The Bath Magazine July 2024 by MC Publishing Limited

Meet

38 A R T S & E X H I B I T I O N S

A round-up of the great art on display in our local galleries 42 A K I M O N O S TO RY

An exhibition at MEAA sheds light on this c lassic garment

44 PAG E - T U R N E R S & D I A RY DAT E S

Discover fresh reads and engage with archeology and butterﬂies

46 F O O D & D R I N K

Orange wine and strawberries, scrummy news, and our new Delicious Guide with local food and hospitality experts

68 O LYM P I C D R E A M S

University of Bath Rowing Club’s Becky Wilde is off to Paris

72 B AT H B E E S & B E E K E E P E R S

W hy are bees special? Charlotte and Shaun Prescott explain

74 T H E WA L K

Andrew Swift brings us a walk in a remote part of the Cotswolds

76 G E O R G I A N CO N T E M P O R A RY

Clair Strong on creating modern homes from Georgian spaces

82 G A R D E N S

Jessica Stokes shares the wonders of the Cosmos ﬂower

the gardens of the Holburne with drama and antics (deckchairs provided)

Did you know that the ar tichoke is an unbloomed flower, par t of the sunflower family, from the Mediterranean and the Canar y Islands?

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F

O R

Puppetr y, which means the giving of life to inanimate objects, is an ancient form of theatre first recorded in the 5th centur y BC in Ancient Greece It ’ s still a highly creative and expressive force within theatre and other forms of media, reinvigorated by productions such as War Horse and more recently Life of Pi Local puppeteer Hannah Southfield told me that a puppet can be made of anything, but to be convincing it needs to have movement and breath and a point of focus Turn to page 28 to find Batari the Asian elephant, a winged horse and a luminous serpent powered by six puppeteers Hannah is also creative director of Bath Carnival, which comes to Bath on Saturday 13 July.

So we ’ re embracing the feel-good outdoors this month (despite the uncertain temperatures) First up we hail the return of The Garden Theatre Company to the grounds of the Holburne Museum with a programme of high-spirited, family orientated productions ranging from Sherlock Holmes to Shakespeare, this year incorporating a covered area to settle your deckchairs under (see page 34)

We also talk to two members of the Bath Beekeeping Association on page 72 who tell the stor y of the honey bee, learning about its lifecycle, how a typical colony contains a minimum of 35,000 bees, and how the success of our plants and global crops depends on them as pollinators. You can also find out how you can get involved in beekeeping. Then garden designer Jessica Stokes is celebrating the power of the Cosmos flower on page 82 (which bees love!), in all the summer glor y of its bright shades of pinks, reds, yellow and white

There is more outdoors on page 68 with an inter view with Becky Wilde, one of the Olympic rowing athletes who has qualified for a women ’ s double scull space for Team GB and is heading to Paris in July

This month also sees our new Delicious Guide, welcoming you into an enticing (and lipsmacking) local celebration of all things food and drink See page 50

As ever we ’ ve striven to give a good point of focus to July in our city – and hope we ’ ve brought the month fully to life for you!

Welcoming the new Mayor

In the recent annual Mayor Mak ing Ceremony at Bath Abbey Councillor Michelle O'Doher ty was formally appointed, tak ing on the historic role as the 797th Mayor of Bath

In her inaugural speech, the new Mayor said: “I am looking forward to maintaining the tradition of working with and celebrating the many diverse communities in our city. Bath is a small city with a big heart; I love the strong sense of community, people really do look out for one another here My partner, Christopher Godfrey, will be my Consort for the year

“My theme for this year will be ‘Bath – a home for ever yone’, and I would like to highlight the plight of those in our community for whom life is not easy, par ticularly those who are homeless. Bath is an incredibly special place, but it is not

without its challenges; there are many people who live here who are struggling to make ends meet and who maybe live in insecure housing, or even do not have a home at all – it is to them that I dedicate my year in O ﬃce ” mayorofbath co uk

The Bath Magazine 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED; 01225 424499

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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

City updates

BECKFORD’S TOWER REOP ENS

Beckford’s Tower and Museum is now open following a £3.9million refurbishment funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other public and private funders. The project, which began in October 2022, has gone beyond essential repairs to encompass reimagining the museum and creating new interpretation, installing renewable energy sources, plus a full excavation of a hidden grotto, which visitors can now experience for the first time

New displays showcase pieces from Beckford’s collections, including furniture, design objects, and fine art. Fundamental to the project has been bringing the story of William Beckford’s complex and controversial life to a wider audience Beckford’s wealth came from his ownership of sugar plantations in Jamaica and the transatlantic traﬃcking of enslaved people This wealth gave Beckford immense privilege and power, which he used to collect and commission precious art and objects, and to create influential buildings and landscapes These themes are addressed in the tower ’s new exhibition spaces beckfordstower org uk

A NEW GALLERY FOR THE HOLBURNE

The Holburne Museum is embark ing on a significant redevelopment, creating a new galler y on the lower ground floor, with an investment of £2.5 million, to display Renaissance treasures on permanent loan to the museum from the Schroder family collec tion

With plans by Eric Parr y, the architect responsible for the Holburne’s modern extension, the work involves conver ting archive and picture stores on the lower ground floor into a new galler y underneath the 2011 extension. The new space will house one of the finest private collections of silver ware in the countr y, as well as paintings, bronzes, maiolica and gems, which will be on long-term loan Highlights include The Schwarzenberg Nef, The Baldewein Mechanical Celestial Globe and paintings by ar tists such as Lucas Cranach the Younger and Hans Holbein the Elder The works have been oﬀered to the Holburne from the Estate of late British banker Bruno Schroder by his daughter Leonie holburne org

RUGBY STARS

Bath Rugby star, Will Muir, has helped to make dreams come true for a remarkable mixed ability rugby player from Somerset with a surprise visit to Morgan’s rugby team, the Walcot Warriors

It’s not every day you meet your heroes but for Morgan Lidster and his Walcot Warriors teammates, their weekly training session was turned on its head when the England international swapped The Rec to join drills with a diﬀerence at the south west’s first mixed ability rugby club. The winger turned out to celebrate the achievements of Morgan, 21, who last season was crowned Premiership Rugby ’s Ambassador of the Year Morgan has Down’s Syndrome and has been inspiring others to give rugby a try after joining Walcot Warriors and discovering a new-found confidence in his social and physical abilities Morgan said: “ That was the best rugby training session ever Will is a great guy and one of my favourite players.” walcotwarriors.com; bathrugby.com

T H E Q UEEN AND WESTONBI RT

Her Majest y The Q ueen has announced her patronage of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum The charit y based at Westonbirt Arboretum works in partnership with Forestr y England to protect and conser ve the 600 acres and 15,000 trees for people to enjoy

Emma Griﬃths, CEO of The Friends, expressed her gratitude: "Her Majest y ' s continued support will amplify our eﬀorts to raise awareness about our vital conser vation work and secure future funding for the Arboretum." The Friends have recently awarded the arboretum with funds to update and replace the fleet of mobilit y scooters and wheelchairs, thereby enhancing accessibilit y for all visitors Funds have also been raised to establish a communit y wood land at the arboretum with 600 individuals from local schools and communit y groups already planting 3,300 trees over the winter months forestr yengland uk/westonbir t

Photograph by Casper Farrell

The Schwarzenberg Nef

5 things to do

Hang out at the beach (yes, really)

Bath on the Beach is the ultimate summer hangout spot with the largest outdoor beer garden in the city

Just walk in and choose deckchairs, picnic tables, or bean bags – you can even hire your own cabana. Beach games include bean bag toss, table tennis, pétanque and giant Jenga. Bath on the Beach will be open until 11 August and the invitation includes well behaved dogs! Mon–Sun 10am –10 30pm Bath on the Beach, Royal Pavilion, Royal Avenue, Bath; bathonthebeach co uk

Tune into Brahms, Bizet & Svendsen

The Bath Concertino concert programme on 6 July features Brahms’ Piano concerto No 1, Biz et Symphony in C and S vendsen’s Romance for V iolin Pianist Brenda McDermott and conductors T im Robb and Linda S tocks Entr y by programme on the door, £10 cash only Proceeds to Dorothy House S t Luke ’ s Church, T he Wel lsway, Bath, 6 Jul y, 7.30pm–10pm; stlukesbath.com/events

Join the Carnival

Saturday 13 July brings the annual Bath Carnival to the cit y. The Carnival event, which star ts at the Bath Rec at 3pm and runs until 5.30pm, brings drumming bands, dancers, fantastic costumes, giant puppets, sound systems, ecofloats, as well as schools and communit y groups to the streets You can also visit Par t y in the Park at Sydney G ardens from 10am–10pm, with live bands, DJs, food and drink , licensed bars, walk about ac ts, a Super Pirates Play Area and a Communit y Village. Free entr y. There is also an official af terpar t y at Komedia, from 11pm until late. bathcarnival.co.uk

Listen to a four-piece concer t

The Amadeus O rchestra are per forming a four-piece concer t at W iltshire Music Centre on 18 Jul y The pieces are S lalom by Car ter Pann (a dazzling and visceral downhill spr int), R achmaninov ’ s P iano Concer t No 2 (widel y descr ibed as the greatest piano concer to e ver w r itten), Br itten’s Four S ea Inter ludes (from Benjamin Br itten’s first successful opera, Peter Gr imes) and Br itten’s Young Person’s G uide to the O rchestra Conductor P hilip Mac kenzie and piano K asparas Mikužis T ic kets £28/£15 students/£3 U18s W iltshire Music Centre, 18 Jul y, 7pm. amadeusorchestra.co.uk

Get bookish

The Bath Book Fair on 26–27 July at Bath Pavilion is a chance for bibliophiles, collec tors and enthusiasts to peruse books from 90 different professional booksellers. Organised by The Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association, you’ll find an ex traordinar y range of books from the rare antiquarian to recent modern publications and rarities covering all subjec ts Prices star t at just a few pounds Entr y £2 Friday 26 July and Saturday 27 July, 12 noon–7pm. M ore information and complimentar y tickets from Bath Old Books, M argarets Buildings. 01225 422244. Bath Book Fair, The Pavilion, Nor th Parade Road.

Photo by Casper Ferrall

Bath proﬁle

SCOT T THOMAS EANES

Californian born Scott Thomas Eanes is a marine scientist sea turtle devotee and property developer. His encounters with the beautiful Hawksbill turtles have made him determined to protect and preser ve them

W here is your homeland? I am originally from the great state of California I met my wife, who is from W iltshire, while managing a leatherback sea turtle monitoring programme in Grenada We were living on S t Thomas in the US V irgin Islands in the Caribbean but moved to the UK after two devastating hurricanes wreaked havoc

W hat is your favourite spot in Bath? It ’ s the Recreation Ground area, a lovely bit of green space surrounded by beautiful Georgian architecture with a splash of Bath Rugby Can’t beat it

What is your background? I have a Master of Marine and Environmental Science from the University of the V irgin Islands My specific passion is for sea turtles and I have been in sea turtle conser vation for 20 years I have conducted sea turtle research in locations such as South Texas, Grenada, Carriacou, and Barbados

Tell us about your property business. I moved to the UK in 2019 and was told that “this is the worst time in histor y to look for a job” Covid then shut down the countr y My brother-in-law, Jamie Miller, presented a development idea, and by June 2020 we had started Clean Break Properties O ur company has a portfolio of 20+ Bath flats and houses A portion of our profits go the conser vation of hawksbill sea turtles

How did you first become interested in turtles? I took a trip to the Great Barrier Reef in 2002. W hile snorkelling a friend tugged my fins and I looked to the left. There was a green sea turtle and my brain said to me “that is the coolest thing you have ever seen, let ’ s do that ”

The focus on hawksbill sea turtles came later The Cyril E King runway on the island of St Thomas is an artificial marine reef The original runway was flush with natural coastline – the extension project buried a natural fringing reef and extended and widened the runway to its current state at about 7,000 feet in length The Army Corp of Engineers used tons of

rock rubble, granite boulders, and large concrete dolos (used to dissipate wave energ y) This created six hectares of artificial marine reef, which has become a crucial habitat for critically endangered juvenile Caribbean hawksbill turtles The construction of the artificial reef created an extremely rugose habitat that hawksbill turtles love

W hy are Hawksbill turtles endangered? Hawksbill turtles are a tropical species, and they are the sea turtle species most associated with coral reef ecosystems They are critically endangered, so there is the real possibility of extinction This is primarily due to their beautiful shell (called Bekko) that has been made into jeweller y for centuries They are also har vested for their meat and eggs

I see that these turtles are vital to keep our coral reefs healthy Globally, coral reefs are having a tough time. The presence or absence of Hawksbills is a ver y good indicator of the health of a reef ecosystem. They primarily eat sponges, which compete with corals for space within the reef ecosystem Hawksbills make space for corals If we have more hawksbills, we get more corals, and less sponges The reefs are heather and happier

I hear that 15 turtles have been named after Bath Rugby ’ s First XV Are these turtles like any of their namesakes?

I am an enormous Bath Rugby fan and so I had the idea to combine sports with conser vation. Of the 17 hawksbill turtles we documented in the island of St John in the US V irgin Islands, 15 are named after Bath Rugby players. Beno Obano and W ill Stuart are big boys. Likewise, Ben Spencer and Tom De Glanville are on the smaller side, although Ben Spencer was ver y feisty So, not spot on, but not far oﬀ

W hat can people do to help protect these turtles? Donate I know this might not be the answer most people wanted but it is true

Do you have other causes close to your heart? Hedgehogs. I want to get into hedgehog conser vation because we don’t have them in the States. I saw my first wild hedgehog in 2016 and I just want to help them.

W hat were your dreams when you were younger? A baseball player, but I never really got close In 2002, I saw a sea turtle and since then life has been a journey thehawksbillproject co uk

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Notes on a

s m a l l c i t y

This month Richard Wyatt bids our magazine farewell as a columnist as he celebrates his 75th birthday. We thank him for all his contributions and feel secure in the knowledge that this ever-present and respected Bath commentator will still be regularly airing his opinions.

My zodiac sign is Leo and I have ever y reason to roar like a lion this month My birthday is oﬃcially marked on 25 July And, wait for it – it ’ s my 75th!

Three quarters of a centur y of existence is a pretty fair milestone, I suppose, in human terms, although I cannot believe I have lived through that number of years. I remember as a child obser ving my septuagenarian grandmothers and mar velling at how anyone could look so grey and wrinkled but still have the strength to compete against each other in grabbing me for a bearhug!

I know I am fortunate enough to enjoy fairly good health, although life has a habit of springing surprises when you are least expecting them. There I was in SouthGate shopping centre exploring the aisles of Boots the Chemist when a ver y polite and pleasant pharmacist asked me if I wanted to take advantage of the free blood-pressure tests they were oﬀering their customers I should have known it was a mistake to say yes She took the best of three readings on each arm and, in my case, results on the left arm – where the blood vessels are closer to the heart – were cause for concern.

The fact I had just 20 minutes before enjoyed a cup of strong black coffee at Rosarios did mean that caffeine was producing a false reading So I agreed to come back and forgo any of that delicious mood-lifting substance until after my blood pressure levels had been tested Such a sacrifice made no difference when it came to my subsequent readings – apart from making me ‘cold turkey ’ tetchy

Results were sent on to my doctor’s practice and I now know that these were not too concerning I have deliberately slimmed down a bit and as a vegetarian eat pretty healthy and non-processed food, but I have now decided to explore ‘decaf ’ However it ’ s going to be a long journey finding something that tastes remotely like strong, black Italian coﬀee

Where have the years gone? At the age of 25, 50 years ago, I was a couple of years into my job as a television journalist with HTV West. Two years after that it nearly all came to an end when I was hit by a low flying aircraft A lucky escape that I can re-live at any time on YouTube where the 1976 recording has notched up 1 2 million viewers

W hile my health holds, and I can still balance safely on a bicycle, I have resolved to try and reduce my stress levels where I can. With my bathnewseum.com blog and a growing number of podcasts under my belt I have decided that this will be my last monthly column for The Bath Magazine It ’ s been fun meeting deadlines, but enough is enough

My editor Emma sent me a copy of the first article I had published back in November 2019 I had recently turned 70 and my inaugural column was funnily enough all about me having a health ‘MOT ’ at the doctors. I had cheered myself up – while writing about the experience – by exploring Google and finding an article which said that based on recent research you are now considered middle-aged until you reach 74 That doesn’t make such good reading now I have crossed the line!

Now I don’t have to meet target dates for my ramblings I shall have more freedom to explore

“It’s going to be a long journey finding something that tastes remotely like strong black Italian coffee”

at my own pace some of the local issues I like to showcase on my blog. Maybe I should consider new responsibilities, like appointing myself Bath ‘Heritage Champion’ as I can’t seem to find a B&NES councillor willing to take on this general watchdog responsibility

As I write this, the steps of the Guildhall remain ungrouted, a second plaque acknowledging our second World Heritage UNESCO inscription has failed to materialise and the city ’ s Bath and Britain in Bloom floral fame continues to be threatened by a plague of plastic petals adorning shops and other businesses tr ying to attract customers rather than bees

I have been calling Bath home for 14 years now and I can think of no better place to watch the sun set. By that I mean daily. I am hoping my final one is still some way oﬀ ! In the meantime, keep enjoying this magazine and do check in to see what I am up to from time to time If you ’ re sharing this birthday month with me, then happy birthday to you too! n

Richard Wyatt r uns the Bath Newseum blog: bathnewseum com

Richard Wyatt circa 1974

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Portrait of Bath

Nicola Beauman, founder of Persephone Books

Nicola Beauman’s company Persephone Books celebrates mid-20th century women writers These books, in their classic mid-grey designs, make available engrossing stories that might otherwise have been lost.

For the company ’ s founder, Persephone Books arose out of years of her being at home with small children, this allowing her time to rediscover 20th-centur y women writers, to buy books for 20p or go to the London Librar y and come home with an armful of forgotten titles

Persephone Books – the name chosen as a symbol of female creativity and of new beginnings – published its first title in the spring of 1999. Nicola’s original concept was to re-print a handful of ‘ lost ’ or out-of-print books ever y year, most of them inter war novels by women Starting in a basement oﬃce in Clerkenwell, Persephone moved to Bloomsbur y three years later, opening its first shop there too; in 2021, the whole business moved to Bath

“Persephone books are all grey because – well – we really like grey ” , says Nicola “ We also had a vision of a woman who comes home tired from work, and there is a book waiting for her, and it doesn’t matter what it looks like because she knows she will enjoy it. O ur books look beautiful because we believe that, whether they are on an oﬃce desk or hanging in a bag over the handles of a pram, it is important to take pleasure from how they look and feel ” Nicola was brought up in L ondon and read English at Newnham College, Cambridge Her 1983 book A Ver y Great P rofession: The Woman’s Novel, 1914-1938, a mixture of literar y criticism and social histor y, has been an important source for many of Persephone Books’ titles This book was also significant for its focus on women ’ s ever yday lives, an element that runs through the company ’ s published titles. However the characters are not categorically limited by domesticity, of ten having careers or non-traditional interests

Other publications are unearthed in various ways: someone bringing one into the oﬃce; finding out about a book in a publisher ’ s advertisement at the back of another title; coming across one in a secondhand bookshop or a librar y ; and realising that a volume of c lassic quality was unaccountably not in print The books mostly date from the mid-20th centur y, explains Nicola, because this was an age of quality writing by of ten welleducated women where society was not yet ready to allow them to work outside the home: writing in this way gave them a voice

Persephone Books, 8 Edgar Buildings, Bath BA1 2EE

Por trait by Joe Shor t. Joe is an award-winning photog rapher based in Bath. joeshor t.com

1 1 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AY

Wed-Fri 10 00 - 4 30pm | Sat 10 00 - 1 00pm (by appointment only)

Tel/Fax: 01225 464013 www.nigeldando.co.uk

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 greenparkbrasserie.com

PANE E VINO SUPPER CLUBS

n Pane e V ino, 5/6 St James Street, Bath

Pane e V ino is open ever y Saturday evening for intimate and delicious cand lelit dinners

Chef Darix prepares three-course set menus that change weekly and are priced according on what's on oﬀer – inc luding coﬀee and limoncello, prices can range between £34–£45 per person. Book by calling 01225 698063 as the dining room only seats 22 people and places go fast For more information and menus follow Instagram @panevinobath, or pop in for a chat

AMERICAN ROAD TRIP EXHIBITION

Until 31 December

n The American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Down

The American Museum & Gardens celebrates an epic journey through the diversity of American landscapes, histor y and culture in a family friend ly exhibition American Road Trip presents the origins and stories behind the cultural phenomenon, and transports us thousands of miles on the ultimate journey of discover y along Route 66 and beyond. americanmuseum.org

BATH AT wAR SERIES

1, 8 and 15 July

n BRLSI, 16 Queen Square/livestream

Three talks about Bath at War on three consecutive Mondays, focusing on how the city fared and adapted during WWII Making War – Manufacturing for the War Economy (1 July), The Bath Blitz (8 July), The Admiralty in Bath (15 July) brlsi org

S H A KES P E A RE LI V E: M AC B E T H

1-6 Jul y, 10 30pm

n Cleeve House, Seend, W iltshire SN12 6PG

Manipulated by ancient, stone-hearted creatures, the brave Macbeth is driven to dark deeds Haunted by their consciences, isolated and friend less, Macbeth and his wife spiral down into despair and madness A talented cast directed by John JamesonDavis, supported by original music, sound, lighting eﬀects and puppetr y shakespearelive.com

PLAYER KINGS

3–6 July, weds and Fri 7pm, Thurs 2.30pm, Sat 1pm

n Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol

Bringing together Shakespeare's two great histor y plays (Henr y IV, parts 1 and 2) into the theatrical event of the season, Player Kings stars Sir Ian McKellen as Falstaﬀ, Toheeb Jimoh as Hal and Richard Coyle as Henr y. atgtickets.com

B AT TO U R

3 Jul y, 10.30pm

n Dorothy House, W insle y Join local bat enthusiast, Richard Mann, who will have a bat detector to help hear the local bats He will also share fascinating facts about the bats There is no need to book a place on the tour – just meet outside Dorothy House Hospice Care reception at 9:30pm. dorothyhouse.org.uk

C H I NA, G E O P O LI T I C S & O U R wO RLD

4 Jul y, 10.30am–11.30am

n T he Pavilion, Nor th Parade Road

L ecture by George Magnus, author, economist and commentator, as well as an Associate at the China Centre, O xford Universit y. Doors open at 9.45am for coﬀee. Free for members, and a donation of £2 for non-members. u3ainbath.uk

Shakespeare Live: Macbeth

Player Kings at Bristol Hippodrome

China, Geopolitics and our World, lec ture at the Pavilion

TUESDAYS@1 ORGAN RECITALS

4, 11, 25 July, 1pm–1.45pm n Bath Abbey

Ever y Tuesday lunchtime at 1pm Bath Abbey welcomes an organist to perform in Bath Abbey on the magnificent Klais Organ.

4 July : Gar y Desmond; 11 July : Michael Stoddart; 25 July : Emma Gibbins. bathabbey.org

I F O RD S U P P ER C LU B S: S I X

CO U RS E TA S T I N G M EN U

5 and 19 Jul y, 7.30pm–10.30pm n Iford Manor, Iford, Bradford-on-Avon Book your table for a fantastic foodie experience, with expertly craf ted food and drink largely sourced and made on the Iford Manor Estate Arrive from 7 30pm, with dinner at 8pm Seating is at tables according to your booking. 10.30pm finish. £65pp (tasting menu, welcome drink, tea and coﬀee and live music). ifordmanor.dig itickets.co.uk

H I N TO N C H A RT ERH O U S E

A N N UA L V I LLAG E F E T E

6 July, 1pm–5pm, plus evening party 7pm–10pm n Millennium Green, Hinton Char terhouse The fete inc ludes a dog show, brass band,

var ious children’s e vents, stalls and af ternoon teas in a r ural setting. The e vening par t y inc ludes music by The Clones. All are welcome to this village e vent which is sponsored by Home wood

B AT H B AC H C H O I R: LAU DAT E!

6 Jul y, 7.30pm

n Bath Abbey

An exciting and inspir ing e vening of orchestral and choral music by J S Bach and Mar ianna Mar tines The choir will be joined by the vir tuoso Geldar t Ensemble to per form Bach’s Magnif icat in D major, marking the 300th anniversar y of the first per formance of this splendid work. bathbachchoir org uk

A LL - A M ERI CA N S U M M ER PA RT Y

7 Jul y, 10am–5pm

n The American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Down

Join a fun day out celebrating American Independence Day with a backdrop of stunning views across the museum’s award-winning gardens Enjoy an exciting range of live music including country music star, Taynee Lord, Ragtime guitar wizard, Merlin Smith, 5-string banjo trio

Leon Hunt, Samuel Taylor and country line dancing by Blazing Saddles Plus KidzFun zone, lawn games and living history character, Mrs Conkey Free entry for members. amer ic anmuseum.org

B I O P H I LI C B AT H – T H E G REEN

C I T Y YO U S EE

From 10 Jul y, until S eptember

n T he Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, T he Paragon, T he V ine yards, Bath

A ne w exhibition from the Museum of Bath

Architecture presents creative visions for engaging with nature in ur ban areas It will

feature designs by innovative architects, engineers, and designers, which show future ‘ biophilic ’ visions of the cit y S tandard museum entr y A var iet y of radic al ideas to inspire the future sustainabilit y and c limate resilience of the cit y. Weds to S at, 10am4pm. museumofbatharchitecture.org.uk

G A RD EN G RO OV ES

12 Jul y, 5 30pm–9pm n The American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Down

An e vening of music and Amer ic an-inspired food and dr ink. Choose from an array of light supper and refreshing dr inks options at the Amer ic an Garden Deli. amer ic anmuseum.org

S W EE T P E A A RT WO RKS H O P

13 Jul y, 10am–4pm n Caisson House, Combe Hay, BA2 7EF

An ‘ ar t from the garden’ workshop, celebrating the sweet pea, led by gardener and ar tist Jac ky Mills. L unch and af ternoon tea inc luded. £120. caissongardens.com/events

A N EV EN I N G W I T H PAU L J O N ES

A N D F I O NA H EN D LE Y J O N ES

14 Jul y, 7 30pm n Bath For um

Hear how faith in God has changed the lives of Paul and F iona – a power ful, humorous and inspir ing stor y in word and song Free, but booking required Email mark@marklloydbottom.com; tel 07593 722559.

B AT H CO M ED Y P RES EN T S: ED I N B U RG H P REV I EWS F ES T I VA L 14–25 Jul y n Nowhere, (on the L ower Br istol Road

Tom Rosenthal at Edinburgh Previews at Bath Comedy

Nick Dw yer as Sweeney Todd

Biophilic Bath at The Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel

and Upstairs @ Bath P izz a Co (above Green Park Brasser ie)

The festival showcases a selection of shows from some of the most talented comedians in the UK, oﬀering audiences a sneak peek at the latest material from established and upand-coming stars before they hit the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Featured artists: Adam F lood, Tom Rosenthal, Robin Morgan, Steve Hughes, Dr Phil Hammond, Dan T iernan, Graham Dickson, T iﬀ Stevenson, Abi Clarke, Andrew O'Neill, Horatio Gould, F inlay Christie, Nate Kitch, Stella Graham, Javier Jarquin, Dave Chawner, Arthur Smith and Phil Nice. bathcomedy.com

ALDRI D GE’S OF BAT H AUCT ION 16 July, 10am (viewing Sat 13 July) n Online

F ine art and antiques sale, inc luding silver, jeweller y, ceramics and glass, oil paintings, watercolours and prints, European and Asian works-of-art, c locks, rugs, antique and later furniture and furnishings. aldr idgesofbath.com

BEH I ND T H E SCENES AT I FORD

WI T H H EAD GARDENER ST EVE

LANNI N

19 July, 10am-12pm

n Iford Manor, Iford, Bradford-on-Avon

Head Gardener Steve Lannin will lead this special visit to the gardens at Iford. Discover and learn about future plans for the garden, key gardening jobs to undertake at this time of year, top gardening tips for your own garden and identify and discuss various plants of interest in flower £25, inc luding tea or coﬀee ifordmanor dig itickets co uk

S W EEN E Y TO D D: A V I C TO RI A N

M ELO D RA M A

23–27 July, Tues–Sat 7 30pm; Thurs/Sat 2 30pm

n T heatre Royal Bath, Saw C lose, Bath

Opera della Luna recreate the original melodramatic production of Sweeney Todd, restoring the musical element of sensational stor y telling with an orchestra of eleven musicians, and music penned by British opera composers of the V ictorian age T ickets from £24 50 theatreroyal.org.uk

COX & KI N G S I N F O S ES S I O N

25 Jul y, 2 30pm

n Miles Morgan Travel, 8-9 Ne w Bond S treet P lace, Bath

Join Mar ie and her team in Bath as they welcome Br yony Boulter from Cox & Kings Established in 1758, Cox & Kings specialise in taking travellers, in comfor t, to places offthe-beaten-path and outside the realms of many other operators on their small group tours for a more personalised exper ience Availabilit y is limited so reser ve your space by emailing bath@milesmorg antravel.co.uk or c all 01225 486800.

B A LLE T U N D ER T H E S TA RS

25–28 Jul y, 5 30pm-11 55pm

n Hatch House, West Hatch, Salisbur y, W iltshire SP3 6PA

O ver four e venings, enjoy wor ld c lass ballet, three-course gourmet dining and coc ktails. Three sections of dance each inc lude four works, with c lassic al, neo-c lassic al and contemporar y works, with dancers from companies such as The Royal Ballet, Par is Opera Ballet, S taatsballett Ber lin and Bejar t Ballet The 17th-centur y walled D utch

garden at Hatch House is covered to create a magic al covered dinner theatre T ic kets from £185 inc luding three-course dinner with wine Book by emailing e vents@coventgardendance com coventgardendance.com

DAN WHITEHOUSE – A NIGHT OF GLASS

26 July

Chapel Arts, St James’s Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, Bath

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dan W hitehouse has gathered together songs and stories for ‘A Night Of Glass’, a simple but hypnotic live experience. Variously behind a piano or on guitar, Dan takes audiences deep into the heart of glass in its myriad manifestations, his expressively nuanced cr ystalline vocals, a hint of Bowie here, a touch of Cohen there, eﬀortlessly mining a wealth of emotions and ideas This is where the light gets in chapelar ts org

AQ UA S A NA I N T H E RO O F TO P

P O O L

31 Jul y, 8am

n Thermae Bath Spa, Hot Bath Street, Bath

Explore mind, body and soul with exper t teacher Bex Br idg ford for a morning of Aquasana in the Roof top Pool followed by a Thermae Welcome 2-hour spa session Aquasana inc ludes c lassic yoga postures combined with gentle tai chi and invigorating karate moves in the spa ’ s mineral-enr iched waters This c lass harnesses the healing proper ties of the waters, leaving you feeling c leansed, rejuvenated and grounded £50 eventbr ite co uk

Ballet Under the Stars at Hatch House

Dan Whitehouse at Chapel Ar ts

Edinburgh previews

Komedia are running a series of Edinburgh Previews from 7–30 July, with each night oﬀering a comedy double bill It’s the best way of uncovering the best up and coming comedy talent before the comedians head to the big stages. Comedian Katie Norris, who is appearing in Bath on 21 July, shared some insights with us...

‘Farm Fatale’ is my debut solo hour at Edinburgh Festival! I aim to seduce my audience with songs, stand-up and tales of my life as a modern mid-30s, single woman and of the most challenging period of my life – when my cat Atticus went missing only to be found, unoﬃcially adopted by a woman who worked in marketing

I’ve come straight from farm to stage, having grown up on an Exmoor farm, miles from civilisation, where the house was always unlocked and the car keys remained in the ignition, even if we went on holiday. I just remembered whilst answering these questions that someone stole my dad ’ s car when we went on holiday to France and crashed it into a cemeter y in Taunton

This is actually my sixth time performing at Edinburgh! I performed previously as part of my double act, ‘Norris & Parker’ , but it ’ s my first time going it alone so now I have no one to blame but myself I look for ward to the baked potatoes, the Scottish weather and the artistic inspiration.

My all-time favourite comedians are Julia Davis (Nighty Night, Hunderby, Human Remains) I still quote her BBC pilot, Lizzie and Sarah, which she made with Jessica Hynes over ten years ago Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer) plays the Brazilian au pair It was considered too dark by the BBC so they never commissioned it I think it ’ s still online somewhere It ’ ll make you wince but it is ver y, ver y funny

As a comedian I’d say I have divorced woman energ y although I’ ve never been married...

D uring the pandemic I needed a focus because I spent most of it screaming my cat ’ s name out of the window, so I started loads of online comedy courses My first gig was a knock-out competition on Zoom, where the entire audience were muted One woman voted me oﬀ, so I disappeared oﬀ screen only to find myself alone with the cat, who had finally come home but was staring up at me from the sofa, with pity.

I think stand up is always a bit terrifying, but I abide by the quote, ‘Feel the fear, and do it anyway ’

I’ ll do anything for a laugh I once booked a solo trip to New York after a break up and lived in a Lithuanian family ’ s cupboard, with no air con and their over weight cat for two weeks I’ve made out with an 80-year old man and licked the floor of Euston S tation for five pounds Absolutely hilarious stuﬀ !

“ Katie Norris’ comic timing is as exquisite as her voice.” (chortle.co.uk) I was born with great rhythm, cadence and tempo – for example, my mum told me the first thing I performed after she gave birth to me was a giant poo on my dad ’ s hand, so I think that tells you all you need to know

I will be doing the rounds in Edinburgh to see other comedians in action. It ’ s an amazing opportunit y to develop your show and be inspired by other artist ’ s work Comics I can’t wait to see are Lou Taylor, Amy Mason, Catherine Cohen, Elf Lyons, Derek Mitchell and Natalie Palamides I also like to check out any improv rap troupes on the free fringe

Katie Norris will be performing her debut show, Farm Fatale, at Bath Komedia on 21 July and performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 31 Jul y – 25 August (8.30pm) at P leasance Cour t yard, 60 P leasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ. T ickets on sale now. She will be performing in both locations with Bristolian comedian, Funny Women finalist and BBC New Act nominee Amy Mason. At Komedia tickets are £12 per show, with a multi-buy discount of £2 per ticket when booking three or more Edinburgh Preview shows together Katie is also performing at The Rondo on 25 July at 7 30pm (with Chloe Petts) Komedia, 22–23 Westgate Street, Bath; komediabath co uk

Lost medieval figures @ BRLSI

A new lecture series at BRLSI shines a spotlight on the lost medieval figures of Bath, with four talks focusing on Adelard, St Alphege, John of Tours and King Edgar

Adelard of Bath: England’s First Scientist, 11 July, 7.30pm

Adelard was born in Bath around 1080 AD and was educated by Benedictine monks His search for knowledge took him to Tours in France, then on to Sicily and Antioch (in modern day Turkey) He learnt Arabic and translated many of the great classical works of ancient Greece from Arabic into Latin Join Michael Davis in conversation with Joe Houlihan

St Alphege, Bath’s Anglo Saxon Martyr, 17 July, 7.30pm Born in Weston in 954 AD, Alphege led a distinguished clerical career before being martyred, thereby becoming Bath’s ﬁrst saint He was head of Bath Abbey in 980 and became Archbishop of Canterbur y in 1005 In 1011 V ikings raided England and laid siege to Canterbur y, Alphege was captured and held prisoner – he was beaten to death with ox bones Join Dr Giles Mercer, teacher and writer

John of Tours: Bath’s First Bishop, 18 July, 7.30pm

Appointed Bishop of Bath in 1091, John was educated to a high standard in Tours, in Norman France He was physician to King W illiam Rufus and began construction of the Norman cathedral in Bath He was also the chief sponsor of Adelard of Bath Join former churchwarden Jeremy Key-Pugh

Edgar the Peaceful: Bath’s Crowned King, 25 July, 7.30pm King Edgar’s reign is regarded as a ‘golden age ’ Although it started in division and political crisis, it saw the consolidation of English governance and lordship, signiﬁcant legislative reforms, and cultural and artistic achievement. Join Dr Charles Insley, Senior Lecturer in Medieval Histor y, University of Manchester

Individual talks (in person or online) are £3– £6, or buy a Series Pass from the ticket selection and you can attend all four talks for the price of three brlsi org

The puppet master

“Anything can be a puppet”, says costume and puppetmaker Hannah Southf ield “But it won’t be convincing unless it has breath and a point of focus.” Emma Clegg learns about this theatrical art form and in the process encounters Asian elephants, f lying horses and giant serpents

Costume and puppet maker, event decorator, set builder, body painter and community workshop leader Hannah Southfield certainly has a number of creative ‘hats’, and yet she has become known for one thing in particular “Giant animals have accidentally become what people know me for, because my first puppet was a life-size Asian elephant.”

The realistic scale of Batari the Asian elephant, created by Hannah in 2022, means that it is puppeteered by up to five professionals – with two people inside, one on the head and a leader and trunk manipulator The elephant lopes around, blinking and moving her legs, ears and tr unk, creating elephant sounds and squir ting water In under two months, Batari gained over five million fans on social media; raising awareness of the issues facing Asian elephants There were more giant animals at Bristol Old V ic at Christmas last year when Hannah created the puppets

for its Arabian Nights production, which included a magical winged horse and a giant serpent with a luminous spine

But giant animals are just the beginning of Hannah’s expertise She also produced the puppets from Sam W ilde’s designs for The Book Thie f musical (based on Markus Zusak’s bestselling novel) which toured in the autumn of 2023. The Book Thie f puppets are made of paper, which, Hannah explains, tapped into the idea that the stor y (and its theme around the power of words and language) lent itself to the creation of imagined things made out of the pages of books and newspapers

“Puppet creation has become my passion, combining all of my art forms in the most rewarding way”

Batari the Asian elephant in the making and (right) in rehearsal

by Ben Read

Surprisingly Hannah doesn’t have a creative training Her original plan was to study law, and she then went on to study psycholog y at the University of Bath On graduating she found it hard to ignore her strong creative roots (her family all work in the arts) and started to run community creative workshops in Bath, before then being head-hunted by the Bath Carnival, where she is now artistic director. She lives in Bristol and has a studio in Oldfield Park in Bath where she produces costume and puppetr y work for Bath Carnival (which requires year-round preparation) and for various Bath-based theatre productions at The Egg and the Theatre Royal Hannah says, “ The method of construction used for puppets is invariably led by the show and the script, especially in theatre W ith puppets, I particular ly love working on mechanisms and working out how things move It ’ s a steep learning cur ve at the beginning, because you want all your puppets to do ever ything, but sometimes a show will need something quite specific, and won’t need the puppet to do other things. So it ’ s important not to over-engineer them, because the more elements that move and join together the more weak spots you ’ ve got And they get a real hammering in rehearsals and when they are transported around, so sometimes a simpler solution is most practical

“More recently, I have undertaken smaller puppet jobs and I’ve learnt to apply my approach using rods and at a tabletop scale Some of these have gone on to win awards at – our short puppet film at The Bristol 48 hour Puppetr y Film Challenge won multiple awards including 1st place as best film. Puppet creation has become my passion, combining all of my art forms in the most rewarding way. ”

There has been a real surge in the use of puppets in recent years, driven by the success of War Horse (adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s book, first shown in 2007 and still on tour), with puppets created by the Handspring Puppet Company, described by The Obser ver on its release as “transcendent puppeteering” More recently Life of Pi – directed by Max Webster and

Photographs

Yasemin Ozdemir (Schere) and company as the magical horse in Arabian Nights at Bristol Old Vic

z launched in the West End – has visited the Bath Theatre Royal and continues to tour, with the magnificent life-size tiger puppet designed by Nick Barnes (with whom Hannah trained). Both these productions show how a well-conceived puppet controlled by actors can achieve immense subtlety, sensitivity and characterisation of an animal, and have helped to make puppets a powerful part of the stage vocabular y

Hannah also loves to pass on her skills, and regular ly runs puppetr y workshops “ W hen I teach children, I always ask them, ‘why do you think we use puppets?’ The answer is because puppets are there to do something that an actor can’t do, or to portray something that you wouldn’t be able to portray other wise. If there is not a good reason for a puppet in a production I will be sceptical, because a puppet doesn’t read well unless it has its own extraordinar y internal power within the theatre stor y. ” Hannah explains, “Animals tend to make sense as puppets, because they

bring a predictability that ’ s never possible with a real animal ” However puppets can also portray a dramatic flying figure, or, as in The Book Thief, a figure can emerge out of a ball of crunched-up paper, embodying a fragment of the imagination or a dream sequence – pulling together significant themes “If the idea is just to replace an actor with a puppet, then an actor will probably do it better”, Hannah says, also quoting the words of Handspring Puppet Company ’ s Adrian Kohler, “An actor struggles to die on stage, but a puppet has to struggle to live ” She continues, “As long as the puppeteer can portray that this thing has breath and a point of focus, people start to believe it ’ s real ”

The medium also encourages participation with community workshops: “Puppetr y is a great way of encouraging people to take part who aren’t confident being on stage, because using a puppet takes the attention oﬀ the individual It ’ s also a fantastic communication tool; allowing people to

portray a stor y on stage, often w the need for speech, and that can incredibly powerful And becaus a puppet is of ten controlled by a team, working together is another valuable skill, with a group of people together animating one thing that needs to be coherent in its movement ”

Bath Carnival, which has been running for 10 years and takes place this year on Saturday 13 July, has taken a drastic cut to its budget after not securing any Arts Council funding. While the carnival itself is happening after sterling eﬀort by the team, including director S Matson, to secure funds, its signifi community engagement prog won’t be as extensive as in prev which is a sad loss because th focused on the more deprived are y schools that don’t have an arts engagement programme.

The energ y remains high, however. Hannah says, “ The whole point of Carnival is that it ’ s accessible to all, so nothing has charged. We will have around 14–16 giant costumes up to five metres high, even more performers than we have ever had, and the procession and event is the biggest yet, so there is a lot to be positive about ”

Referring to her many creative hats, Hannah feels that ‘Carnival

ah’ is the best version of herself, puppetr y comes a ver y c lose cond She also refers to how her psycholog y training has come into play : “Puppeteers have to think about how living things are paying attention, and as long as it ’ s possible to portray that this inanimate thing has breath and awareness, people start to believe it ’ s real It ’ s so interesting how psycholog y comes in to that ”

On the day of Bath Car nival on 13 July, the performers and he procession assemble at .30am, and the procession f star ts at 3pm at the Bath Rec ds at 5pm. Bet ween 10am to S ydne y Gardens there wil l be onat ion-based famil y music , g a main stage with world music acts and a smaller acoustic stage alongside workshops for circus and per for mance skills.

If you’d like to join the volunteer team on 13 July, the car nival needs help to ste ward the festival and marshal the procession. S hif ts are three hours long, no exper ience is required, and you can work in pairs. bathcar nival.co.uk; hanmadecar nival.com

The giant serpent in Arabian Nights at Bristol Old Vic

Summer fun

Looking for things to do during the holidays? From developing bushcraft skills to exploring the world’s ﬁrst amazement park to learning about animals and experiencing Victorian life at sea we ’ ve got plenty of ideas for a summer of fun

PA RAG O N S C H O O L: CA M P T EEP EE

Throughout July

n The Paragon School, Lyncombe House, Lyncombe Vale, Bath

This popular day camp open to children from all schools from 6-11 years of age, encourages children to learn new skills, develop confidence and have a great time in a safe outdoor environment. Camp Teepee is based in the woodland surrounding The Paragon school, and incorporates forest school with bushcraft skills. A typical day will involve fire lighting, outdoor cooking, wood crafting, wild drumming, woodland detective games, shelter building and clay creature crafting The camp operates whatever the weather Children will need to bring a nut-free packed lunch, a snack and drink as well as a change of clothes if the weather is wet paragonschool.co.uk/holiday-c lubs/c amp-teepee

SS GREAT BRITAIN

T hroughout Jul y, Tuesday – Sunday, 10am–5pm n Great Wester n Dockyard, Gas Fer r y Road, Br istol Climb aboard Brunel’s SS Great Britain this summer for a fantastic family day out. Explore the sights, sounds and smells of V ictorian life at sea, discover two fascinating museums and meet costumed characters, inc luding the mind behind the design, Mr Brunel

New for this summer, get hands-on with Brunel’s Brick Building experience Inspired by Brunel’s awe-inspiring bridges, daring tunnels and record-breaking ships, families are invited to get creative with brick building by assembling designs or inventing their own. See if you have what it takes to become a master engineer! T ickets are available online. ssg reatbr itain.org

WAKE T H E T IGER

T hroughout Jul y, Wednesday – S unday, 10am-6pm n 127 Albert Road, Bristol BS2 0YA

Wake The T iger is the wor ld ’ s first Amazement Park and Bristol’s award-winning, self-guided, immersive visitor attraction for all ages. Step through a portal into the alternate wor ld of Meridia where you will explore more than 40 unique spaces. P lus, this summer join Wake The T iger for the Sundust Secrets trail Seven secret notes have been scattered within the Amazement Park F ind them and uncover seven letters, and if you work out the secret word you ’ ll be in for a fun surprise Even better, there are now NEW discounted family tickets available, to make the experience aﬀordable fun for ever yone. wakethetiger.com

c H a rLi e co o K ’s FaVo u ri t e b o o K

20 Jul y, 10.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm n Bath Forum

Charlie loves reading. Especially books about pirates. But his sister hates it – it’s boring! Can Charlie convince her that reading is fun? Perhaps if she read a book about a pirate, who is reading a book about Goldilocks, who is reading a book about a knight… Come and explore a range of books with Charlie, brought to life with puppetry and enchanting songs This performance is based on the original book Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. bathforum.co.uk

Music in nature at Westonbirt

20 Jul y, 10 30am-3 30pm n Westonbirt, The national arboretum, Forestr y england, tetbur y, Gloucestershire V isitors can head over to Silk Wood Barn to discover more about the sounds in nature They can listen to the diﬀerent sounds heard at Westonbirt and tr y out a quiz to test their knowledge. Additionally, they can get musical by making instruments using natural materials, such as a bamboo shaker and a guiro V isitors are also encouraged to explore the Green Games summer family trail in the Old Arboretum The activities are suitable for children aged 5 and above forestr yengland.uk/westonbirt-the-national-arboretum

bri LLian t beast i es at aMerican MuseuM & Gardens

16 July, 10 30am–11 30am

n amer ican Museum & Gardens, c laver ton Manor, bath Join these monthly sessions for pre-schoolers and their parents/carers. You will be singing, rhyming, stor ytelling and making, while learning all about the Brilliant Beasties, our animal friends Children will be encouraged to explore their creativity, while building confidence to join in with the fun Ear ly booking is recommended amer icanmuseum.org

We tHe curious

Throughout July, Tuesday – Sunday 10am-5pm n one Millennium square, anchor road, br istol

We The Curious, which reopens again on 2 July, refocuses on asking questions, getting creative and testing things out The venue oﬀers all sorts of diﬀerent experiences, where you can interact with exhibits and take part in experiments. The new ‘Impossible, Possible’ season asks how you feel when you ’ re faced with a seemingly impossible problem. You can visit the new exhibition Project W hat If inspired by real questions from the people of Bristol, celebrate the synerg y between art and science at galler y space The Box, take part in current scientific research at the Open City Lab and learn how to make your own plant-based milks in the kitchen with Moo-L ess Milk, or visit In The Greenhouse to explore what plants need to sur vive Bookings: call 0117 915 1000 or email information@wethecurious.org. wethecur ious.org

Camp Teepee at

Paragon

Outdoor theatre at the Holburne

Bath’s only purpose-built open-air theatre festival, The Garden Theatre Festival, this year runs from 10–21 July. Emma Clegg speaks to Matt Emeny and discovers that the stage will be full of eccentric sleuths, a quarrelling king and queen in a magical forest, and music, mayhem and madness Just what outdoor theatre should be all about

The Garden Theatre Festival first made an appearance in 2020 when theatre producer Matt Emeny brought two nights of outdoor theatre to the cit y, one in the gardens of the Holburne Museum and one at the American Museum & Gardens He did this by collaborating with Three Inch Fools, an innovative touring theatre company known for their fast-paced and musically driven approach At this time, scarcely out of lockdown, Matt was determined to find a way of br inging theatre bac k, and open-air performances felt the best way to stay safe Each year since, the festival has been scaled up, making its regular home the gardens of the Holburne.

W hile the outdoor theatre context is no longer essential for mixing in large groups, the playful, upbeat, fun family atmosphere of the festival continues to capture people’s hearts Matt says, “ The festival this year from 10–21 July is about to move into its biggest year yet in terms of infrastructure – we ’ ve got covered seating, a capacity of 400 inc luding 200 deckchairs, and we have catering on site now You can even preorder prosecco!”

Productions this year inc lude Sherlock and Watson: A Murder in the Garden – starr ing Matt himelf as S her loc k, the production has dail y shows from 16-20 July. Produced by Matt ’ s comedy troupe Calf 2 Cow, this brand-new adaption is an outrageous comedy full of slapstick and

multi-roling and is pumped full of live music and rock ’ n ’ roll. Impromptu Shakespeare launches the festival on 10 July – the format is four actors with a chalkboard, the audience is encouraged to call out what ’ s they would like to happen, it ’ s written down and the actors create a brand ne w S hakespeare play with plent y of audience interaction and lots of laughs

On 11 and 12 July (with two performances on the 12th) outdoor theatre touring legends the Hand leBards (a group who who notably c yc le to all their venues) br ing A Midsummer Night ’ s D ream to the outdoor stage. We all know the stor y : four young lovers find themselves lost in a magical forest, where the Fair y King and Q ueen are fighting for the possession of a changeling boy... humans and fairies collide, and hilarity ensues

On 14 July come two productions: Tethered W its’ The Railway Children (a magical journey filled with fun, music, and a heartwarming narrative), and Jeeves and Wooster in Stiff Upper Lip Jeeves (enter the whimsical world of an affable young gentleman with a penchant for getting himself in outlandish predicaments) Immersion Theatre’ s Peter Pan on 20 Jul y (get ready to think happy thoughts and fly high) finishes the official festival, but then comes a pop-up event on 21 August, As You Like It by the D uke’ s Theatre Company (think the thrill of music, mayhem and

“Most shows will be in daylight, so we have to dive into how we can create brilliant storytelling with minimal resources”

madness) On the challenges of this theatre format, Matt says, “ W hat I love about outdoor theatre is that it ’ s the ver y first form of theatre, dating back over 2000 years to the time of amphiteatres There ’ s something reall y special about that sense of gathering outdoors in an arc of seating and witnessing really good stor ytelling

“ The stor ytelling has to be really strong because you can’t hide behind props and costumes and sets and lights W hen we tour, most shows will be in daylight, so as artists we have to dive into how we can create brilliant stor ytelling with quite minimal resources. The outdoor sector is tough because it is on such a small scale. We are all doing long tours, you c an’t charge a lot of money for tic kets, but that makes it accessible theatre, which is what makes it br illiant, bec ause you tour to so many places that don’t normally get theatre So we ’ re like a medieval troupe bowling up and unloading and building the stage The art of it is creating captivating stor ytelling for two hours that people will sit through in the rain ”

There are other strands to Matt (and his business partner Josh Beaumont ’s) theatrical range They have recently introduced a brand new tribute act to the band Mumford and Sons, which toured for three months. They have just had their first oﬀ West End Show, called Why I Stuck a Flower Up my Ass for England – written by a young writer Alex Hill, this launched at the Edinburgh Fringe last year and then transferred to a pub theatre and renowned fringe transfer venue The Old Red Lion in L ondon and then to the Southwark Playhouse “ This show packs a gut punch – it ’ s an absolutely brilliant comedy We’re really proud that 54% of our audience for this show so far have never been to the theatre ” There is also a production of Art coming to Theatre Royal Bath – starring Seann Walsh, Chris Harper and Aden Gillett this is a production between Josh Beaumont Productions and Original Theatre, for which Matt is associate producer Deckchairs, picnics, prosecco, magic, pandemonium, family fun and laughter, all in the gardens of the Holburne. Make sure you ’ re there!

The Garden Theatre Festival, in the gardens of The Holburne Museum, 10 –21 July. T ickets £16/£18. gardentheatrefest.co.uk

Garden Theatre Festival opening night, 2023

The cast of Impromptu Shakespeare

Auctionet - A Brief History

Auctionet was founded in 2011 by a team of auctioneers, valuers and tech-wizards who, while all working within a renowned Swedish auction house, came to realise that the auction industr y was totally failing in its attempts to co-exist with the rapidly changing, tech-fuelled demands of the 21st century

While many within the industr y would see the traditional auction modelsomeone on a rostrum shouting and banging a hammer - as a romantic nod to centuries past, the fact of the matter is that auctions are, for the most part, wholly unsuited as profit-making entities in the modern world Storage costs, staff costs, building costs and ever y other type of cost that goes into running a traditional auction setup have all increased in the last twenty years

So, Auctionet did a full ‘180’ and turned the model on its head by adopting the Concept of Lean and adapting it for the auction world No more stockpiling items for specific sales on specific dates - instead, we pursue a course of Continuous Online selling which involves the auction houses processing, uploading and selling items on a daily basis as opposed to weekly, monthly or even quarterly

We then began adapting premises and internal processes to suit this dynamic, and built a transport and logistics system from scratch to ensure a smooth and constant flow of goods out of the building, leaving the auction houses free to focus on getting more stuff in to the building.

As a result, our partner auction houses are able to sell more items at a faster rate and in a more efficient manner - which in turn leads to happy sellers and happy buyers, and a more profitable auction house!

Lawrences Fine Art Auctioneers

Auctionet partnered with one of the best-known and well-regarded provincial auction rooms, Lawrences Fine Art in Somerset Since taking the helm, we have converted their weekly sales into Continuous Online sales and have increased the quality of the quarterly sales, ensuring that all items are being sold in the most appropriate sales and are being marketed to a much larger, Pan-European and global, audience

So, if you are looking to transform your organisation through lean management, creating a more effective way of working whilst maintaining a strong output, why not come on this forward thinking, tech-savvy way of working with Auctionet

Contact: Andy

Sagar - Managing Director Auctionet

UK | E andy sagar@auctionet com | auctionet com

Arts & exhibitions

Toulouse Lautrec and the Masters of Montmartre, until 29 September, Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath

From troupes of cancan dancers to the legendary 'Chat Noir,' and the unforgettable characters of the Moulin Rouge, ToulouseLautrec & the Masters of Montmartre will feature 100 original posters from 1890s bohemian Paris in a fresh look at this era of artistic fervour and social revolution This is the only chance to see Lautrec’s complete collection of posters exhibited together in the UK before it moves to its permanent home at the Musée d’Ixelles in Belgium, following a five-year international tour victoriagal.org.uk

The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath

Mr Doodle! Museum Mayhem, Until 1 Sept

The first ever UK museum exhibition of artist and internet sensation, Mr Doodle. Mr Doodle’s graphic style conjures up a mesmerising world of quirky creatures and anthropomorphic forms.

Henry Moore in Miniature, Until 8 Sept

Capturing A Moment, Walcot Chapel, Walcot Gate, Bath 2–7 July, 10am–6pm

Capturing A Moment brings together six artists working in an ec lectic mixture of styles and mediums ranging through textiles, photography, woodfired ceramics and painting

The unifying theme encapsulates the relationship between maker and subject and that alchemical moment where, through medium and process, the moment is captured Preview on Tuesday 2 July from 6 30pm–8 30pm All are welcome.

Admission is free

For more infor mation contact Usha Pearce 07734 114827; usha.pearce@g mail.com

Presented in partnership with the Henry Moore Foundation, Henry Moore in Miniature will include over 60 of Moore’s works that can fit in the hand The first exhibition of its kind, it will include works from the 1920s to the 1980s. holburne.org

London-based artist Sammy Dent grew up in Scotland and has been making, creating things and painting all of her life “Colour is the anchor The subject is the springboard The application of pigment to canvas is the ripples of emotion that flow when I jump off ”

To view works by Sammy, visit the online gallery or email Sandra to arrange a private view.

sandrahiggins art; sandra@sandrahiggins.com

Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, Sunday 14 July 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

Sammy Dent at sandrahiggins.art

BELOW: Bonnard-Bidault by Cheret

From top left, ar twork by Beverley Ferguson, Brent King, Maggie Simonsen and Craig King

Mr Doodle at the Holburne

Paintings, Sculpture, Ceramics, 29 June – 31 August, Beaux Arts Bath, 12-13 York Street

D uring July Beaux Arts host an eclectic selection of paintings, sculpture and ceramics. There are new paintings by Jo Barrett, Linda Felcey, Ruth Brownlee, as well as Andrew Crocker, Nathan Ford and Helen Simmonds The galler y will showcase the work of Roger Hardy, who makes sculpture from found wood and earth pigments Ceramics are by Tricia Thom. Open 10am-5pm, Monday to Saturday.

beauxar tsbath.co.uk

Bath Artists Summer Exhibition, Walcot Chapel, Walcot Gate, Bath BA1 5UG, 16–21 July, 11am–6pm

For one week in July, this gem of a venue hosts an exhibition of paintings, illustrations, and prints, from seven artists who all live in and around Bath: Julia Cobbold, Kate Davies, Beryl Desmond, Kate Flood, Teresa Foster, Rob Grieve, and Penny Ives Original oils, acrylics, and watercolours, linocuts, and wood engravings will be on display, and there will be the opportunity to talk to the artists about their work every day at the exhibition kate.colerne@gmail.com

Into the Unknown: Moish Sokal, Malthouse Gallery, East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Silver Street, Somerset TA13 5HH, until 20 July

Somerset artist Moish Sokal is bringing his watercolours to Malthouse Gallery to celebrate 30 years of showing his work Included are many painted scenes of his favourite countryside in Somerset. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. moishsokal.co.uk

Man O War Beach by

Summer Exhibition, Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret's Buildings, Bath, 8 July – 30 September

Work by ceramicists Yo Thom and Rachel Peters, artists Louise Young and Howard Phipps, and jewellery by Caroline Reynolds and Elizabeth Chamberlain Yo Thom’s wheelthrown, functional tableware is influenced by Japanese folk textiles and the Dorset landscape Inspired by Danish design, ceramicist Rachel Peters hand builds her coiled clay vessels Louise Young presents intricate, contemporary botanical still-life studies Howard Phipps specialises in wood engraving, a method of relief printmaking Caroline Reynolds creates sustainable jewellery from precious metals inspired by botanical structures, and Elizabeth Chamberlain uses traditional jewellery techniques to create bespoke pieces informed by ancient relics and the Durham countryside galler ynine.co.uk

Art at the Heart of the RUH, until 21 July, Central Gallery (B25), Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG, Mon-Sun, 8am-8pm

A group of professional, semi-professional, and amateur Corsham-based artists, of all ages and using many diﬀerent creative processes, are exhibiting at the RUH Bath You will find landscapes, still life, silk screen, lino cut, resin and acr ylic. You will be able to travel to various parts of the globe via tram and be taken up mountains, into wood land, and across the canal in Venice All the diﬀerent seasons are reflected enabling those viewing to be transported to other c limates, cultures and weathers All work is for sale with one third paid to the RUH ar tatr uh.org

Honey Bee by Rebecca McCar thy Car ter

Traveller by Roger Hardy found wood and ear th pigment

Chesil Boatman, wood engraving by Howard Phipps

Moish Sokal

Cherhill by Penny Ives

A Turn on Topsy by Kate Davies

Gardening by Rob Grieve

Kimono: the thing to wear

Kimonos are an iconic and familiar statement of Japanese culture And yet how much do we actually know about them? A new exhibition at the Museum of East Asian Art will help to paint a more comprehensive picture.

The kimono is an intrinsic part of the Japanese culture, and similar garments can be traced right back to the Japanese Heian Per iod (794-1185) And yet the name ‘kimono’ (meaning ‘the thing to wear’) was not adopted until the mid-19th centur y It was first worn with the hakama, a t y pe of long skirt or a type of apron known as a mo W hen the hakama was dropped, the obi (the wide sash worn around the waist) was introduced to hold the robe c losed.

It is the pattern and not the cut of the garment that is significant in a kimono The choice of colour and decoration indic ates social status Personal identit y and cultural expressions are expressed through colour and decoration The choice of obi and accessories, such as combs and pins worn in the hair, are also important.

The Museum of East Asian Ar t ’ s ne w exhibition Kimono: The Making of a Cultural Icon aims to uncover the significance of this familiar piece of c lothing The first half of the exhibition is a collection of 25 Japanese woodblock prints that follow the change in styles of the kimono, from a time when it was only worn by the elite to its influence on fashion designers today The second half celebrates the accessor ies associated with kimono wear ing, which are hung from the belt: small, exquisitel y detailed car vings called netsuke, and lavishly decorated boxes called inro. In the centre of the galler y will stand a beautiful 1920s red silk Kimono embroidered with flying cranes and pine trees

The collection of prints, on loan from The Ezen Foundation, charts the changes in kimono style through a series of brightly coloured and highly detailed woodblock prints dating from the 1820s to the 1950s They show lavish, multi-layered, imperial kimonos only available to an elite fe w, the ear l y influence of western st y les, kimonos worn by musicians and dancers, and those attending tea ceremonies. The exhibition also looks at the many laws that have governed the wearing of kimonos in the past.

As kimono don’t have pockets, small compartmentalised boxes (inro) were made to allow the wearer to keep things like money, tobacco or medicines on their person and the making of these became a celebrated art form The exhibition inc ludes lacquer ware inro lavishly decorated with gold dust and set with mother of pearl, a box car ved to realistically resemble a tortoise, and one covered with inlaid flying cranes

Netsuke are the toggles at the top of the cord that hold the inro together and prevent it falling from the waistband where it is worn. On display are a selection of 38 miniature, intricate car ved netsuke dating from the 1700s to 1900s These inc lude animated animals and mythical beasts, characters from Japanese folklore and delicate studies of working people

Kimono: Making of a Cultural Icon oﬀers visitors the chance to see the kimono’s changing style depicted in the art of Japanese woodblock pr ints alongside the ornate accessor ies that made the wear ing of the kimono a little more practical and a lot more stylish

The display of some 50 accessories that were essential in the wearing of kimono, particular ly amongst men, has been made possible thanks to a generous loan from The Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro

Kimono: The Making of a Cultural Icon, 5 July – 14 December; Museum of East Asian Ar t, 12 Bennett Street, Bath, meaa.org.uk

A five compartment Inro from the Meiji period

Boulevard © Ezen Foundation

ASilver: Beauty with Beneﬁts

RON PRINGLE

Beau Nash Antiques, Bath

s the UK elections fast approach, the likely shift in leadership may change policies on trade, taxation and public spending This uncertainty often leads to fluctuations in currency values, stock markets and investor confidence.

In such times, precious metals are typically seen as “safe havens”. While gold has a longstanding reputation for presenting wealth during economic downturns, silver’s extensive industrial use gives it an additional layer of appeal.

Silver is not only valued for its monetary and decorative purposes but also plays a critical role in various industries, including electronics, solar energy and medical devices These growing industries may drive silver prices to new heights, making silver a potentially more lucrative investment

Beyond its industrial application, however, silver has a rich history as an investment asset Traditionally, silver items have been cared for and passed down through generations as a form of financial security during hard times hence the phrase, “selling the family silver ” It’s far from shameful but rather what it was originally intended for by one’s ancestors This practice highlights silver’s enduring value and its role in wealth preservation. Unlike fiat currencies, which can be heavily impacted by policy changes and economic turbulence, silver tends to maintain its value over the long term. In fact over the past five years alone, gold has increased by roughly 70%, while silver by an impressive 90%. Both significantly beats the 5 year FTSE increase of roughly 10%. (Source: www.gold.co.uk)

Of course, none of us have a crystal ball to predict the future, least of all me. What we do know however is that change is likely and with change comes an element of economic uncertainty. As history has demonstrated, gold and silver have served as safe investments during such periods

However, please do not limit yourself to investing in bullion bars or silver funds. Useful and decorative pieces may be more fun to collect. I, for one, enjoy eating with my silver cutlery daily. On the other hand, bullion bars make terrible soup ladles! n

Online Shop at www.beaunashbath.com; info@beaunashbath.com; 07535137808 @beaunashbath

Page turners & diary dates

We bring you a wild theme, with evidence of mammoths, the counting of butterf lies, a book on the best wild places in the south west, and a mag with some wild ideas about houses. Cube farm or coff in home anyone?

Festival of Archaeology

The Big Butterﬂy Count

The Big Butter fly Count begins on Friday 12 July and runs until Sunday 4 August Download Butter fly Conser vation’s handy butter fly ID chart or free app for iOS and Android to identify and record the butter flies and moths you spot. Choose a place to search, watch for 15 minutes, then record which species you see. There is also an interactive map on the website to see how your data is contributing to conser vation science and research bigbutter flycount.butter fly-conservation.org

Walk on the wild side

From the award-winning W ild Guide series, this recently published second edition of W ild Guide: Devon, Cornwall and South West by Jo Keeling and Tania Pascoe inc ludes 250 new places and two new counties Taking you to places no other guidebooks reach, it features 370 wild swims and hidden beaches; 410 lost ruins, caves, crags, forests and meadows, plus 450 superb places to eat or sleep It ’ s also been expanded to inc lude new chapters around Bath and Bristol, inc luding the River Wye, Forest of Dean, South Cotswolds and W iltshire.

The 2024 Festival of Archaeolog y runs from 13–28 July Events in Bath inc lude a free event in partnership with Creative Twerton on 20 July (10am-3pm), where you can come and discover the histor y of Twerton and historic objects found in the area, inc luding a huge mammoth’s tooth discovered in a gravel pit! There will also be creative craf ts, and old maps and pictures to explore, showing how Twerton has developed over the years Free, drop-in event suitable for all ages 106/107 High Street, Twerton, Bath, BA2 1DB

More Festival of Archeolog y events take place from 15-19 July in the pasture at Prior Park Gardens A team of archaeologists return to uncover the wall of the Basin and what is thought to be the start of a cascade dating back to the 18th centur y From Monday to Friday, visitors can see the dig in progress and chat with the archaeologists. There is also a guided walk (pre-booking only) for those wanting to learn more about archaeolog y at Prior Park Prior Park, R alph Allen Drive, Bath, BA2 5AH

What makes a home?

by Daniel McCabe

You’ ll find ever ything from a caves and coasteering; aterfalls and river swimming; cations for canoeing and add le boarding; lost ruins, astles and forts; to ancient ees, forests and meadows; ild camping and campfireiend ly campsites; and bothies, unkhouses and cabins

Also available as an app and an book W ild Things Publishing, £9.99; wildthingspublishing.com

Sociotype Journal’s third annual issue is on the theme of ‘Home’ and asks us: ‘ What makes a home?’ We’ve encountered quite a few magazines ask ing and exploring the same idea of late, but the Sociotype approach is rather different I t ’s published by London design studio Socio and named after their own offshoot foundr y Sociotype. I t is typeset in a ver y clean mid- centur y-inspired grotesk typeface formulated just for this job. Issue 3 offers a ‘topdown and bottom-up investigation’ of domesticity, from masterplanned utopias and Potemk in villages, McMansions and sham castles, to cube farms, spite fences, coffin homes and more. | £25 store.magalleria.co.uk

Orange wine

Recommendations by Tom Bleathman from the Great Wine Company

Orange wine has grown drastically in popularity in recent years, but what exactly makes an orange wine orange? Orange wine, also known as skin contact white wine, is made in a similar way to red. W hite grapes are fermented together with their skins and seeds, then left in contact with the juice for a period of between one day to many months This creates a wine with an orange hue resulting in lots of complexity, tannin, and increased levels of dr yness and texture –more substantial than a white wine and capable taking on bigger flavours. Here are my three favourites from The Great W ine mpany Discover more at greatwine.co.uk

stiadi have used the indigenous Sicilian iety Inzolia for their orange wine, Orange Inzolia Organic, Tenute Orestiadi Macerated on its skins for just 5 days, this is a lighter style of orange wine resulting in great freshness

The nose has aromas of wildflowers, dried herbs, and orange peel. The palate is savour y with dried apricots and oranges, peaches and sweet spices

£16.65

Saint-Roch is a brand-new producer to GWC, and they produce superb wines from the Roussillon region in France Tangerina, Château Saint-Roch has alluring aromas of rose petals, rosehips, vanilla, Earl Grey tea and N w Zealand IPA hops The ure is mar vellously silky with super-fine tannins utifully done

Recipes with strawberries

STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM Ser ves 4

In a medium-sized saucepan, lightly simmer 400g hulled, quartered strawberries with 55g caster sugar and the juice of 1 lemon for 15 minutes, stirring frequently Take oﬀ the heat and allow to cool completely. When cool, pour half of the poached strawberries into a bowl and, using a stick bender or a potato masher, mush it into a thick purée. Add the rest of the poached strawberries and stir to combine. In another bowl, whisk 600ml whipping cream with 200ml condensed milk (light or regular, it’s up to you) to form soft peaks Fold the strawberry mixture into the cream then pour into a clingﬁlm-lined 900g loaf tin and freeze for at least 3-4 hours until solid Allow the ice cream to soften at room temperature for around 5-10 minutes before ser ving

£19.50

fantastic entry into orange ine, Orange Wine Albariño, Martin Codax is world famous for their traditional Albariño white wine but this version has been aged on its skins for six months

The nose has aromas of baked apples, oranges, and dried rose petals The palate is rounded with a touch of fresh apple and fine tannin Great for easy sipping in the back garden

£22

STRAWBERRY LEMONADE

Makes 1.5 litres

Dissolve 175g caster sugar in 1 litre water in a saucepan over a medium heat, stirring continuously until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely Drop 400g hulled, quartered strawberries into a blender or food processor, blitz to a purée and strain through a ﬁne-mesh sieve to remove any seeds Tip the strawberry purée into a large jug Add the cooled, sugared water and the juice of around 4-5 lemons (aim for around 200ml lemon juice in total) and stir well to combine Ser ve in long glasses, over plenty of ice

Recipes by Melissa Blease

Food news

’AP

P Y T IMES ON T H E AP EROL T ERRACE

Green Park Brasserie and Bath Pizza Co have relaunched their Aperol front terrace as an relaxed location for enjoying the warmer summer nights Here you can watch the wor ld go by while kicking back with craf t beer, cocktails – inc luding the sparkling wine-based cocktail Aperol Spritz –and award-winning food. Green Park Brasseries is a bustling, friend ly eater y that ’ s open seven days a week and with live music ever y Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, so the new terrace opens up more live music, chilled terrace vibes and all-round good times

There’s more to come soon from Bath Pizza Co with the launching of a new secret bar and kitchen with the entrance hidden behind the red curtain which leads you into the lof t of the old Green Park station The bar ‘Upstairs’ will accommodate up to 100 Sign up to find out more at bathpizzaco.com/upstairs; g reenparkbrasser ie com

I T ’S T IME TO MANJA MANJA

There’ s a new Italian restaurant and wine bar in George S treet and it ’ s called Manja Manja The owners are brothers Mike and Matthew Lisanti, who are also owner managers of The Circus Restaurant in Brock S treet (where Matthew was head chef for five years)

The brothers bought the new restaurant (previously Martini ’s) ear lier this year, and have creatively converted it into a contemporar y eating space that honours the various c lassic interior elements, from the building ’ s original elaborate mahogany bank counter and stained glass window features to the upc yc ling of the wooden tables from the previous restaurant with their baroque st yle metal bases

The idea of Manja Manja is drawn from the brothers’ Italian grandmother (or ‘Nonna’) who moved to the UK with her family in the 1950s They both have strong memories of Nonna ser ving them up steaming plates of pasta as children and directing them in Italian to ‘mangia, mangia!’ (‘eat, eat ’) The food concept is ‘P lay fully Italian’, and Matthew describes the menu as ‘traditional-ish’, with some c lassic Italian recipes, but of ten with the play ful addition of other elements, especially in the Cicchetti (small plates) oﬀering.

Key members of the tight-knit team have moved from Circus staurant, uch as new head chef Fraser S cott –who has worked in kitchens all over the or ld from Paulo to y y and in iconic L ondon

restaurants like Aqua S hard and the Groucho Club Also from The Circus is general manager Jessie War low, who has developed and craf ted the wine list, which has been carefully procured over 18 months – and a large part of the space will be devoted to the wine bar

The menu is deliberately simple and streamlined because ever ything – inc luding the pasta – is made fresh on site (with the exception of the charcuterie which is sourced from the Iford Manor Estate’s own charcuterie meat) This curated approach means that the emphasis can be on the preparation and ser ving of fresh, high-quality food

Highlights from the menu, developed by Matthew with Fraser, are Chargrilled Pork Belly with a rhubarb and pink peppercorn compote and S easonal Vegetable Car paccio marinated in lemon and elderflower, both from the Cicchetti menu Pasta dishes inc lude the Rigatoni alla Bolognese, a slow-cooked beef and pork ragu in a rich tomato sauce (from a fiercely protected family recipe!) There is naturally pizza, too, made from sourdough, ranging from Margherita to Puttanesca, along with sharing cheese and charcuterie boards

The restaurant also boasts a homemade sourdough bread. And dessert brings the delectable Mascar pone and Frangelico tiramisu with chocolate salami, and S alted Caramel Chocolate S emifreddo with poached peaches and haz elnut praline

Manja Manja, 8 George Street, Bath; manjamanja co uk

From left: Mike Lisanti, Fraser Scott, Matthew Lisanti and Jessie Warlow

Isle of Wight tomatoes with Tuscan goats cheese truﬄes

THE DELICIOUS FOOD

& DRINK

GUIDE

TO BATH 2024

the best places in Bath to eat, drink and make merr y

Welcome to part one of our annual list of local food superstars covering every possible experience from time-saving tasty take-outs and wholesome food to prepare at home; to restaurants and afés where you can revel in seasonal dishes, order a special bottle for a celebration and share ood times with friends and family. From Chinese, Thai and Japanese to French, Italian and British gastro – and plenty of options for vegan, veggie and gluten-free – you’ll find a host of ational cuisines, and all manner of food from burgers and pizza to small plates to share and ward-winning gastronomy.

here are some superb haunts here – those we love to return to again and again – as well as a fresh anche of new businesses offering amazing vision and foodie adventures.

GREEN PARK BRASSERIE

Green Park Station, Bath BA1 1JB

Tel: 01225 338565 Web: g reenparkbrasserie com

Having become a must-visit destination over its 32 years, “the Braz” is a lively bar and restaurant with 4 nights of live music ever y week.

Located in a funky old railway booking hall with a casual dining atmosphere and two terraces (perfect for sipping cocktails and watching the world go by) this independent business is proud to ser ve quality local produce and is also popular for its Sunday Roast and Bottomless Brunch - not to mention it ’ s sister kitchen Bath Pizza Co

Live music runs ever y Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6.30pm onwards. Booking advised, walk-ups available.

BATH PIZZA CO

Green Park Station, Bath BA1 1JB Tel: 01225 588886 Web: bathpizz aco com

It ’ s a “ welcome to the neighborhood party and you ’ re invited ” kind of vibe here. Bath’s must visit pizzeria, Bath Pizza Co is located in the funky historic Green Park Railway Station L ocally loved, Bath Pizza Co have featured in the National Pizza Awards for three years on the spin landing podium finishes in two of them Swing by when best suits you for alfresco or indoor dining to soak up the busy atmosphere year round; perfect for laz y lunches and buzzing evenings with live music, cocktails, beers and of course outstanding pizza.

PEKING RESTAURANT

1–2 New St reet, Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AF Tel: 01225 466377 Web: peking restaurantbath.co.uk

Since opening in 1985, this family-run, independent restaurant is the number-one choice for local, authentic Chinese food The master chef has created an extensive menu of fresh, healthy and innovative dishes selected from Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking cuisines, using local ingredients wherever possible. As well as the traditional flavours of sweet and sour, ginger and spring onion, Peking also oﬀers much-loved lobster and crab dishes The chef also prepares special dishes on request The friend ly, skilled staﬀ at Peking strive to provide a genuine Chinese experience with a promise to put their hearts and souls into ever ything they do

THE GAINSBOROUGH BRASSERIE

The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Beau St reet, Bath BA1 1QY Tel: 01225 358888 Web: thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

L ocated right in the centre of Bath at the 5-star luxur y Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, The Gainsborough Brasserie is now kicking things up a notch with a kaleidoscope of globally inspired gourmet experiences with new flavours where East meets West featuring the freshest and choicest ingredients to make up its diverse spread of gastronomic creations As well as dining at this stylish brasserie you can take traditional af ternoon tea daily in the Canvas Room and beautifully craf ted cocktails and drinks are ser ved nightly in the Gainsborough Bar

NOYA’S KITCHEN

7 St James’s Parade, Bath BA1 1UL Tel: 01225 552582 Web: noyaskitchen.co.uk

Noya’s Kitchen ser ves up deliciou V ietnamese home cooking in a stylish and beautiful Grade I listed building in central Bath Voted one of the UK’s Top 5 Independent Restaurants by Gousto in 2021, and judged Bath’s Best Restaurant in 2022, advance bookings at weekends are essential! V ietnamese food lovers can enjoy delicious dishes like Pho, V ietnamese curries and summer rolls on Tuesday–Saturday from 12–3pm, and Tues–Thurs and Sat evenings from 5.30–9pm. There’s something new and delicious on the Specials board in the restaurant, or tune in to the social feed for Noya’s Kitchen to hear about them The menu changes regularly depending on locally sourced ingredients, the weather and Noya’s inspiration Book online or call in, you ’ ll be warmly welcomed

THE CIRCUS RESTAURANT

34 Brock St reet, Bath BA1 2LN Tel: 01225 466020 Web: thecircusrestaurant co uk

A small, ver y busy, much-admired family-run business, The Circus Restaurant is one of Bath’s sparkling culinar y gems, ser ving seasonal, locally sourced, freshly cooked English food. It has a carefully chosen wine list, and exceptionally welcoming staﬀ Set in a fine Georgian house – between The Circus and the Royal Crescent – you will find sensible and honest prices, and you ’ ll leave wanting to return some time soon Voted number four in the UK in The Times’ 20 Secret Restaurants That Foodies L ove Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to midnight (c losed Sunday) Booking is advised.

THE SCALLOP SHELL

22 Monmouth Place, Bath BA1 2A Y Tel: 01225 420928 Web: thescallopshell.co.uk

The Scallop Shell is a much-loved AA Rosette fish restaurant, ser ving lightly battered and grilled fish and chips and seasonal seafood. F lying the flag for a fresh, sustainable catch from UK waters, the menu changes daily depending on the coastal landings, with fish and shellfish displayed for customers to see in an icefilled roll-top bath Opt for classic north Atlantic cod loin ser ved with mushy peas and homemade tartare sauce or make it more of a foodie experience with shared shellfish plates or the likes of oysters followed by Cornish monkfish tail or linecaught wild sea bass, with a great selection of wines sold by the bottle and glass Up on the first floor, find The Little Scallop, an intimate indoor-outdoor dining room and kitchen with a retractable roof and laid-back holiday vibe

THE WALLED GARDEN RESTAURANT AT LUCKNAM PARK

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Coler ne SN14 8AZ Tel: 01225 742777 Web: lucknampark.co.uk

S et among the 500-acre L uc knam Park estate, The Walled Garden Restaurant at L uc knam Park is a foodie dining destination that illuminates the ver y best loc al produce, with its own kitchen garden providing vegetables alongside supplies from some of the best farmers in the countr y The green, light-filled dining space has c alming, natural vie ws of the cour t yard and gardens beyond and has all the romance and serenit y of an English countr y garden. Open dail y (breakast 7.30am-10am; lunch 12pm2.30pm; dinner 6pm-9pm.

DOUGH PIZZA

9 Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB Tel: 01225 422320 14–16 The Cor ridor, Bath BA1 5AP Tel: 01225 443686 Web: doughpizz arestaurant co uk

Proud ly independent, family-run pizzerias, with venues in Kingsmead Square and The Corridor, Dough combines years of expertise and the best ingredients to bring you first-rate pizza, ever y time. W ith a focus on pizza for ever yone, Dough oﬀers 12 alternative health-giving bases, from kamut to hemp, grano arso, multigrain and more, alongside traditional sourdough Gluten-free and allerg y friend ly pizzas are a particular speciality You’ ll find all the c lassics from margheritas to marinaras alongside pizza parcels, star-shaped pizzas and gourmet specials such as The King with mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, paprika prawns, king prawns, rocket pesto, truﬄe oil, lemon zest and pink pepper, based on seaweed dough. Warm, family-friend ly ser vice, dough-spinning entertainment and plenty of Italian charm ensures that any visit to Dough is a memorable one

LA TERRA RESTAURANT

2 John St reet, Bath BA1 2JL

Tel: 01225 482070 Web: later ra.co.uk

Having just received its first Rosette Star - La Terra is an independent restaurant in the heart of Bath, run by business partners V ito and Alessandro ser ving up Italian cooking with a modern approach. Using local and fresh produce, the menu reflects the seasons and highlights many diﬀerent aspects of Italian dining and is complemented by an extensive wine list covering all regions of Italy as well as ser ving some classic French and Spanish wines Ser vice is attentive and friendly, providing a comfortable, happy and relaxed atmosphere V ito Scaduto heads the front of house and has over 30 years experience managing some of the most renowned restaurants and hotels in the UK, receiving accolades at The Bath Prior y, the Three Gables in Bradford on Avon, the Royal Crescent and many more. Running the kitchen is Alessandro Scola, from Lake Como in northern Italy. Alessandro spent his childhood surrounded by people cooking real Italian food, including making fresh pasta with his grandma, so he was always destined to be a top a chef The food at La Terra is absolutley delicious Be a customer!

WOODS RESTAURANT

9–13 Alfred St reet, Bath BA1 2QX Tel: 01225 314812 Web: woodsrestaurant.com

CHEZ DOMINIQUE

15 Arg yle St reet, Bath BA2 4BQ

Tel: 01225 463482 Web: chezdominique co uk

Ever popular, Chez Dominique is a family-run restaurant ser ving local and seasonal French and European food Inc luded in the latest Good Food Guide, it has been granted a certificate of achievement from Hardens for its high-quality food This cosy, casual bistro is ideally located on the beautiful Arg yle Street just over Pulteney Bridge, and the private dining room – comfortably seating eight –over looks Pulteney Weir Chez Dominique oﬀers a prix fixe menu at lunchtime, an à la carte dining in the evenings, and there’s also a ver y carefully chosen wine list. Bookings - lunch: Monday to Saturday 12-3pm, Sunday 12-3pm. Evenings: Sunday to Thursday 5-9pm, Friday and Saturday 5-9 30pm Enjoy great food and drink in a relaxing and friend ly atmosphere

This is quite simply a Bath institution With Georgian elegance and a warm informal atmosphere, Woods has created an enviable reputation as one of Bath best independent restaurants, a firm favourite with locals and a must for visitors to Bath. Established in 1979 by David and Claude Price, they work alongside the head chef of 28 years Stuart Ash and Gaston Price who runs the front of house A truly family-run business oﬀering personal service, dazzling food, modern British cooking with a classic French influence, and sourcing local ingredients to give you a mouth-watering sensation that will leave you coming back for more The menu changes seasonally with specials of the day The wines that accompany the delicious dishes are specially selected and tasted by David Woods caters for all: the small terrace and bar are great to meet friends for a glass of wine, a dish of olives and a catch-up; the main dining room is ideal for intimate or informal dining; and the private room is perfect for corporate entertainment, family celebrations or weddings. Woods also has a Wine Shop and Deli (which runs from Weds to Sat) to eat in or take away, and you can enjoy a Sunday lunch on the first Sunday of every month

ROBUN

4 P rinces Buildings, George St reet, Bath BA1 2ED

Tel: 01225 614424

Web: robun co uk

Robun is a celebration of authentic Japanese food and drink, specialising in a modern take on Yakiniku – the art of grilling meat, seafood and vegetables over a traditional charcoal fire. The menu features a range of meticulously craf ted dishes using only the freshest and finest ingredients From delicate sashimi and perfectly grilled wag yu beef, to artisanal sushi rolls and exquisitely presented small plates, each dish is a work of art that showcases the skill and creativity of Robun’s talented chefs To accompany your meal, there’s an extensive selection of premium sake, Japanese whiskey, and cocktails, handpicked to complement the cuisine For something special, Robun’s Af ternoon Tea swaps sandwiches for sushi and scones for bao buns. This beautifully presented Af ternoon Tea features some of the standout dishes from Robun’s menu Upstairs at Robun, a private dining room and bar is set to host celebrations, events and meetings The space can accommodate 40 seated or 50 standing guests, with set menus available for parties of eight or more Set in the heart of Bath, Robun oﬀers an informal yet refined environment to share freshly prepared sharing plates and pairings

HUDSON STEAKHOUSE

14 London St reet, Bath BA1 5BU

Tel: 01225 332323

Web: hudsonsteakhouse.co.uk

Hudson Steakhouse has been ser ving the people of Bath the best steaks for over a decade, oﬀering its diners prime dr y-aged steaks, starters with a fusion influence and c lassic dishes, all ser ved in a sympathetic conversion of a once-notorious V ictorian pub O wner Richard Fenton took on this run-down building and has created a destination that has consistently won best-restaurant awards locally and nationally Cocktails, premium beers and wor ld wines are ser ved under sparkling chandeliers and the upstairs grill room has an open kitchen which looks out over Hedgemead Park.

LE CHEF PRIVÉ

Email: info@leche fprive.co.uk Web: leche fprive.co.uk

Since retiring from the well-loved restaurant Casanis, chef Laurent Couvreur oﬀers personal ser vices for special occasions From cheﬃng on board Northabout in the Arctic for adventurer David Hempleman-Adams to recreating favourite restaurant dishes in local homes, Laurent uses wonderful local produce to recreate his southern French style of cooking with a twist L e Chef Privé takes all the stress out of your dinner parties, presenting award-winning restaurant-quality food in the comfort of your own home. Chef Laurent proud ly reads us a note from one of his customers: “ Thank you for a truly wonder ful evening, I cannot imagine a better way to have celebrated my birthday The food was (unsur prisingly) mar vellous and the entire evening flowed beautifully, f rom canapés to dessert All our guests have expressed their delight at the dinner ” He adds, “ We look for ward to bringing incredible flavours and a ray of French sunshine to our diners’ homes ”

FLUTE SEAFOOD CAFÉ & BAR

9 Edgar Buildings, George St reet, Bath BA1 2EE

Tel: 01225 400193 Web: flute-bath com

F lute Seafood Café and Bar is the new all-day cosy hangout spot tucked snugly into the centre of Bath’s popular George Street F lute is all about keeping things fresh, fun, and delicious, and ser ves fabulous breakfasts, exciting cocktails, a large selection of sparkling wines, and the best seafood the city has to oﬀer. W hether you ’ re looking for an ear ly breakfast, delightful sharing plates and cocktails for a day out with friends, or a seafood meal to remember, F lute has something for ever yone. Soak up the F lute experience where awesome food, good vibes, and unforgettable moments come together in perfect sync

BAILBROOK HOUSE HOTEL

Eveleigh Avenue, London Road West, Bath BA1 7JD

Tel: 01225 855101 Web: handpickedhotels co uk

Relaxed elegance is firmly on the menu at Bailbrook House in Bath, which oﬀers a variety of spaces in which to enjoy modern British seasonal food prepared with passion and ser ved with charm Drink in the historic period charm of Cloisters restaurant, which takes full advantage of striking architectural features and beautiful views out onto the gardens. An altogether more contemporar y space is The Conser vator y, a modern setting with plenty of natural light and a summer terrace for peaceful alfresco dining Characterful royal lounges provide an idyllic spot in which to enjoy afternoon tea, or its private dining rooms are ideal for celebrations and special events Make magical memories and experience laid-back luxur y

CORKAGE

5 Chapel Row, Bath BA1 1HN

Tel: 01225 423417 Web: corkagebath.com

Corkage is an award-winning independent restaurant, bar and bottle shop in central Bath Think creatively cooked, locally sourced seasonal plates and daily specials, with a broad range of exquisite wines from around the world, by the glass and bottle. You can sip crisp English fizz with a plate of pasta or day boat fish, or go for a multi-course experience, featuring the likes of oysters with Bloody Mar y granita, pan fried pigeon breasts with potato terrine, braised radicchio and damson jus and cocoa cheesecake with raspberries and white chocolate W ith a beautiful fair y-lit heated terrace and secret courtyard garden, it ’ s one of those special places to enjoy year-round

Gainsborough Bath Spa Brasserie

The Gainsborough Bath Spa is one of Bath’s most recommended destination hotels, with its ﬁve-star rating and its luxurious and recharging Spa Village including a range of exclusive signature therapies This year the hotel launched its new brasserie concept to add more panache to the hotel’s high-class offering.

W hen it comes to ﬁve-star luxur y in Bath, there's no doubt that The Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel stands out with its elegant spa and ﬁrst-c lass facilities Built in the 1800s, the hotel occupies two Grade II Listed buildings with distinguished Georgian and V ictorian façades and is named af ter the Bath resident and artist Thomas Gainsborough W ith its beautiful three-pool complex, this is the only hotel in Bath offering access to the city ’ s natural thermal mineral waters. The hotel is designed by New York based Champalimaud Design to be welcoming, elegant, vibrant and social – a modern interpretation of a c lassic design.

Dining at the hotel is another major attraction. Meals are ser ved in the contemporar y-styled Gainsborough Brasserie, featuring wooden ﬂoors, dark wooden tables, leather armchairs, and original artwork The Brasserie offers a gourmet delight with an internationally inspired menu, delicious food and a relaxed, convivial atmosphere It ’ s no wonder the hotel has received rave reviews from critics, journalists and guests from around the globe

We sat down with the Gainsborough's ever-hospitable General Manager, Marc Mac Closkey, to learn more about this highly successful Bath restaurant...

T he dining concept at our Brasser ie is a kaleidoscope of globall y inspired gourmet exper iences with ne w flavours where East meets West, featur ing the freshest and choicest ingredients to make up its diverse spread of gastronomic creations

T he Brasser ie ’ s sig nature dish is ‘ Dancing Prawns’ , hot wok’d prawns coated in our secret house-made citr usy aioli emulsion and spr inkled with cr y stalised walnuts. For a unique exper ience I would recommend the Yukibana Creamy S ashimi Pasta, which is our c ar bonara of the sea with chilled c apellini pasta (hugel y popular in Japan) sc allop, salmon, spotted shr imp, salmon roe, crab stic ks and finished with a creamy egg yolk sauce For something more traditional then tr y our c lassic honey mustard-cr usted rac k of lamb, por tobello mushroom confit, charred asparagus, pomme purée and chimichurr i

We have a ver y talented br ig ade of passionate chef s who have worked at some of the most renowned kitchens in Kuala L umpur They are led by chef Oon T in J ie who oversees the dail y kitchen operations and personall y ensures that e ver y dish is cooked to per fection

T he menu e vol ves around the seasons with a core selection of our most popular dishes supplemented with some seasonal creations to keep e ver y thing current and diverse

P lant-based dishes are in big demand so we inc luded se veral on the menu – our most popular would be the Roti Canai with L entil Curr y – cr isp and fluffy gr illed flatbread with tempered her itage spiced lentil and c auliflower hummus. Children are al way s welcome and we have a specifi menu available

Sour and Spic y King Prawns

Yukibana Creamy S ashimi Pasta

We have craf ted a wine list to complement the food – diverse and international with a focus on some grape var ietals that pair well with Asian cuisine, as well as some traditional options that work ver y well with the Western cuisine O ur team of skilled bar tenders ser ve delicious innovative coc ktails tailored to your personal taste, along with traditional c lassics – or simpl y choose from our stellar collection of Champagnes, ar tisan gins, mar tinis and loc al ales

We have retained the or ig inal inter iors of the restaurant –Georgian architecture, or iginal ar twork and an impressive wine wall create a refined yet relaxed dining environment – a place where you c an spend qualit y time with your fr iends and famil y

I belie ve the r ight time to open a restaurant is when you have the r ight concept and the r ight people to make it happen W ith a diverse and interesting menu of globall y inspired gastronomic exper iences, a collection of talented chef s and a five-star ser vice team I belie ve that our ne w more relaxed approach to dining will be a huge hit with both hotel residents and Bath residents, as we want e ver yone to enjoy treasured moments with fr iends and famil y at the Gainsborough! n

Brasser ie opening hours: Breakfast: 7.30am – 10.30am (Mon–S un) Dinner : 6pm – 9pm ( Tues, Weds, T hurs) 6pm–9.30pm (Fr i and Sat)

T he Gainsborough Bath S pa, Beau S treet, Bath; theg ainsboroughbathspa.co.uk; 01225 355336

Chargrilled S atay Skewers

QUIET STREET COFFEE

2 Quiet St reet, Bath BA1 2JS

POPPY’S BAKERY

15–16 and 17 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4A Y

Poppy ’ s Bakery is a beautiful little coﬀee shop and bakery situated directly on Pulteney Bridge, just a minutes’ walk from both Waitrose and The Guildhall Delicious pastries are cooked on-site everyday, why not enjoy one with a freshly ground espresso and a beautiful view over the weir, what more could you want! Watch the pleasure boats come and go in the summer months or do some people watching across the street whilst taking in the best of Bath’s Georgian architecture Takeaways are also popular; they oﬀer a meal deal which is ideal for a picnic down by the river Cream teas are an afternoon staple here with varying homemade scone options, look out for the blueberry scones especially, alongside other favourites including carrot cake, triple chocolate brownie and lemon drizzle – made by the on-site bakery team.

Opening hours: 9am-5 30pm Monday–Friday 9am-6pm Saturday and 9 30am5 30pm Sunday

A mouthwatering cake display greets you here at Q uiet S treet with a fabulous choice of c lassic bakes - the cheesecakes are a particular favourite There’s a great variet y of coﬀees, with all of the options available in freshly ground decaf as well. A popular spot for takeaway coﬀee, there is also plent y of seating on the ground floor, as well as down a spiral staircase into a colourful and cosy lounge S er ving a simple breakfast, lunch and tea and cake menu, the café can get busy so get there ear ly. A delightful pitstop on the way into town, this prett y little café is situated between Milsom S treet and Q ueen S quare. Opening hours: 8.30am -5.30pm Monday–Friday 9am-6pm S aturday, and 9 30am-5 30pm S unday

THE COURTYARD CAFÉ

3 Liliput Court, Bath BA1 1ND Web: courtyardbath.co.uk

Just around the corner from the bustle of Bath Abbey, this colour ful independent c afé has been ser ving up delicious food for over 30 years Head down the steps at Nor th Parade Passage to discover the quirky surroundings of Lilliput Cour t and soak in the Georgian architecture vie ws. Go for fluffy panc ake stac ks or Havana toast - think spiced pulled pork, ham, cheese and chipotle mayo, topped with a fr ied egg - booz y cream teas, rarebit cr umpets, all day Full English/veggie, homemade lunch specials and Kirst y ’ s moreish c akes There ’ s a cosy inside space and plent y of cover outside too, with heaters and blankets for chillier day s, ensur ing a delightful stop off year-round

THE HIDEOUT

1 Lilliput Court, Bath BA1 1ND Web: hideoutbath.co.uk

Opened in 2016, The Hideout is a whisky den which takes its cue from the lawless thieves, highwaymen and opportunists who might have met there in the past It was the perfect hideout Seven years on, it still has the feel of one of those ‘secret ’ places you don’t want to share, with its cosy, vaulted feel, 300 odd whiskies on the shelf and a for ward-thinking team with larger-than-life personalities and a fondness for hip-hop. Of course, you don’t have to be a whisky aficionado to love The Hideout, there are craz y good cocktails – which put it at No.25 in the top 50 cocktail bars in the UK list – beers, ciders and top-notch wines to sip outside in the sunny courtyard too

DOS DEDOS

Edgar Mews, Bartlett St reet, Bath BA1 2QZ Web: dosdedos.co.uk

Dos Dedos is a lively Mexican cantina in the heart of Bath, with a focus on tequila, mez cal and creative cocktails You’ ll also find signature street food staples of Mexico Cit y, with a small selection of tacos and nachos, which are great to share A cool cit y hangout, with a rec laimed vibe, bartenders are supremely knowledgeable, there's a dogs-allowed polic y and children are welcome ’til 6pm. There are no advance bookings due to the siz e of the venue, so simply rock up to get your margarita and taco fix

THE COMMON ROOM

2 Saville Row, Bath BA1 2QP Web: commonroombath.co.uk

One of Bath’s original late-night bars, The Common Room has been an institution on the city ' s party scene since the 1960s These days, it's open from 5pm, six days a week (and 10pm on Sunday) and the retro glam surroundings are buzzing well into the ear ly hours W ith a love for rum, you ’ ll find over 150 variations from around the wor ld, alongside a fully vegan cocktail list, an extensive spirits selection, draught beers, cider, fine wines and more. There’s DJ action at weekends, with a host of events throughout the month, from live music nights to artisan markets.

Bath business

LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATION UPDATES

CELEBRAT I NG 51 YEARS!

Avonvale Car pets – or iginall y star ted by Peter P ink in 1972 – is a well-established, famil y-r un business in the centre of Bath, which al way s puts customers at the forefront of e ver y project Paul Ivor y, its present owner, celebrates 25 years of owning the business in 2024, along with his daughter Anna-L ouise, who joined the famil y business bac k in 2017 in the office and progressed to r unning the shop and becoming an owner in 2020

Avonvale Car pets has an excellent choice of qualit y floor ing; in addition to wool, tailormade, and stain-resistant c ar pets The business

David McNulty, Head Coach of the hugely successful Aquatics GB Per formance Centre squad at the University of Bath, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for his services to swimming McNulty, an inductee into the University ’s Hall of Fame for Spor t, has coached swimmers to 11 medals at the past three Olympics and is now gearing up for another Games – the sixth of his outstanding career – on the Team GB coaching staﬀ at Paris 2024.

“I'm absolutely over the moon with this recognition,” said McNulty, who has been based at the Team Bath Spor ts Training Village since September 2008 “Normally it ’s about mak ing the swimmers’ dreams come true, as a coach, and this is time for me to reflect on what I' ve done.”

McNulty has developed the Bath Per formance Centre into one of the world’s leading training programmes teambath.com

also offers a great selection of hard floor ing inc luding engineered wood, LV T and viny l Although specialists in the domestic market, the company also c aters for commercial c lients with products to suit all requirements, combining traditional values with high qualit y products for a bespoke ser vice, tailored around each c lient ’ s individual needs W hether for your home or business, Avonvale Car pets offers exper t advice and will guide you through the process to find the per fect floor ing solution for you

Avonvale Car pets, 37 Kingsmead Street, Bath; avonvalecar pets.co.uk

MO GERS DREWE T T NEW TALEN T

South west legal and financial planning firm Mogers Drewett has announced a number of promotions to develop talent in the business The firm has appointed four new partners and made other promotions across its commercial and private client teams. These include Jenna Allsop who becomes a partner in Mogers Drewett’s commercial property team and Cara Burr who becomes a partner in the company ’s private client team Emily Eccles has been promoted to partner in the corporate commercial team Others promoted to partner include Georgina Woodman, head of Mogers Drewett’s operations team and responsible for the running of the firm’s four oﬃces Meanwhile, John Osman becomes an equity partner in the firm’s disputes team which he now heads. Also promoted to equity partner is Alison Treble in Mogers Drewett’s residential property team. Others moving up are Victoria Darvall, who becomes a senior associate in the firm’s corporate commercial department, and Anne -Marie Worth, who is now an associate in the private client team mogersdrewett.com

SULIS

CU T T I NG ED GE

S ulis Hospital in Bath has become the first in the UK to achie ve 50 REGENET EN Biologic al Tendon repair surger ies. This cutting-edge procedure uses cow tissue to help patients return to work ear lier and maintain their qualit y of life Redefining biologic al healing and limiting the impact of re-tears, S mith & Nephe w ’ s REGENET EN technique was first used at the hospital in December 2020. The implant has been used to treat both fullthic kness and par tial-thic kness rotatorcuff repairs in the shoulder The surger y invol ves a biologic al procedure to suppor t the body ’ s natural healing response to facilitate ne w tendon-like

tissue growth and disrupt disease progression Alongside its launch of Sulis Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SEOC), same-day joint replacements, and use of robotics, the REGENETEN surgeries are a key contributor to Sulis’ position as a centre for excellence in orthopaedic care. sulishospital.com

Paul Ivor y and Anna-Louise Ivor y

Emily Eccles

MBE FOR DAVID MCNULT Y

Jenna Allsop

HEmbracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Are You Ready to Dance?

By Lucy Cotterell HR Consultant – Mogers Drewett LLP

ere ’ s a brief article for business owners, directors, HR professionals and managers Let s have a chat about something incredibly important and close to our hearts – diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) These aren t just buzzwords; they are the building blocks of a thriving dynamic, and innovative workplace

In today’s world, it’s essential for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to embrace DEI to create a positive and productive environment for everyone

Why DEI Matters

Imagine walking into a room where everyone looks thinks and acts exactly like you Sounds a bit dull, right? Diversity brings a richness of perspectives, ideas, and experiences that can drive creativity and innovation

When we talk about equity, we re focusing on fair treatment, opportunities and advancement for all while inclusion ensures that everyone feels valued and respected

Vernā Myers once said “Diversity is being invited to the dance Inclusion is being invited to Dance Equity is allowing you to choose the music ” This quote beautifully captures the essence of DEI It’s not just about having a diverse workforce; it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive

Creating a DEI-Friendly Workplace

So, how can we, as leaders and people managers in business, foster a workplace that truly embodies DEI?

Here are some tips to get you started:

1 Start with Leadership: DEI initiatives should be championed from the top As leaders, show your commitment to these values through your actions and decisions Lead by example and make DEI a core part of your company ’ s mission and values

2 Educate and Train: Provide regular DEI training for all employees This helps in raising awareness challenging biases and fostering a more inclusive mindset Remember, education is an ongoing process, not a one-time event

3 Listen and Learn: Create open channels for feedback and listen to your employees’ experiences and concerns Use this feedback to make informed decisions and improvements Everyone s voice matters

4 Inclusive Hiring Practices: Ensure your recruitment process is fair and unbiased Use diverse hiring panels, write inclusive job descriptions, and reach out to underrepresented groups A diverse team starts with a diverse hiring process

5 Support Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Recognise that different people have different needs Offer flexible working arrangements to accommodate those with caregiving responsibilities, disabilities, or other unique circumstances

6 Flexible Work Policies: Recognise that different people have different needs Offer flexible working arrangements to accommodate those with caregiving responsibilities disabilities or other unique circumstances

7 Celebrate Diversity: Acknowledge and celebrate the diverse cultures traditions and backgrounds of your employees This can be through events newsletters or social media Celebrations foster a sense of belonging and respect

8 Equitable Advancement Opportunities: Ensure that all employees have equal access to career development and advancement opportunities This includes mentoring training programs and clear pathways to promotion

9 Transparent Policies: Develop and communicate clear policies on DEI anti-discrimination and harassment Make sure everyone knows these policies and feels safe to speak up if issues arise

10 Community Engagement: Engage with and support diverse communities outside your organization This not only enhances your company ’ s reputation but also shows your commitment to DEI values in the broader society

The Bigger Picture

Embracing DEI isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s also good for business Diverse teams are more innovative, better at problem-solving, and can relate to a broader customer base For smaller enterprises, SMEs and charities which often operate with limited resources the beneﬁts of a diverse and inclusive workforce are invaluable By fostering a workplace culture that values diversity equity and inclusion, we can create environments where everyone feels welcome and empowered It’s about building stronger, more resilient organisations that reﬂect the rich diversity of our society

“DEI is a really important area for businesses. Professional services have historically lacked diversity and have not understood the concept of ‘equity’ which has made it harder for certain groups to access careers and fulﬁl their potential. Whilst we have made great strides in this area, including clear career pathways, a broad range of funded training routes and access to in-house performance coaching, I am committed to continuously improving and adapting our approach to make sure we attract and retain the best people, it’s no less than our clients deserve “

Sean McDonough Managing Partner Employment Lawyer Mogers Drewett

So let s take Vernā Myers advice to heart Let s not only invite everyone to the party but also ask them to dance and have their say on the playlist Together we can make our workplaces more inclusive equitable, and diverse – and that’s something worth celebrating

Lucy Cotterell - HR Consultant

Tel: 01225 750050, lucy cotterell@mogersdrewett com Mogers Drewett, St James House, The Square, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3BH www mogersdrewett com

HMRC war ning for cryptoasset investors

Changes to the self-assessment tax retur n signal HMRC’s intention to go after those buying and selling cryptoassets

Tax retur ns for 2024/25 will contain special questions relating to capital gains or losses resulting from transactions in cryptoassets, e g Bitcoin Therefore, you should keep up-to-date records of any such transactions; date, value in sterling and dealing costs

Tax retur n changes: HMRC has already set out its design for selfassessment tax retur ns for 2024/25. The retur n will include dedicated questions in the capital gains pages (For m SA108) for purchases and sales of cryptoassets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum

Special attention: It’s apparent HMRC consider s that many taxpayer s are not repor ting or incor rectly repor ting gains or losses they’ve made from investing in cryptoassets. January 2024 YouGov statistics showed 10% of the adult population has bought or own them Of course, this doesn’t mean they’ve all made gains that ought to have been declared to HMRC, but HMRC believes that there’s a lac k of awareness of when a declaration is required

Exemption reduction: Another factor makes undeclaration increasingly likely In the space of a year the annual exempt amount for capital gains has been reduced from £12,300 (as it stood on 5 April 2023) to where it stands now at just £3,000 This means that if the aggregate of all your capital gains, net of any capital losses, made in 2024/25 exceeds £3,000, you will have to pay capital gains tax (CGT) on the excess at 10% if you ’ re a basic rate taxpayer, or 20% if you pay at the higher or additional rate

Guidance for holders of cryptoassets: As well as understanding what and how to repor t, it’s essential that you keep a record of eac h cryptoasset transaction, i e the date, its value in UK sterling and any dealing or brokers’ costs ( as these are CGT deductible) Keeping good records will make your life much easier in deciding if you need to include a declaration to HMRC and whether you have CGT to pay

Education matters

NEWS FROM THE CITY’S LEARNERS AND LEADERS

KI NGSWO OD’S NEW SENIOR DEPU T Y H EAD AND VICE P RI NCI PAL

Kingswood School in Bath have appointed Mr Mat Chataway as the Senior Deputy Head and Vice Principal of the Kingswood Foundation

Following a 16-year career spanning three schools in London, Mr Chataway will be swapping West London for the west countr y as he leaves his position as Deputy Head Pastoral at Latymer Upper School to star t a new life in Bath from September, alongside his wife and two children, who will be joining Kingswood Prep School.

On his appointment as Senior Deputy Head, Mr Chataway commented: “From the first moment I was in touch with Kingswood, I was over whelmed by the sense of community the school held There was an obvious warmth and k indness throughout my interactions at ever y point, and it was clear that pupils and staﬀ alike really seemed to care about school and each other

"Bringing my love of work ing in education and experience in work ing alongside young people to this close community is what I am most excited about,” continued Mr Chataway. “Having my family alongside me and settling into the community together will be an exciting

challenge, and I am look ing for ward to getting to understand more about the nature of the school, experiencing first-hand what makes it such a special place ” Headmaster and Principal of the Kingswood Foundation, Mr Andrew Gordon-Brown, said: “ We had an outstanding field of applicants for this position of Senior Deputy Head, and I am sure that Mr Chataway will be a wor thy successor to Mr John Davies We were hugely impressed by the pastoral and leadership experience that Mat will bring to complement our senior team Mat ’s personal connection to our school’s mission and identity is ver y strong and we ver y much look for ward to welcoming him and his family to the Kingswood community from September.” kingswood.bath.sch.uk

Camp Teepee at Prior Park College this summer

Calling all adventurers! Summer holidays are on the horizon and if you ’ re looking for exciting days of activities for young ones, then The Paragon School in Bath may have the answer.

Camp Teepee: adventure and learning in the great outdoors

The stunning woodland and grounds of Prior College will be the setting for The Paragon Sc Camp Teepee this summer Think Swallows a Amazons-style adventures, where children aged 6 -11 can explore, make dens, learn to light ﬁres safely and cook delicious concoctions (nachos, and apples dipped in caramel sauce are a ﬁrm favourite) or brew a hot chocolate to enjoy in the dappled shade. Amble through meadows, play team games with newly found friends, or make maps to lead your chums to buried treasure.

Now in its eighth year, Camp Teepee has gain a reputation locally and has many regulars ke come and experience the hands- on, learning-i days in a natural environment. Tom Isherwoo

Outdoor Learning at The Paragon and Camp Teepee leader, says: “It’s always a joy to see how a child’s conﬁdence grows during their time with us – our activities are hands- on, practical and everyone wants to get involved The end of the day always comes too soon!”

9th - 12th July and 27th - 29th August

£40 per day. 9.30am – 4pm

Book at: www.paragonschool.co.uk/holiday- clubs

The Paragon is an independent school for children aged 3-11 years based in Bath

Prior Park College is an independent day and boarding senior school in Bath

www.paragonschool.co.uk

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:

Sarah Wringer

Kaplan International Languages Bath, 5 Trim Street, Bath, BA1 1HB Direct Line (01225) 448840

Email: sarah.wringer@kaplan.com

Heading to the Olympics

University of Bath Rowing Club’s Becky Wilde will compete at Paris 2024 after securing a women ’ s double scull space for Team GB at the Olympic Qualif ying Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland. Wilde, in her f irst full season with the senior GB Rowing Team, and partner Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne needed a top-two slot in the f inal and achieved that, f inishing runners-up to Czechia. Wilde was a swimmer when she f irst arrived at the University of Bath in 2017 to study Sport and Social Sciences before transitioning to rowing Here Becky tells us about her Olympic dreams

Has the Olympics always been an objective for you and for how long have you been training?

I ’ ve dreamed of going to the O l y mpics since I was 6 years old I remember watching Athens 2004 and being in awe of the likes of Kelly Holmes; the dream started then. I swam for 10 years at a national and international level, before switching to rowing when I was 19. It's taken years of hard work and commitment; I’ve finally achieved the dream

Which rowing events do you specialise in? And are you used to working in partnership with other athletes?

I am a sculler and will be rowing in Paris in the double sculls (sculling is with two oars) We train a lot in singles over the winter before going into larger boats in the summer season, so I’m ver y used to rowing with other athletes. Last year I won Henley Royal Regatta as a last minute sub in the British women ’ s quad, which has been the highlight of my career until now

Why was rowing your choice of sport?

I have always loved water; I was a water baby whilst growing up, which why I chose swimming Rowing always appealed to me as a ‘ back up ’plan af ter swimming, and my PE teacher said I should tr y it because of my height.

D ur ing L ondon 2012 the talent identific ation programme Wor ld Class Start was spoken about a lot – this stuck with me, and five years later I decided to switch from in the water to on it when I tested out for the programme at Bath The combination of phy sic alit y alongside a certain amount of elegance had me falling in love straight away

What qualities do you need to be a successful rower?

Rowing truly rewards those who work hard. The day in day out grind c an be br utal, but also so re warding. You have to be mentall y tough, physically robust and prepared to sacrifice so much.

Who are your sporting heroes?

Coming from a spor t y famil y I was exposed to so much sport growing up, and so there are almost too many to count Kell y Holmes, Rebecc a Ad lington, Michael P helps, S am Warburton and Katherine Grainger all come to mind

What did you study at the University of Bath and what was your experience like there?

I studied S por t and S ocial S cience, which is now c alled S por ts Coaching and Management I loved Bath and enjoyed ever y minute I spent there The university was really accommodating to me as a student athlete and allowed me to make the most of my academics and sport The facilities are also almost second to none, which made such a diﬀerence.

At what point in the Olympics does the rowing happen and over what period does it run?

Rowing starts on day one of the Games (27 July) and runs until day eight (3 August)

How is your training preparing you for the Olympics?

Training is going really well We are currently in the middle of a hard training block in Caversham, Reading, where the British team is based. We soon head to Varese for a month -long training camp, our last chance to get some hard miles in before Paris Each day we gain more confidence and we are really excited for what ’ s to come n

Other athletes so far selected for the Olympic GB team from the University of Bath

Team GB’s Olympic Games swimming squad: Tom Dean, Jacob Whittle, Kieran Bird, Leah Crisp, Frey Anderson, Ben Proud and Anna Hopk in.

Team GB’s ar tistic swimming squad: K ate Shor tma and par tner Izz y Thorpe

Team GB’s modern pentathlon squad: Kerenza Br yson, Joe Choong (so far confirmed)

ParalympicsGB para-badminton squad: Dan Bethell.

ParalympicsGB swimming squad: Suzanna Hext

ParalympicsGB wheelchair fencing squad: Dimitri Coutya, Piers Gilliver (so far confirmed)

Olympic Games Paris 2024: 26 July –11 August

Paralympic Games Paris 2024: 28 August – 8 September teambath.com; olympics.com/en/paris-2024

Did you know that in the West, 41% of first marriages end in divorce? Or that there was a 61% decrease in marriage since 2019 (stats which are undeniably linked to Covid) Or indeed that this year Forbes wrote about the number one self reported cause of marital breakdown was “lack of commitment”?

It’s interesting to ponder - “lack of commitment”... and yet, at a time in our culture when cancel culture reigns supreme, ADHD diagnoses are skyrocketing, and what passes for self care and boundaries in popular culture amounts to, respectively, a face mask and saying no to people around you - is it really surprising?

Modern couples of all persuasions are finding themselves grappling with the dichotomy of dependence/subjugation/ suppression vs freedom/independence W ith these opposing poles there is no way to win, and many couples simply lurch from one to the other, eventually giving up the ghost of the relationship Interdependence - a process where each member of the couple owns, honour and respect both their individuality, and their state of couple hood, and the give and take that is required in any healthy partnership - now this is much harder to achieve

None of us has been taught how to do this, and with the duelling messages of “love is all you need”, “romantic relationships are the most important”, “ you don’t need a relationship to be whole”, “being your authentic self is the most important”, many are struggling to understand how to create a life with both authenticity and long lasting love Here are some things to remember

You are not alone, nor are you failing, you are much more likely to be dealing with unconscious expectations that are at war with each other Happily ever after means something very different today than it meant even 50 or 100 years ago It’s often almost impossible for couples facing the myriad issues that lead to “lack of commitment” without the help of a third party translating not only between the two of you, but even between those warring parts of self So remember that there is no shame in asking for support. While there are many unconscious causes for how you got here, moving to a place where you feel fulfilled as well as connected is your responsibility to consciously choose.

Contact Audrey Stephenson for a free consultation. audreystephenson.co.uk

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Bee positive

Charlotte and Shaun Prescott from the Bath Beekeeping Association (BBA) are seriously enamoured with bees. Here they tell us the story of bees, particularly the honey bee, and how much both we and the environment rely on them

We simply would not be able to sur vive without bees They are crucial to our physical health and the health of the wider environment W ithout bees (and thousands of other insect species), it wouldn’t be long before our ecosystem collapsed Bees pollinate our wild trees and wild flowers, which then support other insects, which then support birds, bats, mammals and ever ything up the food chain with food and shelter.

Almost 90% of wild plants and 75% of leading global crops depend on animal pollination One out of ever y three mouthfuls of our food depends on pollinators such as bees and crops that depend on pollination are five times more valuable than those that do not W hile there are other methods of pollination – including by other animals and the wind – wild bees can pollinate on a much bigger and more eﬃcient scale Estimates suggest it would cost UK farmers an astounding £1.8 billion a year to pollinate their crops manually.

Species of bee

Incredibly, there are over 20,000 known species of bees in seven recognised biological families around the world Some species including honey bees, bumblebees, and stingless bees live socially in colonies while most species, including mason bees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees and sweat bees, are solitar y

There are more than 250 species of bee in the UK and 24 of these are bumblebees. One species, the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), lives in the UK. These farmed bees have been introduced by beekeepers and housed in hives, rather than being native to our shores

Honey bees are the highest form of insect life; they live in a wellorganised colony that does not need to hibernate They produce honey and store it in wax comb and use the same hive ever y year

The three types of honey bees in a hive are a single queen (eggproducers), thousands of worker bees (non-reproducing females), and drones (males whose duty is to find and mate with a queen; they do no work, and in the early autumn they are evicted by the female workers and

die) Unlike the worker bees, drones do not sting Honey bee lar vae hatch from eggs in three to four days They are then fed by worker bees and develop through stages in hexagonal beeswax cells Cells are capped by worker bees when the lar va pupates Q ueens and drones are larger than workers, so require larger cells to develop

Annual lifecycle of a honey bee colony

The typical population of a bee colony is a whopping 35,000–50,000 honey bees The colony typically follows a recurring annual cyc le over the four seasons:

• Spr ing (March to May) – with the days growing longer, the queen steadily increases her rate of egg laying, the population is growing fast and the drones begin to appear As the weather improves, the ear l y blossoms are around and the worker bees begin to bring pollen into the hive. Towards the end of spring, the colony is increasingly active. Nectar and pollen begin to come into the hive thick and fast and the queen will be reaching her greatest rate of egg laying • Summer ( June to August) – the colony will be teeming with bees and this is when bees will be most likel y to swarm if not managed

correctl y The queen ’ s rate of egg lay ing will drop as the season progresses and the main honey flow will be under way Towards the end of the summer the colony ’ s growth will be diminishing Drones are still around, but activity outside the hive begins to slow down as the nectar flow slows.

• Autumn (S eptember to No vember) – the drones may begin to disappear in S eptember as the hive population begins to drop. The queen ’ s egg-lay ing rate is dramatic all y reduced as the colony is hunkering down for the forthcoming winter In November, the cold weather will send the honey bees into a c luster inside the hive

• W inter (December to Febr uar y) – the queen is surrounded by thousands of her workers She is in the midst of their winter c luster and there is little activity, except on a warm day when the workers will make cleansing flights. There are no drones in the hive, but some worker broods will begin to appear. The bees will consume a considerable amount of stored honey. As the daylight hours begin to get longer again towards the end of December, the queen (still cosy in the c luster) will begin to lay a few more eggs each day It is still ‘females only ’ in the hive until the drones begin to appear again around March

Bee ﬂight facts

• The distance each bee flies in its life is tonishing. I t is possible for forager bees to bout three miles for food – however an tance would be less than a mile from the ng colony therefore flies the equivalent distance from Ear th to the Moon ever y day

• The normal top speed of a worker is about 15–20mph (21–28k m/h) when flying to a food source, and about 12mph (17k m/h) when returning with nectar, pollen and propolis (resin collected from tree buds) or water.

Threats to the honey bee

There are a number of threats aﬀecting bees, some more serious than others. These include habitat loss, pests and diseases, extreme weather, competition from invasi species, climate change and the u some pesticides The most alarming threat to honey bees in the UK right now is the potential arrival to mainland Britain of the Asian Hornet We can all help beekeepers by being aware of them, keeping an eye out and reporting them using the app www.gov.uk.

The art of beekeeping

Beekeeping can be a meditative and calming activity – the gentle hum of bees and the rhythmic motions of tending to the hive can be a relaxing way to unwind Beekeeping can also be a social activity, and many beekeepers join local associations and branches

The British Beekeeping Association (BBKA) was founded in 1874 The BBKA represents around 30,000 beekeepers and works to support education around honey bees, while actively campaigning to raise awareness of threats to pollinators.

If you are interested in taking up beekeeping contact either the BBKA Avon Association or the Bath branch for advice and consider becoming a member The Bath branch near Newton St Loe has over 130 members ranging from novice beekeepers to master beekeepers It caters for all ages holding informal and relaxed gatherings at its training apiar y for those either interested or new to beekeeping Taster Days are ideal for obtaining a basic understanding of bees and what is involved in beekeeping

You do not need to be a beekeeper to support honey bees. We can all do our bit to help bees, whether that is in our gardens, balconies, window sills or allotments. Plant a range of flowers so bees have access to nectar from March to October Bees love traditional cottage garden flowers and native wildflowers, like primrose, foxglove and marigolds n

bbka org uk; bathbeekeepers com

The Asian Hornet

Haunts of ancient peace

Although the Cotswolds is often thought of as being chock-full of tourist honeypots, it has many surprisingly remote corners, and this month’s walk from Andrew Swift takes us to one of the remotest.

The hidden valleys and lonely woods between Miserden and Edgeworth – seven miles or so north-east of Stroud – contain some of the most sublimely tranquil scener y in Gloucestershire, yet receive few visitors.

The reason so few people come here isn’t just down to lack of publicity The untrodden ways in these remote valleys can be more than a little challenging, with rough paths, steep slopes and a frustrating lack of waymarks But, as long as you ’ re equipped with sturdy footwear and an OS map, it is an area that richly rewards exploration, including two villages where time seems to have stood still.

Miserden, where the walk starts, is an estate village c lustered round a great house –Miserden Park – whose garden is open to the public Although only around a hundred people live in Miserden, it still has a school, a shop, and a splendid pub, the Carpenters Arms, while the church of St Andrew ’ s is filled with monuments to past owners of Miserden Park And, as it lies on the road to nowhere, with virtually no traﬃc, it ’ s easy to see why it was chosen to stand in for the village of Slad in the 2015 BBC adaptation of Cider with Rosie Edgeworth, a couple of miles to the south, is even tinier, yet its church of St Mar y ’ s is a hidden gem, boasting 14th-centur y stained glass and some ominously grotesque gargoyles, while its manor house, through whose gardens

the walk passes, is a honey-coloured monument to gracious living

Parking in Miserden is on the left-hand side of the road as you enter the village, opposite the school (GL6 7JA; SO933089) From here, head in the same direction past St Andrew ’ s Church. W hen you come to the centre of the village, with the Carpenters Arms on your right, go through a gap to the left of the old school – now the Club Room – across the road

Follow a footpath which leads across a slab stile and, when you come to a lane, cross and continue in the same direction for 400m W hen you come to a green lane (known as Bird ’ s Bush Lane) turn lef t along it (SO940081), and af ter 300m, when it forks, bear right between fences.

Af ter 200m, when it forks again, bear lef t down a grassy track to a gate and cross the stile beside it Head down the field, go through a stile at the bottom and continue downhill After passing another stile, the track through the woods grows steeper, before levelling out and cur ving left along Ashcombe Bottom.

After crossing a stile, continue in the same direction. At the end, go through a gate and turn right to follow a bridleway sign through a meadow, with the fledgling River Frome on your lef t (SO948077) At the end of the meadow, go through a handgate, and af ter another 400m go through a metal gate up to your right (SO951069) Bear lef t along a

drive, go through the gates at the end and turn left down a lane

Af ter 175m, turn right through a five-bar gate to follow a footpath sign through a meadow (SO951064) Carr y on across a footbridge, follow waymarks uphill and, after emerging from a copse, cross a meadow to a lychgate leading into Edgeworth churchyard.

Go through a gate on the far side of the churchyard, bear left and, just before the gates to Edgeworth Manor, turn right along a bridleway which cur ves left through the manor gardens Carr y on, following bridleway signs downhill At the bottom, bear lef t across a gated bridge (SO952058) and go through a gate to follow a path uphill through woods W hen you come to a lane, turn left downhill. Continue past the gate into the meadow you went through earlier, and, when the lane cur ves left, carr y straight on through a gate to follow a bridleway sign along a drive After the drive cur ves right past a lily pond – just before the yard of Edgeworth Mill Farm – follow a

Lake on Miserden Park estate

Edgeworth Church

brid leway sign to the right. Af ter crossing a footbridge, carr y on uphill for 50m alongside a fence W hen the fence bears left (SO952067), bear left alongside it to follow the bridleway as it leads into woods, and continue to follow waymarks as the brid leway cur ves uphill W hen you emerge into a meadow, ignore a footpath sign to your left, as the bridleway –for which there is no waymark – continues uphill towards a gap in the trees at the top.

Entering the woods, follow a rutted track uphill and, when you meet another track, turn right (SO952071) At the top, continue past a seven-bar gate, and, after another 100m, turn left alongside a fence Carr y on through a gate, and after 250m, when the track forks, bear right After another 300m, fork right again (SO952080). Fork left 40m further on and, when you come to a lane, cross it and go through a gate.

Head uphill and, near the top of the field, cross a stile on the left to continue climbing through woodland At the top of a flight of steps, go through a gap in the wall and turn left along the edge of a field At the corner of the field, follow the path into woods and bear right After 300m, when you come to a T junction, bear left and follow the path as it cur ves right.

W hen you come to another T junction

(SO947090), with a fence ahead, turn left down a track which grows ever steeper and stonier before emerging by a lake in Miserden Park After passing it, bear right to follow a permissive path along a drive (SO943088) Turn left at a T junction, and, when the way ahead is barred by no entr y signs, turn right across a stile Carr y on through a broken-down gate and continue in the same direction until you come to a tarmac path, which leads back up to the starting point. n

Andrew Swif t has wr itten books inc luding On Foot in Bath: Fifteen Walks around a World Heritage City – available from bookshops or akemanpress.com.

Length of Walk: 8 miles Time: 4–5 hours

Terrain: Some steep and possibly slipper y slopes, rough sur faces, stiles and muddy stretches

Map: OS Explorer 179

Facilities: Carpenters Arms, Miserden, GL6 7JA (thecarps-miserden co uk; 01285 821283)

Miserden Park Gardens are open Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays 10am–5pm; miserden org/garden

Green Lane near Miserden

Contemporary interiors in Georgian houses

High ceilings, large rooms, symmetry and proportion are the characteristics of Georgian interiors familiar to any Bathonian But what are the tricks to transform these spaces into stylish modern family homes? Clair Strong offers some advice.

The Georgian era saw a period of great change, as cities grew, trade routes expanded, consumerism took oﬀ and art and literature blossomed As Bath became the playground for the rich and famous, architects like John Wood came to the city to build new houses in the fashionable building style of Palladian architecture, a European style from Italy As a result, Georgian houses have a focus on balance and proportion, harmony and symmetr y It is a real testament to Georgian building skills that of the 7,000 houses built in Bath between 1714 and 1830, over 5,000 remain today and after 200 years they are still in incredible condition.

Georgian homes were built to provide a generous sense of space and natural light and this is why they are so popular as homes Here are some practical tips to maintain the Georgian aesthetic, while also creating a functional modern family home full of individuality and style

Paint colours

The colour palette you use, as well as how you pair it with other patterns and textures, will play a large part in creating a contemporar y look.

In addition to the bolder colours, authentic Georgian paint colours were often muted Those worked well in houses then and still do today I recommend choosing paint from companies such as Little Greene Paint Company or Farrow & Ball These companies’ palettes of colours inspired by heritage shades work perfectly in busy, modern homes Soft colours like sage greens, green toned greys, pale taupes, stone, natural beiges, sophisticated muted pinks and pale blues are timeless and work well in period homes, looking fresh and modern paired with contemporar y fabrics and wallpaper.

The colours you choose should feel like they flow from the hallway to

room to room to keep the look cohesive. Pick colours that work together and avoid pure white, which can look too harsh in a period proper y Colour-drenched walls can be the single most eﬀective and aﬀordable way to create a contemporar y look in a Georgan house Just paint the whole room from ceiling to skirting boards in one colour It ’ s a simple trick that lets the elegance and beauty of the room shine through

Wallpaper

W hile the V ictorian Era is of ten considered the Golden Age of wallpaper, it was often used during the Georgian era, with chinoiserie and flocked styles being the most popular I love to use wallpaper to give a contemporary twist to Georgian houses It is one of the easiest ways to add impact to your walls, uplifting and defining a room ’ s style and adding depth that ’ s not possible with paint From traditional florals to contemporary geometrics and tropical botanicals or animal motifs, there are more styles, patterns, and textures than ever Mixing wallpaper and paint is a great way to create contrast and interest. I like to paper one wall in a really gorgeous expensive designer wallpaper and paint the rest of the room in its background colour, so it blends in perfectly Use wallpaper in panels or as a headboard and don’t be afraid to use more than one wallpaper design in a room; one wall in a flamboyant botanical and another in a striped design can look really striking Georgian hallways and corridors can be diﬃcult to decorate stylishly, and wallpaper works perfectly – often mixed with painted panelling or skirtings If you want to turn a functional space – such as the bathroom – into a beautiful one, wallpaper is your best tool. I think it is fun to be bold with your decorating choices in a small space where you spend little time, such as a WC. The beauty with using wallpaper in a WC is that

you often need a ver y small amount so you can splash out!

I love to use bold contemporar y wallpaper in small or unexpected places like in boot rooms, laundry rooms or inside closets to bring fun and an element of surprise to a room Hand printed bespoke wall murals are also wonderful to use in larger Georgian houses where they can create really dramatic statement feature walls

Lighting

In the Georgian era, houses were lit by the light of the fireside and candles, which were carried from room to room. Ever yday lighting was rarely part of an architectural design, although in larger houses, sconces, pendant lights and chandeliers provided fixed fittings

Georgian houses are associated with large windows, but many period properties can be dark dark, so using the right lighting is vital for modern living Lighting is also one of the most important features in contemporar y interior design It ’ s practical, of course, but when done right it also creates atmosphere and enhances the feel of a room

Modern chandeliers and pendant lights can look incredible as focal points in traditional Georgian rooms with high ceilings and ornate roses.

Ever y contemporar y room should have a variety of light sources. A combination of ambient, task and accent lighting will create mood and atmosphere Wall lights, floor lamps and table lamps for illuminating a space, creating a cosy glow or ser ving as an accent are key decisions to make to add focus, depth and shade to a room I love using table lamps with fabric shades, giving an opportunity to add an interesting contemporary fabric into the room

Kitchens

The kitchen in a large Georgian house would have been a basic basement room, used by ser vants. Many of my clients have kept the kitchen located in the basement, but given it a contemporary feel by opening the basement rooms up so it ’ s a light and bright space

W hen choosing a new kitchen, nod to the elegance and symmetr y of the Georgian period by choosing simple Shaker style cabinets painted in a fresh modern colour and a pale worktop in granite or marble, a material loved by the Georgians A contemporar y Belfast sink and sleek brass or copper taps, which nod to the copper pots and pans of the period, are on trend but won’t date either.

Georgian houses often have enough room for a kitchen island which is a wonderful addition for modern family life. Choose a bright contrasting paint colour to your cabinets and add some modern bar stools

Bespoke cabinetry

One of the joys of owning a period property is that your home is unique Rooms are often not entirely symmetrical, floors can be uneven and most Georgian homes have a fireplace with alcoves either side Lack of storage is also often an issue because Georgians just didn’t own as many clothes, books or bits of technolog y as we do.

The wonky rooms and lack of storage means that it is often more cost eﬀective to have bespoke cabinetr y made to fit Alcove units, wardrobes, shelving, media units and wine storage can be made in contemporar y or minimalist styles and painted any colour to fit into a scheme Flush doors, concealed hinges and push latches create clean straight lines which work perfectly for our modern needs and workspaces

Rugs

If you have original Georgian wooden floors or stone staircases, you are lucky. Restoring them may take time and eﬀort but once done, they will last another 200 years Wood and stone floors can be cold, so in Georgian houses I think rugs are a wonderful addition

A rug can transform any space by adding colour, texture and style Rugs can also help create diﬀerent zones, and runners are a great way to help lead the eye from one space into another I love antique rugs for their power to make a space feel timeless and layered If you choose a rug with hand-knotted elements or fringing details it will also add warmth to your room. Layered rugs look great on a wooden floor. If a rug isn’t big enough, a top tip is to buy a large sisal rug and use that as your base.

Fabrics

Fabric can make or break a room and Georgian houses can take an eclectic mix of patterns Layer diﬀerent patterns of var ying scales to add movement and texture and create a contemporar y designed look Pick a large pattern as the main pattern and then add medium and smaller scale patterns as accents. W hen you mix patterns, you need the right

combination of shape, colour, shade, and size to create a cohesive look

Keep your colours similar in tone so all your patterns work together

Create some areas of solid colour to break up the lines and shapes of the designs you ’ ve chosen

Curtains are the perfect place to use a large-scale contemporar y print that you love. Bold prints are best used on tall curtains so you can see the repeat pattern. If you can’t choose between two favourite fabrics, use one on either side of your curtains. I love this look.

Living in a Georgian house is a priviledge Working with an interior designer with experience in how to blend tradition with modernity will give your beautiful home a stylish look c lairstrong.co.uk n

Washed Character Oak

DIXON

MICHAEL

Summer brights

They might be short-lived annuals, says Jessica Stokes, but cosmos will transform your garden over the summer with their vibrant shades...

Cosmos is an annual with a daisy-like flower. They are vigorous, reliable, productive and floriferous, and can reach a height of 1.2m. Cosmos come in multiple shades of bright colours; pinks, reds, yellow and white They typically flower from June to October, and due to their short-lived nature, are usually inexpensive to buy Despite their short-flowering period, they are an asset to any garden during the summer

If you need a reason to grow these plants, cosmos are beloved by pollinators, in par ticular bees, bec ause their open ﬂowers allow easy

access to their nectar and pollen. The ﬂowers are long-lasting and brightly coloured. Cosmos can be grown in pretty much any quality of soil as they are native to the desert and scrubland of Mexico – they grow as a wildﬂower there, and therefore can tolerate poorer soil

You can either propagate your own plants from seed or ﬁnd them in a nurser y or garden centre, in their bedding section as plug plants If growing from seed you will need to sow them undercover in March and April, for planting out when the risk of frost has passed, which is usually May here in the UK, with ﬂowers appearing from June onwards

Saving seed

W hen your cosmos flowers come to the end of their growing season, their seed is ver y easy to har vest I allow the seed to dr y on the plant In order to do this, you should stop deadheading the flowers I begin by selecting the flower heads that I loved the colour of most, or that had a particular ly large, strong bloom Then leave the seed heads to dr y out naturally on the plant, until they fade in colour Cut off the seed heads, place on a plate or piece of kitchen paper and allow the seed heads to dr y out further inside the warmth of the house. You will then be able to shake the spent flower head, and collect the seed in an envelope. Keep the seeds in a cool, dr y place and they can then be used for the following growing season, without spending any money on ne w seed You c an expect to gather 20 or more seeds per flower head This means you can grow 20 new cosmos plants from one cosmos flower Sometimes you will find a surprise or two, where plants have cross-pollinated

There are over 35 varieties to choose from, but here are my favourites:

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cupcakes Blush’

This is the most unusual of the many varieties, and one that most people fall in love with when they see it It has the most delicate, pleated, fanlike concer tinaed petals, with what looks like a gentle spray of blush coloured ﬂowers, with a yellow centre

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Fizzy Rose Picotee’

These ﬂowers are double and semi double They have blush/white coloured frill y petals with the edges and tips a strong magenta pink, giving them a romantic elegance, perfect for any cottage garden border.

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sea Shells’

These are my favourite of all cosmos The flowers have yellow centres, similar to the others, but they boast the most incredible tubular, hollow, trumpet-like petals, which look like sea shells, hence their name They come in a mix of whites, blush pink and magenta I of ten find the flowers are the ear liest and they last longer too, compared to other varieties.

Cosmos ‘Rubenza’

These are the most rich, dark and velvety of the cosmos ﬂowers The blooms of dark, rich, ruby-red change to an antique-rose colour, as the ﬂower fades

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cupcakes Blush’

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sea Shells’’

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Velouette’

These are eye-catching and ver y striking ﬂowers, some have red petals with white ‘candy-cane’ streaks and others have magenta ﬂowers with white streaks, giving them a sweet-like, striped-look

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sonata Carmine’

These are the most exuberant, loud and bold of all cosmos, with bright magenta pops of colour If you are looking to add colour to your garden throughout the summer, put these at the top of your list They are certainly not colour shy!

Cosmos c an be grown in pots, as par t of a summer display They will grow tall and frothy ver y quic kl y in a small space of time O r they make a per fect addition to any border, acting as a filler for any gaps in a garden border or for anywhere in your garden needing vibranc y and colour. Not onl y will they add colour to your garden, but they also make an excellent cut flower S imilar l y to other annuals, such as sweet peas, they benefit from regular cutting, so that flowers last a long time in an arrangement

Yo u n g c o s m o s p l a n t s w

damage and you will also need to protect plants from frost, as they a re n o t h a rd y, b u t o t h e r w i s e t h e y a re a l ow m a i n t e n a n c e, t o u g h annual n

Jessic a S tokes, g ardener and sustainable floral desig ns. Instag ram: # flowerand land; flowerand land.com

Maintenance of cosmos

☸ For seedlings or young plants, pinch out any ﬂower heads above a leaf node – this encourages plants to bush out, meaning that they will be less legg y and produce a larger number of ﬂowers.

☸ Cosmos can grow up to 1 2 meters, and while they can be selfsupporting, they may need some extra support and staking after a spell of wind or heavy rain This can be in the form of a hazel structure, bamboo canes, a willow frame or metal herbaceous plant supports

☸ Cosmos have a tendency to put on too much leafy growth and may lack flowers, if they take up a large amount of nitrogen or find themselves in nitrogen rich soil I suggest using a potassium or iron seaweed feed weekly in your watering can, in order to promote flowers

☸ Regular deadheading is essential to encourage and sustain the ﬂowers well into autumn, preventing the plant from going to seed too early.

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Double Click Snow Puﬀ ’

Overvale is a unique 4 bedroom contemporary split level family home, located beautifully on the edge of open countryside and yet within easy reach of Bath city centre. This immaculately presented and deceptively spacious family home has several wonderful entertaining spaces, the open plan dining and drawing room, the lovely wrap-around sun terraces and in the extensive garden and summer house Stunning far-reaching views over the Limpley Stoke Valley

The property is entered into a large light and airy hallway with glass balustrades There is an impressive well-equipped kitchen with a glazed atrium, a large breakfast bar and bifold doors leading to a secluded decked sun terrace In addition, there are 3 double bedrooms, a beautiful family bathroom, a large utility room and convenient access to the double garage Shallow stairs lead down to an open plan living and dining room with wall-to-wall floor to ceiling sliding doors leading to the decked sun terrace Leading from the drawing room with high ceilings, a well fitted dressing room and en suite shower room

Externally the property is approached via electric gates into plenty of oﬀ-street parking with a covered car port There are attractive decked sun terraces that wrap around the sides and rear of the property enjoying access from both the kitchen and living space. Steps lead down to an extensive lawned garden and a large timber framed garden studio and terrace Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, The Circus, Bath; Tel: 01225 333332

Monkton Combe, Bath

• 4 double bedrooms

• Contemporary open plan kitchen/ breakfast room

• Large split level drawing room/dining room

• Study/media room

• Double garage and garden studio

• Gated off street parking

£1,250,000

Bradford-on-Avon

£700,000

An attractive and spacious, Edwardian 5 bedroom property offering private parking, delightful southwest facing garden and just a short level walk to the heart of Bradford on Avon

• 5 bedrooms

• En suite facilities

• 3 reception rooms

• Private parking for 2 vehicles

• Southwest facing level garden

Bathwick Hill, Bath

£595,000

An elegant and beautifully appointed 2 bedroom top floor apartment in a handsome Grade II listed building, with an impressive private balcony enjoying breathtaking far reaching views, with the added benefit of private off street parking and the use of delightful manicured communal gardens

• 2 double bedrooms and beautifully fitted quality kitchen

• Dining hall and formal drawing room

• Smart shower room

• Private balcony

Leigh Road, Bradford on Avon

Angus Ross’ Decade of Excellence in Property Management and Lettings at Bathlettings

Angus embarked on a transition from a successful teaching career to property, a move that has deﬁned his journey over the past decade His focus on personalised services has shaped the way he manages properties, deals with clients and built his business Today, as a seasoned property manager and lettings agent,

Angus has ﬁrmly established himself in the industry Bathlettings Ltd, under his stewardship, has become synonymous with reliability and integrity in property management With the property market facing impending challenges Angus stands ready to lead his clients into a new era of resilience and opportunity where together they can overcome and thrive

If you have a property that needs to be let or managed then contact Angus on: enquiries@bathlettings com

Camella Estate Agents, covering Bath and its charming surrounding villages, are celebrating their triumphant first year in business. Their success stor y is a testament to their dedication and expertise in the real estate market In this special feature, Melissa Anderson Camella’s founder and former Director at Rightmove, shares her top 5 tips for successfully selling homes, oﬀering invaluable insights to both novice and seasoned sellers alike Discover the secrets behind Camella's remarkable achievements and gain expert advice to ensure your property stands out in today ’ s competitive market

1. Proper ty Presentation

At Camella, we believe you have one shot at property marketing, and making that first impression count is crucial W hile estate agents excel at selling homes, they are not professional photographers That ’ s why we invest in hiring experts who specialise in capturing properties at their best

O ur marketing strateg y includes professional photography that highlights the unique features of each home, personalised videos under two minutes designed for social media, 360-degree virtual tours, and drone footage to showcase stunning locations from above These visual tools, paired with beautifully written property descriptions, ensure that your property attracts more demand and achieves higher asking prices

By presenting your property with such precision and flair, we create a compelling narrative that resonates with potential buyers, making them more likely to fall in love with your home before they even step inside

2. Proper ty Pricing

We understand that getting the marketed property price right is crucial for ensuring a timely and successful move O ur expert pricing strategies are designed to encourage demand and foster a competitive landscape, often resulting in higher oﬀers for our clients

We have a proven track record of success, having been the second or third agent instructed on several sales in the past year and managing to sell those properties where others couldn’t O ur deep understanding of the local market allows us to accurately price homes, making them attractive to buyers while maximizing value for sellers This expertise ensures that our clients achieve their selling goals eﬃciently and eﬀectively

Sometimes, properties do not attract the desired level of interest A good estate agent, like Camella, tackles this head-on using data analytics and a clear, proactive approach We ensure there is no lack of communication, keeping you informed and adjusting strategies as needed to generate interest and achieve a successful sale

3. Proper ty V iewings and Feedback

We believe that viewings should be conducted by estate agents who truly know your property. We do not hire ‘viewing staﬀ ’ ; instead, ever y property is allocated a client relationship manager As the founder of the business, I also conduct viewings personally This approach ensures that we have firsthand experience of how your property is performing on the open market and allows us to provide timely, detailed feedback to sellers, enhancing the overall sales process

4. Sales Prog ression

Did you know a third of property sales will not complete? We believe having a dedicated client relationship manager from start to finish is key to a successful property move By getting to know you and your buyers, we build the relationships necessar y to troubleshoot problems and facilitate a smooth transaction We’re available out of hours to speak with both buyers and sellers, and we maintain strong relationships with local solicitors Selling your home is a collaborative eﬀort, and whether you ' re new to the process or it's been a while, we ' re here to provide guidance ever y step of the way

5. Communication

At Camella, communication is paramount We respond to property viewing enquiries promptly and make ourselves available in the evenings and on Sundays to conduct viewings and speak with buyers and sellers after work We don’t oﬀer long contracts, ensuring our dedication to working hard for you remains unwavering - knowing you can move to another agent (though you won't want to!) keeps us on our toes and fully committed to your success

Celebrating Our F irst Year: A Hear tfelt Thank You from Camella Estate A gents

As one of the few female estate agent founders, I am deeply grateful for the incredible support we ’ ve received during our first year in business To all our buyers, sellers, family, friends, and even our fellow estate agent competitors thank you. Your love and support have been over whelming, and I am filled with gratitude Exciting expansion plans are on the horizon, and we can't wait to share them with you Watch this space!

Colerne

Larkhall

Bathwick

Batheaston

Colerne

Lower Weston

W idcombe

Bathford

Bearflat

Batheaston

Oldfield Park

Lansdown

Batheaston

Combe Down

Batheaston

Lansdown

Odd Down

Bathford

Limpley Stoke

Batheaston

Colerne

Batheaston