The Bath Magazine October 2024

FILMBATH FESTIVAL

WHAT A LINE UP!

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the month of pumpkins, mystery and magic. Enter Angela Carter, doyenne of dark, gothic-themed literature. On page 54, Caleb Ferrari tells us the story of Carter’s time in Bath, the backdrop to so many of her ideas and writing. The fantasy themes continue with Maria Robinson’s interview with a vampire on page 26. Well, they call themself that, but in fact Nik Jovcic-Sas is a real life person from Midsomer Norton who likes dressing up in goth-style drag. Oh yes, and playing the violin. Nik celebrates the queer community in Bath, encouraging inclusivity, and illustrates how the city is so much more than an historic shrine.

Dame Siân Phillips has vampiric connections too, with the film The Radleys, which is coming to Sky Cinema on 18 October. And (if old enough) we remember her as the blood-curdling maternal manipulator Livia in I, Claudius. Siân is appearing in Table Number Seven, part of a Terence Rattigan double bill at the Theatre Royal. Melissa Blease leapt at the chance to speak to her as rehearsals were starting (see page 36).

Bath Philharmonia is marking an impressive 25 years and we asked people with a close connection to the orchestra about its impact. The enthusiasm for the music and for their community work was quite overwhelming (see page 38). There’s also a different kind of music at play at Bath Abbey, a spectacular sound and light experience by Luxmuralis, comprising sculptor Peter Walker and composer David Harper. Peter describes it as allowing us to see old buildings not just as fixed points in history, but as living, breathing buildings. See page 52.

We also bring you a host of ideas for stand-out interiors from local experts on page 80, along with a rich directory of contacts providing inspiration, products and practical solutions for the home.

We’ll end with an uplifting quote from 10-year-old Elsa about the Bath Phil. “My favourite instrument in the orchestra is a violin because it makes me feel so many things – I shut my eyes and can just go anywhere in the sound.”

Time to take advantage of Bath Phil’s offer of a free concert ticket for every household in Bath, then.

Uncharted Realities exhibition

From 22-27 October, Walcot Chapel in Bath will host Uncharted Realities, an exhibition featuring works by Nadia Ryzhakova and Michele Silk. Both artists explore themes of belonging, migration, and the shifting nature of identity. Ryzhakova’s dreamlike paintings evoke the fluidity of childhood memories, while Silk’s textured pieces, inspired by her African upbringing, reflect the tension between vulnerability and resilience. Curated by Lilia Bakanova, this exhibition also supports Off The Record (OTR), a Bath-based charity providing free mental health services to young people.

Walcot Chapel, Walcot Gate, Bath BA1 5UG (10am-4pm); nadiaryzhakova.com/ pages/events

The Bath Magazine 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED; 01225 424499 www.thebathmag.co.uk

Editor Emma Clegg 01225 424592; emma@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Jane Miklos jane@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Assistant Editor/Web Editor Maria Robinson maria@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Jeff Osborne production@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales Liz Grey liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk To advertise tel: 01225 424499

Publisher Steve Miklos steve@thebathmagazine.co.uk

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ON THIS MONTH’S COVER

The FilmBath Festival runs from 18–27 October: filmbath.org.uk

Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bath Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers.

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.

Emma Clegg, Editor

Migration by

Nadia Ryzhakova

Wool is…

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City updates

REFINED BOOTS FOR WALKING

For a limited time only, DuoBoots are back in Bath with a pop-up upstairs at Milsom Place, offering customers a curated selection of knee high styles, allowing them to experience first-hand the craftmanship and care that go into each pair. Founded in Bath in 1974, DuoBoots are also celebrating their 50th anniversary. The company pioneered the concept of boots with multiple calf fittings, providing a solution for those who couldn’t find knee high boots to fit. Today the brand continues to honour its heritage, crafting each pair in the same family-run factories in Portugal. Comfortable, flattering and versatile, this season’s collection features riding-inspired flats, western cowgirls, sleek stilettos, and snake print leather, in a wide array of sizes. duoboots.com

OUR LITTLE HOUR AT THE USTINOV

Black History Month this year takes the theme of Reclaiming Narratives. The idea is to take ownership of the stories that define Black culture and identity. A new production at The Ustinov from 15-19 October called Our Little Hour tells the story of Walter Tull, the Afro-Caribbean grandson of a Barbadian slave, orphaned at eight years old, a man who rose to prominence against all odds. Commissioned by the charity Show Racism The Red Card, this is a collaborative piece with three actors – Leon Newman, Neil Reidman and Susie Broadbent – all playing multiple characters. Written by local playwright Dougie Blaxland, the play celebrates Walter Tull as one of the first black professional footballers (and the third person of mixed heritage to play in the top division of the Football League) and one of the first mixed-heritage infantry officers when he enlisted in August 1914. He died in the Battle of the Somme just months before the end of World War I. Neil has recently created a one man show called Without, covering the Windrush period to the modern day, about his own experience of fatherhood. For this he has just been nominated for Best Male Lead Actor in a Play at the Black British Theatre Awards – the award winners will be unveiled on 4 November. theatreroyal.org.uk

SPECIAL EVENT

Ellis and Killpartrick are celebrating 45 years of professional eye care and distinctive eyeware. Established in 1979, Ellis and Killpartrick is one of the south west’s leading independent opticians with over 22,000 registered patients across its Bath, Cheltenham and Tetbury practices. Offering an exclusive and distinctive eyewear range, the 45th anniversary is a milestone in its commitment to the art of bespoke eyewear. To celebrate, Ellis and Killpartrick are offering patients 50% off selected luxury frames at a special event on Saturday 9 November.

Ellis and Killpartrick, 18 New Bond St, Bath BA1 1BA; ellisandkillpartrick.com

YOUNG MARTYRS IN BATH

The band Young Martyrs, who describe themselves as “the lockdown project that never ended” have two upcoming musicmaking dates at Komedia and Chapel Arts Centre.

In January 2020, singer-songwriter Tom Corneill left his corporate job to pursue a full-time career in music, only to find the industry grind to a halt a few months later as the world went into lockdown. Not to be deterred, as soon as restrictions relaxed, Tom invited friends Lee, Rich and Simon to let off steam playing through some new songs. They would practise in barns and places they could use while social distancing.

What began as a lockdown project is now going from strength to strength.

In the last couple of years Young Martyrs have released two albums, played Glastonbury Festival and opened for acts like Badly Drawn Boy and McFly. September saw them complete their first UK tour and welcome new guitarist Andy to the ranks. They have big plans for 2025 and beyond.

Young Martyrs, 13 October at Komedia and 2 November at Chapel Arts Centre youngmartyrs.com

Neil Reidman and Susie Broadbent in rehearsal

5 things to do

Discover the forensic code!

Join Professor Turi King for her Churchill Lecture about ‘cracking one of the biggest forensic DNA cases in history’ – the identification of the remains of King Richard III. Turi will share the American and UK side of her discoveries and the importance of museum work alongside her findings. £16. The Churchill Lecture, 16 October, 6.15pm for 7pm at The American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Down, Bath. americanmuseum.org

Research green homes

Hosted by Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE), Bath Green Open Homes weekend on 12-13 October (10am–4pm) offers a unique opportunity to explore 18 homes across the city that have embraced energy-saving solutions. Whether you’re curious about solar panels, insulation, new heating systems or efficient windows, this event provides first-hand advice directly from homeowners. This weekend is perfect for homeowners and tenants who want to reduce energy costs, improve comfort and lower their carbon footprint. For more information visit greenopenhomesbanes.org

Tap into science

Part of BRLSI’s new Academy of Imagination programme for children and families, Bath Taps Into Science on 18 and 19 October (10am–4pm) at BRLSI in Queen Square will present STEM in a fun and accessible way, mainly through hands-on exhibitions and demonstrations. Friday is for pre-booked school groups and Saturday is open to everyone. Activities include code-breaking, paper darts, maths, AI, climate change, microscopes, advanced propulsion systems, electricity, psychology, astronomy, biomechanics, genetics and sustainability. Exhibitors and participants will include university groups, schools, local societies, and industry. brlsi.org

Awaken the soul

The Story of Soul on 10 October at Bath Forum is the latest hit show from the producers that brought you The Magic of Motown and Lost in Music. The cast will take you on a journey of sweet soul music, so join the Love Train, as we give you the Best of Our Love and show you there Ain’t Nobody who does it better. Powerful performances from the talented cast will showcase the biggest hits spanning a generation. Featuring songs by Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind and Fire, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, The Pointer Sisters, Whitney Houston, Ben E King, Barry White and many, many, more. Tickets from £30. bathforum.co.uk

Watch the big screen

The FilmBath festival from 18-27 October will show over 50 films across our city, showcasing a wonderfully diverse selection of cinema from around the world and screening movies in some of Bath’s most unexpected buildings. There is something for everyone at the festival, including bold new films such as Conclave with Ralph Fiennes, Nightbitch with Amy Adams, Small Things Like These with Cillian Murphy and Bird with Barry Keoghan.

FilmBath offers Pay What You Can Pricing so that as many people can enjoy the festival as possible, so you can choose the price that’s right for your circumstances. filmbath.org.uk

Above: The Queen of My Dreams shows on 18 October at 3.30pm and 8.15pm

Photograph by Johnathan Sisson

Kutchenhaus Bristol

Unit 11, Clifton Down Shopping Centre, Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2NN

Kutchenhaus Bath

Bath profile

BRICE BROWN

Brice Brown is an artist and writer based in New York, NY and Bath. His work has been exhibited internationally, he has worked as an art critic and his many qualfications include an MA (Creative Writing) from Bath Spa University.

You live in New York NY and in Bath. Why does living in two places like this work for you?

What one doesn’t have the other does! They are fantastic complements of each other, and I am lucky to live between the two. NYC is electric and chaotic and always on; Bath is gorgeous at every turn, the perfect size for getting around, full of friendly and creative people, and goes to sleep at night. I’ve found living in Bath to be very conducive to focusing on my creative projects. A shorthand way I tell my friends in NYC to think of Bath is it’s like the West Village but clad in Georgian stone and set on its own in a beautiful, hilly landscape.

How long have you had an association with Bath?

My husband and I first visited Bath 10 years ago. We both instantly fell in love with it for all the reasons everyone else does: the architecture, the history, the independent shops, easy access to nature, its proximity by train to lots of interesting places. That first visit, walking around Bath was like walking through a fairytale, except people actually lived and worked here. After our fourth visit, we were so enamoured we began fantasising what a life split between NYC and Bath would be like. One year after the pandemic, we decided life was too short to waste and we pulled the trigger and rented a place. That was two years ago, and we have not had a single day of regret.

Where were you born and brought up and how has this defined you?

I was born in Louisville, KY, and lived there until I was 17, when I left to attend Dartmouth College. Like a lot of small to medium-sized midwestern cities, Louisville had (and still has) a vibrant alternative scene – music, art, literature – that, because it was not, say, Chicago or NYC, meant if you wanted something cool to happen, you had to do it yourself with your friends. I think that ‘do interesting things and have fun doing them’ DIY mentality has defined a lot of what I do now personally and creatively. That, and a love of good small-batch bourbon.

What are your favourite aspects of the city of Bath?

One of my favourite things to do is walk my dog and get lost, there are so many curious streets, alleys, neighborhoods, and shops to explore. I never tire of looking at Jacob’s Ladder on Bath Abbey – it’s a fairly unique and modern-looking decision for the time period. The Ustinov Studio is a gem hiding in plain sight. Walking through the Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Park and then into The Great Dell is like being transported from one secret world to another. My dog, Bizzie, is a rescue from Puerto Rico; we brought her over here last November and she thinks dog-friendly Bath is a slice of heaven, especially Topping Books – they know her by name and give her treats.

What was your training and background? And what led you there?

Growing up, I was obsessed with drawing deer. And Garfield, the cartoon cat. Not sure why. I also wrote awkward stories about aliens and elves and made them into crafty hand-bound books with illustrations. Yes, I was that kid. So, I eventually got two master’s degrees, one in painting and printmaking, the other in creative writing. Now, in my adult professional life, I am creating work that combines both visual elements and text, so I guess it’s all coming full circle. Even Garfield – my next project involves puppets, one of which is an orange cat.

You are an artist and writer. Can you explain a bit about your work and what inspires it? And how one informs the other?

Most of my work deals with how we live within our own bodies, these weighty flesh-things we all carry around that will ultimately fail us. Lately, I’ve been creating experimental multi-media operas that allow me to flex both writing and visual art muscles (I write the text and make the sets), and also work collaboratively with composers, choreographers, and other artists. It’s a very physical medium, which is great when dealing with the body as a metaphor.

Can you share something you feel strongly about?

At the risk of sounding hokey, I believe in the power of art to change a person’s life.

What – animate or inanimate – can’t you live without?

My dog. No wait, my husband. No, actually, my dog. Also, my eyeglasses – I’m blind as a bat and useless without them. bricebrown.com

Naturals blog... by the Village Judges

Here is a new blog from the Natural Theatre Company, from the Village Judges. To be an effective judge it is essential to be highly judgemental, and to have plenty of ideas about categories of judging. You’ll see they don’t fall short on either.

Hello from the Little Bathcott-Upon-Avon Events Committee (Competitions and Judging Sub-Committee). We are about to share some ‘Parish Notices’ with you all. Firstly some historical context. The committee was set up in 1973 to give the people of Bathcott-Upon-Avon something to do when Morecombe and Wise was not on the telly. Initially we held coffee mornings (powdered coffee with Lincoln biscuits) and evening talks – who will ever forget Mrs Simpkins talk about the best buttons for cardigans?

We then moved to open garden events, when we would open our little plots to each other in the hope of some faint praise for our dahlias. This then became a bit competitive when everyone tried to get the best tramlines on the lawn. So the official judging committee was created. Slowly we became more and more innovative, judging the height of sunflowers, best cakes and the most effective packing of a roof-rack.

This year has seen a completely new committee elected. We are proud to be continuing in a long line of judges and hope that the current committee will be the best yet (…and therefore winning the Best Judges competition). Here are some of our successes so far this year.

We enjoyed visiting this year’s fabulous Party in the City in Bath. We managed to get a huge number of you to enrol in some wonderful competitions and we were so proud of all our fabulous winners!

We gave awards for:

✮ The most bands seen in the evening

✮ Best dancing while sitting down eating a picnic

✮ Sweatiest person singing along in the Saracen’s Head

Gregory, Secretary of the Little Bathcott-Upon-Avon-Events Committee (Competitions and Judging Sub-Committee) did get a bit flustered that there just weren’t enough people with marrows to have a high enough quality of produce in the competition. The event was won by Mrs Finsbury’s courgette.

“We want your thing, whatever it is, to be the biggest, the brightest or the tastiest”

We were delighted to attend both the Glastonbury and Wilderness Festivals. There were such lovely people there and we were spoilt for choice for the ‘Sunburnt Head’ categor y. Naturally there were many, many entrants in the competition entitled: ‘Look at the silly hat I bought at a festival that I will never ever wear again.’

At this point it is worth mentioning what qualities we are looking for in our competition winners.

Firstly – we want your thing, whatever it is, to be the biggest, the brightest or the tastiest. Unless it is the ‘Woodlouse’ category where we look for the smallest, dullest and … please don’t eat them. Secondly we want your thing to be yours and not someone else’s thing, especially not a gnome stolen from MY garden... I know who you are. Thirdly we’d like you to enter the right category (Mr Stephens: homemade wine is NOT jam). Fourthly we would like you to be well connected and be willing to put any one of us forward for an OBE.

We will shortly be entering the autumn/winter season so we will be looking for entrants for the following competitions:

✮ Best-painted pine nut kernel

✮ Best reason to be out of your house not giving out sweets on Halloween.

✮ Best celebratory ‘whoop’ at a fireworks display

✮ Best mulled wine (there will be detailed testing)

✮ And best home-baked yule log (we will need to test your log too)

Announcement:

To all our winners past and present – a very big thank you and we very much hope to give you an award that you will give straight back, because we only have one medal. But at least you will have a photo and the knowledge that you won. Unless you lost, in which case you will have nothing but a stark reminder to pull your socks up. n naturaltheatre.co.uk

Films & books

Here are insights into the impact of Black Lives Matter, a celebration of authentic, natural interiors, and a rich programme of films to appeal to every taste.

The legacy of empire in Bath and Bristol

The murder of George Floyd in 2020, the cry of Black Lives Matter and the toppling of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol provoked urgent questions on memorialisation, white privilege, social justice and repair. This book offers a distinctive and timely contribution to those debates. It sets out to break the ‘dead silence’, by bringing together diverse perspectives from academics, artists, activists, heritage professionals and tourist guides. The book by Christina Horvat and Richard S. White offers fresh insights into the impacts and legacies of colonisation primarily in Bath and Bristol. A range of strategies are explored towards enabling silenced voices to be heard and engage in conversations about how the past is represented.

Immerse yourself in film

Breaking the Dead Silence, Liverpool University Press, £27.99, also available for free download: liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk

Expressive interiors

Designer Jo Berryman, who is based in Frome, has written a book called Expressive Interiors, publishing on 15 October. Jo brings a selection of her own projects as well as paying tribute to other interiors that embrace authenticity over conventionality, personal connections over material possessions and natural accents over costly works of art. From Margate, England to Ibiza, Spain, Jo and cophotographer Bénédicte Drummond visit homes that combine glamour with originality and pay homage to a playful spirit in decoration. The reader will want to venture out of their decorative comfort zone and revel in the sense of freedom. Alongside this captivating visual odyssey, Jo provides a comprehensive sourcing list and a practical guide on realising the fundamentals of her style. Cico, £35. rylandpetersandsmall.com

The 2024 FilmBath Festival from 18–27 October brings a diverse selection of cinema from around the world with the screening of over 50 films.

From quiet dramas like Radical and My Favourite Cake (20 October) to ground-breaking comedies like Babes (18 October) and A Real Pain (27 October), this curated schedule has the best of what cinema has to offer.

Many festival events dive deep into the subject matter of the programme. Highlights include discussions around the possibility of an AI afterlife from TechSpark following a screening of Eternal You (22 October) and ideas around accessibility and inclusion accompany new release Close to You (25 October), the latest film starring Elliot Page. There is also an investigation of the gaming world with Grand Theft Hamlet (21 October) and thought provoking conversations around cultural repatriation in Dahomey (20 October).

There are screenings showcasing LGBTQ+ stories including Sebastian (27 October) about a 25-year-old aspiring writer who begins a double life as a sex worker in order to research his debut novel and The Queen of My Dreams (18 October) which sits against the backdrop of a shared obsession with Bollywood fantasy.

You can even watch the critically acclaimed film The Angel’s Share (21 October), a story of redemption set against the backdrop of Scotland’s whiskey industry –and this will be brought to life with a dram of whiskey from Independent Spirit and an exclusive Q&A session with local director Ken Loach. check out the full programme here: filmbath.org.uk

A Real Pain with Jessie Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin

My Favourite Cake with Lili Farhadpour

Seasonal shift at

As the seasonal shift starts to take shape the new collection from Albaray focuses on investment wardrobe updates, seamlessly taking you from autumn onto winter when coats and knitwear become your go-to hero pieces.

EXCLUSIVE BATH MAGAZINE OFFER

A considered edit of outerwear uses luxurious fabrics and a chic colour direction to present hero coats and jackets. Drawing inspiration from timeless classics, including the bomber jacket as well as the always stylish double-breasted overcoat in heritage micro checks and herringbone.

As the season continues, update your knitwear with Fairisle patterns in jumpers and tanks, stripes remain an important graphic statement and colour including primary red, chocolate and burgundy hues add depth.

Wool and recycled yarns are used as well as soft cashmere blends and merino which create a luxurious look and feel to Albaray knitwear this season.

Denim continues to form the foundation to the new season. New styles include the dark denim jean which offers a smart alternative. The new pin tuck jean with exaggerated turn up will update your denim wardrobe and create an easy off duty look.

The new season from Albaray delivers a contemporary collection that combines enduring quality and effortless style, which is always thoughtfully designed and responsibly made.

Shop the new collection at the Albaray store - 24 New Bond Street, Bath.

Bring a copy of The Bath Magazine into the Albaray store (Bath) and receive 20% off your purchase.

Offer is only available in the Bath store and for a limited time only (1st Oct -19th Oct)

Offer redeemable on 1 piece only

No cash alternative to be offered. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. Please refer to the Albaray website for additional T&C’s

24 New Bond Street, Bath.

Fairisle Jumper £75. Grey Coat £199. Denim Jacket £99. Stripe Turtle Neck Jumper £79 .

Animal Cord Mac £199. Bomber Jacket £119. Stripe Button Tank £65. Crew Neck Jumper £69. Pleat Jeans £99.

Check Coat £220. Double Breasted Coat £199. Fairisle Cardigan £79. Pin Tuck Jean £99. Jacquard Jumper £89 .

New on the scene

Dellwood Jacket £295.

A proud Kiwi menswear brand, with an ever-growing global presence. Collections are inspired by the raw, pure forms of nature found in home country, New Zealand - the ancient mountains, glacial lakes, endless plains, and windswept high country. Uphold the best tradition of quality, supported by a 2 Year Guarantee on all goods.

Robbies Road Knit. £175,

Farmlands Chelsea Boots.

Mt Mason Jacket

Jacobs River Scarf

Calderwell Knit (Smoke) £1750

Phoenix Knit (Lake) £1500

Ferndale Knit (Cinnamon) £1500

Farmlands

Princeton Washbag

Merrick Bay Knit0

Richmond Road Duffle Bag. £109

Radiance from Nicholas Wylde

If you are looking for a special piece of jewellery, one that has the flexibility to be built into a coordinated collection and matched with individual outfits, look to the new Radiance collection from Nicholas Wylde.

The instantly recognisable work of award-winning designer jeweller Nicholas Wylde has always been closely informed by colour, especially in his use of high-quality gemstones. After attending a jewellery exhibition earlier this year where colour and vibrance were showcased in abundance, Nicholas returned with inspiration to create a new Wylde jewellery range using his signature Wylde Flower Diamond ®. The Radiance Collection, launched at the end of September, is the result.

Nicholas developed the new collection by asking his four designers working in his Bristol and Bath outlets to come up with ideas for a range that would reinforce the Wylde brand, showcase the Wylde Flower Diamond® and bring colour into the pieces. The chosen design by Grace Dugan-Clements creates a flexible, interchangeable design, using a circular halo with a striking sunray texture. These highquality, cold-enamelled halo discs that provide the burst of colour are all made of platinum, but 18ct yellow gold, rhodium and uncoated platinum halos are also available.

The versatile and highquality range allows jewellery owners to collect halos in different colours, with the ability to quickly and easily change them

as they wish, perhaps to match an outfit or event – it’s even possible to order your own unique colour of halo, matched to the exact shade of your choice. Made in platinum or yellow gold in the form of rings, pendants and earrings (available as studs and hoops), the unique design range places the individual halos at the base of the pendant, earring or ring setting. The central Wylde Flower Diamond ® –set within a collet that has a post with a screw behind it – can then be securely screwed into the centre of the chosen item of jewellery, safely holding the chosen halo disc in place until the wearer wishes to change it.

The resulting piece of jewellery sees the subtle absorption of the colour shade of the halo disc within the faceted sparkle of the Wylde Flower Diamond ®. With its 81 facets (24 more than a traditional brilliant cut diamond) this special diamond represents the petals of a flower and creates a unique sparkle. A patented cut completely unique to Wylde’s, this diamond cannot be bought anywhere else in the world. Each diamond also comes with its own certification and beautiful presentation pack.

The Radiance Collection is available with five different sized stones –diamond sizes start at 0.15ct (a diameter of around 3.5 mm) for a Wylde Flower Diamond ®, up to 1ct (6.2 mm), or larger on request. With 0.15ct

being the smallest available size for a Wylde Flower Diamond ®, the jeweller is also offering a 0.10ct option with a round brilliant cut diamond, meaning there truly is something for everyone.

All diamonds used by Wylde are ethically sourced, complying with the Kimberley Process, which supports human rights by ensuring that the diamonds originate from conflict-free regions around the world.

Nicholas Wylde, 12 Northumberland Place, Bath, BA1 5AR

Tel: 01225 462826; nicholaswylde.com

Successful, well-established year-round language school in the centre of Bath requires HOMESTAY HOSTS IN BATH

to host both short-term and long-term students. We teach adults and teenagers, and need both single and twin-room accommodation.

For further details, including rates of payment, please contact our Student Services Manager:

Interview with a vampire

Yes, it’s the month of ghouls, pumpkins, spiders’ webs and vampires. We managed to secure an interview with the latter. How clever are we? asks Maria Robinson.

Violinist, LGBTQ+ activist, drag artist and vampire – Nik

Jovcic-Sas might not drink blood, but he’s happy to call himself a creature of the night. Coming from Serbian parents, Nik grew up in Midsomer Norton and has spent the past 10 years performing and living in Bath.

You’ve probably seen Nik playing their violin by the Abbey. “Busking adds art into the street, and a real sense of joy. One of my favourite things is when I’m busking, seeing people dancing and just having a spontaneous party in the street, that’s really special.” Apart from some solo stringwork, Nik is also a member of Ninotchka, a trio playing Balkan, Klezmer and Irish folk music. They have performed at Glastonbury four times and often play in the city. Lending his musical talents is only one of the ways Nik contributes to Bath’s creative scene. Known by the name ‘Mother’ Nik began performing in drag around the same time that they became a producer for Bath’s drag night Wig!. Drag and busking are obviously different types of performances, but they have a connecting effect that draws Nik to both: “What’s important to me is that sense of community and transforming spaces. And drag has this ability to create queer spaces that feel inclusive and fun, they have a real power to be transformative.”

Wig! began in 2018. Starting small, Bath at that point didn’t have much of a drag scene. In Nik’s words, “We had to get all our performers from London and Manchester.” Imagine a gaggle of queens on the sticky floor of Moles now commanding the stage of Komedia alongside Rupaul’s Drag Race alumni. Nik notes how Bath has developed its own style of drag, and that Bathonian queens are travelling and winning competitions around England. Watching the drag scene grow and become a safe haven for many people in Bath is what Nik is working towards. When asked what his dreams are for Wig! moving forward he responded, “To continue building this kind of inclusive queer community here.”

Nik has been filmed around Bath, sharing the queer locations of Bath’s past for Bath Pride, the first large scale Pride event for the city. Already having a strong interest in queer history, Nik was keen to show a side of Bath that might not come to mind for most. He explains, “It’s not all Jane Austen and debutante balls, but maybe something a little bit more racy and a little bit more diverse as well.” With a city that is so tied to its history, Nik comments how that can limit people’s perception of Bath, “Sometimes that historicity stops us from thinking about diversity. We sometimes have this very straight image of it being very uptight and restrained... Yet you have figures like Mary Shelley who was friends with fellow author Lord Byron, both of whom showed interest in the same gender. On top of that she aided trans men in obtaining fake passports to run away to Paris with their lovers.” Bath Pride allowed that spirit to continue on and be celebrated. Nik reminisced on the march, “We had over 1000 people marching

through the central city to reclaim the streets and say; we’re here, we’re queer, and this is our city. Just felt absolutely magical.”

Building the queer community in Bath is a lifelong mission for Nik. From organising drag events in town to hosting workshops in schools, he emphasises the importance of inclusivity and access to open discussions. Especially for younger people, “Sometimes being able to have a really frank, open discussion with young people is great, especially when I’m working with Year 8, so those who are aged 12 and 13. They have a lot of questions about this kind of stuff, and sometimes, their parents or teachers might not have that kind of ability to answer those questions specifically. But especially at that age, it’s great to be asking those big questions, and having someone who can give you the information.”

“[Bath is] not all Jane Austen and debutante balls, but maybe something a little bit more racy and a little bit more diverse as well ”

Giving people access to this kind of information can help them not only understand themselves better, but also their peers and others around them. Nik hopes to help bridge that gap for people and emphasises the importance of schools being a “safe space where we can have these discussions, because it’s to the benefit of young people and wider society.”

For Halloween at the end of this month, Nik, or rather Mother, is hosting a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Komedia in collaboration with FilmBath. When asked about his feelings of showing a Frankenstein retelling in the city where the novel was written Nik, who has self-described his drag to have a “real Frankenfurther energy to it,” responded, “I’m so excited to be bringing Frankenstein home in an even more gay way than Mary Shelley would have ever dreamed.”

This of course led to the discussion of what Mary Shelley’s drag name would be. Unfortunately we couldn’t come up with anything clever, “Frank Stein? Oh, that’s a sh*t drag name.” But with all his vampiric mysticism Nik promised to ask the author herself from beyond the veil, “When someone finally stakes me through the heart. I will talk to Mary Shelley, and I will try and send you a message from beyond the grave about what exactly her drag king name will be, because I’m sure it’s hilarious.”

Nik is not really a vampire, no one needs to worry about blood letting or spotting a rogue bat in the Komedia rafters. His mainly black wardrobe and love of Lord Byron is the inspiration for the title. It’s also a homage to his Serbian heritage, “Vampires kind of seamlessly blend into high society, and yet they have all the danger and threat of something queer and something Eastern.” Vampires (which, fun fact, is the only Serbian word in the English language) have a long history of queer fear and then being reclaimed as a powerful figure for the LGBTQ+ community. Being based in a city as drenched in its history as Bath, Nik brings that gothic edge to the city, “I love Bath, and I give my queerness and my Balkan energy to it – that is my gift.” ■

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is playing at Komedia on 30 October at 6.30pm. Book your ticket at komediabath.co.uk

Photo credit: Caitlin Damsell

Creature of the night, Mother

What’s on

MUSIC AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE

n Green Park Brasserie, Green Park Road

Enjoy live jazz/funk/soul/swing at Green Park Brasserie on Weds and Thurs from 6.30–8.45pm and Fri and Sat from 6.30–9.45pm. Music includes dynamic duos, modern trios and a Hot Club style quintet. You can also watch the world go by with 2 for £15 cocktails 7 days a week on the 2 terraces located at the old railway station. greenparkbrasserie.com

BATH CHILDREN’S LIT FEST

Until 6 October

Various locations

n The final week of the festival sees a programme of events with visitors such as Alexander Armstrong, Cressida Cowell, Liz Pichon, Axel Scheffler, Jacqueline Wilson and Harry Hill. thebathfestival.org.uk

UNFORGETTABLE BEHAVIOUR

Until 31 December

American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Manor, Claverton Down

n An exhibition showcasing 39 powerful photographs from previous Wildlife

CURIOUS ABOUT QUAKERS?

Would you like some time to be quiet and still? Would you like to explore spirituality in an open but grounded way? Are you concerned about the way the world is going, and want to reflect and take action together with others?

If so, the Quakers might be for you! Experience Quaker silence and find out more about the faith and practice in conversation with local Quakers on Tuesday evenings, from 7pm–9 pm. All welcome!

8 October: DIY religion, spirituality and silence; 15 October: Marking and managing major life events; 22 October: Disagreeing in an agreeable way; 29 October: Life online – loving and loathing new technology; 5 November: Facing the Future –hopes and fears

Natural Theatre Company, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AA. bathquakers.org

Photographer of the Year collections, displaying some of the most incredible animal behaviour moments ever captured on camera. americanmuseum.org

DESIGN FOR LIVING

2–5 October, 7.30pm

The Rondo Theatre, Bath, BA1 6RT n In Noel Coward’s 1932 comedy Design for Living, directed by Gill Morrell for Bath Drama, Gilda, Leo and Otto grapple with their complicated three-way relationship and ricochet off the people around them as they try to find some kind of liveable equilibrium. Tickets £14/£12. ticketsource.co.uk; rondotheatre.co.uk

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GUT

3 October, 10.30am–11.30am

n The Pavilion, North Parade Road

Lecture by Dr Graham Cope, a medical scientist who specialises in healthcare issues such as antibiotic resistance, ‘guts’ and inflammation. Doors open at 9.45am for coffee. Free for members, and a donation of £2 for non-members. u3ainbath.uk

SHINE ON

4–26 October, Monday to Saturday, 6.30pm

n Bath Abbey

A spectacular Son-et-Lumiere experience transforming the internal space of Bath Abbey created by artistic collaboration ‘Luxmuralis’, with Peter Walker (sculptor) and David Harper (composer). This show includes loud sounds, music and moving and flashing images throughout the experience, as well as bright lights and areas of darkness within the Abbey. Suitable for all ages. Tickets £10/£5/under 5s free of charge. bathboxoffice.org.uk

DISCOVERY WALKS AT WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM

5, 12, 19 and 26 October

n Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury GL8 8QS

Take the path less travelled and delve a little deeper into Westonbirt’s captivating trees with discovery walks every Saturday. On 5 October learn about trees which have connection to various religious beliefs; on 12 October discover the magic of maples; on 19 October taste some of the fruits and berries from trees and shrubs in the Old Arboretum; and on 26 October investigate fungi. Assistance dogs only are permitted. forestryengland.uk/westonbirt /discovery-walks-event

AMERICAN MUSEUM & GARDENS

5 October

n The American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Down

In partnership with Bath Children’s Literature Festival, it’s free entry to the whole site at the American Museum & Gardens, with storytelling and creative activities. americanmuseum.org

TURNER VERSUS CONSTABLE: THE GREAT BRITISH PAINT OFF

7 October, 11.30am–12.30pm

n Widcombe Social Club, Widcombe Hill, Bath (in person or online)

This is the story of the epic rivalry between the two giants of British art, J.M.W. Turner and John Constable. As unlike in background and temperament as their paintings were in style, these two creative geniuses transformed the art of landscape. The subject also provides an overview of the British art world during the 19th century. Lecturer Nicola Moorby. Tickets

Discovery Walks at Westonbirt Arboretum. Image by Johnny Hathaway

£10/£7. Email bath@theartssociety.org to book. theartssocietybath.com

BATH YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2024

8 October, 7.30pm

n The Pump Room, Bath Bath Young Musician of the Year returns with a group of highly talented young local musicians promising an evening of outstanding performances. The MidSomerset Festival takes pride in knowing that many competitors over the years have gone on to enjoy successful musical careers. The five young performers taking part are: Edward Blackwall: flute; Indira Pandit: cello; Katie Shepperdson: soprano; Jacob Wells-Luttrell: guitar; and Hester Wiltshire: violin. midsomersetfestival.org

AARON AZUNDA AKUGBO & BATH PHILHARMONIA

9 October, 7.30pm n The Forum, Bath

Join Bath Philharmonia to celebrate the opening of their 25th season in a big and brassy concert featuring the brilliant and ultra-cool trumpeter Aaron Azunda Akgubo performing Joseph Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto. Bath Philharmonia performs Jean Sibelius’ fifth symphony; a towering orchestral work including an overwhelming finale inspired by a flock of swans in full flight. bathboxoffice.org.uk

SUTHERING

10 October, 8.30pm–10.30pm n Chapel Arts

Evocative and distinctive, folk duo Suthering (Julu Irvine & Heg Brignall) transport audiences with their exquisite vocal harmonies and their message of hope during hard times. Soaring above the cascading piano and delicate, fingerstyle guitar, it’s the duo’s beautifully matched voices and their fresh approach to folk which make their

traditional and self-penned songs stand out. £15. chapelarts.org

SANDI

TOKSVIG:

FRIENDS OF DOROTHY

11 October, 7.30pm n Bath Forum

Comedian, broadcaster, writer and campaigner Sandi Toksvig returns to theatres with an evening to celebrate the publication of her new novel, Friends of Dorothy. The show will be packed with silly stories, profound truths, fascinating facts, readings from the book and a quick-fire Q&A. Life affirming, wise and funny, Sandi investigates what it really means to be a ‘y’. Each ticket includes a copy of the book. Tickets £36. bathforum.co.uk

MAYA YOUSSEF TRIO

12 October, 7.30pm n Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-onAvon

Syrian master musician Maya Youssef has been hailed the ‘queen of the qanan’ (an Arabic stringed instrument). Her music

explores emotions of exile from her experiences fleeing to the UK. £22/£12. wiltshiremusic.org.uk

MICHAEL DREISVOGT: SHADES OF GREEN - GARDENING FOR THE FUTURE

14 October, 7.30pm–9pm

n University of Bath Gardening Club, Room 1 Level 1, East Building, East Car Park, University of Bath, Claverton Down Michael, the Director of the Arboretum Park Haerle on the slopes of the Rhine Valley, has wide experience in looking after a rich plant collection. A fascinating talk on how to use the right plants ito keep your garden looking good. Open to all, annual membership £25, visitors £8. ubgc.org

ALDRIDGE’S OF BATH AUCTION

15 October, 10am (viewing Sat 12 Oct) n Online

Decorative and household sale, including Victorian, Edwardian, 20th-century and modern household furniture and furnishings, decorative china and glass, pictures and prints, mirrors and rugs. aldridgesofbath.com

PHENOMENAL WOMEN: PROFESSOR LORRAINE WHITMARSH MBE

17 October, 5.30pm-7.30pm

n Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, Beau Street, Bath

A dialogue with Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh, CAST Director, environmental psychologist, specialising in perceptions and behaviour in relation to climate change. Tickets £15, including prosecco and canapes. eventbrite.co.uk

FILMBATH FESTIVAL

18-27 October

n Various locations in Bath

Join FilmBath for 10 days as they show over 50 films across the city. filmbath.org.uk

Sandi Toksvig at The Forum

Below: Bath Young Musician of the Year 2024

DICK

AND ANGEL

19 October, 7.30pm n Bath Forum

Spend an entertaining evening with the stars of Channel 4’s Escape to the Chateau, Dick and Angel Strawbridge. Millions of viewers been enthralled by the adventures of retired Lieutenant Colonel, engineer and chef, Dick, and his entrepreneur and designer wife, Angel. The pair are sharing more of the adventures, challenges and successes of building and living their Chateau dream. This interactive show will also shine the spotlight on the audience. fane.co.uk

CLOSE TO YOU + SENSE AND ACCESSIBILITY PANEL, PLUS POST-FILM DISCUSSION

26 October, 3.15pm n Everyman Bath

Part of the FilmBath festival, Close To You is a meeting of hearts and minds across

BATH & COUNTY CLUB EVENTS IN OCTOBER

MORNING TALK ON SUFFRAGETTES

4 October, 11 for 11.30am, with coffee and pastries, £8.

ROYAL NUMBERS WITH INTERVAL BUFFET

10 October, £20, £1 per Bingo Card.

SUNDAY CARVERY, WITH COFFEE & CHOCOLATES

13 October, 12.30pm for 1pm, £29

BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR DINNER

18 October, three-course dinner, port included, 6.30pm for 7pm. Black Tie, £50.

GAME WINE DINNER

24 October, 6.15pm for 7pm, threecourse dinner and all wines included, £55.

SPOOKTACULAR MURDER MYSTERY

31 October

Be a sleuth and discover the murderer, 6pm for 6.30pm, buffet supper included, £23.

Event venue: Queens Parade,Bath BA1 2NJ. To book, email secretary@bathandcountyclub.com or telephone 01225 423732.

generations. Academy Award Nominee Elliot Page makes his first major film appearance since his transition, as a man returning to his family home, aware that his reception will not be as positive as he would like. Director Dominic Savage. filmbath.org.uk

THE

BIG HALLOWEEN DISCO

26 October, 11pm–3am n Komedia, 22–23 Westgate Street, Bath Get ready to boo-gie your way through the night. The DJ will be spinning all your favourite Halloween anthems, along with the usual megamix of guilty pleasures and throwback faves. Expect spooky decor, confetti cannons, scarily good drinks deals, and giveaway treats. The Big Disco runs straight on from the Krater Comedy Club. Tickets from £7. komediabath.co.uk

GEOFFREY BREEZE POET: SEX, VIOLENCE AND MONEY TOUR

30 October, 7.30pm

n Chapter 22 Roots & Records

8 Broad Street, Bath

A live reading of the latest works of Bath's most celebrated poet Geoffrey Breeze. An evening of laughter, tears and pathos on subjects ranging from visits to National Trust treasures to nefarious encounters with the South London underworld. Accompanied by the beat of The Mad Axeman. Not to be missed. eventbrite.co.uk

BATH FILM SOCIETY PROGRAMME

Imagine what it would be like to rent family members to fill in awkward gaps in your own family. Werner Herzog has written and directed a film with that very premise. That’s Family Romance (Japan, 2019), which is being shown by Bath Film Society on 11 October. Another film this month on 25 October is Cairo Conspiracy (Egypt 2022) directed by Tarik Saleg. A fisherman's son is offered the chance to study at Cairo's most prestigious university, which is also the beating heart of Sunni Islam in Egypt., but he is swept into a threatening world of religious and political intrigue.

Bath Film Society Screenings are held at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16–18 Queen Square at 7.30pm on every second Friday. Members can enjoy a drink from 7pm before the film. Visit The Bath Film Society website, or email for more information: bathfilmsociety.org.uk; membership secretary: mail@bathfilmsociety.org.uk

LOOKING AHEAD

THE MARVIN GAYE SONGBOOK

1 November, 7.30pm n Bath Forum

The evening will create every magical hit, live on stage, taking you on a musical journey back to a golden era of chart-topping songs. With West End and X Factor star Nate Simpson, songs will pay tribute to Marvin Gaye. Featuring all the hits including I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Sexual Healing, What’s Going On?, and Too Busy Thinking About My Baby Tickets from £29. bathforum.co.uk

Close to You

The Big Halloween Disco at Komedia

Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh

LOOKING AHEAD

BATH ROTARY FIREWORKS ON THE REC

2 November, 4.30pm-7.30pm

n Bath Recreation Ground

A thrilling, professional family fireworks display in the city, with food and drink, and all for charity. Set against the backdrop of Bath’s dramatic surrounding hillside, and with the city centre next door, this is a spectacular and memorable way to mark Bonfire Night for all the family. bathboxoffice.org.uk

THE ARTS SOCIETY: DAVID GARRICK, ARTIST AND IMPRESARIO

4 November, 11.30am

n Widcombe Social Club

Lecture by Giles Ramsay on how modern theatre emerged in the 18th-century under the influence of the greatest actor/manager of the age. Non-members £10 (£7 on Zoom). Must book by email by 1 November. theartssocietybath.com

ENYA'S WATERMARK ALBUM BY THE FULLTONE ORCHESTRA

5 November, 7.30pm

n Bath Forum

The Fulltone Orchestra, alongside the voices of Cantiamo, will revive Enya’s pivotal Watermark album. This is a rare opportunity for music lovers to experience the timeless beauty of Enya’s work in all its glory. £26. bathboxoffice.org.uk

THE FRIENDSHIP: BATH AND ALKMAAR

7 November, 10.30am–11.30am

n The Pavilion, North Parade Road

A lecture about the twinned cities by Aletta Stevens and Chris Davies. Doors open at 9.45am for coffee. Free for members, and a donation of £2 for non-members. u3ainbath.uk

PHENOMENAL WOMEN: ANISHA JOSHI

7 November, 5.30pm-7.30pm

n Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, Beau Street, Bath

A dialogue with Anisha Joshi, award-winning multidisciplinary osteopath and clinical director. Tickets £15, including prosecco and canapes. eventbrite.co.uk

THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE GUILD AT AMERICAN MUSEUM & GARDENS

9 and 10 November

n American Museum & Gardens, Claverton

High-quality crafts handmade by a group of makers from Gloucestershire. An opportunity to buy unique Christmas gifts, including exquisite jewellery, striking ceramics and furniture, luxurious textiles, and colourful rugs and mosaics. Work from all members can be also be purchased from the Guild’s shop in Cheltenham at 18 Montpellier Street, GL50 1SW. Tel: 07562 516545; email:shop@guildcrafts.org.uk; guildcrafts.org.uk

The drama queen

Dame Siân Phillips’ journey to stage and screen from a childhood in a remote Welsh village has been remarkable, and her long career has been studded with performance highlights, from Livia in the BBC’s 1976 I Claudius to the 1990s stage show Marlene. Melissa Blease catches up with Siân ahead of her appearance in Table Number Seven at Theatre Royal Bath.

Regal, distinctively rich, spell-bindingly mellifluous: the voice can only belong to one person – so I tell her that. “Really? Oh, thank you! I never think of my own voice much; I think I forget what it sounds like!”

But once we’ve heard it, we never forget who’s talking: the indisputable theatre-world legend and style icon Siân Phillips DBE, highly regarded for her ability to play a formidable range of roles whether quiet and passive or boldly authoritarian, subtly witty or fiercely wild.

This month, Siân will be returning to Theatre Royal Bath to lead an ensemble cast in award-winning director James Dacre’s brand new revival of acclaimed British dramatist Terence Rattigan’s one-act masterpiece Table Number Seven, presented as a double-bill in tandem with The Browning Version (starring Nathaniel Parker) for the very first time.

“Rattigan originally wrote Table Number Seven as a much more overtly gay-themed play that premiered in London in 1954,” Siân explains. “The Deep Blue Sea was a gay-themed play too, as was much of Rattigan’s work. But homosexuality wasn’t acceptable – let alone legal – at the time. We’re doing Rattigan’s original version, which is wonderful.”

Siân’s character, however, isn’t so wonderful: the bullying, aristocratic Mrs Railton-Bell. “I don’t judge my characters – I just play them!” Siân laughs. “This one may be many things, but she’s certainly interesting. She’s been living in a private boarding house in Eastbourne, the like of which we don’t have any more, for several years. It’s rather posh – not a hotel, nor digs, but very nice, very genteel. She has a daughter whom she’s made very dependant on her, and she has very firm views on most things, including sexuality –and she’s certainly not backward in putting her views forward. Her fellow residents, however, are all very different in age, background and attitudes and

when a critical situation arises we see all the characters’ various reactions to what has happened...I can’t really say any more than that, but it’s fascinating, it really is!”

Siân is already working her theatrical magic in bringing Table Number Seven to life; I can hear, in that voice, how commanding her Mrs RailtonBell is going to be, and feel the tension in contentious conflicts-to-come. But is the drama an era-specific timepiece, or will the themes resonate today?

“It’s certainly relevant, but you have to bear in mind too that the script was written in post-war England, in the early 1950s,” she says. “It’s a very accurate reflection of those times and of course, it’s very, very well-written. Yes, the attitudes of many of the characters are very different to the attitudes of today – except, of course, some people are still prejudiced in all kinds of ways today, which is the one of the saddest things about the play: you hope people have changed, but you don’t know for sure that they have.”

“I can hear, in that voice, how commanding her Mrs Railton-Bell is going to be, and feel the tension in contentious conflicts to come”

And if I were to trust anybody to confidently monitor changes in the social and political climate over the past fast-moving decades, it would be Siân. Born in the tiny Welsh village of Gwaun-Cae-Curwen, Siân spoke only Welsh for most of her childhood, learning English by listening to the radio. She began acting professionally at the age of 11 and went on to extend her artistic boundaries across stage, film, TV and broadcasting work during a lengthy career that includes her highly-acclaimed, BAFTA award-winning portrayal of Livia in the BBC’s 1976 adaptation of Robert Graves’ I, Claudius to fiercely feisty Jessie in Calendar Girls by way of Juliet in Tom Morris’ Juliet and her Romeo at Bristol Old Vic, with starring roles in several musical productions and guest roles in iconic TV productions including Doctor Who fitting in seamlessly along the way.

But we’re barely scraping the tip of the Siân Phillips CV iceberg here; to read it in full, her two bestselling autobiographies Private Faces and Public Places are available as a single volume and make for fascinating reading. A very lucky 125-ish people moved quickly enough to grab a ticket for an upclose-and-personal encounter with Siân in conversation with Richard Digby Day at the Ustinov while she’s in Bath, but as that event is sold out, and even though I’ve read both of Siân’s autobiographies I have to ask my own burning question: is it possible to pick a Phillips’ Personal Pinnacle?

“There have been so many highlights, really; I’ve been tremendously lucky,” she says. “But on a personal level, stepping into musical theatre at the age of 40 was by far the biggest challenge I’ve ever undertaken. When I was a girl, straight actors didn’t do musicals – you weren’t trained for them, and you never made the crossover. By the time I was 40, the crossover was acceptable. But I was a middle-aged woman! It was tremendously difficult, and very chancy – it could easily have gone very wrong. But still, I did my first musical – a revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Pal Joey – at the Noel Coward

Theatre back in 1980; quite late in my career for a starter performance! Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered was the first song I ever sang in public. I thought the critics might laugh me off the stage; I was convinced it was going to be the end of my career!”

But despite her own low expectations, Siân was nominated for a Laurence Olivier award for Best Actress in a Musical – and a superstar chanteuse was born: Fraulein Schneider in Rufus Norris’ Olivier Awardwinning production revival of Cabaret, the one-woman show Marlene (a tribute to Marlene Dietrich, written specifically for Phillips and directed by Sean Mathias), a collaboration with Canadian-American singer/ songwriter Rufus Wainwright – as a singer, Siân is as remarkably memorable, and expressive, as her speaking voice would suggest, and the multiple awards for musical performances that she’s accumulated since Pal Joey attest to that. Talking of prestigious awards...

In 2000, Siân was awarded a CBE for her services to drama at the Queen’s Birthday Honours, followed by a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) 16 years later. What did being awarded such huge, formal recognition of her life’s work so far feel like?

“Oh, I was terribly pleased!” she says. “The DBE in particular struck me as something wonderful to have bestowed upon me. It doesn’t make a huge difference to my personal life; people who know me don’t treat me any

differently at all. But it can come in handy for restaurant and hotel bookings, things like that, that’s all”.

I’m not so sure, however, that Siân would need to flaunt her Damehood for a restaurant booking in Bath. Having made her first appearance at the Bath Theatre Royal in 1990 when starring in Jane Stanton Hitchcock’s Vanilla (directed by Harold Pinter), she’s since revisited the theatre almost a dozen times, making her so familiar both with and to the city that she’s almost a local. “I absolutely adore Bath,” she says. “I have many good friends and many marvellous memories in the city, and of course the Theatre Royal is one of the most beautiful theatres in the UK. But I look forward to just quietly walking around the city again too, rediscovering it, taking it all in.”

What? One of the hardest-working, multi-tasking actors in the UK is looking forward to... chilling out? “I love my work, and I love being busy –that’s what motivates me!” she says. “I have plenty of projects lined up, which is wonderful. But I’’m also very lazy; I can do absolutely nothing for days. I love wasting time, I really do.”

I can't quite believe that, of Siân Phillips. But who am I to argue? I really don’t want to mess with Rattigan's Mrs Railton-Bell...

Summer 1954 (Table Number Seven and The Browning Version), Theatre Royal Bath, 24 October – 2 November; theatreroyal.org.uk

Bath Philharmonia celebrates 25 years

It’s a Silver Jubilee for Bath Philharmonia as they celebrate two and a half decades of orchestral music as well as music‐making support in schools and for young carers. We talk to a selection of people who have strong links with the orchestra.

Bath Philharmonia kicked off with a bang in May 2000, gathering nearly 1000 musicians to perform Mahler’s 8th Symphony in Bath’s iconic Green Park Station. Since then, this dynamic ensemble led by inspirational music director Jason Thornton, has evolved into the city’s premier professional orchestra, featuring stellar soloists like Nicola Benedetti, Sheku KannehMason, and Peter Donohoe. Today, Bath Philharmonia delights over 20,000 people each year across the south west, and in its 25th anniversary year it stands as a cornerstone of Bath’s cultural scene, bringing worldclass talent to the city.

But Bath Phil isn’t just about grand performances. It spends as much time in community halls and schools as it does on stage, offering music-

Jason Thornton, music director

I can’t quite believe it’s 25 years. It has been the privilege of my life to work alongside a group of virtuoso orchestral musicians for so long that we have become family. I’m proud to say that Bath Phil is acknowledged as one of the happiest orchestras in the UK, and I wouldn’t change any of our musical adventures together.

So many memorable moments, but I’d mention us being the first orchestra to play at the Eden Project in 2003, in front of the beautifully lit domes in a concert narrated by Jenny Agutter. I also remember pianist Peter Donohoe joining Bath Phil in 2001 for the first time at the Bath Festival for Busoni's monumental Piano Concerto. Another notable date in more recent years was performing Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs with Renee Fleming in 2012 at Doddington Hall.

making workshops that help young people discover their musical talents. For the past 14 years, Bath Phil has also been a champion for Young Carers, shining a light on these unsung heroes and empowering them to express themselves through music, boosting their confidence and resilience.

The orchestra’s legacy is a tribute to initial investor Brian Roper, a local businessman who believed in civic pride and understood the impact of arts and culture on local communities. Bath Phil is a registered charity that is reliant on the generosity of many trusts, foundations and individuals to support their work. Known for its friendliness and inclusivity, Bath Philharmonia is offering every household in Bath & North East Somerset a complimentary ticket to one of its concerts during its 25th Anniversary Season. bathphil.co.uk/bathphilforfree

During 2020 we mounted the only live orchestral concert in the UK with Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason with a socially distanced

orchestra and audience with all of us wearing masks and spraying every music stand with disinfectant. In 2023 we took members of Bath Phil and a group of Young Carers to Parliament to perform in front of MPs and Lords highlighting Young Carer issues - an incredibly emotional performance and the only live music ever performed while the house was sitting. And since 2022 we have cocreated work with school children and young carers in all our concerts.

It is never a chore to come together and play. We all absolutely love it, so the sound we produce has presence and joy – as a result people seem to love to come to our concerts, and soloists want to come back again and again. I also think that our collective non-formal, entertaining and experimental programming and welcoming approach on stage makes our music-making resonate with the same sense of fun and love. When you have this, everything remains fresh.

Jason Thornton

Cam

I’m a drummer and percussionist and I did a placement with Bath Phil as part of my university course and fell in love with the projects – I was so excited when they offered me a chance to train with them as a music leader. Nine years on, the projects we do are still the favourite parts of my year. I love getting to see how excited the young people get about pulling their ideas into the final performances, and especially the looks on their faces on stage at The Forum for the pieces we integrate into the concerts.

One of my favourite memories is a project where on the first day there was a young carer who was exceedingly nervous. They wouldn't take their jacket off, hid under a table, and wouldn’t talk to anyone. That afternoon during an art activity, they were drawing in incredible detail and I gently asked them about it. We started talking about their love of animation, then the video games we both enjoyed, then cartoon series – and from there, they felt safe enough to join my music group for the afternoon. They then stuck with me every day for the rest of the project! They even opened up to making friends with other young carers.

Everything Bath Phil aims to do is incredible: giving children a chance to explore music, gain confidence in creating and performing, tackling social barriers and exploring wellbeing alongside the art and music, experiencing what a professional performance looks and feels like. I feel incredibly lucky to get to be a part of such a caring, passionate, and genuinely lovely team.

Bryn Williams, Venue Manager at The Forum

Bath Forum and The Phil’s relationship goes back decades with performances in the building before The Forum was a proper venue. In more recent times the relationship has grown, until now the orchestra presents a full programme of works each season. Bath Phil are a vital part of our own programme giving the people of Bath access to wonderful musicians and guest soloists.

I’ve especially loved the relationship that the orchestra has developed with the Kanneh-Mason family as we’ve invited multiple members of the family to play in the Forum with Bath Philharmonia, providing encouragement and a professional platform for them. The orchestra is embedded in the community, and as a venue we are hugely supportive of the audience experience. Indeed it’s that togetherness in music, including with their music-based Young Carers projects, that gives such an uplifting feel to their evenings.

I have been a member of the orchestra for coming up to 15 years. When I was invited all those years ago to perform a concert in Bath, little did I know I would be offered a senior position in the band and the orchestra would be instrumental in my leaving London and settling in the west with my young family. Best move ever.

What I love about the orchestra is the friendliness and open mindedness of the musicians and audiences here in Bath and Bristol. Nothing is too much, everyone is up for trying something new and people smile more in the west, not to mention some good rugby too!

With excellent direction from Jason the conductor and Simone our MD, the orchestra has gone from strength to strength with worldfamous soloists performing with us and fabulous workshops and concerts with Young Carers. The Joy and Love of music and life is so precious and this orchestra and its members are doing great work for all the people of Bath to enjoy.

I was a teenage Young Carer struggling to cope with my life and education when I met the Bath Phil Creative Learning team a decade ago. It was a lifeline as I was able to talk about my challenges and experiences through shared music-making with them in such a safe, warm and supported environment. I never imagined that I would this year be helping give the same support to other young people, let alone standing on stage confidently with the full symphony orchestra, singing solos, meeting worldclass musicians and performing my own co-written song with young carers to a standing ovation from a

full concert hall! That was such a special moment.

The Creative Learning Team has a unique formula that makes creating original songs with powerful messages really accessible to everyone. It’s been fabulous to see the enthusiasm of the young people and the professionalism of the performances. There were some truly magic moments for me, like standing up front in Bath Abbey conducting, especially leading a verse silently using Makaton sign language at the opening of Bath Festival.

I will forever be grateful for the opportunities that Jason Thornton and his team have given me.

Charlotte Foley, ex-Young Carer and participant in many of Bath Phil’s education projects

Declan Daly, principal 2nd violinist

Cam Johnson, drummer and percussionist

Declan Daly

Charlotte Foley

Johnson

Jeremy Little, founder member and timpani/percussion

Playing in an orchestra is such a joy. It is an amazing experience to see so many people coming together and working in such a dedicated and detailed way to produce something so close to perfection. The orchestra is very friendly and has a lovely atmosphere and family feel. The programme for each concert is well thought out and it is always a pleasure to play a wide variety of music. The soloists are always excellent and it is great to work with some up and coming young musicians too. My personal highlight was playing a piece by John Williams called Catch Me if You Can for saxophone, vibraphone, double bass and orchestra with the fabulous Jess Gillam.

King Edward’s School is extremely proud of its partnership with our city’s fabulous professional orchestra, Bath Philharmonia, and we have been working together for 11 years.

The programme has had a huge impact on hundreds of pupils, principally orchestral musicians, but also singers and popular music instrumentalists. The showcase is our annual Bath Orchestral Gala Concert where the KES Senior Orchestra and Bath Phil play repertoire together, and separately.

This year the Gala Concert performance at The Forum, Our Diverse World, saw the massed forces of 300 performers on stage with over 1000 audience members. There was the KES Community Choir, two orchestras, three top KES pupil concerto soloists, four KES pupil

Jo Sercombe, from Bath Phil’s Creative Learning Team

What I love about the creative learning work is how transformative it can be, particularly for young people who have limited opportunities to experience live music-making, playing instruments, creating their own music, and performing in a large ensemble. The first time I heard a symphony orchestra I was amazed at the sound and I want other young people to share that moment of wonder. You never know, it could set them on a path to a whole new passion in their life, both playing and appreciating live music.

It’s a joy to be the host of the annual ‘Snowman’ concert – seeing The Forum full of excited families and hearing the orchestra play the sound-track live is a special Christmas treat. I'll always remember the Creative Learning Team’s project for the arrival of the Olympic torch on Bournemouth Beach in 2012. Dressed in a costume made of deckchair fabric, surrounded by talented young musicians and playing keyboards in their piece, to an audience of 10,000 people was a real ‘wow, is this really my job?’ moment for me!

choirs, the KES Soul funk band and performances by the KES Baroque Group, the KES Percussion Ensemble, and numerous vocal and orchestral pupil soloists, plus three bespoke stage bands! What a night! We also work together on a set of rousing and nurturing musical opportunities. This includes orchestral workshops; solo performance masterclasses from Bath Phil; the opportunity to watch Bath Phil rehearsals and attend their concerts and to meet international musical superstars. I can’t tell you how much we are grateful to Bath Phil – it’s no accident that we have had so many of our A-Level musicians going on to higher education and conservatoires to train for careers in the music industry. There is no other orchestra like it!

Elsa, Widcombe Junior School pupil

Bath Phil invited my year to do a workshop – it was incredibly fun because we got to make sounds like the ocean, using our voices, hands and bodies. We put the sounds together and it sounded great. Then we got to see the orchestra perform their piece of music about the ocean.

I play the piano and I love to sing. My favourite instrument in the orchestra is a violin because it makes me feel so many things – I shut my eyes and can just go anywhere in the sound.

I loved seeing The Snowman as it felt magical to be inside the music and feel it glow inside me. I have also seen Young Carers on stage with Bath Phil and the music has been emotional; I’ve felt like crying because it’s beautiful. It has made me think about how it’s important to give young carers to make music.

I’m lucky that my Mum often takes me to see the orchestra. specially like to see The Snowman and the Christmas music. When I see the Young Carers or school choirs sing, I feel proud that children have a voice and the freedom to make their own music with their own words in Bath.

My favourite piece of music (which I think is being performed this year) is The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams. My mum played it to me when it was time to go to sleep, and whenever I hear it I feel calm and think of hugs and love.

Rupert Drury, Director of Music, King Edward’s School (KES)

Jeremy Little

Photo by Chris Rodd

Classical tropes @ BRLSI

BRLSI has a packed events programme this month, and we’ve pulled out some classical highlights...

There is a classical Greco/Roman theme afoot this month at BRLSI, which is headlined by news of the loan of two paintings from the Holburne (see below). The events and lectures programme brings a lecture from Yiannis Gabriel on Greek Myths for a Post-Truth World (8 October, 7.30pm), asking what can ancient Greek myths teach us about the troubles and challenges of our post-truth times? Bob Dylan’s songs often include mythical themes and using rare recordings Matthew Zuckerman focuses in his lecture on The Voices of Bob Dylan (21 October, 7.30pm), uncovering why Bob Dylan’s vocal talents are as central to his art as his song writing. Dr Simon Elliott takes on the subject of Rome’s African Emperor (Septimius Severus) and his Campaigns in Scotland (28 October, 7.30pm). Severus was one of the first great reforming emperors of the imperial Roman military who created a reset of the Roman Empire based around allies from his North African homeland. brlsi.org

COLLECTION CORNER

This is ‘Spring’, one of two classical paintings (the other ‘Summer’) on loan from the Holburne Museum, which are now reunited at BRLSI in the Elwin Room with four others by 18th-century Italian artist Andrea Casali.

All six paintings once graced Fonthill Splendens, the Wiltshire mansion built in the 1760s by Alderman William Beckford, whose son (also William) built Beckford’s Tower on Lansdown. The pair, from 1760, represented by classical female figures, were part of a set of four depicting the seasons.

The oval paintings in BRLSI’s Elwin Room ceiling depict four Roman deities: Ceres, Pomona, Faunus and Mercury. They were thought to be on the ceiling of the dining room at Fonthill, companion paintings to a centrepiece, ‘The Feast of the Gods’. All five ceiling paintings were bought by a sailcloth manufacturer who found he only had space for the centrepiece. Two decades later a founder of BRLSI, Hastings Elwin, heard the four were available, purchased them for £3 each and donated them to the institution.

Arts: ‘extinct’ puppets by Ellie Thompson

Artist Ellie Thompson has two sculptures hanging from the roof of the Museum of Bath at Work. We caught up with Ellie to ask about her working process and discover why every one of her art sculptures starts with a skull.

What are your pieces at the Museum of Bath at Work? I’m exhibiting It Has To Be This Way and Head Held High until 12 November.

What is your training and background?

I’m from Rugby. Since I’m no good at the sport, I turned my hand to art instead. I completed an Art Foundation diploma at Coventry University, then studied fine art at The Ruskin School of Art in Oxford. This was a dream come true, especially since the course involved one year of studying anatomy.

While moving, I submitted a sculpture to the Bath Open Art Prize and won the opportunity to have a solo exhibition at 44AD ArtSpace. Aside from being an amazing city for gallery hopping, the main strength of Bath as a hotspot for artists is its supportive community. The Fringe Arts Bath team are wonderful, providing a platform for curators and artists alike to develop their practice. The annual Fringe Arts Bath Festival is always incredible.

Can you explain the ideas behind your artwork? I’m interested in cartoon humour and schadenfreude. I make puppet-like sculptures which are fundamentally motionless, but animated by their watchful eyes. They are extinct but never lifeless, forever stuck in a sticky situation.

Stuart Jeffries from The Guardian questioned whether our zeitgeist is a ‘spite-geist’. Schadenfreude, an oft maligned emotion, isn’t anything new, but is certainly more prevalent due to online platforms – with the sharing of ‘fail videos’ and the mocking of public figures on social media and suchlike. It’s innately in our bones but more stirred up than ever. My dinosaur-like skeletons touch on this - ‘nature’ becomes manufactured and heightened.

What artists do you most admire? Louise Bourgeois’ attitude to sculpture really fascinates me, describing the medium as an ‘exorcism’. Lindsey Mendick’s confessional approach to producing art and installations is also very inspirational.

Have you always worked in three dimensions? I can’t think of my old paintings without squirming. I definitely think in three dimensions and barely draw, even when planning a new piece. When starting a sculpture I just dive straight in.

Can you explain your creative process? I’m interested in craftsmanship and seeing the mark of the maker. Each segment of fabric ‘bone’ is first sewn on a machine but then hand-sewn together, embracing imperfections.

Using brightly coloured felt is partly a nod towards fuzzy felt, with its playful storytelling possibilities. Felt can be both stiff and limp, a dichotomy which I think breathes life into my sculptures.

How do you know where your next piece is coming from? I improvise, first stitching together a skull. After the head is complete the idea for the rest of the artwork becomes clear. It’s very spontaneous – I like the surrealists’ idea of automatism.

What plans do you have for the future?

Since graduating in 2022, I’ve exhibited across the UK. I’m lucky to have had four solo exhibitions in this time, and to have had one of my sculptures accepted into a permanent collection. The plan is to keep on exhibiting in both galleries and pop-up locations. I created a 6m high sculpture for my degree show – I’d love to do something similar again.

instagram.com/ellie.flt_

Photograph by Michelle Mendieta Mean

It Has to be This Way by Ellie Thompson

A precious collection

Leon Ma from Ma San auction house has seen some fascinating personal collections of Chinese and Asian works of art in his time. None have been quite as astonishing as that of a gentleman from Brighton, Sussex, which goes under the hammer on 4 October. Leon gives us an insight into its wonder.

I was contacted to visit a property in Brighton to give an appraisal on a collection of Chinese antiques. The collection of this private owner had been built up over 30 years, with pieces mainly comprising Chinese late Ming dynasty (Ming dates from 1368–1644) and 18th-century export porcelain, with additional treasures either side.

When I was taken on a tour of the property housing the collection, it was astonishing to see how each room was filled with ceramics jostling for space in cabinets and on shelves, overflowing

A CHINESE FAMILLE VERTE PORCELAIN CRUET HOLDER, KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

The term ‘Famille Verte’ used to describe porcelain with a predominantly green colour palette. This cruet holder was made for export to a European dining table to hold condiment bottles.

onto any available surface. In total there were around a thousand items which had to be safely packed, transported and catalogued. I’m sharing a few of my personal favourites here, each one originating from a different period of China’s long history. All of these are from the collection which will be going under the hammer at Ma San on Friday 4 October with a total of 287 lots.

Ma San Auction Ltd, 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath Tel: 01225 318587; masanauction.com

A CHINESE LONGQUAN CELADON-GLAZED PORCELAIN VASE, YUAN DYNASTY (1279-1368)

‘Longquan Celadon’ refers to green glazed ceramics which originated in the kilns at Longquan in southwest Zhejiang province where such pieces were produced from the 11th to the 18th century. This vase is particularly special as it has been published and exhibited in the Helen D. Ling collection of Chinese ceramics and Helen was a co-founder of the Southeast Asian Ceramics Society in 1971.

A PAIR OF CHINESE CARVED POTTERY MODELS OF BIRDS WITH BRONZE FEET, WESTERN HAN DYNASTY (206BC - 9AD)

The Han dynasty is divided into two major periods, Western and Eastern Han. The Western Han’s capital of Chang’an, now known as Xi’an in Shaanxi province, is famously known for the burial ground of the Terracotta army. These birds are thought to have been excavated from one of the accompanying burial pits of the tomb complex of Emperor Jingdi who reigned from 157-147BC.

A CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE KRAAK WARE DISH, LATE MING DYNASTY, WANLI PERIOD (1573-1620)

It was at this period when China started to mass produce porcelain specifically for export to the West. The term ‘Kraak ware’ refers to these types which were originally produced for export to Europe, particularly to the Portuguese and Dutch markets. This dish is especially nice with its moulded, floral sides.

A CHINESE TURQUOISE GLAZED STONEWARE ROOF TILE, MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

Glazed roof tiles featuring figures or animals were placed on the corner of roofs or above entrances and used to indicate status, believed to bring good luck or to ward off evil spirits. This example features a seated dog and is covered in a turquoise-coloured glaze.

Arts & exhibitions

The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath

Uncanny Visions: Paula Rego and Francisco de Goya, until 5 January 2025

The Holburne presents a major exhibition exploring the notion of the uncanny in the work of Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746–1828) and Paula Rego (1935–2022). Included in the exhibition, on public view for the first time, is a display of Goya etchings that Rego herself owned. holburne.org

Simmonds,

Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, Sunday 13 October 10am–5pm Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath

The award-winning monthly Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) is committed to bringing the best of contemporary art to the heart of Bath. It has created a regular space where artists can network, share ideas, connect with the public, and where the public can connect with art. Visitors can see the works of local artists and admire fine art, photography, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and much more, all under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station. For updates and exhibiting artists visit the website: bcaf.co.uk

Hanna and Anthony Scott, 14 October - 9 November, Beaux Arts, 12-13 York Street, Bath

In October Beaux Arts hosts one of the most eagerly anticipated exhibitions of the year – that of Wiltshire-based still-life painter Helen Simmonds. Helen is a graduate of Bath Academy of Art and is the epitome of Giorgio Morandi’s selfdescription as “essentially a painter of the kind of still life composition that communicates a sense of tranquillity and privacy, moods which I have always valued above all else.” Helen is ably backed up with the inventive hand-built ceramics of Ahsraf Hanna, who has work in the collections of the V&A and the Fitzwilliam Museums respectively. Sculptures, inspired by Irish mythology, are by gallery favourite Anthony Scott. Sculptures are by Christopher Marvell. Open Monday to Saturday 10am–5pm, and by appointment. beauxartsbath.co.uk

Jason Dorley-Brown at sandrahiggins.art

Jason’s images explore the space between photography and painting. He uses image software to manipulate an original photograph creating an image that is both photographic and painterly. Jason has lived in Bath and photographed many familiar locations over the years giving them all a unique and personal interpretation.

To view works by Jason, please visit the online gallery or email Sandra to arrange a private viewing by appointment.

sandrahiggins.art sandra@sandrahiggins.com

“Summer ends, Autumn arrives in mid-August. Geese call, flying over the town. The Nasturtiums which climb the cosmos and gladioli are crazy and beautiful. I never know where they will appear, or even if they will. I am playing a game with trust, trusting the seeds will fall on good soil. This kind of trust is safe. Maybe it will be absorbed by my heart. What I will do is still the wild tumbling nasturtiumson paper, board and canvas. Their reds, oranges and yellows are a prelude to the turning of the leaves, which comes too soon, and the walk to the studio is threaded with spiders’ webs. I watch the garden empty of flowers, and I wait for another winter.”

Full piece available to read in the exhibition catalogue.

Ring-a-Ring O'Roses, 1989, etching and aquatint on paper, by Paula Rego

© Paula Rego. All rights reserved 2024/Bridgeman Images

Autumn, Nasturtiums, Oil on gessoed paper Helen Simmomds

Helen

Ahsraf

An excerpt from A Year in the Life by Helen Simmonds

From Walcot to the Paragon by Jason

Dorley-Brown

Painting by Ian Fifield

Fairytales from the Shadows, 29 October – 3 November, 44AD Artspace, 4 Abbey Street, Bath, 11am–4pm

An exhibition of the strange and unusual with an eclectic selection of Gothic illustrations, mixed media and curiosities by local artist Catherine May Vondrak. With a passion for visual storytelling Catherine brings to life whimsical and spooky characters inspired by the natural world, Halloween, dark fairy tales and most recently, Ukrainian Folk Art.

Instagram: @catherine.may.art

New Bath Arts Club (NBAC) Inaugral October Exhibition, 4-25 October, Roper Gallery- Bath Artists’ Studios, The Old Malthouse Comfortable Place, Upper Bristol Road, Bath, BA1 3AJ

Bath’s newest professional art club showcases a diverse collection of original art. All work is for sale and created by local artists. Free entry, all welcome. The exhibition will be available to be viewed in person and virtually. Open every day from 10am to 4pm.

newbathartsclub.co.uk

Kimono: The Making of a Cultural Icon, until 14 December, Museum of East Asian Art, 12 Bennett St, Bath

A series of woodblock prints tracing the development of the kimono from everyday wear to high fashion, along with a collection of Japanesse objects from the Royal Cornwall Museum asssociated with the wearing of kimono. Open 10.30am-5pm, Tuesday to Saturday. meaa.org.uk.

Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret’s Buildings, Bath

Autumn brings new local artists to Gallery Nine – the show continues throughout October.

gallerynine.co.uk

The Garden Awakes, Embroidered Textiles and Watercolours by Aly Darlymple

Being There, until 23 February 2025, The Gallery at No.1 Royal Crescent, Bath, Tues to Sun 10am–5pm

Four newly acquired Thomas Gainsborough paintings will form key components of a kaleidoscopic group exhibition of portraiture featuring 18 contemporary British artists, selected by guest curator Ingrid Swenson MBE. Visitors are invited to reflect on the experience of artists and their sitters or subject in the act of making the artwork, and to consider what similarities and differences there may be for the role of the artist in Gainsborough’s time and today. no1royalcrescent.org.uk

The Gloucestershire Guild at The American Museum, Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 November, Claverton Manor, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7BD

High quality crafts handmade by a selected group of makers from Gloucestershire. This is a wonderful opportunity to buy unique Christmas gifts, ranging from exquisite jewellery, striking ceramics and furniture, luxurious textiles, colourful rugs and mosaics and much more. Purchase a ticket for the Museum or the Gardens and you can visit their Christmas Show. Work from all members can also be purchased from their shop in Cheltenham,18 Montpellier Street, GL50 1SW. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–5pm.

guildcrafts.org.uk/american-museum 07562 516545 Email:shop@guildcrafts.org.uk

Left: artwork by Alistair Young

Self Study (Blue Hat on Green) by Claudette Johnson

WPatina or damage?

BY RON PRINGLE & CYNTHIA WIHARDJA, Beau Nash Antiques, Bath

hen shopping for antiques, it’s essential to understand the difference between genuine patina and actual damage. The term ‘patina’ is often used by sellers to describe the natural aging process that adds character to a piece. However, in some cases, it’s a euphemism for significant damage. This is especially concerning in today’s online shopping environment, where buyers frequently can’t inspect items in person before making a purchase.

Case in point: Ron purchased a silver salver through an online auction, trusting the condition report, which described the piece as being in ‘good nick’. However, when it arrived, he discovered that the silver was buckled, and the surface was scratched – none of these flaws were visible in the single photo provided. Now, to make the piece presentable for resale, he must invest in repairs, including restoring the surface and hammering out the dents.

Unfortunately, this type of experience isn’t uncommon. Professional product photography may not capture the real story or, in some cases, make items look far better than they actually are. This is why it’s so important for buyers to be vigilant, asking for detailed descriptions and additional images before committing to a purchase.

At our shop, we take a different approach. We ensure that every piece we sell is ready for retail. For example, we often bring in antique boxes and restore their interiors so they’re not only visually appealing but also functional for modern use. We work with restorer to revive the look of antique pieces. Our goal is to meet the high standards of quality and authenticity of our clientele.

To help our online buyers make informed decisions, we offer an extra service, a WhatsApp video call. This allows potential buyers to take a live, virtual tour of the piece they’re interested in. They can ask questions, see the item from various angles, and observe it being handled. Recently, an American couple interested in a coffee table found this service incredibly useful, as it gave them the confidence to make a purchase without visiting the shop in person. They appreciated the opportunity to scrutinise the piece closely, even from a distance. When they received the product, they were very happy.

While technology can be used to hide a piece’s flaws, we use it to enhance transparency. Our focus is on transparency and customer satisfaction, so you can shop with confidence, no matter where you are.

beaunashbath.com; info@beaunashbath.com; 07535137808 @beaunashbath

Seeing the light

A spectacular sound and light experience is transforming Bath Abbey this month. Emma Clegg talks to Peter Walker of Luxmuralis about how visitors will be enveloped by dynamic light projections and original musical compositions.

The technology we use is the equivalent to having a paintbrush and a canvas. It’s as simple as that”, explains sculptor and artist Peter Walker. Luxmuralis’s latest project is certainly as close as you might ever get to wielding a paintbrush on the architecture of Bath Abbey. That’s because it’s not paint, but light that’s the medium of choice.

Luxmuralis create immersive fine art, light and sound installations based on the idea of Son and Lumière. It all started in 2016, when Peter had the opportunity to develop a project in Litchfield Cathedral, called Before Action, to commemorate the Battle of the Somme. “I was given the whole interior of the cathedral. So we developed what became the first work of Luxmuralis inside the cathedral, a walking tour where you could sit and take in the whole building – it was one of the first ever in the world on that scale.”

Peter works on Luxmuralis projects with his friend and composer David Harper. “I create the visual art through different software programmes and that will then go to David, who designs the music to fit it around the thematic approach that I’m looking for.”

The use of animated lights in displays and performance is nowadays often highly slick and commercialised. Luxmuralis projects, however, keep close artistic control. “It’s just the two of us and we’ve always remained pure as fine artists. We create an ‘artwork’, which then we develop and present within these beautiful buildings. The technology using high-quality projectors is there just to allow us to bring that to life within the building.”

The collaboration between the two artists is like a symbiosis, says Peter. “Because we know each other so well, the music and the visuals flow beautifully together. When you come and see the work, it is as if you are walking into a painting, a painting that’s moving and articulating around different styles and chapters.”

The project in Bath, Shine On, is specially designed for the Abbey,

with nearly all the elements within the light artwork drawn from the Abbey’s collections, using images of the stained glass, the windows and its precious manuscripts.

“This technique of using existing elements tunes into what these buildings have been for years, places where paintings, music and stained glass has been presented. We just adapt it so that it fits to a modern sensibility. We like to say ‘we create the stained glass windows of our time’. By this we mean we’re bringing stories to life with light and colour in just the way that ecclesiastical windows used to do. This use of energetic, visual storytelling makes it really, really engaging, but is also really accessible.”

The naves of cathedrals and churches before the Protestant Reformation rarely had permanent seats, Peter points out. “They were meeting places, areas where people would come to exchange stories and to meet communities.”

In Bath Abbey the more static format with fixed pews in the nave was reinvented in its recent Footprint renovations, opening up the nave as a freer performance space and for displaying artwork. “This now gives the opportunity to introduce beautiful, large-scale installations in these sacred spaces, including content that references people’s daily lives. The technology allows people to cross the threshold and come into these buildings, seeing them not just as fixed points in history but as living, breathing buildings.”

“We create the stained glass windows of our time. By this we mean we’re bringing stories to life with light and colour in the same way that ecclesiastical windows used to”

As a sculptor it is second nature for Peter to imagine the experience within three-dimensional spaces. “Once I’ve been in a building, I can imagine that space, and provide David with a visual version of the work which is understandable to him. He will then score that music, almost in the same way you would score a film, because his music is really filmic. He also works to convey the sense of emotion that we feel within the space. The music helps us to create an additional depth because the audio and the visuals run all the way down the building, and as you walk towards it, it feels as if you are walking through life.”

Shine On – Luxmuralis is at Bath Abbey from 4–26 October. Book your time slot here: bathboxoffice.org.uk. projectionartgallery.com

Angela Carter and the town of dreams

Novelist, poet and journalist Angela Carter, known for her feminist, magical realism, spent much of her life in London. Bath, however, was the backdrop for many of the key moments in her literary career, says Caleb Ferrari

While Angela Carter has typically been labelled a London-based writer, and while her time living and writing in Bristol has been given more recognition in recent years, her period in Bath has been sadly neglected. Which is a great shame given that some of her most important and most influential works were written, or at least conceived, while living in the city. The lines at the top of the page opposite are taken from her radio play, Vampirella, which Carter wrote in Bath and which was first broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 1976. This was also the “raw material”, as Carter puts it, for her story The Lady of the House of Love, which was collected in her most famous work, The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories (1979). Despite describing Bath as the “ideal place […] to relax in provincial

somnolence”, her time in the city proved extremely productive both professionally and personally. Not only did she write a number of short stories, radio plays, a children’s book, a novel, and a number of journalistic pieces, but she also made several significant friendships and met her future husband and father of her child, Mark Pearce.

Carter moved to Bath in the spring of 1973, buying a small house on Hay Hill which was much in need of renovation. This was a tumultuous period in her life, having left both Bristol and her first husband at the end of the 1960s, spent a couple of years living in Japan, and then, upon returning to England, forming a rather fraught relationship with an acquaintance from her days at Bristol University. In many ways, her move to Bath was about establishing a place of her own and finding some peace. As she explained in

Image: Alamy

“Countess: Can a bird sing only the song it knows or can it learn a new song… Hero: …said the lovely, lonely, lady vampire, running the elegant scalpel of her fingernail along the bars of the cage in which her pet bird sang.”

a letter to one of her editors, the move was “occasioned by a crisis in my private life, it’s been a rather difficult spring”. Indeed, one can better appreciate her state of mind from the fact that she removed the doorbell and placed the phone out of hearing range. This was also a time of financial difficulty for Carter and so she took on an increasing amount of journalistic work, writing for the Radio Times and New Society, as well as reviewing books for programmes such as BBC Radio 4’s Now Read On and Read All About It on BBC1. While some of this work wasn’t very glamorous, her essay-writing had developed into witty and insightful analyses of contemporary culture.

“Bath has ‘more than a fair share of occultists, neo-Platonists, yogis, theosophists... religious maniacs, senile dements, natural lifers... people who make perfumed candles [and] kite-flyers’ ”

Despite her somewhat hermit-like behaviour, Carter made some important friendships while in Bath and participated in the local alternative culture. Christopher Frayling was a junior lecturer recently appointed at the new University of Bath, and his intellectual passions chimed with those of Carter, including Enlightenment philosophy, the writings of de Sade, and Gothic literature. In the spring of 1974, Frayling, Carter and their mutual friend Edward Horesh went to see a film screening of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent masterpiece Nosferatu, and a line from one of the film’s intertitles made it into Carter’s Vampirella: “And when he crossed over the bridge, the phantoms came to meet him”. The radio play’s male hero character was partly inspired by Frayling, who followed in Jonathan Harker’s footsteps from Stoker’s Dracula by visiting the Carpathian Mountains, and Frayling lent Carter several books on vampires. Carter also made friends with artists Shirley Cameron and Roland Miller through the Bath Arts Workshop, participating in some of their performances. Carter even wrote one herself: performed at Walcot Village Hall, it was entitled Ceremonies and Transformations of the Beasts and centred on the figure of a man who transforms into a bird. This figure perhaps anticipates the bird-woman Fevvers, heroine of her later novel Nights at the Circus (1984), as well as the lycanthropes which appear in The Bloody Chamber stories.

Carter’s interest in the Gothic and the weird can be glimpsed in an essay which she wrote about Bath for New Society in 1975. In the opening line, she refers to “the mysterious, chthonic aperture from which the hot springs bubble out of the inner earth”, revealing the influence of H.P. Lovecraft. In this same essay, Carter also teases the city’s eclectic array of citizens, writing that Bath has “more than a fair share of occultists, neo-Platonists, yogis, theosophists, little old ladies who have spirit conversations with Red Indian squaws, religious maniacs, senile dements, natural lifers, macrobiotics, people who make perfumed candles, [and] kite-flyers”. Eccentricity, Carter suggests, comes with the territory, as “Bath’s

omphaloid location induces introspection, meditation, inwardness, [and] massive sloth”. However, not everyone was so enamoured with the place: the “Anglo-Saxons wouldn’t live here”, Carter observes, because “they thought it was haunted”. Nevertheless, it was in a moment of introspection and inwardness that Carter first struck upon the central figure of Vampirella one day at home on Hay Hill. As she tells us, running a pencil “idly along the top of the radiator” to produce a “metallic, almost musical rattle” conjured up the image of a lady vampire with “long, sharp fingernails (all the better to eviscerate you with!)” running her fingernail along the bars of a gilded birdcage. From here, she imagined that “the bird in that gilded cage might be […] an image of the lady herself, caged as she was by her hereditary appetites that she found both compulsive and loathsome.”

While Carter’s image as a writer has been traditionally linked to London, it is important that we acknowledge the significant influence that living in Bath had upon her life and career, from the writing of some of her most distinctive pieces of literary fiction to her first encounter with Mark, whom, incidentally, Carter described as looking “like a werewolf”. However, by 1977 Carter found herself frustrated by Bath and its alternative society, which she felt had become so dominant that it excluded all else; as she told a friend at the time, the “mixture has too few ingredients”. Despite her departure from Bath, Carter would repeatedly return to the city, drawn, as she memorably put it, by its “theatrical splendour [and] the ethereal two-dimensionality of a town of dream.”

Caleb Ferrari is Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of the West of England and co-founder of the Angela Carter Society: angelacartersociety.com

Pictured: below left, poster for The Company of Wolves, a 1984 British gothic fantasy horror film directed by Neil Jordan adapted from Carter’s 1979 short story of the same name (Cannon Films). Below right, a rare first edition cover of The Bloody Chamber. Published by Gollancz, 1979. Dustwrapper artwork by Malcolm Ashma. “Angela Carter’s subversive take on traditional fairy stories in The Bloody Chamber is as shocking today as when the collection first appeared in 1979.” [The Guardian/2004]

Food news

UPSTAIRS AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE

The new secret bar and kitchen from Bath Pizza Co is now open. Tucked away in the old loft space of the historic Green Park Station, you’ll find the stairs to this funky new bar hidden behind the velvet red curtain. Upstairs is available for booking seven days a week for exclusive use for groups of 50–90 people. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the good times and raise your glasses to colleagues and family throughout the festive season. Bath Pizza Co and Green Park Brasserie menus have now joined together, including classics from burgers, steaks, pastas, salads and small and big plates, perfect for sharing or grazing year round, alongside the the world class pizza from the Bath Pizza Co kitchen. bathpizzaco.com/upstairs; greenparkbrasserie.com/christmas

ANNIVERSARY PARTY AT KUTCHENHAUS

On Saturday 5 October, from 3pm to 8pm, Kutchenhaus will be hosting an anniversary party in its Bath showroom to mark four years since opening its doors. Chef Tarrant from Bora will be at the event to give a live cooking demonstration, preparing a delicious selection of treats on the cutting-edge Bora hob and Bora XBo Steam oven.

This is a great opportunity to see these innovative appliances in action and taste some fantastic dishes. Kutchenhaus is pleased to welcome all visitors to this free event, so you can enjoy some tasty food, a glass or two of wine, and great company as the future of Kutchenhaus Bath is toasted.

Kutchenhaus, 5 Saracen Street, Bath BA1 5BR; uk.kutchenhaus.com

Above right: The new Upstairs bar

Right: Pizza and prosecco deal

Tremendous Trimbach

Recommendations by Tom

Bleathman

from the Great Wine Company

Based in Ribeauvillé, Alsace, Trimbach are one of France’s oldest wineries, having produced exceptional wines since 1626. What sets Trimbach apart is its unwavering commitment to quality and tradition, upheld by 13 generations of the Trimbach family. Their wines are so highly regarded by the French that they are featured in 28 of the country’s 30 threeMichelin-starred restaurants whilst also being favoured by top sommeliers globally. As part of GWC’s current promotion on French wines until 21 October, all Trimbach wines are on offer. Here are a few of my favourites: Discover more at greatwine.co.uk

The current family owner, Jean Trimbach, referrers to the Trimbach Pinot Blanc 2022 as his “Swiss Army Knife”, it’s versatile and works for every occasion. Bone dry, with a firm structure, lovely lemony fruit with lots of depth, a minerally backbone and a truly elegant poise and balance. £19.55 to £22

Trimbach produce many outstanding wines, but their true passion is for Riesling and Trimbach Riesling Reserve 2022 is an outstanding example. Aromas on the nose of lime, fennel and a touch of honey. Rich on the pallet with amazing length and minerality. It’s excellent now, but expect this to become even more complex and textured with some age, if you can let it… £28.44 to £32

Trimbach only makes its Reserve Personelle range in top years from their Grand Cru Osterberg vineyard. This results in Trimbach Reserve Personnelle Pinot Gris 2017, which is rich and weighty with juicy apricot, honey and cream flavours which can easily be aged for another decade. A showstopping wine for any big occasion. £38.22–£43

Green tea noodles

Recipe from Ottolenghi COMFORT

Serves 4

Cold noodles on a warm day are as comforting as warm noodles on a cold day. It’s the way they are eaten –holding the bowl with one hand, chopsticks or fork in the other, head slightly lowered; it’s their texture –slippery and substantial; it’s their receptiveness to all the other textures and flavours in the same bowl.

Ingredients

• 25g dried wakame seaweed (or a pack of sea vegetable salad)

• 200g green tea (or soba) noodles

• 2 tsp sesame oil

• 1 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced

• 3 spring onions, thinly sliced (45g)

• 10g basil leaves

• 1 tbsp sesame seeds (a mix of black and white looks great), toasted

• Sake-pickled radishes

• 80g radishes, thinly sliced

Method

• 2 tbsp rice (or white) wine vinegar

• 1 tbsp caster sugar

• 2 tsp sake (or Shaoxing) wine salt

• Lemon soy dressing

• 50ml lemon juice

• 50ml rice (or white) wine vinegar

• 75ml light soy sauce

• 2 tbsp mirin

• 15g ginger, peeled and finely grated

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

Pickle the radishes up to 2 days (or at least 30 minutes) ahead of eating. Place them in a medium bowl and add ¾ teaspoon of salt. Using your hands, gently massage for a minute or two, then add the remaining pickle ingredients. Transfer to a small bowl or jar and keep in the fridge until ready to use.

Rehydrate the seaweed: this takes 30 minutes in cold water (which is the best option) or 10 minutes in hot water. Once rehydrated, drain and roughly tear any very large pieces and set aside in the fridge.

Place all the ingredients for the lemon soy dressing in a large screw-top jar and shake to combine. Keep in the fridge until ready to use.

Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add the noodles, stir, then cook for 3 minutes. Add enough cold water to stop the boiling process and continue to cook for another 2 minutes. Drain in a sieve and rinse under cold running water. Drain well again, then transfer to a large bowl and add the sesame oil, mixing it through with your hands. Cover and keep in the fridge until cold.

When ready to serve, use your hands to loosen and separate the noodles and add all the dressing, the drained radishes, wakame, avocado, spring onions and basil. Toss gently to mix through, then transfer to a rimmed serving platter or shallow bowl. Scatter over the toasted sesame seeds and serve.

This recipe is extracted from Ottolenghi COMFORT by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh (Ebury Press, £30).

Photograph by Jonathan Lovekin

Portrait of Bath

Dr Bharat Pankhania, public health doctor, consultant, lecturer and councillor

Dr. Bharat Pankhania specialises in the control and management of infectious illnesses, examining the roles played by human, environmental, and microbial behaviours in the emergence and spread of illness.

In 2020, he rose to prominence as a well-informed and friendly media spokesman, providing updates, analysis, and opinion during the Covid-19 pandemic. He served as a voice of measured analysis providing people with easy-to-understand explanations of what was going on. Bharat recalls, “I said it in my own way, and people appreciated it.”

At the age of 14, Bharat immigrated with his family, who are originally from Gujarat, India, from his birthplace of Kenya to Leicester, England. While the education system in Kenya was excellent, his school in Leicester decided that recent immigrants were too far behind in their coursework to sit the GCE examinations. Bharat educated himself outside of the formal school system by studying into the early hours, and borrowing many books from the public library to study. He had an ally in his grandfather who paid for his GCE examinations, which he sat privately.

After his A Levels, where he had to resort to more self-study, Bharat achieved four A levels in the sciences and the Welsh National School of Medicine accepted him to read medicine. After medical school Bharat did his GP training, followed by further training in paediatrics and respiratory medicine, and then in public health medicine at London’s St Georges Hospital. “As a public health physician, I am passionate about the determinants of ill health, especially those due to poor opportunities, poverty and government inaction. The best mantra for health and wellbeing are the first ten years of life and a good education; education is power. Education has been my liberation.”

Bharat moved to Bath in 1991 and in 2008, as his family was growing, he discovered a house with a spacious, secluded, southfacing garden in Combe Down. He, his wife Alison, and their two children have lived there ever since. Their home usd to have a huge carbon footprint, but it is now a model of what can be achieved with retrofitting and energy saving measures, with an air source heat pump, solar panels, underfloor heating and insulation.

In all his positions, Bharat has been the inspirational educator. In fact, the University of Exeter Medical School named him the best inspirational instructor while he was a senior clinical instructor. In addition to serving as the Combe Down Liberal Democrat councillor, he was Bath’s deputy mayor from 2023 to 2024. Due to his experiences with poverty and adversity Bharat is determined to try and achieve for everyone a fair chance to improve their lives into adulthood.

Left: “My beautiful friend, my garden. It reminds me of Kenya, where I was born, where there were enormous trees to build tree houses in and a wild, colourful landscape.”

bharatpankhania.com

Main photograph by Joe Short, an award-winning photographer based in Bath. joeshort.com

Bath business

LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATION UPDATES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANE AUSTEN

Next year marks 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen, and Strictly Jane Austen Tours, known for its inspiring Regency adventures, is marking the occasion with two six-day celebrations in Bath, the city she called home. Bath’s most Austen-tatious travel company has curated an exceptional programme of events in spring and autumn 2025. Enthusiasts are invited to take a deep dive into Jane Austen’s world in the surroundings of The Gainsborough Bath Spa hotel where guests can expect insightful talks from Jane Austen experts who will reveal fascinating stories of

The Bath Business Improvement District (Bath BID) has announced the appointment of Michael Musgrave, General Manager of the Apex City of Bath, as the new Chair of the Board. Michael brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the role, promising to drive forward the BID’s mission to enhance the economic vitality of Bath.

Michael Musgrave has been part of the Apex City of Bath team for over six years, where he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to excellence. His background in hospitality management and his understanding of the local business landscape makes him an ideal candidate.

The Bath BID has been instrumental in driving positive change in the city, from improving public spaces to supporting local events and marketing campaigns. bathbid.co.uk

Austen’s life and writing. The programmes also feature guided tours to some of Bath’s most popular attractions, including the No.1 Royal Crescent Museum which celebrates the history of Bath in the 18th century. Other highlights include a visit to the village of Lacock, whose picturesque streets were seen in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. Visitors will also be treated to day trips to destinations such as Austen’s house in Hampshire, a cottage turned inspiring museum which marks the birthplace of her beloved novels. There is also an array of convivial experiences to capture the

spirit of the Georgian era, such as a Regency dance workshop; an embroidery class; an extravagant celebratory dinner hosted by The Gainsborough Bath Spa and an indulgent Jane Austen themed Afternoon Tea where guests can toast the 250th anniversary with a glass of fizz in the quintessentially English setting of the hotel’s Canvas Room.

The Celebrating Jane Austen 2025 programmes will run from 7–12 April and 13–18 October 2025 and are available to book now. Prices from £2200 p/p. strictlyjaneausten.com

NEW HEAD OF MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT MOGERS DREWETT

South West legal and financial planning firm Mogers Drewett has appointed a head of market and business development. Leslie Redwood has more than 20 years' experience in business development and building strategic partnerships in the financial services and charity sectors, both regionally and nationally.

In his new role, Redwood will be responsible for driving growth across Mogers Drewett’s offices in Bath, Wells, Sherborne and Frome, and developing the firm’s specialist legal and financial services.schemes. Redwood was previously head of charities business development at RBC Brewin Dolphin, which is one of the UK’s largest charity investment managers. He worked there with charities across the country and managed ten specialist teams providing tailored investment services to the third sector. mogersdrewett.com

CITY OF BATH APPOINTS FIRST

‘ARCHITECT IN RESIDENCE’

Bob Allies, renowned architect and co-founder of the architectural practice Allies and Morrison, has been appointed as Architect in Residence to develop guidance for design excellence in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath.

The 18-month pilot scheme is an innovative collaboration between the University of Bath and B&NES Council, which also includes research and teaching commitments as a Professor of Architecture at the University. A £60,000 donation to fund the position has been generously provided by the Medlock Charitable Trust. The Trust is led by David Medlock D.L., a businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist and a former High Sheriff of Somerset, who holds the honorary Degree of

Doctor of Engineering from the University of Bath and was a Pro-Chancellor at the University for 11 years. Mr Medlock said: “The city and the University mean a great deal to me. I’m proud to support this initiative, which will protect the Outstanding Universal Values of this double-inscribed World Heritage Site.” bath.ac.uk

NEW CHAIR OF BATH BID

UReturn from holidays and strategies for effective conflict resolution

By Ben Morris, Head of People and Performance, Mogers Drewett

nless your organisation has a shut-down, the summer is not quite as definitive a holiday period as it was when we were children. The world of business continues to turn, and at all levels of an organisation we find ourselves navigating holidays within the team, within the family units of team members, as well as for customers. This creates a blend of relaxation and tension unevenly spread. We may be on the same journey, but we have different start-lines. That shift of pressure can have a way of magnifying fault lines

For those who do get a break, it creates a good chance to catch our breath, assess our relationship with the what and who of work. If you are a recruitment agent, that will have you licking your lips. But all is not lost, this is also a good chance to appreciate what we do have, a chance to check our understanding and re-engage.

“You can't see what you don't understand. But what you think you already understand, you'll fail to notice”

Richard Powers

Why DEI Matters

Thinking of the groups you belong to, how many of those are teams? OK, let’s try an easier one. Of all the groups you belong to (it might be 2,013, it might be in the hundreds - the number doesn't matter), how many do you believe are important and meaningful to you?

We can discuss the semantics of teams (and good teams indulge in some antics from time to time) but a large amount of it boils down to sense of “Us-ness”. At the point we start feeling and talking in terms of ‘us’ and ‘we’ we are tapping into social identity and starting to draw on the strength from greater connection.

If you’re the nominal lead of any of those groups and they don’t matter to you then our quest to re-engage the team starts with us. How can we expect to connect with others meaningfully on something that doesn't matter?

Refreshing

Take the time to remind ourselves of the purpose, the objective and the values we hold helps us figure out if, and how “this” matters.

Now we've got a basis for considering what we are going to do and how we do it. Both planning our actions & reviewing them. We also have a basis for prioritising actions, how we can show up and demonstrate what matters.

Taking this up to a team level we can articulate purpose, expectations and boundaries (the edges of what our interest, skills and responsibility).

Friction

That is all good for smooth movement but how do we deal with the inevitable moments of friction between people?

The answer lies in social skills. ‘Knowing is not enough’, the question is whether we can apply that knowledge. Do you feel able to say how you think and feel? Do you listen enough to understand how your team think and feel? Do they see and feel that?

Assuming positive intent, taking a stance that people are doing their best to be good, as opposed to assuming that they are being wilfully difficult is a helpful perspective. It helps us switch from personal criticism to critique of what is being done. Giving our team-mate a chance to explore what they need to do what needs to be done (and swallowing our defensiveness if it feels that what we are already giving is being overlooked) buttresses any relationship. Especially so when combined with considered and clear expression of our team’s purpose and what we need.

Conflict is not necessarily bad. It can be helpful in terms of learning and performance and is almost inevitable with a diversity of personalities and perspectives. But we need to work to argue in the right way. To borrow from Stanford Professor Robert Sutton people “should fight as though they are right and listen as if they are wrong”.

Mogers Drewett, St James House, The Square, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3BH www.mogersdrewett.com

End to FHL tax breaks confirmed

The change of government cast doubt on whether the scrapping of furnished holiday letting (FHL) tax breaks would go ahead. New draft legislation confirms that it will. Transitional rules will allow landlords of FHLs to continue claiming capital allowances for qualifying costs incurred on or before 5 April 2025. Capital gains tax breaks will be allowed if conditions are met as at 5 April 2025.

In March 2024 the government announced that the long-standing tax breaks for landlords who let furnished holiday accommodation would come to an end on 5 April 2025. However, it was clear that because of the nature of the tax breaks a clean break wouldn’t be possible; therefore transitional rules were needed. These have now been published by HMRC.

The main changes that landlords of furnished holiday lets (FHLs) will see are:

• tax relief for loan interest and other finance costs relating to their FHLs will follow the general rules for rental properties and so be capped at the basic income tax rate (20%)

• expenditure on equipment, fixtures and fittings used in the FHL business will cease to qualify for capital allowances (CAs) (HMRC’s relief for depreciation of assets); and

• business asset disposal relief (BADR) and other capital gains tax breaks will end.

CAs transitional rules. FHL landlords who incurred or will incur expenditure on or before 5 April 2025 on equipment and other assets that qualify for CAs, will be entitled to CAs beyond 5 April 2025. There will be no clawback of CAs or deemed sale of the assets as was feared.

A tip to maximise CAs by bringing forward qualifying expenditure you intended to make after 5 April 2025 to an earlier date.

CGT transitional rules. For BADR, where the FHL conditions are met on or before 5 April 2025, relief will continue to apply to a sale or transfer of the FHL property that occurs within three years following cessation of the letting business, whenever that occurs.

Education matters

NEWS FROM THE CITY’S LEARNERS AND LEADERS

SCHOOL HOLIDAY CLUBS AND WORKSHOPS

The Paragon School has a number of events and activities running over the October half term holiday.

Camp Teepee: adventure and learning in the great outdoors

This popular day camp encourages children to learn new skills, develop confidence and have a great time in a safe outdoor environment. A typical day involves fire lighting, outdoor cooking, wood crafting, wild drumming, detective games, shelter building and clay creature crafting. Children will need a nut-free packed lunch, a snack and a drink and a change of clothes if the weather is wet. Open to children from all schools from 6-11 years; 22-23 October; £45 per day; 9.15am - 4pm.

Spooky Owl Lino Cutting Workshop

This workshop with Miss Hucks, based in The Paragon’s bespoke Art Studio, will teach pupils the basics of linocut printing, before creating a unique Spooky Owl composition. Various design ideas and artists' work and techniques will be explored, from carving intricate patterns to mastering the art of negative space. Children attending must be in Years 3-6 due to the sharp tools used; 31 October; £45; 9am–3.30pm.

Cookery Workshop with a Bonfire Night Theme

Come for an exciting day of autumnal cookery at The Paragon School on 1 November. Bonfire treats include sticky gingerbread parkin, and cheesy tomato puff pastry ‘Catherine Wheels’. There will also be an element of craft to the day. Yrs 1-6; 1 November; £55; 9.30am–3pm.

OLYMPIC SUCCESS FOR MILLFIELD

Millfield athletes achieved remarkable success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing seven Olympic medals and one Paralympic medal. The gold medals were achieved by Team GB’s James Guy, Matthew Richards and Kieran Bird in the men’s 4x200m freestyle swimming relay, and Rory Gibbs in the men’s eight rowing event. Helen Glover brought home a silver in the women’s fours rowing, Matthew Richards complemented his gold with a silver in the men’s 200m freestyle whilst Annie Campbell-Orde achieved bronze at her debut Olympic Games in the women’s eight rowing. Daphne Schrager was the first Team GB athlete to secure a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games, achieving a silver medal in the Women's C1 3000m Individual Pursuit. Millfield has produced 82 Olympians who have participated in every Olympic Games since 1956, amassing a total of 27 medals. millfieldschool.com

The Paragon School, Lyncombe House, Lyncombe Vale, Bath BA2 4LT; ehughes@priorparkschools.com; paragonschool.co.uk/holiday-clubs

NEW COLLABORATIVE STORY BOOK

The south west’s oldest charity, St John’s Foundation, has worked with 192 primary school pupils from seven local schools to write a unique story book celebrating the charity’s milestone 850th anniversary. Profits from the book, titled The Day the Alien Came will help to stock the libraries at these schools, which serve 40% of the region’s most under-served children.

With guidance from Bath-based children’s author Stewart Foster, children from St Martin’s Garden Primary School, St Michael's Junior Church School, Twerton Infant School and Nursery, St Keyna Primary School, Roundhill Primary School, Castle Primary School, and St Mary’s Church of England Primary School used their imagination to create the story. The adventure is brought to life with illustrations by Andrew Prescot. The children created a story about an alien Jai, whose spaceship crash-lands in Bath with his ‘Grampy’. Emerging from the wreckage, Jai is greeted by local children who take him on an adventure, discovering the wonders of Earth and the magic of friendship. The book goes on sale on 10 October on St John’s website, as well as in Bath book shops Mr B’s Emporium and The Oldfield Park Bookshop. stjohnsbath.org.uk

Beauty notebook

Counting down to Christmas? The major beauty brands are revealing their advent calendars. Here’s a couple that caught our eye.

ANTHROPOLOGIE The 2024 Beauty Advent Calendar, £88, anthropologie.com

This coveted, limited-edition calendar features over £300 worth of premium treats and treasures.

JO MALONE LONDON Advent Calendar, £360

Get set for Christmas with the British fragrance and lifestyle house’s classic countdown, filled with 25 surprises. The decorative drawers hide a selection of timeless and seasonal colognes, miniature candles and bath and body favourites in smaller sizes, as well as a TravelCandle and a 30ml festive fragrance. Once empty, the box can be reused as a jewellery case, desk tidy or crafting kit. jomalone.co.uk

Routine check ups

Invisalign

Hygienist appointments

Teeth whitening

Denture Experts Free denture consultation @

Services

› Falls prevention and rehabilitation

› General aches and pains

› Pre and post surgery rehabilitation

› Neurological conditions (i.e. stroke)

› Cardiac & pulmonary rehabilitation

› Arthritis and osteoporosis

› Post hospital/illness rehabilitation

Jaime Brain & Kevin Milne Denture experts

the orangery clinic

laser • aesthetics • beauty

An Invitation

We would like to invite you to join us throughout the day on Thursday 14th November

We will be offering complimentary consultations so you can explore all of our treatments with some special offers too.

• acne

• rosacea

• ageing

• pigmentation

• red veins

• blemish removal

• hair removal

• body treatments

• menopause

• diet & nutrition

• intolerance testing

• beauty treatments

• semi-permanent makeup

• skin care

• vaginal tightening

• facial aesthetics

• skin tightening

• lash treatments

• Dr led wrinkle reduction treatments, fillers and non surgical face lift

We can help advise you on any of your concerns.

Please call us to book as places are limited.

look forward to welcoming you.

Direction Dyrham

A walk round Dyrham Park is a delight at any time of year, but in October, with the trees in their burnished glory, leaves rustling underfoot and pears from its orchards being pressed to make perry, the sights and smells of autumn put an added spring into the step, says Andrew Swift.

Dyrham is justly renowned for its grand and sweeping vistas, but it also has a wealth of hidden corners and secluded spaces. Walking round Dyrham, you’re also reminded, time and again, that you’re walking through history.

Dyrham Park is a monument to the taste and ambition of one man – William Blathwayt, a

high ranking government official and colonial administrator, who inherited a rundown Tudor manor house – along with ‘a very great fortune’ –through his wife, Mary Wynter, whom he married in 1686. He wasted no time in drawing up plans for a new mansion, keeping only the great hall from the old mansion, discreetly tucked out of sight at the back.

By the time the new house was finished, Blathwayt’s career had flourished and he decided something grander was needed. His solution was to commissioned a larger house behind the first one, linked to it by the great hall, creating a mansion like no other, with two fronts and a disorienting internal layout.

But, if his bipartite house was designed to impress, the gardens around it were designed to dazzle. Inspired by the Dutch-style gardens then in vogue, and mindful that England now had a Dutch king, at Dyrham Blathwayt created, on a steep Gloucestershire hillside, one of the most splendid gardens in England. Sadly, after his death they fell into neglect and were eventually landscaped out of existence.

Today, the house, which remained in the Blathwayt family until 1956, genteelly fading, is, thanks to a monumental restoration effort by the National Trust, a time capsule of a long forgotten age. The parkland surrounding it, however, can

only hint at the glory which has gone, but hints, in a setting as dramatic as Dyrham’s, can be remarkably potent.

There are a multitude of ways of exploring Dyrham’s 274 acres, but the 2.5 mile walk suggested here – with the option of visiting the house partway round or at the end – breaks you in slowly, by setting off along quiet and somewhat unassuming country paths, past a nature-inspired sculpture trail, and leaving the more dramatic sights until later.

Having left the car park and passed through visitor reception, immediately turn left along a grassy track through an avenue of limes, planted in the 1980s to replace elms lost to Dutch elm disease in the 1970s. After 350m, follow the track as it curves right and passes the first of a series of tree sculptures by the Bristol-based wood carver Andy O’Neill. Views now open up northwestward over the parkland as you draw nearer to the edge of the escarpment.

After another 400m the track starts dropping downhill alongside a drystone wall, before steepening and curving northward through ancient copses to emerge before the east front of the house. Turn left through a gate beside a cattle grid and head for the orangery, on whose walls hang engravings of the gardens once visible from its windows. They show how the sweeping contours of a Gloucestershire hillside were subdued by the rectilinear formality of avenues, parterres and canals. Looking through those windows today, though, you can see that nothing has survived, nothing except for a distant statue of Neptune, high and dry atop the grass-grown course of a lost cascade.

Go down steps beside the orangery to see, through a gateway on the right, how the great hall joins the two houses together. Through the archway ahead is a courtyard where you find a tea room and a cottage-style garden in an adjoining courtyard to the right.

The archway ahead leads to wide lawns and clipped hedges. To the left is the orchard, ahead lies a large pond, while to the right is the West Garden, recently created but inspired by 17th century designs. If you want to visit the house, you can either do so now or at the end of your walk – bearing in mind that last entry is at 4pm (3pm from 27 October).

North of the house is St Peter’s Church, atop a high revetment constructed when the ground in front of it was scooped away to make way for Blathwayt’s mansion. The steps to the left of the revetment lead up to the church, where there are some fascinating monuments, as well as to a path along which you will find a doorway leading to ‘Mr Blathwayt’s Lost Terraces’.

These terraces, once lined with flower borders, fountains and statues, were abandoned years ago and were until recently impenetrable. In the past

decade, however, the removal of tons of earth, stone and rubble, along with dense thickets of brambles, has opened them up again. Now, this enchanted wooded enclave is one of the highlights of a visit to Dyrham.

At the top of the terraces, go through a gate and head up a grassy track to a toposcope which commands a prospect stretching from the Mendip Hills to the Black Mountains. As you carry on in the same direction, you will see some very different lost terraces running along the hillside to the north – strip lynchets, a legacy of

We specialise in design, manufacture and installation of bespoke kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, home studies and media cabinetry.

when these upland pastures were ploughed for cultivation in medieval times. Above them, on the summit of the hill, is the site of an iron age hillfort where the West Saxons are believed to have defeated the Britons at the Battle of Dyrham in AD 577.

After 350m, turn right alongside a fence and carry on in the same direction for 300m. When you meet a stony track, turn right to head down to the Old Lodge, where there is another tea room and a play area. Turn left here to follow a path steeply downhill. At the bottom, head

Length of walk: 2.5 miles

Terrain: Mostly along rough paths with steep sections and short flights of steps.

Dyrham Park is open daily, with a charge for parking and admission (free to National Trust members).

nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bathbristol/dyrham-park

straight on uphill following a sign for the car park. After a few metres you will see a culvert on the left. As you carry on uphill, you will see that behind the culvert lies a pond which supplied water for Neptune’s grand cascade.

A little further on, you come to a tarmac drive, with a view of the house, embowered by trees, far below. Here you have a choice of either following the drive down to the house, past some of the oldest and grandest trees in the park, or turning left to return to the car park. n

Andrew Swift has written books such as On Foot in Bath: Fifteen Walks around a World Heritage City (akemanpress.com).

E: enquiries@skyinteriors.co.uk

T: 01225 707372

Interiors notebook

Browse these ideas and discover the latest news, products and practical tips from our local specialists...

THE POWER OF A RUG

In the words of the Big Lebowski “A rug can really tie a room together”. Statement rugs have made a welcome comeback and create a dynamic focal point. I just love Ruggable for their wide selection of machine washable, durable rugs, and this was an easy choice for a family dining space. The contemporary design provided just the right amount of fun and personality we wanted. catrionaarcher.com

BALANCING ELEMENTS

In a recent project the designer had brought to life a five-storey Georgian Bath townhouse with colours that were a clever combination of brights and darks drawn together with a neutral linking scheme. Our job was to work with the greens and gilt of items and spaces within the room and use a central piece of furniture, a slimline cupboard with a decorative surround, to bring balance. We chose a French beige and added distressed gilt to the piece to accent the elegance of the room and enhance existing gilt features. Three colours were used, and the gilt was layered to look authentically aged, finishing with traditional waxes to give a soft buff. The result was a large central feature that fitted its space with the coloured background blending the room together. Interiors is all about balance, and if you can find that from the outset, the rest is a very happy jigsaw puzzle to put together. Vanessa Sayce, The Marmalade House; themarmaladehouse.co.uk

CURVE PLUM, SWYFT, FROM £199

Curves help soften the overall feel of a space and give a more relaxed, organic vibe. This hand tufted 100% wool rug brings a sumptuous feel underfoot. The natural tones blend well with a wooden floor, thereby letting the eye transition easily over both surfaces, providing an effortless flow through the space.

FURNITURE: SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

The popularity of furniture with a more positive environmental lifecycle is growing and sustainability is a crucial factor in purchasing decisions. Joel Bugg’s priority is to focus on timeless, versatile and functional designs that will last for generations, so choosing a natural material that is durable, strong and aesthetically pleasing is paramount. Joel Bugg explains, “In many of our projects we choose European Oak, an extremely strong, hardwearing timber with beautiful grain patterns; a material that stands the test of time. In a recent kitchen design project, we celebrated sustainability in the use of materials by using a windfallen oak from the grounds of the property. Carefully managed and protected, the oak was planked and left to season, eventually passed to us to craft our tailored designs. The kitchen is housed in a dramatic oak frame extension, so there was nowhere better for the oak furniture to inhabit; a kitchen island, dining table and a selection of kitchen cabinetry were all produced from the windfall. joelbugg.co.uk

Tip: Use a rug to soften the acoustics of a space with a wooden or tiled floor. Using a rug with a similar background tone to the floor provides a seamless flow.

Tip: Try using larger rugs that allow furniture to nuzzle nicely on top rather than next to them. This grounds the furniture within the space and makes a room feel bigger.

HARTFIELD GRANDE SOFA IN TRURO,

NATHALIE LETE PITCHER, £58

Nathalie Lété’s latest Anthro-exclusive collection of handpainted, glazed, decaled stoneware is adorned with curious creatures, nostalgic florals, poetic scribbles, and a dreamy dose of charme français. anthropologie.com

LOVE LIVING COLOURFULLY

There’s a new home interiors club for interior enthusiasts curated by designer Lola Swift. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for fresh inspiration, you’ll find the tools and resources to guide you through every step of your interior journey. You’ll discover how to become your own interior designer and develop a personal style that truly reflects who you are. Membership is free, with courses and guides, creative inspiration with videos and tips and a community where you can share design ideas and get advice from fellow enthusiasts. Join to have fun, express your creativity, and live in spaces full of colour. lovelivingcolourfully.co.uk

MOSS, £2,995

Arlo & Jacob’s Hartfield sofa features piped seams, pleated outside arms and antique brass castors adding a touch of vintage charm, while the low, short arms make this sofa perfect for sleepy heads and tired legs. Dressed in Moss-coloured Truro fabric, it has the feel of a soft and supple cotton-velvet, with a luxurious look that catches the light to reveal subtle variations across the surface. arloandjacob.com

CAT-TITUDE IN THE BAR

The team at Woodhouse and Law have recently completed their design of a new addition to Bath’s Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Alfie’s Bar. Named after the hotel’s muchloved cat Alfie, the space has been reimagined to create a vibrant, multi-functional lounge. The scheme has been inspired by the gardens which it overlooks; soft lilacs and earthy tones combining subtly with vibrant patterns. The result is an exciting blend of the contemporary with the traditional, old masters sitting alongside more abstract pieces by emerging artists. Formerly a traditional library, the bookcases have been lined with wallpaper inspired by Alfie himself; Cat-titude by Bath-based design duo Divine Savages. woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

FIFTY SHADES OF RADIATOR

When designing our living spaces, we spend a lot of time considering the colours of our walls and furniture. So why do we see so many plain white radiators in our homes? House of Radiators stock many radiator designs which are a showpiece in their own right, but did you know it’s also possible to colour match radiators to individually enhance the look and feel of your rooms? With colour options from suppliers such as Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, and Paint & Paper, there is a finish for every setting. Beyond colour-matching you can also strike out with bold lacquer or metallic finishes. Say goodbye to your chrome towel rail and hello to a feature finish in ‘Charlotte’s Locks’. Book an appointment to visit the colour zone in House of Radiator’s Bath showroom. houseofradiators.co.uk

QUOOKER TAP SYSTEM

A Quooker gives you cold, hot and boiling water from one tap, a flexible pullout hose in the sink, and chilled sparkling water when you combine your Quooker with a CUBE. Find out the options at Coopers Home Appliances: coopershomeappliances.com

MARBLE MATTERS

Marble is a classic material that brings refinement to any interior. The Mandarin Stone collection features a wealth of different marble and marble effect tiles, from small mosaics to large formats with exquisite veining. Shown here, clockwise from top left are:

Paradise Green Gloss Marble Effect Porcelain, from £70.80m2

With its melange of soft green tones and gloss finish, these marble effect tiles offer a surface of both style and practicality.

Bianco Gold Honed Marble (from £46.69m2)

These tiles have rich gold veining that can encompass the whole tile, with smoky and charcoal striations.

Calacatta Amber Honed Marble Herringbone Mosaic (from 183.91m2)

Sophisticated, warm and subtle, these marble floor and wall tiles are ideal for bathrooms, hallways and living rooms.

Portofino Matt Marble Effect Porcelain (from £86.40m2)

The atmospheric tones of this marble effect tile range from cool cobalt blues to tempestuous greys and browns. mandarinstone.com

Changing rooms

Our Autumn/Winter guide features all our favourite trades and services to help spruce up your home. Whether it’s a small decorating touch or an ambitious major project, this directory has a treasured range of expert services to make all those home, interior and garden ideas become reality

AVONVALE CARPETS

37 Kingsmead Street, Bath BA1 2AA

Tel: 01225 427057 Web: avonvalecarpets.co.uk

Your choice of flooring is vital in transforming any room and the range of options can sometimes overwhelm; fortunately, Avonvale Carpets is on hand to assist. It has served homeowners and businesses throughout the city of Bath and Wiltshire for over 50 years, providing an excellent choice of flooring, in-depth expertise and perfect fitting. An independent, second-generation family-run business, Avonvale Carpets uses professionallytrained fitters and deals directly with major manufacturers, offering customers a great selection of quality flooring solutions that’s second to none –LVT, natural, stain resistant, vinyl, wood, wool and tailor-made options too. You’ll be amazed at the variety on offer in the shop, located just off Kingsmead Square. Pop in and see.

WOODHOUSE & LAW

4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath BA2 4EN

Tel: 01225 428072 Web: woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

Woodhouse and Law are a full-service interior and garden design company, working from their showroom and studio on Bathwick Hill. Founded in 2009 by Nick Woodhouse and John Law, the team takes pride in developing stylish, individual and creative schemes across the residential and commercial sectors. Alongside their current collaboration with the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, the Woodhouse and Law studio is currently working on a number of projects across the city of Bath, and further afield, including London, Somerset, Devon and Dorset.

BONITI

Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA

Tel: 01225 892200 Web: boniti.com

Run by Giles and Simon Lunt, Boniti is a high-quality interiors and exteriors business. The showroom is a destination for all types of flooring, including natural stone, porcelain and timber, as well as decorative tiles and the highly desirable Everhot range cookers and stoves. For all types of projects, the Boniti team are masters of their profession and it shows in every detail. The showroom is easily reached from J18 of the M4.

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY

7–9 North Parade Buildings, Bath BA1 1NS Tel: 01225 312003 Web: bathkitchencompany.co.uk

Established in 1990, Bath Kitchen Company is an award-winning, wellregarded family business based in Bath. With vast experience, the company takes pride in its close attention to detail and its understanding of what each client requires. Whatever an individual client’s tastes, the team will find a bespoke kitchen that strikes a perfect balance between aesthetic and practical requirements. Consequently every kitchen is unique, beautifully designed and perfectly functional. Handmade using premium materials and to the highest standards, a beautiful kitchen can be carefully crafted to make the most of available space, existing features and the latest technology. Whether designing for Bath’s oldest private homes or cutting-edge city apartments, the principle is the same – Bath Kitchen Company will create a place that enhances your lifestyle.

ARLO & JACOB

3 Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ Tel: 0330 094 5855 Web: arloandjacob.com

GT BATHROOMS AND BOILERS

LTD

31 Bathwick Street, Bath BA2 6NZ Tel: 01225 667827 gt-plumbing-heating.co.uk

Founded by Gary Tweedie, GT Bathrooms & Boilers Ltd is an independent plumbing and heating company. With over 24 years of experience in the industry, Gary has built a local reputation for being honest, reliable and trustworthy. From bathroom redesigns and kitchen makeovers to essential boiler maintenance and servicing. Covering all your plumbing and gas emergencies, also offering a 24-hour call-out service. GT Bathrooms and Boilers Ltd employs fully qualified and Gas Safe Registered engineers. Available for kitchen and bathroom design and installation projects throughout the Bristol and Bath area, the whole project is managed, from a free survey to design and supplying all the products for your space and budget and full installation, including plastering, tiling and electrics. With a second showroom opening in Bath, GT Bathrooms and Boilers Ltd also install air conditioning units and air source heat pumps. Utilising heat from the air, heat pumps are a much greener method of heating. No project is too big or small. Get in touch today to start creating new spaces and memories in your home.

Arlo & Jacob is a family furniture business that handcrafts modern classics using traditional techniques. The collection brings together sofas, chairs, footstools, tables, and rugs that are designed to look lovely, feel fantastic, and perform perfectly. The magic of making takes place in the Arlo & Jacob Nottinghamshire workshop, but it all starts with you! Create your own bespoke look, choosing from hundreds of house and designer fabrics, as well as tailoring the size, format, and finishing touches to your taste. Each design is made by one pair of capable hands, leaving you with a top-notch sofa frame that’s guaranteed for life.

RIPPLES BATH

Chelsea House, London Road, Bath BA1 6DB Tel: 01225 447971 Web: ripplesbathrooms.com

Award-winning bathroom showroom, Ripples Bath don’t do one size fits all solutions, but they do take dreams and ideas and turn them into bespoke designs for your new bathroom. From the moment you step into their showroom to the moment you step into your new bathroom, they aim to make the whole process as smooth as it can be. It’s the Ripples effect. Working with renowned bathroom suppliers across Europe to offer a collection which is vast and of exceptional quality, their product range includes baths, showers and enclosures, WCs, basins and brassware in almost every style, colour and design imaginable. Ripples also offers unique collections and materials that provide something a little bit different including copper baths, special finish brassware and bespoke solid wood furniture. With styles to suit all tastes, Ripples act as the perfect showcase to spark your imagination, whether you’re just looking for a few bathroom products, or a full bathroom design.

BLAKE & BULL

Hartley Farm, Winsley, BA15 2JB

Tel: 01225 434500 Web: blakeandbull.co.uk

Blake & Bull started life 20 years ago with a simple cleaning service of Aga range cookers. This soon developed into complete Aga refurbishment business, bringing a beautiful new life to classic, old and fatigued Agas with re-enamelling [now available in a choice of 65 colours], electric conversions and also re-imagined Agas, brilliantly recreated and made to order from recovered parts. The company now employs over 40 people and has cleaned, refurbished and remade thousands of Aga cookers in its workshop and showroom at Hartley Farm near Bath. In the showroom you’ll not only find a display of pristine restorations but also a range of thoughtful high-quality cookware and kitchen accessories. For expert advice or just to browse all the wonderful products a visit to the showroom is a must.

CLAIR STRONG INTERIOR DESIGN

2 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD

Meetings by appointment. Studio: 01225 426905 Mob: 07855 797311 info@clairstrong.co.uk Web: clairstrong.co.uk

Clair and her experienced team at Clair Strong Interior Design Ltd provide a full range of interior design services for both residential and commercial projects. Established over 18 years ago, Clair works with a trusted network of professionals and trades to offer a complete interior design service for projects of all types. From city centre apartments and shops to large family homes and hotels, her portfolio includes contemporary projects through to listed Georgian properties. The company ethos is to take a collaborative approach with clients, working with them to create spaces that meet their needs, improve their lives, and exceed their expectations. Call or email Clair to discuss your project.

HOUSE OF RADIATORS

22 Wellsway, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 2ªA Tel: 01225 424199 Web: houseofradiators.co.uk

House of Radiators sells traditional and designer radiators that can be off-the-shelf sizes/finishes or bespoke sizes and colours. This popular, family-run business opened its Bear Flat showroom in 2011 and not only sells to Bath areas but throughout the UK and overseas. Following a major re-fit, there are over 100 radiators on display and due to increasing popularity the traditional cast iron and column radiator range has expanded. With over 50 years experience in the heating and radiator industry they offer a friendly and high level of customer service. This is key in helping customers choose the right radiator for their home that will not only look amazing but will heat their room and do its job. Because the team work with leading manufacturers and distributors in the radiator industry, there’s always something to suit all budgets and styles. Locally the company are able to offer an at-home consultation where they’ll measure up and work out the correct heat requirements and size up radiators accordingly.

BEN ARGENT KITCHENS

Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA

Tel: 01225 892270 Web: benargentkitchens.co.uk

Award-winning creators of bespoke contemporary kitchens that successfully combine functional design with elegant simplicity. Ben has a background as a designer/maker and has extensive experience in the specialist furniture industry. He launched the company in 2007 with a clear understanding of the subtleties and technicalities required to achieve sophisticated and highly individual contemporary kitchens. Their beautiful showroom is conveniently located near M4 J18 with plenty of free parking. Please contact them to arrange a viewing.

MANDARIN STONE

15–16 Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ

Tel: 01225 460033 Web: mandarinstone.com

Renowned for its comprehensive natural stone collection, Mandarin Stone has gained quite a reputation for its on-trend and beautifully designed porcelain. Ranging from tiles that cleverly mimic materials such as wood, concrete and marble to striking glazed and patterned tiles, the collection has endless surface design possibilities. This year Mandarin is celebrating 35 years in business and with 15 inspirational UK showrooms, it offers dependable specialist knowledge as well as technical expertise. Almost the entire natural stone and porcelain collection is held in stock in the UK, so lead times are short.

HOBBS MARBLE & GRANITE

Radstock Road, Midsomer Norton, Bath BA3 2AA Tel: 01761 412934 Web: hobbsmarbleandgranite.co.uk

Hobbs Marble & Granite specialises in the fabrication of kitchen and bathroom worktops in granite, quartz, marble, limestone and slate. A natural stone worktop brings an unrivalled unique beauty to the heart of your home. Whether you choose the rich tones of granite or one of the many colours of quartz for contemporary style, a professionally fitted work surface from Hobbs Marble & Granite will give you a stunning finish to your kitchen or bathroom. You are welcome to visit our showroom just outside of Bath to view the wide selection of materials and our friendly and knowledgeable team are on hand to discuss your requirements.

MARMALADE HOUSE

Tel: 07733 263844

Web: themarmaladehouse.co.uk

Marmalade House is an award-winning, professional furniture painting and design company, based in Bath. It specialises in French and Gustavian finishes that include the layering of colours, distressed paintwork and lime-washing as well as gilding, colour-washing for ageing and waxing services. The focus is all about colour and style and how that fits into a customer’s home.

The team of trained interior designers also offer a design and styling service that brings together the client’s style and aspirations for change. For those who prefer to do everything themselves, the company also offers popular training courses on how to paint furniture to professional standards, and the use of colour within your home. Run by Vanessa Sayce, Marmalade House is an established, friendly company that has its clients’ interests at heart, whatever changes they would like to make, and at whatever scale.

COOPERS HOME APPLIANCES

13–15 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BN Tel: 01225 311811 Web: coopershomeappliances.com

Located on the famous Walcot Street of Bath, Coopers Home Appliances is a store not to miss. For many years running, Coopers has been a popular entry in our ‘Best of Bath’ list and it’s easy to see why. With over 70 years’ experience, Coopers is a highly acclaimed and award-winning kitchen appliance retailer with an eye for the unusual. Their large showroom has undergone an exciting transformation and displays an extensive array of range cookers, refrigeration, laundry, dishwashing, built-in appliances, small appliances, and much more. The showroom provides customers with a unique live experience where you can physically interact with the appliances before you buy them. The store frequently holds demonstrations and events, and often collaborates with other local specialist traders. The expert team at Coopers is always on hand and is competitive when it comes to purchase, delivery, and installation. With so much choice, the team will help you choose the right product to complement your taste and home environment. With superb customer service, Coopers aim to make buying home appliances a personal and pleasurable experience – independent retailing at its very best.

T

CATRIONA ARCHER INTERIORS

el: 07823 884945 Web: catrionaarcher.com

Catriona provides half-day Interior Design Consultations to full Endto-End Renovations for homeowners, holiday lets and boutique commercial projects. Working with the homeowner's existing items helps quickly identify where further investment is required: Because interior design should be accessible to all and needn’t cost the earth.

KELLY MARIE KITCHEN INTERIORS

8 Pulteney Terrace, Bath BA2 4HJ Tel: 01225 481881 (Mobile: 07796 554466) Web: kellymariekitchens.com

Kelly Marie has more than 15 years experience in the kitchen design industry. She has had the pleasure of working on many luxury kitchen projects in the Bath area and now owns her own unique and creative business based on a constant list of word-of-mouth recommendations.

Her technical designs with intrinsic creativity allow spaces that are functional yet beautiful. With a vast portfolio of luxury German kitchen projects, Kelly works with each client’s budget, providing personalised attention throughout the design process. Kelly believes that it is all about the little details and her approach combines purposeful variations of colour, textures and finishes. The careful selection of these elements endow the home with a sense of harmony, while reflecting the individual style of the client.

JOEL BUGG FURNITURE & SPACES

Tel: 01225 583520 / 07779 236242 Web: joelbugg.co.uk

Joel Bugg Furniture & Spaces designs and creates elegant, bespoke fitted furniture and interiors, which are architecturally thought through to seamlessly fit and suit your property. Joel and his team offer a fully managed service from initial space planning and concept designs, using teams of skilled cabinet makers in their manufacture through to final installation. They will also recommend, source and provide lighting, flooring and other finishing touches as required. Their expertise spans all interiors from kitchens and bathrooms to libraries and boot rooms, and as well as working directly with clients they work collaboratively with architects and interior designers to deliver a truly tailored solution.

LOLA SWIFT INTERIORS

Tel: 07971 106546; Email: lola@lolaswift.co.uk Web: lolaswift.co.uk

Interior designer and colour consultant based in Bath, Lola Swift offers a creative and comprehensive design service, seamlessly combining style with practicality whilst integrating personality, colour and texture in your home or workspace. Whether you have moved house, are looking to restyle a room or office space, let Lola remove the stress by creating a beautiful design scheme that reflects your style and budget. Services include residential and commercial spaces, from concept and space planning to room styling and implementation.

THE BATH FRAMER

14–15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD Tel: 01225 920210 Web: thebathpictureframer.co.uk

HORNER ROBERTS

4B The Old Silk Works, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 8LX Tel: 01747 812515 Web: horner-roberts.co.uk

Horner Roberts is a growing team of specialist cabinet makers, joiners and furniture makers based in Warminster, Wiltshire. The company was started in 1979 as a bespoke kitchen company by Richard Horner and in 2014 master cabinet maker Paul Roberts took over the running of the business. Horner Roberts design, manufacture and install bespoke kitchens, bedrooms, studies, dressing rooms and utility rooms, as well as one-off pieces of beautiful furniture. Every single installation is finished to the highest level of craftsmanship. The business has grown steadily over 45 years and now has five skilled cabinet makers and its own installation team. It has gained a vast reputation for providing customers with high-quality bespoke kitchens and personalised service, so that all clients receive tailored and practical living solutions.

The Bath Framer, owned by Kelly, is a friendly boutique picture framers that has a beautifully quirky front of house and an amazing naturally lit workshop. Both are a joy to work in and to visit for customers wanting to see how frames are created. Since opening, the business has gone from strength to strength, building a client list of local residents and businesses based in Bath, Bristol and beyond. A bespoke framing service, tailored to suit all individuals’ needs runs alongside a gorgeous selection of cards, gift wrap and stationery.

CREAM CORNWALL

29, Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DG Web: creamcornwall.co.uk

Inspired by the Cornish coast, Cream Cornwall makes luxury and exclusive homewares for people who love to be surrounded by beautiful things. Featured on homewares and fabric, their unique designs transform ordinary objects into statement pieces.

Cream Cornwall’s overarching motto is ‘Beautiful things, beautifully made’ and Rebecca and Allison, the co-founders of Cream Cornwall, are committed to producing quality and unique homewares that inspire. The two women are passionate keeping production as local as possible, with their candles, diffusers, lampshades and cushions all made locally in Cornwall. Both Rebecca and Allison maintain the importance of having physical stores, and their shops in Falmouth, St Ives and Bath beautifully showcase the wide range of products.

BATH CARPETS AND FLOORING

4 Kingsmead Street, Bath BA1 2AA

Tel: 01225 471888 Web: carpetsandflooringbath.co.uk

Supplying and fitting flooring throughout the South West since 2004. Bath Carpets and Flooring (BCF) offers a wide selection of carpets, all made from a variety of different materials including wool, polypropylene, nylon and sisals. With the combined experience of more than 100 years, the team’s extensive knowledge and expertise puts you at ease as they match your needs with the perfect flooring solution. BCF pride themselves on only giving impartial advice and hassle-free measuring and estimating, so there will never be any sales pressure or confusion. As the city’s largest Karndean flooring specialist, BCF’s luxury vinyl tile showroom will give you the freedom to create impressive floors, where the only limit is imagination. With showrooms over two floors offering an even greater selection of homely carpets, vinyl’s, LVT’s and modern rugs. Commercial flooring from all leading manufacturers is available through Bath Contract Flooring Ltd. So if it’s flooring for your home or your business BCF have got it covered.

KUTCHENHAUS BATH

5 Saracen Street, Bath BA1 5BR. Tel: 01225 634025 Web: uk.kutchenhaus.com

STUDIO JERNBECK

Tel: 07493 134 241 Email: design@studiojernbeck.com Web: studiojernbeck.com

Established in 2020 by Erik Jernbeck; Studio Jernbeck is an architectural & interior design studio based across London and Somerset. Studio Jernbeck provides a turn-key service of interior architecture, design, bespoke joinery and sourcing of final furnishings and decorative elements. No two projects are ever the same and the same level of attention and care is offered regardless of size and scale. Studio Jernbeck ensures each property’s unique and individual characteristics are paid homage to and always strive to bring authenticity to the project. The team pride themselves on an extensive roster of contacts including talented tradesmen, artisans and craftsmen to bring a level of excellence to the design process and end result.

Kutchenhaus Bath are part of the Kutchenhaus German Kitchen family. Located on Saracen Street in the heart of Bath, Kutchenhaus supply, design and fit German kitchens which with it bring innovation and the latest technology. Whether you are looking for a modern kitchen or a traditional kitchen, the friendly team at Kutchenhaus Bath has over 60 years of combined experience, so can guarantee a professional and five-star service. All Kutchenhaus kitchens are manufactured and put together in Verle, Germany and get shipped directly to customers fully assembled which means no flat-pack! The kitchens are also manufactured by intelligent machines which completely eliminates the risk of human error – guaranteeing your kitchen will be right first time! The team in Bath also design spaces for bathrooms, bedroom and living areas too. So whatever your query may be, pop into the showroom today and get your dream project plans into motion.

DREAM DOORS BATH

10 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1JY Tel: 01225 282172

web: dreamdoors.co.uk/kitchen-showrooms/bath

Dream Doors Bath is a one-stop shop for beautiful kitchen makeovers. Visit the Bradford on Avon showroom and meet owners and kitchen designers Lorraine and Malcolm to discuss your ideas for your dream kitchen. From concept to completion (and beyond) they are there to oversee every part of the process. There’s a whole spectrum of services and options available from simple door swaps or worktop replacements that will revitalise your old kitchen quickly and cost-effectively or go for a full transformation with the design and installation of a completely bespoke new kitchen. All Dream Doors products and kitchens are made to measure, and there’s a wide selection of styles and finishes to match every taste, so whatever your preference Dream Doors will have the perfect solution. Lorraine and Malcolm enjoy a great ‘Checkatrade’ rating for their highly personalised service too, overseeing every part of the process and making sure customers are kept informed throughout the installation and are always satisfied with the end results.

MITCHELL & DICKINSON

Tel: 0117 287 2799

Web: mitchellanddickinson.co.uk

Mitchell & Dickinson is a specialist in bespoke energy-saving insulation solutions for period and listed homes. CosyGlazing is a unique secondary glazing system that is elegant and effective. Made of a modern, lightweight equivalent to glass, it’s fixed using magnets, so is easy to remove and virtually invisible. Choose a finish to complement your period or listed property. The clever whole-house insulation solutions include high quality and aesthetically appropriate draught proofing, sheep's wool loft insulation and loft flooring, underfloor insulation, wooden floor draught proofing, sloping ceiling insulation and warmth-enhancing accessories, such as chimney balloons and radiator enhancers.

FRANCIS DIY

39 Moorland Road, Bath BA2 3PN Tel: 01225 427885, Web: francisdiy.com

Francis DIY, Bath’s original hardware store since 1966, can be found in the bustling area of Oldfield Park where the store supplies the widest range of DIY and hardware products imaginable. It is a family-run business, and the team there has a wealth of experience and are renowned for their friendly service, great advice or simply helping new and existing loyal customers find DIY solutions. The range is vast with hundreds of stock items immediately available including: domestic hardware, key cutting services, locks and security products, lightbulbs and electrical accessories, small electrical appliances, heaters, fans, DIY and decorating products, paints and varnishes, kitchenware and cooking accessories, hand and power tools, fireworks and fairy lights... and so much more. The store is open Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm and also offers a local delivery service. It’s the best!

SKY INTERIORS

Bluesky House, Western Way, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8BZ.

Tel: 01225 707372   Web: skyinteriors.co.uk

The team at Sky Interiors (Bath) Limited have been designing, manufacturing and installing bespoke cabinetry and joinery for over 40 years. Based at its showroom and joinery workshop on the outskirts of Bath, experienced designers work closely with clients to guide them through the design process. The company takes great pride in building a relationship with its clients through listening to their practical requirements and their tastes for colours, textures and finishes and Sky Interiors will always delight in incorporating the sought after ‘fine detail’. With total flexibility to produce all aspects of interiors to exceptional standards, from kitchens to bathrooms, bedrooms to boot rooms, as well as one off pieces, the company also collaborates with interior designers across Bath, the home counties and London.

FINE QUALITY CUSHIONS

Tel: 01373 451415

Email: cushions@finequality.co.uk

Are you finding your seats and backs a little lacking in life? Fine Quality Cushions can replace them and make your sofas better looking and more comfortable. They have been making seats and backs for 25 years exclusively for the trade industry but recently the company has expanded its service to include private clients too. Choose from feather, fibre, feather wrapped foam or feather and down and get that saggy sofa plumped up. See what they offer or simply send your measurements by email for a quote – it’s as easy as that to start transforming your furniture!

HEIDI REIKI FENG SHUI AND REIKI FOR YOUR HOME

Tel: 07776 255875

Email: heidi@heidireiki.com

Web: heidireiki.com

"Our experience with Heidi was truly unmatched. Her professionalism, deep expertise in Feng Shui, Reiki, and space clearing, along with her kind and caring nature, made transforming our home an incredibly positive journey. I only wish we had done it sooner!" – Melissa.

Heidi Lerner Rearden offers bespoke packages to create balanced, harmonious living and work spaces. Every environment is unique, and with Heidi's expertise in Reiki, Feng Shui, and The ThetaHealing® Technique, she transforms your home or office into a calm, tranquil space where you can thrive.

RETROFIT WEST ENERGY-SAVING HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Free advice line: 0800 038 6733

retrofitwest.co.uk

NEWMAN’S JOINERY

6 Locksbrook Court, 88-89 Locksbrook Rd, BA1 3EN Tel: 01225 318378, Web: newmansjoinery.co.uk

In April 2015, Roland Newman took over the thriving Hulin & Hudson joinery firm following the retirement of Mike Hulin. Based in Widcombe, the joinery shop was a well-established local business providing high-quality joinery for houses in Bath and the surrounding areas. Chris, the foreman, worked with Mike for almost 20 years and continues to run the workshop, so the wealth of experience and local knowledge has been retained. The company deals with everything from timber windows, staircases, doors and frames to alcove cupboards, panelling, timber conservatories and shop façades and they have a specialist knowledge in listed buildings. Contact Newmans for a free, no-obligation initial visit to discuss your requirements.

Retrofit West offers independent advice and support for energysaving home improvements. Funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Retrofit West helps homeowners reduce their energy bills, improve comfort and help fight climate change. They also support businesses into the retrofit sector with events and training. Get a voucher worth 70% off an energy efficiency assessment on retrofitwest.co.uk.

BEAU NASH BATH

28 and 31 Brock Street, Bath BA1 2LN

Tel: 01225 259 646 and 01225 334 234

Web: beaunashbath.com

Antique lovers, over the last year, Beau Nash has expanded their collection to include an Antique Mirror Gallery, the only one of its kind in the city of Bath. With over 50 mirrors displayed in 4 floors and an updated online shop, they strive to make it easier for home owners to find stylish pieces for their homes. They ship internationally and deliver to London on Tuesdays. Situated between the Circus and the Royal Crescent, both of their shops now offer antique silverware, quality porcelain, and fashionable period furniture backed with personalised service. One of the loveliest shops in Bath, this is a mustsee on your visit. instagram: beaunashbath

MADE AND RESTORED BY RUSSELL DRAKE

Web: madeandrestored.co.uk russelldrakefurniture@gmail.com

Tel: 07834 410117

Made and Restored is run by Russell Drake who has been making and restoring furniture since the 1980s. From his workshop in the Wiltshire countryside near Bath, using responsibly sourced timber and traditional construction techniques, Russell creates timeless functional furniture to complement your living space. A firm believer in carefully mixing old with new, Russell offers a furniture restoration and repair service along with some antique furniture for sale. Please feel free to contact him for an informal chat if you are interested in commissioning a piece of furniture or would like that cherished item restored.

RW KNIGHT & SONS STOVES

Castle Farm, Marshfield, Wiltshire SN14 8HU Tel: 01225 891469 Web: knight-stoves.co.uk

Established in 1974, the family run company R W Knight & Son has sold over 42,000 stoves and fires from the same family farm at Marshfield, near Bath. Richard (Dick) Knight was the founder of the business which all started when he purchased a Jøtul stove in 1974 having seen the stove in a leaflet written in Norwegian. Richard’s son Henry now runs Knight’s stoves along with the third generation of the family, Miriam. Woodburning is a carbon neutral, renewable source of heating and the business is keen to promote advancements in the woodburning industry with appliances that go beyond government legislation for air cleanliness, which is why they sell Jøtul, Charnwood and Stovax products. Today the showroom displays over 100 woodburning, gas and electric appliances from key leading manufacturers, complemented by an extensive collection of fireside accessories.

Kitchen charisma

With over 12 years’ professional experience producing kitchens in and around Bath, Ben and Emi Argent of Ben Argent Kitchens talk to us about designing this particularly special project for their own home.

The very first kitchen we ever designed and made was in fact for our first home, 13 years ago. Unknowingly at the time, this then became the starting point for our business as we evolved from our respective backgrounds in bespoke furniture and architecture. We designed something a little different from the norm and found our passion. This gained the interest of friends and local architects who then asked us to design other kitchens.

So now, after having designed hundreds of kitchens, it feels like we’ve come full circle to work on our own kitchen again, this time in our new home. The challenge of designing and project managing our own kitchen followed the approach we would take with any client, and also involved some internal alterations to create our open-plan kitchen/dining space with a large new glazed full-height opening to the garden.

Fortunately, we tend to both be on the same page when it comes to design decisions and we were confident about creating the right layout for the space from the early stages. When it came to the finishes, however, we were definitely our own most challenging clients! We wanted to use this opportunity as a bit of a prototype – to test new ideas and materials to

help us evolve our kitchen offerings. So we decided to follow quite an experimental process, testing various different options for finishes before we settled on the final scheme.

As we were having renovation work done, we found 3D modelling our space and producing photorealistic visuals of our design scheme invaluable – and this is something we highly recommend for any of our clients. Looking back at the original visuals now, it’s striking how accurate they are to the finished product.

Because we opted for a pale oak chevron flooring and there was plenty of natural light, we were able to opt for dark and dramatic colours for the kitchen itself. We find people are often afraid to go too dark, however scientifically about 70% of your perception of light comes from horizontal surfaces, meaning the flooring and worktops. So in our kitchen, we chose a very light floor and worktops, so the resulting feel in the room is bright and airy, even though we have very dark kitchen fronts.

We always say the optimal kitchen layout, both aesthetically and practically, is to achieve straight runs where possible, so we instinctively broke the kitchen down into three elements – low level, tall units and island.

The large bank of tall units is a key feature of the space and is hugely practical for storage. We managed to reduce the visual weight of this run by introducing a split material palette of black resin decor, combined with hand-selected smoked oak to give added richness. Additionally, the partopen pantry unit adds a feeling of depth using polished ‘Sahara Noir’ backlit marble.

The freestanding island packs a big punch with beautiful antique liquid brass drawer fronts. These real brass fronts can be distressed and burnished as desired and this creates a really characterful, natural patina. We also framed the island in the smoked oak to echo the materials used in the tall units. Our intention was for the island to embrace a subtle retro aesthetic, and to stand out from the accompanying cabinetry as a central focal point within the room. Having the island raised on legs creates an elegant, lightweight appearance, allowing you to see the floor below and making the room feel more spacious and dynamic.

“Scientifically about 70% of your perception of light comes from horizontal surfaces, meaning flooring and worktops”

Navigating the design and installation of this kitchen in and around our other projects was an interesting challenge, as it coincided with one of our busiest times. Naturally, our other projects took precedence over our own, but we managed to get everything done, and completed just in time to host Christmas lunch!

We’re really thrilled with the outcome – the space is so serene and peaceful to spend time in. This one room alone has totally transformed our house and is a real joy to use. We hope this is how all our clients feel when they have their new kitchen spaces! n

The showroom for Ben Argent Kitchens is available to visit near Bath: Ben Argent Kitchens, Dunsdon Barn, Dunsdon Lane, West Littleton SN14 8JA; benargentkitchens.co.uk

The island worksurface in this kitchen incorporates an accessorised channel behind the Bora hob. This trendy design feature includes bottle holders, a colander and rotating power sockets with USB Other options include digital weighing scales, a Bluetooth speaker and a wireless phone charger.

Make period properties warmer and more sustainable with Mitchell & Dickinson

As a nation, we lose an average of £770m each year through heat loss from poorly insulated homes. This is a significant figure that cannot be ignored.

Servicing the South of England and with specialist teams on the ground in the Bath and Bristol areas, Mitchell & Dickinson offers elegant, bespoke and expertly crafted, insulation solutions for listed and period properties. Products include the unique secondary glazing solution, CosyGlazing, high-quality draught proofing for windows and doors, and specialist sheep’s wool insulation for underfloors, sloping ceilings and lofts.

Due to the nature of listed and period buildings, all solutions are tailormade to restore their original period features and aesthetics. The company is proud of its sustainable approach, using natural and energy-efficient materials which will stand the test of time, with quality at the heart of every project completed. Mitchell & Dickinson is proud to back the ethos of “repair rather than replace”!

Mitchell & Dickinson’s CosyGlazing is an advanced seamless secondary glazing system, which not only looks great, preserving original features, but will retain heat and help with acoustic insulation and security, whilst improving the overall EPC rating too. So, what is it really? CosyGlazing is a made to measure, bespoke secondary window which affixes to your current window regardless of size and shape to create an insulated air gap, to reduce heat loss and, together with its effective draught proofing system also cuts out up to 70% of draughts and in most cases also helps condensation forming to ensure a warmer home all round. The overall thermal performance is almost as good as double glazing but without the need to replace your windows.

The team of experienced craftspeople can install CosyGlazing, an advanced bespoke secondary glazing system; mitigate draughts with concealed brushes and seals; retrofit insulation to lofts and floors with sheep’s wool or stop the cold spots with sloping ceiling insulation; and restore windows and doors to their former glory.

Mitchell & Dickinson has completed projects in over 2,000 properties including projects for the National Trust, The Crown Estates, the Duchy of Cornwall, the Clovelly Estate, Exeter Cathedral, Wells Almshouses and hundreds of privately-owned listed and period homes which include some of the finest heritage properties in the south of England.

One of the team’s had the pleasure of working on a 200-year-old fourbedroom property which consisted of 18 single pane windows and was losing heat and impossible to keep warm.

“We’d certainly recommend Mitchell & Dickinsons and CosyGlazing to other people who are unable or unwilling to install double-glazing for whatever reason. We had family and friends over and they didn’t even notice that we’d had secondary glazing fitted, which should reassure people with beautiful feature windows. With secondary glazing now on the windows and doors, we now heat the whole house rather than just the few rooms we spend the most time in, which is much better for the property as it stays consistently warm. We’re pleased to have made our home more energy efficient and it also ensures we stay nice and warm as we get older.” Comments, owners, Kiki and Hugh Hayes.

Mitchell & Dickinson will be a sponsor of the Bath Green Open Homes event. On the 12th and the 13th October, homeowners in Bath will be opening up their homes to showcase the energy efficiency measures that they have put in place. If you’re attending, make sure you visit Beech Lodge to view the CosyGlazing system in action. There will be a specialist surveyor on hand over the weekend to help explain the benefits and practicalities of a Mitchell & Dickinson installation.

For further information, please visit www.mitchellanddickinson.co.uk

If you’re interested in setting up a consultation with a member of the Mitchell & Dickinson team, please call 0117 287 2799.

Pictured left the exterior of the building; right CosyGlazing secondary glazing from Mitchell & Dickinson

Muck & magic

Elly West delves deep into composting: the wonderful alchemy of turning organic waste into something that brings vitality and life to our gardens

Browsing through one of my social media horticultural groups recently, a post caught my eye. It simply read: “Okay folks, send me your sexiest, best-looking compost heaps please!” I couldn’t resist clicking on the extensive list of comments and they did not disappoint. These were people who truly understood the wonderful alchemy of turning organic waste into something that brings vitality and life to our gardens. The photos were impressive. From a line of wood-built bins with roofs more akin to a stable block, to beautiful heritage-painted beehive-style composters, there’s no doubt that people get excited about their garden waste.

Composting garden and kitchen waste makes sense on every level. It reduces rubbish, lowers our carbon footprint and improves the health of our gardens. It also saves money. Where I live, in North Somerset, the council charges to take away green waste in the form of fortnightly bin collections during the summer months only, and the price of shopbought sacks of compost has gone up massively in recent years (along with everything else). In Bath B&NES Council has partnered with Get Composting to provide better value compost bins (and water butts) for residents. (See getcomposting.com)

You don’t need much space for a compost bin, whether you go for a plastic one, or build your own system tucked away in the corner of the garden, and with a little bit of know-how you’ll soon be producing your own friable ‘black gold’.

There are four main ingredients needed to create your own compost. The first is carbon, known in composting circles as ‘browns’. This includes sticks and dead leaves from around the garden, but also cardboard and shredded paper. Carbon-rich materials maintain moisture and help with aeration in the heap. The second vital ingredient is nitrogen, or ‘greens’. This is found in soft, leafy material, grass clippings and kitchen peelings. Eggshells and coffee grounds also make good nitrogen-rich compost. Avoid meat, fish, dairy and cooked food, as they will attract rats and other vermin.

Oxygen is the third ingredient needed, so that the necessary microorganisms for decomposition can thrive, so it’s important to make sure that your compost pile is well-aerated. By actively managing your compost heap and turning it regularly (every three or four weeks) this will greatly increase the oxygen levels and speed up the process. Closed plastic or wooden containers can also be turned by tipping out the compost and refilling it. The final essential ingredient is moisture. If your burgeoning compost gets too dr y, add more soft, nitrogen-rich material along with water to speed up the composting process.

I should point out that although turning a heap is the gold standard for quick composting and can produce good compost in around 10 weeks, if this all sounds like too much work, just add your materials to a pile or bin over time and leave them alone, still being mindful of a mix of brown and green waste, and they will still decompose without any input from you. It will just take longer, up to two years, to produce usable compost. Composting is essentially the decomposition of organic matter by microoganisms such as bacteria, nematodes and fungi, as well as more

visible red worms known as brandlings, differing from regular earthworms in that they need the warmth of an active compost heap to survive. Everything passes through the digestive tract of these creatures, magically transforming it into crumbly compost. At the end of the process, the compost should smell pleasant and ‘earthy’, and have a friable texture that can easily be shovelled over the garden. Aim for a good balance. Too much carbon and it will take a long time to break down, while too much nitrogen, such as an excess of fresh grass clippings, will make your compost go slimy and smell bad. It’s not an exact science, but aim for a ratio of around two parts ‘brown’ to one part ‘green’.

If you want to start composting at home, first consider how much space and time you want to devote to the project, as well as the amount of organic waste you generate. If your garden is very small, consider a worm bin or Bokashi composting, which are much smaller sealed containers that can even be kept indoors. However, if you want to compost outside, then choose a spot for your bin or heap that’s easy to access but not too close to the house as composting can attract insects and produce odours, although this isn’t such an issue if you are using a closed plastic bin. Site it on welldrained soil to prevent waterlogging and allow beneficial organisms to get into the pile.

Then gather some organic materials and start loading it up. Leave perennial weeds somewhere dry and sunny, so the roots shrivel up before you add them to an open compost heap, or they’ll carry on growing. Two bins are ideal, with one left to mature while the other is being filled up. When the compost is dark and crumbly, then it’s ready to use. Homemade compost heaps should be at least one cubic metre, with timber boards to the sides to help retain heat. n ellyswellies.co.uk

Plant of the month: Japanese maple

Now is the time that trees are taking on their autumn colours, and Japanese maples are top of my list for vibrancy. With a graceful habit and beautiful foliage, varieties of Acer palmatum make elegant trees that are ideal for pots and smaller spaces. From spring when the tactile fresh leaves unfurl in shades of green, yellow, red and burgundy, they continue the show with a crescendo in autumn when they’re renowned for their glowing colours. Native to China, Korea and Japan, in the wild, they are found growing on the edges of woodland with some light shade and shelter, so choose a similar spot in your garden away from harsh winds and direct sunlight. Slightly acidic soil suits them best, but they will also grow well on alkaline soil, as long as the roots aren’t waterlogged. Avoid pruning, aside from cutting out dead and damaged stems, as it’s easy to spoil the shape. Once the leaves drop, gather them up and add them to your compost heap.

Horner Roberts are a growing team of cabinet makers situated in Warminster, Wiltshire.

We are specialist cabinet makers, joiners and furniture makers.

The company was started in 1979 by Richard Horner who retired 10 years ago, since then master cabinet maker Paul Roberts has taken over the running of the business.

team of 5 skilled cabinet makers and

own installation team.

Horner Roberts

Essential upgrades you can make now for a cosier, more efficient season

As the warmth of summer fades and the chill of autumn begins to settle in, many of us are getting ready to spend more time in our hopefully cosy, energy‐efficient homes. With an especially cold start to the season, October presents the perfect moment to step back and think about how we can insulate ourselves—both literally and financially—against the winter ahead.

Autumn is the perfect time to be thinking about energy efficiency improvements. It’s cool enough to notice any inefficiencies in your home’s insulation, yet mild enough to address them without too much disruption. Contractors are typically less busy now than in the thick of winter, meaning you caan get the work done promptly, avoiding long waits during the colder months.

Why Insulation Matters More than Ever

Many of us overlook insulation when planning home improvements, focusing instead on more visible or immediate fixes. Yet insulation is one of the most effective ways to improve energy efficiency, reduce heating costs, and create a comfortable living environment. Without proper insulation, the heat you're paying for could be slipping out through your walls, loft, or even floors, leaving your heating system working overtime to keep you warm.

The loft is one of the most common culprits for heat loss. Since heat rises, without proper loft insulation, a significant portion of your home's warmth can escape through the roof. By topping up or adding insulation in the loft, you can make an immediate improvement, helping your home retain much more heat.

Walls are another major source of heat loss. If your home has cavity walls, filling them with insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to enhance energy efficiency. There are various grants available to help cover the costs, making this upgrade even more affordable. For homes with solid walls, insulation options exist that can dramatically reduce heat loss, ensuring your home stays warmer for longer without placing undue pressure on your heating system.

Draughts around windows, doors, and floorboards are also a common source of discomfort. Sealing these gaps, known as draughtproofing, can make a noticeable difference in the warmth and comfort of your home. While it may seem like a small measure, it’s one of the most straightforward and inexpensive tasks you can undertake, with immediate payoffs in terms of comfort and energy savings.

Addressing these key areas of insulation now, before winter fully sets in, means you’ll not only enjoy a more comfortable home but also significantly lower energy bills. In a time of rising energy prices, this can have a significant impact on your bills. Plus, reducing your energy usage also lowers your carbon footprint, contributing to a more sustainable future—something we’re all increasingly aware of.

Heat Pumps: The Smart Heating Solution

Insulating your home is a great first step, but to truly maximise energy efficiency, consider upgrading to a heat pump. As a highly efficient alternative to traditional gas boilers, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from the outside into your home, even in colder weather (think of a fridge in reverse).

There are a couple of available government grants you can take advantage of designed to help homeowners adopt more energy-efficient heating systems. With the UK’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, heat pumps are set to play a major role in heating homes in the future. This technology is already widespread in Europe. By moving over to a heat pump, you’ll be ahead of the curve and prepared for forecasted changes in energy policy.

By improving your insulation and considering a heat pump this autumn, you’re not only preparing your home for the coming winter but also investing in long-term savings, comfort, and sustainability. Start planning now and enjoy the benefits of a more efficient and cosy home all year round.

If you’re considering making energy efficiency improvements and don’t know where to start you can contact Retrofit West. Retrofit West are a community interest company funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to help householders plan, design, and deliver energy-efficient and sustainable home improvements. You can contact their free advice service or use their free home plan builder at retrofitwest.co.uk.

This is an elegant Grade 1 listed Georgian town house of fine proportions and having been sympathetically divided into 15 beautiful apartments. Apartment 5 is on the ground floor and is positioned beautifully to the rear. This exquisite apartment was the former billiard room for number 14 and has retained the most breath-taking period detail which includes 17 original cartouches, intricate cornicing and beading detail along with a handsome period fireplace and working shutters.

The property is entered through a generous hallway with plenty of built-in storage and easy access to loft space. The main living space is to the rear and benefits from enjoying a fine and quiet aspect overlooking the garden. This beautiful open plan space has a large bow window with three original sashes with working shutters and a handsome period fireplace. To the rear there is a well-equipped hand painted Shaker style kitchen and a well-appointed bath and shower room. Accessed from the living space there is a rear lobby with a large built-in utility cupboard that houses the washing machine, boiler and hot water tank. To the rear, accessed from the lobby there is a pretty, sheltered parterre walled garden, with a wealth of mature shrubs and trees.

Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, The Circus, Bath; Tel: 01225 333332 37 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; Tel: 01225 866111

Royal Crescent, Bath

• Exquisite ground floor apartment

• Wealth of breath-taking period detail

• Well equiped Shaker style kitchen

• Handsome period fireplace

• Beautiful walled garden

Price: £750,000

£1,100,000

An individual and meticulously designed barn occupying an idyllic location and affording a picturesque countryside vista, finished to a superb standard.

• Thoughtfully designed barn conversion

• 4 bedrooms

• Self contained 1 bedroom annex

• En suite facilities

• Rolling countryside views

• Ample parking with gated driveway

Farleigh Hungerford, Bath

Wellsway, Bath

£795,000

A beautifully appointed, sympathetically extended 3 bedroom bungalow with stunning terraced gardens enjoying wonderful farreaching elevated views, located in a popular residential area close to excellent local amenities and Bath city centre.

• 3 double bedroom, 3 lovely bathrooms & living room

• Contemporary open kitchen, dining and family room

• Attractive entrance lobby

• Stunning terraced gardens with wonderful far-reaching views

• Double garage

01225 333332 | 01225 866111

Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire

Leigh Road, Bradford on Avon

Tutton Hill, Colerne -

Affordable new homes in Lansdown, Bath

Pemberley Place offers luxury one and two bedroom apartments at the heart of a beautiful community set amongst a historic countryside overlooking the elegance of Georgian Bath.

Thoughtfully designed with the needs and desires of those over 55 in mind, the development blends locally quarried stone with smart contemporary materials, finishes, and features to create secure and energy efficient homes that offer all the comfort and amenities you need for flexibility and reassurance for later life.

Our residents enjoy the gorgeous lounge area with a cafe, hair salon and our awardwinning BeWell 360 service that keeps them fit and healthy. You can also venture into the vast, well-maintained gardens and outdoor spaces for a breath of fresh air.

Here’s what the family of one of our residents had to say:

“Anchor has been very professional, patient and efficient. As a team, you are very contactable, knowledgeable and always responds to any queries... you made the housemoving process clear and supported us every step of the way.”

“It has only been a week, but I have a feeling it is one of the best decisions made... Dad is loving being there... Each day he seems to do something new onsite – lunch in the Bistro, coffee with other residents, football in the lounge, invites to walks and chatting with the wellness nurse. We really do appreciate all you have done.”

Shared Ownership with Anchor lets you buy a percentage of the property between 25–75% that can be funded by savings, pension or equity from the sale of an existing home. You will then pay a subsidised rent on the remaining share*, or simply purchase the maximum 75% share and pay no rent on the remaining share.

Buy a 75% share with no rent payable from:

£298,125 for one bedroom apartment

£358,125 for two bedroom apartment

Exclusively for the over 55s.

*Rent at 2.75% is payable on remaining share, where 75% or less is purchased.

New Instruction

Weston Road, Bath

Offers in excess of £3,000,000

An exceptional, Grade II Listed, Victorian semi-detached, 7 bedroom residence with versatile accommodation of over 4,500 sq ft, mainly over two floors, attractive period features throughout, gardens, ample parking and garage. Tax Band G. EPC Rating: Listed property

Peter Greatorex Sarah White Sophie Clesham Managing Director Senior Operations Sales Negotiator Co-ordinator

Chilcote, Wells

Offers in excess of £1,500,000

An imposing 5 bedroom Manor house in the Gothic Revival style, with a plot of 2/3 acre with beautiful gardens, stone outbuildings and breathtaking view towards Wells and the Quantock Hills. Tax Band G. EPC Rating E

The Street, Ubley

Offers in excess of £1,050,000

A beautifully presented 4/5 bedroom, energy efficient and contemporary styled family home, offering versatile accommodation in surrounding landscaped gardens of 1/3 acre, enjoying rural views. NO CHAIN. Tax Band G. EPC Rating B

Peter Greatorex Sarah White Sophie Clesham Managing Director

Negotiator Co-ordinator