On Saturday November 23rd from 12.00pm-6.00pm, and Sunday November 24th from 12.00pm-4.00pm, and by appointment until December 15th. 01225 849094 or 07760962011

For more information email maryliddellart@gmail.com www.maryliddellart.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2013

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WHAT’S ON in November Events are listed in chronological order To promote your event visit: wwwthebathmag.co.uk

Characters: People and Portraits from the Arts Council Collection Until 7 January

REGAL: Hew Locke’s Medusa was inspired by the Queen

The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath. Tel: 388569 Admission to the Holburne is free, but for £6.95 visitors can also enjoy one of the visiting exhibitions. Currently there’s an eclectic collection of portraits of people real and imagined from artists including Peter Blake, Paula Rego and Hew Locke. There is also a talk, at 3.30pm, on Tuesday 19 November, by Holburne director Alexander Sturgis which will give new insight into the work in the show.

Also at the Holburne this month Tuesday 5 November & Tuesday 19 November, 1.10pm – 1.50pm Give yourself a real lift at lunchtime by enjoying one of a series of short day-time concerts at the Holburne. Bath Spa University students perform Benjamin Britten’s song cycle, On This Island on 5 November, while US based pianist Michael Sellers plays Chopin, Liszt and Poulenc on 19 November. Tickets are £5 – barely more than the price of a supermarket packed lunch. To book tel: 01225 388569.

Jenny Chandler: food writer Friday 1 November, 8pm Topping & Co bookshop, the Paragon Bath. To book tel: 01225 428111 Bristol food writer Jenny Chandler is an entertaining and engaging personality. In her latest book, Pulse, she is keen to throw off the old hippie image of lentils and split peas, offering delicious and healthy veggie and meat dishes. Tickets are £7/£8 redeemable against the book.

CHIN CHIN: Simon Callow

THEATRE ROYAL: Felicity Kendal

POPULAR: crime writer Ian Rankin

PULSE: food writer Jenny Chandler

★ Editor’s pick

Visit our website for more events and things to do. To promote your event log on and get listed. wwwthebathmag.co.uk

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Bath Fireworks Display Saturday 2 November, gates open 6pm, fireworks at 7.30pm Bath Recreation Ground. Tickets on sale from Bath Building Society or Bath Rugby ticket office on Pulteney Bridge Always a popular event is this spectacular open air show, lighting up the skies above Bath. Tickets are £5 adults, £3 children (in advance) and £6/£4 on the night. Money raised at this Bath Rotary Club organised event always goes to help local charities.

Also at Topping & Co this month Ian Rankin Monday 11 November Christ Church, Julian Road, Bath, 7.30pm The creator of John Rebus brings his detective back on the crime scene in his new book, Saints of the Shadow Bible. Tickets from Topping & Co bookshop, tel: 01225 428111.

Brian May: Diableries Thursday 14 November, 8pm Christ Church, Julian Road, Bath, 7.30pm Better known for his guitar skills and his knowledge of astronomy, May will be instead giving an illustrated talk at St Swithin’s Church on a collection of 19th century French diaramas depicting hell.

Simon Callow and Felicity Kendal in Chin-Chin Monday 4 – Saturday 9 November Theatre Royal Bath. To book tel: 01225 448844 Simon Callow and Felicity Kendal haven’t played opposite each other since 1979 in Amadeus, now they are re-united in Francois Billetdoux’s 1959 play. They play two characters whose spouses are having an affair and who are thrown together.

Also at the Theatre Royal this month A Midsummer Night’s Dream Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 November Director Edward Hall has an all-male cast from the Propeller theatre company, giving Shakespeare’s play a boost of testosterone-fuelled energy.

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WHAT’Son Fiddler on the Roof Monday 25 – Saturday 30 November

Queen Extravanganza Sunday 10 November

Paul Michael Glaser – who played David Starsky in Starsky and Hutch – stars as Tevye in this musical which features If I Were a Rich Man, Matchmaker Matchmaker and Sunrise Sunset. We know that the show’s not going to be a dancing disaster as it’s directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood.

Komedia Bath, Westgate Street, Bath An official Queen tribute show put together by Brian May and Roger Taylor, who auditioned thousands of musicians for a UK wide tour. It also includes footage of the original band. Tickets, £19.50 plus booking fee: www.queenextravaganza.com.

Woyceck Monday 4 – Tuesday 5 November

Also at Komedia this month Wednesday 20 November, 7.30pm Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds

The egg Theatre, tel: 01225 823409 This new adapation of an powerful war drama by Georg Büchner, set in the First World War is not suitable for anyone under 10.

TRIBUTE: Queen Extravanganza

Also at the egg this month C Laramie Project Thursday 21 – Saturday 23 November

Roving Crows Saturday 9 November, 7.30pm

The Theatre Royal’s Young People’s Theatre brings us one of America’s most performed plays which tells the true story of a hate crime and the effect it had on the residents of Laramie. This terrific, strong piece of theatre is not suitable for those under 14.

Chapel Arts, Lower Borough Walls, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 463362 www.chapelarts.org.uk Gloucestershire based multi-award winning, folkdid a sell-out gig here last year, and now they’re back as part of their new album tour.

Music from the Silk Road Concert by the Temujin Ensemble Wednesday 6 November, 7pm

Bevan Family Concert Sunday 10 November, 4pm

Museum of East Asian Art, Bennett St, Bath This is the last event for the 20th anniversary celebrations of the museum. A rare chance to enjoy the tranquillity of Asian music.£10 advance, £12 at the door. Tel: 01225 464 640.

St John the Evangelist RC Church South Parade, Bath Tickets £30, £25, £20, £10 from Bath Festivals Box Office, tel: 01225 463362. Enjoy music from 18 members of the Bevan family, with proceeds in aid of St John’s Jubilee Fund.

Ade Edmondson has re-invented himself since his Young Ones days, not only is he an accomplished chef, winning Celebrity Masterchef, but he’s also a fine musician. The Bad Shepherds play punk songs on folk instruments, with songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers, The Jam, The Undertones, The Ramones, The Buzzcocks and others. It’s a little surreal at first but then rather magical and lyrical. Tickets: £18.50.

Keep the Home Fires Burning Monday 11 – Tuesday 12 November, 7.30pm The Misson Theatre, Corn Street, Bath Apollo Theatre Company presents a new show, written and performed by Amy Hamlen with Timothy Bond on the piano, which uses real accounts of women who lived through the war, with music and songs from the period. Tickets £10 (£8 concs) Bath Box Office 01225 463362 online at www.bathboxoffice.org.uk. Continued on page 36

THE HOLBURNE LANTERN PROCESSION 5pm Thursday 28 November 2013. Assemble at the Holburne at 4.30pm IN ASSOCIATION WITH BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET Join in or simply enjoy the spectacle of this year’s Holburne Lantern Procession. Feast your eyes on our food themed procession as our dinner party of withy and tissue lanterns dazzle and delight as they travel through Bath.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR LANTERN Lantern Kits available from the Holburne Museum Information Desk Cost £2 per kit

Workshops for School Aged Children Please see our website http://www.holburne.org/lantern-procession/

HOW TO TAKE PART

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WHAT’Son Winter Showcase: Fashion Bloodhound Wednesday 13 November, 5pm preview, 6pm general sale The Francis Hotel Queen Square, Bath Snap up pre-owned designer pieces from the likes of Chanel, Louboutin, Mulberry & Alexander McQueen with up to 70% off the retail price. From 5-6pm there’s an exclusive preview – tickets are £10 with the chance to shop before anyone else. Main doors open at 6pm, with no entry charge. Tickets: www.fashionbloodhound.com.

Louise Jameson in My Gay Best Friend

Iain Ballamy & Gareth Williams Wednesday 13 November, 7.30pm Michael Tippett Centre, Bath Spa University, Newton St Loe Iain Ballamy is one of the few living, non-American musicians in the BBC’s 100 Jazz Legends. Pianist Gareth Williams’ style encompasses a broad spectrum from the muscularity of McCoy Tyner to the harmonic genius and subtlety of Bill Evans. Their repertoire is wide-ranging from personal interpretations of classic jazz standards and songs through to original pieces by both players. Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions): www.michaeltippettcentre.org, Bath Box Office: 01225 463362

★Editor’s pick

My Gay Best Friend Thursday 14 November, 7.30pm University Theatre, Bath Spa University, Newton St Loe www.universitytheatre.org Bath Festivals Box Office: 01225 463362 Louise Jameson’s TV roles include the leather-clad Leela from Doctor Who, Rosa di Marco in Eastenders, Bergerac’s girlfriend Susan and Blanche in Tenko. But she also has a long history on the stage and here she is playing Rachel in My Gay Best Friend, an award-winning play which she co-wrote with fellow performer Nigel Fairs. Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions)

The Sorcerer Bath Gilbert and Sullivan Society Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 November, 7.30pm, Saturday, 2.30pm The Mission Theatre, Corn Street, Bath The rarely seen Sorcerer was the first full-length comic opera by the immortal duo and introduced the character types and musical signatures that came to epitomise the Gilbert and Sullivan style. This is a concert performance. Tickets: £10, £8 (concessions) tel: 01225 400295 or Bath Box Office on 01225 463362.

SHOPPING SPREE: Fashion Bloodhound’s Winter Showcase

Mik Artistik’s Ego Trip and The BelleFleurs Friday 15 November, 7.30pm Bath Cricket Club After headlining the opening night of Bath Comedy Festival two years running, Mik Artistik and the boys return to weave spells from comedy, song, story telling and moments of human bathos, with support from local favourites The BelleFleurs who sing close harmonies for some punk, rock and metal numbers. Tickets £14, £12 concessions, www.bathcomedy.com, tel: 0800 411 8881. The BelleFleurs

Mik Artistik

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For more information about events and what’s happening in Bath visit our website which is updated daily Or to promote your event, log on and get it listed. www.thebathmag.co.uk

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The Cat, The Fox & The Crow Friday 15th November, 7.30pm Chapel Arts Centre, Bath The Bath pop-folk acoustic band is supporting The Forever Friends Appeal’s RUH Cancer Care Campaign which is raising money to build a new cancer centre. Tickets £5 on the door.

Walk and Draw workshop with Andrew Lansley Saturday 16 November, 10am – 4pm Workshop: Exploring Drypoint Bath Artist Printmakers Studios, Larkhall Drypoint is a direct means of creating imagery from observed drawings. Andrew’s workshop offers an introduction to printmaking and an enjoyable and relaxing creative experience. £55 to include materials, tel: 079 2006 0015.

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WHAT’Son Ora et Labora From Saturday 16 November

that have led her to this very point on the stage and celebrates the choice that each audience member made to join her. Organised by the ICIA at the University of Bath. Tickets £12, £10 concessions. Visit: www.bath.ac.uk/icia/events for the full programme of diverse events organised by ICIA at various venues.

Abbey Green, Bath An exhibition gives insight into the city’s historic monastic life. The accompanying shop will be selling artisan goods produced in monasteries in England and beyond. From Trappist beers to Florentine leather gifts from Scuola del Cuoio, products are supplied by monastic communities using ancient skills.

Soldiers’ Wives Saturday 16 November, 7.30pm Pound Arts Centre, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire Former Casualty actor Cathy Shipton stars in this funny and moving play which examines the lives of five wives living on an army base while their husbands are serving in Afghanistan. £10 (£9 concessions) Box office: 01249 701628

City of Bath Heraldic Society: devices on Edwardian picture postcards Saturday 16 November, 2.30pm Manvers Street Baptist Church Halls, Manvers Street, Bath Talk on heraldic devices on Edwardian postcards, by Stephen Tudsbery Turner, followed by refreshments. Visitors welcome, admission £3. The society meets regulary, for more information email: john.janet@uwclub.net.

Cotswold Voluntary Wardens’ Walk Sunday 17 November, 10am Meet at Lansdown Park & Ride Explore Lansdown and its valleys with a ten mile walk led by a volunteer, taking in Beckford’s Tower, Cotswold Way, battlefield, returning via Langridge and Woolley. Bring a packed lunch and allow 5½ hours.

Also on Sunday 24 November, 10am An eight mile walk taking in the Lansdown Plateau. Please bring a picnic lunch. Start at Lansdown Park and Ride, OS Map ST 732681.

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Jamie Walton

Jamie Walton: cellist Saturday 16 November, 7pm Wells Cathedral School, Wells Internationally-acclaimed cellist Jamie Walton performs Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the school’s orchestra. Jamie is an ex-Wells music pupil who due to family illness had to leave Wells suddenly. He is patron of the project raising £9.4m for Cedar Halls, a community performing arts hall in Wells. Tickets, £10 – £20 tel: 01749 834483 or email: boxoffice@wells-cathedral-school.com.

Sylvia Rimat: If You Decide to Stay Saturday 16 November, 7.30pm Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, Bath, Tel: 01225 386777. Sylvia Rimat takes a wry look at the decisions

Also at the Pound this month Gavin Robertson: Bond Saturday November 30, 7.30pm Gavin Robertson focuses on the Bond phenomenon, spoofing the characters adored by millions and exploding every cliché in the book(s). £8 (£7 concessions) Limited £1 tickets for under 16s. Box office: 01249 701628.

Prior Park College Yuletide Fair Sunday 17 November, 11.30am – 4pm Prior Park College, Ralph Allen Drive, Bath Start your Christmas shopping browsing among more than 40 stalls offering a wide range of gifts, while supporting local business. Refreshments in the John Wood Chapel and free parking.

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WHAT’Son No 1 Royal Crescent: Guide to Restoring Georgian Interiors Monday 18 November, 10am – 3.30pm

Anne Boleyn Wednesday 27 – Saturday 30 November, 8pm The Rondo Theatre, Larkhall. Bath Box Office: 01225 463362, www.bathboxoffice.org.uk With its heady mix of passion, intrigue, betrayal, religion, singing, dancing and cross-dressing this production explores the woman who lost her head to Henry VIII. Tickets £10 and £8.

No.1 Royal Crescent museum, owned by the Bath Preservation Trust Professionals show how they have helped to restore No. 1 Royal Crescent. Gain advice on how to refurbish a Georgian house. The day will cover topics, including colour, wallpaper, lighting, fixtures and fittings. Includes a tour of the house. Tickets, £45 to include lunch.

Also at No 1 this month An Evening with the Gin Lane Gazette Friday 29 November, 7 – 10pm Tickets £40. Gin punch and canapés. Caricaturist and author of the Gin Lane Gazette, Adrian Teal, and historian Hallie Rubenhold take visitors back to the 18th century.

Widcombe Craft Fair Saturday 23 November, 10.30am-5pm St Matthew’s Church, Widcombe Hill, Bath Browse among 40 stalls including ceramics, jewellery, textiles, cards, Christmas decorations, and pictures, direct from the makers. Free entry and refreshments are available.

Bath Community Gospel Choir concerts Saturday 23 November, 7.30pm St Swithin’s Church, Walcot An evening of entertainment – from uplifting gospel numbers to atmospheric, moving pieces. Tickets £7 (£5 conc.) tel: 01225 463362, or on the door.

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Border Tales Thursday 28 – Saturday 30 November, 7.30pm Sunday 1 December 2.30pm Quilter Alicia Merrett will be at the West Country Quilt Show

Also on Tuesday 17 December, 7.30pm Manvers St Baptist Church Bath’s Community Gospel Choir will give a free concert in aid of Christian Aid’s Big Sing, donations welcome. Gospel tunes, Christmas classics and audience participation.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Wednesday 27 November– Sunday 1 December, 7.30pm The Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, The Paragon, Bath Tom Stoppard’s brilliantly witty play is brought to the beautiful Gothic surroundings of the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel by Core Theatre Productions, a Bath community theatre company. Tickets: £10, £8 concessions, tel: 01225 463362.

Freedom through Dance Studio, La Scala, Shaftesbury Road, Bath £12, £10 concessions £7 Bath SU Box Office: 01225 386777 www.bath.ac.uk/icia Award-winning dance company Protein returns to ICIA with Border Tales, which considers multicultural living using a cast of international and local performers.

West Country Quilt Show Thursday 28 – Saturday 30 November, 9.30am – 4.30pm Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet This is the second year of the show, which will see dozens of makers and suppliers gathered under one roof, with demonstrations, talks and workshops. Guests include Stuart Hilliard of the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee series. Tickets, £9, tel: 0117 907 1000 or visit: www. westcountryquiltshow.co.uk. Free parking. Continued on page 40

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WHAT’Son Walcot State Choir Friday 29 November, 7.30pm

Hopper, Thomas Hobbs and Callum Thorpe.

St Michael’s Without Church, Broad Street, Bath A concert to raise money for Action on Hearing Loss Bath Day Services. Tickets £5, on the door or Bath Box Office or direct from choir members.

Christmas Paper Art Workshop Saturday 7 December Jessica Palmer’s Widcombe studio Learn paper cutting, paper collage or paper craft in a small group with lunch and all tools and materials provided. Design your own paper art eChristmas card or create a unique paper gift. Suitable for beginners and those who want to improve their skills. £50, to book email: palmerk@outlook.com or tel: 01225 284 598.

Learn a Language Languages United, Walcot Street, Bath Lessons in Turkish, Spanish French or Italian classes, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. £165 for ten weeks. 01225580058 or info@languagesunited.co.uk.

Charity Christmas card sale Until Wednesday 18 December St Michael’s Church, Broad Street, Bath There are cards from at least 25 charities, including local and national good causes on sale, as they are every year at this volunteer-run shop. Open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5pm.

Planning ahead Oh, Clarence! by the Argyle Players Wednesday 4 – Saturday 7 December, 7.30pm The Tovey Hall, Central United Reformed Church, Grove Street, Bath A comedy by John Chapman, adapted from the

Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight Sunday 8 December, 7.30pm WORKSHOP:papercuts with Jessica Palmer

Lord Emsworth stories by PG Wodehouse. Tickets from the Bath Box Office, tel: 01225 463362, or tel: 01225 858112.

Theatre Royal, Bath The choir and orchestra will don full period costume for a recreation of Handel’s Messiah as it would have sounded at its premiere in 1742. Tickets £23/£25 tel: 01225 448844.

Handel’s Messiah: Bath Choral Society Friday 6 – Saturday 7 December, 7.30pm

Christmas Oratorio: JS Bach Saturday 14 December 7pm

Bath Abbey, Bath Box Office, www.boxoffice.org.uk, tel: 01225 463362 Bath Choral Society, directed by Will Dawes, will sing its celebrated annual concerts of Handel Messiah. The society will perform with the Bristol Ensemble and soloists Lucy Hall, Catherine

St Swithin’s Church, the Paragon, Bath The Bath Minerva Choir and the Southern Sinfonia Baroque with conductor Gavin Carr present Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, sung in English. Tickets £15 (under 16s £5) from www.bathboxoffice.org, tel: 01225 463362.

Missed the deadline to get your event listed in November’s magazine? You can post your event on our website. Visit: wwwthebathmag.co.uk to see what’s on in and around Bath

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONSS Gallery Nine Margaret’s Buildings, Bath www.gallerynine.co.uk Tel: 01225 319197

VIEW FROM LEWESDON HILL by KIT GLAISYER

The Octagon Milsom Place, off Milsom Street, Bath

Kit Glaisyer: The Cinematic Landscapes, Tuesday 19 November – Sunday 1 December, 10am – 6pm

The Octagon Milsom Place, off Milsom Street, Bath

Monday 4 – Sunday 17 November Joanne Cope: Cattle Beautifully crafted paintings of cattle in traditional portrait poses with matter-offact gazes, often turned directly back at the viewer.

Kit Glaisyer at work

TALK by JEREMY GARDINER Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Queen Square, Bath. Tickets: 01225 421842 Jeremy Gardiner: Unfolding Landscape Thursday 28 November, 7.30pm Join Jeremy Gardiner as he discusses his artistic excavation of the geology of landscape, how it is shaped by human activity and the forces of nature. Aware of distinct geologies, he interprets through his painting and printmaking a variety of landscapes that contain the marks and secrets of their own distant formation. Jeremy will be signing copies of his monograph: The Art of Jeremy Gardiner, Unfolding Landscape.

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Hand-crafted Christmas gifts made in Britain. Including watercolours by Kevin Hughes, pictured; decorative ceramics by Katrin Moye; colourful acrylic jewellery by Marlene Mckibbin; Laura Baxter’s jewellery which uses graphic and stylised interpretation of plants; Caroline Reynolds’ jewellery; Simon Mount’s quirky wooden objects and textiles including the work of Lyn Snow and Margo Selby. Walcot Chapel Walcot Street, Bath

Bovine beauties by Joanne Cope

Kit Glaisyer featured in the Portrait Prize at the Holburne Museum in 2012 and he is returning to Bath from Bridport in Dorset for a 10-year retrospective showing 40 of his striking landscape paintings. The show will include works that have been lent from private collections. The exhibition will include an installation of a studio where Kit can be seen at work. He grew up in rural Dorset, and his works evoke childhood memories of an ancient land, rolling hills, deep valleys, shadowy trees and farmland.

Christmas Exhibition, Saturday 9 November – to 24 December

Before Words Sunday 10 – Saturday 16 November An exhibition of prints, paintings and sculptural ceramics by Tim Millar and Colin Bell. Their work, they state: ‘explores the use of visual metaphors to connect the physical and metaphysical worlds that we live in.’ Lane House Arts Nelson Place East, Bath, BA1 5DA Tel: 07767 498403 www.lanehousearts.co.uk

Thursday November 14 – end January: Winter Colour This exhibition of contemporary art and ceramics brings colour and warmth to the winter with new abstracts from Trudy Montgomery, Kathryn Stevens, Susanna Lisle, Beryl Robinson and Julie Smith.

Detail from work by Trudy Montgomery

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS BREAKFAST VIEW by RONALD F SMITH Edgar Modern Bartlett Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 443746

Ronald F Smith: My Kind of Reality Edgar Modern’s 10th Anniversary Celebration Saturday 2 – Saturday 23 November To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Edgar Modern presents Ronald F Smith RSW’s solo exhibition My Kind of Reality. Two years in the making, Ronald’s latest collection brings the viewer on a surreal journey from north to south, from the empty wilderness of Scotland to the vibrant and warm Mediterranean coast. These works walk the line between realism and abstraction; Ronald takes what he sees and simplifies it by bringing-forth vibrant colours and shapes, giving a sense of effervescent spontaneity. Each painting captures a distinct moment in time, responding to the exact colours and light evoked by different seasons and times of day. For Ronald the subject is less important than his vision and the painting itself. His work is not just about pure representation, he says: “My Kind of Reality is not just about painting what I see. This simplification is not easy – it is a constant struggle.” He has been hailed as being one of the most collectable Scottish painters of the day.

BATHMAN by PERRY HARRIS

SOPHIE

VORTEX by IONE PARKIN

Artist Perry Harris shares his unique and witty observations of Bath with an exhibition of his cartoons and maps at the Guildhall, Bath, from Wednesday 6 November to 17 December.

CRETAN by PETER WALDRON

Victoria Art Gallery Owned by Bath & North East Somerset Council

Anthony Hepworth Fine Art Dealers Margaret’s Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP. Tel: 01225 310694. Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 5pm

Ione Parkin: Primal Matter 23 November – 2 February

Peter Waldron: Selected works from a Cretan Studio 2 – 20 November

Ione Parkin RWA creates abstract paintings which celebrate the beauty of the raw elements of nature. She references micrographic sources, satellite macroimagery of Earth’s surface and radio-telescopic images of deep space. In this one-person show, Ione presents a new body of intricately balanced work, rich in colour and texture – from the dynamically dramatic to the lyrically luminous. All works are for sale. Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1.305; closed Mondays and bank holidays.

Including paintings and drawings from the new Totemakia series. The artist says: “The paintings from the Cretan studio are an intuitive response to working and living on Crete – to the light, colour, warmth, drama and sheer magic of the Cretan landscape, language and people.” 44 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Admission Free

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS HEADLAND by DAISY COOK

SCREEN PRINT SCARF by LEE COREN Quercus Gallery Queen Street, Bath. Open Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.30pm

Hilton Fine Art Margaret’s Buildings, Bath Tel: 01225 311311

Daisy Cook: Ways and Meanings Tuesday 12 – 30 November

Friday 15 – Saturday 30 November: An Autumn Showcase

Inspiration comes from Robert Macfarlane’s The Old Ways, A Journey on Foot, the final book in what he describes as ‘a loose trilogy about landscape and the human heart'. And this is what Daisy has sought to encapsulate, following her way on foot along the Camino de Santiago, one of the most important medieval Christian pilgrims’ routes.

GLYCINE CREOL RED by DAMIEN HIRST

CORN MARKET by NICK CUDWORTH Nick Cudworth Gallery London St, top of Walcot Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 445221, visit: www.nickcudworth.com

Prints and originals by Morgan Doyle, Lauri Hopkins, Ed Kluz and Ella Paine with mixed media work by William Reardon, ceramics by Sian Patterson, jewellery by Emma Teale and textiles by Lee Coren. Beaux Arts York Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 464850

Walcot Street Friday 1 – 30 November

The White Room Gallery Brock Street, Bath BA1 2LN. Tel: 01225 331500

White Christmas 12 November – 31 January This is a cracker of a mixed Christmas exhibition featuring a wide selection of artists including Damien Hirst, Sir Peter Blake and Roy Lichtenstein. The collection also includes a selection of colourful new screen-prints by the Bristol based artist Lionel Friedland. For more information visit: www.thewhiteroomgallery.com.

Since moving into his own gallery at the top of Walcot Street Nick Cudworth has painted several works depicting the interesting and unusual buildings in this street, the artisan area of Bath. The images are available as prints and hand made cards. The exhibition coincides with Martin Tracy of The Framing Workshop rallying other traders to enter Walcot Street for The Daily Telegraph competition to find the best high street in the country

LA VIE (2008) by KENJI YOSHIDA Quest Gallery Margaret’s Buildings, Bath

The works of Kenji Yoshida 8 October – 30 November A chance to get close to work by Japanese artist Kenji Yoshida (1924 – 2009). A reluctant kamikaze pilot, his war experiences marked his work.

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

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Etain by Anthony Scott

Throughout November Work by sculptor Anthony Scott and painter Akash Bhatt. For Etain bronze, Anthony Scott’s inspiration comes from the shapeshifters of Irish mythology, and he has produced an impressive array of beautifully-patinated bronze sculptures. Bathampton Art Group Bathampton Village Hall

Saturday 9 November 10am – 4.30pm Winter exhibition judged by local artist Paul Weaver. The public will also be invited to vote for their favourite painting and there’ll be the chance to watch artists at work or buy Christmas cards. Bath Contemporary 35 Gay Street, Bath Tel: 01225 461230

www.bathcontemporary.com Temporary closure for refurbishment Sunday 10 November – Thursday 5 December The gallery re-opens on Friday 6 December with an exhibition of six invited members of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers.

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Make tracks for railway show A new exhibition opens in Bath this month which charts the arrival of Brunel’s Great Western Railway to the city during the 1830s. It gives us the chance to examine the enormous impact it had on the urban landscape at the time, as well as its continuing influence on our comings and goings to this day

aside from the great architects and builders of the 18th century, there is one man who has left his indelible stamp on Bath more than any other – and that’s the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. His single-minded hard work and genius brought the Great Western Railway line from London, right into the centre of the city of Bath, before going on to its destination, Temple Meads Station in Bristol. The stretch between Bath and Bristol alone was a mighty engineering feat, but I wonder whether rail passengers today ever give a second thought to the skills and sheer boldness required to build three viaducts, four major bridges and seven tunnels through these few miles? It’s a challenge that even today’s engineers with all their computer technology and sophisticated drilling and digging equipment would baulk at. Never before had the people of Bath seen anything like this invasion of workmen and machinery. During the 1830s great swathes of houses at the foot of Holloway were demolished, navvies worked night and day digging out wide railway cuttings by hand, and residents watched in disbelief as mighty bridges were built to span the River Avon, and to carry many tons of steam engine and its passengers. A new exhibition at the city’s Victoria Art Gallery, curated by Katharine Wall, gives 21st century Bathonians the chance to take a fresh look at the impact of the GWR on not only the city landscape but its people too. The exhibition – which has largely been made up of pictures in the gallery’s archives – begins with a street scene from the 1780s by Bath Abbey. In the foreground is the White Lion coaching inn, which was so busy its stables were able to house 115 horses at any one time underground, in what are now the cellars next to the Victoria Art Gallery opening into the colonnade overlooking Pulteney Weir. This introductory picture serves to remind us that Bath was even then a busy thoroughfare, only in the 18th century everyone arrived via horsepower along unmade roads, risking life and limb from muddy ruts and the threat of robbery by highwaymen.

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It is ironic that Brunel used the coaching inn as his headquarters while he was working in Bath on his plans for the railway which would, in due course, cause the demise of the White Lion as people took to the new iron roads. The Victoria Art Gallery now occupies the site where the White Lion stood. Many of the pictures in the exhibition show us different views of Bath looking unfamiliar to modern eyes. There is a view of Twerton, for instance, as a quiet country sylvan spot, where a couple are strolling beneath the trees just yards from where the muscular Twerton railway viaduct now runs. Another shows the view from Bathwick, with yet more heavy digging and building work in progress. Katharine says: “It’s showing us the social history of the coming of the railway and the impact it had on Bath. People at the time watched the building of bridges and digging of tunnels with trepidation. They genuinely did not think they were safe. They were also nervous about travelling at speeds of up to 58 miles an hour on the railway – they thought that unimaginably fast.”

People were also nervous about ❝ travelling at speeds of up to 58 mile per hour . . . they thought that unimaginably fast

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The show also offers the opportunity to see William Powell Frith’s epic panorama of Victorian life, The Railway Station – of Paddington Station and representing different aspects of 19th century society all in one picture. This painting is only occasionally on public display, and has been borrowed by the Victoria Art Gallery for this exhibition. Frith’s painting was so popular when it was first unveiled in 1862, that the police were brought in to control the crowds who massed to see it. There is also a display of railway posters, designed to advertise the city’s charms to tourists over the years. These are an artistic delight in themselves.

ALL LIFE IS HERE: Above, Frith’s The Railway Station is bustling with activity Opposite, railway posters promoting the delights of Bath as a leisure destination

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Historians may be disappointed to find there are no depictions in art of Brunel’s original Bath Spa station, which had a glass roof similar to the curved roof at Green Park Station. That roof was removed as users found the enclosed space dirty and full of steam and hot air from the steam engines. But the gallery have been unable to find such a painting – if, indeed, such a thing existed. This promises to be a fascinating exhibition, not only for railway buffs but for anyone interested in the changing landscape of Bath, and in how Bathonians’ lives were revolutionised by the rude arrival of the Great Western Railway.

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Bath and the Great Western Railway exhibition runs at the Bath and North East Somerset Council owned gallery from Saturday 23 November until 2 February 2014. The gallery is closed on Mondays and on Sunday mornings. There will be a series of free lunchtime talks at The Guildhall, Bath, 1.10-1.45pm: Tuesday 26 November – Railway Posters of the GWR with Ed Bartholomew from the National Railway Museum; Tuesday 3 December – GWR: the Bath to Bristol Line with railway historian Colin Maggs MBE and Tuesday 10 December – GWR: a General History with Tim Bryan, transport historian. ■ GMc

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★

A GOOD READ

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GIVEaBOOK

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★ ★

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★ We asked the team at Topping & Co bookshop in Bath to pick the books they’d give as presents this Christmas 1. The Bucket, by Allan Ahlberg Victoria says: Alan Ahlberg is a childhood hero of mine – his books kept me enthralled for years and are now responsible for keeping my niece and nephew entertained. With titles such as Each Peach Pear Plum and Burglar Bill to name but a few Allan has captured the imagination of children and parents alike for years. This is his charming and heartfelt memoir that is written in a mix of prose and poetry. It is the perfect present for those who grew up with Allan’s books and for the adults who used to read them to children.

2. Animation Studio by Helen Piercy An ideal Christmas gift for creative children (9+) and will keep them busy for hours. Although not techinically a book, this kit does contain a fantastic handbook every young director needs to learn how to make stop-motion videos like a professional. Watch their imaginations evolve as they discover 2-D and 3-D techniques that use puppets and clay modelling and what’s more, the box is the stage set. Most of us at the bookshop have our eye on one of these fabulous kits!

3. The Enchanted Wood, by Enid Blyton This is a new, beautiful edition of a timeless classic. Blyton created a magical world where children can believe that when they climb a tree they’ll find a different world at the top. And with worlds such as The- Roundabout-Land and The Land of Take-what-you-want, children will be engrossed by this fantastic book. For children aged five to eight.

4. The Vietnamese Market Cookbook by Van Tran and Anh Vu No home chef’s recipe book collection is complete without the addition of this beautiful new Vietnamese cookbook. The street food 50 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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inspired recipes are achievable and accessible while being delicious and authentic.

5. Magnifificcent Entertainment: Temporary Architecture for Georgian festivals by Melanie Doderer-Winkler Lucy says: This spectacular book is a must for fans of England’s magnificent Georgian history and architecture. We are whisked through lavish displays created for public and private Georgian celebrations, from royal events and historical commemorations to genteel country fetes, elaborate galas and firework temples. These fleeting structures were embellished with lustres of dyed sugar or marble dust, while painted scenery and transparencies were brought to life by the flicker of a thousand lamps. This joyous book celebrates these moments of delight from one the most elegant periods of our history.

6. Italian Ways by Tim Parks Sam says: Tim Parks embarks on his Italian train odyssey with humour, grim patience, and a great novelist’s insight. Italian Ways is his attempt to unpick and understand the “charmingly irritating dystopian paradise” of Italy, its economy, politics and culture, by travelling the length and breadth of the country on trains. It’s full of hilarious anecdotes and insight from a true Italophile; a treat for anybody with an interest in train travel, a spirit of adventure, and of course for anybody who loves reading on trains.

7. Snapper by Brian Kimberling Nick says: Snapper is my favourite book of 2013, all my friends and family are getting a copy for Christmas. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always full of wit, wisdom and insight (including an unforgettable chapter set in the Indiana town of Santa Claus), this is a novel about the mixed-

feelings one has towards one’s home town. A native of Southern Indiana, Brian Kimberling is now a resident of Bath, and his experience of both countries has given him a marvellous eye for the idiosyncrasies of his native land.

8. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton After her fascinating talk at Topping and Company Eleanor Catton has gone on to win the Man Booker Prize with The Luminaries. In this deservedly acclaimed novel we begin in 1866 and Walter Moody has come to make his fortune in the New Zealand goldfields. He stumbles across a tense gathering of 12 local men, who have met in secret to discuss a series of unsolved crimes. Moody is soon drawn into the mystery: a network of fates and fortunes that is as complex as the night sky.

9. Great Britain’s Great War by Jeremy Paxman As we approach the centenary of the First World War there is renewed attention lest we forget the horrific events that shook the lives of so many families. Renowned broadcaster and journalist Jeremy Paxman takes a fresh look at the transformation of British life and identity shaped by the First World War.

10. Michael Caines at Home by Michael Caines This is an ingenious as well as practical cookery book written by the two-Michelin-star chef behind The Bath Priory. The book takes us straight into his family kitchen where we are treated to recipes for wonderful home made food – with some ingenious twists. A brilliant allround cookery book. ■ Visit our website for more inspiration for your Christmas shopping: wwwthebathmag.co.uk

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We have moved to Bookbarn Interna onal!

Our enormous selec on of the finest hand-made oriental rugs and rug-related goods is now where you can park for as long as you want and browse hundreds of thousands of pre-loved books. We’ve got all sizes of Persian, Afghan, Turkish and Pakistani rugs, superb Kilim furniture and handbags, hand embroidered boots and cushions, and kantha shawls. Our world-class rug cleaning and restora on service is available as before.

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FREE Customer parking | FREE delivery in Bath

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FOOD&DRINK

Foodie nibbles

■ Bath café and deli, Blue Quails Deli, founded just a year ago by husband and wife Peter and Glenda Botes, pictured receiving their trophy from chef Mitch Tonks, has been named Best Retailer/Deli 2013 in the Taste of the West awards. Peter and Glenda are retired hoteliers who moved to Bath in 2011 and opened their shop on Bridge Street. ■ Yammo, the Italian independent eaterie in Walcot Street is running a series of its popular Monday film nights. The cosy first floor private dining room becomes a mini cinema where guests can enjoy cocktails, conversation and stuzzichini (social cinema) or tuck into a freshly cooked pizza. Tickets cost £15 which is discounted from the bill at the end of the evening. Films will include classic masterpieces such La Dolce Vita, Stromboli and Roman Holiday – with English subtitles. ■ Watch a Michelin starred chef in action as Hywel Jones, executive chef at Lucknam Park takes to the hob in the Cookery School on Wednesday 20 November for a chef’s table experience. Hywel will work at one of the cookery school islands to prepare a five course menu, talking through each dish as he works, answering questions and involving guests in the experience. Tickets are £150 per person, to include wine, and a Champagne and a canapé reception. ■ Resident mixologist at the Art Bar in the Abbey Hotel, Andrew Fisher will be teaming up with Demuth’s Cookery School on Thursday 14 November, from 6.30pm, for a masterclass featuring five canapés created by Rachel Demuth and five cocktails. Places are £20, tel: 01225 427938. On Thursday 21 November, 7pm, the Allium Brasserie is hosting a Champagne Jacquart Dinner. Tickets: £60, for three-course dinner and wines. On Tuesday 26 November gardener and broadcaster Chris Bradshaw will be hosting a lunch at the Allium Brasserie. Tickets are £57 for a double ticket including a two-course lunch and a signed copy of Chris’s latest book. To book at the Allium call 01225 461603. ■ Indulge in a spot of foodie Christmas shopping at Farrington’s farm shop, Farrington Gurney, which is hosting a festive shopping event from 3pm to 9pm on Wednesday 20 November.

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A starry lunch The Bath Priory hosted a gourmet charity lunch to mark the second anniversary of Hospitality Action, the charity which cares for people from the catering and hotel industry. Michelin-starred Sam Moody at the Bath Priory was joined in the kitchen by five Michelin-starred peers. Each executed one of six courses. The chefs were: Sam Moody (The Bath Priory), Martin Blunos (Seaham Hall), Richard Davies (The Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe), Josh Eggleton (The Pony & Trap, Chew Magna), Russell COOKING UP A FEAST: the chefs cooking for the Chefs’ Forum autumn lunch Brown (Sienna, Dorset) and Paul in aid of Hospitality Action: Sam Moody, Russell Brown, Martin Blunos, Richard Davies, Josh Eggleton and Paul Ainsworth Photography: Tim Martin Ainsworth (No. 6, Padstow).

Angela Mount, wine and food critic, selects wine to suit parties and relaxed evenings with friends.

f it’s a party and you’re looking for fizz to kick off the evening, then my best bet is the Ruggeri Prosecco Argeo, showing what good Prosecco is all about, with its delicate, peachy character, gentle bubbles, and refined style (£12.50 from Great Western Wine). For whites and reds, the following might fit the bill. Elki Pedro Ximenez 2012, Chile, £7.50 at GWW One of the most perfect party whites, simply because it is so versatile. It’s a real fruit bomb of a wine, bursting with ripe aromas and flavours of ogen melon, fresh lime and peach, with a little twist of candied lemon – it’s aromatic, but it’s dry, and has a really zesty kick to it. Try with skewers of chicken tikka, smoked fish blinis, and Thai spiced prawns. Ciro Librandi Bianco 2012,

All of the above wines, plus a special mixed case can be ordered through our website. You can also enjoy a 10% Great Western Wine discount by entering the code on Angela’s wine column. Visit : ww.thebathmag.co.uk

Italy, £9.95 at GWW Very few people have heard of Calabrian wines, but I hope this will inspire you to try them; it’s a glorious, apricot and peachscented dry white, made from the local Greco Bianco grape. With gentle wafts of honeysuckle, and russet apples on the nose and lovely creamy orchard fruit flavours, it’s a beguiling, ripe, intriguing white, with a fresh, fruitiness, yet a softness which is perfect for this time of year. Try it with rich fish stews, spaghetti with clams and a hint of fresh chilli, and gently spiced chicken dishes. Elki Sangiovese 2012, Chile £8.95, at GWW Red wines for easy entertaining need to be juicy, fruity, low tannin, and easy to drink on their own, as well as with food – this one fits the bill. Many Chilean wines are high in

alcohol, but this one is well under 14%, and is blessed with a joyous, exuberant, red cherry and raspberry fruit brightness. It’s made from the Italian Sangiovese grape, and celebrates the fact that Chile can produce lighter styles of vibrant, juicy reds. It’s a great party wine with charcuterie, crostini, mini duck wraps and Asian food. Château Sainte-Marie 2011, Bordeaux Superieur £10.95, at GWW This is an incredible find. For affordable Bordeaux wines, my view has always been that blends should focus on the riper, softer, and more approachable Merlot, and this one delivers, with over 70% of the blend from this variety. Rich, blackberry scented, and balanced, with all the hallmarks of classic Bordeaux. Try it with a rib of beef, roast lamb, or duck confit. ■

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The Three Gables

St Margaret’s Street, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. BA15 1DA Tel: 01225 781666

R E V I EW

A winning double act

e may not always consciously notice it, but the service we receive when dining out can make as much impact to our enjoyment of the experience as the food. So when one is met with a double act of five-star quality in the kitchen and frontof-house, you know you’re going to be in for a meal with a sense of occasion. Restaurateur Vito Scaduto first teamed up with chef Marc Salmon when the pair were working at the Bath Priory Hotel, so anyone who remembers their impeccable service from those days will certainly want to go and check out what they’re doing at The Three Gables in Bradford-on-Avon. The pair spent a few years running Red and White in Trowbridge, to much applause. But for Bathonians that seemed like too far an outpost, whereas Bradford-on-Avon is a reasonable trip out of town – and unlike Bath, in the early evenings there’s free parking within a few yards of the town centre restaurant. The lovely 17th century building, which so many of us remember being wickedly empty and neglected, has been brought beautifully back to life. We sat on a comfortable sofa in the ground floor bar by the stove and let the worries of the day melt away while enjoying an aperitif, a gin and tonic for my gentleman friend (oh, all right, the husband of many years) and a pick-me-up crisp glass of prosecco for me, while whetting our appetites for what was to come with some plump black olives and tasty morsels of savoury bite-sized cheesy scones and mackerel tarts. If you’re dining with someone who likes things done properly, with style and attention to detail, you can relax at The Three Gables. From the moment you’re proffered a sturdily bound menu right through to whether you’d like to top 56 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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up your wine glasses yourself or let the waiter do it for you, every aspect of the delivery is beautifully done. We ate in the first floor dining room with views from the mullioned windows across to the river. The tables are set with fine napery, Villeroy and Boch china, the glasses glinting in the candlelight. And so to the food. As you might expect from a chef whose CV includes time at the Royal Crescent and the Queensberry in Bath, this is cooking that’s visually delightful and delicious too. I opted for an autumnal theme for my dinner, opening with a meaty, gamey home-made venison faggot, about the size of an apple, sitting in a pool of regally purple blackberry sauce –

gamey home-made ❝venison faggot . . . sitting in a pool of regally purple blackberry sauce

❞

absolutely redolent of the season in content and flavour. It was so good I barely had a second or two to throw a lustful glance at the trio of golden yellow quail’s eggs beside John’s perfectly cooked grilled gurnard. What a great, classic combination – fish with bubble and squeak and egg – and of course, served with a professional panache you couldn’t possibly recreate at home. The same could be said for our main courses. Again, pursuing a seasonal theme, I chose roast breast of guinea fowl with garlic and chestnut sausage, black pudding and apple vol au vent and roast parsnip. With a little jug of sauce to pour over it, this was a very good take on a deconstructed roast dinner. I enjoyed every morsel.

John enjoyed a pork cutlet, unusually stood on its end, with a moreish melange of ham hock with baby leeks and cauliflower, served with sprouts. Oenophiles will be in seventh heaven with The Three Gables’ wine list, and with its well stocked cellar which you can see for yourself downstairs. Much of it comes from a private collection and to say it’s comprehensive is an understatement. But not being experts in this field we were happy to indulge a bottle of organic rioja (Artesa: Rioja, Spain, £21). You can enjoy a set lunch for £12 for two courses, or £16 for three courses. Given that the restaurant holds two AA rosettes and that one of the main courses currently on offer is fish of the day served with sauteed wild mushrooms and spinach and thermidor sauce, that looks like a very reasonable offer. There’s also an evening set menu of £29.50 for three courses including canapés. Starters on the á la carte menu range from £8.75 to £11.75, main courses are £18.75 to £22.50, for a fillet of Lackham beef. We were happily replete after two courses but as a refreshing palate cleanser we shared a dish of warm, poached pear served with almonds, a slice of frangipane sponge and pear cider ice cream. Delicate petit fours served with coffee rounded off a pleasantly memorable evening. Vito is already taking bookings for Christmas dining. Christmas themed lunches are from £18.50 for two courses, or from £32.50 for dinner. He is hosting a series of Christmas party nights in December with live jazz and a New Year’s Eve dinner and party. With Marc’s culinary talents and Vito’s natural Sicilian charm, welcoming manner and attentive service, these events are sure to be popular. ■ GMc

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CITYvolunteers

Feeding the 5,000 Bath Foodbank has helped thousands of people since its inception just two years ago. We look at the work being done by its volunteers and ways we can help those in crisis as Christmas approaches

hen shoppers at Sainsbury’s supermarket in Green Park Station first saw volunteers in tabards requesting that they add a little extra item to their trolleys to help those in need of food, some Bathonians were incredulous. “They actually couldn’t believe that there were people – including families with children – doing without food in Bath,” one volunteer recalls. Two years since Bath Foodbank was launched, giving out emergency food parcels, the national network of foodbanks has hit the news headlines and the local group says its users have increased year on year by 72 per cent. Bath Foodbank currently supplies its packs of three days’ worth of food to more than 300 people each month and since its launch 1,500 of its 5,000 recipients have been children under the age of 16. I visited the café in Manvers Street, Bath, where the generosity of the Baptist Church allows Bath Foodbank to share the space and use a section of the basement as a packing area. David Purdon, who is chairman of the local Foodbank, explains how the system works: “People can’t just come in off the street, they need to be referred. This can be by a number of different places including doctors’ surgeries, the JobCentre, Citizens’ Advice Bureau or social services. They are then given a red voucher which entitles them to three days’ worth of food to tide them over.” People seeking help come to the Foodbank from all kinds of situations, from those waiting for their benefits to be paid to families where both parents are working but on low incomes. After paying the rent, council tax, travel to work costs and utility bills it only takes an emergency, such as the family washing machine to break down, for them to find themselves unable to struggle through until the next pay day. The Foodbank is an Elastoplast of a service. It’s not there for long-term help – there just aren’t 58 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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enough resources. Instead it offers short-term emergency help with its three-day food parcels. Grainne Moher is the distribution centre coordinator volunteer and provides a friendly face for clients who may be at the end of their tether. “We give them a cup of tea and have a chat,” she says. “Then we’ll find out how many people there are in the household and whether they have any allergies, and bags are packed for them.” The clients, as they’re known, are then given enough food – such as tea, cereal, pasta and tinned meat or fish – to keep them going with three meals a day for three days. Grainne says: “The food just takes the pressure off them for a while. Sometimes we can pop a packet of chocolate biscuits or a chocolate bar in the bag and you should see their faces light up. If you’ve been going without the extras a piece of chocolate for you with a cup of tea, or something sweet for the kids is a real treat.” With Christmas in the air donors are being encouraged to add some chocolate or biscuits to their trolleys, along with the other staples. One sensitive touch comes from Waitrose which has donated carrier bags to Bath Foodbank so clients – who can also leave the café by a side door – merely look like Waitrose customers rather than people who have been given a charity food parcel. The Bath Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust national network, a Christian organisation but now intent on the Christian community working alongside the secular society. Churches across Bath have set up collection points for food and businesses, including Sirona Care & Health, Withy King, Thrings and Wessex Water have also lent their support. The shoppers of Bath too have given in trolley loads. Regular collections are held at Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose, giving us the chance to put an extra packet or tin in with our shopping and then donate it to the collection. At a recent

collection at Green Park Sainsbury’s one shopper was so moved by the plight of people facing the prospect of no having food to put on the table that they filled a trolley to the brim as a gift. There are other ways to give too. Karen Aguera is volunteer co-ordinator, with some 100 people giving their time. She says: “Some of the physically hardest work is done among the shipping containers kindly provided by Thomas Firbank removals, at Bathampton, where vanloads of items are stored in the dry, secure containers. More volunteers are always needed, particularly drivers now Wessex Water has given a van to make pick-ups and distribution easier.” The Foodbank is now looking for a business sponsor to cover the cost of running the van, around £3,000 a year. In return the sponsor could have its name on the side of the van. Anyone who would like to help Foodbank, either as a volunteer or as a business to support its work in any way, contact David Purdon at info@bath.foodbank.org.uk. ■

To add to your shopping list Milk (UHT or powdered) Sugar (500g bags) Soup Pasta and pasta sauces Sponge pudding (tinned) Cereals Rice pudding Tea bags/instant coffee Long life orange juice Tinned meat or fish (provides protein) Tinned vegetables Jam Biscuits or snack bars Chocolate Remember everything must be long life, easily handled & stored

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YOURfuture

Five tips for buying an annuity

Deciding how to take your pension benefits is one of the most important financial decisions you'll ever make. Roger Perry of Monahans Financial Services Ltd shares five key tips that could help you boost the income you receive in retirement. 1. Shop around You don't have to take your annuity income from your pension company. In fact you should shop around to find the best deal. Some annuity providers also take your health into account, so you could boost your income depending on your health and lifestyle. 2. Consider your options carefully You can't change an annuity once it's set up. On the one hand this can offer valuable security as your income won't change, no matter what happens in the future. However this makes it vital to choose your annuity carefully at the start. You can build in 'extras' such as an increasing income. 3. Keep an eye on events that could affect your income For example in December 2012 annuity rates became unisex due to new legislation from the EU. 4. Consider the alternatives The main alternative is income drawdown which offers greater flexibility than an annuity but it is higher risk and therefore not suitable for everyone. 5. De-risk your pension If your pension is invested in the stock market, then its value will fluctuate. As you approach retirement you should consider gradually switching it out of the stock market into less volatile assets, and eventually cash (the value of these funds can still fall) to help protect your fund from sudden falls. Contact Roger on 01225 785570, email him at roger.perry@monahans-fsl.co.uk or visit Monahans website for further information on this subject.

www.monahans-fsl.co.uk

Monahans Financial Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority .

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CITYnews Caring and expertise recognised

Shopping news

KoziKidz childrenʼs fleece-lined, waterproof jacket, £42, from Cotswold Outdoor, Bath

■ A dozen jobs have been created with the opening of a Bath branch of outdoor clothing and equipment retailer, Cotswold Outdoor in Abbey Gate Street opposite Marks & Spencer. Customers will be able to browse among 250 brands while also benefiting from specialist services, including free boot and rucksack fitting. Nomad clinics will soon be introduced with specialist travel health nurses who have been trained to offer clients travel health advice on their destinations and medical conditions.

Dubarry boots from Cotswold Country

■ Stylish purveyors of country clothes, family business Cotswold Country has opened in Milsom Street. Stocking country lifestyle brands including Dubarry boots, Schoffel gilets, Le Chameau, Hunter and RM Williams boots and Spanish tweed, Cotswold Country Bath perfectly taps into the venison eating, country walking, Downton Abbey watching mood of the nation.

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AWARD: Sandra Jones

Congratulations to Sandra Jones of CircleBath who has won the Laing and Buisson Award for Nursing Practice. Sandra, who is head nurse caring for people with cancer, has been recognised for her dedication to excellence for clinical standards and patient experience. With many years as a specialist oncology nurse, Sandra’s knowledge is second to none and instils confidence in her patients. She has forged links with the local NHS trust, and Dorothy House hospice care and has developed links with the London Clinic to use its CyberKnife technology.

A consultant said of her work: “Sandra has done an amazing job in establishing a new oncology service. Not only has she been instrumental in setting up a smooth and efficient chemotherapy service, but also provides much personal support and encouragement for the patients, guiding them through the whole process of treatment from surgery to palliative oncology support. Her approachable and helpful manner is much appreciated by the patients.” In addition to her care for patients Sandra is a tireless fundraiser for charity cancer events at the Peasedown St John hospital.

New chairman for charity with community roots Bath solicitor Becky Ricards Small has taken up the chair of the B&NES area of the Quartet Community Foundation, which was established ten years ago to support people in the Bath area. She takes over from Richard Hall from Zenith International who has been chair for the last six years. Becky, who is a partner at Withy King, said: “It is an exciting time for the charity and I look forward to building on the excellent

NEW HEAD: Becky Ricards Small with outgoing chair Richard Hall cutting B&NES Quartet’s tenth birthday cake

foundations that have been laid and working closely with their team as I strongly believe in what they are working

so hard to achieve. The foundation enables a wide variety of donors to fund projects that make a difference where

people live and work. Community foundations match those who want to invest their money locally with those community groups who give time and energy to improve local communities.” Over the past 26 years, the foundation has made grants of more than £32m, built a permanent endowment of over £19.5m and given 1,000 grants each year to voluntary and community groups across the west of England.

Established in 1913 and now in Bath Estate agent Chappell & Matthews, which has been trading in Bristol for 100 years, has opened its first branch in Bath. It has taken over what was formerly Knights of Bath in Wood Street, just off Queen Square, dealing in sales and lettings. As an introductory offer Chappell & Matthews is offering 50 per cent off its standard fees to the first 100 instructions from property owners. Contact 01225 462777 to talk to a member of the team. MOVING IN: Chappell & Matthews’s new premises in Wood Street

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Tax Free Childcare Tax and NI free support for childcare has been around for some time, but a number of new clients that have joined us recently were unaware that their businesses, as employers, were able to provide them with tax and NI free childcare vouchers of up to £55 per week or £243 per month – that’s £2,916 per annum available to you tax free to help with childcare costs! – and this equally applies to small owner managed businesses operating PAYE schemes. You may have heard this year’s budget announce a new scheme to be phased in from 2015 but employers can continue to take new members – including owner / managers - into the existing arrangement until April 2015. Whether the new or old scheme will provide you with the best deal will depend on your personal circumstances and can be reviewed closer to the date when the new type scheme is introduced. For now, you need to be aware just how easy it is to set up and operate a childcare scheme; it is simply a case of getting the right pieces of paper in place, takes very little time and is extremely easy! We’re here and ready to help now, so don’t miss out! At OCL we have been looking after SMEs for more than twenty years; we would be pleased to meet you to discuss any tax, financial and accounting matters that would help you, including how we can help you save money. See our website for more – and download our FREE guides

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

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Keep your house in order in light of current Tax developments In the constantly evolving tax landscape and the regular commentary in the media on tax issues you may have questioned whether your business tax affairs are properly in order, making the most of legitimate tax breaks and maximising your current and successors’ wealth. Clients of RS will of course be aware that your taxes are in the forefront of our efforts to keep you and your business on track. Our dedicated tax professionals are well equipped to utilise legitimate tax concessions, reliefs and help you flexibly plan for the short, medium and long term. The following are just some of the current “hot” topics: Anti avoidance measures Finance Acts 2012 and 2013 contained some of the lengthiest tax legislation to date and the current raft of anti avoidance measures and proposals by HMRC, including the recently introduced General Anti Abuse Rule (GAAR), could have far reaching impacts for some. In many ways though we are in unchartered territory and whilst some measures may be well intentioned and designed to stop the most blatant of tax avoidance and abuse of the tax system, some legislation that is being proposed might, in some people’s eyes, trap legitimate commercial transactions. Commercial Property Transactions One area in which greater care is needed is that of capital allowances relating to property acquisition, sale or transfer, and the new audit trail required to protect both buyer and seller. Greater advance co-operation is needed between yourself, your accountant and your solicitor to adequately protect your legal and tax position and satisfy new HMRC requirements in the transitional period April 2012 to April 2014, and rigorously from April 2014. We have worked successfully on a number of client cases with a firm of capital allowances specialists who are well versed in the transitional rules and all of the technical and practical issues that can arise, and so if you are considering a property transaction please contact us to arrange an initial free meeting on a no obligation basis. Interactions of Real Time Information, the need for better business records and the taxation of directors’ loans Many of the new tax initiatives have an interconnection. For instance, gone are the days of taking lump sums from the business to cover salary and dividend withdrawals with vague narratives in the books. The tighter audit trail enforced by RTI, together with HMRC’s powers to inspect business records in real time and the spotlight on the “recycling” of director loans all call for businesses to maintain a tidier, well documented record of business and shareholder transactions. Business records checks and WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

enquiries come in many shapes including formal, informal, spoken or written. Increasingly they may be instigated by HMRC telephone questionnaire, or directly calling at taxpayers premises, and not just in response to historically filed returns. Please note at any time if approached by HMRC during your busy working day you are quite entitled to refer matters via your tax agent and request everything is done formally in writing. IR35 and Personal Service Companies Legislation has been enacted to: • extend the IR35 rules (“deemed employment” essentially, for personal services provided through an intermediary company) to office holders;

Other News - HMRC launches two more amnesties HMRC has recently launched the following amnesties inviting taxpayers to come clean or face stiff penalties: • buy-to-let landlords and holiday-home owners • Health and well-being professionals (other than doctors and dentists who were targeted separately in 2010) If you are not currently a client why not call Jon Miles or Derek Swift on 01225 325580 or info@richardsonswift.co.uk to arrange a free, no obligation meeting.

and • tighten up on avoidance through the use of personal service companies generally. HMRC is said to be strengthening specialist compliance teams to deal with the two issues and it uses a risk based approach to check compliance. The use of HMRC toolkits and guidance tools can quite often be relied on as a first line of defence in compliance reviews. In the context of personal service company compliance checks, if a business has taken the “Business Entity Tests” and can show to HMRC’s satisfaction by means of evidence that they are either outside IR35 or in the “low risk” band, then any review will be closed and there will be no further check for 3 years provided: a. the information given is accurate, and b. the circumstances, and particularly the working arrangements, do not change. For this reason we encourage any business owners who think they may fall under personal service company legislation to take the business entity test, act accordingly if the outcome points to anything other than low risk and retain as evidence the test and supporting information. If you require assistance with the test or need us to review current contracts please do not hesitate to contact us.

Jon Miles

www.richardsonswift.co.uk 11 Laura Place, Bath BA2 4BL 01225 325 580 NOVEMBER 2013

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CITYnews ■ LIGHT AS A FEATHER: chef and restaurateur Raymond Blanc paid a visit to Bath as part of last month’s Great Bath Feast to judge a soufflé making contest at Brasserie Blanc in Queen Square, between nine girls from the Royal High School, picked as finalists after an in-school heat. The overall winner was Cajsa Thulin with a winning plum and cinnamon combination. The great man is pictured giving a pep-talk to the youngest contestant, Ada Chai, watched by the girls’ family and friends.

News in brief ■ A solicitor with a special interest in elderly people and incapacity issues has joined Bath law firm Withy King. Edward Vidnes, pictured, has joined the private client practice from Bath law firm, Burningham & Brown, where he worked for over ten years. Edward specialises in wills, estate planning and lasting powers of attorney as well as elderly and incapacity issues such as deputyships and personal injury trusts. Edward’s appointment follows that of private client partner, Becky Ricards Small, who recently joined Withy King from Thrings. ■ The Bath and Wiltshire Property Club is open for business, offering investors a unique experience in residential property and managed by a team of investment and property professionals, versed in all aspects of property sourcing, acquisition, development, management and sales. Among other services, the club is offering co-investment into properties from £30,000, which widens property investing to many investors who simply couldn’t raise enough to buy a whole property. For a brochure detailing all the club’s services tel: 01225 328430 or email: info@bathwiltsproperty.co.uk. ■ Congratulations to Jill and Laurent Couvreur of Casanis Bistro in Bath who have won high praise from the notoriously hard to please food critic AA Gill in his Sunday Times column. In his review of London restaurant Boulestin, Gill offered his recommendations for three of the best classic French restaurants in Britain, putting Casanis alongside the triple Michelin-starred Le Gavroche, London and David Everett Mathias's highly acclaimed, double-Michelin starred Cheltenham venture Le Champignon Sauvage, “offering classic Gallic charm with a Provençal twist.”

Retail expert chooses to stay in city he loves A familiar face on the Bath property scene has turned down a move to Bristol to stay in the city he loves. Mike McElhinney, pictured, a Bath retail specialist for 30 years, has left Jones Lang LaSalle to join Carter Jonas as a partner in its Bath office. Mike has worked in Bath since 1978, first for Bath City Council, then joining JP Sturge & Sons which became King

Sturge, acquired by Jones Lang LaSalle two years ago. He was lead director in its Bath office. He has been chief advisor and negotiator

Robert Welch Designs, which has a showroom in Broad Street, Bath, is delighted to announce that its products have won two categories in the Excellence in Housewares Awards 2013. The Signature Professional Knife Block won the Cutting Edge’ category and Drift jugs won the Top of the Table category. The company has won Excellence in Housewares awards in 2009, 2010 and 2011 for Signature knife block and knives, in 2009 for Signature utensils and in 2011 for Signature salt and pepper mills. MD Rupert Welch said: “To win the Cutting Edge award for a fourth time for a TROPHY TIME: Rupert Welch, managing director, Robert Welch product from the Signature knife range Designs, with colleagues Kit de Bretton Gordon, senior designer, is wonderful endorsement for the whole Alice Welch, marketing director and Paul de Bretton Gordon, head company.” designer

As the largest firm of solicitors in Bath devoted exclusively to family law, Sharp Family Law helps divorcing clients to protect children, preserve assets, and reach an efficient resolution.

NOVEMBER 2013

with a national brand. “His vast experience of the retail property market in this region and nationally will enhance the service we provide our clients.” While the Jones Lang LaSalle team has transferred to the firm’s Bristol office, Mike chose to stay in Bath. Mike, a keen walker and music fan, has two grown up sons and lives in Frome with his wife Robbie, a teacher.

Company really is the sharpest knife in the drawer

Producing Resolution Not Prolonging Conflict

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for many major transactions in the city’s retail sector. Recent letting transactions he has dealt with include Molton Brown, TK Maxx, Jack Wills, Jo Malone and Cotswold Country. Philip Marshall, head of Carter Jonas’ Bath office said: “Mike brings a wealth of experience, exceptional retail market knowledge, and an understanding of the importance of working

sharp F A M I LY L A W 5 Gay Street, Bath, BA1 2PH, UK email: info@sharpfamilylaw.com t: 01225 448955 / 07798606740 website: www.sharpfamilylaw.com

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isputes relating to wills are on the rise. These are fuelled by a number of different factors including the recession, increasingly complex family arrangements and advances in medical science preserving physical capacity beyond mental capacity. Of course for a will dispute to be worth pursuing there need to be assets in the estate. So what happens if a parent gives away most or all of their assets away prior to their death in a way that significantly affects other future beneficiaries of the estate? Making lifetime gifts It is a natural sentiment for parents to want to help out their children, both emotionally and financially. However, problems can arise where one child is apparently favoured over the other children in the family in respect of receiving a gift, particularly where the parent making the “gift” is elderly. Even where an elderly parent is not suffering from any form of mental illness the question may arise as to whether that parent has been “unduly influenced” by the child benefitting. This will be especially problematic where the result of the lifetime gifts is that money or assets left to the other children in the parent’s will fail because of a lack of funds due to the lifetime gifts.

This particular issue arose in a high profile case earlier this year where the court found that a mother was not acting fully independently when she transferred over 90 per cent of her estate to her daughter and daughter’s husband prior to her death, meaning that assets left to the mother’s other children under the will did not pass to those children. In this case the court found that whilst there had not been any actual undue influence, a finding of presumed undue influence was made and thus the daughter and her husband were ordered to put the estate back into the same position it would have been in had the transactions not taken place. The court decided that the daughter and her husband had to pay money back to the estate even though it was found that neither had consciously engaged in any wrongdoing. However, there was found to be a relationship of trust and confidence between the mother and daughter regarding the mother’s financial affairs. As can be seen undue influence may be “actual” or “presumed”. According to Lord Nicholls actual undue influence “comprises overt acts of improper pressure or coercion such as unlawful WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

threats”. Lord Justice Ward has described the difference between actual and presumed undue influence as “in the broadest possible way, the difference between the two classes is that in the case of actual undue influence something has to be done to twist the mind of a donor [the person making the gift] whereas in the case of presumed undue influence it is more a case of what has not been done, namely ensuring that independent advice is available to the donor.” The law may surprise some people in that a child who has been given money or assets by an elderly parent may not consciously do anything wrong but needs to be satisfied that the gift has been made freely. Receiving or making lifetime gifts If you have a parent who wishes to make gifts to you what should you do to protect yourself against your siblings (or any other beneficiaries under your parent’s will) alleging undue influence? You should make sure that your parent is independently advised. The independent advice received by your parent will ensure that consideration is given to the following:

explaining to them the fact that independent advice should be obtained. You should also seek legal advice. If you only find out after your parent has died then seek legal advice immediately. The information in this article is for general guidance only. Legal advice should always be sought. For further information or advice on any aspect of an inheritance dispute, please contact Luke Watson, Head of Dispute Resolution at Mowbray Woodwards on 01225 485700 or via email at law@mowbraywoodwards.co.uk

• whether the gifts would be in your parent’s best interest; • how your parent’s interests could be protected; • the income that your parent would be left with and whether and how they could cope with an unexpected financial emergency such as medical costs; • the potential tax consequences of the gifts If you are a parent who wishes to favour one child over another(s) by making lifetime gifts consider whether such gifts would adversely impact on the terms of your will. Even if you believe there will still be enough money in the estate after you pass away seek independent advice to deal with the issues highlighted above. What happens if “undue influence” is suspected?

Luke Watson, Head of Dispute Resolution at Mowbray Woodwards Solicitors

If you are faced with the situation where you have concerns that one of your siblings is exerting too much control over one of your parents and benefitting financially what should you do? First and foremost try and talk to your family members. So many disputes occur regarding wills and estates due to a breakdown in communication. If that is not possible then consider writing to your sibling and parent

Mowbray Woodwards Solicitors, 3 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HG www.mowbraywoodwards.co.uk NOVEMBER 2013

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OUT&ABOUT

The summits of Somerset A monument by the man who designed Beckford’s Tower is a landbound tribute to an aristocratic sailor who fought at the Battle of the Nile – one of the points of interest along the way on Andrew Swift’s walk in the hills and plains of south Somerset

his walk is full of good things – one of Britain’s finest naval crossing a stile and going through a KG. monuments, a prehistoric earthwork, the twin villages of After the path heads into woodland, carry on across a crosspath and go Compton and Dundon, green lanes, an ancient yew and a through a KG to the monument (ST495337), with a view eastward to succession of superlative views, the finest of them at the end, Glastonbury Tor. Carry on past the monument (ignoring a path bearing left). after a breathless climb through pine woods. It traverses the When the path forks, you can go either way, but the right-hand fork is less glorious but surprisingly little-known countryside between Street and slippery. Somerton – a land of wooded hills and wide plains, with the far horizon After going through a KG, turn right along a lane for a few metres before ringed by the ranges of Quantock and Mendip. turning left through a KG. Carry on through two more It is strange walking country, though. Some footpaths KGs into National Trust-owned Collard Hill on the OS map are either long abandoned, beset with (ST490339). Here there are views not only east and obstacles or re-routed, while other footpaths, wellwestward, but also north to Brean Down, Uphill and the walked and well-maintained, don’t appear on the map Welsh mountains beyond. at all. The route described here avoids as many Carry on as the path descends to a KG. Go through it, unnecessary obstacles as possible, and, apart from fields turn left across a busy road, walk up the bank and turn grazed by sheep or ponies and the occasional encounter left along a lane with a No Through Road sign with cows, also avoids livestock. (ST484344). After 500 metres follow the lane as it bears The walk starts in the car park at Combe Hill Woods left past the gates of Ivy Thorn Manor and dwindles to a (ST503329). To get there, head south-west from Bath green lane with a strip of tarmac down the middle. along the A39. After passing Glastonbury, bear left at a At a T junction, cross a stile ahead (ST480339) and roundabout along the B3151. Two miles further on, carry straight on with a hedge on your left. Carry on past bear left along a road signposted to Keinton a gateway and cross a stile in the corner. After crossing Mandeville. After a mile and a half you will see the car another stile, bear right along the edge of the field. park on the right. Cross a stile by a metal gate at the end and bear left Take the path on the right just inside the entrance. along the hedgerow. Just after the hedge kinks right, cross Follow it straight ahead and carry on as it curves northa stile on the left and bear right (ST480334). Carry on as NAUTICAL: the top of the monument west. After 100 metres, when it forks, bear right across dedicated to Sir Samuel Hood the path turns into a farm track past Lower Hurst Farm. the New Ditch, a mysterious prehistoric earthwork. Continue past more farm buildings and at a crossroads When you come to a steep drop on the left, follow the head straight on uphill (ST480327). Although not a busy path as it bears right and narrows. When you meet a broad path, turn left road, crossing to the left as it curves to enter the village of Dundon will along it (ignoring a narrow path heading steeply downhill). enable oncoming vehicles to see you. After going through a kissing gate (KG), views open up westward. Carry Immediately after passing a lane on the right, turn right along a footpath on as the path winds along the left-hand side of a meadow before heading to Lollover Hill (ST479324). After 100 metres turn right at a T junction. along a ridge. After passing through a strip of woodland, you emerge into Follow the track as it curves left along a green lane. After 350 metres, go the open to see a monument ahead. Built in 1831 to commemorate Vicethrough a KG and head diagonally uphill to the summit of Lollover Hill and Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, it was designed by HE Goodridge (of Beckford’s one of the best views in Somerset (ST474324). Tower fame) and is surmounted by a naval crown. Carry on towards it, Head back to Dundon, and, when you reach the road, turn left along the 66 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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OUT&ABOUT

ON A CLEAR DAY: main picture, the view from the Hood monument This page, left, a gate along a lane near Collard Hill, right, looking westward from Combe Hill Wood

lane you passed earlier to see the ancient yew in the churchyard. After heading back along the lane, turn left and then right along School Lane. This soon dwindles to a green lane with a stone causeway down the middle. Go through a KG and follow the causeway through another KG. Bear right alongside the hedge, and follow the causeway – now largely buried – to another KG. Go through a KG, carry on through a succession of gates and across a meadow. Go through a gate (ST485328) and bear right, with the causeway running alongside the road to Compton. At the main road, cross, turn left and then right past a medieval preaching cross along Compton Street. After 175 metres, when the road forks, bear right. After another 150 metres, continue past a turning on the left before bearing left along a restricted byway – an old road known as Combe Hollow Lane (ST492328). After 550 metres, when it forks, bear left (ST497327). After 150 metres cross a stile by a

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gate on the left and bear right up a narrow path. After 75 metres, when it forks, bear left. When it forks again by a red marker post bear right. Follow the path as it winds ever more steeply uphill to emerge at the final viewpoint, looking westward over Lollover Hill. Turn right along the gravel path and when it forks bear right. After 150 metres bear left along a broad path to return to the car park. Level of challenge: straightforward, although with steep and muddy stretches, and seven stiles. ■

FURTHER INFORMATION ■ ■ ■

Length of walk: 6 miles Map: OS Explorer 141 Approximate time: 3 – 4 hours

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FAMILYfun

Why don’t you turn off the telly?

Den building at Dyrham

Don’t let the weather put you off getting outside and having some fun. Here’s our round-up of family-friendly events and activities to take part in for the end of half-term and into the month of November Heritage Open Week activities Various venues around Bath including the Victoria Art Gallery, The Fashion Museum and the Roman Baths To Sunday 3 November Pick up a brochure from participating sites and local libraries to join in with a variety of activities.

Bath Fireworks Display Bath Recreation Ground. Tickets on sale from Bath Building Society or Bath Rugby Ticket Office on Pulteney Bridge Saturday 2 November, gates open 6pm This is one of the highlights of the Bath community calendar, with crowds of thousands gathering to watch this spectacular display over the city. Tickets are £5 adults, £3 children in advance or £6/£4 on the gate. Money raised at this Rotary Club organised event goes to local charities.

Halloween Trail Prior Park Gardens. Tel: 0844 249 1895 To Sunday 3 November, 10am – 4.30pm Take part in a spooky Halloween themed trail. Seek out the scary pumpkins and follow the clues to receive a prize. £1 per trail.

Halloween Spooktacular Festival Longleat Safari Park and House, Somerset To Monday 4 November All sorts of tricks and treats are being laid on to give families a thoroughly wicked day out. There’s a ghost train, a pumpkin trail, a bat cave and creepy tours of a spooky house. You can even go ghostbusting by torchlight after dark.

Den building and natural habitat walk Dyrham Park, National Trust property, A46 north of Bath Sunday 3 November, 12 – 2pm Join Dyrham’s ranger guide and learn about the natural habitats in the park at Dyrham, and then 68 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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have a go at making your own den building in Badminton Plantation. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book; simply turn up on the day.

Christmas Avenue. From £7 for an hour, to include skate hire. To book visit: www.bathonice.com or tel: 07583 258 688.

Making Light of It Winter Sleep Trail Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire. National Trust Monday 4 – Friday 29 November Learn about the animals that hibernate in Lacock’s wintery countryside on this family trail. While the animals are all snug underground, see if you can find facts about hibernating creatures hidden around the grounds of Lacock Abbey. Learn what you can do to help our animal friends this winter. Normal admission prices apply. NT members and under 5s go free. Visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock, tel: 01249 730 459.

Help the birds prepare for spring Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Queen Square, Bath. £6 a session. To book, email: coolbookings@brlsi.org Saturday 9 November 12 1pm– 4pm Join Roger Moses (Hawk and Owl Trust) and Mark Cassidy (B&NES tree officer) to find out more about the why, what and how of birds’ nests. Help build nesting boxes and install them in Queen Square and Victoria Park. Find out how to install a web cam in one of the nest boxes so live pictures can be relayed to the BRLSI. Suitable for children aged eight and over.

Bath on Ice family skating Royal Pavilion, Royal Victoria Park, Bath Friday 22 November – 5 January, open daily Bath’s open air ice rink opens for its second season, providing an exciting playground for skaters of all ages. Little ones can use one of the push-along penguins for support, while older children will enjoy swooping across the ice. Parents and grandparents can enjoy a hot drink and some food from one of the stalls in

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street, Bath www.herschelmuseum.org.uk Tel: 01225 446865 Until 16 December Find out about the art and science of light in the 18th century. The exhibition looks at William Herschel’s work on the sun, infra red and telescopes.

Family Fun: Folk Art Thanksgiving Cards The American Museum, Claverton Saturday 30 November, 1pm- 4pm Be inspired by the museum’s fabulous folk art collection this Thanksgiving. Use a creative collage of fabric and paper to make your own Thanksgiving card to take home. Event included in museum entrance price.

Planning ahead . . . Stick Man trails at Westonbirt Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire Sunday 1 December – 31 January Let your children’s imaginations roam by following the Stick Man trail and using the forest as their playground. The trail, inspired by the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler character, is designed to help children find out more about the importance of wood and trees to their daily lives. Admission prices apply.

The Holburne winter light display The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney St, Bath Wednesday 4 December – Sunday 5 January Lighting designer, Patrick Woodroffe, who designed the lighting for the opening of the Olympics will be creating a magical light display in the museum grounds, set to music.

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‘ PHOT OGR APHIC PO RTRAITS’

tudio Marko’s Photographic Portraits are far, far more than just pictures.In Marko’s fantastic Studio you can enjoy a fabulous experience that will capture the life and soul of your family. Marko can create with you a work of art that will be a fantastic memory of all that is important about you and all those most dear to you.

STUDIO MARKO

COMPETITION BY STUDIO MARKO To win an incredible free family shoot worth £100 and receive a stunning £495 framed wall portrait of your favourite image, answer this simple question.

His pictures are all about emotion, character, personality, individuality, soul and energy and they are yours for a lifetime and more.

Why would you love to win a Studio Marko portrait? Closing date 22nd November

This is what one of his many exhilarated clients had to say “After recently using Studio Marko to photograph our family I felt compelled to write a glowing review. The whole experience was thoroughly enjoyable for us both, our children and our two dogs. The shoot took place in Marko’s amazing studio where the children felt completely at ease. Marko was extremely patient, especially with the dogs. The photographs can only be described as stunning. My wife and I were completely blown away with the quality and style of the prints. I can’t recommend him enough. The service is outstanding, the quality of the pictures is amazing and nothing is too much trouble. Thank you Marko.”

Please send your answers to mail@imagesbymarko.com To receive marketing info from Studio Marko Please specify your name, address and telephone number. Please rest assured your info will not be released to third parties for marketing purposes.

Marko is one of the very few portrait photographers practicing today that can supply you with more than just a family portrait. He can offer you a unique opportunity to possess your very own personal work of art.

Marko holds many distinctions which include Fellowships of three major photographic organisations and he is commissioned to travel internationally on portrait and fashion shoots. Since opening his 1st studio in 1999 a Marko original has become widely regarded as a must have home accessory. Since then he has captured for posterity 1,000’s of family portraits. These portraits have now become treasured family heirlooms and are regarded by his many satisfied clients as unique and personal works of art.

LIMITED SESSIONS AVAILABLE - CALL TODAY

Studio Marko Photography 2 Dorset Close Bath BA2 3RF Tel: 01225 428881

mail@imagesbymarko.com

www.studiomarko.com

CLASSIC • TIMELESS

• SIMPLY BEAUTIF UL

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“It has given me the confidence to set up my own business”

Award winning arts and health charity: proof that Creativity Works Creativity Works is an award winning charity based in Radstock, who inspire and empower people through creative courses, projects and community events. We believe that creativity can significantly improve people’s lives: encouraging and supporting them to explore, develop and grow both as groups and individuals by improving their health & wellbeing. Working with artists, volunteers and wellbeing professionals, we develop bespoke projects and courses in partnership with other organisations, which encourage positive personal and social change. Creativity Works also provides events for Artists to further develop their socially engaged work.

“I loved the course…I lived for the course” Our Mental Health Creative Support Service offers courses across BANES including creative writing, sculpture and singing for anyone recovering from mental health challenges. Included in this is “My Time My Space”, an innovative partnership project with Children’s Centres and Health Visitors, for women with postnatal depression. Progression and development of our groups is key, many becoming peer led, including the award winning Tiny Monuments Artists’ Collective. Creativity Works supports events, draws communities together, and enables more people to access the arts and connect with culture. Participants progress on to new opportunities in the workplace, volunteering or education, realising new skills. Many make culture and creativity a part of their lives, take time away from their worries, and rediscover how to laugh and have fun. Support Creativity Works to make a significant difference to people’s lives – speak to us about: • Volunteering your creative skills • Offering your expertise to our organisation • Pledging £5 a month, or whatever you can afford And remember to sign up to our newsletter!

“For me it has been an inspiration, a journey of re-discovery”.

THEBATHMAGAZINE www.creativityworks.org.uk • info@creativityworks.org.uk Tel: 01761 438852

THEBESTOFBATH PERFECTLYCOVERED BATHSBIGGESTMAGAZINE PERFECTLYDELIVERED TOADVERTISETEL: 01225 424499

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At Beechen Cliff the Sixth Form is highly rated - it is the ‘Flagship’ of the School setting the appropriate tone and offering an example which will inspire younger pupils in all areas of School life. Academically, Sixth Form students’ performance is very strong enabling the vast majority of students to go onto the universities of their choice. For example, last summer our pass rate was 99% with almost two thirds gaining grades between A* to B. Due to the size of the Sixth Form we are able to offer a very large number of A’ level qualifications and also accommodate the vast majority of subject combinations. Life in the Sixth Form extends well beyond the classroom. Sport, of course is legendary and here there are excellent opportunities both for young men and young women. In addition, there are numerous cultural opportunities – theatre visits, music, international work placements, Duke of Edinburgh debating, public speaking and so forth. The School is represented annually at the International Model United Nations. We see our Sixth Form students as leaders exercising responsibility in a variety of ways for the mutual benefit of students and school. It is a genuine community to which young people are very pleased and proud to belong. It is open to students of all abilities who are committed to their study, to the life of the Sixth Form and to Beechen Cliff as a whole.

BEECHEN CLIFF SCHOOL Headmaster: A Davies

Popular Co-Educational Sixth Form

“The sixth form provision is outstanding” Ofsted

6th Form Prospective Parents’ Evening Wednesday 6th November at 6.30pm Subject Information Evening Wednesday 13th November at 6pm

Large vibrant Sixth Form with excellent academic standards, new accommodation and boarding facilities

Exceptional extra-curricular opportunities Please view our Prospectus online: www.beechencliff.org.uk Alexandra Park, Bath BA2 4RE. Telephone: 01225 480466 Email: headmaster@beechencliff.org.uk

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FIT&FABULOUS

TREAT YOUSELF Forget Christmas shopping for other people and indulge in a little retail therapy with health and beauty products to make you look and feel good inside and out. So lock the doors, turn up that chilled out playlist and enjoy a pampering treat

1 3

5 1. Heavy metal is the perfect way to create a dramatic look for the new season. Try this statement silver nail polish from butter London, £12, available at Debenhams and John Lewis 2. Holistic Silk Lavender Eye Mask, £46 from Harvey Nichols 3. Jo Malone Amber & Lavender Bath Oil, £38, available from the Jo Malone London store, Old Bond Steet 4. Sweet Plum Lipstick and Honeytree Lip Glaze from the Limited Edition Heart Lands makeup collection at Aveda, from £13, available at the Aveda shop in SouthGate 5. Make eye colour stay with the help of Tom Ford’s innovative new Eye Primer Duo – a powder and cream formula that delivers absolute staying power, available from Jolly’s

Perfect scents . . . Embrace the new season and lead-up to Christmas with a new perfume that exudes elegance and glamour, perfect for an evening cocktail party or grand ball. Try Estée Lauder’s Modern Muse (£59 available from Jolly’s, Debenhams and Boots), a sophisticated, floral, woody scent, that conveys confidence, style and creativity, presented in a sleek bottle. Or Sisley’s limited edition Eau du Soir, with its cut crystal Baroque-style bottle – a warm and luxurious fragrance with Oriental tones, perfect for the festive season. Launching on 1 November, £175, available from Jolly’s.

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A wellbeing experience that's all about you, as well as your hair We all lead busy lives and at some point you may have noticed that this affects your wellbeing. There are lots of ways you can try to increase, improve or maintain this - from eating healthily, exercising or after a hectic schedule, doing something relaxing. A trip to the hair salon is something most of us do on a fairly regular basis and it should be an event that we all consider to be ‘me time’. Primarily you want the outcome to be great looking hair - but what if you could get this and a whole lot more? Matthew Carr, Director of Artizan Hair Salon on George Street in Bath wants to give you that extra little bit of service. Matthew says: “We are an Aveda hair salon and the Aveda ethos is all about beautiful hair and wellbeing. Over the course of the last few months we have refurbished our salon and provided additional training for our staff to help enrich the experiences of our clients” A visit to the Artizan George Street salon provides a focus on a nurturing and wellbeing experience - not only for your hair but for you, and now includes a complimentary, stress-relieving neck and shoulder or hand massage for all clients, using mood-lifting flower and plant essences, as part of the Aveda Sensory Ritual. It’s the little things that go a long way to showing how valued you are. By adding these treats, as part of the service, Artizan creates a relaxing, nurturing experience, as well as offering excellent hair services by welltrained stylists.

SPECIAL OFFER

Artizan Hair Salon 8a George Street Bath BA1 2EH To make an appointment Tel: 01225 447087 georgest@artizan.co.uk www.artizan.co.uk

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R E V I EW

A beautiful way to face the winter Creep in like a caterpillar and emerge feeling like a butterfly – Georgette McCready visits Jennifer Luckham beauty clinic

nce that gentle summer glow has faded we tend to get a bit grey and washed out looking as the winter creeps on. I don’t know about you, but when I look in the mirror I am often dismayed to see just how tired I look. Time for a little professional TLC I think. Mother and daughter Heather and Claire have been running the Jennifer Luckham beauty salon in Monmouth Street, Bath city centre, for more than 20 years, which may be why legions of women, myself included, view them as a tried and trusted place to visit for their face and body MoTs. As stockists of another reliable and classy brand, Clarins, (hint: husbands and partners – the salon sells the full range of products which make excellent Christmas pressies) Jennifer Luckham’s therapists are able to offer a range of pick-me-up treatments. These are also available as gift vouchers. As a pre-Christmas offer the salon has a package of a Clarins or Thalgo facial, to include a luxury Clarins manicure and polish and a goody

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bag of Clarins mini products, for £49 – £55. I called in on one of those horrid monsoon rain-soaked days we’ve had recently, thoroughly cross and wet. They took one look at my rainswept visage and decided the Triactive Clarins facial treatment might be just the thing to put the sunny smile back on my pasty face. There are six different packages in this range to choose from, my mature skin being best suited to a lifting line smoother. The treatment is thorough and thoroughly soothing, from the initial cleanse to a series of deep moisturising processes, including the refreshing lift mask. My poor sun-damaged decolletage also benefited from an intense moisture mask – just as well if I’m going to be flashing it about in a party dress this coming season. What a treat to be able to lie back in a relaxed treatment room, bathed in gentle light and music, while an experienced professional deftly applied delicious scented products. I enjoyed a head massage, gentle face pressure-point touch, and then, while my thirsty skin drank in the moisture, a foot massage to ensure I was thoroughly unwound. Clarins’ loyal customers like the 60-year-old brand because it not only uses natural plant extracts but its results driven products have also been honed in laboratories. Jennifer Luckham has some products that are only available for professional therapists, so they’re not available for home use. I emerged, if not exactly a beautiful butterfly, then certainly with a brighter, fresh complexion than the caterpillar who’d crawled in out of the rain. Even the next day I still looked well rested and my skin felt much softer and less dry. I also sported a full set of painted nails, following my Clarins manicure. If, like me, you’re constantly shaking hands with people for work, it’s nice to be able to offer up a respectable soft-skinned paw. The therapists at the clinic are used to dealing with clients of all ages, from teens to grannies, and are adept at putting women at their ease. There’s a whole range of treatments which would make nice Christmas gifts, from a £28 luxury manicure or £30 Clarins facial for busy stressed out mums, through to an 80 minute full body aromatherapy massage for £53 to fully re-energise and soothe aching muscles. The salon also specialises in CACI, which is a totally non-invasive treatment using a micro current to lift and tone facial muscles. ■ Jennifer Luckham Beauty Clinic, 32 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2AN. Tel: 01225 428741, or pop in for a chat and to book a treatment.

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NOVEMBER 2013

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HEALTH&WELLBEING

Stop the world A day at a spa is the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of 21st century life, as Georgette McCready discovered during a sybaritic visit to country house hotel and spa, Lucknam Park

o you know someone who is permanently attached to their phone, always checking their emails, texting or searching their Twitter feed? Someone whose first move on waking in the morning is to whip out their iPad, whose last moments at night are spent checking CNN on telly for the latest breaking news? Information overload is a modern disease. We pride ourselves on telling each other how busy our lives are and how stressed we are. I know of people who can’t bear to be parted from their technology even on holiday, fretting on the beach if they can’t get a phone signal or internet connection. It might seem a tough addiction to crack but I do believe there is a solution. There are places where you can step off the hamster wheel of life and into a world where all is tranquil, unhurried and where stress is something to be lifted from your shoulders. We tried an experiment, an old friend and I, just the other day. We checked into Lucknam Park’s fabulous country spa near Colerne to see for ourselves whether our pack of different sized troubles could be left on the doorstep. Don’t be fooled by the imposing closed metal gates when you arrive at Lucknam, drive your car slowly at them and they will admit you to the magic kingdom, which is a mix of old style gracious living and contemporary mod cons. The purpose-built spa building is rather special, the big entrance leading through to the well equiped changing rooms, or to the sunny bistro overlooking the grounds. The treatment suite is tucked away a few yards away, while the big indoor pool can be tantalising glimpsed next door. The buildings may be impressive, but it’s the staff who make the Lucknam experience stand out. Our therapist was Helen, who trained for this career as a mature adult and manages that fine balance of being ultraprofessional and warm and human. Lucknam’s staff are all adept at making guests feel looked after and free to simply unwind and enjoy themselves. If you go to Lucknam for a full spa day, which includes a treatment, breakfast and lunch the cost is £165. You can arrive in time to add a yoga class to your schedule (£15 for a 75 minute group class). These are held in the newly refurbished Well-being House, which is in a separate converted lodge house and is a kind of retreat within the spa. There is no noise or interruption here, and because you will have left your phone in your locker, the outside world cannot intrude. Yoga is very good for calming the over stimulated mind and for stretching that desk-bound body too. From there go on to try the dry 78 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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floation therapy or the pioneering Haslauer reflective sun light therapy. The latter is perfect if, like me, you suffer from the winter blues. You lie in a simply decorated warm room, on a curved comfortable lounger, admiring the hand-blown glass hanging from invisible threads and enjoying the very subtle scent of warming orange zest. The therapist leaves the room and says she’ll be back in 40 minutes. I have to admit to a slight feeling of alarm – 40 minutes? – what would I do in an empty room for that yawning chasm of activity-free time? The answer is nothing. I lay down, prepared to be fidgety and restless. The music soothed, the warmth was like lying on a beach on a sunny day and I was bathed in golden light. It’s very hard to describe but I can testify that this particular champion fidgeter was perfectly still, calm and relaxed the whole time. This therapy is ideal for people who just can’t switch off as it forces you to confront your own stillness, to create a sense of calm.

This therapy is ideal for people who ❝ just can’t switch off as it forces you to confront your own stillness, to create a sense of calm

❞

The lights used in the treatment are ideal for those suffering sleep problems, or for jet lag. It’s also reckoned to be useful for anyone who suffers from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) during winter. Still in the Well-being House I then sampled a taster session of the dry floatation bed. Cocooned in warm towels and a wrap, your body is lowered slightly so the water underneath supports you entirely. Gentle swaddled and weightless your feet are massaged and your body rocked slightly. Again, time flies while you’re in this suspended state. You have no choice but to succumb. This treatment is good for aching muscles and joints, the weightlessness taking all the strain off the body. My friend also tried dry floatation and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. There’s a quiet room in the Well-being House where we re-adjusted by drinking water and cooling down before strolling back outside to return to the spa building. You know it’s going to be a good day when your biggest decisions are whether to try the indoor or outdoor heated pools first, whether to sit in

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HEALTH&WELLBEING

INVITATION TO UNWIND: main picture, the indoor pool at Lucknam Park’s spa looks out over the well tended gardens Above, join a yoga or Pilates class at the Well-being House Helen settles a guest into the dry floatation tank

the steam room or the amethyst chamber, or which glossy magazine to flick through while lounging about. It’s very easy to lose a few hours in here without realising what the time is out in the real world. It’s perfectly acceptable at Lucknam’s spa to have lunch in a fluffy white bathrobe, which we did, mingling with the dressed guests in the brasserie. I had thought this would turn out to be a little rocket salad and a glass of mineral water, but actually we had some gorgeous crispy vegetable tempura with a ginger-zingy salad, followed by an onion and goats cheese pithivier for my happy companion, and tender, tasty lamb for me – all a pleasure to the eye and the palate. A naughty but nice glass of sauvignon blanc each added to the sense of occasion. We chinked glasses and toasted our good fortune to be able to enjoy this oasis of sybaritic living. Spa afficionados will be pleased to know that the bathrobes

and towels were, as you’d expect from a five-star hotel, white and fluffy. Lucknam’s therapists use Ila aromatherapy and essential oils, which are gathered from all over the world and blended in the Cotwolds, the French brand Anne Semonin and the Carita range. Lucknam has a series of packages that can be bought as gift vouchers. You could also just visit to enjoy the splendid grounds and have lunch in the brasserie, which is £19 for two courses or £21 for three. ■ Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, Colerne, Wiltshire, SN14 8AZ, tel: 01225 742777. Visit: www.lucknampark.co.uk. Visit our website for more events and things to do. To promote your event log on and get listed. wwwthebathmag.co.uk

The Party Season

Party Package £65

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day spa for men and women 14 green street, bath BA1 2JZ tel: 01225 426000 www.greenstreethouse.com Not to be used in conjunction with any other oﬀer or promotion

Drop by to see our fantastic range of gift and luxury accessories. Lovely candles, slippers, scarves and much more. Gift vouchers available

NOVEMBER 2013

THEBATHMAGAZINE 79

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ON THE WEBSITE THIS MONTH OLIVER GOODSON'S ILLUSTRATIONS

BOWEN TECHNIQUE

CLAY'S NATURAL HEALTH

Physical hands on therapy for all sorts of muscular skeletal and aches, pains and injuries; both chronic and acute. Ideal for back pain and sports injury and maintenance. • Fully Qualified & insured • Clinic at Widcombe GP surgery • Good for stress, relaxation & tension • Efficient & cost effective Oliver Goodson is a freelance Illustrator and artist - using bright colours, intricate lines and bold shapes, he creates wonderfully imaginative images. Oliver is available for commissions and projects. Oliver grew up with a keen interest in art and design, and since graduating from university has worked on personal projects and had work published by The History Press and Groundwork Southwest.

• Also works with horses & riders • Easy parking & close to station www.ngbowen.com

Email: nigelclay2010@hotmail.co.uk

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Tel: 01373 812012

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Clay's Natural Health is a sole trader of seaweed, garlic, distant, on site dowser for human and animal health and healing of geopathic and electromagnetic stress promote a sustainable lifestyle for people, plants & animals and offers antibiotic resistance. Application of Raditech and the intake of natural minerals combats illnesses and diseases.

KAPOW PEST CONTROL Kapow Pest Control is now busy treating wasps nests, Plus all other pest problems. BPCA, Local, Independent, Reliable and Professional Domestic and Commercial. We are THE local company to control any pest problems you may have to the highest standard be it commercial or domestic. We are experts in not only ridding you of pests but also will give you extensive advice on how to prevent future problems.

A uniquely relaxing, creative and highly enjoyable interactive experience designed to get the most out of your visit to Bath. You will get to explore Bath’s streets and draw and record your experience. WalkAndDrawBath • Coffee • Chat • Walk • Explore • Draw • Eat • Relax • Experience Bath through Art and Photography at your pace. Call: 07920060015 Email: walkanddrawbath@live.co.uk www.walkanddrawbath.com

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We deliver to over 20,000 addresses every month. But if you live outside our distribution area or would like us to send a copy to friends or family then we are able to offer a mailing service for only £15.00 (6 issues) or £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 P r i n c e s B u i l d i n g s , Ge o r g e S t r e e t , B a t h B A 1 2 E D o r Tel eph o n e 0 1 22 5 42 4 4 9 9 f o r ca rd pa y m ent

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NOVEMBER 2013

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MYhome

Home comforts for visitors Cathy Hughes lovingly decorated and furnished her cottage in Colerne for her family to live in. Now she’s letting Pudding Cottage, with all its stylish and homely charms, out to visitors holidaying for summer or winter breaks in the Wiltshire countryside, writes Nichola Owen. Photography by David Parmiter

fter many years travelling around Europe, Cathy Hughes and family decided to stay put for a while. “We are an army family and we have lived in Germany and Cyprus as well as places around England,” says mother-of-four Cathy. “One of our girls was born in Germany and one in Cyprus. I think that the lifestyle teaches you that home is where you and your children are and not the bricks and mortar that you live in.” The family were quartered in Corsham in 1998 and found themselves frequently visiting Colerne. “It is such a pretty village perfectly located for trips into Bath, and the school is good. We felt that we could bring the children up here.” The family found a tiny house and settled in, but only for a while. Within a few years Cathy saw that Pudding Cottage was being renovated. She says: “After so much travelling I find it hard to stay put and as I watched the progress on the renovations at Pudding Cottage, my urge to move there kicked in.” By the time the renovations were complete, Cathy had sold their home and was able to buy Pudding Cottage. Pudding Cottage has an interesting past. The cottage housed families who worked on the Lucknam Park estate in the 1800s. Cathy explains: “Even though the cottage is fully equipped for modern life, there is a sense of history here. The thick walls give the house a sense of stillness, the doorways are low and some of the stone steps are bowed from years of use. I can imagine the man of the house heading across the fields, that surround us, to his work on the estate.” When the family moved in, the cottage was a perfect blank canvas for Cathy to dress and add warmth to. “I set to giving the cottage its heart and history back. I wanted to create an authentic country style while steering clear of shabby chic or anything distressed,” she says. The cottage also had to be a tough family home. “I have four children, and a dog, so chintzy fragility were not on the list. The house had to be solid, and hard working, like I imagine its early estate worker inhabitants were.” 82 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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COUNTRY RETREAT: main picture, the cosy sitting room has seating for seven and a woodburning stove Inset, Pudding Cottage Opposite, two of the bedrooms – Cathy advises using lined curtains to add to the feeling of luxury, as well as helping to keep rooms warm

Cathy’s style injection began with the walls. “I chose a muted chalky palette for the walls that was fresh and light reflecting, with soft cream walls in the kitchen and a warm grey lavender for everywhere else downstairs.” The simple backdrop creates a perfect foil for Cathy’s furniture and accessories. “I always have my eyes peeled for a bargain. I love rooting around antique shops and flea markets. So much so that the local antiques dealers know me by name. “Although when it comes to the larger pieces like beds and sofas I buy the best that my budget will allow. A good night’s sleep and a comfy sofa to relax on are so important.” Cathy does not meticulously plan her purchases it happens organically: “I buy simple but pretty things that I love, even if I do not have a place for them yet. The cushions on the sofa are Indian. I bought them at Delhi airport because they caught my eye and yet they sit really well on my very English and half price leather Chesterfield. Those pieces probably sum up my way of furnishing our home.”

Panel, Cathy enjoyed picking out the little items, such as cushions, ornaments and the vintage suitcase for storage – all of which add to the homely atmosphere at Pudding Cottage Photography: www.davidparmiter. co.uk

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MYhome Cottage style

When it came to choosing items for Pudding Cottage owner Cathy Hughes mixed finds from antique shops with the finest quality new homeware, such as mattresses and bed linen. She says experience has taught her: ”Be flexible about how you want your home to look. You can then let yourself be inspired by something as simple as a cushion, or a painting and take it from there.’

Favourite item: the pew ❝ in the master bedroom. It is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and has stood the test of time. I wonder how many people have perched on it over the years

❞

Pudding Cottage, Cathyʼs notes:

Upstairs the bedrooms are all simply dressed with high quality linens and unfussy calming colour schemes. “Life is hectic and so our bedrooms are distraction free. I avoid busy patterns and overly fussy furniture and televisions are certainly not allowed. I love the calmness in the bedrooms,” says Cathy. Once each room in the cottage dressed and functioning perfectly for their busy family life, Cathy and family have moved on, leaving Pudding Cottage to be let out to visitors, exactly as it is. She says: “I am pleased with the finished effect. All our bits and pieces hang together nicely, but our lives are changing, the children are growing up, and we have found a new home. “I will be making a new house feel like home soon which is really exciting. Especially for the antiques dealers in Bath,” she says with a smile.

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

Best buy: “My Chesterfield sofas. They are timeless in style and were half price in the sale and will last for a long time.” Favourite item: “The pew in the master bedroom. It is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and has stood the test of time. I wonder how many people have perched on it over the years.” Decorating tip: “Take your time. Live in your home for a while and get a feel for how you use the rooms. You may be surprised by where the light falls, or where you all congregate.” Favourite room: “The sitting room. I love to curl up with the children on the leather sofa, and watch TV together or just have a really good chat.” ■ Pudding Cottage has three bedrooms – two double and one twin, a family bathroom and ground floor cloakroom, a log burner, private garden, superbly equipped kitchen/diner, utility room and toys dotted about. The cottage is available to book for breaks (minimum three nights) via www.holidaylettings.co.uk. See: www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/bath/270216.

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

The complete kitchen service Bath Kitchen Company designs kitchens that make this room the very heart of the home – practical, stylish and comfortable. Dara Foley talks to David Horsfall of the Bath Kitchen Company

aving worked in the kitchen industry since 1984, Bath Kitchen Company has been in business since 1987, and arrived in Bath in 1990. And in that time the company has become renowned for providing a bespoke kitchen service, and its ability to meet customers’ individual requirements that mass market kitchen companies are simply not able to match. Bath Kitchen Company is a family business, with David Horsfall and his son James overseeing every aspect of the consultation, design fitting and completion process. David explains: “A thorough knowledge of manufacturing kitchens has given us insights into what really counts in creating a kitchen which will serve our customers well for a very long time. Being a family business means that our customers only ever deal with key people with a vested interest in making the project a success. This is as personal a business as you can get. We dedicate time to discussing particular needs and proposing tailor-made solutions for our clients. Our focus is on lifestyle, cooking patterns and the intelligent use of light and space.” David adds: “It is very easy to fill a room with cabinets but proper design takes training. Does it suit the budget? Does it suit the architecture of the building? Will it serve the size of family who will use it and is there capacity should the family expand in future? Will it soon look dated?” The wide variety of architecture in Bath provides a challenging environment for any kitchen designer. With many unusually shaped rooms which now serve as kitchens, this often requires very creative solutions. Kitchen design has now moved into interior design as so many people now want walls removed and free-flowing movement within what may have started out as several small rooms. “Some clients find the variety of kitchens and suppliers on offer challenging and confusing and it can be difficult to pinpoint why a particular design works but when you see it, all becomes clear. Customers have commented that as you begin to live with the kitchen, the success of the design becomes even more apparent,” says David. The kitchen shown here is one of Bath Kitchen Company’s recent installations in the pretty village of Doynton. David talks me through the brief: “The owners love entertaining and cooking, especially with fresh produce from the garden. So in keeping with the home’s delightful interior feel, we created a hard-working kitchen with a simple, traditional and calm ambience. Everything – from the positioning of features, to the clutter-less design – is geared to enhance enjoyment of the garden and company.”

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It certainly looks well equipped and impressive, there’s a steam oven, main oven, microwave oven, tall fridge-freezer and walk in larder. There are two warming drawers, by the cooker and by the dining room. The roller shutter conceals a Kitchen Aid and Magimix plugged in and ready to go. A two drawer dishwasher capabilities is boosted by a main dishwasher for when the owners entertain. David tells me the materials used are a mix of painted units and American light oak, along with light granite work surfaces, create a bright, open space. A beautiful limestone floor is complemented with a nice green on the walls which has a calming and warm feel that really suits the house. Right in the middle of everything is a superbly thought-out kitchen island. “To avoid clutter we placed the hob in the centre with an extractor fan that looks more like a light. The main sink looks out to the gardens. A separate prep sink in the island has boiling water so people can make tea and prepare veg without disturbing the cook. We hand-made a display unit for cups,” says David. Clearly, he is passionate about his work and says there is nothing better than turning customers’ dreams into reality. ■

Bath Kitchen Company Tel: 01225 312003 22 Hensley Road, Bath. www.bathkitchencompany.co.uk

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LIGHTING SPECIALIST

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

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

NOVEMBER 2013

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CITYinteriors

A talent for unearthing treasure Interior designer Maximilian Buston of Bath based family business Distinctive Interiors talks about how his classical education has helped in his profession, working with clients to create stylish, timeless interiors

t was as a pupil studying at Prior Park College that a young Maximilian Buston first became aware of the beauty of Bath’s Georgian architecture with its classical proportions. Now the adult Maximilian is studying part-time for a doctorate in archaeology at Oxford University, he is even more finely tuned to scale, line and aesthetics, and combines that passion with his profession as interior designer. Maximilian grew up surrounded by swathes of sumptuous fabrics and beautifully designed wallpaper as his mother, Ursula, is a wellestablished interior designer with a portfolio which includes homes in Kensington and Chelsea. Now he and his mother have teamed forces, working as Distinctive Interiors, with projects in London, Oxford, Surrey and Bath. “I love the very beautiful Georgian buildings of Bath,” says Maximilian, “they have a fine balance and proportion that makes them a

pleasure to work with.” As you’d expect from an archaeologist, Maximilian has a good eye for unearthing treasure, whether at the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre show among the latest designer wallpapers, interior accessories and fabrics, or while pottering around an antiques shop or street market. He’ll find a tapestried footstool or an exquisite Chinoiserie vase that will add a homely or glamorous accent to a room. “I suppose I am always on the look out for the right piece,” he admits as we talk about his approach to the room, pictured above, which he designed for a client in Oxfordshire. This is a country house drawing room which opens out on to the terrace through floor to ceiling doors, so it was important that the curtains were floor length and lined to keep the room warm. “We chose a classic Toile du Jouy, from an 18th century design with Diana the huntress. I like to choose things that won’t go out of style, that won’t date in ten years’ time.”

A colourful response

Maximilian said of this project: “This room provided us with a real challenge. A comfortable space was required for guests staying in the short-term accommodation at an Oxford college, but it had to be created out of a small and almost subterranean room. We decided the colourful response would be a tonic, so we chose soft cornflower linen on the sofas and a vibrant turquoise on the chairs, bringing out the Persian nightingales in the curtains. The curtain fabric is a classic GP & J Baker design, the great British company founded in 1884, who bought it from the Haward Studio in 1931, and has now recoloured it for its Crayford collection.” Distinctive Interiors has a fine brochure which gives details of its approach to design. Maximilian is happy to post a brochure for anyone interested in his work. Tel: 01225 426862.

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The blue and white of the curtains is echoed in some of the cushions. Good looking pieces, such as the table lamps and the coffee table, give this room the classic English charm that we British enjoy living with, and that’s emulated in interiors all over the world. In the corner of the room is a window seat, with a handy lamp nearby, which just invites the viewer to curl up and while away some time with a good book. One of his trademarks is the use of different light sources, none too bright or overpowering, to create a welcoming ambience. Maximilian also prides himself in testing any chair or sofa for comfort before suggesting it to a client – he hates to think of people’s guests perched uncomfortably just for the sake of good looks. A look at his design boards with their mix of textures and designs, each of which evoke moods, places and different aspects of history is enough to inspire one to re-consider one’s own colour scheme. ■

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G N Plastering painting and decorating A small family run business, dedicated to customer care and satisfaction.

Contact: Graeme Nelson 01249 656525 Mob 07745239869 www.gnplastering.co.uk

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

NOVEMBER 2013

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CITYgardening

MULCH ADO ABOUT PRUNING Get the garden straight for winter with a timely pruning session that will leave you with a virtuous rosy glow, says Jane Moore

ose and clematis are the two pruning jobs that are guaranteed to get many gardeners scratching their heads in befuddlement. You can happily forget about clematis for a few more months as they’re not due for pruning until February. But get your rose pruning out of the way before winter sets in and not only will the garden look nice and tidy but you’ll feel that rosy glow of virtue for doing a serious bit of gardening in November.

a third and smaller, neater shrubs like Gertrude Jekyll or Charlotte by about a quarter. Not quite enough, you may think, but it’s enough to stop them flailing about in the wind. Come spring I can whizz around and take a bit more off, cutting back to a nice healthy sprouting bud in March or April next year.

A cut above Always make sure your secateurs, loppers and pruning saw are nice and sharp before you start. Start by removing any dead, damaged or diseased parts of the plant. There are nearly always some stems that have died back and these should be cut back to the base or to the healthy part of the stem. Make your cut clean and tidy and cut to just above an outward facing bud. Some say make the cut sloping away from the bud but I usually cut the stems flat without suffering any problems.

Shrub roses Look at the books and they will tell you that this is a job for the spring which it is and it isn’t. Confused? Me too, but all I can do is tell you what works for me. Years of windblown, rocked and almost uprooted roses has taught me that a thorough prune in autumn is so worthwhile. It has definitely saved several of my roses from premature death and others from looking decidedly dog eared. Here in the relatively balmy south I feel we can get away with it – if I move to the Ridings of Yorkshire I may have to reconsider my strategy. I follow all the usual criteria – removing dead, diseased and damaged wood first. Then any crossing stems are tackled until I end up with a nice open, goblet-shaped shrub. Finally I reduce the height of the stems, taking the larger, vigorous varieties such as Falstaff down by about 88 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Climbers This is the main November job and is the one that most people shy away from. Keep in mind that you’re aiming for a nice even fan-shaped plant once you’ve finished and you won’t go far wrong. Start in the usual way – removing any dead, diseased and dying branches. Next tie in any new shoots and renew ties on older branches so that they’re well spaced and fanned out from the base. If you have plenty of new shoots, you can cut out any really old branches that are past their best as this will encourage new shoots next year. Finally prune back side shoots and branches growing from the main framework to two or three buds, trimming off completely any that are weedy and growing against the wall or fence.

Ramblers These really shouldn’t need too much pruning except to keep them within bounds and keep them healthy. If the plant is getting out of hand, you can chop back a few of the old woody

branches to the base to stimulate new shoots which can be tied in as they grow. Roses in this group include Albertine (pictured inset), Félicité Perpétue (pictured above) and The Garland.

Planting November is a great time to plant roses – either bare root plants or containerised ones. It’s open to argument which is the best – I’ve had some marvellous bare root plants that are way bigger and with more root than their potted cousins but I’ve also had some seriously ropey plants from a supplier who should know better. My general rule of thumb is to plant bare root in autumn and opt for nicely grown containerised plants in spring. When planting make sure it’s a nice big, deep hole which is back-filled with compost and/or well rotted manure mixed with a generous scoop of bone meal. Roses are greedy blighters and will love you if you get them off to a good start. Prune back any wildly unkempt roots and spread the roots in the hole, covering them with a layer of soil/compost/manure mix and firming in with a boot. Repeat until the hole is filled, making sure you get the ‘graft union’ or knobbly crown just beneath soil level. Now wait for spring.

And finally… Once the pruning and planting is done, finish off with a nice top dressing mulch of something. I like to use our own garden compost, freshly dug out from the heap, as it looks great and will be drawn down into the soil gradually through the winter months. You can use bark chips, wellrotted manure or even potting compost but a nice mulch finishes the job properly. ■ Suppliers: David Austin Roses,Wolverhampton. Tel: 01902 376300. www.davidaustinroses.com. Peter Beales Roses, Attleborough, Norfolk. Tel: 01953 454707. www.classicroses.co.uk. Jane Moore is the award-winning head gardener at the Bath Priory Hotel. Follow her on Twitter @janethegardener.

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the directory Baby Equipment

to advertise in this section call 01225 424 499 Holiday Rental

House & Home

Baby Equipment Hire in and around Bath www.babyquip-bath.co.uk 07528 074960

Electricians

ONEMAGAZINEONECITYONEMONTH Health, Beauty & Wellbeing

Health, Beauty & Wellbeing Acupuncture for Fertility, support alongside IVF, Pregnancy and Womens Health. Holly Woodward (MBAcC, Reg Nurse) is an experienced fertility acupuncturist, having worked for leading fertility expert Zita West. Call Holly on 07759 684552 Address: The Practice Rooms, 26 Upper Borough Walls. Situated above ‘Lush’. E: holly.woodward@yahoo.co.uk W: www.hollywoodward.co.uk

Tuition

Specialist Vehicle Services

Removal & Storage

Bath Language Academy

GCSE German Private Tuition Individually tailored private tuition Unique ‘fast progress’ teaching method 45 min free of charge initial assessment session

100% pass rate 95% A and A* tel. 07500164744 bath.language.academy@outlook.com www.bathlanguageacademy.com Excellence • Exclusivity • Experience • Expertise

01225 459352

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PROPERTYin FOCUS

his fabulous apartment is spread over two floors and offers a substantial amount of highly versatile living space. At garden level there is an impressive open plan area combining kitchen, dining and family rooms with polished limestone flooring with under floor heating. There are french windows and additional access out onto the rear garden. Also at this level is one of the main double bedrooms and there are also three vaulted guestrooms, a utility room and guest shower room. On the lower ground floor there are three characterful double bedrooms, a full family bathroom and an en suite shower room to the master bedroom. Despite being only a stone’s throw from the very centre of town, the apartment comes with a charming level, south facing walled garden which has a sun terrace for outside dining and a lawned area. Parking should never be an issue as the property has a double garage and further space for up to three cars. All in all The Garden Apartment offers a sophisticated and stylish option for living in one of Bath’s most impressive and admired locations. For further details and an appointment to view contact agents Pritchards. Pritchards, 11 Quiet Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 466225

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

THE GARDEN APARTMENT GREAT PULTENEY STREET • Impressive city centre location • Four Bedrooms plus 3 guest rooms • Accommodation over two floors • South facing walled garden • Garage and generous parking

Guide price: £1.25 million

NOVEMBER 2013

THEBATHMAGAZINE 93

pritchard-partners.co.uk

Marshfield

Price: ÂŁ665,000

An impressive & particularly well presented detached modern house arranged over 3 floors in a quiet and sought after road a few minutesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; walk from the extensive range of village amenities. Set in attractive walled level gardens. Double garage & driveway parking for numerous cars. 5 double bedrooms, bathroom & 2 shower rooms (1 en suite), superb Harvey Jones kitchen/dining room with study area, sitting rm, fabulous top floor play rm/family rm, utility, boiler & cloakrms. Gas fired heating (partly underfloor).

Scan to access our Website Homepage

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pritchard-partners.co.uk

Lansdown Crescent

Guide Price: ÂŁ575,000

A spacious & particularly well presented 2nd floor apartment enjoying wonderful views to front and rear. Int area 1052 sq ft/97.7 sq m. Communal & private hallways, splendid sitting room/dining room, 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite), 3rd double bedroom (approached via communal landing) with en suite cloakroom, kitchen. Storage & parking permit available.

11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB

PRITCHARDS Nov.indd 2

Tel: 01225 466 225

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Northampton Street A fine example of a Grade II listed Georgian Townhouse, arranged over four floors and bursting with period features and charm throughout. Situated on the lower slopes of Lansdown, the house is located close to a number of excellent schools and is within a short walk of the Royal Victoria Park and Bath city centre.

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Freshford

ÂŁ1,100 pcm

A beautiful period cottage situated in the popular village of Freshford. On the ground floor there is a sitting room with a stunning stone fireplace and hearth with inset wood burning stove and a fully fitted kitchen. Upstairs there are 2 double bedrooms and a family bathroom. Externally is a raised patio garden with lovely views across the village towards the church.

Bumpers Batch, Bath

ÂŁ2,850 pcm

Bumpers Batch is an excellent example of a spacious detached family home boasting large gardens and views in this desirable location. The ground floor consists of 3 reception rooms, modern kitchen/breakfast room and w.c. Upstairs there is a master en suite, guest bedroom with en suite, 4 further bedrooms and family bathroom. Externally there are superb gardens to the front and rear and a double garage.

Bath Office

Sales. 01225 312244 | Lettings 01225 445646

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THINKINGproperty

It’s all about image Estate agent Peter Greatorex tells us how to make sure your apartment looks fantastic in a photo

t’s 2013 and almost everyone (around 93% of buyers and tenants) will start their property search online. Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation are the three main property portals and they all have one thing in common – they are ‘image led’. In other words, their advertising really showcase the properties, with large, sometimes clickable images and galleries of images for searchers to browse for many a happy hour. It is therefore absolutely vital that your apartment looks absolutely amazing in a photograph! At The Apartment Company Peter Greatorex we pride ourselves on the beautiful photography of our clients’ properties. Unlike many of our competitors, we always use a professional photographer to really capture the essence – and very importantly – the lifestyle, that the apartment offers. Of course, there are many elements that go into making great property photography: the weather, the skill and experience of the photographer and the features of the property itself – they all go into making or breaking the shoot. But there are also lots of things you, as the owner, can do yourself so that your apartment stands out online for all the right reasons. Here are three steps to ensure your images really pack a punch:

Step 1 - Clean and Clear: Clear surfaces and floor spaces, take up rugs where necessary, and clean everything until it sparkles. Light and

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reflected shine are the best ways to show off the size of your rooms. The more floor and surface space a buyer can see, the larger they will perceive your apartment to be - and space adds value.

Step 2 – Go Shopping: Take a tip from the magazine stylists and shop for staging accessories to give your home the star treatment: Kitchen – Champagne, fruit, (stick to one type per bowl; limes or lemons can look great), rustic board of artisan breads and cheeses, flowers. Living rooms – fill an empty fireplace with church candles and light them for the shoot; elegant bouquets, lifestyle magazines and coffee table books. Bathrooms - fluffy white towels and luxury spa-style toiletries. Step 3 – Become a Photographer’s Assistant! Plump cushions, move chairs, take away any distracting objects, remove bins and laundry. Make sure you can see what he’s photographing so you can anticipate any potential for the room not looking its absolute best. Put lamps on or turn lights off, to keep the ambient light at the right level. A good photographer will really appreciate your help and will guide you throughout. Get your images wrong and you may well notice by a distinct lack of viewings and interest. Get them right and you should have no problem attracting viewers and buyers! Don’t under-sell your apartment. For information on The Apartment Company’s ‘Best Price’ marketing strategy call 01225 471144 (sales) or 01225 303870 (lettings).

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Upper South Wraxall, Nr Bradford-onAvon. £585,000

W NE

Upper South Wraxall is a picturesque village to the east of Bath & north of Bradford-on-Avon in beautiful countryside with a good pub. Good dog walking country too! This character cottage is very well presented offering comfortable accommodation. Welcoming entrance hall, double aspect lounge with wood burner in the open fireplace. Modern fitted kitchen & intimate dining room. Cloakroom & lobby. Three bedrooms, ensuite & bathroom plus large landing or study area. Outside there is ample parking on the attractive drive all behind electric gates. To the rear of the house is a pleasant courtyard garden with plenty of space for eating out in the fresh air or messing about with pot plants! This is a lovely home set on a very pretty lane within a sought after community driven village. Essential viewing material.

Pear Tree Cottage, Bradford-on-Avon, £565,000

W NE

Almost the quintessential English country cottage – very pretty and situated on the rural outskirts of historic Bradford-on-Avon. Importantly one can walk to school, the nearby Dog & Fox or to the town centre! The cottage is very well proportioned. The two large receptions are at the front of the house looking onto the pretty front garden, both have beams & fireplaces with wood burners – ideal for those chilly winters’ nights. Kitchen diner & Cloakroom! Three good bedrooms & bathroom plus two handy loft storage rooms. There is plenty of garden with fruit trees & vegetable patches. We understand this is circa quarter acre & has been gardened organically for nineteen years. There is driveway parking for 5 or 6 cars plus a garage/outbuilding which offers potential for an office/studio or granny annex possibly? A lovely period home in a good spot – recommended viewing for cottage hunters.

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

Fidelis

Residential Sales & Lettings

01225 421000 wwww.fidelisproperties.co.uk

D L O

Rockliffe Road

£489,950

D L O

Timsbury

£585,000

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Fidelis

Residential Sales & Lettings

Devonshire Mews

01225 421000 wwww.fidelisproperties.co.uk

ÂŁ495,000

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

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Cleeve Hill, Somerset

Guide Price £1,950,000

Cleeve Hill is a country house situated on the edge of the city. Arranged across just two principal floors, it offers elegant yet comfortable accommodation with beautifully proportioned reception rooms and bedrooms served by practical ancillary rooms making this a spacious home for all the family. The gardens include level lawns, a swimming pool terrace with stunning views plus steps and paths leading down to a hidden walled garden and continue into woodland and fields with River Avon frontage. Approx sq ft 5802.

• 7 Bedrooms • 4 Reception Rooms • Detached Georgian Home • Edge of the City Limits • Gardens and Pool • Further Wood, Fields and River Frontage

Bath Office

Sales. 01225 459817 | Lettings 01225 458546

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Charlton House, Somerset This is a wonderful prominent period home within a most charming village situated between Bath and Bristol. The proportions are impressive with a large farmhouse kitchen with Aga and two large reception rooms both over 27ft. The five bedrooms are all doubles with pleasant aspects and the beautifully cared for garden includes terraces, level lawns, flower beds, pool, outbuildings and garaging. Approx sq ft 4424.

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Guide Price £1,500,000 • • • • • •

Detached Period Home 5 Bedrooms 4 Reception Rooms Beautifully Proportioned Stunning Walled Garden Idyllic Village

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Bath Originally built in the 1930's, this substantial home commands incredible views over the countryside, and the city of Bath resting in the hollow of the valley. "From the lounge and the bedroom balcony we can see Royal Crescent in the distance, the views are such a wonderful part of being here," comments Ian. Highcliffe has a gentle elegance with an atmosphere that is warm, friendly and inviting. Spacious reception rooms that are light, bright and airy coupled with an intelligent flow allow the house to perform faultlessly, responding to all demands of family life or formal entertaining occasions. "Christmas at Highcliffe has always been extremely special," adds Susan. “The hall is where we always placed the Christmas tree, and being double height, a 14ft tree

would take pride of place." "A house for all seasons - in the winter months we would settle in the lounge with a cosy fire and during the summer months the conservatory is definitely the place to be," says Ian "taking breakfast, then drifting onto the patio, or a walk in the garden with a coffee before the start of the day's business."

Susan adds, "Highcliffe’s location is superb with such easy access to all the amenities that modern life demands - yet once here, the fast pace of the busy world really does feel a million miles away.”

BLOOMFIELD ROAD FOUR BEDROOMS • MASTER BEDROOM WITH BALCONY • OPEN PLAN KITCHEN/DINING ROOM • CONSERVATORY • STUDY • VIEWS OVER COUNTRYSIDE • EPC RATING = D

Contact: 01225 320032

£735,000

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Bath The owner of Apartment 3, Audley Lodge, who is an architect, found his ideal home at the Lodge on the doorstep of the botanical gardens in the park opposite, which he had loved so much as a child, and also within 10 minutes walk of the centre of Bath. Another factor which delighted him was the fact that the apartment possessed large rooms which had not been 'chopped' up in the transition of one big house into smaller units.This unusual property was built in the late Victorian period and was once the residence of a family of Quakers and even included a chapel among its features. The owner refurbished the property using superb fixtures and fittings sourced from some of the best available in Germany and Italy. From the spacious and

light rooms, there are views of Bath and its superb architecture. Relaxing in the lovely sitting room, which has windows on two sides, there is the entertaining distraction of overlooking the Bath Lawn Tennis Club. The communal gardens are delightful.The guest bedroom is large too and benefits from a guest bathroom, stylishly decorated with tiles in a bamboo colour.The master bedroom is light and airy with large windows and the en-suite has a walk-in shower. There is one parking space for the owner here and four guest parking spaces for visitors coming by car.

The owner has loved living at Audley Lodge and is only moving because of new business ventures.

AUDLEY PARK ROAD VICTORIAN PROPERTY • 2 BEDROOMS, MASTER EN-SUITE • FAMILY BATHROOM • KITCHEN • SITTING ROOM • COMMUNAL GARDENS • OFF STREET PARKING • DESIRABLE LOCATION • EPC Rating = C

Contact: 01225 320032

£475,000

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k Mar r o l y a N

BLOOMFIELD PARK

ÂŁ860,000

This beautifully appointed Edwardian semi-detached house has gracious and elegant accommodation that retains a wealth of period detail and features. Fantastic family location within easy striking distance of Bath's City Centre. This property is not one to be missed! Entrance vestibule, hall with central staircase rising to upper floors, drawing room, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room and downstairs bathroom. 4 first floor bedrooms and family bathroom. Attic level with 2 further bedrooms and open plan lounge area/bedroom 7. Beautiful front and rear gardens, garage and off-street parking. Approximate gross internal floor area: 2,575 square feet / 239 square metres.

1 Hayes Place, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 4QW

01225 422 224

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k Mar r o l y a N

BLOOMFIELD AVENUE

ÂŁ692,500

This large Victorian semi is beautifully appointed and comes with acres of space, ideal for a growing family. Excellent location, close to the Bear Flat Parade and with easy access into Bathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s City Centre. Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, 6 bedrooms and beautiful bathroom. Walled gardens. Approximate gross internal floor area: 2,145 square feet / 199 square metres.

www.mark-naylor.com

email: homes@mark-naylor.com

Royal Crescent

Offers in Excess of £795,000

Grade I listed | Prestigious location | Courtyard apartment | Luxury accommodation | Beautifully presented | Two bedrooms | Intricate period features Located within the Royal Crescent this impressive courtyard apartment encompasses the entire lower ground floor and the vaults of this impressive Grade I listed townhouse. The exceptionally well proportioned accommodation comprises: a grand drawing room, elegant dining room, large kitchen, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, vaulted second double bedroom, good sized vaulted bathroom and a study area. Externally there is a secluded paved seating area to the rear and to the front lies a beautiful courtyard garden full of mature shrubs and trees.

Park Street

Offers in Excess of £495,000

Georgian apartment | Grade II listed | Prime position | Spacious living | Delightful garden | Modern kitchen | Luxury bathroom | Highly recommended A fabulous two bedroom garden apartment located in a prime position - just off St. James’s Square. The apartment has spacious accommodation that comprises: large reception hall, cloakroom, sitting room with feature fireplace and twin sash windows overlooking the garden, modern fitted kitchen, two large double bedrooms, utility room and a luxury bathroom. The apartment is presented in excellent decorative order and also has the advantage of its own front door. A rare opportunity - early viewing is highly recommended.

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Green Park

Offers in Excess of £280,000

Georgian apartment | Grade II listed | Elegant living | Period features | Stylish kitchen | Luxury bathroom | Central location | Highly recommended A fabulous first floor Georgian apartment located in the highly desirable Green Park. This beautifully presented apartment has accommodation on the principle floors of this Grade II listed building comprising: spacious drawing room with feature fireplace, ornate and detailed cornicing and twin sash windows overlooking Green Park, a fully equipped kitchen with integrated appliances and dining area, double bedroom with period fireplace and detailed cornicing and a luxury bathroom with stylish travertine tiled walls and floor. A quality city base, investment that will generate considerable interest.

Long Fox Manor

Offers in Excess of £270,000

Georgian | Grade II listed | Immaculate condition | Two double bedrooms | Unprecedented communal facilities | Allocated parking Award winning Georgian manor house conversion combining luxury country living with close proximity to Bristol and the world heritage City of Bath. The apartment’s impressive proportions combined with high ceilings, original sash windows and reclaimed18th century French railway carriage floorboards create a unique home. The house sits within ten acres of communal gardens including mature woodland and a walled garden and extensive facilities to include a tennis court, outdoor heated swimming pool, sauna and hot tub, gym, bar, ballroom, cinema and ample parking

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Lansdown Place West

ÂŁ1950 pcm

Prime location | Fabulous views | Magnificent size rooms | No pets/smokers | Council Tax Band D | Mature students | Unfurnished | Available now Spacious Georgian 4 bedroomed apartment which has undergone refurbishment works to including decorating throughout. This apartment enjoys fabulous views and exceptionally large rooms throughout. An early viewing of this apartment is recommended to avoid disappointment. Ideal for professional and mature/post graduate students.

Portland Place

ÂŁ1450 pcm

Georgian apartment | 2 Double bedrooms | Private garden | No pets | Council Tax - Band B | Part furnished | Available mid-October 2013 Grade II listed part furnished stylish two bedroom apartment combining high specification modern living with classic Georgian features. The accommodation comprises sitting room, contemporary kitchen with integrated kitchen appliances, breakfast room, master bedroom with doors leading out to garden, luxury bathroom and a study. To the rear there is a fabulous secluded garden with a paved seating area and mature shrubs and trees. Highly recommended.

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Crisp Cowley Ralph Allenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333

www.crispcowley.co.uk

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Crisp Cowley Ralph Allenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333

www.crispcowley.co.uk

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