The Bath Magazine November 2024

FLEET OF FOOT

Comedian Paul Foot and the art of the surreal at the Rondo

DECOR REPORT

Discover the new furniture, fabric, lighting and craft trends at Decorex 24

GOLDEN STANDARDS

In search of precious treasures? Meet Bath’s top goldsmiths

STRIKING STORIES

Jasbinder Bilan on capturing the wonder in her children’s novels

OUTSMART your RIVALS

Wrap up this winter with British countrycore looks at Wadswick

Comforting wines and a warming recipe for the

We chat to Mike Killpartrick as Ellis & Killpartrick optometrists celebrate 45 years

In 1909 Bath united with other Baths around the world to revive its fortunes as a tourist destination

Capture

He’s

We

Emma Clegg talks to children’s author Jasbinder Bilan about how her childhood adventures give energy to her novels

Stimulate your body’s natural healing system at The Orangery

Andrew Swift discovers a city route with a collection of hidden histories

Woodhouse & Law bring news of the interior trends profiled at Decorex 2024

Jessica Stokes investigates plants with winter berries

Barbour Cecily Gilet, Carolyn Wax Jacket and Tessa Mini Skirt by Wadswick. See

Photo by Jonathan Birch

Passementerie by Elizabeth Ashdown

FROM THE EDITOR

“

Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all other seasons.”

These words from American journalist Jim Bishop are sagely prescient for this November (even though he departed this world in 1987). That’s partly because of the heady, shuffling drifts of golden leaves beneath our feet as we walk under the trees. It’s also because we’ve been talking to five of our talented city goldsmiths about their trade – and take note, because a visit could be in order if you are in search of precious golden purchases for a certain time of year (see page 36).

Then, as you are kicking the leaves underfoot, what about some suede ankleboots, a cashmere sweater or a Barbour trench? See page 18 for some upmarket country sartorial flair from Wadswick Country Store.

I spoke to comedian Paul Foot this month, who has an outlandish approach to comedy (and life) that has been described as surreal, although in Paul’s words, “really I just come up with stupid ideas.” His rants include narratives around how often you see carthorses, early morning fascists, and endless frustrations around admin tasks. He has decided to rename the months of the year and days of the week (on his website at least), which makes this month Novella and next month Decadence. Intrigued? See page 34.

Local children’s author Jasbinder Bilan chatted to me (page 68) about her writing life –where every novel always involves a new notebook for ‘think-writing’ – and about how her grandmother and the stories she told her as a child helped capture the spirit of her first book.

We’ve also got Pink Suitcases (page 16), jumping on beds at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa (page 52), the latest interior trends from Decorex (page 78), an investigation of winter berries in the garden (page 84) and memories of the 1909 Bath Historical Pageant (page 64). Good luck with finding your own golden experiences this month, whatever they may be. In fact, why not check out page 22 for some ideas?

Emma Clegg, Editor

Creative workshops

Zosia Brett specialises in the art of recycling materials and works on craft projects that bring people closer to nature, and embrace the seasons. Zosia is running a series of festive creative workshops this November in her studio near the Holburne Museum. The Creative Mending Circle on Friday 8 November (6pm-8pm, £15) is a monthly mending workshop where you can bring something from your mending pile, get expert advice and share ideas. The Advent Calendar Workshop on Saturday 9 November (10am-12pm, £20) gives you the opportunity to block print your own re-usable linen calendar, so you can fill the pockets with treats for children, partners or pets. There is also a Christmas Gift Workshop on Saturday 23 November (10am-1pm, £30) where, using UK grown chemical-free wheat, linseed and cherry stones, you can make your own natural therapeutic hot and cold compresses for gifts, choosing from a collection of beautiful cotton fabrics. Check out the website for all other courses including Zosia’s Wild Creativity series which runs all year in six-week blocks. zosiabrett.com; and email info@zosiabrett.com to book.

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

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

Financial Director Jane Miklos jane@thebathmagazine.co.uk

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

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City updates

DOMINIC WEST BECOMES AMBASSADOR FOR JULIAN HOUSE

Dominic West has been appointed as Julian House’s new ambassador. West, best known for his roles in The Wire and The Crown, has previously supported Julian House by donating food from his local farm to its emergency shelter for rough sleepers in Bath.

West recently visited the emergency shelter on Manvers Street and one of Julian House’s refuges for survivors of domestic violence where he was able to get to know the clients to understand their experiences and stories and learn more about the support they receive at Julian House. Dominic West said: “I find homelessness a particularly emotive subject and I have worked for a homelessness charity in Dublin. I moved to Bath five years ago and it is rather shocking seeing this extent of the issue in a prosperous place like Bath. I think that, combined with seeing what great work Julian House does, made me want to do something to help if I can.” julianhouse.org.uk

BACH IN BATH

Next year is the 275th anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest composers of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach. To celebrate, Bath Abbey’s Director of Music Huw Williams, will play the complete organ works of Bach on the magnificent Klais organ.

This will be an opportunity to hear these famous works presented by one player in one city. The inspiring music covers a wide variety of styles – from the sunny optimism of the Italian influenced Trio Sonatas and concerti to the more majestic mature preludes and fugues – and will be presented across 16 concerts between 19 November 2024 and 19 September 2025.

A NEW GARDENING SERVICE

The Urban Garden has launched a new garden services enterprise for residents in Bath. The Urban Gardeners provides a professional but affordable service, focussing on gardens that need new planting or the moving of existing plants so they flow within the design of the garden. Customers can choose and purchase plants from the Urban Garden with a 25% discount. Along with two staff, there are three trainees on work placement who are looking to gain employment in horticulture. Matt Smail, Director of the Urban Garden, said “This is an exciting new development and the income will help to support our other programmes. Our first cohort of trainees is almost work ready, so we are hoping they will be progressing into paid work early in the new year.”

If you would like a free quote please contact Matt Smail or Alix Morriss on 07877 846488/info@theurbangarden.org.uk

CHURCH RE-OPENS AFTER TRANSFORMATION

All Saints Church in Weston has opened its doors after a year-long closure during which a £2-million transformation of the interior was carried out. Replacing the pews are 300 comfortable seats, along with new lighting and audio-visual systems, a new oak floor, level access and a complete redecoration. A service of thanksgiving was then followed by lunch for 250 people. During the service a key was symbolically handed down through ten generations, starting with 99 year old Rosemary Prudden.

The Rector of All Saints, Revd Tom Yacomeni said “The transformation has been spectacular. We now have a wonderful space for all sorts of events which is a stunning blend of the contemporary and the historic.”

As a church musician throughout his career, Bach’s works were based around the liturgy and this series will, where possible, present the music at the most appropriate liturgical season. The first recital will be held in Bath Abbey on Tuesday 19 November, 7pm–8.15pm (with drinks from 6.30pm). Tickets available from Bath Box Office. Visit bathabbey.org/bach-275 for further details.

Dominic West meeting some of the staff at the charity. Photo courtesy of Julian House

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The festivities begin...

TWINKLING LIGHTS

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is offering a light trail from 29 November – 31 December, allowing visitors to explore trees from around the globe in a new ‘light’, transforming the site into a place with a million twinkling lights and seasonal sounds. Guests will encounter luminous birds on branches, colourful neon trees, sparkling tunnels of light, and an arboretum filled with all the colours of the rainbow, plus a glimpse of Father Christmas. Seasonal snacks and winter warmers will be available. Select a time slot when booking, generally every 15 minutes between 4.30pm and 8pm.

Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury GL8 8QS; forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/christmas

SKATING ON ICE AND GLOW GOLFING

Glowing in atmospheric lights, Bath on Ice is back for its 12th year and is the perfect place to practise your skating and show off some moves. With wintry music, a cosy bar, and seasonal drinks, you’ll be transported to a a dreamy winter wonderland! Whether you’re a Dancing on Ice champion, a total newbie or just about anything in between, you can be sure to find some festive euphoria on the surface of the real, genuine ice.

You can also play golf at night with glow-in-the-dark balls, which adds a whole new layer of excitement to the classic daytime experience. Takes approximately 1hr 20mins to complete.

Both activities are open from 15 November – 5 January 2025.

Royal Victoria Park, Bath, BA1 2NR; bathonice.co.uk

BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET

From its humble beginnings in 2001 when the market had 40 stalls and ran for four days, Bath Christmas Market has emerged into something much bigger. This year it runs for 18 days with around 240 stalls, stretching around the Abbey and up Bath Street. The emphasis is strongly on local, handmade and fairtrade products as well as sustainability. The market is a singular place to be at this time of year.

28 November – 15 December bathchristmasmarket.co.uk

FATHER CHRISTMAS’ GROTTO

Create festive memories and watch as your little ones’ faces light up as they meet Father Christmas and his elves in their workshop.

Much more than your usual Grotto, this Father Christmas’ Grotto is a fun interactive experience with professional actors in the heart of Bath.

A festive destination designed for the family to enjoy, expect stories and songs from Father Christmas and his top musical elf, Sprinkles.

The Grotto is at Milsom Place every weekend and on selected weekdays from 28 November – 24 December. All tickets £10 (book online). Milsom Place, 41 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DN.

fatherchristmasbath.co.uk

&

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Our 2 Rosette Restaurant offers dramatic sea views. from our unique cliff top location. Indoor and outdoor pool & spa.

Ramblers Package

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• Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

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Late Availability offers Check our website for ‘Offers’ and ‘Late Availability’ offering a generous rate discount and room upgrade where possible, subject to availability.

Flower and Land

Thoughtful, curated and seasonal wedding flowers

Jess Stokes: floral designer and garden writer

www.flowerandland.com flowerandland@gmail.com 07850 518858

The Watersmeet Hotel in Woolacombe, voted Best Waterside Hotel for UK

Ireland by Conde Nast Johansen’s 2024.

5 things to do

Remember

On 9 November during remembrance weekend at the Abbey, you can hear the Abbey choirs give a moving performance of Brahms’ A German Requiem. Written in 1865 and believed to be inspired by the death of his mother, it includes the famous setting of Psalm 84 – How lovely is thy dwelling place. Performed by candlelight, and including a piano duet and poignant readings, the evening will be one of remembrance and reflection with hope for peace and reconciliation. Tickets from £15. 7pm start. bathboxoffice.org.uk

Get festive at the fair

The Christmas Fair at King Edward’s School is a popular fundraising event for the school, raising more than £12,000, thanks to the combined efforts of volunteers, stall holders, staff, pupils and families – as well as the array of generous donations which stock the stalls and prize pots on the day. This year the fair on 30 November is set to dazzle with festive fun, a range of school and external stall holders, music, delicious treats, handcrafted gifts, and magical moments for the whole family to enjoy. Tickets £3.50 and under 18s go free. Open 10am–2pm. kesbath.com

Admire the artisans

Bear Flat Artists present their popular Christmas Art Fair and Market to showcase local creativity on Saturday 23 November at the Methodist Church Hall, Bear Flat, Bath (BA2 4QJ). The event features work by talented local artists and is a chance to buy original art and handmade gifts direct. It brings together work across artforms from more than 20 artists – it is an opportunity to meet the makers and find out about the different processes involved. Includes ceramics, illustrations, glass, jewellery, painting, photography, sculpture and printmaking. Free entry. 10am-5pm bearflatartists.co.uk

Understand black history

David Olusoga: The State of the British Union, Why Black History Matters at Komedia on 26 November, 7.30pm. Following his recent four part BBC documentary, Union with David Olusoga, the British-Nigerian historian, author, presenter and BAFTA winning film-maker examines why black history matters, the causes of the ‘history wars’ and asks where they might lead us. David is presenter of the long-running BBC history series A House Through Time, and also wrote and presented the award winning series Black & British: A Forgotten History, and Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners. Tickets from £18.50. komediabath.co.uk

Choose Bach’s Concertos

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is performing the Brandenburg Concertos by J.S. Bach on 20 November. The Brandenburg Concertos are considered as groundbreaking works of the baroque period. Full of vitality and orchestral colour, Bach’s new approach to concerto writing through these works influenced composers for centuries to come. In this special concert, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment presents four of the six works in a single performance, showcasing the variety of these chamber orchestral gems. Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-onAvon, 7pm. wiltshiremusic.org.uk

Adult tickets are £3.50 and Under 18s go free.

From left: Raku by Yvonne Elston; painting by Kristine O Connor; silver bracelet by Design Vaults

Bath profile

ALETTA STEVENS

Aletta Stevens is a translator, author and Dutch tutor. She is a founding member of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting, and of the Society of Authors Bath Group, and is on the committee of the Bath‐Alkmaar Twinning Association.

You grew up in Holland. What memories do you have of your childhood?

I grew up in Rotterdam in the 1960s and ’70s, then the largest port in the world. From the Harbour Hospital where my father had his medical practice we had a wonderful view of the Meuse, a working river with all kinds of boats going by. I am of dual heritage, my parents met as students in Amsterdam after the war, so in the background of my Dutch upbringing was Indonesia, the two countries being closely linked through colonial history. We have a huge family in Java.

Why did you come to the UK to study?

From the age of 12 I wanted to be an interpreter or translator. I saw it as a noble profession that promotes understanding between cultures. To become fluent in a language, you have to live in the country where it originates. Of the languages I studied at school, English was always my favourite, as before the internet it came to us in Holland through all the things I loved: pop music, TV drama and comedy (especially the BBC), and literature. I was thrilled to be offered a place on the English Language course at the University of Sheffield and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tell us about your involvement with the Bath-Alkmaar Twinning Association and why this is important for you. BATA is my main link with Holland. It is so nice to meet English people (and a few Dutch, too) who know Holland and are committed to promoting good relations between the two countries through all kinds of exchanges. In 2017 I was invited on to the committee. It has been fun to introduce Dutch traditions and foods into BATA’s calendar, and our monthly Alkmaar Café is a friendly and informal place to meet. Next year we are celebrating 80 years of friendship with all kinds of festivities and a trip to Alkmaar. In the spring you will see thousands of tulips from Alkmaar popping up all around Bath. But first come and see our stall with Dutch goodies at the Christmas Market from 7–9 December!

You have written several books. What was your inspiration?

The programme Who Do You Think You Are? inspired me to find out what happened to my mother’s only brother, who died during the German Occupation of the Netherlands. Nobody in the family talked about it. Thanks to the internet I linked up with an amateur historian in Friesland, and together we researched the history until it was all laid bare: an emotional story about my family, the Dutch Resistance and the villagers who honour my uncle to this day. This became my first book, Looking for Uncle Joop. My second book, The Remarkable Journey of Mr Prins, was sparked by a photo of Dutch children in Bath in 1945 in an article placed in The Bath Chronicle by the Bath-Alkmaar Twinning Association. I instantly knew I had to uncover that history, too! Being able to read primary sources and interview people in both languages, translate information, and write the narrative in English, I felt uniquely placed to record it. I like writing narrative non-fiction to bring the past to life.

What are your favourite restaurants in Bath? And what is your favourite type of cuisine?

In Bath I love having mezze at the Comptoir Libanais, Cappadocia or Tagine Zhor. Through my father, I also grew up with Indonesian food, my favourite. Some dishes are known in England now, such as chicken satay, nasi goreng, rendang and gado-gado.

What’s your favourite way to spend a weekend?

It’s lovely when our son and daughter come home. On my birthday we all went to the Ustinov Theatre for the Harold Pinter play called The Birthday Party

What are you working on at the moment?

I am writing a memoir about dual heritage and languages, which includes my family history. I am also translating a book about a cemetery for the drowned on the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog. It is full of the moving stories behind the graves of seafarers and ex-servicemen who were washed ashore there, including British pilots in the Second World War.

Aletta is giving a talk on 7 November at 10.30am on The Friendship: Bath and Alkmaar for U3A Bath at The Pavilion, North Parade. alettastevens.co.uk; bath-alkmaar.org.uk

Aletta at the Bath Alkmaar Stall at Bath Christmas Market

Naturals blog... by the Pink Suitcases

Here is a blog from the Natural Theatre Company, this month from the Pink Suitcases. You will discover that they are much more confident in their own group and like to stay close – sticky suitcases, therefore, come in very useful.

It has been so wonderful to arrive in the fabulous city of Bath. What an utterly glorious place for a holiday! I am meeting my friends here. We are meeting somewhere, but I can’t quite recall where. My friends are Marty, Molly, Mitsy, Matty, Mopsy and Annette. Annette was a friend of my sister’s neighbour; nobody has the heart to tell her she doesn’t quite fit in.

I will have a little time to wander around by myself before we meet up. However if you see my friends, do tell them I am looking for them. You won’t be able to miss them – we all have bright pink suitcases – even Annette has a pink one now – and are dressed to the nines.

Our uncles and aunties started travelling with Yellow Suitcases back in the 1970s, then we realised that yellow was drawing too much attention… so we changed the suitcases to pink ones. Then we realised this also drew attention, but then we thought we might as well embrace all the fuss.

A generation later, we are still using pink, but these days we also like to shake things up a little. We sometimes arrive with lots of differently coloured bright suitcases. When we meet up we look like the colours of the rainbow... It is very striking.

Before we meet up I like to wander around the city by myself looking at at all the great attractions. But time slips away and I have to look for a place where I can get a good view of the city – just in case I can spot my friends. I believe Alexandra Park has the best

view, but I’m told it involves a steep hill, and quite frankly it would be an awful bore to climb all the way up there and then run all the way back down again. I don’t think my shoes would thank me.

Maybe I will just stand on a bench and yell?

We like to dress formally. Not that we are ever invited to a black tie ball, but I am sure we can create our own event if enough of us pop along. We’d certainly invite you if you are clad in smart, sobercoloured clothing with a high-quality shoe. You can tell so much about a person from their shoes, don’t you think? I am not partial to a trainer, but I do have a secret pair of Crocs for lounging around. The locals simply love assisting us to find each other by offering us a ride on their bike, a seat in the jag or a lovely piggy back. Thank you all so much for your generous efforts over the years. Now where were we meeting? Oh I remember! It’s in the Abbey Churchyard. Yes, that’s it. We like to have a chat and a catch up, and it really is so lovely to see everyone again. We are all a bit flitty, so we need to avoid losing any of our group – that’s why we stick together. Yes, literally. We stick our suitcases together and then we can travel with our companions with no fear of becoming separated again. Sometimes the chain of all those suitcases can cause a bit of a rumpus, but generally people have a gaffaw and enjoy helping us reach our final destination. n

naturaltheatre.co.uk

ANTIQUE JEWELLERY REPAIRS AND REMODELLING

Dubarry,Rosmead, Sweater, £129,

Dubarry s Callaghan Sweater,s £179s

Schöffel Exmouth Heritage Sweatshirt, £99.95s

Barbour Fleur, Knitted Jumper,, £1340

Countrycore

Inspired by Jilly Cooper’s Rivals? It’s the classic town and country look that’s never out of vogue –and with the dark nights and chilly days of winter, what could be better than a trip to Wadswick for some real country style wrap ups.

Wadswick, 1 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AX wadswick.co.uk

Fairfax & Favor Anglesey. Shearling Lined Combate Boots, £345e

Barbour Women’s and Men’se Nimbus Chelseae Wellington Boots, £62.95e

Ariat Men’se Booker Boots,e £150e

Ariat Addisone Suede Western Boots,. £220e

Barbour Ladies’. Emilia Quilt Jacket, 0 £1520

Barbour Ladies’. Cecily Gilet, 0 £1070

Holland Cooper Kendal. Waterproof Trench. Coat, £449.

Schöffel Men’s Calton. Cashmere Sweater, 0 £139.950

Holland Cooper . Heritage Shirt, £129 .

Fairfax & Favor Buckingham. Bag, £265s

What’s on

MUSIC AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE

n Green Park Brasserie, Green Park Road

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

UNFORGETTABLE BEHAVIOUR

Until 31 December

American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Manor, Claverton Down n An exhibition showcasing 39 powerful photographs from previous Wildlife Photographer of the Year collections, displaying some of the most incredible animal behaviour moments ever captured on camera. americanmuseum.org

BATH ROTARY FIREWORKS ON THE REC

2 November 4.30pm

n Bath Recreation Ground, Pulteney Mews

A thrilling, professional, family fireworks display with food and drink and all for charity. Tickets are available in Bath Rugby’s stadium (mostly seated) or on the grass in front of the Recreation Ground Pavilion. A spectacular and memorable way to mark Bonfire Night for all the family. rotary-ribi.org

THE ARTS SOCIETY: DAVID GARRICK, ARTIST AND IMPRESARIO

4 November, 11.30am n Widcombe Social Club

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

ENYA'S WATERMARK ALBUM BY THE FULLTONE ORCHESTRA

5 November, 7.30pm n Bath Forum

The Fulltone Orchestra, alongside the voices of Cantiamo, will revive Enya’s pivotal Watermark album. This is a rare

opportunity for music lovers to experience the timeless beauty of Enya’s work in all its glory. £26. bathboxoffice.org.uk

THE FRIENDSHIP: BATH AND ALKMAAR

7 November, 10.30am–11.30am

n The Pavilion, North Parade Road

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

PHENOMENAL WOMEN: ANISHA JOSHI

7 November, 5.30pm-7.30pm

n Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, Beau Street, Bath

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

KEITH WILEY: RISK-TAKING IN LANDSCAPE – A NEW APPROACH TO NATURALISTIC GARDENMAKING FOR THE FUTURE

7 November, 7.30pm–9pm

n University of Bath Gardening Club, Room 1 Level 1, East Building, East Car Park, University of Bath, Claverton Down

Keith has pioneered an adventurous new approach to horticulture at Wildside in Devon. He ignores the usual garden rules and makes new ones. Come along to find

out how he does it. Open to all, annual membership £25, visitors £8. ubgc.org

BAROQUE BY CANDLELIGHT

9 November, 6.30pm n Belcombe Court, Bradford on Avon

In a new partnership, If Opera and harpsichord virtuoso music director OliverJohn Ruthven present an evening to beguile your senses with a feast of exquisite music, mostly operatic, from the 17th and 18th centuries. Minimum suggested donation: £80 per person. ifopera.com

GALLERY NINE: MEET THE ARTISTS

9 November, 3pm–6.30pm n Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret's Buildings Meet metal box and jewellery maker Cornelius van Dop, artist Melvyn Evans and porcelain vessel specialist Robyn Hardyman. galleryninebath.com

Keith Wiley: Risk-taking in Landscape, University of Bath Gardening Club

Enya’s Watermark album

ALDRIDGE’S OF BATH AUCTION

12 November, 10am (viewing Sat 9 Nov) n Online

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

CAPPELLA NOVA: MUSICAL RELATIONS

16 November, 7.30pm-9.30pm n Church of St Michael Without, Broad Street, Bath

Cappella Nova from Bath and the Swan Singers from Wells in a concert of music by four composers: married couple Clara and Robert Schumann and sister and brother Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn. The choirs will join together in works for double choir: Felix Mendelssohn's Six Seasonal Motets and Robert Schumann’s Four Songs for Double Choir, along with music from each choir separately. £15/£8. cappellanova.org.uk

WIDCOMBE CHRISTMAS MARKET

16 and 17 November, 10.30am–5pm on Saturday and 10.30am–4.30pm on Sunday n Widcombe Social Club, Natural Theatre Company and St Matthew’s Church Widcombe Christmas Market is back with an array of handcrafted gifts. The market is a local favourite and offers the perfect chance to find gifts, buying direct from local artists and makers. This year there will be 75 creative local artisans, selling ceramics, jewellery, cards, glasswork, soaps, seasonal wreaths, prints, photography and wood carving. widcombechristmasmarket.com

UK AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT

16–17 November

n American Museum & Gardens

Five quilts from the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Partnership will be on display at the American Museum & Gardens for a special weekend exhibition. This is your chance to see part of one of the largest community arts projects in history. americanmuseum.org

BILLY HOLMES LIVE IN SESSION

AT THE ELECTRIC BAR

17 November, 2pm

n Komedia, 22–23 Westgate Street, Bath

Billy Holmes is a singer songwriter telling stories of freedom and revolution. He’ll be joined for the afternoon by local guitar playing legend, Benji Bartlett. His new album Free As A Bird is out now. Free entry. komediabath.co.uk

BATH PHILHARMONIA AND JESS GILLAM

19 November, 7.30pm

n The Forum, Bath

Jess Gillam has developed an international career as a performer and as a presenter on her own BBC Radio 3 show (This Classical Life), the BBC Proms and BBC Young Musician of the Year. She will perform Alexander Glazunov’s rich and sumptuous Saxophone Concerto alongside Dave Heath’s jazz and Scottish folk music inspired concerto, The Celtic. Tickets from £28.50/under 18s and students £6. bathboxoffice.org.uk

PHENOMENAL WOMEN: HILARY SALTZMAN

21 November, 5.30pm-7.30pm

n Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, Beau Street, Bath

A dialogue with Hilary Salzman, a business storyteller, writer, podcast host, and speaker dedicated to helping female business owners who struggle to use their voices and tell their stories confidently. Tickets £15, including prosecco and canapes. eventbrite.co.uk

FESTIVE WREATH-MAKING

21 November, 10am-12pm

n Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, Beau Street, Bath

Make your own seasonal wreath in a morning of festive creativity. With all materials provided, you will be taught how to make your own magical Christmas wreath using winter seasonal foliage, seed heads and ribbons. This is an interactive 1½ hour workshop suitable for beginners. £75. With tea/coffee and mince pies. eventbrite.co.uk

AT THE BATH FORUM

THE GLAM ROCK SHOW

23 November, 7.30pm

it’s time to go wild, wild, wild as you are transported back to the golden age of Glam, with all the songs you know and love. Starring Brian Connolly Jnr, the son of the Sweet legend, it’s time to Get It On as the cast and live band recreate the soundtrack of a generation. Tickets from £30.

THE MAGIC OF THE BEE GEES, 29 November, 7.30pm

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother, when the feeling's gone and you can't go on, it’s time to put on your dancing shoes, for the night out of the year you have been waiting for, celebrating the songs of music royalty, the Bee Gees. Tickets from £29.

CIRQUE

30 November, 3pm and 7pm

It's time to step into the light. Escape for a night like no other, where you are taken into a world where the very best of musical theatre showstoppers meets jaw-dropping circus spectacular. Tickets from £30. bathforum.co.uk

UK Aids Memorial Quilt

CIRQUE at The Bath Forum

BATH FILM SOCIETY PROGRAMME

Showing on 8 November is Lunama: A Yak in the Classroom (Bhutan 2019). Directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji, Bath Film Society’s first Bhutanese film is a moving tale of a young teacher's arrival in a remote mountain village and the overwhelming reception he receives. Imagine To Sir With Love without Lulu but with a yak in the classroom. The effect is lifeaffirming and powerful. In The Blue Caftan (Morocco 2022) on 22 November all seems settled in the Blue Caftan, a traditional shop run by a husband and wife. Until the arrival of a handsome young apprentice when emotional cross-currents rise to the surface.

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

AY ANDAR! – THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURY MUSIC OF MEXICO, PERU AND BOLIVIA

23 November, 7.30pm

n Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Bradford-On-Avon

This programme with Paragon Singers conducted by Sarah Latto focuses on the music of Juan de Araujo, who has been described as one of the greatest composers of the age, at home both with the academic approach to liturgical music and the foottapping style of the villancicos. Also includes music from Peruvian composer Francisco Hernández. Accompanied by chamber organ, percussion and harp. Tickets £20 full price, £5 students and under 18s. bathboxoffice.org.uk

NELL BRYDEN PLUS SUPPORT: GOLDENFINCH

26 November, 8pm–10.30pm n Chapel Arts

Audience favourite Nell Bryden is back with a new and deeply personal album, I Love You So Much I’m Blind. Putting a raw spin on her American blues and soul roots, Nell’s latest tour-de-force shows off her gorgeously rich and emotional voice. Tickets £25. chapelarts.org

FOREST BATHING

26 November, 10am–12.30pm n American Museum & Gardens

Take time out to connect with nature, relax, and restore your energy this autumn, with forest bathing at the American Museum & Gardens. Join Bath’s expert forest bathing guide, Tania Orgill, for a guided session along the beautiful woodland walk. americanmuseum.org

LIGHT OF STARS EXHIBITION

27 November – 11 January, 10am-5pm n Bath Abbey

The Light of Stars is an installation, a vast constellation of love and light, held within the centre of the Abbey. The Light of Stars will contain up to 103 individual stars of different sizes and geometries, all surrounding the largest, central star, that represents Christ never dimmed. bathabbey.org

ABBEY STARGAZING TOURS

29 November, 6 and 13 December, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm n Bath Abbey

Are you fascinated by the night sky? Would you like to spot planets and stars? Join Bath Abbey and Bath Astronomers for live

BATH & COUNTY CLUB EVENTS IN NOVEMBER

TALK ON HISTORY OF BRLSI AND LUNCH

5 November, two-course lunch, 12pm for 12.30pm, £29

TALK - CRUISING THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL

8 November, 6pm for 6.30pm, plus two-course supper served at 7.30pm, £27

TRICK OR TREATS – FAKES OF THE ART WORLD

12 November, talk by Richard Kaye, 6pm for 6.30pm, two-course supper served at 7.30pm, £32

QUIZ NIGHT WITH AUDREY ARCHER

19 November, 6pm for 6.30pm, two-course supper at 7.30pm. £27

BEAUJOLAIS WINE DINNER

21 November, three-course dinner with all wines included, 6.15pm for 7pm, £55

PATIENT & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AT THE RUH

Talk by Laura Davies, 21 November, 11.30am for 12 noon. Two-course lunch to follow, £29

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

stargazing at the top of Bath Abbey’s tower. Bring your astronomy questions for a chance to have them answered. An exclusive after-hours event with limited tickets available. eventbrite.co.uk

CHRISTMAS AT STOURHEAD

29 November – 1 January

n Stourhead House, High St, Stourton, Warminster BA12 6QE

Christmas at Stourhead, Wiltshire brings a magical trail with new lights providing after-dark festive fun, and includes a magical glimpse of Father Christmas along the way. Discover hundreds of colourchanging lights stretching out into the

Christmas at Stourhead

Lunama: A Yak in the Classroom, Bath Film Society

distance across the lake, huge feathers floating high into the night sky, sparkling tunnels of light and illuminations that fill the air with all the colours of the rainbow. Limited capacity with timed entry. premier.ticketek.co.uk

SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS WREATH WORKSHOP

30 November, 7.30pm–9pm n Claverton Down Community Hall, Claverton Down Road, Bath

Make your own stunning Christmas wreath with guidance from local flower farmer and florist Louisa du Rose. Using sustainably sourced woodland materials you will create a beautiful wreath to decorate your door over the Christmas period. The wreath will be built from mixed evergreen foliages, pine cones, textural seed heads and grasses. £60. transitionbath.org/news-events

LOOKING AHEAD

SWING INTO CHRISTMAS

2 December, 7.30pm

n The Forum

A Christmas celebration like no other, as Down for the Count recreate the music of Nat ‘King’ Cole, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and many more in a luscious 30-piece orchestral setting evoking the sounds of the great Capitol Studios recordings. Expect to hear faithful recreations of the best music of the swing era including I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Let’s Face The Music and Dance and ’S Wonderful, alongside original arrangements of jazz and festive standards written by the Orchestra’s principal conductor Mike Paul-Smith. Tickets from £25. bathforum.co.uk

THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN RENAISSANCE ART

2 December, 11.30am–12.30pm n Widcombe Social Club, Widcombe Hill, Bath (in person or online)

The Christmas story is told through a selection of wellloved paintings and illuminated manuscripts by Italian and Flemish artists, including Botticelli, Fra Angelico and Jan van Eyck, together with many less well-known images. This lecture explores the rich symbolism of Christmas imagery.Tickets £10/£7. Email bath@theartssociety.org to book. theartssocietybath

NEW STUDIO OFFERING COSY CRAFTING WORSHOPS FOR UP TO SIX PEOPLE

Great Pulteney Street, Central Bath NATURAL MATERIALS, UNIQUE UPCYCLING AND BESPOKE SESSIONS

Christmas Workshops Booking NOW zosiabrett.com

Pallade col Centauro by Sandro Botticelli

A weekend of jazz

November brings a strong jazz vibe to the Wiltshire Music Centre as it puts on a weekend of jazz‐related workshops and concerts to celebrate 20 years of working with jazz educator and trumpet player Mike Daniels.

Mike Daniels – the music director of Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra (WYJO) and director of the community choir – has been leading the jazz programmes at Wiltshire Music Centre for 20 years and the big Jazz Weekend from 22–24 November is designed to mark the anniversary.

WYJO started in 2002 when Mike was working as brass tutor, and he took on the music director role in 2004. Mike reminisces about some of the musical highlights over those 20 years. “Trombonist Mark Nightingale was one of my first proper guest solo artists playing with WYJO in the Wiltshire Music Centre and at the Wiltshire Jazz Festival in Dinton. Nikki Iles was our first full post-lockdown guest with superbly crafted pieces for jazz orchestra – and she is bringing her own band to play in November. I’ve always loved working with long-term friend and supporter of WYJO, Jason Rebello along with Tim Garland and Claire Martin and this shows the breadth of the internationally regarded jazz fraternity we’ve welcomed as guests. We also commissioned

Mike Mower, who wrote the now notoriously fiendish Wiltshire Suite, which we took to the National Festival in Birmingham. The last concert to take place in March 2020, the week before lockdown, with the stunning group Empirical was particularly special for obvious reasons, creating vast amounts of energy. Our two projects with saxophonist Jason Yarde were also unforgettable as his seemingly endless creative energy brought exemplary performances from our players.”

THE BIG JAZZ WEEKEND PROGRAMME

FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ

Friday 22 November, 7pm

Join Jazz Factory, Bradford on Avon’s established workshop group, for an evening of relaxed jazz in the Wiltshire Music Centre foyer. Invited guests, including sax player Iain Ballamy and pianist Gareth Williams, and alumni will make the evening extra special as the foyer transforms into the town’s very own jazz club, complete with bar and tasty snacks.

£7/£5 U18s + students

RHYTHM SECTION WORKSHOP WITH NIKKI ILES

Saturday 23 November, 10am

This workshop is an amazing chance for pianists, drummers and bass and guitar players to learn from renowned band leader and pianist Nikki Iles. Come along if you’re aged 12+ and can play your instrument with confidence. (U18s must be accompanied by an adult.) £12

WMC RISING STAGE

Saturday 23 November, 5.30pm–7pm

Here’s your chance to see the stars of the future from WMC’s jazz academy and Youth Jazz Orchestra in the foyer bar before the Nikki Iles evening concert. Grab a drink and some delicious bowl food from the Fat Fowl Kitchens, while musicians and alumni from WMC jazz programme blow you away. Free

Nikki Iles

Pete Churchill

NIKKI ILES JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Saturday 23 November, 7pm

Award-winning pianist and composer Nikki Iles is widely admired as a musician of imagination and subtlety. Fresh from her year as artist in residence with the NDR Bigband in Hamburg, Nikki brings a dynamic combination of all-star performers to the WMC stage in her jazz orchestra. Her rich and varied repertoire marks her out as a distinctive voice in British jazz. £24/£13 U18s + students

JAZZ JAM & LATE BAR

Saturday 23 November, 8.30pm – late The evening’s not over yet! Stay for another drink at the bar and help celebrate jazz educator and trumpet player Mike Daniels’ 20 year association with Wiltshire Music Centre. Expect more music, laughs and special guests. Free

JAZZ VOCAL WORKSHOP

Sunday 24 November, 12pm

Sing on stage accompanied by a full chorus and jazz orchestra. Learn a beautiful jazz song with vocal composer and educator, Pete Churchill, and take part in the amazing finale concert in the afternoon. Confident singers aged 12+. (Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult singer.) £5

BIG JAZZ WEEKEND FINALE

Sunday 24 November, 3pm

Come and experience the thriving local jazz scene with this inspirational final concert of the Big Jazz Weekend. It brings together the community choir, the WMC Chorus, with the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra, led by composer,

educator and choral director Pete Churchill, to perform his roof-raising and joyful pieces for choir and big band. £16/£8 U18s and students

Wiltshire Music Centre, Ashley Road, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1DZ; wiltshiremusic.org.uk

Mike Daniels

Paul Foot’s flights of fancy

Why stick with the standard spelling for days of the week? Why describe yourself as surreal when you’re just doing what comes naturally? Why not become a person in a boilersuit? Emma Clegg meets standup Paul Foot, who has a talent for not being conventional.

Comedian Paul Foot was once described as “Like a cult classic, a relic from the past, a rare exotic bird” [Daily Mail]. Having done my research, and then spoken to him, I can only agree. Take his website. Instead of using sound digital marketing principles, he has created his own zany, eccentric world. After encountering a ‘Welcome to my websyte baybayyyyy’, we discover he has a glamorous yet dangerously ‘lob-sided’ secretary Jemima Shazaaaar who is half woman and half lobster; a list of secret shows only available to The Guild of Paul Foot Connoisseurs; and that the days of the week in this alternative world are Moonday, Tunesday, Wrensday, Thirsty, Flyday, Saturnday and Sundae.

Paul explains, “I tried to make the days and months as appropriate as possible, but also not too confusing. Flyday is the sort of day when you might fly somewhere or travel. Sundae is a day when you might relax and have a sundae, a more decadent day. Tunesday is a day when you might listen to music to get you through the week. You do start to get thirsty on Thirsty and maybe start to think about the weekend when you can have a wine. And similarly with the months – Decadence is a decadent month before Christmas and March I call Marsh because it’s one of those months that goes on and on and you feel like you are never going to get through it.”

Paul, who studied mathematics at Merton College, Oxford, first started performing during his time there and then took on open mic slots after graduating. Now he frequently performs live and since 2003 he has done 16 tours, often starting at the Edinburgh Fringe, then touring Britain and moving to Australia after Christmas for the Australian festival circuit. He has won a collection of awards over the years, at the beginning of his career the BBC New Stand-up Award in 1997 and most recently his latest show Dissolve – which is heading to The Rondo in Bath this month – won jointly for best show in the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

Flyday is the sort of day when you might fly somewhere or travel. Sundae is a day when you might relax and have a sundae

“When I started, I was doing what was regarded as very weird comedy. There were just a handful of other people doing that, and no one wanted it – it was a totally different industry then, based around the comedy clubs who wanted much more conventional comedy”, Paul explains.

“Sometimes I’d do a slot at a comedy club and it would go great and people would say ‘oh this is the future of comedy’, and sometimes it would be terrible and they’d all say they didn’t like it and people would shout at me, and they would send someone else on to rescue the evening. So those were hard times. But then I went from being the sort of act that no one wanted, where I was having to ring up comedy clubs begging them to put me on, to suddenly everyone wanting me. I just carried on doing the same thing and the industry changed around me.

“There is much less of that club scene now and there are interesting cabaret nights and more theatre touring. When I started in 1996 I always dreamed of being a great success on the club circuit. I became a great success on the club circuit eventually, after 13 years, but by then I was moving on to other things so I became a big success for three months before retiring.”

Paul is known for his ‘flights of fancy’ on stage where he rants around subjects such as how often you see carthorses nowadays, Viagara and rhino horn, early morning fascists, and the meaningless language on dating sites. His comedic style has been described as surrealist. “I am at heart a

surrealist, but really I just come up with stupid ideas. When I started as a comedian I never planned it to be surreal or groundbreaking – I just did the sort of comedy that seemed the most obvious to me and then other people called it surreal. That was just my style. Sometimes I read reviews that people have written about me saying Paul Foot is this sort of comedian, and I think ‘Am I?’ I don’t really notice. I’m just doing it. I just sort of became it really.”

His Dissolve show signals a new direction. “I’ve never done a show like this before”, says Paul. “It’s autobiographical to some extent and it’s personal. It’s really about my journey from being very unwell because of my mental health towards complete wellness. I talk about the depression I felt. Obviously I’m a comedian so I make it funny. I also talk about silly things like Tutankhamun and what Jesus might have achieved if he’d been a plumber. So people laugh but they also sometimes get quite emotional. It’s also a show that I have to really concentrate on, because there are bits when I’m being all funny to then quite poignant bits and then I go suddenly into funny bits again all unexpectedly. The audience never know when the twist is going to happen and there’s a change to the mood. It took a while to get that right.”

Paul’s edgy haircut and sartorial look fits with his persona, and this was something that evolved. “At one stage my manager said they were going to get me a stylist and my brief was eccentric English lord. So I had lots of cravats and ties and checked trousers. It was interesting because I wore all that stuff on stage and I enjoyed wearing it and then I’d have a meeting with a TV company and I’d think, ‘well I should wear my work clothes for that’. And then I’d get used to wearing the work clothes and then I’d wear work clothes all the time. And in a strange way I had became the person who wears those clothes. Since then there have been a few changes of style, the spaced, casual look or the futuristic retro look with leather jackets. And more recently for Dissolve I’ve been wearing these boilersuits. Then I started wearing them in my normal life – and now I have become the person in the boilersuit.”

I ask Paul the classic question about who are his comedy heroes. He mentions Frankie Howerd and Tommy Cooper, but admits that his real heroes are classical composers. “They are the people who inspire me. I get up in the morning and I think of people like Berlioz. I would like to be even just a tiny bit as brilliant as him. And I love the madness of some of those composers, their crazy lives. Sibelius was brilliant but absolutely mad, and I love the fact that he took no notice of what anyone else said about his work – he just did his own thing. I was asked once who influenced your latest show and I just said ‘Brahms’.”

Paul is no stranger to Bath. “I do know Bath quite well and I have been there many times over the years because I’m a stand-up and we all travel everywhere. I also know it quite well because it appears in lots of films and on TV. It’s the equivalent of Baden Baden in Germany. Of course they really go for it there, with the name Baden Baden. This is really what Bath should be called, Bath Bath.”

Paul Foot is at The Rondo in Bath Bath on Flyday 22 and Saturnday 23 Octopus; rondotheatre.co.uk; paulfoot.tv

Arts & exhibitions

Nick Mackman, November, Beaux Arts, 12-13 York Street, Bath

In the lead up to Christmas Market season Beaux Arts once again play host to the menagerie of Nick Mackman’s ceramic animals. Nick has shown her warthogs, wild dogs and rhinos with the gallery for over 20 years and is a former winner of the David Shepherd British Wildlife Award. The painters on show include Akash Bhatt, Graham Dean, Mark Johnston, Melissa Franklin Sanchez and Jennifer Anderson. Ceramics are by Chris Keenan. beauxartsbath.co.uk

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

High-quality crafts handmade by a selected group of makers from Gloucestershire. An opportunity to buy Christmas gifts, ranging from exquisite jewellery, striking ceramics and furniture, luxurious textiles, colourful rugs, mosaics and much more. Purchase a ticket for the museum or the gardens and you can visit their Christmas Show.

Work from all members can also be purchased from their shop in Cheltenham, 18 Montpellier Street, GL50 1SW. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–5pm.

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

Uncanny Visions: Paula Rego and Francisco de Goya until 5 January 2025, The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath

The Holburne presents a major exhibition exploring the notion of the uncanny in the work of Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746–1828) and Paula Rego (1935–2022). Included, and on public view for the first time, is a display of Goya etchings that Rego herself owned. holburne.org Gallery Nine, Winter Exhibition, 11 November - 31 January, 9B Margaret’s Buildings, Bath

The Winter Exhibition shows painted animals, still life and landscapes from artist Emma McClure and the work of artist, printmaker and illustrator Melvyn Evans. There is also an eclectic mix of decorated earthenware and porcelain from Ramp Ceramics along with Robyn Hardyman’s thinly thrown porcelain vessels. Metalworker and Master Craftsman Cornelius Jakob Van Dop creates exquisitely detailed and highly decorative copper, silver and gilded jewellery boxes and brooches and Rebecca Burt’s jewellery features carefully selected gemstones with playful colour gradients. Private view Saturday 9 November, 3pm-6.30pm. gallerynine.co.uk

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

An American Legacy: Plants from the American Museum & Gardens, 1-19 November 10am–4pm BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HN

Bath Society of Botanical Artists are holding an exhibition of paintings displaying the beauty of the plants in the American Museum & Gardens at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) in Queen Square. Bath Society of Botanical Artists are a group of some 40 members who meet weekly to paint together. Visitors are invited to come and enjoy this beautiful artwork and learn something of the history of The American Museum & Gardens in Bath at the same time. bsba.co.uk

Ceramics by RAMP

Below: Artwork by Cleo Mussi, Alistair Young, Graham Ikin, Jessie James, Miranda Songer

Elephant with Trunk Up, low-fired ceramic by Nick Mackman

Modern ArtBuyer, Open House Pop-up Gallery, 23-24 November, 1 Cliffe Drive, Limpley Stoke, Bath

Art gallery and consultancy Modern ArtBuyer, run by Jessica Lloyd-Smith, will be opening its doors for the autumn Open House Pop-up in Limpley Stoke over the weekend of 23–24 November.

The Open House will showcase an inspiring contemporary collection of new original paintings and affordable limited edition prints by artists from the Bath area and further afield. Throughout the weekend, Jessica will be on hand to offer advice and guide your choices around artwork selection, whether it’s for yourself or planned as a gift, as well as suggestions around framing and hanging. Pop in and enjoy a coffee or a glass of bubbles while browsing the show, in a relaxed home setting.

modernartbuyer.com

Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, Sunday 10 November 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

Belinda Crozier at sandrahiggins.art

Belinda Crozier’s atmospheric landscape paintings are very much rooted in her childhood experiences, exploring with curiosity the fertile ground around her birthplace on long walks that drove her deeper and deeper into the land. “I had a sense of belonging to something much greater… I have come to realise that these rambles on Mother Earth have been one of the simplest rituals for me to connect with my sacred feminine energy.”

To view works by Belinda, visit the online gallery or email Sandra to arrange a private viewing by appointment. sandrahiggins.art; sandra@sandrahiggins.com

Above: Shaftesbury Drove painting by Belinda Crozier

Still Alive, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, throughout November, Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath

A popular artist is exhibiting her artwork at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust – the same hospital where she was treated for cancer. Phil Batty, from Atworth in Wiltshire, was diagnosed with stage three malignant melanoma in 2019 and had treatment at the RUH throughout 2020. She has since been given the all-clear, but continues to attend the RUH for scans and check-ups. Phil’s exhibition, Still Alive, is a collection of mixed media artwork inspired by her cancer journey. ruh.nhs.uk

Left: Artworks by Peter Town and Chuck Elliott

Painting by Melissa McDonald

Winter Exhibition

11th November - 31st January

Private View Saturday 9th November 3pm - 6.30pm

Emma McClure Colourful Walkers Mixed media on Handmade Paper

Cornelius Van Dop Mixed Metal Box

Bath History Festival @ BRLSI

You will encounter everything from centurions to rioting reformers at BRLSI’s weekend festival this month.

Bath History Festival is a two-day celebration from Saturday 16 to Sunday 17 November, and part of BRLSI’s bicentenary programme.

Speakers include Oxford University Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe, the archaeologist whose discoveries brought the Roman Baths to life; other leading academics; recent graduates; Bath-based local researchers; and guardians of Bath’s wealth of archives and collections from medieval times to the 20th century. Subjects range from the discovery of the Roman Bath, The Bath Reform Riot of 1831, History in Action at Bath Assembly Rooms, How Edwardians Portrayed their Georgian Predecessors in the Bath Pageant of 1909, and Women’s Social and Political Activism in Bath in the 1920s.

This event allows you to explore opportunities for collaboration, delve deeper into Bath’s past and share a love of history with others. Each day runs from 9.45am-5pm, with a 75-minute lunch break. Tickets: £50 general admission; £25 students and BRLSI members.

brlsi.org

COLLECTION CORNER

The BRLSI Collection stores don’t hold so many Roman artefacts. This impressive Romano-British enamelled brooch, dating to the 1st or 2nd century AD, excavated in Lansdown, Bath in 1905, is an exception, as are the stone coffins in BRLSI’s courtyard.

Many Roman objects came to light as medieval Bath was torn down during the Georgian building boom. They were at first handed to the city but, once BRLSI was founded in 1824, they became the basis of a significant collection of Roman pottery, jewellery, metalwork and sculpture, many of which were donated to the Institution Collections. When the Roman Baths became a museum in 1897, Roman objects belonging to the city were transferred there for storage, conservation and display. More things joined them there on loan from BRLSI in the 1960s when the Institution was going through difficult times.

The Roman Baths now has a significant collection of Roman objects and many of the important relics on display there were either once deposited with, e on loan from, the Institution.

APreparing for a Cosy Christmas

BY RON & CYNTHIA Beau Nash Antiques, Bath

s the holiday season approaches, transforming your home into a cozy retreat is essential for embracing the festive spirit.

One of the most inviting focal points in any living space is the fireplace, and incorporating antique accessories can elevate its charm while ensuring warmth and comfort.

A standout piece for enhancing this space is the club fender. This beautifully crafted surround not only adds an air of sophistication but also serves multiple practical purposes. Protecting your floors from the heat and potential embers, a club fender acts as a safety barrier, especially important in homes with children or pets. Beyond its protective qualities, it provides convenient extra seating, making it the perfect spot for family and friends to gather around the fire, sharing stories and holiday cheer.

Complementing the club fender, well-made Victorian armchairs are essential for creating a warm atmosphere. Choose comfortable pieces with wide seats and colourful fabrics to create an inviting nook. Imagine curling up with a good book or enjoying a cup of hot cocoa in a plush, well-loved armchair, surrounded by the gentle glow of the fireplace.

Antique lighting fixtures further enhance the cozy ambiance of your home. Consider table lamps or wall sconces that reflect the warm hues, casting a soft glow across the room. These fixtures not only illuminate your space but also contribute to the overall charm, making your home feel like a storybook setting during the holiday season.

To complete the cozy vibe, layer your decor with soft throws and colourful cushions. The combination of a well-appointed club fender, comfortable seating, and beautiful antique lighting creates an inviting atmosphere that encourages relaxation and togetherness.

This Christmas, embrace the warmth of antique accessories and transform your home into a cozy haven where cherished memories are made. Whether it's around the fireplace or nestled in your favourite armchair, the spirit of the season will undoubtedly thrive. beaunashbath.com; info@beaunashbath.com; 07535137808 @beaunashbath

AUCTION INSIDER

Richard Kay, Director and Picture specialist at Lawrences Auctioneers in Somerset boasts over 38 years of experience and has built an impressive career in the art world, driven by a deep passion for art that began at university.

“I went to university at St Andrews to read French and philosophy. I had to do an additional subject and chose history of art. I loved it so much more than I expected that at the end of my second year I gave up French and philosophy to pursue a history of art degree and I have never had a moment's regret about doing so.

In the mid-1980s the art market was beginning to take off in terms of volume and turnover and auction houses were recruiting. After university, I discovered the auction world during the summer holiday of 1985 when I spent nine weeks working for the Sotheby’s valuation office in Bournemouth under George Kidner, a superb valuer who went on to start his own auction house in Lymington. They gave me lots of opportunities, rather like an apprentice, doing valuations, home visits, research on paintings and artists. I never had a dull day, not for a second. I left Sotheby’s for Phillips in 1995 to do picture valuations, then joined Lawrence’s in 1999.

Lawrences hosts three main Fine Art auctions annually, together with themed and timed online sales, showcasing a wide range of artwork from the 15th century to modern times and includes prints, oils and watercolours at all price levels. The majority of what we see is what you would expect to find in the collections of people who live in this part of the world – late 17th, 18th and 19th century paintings, and a lot of 18th

century portraits. Sometimes you can walk into a grand country house and find very little of merit in it; occasionally you could walk into a nice cottage tucked away in a rural village and within it there will be the most extraordinary things that are museum quality.

Over 38 years in the business, there have been a great many highlights. One notable example includes the discovery of a 17th-century painting by Cornelis de Man, which was auctioned for £162,500, far exceeding its initial estimate of £10,000-£15,000.”

He finds satisfaction not only in the high values but also in revealing hidden truths about artworks for owners who often have no idea of their treasures' worth.

“I’ve often said that one of the sights I most like to see coming across the Lawrences carpark is someone holding a black bin liner with something rectangular in it. The owners want to know whether it is worth anything and when I say, well yes, it’s worth £10,000, that’s really satisfying. But it’s not always about giving a high value, they just like to know that the picture Uncle George bought all those years ago turns out to be rather good and that he had a good eye. There are always conversations to be had and it is genuinely interesting to talk to collectors about what they have bought or wish to buy; what they’ve inherited; and giving advice on whether to keep it and enjoy it or to consider selling it.”

Richard values the personal connections with clients, helping them discover the significance of inherited pieces or advising on potential acquisitions. His passion lies in both the art itself and the stories that surround it, making his work both rewarding and engaging. To find out the value of your art, simply upload an image, along with any additional information online at lawrences.co.uk or contact Richard directly and he will guide you through the valuation process and answer any questions you may have. Home visits are also available without charge or obligation throughout the West Country and beyond.

E. richard.kay@lawrences.co.uk

T. 01460 73041

Lawrences AUCTIONEERS

South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8AB. T: 01460 73041 E: enquiries@lawrences.co.uk

1A Woodlands Estate, Westbury, BA13 3QS

T: 01373 822337 E: wessex@lawrences.co.uk

green

aubergine Glazed Porcelain models of Parrots, Qing Dynasty.

A Chinese Pale Celadon Jade Belt Hook, Qing Dynasty.

A Chinese Rouge de Fer Porcelain Teapot, cover and stand, early 18th Century.

A Chinese Ink cake brush washer, signed Cheng Junfang.

Bath’s top goldsmiths

We introduce you to five of Bath’s finest independent goldsmiths and jewellery designers and ask about their career journeys, how they got into the trade, as well as their specialist products and services.

Receiving a piece of jewellery rarely disappoints, especially when it’s a bespoke item from one of Bath’s independent goldsmiths. From diamond rings to vintage earrings, antiques to gold bracelets, the city’s experts have got plenty of unique pieces that make the perfect gift for loved ones.

During the winter months and the festive season Bath’s jewellers are preparing themselves for their busiest time of the year. You can expect plenty of locals and visitors from across the world to visit Bath’s goldsmiths in search of that special gift over the next couple of months. This is a true reflection of the fact that more and more people are searching for something unique or specially designed.

We gathered together some of the city’s most prominent goldsmiths and asked them how they got into the industry and what is the magic that keeps them at its forefront.

Mallory Jewellers

Mallory Jewellers, a cornerstone of Bath’s Bridge Street for over a century, continues to thrive as a family-owned business spanning five generations. Founded in 1898 by Edward Palmer Mallory, the jeweller is now led by Edward’s great, great, grand-daughter, Katie Vander Woerd, a qualified gemmologist who brings a deep understanding of precious stones and an eye for quality to her role as Managing Director.

A central tenet of Mallory’s success is its unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service

Katie’s expertise allows her to personally hand-select the finest gemstones from across the globe, ensuring that Mallory’s collection is always distinguished by exceptional beauty and rarity. Her handson approach guarantees that every gemstone used in Mallory’s jewellery meets the highest standards of quality, a hallmark that has helped the business maintain its prestigious reputation for generations.

Mallory not only specialises in sourcing rare and fine gemstones but also in designing and creating bespoke pieces through its in-house jewellery workshop. Equipped with cutting-edge CAD technology, the workshop is home to Mallory’s exceptionally talented goldsmiths who bring clients visions to life with their meticulous craftsmanship.

Additionally, the company’s team of expert watchmakers offers toptier in-house repairs for some of the most prestigious watch brands in the world, ensuring customers receive comprehensive service under one roof.

A central tenet of Mallory’s success is its unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service. K atie emphasises that each customer is treated with the same courteously way, whether they are purchasing a significant piece or seeking a minor repair. This dedication to creating a personalised and attentive experience, paired with Mallory’s

Katie Vander Woerd Mallory Jewellers

unique ability to both create and repair fine jewellery, has cemented the jeweller’s status as a trusted destination for clients seeking both quality and expertise.

Customer satisfaction has always been central to the Mallory philosophy. Over the years, the business has evolved to meet the changing tastes and expectations of its clientele. The company has a long-standing connection to the historic city of Bath. In the early 19th century, many of Mallory’s customers were visitors to the city who came to take the spa waters and would often stay for extended periods. These visitors would make purchases that reflected their elegant, leisurely lifestyle.

As times have changed, Mallory has continued to adapt, ensuring that their offerings align with the aspirations of both long-time patrons and new visitors to the city. The company’s enduring legacy is reflected not only in its beautiful jewellery and watches but also in its unwavering dedication to qualit y and customer satisfaction.

Mallory

1 – 5 Bridge Street, Bath, BA2 4AP

Tel: 01225 788800

mallory-jewellers.com

Nigel Dando

With a Bath-based goldsmith for a father and having been brought up surrounded by second-hand silver, jewellery, vintage pieces and gorgeous antiques, it’s not surprising that Nigel Dando went into the jewellery business at a young age.

Upon becoming an apprentice at 16, Nigel was struck by the quality and style of jewellery dating from the early 20th century up to the 1950s. The classic shapes, cuts and quality of pieces from these decades caught Nigel’s eye, and he quickly made this his key area of interest and expertise that he has continued to this present day.

After gaining the National Goldsmiths Diploma, Nigel went on to study gemmology at the Sir John Cass College of Art in Whitechapel in his 20s. As he recalls, this gave him a significant insight into the trade of gemstones, understanding how they are created and used in handmade jewellery.

While his father was incredibly happy that his son had decided to go into the goldsmiths’ business, Nigel’s goldsmith training was rather different to what it was in his father’s day, where official qualifications weren’t as in demand. Instead, his father’s contemporaries relied heavily on their own knowledge and personal research into individual pieces. This is in stark contrast to the present day, as Nigel stresses, as if you want to get to the top of the goldsmiths’ ladder now, you need a whole host of qualifications under your belt.

After working in the family business for a number of years, Nigel established his shop on Pulteney Bridge in 2002. He sells an eclectic mix of new, pre-owned and vintage jewellery, much of which dates from 1920–1960, along with ranges of contemporary silver jewellery. Many are high-quality, one-off pieces that you won’t find anywhere else – he doesn’t stock any brands you would usually find on the high street. The shop’s stock changes almost weekly, with new and unusual items appearing all the time. Nigel says: “I never know what is going

If you want to get to the top of the goldsmiths’ ladder then you need a whole host of qualifications under your belt

to come through the door.” You get the sense that it is this notknowing what rare pieces that might come into his shop that keeps Nigel on his toes. Sometimes he can have 10–20 customers a day asking for their pieces to be valued and purchased over the counter, demonstrating just how quickly his stock can change.

While he does buy and sell items from his shop, Nigel visits up to 10 antique fairs a year, both to scout out any rare products or to sell some of his items to the market.

Nigel also buys and sells gold and silver in any form or condition, and sells precious metals at competitive prices. Additionally, he is happy to offer free advice on selling items, insurance and valuations.

Nigel Dando 11 Pulteney Bridge, Bath, BA2 4AY

Tel: 01225 464013

Web: nigeldando.co.uk

Nigel Dando

Nicholas Wylde

Nicholas Wylde celebrated 37 years in business this year, having started out in Bath in 1987 as a young man. Now the award-winning designer jeweller has branches in both Bath and Bristol and is one of the few jewellers in the world with their own registered and patented diamond cut – the exquisite Wylde Flower Diamond®.

After leaving school at 16, Nicholas worked in his father’s stationery shop in Birmingham, which was coincidentally placed in the jewellery quarter of the city. It was here he got to meet the local jewellers, who advised and influenced him to train as a jeweller. Nicholas went on to train as a jewellery designer and goldsmith at the prestigious Birmingham School of Jewellery.

He then moved to Bath and worked in a jewellers, where he developed his skills further, before opening his own shop, aged 24 which was managed by his sister Corrinda. They soon became so busy with orders that they had to move premises to Northumberland Place, where they have been based ever since. In 2010 Nicholas expanded the brand and opened another store and workshop in Clifton, Bristol, selling exclusive pieces.

Describing his business as a traditional family jewellers with a modern twist, Nicholas has always aimed to design and create jewellery that is not easily available on the market. This is why customers have continued to come back year after year from all over the country.

Nicholas has seen many changes in the industry over the years, with fashions coming and going. But some things never change, as he

Nicholas’ true passion is colour and highquality gemstones, cut in such a way to allow him to design unique and highly distinctive items of jewellery

comments: “Diamonds have always been a girl’s best friend, especially our Wylde Flower Diamond®. It has more cut facets than any other brilliant cut diamond for a special sparkle you won’t find anywhere else in the world. It combines the beauty of both diamonds and flowers: how romantic is that?”

Nicholas’ true passion is colour and high-quality gemstones, cut in such a way to allow him to design unique and highly distinctive items of jewellery – keeping to his style of mixing classic lines with striking designs. This style is known worldwide as ‘the Wylde Effect’. This is well represented in Nicholas’ latest collections as well as the Wylde Flower Diamond pieces he is commended for.

In recent years Nicholas Wylde has continued to win several awards including Best Boutique Jeweller UK, Best Business Award and Best Marketing Campaign UK at the most prestigious award show in the industry.

Nicholas Wylde, 12 Northumberland Place, Bath, BA1 5AR Tel: 01225 462826; nicholaswylde.com

Nicholas Wylde

Jody Cory

Jody Cory was born and raised in Bath and established her business here in the very heart of the city in 2001. Having spent her childhood rummaging through her mother’s jewellery box, Jody was always interested in jewellery and in the making process from the young age of 14; as Jody always says, “it’s fair to say that goldsmithing has been a lifelong passion”.

Jody started taking evening classes in goldsmithing at Bath College when she was just 15 years old and was immediately enthralled, leading her to move to Manchester two years later to start training as a goldsmith professionally. It was here that Jody learnt a lot of what she now knows about the process of jewellery making and gemmology, using all of these skills to create the handmade and expertly crafted jewellery that is now sold at Jody Cory Goldsmiths in Abbey Churchyard.

“At Jody Cory Goldsmiths we work with precious and semi-precious gemstones and take all our inspiration from the organic features of life and nature around us. We offer a bespoke service to each of our customers, allowing them to take part in the whole process from beginning to end; designing, making and finalising each repair, remodel or new piece of jewellery. Each item of jewellery is personal and the journey is unique to each individual, this is why customers come back to us and choose us as their family jeweller.”

Jody highlights the oval pink sapphire and diamond cluster ring set in white gold as well as the rose cut and briolette diamond collections, which are very popular. They are each individually handmade and designed entirely by Jody and the team, so you won’t find anything similar anywhere else. Over the years, Jody has received commissions from a number of different actors and film stars, and has even made a handcrafted 18ct gold earpiece for a very well-known musician.

We work with precious and semiprecious gemstones and take our inspiration from the organic features of life and nature around us

“Despite the stories of famous people coming through the door, what we do here is always about the customer as an individual and this is extremely personal and confidential.” A story that has always stood out for Jody was when a father commissioned an eternal flame pendant for his daughter who was sadly suffering with a terminal illness. The pendant represented how his daughter would forever be with their family and that the memories they had made would always burn bright.

Jody Cory Goldsmiths offers a range of services including commissions, remodelling, repairs and valuations and Jody can give individual professional advice on quality, cut and clarity to those looking to purchase that special diamond piece.

Jody Cory Goldsmiths 9 Abbey Churchyard, Bath, BA1 1LY.

Tel: 01225 460072 Web: jodycory.co.uk

Jody Cory in her workshop

The Gold & Platinum Studio

The Gold & Platinum Studio began life as ‘The Gold & Silver Studio’ in 1970 in Queen Street. Goldsmith Michael Parsons has owned the business since 1997, and he moved to Northumberland Place, renaming the business in 2006. Michael trained at art college in jewellery design in the early 1980s. After graduating he started his first business. Michael explains, “I got to know the owners of a local custom motorcycle publication, and they had a space in their premises in which I set up my first workshop. I was making contemporary pieces to sell in galleries, and biker jewellery for the magazine, which was run by Hells Angels at that time. It was an interesting contrast, and they were great to work with – rarely a dull moment, but grim reaper jewellery wasn’t really my thing.

“After a few years of travelling and working abroad, I came to visit Bath as my grandfather had moved here. I fell in love with the city after returning to the UK, particularly the surrounding countryside. I’m a keen walker and there is an abundance of beautiful footpaths nearby. “When I first took over the business, it was a steep learning curve.

When I was studying gemmology, I went to Sri Lanka as it is well known for sapphires... and it has become a regular trip to source gems

Dealing with clients and handmaking to order was new to me. I immediately took to it after experiencing people’s reaction when I’d transformed someone’s old unwanted jewellery into something that they loved.

“I still do quite a bit of re-modelling work, but we are concentrating on making more one-off pieces to sell nowadays. It can be challenging timewise as they tend to sell rather quickly! The inspiration often comes from a particular gemstone. When I was studying gemmology, I went to Sri Lanka as it is well known for sapphires as well as being a fascinating country with the best people. It has become a regular trip to source gems. I’m a big fan of pastel colours and the variety of sapphires I find always make it an inspirational trip and gives me a perfect excuse to go back. “At the moment we are creating more pieces using multi-coloured sapphires in contemporary designs.”

Gold and Platinum Studio 19 Northumberland Place, Bath, BA1 5AR Tel: 01225 462300 Web: goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk

A collection of pieces by the Gold & Platinum Studio

Michael Parsons Gold & Platinum Studio

Portrait of Bath

Dorota Piatkowska, Housekeeping Manager,

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

Dorota, known as Dot, was born in Lask and lived her young life in Niedoń, a village in Sieradz County in central Poland, west of the regional capital Łódź. Dot describes it as a tiny village in the middle of the forest, an agricultural region with just a few houses, and she and her siblings grew up on the family farm, all contributing to its daily management.

At the age of 21 Dot did an accountancy degree in Łòdź and then decided to take a year off. Hearing about a work opportunity from a friend in Bath, she flew over to the UK and the very next day started work at The Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath as a cleaner. Fast forward 17 years and she is now Housekeeping Manager, managing more than 30 people, including supervisors, housekeepers and cleaners, who all keep the hotel and its 45 rooms spick and span.

She says that her team motivates and inspires her every day and describes them as “the best in the universe – if I don’t have my team I couldn’t achieve anything!” She is clearly a supportive and empathetic manager and there is a strong collaborative approach within the team.

When Dot first moved to Bath, the initial few years were challenging, living in a different country with a new job and no family close. Her English at this stage was very basic, but this soon changed as she studied at home, attended evening classes and communicated at work with supportive colleagues who would correct her if she used a word or phrase wrongly.

Dot’s home is conveniently located just opposite The Royal Crescent and her four-year old son attends nursery a short way away, so her commute is very straighforward. When at home, Dot says she loves to cook Polish food for her family, which has a strong emphasis on soups and stews such as Żurek (sour rye soup), Ogórkowa (cucumber soup) and Rosòł (chicken soup). As a Catholic, she and her family attend Polish mass on Sundays at Manvers Street Baptist Church.

Dot describes her homeland as a world away from her life in the UK, with Bath having a different culture and architecture and with so many nationalities living together in the same city. She still considers Poland as her home, seeing it as an oasis of peace, and returns at least twice a year to Niedoń to visit her family, but can’t imagine a time when she would go back there to live. She explains that there is such a sense of interconnected family when she returns, with everyone eating sociably together, and her children love to spend their summers there helping their grandparents on the farm, feeding the animals, fishing and picking mushrooms and berries in the forest.

Fortunately for The Royal Crescent Hotel and its visitors, Dot sees Bath as a much loved second home.

royalcrescent.co.uk

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

Comfort wines

Recommendations by Tom

Bleathman

from the Great Wine Company

As November arrives, bringing colder weather and darker nights, natural cravings for comfort foods and a roaring fire start to kick in. All of this is often enhanced by a comforting glass of wine. Here are my top recommendations for those seeking a drop of wine on a cold night, all available at The Great Wine Company. greatwine.co.uk

The best-selling wine in the GWC shop, Les Mougeottes Chardonnay 2023 consistently provides great value for money. You’ll discover pineapple and peach aromas married with gentle, buttery notes. Dry, yet rounded on the palate, it has a texture, richness and finesse that gives it charm and completeness.

A bargain at £11.75.

Thelema are one of the heritage brands of winemaking in South Africa. Originally pioneered by Giles Webb in the late 1980s and now his son Thomas Webb, they produce some of the finest wines South Africa has to offer. Their Thelema Merlot 2020 is a perfect combination of ripe red cherries and fresh plum while also being full and rounded. An excellent overall balance, and so very drinkable. £22

Bonarda is a relatively unheard-of grape variety in the UK, but it’s Argentina’s second most planted after malbec. Trapiche Estacion 1883 Bonarda is packed full of big juicy plums and blackcurrants with a touch of oak, giving this a slightly spicy finish. Fantastic value at £14.95

FOOD & DRINK

Creamy Polenta with Mushrooms, Chestnuts and Taleggio

This super-seasonal, cosy supper for two combines buttery polenta with earthy mushrooms, sweet chestnuts and creamy Taleggio cheese. If you can't get your hands on Taleggio, Bel Paese, Gorgonzola or Brie all work well, too.

Ingredients (serves 2)

• 250g chestnut mushrooms, halved if large

• 2 tsp olive oil

• 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

• 1 heaped tsp dried thyme

• 100g vacuum-packed cooked chestnuts, quartered

Method

• 100ml whole milk

• 100g quick-cook polenta

• 30g butter

• 25g parmesan, grated

• 100g Taleggio cheese, cut into small cubes

Heat a large frying pan with a lid over a high heat. Add the mushrooms and dry cook for around 3 minutes, stirring very occasionally, until the mushrooms have browned and started to release their liquid.

Reduce the heat to medium, then add the oil, garlic, thyme, chestnuts and plenty of black pepper. Sauté for a few minutes, stirring continuously, until fragrant. Add 1 tbsp water, cover the pan, remove from the heat and set aside for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, put the milk in a saucepan with 400ml water and a good pinch of salt and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low, pour in the polenta and stir well. Simmer for 5-8 minutes, stirring constantly until the polenta has thickened and is starting to come away from the sides of the pan.

Add the butter, Parmesan and half the Taleggio and stir well until the cheeses have melted.

Divide the polenta between two warm shallow bowls or plates. Dot with the remaining Taleggio and top with the mushrooms, along with any juices left in the pan.

Recipe by Melissa Blease

Bath City’s Premier Fine Dining Indian Restaurant Relaunches with New Menus. Tuesday 19th November

• New A La Carte Menu • New Drinks Menu

• New Cocktail Menu • New Tasting Menu

• New Group Menu Bookings are open Including for our Christmas set menu and party menus

FOOD & DRINK

SEASONAL DINING AT LUCKNAM

This year Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa is showcasing the best of festive flavours with a new selection of seasonal dining experiences and menus for overnight residents and day guests over the Christmas period. These include:

Festive afternoon tea

Throughout December, Lucknam Park will serve a special afternoon tea menu alongside its crackling log fires. Highlights include mince pie scones accompanied by brandy butter; turkey finger sandwiches filled with bacon and sage and onion stuffing; and maroon macarons infused with mulled wine. Prices from £48 per person.

Christmas Day lunch at Walled Garden Restaurant

The new Walled Garden Restaurant will be putting on a special festive feast on Christmas day. After canapés and cocktails upon arrival, guests will be treated to a traditional Christmas roast featuring a Roast Norfolk bronze turkey or salt-baked celeriac and wild mushroom Wellington. A special Lucknam Park

Christmas pudding with marmalade and Cointreau ice cream promises to be the showstopper. Prices from £195 per person.

New Year’s Day Gala at Walled Garden Restaurant

An unforgettable culinary celebration at the Walled Garden Restaurant to ring in the new year. Expect soy-cured salmon or game paté to start and sumptuous steaks or duck confit for the main course followed by servings of apple and cinnamon sundae, pear and chocolate mousse or blackberry crumble. A live singer will serenade guests with festive tunes and family favourites. Prices from £35 per person for two courses. lucknampark.co.uk

by TBM

Photo

The food and drink champion

Melissa Blease meets Alex Peters of Green Park Brasserie and Bath Pizza Co, and discovers how it has moved with the times over 33 years, with its bustling, friendly eatery, award‐winning pizzas and atmospheric live music.

It is a typical weekend at Green Park Brasserie. There’s a cocktail soirée underway on the heated terrace to the front of the building and a pizza party happening on the second terrace at the rear. Inside, couples are smooching to melodious live jazz and a 50th anniversary celebration is going with a swing. Beyond a plush red velvet curtain, the sophisticated speakeasy vibe in the aptly-named Upstairs bar and kitchen is working its seductive magic over a whole host of mellow merrymakers... and tomorrow, when a buzzing Saturday evening gives way to a laid back Sunday, comforting roasts will dominate proceedings in the unique surroundings of Green Park Station’s historic former train station booking hall.

But how, exactly, does one of Bath’s brightest and best hospitality business success stories, established almost 33 years ago, skilfully manage to move with the times while still retaining all the original charms that made it so popular from the get-go?

“I’d say my most-used buzzword is evolution,” says Alex Peters who, since stepping into his directorship role at the Green Park Brasserie in 2018, continues to build on the strong foundations that his father Andrew established when he opened GPB in 1992.

“It’s choose your mood, family friendly food that offers fantastic value for money”

“I feel a great sense of custodianship, to this historic building and the business we’ve built in it and to the city around us. I’m very proud that we’ve created an amazing space that people love coming back to time and time again; when the terraces are buzzing, the cocktails are flowing and there’s live music going on inside the restaurant, I honestly don’t think there are many other places in the country that have the unique environment that we offer.” But Alex never takes the success of this longestablished business for granted.

The Bath Pizza Co, which has played a vibrant supporting role in the heterogeneous life of the Braz since it popped up on the terrace towards the rear of the building in 2016, adds yet another fascinating facet to the brasserie’s broad appeal. Alex recently merged Bath Pizza Co and Green Park Brasserie menus to become one and the same thing; put ’em together and what have you got? “World class, award-winning pizzas alongside a classic brasserie menu in small and large plate format, seven days a week – what’s not to love?” says Alex. “It’s choose your mood, family-friendly food that offers fantastic value for money. We launched the new menu at around the same time as we opened the Upstairs bar and kitchen, which is yet another important part of the evolution of the business; the latest chapter, if you like, in our 33-year history, hopefully taking the business to yet another level – literally!”

Given Alex’s enthusiasm, motivation and forward-thinking attitude, it’s

no surprise to learn that last year he became a board director of the Bath Business Improvement District (BID), the independent, not-for-profit company which has worked hard to provide the environment for businesses in Bath to succeed since 2011.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to champion food and drink businesses in Bath and support the BID in delivering fantastic projects and campaigns that celebrate the city,” he says. “I also like to act as a useful sounding board for fellow hospitality businesses; that links in with what I see as my role in continuing to make Bath a wonderful place to live and work. Six-million people a year visit Bath; it’s really important that the city continues to thrive and maintains its global popularity status. But to do that, the city has to be a fantastic place for those that live in it too, and I want Green Park Brasserie and Bath Pizza Co to play a big role in that goal. Next year, we’ll have been running Green Park Brasserie for 33 years; we’re hoping we have at least another 33 to look forward to!”

If today is the tomorrow that we all prepared for yesterday, it’s always the perfect time to visit Green Park Brasserie.

Green Park Brasserie, Green Park Station, Bath BA1 1JB Tel: 01225 338565; greenparkbrasserie.com; bathpizzaco.com

Seeing clearly for 45 years

Ellis & Killpartrick optometrists have been a constant presence in the city of Bath since 1979. Yes, that’s 45 years. Emma Clegg talks to Mike Killpartrick about how it all started and what has changed over the decades.

What was happening 45 years ago? Well, the year 1979 marked Michael Jackson’s breakthrough album Off the Wall, the premiere of Monty Python’s Life of Brian and the year the Sony Walkman went on sale. Here in Bath, meanwhile, an enterprising duo of optometrists decided to open their first practice as Ellis & Killpartrick in George Street.

Mike Killpartrick says, “The company was started in 1979 by myself and Brian Ellis who I met at Bradford University. We got on well and we said that one day we’d start a practice together. Then Brian contacted me quite a few years later and said he’d found some premises in George Street. We were both optometrists, but we didn’t really have any idea about running a business, but we were both interested in contact lenses and we built up our knowledge of eyewear brands. It just developed from there.”

Brian Ellis left the business in 1985, but the Bath practice grew steadily, leading to Mike opening a new practice in Cheltenham in 1994, which he says is now very similar in size, turnover and patient numbers to Bath. The third practice in Tetbury opened three years ago.

Surely the changes in eyewear science must have have been dramatic since the opening of the Bath practice…? “When we started, soft contact lenses were becoming increasingly widely used – I remember them being considered ‘newfangled’ when we were at university! Modern contact lenses are just amazing little bits of technology and I feel very privileged to have been on that journey seeing them get better and better”, says Mike. Another big shift came in the 2000s when cameras were brought in to take pictures of the back of the eye. “In the old days we used to scribble a few notes about anything we thought was significant. When I was at university we were told to make a very detailed drawing of what we saw, with the optimistic notion that when the customer came back a couple of years later you could refer back to this amazing drawing. Now retinal photography is a fantastic and accurate

tool for monitoring the health of the eye.”

Mike explains that this back of the eye photography checks eye health and general health, and is particularly helpful for patients with diabetes, because this helps to spot eye problems caused by the condition before they affect a person’s sight.

The next development was OCT (ocular coherence tomography). “First developed about 20 years ago, OCT is really similar to ultrasound, but it uses light instead of sound. It has gradually got better and better and increasingly affordable, to the point now where I would say that all optometrists use OCT to gather information about the back of the eye. It primarily measures the thicknesses of layers of the retina and enables us to see any irregularities and particularly age-related changes. So it’s been a fantastic breakthrough for all of us. I’ve been using OCT now for six years and it’s still incredibly exciting.”

The practice’s retail journey has also been defined by well-known fashion eyewear brands. “A lady I’d been working for when I worked in London said we should be able to sell Cartier in Bath, which I was nervous about doing, but that’s how we started down that route and for 45 years we’ve carried Cartier as our pinnacle brand.” The company’s other stocked brands include Chopard, Chanel, Tom Ford, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Montblanc, Ray Ban, Gucci, Mulberry and Tiffany & Co. More niche brands are also carried, including several French companies that supply beautiful handmade frames.

“It’s good fun trying to understand how these brands work. LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) is one of the biggest luxury brands, and there are other big players like Luxottica Group who own Ray Ban, Persol, Chanel and Oliver Peoples,” says Mike.

A retro-style frame by Tom Ford

Mike Killpartrick

Oliver Peoples Riley-R

He explains that there are plenty of webinars and presentations available to help optometrists to understand the changing science around optometry, but because of his natural enthusiasm, it seems this research is not an onerous task. “This is the fascinating thing – when you look into the eye, the eye is actually the inside out bit of the brain. The eye developed as a forward extension of the neural tissue that makes up the brain. There is a lot of interest recently around whether structural changes in the brain with certain diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons can be seen at the back of the eye. That’s an interesting area of research which is still developing.

Mike says that children are great fun to work with because they are curious and fascinated when they see the plan that the practice provides showing them the ‘inside out’ bit of their brain. He also explains that the incidence of myopia (shortsightedness) has increased among ages 10-21, a fact that is linked to young people’s high engagement with digital screens.

“There is a strong link between the prevalance of short-sightedness and digital device use. We’ve been having these conversations with parents for nearly 10 years

now, trying to bring this to a higher level of awareness. It’s also known that youngsters who spend more time outdoors generally do much better.

“There are now spectacles and contact lenses that have certain features that studies show slow down myopia. They work by adjusting the way the light focuses at the back of the eye.”

Those 45 years have passed in a flash to Mike, but if he thinks back he says his advice to his younger self would be emphatically, “Learn from your mistakes”, adding that it would have helped to have done a business management course to understand more about gross and net profit. Ultimately though, according to Mike, it’s about investing in the team for the good of the business: “All employers know that if you can make a job fun and you’re earning good money at the same time then you’re on to a winner.”

Ellis & Killpartrick, 18 New Bond Street, Bath BA1 1BA; Tel: 01225 466954; ellisandkillpartrick.com

Lindberg n.o.w. frames

Bath business

LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATION UPDATES

BATH WINS BRITAIN IN BLOOM 2024

Out of 52 community gardening group finalists, Bath in Bloom has been crowned Overall Winner at the Britain in Bloom Finals 2024 held at Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium. The Somerset group also won the Small City category, achieving a Gold award.

Bath Parks Department has an on-site nursery enabling high-quality plants to be produced with a low transportation footprint. The displays, particularly the hanging baskets on Milsom Street and

INTERACTION SCOOPS NATIONAL BCO AWARD FOR “FANTASTIC” HALO OFFICE FIT-OUT

Interaction, the Bath-based workplace design and build company, has won a prestigious national award for its “exceptional” work designing and fitting out Osborne Clarke’s flagship offices in Bristol.

Interaction was crowned national winner in the Fit Out Workplace category at the British Council for Offices’ (BCO) awards at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel in London. The annual awards celebrate excellence across the UK office sector.

Spanning 100,000 sq ft, Osborne Clarke’s stunning Halo workplace includes indoor gardens that provide social and quiet areas for employees. It also features a mix of flexible workspaces, a yoga and spin studio, and restaurant with a rooftop terrace that offers panoramic views of Bristol.

The award judges said Osborne Clarke’s flexible office in the landmark Halo building, one of the UK’s most sustainable office developments, was “a simply fantastic state-ofthe-art workplace in an iconic Bristol building”. interaction.uk.com

throughout the main retail areas of Bath, have a real wow factor helping draw in visitors.

Good quality herbaceous planting is evident in The Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Park, as well as in Manvers Street car park, and eye-catching planting turns heads in Parade Gardens (pictured).

Bath in Bloom engages with communities across the city. There are many ongoing projects with local schools including dipping ponds, planting trees, and creating willow art.

One school has grown its own wheat, prepared the grain, milled their own flour, and then baked bread.

Darren Share, Chair of Judges said:

“Britain in Bloom and Bath have been connected right from the start with both celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2024.

“It was clear that everyone in Bath knew about Britain in Bloom and wanted to shout about how proud they were to be a part of Bath in Bloom. Well done to all involved” bathinbloom.org

WYLDE CREATURES OF BATH PRIZES PRESENTED

Throughout July and August, the Bath Business Improvement District (BID) hosted a shop window and drawing competition as an extension of the Bath Biodiversity benches project, in which 24 small illustrations of local Bath wildlife were painted on the benches around Bath Abbey. The trail, sponsored by Wylde Jewellers, invited residents and visitors to find the 24 corresponding animal paintings hidden in the shop windows throughout the city, with a trail booklet that included an animal drawing competition.

Generously supported by Wylde Jewellers and several local businesses, the competition offered fantastic prizes. The highlight was Wylde Jewellers’ transformation of an illustration by Toby, the under 10s category winner, into a stunning silver pendant, pictured. The prize-giving took place at the beautiful Wylde Jewellers shop on Northumberland Place, where Carly Cooke (Wylde Jewellers) welcomed winners with a drinks reception. nicholaswylde.com

HISTORIC BATH VENUE LAUNCHES WEDDINGS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

House of St John’s was founded by Bath community charity St John’s Foundation in 2022. Profits from the venue are gifted to the charity to support under-served children in Bath and North East Somerset, driving positive social change in the local community.

House of St John’s has added chic city weddings to its offering with the launch of its new wedding ceremony venue. Set in a Grade 1-listed property overlooking the historic Queen Square, the space is elevating city wedding ceremonies in line with the trend of couples demanding more modern options. Micro weddings have become increasingly popular and the venue at House of St. John’s perfectly caters to this surge in popularity, with a stylish space that can accomodate up to 30 guests.

Bookings are live on their website: hosj.co.uk

Paying a salary to a family member

One of the most efficient methods of reducing a company’s tax bill and increasing the amount of cash withdrawn at the same time is by paying a salary to a member of the director’s family. For example, the director’s spouse or children at university.

Employing a family member will also allow them a National Insurance Contribution credit towards their state pension entitlement and their salary will count as ‘relevant earnings’ to enable private pension contributions.

Care needs to be taken so that the payments do not fall foul of what is termed the 'settlement’ rules.The question here is whether by allowing the family member income from the business, they are earning a PAYE salary or whether the ownerdirector has created a settlement and ‘retained an interest’ in the business.

Should an individual create a 'settlement' but retain ‘an interest’, then under this legislation, the income of that settlement is treated as still belonging to the settlor (in this instance, the director).

To qualify as a deduction against the company’s tax on its profits, the family member needs to ‘really’ be earning the amount that is paid to them.The amount paid must be in return for the work they undertake. If no work or little work is undertaken, then HMRC could refuse the company a tax deduction and treat the payment as a distribution to the director.

Paying a spouse, say, £50,000 a year for one day’s work a week might be challenged by HMRC and, if upheld, would result in the expense being disallowed as not being incurred ‘wholly and exclusively’.

The salary must be reasonable for the work undertaken – salary greater than would be paid to another non-family member to do the work could be investigated by HMRC. By appointing the family member as a director, a small salary could be paid, even if the actual work undertaken is little.

Paying the ‘optimal’ salary amount of £12,570 also means that the family member has a year’s NIC contributions towards their state pension without having to pay any employee’s NIC, although this could also be achieved if a salary equal to the lower earnings limit of £123 per week (£6,396 a year) is taken.

The salary should be paid into the family member’s personal bank account and recorded in the accounts as payment to another employee; the company will also need to comply with the Real Time Information requirements of a payroll scheme. Should the family member also be a shareholder, there will also be the option of withdrawing more from the company if needs be.

The Bath Historical Pageant

Bath in the early 20th century was a shadow of its Georgian heyday. In an effort to re‐establish the city as a tourist destination a Bath Historical Pageant was organised, which involved collaboration with Baths all over the world, says Andrew Swift

Joe Lycett’s latest stunt – an International Day of Birmingham to boost the city’s profile – has attracted widespread publicity, perhaps not surprising given the dearth of other upbeat news at the moment. The celebration, held on 24 September, marked the historic alliance between Lycett’s hometown and the 18 Birminghams across North America.

Media coverage was so positive, there seems every chance that other cities will be tempted to try something similar. Bath would be an ideal candidate for such a celebration as there are at least 14 towns in North America which bear the city’s name. In fact it’s already been done, way back in 1909, and, while Lycett’s Birmingham venture lasted a day, Bath’s lasted a week.

In the early 20th century, historical pageants were all the rage. The first, at Sherborne in Dorset in 1905, was so successful that towns and cities across the land were soon rushing to stage their own. They followed a tried-andtested format – a series of historical tableaux commemorating events from each town or city’s past, scripted by local antiquarians or clergymen and involving large numbers of participants re-enacting parades, ceremonies, battles and the like.

The organisers in Bath, while they kept to the basic formula, wanted to give their pageant an international dimension. At a meeting to drum up support, the head of the organising committee, T Sturge Cotterell, announced that he wanted to involve towns in North America that were called Bath.

This was not so much an attempt to foster international understanding as a hard-headed business plan. Bath had been trying for decades to revive its fortunes as a fading spa, without much success. As a result, certain farsighted individuals had decided that it would be more worthwhile trying to establish the city as a heritage destination, along the lines of Stratfordupon-Avon or Oxford, both already popular with American visitors.

Bath had not only the Roman Baths, opened 12 years earlier, but also a wealth of Georgian architecture, which was just beginning to be appreciated.

The Victorians had had little time for 18th-century buildings, and the reason so many survived in Bath was because of the city’s precipitous decline in popularity. Had it continued to prosper as a spa throughout the 19th century, much of it would have been rebuilt along the lines of the Empire Hotel.

It is no coincidence that 1909 saw Bath’s first major conservation battle – the fight to save the redevelopment of the north side of Bath Street –which saw the birth of the Old Bath Preservation Society.

So the chance to get loads of Americans over to show them that Bath was not just a run-down spa but an architectural showpiece with a fantastic history was too good to pass up. That said, the way they went about it is not something that would be likely to cut much ice today.

The pageant was to be performed daily, from Monday 19 July to the following Saturday, in Royal Victoria Park. The sequence of historical tableaux would be followed by a Grand Finale, in which ‘fair maidens’ from the Baths across the sea would pay homage to Mother Bath, a personification of the city. With bugles blowing, bells ringing, cannons booming, Mother Bath would be showered with roses, and doves would be released to the strains of O God our help in ages past

The problem with all this, as far as raising the city’s profile was concerned, was that none of the transatlantic Baths was a bustling metropolis. Even the biggest of them, such as Bath, Maine, a shipbuilding town on the Kennebec River, and Bath, New York, founded by William Pulteney around the time he was redeveloping Bathwick, only had populations of around 10,000. Some were hardly villages: Bath, North Carolina had around 400 residents, while Bath, Illinois had 330. Bath, South Dakota, established when the railroad passed through in 1881, had less than a hundred.

Bath’s organising committee had a trump card up its sleeve, however, in the person of Lady de Blaquiere, who lived in the Circus. An inspirational figure who galvanised public meetings with her call of ‘Wake up, Bath’, she had the organisational flair to set up enough working parties to produce the thousands of costumes vital to the project’s success. Even more crucially, she had contacts. Her father was

a Canadian printer who had owned a newspaper in New York. So it was that the Mother Bath episode was scripted not by some local worthy but by Katrina Trask, a New York author and philanthropist, whose husband was chairman of the New York Times.

With lavish media coverage thus assured, the size of the towns represented at the pageant was unimportant. As word of what was brewing in Bath spread, visitors from across North America set off for Bath to join in the festivities. On 25 July, the New York Times reported that ‘the Americans have made themselves extremely popular among the citizens of Bath and are being showered with entertainments… Several thousand Americans visited Bath during the week, and a large number are remaining throughout the pageant.’

After the final performance on Saturday afternoon, there was a civic banquet in honour of the North American representatives, followed by a grand parade and a ‘battle of the flowers’ and firework display in Sydney Gardens, witnessed by around 12,000 people. It had all, despite the weather – which was generally unsettled – been a great success.

Heritage tourism would have come to Bath without the Pageant, but it is by no means certain it would have become as central to the city’s economy – or that Bath would be so firmly on the international tourist trail – if the Pageant had not kickstarted the process a century ago. The open-top buses that trundle round the streets today are a direct consequence of that initiative, which prepared the way for a fundamental shift from Bath as health resort to Bath as tourist Mecca. Even so, it is ironic that the 21st century has witnessed something the worthies of 1909 had written off as impossible – the revival of spa culture in the city.

The full story of the Bath Pageant and of Bath in 1909 is told in The Year of the Pageant by Andrew Swift & Kirsten Elliott, published by Akeman Press; akemanpress.com

From our newsletters...

The Bath Magazine’s Weekend Edition is dispatched every Friday with fantastic extra content...there are things to see and do, recipes, interesting stories, shopping, property and so much more. Better still it’s completely free.

SHOPPING

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From Magalleria:

FOOD & DRINK

Discover quince...

What is quince?

A knobbly, fragrant relative of the pear, golden-yellow in colour and developing a pretty orange blush when ripe.

When is it in season?

From now until around the end of December.

What does quince taste like?

In its raw state, quince is almost inedible – rock hard, and bitter. But, once cooked, the mellow citrus/honey-ish flavours totally belie first impressions.

Added bonus!

It’s rich in antioxidants, potassium, iron, vitamin C and fibre.

How can I use quince?

curated by Daniel McCabe

Calling All Horse Girls celebrates equine culture, art, fashion and lifestyle. It’s aimed a those who were, still are or have always wanted to be ‘horse girls’ and who have had to step away for school, career, family life and other things. Contributors who have answered the call to provide their own horse girl perspectives include renowned writers, artists, designers, illustrators and photographers from around the world. The vibe feels North American, but it’s published in Istanbul. It’s serious, informative and charmingly silly in places – the latest volume (No. 7), for example, comes with a set of horse poo stickers. Shop at store.magalleria.co.uk

Despite it’s initially off-putting qualities, quince is extremely versatile, uniquely tasty and well worth making full use of during its short season. Braise with lamb in a casserole, or roast alongside pork or duck. Stew slowly with sugar and lemon and add to apple pie, bread and butter pudding, porridge or custard. Poach in sweet white wine and serve alongside a cheese board. Replace sloe berries with quince to make your own quince gin or quince vodka (start now, and it’ll be ready to drink just in time for Christmas!). Quince also contains high levels of pectin, a naturally-occurring thickener that sets and stabilises fruit when heated with sugar, making it ideal for chutneys, jams, marmalade – or Membrillo, Spain's traditional solid preserve made from simmered, sweetened quince purée that's been allowed to set.

Words by Melissa Blease

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:

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Email: sarah.wringer@kaplan.com

“

The stories of Jasbinder Bilan

“You get to a certain stage in your life, and you think, ‘Well, you know, what about these dreams that I had?’ ” Jasbinder Bilan acted on those feelings and started to write. Now she spends her time engrossing young people in her stories.

Icrouch close to the bittersweet straw in the cowshed, last night’s strange dream racing through my heart. I steady myself and duck low along the floor. The cows shuffle to make room and I prise my fingers under the heavy stone, pulling out the small wooden box. My hands tremble as I lift the lid, carefully unfold Papa’s last letter and trace his address across the fragile yellow paper.”

These are the opening lines of Jasbinder Bilan’s very first children’s novel, Asha & the Spirit Bird. It’s a powerful, absorbing opening, luring in the reader. It was the winner of The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition in 2017, leading to its publication in 2019, and won the Costa Children’s Book Award in the same year. “It was a really wonderful way to have your book enter the world because it arrived with a lot of noise. It was so exciting, you know, so exciting”, remembers Jasbinder.

Jasbinder, who lives just outside Bath, developed the book while studying her MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University as a mature student. “We were really encouraged to write a story that was special to us, one that only we could write, and that was absolutely what Asha & the Spirit Bird was. It was almost like I just closed my eyes, and I knew immediately, because I got a visual image of a little girl playing in the dust with water, with a big mountain behind her. I knew a lot about my story from that one visual.”

A big inspiration for Jasbinder with Asha & the Spirit Bird was in channelling the spirit of her Indian majee (grandmother) who represents the ‘spirit bird’ in the story. “I had such admiration for her. She was very strong, an amazing storyteller, and she really inspired me with a sense of following my dreams. She moved with us to Nottingham when I was very small and she lived a long life until she was 93, so she was everpresent.

“Even when she was gone she was always with me, and that was the sense that I wanted to bring into the story. It was really about my majee, the things that she had told me about what she believed in. I wanted to have this idea of the constancy of the people that we love and how they can help us to deal with everyday difficulties, even when they are not physically there. I think that’s a very powerful, universal theme.”

Jasbinder’s childhood in Nottingham was a very free one. They had no TV and the main entertainment was having adventures and telling stories. “We were always outdoors – we had a German Shepherd dog called Sabre who we used to take everywhere with us. Even though we lived in the city there were lots of big parks and one of our favourite places to go was Wollaton Hall deer park, which is the sort of place where you can let your imagination run wild. We used to make up all sorts of stories as we wandered the grounds with our ‘wolf-dog’. We especially loved being there towards dusk when we were often the only ones, and it became even more magical.”

Often when I’m starting out I’ll write things by hand, especially the first chapters, and that brings the heart of the story

Jasbinder likes to harness the wonder of these escapades within her books. “Wherever you live and whoever you are, you can have adventures. My book Xanthe & the Ruby Crown was all about that – it was my own story, where as children we found everyday magic and adventures in an everyday urban setting. It’s that freedom, you know, and the idea that the same sun shines everywhere. You just have to remember to look out for the magic.”

Jasbinder worked as a secondary school teacher for the first part of her working life before she did the MA, and she says many of her teaching experiences link to her skills as a writer. “As a teacher you have to take something that is not necessarily easy, and then make it understandable to children, seeing things at their level. That really helps when I write my stories. It’s about channelling that 11-year-old self. Childhood is a real time of powerlessness, but also a time when you have a strong sense of justice. I always want to capture that.”

Jasbinder’s family lived in a farm in northern Punjab, close to the foothills of the Himalaya, and this became the setting for Asha & the Spirit Bird. Her second book Tamarind & the Star of Ishta, published in 2020, is another journey towards the truth for the main character who arrives at her ancestral home in the Himalaya full of questions for her extended family, but is met with silence.

Writing a second book after such a successful first novel had its drawbacks. “Asha was such a hard act to follow. I asked myself, ‘what am I going to write now?’ I remember being in the back garden and looking up at the sky and seeing Venus, just like a huge spotlight. That's what inspired me to look into the mythology of Venus and I discovered that Venus used to be Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess – it felt like she wanted to be part of the story.”

Jasbinder’s third novel Aarti & the Blue Gods was her lockdown book, about a girl who lives on a wild island where the only other human is her aunt. “The island itself is a character, and connects with the idea of pantheism, that nature is a God. That’s another thing that I love bringing

Jasbinder with her majee

into my stories, the healing power of nature. I felt that story was so powerful and empowering for the children who often aren’t seen, allowing them to find a way to move forward.”

Jasbinder has a special method of ‘think writing’ that helps develop her stories. “I do a lot of think-writing at the start of my process and one of the exciting things I do when I begin a story is to buy a special notebook with plain paper so I can draw and stick interesting things into it.”

Workshops run by Jasbinder in schools and festivals encourage this free thinking. She says that pupils typically arrive with their laptops and digital devices ready to start work. “I say, ‘well you can just put those away because you are going to be having fun, and using your pen.’ I encourage any young people who want to write to do that, to have their notebook, and be free. It is so true that there is that connectivity between brain, heart and hand. Often when I’m starting out I’ll write things by hand,

especially the first chapters, and that brings the heart of the story. It’s only when you get to that point where the story makes you cry or feel something, then you have your story properly. Because when you feel that as a writer then your readers will feel that too.

Bath has been Jasbinder’s home for many years. “I went to university in Bristol, which was was my introduction to the south west and I loved it. I then lived in Spain for four years, but I’ve always been drawn back and Bath to me is a little magical, a bit different. It has always had a special place in my heart – it’s one of those cities when you are by the weir at night and you have got the hills and you see the twinkling lights. It’s an insanely beautiful bubble.”

Jasbinder is a fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. Her latest books are Nush & the Stolen Emerald and Anya’s Quest. jasbinderbilan.co.uk

City thrill-bits

News about some famous faces appearing in Bath this month and a new illustrated edition of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood by a talented local artist.

Star spotting in Bath

Midge Ure showcases the musical breadth and versatility of his extensive song catalogue written during the past 50 years in his MIDGE URE –Catalogue: The Hits Tour which is coming to the Forum. This will give old and new fans alike a remarkable night of hits and rarely heard gems. 12 November, 7.30pm, The Bath Forum. Tickets from £33.50. bathforum.co.uk

Dame Mary Berry is in Bath on 14 November to celebrate her new cookbook, Mary’s Foolproof Dinners, which supports her new BBC Two TV series. Her book is a celebration of the main meal of the day, collecting 120 brand-new recipes that take the stress out of everyday cooking. 14 November, 7pm, Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road. Tickets £30 including a copy of the book. toppingbooks.co.uk

An illustrated Dylan Thomas

Sir Michael Palin joins Topping & Co. on 26 November for the latest installment in his diaries. There and Back is a new window into the world of Michael Palin, one that sees him navigating the question of just how much of himself to share with the public as he prepares to publish the first volume of diaries. It reveals more than ever the strength he draws from his support networks, his family, his friendships and, of course, the Pythons. 26 November, 7pm, Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bathwick, £30 including a copy of the book. toppingbooks.co.uk

For Bonnie Hawkins it has been a lifelong dream to illustrate the characters of Under Milk Wood, the masterpiece of language created by Dylan Thomas. She first took up her pencil and began creating an image depicting the world of Captain Cat, the retired blind sea captain, more than 20 years ago. Now she has published an illustrated book of Under Milk Wood, which was originally written as a radio play.

Quoting from author Joanne Harris’s foreword, “Thomas’s text is remarkable and has held listener and reader interest ever since it was first broadcast in 1954. The magic lies in its intimacy, its familiarity, its subversion. Like all true magic it makes its own rules. The challenge has always been how to fix these volatile, surreal images onto the page. Bonnie Hawkins has somehow managed to do this. Her illustrations to Under Milk Wood are, just like the text itself, both elusive and intimate, disruptive and extraordinary. The result is spectacular, both in terms of the art itself, its humour and detail and complexity, and the way in which the style mirrors the text.”

The images (totalling more than 30) can be seen when they are exhibited at The Bath & County Club. Bonnie Hawkins will be there to talk about her work and sign copies between 10.30am and 4pm on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November and the exhibition will also be open from 10.30am to 4pm from 26–30 November and 3–6 December.

Under Milk Wood is £30 and can be purchased from bhhawkins.com

The Bath & County Club, Queens Parade BA1 2NJ (between Queen Square and Royal Victoria Park)

Mr Utah Watkins counts, all night, the wife-faced sheep as they leap the fences on the hill (Under Milk Wood, by Dylan Thomas)

Health & beauty Skin toning products

Discover the all‐ over body treatment that slims and tones your skin and feels like a deep tissue massage.

The Body Clinic at The Orangery has harnessed the French secret to a youthful slim physique. This state of the art technology is called LPG Endermology

Lipomassage. Over the last 30 years this treatment has evolved from simple suction and rolling to a range of suction and rolling techniques which include Sculpting, Slimming, Firming and Draining with up to 16hz of vibration. This treatment successfully slims down the body and reduces cellulite. The before and after photos show remarkable results in 4–14 treatments. Victoria suggests starting with a package of 6-12 treatments taken weekly, followed by a maintenance programme of monthly treatments.

LPG Endermology is the equivalent of having a facial, but for the body. Beauty is about maintenance and these wonderful treatments not only slim and tone your body but they also help relieve water retention by boosting lymph drainage. The treatment has a stimulating effect on the body's natural healing process, activating the collagen, elastin and fibroblasts within the skin. This treatment is also widely used by athletes to help relieve deep onset muscle soreness after intense training as it massages the muscles and reduces inflammation due to water retention.

Lipomassage is ideal for those dieting, losing weight or undergoing medical weight loss, as the skin tightening effects help reduce the risk of sagging crepey skin. With the festive party season approaching, Lipomassage could be the perfect answer to getting into that little black dress and it is certainly the answer to getting back into your jeans after Christmas. The treatment process consists of wearing a white body stocking to protect the skin from pinching, then relaxing on the couch while the machine gently massages your body. The sensation is that of a deep tissue massage. Within each session you will have a total body treatment, with added focus on problem areas. Book in for a short intense course of treatments before a holiday or big event, or alternatively commit to regular sessions throughout the year as a method of body maintenance.

You are invited to book in with Victoria for a free consultation where you can discuss your body concerns and your health and lifestyle. LPG Endermology is 100% safe with no downtime and little to no contraindications. This is a universal treatment for obtaining a smoother, more youthful physique.

Victoria Rawlinson, The Body Clinic, The Orangery Clinic, No. 1 Argyle Street, Bath; tel: 01225 466851. Visit theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk to see the full range of treatments. When booking mention The Bath Magazine to get a discount of £50 off a course.

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Above: The before and after photos show remarkable results in 4-14 weeks

Hygienist

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Jaime Brain & Kevin Milne Denture experts

Hidden Histories of the Upper Town

Although lying well off the tourist trail, the streets behind the Circus and the Royal Crescent have some fascinating stories to tell, says Andrew Swift.

Despite bombing in 1942 and redevelopment in the 1960s, so much survives in Bath’s Upper Town that this walk, less than a mile long, can touch on just a few of its hidden histories.

It starts in St James’s Square, built between 1790 and 1793, which has hardly changed since. No 35, in the south-east corner, bears two plaques – one telling us that Walter Savage Landor lived here, the other that Charles Dickens dwelt here. The choice of words is significant. Landor, a once celebrated writer whose star has faded, lived here from 1837 to 1844. Dickens was invited to dinner here in February 1840, although he did not stay the night, opting to book into the York House Hotel instead. For the Dickens enthusiasts of Bath, however, that was enough to claim that he ‘dwelt’ here.

Through the archway beside the house is Curiosity Cottage, once a shop. Dickens was working on The Old Curiosity Shop when he visited Landor and claimed to have come up with the character of Little Nell while discussing it with him over dinner. This gave rise to the story that he based the character of Little Nell on a girl he saw working in this shop – hence the name.

If you carry on past it you emerge in St James’s Place, once home to a range of tradesmen. The row of buildings on the east side, however, was demolished around 1950, leaving only the shop further along, now a launderette but once a butcher’s, where rails and hooks for hanging meat still survive, along with some ornate carvings.

When you leave St James’s Place, you will see St James’s Wine Vaults opposite. Opened in 1791, it was once one of dozens of pubs in this part of town.

As you turn left, the drum-like building ahead, on the other side of Julian Road, is the back entrance to the Royal Crescent Hotel and dates from 1986. As you round the corner, if you look up you will see how the end house narrows almost to a point, with a ghost sign at the back.

Head over the zebra crossing and cross to a wide patch of grass, once the site of St Andrew’s church. Designed in the 1860s by George Gilbert Scott, it had a 67-metre spire – 18 metres higher than the abbey. After being damaged by bombing, it was eventually demolished in 1960.

On the far side of the grass, cross to head east along Rivers Street. Nos 1-3, on the left, fell victim to bombing and are complete rebuilds. Much of this part of Bath was designed by John Wood the Younger. He started acquiring parcels of land to build Rivers Street in 1766, but, although he got his hands on most of what he needed, a plot of land partway along was leased to two local builders, Thomas and James Beale, instead. That is why Nos 12-15, on the north side, and Nos 48-50 opposite, look so different. It also explains why No 15 is, and always has been, a pub – the Chequers – something that would not have featured in Wood’s plans.

On the corner of Gloucester Street is one of Bath’s most intriguing ghost signs, with no less than three sets of lettering surviving – albeit only partially – from when it was a grocer’s. Carrying on along Rivers Street, you come to No 30, on the left, with its canted bay designed as an eye catcher for anyone looking up Russel Street from the Assembly Rooms.

At the end, cross Julian Road to the car park in front of Christ Church, which was built in 1798. The long building facing it is what remains of an

30 Rivers Street

Red House Bakery

Ornate carvings in St James’s Place

18th-century riding school. Looking back across the road, on the roof of No 32 you will notice a rare survival – stone tiles like those once found on most of Bath’s buildings. To the right, at the end of Rivers Street, is another ghost sign, for the Red House Bakery.

Heading up steps by the former riding school, you come to a former Royal Tennis Court, built in 1777. Over the years it has served as pin factory, malthouse, school and leather factory, but today it houses the Museum of Bath at Work, where a fascinating series of displays chronicles the city’s social and industrial history.

Turn left to go through an archway into Morford Street, cross and go downhill before turning right along Julian Road. The area to your right was once covered by rows of terraced houses that were demolished in the 1960s.

There was once another riding school on the west corner of Burlington Street. In 1852, after it had closed, it was converted to a Roman Catholic chapel, which in 1881 was demolished and replaced by St Mary’s church. The car park behind it, which you will see as you walk up Burlington Street,

was originally an exercise ring for the riding school. It later became a playground for the former school on the far side.

At the top of Burlington Street is Portland Place, built around 1786. The double ramp, flanked by obelisks, gave sedan chairmen access to the high pavement. The attic storey on Nos 6-8 was added when Bath High School was established here in 1875. As you turn right, you pass the site of a lost pub, the Portland Arms, pulled down in 1969, in the space on your right.

Continue through an archway and turn left to find one of Bath’s most curious architectural features, a column topped by a finial, dating from around 1970 and replacing a similar one erected around 1905. At the top, look over the wall to see the ruins of houses that once lined the road.

Turn left up Lansdown Road, where more Georgian buildings once stood. All disappeared in the late 1960s, the bulldozers only falling silent when they reached Spencer’s Belle Vue, a delightfully eclectic range of buildings memorable chiefly because the stonemason had to correct a spelling mistake after carving its name.

As you continue uphill, the oldest building on the walk – Lansdown Grove Hotel, built around 1740 as Sandpit House, and twice enlarged since – comes into view. Just past the zebra crossing, turn left down a footpath. After going down steps at the bottom, turn right and take the second left down Northampton Street. The buildings on the right originally ran downhill without a break, but bombing took a heavy toll. Below No 11, a fragment of the doorway of No 10 survives. Above it can be seen the brick lining which elsewhere is hidden behind Bath stone. Several houses further down are complete rebuilds. No 4, however, one of those that survived, is another lost pub – the Dark Horse, closed in 2007. n Andrew Swift has written books such as On Foot in Bath: Fifteen Walks around a World Heritage City (akemanpress.com).

What’s in store at Decorex ’24?

Decorex is a high‐end fair featuring a range of brands and designers, each presenting their latest collections of furniture, fabric, lighting, decorative craft and contemporary art. Designers Nick Woodhouse and John Law investigate this year’s fair.

Last month saw the annual return of London’s leading interior design event, Decorex. The four-day affair was back for its 46th edition, one that attracted designers, buyers and specifiers alike, all keen to see the latest displays and installations from nearly 300 brands across fabrics, furniture, materials, finishes and lighting. As well as offering the chance to find the perfect pieces for clients and projects, it also allows those in the industry to take a deep dive into emerging trends, and to see how they are shaping the future of interior design. This year’s edition was no exception, celebrating innovation, craftsmanship and creativity in equal measure.

At the forefront of these trends and themes was the show’s firmest spotlight yet on sustainability. Exhibitors showcased a wealth of products that balanced style and luxury with responsible production techniques and eco-friendly components. Recycled and responsibly sourced materials took centre stage, alongside natural fibres and organic linens. Throughout the show, visitors were invited to attend talks and discussions to gain valuable insights on responsible sourcing, minimising packaging and waste, adopting circularity, and restoring nature and biodiversity.

Each year, the Decorex Sustainability Awards also shines a light on ecologically minded producers, with this year’s worthy winners including London-based designer Tamasine Osher. Drawing inspiration from both nature and architecture in her work, Tamasine juxtaposes natural and human-made materials in unexpected ways in her handcrafted furniture and lighting pieces. Her intention is not only to preserve, but also to push the boundaries of the heritage craft of

wood turning. With this in mind, her stand this year included Grain, the first lathe-turned translucent timber light; using whole pieces of storm-fallen or surgeon-felled ash, natural grain interr uptions and blemishes were allowed to shine, to tell the story of the tree from which it came.

This affirmation of artisan craftsmanship resonated throughout the show, with an evident commitment to preserving traditional expertise across decorative items, furniture and textiles. Companies such as CTO Lighting led the charge; established over 25 years ago by husband-andwife team Chris and Clare Turner, CTO unveiled seven new products at this year’s show. Committed to using high quality, noble materials and upholding the tradition of British craftsmanship, each of their light fixtures is meticulously crafted using products such as hand-finished brass, mouth-blown glass, and artisan-crafted stone from the UK and Europe.

The show also gave those less established makers a chance to share their passion and knowledge. Following its successful launch last year, Making Spaces returned, providing a platform for talented artisans to showcase their craft and the intricate processes behind it. This year’s makers included Elizabeth Ashdown, one of only a few hand passementerie artists working in the UK today, and The Marchmont Workshop, one of the last manufacturers of rush chairs in the country.

These pieces were often accompanied by bold colour pairings, with exhibitors using daring palettes to create impactful, dynamic stands. Winning Best Newcomer at the show, Floor Story continued their release of their bold and flamboyant 10 x 10 rug editions, celebrating

Concrete basins by Kast

Rugs by Floor Story, designed by Henry Holland

Shard pendant by CTO Lighting

ten years of collaboration across ten designers. The show coincided with the company’s latest release from the series; a range with designer Henry Holland. Emulating the patterns of his renowned ceramics, Holland mixed traditional techniques with iconography from the rave scene of the ’80s and ’90s for this collection.

These bold tones were by no means restricted to living spaces. Kast’s stand was also a standout at the show, displaying their collection of concrete wash basins in every conceivable colour tone. Their headquarters on the edge of Sherwood Forest are home to both their design studio and their factory, from which they initially produced the world’s first dedicated collection of concrete wash basins. Now encompassing a wide range of designs, their collection pushes the boundaries of form, colour and materials. The concrete itself uses limestone from local suppliers in Derbyshire, alongside specially sourced sands and high-quality pigments that are blended to create their palette selection of 28 colours.

This love of colour went hand in hand with the ever-strengthening influence of maximalism at the show. Lavish displays, confidently layered textures, patterns and colour to wonderful effect, with Tatie Lou’s stand a particular highlight. Here, founder Louise Wargnier takes her inspiration from Mother Nature, the magic of India, and the beauty of ancient Japanese crafts, creating a new collection of original prints each year. Each collection is transformed into a set of different colourways before being applied to wallpapers, fabrics, cushions, and lampshades, as well as blankets and table linens. To minimise their carbon footprint, they manufacture the majority of their collection in the UK, in small batches or made to order to avoid unnecessary waste.

As always, we left the show feeling both inspired and energised. The show struck a difficult balance; one that looked firmly to the future whilst also ensuring that the lessons and techniques of the past were not only acknowledged, but also nurtured and celebrated. n woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

Grain X Cupola Poise floor lamp, by Tamasine Osher

Lakeland Kentmere Weave

Leave all stresses at the front door with these home accessories that will conjure restful moments whatever the weather...

Torment Velvet Wall Hanging, Tillius, £99 tillius.co.uk

Ningaloo Reef Navy Cushion Cover, Cream Cornwall, £44 creamcornwall.co.uk

Graham & Green Single Sheepskins 100 x 80cm; grahamandgreen.co.uk

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Moooi Serpentine Light, £669 hollowaysofludlow.com

Willow White Leaf Detail Table Lamp The Cotswold Company £115 cotswoldco.com

Grace Large Sofa, Arlo & Jacob, £2065.50 arloandjacob.com

Stone Blue Striped Knitted Throw, from £119 pigletinbed.com

Laura Ashley Autumnal Haze 100ml Ceramic Reed Diffuser, Next, £20 next.co.uk

Holloways

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Orla Kiely Linear Stem Rug, John Lewis, £549 johnlewis.com

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Winter berries

Feeling down about the prospect of a winter garden? Then plan ahead for next year as there are plenty of plants with winter berries to bring colour into the mix, and they will also help support our avian friends, says Jessica Stokes

Winter berries bring welcome highlights of colour to a garden when so many other trees are bare. They are also a vital food source for birds and other wildlife during the coldest months of the year. Small birds especially struggle due to having a large surface area and relatively small volume. Here are five must-have trees and shrubs to bring interest to the garden and give welcome sustenance to our native birds. These will also offer resources for foraging to use in seasonal decorations and wreaths.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

This is an obvious choice, but a sound one. Holly is evergreen, so won’t shed its leaves during autumn and winter, instead remaining green, glossy and abundant all year round. Holly works well in a shady area of the garden or one that needs extra screening or privacy. It provides a dense, leafy cover, giving birds a safe space to nest and shelter and provides an explosion of scarlet-red berries in winter, which birds will use as their winter larder. As a florist, a holly bush is always useful at this time of year, when I need foliage and greenery for wreath-making and to adorn my house for the festive period. The berries are an important food source for birds such as redwings, fieldfares and mistle thrushes. Holly berries ripen in late autumn, typically in November or December and can last until February.

Sorbus (various species)

Every autumn I become besotted with my neighbour’s Sorbus tree, which overhangs the red brick wall just enough to display its clusters of vibrant pink berries and its foliage in shades of caramel, almost golden in the autumn sunshine. Commonly known as rowan, the berries become a hub for local birds where chattering blackbirds sit alongside hungry pigeons and robins. Rowan trees are some of the most colourful native trees in the landscape with their masses of scented spring blossom, followed by summer foliage and clusters of bright autumn berries throughout the winter. I recommend growing Sorbus hupehensis ‘Pink Pagoda’. Most bird species will eat rowan berries, but they’re a favourite of blackbirds, mistle thrushes, redstarts, redwings, song thrushes, fieldfares and waxwings. Rowan berries can be seen developing in late summer, usually in August.

Rugosa rose/Japanese rose (Rosa Rugosa)

If you have a small space, and a tree is not a possibility, then I suggest growing a humble rose. Choose any rose from the Rugosa family, such as Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’ or a rambling rose such as R. rugosa ‘Rambling Rector’. Their delicate, open flowers allow easy access for pollinators in the summer, and come the winter they will be laden with nutrient-rich rosehips. Orange to red berry-like hips form in small clusters, with each hip containing many hairy seeds. Liked by blackbirds, fieldfares and mistle thrushes.

Rosehips on a Rugosa rose

Hawthorn berries

Holly

Cotoneaster berries

Cotoneaster (various species)

Gardens with the humble twiggy shrub Cotoneaster attract birds like nothing else. While they might not be the first plant that you are drawn to, they are perfectly suited for covering a fence, or for cascading over a wall. They have either amber or scarlet-red berries, and are very easy to train, maintain and shape. Birds find them easy to perch on, and happily graze all day on their bright and beautiful, delicate sprays of berries. Cotoneaster is a valuable source of nectar for pollinating insects and the berries are highly attractive to blackbirds and other members of the thrush family. With over 300 species within this genus, cotoneasters vary greatly in size, leaf type, and flower and berry colour, offering a wide range of garden options. Note: Cotoneaster berries are toxic to both humans and household pets.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

If you have a hedge or boundary, I would encourage you to add hawthorn. These are fast-growing and easy to maintain. Come May the hedge will be thick with clouds of white scented blossom, which feeds pollinators, and vivid green foliage which attracts a plethora of caterpillars. In late summer and well into

autumn/winter the hawthorn turns a gorgeous rusty shade and becomes laden with blood-red berries. The thorns make them a safe and protected environment for birds and the haws, rich in antioxidants, are eaten by migrating birds such as redwings and fieldfares, as well as blackbirds. Berries will typically last from September to November.

These plants will all bring depth and texture to your winter garden as well as offering simple additions for rewilding your garden. By encouraging these otherwise elusive bird species, you will have endless hours of watching and observing their ways. More practically, birds are nature’s way of dealing with common garden pests such as slugs and snails. If we can help them, they will be a gardener’s best friend. n

Another way to help winter birds is to supply them with sunflower seeds, peanuts, fruit, fat balls, breadcrumbs, cheese, rice and cereals, and a regular source of water.

Jessica Stokes, gardener and sustainable floral designs. Instagram: #_flowerandland; flowerandland.com

Sorbus acuparia

Nestled away in a secluded setting in the desirable village of Winsley, Nash House is a substantial, individually built, 5 bedroom, elegant home With over 3,000 square feet spread across two floors, this residence is designed for comfortable living and versatility.

Upon entry, a bright porch welcomes you into a spacious reception hall, featuring glazed doors that lead to the main living areas. The ground floor includes a convenient cloakroom, a dualaspect study, and a generous snug with access to the garden. The expansive main reception room, measuring over 650 square feet, serves as an ideal gathering space. The open-plan kitchen flows seamlessly into the dining room and conservatory, complemented by a practical utility room tucked behind.

The first floor features a spacious landing that leads to five double bedrooms. The principal bedroom is a luxurious retreat, and an adjoining en suite. There are four additional bathrooms upstairs, three of which are en suites, ensuring comfort for family and guests alike. Externally, the property is enhanced by a beautifully private garden, framed by tall, manicured hedges. A double garage adds to the convenience, along with ample off-street parking.

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

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Belvedere, Bath

Guide price £945,000

A very well presented four bedroom Grade II Listed townhouse with the benefit of a good sized west facing garden and set within a central city location.

• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms

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Dyrham near Bath

£2,250,000

The Circus, Bath

£1,500,000

Beckington, Nr Frome

£1,795,000

Lansdown, Bath

£1,550,000

High quality care in Bath

A LIFESTYLE TAILORED TO YOU

At our ‘good’ CQC rated home our team is passionate about supporting you to enjoy a fulfilling life. We’ll learn all about your interests and preferences so we can create a fully personalised lifestyle plan that you’ll enjoy; whether it’s gardening, cheese and wine socials or playing chess.

LUXURY LIVING

Rush Hill Mews offers luxurious facilities, including a coffee shop, hair salon and beautiful landscaped gardens. Our chef-led kitchen teams are passionate about providing high-quality food and there’s always a choice of nutritious and delicious dishes at every meal.

At Rush Hill Mews care home in Bath, our highly trained teams are experts in providing high quality care from residential, nursing and dementia care, to short term care. Rush Hill Mews Clarks Way, Bath, Somerset, BA2 2TR | careuk.com/rush-hill-mews *Care UK relative survey April & September 2023. Study operated by QRS Market Research, an independent survey agency.

Hear what relatives have to say We recognise the importance of friends and family staying involved in their loved one’s care and lifestyle plan and our regular relative meetings are popular.

TRUST US TO CARE

Rush Hill Mews care home in Bath is part of Care UK, the country’s most awarded large care provider. We’ve been delivering high-quality, person-centred care for over 40 years. That's why over 8,000 families trust us to care for their older loved ones.

To find out more about Rush Hill Mews, call 01225 591 116